An ancient visitor to modern Christendom would be shocked to find that factions have pulled away from Apostolic Christianity not just over doctrinal matters but even over the issue of how the Church is governed. Thus, in quite a recent development, some religious bodies call themselves Congregational (ruled by the people), others are Presbyterian (ruled by the elders), still others are Episcopal (ruled by the bishops).

A brother was beset by the demons of lust. It so happened that the brother once passed by a village in Egypt and saw a beautiful woman, who was the daughter of a pagan priest. On seeing her, he was wildly aroused and, under the influence of his passions, went to the father of the girl and said: "Give me your daughter as my wife."

[Note: "A mortal sin is that sin for which a person does not repent. No one is so good and so merciful as God. Yet a man who remains obstinately in sin and will not repent--not even God forgives him. We are deeply sorry when we sin, nevertheless, we gladly embrace every excuse and occasion for sins" (Abba (Father) Mark)]

One day the all-wise John (the Almsigiver, 610-619 A.D.) heard of a generous giver and so he sent for him privately and said jokingly: How is it that you became so generous? Was it natural to you, or did you put constraint up yourself?

If the Cup appears to you to be unbearable, deadly, then it reveals that, although you bear Christ's Name, you do not belong to Christ. For the true follower of Christ, the Cup of Christ is the Cup of joy. Thus the holy Apostles, after having been beaten before the gathering of the elders of the Jews, went out from the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 5:40-41).

The Elder (Geronda) told me one day: "Boys and girls come to me sometimes. Those poor children, and what haven't they done. They have committed every sin of the flesh, but I love them."

The Elder (Geronda) did not justify the actions of the youth, which he characterized as carnal sins, but at the same time he loved them as precious souls "for whom Christ died". By his love, he attracted them like a magnet and gradually they were healed of their worship of the flesh.