PHILOKALIA MINISTRIES

A Dialogue Between Abba Arsenius and a Disciple on Holiness “You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” — Leviticus 20:26 A brother came to Abba Arsenius and said, “Father, this word troubles me: ‘You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy.’ I strive to avoid sin, to pray, to fast, and to be kind to others, yet holiness still seems far away.” The old man said, “Perhaps because you think holiness mea

When Christ Becomes More Real Than the World “Within me there is no fire, but only water living and speaking in me, and saying to me from within, ‘Come to the Father.’” — St. Ignatius of Antioch There are certain texts that leave us inspired. There are others that leave us exposed. This letter of Ignatius does not comfort me. It judges me. Not because Ignatius condemns anyone. He does not. His words are too full of Christ for that. Rather, his love reveals the poverty of my o