PHILOKALIA MINISTRIES

On Learning to Desire Nothing but God “O Lord, it is You who are my portion and cup; it is You Yourself who are my prize.” —Psalm 16 (Grail Translation) The fathers of the desert fled to barren places not because they despised the world, but because they had discovered a terrible truth: the human heart never ceases seeking a portion. Every soul longs to possess something that can say to it, “You are safe. You are loved. You will not die.” Some seek this portion in reputation.

The disciple came to Abba Arsenios in the morning while rain fell and mist lay over the ground. He said Father my mind is crowded and my heart is heavy. When I look at the icons the saints say nothing, yet their silence calls me to God. But my thoughts multiply. I speak to others about surrender and about the dismantling of the religious self, yet I see the same thing living in me. The one who teaches. The one who forms words. The one who still seeks something. There is longi

On Guarding the Cell When Nothing Appears to Be Wrong “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.” Abba Moses the Black ⸻ There are pressures that come from sin. These are easy to recognize. And there are pressures that come from good things. These are the ones that destroy the solitary. No demon needs to persuade the solitary to commit obvious sin. He only needs to persuade him to leave the cell for reasons that appear justified. To counsel someone. To he