Showing posts with label Saint Theophan the Recluse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saint Theophan the Recluse. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

the starting point






Images, however sacred
they may be, retain
the attention outside,
whereas at the time of prayer
the attention must be within -
in the heart.  The concentration
of attention in the heart -
this is the starting point of prayer.




~ Saint Theophan the Recluse
from for lovers of god everywhere
compiled by Roger Housden




Thursday, September 12, 2019

into your heart






You must descend from
your head into your heart.
At present your thoughts of God
are in your head.  And God Himself is,
as it were, outside you, and 
so your prayer and other spiritual
exercises
remain exterior.  Whilst you are still
in your head,
thoughts will not easily be subdued but
will always be whirling about, like snow
in winter or
clouds of mosquitoes in summer.





~ Saint Theophan the Recluse
(an orthodox monk from 19th century Russia)