Hierarch’s Divine Liturgy in Vodoča ( 26.05.2005 )
In the chapel of the Holy hesychasts Gregory Palamas and Joseph Spilaioti in the monastery of the Holy Great-martyr Leontius in Vodoča, today Metropolitan Nahum of Strumica celebrated Divine Liturgy.
“Now, the falls of righteous men have been described exactly because of it, for the benefit of them who live by the virtues and them who are still in sin. For having seen another one fallen and risen again, the sinner will not despair and lose hope; whereas the righteous one, having seen that many, much better than he is had fallen, will become much more cautious and paying attention not to fall, himself will act more sensibly, so that he will always be ready and careful. By this the virtuous man remains firm in his virtue; while the sinner, when he is freed from despair, will return to the place from which he fell.”
“When we, the grievous ones, are consoled by a man, we can even find consolation for some short time, yet will fall into sorrow again; whereas when God encourages us with the model of the others who have sinned and then repented and have been saved, when He shows to us the obvious evidence of His goodness and by this tells us not to doubt our salvation, then we receive deep and clear consolation.”
