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Father Maximos on the Cultivation of Faith

11/14/2013

“How then can we cultivate faith?” Michael asked again.  “By spiritually exploiting everything that comes our way, positive or negative. If a difficulty our way, or even a tragedy, we should use it for spiritual advance. We should do the same with whatever good fortune comes along. Furthermore, spiritual work takes place within us with prayer and study. At the beginning these two are extremely necessary. We cannot progress spiritually if we do not pray.” 

Father Maximos on the Two Types of Faith

10/30/2013

“The Fathers of the Church,” Fr. Maximos continued, “taught that there are two types of faith. The first is simply belief that there is a God as revealed in Holy Scripture. You must reach this stage in order to arrive at the second stage, which is the faith that we call theoria.” When I began my exploration of Eastern Orthodox spirituality, several years back, I was fascinated to notice the difference between the way science

Father Maximos on Fanaticism and Delusion

09/09/2013

Fr. Maximos continued. “I am reminded of what Elder Joseph the Hesychast wrote in a little booklet about this matter. The title of his essay was ‘Delusion.’ In it, he clearly identifies delusion with fanaticism. The fanatic is under the spell of delusion. The person who is monolithically dogmatic, absolutistic in his views, and dismissive of others who profess different opinions is under the spell of ‘plani’, of delusion.” “Religious people often consider such characteristics

Father Maximos on Fanaticism and Delusion

08/21/2013

Fr. Maximos continued. “I am reminded of what Elder Joseph the Hesychast wrote in a little booklet about this matter. The title of his essay was ‘Delusion.’ In it, he clearly identifies delusion with fanaticism. The fanatic is under the spell of delusion. The person who is monolithically dogmatic, absolutistic in his views, and dismissive of others who profess different opinions is under the spell of plani, of delusion.” “Religious people often consider such characteristics

Father Maximos on Enslavement to Things, Ideas and Ideologies

07/30/2013

“So,” Fr. Maximos continued, “we must first struggle to attain our liberation from being slaves to material things, including ideas and ideologies. And I must say that enslavement to ideas and ideologies is much more serious than enslavement to things.” “In what way?” Teresa asked. “As I said, you can easily find people who are temperate over external things. They are modest in dress, eat little, and have mastery over physical pleasures in general. They

Father Maximos on Spiritual Struggle

07/02/2013

People ask me how to begin their spiritual struggle. And they will tell me, ‘Look, Father, I have never had any relationship with the Ecclesia.’” Fr. Maximos leaned back in his chair. “So what am I to advise them? Such people may not be ready to engage in a more subtle struggle with their lower passions. I suggest that they start to do simple things: Go to church regularly, and during the morning and before

Father Maximos on Spiritual Practice

02/26/2013

“What do you mean by ‘things of this world,’ Father?” Maria asked. “Material possessions, career, success, ideological fixations, everything that steals the heart. The result is one: our passion for God is transformed into the passion for created things of no ultimate and eternal value, be they power, fame, politics, smoking, sex, money, and so on.” “This is the meaning of idolatry,” I added. “We worship our own creations.” “Yes, precisely.” “Is fasting a way

Father Maximos on the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit

01/22/2013

Before we began eating, Fr. Maximos recited a short prayer that he offered before any meeting where he was expected to give a talk. Everybody stood up, and in a low voice he began: “O Christ, the True Light that illumines and sanctifies every human being who comes into the world, may the brightness of your face become sealed in our souls so that we may behold the Ineffable Light, and guide our steps to

Father Maximos and the Key Themes of Eastern Orthodox Spirituality

06/20/2012

Fr. Maximos went on to say that he was going to speak about the Ecclesia, or the Church, which includes the practices, homilies, and teachings of the holy elders of Christianity throughout the ages, not just the formal organization. He proceeded to state some well-known presuppositions of the Christian faith: that the Bible holds that God created human beings in His own image, that a human being is an icon of God and a reflection

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