Holy Lent as a Period of Human Renewal (St. Anthimos of Chios)

Holy Lent as a Period of Human Renewal

By St. Anthimos of Chios

(A Homily Delivered To the Nuns at Panagia Voithia Monastery in Chios)

We now come again to the stadium of Holy Lent; let prayer increase; let reading increase; let virtue increase. Every night be more vigilant in prayer. Let words cease; let chatter be absent, for with silence you will accomplish everything. Holy Lent is a period of practicing virtue. This season renews nature. We see all the trees renewing themselves; they put forth new leaves and flowers and are preparing to bear fruit. This is to make up for the damage of other years.

Man must do the same. Every year he must acquire new life, new enthusiasm, new courage, new divine eros, in order to sprout new fruits of virtue and offer them to his benefactor, God. And just as the time for the fruiting of trees is this season, spring, so the time of virtues is Holy Lent when we will work to make up for the debts and losses of the past years.

We are not, like plants, to be dug up, watered, manured and in such ways cared for, so that we may bear fruit. Man alone will show willingness, courage, good thoughts, spiritual actions, to render to his Lord, our Christ, the good works in return for the benefits that He gives him, even though these are still His own.

We will not pour manure, but instead we will receive humility. We will not pour water, but tears; for with tears, virtue is watered. Instead of pruning, we will cut off our will and instead of all the other things we offer to the plant for nourishment, we will take the patience with which the soul is nourished, the obedience with which the soul is refreshed, the humble-mindedness that brightens the soul and covers it with a golden covering, so that it may be protected from many things. And it refreshes it and does not burn, and it warms it and does not cool, and it covers it and makes it endure and not shake. In the house of humility, the limited soul receives the grace of the Holy Spirit and dwells with God and is moved only by Jesus Christ and shines and rests.

Fasting should be accompanied by silence and obedience and self-reproach.

Fasting is good and beneficial for both the soul and the body; but fasting must be accompanied by silence and prayer; fasting must be accompanied by obedience; fasting must be accompanied by humility. If fasting is not accompanied by the cutting off of the will, it is useless; it neither bears fruit nor flowers. For the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. I mean unfeigned love, according to God, not the devilish one.
 
Fasting, when it is done and does not have obedience with it, is like the wind, which blows and gathers the leaves of the tree; it twists them, twists them and then piles them in a corner. So is he who does not have obedience. Obedience is a pillar of fire, which illuminates and guides him who labors for it. We have said it many times and you know it; but lest God judge me and condemn me like that wicked servant who hid the talent, for this reason I also fight for the one that was given to me; and although I am unworthy, rustic, incapable, unteachable, I want to become the professor.

He who does not obey is completely in darkness. He who obeys has a pillar of fire, which starts from heaven and reaches down to the earth and shines on him and he is not afraid that he will stumble anywhere. The good submissive and subordinate in the Holy Spirit will not be judged by God.

If you see bad things about me, is it ever possible for you to want to submit to such a person? But if you submit for God's sake and do not see my works, but only hear my words, which are in the interest of your soul to perform, it is the same for you as if I were also holy. Do not see my works, believe only in my words; and if you submit with faith, with love, with humility, you will not be deprived of the Kingdom of Heaven. Make perfect obedience, put on faith and love, you will see a pillar of fire, by which you will be led, warmed, illuminated and go forward.

We must submit with all our will, with closed eyes, and not see who it is to whom we submit.

Perhaps you see something in me that forces you to judge and condemn me; have you not seen any good at some time? Take the good, do not see the bad. If you see the good, that good will cover your eyes so that you will never see any evil, but you will only see those things that lead you to your salvation.

It is not possible for a man not to err; neither can I nor you; but he who has perfect obedience and love for his spiritual father is never lost.

Source: Αγίου Ανθίμου της Χίου, Διδαχές Πνευματικές- Άρτος ζωής. Εκδ. Ι. Μ. Παναγίας Βοηθείας Χίου. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.