falling and rising within you

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“True self discover occurs only within the consciousness of the Church. Becoming one with the Body of the Church, and living within its assurance and certitude enables you to be free from changes, anxiety and sadness.

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Troubles simply come come and go, passing by like waves, but they will never be able to drown you.  You have become like the shore, unmoved by the pounding of the sea.  The waves will come and crash all around but you no longer fear them.   Instead they remind you  of the endless waves of the Holy Spirit rising and falling within you.”

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

the Way of the Spirit

(p. 137-138)

nourishing grace

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What food is for the body, the Spirit is for my life. The Spirit is the foundation of my very existence, He gives life to all flesh. “By the Holy Spirit every soul is given life”

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

the Way of the Spirit (p. 122)

anaphora of love

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“Love isn’t something that comes from our hearts,

but rather from the heart of God.

And this love penetrates our hearts and minds,

from where it flows out to others,

ultimately returning to God”

Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra Monastery

the way of the spirit (p.90)

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Thine own of Thine own.

stretch forth

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“Turning to God means I stretch forth to Him with perseverance.  Why?  Because I’m down here on  earth and He’s in heaven above.  Can I reach Him?  No, I can not ascend.  He must descend in order to find me.”

Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

Way of the Spirit (p. 74)

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The quote above recalls the image of the icon of the Resurrection.  Repentance – turning to God – is a gift God offers us.  We, each of us, falls every day.  We have not the strength to walk this life of repentance without Him.  He knows this, condescends,  outstretches His Hand, and lift us up.

Repentance is His goodness emptied into the deep heart of man, which in turn, man then offers back unto Him.  It is a never ending cycle of stretching forth and giving.  His self emptying and our self emptying.  The hope of the faithful : God has set His nebulous self-emptying Heart upon man (Job 7:17).

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In The Way of the Spirit, Elder Aemilianos, speaks of the timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Faith and the Orthodox experience of God.  He reminds the reader that God is the initiator, speaking to the deep heart within each of us – and the enduring steadfast love of our loving God – our pursuing God – our jealous, humble and self-emptying God.

Truly, He is mindful of us!

leave it behind

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To enter the Church means to leave aside all those things that make up our life in the world. That which exists is God (cf. Ex 3.14), but that which is ours, which alone belongs to us is our sin, our self will, and our desire.  Apart from God, the self is something non-existent, even though it is and remains, the creation of His Hands, the breath of His first blessing (cf. Gen 2.7)

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

the way of the spirit

p. 56

too deep for words

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Prayer is given to you, placed within your heart by the Holy Spirit, Who intercedes with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8.26)  Bow grace itself, God Himself, placed prayer within your soul, in the mouth of your soul.

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

thd way of the spirit  (p.62)