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| − | Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Theodoros the Great Ascetic''' was a [[monk]] of the [[monastery]] of St. Savvas near Jerusalem who became [[Bishop]] of Edessa in Syria. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[July 19]]. [http://www.doaks.org/saints2/dohp.asp?cmd=SShow&Key=32 His ''Life'' was written by Basil of Emesa]. The work ''A Century of Spiritual Texts'' is included in the ''Philokalia'' and is believed to have been written by St. Theodoros. | + | Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Theodoros the Great Ascetic''' (also known as '''Theodore of Edessa''') was a [[monk]] of the [[monastery]] of [[Holy Lavra of St. Savas (Jerusalem)|St. Savas]] near Jerusalem who became [[bishop]] of Edessa in Syria. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[July 9]] or [[July 19]]. [http://www.doaks.org/saints2/dohp.asp?cmd=SShow&Key=32 His ''Life'' was written by Basil of Emesa]. The work ''A Century of Spiritual Texts'' is included in the ''Philokalia'' and is believed to have been written by St. Theodoros. |
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| − | In the middle of the 9th century, St. Theodore of Edessa converted the "Saracen king", Muawid, one of the three sons of the Umayyad caliph Mutawakkil (847-861 A.D.), to Orthodoxy, baptizing him with the name John together with his three confidants.[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/MaximovMuslims.shtml] | + | In the middle of the 9th century, St. Theodore of Edessa [[conversion|converted]] the "Saracen king," Muawid, one of the three sons of the Umayyad caliph Mutawakkil (847-861 A.D.), to Orthodoxy, [[baptism|baptizing]] him with the name ''John'' together with his three confidants. [http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/MaximovMuslims.shtml] |
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| − | Excerpts from ''A Century of Spiritual Texts'':
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| − | #Since by God's grace we have renounced Satan and his works and have sworn allegiance to [[Christ]], both at our [[baptism]] and now again through our profession as monks, let us keep His [[commandments]]. Not only does our double profesion demand this of us, but it is also our natural duty, for since we were originally created by God as 'very good' ([[Genesis|Gen]] 1:31), we owe it to God to be such. Although sin entered us through our negligence and introduced into us what is contrary to nature, we have been reclaimed through God's great mercy, and renewed by the passion of Him who is dispassionate. We have been 'bought with a price' ([[I Corinthians|1 Cor]] 6:20), namely by the blood of Christ, and liberated from the ancient ancestral sin. If, then, we become righteous, this is nothing great; but to fall from righteousness is pitiable and deserves condemnation.
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| − | #Just as a good act performed without genuine faith is quite dead and ineffective, so too faith alone without works of righteousness does not save us from eternal fire; for 'he who loves Me', says the Lord, 'will keep My commandments' (cf. [[Gospel of John|John]] 14:15, 23). If then, we love the Lord and believe in Him, we shall exert ourselves to fulfil His commandments, so as to be granted eternal life. But how can we call ourselves faithful if we neglect to keep His ordinances, which all creation obeys, and if, althought we have been honoured above all creation, we are the only creatures who disobey the Creator and show ourselves ungrateful to our Benefactor?
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| − | #When we keep Christ's commandments we do not benefit Him in any way, since He is in need of nothing and is the bestower of every blessing. It is ourselvese that was benefit, since we win for ourselves eternal life and the enjoyment of ineffable blessings.<br>
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| − | #If anyone whatsoever opposes us in the fulfilment of God's commandments, even if it is our father or mother, we ought to regard him with hatred and loathing, least we be told :'He who loves father or mother or anyone else whatsoever more than Me is not worthy of Me' (cf Matt. 10:37)<br>
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| − | #Let us bind ourselves with all our strength to fulfil the Lord's commandments, lest we ourselves shoud be held by unbreakable cords of our evil desires and soul-corrupting pleasures (cf. should be passed on us as well : 'Cut it down, so that it does not clutter up the ground' (Luke 13:7). For, as Christ says, whatever 'does not produce good fruits is hewn down, and cast into the fire' (Matt. 3:10). <br>
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| − | #He who gives himself to desire and sensual pleasures and lives according to the world's way will quickly be caught in the nets of sin. And sin, when once committed, is like fire put to straw, a stone rolling downhill or a torrent eating away its bank. Such pleasures, then, bring complete perdition on him who embraces them.<br>
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| − | #So long as the sould is an state contrary to nature, running wild with the weeds and thorns of sensual pleasures, it is a dwelling place of grotesque beasts. Isaiah's word apply to it : ass-centaurs shall rest there, and hedgehogs make their lair in it, and there demons will consoft with ass-centaurs (cf. Isa. 34:11, 14. LXX) - for all theses animals signify the various shameful passions. But the soul, so long as it is joined to the flesh, can recall itself to its natural state at any time it wishes; and whatever it does so and disciplines itself with diligent effort, living in accordance with God's lwa, the wild beasts that were lurking inside it will take to flight, while the angels who guard our life will come to its aid, making the soul's return a day of rejoicing (cf. Luke 15:7). And the grace of the Holy Spirit will be present in it what is good and rise to higher levels.<br>
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| − | #The Father define prayer as a spiritual weapon. Unless we are armed with it we cannot engage in warfare, but are carried off as prisoners to the enemy's country. Nor can we acquire pure prayer unless we cleave to God with an upright heart. For it is God who gives prayer to him who prays and who teaches man spiritual knowledge.<br>
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| − | #It does not lie within our power to decide whether or not the passions are going to harass and attack the soul. But it does lie within our power to prevent impassioned thoughts from lingering within us and arousing the passions to action. The first of these conditions is not sinful, inasmuch as it is outside our control; whether the second is concerned, if we fight against the passions and overcome them we are rewarded, but we shall be funished if because of laziness and cowardice we let them overcome us.<br>
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| − | #There are three principal passions, through which all the rest arise: love of sensual pleasure, love of riches, and love of praise. Close in their wake follow five other evil spirits, and from these five arise a great swarm of passions and all manner of evil. Thus he who defeats the three leaders and rulers simultaneously overcomes the other five and so subdues all the passions.<br>
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| − | #Memories of all the impassioned actions we have performed exert an impassioned tyranny over the soul. But when impasioned thoughts have been completely erased from our heart, so that they no longer affect it even as provocations, this is a signt that our former sinful acts have been forgiven. For so long as the heart is stimulated by passion, sin clearly reigns there.<br>
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| − | #Bodily passions or passions concerned with material things are reduced and withered through bodily hardship, while the unseen passions of the soul are destroyed through humility, gentleness and love.<br>
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| − | #Self control together with humility withers passionate desire, love calms inflamed anger, and intense prayer together with mindfulness of God concentrates distracted thoughts. Thus the tripartite soul is purified. It was to this end that the apostle said : 'Pursue peace with all men and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord' (Heb. 12:14).
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| − | #Many People Wonder whether thought stimulates the passions or the passions stimulate thought. Some say the first and some the second. My own view is that thoughts are stimulated by the passions. For unless passions were in the soul, thoughts abouth them would not disturbd it.<br>
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| − | #The demons, who always waging war against us, try to prevent us from performing actions that are within our power and that would help us to acquire the virtues, while at the same time they suggest ways of accomplishing things that in fact are impossible or else out of place. They compel those progressing in obedience to follow the hesychasts' way of life; and they implant in hesychasts and hermits a desire for coenobitic rule. They use a similar method with respect to every virtue. So let us be mindful of their designs, knowing that all things are good in their proper time and measure, while things lacking measure and out of place are noxious.<br>
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| − | #With those who live in the world and are associated with the material things that feed the passions, the demons wage ware through practical activities; while with those who dwell in the wilderness, where material things are rare, they fight by troubling them with evil thoughts. This secode mode of warfare is far more difficult to cope with; for warfare through things requires a specific time and place, and a fit occasion, whereas warefare of the intellect is mercurical, and hard to control. But as our trusty weapon in this incorporeasl fight we have been given pure prayer: that is why we are told to pray without ceasing (cf. 1 Thess. 5:17). Prayer strengthens the intellect in the struggle, since it can be practiced even without the body taking part.<br>
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| | ==Source== | | ==Source== |
| | *''The [[Philokalia]]'', v. 2. | | *''The [[Philokalia]]'', v. 2. |
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| | + | ==External links== |
| | + | *[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101975 St. Theodore the Bishop of Edessa] ([[OCA]]) |
| | + | *[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=2348 Saint Theodore, Bishop of Edessa] ([[GOARCH]]) |
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| | [[Category:Bishops]] | | [[Category:Bishops]] |
| | + | [[Category:9th-century bishops]] |
| | [[Category:Monastics]] | | [[Category:Monastics]] |
| | [[Category:Saints]] | | [[Category:Saints]] |
| − | [[Category:Theologians]] | + | [[Category:Byzantine Saints]] |
| | + | [[Category:9th-century saints]] |
