Week 3 - Wednesday

Bible Passage

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Commentary

A Silent Patriarch

This is how St Pope Kyrillos, who in this story was still Azer (his layman name before joining the monastery) lived his life from the age of 20-25 years old. Here, he writes to his brother, Hanna, in a letter offering spiritual advice:

Commit yourself to go straight from home to [school] and vice versa, likewise to church and spiritual meetings. Do not hurry in walking except when necessary. Do not turn right and left when walking in the street. Look straight ahead while walking, praying in your heart, "Lord take care of me; hide me under the shadow of your wings. Oh, my Lord Jesus Christ, deliver me from any offences..." When you come back from [school], take off your clothes, wash your face and rest for a little. If you want to have some recreation, you can go outside far from noise, and ponder the works of the Creator and the beauty of nature.... Do not reflect too much on the affairs of life. Do not worry about anything. Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.

Go to bed early and awake early - when you awake, do not remain in bed. Start your day worshipping God in prostration twenty or thirty times or as many times as possible, for, among all other virtues undertaken by people, there is none better than this. After that go and wash your face and stand before God and thank Him for watching over you this night and keeping you alive until the morning... Read the Holy Bible with care. Give it time, as you do with the newspaper, for the word of God is sweeter than honey.