Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi: Advice for Monks (VIDEO)

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  She gave us over the incarnate God-Logos (Logos = Word), the radiance of the glory of the Father, she gave Him over to us via her ever-virginity, as the perfect Human to reshape His whole creation. Her fatherly affection did not stop here; she gave us more blessings: Her most-holy garments in which she was enshrouded when she was holding in her arms her Holy Infant. Her motherly affection managed to preserve these garments complete and alive as a blessing for Christians and all people. But, as the Apostle (note from translator: St. Paul) today describes that all these were described in the Old Testament, in the word of the shadow, all these were contained inside the shadow of the Mosaic Law. All these symbolized her (the Mother of God). 

  
  

  The gold goglet of manna, the entrance to the Holy of Holies and the rest that my memory now does not hold. All these symbols symbolized her. It was foreseen since then. The Holy Spirit, the great secret of this Lady, showed us via the formality and the legal shadow that this ever-virgin Lady will become the instrument of the global reshaping. And this was not enough for her. But, she guarded her most holy garments that she wore, and used to enshroude her Most Holy Infant with. She gave them over to us and they exist now, among us, tangible and alive. What else can we say now as an apology for our betrayal and unworthiness? Especially when among us the center of the global motherliness of the great mercy exists! Especially for us here in Mount Athos, and also in our Monastery, in this Holy Monastery, which was founded in the ancient times, and it prays so much for all people and Christianity. 

  
  

  She made us worthy, via her Most Holy presence and Icon, to be here and be spiritually rich via her sympathy and mercy. When she confesses by herself, with her own mouth, the Queen of the Heavens and the earth, that my name is "The Queen of Heaven and earth" and I reside in Vatopaidi. What do we lack? When the Queen of the Heavens and the earth, the Lady of the whole creation, the Mother of God, confesses that she is not on the Heavens but she resides in Vatopaidi! How much consolation should we have! How much joy! How much reassuring hope of our purpose, since she lives with us! Her motherly affection! All these, dear brothers, should remain in our memory, alive, to strengthen us when the dark mazes of deviation and irrationality will confuse and upset us. We should not lose our courage; instead, having a firm hope and faith that she actively resides here among us, the Mother of mercy, the Mother of the God-Logos, the Mother of all Christianity and all Human Race. 

  
  

  She is also the Mother of Vatopaidi. How much courage should we have now? How much hope! How much joy should we feel and how much persistence should we have when fighting the word of deviation that the devil via the fallen human nature and our selfishness will present to us. We will not withdraw. If God is with us, then who can harm us? If God makes us just then who can condemn us? (Romans 8,33-34). He promises us that he will never let us orphans: He will stay with us until He attracts us to Him. 

  
  

  Because He does not want to stay alone. "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am" (John 17:24). In the place of the fatherliness, in the place of Divine agnation, we enter as sons of God, as brothers of Christ, to receive gifts that angels desire to have. The most bright angels that, on their shoulders, hold and glorify the Most Holy Divinity envy, because they are not worthy to receive what we received. And that is because we became His brothers and sons of the Father, while they are servants. My brothers, please don't forget these, because they will be the strongest fortifications in our fight against the irrationality and the deviation.

  
  
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