We have before us a great goal: to become a new creature and to become like Christ. To do this, it is necessary to correct many things in oneself and, as it were, to break it: from the proud to become humble, from the passionate to temperate, from the hot-tempered and spiteful to meek and affectionate, from the lukewarm to zealous for good, from the self-loving and greedy to sacrificial and compassionate, from the suspicious and envious to benevolent, from the frivolous to wise, from the fearful and faint-hearted to courageous and constant.

Although God helps us every step of the way, our most active effort is also necessary. And here we encounter many obstacles, both external and internal. Sometimes it may seem to us that our whole nature, our whole being, is opposed to the Christian way of life. We are ready to despair, to return to our previous way of life. This temptation undoubtedly comes from the devil. Just as he tempted Christ at the moment of His extreme exhaustion, so he tempts us in the weakest moments of life. A cunning and cunning serpent! Therefore: "Watch and pray, that ye may not fall into temptation" (Matt. 26:41), "If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17).

Prayer, going to church, fasting, abstinence, confession and communion, study of the Holy Scriptures, reading spiritual literature, contemplation of God, works of mercy – all these are necessary means for inner renewal, these are our steps after Christ. When the goal is forgotten, then the deeds themselves are of little use and can turn into soulless Phariseeism.

One must cherish one's belonging to the Orthodox Church, because she has retained the original understanding of the essence of Christianity, while the heterodox confessions have thrown out of Christianity everything that seemed difficult and unpleasant to them. By doing so, they deprived it of its reviving power, leaving only beautiful, inspiring phrases. For a person seeking the heights of spiritual perfection, Orthodoxy provides all the necessary means in its grace-filled sacraments and the spiritual experience of the Holy Fathers. Of course, not everyone is destined to become great scientists or to win a Nobel Prize. But it is tragic when the path to progress and growth is fundamentally closed to a person, when primary school becomes the only educational institution, and newspapers become the only literature.

Thus, "let us strengthen our hands that are drooping and our knees are weak" (Heb. 12:12), remembering that every good effort on our part brings us closer to Christ, and every overcoming of temptation is a victory with Him. Let us follow Him who said: "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28).

Appendix: The Holy Fathers on the Christian Feat

"As a bee imperceptibly builds a honeycomb in a hive, so grace secretly creates its love in the heart of man, changing bitterness into sweetness, and a cruel heart into good. And how a silversmith, making carvings on a dish, gradually covers it with patterns, and only after the end of his work he shows his work in all its glory. In the same way, the true Artist the Lord adorns our hearts with carvings and mysteriously renews them, until we transmigrate from our body, and then the beauty of our soul will be revealed" (Mac. Vel.).

"Such is the will of the Spirit, that His beloved should continue in labor. The Spirit of God does not dwell in those who live in peace. This is what distinguishes the sons of God from the rest, that they live in sorrows, while the world prides itself on luxury and peace. God did not deign that His beloved should rest while they are in the body, but He wants them now to be in sorrow, in burden, in labor, in poverty, in nakedness, in want, in humiliation, in insults, in a weary body, in sorrowful thoughts. Thus is fulfilled what was said about them: "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). The Lord knows that those who live quietly are not able to love Him, and therefore He denies the righteous temporary rest and pleasure" (Isaac the Syrian).

"To people who are just beginning to love piety, the path of virtue seems harsh and terrible. And this is not because it is essentially so, but because people are accustomed from childhood to live extensively and in pleasure. For one who has lived a pious part of his life, the path of virtue seems good and joyful. Because when we suppress evil aspirations with good habits, then at the same time the addiction to carnal pleasures itself disappears. After that, the soul willingly follows the virtuous path. That is why the Lord, calling us to begin our salvation, says that strait and sorrowful is the way that leads to life, and few are those who follow it (Matt. 7:14). To those who earnestly desire to live according to His holy commandments, He says: "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). At the beginning of our podvig, we should force ourselves to fulfill the holy commandments. Then the merciful Lord, seeing our good intentions and labor, will give us readiness and free will to obey His holy commands with pleasure for the rest of our lives" (Blessed Diadochos).

"Do not think that virtue exceeds your strength and is impossible for you, but, inspired by faith and boldly making a beginning, show good effort before God, and you will see the help that He will give you for the accomplishment of virtue. Imagine two ladders: one leads to heaven, and the other leads down to hell, and you stand on the ground between these two ladders. Do not think and do not say how I can fly up from the earth and suddenly find myself in heaven, i.e. at the top of the stairs. Just beware of going down doing evil. Try to rise up little by little, doing whatever good you can. Each of your good deeds will be a step upwards. Thus, climbing with God's help from one step to another, you will finally reach the top of the ladder" (Abba Doroth).

"Begin to fulfill the commandments concerning the small, and you will fulfill the commandments concerning the great: the small everywhere leads to the great. Begin to fulfill at least the commandment about fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, or the tenth commandment concerning evil thoughts and desires, and you will fulfill all the commandments, "but he who is unfaithful in little things is unfaithful" (Rule John Kr).

"Life is a great science that is not easy to study. It is the strait way and the narrow gate. Whoever from childhood has not begun to study the science of life under the guidance of the Gospel, has not learned to believe in God, is not accustomed to reverence Him, does not clearly distinguish evil from good, it will be difficult for him to learn in the subsequent years of life. Although other people will consider him intelligent, will recognize his knowledge and abilities, he may turn out to be a complete ignoramus in the school of life. He may be incapable of either family life or social activities - for example, because of his unaccommodating character or bad habits. It can be wrecked in life, like a ship loaded with goods, which was launched into the open sea without a rudder, tackle and sails" (Right John Kr.).