The fourth volume continues the publication of the "Homilies" of the Blessed Elder Paisius. This book contains the teachings of the Elder about the family and the trials that a person is subjected to because of the crisis experienced by the family in our era. The Elder said that most of the letters he received were from people who had problems in family life, and he emphasized that the cause of these problems was people's distance from God and their self-love. "In former times," he said, "life was more peaceful and people were patient. And today, everyone you take is like lighters: [they pour sparks and] can't stand a single word. And after that, divorce automatically follows."

Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain of blessed memoryHomily.

Family life

Preface

Having entered the great family of the Church at a very early age as a diligent member, the Elder felt that he no longer belonged to his small [carnal] family. Having acquired Divine love, he became a child of God, and therefore - feeling all people to be his brothers and sisters - he loved each one "with the womb of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:8). "Seeing an elderly man," the Elder told us, "I say to myself that this is my father. When I see the old woman, I say that this is my mother. When I meet a child, I look at him as if he were my little nephew. I love everyone. I am happy for some, and hurt for others. Are you familiar with such a state?" But the Elder himself in each specific case became a son, brother, father, grandfather for every person. This unfeigned love helped a person who was approaching the Elder to change for the better and, having accepted the word of God, to live in accordance with it. As a member of the Body of Christ, the Elder not only prayed with pain for people who had difficulties in family life, but - responding to their requests - he helped them with his own words. He helped people even in the most delicate issues of family life, despite the fact that, as a monk, he himself led an ascetic life.

Tested by the fire of temptations and tempered in the furnace of illness, which visited him in various forms from 1947 until his death in 1994, the Elder had compassion for each suffering person and prayed with pain for those who experienced pain. He cared about his own health only enough to take care of himself and help those who came to him. He believed that if someone prays for other sick people, without paying attention to his own pain, then this brings God to tenderness and He hears such a prayer. However, the Elder advised sick people to first do everything humanly possible for their healing, and leave what is beyond human strength to God. At the same time, he strengthened people's faith so that they would treat their illness with hope in God, so that they would not forget that throughout our earthly life we are all "strangers and strangers" (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11), and prepare for eternal life.

This volume is published with the blessing of our Archpastor, His Eminence Metropolitan Nikodim of Cassandria. The book consists of an introductory chapter and six parts. Many of the questions were asked to the Elder by the Abbess and some of the sisters of our convent. The Elder blessed us to send people who ask for our spiritual help to the spiritual father, however, often in a conversation with the Abbess or with one of the older sisters, people, embarrassed by the difficulty, talk about their pain and ask for advice. Sometimes, in order to be sure that we had answered this or that serious or confusing question correctly, we turned to the Elder, and he told us how to solve this or that problem in God's way. However, the Elder himself, during general monastic meetings and in personal conversations with the sisters, using as an occasion some incident from the life of our monastery community or a question we asked, often spoke about the difficulties that Christians encounter in the world. He did this so that we could pray for peace with pain. In addition, the Elder gave examples from the lives of fathers or mothers who, not having the favorable spiritual opportunities that monks have, lived a holy life. In this way, Father Paisius urged us to asceticize with great curiosity. Some of the Elder's answers are enriched with excerpts from his letters, given to us by those clergy and pious laity to whom they were addressed.

The volume opens with an introductory chapter entitled "Young People at the Crossroads of Life", the purpose of which is to help young men and women who are hesitating in choosing a path in life. In this chapter, it is emphasized that both paths outlined by our Church - family and monastic life - are blessed. Young people should choose one path according to their calling, strength, and love. They should do this not regardless of anyone's "nudges," but with trust in God. The chaste and spiritual life of young people is the main prerequisite for their success on the chosen path - whether it is monastic or family life.

The first of the six parts of this book defines the foundations on which the family stands: noble, generous love and respect of spouses for each other. Patience in difficulties, accompanied by prayer, saves the family from disintegration.