is subject either to repentance or to oven flour. One must repent and pray in order to be freed from all passion. For every passion is subject to eternal torment, not because it has been subjected to reproach by it, but because of impenitence.

From Word 2

About our struggle with the above-mentioned additions;

about victory in it through the remembrance of God and the guarding of the heart, that is,

through prayer and mental silence, and how to act

in these ways; here also about the gifts

The Fathers said about this struggle: in order to defeat the enemy, we must resist the insidious temptation, as far as our strength allows. A crown will be given to the overcomers, and torment will be prepared for those who avoid repentance. A reasonable and good struggle, say the Fathers, is when temptation begins, that is, as soon as a pretext appears, immediately bow one's head and pray unceasingly, for whoever opposes the pretext will cut off the head of everything that follows with it.

When evil thoughts arise in us after good thoughts, we need to silence our thoughts and, looking into the depths of our hearts, say: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me," and sometimes only half: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me," which is more necessary for beginners, as Gregory of Sinaite said. The Fathers find that it is even better to say: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." God is especially pleased when we recognize ourselves as sinners.

Thus, one should always pray diligently: standing, or sitting, or lying down, gathering the mind in the heart and holding the breath as much as possible; not to breathe often, as Symeon the New Theologian teaches. And St. Gregory of Sinai teaches us thus: "Always call on the Lord Jesus in hope, patience and expectation that the Lord Jesus Christ will deliver you from all temptations." When your spirit is freed from temptations through this prayer, listen even more to your heart and continue your prayer with your mind in your heart. "There are many virtues, but they are only part of sobriety; prayer in the heart is the source of all good and waters the soul like a garden," said Gregory of Sinai.

From Homily 5

On Our Temptations, Struggles and Victories, and on the Eight Most Important Passionate Thoughts (Temptations)

Manifold, say the Fathers, are the types of our struggle, with the help of which we gain victory over insidious temptations (evil thoughts), according to the strength of the combatants; we mean prayer for thoughts, arguing with them, and, finally, humiliating them and driving them away. The most perfect thoughts can humiliate, suppress and renounce, and those who succeed can oppose, oppose. But the indigent and the weak should pray against the

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Overwhelm them and Luklpme's thoughts, Ml good. Bearing in mind, SV. St. Isaac the Syrian says that virtues steal our passions.