Письмо XXXVIII. Тому же

For this we thank you, honest father, that you have given us an example of wonderful repentance, convincing us through confession to reveal the dark deposits of passions hidden in us - and it gives rise to hatred of being stuck in sin. After all, we truly cherish passions, the memory of which, after being committed in practice, causes disgust, and we love, like an onion, the association with evil thoughts, after which the eyes of the soul see virtue and knowledge worse, becoming covered, like scales, with passionate images of visible things. After all, “pupil constriction” means the word “bow” 229, as researchers of primordial meanings say. And, like garlic, we devour the fulfillment of passions by action, because of which the mind, filled with impurity, with vile speeches and habits breathes on people the stench of vices, which it has become full of in action. So teach us, holy father, how to reject them and love the manna - I’m talking about the intelligent bread of the Divine vision, falling on us from heaven (Ex. 16:15) - and save it from corruption, not storing it up for tomorrow and not putting it off, so that it does not boil with the worms of carnal passions, rotting from idleness, and not flaunting it for show, so that it does not disappear, melting into vanity. Feed us, your disciples, with such speeches, honest father, and in prayer entrust us to God - after all, without your mediation we are not able to worship Him. [370] Etymologization in the spirit of Plato’s “Cratylus”: κρόμμυον – bow, κόρης μύσις – pupil displacement. – Approx. lane You might be interested in: