Авва Евлогий, пресвитер

Presbyter (hieromonk) Abba Eulogius, when he celebrated the Holy Liturgy, the grace of God enveloped him so much that he saw the spiritual state of everyone who came to him. Often, when some of the monks approached holy communion, he forbade them, saying: “How dare you approach the shrine, having evil thoughts? This night you were occupied with nasty, prodigal thoughts, and you thought that the grace of Christ can be approached equally by one who remains in sins and who has been cleansed of them,” Eulogius accused others of other sinful hobbies. “Remove for a short time,” he told them, “from holy communion and repent sincerely, so that your sins may be forgiven and you will become worthy of communion with God. If anyone does not first reject communication with sinful thoughts, he should not approach God’s holy mysteries” 283. What is meant here is agreement with sinful thoughts, delight in them, staying in them voluntarily, and not their involuntary invasion, which no one can avoid, but which everyone can resist. You might be interested in: