Acquisition of spiritual health

Every day you should try to plant in your soul something spiritual, which will eject something worldly and sinful.  Gradually, the old self will be disclaimed, and you will be able to move freely in the spiritual realm.  Replace the sinful images in your mind with holy ones.  Replace songs with hymns, worldly magazines with spiritual books.  If you do not break away from all that is worldly and sinful, if you do not commune with Christ, with Panagia, with the Saints, with the Church Triumphant, and if you do not place yourself completely in the hands of God, you will not be able to acquire spiritual health. 

 

Geronda Paisios on peace organizations

Geronda, do the peace organizations established by various countries help in bringing peace to the world?

It depends.  There are some who begin with good intentions.  But when all sorts of unrelated people—sorcerers, fire-worshippers, cultic religious types of all persuasions—enter into the mix and attempt to work together, how can there be a common purpose or a common ground for peace?  God forgive me, but such things are the devil’s rags.  Can peace be achieved through sinful association?  How can there be peace, when people are not reconciled with God?  Only when man is reconciled with God can inward and outward peace come.  But for us to be reconciled with God, we must first attain awareness, we must repent, we must live in accordance with God’s commandments, and then the Grace and peace of God will enter into us, enabling us to also help create peace around us.