St. Mary & St. Demiana Convent

“One man is thought to be silent, and yet his heart judges and condemns others, and the man who acts thus speaks continually; another man speaks from morning till evening, and yet keeps silence — that is to say, he speaks nothing which is not helpful.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“A man will be always tripped up by that thing which he will not cut off from himself.”~ Abba Poemen, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“If the man will only remember that which is written, 'You shall be justified by your words, and shall be condemned by your words' (Matt. 12:37), he would know that it is right to hold his peace.”~ Abba Alonis, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“Unless a man says in his heart, 'Only God and I exist in this world,' he will not find rest.”~ Abba Alonis, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“In all the labor which comes upon a man, his victory is only assured when he holds his peace.”~ Abba Poemen, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“The Spirit of God never enters into the house where there are delights and pleasures.”~ Abba Poemen, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“Abstinence from bread quietens the body of the monk.”~ Abba Theodotus, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“The soul cannot be humbled unless you weaken it by the eating of little bread.”~ Abba Poemen, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“Whenever a man reads the Divine Books, the devils are afraid.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“The greatness of a man consists of humility. Proportionally, as a man descends to humility, he becomes exalted to greatness.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“We relinquish a light burden when we condemn ourselves, but we take upon ourselves a heavy burden when we attempt to make ourselves righteous.”~ Abba John, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“Blessed is he who sees his sins continually.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“I would rather learn than teach.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“I would rather have defeat with humility than conquest with boasting.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“He who is held in greater honor or is more praised than he deserves, suffers a great loss. But the man who receives neither honor nor praise from men shall be praised above all.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“If a man can say to his brother, 'Forgive me,' and can humble himself, this belongs to the perfection of the monk.”~ An old man, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“There are many who fall and who rise up to an attitude of rectitude. But there are some who fall from good deeds to polluted things. It is better where a man falls and rises up than a man who stands and then falls.”~ Abba Anthony, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“I prefer a man who has sinned, done wickedly, and repented, to a man who has not sinned, has not manifested repentance; for the former possesses a humble mind, while the latter esteems himself in his thoughts as a just man.”~ Abba Poemen, The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol. 2

“Flee from vainglory, and you will be accounted worthy of the glory of God in the age to come.”~ Abba Isaiah, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“Teach your heart to observe whatever your tongue teaches.”~ Abba Poemen, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“I too am a sinner.”~ Abba Bessarion (going out with a brother put out of the church), The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“If a thought comes to you to pass judgment on your neighbor for some sin, first bear in mind that you are more of a sinner than he is. Do not believe the good you think you are doing pleased God, and you will not dare to pass judgment on your neighbor.”~ Abba Isaiah, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“Do not judge the one who indulges in adultery even if you are chaste yourself, for in so doing you too transgress the law — because he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not judge' (Matt. 7:1).”~ An elder, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“Do not be humble in your words only, but also in your deeds.”~ One of the old men, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“If someone given to anger should even raise the dead, he is not acceptable to God.”~ Abba Agathon, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“Many are they who opt for repose in this world before the Lord grants them repose.”~ Abba Theodore, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“Those under instruction must love those who are their instructors like fathers and fear them like rulers, neither diminishing fear through love nor reducing love through fear.”~ Abba Theodore, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“I would like the person who eats every day to stop a little short of eating his fill.”~ Abba Poemen, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“As athletes make progress, so they face greater opponents.”~ Amma Syncletica, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“There are many in mountains acting like city dwellers who are perishing, and many in cities doing the deeds of the desert who are being saved. For it is possible to be alone with one's spirit while in the company of many, and also to have one's thoughts with crowds even when one is alone.”~ Amma Syncletica, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)

“Children, we all know how to be saved, but, by our own negligence, we fall short of salvation.”~ Amma Syncletica, The Book of the Elders: Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Systematic Collection)