Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers

Genesis2_15

In Categories: Miscellaneous Topics

"The knowledge and the practice of the soul's virtues have as their goal the preparation and planting of the trees of paradise. These trees are the knowledge of a man's intellect and his spiritual labor; in other words, the attentiveness of his intellect and the moral state of his soul. By practicing the commandments he 'cultivates and keeps' the trees (cf. Gen 2:15) with understanding and insight. At the same time he is helped by divine providence, that acts like sun, rain, wind and growth, without which all the effort of the gardener is in vain, even if everything has been done in due order. For nothing good can come about without help from above; yet help from above and grace are only granted to those who have resolve to act..." St. Peter of Damascus (Twenty-Four Discourses no. 9, The Philokalia Vol. 3 pg. 237):

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