Q. Geronda, can one come to know God by studying books and gaining knowledge?

A: Let me tell you. When one has worked spiritually, and attained a good spiritual state, he can see some things very clearly, without having learned them from books, through divine enlightenment. And in fact, he may see them far more clearly than others who have read a world of books. With his inner purity, such a person can clearly see, both from a great distance and in great depth, because he has come off the worldly track and moves ever more on the spiritual track — in the sphere of divine mysteries.”

Q. In other words, Geronta, can a person who has not studied excessively come to know the mysteries of God?

A. Yes. If one has holy simplicity, one can not only know, but also live, the mysteries of God. Do you remember that very simple monk who was made worthy to dine with Christ? He was a shepherd before he became a monk, and the only thing he cared about was his salvation. A hermit, who once passed through the area, advised him: ‘If you want to be saved, you must walk on the straight path.’ The shepherd took the hermit’s advice literally — word for word. So he set out on the road, and walked straight ahead, for three days, until he finally came upon a monastery.

The abbot, seeing the man’s desire for salvation, made him a monk and placed him to serve in the church. One day, when he was cleaning the church, the abbot advised him to do his work well, The new monk listened to the abbot’s advice and, pointing to the Crucified Christ, asked: ‘Geronta, who is he standing up there? I have been here for days, and he has not come down to eat or drink.’ The abbot marveled at the monk’s simplicity, and said: ‘I punished him and told him to stand there, because he did not do his work well.’ The monk listened to him and did not say a word.

That night, he took his food and shut himself inside the church. He went under the Crucifix and said, with much pain: ‘Brother, come down and we will dine together.’ Then Christ came down and dined with the simple monk — reassuring him that He will take him to His Father’s house, where he will be joyful forever. Indeed, a few days later, that simple monk — very peacefully – fell asleep in the Lord. Your see, he was completely ignorant. And yet, thanks to his great simplicity and purity, look a what he was worthy enough to experience!

[Excerpt from: On PASSIONS and VIRTUES by St. Paisios the Athonite. Volume 5. Simplicity: the First Child of Humility and the Key to Experiencing the Mysteries of God]

Source: Orthodox Agape by Papa Demetri

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