55 Maxims of the Christian Life Fr. Thomas Hopko 1939-2015 Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko fell asleep in the Lord on March 18, 2015. May his memory be eternal! In addition to his many books, articles, and sermons - in 2006, in response to a request, Fr. Thomas compiled this simple but powerful set of spiritual maxims that "a believer, very simply put, would do if they really were obedient to God and wanted to live in the way that God would have us live." Be always with Christ, trust God in everything.

Pray as you can, not as you want. Have a keepable rule of prayer that you do by discipline. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times a day. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied with other things. Make some prostrations when you pray. Eat good foods in moderation. Keep the Church’s fasting rules. Spend some time in silence every day. Do acts of mercy in secret. Go to liturgical services regularly Go to confession and communion regularly. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings. Cut them off at the start. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings regularly to a trusted person. Read the scriptures regularly. Read good books a little at a time. Cultivate communion with the saints. Be an ordinary person. Be polite with everyone. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby. Exercise regularly. Live a day, and a part of a day, at a time. Be totally honest, first of all, with yourself. Be faithful in little things. Do your work, and then forget it. Do the most difficult and painful things first. Face reality. Be grateful in all things. Be cheefull. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small. Never bring attention to yourself. Listen when people talk to you. Be awake and be attentive. Think and talk about things no more than necessary. When we speak, speak simply, clearly, firmly and directly. Flee imagination, analysis, figuring things out. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance. Don’t complain, mumble, murmur or whine. Don’t compare yourself with anyone. Don’t seek or expect praise or pity from anyone. We don’t judge anyone for anything. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything. Don’t defend or justify yourself. Be defined and bound by God alone. Accept criticism gratefully but test it critically. Give advice to others only when asked or obligated to do so. Do nothing for anyone that they can and should do for themselves. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice. Be merciful with yourself and with others. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath. Focus exclusively on God and light, not on sin and darkness. Endure the trial of yourself and your own faults and sins peacefully, serenely, because you know that God’s mercy is greater than your wretchedness. When we fall, get up immediately and start over. Get help when you need it, without fear and without shame. For an audio version and to read the entire text of the transcript, click here.

