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How Do we Choose a Spiritual Father?

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Jan 22 2015
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A good spiritual father is not one who simply forgives sins in confession. All spiritual fathers absolve sins by virtue of their ordination. A good spiritual father is one who… first of all helps us to not fall again, or at least to progress spiritually.  He does this through personal example and then with his instruction.

In this photo, Elder Ephraim of Vatopaidi gives advice with love to one of his monks. A candid shot in the Chapel of St. Demetrius. Another disciple listens on the left.

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  1. sumi 

    convingerea mea este ca importanta unui duhovnic sau maestru spiritual este esentiala in procesul de desavarsire.
    duhovnicul este canalul nostru de comunicare cu divinitatea , este cel care se nevoieste pentru noi si care ne elibereaza sufletul de povara pacatelor ascunse in adancul fiintei noastre.
    este “antrenorul” nostru personal pe latura spirituala si care stie toate “exercitiile” pentru minte ,trup si suflet de care avem nevoie ca sa devenim puternici.
    eu personal am avut ocazia sa cunosc un parinte deosebit care a rezonat cu interiorul meu si a fost o “dragoste la prima vedere”.
    cu totii ne-am dorit acel bunic care sa ne dojeneasca cu blandetea caracteristica intelepciunii .
    cam asta este relatia mea cu duhovnicul meu. dragoste si respect .
    sunt momente in care avem nevoie sa alegem un alt duhovnic din diverse motive ( distanta, sanatatea parintelui spiritual, etc) si cred ca cel mai indicat este o “recomandare” din partea unui parinte dupa o spovedanie.
    Doamne ajuta!

    22/01/2015 at 11:24 Reply
    • Ioan Toma 

      Una dintre cele mai mari binecuvantari este sa avem un parinte dupa inima noastra. Din cauza asta am scris cum sa-l cautam.

      22/01/2015 at 11:54 Reply
      • Eduard-Jenica 

        “Fără duhovnici buni se golesc bisericile, dar se umplu clinicile de psihiatrie.”
        SF. Paisie Aghioritul
        Gandesc ca este si de datoria noastra, a laicilor, sa ne rugam pentru duhovnici. Adesea cerem, fara sa dam nimic la schimb. Personal gandesc ca nu exista duhovnici buni sau rai. Ma ierte Stapana daca gandesc gresit. Cred ca, aici se vorbeste despre experienta, . Nu e acelasi lucru. Poate am inteles gresit. Iertati-ma!
        Din cauza pacatelor noastre,adesea cautam ‘senzationalul”, Vrem sa obtinem raspunsul imediat la problemele noastre, de aceea alergam “pe loc”. Problema insa este in mine! Orb si surd sunt!

        Am ascultat recent pe Gheronda Efrem Vatopedinul, care spunea ca asa cum noi suntem oameni si preotii sunt oameni. sa nu uitam asta, inainte de toate! Si asa cum “doctorul” este corupt dar vaccinul sau salveaza mii de vieti, asa este si cu Harul care niciodata nu se amesteca cu omul.

        Am avut ocazia sa aud despre un parinte care avea patima betiei. Iar o crestina atat il mai acoperea in fata lumii incat ajunsese fara “replica”. Nemaiputand rabda atata ocara de la oameni, a mers inaintea parintelui si i-a spus; Parinte, mult ma vei mai rusina?
        Oare eu am dragostea/credinta crestinei?
        Imi amintesc cu bucurie si acum, de cuvantul vrednicului de pomenire, Parintele Arsenie Papacioc..cand am ajuns noi pentru prima data la sfintia sa, eu, mai sentimentala asa din fire, ii spun;’Parinte, cat ma bucur ca am ajuns la sf.voastra”. parintele, rade si zice, “Draga, ai ajuns, nu asta era o problema..problema este ce faci cand pleci de aici”!
        ps- ca intotdeauna nu pot sa nu observ dragostea de pe chipurile parintilor. Aceeasi dragoste, bucurie, smerenie este si pe chipul celui care daruieste si pe chipul celui ce primeste..
        Multumim!

        22/01/2015 at 13:29 Reply
        • Ioan Toma 

          Într-adevăr, lucrul ce trebuie să ne preocupe este ce facem când plecăm de la duhovnic. Transmitem evlavia dvs.!

          23/01/2015 at 09:20 Reply
          • Eduard-Jenica 

            Multumim frumos!

            23/01/2015 at 18:34
      • Irinel Constantin 

        E mare dar de la Dumnezeu. Sa va traiasca! sanatos si in pace, si sa va ajute Dumenezeu sa il odhniti, spre folosul obstii Vatopedului … si a pelerinilor care cu voia Maicii Domnului calca pragul manastirii. Doamne ajuta!

        22/01/2015 at 16:16 Reply
        • Ioan Toma 

          Mulțumim! – am transmis mai departe părinților.

          23/01/2015 at 08:55 Reply

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