We were replacing a donkey

Oh, our most holy and blessed elder and father, why did you leave us so soon, alone in the struggling arena, you who have been such a unique instructor? We are being overcome by your loss! Why did we meet you at such an early age, where we had not been mature enough to recognize who you really were? Why did you conceal yourself from our youthful eyes and we are now flooded with regret? Is it not possible for you to come back to us even for a week? Blessed were those days when even though we had been laboring really hard and had almost nothing, we were constantly inundated with the fragrance of resurrection and eternity. Even though we were ascending a hill, fully laden three times the height of 1200 feet from the shore of Saint Anne to our cells, we were not tired. Instead we were upset because the shortage of time was not permitting us to ascend the same path once more for the sake of obedience. We had no help from any animal since the path was steep; we had to carry everything on our backs. Therefore, we were replacing a donkey.

There is only one meaning to our purpose in this life, no matter how many theories try to dissect it: Our obedience to Christ’s commandments. It is only in this way that we find solutions to the various problems which trouble us.

“Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi”

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