21 February 2017. The Passing of One of the Greats… Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov Dies

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The most important thing is to preserve love. Don’t fall into animosity; don’t fall into disputes. The enemy hates harmony. Discord is one of his most ancient wiles. Therefore, I wish that you had brotherhood and unity. Restrain yourself; forgive one another.

Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov

1919-2017

On 20 February, in the 98th year of life, Fr Archimandrite Kirill Pavlov departed this life. Today, 21 February, his body will lie in state at the St Sergei-Troitsa Lavra in Sergeyev Posad. He was one of the greatest elders of our time. Always remember that their numbers are few… and that we have none here in the USA. Kirill Dmitryevich was the elder to three patriarchs and people called him the “all-Russian Confessor”

The memory of the righteous will be eternal

Вечная ему память

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1 August 2016. A Point to Ponder…

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I wrote the following as a comment on FB:

I learn something new every day… I like to say that I know less at 62 than I did at 18. I think that you know exactly what I mean. As I tell my co-workers only half-jokingly, “Sgt Schultz was right!” Actually, it’s both “learning” and “unlearning”… paradoxically, that IS the path to wisdom.

Indeed… as an “elder”, I’m supposed to “know”… but I’m all-too-aware of my limitations and lacks. Perhaps, that IS what “eldership” is all about… knowing one’s limitations, but knowing that one has to do something, any road. It’s not easy being green…

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25 October 2015. A Thought from St Paisy Eznepidis of the Holy Mountain (+1994)

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18 October 2015. A Thought from Elder Archimandrite St Varsonofy Plikhanov of the Optina Pustyn

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Elder Varsonofy had been a long-service army officer in the Orenburg Cossack voiska, reaching the rank of colonel. He didn’t enter the monastery until he was 45. It takes all kinds, not only to make a world, but also to make a Church!

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