Quotes by Abbot Nikon

God's boundless wisdom has given each person a cross according to his/her character and strength.  If we carry our cross without grumbling, repent of our sins, and do not justify ourselves, then like the good thief we shall enter God's Kingdom.  But if we grumble, if we blaspheme God or our neighbor, we shall perish like the wicked thief---in great torment, with out hope of salvation to lessen our grief.  The choice lies in our own hands.  We must be wise like the repentant thief.  None of us will escape the cross.  Let us ease its weight through faith in God, resistance to sin, repentance, forgiveness of all our close ones, endurance of sorrows without murmuring, and prayer to the Lord.

"The prince of this world blinds people who then walk like blind men, feeling their way and because of this they are constantly falling into one bog after another.  Science is fraud when its facts are taken as something absolute, for tomorrow's scientific knowledge will contradict today's; most art is a deliberate distortion; politics has always been full of deceit, lies, crimes.  Here everything must be understood in reverse---what they call life is but superficial, horrible pettiness, emptiness, lies with out end; in a word, it is the 'age of falsehood,' the kingdom of the prince of this world."

from Abbot Nikon: Letters to Spiritual Children

"He who follows properly the spiritual pathway begins to see in himself more and more sins, until finally he sees himself completely immersed in sin.  Through his spiritual eyes he perceives his leprous soul.  He feels with his whole heart that he is dirt and filth, that he is unworthy even to call out the name of God.  Like the publican, unable to raise his eyes, he cries out with pain of heart: 'God have mercy on me the sinner.'  When a person maintains his soul in such a spiritual state for a long time, he finally emerges from it absolved, like the publican."

Abbot Nikon