Explore the profound teachings of Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou as he delves into the experience of encountering the Holy Trinity within oneself. Discover how the grace of the Triune God manifests as energy, bringing sweetness, emotion, tears, and self-reproach. Gain insight into the process of spiritual cleansing and self-awareness. Join us on a journey of self-discovery and divine connection as we delve into the significance of prayer and forgiveness in our relationship with God. Subscribe now for transformative insights into Orthodox spirituality.
Video source: Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou Homilies
Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/X6W64vKOCHM
Holy Monastery of Saint Avvakoum, Fterikoudi, Cyprus, June 11, 2023
Metropolitan Neophytos:
The modern-day Saint Ephraim Katounakiotis (†1998) said, “How do you feel The Holy Trinity inside you?” “You feel Her energy.” Just like you approach fire and you say, “I got burned.” Or you drink cold water and cool off. That’s an energy. Right?
The same goes for the grace of our Triune God. It has energy. You can feel it coming by the sweetness, or the emotion, the tears, the self-reproach. That I can blame myself without feeling guilty. Right? And even though I blame him, I am glad. Why am I glad? Because I am being cleansed. Elder Panais of Lysi used to say, “layer by layer. One layer of sin goes, another one appears. A new demolition hammer. I will break it too. Then a next layer.”
While you strive, you [are able to] witness your mess, your ancestors’ mess and you realize which sin [belongs to whom]. “This sin is my father’s, this one is my mother’s.” My mother was scathing. She is a saint in the heavens, but she was scathing until her 50s. I inherited it. Every time I would speak scathingly of someone, I could hear my mother inside me saying, “My son, watch [yourself]! I had this habit, now you got it too? Make a prayer, ‘Christ forgive me and forgive my mother.’” As a result, I cleanse myself from scathing… Zena [some friend of Morphou] who knows me well, says, “You’ve reduced it, but from time to time you have it.” I have people who ‘control’ me.
If Christ comes, God, The Father is [also] present. God cannot be without The Son or The Son without the Father. But I suggest you, as you pray the “ Basileu Ouranie (Heavenly King)” [prayer], or the small prayer we said, “Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, cleanse me.”
As we say to Christ, “O Christ, the true Light,” or “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” What is the prayer to God, the Father? The Lord’s Prayer. What is the small [version] of the Lord’s Prayer? “My heavenly Father, forgive me.” The whole meaning of the Lord’s Prayer is found in this phrase. “My heavenly Father, forgive me.” He who prays the Lord’s Prayer, or the “My heavenly Father, forgive me,” he will never feel like an orphan.
Whether your father is dead, your mother is dead, or you are an elder, 80 years old, you feel like a small child of the heavenly Father. This is a great deal! To get older and become a child. But a child of whom?
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