Question
How to attaint to Humility in Gregory the Sinaite?
Answer
In one of his presentations, Fr. Akakios, a disciple of Saint Porphyrios, says the following based on his reading of “Two paths that lead to humility” in St. Gregory the Sinaite:
One path is hard, long, and passes through seven [discernable] stages, in order to reach the eighth [stage], to that humility which exalts us [raises us up] (υψοποιό ταπείνωση).
These seven stages are silence, which leads to humblemindedness(ταπεινοφροσύνη). Humblemindedness leads to the next three: humble-speaking(ταπεινολογία), humble conduct (ταπεινοφορία), self-reproach[accepting blame] (αυτομεμψία). These three stages lead to contrition [a crushing of the heart] (συντριβή).
Contrition means that one foresees one’s temptations and is greatly tormented by demons - one is defeated by demons, and constantly cast down [into the pit] – this is a very painful state. And gradually contrition leads to hell (άδης) - to the "end [the verge or edge (of one’s endurance)]” (εσχατιά), as it is called - where there is a great abandonment by God (θεοεγκατάλειψη), one is alone, and temptations come from every side: from within, from demons, from people, from everywhere - until one reaches a certain desolation (απόγνωση).
This is a state that Saint Silouan the Athonite lived in for 17 [actually 15] whole years. And he [Silouan] says to Christ, “O Lord, my Christ, you are inexorable (αδυσώπητος)! And the very same Christ, being present, said to him, "Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not”.
Translation by Dr. Christopher Veniamin (with Greek terms added)
This passage is worth pondering.
Dr. Christopher Veniamin
President
The Mount Thabor Academy