Форум »
Религиозная лексика »
Orthodox Quote of the Week »
»
Quote 324
Hieromonk Damascene (Christensen)
Это форум для студентов вуза.
Участие сторонних пользователей
не предусмотрено.
|
Quote 324 - Форум
|
Quote 324
| |
| readeralexey | Дата: Суббота, 25.10.2025, 00:18 | Сообщение # 1 |
 Генерал-лейтенант
Группа: Администраторы
Сообщений: 614
Статус: Offline
| We know that our metanoia is genuine—that is, that a Divine change has really occurred in us—when we have a revulsion for what before appeared sweet to us.
Hieromonk Damascene (Christensen)
|
| |
|
|
| boriskorsun3 | Дата: Вторник, 28.10.2025, 02:39 | Сообщение # 2 |
 Майор
Группа: Пользователи
Сообщений: 80
Статус: Online
| Hieromonk Damascene's assertion that genuine metanoia, a divine transformation of the soul, is revealed by a revulsion for what was once cherished, offers a profound insight into the nature of spiritual renewal. This quote directly addresses the core of authentic repentance, suggesting that true conversion is not merely an intellectual assent to religious doctrine, but a deep, visceral reorientation of the heart. When our metanoia is genuine, the allure of sin, the worldly pleasures that once captivated our affections, lose their sweetness. Instead, they evoke a profound disgust, a spiritual nausea that signals a fundamental shift in our desires and allegiances.
Consider the example of an individual ensnared by avarice. Before genuine metanoia, the accumulation of wealth, the shrewd bargaining, and the focus on material possessions might have been sources of satisfaction. However, after a true encounter with the divine, this same individual may find such pursuits hollow and even reprehensible. The pursuit of mammon is replaced by a longing for heavenly treasures, a desire to share what one has with the poor and needy, reflecting a transformation from self-serving acquisition to selfless charity. This revulsion is not born of forced suppression, but from a divinely illuminated understanding of true value.
Conversely, a person who once reveled in gossip and slander might, after experiencing metanoia, feel an overwhelming discomfort in engaging in such destructive speech. The words that once flowed easily now feel like poison on the tongue. This revulsion signifies that the Holy Spirit has begun to cleanse the heart, replacing malice with meekness and a desire for edification. This principle applies broadly across various sins; what was once delectable to the fallen nature becomes odious to the regenerated spirit.
This concept is not entirely new, but rather articulates a cornerstone of Christian experience. The Scriptures are replete with instances of this transformation: the prodigal son's realization of his degraded state, the apostle Paul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, and the Samaritan woman's immediate abandonment of her past life after encountering Christ. These narratives powerfully illustrate a profound turning away from former ways, driven by an inner divine revelation.
In practical application, this quote serves as a crucial diagnostic tool for self-examination. When we find ourselves still drawn to our former vices, or when the thought of repenting from them causes more inconvenience than aversion, it prompts a sober reflection on the depth of our spiritual change. It encourages us to pray for a more complete metanoia, for the grace to truly abhor that which God abhors, and to wholeheartedly embrace the path of righteousness. This divine recalibration of our affections is, indeed, the surest sign of a soul truly touched by God's transformative grace.
5
|
| |
|
|
| davydenkololita | Дата: Суббота, 01.11.2025, 11:38 | Сообщение # 3 |
|
Сержант
Группа: Пользователи
Сообщений: 27
Статус: Offline
| I would not agree with a statement that metanoia is when one thought they were having a mouthful of cake and it turned out to be a lump of salt, so they have gotten rid of it. It is not necessary that people don't feel it is a lump of salt when having it, probably they just cannot let it go because they do not have anything else to eat. Although one might be surprised, there are many who enjoy munching on salt being aware of it being revolting. They do it against themselves, as an act of self-destruction, and quite a conscious one. Thus, metanoia, to my mind, is a change for liberty. I would not think in terms of sweetness here.
Сообщение отредактировал davydenkololita - Пятница, 21.11.2025, 01:44 |
| |
|
|
| mariafokina99 | Дата: Суббота, 01.11.2025, 23:06 | Сообщение # 4 |
 Подполковник
Группа: Пользователи
Сообщений: 104
Статус: Offline
| Metanoia is a complex change of mind, heart, and life. I can't say that I definitely agree or disagree with the statement by Hieromonk Damascene, because everything depends on what is meant by it in each situation. Everybody has different experiences. What is bad for one person is sweet for another, and vice versa. I think that a Ddivine change may be felt differently by different people. I also feel that the word "genuine" is too strict and leaves no room for other forms of metanoia. It is a spectrum of feelings, emotions, and states.This process needs time and is full of doubt and uncertainty.
4,5
Сообщение отредактировал readeralexey - Воскресенье, 21.12.2025, 20:54 |
| |
|
|
| sophianesterenok | Дата: Понедельник, 24.11.2025, 23:32 | Сообщение # 5 |
 Майор
Группа: Пользователи
Сообщений: 87
Статус: Offline
| This quote is difficult for me to comment on because I have very limited sense of what is or isn't genuine. In the context of metanoia, does the genuine kind require this new revulsion to be permanent? Is it the same kind of change when we start to find good things sweet rather than revolting? As it was said above, finding something repulsive is often not enough to leave it behind, and in my understanding repentance is more about a change of life than a change of mind. Still, I agree that reflecting on how our attitudes shift may signal a spiritual change (in either direction) that could otherwise go unnoticed.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Сообщение отредактировал sophianesterenok - Понедельник, 24.11.2025, 23:33 |
| |
|
|
| solkinaanna57 | Дата: Пятница, 19.12.2025, 22:10 | Сообщение # 6 |
 Лейтенант
Группа: Пользователи
Сообщений: 66
Статус: Offline
| Hieromonk Damascene explains that genuine metanoia is revealed when something that once seemed sweet begins to evoke revulsion. I recognize this truth through my own experience. In my teenage years, I was deeply entangled in lust and unhealthy forms of attachment. I sought attention and warmth through inappropriate online communication, mistaking fleeting desire for love. At that time, such behavior seemed attractive and comforting, even necessary.
With time, reflection, and spiritual growth, my perception changed completely. I now understand that this way of living wounded my soul rather than healed it. What once appeared sweet now feels alien and painful to remember. This change did not come from external pressure, but from an inner transformation - a gradual purification of desire and understanding. I no longer seek validation through sin, because I have learned to value faithfulness, dignity, and true love.
5
|
| |
|
|
| oksanaoni2159 | Дата: Пятница, 19.12.2025, 23:45 | Сообщение # 7 |
|
Сержант
Группа: Пользователи
Сообщений: 35
Статус: Online
| Hieromonk Damascene once said that genuine metanoia, the true Divine change, proves it has taken place within us once we have revulsion for what before appeared sweet to us.
Interestingly enough, the privileged younger generation of Russian Christians to which I belong have found themselves born into fervently praying households of devoted Christians. On the one hand it is a blessing because it eliminates the long road that leaves us all unconsolable while still searching for God and not finding Him anywhere. On the other hand, our being born into Christian households does not leave room for things that "before appeared sweet to us". The young minds of children who are being read "Leto Gospodne" by Shmelyov are malleable and gladly take the shape that is asked of them. So I would argue that it isn't as common among younger people to feel a revulsion for what before was sweet to them.
On the other side of this coin is, of course, the young age and the lack of spiritual discernment and overall lack of years to communicate with God and to learn about life, and a smaller number of opportunities to strive for the Divine change and get it. That being said, I know for a fact that through diligent prayer and by the grace of God, one's mindset can dramatically change, and once we have let Christ into that area of our life that was previously closed to Him, there simply is just no going back, and what was secret or shameful or just not pleasing to God now is not pleasing to us either. That can be considered one of the biggest blessings in the human life, because the wrong ways become hateful to the faithful.
4,5
С уважением, Онищенко Ксения
Сообщение отредактировал readeralexey - Воскресенье, 21.12.2025, 21:00 |
| |
|
|
|
|
