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Discretion as the Greatest Virtue in Evergetinos Hypothesis 31
28:54
The third volume of the Evergetinos presents Hypothesis 31, which declares discretion the greatest virtue. The hypothesis gathers sayings from the Gerontikon, Abba Mark, Abba Cassian citing St. Moses the Ethiopian, St. Maximos, St. Ephraim, and St. Isaac. The cover art shows St. Moses the Ethiopian with the verse from Hebrews 11:37-38 about those who wandered in deserts and caves.
Abba Anthony, Abba Ammonas, and the elders affirm that discretion steadies the mind, curbs the passions, and directs every action toward God's will. Abba Cassian states the immediate purpose of monastic life is purity of heart and the ultimate end is the kingdom of heaven; all thoughts, words, and deeds must be measured against this purpose like a carpenter's plumb line.
Abba Nisro the Great tells a brother that not all activities suit everyone: Abraham was hospitable, Elias loved stillness, David was humble, so each should choose the work his soul prefers provided it accords with God's will and guard his heart. Discretion is a gift of the Holy Spirit, the acropolis and queen of virtues, the eye and lamp of the soul.
It distinguishes snares from providence and keeps one on the royal path between excessive asceticism and indolence. Without it, even severe asceticism leaves one far from God. Elder Heron fell after fifty years of extreme austerity, two brothers perished in the desert through undiscerning zeal, and an ascetic nearly sacrificed his son to a demon.
Abba Longos wishes to dwell remotely, fast strictly, and flee men; an elder replies that controlling the tongue makes one remote anywhere, controlling evil thoughts is better than extreme fasting, and one must first succeed living among men before living alone. True humility consists in revealing both deeds and thoughts to a spiritual father and not trusting one's own judgment; following the fathers' counsel leads to discretion, which avoids excess in diet, sleep, and every aspect of ascetic life.
St. Maximos teaches giving each part its due: readings and prayer to the rational faculty, spiritual love to the incensive, chastity to the appetitive, food and clothing to the body; godliness profits all things, bodily exercise little.
Key moments
- Discretion is the greatest virtue; without it even severe asceticism leaves one far from God, and remedies for the passions (reading, vigil, prayer, hunger, toil, solitude) are effective only when applied at the proper time and in due measure.
- Abba Longos wishes to dwell remotely, fast strictly, and flee men; the elder replies that controlling the tongue makes one remote anywhere, controlling evil thoughts is better than extreme fasting, and one must first succeed living among men before living alone.
- Abba Nisro the Great tells a brother that not all activities suit everyone, Abraham was hospitable, Elias loved stillness, David was humble, so each should choose the work his soul prefers, provided it is consonant with God's will, and guard his heart.
- Abba Cassian states the preceding purpose of the monastic profession is purity of heart and the ultimate end is the kingdom of heaven; all thoughts, words, and deeds must be directed to this purpose like a carpenter's plumb line.
- Discretion is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:8-10), the acropolis and queen of virtues, the eye and lamp of the soul that distinguishes snares from providence and keeps one on the royal path between excessive asceticism and indolence.
- Many exhausted themselves with extreme fasts, vigils, solitude, and almsgiving but fell into vice because they lacked discretion; Elder Heron fell after fifty years, two brothers perished in the desert, and an ascetic nearly sacrificed his son to a demon.
- True humility is revealing both deeds and thoughts to spiritual fathers and not trusting one's own judgment; following the fathers' counsel leads to discretion, which avoids excess in diet, sleep, and every aspect of ascetic life.
- St. Maximos teaches giving each part its due: readings and prayer to the rational faculty, spiritual love to the incensive, chastity to the appetitive, food and clothing to the body; godliness profits all things, bodily exercise little.