Saint Theophan the Recluse on the path to communion with God

Saint Theophan the Recluse states that it is true that one can know the final purpose of man: communion with God. He adds that one can also describe the path that leads to this purpose: faith and living according to the Commandments, with the help of divine grace. He then says that it suffices to say in addition: here is the path, start walking.

The quote consists of three sentences. The first sentence affirms that the final purpose of man is knowable and identifies it as communion with God. The second sentence asserts that the path to this purpose is also describable and names two elements: faith and living according to the Commandments, and notes the assistance of divine grace.

The third sentence gives a direct command to begin walking on that path. The language is French. The attribution is to Saint Theophan the Recluse, a recognized Orthodox saint and spiritual writer. The quote does not provide further explanation of what communion with God entails, nor does it detail the content of faith or the specific Commandments.

It does not discuss the nature of divine grace beyond mentioning its help. It does not address potential obstacles or stages of the path. The statement functions as a concise summary of the Christian life as understood in the Orthodox tradition: a known goal, a known way, and a call to immediate action.

The quote is presented as a standalone aphorism. It uses the first person plural to indicate general accessibility of this knowledge. The phrase suggests that the only remaining step after knowing the goal and the way is the decision to act. The exclamation carries urgency. The name is the French form of Saint Theophan the Recluse, a 19th-century Russian bishop and ascetic writer.

His works often emphasize the practical application of Orthodox theology. This quote reflects that emphasis on practice. The text does not cite a specific work or date. The source text provided contains only this quote; there is no accompanying discussion or commentary.