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Gerontas Filimon: The whole struggle is removing the rho to become holy
Gerontas Filimon, the dikaios of the Holy Coenobiatic Pantokratoros Skete of the Prophet Elijah on Mount Athos, speaks on the purpose of life as the pursuit of holiness. He contrasts the present era, in which man remains wild (agrios) instead of becoming holy (agios), and says the entire spiritual struggle consists in removing the letter rho from our lives.
God desires to dwell in the human heart, to pitch His tent there, to walk in us, and to be our Father while we become His beloved children. Citing 2 Corinthians 7:1, he urges cleansing from every defilement of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Christ has conquered death and given meaning to life, showing the destination and directing the path.
The Christian does not live to die but to become a saint, a citizen of God's kingdom, to overcome mortality and become an intimate of God. He concludes with a reference to the Father's house, quoting the line "In the house of my Father, polemōn eim'" (I am warring).
Key moments
- 0:00 The speaker contrasts the current era where man remains wild (άγριος) instead of holy (άγιος), saying the whole struggle is to remove the letter rho (ρο) from our lives to become holy.
- 0:00 God desires to dwell within us, pitch His tent in our hearts, walk in us, and be our Father while we become His beloved children.
- 0:00 Quoting 2 Corinthians 7:1, he calls for cleansing ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 0:39 Christ has conquered death and given meaning to life, showing us where we are going and directing us.
- 0:39 We do not live to die but to become saints, citizens of God's kingdom, to overcome mortality and become intimates of God.
- 0:39 He refers to blessed dwellings and quotes "In the house of my Father, πολέμων ειμ'".