The Evergetinos: Book Two - Part XXXV, Part V and XXXVI, Part I

The Evergetinos gives us stories that cut to the heart of Christian life: how do we respond when insulted, wronged, or treated unjustly? The world would have us defend our honor, insist on our rights, repay injury with injury. But the Fathers reveal another way — the way of Christ — in which anger is cut out at the root, vengeance rejected, and the heart freed from the tyranny of retaliation.

The Example of St. Pachomios

When insulted by his own brother, St. Pachomios felt the sting of anger rise within him. Yet instead of defending himself, he went into the night to weep before God. He confessed not his brother’s fault, but his own weakness. This is the paradox: the saint sees not an occasion to justify himself but to deepen his repentance. The world teaches us to stand tall when wronged; Pachomios bowed low, stretching out his hands like Christ crucified, begging mercy and was healed.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:08:19 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 278, #7

00:13:45 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 278, #7

00:14:28 Lilly: I have it too

00:21:51 Myles Davidson: I heard someone describe a debate between a Catholic and Orthodox recently as a “blood sport”

00:38:38 Lilly: A response could be “I'll pray for you.”

00:48:40 Andrew Zakhari: I find that in counseling when there is over eagerness on my part to try to help, it almost creates a controlling temperament and often leads to frustration for me and the counselee.

00:58:36 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 280, A

01:00:47 Bob Čihák, AZ: or Book by P G Wodehouse, "Aunts Aren't Gentlemen"

01:14:58 Kate : I have often heard that it is not sinful to feel anger so long as we do not act on that anger.  But St. Pachomios is weeping because he even feels anger.

01:16:00 Quinn Larnach-Jones: Thank you, Fr.!

01:16:02 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️

01:16:09 Catherine Opie: Many thanks once again for a thought provoking talk.