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Pemptousia (GR) · Aug 18 View source View full article on hyper.nooz.ai

Αββάς Δωρόθεος: Κανένας δεν μπορεί να πει, «είμαι φτωχός και δεν έχω να ελεήσω» - Pemptousia

🌐 Quote shown in the original Greek — English translation below

… κανένας δεν μπορεί να πει: «Δεν μπορώ να κάνω ελεημοσύνη». Ο καθένας μπορεί, κατά τη δύναμή του και ανάλογα με την κατάστασή του. Μόνον, να έχει κανείς το νου του, το καλό που κάνει, να το κάνει με επίγνωση, όπως είπαμε και για κάθε άλλη αρετή.

Γιατί είπαμε ότι εκείνος που ενεργεί με επίγνωση, αυτός είναι ο αναγνωρισμένος τεχνίτης, που οικοδομεί με ασφάλεια το σπίτι του.

Γι’ αυτόν λέει το Ευαγγέλιο: «Ο φρόνιμος άνθρωπος κτίζει το σπίτι του πάνω στην πέτρα και δεν μπορεί καμιά ενάντια δύναμη να το διασαλέψει».

Ο φιλάνθρωπος Θεός να δώσει ν’ ακούμε και να εφαρμόζουμε όσα διδασκόμαστε, για να μην γίνουν αυτά τα λόγια την ημέρα της κρίσεως, αιτία κολάσεως, γιατί σ’ Αυτόν αρμόζει η δόξα στους αιώνες. Αμήν.

Απόσπασμα από το βιβλίο «Αββά Δωροθέου, Έργα ασκητικά» των εκδόσεων Ετοιμασία.

▲ For · the wise man
Sentiment: positive

The quote praises the stability and strength of a wise person's foundation.
🇬🇧 English translation

Abba Dorotheos: No one can say, "I am poor and have nothing to give in charity" - Pemptousia

(Edited by Stelios Koukos)

On the building and the mortar of the virtues of the soul

Continued from here: https://www.pemptousia.gr/2026/08/avvas-dorotheos-ta-tria-eidi-psychikon-diatheseon-pou-mas-odigoun-sto-na-kanoume-to-kalo/

158.-. No one can say: "I am poor and have nothing to give in charity." For even if you cannot give, like those rich people who placed their gifts in the treasury, give two minutes, like that poor widow. And God accepts them on your behalf better than the gifts of the rich.

Do you not even have this? You do, however, have physical strength and you can, through your service, show mercy to the sick.

Can you not even do this? You can, with your kind words, comfort your brother. Therefore, show him mercy with your kind words and listen to what is said: "A kind word is preferable to material gifts."

Let us assume that you cannot even show mercy with words. However, if your brother is angry with you, you can show him mercy and be patient with him in his moment of agitation, seeing that he is being influenced by the common enemy (the devil).

And instead of saying a word to him and agitating him further, be silent and show mercy to his soul, taking it from the hands of the enemy.

You can also, if your brother sins against you, show him mercy and forgive his sin, so that you too may receive forgiveness from God. For the Holy Scripture says: "Forgive, so that you may be forgiven."

And you find yourself in the position of showing mercy to your brother's soul, forgiving him for whatever he has sinned against you.

For God has given us the power, if we wish, to forgive one another's sins. And yes, even if you do not have the ability to show mercy to your brother's body, you show mercy to his soul.

And what greater alms exists than that which is offered to the soul? For just as the soul has greater value than the body, so too the alms offered to the soul has greater value than that given to the body.

Therefore, no one can say: "I cannot give alms." Everyone can, according to their strength and according to their circumstances. Only, one must keep in mind that the good they do should be done with awareness, as we have said for every other virtue.

For we have said that he who acts with awareness is the recognized craftsman, who builds his house with security.

That is why the Gospel says: "The wise man builds his house upon the rock, and no opposing force can shake it."

May the philanthropic God grant that we hear and apply what we are taught, so that these words do not become a cause of confusion on the day of judgment, for to Him belongs glory forever. Amen.

Excerpt from the book "Abba Dorotheos, Ascetic Works" published by Etoimasia.

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