Seraphim Alexiev, archim. The explanation of the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian Issued 2011 Translated from Bulgarian by Gheorghiţă Ciocioi I started the analysis of St. Ephraim’s prayer by analyzing the seemingly small sins: sloth, despondency, lust of power, and idle talking, which are actually great sins, and ended it by addressing the judging of one’s neighbour, which many deem harmless or even righteous, but is greatly detrimental to salvation. In-between are the virtues: chastity, humble-mindedness, patience, and love. It is a strange picture: sins flanking the highest virtues! Which is the edifying teaching of St. Ephraim’s prayer? It is this: in earthly life, virtues and sins grow side by side. The former lead to salvation, the latter – to doom. There is a connection between virtues and sins, although they oppose each other: they both develop within man’s heart. Sins attempt to overcome virtues; however, virtues can fight passions and become strongly rooted in one’s soul. Archimandrite Seraphim Alexiev Format: 17x24 cm; 344 p. ISBN: 978-973-136-213-7 «« back