The monk Joseph of Dionysiou
Out of great humility, Father Arsenios never spoke at large gatherings; his cell was like a small lecture room, in which there were always people who had come for counsel and instruction.
Once Father Arsenios was asked: “Should we say the prayer while carrying out our obedience?” The venerable father replied: “Of course, the prayer must never stop!” The monks complained: “We try to pray unceasingly, but the mind wanders.” Then Father Arsenios gave them this advice: “When we pray as much as we are able, then we compel the mind to take in the words we are saying. But to achieve this you need great effort and forcing of yourself. While you work, your lips should repeat without falling silent: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.’ The mind, of course, wanders, gets caught up in the work, roams here and there. But since the ear is listening, it still takes something in and lets it down into the heart. And know this: even if you do not understand the words of the prayer, Satan understands them very well, and trembles at the mere mention of the name of Jesus Christ.”
Once the refectory monk complained to Father Arsenios: “Bless, Father, the food has burnt.” “You probably had some bad thought,” Father Arsenios asked him. “I don't remember, Father,” the monk admitted sincerely. “Your mind probably gave itself to daydreaming, and the prayer vanished,” the venerable father went on. “Can that really have anything to do with the food burning?” the monk wondered. “And how! When you say the prayer unceasingly, you will never forget that you are cooking, and you will see what a tasty meal you turn out!” the venerable father instructed him.
Father Arsenios used to tell us that the venerable Joseph the Hesychast cooked the food himself, and all the while the tears never dried in his eyes. Where was his mind at that time?! If only you knew what tasty dishes he made! He was specially invited from other monasteries to prepare the feast-day meals.
Father Arsenios teased the refectory monk: “Here is our refectory monk, who doesn't pray because he's afraid the food will burn.” We all laughed, but the refectory monk grew thoughtful; the words of Father Arsenios were deeply imprinted on his mind — that when the venerable Father Joseph cooked, the tears never dried in his eyes.
Once Father Arsenios was asked: “The monks have the custom of reading the Akathist to the Mother of God instead of the Jesus Prayer while they work; which prayer is better to say?” Father Arsenios replied: “The Mother of God loves the Akathist very much. Together with the venerable Joseph the Hesychast, we used to say the Akathist to the Mother of God by heart more than once in the course of the day. I have a prayer book in which it is written that the Most Holy Mother of God appeared to many saints and told them that whoever reads her Akathist every day, she will protect in this life, and after death she will be his intercessor before her Son.
Of course, the foundation of everything is the Jesus Prayer. If you have the desire to pray, do not stop praying; it takes the place of everything and surpasses everything; this is the first work. If the thirst for prayer weakens, read the Akathist. The Most Holy Mother of God also loves the prayer ‘O Theotokos and Virgin’ very much. Sometimes, after it has been said many times, the Mother of God grants an indescribable sweetness.”
Father Arsenios was asked: “Father, if we can no longer stand on our feet from tiredness, may we pray lying down?” Father Arsenios replied: “Christ asks of us nothing more than what we are able to do. If we really cannot stand, and even sitting is hard for us, then He is with us even if we are lying down. But sometimes it also happens that we still have strength for prayer, and Satan suggests great tiredness to us and brings on sleep. We may have still heavier temptations too. That is why we must always be watchful.”
To the question whether one may drink wine, Father Arsenios replied: “You must settle that with your spiritual father. But be careful, because in a young man's body wine turns into blood, and in an old man's body into water. As for food, if during a fast you take no food in the morning, know that it will do you no harm. Yet a harsh fast is not acceptable either. As St John Climacus says, it is better to eat twice a day and overcome the sin of pride than to take a little food once a day and think all the time about what a great ascetic labour you are bearing.”
Father Arsenios himself said of himself: “The Lord has given me two very great gifts: the first, to be strengthened by taking food once a day; and the second, He has kept me from illness all my life and given me the strength never to take a single pill.”
And was it not a real miracle that in all this harsh ascetic life Father Arsenios was never ill; for more than 70 years not even water had run over his body; he washed only his head and feet. Yet in spite of all this, a wonderful fragrance of the desert came from Father Arsenios.
Father Arsenios instructed us: “As far as you can, see to it that you are on good terms with everyone. Let no one remain offended by you; know that even one person you have offended becomes an obstacle to your prayer.”
