Wavering in Quest of the Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved

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5.00 · 7 reviews

Wavering in Quest of the Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved

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In the struggle to break free from the narrow confines of this world, we undergo successive fluctuations and painful sufferings. The angels are a light for the spiritual struggle of monks, while the monastic way of life is a light for Christians in the world. Through the wondrous narrowness of its path and the foolishness of obedience, monasticism leads to a supranatural enlargement of the heart, to the blossoming of the hypostasis, to the gift of divine adoption. The Christian life is extremely dynamic, but also very antinomic. The faithful believer bases himself upon the word of the Lord, and through his prayer he undertakes the ‘leap of faith’. Following the path of humble descent, he goes down with self-reproach even unto the lowest depths of hell, where with a humble spirit and a crushed heart he meets Christ as a fellow traveller, is united with Him, and is overshadowed by the energy of His state. This is the sanctification which the heroes of faith attain. United with the Author of his faith, the Christian athlete is flooded with the hope of eternal life. Now he voluntarily keeps his mind in sombre hell so as to preserve unharmed the treasure stored in the innermost depths of his being.

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AuthorArchimandrite Zacharias Zacharou

LanguageEnglish

Book CoverHardback Clothbound with Dust Jacket

Pages308

PublisherStavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist

Edition1st edition

Publication Year2024

ISBN978-1-915687-63-0

Weight0.529kg

Dimensions21.5 x 16 x 2.4 cm

Book Presentation: Wavering in Quest of the Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved

Prologue

Stability – Searching with Zeal for a New Beginning in the Way of the Lord

The Glory of Suffering

A Few Thoughts on the Converse of Monks

The Wondrous Narrowness of the Monastic Path

Confirmation of the Great Gifts of God by the Saints and Discernment in Spiritual Relationships

Practical Manifestations of the Spirit of Monasticism in Community Life

The Prowess of Faith

Proximity with the Holy Word of God

Commentary on Parables from the Gospel

The Parable to the Sower

The Parable of the Talents

The Parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus

The Great Supper

The Good Samaritan

Different Kinds of Prayer in our Unceasing Converse with Him

Humbly Abiding in the Remembrance of Hell Saves Man from the Threat of Hell

Book Sample

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Excerpts (2)

We experience many fluctuations in the spiritual life. We oscillate between an increase and a decrease of our strength and inspiration to pray; between states of spiritual bliss, when we control our nature and easily avoid sin, and states of inner aridity, when we are bereft of grace and cannot help yielding to sin. Sometimes, we feel the action of grace tangibly within us, while other times grace departs and we are left desolate. However, even when we fail to acquire divine love, we nevertheless succeed in one respect: we realise our spiritual poverty, we become contrite and humble, and then we can connect with Christ more easily. The awareness of our desolation is the foundation of every spiritual ascent. Many often confess: ‘I have no stability. I go up and down all the time?’ But, in fact, this is a training in the way of Christ Who first descended to hell and then ascended above all heavens. God allows this instability; even His most zealous disciples go up and down all the time like a pendulum. At their lowest point they attain humility, before rising again to learn a new mercy, a new grace.

— Excerpt from: Wavering in Quest of the Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved (p. 13)

We do not even need stability. The instability we experience teaches us a great mystery. Every time we go down and feel desolate, we are humbled. If we accept this humility, the Lord gives us the grace to rise up. However, we are not able to keep this grace and we go down again. We desperately need to learn this path, descending to the depths of desolation and from there rising to the heights of the presence of God, where we delight in His grace.

This path leads from darkness to light, from death to life, from desolation to the bliss of being united with the Spirit of the Lord. It is the path of our personal Easter, which we live each time we approach the Person of Christ. When we become accustomed to the ascent from our pit to a place nearer to Christ, we are initiated into the mystery of His Passover.

Therefore, we must not be despondent or disheartened when we are down, but we must take advantage of the great privilege it offers us to make a new beginning. We must not diminish our inspiration nor lose this continual increase, this perpetual ascent, so that we may sing a new song of love and gratitude in the presence of the Lord.

We think that our lack of stability is a great calamity and at times we lose hope and our heart breaks into pieces. However, at this moment we must cry out from our heart and confess our poverty and desolation to God. Then the Lord will unfailingly extend His hand and lead us on the way. Then we will receive a new beginning, a new grace, and we will pray with new gratitude to our Redeemer.

Even great saints could not avoid instability.

— Excerpt from: Wavering in Quest of the Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved (p. 15-16)

Reviews (7)

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Customer reviews

🇦🇺 Australia
💎 Top Rated
Evan Kardaras (verified owner) – 3 months ago
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Wavering in Quest of the Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved, is an incredible book with rich insights on the struggles one faces when seeking to grow deeper in their relationship with God. Fr Zacharias masterfully explains the mystery of God’s working in our lives, the various changes a person experiences (with the comings and goings of Grace), and how to navigate these changes until a person reaches the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). The text clearly shows how the spiritual fatherhood of St Silouan has passed onto St Sophrony, and now onto Fr Zacharias, demonstrating the mystery of how true Orthodox life, is passed down “from generation to generation”, in an unbroken line, through the mystery of obedience. A must read for anyone that wants to enter deeper into the mystery of God’s love.
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🇬🇧 United Kingdom (UK)
💎 Top Rated
Tony Martin (pastor) (verified owner) – 1 year ago
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‘Walking in Quest…’ is another precious gift from The Community of St John the Baptist. Here are helps to stay steady even when we are tempted to be unstable. In fact, instability becomes itself a gift where we can begin again in thanksgiving and repentance, communion continues with His living Presence. Father Zacharias gives us holy foundational wisdom that brings hope and fresh energy. He writes, ‘Monasticism is the inheritance of a state’, these writings help us ‘in the world’ to at least attempt to imbibe such a state, by His grace and mercy.
There are many questions relating to obedience in monastic life and I found Father Zacharias’ gracious answers applicable to the wider challenges of local church life.
So, here we have a book that nurtures the soul in its pursuit of God: yet does not flinch from the dynamics of walking in obedience to our brothers, sisters and overseers. We are reminded our core is an unshakeable Kingdom where we worship One who loved us to the end.
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1 person found this helpful
🇺🇸 United States (US)
Erin Maria (verified owner) – 1 year ago
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We could study and read these words every day of our life and be truly edified by the depth of their profound wisdom and beauty, yet still feel as though we have barely scratched the surface of what it means to know and follow Christ.
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🇦🇺 Australia
Emorfia Ryan (verified owner) – 1 year ago
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A humbling joy to read. An encouragement to keep us ascending towards God, though we may falter at times. To revist themes and to discover another depth in meaning. The teaching is sectioned in small incremental headings to allow for the reader to stop and reflect. Truly our Lord provides for those who seek Him in their hearts desire.
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🇦🇺 Australia
Cathy (verified owner) – 1 year ago
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Exceptional…. Just as all Father Zacharias’ books are. His books are Full of Grace!
Thankyou for such an inspiring book.
Cathy
Sydney, Australia
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🇨🇦 Canada
Leo Lazaris (verified owner) – 1 year ago
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Another spiritually profiting book from the monastery. Just as the others, Wavering in Quest is a balm for the hurting soul. Thank you to Fr Zacharias
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🇬🇧 United Kingdom (UK)
Yiasoumis Yiasimi (verified owner) – 1 year ago
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Thank you very much for the wonderful book Flying Over The Abyss. It brings me so much joy and enlightenment of the heart to read, it enriches the soul as every paragraph is a seed of hope that guides our path to understanding the truth.
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