“Spend a little time with yourself, my child…” — Saint Ephraim of Katounakia
“We must gather ourselves together. We must gather both the mind and the soul. Everything. And we must close the doors.
Which doors? The senses are the doors. Gather yourself inwardly and close the doors. Spend a little time with yourself, my child.
You will die without ever having truly known yourself. You will depart this life without having loved yourself,
without having felt compassion for yourself. And if you have not felt compassion for yourself,
how will you save yourself? If you have not loved yourself,
how will you love another?
Does not the Lord say,
‘Love your neighbor as yourself’? It is there, within yourself, that the work begins.”
— Saint Ephraim of Katounakia
This saying is not a call to selfishness or self-absorption. Rather, the Elder speaks about inner attention, self-knowledge, repentance, and spiritual vigilance. Before we can truly help others, we must enter the hidden chamber of our own heart, confront our weaknesses, seek God’s mercy, and learn to see ourselves truthfully.
Only then can genuine love for God and for our neighbor begin to grow.