“If you've arrived somewhere where nobody knows you...

Temporal

Translated from Bulgarian

Love is, above all, compassion and sympathy. It's another issue whether we can help [someone else] or not, but compassion is the first step.

The main thing is the heart-felt intention for compassion.

Saint Ephraim the Syrian says: “If you've arrived somewhere where nobody knows you, then – in order to arrange your welfare – first arrange the welfare of others.”

And so it is both in love, and in compassion. Fill up your heart with love and compassion for others, and you will receive love and compassion.

Love does not remember evil, i.e. you should not imagine [allow the thought] that any man conceals evil concerning you.

Love is pure and peaceful, i.e. it provides harmony of all forces.

The driving force in us must come from the heart.

Collection of Patristic guidance.
ON PRELEST.

Sts. Theodosius the Cenobiarch and Ephraim the Syrian

За БЪЛГАРСКИ: