"Communion with God is arrived at through prayer, and this study is precisely a study of prayer. If to a certain extent I enter into the field of dialectics, it is not in the hope of convincing by argument but simply to observe that the paths of prayer traverse even this sphere of human existence. Every attempt to rationalise spiritual experience may be met with a variety of objections, because each one of us, in the ideal realm of his own contemplation of the world, is at liberty to establish whatever scale of values he pleases." + Archmandrite Zacharias
"It is impossible for one who follows this path (to contemplate the perfect holiness of God...and to acquire sanctity) to indulge in abstract rational cogitation even concerning the mysteries of the faith." + Archmandrite Zacharias
"Some there are who argue about faith, and there is no end to such disputes, but we must not quarrel about faith, but only pray to God and His Mother, and the Lord will enlighten us not by means of argument - and will enlighten us speedily. Many men have made a study of all the faiths but the true faith they have not come to know as they should; but if a man will pray to God in humility that the Lord may enlighten him, the Lord will make known to him how greatly He loves mankind. The proud man thinks he can comprehend everything with his mind but God does not grant this.But we know the Lord: He has made Himself manifest to us in the Holy Spirit, and the soul knows Him, and is joyful and glad and at ease, and in this lies our hallowed life." + St Silouan
