Quotes on Anger from the Holy Fathers

I found this quotes on the website of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in McKinney TX

Do not let the sun go down on the anger of your brother (Eph. 4:26); that is let no one be angry and enraged against his brother until the setting of the sun. REF:Elder Ephraim of Philotheou Mount Athos Counsels from the Holy Mountain


A brother asked Abba Isidore the priest Why are the demons so frightened of you? The old man said to him Because ever since the day I began practicing ascesis I have striven to prevent anger from reaching my lips. The Desert Fathers


Anger is by nature designed for waging war with the demons and for struggling with every kind of sinful pleasure. Therefore angels arousing spiritual pleasure in us and giving us to taste its blessedness incline us to direct our anger against the demons. But the demons enticing us towards worldly lusts make us use anger to fight with men which is against nature so that the mind thus stupefied and darkened should become a traitor to virtues. Abba Evagrius the Monk(Texts on Active Life no. 15)


Anger is tamed and becomes transformed into benevolence only through courage and mercy… St. Gregory of Sinai (Texts on Commandments and Dogmas no. 1)


As with the appearance of light darkness retreats; so at the fragrance of humility all anger and bitterness vanishes. St. John Climacus “The Ladder of Divine Ascent” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery 1978) Step 8: On Freedom From Anger and On Meekness


BROTHER: What is purity of soul?

OLD MAN: Remoteness from anger and from the error of the remembrance of evil things and being weaned from the bitter nature and reconciliation with our enemies and peace which is beyond troubling and simplicity of love which is above this world; with these things is the inner man cleansed and he puts on Christ and is redeemed. E. A. Wallis Budge The Paradise of the Holy Fathers Seattle St. Nectarios Press 1984 pp. 266-267


He who has put a stop to anger has also destroyed remembrance of wrongs; because childbirth continues only while the father is alive. St. John Climacus “The Ladder of Divine Ascent” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery 1978) Step 9: On Remembrance of Wrongs


He who is not indifferent to fame and pleasure as well as to love of riches that exists because of them and increases them cannot cut off occasions for anger. And he who does not cut these off cannot attain perfect love. St. Maximos the Confessor (First Century on Love no. 75)


My children desire to purify your hearts from envy and from anger with each other lest death should overcome you and you will be counted among the murderers. For whosoever hates his brother kills a soul. Abba Anthony the Great.


One must by every means strive to preserve peace of soul and not be disturbed by offenses from others; for this one must in every way strive to restrain anger and by means of attentiveness to keep the mind and heart from improper feelings. And therefore we must bear offenses from others with equanimity and accustom ourselves to such a disposition of spirit that these offenses seem to concern not us but others. Such a practice can give quietness to the human heart and make it as dwelling for God Himself. St. Seraphim of Sarov Spiritual Instructions Little Russian Philokalia V. I


Prayer is the flower of gentleness and freedom from anger Evagrios the Solitary


Silence of lips is better and more wonderful than any edifying conversation. St.Barsanuphius and St.John


The first step toward freedom from anger is to keep the lips silent when the heart is stirred; the next to keep thoughts silent when the soul is upset; the last to be totally calm when unclean winds are blowing. St. John Climacus (The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Step 8)


Wrath is a reminder of hidden hatred that is to say remembrance of wrongs. Wrath is a desire for the injury of the one who has provoked you. Irascibility is the untimely blazing up of the heart. Bitterness is a movement of displeasure seated in the soul. Anger is an easily changeable movement of one’s disposition and disfiguration of soul. St. John Climacus “The Ladder of Divine Ascent” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery 1978) Step 8: On Freedom From Anger and On Meekness


It is necessary most of all for one who is fasting to curb anger to accustom himself to meekness and condescension to have a contrite heart to repulse impure thoughts and desires to examine his conscience to put his mind to the test and to verify what good has been done by us in this or any other week and which deficiency we have corrected in ourselves in the present week. This is true fasting. St. John Chrysostom.

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One Reply to “Quotes on Anger from the Holy Fathers”

  1. greatly appreciated Fr. Vasile! Anger is one of the most disturbing habbits that we cultivate in our lives. The opposite of love and reason the epiphany of our darker-side and still-corrupted inner selves.

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