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Maica Gavrilia, Asceta Iubirii
λοι με άγχος! Τι τρέχει εδώ; Κάτι τι... Χάθηκε η έννοια της Χαράς. Είναι πολύ σοβαρό! Εκεί στην Ινδία, περιμένουν τον Χριστό και μ' αυτήν την αναμονή περιμένουν χαρούμενα. Εμείς Τον "έχουμε" και δεν Τον αντικατοπτρίζουμε. Είμεθα πολύ ένοχοι. Φοβερά ένοχοι. "Ούτε που πας, ούτε τι κάνεις, ούτε πώς ζεις, ούτε αν βοηθείς τους άλλους... Ένα έχει σημασία. Το Ποιον και το Ποσόν της Αγάπης που δίνεις παντού. Παντού. Χωρίς διακρίσεις". "Αν ήταν Παρών και Ορατός ο Κύριος, τι θα έκανες; Θα έκανες αυτό; Αν ήταν Παρών, θα έκανες το άλλο; Κι αυτό, σε φυλάει από κάθε αμαρτία". "Από την Αγάπη και πέρα, θα οδηγηθείς από το θέλημα του Θεού πώς να μιλήσεις". "Αφού είμαι υποτακτική στο θέλημα του Θεού, δεν μπορώ να πάθω... άγχος". "Είμαι της ενδεκάτης ώρας... αλλά ο Κύριος είπε να δουλέψουν κι εκείνοι που έρχονται την τελευταία ώρα". "Άμα γίνουμε εμείς ο καθρέφτης όπου βλέπει ο άλλος το πρόσωπό του, κι αυτός ο καθρέφτης είναι χαρούμενος, δεν μπορεί παρά να δει κι εκείνος κάτι". "Τρία πράγματα χρειαζόμαστε. Πρώτον Πίστη, δεύτερον Πίστη, τρίτον Πίστη". (Από την παρουσίαση στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου)
676 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1996
23 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 7, 2016
Η ασκητική της αγάπης διαβάζεται ανεξάρτητα με το εάν αν πιστεύει κάποιος ή όχι. Αναφέρεται στη ζωή της γερόντισσας Γαβριηλίας, η οποία κατάφερε να κάνει πράξη αυτό που ισχυρίζεται στην ουσία η ανατολίτικη φιλοσοφία, να ζεις χωρίς κανένα άγχος και έχοντας απόλυτη εμπιστοσύνη σε ό,τι φέρει κάθε φορά μπροστά σου το ποτάμι της ζωής, με μόνο στήριγμα την πίστη σου (στην προκειμένη περίπτωση την πίστη στο Θεό). Η γερόντισσα Γαβριηλία, χωρίς δεκάρα στη τσέπη της και με μοναδικό εφόδιο την πίστη της, καταφέρνει να αντιμετωπίσει όλους τους κινδύνους που ελλοχεύουν στα ταξίδια που κάνει σε πολλά μέρη του κόσμου και να ζει ευτυχισμένη με ελάχιστα υλικά αγαθά. Δεν περίμενα να βρω αυτό το βιβλίο στο goodreads!!!
June 20, 2008
This book is broken into two parts: her biography and the saying of M. Gavrilia. I really enjoyed the first part. I have mixed feelings about the 2nd part.
I found reading the story of her life was worth it for me. As always, I find reading about people (especially missionaries) who totally put their life into God's hands to be very helpful for my own spiritual encouragement. Her life of faith and love is not only inspiring, but something I want to follow. However, her sayings were a bit disappointing and fell flat for me. I often would read a saying of M. Gavrilia and think to myself, "I need to talk with my priest about that one." There were quite a few and I should have been putting sticky notes on them. Its not that everything she said was confusing, but there were enough of them that I felt that the book was becoming less and less inspiring for me.
I found reading the story of her life was worth it for me. As always, I find reading about people (especially missionaries) who totally put their life into God's hands to be very helpful for my own spiritual encouragement. Her life of faith and love is not only inspiring, but something I want to follow. However, her sayings were a bit disappointing and fell flat for me. I often would read a saying of M. Gavrilia and think to myself, "I need to talk with my priest about that one." There were quite a few and I should have been putting sticky notes on them. Its not that everything she said was confusing, but there were enough of them that I felt that the book was becoming less and less inspiring for me.
July 13, 2021
What makes this book worthwhile is its content, and the incredible story it shares of Mother Gavrilia’s life. She captures a true spirit of Love and orthodoxy, and her biography (complimented by her writings) reveals that.
However, unfortunately, the book itself is very poorly edited and arranged. It is broken into three sections. Her life, her sayings and her letters - and sits at about 440 pages.
So much material has been included, often repeating sequences in each section that confuse the chronology, that it would have been beneficial to cut some of the material and integrate the rest into her life biography. While the excerpts of her letters were beautiful firsthand accounts of her relationships and faith, they would have sat with greater context within the actual story of her life. Likewise for the list of sayings. There were far too many, and as they appear without context, they can be easily misunderstood or harsh in their reception.
As a result, this was a slow read for me but nonetheless valuable. It is clear that both Mother Gavrilia and her spiritual children who collated this novel did so with much love.
However, unfortunately, the book itself is very poorly edited and arranged. It is broken into three sections. Her life, her sayings and her letters - and sits at about 440 pages.
So much material has been included, often repeating sequences in each section that confuse the chronology, that it would have been beneficial to cut some of the material and integrate the rest into her life biography. While the excerpts of her letters were beautiful firsthand accounts of her relationships and faith, they would have sat with greater context within the actual story of her life. Likewise for the list of sayings. There were far too many, and as they appear without context, they can be easily misunderstood or harsh in their reception.
As a result, this was a slow read for me but nonetheless valuable. It is clear that both Mother Gavrilia and her spiritual children who collated this novel did so with much love.
March 5, 2023
[...]«Είστε Γαλλίδα, ἀγαπητή μου;» «Ὄχι, εἶμαι Ἑλληνίδα». «Δέν μοῦ λέτε, οἱ Ἕλληνες φορᾶνε παπούτσια ἤ περπατοῦν ξυπόλυτοι;» «Νὰ σᾶς πῶ», τῆς λέει πολύ σοβαρά, «πρό 2000 ἐτῶν πού ἤμασταν οἱ πιό πολιτισμένοι ἄνθρωποι τῆς γῆς, γυρίζαμε ξυπόλυτοι μέ πέδιλα. Ἔκτοτε, χάσαμε τον πολιτισμό μας μιμούμενοι ἄλλους λαούς καί τώρα πιά ... δυστυχῶς, φορᾶμε κι ἐμεῖς παπούτσια!» Ὁ ἰατρός ἀπό τό διπλανό δωμάτιο δεν μπόρεσε αὐτή τή φορά να κρατήσει το ἀγγλικό του φλέγμα καί ξέσπασε σε τρανταχτά γέλια... Λίγες μόλις ἑβδομάδες πρίν φύγει ἀπό τήν Ἀγγλία, τῆς προτάθηκε ή βρετανική ὑπηκοότητα, ἀλλά δέν τήν πῆρε.[... ]
February 5, 2010
This is an excellent book for the modern/female reader who never expected to change and is suddenly aware that there are women like this out there, perhaps gone from the world physically, whose spiritual essence and inspiration cheer us on! I am so grateful for this book. I have had it for many years and read it many times. Each time it goes deeper, deeper. I am reading this again after many years of traveling and the book was packed away. She always, through the message of the Holy Spirit-alive in her, has a word or two about your struggles. It can be humorous to know she has been there and done that, or it can be tense and shameful depending on how you embrace your spiritual life.
Whatever the level, whatever the goal-she is a must for your bedside reads.
Whatever the level, whatever the goal-she is a must for your bedside reads.
October 8, 2018
Amazing person, amazing life story, amazing book...It made me do more research on her life and even visit her resting place at the "Panagia tou kastro"(St. Virgin Mary of the castle) ,Leros Island ,Greece. I will definitely keep rereading this book over time.
January 5, 2017
Possibly my favorite book. A beautiful life lived in service to others, an awareness of God and his angels, and above all, love.
November 4, 2022
This book--Ascetic of Love about M. Gavrilia--was recommended to me for years by several people but was out of print. Now it's been reprinted and can be bought in a couple places. I bought one & started finding it to be heretical....
I tried finding if anyone else was noticing that. But not really, at least in the English speaking world. Only when I searched in Greek did I find Priests commenting and that the Diocese of Piraeus issued a warning notice on the book. They have a couple millenia practicing discernment (whereas we in the English speaking world are only learning what that means, we tend to cling to all spiritual experiences without discerning if they are from God or if one is in spiritual delusion (prelest/plani).
In the book it seems to say heretical things but then will try to say she's not heretical. But wouldn't the truth speak more than those arguments.
I remember some of her "visions" in the book included seeing dead Catholic people (Brother Lawrence and Thomas A. Kempis) and Christ's eyes, which looked so much like her eyes she thought they were her own...
She participated in ecumenical religious events in other countries (including the Taize movement), taught syncretism, and had strange spiritual events happen to her...such as--since her time in India--her hands would sometimes begin burning, become red, and she would cry out wishing someone would come by aching so she could release the heat onto them...never ever have I seen that as a "charism" before. There are many such demonic "gifts" though which seek to lead others astray and temporarily "heal".
Do not heed this book. Heed Christ.
Personally, I cannot recommend this book at all. It should be burned.
I tried finding if anyone else was noticing that. But not really, at least in the English speaking world. Only when I searched in Greek did I find Priests commenting and that the Diocese of Piraeus issued a warning notice on the book. They have a couple millenia practicing discernment (whereas we in the English speaking world are only learning what that means, we tend to cling to all spiritual experiences without discerning if they are from God or if one is in spiritual delusion (prelest/plani).
In the book it seems to say heretical things but then will try to say she's not heretical. But wouldn't the truth speak more than those arguments.
I remember some of her "visions" in the book included seeing dead Catholic people (Brother Lawrence and Thomas A. Kempis) and Christ's eyes, which looked so much like her eyes she thought they were her own...
She participated in ecumenical religious events in other countries (including the Taize movement), taught syncretism, and had strange spiritual events happen to her...such as--since her time in India--her hands would sometimes begin burning, become red, and she would cry out wishing someone would come by aching so she could release the heat onto them...never ever have I seen that as a "charism" before. There are many such demonic "gifts" though which seek to lead others astray and temporarily "heal".
Do not heed this book. Heed Christ.
Personally, I cannot recommend this book at all. It should be burned.
January 17, 2025
Chiar daca e o carte voluminoasa (672 pagini), se citește ușor. Spre sfârșit, mă gândeam că s-a păstrat în carte din simplitatea, lejeritatea și curăția Maicii Gavrilia.
Cartea conține relatări din viața maicii Gavrilia - in prezent declarata Sfânta. Ce este deosebit la această maică este faptul că nu se închide într-o mănăstire, ci toată viața ei călătorește pe tot pământul fiind o misionară a crestinismului ortodox. A învățat pe cei din jur despre credință nu cu vorbe, nu cu prelegeri și discursuri, ci mai degrabă prin propriul său exemplu de viețuire și trăire, prin iubirea care o dăruia tuturor, prin ascultare, prin tăcere, prin slujire. Se călugărește abia dupa varsta de 60 de ani, pina atunci însă tot lui Hristos îi slujește, lasă totul în urma ei și pornește la drum încotro Domnul îi va porunci, fără nici un ban. Viața ei este cu adevărat uimitoare. Ea avea o regulă interesanta, să spună mereu DA tuturor, la orice propunere sau invitație - "DA voii lui Dumnezeu!".
Maica Gavrilia vorbea 5 limbi: zambetul, lacrimile, atingerea, rugaciunea si dragostea. "Cu aceste 5 limbi poti calatori in jurul lumii si toata lumea este a ta."
Unicul minus al cartii este de nivel tehnic. Sunt multe greseli de tiparire (litere omise).
Cartea conține relatări din viața maicii Gavrilia - in prezent declarata Sfânta. Ce este deosebit la această maică este faptul că nu se închide într-o mănăstire, ci toată viața ei călătorește pe tot pământul fiind o misionară a crestinismului ortodox. A învățat pe cei din jur despre credință nu cu vorbe, nu cu prelegeri și discursuri, ci mai degrabă prin propriul său exemplu de viețuire și trăire, prin iubirea care o dăruia tuturor, prin ascultare, prin tăcere, prin slujire. Se călugărește abia dupa varsta de 60 de ani, pina atunci însă tot lui Hristos îi slujește, lasă totul în urma ei și pornește la drum încotro Domnul îi va porunci, fără nici un ban. Viața ei este cu adevărat uimitoare. Ea avea o regulă interesanta, să spună mereu DA tuturor, la orice propunere sau invitație - "DA voii lui Dumnezeu!".
Maica Gavrilia vorbea 5 limbi: zambetul, lacrimile, atingerea, rugaciunea si dragostea. "Cu aceste 5 limbi poti calatori in jurul lumii si toata lumea este a ta."
Unicul minus al cartii este de nivel tehnic. Sunt multe greseli de tiparire (litere omise).
April 1, 2023
Ένα βιβλίο που πρέπει να διαβάσει κάθε άνθρωπος που θέλει να θεωρεί τον εαυτό του ελεύθερο και σκεπτόμενο. Ένα Βίβλο διαφορετικό από τα άλλα. Ένα βιβλίο που δεν θα σας το προτείνουν στο tik tok και στο bookstagram ένα βιβλίο που πρέπει να ψάξετε για να το βρείτε.
Ένα βιβλίο για ψαγμένους αναγνώστες.
Ένα βιβλίο για ψαγμένους αναγνώστες.
October 22, 2025
Full of wisdoms and love. This book is such an encouragement in what is possible in life and the trust one can have in God as provider and protector of our lives. So many fantastic words of wisdom to be found.
February 22, 2021
O carte de suflet! O carte care merită citită fara întârziere! O carte care ne învață iubirea necondiționată! Slavă Lui Dumnezeu pentru toate!
March 19, 2021
How can I buy this book, please?
January 11, 2022
Besides details from Mother Gavrilia life and testimonials about her, the list of teachings on different contemporary subjects is very valuable.
March 16, 2024
Εξαιρετικο βιβλιο αλλα γιατι τοσο μικρη γραμματοσειρα. Για μας τους μεγαλυτερους ειναι πολυ κουραστικο. Κακη η εκτυπωση του εκδοτικου οικου για λιγοτερες σελιδες και περισσοτερο κερδος.
July 3, 2023
Doar un singur lucru este important: cantitatea si calitatea iubirii pe care o daruiesti tuturor - tuturor fara discriminare.
Atunci cand va supuneti in intregime puterii si dragostei lui Dumnezeu, veti intelege ca TOTUL se face fie ca Dumnezeu vrea sau pentru ca Dumnezeu permite. Nu exista o a treia varianta!
Desi omul de multe ori cauta inspiratie divina in temple vechi si ruine, el nu reuseste sa o gaseasca in ruinele umane
Gasiti o gaura in peretele inchisorii voastre si evadati! Veti fi liberi pretutindeni in lume si in curand veti discoperi ca doar dragostea conteaza.
Atunci cand va supuneti in intregime puterii si dragostei lui Dumnezeu, veti intelege ca TOTUL se face fie ca Dumnezeu vrea sau pentru ca Dumnezeu permite. Nu exista o a treia varianta!
Desi omul de multe ori cauta inspiratie divina in temple vechi si ruine, el nu reuseste sa o gaseasca in ruinele umane
Gasiti o gaura in peretele inchisorii voastre si evadati! Veti fi liberi pretutindeni in lume si in curand veti discoperi ca doar dragostea conteaza.
November 5, 2016
ILL from Holy Cross in Brookline
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews