Philotimo | Φιλὀτιμο:
The spontaneous(1), self-sacrificing(2), love(3) shown by humble(4) people, from whom every trace of self has been filtered out(5), full of gratitude towards God(6) and neighbor. Philotimo comes from a deep, abiding connection(7) with God, so that one is constantly moved to do and seek that which is good, right, and honorable.
Out of spiritual sensitivity, such people forget all that they give, but remember even the slightest good that others do to them, and repay it 100 fold.
- Spiritual Counsels V. 1 With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, pg 18.
- Spiritual Counsels V. 1 With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, pg 18.
Reflection:
St Paisios(8) Feast-Day is this Sunday, July 12th. St Paisios provides his own definition of Philotimo, a word he refers to often in his writings. This word(9) captures and puts a title to the Orthodox Christian disposition of the heart. A soul filled with Philotimo is that sense of not being able to ‘do’ enough for both God and neighbor.
Acting with Philotimo is to “Live your spiritual life with your heart rather than your mind. And never do a job without putting your trust in God, with great humility. Otherwise you will agonize over it and end up exhausting your mind and soul.”(11)
Living, acting, thinking, and praying with Philotimo, makes life easier: “People ask to feel joy, but joy will not come without sacrifices. Sacrifice gives birth to joy. Real joy comes from Philotimo.”(10)
Each of the adjectives Saint Paisios uses to describe Philotimo reflect the qualities taught by Christ in His ‘Sermon on the Mount’(12) (the Beatitudes) as well as when Christ fulfills(13) the Judaic Law, to include what is in the heart.(14)
Philotimo, by this definition, expresses in one word: the internal disposition of our heart resulting in our relationship with Christ, our neighbor, and our daily life as an extension of living as the Church - the Body of Christ. The world will recognize our Faith, through our Philotimo.
“You cannot cleanse the heart with detergent – it is Philotimo that does that”(15)
“God rejoices in the Philotimo of His children”(16)
References:
1) Matthew 10:5-8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”
2) John 19 Crucifixion and Death of Christ on the Cross
3) Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your soul, mind, strength and your neighbor as yourself...and Matthew 5:46 Love your enemies
4) Mat. 5:1-5 Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek...
5) Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
6) Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”
9) As Orthodox Christians, we understand that we are One Body in Christ and in our humility, our hearts are open for Christ to bring us out of our comfort zone, away from pride, through use of other languages in our Church life so that we may mature spiritually as human beings. Opening our hearts to the original text of the Scripture, Hymnology, and writings of Saints only benefits us.
10) St Paisios Spiritual Counsels V1. pg 181. We must trust in God with every task in our lives, otherwise we are depending solely on ourselves and we are limited. And we become frustrated with ourselves when we fail.
11) St Paisios Spiritual Counsels V1. pg 270.
13) Mat 5:17-20 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”
14) Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
15) St Paisios Spiritual Counsels V1. pg 429.
16) St Paisios Spiritual Counsels V1. pg 179
Official book on his life (1924-1994):
'Panagouda' The cell/house-Church that St Paisios lived in for many years on Mt Athos, where many pilgrims came and sought his guidance and advice.
The Grave-site of St Paisios
At the Monastery of St John the Evangelist Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece
At the Monastery of St John the Evangelist Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece
