The brothers asked Abba Agathon: “Which feat in monastic life is more difficult than others?” He answered: - Forgive me! I believe that the feat of prayer is more difficult than all other feats. When a person wants to pour out his prayer before God, then the enemies, demons, hasten to prevent the prayer, knowing that no feat is as dangerous for them as a prayer offered to God with all the soul. In every other feat that one dedicated to monastic life undertakes, even if he carries out this feat persistently and constantly, he gains and has some peace; but prayer until the last breath involves the labor of a difficult struggle.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru