Parable from Abba John Kolov In a certain city there was a beauty - a harlot who had many lovers. The prince made her an offer: “Promise to live chastely, and I agree that you be my wife.” She promised. The prince married her and took her into his home. Having learned about this, her former lovers consulted among themselves like this: such and such a prince married her and took her into his house. If we go straight to the house, the prince will torture us. Here's what we'll do: let's go behind the house and whistle for her. She will recognize our whistle and come out to us: then we will no longer be to blame. And so they did. But when she heard the whistle, she covered her ears, ran into the inner room and locked the doors behind her." Abba explained the parable this way: "The harlot is the soul; her lovers are passions; prince - Christ; the inner room is an eternal abode; whistling lovers are demons. If the soul constantly resorts to God, then demons and passions, fearing, will move away from it." Source: St. Ignatius Brianchaninov "Fatherland"
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru