To live a life of holiness and piety, according to the mind of the Church, is nothing less than to set the whole of one’s existence upon the path of deification—the process by which human beings, created in the image of God, are brought by grace into His likeness. Holiness is not an abstract notion, nor a privilege for the few, but the lived reality of communion with Christ in His Body, the Church. This communion is expressed most fully in the Holy Mysteries, through prayer both personal and corporate, and through the works of mercy which manifest the love of God to our neighbour. The Apostle exhorted the faithful, saying, “For this is the pleasure of God, your sanctification…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3) Sanctification is not restricted to moral improvement alone, but is a participation in the divine energies, a transformation of the entire person by the indwelling Spirit of God. The faithful must therefore understand holiness as the foretaste of the Kingdom, begun here in this age and brought to perfection in the unending vision of God’s glory in eternity.
Piety is closely linked to alahayuta—a reverent orientation of the heart towards God, expressed outwardly in worship and inwardly in purity of mind. This Aramaic term can be defined as “Godliness” and “saintliness”. It is the offering of due honour to the Most High, not only in formal liturgical worship but in every moment of life. The heartbeat of our piety is found in the Divine Liturgy, where heaven and earth are joined and the faithful receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the remission of sins and life eternal. Alongside this central Mystery, confession, fasting, the daily cycle of prayers, and the keeping of feasts and fasts structure the life of the believer. The Jesus Prayer, said with attention of mind and contrition of heart, unites the Christian ceaselessly to the Name of the Lord. These practices are never to be considered empty formalities, but are vessels of grace, shaping the soul and conforming it to Christ. As our Saviour Himself said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot provide fruit on its own unless it remains in the vine, it is the same with you, unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4, Antioch Bible)
To live piously is inseparable from striving to keep the commandments of God with integrity and steadfastness. The commandments are not burdensome to us, but they are gifts, guiding us into true freedom and communion with God. The Decalogue, fulfilled in Christ, points to the higher law of love revealed in His own words, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first command. And the second, which is like it, is, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) Such love is a holy labour, an obedience that often entails struggle, sacrifice, and the bearing of the Cross. To love God wholly means to reject idols both external and internal, to order one’s desires towards Him alone. To love one’s neighbour means to embrace patience, compassion, and forgiveness, extending mercy even when the cost is high. Thus the Christian life is marked by ascetic effort, not as an end in itself, but as a way of opening the heart to the grace that transfigures.
Holiness and piety, then, cannot be understood apart from continual repentance, which is at the very centre of our way. Repentance is not only sorrow for sin, but the ongoing turning of the whole person towards God in humility and faith. We are far from perfection, yet the mercies of Christ are new each morning, and every day affords the opportunity to renounce sin, cultivate virtue, and draw nearer to Him who is our Life. Through prayer, the Mysteries, the keeping of the fasts, and works of love, the believer is renewed and strengthened to walk the narrow path. In this manner the Church becomes what she is called to be—a living icon of sanctity shining before the nations. Thus the faithful bear witness, as our Lord said, “Ye are the light of the world! A city built upon a hill, not be concealed.” (Matthew 5:14). The life of holiness is possible, for the saints are the proof, and the same Spirit who sanctified them is given also to us.
May God bless you +
Fr. Charles
12 September 2025
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