Tradition of the Saints

I had no idea that what was said by Metropolitan Epiphanios Zayed (+1982) in one of his poems, that is: “if devotion were to be judged by hair, then the he-goat would be the first monk”, was drawn from an old traditional saying. Today, I would like to exalt these words. The times (tend to) repeat their flaws. In my youth, most people used to set a benchmark for the good priest that he should have a beautiful voice. Nowadays, for some, the benchmark for the priest has become the hair he grows, or the fabric he wears! Days ago, someone told me: “be like the Orthodox priests, grow your beard, for us to call you: Father…”! The best tribute offered to the priest is to neglect him. Early in my ministry, a priest who is now with God told me: “when someone says to you: Father So-and-so, you should say to yourself: O Lord, have mercy on me, the unprofitable man”. I care for no word other than the one the fragrance of which fills the tradition of the saints.