The Light of the Virtuous

Protopresbyter Dionysios Tatsis | March 18, 2026

 

 

Modern people are not particularly distinguished for the willing fulfillment of their duties in their profession and for the observance of the divine commandments in their personal life. These two are interrelated. The observance of the commandments, which forms conscientiousness in a person, is a prerequisite for the precise fulfillment of his duties. Those who achieve this combination experience very deep satisfaction, which lasts for many years. When, moreover, it is a permanent way of life and activity, the satisfaction is lifelong. All people desire satisfaction, but not all are consistent in the prerequisites. We shall present two examples, after first making a necessary clarification. The fulfillment of duties with dedication of soul and not with bureaucratic sluggishness presupposes religious conscience and the presence of many virtues in a person.

A retired teacher, conscientious in his vocation, used to say that he searches in vain to find even one of his students who would criticism him. All praise him, greet him, show him respect, and have beautiful memories. His students are his spiritual children, of whom he speaks with love, and many times, jokingly, he assures that every positive and good thing they have they owe to their teacher! And even after two and three decades, the mutual feelings remain. The students grow up and change, but the teacher also grows old and begins to forget and not easily recognize his students, who are now men and women with professions and families. Every time the retired teacher meets one of his students, or remembers him particularly from some characteristic of his personality, he rejoices and his soul is filled with a satisfaction for which there are no words to describe it.

The second example is given to us by a priest who worked for decades in small and remote parishes, without ever seeking advancement of position. He was satisfied with his humble work. He was distinguished by his readiness to serve his parishioners without payment, to communicate with them, to care for the maintenance and proper condition of the central churches and the chapels, and to manage their income with conscientiousness, something which they especially appreciated and thus offered money for his work. Money was never lacking, and he was able to meet the needs of his parishes. He was reverent within the church, but also outside, when the Divine Liturgy ended and people would wait for him with interest for coffee at the café or in the parish hall. There he would willingly converse with everyone, resolve various questions related to religion and the needs of the village, and at the same time receive information about his traveling parishioners. He always departed from his parish satisfied and glorified the Lord who deemed him worthy to perform his priestly duties and to satisfy the people. He was tireless, although he had to travel great distances. He always served in more than one parish, due to the lack of parish priests. His good experiences from his ministry preserved his sacred zeal, but also his good willingness to work, even though he had exceeded fifty years in the priesthood! Every time his parishioners and other acquaintances asked him whether he would retire, he would smile and tell them: “We priests of the provinces do not retire, as long as we are able to celebrate the Liturgy. We do not forget that the priesthood exists until the last day of our life, and may it be that until then we remain on our feet and in sound mind!”

The virtuous man is not regarded with love by everyone. There are always some who wish to diminish him in the eyes of the many, because they themselves are reproved by his presence. It is not enough for them to taste the fruits of the tree; they want to cut it down. However, the majority of people accept him, and some well-disposed individuals pay closer attention to him, are taught by his words and his deeds. If the virtuous man is also a clergyman, the benefit that results for society as a whole is great.

The light of virtuous people is necessary in our harsh age, in which people have lost their spiritual orientation and are miserable, despite their external brilliance and the hypocrisy in their life.

 

Greek source:

https://orthodoxostypos.gr/%cf%84%cf%8c-%cf%86%e1%bf%b6%cf%82-%cf%84%e1%bf%b6%ce%bd-%e1%bc%90%ce%bd%ce%b1%cf%81%ce%ad%cf%84%cf%89%ce%bd/