Piety is the fear of God, shyness, spiritual sensitivity. The movements of the
devout are subtle, careful. He always senses the presence of God, the
angels, the saints. He feels the Guardian Angel beside him, watching him. He
lives simply and sanctified. He behaves everywhere with care and shyness
and feels all the sacred things alive. He does not put, for example, where he
sits, on the couch or on the chair, the Gospel or a spiritual book, etc. If he
sees a picture, his heart shakes, his eyes get tears. Even if he only sees the
name of Christ written somewhere, he embraces it with reverence and his
soul is sweetened from within. Even if he finds a piece of paper lying on the
ground, with the name of Christ written on it, he bends down, picks it up,
kisses it with reverence, and is sad that it was thrown away.
St. Paisios the Athonite
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
