Some posts need no fleshing out. This is one…:

“Thomas John Hopko was an Eastern Orthodox Christian priest and theologian. He was the Dean of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary from September 1992 until July 1, 2002 and taught dogmatic theology there from 1968 until 2002. The late Fr. Thomas Hopko (1939–2015) was also a popular speaker and podcaster and the author of many books.”

He formulated a set of 55 maxims to guide spiritual and daily life. These maxims are practical, succinct pieces of advice aimed at fostering a deeper spiritual life and personal growth. Here’s a brief overview of some key themes covered in the maxims:

1. Faith and Worship: Emphasize the importance of faith in God, regular prayer, and participation in church services and sacraments.

2. Humility and Repentance: Encourage humility, repentance, and acknowledging one’s own faults while avoiding judgment of others.

3. Love and Service: Advocate for love, forgiveness, kindness, and service to others, reflecting Christ's teachings in daily interactions.

4. Simplicity and Moderation: Promote living simply, being content with what one has, and exercising moderation in all things, including speech, food, and possessions.

5. Thankfulness and Joy: Stress the importance of gratitude and maintaining a joyful spirit even in difficult circumstances.

6. Mindfulness and Presence: Encourage being present in the moment, attentive to God’s presence, and mindful of one’s thoughts and actions.

^{55 Maxims of the Christian Life - Fr. Thomas Hopko}

• Be always with Christ and trust God in everything.

• Pray as you can, not as you think you must.

• Have a keepable rule of prayer done by discipline.

• Say the Lord's Prayer several times each day.

• Repeat a short prayer when your mind is not occupied.

• Make some prostrations when you pray.

• Eat good foods in moderation and fast on fasting days.

• Practice silence, inner and outer.

• Sit in silence 20 to 30 minutes each day.

• Do acts of mercy in secret.

• Go to liturgical services regularly.

• Go to confession and holy communion regularly.

• Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings.

• Reveal all your thoughts and feelings to a trusted person regularly.

• Read the scriptures regularly.

• Read good books, a little at a time.

• Cultivate communion with the saints.

• Be an ordinary person, one of the human race.

• Be polite with everyone, first of all family members.

• Maintain cleanliness and order in your home.

• Have a healthy, wholesome hobby.

• Exercise regularly.

• Live a day, even a part of a day, at a time.

• Be totally honest, first of all with yourself.

• Be faithful in little things.

• Do your work, then forget it.

• Do the most difficult and painful things first.

• Face reality.

• Be grateful.

• Be cheerful.

• Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.

• Never bring attention to yourself.

• Listen when people talk to you.

• Be awake and attentive, fully present where you are.

• Think and talk about things no more than necessary.

• Speak simply, clearly, firmly, directly.

• Flee imagination, fantasy, analysis, figuring things out.

• Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance.

• Don't complain, grumble, murmur or whine.

• Don't seek or expect pity or praise.

• Don't compare yourself with anyone.

• Don't judge anyone for anything.

• Don't try to convince anyone of anything.

• Don't defend or justify yourself.

• Be defined and bound by God, not people.

• Accept criticism gracefully and test it carefully.

• Give advice only when asked or when it is your duty.

• Do nothing for people that they can and should do for themselves.

• Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice.

• Be merciful with yourself and others.

• Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.

• Focus exclusively on God and light, and never on darkness, temptation and sin.

• Endure the trial of yourself and your faults serenely, under God's mercy.

• When you fall, get up immediately and start over.

• Get help when you need it, without fear or shame.