The prerequisite for the experience of true freedom is not to have dominion over anyone and for no one else to have control over you. Every man inevitably forfeits his freedom as soon as any power over any one of his fellows manifests itself in him. The aspiration to dominate is itself the consequence of an inner enslavement. In enslavement there is no love. (Saint Sophrony, Letters to His Family)
every encroachment on the freedom of anyone whosoever leads first and foremost to the loss of freedom of those who are doing the encroaching. If someone wishes to be free, he must look after the freedom of everybody else, and then he will receive the highest form of freedom, which is not threatened even by death. (Saint Sophrony, Letters to His Family)
All men are made In God’s image; but to be in His likeness is granted only to those who through great love have brought their own freedom into subjection to God. For only when we do not belong to ourselves do we become like him who through love has reconciled us to himself. No one achieves this unless he persuades his soul not to be distracted by the false glitter of this life. (Saint Diadochos of Photiki, On Spiritual Knowledge and Discrimination)
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