Many of the orthodox saints advocated for utopia and believed that it is possible to attain happiness. These saints include St. Maxim, St. Alexander, Ss Boris and Gleb, and St. Isaac of Nineveh. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few of their most memorable quotes about utopia.
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St. Maxim
According to the Orthodox faith, utopia is a world where everyone has enough and nothing is scarce. In such a society, there is no danger of greed or over-consumption. Instead, people live contented lives, confident in their abundance. Human beings, on the other hand, are prone to excess, which is the result of pride and fear.
Similarly, the Utopians ask: Why should we take a stone or jewel from a heavenly body? The stone and the jewels are supposedly more valuable than human life, yet we have no more value than a sheep’s fleece.
St. Alexander
The orthodox Saints Alexander, John, and Paul, three of the Patriarchs of Constantinople, lived during various periods of Christian history and faced heresies and atheists who wished to distort the teachings of the Church. Saint Alexander lived from 325 to 340 and was the vicar bishop of the time of Saint Metrophanes, the first Patriarch of Constantinople.
St Alexander’s asceticism and love for the Church caused him to become a saint and a hermit. He lived a life of asceticism and fasting, and he received a number of extraordinary gifts from the Holy Spirit. During his arduous asceticism, he was faced with many temptations, and his prayer to God scorched these demons.
St. Isaac of Nineveh
Isaac of Nineveh (also known as St. Isaac the Syrian or Abba Isaac) was an orthodox Christian bishop from the 7th century. He was best known for his writings on Christian asceticism. His writings are often quoted by Orthodox Christians today.
Isaac of Nineveh was born in Qatar and entered a monastery with his brother when he was a young man. He became a teacher and a holy man, eventually being ordained bishop of the city of Nineveh, the former capital of Assyria. However, after only five months in the episcopate, he requested abdication and left the city. He then went to the wilderness of Mount Matout, where he spent several years studying the Scriptures. He later retired to the monastery of Rabban Shabur, and reposed on January 28, 303 A.D.
St. Chrysostom
In his homily on Matthew ch. 19, St. Chrysostom makes a profound statement about the nature of the human heart. His tender temperament and elevated spirit, touched by heaven, won him a following and the affections of many. His sweet and frank personality were an endearment, and he thought only of the good of others.
Chrysostom’s sermons, which are widely regarded as the “Ark of Salvation,” are often read in a distinctly Christian context. Although Chrysostom did not hold Judaism to be on par with Christianity, he believed that Judaism no longer had anything to offer. Many of his sermons are reminiscent of Greco-Roman rhetoric, and some of the most offensive statements are rhetorical devices.
