What does Heaven represent? It is a place with unfaded flowers, filled with spiritual fragrances, it is the angels’ joy, the Easter life, divine love, ceaseless prayer raised to God and an eternal life! Thus, how hard we should fight for it, but how small is our effort!

Oh, heaven, how beautiful you are! Your beauty calls and transforms me in totally another person! Why shouldn’t I struggle and fight properly to be worthy of you? Oh God, My Lord, banish from me this cursed proud, so guided by the holy humbleness ti become citizens of the sweetest Heaven. Amen!

(Translated from Comori duhovnicești din Sfântul Munte Athos, Culese din scrisorile și omiliile Avvei Efrem, Editura Egumenița, p.19)