In this life, if you live on your own you are lost. If you live in community you win! Because your Loneliness isolates you, makes you helpless, prevents your spirit to enjoy the good things of this world, especially those of the spiritual world, while life in community saves you from many difficult situations.

The most tragic condition of man is solitude, complete isolation. Saint Cyprian said: “Everyone falls on its own, but we achieve salvation in community, in the community of the church!” We bear the weaknesses of each other and we march towards salvation. Nobody achieves salvation on their own, not even the monks, or priests or good Christians.

All of us achieve salvation in community, in the bosom of Christ’s Church and we all are responsible of the others. If someone is weak, you should take his burden and carry it. If you are weak ask someone else to bear your burden. Thus, united in prayer and good deeds we will get to God’s glorious resurrection so that we resurrect with Him and see the heavenly light.

(Translated from Părintele Cheorghe Calciu, Cuvinte vii, ediţie îngrijită la Mănăstirea Diaconeşti, Editura Bonifaciu, 2009, pp. 37-38)