Regarding Vocation: A Collection of Patristic Excerpts

Many of these excerpts are addressed to monastics. They are, however, some of the best statements one can find in the patristic corpus regarding Christian vocation, and thus are profitable for study in the course of determining what precisely vocation is and ought to be for the Orthodox Christian in modern society. It is suggested that these be approached in the following manner. First, remember that the Christian vocation that monastics pursue is in its essence the same calling in which we in the world are called. Second, remember that not all can or should be monastics — the monastic veil is but one way of fulfilling our Christian calling. Third, try to discern the principles underlying the words and lives of the monastic fathers, and their application to the life of the devout Christian in the world. In this way we may begin to fulfill our own vocation.

Click Below to Link to the Respective Vocations Excerpt:

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers. trans. Benedicta Ward. Kalamazoo, Michigan, Cistercian Publications 1975, revised 1984.

The Ladder of Divine Ascent, St. John Climacus. Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Boston, 2001.