The Role of Simplicity and Detachment from Material Things

 

4.3 The Role of Simplicity and Detachment from Material Things

Opening Reflection

Simplicity and detachment are foundational to the ascetical life (መንፈሳዊ ተጋደሎ) of the Orthodox Fathers. These virtues are not about impoverishing oneself arbitrarily, but about freeing the heart from the distractions and enslavements of material things. Through simplicity, the soul can more fully pursue union with God, recognizing that true life and joy come from Him alone.

---

1. The Call to Simplicity in Scripture

• Jesus’ teaching on simplicity:
  “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions… But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” “የሰው ሕይወት በገንዘቡ ብዛት አይደለምና ተጠንቀቁ፥ ከመጐምጀትም ሁሉ ተጠበቁ አላቸው።… ዳሩ ግን መንግሥቱን ፈልጉ ይህም ሁሉ ይጨመርላችኋል።” (Luke 12:15, 31)
  Christ calls us to prioritize God’s kingdom over worldly wealth, and all else will be added to us.

·       Apostle Paul’s counsel:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”  “ኑሮዬ ይበቃኛል ለሚለው ግን እግዚአብሔርን መምሰል እጅግ ማትረፊያ ነው፤ ወደ ዓለም ምንም እንኳ አላመጣንምና::” (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
We grow in godliness (እግዚአብሔርን መምሰል)  by detaching ourselves from the love of wealth, possessions, and worldly ambitions—things that enslave the heart and distract us from our true calling in Christ.

 

This verse emphasizes that true gain is found in godliness (እግዚአብሔርን በመምሰል) and gratitude for what we have, not in relying on what we cannot keep.

• The Beatitudes:
  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “በመንፈስ ድሆች የሆኑ ብፁዓን ናቸው፥ መንግሥተ ሰማያት የእነርሱ ናትና።” (Matthew 5:3)
  To be “poor in spirit” “በመንፈስ ድሆች” means to humbly recognize our dependence on God, letting go of pride and attachment to wealth and self-sufficiency. This spiritual poverty begins with detachment from material reliance, from ego, and worldly desires, making room for God’s grace to reign in the heart.

---

2. Simplicity and Detachment Defined

• Simplicity: Living with only what is necessary for body and soul, avoiding excess.
• Detachment: Freedom from attachment or dependence on material possessions or comforts.

Both virtues are practiced to cultivate the heart’s undivided love for God, free from the distractions of excessive worldly desires. The principle is clear: if we have what is truly necessary for our living, there is no reason to excessively love material possessions. Of course, to obtain what is necessary for our life, we must work diligently, strive in our profession, and follow paths that lead to sufficiency, always asking for God’s help and blessing.

---

3. Teachings of the Church Fathers

• St. John Cassian (360–435 AD) :

“He who clings (adheres) to worldly possessions cannot have the peace of God, for the heart is divided.”

• St. Basil the Great ( 329–379 AD) :

“True wealth consists not in the abundance of possessions but in a heart at peace.”

• St. Anthony the Great (251–356 AD) :

“If you desire to follow Christ, you must abandon worldly attachments and seek heavenly treasures.”

---

4. The Role of Simplicity in the Ascetical Life (መንፈሳዊ ተጋድሎ)

• Freedom from Distraction: Simplicity clears the soul from the noise of constant desire.
• Focus on God: When material things do not compete for attention, the heart can focus on God.
• Trust in Providence: Detachment nurtures trust in God’s providential care.
• Love and Generosity: Simplicity opens the heart to love others, sharing what one has.

---

5. Detachment and the Danger of Possessions

• Material things are neutral; attachment is what enslaves.
• The Fathers warn against avarice (love for possession), which blinds the soul.
• St. Macarius the Great (300–391 AD) said:

       “The root of all passions is attachment to things of this world.”

---

6. Practical Expressions of Simplicity and Detachment

• Living modestly in dress, food, and possessions.
• Avoiding luxury and excess.
• Practicing generosity and almsgiving.
• Simplifying daily routines to create space for prayer and contemplation.

Simplicity and detachment call us to embrace moderation and avoid excess and luxury in our lives, especially in today’s challenging world.

---

7. Examples from the Lives of the Fathers

• St. Seraphim of Sarov: Lived simply in a forest shed, detached from worldly goods.
• St. Moses the Black: A Former robber who embraced radical simplicity and humility.
• St. Nilus the Ascetic: Spoke against attachment to wealth, urging monks to live with basic necessities.

To practice simplicity and detachment, we don’t necessarily need to flee to the desert; rather, we can cultivate a desert within our hearts, even while living amidst the complexities of today’s world.

---

8. Biblical and Patristic Summary

Luke 12:15 — “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” “የሰው ሕይወት በገንዘቡ ብዛት አይደለምና ተጠንቀቁ ::”

St. John Cassian reflects on this truth, teaching that a divided heart, attached to worldly goods, cannot have peace.

1 Timothy 6:6–7 — “Godliness with contentment (ባለን ነገር ማመስገን) is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” “ኑሮዬ ይበቃኛል ለሚለው ግን እግዚአብሔርን መምሰል እጅግ ማትረፊያ ነው፤ ወደ ዓለም ምንም እንኳ አላመጣንምና ::”

St. Basil the Great echoes this, affirming that true wealth is found in a heart free from anxiety over possessions.

Matthew 6:19–21 — “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up treasures in heaven.”  “ብልና ዝገት በሚያጠፉት ሌቦችም ቆፍረው በሚሠርቁት ዘንድ ለእናንተ በምድር ላይ መዝገብ አትሰብስቡ፤ነገር ግን ብልም ዝገትም በማያጠፉት ሌቦችም ቆፍረው በማይሠርቁት ዘንድ ለእናንተ በሰማይ መዝገብ ሰብስቡ ::”

St. Anthony the Great applies this verse, urging believers to abandon worldly attachments and seek heavenly treasure instead.

---

Conclusion

Among the ways the Orthodox Fathers succeeded in their ascetical life was through simplicity and detachment from material things. By freeing their hearts from the bondage of possessions, they opened themselves fully to God’s grace, found peace of soul, and laid up treasures in heaven. Their example invites us to live moderately, trust more deeply in God’s providence, and seek true wealth—a heart undivided and wholly turned toward Him. In simplicity and detachment, we too can discover the joy and freedom of life in Christ.

9. Reflection Questions

• How do material possessions affect my spiritual focus and prayer life?
• In what areas can I cultivate greater simplicity and detachment?
• How does trusting God’s providence help me to live more simply?

---

Can the Holy Angels Not Hear Our Prayers? An Orthodox Christian Response Rooted in Scripture and the Church Fathers

 

Introduction

Some denominations argue that holy angels, being created beings, cannot hear the prayers of the faithful because they are not omnipresent (ሁሉም ቦታ መገኘት). While this concern may be sincere, it reflects a limited understanding of the nature and role of angels as revealed in Holy Scripture and explained by the Church Fathers. Although angels are not divine in essence and do not share in God’s omnipresence, they play a distinct role in God’s divine economy—His orderly plan and action for the salvation of humanity. Empowered by God, they participate in the heavenly liturgy (Revelation 4:8–11; 5:11–13), minister to the faithful, and carry their prayers before the throne of God.

In this essay, we will demonstrate—through Scripture and the teachings of the Church Fathers—that holy angels can indeed hear and carry the prayers of the faithful. They do so not by their own nature, but through divine grace and empowerment. We will also explain how this truth aligns seamlessly with the Orthodox Christian understanding of God’s providence (God’s wise, loving, and powerful care and guidance over all creation), heavenly intercession, and the communion of saints.

1. The Angels Are Ministering Spirits

The role of angels is clearly defined in Hebrews 1:14:

“Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (NKJV) “ሁሉ መዳንን ይወርሱ ዘንድ ስላላቸው ለማገዝ የሚላኩ የሚያገለግሉም መናፍስት አይደሉምን?”

This passage establishes that angels are sent by God to minister to the faithful. To minister effectively, they must be capable of observing, understanding, and responding to the needs of the faithful. It would be illogical to say that angels are our ministers and guardians yet have no awareness of our cries or prayers.

The ministry of angels is not inactive, nor are they silent observers. Rather, they are actively involved in God’s work. They are aware of human events and participate in the lives of believers, often interceding and intervening, as seen throughout both the Old and New Testaments (Genesis 24:7; Psalm 34:7; Daniel 6:22; Matthew 18:10; Luke 1:19; Acts 12:7; Revelation 8:3–4).

Thus, from the above, one can understand that angels are actively engaged servants of God who attentively watch over and assist believers. Their ministry involves awareness of and response to our needs, making them vital participants in God’s plan of salvation.

2. Angels Present Our Prayers to God

The most explicit biblical testimony that angels are aware of our prayers is found in the Book of Revelation:

Revelation 8:3-4

“ሌላም መልአክ መጣና የወርቅ ጥና ይዞ በመሰዊያው አጠገብ ቆመ፤ በዙፋኑም ፊት ባለው በወርቅ መሰዊያ ላይ ለቅዱሳን ሁሉ ጸሎት እንዲጨምረው ብዙ ዕጣን ተሰጠው። የዕጣኑም ጢስ ከቅዱሳን ጸሎት ጋር ከመልአኩ እጅ በእግዚአብሔር ፊት ወጣ።”

This passage reveals an angel actively involved in presenting the prayers of the saints before God’s throne. It clearly shows that angels are aware of the faithful’s prayers and participate in their intercession, as the text states that the prayers of the saints ascend to God from the hand of the angel. The imagery of “incense” is a powerful biblical symbol of prayer, as expressed in Psalm 141:2: “ጸሎቴን በፊትህ እንደ ዕጣን ተቀበልልኝ::”

Therefore, the claim by some denominations that holy angels cannot hear the prayers of the faithful directly contradicts these scriptural truths. Angels do indeed hear, are aware of, and engage with our prayers—not by their own power or nature, but through the grace of God and the holiness they possess, as God sends them and reveals to them the prayers of His people.

3. Angels Rejoice Over Repentant Sinners

Jesus Himself taught in Luke 15:10:

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” “እላችኋለሁ፥ እንዲሁ ንስሐ በሚገባ በአንድ ኃጢአተኛ በእግዚአብሔር መላእክት ፊት ደስታ ይሆናል።”

Repentance (ንስሐ ) is a deeply internal and spiritual act, one expressed to God in prayer, confession, and inner regret. For angels to rejoice, they must be aware of the inner transformation occurring in the human soul. This proves they are not ignorant of our spiritual state, and by extension, of our prayers. This means that if angels are aware of our inner repentance, then it logically follows that they are also aware of the prayers through which that repentance is expressed.

4. Guardian Angels Are Personal and Watchful

In Matthew 18:10, Christ speaks of guardian angels for each believer:

“ከነዚህ ከታናናሾቹ አንዱን እንዳትንቁ ተጠንቀቁ፤ መላእክቶቻቸው በሰማያት ዘወትር በሰማያት ያለውን የአባቴን ፊት ያያሉ እላችኋለሁና።”

This passage not only affirms the Orthodox teaching that each person is assigned a guardian angel, but also reveals that these angels are intimately involved in the believer’s life—including their prayers—and continually see the face of God. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that part of their divine service includes hearing our prayers and presenting them before God.

Psalm 34:7 – “የእግዚአብሔር መልአክ በሚፈሩት ሰዎች ዙሪያ ይሰፍራል፥ ያድናቸውማል።”

This verse illustrates the protective role of angels, showing that they encamp around those who fear God and deliver them from danger. This ministry goes beyond mere symbolism or distant watchfulness; it reflects an active and attentive presence in the lives of believers. To guard and rescue us, angels must be aware of our needs, threats, and cries for help. Their spiritual vigilance naturally includes listening to our prayers. Though they are not omnipresent by nature, the grace given to them enables their responsiveness, allowing them to hear and act on behalf of those who revere God.

5. The Patristic Witness

St. John Chrysostom (349 - 407 AD)

In his homily on Hebrews 1:14, St. John Chrysostom emphasizes that angels are very nearby:

“The angels take our prayers and carry them to heaven; they never cease ministering to our needs.”

Origen of Alexandria (185 - 253 AD)

In Contra Celsum (Book V, Chapters 4–5), Origen affirms that angels play an active role in interceding for people:

“…we indeed acknowledge that angels are ministering spirits… and that they ascend, bearing the supplications of men, to the purest of the heavenly places… and that they come down from these… conveying… something… to be conferred by them upon those who are to be the recipients of his benefits.”

This passage confirms that angels carry our prayers to God and intercede on our behalf—not by their own power but empowered by God’s grace.

6. Clarifying the Misunderstanding: Omnipresence vs. Divine Empowerment

It is indeed true that angels are not omnipresent by nature. They are created beings with distinct spiritual limits. However, the Orthodox Church teaches that angels can hear and present the prayers of the faithful to God—not by their own nature, but by the grace and illumination granted to them by God. When we ask for their help, they do not rely on their own presence everywhere, but rather they become aware of our prayers through the spiritual communion they have with God, and by the grace-filled knowledge He imparts to them.

This is no different from the way prophets spoke—not from their own understanding, but by revelation from the Holy Spirit  “ትንቢት ከቶ በሰው ፈቃድ አልመጣምና፥ ዳሩ ግን በእግዚአብሔር ተልከው ቅዱሳን ሰዎች በመንፈስ ቅዱስ ተነድተው ተናገሩ።” (2 Peter 1:21). Likewise, the apostles performed miracles not by their own strength, but by the power of God (Acts 3:6; 14:3). In the same way, angels are made aware of the faithful’s prayers through divine revelation and spiritual understanding, and act in accordance with God’s will.

In Daniel 9:21–23, it is written:

“ገናም በጸሎት ስናገር አስቀድሜ በራእይ አይቼው የነበረው ሰው ገብርኤል እነሆ እየበረረ መጣ፤ በማታም መሥዋዕት ጊዜ ዳሰሰኝ። አስተማረኝም፥ ተናገረኝም እንዲህም አለ፦ ዳንኤል ሆይ፥ ጥበብንና ማስተዋልን እሰጥህ ዘንድ አሁን መጥቻለሁ። …”

This passage demonstrates that the holy angel Gabriel was made aware of Daniel’s prayer and sent by God in direct response to it. It affirms that angels are not distant or unaware, but rather responsive to the prayers of the faithful through divine revelation. See also: Luke 1:19 and Hebrews 1:14, which further highlight the angelic role in ministering to God's people.

Their ministry is not limited to moments when God directly sends them on a mission. As spiritual beings full of light and holiness, they are constantly attentive to the Church, to the liturgy, and to the prayers of the faithful offered in sincerity. Their ability to “hear” is not like us, physical hearing—but spiritual perception, granted and sustained by divine grace.

Thus, to say that angels cannot hear our requests because they are not omnipresent is to misunderstand how the spiritual world operates. They hear because God makes them capable of doing so, in service of His people and His glory.

Similarly, although not omnipresent, angels can swiftly attend to many of the faithful across different places—hearing their prayers, offering protection, and ministering to them (Hebrews 1:14). Their ability to do so is not from themselves, but by the grace and power of God who reveals to them what is needed.

7. Angles Can Hear the Prayers of the Faithful

In Acts 8 :21, we read that St. Peter understood the hidden thoughts of Simon the sorcerer, saying, “ልብህ በእግዚአብሔር ፊት የቀና አይደለምና ከዚህ ነገር ዕድል ወይም ፈንታ የለህም።” (Acts 8:21). This spiritual insight was not by Peter’s human nature, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, the saints—being filled with divine grace—can perceive hidden realities and hear prayers of the faithful and present them to God not by natural omniscience (ሁሉን ማወቅ), but through God’s revelation (grace).

The same truth applies to holy angels. Though they are created and not omniscient, they are granted knowledge and awareness through divine illumination. For example, in Matthew 2:13, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said:

“እነርሱም ከሄዱ በኋላ እነሆ፥ የጌታ መልአክ በሕልም ለዮሴፍ ታይቶ፦ ሄሮድስ ሕፃኑን ሊገድለው ይፈልገዋልና ተነሣ፥ ሕፃኑንና እናቱንም ይዘህ ወደ ግብፅ ሽሽ፥ እስክነግርህም ድረስ በዚያ ተቀመጥ አለው።” This knowledge did not originate from the angel's own nature, but from God’s revelation, making the angel aware of Herod’s evil plan.

Therefore, both angels and saints act not by their own power or nature, but by grace and divine gift granted to them. Their awareness of our request and prayers is part of their God-given ministry, not a claim of omnipresence.

In the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, when holy men and women reach the spiritual stage known as “Huset" ሑሰት”—the stage of observing hidden things (ሑሰት/ሁሉን በአንድ ቦታ ሆኖ ማየት መቻል)—they are granted an extraordinary grace: the ability to perceive and understand events happening throughout the world, regardless of their physical location. This mysterious awareness transcends space and distance. In a similar manner, the holy angels, though not omnipresent by nature, become aware of the prayers of the faithful through the grace of God granted to them.

Conclusion

The Orthodox Church does not teach that angels are omnipresent or divine. Rather, it affirms that they are servants of God, filled with light and empowered by His will to minister to the faithful, including hearing their prayers and presenting them before God. Scripture attests that angels carry our prayers once they hear them, rejoice in our repentance, guide our steps, and protect our lives. This teaching is consistently upheld by the Church Fathers.

To reject the role of angels in the life of the believer—including their awareness of our prayers—on the basis that they are not omnipresent, is to misunderstand both their ministry and God’s saving plan. The fact that angels are not omnipresent does not limit what God can accomplish through them.

Let us, then, with reverence and understanding, ask for the guidance and intercession of the holy angels, who dwell ever in the presence of God and minister to those who are recipients of salvation.

P.S. To learn more about the intercession of the holy angels, feel free to visit this link: https://tewahedoperspective.blogspot.com/2024/12/angelology-intercession-of-holy-angels.html

#EOTC #Holy #Angles #Ethiopian #Orthodox #Tewahedo #Church #ቅዱሳን #መላእክት #ጸሎታችንን #አይሰሙም?