Hidden Holiness and Spiritual Gifts (Healing, Prophecy)

 

7.3: Hidden Holiness and Spiritual Gifts (Healing, Prophecy)

Opening Reflection

The Orthodox Fathers never pursued spiritual gifts—such as healing, prophecy, or visions—as ends in themselves. Rather, these blessings emerged as the natural fruit of a life united with God—a life rooted in humility, repentance, and complete surrender. This lesson examines how their hidden holiness became a channel for extraordinary grace, how they preserved humility despite receiving such gifts, and what this teaches us about reliable spiritual life today.

1. The Hidden Life: Seeking God, Not Glory

Colossians 3:3 states, – “ሞታችኋልና፥ ሕይወታችሁም በእግዚአብሔር ከክርስቶስ ጋር ተሰውሮአልና፤::”

This verse teaches that the Christian life is hidden with Christ in God, calling us to humility, inner devotion, and detachment from worldly fame or recognition.

The great Orthodox ascetics avoided fame and spiritual pride. Many lived in humble anonymity, often refusing to be known for their holiness.

St. Isaac the Syrian (613 – 700 AD) writes, “Strive to enter the treasury that is within you, and you will see things that are in heaven. For there is but one single entry to this: repentance and humility.”

Holiness for them was not external signs but the purification of the heart. Their greatness was often hidden even from themselves.

2. The Fruits of a Pure Heart: Healing and Prophecy

Although the Fathers did not seek them, the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit often appeared in the lives of the Fathers.

Matthew 5:8 affirms this truth, “ልበ ንጹሖች ብፁዓን ናቸው፥ እግዚአብሔርን ያዩታልና.”

• Healing: Many Fathers were granted the gift of healing not as a reward, but as acts of divine mercy ( መለኮታዊ ምሕረት).
• St. Macarius of Egypt (300 – 391AD) healed a paralytic by prayer, then warned the crowd: “It is not I, but Christ who healed this man, so that you may believe.”
• St. Gregory of Nyssa (335 – 395 AD records several miracles performed by his sister, St. Macrina  (324 – 379 AD)—including healings from sterility and grave illness—not to glorify her human nature, but to testify to her holiness and steadfast faith in Christ.
• Prophecy and Discernment (ማስተዋል): This was often seen in their ability to see the heart or predict spiritual dangers.
• St. Anthony the Great (251 – 356 AD) once discerned the state of a man’s soul from a distance and warned others of his spiritual dishonesty, despite being far from this man.
• St. Paisios the Athonite, a 20^th-century Eastern Orthodox saint, was often able to discern people’s hidden burdens and pray for their healing—without asking them anything.

These gifts were not proof of personal virtue, but of God’s grace at work through humble instruments.

3. Discernment: The Greatest of All Gifts

St. Paul writes, “ለአንዱ ጥበብን መናገር በመንፈስ ይሰጠዋልና፥ ለአንዱም በዚያው መንፈስ እውቀትን መናገር ይሰጠዋል፥ ለአንዱም በዚያው መንፈስ እምነት፥ ለአንዱም በአንዱ መንፈስ የመፈወስ ስጦታ፥ ለአንዱም ተአምራትን ማድረግ::” (1 Corinthians 12:8-9)

This verse emphasizes that Spiritual gifts like wisdom, knowledge, and faith come from the Spirit and equip believers to serve God and others effectively.

In Orthodox tradition, discernment (ማስተዋል) is considered a higher gift than even miracles, because it prevents delusion (false beliefs) and ensures humility.

St. John Climacus (579 – 649 AD) teaches, “Discernment is the uncorrupted conscience (ያልተበላሸ ሕሊና) and purity of perception (ግንዛቤ). It is the gateway to divine vision.”

Many Fathers who were gifted with miraculous gifts continually sought spiritual guidance to protect themselves from the deceptions of the evil one.

4. Humility as the Guardian of Grace

Spiritual gifts were always wrapped in humility (ትሕትና). The Fathers constantly warned against seeking or boasting about such experiences.

Example:

• A brother saw a vision of angels and reported it to his elder. The elder said, “You would have done better to weep for your sins than to see angels.”

St. Seraphim of Sarov, an Eastern Orthodox saint, said, “Acquire the Holy Spirit, and thousands around you will be saved.” His shining face and miraculous deeds were hidden for decades in the forest.

In the Orthodox understanding, the greatest spiritual gift is love : “በሰዎችና በመላእክት ልሳን ብናገር ፍቅር ግን ከሌለኝ እንደሚጮኽ ናስ ወይም እንደሚንሽዋሽዋ ጸናጽል ሆኜአለሁ። ትንቢትም ቢኖረኝ ምሥጢርንም ሁሉና እውቀትን ሁሉ ባውቅ፥ ተራሮችንም እስካፈልስ ድረስ እምነት ሁሉ ቢኖረኝ ፍቅር ግን ከሌለኝ ከንቱ ነኝ።” (1 Corinthians 13:1–2).

The Fathers understood that gifts without love are nothing.

5. Spiritual Gifts Today: Caution and Discernment

The Orthodox Church acknowledges that the spiritual gifts of the saints continue to exist today, yet approaches them with humble caution :

• Not every vision or prophecy is from God.
• Holiness is known by peace, love, and truth, not sensationalism.
• We should never desire spiritual gifts for personal validation.

Instead, like the Fathers, we must focus on repentance, obedience, and prayer—allowing the Holy Spirit to act as He wills.

 “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” “መንፈስን አታጥፉ፤ ትንቢትን አትናቁ፤ ሁሉን ፈትኑ መልካሙንም ያዙ::” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21)

Conclusion

The Orthodox Fathers teach us that hidden holiness is more powerful than outward signs. Healing, prophecy, and other gifts of the saints are real and present this day, but they flow from deep inner purity, humility, and love. We are called not to pursue miracles, but to pursue Christ—and He will do what He pleases with our lives.

 “ እግዚአብሔር ለሚፈሩት ኃይላቸው ነው፥ ቃል ኪዳኑንም ያስታውቃቸዋል።” Psalm 25:14

Reflection Questions

1. Why is humility the safeguard for spiritual gifts?
2. How can I avoid seeking outward signs in my spiritual life?
3. Do I value being seen by God more than being known by others?

Closing Prayer

O Lord, we thank You for the holy Fathers and saints whose hidden holiness bore the fruits of Your Spirit. Grant us hearts that seek You above all, humble and pure, open to Your gifts in love. Teach us discernment, guide our steps, and help us follow Your will in all things. May Your grace work in and through us for Your glory alone. Through the Prayers of your holy mother and all the saints, Amen.