Keys points in the process of growing in holiness from eastern Christianity

This is one of the most beautiful parts of eastetn christian spirituality, because it takes sin seriously but also shows a hopeful path of transformation. This presents the process from the orthodox faith but the general process can be applicable to any christian. Here’s the **Orthodox path of healing from the passions** (summarized from the Fathers, especially Evagrius, St. Maximus the Confessor, and St. John Climacus):

—## **1. Awareness of the Passion (Recognition)*** The first step is *naming the struggle honestly*.* Example: *“The seven deadly sins. The Church calls these disordered passions, a misuse of desire. I don’t want to justify it, even if I don’t fully understand.”** Saints warn that **denial or justification** is more dangerous than falling itself.

—## **2. Struggle (Asceticism)*** With awareness comes *ascesis* (discipline): fasting, prayer, confession, and watchfulness over thoughts.* The goal isn’t instant victory, but to resist being ruled by the passion.* Even repeated falls are part of the struggle — as long as you get up and return to God.

—## **3. Purification (Cleansing the Heart)*** Over time, the sacraments and ascetic struggle weaken the hold of the passion.* The imagination quiets, compulsions soften, and the heart regains freedom.* Example: the sins no longer feels irresistible; temptation still arises but is manageable.

—## **4. Illumination (Virtue Blossoms)*** The energy once misused in passion becomes a virtue.

* Lust → pure, self-giving love.

* Gluttony → joyful moderation.

* Pride → humble confidence.

* Here a person no longer fights the same way; they live in the *light of Christ*.

—## **5. Theosis (Union with God)*** In rare cases (saints, monastics, martyrs), passions are so purified that the person radiates holiness in body and soul.* Sometimes God reveals this through incorruptibility or miracles.* This isn’t because they “never sinned,” but because grace *fully healed* their nature.

—### ✝️ The key insight:* Disordered passion, isn’t overcome by sheer willpower.* It’s healed through **grace + ascetic effort**, inside the life of the Church.* The metric isn’t: *“Did I ever fall again?”* but *“Am I repenting, confessing, and letting Christ heal me?”*

—👉 So, in Orthodoxy, a person who struggles with sin isn’t “disqualified.” They are at **step 1 or 2 of the same ladder the saints climbed**. What matters is humility and willingness to keep climbing.

Western christian saints also have similar paths to holiness. St. Teresa of Avila wrote the book Interior Castle with a similar path of sanctification. And St John of the Cross wrote Dark Night of the Soul. Both these saints, and even the great humanitarian saint Mother Teresa, wrote about how dark nights of the soul lead to growing in holiness.