“A person of God neither slanders nor maligns. For slander and calumny are among the greatest curses one can bring upon oneself. The slanderer does nothing but expose his own soul which has become a refuse heap and what he carries within himself he inevitably pours outwards. I remind you of the words of a wise man: slander most often assails worthy people just as worms go after the finest fruit.”
These remarks were made by Archbishop Makarios of Australia in a message posted on the social media platform Instagram. In the same message, the Archbishop acknowledges that slander is a difficult trial, one that can deeply affect a person’s psychological well-being and social standing. He also recalls the words of Saint Nektarios, who himself suffered greatly from slander and used to pray every morning: “Redeem me from the slander of people and keep me in Your commandments.”
The Archbishop then urges those who are targeted by slander to demonstrate calmness, prudence, and spiritual strength, so that they may properly assess the circumstances, while also engaging in self-examination to determine whether the accusations have any basis in reality. “If that is the case,” he notes, “we should try to change and become better people.” If not, he advises those affected not to be influenced or discouraged by false accusations:
“Continue forward and, as much as possible, ignore the voices the murmur to the right and to the left. A Christian goes forward—always forward. He never stops and is never allowing himself to be swayed.”
Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.
