The prayer that we say every Sunday at the end of the Divine Liturgy, "Blessed be the name of the Lord from now on and forevermore," comes from the much-contested Job. God took away everything from Job while he remained righteous and blameless, not laying the blame on God who allowed these trials, but patiently enduring whatever was sent and remaining firmly faithful to the Lord.
The Holy Elder Iakovos Tsalikes of the Monastery of the Venerable David in Evia also endured many trials in his life from early childhood, and no matter what tribulation he faced, he always remained righteous and blameless like Job, blessing God's holy name and enduring all things with patience and firm faith in the Lord. Concerning this he once said:
“I don’t give up, I always say 'Glory to You O God.' Always with my patience, with my faith in God, I say: 'Blessed be the name of the Lord!'
I take care of my soul, which is 'something that is immortal,' that’s why I came to his monastery and serve Saint David. What do I serve him for? Here, to sweep his monastery a little and be like a guardian.
He knows what I will go through. When the persecutions began I was one and a half years old, the persecutions of Asia Minor. We went from place to place, unfortunate people… what would I suffer from illnesses… but He helps.
And they say, forgive me, that a Christian, a priest had said that, since Father Iakovos loves God and Saint David, so how is it that Saint David allowed it and he went to the doctor, then the doctors see him and perform operations. Well, this is a foolish thing for people to think because the Lord tests us. What was Job? So many many Holy people.
God allowed it so that I would be humbled. But again the grace of Venerable David came to me and although they said they were serious illnesses, they were not. I have heart issues, I have many ailments but I do not consider the sufferings of the present time in comparison with the future glory. I do not consider them at all. I am a mortal man but in this mortal flesh dwells an immortal soul, so I take care of my soul which is 'something immortal'.”
The Holy Elder Iakovos Tsalikes of the Monastery of the Venerable David in Evia also endured many trials in his life from early childhood, and no matter what tribulation he faced, he always remained righteous and blameless like Job, blessing God's holy name and enduring all things with patience and firm faith in the Lord. Concerning this he once said:
“I don’t give up, I always say 'Glory to You O God.' Always with my patience, with my faith in God, I say: 'Blessed be the name of the Lord!'
I take care of my soul, which is 'something that is immortal,' that’s why I came to his monastery and serve Saint David. What do I serve him for? Here, to sweep his monastery a little and be like a guardian.
He knows what I will go through. When the persecutions began I was one and a half years old, the persecutions of Asia Minor. We went from place to place, unfortunate people… what would I suffer from illnesses… but He helps.
And they say, forgive me, that a Christian, a priest had said that, since Father Iakovos loves God and Saint David, so how is it that Saint David allowed it and he went to the doctor, then the doctors see him and perform operations. Well, this is a foolish thing for people to think because the Lord tests us. What was Job? So many many Holy people.
God allowed it so that I would be humbled. But again the grace of Venerable David came to me and although they said they were serious illnesses, they were not. I have heart issues, I have many ailments but I do not consider the sufferings of the present time in comparison with the future glory. I do not consider them at all. I am a mortal man but in this mortal flesh dwells an immortal soul, so I take care of my soul which is 'something immortal'.”
