“…it consists in nothing but coming near to God and union with Him. With this is connected a heartfelt realization of the goodness and greatness of  God, together with consciousness of our own nothingness and our proness to every evil;…renunciation of all will of our own and perfect obedience to the will of God; and moreover desire of all this and its practice with a pure heart to the glory of God, from sheer desire to please God and because we should so love Him and work for Him. This is the law of love, inscribed by the finger of God in the hearts of His true servants!”

(St Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain on the spiritual life and perfection)