“In our day, I assure you, that many saints will come out of the big cities, from within the apartment buildings, the noise, the pollution and the agony of earthly cares. There are charismatic people who do violence to their nature and live a virtuous life more than some ascetics who live in the desert. To them the saying applies: ‘It is not the place which sanctifies, but the manner of life.’ You see, forcefulness of the body breaks the bonds of sin and frees the intellect. It allows it to fly near the throne of God’s unapproachable glory, and to rejoice with the joy of the Angels.”

– ‘Elder Anthimos of Saint Annes’