Talk 33: And No Wonder, for Even Satan Disguises Himself as an Angel of Light
We live in a time where demonic delusion is at its peak. These delusions come in the form of thoughts, feelings, dreams and visions. The Holy Apostles and Fathers of the Orthodox Church provide insight into these delusions. Saint Paul in particular warns against the “angel of light” – referring not only to false visions of angels, but to anything the demons present as good or spiritual.
Using examples from the lives of saints, Father Kosmas explains how the saints exposed the tricks that the devil and his demons use to delude not only monastics, but all Orthodox Christians, and how those who fall into these delusions are the self-confident, the vainglorious and the proud.
The following questions are also discussed: can the demons recite prayers or make the sign of the Cross? Do parish priests deserve criticism for avoiding the topic of demonic deception? Do the Jehovah’s Witnesses deserve our pity? How did one demon compare Saint Nektarios and Saint Gerasimos? What happened to an archimandrite who denied the existence of demons? Why were there two contradictory views of Rasputin? Does involvement in the occult leave scars that remain even after repentance? What is meant by a balanced spiritual diet?
Other topics covered in this talk include: why Saint Anthony had a positive attitude toward the demons; a man who “healed” the possessed with the Koran; why the demons hate monastics most of all; the recent example of a deceived ascetic who saw visions and dreams; how the demons use our fantasy to delude us; an elder’s fierce struggle to free a deceived deacon from a false angel of light; and an account of a young girl who became possessed because of her father.
Talk Duration: 202 minutes
Chanting Duration: 31 minutes
3 CD set