Met. Saba on Self-Criticism: 'Ask Questions and Demand Answers from Yourself'
Antiochian hierarch highlights the lessons of Fr. Arseny, a Siberian labor camp survivor and spiritual father.
ENGLEWOOD, NJ — His Eminence Met. Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America recently published a reflection in which he focused on the topic of self-criticism, using the life and teachings of Fr. Arseny (1893–1973) as a reference point and praising him as “a man of prayer and a high-caliber spiritual father” who spent 18 years in a Siberian labor camp under communist rule.
During a confrontation between rival political prisoner groups, Fr. Arseny was pressured to explain the Church’s stance toward the atheist government. In response, he calmly stated:
"I cannot point the finger at our authorities because the seeds of disbelief have fallen into the soil that we ourselves have prepared. We ourselves are guilty, too. We are only reaping what we sow."
Met. Saba emphasized that Fr. Arseny exemplified non-violence and personal responsibility even amid severe persecution, offering a “deep analysis of the reasons that led to their suffering.”
The hierarch also drew lessons from Fr. Arseny’s example for contemporary spiritual life, noting the distinction between criticism and constructive critique:
"Criticism deceives people into thinking that, by directing their anger at mistakes and blaming others for them, they absolve themsaelves of responsibility. Whereas in critique, the critic can help to improve the state of decline, regression, or corruption."
His Eminence urged the faithful to engage in personal self-examination and cultivate virtue, asking:
"If our homes were filled with piety and the fear of God, and built on Gospel values and virtues, would they produce opportunists, self-seekers, and the weak?"
Met. Saba added that it is important inquire and search for the causes of criticisms against us, reaching solutions to reduce the errors and their consequences. We must claim personal responsibility, he said, and if we place blame on others, we will "remain hostage to what we despise and complain about."
"Above all, ask questions and demand answers from yourself," he said. "Do not underestimate your role, no matter how minor and insignificant you might believe it is. You do have a part in spreading the culture of constructiveness but start without focusing too much on cultivating results. What matters is that you do your best."
He concluded by stressing the importance of actively using one’s talents to build, teach, and serve: “God has given you one or more talents to advance and increase rather than wasting your time gossiping about others while remaining empty and trivial.”
Previously, UOJ reported that Met. Saba had said "the century of evangelization" has begun for Orthodoxy in America.
