‘Generalised despair’ characterises our epoch. Thus, an encounter with it is inevitable. Man must know how to face it profitably. Saint Sophrony distinguishes between morbid and charismatic despair. The former destroys man, while the latter can become the spark for the wondrous leap into the sphere of eternity. Successive trials and visitations of divine grace strengthen the Christian athlete so that he can stand firm not on the edge of a single abyss, but two: the abyss of God’s mercy and the abyss of his own corruption and misery. And then ‘deep calleth unto deep’ (Ps. 42:7). On the one hand, through repentance, and on the other, through thanksgiving, he is initiated into the universality of Christ. Then he begins to thank the Lord for all His gifts, both to him and to the entire universe, and above all, to the Saints, ‘most especially’ to His Most Pure Mother. At the same time, he ‘contends’ with Him, not for selfish reasons but for the salvation of the world. This struggle is dispassionate. It is governed by man’s intense desire to know God more deeply, to follow Him more faithfully, to love Him more perfectly, and to dwell with Him ‘unto the ages of ages.’