The Church on earth is called a warrior

The Church on earth is called a warrior, because here, under its guidance, the members of the community have to fight a threefold battle, which lasts a lifetime: the battle with themselves, with passions against nature, according to the flesh and according to the spirit; a battle with the indifferent and unbelieving "world"; and the battle against the wiles of the wicked one. The priesthood of the Church seeks that none of the Father's sons should be at enmity within themselves, or should break away from the community and the spirit of Christ's love. For He is the One who unites the community together, therefore no one is saved by separating himself from the Church, no matter how much he may believe that the Spirit of Christ dwells in him.

Saint Arsenius of Prislop

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