St. Jerome – Alana Nickels

“…as if this were a good work, and not the most defiled kind of study.”

The proud sin greatly who, after studying secular literature and having turned to the Holy Scriptures, consider all that they say to be the Law of God, and do not endeavour to come to know the thoughts of the prophets and apostles, but seek out from the scriptures inapropriate texts for their own thoughts, as if this were a good work, and not the most defiled kind of study: to distort the thoughts of Scripture and submit them to their own intentions, in spite of obvious contradictions…It is proper to children and charlatans to try to teach that which they do not know.

– St. Jerome, Letter to Paulinus

Featured image: RAT GAS graffiti, as featured in Hobo Nickels issue #1 Photographed by author (Alana “Hobo Nickels” Solomon).

Quotes on Orthodoxy / St. Jerome

“Dwell not in the temple of idols.”

Dwell not in the temple of idols . . . Do you not hear the great St. Paul, who says in other words, ‘Do not read either the pagan philosophers, or the orators, or the poets; do not repose in the study of their works.’ Let us not be too confident that we shall not believe the things we read. It is a crime to drink at the same time of the chalice of Jesus Christ and that of the demons.

– St. Jerome

Featured image: Staro Hopovo Monastery, Serbia.