Talk:Juliana of Lazarevo

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Juliana of Lazarevo's name had been added to the Wikipedia article on Consecrated virgins; but after reading her biography (see ext link) I have deleted the entry, because I found there nothing that suggests that she lived her life as a virgin/chaste woman (eventually: widow) as a primary calling, nor does her biographer claim so. In fact, the following excerpt from the introduction to said biography states that Russian Orthodox Christians recognise her for the reason that she led an exemplary Christian life even though she was a busy wife and mother of a dozen or so children.

"To this the venerable Macarius said: 'Truly God doth not look to see who is a virgin or who is married, who is a monastic or who is in the lay state, but only looketh for the inclination of the heart toward good deeds. This He accepteth, and in accordance therewith He sendeth the Holy Spirit down upon anyone who desireth to be saved. And the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, directeth the thoughts and will of such a one to the everlasting life of heaven.' In Russia, the merciful Juliana provided just such a example of piety and spiritual purity as the women had revealed to the venerable Macarius in the East, in Christian antiquity. Her life teaches us that even in the world, even within a family, amid cares for children, spouse and members of one's household, one may please God no less than one who withdraws from the world to a monastic cell: one only need live according to the demands of the love of Christ and the righteousness of the Gospel."

21:11, 12 December 2007 (UTC)