Mortal sin. Pride.

Pride is a sinister spiritual disease. The Holy Fathers call it «satan's seed» as it is the first passion that has appeared in the world even before the creation of men and is related to the fall of the angel that puffed up and wished to become God himself.

Haughtiness is extreme self-confidence, rejection of God's help, «devilish stronghold». Saint Theophan the Recluse said that «it is pride that prevents to say: I am sinful». It is «the wall of copper» between us and God, an enmity toward God, self-worship.

The signs of this disease are also a lack of respect and consumer attitude to a neighbour, judgement, arrogance, insolence, rancour, unwillingness to ask forgiveness, touchiness, disobedience. A proud person is always confident in his superiority and rightness, so he does not agree with remarks and criticism, does not wish to learn. As such, he pursues honour, fame and praise in any way; he always wishes to look significant, give orders, rule and command.

It takes place when someone has no faith in God, exaggerates the sense of self-worth in achieving success. Haughtiness comes when a person starts to despise others: regarding them as poor, humbly born or ignorant. And it turns out he or she considers himself the best, noble and strong.

This type of terrible disease makes the person become estranged from the worship of God, observation of God's and civil law, alien from the life itself, virtue. This kind of individual is able to every iniquity; he becomes an enemy of God, neighbour and himself. The proud have a heart of stone and demon's mind.

Pride has a destructive effect on mental health. The most abundant kinds of mental disease - delusion of grandeur and delusion of persecution — derive directly from «high self-love». Psychiatrists consider that reasons of mental disease (paranoia) are down to a high sense of one's own worth, a hostility to people, the loss of natural ability to adapt, perversion of judgement. A typical paranoid never criticizes himself, he is always right in his own eyes and has deep dissatisfaction with people around and his life conditions.

Saint Basil The Great said that «a person is healed if he believes the judgment of the One Who said: «God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble». So one should learn to be humble, because humility is a mistic power of Christ. Clothed in humility, God was manifested to people and if Man is wrapped in humility, he becomes god-like. One should cast aside all thoughts about one's own preference, always remember about one's sins, recognize one's imperfection. «Think about hell, figure out how guilty you are before God… and you are about to bring down your mind, humble it» - written John Chrysostom.

Fighting against pride also requires obedience to beloved people, loved ones, the Church, its statutes, its commandments, its mystic effects. It is crucial to control one's thoughts and actions: do not judge people, do not justify oneself, do not boast, do not shove oneself forward, do not exalt oneself.

«When thoughts of pride or exaltation come into your mind, examine your conscience as to whether you have kept the commandments? Whether you have loved your enemies? Whether you have rejoiced when person who acts against you succeeds and is celebrated? Whether you have mourned when you are brought low? Have you accepted yourself as an unprofitable servant? Have you accepted yourself worse than all other sinners? If, by contrast, your frame of mind is such that you are in a position to preach and point out other's errors, you have to be aware that a behavior pattern like that undermines all your virtues» (Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov)