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:''One form of the ascetic Christian life is called foolishness for the sake of Christ. The fool-for-Christ set for himself the task of battling within <blockquote>Let no man deceive himself the root of all sin, pride. In order If any man among you seemeth to accomplish be wise in this he took on an unusual style of lifeworld, appearing as someone bereft of his mental facultieslet him become a fool, thus bringing upon himself that he may be wise. For the ridicule wisdom of othersthis world is foolishness with God. In addition he exposed For it is written, He taketh the evil wise in the world through metaphorical and symbolic words and actionstheir own craftiness. He took this ascetic endeavor upon himself in order to humble himself and to also more effectively influence others, since most people respond to the usual ordinary sermon with indifference([http://bible. The spiritual feat of foolishness for Christ was especially widespread in Russiagospelcom.'' net/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%203:18-19;&version=9; 1 Corinthians 3:18-(Excerpted from ''The Law of God'', Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY: 199319 KJV])</blockquote>

Saint Andrew <blockquote>''One form of Constantinople the ascetic Christian life is considered called foolishness for the sake of Christ. The fool-for-Christ set for himself the task of battling within himself the root of all sin, [[pride]]. In order to be accomplish this he took on an unusual style of life, appearing as someone bereft of his mental faculties, thus bringing upon himself the first such saintridicule of others. In addition he exposed the evil in the world through metaphorical and symbolic words and actions. He took this ascetic endeavor upon himself in order to humble himself and to also more effectively influence others, although Saint Basil since most people respond to the usual ordinary sermon with indifference. The spiritual feat of Moscow is also widely knownfoolishness for Christ was especially widespread in Russia.'' --(Excerpted from ''The Law of God'', Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY: 1993)</blockquote>

{{stub}}Saint Andrew of Constantinople is considered to be the first such saint, although Saint [[Basil the Blessed|Basil of Moscow]] is also widely known. ==List of Holy Fools-for-Christ==

*[[Anastasia Andretevna]], Fool-for-Christ ([[March 1]])*[[Blessed]] [[Andrew of Constantinople|Andrew the Fool-for-Christ of Constantinople]] ([[October 2]]) (d. 911936):[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102838 Blessed Andrew, Fool for Christ]:[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102824 The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos]:[http://www.standrewfoolforchrist.org/PatronSt.htm Saint Andrew, Fool-for-Christ - October 2/15]*Blessed Andrew of Totma, the Fool-for-Christ ([[October 10]])*Blessed Anthony Alexseevich, Fool-for-Christ of Zadonsk ([[September 29]] - repose of) (1851)*Anthony Ivanovich, Fool-for-Christ of Valaam ([[June 7]] - repose of) (1832)*[[Saint]] Arsenius of [[Novgorod]], Fool-for-Christ ([[May 8]])*Asenatha of Goritsky, Fool-for-Christ ([[April 19]] - repose of) (1892)*Blessed Athanasius Adrewyevich of Orel, Fool-for-Christ ([[April 12]] - repose of) (1967)*Blessed [[Basil the Blessed|Basil of Moscow, Fool-for-Christ]] ([[August 2]]):[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102185 Saint Basil the Blessed, Moscow Wonderworker]*Blessed Cyprian of Suzdal ([[October 2]])*Blessed George of Shenkursk, Fool-for-Christ ([[April 23]])*Saint Isidore the Fool of Tabenna in Egypt ([[May 10]])*[[Venerable]] Isidore the Fool-for-Christ and Wonder-worker of Rostov ([[May 14]])*Blessed [[John the Hairy|John "the Hairy"]] the Fool-for-Christ at Rostov ([[September 3]] and [[November 12]])*Venerable John the Ascetic and Fool-for-Christ*Blessed John of Ustiug the Fool-for-Christ ([[March 14]] and [[May 29]] - repose of) (1893)*Blessed John of Moscow, Miracle-worker and Fool-for-Christ ([[July 3]])*Jonah, Fool-for-Christ of Peshnosha Monastery ([[June 15]] - repose of) (1838)*Blessed Laurence the Fool-for-Christ at Kaluga ([[August 10]])

* Saint Maximus Kausokalyves (Mt. Athos), ([[January 13]])*Blessed Maximus of Totma (Vologda), Fool-for-Christ ([[January 16]])*Venerable Maximus of Moscow the Fool-for-Christ ([[August 13]] - opening of his [[relics]])*Venerable Michael the Fool-for-Christ of the Klops Monastery ([[January 11]]) ([[June 23]] - [[Translation (relics)|translation ]] of his relics)*[[New-Martyr]] Michael (Misha), Fool-for-Christ ([[April 1]]) (1931)*Blessed Michael and Thomas, Fools-for-Christ of Solvychegodsk (Vologda) ([[July 3]])*Blessed Nicholas of Salos of Pskov the Fool-for-Christ ([[February 28]])*Blessed [[Nicholas Konchanov of Novgorod|Nicholas Kochanov]], Fool-for-Christ at Novgorod ([[July 27]])*Blessed Paisius, Fool-for-Christ of the [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves|Kiev Caves]] ([[April 17]] - repose of) (1893)*Blessed Parasceva "Pasha of Sarov," Fool-for Christ of Diveyevo Convent ([[September 22]]) (1915):** [http://www.russianorthodox-roac.com/13.html Blessed Praskovya Ivanovna (Pasha of Sarov)]*Saint Paul, Fool-for-Christ ([[November 6]])*Pelagia Ivanovna Serebrennikova:** [http://www.storytellingmonk.org/ref/holy_sights/people/pelagia.htm Pelagia Ivanovna a.k.a. Pelagia the Holy Fool]:** [http://www.russianorthodox-roac.com/13.html Blessed Pelagia Ivanovna]*Blessed Procopius of Vyatka, Fool-for-Christ ([[December 21]])*Saint Procopius the Fool-for-Christ and Wonder-worker of Ustiug ([[July 8]])*[[Righteous]] Procopius of Usya (Vologda), Fool-for-Christ ([[July 8]])*Venerable Symeon of Emesa the Fool-for-Christ ([[July 21]])*Blessed Simon of Yurievits, Fool-for-Christ ([[May 10]])*Blessed [[Theodore of Novgorod]], Fool-for-Christ ([[January 19]])*Saint Theodore, Fool-for-Christ ([[February 25]])*New-Martyr Theoktista Michailovna of Voronezh ([[February 22]]) (1936)*Blessed Schema-hieromonk Theophilus, Fool-for-Christ of the [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves|Kiev Caves]] ([[October 28]] - repose of) (1852)*Saint Thomas the Fool of Syria ([[April 24]])*Saint [[Xenia of St. Petersburg]], Fool-for-Christ ([[January 24]]) ==Orthodox Psychotherapy: Further Reading==*[[Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos]], ''[http://www.pelagia.org/htm/b02.en.orthodox_psychotherapy.00.htm#more Orthodox Psychotherapy].'' 1994. ISBN 9607070208 *[[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia]]. “The Fool in Christ as Prophet and Apostle,” ''Sobornost'' (incorporating ''Eastern Churches Review'') , new series 6.2 (1984), 6-28.  *Fr. [[Dumitru Staniloae]], ''Prayer and Holiness''. Fairacres Publications, September 1982. ISBN 0 7283 0093 1 *Dr. Donald Blais ([[w:Doctor of Theology|ThD]]), ''[http://amicus.collectionscanada.gc.ca/aaweb-bin/aamain/itemdisp?sessionKey=999999999_142&l=0&d=2&v=0&lvl=1&itm=21565549 Passion and Pathology in Teresa of Avila's Mystical Transformation: With Reference to the Transpersonal Theories of Michael Washburn]''. Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Regis College and the Pastoral Department of the Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. Submitted August 1, 1997. Defended October 16, 1997.:: ''Dr. Blais is an Orthodox Christian Russian-styled monk-in-the-world (monach-ou-miru), ([[Orthodox Church in America|OCA]]), and a Penobscot-Metis. His study on Holy Madness is [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ35453.pdf available online] at the National Library of Canada.'' *Dr.[[Jean-Claude Larchet]], ''Mental Disorders and Spiritual Healing: Teachings from the Early Christian East''. 1st Ed. Transl. by G. John Champoux and Rama P. Coomaraswamy. Published by Sophia Perennis, July 2005. (ISBN 1597310611) (ISBN 9781597310611) :: [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxNews/message/8451 Reviewed] in the Russian Newspaper: ''Ex Libris NG (Nezavisimaya Gazeta)'', Thursday January 17, 2008.:: ''French theologian and Doctor of Philosophy Jean-Claude Larche's study of modern psychiatry with respect to studying the Orthodox view of 'madness', drawing on patristic and hagiographical literature of the I-XIV centuries, recounting the experience of healing mental illness by holy fathers, who, unlike psychiatrists, examined the person, took into account the totality of the human being (spirit, soul, and body). Pays special attention to "Fools for Christ's sake" - Yurodstvo.'' * Dr. [http://www.drchirban.com/about/index.html John T. Chirban] (Ph.D, Th.D). ''[http://store.holycrossbookstore.com/hoheinby.html Holistic Healing in Byzantium].'' [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross Orthodox Press]], 2009. ISBN 9781885652898

==See also==*Bishop Chrysostomos and Thomas Brecht. ''[[Saint titles]http://www.springerlink.com/content/qr1m71752g53u64t/ Jung and the mystical theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church: Comments on common ground].'' In: '''Pastoral Psychology''', Volume 38, Number 4 / June, 1990. pp.197-203. ISSN 0031-2789 (Print) 1573-6679 (Online):: ''Bishop Chrysostomos is Academic Director of the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies at the St. Gregory Palamas Monastery in Etna, CA. He received his doctorate in psychology at Princeton University.'':: ''Dr. Thomas Brecht is a psychologist in private practice with the Alabama Psychiatric Services, Birmingham AL.''

==External Links and SourcesSee also ==*[http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/subject/hd/fak7/hist/o1/logs/byzans-l/log.started960610/0124.html Fools for Christ[Asceticism]:[http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/subject/hd/fak7/hist/o1/logs/byzans-l/log.started960610/ Re: Fools for Christ] scroll down for responses to ''Fools for Christ''<!-- *[http://www.beyond-the-pale.co.uk/fools.htm Fools for Nothingness: The atheist as failed saint: Antonin Artaud, Jean Genet and Fools for Christ[Nous]] I am unsure as to whether this article is suitable for Orthodox readers. I would rather not lead someone astray, and would like guidance on this matter. --->*[http://www.roca.org/OA/105/105f.htm Orthodox America: Diveyevo’s Holy "Fools"[Saint titles]]*[http[:Category://www.unicorne.org/orthodoxy/articles/saints_icons/saints_new/blessedfools.htm Choir of all Blessed Fools-for-Christ's Sake and Miracle-Workers]]* [[Exorcism]]