Virgins And Virtue

Ἡ κατὰ τὰς δέκα παρθένους παραβολὴ, τῶν τρόπων καὶ τῶν βίων δείκνυσι τὸ διάφορον. Πᾶασι μὲν ἐπαρθένευον, οὐ πᾶσαι δὲ ὁμοίως καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀρετῶν ἐπεμέλοντο, ἀλλὰ ταύτῃ μόνῃ ἀρκεῖσθαι πρὸς τὴν εἴσοδον τῆς βασιλείας ᾦήθησαν. Ἔδέιξε δὲ ἡ κρίσις ἡ ἀδέκαστος, ὅτι οὐδὲν παρθενίας ὄφελος, συμπαθείας ἀπούσης. Καὶ πᾶσα ἡ δόξα τῆς θυγατὸς τοῦ βασιλέως πεποικιλμένη. Πεποικίλθαι χρὴ, φησὶ, τοῖς χρυσαυγέσι κροσσοῖς τῶν ἀρετῶν πασῶν. Εἰ γὰρ παρθωνεύει τις, καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ αὐχεῖ, τοῦ μείζονος κατορθώματος τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἀστοχεῖ. Οὐ γὰρ ὁ παρθενεύων γέγραπται, ἀλλ' ὁ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.  Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβίον Α', Ἐπιστολὴ ΣΠϚ' Εὐτονιῳ Διακονῳ Source: Migne PG 78.349-352

The parable of the ten virgins 1 shows the difference between conduct and the life. All were virgins but not all alike had care for the rest of the virtues, which alone pleases for advancement to the kingdom of heaven. The incorruptible judgement shows that virginity profits not those who were slow to be merciful. With every glory the daughter of the king is adorned. It is necessary, it says, to be adorned with the golden raiment of every virtue. 2 For if someone vaunts virginity and glories in it, then that one strays from a greater virtue, humility. It is not written that he who reveres virginity shall be exalted but he who humbles himself. 3   Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 286, To Eutonius the Deacon 1 Mt 25. 1-13 1 Ps 46.14 2 Mt 23.12