A Solitary Virtue

Ἡ κατὰ τὰς δέκα παρθένους, τῶν τρόπων καὶ τῶν βίων δείκνυσι τὸ διάφορον. Πᾶσαι μὲν γὰρ ἐπαρθένευον, οὐ πᾶσαι δὲ ὁμοίως καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀρετῶν ἐπεμέλοντο, ἀλλὰ ταύτῃ μόνῃ ἀρκεῖσθαι πρὸς τὴν εἴσοδον τῆς βασιλείας ᾠήθησαν. Ἔδέιξε δὲ ἡ κρίσις ἡ ἀδέκαστος, ὅτι οὐδεν παρθενίας ὄφελος, συμπαθείας ἀπούσῃς. Καὶ πᾶσα ἡ δόξα τῆς θυγατρὸς τοῦ Βασιλέως πεποικιλμένη. Πεποικίλθαι χρὴ, φησὶ, τοῖς χρυσαυγέσι κροσσοῖς τῶν ἀρετῶν πασῶν. Εἰ γὰρ παρθενεύει τις, καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ αὐχει, τοῦ μείζονος κατορθώματος τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἀστοχεῐ. Οὐ γὰρ ὁ παρθενεύων γέγραπται, ἀλλ' ὁ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολή ΣΠϚ Εὐτονιῳ Διακονῳ Source: Migne PG 78.349d-352a

The parable of the ten virgins shows the difference of ways and lives. 1 For all were virgins but not all had similar care for the rest of the virtues, for they thought that chastity alone was enough for entry to the kingdom. However the incorruptible judgment showed that virginity profits not at all if compassion is lacking. 'With every glory the daughter of the king is adorned.' It is necessary, it says, that one be adorned with the golden tassels of all the virtues. 2 Because if someone is chaste and in that exults, he fails in the greater improvement of humility. For it is not written that the chaste will be exalted, but he who humbles himself. 3 Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 286, To Eutonius the Deacon 1 Mt 25.1-12 2 Ps 44.14,10 3 Mt 23.12