THEOSISVissarion (Nechaev)
You have amassed the transgressions of Manasseh by your desire, establishing as detestable the passions, and greatly increasing, O soul, the wrathfulness of actions opposed to God. Manasseh reigned over Judah following his father, King Hezekiah. While Hezekiah was devout, his son was immoral. Manasseh eradicated all that his father had accomplished in support of true piety. He revived the worship of Baal and Astarte, which his evil grandfather Ahaz had introduced, performed human sacrifices to Moloch in the valley of Gehenna, revered the heavenly bodies, and engaged in sorcery. He was a merciless oppressor of the steadfast believers; under his orders, the prophet Isaiah, who denounced his wickedness, was sawn in two with a wooden saw.
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Regrettably, Christians can also succumb to similar depravity, when 'at will', according to unfounded whims, they choose to replace idols with passions, leading them to multiply actions against God, thus deepening their descent into evil. Self-gratification leads to more self-indulgence; an obsession with individuals like performers or entertainers can lead them to debase themselves, completely forgetting their inherent dignity. Attraction to worldly amusements not only breeds apathy but also turns them hostile to living according to the teachings of the Church. An attachment to material possessions may cause them to neglect honor and conscience.
In some cases, faith in God and trust in Him have diminished to the point that individuals resort to sorcery, much like the disgraceful acts of Manasseh. It would be futile to admonish the followers of Manasseh and offer them guidance; they despise those who correct them and might inflict upon them the same brutality Manasseh showed toward Isaiah, willing to eradicate them if not restrained by the fear of earthly judgment and punishment.