Слово VII, в котором повествуется о том, что христианам не подобает сквернословить, пересказывать языческие анекдоты, острословить и смеяться

Human life, blessed Christians, is divided into two parts: the present and the future. The present life is crying and tears, and the future is laughter and joy. The present is full of sorrow and tears, and the future, on the contrary, is filled with fun and joy. The present time 81 is the time of sowing, and the future is the time of harvest. At present it is a time of battle and exploits; in the future there will come a time of victories and crowns. Whoever lives now, fulfilling the commandments of the Lord, will later live to receive reward and reward for his exploits. This is the natural order introduced by God: first they sow, then they reap; first they fight and win, and then they accept the crown; first they sob and cry, then they rejoice and laugh. It was precisely this order that God initially legitimized in the paradise of sweets, commanding Adam to cultivate and keep the commandment that He gave him, and then, as a reward for his labors and keeping, Adam would receive from Him something that would make him a god by grace and he would taste bliss: “And the Lord God took the man whom he had created and settled him in the paradise of sweets, to cultivate and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). Wanting to show people exactly this order, God said through the mouth of Ecclesiastes that it is not at all first time to laugh and then to cry, but first it is time to cry and then to laugh: “To everything there is a time and a season for every thing: a time to weep and a time to laugh (Eccl. 3:1). It is precisely this order that the Son of God Himself legitimized with His voice in [earthly] life, when He came to earth and became Man, in the beatitudes that He uttered: “Blessed are those who mourn now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:21). And finally, this is precisely the order taught by the divine fathers and teachers of our Church. Thus, the divine Chrysostom said: “Now is the time to sow, then to gather and be enriched” (Conversation 25 on the Gospel of John). As the Monk Ephraim says, “the present is a feat, an exercise and a field, but the future is rewards, crowns and honors.” And Isidore Pelusiot adds: “For there is no reward for labor here, but here is struggle, and rewards after this; so during the time of exploits, let them not seek rest and let them not mix up the times” (Letter 679. Scholasticus Stratigius). Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria also believes that “the present is the time of doing, and the future is the time of reward.” Gregory the Theologian thinks the same way: “Work in the present, reward in the future.” But, alas, modern Christians do not want to follow this order, which God established, but do the opposite and, acting willfully, they hope, boldly, to be wiser than God, for they believe that real life is not for crying and tears, but for joy and laughter, and not for sowing, fighting and doing, but for harvest, victories and rewards. These unfortunates waste the time of their lives on foul language, endless retelling of pagan jokes, all sorts of jokes, inventing and repeating thousands of (hackneyed) witticisms and gossip, imitating the voice and antics of one storyteller or another. For what? To cause loud, uncontrollable laughter from the audience. Oh, what shamelessness! Oh, what a terrible loss of the fear of God! Therefore, brothers, I set out today to expose the lack of fear of modern Christians and show you that Christians should not: a) use foul language, b) tell jokes, and c) laugh and make others laugh. So, pay attention to my words and try to assimilate what was said. Three concepts reflect the life of a Christian. What are bad expressions like and what are worthy ones? There are three concepts that reflect the life and condition of a Christian. This is thought, word and deed. Thought and reflection are the source of words. They give rise to a word that expresses the thoughts of the soul and heart with a voice. And the third is deed, that is, activity thought through in thought and expressed in word. As the divine Gregory of Nyssa explains, “there are three things that characterize the life of a Christian: activity, word, thought; for the beginning of every word is reflection, the second after thought is the word, with a voice slightly revealing the reflection imprinted in the soul. And in third place, after understanding and speech, is activity that brings what is understood into action” (To Olympius on Perfection). This means that Christians who sit and swear with gusto show that they are corrupt and unworthy to be called Christians in all three respects. First, the word, which is contaminated with so many shameful, profane and vulgar expressions. For just as the word is sanctified by honest and pure expressions, so it is desecrated by shameful and wicked expressions. Secondly, at the root of a bad word lies a depraved thought, expressed in the most shameless and lewd speeches, since the very thoughts and thoughts in the soul and heart of foul-mouthed people are just as shameless and lewd. Consequently, by doing so, these unfortunates give others the opportunity to understand that by their way of thinking they are fornicators and adulterers. The word is a reflection, image and outline of thoughts, the entire inner disposition of the heart, and in accordance with the treasure that is stored in its depths, it is poured into the word. If the treasure is good, so will the word be. If the treasure is vile and shameful, so will the word. As the Lord said, “a good man brings good things out of a good treasure, and an evil man brings evil things out of an evil treasure” (Matthew 12:35). The wise Sirach adds that the fruit testifies to the tree that gives birth to it, and the word testifies to the mind and heart from which it is born: “As the cultivation of a tree shows its fruit, so the word is the thought of the human heart” (Sir.27:6). “The flow of water,” says Basil the Great, “shows what its source is, and the content of the word testifies to the heart that pronounces it” (Letter 129 (134). To Paeonius, presbyter). Thirdly, the use of foul language shows that they are close to or are about to move on to bad things. No wonder the philosopher Democritus said that “the word is the shadow of the deed.” The Divine Apostles say in their rules: “Let there be no foul language or insolence... for from such come fornication and adultery” (Book 7, Chapter 6). Since nasty and lewd expressions are like shadow and dirt, then the one who uses shameful expressions is like one who collects dirt and mud, mixes them and smears this stinking liquid first on himself and then on his listeners. And vice versa, I compare honest and decent speeches to a fragrant aroma, and the one who pronounces them - to a person who stirs myrrh and aromas and, having ground and mixed them, delights himself and his listeners with the fragrance, as one divine father said. John Climacus notes in this regard: “Just as one who wears aromas and against his will is exposed by the fragrance, so he who has the Spirit of the Lord is exposed by his words and humility” (Ladder. Homily 26, 215; cf.: ibid., 281). The Apostle Paul, although he had to expose in his word the shameful deeds of the Nicolaitans and other similar heretics, the so-called Gnostics and Worbites, closed his lips in silence and did not want to add anything, considering it shameful to talk about shameful things, but wanted to say only the following: “For what they do in secret is shameful even to speak of” (Eph. 5:3). The word of a Christian must be holy. In the life of a Christian, even the word “fornication” itself is inappropriate to utter. How much evil comes from one bad word The Apostle Paul in Scripture commands to close your lips to shameless words: “And now put aside everything: anger, wrath, malice, slander, foul language from your mouth” (Col. 3:8), since Christians should not only have holy, honest and pure deeds, but also words. In this way, let those who listen be given grace and benefit, and not harm and shame. “Let no corrupt word,” continues Paul, “come out of your mouth, but only what is good for edifying in the faith, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29). Since Solomon warns that even simple verbosity does not allow one to avoid sin: “If one speaks too much one does not avoid sin” (Proverbs 10:19), then how much less are there opportunities to avoid sin for one who utters foul, obscene and lewd words, which in themselves are sinful. The life of Christians is so holy that not only should one not commit any fornication or bodily uncleanness in it, but even the name of fornication and other shameful sins should not be pronounced, as the chosen vessel, the holy Apostle Paul, commands: “But fornication and all uncleanness... should not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints... but, on the contrary, thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:3). Not to mention the fact that often one bad word is enough for the listener’s thoughts to immediately begin to enjoy fornication. A combination occurs, it turns into a merger, which results in an act and turns into a tendency to sin; it becomes a habit, then unrepentance, then despair, and from despair it leads straight to hell and destruction. You see how one bad word entangles a person in such a complex chain of sins. Just one small spark of a bad word causes such a great fire. As the Lord’s brother, the holy Apostle James, says: “Look, a small fire ignites a lot of substance!” (James 3:5) 82. So, from foul language the soul for which Christ gave His life and for which the whole world is not worth is burned, and it, being in torment, will always say, cursing: “Oh, how my brother’s words harmed me! Oh, how communication with him killed me! Oh, it would be better if I never knew him and never met him! Oh, if only I didn’t listen to his nasty words that ruined me!” Do you hear, foul-mouthed one, how threateningly the holy apostle forbids you to utter your words? Do you see what evil you cause with your prodigal and shameless words? Saint Chrysostom rightly said to our Church - where there is foul language, there is the devil: “Where there is foul language, the devil is present, bringing his own” (Conversation 12 on the Epistle to the Colossians). In another place, explaining the words “may my prayer be corrected like a censer before You,” he says: “Just as there should be nothing unclean in the censer, but only fire and incense, so the mouth should not utter a single foul word, but words filled with holiness and praise; Likewise, the hands should be a censer. Let your mouth be a censer, and be careful not to fill it with dung. This is what those who utter shameful and unclean words do” (Conversation on Psalm 140). For, he continues, if a person, having a golden vessel, does not use it for dishonorable use, then what about you, a Christian. Having lips that are more valuable than gold, can you stain them with foul language? “For if someone, having a golden vessel, does not allow it to be used for anything unclean or valuable substance, then how much more should we, who have lips more valuable than gold and pearls, not stain them with foul speech, curses and insults” (Ibid.). Let us repeat everything that has been said about foul language about those who, sitting in a large gathering of people, tell with great self-satisfaction pagan anecdotes, Arabic tales of Halima, grandmother’s inventions, fabrications of the godless Lucian, empty genealogies of Jews, love nonsense, like “Erotokritos” 83, “Erophila” 84, “Voscopula” 85 and the like. These people, by retelling myths and meaningless anecdotes, show that they have violated the three mentioned principles (thought, word and deed), which, as St. Gregory of Nyssa says, determine the life of a Christian. All these myths contain nothing more than obvious, gross lies, empty chatter and stupidity, foul language, [vulgar] witticisms and other fabrications and fantasies that are extremely harmful and destructive. When a person begins to retell these fables with pleasure, even if he himself does not believe in them, then at least he shows the depravity and corruption of his mind 86, as well as his thoughts. That’s why he gets drunk and listens to everything that is false and unreasonable. Christ freed us from myths What are you doing, O foolish would-be Christian, sitting and repeating mythical stories? Christ came into the world and destroyed myths and lies, and you are trying to revive again what Christ abolished? He freed you from myth-making, and you yourself are again eager to be enslaved to them? Christ led you to the truth and regenerated you with the word of Truth. As the Lord’s brother James says, “When He desired, He begat us with the word of truth” (James 1:18). Are you returning to lies and deception? Christ led you to the wondrous light of His Divinity, and at the same time you love darkness and the inventions of crazy people? God showed you the straight and true path of salvation, but you want to strive for myths that lead you to error and destruction? O. unreasonable! You should choose one of the two if you believe that Christ is truly your teacher, guide and savior, as He Himself said: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). First. You must not utter false myths with your lips at all. Even completely throw them out of your head and never read them, but constantly speak the true divine word, meditate and read about it. As the Apostle Paul tells you, “Finally, my brethren, think about whatever is true” (Phil. 4:8). And finally, second. If you do not believe that Christ is the only Truth, then you are not a Christian at all and you cannot be called by the name of Christ. The Apostle Paul, knowing what harm dirty jokes and vulgar pagan tales cause to the souls of listeners and tellers, constantly calls on you to turn away from lies and engage only in exercise in the divine word of piety and the Gospel. Thus, he writes to Timothy: “Avoid worthless songs and women’s songs, and train yourself in godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7), and also advises calling on the faithful not to listen to myths and long genealogies, which do not bring any benefit and any edification in the faith: “I asked you to admonish some, so that they do not teach otherwise, and do not engage in fables and genealogies endless, which produce more controversy than God's edification in faith" (1 Tim. 1:3-4). In a letter to Titus, he tells him to sternly rebuke the Christians in Crete so that they do not listen to Jewish fables: “Rebuke them strictly, so that they may be sound in the faith, not listening to Jewish fables” (Titus 1:13-14). Not only the Apostle Paul, but also Solomon, knowing how harmful jokes and false stories are, asks God to free him from fables. “Get vanity and lies away from me,” he advises, “(Prov. 30:8). But modern Christians are deaf and do not hear either the instructions of the apostles or the wisdom of Solomon. On the contrary, they do not even want to take into their hands the holy and true words of the Holy Spirit and the divine Scriptures. But they spend whole days reading nasty and lying devilish inventions, and then they also happily retell them to each other with all sorts of additions from themselves. Many Christians know by heart all the Arabic tales of Halima, but not a single saying from the Holy Gospel. If you ask Christians about Greek mythology, Jewish fables, or pagan fairy tales, many of them are ready to freely retell any of the tales for you. But if you ask them to say what they believe or how many members are in the Creed? How many sacraments of the Church? How many commandments? Who is Christ? What is the mystery of Divine Providence? What is the mystery of the Divine Incarnation? How many Gospels are there? How many Epistles does the Apostle Paul have? Or ask about something else that every Christian who wants his salvation needs to know, then they fall silent, lose the power of speech and cannot answer a word. Oh, how can we not mourn this state of modern Christians? How not to cry about such a great devilish seduction that has taken possession of modern Christians? Saint Chrysostom was right when he was surprised at such Christians and said: “How many Christians are engaged in Jewish and Greek fables, genealogies, fortune-telling, astronomy, magic and talismans?” (A word about false prophets, and false teachers, and heretics, and about the signs of the end of this age). Christians must always be ready to give an answer about their faith, as the Holy Chief Apostle Peter demands: “Be always ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give an account of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). However, modern Christians consider it their duty to give an account of myths and lies. Christians should be filled with the riches of the word and wisdom of Christ, as the holy Apostle Paul writes: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16). But modern Christians are very richly infused with the words and wisdom of Arab myths. It is appropriate for them to constantly and diligently study and read the Law of God. As David says, “And in His law shall he learn day and night” (Ps. 1:2). However, modern children of God enjoy studying the pagan mythology of the ancient Greeks. They should not be told anything other than the Divine words, miracles and narrations of the Law of God. As the wise Sirach teaches, “and all your conversation is in the law of the Most High” (Sir.9:20). However, Christians of this century with great pleasure retell the endless genealogy of the Jews, the tales of the rabbis, Kabbalistic formulas and the fabrications of the Chaldeans. What evil comes from telling lies? Arabs, Jews and Greeks, who believe myths and lies, try to disguise these lies and deceit and try to find at least some justification for their false dogmas. And those who believe in the Truth, whose faith is Divine and heavenly, cannot even open their mouths and give a worthy answer about its truth. But about myths - as much as you like and quite clearly. What follows from this? Great evil and great harm to the soul. For the above-mentioned Arabs, Jews and pagans hear that Christians are able to answer about myths, but they cannot connect two words about their own faith, and in this case two things can be assumed about them: either Christians believe in pagan myths, and the faith they profess in Christ is untrue, and that is why they do not know what to answer; or that Christianity is stupidity and deception and, therefore, Christ Himself, in whom they believe, is a liar and a deceiver. The Divine Chrysostom says: “When they [the pagans], stubborn in lies, do everything in such a way as to cover up the shame of their false teachings, and we, the servants of the truth, cannot open our lips for the sake of it, then how can they not condemn us for the weakness of our confession, how can they not suspect deceit and delusion in us and not blaspheme Christ as a hypocrite and a deceiver” (Conversation 17 on the Gospel of John). Retelling myths is a bad activity for ill-mannered people. Christians must know their faith as a master knows his work. Do you see, brothers, as soon as someone starts retelling myths, great evil is immediately born? Do you see how these myths even cause blasphemy against Christ and faith? And you yourself become the perpetrators of these blasphemies when you do not strive to comprehend the word of the Divine Scriptures and your faith, but study myths and fables and acquire useless and empty knowledge. This is what the golden cane of John writes: “We are guilty of this blasphemy, not wanting to be vigilant about the words of piety, but considering them idle and caring about earthly things” (Ibid.). That is why I ask you, my Christian brothers, for the love of God, stop reading mythological books. Stop repeating and listening to the vile, seductive fabrications of the pagans. The wise Sirach believes that a person who retells myths is disgusting and lacks taste, and there is nothing good in him, that myths are retold through the mouths of not wise and uneducated men, but barbarians, ignoramuses and madmen: “An unpleasant person is a timeless fable; it will always be on the lips of the ignorant” (Sir.20:19). Strive to study and read more of the Holy Gospel, the sacred writings of the Apostles, Christian doctrine and other soul-helping books of the Divine Scripture of the Holy Fathers, in the study of which one gains knowledge of the truth, eternal life and pleasures and the salvation of your soul. As the Lord said, “search the Scriptures, for through them you think you have eternal life” (John 5:39). This is what you always talk about and love to listen to in church, at home, on the street, in the workshop – everywhere. For it is truly very shameful and inappropriate, as St. John Chrysostom says, for a doctor, a weaver, a tailor, a shoemaker and every craftsman to fully know his art and be able to talk about it, but a Christian does not know and cannot give an answer about his own faith: “It would be absurd if a doctor with all zeal began to stand up for his art, and also a shoemaker, weaver and all other artisans for their craft, and the one who professes himself a Christian, will not be able to say a word in defense of his faith” (Conversation 17 on the Gospel of John). What are jokes, what evil comes from them and what kind of trouble ridicule can lead to. It is not appropriate for Christians to joke, joke, or mock even one another (this is discussed in Homily III). This is confirmed by many examples, especially the following: a) the very essence and nature of jokes and ridicule, b) the evil and harm that they cause to everyone, because: 1) jokes and witticisms destroy the integrity of mental prayer. As St. Basil the Great says: “So, silence serves as the beginning of purification for the soul, when neither the tongue utters anything human, nor the eyes are busy examining the goodness and proportionality in bodies, nor does the ear relax mental tension by listening to songs composed for pleasure, or to the conversations of playful and ridiculous people, which usually weakens the spiritual strength the most” (Letter 2), for they turn things upside down. the mood of thoughts destroys and overthrows the soul from the highest, dispassionate level of the ruler to the lowest point, filled with passions and slavish humiliation; 2) jokes and witticisms, according to St. John Chrysostom, make the soul pampered, lazy and slow. Witties give rise to insults, foul language, damage to the soul, laughter and boasting and, finally, fornication. “Buffoonery,” he continues, “makes the soul weak, lazy, and prone to falling. She often suffers from abuse and creates quarrels. How many curses arise from witticisms, how much harm, how much foul language! From this evil is born and grows and often leads to fornication” (Conversation 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). As St. Isaiah says, “Four things increase bodily fornication: from sleeping on a full stomach, from eating to satiety, from jokes and from bodily rest.” Likewise, laughter, according to St. John Chrysostom, undermines sanity, drives out modesty, and consigns the fear of God to oblivion. Mockery fears neither death, nor the Last Judgment, nor eternal torment. Laughter is the path to fornication and the cause of neglect. “It is terrible to indulge in buffoonery, for laughter loosens the bonds of chastity, laughter puts aside modesty, laughter is not afraid of the terror of Gehenna, laughter is a guide to fornication, laughter is an excuse for neglect” (Conversation on the fact that an ascetic should not indulge in playfulness). So, jokes and laughter themselves cause so much evil and harm. That is why they should be outside the life of Christians, which should be holy, modest, peaceful, prudent and above all evil and sin. A joker and a wit, according to St. John Chrysostom, is a person of changeable morals, unstable beliefs, easy and changeable behavior. He usually imitates someone in his posture, manner of speaking, gait - in everything. He certainly needs to find or invent some kind of flaw in anyone and a reason for ridicule. Such people are more likely than others to quarrel and quarrel with the object of their ridicule directly, to their face or behind their back. From this it is clear that a Christian and a joker are two extremes that are incompatible. As far as heaven is from the earth, it is also appropriate for a Christian to stay away from laughter and witticisms, so as not to turn into a jester: “A joker is a person who is fickle, ready for anything, unstable, changeable, and can do all sorts of things, but this is not characteristic of those who serve the Stone (that is, Christ). Such a person easily dodges and changes, because he must imitate the change of face, and words, and laughter, and the gait of others, and everything, but at the same time he needs to invent witticisms, because this is necessary for him. But playing a comedy is unusual for a Christian. Moreover, a joke hunter must endure strong hostility from those ridiculed by him, whether they are present or hear from the sidelines” (Conversation 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). Jokers Mock God's Word But is that really all there is to it? Jokes and witticisms even entered the holy life of the Church. These unfortunate buffoons have reached such impudence that they dare to mock even the Divine word of Holy Scripture. They dare to insert any adverb into the Divine Scriptures, throw out and alter the text and combine sacred concepts with obscenities and baseness. In the time of St. John Chrysostom, some Christians (at home), having set the table and calling for a meal, changed the sacred verses of the prophet David and said: “Accept punishment, lest the Lord be angry.” (Ps. 2:12). Someone said: “Hurry, children, so that your belly does not become angry.” And someone said differently: “Woe to you, mammon, and to him who does not have you,” and much more. What sayings does John’s euphonious and golden [language] speak of? “Where is this disease not? She entered the Church, she has already touched the Scriptures. Should I say something to show the excess of evil? I'm ashamed, but I'll say it anyway. I want to show to what extent the evil has reached, so that you will not think that I am busy with trifles and talking to you about something unimportant, so that at least in this way I can distract you from delusions. Let no one think that I am making things up: I will say what I heard. Someone happened to be with one of those who pride themselves on learning - I know that I will arouse laughter, but I will still say; Having set the table, this one said: grab it, children, so that your stomach doesn’t burn. Likewise, others say: woe to you, Mammon, and to him who does not have you. And playfulness brought many such absurdities” (Discourse 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). So in our time, many, sitting at the table, where a large tasty fish lies in front of them, with all insolence transfer the sacred words of the Divine Scriptures to their falling apart and stinking food and, cutting off the head of the fish, say: “In the main book it is written about Me,” ripping open my insides, they say: “You have heard that the Messiah will come” (cf. John 4:25). And finally, cutting off the tail, they add: “The fruit that killed me was good and red in kindness” (Gregory the Theologian. Homily 44). And who is saying this? Smart and educated people, and often clergy and clergy. Are they not subject to incineration by heavenly thunder and lightning for such words? Yes, Chrysostom pronounces such a sentence on them: “Isn’t such defeat worthy” (Homily 7 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). Christians shouldn't even read books that contain ridicule. What can we say about the wicked who wrote a thick book under the title “Spanu” (Σπανου), and even published it? In it they placed all the hymns of the sacred worship of the Church of Christ, with which we sing and glorify Christ and all the saints. The compilers, in their own way, adapted and altered the texts contained in it, without fear of the wrath of God, to censure people who have sparsely growing beards 87 . Oh, cursed by God! O most wicked and full of filth! The unclean and anti-Christian spirit completely took possession of the heart of the rogue who concocted such a little book. This very nasty spirit pushed the unfortunate scribbler to mock and ridicule Divine, sacred and holy words. Therefore, my Christian brothers, take care of yourselves! For the love of God, guard yourself carefully so that you never read this damned book. But wherever you find it, throw it into the fire and burn it, for whoever reads it with pleasure or begins to listen to it will no longer be a Christian, but an opponent of our faith and will be anathematized in accordance with the 63rd rule of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Also, be frantic to read Berthold's book, which contains a lot of ridicule, like other similar literature. I'll say more. Jokes and witticisms often bring the jokers themselves to death. We find evidence of this in ancient times. The historian Cornelius Tacitus says that the consul Ustin laughed at Emperor Nero for his softness and indecision. And what was the end? By imperial order, the captain of the thousand, Girelan, and his soldiers grabbed the mocker, took him to the baths, opened his veins and left him to die. The famous Stoic philosopher Seneca experienced something similar. He also laughed at the courage of Nero, who took part in the chariot race, and even at the emperor’s voice when he heard him sing. For this, Nero also ordered the veins on both his arms to be opened, and the unfortunate mocker died a slow, painful death. Many other unlucky jokers throughout history have been subjected to various executions for their jokes and witticisms 88 . Laughter drives out the fear of God from the soul Do you see, my Christian brothers, how great evil simple jokes turn into? Have you heard how wits go so far as to ridicule everything divine and holy? Moreover, they do not spare even God Himself until a terrible death befalls them. Therefore, my beloved Christian brothers, I ask you, stop making jokes and mocking, so as not to drive out from your soul the fear of God, the reason for all virtue and all good. If you drive out the fear of God from your soul, then, of course, you will bring upon yourself all the above-mentioned misfortunes generated by jokes and witticisms. Would you like to hear the true story of how the heart of a laugher is deprived of the fear of God? Follow me to Palestine, where the patriarch Abraham pitched his tent. God appeared to him in the guise of three husbands and promised that his wife Sarah would give birth to a son: “I will be with you again at this time [next year], and Sarah your wife will have a son” (Gen. 18:10). Sarah stood behind the curtain of the tent and, hearing these words, laughed to herself, thinking that it was impossible for her to give birth to herself and Abraham in her old age: “Sarah laughed inwardly, saying: Shall I, when I am old, have this consolation? And my lord is old” (Gen. 18:12). Sarah’s laughter did not please God, who began to rebuke her for her laughter: “And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sarah laugh, saying: “Can I really give birth when I am old?” (Gen.18:13). Sarah, hearing this, was frightened and began to deny that she had laughed. God again reproaches her, saying that she truly laughed: “Sarah did not confess, but said: I did not laugh. Because she was afraid. But He said: no, you laughed” (Gen. 18:15). Think carefully, brothers, over these words of Holy Scripture. For they show that Sarah laughed because she forgot and lost for a time the remembrance of the fear of God in her heart. And when she again remembered the fear of God and the memory of it returned to her heart, then she tried to deny that she had laughed. Laughter is reprehensible and unacceptable to God. If God did not accept the laughter of Sarah, who had good reason, then how much more unpleasant to Him when you Christians laugh without any good reason? The sage rightly remarked about your behavior: “A fool laughs even when there is nothing to laugh at” (Menander. Sentences or Sayings). If God rebuked Sarah when she laughed not intentionally or on purpose, but by accident and by coincidence, then how much more displeasing is it to Him (for which He is reproaching you) that you prepare so much, invent so many things, just to laugh and make others laugh? How much more severely does He rebuke you when you joke and joke so much, play so many practical jokes and ridicule people? If the Lord denounced and accused Sarah because she laughed - she did not burst out laughing, did not burst into loud laughter, but only mentally, that is, silently, silently, and no one heard anything, only a slight smile touched her lips - then how much more immeasurably more does He denounce and accuse you when you, like senseless fools, cackle thunderously? So your cheeks shake like an earthquake. “The laughter of fools,” notes Solomon, “is like the crackling of thorn brush under a pot (Eccl. 7:6). How much more severely does God accuse you of laughing too much, causing your heart to leap out of your chest, your veins to bulge, and tears to flow from your eyes. (Saint Gregory the Theologian writes about this: “Unruly laughter also brings forth tears” (Thoughts written in quatrains). In short, if the Lord denounced laughter in ancient times, before the Law and the Gospel, when people were only beginners, like babies, and not only husbands, but also wives, by nature the sex is weak and funny, then how much more does He reject laughter and jokes in our time, when after the Law and Grace The people of the Gospel have reached the state of a perfect man and the measure of the stature of Christ, as Paul writes. How great is the name of a Christian and why it should not be dishonored So, be ashamed, brothers! Be ashamed and stop using foul language, retelling myths and jokes, making jokes and laughing. Be ashamed that the Christian name you bear is pure and holy. It is more majestic than all other names and honors inherent in kings, consuls, senators, satraps and all people invested with power in this world. So do not utter words unworthy of your holy name. Do not do things unworthy of him. And since you have such a name, then your words should be the same: pure and holy, God-loving, seasoned with the salt of Christian understanding and divine grace, as the divine Paul commands you: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6). And if ever the devil, an evil thought or a crafty habit from within prompts one of you to use foul language or forces you to retell pagan jokes, make jokes or jokes, then immediately remember your Christian name and say to yourself: “We are called Christians and bear this holy and greatest name - how can we now dishonor it with foul language? How can we disgrace him with all sorts of witticisms and laughter?” With such mindfulness you will drive away evil thoughts inspired by the devil. Use this method against any sin that the enemy pushes you towards, and you can easily protect yourself from it. The very name of a Christian is enough to motivate you to take up some good deed. As Saint John Chrysostom says, “And now we all have one name, which is more important than all those - the name of Christians, sons and friends of God, the body of Christ. Such a name, more than anything else, can arouse in us increased zeal for success in virtue. Let us not do anything unworthy of this honorable name, thinking about the height of the dignity by which we are called Christ’s” (Conversation 19 on the Gospel of John). The name of a Christian brings no benefit without good words and good deeds Well, what is the use, brothers, to be called Christians, but to speak words and do devilish and anti-Christian deeds? Do Christians use foul language? Are they retelling pagan nonsense? Do they make jokes and clown around? Are they doing buffoonery? These are discordant, incompatible and opposite things, like water and fire, light and darkness, good and evil. Therefore, try to become worthy of your holy name with Christian honest words and deeds, as the Monk Ignatius the God-Bearer calls on you: “So let us be worthy of the name with which we are anointed, for the one who is called by another name other than this is not God, and the prophecy that said about us does not apply to him that “he will be called by the new name with which the Lord calls him, and will become a holy nation,” which was fulfilled before in Syria, for in At Antioch, the disciples began to use the name Christians” (Epistle 3, Magnesians, § 10). For if you utter honest and holy words and if you perform Christian deeds, then you are worthy of the name of Christians. As Ignatius the God-Bearer continues, “I not only say, but also desire that I not only be called a Christian, but also seek this, for if I seek, then I can be called” (Epistle to the Romans 3). Today's life is a time of sorrow and tears Be ashamed, my brothers, while you live. For the present time, as already mentioned in the Introduction, is not for jokes and laughter, but for sorrow and tears. And you, being Christians, laugh and dance. “The present time is not a time of fun, but of crying, sorrow and sobs, and are you kidding?” - asks John Chrysostom (Discourse 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians) and continues: “The present time is a time of crying, sorrow, oppression, slavery, exploits and sweat, and you laugh?” (Discourse 15 on Hebrews). The time of this life is a time of wars, and you are mired in jokes and empty chatter. What kind of warrior, having entered into battle, leaves the battlefield and, instead of continuing the fight with the enemy, amuses himself with jokes? Don't you see that the devil is prowling around like a lion, roaring and gnashing his teeth, spitting fire from his mouth, and looking for one of you to seize and throw into destruction. And you, unfortunate ones, sit, carefree, laughing and joking? “What kind of warrior, entering the arena and leaving the fight with his opponent, begins to utter jokes? The devil has appeared, walks around, roaring to devour, sets everything in motion and turns everything on your head and gnashes his teeth, growls, breathes fire against your salvation, and you sit, make jokes, talk idle talk and say indecent things? (Ibid.). The life of a Christian is a battlefield and arena of struggle Don’t you know, asks St. John Chrysostom [in the same sermon], that soldiers on the battlefield have sad faces, stern looks, frowned eyebrows, hearts beating strongly and clearly, consciousness concentrated and tense, lips closed? Don’t you see how united and smart they are, so that they not only have no time for jokes and witticisms, but they won’t even utter a word? You Christians, despite the fact that you are also waging an intense spiritual struggle, and not with a visible enemy, but with the spirits of evil, sit quietly, use foul language, tell each other pagan nonsense, joke and laugh? “You joke and enjoy yourself and make witticisms and laugh and don’t understand the matter?” (Ibid.). Don’t righteous Job and the Apostle Paul tell you that human life is a lists and arena of struggle, where battles are fought and warfare is going on, and the founder of exploits in it is Christ, and the fighters are Christians, and their opponents are the devil and demons, and the spectators are angels? Job says: Is not man's time on earth determined? ( Job 7:1 ). The Apostle calls Christians to vigilance and hands them spiritual weapons: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heaven” 89 (Eph. 6:11–12). What does heavenly mean here? It is for the heavenly blessings that Christians inherit that demons fight with them, as John Chrysostom and Blessed Theodoret explain. So, Christians who want to win this battle and receive crowns from the heroic Christ must not fight with foul language and pagan myths, jokes and ridicule, since with such weapons they can only be defeated and die at the hands of the enemy, so they should arm themselves with a sword and weapons. What kind of weapon is this? The holy prayer and the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ, namely: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me” and the divine words of the Holy Scriptures. With such weapons, Christians defeat and crush their demonic enemies. Thus, the holy Apostle Paul arms the lips of Christians fighting in spiritual warfare and says: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17). Now is the time for sowing, not reaping Now is the time of sowing, not harvest. Just as prudent farmers now sow the fields in intense labor to the point of tears, so later during the suffering they reap the harvest with heartfelt joy and joy. As the prophet David says: “Those who sow in tears will reap with joy. He who bears seeds weeping will return with joy, bearing his sheaves” (Ps. 125:5-6). Likewise, prudent Christians, during real life, cry and sob about their sins and make every effort to sow the best seeds of virtues in their hearts. And in the future life after their resurrection, they will have to rejoice and have fun, eating the fruits and enjoying the eternal bliss that they will receive. As Basil the Great says, interpreting the above saying of David, “therefore, whoever spends the days of this age, already ending towards its west, mourning his sins, will rejoice when the true morning comes; for those who sow now with tears will reap with joy (Ps. 126:5), obviously in the age to come” (Conversation on Psalm 29). This is what unreasonable, stupid farmers do. When it comes to sowing, they are lazy. Instead, they give up working in the fields, wander here and there, and amuse themselves with games, jokes and laughter. And when the harvest time comes, they rush to the fields to sow, becoming not only a universal laughing stock for their stupidity and negligence. They completely lose meaning and make the work they have begun unfeasible and have deprived themselves of the necessary food and are dying of poverty and hunger. As Saint John Chrysostom says, “if someone did not throw seeds during sowing, but began to sow during the harvest, he, in addition to receiving nothing, would also be ridiculous” (Conversation 25 on the Gospel of John). The same goes for crazy Christians, who in this life do not cry or sob, but wander back and forth, use foul language, tell each other all sorts of tall tales, make jokes and have fun. When the time of the Second Coming comes, they will begin to look, like the five foolish virgins, how they can go and sow and fill their souls with the oil of virtues. But in vain! For the Bridegroom will not let them into the bridal chamber, they will have to remain sad and hungry, which, God forbid, you, my Christian brothers, will also be forced to endure. The Lord never laughed once in His entire life, but cried four times Be ashamed, brothers, for the sake of the example left for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. After all, throughout the entire period of His earthly life, it is not said anywhere in the Holy Gospels that He laughed. As St. Basil the Great writes, “and the Lord bore the necessary bodily passions, and wears everything that testifies to virtue, such as toil and mercy for those who mourn, but never showed laughter, as we see this from the Gospel narratives” (Rules, set out at length. 17). On the contrary, the Gospels indicate in four places that He Himself actually shed tears four times. The first time was when he raised four-day-old Lazarus, as the Evangelist John writes (see: 11, 2). The second is when, sitting on a donkey and approaching Jerusalem, seeing the city in the distance, he wept for it, as the holy Evangelist Luke reports: “And when he approached the city, he, looking at it, wept for it... "(Luke 19:41). The third time was when, approaching the time of suffering, he became troubled in spirit and said: “My soul is now troubled; and what should I say? Father! deliver Me from this hour! . ”(John 12:27), as the holy Apostle Paul testifies to this: “In the days of His flesh, with a strong cry and with tears, He offered prayers and supplications to Him who was able to save Him from death; and was heard for His reverence” (Heb. 5:7). The fourth time was when He clearly testified and said that one of His disciples would betray Him. As the holy evangelist John writes, “Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said: Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you will betray Me” (John 13:21). For this indignation, according to the word of St. John Chrysostom, means the cry of the Lord, who regretted the death of Judas (Conversation 15 on the Epistle to the Hebrews). And His pity was expressed not only in tears, but in words and teaching. He calls those who weep and sob in this life blessed and happy: “Blessed are those who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:21), and on the contrary, He calls those who laugh unhappy and mourns them: “Woe to you who laugh now! for you will mourn and lament” (Luke 6:25). Laughter is not inherent in Christians Do you hear this, wits? Do you hear them laughing? Christ was sinless and wept. And you, unfortunate ones, being sinners, laugh? Christ shed tears not for His sins, but for the sins of all people. And you don’t even cry for your own sins, but laugh? Christ is your Teacher, Christians, and you are His disciples. He is the example, pattern and guide for your life and salvation, and you Christians must follow in His footsteps. As Chief Peter says, “Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). So, if your Teacher Christ joked, you, His disciples, joke too. If the example for your life - Christ - laughed, you too laugh in imitation of Him. If Christ never joked or laughed in His life, then how can you, foolish ones, not be ashamed to laugh and joke? “Christ was crucified,” Chrysostom tells you, “for your sins, and you laugh? He endured scourging and suffered so much for your benefit, and do you enjoy it? How can you not anger Him even more? (Discourse 17 on Ephesians). Jokes and laughter are not inherent to Christians, disciples and followers of Christ, oh no! But to Jews, Hellenes, Turks and other pagans. Jokes and laughter are not characteristic of strangers and wanderers on this earth, people not of this world, their homeland and hometown are not here, like Christians. This world belongs to earthly, secular people who have neither hope of salvation nor inheritance in heaven. As John Chrysostom says, “laughter is the work of this world” (Ibid.). Let me say briefly that laughter, wit and jokes do not belong to Christians who walk the narrow and sorrowful path that leads to life. They are characteristic of pagans who follow a wide and spacious road straight to destruction. So, Christians, one of two things. Or do you give up jokes, wit and laughter if you really want to be Christians, imitators and disciples of Jesus Christ. Or, if you do not want to leave all this self-indulgence, then you are not Christians or disciples of Christ, but only lies and falsehood 90. Witticisms and laughter are not harmless, but express contempt, which gives rise to all evil. But here’s what some object to us: “What’s wrong if someone makes a joke? And what sin is it to just laugh? Such things have no meaning: they are neither good nor bad. Just small, trivial and forgivable sins.” This is what we will answer them. Firstly, if jokes and laughter were not evil, but a harmless activity, then Christ would not have said about those laughing: “When you see luxurious feasts with all their pleasures, lies, noise and disorderly shouts, remember the words of the Lord: “Woe to you, who are full now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will weep and lament” (Luke 6:25),” says John Chrysostom (A Sermon on False Prophets, False Teachers...). If jokes and laughter were not evil, then the divine Paul would not have scolded them with such severity and would not have said that Christians should eliminate jokes from their midst and even completely forget what they are: “But fornication and all uncleanness and covetousness should not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints. Also, foul language and idle talk and ridicule are not becoming for you...” (Eph.5:3-4). “After foul language,” St. John Chrysostom interprets these words, “he brings laughter, and you laugh? What is idle talk? That which has nothing profitable” (Discourse 15 on the Epistle to the Hebrews). If jokes and laughter were not evil, then Solomon would not have said that “mourning is better than laughter” (Eccl. 7:3). Since lamentation 91 is considered by many to be evil, then laughter is worse than lamentation and, therefore, evil. John Chrysostom also shows that jokes and laughter are not harmless, but are evil in themselves, and even give rise to a lot of all kinds of evil (Conversation 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). We already talked about this in the middle of this Word. If we assume that jokes and laughter are truly harmless, then even then it is not appropriate for Christians to have nothing to do with them. Firstly, because it is a devil's trick to instill in Christians disdain for unimportant things. As John Chrysostom says, “and this is the devil’s work - to neglect unimportant things” (Ibid.). Secondly, because a disdainful attitude towards small and unimportant things leads to the fact that we begin to say: this is a trifle, this is so insignificant, without distinction we introduce everything that is bad into the Christian life. As Isidore Pelusiot notes in his letter to the scholastic Cyrus, “for by saying that it means nothing, you make an evil mockery of life” (Epistle 1233, to Cyrus the Scholastic). Laughter and jokes, even if they seem insignificant, give rise to great evil Thirdly, we will answer those who object to us that jokes and laughter only look like small and forgivable sins, but in fact they give rise to great and mortal sins. John Chrysostom speaks about this in Discourse 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians and in Discourse 15 on the Epistle to the Hebrews and in the Word that an ascetic should not joke, as well as in Discourse 86 on the Gospel of Matthew. There he advises: “So, it is necessary to repel evil at the beginning; even if the first crimes did not entail further ones, and then they cannot be neglected; Meanwhile, they reach even more when the soul becomes remiss. Therefore, you need to use all means to exterminate vices at the very beginning. Do not look at the fact that sin in itself is small, but remember that it is the root of great evil when they neglect it... Look also, one laughed untimely, another reproached, another rejected fear, saying: it’s nothing. What is the importance of laughing? What could happen from this? From this comes empty talk, hence profanity, and then shameful actions.” Now, brothers, you say that jokes and laughter are just a minor sin. But isn’t it obvious to you how this little thing entails, according to the saint, bad deeds? That is, fornication, adultery, sodomy and other grave mortal sins? Also, Saint Isidore Pelusiot believes that what is seemingly small actually results in something big: “... it happens that a fall that seems small leads to great evil” (Epistle 17 to Cyrus Scholasticus). Also in another place: “Usually the greatest sins are born from the smallest” (249. Aetius). That is why, my beloved Christians, give up all your excuses that the devil whispers, that jokes and laughter are completely insignificant things and trivial sins. He deceives you with such thoughts as to plunge you from small things into great sins and thus torment your soul. “For the devil, being wicked, uses persuasion and condescension for the sake of human destruction and begins with small things” (Conversation 86 on the Gospel of Matthew). Think about natural phenomena. How small is the spark? But such a tiny thing ignites a huge fire. An insignificant drop of snake venom. But she kills a big, strong man. That's how jokes and laughter are like a small drop of poison, but it kills your immortal souls. As Gregory the Theologian notes, “a spark ignites a very large flame, and the venom of the echidna does a lot of harm. Seeing this, avoid even small harm, for small harm leads to great harm” (Thoughts written in quatrains). Saint Basil the Great adds that one should not think that someone who seems lazy in small things will ever be able to achieve something great: “If someone is lazy in something small, do not believe that he can achieve great things” (Abba Isaac, Homily 26). The Monk Isaac cites an instructive incident that happened to a certain philosopher, who somehow appeared in an inappropriately disheveled state. But when he himself noticed this, he immediately put himself in order and sat down in decent condition. Someone present, noticing his embarrassment, laughed. The philosopher calmly said: “That’s not what bothered me - I was afraid of neglect” (Ibid.). Also Holy Syncletikia says: “He who resists great evil with the grace of God, but neglects the small, will receive great harm... After all, he who is overcome by the small,” she continues, “how can he protect himself from the great?” (St. Athanasius the Great. Life and instructions of St. Synclitia...). How much bad is there in a joker Leave, brothers, foul language, leave pagan nonsense, stop making jokes, making fun and laughing. Stop using foul language, because bad words lead to completely bad things. As John Chrysostom says, “words are the way to deeds” (Discourse 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). Stop retelling pagan fictions, for the holy apostles in their Rules excommunicate those who follow myths from the Church of Christ. “Whoever adheres to Hellenic customs or Jewish myths will either cease or be cast out” (Apostolic Constitutions. Book 8, Chapter 32). Leave your witticisms, for there is nothing more shameful than a wit. His lips are disgusting with their dirt and stench, and in his soul a terrible catastrophe lurks and there is no room left for good. He who jokes is not a saint. For wit is unbecoming not only for Christians, but also for noble and free people. It is characteristic of crooks, flatterers, harlots, nasty and dishonest people, jesters and clowns. As Saint Chrysostom says, “there is nothing more shameful than buffoonery, so it is not grace that fills his mouth, but torment... a lot of evil nests in a soul partial to jokes, great absent-mindedness and emptiness... the one who tells jokes is not holy... Don’t you see the so-called laughers, clowns - these are the jokers. Banish, I beg you, from your souls this graceless gift. This is the business of parasites, mimic actors, dancers and public women. Let it be far from the free and noble soul, even from slaves. If anyone is dishonest, if someone is vile, he also wants to joke” (Conversation 17 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). Leave laughter, for laughter itself is worthy of laughter, especially unrestrained and prodigal ones. Gregory the Theologian in his iambic quatrains says: Don’t you know that the righteous Job considers it a great virtue not only not to laugh himself, but not even to communicate with jokers who make others laugh: “If my foot hastened to deceit.” .. ( Job 31:5 ). Don't you hear how the prophet Isaiah speaks with disdain about those who despise others, lovers of pleasure, laughter and all sorts of merry fellows? He believes that this sin will not be forgiven until death: “And the Lord, the Lord of hosts calls you on this day to weep and lament. But behold, fun and joy! “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die!” “And the Lord of hosts opened it in my ears: This wickedness will not be forgiven you until you die, said the Lord, the Lord of hosts” (Is. 22:12-14). Don't you hear Solomon, who also renounced laughter: I said about laughter: “stupidity!” (Eccl. 2:2). Laughter betrays reproach and disrupts the structure of the soul, as Basil the Great explains (Rules set out at length. 17). Don’t you hear the Lord’s brother, the Apostle James, who commands you to turn your laughter into weeping and your joy into sadness: “Let your laughter be turned into weeping, and your joy into sadness” (James 4:9)? How is it possible for a person not to laugh, but not to be sad? Christians who don't laugh are respected by pagans But how do you find sadness and seriousness? If you remember that you sin every day and thereby grieve God. If you always keep before your eyes the hour of death and the great fear that seizes your soul at the moment of separation from the body, and the appearance of demons seeking to seize it and throw it into hell. As St. Ephraim says, “brother, think hourly about your exodus and prepare for it, for at an hour when you are not expecting it, a terrible command will come.” If you think daily about the terrible and impartial Judgment of God, at which you will have to give an answer and an accurate account of how many evil deeds you have done, how many evil words you have uttered and what evil thoughts you have allowed into your mind. If you begin to constantly remember the torment that awaits all those who do not keep the commandments of the Lord, that is, about the unquenchable fire, the never-ending worm, the gnashing of teeth, separation from God and the saints, eternal communication with the devil and demons, especially about the inescapable despondency and crying that await foul-mouthed people in this life, tellers of all sorts of fables, jokers and scoffers. If you constantly remember and think about this, my brothers, then drive away jokes and laughter from yourself and you will find sorrow for God, who will honor you with eternal joy and gladness in heaven, and here on earth - great praise from unbelievers and pagans. For they, seeing you serious, modest, collected and attentive, will be surprised and say: “Truly Christians are real people. They are not of this world and belong to another world. It is evident that Christians are waiting to go to their other homeland, and therefore they turn away from worldly pleasures and do not like, like others, to joke and laugh.” While praising Christians, infidels also glorify the Lord Christ, Who taught you worthy behavior. By observing His teachings, you become the cause of the glorification of Christ by the infidels. What else could be more pleasant for you, brothers? As Saint John Chrysostom said, “For would it be more blessed for a person to live, turning away from what is visible, and say: Glory to Thee, O God? Are Christians like this? What wisdom do they show? How is the present neglected? Do they consider everything to be a shadow and a dream, not clinging to anything visible, but are, as it were, in something alien, and this is how they spend their lives?” (Talk 7 on Genesis). How and to what extent joy can manifest itself in life I don’t deny that there are many wonderful moments in this world when people laugh. Yes, I know, a person cannot remain serious and frowning all the time. Sometimes he just needs to dilute the seriousness with joy and fun. So, when there is a worthy reason for laughter, do not laugh loudly, brothers, do not raise your voice and do not laugh excitedly, for this is stupid and characteristic of ignorant people, but limit yourself to one smile and quiet laughter, like wise and prudent people. According to the wise Sirach, “a fool raises his voice in laughter, but a prudent man barely smiles quietly” (Sir.21:23). So smile, just to show the joyful mood of your heart, and act as it is written: “A cheerful heart makes a cheerful face” (Proverbs 15:13). This is what Saint Basil the Great advises you to do: “Expressing spiritual joy with a bright smile is not contrary to decency... But laughing loudly, the whole body going into an involuntary concussion is characteristic of an unbridled, unskilled person who does not know how to control himself” (Rules, set out at length. 17). This is how the prophet Daniel laughed when King Cyrus told him how much the idol of the god Bel eats and drinks, as it is written: “Daniel smiled and said, “Do not be deceived, O king” (Dan. 14:7). Simply put, the words “laughter” and “laugh” appear throughout Scripture. They do not mean laughter and uncontrollable laughter, but a joyful spiritual mood, as Basil the Great explains (Rules set out at length. 17). When you, brothers, also need to dispel a gloomy state of mind with a cheerful word, do not resort to jokes and witticisms. Let your word be cheerful and joyful and seasoned with the salt of Christianity and gospel grace, in order to doubly reward and delight the one who hears this word. They should be pronounced freely and at the same time with reasoning, as Basil the Great suggests: “If it ever becomes necessary to dilute the gloom a little through cheerful words, then let your word be filled with spiritual grace and seasoned with the salt of the Gospel, so that the condescension contained within the wisdom will bring fragrance and give the listener double joy: freedom and the gift of reasoning” (Ascetic Rules... Ch. 12). Christians are not supposed to joke or laugh in church Christians should always and everywhere be restrained and not joke or laugh. They must observe this rule especially and extremely strictly in the church, the holy church of God. For the holy church is a special place where the great and omnipotent God reigns, where He sacrifices Himself every day for the sake of love for us sinners. After all, in the holy church there are invisibly present heavenly angels, recording Christians who, with fear and trembling, offer prayer to God. And accordingly, Christians, when they cross the threshold of God’s church, must realize that they are ascending to heaven itself, the image and likeness of which is the holy church, and with great fear they should stand before God, who searches the hearts and souls of people, and with tears and sighs offer prayers to Him in order to receive mercy for their sins. If they talk, joke and laugh in church, then not only do they not receive what they ask for, but they also incur even greater wrath of God. For he who prays absent-mindedly, allowing his mind to wander here and there, angers God. As Basil the Great teaches, “one should not call lazily, without wandering the mind here and there, for such a person will not only not receive what he asks for, but will also anger the Lord even more” (Ascetic Rules... Ch. 1). If, I repeat, someone who prays absent-mindedly irritates and angers God, then how much more irritates Him is the one who also chats, jokes and laughs during prayer. What are you doing, stupid and senseless Christian? Do you talk to God and at the same time make jokes? Do you stand before God and laugh? The priest offers prayers for you with fear and trembling, but you neglect this and do not hear the words of the Holy Scripture, which says: “Look among the nations and look closely, and you will be greatly amazed” (Hab. 1:5). You came to appease God with your prayer, but you anger Him even more with jokes and laughter? And therefore your prayer leads to your condemnation. As the prophet David says, “let him always be judged, and let him come out condemned, and let his prayer become sin” (Ps. 109:7). After all, if you had to enter the royal chambers, you would keep your mind collected, not run your eyes around and watch your every word. And when you enter the church, and this is a different sky, you chat with one, then with the other, laugh and joke. What a lack of fear of God! Saint Chrysostom was right when he complained that the life of Christians had become a mockery - the church was filled with laughter, the devil was dancing everywhere, reveling in his power over all Christians: “That is why everything has fallen and fallen; Everything has become ridiculous among us - both mutual address and politeness; there is nothing thorough, nothing solid. I say this not only in relation to the laity, but I know who I mean - and the church is filled with laughter. One will say a sharp word, and laughter immediately spreads among those sitting; and surprisingly, even during the prayer itself, many do not stop laughing; the devil triumphs everywhere, has bound everyone, possesses everyone; Christ is dishonored and driven out; the church is valued at nothing” (Conversation 15 on the Epistle to the Hebrews). So, brothers, for the sake of God’s love and for the love of your own soul, be afraid and stop this great lawlessness. And if you are not ashamed of anything, then at least be ashamed of your own lips and tongue, with which you receive the Divine Mysteries, and your tongue is stained with the precious Blood of Christ! Because it is the most disastrous thing when you use this language, which has become golden, as an instrument for shaming, fabulousness and laughter. “And what is most deplorable,” says John Chrysostom, “the tongue, which serves such terrible Sacraments and such shed Blood and is a golden sword, is to use it for curses and jokes?” (Conversations about statues. 21). Ultimately, there is a danger that God will abandon you for your foul language, stories, jokes and laughter, and thus the devil will have the opportunity to enter into you and make you possessed or at least plant his seed in your heart. Saint Chrysostom warns you about this: “Fear, for the Lord, who pleases those who weep and takes pity on those who laugh, is angry with you who laugh. For the devil, having found you, filled with laughter, and the absence of fear of God, and oblivion of what is useful, enters your soul and sows his tares there” (Conversation about how an ascetic should not indulge in playfulness). Clergymen do not like foul language, jokes, jokes and laughter From what has been said it is absolutely clear, clearer than the sun, that profanity, anecdotes, laughter and jokes are unacceptable to secular Christians. If it is forbidden for the laity, then how unacceptable are all sorts of jokes and fables for bishops, priests, deacons and clergy, since they are mentors and a good example for the laity in deeds, words - in everything. After all, it is not foul language and pagan inventions that should come from their lips - let it not be! But divine knowledge of spiritual secrets. What should flow from their lips is not jokes and laughter - God forbid! But the holy Law of God. That is why they are the messengers of God Almighty. As the prophet Malachi says, “for the mouth of the priest shall keep knowledge, and the law shall be sought at his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 2:7). Those who have a high priestly rank must ensure that they do not utter witticisms anywhere and never, neither at home nor on the street, especially and above all in God’s church, at the holy altar during sacred congregational prayer, that is, there and then, where they stand like God’s angels in heaven, with fear and trembling, without talking among themselves, so as not to become a temptation and a bad example for the people praying before the altar. Monks should not use foul language, tell pagan jokes, joke or laugh If foul language, pagan fables, jokes and laughter are obscene for priests and clerics, then how incomparably unacceptable all this is for monks and monks. After all, monks are supposed to observe not only physical chastity, but also keep their lips clean from all foul language, fables, all kinds of witticisms and ridicule. According to John Climacus, “a monk is a life outside of nature, a sanctified body, purified lips and an enlightened mind.” For a true monk is distinguished by heavenly love and life in God, and not by the joys of the world and wit, according to the Monk Ephraim: “A monk is not buffoonery and excessive enrichment, but heavenly desire and divine living, for in such is the best life” (Advice to a novice monk. Chapter 70) 92 . After all, the monk has a sad name, and the place where he lives is sad, and his work is constant sorrow, crying and tears. “For,” says the Monk Isaac, “such a stay of the monk and his solitude, likening him to being in a tomb, deprived of human joy, teaches him that crying is his work and this is the name of his name, and to this he is called and turned, for he is called lamentable, that is, a sorrowful heart” (Homily 21). But the black monastic robes themselves show that he must cry and shed tears. As St. John Climacus says, “may your very robe convince you to weep, for all those who mourn the dead dress in black” (Ladder. Homily 7, 22). How can a monk, whose constant business is crying and tears, joke and laugh? This is completely alien to him, inappropriate and unacceptable for his life. Therefore, Basil the Great, in the 12th ascetic rule, wrote down that the ascetic should not speak witticisms, and determines that a monk who speaks witticisms and talks idlely should not take an antidor as penance: “If anyone uses jokes or talks idlely, let him be without blessing.” John Chrysostom uttered a separate Word that an ascetic should not speak witticisms. And in the 15th Discourse on the Epistle to the Hebrews, he denounces: “Are you still laughing and having a merry face, monastic?” Crucified? Crying? Are you laughing? Tell me". You should never say: “Well, what’s wrong with that?” So, all of us: priests and clergy, and monks, and laymen - let us beware, as far as possible, of foul language, fabulousness, jokes, laughter, and let us remember that the time of our life is limited and short and we should spend it crying about our sins and on all other things necessary for salvation. For the image of this world passes and is erased, and with it the jokes and laughter of people pass and disappear. As the Apostle Paul says, “the time is short... and let those who rejoice be as if they did not rejoice; and... those who use this world as if they do not use it; for the image of this world is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:29–31). How many were there who joked? How many were there who laughed? And what did they gain with their jokes and laughter? Nothing! And now, when they could have enjoyed grace in heaven, their bare bones lie in the grave, and their souls repent of wasting the time given to them in laughter and jokes, and did not spend it crying about their sins. This world is called a vale of tears, so do not try to turn it into a vale of laughter and jokes. Do not laugh at me, since I do not allow you to laugh, so that you do not become like madmen and fools who laugh at those who are trying to heal them. How could you not, while laughing, commit evil, supposedly only in order to avoid remorse? As Solomon says, “to a fool, a criminal act is like a sport” (Prov. 10:23). Lest you go straight to hell for your laughter, warns one of the holy fathers. But if any of you, brothers, at the instigation of the devil or out of a bad habit, accidentally manages to make a joke, joke or laugh by mistake, I beg you by the Lord, do not utter words that are hateful to God and cursed, supposedly to calm your thoughts: “Well, what’s wrong with that - I was just joking. What harm have I done if I laughed a little?” For these are the words of the devil, who will never admit or repent of the evil he has done, since it does not bother him at all. Because of words like these, all modern heretics and atheists have fallen into their delusions and atheism. Long before me, the great preacher of repentance, Chrysostom, begged you, so I ask you to do everything not to succumb to this harmful thought and not to open the doors wide to any vice with the words: “Well, what’s wrong with that.” For from this come thousands of evils (Discourse 86 on the Gospel of Matthew). But if you ever inadvertently make a joke or laugh, first, repent before God and ask for forgiveness for your sins, especially before going to bed. As the prophet David commanded you, “meditate in your hearts on your beds, and be quiet” (Ps. 4:5). If, says the beloved disciple of the Lord, “we confess our sins, then He, being faithful and righteous, will forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). “Do not neglect the error, even if it is less than any worthlessness,” teaches Basil the Great, “but hasten more to correction through repentance, even if many, having committed many sins, whether large or small, remain unrepentant” (Ascetic Word). First, beware of small sins more than big ones. And secondly, confess your sins to your confessor and receive forgiveness from him. And in the future, take care of yourself, assign a guard and an overseer to you, so as not to commit the same sin again, until little by little you completely get rid of it through good practice and with the help of divine grace. I also have to tell you something amazing: take more care, brothers, to protect yourself from small sins than from big ones. It is easier to beware of great evil, because a person immediately notices and does not treat it with disdain. And he falls more easily into small ones, because he despises them. That's when these kids grow into giants due to your own oversight. As St. Chrysostom says, if something surprising should be said, then not the same efforts [to correct] are required by great sins and small and insignificant ones, for the very nature of sin helps to turn away from them, but small ones, their very smallness leads to oblivion and does not allow worthwhile resistance to destroy them, which is why they become big while we sleep (Conversation 86 on the Gospel of Matthew). If you take care of getting rid of small, seemingly insignificant sins, you will easily avoid great ones. The Monk Isaac advises: “Show the enemy your patience and your testing in small things, so that he does not seek big things from you” (Homily 75). Thus you will achieve a blessed eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. The Greek “kairos” in the original quotation from the Old Testament, which is referred to here by St. Nicodemus (Eccl. 3:1-6), according to the text of the Septuagint, means “term” rather than “time.” – Note. lane See in the same place: “... the tongue is in such a position between our members that it defiles the whole body and inflames the circle of life, being itself set on fire by Gehenna” (James 3:6). – Note. lane Famous poem of Cretan literature of the 17th century. "Erotokritos" by Vitsendzos Kornaros, significant passages of which are memorized and form part of Greek song folklore to this day. – Note. lane A work of Cretan literature at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, the famous tragedy “Erophilus” by Georgios Hortatzis. The plot and individual scenes of this tragedy served as a source for popular performances of “folk theater” - theatrical performances in Crete and the Ionian Islands in the 17th-18th centuries. – Note. lane Popular Cretan poem of the early 17th century. unknown author. Written in the vernacular, published in Venice. – Note. lane Reason, rational thinking. – Note. lane The composition of this anonymous text is generally dated to the 12th century. – Note. lane Thus, King Ramiro of Spain, since some nobles showed disdain for his majesty with jokes and amusing remarks, once said to them the following: “Some talk a lot, but at the sound of the bell everyone will be silent.” The sound turned out to be the following. The next day, in the city square, a huge bell appeared on a table, and around it were many severed heads of those nobles who joked about it. On the bell was attached a paper with the following words: “The fox doesn’t know who he’s joking with.” And truly it was the bell that silenced everyone: some through death, others through fear, so that this joke put an end to all jokes. Therefore, Pollio turned out to be much more prudent, who, when invited by Augustus Caesar to respond to the satirical witticisms written against him by the emperor, said the following: “I do not want to write against someone who can subject me to proscriptions, that is, condemn me to death, for it is not safe to exalt myself to the point of playing with lions.” Even the lion trainer himself, who educates them and has boldness towards them and is closely acquainted with him and, as a certain moralist said, for such a game ends in reprisals, and excessive courage leads to death. – Note. St. Nicodemus the Holy Mountain. In accordance with the following words, etc. Nicodemus, this is how this passage should be read. I know that the scholia of the pagan philosopher Aristotle and his later successors contain the doctrine of wit, which is extolled as a kind of virtue lying in the middle of two extremes - ignorance as a defect, and blasphemy as an exaggeration. But in the interpretations of the holy fathers on the Gospel, wit is condemned as a kind of evil. And those who deal with him are reproached and punished, as shown throughout this work. Therefore, we Christians, disciples not of the pagan Aristotle and the latest moralists, but of Jesus Christ and the Holy Fathers, must turn away from wit as an evil contrary to the life of a Christian. And if we, out of passion, bow to him, then we will immediately repent and reproach ourselves as having transgressed the teachings of the Lord and the holy fathers, and in the future we will begin to beware. – Note. St. Nicodemus the Holy Mountain. θυμοϲ - murmur. – Note. lane In the Russian translation, this quote reads as follows: “A monk is formed not by tonsure and robes, but by heavenly desire and divine residence: for in this is the best life.” – Note. ed. You might be interested in: