Часть 1. Преподобный Амвросий Оптинский. Наставления пословицами и поговорками, духовные поучения и размышления, примеры из жизни старца Амвросия, приводимые по воспоминаниям учеников и очевидцев

Although the ancient people were very simple, but their sayings are very wise and thorough. You also wrote that you had a dream in which you imagined that you were on Mount Athos and picked a whole bouquet of fragrant flowers. By such flowers one can understand the patristic writings of those reverend men who, living on Athos and in other places, fulfilled the Divine commandments and words with deeds and, out of spiritual love for us, left their saving instructions, so that we, the weak, would draw from them and collect them, like fragrant flowers, and delight our spiritual larynx with them from grief, and our opponent would give us a drink of it. From a letter from St. Ambrose of Optina to his spiritual child. (from a letter to a spiritual child) I hear that you would like to hear something human from me, but you yourself know the texts of Holy Scripture. If the Son of God did not say anything from Himself, but because He received the commandment from the Father, what I say and what I say, then what can a sinful man, sick in body and soul, tell you from himself? But, perhaps, as you wish, listen. Sidor and Karp live in Kolomna, but sin and misfortune never happen to anyone. If it weren't for the frost on the hops, they would have outgrown the oak tree. Cream and sour cream, and especially well-churned butter from them, are a different matter - well refined and well seasoned. For a beaten person they give two unbeaten ones, and they don’t even take them. If you overlook anything, you'll pay extra out of pocket. What can be endured, will be loved later. Adam's years since the beginning of the world. Adam made a mistake, and he had to endure a lot afterwards; This happens to everyone who makes mistakes. The word is not a sparrow; if it flies out, you won’t catch it. Often more troubles come from careless words than from the deeds themselves. That is why a person is called a verbal person, so that he utters words that are reasonably thought out. So I told you a whole bunch of human words. I don’t know if you will choose anything sensible and useful from them. Don't live as you want, but as God leads Although the ancient people were very simple, their sayings were very wise and thorough. Don’t live as you want, but as God leads. This little saying will not soon be moved without difficulty. Somehow, in reality, everything turns out just wait, wait, wait a little longer, look around, and pull yourself together with your mind and your wallet. About a year ago I heard from one merchant: often it is not the soul that can do it, but the money that can do it 1 . This was a conscientious and very truthful man who spoke, but his circumstances were rather bad and cramped. And all this comes down to the fact that the path leading into the stomach is narrow and sorrowful, 2 and that through many sorrows it is fitting for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Man proposes, but God disposes ...It is increasingly useful for us to submit to God’s judgment and rely in everything on the all-good Providence of God. In the Orthodox Church there is a wise saying: man proposes, but God disposes. We assume this, and may the Lord arrange for us what is beneficial, as [as] His all-good and all-holy will pleases. The case itself will better indicate how to act It would be good, new mother ...ina, if you outwardly had a pleasant and edifying face 3, and at the same time preserved spiritual silence. Although this is not easy, and difficult, and not always convenient, it is useful for us and others. The useful rarely coincides with the pleasant, and more often than not the unpleasant brings benefit rather than the pleasant, because people soon forget about the pleasant. If you eat too much sweet honey, you will vomit. Then you will need to be treated with cold wormwood infusion... And there is a simple human saying: the matter itself will better indicate how to act. The other day S., the son of a certain old woman of yours, came with a letter from you. Our father, the abbot, although reluctantly, agreed that we should accept him into the monastery at our discretion. If S. behaves decently, then he can live with us; It’s just that the hair on his head is so intricate that you rarely see it. However, the actual case will better show what and how. Liven residents are used to saying: the pusher will show the flour. Schema-Archimandrite Fr. Agapit wrote: “And Elder Ambrose himself... did not have the habit of praising a person and directly assigning him any assignment, but repeated the old Russian proverb: the pusher will show the flour, that is, time and circumstances will show what kind of person is and whether he is worthy of his appointment.” As for the chief election, leave it to the will of God. And whoever begins to speak slyly to you about this, answer: “There is a proverb: grandmother said in two, either it will happen or it won’t.” And to those who sincerely talk about this, answer: “What will be, will be; but it will be what God wills.” Without God's help, man is just a man, nothing more Perhaps you need the spiritual words of Holy Scripture at this time for your spiritual reinforcement and confirmation. There are such moments with the righteous of God, i.e. requiring reinforcements. The prophet Elijah, who fearlessly killed several hundred cold 7 priests in the face of all Israel, soon became afraid of the threats of one cold woman and fled into the desert, begging God to accept his soul. Without God's help, man is like man, nothing more, but man is [like] grass (Ps. 103:15). And with the help of God, one man, like the prophet Elijah, fights against an entire people. “Why is a person bad?” - “Because he forgets that God is above him.” The word of the experienced: “Your own will both teaches and torments; first he’ll torment you, and then he’ll teach you something.” Before you didn’t want to obey and how you should treat an efficient and blessed mentor, but now need has taught and aroused in you the desire to treat some old woman or have an efficient sister as an interlocutor... ...I will not keep silent about the useless and spiritually harmful quartet, which is: despondency, cowardice, impatience and evasion, which deprive us of full power, and can deprive us of the good part if we succumb to them, even under a plausible pretext. Good is only what is done according to the will of God and for holy obedience. But one’s own will only torments; and then he will only teach when we leave it. Vinegar and milk are good separately A spiritual attitude towards someone cannot be combined with one’s will - choose any one, one of two. Vinegar and milk separately are good and useful in their place, but pouring them together will result in a mess that is good for nothing. Likewise, self-rule and self-will are not compatible with spiritual attitude and obedience, but one must adhere to one of the two. Sit by the sea, wait for the weather For the third time in this letter I’m talking about the old woman (whom you now feel the need for, but when you had her, then you didn’t realize the need for her). It always happens this way: when we have good things, we don’t value them. And now, according to the proverb: sit by the sea, wait for the weather - you will be smarter and more humble. ...You were offended to the point of illness... that one sister had to be expelled from your community. Although this is regrettable, very regrettable, you cannot force anyone to salvation. The earthly king is great, and almost everyone obeys him. But there is a proverb: the king has his own will. The Lord Himself does not force a person’s will, although He admonishes in many ways. Let us take care of others according to our strength, and leave everything else to the Lord God. Some interpreters of Holy Scripture explain that the Lord cried a lot in the Garden of Gethsemane on the last night, especially because he knew that few would take advantage of His suffering on the cross, and most, through foolishness and their evil and stubborn will, would deviate in the opposite direction. The late Optina Elder Archimandrite Moses, a wise and spiritually experienced man, used to say in such cases: “Our business is to provide a person with the means of salvation, but whether he is saved or not is saved - see for yourself.” Freedom for the free, heaven for the saved Because of one's unworthiness one should not refuse to accept the monastic image... If you don’t want to take tonsure 8, then why did you enter the monastery? However, there is freedom for the free, and heaven for the saved. There was no sadness, but the evil ones pumped it up, presenting themselves either in the form of Ephraim or in the form of a toothy crocodile, and made them reluctant to accept tonsure into the mantle 9 . Shame is not smoke, it doesn’t get into your eyes “One skete monk came to Elder Ambrose for a blessing to leave for his homeland and just wanted to start talking, and the Elder was already answering his thoughts: “You have come to decide about your trip. This is what, brother, I am not told to let you go. See for yourself what you want, so you don’t repent later when it’s too late.” And the monk says: “Forgive me, father, for my frankness: I will be embarrassed in front of the brethren. I’m ashamed that I spent so much time getting ready and going to see Fr. I ask the abbot, and then I stay.” To which the priest said: “What’s the problem? Shame is not smoke, it doesn’t get into your eyes. A monk, brother, is ashamed to do his own will, so it is better to be a disciple of a disciple than to live according to his own will. This is also stated in the paternal writings. You are ashamed not only before others, but before God and your conscience - it is an incorruptible, selfless judge. And listening to the advice of your spiritual father is not shameful, but soul-saving and necessary. And whoever does not listen to good advice is punished." Custom 10 is bullish, but the mind is calf I am possessed 11 by mental and physical weakness and cannot act coolly, but for some this would be required, to which the Russian proverb goes very well: the custom is a bull, but the mind is a calf. “When giving advice, the Elder (Fr. Ambrose) did not have the habit of insistently demanding that they be carried out without fail, and never bound those relating to him with any prohibition... However, he added for the edification of those who asked him for advice: “When I speak, one must listen from the first word, then there will be obedience according to the will of God. I am of a soft character - I will give in, but there will be no benefit for the soul.” But since, according to the proverb, the king’s own will is greater, and it is equally dear to everyone, then the Elder, of course, had to give in. In this case, he would say: “As you wish” or “You can do this.” But he never gave his blessing to the matter. There were people who wanted to conduct business according to their own will, and together they asked the Elder for blessings for this... The elder, with chagrin and a joking tone, sometimes answered like this: “What do I say to an eccentric man, or what do I say to someone who does his own will?” With such and similar humorous answers, he somehow got rid of the persistent, inappropriate demands for blessings from him. And to another persistent self-willed person he will say: “So, brother, our custom is a bull, but the mind is a calf.” Here he himself will laugh, and the visitor will laugh along with him, perhaps not even noticing that he received both a reprimand and an instruction from the Elder. And only later will he understand the Old Man’s words and not be offended by the Old Man. To this we can add here that those who asked from the Elder and received advice in their affairs, often suffered misfortunes for failure to carry them out.” * If anyone sends you anything, accept it as from the hand of God, and do not be ashamed of poverty. Poverty is not a vice, but the main means to humility and salvation. The incarnate Son of God himself deigned to live in poverty on earth. Remember this and don't be ashamed. It is in vain that you think that wealth, or abundance, or at least sufficiency would be useful and calming for you. The rich are even more anxious than the poor or lacking. Poverty and insufficiency are closer to humility and to salvation, unless a person is faint-hearted, but places his faith and trust in the all-good Providence of God. Hitherto the Lord has nourished us - and will continue to be able to do this. Therefore let us cast our sorrow upon the Lord. It's not about wealth, it's about ourselves. No matter how much you give to a person, you will not satisfy him. Need will teach you how to eat rolls You explain that you have never been a beggar, but need forced you to beg! Before, others asked for you, but now need has forced you to ask. It is not without reason that the saying is repeated: need is tricky! Need will teach you how to eat rolls. I happened to hear from one experienced person who said that all human things that we see were invented either by need or by whim. What is done out of necessity is either approving, or at least excusable; and what is done on a whim is not always excusable, much less approving. Need will teach you everything (Edifying story by Elder Ambrose) The father sends his son into the forest to do something, and the son says to him: “Father, how can I be there alone? I don't know anything." - “Nothing, go,” the father answers him, “necessity will teach you everything.” He set off, but his sleigh broke down in the forest. He remembered his father’s words “need will teach you everything” and let’s shout: “Need!” And she answers him “Ah...” (echo). He waited, he waited, he screamed and shouted, but no one came to his aid. Then he got down, somehow straightened the sleigh himself, came to his father and said: “You deceived me, father, because need did not come to my aid.” - “How did you manage it?” - “Yes, so, somehow” - “This is the very thing that you somehow managed, and it means that need taught you what to do.” * The harm comes not from money, but from reckless greed You write: “I don’t like money so much that it never lasts long, that’s why I’m always without money, and then I borrow.” But this is stupidity, and you should not make excuses for this, but rather reproach yourself and try to improve. If a person could eat and clothe himself with air, then he would rightly neglect money, which, as it seems, sometimes bothers him. And just as in times of cold and hunger one cannot neglect the necessary clothing and food, so one cannot neglect the means through which food and clothing are acquired. At St. Fathers say that “the edges of demons are the essence,” i.e. that extremes come from the suppression of spiritual enemies. It is foolish to be addicted to money, and it is foolish to neglect it. Both are bad and lead not only to embarrassment, but even to mental harm through various confusions from improper neglect. Money in itself, or rather, for the purpose assigned by God, is a very useful thing. They replace the lack of simplicity and love between people. Without money, who would count people? There would be eternal disputes and quarrels and even fights to the point of murder, but with small coins and even insignificant pieces of paper people get rid of all this, without realizing it. The harm comes not from money, but from reckless greed or stinginess, or from abuse. Use money correctly and you will be at peace. Peace to you and God's blessing. Grief is like the sea: the more a person enters it, the more he plunges ...You have not ceased to be despondent since you began to grieve when you received the news of your tonsure. Know that grief is like the sea: the more a person enters it, the more he sinks. Think for yourself, which warrior is safer - armed or unarmed? And which monk is stronger - tonsured or un tonsured? The tempter has a habit of perverting everything and has now begun to deceive everyone with some kind of imaginary freedom. And timeless freedom, according to the word of St. Isaac the Syrian, leads to bitter slavery. The enemy does not want us to obey God and, according to the will of God, God’s servants, but through dark and subtle suggestions, he strives to obey him, even if not explicitly or clearly. And what kind of good can we expect from the enemy of all good, who seeks the destruction of all? From now on, be careful and circumspect when suggesting plausible thoughts from spiritual enemies. No matter how plausible these thoughts may be, if they bring confusion and despair, then they are wolves in sheep's skins [in sheep's clothing], as Barsanuphius the Great says. Without tool 12 you can’t kill a louse May the prayers of those praying for us help you take tonsure in peace and spiritual consolation. Know and firmly believe that an armed warrior is safer, although it seems to the latter that it is easier for him to be so. On earth everything is done and accomplished through the medium of some instrument. There is a funny but true proverb: you can’t kill a louse without a tool. Need a fingernail. So I turned something serious into funny in order to amuse you, a serious person, a little. Remember kulesh 13 when you eat unpleasant stew The prayers of the great pilgrims [saints] will cover us. They are merciful and compassionate and can show those who have gone astray the real path, and they also feed them milk kulesh, 14 although their spoons are not entirely neat. Remember this kulesh when you eat an unpleasant stew 15. The illness has come to you again, and your back hurts, and your insides are not in order... The enemy tempted ancient Christians with various torments, and the enemy tempts Christians of the present time with different thoughts and various bodily ailments... There is also a saying with which those who grieve in difficult situations usually console themselves: Moses endured, Elisha endured, 17 Elijah endured, 18 I will endure. I don’t remember where it is said that a pious person who lives, if [if] he has no sorrows, a year is counted as a day, and if a pious person endures great sorrows, then a day is counted as a year to him. I would ask a goose in winter if its feet are cold? Congratulations on your return home. I sincerely wish you to live, live and make good things. In this life, more than once you will have to remember the saying: would you ask a goose in winter if its feet are cold? And the goose, although it often changes its legs by tucking in its legs, still survives the winter one way or another. But when spring comes, he swims around the lake with complacency. Sidor and Karp live in Kolomna, but sin and misfortune do not happen to anyone May the All-Good Lord have mercy on you and everyone living with you, and may he help you in the future not to take so warmly to your heart the sorrows and troubles that you encounter, which almost bring you closer to death... I will not convince you to be complacent and generous with the words of Scripture, which I have repeated to you many times, but I will now only cite a proverb or saying of one cheerful and complacent person who had the custom in such cases to repeat: “Sidor and Karp live in Kolomna, but sin and misfortune do not happen to anyone.” And this man, as I remember, despite the many changes and upheavals in his life, he always remained complacent and cheerful, and he was worldly, and we are monks who doomed ourselves to all sorrow. Evil always runs ahead, but does not overcome Cain 19 was born before Abel, and Esau before Jacob 20, but victory remained on the side of the latter, although Esau persecuted Jacob, and Cain killed Abel, but the persecuted are blessed, and the persecutors are rejected by God. Let us believe and hope that the Lord will not abandon us, we just need to endure with humility and not grumble. A lie will always remain a lie and can never be the truth, but those slandered will sooner or later be justified in every possible way. Evil always runs ahead, but does not overcome. And among the chosen disciples of Christ the Savior there was a traitor. But only those who resisted the truth received their worthy reward, and they could not harm others at all. God won't allow it, the pig won't eat it I received your letter, the content of which is a continuation of temptations and slander through Fr. K. But there is an old wise saying: God will not allow it, the pig will not eat it. And the Psalter says: a lie is not true to yourself (Ps. 26:12). K. wants to overcome you with untruth, but he will be deceived in his untruth according to the words of the psalm. This untruth will lie to him and may expose him to great disaster not only in the future life, but also in the present. Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites, but it is said that he was drowned in water like tin. There are many things to eat, but many things cannot be eaten “Elder Ambrose not only never grieved over his illness, but, on the contrary, was always in a cheerful mood and even joked. In one of his letters he wrote: “There are painful tightness all over the body, both from the cold and from involuntary hunger. There are many things to eat, but many things cannot be eaten. A weak stomach and faulty intestines do not allow this. However, out of old habit, I am still forced to eat, although afterwards I have to endure a great burden from the headache and vomiting. And besides, both visitors and visitors are annoying, they get bored sitting in a shack for a long time. This is how we live day after day, and we are considered unfair in welcoming those who come and come. And my weakness before God and people is to blame.” * The guilty head is neither whipped nor chopped Only 21 times the east is from the west, only 22 times is the difference from the word The Blessed Edict writes: “The home of the soul is patience; the food of the soul is humility. When there is not enough food in the house, then the soul goes out of patience...” It is easy to talk about this in words, but in reality it is not always easy to implement and not for everyone. The Kozel citizen had the custom on occasion to say: “The east is far from the west (Ps. 102:12), it’s only a matter of the word.” Although behind, but in the same herd No virtue is as pleasing to God as humility. And it is more convenient for an incorrigible ascetic to humble himself 23 than for a strict and correct one, of which the publican and the Pharisee are a clear example (Luke 18:9-14). True, not all strict ascetics imitate the Pharisee. The prudent and humble among them take first place with God, and behind them stand the weak, repentant and humble. But a wise word is spread: even from behind, but in the same flock, about which the Chief Shepherd and Savior of our souls says: Do not be afraid, little flock, for [since] your Heavenly Father has deigned to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). White is the sheep, gray is the sheep - one spirit of the sheep I kindly greet all the goslings, whitish and grayish. There is a simple proverb: white is the sheep, gray is the sheep - one spirit of the sheep. Bad things happen when a sheep is spoiled, and its leprosy is no worse than that of a goat, and the purpose of goats is shuiya, 24 from which may the All-Good Lord deliver us. “Father Fr. Ambrose instructively explained the words of the Savior: when they hit you on the gum cheek 25, substitute the other 26. After all, in the usual order, when they hit you in the face, they hit you with your right hand on the left cheek, and not on the gum (right). But the Lord wanted to present with the right cheek an insult, humiliation, resentment for a just cause, for which you are not to blame. To substitute the left one means: at a time when you are insulted without guilt, remember before the Lord your sins with which you insult Him, and through this consciousness, humble yourself and accept the unjust reproach, as you should.” * Without paying the debt, you can’t start giving gifts You write: “The Lord did everything for me, but I did nothing for Him. Is it easy? If someone owes someone, then without paying the debt, one cannot make gifts. So we, first of all, must take care of paying off the sinful debt through humble repentance, which is performed until the grave. People who have sinned a lot should not think about pleasing the Lord, but first about repentance and receiving forgiveness and mercy. Temptations do not walk through the forest, but through people Long ago, ancient people decided that temptations do not walk through the forest, but among people. However, one should not become despondent and faint-hearted beyond measure. The Lord is able to correct our cause, just as He corrected the prophet-king David when his natural son rebelled against him. Let us imitate St. David in humility not only internally, but also externally. He did not reject the unjust accusations and reproaches from Semey, even to the point of damnation, and for this the Lord returned to him His mercy and kingdom. Dejection means the same laziness, only worse. From despondency you weaken both in body and spirit. I don’t want to work or pray; you go to church carelessly, and the whole person weakens. The cell rises, people tempt ...In relation to others, you express yourself like this: “Rarely, rarely is one heard speech about God, everything is some kind of empty and deliberate intricacy or flattery...” Therefore, I will tell you that it is more useful to live among such people than to live alone and at a distance, considering it safe. Lot, when he lived in Sodom 28, was righteous, but when he retired to Zoar, considering this place to be safe, he sinned gravely. It is not in vain that it is written in the Fatherland: Cell 29 is high, but people tempt. Through enduring temptations a person becomes skilled. St. Climacus writes that if anyone stumbled over the stone of unbelief in his spiritual fathers, he, without a doubt, fell. This fall is all the more sad because you not only yourself were subjected to soul-harming unbelief, but also in this blindness you poisoned the souls of the young and inexperienced with inappropriate rumors and harmful stories. ...Be forced to humble yourself and acknowledge your guilt before God and before your mothers, and do not be ashamed to do this, knowing that the guilty head is neither whipped nor chopped off and that, having humbled himself and repented, the publican anticipated the righteousness of the Pharisee. There will be no mistake in repentance and humility, but without them our salvation is doubtful. There is no need to judge because you don’t know someone else’s soul. Look at yourself more and, when reading holy books, apply them to yourself, and correct yourself, and not others. In one place the stone will grow ...You are planning to leave the monastery somewhere in the spring. ...It’s more accurate and better to endure in one place. There is a Russian proverb: in one place a stone grows overgrown. And in the eldership it is said: sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything. To find peace, there is no need to go on a long journey, but it is better to reconcile yourself at home - it will be stronger. Some royalty, for the sake of peace, leave for a distant place. One appearance without inner content, like a body without a soul “Elder Ambrose also had Count L.N. Tolstoy. He came to Optina, it seems, in the late seventies, on foot, in peasant clothes, in bast shoes and with a knapsack over his shoulders. Soon, however, his dignity as a count was revealed. He came to buy something at the monastery shop and began to open his wallet tightly stuffed with money in front of everyone, and therefore everyone soon found out who he was. Like a peasant in appearance, he took refuge in a common people's hotel. Elder Ambrose asked one poor sexton where he was staying. “Yes there,” he answers, “with the count, in the common people’s clothes.” This one, who represented himself as some special person, personally visited the Elder and told him, pointing to his clothes, how he lived. “So what of this?” - the Elder exclaimed, looking at him with a smile. The Elder’s true answer to the Count is unknown, but its meaning is this: only appearance without internal content, like a body without a soul. All physical labors and exploits, and even self-mortification, if they are not aimed at fulfilling the commandments of the Gospel, at acquiring virtues, and especially humility, not only do not benefit the human soul, but, on the contrary, bring it the greatest harm - they completely destroy it.” * They do not enter someone else's monastery with their own charter. They do not enter someone else’s monastery with their own charter; They don’t even come to the monastery with their own charter. The main thing for you is to obey, wisely according to God, the monastery authorities and adapt to the general order; privately 30 do in simplicity what you can, and the Lord will accept even a small rule, performed with humility. The importance is not what rules we follow, but how we fulfill them. You are still grieving in bewilderment that maybe you are doing something wrong. St. Climacus says that to doubt and remain perplexed about something for a long time is a sign of a proud and glory-loving soul. To live simply means not to judge, not to despise 31 anyone. Sit lower or you'll get burned You write that you have been entrusted with writing in the monastery and that as a result of this you have fallen behind in prayer, but you would like to be always in prayer or in contemplation of God. You take it high, very high! There is a proverb: sit lower, otherwise you will get burned. I already wrote to you that when you are busy with something, there will be less mental confusion... May the All-merciful Lord have mercy on us all, and may He enlighten us and guide us to what is beneficial and salutary. There is an old proverb: the ears are never higher than the forehead. This proverb is applicable everywhere, especially [even more so] in a newly built monastery. The meaning of these words is this: whoever must obey should not get ahead of himself with his opinion and proposal. To teach is to throw small stones from the bell tower, and to perform is to carry large stones to the bell tower. Push the water and there will be water ...I push from morning to evening, as you yourself saw, but God knows what will happen. I think that you yourself have heard the proverb: if you pound water, there will be water. St. wrote something else about stones. Climacus. He says that acute-angled stones, colliding with each other, become rounded and lose their angularity and sharpness. How do you notice things around you in this regard? Have you erased at least two corners of yours that you thought you could erase yourself in imaginary silence? Yes, you won’t be able to handle it yourself. How sorry for myself! After all, all the trouble comes from selfishness 32 and selfishness 33. They don’t like it when others affect us, and they get so excited that you can’t stop thinking about it. From them nasty thoughts breed, like locusts, eating not only spiritual fruits, but the leaves and the bark itself. Make an observation and you yourself will agree with this. Where there is peace and love, there is God, there is every good thing Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke two initial commandments to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). And again: “I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, so do you love one another” (John 13:34). It is not in vain that the wise words of ancient people are repeated: where there is peace and love, there is God, there is every good thing. In Easter style I greet V... the multi-pronounced and mother treasurer, sometimes like a silent fish, and sometimes singing and raising her voice. ...There is an awkward proverb: a goose and a loon are a bad pair, but they often swim in the lake together. There is another proverb: it’s awkward, oh well. A bad peace is better than a good war “Where there is peace, there is God, and with Him all the good things prepared for man. Therefore, the Elder tried with all his might to establish peace between the warring parties. And how glad the Elder was when he managed to bring the warring parties to peace. Once, through the machinations of the enemy, two of the senior hieromonks became hostile to each other. After much effort and, no doubt, fervent prayer to the Lord, he finally managed to reconcile them. With delight shining on his face, the Elder repeated to everyone: “Well, thank God! At least somehow they reconciled. A bad peace is better than a good war." * Covered other people's roofs, but your own stood open “On October 8, 1879, it was forty years since Father Ambrose entered the monastery. After mass they came to him with congratulations and prosphora... Blessing everyone, the priest said: “I lived here for 40 years and did not survive 34 40 years. Truly, I have covered other people’s roofs, but my own remains open, but now I am reaching my 67th birthday.” In a letter to one person, the Elder wrote: “...I, due to a lack of true reasoning, despised my soul and left my own salvation to the mercy of fate, dearly [thinking] to care about the spiritual benefit of my neighbor. I don't know if there is anyone more unreasonable than me. Being extremely weak in body and soul, I take on the task of being strong and healthy mentally and physically...” * Mouse and little one, go catch it “The Elder once spoke to his spiritual daughter. At this time, an honorary woman arrived, about whom they considered it necessary to immediately report to him. “Everyone is equal to me,” said the Elder, “the mouse and the little one, but go and catch it.” * And here is what Hieromonk Gregory of Borisoglebsky said about the Elder’s attitude towards his visitors: “Compare the attitude of the flock towards any priest and those who come to the deceased Elder. There they - each - firmly remember their position and rank: the man comes after the master, the rich before the poor... Not so with the Elder. Before him, every person felt like only a layman; princely titles and counts, fame, wealth, and nobility, the advantage of education - everything remained beyond the threshold of his cell: everyone saw in him only Christ’s shepherd and knelt.” * No matter what you throw at it, it all comes out wrong I don’t know how to tell you about my health. I wrote to you about the hardships. And I, especially in the last three weeks, have been feeling some kind of heaviness in my body, so that in the morning I can hardly break myself enough to take up the usual long-winded conversations with visitors. And then you talk so loudly that you barely get to bed, in an hour or more. Behold, judge and judge between 35 my people (Ps. 42:1) between the righteous 36 and the unrighteous. It’s not written on anyone’s forehead who he is, but he says that he needs to talk, and doesn’t want to know that I’m not bothered. Yes, and from weakness and fatigue it is very straining. There is a proverb: no matter how you throw it, everything turns out to be a wedge. It is impossible not to accept, but it is not possible to accept everyone, and there is not enough strength. Hit the sieve when sieve 37 doesn't fit ...And our weather is changeable. It’s very warm, then suddenly it’s very cold, and that’s how I get colds. But no one wants to hear that I am unwell. And almost everyone explains why they are not accepted soon. Here you can manage as you want and as you know. More than once you will remember a simple Russian proverb: hit the sieve when the sieve doesn’t fit. And this proverb doesn’t stop you from noticing and remembering, mother, when you have to keep up with something, when we think about doing it this way, but it turns out differently. Then this proverb is especially suitable 38. And here's how Fr. Ambrose put this proverb into practice: “At the end of dinner, the Elder, if he was weak, immediately, lying on his bed, received whoever was most needed or suddenly received everyone for a general blessing: first the male sex, and then the female. The cell will be full. At these general receptions, the Elder admonished those in need with well-aimed words, often with proverbs that were understandable to those to whom they referred. Or he would tell something that served as an answer to the innermost thought of one of those present. Sometimes he forced one of the visitors to read a more relevant fable by Krylov. Then he will say a few edifying words in a joking tone and give everyone a blessing...” * Interpret the patient with the doctor 39 Old age, weakness, powerlessness, much care and oblivion, and many useless rumors do not allow me to come to my senses. One explains that his head and legs are weak, another complains that he has many sorrows, and another explains that he is in constant anxiety. And you listen to everything, and even give an answer, but you can’t get away with silence - they are offended and offended. It is not for nothing that the saying is sometimes repeated: interpret the sick with the doctor. The patient wants to explain his situation, but the doctor is bored listening. But there is nothing to do - he listens, does not want to further irritate and alarm the sick interpreter. Let us move on from a simple human saying to the apostolic commandment of St. Peter: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, overseeing it, not under compulsion, but willingly and pleasing to God, not for vile gain, but out of zeal” (1 Peter 5:2). If you drive more quietly, you will continue ...There is also despondency from unbearable zeal. Measure is good in everything. There is a spiritual age, as well as an external age. Just as nine-year-olds cannot undertake things that are appropriate for twenty-year-olds, so it happens in spiritual life: with unbearable and unreasonable zeal you can tear your own spiritual stomach. And if the Lord saves someone from this, then at least he will accept labor and sorrow in vain. If you drive more quietly, you’ll get further, as the experienced ones say. It is harmful not to take care of what is due, but it is not safe to go 41 beyond your limits. Hold on to three more: the fear of God, humility and constant repentance. If you hurry, you will make people laugh You are prematurely concerned with getting rid of V... person. There is an old Russian proverb: if you hurry, you will make people laugh. ...Your own experience should teach you that you should not quickly trust what people say, as well as a suddenly born feeling, for this or that reason; but this should be verified, firstly, by examination, and secondly, by prayer. Imagining that person, one should pray: Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and arrange for us something useful and saving. Afterwards it will be clear what and how. If you run from a wolf, you will attack a bear “The elder often cited a proverb: if you run from a wolf, you will attack a bear. There is only one thing left to do - to be patient and wait, paying attention to yourself, and not to judge others, and, praying to the Lord and the Queen of Heaven, may they arrange something useful for you, as [as] They please.”* Call every thing by its proper name In a previous letter, you wrote to me that you have a pledge of 43 non-closeness towards one person... Go ahead, call every thing by its proper name. It’s simpler and more direct to say that you had a layer of remembrance that amounted to hatred. Why cover up the ugliness of passions with plausible names? Be smart for your salvation. And above all, don't blame anyone. “Elder Ambrose said: “Some renounced faith in God out of imitation of others and out of false shame. And here’s a case: one somehow didn’t believe in God. And when, during the war in the Caucasus, he had to fight, in the midst of the battle, when bullets were flying past him, he bent down, hugged his horse and read all the time: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” And then, when, remembering this, his comrades laughed at him, he renounced his words. Yes, hypocrisy is worse than unbelief.” * It's not the food that matters, it's the commandment. “Elder Ambrose ordered one of his spiritual daughters to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and explained what fasting consisted of. And to her question: “Does God care what kind of food?” The elder replied: “It is not the food that matters, but the commandment: Adam was expelled from paradise not for overeating, but for eating only what was forbidden. Why even now on Thursday or Tuesday you can eat whatever you want, and we are not punished for it. And we are punished for Wednesday and Friday because we do not obey the commandments. What is especially important here is that obedience is developed through obedience.” * Glorious tambourines 44 are just around the corner “One visiting visitor said to the Elder: “Father! We have heard a lot of good things about you.” And he answered her: “Glorious are the tambourines behind the mountains, and when you come up, there’s a basket 45.” * Glory and thanksgiving to the Lord God that the fire that started in the refectory was soon extinguished. God grant that every other unpleasant fire will soon be extinguished, so as not to give the village children a reason to repeat the old song: burn, burn hot, Zakharka is riding, himself on a horse, his wife on a cow, children on calves... Apparently, this song is stupid, but it was composed not without a reason or reason. And I wrote this to you after spiritual consolation for simple laughter. A mind is good, but two is better, but three is better See for yourself which is better and healthier. There is an old proverb: intelligence is good, but two is better, but three is better. But this is a human observation. The Lord says in the Gospel: where there are two or three congregations in My name, I am in the midst of them 46. Look at your inner feeling more carefully: whatever will be calmer and closer to your dispensation, do so. Live and try to acquire intelligence and intelligence, not just some, but practical, thorough, monastic, not stubborn, but firm. And in external matters, when you arrive, keep your expenses, and judge yourself by what you do, and not by what you think. We can think of a lot, but the lack of execution exposes us. Wisdom of the serpent and meekness of the dove In the Holy Gospel the Lord Himself says: Be ye therefore wise as a serpent, and purposeful as doves 47 . The wisdom of the serpent, according to the saying of the interpreters, is that it guards the head most of all, so a Christian in adversity and difficult circumstances must most of all keep the faith. Secondly, the wisdom of the serpent lies in the fact that when a serpent wants to shed its old skin, it crawls through a tight hole, otherwise it cannot shed its old skin. Likewise, a Christian, if he wants to become 48 the old man, then he must follow a close path according to the Gospel teaching. Pigeon integrity (meekness) consists of gentleness and forgiveness of insults or annoyances and the like. How you live is how you die It's better to start with a cart and end with a carriage “To the remark of one friend that E. was making such a long journey for the first time (to Optina Pustyn) and that she was brought in a postal cart, the priest replied: “What? It’s better to start with a cart, then a wagon, and end with a carriage, than vice versa - start with a carriage, and end with a cart.” “When talking about Daryushka the wanderer, the Elder sighed and said: “Yes, the Lord rests in simple hearts. Gold is visible everywhere and will show through everywhere, despite its angularity. And no matter how curly, everything will not be gold.” To the remark that Daryushka died well, the priest said: “That’s why her death was good, because she lived well. How you live is how you die." Death is not far away, but behind us “Regarding S.’s sudden death and the attitude of those around her, about their insensitivity and fearlessness 49 , the priest said: “Death is not just around the corner, but behind us,” and at least we have a stake on our heads.” He also said: “If at one end of the village they hang people, then at the other end they will not stop sinning, saying: they will not reach us soon.” What you are complaining about is the same thing they complained about you before: that you unnecessarily conveyed to Mm what you saw or heard, and sometimes it was not true, but as it seemed to you. For this you were grieved, and now the word is being fulfilled: what we sow, that we will also reap. Envy is the most harmful thing. St. Isaac the Syrian writes: if you find envy, you will find the devil with it. Whoever allows the devil to reach his soul, what confusion, rebellion and sedition 50 will he not cause? May the Lord deliver us from this destructive passion, as well as from the condemnation of others, which makes us hypocrites before God. ...The passion of envy does not, on any joyful holiday, under any joyful circumstances, allow one to fully rejoice at the one it possesses. Always, like a worm, it gnaws at his soul and heart with vague sadness, because an envious person considers the well-being and success of his neighbor to be his misfortune, and considers the preference given to others to be an unfair insult. God help me, and the man himself don’t lie “So that people do not remain careless and do not place all their hope in outside prayerful help, the Elder repeated the usual folk saying: “God help me, and the man himself does not lie.” And to one woman who asked for his prayerful help, he said: “And ask yourself. Remember: the twelve apostles asked the Savior for their Canaanite wife, but He did not hear them. And she began to ask - she begged.” No matter how you rush here and there, you will never escape labor. What you don't see, you don't delude In former times, smart people lived in caves: they knew and firmly remembered why they lived there, that is, to keep their tongues from evil, and their minds from crafty, stingy thoughts. The words of experienced people are thrown around everywhere: what you don’t see, you don’t dream about. You can live in peace, just not in the Jurassic 52, but live quietly. “One day the Elder sent Fr. Macarius O. Ambrose to the hotel of some visiting rich lady who was preparing for communion of the Holy Mysteries. Having heard about Fr. Ambrose had a lot of good things, she began to tell him about some of her failures, which caused her a feeling of grief, in the hope of hearing sympathy for herself from him. But after listening to her speech, he calmly said: “The thief’s deeds are punishable.” The lady did not like these words, and she stopped talking to Fr. Ambrose had a conversation, and he slowly retreated to his cell. The next day after mass, Elder Fr. Macarius went to the hotel to congratulate this lady on receiving the Holy Mysteries, taking with him Fr. Ambrose. Seeing him, she said: “Well, father, I fiddled with your word - I almost put off communion. I thought about this all Vespers and Matins. I came to mass, but I still couldn’t calm down. It was only during the Cherubim that I agreed that you were telling the truth.” The direct, truthful word had its effect, and the rich noble lady, although with difficulty, agreed that she was failing with dignity, and from the simple words of Fr. Ambrose received great spiritual benefit.” A goose and a loon are a bad pair ...You mourn your excessive verbiage and are jealous of your prudent silence. And with your companion, you will inevitably have to talk too much... One wise holy fool 53 interprets: “A goose and a loon are a bad pair.” However, a hundred-year-old elder Pachomius died in our barnyard, who knew how to maintain deep silence even among many people. To speak well is to scatter silver, and prudent silence is gold. The kingdom of God is not in words, but in power; you need to interpret less, be silent more, not judge anyone, and my respect to everyone. It is better to foresee and remain silent than to speak and then repent. In the absence of fish there is a fish, and in the absence of people there is Thomas the nobleman I repeat to you: be afraid to judge and be jealous beyond reason. And the fact that you are appointed treasurer is your own fault, because you chose an inconvenient place; Is this just a matter of God’s Providence, which I don’t comprehend... You yourself seem to be repeating the Russian proverb: in the absence of fish there is a fish, but in the absence of people there is Thomas a nobleman. You sat silent in a crowded city, forgetting the words of St. Ephraim the Syrian, who says that if an eagle makes a nest on a residential building, it will not only not receive peace, but will also lose its keen vision from the smoke. What compels you to go to the rioters and, on your knees, beg them and exhort them to be decrees, if not the smoke that corrodes and irritates your spiritual eyes. Moscow burned down from a penny candle Schema-Archimandrite Fr. Agapit (Belovidov) wrote: “Elder Ambrose carefully delved into all the spiritual needs of those devoted to him, without losing attention to, apparently, the most unimportant circumstances, often repeating in such cases the old wise saying: Moscow burned down from a penny candle, thereby implying that everything great, both good and evil, always begins with small, and even barely noticeable things.” “...There were no trifles for the Elder. He knew that everything in life has its price and its consequences.” Father also said: “The little things make up the big things.” “If you start small, you’ll get used to more.” Appeal to the spiritual children and children of Rev. Ambrose of Optina Father Ambrose loved his spiritual children very much, calling them children and children, helped them spiritually and materially, but often, for their own benefit, exposed their shortcomings. Moreover, he did it very accurately, witty and with great love for his children and children. Below we present excerpts from his letters. Many-caring child N! Congratulations on the upcoming day of your Angel! Perplexed children, Mother N! Mother N! The child is double-minded and cultivating on both feet! Disdain the enemy's suggestions regarding the authorities who appear... My stupid child, Mother N! I am quite surprised at you, how, with your natural intelligence, you have so few practical ideas... Mother N! The child is wise and lacking constancy! Now you are already stretching your grief beyond measure, then again you are descending beyond measure. Mother N! Children soaring, dreaming and carried away! Mother N! My child is incomprehensible, and even more so, she soon changes her plans and proposals! Mother N! The child is sick! You complain of some kind of pain in your insides... Sisters in the Lord and laboring children! Mother N! A much-concerned child who has shied away from many worries! Now you see for yourself how unhelpful this is, especially for someone who has voluntarily renounced excessive care. Mother N! Children, ever perplexed 54 about this, then about another, then about a third! And there is no end to bewilderment. And all this is due to double-mindedness, because sometimes we look towards God’s path, and sometimes we look back again 55! Advice and teachings of St. Ambrose of Optina We must live on earth the way a wheel turns - just one point touches the ground, and the rest certainly tends upward. God does not create the cross for man (i.e., cleansing mental and physical suffering). And no matter how heavy the cross that a person bears in life may be, the tree from which it is made always grows on the soil of his heart. Every person is the smith of his own destiny (i.e., every person himself is the cause of his own sorrows). The asked cross is difficult to bear, but it is better to surrender to the will of God in the simplicity of your heart. When you wake up, first cross yourself. The state you are in in the morning will be the same for the rest of the day. You should definitely go to church services. Otherwise you will be sick. The Lord punishes us with illness for this. And when you walk, you will be healthy and sober. You shouldn't talk in church. This is an evil habit. For this, sorrows are sent. To venerate the images, as everyone else does: first make two bows in front of the icon and venerate, and then another bow. The enemy then tries to incite someone who has prayed well to anger under plausible pretexts. Remember this and be careful. When you pray fervently, just be sure that there will be temptation. This happens to everyone. After communion (of the Holy Gifts), one must ask the Lord to preserve the Gift with dignity and that the Lord will give help not to return back, i.e. for past sins. You can eat prosphora while standing - this is a matter of piety, but whoever eats while sitting - do not judge him. If something presents itself, cross yourself. Woe to the man who is praised more than his deeds. Praise is not helpful. Praise is terribly difficult. For the glorification, for the fact that everyone bows here, the body will deteriorate after death. Whoever reproaches us gives us gifts, and whoever praises us steals from us. When you feel that you are filled with pride, then know that it is the praise of others that puffs you up. If they praise you, you must remain silent - not say anything. No one should justify their irritability by some illness. It comes from pride. They didn’t behave themselves, and they didn’t lead others. You need to fear God and your conscience, and not Mother Superior. The fear of God is the beginning of the cleansing of conscience. If you do good, you should do it only for God. Therefore, one should not pay any attention to ungrateful people. Expect your reward not here, but from the Lord in heaven, and if you wait here, then you are suffering hardships in vain. Expect your reward from the Lord, not from people. Sins are like walnuts - you can crack the shell, but it’s difficult to pick out the grain. It is a sin to spend time in idleness. It is a sin to miss both the church service and the rules for work. Boredom is a despondent grandson, and laziness is a daughter. To drive her away, work hard in action, don’t be lazy in prayer; then boredom will pass and diligence will come. And if you add patience and humility to this, you will save yourself from many evils. You don’t have to believe signs, and they won’t come true. Humility is about giving in to others and considering yourself inferior to everyone else. He who gives in gains more. Humble yourself, and all your affairs will go well. Literature and main sources 1) Schema-Archimandrite Agapit (Belovidov). Biography of the Optina Elder Hieroschemamonk Ambrose. Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, 1992. 2) Collection of letters from the Venerable Optina Elder Ambrose to the monastics. Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn, 1995. 3) Letters of Abbot Anthony (Optinsky). M., 1869. 4) Bible. Books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Ed. Moscow Patriarchies, M., 1992. 5) V. Dahl. Explanatory dictionary (in four volumes). M., 1956. 6) A dictionary of obscure words encountered when reading the Psalter and prayers. 7) A brief dictionary of Church Slavonic words. M., 2000. 8) Advice from the Optina Elders to Christians living in the world. M., Moscow Sretensky Monastery, 1996. 9) The Bible in proverbs and sayings. M., Publishing House of the Moscow Metochion of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra “Trinity Word”, 2000. 10) Biblical encyclopedia (in two volumes). M., 1991. Life of the Venerable Optina Elder Ambrose The Great Optina Elder Reverend Ambrose (in the world Alexander Grenkov), was born on November 23, 1812 in the village of Bolshaya Lipovitsa, Tambov province. In 1836, after graduating from college and theological seminary, Alexander was for some time a home teacher in a landowner family, and then a teacher at the Lipetsk Theological School. In his last year at the seminary, he had to suffer a dangerous illness, and he made a vow: if he recovered, he would become a monk. Upon recovery, he did not forget his vow, but for several years he postponed its fulfillment. In the same Tambov province, in the village of Troekurov, lived the famous ascetic Hilarion at that time. Alexander came to him for advice, and the elder told him: “Go to Optina - you are needed there.” On October 8, 1839, Alexander arrived at the monastery. In April 1840, Alexander was enrolled in the fraternity. For some time he was St. Leo's cell attendant and his reader. He worked in a bakery, brewed hops (yeast), baked rolls. In November 1840 he was transferred to a monastery. From where the young novice did not stop going to the Monk Leo for edification. After the death of the Monk Leo, the novice Alexander became the cell attendant of Elder Macarius. On November 29, 1842, Alexander was tonsured and named Ambrose (in honor of St. Ambrose of Milan), and on December 9, 1845 he was ordained hieromonk. The health of the Monk Ambrose greatly deteriorated during these years. In December 1845, he caught a severe cold and illness and since then has never been able to truly recover. On September 7, 1860, the Monk Macarius reposed. By this time Fr. Ambrose was so successful in spiritual life that he had already served as an elder for twelve years with the blessing of Elder Macarius, successfully guiding with his spiritual advice and instructions to those who turned to him in the matter of salvation. Among the blessed spiritual gifts of the monk, which attracted thousands of people to him, we should first of all mention his insight and the gift of spiritual reasoning. Love and wisdom attracted hundreds of people to the monk. From morning to evening they went to him with the most pressing questions. From all over Russia, rich and poor, aristocrats and commoners flocked to the saint’s hut. It was visited by famous public figures and writers: F. M. Dostoevsky, N. V. Gogol, A. P. Tolstoy, V. S. Solovyov, K. N. Leontiev, M. N. Pogodin, N. M. Strakhov and others. And he received everyone with the same love and goodwill. In the last years of the elder’s life, 12 versts from Optina, in the village of Shamordino, with his blessing, a women’s Kazan hermitage was established, into which, unlike other convents of that time, more poor and sick women were accepted. It was in Shamordino that Elder Ambrose was destined to meet the hour of his death. On June 2, 1890, as usual, he went there for the summer. At the end of summer, the monk tried three times to return to Optina, but was unable to do so due to ill health. Time passed, and the disease got worse. On October 10, 1891, at half past eleven, the great Optina elder peacefully departed to the Lord. The Church commemorates the Monk Ambrose on June 27/July 10 - the discovery of the relics, on October 10/23 - the repose, and also on October 11/24 at the Cathedral of the Venerable Optina Elders. Moshna (moshnya) – purse, bag, money pouch; private treasury, money, wealth (V. Dal). The path leading to eternal life. Mina - facial expression (V. Dal). Pusher: 1) a pestle for pounding or grinding in a mortar; 2) who is assigned to pound something (V. Dal). Here and further in the text: Schema-Archimandrite Fr. Agapit (Belovidov). “Biography of the Optina Elder Hieroschemamonk Ambrose.” Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, 1992. To slaughter someone or to stab, to stab - to stab to death, to kill with an injection, a knife or other similar weapon (V. Dahl). Studny (shameful) - shameful, disgraceful, shaming, causing shame (V. Dal). To tonsure, tonsure someone into something - to initiate, ordain as a monk or to a clergy position; Moreover, according to this ritual, they cut off a little hair (V. Dahl). The mantle is the wide outer robe of a monk. Custom is here: temperament, disposition, character (V. Dal). To conquer - to win, overcome, subjugate by force, overcome (V. Dahl). Instrument (lat.) - tool, projectile, weapon (V. Dal). Kulesh is a gruel, a liquid slurry, a brew of various kinds (V. Dal). They feed you milk kulesh - here: they console, they instruct (ed.). Eat an unpleasant stew - here: you have troubles, sorrows, sorrows (ed.). Moses is the leader and legislator of the Jewish people, a prophet and the first sacred writer of everyday life. Elisha is a famous prophet in Israel, a disciple and successor of the prophet Elijah in the prophetic ministry. Elijah is the most remarkable of the Old Testament prophets after Isaiah and the head of the society of the sons of the prophets in the kingdom of Israel (Bible Encyclopedia). Cain is the eldest son of Adam and Eve, brother of Abel; Out of envy, he killed his brother, becoming the first murderer and fratricide on earth. Jacob is the patriarch, the ancestor of the people of Israel, the brother of Esau. His story is told in the Book of Genesis. Just so much, so much, so much. An ascetic is one who strives on the path of faith and righteousness. To motivate, to motivate someone to do something - to encourage, to force to do something (V. Dahl). Shuia - here: stand on the left; boisterousness is falsehood, untruth, insult, lie (V. Dahl). Gum lanitis – right cheek (V. Dal). “...If anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him” (Matthew 5:39). Natural – here: native. Sodom, an ancient city, was located in the Jordan Valley, which at that time was very fertile, which is why Lot, Abraham’s nephew, settled in it, although the inhabitants of Sodom “were evil and very sinful before the Lord.” “This righteous man, living among them (violently depraved people), notes the Apostle Peter, was tormented daily in his righteous soul, seeing and hearing lawless deeds” (2 Pet. 2:8). Cell (cell) – a monk’s room, a monk’s chamber (V. Dal). Privately, i.e. in his cell. (Ed.). to gaze - to look in, to observe secretive things, to notice someone’s misdeeds; blame, blaspheme, condemn (V. Dal). Self-love is more related to self-interest; concern for oneself and indifference to the good of one’s neighbor, selfishness. Self-love is passion for oneself, vanity and vanity in everything that concerns one’s personality, the desire for primacy, honor, distinction, advantages over others (V. Dahl). To survive is to serve, to earn something (V. Dal). Straight - dispute, litigation (V. Dal). Righteous - justified by life, truthful in deed, sinless (V. Dahl). A sieve is a fine sieve into which people sow, beat, wipe and strain; the largest is a screen, the middle one is a sieve (V. Dal). Most of all - especially, especially; most of all, especially, most, predominantly (V. Dal). Under-medicine - a doctor's assistant, from paramedics and dropouts (V. Dal). He will take it in vain - here: he will not accept it. To strive is to get excited, ardently and boldly take on something (V. Dahl). Listen - to assimilate what you hear or read, direct your thoughts and will towards it; apply instructions to action (V. Dahl). The pledge is here: an oath, a promise not to communicate with someone. (Ed.). Tambourine (tambourines) is a musical instrument like a drum. Lukoshko - shell (wide flat hoop) with a bottom made of shingles or birch bark (V. Dal). “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). “...Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Sovleshchi or to seduce, to seduce - to pull off, pull off, pull off, dragging, expose, expose, undress; sovleschisya (to become unsettled of something) - to renounce (V. Dahl). Fearlessness is here: the absence of fear of God. (Ed.). Sedition - indignation, rebellion, unrest, rebellion, treason, evil thoughts (V. Dal). To measure - to think, guess, invent, figure out, invent, guess (V. Dal). Yur is a lively open place, where there is always a hustle and bustle (bargaining, bazaar, noisy market) (V. Dal). A holy fool is a person who appears to the world to be insane by his outward actions, but in fact is filled with true wisdom (V. Dahl). Ever - always, incessantly, continuously.