Послание 20. К Пинуфию и Марию, сынам

I did not want to write to you, because your second letter does not agree with the first: the first contained a promise of speedy repentance and return to us, and the second - refusal and betrayal - and because you justify both, and do not more truthfully confess your fall, mourning and repenting of what you have done badly. If you repent and there is a spark of the fear of God in you, kindling in your hearts the confessions and vows you have made to God and to us, before His terrible Throne, before the angelic witnesses and all the brotherhood, then it will be good. And no longer look around here and there, but immediately break the demonic bonds of self-indulgence and self-will with which he deceived you, leading you out of the monastery and dragging you to places that the Lord does not visit with mercy. For how will He look mercifully on the transgression of His holy commandments? Come to us, come with a contrite heart and a humble word, so that you may not lead a life as before, for the former was bad and, as your insolence and disobedience grew little by little, led you to the sin of apostasy. We, although we ourselves are sinners, will accept you with a fatherly disposition and are ready to give our humble soul to death in order to bear your mental and physical infirmities. For since you fell, we have not been left without care for you, as well as for others, but have been contrite in our hearts and raised our sorrowful and unclean voice to God, so that He would return you to your abode, instilling the thought of repentance. If you do this, then again you will appease God and us sinners; for He “does not want the death of the sinner, but” wants “that he should turn and live” (Ezek. 33:11). Convert, convert, before destruction suddenly befalls you, like Petronia, and until repentance turns out to be futile and in vain for you, when repentance will no longer be of any benefit. Where are your vows, Pinufius, and yours, Marius? You have expressed a desire to accept the feats of martyrdom for our humility, or better - for the sake of salvation, which is acquired by obedience, and many times; and meanwhile a small wind came and carried you away like some kind of whirligig. Wake up, turn your eyes to God, fear His judgment and for those of your deeds that you are aware of; for your whole life is not enough for you to repent of them alone; Why do you add even more sins to your grave sins? As for us writing to those who, as you say, received you cordially and hospitably, we do not do this because you did not leave us out of obedience, only then would we consider you worthy of receiving. But, on the contrary, thinking about this, we suggest you the following: on the same day when you receive the letter, quickly leave your place there. If you remain disobedient, which God forbid, which I do not want, then you will be out of fellowship, condemned and accused by the court of Truth, “dead in soul and deprived of the grace of the Spirit,” as the great and divine Basil said 25. Likewise, those who accepted you are not free from condemnation, as those who do not observe divine rules. Ascetic charters. Chapter 21. Creations in Russian, translation. T.V. P.368. M,. 1901. You might be interested in: