Послание 31. К братиям, находящимся в Саккудионе 56

While there was time to evade and hide the circumstances of our non-communication with the steward Joseph, we did this, sons and brothers, guided not by fear, although we are sinners, but by condescension caused by circumstances, imitating in some way our Holy Fathers. And they, doing the same at the appropriate time, thus freed themselves from temptations, on the one hand, sparing the weaker and more evil, and on the other, yielding somewhat following the example of the helmsmen, in order to achieve the desired goal a little later. But since at the present time, by the good will of our Good God, this circumstance has clearly emerged, we are writing now. How? Due to the question of the logothetadrome and the answer from the archbishop. He says: “Why have you not yet entered into communication with us and with the patriarch, when so many holidays have passed? Tell me frankly the reason." The Archbishop did not renounce, but said: “I have nothing against our pious Emperors, nor against the Patriarch, but against the steward who married an adulterer and for this was deposed by the sacred rules.” To this the logothete responded: “Our pious Emperors have no need for you, either in Thessaloniki or in any other place.” After that, no answer was given immediately, no other question was asked until now, although thirteen days have passed, except that we sent a letter to Mr. Simeon, which we enclose herewith, so that you know the full force of the matter. This circumstance reached the ears of the patriarch and almost the entire city; and there are many people who sympathize and agree with us, but they are nocturnal worshipers of God who cannot act freely in the light. And we, sons and brothers, strengthening ourselves on faith in God and on the basis of truth, as well as on the completed and revealed action of truth, which the world saw on the adulterer and his accomplices, unswervingly keep the commandment and fatherly rules and will not yield, will not betray piety and will not destroy what we had previously established well through firmness in exile, so that we do not turn out to be criminals of the law. Holding firmly to the Divine Law, we win, as we won before, deciding rather to test and endure everything, if God pleases, than to enter into communion with him and those who serve with him, until the deposed one ceases to officiate. People will talk a lot; As they mock now, they will continue to mock, and even, what is even more regrettable, there are many among them who bear the same image and the same title as us, and who seem to be friends. But there is nothing strange in this, for it is written: “A man’s enemies are his own household” (Mic.7:6; Matt.10:36); and they pandered, abetted, drank and ate together at the adulterous marriage, and dipped the pen for our exile. But the Lord, who rose up then to avenge His law, interrupted the reign of the adulterer by blinding him and shamed his accomplices as priests of Baal, and returned our humility beyond our expectations to his monastery - He is still present Himself, having allowed the illegal marriage for a short time. Then He deigned to condemn the joy of the Nazirites, who performed the marriage of adulterers and were betrayed by them, through the fair trial of our pious Emperors, who returned the adulterer, after his death, to his lawful wife, called the adulteress an adulteress and disinherited the child born from adultery, as illegal and illicit - which their venerable lips spoke aloud to me - in Roman laws However, those who committed lawlessness are not ashamed, and the one who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit in the sacred prayer at the wedding of the couple does not hide, but having invaded the Church of God like a cat, he again jumps and again begins to desecrate the shrine with his priestly service, trying to present the lawlessness as truth and, so to speak, to appear holier than the Forerunner and Baptist... But what do I say about John, greater than all the saints? Although he boldly said it, he contradicted and resisted Christ himself with his wicked lips. Considering that Christ calls “an adulterer” the one “who divorces” his lawful wife (Matthew 19:59), he, having placed such a person before the altar, among all the people, dared to utter his ungodly words against the Holy Spirit... Didn't you tremble when you heard about this? What offense do you consider to the Holy Spirit in this blasphemy? What is the grief of the holy Angels? However, having committed such evil and set an example of wickedness for his subordinates to imitate - as it happened, especially between the rulers and those in command in distant lands, for example, this found imitation in Longobardy, Gothia and the borders there, while nothing similar was done among the pagans - he, the unfortunate one, is not ashamed, but, as it is said, he serves, the wicked, and those who rightly turn away from him, he tries to send to link. But the Lord is the Helper of those who are zealous for His commandments; He will bend the hearts of our pious Emperors to take vengeance for His Church, as He did with the adulterer, giving permission to excommunicate him from priestly service, for the good of the Holy Patriarch and the entire Catholic Church. Therefore, take heart, sons and brothers, do not be afraid and do not fall. Now is the time of confession, the time of struggle, the time of achievement, and perhaps other sufferings, but also crowns and heavenly glory. For it is said: “I will glorify those who glorify Me, but whoever humbles Me will be put to shame” (1 Samuel 2:30); and again: “Blessed are those who do not deviate from Your commandments” (Ps. 119:21). Therefore, “rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward,” if you persevere, “in heaven” (Matthew 5:12); be diligent in your works. Pray for our Emperors, for the bishop, for Joseph to be cast out from the altar, for the peace of the Church, for “he who walks blamelessly in the commandments of the Lord will greatly love” (Ps. 100:6, 111:1), in all decency and in accordance with the rules of life, until you hear something else, or we notify you. Christ is with you, Theotokos is your Protection; The Forerunner and the Theologian are your guardians, and all the saints are through the prayers of my father and your father. I greet everyone by name; May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, beloved sons. Amen. Those. in a monastery near Sakkudion. This letter was written in 808. You might be interested in: