Послание 7. К Ирине-императрице 15

“A voice is heard in Rama,” says Jeremiah, a contemplator of divine visions, “and weeping and great crying, Rachel weeping for her children” (Jer. 31:15; Matt. 2:18). And now what great things are happening? Where did the messengers of your sacred court come from yesterday, our kindest Empress, who announced to us the praises of all the deeds you have recently accomplished? Verily, they have made our hearing known. Why? Because you showed the ends of the universe a sign of such piety. And now, from everywhere, numerous prayers rush towards you, like flying clouds, glorifying God for your good deeds. Tell us, Empress, who raised your purest mind to the height of the understanding of truth, so that you, as if from some high and exalted place, saw these deeds, pleasing to God and holy? Teach me where such a love for piety came into you, so that you insatiably desired to please God and extended the greatest concern for the spiritual and physical benefit of Christians? Or did you, thinking a lot about the Divine and having a maternal disposition, found it insufficient only to free the people with your supreme assistance, as if from some kind of Egyptian slavery, namely, from an impious faith, if you had not added to your previous, variously shining, like stars, your good deeds, and real mercy, as the top of virtues? "Holy, Holy, Holy;" Rejoice, O heavens, woe, - we will cry, albeit boldly, together with the most holy Isaiah, “for God has had mercy” through you on His people (Is. 6:3, 44:23). Your whole kingdom is filled with joy and gladness, “for the wicked one has been taken away with the yoke that lies on it, and the rod that lies on the neck” of such a power (Is. 9:4). Who has heard of such cases? Here, tell me, men. Who saw such a great benefit under another reign? Praise her, all you nations; magnify her with us, superiors and subordinates, priests and monks, and the entire Christian race! For not only is it amazing that so many talents of gold have been forgiven, although this is an incomparable deed, but also that a diverse stream of wickedness has been stopped in this way is a most holy deed. The network of violent and soul-destroying extortions, which was hidden from all your predecessors, although some of them reigned piously, has been destroyed. This is left to you. The oath, numerous oaths, or, more precisely, false deifications of both those who demanded and those from whom they demanded, ceased, from which both of them, as a rule, died when one tried to hide, and the other sought to seize. The sorrow of the oppressed and the concern of the poor ceased - the concern was not about finding a healing cure for poverty - that would be less regrettable - but about paying the collectors what was not due and what was assigned from above, as a product of sin. Routes both on land and at sea are no longer subject to duties. This is in accordance with the words of the great and holy Chrysostom. The inhabitants of the land are no longer unjustly robbed of their money by those sitting there in the gorges, as if by some ferocious demon or indomitable beast, certainly eating something from the poor traveler’s supplies. And the poor no longer stay at home for fear of such vile extortions, not visiting either urban or coastal areas, as they did when towers of injustice rose everywhere. Sailors sailing from the east, west and north are no longer embarrassed during the voyage, forced to pay, as if from the throat, duties at narrow mouths. Those engaged in the hunting craft have also been freed from them, and now perform it easily. Sacred soul Irina! A fisherman, having pulled out perhaps three fish, and after much labor all day, does not give one of them as duty. A shooter or bird-catcher, having perhaps caught a few birds that serve him as necessary food, and without being obliged to pay a fee on them, can live prosperously. Soldiers, dejected by grief over the loss of their husbands, will not cry bitterly at the inhuman exactions for the deceased. I am silent about shepherds, sheep breeders, and wine merchants. I am not talking about butchers, weavers, blacksmiths, shoemakers, dyers, perfume sellers and carpenters - briefly, about every craft associated with the finishing of gold, wood or any other substance, so as not to expand the speech too much with such a detailed enumeration. Everyone, dear Empress, clasped their hands and rejoiced with great joy, crying out: “I thank you, Lord, for you have had mercy on me and have been my salvation” (Isaiah 44:23; Exodus 15:2). Therefore, I will trust your God-given royal power. All this is filled with praise and majesty, beloved by Christ, dear in deed and name, Irina! The news of this will spread not only throughout the power of your kingdom, but also to all ends of the universe, and other nations will hear about us, and will be surprised and amazed at the beneficence of your wise undertakings. For “even enemies know how to marvel at the great feats of man,” says the most vociferous of theologians. 16 Thus your kingdom remains unshaken; This is how your subjects obey and willingly submit to you; in this way you please God; In this way you bring joy to the chosen Angels of God and people who live reverently and righteously, God-named Irina! In this your piety shines, for this all lips and every tongue are opened for your glorification. This is truly the glory of the Church, this is the seal of the paternal and God-inspired Orthodoxy of Christians preserved by you, a zealot for God and a champion of the truth! Such is the increase of your virtues! How great and praiseworthy are your rewards, how great and excellent is your reward from God of all! It is a great thing to save one, for isn’t it fair when the Divine Scripture says: “If you bring precious things out of worthless things, you will be like My mouth” (Jer. 15:19)? How can the salvation of so many souls and the entire people not be considered a great, honorable deed and truly worthy of the highest reward? So, you, who bear a truly great name and act according to it, have entered the kingdom with all blessings. May righteousness endure forever. Written in 801 on the occasion of the easing of public duties. St. Basil the Great. Creations in Russian translation. T.II. Word 16. P.70. M. 1889. You might be interested in: