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I have deeply offended you, and since my guilt is greater, I do not ask for an apology, but only say: I am guilty. You were relaxing at the dacha. I really wanted you to be strengthened and refreshed. When would my wish come true?! Your companions or hangers-on (little patience and resignation, pride, irritability, vanity, idle talk, slander, intemperance in words and in food, and above all laziness in prayer), of course, cannot be praised, but the good thing is that they are noticed, and not only noticed, but also put on display - which these ladies cannot tolerate. Every evening you report them to the Lord, when, having reviewed everything that has broken through during the day, you say: “Lord! You see everything! Forgive me, and give me the ability not to slip in this.” If you do this, then one by one they will forget your doors. Just prick one of them, burn it, and scatter the ashes to the wind. This is laziness towards prayer. Get angry with her and destroy her right now so that her spirit does not smell. If it breaks through, but is driven away every time, then this is nothing, and there is no need to talk about it. And if an indulgence is made to her, then the hostess is entirely to blame for not sparing her goods. From frequent indulgences, prayer will completely weaken and the prayer rule will turn into a lifeless form, and spiritual life will freeze. But I think that you are talking a little too much about yourself here. God gave you a willing heart, which happens, and you have a source of active life according to the commandments regarding your neighbors. Please have it as a law: to dedicate every work to God in its very embryo, to turn it to God during its production, and to ask God for strength to complete it; then, having finished, give thanks to Him for that, repenting, if anything has gone wrong in a deed, or representing him in the eyes of God as insufficient in some way. By acting in this way, you will finally, through this laborious process, achieve what the hermits who renounce everything achieve. And if you don’t, then you will remain on the same level with the Jews, not the present ones, but the ancient ones, who lived according to the norm prescribed to them. Please keep this in mind. The obedience you imposed on me to pray for N.N. I perform. I just don’t pray: take this and give that, but like this: Lord, do with him what will be saving for him. Otherwise, prayer will look like a decree to God, which is not at all good. God bless you! Save yourself! Your pilgrim E. Feofan. Oct 28 '82 Letter 553. The saint’s concern for his leader. Rumors. Useful certification. Barometer of spiritual life You forcibly remembered Vysha. And I’ve already started to have big questions: what is this? There was a small cross. Thank God everything has passed and thank the Lord and the merciful in punishment. And others also wrote to me that I should be in S.P.B. Who managed to lie and deceive everyone like that? The only thing that is true is that today or tomorrow I need to have a serious conversation with the eye doctors, but where and when, there was nothing definite and there is nothing yet. How delightful is your certificate: “I am so nasty, so impatient, I dare to grumble... I do nothing to be close to the Lord. There was no one worse than me and there never will be.” Especially the last one is very valuable. If somewhere in the world they give 100 points, then you should put that mark too. Such sentences would have been very disastrous if it had not been written: “how I would like to become at least a little better.” Our business is to strive forward for the best, and backward and see nothing worthy of approval. And please, according to this standard, improve your morality. There will certainly be success. We have the Lord Savior, who wants to save everyone. since His will is and deed, as soon as it does not meet obstacles from our will, you yourself see what prevents the birth of confidence in salvation. This is precisely the wrong mood of will. Watch how prayer goes - a barometer of spiritual life. I'm sending books. Share them with everyone. Take for yourself: letters to different people. Save yourself! Your pilgrim Bp. Feofan. 23 Feb '83 Letter 554. Two ways of appropriation to the Lord: active and substantial. How to follow an active path without leaving everyday worries I congratulate you on your fast and wish you to spend it in the most soul-saving way [...] Now all that remains for you is to appropriate the Lord and appropriate Him for yourself, otherwise, try to reach the point where you constantly feel in your heart that your Lord and you are the Lord’s. And I think that the course of your life is heading towards that. You just need to focus your attention on this. There are two ways to become one with the Lord, active and contemplative. The first is for worldly Christians, the second is for those who have abandoned all worldly things. In action, neither the first exists without the second, nor the second without the first. And those who are worldly, that is, must, to their extent, adhere to the contemplative path. And this is your lot, you should not strain yourself into contemplation, as hermits do, but you should not abandon it either. I wrote to you: learn to always remember the Lord and walk before His face. This is the contemplative part. But then, just as a hermit drives everything else out of his attention, you must do everything in life in such a way that you do not forget the Lord. If you bother to act this way, you will end up with the same thing as the hermit. Only during the period of your activity you will either see little or almost nothing that would promise such fruit. Rarely, rarely does anything show through, but for the most part it’s all work and doing. Now the question is: how to make sure that productive work leads to the designated goal. You cannot give up your everyday affairs. You are bound in relation to them by the commandments, and by breaking them or not fulfilling them you will do what is displeasing to the Lord. There are commandments for everything, for all your relationships towards your husband and servants, and towards relatives, and towards all outsiders. So understand for yourself how you should act according to the commandments regarding everyone and everything, and act that way. This will certainly keep your attention. The question is, how can we keep the Lord in mind? So: whatever work you do, big or small, keep in mind that the Lord Omnipresent Himself commands you to do it and is watching how you do it. Holding yourself this way, you will do everything with attention and you will remember the Lord. This is the whole secret of successful action for the main goal in your position. Please delve into this and get it right. When you get comfortable like this, then your thoughts will stop wandering here and there. Why is everything not going well for you now? I think because you want to remember the Lord, forgetting about the affairs of everyday life. But everyday affairs creep into the consciousness and crowd out the memory of the Lord. On the contrary, you should worry about everyday affairs, but as about the Lord’s assignment and as before the Lord. There, neither one nor the other works out for you, but here both will work properly. God bless you for this kind of action. Here is a post, the time is favorable. Pull yourself together and draw up a program of action for yourself according to the specified norm. Save yourself! Your pilgrim Bishop Feofan. March '83 Letter 555. How to pray unceasingly. Chariot to the sky I am guilty before you, I did not answer your letter for a long time. But the time has come to write, and recently writing to N.N. I asked her to convey my regards to you and say that next time (we are sending to the city in a week) I will write. And then your parcel arrived. Thank you. I see, I see that you want to bribe my laziness. Well, no, not like that, my missus. Incorruptible, even if you don’t come near me. N.N. I wrote that it was hard for you to the point of exhaustion. But then she informed me that you were feeling better and were in good spirits. I'm very glad. God help you not to step out of this comforting atmosphere. You're all complaining about yourself. This is completely in the order of things, who can boast?! Who doesn't see themselves? Thank God that you see and recognize yourself as such. You complain about the poverty of prayer. But you can pray without standing in prayer. Every lifting of the mind and heart to God is real prayer. If you do this between tasks, then pray. I remember that Basil the Great solves the question of how the Apostles could pray unceasingly: in all their deeds they thought about God and lived in unceasing devotion to God. This mood of spirit was their unceasing prayer. Here's an example for you. I, it seems, have already written to you that you cannot demand the same from active people, to whom you belong, as from sedentary people. Their main concern should be not to allow wrong feelings when doing things, and to try in every possible way to dedicate them all to God. It is a dedication to turn deeds into prayer. It is written that the blood of Abel cries out to God. Likewise, deeds dedicated to God cry out to Him. One old man, when something edible was brought to him from someone, said: how bad it smells, but what was brought was very good in content. When they asked him: how is this possible? He explained that it was not sent with good feelings and from bad things. Thus, every deed is anointed with the feelings with which it is done. And those who have purified feelings feel it. It turns out that just as good flowers give off a good smell, so things done in a good manner give off their fragrance, and grief rises like incense from a censer. Here's another prayer. Sorrows do not leave you. Does God arrange this for nothing? For what? Because he loves you. Loves and cleanses, so that they are clean and shine like a diamond in the sun. And the path to the kingdom is right for you, for the chariot on which one reaches there is patience. How can you endure when there are no sorrows? So they are sent. God bless you with every blessing. All consolation to you and health to your husband. Save yourself! Your pilgrim Bishop Feofan. July 26, 83 Letter 556. Encouragement for one seeking salvation. About infirmities. About fasting God's mercy be with you! Christ is Risen! I also have to start asking for forgiveness. Guilty; for taking so long to respond. Sorry. If you want to follow a narrow path - good, good! Keep this desire and kindle it so that it takes root and becomes a continuous concern and with the corresponding deeds. Seek and you will find. The Lord will give everything. For your part, do not just abandon this concern of seeking and in every possible way avoid resting in yourself. Because in connection with this: “get fat and forget God,” not materially, but spiritually. You are on a good path. And thank God! That there are mistakes is in the order of things. Just don’t neglect them and every time you recognize them, lament and, confessing your weakness to the Lord, pray to deliver you from it. The Lord sometimes leaves weaknesses of character behind us for humility. If it were not for them, we would immediately fly above the clouds and set up our throne there. And this is the harm. You never told me how your prayer was going. Prayer is a spiritual barometer and thermometer. Set it up well and everything will go well. The main thing is to get into the habit of walking in the presence of God and preserving the memory of God, hence there will be fear, and from fear there will be protective caution. Behold the fear of God! How often should you fast? As often as you can. But in advance, set all the fasts to fast and of them the big ones are Great and Christmas, two or three times. Ask your spiritual father, you have found yourself in a forest, there is a quagmire and thorns. The way he sees it, he can take you out. God bless you! Save yourself! Your good friend E. Feofan. April 22, 1883 Letter 557. You can’t escape yourself. The best way to remember loved ones. Instructions on the fight against the passion of condemnation and other passions. Advice not to change your lifestyle. Rejecting excuses. Fear of God. Track record. Good revenge. About the eyes of the saint Be merciful - forgive me my laziness. Behold, your two letters are before me the accusers of my ignorance. I admit my guilt and do not undertake to make excuses. I have always been of the opinion that it is better for you not to move from [...] only to adjust the order of life to the requirements of your spirit. Maybe we should stop there […] makes you run out of it? No; and your internal structure, or some disorder in you. And it will go with you, wherever you go! Therefore, all attention and all efforts should be directed here rather, i.e. arrange harmony inside regardless of the external situation. Thank you for the fact that even though you didn’t write, you still didn’t stop remembering me. But what's the point of remembering? I ask you to remember me in prayer, and not to pray to the Lord for anything for me, so that He would give me the spirit of repentance and reveal me as a good doer of His commandments from among sinners. Speaking about yourself, you realize that the spirit of zeal to please the Lord is alive, but that erupting acts of condemnation often destroy the entire internal structure. That the spirit of jealousy is alive, thank God! and that condemnation breaks through, alas! and ah! The Lord really doesn’t like this. Condemnation is born from self-satisfaction and self-satisfaction feeds. Both show that the self is alive and fat. Manage to drain them all. Try to do this when you sin by condemnation and your conscience torments you, look at how you got to this point and try not to go down that path. If this sin breaks out again, do the same thing again and always, determining for yourself to behave this way and that way, so as not to end up in gossip. Once you hold on once or twice, then it will be easy. This usually happens when you visit a taratorok. Once you get to them, you yourself become a chatterbox. But as soon as you approach them, prepare not to be influenced by their slander, and for this, revive the fear of God in yourself and the memory of the presence of the Lord, Whom you are zealous to please. During the flow of the river of slander, notice the speaker’s convenient word and quickly change the speech to something else. But how do you realize that jealousy is alive, and condemnation is on the side?! Be careful that sour piety does not overwhelm you. The fruit of your gossip is depicted as follows: “I stopped watching myself, fighting my thoughts, in a word, I lost all composure. What about prayer? In the church it stood like a poker, at home like a piece of wood!” But outwardly you were still the most pious. This is sour piety. You might have it. in the beginning, but if you are not careful, it will take root and become your character. Please be in danger! What to do? Nothing special: plant the fear of God in your heart, and it will change everything. Oh, be careful. They tell you: “It is more meritorious to strive in the word of life than to be saved in solitude.” And don't deny it. Those who truly strive do not have merit in mind, but only care about this in order to cleanse themselves of passions and passionate feelings and thoughts. For this purpose, life in communication with others is useful, because it represents actual experiences of struggling with passions and overcoming them. These victories hit passions in the chest and head, and their repetition soon kills passions outright. In solitude, the struggle is only mental, which is also weakly effective, like the blow of a fly’s wing. That is why the mortification of passions in solitude takes longer. And what’s more, it is almost always not death itself, but freezing, freezing for a while until the occasion of meeting with objects of passion. Moreover, it happens that passion suddenly ignites like lightning. And it happens that someone who has had peace from passions in solitude for a long time suddenly falls. But someone who has achieved peace from passions through a struggle not mental, but real, will not be shaken by an unexpected attack. – This is the basis on which men experienced in spiritual life command to overcome passions by actually fighting them in communication with others, and after that to retire. You refer to your weakness to justify your disagreement with those who express the position proposed at the beginning. And who told you that the reason for your concessions or indulgences in bad things is weakness, and not self-indulgent self-desire and people-pleasing? And this is the reason for the weakness of determination to follow the proper path to salvation and pleasing God. This determination must be raised to such a degree that it is unyielding to the point of the stomach. As long as she is not like that, everything will be lame on both sides; doing light things and avoiding hard things (this is also a trait of sour piety). I guess that this is exactly what you have, and your words: “jealousy is alive” do not express your state. Jealousy is active, but you only have the desire to act. For the Lord's sake, take a good look and get down to business quickly, soberly and effectively. Otherwise, you will inevitably fall into the rank of those who are neither hot nor cold, about whom the Lord spoke something terrible. I kept thinking that your worries were not about solitude, but only about changing places, and that something was preventing you from saving yourself. And if privacy is required, then it can be arranged everywhere: close the doors, and there you go. If you can't do it here, you can't do it anywhere. And the reason is people-pleasing: you are afraid of reproach. Remaining like this, no matter where you go, you will meet everyone the same, and you will make the same concessions. They tell you that you must serve your neighbor for the rest of your life. Against this, you say in your own defense: I served, that’s enough for me, let someone else serve in my place. Do you really want to stop yourself from doing good?! But without it, how can one be saved?! I didn’t understand everything and now I don’t understand how and what you are running from when you follow the path of salvation?! Being in such a position, you must only conduct your affairs in such a way that they are free from everything that takes away their value before God. And you can do this without moving, because it consists of internal changes. Further, you write: “some have worked for the Lord from their youth,” making it clear: I would like to do this at least in my old age. It's as if you think that by doing what you are doing you are not pleasing God. No, you shouldn't think like that. Your deeds in themselves are pleasing to God, but you can make them not pleasing to God, by the disposition with which you do them, and by the feelings you harbor after doing them. This happens if you do it for show, out of people-pleasing, for glory, and if, looking at things, you become arrogant, if you consider yourself special, if you want to hear; "Oh! so kind!” and hearing, you delight in this, and the like. All this and the like destroys the power of your deeds, but does not make it necessary to abandon them, but only requires the abandonment of these goals and feelings, and replacing them with appropriate goals and feelings. If you find something similar in yourself, change it, and that’s the end of it. And everything will be fine. Always do it out of a sense of duty and, having done it, say: “Not I, but the grace of God!” Here’s something else I’ll add: by saying “I’ve served, that’s enough for me,” you make people think about you that you approach your affairs in this way: I do what I want, I don’t want to. And that perhaps you are self-pleasing in your affairs, or pleasing yourself, and not God, even though sometimes He is on your mind. If this is so, who can know this except you? If this is so, then you are very wrong. The circumstances of life are from God and what is required to be done as a result of the circumstances is the direct will of God for the person who is in those circumstances, therefore, an urgent law and duty for him. To say because, or to feel silently: I want to do it, I want to not, is fighting against God, and not pleasing God. Apply this to yourself. You have arranged your life in such a way that doing what you do has become the nature of your life. No matter how bad this is, this is your salvation. God gave you this action for your salvation. To retreat from this means to say to God: “You didn’t arrange me this way, I can arrange myself better than You.” Is this what it means to please God? This is what will happen: give it up, but you won’t adapt to God’s other way of life. And you will remain broke like a cancer. You are afraid that you will be bored. You don't expect it, but I think it will inevitably happen. I boil it down to the fact that if you need to change anything, it’s your internal structure. You indicate that in your affairs you cannot avoid fussiness, hassle, deceit, and idle talk. All this is inevitable and depends not on the outside, but on the internal malfunction. It is impossible to get dressed without hassle, but you can fuss without distraction, care and fussiness. Equally, you can have long and pleasant conversations without idle talk; As for deceit and deceit, I wonder how you fall into these sins? Truly people-pleasing. The fear of God is not enough to expect success from God, and not from human efforts and tricks: this is very bad. Please get away from this! there is an enemy spirit here. Are you asking how to uproot vanity with this type of action? Vanity must be torn out internally, not externally. Without this, dig a hole deep to the very center of the earth and hide, vanity will find food for itself there. We must strengthen the fear of God and confirm our walk before God. The fire of God's presence will burn away vanity. What about time? And thank God there is no time. The most beneficial order of life is if there is no time to be idle. Therefore, thank God that this is so. But is it true that there is no time? Is there time to have lunch, drink tea, sleep, dress up and look amazing, chat with chatterers?? No, come up with another excuse, not lack of time. You say: “there is no time to read to warm up the spirit.” If you get used to doing your deeds as you should, then the very doing of them will warm and kindle the spirit. You don’t need to read a lot to warm your spirit. You just need to bring what you read to your senses. As soon as you achieve this, the soaring of the spirit will immediately begin. Even this is what you can do: when you wake up, mentally go through all the sacraments of our faith from the creation of the world to the final judgment and the eternal fate of all, according to the symbol of faith with attention; any sacrament will always cause a spark to fall in the heart. Stop here. And warm yourself up all day. Especially during prayer, take care to fan this spark. Never limit your prayers to just reading prayers. Always insert your prayer according to the needs of your spirit. Read the chapters in “The Invisible Warfare” more often about prayer. Learn to behave in such a way that, with all your friendliness, one glance at you will sober up everyone. The fear of God, the memory of God and the memory of death will allow you to achieve this. You just have to take it on without regret. No, you need to make your inner so strict that the severity is imprinted on your outer and sobers up. There are two electricity: one attracts, and the other repels. Make yours repulsive. You lament that your vanity does not allow you to continually be with the Lord. Behold good contrition! But is worldly vanity to blame for this?! Isn't it your own? When you drive this one away, it will fall behind or remain ineffective. You say that you feel that this is possible. Yes, it's possible. But it won’t come by itself. You have to work on yourself and force yourself. The root is the fear of God, strong enough to eat away the frost, and try to arouse it. He'll take care of everything later. “Seek and you will find.” You are only interpreting, not searching. Letter 2. The first thing you do is that you pray for me. Very grateful, pray as I indicated at the beginning of the letter. Then you write quite a few good things about yourself. Lord grant that all this will not be in one desire, and not fleetingly, but effectively and deeply. Then there is nothing more to wish for. Observe what you have experienced and are experiencing. And it will be good. N.N. she remembered your letter to her, expressed joy in the hope that if what you wrote is established in you and remains forever, then good is your part. It should be, let me call it a confession, your track record. It is good to remember every day in the evening in the form of a home confession, which St. Demetrius of Rostov teaches about, especially focusing on what broke out during the day. God bless this work in you and deepen it. Behold a good path to self-knowledge! You mention more than once the lack of fear of God! This is the source of all badness. Take care to hoist this victorious banner in your heart. And your inner self will always be in good order. Under the fear of God, a determination is formed not to indulge oneself in anything, but, on the contrary, to torment oneself in spite of one’s desires. Hold the knife in your hands and, no matter what is wrong, cut yourself without pity and you will be a priestess eating herself as a sacrifice to the Lord. They fasted three times. Good! The strongest support for spiritual life is communication with the Lord, for without Him, what are we? […] My thought has always been that you need to change yourself, not your place. You started this change, it’s already noticeable. But you have to carry it through to the end, otherwise you will end up with, as I already mentioned, sour piety. The fear of God, the fear of God, the fear of God is what needs to be planted in the heart, and mortal fear should be placed on the side to help. And everything will go better and better. Finishing the letter, you apologize for tiring my eyes. You see that I know how to take revenge for this. Now please torture your eyes by reading everything that has been written, which is not always pleasant. They say that the satisfaction of revenge is sweet. I ask you to give me more opportunities to taste this sweetness. My eye is weakening, but still serves; This is the left one, and the right one has already finished his service and is retired without a pension. God bless you with every blessing. Save yourself! Letter 558. Advice to one seeking peace How many times have you written! But I still didn’t answer. Sorry, laziness has taken over. I kept wanting to answer, and with great effort I did. Are you all looking for peace? Seek and you will find. Apart from this, I can’t wish you anything good. Should we add the following: real peace is not outside, but inside, and the source has not an external environment, but an internal well-being. When this happens, then the external itself will adjust to it. God's instructions come by themselves, and even the affairs themselves are arranged invisibly, as someone used to say that what God wants is arranged as if it were rolling downhill on a sled. I am very grateful to you that, despite my non-response, you still write. Although I can’t tell you anything useful, I always want to know how your affairs are. And I don’t have anything to say about myself: everything is normal. The infirmities have increased a little, and the eye is not encouraging about recovery. I wish you to settle down quickly and reliably. God bless you! Your good friend E. Feofan. 6 June 88 Letter 559. Moral congratulations on housewarming, communication with heavenly ones. Task It seems I have already congratulated you on your housewarming and wished you all the best in your new home. – I repeat the same thing without writing it again, and you will remember it without reading the same words again. New housing means new orders, and behind them a new internal structure. This will be a renewal of the ancient truth. And who are these? Those who have put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man, created by God in righteousness and perfection of truth. All this has been read and reread, spoken and discussed. But these words came to mind when I wished you a new system. You've had it for a long time, so it won't be entirely new. However, there is a need for everyone to renew it. The tarnished icon is washed, and it becomes brighter. But when the paints deteriorate, then they redraw them, applying even new paints, but still the same ones as they were. The same thing happens in the spirit when one changes clothes and dresses in the image of the creator. I believe that from these speeches you can see the outline of what is required of you new, and how to enrich yourself with it. You said something, that there is no need to rush. This is similar to what they sometimes say when they wake up: sleep for another hour, but instead of an hour it turns out to be 2:3, 5. This is a rule for external affairs, and not for the internal structure. Here, the sooner and more lively, the better. Pulling back only relaxes the intention. But since your intention is irrevocable, postponing can be harmless. Thank you for all your messages; your impressions are very good. The memory of them will support your energy. Your parting with […] what a heartfelt […] Here you have no one to attract on earth. Turn your eyes to the heavenly ones. Imagine that the top of your home is accepted, you openly see the sky and the heavenly. The people there see you and you see them. You speak to them, and they can come to you in spirit, but you are only allowed to visit them mentally. Color this image with your imagination and admire it. Then you won’t want to see anyone from St. Petersburg, or Moscow, or anything else. But, in fact, it is possible to enter into tangible communication with the heavenly ones. Think and manage. I'm very sorry about N.N. But if he finds that it is better for him to end his earthly life, then we can only wish him a good journey. We don’t have to wish this for ourselves. We must first compose a good answer to the judgment of Christ after death. To compose not with thoughts, but with deeds, and write not on paper, but on your nature, on your soul and body, so that the Lord does not need to read, but only look and see everything. Let me ask you a problem to decide: what is a good answer to the judgment of Christ, and what does it consist of? When you decide, write. There is no assigned time, even though you will be looking for a solution all your life, just don’t let a single day pass without thinking about it, and if that’s not enough, then not a single hour. When I sat down to write an answer to you, I saw that there was nothing to write about and said: I’ll be a cockroach, so I’m a cockroach. E. Feofan. October 26, 88 Letter 560. Instructions on solitary life for those who have broken all previous ties. Solution to this problem Guilty for not responding. I got a little lazy, things got stuck and didn’t give me freedom. You have now spent a fair amount of time in your solitude, and your words very significantly define its advantages. For now, this is still just a theory, but I think it won’t be long before practice comes into its own. Theory is a courtier, and practice is a bear from the forest. It will start to break, just hold on. God help you! There would be zeal and determination to firmly go towards what was proposed, and everything would go well, just not like a cast iron, but like pilgrims on a pawn with a crutch. There have always been good elders in your monastery. May God grant you to meet someone you like, so as not to wait from afar for the desired explanation of something that is difficult. I imagine your cell. Three walls, images. How many eyes do you see looking at you? What do they want? To see in you that which is in their spirit, i.e. according to the Spirit of the Lord, in whose image you were reborn, and now you have entered into the struggle to achieve His likeness. Saints, an example of this, are pointers as well as prayer helpers. These are all the wings they tie up for you. Fly - God help you! How many treasures you collected during your summer wandering around the monasteries! Read and admire with you [...] How many spiritual honeycombs have they given you? Now you sit and repeat eating them. God bless you! As it seems, you have completely faded away from [...] And remain like that. There is nothing to regret. If it is true that you only know the church and the cell, then it’s no wonder you can add to this, and from the cell to heaven there will be a blessed movement. […] does not forget you. Let him. He remembered me too. Wrote N.N. I prescribed complete good wishes for her and indicated beneficial preparation on her part in cleansing her conscience through confession. Here, as the main thing, he hinted at the expulsion of all hostility from the heart, so that its heart would spread, for which scope would be given to its fruit. Your solution to the question has good thoughts, but they draw the program of the Court, and the question is how to be acquitted at the trial? for this is a good answer. Only at the end is a suitable thought presented, namely about repentance. Saint Theodora responded kindly when she was tortured. You did this and that. She answered: yes, I did, but I repented and received permission. This is the kindest answer. This is where all our attention should be directed. It is necessary to remember that there are two resolutions, or two ends of one resolution, one stands at the beginning and the other at the end. At the beginning there is permission for confession, at the end, when all sinful dispositions will be plucked out by tears, mortification of the flesh, good deeds and prayer. This is the resolution of nature from the sin living in us. Observe and consider with him in preparing a good answer. I received the parcel, thank you, but the sweetest thing is your kindness. God bless you! Holidays are just around the corner, congratulations! May the Lord give you to taste the power of the Sacraments they remember! E. Feofan. December 20, 1988. Letter 561. The meaning of fasting. Apologies and reservations You congratulated me on the New Year, and I congratulate you on your fast. The words are different, but the deed is one: for whoever will accomplish everything that is done in the Holy. fasting, as it should, will enter into truth in the new year of life. This is what I wish for you. – You, of course, have been new for a long time; – but our news is such that it often requires updating. We flow along the path of life among rags, which under our feet, and on our sides, and in front, and behind, and above, and below, and from within, and from without, envelop us and crowd us, and it is very difficult, or even impossible, for any of them not to stick and remain on us, and in us, just as it is impossible for someone walking along a high road not to get dusty. So the merciful Lord arranged for us a fast, which is, on the one hand, a review, or inspection, where there are any specks of dust and rags, on the other, a bathhouse, to wash everything that is old, inconspicuous, and dirty, so that having passed through both, we would appear brand new, clean, and pleasing to God and people, like a tree in spring, again covered with leaves and flowers. I wish you all this from my heart. I am guilty before you for not answering you. I'm sorry. I promise to be serviceable at least. I'll be wrong again. However, I ask you to never consider this malfunction as if it means that I don’t remember you. No, I remember you every day in my sinners’ prayers. You will always write to yourself a bunch of what is missing from what should be, and a bunch of what is missing from what should not be, that you should be captured without pity, put in a tower, shackled and chained, and kept on bread and water for an uncountable number of years, until everything that should not evaporate, and everything that should grow and blossom, and the Angels will take you and transplant you into the paradise of God. But you can achieve the same thing without a tower, and without chaining, and chaining, if, remembering what is due and what is not due, you pray for the rooting of the former and the uprooting of the latter: for everything is from the Lord, he says and will be. I am sending volume 4 of the Philokalia, there is my photograph. Your good friend. E. Feofan. February 22, 1990 Letter 562. On the reconstruction of the inner man. Sending your portrait What a gloomy portrait you painted of yourself, or of your inner man! Out of your hands! Everything looks fine on the outside, but in the middle everything has decomposed. We need to let an architect into the middle so that he can destroy everything there, clean up the old materials and straighten them out, and then build everything anew - everything from the foundation to the roof. Who is the architect? Lord Savior. He Himself asks to get inside, stands and pushes. We must open the door to Him. The key to the door is this fiery jealousy and ruthless selflessness. The forge where these keys are made, there is a terrible fear for one’s fate if everything inside remains as it is now. As soon as the keys are prepared, they will turn on their own, open the door, and behold the Lord is the Creator of the inner church. Then everything will go quickly, and the inner church will be built. Then instead of short prayer there will be unceasing prayer, instead of scattered prayer there will be concentrated prayer, fussiness and over-concern will go away, and indomitable concern for one thing will reign, frequent and inappropriate irritability will be replaced by meekness and quiet and serene energy. Complain about a lack of internal structure. Without it there is little use, no matter what you do. But it is more convenient to acquire it and establish it in the desert. The fear of God, a contrite and humble heart are the first manifestations of it. God bless you with every blessing! The soul that trusts in the Lord will receive mercy. Work with patience and without self-pity overcomes everything. And complacency saps all energy. “The old one has not died, I do not dare to crucify the self, I do not have the strength to give up everything - there is no renewal.” If all these comments come from your heart, like a complaint about yourself, like a thirst for something better, then pray more diligently. The Lord is near. And I thirst to quench and give rest to those who labor for His sake. Now comes the 5th volume of the Philokalia and the cabinet portrait. Your good friend. E. Feofan. July 3, 1890 Letter 563. About the illness of the saint in 1891. Temptation from servants and how to avoid being angry Your letter of October 25 remains unanswered. However, do not rush to pronounce a verdict of guilty on me, out of impermissible laziness. About four weeks before the holiday I caught a very cold, and I am still ill, even though this illness is already at its end. The onset of the illness is the end of November, and my guilt extends for a period of time, about a month. Now I only have a little weakness. You cause my ailments from lack of air, movement and strenuous exercise. I spend almost the whole summer on the balcony, and our abode is in the forest, just beyond the fence there is a forest. In winter I rarely go to the balcony - I’m afraid of catching a cold: that’s where I caught a cold now. But the rooms are ventilated, in addition to the vents, by opening the door outward, and the entire air changes - this is almost every day. The movement is not stingy. I walk more when I read; I just sit and write, which happens no more than two or three hours a day. Intensive training, the time has passed for them. And when they were, then there was no feeling of fatigue. It is best to produce everything because the time of power has passed; old age has arrived, which is very susceptible to illness. I thank you for your concern for my health! And you still have temptation from the servants, it’s similar to what St. had. Apostle Paul: a dirty trickster, and he prayed and fought, still did not leave, and settled on patience. Here's an example. But it occurs to me, are you so connected with the real servants that you don’t even have the power to change? And if you have it, why not change it? One, another, the third is worthless, the fourth may be kind. That's peace. But do you want to know spiritual healing against displeasure in servants? It seems that Climacus wrote: the first method against anger is the silence of the lips. Do not speak when the soul is not calm; But first, calm down and then talk, showing them what to do. Eliminate the idea that the servants deliberately do not do well, or do not want to do what you want; but think that he wants and tries, but that he lacks skill, then it is not an intentional mistake, or an omission slips through. Do not charge every time, but on the third or fifth time. And another thing is this: spiritual healing is not mechanical, but everything comes from will, from personal determinations and the exertion of one’s powers. Having established yourself in such a conviction, you will not wait for deliverance, but everything from yourself with God’s help and from the intensity of your efforts, and strain not to be angry no matter what. God bless you for this work. Lack of anger is evidence of the great pacification of the self and the power of humility. What a kind letter from Fr. arch. Mikhail! God gave him something in Athens. God save him! I ask for prayers! I pray for you. Save yourself! Your good friend E. Feofan. 13 January 91 Letter 564. Complaining about negligence. About the health of the saint […] You write about yourself: “My heart is cold, I am careless and faulty in everything.” May the Lord warm you! He is fire and, approaching the heart, warms and flames it. Run to the Lord and warm yourself with prayer! Bows are good. Apparent negligence. That is why it happens that the memory of God fades away. Learn to do all things as directly commanded by God and to do them for God and before God. There will be no room for negligence, and also no malfunction. God bless your trip to [...] May God grant you to meet there one thing that is comforting on all sides. My health is completely fine, only my head is still a little heavy, and sometimes I feel a little dizzy. But this is a trivial matter. – The more important thing is that nothing is written or thought. I’ll write a letter, and it’ll feel like I’ve moved mountains. The missus approaches, pushing to the side. It will sit for you. It’s seven days that week, and I quit, as if I had received any right from such suggestions. Your good friend E. Feofan. 22 August 91 Letter 565. About Ave. Leontius. About sorrows, lust and anger You brought me great joy and consolation with your last letter, and with everything in it. But I would like to know something about St. Leontiy. In newspapers Moscow. Led. they write something. But the last issues commemorate the university celebration, where V. Prince was present, but the bishop was not. Is he really healthy? Penance is on you. For what?!. Because you did not tell me how the matter of appointing the Bishop as Metropolitan of Moscow went. Don't be lazy to write if you know. My memory has become useless, and she is almost the first figure in correspondence. You propose two questions, both very subtle, and I admit that I am not able to explain the difficulties you encountered satisfactorily and reassuringly. 1) The Holy Church prays for deliverance from sorrows, because it learned this from the Psalter, which is filled with appeals about this. It turns out that this is the will of God. Pray for this too, fulfilling this will of God. The Savior decrees that through many sorrows one must enter into the Kingdom of God. And if you please keep in mind, when sorrows occur, that it is the Lord who is paving the way for you into His kingdom, or even more, taking you by the hand and leading you. Therefore, do not rest your feet and do not shout, but endure sorrows complacently and with gratitude. 2) Lust and anger are not accessories of nature, but consequences of its depravity. He who conquers them does not conquer nature, but destroys the corruption of nature and elevates it to his natural rank. In fact, this corruption appears in different degrees: for others, there is almost no lust and anger at all, the mercy of God; while others have them more ferocious than all animals. The latter, if they defeat them, will receive the crown of martyrdom, but the former will receive nothing for their lack of anger and reluctance. So, if you please, overcome your anger, seeing the crown of martyrdom ahead. I wish your hand to heal so that you can write freely. Your good friend. E. Feofan. 23 January 92 Letter 566. At the beginning of the post. About M. Plato and the seminar. life. I begin Great Lent by fulfilling, or paying, my debt to you. For yesterday I apologize for what I did to burden and upset you, including certainly the threat of penance in my last letter. And I forgive you, but I have nothing to say about anything, in everything, even in that for which you were legally or illegally considered subject to penance. May the Lord bless you to fast according to your strength, without indulgences, but not beyond your strength. What a wonderful time this is!! Look around the whole of Orthodox Rus' and marvel at how everyone humbled themselves, hid and fell silent instead of yesterday’s cries and riots. May the Lord grant to everyone to humble themselves internally before the Lord and make a start so that, at least during the fast, they will not be carried away by unbridled desires and put an end to the lustful creation of the flesh. You remember St. Metropolitan Plato. Good and wise ruler! He was my mentor at the Oryol Seminary, I think in 29 for two months. He left for St. Petersburg. Academy, and the rector, Archimandrite, came to us. Isidore, the current Bishop of St. Petersburg, was with us for a little over 4 years. I remember him very much, and all Oryol residents remember him. Ave. Seraphim of Voronezh was his favorite student. Also Lavrentiy Iversky, the rector, is a man of a wonderful disposition. I don't remember any others like this. I was with him in the lower and middle departments of the seminary. He often appointed me to read my philosophical scribbles at Saturday meetings. He had meetings of all classes in the large hall in the early hours of Saturday, at which students of all classes read their essays, which Vladyka liked. - I also remember, - in literature - the first class of seminary, for some reason we were assigned at home, in our parents' house during the Christmas holiday, to write a sermon on our choice of subject. I wrote it with great enthusiasm, for which Father Rector (your current Vladyka) ordered me to present him with the list. Then for a long time I did not walk on the ground, but above the clouds. That's how much I babbled, forgetting myself. I apologize. However, it’s better for me to stop writing now, because I’m obviously subject to an unkind fit of talkativeness. Guilty! Your good friend E. Feofan. 17 February 92 Letter 567. Thoughts on the Annunciation. About sinking hearts and fears. About the Easter meeting […] this letter will not go today and not tomorrow, for tomorrow is the Annunciation. I’ll start with congratulations on this bright holiday. May the light of the Annunciation illuminate you: may the joys it brings fill your heart, and may all the blessings from it clothe you like some precious garment. Upon seeing such a bright dispensation of God, we should cry out for us: let every other thought of man be silent, stand, contemplate, be amazed, enjoy, drink this beer, forever new, and do not interfere with the leaping of your heart with any extraneous thought. Here's a lesson for you! However, according to the saying: I would fly, but my legs would outweigh me - human beings, like weights, hang on our nature and are drawn to the earth and its deeds. This is why I turn to them. How much news you conveyed in your letters, pleasant and unpleasant, but always entertaining! I thank you very much for this. I won't go through them again. In general, I will say that I am very glad that everything is going well for you. Regarding you, one thing occupied me: this is your sinking heart. I think you are not expressing yourself that way. Isn't this an interruption when the pulse is intermittent? This happens to me from time to time, and it started a long time ago. But I don't think this is an important thing. I take digitalis homeopathic two or three grains once, twice, and it goes away. I add to this lying down, which I really like for my laziness. Lying down works for me as a medicine or aid against dizziness. This illness of mine worries you. Thank you. She clung to me tightly and didn’t let go. But not much, just restless and distracted. Sometimes there is something like a rush to the head. Then I lie around almost the whole day. Do you have fears?! Is this really serious? Surrender yourself to the will of God. Faith that everything, big and small, is from God, will teach you to accept everything as good, no matter how evil it may seem. And if it is not recognized as evil, then it does not produce fear. What kind of strange phenomenon is happening to me?! Complete dullness: no thoughts, no words, no feelings, no energy, real worthlessness. Be patient with the Cossack, but they won’t make you an ataman for this. This happens to me quite often. Then I take Danilevsky 12th year and read. Have you read it? If not, find it and read it. This is the best and most conscientious description of affairs; when you read it, your spirit rejoices. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow is Holy Sunday, and then Easter Sunday. I wish you to taste this lordship in thoughts and feelings. But first, please enter into sympathy with the passions of the Lord until your co-crucifixion with Him. I would like to write something else, but nothing comes to mind. What other beauty is still mumbling and can’t find the way to the monastery! Help her, Lord, to finally stand up, stamp her foot and walk cheerfully, fearing no one and nothing. May God grant her such grace. God bless you with every blessing! Save yourself! Your good friend E. Feofan. March 24, 92 Letter 568. The saint's senile ailments. Lucky on Above I congratulate you on the bright Resurrection of Christ and wish you all the bright and joyful things in these days and at all times. Thank you for taking care of my dizziness. This weakness does not manifest itself with the same symptoms for everyone. With me, she is completely indifferent to the fullness or fastness of the stomach, but she is partial to sleep and gets very angry when she has to not be completely satisfied in this regard. And it’s not uncommon for the whole body to be visited by relaxation and the need to lie down with doing nothing, dullness and unconsciousness. There is no pain, just weakness. But you, as it seems, are completely ready for the next world. Bon voyage! Getting ready ahead of time is a very good thing. When old age approaches, what else is there to worry about? It is very comforting to hear that there are equal angels in the world. May God bless them! so that no one eats it out of sight. You call me happy. I feel like such, and I would not exchange my Highness not only for the St. Petersburg Metropolis, but also for the Patriarchate, if it were restored to us, and I was appointed to it. But what worries me is not what you mean, although this exists and may be to a predominant extent, but that God gave me a desire for the work of paper scribbling and other handicrafts. And I didn't see how time flew. Now I see, because both work has stopped. The urge to dirty paper has disappeared, but laziness and weakening strength do not allow me to do handicrafts. I heard something about the movements. May God grant them all happiness in their new places. May God grant you health and such that there will be no mention of illness. Your good friend E. Feofan. 15 April 92. Letter 569. Apology for the long silence. About the Kronstadt figure. Praise humility. Health Notice How much I have done wrong to you!!! I ask you to forgive and have mercy. I thank you that, despite my disability, you all console me with your kind letters, which always contain both pleasant and instructive things. We were in Kronstadt. What a wide range of activities N.N. Lord grant him patience and keep the gifts given to him unsquandered! You write about yourself: “I am very bad, very bad.” These are very good speeches. May God grant you to feel this way, and through this to keep yourself in repentant feelings, more precious than which there is nothing in the world and cannot be. You need to thank a beauty for giving you the opportunity to see something ugly in yourself. You can see in this God’s intention of caring for you. May the Lord make you wise to treat her in a way that is favorable to her salvation and yours. Since you see a cross in it, then you must treat it as always a saving cross. There's science here! You mean Valaam. May the Lord grant you to be comforted there with holy consolation. Take in more of the air there so that it will last for more than one year. What can I say about myself? What you said about yourself, only raised it to the millionth degree. My health will go down. Dizziness has settled in my mind, and little by little something immediately testifies to its presence. But for about two weeks now there has been an ache in the sacral bones - sometimes very sensitive, but bearable. This is God’s punishment for not praying and praying enough. What am I doing? I can’t do anything; I’m completely stupefied. My memory became very weak and my desire to write disappeared. God bless you with every blessing! Your good friend E. Feofan. June 3, 1892 Letter 570. Happy housewarming. About writing down good thoughts. Feedback on humble feelings Congratulations on your housewarming. It can be very significant if the Lord deigns to arrange for you a new way or structure of life. The solitude awaiting you is a great beneficial state. From the first days, try to establish an order of affairs and activities aimed at one thing, and so firmly adjacent to one another, so that there is not even a minute of idle time left. Idle time, in conspiracy with all the spirits against the poor soul, will swoop down in spirit and begin to tug at the soul - one offering one thing, the other another, still caring about one thing, how to tear attention away from God and turn it first to something empty, and then to something not entirely good. Have you tried to write down the thoughts you find about the Sacraments of faith and life, those that are themselves generated and fill all attention and hold your soul and heart for a long time. Now it wouldn't hurt for you to do this. Keep a notebook handy and write it down immediately. You will see for yourself how good it is. I am writing this, imagining you sitting alone in your hut. May God bless your new residence. […] And what you say about yourself: completely weak, full of pride and conceit, touchy, irritable, then this is a very good fruit. Sincere awareness of these traits digs under their roots and makes it possible to pick them up (disgust) and throw them out. God Bless!! The fear of God is lacking. Fear of God, gift of God. Pray: plant your fear! Remembering the judgments of God and death with its contacts revives the movements of fear. May God help you to settle well in your new apartment so that your soul will always be in its place. Your good friend E. Feofan. 10 Sep. '92 Letter 571. About the deceased Metropolitan. Isidore and his successor. About peace and work in solitude And I don’t know how it happened that I was so late in answering you. Everyone thought that the letter had just been received yesterday, therefore it could be safely postponed until tomorrow. Guilty! Please excuse me and forgive me. You have the first words about the death of Vladyka Metropolitan Isidore, expected - and then accomplished. May the Lord rest his soul! All his life he kept his heart peaceful and rested in deep peace. Blessed is the path! How wisely he tuned and wisely led his inner life! According to these principles, he could say about himself: I live not for this, but Christ lives in me. Amen. Who will replace our ruler? Let's wait and see who it is. The royal heart is in the hand of God. If the Lord has not given up on our Russian church, then He will write on the heart of his chosen tsar. And among our spiritual ones who have a part in the election, it is unlikely that everyone will imagine one, but everyone will have their own. Moscow. Led. printed: To St. Petersburg, Kievsky Ave., and to Kyiv, Georgian Exarch Ave. We'll see. Where can I get a prophet? You wrote that someone conveyed my prophecy about the death of Bishop Metropolitan Isidore. I had an idea about this that was different from what you heard. I thought that Vladyka would not survive his 94th year, or would die in his 94th year, which began on October 1, 92 civil. And if the ruler had died between this day and October 1, 93 civil, then my prophecy would have been fulfilled, but now I must admit that I was not included in the prophets. […] For the sake of your grief, perhaps God will send you deep inner peace, which is not disturbed by external, discordant currents of affairs, speeches and clashes. Grant this to you, Lord! I think that if a person pulls himself together and begins to rule his inner self, he will receive unperturbed peace of mind as a reward. This is the gift that the late Lord possessed. You have a special conversation about this; What are you asking and exactly how to rule your inner self in order to enjoy spiritual peace? You assume that in response to your grief over the inevitable deprivation of solitude, I will say: arrange for yourself inner solitude. You guessed it right. This solitude is not empty and it is impossible for it to take place if someone decided to create complete emptiness in himself. Having retired into yourself, you must stand before the Lord and stand like that, without taking your mental eyes off the Lord. Here comes the desert! be face to face with the Lord. You said it was difficult. But what can you eat without labor? But this is work that facilitates and supports itself. To be with the Lord is the purpose of our existence, and when we are with the Lord, we cannot help but feel well-being, and this naturally keeps attention on ourselves and through ourselves on the Lord, from whom it comes. You said that when you pray well, with attention and feeling, you become strong and can comfortably resist external temptations. By this you have indicated the surest way to establish yourself before the face of the Lord. Make every effort to pray well in the morning, not distractedly, but with warmth. Do you have a book “about sobriety and prayer” - a collection? Read it a little. She is able to tune in to attention to the one Lord, omnipresent and all-seeing. And cry to the Lord to give you this. “Seek and you will find, search and it will be opened to you.” There is a lot here that is required, but what exactly is required, things will show. The starting point is surrendering oneself to the Lord and crying out to Him. God bless! I have just finished my life and work in establishing the monastery of the Elder of Valaam of Damascus. If he maintained inner silence despite external fussiness, then here is a sample. But it’s a pity that the compiler of the life depicted the initial life well, there is a real path there. But when he began to describe how the outside of the monastery had been improved, he abandoned the inside. Your good friend E. Feofan. 5–11 October 92 Letter 572. How to achieve mental standing before God. About being angry. Abbreviation of letters. works of the saint in 1892 Well, you wrote that he was appointed for the future. Palladium, and now they have probably already met him, if not personally, then publicly. Congratulations! God bless your concern for your mental presence before God. Seek and you will find. This is an urgent law for everything desired on the path of spiritual success. Nothing comes for free. God's help is always ready and always close, but it is given only to those who seek and work, and moreover, when those who seek try all their means and begin to cry out with their full hearts: Lord help! And while there remains at least a small aspiration of something from your own ways, the Lord does not interfere here, as if saying: you hope to achieve it yourself! Well, wait. But no matter how long you wait, nothing will happen. May God grant you a contrite spirit, a contrite and humble heart! But you still get angry. I see that the reason for this is that you do not want to sacrifice any of the established neatness. This is your problem. Drive her worthless one away and you will be calmer. Show self-sacrifice by this: for here is all selfhood, with arms and legs. I am sending you one copy of the ancient monastic rules and enclosing several extracts from sermons. The people of Athos say that reprinting sermons in several scraps, talking about the same subject, is easier to read and is more likely to be dispersed. Everything has been redone for me now. There are no new writer's riddles. And writing has moved away from the heart and out of the head. Nature itself asks for rest. For a long time now I have limited myself in this matter to letters to kind and highly respected persons. Your good friend E. Feofan. November 15, 92 Letter 573. About peace from sorrows. About ancient monastic regulations. Revision of previous editions Thanks for the news. And you have your own unwanted things. What to do! and you have to be patient. Peaceful patience is a powerful remedy. You console yourself with the future, precisely with the expected stay in [...] Try to find immediate peace in yourself, and keep yourself not alone, but with God. Strength will come from Him, making it possible to put up with the present state of affairs. I believe you are already reading the regulations. What marvels do you expect to find in them!! A simple list of rules, do this, don’t do that. But the overall picture, if you fully imagine it, turns out to be very attractive, bright, divine. My health will go away. I am re-reading the interpretations of some messages for new printing. Since I haven’t read it for a long time, it seems like someone else’s writing. And I forgot everything: everything is new. May the Lord give the heir to the Tsarevich a beautiful, intelligent, kind and firm bride. If you're happy Anthony in his appointment, I rejoice in him. It's really good. Your good friend. E. Feofan. November 17, 1892 Letter 574. About high pr. Leontiy. Misunderstanding in correspondence. About the Stunda and the health of the saint I wrote with our last mail, but I’m still writing: the lack of news about the future forces me. Leontiy. Apparently he has a stroke. The eyes and tongue are not in good condition, but other health is not good. Lord have mercy! Well, it will stay that way. Dear Lord, have mercy on him! What don't they let you know through the newspapers?! This is criminal. You have good friends there in Moscow. Instruct them most strictly to write to you how it all began, and went on, and on, and you please inform the Highest. Threaten them with whatever you know to write quickly and in detail. Well, there's nothing to do. Let us groan and pray to the all-merciful Lord. How did it happen that you consider me guilty of laziness in writing? And I kept thinking that our last letters had met and parted ways. As I wrote a day or two before yours, I thought that I was allowed to wait for an answer from you. Meanwhile, you are waiting on me. Thus, your expectations, as well as your letters, have disappeared. However, I really regret that this happened. Let's hope this doesn't happen in the future. You regret the convict. Once you’ve been condemned, all that’s left is to feel sorry and pray. May the Lord strengthen him and comfort him internally, despite his harsh appearance It’s like an extract from the interpretation of Romans, but it talks about food sacrificed to idols. Shtunda does not like to fast. But she’s a Lutheran, why the hell did they call her a shtunda? It should be called the German faith, because it was invented by the Germans and recently - the German faith is only hundreds of three years old. She is not the original renegade. The original apostate was the Latin faith - it retreated with both the Germans and the English. But then the Germans and the British retreated from the pope when he started some absurdities in his faith. Who wrote about the Charter in the Church. Ved."? I'm alive and well. Make me believe that I don’t have fainting, and relaxation is attacking me right now. This started a long time ago. I'm starting to wonder if these are hemorrhoidal seizures. Save yourself! Be healthy and cheerful. E. Feofan. January 17, 1893 Letter 575. About the patient. Leonti Ave. About your health, lack of anger and the leadership of Simeon Nov. Theologian to fasting Congratulations on your great post. May God grant you to spend it soul-savingly, with great patience and self-sacrifice. I received what you sent. Thank you very much for your goodwill. Everything is elegant, but there are some things that are incomprehensible. First place for icons. I love them very much. What representative pencils! How will they write and how strong are they when sharpened!? The letter paper is lined with more eyes than ordinary paper. Yes, and everything is fine. Now explain to me these unwritten books and the book - what is the essence and what are they intended for? Of course, for writing something, but what? Isn't it a diary? This has often occurred to me. But what content should a diary contain? Is he like Father John? This is the best. – I have an example of this, in letters to various people, at the end. – But the generation of such thoughts stopped. If such thoughts do not return, you will not have to write such a diary. Write down current affairs; for example, the illness of Bishop Leontius and others. - But are there many of them? It turns out that there is almost nothing to write. But let him lie down. I’ll put them before my eyes and they, with their appearance, offering me a question about themselves, will someday bring me to a solution. However, this does not prevent you from testifying with what thought they arrived at Vysha. – Ink and a wonderful inkwell are obvious for what. “I will write letters to you with them and with your pens, just as this letter is already being written.” - But what glue should I use? Envelopes are a common thing, but what do the leaves pinned around the edges mean? This is incomprehensible to Vysha, and I have never seen it. Now about current affairs. Maybe God willing and he will get better. Ave. Leonty. Let's pray! You ask – wouldn’t I stay like that? It will be very sad, but God’s will be done! Perhaps everything assigned to him to do has been redone; the rest will be remade without him, but he was given an illness as a feat of patience for the purification and whitening of the soul for the next century. God save him! Ave. Christopher was appointed vicar in order to give him a suitable job. He is very good and learned, why should he be sour in the monastery? And they gave me a job. But you finally talk about your package, I forgot about these lines. The letter arrived first and was read. The glass didn’t surprise me, but your explanation still goes to the point, even though I won’t have to use it for its intended purpose. I take homeopathy not in drops, but in grains directly into my mouth, and wash it down, where they quickly disperse. The hard mitten was incomprehensible, now it is comprehensible, but how can you rub the back of your head when there is a lot of hair on it? I'll try though. – I sometimes see hemorrhoidal attacks in this rush to the head. Not knowing where it enters your head is like a relaxing fog; This is first felt in the occipital brain, and then spreads throughout the body. The day before, I lay around all day, but I didn’t feel any illness, just weakness throughout my body. N.N. and recommended it as fainting. That you are now less worried about human lies is a good sign. This means you hand over everything to the Lord, His will be done, as prescribed. May the Lord strengthen you in this position. It takes a lot of experience to manifest this feeling. We are surrounded by disturbing and confusing contradictions. The immersion of thoughts and feelings in the all-ruling good and wise providence of God for us absorbs them and does not give them any progress, crossing the toxicity of their effect on us. I wrote and wrote, and everything about this and that, but the real subject for me should have been how best to use fasting for the well-being of the soul. Fasting itself is a good teacher, but books are not bad in this regard either. Read Simeon the New Theologian. I am now re-reading, to identify typos, his words in the first issue. How here he persistently sets out the essence of the work of Christian life, producing it throughout all space from the Lord Savior - exclusively. And he explains everything so clearly that it unquestioningly captivates the mind and demands obedience. If only the Lord would help us get even a little bit onto the path along which he leads those who want to be saved. - “A little” - they just say so, but it can’t be that way, you can’t drive along the rut a little, but once you get there, you’ll get there completely. You can only go quieter or faster. I wish you all the best, comforting and favorable! Save yourself! Your good friend E. Feofan. February 11, 1893 Letter 576. About the Most Reverend. Leontia and your health I'm sorry I haven't written for a long time. Blame it, however, on time, which flows so quickly that before you even have time to look back, two weeks have already passed. It seems to me that only one mail was missed, as I wrote. So you are in St. Petersburg. Should I congratulate? Judging by what you write, congratulations are in order. So congratulations! V. Ave. Things are not easier for Leonty. The body is said to be healthy. But here comes the grief: for this means that the situation in life has been established, but the mental state does not correspond to this - it has fallen behind. God grant that it catches up and overtakes, or that self-awareness returns. Based on some evidence, I conclude that he understands everything that is happening and being said around him: but he does not listen to his tongue and confuses his answers, which is why he gets irritated and stops speaking. God grant him self-awareness! Then nothing else matters. As soon as I remember him, I pray that the Lord will restore his self-awareness. Let everything else hurt. What do you have? You are now at home and maybe already in a new home. Congratulations. May the Lord grant you to find solitude from everything earthly and all earthly things - and to be your consciousness only in the heavenly and with the heavenly. My words – “a reminder to nuns” – are now just right for you. I am sending you ten copies of them. I recently received them. I’ll send it especially to my beauties in St. Petersburg, or I’ll send it now. […] He spoke, but didn’t say anything about himself. Alive, but healthy? Good in my specific health. Dizziness has decreased significantly, leg kicking (calf spasms) does not happen every night. How's work? Soon your head gets tired - and don’t even start reading anything serious, just one page and then quit, and your soul is useless. There is not even a tiny bit of memory. Thank you for interpreting what was sent. But, if God helps, I will fill the books with a diary, but not about current affairs, but about eternal ones. P.S. The road to the city is crossed; a pedestrian is walking. That's why books are not sent. After. Letter 577. For a housewarming party. About your health I owe you a lot in lines, but I don’t blame you, because it’s not my fault - there is no way. I congratulate you on your housewarming and wish that the beginnings of the peace you feel progressively grow into a multi-colored and prolific tree. Tears accompanied you from there, but here may heaven give you spiritual dew to refresh your strength and facilitate speedy work. Do you suppose that the absence of monastic services will adversely affect your inner mood? But I think that when, having retired into yourself, God allows you to feel the sweetness and power of your heartfelt prayer, then you will not wish for such a prayer better. Father Archimandrite Mikhail has reason to think that I was stingy and did not send him the “Charter.” No, not because of stinginess, but because of the excessive wisdom of our mail. She demanded, according to some printed program, as much information, receipts and promises as if I were sending a whole carriage. This happened before. We were here at the Naryshkin farm. They are 2 miles from us. I asked you to explain this to me. Emmanuel Dmitrievich said: “Give me this parcel, I will go to St. Petersburg and send it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thinking that the same story would happen now, I was going to send books, but now the Naryshkins are gone. When I learned from your letters that Father Michael did not find this book anywhere, I was going to send it to you for shipment to Athens, but then the water rose and cut us off from the city since Holy Week, in which position we have remained to this day. I'm very glad you sent it to him. It’s a pity that you were hurt and I’m glad that homeopathy is helping you well. My health will go away. But the head is often cloudy and heavy, but this soon passes. E. Feofan. April 13, 1893 Letter 578. How the saint wrote sermons. Advice on landscaping in a new place. On mastering the Jesus Prayer I am very glad that my “reminders to the nuns” left a good impression on you. I myself read them with pleasure, and for me they seem so new that it’s as if they weren’t written by me, and that if I decided to write sermons now, I wouldn’t be able to write like that. The peculiarity of my sermons - both these and all others - is that they are not composed. It usually happened in the evening, after the all-night vigil, I’d drink a glass of tea, read tomorrow’s Gospel, then the Apostle, and whatever thought came in and occupied my attention and heart, I took it into the topic, and the sermon built itself up within itself. An hour, an hour and a half, maybe two, and the sermon is ready, you can read it in the morning and tweak it a little. Sometimes the theme is given by external circumstances, as happened when visiting monasteries, but the production is still the same. These are written improvisations; Since they didn’t come out of my head, they represent something sweetened. Let's see if other similar brochures appear to you. There will be six, seven of them; two or three twice as much as this. I am following your letter. You portrayed your new stay perfectly, what’s especially good is that you know how to find advantageous aspects. You can hope that the disadvantage will completely evaporate before attention, and the remaining advantage will turn your life into paradise. God grant! That there is sadness is due to lack of habit. Schedule your hours so that not a minute goes by without something urgent to do. Let reading with meditation, prayer with bows and some simple handicraft absorb all the time - and there will be no time to be bored and despondent. The fact that church services are rare is a great deprivation. But God willing, home prayer will be established. Get used to doing this so that, if there is no work to do, you can immediately take up the Jesus Prayer and begin to say it with attention, walking, sitting and - best of all - standing in front of the icons. You can designate special times for this. It will be better and the habit of this prayer will take root more firmly. The thought of moving into eternity adapts well to your circumstances; but he always has his place in everything. Stick it to your mind and heart and look at everything else through it. Your story about the case with Aksakov is very instructive. I have heard before about the erroneousness of NN’s verdicts. It is advisable for you to combine your mind with the thought of the Lord. The best way to do this is to practice the Jesus Prayer, as it is written ahead. Assign yourself three or four times a day to stand in front of the icons to perform this prayer with reverence and contemplation of the Lord before you, and do it every time 100, 200, 300 times, as you can. Having set a deadline for this, do not cancel it. The thought will see ahead all day long, so, now you have to become. And the Lord will be near. The thought of our own is also close. Beauty NN wrote. May the Lord show His mercy to them. He who trusts in the Lord will receive mercy. Do they have hope? The feeling of trusting in God is a great thing. It is the result of all our feelings towards God, especially deep faith in God’s providence for us. Thank you for the news about V. Ave. Leontiy. I can barely restrain myself from writing to Vladyka. But I’ll still wait to hear what you say. Do they write to him and does he answer? But I will pray more diligently several times a day. E. Feofan. April 28, 1893 Letter 579. Project of non-monastic monasticism Yesterday I wrote to NN and sent you a bow, tea, however, that maybe I’ll have time to write. But there was not enough time for this. But now the novice comes and says: “They’re going to Shatzk again.” So I’m writing, otherwise I would have to have this pleasure in another 4-5 days. I am amazed at your heroism. How are you so sick, but write like the healthiest of the healthy. I’ll imitate you, otherwise I’m such a sissy, if a flea bites me, I’ll scream to the whole world. In your letter, the future mother Anna wrote about herself that she was not going well with monasticism. But monasticism can always be arranged without a monastery. Let her imagine how she should have lived if she had now entered the monastery, and therefore build a rule of life for herself - both external and internal. Then you will review. If you like, I'll take a look. And from all these works a monastic charter will be drawn up for NN, who lives alone and wants to be saved. If she accepts this charter and agrees to follow the rules in action, you will take the trouble to take on the duty of an abbess in relation to her. If the experiment succeeds, then we can also offer it to others, and from others we can create such a society. And it will come out - not monastery nuns or outside monastic asceticism. God bless you! May God grant you to recover and get back on your feet! Your good friend E. Feofan. June 16, 1893 Letter 580. An example of the meekness of the saint. What homeopathy is like! Remnants of anger. About your health Thank you for the letter of June 28, for the news and good news. You were afraid of a thunderstorm from Above regarding my letter, which fell into the wrong hands, but I didn’t even think of being angry and didn’t even find slight displeasure in my soul […] What homeopathy is like! Where allopathy did not succeed for five weeks, it had a noticeable effect in half a day. A monument to her needs to be erected. Write about this to A.V. She will be happy about homeopathy for the sake of it. I wanted to go to Valaam. It’s not a bad desire, and if this trip is for the good of your soul, then I echo your trust in the Lord and pray with you: “Lord grant!” I’m very sorry that you lost your temper once or twice early in the morning. Then both days there was no rest. It’s not good that they cried afterwards. And always cry. There is repentance, contrition, a desire to improve, and sorrowful regret for failures in the matter of self-correction. Perhaps the Lord is still leaving this natural weakness in you in order to give you a reason to humble yourself and lament. Try, when you go out the door, to put a shell on your heart, determination, no matter what is wrong - do not succumb to anger. And cry, cry more often; it really softens the heart. So I went through all of yours. What do I have? All glory to God! And the dizziness subsided, and the nighttime cramps subsided. One doctor Tambovsky advised bandaging the legs from the toes and above the knees. I do this and it seems better. It's just begun. What am I doing? I don’t do anything and I don’t beat myself up. God bless you! Save yourself! E. Feofan. July 11, 1893 Letter 581. About N. Revision of the Path to Salvation According to the letter, you are still in Valaam, but now I think you are already in St. Petersburg. This is where I write. Thank you for expressing your opinion about O.N. I knew nothing about his disagreement with the monastery authorities. Judging by his previous letters, he always seemed humble to me. But let it be otherwise: now, as you assure, he has completely resigned himself. I answer his letter now and send him books. Let him manage. I just re-read The Path to Salvation. I forgot everything that was written here and read everything as if it were someone else’s. Re-read for the new edition. Everything remains unchanged; only a lesson from St. John Chrysostom on education refers to the end of the book, and in the middle between the first and second sections he breaks his attention. If you’ve read it once, then sit down to read it some more, and then after skipping a month or two, start reading it again—that’s how you memorize it in order. My health is not bad. It’s cold here, so we wrap ourselves up and warm ourselves up sometimes. Your good friend E. Feofan. September 22, 1893 Letter 582. Heavenly protection. On the fight against false teachers So what kind of feats you have there! […] The Lord is near, protecting us all. The enemy is cunning, but the Angel of God is stronger than him: he will wave his sword, and all the webs of the enemy will scatter like dust swept up by the wind. It is comforting to hear that your acquaintances, the artist and the monk, graciously bear what the Lord has entrusted to them and remain invincible in their spiritual dispositions. May the Lord strengthen them! I don’t hear anything, what orders do you have in St. Petersburg to counteract the Pashkovites, Irvingians, and Tolstoyans?! These ulcers are destroying many in St. Petersburg and everywhere. And it would be necessary to oppose them with spiritual warfare. In St. Petersburg there are many excellent priests among the clergy, both in education and in character. Make them trumpeters, and the walls of Jericho, of course, would fall, to the consolation of the faithful sons of Israel and to the glory of God. […] It is true that every priest must be self-commanding in defending the truth of God and preserving his flock, but in many cases they do not know that wolves are little by little snatching the sheep from the flock. My health is not bad. I thank the merciful Lord. Your good friend E. Feofan. November 22, 1893 Letter 583. Correction of feelings in relation to the Mother of God. About the composition. Ignatius Brianchaninov. About posts. Should we pray for suicides? Akathist Pres. Trinity I’ll start with what you almost have at the end, namely about the malfunction of your feelings in relation to the Mother of God. Try to put them on edge. The Mother of God herself will help with this. Pray to Her and, confessing this to Her, ask her to strengthen your reverence for Her with hope in Her strong all-round intercession. A long time ago, one beauty once asked me, “Why is the Mother of God honored so highly, not only above all holy people, but even Angels and Archangels?” I answered: because neither the Angels and Archangels, nor the Cherubim, nor the Seraphim had such a close and significant participation in the arrangement of our salvation as She did. The dispensation of our salvation is called the incarnate dispensation. It was necessary for the Son of God and God to take human nature into His person, and without this our salvation could not have been achieved. (Look at “The Outline of Christian Moral Teaching”, the first article from the foundations of the Christian life). This nature was taken from the Ever-Virgin through the influx of the Holy Spirit and the overshadowing of the power of the Most High. Angels and Archangels serve externally during incarnation, without entering into the essence of the work of incarnation; while the Mother of God enters into his very being. For this reason he is honored above all creatures. Due to this essential participation in the incarnation, Her intercession for us is stronger than anyone else. What do we do when we join? We eat the body and blood of Christ. Where does it come from in Christ? From the Mother of God. Work hard, think, and pray. May the Mother of God herself help you, so that your thoughts and feelings exalt Her in your consciousness above every other creature! Now I will turn to the other contents of your letter. O. Hilarion Optinsky told the truth about the works of St. Ignatius, and M. Abbess does a good job of remembering this and passing it on to others. But with sin in Pr. Ignatius is only: a word about death and additions to this word, which form the subject of a critical discussion of them in my book: “The Soul and the Angel are not the body, but the Spirit.” In other articles, I did not notice anything similarly erroneous. His style of writing is just not good. I don’t know why, but not a single article of his, after reading it, gives a clear idea of ​​its subject. It is a great sin for our current church authorities to allow wrong opinions to be spread in printed books, without ordering that they be torn out from there. Those who read them learn to think that both souls and Angels are essentially material. Did the gates to the monastery open for NN? She wrote to me about this. Mother agrees. May the Lord arrange for her! At Ave. Antonia is a dacha? This is paradise, but not because of the dacha, but because Valaam is on the side. This is something to be envious of. Where did they find such a charter about fasting? Where spiritual fasting is spoken of, it is not mentioned that there is no need to worry about bodily fasting, you can do without it, and it is only reminded not to limit yourself to bodily fasting alone. Great Lent and the Assumption are significant, but one cannot conclude from this that other fasts can be turned into non-fasts. One must be completely correct in the church rules, without excuses. Should we pray for suicides?! The Church does not command, how will sons and daughters pray? The idea that one can pray for those who are honored with a church funeral allows prayer, assuming that those who permitted a church burial did not recognize the murderer as having killed himself deliberately. I sometimes think that you can pray at home in your private prayer. But here there is an attempt to show what is more merciful than the church and even God Himself. It is enough to limit ourselves to pitying him, consigning his fate to the immeasurable mercy of God. Akathist Pres. The Trinity is all composed in a special way. There was some old book of akathists; Ave. Innokenty cleaned them up, clarified them and put them into circulation. Why were there no imitators of compiling akathists according to the model in which the akathist was compiled by the Most Holy One? Trinity? Your good friend E. Feofan. November 30, 1893 Letter 584. About peace and worldly affections. The advantage of virginity. About the portrait of Rev. Innocent of Penza. About concentrating the mind in the heart. About the publication of sermons, about health a month before death Tomorrow is your name day, and now I had to write to you. Congratulations and wish you all the best! The days came together just like that. Yesterday I received your letter dated November 25 and there is no need to rush to respond, but you contain one person’s thoughts about the world that can seduce another person, although he is quite firmly in Christian convictions. One advises the beauty to leave the world, to flee from worldly love, and the other advises her to get married. It is not clear what the first advice is based on, but the second is based on the general concept that the world is different: you need to run from one, but you don’t have to run from the other; “There are worldly attachments that are sinful, and there are holy ones. Marital love is love blessed by God. Why distract from her? We must distinguish between the world and the world. Either the scripture says: “do not love the world,” but it also says: “God loved the world.” What God loved, man must love. We must do everything with reason! Are you asking my opinion about this advice? Here. In the words: “do not love the world,” peace does not mean at all the same as in the words: “so God love the world.” In the latter, the world means the perishing human race, which, meanwhile, was dear to God. Because of this, God decided to save him by giving His Only Begotten Son for him. And in the first, of course, that part of the human race that does not want to know God and does not care about pleasing Him; all concern for pleasing himself by satisfying his passions, he does not remember death and does not think about the future life. God does not favor this world and turns away from it, does not love it, and commands people not to love it. Thus, from the words: “God so love the world” it does not follow that we should love the world without any restrictions, but we must add: “excluding that world which God does not love and from which he tells us to flee, or which he commands us not to love.” For if you love this world, you cannot love God, and you cannot save your soul. I am making this speech all about the conclusion that since God loved the world, we should love it too. Now I turn to the disagreement of those persons who were discussed at the beginning. It's not about people at all, but about whether to get married or not? Usually this question is proposed by those who are zealous for the salvation of the soul and want to establish for themselves a way of life that is more conducive to the cause of salvation. This question arose back in the time of the Apostles: girls who came of age and felt the attraction to be with the one Lord expressed reluctance to get married. The fathers, not being able to solve this matter themselves, wrote to St. Paul (from Corinth to Ephesus), what should he do with his daughters? The answer is contained in Chapter 7. first letter to the Corinthians. Its essence is this: it is not a sin to get married, but it is better not to get married, because in the latter case there is complete freedom to please God, whereas in the former there are many obstacles to this. He points out the inevitable obstacles in the family, but the essential thing here is that having committed to family life, it is almost impossible to avoid contact with the affairs of the world, which God hates and which he told us not to love. This hides the destruction of why those who distract girls from marriage (if they embrace this type of life) provide them with the most beneficial service. Start talking about the portrait of St. Innocent of Penza. This is not a print, but a portrait painted in oil paints. I was an inspector in Novgorod, and in the Yuryev Monastery there was a monk (I forgot his last name - one of the magnates), to whom Arch. Photius gave this portrait, and he gave it to me. It must have been taken shortly before his death. There is dropsy in the face. If there was someone there to print it as is, I would send it to you. It is not small, but medium in size. How do we understand the expression “focus the mind in the heart”? The mind is where the attention is. To concentrate it in the heart means to establish attention in the heart and intelligently contemplate before oneself the inherent invisible God, turning to Him with praise, thanksgiving and petition, observing that nothing extraneous enters the heart. Here is the whole secret of spiritual life. My building is definitely special, only it was built not on the ground, but on a former one-story building. It is made of wood, but the outside is lined with brick, and the inside is left unplastered, according to my desire - to live an extra year. Congratulations on finding desert in your apartment without having experienced it before. May the Lord grant you to be settled in it, so that in this dispensation your spirit can remain undistracted from God. Don't worry about NN. If she diligently continues to work on herself, then everything in her will improve little by little, and she will appear to be a real Christian both in spirit and in appearance. Have you read sermons on prayer and been comforted? For those who write and type, there is no greater consolation than to hear that they read and find benefit. After all, there have been a lot of such small books. And all the sermons will be printed like this: under different titles. Some are already printed. I think there are two more brochures left. I don’t send to you in parts. Then I'll send everything at once. Now I should say something about myself, but there’s nothing. I am being treated for kicking legs and, it seems, successfully. But, coupled with this kicking, insomnia does not respond to sleepy capsules. And every night I am on duty for one, two, three, sometimes four o’clock in the morning. Why - either I wake up for a long time, or, without sleep, I am useless for any work all day and, without a twinge of conscience, I lie in bed from side to side. Here's Vyshinsky's ascetic! If the kicking of the legs goes away (for this is the main source of sleep disturbance), then freedom of mental pursuits will return and, perhaps, it will be possible to write something else. Now it’s enough if I sometimes write a letter about a subject that requires attention. God bless you! Bow and blessing to everyone you know. Let NN maintain her character and not succumb to the charms of the sirens singing the delights. Save yourself! P.S. Send a list of bishops, but if my letter finds them not sent, do not send calendars. With the last mail, someone sent me three. NN let him give himself into the hands of God and remain at peace. For who is our God? Letter 585. Failed collections. John the fleeting We were going to St. Petersburg to carry the body of the old woman to the grave while praying for her soul, but it was not possible. God's will! O. John is fleeting, I’m surprised how he endures so much trouble. And the work is saving and the reward is great. God save him! You are covered or removed from the hassle that is inevitable during a funeral. And, of course, you replace them with hassle-free solitude and reverent conversation with God - intelligently, holding yourself as I prescribed in my last letter to you. May the Lord grant you to establish yourself in such a mental appeal to Him, with brief but tangible surges of sobering and at the same time touching fear of God, what will happen? what will happen to us! Your good friend E. Feofan. December 15, 1893 Letter 586. (A week before death). Last congratulations. Rejection of gifts. About Fr. John, Soulful Reading and the death of Archimandrite. Gregory. Letters to Mrs. S.T. Happy holidays! May the Lord grant you all the best in your soul, in your body, and in your external relationships! Your last letter contains a lot of interesting news. Thank you! What you wrote about insomnia does not apply to me. For me, insomnia does not happen on its own, but because of calf spasmodic excitement; When this excitement is driven away, then insomnia will be over. Until then she will reign. I call this spasmodic excitation leg twitching, because this is the end of every excitation. Excitement begins slightly, grows, reaches intolerance, and makes you kick your legs, and this with such force that you can’t hold back. Now the kicking is almost over and has turned into a slight shudder. The remedy is to bandage the legs with a flannel or rubber bandage. The matter is being corrected and I think it will be resolved successfully. The kicking has tamed, but the excitement is not very strong and it drives away sleep. There is some kind of rubbing against the excitement. I think that this will be successful too. I am very glad that N.N. nuns read, but what do they read? “The soul and the angel are not the body, but the spirit,” or “Reminder to the Nuns.” At first I thought it was the latter, and then the first came to mind. - But whatever it is, everything is fine. The cassock is unnecessary. Let the admirer think that I am a great sinner. It's healthier. And your blanket is not applicable to the case. Feel free to show off yourself! Your parcel has not yet reached Vysha. About the healing of Fr. John of Princess Baryatinskaya, someone else wrote to me. I'm very happy about this. God bless! For here is the work of God, and the work of the church for its glory. I receive soulful reading; this is the only magazine where the articles are not clouded by philosophies. O. Arch. Grigory, Inspector Moskov. Academy, burned down. He was assigned to Constantinople. He went, reached Moscow and died. Your good friend E. Feofan. December 29, 1893 Letter 587. Unfulfilled Prayer […] You prayed to the Mother of God to arrange your transfer to another place, if Her permission be granted; and now you complain that She didn’t arrange it. She did not deign to arrange this, of course, because it would have been worse there than here. Therefore, I did it for your benefit. Convince yourself of this more firmly, and you will find consolation, and you will begin to thank Her for not listening to you. Maybe there were tears waiting for you - and tears, and tears. Thank God that the Mother of God delivered you from them. Tears are not from poverty alone, but from all the circumstances of life, both internal and external, which we are not given to foresee. Add to this this: you should not have prayed as you prayed, namely: give and give without fail. Although it was said in words: if there is permission, it was in passing, but in the heart it was: be sure to give it. The enemy picked up on this wrong and in the end so inflamed your confidence in receiving what you asked for that you did not hesitate to expect it. Not receiving it had a strong effect on you. So stop grieving, but on the contrary, thank the Lord and the Mother of God for not listening to you; for the same thing that you grieved and complained about so much, repent with contrition. For these repentant feelings, the Lord will send you consolation. Revealing this to your spiritual father would also not be a bad thing. God bless you and your husband. Save yourself! E. Feofan. 22 Sep. 1893 Letter 588. Humility and patience are the path to success in business and career. About parcels. Letters to E.S.B. He who walks the path of humility and patience is not at a loss. They are the path to lasting success both in business and in career levels. May the Lord strengthen you in these virtues. But neither gifts nor money should have been sent. It would be better if you gave alms to those in need and said: pray for such and such a great sinner. I ask for your prayers! Bishop Feofan. October 20, 93 Letter 589. Instructions for those wishing to enter a monastery Your intention to enter a monastery is a good intention. And do not leave it, but rather warm it up. But when and how to act, this must be surrendered to the will of God, and patiently wait for God’s instructions. When the time determined by God comes, then slide downhill on a sled to some monastery. Until that time, live as long as your home arrangements allow - in monastic deeds. These deeds are: prayer, fasting, doing good. Pray morning and evening. Memorize the morning and evening prayers, and always read them as if in chant, so that the thought can follow the word, and the heart can respond to the thought with feeling. After each prayer, it is good to make several bows with a prayer to the Lord, and at the end of all, you can put a hundred. Everything - slowly, with attention. Then, throughout the day, as long as you can keep your attention on God, the omnipresent and all-seeing God. That's it. Not difficult. But if you perform it with attention, the prayer will develop in power. Fasting is not to eat your fill, but to leave yourself a little hungry, so that neither your thoughts nor your heart are burdened. Doing good. There are many cases of this in the family, and if you can look behind the gate, you won’t have time to do everything. The most important feat is keeping the heart from passionate movements and the mind from the same thoughts. We must look into the heart and drive away everything wrong from there. By doing everything prescribed, you will be almost a nun, or even a complete nun. You can be a nun outside the monastery, living like a monk, and in the monastery you can be a laywoman. So wait! God will arrange everything. The monastery seems like paradise to you. But it also happens to be hard labor. This must be kept in mind. Recently one wrote to me that she fled from the monastery as if from a fire. That's how they snuck her in. And yet she is a faster and a prayer worker, and she does all sorts of good things and is ready to do them. Keep this in mind in advance. Trust in the Lord. He watches over those who devote themselves to Him. Letter 590. To her about trips and wandering thoughts If going out ruins you so much; then we need to stop them. They go out looking for grooms. If you don’t want to get married, then there’s no reason to go? If they begin to torture: why? You say there are some things to do, and you never know what you can come up with. Once you get into society, it’s really hard to behave like a blueberry there. Involuntarily, you will begin to blanch. But sometimes you can give up a lot, for example, dancing, idle chatter, gossip, laughter and the like. But the best thing is not to leave. When they see that you are not willing to leave, they will not bother you. If you really want to be a blueberry, then nothing but good will come from this for you. That thoughts wander is our common lot until they settle down. Thoughts stop boiling when all worldly sympathies fade away. Until then it is impossible to deal with them. How will they go away when you often revive them like this?! A short prayer - or reading a psalm - is a real remedy against wandering thoughts. You need to be well prepared for prayer in the morning. Then the day will be easier. But don't despair! Suddenly nothing is given. Remember how you learned to knit, read, write? How much work was it?! And now all this is ordinary business. So it will be with the soul. Now it’s a little difficult to get along with my thoughts. And then nothing. It will become easy. Just don’t stop fighting them. And keep fighting and fighting. Run to the Lord with all diligence. He's a doctor! His only mania - and all the bad will scatter, and the good will multiply. Letter 591. On the labors of self-correction It’s a good thing that you decided to accustom yourself to monastic life through experiences of selflessness and renunciation of your will. God bless! But do not be afraid of failures and do not be embarrassed by them. Will you miss?! Scold yourself, and next time try not to miss. If you miss again, you will do the same again. You'll get to the point where you won't miss. You can renounce your will at every step. This is an internal matter. Put it down - not to act according to the demands of the body, to please it, and not according to need, and you will find experiences of renouncing your will at every moment. Just don’t be embarrassed by failures again. Let them exist, just do not put aside the constant intention to go against the body in both large and small ways. Getting used to the Jesus Prayer is a very good thing. Work hard and ask the Lord to help you. What if it’s impossible. Read more stories, read what is written in the letters about spiritual life from the 15th letter, and work. The main thing is to keep attention on the Lord; this is also like affirming the memory of God in the heart. Save yourself! God bless your work! Letter 592. Clarification on spiritual life. About departures Wishing you a full Sunday in the spirit. What you experienced in the last Lent are the beginnings of this resurrection. The Lord visited you and brought peace in your spirit. It is He who begins to build an abode for Himself in your heart, or He only examines the place and outlines where to build what, and begins to lay the foundation. Please see in what was with you the embrace of Christ the Savior, with which He appropriates you to Himself. And rejoice, and revere, and accept fear! How did your question about trips come about? If you have your own inner urge, then this is bad. The soul betrays the Lord. You will reproach her for this. And if there is an everyday need for this, then do this: refuse until the last possible opportunity, and when you see that you can’t do it any longer, go somewhere where there is less peace and where there are fewer eyes that can jinx you. And never go out for a long time without praying that the Lord will deliver you from the fear of the ghost, and give you the strength to return home unfogged and unhindered. God bless you! Letter 593. Detection of enemy networks and guidance You brought a good gift to the born Lord, having overcome yourself and abandoned secular amusements and entertainment. I feel like the enemy is laying tempting nets around you in order to somehow entangle you and, tying you with his ropes, drag you into his slum. Take courage and, noticing the attacks of the enemy, take the pose of a warrior and begin the fight against him, calling on the Lord the Savior for help. This is in both big and small ways. The fact that you see yourself as imperfect is good! And always see yourself this way. This fuels jealousy. And what do you say: well, if I don’t make it to the end, it’s not good. If you are the only one going to hold out, then it’s no wonder you won’t make it. And if you place all your trust in the Lord, He will certainly bring you to the end. Don’t let even a hair’s breadth of doubt about it. You need to be more diligent in prayer, and it will teach you everything. Do not pray all according to the prayer book, but rather pray yourself, in your own words and about your needs. You don't need to type a lot of words. And what is needed is to say it with childish simplicity. Letter 594. Travel ban Thank you for your congratulations! What do you wish? I wish you not to go anywhere else, especially to places where corrupting entertainment is obviously offered. So you can completely crash. I am placing a ban on you. Nowhere! And don’t open your mouth about this at home, that’s for your parents; But don’t even allow yourself to think about it! May the Lord protect you! Save yourself! Letter 595. About meetings with men It is very comforting that you celebrated the holiday and spent it with good feelings, corresponding to the meaning of the holiday. May God bless you to spend all your church holidays meaningfully and compassionately; for there is not a single one in them that does not have a beneficial effect on the soul. That the hobby happened, I mourn this with you. But it’s already passed, thank God! Now take some precautions for the future. If you please, do this: as soon as you foresee a meeting with a handsome man, drive your heart further into a corner and do not let him have an outcome. And especially hold feelings and sympathy. The feeling of a man for a woman, and a woman for a man, is natural. But it can always be kept within limits in which it will not shake the good decisions of the will. If you prepare for such meetings in advance, then there will be no excesses in this feeling. Practicing this will allow you to reach the point where you will meet every man, no matter how handsome he is, as if he were not a man. For according to the Apostle, in the Lord the Savior there is neither male nor female. Pray and work at it, and God will bless your work. Temptations are definitely eliminated in the monasteries. And one cannot help but wish that the Lord would arrange this for you as soon as possible. But everything will come in due time. Letter 596. Approval for the adoption of an orphan and instructions on caring for her You have taken upon yourself a good and very good task - to look after the baby. God bless your walk! You worry in vain that sometimes the cry of a child tears you away from prayer, as if from the work of God to a work alien to God. Both are God’s work. God is pleased when His children turn their eyes to Him in prayer, but He is no less pleased when some beloved children carefully rush to look after His other children. So don't be embarrassed. And when you pray, correct God’s work, and while watching the little one, do the same. And God looks at you equally tenderly, both when you pray and when you are busy around the baby. It’s so good that you love your child. Your love directly feeds her soul, and she does not feel the deprivation of her mother. Stay in this position. Letter 597. Instructions on the exercise of God-thinking Try to imitate Magdalene especially in your zeal for pleasing God and salvation. This jealousy was indomitable in her. And from her all the labors and exploits. Make it a rule - right after awakening - to go through with your mind all the works of God, how he created the world, how he provides for it, how he placed our forefathers in paradise, how we sinned in them, how God was pleased to arrange salvation for us through the incarnation of His Son and our God, how He prepared for His appearance, how He came, was incarnated, suffered, died, rose again, ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit, like this Spirit is the Church God established it through the Apostles and protected it with commandments, sacraments and government, showing in all this for us the easy path to the kingdom of heaven, truly promised. Do the same in the evening, and sometimes during the day remember this and thereby disturb your jealousy. There is no better way to do it. Letter 598. About the work of caring for a baby and about getting used to the Jesus Prayer May God bless you to receive Holy Communion. Tain. Good job! About the work of caring for the baby, you rightly argue that it has been entrusted to you by God. And the Lord will reward you. And the little one herself can pay back. When she grows up, she will be attached to you as to her mother, and then she will be your novice, and you will be her elder. Here is the canopy of the future monastery! Work on the Jesus Prayer. God bless. But with the skill of verbally pronouncing this prayer, combine the memory of the Lord with fear and reverence. The main thing is to walk before God, or under the eye of God, with the consciousness that God looks at you, at your soul - into your heart, and sees everything there. This consciousness is the most powerful lever in the movement of inner spiritual life. Of course, you have Letters there about spiritual life, regarding Speransky’s letters. Look often at what is written there about the Jesus Prayer. This is not at first, but it seems from a letter on the 15th or 20th. Letter 599. About entering the monastery I am very glad that the way is opening for you to get out of this worldly environment. Have you seen the Kadoma convent? You should take a look. Maybe you can get a job there. Or let's leave it to the will of God. When the time comes, the Lord will show you what to do. I feel sorry for mothers and orphans, it’s natural. But isn’t God their Father?! Everything will be fine. First you get settled, and then they will come to you. Then, when the baby grows up, he can come to you and live there. Your prayer rule goes. Try not to let a single prayer pass without heartfelt sighs. It is good to be disposed toward prayer through the mind of God. In the morning, when you wake up, there is now this matter, beginning with the creation of the world, and ending with the judgment of God. Letter 600. Harmful air What's wrong with you?! Your well-being is similar to homeopathic medicines. Little by little a smell will pass through the room (for example, camphor, etc.), and everything will disappear. As soon as you smelled the worldly air, everything spiritual in you was already upset. Please brace yourself! And don’t let your heart wander to what is a wasteland. And then, when the child has all passed, then sit down and figure out why everything is so fragile. God arranged for you such a combination of circumstances so that you would know yourself and not think much and highly about yourself, but would humble yourself more and in humility resort more to prayer. Letter 601. About terrible thoughts and the fight against them That passionate thoughts, feelings and desires arise - this usually happens to everyone. This means that the soul is unclean; but there is no sin here yet. Sin begins when someone arbitrarily retains these movements within himself and agrees with them. But whoever, as soon as he notices an unkind thought or feeling, immediately drives them away with anger, retains his innocence. And even the reflection of enemy temptations deserves praise for this, like a warrior who drove away and repelled the enemy as soon as he saw him. Make it a law for yourself - every time trouble happens, i.e. an enemy attack in the form of a bad thought or feeling, do not be content with reflection and disagreement alone, but add prayer to this until opposing feelings and thoughts form in the soul. And always end your battle with sin with this. It's like taking out a splinter. It is also good that you notice the bad and do not desire it. Strengthen your reluctance and disfavour towards passions. This will keep you always ready to meet the enemy as an enemy, which is the beginning of a successful battle. Read more of the word of God in the mornings and evenings. Save yourself! God bless you! Letter 602. Infirmities humble the soul. About prayer grafted into the heart God willing, health will return in all its strength. Be patient. And do not forget to thank God, who humbles your soul with infirmities. If you feel like you're tired of it, drive it away. It is not pleasing to God. Because it means that you are dissatisfied with God’s orders about you, and you want to tell Him. Communion to St. Take care in this post. May the Lord visit your soul and abide in it. That when you pray, you try to delve into every word and say the prayer with feeling, this is the essence of prayer, and force yourself to always do this. But when you pray with feeling, where is your attention if not in your heart? A feeling always attracts attention. There is a busy market in my head. You can't pray to God there. That sometimes prayer goes well, and by itself. This is a good sign. This means that she has begun to graft herself onto the heart. Keep your heart from attachments, try to remember God, acting in vain before you and in His face, help the poor and needy, and your prayer will soon take wing. That it disappears and leaves a cold, regret it. Contrite and pray to God and the Lady Theotokos, may they not allow your warm prayer to fade away. Real prayer is a gift from God! And pray about this. The cooling of the heart is preceded by clinging to something, preoccupation with something, anger and condemnation, discontent and some kind of pleasure of the flesh, sybaritism, and scattered thoughts! Take care of this, and you will be less chilled. God bless your labors on yourself! Heart! Where is life if not in the heart? Letter 603. Exposing the machinations of the enemy It is the enemy who teaches you virtue according to his principles. You are a blueberry; but this is only a name; In fact, you are white. Looks like a sham. The enemy wants to save you from this sin and make you black, so that both name and deed will agree. So he let you in on his hellish haze and soot. It's good that you noticed. And it’s even better that, having noticed, they became defensive. May God help you to wipe off the stuck soot. Contrast your peace with the worries there, contentment with the shortcomings, pleasantness with the troubles, freedom with all-round connections. And turn your heart away from sticking again to what you started and tested. Pray harder, and the Lord will help. But, as you can see, everything is easy here, there is nothing deep, these are just external influences of the enemy, and not temptations lying in the heart. You make a military march to the right, and that’s the end of everything. Your pilgrim Bp. Feofan. Letter 604. About unentertained performance of work. Advice to use your experience as juniors You need to get used to being carried away by work and get used to it and work as you should and not get carried away. Accept every work as God's command; When starting work, pray for the successful completion of the work and, when finished, thank the Lord. The Lord will always be in your mind, overshadowing your work. Instead of bowing, taking you away from work, do this: passion happens at the very beginning of work. Here, first, drive him away with an internal appeal to the Lord, and do not begin work until you drive him away. Do the same thing, and when the hobby appears again, immediately at work, call on the Lord, and keep calling until it goes away. Turn to bows when the passion does not obey, does not go away. God bless young N! What do you know, say without embarrassment when she asks. I think that her questions are not too sophisticated and do not go further than what you have experienced and understand well. God made you know what you know. There is no need to leave this knowledge without movement. Somewhere in the Apostle there is: whoever knows what and does not tell the questioner sins. Letter 605. God's penance So you too partake of the common human destiny - to eat your bread by the sweat of your brow. This is God's penance! Do it according to God, as the Lord has assigned you a task, and in such a way that the Lord likes it, and it will be good, because in this case your work will not alienate your thoughts from the Lord, but, on the contrary, turn and attract you to Him. May God help you to do this. Forgetting the Lord is the most dangerous thing. Inseparable from this is idleness, and in the midst of idleness, idleness always creeps in. God bless you and have mercy! Aren't you constantly in trouble? There are always interruptions. When they happen, do not take on any business, but go inside yourself and try to stand before the face of the Lord! Letter 606. About attachment to the baby and the fight against conceit Your affection for the baby cannot go far, and if it is strong, there will be no harm from it. Good children are the essence of the rank of angels. If it’s a pity to leave it, take it with you. What do you think about it? Look at things more simply. Ask the Lord to keep your heart in moderation. The second ailment - conceit - is more important. Because there is already trouble here, but it won’t happen. To suppress conceit, read - in “Invisible Warfare”. There seems to be a lot of information about this there. Learn, most importantly, to attribute all good things to the Lord as the reason, and to thank Him. This is the beginning of humility! Increase it by indicating to yourself, is there as much good in you as the Lord wants from you, and how much strength has he given you? If you decide in good conscience, you will see that your very goodness will expose you to fault. Is everything okay with you? Of course not. So remember these faults, they will hide the serviceability from your eyes, and there will be nothing to boast about. That they didn’t go to godfathers is nothing. It would be sinful if baptism did not take place through this. But there are many godfathers in the village. Letter 607. Concerning embarrassment before confession and communion I am very glad that you liked the book. God grant that her instructions serve as your guidance! But I am very sorry for the embarrassment you experience. Write about them more specifically. Because I can’t guess what properties they are. In general, St. The ascetic fathers assure that everything that confuses the soul is from the enemy. And pray against him. Pray to the Lord Savior, Mother of God, Guardian Angel, may they strengthen your heart in freedom from confusion. You can bow three times in the morning and evening with a prayer to them, may they keep your soul in a calm state. Drive away embarrassment during confession with the thought that you are confessing to the merciful Lord, who loves you and is waiting for you to tell Him everything. The priest is only a witness. What to say in spirit, think about it at home in advance and say everything calmly. God gives contrition. Ask and he will give. If at home, when you review your affairs, thoughts and feelings, be at least a little sad; then the Lord will accept this as if it were at the hour of confession. Approach the sacrament of communion without hesitation. If you approach with faith in the Lord, present in the Mysteries, with reverence and a readiness to devote all your strength to serving Him alone, then there is no need to hesitate through unworthiness. No one can consider himself a fully worthy communicant. Everyone rests in the mercy of God. And so do you. The Lord loves those who receive communion and graciously tolerates shortcomings in the proper mood of the soul. Then communion itself will little by little correct these shortcomings. Take heart! The enemy does not sleep and keeps walking around, as if to lead someone astray. May the Lord protect you from his attempts. With childlike faith, you hand over everything you have to the Lord in prayer, and He will accept it graciously and arrange everything. Letter 608 Warning to a Woman Falling in Love You did well to discover what happens in your relationship with N. Here's what: you fall in love with N. and if you don't take precautions, you will fall in love and will suffer a lot and deeply. The feelings that disturb you are involuntary - at the beginning, then accompanied by free thoughts; and in this last part the guilt of empty and inappropriate thoughts and feelings lies upon you as impurity and sin. You are doing the right thing by fighting. But you are not fighting decisively with indulgences and concessions. We must act decisively, flatly. Sit down in freedom, look at everything, and decide how to resist what. The main thing is not to let it get to the heart; thoughts come - drive them away with prayer to the Lord with fear; they will come again, drive you away again, and your heart will remain calm. It happens that the heart perceives a feeling before a thought. Then do the same with great fear and tension. Go to the Lord in prayer in your heart, and repeat and repeat the prayer until you push out your feelings completely. Before any struggle, imagine more clearly all the absurdity and ugliness if you allow yourself to get carried away. This stupid feeling is born and matures in strange ways, and the enemy is here to incite it. And here’s what’s good to do: discover the mental, moral, service and everyday shortcomings in him. And use them to shield his face. But this technique is unlikely to succeed. Firstly, it is difficult to notice; secondly, the evil one will present everything in him in the best possible light. Therefore, I think it is better to avoid him. […] If you take precautions, your inner self will soon become stronger. But you don't need to run it. God help you! Letter 609. After calming a dangerous temptation. Fatherly pain about the one being led Are you going to take communion? God bless! I’m very glad to hear that you have become more indifferent to N. Pray to the Lord to completely equalize your feelings in this regard. What I said about […], I said, believing that this is usually done with you; and not as an indication that it should be started if it doesn’t exist. See for yourself! After all, you are no longer little! You can correctly determine what is good for you spiritually. If you can’t figure it out, contact your mother! She is your abbess. By being obedient to her, train yourself to be obedient to your future boss. In this you have a great advantage over others. Save yourself! With all my soul I pain for your spiritual dispensation. Letter 610. Blessing for traveling through the monasteries God bless the path you are about to take. May He allow you to enjoy His shrines and smell the fragrance of the monastery air. It’s very good for you to travel around the monasteries; but we need to find a product. When the trip is arranged, then you need to pray that the Lord will show you a kind refuge. Where the heart lies, there it will be good. It is possible, after all, to lead a monastic life without a monastery, and without monastic clothing. How God will arrange it! […] Letter 611. How not to have fun with troubles. Walking Monastery Thank you for your congratulations. Please accept my fullest wishes for you. The troubles are overwhelming. But it’s good that you notice these things and try to destroy their consequences that resonate in your soul. Try not to be busy with all your soul, but with only the ends of your arms and legs and the same surface of your eyes and ears. Keep your mind and attention with feeling on other objects. It seems that I wrote to you to go through everything with your mind more often, including God’s truths about us. Do this, and your mind will become stronger in unanimity, and then you won’t have to worry about any troubles. N. why envy?! After all, you have a monastery at home. All that remains is to retire inside your chest and heart. Take care of this. And you will be a walking monastery, i.e. solitary […] Letter 612 Instructions on the occasion of a failed trip to the monastery. About a well-bred orphan being raised Are you upset about your trip? In due time, God will arrange it according to His mercy. On Ascension, if the Lord pleases to arrange the fulfillment of your desire, you will ascend the mountain in thought and feeling - to where the Lord sits at the right hand of God. And taste the sweetness of being with the Lord. Staying in a monastery, you think, is definitely good. But when there is a hindrance, be patient. Build a monastery in your heart: for this is the main thing. The Lord is everywhere nearby. I’m very sorry that the orphan is nice, but it’s too early to predict the worst. Maybe it will suddenly change. But perseverance promises strength of will, and this trait is not bad. Can't you manage to influence her in such a way that she doesn't notice that she is being ordered, but does what you want, as if on her own? May the Lord make you wise. To humble you and drive away uplifting thoughts. And also so that you remember more often how stubborn we are before the Lord when, instead of His will, we submit to our own desires, and how unpleasant this is to God. Letter 613. Hands at work, and mind in heaven. Instruction on the gentle treatment of an orphan It is good that, while you are busy with the necessities, you are also concerned not to give up your inner work. Work and seek; and God willing, you will learn how to deal with thoughts and feelings. Also Anthony Vel. put your hands to work, and let your mind be in heaven! He did it himself and taught everyone else to do it. If the Lord gives the consolation of inner peace and warmth, thanksgiving. This is the main thing you should look for. Otherwise it is called: having feelings for God. The greatest thing. Here is the power that organizes everything. May the Lord grant this to you! I stand up for the orphan. Not always a fine. More often - persuasion. It's softer and more durable. The severity is unceasingly harsh and joyless. Indulgences, of course, should not be allowed, but severity must also be dissolved with the warmth of love. I'm sure that's how things are going for you. Letter 614. After Communion God bless your St. communion! You have received the Lord: He alone fills your heart so that there is no longer room left for any creature. The Lord is near! If you sigh for Him, then you will not encounter any spiritual need - insurmountable and unsatisfied. Letter 615. Instructions on Prayer Penance?!! You should have done this yourself. Now that the problem has been corrected, it is no longer timely. The order of your affairs throughout the day is good. Stick to it, and go deeper and deeper into the spiritual. Praying with the thought of what the words of the prayer say is still prayer, only while limping on one leg. Prayer ceases to be prayer when attention moves away from the words of the prayer. When consciousness is at prayer, it is prayer, even if it is unsatisfactory. The feeling will come, but you also have to strain yourself towards it. It is better to do this by thinking about the content of prayers not during prayer, and then stir your heart during prayer. It’s better to pray to God Himself for this, so that he always warms the heart. Also do this: when the whole series of truths has passed, stop at the last point - the court and the court's decision, waiting for the saying: come or go. And in this situation cry out: Lord have mercy! For as the Lord decides, there is no one to change him. About sleep and food. If you want to diminish, diminish little by little, piece by piece and spoon by minute. Work hard! God will give strength! The consciousness of powerlessness is the real threshold to receiving God's help! Letter 616. Blessed work. Soulful fireplace Have you worked on the sick? Blessed work: for here too the consoling word is applicable: I am sick and have visited Me. For this, the Lord visits merciful and willing souls to those in need. And if he sees someone who is sick, like Petrov’s mother-in-law once, he takes her by the hand - readiness to submit to Him - and raises her up. God bless you! The cold got to you on the way! Look, don't let your soul grow cold. Watch, let the candle glow, and let the spiritual fireplace glow. Toss firewood more often, i.e. keep holy thoughts in your mind with sympathy for them and in your heart. Letter 617. About the application of what is read and the affirmation of the heart towards God Read, read! But do not leave what you read only in your memory, but immediately apply it to your work. This will consolidate this - throughout life, and not just in thoughts. It occurred to me to remind you how long ago you read St. Simeon Nov. Theologian? Take some more reading. His words are very exciting. Don't find peace within. It is necessary to generate and affirm in the heart a feeling for God, or every time to generate fear, sometimes hope, sometimes love, sometimes gratitude. Everyone’s attention will stop there, and other thoughts will disappear on their own. The grace of God produces feelings towards God. May this grace always overshadow you! […] Letter 618. Blessing and Instruction for Blueberries Let the light of God shine over your blueberries, and let the warmth of God descend upon the light; Let the fire of God kindle in your heart and melt everything in your nature in a new image, so that a new person will be born and established in you, full of spiritual wisdom and shining with the beauty of all the virtues. Of these virtues, you indicated the very first - humility. May God bless you to succeed in it. Look in volume 2 of the Philokalia, what is written about it and how to succeed in it. This is where it is written about pride and vanity. I remember it is often said there that one must always stick to the last part. You can practice this in your everyday life. To learn to walk before God and to be in the memory of God - God bless. Work, pray, and God willing, this will happen along with the formation of feelings for God. Letter 619. Household chores must be turned to pleasing God - instructions for those preparing to enter the monastery A tireless worker! God bless you! Do not think that everything you do around the house and household is vanity. No; There are commandments for this, and the proper fulfillment of these deeds is among the deeds pleasing to God. Just fulfill everything as a commandment, as the will of God imposed on you. Before every task, call on God for help, during the course of it, turn to God for guidance, and at the end, thank God. And it will be that while you are busy doing housework, it is as if you are fulfilling a prayer rule. If your thoughts run wild when you're busy, turn them back. And as soon as you have finished your work and are left alone, sit down and gather yourself with the Jesus Prayer. Doing this with faith, you will always receive help and success. Sarov, Diveev, Ponetaev! Pray and the Lord will arrange it. I don’t like N. But as the Lord will arrange for you. Where your soul will lie down and you will be loved! N. went to see N.’s sister in Diveev and stayed there, she liked it so much!! Maybe it will happen to you too. Or better yet, as God pleases. Letter 620. Concerning the repose of guests May the grace of the Holy Spirit be renewed in your heart on this day, when the whole church prays for this, and when all those who are ready for this are truly renewed. Look at guests as messengers of God, and like such, try to put them to rest in a Christian way. Do not consider this work and trouble a waste of time. Turn your face to God; He sees everything and accepts it as service to Him. Remember to think about why this happened and what God wants from you by putting you in this position. When troubles become too much of a distraction, do not forget, as soon as you find a moment, to gather inside with the help of a short prayer, or directly praying that the Lord will calm this storm. […] Letter 621. Practical instruction for those preparing to join a monastery. Inner revelation Visiting Sarov, Diveevo and Ponetaev is a good idea. May the Lord arrange this for you! When you enter the monastery, at the very beginning you need to make a contribution, whatever is required (N. must contribute 1:000 rubles, this is not all of a sudden). You will have to do this too. Then leave everything remaining after this contribution in your hands. You cannot live on monastic contents. We need to add something of our own; and this is not for the pleasure of the flesh, but out of direct necessity. If then anything remains, help the poor sisters from it. See what kind of need some people suffer there. I have no illness; and what you have, ask your mother about it. The icon is consecrated. Abide with the Lord. I recently learned from a nun who sometimes hears a voice calming her inside: do not forget the Lord, or do not defile your heart with empty speeches and thoughts. This is what the Guardian Angel is telling her. “But for others, it’s their own conscience and their own fear of God that speaks.” May God help you to always be with him! Save yourself! Letter 622. On replacing church services with bows and the Jesus Prayer God bless you, and grant that St. Communion will be your fellowship of all spiritual blessings. - How you, in preparation, replaced church services with bows with the Jesus Prayer, good. You can do this - and not as preparation for St. Communion, and as a feasible fulfillment of God’s commandment about unceasing prayer, do it every day, with zeal and a warm disposition towards this work. The Jesus Prayer strengthens good dispositions, and disperses and suppresses bad inspirations of bad thoughts and passionate movements. God bless you to practice this. This is truly a spiritual work when done properly. Work hard, don't be lazy. Letter 623. Easter greetings. About bowing at Easter Your thoughts about the resurrection of the Lord are bright, and your hopes for His power are bright. May they abide in you forever, not only during the holiday, but forever. -Stand on guard. Good! You should never leave your guard station. God bless you to be so. You ask about bows. It's as you say. But this is a church rite for the church, in honor of the exaltation and glorification of our nature in the resurrection of the Lord. But in your private prayer you can also bow to the ground if you feel the need. The holy women, having met the risen Lord, bowed to Him to the ground. Letter 624. On suppressing thoughts and carnal temptations Take heart, and may your heart be strengthened, the Lord is near and His help is close. He never leaves with hope those who turn to Him and betray themselves to Him. The way you acted was so kind. And go ahead and act like that. The main thing is to suppress thoughts. When thoughts have subsided, everything else loses its power. As soon as an evil movement appears, now set your thoughts on some sacred subject from the Gospel events - the transfiguration, the suffering of the Lord, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the ascension, and others. This will throw all the bad things back. Or bring to mind, as you do, death, judgment and the consequences thereof. Following this, having established your thoughts on the presence of the Lord, call on Him, just as you speak to someone face to face; - and trust Him for healing, saying: Lord, see what I have. I don’t want anything like that, help me and ward off these attacks, and the like. and begin to say the Jesus Prayer, repeating it with faith. And limiting the entire content of the head and heart to it alone. The Lord has allowed it and is watching what you do. He is the leader; you are a warrior. He is waiting for you to repel the enemy. Do not disgrace His aspirations. […] Keep your muscles and whole body tense; - in line, without letting go of a single member in a sybaritic manner. If you are alone, use a tourniquet or rosary to blow your shoulders until it hurts. This is what most successfully turns the evil slave’s flesh to submission and humbles. From food - everything fatty and highly nutritious should be eliminated during this time, and eat less. You can choose food that is not hot, but cold. Instead of a soft chair for a seat, take a hard stool. To sleep - remove the mattress and lay down one blanket. And cover yourself with something cool. There is less heat in the room. It’s good to freshen up in the air, but also take care of your feelings. Nevertheless, place your trust in the Lord. Stay in prayer. In the Philokalia volume 2 there are many instructions about this. Re-read and remember or write down what comes to you. But never be timid. And no matter the strength of the attack, strain to repel it. The main thing is not to allow sympathy, much less permission or complacency. Sympathy breaks out involuntarily; it must be beaten off and replaced with disgust. Do not stop seeing the enemy, the evil one, in these uprisings, and provoke anger against them. Don’t give up, but keep fighting. The person who gets into the water dangles with his arms and legs and thus prevents himself from plunging into the water. The Lord be your help! No one can cope with this without fighting. And we should have expected it. But it can pass if you arm yourself courageously. For every victory over this gives a crown. It is not profitable for the enemy to deliver crowns; then he moves away and does not attack. – Only natural movements will remain; - but they are then lethargic and powerless and are soon stopped by harsh treatment of the body. Letter 625. About spiritual warfare Good, good! Fight. But never take off your weapons of war. Always be like a warrior on guard, constantly looking around, out of fear that the enemy might sneak in and deceive you in some way. It seems that I have already written to you more than once about how to meet enemy attacks. As soon as you notice something that is unkind, immediately strike it with hostility, hatred and anger. This is the same as throwing it in the chest of an attacker. Then cry out to the Lord, to the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel for help. And don't stop screaming until it's over. And it will pass. Suddenly it never goes away, but after a while. And the whole point of inner life is this: to notice the enemy, give it to his chest and cry out to the Lord. The most powerful and all-defeating sword for a warrior is the skill of the Jesus Prayer. Prayer and all prayers are a sword. But this one, if you get used to it, will be a sword, constantly turning around and frightening enemies. Start practicing it until you get the hang of it. Start with something small: after every morning and evening prayer, if nothing interferes, say the prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. About five minutes. Collect your attention to your heart, standing, with or without bows. There is about this - in letters about spiritual life, about letters about this from Speransky, and in the book: What is spiritual life. Do you have them? Review them again now. And look often. God bless you for this work. Take heart! The fighting will never stop. But everything will become easier and easier, or it will become more and more convenient to overcome it. And experience will increase; so it won’t be difficult to notice and reflect. Thank you for the wonderful air. Now they are put into action. Letter 626. About the nonsense of Leo Tolstoy You did well that you refused to read Tolstoy’s nonsense and do not take it into your hands. Look, read what he has written, this roaring Lion has someone to devour. I forgot to write down that Leo only recognizes the Gospel, and then in a distorted form, like his. Epistles of St. He does not recognize the apostles, nor the fathers and teachers of the church. He has his own mind. Don't pick it up. If you have enough strength, it is better to fast. Letter 627. Domestic behavior of one who is zealous for salvation Congratulations on your acceptance of St. The Mysteries of Christ! May you be saved! Read the Gospel and other spiritual books every morning after prayer. If you have your own corner, then don’t leave it without reading and praying. From this you will have strength of spirit and heart. N has arrived. He'll start chatting again. Don't listen. As soon as he starts speaking badly, get up and leave without saying a word. Be careful not to let any evil thoughts enter your heart. As soon as it seems like something is wrong, turn to the Lord, asking him to drive you away, and he will drive you away. Letter 628. About helping those who take the good path through prayer and advice. Anger and satiety God bless you and have mercy! About N.N. pray that the Lord who began his work in him will complete it. We believe so; but not everything is from the Lord! There is also a share here; namely, not to deviate even in thought, not only in feeling and desire, to the old. Oh, God bless him! Interpret to him that he is as afraid as death of returning to the old way. You are overcome by anger and satiety. Anger is becoming to your honor and not at all becoming to a blueberry. How about satiety? This is not a lordly thing at all. Hence the extra juices, and so on, the road is straight. Read St. Gregory Palamas, and everything in this volume comes to you! Take a deep dive and apply yourself! Letter 629. Temptations are prepared for good warriors by crowns. How sin begins and matures. Temptation before St. communion Take heart! It is no sin that the enemy attacks and fights, and there is no sin in the fact that these attacks shake the soul and confuse. Both are the work of the enemy’s malice, and are directed at his head. He is preparing crowns for you. Every time you repel an attack, win a victory, and as a courageous warrior, you are not condemned by the Lord, but are awarded the St. George ribbon. No one is free from enemy attacks, embarrassment and defeat of the heart. This is how our life works. But this is not to our detriment, but to our salvation. Every kind of evil lies within us - as a result of attack. The heart must be cleansed from this evil. But in order to cleanse it, you need to see it, to see it, you need it to come out of its secrecy. When it comes out, you need to cut it off - with resistance, prayer and hatred. And this is every time evil comes out of hiding. This is what temptations do - from the flesh, the world and the devil. They bring out the evil hidden in us. Our job is to cut it off as soon as we see it come out of the heart. And this is good for us. Just as thinness comes out in a rash, so the evil hidden in us comes out in thin thoughts, feelings, urges, and impulses. How a rash is not pushed inside, but cleaned off; then the internal juices are cleansed. So in the soul, when the bad that is revealed in thoughts, feelings and urges is not hidden inside, but cut off, then spiritual purity is established within. Whatever I say, you do. And I say only so that you know that this is how it should be done, i.e. cut off everything bad that tempts you with resistance, prayer and hatred. God bless you to always act like this. I'll tell you when sin begins. This is how temptation goes. 1) Something bad appears in your thoughts, or the eye sees that what you see awakens unkind thoughts! This is a preposition or an adjective. There is no sin here; for both of them involuntarily attack. If you immediately, as soon as you realize that this is bad, resist it and turn to the Lord, you will do what is right—a spiritual feat. But if you do not resist, but begin to think and think, without resisting, without hating, without turning away; then this is not good. The soul was shaken. There is no sin here yet, but a step towards sin has been taken. There are bad, persistent thoughts. Let them, it’s the enemy’s business. But as long as you do not show the slightest favor to them, but immediately turn away and stand in this disgust, then you are in a good position. So, first of all, are you having bad thoughts? drive - they came again, drive again, and so on without ceasing until they leave. When they retreat, it means the enemy has fled. But he will come again. Then do the same again. This is how the ascetic fathers determined that as soon as someone drives away the first bad thought - an excuse, an attack; then it stops the abuse. But if someone takes up this thought and begins to think about it and think about it, then he will commit the second act of sin - 2) attention to the evil thought or conversation with it. There is no sin here yet, as I said, but there is a beginning for it. 3) The third moment in the fall is sympathy for evil thoughts, it is pleasant to think, and the deed itself is pleasant. There is more sin here, but it is not there yet. This is impurity. And sometimes sympathy breaks out suddenly - involuntarily. 4) The fourth moment in the Fall is an inclination of the will, an evil desire, although not yet decisive. There is sin here; for it is an arbitrary matter. Feelings cannot always be controlled, but wishes are in our power. However, all this is not a real sin, but only a threshold to it. 5) The fifth point is consent to sin or the decision to sin. Here the sin is real, only internal. Behind this, 6) sin will not be slow to appear. And this is a real fall, destruction of the soul, loss of grace, falling under the power of the enemy. So, drive away thoughts without entering into conversations with them, immediately suppress sympathy, destroy wishes. It's all a struggle. And it happens that a thought, sympathy and a wish will all happen at one moment. Nothing. In this case, they all stand like a joke. And the struggle - everything will conveniently drive them away. You have a collection about sobriety and prayer. Find Hesychius there. He describes in detail the struggle with thoughts. Resistance, prayer, hatred. This is our spiritual battery. Regarding St. sacraments, blasphemous thoughts or unbelief - straight from the enemy. Drive and pray. The Lord Himself gave this sacrament, saying: this is My body, this is My blood, and commanded: do this in remembrance of Me. The Apostles began to do this, and from that time this work in the Holy Church did not stop and will not stop until the end of the century. The performer of the sacrament is the Lord Himself. The priest's only mouth is the one that pronounces the prayer of consecration, and the hand that blesses the gifts. The active power comes from the Lord. The Lord is everywhere. And at one moment the Last Supper may be repeated throughout the entire earth. Pray to the Lord and ask for faith. During morning and evening prayers, bow three times, with the words: “Lord, add faith to me, for the enemy confuses me with all thoughts of unbelief.” And the Lord will give. Just don’t stop praying fervently. And diligently reveal all your spiritual needs to the Lord, and He will help. I earnestly wish that the Lord will always show you as a winner. Letter 630. A Word as Carnal Warfare Continues I am very sorry that you still do not find peace from what is tormenting you. But I take comfort in the way you act. That's how it should be. The main thing is not to allow sympathy and not to allow even one iota of sweetness. Then, hostility to this sweetness should follow. When this is present, purity is not violated and there is no shadow of impurity. May God grant you to always be at this level. You must always end with a prayer to the Lord. Review 2 volumes of the Philokalia, all the articles about this passion. There, applying everything to yourself, you will more easily understand yourself, this passion, and how to manage it. Letter 631. Thoughts on the publication of monastic rules and works on the publication of the Philokalia I rejoice that you pursue the enemy with complete hatred. May the Lord, dwelling in you through holy communion, fill you with invincible strength to repel all attacks, both subtle and rude. Enjoy the lightest and most immediate sympathy and pleasure. And lo - there will be real success in battle! I am sending mother N. the charter of St. Pachomia. This charter may be published. If laziness permits, I will review it and ask Afontsev to print it. Now I have no time. I’ll finish the 5th volume of the Philokalia. Then maybe I’ll take up the regulations. For me and Basil the Great, the charter has been put in order or a general overview has been given. And this one might. Let's print it. Everything depends on the favor of my queen, laziness. I noticed typos in the third volume of the Philokalia and sent them away a long time ago. Now they are correctly printed. And we should expect the book to appear soon. I'll send N to mother. Let her not bother. Volume 4 has been rewritten. I’m re-reading the 5th and final one – I’m finishing translating. But maybe it will last until the end of the post. Letter 632. Encouragement for those struggling with carnal passion I am very comforted by your lines! Not on what happens, but on how you feel about it. Yes, yes! Good, good! Read Hesychius about sobriety; what you do is expressed in many ways. Be strong and stand guard. The enemy does not bother to outrage; and we must not bother to resist him. Raise the fear of God; let him not leave. For the Lord is everywhere and sees everything. The body must be subjected to strict soldier discipline. I wrote to you about this at the beginning. Don’t stop not only not feeling sorry for the body, but also tyrannizing it, not giving it food - always stopping eating when you still feel hungry, and detracting from sleep. Some physical labor to the point of fatigue would be good. As soon as the body dries out a little and cools down, then those worries will completely stop. Anxiety comes from juices, and juices from food. When this source stops, there will be no business. Tell the Lord your sadness and the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel, and ask for help. Letter 633. Christmas greetings and instructions. The dangers of carnal pleasures for Christians Rejoice on this joyful holiday. Joy does not come from outside, but from the entire moral and religious order. For us Christians, it begins with the confession of great benefits from the birth of the Son of God in the flesh, with the acceptance of our nature, and grows and strengthens by remaining in the order of sonship to God, through the putting on of Christ the Lord mysteriously in baptism or repentance, and effectively in life. The Lord took our flesh from virgin blood. How, by virtue of the incarnate economy, we are one with the Lord; then a distinctive feature of our Christian character has become virginity - virginity in thoughts and feelings, and in the state of the flesh. Carnal pleasure has become a denial of Christianity within us. And nothing suppresses spiritual joy now like this sweetness. And the enemy whispers as if it’s nothing. I regret that you didn’t get to talk. It seems that this was extremely necessary for you. May He who was born of the brideless and most pure Virgin watch over you. N. is very grateful for the wreath. What a craftswoman she is! Letter 634. On the occasion of a dispute regarding property. On the fight against carnal temptations Where are you going? How far into the distance?! I can’t say a decisive word about your disagreement without knowing the circumstances of the case. But in general, there is no sin in standing up for one’s own, just without getting angry. But what your ownership rights are in this is not clear. Ask which lawyer. And you can give in if it doesn’t ruin you. But of course it would be more willing to do this if there was a need on the other side, or if one could be sure that what was given up would go towards some good cause. As for your inner self, I am very glad that you are fighting. Do not allow sympathy; and even more so until consent. Always pursue with complete hostility from the first movement, just as you meet a snake. If you now deepen your hostility to this, you will soon calm down, and you will be safe all your life. Look up to the Lord every time, saying: Lord! You see what’s in me, and that I don’t want it. Help me and calm me down. It is possible to combine the Jesus Prayer with breathing, as you do. One of the ancients said this. Breathing instead of rosary. Letter 635. A fulcrum in the fight against carnal temptations. Pedagogical Council You have made me incredibly happy that you have finally found a foothold in your war. Always stick to this technique, pursue the first occurrence. To prevent the occurrence itself, keep your body in line, standing, sitting, and lying down, and do not loosen your limbs at all. Keep the memory of God in your soul, with fear. How to allow this in the presence of God? This will cover the entire body with cold. Very glad, very glad! I'm sorry about the little one. Stay with her when she is afraid, or place her crib closer to yours. Something similar happened to N. when she was little. Maybe it will pass. Why punish here? This is an involuntary feeling. God bless you! May the Lord bless you! Letter 636. About the fight against the flesh. Tangled books - in the oven I am very glad that you are finding peace. Now we have seen the tricks of the enemy, and what he is aiming for most. You know what needs to be opposed. May the Lord grant you success in this. You noted well that there should be no connivance or complacency, and that anger must be raised as quickly as possible. We must pray to the Lord for this! The fact that you try to hide what you do in the fight is very good. And here is part of success and the power of work. You yourself have decided to watch and pray. And do this more than anything else. Whatever you experienced from the Jesus Prayer, look for it to manifest itself more often, and finally become almost irresistible. When this action occurs, then everything bad falls away, having no support, and the enemies run away, for for them it is fire. Seek and you will find - humbly and contritely. But there will still be a struggle. Without a fight, a warrior is a bad warrior. And wrestling teaches you everything. God bless you! I'll look through the book. Some Baxter was passionate about Irvingism. This is the sect from which Pashkov is from. I read the first chapter. The thoughts are not bad. But there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion in their course. I read a little and gave up. Patience. Everything is a confusion of words and thoughts. You can put it in the oven. Letter 637. On the movements of carnal pleasure Congratulations on doing shit. May God help you to do this during the passionate season. The fact that you did not succumb to the struggler is a good deed. Stand, take courage, be strong! The fact that you pursue shameful movements with hostility is real protection on your part. Beware of sympathy and desire for sweetness. This desire is sinful, and should confuse the conscience, and then take away boldness before God. Here the engine is just shameful sweetness. In itself, it is not sinful, but sympathy for it, allowing it, agreeing to prolong it is sinful - not a complete sin, but as internal uncleanness. The memory of sweetness sometimes immediately sets the sweetness in motion. If you immediately recapture it, everything is over, the enemy is defeated, and for this a crown. But if a desire to prolong the sweetness flashes through, and then an extension is allowed, then there was an evil will, and the sedentary state of the sweetness is given, and the longer and more often this is allowed, the more difficult it is to drive away. And the whole life will have to break through. So there is an urgent law: as soon as sweetness appears, beat it and drive it away. And so that she doesn’t show up, keep your thoughts away from everything that might remind you of her. Fight! The Lord be your help! I missed your question. Should I stop fasting or postpone it? It depends because it happens here. If one’s own will and arbitrariness did not give either consent or desire, then this is a pure struggle, worthy of a crown. There shouldn't be any question here. We must try our best to achieve this. Or if sympathy and agreement involuntarily breaks through for one moment and then either runs through or is driven away - that’s okay too. In general, guilt is determined by the participation of one’s will. But in any case, it is better not to agree to the cancellation of fasting. Otherwise, the enemy will never allow this to happen. I will, of course, send the third volume of the Philokalia. Letter 638. The guidance of the one who struggles with the flesh continues I wish you spiritual serenity and spiritual Sunday, which is marked by unceasing remembrance of the Lord. Whatever convictions you have learned from temptations, keep them and watch yourself like the apple of your eye. Have enmity and irreconcilable hostility towards the flesh, and pursue its self-will. Don't give her peace in any way. It’s good that you also received communion; holy communion with faith is always saving and fruitful. It’s good that you read the Philokalia. Don't be tired of this. The collection of sobriety and prayer is an abbreviated Philokalia. Mother N. God bless! How long to keep the charter of St. Pachomia? As long as you need it. And this, it seems, will not happen soon. May the blessing of the Lord be upon you! Save yourself! Letter 639. Instructions on the news of the death of a loved one. About gardening It is impossible not to grieve. But by surrendering everything to the will of God, as you are doing, and keeping in mind that in due time we will all go there, we can keep grief from its inherent burning and tearing of the heart. Instead of mourning, study better about this - mortal memory. “Today he, and tomorrow I.” So someone used to say and learned to remember death. And this memory is very instructive. Good job you have! Plant and grow, and at the same time keep the thought of how to make your heart a garden and vegetable garden, multi-colored, fruitful and abundant in vegetables. Of course, now you have more freedom to fulfill your intention. But still, do not forget that the work itself must be done according to God’s instructions. When a work is done according to God’s instructions, then it is accomplished in the same way as someone else is sliding down a hill on a sled. In due time everything will come and be accomplished without noise, crackling, or fistfights. Letter 640. Failed trip to Vysha Rest, pray and receive Holy Communion. Christ's Mysteries. God bless you! I am very sorry about what happened to your mother. But once she recovers, she will of course come to Vysha. Then you can come with her again. It happened, as far as you are concerned, for your personal benefit. The icon was consecrated, lay on the throne during the liturgy, and on it lay two crosses with St. relics. May your heart be filled with reverence every time you happen to look at her. The face is very good! Letter 641. Instruction (in absentia) when visiting Vysha Here we are again! We are very happy. May the Lord give you comfort as before. Then they prepared for St. At Communion they rejoiced spiritually and warmed up. Now rejoice as those who have been granted the grace of Communion. At the foot of the cross, renew your faith in the economy of our salvation - wondrous and marvelous, revive the hope of your own salvation, by virtue of this economy, acceptable to you and accomplished in what is required of you, and strengthen in the decision - to walk in the will of the One who gave Himself for us, in such steadfastness as to remain in it, even if death were threatened. Please read the attached book carefully. This will confirm your determination not to make friends with the world. I regret N.'s illness. God help her to recover. Thanks for the book. Good! But it will be better if you re-read it more often: for the whole work of life is depicted there. Look the disease in the eye cheerfully. But dream less. Various trifles will start swarming in your head. You will fight with just anyone. It's all in my thoughts. Then everything will pass. Be grateful! Surely something dangerous would have met you on the road. So the Lord planted or put you at home. Give thanks to the Lord. But still, pray, may God bless you with your health. God bless you! Happy holiday and forgot to congratulate you! Your grumbling and loss of spirit are a good sign. This foreshadows the imminent cessation of the disease. That the doctors went separately is because, I believe, the disease has changed: it was in the liver and went away. And when you caught a cold another time, another disease appeared - catarrhal disease. This is sickness everywhere now: for influenza is a catarrhal kind of disease. If you don’t feel pain in your liver, then you need to trust the second doctor. However, see for yourself. Your thoughts about your seemingly desperate situation are worthless. It's the enemy who's making trouble. Who can say what will happen? There is only one God, but the enemy, wickedly declaring himself to be God, interferes everywhere with his evil prophecy, and disturbs faith and drives away peace from the heart. Do not listen to him, but stand in the faith that illness is from God and is for your good, and when it has done its work, it will go away, and you will be healthy, and you will serve the Lord in some monastery. Letter 644. To her about celebrating the holidays Thank you for your congratulations, and I congratulate you in return. I really regret that you haven’t recovered yet. May God grant you complete health. Illness, however, teaches humility and submission to the will of God. Be grateful and thank God for everything, in the confidence that everything is for the best, even though it is not visible now. You'll see later. You don’t know what to do or how to fill the holiday time. Celebrate in spirit. Of course, you can’t read everything, but you should read more than usual. Then pray, in addition to your prayer rule; then think and reason about something spiritual. This will take quite some time. And then - to be away from everything with one thought about God - sitting, or walking, or standing, this is much better. I think, however, that it’s possible to do a lot of something easy, not as work, but just casually. Letter 645. To a woman beginning to recover about fasting I'm very glad that you feel better. Be careful not to irritate the pain again. Regarding fasting, do not listen to the doctor, but just ask: what kind of lean food is good for you. Don't ask if you can fast; but say directly: I want to fast, what kind of food. And no matter what he says, do not submit! Is it enough to eat light lean foods? Almond milk soup. Liquid gruel from any cereals, semolina, oatmeal, etc. Tea with the same milk - in the evening. Is a week too long? Some of our monks don’t eat at all all week. God bless you! Eat fish when you are weak. God bless. There is no sin here when it is done out of necessity and not out of whim. And when you begin to fast; then refrain, if you are strong; and if not, then abstain for another day just before communion; Even without this it is possible when there is weakness. I wrote then, believing that you had completely recovered. I kept planning to send N.’s mother the book 4 volumes of the Philokalia. And there she languishes with the desire to read. Guilty! Guilty many times, I apologize. I am sending you this book for her. Letter 647. Recovered woman about spiritual renewal I am very glad that you are finally back on your feet. The recovered person usually feels renewed. I think you had the same feeling. We must ensure that this bodily renewal is accompanied by a spiritual renewal. God gave it to you or indicated it - in the short prayer that you performed then. It occurred to me to suggest to you: take up one short prayer, and do it all, both while doing and without doing, and walking and sitting, incessantly. First you will force yourself to do this prayer, and then it will read itself. Just pick it up and work without interruption. This is the prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. At the same time, keep your attention not in your head, and not in the sky, but in your heart, there inside, under your left breast. “When you get used to it, you will dispel everything that confuses you and call for peace in your soul.” Letter 648. Sick again Happy holiday and happy new year, I congratulate you, and most of all I wish you the ability to take care of your health. Before you had time to write that you had recovered, the disease struck again. I'm very sorry. May the Lord give you the strength to endure illness and be complacent in a serious painful state. The Jesus Prayer can replace all prayers. You should learn, if you haven’t, 24 prayers, and read them often. Through them, meditation on spiritual matters will be supported, and prayer will be warmed up. May the Lord return you to health as soon as possible. And keep it. And shift the chores to another head; Take care of yours until everything within you is strengthened in health. L. Thank you for the napkin. Letter 649. About caring for the sick Although your strength has not completely returned, it still turns out to be enough to care for someone who is sick and not worth such care. But the merciful Lord will not look at the unworthiness of the sick person and will take this care to Himself. And then he will send consolation for that, or complete recovery, or postpone the due reward for the next century. May this be for your benefit! However, be careful how dangerous you are walking. Warm up the cooling spirit; Remember the Lord and do everything in His presence. Hence the fear of God will be our faithful protection. To Moscow - to the doctors - God bless! But what did you say: “not for long - we’ll leave soon”? I will be very happy if this happens. - Lord grant! I wish you all consolation from the Lord! Letter 650. About the 5th volume of the Philokalia I’m very glad that the trip was not without benefit. Help you, Lord, now to become completely healthy - and to become permanently healthy. S. is kind-hearted. For this, the Lord has and will spare her, and will lead to a bright end. God save her! I received her second letter; but haven't had time to answer yet. I'll write. You saw the world more closely, I think you found it no better than B. - There no one belongs to himself, and no one is his own master. And here you are the steward of your inner home and your affairs. Book 5 of the Philokalia is all directed toward inner life. And although he primarily means hermits, only external orders actually apply to them; the inner life depicted there is generally suitable for everyone. Letter 651. After Communion You have good thoughts regarding Holy Communion. The cage is inside. If you are there, the Lord will not be bored with you. Make the effort to engage Him in prayerful conversation, and He will listen without leaving. There you will have a bridal chamber and a wonderful marriage. And behind it is endless bliss. Letter 652. Christmas greetings Congratulations to you too! May God grant you all the good things in abundance! You talk kindly about the meaning of the Nativity of Christ. And your heart responds with spiritual joy when contemplating all this. – May the Lord hear your prayer for the rooting of such joy in your heart, forever. - Think about this and pray. God be merciful! He will hear and give. Be sober and stay awake! Watch and pray! Letter 653. Congratulations on communion and blessing to a little needlewoman Congratulations on fasting and on partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The fruit you have experienced from this will continue until another communion. Pay attention to yourself, and with the Lord before you, surrender yourself to Him. However, not in order to sit with folded hands, but so that, jealous with omnipotent jealousy, one hopes for success from grace alone. – It wouldn’t be a bad idea to leaf through a book about repentance, confession and communion. Little M. is very grateful for her dear gift from her labors. May God bless her to succeed in all her handicrafts and to work with such perfection that it will be inimitable for others. I am sending her an icon of St. Great Martyr Panteleimon, and may he be her helper. Letter 654. Consolation after fasting Having worked hard at fasting, you give yourself consolation. This is par for the course. Only there is less carnal consolation, and more spiritual. And the carnal should be spiritualized through thanksgiving, measured measure, and spiritual understanding. That's what you seem to be doing. In the general course of your life, you see yourself surrounded by God’s mercies more than others - and thank the Lord. Good! This thanksgiving is a strengthening of the possession of these mercies. - Move from the joyful to the expectation of the sorrowful - and also get ready to give thanks: for everything comes from the Lord for our good - eternal. You notice quite a few weaknesses and shortcomings in yourself. – Thank the Lord that you notice. This remark is also that something heavy is attached to something light, like fluff. This heavy does not allow the light, for example: fluff, to rush through the air and rise upward. And the consciousness of weaknesses and shortcomings does not allow the soul to soar and rise in conceit. Help you, Lord, in this: for conceit deprives you of God’s help. Letter 655. Encouragement and feedback on everyday matters May God help you to stand in the order of internal activity, in constant resort to God, in the constant memory of God, and in everything else required of someone who wants to please the Lord well and save his soul. Have you ever done things similar to those for which you are now going to Sh.?!! Here's a taste of what it is. Be patient. But maybe you will be so happy that everything will happen quickly and without interference. The poems you wrote out are good. They were written by a soul full of warm faith and strong hope in the Most Pure Mother of God and our Lady. Letter 656. Practical Warning We didn’t go to Sh. – it’s not a big problem. And if you don’t have a bill of sale, that could be a problem. This gives the idea that your loan is not formalized, but is in words. Words are water. God save you! Regarding your internal state, be strict. The subject of your war is the most expensive and most necessary. Everything stands on it. – That there are attacks is in the order of things. Our job is to stand and resist. Letter 657. Life advice I think that moving should be left until time. And endure, relying on the will of God. “It would be possible to change the ticket if this could put an end to all the unpleasant things.” – But who knows what’s ahead? – Maybe there will be something there that will require another ticket? And so on. Save your tickets. This is God's gift to you. With them you can always have a corner with at least one window and a loaf of bread with a mug of water. I think it would be better not to touch the meadows either. Do they still give anything?! And they are also God’s gift for food. “If necessary, God will deliver you from cramped conditions without that.” May the Lord arrange your affairs! Your fears in prayer are the enemy’s trick. Spit on them. And stand courageously. Letter 658. About the statutes of St. Benedict and Basil the Great You indulge in laziness. - And an extract from St. Benedict was made about jealousy. – If all sorts of other extracts and proofreadings also lazily come into play; it will be a long wait when you move forward. I forgot to ask you, when sending the manuscript, to ask Mother L., on what occasion the charter of St. Venedicta occupied her attention. – Ask when you write. St. Benedict wrote the rule for the Westerners. For us, the charter of Basil the Great. It has long been translated along with other writings of this father. It wouldn't hurt you to have it on hand. He is very spiritual and encouraging. And it brings you into the very midst of ascetic deeds. Letter 659. Useless reader. About life at the monastery You did well that you undertook to read St. Simeon. - This is the most sober father. So your bookcase is reading books; and you only sometimes look at them from the outside. - No, you all re-read them one after another. How much good is there in the books of the Philokalia? -Re-read them. These are always new books. - Living at the monastery is a good deed. May God help you find a place. - There are such houses. – In other monasteries, some hotel rooms are available for rent. Anything is good. God help you! God's blessing be upon you! Letter 660. About the writings of St. Basil and John Chrysostom. Our idols (passions) Good - good! – Read and re-read. This book by St. Vasily is the one you need most. But all his others are wise and highly edifying. You'll see! With him, speculation prevails. At St. Chrysostom is more cordially and persuasively with simplicity of speech. You did well to write down all the parts of St. Vasily. When you receive the books, you will find an advertisement there about other Fathers who can be received from them. Little by little we need to collect fatherly instructions. I think it’s too early to worry about the manuscript. M.L., having received it, asked for it, and forgot about B. I don’t need the manuscript; As long as it doesn't turn white. admonishing you regarding idols is very saving. Every passion is an idol. And every addiction to something, although not sinful, is also on the idolatrous side. Take a closer look and don't spare. Gluttony is the ugliest idol. With the worship of him, destruction begins. Letter 661. Indulgence of passion and reproof for it Your conscience rightly torments and threatens you! If you please, get up and get to work. Sympathy left unrewarded means consent to impurity. Consent is an internal sin, cleansed by confession. And please do so. Then watch. – You know what is required. Fight back with anger and prayer. – Tie a thick rosary, and around the shoulders – quite painfully. Your indulgence is the same as if the bride, after getting engaged, kissed a guy, not the groom. Whatever the groom would do with such a bride, the Lord does with the soul that has promised itself to the Lord for such an indulgence. Conscience expresses His feelings towards you. Beware! – One of the shortcomings of the 5 holy fools was this indulgence. This indulgence cannot be joked about. It seems light and insignificant, but it is all destruction. Please completely wean yourself off this. And at the first appearance of a thought, drive away mercilessly, until you sober up. Thank you for the rosary. I am enclosing a punishment rosary. Now make use of them. - This and books for L. Letter 662. To the question about communion with little preparation. On influencing others I am very glad that my word: behold the groom, stirred you up and gave rise to good thoughts and intentions. At the door, and the time is ripe for their fulfillment. You can take communion. Make up for the lack of fasting now with fasting later, and especially with inner feelings of contrition and desire for the Lord. This short internal and external effort will allow you, according to your faith in the mercy of the Lord, to boldly approach the Holy Mysteries. However, if there is a lack of boldness in faith, and, on the contrary, some reproach is heard within, then it is better to postpone this holy work. Soon, after all, you can be worthy of this at home. I'm making this note just in case. But it is better if, through your faith and the desire of the Lord, you are inspired to boldness. Generally speaking, we will never be able to fully approach the Mysteries. We are always covered with hope in the immeasurable mercy of the Lord. Let L. turn around. But write to her so that she doesn’t get too carried away. Manage to persuade M., but do not threaten, bring to her attention how best to act; then she will act as if on her own. It’s good that you are helping I.Iv. in his spiritual pursuits. Slowly learn everything. Patience! Letter 663. About knowing the measure of your perfection Congratulations on your last name day. They did a good job in giving the orphan the Holy Mysteries. The book of Philokalia is being sent. Please read and re-read. Everything is here for all occasions. What does your soul look like? – If you do not waver in faith, and keep in your soul a strong desire and search for salvation; then undoubtedly your soul stands on the side of light. And thank God! – To what extent she became enlightened is inconvenient for us to guess. And the Lord does not allow us to see this; because we will now eat ourselves out of sight, i.e., by becoming vain, we will lose the light. Letter 664. Practically - wise advice about money God bless your arrival in the abode of the blacks! Black on the outside, but light on the inside, or seeking inner light. – May the Lord give you inner enlightenment, through confession and St. Communion. May God grant your little one to breathe the spirit of meekness here. Stock traders are unreliable people. They all see golden mountains; and meanwhile everyone is losing and losing. - And don’t hold back. It's the same as gamblers. Is he telling the truth that he is buying an estate?! - How would it not happen that he takes the money and lets him through?! With the right security, it would be possible. But where is it? – I missed mine; there is nothing new. – If faith is in the wind. If there is no provision that is tactilely correct, do not provide it. Where will he get to the general? The property will not give anything by this time. He really thinks about pawning when he buys. - I don’t see anything right. Let him look where he wants. Letter 665. About to visit a monastery God bless your path! Fearing distraction, you prepare in advance to be sober. Be good! God help you with this! Take a closer look at the monasteries along the road. “Maybe it will actually be convenient for you there.” “It will be better to start with your sister, who is already familiar with the procedures.” Only self-sacrifice and trust in God. Shouldn't you stay there for a few days, or weeks, or for the entire Lent? It’s not surprising that you’ll stick completely. After all, you have to do it sometime. God bless! Save yourself! Letter 666. Preparing for Communion God bless your arrival! Your intention is good to confess and receive Holy Communion. Christ's Mysteries. Take the trouble to carefully determine what should be stopped and discarded, and, having made a vow to this, testify to strictly fulfill the decision. – And the peace of God will be established, and especially an undisturbed view of the Lord during prayer. What riddles are you making, God bless them! Why not to L.? L.’s mother sent a manuscript, and doesn’t remember anything else. Meanwhile, it is not useless for her to review the charter of St. Pachomius, after whose example all the statutes followed. Letter 667. In view of the upcoming temptation Be grateful! God be merciful! He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength. - Restore your hope - and surrender yourself and everything you own into the hands of God, and into His merciful care for us. If the Lord pleases to send you this test, stock up on courage for such a case, and be ready to face it, as befits a Christian who has decided to show herself to be a true Christian in everything! Letter 668. And in Moscow you can maintain privacy Congratulations on the new product. You regret the rural solitude. One would regret it if they moved to a small town; and in Moscow it is more convenient to maintain privacy even more than in the countryside. Everyone there is busy with themselves and doesn’t care about others. The streets are full of people; but you can walk through them as through the desert. Just don’t touch anyone yourself. Don't look for acquaintances and entertainment. The soul then, without being exposed to a variety of impressions, will carry on its own thoughts with itself, chew the cud. God willing, in time you will meet a like-minded friend, and with her you will block the door from others. - However, there’s a peephole for everything. You must maintain yourself everywhere, and everywhere this is work that requires struggle. Zeal for what is due, when present, will settle everything. The fear of God and attention are protection and peace. Repeat the Jesus Prayer always – always, with faith and hope. Letter 669. Upon moving to Moscow Congratulations on your safe move and pleasant arrangement of life in Belokamennaya. God bless your stay there - may it be peaceful, quiet, healthy and always comforting. That the church and monastery are close is God’s great mercy. School will be good for you if you go to school early every day. Or how it will be possible for you. A quick pilgrimage to V. and A. smiles upon you. May God grant you to breathe the holy air there. Bow to Mother L., full of good wishes and God's blessing. – Well done I.M. for passing the exam well. I really regret that such obstacles opened up on his way, and he went out - obstacle course. All the more praise if you kindly jump over them. It is very beneficial for him that he will be with you. Keep him busy with good reading. He would do some handicraft! Carpentry, turning, carving, sawing, the healthiest. N.I. I wish you to recover and get stronger, and then be content in a pleasant environment. We are busy with the monastery. Everyone is preparing for the consecration of the church; but the time has not yet been set. My health is fine, and everything is going well with us. Letter 670. After completing her pilgrimage, she aspires to the monastery. Home novitiate May God help you to shake off the dust that has accumulated during your journey. You begin the usual pious activities, and your soul will return to its previous mood. Did you like A. monastery?! Well, get ready there. – To be strict, it shouldn’t terrify you. The people there endure it?! You too can endure it. You can get used to everything. And what may be hard at first, will eventually fall in love and become easy. Think, think about it. But still, pray to God to arrange this matter for you, and it will arrange itself by itself, just as it did for your relative. Now go about your business for now. After all, you are also in obedience at home. We need to put mother to rest in every possible way. She is the abbess, and you are a novice, well, perhaps, the treasurer, and only the little one will remain obedient. “You didn’t say anything about the baby.” – Where and how did she stay? Have you seen her sister? And what is it?! Letter 671. On the dispersion of worldly impressions I would like to thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. You seem a little shaken by the journey. If yes, it’s a bad recommendation! But I hope that your inner structure is stronger than it could be shaken by such trifles as a trip, or what happened to be seen and heard in passing. It's my own fault. And I forgot to remind you that impressions that do not agree with the system you have adopted should be erased immediately - immediately as received, without delaying until the evening, much less for a further period. The point is simple: go to the heart where the impression remains, push it away with displeasure towards it, and at the same time pray to the Lord against it. - And be like that until it passes. It's just a minute. If you please, at least make this a rule for all cases, both large and small. Talk - God bless. Read a book about prayer and sermons about repentance. Letter 672. Advice on raising a girl Communion to St. Tain is always good. If you have time, God grant you salvation. May it bring you a rich treasury of good thoughts, good intentions, and holy feelings. The girl needs to be taught. Every time bad things happen, explain to her how bad it is, and add that that’s just what peasants do. Whoever sees you will say: here is a young lady, but she is no better than the peasants. Sometimes fine by not giving her something she likes that day. But never show anger so that the child can see that you are doing this out of love alone. Letter from A. beauty - I’m returning it. Take one brochure from your mother, keep it in your bosom, and look through it often. Letter 673. Warning to a visitor to monasteries God bless your stay here. Refresh yourself a little with the monastery air. You are eager to see the monasteries. Good impulses! But prepare yourself. After all, in monasteries it’s not all heaven. There is a land - and it is not very kind. The sky is hidden in monasteries. You have to be able to see it. I remind you of this, so that when you have to stay in monasteries, you do not conclude from what you immediately see about the general character of the monastery. Chips always float on top; and what is heavier sinks to the bottom and is not visible. You do well that you subordinate your desire to get acquainted with the monasteries - to the course of your affairs arranged by God. And always be so disposed. Letter 674. Parting words for those seeking a monastery. Oh composed. O. Joanna I rejoice in your joy at the near fulfillment of your long-standing pious desires. But together I ask you to pray more earnestly, so that the Lord will direct your path, and enlighten your mind to see what is good, and dispose your heart to sympathize with it, and revive and confirm good intentions accordingly. Father Fr. Summon Seraphim so that he can take care of you there. There you will meet fellow countrymen, and if you know them, then you will also meet acquaintances. I wish that they will bewitch you, so that you will not want to leave there. Do you know who the countrymen are? N.N., N.N., and N.N. Bows to them. Maybe there are others. It's good that thoughts about. John enlightens you so much. I called them the fragrant morning spring breeze. – Read them not just once, but several times to get everything out of there. Book – Miterikon; I also sent them several copies. Letter 675. After completing the journey. The best remedy for inner peace. About education at school I congratulate you on your fruitful performance of prayers! How much animation! How much excitement of hope! - And there’s a place for you. May God grant that I can fit there by doing, and not by thinking alone. “And the old woman is ready to take over leadership.” Just get ready and be ready to obey. Or you will not begin to lay down the rudiments of obedience when you have been in it all the time. – You imagined monastic life as it is. What peace it gives! What joy it fills your whole life! - Paradise dissolved! - If you had time, I think you would miss D. But you have no time for boredom. And this is from God. Thanks be to Him! You say the truth that surrendering yourself to the will of God is the best means for serenity of heart and inner peace. And don’t get out of this formation. It’s good that it was imagined and felt. Because one can only think and guess about it. M. to school. Of course it is necessary. Rather, he will become close to school life and spend time in it unnoticed. Don’t frighten her with school, but show her in such a way that she sees paradise there and begins to strive for it; and insist on one thing, that you just need to obey and learn not to be lazy - learn everything. This will be good preparation for her. Letter 676. When visiting Vysha We were looking for the Highest, and we found it! Thank the Lord! But why are you limiting yourself to using the Highest only externally - inspiredly, and not internally, like your companions! And it’s not a bad thing if it’s missed. Learn in the desert to create deserts in your heart, so that there is only a clean atmosphere and a bright sun, i.e. the heart is pure and the memory of God. And under your feet the earth is solid, a strong determination to be saved and to please the Lord. Letter 677. Contrition and humility of heart Work hard on yourself, and God will help you become stronger. – Have a goal - a contrite spirit, a contrite and humble heart. When they are there, it means you are in the right mood. These feelings must be constantly present in the heart. And then the protection of God - and in all spiritual well-being and success. Then attention to God stands firm, and the memory of God never fades away. Vaughn I.I. is thinking about doing the Jesus Prayer. Help him in this matter, and be an old woman to him instead of an old man. Letter 678. Stirring up cooling jealousy It's good that the fight is going on. There will be grief if it stops. And it seems that this is what is happening: for if jealousy has weakened, and nothing is done to maintain it, then it will completely go out, just as a lamp goes out when no oil is added. - It’s good that you foresee this yourself and are afraid of it. – If you are afraid, you cannot sit with folded hands. Gather yourself and collect together all the exciting Christian truths known to you, starting with creation and ending with the Last Judgment, and how everything will end for eternal immutability, either good or terrible. Together with this, pray to the omnipresent Lord, so that with his beneficial influences he will awaken the soul from dangerous falling asleep and drowsiness. God bless you! God bless you! God bless you! You cannot sleep when there are evil enemies around, seeking to destroy and devour. Thank you! You comforted me a lot, informing me that you awakened my sleeping soul a little. Tease and torment her again and again. Keep the image of the state of the soul, as Isaiah the hermit says, in your thoughts and draw inspiration from it. The enemy takes part in all our bad things, flattering, threatening and deceiving with promises. All this takes place in our thoughts. Imagine this: to the right is the Lord with true gifts; to the left is a flattering enemy with the evil intention of devouring you. Or this: on the right is a paradise of true sweets, on the left is an eternally tormenting hell. And determine your inclinations of will! The orphan is smart. Thanks for the towel. The work is good in summer. Letter 680. Warning to the Dreamer. Icon of St. Great Martyr Barbarians as a blessing You are triumphant, in the hope of some good. May your hope be fulfilled! Fly somewhere as if on wings, and your head is filled with plans. – Has it ever happened that such plans came true? It seems no one can boast of this. - And everyone dreams. And you dream. Dreams flow in a string, and the enemy stands on the side and throws out his hints. Be careful. The enemy is opening the door to the future wide open. And the Lord will narrow the passage, and the very path to come. Get ready to meet the Lord, may your inner life be satisfied. Do you want an icon?! Here you go - St. Barbara the Great Martyr, deliverer from unexpected death, and from all accidents! May she be your guardian. The poems are very good. I enjoyed reading it. Letter 681. To the one who loves to attend churches. Comparison of monasteries I hear that you have a lot of churches there, and that you don’t let them miss you, but always rush to one or the other. But you yourself, when you return home, will miss them. However, this will not be a reproach for you or the churches - the churches that were able to leave such a deep impression - you that were able to succumb to such a good impression and remember it, or constantly remember it. What did you like about living there? – Is there a place where you would be willing to settle down with pleasure?! – I thought that this would happen, although I always preferred and still prefer D. Here in D. there is peace and detachment; and there (in A.) the world does not only look out all the windows, but also climbs in and offers its services. Let us surrender this subject to the will of God. As He arranges it, so be it. I wish you all the best, health and joy. Save yourself! Letter 682. Attacks of the enemy before fasting It was very beneficial that they fasted and received Holy Communion. May this be your salvation and the acceptance of God’s power to resist. That you experience attacks, and especially when you decide to speak, is an enemy’s trick. He tries himself to either turn away from the shit, or spoil it. – But when they resisted and did not yield, then this is a sign of victory, not defeat, and not only does not interfere with the approach to the sacraments, on the contrary, it serves as the best decoration of this work of God, i.e. Communions. – You did well that from the very first appearance of the attack, you rebelled and resisted. And always do this, as soon as it appears, immediately there is resistance, rejection, hatred and prayer. – If a secret voice says that permission was allowed for thoughts, this must be cleansed through repentance and contrition with a firm determination not to give in any more. - It’s not a problem that attacks, it’s an invitation to the crown. The problem is the concessions. - May the Lord arm you! – The Jesus Prayer is the first and all-powerful weapon. Don't let him out of your hands! It’s very nice to hear that despite the many things you like about A., you still prefer to choose D. for your settled life. And I have the same thoughts. Father o. Seraphim, if he looks at you kindly, then you have nothing more to desire. In this alone there is complete provision for you for a soul-saving life. - The whole point, however, is not from the place, but from the structure of the heart. Do not let anything astringent into your heart, and try to be a bird, not in a cage, but living in freedom, and always able to soar high without hindrance. - May the Lord watch over you in such a formation. - But living in the world, with all the caution, you look, there is a burr, there is a burr there. And stand there, plucking them and throwing them away. You have always been attentive to yourself and your paths. And henceforth, be careful how dangerously you walk. Letter 684. To reduce worries about the pupil I am glad for you that you saw a lot of edifying things and used them all as they should. And I am glad that not a single place has bewitched you and D remains reigning in your soul. You are spreading your wings - because from now on you will not have an astringent concern for M. Her card seems that she has an independent spirit. May God grant her to study and learn everything, not only sound knowledge, but especially handicrafts and housekeeping. You mentioned inner life. Yes - it is now in your hands. It's good to see; but using this requires other cares and labors, no less than those given by M. May the Lord enlighten you. By reading, update your knowledge. Read the 3rd section of The Path to Salvation, or What is spiritual life. Both of them depict the whole picture of spiritual life. The Lord, who is everywhere, may be seen in your mind. And this very vision will exude bright thoughts and decisions about pleasing God. Letter 685. Easter greetings I wish you all the best in these days, and for their sake, in all subsequent ones. The Lord is always sweetness, joy, and peace! - Manage to always be with the Lord, and you will always celebrate a bright Easter. You can see for yourself what is required for this. - All that remains is to do what is required. But never allow yourself to scream: it’s just trouble! Attention, - self-resistance, - appeal to the Lord Savior. Here are all the weapons for you! - No enemy can stand! Letter 686. On remembering death You learned a good lesson from toothache. Harden well. Teach yourself to think and expect that death is about to happen. Attach such a thought to something. One old man accustomed himself to such thinking by constantly looking at the door, expecting that that very minute it would open and death would appear. And thus he always maintained in himself the fear of God and careful looking after himself. You can do this too. N.N. God had mercy and gave her the strength to stop at one thing she needed. She always had a contrite spirit, but there was no constancy; and now she’s holding on, it seems for three years now, and she’s keeping everything around her in order. God save her! No matter how you eat it out of sight. - There is now a whole boarding house of your beauties in A. N., N., N. God grant that they turn out better than each other! Letter 687. Lesson on the Day of Transfiguration. Good shoots I congratulate you on the Feast of the Transfiguration! – Look at the Savior and learn how to transform yourself from strength to strength. He was transformed for us, and He Himself is always in an unapproachable light, which the incarnation did not diminish in the least. Plant the fear of God deeper within yourself, and he, taking the reins of your inner man in his hands, will direct you in the footsteps of the Lord, to acquire the bright glory promised to us, driving you with the whips of mortal memory and the memory of judgment, in which no apologies are accepted as reasonable. M. succeeds, this is based on the basis you laid down. The products are there, and the competition is there. N. wrote that she also intended to hand over her O. It will be paradise for them there. Do you know M.P.?! Don’t judge her because of how she proved herself when she was with you. “She’s quite a saint now.” Letter 688. Be patient with the Cossack. Variable air Thank you for your birthday greetings and well wishes! God bless you! You concluded your lines: “In the meantime, be patient.” - Yes, be patient, Cossack, you will be an ataman. – Keep this promise in your thoughts and heart, but in other words, gain your soul with patience – i.e. save. For he who endures to the end will be saved. Who is this? Who, despite the opposition to his good intentions from the everyday situation and the entire external flow of life, follows the path steadily according to the way he decided, with the sole purpose of pleasing God. - You know this, and as you write, create. - And thank God! The monastery air influenced you well. Once upon a time does the Lord favor you to start breathing it forever? But then, perhaps, sometimes it will turn out to be not completely well-dissolved. “But let everything be God’s will.” – You fight with your appearance for your inner self. - Good! - And in the evening, sit down and go through everything - and figure out whether it’s possible to fight more successfully with something else! Letter 689. Two paintings. Praise to Suzdal masters St. John the Theologian reveals before the gaze of your mind two pictures - one - of a much-turbulent world, indicating what it is busy with and how empty those objects are, and on the other - God, rich in mercies, Whom we do not see, but we have the opportunity, through the power of love, to have Him in ourselves, and without seeing Him, and without knowing Him, to know with our hearts more perfectly even than with our minds. May the Lord give you this goodness, and may he increase it in you. – It’s very good to have a picture of death and judgment before your eyes. You probably know someone in Moscow. Ask to buy only Suzdal craftsmanship, not pictorial drawing. Those are better; for the matter is presented more accurately and impressionably; and skillful drawing is better for the eyes, but for edification it is of no use. Seek edification in everything and turn everything around you into a book and read it with your eyes, for it is not our letters, but printed in its own image. At St. Tikhon's four books were printed in this way. Letter 690. The hero and his armor I admire your heroism in refusing to participate in marriage festivities. There could be a big enemy hidden here. But the Lord delivered you from everything, giving you reason and strength to refuse. Your skill in the Jesus Prayer is the same as armor or armor. This prayer alone is a spiritual weapon, suitable against any attack. Clothe this prayer with humility and strong trust in the merciful God and our Lord Jesus Christ, who wants to save everyone and will soon save everyone. When trust in God is strong and prayer is strong, then the enemy has no access. St. Isaac the Syrian in one place depicts such a state as an impregnable heavenly overshadowing, which the enemy is afraid to approach, because he will be scorched. May the Lord bless your efforts on yourself with good success. In the psalms it is sung: all the glory of the princess’s daughter is within. There may there be all joy and all consolation for you! Letter 691. Beehive of sweet honey. Letters to N.M. (continuation) I rejoice with you that during the past Lent the Lord gave you to taste the sweetness of being in the church of God during divine services, and that he allowed you to be there in a good mood of spirit. There are old women who, having found a comfortable apartment near the church, then only know that the church of God and their hut, and they are blissful. I often had to advise the same way of life to some who wanted to spend their days peacefully. You see what the church gives if you listen to what is sung and read there! “Please get to this hive of sweet spiritual honey more often.” Reading Macarius Egypt. Truly he is a sea of ​​spiritual wisdom. And after him, find Isaac the Syrian. Letter 692. Reviews and answers to various questions about spirit. life Now it’s clearer what’s going on there. – After you moved to Moscow, the tempters around you had no influence on you. This is the great mercy of God. The grace of God did not allow your heart to move even a hair in that direction. “What your son said on this occasion, I think he said because your relatives taught him, that you did not listen to him or your relatives, did well, here is the fulfillment of your prayer: weigh your fate. Your heart demanded to do some good, and you did it. Unbeknownst to you, it has brought you a lot of spiritual good. God bless! Don't shy away from such cases. In them, the Lord addresses you, so that he can reward you here later. - Speech on this occasion is from your spirit. I can’t understand my father. - Don't look at his words. Your confessor refuses to guide you. This is good faith on his part. – Respect his wishes, and seek a leader. But since he does not want you to move away from him completely, you also talk to him about spiritual things, which he is always happy about, as you say. Conduct spiritual affairs according to the instructions of your leader, and have confession and communion with him. But where to turn for a leader?! If Father A.A. pays attention to you. is due in time to the failure of your spirit. father from the leadership, then it occurs to me to recognize this incident as an indication of God to the leader. Contact O.A. - I think it will be good for you. – But see for yourself. Your spirit. the father expressed displeasure, why did you accept what was offered to you by the Athos people. – Having given up leadership, he should no longer interfere in your affairs. “But even without that, you did nothing bad in this circumstance.” I am very pleased to hear that my books are of some use. I am a big sinner, but I’m lazy to pray, and I’m not keen on other feats, so those who read will pray and appease God. – Pay attention to letters to different persons. They started like this, and then they all went to one person, and I had to say a lot of things that were useful for everyone - maybe something that would be useful for you would be found. You love to pray internal prayer and want to learn how to do it. – Pray harder and learn. Read books about prayer. There is a collection about sobriety and prayer. Great teachers on how to pray are collected here. And adopt it for yourself. – You say that you always try to remember the Lord and do everything for Him. This is an excellent prelude to success in prayer. Take care of this in every possible way. See the Eye of God established above your heart and looking into it, this will not allow any spirit to approach your heart. – Attention to the Lord and attention to the heart are inseparable. One helps the other. Taking communion often is very fruitful, and do so. Who's stopping you? – You like to stay at home. Wonderful. There is a rule of the elders: sit in your cell and it will teach you everything. In the cells, the fathers order to pray, read, do handicrafts, moving from one to another. Settle in this way and you will live as in paradise, master over yourself and over all your affairs, and then over your thoughts and feelings. The main thing here is to learn to always be aware of what you need. Should I go out? - Go out, but only to church, and also for urgent matters, but you will find a leader and solve everything with him. He will also tell you how to deal with idle visitors. I wrote to you to set a time for various spiritual activities, and now I say, do whatever you want, just don’t sit idle. The Jesus Prayer cannot be sung. Work hard and you will prosper. - Keep attention to this in your heart, and set in motion reverent love for the Lord. Prayer - on the lips when waking up there is a trace of a good dream. - This is good. Be afraid of charm. We must be afraid. But avoid the fundamental charm and other places will not exist. – There is a fundamental charm - to think and even worse to feel that I am something, whereas I am nothing. I call this self-price. Hear this and take this price in itself - your first enemy. “Don’t let him get inside, otherwise he will destroy you.” This is the Apostolic lesson: he who imagines himself to be something, worthless, deceives himself. If you decide to write, always include the address. Letter 693. Answers about communion, a confessor, a restless brother, entering a monastery, the jokes of the enemy, replacing a leader and secret tonsure Thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. I congratulate you too, and wish you all the best and joyful things, and above all, success in your spiritual life. God bless you for this. In this congratulatory letter you only remember the communion of St. The Mysteries of Christ with their beneficial effect on you - and about the Jesus Prayer. Receive Holy Communion more often, like the spirit. your father will allow it, just try to always begin with proper preparation and, more importantly, with fear and trembling, so that, having gotten used to it, you do not begin to proceed indifferently. Out of habit, we don’t care about the sun, but all life comes from it. So to St. You can get used to secrets and become indifferent to it - which is very disapproving. You said good words about the Jesus Prayer. And keep this prayer and insert it into your prayer rule, and so pronounce it constantly between all sorts of things. And pray to the Lord that He will strengthen you in this prayer, and through it in constant tenderness, contrition, and, moreover, in a persistent feeling for Him, so as to form an unceasing prayer. In your previous letter, to which I did not have time to respond, you complain that you will not find your spiritual father. - What should we do? be alone with your books and walk your path with fear, caution and humility. – If you come across something that you don’t understand, ask. I will answer as best I can, and if I can’t, I’ll say so. Nowadays it is impossible to find a real leader, but there are many talkers, even more writers, although both do not always fall into step. – I am not the last among the latter. God bless you! - Looking for salvation, looking for a good deed. There is a Savior, who will be your first helper: for he promised: seek and you will find. Your brother is bothering you. Feel sorry for him and pray that God will bring him to his senses. Tell him: if you want to visit me, talk about ordinary matters, but don’t touch on religious matters, because you don’t understand anything here. “If you ever speak, and out of your ignorance you begin to lie, and even more so when you utter blasphemy against God and Divine things, then I will take you by the hand immediately, lead you out, and tell you that you should never set foot here. You do well that you don’t always accept him, but even if you forbid him to come for a while, there will be no trouble and no sin. You are being persuaded to enter a monastery. If God pleases and He judges what is necessary for you; then it will come by itself. Then you will not rest your feet, but will flow like fir trees to springs of water. Monastic life is not as difficult as you think. It’s not the hard work there, but the lack of one’s own will: to do whatever they tell you to do, and you have to obey the sisters and bosses and stewards. For this, God gives as a reward inner peace, resting in the bosom of humility. The most compelling reason you have for not entering a monastery now is the placement of your son. Until he is fully educated and settled, you cannot have peace. I don’t understand what happened during prayer, the knocking, the noise, like a heavy bird flying. Did someone, for example, your son, set it up to drive you out of this house? I heard that sometimes the enemy builds these things. The first weapon against him is prayer, just as you prayed and did not yield. And fearlessness must be shown, placing all your trust in God. May the Lord protect you from the wiles of the evil one. What Father A. told you is not always true. Books are not the ultimate teacher, but they are still a teacher. And they can replace the leader if you add to them the questioning of the elders or brothers, or if two or three of them agree. Two or three like-minded people come together and ask each other and decide together what the confusion is - and you can agree with which woman is similar to you and consult according to the guidance of books, although living not together, but separately, in different places. You can do this; But to arrange this with your very deeds, you must beg the Lord. “And you don’t love your son more; for you love not apart from the love of God, but out of the love of God. Your spiritual communication with the Athonite brethren can be useful. If necessary, they will help you with advice. What else you wrote at the end about how you act in different cases - I think everything is good. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, and most of all, run to the Lord and pester Him with prayer. P.S. I missed one thing - you mentioned secret tonsure, and that you really wanted it. This is possible. This tonsure will not interfere with your path; on the contrary, it will give you energy, so accept it. God bless! But take care to keep this a secret. Letter 694. Good fruits of illness. About the spiritual father. Praise to the Athos people. About contrition and the Jesus Prayer. Spiritual store. Our first villain Are you sick? “But thank God you are getting better, or have already gotten better.” Thank God for the fact that the illness was not without benefit. The lessons that you have learned from these circumstances are very significant in life and in general, especially in the spiritual. Expect nothing from people, and place all your care on the Lord, and constantly wait for death, and believing that the Lord has left you to live for the cleansing of sins, turn all your care to that. These points are the levers of spiritual life and guides. Do not judge your spiritual father strictly, without knowing for sure why he behaved so inattentively towards you. - Athonite fathers - God save! They did well. “Your brother and son, wise judges, how does everything work out for them?” The illness was not due to lifestyle; therefore, it should not be changed due to illness. The type of food in restoring strength is a secondary matter. The main thing is fresh (unspoiled) food, clean air, and most of all peace of mind. Restlessness of spirit and passions spoil the blood and significantly harm health. Fasting and a fasting life in general is the best way to maintain health and prosper. – The German Hufeland wrote a science for a long life, where he extols the fasting life. Scientists must listen to him, but we have other teachers more important than this German. Prayer brings the spirit into the realm of God, in which is the root of life, and from the spirit the body partakes of the same life. – The spirit is crushed, repentant feelings and tears do not reduce strength, but add it: for they put the soul in a joyful state. You did well not to give in to their suggestions. However, in order to quickly restore health, in order to work more extensively for the Lord, you can, without sin, indulge a little in the infirmities of the body - in sleep, work, standing, and in food. This is after the passionate one. It’s summer, you can sometimes drink milk, and even broth, or eggs, and go out of town, because there is no clean air in the city. There is always an impurity in it. The ancient elders wrote that they treated the body harshly: not to kill it, but to mortify passions through the mortification of the flesh. You want the contrition and tears to never go away. It is better to wish that the spirit of deep humility always reigns in you. From him are tears and contrition, and from him is the fact that they do not bring forth, for even from them the enemy manages to give birth to these harmful potions. There are also spiritual joys mixed with contrition. True contrition knows how not to interfere with pure spiritual joy - and to get along with them in a friendly manner, somehow hiding underneath it. – Your present tenderness and contrition are partly the fruit of a past or passing illness. It is the grace of God to give birth to prayer during needlework, and pray immediately while working. - You regret that the Jesus Prayer is not continuous - that you do not say it incessantly - this is not required, what is required is a constant feeling for God, which can take place during conversation, and when reading, and when observing and looking at something. But just like the Jesus Prayer, when you pray it, it is in its present form; then continue to act this way, and this prayer will expand its area. If you like my books, then read them. There are books out there, my life in Christ entitled, Fr. John of Kronstadt, the same type as mine. But they have much better written than mine. Therefore, it is not superfluous if you come across them and read them. But the main store of spiritual teachings is in the Philokalia. Ask the Athonite fathers to give you the 2nd volume of the Philokalia to read. It says everything about the fight against passions, which is extremely important for the ascetic to know well. Read and notice the signs of passion. Then, following these instructions, discuss yourself and correct yourself. How is your self-worth? Take the sword or always hold it - humility and humiliation and mercilessly cut off, and constantly cut off the head of our first villain. God bless you! Thank you for praying for me - and please continue. Save yourself! E. Feofan. March 30, 93 Letter 695. Answer to the question about the long trip for tonsure Guilty. I'm late in answering you. It was a little uneasy. But the items you are talking about are of great importance. Tonsured. You have a great desire to accept it as soon as possible; but you yourself are blocking the path to that - by wanting to accept it without fail from... Every hieromonk can perform tonsure - your spiritual father would be closest to that. So ask your spiritual father, or some hieromonk. And the deed will be completed - complete. Are you going to the Caucasus, or to the Caucasian Athos. And then you write: I really love solitude, and I would like nothing more than to sit alone and be with the Lord. How do both of these desires of yours fit in? “The trip, if you decide to take it, will shake you up and scatter you so much that after a year you won’t get yourself together and will completely forget about the kind solitude.” Ask for answers and advice. – What I have already said already contains your answer. If you want to disperse and take a dangerous path, go to the Caucasus, and if you want to further strengthen your desire to be with the one Lord, sit in your hut, in every possible way fighting off the community with those who bear the same spirit as you. Then tonsure - leave it for God's provision. Just pray for him earnestly. And God will do it. The power of tonsure does not come from the persons who perform it, but from the zeal of those who receive it and from their faith in the Lord who is present in this. – If you like to read spiritual things, that’s good. Take care of this arrangement, for it may go away. Read the lives of the saints. Buy the Chet-Minea, which are sold in Slavonic and in synodal shops. – Don’t take the Russians. Read the Patericon, a collection of fatherly lessons and instructions. The Athos people have one. Letter 696. Blessing for the journey and tonsure Well, go ahead, if that’s the case. God bless! And he tonsured his hair. And he tonsured the Lord, bless him. When you cut your hair, let all earthly thoughts, feelings and movements be cut off. And return home completely new in internal order. Letter 697. Instructions on taking secret tonsure. Letters to the schema-nun of the Yeletsky Znamensky Monastery Magdalene (in the world Sofya Mikhailovna Ivanova) You described all the feelings and dispositions with which you prepared to take the tonsure, accepted it, and prepared to take it. I’ll just add: you know everything; take the trouble to behave in this way both externally and especially internally. May God help you. Inside stay and heartfelt solitude you keep. May God grant and always keep it for you. This is the main point. When consciousness is inside the heart, and there the Lord is; then they combine and the work of salvation proceeds successfully. There is no way for wrong thoughts then, much less for feelings and dispositions. The single name of the Lord disperses everything alien and attracts everything akin. What you have, it itself teaches you now. Pay attention and beware of offending this hidden teacher with any opposition. God bless you! If you have a spiritual confidant there, a confessor is best; then trust him with everything that happens in you, or all the changes in your consciousness and heart, so that the enemy does not sneak in, dressed in light ghostly clothes. Someone else’s mind will judge better, and point out where the enemy is aiming, and save you from trouble, but your own may get carried away and take the wrong path. There is an abyss of seemingly good internal thoughts. They just hover around a good mood. The trouble is still small if you look at them, but it’s better not to look; It is better to have one thing for need, which is imagined in the heart and stands in the depths of it, and occupy the consciousness with it alone, cutting off everything else without reasoning. What should you be most afraid of? - Self-satisfaction, self-worth, conceit, - and the great other self. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. A contrite spirit, a contrite and humbly heart, warm and hold it. Hold the thought and aspiration of the hour of death, and often say in words: it’s about to come. Who? The angel of death will grab the soul and take it to a place from where there is no return. Beware of satiety. But as a hungry beggar, undressed and barefoot, cry out, God be merciful! in a publican's voice. E. Feofan. October 21, 93 Letter 698. Introduction to correspondence. Basics of Spiritual Life It is advisable for you to hear anything from me. Okay: I will talk, just ask. So, the general thing is that I don’t want to write. Look around you and within yourself, and if you come across something that requires clarification, write. Answers to your questions will give me pleasure. As life flows, so do questions come from the heart, without stopping. For others, it also gives an answer, or the Angel of the Lord puts it into it at the hour of prayer; while others remain unresolved and worrying. Behold the fate of all who follow the path of devotion to God that is not entirely clear to the mind! At this very moment, mutual conversation is very precious and timely. If such a need arises, I will gladly speak with you. I am not imposing on you with instructions, but so that I can talk about the work of God. The Lord will build His own. May the Lord fan the spark of zeal for the salvation of the soul that is within you. This is something to be treasured like the apple of your eye. For when she is gone, then there will be nothing to talk about, and nothing for. Letter 699. On a journey So you're on your way. Have a nice trip! May the Lord send you a guardian angel and grant you patience. It's good to walk. How good! And I thought you were driving around. There is a lot of packing and hassle, and the hustle and bustle of the road. In Kiev, pray to the saints of God for me, a sinner and a great sinner. You ask about the implementation of the rule. What's the rule now? Road! I had to put the fan down, okay; but it didn’t have to, so be it. Lying down, say something to the Lord. Where is the rule here, when you are tired? When you return to your place, then everything will go as usual. Letter 700. Fatherly care for one wandering on pilgrimages. No need to be angry about being denied overnight accommodations Thank you for your answer. He reassured me about you. For the question often came, where are you and what is wrong with you. Thank God that everything is fine with you. Fatigue! What should we do? Out of pity for you, I would be ready to oblige you not to walk on the return route. But instead of an obligation, I will say that there will be no derogation of your feat if you move sometimes. And you shouldn’t stain yourself too much. Everything in moderation. However, in everything, let it be according to what is expected and according to the movement of your zeal, which also should not be offended. I pray to the Lord and the Most Pure Lady that they will strengthen you and give you the strength to return in good health. Keep your prayer. Fatigue may temporarily reduce its strength; she returns in her fullness. The fruit of your real labors will appear later. Watch your heart movements. Receive greetings and sorrows as if from the hand of the Lord. When an unkind movement in the heart comes due to refusals; confess to the Lord internally and scold yourself and reproach yourself until you drive out the feeling of dissatisfaction from your heart and place the opposite feeling - that this is how it should be, that you are not worth it - and thank the Lord for this opportunity sent to your cleansing. Never leave splinters in your heart. It will drive away prayer and peace, and will place a lot of darkness in the soul. That this feeling of insult attacks, nothing. You can’t be afraid: you just don’t have to agree with him, hold him and think according to his suggestions; and at the very first stages, condemn yourself and drive away bad disposition. May the Lord make you wise in everything! Letter 701. To the weary traveler I decided to tell you another word, something else, so that the feeling of all-round loneliness would not overwhelm you. You are exhausted, you are exhausted! Reach out; not much left! This is the Lavra - the house of the Mother of God! She will love you. And my soul, don’t be afraid, is dry and dry. But after that the Lord will return to you all the capital spent and with interest. Take courage and may your heart be strong! Were you angry about overnight stays again?! Now tell everything to the Mother of God, and ask for forgiveness for your weakness and strength for the future. Sometimes you can feel sorry for your legs. It happens somewhere, and you can move a number of miles. Letter 702. Instruction for a woman entering a monastery. Strengthening the enemy's machinations. Humility is the main weapon. The need for an old woman leader. About being too strict with the body. On the fulfillment of monastic obedience. Strict order to hide exploits. About communication with sisters May the Lord bless your stay in the monastery and the new order of life in it. Get your hands on it, don't look back. They didn’t go for benefits, but for work. What you impose on yourself is not so hard to lift and carry. Be ready to graciously meet and endure whatever the Lord sends, besides yourself. And look around to notice the enemy’s machinations. The enemy tries to lead us astray with both our gums and our backs, both with imaginary good and with charming evil. You have to be afraid of both. Don't think that you are any safer now. No: now there are more dangers, and more enemy arrows are coming at you. Be prepared. Put on all the armor of God (Eph.6:11). There is no need to repeat to you that the indestructible weapon against enemies is humility. Humility is hard to come by. You can consider yourself humble without having even a shadow of humility. Just thinking will not pacify yourself. The best, or the only true path to humility is obedience and renunciation of one's will. Without this, you can develop satanic pride in yourself, being humble in your word and body position. Please stop at this point, and with all your fear, examine the order of your life. Does she have obedience and renunciation of her will? Of all the things you do, what do you do not of your own free will, not according to your own reason and intelligence? Do you do something unwillingly, just because you are ordered, out of sheer obedience? Please look at it and tell me. If there is nothing like that, then the order of your life will not lead you to humility. No matter how you humble yourself in thoughts, humility will not come without humbling deeds. And we need to think carefully about how to arrange this. How is it that you are left completely alone? Not a word to anyone. They offer you to address spiritual needs, but you write: “but I will never do this correctly.” What is it about you: you already see yourself as perfect, and yet lacking in anything?!! I suppose that's what came out of your mouth; but this is not possible. How will you be when troubled thoughts come; due to various circumstances of monastic life? After all, they will eat your soul until you talk about them with someone. And passionate thoughts will come - self-aggrandizement, contempt, condemnation, discontent, anger, suspicion and others - what will you do with them? They need to be told to someone: otherwise they will sit inside and grow and grow old there. No no. Go, talk to Mother Abbess, and either entrust yourself to her for immediate guidance, or ask her to point out the old lady to whom you could turn in such cases, and talk with her from time to time. This is your law. Do it and notify me immediately. For this matter to go more smoothly, pray and ask the Lady to send you an old woman. When she sends you, then reconsider with her every step you take, and every business you do—cell and church—no matter what goes wrong. God forbid! It seemed to me that, having established an order for your cell activities, and established a rule about food and sleep, you are so pleased with it, so pleased; – tea, nothing could be better. But be careful lest you ascend straight to heaven and look from on high at all others wandering the earth, weighed down with food and sleep and restless in vain affairs. At the very least, excessive strictness towards the body always leads to such dreams. You have 4 hours of sleep and so little food. The body can't stand it. And it will always take its toll. And he will force you to sleep for whole days until you get enough sleep, and he will force you to eat until you are satisfied. This has happened more than once. And you will have to break your rule, that is, move back in shame. And if this does not happen, it is not surprising that your health will be upset. Isn't it better, therefore, not to take it too steeply? And what else could it be? Visionary work will open up. The enemy will come in the form of an angel of light, and you don’t know what he can do to you. This is the path you have put yourself on! By exhausting your body you have exposed yourself to the enemy, but you have no one at hand with whom to talk. How long until trouble?! It would be great if there was such a need for such severity! There is none. You must first inflame your insides with love for the Lord, and then external exploits will take place on their own. So agree to soften your severity a little. Take 6 or 7 hours of sleep per day, and every day prepare whatever brew you want, but on Sundays and holidays you can add something. At noon, eat the brew, and in the evening, if necessary, bread and water. How to rearrange your other activities as a result, things will show. It's a good thing that you don't drink tea. It's a stupid habit. Please correct this part of your charter, and do not contradict it. When you prepare food, fussing about it, scold yourself like the fussy Martha; Looking at the fire, remember the eternal flame; When adding firewood, weep over your sins, which will provide food for the eternal fire. These troubles are not so great that they can become fussy and discourage you from praying. While stirring the pulp, you can say: Lord have mercy! I have nothing to say about your other activities. Keep one thing in mind, so that, as this is the first experience, do not consider anything that has been established to be unchanged. Do everything as an experience. The case will show whether everything should remain as it is, or whether something needs to be changed. That's what I think! How do you listen to services in church; then cell prayer can be belittled by replacing the reading of prayers with bows and intelligent appeals to God. You have matins at 4 o'clock, but you get up an hour or more earlier, and then stay awake until 8 and 9 o'clock in the evening. 18-20 hours is it possible to keep your attention alert? There is no possibility. Thought must weaken and wander into dispersion. And this means acting against yourself, or by your rule leading yourself to the ruin of attention, instead of gathering it together. You need to rest somewhere in between. From Mass to Vespers you have a lot of time. If you agree to eat the brew at noon; then after this it is a very good time to sleep for half an hour or an hour. Saint Tikhon did the same. Then, after praying for half an hour, do your needlework until Vespers. Staying up at midnight is very detrimental to your health. Sleep better at this time, i.e., at midnight and the preceding and subsequent hours, namely 11:12, 1:2. If you add 10 and 3; then this will be enough to satisfy the requirements of bodily natural economy, especially if you apply half an hour or an hour after lunch. We are called not to kill the body, but only not to create pleasures for the flesh in lust (Rom. 13:14). The law is reasonable maintenance of the body without concessions. After Matins until lunch - reading. Apply meditation - and reflect on the life and suffering of the Lord. Do this by reading the daily Gospel (and the Apostle is possible). If, while doing this, you take a nap on a chair or wooden chair, it will be good. I say this not for the sake of indulgence, but out of a desire to give you the opportunity to cheerfully stay sober for the rest of the time. After this comes the liturgy. How can we ascend with exhausted attention to a clear understanding of what is happening in it? The sacrament of sacraments is performed. Participating in it with your heart and mind is a great moral and educational tool. At all times, from waking up to falling asleep, walk in memory of God’s omnipresence, in the thought that the Lord sees you and counts all the movements of your thoughts and heart. For this reason, pray unceasingly the Jesus Prayer, and, often coming to the icons, perform several bows, according to the movement and demand of your heart, so that all your daily time is often interrupted by a few bows, and passes in unceasing contemplation of God and the saying of the Jesus Prayer, during all kinds of activities. The rule is to do cell prayer, or home prayer, only before going to bed. Less reading and more of your prayer with bows. You hear a lot of things read and sung in church, and that’s enough. You need to read at home just enough to just enjoy it. Leave all the canons for the church: listen to them there. What is your obedience - to read the church rule? If these are the usual canons set for every day for the Lord Jesus, the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel, the daily (weekly) saint; then, having read all this, what else should I add? Do this reverently, slowly, listen to every word and limit your daily reading prayers to that. Get into the habit of leaving the canons and akathists you have collected little by little and replacing them with mental prayer. Sweeping the church is good obedience. Both humbling and edifying. What reverence embraces the soul when you are alone in church, in deep silence! Here, if no one sees, stand somewhere more comfortable and bow to your heart’s content. But when you stand in church together with others, God forbid you, to be different from them, and to pretend that you are a prayer book, not like others. Here's how to do it! Listen heartily, undistractedly to everything you hear and read, mentally cry out to the Lord, and bow down as those standing near you do, and better after them, as if at their call. God forbid you, somehow rise above your sisters, and somehow show it. When any sister addresses you with a word, you also turn to her with all your attention, as to a messenger of God. God sent her to test your love and attention to your sisters, and your humility before them. Dress simply, walk simply, without any show of specialness from others. You can be somewhat worse in appearance than others, allowing for this one feature. All kinds of feats must be carried out in such a way that no one in the monastery knows about them. As soon as they find out what it’s about, it’s really bad. Don’t think that concealment (so as not to be seen or known) is not strictly necessary. No: strictly. The feat they are talking about is empty - not worth a penny. Mother said that she will also consider your previous years as monastery years. This is beneficial for the external order; but for the internal – what is the benefit of it? You can live in a monastery for a hundred years, or be considered a monastery, and still not become a monastery. Take care in your heart to build a monastery, so that the Lord will enroll you in a monastery. Just getting started. How many changes will he propose – both internal and external?! May the Lord strengthen you! Will you live alone? “Isn’t it better to take a closer look at the poor sisters, or the non-poor ones, only like-minded ones, and if you like one, invite them to your place?” You will support each other; and cell labors will be divided in half. Maybe the thought of this will come, or circumstances will lead to something you can take advantage of. But look for yourself - like a soul! Write more often, and more so that you can guess about your inner state; mark occasions, meetings, speeches. From your letter I see that you seem tired. Stop exhausting yourself. Everything is necessary in moderation. Letter 703. Concession to a zealous ascetic and a lesson to her about humility. Cold cell. Rich library You didn’t answer for a long time, and I began to worry, believing that I had upset you with my comments on your cell regulations. You stand your ground regarding food and sleep. Okay, I concede. I didn’t know that this has been your custom for a long time. You shouldn't back away. May the Lord bless all your labors and give you strength and strength to carry them through without fail! He considered it necessary to relax not for the sake of indulgence, but for the sake of the fact that it is always better to start with the easy and climb to the most difficult, rather than having started steeply and then retreat from what was expected. But if you have already established your order, good. Pray that it will not be allowed to cheat on you. However, any maintenance of order must be done prudently, balancing means with ends, and always being ready to yield to need, when indulgence is harmless and severity is not necessary. It’s good that you eat a little at noon; and sleeping a little would not be an indulgence. And do the same in everything, yielding when legitimate needs demand it, and considering yourself, moreover, worthless for anything, and incapable of bearing even a little labor and achievement. External labors and exploits are means: they are valuable only if they lead to the goal and are required by it. And don’t stop thinking about them, no matter what they mean. The main thing is in feelings and dispositions. Pay all your attention to them if you have already established yourself in the external order of life. Observe humility above all else, and pray for it, that it may be granted, and tease yourself more often, inclining yourself into self-abasement. As soon as you wake up, quickly take care to feel like a worthless person, and then try to be like that all day long. When you stand in prayer and approach the Lord, humiliate yourself. Who and to whom dares to address and converse in human speech?! – Rejoice when you encounter external, involuntary humiliation. Accept it as a special mercy of God. Set yourself a standard that when you stand in complete dissatisfaction with yourself, then you are in good rank; as soon as even the slightest feeling of complacency comes, and you begin to put a price on yourself, know that you are not in your best form, and then begin to tease yourself. For God's sake, don't forget this point. Everything else is nothing when this is not there. There were people who were saved by humility alone without exploits; and without humility no one has been saved or will be saved. You don't see the oxbow yet. What to do? Wait for God to send. I wanted this and I want it, because there is great support in this communication. And it’s good to talk like that, and not to open your whole soul. Without communicating with others, you can just lose your measure; and the soul will wither. Besides, it’s good when everything goes well, but when embarrassment comes, what should you do? Together, you will immediately disperse any grief, but staying alone will only deepen it. You write to me. In a month the answer will come back, and at this time great devastation may occur among you. Still, there is nothing to do - remain alone, praying to the Lord, and instruct your Guardian Angel to imprint on your soul what is saving you in your circumstances. It's cold in your cell. What is this from? Are you too lazy to heat, or is the stove and cell poorly designed? If it is very cold, it is not good, especially if it is damp. This needs to be fixed. A little cold is no big deal if you can stand it. You will pay more bows. Beware of any excesses. The following books may be useful for your library: Isaac the Syrian, Climacus, Memorable tales about the asceticism of the saints, Philokalia, Ephraim the Syrian, Macarius the Great, Abba Dorotheus, Barsanuphius and John's answers, Mark the Ascetic, Maxim the Confessor about love, Nile of Sinai, Chet-Minea, Limonar, Lavsaik, History of the God-lover, School of Piety. The first four will last a lifetime, and for all occasions. Then buy the others little by little. And other sisters around you will use it and say thank you. When reading, you must have the main goal of life in mind, and adapt everything to it. Something whole, coherent, and therefore strong will be formed. Strength of conduct and conviction will convey strength of character. Letter 704. About the Jesus Prayer In your last letter you mentioned the effect of the Jesus Prayer in everything. May the Lord bless this good beginning! In the action of this prayer there should be no image intervening between the mind and the Lord, and the words spoken are not the main thing, but the mediating one. The main thing is to stand intelligently before the Lord in the heart. This is mental prayer, not words. The words here are also the same as the words of any other prayer. The essence of mental prayer is walking before God; and walking before God is the conviction that does not depart from consciousness that God, as he is everywhere, is also in you, and sees everything inside of you - sees even more than you yourself. This consciousness of the eye of God looking inside you should also not have an image, but everything should consist of one simple conviction or feeling. Anyone in a warm room feels how the warmth embraces and penetrates him. The same must happen in our spiritual man from the omnipresent and all-encompassing God, Who is fire. The words: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” although they are a tool, and not the essence of the matter, are still a very powerful and multi-effective tool; for the name of the Lord Jesus is a terror to the enemies of our salvation and a blessing to those who seek Him. Do not forget that this matter is simple, and does not have any quirks, and should not have. Pray to the Lord, the Most Pure Lady and the Guardian Angel for everything, and they will teach you everything, either themselves or through others. Letter 705. The measure of success is the consciousness of one’s worthlessness, tempting thoughts. About accepting sisters Pay attention to yourself. I will tell you one note, or repeat what has already been said. Progress in spiritual life is signified by a greater and greater consciousness of one’s unworthiness, in the full meaning of this word, without any restrictions; so as soon as a price is given to oneself, in any respect, things go wrong. And dangerous. The enemy will sit down and begin to look away, and then he will throw a pebble; you can trip. A soul that gives itself a price is exactly like a crow that drops cheese. Help you, Lord, to perfect yourself in this blindness to your deeds and labors. And make sure that there are fewer images in your soul, and more thoughts and feelings. Images are the work of the imagination - the lowest labor force, and always irritate daydreaming. The latter will not be tamed as long as the imagination is strong and swarms with images. The way to stop the flow of images is the mental prayer you have started. Work hard. The moment will come when you will feel that this current is like the flow of blood from a bleeding woman (Luke 8:44). This is how your rules began to be established. God bless! Hold on, and do not give in to any weakening thoughts. Take the trouble to read the 60th word of Isaac the Syrian about the various techniques that the enemy uses in the fight against those who seek the Lord. You must walk your path with fear and trembling. Focus your attention least of all on external achievements. Although they are necessary, they are essentially scaffolding. A building is built in their midst, but they are not a building. Building in the heart. Pay all your attention to the activities of the heart. The first tempting thought that will begin to hit you will be self-righteousness; behind him will come internal self-exaltation, or trumpeting before oneself; and then - arrogance in front of others. Understand these ways. Read Macarius the Great, and especially the Ladder, where a lot is said about discerning thoughts. The same thing can be both pleasing and unpleasant to God, judging by one’s thoughts. Learn. What should you do with your tears? Is it not possible for you to do this so that you can cry at home and cry to your heart’s content, but in church hold back your tears, leaving only heartfelt contrition? - Pray that it will be so, and force yourself to do this. Otherwise, trouble is not far away. A boil of vanity forms in the heart; and you won’t notice how it will arise and disintegrate. So isn’t it better to evade the path ahead of time on which such an ulcer can be encountered? One old fasting man lived near the village. They began to praise him. He took it, walked around the village and ate. Another elder, when they praised someone who lived near the village and did not enter it, said: I would sometimes purposely walk through the village so that this empty rumor would not arise. This is how they tried to hide everything from others. So you also need everyone to see that you, like everyone else, have nothing special. We have to hide everything. Manage it. And in speech, and in gait, and in techniques - everything should be as usual for everyone. You received two sisters, and that was enough. If you can talk to N.N. about spiritual matters, do these things. At least someone will be with you. And imperceptibly she can express what is due; You can also read together. Especially when despondency finds you, call. Talk to each other and everything will pass. Don't drink tea, I already said, it's a good thing. They will find out and they will stop visiting you. The thought comes to drink tea after the guests. This is the worst. It is better to drink 10 cups in front of others than half a cup secretly. And make it a law that if you drink, do so in front of others. And do the same for everything else. In front of others, you can cut yourself some slack for any reasonable reason, but in private, secretly, never. This is the worst of evils. Help you, Lord, to persevere in every possible way in all that is good and soul-creating. Pay attention to yourself. All hope is in the Lord and the Most Pure Lady. Run to Them and fall down. Fear does not go away. Let sobriety not weaken. Balance your mental work with your physical work, so that there is no damage to either. God help you! Save yourself! Letter 706. Instruction on acting with fear of one’s salvation and readiness to face temptations. The blessed fruits of prayer and the conditions for their preservation. About the Jesus Prayer, fulfilling the prayer rule Great is God's mercy towards us sinners! The Lord has called you. It's good that you listened and went. Went; So don’t look back, and don’t be lazy about working. Your first obedience has made a beginning, and the end is yet to come. You got on the boat and sailed away. With fear and trembling, pray to the Lord to help you cross your sea and reach the pier. The abyss is below us. How long until trouble? The boat capsizes, and we go to the bottom. And who knows if the shore is close? The shore is a coffin. Until your last breath you cannot remain wary of expecting disasters. Keeping this in your thoughts, never succumb to carelessness, or any kind of relaxation, in the thought that you seem to be out of danger. Know that - no matter what you do, and no matter what is shown to you, everything is nothing until you are in the harbour. I am writing this not to discourage you, but so that you keep your ears open. The Lord is your helper, the Lord is all-powerful and abundantly merciful. Therefore, one should not give in to despair: but walk cheerfully in hope, although with fear. But the Lord is a helper to the zealous and toiling. You have now entered the monastery - the most convenient place for ascetics. Do not think that now you can reduce your vigilance over yourself and reduce your work. No. This is where you have to pay even more attention and look after yourself. The world has its own temptations, the monastery has its own, and the latter will probably be worse. Be ready to meet. Say that where you lived, children and servants often angered you. How do you live alone now; then on this side they are safe. But the enemy will find a way to raise the subsiding passion. Watch and teach not only to overcome, but also to prevent uprisings. What happened to you during prayer is God’s mercy towards you. The Lord let you know by this feeling of His closeness to you that He is not averse to accepting your labors, if only you keep your covenant to Him. Thank the Lord! But don't think that this is the end or the end. This is just the beginning and a weak one at that. We must now, according to this instruction, go inside more and more, and establish ourselves there so that we can be there day and night without fail. And the state that was then - warm, peaceful, motionless - must be taken care of to make it a permanent state. And now firmly hold this one goal within yourself, and pursue it, with strict adherence to all legality and all proper orders of external life. From the first time you wake up in the morning, take care to gather yourself inside and warm up. Consider this your normal condition. If you don’t have this, know that there is something wrong with you inside. Having put yourself in such a collected and warmed state in the morning, then - everything that is obligatory must be corrected so as not to ruin your inner mood, but from the voluntary one, do what supports this state; what upsets him, do not do it under any circumstances: for this would mean being hostile to oneself. This is your general rule. How it can then be performed in different cases, the work itself will teach you. See for yourself and find out. There is no way for a third party to determine that. Just make it a law to keep composure and warmth, standing with your mind and heart before the Lord. Then this itself will indicate what one should do, or what one should allow oneself to do, and what one should not. The all-powerful aid to this is the Jesus Prayer. You need to get used to it so that it is constantly read where the heart belongs. And to get used to it, you have to work hard. Now take up this matter. Or are you already familiar with him? - It seemed to me that you are doing this prayer only according to the rule. Take your own course, otherwise you must constantly create it, sitting, walking, eating food, working. If it doesn’t hold tightly in your heart, you can leave everything and take care of it alone until it takes root. This matter is simple. Stand in front of the icons in a prayer position (you can sit down), and descending with attention to where the place of the heart is, slowly say the Jesus Prayer there, while remembering the presence of God. So half an hour, an hour, or more. At first it’s a little difficult, but when the skill is acquired, it will happen as naturally as breathing. With this arrangement of your inner self, a smart life will begin in you, or, as they say, smart deeds. The first thing here is the requirement of purity of conscience, its impeccability not only before God, but also before people and oneself, even before things. Why, little by little, something slips through in a thought or word that troubles the conscience, now we must repent inwardly before the Lord, Who sees everything and will pacify the conscience. It helps to establish an order of life and activities, so as not to think every time what to do, but so that it is already decided and known in advance. You've done it now. All that remains is the struggle with thoughts that will buzz every now and then like incessant mosquitoes. Learn for yourself how to deal with them. Experience is science. I'll tell you one thing. Usually thoughts are spinning in your head. These are empty. But you look for those who pierce the heart like an arrow and leave a mark there, like a scratch. Immediately take up and erase the trace with this prayer, replacing its opposite feeling. When heat is stored, these cases are rare and weak. Follow your prayer rule as it is, until things indicate that you need to cancel something. I believe that after what you have experienced, bowing will be more useful to you than reading prayers. And pay more attention to this part, taking care not only to make a certain number of bows and say the Jesus prayers as much as you have set, but even more so that sighs to God come from the heart. Regarding prayer, or reading prayers, take one note into law: when, while reading prayers, your attention stops on something, so that it does not follow further reading, stop reading and pray without words, under the influence of feelings induced by the object that has connected your attention. If through this the rule may continue too much, you can shorten it, but do not miss that opportunity, and do not sin against yourself by allowing yourself to dispel the good impression from the prayers by mechanically finishing the prescribed prayers. However, the very act of prayer will teach you all this if you do it as you should, not in the right way, that is, to pray, but to pray truly. In prayer one must free oneself from all images, strengthening oneself most in contemplation, or the consciousness of the presence of God in the heart, the formless. When thinking about the works of God, images do not interfere; Only the being of God should not be clothed in an image, and under this image one should not pray to Him. Imagining Christ the Savior crucified, or how you go through His entire life and pray to Him according to your memories, is nothing. It’s good to do this and warm up your soul. This is saving thought of God - the most natural food of the soul. It is necessary to feed the soul with truths, setting aside time every day for prayerful deepening into the Christian sacraments. It's good to do this in the morning. Unfold the Gospel, read a little, just the daily reading, and delve into it until what you read is accepted by your heart, and fulfills it - it will occupy it. You can read from both the Apostle and the Psalter, but always a little. The point is that the truth should be perceived by the heart, fulfill it and warm it up. This means that the soul has tasted the truth; if she tasted it, she ate it. Reading life-saving books, then as usual. God bless you! Pray to the Lord and Lady and all the saints, so that they themselves will teach you how to do things for you. Still, we must return to working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Letter 707. A cunning trick of the enemy. A lesson about knowing yourself. Dream before confession. How to test your humility. Is it possible to ease the hardships? The mercy of the risen Lord be with you. He does not leave His loved ones without consolation. May He send you every consolation too! How did you think that you had calmed down and the enemy wouldn’t bother you so much? Get that thought out of your head. It is from an enemy who wants to relax your attention. Imagine yourself walking on a shaky plank lying over an abyss. There are arrows on all sides, and evil enemies ready to push you into the abyss. The hand of God is stretched out from above and is ready at any moment to support and protect; but still the vigilant caution should not cease. There has not yet been a single person who, without labor, anxiety and embarrassment, reached the kingdom of God. Do not take your intelligent eye off your heart, and immediately grasp and disassemble everything that comes from there: good, let him live; not good - we must kill him immediately. From this learn to recognize yourself. Whichever thought comes out more often means that passion is stronger; start acting harder against that one. But don’t rely on yourself at all, and don’t hope to do anything with your own efforts. The Lord sends healing medicines and remedies. Surrender yourself to Him - and this for every hour. Work - work; but expect all good things from the Lord alone. Your dream before confession was saving: otherwise, who knows, you would not have gone to confess to a righteous woman. The feeling of righteousness is a big problem for us. Get it into your head that as soon as this feeling comes, even to a weak extent, it means your business has gone wrong. The more sinful you feel, the more right your path is. But we must strive to ensure that the feeling of one’s sinfulness comes naturally from the depths of the soul, and is not inspired from the outside by one’s own reflection, or by an outside word. You call yourself the worst of all the sisters. Thank God if it speaks more than one language. But if some sister comes and scolds you, and even in vain, what will happen to you? If you feel that this is not enough, you should increase it tenfold, this will mean that you are a sinner in your feelings; and if this does not happen, the heart means full of a sense of righteousness. There are many good feelings, but the feeling of worthlessness is the main one; so if he is not there, everything is of no use. Learn this well. Vanity, you think, has passed. No, it didn’t pass, it just hid for a while. Don't think about getting rid of this lady so quickly. It will follow you everywhere and buzz in your ears. Listen and be edified. Say that now it has become more difficult to endure hardships. I would be ready to say: cut yourself some slack. But I hold back; because once there are rules, you must stick to them without giving in. Isn't there an enemy here? The small ones offer concessions so that they can then get through to the big ones. No, just hold on. Afterwards maybe this is possible; but at first it is dangerous. You can get used to everything. Establish yourself both in food and in sleep, so that the body will not demand more. Then this article will be finally settled. And in general, external order will finally become such a habit that just as we breathe without difficulty, so this order will be fulfilled without difficulty. Only the struggle with thoughts has no end. Look after yourself, and deal more with your heart. To analyze the movements of the heart, read with reflection and application to yourself the Ladder, Isaac the Syrian, Barsanuphius and John, in the Philokalia - Diadoche, Philotheus, Isaiah, Evagrius, Cassian, Nile. When you read, do not leave the general position of what you read, but always turn it into a rule for yourself - a particular one that applies to you, and the general always suffers some shades of change. – This is how your practical wisdom will grow. Letter 708. Labor without end. Remembrance of death. Satiety is dangerous. About frequent communion May the grace of the Most Holy Trinity be upon you, strengthening and comforting you! May the Lord bless your efforts! Work hard, don't be lazy; but don’t look too hard at the work. The worst thing is this last one. Do everything wisely; but deal more with thoughts and feelings. You can get used to external labors, so that they will finally become easy and will be accomplished without struggle, but there is no end to internal labor, and no one can say that this aspect has finally been settled and does not require struggle. At the very moment when anyone thinks that he has overcome any weakness or passion, the enemy will raise a powerful storm. Watch out and pray! Treat yourself like one who walks along a narrow, confusing path in a dense forest full of animals and snakes. Just look, an animal will jump out and eat you, or a snake will crawl up and bite you. We must be vigilant and, in strong hope, painfully cry out to God without ceasing. And there will be a covering over you. May it dawn on you! Say that you envy the dying, and that you yourself would like to quickly go to the Lord. Good thoughts! The fear of death and the thought of it is a great support for vigilance over oneself. Practice this. It’s good to get pictures - the death of a sinner, and the death of a righteous man, and nail them in the most visible place, so that they catch your eye more often. Run away from satiety - a state in which the evil heart says to itself: enough, I don’t demand anything more; We’ve worked hard, established order, and we can give ourselves some benefits. About Israel it is said: fat, thick, broad (Deut. 32:15). What's more satisfying? - But what fruit? And forget God. This referred to bodily satiety and satisfaction with one’s external state. But this is quite applicable to spiritual satiety and contentment with one’s inner state. And the consequence is also oblivion of God. When there is enough of everything, why pray to God and think about Him? Although the self-satisfied do not suddenly reach this point, this is exactly what they have in the embryo. The immediate effect of satiety is a weakening of attention and the admission of benefits. Whoever allows this will go downhill, like people rolling down the slope of a slippery mountain. That's the problem. Watch out! That your place in the church is at peace, thank the Lord. Good sisters will not envy: it is not someone else’s place, it has become all the same for them, no matter who takes it. I think that any troubles you might have are minor. You can deal with them yourself, without violating love and humility. Be afraid of steep troubles that you don’t know how or where they come from. Be afraid and prepare to meet them, and pray to God in advance to give you wisdom and strength. Would you like to receive Holy Communion? Tain on all twelve holidays. - How can I hide this? So you stand out from the general level. And it is good, very good - to take communion often. Here is the Lord whom we seek. How can this be? You can try first. If it goes well, you can leave it like this forever. So God bless. First pray to God well, and be blessed by your mother; and if it allows, do so. It’s good to stand in church with your eyes downcast. It's better this way; thoughts are easier to keep from wandering. That sleep overpowers you at home, and does not allow you to finish as you should - what to do. Fight. We would sleep a little after lunch, as I said. If you don’t want this, endure the attacks and fight. It’s not a big deal if you fall asleep right there on the rule. There will be something to reproach yourself for. In this case, we would try to walk in the fresh air. But everything is produced by the grace of God acting in the heart. Ask her for everything you do. You need to read saving books. How not to read! But, while reading, you must reason, and by reasoning apply everything you read to yourself, and then put into action what you have applied. And then reading just to fill your head is a waste. Only arrogance and condemnation excites. Help you, Lord, and give you understanding! Letter 709. Reproof for Unconscious Condemnation and Various Guiding Reminders I always remember you in my prayers, asking the Lord to help you, without stopping or evading, to complete what you started. No small work! The work that takes one to get used to the external order of monastic life and all its methods is not yet so difficult. Greater work is in putting your inner life in order. Pay strict attention to yourself, and strictly judge your thoughts and feelings. You say that the spirit of vanity attacks. Beware. This is a multi-headed snake. Sometimes it turns into humility itself. Read more carefully from Climacus about humility and vanity, and sort everything out for yourself, and from the means indicated there, choose those that are suitable for you, and implement them. Vanity is subtle, but it always coarsens the soul. And the Lord soon takes away grace from those who indulge vain thoughts and allows them to fall. How long until trouble? Pay attention to yourself. What are you? They condemned you and began to read instructions to a person twice your age. What does it look like? This is the fruit of conceit, but you don’t even notice it. She cried, and you became arrogant. There is senile humility, but you have youthful self-satisfaction, which clearly sees the affairs of others, understands their moral value, pronounces decisive judgment about them and prescribes medicine. The worst thing is that you didn’t even realize that this act was wrong, and talked about it as if it was a proper thing. You should cry, but you boast. We need to fix this matter. And so, when you see that person again, be sure to apologize for thinking poorly of her and even deciding to read instructions to her. Ask her to pray to the Lord to save you from arrogance and vanity. Do so and report it. This will be a useful remedy against this passion. It seems to me that judgment and decisions over others are constantly taking place in your soul. Take a good look. If this is not every minute, but occasionally, then this is no small problem. Two things come out of self-conceit: blowing a trumpet before oneself and judging others. Here is an evil trio that is rushing into destruction. We need to break up and sell these ardent horses. Then it will turn out: if you drive more quietly, you will go further. Please take better care of yourself. May the Lord bless your former friend. The soul appointed by the Lord will not escape. But there is a deadline for everything: for one - today, for another - tomorrow. Let him not give up good deeds, and let him approach God more earnestly in prayers. A spirit burning with zeal for good deeds for the glory of God is the main thing. When this exists, it means there is life. It can also lead to a silent abiding in God, if God blesses. The letters of George the recluse are edifying. It’s good that you learned that there is a monk. Bring this image into your mind more often, and see how far you are from it. Why do you say: woe is me! I took up a valuable task, and I devalued it in myself, with my poor monastic life. I wish you peace. Have time little by little. Physical labor is a good thing; This work of obedience is a holy work. Let the memory of God not depart from your heart. As the light is seen, so one must see the Lord before oneself and in one’s heart fall before Him in feelings of humility and contrition. Fear will come soberingly. It would be nice if someone scolded you there. Rejoice when this happens. It’s bad when everyone around you praises you, but no one will tell you the truth. How long will it take to get confused? Involuntarily, you will begin to consider yourself a saint, and you will begin to read instructions to everyone. May the Lord strengthen you for good! Beware; I would not stray onto the path of coldly walking in correct external behavior, without internal feelings that sanctify a person and attract the grace of God. And this will happen immediately as soon as you fall into conceit and complacency, the sign of which is vanity. God save you from this trouble! Letter 710. Coldness and warmth of the heart. About relationships with sisters. Coffin and pictures for the memory of a mortal I am glad to write to you about everything you need. Take heart! When the warmth of the spirit weakens, we must strive in every possible way to restore it, falling before God with fear and trembling. Everything is from Him. Dejection, boredom, burden of spirit and body will come sometimes, perhaps for a long time. You must not be timid and firmly stand your ground, diligently fulfilling the accepted rules, and do not expect that your soul will no longer have any taste. You don’t expect your soul to always be equally warm and sweet. It doesn't happen that way. On the contrary, constantly expect unexpected changes. When lethargy and heaviness come, think that it is you - the real one - as you are; Accept spiritual sweetness as undeserved mercy. Concerning all sisters, keep the same law, so that you can have a clear conscience before them; but don’t worry about how they treat you. Let them do what they want, and don’t try to notice it. And if you notice that, scold yourself for making worthless claims to the attention of others. One should not enjoy being shown attention, nor be offended when one sees a lack of it. God's attention is precious; for it reflects the truth, and what is human - what is it?! You can have a coffin; but you can establish yourself in mortal memory without it. And it's better. If you make a coffin, arrange it so that others cannot see it. Your soul will be calmer and you will be closer to business. If they find out, they will start blowing the trumpet. What's the point of this? Then it is better to throw it or burn it. Taking out pictures of the death of a sinner and a righteous man, as I said, and nailing them before your eyes, will be more convenient and more impressionable. Would you consider replacing the coffin with this? God bless you for all kinds of work. Humbly pull the yoke you have taken, and do not get cold. Letter 711. How to switch to a cruel life. About the attitude towards the abbess and sisters. On replacing the rule by bowing with the Jesus Prayer You are afraid of my leniency. I guess I'm not very forgiving. My rule is to have moderation in everything. Especially in bodily exploits, moderation is needed so that the flesh can endure it. The Holy Fathers were very strict regarding the body, or, as they said, they lived a cruel life. But they got to this point gradually. They started out not too strictly, but then they treated themselves more and more strictly. Remember how Saint Abba Dorotheos dealt with St. Dositheus. We must live by this rule. And I was also at St. The wisdom of the fathers is not to invent rigors, but to take them upon oneself for any occasion, more according to the needs of inner life. You should too. But as everything has begun now, God bless your labors. Hang in there. Love and honor Mother Abbess, and the treasurer, and all monastic authorities. They were established by God, even through people. You need to listen to everyone and thank everyone for everything. And not just them, but all the sisters must be honored, and placed far above oneself. You look at them so much that it’s as if they are walking on a mountain or a roof, and you are below, low, low. And if the soul begins to see any sister below itself, then one must strongly reproach oneself and hasten to ask the Lord for forgiveness. The most evil of all things is exaltation, vanity, condemnation. This is hellish smoke and stench! Accustom yourself in every possible way to rejoice more when you are treated with contempt, reproached, or even offended, than when you are caressed and greeted. This is the most reliable path to humility! You have a urge to replace the reading of prayers with the Jesus Prayer. You can do it as you suggested. Shorten the reading of prayers, and bow more. Get tired of bowing down, so stand and say the Jesus Prayer. The more you delve into this prayer, the more you will not want to read the prayers. You can even shorten your reading more than what you assumed. You can stop reading altogether; just not to laziness and lying down, but to converse with the Lord, not in someone else’s, but in your own speech, and intelligently abide with Him, like Mary, who sat at the feet of the Savior. What supplies do you have, what’s here? Prepare everything you need and your worries will be over. As those who wear flesh, we work in the flesh. What to do? - We need to eat and drink: let the materials for that be ready. If the Lord grants patience, you can abstain from certain foods; but if you do not endure it, eat and give thanks to the Lord. It is good to give away the surplus to those in need and those who ask, only on the sly, so as not to boast of generosity. If you happen to break your rule of abstinence in front of others, do not be embarrassed, not doing it to please yourself, but submitting to the duty of love. That you drank tea at NN’s and dined when your sister was with you, that’s how it should be. If they had done it differently, it would have been worse: they would have been insulted, and they themselves would have had no peace. It's good to have jam just in case. Use sometimes with water as a medicine, and not for sweetness. And the holiday must be at least somehow distinguished from everyday life. Let the flesh celebrate, and not just the spirit. Letter 712. About replacing the rule with bows. A difficult feat So you finally reduced all your cell rules to bowing. God bless! Rule, from the Angel of St. What is given to Pachomius, as stated in the prayer book, is so good that it is not needed better. But haven’t you prescribed too much – 12 times during the day and 12 times at night? - Well, work when you have strength and diligence. God help you! But do not forget that this rule can be turned into a mechanism, just as the reading of prayers is sometimes turned into a mechanism. It is necessary that in prayer the soul converses with God, and its heartfelt sighs ascend to God. When you begin to complete the rule, stand in the presence of God, realize that you need to express to God, and express as a child expresses his desires to his father. As much simplicity and sincerity as possible. For you converse in the presence of God, who sees everything that is in your soul. Don’t make up or pick up words, but say everything as it is and as your heart demands. However, the very experience of praying intelligently to God will teach you everything. Now keep the fear of God, the root of all good things, even more. And let him not leave your heart for a moment. Like a candle, let it burn and illuminate all your thoughts and all the inner bends of your heart. He will teach you to walk carefully, to always behave as one usually behaves in the presence of the Tsar, to do every task as the work of God, with all attention, and to walk as one walks, carrying a glass of water and being afraid of spilling it or shaking it. When such a system is formed within, then every wrong movement of the mind and heart will be noticed, and immediately before the face of God one will be condemned and cleansed with repentance, with a sincere, internally expressed vow to be careful and not allow such indulgence. This is the kind of mood you should take care of, and if it is even in embryo, take care in every possible way to develop it and strengthen it. This is the essence of the matter. Everything else is a favorable, helpful, necessary environment, but does not constitute the essence of the matter. Is your previous warm state still preserved? It must be stored. The basis for it is humility. As soon as humility diminishes, so will coldness. For when the soul begins to consider itself something, the Lord immediately retreats, and it, left alone - with itself, grows cold. You don’t have to say with your tongue: I’m nothing, but you need to feel your nothingness in your heart. And here there will always be the Lord, who created and is creating everything out of nothing. The Lord will provide warmth; but you also have to put in the work yourself. This work is, as has just been said, humility and attention, and inside the heart a painful falling towards God - relentless, in every deed and word, in movement and sitting, at home and in church. May the Lord make you wise! Read the holy books, and having assimilated everything useful through reflection, apply it to your life and to your soul. The end of all things is again: work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). Why did the Apostle say this when he knew that God is love (1 John 4:8)? Think carefully! I wish you all the best from the Lord. May He arrange your path, and especially your inner mood, so that you can please Him. Letter 713. Strict reprimand for chattering with lay guests. Should I accept the food sent? Should we condemn those who talk in church? Happy Christmas and Happy New Year! May the Lord bless you with every blessing! Be constantly renewed by zeal for pleasing God, refreshing it every day and hour with the fear of God. Somehow we need to arrange ourselves so that the fear of God does not go away. With his belittling, he immediately deviates into crossroads; and when it is there, it impresses on the mind what should be done in what case. The fear disappeared: attention dissipated. So you are just talking idle talk to the laywomen who were visiting. You have given yourself the right to a benefit in this case. In your heart you began to consider yourself to be in charge - to behave strictly, and laxly, without any answer. Strict self-control is a merit, and licentiousness is the right to a benefit for which there will be no penalty. In fact, it is not so: strict self-control is a duty of conscious slavery to God, and licentiousness is a bad thing, subject to judgment and punishment. Your concepts are confused; and they became confused because the fear of God had departed. Where there is fear, there the soul holds itself in line and does not allow itself any freedom. But that's a thing of the past. If you have sinned, repent. How to move forward? – Learn to be hospitable, friendly, accommodating, without losing the fear of God and attention. You can't accept anyone. Must be accepted; but without harming yourself. You need to learn this ahead of time, in private. Sit down and figure out everything how to receive, how to greet, and how to speak, so that together you can listen to yourself and remember the Lord. Then, when someone comes, apply what you have thought up to the case, and when he leaves, reconsider how you acted and judge whether it is good. Do this once or twice and you’ll learn. What should you do with the food you send? Receive and eat for the glory of God. What great delicacy is eating pie, or apples and berries? Just make sure you don't get used to it. Once you get used to it, then you’ll start eating German cuisine yourself. So you will be an ascetic! “Of course, it’s hard to get used to it after eating a delicious pie several times a year.” But that's what could happen! Every time a holiday approaches, you will expect delicious dishes to be sent. They'll send it, okay. What if they forget? Annoyance, annoyance! - And the holiday will not be a holiday. How can this be? I don’t think there’s any need to refuse. Let them send it; accept. But try not to expect and be indifferent whether it will be sent or not. To make this happen, sometimes you don’t taste all of what you brought, and sometimes you don’t taste anything at all: give it to the poor sisters. Get used to it and you will become indifferent to the messages. Why refuse? Let others know that you have delicious dinners. And tell me yourself: I waited by force; ate-ate. Bodily needs are difficult to freeze: they will break through, but they will break through. What to do? Don't be too embarrassed about this. So call yourself: gourmet, gourmet! You are embarrassed that the sisters in the choir sometimes talk and grin. They sometimes need to speak for the sake of singing and reading; and here he is so wrong, that’s why he smiles involuntarily. If they deliberately start talking and laughing, it’s bad; but you cannot say this. In addition, they are in such a position that the enemy can more easily induce them to talk and laugh. Judge. It is for your sake that they sing and read; It became because of you that they receive wounds from the enemy. Pray for them, and don’t be annoyed. Every time something like this happens, rush to arouse pity for them in yourself, and from pity move on to prayer. Don't judge. You're still annoyed. It is impossible to be annoyed without condemnation. You yourself are in a different mood. Hurry to correct yourself; and leave the others. They stand and fall to their Lord (Rom. 14:4). After all, they chat and remain silent, and their conscience torments them; and you stand and condemn. Who is better before God—those who repent, or you who condemn? Not in church, but at home, they will sigh and repent, and God will forgive them; condemnation is difficult to forgive, because its sinfulness is difficult to feel. So take a good look at this. There is no need to change places in the church. Here, learn to behave properly. What do you care about them? There is an abbess, a treasurer, and a dean. Don't they see? But it is true that what happens in the choir happens on such a modest scale that there is no reason to reprimand. It's just too big for your eyes. Well, since this is such a terrible crime, and no one pays attention to it, take a stick and beat the criminals! – Someone complained to his elder about some disorder among the brethren. The elder told him: take a stick and beat them. “How,” he says, “is it possible? Am I the boss? “Well, if it’s not the boss,” added the elder, “what do you care about them?” Take it easy on this act. It is the fruit of a moment's entertainment, and is similar to your recent absent-minded chatter in NN. Maybe the one who laughs and talks the least is the least guilty. Provoke her; she won't be able to resist. Be lenient, remembering that judgment without mercy awaits those who themselves judge unmercifully (James 2:13). The rule of listening in church is good. Collect more contemplations for contemplation of God and smart prayer at home. That godly deed that you mentally walked around St. do not abandon the places sanctified by the feet of the Lord. Every day you need to rotate some thought in your head - which one will occupy and fall on your heart more. Without the exercise of thought, the soul will freeze. Do you have a book - answers to Barsanuphius and John? How many cases of both internal and external life have been analyzed there! It would be good for you to get it. The Charter of Nil Sorsky was recently released. This one is also good and very useful for those who pay attention to themselves. I had already finished this letter when I came across your previous letter, to which, it seems, I did not respond. I'm sorry, but I should! There you are such a fasting woman; and then they wanted some pies. - The way you hold the table on Friday is good; and it’s good, just like during fasting. And your drink of water and vinegar is good. Eastern. When your sister sends honey or someone jam, you can enjoy it. Everything is done only in moderation, and everything is for the glory of God. You ask, isn’t it ingratitude to stop reading akathists and canons? No. Ingratitude is to completely forget those to whom the akathists and canons were read. And if, instead of printed words, mentally, or in your own words, you call on them and thank them - this is the same as reading prayers, canons and akathists - and isn’t it even better? Address everyone with mental bows. – The more personal, fervent prayer, the better. Letter 714. At the onset of fasting. Home thief. About needlework May God bless you to speak, at least as the last nun should; for it’s quite a good time to spend this time, where should we go? Get ready to fast throughout Lent, both externally and internally. But you shouldn’t take too much either. To take too much means to take on a lot, to rely on oneself a lot, wanting to ask, to get out of the general rut, to show off. God save you from such aspirations and thoughts. To the best of your ability, avoid this enemy of all good success. So that you don’t forget, write it on paper and nail it somewhere to the wall, so that your eyes will see it more often, and not even read it. We need to take care of humility most of all. And you won’t notice how pride creeps in. Why, it is so diverse and so gossipy! That is why all the saints have so many warnings against it. – Don’t sit down in the church, okay. And when vanity comes, sit down on purpose so that you can tell your thoughts when you start to feel vanity: after all, you sat down yourself. One father, when the thought of vanity came that he was fasting a lot, went out early to where there were a lot of people, sat down and began to eat bread. In Kyiv, someone fasted a lot and kept himself alone. The thought of vanity came, followed by other temptations. He told the late elder Parthenius about this. He gave him money and sent him to the market. Buy, so to speak, liver and eat it there in front of everyone. He did this, and all temptations passed away. This is how the fathers feared and ran away from vanity. Often you criticize yourself from this side. The trouble is considerable! This, they say, is a domestic thief who is in conspiracy with outdoor thieves. He opens windows and doors for them; they enter and create great devastation within. Who knows? Perhaps that darkness that happened to you and passed away immediately after you prayed is an enemy’s trick to give rise to proud thoughts: what a prayer book! As I prayed, all the demons fled. Remember: if you had thoughts of vanity after that, then know that it is the enemy who wants to piss you off. Be careful that the enemy doesn’t turn it into harm because you don’t read prayers, but follow the rule of worship. There goes the spiritual sweets! All this is lovely. And the visions wouldn't work. – Satan will come in the form of an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), and will confuse you. You're the only ones there alone. How long to twist! Like a weak cane, the enemy’s cunning will split. Well, look, don't get lost in the net. Who should look after your soul other than yourself? Review your daily heart movements in the evening and judge yourself strictly. For malfunctions, impose a fine on yourself and comply with it. You must definitely have a job; and the rougher it is, the better. Clean and smart work is too busy, and distracts attention from the main task and cools you down. Choose one that suits your eyes, and work every day without fail. Work with contemplation of God, a little reading, and more bowing and prayer - that’s all. Move from one thing to another, time will pass unnoticed, and boredom will not come. When someone doesn’t answer you, start praying, and he will answer if you need an answer. And if you don’t need it, why bother? Try to be indifferent in this regard, trusting in the Lord, who will arrange everything as best for you. Letter 715. Preparing to be tonsured into the ryassophore. Spring. Leader to humility. Emergency Fight Warning May the Lord bless you to prepare to take monastic vows with dignity. Even though he is still small, everyone must accept him with attention and reverence. The name you chose is good. May God grant you the tears of Magdalene and her love for the Lord. Look, when you put on the ryassophore, don’t think that it’s all over and you can lay down other weapons. No. This is where the storm may begin. Now the enemy doesn’t quite distinguish you yet; and when you get dressed, you will become more visible, and it will be more convenient for him to aim arrows at you. Proceed with fear. Lent has passed, the holidays have arrived, and spring is just around the corner. Nature, having cried, will begin to warm up, and the seeds entrusted to it will open up for fruiting. Don't forget to imitate her. Warm up and shed some tears. Your seeds will unfold and lay the foundation for fruit production in due time. Spring gives life; but since this liveliness has a basis in animal life, it is accompanied by a cooling of the spirit. If you don't be careful and cut yourself some slack, trouble is not far away. That's when the enemy crouches in the secret places (Ps. 9:29), so as to catch it by chance. It will come from either here or here, and before you know it, it will laugh. May God grant you to be wise in everything. I forgot that I wrote to you about humility and simplicity. Unfold Isaac the Syrian and review all his articles on humility. How many times has he returned to this subject?! Most of all, you need to take care of this virtue, because you take upon yourself feats that cannot be hidden. Having looked at them, because they themselves get into your eyes, the soul begins to trumpet them to itself; and this is the beginning of pride and subsequent falls. Save you, Most Pure Mother of God - exalted and humble! May the Lord also deliver you from extreme struggles. As a necessary science of humility, they are allowed to those who work hard. They say - passion, what happens! “You had Father John there, a great priest, what horrors he endured!” But he overcame everything with the help of God; and the river of life flowed quietly and cleanly. – Or was it in vain that I wished you relief from such trials? – And if it becomes necessary that there is no other way to step forward!! - So it’s better to submit to God’s determination and be ready to accept everything that the Lord wants to send or allow. Keep this in mind and be vigilant. These tests are both external and internal. The first ones are more tolerable, although they also turn into internal ones, or are accompanied by them. But to those who believe, promises are given that they can do all things through the Lord who strengthens them (Phil. 4:13). Do not take these words as any kind of warning. This is written because, just as it happens to others, it does not prevent us from knowing about it just in case. You have to keep your ears sharp. And according to the word of God: watch and pray (Matthew 26:41). Letter 716. About vanity, evening checking of one’s behavior and about tears As if vanity over prayer doesn’t bother you?! God bless! But do you see yourself correctly? Look; Climacus says that vanity is like a thorn, no matter how you turn it, everything goes up, and it pricks. You need to be smart in reasoning thoughts. Strict attention to yourself, with the fear of God, will teach you everything. What you do in the evening is very good. Carefully analyze the what, why, and how, and come up with ways to avoid wrongs and outwit the evil one, turning everything to your advantage. Beating yourself with a rosary or some other punishment doesn’t hurt. But you can still remain a debtor, multiplying your debts every day. And force yourself to feel like that. This will help support a contrite and humble heart, which God will not despise (Ps. 50:19). Pursue humility, which always runs away. It is the trace of Christ, the fragrance of Christ, the robe of Christ! For his sake, God will forgive everything and will not exact all the shortcomings of his exploits; and without it, no severity will help. That the prayer is warm, thank the Lord. Can't you save your tears for your cell so that no one can see them outside? Hold back in church, but cry at home, as they cry for the dead. So that's what tea is. Kelly - coffin; and we are dead. When will the revival come? Lord, save and have mercy! Letter 717. How to improve your spiritual life Take good care of yourself. How many wrong thoughts have passed through your soul! Repent and ask permission; Take heed in advance, how dangerously you walk (Eph.5:15). You have little to do - in church, in your cell, sometimes in relations with others. In all these cases, determine for yourself a course of action in accordance with the commandments, to every task, then apply the motivation - to do everything for the glory of God and the good of your neighbors - sisters - with selflessness and self-sacrifice - and then do not deviate from anything. And your activities will be right in everything. What else will remain? - The soul, which you should take more seriously. Our whole life is made up of deeds and thoughts. Arrange things; undertake to organize your thoughts - this is the most necessary thing. May the Lord make you wise in all this. Do you have a book? – Read, reason and apply to yourself. Applying to yourself is the purpose and fruit of reading. If you read without this application to yourself, it will be of no use, and even evil. Only theories are collected in the head, and they teach not to direct themselves towards good, but to condemn others. Lift up your ears and listen to this one. – If you already have the Philokalia; find and read Hesychius on sobriety. Here is written the very guide to managing and organizing thoughts. Read it more carefully, understand it more heartily, and then act according to the instructions there. You must have every fear of God. He is the root of all science and every good work. When he rules in the soul, then everything goes well both inside and outside. First of all, try to warm it up every morning. Then he will go and move everyone, like some kind of lever. May the Lord cover you with His grace, and may everyone give you good guidance into the good mood of your heart and thoughts. Beware. The enemy is cunning, and knows how to confuse with both his gums and his neck. Letter 718. On remembering death and contrition. About the Philokalia Disease! What to do? Be patient and thank God, saying to yourself: “This disease is a sin for the sake of my great and countless. The Lord takes away my strength in order to at least calm me down. He doesn't know how to fix me. Both mercy and sorrowful visits - everything has been re-experienced, and everything is of no use. The hour of death is approaching; and when it comes, what should my curse do then? Lord my God! Have mercy on Your weak creation!” In an illness, even if it is mild, all death will come to mind in order to give the soul the opportunity to experience how true the word of the All-Wise is: remember your last, and you will never sin (Sir.7:39). I’ve already told you that it’s good to get pictures - the death of a sinner and the death of a righteous man; I would like to add the Last Judgment and ordeal, and nail it all somewhere right in front of my eyes, so that they meet more often and remind me of the outcome. What a wise and incessantly verbose sermon from them! May only the Lord open the ears of the heart to listen to what is being said in it! Blessed is your disposition that you constantly feel contrition of heart. This is an indigenous Christian disposition. All feelings pleasing to God are strung on it, like on a string of beads, and all the exploits of the ceiling have a price, insofar as they come from it, and they are required and supported. Glory to You, Lord, that you have this. Warm up this feeling in any way you can: by meditation, reading, prayer. God will not despise a contrite and humble heart. Got the Philokalia! – The entire book has been collected with the goal of teaching contrition and heartfelt attention to those who do not have this, and to show those who do have ways to improve and strengthen. It is a pity that it is not always clear in the ancient translation. But I believe that what is understandable will be very enough. Start reading from Hesychius, then move on to Diadochus, Theoliptus, Gregory of Sinaiti and others. - When you have read these instructions well, then read the others. Don’t get confused by some external techniques or the clever Jesus Prayer. For others they are needed, but for you they are not needed. Time has passed. You should know the place of the heart that is spoken about there. Don't touch anything else. The work of God is simple; prayer is the speech of children to the Father, without any showiness. May the Lord make you wise for salvation. Letter 719. Fear and love. Work on yourself. Caution and discernment towards inner revelations It is very comforting to know that everything is fine inside you. Love for the Lord is the main thing. Thank God she exists. “But there is also fear, which love does not banish.” This is what I wrote about. It does not torment, but sobers; and although all nature shakes, it shocks pleasantly and sweetly. He shares his work with us with love. Either this or that one takes over, but both always act in the soul. Even Angels should be like this. Keep the prayer rule as it is; Just be careful when turning into the mechanism. The form is empty - what is there? You have to put your soul into it. And don’t forget thoughts of God, reading, and physical labor. And you shouldn’t forget anything. There is a hard way. We must pay attention, be sober and stay awake. God help you in everything. What is the point of what you heard in your heart and mind, who can figure it out? How did it work well for you; then it must be done by the Angel of God. Everyone has a Guardian Angel, and so do you. He speaks with his tongue to the soul, which is the same as him. The trace of speech is imprinted on the mind and heart. Something similar happens to everyone who pays attention to himself. But in general, such actions must be taken with great caution and distrust. God forbid you take the wrong step. It happens that the enemy points out something that seems right; but he wants to lead astray, deviating on the fly. You need to pay attention and not believe everything indiscriminately. Letter 720. Instructions for the onset of fasting. Be afraid of change. Danger to the spiritual business of travel. About the writings of unbelievers Happy post! May God help you to spend it soul-savingly. Don't impose too much. I don’t have the strength to fulfill obedience and fulfill the rule. Everything in moderation. Pay more attention to the inner, and more strictly analyze everything that happens there, in the light of the word of God with fatherly instructions. A small crookedness there threatens with great disaster. You are afraid of change. Be afraid. This fear will be a warning. There are changes not from us: they must be tolerated with grace. And there are changes from our oversight: they must be reproached and mourned. So we are weak and unfaithful. Root the thought of death deeper and stand in it; get up with it and go to sleep with it. And stand in prayer as if you were standing at God’s judgment, at that moment when the final decision about you is ready to come from the mouth of the Lord. At the same time, never keep in your mind that you have done something, but are only still beginning: you are just beginning, but have not done anything yet. Tell yourself so; and do not see any exploits or deeds behind you. Pray that the Lord will close them from your consciousness and sweep them away from the face of your soul; and you would always see her naked, having nothing. This will drive away relaxation and inflame jealousy. You are getting ready to go on a journey and are waiting for it as a special consolation, but I am afraid because of it. There comes a fear that you will dissipate. You will become distracted, cool, and then you will not be able to control yourself. This is what scares me. Cooling can occur at home too. The Lord allows him either to test whether the soul is true, or to show that there is a person without grace-filled overshadowing. It's nothing. You can immediately notice it and take care of yourself. And on the road you won’t even notice how stiff you become. How many objects will fit in your head?! And you decide; well, at least somehow; I worked as hard as I should before. And one form will go without strength and life. Wouldn't it be better for you to give up traveling? It is better not to get acquainted with the writings of unbelievers, even by refuting them. We already owed our dues, and sometimes it’s annoying and sometimes embarrassing. What are they printing now? All sorts of rubbish. Since you are now busy creating your inner self, you need to rest in the bosom of faith. She is the basis; and should not tolerate even small hesitations in you: otherwise you will have no time to do your work - all fears will go around - just as one who is building a church or a house cannot work when the stage beneath him trembles and threatens to fall. All points of faith should be as undoubted for you as your own existence, and clear as day. We follow the path of the Saints, through whose glorification the Lord made us know that this path is true and reliable. And that's enough for us. What about wisdom? There is no end to them, and there never will be. Every time gives birth to its own. And the poor mind, straying from faith, swirls in them and is crushed by them. Better skip such articles when you come across them. Letter 721. Instructions for a strict fasting woman about reducing her fast. Deviation from new pilgrimage journeys When did you ask? Halfway through the post! My answer, written immediately, was received on Palm Sunday. If only at the beginning of the post, I would never have allowed you to exhaust yourself so much. Nowhere is it written to take on too much of a post without a special need. Fasting is an external matter. It must be undertaken at the request of inner life. What need do you have for such excessive fasting? And so you eat little by little. The measure that has already been established could be maintained during Lent. And then you always have Lent. And then we have to spend whole days without food?! It would have been possible to do this too, in the week when they were preparing to receive Holy Communion. Tain. Why languish yourself like this all through Lent? And they would have to eat a little every day. Your thoughts would always consider you a eater and a drinker, but now it rightly calls you: and you must fight. Sometimes the pleasure of one’s achievement will burst through, and for this God’s punishment follows, usually manifested by a decrease in warmth and composure. In view of this evil, I cannot call your fasting good. Bring it in moderation. On this Pentecost, keep the table according to the rules, or in relation to them. And for the rest of the time, lighten your fast. You don't need one like that at all. I'm very sorry for you; But I say this about fasting not out of pity, but out of confidence that it does not benefit you much, and self-delusion is close - a great and great misfortune! Again to Kyiv, and even to Jerusalem!! “The last time we traveled to Kyiv, they said: “I’ll turn around, sit down, and go nowhere except to Sarov.” How long have you been in Sarov: now the urge to go again - and so far away. No. This is not God's business. Sit down and refuse any exits or travel. This will save you, otherwise it will ruin you. The time has come. Going to worship now means moving backwards. That which is especially pleasing to the Lord is the worship of St. places, you can do it at home. You wrote that you have the custom of mentally visiting all the places sanctified by the feet of the Lord and offering reverent worship to Him there. This is what visiting St. places the Lord pleases! Do this, and the Lord will consider you to be in holy places in Jerusalem (or Kyiv) every day. For those who have not yet found the way inside themselves, such journeys are helpful, but for those who have found them, they are ruinous: they lead you out from the inside. You are now perfected in abiding within; otherwise, leave the external. Now you put it this way: never set foot outside the city, and for the monastery unless it’s an extreme need. And then a cell, and a church, a cell, and a church. This feat is higher even than fasting. When fasting, go easy on yourself, but when it comes to sitting at home in solitude, bind yourself more strictly. Letter 722. A crappy little poem and wandering around the world; stern protection from self-will, vanity and distraction A witty self-starter and stubborn in everything! You don't want to listen to anything. Well, live as you want. This trashy poem of yours will not lead to good. There are already the beginnings of self-delusion, but you don’t see it. Look what you write: “I’m not what I was before.” This is called self-conceit. You go on to say: “don’t even say you’re against a trip to Voronezh and Zadonsk; I won’t listen.” This is called self-will. Finally, about prayer - that “you better pray this way and that way.” This means following your tastes. From these three - self-will, self-will and conceit - the destructive spirit of delusion is composed. It is in your beginnings; but if you are not careful and you all act in the same order, it will grow and destroy you. And it's all the poem's fault! It sticks out in front of you, completely out of place. Who is against fasting? Fasting is one of the first deeds of a monk and a Christian. But one cannot help but rebel against immoderate fasting. This one is harmful. Only empty rumor excites outwardly, and vanity inwardly. Your old ladies are truly grumbling: here we have an ascetic; He eats one prosphora and doesn’t light a fire. And you are even stronger and stronger. They talk about trifles, but in you they give rise to the worm of vanity and a high opinion of yourself: “I’m not the same now.” Your tongue sometimes speaks humble speeches, but it lies in your heart that you have already risen high, and, as a matter of fact, have surpassed everyone. It always happens that way. If you start focusing on external achievements, you will immediately fall into spiritual pride. And let the enemy get away with it. Well, mother, add more, add more. And mother with all her might! He thinks that he pleases God, but in reality he amuses the enemy, and the boil of vanity inflates and expands. I am writing to you all this unsweetened information because of the danger you are in. Look around and, while there is time, fix the matter. It seems to you that I want to fatten you up. Not at all. I would like to direct you to a moderate post that would keep you in humble feelings. Otherwise you won’t know where you’ll end up. Talk about this with whomever you want, everyone will say the same. It doesn’t take long to distort your inner self with unreasonable outer ones; but you can’t suddenly fix it again properly. This bad feeling will begin to deepen within you that you are no longer what you were before; warmth, tenderness and contrition will begin to diminish. When the heart grows cold, then what? Beware of this. The path of humble, moderate action is the most reliable. And you shouldn’t wander around the world. Sitting in a cell is more valuable than wandering. Holy places and St. relics are honored internally better than externally. Journey to St. in some places, as I already wrote, in the beginning it was more convenient for you; and now it is no good for you. Why don't you heed this? Because you believe only in your own mind and follow your own will. You have your own will in everything - you have the law. Where will this lead? Forgive me, for the Lord's sake, for the rude writing. I am doing this out of a sincere and warm wish for your true good. Letter 723. About the same thing. A mental journey through St. places I repeat again: who is against fasting? But break the fast, and at least leave the other. This is yours. And I consider him this way not for his own sake, but because he leads you into doubt about how your entire last letter was fulfilled. So one cannot help but rebel against him as the cause of such a dangerous mood of spirit. Fasting itself is blessed. Eating less and sleeping less is a good thing. Still, it is necessary in moderation. And besides, the soul must be protected by deep humility. Writing the way he wrote, he had one thing in mind - to arouse in you caution and vigilant observation of the enemy’s suggestions, which he knows how to approach so skillfully that you won’t even notice. He will begin with subtle thoughts and lead to great deeds of his kind. Look, for the Lord's sake, be ashamed of yourself. May the Lord help you to become more deeply established in feelings of self-abasement and humility! You agree to some concessions. But it was still impossible without contradictions. I had to smarten up. How? What did you learn? That’s what science is for, to contradict, in defiance of the Apostle, who commanded: Do not be content with words, nor will I require anything (2 Tim. 2:14). St. Gregory of Nyssa, brother of St. Basil the Great, how he rebelled against female travelers! Gregory Dvoeslov, whose presanctified liturgy we have, did the same. And of the ascetics, how many were displeased with this?! And you are all yours. Sit in a monastery, or in a cell: this is the greatest feat. Go around the holy places mentally, as you do, and worship mentally the Lord, who showed them signs of His favor towards us. This is better than bodily worship. And everything intelligent, heartfelt, spiritual is incomparably higher than the visible. Even the visible appearance of an Angel is lower than the angelic invisible guiding suggestion. Confirm yourself in the cell sitting and not leaving the monastery. This is the real science of monasticism. Prayer, reading, and needlework in the cell, and obedience in the church, and that’s it. How simple and uncomplicated! What don’t you pick up on the road? Why haven’t you seen and heard enough? Letter 724. Bloodless martyr. The complaint is holy. Tikhon. The quality of true obedience. Passport to heaven. By the name of life let there be I will grieve your sorrow for your brother. May God rest his soul. He died due to work at work. God bless! There is a martyrdom part to it. Thank the Lord for such a death. Serve a grateful prayer service that God took your brother to Himself in this manner from this bitter land. You have to marvel at how it’s possible to cry for the dead: you can’t do without it, you can’t resist, but they don’t give thanks for them. After all, everyone knows that it is better there. He died in faith, before his death he confessed and received communion. You would say: blessed is the path you are following today, and thank God, wishing for yourself a speedy departure. You complained to Saint Tikhon about me. Is it fair? After all, I didn’t wish you any harm by advising you not to go. And not just for this occasion, but forever. My thought is that you need to give up all thoughts about traveling and make a covenant - not to go even beyond the gates of the monastery, unless absolutely necessary. You did well that you didn’t go, not only because there was a feat of obedience for you, but also because staying at home is healthier for you. Because you have grieved, may the Lord reward you with spiritual consolations. Mentally worship St. relics and St. places. St. Tikhon and St. Mitrofan faithfully accepted your heartfelt worship to them, as if you were at the cancer of their relics. You called reluctant obedience mechanical obedience. In fact, it happens that it is only obedience that has a fruitful effect on the formation of character, which is carried out contrary to one’s will and one’s own considerations. If something is done according to the desire of the heart, what kind of obedience is there? It has its own will and its own taste. Only a question brightens up such matters a little. True obedience obeys without seeing any reason and despite one’s reluctance. Such obedience is promised a special grace - the grace of preservation from all harm while fulfilling obedience. When obedience is for the sake of the Lord, then the Lord takes the one who obeys into His care and watches over him. It seemed to me that you wanted to be secretive so as not to face reproaches. I do this not to satisfy my bad temper, but out of fear for you. Come on, stop. It’s a sin not to say: look at your feet when you see in front of someone a ditch into which he is ready to fall, due to carelessness. I’m not telling you anything more than: watch how dangerously you walk. Above all, beware of arrogance and other things that are contrary to humility. With humility and without great feats you can get to heaven; and without it, like without a passport, they will not be allowed into the paradise of God, which is entirely filled with humble people. May the Lord make you wise! - Look, what do your names mean? Sophia is wisdom, which, enlightened by faith, holds everything searchingly and kindly (1 Thessalonians 5:20); Michael – strong in God; John - the grace of the Lord. Simple faith and grace attracts and makes a person strong to do all that is good - related to the glorification of the name of God. Here's the program for you! Let your life be according to your name. May God grant you to take on all these traits and keep them within yourself; on the contrary, save it! Letter 725. About riasophoria. About the writings of Macarius of Optina. Him. The illiterate traveler and the plucked dove You are waiting and will not wait for the ryassophore. Will come. But this is still an engagement: the wedding is far away. We must direct our desires towards this as the main thing, and at the request of this we must arrange everything in ourselves and around ourselves. I mean not external, but internal. You write that you have all read the letters of the Optina Elder Macarius. Blessed are his books. A deep spirit of humility blows through them and instills it in everyone who reads them. Re-read often. It doesn’t hurt to make extracts so that, in case of need, you can warm up the spirit of humility, which is the most self-needing of all spirits. You decided not to go to Zadonsk and Voronezh, but to Kyiv again you make a wish: - and here, out of respectful necessity, to accompany a friend who, due to weakening or loss of vision, needs the guidance of a loved one. What to do here? I feel very sorry for you, and I feel sorry for your friend, and I’m worried. I would like to decide this: God’s protection is strong; Trusting in God’s love for mankind, which always protects us, go, warming the fear of God and constant caution in your heart. But I remembered that the Lord told the Apostles: the enemy wants to sift you like wheat (Luke 22:31), that is, he manages in every possible way to break your thoughts, scatter your attention, and, plunging you into darkness of thoughts, cool your soul and alienate your heart from the Lord; - I remembered this, and it brought fear for you. Why I decide: refuse and stay at home. Having in mind the misfortune indicated by the Lord, can you say that you will outwit the enemy and return to your cell safe and sound? Remember, as in the fable, the dove flew to freedom and came back plucked, with a broken leg, and a dislocated wing. Can you say that nothing like this will happen to your soul? -Can’t? So do not plunge into danger without a faithful guarantee that it will pass you by. Your friend will find another travel companion. God bless them! And you refuse. For this, the Lord will comfort you as much as you expect. Letter 726. New Year's greetings. Holiday benefit. What is a monk? Peace in the heart. Should we accept strangers? Happy New Year! May the Lord bless you to work this summer, according to your strength, for the glory of His most holy name. He does well who starts each day as if he had never done anything at all before. He who forgets his hindsight is the wisest man. May God grant us to be able to do this too. You ate a little more than usual, and scold yourself. What is there to scold for? On holidays, you need to give some benefits to your body. Let the partner in labors also be a partner in consolations. You eat almost nothing. At least they ate more on holidays. But one must always reproach oneself and cry before the Lord. We are all sinners, and one cannot help but have a feeling of sinfulness. But sometimes this feeling goes away. Then the words remain repentant, but the deeds are not. Lord, deliver me from this! Is your friend afraid of monasticism? In fact, we, monks, take on a terrible task upon ourselves. Let's figure out what a monk is? You don’t need this, you don’t need that, and there is no end – you don’t need everything. One God and one soul - that’s a monk. How to get there? Whatever you want, get there; for if someone is not like that, then he is not a monk. But no matter how difficult it is, the spirit of jealousy comes and dispels all fears. We cannot contain this spirit. He finds, is accepted by the heart, and produces great changes within. This is the origin of all true monks! It has become more direct to say that monks do not make themselves monks. But there are quiet natures who are unsuited to great feats of self-sacrifice. It is more akin to them to live humbly, in simplicity of heart, doing good and helping everyone in need. Does your friend think that by giving up the noise of the world, she has already done everything? Does she know that there is peace in the heart, namely: living independently for your own pleasure? God save her from such a mood. But others have it, who nevertheless think that they are on the good path. You received strangers and treated them. How is this possible? After all, accept one, pity the other. Do this one day, and the next the same case will open. And there open the cell; and all your orders will have to be changed. No, this will lead in the wrong direction; and you better not take on this matter. So help those in need with something, but the troubles of providing food are difficult and will lead you far. If you have decided to learn solitude, do not interfere with the progress of this skill, and keep yourself strictly away from anything that can entertain you. Letter 727. The pacified traveler. A clearing on the path of spiritual life. The danger of taking a crooked road It’s very good that you’ve finally calmed down about travel. And sit down with a determined thought within the walls of the monastery, and even more closely, within the walls of the cell, not allowing it to wander here and there, to different enterprises. While diligently following the rule, maintain sobriety of mind and warmth of heart. The latter, when it begins to decline, hasten to warm it up, firmly knowing that as soon as it is gone, this means that more than half the path to retreat from God has been passed. The fear of God is the guardian and activator of inner warmth. But you also need humility, patience, loyalty to the rules, and most of all sobriety. Pay attention to yourself, for God's sake. Disturb yourself in every possible way so as not to fall asleep, or wake up after dozing off. Tea, I keep telling you the same thing. It wouldn't be boring. But how could it be otherwise? That's the whole point. That, as a rule, we dozed off several times, nothing, when without indulgence, but according to the irresistible demand of nature. Is it because of illness? Nothing. God will forgive. You just need to run away from indulgences. What’s worse is that they were angry and annoyed. Take a good look: everything here is old man. The self is alive, and sin is all alive. Sit down, repent and mourn yourself. Measure yourself not by exploits, but by the fading of passions. Anything that freezes is a step forward. And when everyone is gone; then say: thank God! got out into the clearing; Now I’ll walk more calmly, otherwise I’m all torn up, walking among the thorns along the thorns. Lord make you wise for your salvation! For God's sake, look inside yourself and take care to maintain the order there. The external one is needed, but it is a stand. I am afraid, very afraid, that you will stop at external order. You will freeze in it, and everything will go upside down. So, please, direct all your attention to this point, so that the enemy does not disgrace you by pushing you onto crooked roads. Letter 728. Advice on imaginary and true humility. A zealous, self-initiated faster Why has there been no news from you about your affairs for so long? By force! Thank God that you work and do not forget to humble yourself. Humility of oneself is not yet humility, but the desire and search for it. May God help you to achieve it. There is a spirit of delusion, which, one does not know how, bypasses the soul with its cunning, and confuses its thoughts so that it thinks that it is humble, but inside it hides proud conceit. So you need to look closely at the heart. The best thing to do here is to have a restrained external relationship. But how they are not there; then work on yourself, learning to look at everyone as if from under a mountain to a mountain, and not as from a mountain down a hill. May the Lord be merciful to you, and the Lady Theotokos, and Saints Tikhon and Mitrofan, in whose region the first ray of grace descended into your heart. God bless your fasting! I say this because - what will you do with you? Do not forget, at least when weakness overcomes, to strengthen yourself for a day or two. When I look at everything you do, it turns out that you are a complete autocrat: you do everything according to your own plans. That's what we should call you. Your name is Sophia - wisdom, not your own, but God's; and when someone does not want God’s wisdom, but decides to make do with his own, then he develops wayward self-wisdom. As he thinks, so it is good for him. And do whatever you want, you won’t be able to change it. Take heed that you walk dangerously, not as if you were not wise, but as if you were wise (Eph. 5:15). Letter 729. The fear of God is sobering. Instructions on effort and attention when fulfilling the rule The Lord be your helper in everything! Have you forgotten about the sobering fear of God? If he moves away from you, attract him back quickly. So accustom yourself to behave alone at home, as if you were in full view of everyone, and even more directly, as if you were in the presence of the king. Let the frost bite a little. One must live with timidity, as if fearing something. There is something to be afraid of. May the Lord and His Most Pure Mother protect you with His blood. You have to work hard on the prayer rule. In the monastery of St. The Sava bows from the waist to each Jesus Prayer, and after every ten, to the ground. You can do the same. But it seems possible to say a certain number of prayers while standing, without bowing. This is in the rule of Father Seraphim. How do you apply it? You just need to bother yourself, at least in moderation. Otherwise, a small benefit will lead to a big one, and everything can be ruined. When you become a rule, but your head becomes so confused that you can’t cope with it, you need to force it to order, first with some calming thoughts: for this means that the fear has gone away and the soul has become indomitable. If this does not help, start reading some prayers, and read with attention until your mind gathers itself. When he is in order, then begin bowing. He who bows with his head distracted is a reed shaken by the wind. However, this blessed work itself will teach you how to act in which case. Letter 730. Dryness and comfort. Change in rule. A lesson on the occasion of the eruption of internal condemnation. About extracts and recording good thoughts Let us bless the Lord for both dryness and consolation. Where exactly to live? Both in the middle and outside everything flows changeably. Stop, look and figure out how you should behave in everything. Reasoning for this is given to man. May your prayer be answered! You change something in the rules: good. The painful turning to God in the heart and falling down only does not go away, but the external can be changed by applying it in the best way. Hold on to all that is tempting (1 Thessalonians 5:21). You made a little mistake. The fear of God has subsided, and with it attention has subsided; and you fell into condemnation. What you say is true: you have sinned internally. Repent quickly and beg forgiveness from the Lord. There is punishment for this, and it is internal. Condemnation is not only accomplished by words; but also by the internal movement of the heart. It already exists, as soon as the soul thinks unfavorably about someone. What to do? It broke through: beware ahead. Here you wrote what activities you are used to. Where would you be without them when you go on the road? If they weren’t alone, they wouldn’t be able to do much. Meanwhile, speech after speech would have completely broken down. For this tea, someone from the cell calls you! Just hold on. Until you sat down, you could travel freely, and once you sat down, it was better not to move. Stay at home, they say, and your cell will teach you everything. So much for the law of old age! You make notes: good. It occurred to me to ask you: do any good thoughts come to you when reading or praying about the order of spiritual life? If they come, get a book or notebook and write them down at the same time as they come, not writing, but expressing only what came. One of the ascetics, I forget who, never missed them, but always wrote them down on the wall with charcoal. Write it down. Afterwards, you will sometimes run, and thereby refresh good memories. I mean such thoughts that are born of themselves, occupy attention, and move the heart - good, edifying thoughts. A crucifix is ​​good to have. The bigger it is, the better. The one with a group of people is even better. Magdalene, your future name, will also be there. Letter 731. Works and benefits. Judgment and condemnation. Tears. Waiting for Rasophoria May God help you to establish order. Work hard in every possible way while you have the strength, only in moderation. Old age will come and it will require benefits. The fact that you began to eat milk on special days is good and you need it for reinforcement. And you can always have such a benefit. It is not bad what has been done regarding the performance of prayers - not all at once. More convenient. Gossip is a feminine weakness, of course, unworthy of praise. However, we must distinguish between condemnation and condemnation. Sin begins when contempt for someone arises in the heart, for the sake of some kind of thinness, one can simply condemn without any sentence to the person being judged. If at the same time there is regret in the heart for the person who has made a mistake, a desire for correction and a prayer for that; then there will be no sin of condemnation, but the work of love possible at such a meeting will be accomplished. The sin of condemnation is more in the heart than in the tongue. Speaking about the same thing can be a sin and not a sin, judging by the feeling with which it is spoken. The tone of speech also gives the feeling. But it is better to refrain from judgment in every possible way, so as not to fall into condemnation; i.e., do not walk near fire and soot, so as not to get burned and blackened. Rather, you need to switch to condemning and reproaching yourself. May the Lord preserve your tears in you forever, if this is possible. They add softness and tenderness. But you have to hide it. For vanity hangs around them like a dog around well-fed food. You need to have meaning in order to manage them properly. Ryasophoria is still just waiting. See if it adds or takes away from you. God forbid the former, and not the latter, the manatean nun is as good as dead; and the ryasophora is half-dead. Strive and die. May the Lord guide you! Letter 732. Packing for travel without return. A means to establish itself in mortal memory. There is no end to the growth of prayer. About the scattering of thoughts You are about to set off on a journey of no return. And he is closer to me. Just look, you'll fall down. Cholera is around us. But you can die without it. And if you can, you need to prepare. And you always need to prepare, and not only prepare, but also be completely ready. But our great misfortune is that the living thing tells fortunes, and the living thing drives away the memory of impending death. And you forget that death is behind you. That’s why some people made the coffin and placed it before our eyes; but I think you can get used to it. Others were forced to ask themselves whether they would order the coffin to be completed, or the grave to be dug. One elder had the custom of often looking outside the door to see if the Angel of Death was coming. - All this shows that, no matter how certain it is that we will die, the memory of death must be managed to instill and root in the soul. Take care of this saving thought so that it does not go away. In the morning, as soon as you wake up, turn your thoughts to the last minute, and to what immediately follows it - God’s decision. Stand in this mindset and walk like this all day. Look what your soul promises: enter into joy, or, bound, cast into darkness (Matthew 25:21:22:13). There must still be some foreknowledge of what will happen then. But it is better to cry out: have mercy on Your creation, Master! You are reading the Philokalia; Fine. Do not get confused in the articles of Ignatius and Callistus, Gregory of Sinai and Nikephoros. Look to see if anyone has the life of Elder Paisius of Nyametsky. There are prefaces to some articles of the Philokalia, compiled by Elder Basil. These articles explain a lot about the meaning of the mechanism in the production of the Jesus Prayer. They will help you understand everything properly. I already mentioned that you don’t need that mechanism. What he will give you already have from the moment you are called. Do not come to the wrong thought that the work of your prayer is already finished. The growth of prayer has no end. If this growth stops, then life has stopped. God bless you and have mercy! You can leave the proper state, and take the memory of it for the state itself. God forbid! If you feel your thoughts wandering: take care. This is very dangerous. The enemy wants to drive you into some slum and kill you there. Thoughts begin to wander as fear diminishes and the heart cools. The cooling of the heart has many reasons. The main one is complacency and conceit. These are very similar to you. Be careful and hasten to awaken the fear of God and warm your soul. Otherwise, dissipation and cooling will increase. The enemy is here, and he will start throwing stones and attacking you. An absent-minded person is like a house with open windows without an owner. Anyone who wants to throws stones and all sorts of rubbish there. The owner returns and is amazed at the multitude of all sorts of rubbish thrown in; so you can’t live without clearing everything. So the soul, having returned to itself from distraction, sometimes finds a lot of rubbish in itself - from thoughts that have become infected, leaving traces on the heart. Sit down and clean yourself. But it’s good as the hunt takes it; otherwise everything will remain the same. That's the problem! God bless you and have mercy. Letter 733. Dreams and the danger that arises from them for the ascetic. What is speechlessness Dreams!! – Do they really occupy you and stay in your head? Revelation or what? Wasteland - dreams. And make sure that the enemy doesn’t manage to deceive you somehow through them. Will show plausible dreams; and then he will begin to blow a trumpet in his ears: God has sent you a notice for your labors, and so on. One-two-three; you see, the soul will bend towards this side. But just have her believe even by an inch that it is from God; immediately there will be a feeling of well-being, self-esteem - secret thoughts, appropriate for all humility. The enemy would only have time to fill this into his soul; and then everything will go smoothly for him. So take a closer look. If there was something like that, then there is something of the enemy here. For the Lord's sake, humble yourself in every possible way. You especially need to take care to take root of this feeling. Your fasting and prayer rule have the appearance of a peculiarity. There is room for the enemy here. He’ll come up and start saying: you’re a prayer book, you’re a faster, not like those sloths, eaters and drinkers, and so on. – What is prayer really? God willing, there is; but no, you can’t collect thoughts. What's the post? Absolute nothing. The evil one never eats himself. If you're not careful, you'll be in trouble. Look, how could he not come in some bright form?! Just look at it. Look, if there is even a fleeting thought in your soul that your dreams were something special, then there will be trouble. Keep your ears sharp. You yourself know better. Stand before the Lord, and by the light of His face define yourself. If there is anything, it must be erased to the roots, so that not even a small trace remains. What is speechlessness, you ask? This word comes from wordless animals, without reason. Silence will be all that makes a person like animals - senseless beasts, a life not governed by reason, but flowing according to the movement of passions, and especially carnal ones. Letter 734. Grumpiness as a sign of self-will. Menial labor knocks down arrogance. Alarm signal You are not in a good mood. The soul became grumpy. There are a lot of claims in my soul. She will work a little, and the whole world will walk around her. Those who live in obedience seem to be free from this grumbling of the soul, but those who do much of their own free will suffer from it as much as possible. Isn’t this the reason why you missed your cell with your little troubles? One must endure; For we are condemned worthily to eat our bread by the sweat of our brow. This menial labor is especially useful because it knocks down a lot of arrogance. Menialism is related to a humble opinion of oneself, and Belarusianism is related to arrogance. Don't give up the first one. It seems to me from your speeches and thoughts that you were not a stranger to conceit when you wrote. I sense trouble for you from this, and I sound the alarm. Look! Who should look after you if not yourself? What will outsiders see? - Look through it; This will lead to cooling, followed by weakening of attention, then wandering of thoughts, then a loosening of the usual order of life, dissatisfaction in prayer, and all sorts of trouble. At first there will be no bad thoughts, only empty ones; then the bad ones will appear on the sly, and more and more often. Then the heart combines with them, and things are not far away. God save you! Warm yourself up. Keeping the hour of death and the decision of God's judgment in your mind, beg the Lord not to deprive you of His merciful cover and protection. Letter 735. Failure to feed the horses means bad luck. Minor tonsure and schema Congratulations on your holy fast. May God bless you to see him through in a soul-saving manner. Yes, look, don’t upset your health. If you don't feed the horse, you'll be unlucky. Of course, you must wish that what you started never changes and turns into the law of life. Physical feats are convenient for us because the body can get used to anything. Until he gets used to it, he screams; and when he gets used to it, he will fall silent. This is the limit of work on the body. The body is an obedient slave; but we need to train him. Well, school up; only in moderation. Labor on the soul has no end. The soul cannot be tempered as much as the body. She is mobile. From the very height he can go crazy and fly headlong. Oh my God! save me! Oh my God! make good luck (Ps. 117:25). Don’t forget to read the word of God every day, and meditate and bring to feeling and thereby nourish your soul. It’s as if the soul is sugared and becomes harder and stronger. The tonsure will come in due time. He is a sign. And of course, it is much better to accept it when everything it means is firmly established in the soul. A minor tonsure is not yet a real tonsure. There is an angelic image - the schema: she goes to those who have already completely died to the world, and live as if resurrected for the future life. Below this is our ordinary monastic tonsure, what you call becoming a manatean: this means those who have reached a certain measure of purity, who are skilled in the fight against passions, who never succumb to temptation and who overcome all the slander of the enemy. The initial rank - ryassophory - is nothing more than a mark on a sheep that it is from our flock, and who knows what will come of it. This is only the beginning of the struggle and success in it. This one suits you very well. I believe that you firmly remember the law: every morning raise yourself to the feelings of just starting a business for the first time, praying to the Lord: grant me, by Thy grace, to make a good beginning. If you have succeeded in this; then the ryassophore is coming to you! Letter 736. With the new abbess. The penny ascetic and the immobility she requires What's your news? The new mother is the abbess. Congratulations. May the Lord grant you everything for good. Of course we have to expect something new. However, I don’t think that this new thing will upset your old order. Don't worry; your solitary life will not be disturbed. But here’s what you’d rather be afraid of! The elders will tell her: what an ascetic we have! She doesn’t know that this ascetic is worth a penny, and she will begin to caress you. A penny ascetic will then become cheaper than a half-penny one. Fearing this, it is better to wish that the new mother would be a little more stern towards you and pay less attention to you. And the best thing is to surrender to the will of God, having at least one effort - to contain your inner self so that it is pleasing to the Lord. See how your soul is moved by thoughts. From just assumptions, completely unfounded, how she shook up! There is little exercise in wrestling: there are no cases. The new mother will give you tasks: you will stand in constant struggle with yourself. Stand then and hold your ground. And it will be good. You will become accustomed to such immobility in your thoughts that nothing can disturb you: become like a stone, not shaken by the waves, but breaking them. What I wish for you very earnestly. Letter 737. Upon acceptance of ryasophoria. High obedience. Should I drink kvass? A new feat of the zealous nun of the addressee God bless you in new clothes, but don’t put this matter too high. What is Ryasophoria? You are all almost the same squirrel in a black dress. The real tonsure will take place when they give you the mantle. The Passover lamb was chosen 3-4 days in advance and designated for sacrifice and the Passover supper. But he was not yet a victim, until the very time of the slaughter. So you have just been targeted for sacrifice; and wait for the slaughter when it comes. When it comes, then it will be done; and what has been done now is worth little. Perhaps you are not fit for sacrifice, and you will again be thrown into the common herd. Look and be afraid! How was it that you were given obedience to the altar so quickly? Are you worth it? - If only they could sweep the church. But there’s nothing to be done. Not our will. Bear this obedience wisely. You know, of course, that everything can be turned to your own detriment. Judas turned the apostleship into destruction. Remember this. The obedience given to you is very sanctifying; but you can also get burned. Ask for wisdom from the One who gives it to all (James 1:5). Be afraid to get used to the shrine, and then look at it as if it were ordinary cell things. Pray to God that He will not allow the fear of Him to depart from your soul throughout this ministry. Do you understand what is happening there? Always contain this in your thoughts, and warm up the feelings corresponding to it. Every time you start this service, think that you are just starting to serve for the first time, and hasten to reproduce the freshness of the feelings that were in your soul when you started this for the first time. Your thoughts will have many reasons for entertainment; but this will not excuse you if you allow yourself to have fun. Work hard; and learn to keep your thoughts undistracted. When you serve, no matter what you do, the very movement, think that you are doing it to the Lord himself, who will truly accept this service from you. Pray, and the Lord will direct everything for your good. Should I go to the old lady to read? - Try it. If this doesn’t entertain you, you can; otherwise it’s better to leave it. Should I drink kvass? Do you really want to deny yourself this?! Acidlessness is harmful to health. Eat. There is no kvass in the east; but add vinegar to the water and food, or squeeze out lemon juice. A pebble at the head is good. God grant me patience. Letter 738. Thirsting for solitude. Monastic panache. Rassophores must behave like full nuns. About bows and free fasting You crave decisive solitude. Wait. External solitude will come on its own when internal solitude is established. God will arrange it. Please note, however, that you can be secluded among the noise of the world, and you can be, as in the turmoil of the world, in a solitary cell. You will have something better than external solitude if you become so isolated within yourself that no external turmoil can entertain you. Pray about this. Now it's more difficult for you. Your obedience entertains you. But let it teach you how to keep yourself inside, despite the external inconvenience. God help you! – Remember where you got yourself, and humble yourself. You are now visible. Don’t you need a chic cassock, visible rosaries, and white, smooth collars and sleeves? Yes, we need tea and a corset!!! - And the riddles will become more and more complex. Look! The fact that you view your minor tonsure as strictly as you would a large one is good for you. Take from this the severity of obligations, and not the reason for lofty thoughts. The deed of vow before the Lord has already been completed, spoken in the heart and sealed with determination. You have to behave exactly like someone who has been completely tonsured. What I wrote, I wrote to indicate the gradualness of tonsure, and so that you would not become arrogant. May the Lord bless you to work for the glory of God, with a sober soul, without self-pity. About bows. I have never seen any instructions as to whether to bow at each Jesus Prayer, and what type of bow, waist or earthly, or sometimes to say this prayer without bowing. The worship rule in Sarov is performed as follows: 30 prostrations to the ground with the Jesus Prayer, then 100 prayers without bows; again 30 prostrations with prayer, and 100 prayers without prostrations; the third time, 20 bows with prayer, and another 100 prayers without bows, finally, another 20 bows with the Jesus Prayer and 100 prayers without bows to the Most Holy Theotokos. – Here, not all prayers involve bows. In relation to this, one must also understand the indication of bows and prayers in the following Psalter, instead of church services. You will divide your rule into all three types: a part with bows to the ground, a part with bows and a part without bows. Like zeal: but you must always bother yourself in prayer. – How the ancients performed 12 prayers during the day and 12 at night, look in the old prayer books and psalms. Now, unfortunately, they have stopped printing this. But do not forget that the point is not in performing the number of bows and prayers, but in directing the mind towards God and warming the heart. Most of all, you need to kindle the warmth of your heart and store it. This law is urgent. And choose whatever rule you want. The church offers a lot of them. Regarding fasting, act with complete freedom, applying everything to the main goal. When to make it heavier, when to make it lighter, depending on your need. Fasting is not a goal, but a means. It is better not to bind yourself in this regard with an unchanging decree, as if with bonds; and when it’s like this, when it’s different, only without benefits and self-pity; but also without cruelty that leads to exhaustion. Letter 739. The order of the abbess must be accepted as a command from God. Works of obedience must be combined with unceasing prayer You stated that you do not want to offend Mother Abbess by refusing (to rewrite the statements). How can you refuse?! When they became novices, and even those who were ryassophores, and also those who in their conscience put ryassophore for full tonsure; then how could the thought occur to you - to refuse obedience. No, mother, now it’s the end of your will. Whatever they tell you to do, do it without hindrance, with all your will, as God commands. Place this underlined word deeper in your heart and act as it suggests. Accept every command as a word coming directly from God Himself, and carry it out as the work of God, as before God, with all zeal and attention, not working as a man, but working for God, who sees everything, fearing the judgment pronounced on those who do God’s work with negligence (Jer. 48:10). Please make this firmer. Now delve into the change in God’s view of you, and do not allow yourself to act contrary to God’s intention. What happened before? – In the church they stood especially, comfortably, just prayed and warmed themselves in prayer; in the cell too - the main thing was prayer and prayer. Now in church there is business, and at home there is business. – Do you think it’s for nothing? No. The Lord invites you to take the second step. Previously we were in warm prayer, without works of obedience; Now learn to remain in the same prayer - when doing business. This is what the Lord wants from you. Manage it. Before there was work, but now there is more. We must do the work and not deviate from God with our minds, i.e. be as if they were standing in prayer. This is the law: do things with your hands, but with your mind and heart. To be God. Write, but do not retreat from God with your mind, and do not allow your warmth to diminish and your sobriety to weaken. The same goes for when you serve in church. Business will teach you how to manage this. And now you will gain new experience, and you will become even stronger in your inward stay. See God’s mercy in assigning obediences to you. Those who are all warm and warm are weak in health. A little bit of a breeze, and you'll see it fade away. And whoever goes out in all kinds of weather is safer: he’s used to it and stronger. So the Lord brought you out into a small breeze. Get used to being the same here too. Get used to this small task, and when you encounter something bigger, stand without changing. In this sense, accept your obediences. God bless you! Letter 740. Reprimand for omitting a rule during written obedience Having finished your written obedience, say: now I will begin my cell work and prayer again. Have you stopped or shortened your prayer rule? - This should not have been done. To perform obedience, you should allocate the time in which you were assigned to do needlework, perhaps part of the time in which you read. The prayer rule had to be fulfilled without omission. It’s likely that zeal had overpowered him too much, or he was carried away by the news of the case, or they wanted to get rid of it quickly so that they could be free again at home. At least you didn’t stop the prayer that was in your heart? No, tea, and here you have suffered a loss: for if only you stood before God with your mind and humbly fell before God in your heart; then they would not feel the cessation of the prayer work. I conclude that you have become distracted. You got carried away with the task, and it knocked everything else out of your head, even the most necessary things. It has become bad for you to perform your obedience. It was necessary to fulfill it without worrying internally, and working hard, keeping your heart at a distance - free, and not turning your attention away from your main task. Well, there's nothing to do. Go ahead be careful. At least turn out to be a little more efficient in the church. The main thing is not to worry, take your time and do everything in your own time without confusion. At the same time, no work will dissipate, and will not deviate the mind from God. Learn. Now you have a different business than before. Then we were all alone, but now, even in the midst of work, we still have to do our main task unfailingly. God help you! Letter 741. Broken covenant. About hiding tears and mortal memory You regret that you didn’t express yourself in the same way about your writing work in front of your mother. What to do? Learn from mistakes to correct your path. The general outline of the road is clear; but in applications there are great confusions, and here the enemy is confused by the appearance of good. It seemed to you that it was better when you didn’t have written obedience. This is deception. Unquestioning obedience, contrary to our tastes, is dearer than all exploits, and it can only be ruinous if it is carried out unskillfully, as was the case with you, and then mostly only in appearance. In fact, the Lord always rewards the work of selflessness. You easily look at your feet planted in the matter of obedience. Yesterday you made a vow that you would listen to the abbess in everything, but now you refuse to carry out the easy obedience that is at your disposal. Is this how they fulfill a vow? The word about obedience is your covenant with the monastery and the basis of your ryassophory. This covenant is now ruined, and you have cast yourself out of the rank into which you entered with one foot. You need to repent and cry about this. After all, through this, your internal structure must be ruined, and, perhaps, it has already been ruined, even though outwardly it seems to be being built up. We need to impose a fine on you. Please make three bows to the ground, asking the Lord with tears to forgive the disobedient and deceiver, who in words promises one thing, but in reality does something else. Repent in spirit: this is not a mental sin, but an actual one. And pray to God that He will give it to the right person to give you this obedience again, and when it is given or left for you, then stop bowing. But don’t tell your mother about this. It’s good to remember about death. A saving thought that imparts sobriety. It cuts off unnecessary ideas and teaches and supports tears. - Tears! - How can you deal with them? Pray to the Lord that they would not be in church in front of people, but only at home. As soon as you reach the threshold of your cell, think that you are climbing into a coffin, and well, cry. In the meantime, in church, just warm up your heartfelt contrition. After all, it seems that things can get better this way. And tears are a good thing. They really soak or rinse the soul: with them it is calmer and warmer. But in every possible way it is better that no one sees them. You think you'll die soon. Who can say this? Weakening of strength is not a sign of imminent death. It is a duty to take care of health. Take care. Even healthy people need to think about death. Everyone has it behind them, and everyone must often return to the thought: behold, here is death! Holy Lent again! Glory to Thee, Lord! We have lived to see the time of salvation. May God grant you to spend it well. Look, don't exhaust yourself! Letter 742. To what extent is fasting important? Tears of the Heart You're all messing around with your penniless fasting. - Well, do as you plan: just don’t consider it important. It is important to pay attention to the movements of the heart and cleanse them with repentance every minute. Do more of this. At the same time, to see the Lord, and to be in mortal memory - these are important things! “And your tears, I think, are of no use.” There are tears in the heart: those are the main thing. When there is pain in the heart that we are sinners, and in this pain the soul falls before the Lord, begging Him for mercy, all in the same heart - this is tearfulness, pleasing to God. And I don’t know what your tears mean? And is it fair to call them a gift? If you could be contrite in your heart and not let tears go into church, that would be a feat both most pleasing to God and most useful to you. And look, well, with your tears you feed the worm of vanity, and he will stop caring; then who will handle it? If after your tears there is a movement of self-satisfaction, even a small one, then your tears are not for good. Take a good look and take care to settle this matter according to God. Letter 743. Should I adopt a girl? About communion on the twelve feasts. Reasonable freedom I received your letter yesterday and I reply hastily. You need to say a word about the girl whom they offer you to take and raise. If I had to take someone in with me, it would be a punishment. So out of the habit. I think the same for you - the girl will be punished. But what can we do? How to satisfy the commandments of obedience to Mother Abbess? Fall at your feet and beg to spare her. How to combine refusal with the commandment of love? – If you can, help her with something, or promise to constantly give her something. Now you no longer have to live with anyone. So settle down to live alone forever. Ask mother about this from me too. Let him weigh you down with other things, but let him get rid of you. About the communion of the Holy Mysteries. Since they decided to take communion on the twelfth feasts, it would be necessary to conduct it this way. But it is also true that sometimes these holidays come quickly one after another, so that in one month there are two of them, while in another there are none. In this case, it is definitely better to omit holy communion on one holiday and move it to another month, timed to coincide with some day. Arrange this yourself as best you can. God bless you! Warm up the fear of God. He will teach you everything. See that people-pleasing does not creep into your relationship with Mother Abbess; but do not allow self-inflicted courage. Speak and do everything with the fear of God. Don’t regret the fact that you had to add something from your food. One should not become attached even to holy rules, but behave in relation to them with complete freedom, using them wisely. It doesn’t matter if you add something else, just not to please the flesh, but out of need. You can do the same with bows. Disparage them due to ill health, or some other respect; just not to relax. Letter 744. Remark for lack of patience. How to fulfill the commandment to hit the cheek. About feeling abandoned by everyone You are offended. To be offended by some kind of inattention means to consider yourself worthy of attention, and therefore to value yourself highly in your heart, otherwise, to be arrogant. Is this good? Is it our duty to tolerate even this in vain? Certainly. When will we start doing it? After all, when the commandment is given to endure, then we must endure every unpleasant case, without letting it pass, and endure it with joy, without violating peaceful relations. And you and I will miss such an opportunity today, but we will miss it tomorrow. You say, this is a trifle; What is there to endure? But if we couldn’t endure such little things, how could we endure more? At least start small. The Lord said, when they hit you on the cheek, offer another; and then a fly flew by and caught it with its wing; and then we rear up. Tell me, are you ready to fulfill this commandment of the Lord about hitting the cheek? You're right: I'm ready. But the case that was written about represents exactly this. The emphasis on the cheekbone is not literal, it just needs to be understood. This should mean any general act of our neighbor, by which, as it seems to us, we are not given due attention and honor, by which we feel humiliated, from which, as they say, our ambition suffers. Every such action, no matter how small it is - a look, a face, etc. there is an emphasis on the cheekbone; and not only must I endure it, but I must be prepared for even greater humiliation, which will correspond to the substitution of another cheek. - What you had would have been like a blow to the cheek - lightly. What are you doing? Framed someone else? No, not only did they not set me up, on the contrary, they gave me change. After all, they gave you back, after all, they already made you feel that you have something. Therefore, you and I: don’t touch me. And it became, where are we going? And how can we be considered disciples of Christ when we do not fulfill the commandments? You would only judge: are you worth any attention? If you had this feeling of unworthiness in your heart, you would not feel any resentment. I consider this small case to be quite big for both your internal and external ones. Please take a closer look and make sure. - And what else could it be?! Grace will recede. Then what will we do? Then all the reinforcement will go away, and desire and passions, like hungry dogs, having broken free from the chain, will begin to gnaw and torment: just turn around. They didn’t tolerate the small one, they will have to endure the big one. God bless you! Oh! look! the bird will fly away; who knows whether it will be given in hand again? That you had the feeling of being abandoned by everyone is a good feeling. It would have to be timed. Through it the enemy wants to plunge you into despondency, but you learn from it to be a stranger among your own, as if you were a stranger to everyone. How good is that! - To think that others think about us and are busy with us is bad thinking. It is better to think that everything is on you, and not for you. This will further strengthen the feeling of wandering and cautious living. Letter 745. Instructions on prayer, food and prostrations are dangerous for someone who is ill. Magnetism, homeopathy and spiritualism. Mental body and spiritual body May God grant you health; and if it is not needed for this time, let complacent patience give it. That in illness an internal appeal to God is no longer the same - this is a consequence of weakness. He who feels his indecentness before God will not allow wrong feelings even during pain. Be smart. A soul that has not been tested by sorrows is good for nothing. When there is pain, you can relax a little, especially if you drink cocoa. That you don’t all bow down, nothing. You don’t have to write down passes in the penalty book, but cross out what you have written down. Follow the rule with the silent Jesus Prayer. At the same time, if you can bow, bow as much as you can, otherwise you just stand there. If you can't stand, sit; If you can't sit, lie down. Don’t stop being with the Lord only in your mind. You are so sick that you are going to die. It is always necessary to prepare for this, and even more so for the patient. But whether you have to die, or whether you still have the chance to live, this must be surrendered to the will of God. Live and work harder. Just started. You consider magnetism to be a matter of evil spirits. Believing that magnetism is involved in homeopathy, this is also included in the same category. It's not fair. Magnetism is not involved in the preparation of homeopathic medicines. Here everything is done openly and simply, and everyone can see how everything happens. No hidden force should be assumed here. You may or may not be treated with homeopathy; but don’t think of her that way. Magnetism is wiser; but there is no evil spirit in it either, but there is a natural force, naturally excited. Where does the wonder that comes from this come from? Some of these wonders also occur naturally; and others, perhaps, from demons who are instigating here, taking advantage of the patient’s abnormal condition. Only this latter should be considered an accidental appendage to magnetism - that is, demons take advantage of the opportunity to incite, and magnetism itself is not a demonic matter. Spiritualism is downright demonic, not covered up by anything. The evil spirit is palpable here. Who is acting here can be judged by the phenomena. Yes, they themselves do not hide the fact that they are demons. And what else? They say that they are only advanced. I happened to see the Gospel interpreted by spiritualists (what are interpreters?). Then they let it slip that they were only the advanced ones; but, they say, our greatest will come, then everything will be clearer. It is clear who this big one is - and why he is coming - it is known. You ask what the Apostle means by the mental body and the spiritual body? Read this whole place and you will see what you should understand. Ego 1 Corinthians 15:40–45. St. Paul talks there about the resurrection and about the different glories of the resurrected bodies, and not about the soul. It is the spiritual body that is sown, he says, it is not the soul that is sown, i.e. is placed in the ground, and the body; it is the spiritual body that rises, it is not the soul that rises; for she does not die, but the body does. So here we must understand by body our body. On earth it is spiritual, but after the resurrection it will be spiritual. Why it is called this way is interpreted differently. Saint Chrysostom says that it is spiritual on earth, because it is animated only by the soul. And after the resurrection it will be spiritual, because it will be the dwelling place not of one soul, but of a soul filled with the Spirit. And on earth, he says, the soul has the Spirit, but He is not always inherent in it, because he is sometimes driven away by unclean thoughts, feelings and deeds; and there He will fill it all. Then he adds St. Chrysostom: maybe it is called spiritual, after the resurrection, because it will be lighter, subtler, more mobile. Blessed Theodoret and Theophylact interpret in agreement with Saint Chrysostom. Letter 746. If a dangerous illness continues - about courageously enduring the illness. The end of fasting. Three types of prayer: prayer done by man, prayer found from God and prayer ecstasy or admiration Give thanks to God for everything; and give thanks for ill health. It’s easy for me to say this from the outside; It may not be easy for you to feel this way. Every time you hear a word about patience, I pray that the Lord will grant you to bear the illness with good grace and learn something from it. Why did the Lord bind you, who can guess? But there is no doubt that this, too, was allowed to you in order to further the goals of the life that you have chosen, and in which you are trying to at least somehow maintain yourself. From this point of view, you don’t have to torture your illness anymore. In addition to what has been said, seek courage for complacent patience in moments of heaviness of suffering, in remembrance of the patience of all the saints, and especially the martyrs. How long and how did they endure?! And it's hard to imagine. Yes, and through many tribulations it is fitting for all to enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). And what is promised by the Lord is called the crown. For what? Because it is impossible to climb there without suffering. There is only one road there - a cross - voluntary or involuntary. May the Guardian Angel bring you comfort and complacency! Don’t complain that the noise in your head doesn’t allow you to keep your thoughts. God judges the soul according to what depends on it, and not because of what it has no control over. Keep the intention in your heart not to depart from the Lord, and He will take this into account. Now you need to leave your fasting rule. Afterward, fast if it pleases God to raise you up; and now, in illness, in the form of medicine, you can eat everything, on the advice of a doctor. Would you like to hear anything about prayer? What can I tell you that you don't know? There is a prayer that a person himself says; and there is a prayer that God gives to the one who prays (1 Samuel 2:9). The first one who didn't know? You should also know the latter, at least in rudiments. First, when someone approaches the Lord, the first thing is prayer. He begins to go to church, and at home to pray with prayer books, and without them. But my thoughts are all running away. There's no way to deal with them. However, the more you work in prayer, the more your thoughts calm down and calm down, and your prayer becomes purer. However, the atmosphere of the soul is not purified until the spiritual flame in the soul is lit. This light is a work of God’s grace, but not special, but common to all. It appears due to a certain measure of purity in the entire moral structure of the person seeking. When this flame warms up or a constant warmth forms in the heart, then the seething of thoughts stops. What happens to a soul is that which bleeds: a flow of blood flows from it (Luke 8:44). In this state, prayer, more or less, approaches incessant prayer. Its mediator is the Jesus Prayer. And this is the limit to which a prayer performed by a person himself can reach! I think that all this is very clear to you. Further, in this state, prayer is given that is found, and not done by the person himself. The spirit of prayer finds itself and draws it inside the heart - it’s all the same, as if someone took another by the hand and dragged him by force from one room to another. The soul here is bound by an outside force, and willingly stays inside as long as the spirit that finds it is above it. I know two degrees of this finding. In the first, the soul sees everything, is aware of itself and its external position, and can reason and govern itself, can even ruin this state of its own, if it wants. And this should be clear to you. The Holy Fathers, and especially St. Isaac the Syrian, another degree of given or found prayer is indicated. Above the one shown is his prayer, which he called ecstasy or admiration. And here, too, the spirit of prayer finds itself; but the soul carried away by it enters into such contemplation that it forgets its external position, does not reason, but only contemplates, and does not have the power to rule itself or ruin its fortune. Remember, in Fatherland books it is written that someone began to pray before his evening meal, but came to his senses in the morning. This is prayer in admiration or contemplation. In others, it was accompanied by a clearing of the face, light around; in others by lifting from the ground. The Holy Apostle Paul in this state was raptured into heaven. And the holy prophets were in it when the Spirit took them. Marvel at the great mercy of God towards us sinners. Few will bother; and what is worthy of? We can confidently say to all working people: work; there is a reason! Get healthy as soon as possible, and strive to reach further! Letter 747. Entering the gates of death So this is your position! I couldn’t believe that you would get so sick that you had to get ready to die. Be the will of God! But I think that your illness does not lead to death. Live with us! Pray and we will pray. However, may the Lord arrange your path for the better. You have been planning to die for a long time. That's why death doesn't take you by surprise. And all Christians are capable of transition to another life; but for those who have worked more on themselves, for the Lord’s sake, the road there is straighter and more unobstructed. However, review everything - words, deeds and thoughts, more strictly, like the most captious judge, and everything that you find faulty, lay it down at the cross of the Lord. After that, having surrendered to the Lord, wait for what He says about you - whether to still suffer or to rest. It's certainly better there. What a comparison! When fear for yourself comes, surrender yourself more strongly into the hands of the Lord, praying to Him for your faith to fill what is lacking in life and deeds. His merciful embrace is extended to all who depart from here. May He receive you and embrace you, saying: Come, my bride, my sincere one! God grant you this! May the memory of God not depart from you. Now it's all away! Have me read for you the life of Saint Dositheus, a disciple of Abba Dorotheos. Saint Dorotheos kept asking him: how is prayer? He goes, he answered, with your prayers. Let it go for you too. Help you Mother of God! Written March 4, 1869. Letter 748. The great mystery about us What will God give you? May God grant you relief and complete recovery. Either way, His will, not ours, be done! Are you really going to leave? I can't believe it. Get sick, I think, and you’ll get up. But what to do if you leave? The transition from this life is not a feature. How long do they leave each day and even what hour? And our turn will come. Who is today, who is tomorrow, it’s all the same. It’s not just who is leaving what. Look around, is everything ready? And if there is nothing else to cook, surrender yourself to the Lord! When you look at the hour of death from afar, it seems different than when it approaches. It is difficult for someone alive and healthy to feel themselves leaving. Death is a great mystery about us. It is enlightened by the faith of Christ, but everything is something hidden. When you have to go through the actual thing; then everything will become clear. However, there is no point in tormenting yourself with fears. The Lord walked this path of death in order to make this path more convenient for us. Let us also follow in His footsteps, passing through the midst of the shadow of death, and let us not fear evil: for He is with us when we are with Him in this life. Sin separates, but when it is cleansed by repentance and feasible labor, then this mediastinum no longer exists. The Lord is near. Be brave. I am writing to you sick people all about death; but I don’t think this will bring gloomy thoughts to you. For it is possible to desire to be resolved with the Apostle in order to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23). This desire is not alien to you. An indication of the proximity of achieving what you want makes you happy, not despondent. Written March 11, 1869. Letter 749. Well-wishes for the sick woman and a reminder. About prayer and patience I wish you all the best from the Lord. Then I write just to say this. The first benefit to a sick person is recovery. God grant! Get well as soon as possible, so that you can live longer, not to sin, according to the usual saying, but so that, being comforted by the common consolation of all those who love the Lord with faith and love, you may be nourished by this and grow. Whether here or there, everything must grow, into the appointed measure of the age of the fulfillment of Christ, known to everyone (Eph. 4:13). What is prayer? I am turning to you with a question from Abba Dorotheus to Dosifei. Have you read this life? It's similar to yours. God grant that the end be the same. May the Lord grant you peace of mind, patience, generosity, so that the joy given to us in the Lord does not cease. Through sorrow, see clearly into what will bring you great joy. Embrace stronger faith that the soul is gained by patience (Luke 21:19), and that sorrows open the entrance to the kingdom. Remember the Lord as He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He languished in relief of our dying sufferings. Let us also take from Him the spirit of devotion to God: not as I will, but as You will (Matthew 26:39). May the will of God be over you and about you! Written March 18, 1869. Letter 750. Conversation to a dying woman. Last request and blessing. Easter is coming. Where will you celebrate Easter? If it had been left to choose, of course we would have chosen where it was better. But since everything is in the hand of God, it remains for us to confess: there and so, where and how it pleases the Lord, adding to this the inner unquestioning agreement: Thy will be done, Lord! May the Lord, His Most Pure Mother and your Guardian Angel be with you constantly! In this community, may your soul abide with God-minded attention! Everyone's hours are accounted for. But for someone who is constantly waiting in the wings, there is no need for a definitive indication whether he is living his last hour; for he already has every last hour. Who is able to say: Though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me (Ps. 22:4)? - The one who in his life forced himself and still forces himself to constantly be with the Lord. For such a soul there is no shadow of death. One moment - and she appears in another region of light, full of all sorts of joys. Then the song of confession will be sung: because of the multitude of my illnesses in my heart, Your consolations have made my soul glad (Ps. 93:19)! Of course, the nearness of the outcome may produce a shudder. Take courage and may your heart be strong! Go for it; for the Lord has overcome. He also shows every believer to be a winner. This is certain. The enemy always arrives here in order to, if not extinguish, then darken the bright aspiration. He who has prepared himself with strong faith will be able not to pay attention to this, committing his soul into the hands of the Lord. The Angels of God are about to come, and they will disperse everything that darkens. We do not go towards the unknown (1 Cor. 9:26). But hope does not put one to shame (Rom.5:5). If you go away and take away some of those being saved, pray to God for us too, that He may grant us to repent and correct our lives. The blessing of the Lord is upon you and on the path which His holy will is pleased to determine for you! Sorry! This last letter was written on March 27, 1869, four days before his death. Letter 751. The saint’s modest review of himself. Answer to questions about the change of the confessor and being troubled by blasphemous thoughts. Letters to the “unknown” (archpriest) God's mercy be with you, Venerable Fr. archpriest! It is comforting to see in you concern about how to maintain yourself in the midst of the world as you should, not only as a Christian, but even more so, as a priest of God. God help you! Observe this concern and inflame it to the point of burning jealousy. Then, according to the word of the Lord, seek and you will find. The Lord is near and does not look at us indifferently, but sympathetically and caringly. And whoever entrusts himself to Him wholeheartedly is never left without admonitions and instructions. Only one thing needs to be added: having surrendered to the Lord, only be diligent with the Lord and listen to yourself. And you are looking outside for what you should find inside. Moreover, they turned to a person who has no experience. You judged me from books. The books were written in a desk; such is their content. So my whole life passed and passes; what kind of experiences are there? I shouldn’t, due to my complete inexperience, start a conversation with you. But I thought: what? Since we have nothing better to do, let’s just cockroach. Se is the meaning with which the conversation begins. The Lord commanded: give to anyone who asks you. Ask, I give. The Lord is merciful, and did not say: give gold, silver, expensive stones, and whatever else you have. And take what you have. Don’t be angry if instead of white bread you find a moldy crust of sieve bread with chaff. But who is to blame? We would turn to those who are richer. I believe that Moscow is rich in those rich in spirit. All this is written to reduce your expectations, illegally expanded by your kindness. Here is proof of my vast experience. I cannot answer both of your questions definitively. The first question is: is it possible to change your confessor? I answer from my desk: who knits? This matter is a matter of conscience; To whom the soul reveals itself, everyone should go to him. See what a quick and smooth solution! But in reality, you may encounter obstacles, also conscientious ones, and not small ones. You can't jump over, no matter how hard you run. The confessor of many years has been abandoned. After all, you can’t hide this?! And having noticed, he will feel that he is being hit on the cheeks. Whose conscience will tolerate this? Therefore, there is nothing to think about change. The question is: what should we do? The other speaks sweeter and the soul clings to him. This is something I can’t solve. Is this how it is? Separate the confessor from the counselor. Let the one who speaks better be the advisor; and the confessor is the confessor. Please resolve this matter yourself. The second question is about one who is troubled by blasphemous thoughts. How should she be?! Let her read St. Demetrius of Rostov about this subject. Then read this article with her yourself. It is necessary to emphasize more than anything that these are enemy thoughts - and they are not blamed when they are not accepted. To bring it to the point of inspiration, do not accept it, but reject it with anger, throwing them back in the face of the enemy, and you can spit with abusive words at the enemy, laying those thoughts on his head. Always say to the Lord: I don’t want, I don’t want, I don’t want these thoughts. Please explain to her thoroughly that thoughts are not imputed until they are accepted, and that she is innocent here. Let her work on this and understand the line of division between imputation and non-imputation of thoughts. I don't know what to say anymore. This is in addition to what you tell her: be patient. Be patient and pray to God, and don’t make a mistake yourself. This is how all life is! So much for decisions that are not decisive. Then God bless you! Pray for my all-repentance. Ep. Feofan. 11 Feb. '82 Letter 752. Should I go to settlement with my convicted husband? Again about the confessor: Revelation of thoughts and confession (sacrament). About irritability God's mercy be with you! Hon. O. archpriest! Your letter arrived at the end of Bright Week; and that’s when you had to answer. Should I go with my husband to the settlement of the one who asked about this? The law allows her not to follow her husband, but does not oblige her not to follow. It turns out that she is free to do both. There will be no sin if he does not go with him. How her question is that there will be no sin; then that’s how you can answer. If she wants to know whether it is God’s will that she should go with her husband, then which of us can answer this definitely? If it were known in order - that this husband is for his wife, and other connections to the matter; then one could deduce a certain probability from everything. But if this is not known, then there is nothing to undertake, especially when it is not probability that is required, but a decisive indication. Regarding the change of confessor, I did not make out who is the confessor for the entire deanery by choice: cold or hot? I used to think that the cold one is the chosen one; and your last letter suggests that he is hot. If this is so, then you had no reason to hesitate from the very beginning, and as soon as the choice took place, then leave one behind and stick to the other without any explanation: for the general order required it. But if it’s cold, it’s the chosen one; then do as you decide. It is necessary to distinguish between a simple retelling of everything that happened in the soul, and what in monasteries is a revelation of thoughts, and a mysterious confession. The latter is required when something weighs on the conscience. It is impossible to determine this in detail: it is a very subjective matter. Everything else can only be retold and discussed. At St. Demetrius’ response to this is daily confession, and in prayers for sleep there is something similar. “However, receiving mysterious permission is always better for the soul.” Thoughts wandering indefinitely, there is nothing to retell, and there is no possibility. – The thoughts on which attention was focused also do not need to be retold, depending on the subjects. Special discussion requires thoughts, feelings that touched, - even more - those that aroused sympathy, - and even more - those that stirred agreement. The last two cases are a prelude to sinfulness and only mean that the soul is unclean. Sin begins with the utterance of agreement. When consent is decisively refused, sinfulness is stopped, but impurity remains, which should be discussed with the hottest. Irritability must be fought. The first step is not to give in, grit your teeth and move away. Every time you pray until you cry, you can use a tourniquet on your shoulders. God will have mercy and heal. Such irritability belongs to temperament, and can only be destroyed through transformation, and this is God’s work. But God will not do it until he sees our own painful labor. Save yourself! Pray to God for me! Your praying mantis E.F. April 5 '82 Letter 753. Consolation in grief over a mentally ill person God's mercy be with you, Venerable. O. archpriest! I fully share your grief about N. May the Lord send you every consolation. Pray to the Lord, and, meanwhile, delve into those sources where you hope to find consolation. You already know them - and are digging. Continue with patience and you will find, for everyone who seeks with patience and faith finds, if not always what he desires, then always what God pleases for his good. In sorrows, good is hidden under the sorrow of the heart; - because of this it is not felt or seen, although it is not mentally, but really. And now you have it and it acts, both in N and in you. Rejoice, humbly believing that this is the case for you, even though it is not visible. What would you like N - temporary well-being, or eternal salvation? - It's hard for you to choose. Rather, stop at: – both. But if the former cannot be combined with the latter; then, of course, without thinking, you will choose the latter, abandoning the first. So, put it in your mind and in your heart - that for N, in the course of the events of your life and hers - which you do not see and do not know, it was necessary to stop eating visible blessings - for a while or forever. And the Lord arranged it this way. Having arranged or allowed her to suffer a serious illness, He protected her from everything that could have a negative effect on her mood. The dangers will pass and health will return. If they don’t pass, it will remain so. You have no reason to fear in any way for her eternal salvation. – Judging by the activities you indicated, her mental mood was good. Now she is in a painful state. Track. will pass over to the Lord, or is now standing before the Lord, just as her illness found her. “Such is her eternal fate.” - She will increase by your complacent patience and faith, and by your betrayal of her to the right hand of God. - I, moreover, adhere to the thought that while the soul is upset, due to the disorder of its organ - the body - the spirit remains intact - and it matures there - deeper than consciousness, more and more, in the direction in which that disorder found it. So, arouse good faith in God’s beneficent providence for this, and with it, ward off all attacks of sorrow that disturb the mind and heart. Your pilgrim E. Feofan. 9 Sep. '83 Letter 754. Mutual congratulations and good wishes Your highest blessing, Most Venerable Fr. archpriest! I would like to thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. I congratulate you both on the holiday and on the new year. May the Lord send you the comfort you desire this summer. – But God’s thoughts are from ours, like heaven from earth! “Be it His holy will.” Pray for my all-repentance. - Save yourself! Your pilgrim E. Feofan. 6th Gen. '84 Letter 755. New Year's greetings Most Honorable Fr. archpriest! Thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. Please accept my fullest wishes for you. I see your work here and there. May the Lord bless them and strengthen your strength to do more and more of the works of God. Your N is right now fully established in her restored health. May the Lord strengthen her! I apologize for not responding to the previous letter. Guilty, overwhelmed by laziness. Letter 756. Sorrows are the order of the day. Advice for comforting those experiencing family grief Hon. O Archpriest! I greet you too! May the Lord comfort you and enlighten you in what you wrote about. You are grieving. This is par for the course. The Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane is the high priest suffering for the sins of the whole world. The priest also becomes a participant in this sorrow and torment, accepting the sins of his parish and those of strangers who come to him. That is its purpose. Therefore, do not mourn over the fact that you mourn. This is inevitable, and not out of bounds. Another thing is the position of that family. “You did a good job by advising me not to reproach him.” You won't get anywhere with this. He has already dealt with his conscience. This drive is the end of a long struggle in which he remained defeated. However, I think that the matter will not remain like this until the end. He will get tired of her; and he will drive her away. He will grow cold towards her; here conscience will rebel again. And maybe it will take its toll. Let those who suffer be inspired by this hope, adding to it intense prayer. Here, of course, the enemy intervened, but you can’t drive him away except with prayer. Teach them to draw consolation from the thought that by enduring they become partakers of the crown of martyrdom. Lot was a martyr, because, as the apostle assures, he was tormented in soul, looking at the lawless deeds of his townspeople. This is also the situation of these sufferers. Let them look at this grief like any other misfortune - death, illness, persecution, fires. God allows it, testing their patience. And the Lord humbles him. Now he is overwhelmed with pride; but when the fog passes and he looks back at what he has piled up, he will see himself most humiliated. “It’s true that he is proud, and such shameful healing was required.” Also instill in them that our main concern is the salvation of our souls. Does the ugliness of that hinder the achievement of this salvation? - No way. If they look at the matter wisely, they will see that it can be turned into an aid to salvation. Let them alienate themselves for a while from the feeling of unpleasantness of such behavior - and stop at the fact that this may not interfere with their work, let them do it, humbly praying about it. It's difficult! – What can you eat without difficulty?! The hardest thing is for the wife. “But for that, her reward will be greater if she endures this grief complacently.” May the Lord comfort their hearts and fill them with peace. God bless you! I ask your saints. prayers for my all-repentance. Your pilgrim E. Feofan. 22 Apr '85 Letter 757. Young reviewer of Gospel History. A measure of frequent communion. About giving spare particles on the way to those who travel Honorable Fr. Archpriest! I would like to thank you very much for pointing out who wrote the review of the Gospel story. And I did no harm by not giving him a rebuke. The young, hot, self-confident head would not want to listen, no matter how obvious the indications of his mistakes were. He would raise such a cry that bring the saints out. I thought of writing to him, with an invitation to repent publicly, i.e. print that he said this and that incorrectly due to an oversight; but I’ll leave this too. – The case speaks for itself better. I can complain about society, why it put such unfounded judgments in print. And they are no good. Nothing disapproving can be said about frequent communion. But a measure once or twice a month is the most measured. I also don’t see anything sinful in giving spare particles for the journey. It was used before and can be used now. It was canceled not due to the inappropriateness of the case, but due to some abuses. When abuse is not expected, the ancient custom may be given place. The rule you are talking about definitely applies to a different case. I think you might not be advised to address the issue to others when it has actually been resolved by you. You are retired one by one. May God bless you and rest in the glory of God. I ask for prayers for my all-repentance. Save yourself! Your good friend E. Feofan. 24 in. '87 Letter 758. Congratulations, well wishes and notification of your work and health Most Honorable Fr. Archpriest! I would like to thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. I wish you all the best, so that your souls rejoice and thank the Lord. You seem to be in a new place. If yes, and it is more satisfactory than before, congratulations and I wish you a healthy and happy life on it. Did you really not find any news there that would be worthy of hearing?! What's your N.N.? It seems you once hinted that her betrothed was performing for her on Wednesday. If the matter took place, I wish you happiness. God bless her. And if not, may God grant her to find the limit of life on another path. Everything is the same for me. One eye has not served for a long time; and the other chases after him, but still serves. I owe it to my laziness that I still have not finished the Philokalia. However, the last volume is already on; but this is not the third, but the fifth. My health is good. I ask your saints. prayers. P.S. I am always ashamed to write only I. Vin. Write how you like your father. You might be interested in: