144. Слово по освящении храма Живоначальныя 587 Троицы в Московском Данилове монастыре

(Said September 13; printed in Chr. Thu. 1838 and in collections 1844 and 1848) I praise you, brethren, because you remember everything I told you, and keep the traditions that I told you. (1 Cor. 11:2). The Holy Apostle Paul, teaching saving instructions to the Corinthian Christians, praises them for faithfully preserving the traditions. What kind of legend is this? – This can be seen in 588 of those sayings of his, with which he recalls and complements the legends. He says that “a man should not eat or cover his head” (1 Cor. 11:7) during prayer: here is an addition to the tradition, which shows that this was preceded by a tradition about church prayer. He further says: “Don’t eat food at home, so you can eat and drink? Or are you neglecting the Church of God?” (1 Cor. 11:22) This denunciation of random disorder and indecency in the Church shows that this was preceded by a tradition about the holiness of the Church, according to which it is not at all like a simple house, and requires reverent attention. With particular clarity, as an object of tradition, the Apostle points to the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ when he speaks of this: “I received from the Lord... and gave it to you” (1 Cor. 11:23). Thus, it turns out that the Apostle praises the Corinthian Christians for observing the traditions about church prayer, about the holiness of the church, about the Divine Liturgy. Looking at this church, beautifully built, and now consecrated by the grace of God, thinking that this was done not out of any requirement or necessity, but out of free zeal for God and His shrine, according to the desire that church prayers would be continuously performed here, and a bloodless sacrifice would be made for the souls of the living and deceased, and so that the place of sad memories would turn into a treasury of gracious and saving consolations - I praise in my soul those who undertook and accomplished this God-pleasing deed. But since the praise of my measuredness would not be for them the reward that I wish for them: then I call upon the help of the holy Apostle Paul, I show him a matter similar to what he praised in the Corinthians, and I beg him to impart his Apostolic praise and blessing to the local brethren. “I praise you, brethren, for you remember all the Apostles, and as the God-bearing Fathers handed them over to us, “keep the traditions” (1 Cor. 11:2). It should be desirable for every son of the Church to earn Apostolic praise for faithful observance of true traditions. And so the doctrine of traditions is worthy of everyone’s attention. Since the time when the Christian teaching is enclosed in the sacred books, the Holy Church, for the faithful and unchanging preservation of this teaching, has the custom and rule of not only affirming the thoughts of this teaching on the immutable testimony of God-inspired Scripture, but also borrowing the very words and expressions to signify the most important objects and parts of the teaching from the same pure source of Scripture. So, if you carefully analyze the Symbol of the Orthodox Faith and compare it with Holy Scripture: you will find that the Holy Fathers of the Nicene and Constantinople Ecumenical Councils depicted in it the dogmas of faith not in their own words or expressions, but taken from Holy Scripture, and thus the Symbol of Faith is of utmost importance for us; for not only in it do the Fathers of the Church express the truth, but also Holy Scripture itself, the very word of God speaks through their lips. Likewise, in the teaching about traditions, this very concept and the very name of “tradition” is borrowed from Holy Scripture, as we have already shown in part from the words of St. Paul. But the most important basis for this teaching can be accepted as the following saying of the same Apostle: “The same, brethren, stand and keep the traditions which you have learned, either by word or by our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Here, together, is a teaching for understanding, and a teaching for fulfillment, and a commandment about traditions, and an introduction to the knowledge of traditions. “Stand fast and keep the traditions,” that is, firmly and constantly observe: this is the commandment, the expression of the indispensable duty, to keep the traditions. “Traditions, which you have learned either by word or by our message”: here, along with the name of the traditions, is a guide to the interpretation of this name. The Apostle calls “traditions” everything that Christians “learned” from him, as from the Apostle, regarding faith, hierarchy, worship, church deanery and the rules of life. He further distinguishes between two types of tradition: tradition by “message,” or written tradition, and tradition by “word,” or unwritten tradition. But as written tradition is simpler and more commonly signified by the name of Holy Scripture: the name of tradition is usually used to signify that which we have learned not through Holy Scripture, but through word and example from the Holy Apostles and Holy Fathers. It is worthy of note that the Apostle inseparably and equally commands to adhere to both traditions through the “word” and traditions through the “epistle”, or in other words, he commands to adhere inseparably and equally to both the Holy Scriptures and sacred traditions. Traditions and Inspired Scripture stand side by side with him; it requires from us no less attention and zeal for traditions, as for the inspired Scripture. Is more than this necessary to confirm the importance of traditions and to encourage faithful observance of them? Here could be the end of the teaching about traditions, if we, like the direct disciples of the Apostles, had before our eyes the direct Apostolic, and therefore undoubtedly true, tradition. But Christian traditions have already passed through many countries, peoples, languages, through many centuries. The original Apostolic traditions were joined by Fatherland traditions of various degrees of antiquity. In some parts of the legends there was diversity that extended to the point of contradiction. It was necessary to study the authenticity and dignity of the legends - a study that is not always convenient and not accessible to everyone. To ascertain the authenticity and dignity of legends, it would be best to know their beginning with accuracy: but it is often hidden in the foggy distance of the past. Now what to do? Before we say what should be done, let’s look at what they are doing. Some pay full attention to the fact that there is something dark and unreliable in the traditions, and from here they deduce a guess whether these are not a matter, if not simply human, then at least given over by Providence to the arbitrariness of people and the accidents of the times, and whether it is not permissible to free oneself from further concern about traditions, while “imams are the most famous Prophetic” and Apostolic “word” in “God-inspired Scripture, powerful become wise unto salvation,” “that the man of God may be complete, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:15–17). Others, paying attention only in general to the commandment to observe traditions, without research, without reasoning, blindly adhere to traditions that somehow fell into their hands, without trying to find out their authenticity, dignity and purity. What should one do? – One must beware of both extremes now indicated. The Holy Scriptures began through Moses. How then, over so many centuries from the beginning of the world, was the true faith preserved and spread, and worship in accordance with it established? - According to legend. Consequently, tradition was exactly the same instrument of God for the salvation of people as the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Scriptures of the New Testament began through the Evangelist Matthew, eight years after the Lord’s ascension into heaven. Where was the Gospel before that, the basis of dogmas, the teaching of life, the rules of worship, the laws of church government? - In legend. Inspired 590 Scripture, according to the testimony of one of the sacred writers, namely, the Holy Evangelist Luke, is only a continuation and unchangeable by the special dispensation of the Spirit of God 591 strengthened type of tradition. “As you have delivered to us, who from the first were the witnesses and servants of the former Word, you also deigned to write to me in a row” (Luke 1:2-3). You want to establish everything on the unshakable basis of Holy Scripture. Very good. That's how it should be. Meanwhile, how do you know which books are sacred, and why does one or another of them definitely belong to the sacred group? - This is known mostly from legend. And so the Holy Scripture itself uses the aid of tradition. If true tradition is so important, before scripture and together with scripture, then when could its importance diminish? Would it then be that scripture, taking the place of tradition, would tell us that we no longer need to worry about tradition? But the scripture says the opposite of this: “stand and keep the traditions that you have learned either by word or by letter.” However, if even the Apostles were to be tested as to whether they were true Apostles, as is evident from the fact that in the Revelation of St. John the Lord Himself approves of the work of the Angel of the Ephesian Church, “who bit the professed to be Apostles and found them false” (Rev. 2:2): then how much more after the Apostles, through so many hands, After so many centuries of passing traditions, it is necessary to test whether they are true Apostolic and Patristic ones, and whether they have not been subjected to incorrect changes and alien applications. Without this caution, our service to God may be subject to the same condemnation with which the Lord struck the Pharisees and Jewish scribes, who kept the traditions of the elder: “They honor me in vain, teaching the teachings of men. Forsaking the commandment of God, keep the traditions of men” (Mark 7:7-8). They may ask: how can one protect oneself from this condemnation? How to test legends and distinguish what is doubtful? – I extract the most reliable rule for this, and the most convenient to use, from the saying of the Lord just given. Experience tradition through the Word of God and through the commandments of God. If tradition contradicts the Word of God; if it leads you to violate God’s commandment: then know that this is a human, not a true tradition, that you would keep such a tradition “in vain,” while violating God’s commandment would condemn you. Another rule for testing traditions can be extracted from the following saying of the Holy Apostle Paul to Timothy: “Let him know how to live in the house of God, which is the living Church of God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). If the Church is the pillar and affirmation of truth, then truth must be sought in it, and truth that requires inquiry can be verified, and especially the truth of traditions, of which the Church is the only faithful repository. Receiving tradition from the one, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, “stand” in it, not wavering with vain doubts, “hold” it, with the hope of pleasing God. “Let us hold,” the Apostle teaches, “an unwavering confession of hope, without abandoning our assembly,” that is, the assembly of the Ecumenical Orthodox Church, “as is a certain custom” (Heb. 10:23, 25). Note, brethren, that even in Apostolic times there were some who had the custom of leaving the meeting of the Universal Church: do not be surprised if even now you meet some who have this unfortunate custom. And if such people begin to offer you their tradition: then you can know in advance that people who left the Church, “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), will certainly offer you a tradition that is either false, or damaged, or at least stolen and unblessed; and, of course, the false will not save, the damaged will not heal, the stolen will not enrich, the unblessed will not bring blessing. Let us glorify, brethren, God, who has made us worthy to be children and members of the true and Holy Church, in which true and holy tradition - not just the visible and verbal tradition of teachings, rules, orders, rituals - but with this, the invisible, real teaching of grace and sanctification, descends from heaven to earth, “like the dew of Hermon on the mountains of Zion,” flows continuously and inexhaustibly, and irrigates the hierarchy and sacred rites, “like ointment on the head, descending on the brotherhood of Aaron, descending on the sweeps of his garments” (Ps. 132: 2-3), so that the Apostles anointed with the Holy Spirit anoint the Holy Fathers with the same spiritual ointment, and these successors from century to century, the Saints consecrate the churches and sacraments, and churches and sacraments mutually give sanctification to the Saints, which is why, when you touch the present shrine, you touch the same grace that was poured out in the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Let us hold steadfastly to this pure and living source. As children of obedience, with zeal and love, let us accept from the lips and hands of our Mother the Orthodox Church the pure teaching of faith and life, true grace-filled sanctification, true guidance to eternal life. Amen. In the author's manuscript: “The Most Holy Ones.” In hand author: “to understand.” In the author's manuscript: “undoubtedly.” In Chr. Thurs. and this word is not in the author’s manuscript. In the author's manuscript and in Christ. Thurs. there are no words. These words are not in the author's manuscript. You might be interested in: