207. Речь на открытие больницы при Московском Университете

(Said on September 28; printed in the collection of 1848) Having gathered to sanctify through public prayer the work of science and philanthropy, which should not be accomplished here at the same time, but continue and live, we will not do anything superfluous if we introduce reflection into prayer that would excite and direct it. The common Mother Church, suddenly satisfying the diverse needs of her children, offers the most general models of prayer, and the spirit of blessing and grace brings us closer through sacred signs: but our thirsty heart must attract and accept this spirit; and this thirst is aroused by a clear understanding of the special need with which we resort to prayer. Here we see a monastery prepared by the Tsar’s love for mankind and generosity, although it is not a sad monastery, because it is and will be inhabited by suffering humanity, and will be distributed in it not according to rights and advantages, but according to illnesses; however, the monastery is also consoling, because the suffering are accepted here for relief, the sick for healing. And how happily wisdom is friends with humanity here! Science comes to alleviate manifold sufferings: observation of manifold sufferings facilitates science in its difficult researches. The doctor helps the patient in obtaining health, and the patient helps the novice doctor in acquiring medical experience. These views excite us to a prayer of joy and gratitude for the Sovereign Lover of Humanity and Patron of Knowledge, and for the activities of the servants of His wisdom and love for mankind, to a prayer of consolation and hope for suffering humanity. One can rejoice at the doctor going to the patient’s bedside. If a simple visit to a sick person, to express sympathy, to give a consoling word, is a merit before Christ the Savior, and acquires His blessing, then how much more is visiting a sick person for longed-for and beneficial help, to give health. “Come,” he says, “blessed; I was sick and visited Mene” (Matthew 25:34, 36). Happy people who can earn this blessing several times every day! But you can also be afraid when you see a doctor at a patient’s bedside. It’s nice to save the life of a neighbor, to restore his health; but it’s scary to have the health and life of a neighbor in your hands. If the doctor saw through the patient, then, of course, he would more accurately direct the medical means to the target. But he often stands in front of the patient’s body, as if in front of a closed house, and through certain holes he not so much sees as guesses what is happening inside. Body dissection opens the door to an empty house: and therefore cannot show much of what is happening in it in the presence of the owner, that is, the soul that animates the body. Who can pursue the soul through its hidden entrances and exits in the depths of rough matter, in the heights of subtle matter? Meanwhile, if life depends on it: is it possible that the degrees of life - health and illness - do not depend on its various states? But what am I saying? “Don’t think that I wanted to in any way humiliate science, or cool the doctor’s jealousy, or shake the patient’s hope.” No. I have not forgotten the teachings of one of the soul healing books. “Honour the physician with his honor: for the Lord created him. The Lord created healing from the earth, and a wise man does not disdain it” (Sir. 38:1, 4). I just want to convey the idea that the doctor should not rely too much on his insight and knowledge alone, and that the gaze of his mind should not get bogged down in the substance. In order to heal a patient, the doctor must see inside him, prophesy what is hidden in him: this requires purity of heart and elevation of spirit. Let us say without hesitation: this requires an elevation of the spirit to the mountainous spirit of wisdom and reason. As with all truth and medicine - “The Lord gives wisdom, and from His presence knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6). These reflections lead to the fact that in this case, both the doctor and the patient, and the well-wishing doctor, and the one who sympathizes with the patient, unite in a special prayer to the Supreme Physician of souls and bodies, may He Himself visit this abode of healing, may He give it, like the once healing Font of Siloam, His beneficial Angel, may He pour His light into the minds of those who heal, may He purify their hearts love for suffering humanity, may he bless their activities, and may he abundantly and life-givingly extend to the sick the healing power that He created and contained in medicinal substances. You might be interested in: