248. Слово по освящении храма Св. Архистратига Михаила, при открытии 2-го Московского Кадетского корпуса

(Said Dec. 6; printed in Moscow Ved. 1849, in Tv. St. Ot. 1856 and in collection 1861) This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4). Russia is rich in victories and those who know how to win victories. This is what the actions say. The Universe knows this. But here is another breeding ground for victories. Another institution for the education of noble warriors. Another new military camp, only not mobile, but motionless, not in tents, but in the house that was once the King’s; and – in the midst of a new military camp, a new church of the “God of peace” (Heb. 13:20). O God of peace! Where is the time promised by You through the Prophet, when “they will beat swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks, and no tongue will take up the tongue of a sword” (Is. 2:4), and therefore there will be no need to study the art of war? Without a doubt, there is such a link in the polysyllabic chain of times; for the word that came from You will not return to You empty. But we are unhappy with the times and years that You have placed in Your power. “The hour is coming, and now it is, when You speak peace on Your people,” on kingdoms, on cities, on villages, on souls: but Your peace and with You follows the same law that You prescribed for Your messengers: “If there be children of peace, Your peace will rest on them; otherwise, it will return to You” (Luke 10:6), in anticipation of the sons of the world. Glory to God, peace lives in our fatherland! The most pious Autocrat watches over him: and if he recently raised his weapon, then to defend the world; and, having conquered peace to the allied kingdom, and due to the connection of incidents, of course, to many others, he did not hesitate to return to His inner world. But with all this, will our time boast of the abundance of the sons of the world? Have many peoples who bear the name of the God of peace lost their inner peace? And isn’t mutual peace in almost constant danger? Haven't we seen how the flames of discord, rebellion, civil strife embraced cities, passed from city to city, from kingdom to kingdom; and if it has been extinguished, are there still sparks flickering from under the ashes? – For such times, the very love of peace must be armed to guard the peace; The very sons of the world need the art of warfare and every readiness to repel the enemies of the world. So, thanks to the insightful guardianship of the Autocrat, who never ceases to strengthen the means of public protection and security. May wise mentors come, may noble young men come, some to teach, others to study the science of warriors, the science of defeating the enemies of the Tsar and the Fatherland, the science of defending the Tsar and the Fatherland. But although I cannot refuse the rank and position of a warrior; because one of the people of my kind of service to another, belonging to the same service, gave this commandment: “Thou shalt suffer evil, for Jesus Christ is a good soldier” (2 Tim. 2:3): however, I cannot tell you anything about the art of inflicting wounds and death on enemies with weapons, and thereby gaining victory. I was shown weapons - I was taught the art of warfare - with which life is not taken away, but is preserved, or even given to the dead. “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Cor. 10:4). “Our struggle is against flesh and blood” (Eph. 6:12). “This is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.” I must say something about this victory, although not much. “The victory that conquered the world” is a huge victory. And therefore, isn’t it worth the trouble to find out how it was acquired, and how it can be acquired again, although not in the same volume. – The herald of this great victory says that the weapons, strength, and art with which it was acquired lie in faith. He claims that only one who owns this weapon, this power, this art, that is, by faith, namely, faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, can become the winner of the world. “Who is it that conquers the world? Only believe that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5). It is surprising that St. John the Evangelist already proclaimed the victory of the faith of Christ over the world, when the world had not yet exhausted its hostile forces and means against it. The Apostle saw the course of the matter so perspicaciously; so correctly foresaw the outcome. It is more convenient for us to see in accomplishment what he foresaw in the firstfruits. The Roman world (as the Roman state liked to call itself, proudly, but not without reason, because it contained everything significant and powerful in the world), the pagan world, for several centuries, waged war against Christianity. On the side of the world were: power, strength, art, education, population, popular opinion. Cruelty and affection, flattery and slander, threat and promise, reward and execution, enrichment and robbery, liberation and enslavement, exaltation and exile, the wisdom of the sage and the torture of the tormentor, prejudice and rage of the people - everything was turned into weapons against Christianity. On the other hand, Christianity appeared without power, without strength, without art, without protection, without weapons, except for the weapon of faith in the invisible God and in His Son Jesus Crucified, neglected by the world. But how did this too unequal battle end? – The pagan world collapsed and crumbled into dust, and Christianity rose and dominated, regenerating the world into a new life. Truly, “this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.” St. Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, presents a number of memorable names and events, as proof that, in all times of the world, everything sublime, wondrous, miraculous was accomplished only by faith. About this, I will say with him, “I will not be able to tell the story of time”: but, together with him, I will not keep silent “about Gideon, Baraz and Sampson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel” and about others (whose number it would not be difficult to increase with the names of our Kings and Leaders), “who by faith conquered the kingdom, having done righteousness, was able to weakness, and became strong in battle, putting to flight the hosts of strangers” (Heb. 11:32–34). So, with the word of the Apostles, confirm yourself in this thought that the same faith that acquired and is acquiring a spiritual victory over the world for the Church and the believing soul, also acquires a military victory over the enemies of the faithful kingdom and the faithful leader and warrior. But just as the most reliable weapon delivers victory only to those who know how to use it well: then take care, ascetics for the Tsar and the Fatherland, take care for yourself and for those who must be guided to similar feats, in order to be able to use well the victorious weapon of faith. Holy Scripture teaches that “he who comes to God is to believe, for He is, and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). But this is only the beginning, or the first degree of faith; this means discerning faith, and not actually having and using it. We believe that God exists: but how much do we gain through this if He is unapproachable? We believe that God is a rewarder: but what do we gain through this, if, according to the judgment of our own conscience, we deserve not reward for seeking Him, but punishment for not seeking Him enough, and not pleasing Him enough? These perplexities and difficulties are resolved only when we enter the second degree of faith, when we believe in the incarnate Son of God Jesus Christ - when we believe in Him, according to the revelation of the word of God, recognizing in Him “God who is above all, blessed forever” (Rom. 9:5), and at the same time true “man, and the mediator of God and men” (1 Tim. 2:5). Because He is God: then in Him the treasures of Divine wisdom and grace are inexhaustible for us, and His sacrifice on the cross for us has an infinite price, to satisfy infinite justice for us, and infinite power, to resurrect us from death caused by sin. Because He is a man, He is close to all human conditions, except sin, and according to the saying of the Apostle, “Having Himself been tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18), and by His earthly life He represents a perfect example for our life. Since He is the God-man and the Intercessor of God and men, God is no longer inaccessible to us. The divine humanity of Christ is a knot that connects all humanity with the Divinity, it is a heavenly ladder along which our prayers unrestrainedly ascend to the Heavenly Father, it is the mountain of God along which the currents of the gifts of the Holy Spirit continually flow to humanity. When we embrace such faith in Christ both in our mind and in our hearts, then faith ascends to an even higher degree; it turns into “a hope that does not shame” (Rom. 5:5), and into “a love that never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8); penetrates into all human life and activities; and then, according to the word of Christ Himself, “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). Then he conveniently overcomes the flesh with its lusts and passions, because in faith and love for God and Christ he acquires spiritual sweetness, which rises as he rejects sensual pleasures; conveniently conquers the world with its charms and hostility, because “he imputes all the skills of being, so that he may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8). Finally, he is invincible and victorious even in battle against the enemies of the Tsar and the Fatherland, because he is not afraid of either difficult feats or death, looking with the eyes of faith and hope at the heavenly crown, beautiful for everyone who strives in faith and truth, and especially majestic for the unshakable and mortal feat for loyalty to the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland. Children, called to prepare for exploits of war! It is still too early for you to think about victories in the great field: but you can and should also acquire victories that are important for you in the narrow field of your educational life: with curiosity and hard work to overcome laziness and idleness, with attention to the useful and necessary to overcome absent-mindedness and frivolity, with a spirit of obedience to restrain the impulses of youthful will, with a sense of dignity to repel an ignoble suggestion or an unkind example that may come your way. Draw strength for these moral victories in reverence for God, in faith, in prayer. Let everyone often cry to the heavenly Father: “teach me goodness and discipline and understanding” (Ps. 119:66). “Teach me to do Your will” (Ps. 142:10). Saint Michael, to whose patronage this church was entrusted! The leader of the heavenly armies, who does not deny advancing the earthly (as You obviously guided the leader Joshua, and taught him to destroy strong Jericho not with weapons, but with faith; for “by faith the walls of Jericho fell” (Heb. 11:30))! accept into Your protection and this monastery those prepared for the defense of the Fatherland: extend a gracious wing over the minds and hearts of children and their leaders, guard this new helicopter city, like the paradise of God, so that the seeds of truth, goodness and honor are abundantly sown and grow in it; and let faith, victorious over the visible and invisible, not allow the enemy who tries to sow tares. Standing close to the throne of the King of the Kings, intercede, as you once did for the ancient people of God, intercede for the prosperity and longevity of our Most Pious Autocrat, and His Blessed Heir, and for His entire Royal House, and for His faithful people, may the true, holy faith always remain ours, heartily and effectively, and with it victory will always be ours 700. Amen. In Creation St. Ot. and Moscow Ved. The following words are inserted here: Michael, Heavenly Prince! To the Grand Duke named after You, who recently passed from our visible world into your invisible one, proclaim, if this is allowed, that to His beloved military educational institutions, His guardianship and fatherly love have been fully returned in His High Successor; - that love for Him still lives in the heart of His Sovereign Brother; - that a grateful memory of him is and will be preserved by all those who approached him and by everyone to whom His kindness reached even in the distance. 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