263. Слово в день мученицы Татианы

(Said in the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana, at the Imperial Moscow University, January 12th; printed in the Moscow Ved. 1851, in the Works of the Holy Father 1851 and in the collection 1861) It will come to you as a testimony. Set it on your hearts, not first to learn to answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom (Luke 21:13-15). In the monastery of higher knowledge, and therefore, one might say, in the monastery of wisdom, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Martyr. Is there any relationship between the abode of knowledge and the martyr, between wisdom and martyrdom? The present day is the one in which, several centuries before this, the Holy Virgin, Deaconess of the Roman Church Tatiana, acquired an incorruptible crown by martyrdom, and, through death for Christ, was born into an immortal, blessed life. The present day is the one on which, almost a century before this, from the wise goodwill of the pious Queen, this abode of knowledge was born. According to the justice of Providence, the day of the martyr’s exploit became a day of glory on earth, not idle and vain, as worldly glory is, but real and beneficial. While the Church, remembering the feat, glorifies the Ascetic and Crowned Christ, then the spirit of the crowned ascetic is especially attracted to visit the earth as the field of the accomplished feat, and in the memory of the miraculous grace-filled help that facilitated the feat, it draws the boldness to intercede for grace-filled help for those asking for it with faith; and the heavenly Crowned One renews the reward of the feat, bowing with great mercy to this intercession. The leaders of this Royal institution, no doubt, thought to take advantage of this when they decided to remember the day of its foundation not just, but with an invocation of God's blessing on its further existence and activities; and for this purpose, the church created here was entrusted to the patronage of the holy Martyr Tatiana, and the brethren of this church - to her prayerful intercession. A pious thought, flowing from the pure source of sacred traditions. But just as, according to the teaching of the Apostle, all members of the church, consequently the saints, “have gifts according to the grace given” to them, “different” (Rom. 12:6); consequently, they do good primarily according to the nature of their talent; Consequently, it is appropriate for those who desire grace-filled help from them to be somewhat in accordance with their special talent: that is, there is reason to ask again: is there any relationship between the martyr and the abode of knowledge? Is there any affinity between martyrdom and wisdom? I answer: yes. The martyr is the son of wisdom, and no longer a child. Martyrdom is a kind of wisdom, and not a very low one. So that a difficult meeting with disasters would not become purely difficult due to their unexpectedness, Christ the Savior warned His followers about them: “They will lay their hands on you, and they will be delivered up to hosts and prisons, led to kings and rulers, for my name’s sake”; and added: “It will come to you as a testimony” (Luke 21:12–13). That is: persecution for your faith should lead you to “witness.” About what? – It is obvious about the truth of the faith of Christ, about the Divine power of Christ. Let us note that from this saying of Christ the ancient Church borrowed the name “witness” to mean “martyr,” so that in Greek “martyr” is called “witness.” One can guess that in order to testify about Christ in the midst of the hosts of the Jews, armed with law and tradition, and in the face of pagan kings and rulers, acting with false wisdom, flattery, force and rage, considerable wisdom was needed. But what's the point of guessing? - This is obvious from the continuation of the word of Christ: “Set it on your hearts, not first to learn to answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all who resist you will not be able to resist or answer” (Luke 21:14-15). What Christ the Savior promised, he, without a doubt, fulfilled in deed. So He “gave” to the martyrs, and they have, “wisdom” that is victorious over everything that opposes it. The lot of martyrdom is not for everyone; but martyrdom's wisdom is not for martyrs alone. She saved and glorified them, and shines for everyone on the path of truth and salvation. Do not pass by this light without attention, no matter who you are, seeking the paths of wisdom, or only walking in simplicity. Be curious sometimes, not with fruitless curiosity, to learn this kind of wisdom, which you, perhaps, did not think to look for where it is indicated to you, - which, “without first learning,” teaches powerful lessons, - which victoriously testifies to the truth, - which “those who resist cannot resist,” - which comes from a high principle, since it comes from Christ: “I will give you a mouth and wisdom.” But what kind of wisdom do martyrs have? What is its composition? How to define it? – To discuss this, I do not think to resort to the guidance of those wise men who, in view of the wisdom of Christ, independently of it, so many times undertook to build a comprehensive science; but they destroyed the creation of one another, and did not even draw up a plan, reliable and generally acceptable, for the proposed construction. I will turn to old wisdom, but not devoid of power: there is no need for it to seem outdated to those who preach endless movement towards the new, that is, sailing without a pier, striving without a goal. The Book of Wisdom depicts wisdom with the following main features: “it teaches chastity and reason, truth and courage, and nothing more is needed in human life” (Wisdom 8:7). And these are the traits of wisdom that shine beautifully and majestically in the words, deeds and sufferings of the Christian martyrs. Isn’t it high “reason” or prudence that appears among them when, contrary to hereditary prejudices, they understood the absurdity of polytheism, came to know the one true God, saw the unsatisfactoriness of the external Jewish law, discovered the need for the grace of Christ and its Divine power and reality; and determined the dignity of this new knowledge for themselves so decisively and firmly with Paul’s assessment: “I count all the vanity of existence for the surpassing understanding of Christ Jesus the Lord” (Phil. 3:8)? How perfect is their “chastity,” or abstinence, when they renounced not only all passionate sensual pleasures, but for the most part also innocent ones; and not only did they not seek pleasure, but decided to endure the most severe suffering in order to keep their thoughts, conscience, heart, soul, body pure, and “to glorify God in all bodies and in souls, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20)! How strict is their “truth” or righteousness, when they only demanded a word or a sign favorable to paganism, and left them to think as they wanted; and when with the word: “I am not a Christian,” or even with silence alone, they could get rid of suffering and death, but they did not want to weaken the truth with a word, or with silence; - or when, for example, one of them, who had incense placed in his hand and forcibly carried it over a pagan altar, allowed that hand to be burned 725, but did not unclench his fingers so that the incense would not fall on the altar, which would satisfy the torturers and save him from torment; - or when, enduring unjust and cruel insults, deprivations, tortures, they not only did not think about revenge, but also showed exact obedience to the civil and state authorities of the persecutors in everything that is not contrary to the law of God and moral! How majestic is their “courage” when they, being “delivered to the host” and “led to kings and rulers”, for the “name” of Christ, knowing that they would meet suffering and death, walked steadily, calmly, and some even with joy; - when paganism fought with them with threats, blasphemy, whips, various instruments of torture, fire, hot iron, boiling oil, sword, but victory went to the weapon of faith and love of God and patience that did not hurt anyone; - when, for example, Saint Lawrence, lying on one side on a hot frying pan, said to his tormentors: “burnt; turn to the other side” - or when Saint James the Persian, whose members were cut off one by one, while cutting off each member, uttered a praise to God, as is characteristic of a winner! I said, and I repeat: the lot of martyrdom is not for everyone: but martyrdom’s wisdom is not for martyrs alone. She saved and glorified them, and shines for everyone on the path of truth and salvation. He who does not want to wander for luck will do well if, in this light, he looks around to see whether he is on this path, or, perhaps, whether he has moved too far from it. Have we clung to the “reason” of the Divine, Christ, saving truth with our minds and hearts so that it has become our treasure, our consolation, and that lower knowledge in terms of subjects and goals gives it priority in our attention, in our affection? - This is the mind that wisdom teaches. Or, on the contrary, are we attracted to curious and amusing books more than sacred and edifying books, and teaching that promises praise or benefit is more important than teaching that leads to eternal salvation? - This is not the mind that wisdom teaches. Do “chastity” and abstinence possess us in such a way as to keep us from sensual pleasures, at least illegal, passionate, unnecessary, from seeing and hearing, which is disapproved by modesty? Or, on the contrary, a voluntarily intensified thirst for sensual pleasures seems to be a requirement of nature; the habit of sensual pleasures drowns out the taste for spiritual pleasures; Shame is not on guard against immodest spectacles and unchaste words? - This is not at all what wisdom teaches. She teaches chastity and abstinence. Doesn’t our “truth” consist only in not offending someone who has not offended us? - This is not wisdom yet. To carefully observe and zealously fulfill our duties to God and our neighbor, to be obedient to the legitimate authority to the point of self-sacrifice, to always be ready, if possible, to do good to our neighbor and to remove evil from him, to maintain straightforwardness, faithfulness in word, and unflatteringness - such is the truth and righteousness that wisdom teaches. We know “courage” and willingly glorify it in military life. Do we think about courage in moral life? Do I dare to ask: how would we endure for faith and truth what the martyrs endured? – I’ll limit myself to an easy question, how do we cope with being stung by an insect – a small insult, an unfair reproach, a caustic word, material damage caused? Aren't we getting irritated? Are you ready to take revenge? - How far this is from wisdom can be judged because it is also common for animals to become irritated and, by the movement of one rage, alien to the mind, to vengefully attack the irritating person. Courage and sublimity of spirit, worthy of man and wisdom, must be in accepting a small or great insult generously, forgiving the offender, and, as far as possible, through prudence and goodwill, leading him to a better path. There is a need for courage not only in relation to people who are against us, but also in relation to those who, apparently, are for us. There are nice enemies who make attacks not with sharp weapons, but with soft nets. There are people who, through the power of affection and friendship, are drawn to deeds that are ignoble and disgraceful, and the thought of affection and friendship can weaken the power of resistance to vice. Whoever stands firm, and by the power of pious and moral feeling breaks the snare and repels temptation, is the son of wisdom, and to him belongs the crown of courage. To give in to evil temptation means to cowardly change your wisdom. Christ, “God’s power and God’s wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:24)! Teach through the prayers and examples of Your holy martyrs, and teach us wisdom, not that which You have “wrapped” (1 Cor. 1:25) and condemn 726 for its pride and vanity, but that which “is first pure, then peaceable, meek, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, undoubting and unfeigned.” (James 3:17). Amen. See Word of St. Basil the Great about St. Martyr Varlaam. November 19 days In the author's manuscript: “and you will become possessed.” You might be interested in: