267. Беседа 728 по освящении храма Святаго Благоверного Великого Князя Александра Невского, при доме Коммерческой Академии

(Said on November 4th; printed in the Moscow Police Ved., in the Works of the Holy Father in 1851 and in the collection in 1861) The doors were opened for him in his upper room opposite Jerusalem; At three times a day he bowed his knees, praying and confessing before his God (Dan.6:10). This is how the book of the Prophet Daniel describes the prayer rule of this Prophet. Hearing this, you may think: why am I taking this sample now? He introduces home prayer: and we are now in a newly consecrated church; and therefore, if it is necessary to renew the church by thinking about prayer, then wouldn’t it be better to point out some model of church prayer worthy of special attention and imitation? – It is true that this is a church; but take into account the fact that she is in the house. Therefore, the thought of church prayer meets here with the thought of home prayer; and hence the question arises: why did the builders of this house, and this generally useful institution, not allow the inhabitants of this house to be content with only home prayer, but wanted to provide them with a way to use church prayer in the house itself? – The example of the Prophet Daniel will help us resolve this issue, justify this matter, and give us useful instructions. “The doors were opened for him in his upper room opposite Jerusalem.” That is: when the Prophet Daniel wanted to pray in his house: then he opened the doors of the window facing the side of Jerusalem, and in front of this window he knelt to pray. It is necessary to remember that this was at a time when Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Temple of the true God, destroyed by the Babylonians, lay in ruins; and Daniel was in captivity in Babylon, in Babylon itself, or perhaps in the Persian capital of Darius the Mede, from where it was just as impossible for the Prophet to see Jerusalem as it was for us from here. If we could enter the upper room of Daniel praying, then we could ask him: why, while praying, does he look out the window, into the earthly distance? If he is looking for something in the visible that would bring him closer to the invisible presence of God, then wouldn’t it be better for him to lift his eyes to heaven, to which there is some indication from God Himself to one of the previous prophets: “Heaven is my throne” (Is. 66:1)? Or, wouldn’t it be better to look to the east, as instructed by another Prophet: “Sing to the Lord, who ascended into the heavens to the east” (Ps. 67:33–34)? Our questions will not reach Daniel and will not bring us an answer: but we ourselves must understand his action so that it is consistent with the dignity of the Prophet, who cannot be suspected of a superstitious passion for Jerusalem. He knew that the temple of Jerusalem, at its consecration, with the signs of heavenly fire and clouds of glory, received the constant gift of the gracious presence of God, as God testified to this in his own word: “My eyes and my heart will be there all the days” (1 Kings 9:3). He understood that the Babylonians could burn the tree and destroy the stones of the church: but they could not touch the invisible grace. He foresaw that the grace of the first church, which was destroyed, is stored up for the second church that is about to be erected, the glory of which must be “greater... than the first” (Hag. 2:9), since the Source of grace, Christ, will appear in it. Thus, where ordinary people saw only the ruins of the church: there Daniel contemplated the grace of the church and the gracious presence of God. And therefore, opening the window and stretching his gaze towards the side of Jerusalem, he walked in spirit to the Jerusalem Temple; and, kneeling down, he prayed as if in the temple of Jerusalem. So, we can say that the prayer of the Prophet Daniel was not only at home, but also in church. And it is remarkable how he was not satisfied with home prayer, how strongly he felt the advantage and need of church prayer, how strongly he strove for it, despite the obstacles, despite even the danger of life. The officials and princes of Darius the Mede, who were unfavorable to him, insidiously asked this King for a command that for thirty days no one should dare bring petitions to any God or man except Darius, under pain of being given over to be eaten by lions. Daniel knew this, and, without a doubt, understood that this mortal net was set to catch him. But even this did not force him to confine himself entirely to home prayer, unnoticed by anyone, and therefore safe. He continued, as was his custom, during prayer, to open the window to Jerusalem, and to direct his gaze and spirit to the Temple of Jerusalem, which directly led, and indeed led him, to mortal danger, from which only by an unexpected miracle was he rescued. Hungry lions did not dare to tear the prophet to pieces. If in the Prophet we notice such unshakable confidence about the inadequacy of home prayer alone, about the advantage and need of church prayer: then will we allow ourselves to waver in the same confidence? If Daniel, according to heavenly testimony, “a man of desires” (Dan. 10:11), a man who lives and breathes desires extended to God, a perfect man of prayer, in order to excite and exalt his prayer, needs a church: then for us, we admit, for the most part, we are far from perfect in prayer, and perhaps not willing to it, not accustomed to paying attention to prayer, inclined to dispersion of thoughts, how much more necessary is the church of God, which would gather us from distraction, and enclose us within itself, and with its sacred images and actions would focus the attention of prayer, excite and elevate the spirit of prayer, and contemplate its warmth! If Daniel, “to have the holy Spirit of God in himself” (Dan. 4:5), is not content to seek the gracious presence of God only in his interior, but seeks it in a certain place, in which by a special secret action God established and established it for His Church: then we, who, perhaps, were “begun by the Spirit” (Rom. 8:23), do not yet have it, since it is more necessary to seek God primarily in the church in which He, as in His treasury, placed His presence, His grace, His sacraments, His power, His gifts! We recognize as right and pious the thought of the creators of this church, who, wanting to strengthen, elevate and crown the mental education of children, corresponding to the needs of the rank, with a moral-Christian education, found it necessary to provide them not only with educational churches, with their lessons, but also with the holy church, with its prayer and sacraments. We recognize as wonderfully blessed those who have been granted in such proximity, with such convenience, to use the now consecrated church. And may they accept this sacred gift reverently; and may they enjoy this benefit gratefully and diligently. Yes, and we will all accept the instruction from the prophet Daniel to reverence the church and be diligent in prayer. Or, if you do not want instruction, because you know it; and those who do not know need instruction: then think about whether you are faithfully fulfilling what you know, and, by evading instruction with knowledge, are you exposing yourself to the conviction of not fulfilling what you know. Daniel rushed through thousands of miles to the church, if possible, and beyond his ability. Are we sometimes too lazy to reach the church only after a few hundred steps? Even when the church sends to us the inviting sounds of the festive bell, are we not, like those condemned in the parable, inattentive to this grace-filled calling, are not others “going away”, “to their villages, and to their purchases” (Matthew 22:5), or even worse, some to vain amusement, others to an immodest spectacle? The Prophet was in awe of the distant shrine of even the destroyed church. Even inside the church, in front of its inviolable shrine, don’t we sometimes forget that we are before the face of God, and while engaging with those who stand before us, don’t we distract each other from the One to whom we stand. Daniel, “at three times a day he bowed his knees, praying and confessing to his God” (Dan.6:10). Can we boast of such diligence in prayer, at least at home? Shall we say that we will not boast, but we can have some excuse for infrequent prayer, because we are occupied with positions, affairs, and work from morning to evening? – But did Daniel often pray in his spare time? He was one of the three supreme nobles under Darius, to whom one hundred and twenty princes were subordinate, and even “set him as king over all his kingdom” (Dan. 6:1–3). Having the affairs of a huge kingdom on his hands, Daniel nevertheless found time to kneel and pray three times a day. Let's not be demanding. We will not demand that everyone on the path to God keep up with the Prophet. But we will offer you both what is due and what is possible if we say: honor and love the church of God; visit it with reverence as often as you can, and as required by the sacred order of the Church, especially during festive times; Dedicate to God the firstfruits of each day and night in prayer, thanking Him for the past, asking for His blessings for the future, and throughout the day, from the hours stolen from you by the world and its affairs, steal, if possible, at least minutes in order to remember God, secretly lifting up to Him your heart and thought of reverence, gratitude, and prayer. By practicing this carefully and constantly, you will find in yourself what is written in the psalm: “I remembered God and rejoiced” (Ps. 77:4). Amen. In Creation Holy Father "Word". You might be interested in: