280. Беседа в день совершившегося пятидесятилетия от учреждения Екатерининского Училища благородных девиц

(Said February 10; printed in the Works of the Holy Father, in the Moscow and Provincial Gazette of 1853, and in the collection of 1861) Who will find a wife? The dearest is a stone of great value (Prov. 31:10.) Experienced Solomon, apparently, considered a valiant wife not a very common occurrence when he said: “Who will find a wife of valor?” These words make it clear that it must be sought; and just as it is desirable to find it, it is doubtful whether it will be found conveniently. If such a review seems unpleasant to the daughters of Eve: then let Christian virgins and wives be jealous, so that valor, which was rare in the eyes of Solomon, will not be rare in them; because he had before his eyes Jewish and pagan wives; and because he did not clearly see in the distance of time the Blessed Virgin Mother, and “brought before the King” the heavenly “virgins” and women “following Her” (Ps. 44:15), although he heard about them from his parent the Prophet, and was a Prophet himself: “in part we understand, and in part we prophesy” (1 Cor. 13:9). But if Solomon combines both light and shadow in one feature of his image, how purely light is his other feature! If he does not generously allocate valor to the female sex, then how highly he values ​​a valiant wife! “Dearest there is a stone of great value.” Why does the wise judge pay special attention to female valor and extol it? – I think, because, among other things, he sees it in the weak part of humanity. When you see high and strong valor in the face of your husband, you are not so much surprised as satisfied, having found exactly what could be demanded from this nature. But when you meet the same valor in the weak nature of your wife: your expectation is exceeded, and you are not only pleased, but also surprised. For example, looking at Jacob, who, in order to quench the unjust enmity of his brother, voluntarily condemns himself to expulsion from his parental home, and, taking nothing from the inheritance of his rich father, with only a pilgrim’s staff, goes to a distant country, no doubt, with a feeling of pleasure, you will say: this is generous, this is worthy of the son of Isaac, the grandson of Abraham. But if you look at Ruth, who, out of love for her mother-in-law, a helpless foreigner, and out of respect for her virtue and piety, decides to leave her kinship and fatherland, and, being restrained by Naomi herself from this difficult and apparently hopeless feat, does not hesitate and says to Naomi: “Where you go, I will go, and where you are located, I will be established and I, your people, my people, and your God is my God” (Ruth. 1:16): at the sight of this masculine strength of spirit in a wife, this delight of virtue, I think you are not only pleased, but also surprised and touched. Enough for now with these views on Solomon’s image of the valiant wife. It seemed to me like a mirror reflecting the image of a highly valiant wife, which, not with a brush on a canvas, not with letters on a charter, but inscribed with living memories, now shines in our thoughts and hearts. “Who will find a wife? - “Isn’t it a truly rare and inconveniently acquired phenomenon that she, who, having descended from a bright family outside the Orthodox Church and Russia, with right reasoning and prudent love, reborn Herself into a sincere daughter of the Orthodox Church and Her new Fatherland - who, having been grafted through marriage into the tree of the royal family in Russia, which was impoverished by branches, left it behind abundantly blooming and fruitful branches extending beyond the borders of Russia, - which shone with the crowned head and “dearest stones of much value” with the valor of the heart in three successive reigns - appeared as the great mother of two great kings? And who found the highly valiant Mary for this high destiny? Catherine's insightful mind? Paul's pure gaze? That's true. But that's not all. It was found and given to Russia by a special, beneficial to Russia, God's Providence. But I must restrain the impulses of the word, which cannot follow the manifold virtues of the ever-memorable Empress, and constrain it within the limits indicated by the place, time and subject of this triumph. When Paul the First accepted the autocracy of Russia: then, knowing what he could expect from his wife for her good, he separated into her management and care a special area of ​​philanthropy. This region was not extensive when Mary took it into her power: but Mary gradually expanded it, created new institutions in it, improved them, and strengthened them. One of her first creations was this abode for the education of noble maidens, who would not have the means to receive a sufficient education in families, and who, having received it here, would be able to bring it into the families, arrange their well-being and help their parents. At the same time, her philanthropic feeling embraced the entire royal house, and all its members assisted her in this beneficial institution. For twenty-five years she cultivated and nurtured this heliform planted by her: and now, twenty-five years after her, it continues to bloom and bear moral fruit, in commemoration of the fact that it was planted by a skillful and blessed hand, and that the spirit of humane care that animated the Most Pious Mary rested on her successor, the Most Pious Alexandra. So, it is righteous that we pause with reverent attention at the end of the half-century existence of this institution, and, looking at its past and present with the eye of joy, at its future with the eye of hope, especially “lift up our eyes” and grateful hearts “to... Him who lives in heaven” (Ps. 122:1), “to... the Father, ... from Him is all the family in heaven and on earth is called" (Eph. 3:14-15), to the King, from Him every kingdom in heaven and on earth is named. Blessed are You, Who gives in the King a father to His people, and in the Queen a mother to the sons and daughters of His people! “God of hosts, turn now, and look down from heaven, and see, and visit these grapes” (Ps. 79:15) and do not cease to visit with Your blessing and Your grace! May the sons of Russia always “rejoice in their Tsar” (Ps. 149:2)! May the Tsar and Queen of Russia always remain as father and mother and joyful children! May the daughters of Russia strive for their part in order to justify the royal care and good aspirations for them! And for this, let us return for a short time to Solomon’s image of the valiant wife; and we will indicate some features that are accessible to general imitation. “Taste to do good” (Proverbs 31:18). That is: she does not crave fun. He finds more taste in work and useful occupation than others in amusements and amusements. “Her lamp does not go out all night” (Proverbs 31:18). She does not indulge in a dark and long sleep, and does not illuminate the night with a thousand lamps that do not shine on any useful work. Her “lamp does not go out”, which shines on her nightly work, or her nightly prayer; Most of all, in her soul “the lamp” of faith does not go out, in anticipation of the heavenly Bridegroom coming at midnight. “Make thin raiment for your husband, and fine linen and purple raiment for yourself” (Prov. 31:22). She does not want to be a tribute to foreigners for her dreamy grace and whimsical news in clothes: for her, those clothes are better, in which there is less foreign labor. “You open your mouth carefully and lawfully, and a commandment is given to your tongue” (Proverbs 31:25). She does not place dignity in the audacity of judgment, nor pleasure in eloquence; mockery and slander do not defile her tongue, and unbridled laughter does not upset her spirit and appearance; a sound mind and a kind heart open her lips to pure and immaculate words, and soon modesty seals them. This is how the ancient, experienced, royal sage teaches by painting. We will not make the lesson longer or more difficult. Let us turn only to the present wife and to the present virgin what was said on another occasion at the sight of a good example: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). Amen. You might be interested in: