Letters to monastics: General holiday greetings

Contents 1. “LET FORGIVE EVERYTHING BY THE RESURRECTION” 2. ABOUT THE GREAT CONDENSATION OF THE BORN LORD AND ABOUT OUR GOOD LORD 3. THE BORN CHRIST BRINGS US GREAT BENEFIT, THE USE OF WHICH DEPENDS ON OUR WINNING 4. THE HOLIDAY OF EASTER REMINDS THE FUTURE AND GENERAL RESURRECTION 5. THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. WALK AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT 6. THE HOLIDAY OF THE RESURRECTION, LIKE OTHER HOLIDAYS, REMINDS US: CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER, AND WE PEOPLE ARE CHANGEABLE AND DEPENDABLE 7. WE MUST REMEMBER THE ANGELIC DOXOLOGY AND NOT CLEAN TO THE PERMANENT 8. WHAT PREVENTS OBEYING THE TRUTH OF GOD 9. ABOUT THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION 10. ABOUT AUTHORITY AS OBEDIENCE TO GOD 11. ADVICE ABOUT AVOIDING DIVISIONS 12. ABOUT THE NECESSARY SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL OF LIFE 13. ABOUT DESPONDERNESS, FORGETING AND IGNORANCE AS THE ENEMIES OF OUR SALVATION 14. ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF MUTUAL HATRED AND ABOUT ACQUISITION OF LOVE 15. ABOUT THE FACT THAT HUMBLE SINNERS SHOULD REJOICE ON THE FEAST OF THE RESURANCE OF CHRIST 16. ABOUT ERADICATION OF ENVY 17. TO BE GLORIFIED WITH CHRIST, IT IS NECESSARY TO SUFFER WITH HIM 18. EXPLANATION OF THE KONDAKK OF THE Nativity OF CHRIST 19. ABOUT REASONABLE SINGING TO GOD. EXPLANATION OF THREE CHURCH SONGS 20. EXPLANATIONS OF PSALM 23 21. ABOUT ENVY 22. EXPLANATION OF IRMOS: “CHRIST IS BORN..” 23. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW THE COMMANDMENTS, YOU MUST FOLLOW THEM 24. EXPLANATION CHRISTMAS IRMOS: “A STRANGE MYSTERY...” 25. EXPLANATION OF EASTER IRMOS: “RESURRECTION DAY..” 26. EXPLANATION OF IRMOS: “ROD FROM THE ROOT OF JESSE..” 27. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE EASTER CANON: “NOW IS EVERYTHING FILLED WITH LIGHT..” 28. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS: MERCY AND TRUTH HAVE HAPPENED... 29. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: ARISE, O LORD MY GOD... 30. THE MEANING OF SORRY 31. EXPLANATION OF THE SRETENSKY IRMOS: “THY HEAVENS HAVE COVERED YOUR VIRTUE, O CHRIST..” 32. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS: WITH YOUR HEART BELIEVES IN THE TRUTH... 33. ABOUT THE SIN OF JUDGING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD 34. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: THE GOOD AND RIGHTS OF THE LORD... 35. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS FAST AND DRINKING! 36. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS IN THE FIRST COLLECTION EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PETER ABOUT THE FEAR OF GOD 37. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: GOD... OUR IS IN HEAVEN... 38. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: PUNISHING THE PUNISHMENT OF ME LORD... 39. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: MY MOUTH SHALL SPEAK WISDOM... 40. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: FOOD WILL FORGET TO PROFESS GOD... 41. EXPLANATION OF DAVID'S WORDS: TEACH ME GOOD AND PUNISHMENT AND REASON... 42. It is necessary to achieve Christian wisdom 43. CHRISTIAN WISDOM CONSISTS IN KEEPING FAITH IN THE LORD WHEN TEMPTATIONS 44. GOODLY LIVING MUST TO ENDURE SORRY 45. MOST OF ALL YOU SHOULD ACHIEVE CHRISTIAN LOVE 46. SPIRITUAL CONSOLIATION IS SERVED FOR PRAYERS FOR THE LIVING AND DEAD 47. PRAYER AGAINST THE THOUGHTS OF THE WEAK 48. YOU MUST FIGHT COURAGEOUSLY WITH THE THOUGHTS OF THE WEAK ILLNESSES 49. CHIVILITY – FROM UNITY WITH THE LORD, DESPONSIBILITY – FROM VANITY 50. DESPONSIBILITY FROM THE DEVIL 51. PLEASURE OF PRIDE IS THE SECOND DEATH! Advertisement EACH OTHER 56. THE MAIN OBSTACLES TO HOLINESS 57. CHRISTIAN WISDOM DEMANDES THE ERIGATION OF THE “OLD MAN” 58. SERIOUS ILLNESS TURNS MORE SERIOUSLY TO GOD 59. SPIRITUAL REVIVAL BEGINS WITH LIBERATION FROM THE PASSIONS 60. CHILDREN OF CHRIST ARE CALLED THOSE IN WHOM CHRIST HAS NOT YET “IMAGINED” 61. ABOUT THE CONCUBINE. ABOUT THE ABBESS... OVER YOURSELF [2] 62. ABOUT THE MENTOR. HOW TO ACQUIRE SPIRITUAL MIND 63. A PROUD DISCIPLE MUST SEEK A Strict Elder. IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ELDER, FOLLOW THE GOSPEL COMMANDMENTS. SOLITUDE IS HARMFUL FOR THE PASSIONATE 64. IT IS USEFUL TO SITT IN A CELL 65. YOU NEED TO STICK TO THE MIDDLE PATH OF SALVATION 66. SELF-MADE ASCEMENT IS DANGEROUS 67. RULES AND FASTS ALONE, WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE COMMANDMENTS, WILL NOT SAVE 68. UNREASONABLE PASSION BRINGS A LOT OF EVIL 69. SELF-INTRINSIC AND SELF-CONFIDENT TESTING IS HARMFUL 70. LET’S START CORRECTION 71. YOU SHOULD NOT INTERFER IN ONE’S BUSINESS 72. DISEASE FROM SELF-NETTENTION AND PASSION 73. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF HEALTH FROM AN UNKNOWN REASON 74. ABOUT TRANSMISSION AND COORDINATION OF THE EXTERNAL WITH THE INTERNAL 75. MUST NOT REFUSE MONASKY 76. MUST FOLLOW THE MIDDLE PATH 77. ALL PATHS THE LORD IS REDUCED TO TWO: MERCY AND TRUTH 78. IT IS NECESSARY TO PULL OUT THE ROOT OF EVIL - SELF 79. THE MONASIC PATH SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICATED 80. SELF-DECEPTIVENESS IN CARE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR 81. LIVE TOGETHER AND LIVE AGAINST 82. CONSCIOUSNESS OF WEAKNESS IS THE BEGINNING OF CORRECTION 83. YOU SHOULD LEARN SELF-RECRIBACK 84. YOU SHOULD NOT HANDLE THE SALVATION OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD 85. TRIALS TEACH PATIENCE AND BY PATIENCE SALVATION IS ACHIEVED 86. INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE ELDER 87. ABOUT THE CONTINUITY OF THE RULE 88. THE COURSE OF A GOOD LIFE IS IN REPENTANCE, PURITY AND PERFECTION. ABOUT THE JESUS PRAYER 89. AVOID BOSSING 90. ADVICE ABOUT SETTING UP A CELL 91. ADVICE ABOUT SPENDING CELL TIME WITH YOUR SISTER 92. DO NOT HURRY TO SEPARATE WITH YOUR SISTER 93. ABOUT THE JOY OF RETURNING TO LIFE TOGETHER 94. THERE IS NO PRICE FOR MODERATE DOING 95. ABOUT TEMPTATION IN PRAYER 96. YOU NEED TO PRAY FOR THE CORRECTION OF SPIRITUAL ILLNESS 97. GOD SHOULD BE PUT FORWARD 98. ABOUT THE NECESSITY TO KEEP CONSTANTITY 99. ABOUT HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO AN ELDER 100. YOU SHOULD PRAY TO GOD TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH 101. ON THE OCCASION OF SORRY ABOUT NOT RECEIVING THE MANTLE FROM THE HANDS OF AN ELDER 102. TRANSMISSION IS A GREAT GIFT OF GOD 103. ABOUT THE LOVE OF LOVE AS A CAUSE OF UNBELIEF 104. WE NEED TO LEARN TO DISTINCTION THE PLEASURES OF THE ENEMY 105. HE WHO HAS ACCEPTED A GREAT MONASTIC IMAGE SHOULD AVOID WORLDLY CONCERNS 106. WHEN ENDURING RESULTS FROM OTHERS, SHOULD REMEMBER YOUR OWN UNTRUTHS 107. CARING FOR THE CELL 108. EVERYTHING TESTINGLY, KEEP GOOD 109. INSTRUCTION ABOUT MEEKNESS 110. INSTRUCTION BEFORE GREAT LENT 111. THE PURPOSE OF CORRESPONDENCE IS SPIRITUAL BENEFITS, AND NOT JUST CONSOLIATION 112. MOST OF ALL SHOULD BE HOLDING TO THE FEAR OF GOD 113. ABOUT THE DEATH OF M.'S MOTHER AND ABOUT THE ILLNESS OF FATHER MACARIUS [5] 114. UNDER THE IMPRESSION OF THE DEATH OF FATHER MACARIUS 115. INSTRUCTION TO MONAS 116. WE DEMAND FROM EACH OTHER TO FULFILL THE COMMANDMENTS, BUT WE DO NOT FOLLOW THEM 117. ABOUT SORRY AFTER ACCEPTING MONASKING 118. INSTRUCTION UPON ORDERING A rosary ABOUT NOT JUDGING OTHERS, BUT CONSCIOUSING YOUR OWN SINSI 119. INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS 120. ABOUT READING THE LETTERS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM TO THE DACONESIS OF OLYMPIADS IN SORBLING CIRCUMSTANCES (TO A MONK) 121. ABOUT IN THE WORDS OF THE HOLY CLADIUM, THAT SHARP ANGULAR STONES HITTING EACH OTHER ARE ROUNDED (TO THE NON) 122. ABOUT TIMELY RETIREMENT FROM THE TEACHER OFFICE 123. MUST ENDURE GRIEF FROM SUBORDINATES PATIENTLY 124. ABOUT THE DOUBT CAUSED BY VOLUNTARY LEAVEMENT OF A MANAGEMENT POSITION 125. ABOUT FULFILLMENT OF THE WILL OF THE ELDER FATHER MACARIUS 126. ABOUT THE PREMATURE DESIRE TO SILENCE 127. NOT THE REST OF THE WAY IT IS NECESSARY TO SEEK LIFE, AND TO OBEY THE WILL OF GOD 128. ADVICE TO A NUN WHO OUT OF DESPONSIBILITY WANTED TO ENGAGE IN TRANSLATING HISTORICAL ARTICLES 129. ABOUT THE IMPUDITY OF THOSE WHO LEAVE THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD 130. SHOULD NOT BE JEALOUS OUT OF REASON 131. NEED TO REPENT YOURSELF DISTRUST IN THE ELDERSHIP 132. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT ACQUIRED ANYWAY 133. ILLNESS SHOULD BE ENDURED PATIENTLY 134. EDUCATION TO THE UNPEACEFUL SISTERS 135. ADVICE REGARDING THE SETUP OF A SCHOOL AT THE MONASTERY 136. ABOUT SUBMISSION TO THE SPIRITUAL MOTHER 137. PRELETICE IS FROM STEALTH AND SELF-SURPRISE 138. SOLITUDE SHOULD BE PREFERRED TO OBVIOUS RECLUSION DUE TO WEAKNESS 139. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE PROUD AND PROUD 140. AN ELDER’S OPINION ABOUT REWARDING A CONFIDENT CROSS. ABOUT THE TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF SAINT THEODOR THE STUDITE 141. ABOUT OPTINAN PUBLICATIONS AND CHANTS 142. IT IS EASY TO TEACH OTHERS, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO DO YOURSELF 143. ABOUT THAT NONKS SHOULD NOT BE NURSES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS 144. ABOUT THE SAME 145. TO THE NEWLY CONSECUTED IGUMENIUM 146. IGUMENIUS INSTRUCTION: TO BE MERCIFUL AND CONDENSIVE TO HUMAN WEAKNESS 147. INSTRUCTION: TO PATIENTLY ENDURE DISORDERS IN THE CONVENTION 148. ABOUT THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH 149. ADVICE: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR RECRUITMENT FOR SOLITUDE [7] 150. DO NOT LIVE AS YOU WANT, BUT AS GOD WILL LEAD 151. FAILURES SHOULD BE ENDURED WITH JOY 152. A GOOD INTENTION IS CHANGED INTO GOOD 153. DISGRACES SHOULD BE ACCEPTED GRATITUALLY 154. ADVICE REGARDING A CORPS PLAN FOR SISTERS 155. C WITH PATIENCE YOU MUST CARRY SORRY 156. YOU MUST CARRY YOUR CROSS - MANAGEMENT OF THE HOUSE 157. INSTRUCTION TO THE VANE AND PROUD. ABOUT GEESE AND DUCKS 158. CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD IS BADLY LIKE TALKING WITH A BLIND MAN ABOUT FLOWERS 159. ADVICE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND A REMINDER OF THE PARABLE OF GEESE AND DUCKS 160. MANY TRIVLES BECOMING US ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD 161. CONCERNING THE CONSECTION OF THE CHURCH AND ABOUT SOME TROUBLES 162. THE LORD SENDS ILLNESS TO THE BOARDS SO THAT THEY WILL CONDENSATE TO THE WEAKNESS OF THE SUBJORDERS 163. SHOULD NOT FEAR FOR THE FUTURE, BUT WE NEED TO TRUST IN THE LORD 164. OBEDIENCE BEFORE SACRIFICE 165. PUSHERS ASK FORGIVENESS 166. ABOUT THE NOBITE S: SHOULD NOT RUN FROM SERVICE TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD 167. GREETINGS HAPPY NEW YEAR 168. SHOULD NOT TO BE CONFUSED BY THE FACT THAT SINNERS ARE PROSPEROUS AND THE RIGHTEOUS ARE POOR 169. BEHIND THE VANITIES OF LIFE, THERE IS NOTHING TO COME TO THE COURT OF GOD 170. BEFORE THE ADVENT OF FOURCOST 171. DEATH IS THE GOOD END OF THE SUFFERING 172. ADVICE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH FOREST CUTTERS 173. ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT TRIVILESS SHOULD BE ENDURED PATIENTLY 174. TEMPTATIONS ARE UNPLEASANT, BUT USEFUL 175. A MONK, IF NOT BAPTIZED WITH A CROSS, CANNOT BEING A MONK 176. ABOUT THAT CHRISTIANS DO NOT SUDDENLY ACHIEVE PERFECTION 177. YOU SHOULD NOT BE SOLITUDE, BUT YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT YOUR SISTERS 178. GREETINGS HAPPY PENTECOST. THE CASE OF A MONK WHO STOPED RECEIVING THE HOLY MYSTERIES 179. IT IS NECESSARY TO STAND AWAY FROM THE ABOVE. IN A JUDICIAL CASE, BE GUIDED BY THE WORDS OF THE SAVIOR: “WHEN ANYONE WANTS TO BE JUDGED” 180. DO NOT GONE IN GRIEF AND DON’T FORGET ABOUT FOOD 181. CONSOLIATION IN GRIEF 182. EDIFICATIONS ARE SHOWING ON US FROM ALL SIDES, ONLY YOU SHOULD NOT REJECT THEM 183. YOU SHOULD NOT RUN AWAY FROM INSTITUTION, LEST YOU FIND OUT LIKE JONAH, WHO WANTED TO FLEE TO TARSHIS, BUT ENTERED INTO THE BELLY OF THE WHALE 184. YOU MUST REMEMBER THE WORDS: EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE GOODLY... THEY WILL BE PERSECUTED 185. HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS 186. INSTRUCTION WITH PROVERBS 187. NO ONE STAYS WITHOUT SORRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENT 188. ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE NUN OF LADIZHENSKAYA AND ABOUT HER CONCERNS 189. ABOUT THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE HAPPY IF NOT EVERYONE GOES TO MONACRY BY CALLING 190. WITHOUT SORRY YOU WILL NOT ACHIEVE ETERNAL REST 191. A SICK MONK CAN BE TREATED 192. THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN CHRISTIANITY PATIENCE 193. ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE THE MANTLE 194. UNDER THE VIEW OF TIMELESS FREEDOM, THE ENEMY LEADS TO SLAVERY 195. ABOUT YOUR WEAK HEALTH. CONVINCES TO TRANSCRIPT WITH A FUNNY COMPARISON 196. ABOUT THE FOUR VIRTUES AND ABOUT FOUR HARMFUL THINGS 197. EXTERNAL HEALTH IS DESIRED TO BE CONNECTED WITH INNER PEACE OF MIND 198. ALTHOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT, BUT LIVING IS NECESSARY 199. YOU SHOULD NOT INCLUDE SADNESS 200. COMPLAINS ABOUT HEALTH, INSTRUCTS YOU TO CARE FOR YOUR SUBJECTS 201. YOU NEED TO SERVE BOTH GOD AND YOUR NEIGHBOR, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF CHRIST 202. ADVICE: LOOKING AT THE PICTURE SENDING, AVOID CONSOLIATING THOUGHTS IN YOURSELF, NOT DEPENDING THOUGHTS. 203. THE LORD WILL GIVE FORTRESS TO HIS PEOPLE 204. BEFORE THE COMING OF GREAT LENT 205. AGAIN ABOUT HIS RUMOR AND ADVICE ABOUT AVOIDING HUMAN Slanders 206. THE ABATE SHOULD PROTECT THE CONVENTION WITH PRAYER 207. JESUS' PRAYER MORE CELL RULE 208. THE REPENTENT SISTER SHOULD BE FORGIVED AND ACCEPTED INTO THE MANUDE 209. SOME OUT OF COwardness FLY FROM THE DIFFICULT PATH 210. ABOUT THE WISDOM OF THE SERPENT AND THE MEEKNESS OF THE DOVE 211. THE ENEMY TEMPTED THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS WITH TORMENT, AND THE PRESENT DAYS WITH DISEASES AND THOUGHTS 212. AND IN THE NEW YEAR THEY WILL THERE WILL BE NEW TRIALS 213. IN TRIALS YOU SHOULD RELY ON THE WILL OF GOD 214. SILENCE AND SOLITUDE SHOULD BE FOLLOWED ACCORDING TO THE SPECIAL CALLING OF GOD 215. IF YOU CANNOT HAVE A FULL SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP, HOLD ON FOLLOWING THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST [10] 216. WITHOUT PATIENCE YOU CANNOT BE PEACEFUL 217. SELF-JUSTIFICATION IS A COMMON WEAKNESS 218. SADNESS IS THE GREATEST OF TEMPTATIONS 219. ARM YOURSELF WITH PATIENCE 220. REMINDER OF THE DEATH OF K.'S FATHER IS INSPECTED TO BE IN A PEACEFUL MOOD 221. OUR MAIN CONCERN SHOULD BE ABOUT SALVATION. ABOUT THE BOOK “FLOWER GARDEN” 222. ORGANIZATION OF OUR LIFE IN THE HANDS OF GOD 223. IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES WE MUST BE SUFFERING 224. WHEN DECIDING THE ISSUE OF TRANSITION TO ANOTHER HOUSE, WE SHOULD, BY PRAYER, LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART 225. CONGRATULATING ON YOUR DOCATION, THE ABBESS EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DOCATION 226. WHEN OPPRESSION IS FROM YOUR GOVERNERS, YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE REVEREND MARK THE ASCEPT, THAT DO NOT TRY TO SOLVE AN INCONVENIENT THING WITH CURIOSITY 227. IF THE LORD DOES NOT ALLOW US, NO ONE CAN OFFEND US 228. THE MORFUL. THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT OPPOSITE TO THE WILL OF GOD 229. YOU SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF SLAUS. A LIE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A LIE 230. GOD WILL NOT ALLOW, A PIG WILL NOT EAT 231. WITHOUT FEVER, BAD JUICES DO NOT LEAVE FROM THE BODY, WITHOUT TROUBLES AND EVIL IS NOT ELIMINATED FROM THE ABSOLUTION 232. TRAVELS DO NOT KILL, BUT SAVE, IF WE BEAR THEM PATIENTLY AND WITH HOPE IN GOD 233. IN GRIEF FROM ENEMIES - READ PSALMS 3, 53, 58 and 142, AND IN UNRECOUNTABLE GRIEF - PSALM 101 234. MORE ABOUT READING PSALM B IN ADDITION 235. IT IS NOT BLESSED TO RETIRE FOR FEAR OF YOUR OPPONENTS 236. GREAT IS THE REWARD FOR THOSE WHO ENDURER UNFAIR SLANDER 237. YOU SHOULD TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF BEFORE YOU RETIRE 238. O PRAYER FOR ENEMIES 1. “LET’S FORGIVE EVERYTHING ON RESURRECTION” Sisters in the Lord and mothers! To whom, due to weakness and speed, I could not write, I congratulate all of them on the upcoming great Christian Triumph. When in the church the all-joyful chanting: “Christ is risen!” is sung, then from me, a sinner, accept this greeting, with the good will of each of you, a peaceful spiritual feeling and a complacent and favorable disposition towards everyone, leaving, according to the word of the Apostle, if anyone has any reproach for anyone, since at this time the Church sings: “we will forgive everything through the Resurrection.” 2. ABOUT THE GREAT CONDENSATION OF THE BORN LORD AND ABOUT OUR PERIOD By the grace and patience of God we reach the time of the annual celebration of the Nativity of Christ. Instead of just the usual congratulations, I want to tell you a few words about the great mystery of this great holiday. The Church in her songs already calls upon the faithful to contemplate the pilgrimage of the Lady with high minds and with purified hearts to mysteriously enjoy the immortal meal in the wretched den: as He who is everywhere, having bowed the heavens, descended to earth, did not leave the bosom of the Fathers; How the Invisible One becomes visible; what kind of co-beginning Word and co-essential Son of God the Son of the Virgin is; as the Eternal and incomprehensible in the highest is born from the Virgin today, like a Child; How the Unapproachable to all today, like a Baby, is embraced by the Mother’s girlish arms; How the sky is covered with clouds today, like a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes; how He who created all things with wisdom is now, like a wrapped Child, placed in the manger of beasts, so that he may free people from dumbness; Like a Baby, all things feed today, like a Baby, feeding on Maternity’s milk. Oh, terrible mysteries! Oh, incomprehensible things! As God immutably makes Man, so that he may make Man God, who is the head of the prophet (Ps. 81: 6–7): Az reh: you are gods by nature, and sons of the Most High. But, oh, our wretchedness! - We, like humans, die. Oh, our vanity and negligence about the Divine sonship! We love more than the slavery of passions and evil for the sake of our will, willingly and unwillingly we bend the yoke of the enemy. Oh, our blindness and darkness! Blessed are the ears of these shepherds, who heard the Angels in the air, singing the glory of God in the Highest, preaching peace to the earth and God's favor to men. Blessed are their eyes, who saw the blameless Lamb fallen in Mary’s womb. Blessed are all those who are worthy of God's favor and peace, which surpasses all understanding. Blessed are the wise magicians who came from distant countries to worship the One born of the Virgin, bringing Him worthy gifts: gold like the King, frankincense like God, and myrrh like the Immortal Dead. Blessed are all who worthily worship Him in spirit and truth, bringing Him gifts, each according to their strength: like gold, righteous mites of mercy, like frankincense and fragrant censer - doxology and pure prayers of repentance and confession; but like fragrant myrrh - a grateful remembrance of suffering and reverent worship of the life-giving wounds of the Incarnate and the flesh of the Crucified for our salvation. But what will we do, dull and insensible, from them I am the first, unable to enjoy this immortal meal in a wretched den with a mind elevated from the earth and a purified heart. Humbling and contemplating ourselves, let us diligently listen with reverence to the reading and singing of the church and from them, as from the source of life and immortality, so that we may draw for ourselves consolation and admonition and salvation, by the mercy and ineffable love for mankind of Him who incarnated us for the sake of the Son of God, to whom befits glory and power, honor and worship, with His beginningless Father and the Most Holy and Good and By the life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Ineffably Born of the Virgin, have mercy on us, the cold, for the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all those who have pleased You! 3. THE BORN CHRIST BRINGS US GREAT BENEFIT, THE USE OF WHICH DEPENDS ON OUR WINNING I congratulate you on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ and the upcoming New Year. May He who was incarnate and born of the Virgin give you and us, out of His ineffable love for mankind, that for which He came down to earth and became incarnate. Be incarnate, so that our nature, corrupted by sin, will be renewed. Be incarnate, and may he deliver us from the power of torment of the devil. Having become incarnate, may He save us, and not just save us, but may He also create us for Himself sons, daughters and heirs of His Kingdom, demanding nothing for all this, except our only good will to gain this indescribable inheritance of God; then He Himself will help us, strengthening our good will and giving us strength in our good actions, as the apostle says: “God works in you, both in your will and in your deeds, for good will.” On our part, the whole strength and importance of this Cause lies in good will, that is, in the good will to please the Lord; then the Lord Himself will act and help us in the matter of our salvation, according to what was said: without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). From all that has been said, it is clear that the matter of our salvation depends both on our will and on God’s help and assistance. But the latter will not follow unless the former is preceded. Peace to everyone! and your spirit! 4. THE HOLIDAY OF EASTER REMINDS THE FUTURE AND THE GENERAL RESURRECTION On the occasion of the Nativity of Christ, instead of the usual congratulations, I wrote to you about the great sacrament of this great holiday. Even now I would like to tell you something about the mysterious significance of the triumph of Christian celebrations, that is, the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ. But due to my painful weakness I have neither the strength nor the opportunity. Let me just briefly say that the annual solemn celebration of the bright feast of the Resurrection of Christ, in addition to its own significance, also serves as a reminder for us of the general and worldwide resurrection, which is especially evident from the significant actions of Easter Matins. First. On a luminous night, after the reading of the Midnight Order, there is a solemn departure and circumambulation of the church by the clergy and all the faithful with lighted candles, while carrying the cross and holy icons and ringing the bells. It is obvious that this church action directly points to the Gospel parable of ten virgins, excited at midnight with a cry: Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him. Then all the virgins arose and decorated their lamps... and went out to meet the bridegroom (Matthew 25: 1–7). These virgins are the souls of believers. The groom is Christ. Night is the life of this century. Lamps - faith and good works... Both the Gospel parable and the solemn circumambulation of the church by the faithful with the ringing of bells do not depict the general resurrection at the end of the world, when the voice of the Archangel's trumpet will awaken all the dead, and those who believe in the Lord, like the Gospel virgins, will go out to meet Him with their lamps, each according to his own dignity. Second. When this solemn procession takes place near the church, the church doors are closed. The faithful walking see light in the church, but on the path in front of and around them there is impenetrable darkness, and so they come to the entrance of the church to the closed doors. Doesn’t this mean that everyone who has risen in the universal resurrection will see from afar the palace of heavenly glory, but not everyone will enter it, but only the worthy, whose lamps, like those of the wise virgins, will not go out when they meet the Bridegroom - Christ. The rest, whose lamps have gone out, like those of the foolish virgins, will in vain repeat the beginning of the church verse: “I see Your palace, O my Savior, adorned, and I have no clothes, but let me enter into it.” Third. On the threshold of the church, before its closed entrance, the first servant, having created the usual Easter beginning by glorifying the Holy Trinity and singing: “Christ is Risen,” with a cross in his hands, opens the church doors and is the first to enter the church, and after him, without distinction, all other Christians enter, singing the joyful church hymn: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and giving life to those in their graves.” bestowed." Repeating it many times, they add other all-joyful chants: “Resurrection day, let us be enlightened, people! Easter, Lord's Easter! From death to life and from earth to heaven, Christ God has brought us, singing in victory...” and so on. You can no longer hear the usual reading, which arouses the spirit of contrition, but only continuous sweet singing, which arouses joy in everyone, is heard. The altar servers constantly appear in shining clothes, we constantly see the Cross of Christ, and we worship this sign of our salvation, we are constantly overshadowed by the smoking of sacred incense; everyone has lit candles in their hands; in the mouths of everyone, both those serving, and those singing, and those standing by, all one hears is the joyful: “Christ is risen!” This is how the temporary Easter of Christ is celebrated on earth and all Christians, worthy and unworthy, are allowed to participate in this celebration, because real life is subject to change: often the worthy become unworthy, and vice versa - the unworthy become worthy, as is clearly shown in Judas and the thief. The first was one of the chosen twelve apostles of Christ, he followed Christ for three years, constantly listening to His teaching, and had the gift of casting out demons and healing many different diseases. But finally, maddened by negligence and love of money, he betrayed Christ and perished forever. The robber was in a gang of inveterate villains for more than thirty years, but, having come to his senses on the cross, he confessed by the will of the Crucified Son of God as Lord and King, and was the first to enter heaven. Let us always keep these examples in mind in order to refrain from the sin of condemnation, even if we see someone sinning at the end of their lives, as Saint John of the Climacus convinces us. But the order of celebrating eternal Easter in Heaven after the general resurrection and judgment will be different. Only the chosen ones, the worthy ones, will be allowed to celebrate it. And whoever is once admitted into the heavenly chamber for the celebration of eternal Easter will forever remain among those celebrating it, in the voice of joy. Whoever turns out to be unworthy of participating in this celebration will remain in eternal deprivation and eternal alienation. But now it is untimely to speak in detail about the bitter fate of the latter due to the all-joyful holiday. But we will only say that all of us, Christians, while we are alive, must be careful and attentive to our salvation. And let those among us who think that they stand, according to the word of the Apostle, be careful and do not fall, always remembering the terrifying example of the lost Judas. Let those among us who are weak and fallen be excited by the hope of correction, seeing the comforting example of a prudent thief who inherited paradise. “O Easter, great and sacred, Christ! About wisdom, and the Word of God, and power! Grant us the opportunity to partake of You in the eternal days of Your Kingdom.” 5. THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. WALK LIKE CHILDREN OF LIGHT I congratulate you on the bright holiday of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and I sincerely wish you all to meet and celebrate this all-joyful Christian celebration in peace and spiritual consolation. When a solemn and mutual greeting begins in church, then remember that I, a sinner, greet each of you with the usual all-joyful greeting: There is great power in this brief greeting, as St. Chrysostom testifies in his Catechetical Homily: “Christ is risen, and hell is laid low!” Christ is risen, and the demons have fallen! Christ is risen and the Angels rejoice! Christ is risen and has trampled death! Christ is risen and life reigns.” It is not without reason that the joyful church song is repeated many times: “Shine, shine, new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is upon you,” that is, rejoice and be enlightened by the light of Christ, the assembly of sons and daughters of the Orthodox Church. And how to be enlightened and illuminated by the light of Christ, the holy Apostle Paul teaches us, saying: walk as children of light: for spiritual fruit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Eph. 5: 8-9). The apostle repeats the same words in another place: Therefore gird your loins with truth, and put on the breastplate of righteousness, and put on your shoes, in preparation for the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:14-15). The word “truth” should mean the commandment of love for God: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37)... and with all your strength (Luke 10:27). And again: Whoever loves his father or mother more than Me is worthy of Me (Matthew 10:37). If the love of God is so jealous that it allows one to love both father and mother only in moderation, and not more than moderation, then it is not without reason that the Apostle commands us to gird our loins with the truth, so as not to sin against the love of God by inappropriate love for others; especially unclean, because God loves most of all chastity in humility. The word “truth” means the commandment to love your neighbor: love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). And since this commandment is not always easy to fulfill, the apostle commands us to put on the armor of righteousness, that is, not to be angry, not to condemn, not to envy, to endure insults, reproaches and humiliation, to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to pray for those who do evil and drive us out. The words “fruit of goodness” and “the gospel of peace” mean kindness, simplicity in relation to one’s neighbor, and all kindness and friendliness, according to what was said: Have peace and holiness with everyone... (Heb. 12:14). “Seek peace and get married!” Or as the Church now sings: “Let us forgive each other all through the Resurrection.” 6. THE HOLIDAY OF THE RESURRECTION, LIKE OTHER HOLIDAYS, REMINDS US: CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER, AND WE, PEOPLE, ARE CHANGEABLE AND DESPERATE On the real holiday of the Bright Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, in addition to the usual well-meaning congratulations and the usual joyful greeting: “Christ is risen!”, I would like to tell you something that is generally useful. The Holy Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews says: Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). What do these apostolic words mean? Is it not that Christ the Lord, as God, is always the same, but with Him, as has been said, there is no change or change of overshadowing. We, Christians, are quick to change and changeable: yesterday we were good, but today we are no longer always so. Yesterday we humbled ourselves, today we begin to make excuses. Yesterday we were philosophizing about abstinence, and the next day we often again worry about pleasure, often even indignant that food and drink are not well prepared. Yesterday we were content with simple and modest clothing, now we are again thinking about better clothing. Yesterday we were diligent about silence, today we are starting to rant again. Yesterday we philosophized about self-reproach, today we again deviate into gossip and condemnation, and the like. So only yesterday and today. Who among Christians can guarantee that he will be constant and unchanging in virtue throughout his entire life? For this reason, the apostle exhorts those who are determined to stand firm in goodness to humble and attentive guarding themselves, saying: Therefore, be determined to stand and be careful that you do not fall (1 Cor. 10:12). And he awakens those who are despondent and slumbering in their lives to wakefulness, saying: Arise, sleep, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light (Eph. 5:14). In addition to what has been said, the apostolic words: Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever, also have the following meaning: time flows, years pass one after another, the life of some is shortened, and for others it stops completely. The feasts of the Lord, after completing their usual cycle, return in the same order, and will return until the end of the century, reminding Christians of the great mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God and our deliverance from the captivity of the devil by death on the cross and the resurrection of Christ. We are reminded of this in all the feasts of the Lord because we are despondent and forgetful, and from despondency and forgetfulness we often cease to be grateful to God for His great benefits to us, temporary and eternal. The gratitude of the one who receives, according to the word of St. Isaac the Syrian, encourages the Giver to give gifts greater than the first. Gratitude in a Christian is such a great thing that, together with love, it will follow him into the future life, where he will celebrate eternal Easter with them. Amen. 7. MUST REMEMBER THE ANGELS’ DOXOLOGY AND NOT CLICK TO THE PERMANENTLY PASSING Not being able to congratulate each of you separately on this truly joyful Christian celebration, I congratulate all of you in general. Having brought joy to all humanity and the angelic nature with His Nativity, may He also please you with spiritual consolation, who are sometimes mourning in your souls, and sometimes also sick in your bodies. Everyone knows that on the first night of the Nativity of Christ, the Heavenly hosts of Angels, between heaven and earth, in the space of the air, glorified the Lord with the sweetest singing: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14). And even to this day, the words of this Angelic singing are repeated every day in the Orthodox Church. But we, being blinded by the vanity of thoughts and sorrows and worries of everyday life, or earthly ones, do not always adequately delve into the great meaning and great significance of this Angelic song. For everything that befalls us, sorrowful or painful, and sometimes comforting, without giving due thanks and glory to God, who lives on high in the unapproachable light, we are deprived of the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, bestowed upon the worthy by the ineffable favor of God towards the human race. Oh, so that the all-good Lord does not deprive us all of what I am writing to you about. We just need to take care to correspond to God’s favor with our good will. Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke two initial commandments to His disciples: My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you (John 14:27). And again: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another (John 13:34). It is not in vain that the wise words of ancient people are repeated: where there is peace and love, there is God, there is every good thing. For the most part, we are concerned with acquiring benefits, only, unfortunately, they are often earthly and temporary, and not Heavenly. We forget that earthly blessings are fleeting and unstoppable, while Heavenly blessings are eternal, endless and inalienable. All-merciful Lord! Help us to despise everything that is fleeting, and take care of the only thing that is needed - the salvation of our souls. 8. WHAT PREVENTS OBEYING THE TRUTH OF GOD And on this Bright Feast of the all-joyful Resurrection of Christ, in addition to the usual congratulations, I would like to tell you something comforting and at the same time useful, because true and lasting consolation is closely connected with truly useful things. In the reading of the Easter Gospel we hear the words: He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him. The little ones received Him, and gave them the realm to become children of God, who believe in His name (John 1:11-12). In ancient times, the Israelites, the chosen people of God, were called God's own. In the new grace, Christians who have dedicated themselves to serving God, and especially those who are monastics, can be called their own to God. The Holy Apostle Paul sets forth the reason why some of the ancient chosen people of God did not accept the Son of God who came in the flesh. “Seeking to establish your own righteousness,” says the apostle, “not obeying the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3). The same reason in the new grace prevents one from obeying the truth of God and the Divine commandments of Christ the Savior, that is, if a Christian allows himself self-justification, which is not allowed in the Gospel law, then, as if involuntarily, he is forced to resist and reject, if not all, then much that is preached in the Gospel teaching. The Israelites had two main sects: the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees, although they believed everything contained in the Holy Scriptures, were extremely distressed by their contempt and contempt for others. The Sadducees doubted many things and did not even believe in the resurrection and existence of Angels. The same spiritual infirmities manifest themselves among some in new grace. It often happens that those who believe everything in the word of God and try to live according to the commandments of God allow themselves to be proud of others and humiliate many. There are also many who very often doubt the goodwill of their neighbors - from the youngest to the elders. Even if someone is kind to them, like an Angel, they will not believe him, looking for and presenting some insignificant reasons. Continuing to doubt everyone and everything, they finally reach the point of doubt and disbelief regarding the future life, and thus they themselves make their life miserable and joyless. The common and intractable ailment of both Pharisees and Sadducees is envy, which often condemns God’s truth, not to mention human truth. Forgive me, mothers and sisters, that I, unworthy, exposed the clouds of dark passions on this Bright Holiday. But he put it out because these passions often bother souls who care a lot about their salvation and pleasing God; but I would like that no darkness of passions, especially on the Bright Holiday, darkens the mental and intellectual firmament of your souls. For our consolation, let us repeat again the indicated words of the Easter Gospel: And the little ones received Him, and gave them the realm to become children of God, believing in His name. For a simple person to become a child and heir and an earthly king is a great thing. How much more to become children and heirs of the King of Heaven surpasses every word and every legend, and even the concept and comprehension of the human mind, as the Apostle testifies to this: which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has breathed into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). May we all receive, through the mercy and love of mankind, the Only Begotten Son of God, who died for us and rose again, and resurrects, and enlightens every Christian soul who unfeignedly and firmly believes in Him. Amen. 9. ABOUT THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! I congratulate you on the bright and all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I sincerely wish you all to meet and celebrate this all-joyful Christian celebration in peace, consolation, and spiritual joy. Along with my congratulations, I would like to write you something for spiritual edification. But I fear that what is festive and highly solemn will turn into something that is not festive and not solemn, because the useful rarely coincides with the pleasant, except among those who are strong and courageous in spirit. In all-joyful church songs about the Resurrection of Christ, we often hear that the Cross of Christ, and death, and burial are remembered. For example: “We worship Your Cross, O Christ, and we sing and glorify Your holy Resurrection... You hanged on a tree and shook all creation, but you laid in the tomb of those who live in the tombs and resurrected them.” Those who understand correctly joyfully remember both the Resurrection of Christ and the Cross of Christ. But there are many cowardly people, I won’t say superstitious, to whom you don’t even talk about the cross, and don’t even talk about carrying the cross. And if they are silently given a cross for blessing, then they either refuse to accept it, or, shuddering, accept it as a harbinger of some misfortune, while the Church clearly proclaims to everyone that “the cross is the guardian of the entire universe, the cross is the beauty of the Church, the cross is the power of kings, the cross is the glory of angels and the plague of demons.” Is it not through the Cross of Christ that we are delivered from the power and torment of the devil? Therefore, faint-hearted ones, let us abandon the wrong opinion and equally love both the Resurrection of Christ and the Cross of Christ. If we want to be partakers of the Resurrection of Christ, then we must not renounce bearing the Cross of Christ, or at least the Christian one, which will be sent to whom by the Providence of God. To be crucified on the cross, like Christ the Lord, is beyond our measure. At the very least, let us not refuse to bear what the Lord endured before His death on the cross, because the risen Lord definitely said: “Whoever does not accept his cross and does not come after Me is not worthy of Me.” If, according to the word of the Apostle, we suffer with Christ or for Christ, then we will glorify ourselves with Him, joyfully singing the church hymn: “We worship Your Cross, O Christ, and we sing and glorify Your Holy Resurrection.” And again: “Resurrection day, let us enlighten ourselves, people: Easter, the Lord's Easter! From death to life and from earth to heaven, Christ God has brought us, singing in victory.” Christ is the new Passover, a living sacrifice, Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Our soul magnifies the one who suffered and was buried and who rose from the grave three days ago. Our soul magnifies the Trinitarian and indivisible power of the Divine. Rejoice, Virgin, rejoice! Rejoice, Blessed One, Rejoice, Most Glorified One! Your Son is risen three days from the grave. 10. ABOUT AUTHORITY AS OBEDIENCE TO GOD Congratulations to the commanders I congratulate you on the upcoming bright and joyful holiday of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I sincerely wish you and all the sisters of your monastery to meet and celebrate this all-joyful celebration in peace and spiritual consolation. I, sinful and feeble-minded, would like to tell you something useful and comforting. But nothing useful came to my mind at the present moment, except the words of the Apostle Paul: For let this be philosophized in you, even as in Christ Jesus: He who was in the form of God was not equal to God by admiration; but He humbled Himself, and took on the form of a servant, becoming in the likeness of mankind, and being found in the likeness of man: He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even to the point of death. godparents Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him a name that is above every name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, those in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:5-10). When reading these apostolic words, three thoughts arise: 1. Those who illegally admire the royal or any other power, according to St. Chrysostom, are afraid to appear before their subordinates simply and in a humble manner, and try in every possible way to support their power with domineering, proud and cruel treatment, for fear of losing their dominion. And those who have legally and correctly received superiority and power are not at all afraid to treat their subordinates simply, meekly and humbly, because simplicity and humility not only do not humiliate great people, but, on the contrary, greatly elevate and exalt them. 2. If the work of redemption of the human race was accomplished by obedience to death to the Father of the incarnate Son of God, then every entrusted office is nothing other than obedience to God, because different kinds of government are divided by the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle testifies (1 Cor. 12:28). Obedience to earthly higher authorities is also important, since through it various positions are assigned; This obedience is commanding, although, apparently, it is not given until death, but if someone becomes faint-hearted during any clashes, it often brings some almost closer to death. 3. That every tribe of heaven and earth will worship the crucified and risen Lord Jesus for us is understandable, just as the church hymn proclaims: “Thy Resurrection, O Christ the Savior, the angels sing in heaven, and grant us on earth with a pure heart to glorify Thee.” But how does the tribe of the pits worship the Lord? The fact that they involuntarily submit to Him, since the risen Lord, through His death on the cross, trampled all the power of the enemy, crushing the copper gates and breaking the iron ropes of hell. But this also means the removal from hell of the souls held there by the risen Lord, which is solemnly described by Saint John of Damascus as follows: “Now all is filled with light, heaven and earth and the underworld: let all creation celebrate the rise of Christ... Today is the Lord of the captivity of hell, who raised up the captivity of hell, who has been named since the ages, the fierceness of the possessed... Immeasurable Your compassion, seeing through the bonds of hell, I walk toward the light, O Christ, with merry feet, praising the eternal Easter.” That's what came to my mind when congratulating you, and that's what I wrote to you. 11. ADVICE ABOUT AVOIDING SEPARATIONS I congratulate you on the universal holiday of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. I sincerely wish you all to meet and celebrate this great Christian celebration in joy and spiritual consolation. What would be useful for you to say on this holiday? I repeat to you the original words of our Savior, born of the Virgin, to His disciples: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives, I give to you (John 14:27). And again: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another: as you have loved, you also love yourself. Of this they understand that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35). I will add to this the apostolic words. Saint John the Theologian writes: If anyone says that I love God but hates his brother, it is a lie (1 John 4:20). And the holy Apostle Paul says: Have peace and holiness with everyone, and no one else will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). And again: Let me know about you, brothers... for the essence of zeal is in you. I say this, as every one of you says: I am Pavlov, I am Apollos, I am Cephas, I am Christ. Food stripped Christ? Food Paul will be crucified for you? Or be baptized in the name of Pavlovo! (1 Cor. 1:11–13). With these words, the Apostle Paul reproaches both those who reject a spiritual relationship with mentors and directly want to relate to Christ, and those who, in a spiritual relationship, are divided into parties, thereby violating the mutual peace, unanimity and like-mindedness commanded by the Lord Himself and the apostles, who, eliminating mutual grumbling, both those who share and those who do not, and preventing the general spiritual harm resulting from this, exhort everyone to mutual love. Saint James, brother of God, writes: Do not groan against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned (James 5:9). And again: Do not slander one another, brothers: if you slander your brother or condemn your brother, you slander the law and condemn the law (James 4:11). And again: If you have bitter envy and zeal in your hearts, do not boast or lie about the truth. This wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, spiritual, demonic. Where there is envy and zeal, there is disorder and every evil thing (James 3:14-16). And the holy Apostle Paul says: the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. If you bite and devour each other, take heed, lest you be destroyed from one another (Gal. 5:14-15). Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, in the womb of generosity, kindness, humility, meekness and long-suffering: accepting one another and forgiving yourself, if anyone blames anyone: just as Christ forgave you, so do you (Col. 3: 12-13). And again: If we live in spirit, let us walk in spirit. We do not have vanity, irritate each other, envy each other. Bear each other's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 5:25; 6:2). Beloved sisters and mothers in the Lord! If you try to fulfill the law of Christ as indicated, then you will be worthy children before God, whom I, a sinner, will ask that you pray for me, unworthy, so that with your prayers the Lord will have mercy on me and forgive my sinfulness and negligence in correcting myself when teaching others, as the apostle denounces: teaching someone else, do you not teach yourself? (Rom. 2:21). 12. ABOUT THE NECESSARY SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE Sisters in the Lord, and mothers and spiritual children! I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ. I sincerely wish you to meet and celebrate this great Christian celebration in peace and spiritual consolation. Although I myself live weakly and imperfectly in everything, I am accustomed to teaching others. That is why, as if involuntarily, I am compelled to tell you on this holiday something soul-helping and saving, although I myself do not carry it out. The bright holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, of all spiritual holidays, is called the Triumph of Triumphs. Therefore, we should celebrate it and rejoice not carnally, but spiritually. The Holy Apostle Paul writes: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be vainglorious, irritating one another, envious of one another (Gal. 5:25–26). And again: walk in the Spirit and do not commit carnal lust (Gal. 5:16). And again: you spiritually correct such a one with a spirit of meekness: guard yourself, lest you also be tempted (Gal. 6:1). These apostolic words clearly show us what it means to live spiritually, and how to spiritually celebrate Christian holidays, that is, we must always, and especially on these days, have meekness towards everyone, not irritate anyone, not envy anyone and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, which first of all tempts a person with gluttony, and then with other passions. But this is not all that is necessary for spiritual life. The Apostle, as the basis of salvation and as the main need, sets forth the virtue of humility and obedience, saying: Let this be understood in you, even in Christ Jesus: Who in the form of God... humbled himself, becoming obedient even to the point of death, even death on the cross (Phil. 2:5-8). If the Son of God, who became incarnate for the sake of our salvation, had extreme humility and obedience to the point of death, then how much more so should we, His indecent and sinful servants, who want to inherit salvation, take every possible care of these main virtues, that is, humility and obedience, where there is no violation of any commandment of God. This is what came into my weak and darkened head, that is what I offer to your love on this great and all-joyful holiday for your consolation and edification, concluding my sinful word with the verb of the Lord Himself: in your patience gain your souls (Luke 21:19). Amen. 13. ABOUT DESPONDERNESS, FORGETING AND IGNORANCE AS ENEMIES OF OUR SALVATION Behold, by the grace of God we are still honored to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. I congratulate you on this significant and all-joyful and universal Christian celebration, and I sincerely wish you to spend it in peace and joy and spiritual consolation. As is my custom, I would like to tell you something for the benefit of your soul, now as before. We hear it sung in church songs: “Christ has descended, crushing and destroying the power of the enemy.” How He who was born of the Virgin trampled and crushed all the power of the enemy, we will not talk about this now; But let’s just talk about some of the forces of the enemy, how they fight the ascetics and ascetics of Christ, and how and with what help they are repulsed and defeated with the help of Christ. The Monk Mark the Ascetic exposes three special forces of the enemy, which, like the three great giants, fight both those living in monasteries and equally everyone who wants to get closer to God. These three giants are: despondency, oblivion and ignorance, and according to other fathers - ignorance and unreason, which precede all other passions and pave a convenient path for the dark horde of them. It happens that we often do not know what to do, and if we know, we often forget what is necessary and useful for us; and if we remember, then out of despondency we are often too lazy to do our duty and, thus, get entangled in the enemy’s snares. And vice versa: a person becomes depressed, and out of despondency he is lazy in fulfilling his duties; from such despondency and laziness, he often indulges in oblivion, and being in oblivion and self-forgetfulness, a person sometimes indulges in such ignorance that later, when he comes to his senses, he himself is ashamed of his ignorant and indecent actions and unreasonable and reckless words. To protect a person from the attacks of the three aforementioned giants, St. Mark offers three means: 1) knowledge received from reading Divine and spiritual books, from hearing the word of God and from asking experienced ones; 2) good remembrance: remembrance of God and His omnipresence, according to what is said in the word of God: the eyes of the Lord are darker than the brightest sun, perceiving all human paths and looking in secret places (Sir. 23:27); remembrance of His Divine commandments and all that, according to the word of the Apostle, is honest, most gracious and praiseworthy, and especially the remembrance of the last four - death, the judgment of God, hell and the Kingdom of Heaven, according to what was said: remember your last, and you will never sin (Sir. 7: 39); 3) diligent fulfillment of one’s duties in order to keep one’s body from excessive sleep, the belly from excess food and drink, the tongue from idle talk and condemnation, the mind from vain thoughts and worries, and the heart from evil lusts, which is facilitated first of all by sober attention and humble fulfillment of the prayer rule, both church and cell, and especially the frequent and reverent pronunciation of the Jesus Prayer, which inexperienced and beginners should initially have an oral one, as the holy Apostle Paul prescribes: Therefore we offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips of those who confess to His name (Heb. 13:15). Born of the Virgin and by His coming crushing all the power of the enemy, through the intercession of His Most Pure Mother and all those who pleased Him and through the prayers of our departed fathers, may He help us to resist, as much as possible, these three powerful giants, that is: despondency, oblivion and unreason. Since I myself am constantly filled with these passions, I decided to share with you a conversation about them, according to the old proverb: “The richer you are, the happier you are.” 14. ABOUT REMOVAL OF MUTUAL HATE AND ACQUISITION OF LOVE I greet you all with an all-joyful greeting: Christ is risen! So the all-merciful Lord again vouchsafed us to wait for the luminous holiday, His Bright Resurrection. I congratulate you on this great, significant and all-joyful Christian celebration and I sincerely wish you all to meet it and spend it in peace, consolation, and spiritual joy. As is my custom, I would like to tell you something helpful and salutary on the occasion of this significant celebration. Hearing the repeated words in the Easter stichera: “and to those who hate us, we will forgive all by the Resurrection,” let us try not only to forgive, but together not to have hatred for anyone. There is no higher virtue than love; and there is no worse vice and passion than hatred, which to those who do not pay attention seems unimportant, but in its spiritual significance is likened to murder (see 1 John 3:15). Pagan peoples also love those who love, as the Lord Himself testifies, and He prescribes great and most perfect commandments to Christians, saying: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who harm you and drive you out... Be merciful, as your Father is merciful... His sun shines on the evil and the good and rains into the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:44–45; Luke 6:36). Mercy and condescension towards others and forgiveness of their shortcomings is the shortest path to salvation. It is said in the Holy Gospel: And do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, lest you be condemned; let go, and they will let you go (Luke 6:37); I want mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13). And again: he who is merciful will receive mercy (Proverbs 17:5). The ancient Christians, out of great spiritual zeal, labored a lot in fasting and all-night vigils, and practiced prolonged psalmody and prayer. We, at the present time, due to our weakness and negligence, are alien to these virtues. At the very least, let us take care of fulfilling the most necessary things, which the Apostle commands us, saying: Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). But fulfilling this commandment and practicing this virtue is impossible without humility and patience, because humility gives strength to every virtue, and without patience no good deed is accomplished. According to the testimony of the monks Callista and Ignatius, love, mercy, and humility differ only in names, but their power and effect are the same. Love and mercy cannot exist without humility, and humility cannot exist without mercy and love. These virtues are invincible weapons against the devil, which he and the whole multitude of demons cannot even look at. Let us arm ourselves with this trinity of virtues, so that we may draw closer to God and receive eternal mercy from the risen Lord, to whom befits glory and power, honor and worship with His beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. 15. THAT HUMBLE SINNERS SHOULD REJOICE ON THE FEAST OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST Comfort the humble, may the Lord comfort you with spiritual consolation on the bright holiday of His Resurrection! Due to weakness and lack of time, this year I did not intend to write congratulations to you on this all-joyful holiday. But the comforting words of Saint Chrysostom, read at Easter Matins, came to my mind: “Those who fasted and those who did not fast, rejoice today; Honor the day of abstinence and laziness.” And since I belong to the latter, the desire came to me to talk with those like me, how and why we, weak and incontinent, together with fasters and abstinents, can share the common joy and joy of this bright Christian triumph. Firstly, because the Son of God came down from heaven to save sinners and does not demand much from us, but only sincere repentance, as He Himself says in the Holy Gospel: for He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13). And again: there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, rather than over ninety and nine righteous people who do not demand repentance (Luke 15:7). Secondly, because no virtue is as pleasing to God as humility. And it is more convenient for a faulty ascetic to humble himself than for a strict and serviceable one, as the clear example of the publican and the Pharisee is. It is true that not all strict ascetics imitate the Pharisee. The prudent and humble among them take first place with God; and behind them stand the weak, repentant and humble. But a wise word is spread: even from behind, but in the same flock about which the Chief Shepherd and Savior of our souls says: Do not be afraid, little flock: for it has been your (Heavenly) Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Both weak and strict ascetics should always test themselves carefully to see whether we have the guarantee of true humility. Saint John of the Climacus writes: “there is one thing to be exalted, another thing is not to be exalted, and another thing is to humble yourself. The first judges all day; the second, although he does not judge, does not condemn himself either; the third, being not condemned, always condemns himself” (Step. 25, section 19). The words of Climacus clearly show that if we allow ourselves to judge others, then we do not have real humility. The guarantee of true humility is indicated by self-abasement and self-reproach, without which, according to the word of Saint Abba Dorotheos, it is difficult for a person to resist the path of piety. For our sake, may the Son of God, our Jesus Christ, who was crucified and on the third day risen, have mercy on us all. 16. ABOUT ERADICATION OF ENVY By the great mercy of God we again lived to see the feast of the Nativity of Christ. I congratulate you on this all-joyful Christian celebration and sincerely wish you to celebrate and spend this great holiday, as well as the coming New Year, in peace and spiritual consolation. On the occasion of this significant holiday, I would like to tell you something soulful. Let's talk about envy, how this passion is harmful and harmful to the soul. The decrepit seventy-year-old King Herod, having heard that Christ, the new king of Israel, had been born, was stung by envy, which so blinded and hardened his heart that he decided to beat up to 14,000 babies in the Bethlehem region in order to destroy the born Christ with them. The aged Herod, blinded by the passion of envy, could not reason that he had little time to live, and the born baby Christ, in order to inherit the kingdom, had to first come of age and mature, since there was no example of newly born babies delighting anyone’s kingdom. But the envious Herod did not kill Christ, but destroyed his soul forever, and the babies he killed will forever bliss in the villages of the righteous with the martyrs, but he must forever suffer in Gehenna. Hearing all this, let us try in every possible way to resist envy and exterminate this passion at its very beginning, because in the extreme, those defeated by envy act in their affairs almost like Herod, and if they were kings, they would extend their anger to the murder of many. I repeat, sisters in the Lord and spiritual mothers and children, let us take care not to despise what has been said about envy, so harmful and soul-harming and destructive, and let us force ourselves to have love and goodwill for everyone and goodwill towards everyone who loves and does not love you, favorable and unfavorable, favorable and unfriendly. It is not in vain that it is said in the word of God: God is loving, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4:16). Amen. 17. TO BE GLORIFIED WITH CHRIST, YOU MUST SUFFER WITH HIM And again, the All-Good God has vouchsafed us to achieve the all-joyful holiday of the Bright Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I sincerely wish you all to meet and celebrate this great Christian celebration in peace and joy and spiritual consolation. Oh, that the All-merciful Lord may grant us, the unworthy, the same joy to greet the terrible general Resurrection, according to what was said by the Apostle: For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, for we who are living, having risen at the coming of the Lord, are not imams before the dead; for the Lord Himself, at the commandment, in the voice of the Archangels and in the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first: then we who are left behind will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4: 15-17). What will happen to those who then will not be raptured... into the clouds? For the sake of an all-joyful holiday, let’s keep silent about this. And for the benefit of our souls, let us consider the prophetic psalm word: Today I will rise, says the Lord, I will rely on salvation, I will not complain about it (Ps. 11: 6). What do the words of the Lord mean: I will rely on salvation, I will not be offended about it? This means that our man-loving Lord, before His resurrection, without remorse, endured crucifixion and death on the cross for the sake of our salvation, and before His death on the cross, He endured spitting and strangulation and every kind of reproach and humiliation, according to what was said: Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, being careless of the shame, and sat at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). What will we say about ourselves, who also desire to be at the right hand of the throne of God at the second coming of Christ? Don’t we worry about our salvation, sometimes unable to endure not only spitting and strangulation, but also a small reproachful word and a small annoyance to us? How and through what do we hope to be at the right hand of Him who was crucified for us by the will and all humiliation of Him who endured for our salvation, when the apostle says: if... we suffer with Him, let us also be glorified with Him! (Rom. 8:17) If we find people like me who are weak and defective, at least let us see ourselves in our weakness and defect, not leaving on the Bright Holiday to rejoice in the fact that we have the All-Good Lord, who came to call sinners to repentance, and is always ready to accept the sincerely repentant and unfeignedly humble, having, moreover, the firm intention to hold on with humility even to the last means of salvation, according to the word of the Lord Himself: And not judge, and they will not judge you: and condemn not, lest you be condemned: let go, and they will let you go (Luke 6:37). May we all receive by the grace of Him who was crucified for us and today He is Risen. 18. EXPLANATION OF THE KONDAK OF THE Nativity of CHRIST According to accepted custom, I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ. On this holiday, a significant church hymn is often repeated: “Today a virgin gives birth to the Eternal, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable, Angels and shepherds praise, and wolves travel with a star, for for our sake the Young Child, the Eternal God, was born.” We all hear this church song many times, but do we all understand the great meaning and significance of it? “Today a virgin gives birth to the Most Essential.” Virginity has great significance before God. The Holy Virgin, more than by nature, was honored to be the Mother of the Most Essential Son of God and, always remaining a Virgin, is called the Most Holy. However, not all virginity is good and praiseworthy, as the Lord Himself declared in the Gospel about ten virgins: five of them were wise and five were fools (Matthew 25: 2 ), that is, the foolish virgins, who observed only outward virginity, and were internally defiled by unclean thoughts, were also overcome by other passions - love of money and vanity, envy and hatred, anger and memory, and general intemperance, as explained by the Venerable Simeon the New Theologian and Mark the Ascetic. Therefore, the Lord reproaches such in the Gospel: Amen I say. you, as publicans and fornicators, repentant, you are brewing in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 21:31); “And the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable.” These words show, firstly, how poor the human offering to God is; secondly, that for Him who has humbled His will to the point of slavery, simple and humble dwellings and premises are more pleasant, and, on the contrary, luxurious buildings erected by human vanity are displeasing and unpleasant to Him. “Angels and shepherds praise.” Why were simple shepherds awarded such honor and glory? For their simple-heartedness and for their simple way of life, which St. John Chrysostom, in its severity and hardships, likens to the life of the Forerunner. They ate only one bread; and drank water from springs wherever possible. And it is said in the psalms: He drinks from the stream along the way, for this reason he lifts up his head (Ps. 109: 7). Whoever eats luxurious foods and drinks expensive drinks, his thoughts cannot rise to grief, but wanders and grovels down upon the earth. It is also said in the Gospel about shepherds that they keep a vigilant and watchful night watch over their flock (Luke 2:8). At midnight the shepherds kept vigil, and when Christ was born, Angels appeared to them and before them in the air they praised the Lord: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14). The Angels could not praise the Lord before the sleeping and drowsy! “The wolves travel with the star.” The Magi, that is, the eastern sages who were engaged in astronomy, when they saw an extraordinary star, they came to Jerusalem to worship the born Christ, since they heard from their teacher Balaam a prophecy that a star would rise from Jacob (Num. 24:17). So the sages, only the ancient sages, looking at the stars of heaven, knew God, according to what was said: The heavens will tell the glory of God (Ps. 19:1); and the sages of the present time, examining and exploring the visible world, for the most part become atheists. “For our sake, the Child of Mlado, the Eternal God, was born.” I think that these words are clear and understandable to everyone. To what has been said, I will only add that although the teacher of the Magi, Balaam, was a prophet of worship, and for the sake of interest he taught Balak to lay temptation before the children of Israel (Rev. 2:14), but his disciples, the Magi, turned out to be God-wise people, just as it did not harm the prophet Samuel that he was a disciple of the priest Eli, who treated his children weakly. So you, sisters and mothers, try to imitate these godly disciples. If your mentors themselves are weak and faulty, and treat their spiritual children poorly, then try to be strong, have the fear of God and keep your conscience in all your deeds and actions, and most of all, humble yourself. Then, undoubtedly, you will receive the great mercy of God, through the ineffable love for mankind and mercy of us for the sake of the Son of God Incarnate. Amen. 19. ABOUT REASONABLE SINGING TO GOD. EXPLANATION OF THREE CHURCH SONGS Having diligently and kindly congratulated you on the all-joyful holiday of the Bright Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to my custom, I offer you for your consideration, for the sake of all-joyful celebration and in honor of the Holy Trinity, three church songs, the meaning of which is not clear to everyone. 1) “The speeches of the prophets and fortune-telling have manifested the incarnation of Thy Virgin, O Christ, the radiance of Thy splendor will come forth in the light of tongues, and the abyss will proclaim to Thee with joy: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind” (Tone 1, Canto 4). The initial words of this song, I think, are understandable to everyone. Therefore, let us explain what the following words mean: “The radiance of Your splendor will come forth in the light of tongues.” These words mean that the Holy Resurrection of Christ illuminated the pagan peoples with the light of faith to accept Christianity. “And the deep will shout to You with joy: Glory to Your power, O lover of mankind.” It was not the abyss that proclaimed these words when the Risen Lord descended into hell and illuminated the eternal rivets with the radiance of the Divine, but the souls contained in the abyss, and those brought out of it, gratefully and joyfully cried out: “Glory to Thy power, Lover of mankind.” Likewise, St. John of Damascus proclaims in the Easter hymns: “Your immeasurable compassion, contained in the bonds of hell, is visible, walking towards the light, Christ, with joyful feet, praising the eternal Pascha” (Easter Canon, hymn 5). Perhaps, at the same time, one of the ignorant will ask: “Did the Risen Lord bring all the souls kept in hell to heaven?” The Passover Synaxarion says that not everyone was led away by Him, but only those who believed in His coming. 2) “The nets of the ancients that have been torn to pieces, the casts of the lions that have been erased by their limbs, we rejoice and let us widen our mouths, the word weaving with words of sweet singing, in which we enjoy gifts” (Tone 2, Song 3). The meaning of this not entirely clear church song is as follows: we, having been allowed and delivered from the ancient snares, so as to no longer be food or meat for the mental lions whose teeth have now been broken, rejoice and widen our lips, proclaiming to God the Word a song from the words of sweet singing, which is more pleasing to Him from us than gifts. 3) “It is inconvenient for us to love, as silence is more convenient through fear, but for the love of the Virgin it is inconvenient to weave long-form songs: but also give Mother strength, since there is will” (Tone 1, Canto 9). That is, for us, weak and feeble-minded, it would be more useful to love silence, as not involved in fear, so as not to sin in anything, and it is inconvenient for us, Virgin, to compose lengthy hymns out of love and zeal for You; but give us for this, Mother of God, at least as much strength as we have the will to do. I, a sinner, offered you an explanation of these hymns, prompted to this by the psalm words: Sing to our God... sing wisely (Ps. 46: 7-8). I explain to the simplest that to sing wisely, firstly, means to understand what we sing or listen to in church; secondly, sing or listen carefully and reverently. If we sing or listen absent-mindedly, or talk with someone else in church, then how will our singing be reasonable? For such fearlessness the Lord clearly reproaches us through the prophet Isaiah: these people draw near to Me with their lips, and with their lips they honor Me, but their heart is far from Me: but they honor Me in vain (Is. 29:13). In order to intelligently offer singing to our God, one also needs a temperate and generally correct life. But for the sake of an all-joyful holiday, let us keep silent about this, following the example of St. John Chrysostom, who in the Word for the Easter holiday says this: “Riches and poverty rejoice with each other; Honor the day of abstinence and laziness; those who fasted and those who did not fast, rejoice today." Amen. And so, through the mercy and long-suffering of God, we have been honored to live until the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ, on which I kindly congratulate you all. I sincerely wish you to meet and spend it in mutual peace and spiritual consolation. As is my custom, I would like to offer you for your consideration, for your spiritual benefit, the 22nd Psalm, which is always read as part of the rule for Holy Communion. This psalm is quite understandable for many, but not for everyone. So I had the desire to write some explanation of it for those who do not fully understand it. The Lord shepherds me and will deprive me of nothing. In a green place, there they settled me, in the calm water they brought me up (vv. 1-2). The Lord Himself, as a Shepherd, shepherds us and has not deprived us of anything that is necessary for our salvation. Silent sheep are usually grazed near water, in places rich in herbs for feeding. And the Lord shepherds His verbal sheep - Orthodox Christians in general - in the fences of His One Holy Catholic Church, and the monastics - in the monastery fences, and richly feeds us all with the teaching of Divine words. By “resting water” we must mean the water of Holy Baptism, with which we, being baptized in infancy, are washed from our ancestral sin, and if adults are baptized, then their own sins are forgiven. Convert my soul, guide me in the paths of righteousness, for Your name’s sake (v. 3) From the path of untruth, lies, vice and sin, the Lord turns us with the Gospel commandments to the path of virtue, righteousness and truth for the sake of His name, that is, He does all this not for the sake of human merits and deeds, but according to His sole good will, so that we glorify His all-holy name. Even if I walk in the midst of the snare of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your club are the comfort of me (v. 4) The rod means the Cross of Christ, and the club means invoking the name of Christ with the sign of the cross. If a Christian, who is deeply concerned about fulfilling the commandments of Christ, with faith and hope always protects himself with the Jesus Prayer and the sign of the cross, then fearlessly and safely he passes through not only disastrous and dangerous situations in this life, but after death even the ordeal itself, as St. John of Carpathia writes about this: while fighting and reproaching, with insolence he finds an enemy against the soul that has departed from the body, the slanderer being bitter and fearful about sinners. But it is possible to see then a God-loving and most faithful soul, even though it has been wounded by many sins, unafraid of its aspirations and punishments; But more than that, we strengthen ourselves in the Lord, and shout with joy, and are bold with the Holy Angels who instruct her, and are overshadowed by the light of faith, and with much boldness do I oppose the wicked devil: “What have you to do with us, stranger to God? What have you to do with us, fugitive from heaven and wicked servant? You do not have power over us: Christ, for Christ, the Son of God, has power over us and over all: To those who have sinned, to those we will be held responsible, who has betrothed to us mercy and salvation, His honorable Cross. Flee far from us, destroyer, nothing to you and a servant of Christ” (“Philokalia”, part 4, chapter 25). The Holy Fathers also mean psalmody and any other prayer by the club. You have prepared a table before me to resist those who are cold against me... and Your cup makes me drunken, like a mighty one (v. 5). These words directly point to the Sacrament of Holy Communion. If we partake with faith and without condemnation of the Sacraments of the Body and Blood of Christ, then all the machinations of our spiritual enemies who attack us remain ineffective and idle. We partake without condemnation when we approach this Sacrament, firstly, with sincere and humble repentance and confession of our sins and with a firm determination not to return to them, and secondly, if we approach without remembrance of malice, reconciling in our hearts with everyone who has saddened us. He anointed my head with oil (v. 5). By “oil” we should mean the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Anointing, and by “head” we should mean our mind, which first receives spiritual confirmation through the Sacrament of Confirmation. And Your mercy will marry me all the days of my life, and let us dwell in the house of the Lord for the length of days (v. 6). The mercy of God surrounds and protects a Christian who, by his strength, cares about fulfilling the commandments of Christ and about repentance, not only in all the days of his earthly life, but also in his very transition to the future life, for installation in the heavenly house of the Lord forever and ever. May we all receive with indescribable mercy in a wretched den the Son of God born of the Most Holy Virgin and reclining in a beastly manger, may He deliver us sinners from bestial and wordless life and disposition. Amen. Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! I congratulate you on the Bright Feast of the Resurrection of Christ and sincerely wish you all to meet and celebrate this all-joyful Christian celebration in peace and joy and spiritual consolation, if anyone is not hindered by unusual weakness. You ask, what kind of weakness is this? Perhaps you will think that this means faulty conduct of the fast of the Holy Pentecost. But Saint Chrysostom condescends to us in this, saying: “Those who fasted and those who did not fast, rejoice today, honor the abstinent and laziness day.” Also, you might think that this refers to the memory of past sins, which prevents joy. But he also says about this: “Let no one weep for sins, for forgiveness has come from the grave.” So, ask, what kind of weakness is this?.. That unusual weakness that prompted Cain to kill the gentle Abel, and prompted the Jews to crucify Christ the Savior and Deliverer of the world. You yourself can understand that I am talking to you about the passion of envy, which, according to Scripture, is not preferable to useful news. The passion of envy does not, on any joyful holiday, under any joyful circumstances, allow one to fully rejoice in the one it possesses. Always, like a worm, it gnaws at his soul and heart with vague sadness, because an envious person considers the well-being and success of his neighbor to be his misfortune, and considers the preference given to others to be an unfair insult. One Greek king wanted to know which of the two was worse, the money-lover or the envious one, because both did not wish the other good. For this purpose, he ordered to call to him the money-lover and the envious and said to them: “Ask me, each of you, what he pleases; just know that the second one will receive double what the first one asks for.” The money-lover and the envious man bickered for a long time; each did not want to ask first, so that later he could receive double. Finally, the king told the envious one to ask first. The envious one, being overwhelmed by ill will towards his neighbors, instead of receiving, turned to malice, and said to the king: “Sire! Order me to gouge out my eye." The surprised king asked why he expressed such a desire. The envious one answered: “So that you, sir, order my comrade to gouge out both eyes.” This is how the passion of envy is harmful and harmful to the soul, but also malicious. An envious person is ready to expose himself to harm in order to harm his neighbor twice as much. We have set the strongest degree of envy here. But it, like all other passions, has different sizes and degrees, and therefore one should try to suppress it and destroy it at the first sensation, praying to the Almighty God, the Knower of the Heart, with the psalm words: Cleanse me from my secrets, and spare Thy servant (or Thy servant) from strangers (Ps. 18:14). We must also humbly confess this weakness to our spiritual father. And the third remedy is to try in every possible way not to say anything nasty about the person we envy. By using these means, we can, with God’s help, although not quickly, be healed from envious weakness. Envy comes from pride and at the same time from negligence in doing what is due. Cain neglected to offer his chosen sacrifice to God. And when God despised his sacrifice for such negligence, and accepted Abel’s zealous and chosen sacrifice, then he, overwhelmed with envy, decided to kill, and killed the righteous Abel. It is best, as said earlier, to try to destroy envy at the very beginning, with humble prayer and humble confession and prudent silence. Whoever, with the help of God, is able to destroy the passion of envy in himself can hope to overcome other passions, and then not only on the Bright Feast of the Resurrection of Christ and on other Christian holidays he can rejoice with unspeakable joy, but also on simple days, when he is in a good mood and in a good disposition. Amen. And forgive me for the non-holiday greetings. On this holiday I wanted to tell you something useful, and useful things rarely coincide with pleasant things. Whoever does not like this congratulation, let him read it on St. Thomas Week, and let him notice that envy is first revealed by inappropriate jealousy and rivalry, and then by zeal with annoyance and censure of the one we envy. So, let us be prudent and careful at the first appearance of an envious feeling, trying to reject it, asking for all-powerful help for us for the sake of the Crucified and on the third day of the Risen Christ the Lord. Amen! Amen! 22. EXPLANATION OF IRMOS: “CHRIST IS BORN..” Through God's mercy and patience we are again worthy to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Christ. I congratulate you all on this all-joyful Christian celebration. As is my custom, I would like to offer the Christmas Irmos for general consideration: “Christ is born, glorify, Christ is from heaven, hide. Christ on earth, ascend. Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, people, for you have been glorified.” We all sing Irmos this, but I think that not all of the simplest people understand its meaning well. It is for them that I would like to write some kind of explanation. To our ancestors, expelled from paradise for a crime, the merciful Lord promised to send a Savior, Whom the ancients called the Messiah and Christ. People have been waiting for this Deliverer for five thousand and a half years. And when He was born, the Church solemnly encourages everyone to glorify Him: “Christ is born, glorify.” What does it mean: “Christ from heaven, take away”? The ancients called kings, high priests and prophets Christs, that is, God's anointed ones. Therefore, the Church solemnly declares that not a simple Christ was born, but Christ from heaven, that is, God and Man, as it is said in the psalms: God is the Lord, and appeared to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps. 118:27, 26). “Christ on earth, ascend,” that is, triumph internally and externally. “Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, people, for you have been glorified.” How did you become famous? Christ has just been born, and immediately the whole host of Heaven at midnight, in view of the vigilant shepherds, glorifies Him: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14). And the eastern sages, or wise men, came from distant countries to worship the Born Christ, and brought Him gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. Christ was also glorified by his unspeakable humility: he was born in a wretched den, and was laid in swaddling clothes in a manger, being the Only Begotten Son of God and the God of all. Contemplating all this, the Holy Church sings: “The wanderings of the Lady, and the immortal meals, in the wretched den of high minds, come faithfully, let us enjoy, having seen the incarnate Word ineffably, we magnify it.” The Creator of the visible and invisible world on earth appeared as a wanderer, having nowhere to lay his head, and for the sins of the human race, he offered Himself as a sacrifice to God and the Father through free suffering and death on the cross, and feeds the faithful with an immortal meal in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. We must contemplate all this with the thought of our minds, sublime from everything earthly; and then only can we adequately enjoy the Sacraments of faith and adequately meet Christ and adequately glorify Him. May we all receive with indescribable mercy and omnipotent help the Born Christ the Lord. Amen. 23. IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW THE COMMANDMENTS, YOU MUST FOLLOW THEM I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of Christ and greet you with a joyful Christian greeting: Christ is risen! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! According to my custom, for the sake of such an all-joyful celebration, I would like to tell you something for edification and consolation. But my thoughts tell me that now everyone knows a lot themselves, but there are only a few of us who would be willing to do what they know. We know and often hear the apostolic word repeated: as long as we suffer with Him, that is, with Christ, we may also be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17). We all desire glory and glorification with Christ, but not all of us will follow Christ’s example. For our sins, Christ endured spitting and strangulation and every kind of desecration and humiliation, but we do not want to suffer anything like that for our sins. Often we even revile and humiliate those who annoyed us or insulted us, and sometimes we would be ready to spit on them if it were possible. We know that anger... does not accomplish the righteousness of God (James 1:20), but we do not stop being angry. We know that condemnation is a grave sin, and destroyed the Pharisee despite many virtues, but we do not stop condemning. We know that envy likens those who indulge in it to Cain, but we do not stop envying. We know that asking for offenses against others also intercedes for our forgiveness before God according to the Gospel word: forgive, and they will forgive you (Luke 6:37), but we do not care about such forgiveness, but rather bear a grudge. What should we do in such a bitter situation? There is only one thing left to do - to imitate the Gospel tax collector, whose sincere consciousness and humble wisdom and humble prayer justified him before God. However, sisters and mothers, please forgive me for such an explanation, which is not entirely timely and appropriate. The holy prophet David, for the sake of such a triumph, encourages everyone to the same joy and spiritual joy: This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad on it (Ps. 118:24). Also, Saint Chrysostom exhorts on this day both the faulty and sinners to abandon lamentation about sins and completely indulge in joy. “Let no one,” he says, “cry for sins, for forgiveness has risen from the grave; let no one weep for misery, for the revelation of the common kingdom. Honor the day for those who are abstinent and lazy; those who fast and those who did not fast rejoice today." Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who suffered and rose again for our sake! According to Your ineffable mercy, do not deprive us even during the general resurrection of Your eternal and endless joy, where the light of Your Face is present, as Yours is the power, honor and worship with Your Beginning Father and the Most Holy Spirit, forever. Amen. 24. EXPLANATION OF THE CHRISTMAS IRMOS: “A STRANGE MYSTERY..” Again and again we are honored by God's mercy and patience to meet the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. I congratulate you on this all-joyful Christian celebration and sincerely wish you all to spend it in peace and spiritual consolation. According to my custom, I offer you for your consideration the Christmas Irmos: “I see a strange and glorious sacrament: the sky, the den: the throne of the Cherubim - the Virgin: a manger - a container, in which reclines the incontainable Christ God, whom we magnify in praise.” For those who understand and understand, the meaning of this irmos is very clear and understandable. But the simplest and least well-educated people cannot fully understand the meaning of this irmos and require an explanation. "Sky, nativity scene." It is truly a glorious miracle to hear that the den, which is usually the dwelling of robbers, has become heaven. “Heaven, den,” because God dwelled in this den, and where God is, there is heaven. And Christian souls, while they voluntarily indulge in passions—the love of fame, the love of money, anger, envy, hatred, resentment, vengeance, and the like—become a den of mental robbers—demons. And when they bring humble and sincere repentance and lead a pious life, according to the commandments of God, forcing themselves to humility, meekness and love, then there is, as it were, another heaven, because the grace of God or God Himself dwells in them by His grace, according to what was said: I will dwell in them and like them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people (2 Cor. 6:16). “The Throne of the Cherubim is the Virgin.” Because carried by the Cherubim and sung by the Seraphim, the God-Man born from Her is now carried in the arms of the Virgin. Why was this honor given to the Virgin? Firstly, for perfect chastity and purest virginity. Many virgins have and preserve only physical virginity, but are not virgins in their souls. And the Virgin Mary was a virgin in body and soul in the purest perfection, and therefore is called the Most Pure and Most Holy Virgin. Secondly, for Her deepest humility, the Most Holy Virgin, when she read in the book of the prophet Isaiah: Behold, the Virgin in her womb shall conceive and give birth to a Son, and call His name Immanuel (Is. 7:14), then she had the strongest desire to be the slave of this Virgin, in order to be honored at least to serve Her, and for such deep humility she was honored to be the Mother of God Herself. But even then she was not exalted in thought when she heard the Angel’s gospel about this, but humbly answered: Behold, the Servant of the Lord: be unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38). On the contrary, proud people, pursuing glory and honor by all means, are not worthy to receive them, because the Lord opposes the proud, and only the humble... gives His grace (James 4:6). “A manger, a container, in which reclines the incontainable Christ God.” Again, a strange and wondrous miracle - to hear that God, who cannot be contained by heaven, reclines and is contained in a beastly manger. It is said that this is a sacrament. Christian souls, while they voluntarily indulge in voluptuousness and other bodily passions, are like beastly mangers, caring only about food and nutrition and other bodily pleasures; and when they turn to God with sincere repentance and take care of abstinence and lead a pious life, then they become like a heavenly container in which Christ God, who cannot be contained by heaven, dwells. “We magnify Him with praise.” Bringing praise to Him who was born of the Virgin in church songs and spiritual songs, we must constantly praise Him, and glorify Him, and give Him thanks for His ineffable mercy towards us, sinners, redeemed by His honest Blood, and through this promise of eternal, blessed, and endless life. Amen. 25. EXPLANATION OF EASTER IRMOS: “RESURRECTION DAY..” According to the custom accepted by all, I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, and as is my custom, I offer you, for the benefit of your soul, a consideration of the Easter Irmos: “Resurrection day, let us be enlightened, people: Easter, the Lord's Easter! From death to life and from earth to heaven, Christ God has led us, singing in victory.” People who are bookish and understanding, no doubt, fully understand the meaning and significance of this irmos; the simplest require some explanation. “Resurrection day, let’s enlighten ourselves, people.” That is, let us enlighten our minds and thoughts from the darkness of everyday worries, and especially from the darkness of sin, in order to properly understand the meaning of the Easter holiday and properly celebrate this significant day for all Christians. The word "Easter" means translation, transition. The celebration of the Old Testament Passover meant Moses leading the Israelites across the Red Sea and delivering them from the hard work of Egypt to Pharaoh. The celebration of the New Testament Christian Easter means the deliverance of us by our Savior Lord Jesus Christ from the hard work of the mental Pharaoh, that is, the devil, and the transfer of us from death to life and from earth to heaven. Great and indescribable was the joy of the souls brought by the Lord from hell, who experienced many years of difficult imprisonment in the darkness of the underworld, as St. John of Damascus describes it in the Paschal troparion of the 5th canto: “Your immeasurable compassion, contained in the bonds of hell, is visible, walking toward the light, O Christ, with merry feet, praising the eternal Pascha.” No less, and perhaps even more, is the joy of the Christian soul, which is vouchsafed to ascend to the heavenly abodes and taste the blissful pleasure there. It is impossible to express this in words, as the holy apostle testifies: eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man sighed, what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). At the end of the irmos it is not just said: “Christ God has led us... from earth to heaven...” but, “he has led us to sing in victory.” What do these words mean? Just as after His resurrection, Christ the Lord did not bring all souls from hell to heaven, but only those who believed and believed in His coming, so now the Lord does not raise all Christian souls to heaven, but only those who duly sing the victorious song of Christ. And only true believers, and those who live piously, as well as those who sincerely repent, can properly exalt this song, because “praise in the mouth of the wicked is not red,” as it is said in one canon of the Mother of God. Therefore, if we cannot, due to weakness, live piously, as we should, then at least we will take care and try to always bring sincere and humble repentance for our shortcomings and thanksgiving for the salvation of sinners to our Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ with His Beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit. Amen. 26. EXPLANATION OF IRMOS: “THE ROD FROM THE ROOT OF JESSE..” Through God's long-suffering we are made worthy to meet again and again the feast of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. I congratulate you all on this all-joyful Christian celebration and, according to my custom, for the benefit of your soul, I propose for your consideration the Christmas Irmos: “The rod from the root of Jesse, and the flower from it, Christ, from the Virgin you grew, from the mountain of Praise, the shaded thicket, you came incarnate, from the Unartful, the Immaterial and the God. Glory to Your power, O Lord." I think that few of those who relate to my thinness fully understand the meaning of this irmos. For those who do not understand, I would like to write a short explanation. “The rod is from the root of Jesse, and the flower from it is Christ, from the Virgin you grew cold.” In the Ark of the Covenant, by God's command, in memory of future generations, the miraculously vegetated and prosperous rod of Aaron was placed. This rod was a prototype of another rod from the root of Jesse, that is, the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos. She, from her barren parents, as from a dry rod, grew a living branch, and from this Virgin branch, like a flower, Christ the God-Man vegetated. “From the Mountain of Praise, the shaded thicket, you came incarnate, from the Unskilled, Immaterial and God. Glory to Your power, O Lord." The invisible God, praised in heaven, apparently came to earth, as from a mountain and a shaded thicket, incarnate as the Immaterial from the Unskilled Virgin. Just as on a mountain, in the shadow of a forest thicket, it is inconvenient to see, so it is inconvenient to understand with your mind the incomprehensible mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God from the Blessed Virgin. The incomprehensible is accepted only by faith. Therefore, the prophet Habakkuk, foreseeing in spirit the incomprehensible mystery of the incarnation, cried out: “Glory to Your power, Lord.” It is not inappropriate here to explain the bewilderment of some as to why it is said: “God will come from the south” and not from the east. This is said in relation to Nazareth and Bethlehem, because Nazareth, where the Annunciation of the Mother of God took place, is in the south in relation to Bethlehem, where Christ was born. In the words: “God will come from the south,” one can also find moral edification. For just as the visible sun, when it is in the south at noon, warms more and illuminates more with the rays of its light, so the Sun of Truth - Christ the Lord - at noon of its life, those who labor piously in the strength of their strength, more illuminates and enlightens with the rays of His grace, according to what is said: “in the south those who sow in tears will reap with joy.” In youth, a person often does not understand what he should, and in old age he is mostly decrepit and weak. A decrepit and weak person is capable of what feat? How can we, sinners, grow weak without achievement? One thing remains - to console yourself with the words of the apostle, who says: The word is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). He, out of His ineffable mercy and love for mankind, does not reject even at the eleventh hour of life those who come to Him in repentance and commands to give them a reward, just as He does to those who have suffered the hardship of the day and the plague. Therefore, we, sinners and weak ones, will not be lazy to repent and humble ourselves and endure the sorrows and illnesses that are sent, heeding the Gospel word of the Lord: in your patience gain your souls; having endured to the end, he will be saved (Luke 21:19; Matt. 10:22). Be born of the Most Immaculate Virgin and the One Holy One have mercy on us sinners. Amen. 27. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE EASTER CANON: “NOW ALL IS FILLED WITH LIGHT...” Again and again, through the mercy and long-suffering of God, we are vouchsafed to meet the all-joyful and luminous feast of the Resurrection of Christ, on which I congratulate you. According to my custom, for spiritual benefit, I offer for your consideration the troparion of the third hymn of the Paschal Canon. “Now everything is filled with light, the heavens and the earth and the underworld. Let all creation celebrate the rise of Christ, in which it is established.” From the words spoken we see that the light of the Resurrection of Christ illuminated heaven and earth and the underworld, but did it have the same effect and influence?.. No! Not the same. The angels in heaven were filled with inexpressible joy, because by the Resurrection of Christ they were honored with a great revelation of the sacraments, and they also rejoiced at the salvation of the people who believed, as they did the least of their brethren. On the contrary, the angels, cast down into the underworld for pride, first fell into the greatest fear and confusion, and then into even greater anger and envy and fury, because by the Resurrection of Christ their evil power and dark power were destroyed, and the souls of the forefathers they contained in hell were taken out of hell by the Lord and brought into heaven; Only souls brought out of hell rejoiced. Likewise, on earth, the Resurrection of Christ had unequal effects and influence. Those who believed in Christ were filled with inexpressible joy when they heard about His Resurrection, but, on the contrary, the evil and envious Jews fell into great anger and envy and fury, and for their unrepentance they lost the favor of God, are scattered throughout the entire universe and are in great contempt among all nations. Likewise among the pagans - some accepted faith in Christ, while others not only stubbornly remained in error, but also flew into a great rage against the believers and subjected them to various torments. From all this, what edification and spiritual admonition can we derive for ourselves? It is precisely that faith, kindness, humility, love and goodwill towards others are higher than all virtues, as the Lord Himself testifies in the Gospel, saying: I want mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13), that is, more than sacrifice. But, on the contrary, unbelief, deceit, envy, malice and hatred are worse than all sins and more harmful than all passions and vices. What about those who seem involuntarily disturbed and disturbed by dislike and malice, envy and hatred, or are confused by unbelief? First of all, we must pay attention to the causes of these passions and use decent spiritual healing against these causes. The reason for unbelief is the love of earthly glory, as the Lord Himself testifies in the Holy Gospel: As much as you can believe, you accept glory from one another, and do not seek glory other than that from the One God (John 5:44). And envy and anger and hatred come from pride and lack of love for one’s neighbors. Medicine against these passions: firstly, a humble and sincere awareness of one’s weakness before God and the spiritual father; secondly, the Gospel compulsion not to act on the attraction of these passions, but to do the opposite to them; the third medicine is to seek in everything only the glory of God and from God; the fourth healing is a humble request for God’s help with the psalm words: Lord!.. Cleanse me from my secrets, and spare Thy servant (or Thy handmaid) from strangers (Ps. 18:13,16). Ask for God’s help without doubting, but believing that what is impossible with people is possible with God. The fifth remedy is self-reproach, that is, in any unpleasant and sorrowful case or circumstance one should place the blame on oneself and not on others; that we did not know how to act as we should, and from this came such trouble and such sorrow, which we deserve, by God’s permission, for our negligence, for our arrogance and for our sins, former and new. Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered for the sake of our salvation and rose again from the dead for three days, have mercy on us sinners, and, like the Lord, help us and strengthen our weakness. Amen. 28. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS: MERCY AND TRUTH ARE COMING... According to my custom, I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and also, according to my custom, for the benefit of the soul, I offer for your consideration psalm words appropriate for this holiday: Mercy and truth have been met, justice and peace have been embraced: truth has risen from the earth, and righteousness has come from heaven (Ps. 85:11). These words are read every day in church at the ninth hour, but how many of you understand the meaning and significance of these words? When God the Father deigned to have mercy on the fallen human race, to send His Only Begotten Son to earth to deliver man from the power of the devil, and the Son of God, the Eternal Truth, obeyed to fulfill the will of the Sender, being born in the flesh from the Blessed Virgin, by the good will of the Father and the assistance of the Holy Spirit, then the psalm words were fulfilled: mercy and truth were met. When the incarnate Son of God and the God-man, through His free suffering, His Blood and death on the cross, satisfied the justice of God for the disobedience of Adam and other human sins, and thus reconciled fallen man with God, then other psalm words were fulfilled: righteousness and peace were embraced. Before the coming of Christ to the earth, only lies and the charm of the enemy reigned; except for the people of Israel, and even then not all of them, everywhere there was the veneration of false gods and the worship of idols. When the Son of God became man, by His teaching and example, restored and established true life on earth, then both holiness and heavenly righteousness appeared on it; earthly angels and heavenly men appeared, and what was said was fulfilled: truth rose from the earth, and truth came from heaven. Therefore, the apostle appeals to all Christians: Because our life is in heaven, from here we wait for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20). The words of the apostle mean that all Christians undertake to live not just in an earthly way, but also in a heavenly way. What about those who, like me, sad and weak, cannot live in heaven, but still live in an earthly way - with various spiritual weaknesses and earthly addictions? One thing remains for us, weak and sinful, - to sincerely repent of our weaknesses and mental infirmities, to humble ourselves without hypocrisy before God and people, and to uncomplainingly and patiently endure the various sorrows and illnesses sent to us for our sins, and in this way we can undoubtedly receive God’s mercy. For the Lord Himself speaks through the prophet: I do not want the sinner to die, but to be converted... and I live to be him (Ezek. 33:11). And again in the Holy Gospel he says (Matthew 11:28): Come to Me, you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls. Amen. 29. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: ARISE, LORD MY GOD... According to the accepted custom, I congratulate you again and again on the all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, and according to my custom, for the benefit of your soul, I offer you for your consideration psalm words appropriate for the holiday: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted up, do not forget Thy poor to the end (Ps. 9:33). Those who understand them themselves understand the meaning and significance of these words, but for the simplest and least knowledgeable I want to write a short explanation. Before the coming of Christ, souls and righteous people descended into hell. And Saint David, as a prophet, foresaw that Christ the Lord, after death on the cross and after His Resurrection, would lead from hell the souls of those who believed in His coming and would lead them back into heaven, and those most worthy into Heaven itself, therefore he prayed to the Lord that He would hasten by His Resurrection, saying: Rise, Lord my God, may Thy hand be exalted, do not forget Your poor ones to the end. And now true believers, firm and zealous Christians earnestly pray with the same psalm words with the thought that Christ the Lord will rise within them, and resurrect and revive their souls, killed by sin and passions. The psalm words: Lord my God, let your hand be exalted, refer to the spiritual battle in which all of us, Christians, find ourselves, and without God’s help we cannot overcome the enemy, as the Lord Himself testifies (John 15:5): without Me you can do nothing. Saint David describes this battle this way: a man will come, and his heart will be deep. And God will ascend. Here, of course, it is not a simple person, but an enemy person, mentioned in the Gospel and sowing tares, that is, the devil. If this tempter approaches a person who is attentive and deeply preserves his heart, and calls on the name of God for help, then victory with the help of God happens on the side of the tempted one, but with the inattentive and absent-minded and weak, like me, sad and sinful, the opposite happens - they remain defeated; and such people need to humble themselves a lot, and sincerely repent, and earnestly pray with the last psalm words: Lord our God, do not forget your poor to the end. If the weak do this, imitating the publican, then we will undoubtedly be worthy of receiving God’s mercy. May Christ the Lord, risen for three days, have mercy on us all with His ineffable mercy and love for mankind. Amen. Through the mercy and long-suffering of God we have also been honored to live until the all-joyful and solemn holiday of the Nativity of Christ, on which I earnestly congratulate you. As is my custom, I would like to tell you something both for spiritual benefit and for consolation. People have always complained about various sorrows, misfortunes, and illnesses; and at present, in addition to other sorrows, almost everyone complains about difficult circumstances. And this should not be surprising. Present life is nothing more than preparation for the future life. As one spends his present life, accordingly he will receive a fate in the future life - either blessed or ill-fated. All Christians, especially true believers, desire to inherit a blessed destiny in the future life. And to receive this it is inevitable to suffer various sorrows and illnesses, according to what is said in the word of God (Acts 14:22): through many sorrows it is fitting for us to enter into the Kingdom of God. People are divided into righteous and sinners, but neither one nor the other is free from various sorrows or illnesses, as it is said in the psalms: many are the sorrows of the righteous; many wounds for the sinner. Saint David exhorts the first not to be cowardly, assuring that the Lord will deliver them from all sorrows, and the second, that is, sinners, exhorts them not to despair, saying that although the sinner has many wounds, he who trusts in the Lord will receive mercy, that is, if a sinner with faith and trust in repentance runs to the Lord, he will receive pardon and forgiveness sins. The all-good Lord sends various sorrows to the righteous, firstly, so that they do not weaken in the deeds of piety and, having become lazy, do not deviate in the opposite direction, and do not perish, as the prophet Ezekiel says: Whenever I say to the righteous: you will live by life; he will die (Ezek. 33:13). Secondly, the Lord sends various sorrows to the righteous so that through this they will be completely cleansed of sins and passions, and receive a great reward in the next century, according to what was said: “like gold in the furnace I have tempted them, and like the fruitfulness of the sacrificial I have received.” The Lord brings various misfortunes and illnesses upon sinners in order to attract them to repentance, as He Himself says in the Holy Gospel: for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13); and again: repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is drawing near (Matthew 3:2); and through the prophet Isaiah he says: take away wickedness from your souls... and come, and let us be spent... And though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them as white as snow; and if they are as scarlet, I will make them white (Is. 1:16-18). The Lord says to everyone - both the righteous and the sinners: Come to Me, you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28): and again: in your patience you will gain your souls... He who endures to the end will be saved (Luke 21:19; Matt. 10:22). Be born of the Virgin and come to save sinners, have mercy on Your creation and grant us patience and humility and true repentance, so that we may not deprive the gums of those who have had mercy on You. Amen! 31. EXPLANATION OF SRETENSKIY IRMOS: “THY VIRTUE IS VEILED, O CHRIST..” I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of Christ. I sincerely wish you to meet and spend it in peace and spiritual consolation. According to my custom, for spiritual benefit, I propose for consideration the Irmos of the Sretensky Canon. “The Heavens have covered Thy virtue, O Christ, having passed from the Icon, Thy incorruptible Shrine to the Mother, in the church of Thy glory Thou didst appear, like a Child holding His hand, and being filled with all Thy praise.” What is this virtue that covers Heaven? The immeasurable love of the Son of God for the fallen human race, for the sake of which He, being God, deigned to be a Man, was born from the Holy Virgin in a wretched den, was brought to the church by Madenza forty days, fled from the inhuman Herod with his Mother and Joseph to Egypt, was brought up in the house of a simple woodcutter; finally, for the sake of salvation and deliverance of man from the power of the devil, he endured spitting and strangulation and every kind of humiliation and the most blasphemous death on the cross, but, after a three-day burial, by the power of His Divinity and the glory of the Father, He rose from the dead and, trampling all the power of the enemy and destroying the gates and rivets of hell, brought to freedom the souls held there, who believed and believed in the coming Him. For the sake of man’s salvation, out of love, the Only Begotten Son of God, who suffered and was resurrected for three days, based His entire law on two commandments - love for God and neighbor, and neither of these commandments can be performed without the other. Saint John the Theologian says: If anyone says that I love God but hates his brother, it is a lie (1 John 4:20). Likewise, love for one’s neighbor, if it happens not for God’s sake, but for some human impulse, then not only does it not bring any benefit, but often causes spiritual harm. The signs of true Christian love, the Apostle Paul puts forward as follows: It is patient with love, it is merciful, it does not envy love, it does not boast of love, it is not proud, it does not act outrageously, it does not seek its own, it is not irritated, it does not think evil (and does not remember evil), it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but it rejoices in the truth: it loves everything, it has faith in everything, it trusts everything, it endures everything. Love no longer disappears (1 Cor. 13: 4–8). Without such love, neither prophecy, nor faith that moves mountains, nor martyrdom itself will bring any benefit. And even if I give away all my possessions, and even if I give up my body and burn it, says the apostle, love is not imam, there is no benefit for me (1 Cor. 13: 3). But one must know that if every virtue is acquired not suddenly, but gradually, with difficulty and compulsion, then how much more so is love, as the beginning and end of all virtues, in its acquisition it requires time, and great compulsion, and inner struggle, and prayer, and above all, it requires deep humility before God and before people. Humility and sincere awareness of one's unworthiness are a quick assistant in all virtues, as well as in acquiring love. So, let's start each one with the degree of love that anyone has, and God will help us. Let him who is burdened by sins consider that love covers a multitude of sins; whose conscience is outraged by many iniquities, let him consider that love is the fulfillment of the law. Love one another, says the apostle, and fulfill the law (Rom. 13:8). Even if we have not achieved the said perfect love, we will at least take care and try not to have envy, hatred, and resentment. The path of evil-speakers to death; and envy will be received by people who are not punished, that is, those who are not instructed and do not understand how the Christian life should be, and those who hate their neighbor are in the darkness, and they walk in the darkness, and they don’t know who they are. For the sake of the One who suffered and was resurrected for three days, let us pray with the prayer of Saint Ephraim: “Lord and Master of our life! Grant us the spirit of chastity and humility, and patience, and love, and to see our sins, and not to condemn our brother, for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages.” Amen! 32. EXPLANATION OF WORDS: IN BO’S HEART BELIEVES IN THE TRUTH... Again and again, through the mercy and long-suffering of God, we are honored to celebrate the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ. I congratulate you on this significant Christian celebration, and I sincerely wish you to spend it, as well as the coming New Year, in peace and prosperity and spiritual consolation. According to my custom, for the benefit of my soul, I propose for consideration the apostolic words: For with the heart he believes in the truth, but with his lips he confesses for salvation (Rom. 10:10). These words are clear to those who know and understand, but to the simplest they require some explanation. With his heart he believes in the truth. To believe in truth means, firstly, to believe in the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, born in the flesh of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, according to the word of the Apostle, is our truth... and sanctification and deliverance (1 Cor. 1:30); secondly, to believe His Divine teaching and Divine commandments. Blessed, it is said, are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), that is, those who are zealously zealous to fulfill the Divine commandments. The mouth confesses for salvation. In the first times of Christianity, when there was strong persecution of Christians from the pagans, these words had one meaning, namely: the pagans sought out believers in Christ everywhere and forced them to renounce Christ, and those who did not renounce, but firmly confessed faith in Christ, received not only ready salvation, but also martyr’s crowns, and are glorified by the Church to this day. Now, when the times of martyrdom have long passed, the apostolic words: the mouth is confessed for salvation - have a different meaning, namely: whoever preaches truth, love and mercy, and goodwill towards others, and the like, in word and deed, clearly confesses his salvation to everyone. On the contrary, from whose lips come words of envy and hatred, words of anger and bitterness, lies and slander, condemnation and humiliation of others, he clearly confesses to everyone not his own salvation, but the opposite. Saint Chrysostom, in one conversation, discussing the ill-fated fate of Semey, who out of envy reproached Saint David, says that more people perish “from evil words than from evil deeds,” because few consider it necessary to repent of spoken words. We are exposed to such trouble through a lack of love and goodwill towards our neighbors, and above all through a lack of humility, on which love is based. The Holy Apostle Paul writes: And even if an imam... gives up all faith, even as he gives up mountains, but I am not an imam for love, I am nothing. And even if I give away all my possessions, and even if I give up my body and burn it, love is not of any use to me (1 Cor. 13: 2). What about those who are weak with ill will towards their neighbors, envy and condemnation and contempt? Such people should take care to correct their character. And this correction requires, firstly, humble and sincere consciousness and repentance before God and the spiritual father; and secondly, the Gospel compulsion to restrain your tongue and thoughts from blaming others. It is not in vain that the Gospel says: The Kingdom of Heaven is in need, and the needy women delight it (Matthew 11–12); and thirdly, this correction requires diligent and humble prayer, in the words of the Akathist: “Lord! You healed the money-loving soul of Zacchaeus the publican, heal my accursed soul from ill will and envy, condemnation and memory of malice.” Not without coercion and humble prayer, the mother and various other sinners who repented received salvation. The Lord is more pleased with a sinner who repents and humbles himself than with a righteous man who exalts himself and humiliates others, as clear proof of this is the Gospel parable of the publican and the Pharisee. Repentance and humility are more necessary and higher than all virtues, and do not stop until the end of life. Saint John Climacus, based on the words of Saint David, writes: “I did not fast, nor did I wake, nor did I lie down on the ground, but I humbled myself, and the Lord saved me.” May we too, through indescribable love for mankind and mercy, receive the Son of God, born in the flesh in a wretched den and reclining in a manger, may he deliver us from a wordless disposition and life. Amen. 33. ABOUT THE SIN OF JUDGING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD I congratulate you on the Feast of Holidays - the Bright Day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ - and I sincerely wish you on this all-joyful Feast to rejoice with unspeakable joy and be consoled by spiritual consolation. On this day, Saint Chrysostom calls everyone, without distinction, to joy, as it is said in his Word for this holiday: “All of you enter into the joy of your Lord, the rich and the poor rejoice with each other, the abstinent and the lazy will honor the day, the fasting and the non-fasting will rejoice today; “All of you will enjoy the feast of faith, you will all receive the riches of goodness.” Blessed is he who does not poison the joy of festive and spiritual life with any human weakness. And we all have a common weakness, when we are cheerful or dissatisfied, to judge and condemn our neighbor. This weakness seems unimportant to many of us, but in the thing itself it is very great and exposes us to great condemnation before God. The Holy Apostle Paul writes: For when you judge a friend, you condemn yourself, and you also judge (Rom. 2:1), that is, you expose yourself to the same responsibility as the sinner whom you condemn. Saint James, brother of God, writes: There is only one Lawmaker and Judge, able to save and destroy; You are the one who condemned a friend (James 4:12). And the Lord Himself in the Holy Gospel says: do not condemn, lest you be condemned (Luke 6:37). Saint Demetrius of Rostov likens the sin of condemnation to the seven-headed serpent, which with its trunk tore away a third of the stars of heaven, that is, the angels. And the sin of condemnation, according to the word of this saint of God, tears away from heaven the third part and virtuous people, who without the sin of condemnation would shine like stars. Some are subjected to the sin of condemnation from habit, others from memory of malice, others from envy and hatred, and for the most part we are subjected to this sin from conceit and exaltation; Despite our great incorrigibility and sinfulness, it still seems to us that we are better than many. If we want to correct ourselves from the sin of condemnation, then we must in every possible way force ourselves to humility before God and people and ask for God’s help in this, remembering the Gospel word: The Kingdom of Heaven is in need, and the needy are delighted (Matthew 11:12), and the Gospel admonition of the three-day Risen Lord (Matthew 11:28-30): take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls... For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Amen. 34. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: THE GOOD AND RIGHTS OF THE LORD... Brothers in the Lord, and sisters, and mothers! Through the mercy and forbearance of God we are still deemed worthy to celebrate the great feast of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. I congratulate you on this all-joyful Christian celebration and sincerely wish you to spend it in peace and spiritual consolation. According to my custom, for the benefit of your soul, I offer you the psalm words for your consideration: The Lord is good and right, that is, righteous and just, for this reason He will give law to those who sin along the way (Ps. 24:8). What will the Lord lay down for those who sin? He lays down the law that they should repent, saying in the Holy Gospel: repent... if you do not repent... you will perish (Luke 13:3). Some of the Christians do not repent at all out of unbelief, and some, although they repent for the sake of order and custom, but then without fear again gravely sin, having the unreasonable hope that the Lord is good, while others, bearing in mind only the fact that the Lord is just, do not stop sinning out of despair, not hoping to receive forgiveness. Correcting both those and others, the word of God declares to everyone that the Lord is good to all who repent sincerely and with the firm intention not to return to the same way. No, sin is overcome by God’s love for mankind. On the contrary, the Lord is just for those who, out of unbelief or negligence, do not want to repent; also for those who, although sometimes they bring repentance, for the sake of order and custom, but then again gravely sin without fear, having an unreasonable hope that the Lord is good. There are also Christians who bring repentance, but do not express everything in confession, and some sins are hidden and concealed for the sake of shame. Such, according to the apostolic word, partake of the Holy Mysteries unworthily; and for unworthy communion they are subject to various ailments and illnesses, and many even die. The apostle said: He who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks judgment for himself, without judging the Body of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:29). Some will say: what should we do when we often, as if involuntarily, sin out of weakness? Some people sin out of weakness and sin a forgivable sin, and others sin out of negligence and fearlessness and sin a grave sin. Everyone knows that there are mortal sins, and there are sins that are forgivable in word or thought. But in any case, sincere and humble repentance is required, and compulsion, according to the word of the Gospel, with the firm intention not to return to the same way. It is said in the Fatherland: “If you have fallen, arise! Once you have fallen, once again rise!” It is not surprising to fall, but it is shameful and painful to remain in sin. May the All-merciful Lord give us His all-powerful help in order to hold on to sincere and true repentance in fulfillment of the Gospel word: The Kingdom of Heaven is in need, and the needy women delight it; May we all receive with ineffable mercy the Son of God Incarnate and Born of the Blessed Virgin, amen. 35. EXPLANATION OF WORDS: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS FAST AND DRINKING! By the mercy and long-suffering of God, I am also honored to congratulate you on the all-joyful feast of the Resurrection of Christ. I sincerely wish you all to meet and celebrate this great and significant Christian Celebration of celebrations in peace and spiritual consolation. According to my custom, for the benefit of my soul, I propose for consideration the apostolic words: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). No matter how dear the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are to Christians, due to human weakness, we first of all care about food and drink and other things, for which we are subjected to the Gospel reproach of the Lord: Do not worry, saying; what we eat, or what we drink, or what we wear... for your Heavenly Father knows that you require all these things. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:31-33). The Lord condemns the careful care of life as an obstacle to the acquisition of the Kingdom of God; and the holy Apostle Paul puts forward another reason, which also prevents someone from consuming food or drink to cause offense and stumbling to his neighbor. He threatens such a person with punishment, saying: evil is a stumbling block for anyone who eats (Rom. 14:20). This apostle gave this advice to ancient Christians: it is good not to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor because of it your brother stumbles or is offended or faints (Rom. 14:21), and the holy fathers of the Councils, condescending to human weakness, except for fasting, forbade the consumption of meat only on two days of the week - Wednesday and Friday, in remembrance of the tradition and suffering of Christ the Savior for us. But at present, many Orthodox Christians despise and violate these two days out of imitation of non-Orthodox ones. However, one can tempt one’s neighbor not with meat or wine alone, but also with disorderly and untimely consumption of any other food and drink. In both cases, it is necessary to repent and correct ourselves, so that the evil that the apostle threatens does not befall us. The word of God speaks of both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven; What difference does this make? Those who are worthy receive the Kingdom of Heaven after death in a future life, and those who firmly believe and are thorough acquire the Kingdom of God in this life within themselves, in their soul and heart, according to what is said in the Gospel: The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). How and by what means is the Kingdom of God acquired within you? According to the apostolic word, it is acquired, firstly, by truth or righteousness, which consists in fulfilling the commandments of God and a merciful and compassionate disposition towards others; secondly, peace with your neighbors, peace from passions, peace with your conscience and peace with God through repentance and humility. When a Christian is forced to arrange himself in this way, then he will receive grace-filled help and, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, in the midst of the most sorrows, he will rejoice, firmly believing the apostolic word that tribulation makes patience, and patience is an art, and art is hope; but hope does not put one to shame (Rom. 5:3)... for the passions of the present time are unworthy of the glory that desires to appear in us in the life to come (Rom. 8:18), as through many tribulations it is fitting for us to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). The humble Nikita Stifat in the book “Philokalia” writes that those who have internally acquired the Kingdom of God in this life have a free transition to the Kingdom of Heaven; but for those who have not acquired this in this life, the transition to the future occurs with fear. Blessed is the one who prepares himself here for a free transition into the Kingdom of Heaven, so that we may all receive with indescribable mercy and love for mankind, for the sake of the will of Christ our Savior who suffered and died on the cross and was resurrected for three days. Amen. 36. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS IN THE FIRST COLLECTION EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PETER ABOUT THE FEAR OF GOD With the mercy and long-suffering of God, I, who am weak, am vouchsafed to congratulate you on the upcoming all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ and wish you all the best and saving things. As is my custom, it would be desirable for me, for the sake of the upcoming holiday, to tell you something for the benefit of your soul. The Supreme Apostle Peter in his Epistle to Christians writes: Beloved... as children of obedience, do not be the first to be transformed by ignorance of your lust, but according to the Holy One who called you, you yourself will be holy in all your life. It is written beforehand: Be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). God demands holiness of life from us. This holiness, first of all, consists in chastity, and then in fulfilling other commandments of God, and in case of violation of them, in sincere and humble repentance. Chastity is twofold - virgin and marital. Ancient Susanna, even in her marriage, was called chaste because she decided to die rather than fulfill the evil wishes of lawless judges. And from the Gospel parable of the ten virgins it is clear that not all the virgins were wise, but five of them were fools. The latter were called holy fools or fools because, while observing physical virginity, they did not care to maintain spiritual purity and desecrated the mind and heart with unclean thoughts and desires, or were outraged by thoughts of anger and memory, or envy and hatred, or were blinded by the love of money and, out of stinginess, were uncompassionate towards their neighbors. If some of them apparently restrained themselves from these passions, but, overcome by conceit and pride, condemnation and humiliation of their neighbors, lost their spiritual purity through this, according to what was said: “Everyone who is high-hearted is unclean before God” (Prov. 16:5). What is said about passions in relation to virgins applies to both widows and married people, as the Lord Himself said to the apostles: And what I say to you, I say to all (Mark 13:37). What is the main means to lead a holy life? The Lord Himself, through the same Apostle Peter, points to this means, saying: And if you call the Father unfeignedly judging each person according to his deeds, live your time with fear (1 Pet. 1:17). These words show that the main means to live piously and holyly is the fear of God and the fear of future judgment and eternal torment. Only with the assistance of this fear, with the help of God, does the observance of the commandments occur, as it is said in the psalms: Blessed is the man, fear the Lord, he will greatly delight in His commandments (Ps. 111: 1). And without fear, even if someone lived in heaven, according to the word of St. Peter of Damascus, he would not take advantage of it, having pride, which is the same as Satan, and Adam, and many fallen people. If the word of God commands all saints to have the fear of God, according to what is said: Fear the Lord in His holiness, for there is no hardship for those who fear Him (Ps. 33:10), then how much more so for us, sinners and defectives, it is necessary to have the fear of God, and the fear of death, and the Last Judgment of God, and eternal torment in hell, dissolving fear with this hope of inheriting the Kingdom Heavenly, if we are, as much as possible, forced to repentance and correction. The fear of God and the remembrance of the last four keep us from falling into sin, according to what has been said: Remember your last, and you will never sin (Sir. 7:39). May we all receive with indescribable mercy and omnipotent help our Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Holy Virgin, for whom we earnestly pray. Amen. 37. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: GOD... OUR IS IN HEAVEN... Christ is Risen! Christ is risen! Christ is Risen! Through God's mercy and patience we are again honored to celebrate the all-joyful feast of the Resurrection of Christ. I congratulate you all on this great and significant Christian Celebration of celebrations. I sincerely wish you to spend this holiday in peace and spiritual consolation. As is my custom, for the benefit of my soul, I propose for consideration the psalm words: But our God in heaven and on earth has created all the things He desires (Ps. 113:11). God has created more on earth than in heaven. In heaven, God created Angels, disembodied spirits, perfect minds, but not yet firmly established in goodness, but left to the test of their will, which will be shown in relation to their obedience and disobedience to God. The third part of the angels fell away from God, being carried away by the first angel, who became proud against God and wished to be equal to Him, thinking to himself: I will set my throne above the stars of heaven... I will be like the Most High (Is. 14: 13-14). For what pride and insolence he turned from a luminous angel into a serpent-dragon, about which it is said in the Revelation of John the Theologian that with his horn he tore away a third of the stars of heaven, that is, the Angels. The fallen angels with their evildoer were cast out of heaven and left to their evil will until the Last Judgment, at which they will receive due retribution. On earth God created the fleshly man Adam, who took away dust from the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Gen. 2:7), that is, a rational and immortal soul. God created man of flesh, firstly, so that man would humble himself, remembering that his body was created from earth and must return to earth: secondly, so that man of flesh could be shown mercy as a weak person. God created a helper for Adam from his rib, and settled the first-created ones in a paradise of sweets, in a blessed life, commanding them not to eat only from one tree. But the same serpent, transformed from a luminous angel, out of envy deceived our first parents, assuring them that if they ate from the fruits of this tree, they would be like gods, knowing good and evil (Gen. 3:5). Although our deceived forefathers were expelled from paradise for disobedience and crime, they were not at all abandoned by God, like the fallen angels. The All-Good and Merciful Lord promised to send them a Savior, saying that the seed of the woman would erase the head of the serpent. But since the promised Savior did not soon appear on earth, Adam and Eve and their descendants had to live only by faith in the coming Savior or Messiah. And therefore they had to endure, first in life, various labors and various sorrows, and various illnesses; and then, after death, in the dark rivets of hell, for five thousand years or more. Finally, God fulfilled His promise, sending them a Deliverer in the person of His Only Begotten Son, Who, like a baby on earth, was born of the Most Holy Virgin by the influx of the Holy Spirit, lived with people and, having come of age, preached the word of God, finally suffered and died on the cross, and was resurrected for three days in order to deliver people from the violent power and torment of the seven-headed devil serpent and Satan, as the Evangelist John says: For God loved the world, as He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). God created more on earth than in heaven, especially in the sense that His Only Begotten Son, having become incarnate, united with human nature and became the God-man and, after suffering and death on the cross and resurrection, He ascended human nature to heaven and placed it on the throne of His Kingdom, which the angelic nature was not worthy of. The most merciful Lord has deigned to deify all people, but this is prevented by human unbelief, or malice, or wicked life, and in general negligence and earthly worries, for which the Lord reproaches us through the prophet David: Az rekh; You are gods by nature, and sons of the Most High: but you die like men, and like one you fall from princes (Ps. 81: 6-7). Having been awarded such great mercy from God, we must take care of ourselves in every possible way. If we cannot live completely as the word of God requires, at least let us try to bring sincere and humble repentance for our mistakes and sins with feasible correction, so that at the Last Judgment we do not end up among the unrepentant sinners about whom the Gospel speaks: These go into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angel (Matthew 25:41). These Gospel words clearly show that people, as if voluntarily, out of unreason and unrepentance, go into torment, prepared not for them, but for the fallen angels. For our sake, the Lord Jesus, who became man and suffered on the cross, and who rose for three days, may have mercy on us and all those who seek salvation! Amen! Amen! Amen! 38. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: THE LORD HAS PUNISHED ME... The holiday of the Nativity of Christ is approaching. According to the accepted order, I congratulate you all on this all-joyful Christian celebration, and according to my custom, for the benefit of your soul, I offer for your consideration the psalm words: The Lord punished me with punishment, but did not betray me to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; when we enter into it, let us confess to the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it (Ps. 117:18-21). Saint David spoke and wrote these words when he sinned and was punished by disasters that threatened him with death, but by the mercy of God he was left alive, for which mercy he cried out in a grateful feeling: Open the gates of righteousness for me, let us go in and confess to the Lord. What are these gates of truth? The gates of righteousness are the commandments of the Lord and the law of God. These gates are closed by sins; and again they open with sincere consciousness and humble repentance and thanksgiving to the Lord for mercy and deliverance from death. The gates of righteousness are also called the gates of the Lord, through which the righteous also ascend to the Lord by repentance, which, according to the word of St. Mark the Ascetic, is necessary and necessary until death not only for sinners, but also for the righteous, because a righteous person can fall seven times daily, if not in deed, then in word or thought, or sight, or hearing and the like; only, according to Saint Epiphanius, the sins of the righteous are sins of the mouth; and the sins of sinners are the sins of the whole body. Do we act like St. David did when we are punished by God for our sins, either with disasters or illnesses? Saint David, having sinned, repented, confessed to God and thanked the Lord for the fact that he, who had sinned, did not put him to death, but left him for repentance and correction. No, we, of little faith and cowardice, do not imitate Saint David, but, being punished for our sins, we grumble against God and people, blaming everyone and everything, instead of humble ourselves and bring sincere repentance for our sinful life and try to improve, or, at least, not to grumble and blame others, but to realize that we are suffering illness or disaster with dignity and righteousness. Through such humble consciousness and repentance with a firm determination not to return to the old way, we can receive pardon from the Lord both in this and in the future life. In the present life we ​​can be worthy of mercy from the Lord with Christian parting words before death, and in the future - a blessed dwelling with the righteous. May we all receive with indescribable mercy the Son of God now born of the Most Holy Virgin. Amen. 39. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: MY MOUTH SPEAKS WISDOM... Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen! By the mercy and long-suffering of God we are still honored to celebrate the all-joyful and bright holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, on which I congratulate you all and sincerely wish you to spend this great Christian Triumph in peace, joy and spiritual consolation. According to my custom, for the benefit of my soul, I offer for consideration the psalm words: My mouth will speak wisdom, and the teaching of my heart will be understanding (Ps. 49:4). These words are repeated by the Holy Church mainly on the feasts of saints at their services, but they equally apply to every true Christian. Every pious Christian is obliged to speak with his lips about the wisdom of God, and to study with his heart good thoughts and good understanding. What is the wisdom of God? The wisdom of God is, firstly, the Son of God Himself, incarnate of the Most Holy Virgin, and for our salvation, who suffered and was resurrected for three days. Secondly, the wisdom of God is everything that is said in the Holy Gospel and in all the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the patrists about the salvation of Christian souls. It was said in the Old Testament that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and good understanding is given to all who do it (Prov. 1:7), that is, all who live by the fear of God are given good spiritual understanding. Saint Isaac the Syrian writes: “Put the fear of God as the foundation of your life, and in a few days you will find yourself at the gates of the Kingdom.” And he who lives without fear, as Peter of Damascus says, even if he lived in heaven, will not take advantage at all, like Adam and the devil. When someone begins to forget the fear of God, without imitating Saint David, who says: I have seen the Lord before me, as I am at my right hand, let me not move (Ps. 15:8), then such a person becomes darkened and begins to talk idlely with his lips, to judge and condemn, to slander and humiliate his neighbors, and to learn in his heart the thoughts of the flesh, unclean. And if he doesn’t come to his senses soon, he will end up doing evil deeds, called the devil’s, because, according to the word of the apostle, the devil first sins (1 John 3:8), instilling sin in a Christian man. The Son of God came to destroy such things on earth, for our sake He suffered and died on the cross and was resurrected for three days. Maybe someone will say, is it really impossible to talk about anything in everyday life, except one for spiritual salvation? One can speak about everything only with the consciousness and grateful remembrance that the Lord, in His goodness and mercy, created the entire universe for man; He created the earth for his temporary stay on it and at the same time testing his will - what it is inclined towards, good or evil; and heaven is for the eternal bliss of those who are worthy and do not resist the word of God and who repent. Only those who are disobedient to the word of God and unrepentant sinners go into eternal fire, prepared not for people, but for the devil and his angels; people seem to go there voluntarily. Likewise, if we look at the sun, we must think with grateful remembrance that it was created for man to illuminate and warm the earth on which we live. If we see rain falling, then we should think that through it the sown grain fields and other plants that provide us with food are becoming thicker. If we partake of food and drink, we should gratefully think that in this present temporary life we ​​cannot exist without it. If we are in prosperity and prosperity, then we should think with a grateful feeling that the Lord sends this not because of our dignity, but because of His goodness and mercy. If illness or any calamity befalls us, we must think that the Lord sent it to us for our sins for our admonition and correction. If we are disposed in this way internally in our soul and act in this way in accordance with this and externally, then we will be trustworthy that for our sake, our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and rose for three days, will not abandon us with His mercy either in this or in the future life. Amen. 40. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF THE PSALM: FOOD WILL FORGET TO PROVIDE GOD... The great Christian holiday of Christmas according to the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ is approaching. I congratulate you on this significant Christian celebration, and I sincerely wish you to celebrate and spend it in peace and spiritual consolation. According to my custom, for the benefit of the soul, I propose for consideration the psalm words: Will God forget to be generous with food, or will God withhold His generosity in His anger? (Ps. 77:10). Many Christians and believers, due to human weakness and cowardice, especially in sorrows and illnesses, often have the custom of saying: God has forgotten me (or us). Here Saint David reproaches us for this with psalm words: Will God forget to be generous with food, or will God withhold His generosity in His anger? These words show that the Lord pours out His bounties on His creation not only when people behave as they should, but also when they anger the Lord, as it is said in the Gospel that the All-Good Lord, in His mercy, shines His sun on the evil and the good, and rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. The Lord Himself, through another prophet, speaks to His creation: even if... the woman... forgets the offspring of her womb... I will not forget you (Is. 49:15). The error and delusion of mankind occurs because we do not properly understand God’s intention and God’s will for us. The Lord, out of His goodness and His mercy, wants to grant us eternal bliss in heaven, in the Kingdom of Heaven, but we, out of our blindness, desire more and seek temporary happiness and well-being on earth. Here the Lord, out of His goodness and love for the human race, admonishes us with various sorrows and illnesses and other disasters, as the apostle testifies: For the Lord loves Him, He punishes: He beats every son who He accepts. If you are without punishment... for you are by nature adulterers, and not of sons (Heb. 12:6, 8). There are many among us who want to receive eternal bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven, and at the same time want to have temporary happiness and complete well-being. But this is impossible, as is declared in the word of God (Acts 14:22): through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God, and only those who, for Christ’s sake, endure various sorrows and sufferings on earth, receive an inheritance with Christ, as the Apostle testifies: as we suffer with Him, that is, with Christ, we may also be glorified (Rom. 8:17). When, in our sorrows and illnesses, we become faint-hearted and grumble at God, and at people, and at our fate, then we will not be glorified, but we will also be condemned. Let us try to correct ourselves, although not by deeds, but at least by our spiritual and mental disposition, as John Climacus says: “I did not rest, nor lay awake, nor lay down on the ground, but I humbled myself, and the Lord saved me.” And another saint, Isaac the Syrian, says: “Humility without deeds forgives many sins, but deeds without humility are useless.” For the sake of our salvation, be born of a Virgin, may our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten us all to what is useful and saving. Amen. 41. EXPLANATION OF THE WORDS OF DAVID: TEACH ME GOOD AND PUNISHMENT AND REASON... I congratulate you on the Bright Feast of the Resurrection of Christ and greet you all with a joyful Christian greeting: Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! Due to its great significance, the Bright Feast of the Resurrection is called the Feast of Feasts, the Celebration of Christian Solemnities, the Easter of Christ, which means the transition from death to life, and from earth to heaven. On this Holiday, joyful Christians greet each other brotherly, Forgiving everyone and those who hate them with the Resurrection. According to my custom, for the benefit of my soul, I offer for consideration the psalm words with which Saint David prayed to God: Teach me goodness and punishment and reason (Ps. 119:66). If Saint David, being a prophet, had the need to pray to God to grant him the indicated qualities, then all the more every Christian, an ordinary person, needs to take care of acquiring these qualities, praying to God for help from above. Goodness... teach me. Goodness and mercy are the main part of love, and love is the main virtue and commandment, as it is said in the Gospel: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God... with all thy soul... and thy neighbor as thyself... The whole law and the prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37, 39, 40; Luke 10:27). Love is born from faith and fear of God, grows and is strengthened by hope, comes to perfection by goodness and mercy, which expresses the imitation of God, as it is said in the Gospel: Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father in heaven is merciful (Luke 6:36); and it is also said in the Gospel: I want mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13). Mercy and condescension towards your neighbor and forgiveness of his shortcomings are higher than sacrifice, which is not accepted without peace with your neighbor, according to the word of the Gospel: If you then bring your gift to the altar, you will remember that one, as if your brother has something for you: leave your gift before the altar and go first and reconcile yourself with your brother, and then come and bring your gift (Matthew 5:23). Love for God is proven by love and mercy towards one's neighbor, and mercy, mercy and condescension towards one's neighbor and forgiveness of his shortcomings are acquired through humility and self-reproach, when in all sorrowful and unpleasant cases we place the blame on ourselves, and not on others, that we did not know how to act as we should, that is why trouble and sorrow occurred, and if we think this way, we will be less upset and indulge in anger, which does not practice God's righteousness. The words of the Apostle John are terrible: Do not love your brother, that is, every neighbor, he remains in death... and walks in darkness, and unknown to him goes; but hate your brother... he is a murderer (1 John 3:15; 1:6). Punishment... teach me. In the Slavic dialect, the word “punishment” means soulful instruction on how to actively walk the path of virtue in the fear of God, in accordance with the commandments of God and the decrees of the Church. Even in the Old Testament it was said that an unpunished son is grief for the father and sadness for the mother, that is, a son who is not instructed in the fear of God and the law of the Lord. Nowadays, many parents teach their children many things, often unnecessary and unhelpful, but they neglect to instruct their children in the fear of God and the fulfillment of God’s commandments and observance of the decrees of the one Catholic Apostolic Church, which is why children, for the most part, are disobedient and disrespectful to their parents, indecent for themselves and for the Fatherland, and sometimes even harmful. Teach me reason, that is, true and correct reason. The Holy Scripture says: Seek understanding, so that you may live and correct your understanding in knowledge (Prov. 9:6), that is, try to understand the Holy Scripture not somehow and as you please, but to understand it as it should, correctly and truly. Proof of this is that all nations read the same Gospel, but understand it differently. Orthodox and Catholics understand differently, Armenians, Copts and Arians understand differently, Reformed and Lutherans and the like understand differently. This difference occurs because not everyone pays due attention to the meaning of the Gospel words of the Lord Himself: So go and teach all languages, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things given to you in commandments (Matthew 28:19). The Orthodox Church alone accepts the Old and New Scriptures in full, and those who disagree with the Orthodox Church accept, by choice, from Scripture only those passages that they like, and for this they are considered heretics, because the word “heretic” comes from the Greek word “” (I choose). About such people, the Apostle Paul writes this way: Deny the heretic of man according to the first and second punishment, knowing that he has become corrupt, and sins, and is self-condemned (Titus 3:10). Like David, let us also pray that the Lord, who knows the message of destinies, will help us to learn goodness, mercy, punishment that is beneficial to the soul, and true reason, without which our eternal salvation is doubtful and unreliable, if we do not resort in repentance with humility to the One who suffered for us and died on the cross and rose again for three days, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all things are due. glory, honor and worship with His Beginning Father, and the Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit forever and ever. Amen. 42. It is necessary to achieve Christian wisdom I congratulate you on the day of your Angel, earnestly wishing that, for the prayers of the holy martyr Sophia, by your name, your life will be like this. Sophia means wisdom. Leaving worldly wisdom behind, I write out for you what the holy Apostle James says about Christian wisdom (James 3:17): Wisdom from above, he writes, is first pure, then peaceable, meek, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, foolish and unfeigned. Although it is inappropriate, I will also write down what is said above: If there is bitter envy and zeal in your hearts... this wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, spiritual (James 3: 14-15), - and what follows, I’d better keep silent. “Honest Sophia’s most sacred branches are Faith, Hope, and Love.” I sincerely wish you, for the prayers of the blessed elder Abbot Father Anthony, to be confirmed in these main Christian virtues and, avoiding everything contrary, to be filled with the good fruits of wisdom named by the holy Apostle, even from above. 43. CHRISTIAN WISDOM CONSISTS IN KEEPING FAITH IN THE LORD DURING TEMPTATIONS If ever, then especially now, you need to learn from the Gospel word of the Lord: become wise like a serpent, and your goals like doves (Matthew 10:16). According to the meaning of the divine interpreters, the wisdom of the serpent consists in the fact that when blows are struck to its body, it tries in every possible way to cover its head. Likewise, every Christian, when dealt with sorrowful blows from the outside, must guard his spiritual head, that is, faith in the Lord and His Gospel teaching, which proclaims to all who want to be saved a narrow and sorrowful path. But this oppression and sorrow are fleeting, and the reward for them in the future life is endless - both heavenly pleasure and inexplicable joy, according to what was said: eye has not seen, nor ear heard, and the heart of man has not breathed what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). All this must be constantly carried in the mind, in the heart, and in the memory, in order to be able to dissolve the wise struggle with passions and troubles from the outside with the gentleness of a dove, repeating to oneself the same words that our Redeemer and Savior spoke to God the Father on such occasions: forgive them this sin, for they know not what they are doing (Luke 23:34). 44. THOSE WHO LIVE GOODLY MUST ENDURE TRIALS Sophia, take heart and let your heart be strong. Always remember and never forget that whoever wants to live godly... will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12; Gal. 6:12). From whom? Of course, first of all, from our own, whom the enemy is arming in order to turn away from the path of piety, who deign to follow it. But although sorrows and insults are severe, paradise is sweet and eternal pleasure is pleasant in it. Peace and blessings of God to you and every affirmation in goodness. Eat food according to your hunger, and not according to how others will look at you. 45. MOST OF ALL YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE CHRISTIAN LOVE July 27 is approaching, the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon. Remember that Panteleimon means “all-merciful”, and as much as possible, strive to adhere to love, which, according to the words of the Holy Apostle Paul, is long-suffering, merciful... does not envy... does not boast, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices in the truth: it loves everything, it has faith in everything, everything He trusts and endures everything (1 Cor. 13:4). Oh, if the All-Good Lord would help us all, through the prayers of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, to acquire this virtue, which, according to the same apostle, is greater than all other virtues, and never disappears, and without which a person is like a ringing brass, or a clanging cymbal! (1 Cor. 13:8, 1). 46. ​​SPIRITUAL CONSOLIATION IS GIVEN FOR PRAYERS FOR THE LIVING AND DEAD You write to me about the consolation you receive in the Lord. I sincerely wish that this consolation continues, for the sake of diligent remembrance and remembrance of the departed and the living. I know that you are forced to do all this and are jealous, and that is why I am writing this for your encouragement, among those who resist. Let us repent of our mistakes. 47. PRAYER AGAINST THE THOUGHTS OF THE WEAK Against weak thoughts, pray to the Lord: “Cleanse me from my secrets...” and further, and you will receive relief and healing for the prayers of the deceased abbot Father Anthony. 48. MUST FIGHT COURAGEOUSLY WITH MINDAL ILLNESSES One should not be faint-hearted and despondent, but it is beneficial to stimulate oneself to spiritual struggle, convincing one’s soul that it is the bride of Christ. Her groom, the Heavenly All-Seer, is also a Knower of the Heart and a fierce zealot against secret evil, saying in the Gospel: Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:37), while he commands to honor them. However, whoever sincerely and humbly confesses his weakness to Him, asking for help and healing from his internal illness, He mercifully bows to him and becomes the Physician of his soul and body, in due time, like news. Therefore, let us diligently and humbly resort to the Lord, reading the kontakion of the paralytic, appointed in his week. 49. CHIVILITY IS FROM UNION WITH THE LORD, DESPION IS FROM VANITY Do you remember the words: Cling to the Lord; there is one spirit with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17) - refer to being careful against inappropriate slumber and yawning, which happens from despondency, according to what was said: “my soul slumbers from despondency”; despondency occurs because we have not yet despised vain glory and value human opinion, or, although we do not value it, we have not yet rejected it. Take heart, and let your heart be strengthened with God’s help against despondency and unaccountable sadness, with which the enemy of the human race secretly fights those who want to draw closer to the Lord. Remember and try in every possible way not to forget His word: having endured to the end, he will be saved (Matthew 10:22). 51. PLEASURE TO PRIDE IS THE SECOND DEATH! Raise your spirit to feat against the many different and innumerable struggles of the enemy, especially those who pretend to be pleasant to our pride, in which the second death is secretly hidden, from which may the All-Good Lord deliver us with His omnipotent help for the prayers of our fathers! Peace be with you. 52. ABOUT THE FEAR OF GOD AND THE NECESSITY FOR IMMEDIATE REPENTANCE May the Lord forgive you your spiritual weaknesses, about which you are writing, and may He confirm for the future not to agree with the suggestions of the enemy, which harm the soul and burden the conscience, removing us from the One who was crucified for us. Let us hold fast to the fear of God at all times, and the fear of God will save us from all evil, secret and obvious, if we immediately resort to God with repentance, and then, in due time, confess this to our spiritual father. The speedy Lord is a helper to everyone who cares about his salvation at all times, but let us not be careless about ourselves and our conscience. Peace be with you. Art is a good and most useful thing. The apostle praises those who were in temptation, saying: they were tempted... wandering... deprived, sorrowful, embittered. In conclusion he adds: the whole world is not worthy of them (Heb. 11: 37–38). If even such people did not avoid sorrowful temptations for the sake of spiritual benefit, then we, the weak, should in no way renounce and avoid spiritually beneficial temptations. 54. CONSCIOUSNESS OF YOUR WEAKNESS, SELF-RECRIBMENT AND PATIENCE - THREE STEPS TO HUMILITY Last time, when I congratulated you on your birthday, I remember wishing you spiritual rebirth. Now, congratulating you on this, I sincerely wish you spiritual ascent to decent and legitimate degrees, from which the first and most important thing is the knowledge of our deep mental and physical weakness. The second legal degree is self-reproach, that is, in any unpleasant and regrettable case, blaming oneself and not others. The third degree is grateful patience with the sorrowful temptations that we encounter and befall us. From these three degrees the fourth is born - the beginning of humility, if the first three were dissolved by faith and a prayerful disposition and turning to the Lord, according to the prescribed rules of the Orthodox Church and the instructions of the holy fathers, who experienced spiritual life and showed us the paths of salvation. However, I’ll say it more simply: when it’s on steps, when it’s easy, on even or uneven ground, but we must always try to walk in humility, according to the commandments of the Lord. Lord, help us! Lord, strengthen our weakness and turn our eyes away from vanity and everything unprofitable. 55. THE SHORTEST PATH TO CHRIST IS CARRYING EACH OTHER’S BURDENS I will write a sincere benevolence to follow the shortest Christian path, through which the intelligent achieve the sight of Christ, and the foolish, despising it, are deprived of this. The Holy Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews writes: Have peace and holiness with everyone, for whom no one else will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). And how not only peace is achieved, but also the law of Christ is fulfilled, the same apostle indicates a short path, saying in another place: Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). 56. MAIN OBSTACLES TO THE ASSOCIATION OF HOLINESS How can we fulfill the commandment that God Himself speaks to us about, commanding: Be holy, for I am holy! (1 Pet. 1:16). You need to find out the reasons and dangerous reasons for violating this commandment and try to remove them from yourself. Saint Mark the Ascetic says in his spiritual law: “The root of lust is the love of human praise and glory.” Lust intensifies, as other holy fathers say, when a person loves bodily peace (in food, drink and sleep), and especially when he does not keep his eyes from tempting objects. Having learned this, with the help of God we will try, to the best of our strength, to destroy not only the evil branches, but also the very root, in order, if possible, to achieve the sanctification of soul and body, which the Lord requires of us, saying through the Apostle (1 Cor. 6:20): Glorify... God in all your bodies and in your souls, which are God's. Peace be with you! 57. CHRISTIAN WISDOM DEMANDES THE ERIGATION OF THE “OLD MAN” Peace to child Sofia! September 17 comes, the memory of the wise Sophia and her children, also wise. I congratulate you and sincerely wish you to lead your life according to your name, so that you will be partakers of wise virgins. Therefore, we strive with all our might, calling on God’s help to not only cut off the vegetating branches of the old man, but also to uproot them, so that they no longer arise, as the holy prophet David teaches: the vegetation... and the greed of those who practice iniquity, so that they will be consumed in the age of ages (Ps. 92:8). Wake up! Wake up! 58. A SERIOUS ILLNESS MAKES A SERIOUS TURN TO GOD Glory and thanksgiving to the Lord for sending you relief from a serious illness. And the psalm’s word comes true for us: The Lord punished me with punishment, but did not give me over to death (Ps. 117:18). When a serious illness is sent to us, then we think more seriously about ourselves and about our circumstances and sincerely resort in our prayers to the Physician of souls and bodies, to the One who is all-knowing and omnipotent, and at the same time all-good and wise, Who wants all mankind to be saved and to come into the mind of truth (1 Tim. 2:4). 59. SPIRITUAL REVIVAL BEGINS WITH FREEDOM FROM PASSIONS I congratulate you on your birthday today and, through prayers for the sake of the holy passion-bearer and healer Panteleimon, I sincerely wish you spiritual rebirth. Although I wrote this word to you before, I repeat the same thing again, and as long as I live, I will repeat it, because this short word contains a lot, a lot. Whoever is reborn spiritually is healed of passions and becomes capable of undergoing great physical and mental virtues. For this year I wish you at least the first, that is, liberation from passions; and for the future I will wish for the second one, that is, the passage of great virtues. 60. THE CHILDREN OF CHRIST ARE THOSE IN WHOM CHRIST HAS NOT YET BEEN IMAGINED The meaning of the words “child” and “child”. You want to know the difference between a “child” and a “child”. The apostle calls “children” those in whom Christ has not yet been imagined, having impassively endured spitting and strangulation and every kind of humiliation. Whoever wants to be called a child of Christ must patiently and uncomplainingly bear all that Christ suffered, and must sincerely pray for those who offend, as He prayed for those who crucified. Peace be with you! 61. ABOUT THE CHAMBER. ABOUT ABSOLUTION... OVER YOURSELF[2] Regarding M.V. I can’t say anything, because I don’t know her myself, but those who know her: M.N. in Troyekurov, and your sister lies sick in Belev. However, I still think that you are unlikely to get along with her; she, as you write, did not live under the leadership, and you did not get along under the leadership. Therefore, it is no wonder that you both will be persistent in your concepts and habits. I bless you to be abbess... over yourself and over your bad habits. But I cannot bless you with the rest, because this undertaking not only cannot be useful, but is also dangerous. Live and try to acquire intelligence and intelligence, not just some, but efficient, thorough, monastic; not stubborn, but firm; and in external things - keep your expenses when you come, and judge yourself by what you do, and not by what you think. We can think of a lot, but the lack of execution exposes us. In a previous letter, you wrote to me that you have a pledge of non-closeness towards one person... In the future, call every thing by its name; It’s simpler and more direct to say that you had a layer of malice that amounted to hatred... Why cover up the ugliness of passions with plausible names? Be smart for your salvation. And above all, don't blame anyone. 62. ABOUT THE MENTOR. HOW TO ACQUIRE SPIRITUAL MIND You would like to have, in your place, such a mentor to whom you could turn in the struggle of thoughts; but I don’t know who to appoint for you, who would be pleasing and useful to you. You can write to Father Iliodor in the Glinsk hermitage, and you can accept his opinions and advice; the rest, whose opinions are all different, you yourself see that you cannot accept them. Wait a minute to go to the Glinsk Hermitage; sit at home and see what happens to you and what happens to others. You ask me how you can achieve a spiritual, solid mind? Humility, fear of God, preservation of conscience and patience with the coming sorrows. You also ask: why is there such darkness in your soul? Besides other reasons, because having an old woman, you did not want to submit to her, and even resisted, were rude and annoyed her; and all this, as you yourself realize, is the fruit of pride. You write that you sleep a lot and indulge yourself when it comes to food. Realizing your weakness in this, reproach yourself, and at least refrain from judging people. You can use the Jesus Prayer, especially when struggling with bad thoughts, but only verbally. And instead, sometimes, and: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This prayer is better than nothing. You also write that while standing in church one day you had a strong desire to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and enjoy the singing of the Angels! This, according to your structure, cannot be useful to you, but rather contrary to this. The Patericon tells about one old man who, recognizing himself as a sinner, every morning, as soon as he woke up, he went with his mind to sinners in hell, thinking about the torment there, about eternal torment, about gnashing of teeth, etc., and prayed for deliverance from them; and other elders recognized the work of this elder as the most useful and reliable. For the third time in this letter I’m talking about the old woman (whom you now feel the need for, but when you had her, then you didn’t realize the need for her). It always happens. When we have good, we do not value it; and now, according to the proverb, sit by the sea, wait for the weather; You will be smarter and more humble. 63. A PROUD DISCIPLE MUST SEEK A STRICT ELDER. IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ELDER, FOLLOW THE GOSPEL COMMANDMENTS. SOLITUDE IS HARMFUL FOR THE PASSIONATE You complain about your loneliness and now want to take advantage of the attitude towards some old woman, which you did not want to understand and appreciate before, having an old woman near you, with the blessing of the late Father Macarius. You might say in your defense that she was strict. But to this I will contrast the words of Saint Climacus; he says: “Whoever is prone to pride and self-rule (or, as other fathers say, has an unyielding neck and an unyielding will), must choose a strict and unforgiving mentor.” You have been told many times - submit, and you will receive spiritual benefits. But you remained adamant and even finally resisted your mentor with annoyance and indignation. Now, unwillingly, I had to partake of the bitter fruits of self-confidence and disobedient understanding. The word of the apostle is coming true for us: If anyone thinks that he knows something, he has no understanding as he ought to understand (1 Cor. 8:2), and the word of the experienced: “one’s own will teaches and torments; first he’ll torment you, and then he’ll teach you something.” Previously, you did not want to submit and how you should address an efficient and blessed mentor, but now need has taught you and aroused in you the desire to turn to at least some old woman, or to have an efficient sister as an interlocutor. This thing, at present, is very tricky. You point to the old abbess. I don’t know her, but I heard that she could be useful to others if the situation and position were different; and with this inconvenience, the spiritual attitude is also inconvenient. Consider this yourself on the spot and discuss it with those who understand the matter. I feel sorry for you, very sorry, but I can’t say anything positive and affirmative about your spiritual attitude. Until you find this attitude, be guided by the commandments of the Gospel; Relying on them, look at what is happening inside you and do not foolishly rush into external solitude, which in a passionate way can feed conceit, anger and condemnation of others. Pay your attention to these signs and be forced to teach yourself self-reproach, in any case, placing the blame on yourself and not on others. Always remember the fatherly word: “The cell is high, but people tempt.” That is why it is useful for the weak and passionate to first rub shoulders with people - so that he learns to humble himself and not blame others. 64. IT IS USEFUL TO SITT IN A CELL Mother N and mother N! Something is not announced to my sinful soul for you to go to Kyiv this summer. Isn't it better to leave this trip until spring? From your letters it is clear that your first trip was unsuccessful. What will happen if the second one fails? Failure shows that you need to sit in your cell for a while, and sit still, and look around, and come to terms with your affairs and thoughts. It is said in the Scripture: if the spirit of a possessor comes upon you, do not leave your place. “The spirit of the one who possesses” means the one who tempts. Temptation comes, but we are unskilled in the fight, and especially weak in tongue. Whatever comes to mind, we interpret. Our pride is disturbed, and we bring out things that were said for our benefit, for our understanding and clarification of a matter that we did not want to understand, due to our usual self-confidence and myopia. I address my last words to you, mother N. I must simply and briefly say that I don’t know how to treat you. If I am silent, then I wait for you to explain, as you should, your circumstances and your state of mind, but while you explain a lot, you do not explain your main weakness. I took it upon myself to explain to you this weakness, from which all your confusion arises. But you, I don’t know why, are turning this again into a reason for new confusion, not only for yourself, but also for others. I think that you can understand what is being said and what is being said. It is said in Scripture: by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:37). If you and I are judged by the words of talkativeness, especially by those words that have caused a lot of hostile confusion, then where should we go? At least from now on let us repent, and from now on let us begin to behave prudently and cautiously in relation to harmful talkativeness. It was not in vain that the brother of God, the holy Apostle James, wrote: the tongue is fire, the deceit of unrighteousness: the flesh and tongue enters into our lives, desecrating the whole body and scorching our birth ring and being scorched by Gehenna (James 3:6). With this we bless God and the Father and with this oak are men created in the likeness of God. But you will say: “I have not cursed anyone, and I will not curse anyone.” But I’ll tell you: if you carefully examine the Divine and Fatherly Scripture without self-justification, then in many places you will find that stupid and meaningless chatter is explained either by a word of slander or an oath, as by the holy Apostle James in the above-mentioned place... Forgive me for writing to you so harshly. Necessity forced us to resort to a means about which ancient people say: “Wedge with wedge drives out.” And to this I will add: if you make a good start - a prudent silence about those cases and words that should not be expressed due to the confusion that may follow, then I will ask for forgiveness. May the Lord have mercy and enlighten us to what is beneficial for our souls, and deliver us from everything harmful; first of all, from self-justification, and especially from conceit and self-confidence, which force us to express our concepts and understandings so positively and affirmatively, as if it really were so - that we understand and understand more than everyone else who can understand. But if, instead of conceit, we were even a little closer to humility and self-reproach, and distrust of our heart (because it has not yet been purified), then we would begin to think differently and speak differently, especially when we should speak carefully, with reasoning and saving ourselves and others. In order to say everything at once, I will repeat the words of Scripture spoken to you personally: If anyone pretends to be faithful in you and does not bridle his tongue, but flatters his own heart, his faith is in vain (James 1:26). May the all-merciful Lord help me and you, and your sister, and others who are willing to understand and fulfill what has been said, and to save themselves from the soul-harming tongue pain. 65. YOU NEED TO STICK TO THE MIDDLE PATH OF SALVATION I am sending you, together with my sister, the last part of the letters of the late blessed Father Macarius for your spiritual edification. In your letter dated September 22, you ask me to pray so that you can correctly follow the path of your salvation. With all my heart I wish that you would not deviate either to the right side or to the neck, but to follow the middle, royal path, which was indicated to us by the King of kings Himself and the Lord of lords in His life-giving commandments, starting with these: do not be angry, do not condemn, first remove the logs from your mind, as He Himself said; and also, as he teaches through his apostle, first of all, be diligent in having love for one another. You also complain that you are lazy about reading and prayer: this is because you analyze a lot of other people’s affairs and quickly draw a conclusion, although you don’t notice this and are ready to justify yourself, but this happens. Are you asking where you should start so as not to anger the Lord with your negligence? In order to no longer anger the Lord, we must begin with repentance, and with humility, and with conscience before God, Who sees our secret thoughts. Do you want to read different akathists with diligence?.. You can read, but so as not to imagine something about yourself and not to judge others. And when there is exaltation and condemnation of others, then do not read. Try to resort to the Jesus Prayer often, at all times, also in church, especially if you can’t hear the reading - while walking and burning incense. 66. UNAUTHORIZED ASCEPTABILITY IS DANGEROUS You wrote to me that you read up to 10 kathismas of the Psalter in your cell, except for church services; but from the outside I hear that you are very exhausted. Write to me sincerely your secret asceticism, for which you did not accept the blessing; and self-inflicted asceticism is both dangerous and harmful to the soul. If this is good, then why is it kept secret from the spiritual father? Look, you have one soul and one mind; damaging both is dangerous; and enemy infiltrators are everywhere, of course, under the guise of goodness and spiritual benefit. Write to me sincerely. Everything time-consuming is harmful to the soul. I see that you have fallen into the network of seeking perfection, forgetting the perfection of repentance. 67. RULES AND FASTS ALONE, WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE COMMANDMENTS, WILL NOT SAVE My opinion about the trip to Kyiv is that where should you, sick people, go now? You could put it off until spring, see what the circumstances will be then, and, having figured everything out, write off. And my opinion is that if you go, then both of you should go together; Now, however, to go alone, with N.V., may be forced by an imaginary ascetic thought, at the suggestion of the other side. Secret, shameful. – Ed. Mother N! Read the fourth part of the letters of Father Macarius (letters No. 91–99) and thoroughly understand what is said there, and read letter No. 98 both together. And what is said there: “there can be no benefit,” do not be embarrassed about this; There can be no benefit in lingering on mere rules and posts, as you yourself can now see for yourself. One will see the light in the other’s cell at night, and she herself will bow; and there, perhaps, the lamp just lit up brightly; and if you only compete with each other in this, then there really can be no benefit. The Lord did not say: if you want to put it into your stomach, fulfill the rule; but: if you want to bring it into your stomach, keep the commandments. We must endure the indignation of our elders, considering this to be God's allowance, as punishment for our exaltation and conceit, and especially for getting close and talking with people with whom we should never get close and talk about anything. Those who are confused usually confuse those approaching them. Forward science. As for words: maintaining conscience is, of course, twofold. There is true guarding of conscience, and there is something else that is spoken – and that is exactly what they are talking about. The requirement of the latter to be preserved is more inconvenient than the former. Understand, you who understand! 68. UNREASONABLE PASSION BRINGS MUCH EVIL Mother N! I threw the thoughtful card, with a lot of fire in its eyes, into the stove - there was even more fire there. I wish that along with this your blindness will be destroyed. The enemy confuses you with bias, and you don’t want to notice this and don’t want to admit it. Your selfishness and contempt forced you to accept into your cell a man whom the authorities did not accept; and your vanity forced you to give him a tablecloth and silver spoons, and your passion prompted you to give him your mother’s blessing - an icon in a golden robe. Does this make sense? Is there even a shred of common sense here? It is said in Scripture: the blessing of parents establishes the homes of children; and you gave it away - and to whom? To a man who at the same time wished to have a portrait of a woman in his rooms - your sister. And how will it seem to your sister when your friends see him in the clergyman’s home? There was also cunning involved in all this. Wanting to give him (maybe not) your card, you provide information[3] to your brother, who insulted you and your sister. I was also planning to go to Kyiv, it must be with some admixture?... Come to your senses, look around, sister, and repent in order to make a solid start forward. Self-confidence is to blame for everything. 69. SELF-INDEPENDENT TESTING IS DETERMINATIVE Sister in the Lord, Mother N! May the Lord forgive you the trials described in the letter of October 12, and may He strengthen you with caution in the future from the snares of the enemy’s charms, both gross and subtle. From the Holy Spirit in the psalms a terrible word is written about this: those who experience trials have disappeared. Therefore, I ask you, beware in advance, so as not to be subjected to the said disappearance, arbitrary and arrogant tests, of any kind, from the enemy’s oppression and abuse. It is better to fulfill what is blessed first. 70. LET'S START CORRECTION In my last letter I wrote a cruel word towards you. And now, for the sake of your Angel’s day, I wanted to write you a soft word, but the words just pop out from under my tongue in the same way. You have really hardened the confusion. The prophet Elisha became embittered in asking for extra grace, and for this he was praised. We have become extremely embittered to turn to the other side, under plausible pretexts, working on a subtle sense of pride and self-justification. But from now on we will make a beginning (corrections). And may the Guardian Angel protect us from everything harmful - for ourselves and for others. 71. YOU SHOULD NOT INTERFERE IN YOUR BUSINESS Sister in the Lord, mother N! For a long time I have been perplexed about your relationship to our worst. Sometimes you write to me about certain things that you think of, or what you like or don’t like; you ask about something regarding your cell prayer, but you despise what I wrote to you more than once regarding the fulfillment of the life-giving Gospel commandments of the Lord. And in general, you act and act as you please and as you want, or as your pride and habit of acting arbitrarily, arrogantly and self-consciously indicate, without at all considering whether this is so or not, whether it is in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel and the Fathers, or disagrees; It’s like it doesn’t matter to you. You especially surprised me with your last letter. After many incorrect and incongruous actions, after such confusions with which you embarrassed not only strangers, but also your own, you did not find the slightest reason to blame or reproach yourself, but blame, blame and reproach others, and even condemn monastic life itself with some kind of unreasonable and thoughtless repentance. It was written to you many times, with your sister, that you should pay attention only to yourself, stick to your cell, and not go into anything that doesn’t concern you. But you, as if in spite of all this, meddled and confused in something that was not your own business, and decided to undertake such enterprises that are above you and above everyone around you. Where the rulers and archpastors were perplexed, you recklessly and arrogantly dared to arrange the fate of the rulers, forgetting the word of the Almighty God, who says: By me kings reign and the mighty write the truth. Who are you that you decided, contrary to the will of God’s Providence, to set forth your truth? It would be better to leave what is above us and take up what concerns us, that is, to strive for the fear of God, to guard our conscience according to God, to humility and self-reproach, without which a person cannot survive in spiritual life, but will only endure many toils and sorrows; but it will not achieve fruit or reward. This is not the first time I am writing all this to you, and I am not forcing you to believe my sinful word, but I urge you to believe the teaching of the holy fathers and the Gospel word of the Lord Himself, who says: If you want to be taken into the belly, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). And again: Not everyone who says to Me: Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven: but do the will of My Father (Matthew 7:21). Consider these words judiciously and do not hope to be saved by just fulfilling the cell rules, without fulfilling the commandments of God, of which the main one is this: O hypocrite, first remove the brim from your own hair, and then you will see that you remove the speck from your brother’s hair (Matthew 7:5), that is, the most destructive of all is the condemnation and reproach of our neighbors, which comes from blind self-conceit and unreasonable offerings, from which may the All-Good Lord deliver us through the prayers of our departed fathers. ...They prevented me from finishing my letter to you, and then, by the way, I received another letter from you in which I found a sensible letter from your worldly sister. Here is a worldly woman, but how directly she looks at things, and from afar clearly sees what up close they saw and understood so dimly and incorrectly, especially you, who were jealous out of blindness or ignorance, as your sister denounces you in her letter. I return this practical letter to you: read and re-read it, and in the future do not be unreasonably jealous and do not interfere in matters that are above you and do not concern you at all. Pay attention to yourself and your soul and your salvation, and here you will find so much to do that you will not be able to take care of other people’s affairs. Here, I offer you my opinion and my zeal, but I do not force or convince. Choose for yourself what you want... The Lord Himself does not force anyone, but only invites them to voluntary election, saying in the Gospel: if you want to be brought into the belly... if you want to be perfect... do this and that. However, know that these conditional commandments are so obligatory that if anyone does not want to fulfill them, he will not only not achieve perfection, but also cannot inherit the blessed life in the next century. But we went to the monastery not only to receive salvation, but also with the thought of achieving some kind of perfection. 72. DISEASE FROM SELF-NATENTION AND PASSION ...You are sick, but you hardly understand the cause of your illness. Frustration comes from frustration. Although you write in general about passion, it is unclear, silent, how you yourself lit a fire in your oak grove, not shying away from reasons, but arbitrarily attracting them. Take a good look at yourself. It is dangerous to deceive yourself. I give you a reason to examine yourself - not everyone is confused, it’s time to get down to business in a real way. 73. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF HEALTH FROM AN UNKNOWN CAUSE Finally I received a letter from you. I am very sorry that you are so sick and so weak that you can barely walk. I am quite surprised how your good health, established for many years, has suddenly changed so much. Therefore, I would advise you to look for the main causes of the illness, because in these years, without special reasons, bodily strength does not change so quickly. Having found any reason, I advise you to follow the words of the apostle, who says (Eph. 5:13): for everything that appears is light, and not only light, but also healing medicine. On the contrary, according to Saint Climacus, silent ulcers often create death. For the prayers of our departed fathers, may the all-merciful Lord enlighten us to everything that is useful, soul-bearing, and saving. Regarding the annoying cell attendant, do whatever you find calmer for you. If you decide to let her go, then let her go with what she needs and needs. And for you, mother N, a lesson ahead - do not persist in complacency and do not despise good advice on how to keep your cellmates. First, contrary to all advice, you spoil the cellmates, by choice, and give them a treat, and then, suddenly, coolly, you want to correct the spoiled one. One must consider taking tonsure prudently and thoroughly, so as not to uselessly regret it later when it is impossible to obtain it. 74. ABOUT TRANSCRIPT AND COORDINATION OF THE EXTERNAL WITH THE INTERNAL I receive your letters, and I’ll tell you everything briefly: read the lives of Simeon the Fool-for-Christ (July 21) and St. Alypius the Stylite (November 26) and pay attention to what they say about tonsure. It is good to take care of inner monasticism; but still it does not exist without the external, although the external does exist without the internal. All the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church are performed from the combination of the external with the internal, since a person consists not of one soul, but also of a body. It’s good to prepare yourself internally for this and take your time until you get settled. But a healthy person can reason this way; the patient must take care not to waste time, and if he does not take care himself, then no one will impose it on him. Monasticism is accepted at one's own request; even when there is a presentation from the authorities, they will first ask and take a subscription, but then in the church they ask again: “Did you come of your own free will...”. It will be very high to wait until the Queen of Heaven Herself offers you that she wants to cut your hair; but I repeat, you should think about it and take care of it yourself. 75. YOU SHOULD NOT REFUSE MONASKING There is no time to write much today, but I will briefly tell you about tonsure, as I already wrote to you, that it is accepted according to one’s own free will and desire. ...You write that you are unworthy!.. It’s good to humble yourself properly; and if you realize your unworthiness, then in other cases you should, in accordance with this, behave and adhere to a humble way of thinking and acting. But because of one’s unworthiness one should not refuse to accept the monastic image. Saint John of the Climacus writes: “Let no one call himself unworthy of being a monk... Where there is great rottenness, there is great healing to be had... For health, they do not require a doctor and do not come to a doctor’s office” (degree I, art. 19). If you don’t want to take monastic vows, then why did you enter the monastery? However, there is freedom for the free, and heaven for the saved. But if you refuse monasticism even when you are ill, then your reasoning is very erroneous, and this suggestion is clearly from the side of intentions. 76. MUST GO THE MIDDLE PATH I received a lot of writings from you, but I have little leisure, very little. It is inconvenient to answer many things in a short word. However, I’ll tell you what your life is like. It is likened to a rather deep ditch, which in rainy times fills up so much that it is impossible to move; at other times it dries out so that no water flows through it. The Holy Fathers boast of a life that flows like a small stream, constantly flowing and never drying up. This stream is convenient: firstly, for crossing, and secondly, it is pleasant and useful to everyone passing by, because its water is suitable for drinking, as it flows quietly, and therefore is never cloudy. You have always had a noticeable desire only to fulfill the prayer rule, and to fulfill the commandments of God, called small by the Lord, you lacked the desire, and zeal, and compulsion, and attention; and the first without the second is never strong. Just accept my words; and apply to your work, having read with attention, the book sent to you about repentance. And first of all, try not to give free rein to your tongue, and then to your thoughts. It is said: the tongue is a blasphemy of untruth, it defiles the whole of our birth, that is, our entire current life. 77. ALL THE WAYS OF THE LORD BOLD TO TWO: MERCY AND TRUTH ...You have a weakness: the simple path of the Lord can be branched into many paths, while both the Holy Scriptures and experience itself prove that it is necessary to simplify the Gospel path of life, combining the lesser commandments and virtues into one greater one. The holy psalmist David speaks about it this way: All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth (Ps. 24:10), that is, every Christian, if he shows his neighbor all mercy and all condescension in his shortcomings, and demands from himself alone all the truth of God, then this Christian will be a skillful executor of God’s commandments, combining many of God’s ways, as it were, into only two paths... And the Gospel says: Whatever men will do to you, so do you also to them (first): for this is the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). “Behold, now is the time favorable,” says the apostle. From now on, we will begin to gather many paths and branches into the uniform path of the Lord, as stated above. This remedy is good because it gives a Christian the opportunity to calm down, which a person does not achieve if he decides on many paths, fragmenting and branching the simple path of God. When a person calms down, then he is able to be guided towards fulfilling all the commandments of God, saying with the Psalmist: From Your commandments I understood, for this reason I hated every way of unrighteousness (Ps. 119:104). I sincerely wish you to make this beginning and reach the end safely. The beginning and end of everything is the Triune God, to Him be glory and power, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen. 78. YOU NEED TO UP UP THE ROOT OF EVIL - SELF Mother! You need to know and firmly remember that the root of all evil is in you - selfishness and stubbornness, dissolved by envy and fueled by the seduction of the enemy; Therefore, we must try in every possible way to pull out this evil root through humility and obedience, imitating the Lord Himself, Who humbled Himself to the point of being a slave and was obedient to the point of death on the cross and crucifixion. God! Bless the start! Lord, help me! You want everyone to be saved and come into the mind of truth. 79. THE MONASTIC PATH SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICATED Just as I wrote to you that you are branching the only monastic path into many paths, so you wrote to me in your letter, received shortly after mine, in which you say: “I don’t know and am perplexed as to which path I am following: whether it’s the prayer path, but I don’t see it; whether through obedience and cutting off one’s will - and this is imperceptible; whether through silence in solitude, but the sister and the cell attendant bother me.” And she counted some two or more paths, forgetting that there is only one monastic path, and everything else is his accessory for a monk, as the apostle says: put on the full armor of God, for you are able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:11, 18). And if someone wanted to be content with only one weapon, this or that, leaving the others, he would become like a person who, instead of walking correctly, jumps on one leg or the other, and when he gets tired, he lies down completely and puffs; and, seeing that such jumping is inconvenient, he figures out whether it is possible to crawl on his hands and drag his feet. It goes without saying that such crawling is inconvenient and only tires us to no avail... Then such a miracle worker cries out: “I’m perplexed, how can I walk after this? To which they simply answer: “Walk with both feet, do it with both hands, look with both eyes, listen with both ears, and don’t try to jump on one leg or walk on your hands, then you won’t tire yourself out and avoid unreasonable bewilderment.” In the notes of Abbot Father Anthony, there was a piece of paper on which 12 good friends (a monk and every Christian) were written: 1) Truth – delivers from death. 2) Purity – assigns to God. 3) Prayer with fasting connects you with God. 4) Love... Where love is, God dwells. 5) Humility with thanksgiving – something Satan himself trembles at. 6) Reasoning is higher than all virtues. 7) Obedience is a holy thing and a quick path to salvation. 8) Abstinence - he has no commandments. 9) Work is honor for the body and salvation for the soul. 10) Repentance is the greatest joy to God and the Angels. 11) Non-condemnation - salvation without difficulty. 12) Mercy is the work of God Himself. Every monk, if he wants to be a true monk, must, according to his strength, put on all these spiritual weapons, holding on to each in its own time, according to need, depending on the extent of his constitution and strength of body and soul, and not so as to choose whichever he pleases, and leave others when there is a significant need for them. The main thing is that everyone should have, according to the Climacus, self-knowledge, that is, know their physical strengths and mental ailments, so as not to use the former rashly and not strengthen the latter.[4] About G-k, so that you can settle there, get it out of your head. And in vain you bothered your brother about this without asking. How can monks live in a village? God willing, you will have the means to live in the monastery; one must only take care of monastic humility and monastic correction according to strength. Your bewilderment, or rather your opinion, is also wrong: wouldn’t it be healthier for you and your sister to live separately, or wouldn’t it be better for you to sell your cell? All such opinions and bewilderments should be left without any reflection, and for now you should live as you and your sister lived, surrendering to the will of God and always remembering the advice of the Apostle: Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). To live completely silently, without any worries, without caring at all about either the cell or other needs, is beyond our measure, when we see that the former fathers - and perfect ones - cared about their food, each according to their own measure, although they cared little, and dispassionately, but they cared. How much more should we, weak and passionate, in this case, humble ourselves and take care of our flesh, according to the word of the Apostle, feeding it and warming it according to need, and not whimsically. Consider the matter of your cell servants yourself carefully. When funds become scarce, if you can be content with one cell, then keep at least one. Peace be with you! And to your spirit. There is God's place in the world. 80. SELF-DECEPTING IN CARING FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR Your concern for M. N.’s reassurance extends to excessive extremes, and this feeling in you is mixed with some subtle charm; to assume to reassure our neighbor when we are not asked to do so, and, perhaps, there will be no need for this. When we actually have to show love for our neighbor, then we will have completely different feelings, and our tongue will say something completely different from what we previously assumed regarding the unsolicited reassurance of our neighbor. Then it will actually be clearer what needs to be done for M.N. And that you saw her with joyful feelings, I think that this is because you were not entirely right against her, and now you are glad for the opportunity to make amends; in spiritual life, a very good thing is to explain yourself prudently in time, ask for forgiveness in time, in order to pacify your soul and give others a reason to do the same. It is not in vain that it is said in the psalms: Seek peace, and marry (Ps. 33:15). 81. LIVE TOGETHER AND LIVE AWAY In one letter you complain about M.N. that she is indifferent to everything, in another you complain about her strange concepts, and that all the burden falls on you alone. Now, when you live with M.N., then this burden will be divided in two, and each of you will bear its own burden, according to your own concepts and according to your indifference or partiality. When we live together, it all seems to us that the other side is more to blame - either because it steps forward and expresses its demands, or because it seems to not be involved in the matter and remains silent; and sometimes in some incomprehensible way it seems to constrain our freedom. When we have to live separately, then we will clearly see that each of us bears his own burden, and either reduces it or increases it, and himself gives his spirit either freedom or constraint. It is not in vain that the Orthodox Church preaches that everyone will either become famous or be ashamed by their deeds. Maybe it is providentially arranged so that you and your sister can live separately so that you can learn about each of your weaknesses. About old cells, see for yourself, do what is best. It's clearer on the spot. 82. CONSCIOUSNESS OF WEAKNESS – THE BEGINNING OF CORRECTION Sister in the Lord, Mother N! I congratulate you on the holiday of the Nativity of Christ and with congratulations I want to write to you and admonish you, so that at least from now on you begin self-reproach, as Saint Abba Dorotheos teaches, and stop blaming others for your mistakes, or, rather, for your inability to manage things properly. You wrote that N’s mother seems strange to you in her concepts and actions. And N’s mother, as she suggested, hired a corner for herself and lives, as peacefully as possible, even without a cell. For your own organization and tranquility, you have come up with up to seven plans, and have not yet settled on one with a firm thought... Think carefully, after all the tests and studies and enterprises you have done, and decide, if you find it more convenient for you to stay in your stone cell, then live there, even with two cells, if you cannot live with one; just live in peace, learning from experience itself that no one should be blamed for our inability to manage things properly and usefully. Confess this sincerely and then you will not only make the beginning of correction, but you will receive peace as you realize your weakness and as you reproach yourself. I repeat: experience this by yourself, sincerely, and then tell us what your soul will feel. Woe to us, with our great pride! It, like a dark star, obscures the light of truth from us and does not allow us to enjoy true knowledge. It is said: The Kingdom of God is within us. We, leaving the search for it within ourselves, turn outside, engaged in the analysis of other people's affairs and shortcomings. That is why our business is going badly, both spiritual and economic. Be smart and humble! 83. YOU NEED TO LEARN SELF-RECORDING Mother N! I receive your letters, and their contents both surprise and bewilder me. You yourself realize that the main reason for your mental disorder is your pride, and yet you don’t want to reconcile. You write: “I see for myself how the enemies work in my soul”; and despite all this, you trust all sorts of absurd enemy thoughts. Extremes are clearly revealed in you, which are called demonic by the Holy Fathers, and the middle in everything is called, or rather revered, as the royal, godly way - you need to stick to the middle. Your love for your sister M.N. suddenly turned to hatred when you were left alone. Why is this so? Because now you have no one to blame on anyone, which was followed by reproaches, but you have to blame yourself for everything and actually learn self-reproach, which is most needed in monastic life. Learn, learn self-reproach; then you will calm down without difficulty. Treating Father N means living according to your own will. You better get over it. Don’t leave the church, but go to services and follow the cell rule. 84. YOU SHOULD NOT HANDLE YOUR NEIGHBOR'S SALVATION Mother N! I receive your letters and read them myself, although not without difficulty. Do not believe the evil suggestions of the enemy - both regarding the letters, and especially regarding nun N. Everything appears to you in a perverted form. This is the beauty of the enemy, from which may the Lord deliver us. Let nun N. die in peace, so that later your conscience will not torment you for this, and God will not be held accountable for the mental harm you inflicted on her under the influence of the enemy. I remember how, under such influence, you did not allow her to calmly confess or receive communion in Optina, but bothered her just before mass. Don't act like this. It is a sin before God and a shame before people and against conscience to do this. Get better. P.S. And regarding the cells, mother N: live until it warms up, as you live, and then - as God arranges. You should not think ahead for a long time and worry about external things; but here is what we should and must take care of in every possible way: so that, out of self-indulgence, we do not interfere with the salvation of our neighbor, and his mental peace and spiritual success. We will give a great answer to God for this if we are not careful. The Christian duty is to promote the salvation of one’s neighbor, and not to hinder it. We must not forget about the holy fools and the passions for which they lost the palace of Heaven. 85. TRIALS TEACH PATIENCE AND SALVATION IS ACHIEVED BY PATIENCE Are you asking why it is necessary to bear sorrow after tonsure? And in general, the Lord says to everyone in the Gospel: through your patience gain your souls (Luke 21:19). How much more appropriate are the words of the Lord about patience for those who have made special vows, for the convenient acquisition of their souls. Patience cannot be learned without sorrow, as the holy Apostle Paul says: sorrow makes patience, but patience is an art, and art is hope; but hope will not be put to shame (Rom. 5:3-5). And Saint Isaac the Syrian says: “The Lord could have delivered us from evil in another way, but in order to teach us love, He gave up His Only Begotten Son for us to suffer and be crucified.” From this we can see that love and patience (which cannot exist without humility) are most necessary for us. 86. INSTRUCTION ABOUT RELATIONSHIP TO AN ELDER My stupid child, mother N! I am quite surprised at you, how, with your natural intelligence, you have little practical insight. After what Father N wrote to you, you write to me again: “How nice it would be if I allowed you to treat Father N.” Read his letter again, and understand and understand what Father N writes to you, namely, that it is inconvenient to have a dual attitude... I never forbade you to write to him, being fully confident that he will always advise you something useful, like an experienced spiritual husband. You also write that there are no intermediaries between us!.. I don’t need them, but you yourself recruit them with your rash, unfounded actions, and then you righteously endure criticism and reproaches from them, as, for example, from nun N. You yourself started a business with her, then selling, then leasing your cells to her, then again refusing, and then you blame me for something unprecedented mediation. Behave more thoroughly, without strange antics, and then there will be no imaginary intermediaries. A monk is obliged to endure various annoyances without any reason on his part, but because he made vows to bear all sorrowful things. Again you ask about the rule! And Father N. confirmed my opinion that it is better not to have a great rule, but to constantly fulfill it, than to have a lot - but with interruptions of complete abandonment. Write down a rule that is within your power, and how it is more convenient for you to correct it, and send it to me for consideration. Finally, I will say: it’s time for you to learn to reject thoughts of unbelief; Don't always get confused about this. 87. ON THE CONTINUITY OF THE PRACTIC RULE (Note) and read the letter dated February 8; Yes, you have overwhelmed me with letters, and long ones... Help me, Lord, to correct myself according to the last letter... It is better to correct a clear rule in the usual way, because it is better when the source flows continuously, at least a little, rather than a lot, but with interruptions. 88. THE COURSE OF A GOOD LIFE IS IN REPENTANCE, PURITY AND PERFECTION. ABOUT THE JESUS PRAYER Sisters in the Lord!.. Your letters dated March 30, and April 1–4 and 7 have been received. Due to the shortness of time, I answer you with the words of Saint Isaac the Syrian, who in word 48 says that the entire course of a pious life lies in these three: repentance, purity and perfection. What is repentance? Forsake the first thing, that is, sins, and grieve over them. What is purity? In short: the heart is merciful towards every created nature. What is perfection? Depth of humility. Question: What is better, to do the usual rule, or to go through the Jesus Prayer? Answer: It is better to do both, because great men lived under the rule and did not abandon it, such as Anthony the Great and the Monk Zosima, who saw Mary of Egypt. While standing in church, one should listen attentively to the singing and church readings, and whoever is able should not abandon the Jesus Prayer at the same time, especially when the church readings are not heard well and indistinctly. The Jesus Prayer, according to the teaching of the holy fathers, is appropriate when a person is walking, or sitting, or lying, drinking, eating, talking, or doing some kind of handicraft; whoever can say the Jesus Prayer with humility despite all this should not abandon it; for leaving oneself to reproach oneself and repent with humility, but not to be embarrassed, because embarrassment, whatever it may be, is a sign of secret pride, and proves a person’s inexperience and lack of skill in going through the whole matter. When someone is performing the cell rule, and in the midst of it he feels a special mood of spirit for the Jesus Prayer, or for the teaching in any saying of Scripture, then he can leave the cell rule for a while and take up one or another of what has been said. This is what experienced fathers teach us. 89. AVOID BEING A BOSS Mother N is a two-spirited child who swears on both sides! Disdain the enemy's suggestion regarding the authorities who introduce themselves. After all, you voluntarily chose the good part of Mary, approved by the Lord Himself, why are you looking back? If the lord-bishops in this image lay off the yoke of their superiors, then would it be appropriate to accept the leadership, even if they began to offer it? Moreover, even without this image, deciding on such a terrible thing is very dangerous, as Saint Simeon the New Theologian speaks about this in the book “Twelve Words,” in the eighth word. Read this word immediately in the Slavic translation, and then we will send it to you in Russian. Finally, think that you are sick and weak. For all these reasons, despise this temptation from the enemy and try to pay attention to your salvation; perhaps death is not far from us. 90. TIPS ABOUT SETTING UP A CELL Sisters in the Lord NN! I receive letters from you, but due to weakness I have not answered you for a long time. Are you mourning your construction? What to do! Be patient, and in the future be more reasonable and circumspect in other matters. I think that you are being punished a little here both for your disobedience and contempt for my sinful advice. If you had adapted my plan to your own considerations and demanded from the manager that the log house be prepared according to the proposed plan, then it would have been much easier for you, and the construction would have been better. At least now listen to me: make three doors near the stove itself, so that the middle door opens only with general consent, or leave the middle door completely, then both cells will be impenetrable, and this is a great convenience; will give you both silent privacy. Let none of you repent that you have accepted full monasticism, just let us not be careless to the end, otherwise the Lord is strong to give us timely help if we try to reject arrogance and contempt and other things that are displeasing to God, and even more so, those that are contrary to God. Peace be with you! Do not abandon the prayer rule at all, but try to fulfill it as much as possible. Pray for my thinness too. I drive around the dachas, but I don’t feel much fortification. But in all things, glory to God, who knows better than we what is useful to us. 91. TIPS ABOUT SPENDING CELL TIME WITH YOUR SISTER I congratulate you on approaching the end of the construction of your cell, and I wish you a peaceful and spiritually beneficial stay in it. It was in vain that you took to heart my remark that the trouble was partly punitive; it was done simply, jokingly and casually; and now that you have explained the matter, everything has become clearer. Reproach yourself for not explaining to me how things were before, and be at peace. I had and do not have anything against you for this, and what I wrote to you, I wrote simply. You write, mother N, that you want to come to your sister at a certain time, at lunchtime and in the evening; and after lunch and after the evening the rule is to go to your cell. This is approved, stick to it, because after dinner rest is required, and after the evening rule the holy fathers prohibit unnecessary conversations, unless they are useful or lead to general confusion. Each of us should take more care of himself, about his soul and about his own spiritual benefit, because, according to the word of the apostle, each of us will give a word about himself to God. Our confusion stems from the fact that we are increasingly inclined to reason with others and try not only to convince, but also to dissuade and prove with various arguments. The work of salvation is accomplished very simply, as the apostle says (Rom. 12:14): Have peace and holiness with everyone, and no one else will see the Lord. And again: Bear each other’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). May the All-merciful Lord have mercy on all of us in the image of our destinies. 92. DON’T HURRY TO SEPARATE YOUR SISTER Mother N! To your letter dated October 10, in which you asked for a speedy and handwritten answer; (and on this date I fell ill with last year’s illness, and therefore) I decided to dictate a few words to you. Leave thinking about complete separation from your sister until time: better try to live like this: you live in a stone cell, and let N’s mother live in a wooden one; and let each one take care of the salvation of her soul, as best she can and as she understands. Why make the formal division public ahead of time? It is best to first try to test yourself secretly, as you now imagine in your thoughts; Afterwards it will be clearer what you should decide on and what to do. 93. ABOUT THE JOY OF RETURNING TO LIFE TOGETHER Sisters in the Lord! I’ve been meaning to write to you for a long time, but I never had to: either infirmity or lack of time did not allow me to do this. Now I congratulate you who have gathered together for a common life. You lived a little apart, but you had to go through this. Take this both as a lesson to yourself, each seeing your own spiritual benefit from the fact that you lived apart, and that you now live together. Neither one nor the other allow self-justification in yourself, but begin the work of benefit (each) with the knowledge of your weaknesses and with self-reproach; and in continuation, keep in mind that one does not interfere with the other in the matter of salvation, always having before your eyes the fear of God and the righteous accuser - your own conscience, which a monk should not trample under any circumstances. Both of you also reproach yourself for getting excited and talking a lot when leaving Ch.’s cell. This could have been done without heatedness and more modestly: then it would have been more useful for both parties. Be aware of this and be careful in the future. 94. THERE IS NO PRICE FOR DOING IN MODERATE Mother N! The children are wise and lacking constancy! Either you extend your grief beyond measure, or again you descend beyond measure, as can be seen from your letter of March 5th. In order to correct your confusing situation, you ask permission to engage primarily in spiritual reading, and to weaken the prayer rule. But in the Gospel we are commanded to do this and not to abandon it. Follow this rule, always adhering to the middle and moderation, in both cases. Then both your position and your spiritual disposition will be equalized. Saint Isaac the Syrian says that there is no price for moderate and difficult work. So it is valuable, so useful and saving, and the extremes are called demonic, that is, from the suggestion and incitement of the demonic; therefore, despite their appearance, they always bring spiritual harm; avoiding what, alternately read and pray in moderation, not weakening at all from laziness, or from worldly cares, or from claims on others. The God-wise fathers teach us to always and in everything better to reproach ourselves and, in any unpleasant case, to place the blame on ourselves, and not on others. Then we will find peace and peace of mind and stay on the true path of salvation. 95. ABOUT TEMPTATION IN PRAYER The children are perplexed, mother N! Don’t grieve that you and nun N soon left us; and they would have stayed with us to no avail, because I was unwell and could not receive anyone. I received your letters dated May 30 and June 2. Presenting the face of a spiritual father in church and during cell prayer is not only untimely, but also illegal and harmful. This is simply a plausible temptation from the enemy, which must be avoided in every possible way. The first and main commandment of the Gospel: love the Lord God... with all your heart... and with all your soul... and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). This commandment must be adhered to in every possible way. There is another commandment about spiritual fathers; Since they watch over our souls, we must obey them, and not represent them during prayer. This is not only unnecessary, but also harmful, especially for those who have not yet freed themselves from the earthly feelings of the old man. You write that in the Jesus Prayer you have some kind of hesitation on the words “Have mercy on me, a sinner,” this shows that before this prayer was performed by you without proper humility, without which our prayer is unpleasant to God. Therefore, force yourself to hit the word “sinful” with the proper meaning. 96. YOU NEED TO PRAY FOR THE CORRECTION OF SPIRITUAL ILLNESS Mother N! Children soaring, dreaming and carried away! You are worried - have I received your letters dated May 30, June 3, 7 and 9, and am I reading them? I already wrote to you that I read everything, although not suddenly upon receipt, out of weakness and lack of leisure, but after resting. Now it’s not the right time for you to come to us again for many reasons: my weakness and lack of time, and a reproach from my brother for wasting money! (it is better for him to live in the village than abroad). It’s better, instead of going to us, to take care of those spiritual infirmities at home about which she wrote to me, praying with faith and humility to the Doctor of souls and bodies, so that he can heal our internal and invisible infirmities. He alone is omnipotent to heal our secret passions, because the hater of kindness has placed secret snares on the path of spiritual relationship in order to cause spiritual harm instead of benefit. But may the Omniscient and Omnipotent Lord abolish all this with His wave. However, let us ourselves, understanding the machinations of the enemy, reject what is harmful and harmful to the soul; Let us keep what is useful. You can remember your spiritual father, but not in church and not during the prayer rule, when the whole mind should be turned to the One God. And at other times, the memory should be cleansed of unhealthy impurities by turning to God and calling on His All-powerful help and mercy and deliverance from harmful impurities. P.S. If you want to get rid of both envy and soul-harming jealousy, use the same remedy, praying: cleanse me from my secrets... Lord (Ps. 18:13), and thinking that the spiritual is inexhaustible; No one will delight yours, just as you will not admire anyone else; there will be enough for everyone, and there will not be shortages. 97. GOD'S MUST BE PUT FORWARD Peace be with you! Mother N, my child is incomprehensible, and even more so, he quickly changes his plans and assumptions. You wrote to me after leaving that you would soon and very soon want to come to us with your brother; then you write again that you won’t have to see me anymore, but you don’t even want to see your brother. Explain to me what this change is like and for the sake of it. You write in one of your letters that the temptation has passed, only it cost you many tears, and from other letters it is clear that it has not yet completely passed, but is peeking through... The Lord is strong to show us His help if we take proper care to get rid of this weakness, rendering the things that are Caesar’s that are Caesar’s, and the things that are God’s that are God’s (Matthew 22:21). Understand what is said and strive to put God in front, then everything else will be in its order. You write that sometimes you add extra bows to the usual rule because of zeal until you get tired, and then you don’t even do the usual... It’s more useful to constantly continue doing moderate work than sometimes doing unnecessary things, and sometimes leaving what should be due to excessive fatigue. It is not in vain that the Holy Fathers write: “There is no price for moderate work.” During the feat of prayer, first of all, we must take care to get rid of the bad and harmful qualities of foolish virgins, so that we do not hear: Why do you call me: Lord, Lord (Luke 6:46), and do not do what I commanded about peace and holy attitude towards everyone. God! Have mercy on us! 98. ABOUT THE NECESSITY TO KEEP CONSTANTITY Mother N! Incomprehensible to you; as for me, it is incomprehensible only in this respect; I just think that N’s mother has become more mature, has become more established in her concepts and understandings, and you see, again she has the old doubts, again the old bewilderments, mistrust, suspicion and the like; again inventing new rules, a new way of life, almost a new name. Previously, she wanted to bear the name of the Sarov elder Seraphim, who had not yet been recognized as a saint; and now you don’t like the name of the martyr N. If you had been firm and thorough, then you would have appointed the date N to celebrate your name day. It would be simple and flawless. Now you can celebrate like this, that is, on the 00th, but with reproach for your inconstancy and lack of foundation. From now on, we will try to make a solid start - not to branch the path of Christ into diverse branches, but to gather together the main thing: to love the Lord with all our souls and to have peace and holiness with everyone, not to think badly and suspiciously about anyone. In your letter dated August 14, you write that you want to write to me less often after receiving answers; Let's try to avoid doubts and misunderstandings. You yourself are sloppy, but you demand accuracy from me - both early and late. Letters from you were received on May 30, then on June 2, 8, 13, 16, 20 and 27; You have already been sent an invoice for July, and you have also received one for August 4th. But you sometimes have the number two in the envelope and sometimes two on the envelope - what do you want to mean? Let's live simpler, and God will have mercy on us. Peace be with you. 99. ABOUT HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO AN ELDER Sister in the Lord, mother N! I receive your letters regularly, but today I am not feeling well; I can’t write much, but I’ll briefly say one thing. I find that it will be more bearable for my weakness, and better for you yourself, if you write to me not so often, but more effectively. I told N’s mother, and now I’m explaining to you, that it will be enough for you: write me one letter every two weeks, and at other times write down what you need, and then, after reading your notes, figure out for yourself what is most needed, then write to me, once every two weeks, shorter and more to the point. Otherwise, a lot of your letters accumulate; in each letter there are many different descriptions - what you feel and think when; To collect and figure out all this, and to answer everything, I absolutely have neither the strength nor the time. And when you write less often, more briefly, and more thoroughly, then, I repeat, it will be easier for me and better for you. Your letters should contain two main subjects. 1. Bring repentance, for which, due to weakness, you will have to sin against the commandments of God, or omit from the proper rule. 2. Ask what you need. Of course, in addition to these two items, there may be some additions. Just spare me from describing the various mental sensations and various thoughts that change daily, like the weather outside. Peace be with you! 100. YOU SHOULD PRAY TO GOD TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH Sisters in the Lord! I received two letters from you... I am fulfilling the request for notification. But I’m leaving my desire to write something to you until another time, because I’m not feeling well in the damp weather. However, I will at least say a few words. The Angel of Repentance told Saint Hermas that “faith is from above, from God, but doubt and unbelief are an earthly spirit, and from the devil.” If the apostles, being still imperfect, prayed to the Lord to add faith to them, then how much more so for us, weak and weak in faith, it is proper and necessary to pray that the Lord would transform our unbelief into faith, and drive away the spirit of doubt and unreasonable bewilderment. Peace be with you! 101. ON THE OCCASION OF SORRY ABOUT NOT RECEIVING THE MANTLE FROM THE HANDS OF THE ELDER ...Mother N! You regret that you received the mantle from the hands of Father M., and not from my sinful hands. The very reason for this is your impatience: you demanded it through M.’s father, and that’s what you got. And if she had waited a little, or had not accepted M. from her father, then she would have received it as she wished. However, know that whoever believes in the deed itself, and not in the appearance of the deed, for him this reception makes no difference. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria did not claim that he did not receive his mantle from the hands of Anthony the Great himself. But if they are already great - so, how much more so for the small ones, you and me - so. Let it be so, only let us be peaceful, and submissive, and even more humble. Then everything will be for our benefit, according to the word of Scripture (Titus 1:15): All squalor is pure and pure. May everything be clean and pure for us too. Amen. 102. TONSURE IS A GREAT GIFT OF GOD Mother N. The child is perplexed, now about this, now about another, now about a third! And there is no end to bewilderment. And all this is due to double-mindedness, because sometimes we look towards God’s path, and sometimes we look back again! However, I’ll start by saying that your two letters dated November 9 have been received. You are surprised at how you decided to take monastic vows, and I am surprised at how I decided to give you this. But I remember that it was impossible not to give this to you, because you persistently wanted this very much. And I realized later that you wanted this not so much out of spiritual motivation, but out of thoughtless jealousy and lack of humility, so that you would not be lower than Mother V. And what you want, it’s difficult to keep you from doing it. However, no matter how it was, once the job is done, it cannot be redone; All that remains is to fulfill these vows to the best of our ability, and in whatever respect we find ourselves faulty, let us offer most sincere and humble repentance. In no case should one be embarrassed, if only not to regret and repent of the fact that such tonsure was accepted. This is a great gift from God; but we should not neglect even small gifts, but rather give thanks and try to be worthy of what has been given to us by the great mercy of God. You want to divide the week into 4 and 3 days, so that during the latter you will spend most of your time reading the Scriptures, without, however, leaving the church, but leaving the rosary rule. And it should stand in front of everything except the church. It’s better to leave something else, but try to perform the rosary rule, even if it’s a single one, every day, except for holidays, and say the Jesus Prayer more often - this is most necessary. Say the Jesus Prayer against lustful temptations; and in angry temptations, pray for the one for whom you grieve: “Save, Lord, and have mercy on (such and such), and through her holy prayers help me, a wretched and sinful person.” Get out of your head that I judge you based on what others say. Not at all... And what you yourself explained to me verbally and what you explain in letters, that’s how I judge you. After all, you reveal how sometimes you are cunning, disingenuous, suspect out of self-thinking, and make incorrect remarks out of pride, and the like - in a word, you list the qualities of holy fools; and after that you interpret that I judge you based on the words of others! I do not judge this about you or anyone else... It is not in vain that Scripture says (see Rom. 2:2): Do not be ashamed of the face of man: for God’s judgment is. Do not believe the thoughts that scold you, as if no one can understand you because of your sophisticated upbringing. But secular education refines a person only in hypocrisy, in deceit, in cunning and refined insincerity, but in nothing good. Christian goodness requires spiritual and heartfelt simplicity, and not pretense, which the secular world is alien to, although it believes that it comes from another Adam, and not from a common Adam. Others can think whatever they want, but it’s time for you to understand the real meaning! Hello to the Lord in peace and love! 103. ABOUT THE LOVE OF PASSION AS A CAUSE OF UNBELIEF Mother N! Finally, I received a letter from you with meaning, without contradictions, and precisely dated November 3; in previous letters you described, at first, as if consciousness and self-reproach, and in the end - again self-justification and accusation of others, with dissatisfaction. Let us better always adhere to self-reproach - this is the right and safe path. But even in the last letter there is again a hidden idea of ​​inconstancy and self-will, namely, not showing up for meals on some days, for the sake of fasting. Better imitate the Monk Theodore the Studite, who was at meals every day, but, meanwhile, was a faster. Besides this, you first need and need to pay attention to your main weakness - to unbelief, which often struggles with you, and to fight for it first of all. Saint Climacus says that to doubt for a long time and remain without notice is a sign of a glory-loving soul. And the Lord in the Gospel (John 5:44): As ... you may believe, you accept glory from one another, and do not seek glory other than that from the One God. True, there is no rude search for earthly glory in you, but there is a hidden desire for advantage; and this weakness is revealed by envy, intransigence and persistence to the point of obstinacy, discontent, anger and rapid embarrassment. If you decide to despise fame, then this is accompanied by contempt towards some people, especially when something seems imaginary to you and you want to do it your own way. But the main sign of love of fame, as stated above, is unbelief, long doubt, and long (or intermittent) bewilderment about the same thing. All this is indicated by the healing of the Lord Himself (Matthew 11:29): learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls; but did not say: fast and you will find peace of soul. Fasting is praiseworthy and necessary in its time and place; It is better to adhere to moderate consumption of food and drink, avoiding satiety, the sign of which is a small burden, and, on the other hand, excessive and inappropriate abstinence. Both extremes are bad and harmful. Moderation - and the average of them makes a person more capable of spiritual work. For prayer, read two chapters of St. Hesychius - 2 and 20, and remember them, especially about humility, since you are dealing with proud demons. 104. YOU NEED TO LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE PLEASURES OF THE ENEMY Peace be with you, mother N! I congratulate you on your New Year and sincerely wish you renewal in spirit, I especially wish and advise you to leave variability and inconstancy: then you take up excessive silence and ascetics and unceasing prayer, then again you leave everything for two weeks (or a little less or a little more), as can be seen from your letters (which I received, and which I read all of them, although not immediately upon receipt, you are in vain to doubt this). In such self-will there is a clear sign that the enemy is confusing you with charm, cunningly hiding it from you. The enemy’s thoughts tend towards this, that you are unworthy to treat me, a sinner. No dignity is required here, only humility is required. Look for yourself, false humility is followed by embarrassment. Isn't it obvious that this is a wolf in sheep's clothing? Do not be foolish, but understand the machinations of the enemy and beware of them. 105. HE WHO HAS ACCEPTED THE GREAT IMAGE OF A MONAS MUST AVOID WORLDLY CONCERNS Mother N! For you to go to N now to see your brother in person, I find, firstly, untimely, since you are very upset in spirit due to the faulty construction, and, secondly, also indecent, since you have accepted the great monastic image, which is a complete mortification for the world and the worldly. It will be enough to ask your brother about your needs through a letter. The Lord is able to win over his soul more when you do not dare to venture into the capital world, keeping the vows you have given and seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; then everything external will be applied to the required extent. 106. WHEN CARRYING RESULTS FROM OTHERS, YOU SHOULD REMEMBER YOUR OWN WRONGHOODS Sisters in the Lord! Receiving mournful letters from you, I kept expecting: the unpleasant story of the faulty construction was about to end. But it continues to this day... To calm your souls, I find it timely to remind you of the Gospel words of the Lord Himself (Matthew 5:39): if someone strikes your cheek on the right side, turn to him the other too, that is, when we are reproached and accused of something for which we are not at all guilty, then we must turn our thoughts to those cases in which we were guilty before God, or before people, and to receive forgiveness in our sins, we must forgive the injustice and insults inflicted on us by our neighbors, hearing the words of the Lord speaking again (Matthew 6: 14-15): If... you forgive men their sins, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you your sins; If you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive you... This word is terrible and terrible! Let us try to fulfill what the word of God requires of us, and let us leave our selfish pretensions, seeking human truth. In a word, let us make sure that the apostolic reproach does not apply to us: seeking to establish our own righteousness, we disobey God’s righteousness. The truth of God is to remember your deeds from the other side when you hit the right cheek. Peace be with you! Mother N! A much-concerned child who has shied away from many worries! Now you see for yourself how unhelpful this is, especially for someone who has voluntarily renounced excessive care. Before, I offered to sell you the cell due to its inconvenience; you found it impossible. Now, when you have put so much work into trying to improve your cell, and have suffered so much sorrow and trouble in order to maintain your rights with your neighbors, and have incurred great expenses, and even a debt weighing you down, now you have begun to think about selling your cell. But you have not yet experienced how difficult it is for a person to sell something on which he has put a lot of his own work. However, if a good and profitable buyer is found, I do not forbid you to sell the cell; You just need to think in advance about how you can fit in a cramped cell, having become accustomed to spaciousness and particular cleanliness, so that every thing is in its place, whereas in a small cell everything is piled up and in disarray... But while there is still no buyer in mind, then you can consider this matter from all sides, and the sooner you will consider it, the sooner you take up reading spiritual books and the cell prayer rule, and regularly going to church, if your health allows, and attentively listening to the reading and singing of the church, since you yourself realize that the many troubles you had in your cell and the troubles encountered during this upset your previous order of life, and relaxed your soul, and darkened your mind and heart... However, do not be sad about this. Saint Isaac the Syrian writes: “If a person adheres to the fear of God as he should, then in a few days he will find himself at the gates of the Kingdom.” To adhere to the fear of God as one should does means to take up one’s work diligently and with humility and guarding one’s conscience, in walking before God and people. 108. ALL TESTING, KIND KEEP Many-caring child N! I congratulate you on the approaching day of your Angel, and mother N on her dear birthday girl. I sincerely wish you both, through the prayers of the Seraphim and Cherubim and all the Immaterial Heavenly Forces, from now on to put an end to the corrections and corrections of earthly churches made with hands and take up the correction and renewal of your souls in order to be worthy to enter into heavenly and not made by hands churches. After all the troubles and worries, it is fitting for you to now remember the apostolic word: examine everything that is good (1 Thess. 5:21). At first, although a little, you tasted a serene life, constantly going to church, and at home practicing the prayer rules, and practicing reading spiritual and patristic writings, and then, for the sake of correcting the cells, you fell into such rumors and concern for external things that the main exercise and prayer rule were almost abandoned by you. Therefore, now you can fully judge the difference between the two states and moods of your souls; and if you wish, you can again strive and direct yourself towards that which lightens and calms the soul; and on the other hand, we must try to leave behind everything that burdens the soul and conscience, and aggravates the body itself, since despondency, starting from absent-mindedness in the soul, spreads to the body itself, and aggravates and weakens both... Help, Lord, to create a good beginning, through the remembrance of the Gospel words: The Kingdom of Heaven is in need, and the needy delight it (Matthew 11: 12). 109. INSTRUCTION ABOUT MEEKNESS Sisters in the Lord and working children, mother N and mother N! I receive your letters, but I don’t respond to them. Weakness and lack of time burden me, a sinner, beyond measure. I want to write at least a short word to both of you together. The other day I opened the book “Philokalia” and a passage from the 77th chapter of Callistus and Ignatius was revealed to me, in which they say: “as it is fitting to be meek in heart for every need (that is, despite any reasons for indignation); Just as someone who wants to learn to shoot well, not without a sign, strains the bow (and sets the target); So, if you want to learn to remain silent, as a sign (or goal), let yourself always be meek in heart... Training (in exploits) does not suffice for virtue, but it is also appropriate for a meek person to be trained.” Further, in chapter 79, any deviation from meekness is called deviation from the goal of spiritual life. The words of these saints agree with the words of the Lord Himself, who says: learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and further. And: blessed are the meek: for these will inherit the earth, that is, the heart, bearing fruit with grace for thirty, and sixty, and a hundred, according to the order of the beginners, average and perfect; not being embarrassed in any way, or embarrassed, unless there is a word about piety. 110. INSTRUCTION BEFORE GREAT LENT I was going to write to you separately, but I can hardly write a general letter, just a few. At the onset of the Holy Pentecost, you both ask for forgiveness, each explaining your weaknesses, mental and physical, that troubled you during the past summer. May the Lord forgive you for the past, and may He strengthen you in the future, as was spoken by His most pure lips to the one who sinned; I don’t condemn you, go and don’t sin like that! And the Lord would help us and strengthen us to refrain especially from the weakness of self-love, which most of all spoils our work and hinders spiritual correction. Just as for the worldly the love of money is the root of all evil, so for the monastics the root of all evil is self-love, which the Lord commands first of all to renounce: whoever wants to follow Me must deny himself. Our self-love mixes in and opposes every good deed, and spoils and corrupts it; It especially hinders one from offering pure prayer to God. Blessed Callistus the Patriarch in his chapters on prayer says this: “If you want to understand how to pray, look at the end of attention and prayer, and do not be deceived.” This is the end, beloved, there is everlasting tenderness, contrition of the heart, love for one’s neighbor. The opposite is clearly there: thoughts of lust, whispering of slander; hatred of one’s neighbor, and spruce are similar (“Philokalia”, part 2, chapter 14). May the All-merciful Lord give us what is useful, soul-saving and saving, and deliver us from what is harmful. 111. THE PURPOSE OF CORRESPONDENCE IS SPIRITUAL BENEFITS, NOT JUST CONSOLIATION Mother N! The child is sick! You complain of some kind of pain in your insides, and therefore you sent me your letters and a portrait of your father 3.; I myself will complain to you about the same pain inside, so that the feeling of it is felt on my face... But let us hope in the mercy of God that the Lord will allow us to see each other again, even by the fall, or in the fall, even if we live, His holy will will be done; Now, for now, let us take up, to the best of our ability, the work of our soul, trying to cleanse it from the evil qualities that alienated it from the Lord, the foolish virgins, praying ever with humility for the goodness of God to cleanse us from all filth, flesh and spirit, including the message of destinies. To Father N, if it will be useful for you, I do not forbid you to write, just first, out of the fear of God, test your conscience and heart regarding the reasons and motives for writing to him. If there is a direct need, you can write to him, but without proper need, for only imaginary consolation, it is not the right time to write. One must always have spiritual benefit ahead, and expect inner consolation from the Lord, who comforts the humble and trusting in His mercy. Peace be with you! 112. MOST OF ALL SHOULD HOLD ON TO THE FEAR OF GOD Peace and prosperity to you in the Lord, who wants everyone to be saved and come to the understanding of truth! Do not grieve me for not having the opportunity to correspond in detail with you, always burdened with bodily weakness and incessant rumors from many different visitors. I assure you that I grieve a lot about this, but I can’t overcome it and change my situation. Therefore, for the sake of real need, I advise you to firmly hold on to the fear of God and guard your conscience, since this most of all helps a Christian to stay on the real path. In case of deviation from God’s commandments, heal yourself with sincere repentance and a firm determination to henceforth curb your pride, which is the main guilt in violating God’s commandments and everything that is due. From self-love is anger, from self-love is condemnation and reproach of others, from it is indignation and grumbling and self-justification and unwillingness to endure anything, and as a result of all this, cowardice and abandonment of the prayer rule and spiritual reading and other things that are required of a monk. God! Have mercy on us, Lord, help our weakness! Do not allow, Lord, the enemy to completely mock Your creation, redeemed by Your venerable Blood. Grant us, Lord, true repentance and unfeigned humility, and self-control and prudent struggle, a contrite spirit and sobriety of heart. Amen! The words of the elder: “When I speak, you must listen from the first word; then there will be obedience according to the will of God... I am of a soft character: I will yield, but there will be no benefit for the soul.” A note from an elder. Saint Gregory of Sinai commands: “When praying, observe these three: abstinence, silence and self-reproach, that is, blaming yourself and not others in any unpleasant case.” The words of the elder: “It is good to pray before the Crucifixion, remembering the suffering of the Savior: spitting, strangling, scolding, beating; at the same time the spirit is humbled.” “At the Last Judgment, what will be punished most of all is the lack of love for one’s neighbor.” “Love is God Himself!.. Angels can comprehend this feeling below.” Having completed the rule of prayer, you can pray for whatever zeal comes. When the desire comes to pray with a special prayer and bows, then there is no need to interfere with this mood. First of all, do not abandon church rules; then perform the cell service, and then pray with zeal. When you find vague thoughts, then pray: “May God rise again,” and bow; “To the Virgin Mary” (three times and bow each time); “It is worthy to eat” - and a bow. When thoughts of envy come, you must pray: “Cleanse me from my secrets and spare your servant from alien ones.” 113. ABOUT THE DEATH OF M.’S MOTHER AND ABOUT THE ILLNESS OF FATHER MACARIUS [5] With the last mail, letters were sent to you in one envelope, but on occasion I will write to you again. More skillfully and gradually prepare Nun A. to tell her about the blessed death of Mother M. On August 23, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, she died, sitting in an armchair, with a cross in her hands, in a fresh memory, having received the Holy Mysteries in a few minutes. Having received communion, she said: “I am so calm now that I have never felt such joy and sweetness.” We were all incredibly comforted by her death. The calmness on her face remained even after death. I didn’t want to write to you, but I’d rather write that the next day Father Macarius is not feeling well. Although the disease is common, a disorder of hemorrhoids, it somehow had an effect due to constant strain. Pray to your mother (and sisters) and tell your sisters to pray that the Lord will have mercy on us. The sisters' letters dated August 17 have been received. If Father’s illness continues, then at least Father Sergius will notify you with the next mail. M.A. 114. UNDER THE IMPRESSION OF THE DEATH OF FATHER MACARIUS I forgot to write to you that Father Macarius was tonsured into the schema on March 7, 1858; the name remains the same. Remember Hieroschemamonk Macarius. I received your letter (on my return from Kyiv); 24 hours after the burial of the body of Blessed Father Macarius, nun E. and her sister came to us. It’s a pity for her that she was not privileged to see what was happening with us at that time, but I think that it happened providentially, for your sake! You would be envious if she alone was honored to receive the blessing from the priest and enjoy the spiritual triumph. Everyone cries only when they turn to their defeat and the deprivation of their father... When they turn to the father’s condition, everyone feels secret consolation. There is no time to write much; wrote you all sorts of mail. 115. INSTRUCTION TO MONKS Greetings in the Lord, mothers and sisters! A like-minded host of sisters who wish, to the best of their ability and ability, to live according to the teaching and instruction of the holy fathers, in the revelation of conscience and in spiritual counsel! I receive letters from you, but I do not have the opportunity to answer each one separately, due to my weakness and lack of time; I especially don’t argue, more than usual, from cheese week until now; Therefore, I decided to write to you all my general fraternal word and good wishes, asking and praying for your admonition from the Lord - let us not stray from the true path, but let us guide our life according to the word and teaching of the Gospel, as the ancient holy fathers explain it, who fulfilled it with their deeds and pleased the Lord. Saint Climacus says that for those who have entered the monastery, the first and main charm of the enemy is self-rule, self-confidence and arbitrariness. Let each of you apply this to yourself, leaving everyone else to act as they please and as they please; everyone will give an answer to God about themselves. Next, Saint Climacus exposes three main passions that fight those who are in obedience: gluttony, anger and carnal lust. The latter receive power from the former; lust is kindled by gluttony and bodily rest, and anger is kindled by gluttony and bodily rest. This entire evil council is born and comes from pride and a proud disposition of the soul. Therefore, the Lord commands in the Gospel to deny oneself and humble oneself. By forcing oneself and humility one attracts the mercy and help of God, with which a person is strong to evade evil and do good. If, following the example of the ancient ascetics, we cannot fast, then with humility and self-reproach, let us be forced to at least moderate and appropriate abstinence in food and drink. Let us do the same with regard to sleep and conversations, and other things. In general, let us remember the words of the apostle: If we live in the spirit, let us walk in the spirit. Let us not be vainglorious, irritating one another, envious of one another (Gal. 5:26). Envy is the most harmful thing. Saint Isaac the Syrian writes: “When you find envy, you find the devil with it. Whoever allows the devil to his soul, what confusion, rebellion and sedition will he not cause? May the Lord deliver us from this destructive passion, as well as from judging others, which makes us hypocrites before God. Behold, I wrote to you as I understand, and you pray, so that this will not be a condemnation for me, who speaks and does not do. Whoever wishes, let him write it off for himself. Peace be with you. Mnogohreshny I.A. 116. WE DEMAND FROM EACH OTHER TO FULFILL THE COMMANDMENTS, BUT WE DO NOT FOLLOW EACH OTHER After lunch, I greet you, mothers A. and L., and all the sisters of your community, and I wish you all a peaceful life; as time goes by, mutual peace is becoming scarcer everywhere, and senseless unpeace is increasing; We all blame each other and torture the commandments from our neighbors, apparently for blessed and plausible reasons, forgetting that everyone will either become famous or be ashamed by their deeds. It is truly difficult to comprehend the real circumstances, and our deeds, and actions, and aspirations, and demands from each other. We forget the Gospel instructions, and act out of sheer, almost self-love, stubbornly defending our actions, not caring about their legality and illegality. It’s tight on both sides; it is difficult to remain silent and it is inconvenient to speak; and what we hear, it’s impossible to believe everything. Everywhere there is an admixture of one’s own will, or self-justification, or something else, or simply stupidity. It is necessary to pray in self-reproach, so that we do not stray from the true path. Forgive the great sinner A. 117. ABOUT SORRY AFTER ACCEPTING MONASKING Mother, venerable in the Lord, O! I received your letter dated November 18th, and the two missing ones also reached me a month later from K. with a postmark of October 23rd. It is unknown where they were lying. What you are complaining about is the same thing they complained about you before, that you told Mm a lot unnecessarily, that what you see or hear is sometimes incorrect, but as it seemed to you; for this they grieved you, and now the word is fulfilled: what we sow, that we will also reap; Moreover, upon taking on the mantle, sorrowful temptations are more easily allowed to befall a person, so that the skill of spiritual warfare can be developed and become more skillful. Here we should no longer argue in a novice way: why this or that? But simply endure, humble yourself and endure again, putting your right cheek in the spiritual sense, that is, not making excuses, but accepting reproach and humiliation: firstly, for sins, secondly, because you voluntarily chose the saving path, which is called thorny, and cramped, and difficult; It is especially indecent for someone who has accepted the mantle to enter into other people’s affairs and give human advice about who should live where, or where to go, or even more indecently, to act two-facedly, to accept kindly in the face, but in absentia to say the opposite. You need to check yourself, and the person who is harmful to your soul should leave, not giving free rein to the tongue and anger, self-justification, which deprive a person of spiritual benefit if you don’t come to your senses soon. Mnogohreshny I.A. 118. INSTRUCTION WHEN GIVING THE ROSARY ABOUT NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS, BUT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SINS I, a sinful person and insufficient in everything, give these rosaries so that the person who accepts them would be aware of his shortcomings and weaknesses and would see his sins, but would not allow himself to notice the weaknesses or shortcomings of others, especially the elders, and would in every possible way beware of judging or humiliating anyone, but would leave the deeds and actions of others to the Providence and judgment of God and everyone’s own will. Just as other people will not give an answer to God for our sins and shortcomings, God will not exact from us for the shortcomings and infirmities of others, even our elders, if we do not interfere in this and judge or humiliate, otherwise we expose ourselves to the judgment of God. For the Lord says in the Gospel: measure accordingly, it will be measured back to you (Matthew 7:2), and again: do not condemn, lest you be condemned (Luke 6:37). If we consider ourselves to be following the path of old age and do not want to live according to our own will and reason, then we should not deviate from the path and teaching of the holy fathers, who tell us to humble ourselves, submit, cut off our will, not justify ourselves with human excuses, not renounce sorrow and dishonor and humiliation, but be forced to do all this, even if our crafty and rebellious heart resists it. We must firmly remember that there is no perfection on earth, but all people, in their own measure, some have shortcomings, allowed by God's Providence to our humility. So, someone who cares about his salvation should pay attention only to his own spiritual benefit, walking the path of obedience and cutting off his will, and should be grateful and disposed to love those who care about us and help our salvation with their advice, even if they sometimes use harsh means. But you should never allow yourself to judge your own affairs and the actions of your spiritual assistant, or do anything without his knowledge. Otherwise, our life will be more disorderly than that of those living according to their own will and reason. We will endure toil and sorrow, but we will deprive ourselves of compensation. What may the Lord deliver us from! 119. INSTRUCTION ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHIMES I received your letter, but could not answer you soon, partly due to weakness and extreme lack of time, and partly because the schema for you was not yet ready, but was being prepared. We will try to send it with the next mail. You want to know the meaning of the schema. Schema means pure mortification from the world. In the Optina Hermitage, people are tonsured into the schema according to the Book of Athos, in which the rite of tonsure is more complete than in the Trebnik. At the time of tonsure, an extract from the book of Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonites, about the holy and great angelic monastic image, that is, the schema (chapter 360, p. 261) was attached to the schema (chapter 360, p. 261): “Let the imperfect one be perfected in this way, and let the imperfect one not pass away without the most perfect secret completion of this image. We also know about this that there are many who are careless about this, just like the slaughterers, and first of all, before Baptism, they touched the boy, and sinned him; but just as one who is not baptized is not a Christian, so one who is not perfected in this way will not be a monk. And having understood this from the teachers of the Church, and even more so from Vasily and Gregory. And even their words about Baptism, now let them be about this image for you and about repentance. A monk who has not achieved it may be at his end. Great is this gift: the royal seal is this. The second is Baptism, it cleanses from sins, gives gifts and grace; he arms and marks, he takes away from the enemy, he represents the prince, and he makes him a friend.” During the schema you will receive a wicker thing called a great paraman. He is worn over the cassock, and according to what is said in the Trebnik, over the cassock; but then it should be sewn at the front, like a shirt. The upper part of the schema is called the cuculum, and the anterior part is called the analave. All this is stitched together, although during tonsure it is taught separately. The schema is worn in different ways: some are worn openly on the head, and then, especially unhealthy and old people, you need to have the necessary cap under the schema on your head, which will be needed to protect against various annual changes in the air; and some wear the top of the schema under the mantle, and on their heads they wear an ordinary hood with a round top, like a haystack. You also ask about the rule that a schema-monk must follow. It is impossible for an elderly and weakly healthy schema-monk to carry a certain rule, but he must carry it out according to his own strength, always keeping in mind the apostolic commandment: to pray unceasingly; attend church services as much as possible, and pray in the cell if possible, reading several kathismas; as much as possible, read the Akathists to the Savior and the Mother of God, if they don’t read them in your church, and in case of weakness - at least one Canon to the Guardian Angel, from the Gospel and the Apostolic Epistles, as much as possible, practicing in reading spiritual books according to the needs of the spirit and adhering to the Jesus Prayer, according to the commandment of the ancient fathers, and bows, according to strength. Ahead of all this, the schema-monk must keep in mind the Gospel commandments of the Lord, as they are prescribed in the Gospel Matthew (from the beginning of the 5th chapter to the end of the 10th and in general in the New Testament), remembering the words of the Lord Himself (Matthew 7:21): Not everyone who says to Me: Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven: but do the will of My Father, who is on heaven. I say this because many of us are very concerned about correcting the external prayer rule; they do not pay strict and proper attention to the Gospel commandments. While dictating the letter, I opened the book of Mark the Ascetic and the following passage opened at the end of the chapter, about Baptism: “For the small and the great, repentance never ends until death. If the devil does not cease to fight with us, then repentance should be idle, when it is necessary to offer something for saints and for our neighbors, without real love it cannot be accomplished. The mind cannot be idle with words, but even if it were perfect, when it is healthy, it does the work in the gums: if it is a sign of perfection, it will cease from doing good, bowing down in every way; Having moved away, on the contrary, from shuiyago, it is more naturally attracted to the gum. The work of the gums, both for beginners, and for intermediate, and for perfect ones, is: prayer and purification of thoughts, and those who find patience; Without them it is impossible to eat and correct other virtues, through which repentance is favorable.” To here from the book of St. Mark. Forgive me for writing this way, forgetting my meager measure and the good advice of the holy Climacus: do not become wise before the wise. The food regulations for all schema-monks are common: consume dairy only on Sundays and Saturdays and during weekdays. On other days, the schema-monks have abstinence, each according to his own will and according to his own bodily strength. Some eat food without oil on Fridays, Wednesdays and Mondays; but for people with poor health, and especially with a weak stomach, this is not always convenient. I am sending you the printed word of John of Damascus. In it you will see for yourself that the sick and weak need humility and gratitude more than physical feats. You can distribute extra books at your discretion. I dictated the letter for a whole week, until the schema was embroidered, which is sent by mail with the letter. Remember ever in your prayers those who tried hard to prepare for you the schema of the servants of God, Mary and Elizabeth, who, by circumstance, are not nuns, but by strength and opportunity adhere to a pious life. This is what I could write to you amid my constant rumors; I wrote as I think; you will do as you find best according to your good will and best understanding, which is given to you from above from the goodness of God. Forgive me, a sinner, and pray for the one who speaks and the one who does not do, so that an ineffective word, especially a word without its own action, will not come into judgment and condemnation. Help you, Lord, to accept the great angelic image for the benefit of your soul, which this image signifies. 120. ABOUT READING THE LETTERS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM TO THE DEACONISE OLYMPIAD IN SORBLING CIRCUMSTANCES (TO THE MONK) I take an active part and sympathize with you in your cramped and embarrassing situation, but I cannot say anything definite except for the words of St. Chrysostom, who says in letters to Olympias: “As long as it is possible to protect yourself by human means, until then God does not act and does not show His power in difficult circumstances. When all kinds of human resources are exhausted, and hope for correcting incorrigible matters is almost completely lost, then God begins to work miracles and show His power, and, more than human desires, creates that in which all human hope is lost.” If you can get your hands on this book, then I advise you to read it with attention, because, apart from prayer and asking for God’s mercy and help, I do not find reading for you more useful, more gratifying and more intelligible than reading the letters of St. Chrysostom to Deaconess Olympias. As for the rest, we will expect changes for the better from the wave of the All-Powerful Hand and the All-Good Lord, who provides for everything beyond human aspirations. You yourself have long known what was said, how far the ways of men are from the ways of God. On this we will confirm our hope for the best and cast our sorrow on the Lord. I fully understand the complexity and great burden of your situation. But what to do? There is nowhere to go when you have fallen into the thorns of future inconveniences that sting not only to tears, but also to blood. Call for help the prayers of the holy prophet Elijah, a zealot and champion who can understand your situation. 121. ABOUT THE WORDS OF THE HOLY CLADIMER, THAT SHARP STONES, HITTING EACH OTHER, GET ROUNDED (TO THE NON) What to do? We are very poor, and even more so, we are impoverished, sometimes from illness, sometimes from infirmity, sometimes from a cold, sometimes from senseless hovel talk; I’m hustling from morning to evening, as you yourself saw, but God knows what will happen. I think that you have also heard the proverb: “Push water, and water will come.” About stones – this is what Saint Climacus wrote differently. In the 6th degree, he says that acute-angled stones, colliding with each other, become rounded and lose their angularity and sharpness. How do you notice things around you in this regard? Have they erased at least two corners of you that you thought to erase yourself in imaginary silence? Yes, you won’t be able to handle it yourself. I kind of feel sorry for myself! After all, all the trouble comes from selfishness and vanity. They don’t like it when others affect us, and they get so excited that you can’t stop thinking about it. From them nasty thoughts breed, like locusts, eating not only spiritual fruits, but leaves and the very bark. Make an observation and you yourself will agree with this. 122. ABOUT TIMELY RETIREMENT FROM THE TREASURY POST God knows the future. Humans speak very little, they speak according to circumstances, they hear or see very little. From such considerations the conclusion never ceases to emerge that you should not abandon the assumed desire to get away as quickly as possible, to your cell rest, for soul-saving exercise in matters of piety; and there, the Lord greatly deigns to do for us, let him do according to His holy will. It is heard from B. countries that there (by two abbess) it is proposed to elect a new boss for you, and it goes without saying that the old treasury will not serve for the new leadership, but a new one should also be elected if this assumption comes true... Be that as it may, we have the Gospel advice - to place ourselves in the last place, so that, if it pleases the Householder to promote someone, there will be more honor; and if he is not promoted, this person will avoid dishonor or, at least, will not give rise to human criticism. Wisdom is needed at this time. And whoever does not have wisdom should at least humble himself, and for his humility the Lord will enlighten him on how he should act wisely in a difficult situation. Peace to you and all yours! 123. MUST ENDURE TRIALS FROM SUBBORDERS PATIENTLY Long ago, ancient people decided that temptations do not walk through the forest, but among people. However, one should not be despondent and faint-hearted beyond measure. The Lord is able to correct our cause, just as He corrected the prophet-king David when his natural son rebelled against him. Let us imitate Saint David in humility, not only internally, but also externally. He did not reject the unjust accusations and reproaches from Semey, even to the point of damnation, and for this the Lord returned to him both His mercy and the kingdom. We will not justify ourselves entirely according to human feelings, but we will judge ourselves according to the word of God. Saint Isaac the Syrian says that self-justification is not indicated in the Gospel law. And the apostle writes: all flesh will not boast before God. If we say that there is no sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). Let us assume that in our actions there were good and good assumptions regarding the management of the souls entrusted to us. But we cannot say about ourselves with certainty that we always acted as we should have, and as the physical and mental needs of our neighbors required. The Lord says in the Gospel: I want mercy, not sacrifice (Matt. 12:7; Hos. 6:6); and commanded us to forgive those who sin against us up to seventy times seven. We, due to human weakness, are sometimes persistent in our orders or assumptions; and I think that this insistence has not always been and is timely and appropriate, and for the most part causes grief, both to yourself and to others. If you are absolutely right, then I will please you, because although there are many sorrows for the righteous, it is said as a consolation that the Lord will deliver them from all of them. But the word of Scripture makes us doubt this: no one is pure before God, even if he lives only one day. Therefore, it is more thorough to humble yourself before God and people, and you must pray with humility to the all-good Lord, so that He Himself, in the image of destinies, will direct and bring unsettled circumstances to a useful end. Moreover, we must not forget that we have a primordial enemy of the human race, who by all means tries to confuse people through their own infirmities. Let us not forget the example of what the Lord did when the evil Jews brought a sinful wife before Him. But demons are even more evil than such people. The Jews were ashamed, being exposed, and left one by one. But the holy fathers write about demons that they are shameless and, being driven away and rejected, they return again. I am writing all this to you, wanting to incline to mercy towards those who sin, so that you yourself will receive mercy from the Lord. It is said: the merciful will have mercy. And again, the word of the Lord through the prophet: if you bring out the honest from the unworthy, as my mouth will become. If the sisters, for their part, are adamant and disobedient, then they will reap what they sow. You can receive your reward from the Lord for your labor and for your sorrowful grief, and for sincere care for them, if you strive to do all this and do it in the Lord. Amen. Wake up, wake up! 124. ABOUT DOUBT CAUSED BY VOLUNTARY LEAVEMENT OF A MANAGEMENT POST In one letter you write to me that you are very pleased that you left the treasury position; and in another letter you write that you are very worried about your thoughts, and are suffering from a cold to the point of exhaustion, as if you had sinned mortally, that you refused the treasury position before the merciful and kindly Lord. Isn't there a clear contradiction in your letters and in your words? Doesn’t this reveal that you wrote to me differently, but thought differently? In words she was calm, but in reality she was worried that she had lost the treasury honor and the significance associated with it in the monastery. And whoever wants to seek honor himself will receive only dishonor, and with it the associated sorrow. However, this feeling is very subtle, which can hide from ourselves; is revealed only by the apparent contradiction: I don’t want and I grieve, have I sinned mortally by evading the treasury position? If Gregory the Theologian and Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk did not sin mortally by abandoning the cathedral sees, then we, the least, cannot be imputed to the sin that we abandoned our positions amid great turmoil and rebellion, when there was a clear danger of falling into primary confinement, from which, not without great labor and sorrow, your main comrade barely escaped, and then only with the assistance of a great and strong person. However, this is not the end yet, but the real end will be at the Last Judgment of God, when it will be necessary to give an account to God for those souls that the rulers must shepherd, lead and save. If God wanted to bring you into this field, then you should not forget the words spoken about the responsibility of others. In the meantime, you need to take care of saving your own soul. You saw in a dream vision a wreath closed by a cross: then you must abandon all human opinions and calculations, and remember that this wreath is achieved by not without sorrowful bearing of the Gospel cross, as the Lord Himself says: if anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and come after Me (Matthew 16:24). If the Lawgiver Himself, the Son of God, the King of Angels and Archangels, suffered spitting and every kind of humiliation, then we, who dream of achieving co-reign with Him, which way do we want to go? Let us not seduce ourselves, let us not deceive ourselves! The Apostle says: but they who are Christ's have their flesh crucified with its passions and lusts (Gal. 5:24). Sorry, sister, that I wrote it so harshly. I wanted to soften my word to you in every possible way, but apparently, no matter how gently and diligently you place the fly, it must show its strength in every possible way, in every possible way it will cause an abscess and cause pain; but for this, after removing the malignant sputum, it will also provide relief, and when the sore spot heals, the person will also feel calm. The Lord has given you a natural mind, and you read the word of God and the patristic writings; Can you believe it yourself and check whether my words agree with the truth of the Gospel, with Christian teaching, with the duty of monasticism, in a word, do they agree with the work of our salvation? 125. ABOUT FULFILLING THE WILL OF THE ELDER FATHER MACARIUS Beloved in the Lord, Brother Father P. You and I, apparently, have the same temptation: either not to write for a long time, or to write together. On October 6th I sent you a letter, and received it from you on the 5th; in your letter I received a genuine letter from your friend, and in another envelope - his answer to it. At first I wanted to give him this letter, but then I decided that it was better not to give it, because the matter was confused by the enhanced transmission with its own addition. When your friendly man was on your side, you did not write about it for a long time, and having written, you did not say a word about the impression he made on the main trustee and mourner about your monastery. Moreover, a rumor has reached us that it is not obvious that this trustee liked him. I simply told him that you don’t write a word, but there is a rumor, which is not noticeable. And he already wrote to you directly that he didn’t like him; and you made it even worse that they slandered and slandered. So we all came out as efficient monks: we collected a whole bunch of slander, and added more, and slandered others; but we think of ourselves that we are oppressed sufferers, offended, offended, but in fact, no less than the Pharisee, we utterly humiliate everyone, and we humiliate them based on mere guesses and suspicions, forgetting the words of Scripture (Hab. 2:15): Woe to him who drinks his girlfriend with muddy drink. There is some kind of mixture in us: we pretend to recognize God’s Providence, and we never stop blaming others for seemingly hindering and resisting our enterprises. When we speak harshly about others, it is nothing; We excuse ourselves by saying that we speak simply, in a friendly manner, out of jealousy for the good. If we hear that another said something contrary to us, then we are indignant and raise it to great degrees of slander, forgetting what is preached by the Orthodox Church, that everyone will either be glorified or ashamed by their deeds, and everyone will give a word to God about himself. Your friend thought that it was easy for us to do everything: let’s say, even now they will listen to us. But in reality it didn’t turn out that way. We talked about him, and they objected to us: “Why is he embarrassed here and wants to go out? Where will he find a better place than this?” What could one do but remain silent, handing this matter over to the Providence of God! Moreover, I remember that the late elder Father Macarius, in his dying illness, pointed out to me three people, to declare his will to them, so that they would live peacefully in the local monastery; Among the three named by the elder is your friend. He interprets this in his own way, but I cannot act contrary to the will of the elder, seeing from experience that one of the three, having decided to leave our monastery, changed three places, and does not find peace in the fourth. Believe me, I sincerely wish for the improvement of your monastery, but I cannot act against my consciousness and contrary to the instructions of the late elder. If the will of God changes this instruction, then this is a different matter. Simple human desires, no matter how plausible and well-intentioned they may seem, are not only not created, but also destroyed, as it is said in the Acts of the Holy Apostles: if it comes from man... this work (not from God) will be ruined (Acts 5:38). However, brother, be patient, and wait, and hope for the best, only from the Providence of God, and not from some of your own assumptions. If you only want something, then you won’t get anything good. We have God, the Provider, the All-Perfect, the All-Good, the Almighty, who brought the whole world, visible and invisible, from non-existence into existence, and who redeemed us, the fallen, with His Blood. Isn’t He able to provide the opportunity to correct the slightest particle of the upset, if the time is ripe for this, due to His destinies unknown to us? You usually say that we need to strive for this. And I agree that it is necessary, only in a legal manner, with Christian patience and expectation. 126. ABOUT THE PREMATURE DESIRE FOR SILENCE You feel cold and burdened with positions of authority, and often think about how you can get rid of this burden. Our father feels the same and thinks the same. But I tell him and you that these thoughts of double-mindedness are very harmful for both of you. Not only do they not make it easier for you, but they further aggravate the burden of the authorities, relaxing the spirit, and, as it were, taking their hands away from the tasks at hand. It is good and useful to work for your neighbor, even if later you have to be out of work, by the will of the All-Good and All-Wise Providence of God. The most experienced of the monastery leaders, the Venerable Abba Dorotheos, describing the reasons for peace of mind, put forward the main reason as follows: “I want it to be as it will be.” I sincerely wish this for you, and for myself, and for our father Page, and for everyone else. You still continue to delude yourself in silence, not realizing that the enemy’s seduction surrounds and pursues you. On August 11, you felt a fragrance in your cell. Is this not an obvious deception, which was shown to you in the writings of Simeon the New Theologian. The next day you felt strong fear in the evening in your cell. This is a consequence of the tempting fragrance and clear proof that you were inclined to accept it as right. Further, out of fear, the suggestion to read the 12 psalms, and at the beginning of the reading (in thought) the word “fool” is filled with great temptation and danger, especially the suggestion to go to the chapel in the cemetery at night and pray there. God saved you because you couldn’t go there because of your physical weakness; It would not have been surprising for you to have been damaged in your mind from fear if the Lord had not preserved you by allowing bodily weakness and relaxation; know that only the perfect live by mental suggestions, and then with reasoning and great consideration. But beginners, both weak and passionate, must live under the rule and pray the blessed prayer. When they announce the gospel for Vespers or some other service, there is no need for you to debate whether you should read a book or go to the service, but simply, if you are not sick, go and pray in church, and endure the shocks in church and in obedience, so that there are no mental bedsores. Do not consider your desire for silence to be an inspiration from God. Saint Isaac the Syrian in the 30th word says: “Not every good desire flows into the heart of a person from God, only that which is beneficial; The same thing comes from the devil, only it does not benefit, since he invests everything either prematurely and beyond his strength, or with arrogance and vanity.” Also, in this there is a plant of hostility and a subtle seduction, as if the “note” is sober and not sober due to someone’s influence; but sometimes it’s very simple. When the note does not drink, then it is sober; and once he drinks, he will involuntarily mutter. Many things are very simple. Look at everything simpler. It will be stronger and safer. Beware of judging and condemning, especially elders. This is the worst of all, and leads to endless confusion. To remain silent in your cell means not to judge and not to idle. 127. IT IS NOT NEEDED TO SEEK THE PEACEFUL WAY OF LIFE, BUT TO OBEY THE WILL OF GOD The whole mistake on our part is that we do not want to submit to the will of the All-Good Providence of God, which shows us through circumstances a beneficial path for our souls, but we are still looking for our own peaceful path, which exists only in daydreams, but in reality it does not exist on earth; not everyone, but some, will only have peace when they sing: “Rest with the saints.” The earthly destiny of man is sorrow, labor, illness, feat, sorrow, bewilderment, cramped conditions, deprivation of one thing or another, insults, embarrassment, rebellion of passions, struggle with them, overcoming or exhaustion, or hopelessness and the like. The prophet David did not say in vain (Ps. 37:4): there is no peace in my bones from the presence of my sins. And righteous Job cried out: is not this life a temptation for man? And we are all confused about whether it is possible to settle down in peace and tranquility, and we often think: if it were not for such and such an inconvenience, and such and such circumstances, and not such and such a transverse person, then perhaps I would be more comfortable and at peace; but we forget that these inconveniences often come from within us, like evil thoughts. Where passions lie, that’s where all our inconveniences, troubles, troubles, and disorders come from. But may He who came to save sinners abolish all this, if we desire to repent, humble ourselves and submit. 128. ADVICE TO A NUN WHO OUT OF DESPAIR WANTED TO TAKE ART IN TRANSLATING HISTORICAL ARTICLES You write that due to ill health, and perhaps due to other reasons, you began to feel bored in your monastic life. And you look at everything with such a heavy and gloomy look, as if all the circumstances have changed for you. Therefore, you have a desire to entertain yourself with something, and you ask my advice whether you should start translating some historical articles that Archimandrite N. can deliver to you from N. through his kind participation, because he is a practical, conscientious and firm man in Orthodoxy. If these translations could really improve your case even halfway, then I could agree to do this job for you. But no matter how far the intended goal is achieved, and there will be a lot of work and trouble, wouldn’t it be better to try this matter more simply? If you want, take up the translation of Theodore the Studite from Slavic into Russian. This book is very useful for cenobitic monasteries. If the translation is not useful for printing, then at least it will be read in the manuscript in your monastery; and maybe, over time, with amendments, it will be used for printing; and meanwhile, your strengths and the properties of the activity will be tested, to what extent it will be suitable for correcting your upset situation. I repeat that I cannot agree to the translation of historical articles, not simply, but based on the teachings of the holy fathers. The Monk John of Carpathia writes: “Knowing the enemy’s prayer to us is a struggle, the same slander, and to tear us away from this, the desire puts in us Hellenic words, from which we have apostatized, and encourages us to practice about this. Let us not obey Him, lest we err from the axes of our agriculture; instead of figs and grapes, let us take thorns and thistles: for the wisdom of this world is imputed to God” (“Philokalia”, Part IV, Chapter 13). Historical articles are not far from Hellenic words, and therefore, especially in a painful situation, you need to choose means to calm yourself that are actually real, and not only seemingly real, which can do more harm than good. The words of St. John of Carpathia show that it is not in a painful situation that prayer is most necessary and useful, that is, invoking God’s mercy and help at all times, but even more so in illness, when the sufferer is oppressed either by bodily illness, or by joyless spiritual anguish, and in general by a sad and despondent mood of spirit, which is clearly confirmed by the holy Apostle James, saying (James 5:13): Is anyone suffering in you, but praying (that is, calling on the mercy and help of God): is anyone content? let him sing (that is, let him practice psalmody). St. Chrysostom, in the case of the sick, identifying, among other things, the main cause of sadness as physical disorder and ill health, advises not to completely neglect treatment, but to use medicines in a timely manner, although not in an official way, that is, very, very closely; and he himself was recovering a little, as can be seen from his letters to Deaconess Olympias, in which he indicated where the doctor was better. I advise you now to read these letters with attention, and re-read them; in them you will see how useful it is to endure illness and all kinds of sorrows with thanksgiving and submission to the will of God, although this is not a very difficult task. But what to do? We need to be guided towards a soul-helping outcome from a difficult situation, and not just act the way things appear to us. In addition to physical ill health, it is also necessary to look for spiritual reasons to understand the sad and gloomy state of mind. As you write, it seems to you that now everyone around you seems to have changed and is not looking at you the same way. Is there some subtle mental thing here, that is, a hidden claim of our pride? We, entering the humble path of piety, do not completely renounce having any significance on this path, and our pride knows how to subtly cover this up with a plausible desire to provide some benefit in the monastery. But just as those who, for the most part, enjoy health (at least to some extent) are important and are able to bring visible benefit to the monastery, and not the sick and weak, the latter are often bored by the fact that they are looked at as sick, and they themselves feel and realize that they are incapable of many monastic affairs and activities, and due to ill health they cannot perform them. In such a situation, according to the word of Saint Climacus, humility is most suitable, which will greatly calm a person in every place and in every situation. Saint Isaac the Syrian writes that humility alone, in addition to other virtues, can attract the mercy of God to us, and where the mercy of God is, there is all spiritual benefit, all spiritual joy. With humility, every thing is in its place; There is no jealousy or envy towards anyone - neither the healthy, nor the preferred, nor the favored; everyone has our own, and for us, ours, with humility, will be useful, and pleasing to God, and even pleasant, if we fully feel our own consciousness before God and before people. Here, sister, is all that I could write to you in my weak and idle position due to my feeble-mindedness and spiritual insufficiency. Figure this out for yourself, and whatever you find suitable, apply to your external and internal state. In general, I will tell you: in grief and sadness, do not look for joy and consolation outside and from without, but, according to the word of the Apostle, try to remain in the rank to which you are called by God’s Providence for the salvation of your soul. About receiving salvation we read in the Gospel that it is acquired in a narrow and sorrowful way, and we enter this Kingdom through narrow doors. Think about this more often with the assistance of prayer and reading the aforementioned letters of St. Chrysostom, trying by all means to maintain faith and trust in the Providence and help of the All-Good Lord, who wants everyone to be saved and to come into the mind of truth. For greater peace and confirmation, I advise you to read in the ancient Prologue, dated May 21, about how Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine the Great appeared to Paisius the Great after his death, expressing regret that he did not know what the reward for the monks was, otherwise he would have left the kingdom and gone to the monastery, despite the fact that for his good deeds the Church, both militant and triumphant, is considered Equal-to-the-Apostles. Read Psalm 39 often: I have endured the Lord, and listened to me, and heard my prayer... Peace and blessings to you in the Lord! 129. ABOUT THE THOUGHT OF THOSE WHO LEAVE THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD Sister in the Lord... poor and rich! Poor in courage and good will, and rich in cowardice and inconstancy! After a long silence, I received your letter, which justified my guess that it was not without reason that you did not go and were silent. I have no time to write at length, I am burdened with both weakness and visitors, so I briefly remind you of the Gospel word (Luke 9:62): look back, you are not ruled in the Kingdom of God. And whoever does not lead himself into the Kingdom of Heaven, where will he find himself? Apart from the Kingdom of Heaven, there is no resting place for all eternity. Therefore, it is imprudent, very, very imprudent, for the sake of empty and short-term daydreaming, to abandon the path leading to the Kingdom of God to blissful eternity, and to choose the path leading to eternal destruction. Leave your dreamy confusion, and hasten to return to your place. Just don’t forget one thing: find out from your sick parent what he will say regarding the obligation you have given to your estate, so that this knot does not remain untied and does not cause more confusion. R.V. I greet you in the Lord, and I sincerely and sincerely wish him wellness from the Lord. In his illness, what is needed, first of all, is calm and to place oneself in the all-good Providence of God with faith and hope. 130. YOU SHOULD NOT BE JEALOUS WITHOUT REASON I congratulate you on being tonsured into the mantle and sincerely wish you to live like a monk. The image of this monasticism is called angelic; This means that whoever lives truly like a monk lives angelically, that is, dispassionately, in chaste purity and meekness and humility. But during tonsure, most of all, cases and reasons for patience are expressed, because without patience, none of the above three virtues is corrected, much less meekness. Therefore, during the tonsure of the mantle, it is instilled in the one who is about to do this: “become angry, and humiliate yourself, and be driven out, and bear all your sorrows,” so that, having heard this in advance, the tonsured person does not apologize or make excuses when his sorrowful circumstances actually pass. I know that you know all this well without me, but I am writing to you and reminding you of this for greater confirmation, and especially because you often struggle with jealousy beyond reason. You yourself are aware of the harm of this jealousy, but at the same time you also imagine the truth that you cannot help but be jealous and not admonish those who commit outrages. In the first days of your settlement in this place, I wrote and proved to you that you chose a place of residence that was inconvenient and incongruous with the mood of your spirit. But you followed a more unconscious heartfelt feeling than a healthy discussion and consideration. Therefore, do not be cowardly, no matter what they make you - a gatekeeper or a treasurer; just remember that the real abbot was also made treasurer for the correction of the monastery, and you confessed that he was subjected to painful weakness for condemnation. I repeat to you: be afraid to judge and be jealous beyond reason. And the fact that you are appointed treasurer is your own fault, because you chose an inconvenient place; unless this is a matter of Divine Providence, which I do not comprehend; but, in any case, you need to be careful. Saul was chosen by God Himself to be king, but this did not justify him when he did not act as he should. You yourself seem to be repeating the Russian proverb: “In the absence of fish there is a fish, but in the absence of people Thomas is a nobleman.” You sat in silence in a crowded city, forgetting the words of St. Ephraim the Syrian, who says: “If an eagle builds a nest on a residential building, it will not only not receive peace, but will also lose its keen vision from the smoke.” What compels you to go to the outrageous and, on your knees, beg them and exhort them to deanery, if not the smoke that corrodes and irritates your spiritual eyes. God grant that nothing similar to the Providence of Him, whose destiny throughout the entire earth, happens to you. Let's see how things turn out... (about the bishop's transfer). Leave mother, regarding the table and other things, to act at her own discretion for the time being. Everyone has their own opinion, and everyone arranges it in his own way, but in times of discord they only play the last instrument, and the people are the most ordinary. If, unfortunately, they make you treasurer, then you will really see what it means to look from the outside or act on your own. It was in vain that you returned her rosary with greenery. We should leave them and hang them on the wall to expose that we, too, are not without a green admixture. 131. YOU NEED TO REPENT FOR YOUR DISTRUST IN THE ELDERS Saint Climacus writes: “Whoever stumbled over the stone of unbelief in his spiritual fathers, without a doubt, fell.” This fall is all the more sad because you not only yourself were subjected to soul-harming unbelief, but also in this blindness you poisoned the souls of the young and inexperienced with inappropriate rumors and harmful stories. But it is said in the eldership: if you have fallen, rise; whether you fell again, or whether you rose again. Move towards good correction and do not be ashamed to explain your mistake to the sisters, whom you inspired with evil disbelief towards their mothers. Read with attention the 4th degree of the “Ladder” and explain to yourself what are the properties of true novices and what are the qualities of adulterous novices, that is, those who do not seek direct spiritual benefit, but something secondary. Force yourself to humble yourself and acknowledge your guilt before God and before your mothers, and do not be ashamed to do this, knowing that a guilty head is not flogged or chopped, and that by humbling and repenting, the tax collector anticipated the righteousness of the Pharisee. In repentance and humility there will be no mistake; and without them our salvation is doubtful. 132. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT ACQUIRED ANYWAY You are doubly to blame. She herself became carried away by L.’s talk and gave her sister a reason to do the same. Be careful ahead. Saint Climacus says: “The novice, that is, the true novice, does not talk about good things or about imaginary evil things. And I would like you to be a true novice. You have a sense and a concept, but you lack humility: you are always eager to get ahead of yourself. Because of this, you yourself are confused, and you confuse others, you grieve yourself, and you offend others. If you are smarter than your sister, then know how to remain silent wisely and at the right time, if only not to go to places where people are speaking stupidly and maliciously. If you agree and agree, then later you will have to pay with shame for such people-pleasing. Read with attention the 4th degree of the “Ladder”, and ask your mothers to read the active chapters in the 1st part of the “Philokalia” of Simeon the New Theologian. There you will see your mistake, you will also see what you should stick to. Remember that the Kingdom of Heaven is not acquired somehow, but with purpose and compulsion for good, not selfishly and self-consciously, but with the questioning of experienced people, and with the cutting off of one’s will and mind, as is characteristic of a true novice. 133. DISEASE MUST BE ENDURED PATIENTLY I regret that your health is currently very weak, and apparently makes you incapable of performing monastic feats. But Saint Climacus even calls illness as asceticism, and, moreover, the most joyful asceticism, albeit involuntary. It is most gratifying because there are few hunters for voluntary asceticism, and, moreover, there can be admiration and condemnation of others mixed in, and in involuntary painful asceticism there is nothing for a person to be proud of, but if a person carries it, somehow, albeit involuntarily, out of need, there is nowhere to go. Voluntary and involuntary asceticism equally pacify the flesh, and the latter is sometimes sent also to destroy exaltation. Therefore, try to be complacent in illness and thank God’s mercy for involuntary admonition. And again, most of all, in a painful situation, beware of a grumbling mood. The Monk Isaac the Syrian writes: “God bears all human infirmities, but He does not tolerate those who grumble unless He punishes them.” Also beware of grumbling at people for not fulfilling any of your demands, or for some other reason. Whatever is sent to our patience, all of this is allowed by God’s Providence for our spiritual benefit, unless we ourselves damage it through our imprudence. I don’t know why the thought occurred to you that I would see you as an animal blotted out of the book. On the contrary, I think and wish to see you as an animal in the book. Just do not weaken in patience, and be forced to humble yourself before God and before people, and take care of sincere and true repentance and confession. Nowadays you want to speak out sincerely, but when you were with us, you spoke sparingly. Do not feel foolishly sorry for your late sister, but try to imitate her firm faith and good trust in God’s mercy, which you noticed in her during her transition from this life. 134. ADDRESSING THE UNPEACEFUL SISTERS Beloved sisters in the Lord! I believe that what is done providentially from the Lord is always done for the benefit of our soul, unless we ourselves want to deprive ourselves of this benefit. One of you was just about to go to your monastery, but an unexpected illness held her back and lasted until her beloved sister arrived. Then I remembered something that I seemed to have forgotten, namely, what kind of opposition there is between you and each other, so that you always try to evade one another. Which of you is more right or more guilty, I don’t know, and it’s not my place to judge, but may the Lord Himself, the Knower of the Heart and the All-Knowing, judge, He who rewards everyone according to his deeds. But the terrible word of the Gospel frightens me: If you do not forgive people their sins from your hearts, neither will your (Heavenly) Father forgive you your sins (Matthew 6:15)... I feel sorry for you, very sorry. I regret and am afraid that you may lose God’s mercy for your stubbornness due to offended pride for some empty claims. I feel sorry for myself, lest I, weak and exhausted, should work for nothing for the same reason, that is, if you do not want to truly humble yourself and sincerely reconcile. This is what I ask each of you and plead with the Lord sincerely and earnestly. Spare yourself and me, so that we will not repent after everything - in vain and irrevocably. Therefore, whoever does not spare himself for the sake of selfish, reckless claims will be guilty not only before God and people, but also before himself when repentance is inappropriate. 135. ADVICE CONCERNING SETTING UP A SCHOOL AT THE MONASTERY You write that the benefactor of your monastery has made it necessary for you to have a women’s school at your monastery, and you already have it, and up to forty people come to study with you at the hotel; and a newcomer to monastic life L.M. became a mentor. God help her! Let him work in this matter with simplicity of heart for holy obedience, remembering that obedience is more important than sacrifice and more important than fasting and prayer. As you explained to me about this matter, I will not hide my sinful opinion before you. I would advise you, firstly, to keep in mind that the building for the school should be chosen where the entrance can be arranged from the outside, and not through the hotel. Secondly, do not choose young sisters to teach children, and if there is a shortage of mentors, it is better to hire one of the city’s females so that they can come to the school to teach and then leave again. To do this, you can find in the city those of the female gender who can agree, and for a reasonable price, for the sake of need; There is a need to eat this time, and it requires many expenses, and there is little money everywhere. Thirdly, not to hire male teachers under any pretext, as is done in some women's schools. High sciences are not required at your school, and females can also teach initial training. Is it only possible for the Law of God to invite an elderly priest on some days? Now, I have expressed to you my sinful and feeble-minded opinion, and you yourself choose what you find more useful and suitable for the job. 136. ABOUT SUBMISSION TO THE SPIRITUAL MOTHER You cannot avoid your (spiritual) mother at all, since you are connected to her by tonsure. Go to her with humility, no matter how much she accepts you, at least from time to time, but you can explain at the right opportunity that everyone grumbled together (without listing who), and you were the only one to blame, because you did not want to expose others. If the old lady asked who, then answer with humility that now it is too late, and will not lead to anything good, but only to greater confusion and more unworldliness; let me be the only one to blame, and others know... Go and ask. He will say: as you know, and do as you know. But still ask. Maybe sometimes they will say it directly. Know that humility overcomes everything and can blot out and equalize everything, as the spirit-bearing fathers unanimously testify to this. Try to have the fear of God and act according to your conscience. Then the Lord is able to make known the hearts of those who rebel. Although we may be right before people in something, but when we are wrong before God, we must endure without self-justification all suffering, all inconvenience and all oppression, not blaming any of the people for this, but accepting all sorrows as sent from the hand of God for the cleansing of our sins, for our correction, and most of all for the humility of our exalted wisdom. Therefore, I repeat to you that you should go to your mother with humility, at least from time to time; humbly tell her what is needed; accept with humility what is said to you from her, no matter how it is said. Humility and fear of God overcome all inconveniences, even if they are greater than those that you expressed. 137. CHARM – FROM STEALTH AND SELF-DOMINATION You write that you yourself do not understand your mental structure. You, apparently, from inexperience and self-indulgence, due to conceit and secretiveness of character, were subjected to the charms of the enemy. Therefore, pray to the Lord for deliverance: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, who have been deceived! Lord, do not allow your enemies to completely mock Your creation, which You redeemed with Your honest Blood.” When you pray like this, you yourself will see the effect of this prayer, how it will be unpleasant for your spiritual enemies, and they will confuse your soul and distract you so that you don’t pray like that; and it will be unpleasant for your pride to consider yourself deceived. But you must pray like this and ask the Lord for mercy and admonition. At the same time, there must still be spiritual confusion, but it is inconvenient to explain in absentia. Before and personally, you were stingy with explanations, you hid, you didn’t know what or why. Secretiveness and selfishness are the basis of the enemy’s delusion, and may the Lord deliver us from it. 138. SOLITUDE SHOULD BE PREFERRED TO EXPLICIT RECLUSION DUE TO INSILITY In your last letter to Father K., you wrote about yourself like this: “With scant strength, sore legs and weak eyesight, I can barely wander to the church of God and, it seems, I will soon be forced to abandon the order of priestly service and sit silently in my cell, know the only God, reflect on His wondrous destinies, and prepare, to the best of my ability, for a shameless and inevitable death. Tell me, Lord, my death and the number of my days, which is, yes I understand.” Now you yourself have finally expressed what I wanted to write to you in response to your last letter to me, in which you expressed your desire and determination to go into open seclusion, while the Gospel teaching tortures us into doing secret things. And secondly, we cannot always correspond to the proclaimed retreat with our life, due to the weakness expressed above. Therefore, it is better to use weakness to cover our solitude and silent life. Even if in this case we are not entirely sufficient for such a life, we will still not be judged strictly - neither by people nor by God. I think that your very name, providentially assigned to you, that is, the name of St. Mitrofan, in the schema of Macarius, indicates such a way of life, that is, solitude, covered by weakness, and not an obvious seclusion, which demands a lot from the one bearing the name of a recluse. As I think, this is what I wrote to you, the youngest brother to the eldest, not wanting to leave you completely without an answer, with sincere humility you asked me, feeble-minded and unworthy, to rant about silence, while I am constantly in constant rumor. 139. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE PROUD AND PROUD As pride and selfishness have multiplied among us, and foolishness often strikes at each other with wordless aspirations: for this reason, it is necessary to quickly create some information about this for the common benefit, so that those who want to come to their senses will come to their senses and turn to what is most useful. Our Lord Jesus Christ, showing us a convenient path to salvation in fulfilling His life-giving commandments, says in the Gospel: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls: for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (Matthew 11: 29-30). But the proud and self-loving among us do not want to bend our necks under this easy yoke of Christ, but voluntarily harness ourselves to the heavy yoke of haughtiness and anger, and through this they themselves become languid and embarrassed, and often confuse and burden others. The Holy Apostle Peter writes in his Epistle: ... be of the same wisdom, merciful, brotherly lovers, (merciful), compassionate, lovers of wisdom, humble in wisdom: not returning evil for evil, or annoyance for annoyance: but on the contrary, blessing, knowing, for in this calling you are quick, so that you may receive blessing (1 Pet. 3: 8-9). And the holy Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews says: Have peace and holiness with everyone, for whom no one else will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). 140. AN ELDER’S OPINION ABOUT THE AWARD OF A PIECE CROSS. ABOUT THE TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF SAINT THEODOR THE STUDITE Most beloved in the Lord, most honorable Abvo, Father Archimandrite. First of all, I ask you to accept from me, a sinner, sincere assurance of my written failure regarding the answers, not just before you, but also before many. I often do not have the opportunity not only to quickly respond, but also to quickly read the letters I receive, due to my bodily weakness, I am burdened with human people, although some crowd and are cold with the thought of guessing, as they once asked Father Macarius: “Will flax be born this year?” Second: I ask you to accept my most sincere congratulations on the upcoming day of your Angel. I sincerely wish that the all-good Lord, through the prayers of your spiritual patron, the saint of God, St. Yu., will grant you all the blessings, not only spiritual, but also external, with them also physical health, as necessary for completing the feat of leadership, which at times is not without difficulty. Third: I ask you to accept thanks for the favorable notification about the placing of the sign of the cross on the perch. It would be better, according to the apostolic words, to have and carry the Crucified One inside the chest in the heart; this would be both more useful and safer. Otherwise, these visible signs on our side, even though they were saving, did not pass without sorrowful temptations. Hegumen Father I., upon receiving it, was so obsessed with the disease that we almost despaired of his life. The abbot, Father Moses, was followed by a disorder among the older brethren; and Father Paphnutius had a fire in the monastery, and in addition, he was visited by a physical illness. I confess, Abvo, that I was quite surprised when I received your notification; I even thought for several days whether there was some consistorial confusion here, because the point was to provide only an actual confessor for the award, and not a supernumerary one. The latter should not be worn while sitting on the bed. For this reason, I most respectfully inform you about the translation of the book of St. Theodore the Studite from Greek into Russian: that the translation has already been completed by one person, now three persons are reviewing it and they have already reached the Fifth Word. You make your point about avoiding Slavic terms. But these terms are sometimes used only out of necessity and in order to retain the true fullness of meaning, since this cannot be expressed in Russian folk language everywhere. Moreover, a person, beyond his skill and understanding, cannot do better. But I sincerely thank you for promoting this cause with your writing and proposal. Although we translated this book, it was somehow sluggish and halting. 141. ABOUT OPTINAN PUBLICATIONS AND HUNTS Your Eminence (to Bishop Peter). Your archpastoral letter dated December 13th, with an attachment of 25 rubles, I, unworthy, had the consolation of receiving on January 10th. For your mercy and your fatherly attention to my thinness, I offer your Eminence my most sincere and deep gratitude. Your letter was received at a time when our father abbot had just left for Moscow, from where he returned at the beginning of February. For this reason, both because of my physical weakness and usual lack of time, I have not been able to answer your Eminence. Our father abbot with great appreciation and gratitude accepted your Eminence’s offer from our monastery to print your books “On Monasticism” and “Indicating the Path to Salvation”, and we will expect a formal paper transferring the right to print this to the Optina Desert. You are asking about the publication of Staurophila. In November last year, it was already half printed at the Gatsuk printing house. But this printing house unexpectedly burned down. Not only the printed sheets burned, but also half of the original, or original. And this caused us a lot of grief and work, because the last correction was from a white manuscript. Now this book is being printed again, and they promise to publish it by the end of February. As soon as this book is ready, we will send you two copies. Your Eminence would like to have good church notes of a touching melody, which are not in print. We will try to fulfill this as much as possible. We have a pillar mass; our former regent added three more voices to the church’s unanimous note; and now this four-voice chant is liked by many, especially: “The Grace of the World.” We will write down some parts of this mass and send it to you for your consideration. We sing stichera in “similar” terms. And we will write and send some of them. Our Sunday troparion in the fifth tone is also touchingly sung; but not put on notes. Let's look for unprintable irmos. We have the Cherubimskaya, called “Blind”; but it seems to be sung everywhere. We will try to collect suitable items and send them to you on time. The head of our monastery is now Hieromonk Anatoly, who graduated from the course at the Kaluga Seminary and has lived in our monastery for 25 years. Previously, he, among others, participated in the book business. And now we have only two skete hieromonks doing this, Father Clement, about whom, I remember, I once wrote to you that he completed a course at Moscow University, and then received a master’s degree; speaks both Greek and Roman, only not in Hebrew, but in French and German, since he is the son of the German Moscow pastor Zederholm, who converted to Orthodoxy at the end of the course; then he was an official of special assignments under the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod, the late Count A.P. Tolstoy; I have been in the monastery for 16 years now. Another hieromonk, Father Agapit, graduated from the course at the Tambov Seminary. About my health – I don’t know how to express it to you. Thank God he’s alive; but in winter I don’t go out into the air, but receive those who come to my cell; and by the evening I am very exhausted from the talk. But I haven’t been to church services for many years: I can’t stand a full service; I alternately feel cold and sweat. But glory and thanksgiving to God for everything, who wisely arranges our salvation, whether we want or not. I mentally fall at your holy feet and ask for your archpastoral blessing and holy prayers, and so on. 142. TEACHING OTHERS IS EASY, BUT PERFORMING YOURSELF IS DIFFICULT There is nothing new in my life. Thank the Lord that I am alive. But the same old weakness, and the same weakness of body and soul. He'll drink himself to death! And I never stop teaching others: live well, this way and that! But I still live somehow. The apostolic reproach often comes to mind: if you teach something else, teach yourself not (Rom. 2:21). Also the words of the Sarov elder Seraphim: “Teaching others is as easy as throwing stones from a bell tower; but actually fulfilling this teaching is as difficult as carrying these stones to a bell tower.” On the one hand, this is cramped; and on the other hand, it is cramped by the bitter fate of the wicked slave who hid his talent in the land of negligence. “Well, sir, as you wish,” the late Father Innokenty Skitsky used to say. 143.O THAT NUNS SHOULD NOT BE NURSES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS In the words about the hostel, everything you said is true and fair, but the great abbots, such as the Monks Paphnutius of Borovsky and Joseph of Volokolamsk, found it difficult to introduce a hostel in the strict sense of the word. In the word about brotherly love that your Eminence said regarding the establishment of a hospital in the Serpukhov convent, not everything seemed completely clear to us, the ignorant. Speaking about the works of mercy of the monk-priest and the nun-abbess, your Eminence deigned to remain silent about the new works of mercy, which at present they want to forcefully put on the shoulders of private, simple and even young nuns. The establishment of a women's hospital at a women's monastery, and a men's hospital at a men's monastery, is a Christian and decent thing; but whoever has the idea of taking or sending nuns, especially young ones, from women’s monasteries to public hospitals, cannot expect a good reward from the Lord, but rather the opposite, because we see no examples of this either in the ancient tradition or in the holy patristic writings, but on the contrary, in the writings of St. Macarius of Egypt (in the 27th conversation, in chapter 15, published by the Moscow Theological Academy) we read an example striking, resisting the new establishment. He narrates that “during persecution, someone gave up his body for torture, was hanged and planed, then thrown into prison, and that by faith he was served by one nun, and he, having become close to her, while still in prison, fell into fornication!” If, from getting close to a confessor who suffered torture, the nun did not remain unharmed, but was subjected not only to spiritual harm, but also to a fall, even in ancient times, then what can be expected under similar circumstances in our last and weak time? We give this example, in addition to the above, and contrary to the new fabrication of sending nuns from monasteries to hospitals for practice in case of war, in the same position as the now existing communities of sisters of mercy. It is impossible to agree with the opinion that it is a completely Christian and useful thing to send brides of Christ, especially young ones, from peaceful monasteries to public hospitals to serve sinful bodies, with obvious and inevitable harm to the souls of these servants. Let us confirm our opinion, in addition to the judgments of many holy fathers, with the words of the great teacher of monasticism John Climacus, who in the 3rd degree, in chapters 22 and 23, says the following: “Just as it is impossible to look at heaven with one eye, and with another at the earth, so it is impossible not to be subjected to mental disasters for someone who has not completely withdrawn in thought and body from all his relatives and non-relatives.” A good and well-ordered disposition is acquired through great labor and heroism, but even what is acquired with much labor can be lost in an instant. Father Hilarion came up with the idea that you could be providentially transferred to live in the Nevsky Lavra in order to help monasticism, especially desert monasticism, since you are more knowledgeable than others about the monastic circumstances and the position of monks and nuns. I also agree with this idea. Therefore, as much as possible, help monasticism, which is overwhelmed from the outside by visible hostile attacks, and from the inside by the invisible struggle of our spiritual enemies. Especially try to reject the absurd worldly idea that nuns go to the hospital to care for the sick in the same way as nurses. You write to Father Hilarion that this is not the case; and we write to you that this already actually exists in Moscow, and in Tula they are forcing the abbess to do the same. Is it possible for you to somehow have the St. Petersburg Metropolitan explain this to the Moscow Metropolitan, who is heard to be against this; and meanwhile, the flow of nuns to hospitals, two at a time from the monastery, does not stop, which some ladies in provincial towns want to imitate, approaching the abbess with the same proposal. And from your last letter it is clear that your desire to at least someday retire to desert solitude still continues. Not long ago they read to me, who was blind, the history of monasticism in the East. In the second part (on pages 202, 203 and further), I found the reasoning of Elder John, who first lived 30 years in a communal monastery, then lived 20 years in the desert, and finally returned to the hostel again, remarkable. I find that, in your endeavors, it would be useful for you to read with attention his wonderful story about desert and common life. At the beginning, when I was getting ready to write to you, I was driven by the thought of showing you one circumstance necessary for the abbess of a monastery. Now this thought seems to have fallen silent. But I still think of writing this to you, based on the testimony of Holy Scripture: give wine to the wise, and he will be wise; tell the righteous, and he will receive it. Saint Climacus in his “Word to the Shepherd,” in chapter 2, says: “The primate must also pray that he should bow down more mercifully to everyone, according to their dignity or seniority, and have a guarantee of favor, so that he himself and his loved one, and his fellow disciples will not be harmed in any way.” Young people, although they can be good, sometimes out of jealousy, and sometimes out of inexperience, make a lot of confusion in the general course of affairs. You yourself know what a striking example of confusion for this reason was in the monastery. The younger ones pushed forward, but the older ones rebelled, and caused such grief to the boss that she barely survived, not to mention the fact that she was subjected to strict supervision for some time in a foreign monastery. Sorry that I may be writing too much; but I am writing this to you as a thought that has been on my mind for a long time. The ever-memorable Father Abbot sometimes used to say: “Forgive me! I open and confess my thoughts to you. 145. TO THE NEWLY CONSECRED ABBES I congratulate you on your election to the position of abbot and on the rank of abbess, if your ordination to this rank has already taken place. I sincerely wish you, through the prayers of the late Father Superior Father Anthony, to carry out this difficult duty with the spiritual benefit of both your own and the sisters and mothers entrusted to you. May the holy and reverend Abbess Athanasius, whose memory will soon be fulfilled, help you in this difficult task and by whose name, it seems, you were named at tonsure. If so, then I congratulate you on your namesake and from the bottom of my heart I wish you, through the prayers of your spiritual patroness, successful success in your rectorate affairs. To your consolation I will say: although the position of superiors is associated with many difficulties and great inconveniences, we see from the list of saints that many abbots not only received salvation, but also a great reward from the Lord in heaven, and on earth they are glorified by the Holy Church as saints, like the holy abbess Athanasius. I sincerely and sincerely wish you, after completing your feat, to achieve the same through the prayers of your spiritual patrons, so that I can boldly say to you before the Lord (Heb. 2:13): Behold, I and the children whom God has given to me, the all-good and most merciful Master. 146. IGUMENIAN INSTRUCTION: BE merciful and condescend to human weaknesses I say this for the sake of it, since the Lord says in the Gospel: I want mercy, and not sacrifice (Matthew 9: 13), and I, a sinner and indecent one, want the Mother Abbess to try first of all to be merciful, and then make sacrifices that in every possible way, through mercy towards others, will be favorable to God. It is said in the eldership: from the neighbor belly and death, that is, through the neighbor only our true life can be, and we inherit blessed and eternal life; and if our relationship with our neighbor is incorrect and contemptuous, then it is wise to escape from spiritual death, and then from the second, eternal one, from which God will deliver all who are forced to fulfill His Divine and life-giving commandments - and all, even those who repent from weakness, but who seek His great mercy through repentance and humility. The Apostle John writes: he who loves God also loves his brother (1 John 4:21); and the Apostle Paul says: we are strong enough to bear the weaknesses of the weak and not to please ourselves (Rom. 15:1)... and correct such a one with the spirit of meekness; guard yourself, lest you also be tempted (Gal. 6:1). This is all that came out of my sinful head regarding your last letter of September 29th. I write congratulations on the consecration of the Church of All Saints after everything and ask you to remember us sinners there too. M.E. due to illness, she cannot go, and there is nothing to hire a horse for, so she is waiting for the arrival of M.M., who slowly hurries, trying to ensure that her last asset does not disappear between her son-in-law and brother. To look strictly like a monk - she is doing something wrong; but if you look from the side of human weakness, from which none of us is free, then you will think and say something different; they say, you can’t do without it. Human weakness is tricky, and resilient, and stubborn; a person wants to move forward, but weakness, you see, hinders him, and “what comes out is not the right thing, and sometimes the wrong thing.” The parable of resistance is a tricky one. You write that the late M. Abbess completely excluded such people from the monastery, but we need to follow the example of those who were truly deceased, and not those who were troubled in their lives. You know this better, but I don’t know how it happened. Sorry. The sinful verb has grown in considerable breadth, but it will be reduced by your condescension according to what has been said: the merciful will have mercy, and the merciful will receive leniency. 147. INSTRUCTION: PATIENTLY ENDURE DISORDERS IN THE monastery I receive your letters, but it was inconvenient and unnecessary to answer. I sympathize with you in your sorrows amid the inconvenience and disorder of the monastery. However, wait for God’s mercy until the Lord deigns to change the state of affairs of your monastery. He alone knows everything and He alone controls everything, either by His direct omnipotent will, or by providential permission for reasons only fully known to Him, but only partially known to people; partly this is for our sins and for living a life inconsistent with our calling. He Himself, through the prophet Amos, says (see Amos 3:6): there is no evil in the city, which I have not created evil, that is, disaster. Also, the Apostle Paul writes: If our unrighteousness constitutes God's righteousness... is God unrighteous and inflicting wrath? (Rom. 3:5). I think you yourself remember the church story: when one holy presbyter prayed to God to deliver him from a bishop who was aggravating the city with various incomparable disorders, in response to his fervent prayer he heard a voice: “This city needed an even worse bishop.” My sinful opinion: if each of the members, or at least many who make up your society, instead of grumbling, turned to God with fervent prayer and confession of their infirmities, and the desire to continue to be directed towards the paths of monasticism according to strength and opportunity, then it would seem that the All-Good Lord would rather be pleased to change the main cause of the present hardship and inconvenience and excessive general sorrow, because, as you yourself hear, your deeds in the past are already known. city of St. Peter. But it is clear that the call from above for a decision and change has not yet followed. May the Lord strengthen you in Gospel patience and give you peace and tranquility in the midst of inconvenience and confusion. I advise you, although it is not easy, to leave behind human claims and apologies, and turn for help to the One God, the Knower of the Heart, the One who can change and arrange everything, as He Himself knows, beyond human aspirations and expectations. Saint Chrysostom, in his letters to Olympias, says that God only begins to show His power when all human considerations become impoverished, and hopelessness is ready to appear, let us not, according to the word of the Apostle, hope in ourselves, but in the living God, who raises the dead. I ask you to pray for me, a sinner who speaks and does not do. 148. ABOUT THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH Sister in the Lord and spiritual child. On the 17th [6], instead of the usual congratulations, I write to you a word of Scripture that says (Proverbs 9:1): Wisdom built for herself a house and established seven pillars. The wisdom of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, founded His Holy Church on the seven Sacraments. The first of them is the Priesthood, without which the other Sacraments cannot be performed. The second is Baptism, in which the baby is washed from the sins of his parents, and the adult from his own, being reborn into spiritual life. The third Sacrament is Confirmation, by which the darkened image of God in man is restored, since he who is reborn through the Sacrament of Baptism through Confirmation is sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that he is strong not only to resist the machinations of the enemy, but can perform every virtue. The fourth Sacrament is Communion, through which a person is united with God, if only he worthily approaches this Sacrament of Holy Communion, because a strict righteous man daily has at least seven shortcomings, although unimportant, according to what has been said: and a righteous man falls seven times. How much more necessary is the fifth Sacrament, Repentance, for one who has not yet reached the degree of righteousness, but is still struggling with the passions and lusts of the old man, fought and tempted along with the original and irreconcilable enemy of humanity. The sixth Sacrament is Marriage. Although we have chosen a celibate life, we must honor the honesty of Marriage, because we were born from honest Orthodox parents who took care to make us participants in the said Sacraments. The seventh Sacrament is the Blessing of Anointing, through which sins forgotten due to human weakness are forgiven and mental and physical illnesses are healed. Here is for you, child, on the day of your Angel a legend about the Mysteries of the Wisdom of God, since your name also means wisdom, but one that has not yet been freed from the admixture of human sophistication. 149. ADVICE: DON’T LEAVE ADVANCE FOR PRIVACY [7] Sister in the Lord!.. I want to tell you a few soul-helping words. I know that you have long desired and longed for silence and solitude. But be patient and work together with Father I. in caring for and instructing the sisters of the community. It is true that silence and solitude provide great convenience for prayer to the soul that thirsts for it. But, according to the patristic word, prayer is a private virtue, and love is a universal virtue. God is also called love, according to what has been said: God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. No one can sow more love, but whoever lays down his life for his friends. And again: love your neighbor and fulfill the whole law. There is no fulfillment of the law. And again: we are not looking for our own, but for the essence of our neighbor. Therefore, work more with the sisters, living in the community; and there, after, when God’s will is done, you will live in silence and solitude. 150. DO NOT LIVE AS YOU WANT, BUT AS GOD LEADS ...I received news that you are going to N, probably to set up a silent cell for yourself, and maybe for other reasons. While you are in silence and in silence, do not forget me, a sinner, and pray for me constantly in the turmoil of today, and especially in times of bodily weakness - you yourself know how inconvenient this is, from your own experience. But what to do? There is a wise old word from experienced people: “Don’t live as you want, but live as God leads.” The Lord knows better than we do what is more useful for us, and what we can contain and what we cannot contain. Especially, I think about myself that I am incapable of silence. There are few such blessed people who, being always on a journey and having nowhere to lay their heads, according to the Gospel word, observe deep silence and are not indignant at any cramped conditions and needs, nor bonds, nor prison, and thirst for sorrows and suffering, and complain as if they have nothing to endure. But I, a sinner, and being in great consolation, relax and have no patience. Pray for me, that the Lord will raise me up, in the image of destinies, to true repentance and proper preparation for the future life. This age passes, but the word of the Lord remains forever. I hear that you were offended to the point of illness, and a great illness, for the reason that one sister had to be expelled from your community. Although this is regrettable, very regrettable, you cannot force anyone to salvation. The earthly king is great, and almost everything submits to him. But there is a proverb: “The king has his own will.” The Lord Himself does not force a person’s will, although He admonishes in many ways. Let us take care of others according to our strength, and leave everything else to the Lord God. Some interpreters of the Holy Scripture explain that the Lord cried a lot in the Garden of Gethsemane on the last night, especially because he knew that few would take advantage of His suffering on the cross, and that most, out of foolishness and out of their evil and stubborn will, would deviate in the opposite direction. 151. FAILURES SHOULD BE ENDURED WITH JOY May you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His strength!.. May your soul rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed us with the robe of salvation and clothed us with the robe of joy; and speaks to us through the apostle (1 Thess. 5:16): Rejoice always... In everything give thanks: this is the will of God. The apostolic words clearly show that it is more beneficial for us to always rejoice, and not to lose heart when we encounter failures; We can rejoice only when we thank God for the fact that the failures that occur humble us, and, as if involuntarily, force us to resort to Him and humbly ask for His help and intercession. And when we do this, then the psalm word of Saint David will be fulfilled for us: remember God and rejoice. The other day I received a letter from a simple city woman who writes about herself like this: “I am a girl, and a girl of good rules, only I have one sin: I grumble!” I know that in your community there live girls of good rules, do they also have this sin? And if there is, then at least they confessed it, like this simple girl. 152. GOOD INTENTION IS IMPOSED INTO GOOD I sent you the story “Krasnobay” for Cheese Week (or Maslenitsa), but since the mail is late, I think that you received this story in the first week of Lent, and therefore it came out very inopportunely. I apologize for the inappropriate and untimely treat. Many human affairs are like this. We think and assume one thing, but something else comes out. There is only one thing where there is no mistake: if a person strives to fulfill the will of God in every task at hand, then even if he does not receive visible success in this task, the All-Good Lord imputes his good intention to him in the work itself. If, according to the word of St. Isaac the Syrian, the perfection of those who are perfect is imperfect, then even more so the deeds of ordinary people are devoid of perfection, but are accomplished with many errors and oversights. However, in no case should one become discouraged or be sad and grieve beyond measure, but hope and trust that God’s grace, which replenishes what is lacking, and God’s omnipotent help are strong enough to bring everything to a useful end. It is not in vain that the Lord says in the Holy Gospel: without Me you cannot do anything, and again: what is impossible with man, everything is possible with God. ...So, thank God, I, weak and sinful, somehow spent the first week of Great Lent, and it was always not without difficulty for me; How will the Lord help you continue further? Infirmity and weakness, and fatigue and exhaustion, and also laziness and negligence, these are my companions! And my constant presence is with them. 153. DISGRACES SHOULD BE ACCEPTED WITH GRATITUDE I hear that you were sick, and the illness happened to you so quickly that you decided to immediately confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries and receive special holy oil. And from such an immediate and fleeting illness, one might say, a one-day illness, you later experienced a great change in your face and relative weakness in your body. May the All-Good Lord have mercy on you and everyone living with you, and may he help you in the future not to take so warmly to your heart the sorrows and troubles that you encounter, which almost bring you closer to death, while you are also needed for the spiritual benefit of the sisters of the community and monastery N. I will not convince you to be complacent and generous with the words of Scripture, which I have repeated to you many times; but now I’ll just cite a proverb or saying of one cheerful and good-natured person who had the custom, in such cases, to repeat: “Sidor and Karp live in Kolomna, but sin and misfortune never happen to anyone.” And this man, despite the many changes and upheavals in his life, always remained complacent and cheerful, but he was worldly, and we are monks who doomed ourselves to all sorrow. I know that you are offended not by sorrows, but by those cases about which the holy Apostle Paul writes like this: If anyone is tempted, I will not be liquefied (2 Cor. 11:29). But let us cast our sorrow upon the Lord, and He is able to strengthen and calm us, and arrange what is beneficial and saving for all who are with us. Even if such circumstances happened, about which the apostle writes: If an unbeliever is absent, let him be separated (1 Cor. 7:15). Let us surrender everything and all such to the will of God, and to their own will. The late Optina Archimandrite Father Moses, a wise and spiritually experienced man, used to say in such cases: “Our business is to provide a person with the means of salvation, but whether he is saved or not is up to you to see.” 154. ADVICE REGARDING NURSING HOUSE PLAN N. N. once wrote to me that you intend to build a large building for nurses. And I, it seems, have already told you that I have a weakness for construction, and therefore I could not resist giving you advice so that you should not build a large building the way hotels are usually built. In such a building it is impossible to avoid noise and disturbance, which make it impossible for anyone to live in this building with spiritual benefit. In our monastery there is an ancient building, built about sixty years ago, the location of which I really like, as it is very convenient for the peace of the living. I am sending you a plan from this building. It is built as follows: first, two logs of 10 arshins of wood were cut down (each log was 20 arshins) and placed with their ends facing each other. Between them there is a 4 arshin corridor (under No. 1), for the entrance from the monastery. From this corridor there are two doors to enter the cells - to the right and to the left. Under No. 2 - opposite all the cells - there should be an open porch where the sisters can do handicrafts during the summer and one of them can read a book to everyone. Under No. 3 are three entrances from the monastery. At No. 4 there is a descent from the porch into the courtyard and a staircase to the attic. Doors are indicated by three dashes, and windows are indicated by two dashes. The stoves are designated so that each cell has one side of the stove. The furnace firebox should be from the front. And one of the cells will be a passage. Some windows will be on the porch. Where the gates to the courtyard are located next to these walls, you can make closets for the sisters. Here is my proposal, and you, by common consent, do what you find best. The entire body must be 44 arshins in length. 155. WE SHOULD CARRY TRIVILESS WITH PATIENCE Peace and God's blessing to you and every affirmation in righteousness and truth. It is not in vain that Scripture says: There is peace for many who love Your law, and there is no temptation for them (Ps. 119:165). And again: the Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace (Ps. 28:11). And again: The Lord will not deprive the good who walk in kindness (Ps. 83:12). And again, after His resurrection, the Lord spoke with His most pure lips to His disciples: Peace (My) I leave with you, My peace I give to you (John 14:27). But on the other hand, the same Holy Scripture says: through many tribulations it is fitting for us to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). And again: in your patience gain your souls (Luke 21:19). To harmonize these words, the holy, God-wise and God-inspired fathers say: even the most dispassionate cannot help but grieve, if not for themselves, then for others. Have peace of mind, and endure - endure, both for yourself and for others. Patience, according to the words of Saint Gregory of Sinaiti, and silence in the storm. Yesterday I began this letter, and today, April 15, on the feast of the Myrrh-Bearing Women and the Graceful Joseph, having been honored to receive communion of the Holy and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ, I continue to write the letter I began[8]. It was not for nothing that I made such a beginning to the letter, but, knowing that you now have a lot of troubles and worries, I wished to support your complacency and good courage with the word of God and the word of the patristic people. Here, on earth, there are works and exploits, and there, in the future life, there is reward, where everyone will receive their reward according to their labor, raised both for the sake of the salvation of their soul and for the sake of the spiritual benefit of their neighbors. Blessed is he who can say with boldness: Behold, I and the children whom God hath given unto me (Heb. 2:13). Pray for me, a sinner, so that the apostolic word will not come true on me: teach others, or teach yourself. And again the Lord Himself says in the Gospel: whoever... will destroy the one of these little commandments... he will be called in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19). Woe to me, a sinner! I speak and preach to others about lofty and great things, but I myself do not even touch with my finger what I speak and write about. You strive for silence, but for me, the damned one, rumor has become beyond my strength, it’s become a great burden, and I’ll hardly be able to achieve silence, and finally, how can I get rid of rumor? The matter is tricky and not entirely convenient. You will think and think, and you will say with a sigh: may the will of the Lord be done for me, a sinner. I would like to live better, but mental and physical relaxation interferes. I ask you to pray for me and B.O.I., and others who know my badness. (Father Ambrose's note Peace be with you all! It would be good for us too! 156. YOU MUST CARRY YOUR CROSS – MANAGEMENT OF THE monastery Peace to you and God's blessing and every affirmation in the truth! It is not in vain that it is said in the inspired psalms: there is much peace for those who love Your law and there is no temptation for them, although it is also said: many are the sorrows of the righteous, but it is added that I the Lord will deliver from them all (Ps. 33:20). And again: Because of the multitude of illnesses in my heart, Your consolations gladdened my soul (Ps. 93:19). And the Lord Himself in the Gospel says: be of good cheer, daughter, your faith will save you... go into the world (Matthew 9:22). And you, sister and mother, walk the path set before you without looking back, even if there is sorrow ahead and you encounter obstacles and various difficulties. In a difficult situation, for your confirmation, always repeat the word of the Lord Himself: whoever does not accept his cross and comes after Me is not worthy of Me... having endured to the end, he will be saved (Matthew 11:38; 10:22). Your Gospel cross is the responsibility placed on you by God’s Providence to take care of the organization of community N and the sisters living in it. And since this matter is associated with a lot of work and cannot be corrected without illness, physical and mental, I am writing a message to you in this way in order to encourage your spirit and excite you to zealously engage in your work. I have written to you more than once and now I will repeat the apostolic word that everyone will receive a reward for their work. There is no greater work than laying down your soul for your neighbors, which proves great love for them, without which, even if a person gave up his body to be burned, he would not receive any benefit. Love covers many sins - both our own and others. I hear from my sister and mother that your health is not quite good and you notice a decline in your bodily strength due to the various mental afflictions you encounter. But take heart, sister in the Lord, and let your heart be strong! The Lord is strong to give us His all-powerful help and to alleviate our difficult situation, as He Himself declares in His Holy Gospel: Come to Me, you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). You must be grieving too much, sister. I was going to write you a short letter, but it was not short. Therefore, it is necessary. (The end is lost.) 157. INSTRUCTION TO THE VANITY AND PROUD. ABOUT GEESE AND DUCKS Recently they gave me a carpet with beautiful pictures of ducks on it. I regretted that they didn’t think of putting out the geese right away, since there was still a lot of space left on the carpet. This thought came to me because the properties and actions of ducks and geese well depict the properties and actions of passions - vanity and pride. Vanity and pride, although of the same origin and the same property, but their action and signs are different. Vanity tries to catch the praise of people and for this it often humiliates itself and pleases people: and pride breathes contempt and disrespect for others, although it also loves praise. A vain person, if he has a plausible and beautiful appearance, then pretenses himself like a drake and boasts of his beauty, although he is often baggy and awkward, just like a drake. If the one overcome by vanity does not have a good appearance and other good qualities, then in order to catch praise he pleases people and shouts like a duck: “So! So!”, when in fairness and in reality it is not always so, and he himself is often internally disposed differently, but out of cowardice he adds. The goose, when something doesn’t go his way, raises his wings and shouts: “Kaga! Kago! Likewise, a proud person, if he has any significance in his circle, often raises his voice, shouts, argues, objects, insists on his opinion. If someone who is sick with pride in his environment does not have any weight and significance, then out of inner anger he hisses at others, like a goose sitting on eggs, and bites whomever he can bite. I began to write this explanation for the sisters of community N, and then I thought that it would be suitable for others, because all of us, quite often, are more or less afflicted with vanity and pride. And nothing hinders success in spiritual life more than these passions. Where there is indignation, or disagreement, or discord, if you look carefully, it will turn out that love of fame and pride are mostly to blame. Therefore, the Apostle Paul commands, saying: We are not vain, annoying one another, envious of one another (Gal. 5:26). Envy and hatred, anger and resentment are common offspring of vanity and pride. The Monk Macarius of Egypt also denotes the chain itself - how these passions are linked to one another and one gives birth to the other. He writes in the book “Seven Words”: “Hatred comes from anger, anger from pride, and pride from pride” (word 1, chapter 8). And the Lord in the Gospel directly declares that those who do good for the sake of glory and praise will receive their reward here. Likewise, those who practice virtue with pride and condemnation of others are rejected by God, as the Gospel parable of the publican and the Pharisee shows. And blessed humility, as stated in the same parable, justifies the faulty and sinful before God. This is the explanation given by the clawed goose and the grouse duck. But it is not in vain that the Orthodox Church, enumerating God’s creations, animate and inanimate, repeatedly repeats the song to the Lord: “By wisdom you have created all things.” To our God be glory, honor and worship: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. 158. CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD IS BADLY LIKE TALKING WITH A BLIND MAN ABOUT FLOWERS ...I will say about myself that by the grace of God, through the prayers of those who pray for me, a sinner, I am alive, but I don’t know how to tell you about my weaknesses. In the mornings it can be hard, and then again you seem to get tired, but I always talk to the point of fatigue with the children and children who come. But somehow the word of God doesn’t fit well with us; we interpret and interpret, but we understand poorly, like a blind man who was told about the color white. Hearing about it, the blind man asked: “What color is white, what does it look like?” They answered the blind man: “White is like a white hare.” The blind man asked: “What? Is he as fluffy?” - "No! White color, like white flour! And the blind man says: “Well! Is it as soft and crumbly?” - "No! White as white as snow." - “What? Is he as cold? - "No! - they objected to the blind man. “The white color is like pure white cottage cheese.” - “What? Is it just as raw?”... They interpreted and interpreted with the blind man, but did not get the real meaning. This often happens to us. We interpret and interpret, but we can’t get to the real meaning; or we poorly understand, or we do not firmly accept, or we judge spiritual things in an earthly and worldly way, and not according to the teaching of the Gospel. We want to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and be with Christ, but we do not deign to labor and suffer for Christ. From them I am the first. I talk to everyone about great and lofty things and teach everyone, but I myself don’t want to lift a finger. Woe to me, a sinner! Pray for me, sister and mother, so that this idle teaching of others will not be a judgment or burden for me. I feel cramped everywhere. I would avoid it, but I don’t know and I’m perplexed how. Those coming and coming do not stop, and they bother you with sorrow. On the other hand, there is also the danger of an incapable slave who hid his talent for words in the land of negligence. I know, God-loving sister, that you too would willingly evade the burden of authority and hide in silence - to listen to yourself and your salvation. But what will happen without you to the young and inexperienced sisters who have gathered in community N to save their souls? Therefore, be patient, sister, and work for the Lord, bearing the infirmities and burdens of the weak, so that one day these too, by the mercy and help of God, will be strengthened and come into spiritual strength, so that through this you can, at that time, say to the Lord: Behold, I and my children whom you have given to me. 159. ADVICE ABOUT CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND REMINDER OF THE PARABLE OF THE GEESE AND DUCKS ...I forgot to write to you before that I saw your bricks. One was brought to me for show by your N travelers. The bricks are good in finishing and will be advantageous in size. In your area, it is more profitable to produce brick buildings than wooden ones. Yes, they are stronger and last longer; Only during construction you need to rise higher from the ground, otherwise the housing will be either damp and cold, or fumes. You hastened to plaster your church. It won't be good. Contractors should not be trusted in everything, especially when they are looking for work. They will take the money and leave, and their business will end up causing trouble for the owner. We had a wooden chapel in our monastery, and it was made of good, thick wood, but in the first years, instead of plaster, it was upholstered with white calico, and when the calico darkened a little from dust, then, it seems, in the third year, it was painted over with white paint, and so the church looked very good for several years, and then, when the opportunity presented itself, the walls were plastered. Plaster is more necessary where the structure is made of poor wood. I began to write about bricks with the goal that you should take care in the coming autumn to prepare brick sheds, so that in the spring you can immediately prepare and make more bricks, from which you can later make the necessary buildings. Greetings in the Lord to N and the other sisters of the community. I ask that they not forget the parable of the geese and ducks, and avoid the infirmities of the geese and ducks, or at least not make excuses for them, but confess and repent. I ask all of you for the prayers of the saints about my thinness and malfunction. May the All-merciful Lord have mercy on all of us, for the prayers of those who are pleasing and pleasing to Him and who boldly pray for us sinners. (Handwritten note). Mati! Don’t be discouraged, but trust in God’s mercy and help, and remember me, a sinner, in your prayers! And what? Goose and loon? What's the pair? But they swim in the same water! 160. THROUGH MANY TROUBLES IS IT ESSENTIAL FOR US TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD ... Things are going badly for me, and I don’t understand why. Quite a few remain dissatisfied: either because of the multitude of people, or because of my clumsiness. I change my shoes and change my shoes, and that’s where most of the time passes. And then I caught a cold in my teeth and cheeks, sitting in the forest in a wooden box with legs, and talking with people who came. It was quite windy and cold. What are you doing and how are you managing your affairs? Although the ancient people were very simple, their sayings were very wise and thorough. Don’t live as you want, but as God leads. It won’t be long before anyone moves around this little saying without difficulty. Somehow, in reality, everything turns out - wait and wait, and wait a little more, and look around, and gather your wits, and along with your wallet. About a year ago I heard from one merchant: “Often it’s not the soul that can, but the money.” This was spoken by a conscientious and very truthful man; and his circumstances are rather bad and cramped. And all this comes down to the fact that the path leading into the belly is narrow and sorrowful (Matthew 7:14), and that through many sorrows it is fitting for us to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). And it is not in vain that the Lord says in the Gospel: He did not come to bring peace on earth, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). And Saint John Climacus adds: “to separate the peace-loving from the God-loving, the glory-loving from the humble.” Greetings in the Lord N N. ...Choristers, singing and reading, cell sisters, cooking and walking, sweeping and restless, but not lacking in faith and hope. (Copyright from Father Ambrose. Will your church soon be wondrous in truth. 161. ABOUT THE CONSECTION OF THE CHURCH AND ABOUT SOME TROUBLES Having received news from L. that Vladyka N had arrived in N, I expected further news about his arrival in N and about the consecration of the N church. And yesterday evening, September 18, I received a notification from L. that the consecration of your church was completed safely and solemnly. I congratulate all the inhabitants of N on this great joy and on the long-awaited spiritual consolation. It’s just a pity that you, mother, greeted this celebration with a pain in your head and an illness in your leg, and Father N not only could not serve due to toothache, but also did not appear to the Lord; although this, on the one hand, is sad, but on the other, it can be useful: we will be more humble and we will not soon forget this incident... Glory and thanksgiving to the Lord that the fire that had begun in the refectory was soon extinguished. God grant that every other unpleasant fire will soon be extinguished, so as not to give the village children a reason to repeat the old song: “Burn, burn hot, Zakharka is riding, himself on a horse, his wife on a cow, children on calves.” Apparently, this song is stupid, but it was composed not without a reason or reason. And I wrote this to you after spiritual consolation for simple laughter. If Father N could not serve due to toothache, then who is serving the liturgy in your newly consecrated church now? According to church regulations, at the first time after the consecration of the throne, at least no less than forty liturgies should be served on it. 162. THE LORD SENDS SICKNESS TO BOARDS SO THAT THEY MAY CONDENSATE TO THE WICKEDNESS OF THEIR SUBJECTS L. writes (dated October 1) that your health is still not improving. What to do; although it is inconvenient for a person in charge to be sick, for the sake of inconvenience to management, but the Lord knows better than us what is more useful for us. He created and creates all things with wisdom. The Lord allowed the chief apostles, one to renounce, and to the other, the imprudent zeal of persecution, so that later they would be lenient towards the weak in spirit. So, I think, even now the Lord allows sickness to those in authority, so that they may have mercy on their weak and sick subordinates. Otherwise, bosses who are healthy in body often do not believe their subordinates when they explain to him any physical weakness or illness. It is not in vain that Saint David says in the psalms: You have passed through fire and water and brought us to rest. In addition to the well-known circumstances of martyrdom, physical illness often burns the sick body like fire and pours copious perspiration like water. But it is even more difficult for the sick person when his physical illness occurs not only from physical causes, but also from internal sorrows, and in this case the sick person experiences extreme anguish. But Saint David, having experienced all the sorrows, cried out to the Lord: Because of the multitude of my illnesses in my heart, Your consolations have made my soul glad (Ps. 93:19). And the Apostle Paul writes: for the Lord loves him and punishes him: he beats every son whom he accepts (Heb. 12:6). And again, having received many bodily wounds, unfairly inflicted on him, the holy apostle wrote: but even if our outer man decays, yet the inner man is renewed all the days (2 Cor. 4:16). I hope, sister, that what is said in Scripture will come true for you, through the mercy and help and intercession of our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who prays for us through the prayers. The Lord says in the Gospel: sick... beh, and visited Me (Matthew 25: 35–36). In this letter, I am going to visit and console you, the sick one, although the yard is damp and dirty, and I myself feel rheumatic pains throughout my body, even sometimes in my hands. But the post office will deliver the letter, it does not know colds, although postmen sometimes freeze their feet. 163. YOU SHOULD NOT FEAR FOR THE FUTURE, BUT YOU SHOULD TRUST IN THE LORD L., in a letter dated October 13, writes that you are now fine and all your sorrows have passed. I'm very happy about this. Only you are afraid of something in the future. If the present is good, then the future will be good. The Lord does not say in vain in the Holy Gospel, encouraging us: Fear not, little flock: for it is your (Heavenly) Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Therefore, let us strengthen ourselves with faith and hope that the Lord is able to arrange for us all that is good and useful. If sometimes we have to endure something sorrowful and painful, at that time we repeat to ourselves the words of St. Ephraim: “Pain is more painful than illness, but illness is fleeting than vain illnesses.” And the holy apostle writes: the sufferings of this present time will make us the burden of eternal glory (2 Cor. 4:17). For this reason, Saint James, the brother of God, advises us to rejoice in the sorrows and sorrows that we find, so that the psalm word may be fulfilled for us: rejoice in the righteous in the Lord. And sinners like me - let us transfer this to the cleansing of our sins. This is how our matter will be balanced. I greet in the Lord NN and others, singers and non-singers, and all those who work in simplicity of heart and faithfully carry out their obedience, and to those who grumble I wish correction in this grave weakness. 164. OBEDIENCE BEFORE SACRIFICE I inform you and those with you that I am alive by the grace of God... albeit with autumn hardships. For some reason, news from you has been slow, perhaps due to worries about the consecration of the church, or due to some other blessed fault, then that’s okay, we’ll wait. If for other testing reasons, then we will endure, remembering what is said in the Gospel: in your patience gain your souls (Luke 21:19). Moreover, you can have peace of mind in the fact that you did not take up the work of the community yourself, but accepted this burden as obedience. Obedience, as it is said, is better than fasting and prayer; and again: obedience rather than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), and again: I want mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 12:7). I know that you are zealous for fulfilling the law of Christ, and the Apostle Paul writes in his Epistles: Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). It is true that it is not easy to endure these hardships, but for those who want to be saved, the Lord says in the Gospel: whoever wants to be in you, let him be the servant of all, and whoever wants to be first among you, be your slave. All this is easy to say and write, but it is difficult to fulfill, but there is nowhere to go, hearing what was said from the Lord Himself (Matthew 5:19): Whoever destroys one of these little commandments... he will be called in the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, take heart, God-loving sister, and let your heart be strong in the Lord, and together pray for me, a sinner who speaks and does not do. Without doing anything, it is inconvenient to speak, and it is dangerous to remain silent when hearing reproach to a lazy slave. But you, who are zealous and loving of God, listen and work with patience and long-suffering, and your reward will be plentiful in heaven. 165. PULLS ASK FORGIVENESS Yesterday I received an apology letter from three of your interpretations. There were previously up to five of them; N wrote that there are four, but only three are asking for forgiveness. 166. ABOUT NOBICE C: SHOULD NOT RUN FROM SERVING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Again and again let us pray to the Lord in peace; about the heavenly world and about the salvation of our souls and the good standing of the sisters in the church, and about other things that are beneficial to all of us. The other day S, the son of a certain old woman of yours, came with a letter from you. Our father, the abbot, although reluctantly, agreed for us to accept him into the monastery (at our discretion). If S. behaves decently, then he can live with us; It’s just that the hair on his head is so intricate that you rarely see it. However, the actual case will better show what and how. Livny residents are used to saying: “The pusher will show you the flour.” How is your health, Mother N? And I will say about myself that I go through my days not without burden and compulsion. Involuntarily we have to remember the Gospel word: the Kingdom of Heaven is in need and the needy delight it. To the thief and after the words of the Savior (Luke 23:33): today you will be with me in paradise, his legs were broken, and he hung on his hands alone, suffering for several hours, and the hours of hanging on his hands with broken legs were not easy, as anyone can understand. These words, in view of the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ, seem to be inappropriate, but the bright holiday of the Resurrection of Christ is preceded by Holy Week. And in general, on Sundays the service is filled mostly with the remembrance of the sufferings of Christ. Therefore, not without reason, ordinary people often say: “Christ suffered and commanded us.” And it is written about the prophet Moses that he deigned better to suffer with the people of God; and some people are confused by all their thoughts to run away from the people of God. But Saint David, having experienced everything, cried out to the Lord: I will go from Your Spirit, and I will flee from Your presence (Ps. 139:7). And the Lord Himself in the Gospel says: whoever does not accept his cross and comes after Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 11:22), and again: no one has greater love than this, but whoever lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13). They came to confess, and I am finishing the letter. 167. HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS Congratulations on entering the New Year. I sincerely wish you and everyone living in N a peaceful and soul-healthy life in these days. On New Year, various people came to me with congratulations, and one visiting person told the following: on New Year, students came to the teacher with congratulations and he greeted them like this: “Children! And I congratulate you on the New Year and on the New Year I wish you to be smarter.” The students answered the teacher innocently: “We wish the same for you.” The children's simple-minded answer came in very handy. It is useful for all teachers and students to be smarter and try to act more prudently after making old mistakes. But somehow this science is not given quickly. Requires a lot of patience and coercion; first of all, attention and humility, humility and obedience to the commandments of God and obedience to elders. Once a gentleman asked our late eighty-year-old archimandrite Father Moses, what is most difficult in the monastery? The experienced elder answered: “With us it is most difficult to “obey”” (and, it must be, when it comes to drinking tea). So, for forty years, living in a monastery, I pleased my sick belly with tea, but it kept hurting and hurting, and did not calm down at all, but became even more irritated. It was not in vain that Saint John Climacus wrote: “The more you please the body, the more it will rage, and the more it will bother you.” Temperate people are mostly healthy, and intemperate people are mostly sick. The first, if by the special Providence of God they are also unhealthy, then at least they find consolation in a calm conscience, which does not reproach them for intemperance, which causes relaxation, and for other things related to spiritual life. It would be good for the one who says this to be smarter in advance at least in this New Year. 168. SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED BY THE FACT THAT SINNERS ARE PROSPERATE AND THE RIGHTEOUS ARE DISTURBED Last year you were always sick; at least she was healthier in the new one. And then N writes that you still suffer from pain in your leg, so on R.H. I had great difficulty in going to church. It is not in vain that Scripture says about the unthinkable destinies of God: lower than your ways are My ways... but as the heavens are distant from the earth, so is My way distant from your ways (Is. 55: 8-9). Before receiving the letter from N, on January 7, with little leisure, I opened the “Spiritual Alphabet” of St. Demetrius of Rostov and a place was opened in the 3rd part where it is said that all the saints spent their lives in sorrows and sorrows, while many of the sinners prosper. Looking at this, Saint David says: because I was jealous of the lawless world of sinners in vain; and the prophet Jeremiah cries out: for the way of the wicked will be sung (Jer. 12:1). We hear the answer to this in the Holy Scriptures: having blessed men, for whom is this: but blessed are men, for whom is the Lord their God. The Lord knows better than we do what is best for us. I will say about myself that in the mornings I also feel a great heaviness, as if pounds were hanging on me. And there is nothing to do - nowhere to go. 169. THERE IS NOTHING TO COME TO THE COURT OF GOD BEHIND THE FUNCTIONS OF THIS LIFE I haven’t written to you for a long time under the pretext that you are in N, but I didn’t think of writing there, and I didn’t really have the leisure. More than usual this winter, I reported from many visitors, and perhaps because, little by little, physical weakness increases, and with physical weakness, mental weakness also increases, according to what was said: the body is weak, the soul is weak, and I poorly resort to the Queen of Heaven under the pretext of lack of time. If you look carefully, it turns out that this happens due to a lack of diligence. From early morning until late evening, rumors and rumors and talk are only about everyday things, while worries and concerns about the spiritual and heavenly remain on the sidelines. But just see that death will come. What should you bring to God's judgment? There is only one hope in God’s mercy and in the prayers of those praying for me, a sinner. But I myself am poor, and naked, and wretched from good deeds. Words alone are not accepted for good reason, according to what has been said: the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power, that is, we need to fulfill in deed what is prescribed to us. 170. BEFORE THE ADVANCE OF FOUR COSTS Most honorable B.O.I., and most honorable mother N, and all the sisters living in community N and belonging to community N! The cheese week is already ending, when all Orthodox Christians, preparing to enter the Holy Pentecost, ask each other for forgiveness, for which, due to human weakness, they are guilty of each other, willy-nilly or unwillingly. I apologize to you all for how I may have unintentionally annoyed anyone. It is said nowhere: we are all men, and every man is in vain. During cheese week I wanted to rest a little, but they didn’t let me. I saw off and saw off the visitors, and I was more tired than before, and my nerves seemed to become weaker than before. And no matter who we accept, everyone wants to explain more. This doesn’t help matters, and I’m burdened and exhausted. Pray for me, weak and sinful, so that you don’t annoy me and others, and don’t damage your soul. I only try to cover other people’s roofs, but my own spiritual church stands open. Pray that the Lord, who knows the news of destinies, will not deprive His eternal mercy. I greet N and N-..yukha, and I advise them to stay in good spirits in the coming Lenten days. When Basil the Great was still the abbot of the monastery, Gregory the Theologian wrote to him like this: “Oversee your youth when the troparion is found in the church; when Alleluia is sung, it becomes decrepit,” that is, when the troparion was sung, the food was with oil, and when Alleluia was sung, the food was without oil. Such food made the cowardly and despondent. Peace to you all! And your perfume! And ours! The many-sinful hieroschemamonk Ambrose 171. DEATH IS A GOOD END FOR THE SUFFERING ...I received a letter from N, dated March 23, with the news that A.’s mother, after painful suffering, rested peacefully in the Lord. The kingdom of heaven to her! If at her death she was honored to see the mercy of her and our Lord, then there is no doubt that she will always enjoy the sight of our sweetest Redeemer, so merciful to us sinners. The faces of the righteous and saints will joyfully greet the one who has fallen asleep in the Lord. It is difficult to endure severe and painful suffering, and languor, and other sorrows, but a joyful and comforting end will follow. And from the outside it is regrettable to see those suffering in various illnesses and other sorrows, but the good ending brings joy and joy to everyone, especially those close to them. 172. ADVICE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH FOREST CUTTERS I wish you to rejoice in the Risen Lord! Strengthen His strength in the power. It is not in vain that the psalm words are often repeated on the days of Holy Pascha: this day, which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad on it (Ps. 118:24). I hear that you grieve a lot because the N-forest tatiye suffer a lot; They not only cut down your forest, but also threaten you with various threats. Against such threats, let us contrast the psalm word: The Lord is our enlightenment and our Savior, whom shall we fear? The Lord is the protector of our life, from whom shall we be afraid?.. Even if an army takes up arms against us, our heart will not fear: if battle arises against us, we will trust in Him (Ps. 26: 1-3). And again: He who lives, with the help of the Most High, will dwell in the shelter of the Heavenly God... For he trusts in Me, and I will deliver, and... he will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him, and I will show him his salvation (Ps. 90: 1, 14-16). I am writing all this to you so that you do not lose heart and do not grieve beyond measure, and do not become much afraid of the threats of the forest thieves who come in multitudes with axes. We had a similar case two years ago: monastery dachas are adjacent to state-owned forest dachas, where in some places one soldier lives in guardhouses. One guard, noticing the felling, went there on horseback with a spear, a gun and, it seems, a pistol. Having approached quietly, he accidentally stumbled upon the already lying axes. For some reason the men had not yet started chopping, but stood at a distance and talked about something. The smart soldier quietly got off his horse and moved their axes to another place, then got on his horse and rode up to them with a reprimand - why are they cutting down government forests; and the men, of course, answered him in their own way and wanted to drive him away or capture him. There was one soldier, and six men. The guard, being armed, was not afraid and, noticing that one man began to approach from behind, and in order not to completely kill this impudent one, fired a shot right at his feet. The gun was loaded with shot, and the shot hit the man’s feet. This man was ill for a long time, but remained alive and recovered. And now these men are afraid to go to this area and cut down the forest. I am writing all this for this reason: since your guards have guns, they would load them with shot and, in extreme need and necessity, would not shoot except at the legs; then the person will remain alive. Of course, respond to threats with threats through your superiors, and then let these rebels humble themselves at least a little; you also don’t need to grieve much if the damage turns out to be minor. Your entire forest will not be cut down. 173. ABOUT THE CONFIRMATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT TRIVILESS MUST BE ENDURED PATIENTLY I’m writing to you at random in N, maybe my letter will find you there. If you were with P. or in the consistory, you found out in every possible way that community N... was approved... with all real estate. Now, for many reasons, it is timely for the N community to ask for another priest, if not directly, then as if to help N’s father, since the latter is required to travel to N either for the sake of land, or for the sake of placing N there, so that he no longer appears in N and does not mess around. And you and I must strive in the Lord and in the power of His strength and not take uncomfortable encounters and circumstances too much to heart. May the prayers of the great wanderers cover us. They are merciful and compassionate, and they can show those who go astray the real path, and they also feed them milk pudding, although their spoons are not entirely neat. Remember this kulesh when you eat unpleasant stew. No matter how you rush here and there, you will never escape labor. The word of the Lord Himself is not false: you will be sorrowful in the world (John 16:33). This means that we cannot avoid sorrow anywhere in the whole world. Therefore, another Gospel word of the Lord is prescribed: be... wise like a serpent, and your goals like doves (Matthew 10:16); in your patience gain your souls (Luke 21:19); he who endures... to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22). And one more thing: no one has greater love than anyone, even if he lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13). And the apostle writes: Love no longer falls away (1 Cor. 13:8). May we all receive the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Note from Father Ambrose: Amen! Amen! Amen! The many-sinful hieroschemamonk Ambrose. Pray for me, unworthy and faulty, I teach everyone, but I don’t want to do anything myself, but just look at what’s under the table. 174. TEMPTATIONS ARE UNPLEASANT BUT USEFUL ...Somehow your business is going, and what end is it coming to? However, no matter how they go, the word of Scripture does not pass by, saying: in your patience gain your souls; and: he who endures to the end will be saved. “I did not come,” says the Lord, “to bring peace... on the earth, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). Saint John Climacus, explaining these words, says: “To separate the God-loving from the peace-loving, and the humble from the glory-loving.” And those who come to us from the city of Liven often repeat a word, the meaning of which I do not quite clearly understand: “The pusher will show the flour.” It must be that when they pound a Christian man, it will show what kind of torment is in him - the first hand, or the second, or the third. And Saint James, the brother of God, writes that man is unskilled and unskilled. In the proverbs it is read to the monks: “tempt them like gold in the furnace.” Temptations are unpleasant, but useful; and there is nowhere to go from them, according to what was said: you will be in a world of sorrow. This means that in the whole world you will not find a place without sorrow; Everywhere you come to the same conclusion that you need to be patient. There is no other way to get rid of it. My health is constantly weak, and that is why my affairs are not going well, it is noticeable that I am getting weaker. I'm so overwhelmed with letters that I don't have time to read them. 175. A MONK, IF NOT BAPTIZED WITH A CROSS, CANNOT BE A MONK ...I hear that again an illness has appeared in your legs, and illness causes suffering, and suffering requires patience, without which our salvation is not acquired, according to what is said in the Gospel from the Lord Himself: in your patience gain your souls, and having endured to the end, he will be saved. It is true that it is inconvenient for a boss to be in charge when he is physically ill. But the Lord knows better than we do what is more beneficial for us - health or illness. Recently I was sent printed notes from a remarkable nun, which, by the way, say that the Lord said to this nun in a vision: “Just as a Christian baby, unless born by water and the Spirit, cannot be a Christian, so a monk, unless baptized with a cross, cannot be a monk.” I am sending you this brochure in original, from which it is clear that it is impossible to reach the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven without difficulty and inconvenience; That’s why we are commanded to act carefully, as the apostle says: We must bear the weaknesses of the weak and not please ourselves (Rom. 15:1). Take care for yourself, lest you also be tempted (Gal. 6:1). Bear each other's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). May we all receive and improve. Amen. New Year is coming. Whoever can, let him strive to live in a new way in the renewal of the spirit, so that there will be a new creation; and for me, a sinner and one who has made a promise, let him pray, in order to avoid the apostolic reproach: teaching another, teach not yourself. I congratulate all the inhabitants of N on the New Year, and I ask everyone for the prayers of the saints about my thinness and malfunction. 176. ABOUT THE FACT THAT CHRISTIANS DO NOT ACHIEVE PERFECTION Since you are not receiving my letters soon, I congratulate you, and N, and all the sisters of community N in advance on the upcoming all-joyful holiday of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and greet all of you with a joyful Christian greeting: Christ is risen! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen! When this significant greeting is repeated, I ask you to remember me, a sinner, both in church, and at meals, and in cells. I wrote a general greeting for the sisters of some monasteries, and I am sending it to you too. If, at your discretion, it is not suitable to read it on the very holiday of Easter, then you can read it to the sisters at another time. The infirmities mentioned in the letter are found everywhere. Everywhere there will be people who suffer from it. Christians do not suddenly achieve perfection, but until they achieve it they are troubled by one or another weakness or passion. That is why it is said in the Gospel: The Kingdom of Heaven is in need, and the needy women delight it (Matthew 11:12). I ask you all to pray for me, a sinner who speaks and does not do, so that the all-merciful Lord will not make idle verbs a burden to me. I feel cramped everywhere. One should not speak to one who does not do. But I don’t know how to completely shut up. I don’t know how to tell you about my health. By the grace of God I survive day by day, only in the mornings I break down with difficulty, as if chained, feeling cold and unwell throughout my whole body. Thank God for everything. We hear and read: He will reward everyone according to his deed (Matthew 16:27), for arbitrary negligence about proper correction - involuntary ailment and burden, according to what has been said: many are the wounds of the sinner, but mercy will be with him who trusts in the Lord. May Thy mercy, O Lord, marry us all the days of our lives, and let us dwell in the house of the Lord for the length of days, in endless eternity. Amen. 177. YOU SHOULD NOT BE SOLITUDE, BUT YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE OF YOUR SISTERS ...How is your health? And what is the external state of affairs? And what is the inner disposition of the soul? And how do you feel when you interact with people, and when you are alone in silence? It should be - do not rush to retire, but first take care of the monastery and the sisters, whom it is no small fear to leave completely, and to diligently take care of them shows a sign of true love, about which the apostle writes like this: if I give up my body to be burned, but love is not imam, there is no benefit for me. Love is long-suffering, merciful... does not seek its own (1 Cor. 13: 3-5). If the Son of God was obedient until death on the cross, what will we say about ourselves when a thought comes that confuses us with solitude and abandonment of concerns about the monastery and the sisters. I repeat that leaving all this is no small fear. St. Maximus the Confessor says that fear must be dissolved by love, and love by fear, and without this there will be either hatred or contempt. The mutual dissolution of them, fear and love, constitutes true virtue. Pray for me, who speaks and does not create. 178. GREETINGS HAPPY PENTECOST. THE CASE OF A MONK WHO STOP RECEIVING THE HOLY MYSTERIES On the eve of Holy Pentecost, I kindly greet you with a festive greeting with the church proclamation: “We celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit, and the offering of promise, and the fulfillment of hope, and the sacrament is great, as it is great and honest. The Holy Spirit gives everything, sharpens prophecies, priests perform, teach unbooked wisdom, fishermen show theologians, the whole church council gathers, Consubstantial and co-throne, Father and Son, Comforter, glory to Thee.” Whoever is in the church of God can proclaim: “In Your courts I will sing praises to You, the Savior of the world, and bow my knees, I will pray to Your invincible power, evening, and morning, and noon, and at all times I will bless You, Lord.” And the one sitting in the cell and mostly lying down - how and what will he sing? I ask the inhabitants of the monastery N to pray for the lying man, so that according to the message of fate, the All-Good Lord will have mercy on me, a sinner and unworthy. P.S. In our monastery, an eighty-year-old hieromonk read the Bible and stopped partaking of the Holy Mysteries, and remained in this situation for more than five years. No one's convictions could dissuade him from his false opinion. One brother had the good idea to take away his Bible, and this taking away greatly helped the matter, of course, with the help of God. With his memory weakening, he could no longer object and agreed to join, and a few months later he died peacefully. His name is Vitaly. Pray for him. 179. IT IS NECESSARY TO TAKE TIME WITH REMOVING FROM INSTITUTION. IN A COURT CASE, FOLLOW THE WORDS OF THE SAVIOR: “IF ANYONE WANTS TO BE TRIALED” Peace be upon you and God's blessing and every affirmation of patience and long-suffering, for which the imams have great need, and may we graciously endure everything that comes our way and everything that happens to us. Be patient, wait a little longer, sister and mother; The Lord is merciful, wait a while, your cross, which God has placed on you, will be lightened! You yourself firmly know what the Lord Himself said in the Gospel: greater love than anyone can give, even if someone lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13), and again: I want mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 12:7). Recently I was given a small book in which I read a wonderful passage from Chrysostom, where he writes: “Notice the difference in virtues: mercy without virginity elevated those who had it to heaven, but virginity without mercy could not do this. Virginity is a good and supernatural thing; but even this good, great and sublime deed, not being combined with love for mankind, cannot even lead into the threshold of the bridal chamber” (“Conversation about the Prophet Elijah”), and again it is said in Scripture: blessed is he who has seed in Zion, that is, spiritual children in the Jerusalem above. I have written to you more than once and now I repeat the same with the intention of easing your grief under difficult circumstances. In your difficulties, remember, for your consolation, the apostolic word: everyone will receive a reward according to their labor. The Lord is able to console us, the faint-hearted, with a consoling end to things that are now being accomplished with many obstacles. I hear that you went to N again for a trial with a brick contractor; I don’t know how and how your court case ended, but I just remember the word spoken in the Gospel not in vain: if anyone understands you by strength in one race, go with him two. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your clothes, give him the shit too. Patience and long-suffering are needed everywhere, and for this we need mercy, philanthropy and condescension towards our neighbors, in a word, we need love that is long-suffering. Therefore, be strong in the Lord, God-loving sister, and in the power of His strength. (The end is lost.) I hear that the consequences of your illness continue to this day, and this makes you a little despondent and discouraged and not far from grumbling, due to some cases and circumstances at the monastery. In a sorrowful and difficult situation, for our peace of mind, let us remember the words of the God-inspired prophet David, who says: the sorrows of the righteous are many, and the Lord will deliver me from all of them, and again: Because of the multitude of my illnesses in my heart, Your consolations have made my soul glad (Ps. 93:19). Rev. Isaac the Syrian, in the 61st word, writes: “For this sake, the Lord leaves the guilt of humility and contrition of heart with difficult prayer for the saints, so that those who love Him will approach Him with humility; and by the multitude he frightens them with the passions of nature, and by creeping into shameful and foul thoughts, and by the multitude of reproaches and annoyances and human snares; sometimes with ailments and infirmities (bodily): and sometimes with poverty and poverty necessary needs, and sometimes with fear of severe illness, and abandonment and abuse of open devilry, in the image of those usually frightened; and sometimes with various terrible things. And all this happens and they will have guilt, so they humble themselves, and let them not become drowsy and careless. Temptation is for the same reason that is necessary and useful for man.” Until here is Saint Isaac. Hearing all this, take heart, sister and mother, and let your heart be strengthened and pray for me, a sinner and weak, so that I, weak, would not be guilty of the slumber of negligence, which I always contain. L... writes that you wanted to be treated by some paramedic, but he refused to treat in absentia. If you wish, you can try to treat yourself with the roots of great nettle. Now it’s spring, order these roots to be dug up, washed and dried, or at least dried, not in the sun, but under a canopy. Then cut up these roots, put them in a jug and heat them in a free spirit in the stove, as they usually do for decoction. And drink three glasses of this decoction a day, or drink it at least instead of kvass. This decoction cleanses the blood. If your illness is simple, ordinary, then medicine can help; and when the disease occurs from special causes, then external medicines cannot help; here we already need to ask and expect help from above - for the prayers of those praying for us. And I, a sinner, from time to time in the evening began to experience headaches and nervous pains - both from fatigue and from a weak stomach. Nothing to do! We must endure and submit to the All-Good Providence of the Lord, who wants everyone to be saved and come to the mind of truth... (The ending has not been found.) 180. DON’T GET WEARED IN GRIEF AND DON’T FORGET ABOUT FOOD Take courage in the Lord and let your heart be strengthened in the temptation that has befallen your abode. We read in the Psalms: there is peace for many who love Your law, and there is no temptation for them. I know that you love the law of God with all your heart. Therefore, be strong and take courage against the temptation that happened in the monastery. It is true that it is not easy to bear such a temptation, as the holy Apostle Paul speaks about this: he who is tempted and I am not liquefied. Although it is difficult to endure such circumstances, one should not be faint-hearted under any circumstances. I remember that I sent you a book of letters from John Chrysostom to Blessed Olympias. From these letters it is clear what kind of temptation occurred in the Church of Constantinople during the persecution of John Chrysostom. How many were tempted and damaged mentally at that time, but, despite this, Saint Chrysostom convinced Blessed Olympias not to be faint-hearted and not to be sad beyond measure. And I hear that you have given yourself up so much and are indulging in immeasurable sadness that for several days now you have not eaten at all, so that your stomach has begun to shrink. It is unreasonable and inconsistent with the will of God to indulge in such extreme sadness when we have the apostolic commandment: to rejoice in various temptations, as St. James, the brother of God, writes. The same thing is said by the Apostle Paul. Always rejoice, pray unceasingly, give thanks in everything. This is the will of God. And we should adhere to the will of God, and reject the opposite and not indulge in it. The Angel of Repentance told Saint Hermas that sadness offends the Holy Spirit and is indecent for the servants of God, that is, sadness is inappropriate or exorbitant. And you are already fed up with sadness, it’s time to put it aside and take up trust. And simple experience shows that after a strong storm there is great silence at sea. Let us hope and expect the same. If it were possible for me, I would immediately go to N and force you to eat and drink. But weakness does not allow me. And I’m dictating this letter to you while sitting on the bed, because my feet can hardly tolerate any shoes. And those coming from the open air produce a runny nose brought on by the cold. But at least listen to my sinful advice sent. As soon as you receive this letter, sit down and eat herring or caviar with peeled pickles, and wash it down with kvass or beer; It would also not hurt to cheer up an empty and lean stomach with grapes, as the holy Apostle Paul advised Timothy, who had a weak stomach. There is a time for everything, as the wise Sirach says. It is untimely and inappropriate for someone who is sick and grieving to fast. I repeat, as soon as you receive this letter, immediately order E. to serve you everything as prescribed. It’s a pity that I can’t treat you to a forest-style treat from afar, otherwise it would have been a good time. I already wrote to you that in the old Tikhon monastery there was a similar temptation, but the abbot accepted it complacently and with courage, and the matter, in time, with the help of God, although not suddenly, but leveled out and went on as before. Let us hope and expect a good outcome regarding both monastery N, as well as regarding our own spiritual state and disposition, according to the psalm word of Saint David, who cried out to the Lord: Because of the multitude of illnesses in my heart, Your consolations have made my soul glad (Ps. 93:19). Lord, intercede, save and have mercy, and preserve us with Your grace. Note from Father Ambrose: Mother! It was said long ago not to lose heart, but to trust in the mercy and help of God! What they say, listen, and what they serve, eat, especially now be forced to eat, otherwise it’s harmful. I hear that your sorrows have burdened you so much and caused you illness to such an extent that you again decided to use holy oil... And you did well. Oil means mercy. The mercy of the Lord abides from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him; and there will be no hardship for those who fear Him; and again: many are the sorrows of the righteous, and I the Lord will deliver them from all of them (Ps. 33:20). True, it is not easy to bear when, according to the psalm, the man of my peace, in whom I trust, the poisonous bread of mine, magnify my stumbling... And in another place, as if the enemy had reviled me, I endured it: and even if the enemy had spoken against me, I hid from him. But you, a man of indifference and my acquaintance, who thoroughly enjoyed being with me, walking in the house of God with one mind, - and what are you doing, forgetting what is said in Scripture: his illness will turn on his head; and again: everyone will be rewarded according to his deeds; and again: there is no secret that will not be revealed. Their words soften like oil, and they are arrows. But, God-loving sister, whoever wants it, let us will good things, praying the psalm word trustingly to the Lord: The sorrows of my heart have multiplied... and with the hatred of the unrighteous you have hated me. Save my soul and deliver me, so that I will not be ashamed, because I trusted in You. I cleave to me in kindness and righteousness, for I have trusted in Thee, O Lord (Ps. 24:17-20). At the same time, it is useful to remember the kindness of the Lord Himself, as He prayed for His crucifiers: Father! Forgive them their sin; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). If we do this, we will also receive spiritual joy in sorrows, as the psalm says: Because of the multitude of illnesses in my heart, Your consolations have made my soul glad (Ps. 93:19). May we receive the ineffable mercy of God. I really wish that my letter finds you recovered from your illness and at peace in spirit. 182. ADVICE IS HAPPENING AT US FROM ALL SIDES, BUT WE MUST NOT REJECT THEM Having celebrated the holiday of the Nativity of Christ, I congratulate you on the New Year. I sincerely wish you everything new, good, useful and soul-helping, edifying and saving. Edifications are pouring in on us from all sides, but we just have to not reject them, but accept them generously, or at least endure them patiently. We are not well physically; The holy Apostle Paul encourages us, saying (2 Cor. 4:16): even though our outer man decays, yet the inner man is renewed all the days. They revile us and accuse us on the side, at this time let us remember the Gospel words of the Lord Himself: Blessed are you, when they revile you and destroy you and say all kinds of evil words against you, who lie, for my sake (Matthew 5:11). Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for your reward is abundant in heaven and eternal. On earth, everything is temporary, short-lived, and fleeting. Soon everything passes, both pleasant and joyful and sad and painful. If we have chosen the path of piety for ourselves, then we must remember and not forget the apostolic word: if anyone wants to live godly in Christ Jesus, they will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). It is true that it is unpleasant and regrettable to see an unexpected disorder occur in your monastery. But if you compare this disorder of yours with the strong disorder that was in Constantinople during the persecution of St. John Chrysostom, when Saint Olympias was lost in bewilderment, then with such a comparison, the disorder of N against Constantinople will turn out to be very unimportant. With this comparison, there is also a comforting thought for us: Saint Chrysostom received his great reward from God, and Saint Olympias not only calmed down from her perplexities, but also rejoiced, and never ceases to rejoice with unspeakable joy. We too will be forced to endure the painful and regrettable. There is an old proverb: if you endure, you will fall in love. But the Lord is able to bring the work of your monastery into proper order. I congratulate your bishop on the holiday and asked him to accept false denunciations with consideration and not to trust slander. The deed itself is truer than words. 183. YOU SHOULD NOT RUN FROM INSTITUTION, LEST YOU BE LIKE JONAH, WHO WANTED TO FLEE TO TARSHIS, BUT ENTERED INTO THE BELLY OF THE WHALE Peace to you, and God's blessing, and every affirmation in truth. N writes on your behalf that you wrote a request for your dismissal from your superiors. But the invisible woman knocked over the glass of the lamp and poured oil on this petition. So this remains the case. I know, sister, that it is very difficult for you - both from the circumstances and from the harsh and inappropriate antics that greatly influence your weak nerves, and therefore you still want to imitate the prophet Jonah, who ran from the Face of God to Tarshish and ended up in the belly of the whale. Also remember that even on the shore of silence, an early worm can undermine your pumpkin, and the heat of the enemy’s fiery arrows can scorch your head. We cannot escape the Face of God anywhere. Every Christian is assigned his own cross, and his own path is indicated, and the Gospel teaching preaches that obedience is the main Christian virtue. And authority is also obedience. The Holy Apostle Paul also writes about the Savior that He was obedient until death, death on the cross. In general, the Apostle Peter says to all of us (1 Pet. 1: 13-14): beloved... as children of obedience... sober, trust in the grace brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ, not being transformed first by your ignorance of concupiscence. And the Lord Himself speaks in the Gospel (Jn. 6:38): I have not come to do My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me, and to the chief apostle of the rivers: Peter! Do you love Me more than these?.. Feed my lambs (John 21:15). From these words you yourself, sister, can understand how much more love for Christ can be expressed. Therefore, do not shy away from the difficult responsibility entrusted to you to take care of the young sisters, about their dispensation and salvation, remembering the spoken word: no one has greater love than this, but whoever lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13). And the apostle writes: everyone will accept compensation according to their labor. The Lord is strong to strengthen your weak nerves, and for harsh and inappropriate actions to humble the guilty person in due time. Also, if the will of God is done, then silence, in due time, will be given to those who wish. There is nothing higher than the will of God, and obedience is greater than sacrifice; obedience is more important than fasting and prayer. Obedience is assigned to everyone - both younger and older. Obedience is beneficial and saving for everyone. (The end is lost.) 184. MUST REMEMBER THE WORDS: EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE GOODLY... WILL BE PERSECUTED Take courage, and let your heart be strong. If we have decided to follow the path of piety for the salvation of our souls, then let us not forget the apostolic words: he who wants to live godly... will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12), if not in the ancient way, with various torments, then in a new way, with various reproaches. But so that we do not become faint-hearted in this, the Lord Himself strengthens and consoles us, saying in the Gospel: Blessed will you be when they reproach you... and say all kinds of evil things against you lying, For my sake: rejoice and be glad, for your reward is many in heaven (Matthew 5: 11-12). If, due to our weakness, we cannot rejoice in the face of reproach, then at least let us not grieve beyond measure. If, due to weakness of nerves, we cannot overcome and overcome sorrowful and offensive thoughts, then let us in every possible way keep ourselves from grumbling. If it has come to this, then let us recognize our weakness, and let us humble ourselves before God and people, and repent. Knowledge of one's weakness and humility are stronger than any other virtue. The Holy Apostle Paul writes about himself this way: Because of the many revelations, let me not be arrogant, since I have been given a sinner to the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7). Alexander Kovach inflicted many bodily wounds on the Apostle Paul, stirring up an entire pagan city against him. How and how to explain the fact that the beloved confidante of Christ, John the Theologian, obliged to preach the Gospel, was instead forced by an inappropriate woman to heat the city bathhouse, and bore this burden for six years. But for such oppression of the apostle, the Lord performed such a miracle that the entire city turned to the Christian faith, which perhaps could not have been done by preaching for ten years or more. Knowing and remembering this, let us bend or bow our necks when the burden of sorrowful circumstances, or reproach, or some kind of constraint is placed on us, having the hope that something useful will subsequently come out for those whom we have been entrusted to take care of spiritually and externally. Wonderful are the works of the Lord and unsearchable are His ways. It was not in vain and not in vain that Saint David cried out to the Lord: Because of the multitude of illnesses in my heart, Your consolations have made my soul glad (Ps. 93:19). May we believe and may we hope that for the sorrows we have suffered, the Lord is able to comfort us, each in his own time and according to each one’s dispensation. St. Peter of Damascus writes: “The great gift of God is also revealed in the fact that the Lord seeks our salvation and arranges it in every way.” Pray for me, a sinner who speaks and does not do. 185. HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS Having entered the New Year, I kindly greet you with everything new, good and soothing, contrary to what happened last year. I congratulated your Bishop on the holiday and the New Year, explaining something about community N. In response, I received the following from him: “For my part, with help from the Lord, I will try to establish peace among the sisters and due obedience to the boss.” I congratulate you on the approaching day of your cassock tonsure and I sincerely wish you to imitate the One about whom it is said in the psalms (Ps. 44:10): in gilded vestments and adorned, and to Whom the Church now sings everlastingly: “Rejoice, O Blessed One!” Before it was said: But a weapon will pierce your own soul (Luke 2:35). And the apostle writes (Heb. 2:18): Having himself been tempted, he can help those who are tempted. Our Lady Herself, the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos, has experienced so much sorrow and heart disease like no one else, and now helps all those who mourn who come running to Her[9]. These days I felt sicker than usual. From the visitors I caught a cold on my face and was covered in sweat. The cold spread to the sick inside and became like a stomach fever, and now it has not yet completely passed, but those who come and come demand their own: whether it’s possible or not, accept it. If you don’t accept it, your soul will be restless. Here, understand, perhaps even be perplexed, just do what you were told. But not everyone can, like Archangel Gabriel, do what is done in the mind. Greetings in the Lord to all N miracle workers. Peace be with you! And pray for me, a sinner. 186. INSTRUCTION BY PROVERBS ...I hear that you would like to hear something human from me, but you yourself know the texts of the Holy Scriptures. If the Son of God did not say anything from Himself, but as if He had received a commandment from the Father, what I say and what I say, then what can a sinful man, sick in body and soul, tell you on his own behalf? Listen, if you wish. Sidor and Karp live in Kolomna, but sin and misfortune never happen to anyone. If it weren’t for the hops and the frost, then even the oak would have outgrown it. Fresh milk, like a fool, is of little use. Cream and sour cream are a different matter, and especially well-churned butter from them - both well refined and well seasoned. For a beaten person they give two unbeaten ones, but they don’t even take them. Whatever you miss, you can fill in with your pocket. What can be endured, will be loved later. Adam's years since the beginning of the world. Adam made a mistake and had to endure a lot afterwards; This happens to everyone who makes mistakes. The word is not a sparrow; if it flies out, you won’t catch it. Often more troubles come from careless words than from the deeds themselves. That is why a person is called a verbal person, so that he utters words that are reasonably thought out. So I told you a whole bunch of human words, I don’t know if you will choose anything sensible and useful for yourself from them. (The ending was not delivered.) 187. NO ONE STAYS WITHOUT SORRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENTATION I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of Christ. By the mercy of the Risen Lord, may your sorrows and troubles, especially those of the abbot, be dissolved with spiritual joy throughout the whole year. Neither ordinary people nor ordinary novices and novices are completely free from sorrow; Moreover, obedience to a superior is associated with many sorrowful inconveniences. You want to do it this way, but it turns out, by God’s permission, differently. And the Lord allows everything to benefit our soul, to test our patience and humility and submission to the will of God, because without these three we will not gain anything useful and soul-saving. It is true that it is difficult to struggle with human weaknesses, and to endure the shortcomings of those around us; but by bearing such a burden, the fulfillment of God’s law is proven, as the apostle testifies; Bear each other's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ... I don’t know how to tell you about my health. I wrote to you about the hardships. And I, especially in the last three weeks, have been feeling some kind of heaviness in my body, so that in the morning I can hardly break myself enough to take up the usual verbose conversation with visitors; and then you rant so much that you can barely make it to bed, in an hour or more. So you judge and judge my relationship with the righteous and the unrighteous. It’s not written on anyone’s forehead who he is, but he says that he needs to talk, and doesn’t want to know that I’m not bothered. Yes, and from weakness and fatigue it is very straining. There is a proverb: “No matter how you throw it, everything comes out.” It is impossible not to accept, but it is not possible to accept everyone, and there is not enough strength. According to Easter, I greet N, the multi-proclaimer and the treasurer’s mother, sometimes like a voiceless fish, and sometimes singing and raising her voice. On a festive note, I also greet all the residents of N. There is an awkward proverb: “A goose and a loon are an odd pair, but they often swim in the lake together.” There is another proverb: “It’s awkward, oh well.” (Father Ambrose’s note, at least – so – oh well, so be it! Much-sinned hieroschemamonk Ambrose. 188. ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE NUN OF LADIZHENSKAYA AND ABOUT HER CONCERNS I’m not at all busy, and I’m not quite well, but I hasten to notify you about the death of B., the seamstress nun Evdokia A. Ladyzhenskaya. Yesterday, May 21, at 6 o'clock in the evening, she died peacefully, without much suffering, from consumption, which began in February. Despite her illness, Evdokia diligently worked on embroidering the robe: for her diligence, you too diligently remember the soul of the deceased. Currently, N, the abbess, and two sisters have been in Optina for several days. They also brought Saratov nun A. with them. The crowd of people and the arrival of many prevented them from being released soon. Our changeable weather also interferes: sometimes it’s very warm, sometimes it’s suddenly very cold, and that’s why I catch colds. But no one wants to hear that I am unwell. And almost everyone explains why I don’t accept them soon. Here you can manage - as you want and as you know. More than once you will remember the simple Russian proverb: “Beat the sieve when the sieve doesn’t fit.” And this proverb doesn’t stop you from noticing and remembering, mother, when you have to keep up with something, when we think about doing it this way, but it turns out differently. Then this proverb is especially suitable. I kindly greet in the Lord N the many-pronounced and other sisters who live like voiceless fish, although occasionally they raise their feathers. But a feather is not a stick, and a sparrow is not a jackdaw, and a magpie is not a crow. However, everyone has their own defense. When despondency sets in, read this set of words, as a German said to a Russian: “What a fool you are.” I wanted to call him a cudgel, but I couldn’t. 189. ABOUT THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE HAPPY IF NOT EVERYONE GOES TO MONACRY BY CALLING I hear that you are grieving that of the sisters living in your community, there are few who entered the monastery by vocation, and most of those who entered were either due to the straitened circumstances of their parents, or for other reasons. And in the Gospel we read that even of those who are called, few are found who are chosen, that is, those who have a real good will for a pious life, as it is said (Matthew 20:16): for many are called, but few are chosen. But, despite this, the Lord encourages us, saying: Fear her, little flock: for it is your (Heavenly) Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32); and commands that the tares not be taken up prematurely among the wheat, but that the wallpaper be left to grow until the harvest, when the wheat is gathered into the granary and the tares are given over to unquenchable fire. It is a different matter when the tares themselves left the monastery, about which we read the apostolic testimony: an infidel, if he is excommunicated, let him be separated. I also hear that your leg still hurts and doesn’t give you rest. Recently I opened the Philokalia, and the 94th chapter of Blessed Diodochos opened, in which he interprets the words of the apostle: Sweetly, I will boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me (2 Cor. 12:9). By infirmities the apostle means the rebellion of the enemies of the Cross of Christ, because of which the saints of that time suffered many disasters and sorrows, and the apostle sets forth the reason - let them not exalt themselves by the superiority of revelations, but, moreover, let them remain in humility for the sake of frequent humiliation. Nowadays, as the peace of the Churches increases in the Lord, by infirmities one should understand the evil thoughts of the enemy and bodily incitements, or ailments and diseases by which ascetics of piety should be tempted. In the parables it is said: for the Lord loves him and punishes him: but he beats every son whom he accepts (Heb. 12:6). It is fitting therefore to endure the counsel of the Lord with thanksgiving; then, instead of a second torment, we are charged with frequent illnesses and abuse of demonic thoughts. As he inflicted then, so now the enemy inflicts on the confessors of piety various sufferings with many annoyances and humiliations, so that the psalm word will be fulfilled on them: I have endured the Lord, and heeded me (Ps. 39:2). I am writing all this to you, firstly, so that you do not now think of leaving the work entrusted to you, but in the event of illness and resistance from the disobedient, you are busy building a new monastery - so that you will receive a many and great reward from the Lord, as the word of God testifies: if you bring out honest things from the unworthy, you will be like My mouth. And again: no one has more love to sow, but whoever lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Secondly, in order for you to carry out your obedience without boredom and burden or disgust, remember the apostolic word: be patient with everyone, always rejoice. 190. WITHOUT SORRY YOU WILL NOT ACHIEVE ETERNAL REST Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His strength may your heart be strengthened. In bodily illnesses and mental sorrows, and in various external circumstances, help, Lord, to endure all this complacently and with submission to the will of God. And it is written about the former saints that they not only entered into eternal rest, but, according to what was said in the psalms (Ps. 65:12), they passed through fire and water, and brought us into rest. It is clear that there is no other way to achieve this peace than to be patient and wait, and to work for yourself and for others, since without love for your neighbor it is impossible to be saved. The other day, in the midst of a lack of leisure, I opened the book of St. Ambrose, and a place opened where it is said that wedding clothing means love. And love, according to the apostolic word, is long-suffering, merciful, and does not seek its own. It is true that it is not easy to deal with those who resist. But even in such cases we have a psalm testimony, encouraging us to patience and kindness: with those who hate the world, be at peace: whenever I speak to them, I fight with them (Ps. 119: 6-7). L... wrote to me that you went to N to consult with a doctor who treats with herbs, but you stayed in K. The local doctors convinced you to drink kumiss, but I don’t think you agreed to this treatment. Kumis is Tatar champagne. It is better to drink, when necessary, a simple drink of wine, that is, grape wine, as the Apostle Paul advised St. Timothy: For those who do not drink water, but have taken a little wine, for the sake of... and your frequent ailments (1 Tim. 5:23). ...I greet N, who speaks many things, and N who sings, and who sets the tone, and who is inquisitive... so that they do not allow much to come to their ears. Weak ears cannot bear much without harm. Greetings to the other sisters as well. 191. A SICK MONK CAN BE TREATED ...How is your health, and how much the treatment helped you - herbal, water and milk. And my body has become so capricious - we can’t find anything in order, especially from the therapeutic side, which has always helped me little and has been more frustrating. However, according to the word of the patrists, those who benefit from treatment should be treated more humbly. But not receiving treatment at all does not constitute any virtue; it only shows the measure of faith. However, from many experiences it is noticeable: to whichever of the monastics the disease becomes attached, no matter how you treat it, you will not be cured at all - painful attacks remain, humbling and burdening the monk. And from all this it turns out that a sick monk can be treated, but all worldly concerns should be put aside for a complete recovery. The wonderful words of Ephraim the Syrian in the Slavic dialect: “Pain is more painful than illness, but vain illnesses pass by.” 192. THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN CHRISTIAN PATIENCE I know that you like to receive letters from me more often, but I don’t have the time to write them. In my spare time I would tell you a lot. But the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. This strength lies most of all in Christian patience, as the Lord Himself testifies in the Holy Gospel: in your patience you will gain your souls (Luke 21:19). And he who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22). These words expose me most of all. I teach others with words, but with deeds I myself stand apart from this teaching. Therefore, my word is also fruitless, undissolved by the deed itself. Every day I talk from morning to late evening, but the fruit of these talks is not visible. And we often have to remember the words of the late abbot Father Anthony, who used to say that the sign of Christ’s disciples is if they have love among themselves, and the sign of my disciples is if they have enmity and disagreement among themselves. And he added: my daughters came to me with great sorrows; and all these sorrows are worth not giving a damn about and rubbing with your feet. Yesterday morning, curly-haired S. again left us for the old monastery. They sent him invitation letters from there. When I asked him why he was leaving us, he answered that he didn’t have enough tea. When I objected to him: “After all, I told you that when you have a shortage of tea, you should come and ask me,” he replied: “I’m used to it there.” A slave is not a pilgrim. 193. ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TRANSCRIPT THE MANTLE First of all, I congratulate you on your pleasant return home. Then I congratulate you on the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ. And then I congratulate you on the New Year. Although it is said that there is no change from year to year, things always go as usual. There is always one solid piece of advice: “Vanka, oh Vanka! Savor, master, he knows what he’s doing, but he’s still twerking.” This one with the master Ivan is an example for us too. Each one repeat his lesson, and remember what the prophet says: Blessed...is he that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked (Ps. 1:1). There was no sadness, but the crafty enemies pumped up, presenting themselves either in the form of Ephraim or in the form of a toothy crocodile, and made them reluctant to accept tonsure into the mantle. But it is said that all the machinations of the enemy will be abolished. May this temptation of the enemy also be abolished by the mercy and help of God, for the prayers of those praying for us. And simply shearing sheep can be useful and necessary. In the spring, a sheep is shorn, and by autumn, new, harder wool grows on it. Once a monk is tonsured into the mantle, by autumn, that is, by old age, the disposition of his soul is already more solid and trustworthy to receive God’s mercy - eternal and endless. Of course, if this spiritual sheep does not imitate goats, there is no point in climbing fences and bell towers, and staggering along crossroads. Everyone knows that when a goat is not allowed to go ahead of the herd, he walks behind the herd alone, not wanting to humble himself (and for such insubordination there is neither wool nor milk from him) and go along with others, justifying the word of Scripture: I am not like other men (Luke 18:11). He does not want to heed the words of the Psalmist: Behold, whatever is good, or whatever is good, but let the brethren live together! (Ps. 132:1). Sorry that while I was ranting, I strayed so far from holiday greetings. I wish you and all the sisters to celebrate and spend the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ, as well as the New Year, in peace and spiritual consolation. Lord, have mercy on us, Lord, help us like you weigh us! 194. UNDER THE VIEW OF TIMELESS FREEDOM, THE ENEMY LEAD TO SLAVERY ...I hear about you, bossy mother, that you have not ceased to be despondent since you began to grieve after receiving the news of your tonsure. Know that grief is like the sea. The more a person enters it, the more immersed he becomes. Think for yourself which warrior is safer - armed or unarmed, and which monk is stronger - tonsured or un tonsured. The tempter has a habit of perverting everything, and now he has begun to seduce everyone with some kind of imaginary freedom. And untimely freedom, according to the word of Saint Isaac the Syrian, leads to bitter slavery. The enemy does not want us to obey God, and according to the will of God, the servants of God, but through dark and subtle suggestions, he strives to obey him, even if implicitly and unclearly. And what kind of good can we expect from the enemy of all good, and the one who seeks the destruction of all? I’ll tell you briefly: leave all thought, and as often as possible call upon the prayers and help of Saint Olympias, who was tempted by the same temptation. The Holy Apostle Paul writes that he who has been tempted himself can help those who are tempted. Saint Nina, Equal to the Apostles, when she was sent to preach in Iberia, did not think about what kind of country it was, and what kind of people lived there, and how to be and act there, but simply went - with faith and trust in God’s help, and with this help she accomplished God’s work. On the annual memory of this saint of God, January 14, serve her a prayer service and put aside all worldly cares. According to the psalm word: let us cast our sorrow upon the Lord, and He will nourish us physically and mentally. If we pretend to love the law of God, then let us hear Saint David speaking to the Lord in the hearing of all: Peace to many who love Your law, and there is no temptation for them (Ps. 119:165). If our real life is nothing more than a feat, and a feat does not happen without struggle, and in struggle a person, without the help of God, is weak and weak, then we should, instead of being discouraged, cry out to the Conqueror of the dark forces: overcome those who fight me (Ps. 34: 1). And again: God, attend to my help, Lord, strive for my help... may those who think evil of me turn back and be ashamed (Ps. 69: 2-3). Note from Father Ambrose: Peace be with you! And cute little goslings! Which are sometimes sweet, and sometimes rotten. 195. ABOUT YOUR WEAK HEALTH. CONVINCES TO TONSURE WITH A FUNNY COMPARISON ...I inform you about myself that by the mercy and long-suffering of God I live, physically, but spiritually God knows. Pray that the Lord will grant you the opportunity to make ends meet in a Christian manner. There are painful tightness all over the body, both from the cold and from involuntary hunger. There are many things to eat, but many things cannot be eaten. A weak stomach and faulty intestines do not allow this. However, out of old habit, I am still forced to eat, although afterwards I have to endure a great burden, from a headache and from vomiting. And besides, both visitors and visitors are annoying, they get bored sitting in a shack for a long time. This is how we live day after day, and we are considered unfair in welcoming those who come and come. And my weakness and failure before God and people are to blame. There will probably be outside nuns at your tonsure. In memory of a significant day for you, you can give them a teaspoon, whichever one you like, at your discretion. May the prayers of those praying for us help you take tonsure in peace and spiritual consolation. Know and firmly believe that an armed warrior is safer, although it sometimes seems to the latter that it is easier for him to be so. On earth everything is done and accomplished through the medium of some instrument. There is a funny but true proverb: “You can’t kill a louse without a tool.” Need a fingernail. So, I concluded the serious thing as funny, so that you, the serious one, could somehow amuse you, because, as I already wrote to you, all those who have fun in a Christian way have their home in the mountainous Zion (see Ps. 86: 7). 196. ABOUT THE FOUR VIRTUES AND ABOUT THE FOUR HARMFUL THINGS Today is your third name day, and the fourth name day N has already been celebrated... Your spiritual church, like four corners, is strengthened by your four prayer books... Stand firmly, this church and do not waver - neither backwards, nor on the wrist, nor on the surface, do not look around. And look straight to the east, from where the Lord has come says about Himself: I have not come... let me do My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me (John 6:38). To the said quaternary I add two more quaternities. The gospel teaching is affirmed by the four evangelists, and Christian life is affirmed by the four main virtues: courage, wisdom, chastity and truth. I will not keep silent about the unhelpful and spiritually harmful quartet that exists: despondency, cowardice, impatience and evasion, which deprive us of complete power, and can deprive us of the good part if we succumb to them, even under a plausible pretext. Good is only what is done according to the will of God and for holy obedience. But our own will only torments us, and then it will only teach us when we abandon it. ABOUT! If I myself did what I say and write to you, it would be good. Pray for the one who speaks and the one who does not create. After all that has been said, I congratulate you and wish you God’s mercy; the same goes for all the intelligent and stupid goslings living with you. There is an old proverb: “There’s a black sheep in a family.” This happens among every people. 197. EXTERNAL HEALTH IS DESIRABLE TO CONNECT WITH INNER PEACE OF MIND ...It would be nice, new mother ...ina, if you outwardly had a pleasant and edifying face, and at the same time preserved spiritual silence. Although this is not easy, and difficult, and not always convenient, it is useful for us and for others. It is true that the useful rarely coincides with the pleasant, and more often than not the unpleasant brings benefit rather than the pleasant, because people soon forget about the pleasant. If you eat too much sweet honey, you will vomit. Then you will need to be treated with cold wormwood infusion. It is not without reason that the holy Apostle Paul wrote: Apply everything that is good to you (1 Thess. 5:21). And there is a simple human saying: “The deed itself will better indicate how to act.” Pray for yourself and for your sisters, and for me, a sinner who speaks and does not create. 198. ALTHOUGH IT IS HARD, YES YOU HAVE TO LIVE Congratulations on your return home from N. I sincerely wish you to live here and make a good living. During this life, more than once you will have to remember the saying: “I would ask a goose in winter if its feet are cold? And the goose, although it often changes its legs, draws its legs, nevertheless, one way or another, survives the winter.” But, when spring comes, he swims around the lake with complacency. I will try to send several small books for you and your sisters - extracts from Ephraim the Syrian. In the last chapter he describes how he saw heaven. You should start reading this book from this chapter. Then the other chapters will be more understandable. Secondly, I congratulate you on the upcoming Holy Pentecost of Great Lent. I don’t know how we will carry it out. But something frightens me because my catarrh of the stomach and intestines has broken down. I’m perplexed as to how to satisfy his capricious demands then. Lord, have mercy on us! Lord, as you weigh, help our weakness, mental and physical. 199. YOU SHOULD NOT BE RESPONDENTLY INVOLVED IN SADNESS I congratulate you on the upcoming feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God. It is not without reason that the Orthodox Church sings loudly: “O earth, proclaim great joy; praise, O heavens, the glory of God.” Bring this joy to yours with the praise of God's glory. And do not unreasonably indulge in sadness, firmly remembering that this is your main temptation, with which the enemy tries to poison your soul and through this make different punctuations on your path. Saint John Climacus writes that untimely and inappropriate sadness, and especially exorbitant sadness, makes the soul fuzzy. And you yourself know that just as visible smoke corrodes the eyes of the body, so invisible mental smoke and the darkness of sadness damage the eyes of the soul. For example, an unreasonable sadness comes over you, for the reason that the Spiritual authorities forced you to take monastic vows. Is this sadness real and correct? After all, through spiritual leadership, the will of God regarding subordinates is expressed. Besides, you yourself know that a monk is a warrior. And which warrior is more comfortable fighting enemies - armed, or going into battle only with bare fists? Think about this carefully and sensibly, and do not unreasonably indulge in your tempting sorrow. Try to fight against her in the Lord in the power of her fortress, through the prayers of those praying for us. Also, for the sake of the spoiling path, I congratulate you in advance on the approaching day of your desert Angel. May her prayers help you conduct your church and cell retreats in a spiritually beneficial way. And may the prayers of your other spiritual patronesses help you to provide spiritually beneficial and edifying care for your goslings - your spiritual sheep. The Holy Apostle Paul commands, saying: You spiritually correct such a one with a spirit of meekness: take heed to yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear each other's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6: 1–2). And again: We must bear the weaknesses of the weak and not please ourselves: let everyone please your neighbor for the good of building up (Rom. 15: 1-2). And from the Lord Himself we have a commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. Everything is controlled by the will of God. If the All-merciful Providence of God was pleased to give us a task - to take care of the goslings, and especially about Gusev’s inexperienced sisters, then it is impossible for us to renounce and evade this task, without the special instructions of God. For the Lord says through the prophet: If you bring out the honest from the unworthy, as My mouth will become. (The end is unfinished.) 200. COMPLAINS ABOUT HEALTH, INSTRUCTS YOU TO CARE ABOUT YOUR SUBJECTS We prayerfully remembered you on your deserted name day... My memory is so weak that I forget what happened yesterday and the day before. And if some people come with any questions, then I forget even what I remembered. Old age, weakness, powerlessness, much care and oblivion, and many useless talk do not allow me to come to my senses. One interprets that his head and legs are weak; another complains that he has many sorrows, and another explains that he is in constant anxiety. And you listen to all this, and also give an answer; but you can’t get away with silence, they get offended and insulted. It is not for nothing that the saying is sometimes repeated: “Interpret the sick with the doctor.” The patient wants to explain his situation, but the doctor is bored listening; and there is nothing to do - he listens, not wanting to further irritate and alarm the sick interpreter. From a simple human saying let us move on to the apostolic commandment of St. Peter: feed the flock of God within you, visiting not through need, but willingly and according to God... but diligently (1 Pet. 5:2). Although I myself fulfill this commandment poorly, I would like you to fulfill it better than me, because you are stronger and more diligent than me. And I, as I remember myself, from my very youth suffered from laziness and relaxation, and only the All-Good Lord, with His omnipotent providence, like a rode and a bridle, drew my lazy jaws to good. Glory and eternal thanksgiving to the ineffable mercy of God, which does not want the sinner to die, but to turn to him and live. 201. YOU NEED TO SERVE BOTH GOD AND YOUR NEIGHBOR, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF CHRIST Help you, Lord, to manage for salvation in the church retreat; and outside the retreat, manage the management of the sisters and the affairs of the monastery. The Gospel teaching says: do this, and do not forsake it. Help you, Lord, to fulfill both as it should, according to what is said in the Gospel: loving the Lord God... with all your soul... and your neighbor... as yourself (Mark 12: 30-31). What will happen next, but now it’s as if the Divine is ahead of you, and then the human. But for me it was, and still is, the opposite: first, human pleasing, on which almost all the time is spent, and then there is no leisure, no time, no strength for the Divine. And even for the short remainder of this time, worries do not leave me, but interfere with my prayerful mood. Yesterday, on Fomino Sunday, after early mass, the Akathist was read to me in this mood. Suddenly, under the window, a wanderer appears in a gray caftan or scroll, the hat looks like a priest’s (on the upper bottom), and in appearance it looks like a monk’s; A bent crutch hung on his left hand. While I occasionally glanced at him, he stood with his face turned away; and as I began to look at him more often, he hid behind a tree, and then left completely. One Tula craftswoman embroidered me with silks on sky-colored material three different trees: on the outermost trees a cuckoo and a turtle dove are embroidered, and below is a quickly walking wanderer with a staff and knapsacks, and in front of him is a running gopher. When I receive this picture, I will send it to you. I will also send two icons as soon as I receive them from the painter... 202. ADVICE: WHEN LOOKING AT THE PICTURE SENDED, ENCOURAGE CONSOLIATING THOUGHTS IN YOURSELF, NOT DEPENDING THOUGHTS. I am sending you the promised picture, embroidered on fabric with silks, of a fast wanderer with a gopher running ahead and a cuckoo and a turtle dove sitting on trees. They themselves ordered to make glass in front and block it behind with a thin plank so that the expensive thing would not be damaged for any reason. Looking at this picture, you can come up with different interpretations: how a cuckoo crows, how a turtle dove coos, how a gopher runs or whistles while standing on its hind legs, and how a passing wanderer hurries to visit his relatives. But I’ll tell you: come up with interpretations that are conducive to consolation, and not those that induce despondency, from which, according to the psalm, spiritual slumber occurs. It is not without reason that the apostle commands everyone: be patient, always rejoice, pray unceasingly, give thanks in everything: this is the will of God. Woe to me, a sinner. I am writing to you an apostolic word about unceasing prayer, and I myself am in unceasing prayer. And another apostolic word says: walk in wisdom to those outside, redeeming time. So I don’t know how to buy and seize such time to act in accordance with the Gospel word: do this, and do not forsake it. And again the apostle writes: when you teach others, do not teach yourself. You will inevitably remember the words of Peter of Damascus: “Our salvation is between fear and hope,” that is, we should not despair, and we should not be too hopeful, but keep ourselves in the middle, remembering the psalm word: Work for the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling (Ps. 2:11). 203. THE LORD WILL GIVE FORTRESS TO HIS PEOPLE Strengthen yourself in the Lord and in the power of His strength, remembering the psalm word: The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace (Ps. 28:11). And again: there is peace for many who love Your law, and there is no temptation for them. It is true that both the people of God and those who pretend to love God’s law cannot do without some anxiety and mental upheaval from surrounding circumstances, associated with many inconveniences and troubles encountered. Therefore, the people of God, for our remembrance and strengthening, left the following testimony about themselves in Scripture: they passed through fire and water, and brought us to rest. From heavy and fierce sorrows, their insides burned like fire; and from outside they poured all sorts of troubles and reproaches on them like water. Water purifies all impurities, and fire purifies gold itself. And about the saints it is said: like gold in the crucible, I have tempted them, and like the fruitfulness of the sacrifice I have received. I don’t know, Mother N, what position and position you are in. And whatever comes to my mind at the moment, that’s what I write to you. Perhaps you need the spiritual words of the Holy Scripture at this time for your spiritual strengthening and confirmation. There are moments like this with the righteous of God, that is, those that require reinforcement. The Prophet Elijah, who fearlessly killed several hundred cold priests in the face of all Israel, soon became afraid of the threats of one cold woman and fled into the desert, begging God to accept his soul. Without God's help, man is nothing more than a man, and man is like grass. And with the help of God, one man, like the prophet Elijah, fights against an entire people. Therefore, according to the word of David, let us cast our sorrow upon the Lord, and He will nourish us (Ps. 54:23). The youngest was, for he grew old (that is, from youth to old age), and did not see the righteous forsaken, asking for bread below his seed (Ps. 36:25). However, for our testing, even in the monasteries, deprivations and shortcomings are allowed by God’s Providence for a while, but then they are made up for. With both of us we learn to surrender in everything to the Providence of God and His all-holy will. At the beginning of the letter I wanted to write you an apology and ask for forgiveness that I was silent for a long time and was just about to write to you, but due to lack of time I could not; but it was written differently. I don’t know whether what’s written will be suitable, but it’s said nowhere, scribble, scribble. 204. BEFORE THE COMING OF GREAT LENT Today the Orthodox Church celebrates the service of the Last Judgment, and from here begins the cheese week, the last days of which, in a simple word, are called the days of forgiveness, so that, having said goodbye to the world, we begin the fast of the Holy Pentecost. I ask you and all the goslings for forgiveness for my fault, for which I am guilty before many, but most of all I am a sinner before the Lord Himself, and I don’t know how and with what I will appear at the judgment of God. And this time is noticeably approaching, because weakness and pain are intensifying, changing clothes and changing shoes has tripled, I can’t stand the heat and cold; in moderation only one seventeenth degree of heat, and above and below it has a bad effect. Here you manage to spin around one degree, and how to maintain this one degree when natural stoves are constantly approaching and multiplying the heat with their pushes. During the fast of the Holy Pentecost, the courageous retire at least for a while, but I, weak, both in fasting and not in fasting, am equally in the rumor of the people and do not know the taste in solitude, when, as at every vespers, we read in the psalm: I am the only one who will pass away. Also, those who do not retire enjoy church services, but I, for my sins, am deprived of this; It is not in vain that it is said in Scripture: everyone is rewarded according to his deeds, not only in the future life, but also in the present, according to the apostolic word: everyone who sows will also reap (see Jer. 32:19; Gal. 6:7). A cuckoo on a pillow with a nightingale and a canary will fly in in March to congratulate you on your desert name day. The notice was too late to plant the birds on three trees, but they will sit on one vast birch tree. However, it is not too late to make sure that the cuckoo has a green branch in its mouth, the nightingale has a bunch of grapes, and the canary has a letter. 205. AGAIN ABOUT YOUR RUMOR AND ADVICE ABOUT AVOIDING HUMAN Slanders Peace to you and God's blessing and every affirmation in the truth! May God bless your church gate, and your entry, and your departure! You, although from time to time, are in seclusion, and I am constantly at the people's gathering and analysis of human affairs, mostly temporary and vain, leaving my eternal salvation to the sole mercy of God. Even if for a while I would like to go somewhere or leave, but the painful situation does not allow me to leave the cell, on the door of which they are knocking and bothering me from both sides - to accept and talk about what is necessary and not necessary, but my weakness inclines me to accept. So you don’t know how to understand this. I congratulate you in advance on the day of your deserted solitary Angel, whose prayers will help you both in the church retreat, and in the analysis of nursing affairs and monastery affairs, and in surrounding circumstances that require the psalm prayer: deliver me from human slander and I will keep Your commandments. The still weak pray that he will not be slandered, but the courageous pray that God will help him not to slander others, either verbally or mentally. By the end of March or earlier, the cuckoo, nightingale and canary will fly to congratulate you, the craftswoman writes that they are already ready and are spreading their wings to fly before the weather is still damp. 206. THE ABSOLUTE SHOULD PROTECT THE CONVENTION WITH PRAYER As we celebrate the bright and all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, I sincerely wish you to spend the ongoing days of the Holy Pentecost, which means rebellion, in peace, joy and spiritual consolation. Therefore, you should now arise from your seclusion, as the Apostle Peter was told in prison: Arise and enter into your deserts and go, do the work that lies before you - the work of saving those entrusted (to you) and the work of mansion. It is true that prayer helps a lot in this, just as King David relied more on prayer to protect his kingdom than on weapons, but he did not completely abandon weapons. Every thing is good in its time and place. The head of the monastery should do the same; You need to rely more on prayerful protection, but not at all abandon looking after the sisters and timely instruction and admonition, lest a predatory wolf somehow creep in and steal even one of the slumbering sheep. And even wolves are afraid of the voice of the pastoral pipe. Pray also for me, a sinner who speaks and does not do and is convicted of my own words. But it is said that the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power, that is, in the fulfillment of everything commanded from the Lord. Involuntarily I have to cry out with those like me: the sinner, the lawless, the untruthful; lower than the observant, lower than the creator, as the Lord commanded us. There is only one thing left: to cry out like a publican: God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I spend all this time with considerable painful pressure; changing clothes and changing shoes not only tripled, but, it seems, quadrupled. Day and night, time passes, but I have no time to do what is necessary and useful, I spend all my time in nothing but disorder and verbosity, with which I pretend to console others, but have to grieve my own soul. I am possessed by weakness, both mental and physical, and I cannot act coolly, but for some this would be required, to which the Russian proverb goes very well: “The custom is bullish, but the mind is calf.” Sorry for saying too much; I have not learned prudent silence. 207. JESUS' PRAYER MORE THAN CELL RULE Yesterday evening I received a letter from N, who, on your instructions, writes to allow you to leave your usual rule for your entire trip to N. May God bless you to leave the usual rule and constantly adhere to the Jesus Prayer, which can calm the soul more than performing a large cell rule. Of the former experienced elders, one, named Vasily, explained it this way: He who adheres to a large cell rule, when he fulfills it, is instigated by vanity and presumption, but when for some reason he cannot fulfill his rule, he is embarrassed. And he who constantly adheres to the Jesus Prayer remains equally in a humble mood, as if he were doing nothing, and has nothing to exalt himself with. The Philokalia defines the order of wise ascetics who performed a small, ordinary cell rule every day, and spent the rest of the day and night in the Jesus Prayer. But out of habit, you cannot suddenly move on to this, at least do not be embarrassed when it is inconvenient for you to complete your entire rule, and especially do not force you to re-read the same thing when the enemy induces oblivion, and sometimes this happens from fatigue and exhaustion, as Gregory of Sinaite explains that when performing a long rule, there are soaring and dissipation of thoughts. It is truer and more useful to reproach yourself for inattention and reconcile yourself. It is said that all flesh will not be justified by works, but only by the faith of Jesus. The letter also says that you are asking permission to leave forever the reading of the four kathismas of the Psalter, which you always read. God bless you to leave. The Lord does not require anyone to perform feats beyond their strength and capabilities. You began to complain about weakness of the head, and, moreover, you are the abbess, obliged to oversee the behavior of the sisters, and the external affairs and needs of the monastery; How is it possible for you to carry out the great rule in your cell? The ancient fathers and deserted ones were content with reading 12 psalms in the morning and evening, and spent the rest of the time on needlework, reading spiritual books and the Jesus Prayer. I repeat, out of habit, you cannot do this, at least do not be embarrassed when you cannot completely fulfill your usual rule, but reproach yourself and repent mentally to the Lord God, and then, in due time, before your spiritual father, that due to bodily weaknesses and due to the duties of the abbess, you could not completely fulfill your usual rule, and you will calm down. There is an addition to leaving the four kathismas forever, so that I take upon myself the obligation to read these four kathismas. If you are stronger than me, and even then you do not find the opportunity to read them, how can I, weak and barely alive and in constant rumor, fulfill this obligation. It is better and more faithful for both of us to humble ourselves under the strong hand of God, and reproach ourselves for our faults, and repent before God of our weaknesses. Saint Climacus quotes the words of the Psalmist: I did not rest, I did not wake, I did not lie down on the ground, but I humbled myself and the Lord saved me; and the Lord Himself says in the Holy Gospel: if... you want to be taken into the belly, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). And of the commandments, there is one that we easily violate, forgetting that this violation turns our life into hypocrisy, this commandment is not to judge or condemn, as the Lord Himself says: Hypocrites! First remove the log from your mind... (Matthew 7:5). Maybe you don’t have this sin, but it occurred to me, and I wrote it. 208. IT IS NECESSARY TO FORGIVE THE REPENTENT SISTER AND ACCEPT IT INTO THE CONVENTION N wrote to me that one sister, who lived for a long time in the monastery, was tempted by the enemy to leave the monastery. And when you left, convincing her to stay, you said: “I tell you the truth, the word of the Gospel, that if you ask again, I will not accept it.” Now this sister, having come to her senses and seeing her mistake, earnestly asks to return to the monastery. And you, relying on your word, do not accept her, despite her repentance and promise to endure everything. The Gospel commandment of the Lord Himself - to forgive seventy times seven times the one who has sinned against us - is higher than your Gospel word. At the Beheading of the Forerunner, it is sung in the stichera about Herod that it would have been better for him, who lied, to receive life, rather than, having told the truth, to have the head of the Forerunner beheaded. So we should not cut off the monastic life of this sister. We will reproach ourselves for our careless words, and during confession we will repent of this. 209. SOME RUN FROM COULDNESS FROM THE DIFFICULT PATH I hear that some sisters have left the monastery. Apparently, they did not have enough patience on the narrow and difficult path of salvation. We all have a common weakness: we all want to receive salvation, but with joy and peace; and about the path of salvation it is preached that through many sorrows we must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. That is why it is commanded in the Holy Gospel: in your patience gain your souls (Luke 21:19), and he who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22). If these sisters come to Optina, then I will try to convince them to return to the monastery, if only they agree; and I advise you not to reject them if they return to the monastery. Barsanuphius the Great writes: “If you see a young man, understand that the old man has deceived him,” that is, the old eight-thousand-year-old tempter. This enemy of ours and soul tempts all of us with whatever he can - one with sin, another with impatience, and a third with condemnation, a fourth with murmuring, in a word, with whatever he can. The Holy Apostle Paul urges those who have sinned to repent, and warns those who pretend to stand not to fall, saying: be sure to stand and be careful that you do not fall; and again: you bear the weaknesses of the weak and do not please yourself, but correct them with a spirit of meekness, keeping yourself, lest you also be tempted (see Rom. 15: 1; Gal. 6: 2). This apostle lists what sorrows he endured in his life, saying: troubles from the robber, troubles from the relatives, troubles from the tongue, troubles in the cities, troubles in the desert, troubles in the sea, troubles in the false brethren... In addition to external ones, there is an attack every day, and the care of all churches. He who faints, and I do not faint; Whoever is tempted, I am not liquefied (from sorrow) (see 2 Cor. 6: 4–7; 11: 26–29). I am writing all this out to you so that you will not be discouraged or faint-hearted when such difficulties pass. We have two main commandments: love the Lord with all your soul, and your neighbor as yourself; and the first commandment is not fulfilled without the second. That is why it is said in eldership: from one’s neighbor belly and death; whoever loves his neighbor and cares for him will receive eternal life, but whoever despises his neighbor, I don’t know what to say about him. I kindly greet all the goslings, whitish and grayish. There is a simple proverb: “White is the sheep, gray is the sheep - one spirit of the sheep.” It’s bad when a sheep gets spoiled, then its mischief is no worse than that of a goat, but the purpose of goats is for the worse, from which may the All-Good Lord deliver us. 210. ABOUT THE WISDOM OF THE SNAKE AND THE MEEKNESS OF THE DOVE Your letter, dated May 17, in which you explain that you have never been a beggar, but need forced you to beg! Before others asked for you, but now need has forced you to ask. It is not without reason that the saying is repeated: “Need is tricky! Need will teach you how to eat rolls.” I happened to hear from one experienced person who said that all human things that we see were invented either by need or by whim. What is done out of necessity is either approving, or at least excusable; and what is done on a whim is not always excusable, much less always approving. In the Holy Gospel, the Lord Himself says (Matthew 10:16): be... wise like a serpent, and your goals like doves. The wisdom of the serpent, according to the saying of the interpreters, is that when a snake is beaten, it most of all preserves its head, so a Christian in adversity and difficult circumstances must most of all preserve the faith; secondly, the wisdom of the snake is that when a snake wants to throw off its old skin, it crawls through a tight hole, otherwise it cannot throw off its old skin; Likewise, a Christian, if he wants to become one with the old man, must follow a narrow path, according to the Gospel teaching. Pigeon integrity consists of kindness and forgiveness of insults, or annoyances, or the like. 211. THE ENEMY TEMPTED THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS WITH TORMENT, AND THE PRESENT CHRISTIANS WITH DISEASES AND THOUGHTS I hear that the illness has stuck to you again, and your back hurts, and your insides are not in order. I have already written to you more than once about the content of the 94th chapter of Blessed Diodochos, that the enemy tempted ancient Christians with various torments, and the enemy tempts Christians of the present time with various thoughts and various bodily ailments. And blessed Diodochos advises us at this time to remember the psalm word: I have endured the Lord and listened to me (Ps. 39: 1). And the apostolic word: for the Lord loves him, he punishes him: he beats every son whom he accepts (Heb. 12:6). There is also a saying with which those who are grieving usually console themselves in difficult situations: “Moses endured, Elisha endured, Elijah endured, I will endure.” About myself I will say that I am also unwell more than usual. From the constant rumors and incessant talk from morning to evening, I was extremely tired and felt hot, and in this situation I caught a cold, and now I feel pain throughout my body and inside, and I need to adhere to the advice of Blessed Diodochos regarding patience. And the blessed Edict writes: “The home of the soul is patience; the food of the soul is humility. When there is not enough food in the house, then the soul goes out,” that is, out of patience. It’s easy to talk about this in words, but in reality it’s not always easy to implement and not for everyone. The Kozelsky citizen had the custom, on occasion, to say: “As far as the east is from the west, it’s only a matter of word.” I greet all the goslings, whitish and greyish, with kindness in the Lord. Calling on everyone the peace and blessing of God and asking for your holy and simple prayers, which anyone can offer for my badness and defects, I remain with sincere goodwill. The many-sinful hieroschemamonk Ambrose. 212. AND IN THE NEW YEAR THERE SHOULD BE NEW TRIALS I am writing to you at the beginning of the New Year. I sincerely wish to live in a new way, without leaving behind the old good and useful and soul-saving. On the first day, several people suddenly came to wish me a Happy New Year, and I answered them: “Happy new happiness to you too.” One of those who came added: “And with new sorrows.” And it is rightly said that neither in the old years nor in the onset of new ones is it possible for a Christian to avoid sorrows, according to what has been said: through many sorrows it is fitting for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And the apostle explains how this happens, saying: tribulation makes patience, but patience is an art, and hope is an art, but hope does not put to shame. Our whole life, with labor and feat, patience and long-suffering, has the main goal to be unashamed on the day of the second coming of the Lord, when the worthy will receive a worthy reward, and we, the weak ones like me, according to the strength of our weakness, pray to be pardoned on this terrible and unbearable day, now the Most Merciful, and then the Terrible Judge of the living and dead. Lord, have mercy on us! Lord, help our weakness, love the righteous and have mercy on sinners. 213. IN TRIALS YOU SHOULD RELY ON THE WILL OF GOD I received your letter, in which you explain that you are still ill and grieve over your ill health. You also have sorrow for the shortcomings of the monastery. And your third sorrow is about the ill health of N, who left for N and lives far from you. In all this we must surrender to the all-good will of God and the all-good Providence of God for us. But we ourselves cannot do anything with our care, but only in vain worry ourselves and burden our souls. Regarding ill health, I will say that I myself am constantly unwell and am always in some kind of relaxation, with rheumatic pains throughout the body, and weakness in the stomach and intestines. Finding myself in such a position, I find consolation when I reflect that the great lamp of the Orthodox Church and Saint John Chrysostom was always in a painful situation. Despite this, he was engaged in the affairs of the Church and wrote an Interpretation of the Gospels and all the Apostolic Epistles, and, finally, suffered great persecution from all sides. And even in the midst of persecution, he did not abandon his care for the Church. He healed other sick people, but he himself died in a feverish state. It is true that it is inconvenient for a sick abbot to deal with the affairs of the monastery. Therefore, when there are inconveniences, it is useful to remember Saint Chrysostom, just as he did not give up on the affairs of the Church even in a painful situation. Cheese week and forgiveness day is coming, I ask you and all N sisters for forgiveness for my fault, and I forgive you all. Calling on all of you the peace and blessing of God and asking all of you for holy prayers about my badness and defects, I remain with sincere goodwill. The many-sinful hieroschemamonk Ambrose. 214. SILENCE AND SOLITUDE SHOULD BE ENTERED BY A SPECIAL CALL OF GOD Christ is in our midst. God-loving servant of Christ, most honorable Mother Superior N. I received your letter, in which you explain that the thought of solitude has tormented you, deprives you of sleep and food, and does not give you any peace! Silence and solitude are chosen according to the special Providence of God, as, for example, it was said to Arseny the Great: “Be silent, run, and you will be saved.” But you have not received such a calling from above, but you are thinking of doing it according to your own desire, and, moreover, with an admixture of enemy temptation, and, finally, with disobedience, and disobedience and disobedience are such sins that cannot be atoned for even by martyrdom. Probably, I myself read how one monk did not listen to his spiritual father, left him, fell into the hands of torturers and received martyrdom; His relics, as a martyr, were placed in the church by Christians. When the deacon exclaimed: “Catechumen, come forth,” the relics themselves came out of the church, until his elder was called and forgave him. One seer saw in a vision a hermit stranger and a sick novice. The novice had a golden hryvnia or chain around his neck. The seer asked why such an honor, above all, is given to the novice? In response to him it was said: “The hermit, although he worked a lot, did it according to his own will and according to his own desire, and the novice lived in the cutting off of his will, and his desires, and good things.” You think you will find peace in solitude, but you will be very mistaken. Saint Gregory the Theologian, for the sake of persecution and unrest, left the position of bishop and in solitude experienced great languor. Anthony the Great was beaten by demons in solitude so that he was as if dead for two days. Therefore, Saint John of the Climacus advises that it is better to have a fight with people than with demons, because people, although sometimes they become hardened and do not submit, still later soften again and obey. And demons never cease to rage and rage against us. Finally, a formidable word in the Gospel against those who hide their talent. You have been given the talent and ability to manage, and you want to give it all up and leave. For this, it is as if you would not hear from the Lord later: “You wicked and lazy servant, it was fitting for you to give My money as a trader, and if I came, I would take What is mine with interest. Take the talent from her and give ten talents to the one who has it. And cast the helpless servant into utter darkness” (see Matt. 25:26). It’s scary to fall into such trouble under a plausible pretext. After all that has been said, I advise you to continue to endure the abbotship, which is obedience, like any other obedience, until the sisters in the monastery get stronger and there is one who can replace you; then, if God’s will be done, you can take care of silent solitude. Now, if the mere desire for solitude torments you so much that it deprives you of sleep and food, then it clearly shows that this is an enemy temptation, premature and inappropriate. In solitude you want to get closer to God, and in the “Ladder” it is said that a true novice stands at the right hand of the Crucified One. And again it is said about those close to God that they must bring gifts to God, as it is said in the psalms (Ps. 72:10): everyone around Him will bring gifts, that is, the salvation of other souls. Think carefully and comprehend everything that has been written and do not rush into silence and solitude, but wait with patience and submission for the will of God and a favorable time. I kindly greet all the goslings, whitish and grayish, in the Lord. Calling on all of you the peace and blessing of God, and asking your holy prayers for my badness and defects, I remain with sincere goodwill, the many-sinful hieroschemamonk Ambrose. 215. IF YOU CANNOT HAVE A COMPLETE SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP, KEEP FOLLOWING THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST [10] I congratulate you on the bright and all-joyful holiday of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and greet you with a comforting Christian greeting: Christ is risen! I sincerely wish you to celebrate this bright holiday and spend it in peace, joy and spiritual consolation. I received your letter in good order. You write that you had a fever. I’ve been dealing with a fever for a whole week, so I can’t write much today, but I’ll answer you briefly. If you cannot have a complete spiritual relationship, then adhere to the fulfillment of the Gospel commandments of Christ, and this will be enough for you. Still adhere to the advice of Barsanuphius the Great: “if you leave your will behind, you will find peace in every place.” Finally, adhere to the ancient church word: “He who saves may save his soul.” Pay attention to yourself, and it will be done for you. And others - as they want. Matters that do not depend on you, leave everyone to their own will, and submit all this to the judgment of God. 216. WITHOUT PATIENCE YOU CANNOT CALM DOWN Sister in the Lord! I hear through Father A. that you are worried about my health. By the grace of God, it is gradually starting to get better. But after a former illness, I recently began to go out into the air. Moreover, it is very difficult because there are a lot of visitors, and I have not yet fully recovered from my illness, I need rest and peace. I advise you most of all - arm yourself to be patient and endure various adventures and inconveniences, otherwise you cannot calm down. 217. SELF-JUSTIFICATION – GENERAL WEAKNESS I'm sorry that I was soon unable to respond to your last letter, in which you write about an unexpected encounter with your sister, apparently the closest to you. It is not in vain that Scripture says: and my neighbors are far away from me (Ps. 37:13). And even without Scripture, experience shows that offended pride places those closest to each other far from each other. What to do?.. We all have the same weakness - the desire to always be right; and the desire for this rightness annoys others and makes people guilty before the judgment of God, because, as Saint Isaac the Syrian says, self-justification in the law of the Gospel is not indicated, that is, not indicated, or rather, not allowed; but it is said directly and clearly: if someone hits you on the right side, turn the other side to him (Matthew 5:39). Based on the Gospel law, all the holy and spirit-bearing fathers unanimously affirm that victory over every temptation is humility with patience. Let us humble ourselves and be forced to endure, and we will find rest for our souls, according to the instruction of the Lord Himself, who says (Matthew 11:29): Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. In addition, remember the words of O. Ig, of blessed memory. A., they once told you: “As long as we are on earth, we cannot remain anywhere without sorrow; even if we climbed onto the clouds, and there we will not escape from sorrows, according to the testimony of the Lord Himself (John 16:33): you will be in a world of sorrows: but be of good cheer. Rivers Lord: I conquered the world. These words show that we should not despair in sorrows, but hope in God’s help, which we must always call upon, or, more accurately, ask from the Lord. Also adhere to the advice of Barsanuphius the Great: “if you humble yourself and leave your will behind, then you will find peace in every place.” Force yourself to endure sorrowful temptations as complacently as possible, remembering your monastic vows and calling on God’s help. I greet your cell Mary in the Lord, and I wish you both a peaceful and patient stay. 218. SADNESS IS THE GREATEST OF TEMPTATIONS I congratulate you on the upcoming great holiday of Christmas in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as on the approaching New Year, and I wish you to meet and spend these significant Christian celebrations in peace and tranquility of soul, spiritual joy and in all prosperity. Having received a sorrowful letter from you, I immediately wanted to answer you, but I was prevented. And my thoughts for answering you were the most appropriate, since at that time I was reading the third letter of St. Chrysostom to Olympias the deaconess. Therefore, I advise you to read this letter and take advantage of the spiritual edification of the saint of God, Saint Chrysostom. In this letter, he explains with examples that for people, death is the most terrible of all misfortunes, but sadness is worse than death, since those who are in sadness often wish for death; and as much as the sorrow of all other temptations is heavier, so will those who endure sorrow with patience receive a greater reward. Do not be discouraged, but endure, arming yourself with good hope and good hope to receive God’s mercy both for the sadness itself and for the reasons that produce sadness, that is, for reproach from the outside, both from lesser and older persons. Also, stop thinking that you are out of place. Here is M.I. she went for almost three years to look for a new place, but didn’t find it anywhere, but came to us with an explanation about her unsuccessful search; fell ill with pneumonia, and after 9 days she rested peacefully in the Lord, three hours before her death, having been tonsured into the mantle, in full consciousness and in clear memory. In the morning she received Holy Communion and died in the evening. Previously, she was given communion and special anointing with holy oil twice. An example of the late M.I. clearly shows that one should not worry about too much, but should take care of the most important thing - preparing oneself for death. 219. ARM YOURSELF WITH PATIENCE I received your letters, but until now I have not answered you due to my constant bodily weakness and lack of time. And today I can’t write to you much. For now, arm yourself with patience against the difficulties you find, always remembering the word of the Lord Himself: in your patience gain your souls; and: he who endures... to the end will be saved. And again the Lord says: you will be in a world of sorrow. No matter what end of the world a person lives, according to this word of the Lord he will not escape sorrow. Therefore, do not be discouraged, but trust in the mercy of God! 220. A REMINDER ABOUT THE DEATH OF K.’S FATHER IS INSPECTED TO BE IN A PEACEFUL MOOD I received two serious letters from you and until now I could not answer them; First, Father K. fell ill on Maundy Thursday, and then rested peacefully in the Lord on April 30, at 12 noon. He was singled out and received the Holy Mysteries. He ended his life very quietly, and was in good memory until his death. May the unexpected death of Father K. serve you as a useful lesson. Shortly before his death, he was embarrassed and perplexed whether he should accept M.’s leadership or not. The providence of God soon resolved this issue by recalling Father K. to another life, therefore, do not grieve beyond measure and do not say that you can no longer endure and endure the inconveniences of difficult circumstances, but rather, if possible, try to endure and protect your soul in a possibly peaceful dispensation. We read in the Gospel the clear and definite word of the Lord Himself: in your patience gain your souls, and again: he who endures to the end will be saved (Luke 21:19; Matt. 10:22). However it pleases the Lord to decide your fate, by life or death, leave it to His all-good Providence, but in any case, try to be in a peaceful dispensation, against everything and against everyone. The Lord is an unfeigned Judge. In due time he will judge everything justly and reward everyone according to his deeds. And our main task, while we are in this life, is to endure everything, humble ourselves and ask the Lord for help and mercy - and everything will be fine. 221. OUR MAIN CONCERN SHOULD BE ABOUT SALVATION. ABOUT THE BOOK “FLOWER GARDEN” I’ve been meaning to answer your letter for a long time, but I didn’t have time, both due to weakness and extreme lack of time. You wrote to me that the death of your mother, treasurer, had a beneficial effect on you, and you clearly understood that first of all and most of all we need to deal with the work of our salvation, and do the rest as much as possible, and as far as it is convenient, and our main concern should be to first correct ourselves and our own work, which should be our parting word for the future life. The death of Treasurer's late mother clearly shows that this is how she lived and conducted her affairs. The Holy Scripture says: the righteous died, leaving repentance, that is, the righteous not only edifies with a pious life, but also with his very peaceful death encourages those who knew and saw him to repent and correct their lives. Is there an ancient book in your library called “Flower Garden” by the holy monk Dorotheus? If so, I advise you to read this book with attention. This book is useful and very useful, only the 31st chapter seems to have been spoiled by schismatics, which says that through the Jesus Prayer, after three years the Holy Trinity will move in. This chapter, firstly, does not agree with the content of the entire book, and secondly, it also disagrees with the teachings of other holy fathers, none of whom speaks of certain dates for the infusion of grace into man and the individual Persons of the Holy Trinity. You can leave this chapter without meaning. The Russian ascetic, Hieromonk Dorotheos, first of all and most of all encourages people to read spiritual and divine books, and exhorts to live according to the Gospel commandments of the Lord with faith, patience and abstinence, often repeating that he who endures to the end will be saved. Peace be with you! And pray for me! 222. ORDER OF OUR LIFE IN THE HANDS OF GOD You write that your dean told the sisters at the meal that a new treasurer has been appointed for you, so you are thinking of taking time off from the post of dean and, because of rumors of the plague, coming to us. Someday they will appoint a new treasurer, but in the meantime you have been temporarily entrusted with the management of the monastery. For this reason, it is now untimely and inconvenient for you to refuse the deanery and ask to come to us. When the circumstances become clear, then, according to considerations, it will be necessary to act in a more decent and useful way. God alone knows the future, and therefore it is impossible to say with certainty how circumstances will work out. People assume, but God alone determines the fate of people. I’ll tell you about the fear caused by the rumor of plague. If we always keep in mind the Gospel word of the Lord: be prepared at all times, for you know neither the days nor the hour when the Son of Man will come (see Matt. 24:44), then this fear will lose its power. It is always useful to prepare for death. You can write again what you will have and how it will be. Just try most of all to have a peaceful spirit, submitting everything and everyone to the judgment of God. The Holy Apostles Peter and James advise us to rejoice in various adversities. If we cannot do this, then at least we will see ourselves as weak and cowardly. Peace be with you! Manage to be patient and bear the troubles that confuse you. You can't escape the cross anywhere. 223. IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES YOU MUST BE SUFFERING I received your letter. I’ll tell you briefly about your predicament: be patient, humble yourself before God and people, until God’s Providence shows you the means and circumstances to get out of this situation. But you will have to endure something everywhere. Because the Holy Gospel says positively: in your patience gain your souls. It is not without reason that our late Archimandrite Father Moses used to say, or rather, repeated the apostolic word (2 Pet. 3:13): New... heavens and new earths according to promise... tea, in them truth lives; and between us, sinners, what kind of truth should we seek? May the all-merciful Lord send you a blessing from above and may he visit your soul with peace. 224. WHEN DECIDING THE ISSUE OF TRANSITION TO ANOTHER HOUSE, YOU MUST, BY PRAYER, LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART I congratulate you on the upcoming great holiday of the Nativity of Christ. Be born of the Virgin, the Savior of the world, may he vouchsafe you to meet and celebrate this joyful Christian celebration in possible physical health, in peace of mind, and in a peaceful disposition towards everyone, and in spiritual consolation; and then I wish you to enter the New Year in good spirits, and spend it in prosperity and with spiritual benefit. What was said to you personally, I will repeat the same thing now. It’s cramped for you here, but you can’t hope that it will be joyful there too, unless you add to this the Little Russian proverb: “Even if it’s worse, it’s better.” Therefore, look and think for yourself and compare both, so that later you will not be faint-hearted when you meet there and it is not pleasant. First of all, I advise you to serve a prayer service to the Savior, the Mother of God and All Saints, and then look at your heart, what position it will be in; if the thought during the transition is calmer, and there is a greater inclination towards the transition, then you can write there like this: if the authorities appoint me, then I will not resist. If, at the thought of the transition, the heart is very anxious, and filled with fear and dread, then it is dangerous to express consent. In this case, you can directly write that you do not agree. Peace be with you! 225. CONGRATULATING ON YOUR ORDER, THE IGUMENIUS EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ORDER If yesterday you were ordained to the rank of abbess, then I congratulate you, and with all my heart I wish you mercy from the Lord, and His all-powerful help and admonition in the management of the monastery entrusted to you. The rank of abbot and abbess is derived from the word hegemon - simple ruler; and to distinguish them from simple rulers, spiritual leaders are called abbots and abbess. Therefore, their rule should not be simple, but spiritual, in accordance with the words of the Apostle Paul, who says: If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit. We are not vainglorious, annoying one another, envious of one another (Gal. 5:25-26). And again: you spiritually correct such a one with a spirit of meekness: guard yourself, lest you also be tempted (Gal. 6:1). It is useful to remember these apostolic words, so that in times of need and in times of need, try to adhere to them. Although bosses have no time to read patristic books, they should be read in the midst of their leisure time, taking advantage of it and devoting at least a little time to it. Reading this can strengthen us spiritually and moderate our inner disposition, which is disturbed by the unpleasant circumstances encountered: it is useful to add the following to the previous apostolic words: bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. Through the prayers of our departed fathers, may the Lord arrange for you something useful and salutary and protect you from evil circumstances. I call on you and on the monastery of sisters entrusted to you the peace and blessing of God, I remain with sincere goodwill. 226. WHEN YOU ARE OPPRESSED BY YOUR GOVERNERS, YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE REVEREND MARK THE ASCEPT, THAT DO NOT TRY TO RESOLVE AN INCONVENIENT THING WITH CHIBILIZATION I received a letter from you without a number. This alone shows that you are in an alarming position. And when I read that the older person was treating you poorly, it became even more clear that your situation was very difficult, and I didn’t know how to help it; Is it possible to offer you the advice of Mark the Ascetic, who in his spiritual law, in chapter 12, says this: “Do not attempt to resolve an inconvenient thing by strife, but in this way the spiritual law commands, that is, patience, prayer and like-minded hope.” In complicated circumstances, it is inconvenient to say anything definite, but I will only say: there is no need to rush into anything, protect yourself with humility and patience, as the Lord Himself commands: in your patience gain your souls, and: having endured to the end, he will be saved. In your affairs, especially serious and important ones, you need prudence, and considerable prudence, dissolved by diligent prayer to God and the Most Holy Theotokos, St. Nicholas, the Great Martyr Barbara and the Hieromartyr Phokas. Such prayer can strengthen your spirit and give you cheerfulness and courage. Help you, Lord, not to be cowardly and to arrange your affairs prudently. It is not in vain that it is said in the psalms: The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace (Ps. 28:11). These words were often repeated by the late abbot Father Anthony. 227. IF THE LORD DOES NOT ALLOW, NO ONE CAN HURT US I received your letter. You write that, having received the icon of St. Nicholas from an unknown person, you calmed down from your sorrows and even rejoiced for two weeks. But when you heard about M.’s rumors, you were embarrassed again. Try to reassure yourself that if the Lord does not allow it, then no one can offend us, no matter who he is. Thank God that the Metropolitan is favorable and merciful to you, and let the lesser ones talk and stop. Regarding the troubles you encounter, always keep in mind the Gospel word of the Lord Himself: in your patience gain your souls, and having endured to the end, he will be saved. There is general wise advice: do not despair or lose heart under any circumstances, but trust in the mercy of God, and begin to do and correct what is possible, and not all at once, as you would like due to general dilapidation. The main thing is not to be faint-hearted or discouraged, but try, with God’s help, to do what is possible; whether by the will of God or by the judgment of God you came to this monastery - it makes no difference, because the will of God is twofold and the judgment of God is twofold, and there is One Judge of the living and the dead, and it is fitting for all of us to appear before the judgment seat of Christ. May the All-merciful Lord have mercy on us all. Peace be with you! 228. TRAVEL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD Yesterday I received your letter, in which you explain about your inconveniences in a new place. What to do? You didn’t ask to go there yourself, but were sent, so you need to submit and do the will of the one who sent you, in accordance with the will of God. You were probably sent for correction. But what is damaged is not corrected suddenly and slowly, but gradually, with great consideration and discretion. No matter how difficult your situation is, it is not contrary to what is said in the word of God. The Lord Himself says in the Holy Gospel: you will be in a world of sorrow (John 16:33); and he who endures... to the end will be saved. The Apostle writes: everyone will receive his wages according to his labor (1 Cor. 3:8); and again: if you are without punishment... you are adulterers by nature, and not sons (Heb. 12:8); and again: God is faithful, He will not leave you to be tempted more than you can, but will create with temptation an abundance (1 Cor. 10:13). May God help you to manage, firstly, in salvation, and then in other circumstances. Greetings in the Lord M.Z. and I call on both of you and on your monastery the peace and blessing of God. 229. YOU SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF SLAUS. A LIE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A LIE Strengthen yourself in the Lord and in the power of His strength! The apostolic word is not false: God is faithful... He will not leave you to be tempted more than you can, but He will create an abundance of temptation! In your last letter you explain your embarrassing situation due to various circumstances, especially from the slander of Father P., who boasted that he would oust you, but they kicked him out. Therefore, one can hope that both verbal rumors and written testimony can fall on his head. Evil always runs ahead, but does not overcome: Cain was born before Abel, and Esau before Jacob, but victory remained on the side of the latter, although Esau persecuted Jacob, and Cain killed Abel, but the persecuted are blissful, and the persecutors are rejected by God. Let us believe and hope that the Lord will not abandon us, we just need to endure with humility and not grumble. The Gospel word of the Lord Himself is not false: you will be in a world of sorrow: but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Also, do not worry about the fact that the school has been transferred from the monastery completely, or temporarily. In addition to lack of money, this also happened from the very circumstances, which, over time, will show which school should be in the monastery (or not at all). Avoid pretentious slander as best you can. A lie will remain a lie and can never be the truth, but those slandered will sooner or later be justified in every possible way. Run more often in prayer to the Queen of Heaven and the saint of God, Saint Nicholas, they will not leave you in sorrows and circumstances. You also need to remember and not forget the Gospel words of the Lord Himself: in your patience gain your souls, and having endured... you will be saved to the end. 230. GOD WILL NOT ALLOW, THE PIG WILL NOT EAT Peace to you and God's blessing and every affirmation in the truth! Strengthen yourself in the Lord and in the power of His strength. It is said in the psalms: The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace (Ps. 28:11). I received your letter, the content of which is a continuation of temptations and slander through Father K.; but there is an old wise saying: “God will not allow it, the pig will not eat it”; and the Psalter says: a lie is not true to yourself. K. wants to overcome you with untruth, but he will be deceived in his untruth, according to the psalm words. This untruth will lie to him, and may expose him to great disaster not only in the future life, but also in the present. Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites, but it is said that he was drowned in water like tin. K. consistory is not world history. And history only then writes the truth about everyone. Do not be afraid of frequent investigations and inquiries, which can only serve to justify you. When they consider all of K.’s false denunciations, then they can inflict some other punishment on him and cut off his wings, which he now flaps to no avail out of evil disposition, although it may annoy others. But this annoyance can turn on the head of himself. Undoubtedly believe the true apostolic word: God is faithful, He will not leave us to be tempted more than you can, but He will also create an excess of temptation. In difficult moments, console yourself with the thought that you did not go to that area yourself, but were sent by the authorities, through whom the will of God is indicated. Be forced to endure and try to do your best, and you will receive God’s mercy not only in the future life, but also in the present. 231. WITHOUT FEVER, BAD JUICES DO NOT LEAVE FROM THE BODY, WITHOUT TROUBLES AND EVIL IS NOT ELIMINATED FROM THE ABUSE I received your letter. You write about incessant and ongoing sorrows and various troubles for you from those who annoy you. But I advise you not to be cowardly, but to trust in the mercy and help of God, which is strong to protect us from all the snares of the enemy and from the slander of those acting in the spirit of the world. Evil always ran ahead, but did not prevail; and among the chosen disciples of Christ the Savior there was a traitor. But only those who opposed the truth received their worthy reward, and they could not harm others at all. If you courageously and with hope for God’s help endure the troubles and sorrows you encounter, then they will justify you and not harm you, you just need to act slowly. In your unfortunate situation, you must firmly remember and not forget that they do not give rewards for joy, but only for sorrows and for deeds. Let us also, with God’s help, strive as much as possible to correct the work of the monastery entrusted to us; and this correction is without illness and sorrow, and cannot be without labor. When spoiled juices appear in the human body, they are expelled in no other way than by fever or fever. And you yourself know that these illnesses are not easy, and only afterward it is good when someone can withstand himself properly. So in your monastery, bad juices are expelled, and you need to endure either fever or fever until they are expelled. And you, as the main member of the monastery, have to feel painful suffering more than others. It is not without reason that it is said in the Gospel: in your patience gain your souls; and having endured... to the end, he will be saved. Let us also be forced to endure and receive God’s mercy and eternal and endless salvation with all those who endure and endure sorrow. World! world! and peace! 232. TRIVLES DO NOT KILL, BUT SAVE IF WE BEAR THEM PATIENTLY AND WITH HOPE IN GOD I received your sad letter. You write that you are ready to drop everything right now and run somewhere. Wait, wait until the end first, maybe it won’t be the way you expect. You are wrong to think that people die from sorrow. On the contrary, we see from the Holy Scriptures that sorrows bring people closer to salvation, if someone is not faint-hearted and does not despair, but arms himself with patience, humility and devotion to the will of God. And just wait and see how and how the matter will end. Pray more fervently to the Queen of Heaven, Saint Nicholas, John the Warrior and Hieromartyr Phokas. Their prayers are powerful to protect you from excessive attacks; endure in moderation, remembering the apostolic word: tribulation makes endurance work; patience is a skill, and skill is hope; but hope does not put one to shame (Rom. 5:3-5). 233. IN GRIEF FROM ENEMIES – READ PSALMS 3rd, 53rd, 58th and 142nd, AND IN UNRECOUNTABLE GRIEF – PSALM 101st I received your letter and the icon of St. Agapit the doctor; thank you for your diligence. You write that your report that you did not receive the full amount when handing over the monastery aroused many people against you, who may now be hostile towards you. But trust in the mercy and help of God and believe that the Lord is strong to deliver you from all the snares of man and the enemy. It is said in the psalms: The Lord destroys the councils of tongues, and sweeps away the thoughts of people... but the advice of the Lord endures forever (Ps. 32: 10-11). I am writing out for you the psalms that Saint David prayed when he was persecuted by his enemies: 3rd, 53rd, 58th, 142nd. Choose words that are appropriate for you from these psalms and read them often, turning to God with faith and humility. And when despondency overcomes you or unaccountable sorrow torments your soul, read Psalm 101. In conclusion of the letter I will say - do not be quick in words, but first carefully consider what you need to say to people who rebel against us, or to great people. 234. MORE ABOUT READING PSALMS IN TROUBLES I received your letter, but in the second week of Lent I did not have time to write you an answer, and now the third week is already coming to an end. I’ll tell you again that, in my opinion, you still need to wait and be patient while the providential power of God acts, ruining wrong advice and sweeping aside the thoughts of ill-intentioned people; for the counsel of God alone endureth forever. In order to receive God’s mercy and help in your situation, read Psalm 36 daily: Do not be jealous of those who are evil; do not be jealous of those who commit iniquity. And it would be good to read this psalm, according to the word of Saint David, in the evening, morning and noon. And two more psalms - the 26th: The Lord is my enlightenment; and Psalm 90: Alive in the help of the Most High. If, in the name of the Holy Trinity, you regularly read these psalms three times daily with humility and zeal, surrendering yourself to the all-good Providence of God, then the Lord will bring forth your truth like light and your destiny like noon, just obey the Lord and beg Him. It is also useful to read Psalm 39: The Lord has endured and listened to me. It is not in vain that the Holy Scripture says that through many sorrows we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven, for the sake of which we entered the monastery. 235. IT IS NOT BLESSING TO RETIRE FOR FEAR OF OPPONENTS You grieve in sorrowful circumstances, and God’s brother, the holy Apostle James, advises us to rejoice in various temptations, because through this our faith is tested and confirmed. You write that robbers attacked your cell and could not do anything. It is obvious that God’s Providence protects you and inspires you to continue to hope for God’s mercy and help. I don’t remember where it is said that if a pious person lives without sorrows, a year is counted as a day, and if a pious person endures great sorrows, then a day is counted as a year. It is not in vain that the Apostle said: all who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12); and again: through many sorrows it is necessary... to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Acts 14:22); and the Lord Himself says in the Holy Gospel: in your patience gain your souls, and he who endures to the end will be saved. In any case, I cannot advise you to retire yourself. If the Lord has already delivered you beyond all hope from such oppression once, then He is able to deliver you again. And about the unjust tycoons, the royal prophet David says: I saw the wicked exalted and towering like the cedars of Lebanon: and I passed by, and behold, I was not, and I sought him, and his place was not found (Ps. 36: 35-36). During times of sorrow, read Psalm 32, the Lord will deliver you and, above all, will pacify your spirit. However, if by God’s permission the opponents managed to improve their will, then it would be more correct and reliable according to what was said (Matthew 5:10): Blessed is the expulsion of righteousness for the sake of it. But it is clear that they themselves are afraid and do not dare to do this, but want to drive you out with threats so that you can leave. Therefore, I do not advise you that you yourself decide to fulfill the will and desire of your opponents; or rather, to surrender to the will of God in everything, and the Lord is strong to deliver us, as of old he delivered the innocent Susanna from her opponents and slanderers. 236. GREAT IS THE REWARD FOR THOSE WHO ENDURE UNFAIR SLANDER In your letter you write that due to your illness and your mother’s illness 3. and due to incessant slander, it is inconvenient for you to stay in the L. monastery any longer, because you are afraid to die in an anxious state - not a peaceful spirit, and you like the O. monastery. Perhaps you can submit a petition to the Synod that, due to illness, you wish to spend the rest of your days in peace. But at the same time, remember the words of Abbot Father Anthony: “Then there will be peace when they sing over us - “Rest with the saints.” Great is the reward for those who endure unjust slander to the end. Recently I had a widow of a priest who suffered many unfair consequences from evil informers, fell ill and died. On the 40th day he appeared in a dream to his wife with a golden cross in his hands. Therefore, of the two, choose for yourself which you find more convenient, either endure to the end in the monastery, or ask for peace. 237. YOU SHOULD TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF BEFORE YOU RETIRE I received your sad letter and am answering immediately. First of all, serve a prayer service to the Savior, the Mother of God and All Saints, and go to S, asking his advice, is it possible to arrange for an investigator to be sent from St. Petersburg, who could expose lies and slander and clarify what is just, that is, in what position the L. monastery was before and in what it is now. If they find this inconvenient, then ask if it is possible to transfer you to a supervisor in another province. If it is impossible to achieve either one or the other, then you can already retire, in fulfillment of the Gospel word: If ... you are persecuted in this city, flee to another (Matthew 10:23). And so that you do not become more cowardly in your sorrows, try to remember and not forget that through many sorrows it is fitting for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Also, console yourself with the words of the Gospel: Blessed is the expulsion of righteousness for the sake of them: for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Blessed are you when they revile you, and ridicule you, and say all sorts of evil things about you lying, for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:10–12). May God's will be done for us! Yesterday I suddenly received two letters from you, and due to weakness and lack of time, I hasten to answer you. Everything you described shows that one should abandon human measures and resort to the One God for help. It’s better to pray to God as the late elder Leonid advised: “Save, Lord, and have mercy on my beloved father M.P., and for his prayers help me, a sinner.” Many examples show that such prayer pacified hostile and hostile people. Maybe Vl will change his attitude towards you too. in your relationships, then your circumstances can change for the better. Just in case, you can write to Abbess A. to see if she would be willing to accept you into retirement if circumstances require. If God’s will is done, then you will go to rest, only then you cannot avoid any sorrows and troubles, because the Gospel says that the Lord gives rest only to those who are toiling and burdened.