Слово 64. О перемене и превратности, какая бывает в шествующих установленным от Бога путем безмолвия

Whoever has decided in his mind to live in silence, let him rule himself decorously and spend the rest of his days practicing silence according to the order thereof. When it happens that your soul is internally confused by darkness (and this is usually in the order of silence determined by God’s grace), and just as the sun’s rays are obscured from the earth by the darkness of clouds, your soul is deprived of spiritual consolation and the light of grace for some time, due to the cloud of passions overshadowing the soul, and the somewhat joyful power in you is diminished, and an unusual darkness overshadows your mind - do not be embarrassed by the thought and not Give your hands to spiritual ignorance, but endure, read the books of teachers, force yourself to prayer and wait for help. She will come soon, without your knowledge. For, just as the face of the earth is revealed by the rays of the sun from the airy darkness that envelops the earth, so prayer can destroy and dispel the clouds of passions in the soul and illuminate the mind with the light of joy and consolation, which it usually generates through our thoughts, especially when it borrows food from the Divine Scriptures and has wakefulness that illuminates the mind. Constant immersion in the writings of saints (teachers) fills the soul with incomprehensible surprise and Divine joy. To our God be glory forever! You might be interested in: