Раздел II. Письма

Three letters to Rev. Feofan on the Eastern Question 105 God's mercy be with you, Alexander Viktorovich! I hasten to answer you, and things are moving quickly. Turn everything for good, Lord. You see, a great hero has been born. Previously, the Slavophiles acted separately, some how, and some where they could. Now the general movement has embraced everyone at once... I call this living feeling of brotherhood with the consciousness of the obligation to mutual help and intercession the birth of a hero. No one can kill him now. The movement began; will grow, grow, until... You ask about my letter, whether it can be used. I have nothing to say against it. Just look if there are any harsh judgments about the Greeks. Either omit these lines or straighten them, softening the sharpness 106. I had the idea that the separation of the Bulgarian hierarchy would give a center to the fragmented Bulgarians, and then further... it goes without saying that... They would shake off those sitting on the ridge. But then a turn came. What will happen is not clear, but I believe that nothing harmful will come of it for the Bulgarians. Their release will be in progress and will be arranged. War! Of course, it would be better to settle everything without war. But if not, then war is better. God bless! The Montenegrins and Serbs should add something; and give the Bulgarians, Bosniaks and Herzegovinians complete self-government - only with the payment of tribute... This would be easier for the Turks too. The ambition only suffers. But what to do when they become headless? And it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the Turks to sort everything out. I don’t know why they say this: the time has not come. The dirty Englishmen say this because they are waiting for the moment when they can take over everything alone. But we think that there is some kind of political unpreparedness. Empty! You can set up independent kingdoms or Slavic principalities... You can concoct a federation out of them... Constantinople-Frankfurt... Asia Minor - especially. There is an Armenian kingdom... and they forgot... And the Turks - get out of where they came from. Today - tomorrow - this will happen. When was Saul also a prophet? But such dreams have been floating around in my head for a long time. Turks are not natives. And there is no reason for them to sit forever on other people’s ridges. And nasty people! Well, God sent them as punishment, just like the Mongols did to us. The wrath of God is eternal... He will have mercy on ours... and will blow them away like chaff from a current. God's mercy be with you! You write in such a way that it’s as if you found some inspiration in my words. As if he needed such support. There's a support! Hear, the roar is sweeping throughout Russia and is echoing throughout the entire Slavic world. Other nations hear it too - and don’t frown - they hear it with pleasure, with the exception of the dirty England and nasty Hungary. One must assume that the voice of war against the Turks is the voice of the entire Christian world. And if the voice of one people is the voice of God, is it not much more so of many nations? Only God knows what will happen in the end - victory or defeat; but in the entire course of affairs and in the spirit with which it is being conducted, it cannot even occur to anyone that the Lord would look unfavorably on our war. On the contrary, the conviction is forced upon the heart that the time has surely come for our brothers to breathe freely. Oh, whenever! What a bright Sunday it will be! There is nothing to desire for war; but if without it it is impossible to put our people on their feet, but only to deliver something to them, then war is better. Now, without war, at the conference there is one speech on behalf of the Sovereign, and after the war there will be another. I think that then it will be possible to demand complete self-government, so that the Turkish spirit will not smell at all in those lands... Then our brothers will perk up in spirit... they will form and become a strong people. What happens next is obvious. I mean complete self-government, like the Serbs now have. You want to talk about faith. Good; but don’t strain too hard so as not to bore them, but just remind them so that they don’t let this subject slip out of their attention. For when they are released, the aliens will creep in and snatch some privileges for themselves, but none should be given in advance, saying: the people will decide for themselves. Among the people, faith is strong: there is just not enough space. Space will be given by the new state of affairs. There is no need to stress too much. When God blesses our work and there is complete success, then there will be only one thing left regarding faith - to ask His Holiness the Patriarch and his synod to cancel the definitions of their incomprehensible council. And it will be. The Greeks began to come to their senses... And the Patriarch of Jerusalem was already allowed. When this is done for the Slavs, the blessed hierarchy will do its work among the people. But the people even now don’t care about the whims of the Greeks... War! - God bless! - Why do our people always bother with fortresses when crossing the Danube?! I think that, having crossed the Danube, it is necessary to set up only a strong blockade near the fortresses, so that the Turks cannot show their nose from there; with the active army, go further without stopping - through the Balkans - to Constantinople. Let a hundred thousand remain near the fortresses and the same number go further. The first will be a resting and guarding army, and the second will be an active one. The first will be to have all the roads across the Danube in its hands and not let the Turkish army leave the fortresses; and the second thing is to beat or finish off the rest of the Turkish army. Of course, this order will require more troops, but it will be safer. The army near the fortresses will all be intact: for the Turks will be afraid to make attacks. It is only necessary to arrange for it to be located in healthy places and to receive sufficient food. And through the capture of fortresses, how many people die! Meanwhile, their capture is necessary only so that there is no enemy in the rear. But if you drive the Turks into the fortress and surround them with sufficient corps, then it will be the same as if there is no one in the rear - for the army that will go further. This one will not encounter great difficulties when the main forces remain locked in the fortresses, and only a few will be in front of them. So they will reach Constantinople without much resistance. And that's the end of it. Constantinople cannot be defended. And the Turks must either lose it, and with it everything, or, while maintaining it, yield to us on all counts... That’s the military occupation - that’s saving the population from the fury of the Turks! And what else? It seems that the fleet will have to leave the Black Sea and hide in the Bosporus and the Sea of ​​Marmara for fear of being locked here without food and drink... for the fortresses that guard the exit from the Black Sea to Tsarjugrad are not very strong. Put more troops into action, and it will be more intact, and the work will be done faster and more successfully. I confess my sin that I took on something other than my own in setting out all this. But these thoughts have been occupying me greatly for some time now. If the Turks were left alone, then it would be no wonder to deal with them; but they will have many dirty tricks. How would the Indians really not be brought? But all this will only complicate the matter somewhat, but will not make it insurmountable. But anyway, the fate of the war is in the hands of God. Let us pray to Him, confessing our sins, so that He will help, at least not for our sake, but for the sake of our suffering brothers. It is heard that both in St. Petersburg and in Moscow there are many people who do not favor the war and even our very intercession. These must be some kind of geeks. For I do not see or hear that there was any hesitation anywhere among the people and among all the provincials. There are also people here with higher views; but even these are all penny people. They should be called bashi-bazouks because, not wanting war, they want our brothers to remain in statu guo, and this is the same as leaving them under the tyranny of the bashi-bazouks. I said almost nothing regarding church affairs. And nothing. For now, just reminding them is enough. And what exactly to do, more on that later. We don’t have anything in our hands yet... Let us catch it first... then we can pinch it. I wish you all the best from the Lord. God bless you with every blessing. Happy belated holidays and happy new year. Will this new year bring something? The conference is doing something wrong. Concession after concession... But no matter what happens, this inspires resistance. But this may lead to war. War is a questionable business, not knowing where it will turn: for its real plans are written in heaven, and they have to be read after the task is completed. The war is difficult, it will take a lot of money and victims. Therefore, one cannot help but turn away from it if the opportunity arises. But judging by the fact that with war it is possible to take more than is destined without war - and so much more that it is possible, by virtue of it, to put an entire people on their feet; judging by the fact that now there are many moments favorable to success in the course of affairs, namely, very likely - one on one - with help from the Greeks, Romania, and Slavs; judging by our general enthusiasm, which, who knows, will ever embrace us with such strength; judging by all this, I can’t restrain myself from the desire for war, even though war gives me chills. It seems to me that the current favorable circumstances will never be repeated in the future, but the difficult ones will increase: so that after that we will no longer be able to do anything in favor of our brothers. We'll have to leave them to our own means. Which one? - to the will of God. But once you reach this term, you cannot remain calm. I think everyone’s blood will boil. God's protection is stronger than all human means. But God also works through people. If God has intentions to now give benefits to our brothers, then, of course, He does not leave evidence of this among people. Isn’t the inspiration that gripped us the action of God in us? And recognizing this, shouldn’t we together recognize that with this movement God is telling us: I entrust you with the liberation of these suffering ones? Can we refuse? God doesn't force anyone. But will we be innocent if we do not heed God’s beckons? God will find executors of His will even without us. And we are ashamed, if nothing else. He who leaves his brother will be left at the right time. All such thoughts lead directly to the decision: whether you want it or not, go fight, Mother Orthodox Rus'. Even if it is unfortunate, if God wants to shame us; but we will be justified both before our conscience and before history... that we did our job properly. On the contrary, if we do not deliver anything lasting to our brothers and do not fight, we will be ashamed before ourselves, and before others, and before history... and shame and disgrace will haunt us in the next world. Without a war, Russia will fall lower than the failure of the war will humiliate it. But we’ll have enough people, and we’ll collect a penny of money, and we’ll find generals. Why be a coward here? The Turks, of course, will have a lot of Englishmen, Hungarians, Poles and other freaks. But still, this is not some kind of army, but a help. Will England really openly support the Turks? And will Austria really pester her? Nothing. Let's beat them too. We will take Galicia from Austria, restore the Czech kingdom, separate the other Slavs from the Hungarians, with special administration; Let's take a piece for Romania. Austria will pay dearly for its cunning. Now we will beat England only on Turkish territory; but after that, a war with her is inevitable in order to humble her and discourage her from the desire and opportunity to interfere everywhere and stick like a bath leaf. If the riddles of the conference are accepted, of course, it still cannot be said that nothing has been done for ours. No, and this will accomplish a lot, although not to the extent desired. The main thing will be: they will have the opportunity to develop and grow independently. And God bless. The best that is desired is still far ahead; but you can also see good sides in this. And the first is the gradualness of national growth. Perhaps, if we now give the people complete independence (this is what I want), they will not be able to cope with it, but having gradually grown up to it, they will enter into it unnoticed, just as someone puts on new clothes. Here’s the second: the people then will not owe everything to outside intercession, but will also work on themselves, and as if they will earn themselves complete freedom. The awareness of this among the people will be an everlasting clarion, kindling the people's self-esteem, which means a lot. Add to this that, having grown up, they will finally become Turks themselves - what heroic inspiration will always reign in him! We still remember the Battle of Kulikovo with admiration, although, in fact, it did not give us freedom. You think this and that, you think, and you agree for a minute that maybe it would be better if they gradually freed themselves. And for this, conference requirements are sufficient, if they have not yet been formalized. Concerns regarding faith cannot but be shared with you; but what can be done for this now is absolutely not clear. God bless the Orthodox leaders. But can we expect them? The governors are Christians: what if they are non-Orthodox?!.. A Catholic will favor Catholics, and a Protestant will favor Protestants. On this side, wouldn’t it be better to leave the governors, big and small, to the Turks, with the condition that all other government officials and councils should consist of Orthodox Christians down to the last ramifications - to the villages and hamlets; also, that the police should also be Orthodox everywhere, and that regular troops should not be allowed to enter into business... and that they should be placed in fortresses and barracks. In this case, the faith will be preserved more conveniently... The only thing that needs to be done is the right for communities to demand that there be no foreign clergy - neither big people nor small ones among the non-Orthodox... This measure will give hope for the return movement to Orthodoxy and will stop propaganda in every possible way. But God's will be done. Whatever the Lord pleases will be done. What if nothing comes of everything we started?!! We've done some preening, and then give it here. It will be exactly like how near Jerusalem villages often rebel against villages, not paying attention to the governor sitting in Jerusalem. Noise, din, guns are loaded... they are swaggering around, and they look around to see if anyone on either side will appear as a conciliator. Is; and it happens that some village itself will make it. Peace proposals begin... the villages don’t want to listen. A day goes by like this, then another... you hear: we got along. It seems? I think exactly the same. God bless you. Be healthy and good-natured. What is spiritual life and how to tune in to it? 63. Housework. Singing and music I was in a hurry to quickly complete my speech about the struggle with the passionate, although one can never reach the end here, and left almost unanswered much of what you wrote about at that time. You will find the answer to other things in what is written, and to others I will answer now. You write that you have a lot of troubles around the house. Do everything you are told to do with diligence. This is your duty. But don’t bother, don’t bother. Trouble (care) is accompanied by agitation of everything internal, and this is not a proper thing. Isn’t it possible to discuss everything assigned calmly, and then do it, without worrying at all, with a collected thought? In everyday life, if there is anything that interferes with spiritual life, then it is not affairs and activities at all, but it is empty over-concern that wears out the heart, meanwhile, it cannot move the matter even a hair forward, and these alarms that take thoughts like a whirlwind. This always results in a crush, but things never get done. Kindly distinguish between due diligence and undue care and fuss, and learn to do all things soberly, without deviating in thought from the Lord, but, on the contrary, holding the conviction that you are pleasing Him with all this. You ask: “What about singing and playing the piano and harmonium? I used to play and sing, not paying attention to the content of the plays, but now it gets into my head. It is known that not all plays have good content, although they are put together very harmoniously.” What to do? You can’t suddenly change everything. This will immediately catch your eye. Sing and play what you sang and played before, trying not to pay attention to the content. Meanwhile, little by little, select those plays with good or even just tolerable content and sing and play them more, so that the others who force you to sing and play will finally be completely forgotten. The harmonium is very capable of properly expressing church singing. Get out Turchaninov’s works and learn from them what you like best. Learn - “God Save the King”, “How Glorious is Our Lord in Zion” and the like. If you sing one of this kind of pieces with full feeling, I assure you that you will like it more than anything else. And then they will ask you to sing and play not some empty little plays, but precisely these majestic creations. A long time ago you mentioned that your voice and singing were praised. They do their job, and you do yours. When both are good, how not to praise? But you should not boast about it, but humble yourself. Where did you get your voice and taste for singing? God gave. What did God give for? To scratch the ears of others or something else?! Nothing else but that you turn them to the glory of God. Is that what you did? No. You only amused yourself and others, but you had no mention of God at all. It became that you abused the gift of God, wasting it for nothing. Now your thoughts have turned to pleasing God; turn there too to the use of God’s gift. If you need to eat and drink for the glory of God, then even more so sing and play. If you play and sing something that will touch the soul of those who hear it and make them sigh to the Lord or ascend to Him with praise and thanksgiving, then you will do the same thing that a good preacher does in church. And behold, the saving fruit of the gift is given to you! Please direct its use to this side. Select both secular and spiritual edifying plays and just sing and play them. This is for others, but on your own, never sing anything secular, but everything spiritual. But I’ll repeat again: don’t break it suddenly, but slowly. And in general, don’t show any special features in anything. Be as friendly, good-natured and cheerful with everyone as always. Just refrain from laughter, ridicule and all idle talk. And without this you can be friendly, cheerful, and pleasant. Never be gloomy under any circumstances. When the Savior told those who were fasting to wash themselves, anoint their heads and comb their hair, he meant precisely so that they would not become gloomy. 64. Loneliness. How to avoid boredom. Reading and studying science You write: “I’m left alone and I miss you.” It's a natural feeling. But I think that you might not have one after your decisions and what you were asked to do as a result. If the latter had been instilled in you at least to some extent, then you would never recognize yourself as lonely, even though you are alone. You wouldn’t recognize yourself as lonely, because you would realize that the Lord is near, and the Guardian Angel is close to you - not mentally, but really. And then the feeling of loneliness, and therefore boredom as a result of it, would be inappropriate. But I believe that this onset of boredom was momentary for you and soon dissipated. Always, however, for the future, whenever you have to be alone, quickly restore the conviction that the Lord is with you and your Guardian Angel, and hasten to take advantage of the moments of solitude for unentertained time with the Lord and sweet conversation with Him. Solitude in this spirit is sweet. I wish you to taste this sweetness someday so that you desire it like heaven on earth. The other day, while leafing through a book, I came across advice from a father (Count Speransky 107) to his daughter. Here, by the way, it also talks about how to avoid boredom. This is what he advises. Everyone, he says, has a circle of his daily activities, which he serves like a quitrent. But there are many people for whom these quit-rent occupations are simple and short-lived. They leave a lot of time, which, if you don’t fill it with anything, you can’t avoid boredom. To avoid it, here is the most reliable means for you: arrange it so that you do not have a single idle minute and all your time is filled with appropriate activities, so that when, having finished one task, you become free, you already have another task ready to take on. What are these things? 1. Aesthetic activities: music, singing, painting. But this is not daily bread, but sweets. 2. Some kind of handicraft - knitting, embroidery and the like. 3. But the best remedy against boredom is to find a taste for serious reading and study of subjects not yet known. And it’s not so much reading that drives away boredom, but studying. Then I decided to share this recipe with you just in case. But now there was a need for it. Take the trouble to take note of this and arrange it that way. And that’s right, you won’t feel bored anymore. I know one person who is always alone, doesn’t go out himself and doesn’t accept others. They ask him: “Are you not bored?” He replies: “I don’t have time, there’s so much to do that as soon as I open my eyes after sleep, I do and do and don’t have time to redo them before I close them.” Let me note for you that by the study that the father of his daughter is talking about, we mean the study of either entire sciences, or some parts of them that have not been fully completed. This obviously eliminates all empty reading of empty books. It seems that you are not a hunter for him. And good. Do not deviate from this custom. Read more spiritual books. This is the area of ​​the most serious subjects and, most importantly, the most self-needing. In this area, everything is new and never gets old. The more you learn, the more you will see things that have not yet been known. And the desire to learn these objects, and the adaptability to knowledge of them, occurs only when someone actually embarks on the path of spiritual life. From the moment you decided to please the Lord, I consider you no stranger to this path. If you please, read books about this and learn how to do it. God bless you! 66. Travel to the Sergius Lavra. Instruction to pilgrims So who pointed you to St. Pimena?! Someone who speaks with passion about Divine things. I guess. This is probably the same one that I had with you. I am very glad about this circumstance - I am glad that there is someone near you who can say that. Use it and every time you have it, point it at such objects and pull everything out of it and assimilate it to yourself. Are you going to Sergiev! Fine. God bless. And on foot! Two and three times is good! To prevent others from chatting, you can hide it somehow. But they can’t, let them talk. But you are wrong to think that this will be a pleasant walk. You may walk about fifty versts rather pleasantly, and then you begin to feel something different from what you expected. You'll arrive in two days. At your first overnight stay, you will learn what pedestrianism means if you didn’t know it before. Don't forget to take a bottle of vodka with salt and rub your feet with it at night. By evening they will no longer belong. Rub them, they will come off a little by morning. In the morning you will not go the same way as from Moscow, but you will disperse. You can go back via cast iron, otherwise you’ll hardly be able to walk for another two days. But do what you have in your heart. Work is for the Lord; He will give you strength. And then it will give something, noticeably or unnoticed. And St. Sergius will give something. God gives saints the ability to see what believers are doing for them and to hear what they ask of them. If only everything came from the heart. Just as a telegraph makes itself known in an instant from Moscow to St. Petersburg and beyond, so what is born in the heart in an instant makes itself known to the one to whom it is addressed. St. Sergius, as soon as you make a wish to go to him, already looks at you; when you begin the journey, the more you will see, and even more when you come to his monastery, having endured the toils of the journey with complacency and joy. So bless, Lord! Just don’t expect pleasant things, but fatigue, calluses, and aching bones. Get ready to make a sacrifice, not gain pleasure. As you walk along the road, constantly repeat the short prayer that I wrote to you about, otherwise the thoughts of not knowing where they will take you in the open air. They can lead you to something that is not appropriate to think at all, much less to those walking on a pilgrimage. When you are tired of repeating such a prayer, take a psalm and read it from memory with meditation. Read: Have mercy on me, O God, or God, come to my help, or another one you know. Don’t worry about reading it from beginning to end, but about thinking about and feeling its content. Delve into every word, surrounding it with questions about why it was said and where it leads you. Going deeper, you won’t even notice how mile after mile they will pass you by. Reading the psalms from memory with meditation during the journey is the rule of the first great fathers, Anthony and Pachomius. It was their law that whoever becomes their disciple must certainly memorize several psalms. Those who did not know how to read, before learning to read, learned the psalms from the words of another. Having learned several psalms, he then had to read them while sitting at work, and especially when going anywhere. Please make the experience of imitation ancient. Do not forget to confess and partake of the Mysteries of Christ at the monastery. The labor of traveling will be instead of the labor of fasting. It will not be difficult for you to confess now after your last confession, which was made in such detail. Do not hide anything that your conscience does not approve of, be it small or large. But don’t miss the main thing – a tear of contrition. One tear - and you will be like having taken a bath or washed yourself in a bathhouse. I wanted to write something to you about such a tear before, but I forgot. I'll write it down now. You take books from the library to read. Take Zhukovsky 108 and read the article: “Peri and the Angel.” She seems to be in the fifth volume. Instructive. She's big. I’ll tell you briefly its contents! Peri - the spirit, one of those carried away to fall away from God, came to his senses and returned to paradise. But having flown to his doors, he finds them locked. Their guardian angel tells him: “There is hope that you will enter, but bring a worthy gift.” Peri flew to the ground. Sees: war. A valiant warrior dies and in his dying tears prays to God for his fatherland. Peri picked up this tear and carries it. He brought it, but the doors did not open. The angel tells him: “The gift is good. But I am not strong enough to open the doors of heaven for you.” This expresses that all civil virtues are good, but they alone do not lead to heaven. Peri flies back to the ground. Sees the pestilence. A handsome man dies. His fiancee takes care of him with dedication, but she herself becomes infected. And she had just managed to close his eyes when she fell dead on his chest. There were tears here too. Peri picked one up and carried it, but the doors of heaven did not open for this one either. The angel tells him: “The gift is good, but one is not strong enough to open Heaven for you.” This means that family virtues alone also do not lead to heaven. Search! There is hope. Peri back to the ground. I found someone repentant. He took his tear and carried it. And before he approached paradise, all its doors were already open for him. So this is the kind of tear you would like to bring to the Lord. There is joy in Heaven when someone cries and laments, feeling like a sinner. And this is the most reliable way for us: repent and believe in the Gospel (Mark 1:15). 68. Rumor and human speech. Need a good advisor. Constant danger from the enemy How painfully your word “rumor has spread!” resonated in my heart. Oh, how terrible and corrosive is the fire of speech and suspicious human eyes! And it is clear why in the psalms the holy prophet David, with heart disease, often turns to God in prayer to deliver him from the tongue of man. Where can you find consolation and support? In the testimony of your conscience. Keep this awareness of the moral worth of your actions before God and all sane people in your mind and heart. With him, you will courageously meet everyone, no matter who walks there. Meanwhile, treat everyone like you know nothing. In everyday life, you cannot completely neglect what they say or what they say. The matter of prudence, however, here should extend only to the following: - conduct business in such a way as not to irritate speeches and not cloud the eyes of men. This should not go further: to postponing, for example, matters that are considered obligatory. Yes - so far, why have you expressed any peculiarity?! Was it really because they went to Rev. Sergius?! But this was done behind the scenes, and here you were hidden behind your own people. Or by the fact that on all Sundays and holidays you go to church for the all-night vigil and the liturgy?! But this is a duty faithfully performed by all Christians who remember that they are Christians. Only extreme need can dissuade him from fulfilling it, without incurring the reproach of laziness and forgetting one’s Christianity. Don’t look at the bad customs of Moscow young ladies and don’t listen to their empty speeches. Today and tomorrow is death. She doesn’t look at beauties, she destroys them too. And after death - immediately a report. And the cleverness of the young ladies there will not be taken into account. So don't worry about speeches. Everything is done on your part so as not to irritate them. If, despite that, they went, let them. To console and strengthen your courage, as I said, the testimony of your conscience before God is enough. Let everyone judge; but if God justifies in conscience, all these judgments are nothing. One of the observers told me that human speech, as long as it does not cling to anything really bad, will stand over a person like a waterless cloud and move away. And their trace will disappear, and no one will remember them. The same, I think, will happen in relation to you. I wish this for you with all my heart. Keep yourself calm, as always, as if you didn’t notice anything. Instead of ascetic rigor, which is inapplicable in your everyday life, take the fear of God and mortal memory, and they will teach you everything. Write about everything. Secrecy in everyday life is not a bad thing, but in spiritual life it is the most dangerous. You definitely need to have someone with whom you can consult about everything that happens both outside and, especially, inside. If you and I are already talking about this, then write. There is some kind of bad force around us and in us, which, through various illusory good qualities, misleads us and confuses our affairs, leading us either to idleness or even to evildoing. The enemy sits by your side and pushes everything under your arm. One’s own reasoning also helps a lot against it - not immediately doing every deed that seems good, but discussing it thoroughly in advance. When you begin to discuss, the illusory quality of good with which the enemy dresses his suggestions will immediately dissipate. But his reasoning does not always have time to do this, because the enemy often confuses him with his hints (our elders called this decoys). Write and tell everything. And if you find anyone there, talk to them about everything more often. Save you, Lord, and have mercy! You have to learn to live. Watch yourself. Mistakes will show you how to do better next time. 70. About reading spiritual and secular books At your request, I am sending you St. Anthony with his writings. Read and go deeper. And marvel. He was not a scientist and did not read the books of scientists, he only sang the Psalter and read the Gospel with the Apostle. The grace of God revealed contemplations in his mind, and look how wise his speeches were. There is eyewitness testimony about him that when he began to speak, his speech flowed like a river and, coming from his heart, filled the hearts of all those who listened. Sometimes whole nights passed in such conversations, and neither he nor those listening to him felt tired or felt the urge to sleep. Here we have Fr. Seraphim of Sarov was also not a scientist, but the experiences of spiritual life, deepening into the word of God and the writings of the fathers made him wise from the wise. In spiritual life, books are only a guide. Knowledge itself is acquired by doing. Even what is learned from reading, as if clearly and thoroughly, when experienced by action, appears in a completely different light. Spiritual life is a special world into which human wisdom does not penetrate. You will experience this yourself or are already experiencing it. Work on yourself and pay attention to yourself. Little by little, and you will reach the point where you begin to make wise speeches that you sit down and write down. God bless you! You write: “I read a lot; Isn’t that bad?” It can be both bad and good, judging by what you read and how you read it. Read with reasoning and believe what you read with the true truth of our confession. Whatever agrees with him, accept it, and whatever disagrees, immediately reject it as an ungodly thought and throw away the book in which such thoughts are expressed. You have undertaken to study the spiritual life. This is an object that is both vast, sublime, and sweet for the heart, which cannot help but see in it its last good. Take it up - and study it, and from books, and, moreover, by doing it. You already know what books to read, and you know how to lead a good life. If you seriously want to embark on this path, then you will have no time to turn to the study of other subjects. You have studied and have a general understanding of everything, and that’s enough for you. You say: will you turn out to be backward? What a problem! Retarded in one thing, but successful in another, and much higher in another. If, lagging behind in human wisdom, you did not advance in the wisdom of God, there would be damage. But you will undoubtedly succeed in the latter; if you get down to business properly, you will not suffer damage, but gain greater advantage. For human wisdom cannot be compared with spiritual wisdom. By saying this, I don’t mean to say that nothing else can be respected, but only that you can do without it without damage, whereas by leaning towards it you can suffer damage in your main thing. If you chase two, you won’t make it in either. But the question still remains unresolved: how can one read anything other than the spiritual? Through clenched teeth I tell you, barely audible: perhaps it is possible, only a little and not indiscriminately. Put this sign: when, being in a good spiritual mood, you begin to read a book with human wisdom and that good mood begins to fade away, throw that book. This is a universal law for you. But these books with human wisdom can also feed the spirit. These are those who, in nature and in history, show us traces of wisdom, goodness, truth and God's care for us. Read books like this. God reveals Himself in nature and history as well as in His word. And they are the books of God for those who know how to read them. It’s easy to say: read books like these; but where can I get them? I cannot show you this. Nowadays, more books are being published on natural science subjects. But almost all of them are of a bad direction - namely, they attempt to explain the origin of the world without God and all the moral, religious and other manifestations of spiritual life in us - without spirit and soul. And don't pick them up. There are books on natural science subjects without such philosophies. Those can be read. It is good to understand the structure of plants, animals, especially humans, and the laws of life that manifest themselves in them. Great is the wisdom of God in all this! Unexplored! What kind of books exactly there are, ask someone who talks fascinatingly about objects of faith. What about stories and novels?! There are good ones among them. But to find out if they are good, you need to read them, and after reading them, you will accumulate such stories and images that - God forbid! Manure your clean little head. Afterwards, clean it up. How can one incur such labor upon oneself?! Therefore, I think it is better not to read them. When one of the well-meaning people who have read it recommends a story, you can read it. There are good land descriptions. And you can read them. But everything is a little bit and just for variety. Keep your job and don’t distract your attention from it. 6. About traveling to holy places God help you! Save yourself! I am sending you 15 rubles. Don't be angry at more. Deprived of money. God bless your path. But if you had asked before, I would have said: stay at home. One cannot expect much use from this journey, but trouble may be at hand. But how has it gone so far, wander around... Look at people, and maybe you’ll learn something. Temptations here attack one by one, on the road they will attack in dozens, and in Jerusalem - in hundreds. Keep your ears sharp. We should have gone straight to Mount Athos and stayed there longer. And to Jerusalem at half-time. Be careful not to stay on Athos. Immediately it seems like it’s there... But then a spirit of despondency and longing for the homeland and relatives will attack - unbearable. Like crazy people rush here and there... I saw others. P. stayed there and bought a cell; and now I’m ready to sell my cell for half the price, just to go home quickly... We have our own Athos: Valaam, Solovki... And so, we need to arrange Athos in our souls. Anyway, see for yourself. At the Mission in Jerusalem, Fr. Archimandrite Antonin is a treasure of wisdom. You can live with it; but everything is official there. There is also a Russian elder there - Benjamin. Talk to them about this and that. In the Savvinsky Monastery, the elder (archim. abbot) Joasaph is a deep and great ascetic. These are your fathers. You'll see everything else for yourself. Pray for me everywhere too. I wish you all the best from the Lord. Your pilgrim Bishop Feofan Note to this letter: for the prayers of Saint Theophan, the traveler, arriving directly at Athos, lived there in different places for about two years. From Athos with Russian monks. Pantel. monastery traveled for a short time to Jerusalem and to all places in Palestine in May 1870. I also saw St. the elders: Joasaph and Benjamin. With o. archim. Unfortunately, I did not talk to Antonin, because Athonite monks are not given shelter in Russian buildings. He returned safely from Mount Athos to Russia in May 1871. 7. Regarding the desire to stay on Athos and about parcels God's mercy be with you. So you are looking closely at staying on Athos. God bless! There is peace for a simple soul, which, tea, is yours. May the Mother of God arrange your stay on Athos. And then it will be clear what type of life you should choose. The hostel is more comfortable and more bearable for us weaklings. Is it possible that, having lived well in a hostel, and having been thrashed and trimmed, try a deserted stay... All this is after. Now let’s look to see God’s instructions. Thank you for the schema (Greek) and the polycross. I saw how they are worn at St. Savva the Sanctified. It's the same throughout the East. He gave the hat (knitted - handicrafts of the Athonite people) to P.I. and sent his bows with the icons on the calico. I thank Athos for this blessing - to us sinners. I happened to have some money and I can send you some. Maybe they are good for something. While you have not yet joined the brotherhood, you can manage them yourself. And after, I can’t say. It seems that there is a custom there - to have nothing. I ask for prayers from you and all the elders. I wish you all the best from the Lord. God bless you! With this fifteen rubles. 109 Letters to nephew A.G. Govorov 146. Congratulations on marriage and family happiness God's mercy be with you! I am very glad that your marriage has finally been consummated. God bless you! I always pray that the Lord will prosper you in everything. It's good that you're all at home. It’s bad when someone doesn’t find happiness in their family. If you find it, thank the Lord. But try to always keep it that way. There is only one art: to start every day as if it were the first after the wedding. However, learn to live. Great wisdom... But the fear of God will teach you everything. If I get around to it, I’ll make you a copy of our miraculous icon and send it to you. P.S. Report to the bailiff that the further he goes, the more illegible he begins to write, and advise him to improve. Letters to attorney-at-law Mitrofan Rafailovich Koryakin in Zadonsk 201. Contentment with the present, caring for children. Different places and faces. Athos leaflets and “Soulful Interlocutor” I am very glad that your illnesses have improved. This is the fruit of your spiritual excitement. May the Lord remove your infirmities, both physical and spiritual. This is how it is better - to live in the order that God sent, without going into riddles. When new paths of life open up by themselves, it’s as if God is calling. And it’s always better to be patiently content with the given than to rush into the unknown. Children care... This is God's burden. He is the guardian of everyone. And the executors of His care are the first parents, then everyone else, somehow directing the course of business. It's a pity! You are right when you say that just like that, they will be swept away if you let them into the environment of walking life. Village and labor - what golden leaders. God bless the justice of your neighbor. May the Lord strengthen him and keep himself this way forever. We were in Yelets. This is my county town. My homeland is Chernavsk - an old city. In Voronezh there is Chernavskaya Street. This is my Chernavsk... road. Father John Vukolov is a matchmaker. In the same church there is another priest - a nephew, married to the niece of Fr. John. What drew you to Yelets?! The leaf gave you a good lesson about patience. The area of ​​patience is wide. There is no need to look: there is enough of it under everyone’s feet and on their shoulders. May God grant you peace of mind. You mentioned the leaflet. This is Athos. The people of Athos publish: Soulful Interlocutor – two sheets per month. And sometimes such leaflets are sent out to them as a blessing. They would write it out... it costs 1 rub. with delivery... Athos Chapel... in Moscow... on Nikolskaya. Lots of edifying stuff! God bless you! Watch how dangerously you walk. Look into your heart... and don’t let anything unkind go there. 202. About the fate of those killed on the “Rusalka”. Our fraternization with the French. Fear of future poverty You were struck by the fate of Mermaid 110 and those who were on her. Who didn't she impress?! Everyone is amazed, and most of all the Emperor... But don’t we have the opportunity to find consolation in the promises of Christianity?! It seems we have. It is not the death of the ship that is terrifying, but the fate of those on it. Let us begin to measure this fate in relation to the eternal fate. This is the main thing. What was the situation of all these people? In the position of doing their duty. Is military duty in God's ranks? Determined by God and rewarded by God? Yes! Is naval warfare different from land warfare? Yes! And I think it should be placed a little in front and higher... Now judge - people who were doing their duty were suddenly captured by death and departed to another life. How will they be greeted there? Of course, without reproach... and at the same time as fulfilling their duty... The Lord says: whatever I find you doing, that’s what I will judge. That is how they will be judged, that is, as performers of their duty. - Those who do their duty will be given a good sentence... Now put this decision with the question... Why do we live? We live so that, having lived here, in the next world we will meet a good sentence and a corresponding fate. Don't you see that those who left us on Rusalka... do not lose anything in relation to the main goal of our existence? And be comforted! Add to this, was their death sweet or painful? I think that only great martyrs experienced such torment... Although it was short-lived, it is impossible to determine its measures. Why did they suffer this torment? For the fulfillment of duty. All the martyrs endured this way... and therefore, those who died due to the crash of the “Rusalka” should be counted among the host of martyrs. I do not hesitate to decide that just as the thief from the cross went straight to heaven, so did they. I would like all the mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and wives of the dead to read these lines, believe their truth and be comforted. I honor their death, in relation to eternal salvation, better than the death of all who died at that time, being surrounded by relatives and friends. May the Lord rest their souls in the Kingdom of Heaven!!! Your second point... the fear that we might not receive from God's truth for our fraternization with the French... in Toulon, Paris and throughout France... If this fraternization concerned the matter of faith and salvation, then we could be afraid of this... but since this aspect is not taken into account, then your fear is in vain... We fraternize in order to protect ourselves from ruin by nations hostile to us and thereby make it possible to achieve our salvation - among peaceful existence. The fear of becoming infected... with the bad sides of the French is also inappropriate... Our sailors are a speck of dust there. Even if everyone were to become infected with them, it could not be dangerous for all of our people... And there is no time to become infected?! Seven to eight days!!! The infection can and does go another way. We must pray... earnestly to stop its progress! And oohing and aahing - what a fruit! From these events, move on to yourself and build a gloomy picture of your future. But why gloomy? There is still bread... and thank God! And what lies ahead, here is our answer: God will give the day, He will also give food. Have hope... and silently do your job... You cannot help but worry when asked: what is tomorrow? But you can’t reassure yourself with anything other than: God’s will be done. - The Apostle says: with everything we hunger, and with everything we shall be filled... Let it be as the Lord wills... Whether God sends you enough or poverty, everything will undoubtedly be in the form of our salvation, and for it to be so, this is from our acceptance of everything we encounter. God bless you all! Letters to a priest in Kiev (Arch. Nik. F.) 206. Regarding the spread of unbelief in society I greet you both with the New Year and with past holidays, the power of which is not bound by one day. There is nothing to say about the bitter state of God’s truth in society. No matter what you come up with, everything falls out of hand... What to do! Everyone in your circle, do what you can... You can form a small society of zealots to print leaflets explaining the Christian faith and morals... And let someone carry or distribute them around the city and in the villages. You take upon yourself the compilation of articles... The simpler the better... In Moscow, this is done by a society of lovers of spiritual enlightenment. And they say that things are going well. Moreover, prayer remains with us... And that’s all. Let us pray; Perhaps the Lord will send meaning and reason both to the workers and to those for whose sake the workers must do. I myself cannot print anything, especially letters 111, which there is no one to buy anymore. If only for the people, then it seems that they need to be remade and simplified. And this is how you do it. I wish you all the best from the Lord. And God's blessing to your entire family. 207. Good and bad news about spiritual mentors Most Reverend Father Nicholas! I would like to thank you for your congratulations on the occasion of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. Please accept my mutual congratulations. The celebration is still going on, although there are only a few days left. It is very comforting to see how successful you are in your humble feelings. Here is true evidence of standing on a good path. God bless you more and more humble yourself! How comforting it is to hear what you write about Rev. Alexandra, what you noticed about spiritual mentors is just as sad or even more sad. What are you going to do?! It's the same story everywhere. Rise up! Write it off, Lord! But the Lord sees - and who will set the measure of His long-suffering, and who will see into the incomprehensible plans of His world government?! Our job is to act to the best of our ability to build up our neighbors, especially taking care to keep ourselves in good confession and in good rules of life. Society, it seems, has never been sacred as a whole. Of the 12 closest, one was a traitor, another fell by renunciation, the rest fled. Yes – and are we doing God’s work? Doesn't God Himself do it in us and through us? Let us offer ourselves to Him or surrender ourselves - as an instrument, if He wants to do something through us. I wish you all the best from the Lord. Pray to God for me. It’s true that you have a warm paradise... It’s cold here, and you can’t do without a firebox. The blessing of the Lord is upon you and your whole family. 208. About his trip to Tambov for treatment. About children infected with unbelief Before I had time to answer your first letter, I receive a second one. Thank you for the memory and well wishes. God bless you and have mercy! I got a little sick and had to travel to Tambov due to difficulty to be treated at my Vysha. Now, thank God! You are embarrassed by the plight of your children. What to do? Almost the total tribute is now the same for all parents. The air is bad - and foreboding. But I have no means to help. There is only one prayer, but its acceptability is thwarted by the indignation of faith. It would be good if it were possible to arrange for children to say what confuses them and repels them from the faith; or somehow manage to extract from them what is stuck in their heads and hearts. Then it would be possible to gradually lead them to the wrongness of what they heard again and the rightness of what they had known from time immemorial. In my opinion, it doesn’t hurt parents from this side to touch upon the misfortune that threatens their children. Perhaps the Lord will bless their endeavors! God bless your work in the gymnasium. God's blessing to Mother Parthenia! And to Father Archpriest Daniil Maksimovich. I wish you all the best from the Lord. Pray to God for me, a sinner. 209. Talking smart guys; encouragement to fight unbelief. Everyone has their own cross. Regarding the news of the death of Rev. Alexandra I owe you two letters in response. Laziness has taken over. Thank you for your well wishes for the new year. Please accept mine too. You write bitter news about the direction of our scientists. What to do? The mind is a two-edged sword - it cuts and trims the truth. What a wonder that our wise men began to talk. Will it happen?! These are still the beginnings. We will pervert everything. We will be more evil than the Protestants. When Protestantism was born, the feeling of the church was still strong, and the reformers were settled down by it. Now the Protestants themselves are far from what they were in the beginning, that is, they are a hundred times angrier... It is this most evil anger that we now take away from them... And according to our sweeping nature: “know ours”... we will expose all sorts of rubbish as the light of lights... Or maybe the Lord will send the salvation of simplicity for our sake. Pervukhin sent me your articles. Strive, strive! The only means we have - and, to tell the truth, the only thing that should be is a strong word, refuting the positions of those who are mistaken. Look for something to refute your opponents with, and as soon as you find one, proclaim it publicly. This voice will find an echo everywhere. I partly understand your grief about the inconveniences of living in a foreign land. Have you heard Job's patience? Well, then apply yourself to him. What to do? Everyone has their own cross. You got this one, take it. And your work will be the same as that of Simon of Cyrene! What is the purpose of life? So that the Lord will put the labors we carry into something. Glory to Thee, Lord, that there is something to bear! Without this, how could we show at least something pleasing to God?.. Where everything flows like butter, it is difficult to save your soul. Get inspired! To the Right Reverend Alexander 112 May the Lord do according to His will. Save him, Lord, and have mercy! There is something to grieve about when one departs one hour earlier and the other one hour later. Even if it’s a hundred years, it’s only one hour. I wish you all the best from the Lord. Bless you, Lord, and your spouse and your children. Pray more to the Lord and He will fix everything if necessary. Bow to those you know. Pray for me. 215. Blessing for work in a new place. A request to advocate in defense of the translation of LXX and a complaint about the passion of our scientists for non-memory God bless you in your new place! And work on it as long as there is breath in your nostrils. Why make a wish or look around here and there... The elders have a law: watch your step and always walk as you should, so as not to slip, stumble or fall. This means: look at what the current circumstances of life require, and always act in them according to the commandment of God. Now you have a busy whole day. And work, paying all your attention to doing every task in the best possible way. Here's a program for life. And all the riddles are on the side. Thank God for everything! I sent Fr. A small brochure for Mitrofan to send to you. Please, advocate in defense of the Bible according to the LXX translation against the Mazareth Bible. Everyone was completely smeared and protested. All the Germans were raised to their feet, and they were talking about what the world was worth... But they had no control; But we still have it: this is an everlasting belief. We must focus on him... and not like the Protestants, with their snouts raised, not knowing where... Lord have mercy on us! Orthodoxy is dying. You have Stundists there, the enemy is pressing from the north... Just look at it, faith will evaporate. Yes, tea, I’ve already started... God bless you and your whole family. Bow to everyone you know. I ask everyone for prayers about my sinfulness. 217. The saint’s concern for readers of spiritual and moral books. News and reviews: about his sore eye, about the death of the Right Reverend, about Shipka and the new false teacher Redstock Most Reverend Father Archpriest! I congratulate you on this bright holiday and send you my full best wishes. May the Lord grant you peace of mind, contentment in life and a favorable course of your affairs. What you write about those who read books is pleasant to read, because you see that there are still people who love such reading. How many times do I regret that I don’t know how to write in a way that touches everyone. If only I could, I would compile such a book that everyone reading it would certainly decide to begin working out their own salvation. We have a big shortage of books of this kind. We have neither a brief, nor a complete and impressionable presentation of dogmas, nor an image of moral life so that everything can be seen at a glance. I began to go blind in one eye. A cataract is growing on my right eye. It’s bad, of course; but this problem is minor. Have you heard how much news? The Most Reverend Justin died. The Moscow ruler 113 hurried after him. Tverskoy left not much before both of them. Do you see how they are selected? Now it’s Vyshensky’s turn. Somehow Gurko will take this Shipka and cross the Balkans? And Suleymanov’s entire army must be crushed so that not even its spirit can be smelled. Lord, have mercy on us! What have we come to? In St. Petersburg, a sectarian community is clearly and openly being formed - Redstockism. This is something similar to Molokanism, only foreign and noble. Just know this. You see, they don’t even want to see priests, not just hear and follow them. This is something to think about. In St. Petersburg there are fine priests who are ashamed to listen to; but there are also exemplary priests. And it’s like that everywhere. Alas and ah!.. Be healthy and cheerful. Bow to everyone you know. 218. About your sore eye, books being sent, about the reduction of parishes and the impoverishment of faith I returned from Moscow with gloomy doctoral definitions. It was decided that the eye should go blind, but I should remain blind. They only assured me that he would not go blind anytime soon as a consolation. Meanwhile, he is making good progress along this path. But the left eye is very good. Wouldn't the visual power of both eyes be combined into one? I am sending you an interpretation of the Epistle to the Ephesians. I am enclosing two identical books (the path to salvation and about spiritual life) for the great elders: Lawrence and Nikolaevsky - Macarius, Nikon, Hilarion and Jerome. Please St. their prayers for my many sins. I will attach the same books and Fr. Anthony, confessor of the Lavra 114, who once visited me at Vysha. I am also enclosing Fr. Dimitri Afanasyevich Epistle to Ephesus, Fr. Daniil and Semyon Afanasyevich - about prayer. Please distribute it. You rightly mourn the reduction of parishes and the closure of churches. What to do? Let us pray to God that the Lord will have mercy on His Holy Church. And there’s nothing we can do about it... Faith weakens. In other places, not jokingly, they are starting to set it on fire... Something has been built for this purpose in Saratov... A society is starting up in Vladimir as well. But there are no active persons, just like no... They will collect some money, buy books and begin to give them away for free or sell them at a cheap price. That's it. Dead. There are no living actors. And societies will not bring the expected benefits. Arsonists must burn themselves. Grief, walk everywhere - and in oral conversation set hearts on fire. That's what's needed! Where can we get this?.. Again, all that remains is to pray to the Giver of all gifts. Bless you, Lord, with every blessing! Save yourself and pray to God for me! 219. A humble review of yourself. Project for translating the Bible into Russian. Disadvantages of Spiritual Literature Guilty! I should have written to you a long time ago, but I kept putting off the mail – and have put it off until now. Thank you for your patience with my malfunction. From the most venerable Father Antipas 115 I ask St. prayers for my sinfulness. His speech is good about having a bishop’s service in the Lavra; but the bishop he chose is worthless anywhere, not only in St. Lavra 116. The desire to be covered and protected by the Lavra shrine is impossible not to have; but I’m not good for that matter. The only thing that suits me best is sitting, and if I could add to this, crying, which my petrified heart does not allow... Regarding the translation of the Bible, I am of exactly the same opinion as my dear mentor, the Most Reverend Demetrius 117. And it would be good to get down to business. Start translating. Form a society for publication. Let His Eminence Demetrius be the editor; publishers are society, and the busybody about this is S.A. Pervukhin. Start with the Psalter. Already started. It was published in the works of His Eminence Porfiry. Just change some phrases and add notes not to please the Hebrew text. S.A. let him write to N.V. Elagin, who, I don’t know where, turned around. He will find someone who will take over the printing. And things will work out. Publishing each book separately and as cheaply as possible. Well! - With God. Our spiritual literature has blossomed. Now, God willing, the new chief prosecutor 118 will give a new impetus. He is very Orthodox and jealous. “You are closer to the people and hear complaints.” Why don't you declare? What you write to Vyshensky Lesok is in vain. Gather together all zealots and ask for correction. I really regret that your ruler looks at everything so condescendingly. But he is always silent. To Semyon Afanasyevich - my bow and God's blessing. Bless you, Lord, with every blessing. (without month, day or year) 220. Sending books to expose Pashkov. Advice to the Kiev brethren to pray for their sick Bishop I don’t know what word to start the letter with. Let it go without beginning. I am sending you a dozen letters to St. Petersburg. Distribute them to old acquaintances, or even around the city - non-spiritual ones, for whom, in your opinion, it is not useful to read them. This is against Pashkov, who is the worst Molokan and whip, who has no Church, no sacraments, no priesthood, no prayers - nothing. Repent, believe in the Lord and live well - that’s all. Everything else is on the side. He travels everywhere with this sermon. And he collects it at home... and has already confused many. The sect is about to be announced. Another, secondary sect to it, is the “apostolic community.” And that one in St. Petersburg is underway. Here you go. All this is your business - understand the current priesthood - to trouble and resist! But I didn’t mind my own business. My job is to sit and finger my rosary. Look, all the Kyiv saints. Fathers, pray to the holy ruler for your health. If you want and are jealous, be sure to beg. If you don’t beg, it will mean that you didn’t want it and weren’t jealous. And then the entire Russian Church will reproach you. This task - to beg for the health of the ruler - was left to you, and you neglected it. Well, answer! What do you wish? Health, prosperity, good sense and everything that you can put good before. Pray to God for my sinfulness. To everyone we know, a sincere bow. 224. After greetings, a review is made of the works of Leo Tolstoy I express my gratitude that, despite my great malfunction, you do not forget me. Please don't be angry at my laziness. I received all your letters - and the book. Thank you. All is well. What you complement is also good. Help you, Lord! - I don’t know what to suggest to you for additions to the matter. See for yourself. You are not little, after all. About Fr. I'm very sorry to Mitrofan. May the Lord send him strength, a spirit of consolation and patience in the life that God has judged for him. I remember and will remember your mother and sister. I am sending you three copies of the 2nd volume of the Philokalia: one for you, one for Pervukhin and one for Olga Vasilyevna Ushinskaya. You mentioned sending books to the elders; but since I don’t know them, it’s inconvenient for me to do this. Our times are difficult. Work hard. May God help you! Have you heard about the gospel of Leo Tolstoy 119? Now I hear that he is also secretly distributing two more articles: criticism of the dogmas of the Church and - what is my faith... Here, you see, the treasures of wisdom are spewed out... blasphemy against the Church of God, against St. Fathers and even the apostles, who all seem to be distorters of the teachings of Christ... He himself does not believe - neither in the Holy Trinity, nor in the Incarnate economy, nor in the power of the sacraments... For him, the Son of Man is either the mind of all mankind, or the essence of humanity. Whether there is a God is not visible. But he remembers the beginning of life. So, what sweets! Manuscripts are secretly distributed among university students. It’s true, and in Kyiv there is... Like he has no future life, and people continue to live only in posterity; then his whole concern is to draw up a program for happiness on earth. Listen. All points: 1) do not resist evil: let them beat, cut, rob; be silent and be patient; 3) no police, no gendarmes, no troops... All these are rapists of freedom; 4) do not divorce your wife, even though she is unfaithful. He also has no marriage; 5) war is repugnant to God - and troops are not needed. The points are borrowed from Chapter 5. Matthew, where the Lord says in the Discourse on the Mount: “It was told to you... but I say.” Rejoice, people of Russia! Evil is slowly spreading. The ugly plan for happiness will not take root, and all points of disbelief will not remain without followers. His Eminence Vitaly has not yet arrived. And the rector of Tambov, also a Kiev resident, was transferred to Bethany Seminary. Save yourself! God bless you! N.B. On this letter, in the hand of the recipient, Rev. N.F., marked: “This is the last letter. From 1886 until the death of Bishop there were no letters from him to me. But he wrote to other people in Kiev.” 259. About maintaining the spirit of prayer. About the help of the city of A. and about the Turkish war for the liberation of Bulgaria Thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. Please accept my wishes for all good things for you this year and every year. It has become easier for you to do housework. God bless! The best thing is to surrender everything to the Lord, and He will arrange it, and we can’t guess how well. Watch your prayer. If he gets away, you won't catch him. What you wrote about your faults will be a lesson to you on how to be in good working order. Look every time what is piled up; think about what to do in advance so as not to fall into the same malfunction again... But you shouldn’t indulge yourself and self-indulge in entertainment: for this kind of behavior is driven away by the grace of God. Why won't he come back?! It’s terrible how everything will go upside down... Save you, Lord, from this trouble!.. Moreover, every spiritual need for which your heart aches, commend to the Lord, and He will help and sort out what’s wrong. I send you Psalm 118. Published in Home Conversation. The editor made several copies and sent them to me. This editor had a blow to the head and lost his memory. He's in a mental hospital. The wife and children are left with nothing and are in poverty. If you feel like helping, help her. It will be very useful. The address seems to be the same: Tatyana Vl. A., near the Izmailovsky Bridge, Weber's house. I don’t know if this letter will find you in the village? Sorry for being too lazy to respond quickly. May you, Lord, stay in Moscow for the good of your soul. There’s a lot of everything there: you can get some good, but you can’t get any bad. It seems that the war is over, but if the Turks are pliable. I'm afraid that our people will complain. It is necessary to completely alienate Bulgaria from the Turks... and only with great need, perhaps to give up the tax payment, as Serbia is now... If this is not achieved, it is necessary to drag out the war; otherwise it will be needed again in a year or two... I wish you all the best from the Lord. God's blessing to your wife and children. Pray to God for me, a sinner. 260. About entertainment and chemistry studies in relation to the work of salvation. Results of the Turkish company The day of our salvation is the main thing! I congratulate all Christians with the common joy and wish you to partake of this joy! Moscow, you say, is a little entertaining. Yes, you have to be careful. However, know this that everything done out of necessity, without sympathy, does not harm the spirit. You need to protect your heart so that it does not get too close to worldly sweets. Eating these sweets extinguishes the fire of the spirit, while participation in anything without this taste only blows on that fire, but does not extinguish it. And your chemistry classes are not at all boring, but only blowing. And it occurred to me to tell you: why quit this activity? It can replace handicrafts. I remember that I wrote differently, not understanding your work properly. And judging by what you are doing, I don’t see anything contrary to spiritual life here. Only passion is ruinous; but it seems he can be calmed down. But the peaceful practice of chemistry cannot bring anything bad, especially if the various procedures here are interpreted in a spiritual sense or see in them a reflection of manifestations of spiritual life. And chemistry is part of the book of God - in nature. And here it is impossible not to see God - the Wise... and the Most Incomprehensible. The Passion of the Lord approaches, and then Easter. I wish you to join the former and taste the joy of the latter with all my heart. The war that is over seems to still cause war. England, in its own sense, is outrageous... We must manage to hurt her. The conference or congress seems to blur. I think it's better. Nobody wants to say to what Russia has done: good, good! And no one sees any reason to fight over this. The best thing is to accept the news of the peace treaty and remain silent. Meanwhile, things will flow according to this treatise and come into force. And it will be a fait accompli. It seems like this will be the best. God's blessing to your wife and children. Be healthy and cheerful! Save yourself! And pray to God for us. 271. About the proper organization of educational matters in the shelter When you wrote, you were busy and busy setting up a shelter. Now, it’s probably all over and the shelter is in use. God bless this work. Try, without shame and without fear of the world, to give your children a truly Christian education, imparting to them only Christian concepts in everything, teaching them Christian rules of life and kindling love for the Church of God and all church orders. Select such teachers and teachers, and especially such a boss. Nowadays they teach a lot without taking into account the Christian vows in baptism and without having in mind the Last Judgment. Thank you for the book you enclosed about Pashkov’s nonsense. She goes to the point (to expose Pashkov’s heresy). God bless you! Save yourself! 280. When sending an edifying book. The saint's desire to write a refutation of Tolstoy's nonsense Thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. I apologize for the late response. I wanted to send you the book along with the answer; and the opportunity for this only recently opened up. So please accept. Here you will find, if you want to look, everything. May the Lord give you the time and desire to search and find and put it to work, even though you seem to have little time. I thank your husband for the letter and especially for the book or notebook he sent: I mean the nonsense of the superstitious N... Tolstoy, the enemy of God, the son of the devil. Your husband is writing to write notes on this emptiest of empty notebooks. If I find an opportunity to say something, I will certainly write. I’ll go through it all, line by line, take notes on everything, and then the general conclusion is praise for Tolstoy. I am not saying that I will definitely do this, but I want to do it. And I will do it if I can put my hands on it. God bless you and your spouse and children and your entire life. Save yourself! 281. The saint’s works on familiarizing himself with the false teaching of gr. Tolstoy to expose this Lion roaring against the Church of God I hasten to send you the manuscript back. I was in a hurry to rewrite it. And just now I finished. Your husband didn’t write. That's right, he has no time for that. Yes, now there is nothing left to write. But tell him this: my earnest request that he obtain and send this same Th...ogo criticism or examination of the dogmas of the Church. It is very necessary in order to better understand the manuscript that has just been copied. Here you can only see that he doesn’t believe in anything, worse than a Tatar. But why is not clear. This is known from him in the aforementioned examination or criticism of dogmas. Please beg him to get this thing too. Or maybe S. ...will get it. Then I will have all the nonsense of T...wow. The correspondence was coming to an end when they sent me from Moscow the gospel of this Lion roaring against the Church of God. Here the quotes are taken from the Gospel and what is written against them is true. So I’m writing off these nonsense. Then you need to write something. God bless you with every blessing! Save yourself! 282. Efforts continue to familiarize ourselves with Tolstoy’s works in order to expose his absurd false teachings I received the air and am already using it... Thank you. But I thank you even more for the trouble to get the writings of N...N... T...go. Without his Criticism of dogmas, much in his article - What is my faith - is unfounded, like repetition. And to denounce this without knowing the reasons why he thinks so is very inconvenient. That is why it is extremely necessary to have his criticism of dogmas at hand. He really doesn’t like these dogmas, because he doesn’t like the Church. And why the Church is not to his heart is not clear... One thing is clear, that it is against his teaching. But this is not a reproach, but a praise, for his teaching is the most fantastic... It seems to me that he is close to madness. Everything about him is so ridiculous. And I marvel at the words of your husband, that many are offended. I’m thinking of writing something against him, but I can’t figure out who he is according to my system. Please take the trouble to get the above criticism and the last one: What should we do... Full of good wishes to your spouse. May God bless his journey! I ask him, for his part, to use everything in his power to obtain the said works of Th...ogo. 284. The saint’s attempts to write in refutation of Tolstoy’s nonsense, characterization of his false teaching. Economy and memory of God I congratulate you on the holidays and Happy New Year. I am sending you two copies of the Gospel Story. One for you, and take the trouble to send the other to your spouse. I ask you to tell him that, as I promised to write to him against T..., I took up this several times and gave up, and now, although I haven’t completely given up, I’m unlikely to take it up soon, because I have something on my hands of a different kind and related to a different area, which I really like. I am not strong against Him, because he is too crafty or stupid... there is terrible confusion everywhere in his speeches, now he says one thing, then something completely different about the same thing... The demons teach him wickedness. Someone took it upon himself to expose his deceptions... it seems to be successful. This will be N... T...stand inside out, for in his writings there is only its wrong side. These articles against him are published in the magazine “Faith and Reason”, published in Kharkov. Pass it all on. You are immersed in the household. And thank God! There is no time to be bored. You can always find a minute for the work of God. Farming is not a sinful business. They'll be a little confused; but, once you get used to it, you can correct everything with a calm spirit and with the memory of the Lord and death, for who knows how it will approach. God bless you! I wish you to be healthy and cheerful. I wish your spouse among S.P.B. live like in the desert. May he be healthy and at peace. 285. What is the criticism of the dogmas of gr. Tolstoy. Refutation of it in our magazines. Blessing for removal from worldly rumors Criticism of dogmas N. They finally sent me one. She is a critic of the “Dogmatics of St. Macarius” and examines the dogmas as this bishop portrays them. But still, the intention is to show the inconsistency of the teachings of the Orthodox Church. Of all the articles of T...go, this is the most insignificant. He runs through Dogmatika like carriages on cast iron... and his notes are the most fluent and incorrect due to the speed of his flight. I even suspected that he deliberately blabbed nonsense in order to get rid of the insistence with which the person who brought me this article attacked him. I was going to write against it... but I didn’t. They began to pester him: in the “Orthodox Review”, and in the magazine “Faith and Reason”, and in the Kiev Philosophical Three Months. However, in our time, unbelief and licentiousness of his mental and moral character, despite their inconsistency, can have disastrous consequences, especially for students. Whatever you say about your inner self, trust it all to the Lord. He is nearby and wants to save everyone and does not refuse His help to anyone. You find it best to withdraw from the midst of worldly rumors. God bless! There are strong souls who conduct their everyday affairs well, and do not lag behind others in what is needed for salvation. But it's not for everyone. May the Lord make you wise in organizing your life. God bless you and your whole family and all your everyday affairs. 289. The saint proposes to commemorate the 900th anniversary of the baptism of Rus' with a new translation of liturgical books and indicates the urgent need for this and the expected benefit. Feedback on good news about my son There was and is a need to say one word on the occasion of the proposed anniversary (900th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus') next year, or not of the anniversary itself, but of what is being prepared to commemorate it. Such a big anniversary, and what is being prepared to commemorate it? Life of St. Vladimir 120 and an akathist to him with pictures. Both are good: they just do not correspond to the greatness of the celebration. Here we need to do something that will influence the entire church life. And there is a thing of this very nature, an extremely necessary thing. I mean, a new, simplified, clear translation of church liturgical books. Our liturgical hymns are all edifying, thoughtful and sublime. They contain all theological science, and all Christian moral teaching, and all consolations, and all fears. Anyone who listens to them can do without any other teaching Christian books. Meanwhile, most of these chants are completely incomprehensible. And this deprives our church books of the fruit that they could produce, and does not allow them to serve the purposes for which they are intended and available. As a result, a new translation of liturgical books is urgently needed. Now or tomorrow we must begin to do it, if we do not want to bear the reproach for this malfunction and be the cause of the harm that comes from this. One of the reasons that inclined the Orthodox to shtunda is precisely the incomprehensibility of church hymns. Nemchura, the pastor who started the shtunda, chose several hymns and asks the Orthodox, as if out of curiosity, what do these songs say? They responded with misunderstanding. He said: go and ask the priest; but the priest could not indicate the meaning. This greatly shook the Orthodox. And he soon easily confused them. Someone tells something similar from his conversations with the Molokans, who said: “What are we going to do there in your church? The sexton mutters, you can’t understand anything; even if you take it apart, you won’t understand anything.” And you see that neither the Molokans nor the Stundists have a single church song, but all are new... often with empty content. Why? Because they are understandable. So it would be a worthy commemoration of the anniversary if by that time they decided to begin a new translation of liturgical books. Let them do it, but now they will have to translate all the books again; and for the anniversary they will prepare one book, for example, the Osmiglasnik - Octoechos. Translate not into Russian, but into Slavic. Experiments have already been done. In “Soulful Reading” several services translated in this way have already been published. Both reverent and understandable. So let them translate the entire book. Please convey these thoughts to N...N... and convince him... No, why convince. Please beg us to begin the work immediately, to ask permission from the Holy Synod to arrange the translation and print it. That would have been a commemoration on his part of his management of the printing house... And the life of St. Vladimir with an akathist would go like dessert and candy, but a festive meal would be a book... I accompany my speech with the desire that you will be able to persuade your friend to do this. Help you in this, Lord. What you wrote about your son is very nice to hear. Perhaps, God willing, our youth will return to the proper path, and the free spirits among them, now prevalent, will become a rare exception. Convey your regards and full of good wishes to your husband... God bless and prosper all his deeds. I wish you all the best from the Lord! 303. Advice on influencing a blasphemer. About Fr. John of Kronstadt I hasten to answer you, especially regarding the blasphemer P... Read my words to him: about complete renunciation of everything and clinging to God - there will be no trouble; but one cannot expect any fruit from this. Apparently, he is deeply bitter, and only a strong, stunning influence of grace can correct him. Did he do good to his neighbors and those in need? I would like to incline him to this; this will perhaps give him a taste of the sweetness of fulfilling the commandments. And this will be a feeling from another world... and then, perhaps, the ray of God will illuminate his consciousness and allow him to see that there is the Most High, from Whom everything is and happens. Then whatever anyone tells him about the things of God will be acceptable to them. Help, Lord, your spouse to convert this darkened one, more than demons, for they also believe and tremble. As for Fr. John of Kronstadt 121, then I am sure that he is truly a man of God. And you will not be wrong if you are convinced of the same. His books are good... And this one - the diary - is good. Here are the bright thoughts of the soul living in God. Read them, cross yourself. Perhaps something else may not seem entirely clear. Then ask and I may be able to explain it to you. The late Metropolitan Isidore was deeply established in the inner man... And if he said that Fr. John, then, of course, according to the beginnings of inner spiritual life and together with God's permission. I consider blindness and healing to be a running rumor. Metropolitan Isidore is not of such a spirit that he would begin to speak to Father John out of nothing to do. And if, as a result of this, Fr. John continued to act, which means that they - (the Master) - did not find anything disapproving. There is no heresy regarding rituals. Heresy is a dogmatic error that is stubbornly defended. And rituals are the external side, which we honor and observe; but there is no great trouble if, due to some need, other things have to be reduced... This is also written in the “Charter”: if the abbot deigns. Mrs. N. faithfully arrived as a commander. And o. John is always overwhelmed with work. And I recently received a letter from one, no less, who, having been in Kronstadt and seen how things were going with Fr. John, made peace with him spiritually. She is amazed when Father John sleeps?! I note that if through Fr. If the power of God did not act on John, the crowd and rumor would have long ago recoiled from him. And what else others don’t like about him is nothing to look at, because not everyone’s eyes are the same. (Even the eyes of the Lord Savior looked at us differently...) God bless you! Greetings from my husband to yours as soon as he arrives. Save yourself! Your good friend Bishop Feofan 304. About the alleged akathist to the Mother of God of Kozelshchanskaya. About an old woman studying theology. More about Fr. John of Kronstadt I am not at all bored reading your letters, which are always practical, and answering them when I understand well what the question is about. You ask: should I write an akathist to the Mother of God for the sake of her miraculous Kozelshchinskaya icon? I don't see any obstacle to writing. There are akathists for the sake of other icons; why shouldn’t there be an akathist for this one? In the image of honoring the Mother of God, this one is not small. It would be good to include in brief, wherever necessary, words everything related to this icon. How it was discovered... What miracles there were even after the first – initial one. It is best to ask Mother Abbess Agnia about this (address: along the Kharkov-Nikolaev railway to the platform - Kozelshchina). It would also be good to arrange appeals to the Mother of God according to our spiritual needs: repentance, struggle with passions and purity of heart, in which all spiritual perfection. You can collect this kind of appeal from the canons of the Mother of God, at Compline, which you will find in the Osmoglasnik - the book of repentance; and order the Osmoglasnik to be sent to you to your relative N. from Moscow... This book is also in the church; but there she is always needed for services. Sit a little longer on this matter, so that the akathist comes out like a complete moralizing book, and yet it reads easily and smoothly. God help you! Are you also asking about the old woman who took up studying theology? Isn't this unnecessary? Her question? I think it’s unnecessary... You need to know the dogmas; but they are all contained in the Creed. Understand every word of the Creed, and that’s enough. It is better for an old woman to remain in prayer than to philosophize. And prayer is a science - and it is life-giving, not tedious, studied with the heart, and not with memory and mind. God bless Mother Abbess S...novskaya! I don’t remember the circumstances she’s talking about. Help her, Lord, to lead her monastery as she leads. I am very glad that you have reconciled in spirit, for the sake of Fr. John. He is worthy of all respect. He works for God and we strengthen him by the power of God. May the Lord protect his soul from exaltation, which, God forbid, will immediately frustrate his actions. He was or was with the Reverend. Metropolitan Leonty, who described him as follows: “humble, meek and simple in heart.” Congratulations in advance to your spouse on your arrival. May the Lord strengthen Him. God bless you! Save yourself! 356. To the woman Mary. Is it possible to bear the name of the Mother of God? A Lutheran woman should not be commemorated in church. About the rule for bowing This is the first time I hear about what you write. There is no prohibition in the church to bear the name of the Mother of God. And the troubles come from the fact that someone celebrates his name day on the day of the Nativity of the Most Holy. Mother of God, it cannot be. Trouble can only come from unkind feelings towards the Mother of God, from a lack of faith, reverence, and trusting refuge under Her roof... and under. Your painful condition, of course, has other reasons. And you have no need to do anything else in relation to him except to endure complacently and gratefully: for everything is from the Lord and everything is for our essential good - namely in the matter of salvation. With complacent patience, you can pray that the Lord will deliver you from weakness, if that will be saving for you. Don't look at the temporary, but at the eternal. The goal of life is not earthly prosperity, but bliss after death in another life. He who bears any cross follows a reliable path to it. Move there with your desire and hope and direct all your thoughts and concerns towards acquiring the prosperity there. A Lutheran Jew must be left to the good will of God. Only those belonging to the Church can be commemorated in church. Since she does not belong to the Church, she should not be remembered there. Regarding bows, you can act freely, as God puts it in your heart. The rules about this cannot be compared with the rule about fasting. 367. To the convalescent: corresponding instructions about the works of Tolstoy Congratulations on the great mercy of God. You yourself and your sisters begged. Such is the power of love! May God grant that your illness will completely evaporate. And what you have now received, take it as a beginning, and thank the Lord, and even more so pray, that He who began this mercy will complete it. While sitting, pray to the Lord with short prayers. Memorize 24 prayers of St. Chrysostom, that between prayers for sleep are placed, and repeat them 3-5 times each and get used to the memory of God. From my books I am sending you everything that seemed suitable for your current mood. Start reading the book: “The Path to Salvation.” Then “What is spiritual life” and “Letters about spiritual life” regarding the letters of Count Speransky, and then all the others. You mentioned that many convert to another faith after reading Tolstoy’s works. Miracle?! This Leo has no faith. He has no God, no soul, no future life, and the Lord Jesus Christ is a simple man. In his writings there is blasphemy against God, against Christ the Lord, against the Holy Church and its sacraments. He is the destroyer of the kingdom of truth, the enemy of God, the servant of Satan, as St. himself wrote. the apostle Paul to the sorcerer Ellim, who opposed his preaching on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:8–10). This son of demons dared to write a new gospel, which is a distortion of the true gospel. And for this he is cursed with the apostolic curse. The Apostle Saint Paul wrote: whoever preaches the new gospel shall be cursed (anathema: Gal.1:8). And so that everyone would confirm this as good, he confirmed it another time (v. 9). In the gospel of this blasphemer, the quotations are similar to ours, for example: John. Ch. 1st, art. 1st, but the text itself is different. Therefore he is a most dishonest forger, a liar and a deceiver. If any of his nonsense reaches you, reject it with disgust. In our spiritual journals, he is dismantled to the last bones and is comprehensively convicted of madness and evil. But who reads (spiritual) magazines? And Tolstoy’s notebooks pass from hand to hand secretly, and secretly spread lies. God bless you with every blessing! 369. About smoking. the enemy's ridicule. Cunning observation. Feedback on the message about O. D-ne May God grant you such joy that there will be no end to it and no satiety in it. What they wrote about the goodness of quitting smoking. It is not only empty, but also gradually undermines health, spoiling the blood and clogging the lungs. This is a gradual poisoning of oneself. But there is no advice for this and there is no advice, except to make a stronger decision. There is no other way. What happened to you is the enemy's mockery. To smoke or not to smoke is a matter of indifference, at least our and common conscience considers it so. But when non-smoking is bound by a promise, then it enters into the moral order and becomes a matter of conscience, the failure of which cannot but trouble it. So the enemy has spoiled you. That's right, you had a good talk. The enemy advised you to make a decision, and then led you to break your word. That's the whole story! Please learn and continue to keep your eyes open. Why commit yourself to a vow? You have to say: “Wait, let me try to quit, God willing.” Did you meet at St. The elders' advice: don't commit yourself to a vow? This is exactly the kind of thing it concerns. As for your archpriest, what do you care about him? He answers to God for himself. And if you have cunning powers of observation, it should be in your hands. You can calm her down. The gossipers cannot have any justification, and for this reason you are in their rank. O. Y...well, God's blessing. I remember him. Grant him, Lord, the goodness to serve as a priest. The people need to be taught. But the priests of God are all silent, sometimes they will talk, and everything is somehow tricky and confused with wisdom. O. D...n, I suppose it’s not like that. God bless you all! Letters to certain persons who have come to their senses through reading the books of the saint 385. Upon receipt of the required books being returned. About changing your place of residence in relation to spiritual life. Meaning of words: world, worldly life, layman I have received the books you returned. Thank you for being serviceable, so as not to disturb souls by worrying about their integrity. For the needs you encounter in clarifying the incorrect wisdom of some of your villagers and those around you, I think the information gleaned from these books is sufficient. Sometimes there is enough yes and no for understanding... I mean the simple presentation of the Orthodox... and polysemantic speech rather obscures than enlightens. Are you planning to get out of your village, and move to the city, and take up some position and are asking whether to do this? When you ask, you, of course, have your spiritual life in mind and want to know whether this will be beneficial for it and whether it will not be harmful. Spiritual life is not unconditionally subject to the influence of external conditions and can bloom in any place and in any situation: for it is all in the internal order and does not bow to the external, but, on the contrary, dominates it and directs it. Therefore, I think there is no sin in telling you: why not change places and activities? You yourself expect a lot from this change for your spiritual success, and if you manage to arrange your activities and relationships in such a way that what you expect is fulfilled, then you can add: change... God will bless... And if this, if it does not come true, then what? Nothing... Then you will receive an experimental certificate to what extent spiritual life is compatible with civil service and with city service. Unforeseen harm can always be avoided if you look at the current situation with open eyes. I’ll conclude this: it’s possible, but see for yourself. The opinion that one cannot be saved in the world is true if one lives in a worldly way... But if you don’t live in the world in a worldly way, then there is no trouble for salvation from this. How many people are there and have been in the world who are being saved?! Why shouldn't you join them? The world is passions, people living exclusively according to passions, and the totality of customs and orders of life invented to satisfy passions... To leave all this is to leave the world, although everyone around us lives in a worldly way or in half - sometimes worldly, sometimes not worldly - mixed. Family and civil life is not in itself worldly, but happens when passions and their satisfaction are squeezed into the order of such a life. There are commandments for family and civil life. If you lead this life in such a way that the commandments reign in it, driving away everything passionate, then it will not be a worldly life, but a holy life, blessed by God. According to our usage of words, a layman does not mean a person who lives in a worldly way, but a person who does not belong to the clergy and monasticism. Letters to a respectable person in Tambov 388. Enthusiastic memory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Russia is rich in shrines You started talking forcibly. Thank you for your remembrance and prayer. Blessed is your journey. Kyiv. Lavra is an unearthly abode. As you passed the gap, it happened that you felt that you had entered another world. And there is something inside - something that is not there, my Lord, Father! I am often transported there in my mind... I could fly with my body. But our holy Rus' is dotted with amazing shrines. Lord preserve her and raise up the spirit of holy faith in her and secure her forever! Now sit back and admire what you see. I pray a sinful prayer for your father. May the Lord comfort Mother and may the Lord bless all of you. 402. The saint's zeal for the completion of his affairs. Advice about the Kostroma ruler. About spiritual-judicial reform Time is passing and we are getting closer to death. And before you see him coming into the courtyard, I’m in a hurry to finish the job I started. When should I finish?! We will try. If you have a heartbeat, take the appropriate homeopathic drops, use it - and it will go away. The Bishop of Kostroma is not making a wish. The late Vladyka of Kyiv held out to the end. And he needs to pull. Write a strict condemnation to him. Place penance on him and then tell him to spit every time such a thought comes. She is a temptation for him. Let him repent. Write all this down, but as if on your own, and don’t say that I’m telling you so. I also heard about reviews of spiritual-judicial reform. What to do. We must pray that God will deliver us from this trouble. Otherwise, in these courts there will be complete sinlessness, as in secular ones. And then there is nowhere to go. There will be no judgment on anyone. My health is doing well. May you be healthy and cheerful. My sincere best wishes to all of you. Save yourself! 403. Anxiety for Orthodox Rus'. Notice of your work and lifestyle On arrival from pilgrimage and on departure to the village - stock up on health. Thank you for the prayerful memory in holy places. God bless you and have mercy. Reverend Plato wrote about your stay with him and about his difficulty regarding the rector. What to do? This is the time. We must endure and still act. God is the helper of just causes. If the Lord abandons Orthodox Rus', then everything will go topsy-turvy. And I often wonder if He really abandoned her? We've already gone too far ahead. And I won’t hold back. However, there is no need to despair. History shows that there were times that were even harder, and then the sky cleared up. Lord, have mercy on us! I am, thank God, healthy! And somehow I’m poring over the charter of St. Basil the Great. Strogonek! If the monks were forced to live by it, they would run away. N.N. I thank you for the writing, God bless and comfort him, as He Himself knows. He wants to go to the top. If you pray to God, he knows. And if you see my shrine, it’s inconvenient. I accepted O. Mitrofan, doing a test to see if it is sometimes possible to accept someone. I see that it is impossible. We have to push it to the end. When is it? Don't know. N.N. and N.N. God's blessing. I sent you books - one for the top and one for the bottom and N.N. one... There seems to be a flaw. They sent me little and nothing to draw from. 405. Regarding the declared Turkish war and about your current affairs One of our elders is coming to you. I am writing with him. I am sending you another book of the Philokalia - the first one will be for the tower, and this one will be for the niche. Then I didn’t send it because I didn’t send enough myself. Now they are still sending, and there is nothing to skimp on. Behold the war! We must pray and repent... After all, there is something to punish us for... And if there is, then we must get down to business with fear and trembling. Let's become Ninevites! But if someone had said this in a sermon or published it in the newspapers, I don’t think anyone would have batted an eyelid. This is what we have come to?! What about the Tambovites? Haven't you donated enough? Will they add more later? Has Moscow given up?!.. Behold spring! – I just ordered the winter windows in the hall to be taken out... it’s a little warm; it was still a bit cold. I'm increasingly overwhelmed by laziness. Here is a small collection of prayers that barely made it to the end. But we also need from St. To choose Chrysostom... but laziness! What a tragedy... But a lot was sent there. It will be enough by the end of the year. I'll be on time now. Does Simeon the New Theologian need to be translated?! I’ll translate it line by line... How strict he is. But he has an abyss of spiritual wisdom! The Lord will save the Lord of Kostroma. May the Lord bless you and all yours with every blessing. 425. About the printing of letters from Rev. Plato. Results of the Turkish campaign Happy Maslanitsa and, if you like, on the eve of Lent! May the Lord grant that both this and that be established for salvation. Letters from Rev. I think it’s better for you to print Plato while he’s alive. And so that they don’t guess that they have written to you, for this purpose, firstly, print them in the statements, and secondly, omit all the details that are in the letters by which someone might guess that they have written to you. How to print? If you publish it yourself, it will be expensive. I think you can get in touch with the editor of “Soulful Reading” and ask him if he would like to publish them in his magazine with the condition of delivering you 200 copies. If he agrees, that’s the end of the matter. Let N.N. contact him, not remembering that they were written to his sister, but to a certain friend who wants to offer these letters for reading to the Orthodox. You can attach one or two letters as a sample so that the editor can see what kind of letters they are. Yes, this editor was in constant correspondence with Vladyka and would happily agree to this. Then rewrite the letters yourself at home, all in bulk. You write everything well, and send it. It will be a good deed. I started painting an icon for A-va. Then for you too. The Athos books were received a long, long time ago. Thank you. Well, the war is over! Are the Turks happy or are they hanging their noses? They nibbled them quite a bit. I think that the conference will not contradict anything... because there is no strength. We are already leaning hard on the Turk... you won’t be able to pull it off... The British are running around like mongrels and blathering to no avail. And shame on them, shame on them!.. They are also expanding! Glory to Thee, Lord! This is the last war with the Turks. Will they start to offend the Bulgarians? But it seems that the Bulgarians will be positioned in such a way that they themselves will fight back. They have great power! Pray for me, a sinner. 426. Fasting. Rumors of a new war. About works on icon painting Thank you for your congratulations. God bless you for your good disposition!.. Well, the post is just around the corner, and spring is just around the corner. We fasted, prayed, St. The Mysteries were received. Now what? Rejoice? But first you need to cry over the shroud about your sins. Then Christ is risen! And then, with the birds, sing a cheerful song of praise to God - the Creator and Organizer of all things! Are you afraid of a new war?!.. Yes, something seems to be brewing. However, nothing definite. How cunning the enemy is! After all, everyone is glad that Christians are gaining freedom. But why did Russia do this? And well, yell at all costs. But let them yell. They won't have to do anything. And there probably won't be a war. And we will still hear the screams for, perhaps, a long time. Let us pray that the Lord will arrange everything as His St. at will. I finished the icon and am sending it. It's a little cracked on top. I covered it up five times... everything comes out. Once the robe is on, it will not be visible. I forgot to sign. Let them sign it themselves the day they receive it. The evidence of the coming is more accurate. Your icon will be ready soon, but it will be ready after Easter. God's blessing to you all. 437. About various news and about your health Although belated, I sincerely thank you for your holiday congratulations and well wishes. I wish you all the best in abundance this year. I am very sorry that such trouble befell N. and N.N. The fault lies in our excessive trust in the honesty of certain gentlemen. Let's start a good deed, but we are ashamed to strictly check the performers. So pay up! I'm very sorry. What about. Archimandrite Dimitri became Bishop Dimitri, and he is very happy about this. It should have been a long time ago. He is a most worthy person, adorned with bright qualities of mind and heart. God bless him now to work as a bishop. Card of Rev. Received Voronezh. Thank you. How ethereal he is!.. May he be a luminary shining widely around. N. returned with medicines. God will give them something! But I refuse Vrevsky. He doesn’t heal behind the scenes, and I can’t show myself to him. So we part ways! If o. Jonah of Kyiv will beg or Fr. John of Kronstadt, to whom I wrote... that’s good. And if my sins do not allow their prayer to pass to the Lord, then God’s will be done! And I was almost ready to face blindness without whimpering... The time will come! Bows to all of you and full of good wishes. 439. Brief reviews and news about gospel history and various subjects I am very glad that you completed your pilgrimage journey safely. Thank you for remembering me, a sinner, in St. places. Save you, Lord! And I hear that the Zadonsk monasteries are thriving. God sent such a rector. Everything is fine with him and the main monastery. It was he who sent Fr. to the monastery. Cassiana. Bless them there, Lord, all of them! Rev. Seraphim, I think, is hiding behind his illness. In fact, he loved solitude... and, Rev. Like Arseny, he runs around people, because he cannot be separated from God for a minute. Rev. Thank you Joseph for your prayers. And I remember him every day. I called the whole world about the Gospel story. And now I hear that the Synod will not allow it. It is expected that it will not be allowed. Because such codes had already been presented, and he did not allow... Well - this will be a strong defeat for the highest self-exaltation - science for humility. Everything is fine with me - both health and laziness. Thank you for your offer of warmth. Everything is there for this year. And a bunch of stockings, and cassocks, and boots. The people of Athos sent me Greek words of praise to St. Panteleimon. I'm translating. To write my own - all desire has disappeared. 453. Review of Mey’s poem “Born Blind” and the transcription of Job – Glinka’s verses. True peace and deceptive worldly hopes The poems – Born Blind – are beautiful; but there is no truth in them. Read the Gospel. from John ch. 9 – healing of a man born blind, about the blind man of Bethsaida, Evan. from Mark ch. 8, from 22 art. to 26, the Savior's Discourse on the Mount from Matt. Ch. 5, 6, 7... These three events - different in May 122 - are combined into one... The terrain depicted is not Palestinian, but the Arabian desert, which is below Palestine... You correctly judge the verse - beautiful! It occurred to me to send them to you. Read it. I really liked them and, without stopping, I read them from beginning to end. It seems that the soul speaks in them. And sometimes you can take your soul away with them. So you know real peace!! Thank God!.. So what is the point? And now we must pull in the direction in which it is given. We must look for the lost paradise in order to sing about the found one. There is the essence of the matter... Everything outside and except for it is a wasteland... And all this is not far away... right at hand... You have to want it, however... and it’s not easy to want it. Help you, Mother of God and your Guardian Angel! But without this, everything will be the same... you will chase after something and then feel sad and annoyed... You will chase again and be sad again... Don’t you remember how in childhood you sometimes wanted to catch up with the rainbow?.. This is exactly what happens now when we are chasing after something. The Lord definitely said: this is what you are looking for and this is what will happen! And the evil one makes you look for something and promises something for it... but nothing comes of it. Is it really possible to remain like this?!.. It’s a pity, it’s a pity!.. After all, I know perfectly well what is given on one side and what is on the other!.. We must choose the best, the constant, the unchangeable. It’s a shame to imagine this choice. The soul itself must choose. After all, she bears a report for everyone, and she is honored... No one, however, other than the Lord produces and gives everything. Breathe towards Him. He's nearby. And he asks to come to you. I knock, he says, will someone open the door? May the Lord bless you with every blessing. Now I turned Job around... and remembered one place. Here it is!.. How good! Earn your heart into his ear. I remember there are many such places... but now I don’t remember... Letter to Mrs. N and her family 473. About the books of Farrar and others. Matveevsky - the life of Jesus Christ I forgot to write to you about Farrar 124. The life of Christ the Savior, compiled by him, is of little dignity. Its biggest drawback is that the teaching of the Lord is mentioned very briefly and not with due consideration. We have the excellent life of Christ the Lord. This is St. Petersburg. O. Archpriest Matveevsky 125. Everything is fully depicted in it: the acts of the Lord, and the teaching with interpretation and application to everyone’s life. The book is big, big, big, 800 pp. Please write this one out. Price: 5 rubles, shipping for 4 pounds. Read it and praise everyone. The author's warehouse of the book. St. Petersburg on Vasilyevsky Island, on Kamskaya Street, in the church house at the Smolensk cemetery. Letter to Fr. John of Kronstadt 494. Review of the words and works of Fr. John and a humble review of himself. Blessing and asking for prayers God's mercy be with you, Most Honorable Fr. Archpriest! I bring you deep gratitude for your words and teachings, many edifying, simple and deep, brief and complete, all-containing without excesses or verbiage. God bless your pastoral work in all its breadth. You have been given grace not only to teach, but also to create. Lord help you to successfully serve your brothers in Christ with every gift that you have received from the Lord. You are working. And the time has come for me to lay down my guns. You are the good shepherd; and I am an unfit archpastor. I think that there has never been such a bad bishop as me. It is because of my sins that I am now deprived of strength: I am weak in body, and even more so in spirit. There is nothing worthwhile behind us, nothing worthwhile ahead. One thing remains: God, be merciful to me, a sinner! God grant that at least this cry comes out of the heart. You wrote on your card that you are eating, my student. I would like to know when this was and where. Maybe I would remember you somehow. In reality, however, it is more enough to know how you are. I wish you every success in your affairs. I ask for prayers for my all-repentance. Letter to Abbot Veniamin 503. Answer to questions about drinking wine and oil, holding money, reading the rule during Matins and about the spiritual leader Was there a need to write at such length? 1) Eat everything offered at the meal, without hesitation, but with abstinence and effort. Our oil is five times weaker than oriental wood oil. On the contrary, the wine prescribed in the statute is grape wine - weak. Our vodka is ten times stronger than 126. The charter must be read carefully. 2) Keeping money for a good purpose is not love of money. And then, when the job is done, you don’t have to save, placing all your trust in God. 3) It is possible to read the rule during Matins - for those who are lazy and have their thoughts wandering here and there: all the same, Matins is in vain for them. It’s not possible in order. What is Matins for? 4) An elder is needed as a leader for those who undertake the great inner life. And our ordinary life can get by with the advice of one confessor and even one of the attentive brethren. We must pray to God when going to the confessor with a question, and ask God to give the necessary thought to the confessor. Whoever desires this with faith will receive what he wants. There is no point in writing at such length: you have to ask someone there. And what about the rulers? You both have a high life! 127 I ask for your holy prayers for my sinfulness. Letter to Mrs. N N (continued) 566. At the beginning of the post. About M. Plato and the seminar. life I begin Great Lent by fulfilling, or paying, my debt to you. For yesterday I apologize for what I did to burden and upset you, including certainly the threat of penance in my last letter. And I forgive you, but I have nothing to say about anything, in everything, even in that for which you were legally or illegally considered subject to penance. May the Lord bless you to fast according to your strength, without indulgences, but not beyond your strength. What a wonderful time this is!! Look around all of Orthodox Rus' with your mind’s eye and marvel at how everyone has humbled themselves, hid and fallen silent instead of yesterday’s cries and riots. May everyone, Lord, humble themselves internally before the Lord and make a start so that, at least during the fast, they will not be carried away by unbridled desires and put an end to the lustful creation of the flesh. You remember St. Metropolitan Plato. Good and wise ruler! He was my mentor at the Oryol Seminary, it seems, for two months in 29. He left for St. Petersburg. Academy, and the rector, Archimandrite, came to us. Isidore, the current Bishop of St. Petersburg, was with us for a little over 4 years. I remember him very much, and all Oryol residents remember him. Ave. Seraphim of Voronezh was his favorite student. Also Lavrentiy Iversky, the rector, is a man of a wonderful disposition. I don't remember any others like this. I was with him in the lower and middle departments of the seminary. He often appointed me to read my philosophical mumbo-jumbo at Saturday meetings. He had meetings of all classes in a large hall in the early hours of Saturday... at which students of all classes read their essays, which Vladyka liked. I also remember - in literature - the first class of seminary, for some reason we were assigned at home, in our parents' house during the Christmas holiday, to write a sermon on our choice of subject. I wrote it with great enthusiasm, for which Father Rector (your current Vladyka) ordered me to present him with the list. Then for a long time I did not walk on the ground, but above the clouds. That's how much I babbled, forgetting myself. I apologize... However, it’s better for me to stop writing now, because, obviously, I’m subject to an unkind fit of talkativeness. Guilty! 567. Thoughts on the Annunciation. About sinking hearts and fears. About the Easter meeting ... this letter will not go today and not tomorrow, for tomorrow is the Annunciation. I’ll start with congratulations on this bright holiday. May the light of the Annunciation illuminate you: may the joys it brings fill your heart, and may all the blessings from it clothe you like some precious garment. Upon seeing such a bright dispensation of God, we should cry out for us: let every other thought of man be silent, stand, contemplate, be amazed, enjoy, drink this beer, forever new, and do not interfere with the leaping of your heart with any extraneous thought. Here's a lesson for you! However, according to the saying: I would fly, but my legs would outweigh me - human beings, like weights, hang on our nature and are drawn to the earth and its deeds. This is why I turn to them. How much news you conveyed in your letters, pleasant and unpleasant, but always entertaining! I thank you very much for this. I won't go through them again. In general, I will say that I am very glad that everything is going well for you... ...Concerning you, one thing occupied me: this is your sinking heart. I think you are not expressing yourself that way. Isn't this an interruption when the pulse is intermittent? This happens to me from time to time, and it started a long time ago. But I don’t think this is an important thing... I take digitalis homeopathic two or three grains once, twice, and it goes away. I add to this lying down, which I really like for my laziness. Lying down works for me as a medicine or aid against dizziness. This illness of mine worries you. Thank you. She clung to me tightly and didn’t let go. But not much, just restless and distracted. Sometimes there is something like a rush to the head. Then I lie around almost the whole day. Do you have fears?! Is this really serious? Surrender yourself to the will of God. Faith that everything, both big and small, is from God, will teach you to accept everything as good, no matter how evil it may seem. And if it is not recognized as evil, then it does not produce fear. What kind of strange phenomenon is happening to me?! Complete dullness: no thoughts, no words, no feelings, no energy, real worthlessness. Be patient, Cossack, but they won’t make you an ataman for this. This often happens to me... Then I take Danilevsky 12th year and read. Have you read it? If not, find it and read it. This is the best and most conscientious description of affairs... when you read it, your spirit rejoices. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow is Holy Sunday, and then Easter Sunday. I wish you to taste this lordship in thoughts and feelings. But first, please enter into sympathy with the passions of the Lord until your co-crucifixion with Him. I would like to write something else, but nothing comes to mind. What other beauty is still mumbling and can’t find the way to the monastery! Help her, Lord, to finally stand up, stamp her foot and walk briskly, fearing no one or anything. May God grant her such grace. 574. About high pr. Leontiy. Misunderstanding in correspondence. About the Stunda and the health of the saint I wrote with our last mail, but I’m still writing: the lack of news about the future forces me. Leontiy. Apparently he has a stroke. The eyes and tongue are faulty, but other health is not good... Lord have mercy! Well, it will stay that way. Dear Lord, have mercy on him! What don't they let you know through the newspapers?! This is criminal. You have good friends there in Moscow. Instruct them most strictly to write to you how it all began, and went on, and on, and you please inform the Highest. Threaten them with whatever you know to write quickly and in detail. Well, there's nothing to do. Let us groan and pray to the all-merciful Lord. How did it happen that you consider me guilty of laziness in writing? And I kept thinking that our last letters had met and parted ways. As I wrote a day or two before yours, I thought that I was allowed to wait for an answer from you. Meanwhile, you are expecting from me... Thus, your expectations, like the letters, have gone astray. However, I really regret that this happened. We wish that this would not happen in the future... You regret the conviction. Once you’ve been condemned, all that’s left is to feel sorry and pray. May the Lord strengthen him and comfort him internally, despite his harsh appearance It’s like an extract from the interpretation of Romans, but it talks about food sacrificed to idols. Shtunda does not like to fast. But she’s a Lutheran, why the hell did they call her a shtunda? It should be called - the German faith... because it was invented by the Germans and recently - the German faith is only three hundred years old... It is not the original apostate. The original apostate was the Latin faith - it apostatized with both the Germans and the British. But then the Germans and the British retreated from the pope when he started some absurdities in his faith. Who wrote about the Charter in the Church. Ved."? I'm alive and well. Make me believe that I don’t have fainting, and relaxation is attacking me right now. This started a long time ago... I’m starting to think if these are hemorrhoidal seizures... 582. Heavenly protection. On the fight against false teachers So what kind of exploits you have there!.. The Lord is near, protecting us all. The enemy is cunning, but the Angel of God is stronger than him: he will wave his sword, and all the webs of the enemy will scatter like dust swept up by the wind. It is comforting to hear that your acquaintances - artists and monks - graciously bear what the Lord has entrusted to them and remain indestructible in their spiritual dispositions. May the Lord strengthen them! I don’t hear anything, what orders do you have in St. Petersburg to counteract the Pashkovites, Irvingians, and Tolstoyans?! These ulcers are destroying many in St. Petersburg and everywhere. And it would be necessary to oppose them with spiritual warfare. In St. Petersburg there are many excellent priests among the clergy, both in education and in character... Make them trumpeters, and the walls of Jericho, of course, would fall, to the consolation of the faithful sons of Israel and to the glory of God. ...It is true that every priest must be self-commanding in defending the truth of God and guarding his flock, but in many cases they do not know that wolves are little by little snatching the sheep from the flock. My health is not bad. I thank the merciful Lord. 586. (A week before death). Last congratulations. Rejection of gifts. About Fr. John, “Soulful Reading” and the death of Archimandrite. Gregory Happy holidays! May the Lord grant you all the best in your soul, in your body, and in your external relationships! Your last letter contains a lot of interesting news. Thank you! What you wrote about insomnia does not apply to me... I get insomnia not on its own, but from calf spasmodic excitement; when this excitement is driven away, then insomnia will be over... And until then it will reign... I call this spasmodic excitement twitching of the legs, because this is the end of every excitement... The excitement begins slightly, grows, reaches intolerance and makes the legs kick... and this with such force that you cannot restrain it. Now the kicking is almost over and has turned into a slight shudder. The remedy is bandaging the legs... with a flannel or rubber bandage... The matter is being corrected and, I think, will be resolved successfully... The kicking has been tamed, but the excitement is not very strong, and it drives away sleep... Some kind of rubbing goes against the excitement... I think that this too will be successful... I am very glad that N.N. nuns read, but what do they read? “The soul and angel are not the body, but the spirit” or “Reminder to nuns.” At first I thought it was the latter, and then the first came to mind. But whatever it is, everything is fine. The cassock is an unnecessary matter... Let the fan be made about me, a great sinner. It's healthier. And your blanket is not applicable to the case. If you please, show off yourselves!.. Your parcel has not yet reached Vysha. About the healing of Fr. John of Princess Baryatinskaya, someone else wrote to me. I'm very happy about this. God bless! For here is the work of God, and the work of the Church for her glory. “Soulful reading” I get, this is the only magazine where the articles are not clouded by philosophies. O. arch. Grigory, inspector Moskov. Academy, burned down. He was assigned to Constantinople. He went, reached Moscow and died. 588. Humility and patience are the path to success in business and promotion. About parcels He who walks the path of humility and patience is not at a loss. They are the path to lasting success both in business and in career levels. May the Lord strengthen you in these virtues. But neither gifts nor money should have been sent. It would be better if you gave alms to those in need and said: pray for such and such a great sinner. I ask for your prayers! 595. About meetings with men It is very comforting that you celebrated the holiday and spent it in good feelings, corresponding to the meaning of the holiday. May God bless you to spend all your church holidays meaningfully and compassionately, for there is not a single one of them that does not have a beneficial effect on the soul. That the hobby happened, I mourn this with you. But it’s already passed, thank God! Now take some precautions for the future. If you please, do this: as soon as you foresee a meeting with a handsome man, drive your heart further into a corner... and do not let him have an outcome. And especially hold feelings and sympathy. The feeling of a man for a woman, and a woman for a man, is natural. But it can always be kept within limits in which it will not shake the good decisions of the will. If you prepare for such meetings in advance... then there will be no excesses in this feeling. Practicing this will allow you to reach the point where you will meet every man, even if he is handsome, as if he were not a man... For according to the Apostle, in the Lord the Savior there is neither male nor female. Pray and work at it, and God will bless your work. Temptations are definitely eliminated in the monasteries. And one cannot help but wish that the Lord would arrange this for you as soon as possible. But everything will come in due time. 626. About the ravings of Leo Tolstoy You did well that you refused to read Tolstoy’s nonsense, and don’t pick it up. Look, read what he has written... this Lion, roaring about whom to devour. I forgot to write down that Leo only recognizes the Gospel, and then in a distorted form, like his... Epistles of St. He does not recognize the apostles, nor the Fathers and teachers of the Church... He has his own mind. Don't pick it up... If you have enough strength, it is better to fast. 664. Practical wise advice about money God bless your arrival in the abode of the blacks! Black on the outside, but light on the inside or seeking inner light. May the Lord give you inner enlightenment through confession and St. Communion. May your little one, Lord, breathe the spirit of meekness here. Stock traders are unreliable people. They all see golden mountains; and meanwhile everyone is losing and losing. And hold no. It's the same as gamblers. Is he telling the truth that he is buying an estate?! How would it not happen that he takes the money and lets him through?! With the right security, it would be possible. But where is it? I missed mine; there is nothing new. There will be faith - to the wind. If there is no provision that is tactilely correct, do not give... Where will he get to the General War? The property will not give anything by this time. That's right, he's thinking about pawning it when he buys it... - I don't see anything right. Let him look where he wants. 689. Two paintings. Praise to Suzdal masters St. John the Theologian reveals before the gaze of your mind two pictures - one - of a much-turbulent world, indicating what it is busy with and how empty those objects are... and on the other - God, rich in mercies, Whom we do not see, but we have the opportunity, through the power of love, to have Him in ourselves, and without seeing Him, and without knowing, to know with our hearts more perfectly even than with our minds. May the Lord give you this blessing and increase it in you. The picture of death and judgment... is very good to have before your eyes. You probably have someone you know in Moscow... Ask to buy... only Suzdal craftsmanship, not pictorial drawing. Those are better, because they present the matter more accurately and more impressively; and skillful drawing is better for the eyes, but for edification it is of no use. Look for edification in everything and turn everything around you into a book and read... through its eyes... for it is not our letters... but printed in its own image. At St. Tikhon's four books were printed in this way. Letters to the schema-nun of the Yeletsky Znamensky Monastery Magdalene (in the world Sofya Mikhailovna Ivanova) 725. About riasophoria. About the writings of Macarius of Optina. The illiterate traveler and the plucked dove You are waiting and will not wait for the ryassophore. Will come. But this is still an engagement: the wedding is far away. We must direct our desires towards this as the main thing and, at the request of that, arrange everything in ourselves and around ourselves. I mean not external, but internal. You write that you have all read the letters of the Optina elder Macarius 128. Blessed are his books. A deep spirit of humility blows through them and instills it in everyone who reads them. Re-read often. It doesn’t hurt to make extracts so that, in case of need, you can warm up the spirit of humility, which is the most self-needing of all spirits. You decided not to go to Zadonsk and Voronezh, but you again make a wish for Kyiv: and here, out of respectful necessity, you must accompany a friend who, due to weakening or loss of vision, needs the guidance of a loved one. What to do here? I feel very sorry for you, and I feel sorry for your friend, and I’m worried. I would like to decide this: God’s protection is strong; Trusting in God’s love for mankind, which always protects us, go, warming the fear of God and constant caution in your heart. But I remembered that the Lord told the apostles: the enemy wants to sift you like wheat (Luke 22:31), that is, he manages in every possible way to break your thoughts, scatter your attention and, plunging you into darkness of thoughts, cool your soul and alienate your heart from the Lord; I remembered this, and it brought fear for you. Why I decide: refuse and stay at home. Having in mind the misfortune indicated by the Lord, can you say that you will outwit the enemy and return to your cell safe and sound? Remember, as in the fable, the dove flew to freedom and came back plucked, with a broken leg, and a dislocated wing. Can you say that nothing like this will happen to your soul? Can't? So do not plunge into danger without a faithful guarantee that it will pass you by. Your friend will find another travel companion. God bless them! And you refuse. For this, the Lord will comfort you as much as you expect. 745. Instructions on prayer, food and prostrations are dangerous for someone who is ill. Magnetism, homeopathy and spiritualism. Mental body and spiritual body May God grant you health; and if it is not needed for this time, let complacent patience give it. That in illness an internal appeal to God is no longer the same - this is a consequence of weakness. He who feels his indecentness before God will not allow wrong feelings even during pain. Be smart. A soul that has not been tested by sorrows is good for nothing. When there is pain, you can relax a little, especially if you drink cocoa. That you don’t all bow down, nothing. You don’t have to write down passes in the penalty book, but cross out what you have written down. Follow the rule with the silent Jesus Prayer. At the same time, if you can bow, bow as much as you can, otherwise you just stand there. If you can't stand, sit; If you can't sit, lie down. Don’t stop being with the Lord only in your mind. You are so sick that you are going to die. It is always necessary to prepare for this, and even more so for the patient. But whether you have to die or whether you will still be given the opportunity to live, this must be surrendered to the will of God. Live and work harder. Just started. You consider magnetism to be a matter of evil spirits. Believing that magnetism is involved in homeopathy, this is also included in the same category. It's not fair. Magnetism is not involved in the preparation of homeopathic medicines. Here everything is done openly and simply, and everyone can see how everything happens. No hidden force should be assumed here. You may or may not be treated with homeopathy; but don’t think of her that way. Magnetism is wiser; but there is no evil spirit in it either, but there is a natural force, naturally excited. Where does the wonder that comes from this come from? Some of these wonders also occur naturally; and others, perhaps, from demons who are instigating here, taking advantage of the patient’s abnormal condition. Only this latter must be considered an accidental appendage to magnetism - that is, demons, taking advantage of the opportunity, incite, and magnetism itself is not a demonic matter. Spiritualism is downright demonic, not covered up by anything. The evil spirit is palpable here. Who is acting here can be judged by the phenomena. Yes, they themselves do not hide the fact that they are demons. And what else? They say that they are only advanced. I happened to see the Gospel interpreted by spiritualists (what are interpreters?). Then they let it slip that they were only the advanced ones; but, they say, our greatest will come, then everything will be clearer. It is clear who this big one is - and why he is coming - it is known. You ask what does the apostle mean by the mental body and the spiritual body? Read this whole place and you will see what you should understand. This is 1 Cor. 15:40–45. St. Paul talks there about the resurrection and about the different glories of the resurrected bodies, and not about the soul. What is sown, he says, is the spiritual body, it is not the soul that is sown, that is, it is placed in the ground, but the body; the spiritual body rises, it is not the soul that rises, for it does not die, but the body. So here we must understand by body our body. On earth it is spiritual, but after the resurrection it will be spiritual. Why it is called this way is interpreted differently. Saint Chrysostom 129 says that it is spiritual on earth, because it is animated only by the soul. And after the resurrection it will be spiritual, because it will be the dwelling place not of one soul, but of a soul filled with the Spirit. And on earth, he says, the soul has the Spirit, but He is not always inherent in it, because he is sometimes driven away by unclean thoughts, feelings and deeds; and there He will fill it all. Then he adds St. Chrysostom: maybe it is called spiritual after the resurrection, because it will be lighter, subtler, more mobile. Blessed Theodoret and Theophylact interpret in agreement with Saint Chrysostom. On icon veneration (against the Molokans) 789. Denunciation of Molokan errors. The importance of church tradition. Addition to the apology for icon veneration In those places where there are Molokans, Orthodox Christians are often tempted by them. Living together, it is impossible not to enter into relationships, transactions on everyday matters and conversations. All this happens among Orthodox Christians and Molokans. In other places these relations remain without consequences; and in others, the Orthodox are attacked by the Molokans and are confused in their faith, wavering in their beliefs, and even carried away to the side of the Molokan wisdom. This especially happens where there are Molokans who are scribblers. The main subject with which they try to confuse the simple-hearted and actually confuse them is the veneration of icons. No matter how much they explain to the Molokans in what sense the Orthodox Church holds icons and honors them, they do not pay attention to this, but have formed a false concept for themselves about this subject, and with it they go out to self-defense and fight against the truth. For this purpose, they have selected many scriptures from the Old Testament in which the worship of idols is prohibited. After re-reading them, they turn to the Orthodox with reproach: you are going against God. He threateningly forbids having idols, but how many of them do you have?! Those who understand the meaning of icon veneration will not be tempted by this and will make a proper rebuff to the attacker; and others are very embarrassed by such speeches, especially by the number of scriptures that another reciter will say. How can Orthodox Christians be protected from such temptation? There can be no better way to do this than to give into the hands of the Orthodox the history of iconoclasm, simple but detailed. Here we will see everything about what kind of people they were who rose up against icons, and how the Holy Church resisted them in the person of its shepherds - martyrs and confessors for this - it will be presented in a variety of ways, in what sense icons exist and are revered and what are the reasons for this. After reading, remembering all this, the Orthodox can strongly repel the Molokan attacks and not suffer defeats, but defeat themselves, and remove from history who is related to the Molokans. For this purpose, a real history of iconoclasm and the struggle of the Holy Church against it has been compiled and offered to the Orthodox. When compiling it, one thing was in mind - to present the matter as it was, and especially not to omit anything that could clarify the meaning of icon veneration, attract people to it and teach them how to use it wisely. How important is iconography and icon veneration? Molokans usually say: show me where it is written in the Gospel that we must have icons and venerate them? This they then say to show that they believe only in what is written. Having heard this question from one of them, do not answer it, but ask him first: do you believe in everything and have everything that is written and that is clearly commanded to everyone? And, without waiting for his answer, tell him: is it commanded to receive holy baptism? Explicitly commanded. The Lord spoke with His most pure lips - that only he who has faith and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16). But whoever is not baptized and born in this way by water and the Spirit will not be saved and will not enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Therefore, sending St. apostles to preach, He commanded them to teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Are you baptized? Not baptized. So why are you, unbaptized, coming forward with such questions: show me where it is written? but you do not fulfill what is written and clearly commanded! Then ask him again: is it commanded to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ? Explicitly commanded. The Lord said: unless you have eaten the flesh of the Son of Man (i.e., Himself) and drunk His blood, you have not life in you (John 6:53). Then, having established the sacrament of the Body and Blood, he laid down the law: do this in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:19). Have you ever received communion? No. So why are you shouting: show me where it is written. Go, do first what is written; then come and we’ll talk about what’s not written. But without waiting, I will ask you: is everything written that the Lord said and taught, that the apostles did and taught? And you answer me. Or, so as not to burden you, I will answer for you myself: not everything, much less everything. For the Evangelist John, having written his Gospel, said at the end: “But the many things that Jesus did, even if they were written one at a time, are not possible for the whole world to contain the books that were written” (John 21:25). Do you see?! But it is known that St. John wrote his Gospel after all the evangelists, and then wrote to complement those Gospels. But, having completed them, having written 21 chapters, of which most of the verses are 40, 50, 60 and 70, he said that you cannot rewrite everything, because much remains unwritten. You say: it’s not written, and it’s gone. How can he get lost?! And those before whom what was done and to whom what was said, where have you gone? And the holy apostles, who saw and heard all this and then received the Holy Spirit, by the way, so that He would remind them of everything - where are your holy apostles? Here or not?! So, it was impossible for him to go to waste. Even though all this was not written on paper, it was written in the memory of St. apostles 12, 70 - those 500 brothers whom the apostle remembers. Paul, and many others who believed in the Lord, saw His miracles and heard St. teaching. And were they silent about all this? They could not remain silent about this, but they conveyed everything to the new believers, who did not know it, and what unwritten commandments there were, they ordered to be fulfilled immediately. When the apostles preached and the churches established, what did they talk about? Everything about what the Lord taught and commanded. Having founded the Churches, they did not leave them, but visited them often, and during these visits everyone talked about the Lord. And the believers could not help but torture them about what they knew. Judge for yourself. If you met the apostle, would you leave him without asking everything? That's how it was then. And there is no doubt that everything done and commanded by the Lord, although not written down, was handed down to the believers, was kept in the Church and has come down to us. It was lost only for those who are too smart and shout: I don’t want to know anything other than what is written in the Gospel. That's what they were. No one is to blame. But these are vanities, for whom much of what was written was lost, even St. Baptism and St. Communion - so they stopped being Christians. For what kind of Christian is an unbaptized one?! This is how bad it is to be wise and shout: show me where it is written - what is not written, I don’t believe in! But I showed you only one place about this from the Gospel of John. Listen to what Ev says. Luke in the book of Acts! He says that the Lord, after His resurrection from the dead, appeared to the apostles for forty days and told them everything that related to the kingdom of God, that is, before the establishment of the Holy Church (Acts 1:3). What the Lord said, St. wrote about it. Luke didn’t write what exactly he said. Where did all this go, what did he say then? In your opinion, everything is gone!? – did the Lord speak in vain? No - not in vain! All this was preserved in the memory of the apostles, renewed in this memory by the Holy Spirit, and everything was then handed down to the believers, and from them it has come down to us from generation to generation. But what is it: speaking about the kingdom of God? Do you think that this is something unearthly, immeasurably high, something that is happening in heaven? No. All these conversations concerned how to establish a Holy Church on earth: how to preach, how to baptize believers, how to teach them the Holy Spirit, how to partake of the Holy Mysteries, how to elect and ordain shepherds for them, how they should gather for prayer - morning, evening, noon - what to sing, what to read? And everything else related to pleasing God and saving the soul. All this is not written down. But the apostles, having received all this from the Lord, later, when they established the Church, introduced all this into action. And how they established the Churches, so it has come down to us. Look how the saints acted. apostles! Read in Acts, chapters 13 and 14, as St. Paul and Barnabas went to preach at the inspiration of the Spirit of God. They preached throughout the island of Cyprus, and on the solid land of Pamphylia, Pisidia and Licinia, and founded churches in Perga, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe and other cities and villages. When their preaching here was accepted with faith, what did they do? So they abandoned these believers?! No. They again went through all these places, repeating everywhere how and what one should believe in and save one’s soul, and what is especially important: having ordained elders for the whole church, and having prayed with fasting, commending them to the Lord, they believed in the unworthy (Acts 14:23). This means that in every place they established a special parish with a special priest. This is exactly how we now have it and do it. The question now arises: did these priests, ordained by the apostles, only bear the name of priests or did they act in a priestly manner? What is it? They gathered believers for prayer, repeated the apostolic teaching with them, and partook of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood; if anyone converted again or children were born to them, they were baptized and anointed; who got sick? - he was anointed with oil (the blessing of oil was performed on him); who died? - he was buried with prayer, and so on. That all this was done by the priests supplied by the apostles can be seen from many other places in the apostolic epistles and acts. But how all this was accomplished is not written down anywhere. The believers kept the image of their sacred rites, especially the image of performing the sacraments, in secret, and conveyed them only in words through their very actions, and did not write them down on purpose, so that no one would know it from the unbelievers and they would not be guilty of the commandments of the Lord: do not cast your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). So that's how it went! And this is how much that was commanded by the Lord and put into practice by the apostles remained unwritten. And you couldn’t write everything down, and you shouldn’t have. I will stop here and will not further explain to you that not everything commanded by the Lord and preached by the apostles was written down, but that much without writing was directly put into practice and constituted the structure of the Church. Then each parish, as it was organized, then kept its structure. The emerging children learned from their fathers how to be in the Church, and everything passed from generation to generation. From this you see that shouting: show me where it is written, I don’t want to believe what is not written in the Gospel, makes no sense. Whoever shouts like that clearly shows that he does not read what is written, or, while reading, is so blind that he does not see what is written. If I had read and understood properly, I would not have shouted so uselessly. But we started talking about icons. The Molokans are screaming: it’s not written about icons, we don’t want to have them and venerate them. From what has been said so far, it is clear that even though it has not been written about icons, they could have been introduced or admitted without scripture, without scripture they could have been used in homes and churches, and in this form they could have come down to us. If it were directly written that it is forbidden to have icons, then it would clearly be that the Lord does not want Christians to use them. But from the fact that it is not written about them in the Gospel and the apostolic writings, nothing can be deduced against them. And if we indicate traditions about their use from the time of the Lord Himself and St. apostles: then our vain Molokans should be completely silent. And there are such legends: namely about the image not made by hands and about the icons painted by St. Evangelist Luke 130. 790. How appropriate is mourning for the dead? The dead are alive and continue to communicate with us One cannot help but grieve: such is our soul; but in moderation, and small at that. What is most important to a person, body or soul? The soul is the main thing. When the soul is alive, the person is alive. And when they die, what dies: the soul or the body? Body; but the soul remains alive. The dead became alive; your parents are also alive. They just left you and began to live in another place. You will also go there in due time, and you will see each other. Your separation is only temporary. That is why I say that it is impossible not to grieve; only a little, as they mourn when they leave home for school. It so happened with us that we imagine the dead as they were when they were lying on the table in the coffin... and then as they are in the grave, and we even lament: how dark it is for you there, how cramped you are there, how damp you feel there. Meanwhile, there are no people here at all for whom we mourn. They are in a different place, and even near us, only in a completely different form. They continue to communicate with us, directly with their souls, but we don’t feel it because of our troubles. So, instead of grief, which is useless for your parents and harmful to your health, please, imagining them alive, have a sincere conversation with them. And this will not always be a dream, but sometimes it will be accompanied by reality, because they happen to you... Saint Theophan's denunciation of the Latin indulgences 791. Preface. Latin tariff on indulgences. Objections to its existence and refutation of these objections with the participation of St. Theophan In the above letter, St. Feofan (No. 790) to E.I. Snegireva it is said that the dead continue to communicate with us. Having written out these words, the magazine “Soulful Reading” (1895, Oct.), moving on to print the article “Tariff on Indulgences,” which indicates the participation of St. Theophan in his denunciation of indulgences, precedes her with a few words, which we present here, and then the article itself about the tariff, the objection of Abbot Gad and his refutation with the participation of Saint Theophan. “They continue to communicate with us!” These words about the “communication” of the dead with the living were involuntarily recalled to us when, in the struggle with Bishop Simon, regarding the papal tax for sins, we were given an article by the Right Reverend Theophan on the same subject, namely, about the tax for sins. In Bose, the deceased saint, who always treated spiritually beneficial reading with special favor during his life, as if clearly proves his living “communication” with him even after his death, helping him with his weighty word and all the high authority of his learned and ascetic life to dispel the papal and Jesuit tricks, with which he himself waged a stubborn struggle. This is the word: In 1857, in view of the intensified Roman Catholic propaganda in the Orthodox East, the tariff on indulgences (Ταρίφα τῶν) was reprinted in the Athens newspaper “Vek” (Αἰών), No. 1525, 1526 and 1530 σογχωροχαρτίων), as it was last printed in Paris by Julien de Saint Achel in 1820. J. De Saint Achel made a preface to his publication of the papal tariff on indulgences. Before our eyes is this preface in the Russian translation, passed almost line by line by the hand of St. Theophan. The following lines are written in his hand: “We decided to place it (the tariff) in translation in our magazine: Aeon - for the general information of all Eastern Christians. We are confident that, by depicting the Roman Church, which is so hostile to us and reviles us so much - in its true form, this article, more than anything else, will help to strengthen in us the feelings of reverent reverence that we, Eastern Christians, have for the Mother of our Church, who has never shied away from such inappropriate actions. But wouldn’t this at the same time be a most eloquent response to the claims of the Western Church, which, considering itself only Orthodox, always calls us schismatics?” Not a desire for controversy - no: true pastoral zeal for the salvation of Christian souls and deep, selfless devotion to Orthodoxy guided the hand of the one who wrote this 131. And here is some data from the very preface to the publication of the papal tariff on indulgences in the Russian translation, corrected in Bose by the late Saint Theophan. We will mark in italics what was written by the hand of St. Theophan himself. “Alvar Pelagius, defender of Pope John XXII, in his essay “On the Desolation of the Church,” describes the greed of the Roman court as follows: “No one can be worthy of seeing the pope without payment - at his door; and the poor can never appear before the pope because they have nothing to give. What about the cardinals? Their hands are always open to take, and none of them will say: enough.” The same author adds that even now - to the general indignation of the whole world - the lead of papal seals is worth its weight in gold... “Every time,” he says, “it happened to me to enter the inner chambers of the pope, I saw tables covered with thalers, and clergymen correcting the position of money changers.” This Alvar Pelagius cannot be suspected of hyperbole here, when there is positive evidence that Pope John XXII, upon his death, left 25,000,000 gold, an amount that all the rulers of Europe did not have together. Likewise, the famous theologian Claudius Espensaus does not hide his indignation at the greed of the papacy. “Whoever,” he says, “looks at money alone, everything is possible and everything is forgivable. No matter what crime someone is guilty of, he will immediately receive forgiveness in Rome as soon as he pays the money, no matter how great the crime. What a disgrace! Priests are allowed to have concubines, live with them and have children from them, as long as they contribute a certain amount of money every year. Maybe someone will say that all this is slander, invented in order to present the pope as hated, but such things are happening publicly, and they are known to everyone.” Bernard, recognized as a saint in the Roman Church, also reproaches the popes for simony and greed for money. And the popes themselves never cared about hiding this shame of the Roman court. Matthew Parm quotes the following words from one of the letters of Pope Honorius III: “The love of gold has long been a temptation and shame for the papal see. He who has no money and cannot give anything will receive nothing from Rome!” Pope Pius II expresses himself in almost the same words: “The Roman court gives everything for gold, it sells the Holy Spirit, the sacraments, the priesthood; absolves all crimes to those who can pay for this absolution.” The coolest of writers could not be indifferent when discussing this subject: Abbot Conrad says: “... rejoice and triumph, Vatican! Treasures are open before you, waste them carelessly. In the crimes of the children of men is your profit, rejoice! The sons of men enrich you and drown in wickedness and error. Sow discord between them and he will bring you a bar of gold. Rejoice and sing solemn hymns! Are the heavens open to those who bring you gold? What am I saying? And you can sell the Lord Jesus Christ Himself for it!” The Carmelite abbot Baptiste of Mantua says the following: “In Rome everything is for sale - churches, priests, burial mounds, altars, sacrifice, prayers, petitions, heaven and God Himself!!” Some may think that in an enlightened age, like the present, Rome abolished its taxes... Not at all! Even now, many excuses are being sold.” Next follow the very articles of the tariff for indulgences, and then the evidence of the Right Reverend Theophan in confirmation of the undoubted existence of this tariff, despite the objections of Paul Gad, the rector of the Roman Catholic Church in Athens, who defended the same thankless task, which in our time “Bishop Symon” undertook to defend... But we will talk about this in the next book. The articles in “Soulful Reading” about the dachshund have already become widespread. The voice of the Most Reverend Theophan presents new irrefutable data about the tax of the “infallible” popes, and not “for chairs,” but precisely for sins 132. Last year, in response to the article “Soulful Reading” “The Tax of the Infallible Popes for Sins,” the Roman Catholic Bishop Simon (?) argued that “neither the French, nor the Germans, nor the Italian Catholics have heard anything like this.” And when the publisher of the Russian Archive P.I. Bartenev stated, “that in 1881 in Amiens, while examining the magnificent cathedral there, I saw on the wall at the entrance door a large table in three columns: in one column the sins are listed, in the other the meaning of prayers, in the third the number of francs. There is also a mug for putting coins under the table”; then the Amiens bishop Reno claimed that it was not a fee “for sins, but a tariff for... chairs...”. In view of such a purely Jesuitical denial of facts, even the most generally known and occurring in the face of the whole world, such as, for example, the sale of indulgences, in Nos. 5, 10, 11 and 12 of the “Soulful Reading” of 1895, many editions of the “tax” for sins, authorized by the popes, were given, and then it was also added: “the voice of the Most Reverend Theophan presents new irrefutable data on the fees of “infallible” popes and not “for chairs,” but precisely for sins. We’ll talk about this in the next book”... But at the beginning of this year there was an urgent need to respond to the encyclical of the current Pope Leo XIII. “The newest answer to old and new Roman errors” was published in the February, March and April books. Then came the days of the Holy Coronation. Naturally, all thoughts and, if possible, all articles of the magazine were directed towards this solemn event. Since September, everyone has been getting down to business with the usual seriousness. Now we are printing a full explanation of the issue of indulgences and the tariff, as it was done in the newspaper “Αιών” with the direct participation of the Right Reverend Theophan 133. In 1857, in view of the intensified Catholic propaganda in the Orthodox East, in the Athens newspaper “Vek” (Αἰών), in No. 1525, 1526 and 1530, a tariff for the forgiveness of sins (Ταρίφα τῶν) was published σογχωροχαρτίων) or for indulgences, which led to a curious exchange of thoughts between the newspaper editor and Paul Gad, rector of the Roman Catholic Church in Athens. We will first introduce our readers to some articles of the specified tariff, since its complete reproduction, with a listing of all sins, is impossible without offending the senses of decency and modesty. The tariff itself was last published in Paris by Julien de Saint-Acheul in 1820, and the inscription stated that the said tariff was established by Pope John XXII and promulgated by Pope Leo X in 1514. Ch. XVI. § 1. “Whoever mutilated a cleric receives forgiveness for 63 lire and 14 soldi.” § 2. “A simple resolution from this crime costs 27 lire and 1 soldi.” § 3. “If the abbot or rector of any church institution is mutilated, six lire is added.” § 4. “For mutilation of a bishop, 27 lire is added to the previous price.” § 5. “A layman who mutilates a layman pays 27 lire and 1 soldi for the full petition.” Ch. XVII. § 1. “A voluntary murderer, wishing to join the clergy, can buy himself forgiveness for 45 lire, 19 soldi and 6 denarii.” § 4. If the murdered person died not from a blow, but from something else, and the killer did not intend to cause death, in order to become a priest and receive full forgiveness, he must pay 131 lire, 14 soldi and 6 denarii. § 5. “Forgiveness for murder committed by a bishop, priest, head of an ecclesiastical institution or a knight of the Order of St. John, costs 179 lire, 14 soldi.” § 6. “If the murderer is an abbot, an apostolic protonotary or holding an equal position, he pays an additional 146 lire, 5 soldi for each murder he commits.” § 8. “If two people conspire to kill one, they receive forgiveness for 134 lire, 14 soldi.” § 9. “If one kills many at once, he pays 131 lire, 14 soldi for forgiveness.” § 10. “If one kills many under different circumstances, he receives forgiveness, paying for each murder 90 lire, 11 soldi.” Ch. XVIII. § 1. “A cleric who kills by accident pays 27 lire and 1 soldi.” § 3. “Whoever wishes to stock up on forgiveness in advance for any accidental murder that he may commit in the future, pays 168 lire, 15 soldi.” § 5. “Whoever commits an accidental murder, without taking all precautions, pays 87 lire, 3 soldi.” § 7. “If a murder occurs during spectacles or games prohibited for the clergy, clergy and priests must pay 141 lire, 14 soldi for forgiveness.” Ch. XIX. § 1. “If a cleric kills someone in self-defense, he pays 27 lire.” § 2. “In order to obtain advance remission of a similar murder in the future, you must pay 76 lire and 6 soldi.” Ch. XX. § 1. “A layman who kills a cleric receives forgiveness by undergoing public repentance according to the rules and paying 27 lire.” § 2. “A cleric, having a shaved beard or assigned to a sacred rite, having killed a priest, is subject to prohibition until he undergoes public repentance according to the rules and pays 137 lire, 6 soldi.” § 3. “If many conspire and kill the priest, the culprit of the community pays the full price for forgiveness, his accomplices - half.” § 4. “If, under the same circumstance, one kills many priests, no matter how many there are, he pays six times more for forgiveness.” § 5. “If someone kills many priests under different circumstances, for the first murder he pays the due price in full, for others - half.” § 6. “If the murderer of a priest does not wish to undergo public repentance, he shall pay 63 lire and 14 soldi.” § 7. “If the murderer of many priests wishes this, he shall pay another 18 lire.” § 8. “Whoever kills a bishop or any cleric of the highest rank pays 131 lire, 14 soldi.” § 9. “Whoever kills an abbot pays 24 lire.” Ch. XXI. § 1. “Forgiveness for a simple murder of a layman costs 15 lire, 2 soldi, 6 denarii.” § 2. “The murderer of many laymen in the same case pays the same as for the murder of one.” Ch. XXII. “For the murder of a father, or mother, or sister, 17 lire, 14 soldi, 6 denarii must be paid for forgiveness.” Ch. XXIII. § 1. “He who kills his wife pays the same amount for forgiveness as a parricide.” § 2. “Whoever killed his wife and wished to enter into a new marriage pays 32 lire, 13 soldi for forgiveness.” § 3. “Those who helped the husband in the murder of his wife pay 2 liras per head.” Ch. XXIV. § 1. “A father or mother, having strangled his child, pays 17 lire, 14 soldi for forgiveness.” § 2. “A father and mother, having strangled their child by mutual consent, pay 26 lire, 1 soldi.” Ch. XXV. § 1. “The woman who took the drug with the aim of killing the fetus in the womb, and the father who prepared it, each pay 17 lire, 14 soldi.” § 2. “If it is not the husband who prepares the medicine, but a stranger, he pays 16 lire, 18 soldi, 6 denarii.” Ch. XXVI. “A witch or sorcerer, having renounced witchcraft, is forgiven for 27 lire.” Ch. XXVIII. “A sacrilege, a thief, an arsonist, a robber and the like receive forgiveness for 131 lire, 6 soldi.” Ch. XXXI. § 12. “Every clergy who interferes with the execution of bulls and commands of the Apostolic See pays 131 lire and 14 soldi for forgiveness.” § 17. “The bishop who vowed to visit Rome to venerate the tombs of Sts. apostles and whoever does not fulfill it receives forgiveness for 45 lire.” § 18. “Episcopal excommunication is expiated by a payment of 26 lire.” § 19. “The papal anathema is expiated by a payment of 45 lire, 9 soldi and 6 denarii,” and so on. and so on. The publication of the tariff, as mentioned above, prompted the following letter to the editor of the newspaper “Αἰών”: “Attacking the Catholic Church out of a feeling of hostility, you published in No. 1525, 1526, 1530 a translation of the so-called Ταρίφα τῶν σογχωροχαρτίων, which you extracted from the work of some Julien de Saint Acheul. The Catholic Church and we, her faithful sons, have accepted it as a rule once and for all - not to respond to this kind of slander, attributing them to fanaticism, never to enter into an argument, leaving the matter to the judgment of society. But now that the reprinting of satanic slander, which is completely indecent for an educated Greek (unless he is under the influence of Voltaire, Rousseau and the like), has been completed, now allow me, Mr. Editor, for the first and last time to bring to your attention that the Catholic Church completely rejects the remission of sins and the communication of the sacraments for money, calling names (as you yourself well know) and strictly punishing, like Simonians, those clergy who take money for confession... And the tariff you are talking about is nothing more than an invention, pure slander of the enemies of the Catholic Church, which should include J. De Saint Acheul. Instead of any denunciations of vile slander, we would ask you to deliver to us one copy of this work, published, according to you, by the Catholic Church and by order of the Pope. Or if you cannot satisfy this requirement, then at least point to some famous author who mentions this tariff. I believe that this will not be difficult for you to fulfill if you claim that this tariff is recognized by the Roman Church and is imposed on its children. We, in particular, who have the responsibility to protect Catholics, in all fairness need to have this wonderful work in our hands. I believe our demand is reasonable and fair. If you do not satisfy him, this will put us in the need to announce loudly to the whole world that everything you have published is sheer slander of a stupid person. I hope that, out of honor and justice, you will give my letter a place in the next issue of your newspaper. Paul Gad, priest of the Western Church in Athens To this letter, having published it in his newspaper, the editor (Τ. Ι. Φιλήμων) gave the following response: “In order to eliminate your attacks on my newspaper, I begin to analyze them, and, with fairness in mind, I will try to avoid imitating your expressions. First of all, you are imbuing me with the spirit of slandering the Catholic Church out of a feeling of hostility. I strongly reject this. One who is carried away by enmity should be called one who slander without any reason. Let me ask you, as a faithful son of the Roman Church, do you remember that we were ever the first to begin? Would you rather confirm, if in a sense of justice you want to admit that we have always only repelled attacks?.. The Western Church does not cease to bother us for a minute, flooding the East with sisters of mercy, Jesuits and Capuchins, uses all its influence to seduce the Orthodox, vilify us as heretics, apostates, etc. If, in fulfilling our duty, we repel attacks and try to destroy the fruits of actions so destructive for Orthodoxy, then are we really insulting the Roman Church and its bishop? You are sorely mistaken in believing that we should give the Western Church complete freedom to act against us as it pleases, and that, in order not to seem to you carried away by a feeling of enmity, we should not undertake anything - such as denouncing the power that, under various pretexts, is trying to tear us away from our past... You demand that, instead of resisting, we fold our hands on our chests, close our lips and bow our heads before you. Admit, most honest father, that this demand is too excessive; more excessive, perhaps, than all the claims of the ruler of the Vatican that were sometimes revealed... But those centuries have already passed when the pope drew lines and, issuing bulls, divided the sunflower into parts. You consider it decent to publish scolding letters against us, sometimes funny - is it surprising that, turning to history, out of many wonderful pages we found one, namely, “The Tariff on Indulgences”, with the aim of showing our co-religionists what the Roman Church is, boldly blaspheming the Orthodoxy of the Greeks? In your letter, you deny the existence of the tariff and brand what we have published as satanic slander, demanding that I deliver you at least one copy of the publication of the tariff, which, as I claim, was made by the Catholic Church and at the behest of the pope, or that I point out at least one famous author who mentions it, since “according to the general law” the Catholic Church rejects the absolution of sins and the communication of the sacraments for money. I fulfill your request with great pleasure. Merle-d'Aubigné (History of the Reformation, vol. I, pp. 34, 41) says that there was not one, but 40 editions of the tariff in question. Would you like me to be more specific? Here is the title of the publication that was in Rome with the permission of the pope: “Taxae cancellariae apostolicae et taxae sacrae penitentiariae. Roma. Anno 1514. Ed. Marcel Albert." The next editions were in Cologne in 1523, in Paris in 1533, 1545 and 1564, in Wirtemberg in 1538, in Venice in 1584 by order of Pope Gregory XIII. In 1651 Laurentius Bank published at Frankfurt his work on the sequential order of all these editions, and in 1700 Silvius Ducius issued a tariff at the command of Pope Leo (Potter, History of Christianity, vol. IV, 69; V, 59-63). I hope that you have no right to demand more from me... If after all this you still have doubts, then I advise you to write to a librarian of any well-known European library, and he will certify you of the truth of my words. He will also tell you that in 1514 a decree of Pope Leo X was announced, by virtue of which the most terrible crimes, for example, parricide, etc., were released for the payment of a certain sum. If you say that we, true Catholics, do not know this bull, then this is not at all surprising, because, according to Potter, the contents of this bull were either not known to the biographers of Pope Leo X, or were deliberately suppressed by those of them who only wanted to praise this high priest, while this bull is one of the most precious proofs of the greed of the Roman court. So, not only J. S. Aschel, but many very respectable writers talk about the bull of Pope Leo X. The Western Church, you claim, “according to the universal law” rejects the remission of sins for money? However, what has the Roman Church done so far? Did she follow this rule or not? The answer to this is history and the blood shed in Europe during those centuries when the Vatican court was overwhelmed by politics. Most Catholic writers themselves do not deny this. The sale of absolutions, the sale of deviations from generally binding church laws, the sale of positions that cannot be awarded for money - everything combined to weaken the power of the Church. Who says this? True Catholic - Hurter! If you even begin to deny that Pope Clement V sold the Venetians forgiveness of all sins for 10,000 gold florins, then you will probably no longer deny the existence of countless bulls that absolved the sins of all who donated to the construction of the cathedral in Rome. View a remarkable collection of bulls of the most holy Roman Church from Pope Leo X to Innocent XIII, printed by the Vatican's superior facultate in 1747. A list of this meeting can be found in our university library. In the first volume of this wonderful collection on p. 262 You can read the papal bull, which proclaims absolution for a whole year to all who donate money for the end of the council. This entire two-volume collection is filled with such bulls. Now let me ask: do you really still not believe in the existence of the tariff? What do you say about the bull of Pope Boniface VIII and many others, which proclaim complete remission of sins to all who come to Rome to worship? What do you say about absolution for the massacre of heretics and apostates? Is this why the Roman Church was punished by Protestantism? It would be better if you kept quiet about this subject and did not point at the Eastern Church, which allows payment to confessing priests. We are not burdened by this. And what comparison is there between the income received by our priests from the voluntary giving of the people for the work of the shepherd, and a certain and strictly assessed tariff?.. Let me make one final point. You accused me of sympathizing with Voltaire and Rousseau. But you badly thought that this would serve as a reproach for me and disgrace among my compatriots. We know well against whom Voltaire and Rousseau aimed their arrows. We know that they wrote a lot of good things about us and our Church, especially the Greeks will not forget what Voltaire wrote to the All-Russian Empress: “The plans of Your Imperial Majesty regarding Greece are worth more than 2,000 conquests.” In response, the empress made a prediction that came true before half a century. You see for yourself, most honest father, I am not writing to you at all like you, and I am not calling you a stupid inventor of empty slander. Letter to N.N. (from “S.P.B. Spiritual Messenger”) 792. Evil crops. The harm caused by the writings of Leo Tolstoy for faith, church and fatherland Back in 1885, it turns out, the false teaching of gr. L. Tolstoy was greatly interested in the Vyshino recluse Bishop Feofan, who was responsive to contemporary issues that in one way or another related to faith and Christian life. Even then, he was horrified by this false teaching that was spreading among the students. What would he say after the publication of the latest works of our new theologian, because of which even his fans turned away from him? Apparently, the Eminence was then planning to write in refutation of heresy. Without a doubt, what he wrote in defense of the true Gospel and the Orthodox Church against L.T. will be read with no less interest and spiritual benefit than his letters to one person in St. Petersburg regarding the appearance here of the false teaching of Redstock, Pashkov and followers. This is what the Eminence wrote in letter 134 dated May 27, 1885. “Have you heard about the articles of Count Leo Tolstoy? They are all destructive - for faith, the Church and the Fatherland. They are secretly distributed, lithographed abroad. I now have his gospel and the article “What is my faith.” The first is a complete distortion of the real Gospel. And the second one is terrible! Denial of all dogmas - and all in the name of the teachings of Christ, distorted. All the dogmas, he says, were invented by the Church, spoiling the teachings of Christ. And with him, Christ is not our true Lord Savior, but something vague. No Trinity, no incarnation, no Sunday, no immortality. Our life begins here and ends here. I don’t understand how it won’t fall into the hands of the authorities. And he has things against the political system: for example, the oath is unlawful, troops are not needed and war is repugnant to God. And the courts are contrary to the teachings of Christ. Meanwhile, he teaches: they beat, cut, rob - be patient and remain silent. This, he says, is the essence of Christianity... Horror! They write to me: “...students of Moscow University are reading all this and can’t get enough.” Isn't this scary?! Meanwhile, evil spreads in secret. I hear that these lithographs sell in the tens of thousands. Recently he was in Kyiv and Kharkov, probably sowing his evil seeds. If you please, advocate, arousing the attention of powerful people you know. Now here's a request. In the article “What is my faith” he says that, in addition to this article and the gospel, he also wrote a Critique of the Dogmas of the Church. Please look to see if this article is there. And if you find it, send it, I’ll write it off. I'm going to write something against all this. If this makes it difficult for you, then don’t bother. Bless you, Lord, with every blessing. 809. Instruction to a student who wants to go to Sarov. Temptations. Comrades In writing to you what I wrote, I understood your entire intention... both to go to Sarov on foot and to enter the monastery in order to be saved. First we need to get to Sarov, and then do another thing. This last thing doesn’t happen all of a sudden... They will also look at you to see if you are fit... And you need mother’s blessing, which, when you get to Sarov, you take the trouble to ask for. But don’t quit school now... This must be done, when necessary, from Sarov. Don’t think that getting to Sarov is an easy task. It is just in appearance, not in reality. The enemy will follow on your heels... to confuse your soul and undermine your good intentions. Look, pay attention to yourself and do not give way to these embarrassments, but immediately suppress them. Immediately, as you notice, begin to cry out to the Lord, the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel, until silence is restored inside... The enemy will confuse everyone: with fatigue and aching legs, and troubles from people, and fears from animals, and everything... Hold on! If you resist, it will be easier further. And if you do not resist, then your entire undertaking will be frustrated. God's help will accompany you... but it will help the one who is struggling, and not the one who succumbs to the first blow of temptation. May the protection of the Lord and the Mother of God be upon you... If you come across one of the good people, probably also marching to Sarov, to Murom, or along the road, it would not be bad. But see for yourself. If this happens and he is not the same spirit as you, do not enter into conversation with him. Empty conversation will break your head and shake your resolve, and don’t trust it at all... especially right away. When you get to Sarov, other temptations will begin here - both from the fans and from the monastic ones, for not everyone behaves as they should - and these are always visible from the outside, but the good ones are hidden. Therefore, do not rush to everyone, but keep yourself apart, doing one thing that lies with the worshiper: go to church and there stand reverently and pray... Don’t look at anyone as he prays... but pay attention to yourself. Sit in your room - think and read something... The monastery and what’s around the monastery after that, look around, and now just be occupied with spiritual things. Only to Fr. Go to Seraphim’s well... and ask him to receive you more often. Having rested, you can have a casual conversation with some elder about monasticism... and then with the abbot... Most of all, be in the church - this is the house of God. The Lord will meet you here and embrace you. Don't rush into anything. And be all in prayer. Whatever confuses the enemy, do not give in. Lethargy, aversion to church and spiritual things, coldness and tastelessness, wavering thoughts... fight everything off. If they send it to you, I’ll write that you were going on a pilgrimage to Sarov, asked, and I gave my blessing. Before leaving Murom, you too write to B-nki that you have gone to Sarov, and say that you will notify them immediately upon arrival in Sarov; and don’t write about the second case either from Murom or from Sarov... Write after looking around there... 811. To his question about the continuation of science So you are back in Murom! God bless! Since you already know the reasons for stumbling there, but the desire not to stumble is alive in you, then there is no need for you to bring anything special to mind on this subject. Be careful, pay attention to yourself and cry to the Lord for admonition and help. The teaching doesn't fit behind your shoulders. Therefore, it is not a hindrance to life. Pull it all the way. God help you! How did it occur to you that reading the Divine Scripture will distract you from science? What distracts one from science is wandering of thoughts, uncontrollability of evil desires, but mostly laziness and the desire for a life of convenience. This is what you need to abstain from, and nothing helps to drive away all this like reading St. Scriptures and other good books. And make it a rule for yourself to read a little in the morning and evening, 10 verses each, from the New Testament, with reasoning and application to yourself. Science is science, and life is life. And learn and behave as befits one who has decided to please God. What is required by pleasing God can be accomplished in the midst of activities. Fear of God, memory of God and death, and zeal for the salvation of the soul, as the only thing needed - hold on without interrupting. This is the crux of the matter... Remember what you experienced with the teacher. Sergius and in the Gethsemane monastery, and thus revive your spiritual aspirations. 812. To the good warrior about military service Like Ilya Muromets - may you in your time be a threat to the Germans! You do well that you do not give way to evil movements and suppress them when they arise. Work hard on yourself... and you will remain invincible! Your sleep is good! It means that in heaven the fulfillment of your main desire is meant... It might be good to volunteer. If those advising you about this are among those experienced in military affairs, then you can follow their advice. Or it might be better to let things run their course... Save yourself! God bless you! 924. Answer to someone asking for something from the saint’s clothes. About Leo Tolstoy. Our healers. Answers to questions about clergy. Know-it-all I was surprised by your desire to have some of my clothes. If you were my enemy and I wanted to do you harm, then I could not come up with anything more convenient than this. Demons bustle around me and often get hold of something little, sometimes more. I sent you some clothes - the way they know them, they will immediately rush to your cell, and not just one legion, but counting. So for this reason I just can’t decide to send you what you want, because I am not your enemy. What stupid students they are for believing L. Tolstoy, who doesn’t believe in anything. He has no God, no soul and nothing sacred. He writes nonsense only to confuse believers, and interprets everything crookedly. – In warriors and wars, God often showed a visible blessing, both in the Old and in the New Testament. And how many of our princes are glorified by their relics?.. who, however, fought. In the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra there are relics of warriors in the caves. They fight out of love for their own, so that they are not subjected to captivity and enemy violence. What were the French doing in Russia?.. and how could it be possible not to fight with them. Is it possible that their beliefs waver even about the worship of icons?! This doesn’t look like anything... Be merciless towards those. Don't allow it unless they promise to change their thoughts. That they mistakenly look at you, considering you a saint, is a small sin for them. But if you really think of yourself as a saint, then this is not a safe matter. Kindly reason with yourself about this before the face of God... and manage to humble your thoughts. Yes, however, you have healers. These are the ones who do not praise you, but blame you. They truly wash over you... and even if you even slightly think that you are among the saints. Yes - it’s worth trying to find out why others excommunicate themselves from Communion; Maybe after confession their conscience told them something that was binding them, despite your permission. The fact that you don’t look harshly on those confessing is okay. But don’t allow anything humorous in your behavior... Be cordial, friendly - in word, glance, and manner... but without jokes. Otherwise, they will think that you are cutting corners. Love your students; it should be so. But is there no carnal love? See for yourself... and don’t let her be. It seems that this is not entirely difficult to distinguish. It is good that you have the door open in the evening for those who need your word. I heard that in Optina Hermitage the confessor does not close the door for a long time... and sometimes they resort to him at midnight. Those novices who go almost every day, if they come for spiritual needs, let them go. But always talk to them only about spiritual things, and, having said what is due, let them go. Left on your own, confess everything to God and ask for His admonition in all cases. God bless you with every blessing. And do not forget to pray for me, for I am burdened with many infirmities; especially love for the deceased life and arrogance. I think that I’m a know-it-all... and I’m such a scribbler that there’s nothing like this in the whole world, there hasn’t been one before, and there’s unlikely to be one. 928. The spirit of life of ascetics. Love of money and love of love. About Fr. John of Kronstadt I have greatly offended you. I ask you to forgive, forgive and resolve this sin. You have written down your exploits - from waking up in the morning to falling asleep at night. This is the ordinary life of all decent people. Its price - such - depends not on what is done, but on the spirit in which it is done. If the fear of God passes through all these actions, then the commandment of St. Paul: Do not please the flesh in lust, then everything is in order - and even more orderly if the satisfaction of needs is done with a grumble, imitating that old man who scolded the body as he moved towards sleep. O. N. lover of money. A lover of money is an idolater, and you so easily pronounce such judgment on yourself. If, when you distribute, you do not feel sorry for the money, then there is no passion for love of money, but only covetousness. The desire to have money so that it is at hand just in case - your own need or the need of your neighbor. Although in this case there is a tying thread, it is a cobweb. Having nothing is the goal. And blessed are those who managed to arrange their life according to this principle. But the demand of this beginning is so broad that there is no litter in the cell. What should we do with you? There is a carpet, there is a sofa, there are armchairs, there are chairs, everything is soft... and pleasing to the eye. And boots, and stockings, and a cassock, and a cassock... and so on. and so on... Where is the disconnection from the world... The world is in our arms... with kisses and cuddles!! I write this off myself. It’s better not to accumulate money, but like this: one hand takes, and the other gives. Let the money sit until the opportunity to give it away. - And quite... O. John of Kronstadt is a man of God. His prayer to God is successful because of his great faith. May the Lord keep him in humility and devotion to His holy will, and in self-sacrifice. He doesn’t have just one book, but up to 15 or more. Try to buy it. They are all small... like the one you have. The image of confession that he knew was probably kept with the blessing of the Metropolitan. But oh. John confesses privately... and then all those who do not have anything special to say or ask. There are not up to 200 people, but 2000 people. 936. Before a bunch of questions. About the paper icon. Calendars. About the work of caring for the sick You waited - you waited for an answer - but you didn’t get it. And he was already at the gate. If only I had waited a little longer, he would have been in your hands, to save you the trouble of reminding me of my laziness. You still have a lot of questions. I will answer with pleasure; but I don’t give up laziness. Therefore, there will still be some temptation to your patience. Your questions are all practical, and answering them is not puzzling. I received what you sent... The icon of the saint is magnificent... Paste it on a board, and it will be an icon, like the others... Just cover it with varnish with alcoholic painting. First glue the canvas onto the board, and the paper icon onto the canvas... then cover it with varnish. I'll do it. Calendars are all good. But best of all is Gatsuka 135, who was the first to invent calendars of this type. They have everything - no matter what you need help with; and this is the first advantage of calendars. God has opened the way for you to work on those who are sick in soul and body. The most necessary and precious matter, in the correction of which human wisdom alone is not enough, even if you have seven spans in your forehead... God alone is the real Teacher here. The Savior said regarding all Christian life that for this we must have only one Teacher, Christ... but in the work of your work this primarily takes place. May the Lord not leave you with His admonition and help! 945. Social frenzy. About the different names of saints I apologize for not answering soon. Didn't have a chance to do this before. In your last letter, you more precisely defined what your urge to have fun is. And I have nothing to say against it if you can stay within the limits in which you want to keep yourself. But will you keep yourself in them? Remember the popular saying: “Beware of the first glass.” Where did it come from? From experience - that, having drunk one glass, it is difficult to resist another... and then it got spilled. Such is the power of sensual pleasures over our weak hearts! The whirlpool and seething of secular entertainment is of the same nature. You say: I don’t want to go to all the trouble. Now it's easy for you to say; but what will it show later? Imagine that you see a room where there is hidden intoxication, and you are eager to stay in it and reconsider what is there. They tell you: don’t go, it’s crazy there. And you answer: I don’t want to get burned. Will the frenzy spare you, because you say that you don’t want to get burned... Secular entertainment is a frenzy. And before you know it, you’re going to die... Your mother is afraid that you will die. And I think so too. I’m telling you this so that you keep your ears sharp, even from now on... And from now on, commit yourself to strictly adhere to your mother’s guidance in this regard. Are you asking what the different names of saints mean? These are names that are assigned to them according to their condition, rank and feat on earth, and not according to the degree of bliss assigned to them in heaven. Everything there is determined by the inner perfection of the heart. Some of these names you yourself identified as good. A saint is a bishop who has pleased God and been glorified. Sometimes living bishops who have earned respect are also called this way. A martyr is any Christian who suffered for the faith and was tortured to death. Martyred bishops and priests are called holy martyrs; monks and nuns - venerable martyrs and venerable martyrs. Someone who suffered for the faith, but was not tortured to death, is called a confessor. Martyrs who suffered excessively, with the manifestation of the special protection of God over them, are the essence of great martyrs and great martyrs. Venerable - saints of monks and nuns. Unmercenaries are Christian doctors who heal for free while preaching the faith. For Christ's sake, holy fools - who took on the appearance of being foolish and patiently endured everything they received for their senselessness. Archangel - Michael the Archangel, the first Angel after the fall of Satan... Ethereal powers are all Angels, but saints are not called that: for they have the ability to perceive flesh, but Angels do not. 946. About the apostolic tradition God bless the good beginning! In the text from the Apocalypse... do not add or subtract... the words: in this book, you seem to mean in the New Testament... but this is not so. In this book, that is, in the Apocalypse. In general, it is appropriate to add or subtract prohibitions only to Divine Revelation, to the Word of God. What God has revealed and what He has commanded, nothing should be added to it or taken away from it. (This applies to Catholics and Protestants. They add everything, but these subtract.) But the Word of God is not all contained in written books. The New Testament books themselves confirm this. Consequently, this passage cannot be attributed to all the books of the New Testament and in general, that is, if we generalize the word: at the bottom. The word tradition does not mean vague rumor, not knowing how it began and spread, but means apostolic teaching, taught orally, or rules and regulations introduced into the Church by deed. The Apostles completely organized the Church of Christ on all aspects of spiritual and ecclesiastical saving life. But how they organized this is not completely stated in their writings, but was actually done and introduced into Christian life personally by the apostles, introduced and rooted through repeated visits to the Christian societies they founded and repeated corrections of what was faulty - all with their personal actions and words. And the image of Christian conduct, and the rules of life, and the mutual relations of Christians, and the sanctifying mystical sacred rites, and the rules for church meetings... everything was personally established by word and secured by personal observation... And Christians went to think like that, to live like that, to act like that in mutual relationships, to be governed like that, to be sanctified like that, to serve God like that, as the apostles instituted... Those who converted again took over from them and settled down in their image. The newly emerging generation was all formed according to the structure of Christian society that the apostles left... And then from generation to generation... and it came to us. This entire improvement of Christian society in all parts is the apostolic tradition, following which is the urgent duty of every Christian who wants to be in the truth. Always add apostolic to the word tradition. The written word of the apostles came after. Churches were already organized everywhere, but there was not yet a single line of apostolic writings. The first writing of St. Paul was in 54-5, 20 years after the Ascension. And the Gospel appeared many years after the Ascension. Nevertheless, the apostolic writings and the Gospel were collected into one book already at the end of the first century... probably under the leadership of St. John the Evangelist. And the apostolic writings appeared not to present Christian teaching, but to eliminate misunderstandings and disorders that arose in private Christian communities. And, therefore, they contain only private objects, and not everything Christian in general. They were already writing to real Christians, fully educated in a Christian way... And although they touched on Christian principles, they did so only as much as was required by the subject they were talking about. In the writings of the apostles, everything Christian is visible, but nothing is fully and systematically revealed. There are indications and hints for everything, but there is no complete presentation, except for those items regarding which confusion arose. That’s why it’s all heresy. Something is written incompletely. The wise will begin to replenish in their own way and make a mistake. The Orthodox gather... and denounce them. How? common beliefs. Having gathered, they inquire: how are you? and how is it with you?.. they answer: it’s like that with us... and it’s like that with us... and everything is like that. This is how we accepted and this is how it has been with us since ancient times... This is the main beginning of Orthodoxy: this is how it has always been, this is how it has been since ancient times... from the apostles... So this is what legend is! 954. Higher women's courses Why do you need to move to St. Petersburg? Why not listen to higher courses for beauties!!! This is one of the stupidities of our time. If yes; then have you decided why you need these courses? These courses make beauties, as they say, neither fish nor fowl... neither man nor woman... you don’t know what; the thing is no good... ugly. If you want to remain in your rank, stay away from these courses. You already know a lot... And that’s enough. If there is a need to know more about any subjects... you can fill in what is missing yourself through reading. If there are unclear aspects, then you can invite a scientist and take a few lessons from him, precisely in order to clarify what remains unclear. The benefits are: you will study what you want... and, therefore, work freely, without exhausting yourself, which is impossible to avoid in courses... you will not fill your head with all sorts of nonsense and keep your convictions pure and firm... This last is the most precious... equal to this is that you will remain a beauty... with appropriate femininity... which the courses will push out of you without any pity, and you can still continue to study at home... in your warm nest... Talk to your mother about this and decide... I would very much like you to agree to my plan. Even if you, having set out to succeed without any courses through personal labor, will not have time to do this... the trouble is not great. 955. Instruction to a student. On maintaining zeal for prayer. Memorizing psalms. About repentance, observing the fruits of communion, cooling and remembrance of God. Explanation of the seven spirits and seven angels of the Churches. The Savior as the beginning of creation. What happens to the dead I am very glad that you will not be a student. Now take care to use your free time not without benefit - not for ruin, but for creation. You avoid trouble; and your brother inevitably falls into it: at universities it’s even worse than for female students. But the fact that he will be among you will greatly paralyze the harmful influence of university teachings and the camaraderie there. May the Lord preserve him. Let us prepare ahead of time to distinguish theories from genuine facts. Theories are a personal matter for students; facts are common property. A true theory can only be one that agrees with Christian truths. You are afraid of the noise of S.P.B. But this noise is noisy only for those who enter into it. Others live there more peacefully than anywhere else. You'll see for yourself. Everything that you have written about the progress of your prayer work, fasting and so on, thank God, is good... I will note one thing: see that the work of prayer does not come to naught. The way you pray now... is a direct matter of will. His soul is a zealous desire. This zeal should always warm one up before prayer; otherwise there will be no prayer. And you admit: sometimes I pray lazily, without desire. This does not suit the nature of your prayer. Try not to allow this to happen. The matter is in your hands. Otherwise, this is what can happen... now there is reluctance, tomorrow there is reluctance... and then the prayer will be completely over. Beware of this... and force yourself to willingly pray. You have memorized the sixth psalm... and you add, you especially like the last two... This gives me the idea to suggest to you: as soon as you come across a psalm you like, memorize it... Then use them... either while standing in prayer to God in the morning and in the evening and in the form of kindling the prayerful spirit, - or between tasks... when you walk, or fall asleep, or wake up... fill any idle time with this reading. Look - the second psalm of the third hour - and the 3rd of the sixth... They are similar to: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains... For confession, writing down sins is a good rule. Get used to this: every time an unkind thought, feeling, desire, word, deed breaks through... immediately repent to the Lord, who is omnipresent and all-seeing, with contrition and a decision to be more careful in the future. To do this, you need to pay attention to yourself... that is, watch what is happening in your soul... And everything will go well. After this in the evening it will not be difficult to sum up how many mistakes were made during the day. – You regret that the good mood acquired by fasting, confession and communion soon weakens. This is worthy of regret, and all the more worthy because it is in our power to avoid it... There is no need to surrender oneself to the victim of external impressions: they take attention away from the heart and make it wander to the side, far from oneself. You should not allow yourself to eat mental and physical sweets. We have two tastes: one is spiritual, the other is mental and physical. They chase each other away. When there is a taste of the spiritual, everything else is grass; and when you have to taste the soul-body, then the taste for the spiritual diminishes. From this you see for yourself what should be done in order to preserve the enjoyment of spiritual blessings. – What should you do to avoid getting cold? - What was said before. As soon as you notice cooling, tug at your soul until you warm it up. The Lord is near, call and he will help. Add to this the thought of God... that is, the contemplation of the sacraments of St. our faith. Each of them will pour out a lot of light and warmth... and you will warm up. Just don’t leave the coldness in your soul, but keep fiddling with it until you warm it up. You can punish yourself with something, force yourself to fast a little... sit in solitude a little, not get enough sleep... bow more... All in all, more awareness of your poverty... and a tearful resort to God's help. – God Himself instills the memory of God into the soul. But for this, the soul must sweat and work for itself. Work hard, forcing yourself to constantly remember God. And God, seeing how earnestly you desire this, will give you a memory of Himself. Short prayers are very useful in our own work on remembering God. Prayers... whatever you want. Lord have mercy! - Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me! - Jesus Son of God, have mercy on me! etc... Anything goes. Whichever one you like best, use it. Your questions: – What are the seven spirits? – Seven supreme Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, etc. St. Gabriel to St. Zechariah said: I am one of those who stand before God (Luke 1:19). What are the angels of the 7 Churches? Bishops, representatives of those Churches. This is evident from the speeches St. addresses them. John. The lamps in this vision mean the Churches... Why is the Savior called the beginning of creation? Named like this - and as the Creator: for everything was by Him; and especially as the Re-Creator of the fallen human race. In terms of humanity, He is our new ancestor... He revealed in Himself a restored man. All people are then restored to His example and by His power. He is the head and the beginning. – What happens to the dead? – The body returns to the earth, and the soul receives from the Lord a special place according to its structure, where it remains until the end of the century, in joyful hope or in terrible despair. That is a country closed to us. What is there is not precisely defined in detail... One thing is definitely defined... that the state there is quite consistent with how a person will configure himself here on earth. How to set it up is widely explained in the Gospels and Epistles. This is now the main thing for us. Since the goal is not on earth, but in another way of being, it is reasonable to pay all attention to being well prepared for it. Let's not prepare... everything is lost. Don’t torture yourself by wondering what is there and where we will be. And when such questions arise in your mind, say to yourself: it will be good for the good, and bad for the bad; Accordingly, the place there will be light for some, but not light for others. You and I will take care of becoming good, and that’s all. We’ll see what will happen there when we move there. God's blessing to your mother and brothers. Save yourself! Your good friend Bp. Feofan 957. About dancing. About a short prayer and unceasing prayer. To the reader of "The Invisible Warfare". The importance of self-activity in the matter of salvation I also received your October letter and kept meaning to write... It’s good that you wrote again. I am writing to you with pleasure, but now I have several things to do... Your description of the order of your life is pleasant to read... The best cure for our infirmities is not to have idle time. We were dancing... The sky didn't fall on you?! Therefore, this is tolerable in some sense... But what you added to this regarding the rights of youth, I don’t know whether it can stand firmly. Can youth say to death: don’t come near! And she can come during the dances... and decide everything... for she decides everything... The soul will appear from the dances to the next world. Who is there, they ask? Dancer! Well, throw it over there. You measure youth by youth... You can’t do that. We must measure everything by the ultimate goal. Why do we live? To prepare for eternal life... How can you fit dancing into this?!. and much more. It's good to be in society. Here is the science of self-knowledge... But still, a choice must be made. The society you visit is good, as you write... And thank God. If you don’t know how to cope with a short prayer, that’s okay. It will come with time. Your frequent appeals to God during the day, during every task and after work are a very good thing. This is part of the general rule - to walk with God. Short prayers also have a purpose... In them, the sacred word expresses what you express with yours. Another highest purpose of a short prayer is to deepen thoughts and feelings towards God. What you have - these appeals - falls apart at the first impression; in addition, despite the appeals... thoughts crowd in the head... like mosquitoes... To stop this crush, you need to bind the mind with one thought, or the thought of the One... An aid to this is a short prayer. With its help, the mind is simplified, united and instills or develops a feeling for God... When this feeling comes, the soul will be confirmed in consciousness in God... and will begin to do everything in God's way. With a short prayer one must keep the thought of God and attention to Him... And limit oneself to just words... ringing brass. – A diary is a good thing... But one side of you is good. You should be more aware of your weaknesses... Otherwise you will come out in a fanfare. - “I don’t know how to pray for a long time.” - But what about the apostle’s commandment: pray unceasingly?! The memory of God with the fear of God, love for God with hope and devotion to the will of God constitute the inner religious life... Whoever has it in motion... is always with God... And he is not bored in praying for a long, long time. You have the germ of this in the way you turn to God for help in every case and then give thanks. Develop this... wider and wider. Your bewilderment about the thoughts of “The Invisible Warfare” depends on the fact that you look at the lessons there from the wrong point of view... In “The Invisible Warfare” we mean a person who is struggling with passions and straining to expel all that is bad from himself and strengthen all that is good... When he is established in goodness and becomes strong, then many of the rules will either take on a different form or be put aside. During the period of struggle, the law: ... everything that can set in motion the evil hidden in us, whether small or great, must be removed from attention and, even more so, from feeling ... the same must be done with that which weakens actions that contribute to the strengthening of good. Look through your notes with this thought, and you will see for yourself in what ways they are untenable... What is written in this book is not for monks alone, but applies to everyone who wants to cleanse their hearts. What is meant is not the external position, but the soul. You noticed something about self-activity... Everything good is created in us by the interaction of freedom and grace... In general it is expressed this way: start working on something and work... God will see that you sincerely desire what you are looking for and will give it... If you want to acquire prayer... work in prayer... and the Lord will give prayer... If you want to get rid of anger, work on it... and God, seeing your zeal, will give it to you lack of anger... Man by himself will not create anything good in himself if grace does not come; and grace does not give anything to a person if the person himself does not work... Memorize this point. I won’t write anymore now. I am sending you books about renouncing the world. 974. Succession of the apostolic tradition and fidelity to it of the Orthodox Church. The Decomposition of Protestantism I especially enjoy your frank presentation of your perplexities. It is with pleasure that I undertake to say a word or two to you. You write: “It is not clear to me in the letter who these Orthodox Christians were who gathered among themselves and established the order of belief? What authority did they have? Who were they? I wrote only about the apostles as the establishers of the orders of faith, life, government, sacraments and everything that is in the Church. The Apostles completely organized the Church in all parts of the church's saving life. And all this was introduced by them into the life of Christians, and how life and work were passed on from generation to generation. Pastors and teachers after the apostles are only guardians of the apostolic traditions and institutions. Each apostle had several closest disciples, who were inseparable from them and who internalized the apostolic wisdom in all parts. These closest disciples were their successors in the administration of the Churches and in the supervision of everything devoted to the apostles. In the Churches of Palestine, in Antioch, in Tarsus, in Ephesus, Smyrna, in Colossae, in Philippi, in Thessaloniki, in Corinth, in Athens, in Alexandria, in Rome and in all other places where the apostles were, their closest disciples remained as shepherds after them. It would not occur to anyone to think that any of these disciples would allow themselves to deviate from the apostolic decrees. They actually turned out to be faithful to them. The apostolic men, following the example and commandment of the apostles, while ruling the Church, at the same time raised with them such men who could take their place after them and continue to observe the apostolic teachings and orders. These secondary successors in turn raised the tertiary ones, and so on. Everything apostolic, thus, passed from generation to generation in life and deed. The apostles introduced everything that they betrayed into life - mental, moral, family, and into all types of life. Life from life caught fire... and the life initiated by the apostles vomited... Here's a sample for you. St. Polycarp of Smyrna was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist, St. Irenaeus is a student of Polycarp. St. Polycarp died as a martyr around the 60s of the second century. St. Irenaeus lived until the beginning of the third century. This is not the only example, of course. And we can assume that the secondary successors carried the apostolic tradition intact until the 3rd century... And the tertiary ones - until half and the end of it. In this way, the apostolic tradition would have been preserved if none of these successors had written. But the writers soon began, and when they wrote, they mostly wrote as they had been devoted to. That is why, reading the writings of St. Fathers of the 2nd century, we see apostolic words and figures of speech, apostolic for all views, but there are almost no quotations. Why? Because they were all guardians of tradition... And they thought and wrote how the apostles betrayed each Church. The apostolic writings were collected into a book at the end of the 1st century, under St. John the Theologian. And lists of them spread by the end of the second century. In both these centuries, Christians fed primarily on traditions. You understand tradition as a transmission from mouth to mouth... And it was a transmission from life to life, from case to case. I’ll give you a simple example - how the same image of weaving bast shoes, baking bread has been preserved for so many centuries... Children take over from their fathers and mothers and pass them on to their children. Christianity is not a doctrine, but a life. And his teaching itself enters life as a certain image, a view of everything that exists and happens. There are schools in which an influential mentor conveys his teachings in an impressionable way... And then this teaching sits in the school and lasts for centuries... Moreover, this is appropriate in Christianity. Then all the Christian orders, both religious, and life, and sanctification... entered the scriptures of the fathers... and became entrenched. We honor the patristic writings because the apostolic tradition is observed in them, which is recognized in the general agreement of all of them. Thus, the third century, through tertiary successors, could pass on the apostolic tradition to the 4th century... In the 4th century, we see completely everything that we now have in the writings of the Fathers, although all of it is in parts in both the 3rd and 2nd centuries. Allow me now to have a general guidance: the Greek Church faithfully observed the apostolic tradition and passed it on to us. This apostolic heritage is with us. Catholics have muddied the apostolic tradition. Protestants set out to correct the matter - and made it even worse... Catholics have one pope, and Protestants have no matter the Protestant, then the pope. I mentioned this in passing. The Lord is with them... What do we care about them? And last time and now... - I keep talking about the Apostolic Tradition, which St. The Orthodox Church has its source of teaching along with Holy Scripture. Now I think this will be clearer for you.... What interpretations do you mean when you say: “Why do these interpretations of the Orthodox have more authority than the interpretations of Protestants?” My interpretations? My interpretations are a summary of the interpretations of St. Fathers... Their interpretations are authoritative because they are the most faithful guardians of the apostolic tradition... Our most ancient interpreters are St. Chrysostom, blessed Theodorite is the essence of the pets of the 4th century. The fourth century is the successor of the tertiary successors of the apostolic tradition. That's their importance! Protestants have Orthodox Christians, but they are still Protestants. What are these!? These are those who adhere to the wisdom of the first Protestants. Today's Protestants have moved far away from the first - and there are now almost no pure Protestants, that is, those who completely agree with the ancients. They have so many sects that you can’t count them. And everyone is called Protestants. They were already starting to talk about how to unite everyone. It didn't work out. Only a new sect of unionists was formed. So these are the Protestants who try to stick to the ancient Protestants; they are Orthodox, but they are still Protestants. After what I have told you about tradition, it will not be difficult for you to understand how the apostolic tradition could not change. What was handed down by the apostles constitutes Christian life and, as such, passed from generation to generation invariably, at the same time entering into the writings of the Fathers from the very first century. The apostolic writings themselves are the custodians of the apostolic tradition, although not in its entirety... Afterwards, the apostolic writers included in their writings everything else that the apostles did not include in their writings. Both are now observed in the Orthodox Church. 984. About money lent, etc. I share your joy about the return of God’s grace. May she always remain with you from here on. March 12 was chosen for the burial. Good! Bless, Lord! I will also pray that there will be apprehension within. About the money that was given as loans... and about claiming benefits - in 10 years the next thing and about other things you talk about well. The main thing in money matters is not to rely on them with hope, and then not to attach your heart to them, and finally to use them not only for yourself, but to share them with those in need - for the glory of God. So you do, and don't back down... We can only have no covetousness in our hearts. About money lent... Although your benefactors will not agree to offend you, circumstances may intertwine that they will not be able to fulfill their obligations... Therefore, prepare in advance not only for interest, but also for your entire capital - to lose it, without groaning, without wincing or gnashing your teeth at the borrowers and their intermediary. Your riddles about settling here or there... are premature. The skhemnitsa shouldn’t even think about it. If the Lord wants to move it from its present place, then it will be arranged without your worries about it. Francis de Sales - you can put it aside. He won't leave. Maybe I'll get to it myself. Now I’m translating a similar book. But she will take it, maybe the whole year... if the eye lasts. A rumor has reached me that St. Seraphim is asking for leave to retire to your monastery. This will be very beneficial for you. He has a lot of fortitude... and can influence without speaking, but not directly... But, generally speaking, I regret it, if true... However, tell me, have you heard anything about this there? Due to reluctance... I doubt that this is the case. In Feb. letter - dated 12th 988. Evading visitors on Above. Book of Abba Dorotheus. Instructions on the course of spiritual life. About St. Seraphim Three of your letters are among my unanswered letters. I undertake to answer at least something. The last letter informs about the journey of Fr. Alexander... so solemn that all gates should open before him... and even more so the doors, not even excluding Vyshinskaya. I wish him a safe journey to his homeland and back. And I would like to warn him not to count on the mobility of the Vyshinsky doors. If this letter of mine reaches you before Fr. Alexandra, take the trouble to tell him to stay away from Vysha: for she does not sympathize with any solemn processions... As for the book of Abba Dorotheus 136, I have it. Therefore, let them not bother to deliver it to me... If Fr. Alexander is taking her, then take her for yourself... The book is edifying. Translating it into spoken Russian would be useful. His Eminence Ignatius 137 also thought and undertook to translate, but gave up. And I took it and quit. I gave it to one abbot: and he took it and threw it away. No luck for the book!!! These failures, however, are easily explained by laziness, as I judge from myself... It remains to be wished that someone who is not lazy will finally take up the task. If you belong to this category, undertake to shift... and, moreover, in such a way as not to abandon it. God bless! Have me as a renunciant. You are now in Zadonsk... in the old nest, and, judging by your words, in the old order, and not only in order, but also in spirit. Good! God bless you and may you remain in such a dispensation forever! You seem to expect more and more new things. There will be nothing new; everything is the same, only better and stronger. The main thing is to establish yourself in your heart before the face of God and stand there relentlessly. When this is there, then everything else will come by itself. In a series of spiritual changes in the heart, the best thing is the inward pull... to be with the Lord. Then everything external departs: God remains in the soul and the soul in God. And this is a real monk and schema monk... You write: there is both, and there is another... and there is a third. But don’t forget that they sometimes say this from memory: it was. But what happened is sometimes legitimately added to: it floated... It was, but it floated... Lord, deliver you from this. I remind you of this so that you can pay attention to it. I did not believe about the resignation of the department by the Right Reverend Seraphim, not only when I heard about it, but also when I read in the press. I was sick! I believe that this disease does not lead to death. This is my earnest desire. But God's will be done. My health is good. The eye is still looking... 989. Explanation of spiritual progress. About food. About the Athonite elders. Instructions on translating the book of Fr. de Sales and the “Invisible Warfare” Your lord has departed! God will send another - similar. In Voronezh, all the good rulers were. Who? There's no point in guessing who. Whoever comes is yours. You ask what it means - in the same way. I don’t remember why I said it, and I can’t remember what the thought was. If this is about progress in spiritual life, it means that life will still be the same, only in the best possible way, if you behave as you should: just as our body and that of a baby are the same in structure, like that of a perfect husband. What you attributed after this is good: mortal memory and the fear of God... two luminaries of spiritual life. About food. Accept everything offered to you without hesitation. If sometimes you refrain from something, it will not be bad. Eat what they give you and thank God. And eat the jam without disdain. And wafers... but I don't need them. The letter from Athos is very kind. Spiritual wisdom is not stopped there. O. arch. Macarius is the son of a rich man - a merchant from Moscow or St. Petersburg... I went to pray to God, was in Jerusalem when I lived there, was in Sinai, went to Mount Athos and became very seriously ill. He wanted to die tonsured. They cut his hair... and he recovered. He is very wise. There was also a confessor, Fr. Jerome. Recently died. The old man is deep. He is even wiser... Andrey, who signed your letter, is probably the new confessor. There the abbot and confessor conduct all monastic and monastic affairs. Help them, Lord, mother-in-law in the spirit of the ancient fathers. Finally, Francis de Sales 138... How to start? Extract from his life story as briefly as possible - in 10 lines. Well, one page - printed... having said the most necessary things... Then - the denouement... and so on... There is no need - strictly adhere to the letter. So translate as if the speech was coming from you, from your heart... smoothly, clearly, smoothly, warmly. In some way - you can add something, sometimes shorten it, sometimes change it... In order to have edification in mind and applicability to life... “Invisible abuse” - almost all of it is translated word for word. There are chapters that have been redone. About prayer all over again... So you are allowed... and we will write: free arrangement - such and such. Then God bless you! “The Invisible Warfare” ... will end in publication this month, in the June book. And the book that I promised... stopped at a treatise on prayer. We need to redo it, but laziness. 1007. Returning from a trip. The saint's care for his relatives. About the “Path to Salvation” and works to expose Molokanism I believe that you are now at home, returned to your cell... and even looked around. Now sit down and calculate the profits and losses, then weigh both and determine which is greater. I think that when you entered your hut, you longed for rest and peace. On a foreign side, no matter how careful you are, you cannot help but pick up something alien. But it is like an intolerable burden, and this burden irritates the energy to throw it off as quickly as possible and remain with one of our own. This is the secret of inner peace. You had a good time in Yelets. I am happy to hear about Yelets. And I am grateful to Mother Abbess that she treated you graciously and showed some indulgence to your wants and dislikes. And – Anna Chudovaya – is she alive? I haven't heard anything about her for a long time. You didn’t tell me anything about my relatives. That's right, and they didn't learn anything. I am especially interested in two beauties: one is a teacher in the second preparatory class, and the other is still studying, I think in the fifth grade... Both of them are young and green. May the Lord make them wise and preserve them. Your Dunyasha was clever. By God, and more than that. Here's a post soon. May humility in the flesh lead us to humility in spirit, and may this become a deep pool to accept flows of grace from all sides... My health is normal. The eye is still working. I am sending you the books: “The Invisible Warfare” - 2, “The Wanderer” - 3, of which one is 1st edition and “The Path to Salvation” - 1. I don’t remember if I sent you this book... But it is there - a complete program of everything... These are my academic lessons! I taught only one course... 45–47 years. If it had not been for one, the matter would have become clearer, and perhaps would have been presented in greater detail. Now I’m translating a little, as you know, St. Maximus the Confessor. A bit difficult! I spend the other part of my time collecting information about Molokanism and Molokans. These are our ultra-Protestants... The guard from the peasants of the Shatsk Cathedral sent me a pile of his conversations with the Molokans who live in Shatsk, asking me to read and correct. The writing is not bad, but it needs to be better. So I’m collecting it to give it to him to read and expand my knowledge about this sectarianism. 1012. Don’t neglect treatment You're all sick... I'm very sorry. May the Lord help you either to get healthy or to be in good spirits when you are sick. Let it be done, not as we want... but as He will. Your resistance to the doctor's instructions is hardly worthy of praise... God created both the doctor and the medicine - not so that they only existed, but so that the sick could use them. Everything is from Him; He allows us to get sick, and He has surrounded us with healing methods. If there is a duty to guard God’s gift of life, then to be treated when there is an illness. You may not undergo treatment in the expectation that God will heal, but this is very courageous. You don’t have to undergo treatment to exercise patience and devotion to the will of God, but this is very high, and at the same time everyone - oh! - it will be a blame, but only grateful joy is appropriate... May the Lord guide you in the best way to be in the mood! Besides, you have something to endure?! You are envious - you want to take everything away... That you moved in with your neighbor is very approving. Eggs for improving blood... There are also iron powders or pills... If this is among the doctor's instructions, use them. You can also drink broth as a medicine: this is not a pleasure for the flesh, but a need and a piece of duty, which consists in the duty to be treated. Internally, if you are always with the Lord, with reverence and warmth, then there is no need to think about ordinary prayer procedures. Everything is here. The Lord says: give me your heart. When it is given, what else is there to give?! When you cannot receive communion in action, receive communion in spirit... which can happen every moment. I’m very glad that Dunya shows herself to be smart. May God grant it to be established in this order. Surprise ! Will wait. Why do you find out that he is yours?! Then I’ll ask: is this this one? There you have Anna Fed. U... Poor thing! Her enemy is troubling her... and I don’t have the intelligence to pacify her... Talk to her more cordially - I’ll be more open if she’s confused... She keeps thinking that for salvation you need a lot... but you need only one thing. 1035. About bad debt, health, books, etc. subjects How long have you not written?!! One of your unanswered letters is dated December 19, and the other is dated January 5. The guilt is great, but not unpardonable. In the morning I was busy translating... And in the evening I was so overcome by laziness that I did not have the strength to overcome it... It seemed to be based on hemorrhoidal attacks, from which my head was heavy and heavy! It's been two days already. And I couldn’t do anything serious. I read the years 12, 13 and 14 - the war with France... I’ve already read them several times... and I don’t refuse to read them again... What a bright personality is our Sovereign?!! In your first letter you describe your course of action against Dunya... Help you, Lord! Somewhere in Scripture, the Lord Himself greatly praises those who bring good out of unworthy things... This praise will not be taken away from you either... Of course I’ll send you the Philokalia... Why did you doubt this? It is not me who publishes, but I persuade myself to have enough copies to distribute to others... The third volume has been printed with 25 sheets... But it seems more than 30 - and this volume will not be published. Those two are too heavy. I will suggest that the publishers make three volumes out of two if a new edition is needed. You order “Pilgrim”... “Soulful Reading” is better and cheaper. “Sunday”... Meshchersky struggles. God save him. He was the first of the secular ones to raise his voice about church affairs... In the second letter you see something rough there. But it is comforting to see that you rise above all this with calm devotion to the will of God. Your description that, perhaps, cases will open up that will undermine trust, and this undermining will upset... if not everything, then a lot - both inside and outside... May the Lord protect you from this... These fears arose in me when you mentioned your debt... You mentioned that he doesn’t even think about your debt. Doesn't he think that you donated that amount to the monastery?! You need to talk to him and persuade him to tell you frankly how he thinks to clear his debt, so that you know that and act accordingly, reminding you that it’s hard for you without them... Well, what to do... It’s clear that you’ve been caught... May the Lord make you wise... and may He give you the strength to withstand yourself, to rise above this sorrowful occasion. Your fight is before St. communion probably took place on this occasion... I am very sorry that this is so. May God help you to always be a winner after this. How kind is this countess?! May God give her thoughts to continue helping you. However, the world is not without good people. However, we must all prepare for everything... A good answer at the trial is no different, for there will be no questions about what has been done... but what has not been done or has been done contrary to what should have been... here is the whole answer... And this cannot be covered with anything other than repentance here... And all preparation for this and prayer for this should consist in, as you say... being filled with a feeling of forgiveness, so that even here the soul hears: your sins are forgiven!.. I'm healthy. The eye still works, but its horizons are also shrinking... I translate - Callista and Ignatius... This is a complete science... I will propose to print it and release it in special prints. 1039. Imaginary reproach. How to get into a good mood in the morning. Treatment with skim milk I'm sorry I wrote something embarrassing. I repent and ask for forgiveness. My only thought was to remind you. It never occurred to me that you would allow yourself to be excessive in your maintenance. I meant spending on others, where a measure is appropriate that is not contrary to the spirit of love and pleasing God (2 Cor. 8:12-13). The enemy stirred up trouble as usual; but you overcame the turmoil and emerged victorious over the enemy. I am very consoled by this. I pray to the Lord that He will always allow you to see the enemy’s approaches and smash them to dust. May God grant you to rest in Yelets and return home renewed and strengthened. I think you have already returned; or you will be at home when you receive this letter. I haven’t sent books to M. Cleopatra yet, but I will. That in the matter of reading you reread the previous one, it’s all the same. And the new will not contain anything else, but the same as in the previous Scriptures. Meanwhile, the repetition of the same thing falls deeper on the soul or more easily raises holy thoughts. I’ll send letters to different people. Always be with the Lord, and with the consciousness of His eye directed towards you - and be inspired by what is due, and drive away what is not due. At the first moment after waking up from sleep, hurry to realize that God from above looks down on the sons of men to see, even if there is understanding and seeking Him. Then turn to yourself, are you such that the Lord will gladly fix His gaze on you for a long time? To this, further attach another thought, have you fallen into the rut of Divine Providence, and is the chariot of your life rolling along it: for everything is in the will of God and everything is governed by it, and that is only lasting that it is governed by it. We have many of our own ways, which seem, but are not, the ways of the will of God. I wrote to my nephew, a law teacher at a gymnasium in Tambov, about what was in my heart - and my nephew has a brother-in-law who is a doctor. Having heard this, he gave advice - to drink milk for six weeks: only milk, and skimmed milk at that - no water, no tea, no bread, just as much fresh air as you wanted; start with two glasses a day and work your way up to 16... I've done this before and it was good. Now I do the same. But I have nothing serious... it will be a simple replenishment of blood... Bless you, Lord, with every blessing! 1047. Condolences for losses. News of the elevation of the saint to the degree of doctor. About family and health Together with you, I mourn the loss of yours, both of your patron and trustee, and especially of the impoverishment of your means through this. I mourn the latter all the more because at the present time I cannot even help you even a little. Be patient, I’ll do it later. This year he himself is in debt, having foolishly taken an inappropriate step in terms of money. Everything will be fixed within a year. And then I will have the opportunity to fulfill your need. I began to commemorate the Servant of God Plato from the receipt of the letter, and I will celebrate it with magpies to him. God save him and have mercy on him for his kindness! Yesterday I received a telegram... The priest, the husband of my niece, died... I don’t know if he left anything; but it is more likely that we will have to send help there little by little. God help them! For several days now I have been feeling general weakness, noise in my head, and a runny nose. I'm guessing it's a little flu. Maybe it will pass. If you don’t tell anyone, then I’ll tell you the news - that St. The Synod elevated me to the degree of Doctor of Theology. There is no decree or diploma yet, but the matter is decided. Wrote by Rev. Leonty. I’m very happy about this, even if it makes me crazy. However, until the time comes, you won’t even know about this... I wish you all the best. God bless you! 1048. Advice on everyday matters and consolation. About doctorate and your cards Congratulations on fasting and, of course, fasting and St. communion. I deeply mourn your cramped conditions, but I can’t help you in any way. After, perhaps, and now I myself am in a vice. Do you want to bother? I think this is in order. God bless you! Far from the Empress. You need to ask her servants in advance. The manager probably didn't make any inquiries. Therefore, it occurred to me whether it would be better to write to him directly and tell him to look at the matter and that this is determined for you for the rest of your life. And at the end, note that you are left without funds. Maybe this will improve matters. Or wait what that gentleman from the employees of this manager to whom you wrote will tell you. In the answer, he may, and the management will indicate to you, if necessary. I wish with all my desire that the Lord will arrange this matter, which is so necessary for you. It is better not to guess about the reasons for such a determination from God about you, for God’s thoughts are always as distant from our thoughts as heaven is from earth, and we cannot guess them. The only thing that is certain is that God judged this way, and for the good of you and everyone who comes into contact with this, not excluding the Empress. As for your disobedience, it couldn’t even have an impact on your hair. It's sad that you can't help. But God has many hands through which he can act. You need to find consolation in the apostolic word, which determined - to give from what is, and not from what is not, to give when you have, and not to give when you do not. My doctorate took a long time. But I didn’t know anything about that. Therefore, he showed neither permission nor inconsistency. In mid-January I received a letter from one St. Petersburg. archpriest that this matter has come to an end. Then St. Leonty wrote that he signed the synod protocol. And with the past mail I received the attitude of the academic council, and a diploma after. I am very glad to receive a doctorate, but before all the religious academies elected me to their honorary members... and it was like a side issue for me. The cards were made in Moscow from a hand-drawn portrait. It won’t be good to take pictures of me: there is no right pupil – a white spot – and the left one is grayish, like a light cloud. But the portrait is similar. 1050. “Philokalia” in Russian translation with additions to it 139. The concept of the Philokalia. Its origin and meaning for readers. The method of compiling the Russian “Philokalia” and its relationship to the Greek original By offering to lovers of spiritual reading the well-known “Philokalia” in the Russian translation with additions to it, we consider it our duty to say a few words about what the “Philokalia” is. It contains an interpretation of the hidden life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hidden in the Lord Jesus Christ, the truly Christian life begins, reveals itself and ascends to perfection in its own measure, according to the good will of God the Father, through the action of the grace of the Most Holy Spirit inherent in Christians, under the leadership of Christ the Lord Himself, who promised to be with us all our days inseparably. The grace of God calls everyone to such a life; and for everyone it is not only possible, but also obligatory, because it contains the essence of Christianity. Not all called and actual participants are partakers of it, not everyone partakes of it to the same extent. The chosen ones enter deeply into it and ascend highly in its degrees. Its manifestations, as well as the richness of the region in which it is revealed, are no less abundant and varied, like the phenomena of ordinary life. And if everything that happens there could be clearly understood and clearly depicted - enemy attacks and temptations, struggles and victories, falls and uprisings, the emergence and strengthening of various manifestations of spiritual life, the degree of general success and the characteristic state of mind and heart, the interaction in everything of freedom and grace, the feeling of the closeness and distance of God, the feeling of Providential omnipotence and the position of oneself - final and irrevocable - in the right hand of the Lord, with putting aside all one’s methods of action, with constant intense action - if all this, and much more, inseparable from true life in the Lord, could be clearly and intelligibly depicted, it would present a picture that is as attractive as it is instructive - a picture similar to a world journey. Travelers write travel notes about everything they encounter on their way that is worthy of attention. The chosen ones of God also wrote their notes, having traced all the paths of spiritual life in different directions, about everything that they encountered and experienced in this arduous journey, but the fate and meaning of both notes is not the same. Those who have no means of traveling can, without moving from their place, form quite approximate concepts and ideas about foreign countries by reading the travel notes of other travelers, because the forms of life of all creatures are more or less like one another, no matter in what countries they appear. This is not the case in relation to experiences of spiritual life. Only those who walk the path of this life can understand. For those who have not entered it, this is a completely unknown country. But even those who join it cannot suddenly understand everything. Their concepts and ideas become clearer as they march and deepen into the land of the spirit. As one’s own experiences of spiritual life increase, the indications of the experiences observed by St. become clear and understandable. Fathers in their writings. With all this, however, the depiction of various manifestations of spiritual life, given to us in the patristic writings, is not a vain gift for all Christians in general. It makes it clear to everyone that if he has not yet experienced what is mentioned in this description, it means that the way of life established for him, despite the fact that his Christian conscience is reconciled with it, is not complete perfection, better than which there is nothing to wish for and beyond which there is nowhere to go. By making this clear, it cannot help but irritate jealousy for success; it cannot help but move forward, pointing out something better than what he possesses. For those who have embarked on the path to the best and most perfect, it gives the necessary instructions in doubtful and perplexing cases, when there is no available experienced guidance or when this itself encounters intractability that does not allow giving final decisions that would eliminate any hesitation in the marcher. It is very important to know how and where to step in a certain case, so as not to make a mistake. And here some fatherly saying in a few words disperses the darkness, shining like a ray of lightning in the middle of the night. In general, this is a spiritual greenhouse, into which the believer, reading the instructions about the phenomena of spiritual life, enters with his consciousness and heart and, subject there to the tangible influences of excited contemplations, feels that he is hovering at this very moment in some other atmosphere, luminous and life-giving. These are joyful moments, and in continuation of them, various offspring are usually born and mature on the tree of spiritual life. And therefore, it is not surprising that the one who has experienced this, as soon as he finds a free moment, hurries to experimental descriptions of spiritual life, just as someone who loves profit hurries to places that promise profit, and someone who loves pleasure to places of pleasure... At the same time, he longs to breathe in the revitalizing and encouraging spiritual air. And yet this is not idle amateurism. No, this is a matter of essential necessity for the success and well-being of our spirit. That is why among true Christians there has always been and is a need to have patristic writings on spiritual life at hand. But as much as the feeling of such a need is commendable, it is equally obligatory to satisfy it on behalf of those who have the duty to do so and the strength to do so. She was always satisfied with both the editions of these writings in their entirety - for example, St. Macarius, Isaac and Ephraim the Syrian, Climacus and many others; so no less than the chosen ones from them. Among these selections is the well-known “Philokalia” as the best of them. It is clear now that there is a “Philokalia”. It gives us, as the title says, the words and chapters of sacred sobriety, that is, both complete discussions and brief sayings about the inner spiritual life with all its characteristic manifestations and activities. This is a book compiled to satisfy the spiritual needs of those who are zealous for spiritual success. Those who read it know what treasures of spiritual wisdom are hidden in it: they read it and enjoy it. But, enjoying and being edified by reading it, they do not hide their sorrowful regret that much in it remains incomprehensible not because of the height and depth of its content, but because of the outdatedness of the translation. Therefore, the need for a new translation of this book is obvious. This need has been recognized for a long time and was satisfied to a certain extent by the translations that were placed in the “Christian Reading” from the first years of its publication, and by the publications of individual articles included in the “Philokalia”, such as, for example, St. Maxima (about love, it is in the Greek “Kindness.”), Hesychius, Peter of Damascus. The compiler of this collection initially had in mind only to check what had already been translated, to further translate what was not translated, and to give readers the “Philokalia” in the Russian translation - complete, in the composition that it has in Greek. But then he came to the conviction that it is necessary for us to enlarge the “Philokalia” even against the volume that it has in Greek. Because although the Greek “Philokalia” is more complete than the Slavic one, it still does not contain everything that the saints gave us. Fathers as a guide to spiritual life and how we would like to provide both benefit and consolation to those who love such reading. Hence the proposed collection, also the Philokalia, only enlarged. Our new collection follows in the footsteps of the previous “Philokalia”. But noticing that the father whose article is placed in it has other articles, he turns to them, and if he finds them consistent with his character, he takes them into himself. Also, noticing that between the father and the father from whom the articles were borrowed, there were other fathers who left us writings about spiritual life, he enriches himself with them. So at St. Anthony in the previous “Philokalia” only his instructions in 170 chapters were taken; the new collection includes other writings of St. Antonia. St. Macarius is omitted there (from him the metaphrastic periphrases of the instructions in 150 chapters are introduced: our 7 words). Here are his instructions presented in some systematic order in his own speech. From Isaiah the hermit there are only 27 chapters - short sayings; here are all the known 29 chapters of it in a new translation from Latin. The same was done in relation to Evagrius and St. Mark the Ascetic. This will be the case in all subsequent elections of articles. This is the image of the compilation of the new “Philokalia”. It will follow in the footsteps of the former, replenishing it. We do not predict what exactly will be included in it, but we will collect book by book, keeping one thing in mind - not to deprive the lovers of this reading of anything that will be found useful in guiding them to life according to God. Regarding the method of introducing articles, we consider it our duty to state that not all writings will be included in full. Many things are much more convenient to present in extracts. This will be done sometimes in some systematic order, and sometimes without it in the form of separate sayings. But the very instructions of the fathers will always be offered in their own words. The first book of the Philokalia is offered to readers in its new composition. It includes: 1) the writings of St. Antonia; 2) extracts from the conversations of St. Macaria; 3) the words of Isaiah the hermit; 4) the writings of Evagrius the monk; 5) instructions of St. Stamp of the Ascetic. The articles appear in this order in the Greek Philokalia. In ours only St. is included. Macarius, and St. Cassian, standing there between Evagrius and St. Mark, postponed in the new one until the next book. Against St. Anthony, in time and significance, is worth St. Pachomius, from whom we have the communal rules. This charter was transferred to the north of the Eastern Church of St. Basil the Great. He is also depicted in the writings of St. Cassiana. Having placed in the second book the statutes of St. Pachomius and Basil the Great, we considered it legitimate to postpone the charter of St. Cassiana. By affinity, the statute of St. will also be attached to them. Venedicta. And this will end the composition of the second book. Letters to N.V. Elagin 140 1051. The needs of the Slavs and Arabs and the idea of ​​establishing a society to meet these needs I am very pleased with your letter. May the Lord reward you for your love and care for the Christians here. Lots of needs! I believe that there are many sympathizers in good Russia; but there is no voice that would speak to everyone and awaken dormant kindness. Let the speech go on for now at the head - St. Petersburg - from there it will move to the heart - Moscow and so on. This is preparation! We cannot do anything without communities. The government has many needs of its own. And here the world has a clue - a shirtless man. We need schools for boys and girls. Locally, Bulgarians have both: they need encouragement, assistance, patronage. Once you start it initially, they’ll see what’s good and start supporting it themselves. At present, it would be necessary to organize two institutions, which the zealous Bulgarians have already laid the foundation for. This is a boarding school in Constantinople and a silkworm school in Eski Zagra. Izvorsky takes care of the first, and K arranges the second. Both receive benefits from our government, but not enough for everything... If only these two institutions could be put on their feet! Then they will go on their own... As for the Arabs, both at the beginning and after, everything needs to be arranged and supported by the one who takes upon himself the work of caring for them with charity. Poor!.. There are almost no schools for boys, and for girls you can’t even hear of them... that is, Orthodox. Meanwhile, aliens plant these institutions everywhere and, deserving gratitude, carry them away. It would be nice to establish something good in Damascus... But where are the ways!.. And without them, what can I say... About everything that is and happens here 141, I am writing, according to accepted custom, to Konstantin Stepanovich, in the confidence that I am writing not for him alone, but for the whole of St. Synod. Hitherto it has already been sent by letter. Even though I want to take this opportunity to write to the Chief Prosecutor of the S. Synod, Count A.P., I find myself forced to refrain from doing so for the time being. An answer has already been sent to the questions asked. There is no way to satisfy the main desire - to find teachers. It's scarce in Constantinople. There is one who is both kind and smart and wants to go. It is given to know about him. I will use your advice to write to Prokhorov. I met him once. But one, two and three - what will they do? We need to start a community - a pool in favor of the Christians of the East... Mother Russia is broad and kind. Just explain... and for a kopeck - 60 million kopecks, and another ruble - and another ten... and capital. Then you can freely write plans. And now we are only interpreting: both are needed and the other is needed. What is the use of what we know and interpret? We need money. Neither St. will have them. Synod, nor the government... They have an abyss of needs... We need to build many schools and seminaries. Is it to the East? Work hard and convene the community. This alone is the remedy. Preach this to everyone at least. If we already had a community - and with a strong foundation... how would everything go successfully; and now we are like broke crayfish. Then, - is it necessary to start a school... if they found a person, gave him money - go to Damascus... and build... Take it formally... a private philanthropist acts, no one cares about him, and he doesn’t care about anyone. Only patronage... Ah! How good that would be! But until we have this, there is nothing to interpret. We can’t do anything and won’t succeed in anything... It’s a bitter situation! They are stealing Orthodox Christians from under our noses, and how are they stealing them?! With the right to steal... And we just look, and gasp, and will continue to gasp. I wish you all the best from the Lord! 1052. Greetings to those who have returned from a trip to Russian shrines. About the upcoming anniversary. A curious project about candle collection God help you! Save yourself! N-lay V-vich! You responded forcefully. We don’t even know what we came up with... Well, thank you God, that you have finally reached your corner safely. Rest now, enjoying the memories of the shrines you have seen. Do you see what kind of grace the saint has in Rus'?! How is it possible for her to die?! So the Lord reveals everything - little by little. And there is hope that everything will finally fall into place. God grant! What Novgorod!! Almost nothing is written about him. If anything opens up other than newspaper information, please share it with us. O Reverend Leontiy knows from him that he is with Vladyka in Novgorod. It is very strange that by 8 no order had been made anywhere - neither on the spiritual, nor on the secular side... We did nothing and there was no trace of it. The merchants prepared something for the people and soldiers... But it had no effect. Because there was nothing to embellish in the word. But nothing could be done in the church. Who knew... it was possible to assume that they would cancel it too. And there is no sympathy for this anniversary and especially for the bad monument... Anyway, we will expect details from you... The princess is well; – he coughs a little, but it’s not much... And Alyosha is healthy. Thank you for saying hello to him. Now he wants to become a monk. I don’t know what he wants tomorrow. Everything else is fine with us. Have you heard what trouble has come?! Someone put together a project about collecting candles – it’s so curious. They printed it and sent it to us for discussion. Please find out and tell me how he was born? Does the Holy Synod know about him? Do Vladyka and other bishops and clergy of St. Petersburg sympathize with him? - It cannot be approved. We need to cross it. But it would be awkward to contradict the Holy Synod. And despite this we must reject it... It’s true that some idiot, unfamiliar with the Church and its affairs, got it all dirty. It would be a pity if they introduced it... So, please find out and tell me. While we are composing the answer, your notice will do. What extremes are we in? Like a drowning man, we grab onto the first board we come across. Lord, send us a quicker, deeper and stronger head to arrange our affairs. And we need money. Everything becomes difficult and stagnant. Both students and mentors barely live. What do you have? It's muddy and cold here. We've already drowned it twice. We wish you all the best from the Lord. Pray to God for us. Bow to everyone you know. Your dear pilgrim Feofan E. Tambovsky 1053. About his work on revising and compiling new books. Review of German interpreters of holy books You are always in trouble! And without rest, and without fatigue! Well, what to do? That’s right, this is the kind of mind God gave you—much-caring. Work for good. There is no point in looking at the works. And poor Vysha - everything fades into the background. And this is how God will arrange it. When God willing, you get there, then we’ll talk something over. The patericon turns out to be quite serviceable, so sitting over it again is extra work. You'll see for yourself. Three of his articles were published in Tamb. Vedomosti" in my time. Neshto. As for other things, you wrote something wrong. I don’t have what you remember. There is only the essay “Ascetics”, which you need to go through and rewrite yourself, because no wise head can understand how it is written. And this work... will not be completed. You start and you quit! That's right, the deadline hasn't come. There is nothing else besides this. Now I have prepared a bunch of interpreters for myself - the most cool-headed - just Germans. And I’m starting to get better at interpretation. I took the first letter from Petrovo. I'll tell you a secret... What a job it is!!! You'll bake a sermon like damn. And then your eyes widen and widen, and you can hardly see anything. Nemchurki are all crazy. The way they interpret it is out of hand. Such wise men! I once took up the Psalter. The Germans have distorted everything... but they rely on the Hebrew text. And it became necessary to take up Jewishness... Things went a little better... And it will, just to make out where they are going - and where they need to go. It's a small matter. There is no Jewish Bible. And I don’t know where to turn. It seems that you have a Bible Society agent and a shop in St. Petersburg. If there really is, then it is true that the Hebrew Bible is also there. - Please buy it and send it. I'll send the money. Everything is fine with us. And God sends health. Thank the Lord for everything! I wish you all the best from the Lord. 1054. We must rely on God and be content with the service that God sends Father N-lay V-vich! God bless you and have mercy! For the last time I say to you: Christ is risen! May the Lord bless your complacent patience and undoubted trust in His all-sufficient providence. Wait... push - and it will open... otherwise God’s will be done. To whom does God send ministry? To some it is gold-bearing, and to another it is honey-bearing. What to do?! God leaves the final settlement until the next century... No one will be harmed there. Until that time, this is what is written... if all our hope is limited only to this century, then we are the most wretched of all people... How is it?! There is a piece of bread - glory to You, Lord! There is an opportunity to give a glass of water to the poor - twice, glory to You, Lord. What next? And this prevails... I wish you peace. God bless you! 1055. On the promotion of officials to priestly positions. The answer to someone wishing to become a monk God help you, N-lai V-vich! I was surprised at what St. Plato offered you. It’s true, they don’t see where such things can lead. You are a known person - and come, I will make you an archpriest of the cathedral, where there is absolutely nothing to do. But that's it! When such proceedings are made public... then all the officials who have nothing to eat will climb into the priests... What will the poor bishops do then, who already have nowhere to escape from the applicants for places. It’s amazing how eagerly we grab onto the new without first figuring out what to do with the old. Of course, there is nothing contrary to church decrees here; but still we must expect in advance what the Holy Synod will decide. The Bishop of Moscow has nothing to take as an example. There is a special spirit and a special power there. And we are like pygmies. Without refusing this offer, it’s very smart... you’re not looking smartly into the forest. For you, the law is written by God - to live as you live. There is a service that is not bad... not ungodly - a service that brings an opportunity to another soul and leads it to the right path. Why look at something else now? Here is a decree from Tambov. spirit. consistory - to remain as it is until discretion. Only in this case is a necessary addition: subject to strict supervision and recommended on a monthly basis or something like that. Well, this thing can be left as impossible in relation to you... You can only oblige them so that they don’t make any plans... The time will come, the door will open on its own. Go then. What about a monk?! He who remains one with the Lord is a monk... there is a monastery in the heart. That's what?!... Set yourself up this way and it will be better. You can’t be in a monastery without obedience... but they will give you obedience, that’s the vanity of life. So it’s all the same... stay as you are. I’m not writing this jokingly. Your most humble Theophan, Bishop. Tambovsky 1056. Efforts to open a diocesan women's school in Tambov God help you! Save yourself! Kindest N-lay V-vich! I take up the pen to wish you good health - and together - and to show you the opportunity to do a very good deed. Exactly - I make a wish, and not just somehow; and so it’s cool... to start a school for girls of the clergy. An opportunity opens up to buy a house very profitably. We almost agreed... There is only a stop at the sources of the invention of money, and even then a short one. Maybe! Just a little bit - and that’s the end of the matter... For the Lord’s sake, find out somewhere and from someone whether St. will give us. How much will the Synod pay for the initial establishment, and will it continue to provide something? If someone says a word in our favor in advance, then when we think about enrolling, we can scribble at home... Take the trouble to find out and let us know, for God’s sake. Besides, I’m going to start a school, but I don’t know its charter. Kindly search, if possible and not too difficult, for the Tsarskoe Selo charter and send it to me to draw up our charter, which, of course, in some points should be different from the local one. The general basics, however, should be the same. Please look and hurry... Don’t wait until you come to us from Zadonsk. Then together we will verify, perhaps, the already drawn up charter in a new suit - Tambov. Forgive me and pray to God for me! With sincere best wishes I extend to you Feofan, Bishop Tambovsky, your most humble 1057. Answer to thoughts about the arrangement of one’s earthly destiny Christ is Risen! God help you, N-lai V-vich! Save yourself! You scared me. So I’m trying to make sure that by delaying the answer we don’t forget about the answer, just as we forget the matter of salvation in general in the same way. God bless you and grant us peace! You are all wondering about how you will arrange yourself. Stop thinking, just look at your feet and around you. The Lord's way is arranged quietly, not with discretion, as those who boast of prudence boast. He comes by himself. Once you enter it, you will only be amazed at how everything worked out. So decide... You wrote down the decision yourself - for the peace of mind of your parents you need to be here!!! Everything is decided here... This is God’s commandment. No one in the world has ever thought of pleasing God by violating a commandment. Do you feel... You want to remove this obstacle... Wait... It will remove itself. Then be the will of God. Until then, thinking and guessing means wasting time. It's good to live in a monastery for a while. Isn't it possible to build a monastery at home? A real monastery is at home. When you get used to living like a monastery at home, things will be fine in the monastery. And now, may I ask, are you on a disastrous path?!! What hindrance is there for you to be saved?! It is right to believe, to fulfill the commandments, and St. to be sanctified by the sacraments, to guard thoughts, and to rule over the feelings of the heart as it should be... and so on. and so on. God help you in everything! I am writing this to you jokingly. And there you yourself, as you know. Everyone will answer for themselves. With true respect and sincere good wishes I have the honor to be your close prayer book 1058. The fight against spiritualists and materialism I was interested in Buchner 142. Now spiritualism occupies: opposites. But both are evil enemies of God, destroyers of blind humanity! I purposely copy out all the books of spiritualists in order to familiarize myself with them briefly. It's hard to judge from the reviews of others. Meanwhile, we are also fighting against materialism. So in general it doesn’t cost anything to decide, but when you touch on the details, it’s much more difficult. There's a lot to review! And there are intricate points... Geology stands on the road - and there is a large stone that will not be moved soon, especially since it is difficult to study it itself. What can we, provincials, do? You should have started a whole society of apologists there... And write, and write. What can we do? Your pilgrim Feofan, Bishop. Tambovsky I wish you peace! Thank you very much for the sermons you delivered. I received it by post. It's like they've gotten better. It’s true that your zeal for printing gave them extra beauty. It even seems that now you won’t be able to write like that... Even though they were all written in the evening during the service or even in the morning before mass. I haven't preached sermons for a long time. Relax Now I feel stronger and as if I started speaking again. Send it as soon as possible by transport. May be required. Why don't you write anything about the current situation? Sin. I need to know the truth. For there are many empty thoughts floating around, which it is my job to direct on the straight path. It seems you missed this. 1060. Scientific care of the traveling cancer. About translating the Bible from Hebrew Thank you for your troubles... God help you in everything - in everything. I can see from everything that you are very busy - and busy with what drains your soul. This property is the mind. This slyness will creep into your head and pull out all the veins... The caring of everyday life... But the caring of a scientist is the caring of cancer itself. Truly so. Medicine doesn’t really think about this. They are telling you misunderstandings about the Hebrew text. It’s another thing for a scholar or translator to do it, and another thing to publish the entire text from Hebrew. It should not be created for the sake of several texts. The real translation has not yet been published, and the non-real one is already being printed... What is printed is read, what is read is assimilated... The Synod will later publish its own... There is no way to publish it from the Hebrew - and there will be a difference... In books the difference is nothing, but in minds the difference is a great thing. – After all, there will be even more splits. Where are they looking? You are going to ride - good! That's right, now in Moscow. Can you think of where to go next? To Sarov, Zadonsk... Come to Tambov! He will be very happy to see you... 1061. The saint's studies in English language and literature. Revision of asceticism and the Patericon I received the drawings in perfect working order. Very grateful. Completely satisfactory. Now just draw, guys. But the guys aren't there yet. God will send. Regarding letters about Christian life, he wrote to the princess and asked her to forward them as best she could. I believe that you were there, on Maslyanaya, and everything is now settled. Another request. You are my English professor for providing me with a self-instruction manual... a very thorough one. Now you will be a professor of English literature. I feel an extreme need for English interpreters of Scripture and church historians. It is likely that they are more dignified and more God-fearing than the Germans and deeper than the French... Help me acquire this kind of writings. Find out what good interpretations of Scripture and good church histories there are in English - and what better theological journal there is - and tell me. I will order L. Isakov to be discharged. You should find out from Ivan Terentievich Osinin, an academic mentor... or whether there are any English priests there. It seems that there is a certain G. Michel in St. Petersburg - the secretary of the English embassy... Now isn’t he the consul?! It seems like this was mentioned in the newspapers. He was with me in Vladimir - and from his speeches it was clear that he was not alien to theological concepts. Maybe he knows. Manage to scout out everything. May the Lord send you help in your labors and relief in troubles. But why would one know that a good deed is a good deed, if not by its opposites? Take heart! You will equalize. Now I’m sitting at an essay on asceticism... It’s been lying with me for a long time, unattended. I already looked through one part; but it had already been reviewed and published in the Tambov Gazette. I looked through it a little more and disposed of the correspondence. I started rewriting the second part myself, because a lot has to be re-cleaned and changed: it was written a long time ago. So exactly... straight white. Will something happen? Having finished my asceticism, I will begin to clean the Patericon. Uh!.. This is passion - books! The back of your head starts to hurt as soon as you look. But there is nothing to do - I’ll take it; you have to finish before you take on anything new, although even that will be done sometimes. Tomorrow is Feofan’s birthday. The petition was rewritten and sent to the Holy Synod on this day. Glory to You, Lord! I invest 10 rubles. Perhaps it will come. I wish you all the best from the Lord. 1062. On the significance of monasteries. Assumption about the compilation of a paternal collection Now you have seen the monasteries - and you see that they still have the grace of the Lord. Yes - we have many, many real monasteries where the children of God mature under good supervision. And how much fruit do they bring to the area?! After all, all those who have not seen monks, only collectors and assemblers, are screaming, in St. Petersburg and Moscow. With all this, however, we must admit that if they beat us monks, it is because we ourselves turn our backs. It should be a little scary. But there is also a Lord who rules everything. Guilty! Regarding the Greek manuscript, I was told that it should return to me. And the translation is at your disposal. That manuscript, along with my other books, should go to some seminary or academic library. I don’t understand how poorly I explained this to you: it’s my fault. Regarding the paternal or senile collection, we agree with you. Choosing the sayings of St. Antonia from Lat. old man, I came to the idea that it would be very useful to compile a collection of scattered sayings and legends, where everything would be included - what is in that Greek manuscript ... what is more, in Lavsaik and Limonar and in the history of the lovers of God. But the order I created was not what you came up with. I find the alphabetical order very inappropriate... This collection should be a guide book. Why is it necessary to arrange the saying and legend in the course of life. I have not yet lost faith that the plan of life that I built and invented in the issues about the path of salvation was far from reality. I wanted to base this collection on this plan. If Diaghilev has not yet started the work or is far from the end, then it would be possible to turn things around in this way... When agreement is born, then I am ready to check my work, and together we will forge something. If you agree, then send everything to me, that is, not only the Greek, but also the translated manuscript. I have all the other books... I’ll sit down and sort them all out... A month or two will pass. This is just an indication. I'll get the monks to make an extract on them. This will take more time. But let's hurry. I would very much like this to be resolved. All this will be placed at your disposal upon completion. I am very glad to see Diaghilev at the Above. God grant that he fulfills his intention. Congratulate me and others on this bright holiday. 1064. About the publication of “Letters on Spiritual Life” and about various current affairs I reminded you in the letter before last about the publication of letters about spiritual life, regarding Speransky’s letters. And then Askochensky came up with his plans for the same thing. Since you now have other articles ready for publication, I readily agreed to Askochensky’s proposal. I hasten to inform you of this so that you do not start anything on this subject due to your tireless activity. Are you in so much trouble? May the Lord send you to finish your monastery - a monument worthy of respect for your zeal for the saints. Tikhon. May the Lord help you to finish everything else. Don't get bored because there is a lot to do. Thank God! You won't notice how time flies. What kind of boredom is it when nothing comes to mind and your hands don’t move?!.. Thank you for your decision to send the Greek manuscript. I will bind it and prepare it for transfer to some library. What am I doing?! I practice doing nothing in honor of my beloved laziness. Since childhood, she and I have been great friends; and in old age, friendship is even shorter. Everyone, however, with her permission, sat a little during Passion and Easter and discovered the key - an indicator of how anyone for himself can compose one consistent story from the 4 Gospels. Sent to Thumb. Ved." type. In my opinion, everything came out so clearly... that I would like the whole world to learn this technique. There will be prints; - and I’ll send it to you. I wish you all the best from the Lord. God help Diaghilev in his work. Vysha will be glad to see him if he decides to bother passing through. How much patience is needed. We are still flooded with water. But everything is easier. For two weeks there was no travel... Then the ice did not pass, but was only being prepared; then he went, but did not pass... And we already asked: is the world worth it?! To the great Iveron elder, Father Archimandrite Lawrence, I bow to the ground. May I sigh to the Lord about my sinfulness. 1065. Efforts about the improvement of the saint after his retirement. Description of monastic order above. Advice about the abbess. A modest review about myself You found yourself at home by force. Congratulations on your safe trip. May the Lord help you to complete what you started well!.. Thank you for your troubles about putting me to rest. I need a pension. The monastery is not rich. They don’t beg, but they don’t have too much either. It's a strict dormitory here. There is not enough solid money. More than half is obtained by collecting. From this it is clear that management, to which one must also take care of the maintenance of the monastery, will cause a lot of trouble and sorrowful worries. For this reason, my intention has already matured to give up the management of the monastery, asking only that the apartment be as I now have, and that the monastery make amendments and alterations to it - so that the monastery delivers what I need to the table (for I myself have almost no opportunity to do this - 25 versts from the city), so that they can serve me unhindered when I want, that horses be given... I was already planning to write and I don’t know whether I will wait for your answer. I am thinking of writing a private letter to the Metropolitan about this, asking that, on the basis of his decision, my petition to the Synod be followed. I feel very good here. The order here is truly monastic. Among the brethren there are fierce ascetics, the convert - an 80-year-old man - will never sit in church and grumbles at others for this. We will have services for 8–10 o’clock. Starts at 3 o'clock. u. The last one is at 7 o'clock. evenings. Sarov singing. If you take the time to see for yourself, then decide whether or not to end your days here. God bless you! I regret the disturbances in your monastery. Try, even here, to overcome the abbess with affection, compliance, asking for permission, but so that they do it your way. I remember this in passing. You know better there. O. All honorable respects to Lavrenty. I think he'll grumble about retiring. I said it a long time ago. Why should such a bishop stick around among real bishops? Got out! Glory to You, Lord! Bow to him to the ground. Your pilgrim, the late B. Feofan It doesn’t hurt to know your thoughts and yours others. 1066. The saint's refusal to manage the monastery. Worries about pensions and publication of sermons. Beginning of work on the “Philokalia” On the occasion of the Exaltation, I wrote a petition renouncing the management of the monastery and am sending it to the post office tomorrow. I immediately ask for a pension. Take the trouble to find out about the progress of this matter and inform them. No matter how little pension they give you, you will die of hunger. I’ll take a stick and walk along the windows and come to you... you live high up... and you won’t hear. And it’s not for nothing that I had to write for the Exaltation. That’s right, I’m erecting a cross for myself. It’s no wonder to erect it... it’s hard to carry it. Please take the trouble to ask someone to quickly send me the 500 rubles assigned by the Holy Synod for my move. They don’t send, but there are needs. I'm thinking of preparing sermons for publication. Three books will be published. But there is no money. Will any merchant undertake to publish it, and if so, on what terms? Bad sales for sermons. Hardly anyone will agree! But it doesn’t hurt to try. Or publish it yourself - even with loans?.. What do you think? I feel good. Very good. He began translating the Philokalia from Greek. 1067. Advice to the drafter of the charter for the nunnery Thanks for the news. Now I’m completely cut off: just to have fun. God bless your work. You undertake to write the charter. Good! Make sure it doesn't turn out too airy. Do not forget that gentle beauties, like everyone else, wear plump flesh and are subject to the same illnesses. In the charter it is necessary to distinguish between spiritual and ascetic life and external communal orders. Only the latter fit the mold and are capable of being defined in detail and forever; first, impromptu is carried out, impromptu is guided, and it is not allowed to be put into a certain form. For her, the rule is reasonable piety, or spiritual life, as it is inherent in the attempts of the tried and true. It occurs to me that before compiling it, you need to live somewhere in a hostel and become well accustomed to its rules. But again, here too – a men’s dormitory and a women’s dormitory are two very different things... They would run to the Borodino Monastery. There, tea, the order is good. For a consultation with the ancient statutes, the translations you took from me will suffice. From ours - find the Yuryevsky Charter, compiled by Photius (there is a printed one). Separate the headings more clearly. Church . Table and all contents. Kelly. Authorities. Not the authorities. Mutual relationship with each other and with others. Needlework. External monastic bearing (find, Rev. Ignatius recently published a small book. Ask Hilarion of Suzdal). About the letters of Clement... They are not to virgins, but about virginity in general, both men and women, and contain general instructions that will not be included in the charter. That's right, it's in the Public Library - Ceillicy. Histoire des auteurs sacres... both the history of these letters and their contents are described. In the latest edition of St. Fathers - Migne Patrologia - the letters themselves are placed. You will find both in the Public Library or at the Academy. There are books (9 volumes) Vies des pères des déserts d’orient par... Michel-ange Marin. In 2 books. a few words are placed about the order of life in the Tavenisiot women's monasteries of St. Pachomius, and in the 9th there is a note about the nuns from St. Vasily Vel. - and this book should be in the Public Library (ed. 1824). But it must be said that the experience itself is better than all the books. Regarding Rostislavov’s books... that’s right, libel. The best thing you can do is to neither write nor say anything about her... It’s as if she doesn’t exist. They'll steal a few copies, grumble under their breath, and that's all. To answer means to give a price. If you're feeling arrogant, write the opposite, reminding you of the book. All the best to you from the Lord. 1068. Request for the magazine “L’ Union chrétienne”. Worries about getting money allocated for moving and about pensions I tortured you. Here is another request, or most humbly, in every possible way, a fervent request... The magazine “L’Union chretienne” - The Holy Synod writes out several copies and sends them out. Among others, a copy was sent and is available. But it was sent as to the current bishop. Sloths, perhaps, are not supposed to send them. For this reason, perhaps they won’t send it to me, but I would like to receive it. How can I be here?! Please inquire, will they send it? If they didn’t think about sending, couldn’t they send based on the very statement itself, that this would not be bad. If for this reason alone they cannot, will it be of any use if I ask the chief prosecutor about this? Having become aware of this, inform the Lord for the sake of it. But for the current year, No. 31 has already been received. If they don’t send the end, it’s a lost year for both me and Ave. Anthony, if they start sending him the end. Is it possible to send this end to them: this can be done without special orders. You wrote about money - (500 rubles), go to the consistory; and before, I remember, they wrote that we needed to contact the treasury. And it seems that this is not the place for the consistory to interfere. And bishops’ money usually comes from the treasury. But in order for me to go to the treasury, I need to have a document and know that the Tambov treasury already knows about this order. Do yourself a favor and force whoever should hurry up with this order. Because, soon I’ll be without shoes! When I get the piece of paper, then I’ll ask for the tamb myself. the treasury, so that it makes an order to give me money from the Shatsk treasury... It’s close at hand. But still, I first need an order from above about all this and so that I have a piece of paper on the basis of which I would write. The same should be done about pensions. God bless you! God bless you all... Now Kazan is for you and for us! Having congratulated, I congratulate the crown prince on his bride; will be your queen... What a joyful face! 1069. Refusal to move to Sarov. On the compiled interpretation of Psalm 33 and on the revision of the book “Soul and Angel” You blame me for the fact that there is no news for a long time; I was just about to file a complaint about the same thing against you. Therefore, the penalties and evens were equal. May the Lord bless you to successfully complete the printing of our Bishop's Theology. We are fellow countrymen and matchmakers. Well, thank God that your litigation ended successfully. This monastery has tormented you. When the end is over - glory to God! Sarov is not my place. And Sarov residents are not interested. I don't think they even offered me one. There is nothing to pull from. They always have intercessors. What should I use? The move will cost three hundred rubles... or more, but I don’t even have 30. And there will be no such peace there as on Above. In spirit, this is little Sarov. What am I doing? I just finished notes on the 33rd Psalm and sent them to the Tambov Eparchs. Vedomosti” to see what they will say, and whether it is good to write notes on the psalter this way or whether the tone needs to be changed. This psalm - I will bless the Lord at all times... whether it goes well, but a lot has been written. I had just taken on one more task when an agreement came - to correct an article about the soul and Angels. This is what I am doing now. I hear more than once that the article is not good. And no one says what. Is it true? In my opinion, the only drawback is that you cannot read this article without having refuted brochures at hand. And the fact that there is a lot of jokes and unnecessary eating is nothing. Brunch in places. Yes, for such absurdities, you need to be punished by the hair and ground, and in time. However, now everything superfluous is being thrown away... Maybe there will be more extracts from fathers, that is, from other fathers, and not from these. Yes, add a little more considerations. Now I’m still almost at the beginning... and I don’t know where the word will go. How tiresome it is to find a place... You dig and dig, sometimes all day - five lines. And the reader only sees: the article is small - and says: look how much he wrote. Tell me please, do you have time? I'm asking this because I don't have time. Before you have time to turn around, it’s lunchtime, and then you’ll be asleep. Where does this misfortune come from - is it not a deception? And what temptation? - or death soon - that the separation and length of time will all seem to come to a point. I think it’s not bad at all. Only those who mourn take a long time. Glory to Thee, Lord, glory to Thee! I won’t go to Sarov. You should write to them that I refuse. Otherwise you’ll force them to figure out how to ward off such an attack. Bow to your friends, and even more so, pray to God. 1070. Among the works on compiling the Patericon and the Philokalia Quick response N-bark V-vich! The Patericon, which he commemorated, is in manuscript, like a large psalter. The translation contains one and a half hundred sheets of the same letter as the statutes. Judge, will you reconsider everything soon? And then will he re-write soon? Correspondence in the monastery is impossible. We must send it to Tambov. Eh-heh!! This does not mean that I am delaying everything, but that I am only telling the matter as it is. Likewise, the writings of old people... how difficult are they? The Latins found many writings of St. Anthony the Great...translated from Arabic. They are similar in appearance to those known to us... But the darkness of the translation is terrible. You dig and dig. I've already put it off for a while. Antonia, rest. I translate the following according to the Greek Philokalia, Abba Isaiah. And this again has a whole book, in addition to what is contained in the Philokalia. And there will be Cassian’s writings - his alone - from the Philokalia... And there is no end. This is where you feel - the spirit is vigorous, but the flesh is weak. You sit down and think: well, I’ll wave all of Anthony the Great. Back and forth - just ten lines... And you're already exhausted... and you go walking around, scratching the back of your head. Get out of your business as quickly as possible, and go to your cell, and let’s start together. Or we’ll come to an agreement with the Optina residents, and there will be a whole society. Then it will be more fun. One one line, the other another... Look, there is a book. And alone you dig, dig... But what can I say!! It's easier to compose. There the speech flows like butter. And here - in translation, every now and then there is a semicolon. I don’t want to paraphrase, but I want to start adjusting – I need time. Thank you for your troubles with money. Now, I'm sure I'll get it soon. Then I’ll ask the treasury for pension money to transfer it to Shatsk. Don't forget to tag news. While a person is alive, and in the desert he is curious about the world and its movements. But I truly am paradise in the desert. I wouldn’t jinx it... but if this happens... I see the abyss of God’s mercy, it is not repaid to me according to my sins. I received a decree about a pension and the abolition of the abbot. Very grateful to you and everyone. Lord save and have mercy! I offer due veneration to my beloved father, the great elder of Iveron, asking for prayers. 1071. On the public defense of monasticism. About the new edition of “The Path to Salvation” and so on. O. archim. already returned. He didn’t wait for you, he says, it was impossible to stay in St. Petersburg any longer. You are all on the road, busy with books. A blissful life is a busy life. Neither get bored, nor yawn. About monasticism... Isn’t it better to remain silent? They don’t hear - and they don’t get angry. Take cover a little... until anger flows past. And come out, and even with your fists... and - everyone’s hands will rise on your shoulders - and because of you, on monasticism. Let Mitrofania and the like... failed nuns buzz... Let them buzz and fall silent. And when there is a book, it will cloud their eyes and irritate them. You will write about monasticism according to its significance, which is definitely high, and no one rejects it. The attackers attack us - real bad monks. You will say... since monasticism means this and that, it must be honored, supported and spread.... And they will say, as they say: since the monks are now no good, then get rid of them, - or: either get rid of them, or make them what they should be. You have nothing to say against this... Nothing to say... just this: so, so; but let them live, maybe some half-monk will go crazy somewhere, and then thank God. One can only stand against the closure of monasteries - for the sake of the fact that monasteries, in addition to the monks, the faith for the sake of the people, bring enormous benefits; I know this now from experience. And for the sake of this - there is nothing to clap about (that is, to close) because, compared to Russia... all the monks and nuns are a drop, 20 thousand... is it worth shouting and raising a hubbub... over such a small thing?! For these reasons, our monasteries will last for centuries to come... and there is nothing to be afraid of. As for women, they have nowhere to go... There are 1 and 1/2 million more of them than men... Let them go to the monastery... find shelter. These are my thoughts! But maybe it’s nothing - to say another word... We are bad monks; We will be very glad when they write about us that we are saints and righteous. And we'll thank you. I don’t know anything about what to read to you. It seems that in the “Christian Reading” under the rector, Rev. Afanasia has something written and printed. The “Home Conversation” contains articles by Rev. Ignatius: they seem to be in his published works... But they are very distant. It seems that there were brochures circulating somewhere... But I can’t point them out correctly. My health is good. I feel good. They sometimes ask me The Path to Salvation, which the Athonite people published in editions. I have no. Will Korablev and Siryakov, for example, undertake to publish one book? He will give me copies - not money. Talk and tell. I have no desire to go to Moscow... but I can visit it this way. Your zealous pilgrim Bishop Feofan 1072. About my illness. The thought of moving to places that are most convenient for receiving medical care I received your medications. Thank you. I started using it that same day. I don't know what will happen! Anything, since I use my usual methods of treatment for shortness of breath; then yours will go into the interval to which it arrived. May God grant you relief. I see him a little. But the seizures still remain. Especially this beating of arms and legs and their coldness with heaviness in the head - so frequent. Almost all of this day too. I use artificially prepared soda water instead of drinking. And on top of that, I wore a cold compress at night. Now I’ll stop all this and see what comes of yours. If it gets bad, I'll quit. Better yet, use it. I received the books: thank you. I re-read it. So what is there to fix? Tea, everything is fine. Either way, I’ll review it even more carefully and, if I have enough reason, I’ll correct what turns out to be necessary. Do me a favor and find out what the result of my statement is? My seat on the Above or the hassle of moving to another monastery due to illness, even empty, but requiring doctor’s supervision, will depend on him. I am not an ardent lover and seeker of the diocese. And if they say: sit, I won’t be bored. But by winter I must definitely move to inhabited places from the desert. Your zealous pilgrim, Bp. Feofan 1073. The saint’s indecision and hesitation when offered to re-enter the service Thank you very much for the news. I received your letter only two days ago, and I still haven’t heard anything from Askochensky 144. I received it from him last night. From the first time, I rushed to Moscow; but then rumors and misunderstandings started going on in my head. And I don’t know how to cope. More is drawn to Moscow, but there are compelling reasons holding it back. Here I sit and think. Whatever I come up with, I’ll say right away. But now I’m indecisive, I can’t say yes or no. I will try to settle into my thoughts as soon as possible and answer the Bishop. It inclines that we are already too deaf. Yes, in case of illness it’s scary. - But there is trouble and struggle. If they themselves had decided to translate it like that, I would have agreed without any hesitation, and I would have been glad... Otherwise I would have done it myself. I only decided one thing myself - retirement. And, tea, I didn’t do it as it should be... I’m not saying this out of lack of peace. I have what I was looking for. But because there is already too much peace. This is true. 1074. Review of the news about new offers of service to the saint. Hunter of paintings Well, I decided with the white stone. My beauty died. Well - and adieu! I wrote about this to the Bishop himself, assuring him that I was very well on Above, as I really am. He already said through Askochensky that he accepted my refusal as reasonable. And, therefore, this case should go into the archives. But he drags out his speech - about attracting my honor to sit in the judicial department of the Holy Synod. He refused this only with a pen, and this with his hands and feet. God save me from such a misfortune. If you happen to be with the Bishop, please persuade him so that he not only does not make such a proposal himself, but also interrupts anyone who would think of starting a conversation about it. Please! The Lord thinks that I am bored above; but I love it so much here that I don’t know where it could be so good. What he declared at the diocese was not a desire, but a readiness to express his obedience to St. Synod, which I still do not refuse. But not at all according to the wishes of the diocese, but according to other calculations that remain secret. You know what a picture hunter I am. A certain Behrens announces... that he has a countless number of photographs from famous paintings. Pictures in the form of cards, and in large format, are called cabinet photographs. My eyes ran wide. And cheap!! 100 selected office photographs 25 RUR. – or else: 1000 cards 30 rubles. So I would have bought everything. But as these advertisers are cura melius, especially with our brother - provincials, or eye-catching buyers, then please run to him and see if these photographs are really worth spending a penny on them. If it turns out that they are in good order, I will then send you some money. And I’ll ask you to choose and order it to be sealed with you. Otherwise, you can’t rely on these fellows. I wish you all the best from God. 1075. Upon receipt of the book about spiritual judgment I received a book about the trial. Good. Much learned. May God grant that it will be useful. It’s a bit of a mess to read... and not everyone will get tired of it. Work, work, don’t groan. How can you say that you haven’t started yet?! What is this, what are you doing? All this is glory to God! Just drive away conceit. Your eye shines with all goodness. God bless you for your labors. The Solovetsky elders will find more readers.... And it’s true, this book is warmer. God help you to finish. 1076. It is inconvenient to publish large books for the public. Regarding the projected reform of the spiritual court Although I haven’t finished your even larger book, it’s already clear that it’s very good. Who did this work?! Knowledgeable and solid! God bless you! But that's it! How many people will read it? And those who start reading, will they all make it to the end? You, of course, know the warehouse of Russian heads... That you don’t want to dig for a long time, but would rather get to the end as soon as possible. Especially controversial points. In general, for the purpose of the matter, they are necessary and help a lot in understanding the matter. But why should unlearned people delve into them?.. and they won’t. It occurred to me that if I could make an extract and compile a small booklet - in which everything essential would be laid out clearly as in the palm of my hand, and in such a way that it would be easy to read, then such a book would be very useful. Scientists would delve into that big one, and the top-lookers... would run through the little one... Great research!! You write that you are receiving objections to the court project... And somewhere in the newspapers it is printed that, on the contrary, you are receiving reviews that agree with it. At the same time, the thought occurred to me that the prosecutor was fooling public opinion... And then he would select agreeable reviews... which, of course, would be found... and bring them forward for a decision. After all, the main thing, however, is necessary... Let them build the courts as they wish, but it is necessary that the bishop be the head of the court... and especially in that part that concerns purely spiritual and church affairs... The last limit is that the bishop should have the power to appoint to places and remove from them according to his conviction... and that no one’s court should interfere here; so that he also has the power to order to do everything that he considers necessary for the building of the flock. Otherwise it will turn out like the Prussians... The bishop there receives, but does not determine the shepherds. Thank you for the information you provided about my beauty. But when you meet, don’t forget to remind... well, did you send the documents?? Otherwise they said they would send it, but they put off sending it. What did you think of sending from the notebooks, send it. I’m finishing the first part... now I’ve only started correspondence... Then I’ll start little by little with the charter... from Pachomiev... to Basil the Great and Cassian. Meanwhile, it is necessary to prepare the interpretation... 1077. New praise for the book and advice to the author. About my written works and care for materials for the “Philokalia” I finished reading the book. Miracle, how good. For it, the author must be given a doctor, with the inscription “the first of doctors” or, as the late Kiev ruler said about Innocent when he was in Kiev, “the doctor of doctors.” When would you listen to what is written? - get someone to write reviews, - and in this review the essence is to expose everything. This will introduce society to the spirit... In a secular magazine or newspaper. Maybe "Citizen" will take it! I'll finish the collection soon. While this first part is being printed, I will prepare the second, the Charter itself. My collection, if desired, is planned to contain many volumes, so that a monastic library will be compiled. Buy it and that's enough. Everything will be here. Why do you need to hide somewhere. Having acquired the skill for busy work, how will you sit anywhere? Keep playing your note. After all, this road leads to the same city. You just need to clean up your thoughts. But this is necessary not only for the leaders, but also for the sitters. There was nothing left to guess. The Bishop of Kostroma - they would say that it’s been two years already, tea, Askochensky takes short articles from sermons more - very few from letters. These are old lines! Next year there will be a new one... Psalm 118, for each verse a small reasoning. About these, surely, the merciful Lord will not say what he said about those... For here everything is weak. O. Arseny - he’s definitely going to Athos, or this is just guesswork. It occurred to me - to go to Athos to sort out the fatherland - whether the writings of Abba Isaiah otsh., the missing Mark the Ascetic, Evagrius and others... Somewhere, perhaps, have sunk into a corner. Isaiah is a whole book - 29 words... it will go into the collection, but from the Latin translation, but ascetic terminology means a lot here, which is different for the Latins... and you may not get it. 1078. Concerns about the new court project. Feedback on moving to Athos. Encouragement to continue working life Happy holiday! I received the book. Thank you. I remember I was translating something. But that must have been in 1946. Manuscript - what?! Tea, translation of the charter of St. Pachomia. No, it's not necessary. I will translate again and make a compilation. And Basil the Great’s collection or selection must be done again. - There’s no need to bother sending it. I'll pull it out little by little. It's really good for you to be in St. Petersburg. Make some noise here and there... They say that reviews are printed as they are received... wouldn’t those who are interested in the introduction of this ungodly court project cheat?! What a blessing! How about you on Athos? the thought comes; But with my laziness, how can I do it? If you fell asleep here and woke up there, that’s fine. Now I would wave. And then... uh! y! y! - what a distance! I’m not giving up... but someday a thought will ripen into desire, and desire into determination! You are wishing for peace in vain. Push while your soul remains in your body. You're not doing bad things, are you?! Intentions just need to be cleaned out - reconsidered more often - and if some rubbish creeps in, drive them out, and through internal repentance return the value of the deeds that are ruined by them. Peace will come by itself. The soul will sit down and not want to leave. Then, of course, there will be nothing to do. I'll have to listen to this lady. You just can’t get along on Athos. The order there is beyond the power of our weakness. You don’t have to enter a monastery, but that’s still a long way off! 1079. More about the new court project. Fear of possible divisions And I heard that it was not P-ky, but V-ky Vladyka who praised the project. It became two. You write, and I hear that all the reviews are not in favor of the project. But in what respect? T-kay Vladyka insisted only on the impracticality - that the district court was far away. If that's the case, then it's not a big inconvenience. And that's not the point. The answer to impracticality may be this: we’ll see; If it’s inconvenient, we’ll change it. And everything else will come into play. And consistories perhaps indicate this more. It may even be that this stone was deliberately thrown... here you are, gnawing, and most importantly, they overlooked it. God forbid! I have a question that I can't solve. Well, if this form of court is approved... Will this be a legal basis for separation? The Synod that accepted it will move from its foundations. Consequently, he will lose the right to obey him. If he is so, then all the bishops and priests who agree with him... Those who do not agree with him will stand on their rightful ground - the Old Orthodox... and those are innovators. This I cannot decide, that is, whether there is a basis for division. You can scold the form of the court and criticize it up and down, but not divide. – But what will you do if you want to show someone your strength and declare all innovators to have fallen away from the Church? After all, this is a possible thing. I keep thinking and thinking... and then it turns out that there is no reason for it, then the thought comes to me: why are we going to let everything go... Is it a great thing that, for example, Tsar Constantine put one wife in a monastery and married another. St. Tarasius made some noise, made some noise, and fell silent, and Theodore the Studite stopped communicating with him (St. Tarasius). And, it would seem, you can remain silent. The new queen was his niece. That's how they stood! I can’t figure out what we should do. But we need to decide this... Because I sense that this scanty guy will stand his ground. Talk there on the sly - and say that you will take away the church magnates. What should you do on Athos?! Go to Mount Athos to eat some sweets; and what you do is cabbage soup and porridge, you can’t live without porridge... 1080. About the planned publication of the complete Patericon. There is no sin in getting treatment. Funny recipe. More about the desired project Thank you for your congratulations. I greet you as well. God bless your work! Diaghilev sent... But what to do now? Let's tempt the Athos resident to print it. The paterikon that “Soulful Reading” published is much smaller than ours. What a difference! We have 142 articles - there are 35 - in the first chapter. In the second we have 71 - there are 33; in the third we have 100 - there are 46... and so on. Only the headlines are the same... why is there such a difference? Because not everything is collected there. After all, this is a collection! And the merits of the collection are complete. That's how it needs to be published. Or do you want to publish it yourself? So I will sit down and revise little by little and finally correct it. This pile is great! but little by little you can overcome!.. That there is no sin in being treated, there should be no question about this. But the fact that many have not used this remedy, out of faith and patience, is not without value. Only then must you endure it complacently, so as not to fall into murmuring. Murmuring is a sin. Whoever does not feel courage, as we all are sinners, it is better to resort to doctors, still expecting help from God: for He admonishes doctors. The cure for fornication is laughter! After all, sexual movement depends on the formation of the seed. As long as the educational organs are intact, the seed will be collected; and while it is gathering, there will be that movement. But it is not a sin in itself. Sin is in theft, and it is either from the will or from Satan. What does your prescription do? Of course not to the will, and even less to Satan. Consequently, the producers of prodigal sin are intact... And if they are intact, what is the medicine for? If it acts to stop the formation of the seed, then it is close to the skoptchestvo, for this is the essence of the skoptchestvo. In the Lives we see that they acted to diminish the formation of semen - by fasting, cold, lying down, thirst, lack of sleep and any kind of overexertion... but they did not use any mechanical method. Therefore, I think that the medicine is not without sin. So I think it’s better not to touch him, but to ask the Lord for help. Of course, it’s a little difficult; but what to do? I picked up the tug, don’t say it’s not strong. The fact that the project is being criticized is very comforting. But there is a whole legion in the one who would like to introduce him... They will teach him how to get out?! We will boast of success when this project is completely archived. My health is a glory to God. I will use the air from the balcony. After all, this is the same as walking in the forest! I wish you all the best from the Lord. Pray to God for me! Why didn’t you tell me anything about the Iveron elder?! 1081. Review of the desire of the Arabs, about the archim. Antonina, Elder Joseph, Patriarch Joachim and the response to the invitation to Athos. works of interpretation of Scripture My kindest N-lai V-vich! Welcome! Now you’ve seen the east, you know what it is, and I think you’ve had enough. Thank you for all the news... If Panteleimon’s team wins the case, one can’t help but be happy about it. Help them, Lord! I was surprised at the desire of the Arabs! They don’t need to want the same thing as the Bulgarians... but everything. Because there are no local Greeks there at all. There is only a hierarchy. Therefore, their desire is equal to the expulsion of the Greeks. That's why it's more difficult. Let them ask the Arab bishops in advance. Their priests are all Arabs, but there is nowhere to find Arab bishops. I mean the Jerusalem Patriarchate. In Antioch there is: will they share? O. Archimandrite Antonin the Gentle - I know him as an excellent person... he is also a teacher... He finished the course first, not second - he was a bachelor at the Kiev Academy - very good. Have you listened to the servant of God Joasaph, the elder of Savvina... the great elder! If this is Patriarch Joachim, then we need to pray to God that he will sit on the throne longer - and correct the Greek church affairs. The salty Greeks piled up: go and unravel. I thank the Panteleimon team for their offer. But the saints must go there, and it is convenient to sin even on the Highest. So what is the need to move? Don't make plans to retire soon. While you have the strength, push and do it. If you are exhausted, then you can hide somewhere - near the monastery. Your path is different - active. The time will come - sit down... Who reads my wisdom - the Greeks or ours? The Greeks, I don’t think they approved much. And ours are our own brother. I sit and pore. Soon or not, I don’t know, I’ll grieve; but I hasten to finish the epistles of St. Paul, so that he could sit down later, straighten it and publish it. The question is how to do this? Although it’s too early to think: but maybe by the end of next year we can start. I'm in a hurry. Therefore, there is nothing to prepare in advance. One beauty hinted that she would give money for the publication of the first volume, even if it was up to 1000 rubles. Please start publishing it. The conditions are as follows: just not to waste this thousand, but to save it; for I was ashamed to agree, and I agreed that, having turned over this thousand and arranged a publication, then I would bring it to the Missionary Society. If there are profits, we will divide them in half. I don't need money at all. If only the publication were cheaper - and therefore more common, i.e. to spread wider. I interpret the sixth letter - 1st Corinthians. This year, I think, there is a lot to be interpreted - maybe everything will be resolved. The matter is much shorter than the Galatian and Ephesian epistles. And more fatherly speech than mine. That's why he gave up everything. I don't read anything. I'll just take a quick look at the newspapers. My plan is great. Interpret the entire New Testament. And then the Psalter, and then the parables... and die. The Duma is just around the corner, and death is behind us. My health is nothing. And the sins all go in their own order. When will you be saved? There’s really no time. I’m purposely typing what I’ll come up with to get dirty, in the thought that someone will read it, be pleased and a fan will put it down. Perhaps the merciful Lord will honor me, lazy person, with this bow. It is better for saints to hide both their scriptures and their name. But as a sinner, it’s better for me this way. Here comes the holiday. Congratulations... Merry Christmas, and I wish you new strength in the New Year. Be healthy and cheerful! Pray to God for me, a sinner. 1082. On the publication of interpretations. Proposal to compose a new great Patericon You made me so happy by giving me your word to work on publishing the interpretation. Well, now we just have to hurry up with the ending. Before the end of everything, it is impossible to begin, for there are things that say that in previous interpretations something else must be corrected. However, I’ll strain myself, but I’ll write the interpretation as briefly as possible... so I’ll get to the end as soon as possible. Only maybe a third of the work is done. Maybe! Well, what's the problem?! I won’t have time this year, we’ll grab another one. We’ll talk about the profits later and what to do with them, if there are any. Publish a Patericon?! That's what came to my mind! After all, this Patericon is a collection: collected from Memorable tales - from Gerondik, from Lavsaik and Limonar... the articles are arranged by subject - under 24 titles, Fr. Arseny sent me a collection - from the same sources - but there are already 200 titles. I had an idea - from all the fundamental fatherland books, such as: Memorable tales, Lavsaik, Limonar, the history of the lovers of God, conversations of Grigory Dvoeslov, - and our fatherland books - Sarovsky, Solovetsky, Valaam, Kyiv - to compile my own collection according to my plan with strict delimitation... Under each title, review the articles placed under it. I’ve had something like this in my head for a long time, but now it’s completely formed and awaits execution. It will take a year. This will be a year of rest after the interpretation of the messages is completed. God bless you only. I wish you all the best from the Lord. Be healthy and cheerful. That such great rulers approve of the interpretation is very approving. But then it will be shorter - and maybe they won’t praise it. However, we will do what we can. 1083. On the interpretation of messages. Thoughts on a Better Way to Explain the Gospel. How to live at home like a monastery I obey - I obey! I will draw out the song, but a little shorter - unlike the printed ones, because it’s too drawn out. Life will not be enough to do everything like this. But the abbreviated interpretation that is given to the two epistles - to the Philippians, and especially to the first Corinthians... is also not useful. I'll somehow keep the middle halfway. 2 to Corinth. started, two chapters finished... What God will give next. Let's weave along little by little. Perhaps this will end soon too. Everything you have written down can be carried out however you want. But I won’t open the hut until I finish. If I die, so be it. Lord help me! It is not necessary to write interpretations of the Gospels, but reflections, so that every word and every movement of the Lord would be a solemn testimony of His Divinity. When God willing, let us begin this song of praise to the Lord, there will be no end to it. Oh, when will this matter even begin?! What kind of monastery do you like? If you please, toil in this order of life. When you are no longer able to trample mice, then the monastery will build itself by itself, whether you are within the monastery fence or not. Do you go to mass? And that's enough. Replace home prayer with bows instead of reading prayers; What word to use to address God, the soul will say. Say what you need. This is in place of Vespers and in place of any other service. If the soul is lethargic and is not strong enough to rise to God on its own, read a prayer from memory... repeating each word several times in order to break the soul as if with a hammer. When the soul goes to the Lord on its own, do not read any memorized prayers, but direct your speech directly to the Lord - starting with thanksgiving for the mercies to yourself, then saying other things that need to be said. The Lord is near! He listens to the word from the heart. God bless you! As for activity, all concern must be paid to the purity of intentions - and immediately corrected if any bad ones sneak in. Then try to remember the Lord as often as possible... That's all... Here is your monastery! Don't look for anything else! It's not built for you! Joasaph - died?! Thank you very much for telling me. He was a holy man! Sufferer for the monastery before Ibrahim Pasha. I'm healthy. Thank the Lord! May you also be healthy, and also cheerful. Fun comes on its own. Nothing can buy it. And the blessed are not far from us... but we have no bliss. Save yourself! And pray to God for us! 1084. More in the case of the planned new court. In defense of the translation of the LXX interpreters. Concern for the printing of interpretations. A note about the need to alternate mental work with handicrafts God's mercy be with you! 145 Is it good that an article is being written in reproach to St. Macarius?! After all, he has an excuse in that it is the Committee, not him. What will you do with everyone? He is not given the final decisive vote, but an equal one to others. He will say: what to do? I spoke, interpreted, shouted, was ready to fight... but everything was decided not my way. That's right. It is very comforting that the bishop’s reviews are so good. We must assume that they will be respected and will not face a stupid trial. But the wolf in the sheepfold is very cunning. He sits and flashes his teeth and looks to see how he can manage to put it on his own. Lord save us! Ave. Jacob Moore. sent me a review from Irkutsk - similar to the Agafangels in strength. And Mosk. Consistory - this one is very short. That times are difficult for Orthodoxy are like two and two. Readings at the Society of Spirit Lovers. Moscow Education published an article about the translation of 70 sense. - not at all Orthodox. The Church of God did not know any other word of God except the 70th interpretation, and when it said that Scripture was inspired by God, it meant Scripture in this translation. All rumors contrary to this are heretical. When you visit the Bishop of Moscow, report to him to teach the editor of the Readings a lesson, but don’t remember what I’m pointing out... I regret that I decided to send the Epistle to the Ephesians there. The First Epistle to the Corinthians is included in “Soulful Reading.” The second is also being interpreted, and one part is already finished - 7 chapters. Instead of lying, it would print some magazine. The shortcomings and excesses are more visible in the press. Talk to me, does Grechulevich want to publish? No conditions: let him give only a hundred copies of reprints. And so that he doesn’t drag, but rather prints. Or do you think that it is better to stop publishing in magazines so that unpublished interpretations can be included in the general publication?! And this comes to my mind. But even that comes: today or tomorrow death... If you die, everything will be lost. Otherwise it will at least be published in magazines. As you order, we will do so. Be an elder in this matter. But I sit and hurry towards the end. I still think that I will have time to get all the messages done this year. I won’t have time, God forbid I live one more year to finish. I wish you all the best from the Lord. God bless you with every blessing! 1085. The fate of the interpretation prints. Fear of being accused of smuggling I hasten to ask you a question – again about typing. Galatians is coming to an end. A bunch of prints were made - from 700. The second to Thessalonians, I gave 500 prints to the Missionary Society, believing that they would slowly send some to the missionaries, some to the diocesan branches of the Missionary Society, with instructions to the bishops to send them to the churches and collect money. I didn’t tell them that, but I assumed that they would figure it out on their own. How are they? They print advertisements and solicit buyers. Meanwhile, interpretation without synodal permission is contraband for sale. Just look, they'll give you a hard time. Tell me now, what should I do with the reprints of Galatians? I can't imagine. I’d be happy to give it back there again, but they’ll print the ad again. And I see how this could lead to immediate disaster. This is what comes to my mind?! Didn’t the Bishop of Moscow talk to the synodals about these smuggled prints... should they be put on sale? And maybe they said: well, let it go. So they print advertisements without fear. If this guess of mine is correct, then there is no need to worry. The Bishop can do the same for the Epistle to the Galatians. So I would like to know whether the bishop did this for the epistle to Thessalonians, and whether he is ready to do the same for the epistle to the Galatians? If you haven’t done it, then you’re not ready to do so, because it might be difficult; then this is what - would he agree to spend the prints on the sly, send them to the bishops in the dioceses and ask them to send them to the churches and take the money, and so that they would do it more willingly, transfer a small part to the coffers of the diocesan societies. The deed will be accomplished soon... and quietly. Do me a favor - take the trouble to find out all this from the Bishop on the sly, so that he doesn’t get angry with me for my timidity. And tell me what you find out. If neither this nor this is inconvenient, then another thing... won’t the Lord say that he will protect both me and the editor from all the arrows of Justice. It would be very desirable for me to give the prints back to the society; but fears stop... Finally, if neither this nor that - what to do? I'll have to throw all the prints into the oven. Please find out all this and tell me. Printing of Galatians ends in April. I wish you all the best from the Lord! 1086. Scattered fears. Author's fatigue and rest. The beginning of work on compiling the 2nd volume of the Philokalia Your two letters gave me complete answers to what I wanted to know. Thank you! I wrote to you because at this time all communication with the world ceases. If there is such a law about printing, then there is no need to worry, I missed this law. And he chickened out. Now I've calmed down. Father Vasily Nechaev knows him, because on the prints of the 2nd last. to Sol. he has already done as you say. I was alarmed by the Tambov residents. There was some kind of printing inspector there, and he issued a note to the editors of Vedomosti that it could not make reprints of the interpretation: the Epistle to the Philippians was printed there and reprints were made. The editors chickened out. and paused; but now she changed her mind and began to print both the interpretation and reprints. What am I doing? I'm kicking my ass. That's why! Cummed through force 2 to Cor. Began to Rome. Such stupidity and heartlessness have set in... that all interest has disappeared, and thoughts are absent, and the pen does not move. I think this is because for a whole year or more everyone has been doing one thing. Sterlets and sterlets - and it became boring. Let's leave it for a while. And in the meantime I decided to prepare the second volume of the Russian “Philokalia”. The first one is already ready. There is Anthony Vel., Macarius Vel., Mark the Ascetic, Isaiah the Hermit, Evagrius... All hermits. In the second there will be all the boarders of the hostel... St. Pachomius, Basil Vel., Cassian, St. Venedikt... and others here among them... A decent volume will be collected. On this I rest, - although here the work is not small... St. Pachomius needs to write the charter again according to the features that are in his life - and in the charter translated by Jerome. And from Basil the Great, we also need to write a charter again, according to the system - this is work! And St. Cassian's translation is a great work, for his Latin is sophisticated - wisdom. St. Benedict, tea, simpler... Only God help. It's a pleasant activity! It must be assumed that it will not be useful to know how monasticism began in the beginning. Be healthy and cheerful. I wish you all the best from the Lord. Pray to God for me. 1087. The enemy primarily attacks the monks How did you manage to speak grandly with the great Lord? But if it’s a righteous cause, then why bother? Be the will of God! It is a pity that your monastery does not console you. And here you have to be patient. The enemy does not tempt the laity. The world stands up for him against them. And there is no one to tempt the world-deniers. Here he is as his own person. And, of course, it comes down to the master and skill. What to do? You have to endure, and pray, and help the cause. If everything was in order everywhere, why would you show difficult work? 1088. Thoughts on the application of ancient monastic rules. News on monastic affairs on Athos, the Caucasus and the Lycian Worlds. Progress of classes on drawing up interpretations I finished the charter of St. Pachomius, - I take up St. Basil the Great's charter, both of them are strict. Tell the prosecutor not to take up arms against the monasteries, but to insist only that the ancient statutes be strictly implemented. Half the monks will run away. But together I think that there will be five times more new zealots, for many do not come to the monastery because they are weak in them. When things become strict, life will be pleasant and monks will come. The news from Athos is comforting. If the Russians are definitely separated, then what else would they want... But then what is the need for the Caucasian region? To alarm the Greeks?! I think that now the news of the Russians’ intention to move to the Caucasus will greatly incline the Greek authorities to grant the Russians an independent life. Help them, Lord! Terrain in the Lycian Worlds! Do they really want a monastery there? That would be nice. Who composes the biography of the saint. Nicholas? Bless, Lord! I am also sending copies of the Epistle to the Galatians. May God grant us to begin our printing. It should take place next year. I'll rest and take up Romans. Let's start with it. Then in a row there are already... to Cor... both - and to Gal... to Eph... to Phil... 1089. Woe of the zealot of the LXX translation. About the collection of ancient statutes I think that you have now returned or will return soon... Now you've had a ride, cleared your head, and have fresh energy. God bless! Have you encountered grief anywhere on the occasion of the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Russian? I grieve and am annoyed, what did the elders invent? Great sin. I am now leafing through the times - the economics of the 70 interpreters. He victoriously defends this translation on all points. I thought about making an extract; but passion, after all - 4 huge books... How soon will you go through them? There is no need to even think about translating them. Do you think it will do any good if you make an extract?! Now I can’t make it soon... After a little... I leave the collection to the people of Athos... But Arseny intervenes here with his own thoughts, which I cannot listen to. Things wouldn't have stopped. Will it do any good if we publish it ourselves? This is something big... 10 books. Statutes of St. Pachomius and St. I chose Vasily. Yes, I translate the statute of St. Venedicta... All these articles are very useful. Add Cassian to them - and enough of that sort. 1090. More about the translation of the Bible from the Hebrew text. Proposal to form a society for the interpretation of the Bible according to the text of the LXX interpreters. On the history of the Russian “Philokalia” You seem to think very lightly about translating the Bible from Hebrew, and this is a matter of great importance, and not in a good way. The Church of God does not know the Hebrew Bible. She received the Bible in the 70th translation from the apostles and has been keeping it to this day. She was also called “God-inspired” wherever this was discussed. So it is at the cathedrals, so it is with all St. Fathers. We have a translation of the Hebrew Bible and it is given to the faithful by the ecclesiastical authority, in addition to the word of God that is in the Church. This last cannot be avoided without condemning it. If the Russian translation gives the word genuine; that word that is in the Church is not genuine. If it is not genuine, then the Church has hitherto not fed us with the true word—bread and chaff. Through this, the reproach of the Bible by 70 interpreters will fall on the Church. The translators spat on this Bible, and splashes of spit fall on the face of the Church. This is a wicked thing! Discord will come out within us. Will buy now. The Bible Society will distribute it quickly. The Orthodox will begin to read, and they will see one thing in the Russian Bible, another in the Church. What from here?! All good things cannot be expected. Among the Greeks, in Athens, a movement began in favor of the Hebrew text. Ekonomos fought them in domestic disputes, and then wrote a book in defense of the translation 70, proving that the true word of God is only this. All the patriarchs sent him letters of approval... These books were printed in the 40s. Here we also had something in favor of the Hebrew Bible. But then the authorities found out - and suppressed everything, and there was no trace left. So, here is the statement of the entire Orthodox Church. Now where does this misfortune come from! There will be discord with the Greeks too! So you see what! And why was it done? It's clearer, isn't it? Not at all. Even darker in many places. So it would be better, instead of this empty matter, to arrange an interpretation of the Slavic Bible, taking into account the times and Hebrew. text, and it would be a very useful thing. Otherwise they invented something that can bring nothing but harm. Anyway, it’s better not to start a dispute about this. A discord may flare up that cannot be extinguished. Here's what's possible. Instead of shouting against the translation, prepare an interpretation of the entire Slavic, or even teaching and prophetic books and publish it cheaper so that it sells more... That’s the opposition. Please think about it, how to arrange it. It takes 100 years for one person to explain everything. Society needs it. I will take the psalter, the proverbs; another prophet, and so on, and in one year we will prepare everything. Then you need to publish it. Again, together - they chipped in, some a ruble, some a half. And publish it cheaper... Who is the busybody and the producer of the whole thing? If you please come closer, I lay my hands on your head and proclaim: axios. First, gather interpreters. There is already one - Ep. Feofan. Please recruit others. In St. Petersburg, in Moscow, all over the universe. There is one condition - to interpret according to 70 interpreters, that is, the word of God, which is in the Church - and also - to agree to a cheap publication, and to work either for nothing, or for an insignificant reward, which is given upon sale; when the recruited interpreters get down to business, you will begin to work to raise money for the publication. About ten interpreters is enough. Well, five... No, you need ten, and even more, in order to quickly interpret and publish. Figured it out, what's the matter? I wrote about this to St. Plato. So he won’t take anything to interpret. We need it quickly. What did you ask about the “Philokalia” - what will be included there? Everything that is in the current “Philokalia”, with the addition of the missing fatherly writings about asceticism... From those fathers who have been translated, make an extract - in the form of theories of asceticism; so take it from St. Ephraim, Isaac the Syrian, from Barsanuphius, from St. Chrysostom, from the Nile. Translate the ladder again with the addition of all the interpretations, Ask. the writings of Maximus the Confessor, Theodore the Studite, Simeon the New Theologian... Of all this, I believe, there will be 10 volumes collected. One is already in use; another is ready - the statutes of St. Pachomius, St. Basil, St. Benedictus - already translated - Cassian's charter is translated. This will all amount to a thick volume or maybe two not thick ones. I told Arseny: print as you like, but now I’ll say that I won’t give up on my plan. Yes, let them print the first part. When it comes to the second one, we’ll pin them down here... Cunning!! But what can we do with the evil ones? Be healthy and cheerful! I am healthy and happy. 1091. New conviction to begin interpreting the Bible according to the text of the LXX interpreters It was forcibly understood that translation from the Hebrew Bible is a considerable evil for Orthodoxy. Thank you for your willingness to act against it. But my plan is completely different from yours. You should not argue at all whether a translation is good or bad, nor expose its errors and inaccuracies. This won't lead to anything, but here's what needs to be done! Sit down and interpret the entire Bible of the Old Testament, or mainly teaching and prophetic books according to 70 interpreters, that is, according to the text that is contained in the Church. Explain as simply and easily as possible for general understanding. And then publish this interpretation as cheaply as possible. These two things must be done by the zealots of Orthodoxy. Do you notice what will come out of here? It turns out that, despite the existence of the Bible translated from Hebrew, everyone will know it, understand it and read it in 70s, because of this interpretation. For the translation from the Hebrew is also unclear in many places. And it requires interpretation. If we quickly offer an interpretation according to the 70, then no one will read that translation, and everyone will rush to our interpreted Bible. In this way, the influence that the Bible in the Russian translation from the Hebrew may have will be prevented or suppressed. Here's my thought! Don’t say anything at all about translation from Hebrew, but work hard on interpreting the Bible as it is in the Church. What is required to perform this proc? 1) Gather interpreters and 2) publish their interpretation cheaper... For which pennies are required. And all these commissions are entrusted to N-lay V-vich. Let him invite the interpreters to interpret; let him find pockets with money, and take this money, and then publish everything... and... amen - the Hebrew Bible... For this there is no need to rummage through the Synod archives: let the mice do all the work there. And sit down and quickly interpret the Bible. Economos, a most learned Greek, wrote in the 40s in defense of the translation of 70 and beat all the Germans. I have his essay... 4 large volumes. You can publish them later. First you need to construct an interpretation - and publish it. Enter into these thoughts - and arrange the fulfillment of the next one according to them. Be healthy and cheerful. I wish you all the best from the Lord. God bless you with every blessing. 1092. Among the concerns about restoring the authority of LXX. About the publication of an apologetic journal I'm still waiting for you to return to St. Petersburg; and you are probably waiting for me to answer your letters. So there was a pause. What has finally been invented about what we began to be so ardently jealous of? That’s right, let’s get angry, get angry, and that’s where we’ll sit. Where can you find workers? Vyshinets - carry, carry, and himself under the cart. Should I tell him: sit down and write, what’s all this fuss about? So no. He wants to rake in the heat with someone else's hands. I repent what to do. I got so lazy that I didn’t want to pick up a pen. You sit down as if to work; but if you turn the paper this way and that, you’ll throw it away. And he went wandering from corner to corner. But I read diligently. Perhaps, God willing, the desire to write will come. The Reverend Plato wanted to forward my papers to “Soulful Reading.” It would be good if they printed it. Maybe someone else has thought of it. Although only the tops are said there; but in short - that's the whole point. The progressives will raise their voices. We will sit behind the Church. The translation of the Hebrew Bible brings criticism to the Church. There is nothing to say against this. We will only stand on this: why did they bring someone else’s Bible into the Church?! The Moscow priests will do something about the apologist. It would be nice if God would help me start this magazine. In the West, since the revival of pagan wisdom (pagan classics), many infidels of all kinds have appeared. They wrote against them. There is a whole library of these writings. Abbot Migne published them - in 20 books - in his usual format. The idea comes to us - to review these books, extracting everything that is useful for us. But what to do with the extraction? Our magazines are kind of tricky. Lord, have mercy on us! The thought comes to me: why do I care about all this?! Sit and pull your rosary. God will arrange things without you. That would be nice. Lie down and don't lead your ears! Bliss!!! 1093. Replies to the opinions of St. Agafangel. An article in defense of the LXX translation, indicating the harm that may result from the distribution of the published translation from the Hebrew Replies to the opinions of the Right Reverend Agafangel 146 a) The late Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow 147 in his well-known article on the use of translation 70 says that the current Jewish text cannot be trusted because it is damaged. The late Metropolitan of Kyiv is of a similar opinion. There is no doubt that the text is damaged. Where will the credibility of the Bible translation from this text come from? The fact that this translation was made with knowledge and good intentions does not revive confidence in it. The point is not about the dignity of the translation, as a translation, but about the dignity of the text from which the translation was made. b) This is the crux of the matter. If the Hebrew text gives us words as they came from the mouths of inspired men, then, no doubt, it must be preferred to any other. But the fact of the matter is that this text is no longer what it was originally. This is a new text, damaged and changed by the Masorets in the 5th–6th centuries, and further, after the Nativity of Christ, and in this damaged form it is offered to us. Text 70, Greek, although there is only a translation from the original verbs of the Spirit, but as the translation that is closest to them and faithful to them - made three centuries BC, according to a special providential dispensation of God, not by just anyone, but by men specially chosen for this purpose, it should be accepted with equal confidence and in equal dignity, like the original Hebrew text, as it came from the hands of the prophets. This is how it was accepted initially, following the translation, and was constantly subsequently accepted by Jews, not only scattered throughout the Greek regions and speaking Greek, but also Palestinian. This lasted until the coming of the Lord and the spread of the Gospel by the apostles. Both texts ran in parallel. Evidence - Josephus and Philemon: both of them accepted both texts with equal dignity. But after the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jews, the Hebrew text, for various reasons, began to deteriorate. From the second century it began to be read differently and understood differently. Everyone read it in their own way and understood it in their own way. Proof of this is the new translations from Hebrew into Greek made in the second century by Aquila, Symmachus and Theodotion, whose translations are different from each other. This means that they read and understood the Hebrew Bible differently. They also disagree with the current text in many ways: which means that the Hebrew text, which changed before them, continued to change after them. The further, the more the Jewish text is damaged, and its distance from the original Hebrew text, which was given by inspired men, has become very large. At this distance, the masorettes took him and secured him there. The Greek text remained in its original full correspondence with the prophetic verbs. Now judge for yourself where the verbs of the Spirit are stored - in the Masoretic Hebrew Bible or in the Greek 70 interpreters? The Greek Bible is preferred to the Hebrew Bible - not the one that was originally and which no longer exists, but the one that the masorets impose on us - the corrupted Bible. It’s obvious which side you should lean on. c) The Lord did not reproach the Jews for damaging the text, because it was not damaged then; It was not damaged even in the time of the apostles. That’s why there was no mention of it. It started to deteriorate after that. But the Apostle Paul, walking through the Jewish synagogues in the Greek regions, everywhere read the Bible from the Greek translation. Since the words of the apostles from the Old Testament are similar to the current Greek, this is a clear sign that he remained intact, and remains intact to this day. d) “The Orthodox Church,” it is written, “did not use the Hebrew Bible because it rejected its dignity.” Why would she do this; but since she did not use it, then we should not reach for it, even if it was not damaged, and even more so when it is damaged. If this non-use of one and the use of another Bible took place in the same century, it could be explained by some accident; But as this has been going on throughout the entire existence of the Church, who does not see in this the fundamental law of the Church, from which to depart means the same as to shake the foundations of Church life. As if the Greek Bible of the 70th translation became so common in the Church because of the predominant number of believers from the Greeks, this is not true. Many peoples entered the Church. The main ones, besides the Greeks, are the Romans, Syrians, Egyptians, Armenians, etc. All of them soon stocked up on Bibles of the Old Testament, but all from Greek 70, and not from Hebrew, the Romans translated it at the end of the first century (Itala), the Sirians - in the second (Peshito); behind them are other nations, and all from 70. Tell me: was it easier to translate from this language?! It may be easier for the Romans, but not for the Syrians and other eastern peoples, whose languages ​​are similar to Hebrew. And from this it is clear that it was not because of the predominance of the Greeks that the use of the Bible 70 in the church was so generalized, but because of something else - because, I believe, that it was the true word of God and that therefore the Lord was pleased to make it the vital element of His Church, setting aside the Hebrew Bible. e) “The Lord and the apostles used either the Hebrew text or the Greek.” Compare. Economos writes out 238 passages from the Old Testament, cited by the apostles in the new. From this number of texts, the most zealous detractors of the text 70 could extract only 22 texts, given, in their opinion, from the Hebrew text. But Economos, having explained the matter, came to the conclusion that out of 22 texts, 11 seem only to be taken from the Hebrew text, but in fact they were taken from the Greek; 7 texts are dubious, that is, you can argue and pull them either to the Hebrew or to the Greek Bible. And only four texts are undoubtedly taken from the Hebrew Bible. After this, is it worth remembering that the New Testament writers also used the Hebrew text? And is it possible to draw any conclusion from this in favor of this latter? Add to this the fact that in the apostolic writings, in addition to these 238 passages cited with the meaning: it is written, there are a great many phrases and figures of speech that are obviously taken from the Old Testament writings, but without indicating that they were taken from Scripture. All of them are not according to the Hebrew, but according to the Greek text. Economos selected up to a thousand such places. From this it is clear that the New Testament is completely imbued with the Old, only not according to the Hebrew, but according to the Greek text. The Lord's words on the Cross do not defend the Hebrew text. f) As if the Holy Church also used the Hebrew Bible. Where is it and when? Some writers sometimes referred to this text - and then only in special cases. But writers are not the Church. In the cathedrals the Church acted and spoke; but did any of them understand the Hebrew Bible?! Take writers too, but as a whole, not in fragments. How much did St. write? Chrysostom? But in his writings there are 5-10 places in which he refers to the Hebrew Bible, and then not with a preference for its Bible over the Greek, but only for considerations. The same ratio of the use of passages from the Hebrew Bible is found in other writers. What conclusion can be drawn from this state of affairs in favor of the Hebrew Bible? None. Some writers of the Church referred to the Hebrew Bible; That’s why we can sometimes relate to it, not out of preference for its Greek, but for considerations. And that's all. Take everything together - 18 1/2 centuries and thousands of church writers. They all used the Bible of the 70. Here and there someone else will buzz in Hebrew. Can this be used as a justification for translating the entire Bible from the Hebrew in preference to the Greek? Economos reviews all the fathers and finds that, starting with the apostolic men, they all knew only the Greek Bible. St. Barnabas cites up to 70 passages from the Old Testament, and all according to the Greek text. Ignatius the God-Bearer does the same, and so does Clement of Rome and St. Polycarp. St. Augustine (26) argues with a Jew, and quotes all the texts from the Greek Bible... And so on throughout the history of the Church. From this list it directly follows that the Orthodox Church truly did not know the Hebrew Bible. Church writers are the intelligentsia of the Church. If she barely glanced sideways at this Bible, what can be said about the entire body of the Church? g) That the Church knew the Hebrew Bible is evidenced by the attempts of the Russian Church. But the Russian Church is not the whole Orthodox Church, but a part of it. It can deviate from the truth and is subject in this regard to the corrective suggestions of other Churches. Was it the Russian Church that made these attempts? No, some people. Moreover, it is not true that our previous translators corrected the text of the Slavic Bible from the Hebrew. Read the history of the publication of the Bible under Elizabeth (Orthodox Review, 1860). All care was taken to ensure that the Slavic translation was in exact accordance with the Greek Bible. This was indicated by the royal decrees, this was suggested by the Holy Synod, this was what the translators had in mind. They began to print the Bible after bringing its translation into full agreement with the Greek. Then, having printed this Bible, readings began to be printed in church books based on this new translation. A sign that he was recognized as completely agreeing with the text used in the Church - and this one was Greek. It is true that the translators translated several passages closer to the Hebrew text. But they did this because they found in the readings of the Greek text readings that corresponded to it, and not out of respect for the Hebrew text. That Russians should honor the Greek Bible more than the Hebrew Bible, this is what Metropolitan instills in them. Filaret in the article you know. His main idea is: the main text, which must be adhered to, must be Slavic, fully consistent with Greek; but sometimes you can turn to the Hebrew Bible. You can contact - whoever argues. But to whom? Scientists - when solving problems, interpreters - when interpreting. Other Christians will use only the results of these studies. But I don’t know how to let the entire Bible into the masses of people translated from Hebrew. h) Slavic and Greek texts are in many ways incomprehensible. True, what can we do when the original Hebrew text, which came out of the hands of the prophets, was not entirely clear?! Would you like to re-compose it to make it clearer? The apostolic writings are also incomprehensible; but who will re-compose them. The Masorets began to clarify the original Bible and composed a new one, which, although clearer, is not the real one. In the article by Bishop Philaret there is a phrase: what is the use of a clear lie? To eliminate ambiguity, there is an interpretation. It is expected, not translation. For the translation is still not the end and requires explanation. “It’s not a problem,” it goes on, “that the Greek, and the Slavic text based on it, are used in the Church.” Amazing speech! Can we say that there is no harm in the fact that we have always been used by everyone and everywhere in the Church? Yes, this is the basis and salvation of the Church. Only someone who has become completely delusional and numb can say this. A condescending gift is expressed to the Church of God, but it doesn’t matter that it uses Greek and Slavic text. It is assumed that it should be Jewish, but let, for the sake of your infancy, you, Orthodox Church, use Greek and Slavic. Stupid Protestantism thinks of us that way. This matches her pride: why should we take abuse from her for ourselves. i) “The translation was not made for use in the Church.” What – the Church? Are the stone buildings and liturgical books dead or the body of believers? Of course, the latter. Consequently, when a translation is released into the environment of Christianity, it is released into the Church. And what if this translation contains the poison of lies? Then it will mean that through him poison has been introduced into the healthy body of our Church. It would be nothing if, reading the Slavic Bible and encountering darkness in it, someone turned to the Russian translation and found the darkness clarified there. But what will he think when in the Russian translation he encounters something completely different, not only different, but also contrary to what he reads in the Slavic? This cannot but shake faith. The Word of God cannot speak one way or another: it is one. Because - or the Hebrew Bible speaks right - and then it must be followed; or Greek - and then the Jewish one must be abandoned. When, leaving the readings on the Greek text in the church books, they give into the hands a Jewish one, different from that one, what is imposed through this on the mind? If it cannot be said that there is truth here and there, then wouldn’t it be more direct to say that it is neither there nor here, that is, to throw away all the Bible and turn away from all revelation. Anyone who, leaning toward translation, begins to think that there is no truth in the Church Bible cannot free himself from the temptation that the Church does not teach the truth, that this truth must be sought elsewhere, and will abandon the Church. And whoever is more decisive will abandon all faith. I cannot expect any benefit from translating the Bible. It causes harm, and great harm. We have a law: when understanding the word of God, turn to St. Fathers. The Holy Fathers interpreted the Scripture as it is in the translation of the 70. Consequently, the new translation deprives us of the ability to understand the word of God in the Orthodox way, for it gives a different text from the one used by the saints. Fathers. Translation moves us off the ground. New thoughts, a new Church, a new era - that’s what translation brings! j) This is the only benefit of translation. There is no point in reaching for foreign and heterodox Bibles now: we have our own. But the question is: who will read it more, the educated or the simple? It seems like the last ones. The latter will only notice the difference between this translation and the Church Bible. If harm occurs from seeing this difference, then the latter will experience all of it. Weigh each one and see whether there is more harm or benefit from the new translation. j) Who will compare the new translation with Pavsky’s translation and its lithographed edition? But that's it! It is said about him that the translators looked at both the Bible - that is, both the Greek and the Hebrew, and in the translation they were consistent with one or the other, choosing from there, then from here, what seemed more suitable to them. I haven't tested it in this regard; but if this is true, it means that in translation we are given neither the Greek nor the Hebrew Bible, but a mixture of both - the newly composed Bible. I think this is even worse. k) A judgment was made very hastily about Economos. Four volumes, each more than a thousand pages long, are very difficult to fill with little details. It is true that he analyzes the matter to the smallest detail; but that doesn't mean he's got all the little things. When the Greek kingdom was established, due to the heterodoxy of the king and queen, many infidels gathered there and began to attack the Greek Bible. The fashionable Greeks, the scientists, also got carried away. Economos first fought them at home and killed them all. Then he went to Europe, examined all the libraries, extracted everything related to the translation of the 70 and the Hebrew text, and then presented everything he had collected at length. As a result, he comes up with: the Hebrew text is worthless; the real word of God is stored only in the Greek Bible of the 70s. And the Orthodox should stick to only this last one, and let that one (Heb.) lie on the side as a help. His work is capital work. You can't take him lightly. All the patriarchs wrote letters to him and approved of his views. This is in the 40s. At the same time, the Jewish Bible was also persecuted from us. This is the expression of the voice of the entire Church! l) You can treat the new translation with gratitude; but it cannot be considered the most authentic. Moreover, could it be possible to do something better for the Church of God than this translation? I think it would be better to publish a translation of the Bible from Greek, with comments under the line for understanding the unclear. If this were the Church Bible, the Orthodox, listening to the word of God in church, and then, coming home, reading the same thing in the Russian translation, would rejoice. And now what a joy it is to hear one thing in church and read something else at home? I believe that this should make the heart ache and bewilderment. They decided to give the Orthodox word of God in Russian translation. Good deed! Translated the New Testament. Where did you get the text? In the Church. It seems that when starting to translate the Old Testament, it was also necessary to take the text that is contained in the Orthodox Church. And they took him, they don’t know where. What is the reason? No matter how they interpret it, translators cannot avoid the reproach of contempt for the Bible existing in the Church. They bypassed this Bible, which gave the idea that, according to their convictions, this Bible is not worth the trouble of translating it. They humiliated and spat on her as unfit for business. This is the same as it is impolite to turn your back on someone else. Can this be tolerated, and can it remain without harmful consequences? Contempt for the Bible, contained by the Church, is contempt for the Church... What example is being set?! The translators cannot get away with this, that is, that they despised the Bible existing in the Church and spat on it. If they had translated first from Greek, and then published a translation from Hebrew, it would have had a completely different meaning. Then, probably, we could say that the translation from Hebrew was made as an aid to understanding the Greek or Slavic Bible and has interpretive value. Now the publication of this translation cannot but leave the impression that the Greek Bible of the 70s has been recognized as worthless. 1094. When sending books. Various answers and messages Well, that's about it. Nechaev published article 148. I am sending you the prints. Here is the interpretation of the letter to the Philippians. Give reprints of the article heels to Stepan Anisimovich Burachk 149 and three copies of the interpretation of the message: he now has three families. Give Askochensky one piece each - both the interpretation and the reprint. Sorry for causing trouble. If necessary, please pass it on somehow. Afonets Arseniy – he keeps inventing different things. I finally write to him that I don’t want him to print - I’ll get ready myself somehow - and ask him to return the manuscript. When he returns, then we’ll think about how to arrange this matter. And if he doesn’t return it, promising to print what and how he was given, then, of course, he should be given the printing. I don’t know anything about the union... and I’m a very bad historian. Koyalovich, the academy inspector, knows this story well. You would talk to him if you don’t go against him. He also printed one part in front of me. Whether I continued printing, I don’t know. The Church has always been governed by a council. Councils wrote laws, and shepherds carried them out, and thus ruled the Church. To interpret the Psalter - maybe the hunt will come. And I’ll sit down to begin. Otherwise we’re just writing plans, but there’s no action. You can print in parts - 50 psalms. The interpretation is not broad. His Eminence Porfiry translated the Psalter from Greek and published it in the “Proceedings of the Kyiv Academy”. He's from Kostroma. If only he had thought of translating the entire Old Testament!.. I'm healthy. God bless. I wish you all the best from the Lord! 1095. More on the case of protecting the LXX translation I looked through what was written by the Most Reverend Agafangel and made my notes 150, which will be included in the heavy version - with an appendix and brochures of my article. I forgot to mention one thing: the prophecies are clearer. But they are generally clear even in 70 people. The Jews, however, distorted whatever prophecies they could, especially those cited by the apostle. I remember one thing: do not let Your venerable one see corruption. Among the Jews: you will not allow your saints to see the tomb or the ditch... There are many such misinterpretations. You can take up the Psalter. Laziness overcomes everything, but maybe. I'm preparing for debate by re-reading Economos. What a wonderful husband this Economos is! How does he sharpen the crafty Protestantism?!.. It’s not convenient for me to have a conversation with the Most Reverend Agathangel. He is outdated in his opinions on this subject, and it is difficult to talk him down. Be healthy and cheerful! I wish you all the best from the Lord! Send a reprint of Zederholm's article. I don’t have the 1874 “Soulful Reading.” 1096. After reading the critical article by prof. Gorsky on the question of the comparative merits of the texts of the Jewish and LXX commentaries I received your two letters together. “Orthodox Review” came immediately. The first impression of her is very unpleasant. And I didn’t think to answer. He got everything mixed up. And he refutes his idea about the exceptional significance of the translation of the 70. But further, while analyzing my points, he made some bad turns of phrase. There is no trace of answering him based on his tone. I think, in addition to him, I should write some additions to my article, which will contain the answer. You cannot baptize children with Gorsky himself. But it is necessary to discourage the bad impression that his article may leave. This can be done soon, but it will hardly make it into the January “Readings” book. But I'll hurry. Gorsky’s speech is not worth a serious answer. Read more carefully and you will see. She fogs the first time. I am returning Lavrov’s letter. He is Orthodox. And there are many like that: but the whole teaching has almost become hypnotic. I'm healthy. The cold makes it difficult to go out onto the balcony. If you go, you will always catch a cold. And my catarrh will begin to torment me. So you’re not going to the yard. The trouble is not great. You'll feel a little saltier. There's a holiday in the yard. Congratulations. Congratulate those you know who come to hand. 1097. Decision not to respond to Gorsky’s article. Plans to protect the LXX translation I mustered up the strength to send you the money you spent on me. They will come in a special package. Thank you. I won’t write a response to Gorsky. I quit a long time ago. And I will add to the previous article a few lines similar to those written in response to His Eminence Agafangel. They will clear up the whole matter. It is inconvenient for Gorsky to answer because of his many turns of speech that cannot be missed, and if you touch him, you will enter into an argument similar to the abuse of merchant women. It occurred to me to sit down and translate the Bible 70 times from the Greek, with comments justifying the Greek text and condemning the Hebrew. I don’t know whether this will work, but it’s stuck in my head and is spinning. I can hear that Mr. I-r is angry with me for the article. Why be angry? I wrote to him about everything from Tambov. There was no answer. And now at first I thought of writing to him, but I changed my mind. You will only tie yourself down, but there will be no point. So I decided to call out to him in addition to him. If you heard something, don’t hide it. I will send my addition to “Soulful Reading” - in January. It will be published in the February book. In the January issue, he asked to print that there would be no answer to Gorsky, due to his great scholarship. God bless you and have mercy! 1098. In the same case and on different subjects I’ll write and write a few lines, in addition to the previous article 151. The first is an extract from the article of the deceased Bishop of Moscow. The second is from Economos: what kind of Bible was in the hands of the apostles? Which one did they pass on to the Church and which does the Church always use? Third, how do they look at Jewishness in the East today? These articles will be very sufficient to explain the matter. There is no need to list the damage to the Masoretic Bible, that is, the current Jewish Bible. This is a long song and controversial. You won't get to the end. One this way, the other another. Father Arseny is there with you?! And I wrote to him on Athos, through Odessa. Maybe the letter will reach him. But when it comes, please tell him that I am not at all averse to him publishing the collection. Therefore, to return the manuscript to me, let him wait until he receives that letter. There are conditions spelled out there that disagree with his ideas. What money did you send, what was the loss... Use it where you know. I never hold back money and unwind everything. So keep them when they happen. Please send the service for the 25th that you wrote about. It is very advisable to see what the essence of the matter is. By the way, also include notes on it. Please inquire whether the Synod shops have the Greek Bible, published by the Synodal Printing House in 1820. This is the Alexandrian text. I have the Vatican one, and the Tischendorff one, but I don’t have this one. Help me, please, I need to write her out. The Psalter was translated from Greek by Rev. Porfiry. Published in Proceedings. He is your fellow countryman. Order him to publish it separately. 1099. The saint's author's selflessness. Request to send paints I warned you - in response to your proposal! Let them print. They give me two hundred copies, but they want to send me money, but they don’t want to. This is not included in my calculation. I yield to them this prayer for the sake of my many sins, and not for the sake of profit. So I wrote to Odessa to Fr. Arseny - but he wants the collection to be given over to the monastery forever. This cannot be resolved now. We need to finish it, then think about a concession. Write the preface you want. I forgot which one I wrote. I remember something was promised there. Wouldn't it be better to throw it away? About the money sent to me. When you have extra ones, you find something you need, buy it and send it. Currently I need a set of watercolor paints of the best quality - the smallest - with 6 colors, but the most well prepared. In a box, and with the necessary accessories. Let o. Arseny will give me such a treasure. I wish you all the best from the Lord. Bow to Fr. Arseny. I have not yet received the January book “Soulful Reading”; When I receive it, I will send my new lines. How not to irritate your St. Petersburg officials. 1100. About changes in the service on December 25. Postponement of writing a controversial article I received what was sent! Thank you. It is a pity that important lines are omitted from the service or the prayer itself, but this does not cause any harm. Omitted, excellently done for St. Petersburg and for foreign missions. It is very awkward for the French and Germans who understand Russian speech to hear - they are boiy and beastly, and so on. - but I think that this could be expressed differently, but the main idea can be maintained, because it is very edifying. But how it’s done; let it. Liturgical articles are not inspired writings. They can be changed without sinning - meaning only creation, and not destruction. The Bible that I asked you to inquire about is not this one that you sent, but a Greek one, published by some Greeks (I think the Lazarides) in Moscow - in the year 20 or so. Please search. It is from the Codex Alexandria. I have the Vatican one. There is also Tischendorf's - Sinai. But this one is not there, but it would be desirable to have it. What I promised to add to the previous article has not yet been written; and will not have time to be written even for the March book. It's almost over now. I won't rush. I will send the April one in March. With fasting, with a lean stomach, there is more rage - both strength and effect. There is no need to rush; We’ll still have time to get enough, with whom we should. Send the preface to the collection. The name of the collector should not be used. To mean only – publication of the Athos people. It will be more impressive. Arseny wrote and sent paints; but too much. All good things. Congratulations on your post. Be healthy and cheerful. I wish you all the best from the Lord. 1103. To receive a book with content hostile to monasteries I was late in replying to your last letter. I was waiting for a book that was moving lazily. So this is a treasure! I haven't re-read it yet. But I’ll tell you in advance that how should someone living in the outback answer this question? Where can I get numbers versus numbers? Will a magpie on its tail bring it? Let the local rulers order the abbots to write detailed articles about the property of the monasteries, and order them to be published in the Diocesan Gazette. That's it! Where is the Synod looking? Where is the prosecutor looking? Why don't the synodal people force him to do so? All concessions and concessions. Here the theaters are open during Lent: what did the synodal say against this?!.. If everyone gives in like this, then, perhaps, they will become reluctant to destroy monasticism. Autocracy plays out when it does not meet opposition. It's everywhere! And from the government itself. But what will happen if the monasteries are closed? Monasticism is not connected to monasteries, like the soul is to the body. In another way they will begin to monk. Like blueberries, like old cave dwellers or beekeepers. Workers will form houses - and live like monks - just like the Arzamas community and the like were born. Maybe it will be better. Because there is nothing to be horrified here. God's will be done. They did not honor the monasteries because they did not honor the monks; and they did not honor the monks because we, the monks, became worthless. I judge by myself. I should be kicked out of the monastery with a log. We need to lift our monastic spirit. But how? The great elders, the founders of the monasteries, foresaw this... There is nothing to do. The spirit of the world takes power! Covers everyone. And that's where the root is. The Synod must oppose him... Lord have mercy on us. I wrote for “Soulful Reading,” but it didn’t make it into the April book, but it will be in the May book. He also wrote a few lines in the Church Bulletin. I don't know if this will be published. After reviewing the book, I’ll take a look, maybe and write something. 1104. Upon the publication of an article in defense of the translation of LXX. Various answers and reviews We finally got the article. I also received prints. I'll send you more. Give it to someone. Will it give birth to something? Which Gorsky will he call? The Church Messenger doesn't print something. Meanwhile, the matter is spelled out there, although not widely. Perhaps the editor cannot print it manually due to the fact that the head of the translation is in charge. So run to him sometime and take it. Where should she go? I think you should send it there, to “Soulful Reading.” I am writing about this to Fr. Vasily. And afterwards I will always insist that the Church should listen, and its direction should not be changed. Koretskaya is ruining everything for you. What to do? Work hard. I don’t know a single beauties who would be fit to be an abbess. This is a tricky thing! However, do not rush into changes... Slowly, so that there is less noise... Is there a serviceable abbess somewhere? Then it is easier to change than to replace. Dissenters are stirring up trouble among our legislators. Let them guess what they guess. But they want to give the Molokans something they don’t need. The Molokans are not harmless... just like the Bespopovtsy and the Stundists. Turkey will definitely be in trouble. But I'm afraid that my European friends will fight. They’ll start shouting: but for me, and for me, and chaos will ensue. God forbid. I am healthy, and I wish the same for you, with the addition of constant calm and cheerfulness. A lust was born - to see what the “Citizen” was - and sent money, a long, long time ago. There was a month-long ban on Citizen, but it must have ended already. But they still don’t send Citizen. If you pass by this gentleman, give him a push in the side and say: what the heck! 1105. Urges to travel. More to the case of the defense of the Greek text against the “Mazoretchina” Why are you silent?! That's right, you're walking around somewhere. What happiness it is for people to go for a walk! and I get spanked often. So he would have given up - then to Voronezh and Zadonsk, then to Kyiv, then to Athos, then even to Jerusalem. This is the kind of restlessness that is instilled in someone who has retired. Is it on the right or on the left? Please take it apart. “Soulful Reading” printed what was sent. Reprints were promised, but there are none yet. I'll send it when I receive it. I also wrote to the academy, to the Church Bulletin. I don’t know if they will print it? If they don’t print it, I asked that the piece of paper be passed on to you, and I ask you to take it and take care of it, in case it’s suitable for somewhere else. And it can be found in “Soulful Reading”. I don't want to argue that much. The Masorettes are all torn apart from the effort. My St. Petersburg leaf does not speak precisely about this - that is, that there is no need for them to pout and praise their masorets. The strength is not in the fact that there is less Jewish here and there, but in the kind of Bible the Church had in its hands. And they are all their own... letters and letters. Is the Philokalia making progress? I wish him success. But don’t announce the collection. O. Arseny wrote that he begged the entire guardianship to accept you. God help you! I am healthy, and henceforth I trust in the Lord. The ruler of Kyiv has lost his spirit! Before you know it, they’ll call you. It is proper to do things before the day is over. 1106. When sending reprints of a defense article. Answer about mental prayer, schismatics and other subjects I am sending you reprints of the article in “Soulful Reading.” Give Stepan Onisimovich - 5 or 10 - to distribute... and distribute it yourself... to whomever you know. In the “Church Bulletin” he also wrote more broadly about the same thing. Whenever they published it! How has mental prayer been since the 9th century? - mental prayer from time immemorial. There is no other prayer than smart prayer. We were not talking about mental prayer, but about the artistic production of the Jesus Prayer - which is unjustly called mental prayer. When the mind talks with God in the heart, that is mental prayer! Art of any kind should not be mixed into this matter. And this article should be completely abandoned. Don't argue or mention her. “Philokalia” proceeds very lazily... And this should shame St. Petersburg. For me, however, it’s all the same. It's hot here and I'm lazy. However, I wrote some of the 118 ps for the sake of conversation... and now I’m adding little by little to the Romans. "Citizen" is sent. Yes, he is a good person. God bless him... He would have waved something - about the Bible... Or you will extract what comes to mind from the article in “Soul. Thu." and give it to him. He remembered something about it. But neither this nor that. He needs to speak Orthodox. About schismatics - or benefits for them! Maybe for the better. There will be someone to act on them through. We must allow them to run their own seminary and academy; - drops will come from these - and turn everything upside down... schismatic, I mean. The split is maintained by extreme ignorance. When the conditions of salvation become clear, it will also become clear that all schismatic dogmas are not dogmas, but wasteland! And the end of the split. It is in vain that the Molokans and Stundists are included in the schism. These are our Protestants! The inconveniences you encounter serve as proof that your deeds are not bad and salty for the enemy. He raises mountains of obstacles. Take heart and be strong! Be healthy and cheerful! Why didn’t you tell me anything about the Greek Bible - the Alexandrian Bible, published here by the Lazarids - in the 20s! Where can I get it? And how! It seems she was in the synod shops. Look. Bless you, Lord, with Your all-generous blessing! 1109. About the archimandrite. Lawrence You congratulate me on my name day. Thank you for your well-wishes, but I am celebrating a birthday during Lent – ​​in March. Let's count it forward. I know the least about Father Father Lawrence 152. I visited him often at the academy; but there was almost never any talk about his circumstances. Usually, the way you saw him is how he always is. The main thing about it is freedom from anger. An image of meekness. I have never seen him angry. Sometimes he will seem to speak angrily, but the tone of his speech always betrays him and shows that he is pouting to get angry, but does not know how. I didn’t find him in the seminary anymore, or I was in literature, as it was then, and didn’t raise my attention to theologians. At the academy he lived very secludedly and hardly went anywhere. All houses and houses. When there is a holiday of fellowship, he will say... I’ll come, I’ll come... and the next day he will apologize; I was about to get ready, but they stopped me... Frakov couldn’t stand it, he kept scolding them and made up a shameful story about them. He was more fasting... and his face seemed full, but his body was almost gone. There’s no stomach,” he burst in. When he put on a tailcoat, he came out looking like a board, dressed... The cassock and cassock brightened everything up... And he became plump. The first and last weeks - once I only dined on Wednesday on the first... And on Holy Day - on Wednesday and Thursday - and in general the food was meager, even though they had a common table. I kept getting ready to get married... Tea, I was choosing two brides. No, it didn’t work... The late Bishop Philaret used to return from St. Petersburg and when we met he would say: well, Makarov, he came to tonsure you. Just kidding! And he cut his hair. We often went to the Lavra... On Sundays and holidays... The professors all treated him with respect... He was a man of advice - and consolation. I can't say anything more. Wonderful husband! About mental prayer... It would be good to write, but I lack the strength. This needs to be done by a prayer husband. Here the Right Reverend Ignatius wrote: Let them be content with this... And Macarius of Optina in one letter treated very unfavorably... to those who cling to this matter with pretentious methods. If you start telling the truth, you need to blaspheme these methods... But then they will curse you... and kill you from the world. It's better to remain silent. Who is the Optina resident you are waiting for? Isn't it Zederholm? What's his name? And why did he not once remember the great sinner? God help you finish this collection. It's time! It's time! What about Arseny? Have you lost trust, or are you needed there?! What's not going? 1110. When sending a new preface for a spiritual collection. About my written works. Request for the “Russian Archive” The previous preface is no good. Somehow I scraped together a new one, and although it’s not pretty either, it’s still better than the old one, at least more humble. I forward it, and humbly ask you to print it instead of the previous one, which is under the bench. I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add the following at the end: “We accompany our collection with a sincere desire that lovers of spiritual reading will find in it what the compiler wanted to put into it for them” (one must certainly add). It seems that it needs to be added: otherwise the speech is left there, as if without end. As for the originator’s signature, it should not be there under any form. This was part of the conditions for transferring the publication to the people of Athos. Your proposal to compile an alphabetical index of instructions is a good deed. But I think that this should be done at the end of the entire publication; here it will be scarce for now. And it’s a lot of work. After all, this is Egyptian work. In the end, if I'm lazy, we'll find someone. Anything is necessary then, not now. Also - in the series of sheets sent - there are missing - 15, 16, 17, 18 - from pages 224 to 289... Order them to be sent as soon as possible. I’ll postpone the review until then so that I can review everything in one breath. One book is coming to an end. If this goes well, we need to hurry with the publication of the second: which is all ready... The Charter of St. Cassian was already published in the Tambov Gazette. I thought of publishing it as a special book, but it is already being published. Why is the statute printed in a series of statutes, but we will extract from the rest and place it in the third or further book. What interests me most is to bring into the system memorable legends, Lavsaik, Limonar, the history of the God-lovers. Patericon of the edition of “Soulful Reading” - and mine from St. Savva... It will be, as I imagine, something very complete... A complete picture of ascetic life. But this is work, maybe for a whole year, or maybe more than one. The sayings are all edifying; but when they are arranged, they appear like a pile of sand. It will be good to unite them or combine them, like cement, with some kind of plan... Everything will fall into place... In the present, 1 Corinthians is over. I sent the second one. For he goes to the Romans lazily... stopped at the 7th chapter.... Here he goes again at a snail's pace. I’m thinking of starting a full edition when I’ve finished all the messages. Then we will devote all our diligence to correcting them. And death is behind us. Lord have mercy! Well - what to do? Then someone will finish the unfinished work. Do me a favor, help me. Here's the thing. It would be desirable for me to have the “Russian Archive” in its entirety... since 1971 I have been ordering from the publisher, and from the first years - the publisher sends me to receive it from someone in St. Petersburg, in Apraksin Dvor, from the bookseller Vaganov - but does not prescribe the conditions... at what price and how to send it. Run by this gentleman in passing, inquire and tell me. Is it possible to get other publications there under the “Archive” that were former, separate from the “Archive”... 18th century... Of the previous years up to 71, I only have the 67th and 68th... Congratulations on your post. Be healthy and cheerful. I wish you all the best from the Lord. And I forgot: in the titles there is no need to mention something new... but simply: “Philokalia”, in the Russian translation, with additions to it. Price – 3 rubles, expensive. 1111. The saint’s anxiety upon hearing about a German article about the Holy Trinity published in a spiritual journal N-lay V-vich! Let competent people take up the article about the Holy Trinity. There they came out - the minutes of the St. Petersburg department of lovers of spiritual enlightenment with some additions of German articles about the Holy Trinity... Send it to me as soon as possible. There is definitely something unclean there... Bring others to this book so that they will pay attention. The Germans cannot reason in the Orthodox way. Everyone lies. That’s right, and Lange, who was placed there, is lying. They have everything... God is developing. The developing God is not God: for such at every moment becomes not what he was. And the true God is always what is... 1112. About the same thing. God cannot be called evolving N-lay V-vich! Why are you sending me “Christian Reading”? I asked you to send not this, but a collection of protocols of St. Petersburg zealots of spiritual enlightenment... to which is attached, in translation, an article by the German theologian Lange on the difference between the Orthodox teaching about the Holy Trinity and German wisdom. I suppose that in this part of that collection there is a kind of wisdom similar to that in the article in “Christian Reading”. So send me this. This book is sold by Korablev. Instruct him to send it as soon as possible. And “Christian. Thu." I'll return it to you. As for the article in “Christian Reading,” it does not require a strict refutation, but only a reminder that God cannot be called developing. The whole article is based on this. Whatever the line, God is evolving. The God of the developing is not God. And if the Holy Trinity is explained from the concept of the development of the essence of deity, then we must assume that first the Son manifested itself, then the Holy Spirit... And a moment of time will enter into the relationship of the persons of the Most Holy Trinity... which degrades the Orthodox teaching... For according to this teaching, God is always the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Neither the Son nor the Spirit began to be, but their essence is co-originating with the Father... just as in the church it is sung: “The Co-originating Word to the Father and the Spirit”... and so on. I wish you all the best from the Lord! Be healthy and good-natured! 1113. Feedback regarding the outbreak of war with Turkey. Blessing "Citizen" Thank you for your prayer on the occasion of the war. All glory to God! Let's pray. The mail will bring us something tomorrow... You are so happy. All your news immediately becomes known upon birth... We only know that the Emperor is going to go to Moldova. Bless, Lord, his path! They waited forcibly... For this means that the road for the army is angled beyond the Danube. March! March! God help you! - our other soldiers!.. The Meshchersky prince skates well - in “Citizen”. If you see him or anyone known to him and you, give him the blessing of the Highest for firm health regarding everything that concerns us, Orthodox. Ring... that all Orthodox Christians are at one with him... The dirty trickster (England) agrees to the independence of Romania... intending to place it under the general guarantee of the powers... like Belgium... Her goal is to completely isolate Russia from Turkey - and she would not be able to go forward as freely to Turkey as now - with one mutual agreement with Romania. It is necessary to continue the song that Romania will receive absolute independence without guarantees, so that now and at any time it can enter into an agreement with whomever it wants. We need to take control of the entrance to the Bosphorus from the Black Sea. Otherwise all sorts of rubbish... little or little disagreement, rushes in with their ships and gnaws at our outskirts. God bless you and have mercy! Pray to God for me, a sinner! 1114. Feelings about the ongoing war with Turkey. Stundist propaganda of V. Chicherin and a request for its suppression God bless your housework! Our war is going on... but how slowly?! There is not enough patience to wait. I wish they would push the Turk as soon as possible, and he’d be gone. But there – in Asia – something is wrong. If not cunning, then... Help God, bring some sense to the military leaders, inspire the soldiers. There is a certain uneasiness in my soul. If you can, help not me, but the cause. Here's the deal. We heard about a certain Vasily Chicherin, once an adviser to the French embassy. He prayed, and came across some kind of sect there, got carried away, and even became something like their priest. He was invited to stay there, but he refused, saying: I have a native Russia; she needs to be enlightened, and so, having left the service, he is now jealous of his sect in Russia. You can’t make out what his beliefs are, but it’s clear: non-Orthodox. He doesn’t go to church, doesn’t take communion, turns his nose up at icons, and the like. All with the Gospel or New Testament. The Stundist is a real one. But that's not the point. Let him do what he wants. Here's the thing! He went to war - not to fight, but to seduce the Orthodox. He will wander around the infirmaries. And since there most of all one can meet souls who are disposed to listen about the salvation of the soul, he hopes to seed his sect through this. Abaza, the chief manager of the hospital department, was the vice-governor in Tambov - and a friend of the Chicherin family. Sister of Vasily Chicherin for Emmanuel Naryshkin. This Emmanuel and his wife went at their own expense (very rich) to take care of the sick and themselves in Chisinau (introduced themselves to the empress). So you see - Abaza and his wife and Naryshkin and his wife are the most influential people in hospitals. Under their patronage, Vasily Chicherin will seduce the Orthodox, seducing them into his sect, will dive into hospitals... with the Gospel, abusing it to the destruction of souls. He is of a quiet disposition and talks all about the Savior. This is not bad, but what he deduces from this is bad - no church, no sacraments, no saints... and don’t remember about monks... Now you should. It is obvious that there is a danger for Orthodox souls - and there is something to worry about. What to do? It is necessary to arrange for Vasily Chicherin to be escorted out of there, despite the fact that he holds the Gospel in his hands, without any reservations. If you know people through whom you can act, then tell them that, whether they want to inquire about Chicherin or directly order the deportation, they act in addition to Abaza and Naryshkin, and without even turning to them on this matter: for although they hardly, due to indifferentism, adhere to the thoughts of this Chicherin, they will not give him up, even though they know his guilt. Here's your task! Please resolve it in the most satisfactory manner. There is nothing more to write about. 1115. More about Chicherin and his minions. Feedback and thoughts on the progress of military operations with Turkey Did you properly punish Pr. Pavel to conduct the business secretly from Naryshkin and Abaza... Naryshkina was already with him, she lured money from him, first 100 rubles, and then another 200... She used it for the business, but it will go under her own name, although she will not say so to anyone. But just as she won’t tell anyone that St. Paul donated so much, and meanwhile will spend his own, then these too will go under her own. She is so insinuating and knows how to lead people by the nose - that in Tambov they don’t call her anything other than sly. That’s why I’m painting this side! If you gave even the slightest hint to St. Paul that he wrote to you, then the evil one will certainly deceive him and he will tell her this. Then how can I fight back?! But, maybe, this won’t happen. Probably, the heretic Vasily himself visited him (at St. Paul’s) and spoke sweetly; and maybe he wasn’t, because he considers us all either superstitious or bad believers... not understanding things. You remember the year 12. Chicherin is younger than that time - and gained wisdom during some walk in Belgium or the Netherlands - this is not surprising. And the war is going on... I would like it to go better, but, it’s true, we have enough intelligence. Our army is brave. May God grant our leader a managerial mind. Yesterday the rumor reached that Plevna had finally been taken and that 30 thousand Turks had been killed. Although this is generally about those who are out of action, it is still a very comforting thing. If this army is upset, then there will be no stopping anywhere... A day or two later - and Sofia is ours, and there along the road is Philippopolis - and Adrianople... where the Turks are gathering... where ours, probably, will be drawn in greater numbers - through Shipka... God bless... Or, perhaps, ours will go to Rushchuk and Shumla... in order to exterminate the troops here or drive him into the fortress. Have mercy on us, Lord, and bring us to understanding! 1116. Regarding rumors about the recognition of illegal marital cohabitation Write something about marriage, God bless you. I can't help you. There you have all the sources of wisdom, both earthly and unearthly. Scoop it up. And this subject has always been foreign to me. The sacrament of marriage must be urgently accepted by all Christians as Christians. But who will forbid the government from recognizing lawless cohabitation as legal not for the sake of these lawless people, but for the sake of their children, who are in no way to blame for the iniquities of their parents. To ensure them, some kind of decrees are needed: for their lawlessness is growing and spreading... The Church has only a request to the government - not to make innovations... and then those entering into cohabitation, outside of church knowledge, will be recognized as lawless and subjected to appropriate penances, demanding that they separate. If they don’t listen, then all that remains is to recognize them as pagans and tax collectors. May God grant the patience and courage of the church authorities to find out this with firmness... that then half of St. Petersburg and Moscow will have to be like pagans and tax collectors... But the war will make the Emperor even more Orthodox, and he will not allow such innovations. I am amazed at the opinion given in favor of innovation! These kind of heads?!.. There is no one to wash them!.. 1117. Disease about the Athonites. On the course of military operations with Turkey Have mercy on the Athos people, Lord! It would be a pity if the rogue Greeks took everything into their own hands and ruined everything. As a result of the war, it is necessary to take half of Athos for the Russians and half for the Bulgarians. And let the Greeks watch from under their hands. Do you see how our people distinguished themselves in Asia?.. The Transdanubian people are envious, and they are scheming to first catch Osman alive, and then subject Suleiman to a similar fate. God help them! Our army must winter in the Maritsa Valley... in front of Adrianople or even Constantinople. Amen! Amen! Amen!.. 1118. On the history of the book “What is spiritual life” This is what I have - recently made. Letters about what spiritual life is and how to get better at it. Numbering 80, on 19 or so six-sheet notebooks. Much has been interpreted, but not everything yet. Two more such packs are expected. Question: how to print them? I was thinking of sending it to “Soulful Reading”; this part alone will last for a year and a half. I thought about “Home Conversation”. And there too. I have to print it specially. How? By yourself? Or offer it to the people of Athos? I am writing to Arseny. Whatever he wants... Do you know why Arseny began to resist?.. Once I wrote - to seduce the Athonites - I don’t remember what to print. He thinks that when they offer him to print, they are seducing him. And he becomes alienated. These letters, I think, are not without interest... Written to a young beauty. The publication must be untitled. So we came across a beauty. This is a small part of the letters actually written. Most of it has been compiled again. The next part will all be composed again, but this one will be written after 2 hours of the Philokalia. To Rev. Don’t write to Pavel anymore. He and Naryshkina get along well. Therefore, there is nothing to write. Let us leave the understanding of the truth by Orthodox soldiers to the will of God. Someone else will frighten this apostle so much that he won’t even get his teeth together. 1119. Cases of a good death. Regarding rumors about making peace with the Turks The death of Kazansky is very instructive. It was the Guardian Angel who inspired him to arrange it this way. Recently in Arzamas one merchant also died. Walking prepared for death; confessed, took communion (and received unction with oil, I don’t remember if that’s the case) and gave orders to everything. Everyone didn’t believe that death was approaching, even though he had a cold, but when he got everything right, the cramps began, the pain inside... to the point of oblivion... and after three days he passed away. Why have you become such a fidget? - In old age, people are still, but you flutter like a bird. Peace - thank God! I don't know the points. There is a rumor that Thessaloniki and Athos will fall to the Bulgarians. Ours is a joy, but the Greeks, don’t be afraid... are sharpening their teeth. How will the management be?! After all, Athos is similar to the patriarchal stauropegia? Or they'll settle it again! I have already congratulated Arseny and all the Athos residents in his person. 1120. Political considerations regarding the results of the war with Turkey. On the issue of cases being considered in the Synod Where is politics going?! It seems that there will be no conference. Which I am very happy about... No one wants to say: I agree with what Russia has done... but fighting for it is not in the order of things... They will let it pass silently. And time will approve and legitimize what has been done. It seems that this will be the outcome. And the outcome is the best, given the current state of affairs. But think of a way to hurt England?! I just want to bite her and make her squeal in a nasty way. She is the most unscrupulous s-na! To what is being discussed in secret at the Synod, I wish you a smart and useful solution for the Church. But who knows—wouldn’t it be more useful to recognize the schismatic hierarchy? What about marriages?! The problem is marriages. We are completely shaken. May God arrange everything for the best. Save yourself and pray to God for us! 1121. Where does evil come from in the world. Were the fallen angels free? Where are souls before birth? About dreams. Patriotic impulses Grant you, Lord, to taste the joy of the Lord’s resurrection and to partake of His power. Why did you drag out some kind of philosophical talk and pile up such questions that you can’t even imagine. 1) Where does evil come from in the world? Not from God, but allowed by God, because the purpose for which the world was created can be achieved with evil, as well as without evil. The source of evil is in freedom, which did not want to submit to the will of God. 2) Was the fallen angel free? Of course. In Scripture, where it speaks of angels, it is spoken everywhere in such a way that one cannot help but see that the one speaking about them recognizes them as free. It is also said that God did not spare the angels who sinned. If he did not spare him, he arbitrarily declared them sinners. They are also called the disobedient. Consequently, they had the freedom to submit. Angels who have observed their rank are free to fall, but they will not want to do so because of the abundance of blessings they have tasted from their obedience to the will of God. The fallen are called those who did not observe their rank, those who did not submit. Consequently, the definite will of God and a definite indication of deeds were clearly told to them, just like Adam in paradise. And what it is is not visible anywhere. 3) Where are souls before birth?! Souls do not pre-exist. But I don’t know how they begin to be. I distinguish between spirit and soul in a person. The soul is the same as that of animals, and is obtained naturally from parents, like the souls of all animals - from the earth, from a certain world soul, first, and then naturally. However, the soul does not become material through this. The spirit is breathed in by God as in the beginning. For the continuation of creatures is a repetition of their beginning. Everything that is in a person, who directs him from the earth to grief, belongs to the spirit. This is what the printed letters interpret - about the meaning, that is, the spirit, and not about the origin. - There is a better solution: the soul is born, like the whole person, as God knows. I don’t remember what fathers talk about dreams. They don't favor them. Look at Barsanuphius and John, at Climacus. Isaac the Syrian seems to have one. It is very nice to hear that such issues occupy society. But isn’t there a desire here to undermine faith by exposing insoluble contradictions? Faith is not omniscience, but only correct knowledge and possession of what is necessary for salvation. Faith saves and makes us wise only in the matter of salvation. Whether other wisdom exists with it or not is a matter of indifference. Are you going to fight or make peace?! I'm in a militant mood! The English would be beaten up and the Austrians too. I regret that I am not Bova Korolevich. At least I could get an invisibility hat and a flying carpet. I wish I could take a walk around the English. The first Beaconsfield would be grabbed by the hair and dragged over London. Then, having quit, he would have thundered: the same will happen to all of you for hostility towards Russia. 1122. About modern politics Political affairs are unpleasant. But there seems to be hope that everything will finally work out well. Grant, Lord! The military, you see, will roll up their hands. You have to fight and fight when need forces you. I am in awe of the actions of our government in the entire course of the matter. Bless it, Lord, with success, as it wisely and patiently conducts its business. Be healthy and cheerful. I wish you all the best from the Lord. 1123. On the interpretation of the Epistle to the Romans. Sorrows over the results of the Berlin Congress I sprinkle the book of Romans little by little. The dogmatic part ends. And that one is simpler. The idea comes to try to print this message yourself, without sending it to a magazine. Passion is a great thing: a whole foot will come out in manuscript. There are already 47 notebooks. During the cleaning, maybe it will get smaller, and maybe it will get sicker. I will send the second to the Corinthians when you notify. I read what Congress came up with. It’s hard, extremely hard! This is for us; and what about the Sovereign!? May the Lord comfort him! But, it’s true, there’s no other way; It’s true that they were not without reason afraid of a coalition against us. Start a new fight and everything could be lost. And now at least part of it has been retained. Congress, apparently, was not concerned about the benefits of the liberated peoples, but directed everything towards humiliating Russia. And on all points he made cuts unnecessarily. What was the need to cut back on what was agreed for Montenegro and Serbia or what we got in Asia? - None. But the division of Bulgaria was for no other reason than to serve as a reason for war... But the Lord knows what he is building! True, it is better this way, and blessed be His will. 1124. In the case of the publication of an interpretation of the Epistle to the Romans. The assumption of compiling a dogmatic collection I kept waiting for you to return to St. Petersburg and let me know, as you promised... but I’m really bored, not having news from you for so long. You express a desire to publish the Epistle to the Romans. Thank you. And I will not refuse to bother you with this in due time. But I have money. Only now there is no need to publish it. It is necessary to first finish all the messages, then begin a complete publication - in one format, one font, and most importantly - after a thorough revision. Now the interpretation is still sketchy. And then - linen. Why am I deciding to again hand over the printing of the Epistle to the Romans to “Soulful Reading”. By the time it finishes printing, I may have time to interpret all the other messages... And then I’ll sit down to strictly revise, correct, make threads, and so on. and so on. And publish it. It's decided. But I will send the Epistle to the Romans to “Soulful Reading” after I finish it all. Now it comes to the end of Chapter XIII. Three more to go. I write only in the morning, and you rarely write more than one poem. And three, once in a while, is it really going to take too much enthusiasm? After all, that's all laziness. Otherwise we should make a dogmatic collection. We have begun to speculate about the Most Holy Trinity and the incarnation of God the Word - and, speculating, they create absurdity. It is necessary to collect more patristic articles about these sacraments in order to teach everyone how to express themselves when speaking about them. I've already thought about how to do this. Write a history of the Church’s struggle with Arianism, Nestorianism, Monophysites and Monothelites. Here these sacraments will be comprehensively and diversely explained, proven and defended... I wish I could sit down and collect them. But mother does not command laziness. What will you do? However, maybe I’ll gather my courage and drive this one away... She tormented me. You now live in the countryside and enjoy life, but the city, especially the capital, is worthless. God bless you and have mercy! Be healthy and cheerful. 1125. On the history of the saint’s written works and their printing. The dam broke Where are you? Where are you? I kept expecting that you were about to enter the throne and give, as promised, news. Not a sound, not a breath. Last year, under such circumstances, I wrote to St. Petersburg and was mistaken. Now I am writing to Sudislav, hoping not to make a mistake. I began to prepare a dogmatic collection; but he demanded too much attention and began to discourage interpretation of the messages. Wanting to finally get this over with, I abandoned the collection. The book of Romans is over. I am going to publish it myself. The labor agent will be Alyosha. The printing will be supervised by the editor of “Soulful Reading”. God save him! And the distribution is already God bless. Now I sit and re-read the rewritten interpretation of the book of Romans. Rewritten in Tambov - behind the scenes... and there are some amendments. Meanwhile, half of the Epistle to the Colossians has been interpreted and sent to “Soulful Reading.” There will be one and a half thousand copies of this, that is, a complete edition, so that you don’t have to worry about it later. Let's see which edition is happier?! That dishonesty is spreading, the government has heard enough of this. But it seems the dam has broken: you can’t take it over. What you wrote about publishing the issue in reprints, the execution above is inconvenient. And cooperation is also not suitable for such an enterprise. Vysha was now completely immersed in the interpretation of the messages. Well, let her wander here like in a dream. When she wakes up, then she will decide what else to force on her - the Psalter or the Gospel story? 1126. News about modern bishops. The works of the saint and infirmities. Concern for the publication of Chrysostom's works My beloved N-lay V-vich! Glory to God! The merciful Lord still gives us time to repent! Are you going to Kazan? God help you! The ruler of that one is a great ruler. And from me show him deep respect. The sooner the better. Settle the necessary ones - and off you go. A rumor came from someone outside of Moscow that the Moscow ruler was retiring. Choose. Who should take his place? The person who wrote that news also made a choice, but at the wrong time. To Moscow - Kyiv, and to Kyiv - Kazan. It will be the best thing. You are urging on the dogmatic collection and the Psalter. These are distant mysteries. Now on the shoulders is the interpretation of the messages of St. Apostle Paul. Finish, clean and prepare for printing. Then move on to other things. And here - laziness. I wish for this and that, but the demon of laziness sits on my shoulders and bares its teeth: interpret, interpret! It will happen, not as you wish, but as I want. And I can’t overcome him in any way. When you visit the Bishop, start talking about this. St. Chrysostom was published for free - partly from the Synod, partly from the editors of Christian Reading, something from private individuals. And now, if someone wanted to buy it, he wouldn’t find it. So the bishop would have arranged for the publication - either from the synodal printing house - or by forcing the editors of Christian Reading. The translations all require revision. Color it in. Speak both on your own behalf and on behalf of many, many who wish to have all of St. Chrysostom. This would be a deed worthy of a ruler! Give it a try. 1128. About the results of the meeting with the eye doctor. The tares of Redstock. Refusal of proposed service in Japan You are probably in St. Petersburg now, and I am writing, and most importantly about the eye. The eye does not have any pain, but is only weakened and sees worse half towards the left. There is one doctor in Tambov - a local celebrity - who studied with the Germans. I'm going there. The celebrity examined the eye in two steps - both in daylight and under a lamp with some pieces of glass. And I found that a cataract had started in my eye. The result of the trip: sit and wait until the right eye goes blind. Then trim the cataract, and your vision may return, perhaps to its former strength, but perhaps not to its former strength. Then it’s as if the left one will begin to go blind, and the same story should happen to him. At present there is nothing left to do but sit by the sea and wait for the weather. For the operation you will need to go to Moscow. The beauty you saw on the road, I think, is Naryshkina - before Chicherina. She wrote how rapidly Redstock’s seduction was growing - and everyone among the highest... Those who listened to him completely fell away from the Church. Bring this to the attention of the Bishop. If you like, I will deliver extracts from her letters. Your Bishop writes to Tambov that Fr. Nikolai Yaponsky asks to suggest to Vyshinsky if he would agree to work in Japan. Vyshinsky wrote to Tambovsky that he didn’t want to: his lower back was gnawing. Where should a blind person go? And then he wrote the same to St. Petersburg. 1129. Efforts to suppress Redstock propaganda. In the case of recognition of the schismatic hierarchy. Religious readings from home They responded forcefully. And I thought that you didn’t even know where you had flown to. Well, now, if you please, fight at home. Extract about redstockists - behold! You will see that she says a lot and something that is extremely necessary for the ruler. I think it’s much better to tell everything to the bishop so that he knows everything; just ask him not to tell anyone decisively, neither who wrote, nor who conveyed what was written. Knowing everything, he will act more carefully. I took the names about which it was written out of the lines and placed them separately. The question remains, why didn’t I write to the Bishop? You say: I’m sure that he knows much more about everything, but he wrote to you like that, in a friendly way. And you pass it on to the Bishop because you consider the information very important. Although the ruler knows everything, he will update the knowledge and make sure that it is generally known. If you decide to say it, then there is no need to rewrite it; and if you change your mind, you need to rewrite the entire statement. The names must be torn off, and the torn ones must be handed over. You see, all the trouble is in the silent priests! We need to hire guides and drag them all for their axios. Moskovsky cannot be a heretic. But he has his own views on certain things. The point is not to give the schismatics a hierarchy, but to recognize their existing one. This is not recognized by the Synod, but by the government. For the Synod, their hierarchy will still remain lay ranks. The government is asking not whether the Synod will recognize it, which is impossible, but whether this will not be harmful for the Orthodox. This is the essence of the question... You can answer yes and no, without violating Orthodoxy. It's an external matter. Maybe this is harmful and maybe it is beneficial. The government will help the schismatic bishops to take the schismatic laymen into the hands... For now they do not have much power. And then he will convert the bishops to Orthodoxy. Then the bishops and laity will become Orthodox. Now the effect on the split is going to pieces. This is good! And there will be harm. At first, all the semi-schismatics will pester them. Perhaps some of the schismatic sectarians will turn to them. When this is immediately revealed, it can be terrifying. But then the opposite effect may occur. I'm joking as I write this. My opinion is counter-schismatic hierarchy. That’s why I don’t belong to the Makaryev party. What you say about the decline of the Christian spirit both in the priesthood and in the laity - this is happening with your own eyes. And we are sleeping so that the anti-Christian spirit will quickly reign. It’s clear from Naryshkina’s letters that religious readings should be held at home. Come on, get started! 1130. First Appendix to the letter dated May 28, 1879. Conditions favorable to the spread of Redstock's influence “Is this huge Protestant influence on our society good? You will say no. But the fact is that empty people have developed a strong Christian spirit. This influence of Redstock 153 changed the entire structure of their lives. If it weren’t for him, then they too would have been sleeping until now, immersed in the emptiness of the world. The clergy as an influence does not exist here. The other day Count Bobrinsky said: “I was an unbeliever until I was 48; Only now have I come to believe, thanks to this Redstock.” But how do you look at these impromptu prayers read by secular people in congregations? Does our Church allow this? Is it good to sing Protestant cants and pray in their way, with your nose buried in a chair? These cants are beginning to be translated for the people. Even the other day, one cab driver improvised. Just think that if it weren’t for Redstock, then this whole circle, which is growing very much, would have been mired in emptiness to this day. The best and highest families joined him. The religious movement is large. Although they do not say it openly, this society appears in the form of a sect and outside the Orthodox Church. Many want to join them, but they are still afraid that this is not condemned by our Church. There is no one to oppose this. Those who speak in the spirit are hidden among us. Nobody reads books. And who will the book convert? We do not have a living spiritual word; but there is a need - to group around someone strong, to borrow strength. Poor Russia! The alien Redstock must look for spiritual food. Nearby there is a large stream of complete disbelief. Will no one's voice rise up in the Orthodox Church?! Forms without spirit, which have long been exhibited by our spiritual ones, no longer have any effect, and the spiritual ones themselves have no authority. And the newfangled priests are no longer worth anything. All this is worth thinking about. It is not the books of scientists that are needed, but the living word of a person who would stop this flow, who would raise his voice in order to keep the best forces of our society in Orthodoxy.” There is something written about this. But since Redstock’s wisdom is unknown, only generalities emerged. It is advised to contact the bishop. 1132. Proposal for the publication of instructions on prayer and sobriety. The new wolf from Redstock’s party - Pashkov and measures to suppress the false teaching he sows Beloved in the Lord N-lai V-vich! About prayer and sobriety - not for sale. These are reprints from “Tambov Eparchs. Vedomosti,” and everyone had already left. I think I’ll add an extract about prayer from St. Chrysostom - and remake the interpretation of the Lord's Prayer into letters. And publish two books. But when? When my laziness allows me. Pashkov ate my soul 154... This is what I learn from the most reliable sources, or lips. 1) Pashkov with his sister and daughter travel everywhere and preach... they even get into the slums. They go home by invitation. In the prince's house There are meetings with Gagarina... the common people also come. 2) Books with their malice have been printed, which are distributed no worse than St. Isaac's pulpit. In Moscow about. Arseny showed me a little book with the title (I think): “Christ the Savior,” and in it the phrase: “The priest will not forgive you your sins in confession... he does not have such power” (thought, but forgot the words). In the middle, perhaps, there will be other things that are bad. The book has been censored. 3) Pashkov says (or shows) that he has written permission - from the Sovereign and the Metropolitan, with seals attached - to preach the Gospel. This lie strongly favors him. 4) Not far from me (says who writes) lives a poor bookbinder. Pashkov goes to him and teaches... people gather. Fascinating. And I was. Some policeman came to take a look, listened and fell to his knees and, well, pray, the same thing happened with the bailiff. 5) My washerwoman and cook (written by the same person) go to listen to him almost every day... and are carried away. To reject them, I started my own readings... They listened and said: that’s good, but it’s better there. My priest found out that I was collecting for reading (for I have done it more than once and still do) ... and made me a humble remark that this should not be done ... it is dangerous and something else. 6) Pashkov demands that those who are carried away pronounce the words of faith publicly before him - and this he calls confession. It seems (it is not written very clearly) that he writes down such confessors in his catalogue. I’m making a guess: he will gather some thousand and demand permission to form a special agreement (skop) with his own people and freely believe as they believe... Take the trouble to report this to the Bishop... Do not say what I wrote under any circumstances, but just say that this is information about St. Petersburg origin from a reliable eyewitness. I think that the bishop could call the priests and say: 1) Teach in church silently about the dispensation of salvation. Pashkov is a liar - because he doesn’t say everything... He talks about repentance and faith... but about grace and the sacraments, about the Church, about communion with saints, about Christian duty, and so on. does not say: with him everything is done by faith... and remission of sins without confession, and grace without sacraments. And let the priests tell everything in full. 2) Let the priests start readings - in the evenings and collect them both from themselves and from other listeners, both simple and poor. For reading, choose everything that relates to the general structure of faith. 3) It would be necessary to compile a book about the path of salvation... simply written and scatter it around the city for nothing or for a penny... But the matter should not be left unattended. There is danger. Please do all this in the name of the Lord. But nothing is said about me. 1133. More on the case of the Pashkovites. The beginning of letters to different persons. About the church economy among the Greeks I cannot say who wrote to me about Pashkov’s tricks, but I will write so that that person himself will somehow give you the opportunity to explain. But this is unlikely to happen: for it really wants to hide. Why do you need a whole note? Rewrite those points and give them to the Metropolitan, for your information. After all, it’s not a consequence to produce. But there is no doubt that if Pashkov is left free to act, he will form a sect - German Molokanism. I began to write letters to various people... which are published in “Soulful Reading.” One has already been printed. Now I’m writing a letter, supposedly to the St. Petersburg merchant, about Pashkov’s tricks, and I’m explaining everything I know. I’ll hasten to send it off so that it can be published in the March book. You’ll see, and if it’s good, you can then print it specially and scatter it around St. Petersburg. The Moscow elders are wrong - according to our civil laws, as it was laid down about candles by Emperor Alexander Pavlovich. But the practice of the Eastern Church - among the Greeks - is for them. There, the maintenance of the Church rests with the parishioners, and neither the bishop nor the priest have any part in it. In Constantinople - and all the priests are paid by the parishioners. Every year parishioners gather and choose an epitropy from 3 persons... and they entrust the economy of the church to it. And a commission is appointed to verify last year’s epitropy. If everything turns out to be good, thanks to the epitropes. They do the pooling right there. Among the schismatics it seems like this. But ours is different. The law needs to be changed. Will they? As they know. I wish you all the best from the Lord! Bless you, Lord, with every blessing! 1134. On the history of the saint’s printed works. Review of the “East” article on the Bulgarian issue. More about Pashkov’s tricks Thank you very much for your efforts in arranging the publication of the letters! Tell Tuzov that if he wants to sell my other books, he would contact Alexei Gavrilov, son of Govorov, bailiff - Yakim. Part 4 sq. d. Orlova. I propose to Gorbunov (Konyushennaya, 5) to publish thoughts for each day of the year based on the daily readings - from “Home Conversation” in favor of Askochenskaya with children. Conditions: 50 copies for me and Askochenskaya - 15 rubles each. per sheet if there is one plant, and 20 per sheet if there are two, so a book of 10 sheets will give her 150 or 200 rubles; and in 20 sheets - twice as much. Is the condition good? I prescribed this for her, not for him. If he does this publication well, then I think I’ll entrust him with the publication of the leading articles of 1872 and 1873, extracted by the late Askochensky from my sermons and other books. Also in favor of Askochenskaya. "Russia". Someone wrote to me about her, and I answered. But I don’t see the program, and there was no announcement. May God grant you success! “East” does not understand the affairs of the Bulgarian church. He blames the Bulgarians. But in reality they are not to blame. They themselves could not lag behind patriarchy - and they did not lag behind, but asked. But when they asked, the patriarchy had to let them go. Didn't you let go? They arranged their dismissal through a different route. How did we unhook ourselves from patriarchy?! They didn’t send it, and that was the end. So they did. Patriarchy is to blame. Their council, which condemned the Bulgarians, is the height of disgrace. Hellenic γένος reigned there. Please blow this “East” by the hair. I am receiving new information about Pashkov’s tricks. Again it is mentioned that he has written permission from the Sovereign and the Metropolitan. After all, this is a trick. And N-lai V-vich is sitting and preparing to draw up the form, waiting for documents, etc. Report to him that in the next world his mercy will receive two incomplete for this. We need to convey those points to the Metropolitan - and that’s it. If he needs business formality, let him get it himself. And he must be brought to the point of control. Here it is under the Church, and there it is undermining the Emperor. Woe! 1135. Grief over an unreceived letter. The zeal of the saint in opposing the false teacher Pashkov I sit and think: why has N-lai V-vich not written for so long? and I was about to ask about this when I received your letter, which, in congratulations, contains an indication of what was written. I thank you for your congratulations and good wishes, and at the same time I express my deep sorrow that your letter was not received, and this sorrow is all the more sorrowful and deeper because that letter contained information about the new heretic, which I thirsted for, like someone thirsting for water. And now I am sending, - following you as he runs home, - a most humble request - repeat everything written down, and especially if you know what words it is expressed in. And I will write and write. There is nothing to write about Protestant nonsense at all. And this will be beyond the goal. There will be no fruit. And writing, based on the words of a heretic, will be right in the eye. Everything that is written in my letter to him was taken from letters to me about him; but that is very little. There are also two phrases; but I put off writing about them in order to wait for other phrases and write about them all at once. So please sit down and write as you wrote - and even more broadly. I know that it’s boring to write about the same thing a second time, but get over yourself and push yourself. I ordered reprints of that letter to be made and instructed Alyosha to send you a dozen... If you want, I’ll send you more, at least fifty. There are a hundred of them. If you find it necessary, print more, and then other articles that need to be written, and scatter them around St. Petersburg, especially in infested places. I am sending a letter to you in Sudislavl so that I can receive an answer as soon as possible. Don't put it off until St. Petersburg. God bless you in every possible way! 1136. Upon receipt of sources clarifying Pashkov’s false teaching. About the distribution of the saint's pamphlets against Pashkov. About the change of chief prosecutor Everyone received the catechism and newspaper articles. Thank you. The matter is being clarified. I will answer the catechism point by point, whatever God sends. You can also pick up some things from newspapers. I am sending you 40 brochures, I think. If anyone wants to print it, let him; if only not for profit, but for distribution. If possible, collect the books published by the Pashkovites, and the Holy Scriptures with handwritings and notes. Of these, it is more likely that you can scratch this soul molester. There is nothing else to say. It was noted in the newspapers that the Chief Prosecutor was being replaced. In place of Tolstoy P. What do you know about this, tell me. And what is the reason for the change?.. Let the priests print as much as they want, just not for profit. Printing something else is fine. I would be ready, but now laziness has taken over... and it seems that I have caught a little cold. The sent catechism pleased me at first, but when I began to look closely, it turned out that it suffered from great uncertainty. Start to refute, and you will fight with windmills. The priests of God would have instructed someone more skilled to listen and define the points more precisely. However, maybe I’m so grumpy because of the temporary and accidental relaxation. It seems time is running out. One cannot help but rejoice at the change in prosecutor. May God grant the new one more energy and Orthodox spirit. 1138. About the new chief prosecutor. To the history of the saint's activities in the field of struggle against Pashkov. Apt nicknames for this sect It is very comforting that God sent such a chief prosecutor. At least to some extent it will heal the wounds inflicted by that bashi-bazouk. If only he would have brought the newfangled Bible to the point of being burned on St. Isaac's Square. And those who translated and published - make them walk around with pokers and not let a single book bounce off and get rid of the burning. I begin to pore over the points sent. Maybe one letter will be enough, or maybe two will be concocted. Olga St. Burachek, according to Fr. Alexey Kolokolov, also sent several points. And it will be especially against them. Send more points. Any books you send are welcome. Get their prayer book, which is mentioned in the article “Russia” (“They send me Russia”). It occurs to me to choose church songs against them, so that it can be seen more clearly, how crazy it is that, leaving such beautiful and inspiring songs, they chose such rubbish. By the way, they blaspheme church rules, but look what theirs are like? When they gather for prayer, they sit on chairs, and their main leader reads something to them. When he comes to his senses, he shouts: pray. And everyone jumps off their chairs, kneels down and, leaning their elbows on the seat of the chair, hides their face in their palms. This means that they are lost in thought and praying. See - absurdity! We stand in prayer, make the sign of the cross - the instrument of our salvation, and bow down. And they... leave. In this regard, they should be called... This can be conveyed into the ear of one or another, and it will go and reach the people. And this will avert most of all reasoning. They should be called “mouthless” because they want to receive grace without the sacraments, open your mouth and enough; crazy - they moo about preaching and lie about who knows what; couch potatoes - no need to do anything. All these bright names must be put into use. Then come up with a cartoon picture and put it on there too. Did you print the brochure?! Good. Give some to Burachka or Olga St. Also o. Alexey Kolokolov. They know many of them and will give them to read. I no longer have brochures. And they ask. 1139. Continuation of work against Pashkovites The book was concocted. God bless your work. Maybe the book will lead the chief prosecutor to do something good in favor of the Church. What do I do in the summer?.. As if I did, but there is nothing to indicate. The book about prayer is a collection that was published in the Tambov Gazette, revised and expanded. Printed in a new form. I wrote three more letters against the Pashkovites. I took only ten prints... And now there is nothing to send you. I sent two to the Metropolitan. Prot. I.V. Vasiliev asked if they could be printed for distribution. I agreed. Take it from him or from the priests there. The letters against Pashkov are not over. I sent two more. It is inevitable to add one or two more to them. And then, if there is a desire - and many, many more - go through all Protestantism on this subject. But laziness completely ate me up. A new edition of Galatians is coming out soon. Everything is old. But I'll send it to you. I will also send book cutters of my work. Or did you already send it? I don't remember. I haven’t read Gorchakov’s book on marriage and I don’t see an advertisement about it. If I see it, I’ll buy it and read it. Do you know T.? Who is this?! He is not very Orthodox. If you meet him, grab him by the hair and drag him through the thorniest thorns, so that at the end of the drag there are only bones left. Then cover it with medical plasters so that new flesh grows, and a new T. appears - Orthodox, well wiped. The Metropolitan wrote once. I have written more than once. I sent him all my books and book cutters. I would send it to the prosecutor, but he is completely unknown to me. And I’m afraid to show that I’m waiting for something. 1140. New Year's greetings. On the Rules of Theodore the Studite. More on the matter of the Pashkovites. Bad news about the academy. Demon Society Worker of God, N-lai V-vich! Thank you for your holiday greetings and well wishes. I send you both in return. Here's to the New Year! I wish you all the best from the Lord this year! Let us wish together for the Church of God that the Sun of truth shines upon it, not obscured by any superstition. I wish you a successful completion of the printing of your book and then success for it, and good fruit from it. I know nothing about the Rule of Theodore the Studite except what is printed in the works of the Fathers. There are two catechisms; one large one - conversations published in translation by Optina residents; the other is small - 130 short words. These are not in the publication of the Fathers of Min... I brought them from the Savvaitsky Monastery - Elder Joasaph gave them - and donated them to the library of St. Petersburg. academy, on parchment... Both have features of the charter. I wish success to the student writing about this. They write news about Pashkov, isn’t it old? They assured that he had completely moved to England. This news that he is advocating requires verification. Check it out, tell me. How absurdly our spiritual power acted against him, out of hand. He has been blowing the trumpet for 5 years, but nothing to him. I began to wonder if the Metropolitan had somehow expressed consent to his preaching, having been deceived by Pashkov’s flattering speeches about the meaning of embodied economy. And the Moscow Academy is different. L. - trampled the first four ecumenical councils into the mud, and carried out in his reasoning the idea that the Holy Church did not have the truth, but was looking for it... and found it through the struggle of schools of scientists or parties. Destructive thoughts. Recently there was a master's debate there. The matter concerned the 5th Council. The magistrate concluded in his reasoning that the 5th Ecumenical Council rightly condemned 3 chapters... But in his speech he deigned to proclaim: do not think that I am deciding this out of respect for the council. No, that’s what science demands. The cathedral comes out - an unimportant authority. The main thing is science... that is, reason and its considerations. It turns out that non-Orthodox principles are being introduced. Where are the authorities looking? The Word of God was replaced and composed, not according to the principles of Orthodoxy, but also according to science. Science demanded it. So they are silent when this science is put forward instead of the principles of Orthodoxy. Do not be ashamed to trumpet this where it is appropriate. The newspapers published that some fellows were asking for permission to exist for some idealistic society... Do you know what this is? This is a spiritualist society. And horse breeders are notorious spiritualists. Spiritualism is demonism. Consequently, this society is demonic, or non-worshipping. There is nothing scientific in this society and there cannot be anything. This is a religious gathering, organized according to the instructions of flattering spirits. When spiritualists gather, something religious happens among them... This is how someone depicted me, who was invited to this meeting in order to connect with him. On this occasion I will tell you something else. There is some kind of apostolic community in St. Petersburg. A certain person, being asked about Pashkov and his company, answered: I haven’t been to Pashkov and I don’t know what he’s talking about; but I was in the chapel of the apostolic community... and this is what I heard. In this chapel the head is an English apostle. He said: Redstock is ours and has the same spirit and teaching with us; and Pashkov retreated from us, precisely because we recognize the sacraments, but he does not recognize them, and something else. However, it is clear that Pashkov became infected from Redstock and only then retreated from him. I heard that Redstock was ordered and supported by Pashkov. Let's move on. Redstock and the apostolic community are one mess. The Apostolic Community is Irvingian. Irvingism, judging by its education (recent - after the 30s), is a trick of spiritualist spirits. They showed something wonderful there. And those who wanted the miracle were convinced that the church was being restored among them in the apostolic spirit - and with the apostolic gifts. Based on this assurance, a community was formed and operates. So, Irvingianism is of spiritualist origin. Redstock with the St. Petersburg Apostolic Community - of the same cut. Pashkov, who learned heresies from them, also originates from spirits. Although he separated from the community, through this he could not separate from the spirits. The spirits themselves could teach him and separate. For this gives more temptation, which is what they are worried about. Let us go further... Pashkov says that Christ appeared to him, that Christ speaks in him. And among spiritualists, spirits speak in the air, sometimes they whisper in the ears, sometimes they take a hand and spit, sometimes they appear in various forms. I am beginning to believe that someone like Christ actually appeared to Pashkov, but not Christ the Lord, but a flattering spirit. And then he took possession of it and acts through it. Pashkov the medium. And his teaching is spiritualistic demonism. Please tell everyone that this is what it is. It would be good if you handed all this over to the chief prosecutor. To the Chief Prosecutor - I'll think about it. Now there is no solution. Thank you for the draft letter. I haven't received any sheets yet. Thank you. 1141. About the received book. Reminder about Pashkov. More about Mr. L’s article. About his current activities. A little scientist I received the book and read it. Good. God grant that those who have the power to correct matters take up the work of correcting church and religious debauchery. So the heart shrinks. What is this Pashkov? The Metropolitan wrote that he had left, others wrote that he had been expelled... and would not return. The Lord probably doesn’t know that he only began to act more secretly. They would run to him and tell him about Pashkov. I have the honor to report to the lover of notes that it is inconvenient to write one about L’s reasoning. You need to read the entire argument, and from all of it it will come out that he does not recognize that the Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth, the position that lies at the basis of Orthodoxy. This reasoning was published in the “Readings of the Moscow Society of Lovers of Spiritual Enlightenment.” “Orthodox Review” writes scientific criticism of him - in great detail, dismantles it thread by thread and leaves not a single one alive. Make the effort to run through both. What is Vysha doing? Baklushi hits. Letters to St. Petersburg. 5th, 6th and 7th – I wrote and went to bed. Only translation of St. Simeon will study for a little and that’s enough. The last words of Simeon (10 left) are the height of perfection of spiritual understanding. The scientist doesn't understand any of this at all. She has become impoverished in her understanding of spiritual things, having rested her entire German nature on the letter. But the uneducated Orthodox Christian reached what understanding with one bow?! Why is it printed in the book: edited by Elagin? Wasn't he the one who made it up? If yes, tell me in your ear – who? And if he did, then why did he do it? Perhaps, so that it would be easier to bear the great praise that will shower from those for whom reading is sweet. 1142. Advice to an author who has been subjected to magazine criticism. On the defense of church truth. Bad talk about the church abroad and at home. Response to a request about G. Kulzhinsky. The saint's good deed for Mrs. Askochenskaya Congratulations on your book release. Congratulations on the start of the bombing. Take heart and don't blink. I think it’s better not to answer you right away, but to wait until everyone blurts out their eulogies to you or your book. There will, of course, be contradictions. After the assessment, you can answer - adding something in terms of explaining the matter. That they shout is not bad, but good, and that they scold, too. Because it means it hurts. There is nothing to talk about about the publication of the journal “Defense of Church Truth” - and I thought it was needed. But I settled on the fact that this work should be done by “Ts.V.” For it was proclaimed an organ of the Holy Synod. He should, according to his conscience, if he has one, defend the cause of faith and the Church. I believe that the chief prosecutor could insist on this. "Ts.V." now prints everything that is read in secular newspapers. But he doesn’t make comments on everything... He is obligated to make comments on everything, and not only about articles in secular magazines and newspapers, but also about spiritual ones. But if you find this inconvenient, then, of course, you need to start a special journal. God bless! They write to me from Rome that they have read in the newspapers or somewhere else - bad speeches about the Church, but do not know where to find a refutation. They ask what to write down in order to find a refutation there. There's nothing to say. So I'm at a dead end. I thought about recommending “Ts.V.”, but this will not bring reassurance, but cause great concern. Because all the rubbish is reprinted there. This magazine became a distributor of bad thoughts about the Church and church affairs... Someone else, living in the outback, would never have heard other bad things... but now Ts.V. is serving him. and presents all sorts of rubbish. I almost broke up with the Naryshkins, and we no longer write to each other. Therefore, writing to him about Kulzhinsky is worse than not writing. Moreover, it is unheard of for the directors of public schools to change. How does he depend on Naryshkin?! He has a school of folk teachers in Tambov... Is that director planning to leave? I’ll think about whether it’s possible to indicate Kulzhinsky through someone in this case. Tuzov wrote to me. Those thoughts were conceded to Askochenskaya, and she already found a publisher under the following condition: 15 rubles. per printed sheet, if one plant is printed, and if two - 20 rubles; format and font – letters about spiritual life regarding Speransky’s letters. In addition, 50 copies for me and 25 for Askochenskaya. Payment of money: part at the beginning, the last after 4 months or six months, upon release of the book. Beli wants and can publish, under these conditions, the leading articles of “Home Conversation” for 1871 and 1872. They also belong to Askochenskaya. The chief prosecutor's book cutter is good. But the spirit is disgusting to send books – good or bad, I can’t tell. 1143. Sorrowful time in Rus'. Long post. More on the history of opposition to Pashkov But you have to put on sackcloth and cover your head with ashes. Alas and ah! How far have we come?! God punishes for allowing blasphemy against the truth of God. If we do not repent, no matter what worse happens... Be merciful, Lord, to us sinners! You mentioned that I should have already received a letter from the chief prosecutor about the printing of letters against Pashkov. But I didn't receive it. It's the 7th now. Your letter was received on the 3rd. Written on February 24. They are waiting, don’t be afraid, for an answer and frowning. So I’m writing to you, in case, tell me that you haven’t received it yet. I believe that he was sent to Tambov... If so, then you have to wait another week, and if it is numbered, then two, because the Shatsk post office will first send an advertisement, and then issue a letter. We send once a week. If the letter only requires consent to print, then certify them with my very willing consent, so that there is no stop. I’ll send you my answer as soon as I receive it. If another post or two passes without receiving this letter, then I will notify you, and you will tell who should. Wouldn't it be lost? Remember how our newspaper or not... Pashkov’s points disappeared. You are at war. God bless. Fight, fight! But maybe the new Sovereign will handle things differently and they will shut up. The press laws have not been repealed. They will remind you, and that’s all. You can write a lot against Pashkov. When the hunt comes, I’ll write more. What is written embraces only the general. We need to get down to specifics. But where to start? Let's wait for a push or inspiration from him. Try there what these renegades mean when they say: we have set the goal of ridding the people of superstition and idolatry. This is how Bobrinsky put it. Can you find someone who could explain to you what they mean by these words? Idolatry, probably the veneration of icons and saints. What about superstition? But for both, their words would be needed... May God grant the sovereign the idea to imprison Pashkov, and, perhaps, Bobrinsky, in the Suzdal fortress... Thank you for the news about the American store. When I need something, then I will bother you. 1144. General trouble and its cause. Measures to protect faith and morality among the people Thank you for your efforts regarding my needs. God bless you! There, and everywhere, there is oohing and aahing. Trouble! trouble! and the trouble is visible. But it doesn’t occur to anyone to block and cover up the source of trouble. How did the French Revolution go? First, materialistic views spread. They shook both Christian and general religious beliefs. There is widespread disbelief: there is no God; a man is a lump of dirt; there is nothing to expect beyond the grave. Despite, however, the fact that the lump of dirt could have been trampled by everyone, they came out with: don’t bother! don't touch it! give me freedom! And they gave it! The demands began - some reasonable, some half-smart, some crazy. And everything went upside down. What do we have?! In our country, materialist views are gaining more and more weight and are being generalized. They haven’t taken the strength yet, but they are taking it. Unbelief and immorality are also expanding. The demand for freedom and self-government is expressed freely. It turns out that we are also on the path to revolution. How can this be? It is necessary to stop the freedom of ideas - to muzzle journalists and newspapermen. To declare unbelief a state crime, to prohibit material views under the death penalty. Material views are spreading through schools. Laplace's theory of self-education of the world with an addition of Darwinian nonsense is taught in lessons. After school and into writing, she entered... and everywhere she bears the fruit of unbelief. Who is to blame for this? Government. It allowed. Therefore, who should stop all this? To the government. Give the order and everything will be fixed. It comes to mind that someone would actually describe how the French Revolution came about. It would be edifying for us. Talk to someone. God bless all your efforts and labors. Save yourself! 1145. View of “The Life of Christ the Savior” by Rev. Matveevsky and the assumption of the compilation of the Gospel history. Letters denouncing sectarians. The Source of Modern Unbelief Two letters, one after the other. I hasten to answer what is required. I will read “The Life of Christ the Savior” with patience. I promised this about. Arseny. And I’ve already re-read several sheets. Your review of your speech pattern is correct: but what can you do about it? Shouldn't you redo it? All that remains is to correct the mistakes. There is no need to send your manuscript to Mount Athos. Who will deal with her, or will they smell what’s in her?! This publication will last for 5 years... Let's decide the matter ourselves. I’m planning to write something similar. Namely, the gospel story. This will be the life of Christ the Savior, and the interpretation of the Gospel, and conversations on them and everything you want... But I have become so weak in mental energy that I cannot attract myself to anything. Thank you for your troubles in delivering me copies of the letters. After all, I had a big plan: to gradually dismantle all Protestantism. Yes, all the writer's fervor has disappeared. When he comes again, I’ll scribble something else... about the veneration of icons... Molokans and Stundists and Pashkov - they seduce a lot, misinterpreting the worship of them. Are you going to the village? God bless. You need to rest and stock up on some fresh air after your rotten St. Petersburg. Tell me, if you know, who took the initiative to print letters? Vasiliev asked, without mentioning who he was asking from, but saying in a dull voice: the hierarchs want it. They came to their senses and began to write about keeping the faith. But they don’t want to block the source of disbelief. This source is the spread of the doctrine of the self-education of the world, according to which there is no need for God and there is no soul - all atoms, and all chemistry, nothing more. This is preached in pulpits and in literature. Whoever breathes this child inevitably becomes confused, loses meaning and faith... Until these books are destroyed - professors and writers are forced not only not to adhere to this theory, but also to destroy it - until then - unbelief will grow and grow, and with it self-will and the destruction of the present government. This is how the French Revolution went. Inspire this to whomever it is appropriate, and who can give force to this statement. 1146. Indication of the necessary corrections in the book. O. Matveevsky. About my works. A look at the case of arbitrariness between peasants and Jews I have just finished reading your notebooks. And I undertake to say something necessary. (The notebooks arrived at my house on the evening of the 23rd). The first article contains awkward phrases. I have indicated. Ask the author, the Venerable Fr. Matveeva, correct. The second article is much better. But it brings some confusion into the head due to the lack of general overviews that would indicate what it will be about. It would be nice in these reviews to indicate under headings (a, b...) the special objects that are being discussed. This gives great lightness to the scripture. The third article is great. In it - only about the headings... noticed there in the margins, it needs to be corrected. The fourth article is also very good. But it also lacks categories. And most importantly: he said that there were prototypes - in persons, events and rituals - and did not fulfill this in the presentation. Educative persons and rituals are shown, and events - some - are brought together with persons. We must insist that it be remade. I extracted events from educational figures and supplemented them with missing ones. There will be a special article coming out – it will be impressive. It occurred to me that I should add here an explanation of the perplexities raised by the passages of Scripture about the Lord Jesus Christ in His derogatory state. Many are tempted. There is one page on this here. This is not enough. See notebook 2 – fourth note on the back. In the cursus theologiae, and it seems that St. Macarius has a rich article on this. Essential take and good. Now I’ll look in cursus and give you another note. What – I mean, I still wanted to say. Ah, that's it! Notes should never be printed behind. You need to look at something else, go rummage around. It is imperative to print on the same page. Whoever hides them at the end is clearly afraid to appear in public with them and does not want anyone to look into them. You notice that there is little feeling. Is it true. But here it is not noticeable, because all objects are such that they require reasoning more than feelings. If everything goes like this, then we can hope that the biography will come out good. Oh! And I completely forgot. All these articles that are not yet finished - and those that follow - should be titled with an introduction. And ahead of the introduction is a preface, in which it is necessary to indicate the motivation for such an introduction and its plan, that is, what and why is supposed to be placed in it. When the actual biography begins, tell the author to give less space to descriptions of localities. It is necessary, but still there is a side issue. To present the events themselves, let him use the Catena partum or Chaine d’or on the Gospels of Thomas Aquinas. There are collected under each text interpretations of St. Fathers... This will make his work much, much easier. What was written was written once upon a time. All I have to do is send the notebooks. Which is what I do. You surprised me by mentioning the work that was about to begin. This is a distant song. I still have to finish the Epistle to the Hebrews, but I can’t get to it. I’ll finish then... Until then we’ll just guess. I don’t have anything else to attribute. Now I don't do anything. I am treated with milk. I received copies of the printed letters. Thank you for your troubles. But these are not the last four, but the first. The latter have either not yet been published, or will not be printed at all. As their Lordships please. At parties I reviewed something about icon veneration and the history of iconoclasm. I don’t want to write anything. I'm sybaritizing. Someone printed a whole book against your book - reprimands. It is clear from the title that not everything fell under his critical eye. Nowadays everyone is for the Jews... The Moscow ruler blurted out the sermon. It was so unpleasant to read it. The Jews in those areas where they were beaten suck the blood from the people without any pity. Seeing that the government did not stand up for them, they decided to settle accounts with the offenders themselves. They interpret that the people did something bad; but they won’t pay attention to the fact that the people were offended. Here they found the guilty, but the Jews are holy. These, that is, the peasants, should have been punished, and the Jews should have been subjected to strict supervision and hanged for any mischief. Then maybe they would become more peaceful. Save yourself! Grant you, Lord, to walk to your heart's content. 1147. About the distribution of letters from the saint against the Pashkovites. The outcome of concern for the protection of icon veneration. About your health I waited with difficulty for the letters from Fr. Vasilyeva. I also received it from Nikitin a long time ago. But that's not all - just the first four, and these will do. But now what they send (there are still bundles at the post office) are all letters, and a lot of them. I received two bales - up to 200. There are 3 more bales at the post office. Therefore, there will be 400–500 of them all. Thank you. Now I will generously send them in different directions. Tambov residents, you can hear, read diligently. If you wish, I will send it; I’m sending 10 - it’s better than waiting, but don’t give it to the priests. For you - not a couple of copies, but at least a couple of dozen. There you can distribute it for reading, and so on. There is little wisdom in them. But it is brought together under one review and placed in its place - which does not have a bad effect on the soul. At first I thought I was talking about nothing; and now it occurred to me that it was not a trifle. It will be useful to someone. I was going to write about icon veneration. But the missus came and tied her hands. The other day I received a letter from Fr. Archpriest Orlovsky Ostromyslensky, where he informs that he has compiled an article on icon veneration and is publishing it in Orel. He was in Moscow and someone there egged him on. So I am at peace. I really began to like doing nothing. And I don’t do anything, even if I’m a little annoyed with myself. My eye almost closed. But the other one is cheerful. Other health is good. What will he write about? Matveevsky, - ready to re-read. But when he signs, he will write smoothly and efficiently. I wish you to take a walk in the village and take in the refreshing elements. Save yourself! 1148. Various answers. Instructions and advice to the compiler of a book about the life of the Savior continue The letters have already been sent out! If you have any other places to send, tell me. I'll send at least fifty. I haven’t read Gorchakov’s dissertation. Your white clergy cannot pass without benefit. If you have anything else to write in the same vein, write without hesitation. Athos! God bless if there is a hunt. I have no desire to visit it at all. Troublesome. And the sun is there, the sun! And you will lose your healthy eyes. O. Matveevsky finished the introduction... Offer to handle the matter itself. We need to agree on a plan in advance. Because this is very important. Ask him what order he will follow. The creaking will rise if he doesn’t handle things our way. In my opinion, we should adhere to the plan that Metropolitan Philaret has in church and biblical history, with only small deviations. Remember my little brochure: “Instructions on how to put together one consistent story from the 4 Gospels.” It is all proof that Metropolitan Philaret’s plan is the best. If o. Matveevsky wants to follow this plan, then I will send you this brochure for him... with the changes that need to be made. I'm sitting on this now. Of the available stories, Bogoslovsky’s is the closest to Metropolitan Philaret. The Grechulevich vault deviates from it in many ways – illegally. Kyiv. prof. Horde is close to him, Farrara is rubbish in every way... Having agreed on the plan, the image of the presentation must be left to the writer... But less description of localities and other extraneous things - and more paternal meaning in the events. I think you said that there will be 300 paintings... Be good. But it is necessary to revise these pictures... Report to the people of Athos that the Vyshinsky ruler is ready to do this. We would make sketches in pencil. I would do the notes. If for every event there was a picture, where would it be good? Although not as big, but like Grechulevich’s, only a little bigger. Instead of 12 per sheet, you can have 6 or even 4. We will be ashamed if we miss something awkward. Fathers rely on us. God bless you! Save yourself! I wish you health and peace of mind. 1149. About the state of your strength and health. Advice and praise to the authors. About the fate of his letters against Pashkov Guilty! I was guilty. You ask: are you really sick? Completely broken, I don’t want to move my arms, legs, eyes, or tongue, real paralysis - from the blows of laziness. At first I missed two emails, it seems reasonable. Then it’s October, when you were supposed to be in St. Petersburg. I thought: I’ll write everything to St. Petersburg... and waited for a letter from there. Lo and behold, it’s from Sudislav. In your first letter you are going to write something about the relationship of the Church to the state. In Kazan, someone pressed the doctor, talking about how it went in Byzantium; judging by the doctoral student’s speech, his direction is good. On your way to Moscow, you can pick up his book: “The relationship between the Church and the royal power in Byzantium.” The letter you sent was large, from someone unknown to you - I read it... He stands up for the cause. Find him and pat him on the head. The letter arrived in St. Petersburg. along with copies of letters to St. Petersburg. But where are these letters and where were they sent... There are none in Vladimir, there are none in Perm, there are none in Kyiv, and there are none in Orel. And everyone is asking to send more... The Tambov people are asking permission to print them for distribution... I sent them quite a lot... but they also want more... It turns out that they were not sent out. Isn’t the definition of “dispatch” abolished? Of course, their dignity is not good... Or are those who are entrusted wagging? How else would the one who wrote them not get it? The book under the parcel post has not yet arrived. I will try to read and say the appropriate thing. All my writing energy has been washed away. And the eyes... But the main thing is: at least the grass doesn’t grow. It would seem that we can still work. God knows what years. And here!.. I drink milk repeatedly for three weeks, and then I’m done. In doctor's terms, this is a conclusion of treatment... for Bright's disease. My health is good. Sometimes anxiety comes over the left eye... and calls to run somewhere. But laziness weakens your legs. Don't be afraid, you will be amazed when you hear: laziness! laziness! God save every Tatar from this disease. However, sometimes I give this lady a very impolite slap on the head. But she is cunning and knows how to sneak up again. 1150. About his letters and works of Ushinsky against the Stundists. About mental prayer and emotional prayer. Taking care of your eye treatment I think that you are now in St. Petersburg, and I am writing there. I waited and waited for the book sent under the parcel post. And he didn’t wait. I heard that this package is unreliable. I am sending you letters to St. Petersburg. and the letter you sent... Letters from Kaluga are asked... and Muscovites... Therefore, they are not available anywhere. That's right, we changed our minds about sending them out. Let them send it to me, and I will send it out. I don’t have much left – maybe a hundred or two. Ushinsky, having read the letters in St. Petersburg, sent me his notebooks - against the Stundists, with whom he personally met - and found out all their nonsense. He writes very efficiently. And I asked him to continue. He also asked me to send the teaching points of the Stundists. Maybe, the laziness will go away, and I’ll write something. You ask about prayer. I find in the Fathers that when praying, one must expel all images from the head. I try to do just that, straining to stand in the conviction that God is everywhere... is also here, where I am, where my thought and my feeling are. I have no success in completely freeing myself from images... but they are evaporating more and more. That's right, there is a term for when they will completely disappear. In ready-made prayers there are many images of representing God; - judging therefore, we must assume that, having such ideas, we are not making a mistake. But it is better to strain yourself to think about God, closer to how He is. When the prayer of feeling appears, then the images disappear, and only one feeling is strong. Mental prayer has difficulty detaching itself from images and pictures. But work can overcome everything. With the fact that my head is heavy from prayer with feeling, I don’t know what to do. The prayer of feelings is refreshing... and this is something special for you. It will pass. But the prayer of feeling is a real prayer... To God - the heart, according to His command: Son, give Me a heart! The Lord provides everything we need. Pray to Him for guidance on how to deal with this or that. And He delivers. God bless you! Save yourself! I’m running to Tambov to show my eyes... One is almost closed. But I’ll ask, is it possible to have an operation and, if so, is it time? Another, so that they can see if he has the same weakness! 1151. About the religion of the Stundists. The result of a meeting with a Tambov doctor about eyes. About sending letters against sectarians. The darkness of Slavic church books and the need for their clarification I received both of your letters upon returning from Tambov, and although it was not yesterday and not yesterday, there was no need to rush to respond. Ushinsky sent the confessions of the Stundists - two schools - of which one is similar to Reformation, and the other is Doukhobor - Quaker. I wrote them off. On the first, I made some notes, as Ushinsky asked (for him), but on the second, you can’t make out anything: the water is dark. And I just got rid of this almost empty work. However, the confession of Reformed Stundists is not an empty matter. No one has it except Ushinsky, and also Senator Polovtsev, who sent Ushinsky to the Stundists, and this one brought him a full report of everything found, heard and seen. The result of my trip to Tambov, on the one hand, is sad, on the other, a little comforting. The sad thing is that the second eye has begun to cloud, the comforting thing is that you can have surgery. In Moscow they said it was impossible: the eye would disappear. But the Tambov doctor said it was possible; but that operations for cataracts such as mine are more often unsuccessful than others. That's why I say it's a little comforting. The operation itself, of course, must be done in Moscow or St. Petersburg. But it’s still a year or two away. The right eye was still only half cloudy; but it needs to be completely filled with turbidity, and then it will be a mature cataract. I went to Tambov only for information about the position of the eyes. That the left one was also beginning to become cloudy, I myself suspected due to some accidents. Concerning the distribution of books or letters. Let them send it to me. Only one thousand is enough, and let them send out the rest. The Tambov Bishop wrote to the Economic Administration asking that they send him a thousand... It hasn’t been sent to me yet, and now I can’t hear it... So let them send it. Crimean Rev. Gury - he himself published one plant... but in that country even 5 times as many - they will find a place. Where the Molokans are, these letters are suitable everywhere. Ushinsky writes that among the motivations for falling away into the Shtunda, those who have gone astray cite, among other things, the fact that in our Church you cannot understand anything that they read and sing. And this is not due to poor execution, but because what is being read is dark. He writes that he was stumped when some troparion or stichera was read to him and he was asked to say a thought. I couldn’t say anything: it was very dark. Two ladies wrote to me from St. Petersburg - the same thing about this... with Pashkov everything is clear, with us - nothing. Nothing - a lot; and that there is a lot that is incomprehensible is fair... The ruling power should take care of this... and understand the liturgical books... leaving, however, the Slavic language - and readings from the Old Testament at Vespers... translation from 70 interpreters... Start talking about this. Liturgical books, according to their purpose, must be changeable. Our hierarchs are not bored by the ambiguity, because they don’t hear while sitting in the altar... We should force them to read the services, even for Epiphany!!! Happy holidays and happy new year. 1152. More about his letters and Ushinsky’s note about the Stunda. About the Latin text of the works of Abba Isaiah Rejoice in your silence in the Lord!.. Why are you silent? Is there nothing to write?! Yes, there you have it - if you write one foot at a time every day, you won’t be able to rewrite everything. Or are you counting the line after me? No... I wrote to you for the last time soon... And although there is nothing to write from here, I keep thinking: I’ll write... and then I’ll think: just wait, maybe they’ll bring a letter from the post office... You see what movements there are, but you’re not even paying attention... They sent me letters - a bunch... 1000. And I attach a little of them - here and there - to the parcels. I confess that I am often burdened by the thought: why are you bothering with your worthless letters, are you tired of everyone?! That's right! But the other day, His Eminence Jacob accidentally brought me consolation by writing that some school director was writing to him about these letters, and that millions of copies should be printed and sent to all schools... Isn’t this a misconception of my writing?! Nothing is being written. If you start writing, it’s just rubbish, rubbish, but nothing moves, and you quit. I was going to write against the stunda... And I’m not giving up on my preparations yet. But I’ll wait to see what comes out of Ushinsky. Ushinsky sent me his note to Senator Polovtsev about the Stunda. I wrote it off... it gives complete information. It occurred to me that it would be nice for Mr. Chief Prosecutor to read it. But I think that maybe Polovtsev told him. And I guess that this is the case - due to the fact that the chief prosecutor collected information about which priests practice treating the sick... Are they thinking about restoring medicine in the seminary to the way it was? When reading that note, I thought that it would be good if they restored it. A German pastor... a Stunda breeder, he recruits a lot of our people by treating them. I am sending you the latest issue of Saint Simeon, - and thoughts for every day, - and 5 chapters, - and letters to St. Petersburg. some. Look, what an opportunity? When they were collecting 1 volume of the “Philokalia” and it was necessary to translate Abba Isaiah, I asked the Athonites to look for it in Greek, because I only had it in Latin. at Minya, they didn’t find it then. But now they found it and copied it for the library of their monastery... The other day they sent it to me. I started checking, and alas! I see that a new translation needs to be made. The Latin either took liberties, or read it differently... quite a dissimilarity, although it is not too large, but the whole style of speech will be new. I’ve told you so many stories, but you remain silent!!! Well, that’s all now... All that remains is to congratulate you on the successful completion of the Pentecostal season - and express good wishes on the occasion of the upcoming holiday of Holy Easter... This is what I do. God bless you with every blessing! The Kazan Academy deigned to honor me with the title of honorary member of the academy. Tell me please, what kind of face is this? I don’t have a new charter, and I don’t know what it is... does it oblige me to anything?.. 1153. The need for a new translation of liturgical books, Prologue and teachings. The promiscuity of literature. Pashkov's propaganda in Riga. About my works and assumptions. Draft response to the pope's call for unity ...The liturgical books need to be translated again so that everything is clear. The Pashkovites shout: everything in your Church is unclear; Stundists too, and there are quite a few of our own. Anyone who begins to read or listen attentively will certainly end up shouting: what is this... Bishops and priests do not all hear what is read and sung while sitting in the altar. That’s why they don’t know how dark the books are, and this is for no other reason than because of an outdated translation. And we need to understand the translation. Only readings - Proverbs - are by no means in Russian. Bible understand, but 70 each. Now there is a split. And I'll go first... How do you judge the Prologue?!.. A delightful book for its intended purpose: short (and sometimes complete) lives of the saints of the day... and a few teachings and edifying incidents. And in terms of language... they are worthless, even for a bench. As the Fathers composed it, so it is. And unreadable. It is necessary - to translate and publish it in Russian... or in Slavic-Russian, in the style of St. Demetrius, as well as liturgical books. There is a book of short teachings, a collection of the Holy Fathers. The Holy Fathers have already been translated into Russian. But the Synod keeps printing them according to the old, incomprehensible translation. It is necessary to collect them in Russian, changing here and there and adding to them (or compile a completely new collection according to that model. It’s all dogmatics and all moral teaching). Both of these books - the Prologue and short teachings - are edifying... And they are read in the Church (at least in our country).... Often you won't understand anything. This is me - everything is about the beloved... and, of course, you will not miss the essential... The Synod dissolved the academy and seminary - spiritual literature. There is no control: secular people lie, spiritual people lie, but he has no grief - he doesn’t even blink an eye. There is no power in the Church... as anyone wants, so he acts and teaches. Priests are sleeping everywhere... There are only one or two who are not sleeping - and there are no number of them. Well, of course you see all this and the like... and don’t miss it. The other day at Mosk. Ved." it is written that Pashkov and some other Goedekker (who? Isn’t it the head of the apostolic community?!) came to Riga to preach. Then Pashkov distributed a book, The Path to Salvation, in which his nonsense is outlined. It occurred to me: to take this very book and put it on an Orthodox footing... and put it to use... printing a warning at the end: look, Orthodox, you will come across a book with the same title - but with a stamp... do not pick it up... This is not the path - but a crossroads - or something else. I throw myself into the pile of books you sent, hoping to find Pashkov’s path to salvation... I can’t find it... So the question is: what is needed? .. Not for our Church, as you call it, but for Vysha. We must ask N-lay V-vich to forget Pashkov’s Path to salvation and, without following it, send him to Vysha! Please! What is Vysha doing? He sleeps soundly. Little by little he moves, translating again Isaiah the hermit... A long speech comes out, but sometimes the thoughts are different... Their translation is untenable. There are a lot of unfinished things to do... and laziness gets in the way. Here you go! Progress! I plan to take up the pole; and under her title - for her parents and the whole family (Protestants). But I’ll wait to see what Ushinsky writes and what Fr. publishes. prot. Ostromyslensky. What did dad answer? It should be like this: we are very glad to receive you and we pray earnestly that the Lord will lead you to unity with us. The conditions, of course, you know: delete from your beliefs the infallibility of your Holiness, Filioque, the sinlessness of the Mother of God at birth, the complete renunciation of secular dominion, the return to the ancient rite in the performance of certain sacraments, and something else. Or left unanswered... No, you need to answer - and also in an open letter... Congratulations on your housewarming. May the Lord comfort your sister. The letter and book were received at the end by Fomina. We are busy at this time. God bless you! Save yourself. 1154. About the book of Ivan the brawler and the path to Emin’s salvation. About St. Petersburg sects. About your eye and so on. Got the books. Thank you. I met Ivan Buyan a long time ago. Then he was thinner, but now - look how fat he has become... I ran through him quickly. There is only one page in his text that is sectarian. More explanations. But in general this is unnoticed - and may not be noticeable, without special suggestions from the outside. Therefore, no great disaster can be expected from this book. The very content of the book seemed to me inconsistent with the title. The path to heavenly Jerusalem is not entirely correctly depicted. While reading the book, it occurred to me to correct it and publish it under the title: Ivan Buyan 155, who converted to Orthodoxy. But when I finished reading, laziness took over - and don’t move! Emin’s “The Path to Salvation” seems to contain nothing sectarian and the translation is ancient. I read it a long, long time ago. I’ll read more... And Buyan, I think, I’ll read more... maybe I’ll see his virtues and vices more accurately. Pashkov, - Pashkov?!! Help, Lord, the ruler to shut his mouth! There you also have an apostolic sect. Our neighbor, the landowner, was there recently - his little son visited... and sent me two issues of “Voice”, which describe the sessions of these crazy people, and then the history of their sect. The writer himself saw the sessions, but heard the story from some bishop... or evangelist. – No. “Voices” – 74 and 84... That’s not all. There is no end. If it is convenient for you, send the end... Prugavin writes in a feuilleton. One should write against these. My eye has not yet matured. Another year will pass. I can also distinguish objects and colors, but when the cataract matures, then it distinguishes only light and shadow. When the time comes, we'll discuss how to arrange the operation. I have a lot of money. Thanks for the offer. Regarding the life of Christ the Savior, my opinion is this: leave the work of the compiler, telling only him what it is desirable to see in the book... He is a master of the matter... And questions that require clarification are known to him... I have not yet received the brochures for Ave. Ambrose. He did good. Let him speak again - to awaken conscience. We all fell asleep and live carelessly. The one who writes this is an example of this kind. 1155. More about the revision of the book “The Life of the Savior.” New sectarian. About my classes In the village! Lovely! May God grant you to be renewed by the fresh elements of the countryside. You advise me to rest. I remembered the saying of the late Fr. Mikhail (Monastyreva): you sleep and sleep, there’s no time to rest. This is very applicable to me... And also the word: rest. I revised the manuscript. All is well. The note is there on the sheet - in the bale. What needed to be corrected has been corrected. Namely: The Meeting must be placed before the adoration of the Magi. After the Magi worshiped, they immediately fled to Egypt, from Bethlehem. And in the manuscript, the Holy Family returned to Nazareth. And there he received orders to flee to Egypt, because Herod wants to beat... there is danger in Bethlehem - and flight from Nazareth!!! Very non-sticky. And it's fixed. Should not be sent to the author again; and if you decide to, then insist that you don’t grumble about the amendments made. And go ahead, advise him - to stick not to Grechuevich, but to Bogoslovsky, - or better yet - I will write down - the order of the following events... and you hand him over for execution (menacingly!). Otherwise I will fight with him (even more menacingly). However, the casus belli can only occur when it comes to the event of the return of Christ the Savior after the first Easter through Samaria. Until then, the order cannot be confused. I think you shouldn’t send the manuscript to anyone else, for fear that this child of 7 nannies might be left without an eye. You understand about the new sect, and Prugavin’s horse breeders are among them. This Prugavin in the “Voice” wrote disapprovingly against the apostolic community - Irvingians. I thought that he was Orthodox. And that's who he is! Say an extra word about him... if the governor told you, then, of course, he had the means to know well what kind of sect it was. Please ask, what is this?.. Our sects are like worms in a carrion. What is Vysha doing? Everyone is asleep. And she has no urine from sleep. I'm tired! However, I’m checking the new translation of Abba Isaiah with the translation of Paisius Velichkovsky, which the good Optina elders sent me. But the heat is so hot that it seems like it’s not a sin to be lazy. Be healthy and cheerful. I wish you to walk around and get healthy - up to your throat... even above your beard and mustache. 1156. Mutual expectations. About your activities and health What happened?! We talked, we talked, so that if someone else was listening, he would scream: his ears were buzzing. And then, for no apparent reason, there was silence. You won’t be able to tell who is to blame. I expect something from you, and you, probably, also expect something from me... How did you spend your time in the village - or are you still spending it?! Is it healthy? Have your eyes been strengthened by the influence of greenery?! This is the last time you complained about them. I kept walking and wasting my time. I just reviewed the interpretation of the pastoral letters, the printing of which has ended, and letters to various persons, some of which have ended in printing... Probably, they will soon go out of the usual procedure. The Epistle to the Hebrews should be interpreted, or the second volume of the Philokalia should be collected... or something else... nothing is being done. Laziness has finally taken over. Do you remember - or did they know Paisius of Sarov - now hegumen somewhere in the Kazan diocese? He published the story of a wanderer who was looking for the Jesus Prayer. (Perhaps I already told you about this?... I forgot.) And he sent it to me. I corrected and supplemented this book... and sent it for a second edition. Now they have proposed a review of Ushinsky’s conversations with the Stundists. You'll have to dig around here. But who knows, will I dig in? For my dear laziness is dearer than anything. Work whoever wants. The business wouldn't come to our minds. Love! Ushinsky calls to Kyiv for the operation. It’s as if there is an ophthalmologist there - the first in the whole world. I haven't decided anything yet. Time endures. The cataract has not yet matured. Do you know what comes to mind? don’t have surgery and just stay that way. After all, the Moscow ophthalmologist said that operations should not be performed... I am partly afraid. I wish you all the best from the Lord! Save yourself! 1157. The meaning of the book of life of St. Varlaam and Boasaph the prince for the knowledge of the Christian faith and life Kindest N-lay V-vich! Happy holiday! I hasten to answer you, sending a letter to your village, although I am not sure that it will find you there. At random! Ushinsky's address is here. Malaya Vladimirskaya, own. house, no. 7. Remember, I started to cook up an Orthodox Buyan? There will be no need. There is something to replace it - and in the best possible way. Back in Jerusalem, in the monastery of St. Savva I saw a large handwritten book. The life of Barlaam the Elder and Joasaph the Prince. And I was going to read everything, but I didn’t get around to it. At home, since I discharged St. Fathers - and met between the writings of St. This book of Damascus is in print, I also kept looking at it to read it, but didn’t read it. The other day, having the need on the occasion of Ushinsky’s conversation about the veneration of the icon, look at the words about this by St. Damascene, his eyes fell on this book again, and he decided to read it. So what? There is no better book for understanding the Christian faith and life in general, and there can hardly be one. Why is translation being undertaken or what is meant by publication with pictures? This will be better than all catechisms! You, protecting my eyes, write - do not bother them. No, I'm not bothering. Little by little I dig into the rust. May God bless you to realize your wealth... May your path to St. Petersburg be smoothened. I wish you health and the most cheerful mood. 1158. About Ushinsky and viewing his works against the Stundists. Assumptions about your works and advice to the compiler of the book “The Life of the Savior” I congratulate you on yesterday’s Nativity of Christ and on tomorrow’s New Year. God bless you all the best and comforting. I hasten to show you Ushinsky’s place of residence. But I exclaim in advance: is it possible not to know this?! Go out into the yard on a full moon and look at the moon. The lightest points are K, followed by I, then E and at the end B. Here is your place of residence... Is it possible not to see this?! But I thought that I had previously written that he lived there. I definitely thought of translating only Varlaam’s conversations with Prince Joasaph, as an antidote to Ivan Buyan. But then he returned to his old ways: to depict a picture of the course of the life of a true Christian from the beginning to the height of perfection... in pictures that will include appointed conversations - and the likeness of Hermas... and the vision of Ezra, Daniel, other prophets, the Apocalypse, and many saints from Chet-Minea... Someday you need to sit down for a year or more - and put everything together... Will it be? I think it would be better to describe the earthly life of the Savior without a certain Louis. All Westerners write a lot of trifles, but they touch on the matter at the top. There is no point in spending money on them and making your eyes dirty with them. More from St. Fathers - and it will be better. On holidays I read St. Gregory the Theologian - deep and lofty... But the sacrament of the Most Holy Trinity still remains a sacrament - unapproachable. Ushinsky writes against the Stundists, having obtained points of confession of their faith. He writes and sends it to me for revision. Although incomplete, everything is going well. Without fish and cancer, fish. I thought about replenishing it first. But laziness cried out and convinced me to stroke something. And be content with that... It seems ashamed, but what can you do about laziness? For her, the law is not written. Maybe I’ll decide to write more fully myself. A whole book could be written about the icons alone. And not a book, but a little book... Icons are a great aid to the misinterpretations of the Germans, they need to be hit on the nose. I will wait for news about transformative movements. I am sending you books that have recently been published, it seems that this is a conjecture - one should interpret the Epistle to the Hebrews... But according to a certain saying - there is a lot in the head, but it doesn’t get out. God bless you. Save yourself! 1159. Continuation of work on correcting the book. "The Life of the Savior." Review of the author and advice to him. The denouement with Ushinsky's manuscript. Fear of eye surgery Congratulations on your safe return. I wish you to live in good health until you leave again. But - straight to the point. I revised the manuscript, added something, corrected something... rearranged some events here too, as required by the very nature of the events and the stories about them. How everything is done and what is desirable to be written on the special sheets with the manuscripts. Corrections were made in pencil. I suggest you, as the author of the amendment, correct it in ink. The rearrangement of events makes the rewriting of two notebooks inevitable, as you will see. But I will have to repeat all this to you later. Because even though the manuscript is packed, it will not go to the post office. The water rose; and they don’t go to the post office, but walk. No wonder the guy took a swim. And with everything that I accepted. And I don’t send manuscripts. It will lie down for another two or three weeks. I thought of sending on the third; but you did not set a deadline, and I was afraid that in your absence some inconvenience might happen to the manuscript. Meanwhile, there is no hurry. Send others, then I’ll send them right away. How glad I am that I untied myself from tying myself up using Ushinsky’s manuscript. I redid everything, and it seems that I redid two articles, when laziness set in - terrible... I didn’t want to take up the pen. At that time, someone egged Ushinsky on - let me print it as it is. He writes, asking to send the manuscript as it is, and setting forth the reason that the opportunity must not be missed... I grabbed the manuscript with both hands and quickly packed it up, lest he change his mind. And he sent it away. I only made notes on what to fix, what to release... and in what order... Everything that seemed necessary was noticed. But I left the execution of it in his hands. I don’t know whether he will be allowed to print. But when they print it, know that there is not a single line of mine there. It is proper to know this. So I became free. But I still don’t want to write. I took up the Philokalia, about which the Athonite people constantly pester me. And St. Cassian has already prepared... that is, an extract from it. He himself requires a new translation... But this must be done by subsequent generations. I remember your questions - about various things desired in that life. The main thing is: it is written well, and the Christian feeling will rest and be consoled by reading it. Other than that, you can’t ask for much from a biography. There is a different kind of scripture for that. – I didn’t expand the reader’s horizons, but limited myself to one thing: if everything written hits the heart, then it’s good. Another thing: when you were instructed to write, it means you trusted that he would do good, what was desirable should have been indicated in advance - or now indicated along the flow of the writing while it was still being written. O. Matvey writes kindly. But I find his desire for a raise to be unreasonable. Hired - sold. And the amount given is sufficient. If it comes out to 100 liters. large print, then each sheet is 30 rubles. This is twice as much as our magazines give at the highest price. The work of writing is not very puzzling and not very dirty. I'm still about. He wrote to Arseny to recommend that the writer find Thomas Aquinas - “Catenae patrum” for all the Gospels. Below each text are extracts from St. The fathers who had interpretations about this... and that's it. He doesn’t add anything of his own... So tell Fr. writing that, having this book at hand... he will not have the need to rummage here and there. - Maybe it is in the academician. library... Otherwise, let him run to the public library. You ask: eyes - eyes! Do you see how I write? Next, there is something to watch. And when is there something to bother about? The right eye seems to have matured... But even the last line of maturation can take several months, when the entire period of maturation lasted for 5-6 years... if not more. As soon as I think about surgery, my hair stands on end. Therefore, it is not surprising that I will not have surgery. One doctor already decided that it was impossible... I am very happy about this. But how long do you have to live? A day or two and it's over. Why will I tyrannize myself? This always stops me from the urge to cut myself... However, let's wait to see what else the present time will show. Please tell me: at the end of the letter someone wrote to me: about Pashkov next. letter. And not a peep - he did it well?! For that, God bless you! Save yourself! 1160. Details of corrections in the book being viewed, “The Life of the Savior.” works on the Philokalia I received your last two letters on Easter... I forestalled your desire - not to rush to send the manuscript - and sent it off. Will she find you in St. Petersburg?! Someday it will reach your hands. There was no letter with that parcel. I am writing now. Everything is spelled out there, how things should be... and why. We need to move the events a little: what is indicated. Everything is written in pencil. You can clean it if you don’t like it; but Vysha will not refuse to frown. Why will there be an eclipse of the sun? Let the guilty be afraid. What kind of notes were made there, I forgot everything... And the bale is sewn up... I won’t add anything. The legends about the healing of the leper have already passed. And he stands in his place, that is, before the healing of the paralytic. Visit to Nazareth – two – welcome! But the first thing that Ev. Luke should be placed not where it was placed, but a little after... namely, not before moving into Capernaum, but during the first walk through Galilee - before the healing of the leper... And during this walk there will be two events... a visit to Nazareth, and the healing of the leper. This is shown in the notes sent. It would also be necessary, instead of one, to see two events. This is about calling the apostles - from the catch. They are characteristically different. And it is impossible to crumple them into one event without exaggeration... And make two legends: one like Ev. Matvey, another like Ev. Luke. Where should I put them? One right after moving into Capernaum, like Ev. Matt. and Mr., - and another after returning from the first walk through Galilee, - before the healing of the paralytic, it is assumed: they returned... not immediately the healing? I need to rest. And they rest. The Savior is special, in solitude... And the apostles went to fish... After all, this is just to get out of the city. Here it is. The Savior also came out. And it was that in Ev. Luke. This is the final title... The Latins already put or place these legends this way. And this is even in the universal church. stories... of which I have two on hand. I will wait for the promised delivery of new notebooks. I am now sitting over the second volume of the Philokalia. And I feel that now this is being done with difficulty, whereas the first one was done quickly. Saint Cassian, etc. Hesychius - finished... Rev. flows. Nile the Wise... Before St. Cassian should place extracts from St. Ephraim. He is the beginning. The end - Isaac the Syrian. And everyone between them, everyone, at least a little, will enter into this volume. I wish you a happy trip - and a healthy one... May God's blessing be upon you. 1161. Progress of work on the preparation of the “Gospel History” by the saint. Good aids to anatomy. About your eyes. Sign of prophetic dreams From the very moment I received your letter, which was written from the heights of the Valdai Mountains, I kept wanting to write to you, and quickly. And that’s how I sped it up!! When the passionate one came, when all the Gospels were being read, it occurred to me to finally fulfill the desire that had not given up on me to compose the Gospel story in the words of the evangelists. I made up my mind and sat down, thinking to myself: how long? I'll finish by the end of the week. But the end of the week has come, and the end is still far away... Well, by the end of Easter, of course, I’ll have sorted everything out... And I’m sulking. But the end of Easter left the matter far from over. If so, then Fomina will solve everything. I haven’t decided; Mironositskaya didn’t decide, and further... and the Samaritan woman rescued her. Glued everything together... Then comes the sitting to find out the reasons why events should be given this order and not another. This is already at the end... before the last days... Then there is not much to re-read - and, what is most difficult, to rewrite. And there will be a book... of 15 leaves... its title: “The Gospel Story”, in the words of St. of the Evangelists, presented in sequential order, showing the reasons why the events of the Gospel should be given this and not another order. This is the temptation that caused all the letters to be postponed until another time. In your last letter you remember that in your previous letter to him you wrote about studying the human body... I didn’t receive this previous one... If you remember, take the trouble to repeat it. I have anatomy, very detailed and intelligent, as I wrote. Now there are three atlases - drawings of parts of the human body, visible and invisible. The last atlas, the French one, which I ordered Alyosha to buy, will be the best of all: because its drawings are superimposed on one another, folded in. The abdomen, for example, - you see the skin in the picture, - bend it, - you will see that under the skin there are muscles representing the peritoneum, - bend it again - the wombs... also - the large intestine, the kidneys, the ureter - and the back wall... I haven’t reviewed the text yet... But from the looks of it I judge that this is good... and should satisfy enough, if not completely. Questions... I'll solve them. I won’t undertake it until the aforementioned temptation ends. But it seems the questioner will not do without penance. Let him get ready. I take care of my eyes. They don't hurt, that's why there is no medicine for them. They die, and they will die forever. Alas! Dreams are from God. Such people usually have a certificate about themselves. “The enemy is faking it here too, just like he is pretending to be an angel of light.” How can this be? See for yourself. 1162. The end of the work on compiling the “Gospel History”. An explanation of the order of some of the events in this story. I wrote to you in St. Petersburg. The letter, perhaps, will leave you. I wrote to you that I am compiling the Four Gospels or Gospel history in the words of St. evangelists. It's all over now. All that remains is correspondence. In this story, I hold two suppers for the Lord - one 6 days before Easter, and the other two. So show it to the father who is writing. By the way, let me remember about the renunciation of St. Peter, - and about the visit to the Holy Sepulcher of St. myrrh-bearers. There are three legends about Peter’s denial, different from one another: 1) St. Matt. and Brand are similar; 2) St. Luke and 3) St. John. Each has three renunciations. If we begin to make one first out of the first three, one second out of the second three, and one third out of the three thirds, then we won’t get the job done. Therefore, I decided this: to consider it as renunciation is not the same as St. Peter said: “...I don’t know the man,” but the attack of the questioners. A maid approached, followed by another, then someone else. St. Peter says to one, and the other, and the third: no, no, no - I don’t know. They fell silent, and this is one renunciation. A little later they attack again, St. Peter again calmed them down with three negatives. And this is the second... And the third... There were three attacks, three renunciations, although each consisted of three, but the renunciation reached fullness only after the third renunciation. First, according to Ev. from John – 18:17, 18, 25–27. Second, according to Matt. – 26:58, 69–74 and Mark – 14:54, 66–72. Third, according to Ev. Onion. – 22:55–62. These renunciations should not be inserted into the legends about the trial of the Lord at night and thus tear it apart, but write all the renunciations after the end of the trial and the removal of the Lord from the Sanhedrin to the courtyard. They think that the houses of Annas and Caiaphas were in different places. The high priest's house was one, with different wings: for Annas, Caiaphas and for the Sanhedrin. Since his arrival, the Lord stayed with Anna for a while, only until they gathered in the Sanhedrin. Maybe He came there too. In this case, I only had to go through the yard. According to John, renunciation began at the entrance gate and ended at the fire. According to Matthew and Mark, it began at the fire, was repeated when leaving the white courtyard to the black courtyard, and ended in the black courtyard or in the gatehouse. The third renunciation was all around the fire. The Lord, upon leaving the Sanhedrin, was immediately somewhere in the courtyard. And he looked at Peter. And the walk of the wives to the Sepulcher on the day of resurrection cannot be harmoniously described if we accept that they all walked in a group - and at one time. We must recognize three parishes - and three legends about them. Please look at the letters to various persons from Bp. Feofana, letter 23. The wives on Saturday evening agreed on the morning of the first day of the week to go to Golgotha ​​and anoint the Lord with ointment. But to go there, do not gather in the city, but go to Golgotha, as anyone can, and wait there until everyone gathers. They did not have an apartment in the same house, but in different ones. That is why it turned out that they did not all leave the city and come to Golgotha ​​at once, but in parts. But whoever came there, seeing that the Lord was not there, and receiving the notification that He had risen, no longer had the need to wait, but came and left. First of all, Mary Magdalene came, according to Ev. John. When she ran from the Sepulcher to the apostles, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, came with some others, according to Ev. Luke, then Mary came to Jacob and Salome, also, probably, with some, according to Ev. Matt. and Ev. Onion. Having received a command from the Lord and the Angels to go tell the apostles about the resurrection of the Lord, they finally all gathered with the apostles, according to Ev. John - 24:10. The fruit of all their meetings was only that St. Peter also went to see the Sepulcher. Further stories about the appearances of the Lord follow their own course and do not require explanation. Here's what else... The death of Judas is placed after the Lord's taking to Pilate. - Since he brought his silver to the high priests, and the high priests went at that time to Pilate, it must be assumed that this case of Judas took place later, when the church authorities were free. This is also from the legend of Ev. Matt. visible. For it says here that they held a council and decided to buy a potter’s field... When was it possible to do this? Therefore, I already believe this at the end of events, on Friday, after the placement of the Lord in the tomb. It’s good to do the same there. I am faced with correspondence, which I take upon myself, in the thought that perhaps there is still something that will have to be cleaned up; not in Ev herself. history, because here the text is entirely sacred, and in the explanations why events are turned out this way. 1163. Correspondence of the “Gospel History”. Book competition. About dreams. blessing. More to the point about the “Gospel story” Exhausted. Over what? Above laziness. I'm rewriting. But this is a great temptation. There is no one to trust. They will rewrite it in such a way that it is worse than drafts. There’s nothing I can do, I’ll just drag it out. It will only last a long time. It is written very slowly, because it needs to be legible, but when you write soon you won’t be able to write legibly. We'll manage somehow. You say: give it to the people of Athos. Why on earth? They have their own life. I'll publish it myself. I will ask the editor of “Soulful Reading” to find a more intelligent proofreader and oversee the printing. It is necessary that there are no errors. Pictures and I thought, and then changed my mind. The people of Athos wouldn’t think that my book would undermine their publication? It won't be fair. My book is of a completely different caliber with their biographies. They were undermined by some Moscow bookseller, who had already published the life of Christ the Savior, and with many pictures, good ones, if all of them were the same as those printed at the announcement. If Matveevsky had not hesitated, the Athonites would have been released long ago. This is what they can present to Matveevsky if he decides to ask for an increase. I have nothing to say about dreams. Historically, it has been confirmed that there are dreams from God, some from one’s own, and some from the enemy. How to find out is beyond your imagination. - Peephole. The only thing we can say decisively is that dreams that are contrary to Orthodox Christianity must be rejected. Also: there is no sin in not following dreams when you lack confidence. God's dreams, which must be fulfilled, were sent repeatedly... May the Lord preserve your beauty in the right faith, with the good life that she leads. Let your salvation work out with the fear of God. In devotion to God, let him cry out to Him from the depths of his soul to preserve it in the Orthodox truth, without which there is no salvation. You wrote to change the title... No. He's pissing - pissing; “according to the story of the evangelists” does not express the case. And Matveevsky writes according to this legend. The difference in my story is that it does not contain my words. Except for the titles. The justification for order is all in the word to the readers, which will be a third or a quarter of the book, and stands especially in front. If God extends the century... reflections on the events of St. stories, or conversations... will come after. This book solves nothing except: why was this order of events chosen? 1164. About censorship of the “Gospel History”. Fear of non-permission to print My most merciful N-lai V-vich! I am very grateful for the information about the censorship procedure that my “Gospel Story” will be subjected to. I was a little embarrassed at the thought of the possibility of the Holy Synod not allowing it to be printed. And then he humbled himself a little, saying to himself: God’s will be done. Since it is supposed not to allow this kind of writing, then there is nothing to do: hands at the seams and: I’m listening, sir! I immediately thought of writing to the Great Bishop and the Chief Prosecutor. And again I changed my mind. It is better to leave everything to the will of God. It’s all the same who should be assigned to review it. I don’t think any of the Synodal members will be unfriendly to my cause. Our relationship with Tambovsky is good. But I think it’s better not to give any hints here either. When the manuscript is completed, you can say something on occasion, in passing, to anyone who is talking about it. However, act as God tells you to do. For me, the most important thing is not the “Gospel story” itself, but the order of events. The Gospel story is an appendage. If such a story, told in the words of the evangelists, is not allowed, then you can then state the same thing in your own words. I compiled it in the words of the evangelists, so that I could then examine it from all sides in the same order. The text of the compiled history would only then serve as a starting point - and everything would be in order. Let them quickly allow or prohibit... Maybe after that I will immediately sit down to write, of course, if I feel like it: for my laziness takes on great strength. Or maybe the synods will be merciful. On the merits of the matter, although it won’t be a big deal, it won’t be resolved. But I almost muttered to the whole world that a miracle was being prepared... “The Gospel Story” - this and that... And then suddenly... Ole - defeat! And it would be desirable that it be allowed. 1165. About the book “The Life of the Savior of the World” by Putsykovich I received “The Life of the Savior” by Putsykovich. - And reconsidered. It is also entirely composed in the words of the Gospel. But the order of events is unfortunate. Everything is excited. The pictures are bearable. 1166. More about the censorship of the “Gospel History”. Compilation of the life of St. great Panteleimon and about his other works. About the results of the Kyiv Council. The need for clarification of church books What is happening to my “Gospel story”?! It’s true that he started at the wrong time, or finished it, or sent it to the censor... Or the censor ate it out of sight, or some other similar parable happened, that everything stands still and does not move. And why is censorship sleeping there?! Doesn't send. I would take a stick and blow everyone away. Anyway, someday this matter will come to an end. Let's wait. We are not at the height of progress. In the outback. Did I write to you or not about the desires of the Athos people? I completed it and sent it. These are two words of praise from St. Panteleimon; - and his life according to Metaphrast. Now I’m translating Vikenty Lirinsky... as I mentioned. I'll finish soon. I will add a considerable preface about the same thing, and also... an extract from similar writings by the writers who preceded Vincent and those who followed, in order to present this matter more fully. I think this is not untimely. Did you find out anything about St. Jeremiah... Tell me quickly. May the Lord protect him. What have our gathering aces done for the Church? The Kyiv Cathedral produced a fruit - a charter... Maybe something else will happen. We drank, ate, traveled, talked, fussed, and parted... It will be very boring if this is so... The church books should be cleared up and cleaned out... The Greeks are constantly updating their liturgical books... I compare the Octoechos... The Greeks have very, very many new things. And they are great at this. Some of our services are such that you can’t make out anything... Also: Prologue, in terms of content, is lovely, but in terms of style it’s useless... but everything is in use... Also: There is a Book of Brief Teachings from St. Fathers are also lovely. All St. The fathers from which the articles were taken have now been translated into Russian. And in church - everything is read in the old Slavic translation... What is it worth correcting and updating both of these books?! 1167. More about the “Gospel History”. On the matter of 2 volumes of the Philokalia. About the “invisible warfare”. 70 year old worker Thank you for your troubles. Although not too much, I was still worried about the fate of the manuscript. Now I see hope for non-interdiction. How to print, I wrote everything down. The font is large, like the Philokalia... and the format is the same. The border has been chosen - throughout the book. And asked Fr. Nechaev - find a proofreader. Dad... so that there are no mistakes. God grant that it be published well. The second volume of the Philokalia is being printed. Half were sent for review. There are a lot of mistakes again... I'm waiting for the end. A little book will come out: it’s all about the fight against passions. And from Athos the elders sent “The Invisible Warfare” by Nicodemus Agiorite, offering to translate it. Ran. It's coming. Can you translate... I, it seems, wrote to you that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to translate Vikenty Lirinsky’s memorial note again... I translated it... It became clearer. Now it is necessary to select in addition to how this was judged before. Which is what is done - starting from him - back... to the apostles. Then the general conclusion - and amen. My head became weak and I almost completely lost the ability to write. That's right, the time has come. On January 8 I turned 70 years old. You can lie down and sleep soundly. But you can’t resist; – I want to dig into everything... And there are so many mysteries!! P. S. About “The Invisible Warfare” - don’t you remember, we had a long, long time ago and passed from hand to hand - with such an inscription, a book translated from Latin. I'd like to take a look at it. Nicodemus might have remade it. His inscription says: compiled by a certain wise man... now, and so on... 1168. Start of printing “Evangel. history." Works on the translation of “The Invisible Warfare”. News and congratulations I have done a great deal to you. Guilty. Although silence suits the Lenten season, we could do without this feat of laziness. However, I have something to apologize for... although you can hide under it as well as under a harrow from the rain - namely, I was waiting for news from Moscow about the start of printing. And what happened?!.. I got angry with impatience at my nephew and scolded him. He answered: only three or four days since he received the manuscript... And together he added: Fr. prot. Nechaev pointed out the ace - the proofreader, and began to look through the latest proofreading himself, which, of course, will not be without sins (and the Gospel is now being printed with sins); but still I am at peace... They sent a sample, which was rejected by the Higher... because it unnecessarily deviated from my initial order... He sent it back with an order to do as specified... This is where the matter stands... It has begun, of course, and will reach the end. You took 10 tons too broadly. I ordered two factories... The first edition of my books has not yet been distributed to one factory... It’s scary... and then to meet the same thing. If it goes well, we'll print it again. “Invisible abuse”... is translated, albeit very sedately. I see that this is exactly the book that I knew back in Kyiv. acad. and then in St. Petersburg. This is translated from Latin, in the days of Golitsyn. She is very good... Many of her provisions were included in my descriptions in the first forties - and even in Acad. student articles... such as, for example, the fight against sin. I don’t translate it, but I freely rearrange it - in my own speech... adding and subtracting and changing it from the original. In modern Greek it belongs to Nicodemus Agiorite. Where did he get it from? From the original Latin? Hardly. I believe it’s from a Russian translation, but I can’t decide how. Having finished the translation, I will send it to the elders and invite them to select sayings from the ascetic elders for every article in this book - from the Limonar, from the Patericon and Gerondice. If they had arranged this, it would have been amazingly good. Now I received news that Moskov. and Kyiv. the bishops will leave for the dioceses by March 18... What does this mean? Did something similar happen there, what happened with their predecessors? Congratulations on finishing your post. I wish to have compassion on the Lord on Passion Day. May God grant that we rejoice with heaven and earth on the Holy Day! Save yourself! 1169. About the publication of magazines. "Apologist". About Leo Tolstoy and his book “What is My Faith” I remember that the “Apologist” plan was spinning in my head... But what it was, I forgot everything. You can't even imagine how weak my memory is. And now she’s no good at all. Well, it’s a good thing to publish the “Apologist”... But you need to choose an editor who is quick-eyed, taciturn, but with a word that hits like an arrow. The other day, a Ryazan landowner, acquainted only in writing, - a great one... temporarily lives in St. Petersburg, sent me the manuscript of Leo Tolstoy, the bashi-bazuk... the enemy of God and the servant of the devil... Title: “What is my faith?” - 35 years old, he says, I was an atheist. Now he has accepted the teaching of Christ... But his Christ is not ours, and the teaching is not our Christ God. He wants to make humanity happy... Here is a blueprint for a happy life: 1) Do not resist evil... let them beat, cut, rob - be patient, but be silent... do not defend yourself... 2) Courts are not needed, neither the police nor the army. 3) The oath is criminal; 4) Fighting is repugnant to God... 5) Divorce should not be done, even if the spouses commit adultery... He proves it by crookedly interpreting the words of the Lord in the Discourse on the Mount - Matt. 5:21–48, with great stretch. In the tone of his speech, blasphemies are constantly spewed against the Church, which he calls nothing other than a perverter of the teachings of Christ. Before this article... (5 sheets of neat letter without margins), he says, I wrote a criticism of dogmas - and the gospel - a set of gospels. teachings. Ushinsky sent me a list of his gospel... Distorted translations of some passages are inserted between the true texts, and in others completely their own are inserted... the content is such that, after reading it, I had to decide: this is white fever nonsense. And in this manuscript his wisdom is visible. He does not believe in the Most Holy Trinity... rejects the incarnate economy, the Sacraments, the Church, the future life... His Christ is not Christ the Lord, but some kind of summary of the most perfect humanity... or something like that. The article may have a harmful influence, and the one who sent it to me wrote that in St. Petersburg many are tempted, especially from the highest circle of ladies. He lithographs his articles abroad, smuggles them... and distributes them secretly... My manuscript is a list. And Ushinsky sent his list. Evil is spreading in secret. Go on purpose to the Chief Prosecutor and report this. I’m thinking of sending him 2 volumes of the Philokalia one of these days and also commemorating him. Something must be done against... Destructive evil. It’s curious... what kind of criticism of dogmas this is... You need to know this. I am sending you the second volume of the Philokalia. 1170. Lion from the abyss, disturbing the peace of the saint What is going on with you and me?! You went to the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod and settled there... Where are you now, God knows. I kept trying to write, but the time for mail will come, I’ll think: they’ll bring a letter... but it still doesn’t come. See how skillfully the blame is shifted from a sick head to a healthy one. Well, did you manage to report to His Excellency what you wanted? And if it was possible, what did you hear? I was going to write it myself... but I couldn’t force myself to do it. They will say: “He’s interfering in someone else’s business... Retire and sit quietly.” But he can’t sit still. They wrote from Moscow, as if the writings of this Leo - from the abyss - were being read in great demand. How many godless absurdities he has - every line of it, judge how much evil he does. And all in secret. Moreover, they say, he opened his house and gives everyone access to him - and enlightens everyone. And no one leads with their ears. I don't remember if I wrote to you about his articles. I now have three: 1) what is my faith? – 2) the new gospel; and 3) confession. The latter tells how he got to his present position... All fanfare. In these articles he mentions 4) his criticism of church dogma. Someone else informed me that he had also published an article: 5) what should we do now... I can’t get the last two. And it is very desirable, especially criticism. In the articles that I have, it is clear that he rejects all dogmas, but there is no evidence. They, he says, are in the aforementioned criticism. No matter how many times I pick up the pen, I can’t write... So, should I leave it like that? The Moscow ruler read the gospel... and should have done something. They have a lot of... scientists in Moscow... I think they'll figure it out bit by bit... But I don't have much to write meaningfully. We have to rummage. And here is my madam with her presentations... It would be better for me not to know anything about this... I think that zealousness takes you too. Well, let's share... But still we have to sit on the same. You bury yourself in the household and forget the whole world... A blissful state. God bless all your work! Save yourself! 1171. More about Leo Tolstoy. A modest review about myself Beloved N-lai V-vich! I practice doing nothing. The bashi-bazook Leo Tolstoy smashed my head. He blabbed a bunch of nonsense, but he had nothing to take on... Everything was almost unproven. And besides, he deigned to declare that he is still correcting his thoughts... This is a loophole in which he can calmly say: I still have an indecisive thought... Finally, I received little hope of having a criticism of our dogmas. Leo. One beauty declared herself to be his acquaintance. I asked her to ask Lev for a while - that criticism. He replied: I just have my copy, which I need... If you want, I’ll tell you to write it off, but please pay the money. The money has been sent (he appointed) and the rewritten criticism is awaiting.... Something will come out of this. Getting into arguments is so disgusting! In addition, anger takes over, and there is a temptation to make a big speech... When I receive this criticism... then I will decide what I can do. Should I write it myself, or hand it over to stronger minds? The Moscow clergy must fight. I wrote to the editor of “Shower. "... so that he would push this one, the other one in the side. He fights for himself and for others. And it falls on me. They won't succeed... I'm healthy. Are you healthy? Or, really, asking questions means disgracing the village air, which can reasonably arm itself against me, not on its own, but by persuading the Vysha air... Vysha is waiting for her new eminence... just about there. Let's see what he's like... If he's like me, then at least give it up. There has never been a worse bishop than me in the whole world and at all times. His predecessors and my successors were all great guys. The best of all was Palladium. He has something in common with Fr. Lavrentiy, of blessed memory. 1172. Ostroumov’s criticism of the confession of Leo from the Antichrist’s flock. About your current affairs. Athos in his house I read Ostroumov’s articles... Nothing excellent is visible yet, even though the matter is being said. Yes, here Ostroumov has nothing to disagree about. He looks through the confession of the roaring Lion... In this confession there is almost nothing that catches the Orthodox truth. Only at the end there will be a little where he will say why he abandoned Orthodoxy. Lvov’s confession was already published in the analysis of the afterbirth. novel by Lvov (Karenina, it seems) Gromeki... Only the tip has been added here. The general conclusion can be divided: he was and remains an atheist... A lion from the herd of Antichrist. God bless your book. I wish it to spread quickly and especially that it be read and taken into account. The gospel story should have come out long ago. I don’t know why Alyosha is dawdling there. I've been re-reading everything for about a month now... and I noticed typos - 6 and corrected and added a few things... I'm waiting for it to be sent to me in the next few days. And then I’ll send it to you right away and send it out... One more time to translate the heads of the heels and the “Invisible Warfare” will end. She herself doesn’t know what Vysha will do next. There is one more thing worth printing. Maybe I'll take it up. Otherwise, it’s not surprising that I’ll start fighting with Leo. I have Lvov: “Confession”, “Gospel”. “What is my faith”, a letter to someone in St. Petersburg... Only in the article “What is my faith” - there is something dangerous, not in the solidity of the reasoning... but in the cry - against the Church... often repeated that it has distorted the teachings of Christ. Maybe Ostroumov will get to everything, in order. You are getting ready, or sometimes the thought comes - to give up on Athos. Make yourself an Athos from your hut. Who is your decree... You are your own master, you can walk on your head and hit the floor with your head, making bows... You can hide from the world, but where can you hide from yourself and from the enemy? Only into the bosom of God... And it is available everywhere. 1173. When sending “Evangel. history." The end of the translation of “The Invisible Warfare”. More about Ostroumov I waited with great effort for my “Gospel Story.” I am sending you three copies along with this. Give one to Mr. Sabler if you find it suitable... Now I am sending both the Chief Prosecutor and Metropolitan Isidore... 6 copies each, it seems... I was stingy with sending 10, as you ordered. I’m thinking of sending three books to the other two metropolitans, and two to the others who participated in the decision... Leonty is also 5... or plus. There's no need to rush. Maybe I'll come up with something else. But you can’t even imagine how lazy I was! Even though the grass doesn't grow, as the proverb goes. Translation of “The Invisible Warfare” – finished. There will be a useful book... We already had this book translated from a foreign language. Elder Nicodemus corrected it in many ways... and the Vyshinsky troublemaker... and even more so... Many chapters had to be composed anew. Now I’ve taken on translating a similar book... Will I finish?! Ask where I'm going? Into darkness and darkness... For even the last eye will hardly last the next year. I wish you all the joys! Save yourself! P.S. Ostroumov moves forward, and the further he goes, the more boldly he rises. Especially now readable - in the second November book. Okay... God help him! 1174. Feedback on notes about. Matveevsky on “The Gospel Story” You mentioned Matveevsky’s notes. Ask him to sketch out what and why he sees inaccuracies... In my word to the readers, I explain why I am bringing it to the end - we are talking about Judas. It was always unpleasant to meet this face here, when all attention was absorbed by the Lord. But you can also philosophize. The verdict of the Sanhedrin is not a condemnation. Pilate condemned. Then, what is told in the Gospel about Judas allows us to relate the story about him not only to Friday evening, but also for Friday... and Saturday, and this is not a big deal... The Lord said the Lord’s Prayer as a teaching not just twice, but I think many times... About the renunciation of St. Peter also says that I am condensing the story about this into one, so as not to cloud my attention and not tear it away from the Lord. Maybe he doesn’t think it’s right that I have 2 renunciations... if you argue like a lawyer... But it says why this is so. Pilate asked the Lord twice - where is my wrong? Let him write everything... at least quickly... I’ll explain to him... It’s still the same story as for the Athonite people! All these perplexities are minor... I expect more serious opponents... Establishing the order of a story is a great matter. But only those who have seriously dealt with it themselves see it this way. The Verkhoglyads cannot say anything useful here. The late Grechulevich could have done this... 1175. Who should be interested in the “Gospel History”. More about the denunciation of Leo Tolstoy. Trashy criticism Thank you for your speeches about the “Gospel Story”, both yours and those heard. This book cannot be of interest to those who have not developed a need to see the Gospel stories presented in order. And those who have already had these questions, and especially those who have puzzled over this at least a little, will not be surprised if they say thank you. Currently I am wondering whether to write against Tolstoy. They’re already writing, so it’s become possible not to write. But they write in a very drawn-out manner, and it resembles Krylov’s fable: “The Cat and the Cook.” It occurs to me: to choose Tolstoy’s fabrications - that’s all... and then against them to put the confession of faith of the Holy Church... and put them into action. This will be a brief overview of the enemy camp and the Orthodox army. As a warning... otherwise evil is slowly spreading, but the cry: beware, cannot be heard. The whole problem is laziness. She has so enchanted me that I don’t even want to lift a finger. Lord send zealous workers!.. P.S. Finally, they delivered to me a criticism of the dogma of the Rev. Macarius - Tolstoy's products. Rubbish is rubbish... And sure enough, they read it with relish. March 30 – April 3, 1886 1176. Incensed reviewer of the “Gospel History.” About the 3rd volume of the Philokalia. About the “invisible warfare” and other similar books translated by the saint Someone published a review of “The Gospel Story” in “Moscow Readings.” total love spirit. Enlightenment." I didn't even notice. Varshavsky already said... I read it. I'm still going to grab the reviewer by the hair and hit the ground... He shouted like crazy - he got everything mixed up... and you can’t understand what he wants... You need to say something... For if this scribbler - and the society listening behind him - did not understand the matter... then, I think, there will be a lot of crooked-eyed talkers everywhere... I wanted to ask Nechaev who wrote... But I thought: isn’t it him? – and put it aside... When I get ready, I’ll write, but in the most peaceful spirit. I'm pouring 3 tons of "Kindness." I think I'll finish soon. I wanted a special book from St. I decided to release Maximus the Confessor, but I changed my mind... It’s him that I’m transferring. In the “Philokalia” - from it - 4 hundred about love... 2 hundred. about Theology, - 5 hundred about virtue. and vices... and the interpretation of the Lord's Prayer, - 1100 sayings or chapters... There are wise... But there are incomprehensible... Here you inevitably resort to tricks. As soon as I finish it, the volume will be completed... again thick... I can hardly finish the “Philokalia”... My eye is fading... It’s noticeable... But I still don’t put a spoon past my mouth. Over “The Invisible Warfare” - the old women I knew became deeply emotional... I also have a similar book... And it began with a translation... But I got lazy and threw it away... One should have used the ancient method of healing this disease... But thanks to progress, you won’t find such doctors... There is no reluctance: just lie there, lazy! I wish you all well-being, both physical and mental... both temporary and eternal. Save yourself! 1177. Intention to use medical assistance bar. Vrevsky I'm bothering you again, and this is a matter of the first importance. My eye and the other one are apparently weakening. That’s why I grab onto everything... of course, not the usual medicine. ... sense: for these have already refused in the person of one of their midst. But you have a doctor there who is out of the ordinary... not an allopath, not a homeopath... but a special doctor of his own kind. And the ace – by rank – is precisely Baron Vrevsky... And here’s another thing... He started his practice only a year... and he has 15 thousand clients. Well? Did it sparkle in your eyes?!! This news was not brought by a magpie on its tail... but by a newspaper clipping (I think... "Novoye Vremya"... October 29, No. 3, 832), sent to me from Tambov by my well-wishers, with a proposal, would you like it? Having received this, I rushed to approach him - maybe he would help. But at first I thought because the address was not in the clipping or in the letter in which it was sent... and then because... it’s complete, isn’t it? So I found it necessary to turn to you for unprintable information... in fact, Baron Vrevsky is such a benefactor to suffering humanity... Please find out and tell me if I can also receive treatment from him. My illness is not a disease, but just like that, white matter sticks to the lens... and does not allow the rays to pass into the eye and thereby stops vision... There is no damage or pain in the eye... There are no ordinary medicines for this... Surgery is possible, but it’s scary... My cataracts do not even allow surgery. Consequently - blindness... and she is already looking through the spindle.... I rush to anyone... and I’m ready to rush to Vrevsky... If you could run to him and ask, and even convince him to undertake to cure my eyes... If he said that I need to see, report that the disease does not require this. Just say one word: cataract... and that says it all.... Consequently, he can undertake to treat without looking... If he makes it a condition to see, then frighten him that in no way can I fulfill this... I will have to go blind, and he will be the culprit of blindness... How I wish he would undertake to cure, and cure! If it is difficult to get to, find out the address. I will go straight to him and beg him... 1179. Unsuccessful attempt to be treated by Vrevsky. Appeal to Fr. John. Request to send Livanov's book. Proposal to write a response to criticism of the “Gospel History” and about the Molokans I am very grateful to you for your troubles to get to Vrevsky and get an answer about correspondence treatment. Now I am convinced that this case, according to him, is unacceptable. And I turn my back to him. Does he feel the full impact of this movement? But all thoughts about treatment through it cease. Amen! Be the will of God! Letters from gr. I didn’t receive Sievers. Maybe he changed his mind. Or maybe it didn’t come through. This has happened to me more than once... And I’m amazed! Currently, one circumstance has forced me to reconsider what I have at hand about the Molokan sect. Several articles mention that this sect is written in detail - in 2 volumes of Livanov’s works under the title: “Raskolniks and Prisoners” - and that their wisdom is presented in detail here. If you have this book, send it to me. I’ll read it, take what I need and return it. Or get it somewhere and send it. Please... I really need it. I received your letters - two, and the last one, where you say that you have already written three times, was the third. He wrote to the Burachkovs, and through them to Fr. John. Does he flinch at this menacing word? You write: read and write less. Kryukov, a Moscow ophthalmologist, told me the same thing. I answered him: where can I deal with this?! True, true... he confessed too. You are preparing to write a rebuke. God bless! And I started, but then I quit. The soul does not lie. Will the hunt still come? And is it clever?! After all, in May it will be a year since the review of “The Gospel Story” was published. Everyone has already forgotten about her and about history. Besides, the Molokans always have a twinkle in their eyes... Send Livanov?! 1180. More about the revision of the book by Fr. Matveevsky. Using Vrevsky water. Who rules the church? About the upcoming anniversary of the 900th anniversary of Christianity in Russia and the proposal to commemorate it with a new translation of liturgical books Thank you for the news... Matveevsky has finally entered his rank! I am very glad that he finished his work. And it’s good that he gave in to the Athonites. Read!.. After all, I’ve already read, and it seems like a lot. And for what purpose?! If there are any amendments, that's fine... Ready. And I say in advance that if something is put in a different order than mine, I will veto it... and correct it. No concession... I remembered!.. The last time I wrote about the separation of Ev. from Luke. 9–18 chapters... so as not to tear it... I wrote, it seems, about the appearances of the Lord after the resurrection, and something else... Yes!.. about the double anointing of the Lord with myrrh in Jerusalem... If this and other things do not agree with me, then I will get an invisibility cap... and a flying carpet... in St. Petersburg... and I will blow Mat’s hair... and his manuscript into the fire... In that case, it’s better not to send... And I don't want to look. I drink water... I wrote to the baron that I don’t see any improvement, and he sent new water... I started this... God willing! I know nothing about the government of the Holy Church by the Son of God. The Church, like everything, is ruled by one God, worshiped in the Trinity. It is appropriate for tritheists to talk about the areas of activity of each person - special ones. I hear that the Holy Synod wants to organize a jubilee next year, in commemoration of the 900th anniversary of St. Our churches... In memory of this, they seem to want to publish the life of St. Vladimir and an akathist to him - with pictures... This is what I am talking about to you... Life and an akathist are not bad... But it’s not enough for such a great anniversary and performed by such great persons... Something more significant is needed. For my part, I propose that we determine to translate the liturgical books again - everything... For the anniversary, prepare one of these, for example, the Octoechos... or the Flower Garden... Festive Menaion... Or something else... When you write to those in power, remind about this... Now - tomorrow you need to do this... Why not time it to coincide with such an event?.. Do it, please... I think everyone will be happy about the appearance of the Synod newspaper. May God allow this to happen. You can invite archpastors to send their thoughts on what is necessary for the Church... May God grant you to live in a village, it will be healthy and soul-saving! 1181. On the heresy of the Catholic Church and on various other subjects In a letter dated January 27, you wrote: “...yesterday I sent a short article” and so on. I'm waiting and waiting and can't wait. Stuck somewhere. This article is about governing the Church. In a letter dated February 10, you ask my opinion about the opinion of someone that the Catholic Church is not heretical. I postponed the answer to this until I received the promised article... Since the article did not arrive, the answer was delayed. In the same letter you mention a certain book, “sin, its origin and consequences,” and ask to say what it is. – This reasoning was published in 1889 in the works of St. Fathers. I read it and don’t remember that it left a scratch... But I don’t want to read it again: I don’t have much time. Read it and tell me what it scratches with. In your letter dated February 14, you invite me to burn your questions. It is you who pity my eyes and save my time. Thank you. If you were expecting to write a long article, then, of course, there is no time. But it’s not difficult for me to write down my opinion, and it takes a little time. Now, at this hour, I cannot say anything about the article and about sin... but only about the heresy of the Catholic Church. You and I are private individuals and in our opinions we must conform to the decision of the Orthodox Church... It seems that our Holy Church is lenient towards Catholics - and recognizes the power not only of Catholic baptism and other sacraments, but also of the priesthood, which is very significant. Therefore, it is better for us to refrain both from asking these questions and from solving them... One thing that should be kept in mind is that we should not go over to the Catholics, because for them certain parts of the system of confession and church order are damaged, or changed with a deviation from the most ancient. I don't know what else to say... When an article about the government of the Church by God reaches me... then I’ll write something. I’ll tell you about sin when you write down what’s wrong with it. It won't distract me far from the business at hand. My health is fine. I can’t say anything praiseworthy about the eye. Emancipates... I wish you all the best from the Lord. Save yourself! 1182. About the Holy Trinity and the government of the Church. Concession of the publication of their books to the people of Athos. About the sowing done. State of forces I'm sorry I didn't answer for so long. It’s my fault that you entrusted me with the obedience to write... How many times have I taken up the task, and nothing came out of my head. So he threw down the pen. And now I am writing just to inform you that this matter is not going well for me. And I can’t say whether it will ever stick together. Maybe the reason for this is that there is nothing to say. After all, this is the first point of the dogma of the Most Holy Trinity - that exclusively each person of Her belongs only to each individual’s personal property - unbornness, birth and originality. Everything else is the same and common to everyone. The names of God are common, the properties of God and Divine actions are common: creation, providence, the organization of the incarnate economy, the accomplishment of the salvation of everyone, the structure and preservation of the Church, and everything else that can only come from God. Those who read the Scriptures know that the Creator, for example, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are called; also the Provider, and the Almighty, and the Savior, and so on. They have one kingdom, one will, one omniscience, one omnipotence, one omnipresence, and so on, everything that is said or perhaps was said about God is common to everyone and one... And this is not in the sense that it is the same, but in the fact that all this is one. Remember the symbol of Athanasius the Great. I’ll write out a little: the Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal, but not three eternal, but one eternal, and equally not three uncreated, and not three incomprehensible, but one uncreated, one incomprehensible. Likewise - the Almighty Father, the Almighty Son, the Almighty Holy Spirit, but not three Almighty, but one Almighty. God is the Father, God is the Son, God is the Holy Spirit, but not three Gods, but one God (vol. 4, at the end). Remember: there is one God...he says, and not one Divinity. Although sometimes it is said this way, it is essential to understand that God is one. Otherwise - the Divinity is one - there will be an abstract concept from three separate ones. And he will speak like this and understand it - to divide the Divine nature and introduce three separate Gods. Whoever has three Gods does not have God, for there is One true God, and untrue gods are not gods. In the same way, he who divides the actions of God according to the Persons of the Holy Trinity and ascribes one to one and the other to another Person divides the nature, and introduces three gods, and as a result has none. These are universal provisions. Based on them, look at the passage you came across somewhere: “The Church is ruled by the Holy Spirit”; the decision whether such a thought is right will present itself to you by itself. If the one who said this understands the rule of the Church not as the exclusive work of the Holy Spirit, but as His action not separate from the Father and the Son, then there will be nothing wrong here. If he understands this way, that it is His exclusive work, then he sins against Orthodoxy. It is possible to say this: the Holy Spirit rules the Church, if we understand this: inseparably with the Father and the Son, as it is said about creation, where the Father created the world, where the Son is and where the Holy Spirit is, in the following thought: the Father is not without the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Son is not without the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not without the Father and the Son. This is how we should talk and think about governing the Church. Apparently, who controls the Church? Shepherds. Who supplies them? God the Father (1 Cor.12:28), God the Son (Eph.4:11), God the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28). Consequently, the Church is ruled, through the shepherds, not by one person exclusively, but by the one Trihypostatic God. Why is it called the Church of God (1 Cor. 10:32, 11:16, 15:9) or the living Church of God (2 Cor. 6:16, 1 Tim. 3:15). Who rules every Christian so that he lives and acts as he should, as a Christian? He who lives in Him, Lives in Him - God; why it is the church of God (1 Cor. 3:16) and God dwells in it, as in all believers truly (2 Cor. 6:16); God the Son, as St. testifies. Paul about himself: No one lives, but Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20); God is the Holy Spirit, as the same apostle says about all believers: “The Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Cor. 3:16), and “the little ones are led by the Spirit of God; these are sons” (Rom. 8:14). Thus, believers are led and ruled inseparably by the Trinitarian God. since the Church is the totality of all believers, then it also rules. True, it is said that the Head of the Church is Christ the Lord (Col. 1:18), Who nourishes and warms it (Eph. 5:29) and Whom it obeys (–24). But God the Father gave Him the head of the Church (Eph.1:14-22), and He also gives her the Spirit of wisdom (Eph.1:17), Who speaks with authority to the Churches (Rev.2:7, etc.). These few places, I think, are enough to understand how the Church is truly governed. I can't find anything else to say. I received the seeds you sent. We have sown, but we don’t know what God will give. No matter how the air here prevents them from reviving. I give all my books to the people of Athos for half the price... These are printed... But I also entrust further publication to them... My nephew wrote that no one was ordering... During the publication, he was reprimanded for something... And I didn’t forget myself... so that they would give it to me for distribution. My health is good, but laziness is also healthy... All my energy has weakened... Although I’m digging in a little. P. S. How do you think? Will a storm rise against us, and with it all of Europe? I couldn’t believe it, but then I started to think about it. Why? We should be punished. Send blasphemies against God and His public deeds. Someone wrote to me that some newspaper, “Svet”, No. 88, published blasphemies against the Mother of God. The Mother of God turned away from us; for Her sake is the Son of God, and for His sake is God the Father and the Spirit of God. Who is for us when God is against us?! Alas! 1183. Grief over the fall of faith among the thinking and the propaganda of Tolstoy. Good workers. On the history of the Russian “Philokalia” It’s bitter and bitter what’s going on among our thinking people. Everyone has lost their mind. Philosophical views are not in use; they are guided by principles blown by the wind. Holy faith is relegated to the background. And even theologians have lost the real foundations of Orthodox theology, and everyone laughs. And the Lord, it seems, has turned His eyes away from us and does not send workers. How many times have I tried to scream, but nothing comes out of my head. Maybe others experience the same thing. Is this not God's abandonment? God, be merciful! What I wrote to you about in the newspaper “Svet”, a beauty from Tambov (elder Kolobova) wrote about it. If that is not here (in A...), it is not my fault... But what is published about Tolstoy makes one wonder how they still allow this madman to murder. He is the most evil of all... for he spreads his evil in secret. Save us, Lord! Dangerous approaches to marriage are, of course, worthy of pity. But when a divorce from Orthodoxy is accomplished, this seems less bad. You are doing well to stand up for what you can. I have no courage at all, although enthusiasm sometimes attacks me. I will buzz privately that God sends. All my books have been accepted by the people of Athos. They will continue to print with a small board. Now they have 3 volumes of the Philokalia. A little more, and 4 tons will be ready. Everything is the teachings of St. Theodora Studite. I'm re-reading it. I’ll finish and take on 5 tons. This will include everything that is in Greek. "Philokalia". And the end. 1184. About the miraculous saving of the Emperor’s life. New volume of the Philokalia. About your health and the drawings you send They kept silent. It's time to talk. What happened on the return journey of the Sovereign Emperor?! Who won't speak?! Wonderful! The Cover of God is so tangible, who can’t touch it?! The great destinies of God are connected with the reigning Sovereign. I thought so from the very beginning... And now I think it even more strongly. The first time they printed it... so secretly, I didn’t even pay attention... Then, little by little, everything began to be revealed... my hair stood on end with horror - both about the great misfortune that had passed, and about the indescribable miracle of deliverance... Lord! Always save the Tsar! What did I do during all the silence? Of course, he was asleep, but he was also awake. The people of Athos have two new volumes of the Philokalia in their hands, one of which is being printed, and the other is just being rewritten. Meanwhile, another volume is being prepared - the last. What clever articles. Wise in language, but wiser in content. I missed several chapters, due to their incomprehensibility - from Nikita Stifat... Now Gregory of Sinaite... also the wisest and wisest... The end is coming soon. St. will give something. Palamas? And amen! Then I’ll lie down and puff, like someone who climbed Sinai or Mount Athos. But to do... there is no urge... Sometimes I think that I could take the Psalter and write a book from each psalm... like the 33rd and even more so the 118th. And then the Gospel... My head became weak and my usual energy disappeared. At least the grass won't grow. What about the eye? It is noticeably weakening, but still serves well... The distance is closing... I can no longer distinguish anything there... That's all mine! My thoughts often began to look into the grave... This is not for the worse. You must take revenge on me - with a full description of your exploits. You act on the body of the Church and society. What else can I say? Oh, I forgot! I give the Athonites to publish two paintings... the interior of the Holy Sepulcher and the Sepulcher of the Mother of God... These are the most accurate images... These are completely painted. Tell the Athonites to get some of it from afar and chromolithographically. I also sent him a drawing of Golgotha, I propose that if anyone agrees to draw it, then I will tell you the details, as far as I remember... I had everything drawn. I don't know where he got stuck. I wish you so many good things that you couldn’t even list them. Save yourself! 1185. Difficulties in translating the Philokalia. Hopes for Rev. Alexia. How to use German writers. About our magazines. Congratulations I’m guilty again that I didn’t respond to your last letter for so long, even though I was planning to... I have a great excuse for laziness... namely, that I’m in a hurry to finish the Philokalia. It’s better to say: I want to hurry, but I’m not in a hurry. Because the phraseology of St. Fathers. I thought that Callistus and Ignatius would be easier. No, and they are not lighter. Sometimes you only have time to move one point. However, they are not chasing us. And let’s slowly get to the end. I joyfully received the news that the Reverend was called to the Holy Synod. Alexey. Although one is not a warrior, but, having indicated what is due sometimes, he will attract comrades to himself, in an important case. God help him! You are attacking the West. And I’m ready to do the same. In the West, not everyone has their head broken. There are many humble scribblers and workers, not only among Catholics, but also among Protestants. They present general Christian truths well. You can use them in this case, but still not blindfolded. This sin is common among us... If we like a writer, they will start translating him... and then everyone will blow... And among those who are good, their non-Orthodox views are also cited. Generally speaking, it’s a pity to see how with our theologians... everything is just too much. For this, the Lord will send a little monster against us, so that she can knock out all German (non-Orthodox) wisdom from our heads with guns and bayonets. Where is our consolation?! In faith that the Lord Himself watches over His Church. And He is omnipotent. This year, 1988, I have not subscribed to any magazines. At the end of the year I subscribed to magazines for the entire year. I'll flip through it quickly... All the petty questions. Rarely is there anything serious. In “Faith and Reason” our war is going on... for the Germans. I love this very much and have read it... I know Danilevsky’s tea by heart. The box you sent has been received. Thank you. I wish you all the best. The letter will come to you at Christmas time. Congratulations on the great holidays of this time. May the Lord be pleased to receive all the power of the sacraments remembered in them, to taste and enjoy them. May the blessing of the Lord be upon you! Save yourself! 1186. Greeting, message about current affairs and complaint about weakening memory Surely they’ve already returned and are home. Congratulations on your housewarming... Has anyone lived with Catholics as long as you? Whose honor? – their art or your patience? Having accomplished a good deed, what should you turn to - rest or other things? God bless and rest; God bless and what else to do. You praise my works... But aren’t yours very praiseworthy? I have a lot to do. I am re-reading the rewritten 4th volume. Everything will be from the scriptures, or from the conversations of St. Theodora Studita... What a wonderful father! What a living soul... How he depicts community life... its virtues, labors and value in the eyes of God! You have no news... And even more so for us. The monks turned on the fire in the kitchen and locked the dining room. Today it’s still nothing, but then my tummy will give in. And everyone endures, everyone endures! God save them! I wanted to ask you something, but I forgot... I didn’t tell you the news that I’m forgetting words... it will fall out of your memory and you won’t remember. I met such an old Greek metropolitan with whom his novice always walked... and he chose words for him: isn’t this? isn't that it? – while attacking what he wanted. If I go crazy, it will probably be from unconsciousness: I will sit, look, move my lips... and under... but still not say anything. God bless you! I wish you a healthy and saving time in St. Pentecost. 1187. Joy at the end of the Philokalia. About current affairs and health. Candidate for abbess I wish you all kinds of joy for the joyful holiday of the Resurrection of Christ. And I have a three-day ringing - for the sake of finishing the Philokalia. The fifth volume is finished and prepared to be sent to Moscow for the census, and is only waiting for the road to the city to open. We've been flooded since the beginning of week five. The 4th volume went to censorship. The 3rd one is printed and lies in Shatsk, also waiting for the road. Can I rest a little now? And I rest: I review and take notes - on the Passion of the Lord... from the exit from the Last Supper to the position in the Sepulchre... And then, maybe, I’ll write something for reading on Passion... Seven readings, - or without any form, just from here - to here... in general... The activity is easy but enjoyable. I don’t know what I’ll do next. Maybe sleep. How is my health? The general condition is good, and the eye problem is still tolerable. The eye's vision weakens, albeit very slowly. Judging by the slowness, one would think that it would close at the hour of death... Therefore, there is nothing to groan about. I wish you to be healthy and happy to the fullest extent of your heart. God bless you! And I forgot: how is your plan about the abbess of Olga Stepanovna going? I thought she would ask. Doesn't ask. Of course, she would have withstood well... But without knowing the life and way of life of a monk... how will he have time?! Ungrated roll... 1188. More about the commemoration of the 900th anniversary. Progress of treatment with Vrevsky water. Works on selections from St. Theodora Studita Guilty! I fell asleep a little. Shishkov, the director of the Moscow Synodal Printing House, started talking about something for the nine-hundredth anniversary. His daughter-in-law wrote to me about this. Through her I conveyed to him a different thought. He's away somewhere. When I get back, I'll probably get an answer. Let him cast the first vote: for the life of the saint is preparing for this. Vladimir and an akathist to him... His daughter-in-law - a beauty, a clever woman and a craftswoman (a merchant's daughter - who converted her unbeliever husband to the faith, who now remains a sincere believer... Lev Nikolaevich Shishkov) - is preparing some drawings and sketches for this... Now it occurred to me whether this idea is serious, about the anniversary, or is this some kind of enterprise of a printer in the interests of the printing house, that something is being prepared for this anniversary. But even though it is serious, and agreement has already been given on whom this matter may depend, still, to begin the determination to translate liturgical books, one reminder of the need for this is enough, because everyone knows and feels this need. All that's missing is the push. Writing notes about this, no matter how you describe it... will be below what is felt. The said lady wrote that they had some kind of holiday there. The neighbors came together, started talking, she read to them what I wrote... and everyone unanimously expressed a living desire for this... It will be like this everywhere. The water of Baron Vrevsky of the first number did not help and the second did not help... Sends the third number. And he assures that he will achieve the goal of driving away cataracts. God forbid! Selections from St. Theodora Studite is coming with the translation... albeit very lazily. I will say: this is the most necessary thing. We have lessons about monastic life... from above; but there are no instructions about the everyday life of the monastery. St. Theodore almost never goes to heights, but walks around the monastery... for every little thing he gives a lesson on how to spiritualize it.... I don’t miss anything from everything... It’s a pity: there are no correct manuscripts; it seems that they were not there. There are many incomprehensible words, and the same thoughts. But we will have what we have, and that’s understandable. 1189. What does “Apologist” mean? Praise to Meshchersky. The Athos people have a fire. About the translation of St. Theodora Studite. Good wishes to the summoned bishops. About eye treatment Finally - and “Apologist”!.. If they don’t call it that, there’s no point in frowning. Because this name means: my fist is on everyone's shoulders, and everyone's fists are on my shoulders... Who wins? For those with a fist, it’s tolerable... but this one is suddenly a dozen or two. Bless, Lord! I think the general voices are turning to the old. Here Meshchersky shouts kindly... One editorial is about the West and Westerners exactly like Stepan Onisimovich... Near him, it seems, there are other small magazines or newspapers... all in the same spirit. Be in good time for this initiative. The people of Athos are still on fire?! Lord have mercy! I've only heard of one. Well, they will get better soon... However, it is still sad. Who's to blame? Rather, our sins... Lord have mercy! St. Theodore the Studite - began the second volume. I take everything I can take... But there is a lot that we don’t need at all. It's not a sin to miss it. All teachings up to 4 hundred. I have points... or thoughts... From another teaching - one point, from another two, and that is, three... The view of monasticism is lofty... but also strict... bakes good... my children... my fathers... my brethren... and then, as it begins to push... The Reverend Leonty has already been summoned... Congratulations... This is truly an Israeli!.. Who else is there?!.. Yes! Nikander... and also Ufa... After all, Nikander of Ufa. God bless all of them to come up with something beneficial for the Church... Be healthy and cheerful... My eye still serves... I drink water, but I can’t say anything definite. Be the will of God... better than any medicine. The people of Athos printed several of my sermons in a special book... I am sending you... Look, as if the whole of St. Petersburg. didn’t rush into monasteries!?? 1190. Christian Psychology Program. The good fruits of the saint's books I sent you the 33rd Psalm. It hasn't reached you yet. There is also a letter about paternal psychology. You are taking good care of yourself - finding or compiling and publishing Christian psychology. This, in my opinion, is what the program of this psychology should be. Depict the composition of human nature: spirit, soul and body - and present a systematic list of all the abilities and functions of each part - and then describe the state of the parts of nature and abilities: 1) in the natural state, 2) in the state under sin, and 3) in the state under grace. A small experience of such psychology is presented by me in letters on Christian life - third edition: letters XXI-XXV, and in appendices p. 381–609. In the order of lessons on moral theology - this went under the heading - the consequences of a good and bad life; and in letters - as if at the request of the person to whom the letters were written. The outline of everything is not thin, but everything is in its rudimentary form. More detailed development is required. Only talking about the body is of no use. I remember I was tired and didn’t care about this part. Psychology classes at the Novgorod seminary are bad. There's no point in worrying about them. But the general features were included in the said essay in the letters. I don't have those lessons. I haven’t seen Chistovich’s psychology. Nikolaevsky - I remember. He was one of the best students. God bless him! You delighted me with the news about the fruits of my books. The champagne was already boiling and boiling in my head and chest! The memory of sins was forcibly drawn in... and, like water, all this vain ardor was flooded. P.S. When you start making extracts from Kashmensky’s psychology, take the headings from my essay, and the material from that collection. If you want, you can publish my essay - as it is, especially. The publication of all letters was handed over to the people of Athos. I don't think they'll bother with a special edition of this piece. It will be necessary to add a preface - and look around so that the difference in letters from the additions is not visible. 1191. Senile weakening of the saint’s powers. On the history of psychology Kashmensky. Is it useful to be an academy in Vilna? About modern Catholicism I kept meaning to answer you and haven’t gotten around to it until now. Why? Extremely busy with idleness. Have you ever experienced this witch!? No? and God deliver you! I guess I have to find some idle task that is richer in content than all other tasks. I am sending you two copies of the interpretation of the 33rd Psalm. I'm adding one more for Fr. Archpriest of St. Isaac's Cathedral Smirnov. Bring it in when... And get acquainted if you don't know each other. You asked about the psychology of St. Fathers. Published by Fr. Archpriest of the Vyatka Cathedral, Fr. Stepan Kashmensky... I had the first book. It got stuck somewhere. Seek and you will find. Well written. When I was in St. Petersburg at the rector’s office, the author came to me and talked about his intention to compile such a book. I egged him on. We are comrades at the academy. Theological Academy - in Vilna?! Why shouldn't she be useful? Your fears about direction are a little exaggerated. If not love for Orthodoxy - which I assume in all those who study in academies, with the exception of occasional and rare individuals - if not love, then ambition will not allow one to deviate into Protestantism. But Catholicism is now worse in direction than Protestantism... Protestantism at least stands on something, but Catholicism has completely deviated into religious dreams. These are the principles of theology they introduced. I'm healthy. I wish you health above all; then prosperity, finally, soul salvation. 1192. On the interpretations of Zigaben and the “Pastoral Theology” of Nicephorus His Ave. Konstantin Petrovich sent me three Greek books: two Zigabena - interpretation of the apostle. epistles of both cathedrals and St. Paul and one - “Pastoral Theology” by Nicephorus Archimandrite, now an archbishop or metropolitan, who was recently in Moscow and St. Petersburg. for scientific purposes. I don’t know what Konstantin Petrovich meant? I wrote that it would be useful to me. But for what? Is it not for the purpose of translating them? Translating Zigaben is not of much use, because it is not a comprehensive interpretation, but only notes. Although they are very good, they leave a lot to be desired. This is helpful for a scientist who undertakes to interpret the messages, but to put it into general use is not necessary; and a scientist will be able to look into them without our translation. Pastoral Theology is well written. It would be good to translate it. And I rushed the first time, but then my wife stood across me. However, if I have the courage to give her a slap on the back of the head, maybe I’ll do it. Hardly, however. 1193. About the book by Fr. Matveevsky. Publishing letters about the Christian life in a new way. About the Philokalia, your age and health Have you heard the news? Father Archpriest Matveevsky published his work; I took the title from our “Ev. history” and in the preface he said that our order is also maintained almost everywhere. It’s not time for me to read it yet... I’m re-reading the new edition of the Epistle to the Romans. I’ll finish this, review it and make notes if it deviates from the order accepted in our book. The book is large, there are a lot of quotes - a sign of scholarship. And I had the same thought, but in a different form. I thought I would compose a lengthy interpretation... But now, it seems, this cannot happen. The eye won't last that long. Why am I very glad that Fr. Matveevsky did this, at least on a smaller scale. And I’ll tell you about other news myself. I got excited about “Letters on the Christian Life.” The 3rd and 4th issues comprise the “Outline of Christian Moral Teaching.” The letters of the first and second edition, with additions, will be letters about the Christian life. Two books, the third small one - an extract from the Fatherland of the Monastery of St. Savva. Everything was sent to the Athonites, but they sent it to the censor... Somehow all this will be accepted!? The title page will indicate that this is not something new, but the same letters... that were known with minor alterations, and only in a slightly different form. I propose to the Athos residents that the price for all three be two rubles. Signposts to the “Philokalia” began. But these things distracted me a little... There will be a special index for each volume. Would you like to say something about the books of the Philokalia? It won't be bad. But if senile laziness prevails, you can do without it. However, God will help you with this. You are 77, and I turned 76 in January. And let's register as old people. My last eye sometimes becomes clouded. That's right, it's coming to an end. Other health is good. Your sincere well-wisher Bp. Feofan 1194. Praise for the “Gospel Story” by Fr. Matveevsky and indicating the necessary corrections in the order of the Gospel events I bring you great joy. I looked through the “Gospel Story” by Fr. prot. Matveevsky and found it not only satisfactory, but excellent. There is nothing like it in the whole world. A careful consideration of the deeds and words of the Savior, a reverent tone of speech, and a wealth of paternal and church testimonies constitute its distinctive features. Not a single soul will read it without delight and edification. However, as you know, not a single human work is without a but. I also bet, but I just express it this way: something calls for seconds. 1) At the beginning of the Lord’s gospel in Capernaum p. 295. The calling of fishermen according to the Gospels Matthew 9:1–8 and Mark 2:1–12 is merged with the wonderful fishing of fish according to the Gospel. Luke 5:17–26. These tales, obviously, do not have the same subject. At St. There is no mention of calling at all from Luke. 2) The mountain conversations of Ev. were also merged. Matveya and Ev. Luke. They are great. Each one must be read and interpreted separately. But it must be admitted that it is difficult to determine with precision the place for conversations on Ev. Luke. One can, however, speculate that it could have been offered to the people before one of the wonderful feedings of the people in empty places. Conversations must be written and interpreted one after another. 3) I was very glad that the department was at Ev. OK. - from the end of chapter 9. until the beginning of the 18th - not torn apart and laid out in full. But the second is instructed to declare that some places were taken out in vain. Luke 11:9-32, 13:18-21 and, it seems, there are more. If it is customary not to split up this department, then it is illegal to make exceptions for some places. All of them could be repeated. 4) The return of the 70 apostles - it is better to place it at the end of the Lord’s last walk through Galilee, after the parable of the publican and the Pharisee (for it is said that they were appointed to go ahead of the Lord). If someone does not want to do this, then in every possible way, placing the legend about this in the place where it stands in the series of legends, stipulate that, according to the meaning of the speech about the 70, this legend should stand at the end of the description of the Savior’s last walk through Galilee. 5) In general, regarding the middle part of the “Gospel History”, it should be noted that it is in vain that the Lord’s stay in Capernaum and walking through Galilee are not indicated. After all, this is truth, not fiction. And so it was. This greatly supports attention and promotes memory. 6) At the Last Supper, the indication of the traitor by the evangelists Matt. and Mk. stands before the establishment of the sacrament of Body and Blood, and in this “Ev. history" - after. However, in this case you can do without seconds. She stands behind it. Luke, church songs and fatherly thoughts. 7) The farewell conversation is torn in half. One half - the last - is set aside for the road during the transition to the Garden of Gethsemane. This means forcing the Savior to speak in vain: for on the road two can speak comfortably, but how can 12? Conversations are of great importance, especially the closing prayer. What the Savior said: get up, let’s go, is no reason to share... The Lord stood up and again began the conversation standing; talked a little... and said a prayer. Perhaps He stood up only for this prayer, and spoke before her, preparing for it. Seduces: I am a vine... As if the reason for this word requires a look at the vines in order to see how to leave the house... But in Jerusalem itself there were no vineyards, and upon leaving the city there was an immediate descent into the Kidron stream - steep, where there was no time for conversation... 8) Renunciation of St. Peter is presented vaguely. It is good that all the renunciations are described together, so as not to distract attention from what is being said about the Lord, and to present the renunciation itself more clearly. But it is not good that three renunciations are not clearly stated. The description itself shows 6 of them. How about three?! In my “Ev. history” is supposedly expressed as three, when in the stories of the evangelists there are more of them, each with special features that do not allow them to be merged into one. Why is this assumption impossible!? Because it contains 9 renunciations. Let there be 9, but they are reduced to three. And the reason is shown. But like 6-7 renunciations of Fr. There will be three archpriests, it is not visible. I remember that my first thought - about the three renunciations at 9 - was born while reading the council on Nestorius. It is said that they called him three times. But how many times did they tell him: go, the cathedral is calling? They came for him three times, but they invited him each time - more than once, and he refused more than once; everything that was invited three times is written down. And in our everyday life it happens that someone says: he asked someone three times; Meanwhile, he went to ask three times, and asked every time - more than once... Based on these incidents, I formed the assumption that they were approaching St. Peter - three times, and he denied not three times at all - but three times each time. From this you can see that a second is very appropriate for this occasion. 9) The death of Judas is inserted into the midst of legends about the suffering of the Lord. I put it at the end of the events on Friday, so as not to distract attention from the suffering of the Lord. But, according to the content of the Gospel story about this, this can be attributed to the post-resurrection and even to the post-ascension... The bishops consulted, they bought the village and, it seems, they were burying the strange ones. Could all this happen on Friday?! This is what affected me after reading “Ev. history." Read soon. Perhaps something else was seen that deserves the second’s attention. I apologize. I'll tell you later. These notes did not subside even a hair's breadth from my complete praise of “Ev. history" o. prot. Matveevsky. Meet him, my ardent bow to him. I admire his work. However, I also wish that he would pay attention to my notes and correct what needs to be corrected in the next editions - of which I wish him not two or three, but dozens... This is all I wanted to write to you this time. 1195. Slow mail. More about the book by Fr. Matveevsky. New edition of the saint's books. On the fight against the influence of Catholicism Who's to blame? If I do, I apologize. But there is also something to justify. I'm still waiting for Matveevsky's book. On October 16 you wrote: I’ll send it one of these days. I kept waiting for her to knock on the door, but she was gone. It would be a pity if she got lost in the mail, which has now become very careless. The post office informs me that it has two parcels for me - priceless... These are, right, priceless mushrooms... and what else? There cannot be a book: for in the letter of November 16 it would have been indicated. But don't worry. I already have this book from K.P. Chief Prosecutor. Therefore, if for some reason it has not yet been sent, do not send it to me, but give it to the Burachkovs. If it was sent and got lost, leave it to the will of God. I really regret the death of Ave. Alexei. May the Lord rest his soul; T.I. Filippov wrote the truth. Let us pray to God both for him and for ourselves. Matveevsky’s “Gospel Story” is truly as I wrote; but I’m not going to say it in print either. It was only thanks to Konstantin Petrovich that I praised the book for its goodness... and prescribed deviations from my plan, on occasion. He needs to know everything in order to act accordingly. “The outline of the chronicle. moral teachings" began to be published by the people of Athonite... They will also publish an article - "The soul and the angel are not the body, but the spirit." Moral teaching is not new: these are letters about xp. life - 3rd and 4th issue... and the other book will not be new. It was published in “Home. conversation" for 68 or 69. What prompted me to print it again was that the word about death and the addition to it are going from hand to hand and are still spreading. Rumors are also reaching our forest that Catholics are sowing their wicked teachings... and apparently with success. They are masters of showing off. It would be nice to translate and use the book by Fr. Vladimir Goette's "Schismatic Papacy" (Papaute schismatique). Offer to do this on occasion to Nikolai Vasilyevich Elagin, if you know him... How wonderfully he screwed both the pope and the popedom!? And in the magazine “Faith and Reason” - 1888 and 1889. his article... Photius... very clearly exposes the grimy beginnings of the papacy. November 25, 1890 – December 2, 1890 1196. About the writings of St. Theodora Studite. Congratulation. Lotion bar. Vrevsky. About prayer about. John. Transfer of publications to the people of Athos What was expected from the Synod newspaper is not visible in the program. Maybe, once they get involved, they’ll talk differently... Now this is the same as the diocesan statements, in a larger size. May the Lord help them in this too. You expect a lot from St. Theodora, and he will give little, but something that no one will give... He has only general outlines of his inner life - or a list of ascetic virtues. The main thing for him is the order of monastic life... And he has all the saints here... and the gatekeeper, and the shoemaker, and the baker, and the plowman, and the carpenter.... And his goal is that all the monastery people, fulfilling obedience in appearance in everyday life, should do this obedience in spirit on the way to the kingdom... And he often lists everyone - he praises... I omitted this, but twice I included it in what I chose. Marvelous! How he, always saying almost the same thing, speaks in such a way that the repetition is almost imperceptible. My business with him went very well: I finished the second volume, and half of the third... I hasten to settle things with him. Holiday in the yard. I congratulate you in advance, so that I don’t have to congratulate you in hindsight. Grant you, Lord, more of all the good things, both internally and externally. My health is good. The Baron is working very hard to heal his eyes. Now he sent a lotion - still the same water... What is he doing with the water?! I still have the water sent to me from Lent that was not drunk yet... and it is still pure, pure, and there is no smell, it smells like bird cherry water. I asked Father John to pray... and I think that he is praying... But it happens that the Lord sometimes sees blindness as a cosnditio sine qua non... And I wonder if this is my kind? My nephew complained that books only take up space: no one buys them. I advised him to give them to the Athos people with a significant concession, at least half... He said, they agreed... But they ask their Athos superiors. They will then publish it again, always by agreement. The nephew is not a master in this area. It works well. Recently they gave Vladimir 3rd degree. 1197. On the history of the Philokalia. The effect of Vrevsky's lotion. Small messages. Ungrateful little fool I am deeply guilty of not answering your last letter with congratulations and good wishes. But wait for the scolding. I will present you with such a reason that your reproach will be crossed in mid-sentence. That's the reason! I lay awake and listened to the teachings of St. Theodora Studita – November, December and January. I just finished... There will be a book the same as the Philokalia. And I propose to publish these teachings not as teachings, but as instructions to the monks... defining them as the fourth volume of the “Philokalia”: the elders of Athos are already suffering a lot. The third volume of the “Philokalia” in correspondence lies white and white in front of me and awaits re-reading, which will begin tomorrow. At the end of this re-reading, the preparation of the fifth, final volume of the “Philokalia” will begin, which will include everything that still remains in the Greek “Philokalia”; and if this turns out to be too much, then it will be reduced. And then – teeth on the shelf!!! Perhaps you will have to do this involuntarily, due to blindness. The last time I had a lotion from the Vrevsky Baron... Wonderful lotion!!! How the eye is refreshed every time after it - and sees better! How the eyes themselves desire a lotion when the time comes! How do they feel from this lotion - stronger and more courageous! But this is an effect on the organic composition of the eyes... there is no organic damage to my eyes. A cataract is a mechanical adhesion on the lens... and the eye is healthy and unharmed in all parts - and the lens itself is not damaged in any way... but only has the misfortune of being attacked by this adhesion. Thus, it turns out that the eye feels better from the lotion... but the ear does not cause cataracts - it sticks and sticks. And his vision dims, his horizons shrink, and everything comes closer and closer... I’m not subscribing to the “Church Messenger” because I’m not subscribing to anything this year and I don’t intend to read it. We need to finish the Philokalia. According to the “Bulletin” program, it is the same as “Diocesan Gazette”. It seems about. the archimandrite receives... I'll take a look... I didn't look, because everything was in front of St. Theodore the Studite. “The Life of the Lord Savior” by Matveevsky, I think, will be good. I wish him success. If he does not take my order of the events of the Gospel: free will! However, everyone feels good. I wish the same for you from the bottom of my heart. PS. What a damn thing! After the war with France, their emperor shouted his gratitude to the late Sovereign to the whole world, assuring that his family and people would never forget this... and after five or eight days he formed a coalition against Russia, without any reason on our part. Have ears to hear, let him hear... 1198. Comparison of books about. Matveevsky and Farrar about the life of the Savior. Extract from the book by Fr. Goethe about dads. About monasticism my dear N-lai V-vich! Matveevsky's book is in the mail. They'll deliver it tomorrow. Thank you. Why haven't you heard anything about the book? Really no one - not a word?! Sin. Or maybe I just didn't have to read it. If there is nothing, write at least something. And the main thing is that Christ the Lord is seen everywhere in it, while in Farrar, for example, there are only mountains and valleys, neither the Lord nor His teaching is visible. U o. Vladimir Goette - the main idea is clearly exposed: for eight centuries the popes competed; in IX, as soon as they sensed that there was no Constantinople gendarme behind them... and the Frankish kings were making eyes at them, they immediately began to seethe; and this seething was elevated to divine right... This boastful right is undermined by nothing more than by comparing the speeches and deeds of the popes over the course of eight centuries, with their speeches and deeds after that - and most importantly, after the confidence in the patronage of the Frankish kings. It is fitting to wonder why Dzhunkovsky’s letter has not been translated? Arrange a transfer. Monasticism!.. Everything depends on the abbots. God will send good things, everything will be good. There is no such thing - everything is upside down. For example, we have a dissolved paradise... Such a deep world!.. Why do you think that it is not necessary to send him to a monastery? Subordinates, as soon as they enter the monastery, are made saints, because they desperately need a good certificate from the abbot. Also, when a vicar abbot, his work in the monastery is carried out by his viceroy. As soon as the vicar, on the denunciation of the governor, expels one or two from the monastery, fear curbs all the self-willed people - and there is silence, and under its cover there is order in the inner life... God bless your future great work on monasticism, and your small present work on monasticism, past and present. The Scriptures explain the matter, and history itself flows on its own path. None of the monks wants to destroy their soul; only he puts off the work of salvation until tomorrow, but lives as he lives, although not dissolutely, but not selflessly. This is the root of evil. How can the monks wake up? The main thing in this is healing. 1199. Upon receipt of the brochure about monasticism. On the preparation of capable abbots I received your brochure on monasticism and Lebedev’s on the signs of Orthodoxy. Both are beautiful and timely. You are right when you say that we need to pay attention to the monastic aspect of them. Everything you have mentioned goes to work and, refreshing in thought the needs of true monasticism, can arouse zeal in the zealous to put into action the means necessary to satisfy them. But add action to the word... precisely - there, in St. Petersburg, whisper in the ear of one or the other, so that they can form a meeting of 156 people who know the matter and discuss how to improve the monastic matter... You only have a hint and general instructions. Other things can be added, and most importantly, the details can be considered and determined by the rules. However, it's not about the details. You kindly pointed out that everything is up to the abbots. A zealous abbot, knowledgeable and prudent, immediately gets down to business... and slowly puts everything in its order... And the monastery blooms both internally and externally. It became all about getting good abbots. Do you have any indication of this? This is how it is done for the most part... And with all this, there are mistakes. Come up with an institute for making capable abbots. This requires a model monastery. To this must be attached precise instructions on how to test whether someone is good enough when the preparation at the institute has already been completed. This is how things will go. God bless you and all your labors - many, many - for the good of the Church. 1200. More about monasticism. On the history of the saint's book on ancient monastic rules. A guide to the study of monastic rules. The saint's view on the case of marital divorces Why are you waiting for a storm and even a hurricane for your brochure?.. No one will pay attention and no one will read it. Who is engaged in monasticism and monks?! Scold, praise, no one will blink an eye or move an ear. However, maybe someone will creak. Let us wish them to speak intelligently if they speak. It occurred to me that much is wrong in the monasteries because we do not have an authoritative charter on which the abbots and abbess could rely, wanting to conduct the business of administration as it should be. That is why they shout quietly, as if timid, and the monk confuses the brotherhood, as if in passing. If there were a statute, everyone would see that the abbot is right when he shouts and that he is obliged to listen, and if he does not listen, he will incur a fine. I believe that if the attention you are arousing to the monasteries takes place... the question of the charter will inevitably be included in the proceedings... Having taken up the development of the charter, they will have to revise the ancient charters. This forced me to pull out of the trash the statutes I had made long ago. Remember that regulations were promised for the second volume of the Philokalia... I prepared them. When they decided not to include them in the Philokalia, they remained motionless for the time being. And now it seemed timely to me to shake off the dust... to revise and publish. That's what I do, that is, I review it. And the publication will be done by the people of Athos. We have already had conversations about this with the powerful people of Athos. Preparatory statutes: Pachomius the Great, Basil the Great, John, Cassian and Benedict. The people of Athos still offer to take the charter of Savva the Serbian... I ask you to send them... You can borrow rich material from all of them. Do you know that Archim. Photius Yuryevsky collected from the Fathers a lengthy monastic charter? If not, then take note of this. It's worth viewing. There is also an ancient collection of true rules - a certain Nikon the Montenegrin - Syrian - from the eleventh century, it seems, - big, big... See what a wealth of benefits!! But enough about this. Now about everyday things... It is very tricky to talk about marriage unions. The matter has become more complicated. There are wives - witches, there are husbands - fierce animals. That husband runs away from his wife; here the wife is from her husband... and the flesh demands her... And in her youth there are flashes of love... and the children are born... The point is not about recognizing the legality of illegal cohabitation, but about providing for children who are innocent... I think it could be decided this way: leaving illegality on the forehead of those who give birth, recognize the upbringing and placement of the born as legal and demand it from those who gave birth - without transferring the stain from the forehead of those who gave birth to the born - when they join the line of living in society... because they are innocent. Letters to V.V. Sh-skoy (ending) 1201. Blessing and reinforcement. A reminder to read the saint’s books and readiness to send new ones. Sadness about Mother Rus'. About your health and work I wish you all the joys - from the first one who heard: Rejoice, Blessed One! May Her protection overshadow you, and may it fill your soul with deep peace from a feeling of complete and comprehensive security under Her protection. You are at peace within yourself. God bless! This is one of the gifts of grace. Be grateful and patient with what God sends, believing that such sending is a true evidence of God’s attention and favor. I forgive you and absolve you from the sins you have prescribed, because I myself am guilty of the same things. I apologize for the fact that I was still waiting for notification of receipt of the books. Haven't read it yet?! This is a sin, such a sin! Please read it. This is the same, but not the same, when you read everything together and when each object is intelligently visible to you in its place. These are my academic lessons. And they are not all here. There are two parts, and the third - also an essential part of the moral teaching - asceticism - makes up the content of the book “The Path to Salvation.” These two books teach everything. moralizing. You have expressed a desire - books - letters to various people... and the 33rd Psalm... I will be happy to send you. But now there is a flood... and horse communication to the cities has been stopped. I give you carte blanche for all my books, whatever you need. Books by Ave. Nikanor are of a completely different kind. They are very educational. This is the way of God's knowledge. You are sad about Mother Russia. You can't help but be sad. The people are covered in ignorance of the truth, but here the priests are silent. And they have no intention of teaching. And at the same time, there is also the trouble that the people have recoiled from the priests... They stand with them along with the landowners and officials. Let us pray that the Lord will intercede for his Church. Which beauty do you want to send a card to?! I'm attaching a card. I ask for prayers! My health has almost completely improved. At the end I felt dizzy. It is still there, but not strong. I think it will end soon. This illness means that the head soon gets tired and cannot work for a long time... even read anything serious. And that other Marya to whom you sent letters?! It's a living soul. God save her and have mercy. Edify her and encourage her, so that the warmth of the spirit flows. I don't do anything now. Long ago I drew up the statutes of St. Pachomius and St. Basil the Great, - and the statutes of St. were translated. Cassian and St. Venedicta. Now I’m re-reading them little by little, and when I finish them, I’ll give them to the people of Athos for publication. A big book will be published. God bless you! Be healthy and good-natured! 1212. Where is the way? New hesitations and old fears. Son of Satan So, you are completely set on your journey. All that's left is to wait for the signal call. But where is the way? From your words I see that you are ready to go to Kozelshchanskaya, and you are not averse to the next world. May God prosper you in both the path which it pleases Him to show you. It seemed to me that you were a little afraid of the Kozel region; This is not a bad sign. This will force you to hold yourself there with all the attention and caution... and thereby save you from many possible slips and troubles. The Lord will make you wise... Pray to Him for admonition. But that is still far away. What do you have now? I found your fears of attempts on your life funny. I am sure that nothing like that ever happened. Everything was made by one thief who wanted to profit. It failed... And he is calm, but you are restless. Only one proverb justifies you: God protects those who are careful. Because one can guess what another thief similar to the previous one might think: he didn’t succeed, let me try. Maybe! Well, good for you! Beware...beware! Atheists... Tolstoyanism! Where is it? Is it really near you in the village now? Lord have mercy! This Tolstoy, whose writings are nothing but nonsense, has followers?! It’s true that Orthodox Rus' has gone completely stupid. He has no soul, no God, no other life. He, without shame, spews blasphemy against the Mother of God, the Savior and the entire Orthodox faith. He even dared to compose a new gospel that was not in agreement with the present one, and as a result he fell under the apostolic anathema. The texts are quoted according to the true Gospel, but the texts themselves say something else... a forger. Of all our idle laughter, it is the most empty and harmful... The real son of Satan. May God save your present benefactors from him. Ave. Leonty is very grateful that he wrote to you. He didn't write, probably due to some accident. I'll write to him. God bless you and your hosts... Varvara, Maria, Dmitry. Save yourself! Letters to the editor of “Church Gazette” 1217. When sending a book in a new edition. On the history of the defense of the incorporeality of angels. Settled dispute. Concern for the fight against the papacy Your Reverence, Most Honorable Fr. Archpriest! I am forwarding to you the last part of the new edition of “Letters about Chr. life" and humbly ask you to accept it graciously. Although this does not add anything to the previous one, perhaps the new seal will incline someone else to a new reading. Thank you for printing prints of the book “The Soul and the Angel are not the body, but the spirit.” Everything has been carefully reviewed. And the disciples and disciples of St. Ignatius do not give in... and try to somehow justify him. I received a decent notebook, but it was a waste of time. The writer did not touch upon everything that I said, but spoke volubly about an outsider, as if in order to speak up the so clearly exposed inconsistency of the opinion of well-known pamphlets... I wrote to the writer and, guided by his own thoughts, suggested that instead of the opinion of the pamphlets, he accept one of the opinions expressed by the fathers... namely, that Angels and souls have, by creation, a thin shell, or a body, through which they are in communication with the corporeal material world. He agreed willingly, and that was the end of the matter. If all disputes were resolved this way, what would be good? It seems to me that we should prepare to fight the papists. Papacy began to resemble papatria. All gifts are from the pope, and all honor is due to him... But we do not have a book that, having in his hands, an Orthodox Christian could reflect the nonsense of the priests. They will say so much that the listener will inevitably be amazed... Muravyov, Avdiy Vostokov (Reverend Anatoly Mogil.) are heavy and difficult for the head. Papaute schismatique o. Who can access Vladimir Getta?! and nothing else, tea, nothing... Yes! Your Eminence Nikanor! – but that’s incomplete. Persuade someone to extract from all the most prominent, easy to read and victorious. It will be timely and useful. I would have rushed, but I don’t have the strength... my writing is over. God bless you and all your work... I ask for prayers for my many sins. Your sincere well-wishing E. Feofan 1222. On the fulfillment of family responsibilities. Barren Solitude Thank you for your well wishes. I wish you all the best too! Whoever lives in a family receives salvation from family virtues. But the point is not to present everything in an excellent way, but to do everything possible. Once everything is done, there is no need to torture yourself. Of course, you shouldn’t act carelessly, but you shouldn’t torment yourself either, leaving everything to the Lord. That children in institutions are no longer the same - what to do? Time is tricky. With all this, one cannot think that everything he inspires will disappear or disappear. Everything remains and will bear fruit in due time. Do not abandon yours, do what you can to help ensure that they do not completely go astray, and success is all from the Lord. Pray more... help those in need more... trusting children in their prayers. This prayer is powerful. God bless you and have mercy! You mentioned the superiority of solitude... It's good. But you can sit behind the walls and not know with your mind where to be. Next, in itself it is an insignificant thing! I ask for your prayers for me, a great sinner. God bless you! 1226. Instruction on raising children It is the parents' duty to admonish children, and so it is yours. And be afraid of what? The word of love never irritates. The commanding only does not produce any fruit. In order for the Lord to bless children to avoid danger, they must pray day and night. God is merciful! He has many means of preventing that would never even occur to us. God rules everything. He is a wise, all-good and all-powerful Ruler. And we belong to His kingdom. Why be sad? He will not allow His own to be offended. We need to take care of one thing, so as not to offend Him and He will cross us out of His number. 1227. Sorrows are God's medicines It’s hard to endure everything, no matter what happens to endure, but the heaviness is felt only in times of vain or misfortune. Afterwards everything smooths out. What you now endure will also be smoothed out. Be inspired. Everything will pass. Meanwhile, strengthen your faith that everything is from the Lord. It’s not just a major disaster, but every meeting is from Him. And He has one thing in mind – our salvation. Accept everything as life-giving medicine, although bitter, but useful. When the Lord strikes, isn’t it righteous to think that there must be a reason? So, look at what is there, why they beat you, and correct it. Sorrows are sent to the righteous to test them, but to us – rather as punishment and a call to repentance. If you believe that the Lord is a Physician, and a Physician who will not waste medicine, then when what is wrong is turned away not in deeds, but in feelings and thoughts, then sorrows will cease. It is not difficult for me to write to you and it is not boring for me to read your letters. Smoking is a stupid thing; there is as much moral here as there is empty bias and perceived harm. The last two features are difficult for smokers themselves to recognize, and difficult to explain to non-smokers. It is strongly indecent, but decency and indecency are the same as people - they change. Tolerate the bad habit; but don’t make her a sin. Praying for your daughter to lose the habit is a good thing. But there is no need to put this in a special form. Whenever you pray, cry out to God. And He will arrange it as His holy will pleases. God bless those who have the opportunity to go to college! Here is her icon of St. great martyr Catherine. Better not. What was the problem, Alexander couldn’t make out. Whatever it is, I will pray my sinful prayer, that the Lord will avert His punishment from her. Who can say that he is free from this damned pride. In what forms does it not appear? Lord, have mercy on us! May the Lord bless you with His blessing. 1244. On the issue of children. The saint's attention to military news Thank you for your congratulations and well wishes. I am sending you, on my part, a wish for every good thing from the Lord for this year and beyond. Thank you for the icon and prosphora. May the Lord comfort you. Children need to be taught and treated. Ten years. You see, it will outgrow. That your husband has taken root in the village is in the order of things. What is life like in the city? Emptiness of emptiness! But when the need is urgent, you should not be guided by this taste. And it seems to me that he could agree for you to live with the children in Moscow, and he would come around as time dictates. Convince him. Wise times these days. An unlearned person cannot make any move. Why didn’t you say anything about the war? Or are you also an English-Turkish woman, like others?! Having read the terms of peace, one cannot help but talk about it. Now all over Russia they are shouting “Hurray!” until hoarse. God bless! 1251. About the war with the Turks. The world is about mundane things and is busy May God help your daughter get healthy! The current war is not terrible. It continues due to errors - in the initial orders. But as soon as the troops arrive, they will beat the Turks so hard that they won’t even get a tooth. What happens in the world is also in the order of things. This is what the world is for, just to worry about worldly things. He does his job, and we need to do ours. The outer world is not yet as terrible as the inner world: for it gets into it too. And when it climbs in, that’s our misfortune! 1253. About fasting. The saint's joy at the successful end of the war with the Turks Help you, Lord, to fast for salvation, to pray and to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ properly. And take care of yourself, and put your affairs in order, and enjoy the peace of God - the grace of the Lord our Savior, when you are sincerely worthy to accept Him into yourself. Politician about the war under fresh impressions. God bless! The goal of the war has been achieved. And this is all the more comforting because the expected conference or congress does not threaten any changes in what has been achieved. God bless you! Pray for my all-repentance. 1255. Sorrow and joy alternate. About children. The machinations of Russia's enemies This is what earthly life is designed for, so that the sorrowful in it will tear you away from inappropriate attachments, and the comforting will nourish hope for the desired better. So they alternate almost every day. It’s good that your son is a militiaman. A soldier's life gives bearing, introduces one to need and teaches patience. But, of course, everything depends on the soldier himself. I rejoice in your joy that your beautiful college student is doing well. God bless her! Yes - our enemies do not sleep. But ours don’t yawn either. They make efforts to avert war, but are ready to meet it. The comforting thought often comes to me that we will emerge from the new war unashamed. But God's will be done! It's spring! use her consolations, given by God, either to relieve mental burdens or to strengthen your health. 1256. About entering military service So thank God! Two warriors from the same house. In my opinion, a military career is the best. Our teaching is almost entirely lied to. Judges only practice to tilt the scales of truth. All that remains is to live as a private landowner, doing whatever good he can around him, or go to the military... The whim also comes to the military; but the guns knock everyone out of their heads, and there everyone involuntarily remembers God and is baptized. The fact that the youngest is so young and has already gone to learn how to fight is all the better. Let him roll up his fists tighter. We need to beat up the British and... If not today, it will inevitably happen tomorrow. And if you didn’t have to bear the youngest child on your knees, sacrifice this tenderness to military severity. You will be stronger. “Home Conversation” stopped due to the editor’s illness – a very serious one. There was a blow to the head. Behold “The Wanderer” – 4 books. and “Soul Floor. readings" – 6 books. 1263. To the question about small baptism. The harm of wine. About playing cards and how you can replace them Small baptism - this is the first time I’ve heard about it - if there is a reduction of the rite of Holy Baptism laid down in the missal, without omitting essential parts, then, I think, it will do. That your son-in-law stopped drinking and decided not to drink is a good decision. Without drinking anything, you will always be fresh and live longer. Drinking and eating little food eats up your life and it’s a bit like slow suicide. They play cards. I remember they said that Yakov Ivanovich Rostovtsev played at home almost every evening, with his own people. They played for points and kept a record of who owed whom how many points. And the settlement was postponed until bankruptcy. Then the price of the point will be determined, and by this definition the payment. It seems that they counted, by the way, a hundred points - a penny. Also - so that there is no winning above one hundred points. Playing cards is idleness and idleness. The big problem is that our youth do not learn to work. If they knew one or another job, it would attract them and keep them busy. There would be no boredom. Beauties are better educated: they always have work in their hands. One young man who visited the monastery complained about idleness. I suggested that he learn sawing. He learned, and now he builds magnificent things... And carpentry and turning could bring so much pleasure! For the owners, like the owners, this helped a lot with the housework. Your son-in-law is already the owner. I would snatch the cards from him and assign him to either a grinding machine or a carpenter's... what's it called... workbench. I really regret the wisdom that has taken over me. May the Lord preserve and prosper the blueberry. I wish you the most pleasant good mood. Save yourself! 1320. About children and Sofia Sleptsova I received your letter, but did not have time to reply. Thank you for your kind memory. You feel sad for your children. Naturally. But they are about to arrive, perhaps in good health, to the day of forgiveness. Maslenitsa would not tempt you. Belichka and Maslenitsa are okay, but it’s not very favorable for Blueberry. Why did Sofia the Wise become a Muscovite? I see this as a good sign, because St. Petersburg is riotous, unbelieving and revolutionary, while Moscow is pious, humble and faithful. May it also be in the spirit of Moscow! It happened that our people were now planning to send them to Shatsk. I answered her and sent her directly. It was just awkward to write only Sofia Sleptsova on the envelope - as per the priest, it was not indicated anywhere. Write it down another time. Sofia has a good build. The Lord is calling her, but her determination has not yet matured. The poems that you wrote again are good too... but the first ones are especially good... May the Lord comfort you on the inside, if the outside is not always sweet. If the travelers returned, God’s blessing is upon them too. And everyone. Your pilgrim. Ep. Feofan Sending February “Shower.” Thu." 1340. Means to kindle the grace of the Holy Spirit within oneself. Praise for military rank The grace of the Holy Spirit is with us from the moment of baptism and confirmation. Church prayers, home prayers, works of asceticism and good deeds develop this gift and give it scope to act in us. The best means for this is heartfelt prayer, which itself must be considered a fruit of the Spirit, and at the same time an attractor of the Spirit. In this sense, church prayer for the Holy Spirit is attractive to the Spirit. God bless your children - the warriors of the present and the future. The military path is the best - pure, honest, selfless. May the Lord comfort you with His consolations in what you have to endure. 1346. About the feeling of resurrection. Instruction on admonishing the youth The power of Christ's resurrection is inexpressibly great! We need not only to have a bright understanding of Him, but also to enter into sympathy with Him: for the Lord rose not for Himself, but for us; co-resurrected us. To see this co-resurrection by faith, and to receive joy from it, God grant. Don't worry too much about your son. Look what the temperament is; and then life will force you to cross yourself. That he loves acquisitions is not a great misfortune. It will be more gradual. It is impossible not to have, because you need to eat, drink, have shelter, etc. If you have something, you must place your hope in God, and give some of it to the poor. Teach him to give a penny to the poor, even if only on Sunday. Starting with this, it will go further. And do not bother with prayer; you can get bored. Advise him to pray at least a little morning and evening, without reading any prayers, but intelligently raising his eyes to God. In the evening - thank God for the day, in the morning ask for the day - in your own words, as you know - if only with deeds. And that's enough. Bow three to five times with such thoughts. And sometimes during the day let him turn to God with a short prayer - Lord have mercy, Lord bless, Lord help. There's no need for more than that. Is it difficult, tell him. Well, give me some consolation - that you will do this. Young people want to live on the earth and in an earthly way. After all, it’s impossible without this, because we are earthly. Just don’t forget that we are on earth for a while – and a short one; - became, although earthly, they did not receive existence for the earth. 1359. Congratulations on communion. A special kind of martyrdom. Proud unbelief and its future. About Leo Tolstoy Congratulations on your fast and partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. May this be your confirmation, consolation and enlightenment! God bless the little one with the good beginnings of faith. And may Blueberry emerge from communion with the Lord in the sacraments with the strongest strength of spirit to steadily move along the path she has begun - into the eternal kingdom of glory! Oh St. The apostle told Lot that he was tormented in soul, looking at the wickedness of the Sodomites, and he was counted among the host of martyrs. This is your rank. Tormented by your soul at the meeting of rude unbelievers, you partake of the grace of martyrdom... Unbelievers usually raise their noses high, thereby expressing their triumph over the faithful. But faith stands, and the faithful, in their humility, do not lose at all the faithful promises of God in their aspirations. And now it is clear on whose side the truth is... But there will be a day when this will be solemnly announced before all creation... for the endless consolation of believers - and for the irreparable eternal destruction of unbelievers. Leo Tolstoy... somewhere he picked up evil thoughts like a child - and spread them furtively, in manuscripts. But these manuscripts contain only his nonsense without any evidence. Since our young people don’t know the faith, they are easily carried away by this nonsense based on the mere assumption that such a writer probably has a reason to say so... But in his own head, jackdaws spent the night... P.S. Keep the articles that were included. They sent me several prints. This is an Athonite edition... 1360. About the views and writings of Leo Tolstoy Thank you for your congratulations. We didn’t have time to talk. May God grant you time to do this. Maybe during the Week of the Cross... it will be possible. Your son's speech about Leo Tolstoy amazes me. This Leo was an atheist until the age of 81. Then he decided to take up faith, and fell into the depths of Satan: St. Does not profess the Trinity; the most absurd concept about God; The Lord Savior is a simple son of man; The Church blasphemes; no prayer, no sacraments, and nothing churchly is needed; and there is no future life... What good can we expect from such wild teachings? There is nothing bad in moral rules, but there is little good either... Without faith, how can you live a good life? What works of Tolstoy... does your son mean? Until the age of 81, he wrote only novels... And since that time he wrote “The Gospel,” which is a distortion of the true Gospel; – wrote “What is my faith?” And here he put all his nonsense... Everything is unproven... he lies for all he knows; - wrote “Confession” ... how badly he lived, - how he reached despair, - and how he believed in something, but not at all in the truth of God... He also has something else. There is nonsense everywhere - the most careless... Does your son really have these works?!.. This is real poison for young people... Without telling your son about the works I mentioned, ask him what works he is talking about... does he have them, have he read them, or just heard them. They say that these works are lithographed and are secretly distributed. Magazines began to expose his nonsense. In the general book “Soulful reading” - the article “Court and Oath” is directed against him. The editor wrote... In the magazine “Faith and Reason” and in “Orthodox Review” they began to dissect it in a row... but they only just started... You have nothing to read here. And it’s better not to read. I am indignant at heart every time. 1363. The world has always been bitter for the faithful Congratulations on your arrival under the protection of the Mother of God! May She make you feel how much it pleases Her when someone works to honor Her - somehow. For Her prayer does not remain in debt. What can we say about the bitter state of the world? From time immemorial he is like this and will remain so until the end of the century. But no matter how cunning he is, no matter how malicious he is, he cannot stop the true flow of those who are sincerely zealous for salvation. For there is more in us than in the world. 1369. Thinking about the fate of her deceased husband. Farming is a gift from God Everyone is grieving. This is par for the course. But it will pass. Sorrowful feelings will subside, and a quiet memory will remain. Any mortal can pronounce a decisive verdict on the fate of the deceased. But in the spirit of our faith we cannot help but cherish the hope that the merciful Lord will show His mercy to him. This hope is supported by the good mood in which the deceased was all the time before his death. Housekeeping is not a tricky thing. Soon take a closer look, and nothing will bother you anymore. Just don't be lazy. The economy and everything that belongs to it is a gift from God. We must take care of it and cultivate it. Only the goal must be the glory of God. Observe sacredly... to allocate a portion to the poor - according to your strength, but not more than your strength. And everything will go well. There are enough memorials for the deceased and those that have already been ordered... Pray harder yourself. 1386. Blessing of the Vyshinskaya pilgrimage. Different children. Spiritual sowing of the saint God bless your stay here! May it be beneficial to you both mentally and physically. Pray for your wild son. God will let you calm down. This is his inspired youth. In the meantime, his taming will come - Lord grant you patience. You are comforted by other sons... and be content with that. May the Lord grant them to remain unchanged in their good moods. Your Pavel is a miracle that he goes to church. You can’t drag today’s students there with a lasso. Our teaching has taken such a bad direction. Here are a dozen brochures about prayer. Give it to your friends and to others who want to learn this. 1412. What to say to youth who have gone astray. More about headaches May Michael, the Archangel of God's power, protect you from everything unpleasant and sorrowful. There is nothing marvelous, that your fellow is well done - and he will come to his senses. He was confused by the thoughts circulating among the students, empty and windy, but pleasant thoughts of youth. Repeat to him more often that fashionable teachings do not have solid foundations and do not bring any good, and what they are deprived of is precious and irreplaceable - having solid foundations for themselves.... Don’t say more... and this is one thing in simple speech... and conclude: be careful not to lose everything... Having seen the deception, but not having time to correct the mistake... Head pain... the most sensitive. Why do you have it... Is it your stomach? Isn't it from the seat being locked up? (Get outside more often). Is it because the nerves are irritated by troubles? The latter cannot be healed by anything except complete devotion to the will of God... God bless you and Blueberry, and the little one... and the young man, and the other children, and everyone you know... Save yourself! Mother Blueberry, save yourself! You did well to refuse to read Tolstoy's nonsense. And don’t take them into your hands... Read what he has written... this roaring Lion has whom to devour. I forgot to write down that Leo recognizes only the Gospel, and then in a distorted form, like his... Epistles of St. He doesn’t recognize the apostles, nor the fathers and teachers of the Church... He has his own mind... Don’t take it into your hands... 1419. Instruction regarding embarrassment through a short confession. God's exam. Various minor answers Who in the world lives without sorrows? There is no one who has not met them. And you are not alone in carrying them. Countless comrades and companions. Take comfort in this; for in the world, they say, even death is red. Another consolation for you is that in your sorrows you held and carry yourself as a reasonable Christian should. That brother is a soldier, what’s the problem? Nowadays everyone is a soldier. And look how much of a hero he turns out to be. Write to him that being depressed is a shame. Let him imagine that he is taking or defending Shipka. That the beloved turned out to be a fool in time - thanks be to the Lord. You acted very wisely in relation to him... God bless you! If I haven't heard anything about my friend, that's a lot of damage. Something happened. Be patient. Perhaps communication with her will return. My sister died. God bless! It’s true, it’s true that she’s better there. What do you write about your father... pray. The priest acted badly in spirit. But you could also ask him to wait a minute. However, don't be embarrassed. What was not said is not a concealment of sin; Therefore, the Lord will not place those sins in such a way that you should be considered to have received communion unworthily, for the sake of your intention to confess everything. Next time, don’t indulge the priest... and tell him everything—tell him what you wanted to say but couldn’t. But the biggest defeat for you is that you can’t go to Moscow. If you endure this graciously, you will be a real heroine. I think that if you humbly and complacently accept and live through this time, the Lord will show you some kind of mercy or send you some consolation. Be complacent. You always do your own thing, and what comes from outside is not from you. God sends and God sends this to the exam. Having sent, he watches how you act. If you act wisely and fairly, He gives you better marks; and if otherwise, other points are given. Then a summary of points will be made... And what turns out to be in the end, that’s why you will be issued a certificate. The certificate is written not on paper, but on the forehead. In the other world, the gatekeepers will immediately see where you should go... This is not the place for you... it will be sad to hear... May God's mercy be with you too, God's servants - Demetrius and Evdokia! Fear God and fulfill His commandments... For this is salvation. Love the Church of God. Be on good terms with everyone... do not forget to give alms within your means... Be patient with whatever God sends you to endure. 1443. To a university student. Answer to the question about entering monasticism Throughout the entire course of your life, it is clear that the Lord is calling you on the path of repentance. And I believe that you will not find peace unless you step into it. You are doing well to kindle this desire in yourself. But whether to carry it out now, or at a later time, is something I’m not comfortable deciding. And now you can, and you can after completing the course at the University. My first thought was to suggest that you complete the course if you hope that the current bad teachings will not affect you. Then the thought came to mind: shouldn’t you go to the academy and then finish your studies and enter monasticism. Both are possible. And it will be useful for you. Knowledge doesn't work. And now we need more knowledgeable figures. You, with your mood and knowledge, could be saved not only by bowing, but also by admonishing those who go astray - which is of great value to the Lord. So, if this is not inconvenient for you, do it this way... Reason with your spiritual father, and God will bless you to do what you find best. I am not against entering the monastery now. What about your habits and hobbies?! Do you think that the walls of the monastery will protect you from them? Oh no! Please prepare for the most difficult struggle! From a distance it is very difficult to give you decisive advice. See for yourself. What about parental blessing? Discuss everything with your spiritual father. 1444. To Archpriest NN. Characteristics of the Khlysty sect and instructions on interviews with them I am sending you 4 books. against your sectarians. These are not Molokans, but Khlysts or Skoptsy. A Molokan will never hold icons or images of sacred things... and will not go to church. And the whips go to church and do everything; as well as eunuchs. The Skoptsy degenerated from the Khlysty. The Khlysts seek to extinguish lust, which repayment is considered among them to be a spiritual resurrection before the general one. But as lust takes over, one of them managed to brush off the restless member with a razor. He found imitators, and things took off... This is not listed in real books, but I read it somewhere, I don’t remember now. They look exhausted and slobbering. They speak quietly, insinuatingly. It is impossible to learn anything from them, because their first point is not to reveal anything about the sect, even if the skin were torn off. That's why there's no point in torturing. At their meetings they do zealous movements, spinning, each individually or all like in round dances, and different ones do movements until they get tired. This warms the blood, irritates the game of life, which responds pleasantly. They call this pleasant state the presence of the Spirit (nakatil). But there’s nothing spiritual here. And the dancers become pleasantly excited. It’s the same with them - and nothing more. That they have a bad sin is not true; at least the articles sent say this. Sin may happen to others later, but not at meetings, and don’t remember it. When interpreting with them and when explaining yours, talk more about how grace is obtained and how grace is manifested in power. It turns out through St. sacraments, not otherwise, but becomes obvious in those who mortify passions with well-known deeds. (In the Philokalia, see extracts from St. Mark the Ascetic). This clarity consists in a special understanding of faith, in a peaceful disposition of the heart, in deep prayers, in self-sacrifice for the good of others, in imperturbable patience... so that those who watch cannot be amazed. A distinctive feature of the influx of the Spirit is deep peace and detachment from everything visible - inward before God. Here all bodily movement is stopped and the feeling of use ceases, that is, everything happens completely opposite to what happens with the Khlysty. The whips, having come into a pleasant excitement from the spinning, others go into ecstasy. Those who are talkative will scream and begin to seethe. Since he has nothing in his mind, but only an excited state and a desire to speak out, he seethes without expressing anything definite. Others consider all this to be revelations of God. Come in from the other side. For them, Christ continues to appear in people... When someone seems good to them, in their opinion, they say: “Christ has appeared”; and direct your speech against this. But you will see everything in the articles. Don’t reproach them in any way for the fact that they behave well; they don’t drink, they don’t go to round dances, they don’t party, all this is good. And scold your own people that their riotous life forces others to move away from the Church, believing that it does not know how to raise real Christians and indulges in vices. But she does not indulge, but demands a strict life - and collect more texts of this kind. So you see, conclude, there is no indulgence... but there is condescension for weaknesses. The Khlysty have these weaknesses - and considerable ones at that... And here, slowly remember what has been found out about them through investigative procedures. But this is not suddenly, but much later... And add... we sin... but sin is considered a sin... and among the Khlysties... it’s as if the spirit commands us to sin (they had some guy), of course, the spirit - but not God’s. Please act as God instructs you. Only by the signs you indicated, know that these are whips... or eunuchs... and push on them. Not in church, but in a simple conversation, make out their separate songs. Ah - yes, here's how to recognize them. Start reading their caretaker song in front of him - Kelsiev has collected skopcheskie and Khlystov's songs... His eyes are about to start sparkling... just do it by chance... From the books of the “Interlocutor” - look at the article about the people of God, - from the Kelsey collection - about eunuchs... Make the necessary notes - and return the books when the need has passed. Congratulations on your archpriestship. God bless! But if you convert even one whip, it will be equal to the bishopric. These are the most persistent sectarians. The enemy keeps them in the charm of their apparent serviceability - and those flattering pleasantries that are obtained during their whirling. May the Lord bless you with every blessing, and all yours. My eye prospers. Cataracts mature and vision decreases. But the left eye serves as it should. Four letters to T. A. K-vu 1450. On the study and teaching of civil history. Practical advice From the first words I agreed to your intention, even though it was very unexpected 157. It is necessary, however, to thoroughly scout what can be found on this road... Of course, you will be able to pass the exam, and especially after preparation. But what next? You were told that this is the place. Are there always places? In all educational institutions - there are, and there are no. Let it be, but where? Cadet corps are not in St. Petersburg only in Moscow. Are they not in Siberia, the Caucasus, Poland?.. Poland is worse than Siberia. Then, will they ask you if you would like to go to Sakhalin?.. or somewhere else... or they will directly send you. And when they determine without asking, whether they will respect the presentation that you are uncomfortable in that place... So you need to scout out such things and prepare to meet them. Maybe there's something else we'll have to find out... So - God bless... But don’t plan to volunteer for history, but to carry out the truth of God, which alone exists, everywhere. I have the history of Schlozer and Weber and also the French Contu (Spanish). If you don’t find it there, I’ll send you some... But maybe now there are some newer ones. History in cadet corps... is probably not taught as widely. However, the principles are historical and should be included in teaching. Who is leading humanity and where? The Christian solves this differently than the learned bashi-bazouks. God leads humanity to its final goal; The historian must recognize and point out this. It would be good if you saw this. The fashionable idea of ​​history - development - is empty, because there is nothing to say. This is something like fate... destiny and fate. Help you, Lord, to prepare and take your favorite path... and prosper on it. 1451. Sources and aids for teaching church history. Characteristics of Neander. Instructions on the proper teaching of this subject Now, if you please, put in some work and prayer... and everything will go well 158. It is a pity that the Right Reverend Macarius did not finish (Russian) history. There is a history of the Russian Church - His Eminence Philaret of Chernigov 159. Of course it is in your seminary library. If, by chance, it’s not there... write quickly, I’ll send it. He has a whole book from this period (i.e., Synodal)... even though it’s not big. Please, less cunning and German wisdom... In the Orthodox way, philosophize as much as you want... i.e. it has always been this way and it should be so. I am very glad that you had to deal not with general church history, but with Russian history. There is no place for evil wisdom to spread here - as is done there. Afterwards, although you may have to take the universal one into your hands, before that time all the soap bubbles with which German historians fill your heads at the academy will have time to burst. Regarding the universal, the best source is the history of Fleury 160... This is a collection of ancient legends about church events... The worst is Neander 161. This damned little Jew ruined the whole story with his wisdom. For him, everything was organized by the struggle of opposing sides and parties. And he only follows this and often builds an entire system and even an entire school on one word... Thus, he has no place for the apostolic tradition... continuously preserved by the Holy Church... The same kind of wisdom is shared by all his followers. Please note this in your memory... and think that everything went according to the apostolic tradition... disputes were raised by more than one party against another in the Church. And the vain-wise rose up against the apostolic tradition... The Holy Church, its guardian, stood for it and struck down the vain-wise... and expelled them from the Church. 1452. About the same thing. Christian dogmas are not the result of the disputes that arose Well – what then? history so history 162. As the guardian of the Apostolic traditions, she stands alongside Scripture as the main source and protection of Orthodoxy. That's the idea of ​​church history for you. I think I wrote to you that the best tool for you is Fleury’s church history. This is a complete collection of historical monuments about church antiquities. He is a Catholic; but does not reach out to the Catholics. – Do you read French? But Fleury is also in Latin. Maybe there is one in the seminary library. If you read in French, I would send you Goethe... an Orthodox doctor from the French... I only have three volumes, but, it seems, the fourth book has also been published... Everything covers no more than 4 centuries... He is a merciless hammer for Catholics. I also have Protestants. But these are real bashi-bazouks; especially the little Neander. This one ruined the whole story... His dogmas are the result of disputes between church parties. And they believe him... In reality, it was like this: the Church always defended the apostolic teaching when superstition rebelled against it. When Arius spewed out his bullshit; Patriarch Alexander - from the very first time he set forth the teaching of the Church betrayed by the apostles... what he set out throughout the entire continuation of Arianism was a rebuff to it... and in the end remained victorious - not as the result of disputes, but as the everlasting belief of the Holy Spirit. Churches. The same thing happened with the advent of Nestorianism... Saint Cyril (of Alexandria) expounded the Orthodox teaching of the Church... which remained even after Nestorianism was overcome. The same is true regarding the veneration of icons... Saint Herman, from the first moment of the appearance of iconoclasm, expressed the complete teaching of the Church on this... So in everything... the apostolic teaching preceded the disputes, armed against them... and remained after... Please keep this in mind... I purposely remind you of this... 1453. When sending books and cards. On maintaining health during scientific work Happy past holidays and happy new year! I rejoice at your diligence and work in familiarizing yourself with the subject of teaching, which fell to your lot. God bless! The first course is always difficult. Then course after course it will become easier and easier - and a complete science will be compiled... Where can I get manuals? I have Neander, Gieseler, Schaff. If reading them is not difficult, I will send them to you. But I’m afraid that their bashi-buziness will turn your head. In your volume of the Philokalia, under the first octagon of the 20th printed sheet, there is a photograph of me in my office, as a souvenir for you. Work hard, work is a sacred thing. But you also need to take care of your health. Health is like a horse. If you drive it, there’s nothing to ride on. Be in the fresh air for an hour every day, get plenty of sleep, eat less, and don’t drink wine at all; When you're not writing, you walk around the house more than sit. And labor will not leave a ruinous trace. If you can add to this bodily exercise - sharpening, sawing, planing, chopping - then you can become completely inaccessible to infirmities. There is a book - indoor gymnastics - different movements are indicated - with arms, legs, torso, head. It’s very good for hygiene... I had it... now I don’t, and I don’t know where to turn. The goal is not to let a single muscle lie idle, but on the contrary, to twitch every muscle every day... and strain it. Hence the measured flow and nutritional output of the body. [Letters] to A.V. Rachinsky, the second traveler in Slavic Macedonia after V.I. Grigorovich, and then who was our vice-consul in Varna. We are talking about a letter from the author in 1857, when he was still an archimandrite at the Russian mission in Constantinople, to the deceased. Innocent, Archbishop. Khersonsky; a letter in which the author introduced Vladyka to the initial elements of what was later called the Bulgarian-Greek feud. Speransky Mikhail Mikhailovich (1772–1839) – count (1839), statesman. Since 1808, he was the closest adviser to Alexander I, the author of the plan for liberal reforms, and the initiator of the creation of the State Council (1810). Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich (1783–1852) – poet, prose writer, translator. Used for a trip to Palestine. "Rusalka" is a coastal defense battleship of the Russian Imperial Navy, which sank on September 6, 1893 off the coast of Finland. His “Letters on the Spirit. life." Bishop of Poltava (Pavlovich), former archimandrite. Solovetsky Monastery during its siege and bombardment by the British. He died in Kiev (retired in St. Sophia Cathedral House). Cathedral Elder Fr. Antipas (Chekhovsky). Now in the “Kitaev” monastery. Rev. Feofan speaks here about himself - out of humility. K.P. Pobedonostsev, real city ob.-proc. Holy Synod. Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich (1828–1910) – count, writer, publicist and public figure. At the end of his life, he was excommunicated from the Church for promoting heretical teachings. Vladimir I Svyatoslavich (c. 960 - 1015) - Grand Duke of Kiev, under whom the Baptism of Rus' took place. At baptism he received the Christian name Vasily. Also known as Vladimir the Holy, Vladimir the Baptist (in church history) and Vladimir the Red Sun (in epics). Glorified among the saints as Equal to the Apostles. John of Kronstadt (Sergiev Ioann Ilyich) (1829–1908) - righteous saint, archpriest of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt, spiritual writer, thinker. The memory is celebrated on December 20/January 2. Mei Lev Alexandrovich (1822–1862) – poet, translator. Glinka Fedor Nikolaevich (1786–1880) – poet, writer, editor. Frederick William Farrar (1831–1903) – Anglican theologian, philologist, writer. Matveevsky Pavel Alekseevich (1828–1900) – archpriest, spiritual writer. Some, abstaining from drinking butter on the days specified by the church charter, consider drinking wine and vodka nothing. Word from the Reverend Feofan should sober up such people. These were Antony Amfitheatrov and Victorin, his suffragan in 1873. Macarius (Mikhail Nikolaevich Ivanov) (1788–1860) – venerable Optina elder. John Chrysostom (347–407) – saint, archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Teacher of the Church. Here the manuscript is interrupted and a continuation has not yet been found. Completely homogeneous things can be found in other places in the works of Rev. Feofan. For example: “Have you heard about the indulgences of the Pope? These are the benefits and indulgences that he gives in defiance of the law of Christ. So what? Because of them, the entire West was corrupted in faith and life... And now it is rotting in unbelief and the liberties of life with its indulgences. The Pope changed many dogmas, spoiled all the sacraments, relaxed the rules of church leadership and corrected morals, and everything did not go according to the Lord’s intention - worse and worse... (Bishop Theophan. On Orthodoxy. Moscow, 1893, pp. 92–93). “With the papists, all the sacraments are damaged, and many saving sacred rites are distorted. Papacy - mild with scabs or suppurated. (Ibid., 33.) The continuation of the article, which was promised by the editors, outlining the evidence of Bishop. Feofan was published the following year (1896, part 3) and is reprinted here immediately below, with a preface and notes from the editors of “Souls. Thu." On what basis do we attribute this article to the Right Reverend Theophan the Recluse? For more information, see “Soulful. reading" 1895 No. 10, p. 317–320 reprinted here at the beginning of No. 791 p.). The owner of the original letter is known to the editors of the St. Petersburg Spiritual Messenger, from where this letter was reprinted along with the preface. Gatsuk Aleksey Alekseevich (1832–1891) – archaeologist, publicist, publisher of the “Calendar of the Cross” and “Gatsuk’s Newspaper”. Dorotheus, Abba of Palestine (VI century) - reverend. He is famous for his literary heritage, including the book “Soulful teachings and messages with the addition of his questions and answers to them by Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet.” Ignatius (Brianchaninov Dmitry Alexandrovich) (1807–1867) – saint. Francois de Sales (Francis de Sales) (1567–1622) - Catholic saint, Bishop of Geneva, founder of the congregation of Visitantes. This article, personally written by the Right Reverend Theophan the Recluse, was among his letters to N.V. Elagin. It is published as a preface to Volume I of the Philokalia. It is published in this collection to familiarize readers with the view of the bishop himself. Feofan on this capital and irreplaceably meaningful work of his in 5 volumes. Elagin Nikolai Vasilievich (1817–1891) – spiritual writer. In 1848 he was appointed censor in St. Petersburg, and in 1857 - an official of special assignments at the main directorate of censorship; subsequently served as a member-auditor of the Humane Society. One of the greatest experts on church life, he defended the preservation of the purity of faith. It was he who contributed to the glorification of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk as a saint and was one of the initiators of his veneration in Rus', published his biography, organized a fundraiser for the creation of a monastery (Korotsky) in his homeland. He also published Letters on the Christian Life by St. Theophan the Recluse, prepared the first biography of Elder Seraphim of Sarov, an essay about the Valaam Monastery, and published many educational books for the people. N. Elagin invariably emphasized the importance of monasticism as the highest level of morality and at one time he himself intended to leave the world and take monastic vows. Under his name N.V. Elagin published: “The Life of Princess Orlova-Chesmenskaya” (St. Petersburg, 1853); “Essay on the life of Prince P.A. Shirinsky-Shikhmatov" (St. Petersburg, 1855); “Belevskaya vivliofika. Collection of monuments about the history of Belev and Belevsky district" (M., 1858); "Russian Clergy" (Berlin, 1859). The book “Iskander-Herzen” (Berlin, 1859) was published without attribution. Part of the circulation was distributed in Germany and France. In Russia, the censorship department gave permission for the sale of this publication in 1862 by personal decree of the Emperor and at the request of the Minister of Public Education A.V. Golovnina. N.V. Elagin is the author of several books for public reading: “The Life of Our Father Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh, Wonderworker of All Russia” (St. Petersburg, 1871) - the same work, more extensive, which he previously published anonymously, 2nd ed., 1862); “The earthly life of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (St. Petersburg, 1871), etc. His books of a journalistic nature generated heated controversy: “The Spirit and Merits of Monasticism for the Church and the State” (St. Petersburg, 1874) and “The White Clergy and Its Interests” (St. Petersburg, 1881). The letter was probably written from Constantinople in 1856. Büchner Ludwig (1824–1899) was a German doctor, naturalist and philosopher, a representative of vulgar materialism, whose works were popular in Russia in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Askochensky Viktor Ipatievich (1820–1879) – writer, journalist, publisher. This letter is printed without the editor's note from the first edition. “Answers...” are given without notes from the editors of the 7th edition. Filaret (Drozdov Vasily Mikhailovich) (1782–1867) – saint, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (since 1826), an outstanding church figure, theologian and biblical scholar. The article mentioned above, published in “Dushep. Thu." for 1875 Burachok Stepan Anisimovich (1800–1876) – writer, critic, publisher, naval engineer. We are talking about articles on the translation of the Bible from Hebrew. We publish this letter without the editorial note of issue 7 about Archimandrite Lavrenty (Makarov) (1808–1876). Redstock Grenville (1833–1913) - English preacher. Pashkov Vasily Alexandrovich (1831–1902) – retired colonel, follower of Redstock. The founder of the movement of evangelical Christians (commonly they were called “Pashkovites”). The meeting was proposed to be held by the diocesan bishops with their abbots and abbesses of the monasteries. T. A. K-v, after completing a course at the Moscow Theological Academy, before his appointment as a teacher at the Voronezh Theological Seminary, planned to become a teacher of civil history in one of the cadet corps and decided to prepare for passing a trial exam in this subject. But first I asked for the bishop’s advice on this matter. This letter was written by the Bishop immediately after K-va’s appointment as a teacher of church history at the Voronezh Theological Seminary, in which the Bishop himself took part. Initially, K-vu was offered to teach only Russian church history. Filaret (Gumilevsky Dmitry Grigorievich) (1805–1866) – saint, archbishop. Author of many spiritual works, including “History of the Russian Church.” Claude Fleury (1640–1723) – Church historian, member of the French Academy. Neander Augustus (1789–1850) – Protestant historian of the Church. The letter was written a year after the previous one, when K-vu was offered to teach general church history at the seminary.