Письмо XXXI. Тому же

Just as a ray of sunshine tenderly attracts to itself a healthy eye, which by nature rejoices in the light, and gives it from its radiance, so the true priesthood, which in everything shows the imprint of the blessed Divinity to those living on earth, with its God-loving and divine disposition attracts every soul to itself and gives it from its knowledge, peace and love, so that, having attracted every ability of the soul to the limit of its own work, it presents to God those who are secretly led completely deified. After all, the goal of smart work in the soul is true knowledge, and lustful work is love, and irritable work is peace, as well as the true priesthood - their deification of themselves and others. After all, we have a mind by nature for the sake of seeking God, and only for the sake of desiring Him are we endowed with lust, and only in order to fight for Him are we capable of anger. The end of the search is true knowledge, and desires are constant ardent love, and the battle for God is peace, which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7). Knowing that you, the most holy and all-blessed, are doers and teachers of these great blessings, the true servant of God, and daughter, and mother, nun Evdokia, returned to you with her holy flock, showing by this that you, revered ones, defeated all those who sought to keep her with you. Truly she is a slave, for she fulfills the Divine commandments, a daughter, for in everything she has an indistinguishable resemblance to God in skill, and a mother, for she gives birth to a virtuous habit of the soul in others. Well, rejoice and rejoice, receiving again the most precious part of your holy flock, and especially acquiring also the sanctified master of my presbyter George, truly God’s field and a farmer most pleasing to the Divine and Great George, before God and all the people, powerful in cultivating souls in deed and word and therefore most beloved [365] to all who love God. Since until now, half-dead and cut in two, I have been torn away from their useful company, accept me like a sick member and heal me, or console me with your prayers and convince me to endure the separation dispassionately. For this too is characteristic of the Divine and true priesthood. Play on words: Γεώργιος - George, γεωργός - farmer, γεώργιον - arable land, field. – Approx. lane You might be interested in: