Письма к духовным особам

200. A precious treasure is a revelation from the Lord. Your Reverence, most venerable and dearest brother in the Lord, Father Macarius! Like me, the worst, and my brothers and sisters around me in the Lord, we wish you peace, health, prosperity and salvation! Your two most respected writings to me, one short and the other more extensive, written together with the same spirit of love, I, the worst one, received in full. Thank you for continuing your unwavering zeal for the Lord to our detriment. May the Lord reward you equally. As for the subject known to you, we still do not have any information; Will Fr. bring anything? Macarius from Orel to you, and maybe we’ll find out - God willing! From Fr. And now we have letters, thank God! He is healthy, undergoing slander from the arch. Belevtsev, however, submitted petitions with Hieromonk Father Isaac to our borders - may the will of the Lord be done about this! The Lavra economist known to you was mercifully dismissed from his position. Seraphim with a golden cross, from Mount Athos, can be seen how the Synod accepted him and assigned him to the Sergius Hermitage as a brotherhood near St. Petersburg. Although he, going to the capital, accepted a lot of unnecessary things and concluded about himself, but, it’s true, he does not help me, and the Lord God is the only helper of the humble, for “let not the wise boast in his wisdom, the rich in wealth, the strong in strength” (I Sam. 2:10; Jer. 9:23). God bless you for your efforts. Peter to copy her letter to her homeland, as if this is what I asked you about - may the mercy of God be with all of them as they hope. Yes, the spiritually doubtful sister Elena, who believes the enemy’s slander, is a revelation that is most precious to her from the Lord, but what can you do if she pays bad attention to it! Although out of love for the Lord one should have special edification about it, nevertheless, entrust it more and more to the Lord for complete healing. Silent is this execution of the devil, that it seeks, under the guise of edification, to the famous old woman. Although the words of the Savior of the world do not refer to her, “can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). May the Lord grant her to contain a saving revelation to whomever she should about the Lord and not have faith in her own opinion. To M.A. You can write a word on this mail, thank the Most Merciful Lord, that the temptation did not spread far into temptation, but was stopped by revelation. According to our monastery, by the goodness of God, no evil is foreseen, and henceforth we can only trust in the Lord, as He wills, so let the finite will be done. I entrust you, as well as myself, to the Lord with my sincere favor towards you in the Lord. I remain your unworthy pilgrim. The sinful Hieroschemamonk Leonid and his devoted brethren humbly bow. At the same time, having a blessing from the priest and considering myself happy, I testify to you, most honorable father Father Macarius, my deepest reverence. I most sensitively thank you for remembering me, the all-insignificant one. I wish you peaceful and supreme blessings, mentally placing myself before you with all feelings, asking for your blessing and holy prayers. With my sincere reverence and affection of soul and heart, I have the honor to remain your most humble servant. The many-sinful and most indecent monk Paul. 201. About the lot of the authorities. Let the will of the Lord be done in everything Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us! Your Reverence, most venerable brother of the Lord, Father Macarius! I sincerely wish you good health mentally and physically. I had the good fortune to receive your writing, which was pleasant for us, by mail, and I understood its contents according to the strength of my weak understanding. Many times, according to the unwavering intention of my heart, I was going to answer you, but God knows what the end will be, that I can’t overcome infirmities and various cases in order to write to you in my own right. Having your love to inform as much as possible about what is necessary, I was forced not to pursue the intention any longer, although with these worst lines I now begin to answer. So, thank God, that your monastery, while the Lord still suffers with our sin, is safe. God knows what is good for us, therefore, if the Lord delivers you from the lot of the authorities, blessed be God! And when the lot falls on you, then with blessed renunciation, as much as possible, the will of the Lord be done. You know that it is disastrous to wish for this, but what happens not according to our will, judging by the current strictures, you know that God’s help is special. About your petition, I Fr. S. offered - he willingly agreed to accept. In conclusion, he said: I must leave it until my meeting with the Eminence. All this should not be closer, as at the very beginning of the New Year, otherwise not everything is considered as reality, but rather as futility, may the will of the Lord be done about this as well. This is what we wish and hope for. However, it becomes increasingly necessary to yield to this justice, which God has proposed, which men cannot destroy. But my stupid feelings somehow don’t deepen for you to be released here. However, I, a stout man, do not believe my feelings and do not put aside my intention to help continue this as much as possible. O. Ioannikiy writes from St. Petersburg that nothing new has happened to him, but that he intends to submit a resignation letter from the New Year - whatever God will do with him! He has some hope that the Lord will not abandon him and will arrange it according to his wishes. Not incidentally, he writes and asks about your whereabouts - may the Most Merciful Lord enlighten you, and enlighten you for edification, and may you protect and protect you from all the snares and slander of the enemy, and may you forgive all your sins, voluntary and involuntary. And I am indecent, I send fatherly forgiveness. Through the prayers of our father, may the peace of God rest upon you. Your unworthy pilgrim, the sinful hieroschemamonk Lev, and his devoted brethren, we bow humbly. 202. Word for the day of memory of John the Baptist. About the true gift of a preacher Most honest and kindest brother in Christ, Father Macarius! I received your pleasant letter, for which I thank you. May the Almighty grant you a well-intentioned path with edifying success of heart and soul. We no less wish for your most desired return to the monastery in Christ. As for our circumstances, they are as follows. We are prosperous, one might say, our archpastor visited us, being quite cheerful and supportive, and after celebrating the Divine Liturgy one day, he spoke an edifying word to the brethren. No less in him was concerned with the shameful curiosity of the supposedly complacent, of whom he was part of the presence at that time due to his stay in the desert. It was on St.'s birthday. the prophet and forerunner John, which is why the theme of the word was: “What do you expect to see in the desert?” and the following verse. If there are now in Russia imitators of St. Chrysostom in the simplicity of his style and other abundant gifts of a preacher, so he cannot justly be excluded from such a godly society. He did not have magnificent phrases, intricate tropes, metaphors, hyperbolic style, allegory and other arrangements of eloquence, but the richest and most holy simplicity, direct truth and the most graceful modesty in sincerity. Some admitted that when he tried to pour the holy grace of his heart into the hearts of his listeners, he so captivated the spirit of those present that many no longer had other thoughts, since there was not a single word that was pompous, lofty or unclear. This is true vitija, as defined by the wise! It's interesting to have such a word. It would be very possible to remind many of whom of this letter, one word - it had such an effect on the hearts and spiritual forces that it was as if it were not a word, but the reed of a spiritual cursive writer, writing on the heart the advice and will of the Most High. Isn’t this joyful in the present time, when preachers are trying more to reflect their knowledge in the pulpits than to make a saving influence through means alien to vain philosophy - simplicity and truth. “Do not judge before the time, until the Lord comes, bringing in the light of secrets and revealing the counsels of the heart” (1 Cor. 4:5). Although in this case we can also say that the hand of God is with us, the most unworthy, in proportion to our trust in Him. However, no less should be attributed to the gracious foresight of a husband adorned with faith and humility. To further console the brethren, he did not hesitate to serve the all-night vigil himself. Moreover, so as not to weaken the truth of the sacred kindness of the meek shepherd with the space of words, we decided to remain silent. Although, since such a bishop is fitting for us, we should not extol the valor of a wise man, “for others also see His good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). I sincerely regret An's circumstances. A. When I, the worst, once wrote to her: “God sees the righteousness of our hearts.” This was in some way the fruit of her faith, then why doubt the providence of the Heavenly Father, blessed forever? Is the right hand of the Most High weaker than the hand of a mortal in its destinies? We have surely forgotten, poor things, that God has proposed that men cannot destroy it. “Are not all the ways of the Lord mercy and truth to those who seek His covenant and information” (Ps. 24:10). Should a Christian be so cowardly when we want to be submissive to the fate of the World Ruler? Are we not Christians in name? - However, she would not have done a bad thing when, on your advice, she came to the good G. Moreover, he is, by the very nature of things, compassionate and not inexperienced in such matters. But let the will of the Triune be done in everything; There is nothing impossible for Him to arrange, which is only in accordance with His power, incomprehensible Wisdom and His other Divine properties. With the help of the loving splendor of His house, the founded church is safely elevated, the vaults have already begun, so that we can say that “we have received the lot most acceptable in the church of the Lord; why “blessed art thou in the church of thy holy glory” (Dan. 3:53). I entrust you to the protection of the Lord. Your unworthy pilgrim, the sinful hieroschemamonk Leo and his brethren. 203. With patience, let us endure the feat set before us. Your Reverence, most venerable and most benevolent brother in the Lord, Father Macarius, with all your unanimous ones! I earnestly wish you to be healthy mentally and physically and to rejoice in the Lord! I thank you very much for your mutual sincerity and love and wish you to always succeed in such pious feelings of the heart, although, most insignificant, I do not deserve this, but I have no doubt that the God of peace will match your wisdom. As for the subject of cohabitation, I wrote it down to you exactly, we don’t know anything else - if the Lord willed it so, God’s will be done. The matter, as it requires the personality of Fr. page of the Eminence, is silent. The reason for this is that Fr. The builder has been ill since January 7 until now, which has hindered the progress of many good enterprises. He was so ill that when it was necessary to go to Kaluga to submit statements and other bills, they sent Hieromonk Joasaph in his place. However, if the Lord desires, in due time, to apply diligence to those who do not despair, the Lord will hasten. And your paper lies in the Intercession Monastery of the Mother of God, known to your love, who will work for us, as it pleases the Lord Jesus. And we hope that in every possible way it will be arranged for the good edification of our poor souls. Only let us endure the feat before us with patience! I also inform your love that due to an unexpected need I encountered, I was persuaded to leave for 10 days and stayed in Karachev for 4 days and in Orel for 2 days. Glory to the Most Merciful Lord, through His unsearchable Providence and help, and successfully completed the important obedience and safely returned to the Borisov monastery. I caught M. Hilaria with M. Thomaida in Bolkhov, and they were taught according to the measure of their faith, and the Lord is able to heal them. My unworthy advice is this: firstly, that Elena at least partially retell to her sister Evdokia the dreamy actions and performances presented to her; secondly, so that every day, when going to bed, Evdokia would certainly read the prayer: “May God rise and His enemies be scattered” to the end, and so that with a life-giving cross she would protect the bed, windows and doors in the hope of God’s mercy that the Most Merciful Lord will help them in every possible way and protect them from the opposing enemies of the truth who are chilling her! I entrust myself and everyone to the patronage of the Almighty Lord and That One, may He guide our path according to His holy will, and may He help you, and may He protect you, and may He cover you from all the snares of the enemy, and may He forgive you all your sins, and I, who am a great sinner, send my fatherly forgiveness. Through the prayers of our memorable father, may the peace of God rest upon you. Your unworthy pilgrim, Hieroschemamonk Leo, with his devoted brethren, we humbly bow together with your spiritual children Ignatius and Macarius and others and ask St. prayers. At the same time, I, the worst and most damned, Monk Pavel, having the happiness, testify to you, most honorable Father, my deepest reverence, and from the pledge of sincerity I wish you prosperity and salvation. I most sensitively thank you, Father, for your love, which, although I do not essentially deserve, I wish to be edified by the Divine example, believing that for sinners good words are more necessary than for those who are immersed in the glory of God, the right in heart, however, forgive me, I do not know, even if I am writing the truth, taking this opinion from the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth for sinners, calling like like after the example with which you reward me with your love. May the Lord reward you, Father. I, the most insignificant, having asked your holy prayers for me, an indecent monk, have the honor to remain your most humble servant. 204. May the Lord grant you to fulfill your destiny in a favorable dispensation My dearest brother in the Lord, Father Macarius, I wish you joy and good health with all my heart. With Timofey, we, the indecent ones, received your writing and rejoiced at your safe arrival in Orel and the taking of the necessary measures against the cunning deceit. What should you do if you are drawn into such an unpleasant business, albeit reluctantly? Brother Spiridon is coming to you. We, glory to the All-Merciful Lord, who is long-suffering of my many sins, are in an ordinary position. May the Lord of peace and love grant you to fulfill your destiny safely and without stumbling, and in a favorable dispensation to return to a quiet haven, to St. monastery Your unworthy pilgrim, many-sinful hieroschemamonk Lev. 205. May the Lord, as the source of love, reward you Your Reverence, most venerable and beloved brother in the Lord, Father Macarius, as well as those around you who are unanimous in your love for Christ! I most earnestly wish to be healthy sensually, mentally, spiritually, to rejoice in the Lord and be saved. Your most respected letters to me, the worst, number two, written out of a single love, have been received. The first in Tver, through the venerable Mrs. Abbess Dosifeya, and the second from his brother Spiridon Arsenievich. Thank you for your love. May the Lord, as the source of love, reward you with it. That a rumor has reached you that all the young brethren are being moved from the monastery to the real monastery, then such a rumor has been circulating for a long time and has been circulating for a long time, however, by the grace of God, we in no way hope that this will happen, and would God please to allow this to happen. We regret to inform you that Father Fr. Anthony is very ill, he has been suffering for the second month with severe and unusual vomiting, he received two letters from you and could not answer either of them due to illness; he testifies to you his veneration. Now Vasily Nikolaevich and others with him from Bolkhov are hovering about the Lord; they intend to stay here for the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Queen of Heaven. As for myself, I inform you that if God wills it, I intend to leave for Voronezh on August 17 or 18, but I cannot say for sure how the Lord will arrange everything diligently. Desiring that the protection of the Heavenly Father rest upon you forever for salvation, however, having entrusted you to the Lord, I remain with my sincere goodwill. Your most unworthy pilgrim, the sinful hieroschemamonk Leonid, and his devoted brethren, we humbly bow. 206. About the elder’s trip to Moscow and Tver. Good deeds are created through labors in the Lord Your Reverence, most venerable and beloved brother in the Lord, Fr. Macarius! I wholeheartedly wish you health in the Lord, sensually, mentally, spiritually, and salvation, as well as those around you who love you in Christ of the same wisdom. At the same time, I inform your love that our archpastor, who promised to visit us, the worst, has postponed such undertakings. He has already promised to be with us in an apostolic manner, that is, “if the Lord wills us to live, then we will do this” (James 4:15), with such a fair assumption of his, I now consider it favorable, with the help of God, to make the direct voyage known to you to the capital Moscow and Tver. If God wills, we return safely to the Assumption Fast at the monastery, then accompanying him, we also intend to go to Voronezh. There is also will and consent for this second undertaking. The Assumption Post discusses Fr. the builder needed to stay at the monastery, and then go to Voronezh. However, now, by the grace of God, we seem to be doing well: Fr. Arseny hovers around in the monastery, he tries to overcome boredom, which, as is noticeable, is attacking him, but it is known that good deeds are created through labors in the Lord, although not without the help of the Most Merciful Lord. Father Paphnutius, thank God, is dismissed by the Metropolitan, if only there is a petition for him from the Kursk diocese. When writing to Fr. Joannikia writes about. Nectary is known to you, former Nikanor, he was tonsured on May 8th. And having reduced, I have to remain with my highest reverence and usual devotion. Your unworthy pilgrim, the sinful hieroschemamonk Leo, with his devoted brethren, who, participating with me, humiliatingly convey to you their worship in absentia. Honoring this occasion and the blessing for this, with my sincere pleasure I have the honor to testify to you, most honorable Father Macarius, my deepest veneration. I send you all the best from the Lord. All-sensitively mentally before you, father, casting down, I ask your God-pleasing and holy ones. prayers to strengthen my weakest mental and physical strength. The illness and the beating of my heart, by the will of God, continues in me: although it is quietly acting, it has not yet been completely quenched - pray, dear Father, and for this, for the Lord’s sake, the Lord’s will be done. Perhaps this will also benefits my pride, as it must have in me, it is very weak for salvation, and, consequently, the reins are needed if I am to be saved. The many-sinful monk Pavel wishes to remain submissive to you. 207. Which monastery you are called to more is of little use Your Reverence, most venerable and dear brother in the Lord, Father Macarius, as well as beloved fathers in Christ, Fr. Ignatius and Fr. Macarius! We sincerely wish you peace, health and salvation. Out of humility, on April 26, we wrote to your love through the medium of M. Anf., through which we still inform your love - in the said letter nothing was known regarding your case, but now, although we also do not know how the Lord will arrange things, however, Father Fr. The builder was recently in Kaluga and, having learned that your case does not have any response to the consent to place you in the local monastery, he advised us so that we notify you of this, and you yourself would personally ask the archbishop, due to the purpose of your move, to dismiss him. So, if the Lord pleases, then, having received this letter, if you have no blessed obstacles, then steadily strive to go and, with God’s help, begin to personally ask. In this case, if they resolutely refuse you, then, without losing hope, you can ask N, and meanwhile, at least privately visit us, poor in soul. Father o. the builder also said that it is necessary to appear to your Eminence soon upon request, but, it’s true, we were somewhat mistaken. This case was not without the will of God, and therefore, may His all-holy will be done! Father Ioannikiy writes that he submitted a petition and was refused: he was ordered to allow him to apply to one of the Novgorod monasteries. Everyone, having learned about it, was very inviting. We advised him to be patient in the Lavra, - how the Lord will do good to us, unworthy, about this, for where there is a lot of name, there is little use, which is quite clear from experience; and where there is moderation, it subsequently turns out to be more favorable. The former Valentin, and now hieromonk Arseny of the Simonov Monastery, was passing for prayer in Voronezh to the saint of God, the Most Reverend. He explained to Mitrofan the New Wonderworker his intention that he was firmly determined to return from here and stay in our holy monastery, and most of all in the monastery, so his spirit would be attached that he said that it would seem that he never left it. But even to me, insignificant, he extends his trust beyond all expectations. But, however, if it pleases the Lord, He is Almighty to establish it, and strengthen it on the rock of His commandments and lead it to perfect salvation. May the God of peace and love arrange for us what is useful for the salvation of our poor souls, and we, insignificant ones, may we place all our fate and sorrow on the Lord, and may He arrange everything in every possible way according to His holy will, and may He help you, and may He protect you, and will cover you from all the snares and slander of the devil, and may He forgive you all your sins, voluntary and involuntary, and I, who am a great sinner, send you a fatherly message forgiveness and blessing. Through the prayers of the venerable father, who achieved a blessed death, may the peace of God rest on you. Your unworthy pilgrim, Hieroschemamonk Leo, and his devoted brethren humbly bow. 208. Whoever begins to force himself, obeying the traditions of the holy fathers and cutting off his desires, the Lord will grant him humility, drive out pride and with it delusion. The Lord always arranges and sends what is useful for us Your Reverence, most venerable and beloved brother Father Macarius in the Lord, like all the brothers around you who are of the same mind in the Lord, I wholeheartedly wish you peace, health and salvation! Your most pleasant writing about Christ Jesus to my spirit, addressed to me, the worst, was received entirely in due time. I usually heeded the content of it with God’s help, and tried to respond to it first, but I could not have time due to the multitude of activities; besides, I was weak in discussing the most important subject and there was nothing to write. But now, glory to the Most Merciful Lord, I received true news from our father Moses, because after his recovery he went to Kaluga to the bishop, and was received from him fatherly, kindly and favorably, and personally submitted your request and recommended your ignorance. To which he willingly agreed, accepted and imposed a resolution on acceptance, and according to the remark it should be that a request had already been sent, and so, when the Mother of God embraced the image of the guarded one, the request, apparently, went into action. It remains for you and me to beg and ask our leader and universal intercessor, the Ever-Virgin Mother of God, so that with her almighty and omnipotent prayers and intercession she would implore the Son of her Lord and our God Jesus Christ for our dispensation for the good edification of our poor souls. You write and realize your infertility, this is favorable for me, the worst! Because it is written, “let not every creature boast before God” (I Cor. 1:29). Glory to the Most Merciful God, our monastery, monastery and monastery, although they were visited by illnesses, maybe up to 20 of them, but through mercy they all recovered, after all and Fr. the builder was ill and at your request, Fr. builder and o. Anthony remained grateful. The first one apologizes that he could not write back to your love and asks that you forgive him for this. Thank you to the Lord and to everyone that for your prayers to the sisters Evdokia and Elena and our father, it seems, apparently, the effect of delusion in her has been alleviated, and the Lord is strong and omnipotent to give her with His grace help and the feeling to cut off her accursed will, which, using and accepting all sorts of thoughts, plunged herself into the ditch of the abyss. Whoever begins to force himself, obeying the traditions of St. father and cutting off his desires, the Lord will grant him humility, drive out pride and with it delusion! God bless you that you confirmed my unworthy advice to her, and I, the most wretched one, also, in my weak understanding, feed myself with the hope that the Lord will grant her liberation for her past infancy and imbecility! Since then we have not received any information from Father Ioannikis, but we nevertheless feed ourselves with hope that we will soon receive either a letter or ourselves! I wrote to Illarionovna briefly, and at least the doubt will be freed. Thank God that in your monastery, outwardly, it is peaceful and calm, and Fr. Ignatius, apparently, is not destined to go to Voronezh to see the saint of God Mitrofan, or the time has not yet come, or something else that we do not comprehend. The Lord always sends and arranges things that are useful for us; everything happens not without God’s permission. But may the name of the Lord be blessed in everything from now to eternity. And as His holy will pleases, so let him arrange and allow. And may the Most Merciful Lord help you, and may he protect you, and may he protect you from all the snares of the devil, and may he forgive you all your sins, voluntary and involuntary, and I, who am a great sinner, send you fatherly forgiveness and blessing. Through the prayers of the memorable departed fathers of our Theodore, Cleopas and Athanasius, may the peace of God rest upon you. Your unworthy pilgrim, the many-sinful hieroschemamonk Leo, and the one-wise brethren, we bow in thought in absentia; to the brethren of Ignatius and Fr. I testify to Macarius my all-zealous respect, and may the Merciful Lord preserve their love, grant them peace and complacent presence, and most of all a sense of obedience. At the same time, I, the most indecent one, together with my mother Melania Ivanovna, testify to you, most reverend Father Macarius, our most humble high veneration. And by asking for your favorable prayers to strengthen our weak mental and physical strength, we have the honor to congratulate you, father, on the upcoming highly solemn holiday of the Most Bright Resurrection of Christ. We wish you to meet and see him off in peace of mind and heartfelt joy. I remain your unworthy novice. Much-sinful Fr. Macarius, I bow to your dear, like-minded brothers on earth. With this, I, the most damned monk Paul, from my spiritual pleasure, testify to you, most honorable Father Macarius, my deepest reverence. I most sensitively thank you, Father, for remembering me, the most insignificant, and for the most edifying and pleasant to my soul, your attributions in letters to our Father, Fr. To Leo, as in the future I most earnestly ask you not to leave me, a sinner. May the Lord reward you for your love! Having asked your St. prayers for me, careless, I wish you the fulfillment of what the Mother of God will further arrange. And finally, with all humility, I bow to you, your fathers and your ever-wise brothers, let me express my respect. 209. Let us force ourselves to endure the temptations that come our way with hope, calling on the Lord for help. About accepting the great Angelic image. About the transition to Optina Pustyn Your Reverence, most venerable Father Isaac in the Lord, I sincerely wish you excellent health and the most spiritual salvation. Your favorable writing, sent by your love in the letter of our brother Fr. Ioannikis, I, an insignificant one, received it, and, reading it, I rejoiced in spirit that your goodwill and fatherly love, even approaching my damnation, continues. However, our most dear Father, forgive the Lord for the fact that I, the most damned, could not write to your shrine to this day as per my duty, but delayed due to my weakness and decrepitude and for various activities. You deign to write that although we grow old in years, our minds are infantile and so on. Truly this is the case, as I now see from the very experience of my life; but, nevertheless, let us be complacent and force ourselves to endure the temptations that come our way with hope, calling on the Lord for help. The Most Merciful and Greatly Gifted Lord is powerful to save us, the poor, with His ineffable mercy. In considering your beneficial long-standing desire to accept the great Angelic image, then I, young-minded, agree with your opinion and do not intend to challenge you in this. Within your local limits, such a method and convenience for perceiving it is truly not foreseen. Although in form anyone will receive in those places, the words of the venerable Anton Ivanovich to the faint-hearted hermit Anthony, asking him about his unassertive feeling in his soul: “you have no profit, but glory is good,” have not been forgotten with such words, - with which words he led the hermit into extreme despair, but then he said to him: “well, not in a sack, not in the water,” and thus their conversation ended. Yes, and you can take as an example the remark of the recently deceased Hieroschemamonk Alexy, who continued his exploits in the Alexandria Lavra and at the chambers of the Metropolitan, glorified by many, even by Metropolitan Seraphim himself. Honored with a magnificent burial, and crowned on the tomb with the admonition of the venerable Cross! But the unknown about His soul even still exists in right-thinking hearts! And how, according to your good reasoning, according to the apostolic testament, you rely on the will of God and on His almighty Providence, but at the same time, you deign to question my badness, so that I can make a question about your shrine to our most venerable abbot, Fr. builder, will he agree to accept you for cohabitation in the holy monastery entrusted to him and notify your love by letter. I spoke with our abbot, Father Builder Moses, quite a bit about you and showed you your letter, and he personally remembers you and knows you well. And when I had a date with you in 1717, he and his brother, still not tonsured, went to Kyiv on a pair of horses. Their coachman was Pavel Roslavsky, tall, a desert monk, and you are from the Korsun monastery. We drove and met along the road near Nezhin, and they stopped at the Maksakovsky Monastery just for you, and stayed there with you, and fell in love with you, and now they would like to see you with pleasure, but also to join in cohabitation. And since the current times and strictures from the supreme authorities, as well as our already advanced years and infirmities force us, albeit reluctantly, to take cautious measures on both sides, we generally advise you, based on your zeal and desire, to ask to go to Kyiv to venerate St. relics of the saints of God or for a meeting with relatives in the Kaluga and Oryol provinces and, having arrived with a passport and stayed in our monastery, having seen in practice the state of our place, the order of the church, and the community in the brotherhood, and everything that is necessary for our vital composition to strengthen our mortal body, what is used and what can be discarded due to old age and decrepitude - then you will be able to completely settle down to stay and be counted among our community and then, it seems, your movement will be co-reasonable and thorough for your approval. If, beyond your expectations, you do not like this place of residence or anything else, then, it seems, there will be an insignificant loss for you, since you will travel with us, unworthy, due to your zeal and goodwill, you will see and talk with the elders living in our monastery about the edification of spiritual feelings towards perfect wisdom and salvation. And in addition to say, having already made a decision about your long-term desire and intention, having experienced it through experience and returning with complacency and hope, putting aside all your deliberate thoughts and dreams of desert living, you will end with reproach the rest of your days in the monastery predetermined by the supreme power for you! We earnestly wish that you, uniting with us in this secluded monastery, with patience and with the help of the Almighty, would be able to carry out the feat set before you - to remain in silence and bear worthy fruits of repentance, to pacify your feelings of soul and body. It is extremely sensitive and painful to hear unpleasant incidents and events about the Valaam Monastery! But only what keeps us from unbearable sorrow is that whatever the Most Merciful Lord allows, it is all for our benefit, and we are obliged to thank the Provider of our Lord for everything! Thanks to the Greatly Gifted Lord, who gives the heart of His Eminence the Metropolitan the good feeling to love you and continue his archpastoral favor towards you... If the Lord commands your heart to accept and put into action, then may the will of the Lord be done in all of it and be done to you according to your faith. And if anything turns out to be contrary and inconsistent with your enterprises, then I ask and pray that your love will forgive my ignorance and cover it with your favor and love! I entrust myself and all those who are committed to your holy prayers, I wish you peace, health, and salvation, and all-perfect prosperity in the commandments of God. The most zealous desirer and unworthy worshiper, the many-sinful Hieroschemamonk Leo with his unanimous brethren. 210. The rank of superiors is not the cause of internal cooling. Sorrow is necessary for the cleansing of sins and the attainment of humility. The Lord pleases the narrow and sorrowful path, not the long and sorrowless one Your Reverence, Most Reverend Father Abbot Ilarius! I earnestly thank you for remembering me, a weak old man, and visiting me with your writings, devoting a particle of time from your important and difficult tasks of leading and caring for the salvation of the brethren entrusted to you in Christ. With heartfelt regret I see what you wrote about your cooling towards everything monastic, which you attribute as the reason to the rank of superior. I also see a ray of hope for consolation about you, with all my soul your desire to be released from the bonds of authority. But it extinguishes your cowardice and doubt after repentance. You are now in a struggle between these thoughts, you don’t know where to turn, you see that woe to the monk who has tasted the boss’s life, which deprives him of his good qualities. Therefore, I clearly see that you desire the salvation of the soul, but the love of the flesh and passions sway you; however, it seems that on these scales the first particle has its advantage. Judge fairly about my, perhaps, quick resolution, for towards evening the day of my life has already fallen; and you yourself, hoping in your youth to still enjoy it, are looking for and wanting my last advice: is it useful for you to leave the abbotship or continue for some time? – Ask God for God’s sake to write to you about this in a fatherly way. O beloved father and brother! Is it too hard to leave you unanswered from everywhere, I will be overcome by illness and regret for your soul, but to write the truth of the circumstances of the present times and after there may be your cowardly repentance and lamentation of me. Remembering your first love and true faith, without which you would not have questioned my badness, and at the same time, grieving in my soul about the disorder of your structure, I decided to give an answer according to your faith, seeking spiritual benefit. Remember your intention and zeal when you entered monasticism, your vow and your diligence with the care of the elders to gain salvation for your soul. If something was purchased, where is it now? Everything became impoverished. What is the reason for this? You say - rank of superiors. Exactly like St. Isaac the Syrian writes that “even if one is in poor spiritual health, one should not go into the sea of ​​the world,” and among other things that harm the soul, he also mentions the authorities. However, not the actual rank of authority, but your spiritual weakness and still unconquered passions, but the main ones: love of fame, voluptuousness and love of money, which your feelings could not meet without damaging your soul by their ferocity. And you are already without weapons and unable to resist them. There are people who pass through the authorities not only without harming themselves, but also for the benefit of their neighbors; but they are strong to stand against passions, and for the weak, so as not to perish himself and not to destroy those he cares for, what should he do? If you have a true desire for the salvation of your soul, then take advice, not from me, but from the holy fathers - true workers and teachers of monastic life. St. John Climacus writes: “By the streams of passions through which negligence rose into them, negligence must also go out through the door of covetousness; not by the power of the authorities there are no other gates except those by which it entered.” In the written book of St. Simeon the New Theologian, read the 8th Word, as it befits the leader of the verbal flock of Christ to look and torture, and again in the 26th Word, and of St. Nile the Faster “The Word of the Fast” in the “Philokalia” from the book of Nikon of Montenegro, the 8th Word from Chrysostom’s conversations on the Epistle to Titus. From the Lives of Pachomius: “As plinths, put into a river, do not endure a single day; even if the livers become fire, they remain like stone; and a man of carnal wisdom, if he cannot be kindled by the word of God according to Joseph, the authorities part with him. There are many such temptations among people; There is good for someone who knows his own measures, put aside the burden of the authorities, so as not to be harmed. Confirmation by faith and doing the Commandments of God are unshakable. For this reason: vanity, love of money and arrogance are intertwined with power.” From these you will see the importance of the dignity and understand your ability and strength with spiritual weaknesses and how you must give an answer not for yourself, but also for the souls of others. And although you hope from your youth that your life will continue, but this is unknown, you must use the present time and not lose it, given to us for repentance. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not order to delay time: “Watch and pray, for you do not know at what hour the thief will come” (Luke 12:39). I consider it necessary to remind you of our famous brother, Fr. Archimandrite Paisiya Radovetsky: he repeatedly asked my unworthy advice to leave his superiors, but, hesitating to fulfill it, moved away from this life, did not receive the desired peace in the desired silence and consideration of himself. Your cowardice and fear that repentance will follow is brought to you by an enemy who is jealous of your salvation, wanting with these tares to suppress the good seed vegetating in you and extinguish the spark that is shining in you for the desire for correction and salvation. I don’t vouch for this, as if he will bring you repentance for abandoning him, but when you put on faith in the weapon of God, then his arrows will be counted against you like a child. When you see your spiritual futility and want to get rid of it, you must prepare to be patient and endure its attacks: no matter what happens to endure the sorrowful, then we are obliged to our vows for all of it. To cleanse sins and gain humility, sorrows are necessary, which when they come, it is not without the providence and permission of God, and His help is sent down. Remember that the Lord pleases the narrow and sorrowful path, and not the long, sorrowless one. Having offered you the teachings of my fathers and my feeble-minded reasoning on this subject, I leave it to your autocracy to choose the best. When approaching this, first pray to the Most Merciful Lord, that He will arrange for you as His will pleases, and give strength and strength to your care. - When it is His will that can lead to a good dispensation and good hope for salvation. I pray to the Most Merciful Lord that He will allow you in this matter to follow true reason according to His holy will and strengthen you in temptations. 211. “Through many tribulations it is fitting for us to enter into the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). We must consider ourselves the worst and the last Most venerable and beloved brother in Christ, Father Nikolai! From your letter we see your heartfelt confusion and overwhelm. What progress do you make in the course of your obedience and even your thoughts extend to such an extent that you are ready to move to a regular monastery, where you hope to get rid of this obedience. But this, our beloved brother, what can the imams tell you to console you? With our heartfelt regret for you, let us say that we are all in troubles, sorrows and temptations, with which we acquire eternal life. It is impossible to be saved without sorrow. For according to what is written, “through many tribulations it is fitting for us to enter into the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22), but these tribulations are different: one is this, another is of a different kind; to one bodily, and to this spiritual; For some it is poverty, for some it is reproach, for others it is illness—all from obedience according to the great and wise Providence of God, according to the strength of each and according to the need for his dispensation. Truly, we sympathize with you in the sorrow of your obedience, but tell me, do you vouch for this, when you were in the monastery, would you have avoided sorrows of another kind or the judgment of your conscience for disobedience? You know that Father Superior would not have forced you to go by force and would not have pushed you at all for this, then this would have caught you more. You look to the future and are thinking about moving to a regular monastery to avoid this obedience. What do you expect, approval from a thought or opposition to it? To approve means to subject yourself subsequently to the constant criticism from you. But it is better to surrender this to your complete freedom, and so that it is consistent with the will of God. By the way, we can say something contradictory, but not forced: tell me, perhaps, do you vouch for your future not only years of life, but for days and minutes? And who knows what will happen next? If the Lord prolongs your life, you will move to a regular monastery and avoid sorrow by obedience to the collection, but can you guarantee that much more important sorrows will not meet you there, even to the point of repentance? We do not argue that salvation in every place is acquired by the mercy of God, and everywhere there are those who are saved; We do not dare to attribute holiness to ourselves or our one place, but we must consider ourselves the worst and the last of all. In our disastrous times, we see the order of the local established monasteries in disarray, which is why the internal order is in danger, and we fear that you cannot have a peaceful spirit there, and this is a great harm to the soul and inevitable sorrow. However, the lot of this obedience should not always fall on you - there are enough people in the monastery. 212. May the Lord confirm in humble submission to the abbot Most honorable son in Christ Jesus in the Spirit, Father Theodore! I received your scripture and read it to me. Thank you to the Lord God that you have been kind to your rector, Father Fr. Anthony with the utmostness of your heart and readiness to humbly follow His instructions. May the Lord confirm you in this good will and enlighten you. The money for the oats has long been ready, we will certainly send it at the first opportunity, which we hope will be soon. Having wished you peace of mind and tranquility of spirit, I remain forever longing for your salvation, the many-sinful hieroschemamonk Leonid. 213. Do not leave the monastery without a favorable reason Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Our most honorable brother in the Lord, Father Theodore Feodorovich! I wholeheartedly wish you spiritual salvation, I received your writing in due time, excuse me that due to decrepitness and weakness I do not write with my own hand and my cell secretary is sick with a fever. You write about your troubles and that you definitely want to come to us - we do not advise you to do so in advance - not only will you not receive any benefit, but, having upset Father Anthony, you will not have peace of mind. We ask you to convey your love to Father Savvaty, and in addition, I dare to remind you for which soon-to-be sacrament you are obliged to prepare yourself and not to leave the monastery without a favorable guilt, except perhaps for obedience. I entrust you to the protection of the Almighty. I ask you to testify to my most honorable respects to Father Abbot and other brothers. 214. I advise you to reproach yourself, and to pacify your brethren with a spirit of meekness. Your Reverence, most venerable Father Savvaty in the Lord! I received your letter in every order and, having read it, I accept your consciousness in my infirmities as a father. Due to my poor health, I cannot write more than these insignificant lines. I advise you not to enter into any unblessed business, to blame yourself, and to pacify the weak brethren with a spirit of meekness. I entrust you to the protection of God and ask for God’s blessing on you. I will forever remain, thirsting for your salvation, an unworthy pilgrim. 215. Maintain a good conscience; it will comfort you in difficult circumstances. Each one will either become famous or be ashamed by his own deeds Most venerable Father Savvaty in the Lord! I received your letter, in which you explained your sorrows from people leading corrupt lives, ask for guidance and consolation. Due to the weakness of my health, I cannot fully console you, but the Lord will enlighten me. Maintain a good conscience, it will comfort you in these sad circumstances and cheer your spirit; Still, take comfort in the fact that the deeds of virtue in due time are revealed in full radiance, and let the wicked be reviled, but one day even the living in heaven will laugh at them, and the Lord will mock them, and “those who trust in the Lord, like Mount Zion, will not move forever” (Ps. 125:1). For this reason, condensing this letter, I pray to the Lord, may He strengthen you against all troubles and may He admonish you to walk unfalteringly along the path of God’s commandments. Everyone will either become famous or be ashamed by their deeds. August 5, 1840 (1-?) You might be interested in: