Admonition to the monastic brethren

Composition by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk “Admonition to the monastic brethren” begins with a reminder that the monks have entered the “narrow path” of salvation by the grace of Christ. The saint emphasizes the importance of purposefulness in spiritual work and names the main goal of monastic life - the search for salvation in the monastery. The author raises the topic of sorrows that inevitably accompany those striving for salvation. He calls to endure them patiently, and consoles the brethren with the promise of bliss for those who endure to the end. In the final part, the saint turns to the image of spiritual warfare with the devil, warning the monks against his intrigues. He points to unceasing prayer as the main means of resisting temptations, advising to combine physical labor with prayerful work. Your Reverence, Brothers in Christ! By the grace of Christ you have entered a narrow path. Stand on it and be strong, and walk along it, and you will achieve what you desire: “so run to get it,” says the Apostle (1 Cor. 9:24). You entered the monastery to seek salvation. Look for it, and don’t lose it. Blessed will you be if you find it, and wretched if you lose it. Christ the Lord says to those who are being saved: “in the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Do not run away from sorrows when they happen to you. Do not look for sorrows, but endure those that happen, and you will be blessed. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God,” says the apostle (Acts 14:22). You desire and try to be saved and receive the kingdom of God, but many sorrows will meet you. But you will be blessed if you endure them to the end: “he who endures to the end will be saved,” says the Lord (Matthew 10:22). The Holy Apostle John heard a voice from heaven about the saved, a great multitude of whom he saw in heaven, testifying like this: “these are those who came out of great tribulation,” and so on (Rev. 7:14). Therefore, be established, strengthened, and endure to the end, beloved, and you will come to that place. “I believe that I will see blessings in the land of the living. Trust in the Lord, be of good courage, and let your heart be strong, and trust in the Lord,” exhorts the Holy Spirit (Ps. 26:13–14). “Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). You can’t resist this enemy with anything other than constant prayer. So, pray always, and you will resist him. Do things with your hands and pray. So your mind and heart will be occupied, and there will be no shelter or place for the devil, and the devil will flee. Set your mind and heart in heaven and in eternity, and you will not be caught by the devil. The higher a bird flies, the safer it is, and when it comes down to the ground, it is either caught or shot. So is a person... and so on. Save yourself for Christ, and pray for me, unworthy.