689. Какую монахиню не следует рекомендовать в начальницы

Truly Christ is Risen! Your Reverence, most honorable in the Lord Mother Abbess Leonida! I received your letter dated April 10 and thank you for congratulating me, a sinner, on the past holiday of St. Easter and for your good wishes. You ask, is it possible to recommend a nun as a superior who really wants to be an abbess and is not distinguished by a good character? But you yourself wrote that the late Metropolitan Sergius did not order you to elevate her and others like her to any higher positions. And your recommendation will serve as a reason for the elevation of the mentioned nun to the highest position of abbess. Thus, you will act against the covenant of the late saint. And besides, if, on your recommendation, she had to take the position of abbess, how would the diocesan bishop and the sisters of the monastery react to you for this recommendation? Will they thank you? Finally, the bosses won’t tolerate her for long because of her character; they’ll fire her and send her back to you with a stern warning not to recommend people like her in the future. And this nun, having become an abbess, although retired, will behave even more arrogantly, at every opportunity she will say: “I am an abbess myself.” Therefore, it is better for you to remember and fulfill the behest of Metropolitan Sergius. You also ask about one novice who really likes to go on pilgrimages and, according to your remark, is of a disapproving character, whom therefore you do not want to accept into the monastery if she leaves. - It's possible. I received your previous letter, but due to lack of time I did not answer. Asking for you and your monastery the peace and blessing of God, I remain with sincere goodwill. You might be interested in: