733. Если монах не искушен во многих послушаниях, не может быть искусен и в духовном делании

The mercy of God be with you, beloved child of Christ. Rejoice in the Lord, Father K.! I received your sad letter; you grieve that you were transferred to another obedience, which has more fuss. But what should we do? the abbot has to have a more reliable person at hand, and, moreover, monastic life requires the main condition, that is, cutting off one’s will. A monk, unless he is skilled in many obediences, cannot be skilled in spiritual work. – Virtues are acquired through obedience: patience, meekness, self-reproach, knowledge of one’s weaknesses, etc. “So, brother, surrender to the will of God and the will of the abbot, and cast aside your own, and then you will see peace for your soul.” Not far from you lives a great man, a true maker of monastic covenants, Bishop Macarius. You can go to him, if he accepts, for a spiritual conversation, beg him to accept you, I am quite sure that you will receive great consolation from his stories; You can tell me what I asked, if His Eminence graciously deigns. You grieve that they are spying on you, eavesdropping on you; if your conscience is clear, then nothing will bother you; you have the main support and shield against vain slander - this is Fr. abbot, he favors you. Be careful, talk less. Try not to omit the rules. Push yourself to do good. Peace be with you. You might be interested in: