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“Warfare is the life of man on earth” (see Job 7:1) - a constant war, not interrupted until the end of the world, and, to tell the truth, this whole world cannot be called peace, for in it not only creation fights against creation: verbal against wordless, wordless against wordless and wordless against verbal, but even - oh, horror! - and the creature against its Creator and Creator. The first such evil warrior was in a good place, manifested himself in the land of heaven - this is Satan with all his like-minded people. He, having become proud in his mind about the gifts freely given to him by the Creator, wished to be equal to his Creator and Benefactor and said in his heart: “I will ascend to heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God and I will sit on the mountain in the host of gods, at the edge of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isa. 14:13–14). O damned pride! The creature dares to be equal to the Creator, the one created for service plans to command the Throne of Dominion, the created one wants to sit on the Throne, on the high mountains. But the Lord, who “resists the proud” (Jas. 4:6), appointed the Archangel Michael to confront him, who humbled his pride when he cast him with all his damned army into the vale of tears, from the heights of heaven into the underworld, from a place of light into hopeless darkness. He, hardened by anger and unable to fight with the Almighty God, turned his rage on His Holy Church and, starting with the first Adam and even until the Second Adam, did not cease to destroy, captivate and torment the people of God, and only the “Second Adam, the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:47), tamed his power, freed the captives from prison and tied him himself with strong bonds, as he saw Saint John the Theologian in revelation: “And I saw an angel descending from heaven, who had the key of the abyss and a large chain in his hand. He took the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut him up, and put a seal over him, so that he would no longer deceive the nations” (Rev. 20:1-3). This is interpreted by the holy fathers as applied to Christ the Lord, who defeated the devil. However, a hard-hearted demon, even bound, does not stop his evil enterprise, but sends his slaves and saints, pagans and heretics, to fight the Church. The Divine Paul, seeing such an evil desire for war, commands us to arm ourselves: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil, because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places. For this purpose take on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and, having done everything, to stand” (Eph. 6:10–13) (1). Warfare is our life, and this war is “against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). Victory over them is a very good thing, but not easy. Good - because it brings a crown, and difficult - because the malice of our adversary is great, his strength is strong, and our nature is passionate, and our strength is weak. But do not be afraid, man, do not despair, for you have as your helper the Most Holy Virgin, the Chosen Voivode, and to Her we will write “thanksgiving.” Call on her for help, for she says: “Call Me in the day of your trouble, and I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me” (Ps. 49:15). With Her helping, you will see the enemy defeated. To confirm this truth, I will say something from Scripture: “your neck is like the pillar of David... a thousand shields hang on it - all the shields of the mighty” (Song. 4:4). What does that pillar mean if not the fortress of the Virgin for our salvation, the pillar of the fortress from the enemy? What are those shields if not protection? What are those arrows if not victory over your enemies? When the enemy attacks us, She shields us with shields. When we fight against the enemy, She adds strong arrows to us. When we weaken, She, like a pillar, supports us so that we do not fall. Having such a Voivode in battle, who would fear his enemies? Woe to those who, without Her, want to get along with their adversary. But You, Lady, do not allow Your warriors, who serve You faithfully, to remain alone in battle; You are always with them, You watch over their feats and help them. I am confident of this, looking at Your sign revealed in heaven, clothed with the sun, which then appeared when destruction was shown to all creation, as it is written: “there were lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and great hail” (Rev. 11:19), “and behold, a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun” (Rev. 12:1). Who does not know that that appeared woman foreshadowed the Blessed Virgin, on which there is much agreement among church teachers. And look: why didn’t that Woman appear before the flashes, thunders, voices, earthquakes and hail, when all the elements were still at peace, but during the very terrible confusion of heaven and earth? Therefore, to show that the Most Holy Virgin is with us in the fiercest battle, in the most evil hour, when we are fighting our adversary, when the enemy attacks us - sometimes with the brilliance of “the lust of the eyes,” sometimes with the voice of “the pride of life” (1 John 2:16), sometimes with a hail of sudden passions and countless slander, sometimes with the thunder of fears, sometimes with the shock of despair. Then She, like the sun, rises to help, so that if someone is overcome, she will establish him; if anyone is hurt, heal him. If anyone falls, he will raise him up. If someone has already died in soul, fiercely defeated in battle, but did not despair of Her help, she will resurrect him and again arm him for feat. If someone strives hard, he will be helped in battle and will prepare a reward for the feat. Yet in that time of war, so that the night of the dark region does not cover those who fight, he appears clothed in the sun, illuminating our darkness. Thus, the Chosen Victorious is always with Her Own in battle. And who will not stand up against sin, having ready help - the Blessed Virgin? Oh, Omnipotent! “Keep Your abode, in You this is faithful and monastic, in You it is established, and through You it overcomes, it is above all temptation: it captivates enemies, and obedience endures” 9 (3). Andrew of Kritsky, Great Canon, canto 9. You might be interested in: