Часть III 590

That shepherds should tremble at the rebuke of God My fathers, brothers and children. Seeing the many threats (άπειλας) 591 of God’s shepherds, I tremble, shudder and am horrified. For through Ezekiel God says the following: I have given you as a watchman to the house of Israel, and if you see the sword coming and do not tell my people, then I will require its blood at your hand (Ezek. 3:17–19, 33:2–7). Terrible condemnation for careless shepherds In the book of the same divine Ezekiel, condemning bad shepherds, He says: you did not strengthen the weak, you did not take care of the sick, and you did not return to the erring, and you did not oblige the broken, and you did not seek the lost, and you greatly offended the labor, and My sheep were scattered, not having shepherds (Ezek. 34: 4-5). Likewise, through the divinely inspired Hosea he says: Hear, O priests, and take heed, O house of Israel, because there is judgment upon you: as the guard is quick, and as the forest is spread out on Tabor (Hos. 5:1). And through the wise Zechariah he says: the shepherds of Jerusalem, who have forsaken My sheep, his arm will wither, and his right eye will become blind (Hos. 11:17), and further: rise up to the sword against the shepherd, and I will bring My hand against the shepherds (Hos. 13:7). And in general, it would be long at the present time to cite and collect similar sayings of various prophets. But even without this, it is clear that terrible condemnation is given to that shepherd who does not reprove, does not forbid, does not plead (2 Tim. 4:2), does not inspire, does not compel and does not wound the fallen with the edge of the word. Integrity belongs to God alone Therefore, my brothers and children, arise, according to the word of the Lord, let us go from here (John 14:31), let us approach, as the Holy Scripture says, to the holy mountains (Hebrews 12:22), let us rise spiritually from the land of passions, let us rise, as into heaven, to the heights of virtues, let us soar together with the Angels, let us shine, like the stars, with the commandments of the Lord. Star from star, according to the divine apostle, differs in glory: there is one glory for the sun, and another glory for the moon (1 Cor. 15:41). Let us also glorify ourselves before God and people. Enriched by the commandments and never achieving complete perfection in them, we will become heirs of God (Gal. 4:7), joint heirs with Christ. It is a great merit, my sincere brothers, if we maintain ourselves in complete order, in a perfect life. Let us desire what only God wants, and reject what He abhors. Let us not appear as unreasonable slaves, just as we will not turn out to be evil in relation to our comrades, so as not to suffer punishment for this, according to the Gospel. Let us not hide our talents, lest we hear: it will be taken away from you and given to another (Matt. 21:43); Divine gifts are passed on to others if you possess them in an unworthy manner. For why did you even accept it? Have you also accepted that you boasted as if it were not accepted? (1 Cor. 4:7). This applies to the word of consolation, and to brotherly admonition, and to reading, and to any other special gift. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:2). Don’t hurt each other, don’t hurt each other, don’t excite each other with different harmful things. Let your brother's success make you happy. And if passion overtakes you, then overcome it by doing the opposite. For one must rejoice in success. Do not delight in your heart and do not be arrogant over each other because you have the gift of speech, that you are smart, that you know how to write beautifully, I will no longer talk about purely external advantages - that you are beautiful, have a good voice, tall, long beard. The mystery of our death is already happening (2 Thess. 2:7) daily, and we will go in the way of our fathers, and who then will be worthy to say: the prince of this world is coming and will find nothing in Me (John 14:30)? But I would like to say then that He will find in us only a little and a small part: we all sin, since integrity belongs to God alone. In these, it is said, understand (1 Tim. 4:15), and I will add: work in these, contemplate on these, both when you go to bed and when you rise, so that you may receive an unfading crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8) in Christ Jesus our Lord. To Him is due all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About cleansing yourself through repentance from dishonest passions and avoiding the words “yours” and “mine” 592 My fathers, brothers and children. What are these teachings that I, humble, tell you? Or what special great thing am I doing by announcing to you? Isn’t that what I was put in place for? Isn’t this why I was chosen by you? Isn’t that why God made me a guard (may He forgive me this blasphemy)? True, I am unworthy, I am dark, I am inexperienced, but with all my insignificant strength I strive to constantly bring you food and nourish your precious souls. And since I was appointed for this purpose, then I need to preach the gospel to you, threaten, prohibit, remind and do everything else to guide you for the better. Therefore, let us not appear hard-hearted, disobedient, stubborn and disobedient, but let us accept, soften, bow down and meet halfway every counsel of God and every pious deed. There are already several people among you to whom such a word applies, but not many. Why don’t we all want to rise up and, having sobered up from the deep sleep of negligence, see the light of knowledge and desire the pleasure of eternal life? Why don’t we, as the apostle teaches, put to death the evils that are on earth, fornication, uncleanness (Col. 3:5) and all lust, and become churches of the Living God, chosen vessels in which dwell the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Why don’t we strictly observe – both in deed and in word – the monastic order of life, so as not to allow shamelessness, not to laugh, to avoid bad deeds, not to grumble, not to rise above our neighbors, not to boast, saying that I once was this and that, I had such and such? Let us be Angels on earth and luminaries among brotherhood, providing and receiving mutual benefit from each other, becoming wiser and wiser, teaching and learning, and generally serving each other as rule and law. How long will the demon of idle talk possess us, how long will the seducer of disobedience lead us? How long will our heart be exalted, vainglorious in small and insignificant things, pricking our brother with the art of reading, expressiveness, understanding of what we read, beautiful conversation, dexterity, etc.? I know that you, remembering my own shortcomings, will laugh in response to this and perhaps say: “You, who say not to commit adultery, commit adultery yourself (Rom. 2:22), forbidding others to look, you yourself look; doctor, be healed yourself (Luke 4:23).” But, children, I myself, along with you, am aware of all this, I mourn my depravity, I weep about my destruction and the waste of time, and also about the fact that I love the devil so much, and not God, that I plunge into the darkness of passions, and do not run to the Sun of righteousness (see Mal. 4:2). For what is better and what is higher than the living God, the light of virtues, spiritual purity, the radiance of the spirit and the elevation of thought to grief? All this is desirable for me, although I do not have it - I want to remain in this, but I cannot have those qualities through which I can achieve this. I do not discover that I really achieved tenderness, bright prayer, cleansing tears, that my soul clung to the commandment of God, that I followed the immaculate path of His commandments, that I stepped on snakes and scorpions (see Luke 10:19) - manifold passions, walking in righteousness along the apostolic path, that I perfected and sanctified every member of mine to the glory of God, so that my tongue has become an instrument of God, my heart has become a temple of the Holy Spirit, that my eyes see God and that my thoughts have become heavenly thoughts. On the contrary, I am now in great danger and in a state leading to destruction. But come, children, listen to me (Ps. 33:12), let us embrace the fear of God, and give each other our right hands for mutual salvation. Let no one be left behind, otherwise he will be cast out of this life ahead of schedule. While we are still in the flesh, while the time of our stay here remains, while prayers, petitions, tears and repentance are still possible, let us hasten, let us achieve (1 Cor. 9:24) so ​​that every adornment of ours turns out to be despised for us, every carnal thought is cast down, all our desires are mortified, every aspiration is directed towards good, we break off all ties with carnal relatives. Therefore, we will not henceforth express ourselves: “My brother, or my sister, or my child, even my father, cousin, uncle, nephew, friend, neighbor, my allotment, share, my fortune, etc.” It happened once, but now it has passed, now there is another life, another birth, another life. That is why, in such cases, you usually add the words: “When I was in the world” (av τω κόσμω). Expressed this way, we say that we are above the world (imzq τον κόσμον). Monasticism: another life, another birth, another life You may ridicule me for this. But I declare to you my heartfelt thoughts and declare the justifications of God and the commandments of the saints. I have no sorrow for the laity’s ridicule of me, nor for the jokes of our companions. I have a Guardian, one Approver and a Reprover is terrible to me, I look to Him. He is not a prince, not a king, like kings over many people, but God, one Ruler, one Lord over lords, one God above gods, wise, all-wise, immortal, eternal, Judge, Tester, ruling over all flesh and power. But enough about all this. May God Himself, through the prayers of my father and yours, guide you to what is pleasing to Him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen 593. About firmly and cheerfully imitating the lives of the holy fathers Brothers and fathers. It should be that, having heard the word of salvation twice or thrice, we no longer need other announcements. But since our nature is receptive to sin and our enemy wages war incessantly, I need to preach incessantly, and you not only listen, but also implement what is said. And I thank you for doing this. For I see that some of you have changed your bad habits and softened your stony heart, like wax, which is sealed with the written commandments of the Lord. If the Lord God, through the prayers of my and your father, does not allow me to finally fall into the abyss of destruction, then I, to the best of my ability, will continue the work of my abbot, and I am sure that you will flow even more successfully, faster, even more perfectly loving and vigilant over your success to the highest. For this, children, remember the days of old (Ps. 143:5), as well as our fathers, and do not arrange your life in the image of those who now live in negligence. What was life like for the fathers? You have read and heard that all their love was directed towards God, their spirit, enlightened by prayers directed towards heaven, was completely pure from the world and everything worldly. They, further, had an insatiable desire to dwell in the heavenly, the reflection of angelic visions, the depth of an incomprehensible contemplation of material and spiritual creations. While in this, the ascetics rejoiced: they considered hunger a luxurious meal, thirst a sweet drink, and vigil a pleasant rest. They knew no limits in obedience and humility, for they imitated Him who humbled Himself for them to the point of death, death on the cross (Phil. 2:8). Therefore, humbling themselves, they ascended; without collecting money, they ruled; being exposed to suffering, they found pleasure in it. We should not, brethren, defend ourselves by saying that this piously lived race was different in comparison with us and that times were different then, and that now the race is weak, fragile and corrupted. That that clan was different compared to ours, and I readily admit this. But he was different not because times were different then or because the special care of the Lord was manifested then, Who (as they unjustly say) loved people more then, but now does not; for, thinking about God in this way, we attribute passion to Him and assimilate changeability and inconstancy to Him. This is not true, for the Lord remains unchanged through endless ages, and the sun shines equally from the day it was created until the final re-creation of the world. And our nature, according to its laws, has not undergone changes. After all, what is a person? Still a rational animal, mortal, capable of receiving reason and knowledge 594. All that happened to people was that they desired and strived for other things. For why did the first man, created by God, created before others and inheriting leadership and power, not preserve himself in the splendor of Divine gifts out of obedience to Him who gave the commandment? Yes, recklessness is the reason for this. It spewed him out, and after him Cain, but not Abel. Enoch showed fidelity to the law to those calling on the Lord (Gen. 4:26), but Lamech, on the contrary, was overthrown by lawlessness. Let us remember Enoch, who was transfigured (Gen. 5:24), about Noah, who remained from the ancient world, about his three sons, two of whom were pleasing to God, and the third was cursed. Let's also read about the crafty creators of the tower, as well as how after many generations Abraham shone... Then we bring to memory the sacred twelve patriarchs, the glorious Joseph and those who followed him: the God-speaking Moses and his successor, outstanding judges, kings, God-seers-prophets... 595 On remembering judgment after the exodus of the soul My fathers, brothers and children. This announcement is a subject of general benefit, since I have to examine and discuss what serves to understand and proclaim the law, and, on the other hand, for you, who listen and study what is worthy of study, it is, as I believe, a guide to salvation. After all, as far as Divinely inspired Scripture is concerned, you are sufficiently aware of this, but you, however, still need our poor word. That’s why I remind you (albeit not enough and to the smallest extent), encourage, urge, exhort, declare, threaten. When I become imbued with jealousy, I very strongly desire to completely direct my mind, thought, and speech towards the enlightenment of your souls, although I myself am in complete darkness. So, my children, do not put off doing things from day to day in order to present yourself pleasing to God, do not put off until tomorrow and do not put off the time favorable for correction. After all, as it is written, we do not know what the day will bring forth (Proverbs 27:1). Let us always be ready for death, for the hour of exodus, because we do not have much time to live; Let us not be careless about our very transition [from this life], no matter what kind it may be, under the pretext that it is not clearly presented to us, although it is explained by many fathers. For who, being in darkness, will comprehend the amazing sight of the Angels? Daniel, the man of desires (Dan. 9:23), saw him and, although he was a prophet, became completely weak and almost lifeless, as can be seen from his words (Dan. 8:18, 27; cf. 10:8, 9, 17). And then, what will we, in the end, present in our justification before God and the Judge of all during that terrible and terrible state when we begin to be judged in all our affairs? After all, this should come first. And who can endure the day of His coming? – asks one prophet (Mal. 3:2). And Isaiah, in turn, says: behold, the Lord comes, and everyone’s work is in His hands (Isaiah 40:10), and He will raise an earthquake on all nations with the sound of the Archangel’s trumpet, and before Him we will appear naked and open. So, knowing this and reflecting on it, let us not, brethren, soon sin, although I myself constantly slip. And if we fall, we will rise faster. In fact, who, having the opportunity to understand this, will then love pleasure or indulge in effeminacy, be filled with arrogance or become angry because of vanity, disobey or be filled with contempt, separate from the brotherhood, do nothing, sleep a lot, gluttony, be impudent or indulge in laughter, speak empty speeches and generally do anything else that is forbidden? Wouldn’t it be more typical for him to be imbued with inner contrition, to cry and lament, to pray and warm his heart with love for God, to be humble and obedient, to work for himself and bear the labors of others, to be silent and to fulfill the requirements of discipline, to be kind towards everyone and completely helpful. I am telling you this not as those who do not know, but as those who know well. And those who do this, let them continue to follow the good path, and you, who do not do this, will set out [on this path] later - in your time. After all, through the monastic image we have been rewarded with a great gift, freed from all sin. Let us not offend grace, lest what follows falls on our heads. We are considered and known by people as great and holy; let us walk holy and pious, let us each turn away from our own vice and make a good change in ourselves. After all, the day of renewal is always possible if we wish; It is not in vain that we read what the divine Paul teaches: for those who are not hearers of the law are righteous before God, but those who do the law, [these] will be justified (Rom. 2:13). I know that you also have some concealments, since some people have found on their beds something that does not belong to them - food supplies and items for general purposes, including a needle and a writing cane, given without permission or blessing. And in general, one hears things about you that are not considered fair even among the laity. What from here? And the fact that even a small thing can receive the meaning of a great thing, but he who admits this will hear that neither the covetous, nor the thieves with others will inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:10). Regarding one [guilt], I warn you about the others as well. And the small can become the meaning of the great So, my children, have mercy, have mercy on your souls, fear the example of the eagle caught by the talon, because because of this insignificant part he was completely caught in the net. Well, don't you have everything? Don't you have the necessary things, or food, drink, clothing? Isn’t my miserable soul also at your service? Why do you separate yourself from what belongs to you? May the Lord and God Jesus Christ bring all those who have deviated to the knowledge of the truth. Let everyone be an example of piety Therefore, all of you, be of good cheer, first of all you, my child of stewardship, and strive at a certain time in order to receive your reward, for you know from the Apostle that no one is married unless he has been tortured legally (2 Tim. 2:5). In the same way, you, protopresbyter, who occupies the place of my humility, show by your example a life pleasing to God, being an example of piety, and then the presbyters, deacons and all who have received the lot of monastic official service, each individually also let them be an example of piety. Stay awake, cellarer, because your reward is great if you serve well and without any injustice, evaluate everything, give and receive offerings from everyone, answer and listen, care and trouble, spend and acquire what is necessary. What should a monk's clothing be like? Observe more carefully, vestiary, when you manage the clothes of the brotherhood, like royal purple, and do not believe that they are worthless rags, but recognize that the clothes of sacred men are also sacred. Our Lord Jesus Christ chose for himself poor and insignificant clothes, and the praise of the fathers were those clothes that were sewn from many and different scraps. Don't you know what one of the fathers says about this? The monk's dress should be one that, after lying abandoned on the road for three days, was not picked up by anyone. May the Lord grant you to preserve what you hear. And you, ostarius [gatekeeper], see to it that your word is intelligible, accurate and intelligent, and express it to everyone who comes, sometimes subtly, sometimes simply, sometimes at length. And when you open the entrance on certain days, no word or answer should be conveyed to the brethren on behalf of the coming relatives according to the flesh, because this could cause harm, but you walk back and forth, like a guard, now communicating what is necessary, now remaining silent. Be strong too, cook, because your service is very difficult and dishonorable, but you have a reward higher than calligraphers and readers. But so that I do not spread my word further by mentioning each [of the officials] individually, all of you are vigilant together in labor for the sake of one good and live like the bees of Christ, bringing your beautiful deeds, like pleasant and free fruit, to the Lord for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, for to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Obedience must be constantly celebrated My fathers, brothers and children. You are truly worthy of glorification and blessed by the Lord, having withdrawn from the world, having loved God more than your parents, having loved heavenly things above earthly things, having separated yourself from brothers and relatives, having turned to the Son of God, having left the fatherland, worldly duties, trade activities, cities, worldly worries, worries and everything earthly and temporary, characteristic of vanity, and having chosen life together with the Angels, a good life, much glorified and holy, directed towards a single goal in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who will not praise you? The prophet in ancient times said the following: blessed is he who has a tribe in Zion and tribes in Jerusalem (Isa. 31:9). And the divine David, chanting the greatness and high dignity of our communication, exclaimed: behold, what is good, or what is good, but the brethren live together (Ps. 132:1). In your present situation, you do not strive for anything other than to please God, to achieve the first dignity of the primordial Adam, to become like the Angels and to become the sons of God. You overthrow the devil, fight passions, resist pleasures, and thus have exploits, labors, and at the same time rewards, as being tested in the crucible, as not free from dangers in the field of competitions and insulted in the lists. But you know that in another life there is consolation prepared for you in the eternal rewards of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. According to the word of the prophet, you will leap there like bulls from the loosening of bonds (Mal. 4:2), and then you will remain in eternal joy, according to the word of the Lord: and no one will take your joy from you (John 16:22). So, you have thought about what is proper and about what concerns you. Look to the light of truth, distinguishing good from evil and bitter from sweet. Of course, the kings, if only it were possible for [them] to fully understand [the meaning of monasticism], would flow to him, leaving their royal crowns, as some have already done, while the rulers, throwing off their shiny gold and precious clothes, would put on your rags, which God preferred above purple and fine linen. In the same way, soldiers, instead of enduring hardships from bad weather, winter, cold, frost, thirst, travel and removal from their homeland, after the dangers to which their lives may have been exposed due to attacks with arrows and swords and due to defeat from like-minded people, would put aside their helmets, shields and military weapons, take up the cross of the Lord in their place and follow it with us. In this way, everyone could put to death the truly cruel and hostile devil and his destructive hordes. I will also say about the inconveniences of those who got married. They, being reborn, serve decay when they give birth to children, feed them and raise them, get married and undergo misfortunes during their constant labors for the sake of their body and for their descendants and, finally, they see that those dearest to them, after many labors and hardships, die and perish: under such conditions, before death was ready to separate them, they themselves would prefer to have communion with God. Since virginity reigned in paradise before the Fall, as proved by Christ, the second Adam, born of the Virgin, peace and the word of grace call to it. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. And these, says the apostle, He foreknew, and He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29), of course, not according to our works, but according to His good love for mankind. Thus, you too, according to the incomprehensible definitions of His wisdom, are brought by His Economy into the host of saints and are recorded as the inheritance of the righteous, because you, along with others, are truly called and live as true Christians. Be careful not to deviate from the calling to which God has called you, do not insult the benefits of His great gifts, for the sake of which we must endure and endure everything in the hope of His assistance in our eternal salvation. Reflect also on how we can keep the pledge of virginity for God, observe how you can preserve unchanged all His life-giving commandments, remaining in the fear of God, improving in obedience, indulging in abstinence, putting on humility, enjoying the world, engaging in labor and everything that generally serves as a justification for our venerable activity. Pray for me, the unfortunate one, so that, through your prayers, God will guide me and you without wandering and enlighten you spiritually in Christ Himself, our Lord, to whom be glory and honor and worship, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. About what should not be exalted either by birth or wealth My fathers, brothers and children. Since you, making up God’s planting, were born for spiritual fruitfulness, then I have the responsibility, night and day, to carry out the cultivation necessary for you and then irrigate and cut off, then prune and cleanse, so that you become a well-grown vineyard, bearing the abundant fruit of the Spirit. But alas for me, since I do not belong to the number of such experienced cultivators that I could preserve the vineyard given to me in accordance with the will of the Lord Christ, although I have always and now, to the best of my ability, try to fulfill this. I carefully observe and become despondent about the course of your life, how varied it is and how varied it goes. After all, you do not all display the same morals and do not all engage in the same activities; You are not guided by the same foundation and rule, but, according to your outward appearance, you have very large and spiritual differences. One of you needs prohibition, another needs punishment, and another needs simpler food; one submits more to a firm word, the other is offended by condescending speech; I also think that not all of you benefit from being slighted and shamed. And so I must punish one, encourage another, upset another. The work is great, and the strength is completely small, but the help of God and the prayer of the father will help in such a great matter. I take a lot of care and inspiration, reflect and imagine the ways of my activity, think again and again get down to business, [in order to find out] how each of you individually manifests in every deed, movement and desire what is hidden inside a person: after all, for all this on the day of Judgment I will give an account, and I must announce and present each of you in full, properly and completely diligently, without any shortcomings or deviations. That is why I cry bitterly and despair in my pitiful soul. And you, of whom I am speaking, may consider my words unfair, but this will be evidenced by deeds. Meanwhile, while I am lamenting, you laugh and shake your head as you listen, do not care about the task entrusted to you, and carefreely walk here and there, object and talk idlely, for it is said: what good is it in my blood if I always go into decay? (Ps. 29:10). Not so, children, no, I ask you, but it’s better that you all agree with me. For I will not cease to proclaim to you the justification of God and to say that I am clean from the blood of you all (Acts 20:26). But I will not remain silent, I will not shy away, although I am an unworthy person and did not shy away from telling you the truth God's. Whatever task someone is assigned to, he should take care of himself accordingly. You are appointed to work, so work, man of God, diligently, for Christ sees your work and accepts it. Take care of items that are useful to you in your assigned task; After all, it also happens that you ruin the tools for work and laughingly go for forgiveness, pointing out your repentance. Do you see the absence of fear [of God] in the soul and contempt? But it doesn't have to be that way. You are assigned to a specific task. Why do you transgress and violate the limits that your fathers set (cf. Proverbs 22:28)? The divine word says to you: everyone in the calling in which he was called, let him abide in it (1 Cor. 7:20). See how you hinder those who, being dependent on you, honestly, wisely and diligently understand what needs to be done. In general, for people devoted to spiritual affairs, everything is mutually intertwined, so that if one fails, the other also falls. You are appointed to buy the items necessary for the monastery: take care, brother, do not do this unreasonably, so as not to cause loss to the brotherhood. The cellarer must watch every grain, and the cook must not burn wood in vain. In the same way, let him who occupies second place after me not give anything thoughtlessly, but let him remember that he, as God’s steward, will have to give an account to God and the Judge on the day of retribution. And in general, let no one neglect anything that is available in the brotherhood, let no one seek anything beyond his dignity, whether he is sick, or intending to go on a journey, or tired of labor, or in need of shoes, clothes, a doll, or anything else. One says: “These shoes don’t fit my feet - they squeeze and cause me a little pain; give me this one, father.” The other, pushing forward, says: “Kir-economist, my shoes are too tight, is it possible for me to change them to other shoes, even if under duress?” Meanwhile, the third, also expressing the need for something similar, notes: “What I have is not entirely convenient for me.” Another says again: “If I don’t have such felt, or a pillow, or a cleanly washed change [of linen], then I will not stop [demanding].” And another says: “Wine sets the teeth on edge, cooked food is not salted” or: “Why is one thing not bought and another not given out...”. Don't you all who speak like this fear God? Tell me, where can we get gold and silver with which we can buy all this? Is it not from your fatherly inheritance? And you weren't sad when I said this? But perhaps you need to take all this from what you brought when you renounced the world, or from royal and similar income? Of course, [you know] how little comes from this source and from any other Christ-loving man. Moreover, brethren, the reserves have been exhausted and there is little left for the future. And so my heart is broken, as well as that of the steward and all the trustees [of the monastery]. Meanwhile, others smile as if they have a whole measure [modius] of gold. There is such an error in assessing the situation, and yet you are indignant. Oh, if only you did not have the complete error inherent in you and knew all this, at least some of you! I am not telling you to slander. But [tell me], unfortunate one: what you had before was not enough only for you to live or breathe air? Don't you remember the burden of your sins, which the Lord has dissipated or will dispel if you begin to live well? Are you asking me for proof? Some had not drunk wine at all before, and if sometimes they did, it was very little; now, when they have to drink water, they notice the difference in the wine. Once upon a time, patients did not use medical help at all and did not even have the opportunity to see a doctor, but now they strive to make a choice [of the doctor], and when he appears, they refuse [his help]. Alas, what arrogance! “Once upon a time I didn’t have bad shoes or clothes,” you say, “but now I don’t want to encounter any difficulty in this. In the past, I was often insulted and even beaten, but now, if any of the brothers offend me, I become cruel.” And I'm not even talking about everything that happens every day, but you can understand a lot from a little. Do not be surprised, children, if I depicted all this on my own behalf, but I did this so that they would not think more about themselves than they should think. And why are you inflated with self-importance like a bubble? “Because,” he says, “I was born from such and such a person, I come from such and such a family, and on my mother’s side I belong to such and such a family, and I had this much plethora of land, estates and various other property; My food was delicious and my clothes were very beautiful and the finest.” You talk about this like a senseless and unreasonable person. Avoid even saying it with your lips. You have been granted great goodness in that you have received liberation from everything that you previously used to your detriment, because you lived in debauchery. Think better about where you have come, and also about the fact that you are made up of the same nature as others. There is one Father for all; first of all - God, and then my humility, but you are all brothers and fellows. If you were not like this, you would not have been born of the Spirit and would not have become children of God and me, unworthy, but would have remained in the life of the flesh. But let there be nothing of the kind here, by the grace of Christ. So this is said so that we can be careful. I have copious tears every time I think about what God’s will is, and I try to do everything. Be silent and observe where you are, where I am leading you and where I will place you. If your brother is higher than you, who [in your opinion] is equal to you or loves to have fun, eat and drink, then regarding him you should not demand an account from either us or God. Forgive me, children, if I speak badly, but if I speak well, then agree with me, assist, encourage on your part. What else do I have left? And from the very first hour you all go [to work] together, but don’t make it so that everyone goes to work separately. May you have no lack in your physical life so that you do not put pressure on me. I am not saying, if you want, that you will sell me, since this is not typical for you. This is how I ramble... But I say this with sorrow, so that you can work together so that we do not fall into difficulty. May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ help you not only to listen, but also to fulfill, so that we may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus Himself, our Lord. To Him is due all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. On true devotion to the abbot Fathers, brothers and children. Your brotherhood is embraced, organized and guided by some Divine power. This happens, on the one hand, thanks to the prayers of my and your father, and on the other, thanks to your personal love for God, as well as your perfect renunciation from the world with all your heart and soul and inextricable union with Christ, because otherwise, as I constantly remind you, neither my bad life, nor my ignorant instructions, nor any of my other qualities can so unite you. Anciently, God, for the sake of His servant Moses, promised not to blot out the people of Israel from the book of the living (see Deut. 9:14). With us, the situation is the other way around: for your sake, the Lord, perhaps, will not expel or cast me out from among his servants. For what do you notice in me that should serve as a sign of a virtuous life? I have neither spiritual purity, nor decent customs, nor temperance, nor restraint in speech, nor pious behavior, nor any other usually extolled qualities. Further, my hair is not gray, my old age is not respectable, I have no experience in governing. I’m also talking about external properties, but inside me there are many thoughts and deeds that defile and pollute my soul. But despite all this, you remember that I want you to be saved. My heart burns for you, I constantly work and am busy with this. If, because of this unworthiness of mine, you treat me with distrust, then this will pose a considerable danger to you. Sincere devotion to the abbot is the basis of a solid life The Lord Himself begs you through me, the humble one, so that you close your eyes to the harm that comes to you from me, the bad one, and acquire the faith that strengthens your hearts, thanks to which everyone who stands stands and everyone who boasts of confidence in his strength boasts. For she, this sincere devotion to the abbot, for the obedient is the foundation of a solid life, and on this foundation, as on gold, or silver, or precious stones (see 1 Cor. 3:12), he builds the commandments of the Lord. Even if he doesn’t have anything like that yet, but only one foundation, then later he will rush to erect a luxurious building on it. Without faith, whatever a person does is in vain. For, as it is said, everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). For such a person, the darkness that happens in the abbot seems like light, and he considers the bitterness flowing from him as sweetness. And how, on the contrary, of course (even if I didn’t even bother talking about it), how bright is the eye of one who is loyal to the abbot! How he is free from concern and decisive in relation to every matter and subject, since in the goal of the abbot he has a standard for correct judgment, in his soul he constantly feels peace and sweetness, he is all directed toward God, through humility he is all changed for good and all is filled with God’s grace, gradually ascending through the love of God to the heights of virtue. Although I submitted to my father, I have not yet reached such a degree, but from the inspired fathers, as well as from other people in this generation, I heard what this matter is, it is known to those of you who have experienced it. There are a lot of you, and my outer eyes (for my inner eye is vigilant) do not have time to see you all all the time - each of you wants to stand with me in the closest relationship. For I know very well that you are connected with me, the humble one, by bonds of love. But it is impossible for you to show this, you are trying in every possible way to see me, but circumstances and time do not allow this. Do not think, my children, that my love for you has suffered any damage, do not allow sad thoughts that I have changed my feelings towards you. I am the same, I have not changed, I still love each of you dearly and continue to see you and talk with you at the appropriate time. It is unpleasant for you that I am now somewhat inaccessible to you; you want me to be with you constantly. In madness I tell you: remember that, although I have returned to my former homeland, I will not allow myself to be captivated by either family ties or friendship, I do not enter the houses of the authorities, I have no desire to go to the royal palace and dine with the royal family. Even if I wanted to, I could not do it, for I voluntarily rejected all this and preferred only you to this, with whom I have life and death, glory and dishonor, joy and sorrow, pleasure and poverty, inheritance and deprivation, earth and heaven and the upcoming salvation of your immortal souls. The highest talent is non-envy Although you, further, often have to see how one or another receives some position, or distinction, or power, or honor, or becomes close, but all this is only external and has no relation to the internal. For often the one who is not even thought about, but who has acquired special love and special devotion, is higher than those people. Even if they received distinction or rank, so what of it? Each of them is your brother, a dedicated member to you. If you wish, then you too can acquire the highest talent and the most important quality - non-envy, which pleases God, the Angels, and people. Not everyone can be an eye in order to occupy a prominent position, and not everyone can be a right hand in order to lead and manage affairs. Every task is carried out with appropriate techniques and experience. Rejoice in each other's differences: let each one appropriate for himself the honor that falls to his neighbor. Under this condition, we will not have any disputes, no envy and no other destructive passions, but with the help of God, we, spending the remaining days and hours of our captivity well, will be able to leave prison to freedom, from labor to rest and from temporary life to eternal immortality in Christ our Lord. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About renunciation from worldly connections and achieving the Kingdom of Heaven My fathers, children and brothers. I do not close my eyes, on the contrary, I recognize and agree that you, possessing souls fruitful for virtue, despite my weak teachings and careless life, with your own strength bring fruit to God and day after day you move towards what I am drawing you to with my announcements, namely - one to obedience, the other to diligence, some to zeal in obedience, some to strictness in decorum, some to speed, without delay, attend psalmody. One, having shaken off laziness, soon rises to vigil, another, confessing the secrets of his heart, threw off shame, another flared up with loyalty to me, the humble one, and his soul clung to me by cutting off all carnal ties. Further, one, leaving a passionate life, ascended with his thoughts and became my eye among the brotherhood, the other stopped idle talk, opened his lips and, belching (Ps. 44:2) useful speeches, attracted the Holy Spirit to himself. Among all the indicated persons, some moved forward, others overtook, and some, who stood on the last step or came later than the others, advanced very highly, for, it is said, the last will be first, and the first will be last (Matthew 20:16). After all, this is not an ordinary human matter where envy tries to hinder and push away the successful from primacy. Our road is smooth and comfortable; whoever wishes to follow it will not find any obstacle on it. Therefore, my children and brothers, be careful that you may comprehend (1 Cor. 9:24), encouraging each other to run faster in your spiritual life. Remember that a crown awaits the winner, a reward for those who complete the journey, and a distinction for those who do not fall. Who reaps the field and receives the bread? Who picks the grapes and presses the wine? Are they not those who sow and those who plant vines... Therefore, do not be deprived of moisture and do not dry out from the lack of tears, tenderness and fear of God, since otherwise you will neither drink spiritual wine nor eat living and immortal bread (see John 6). Although I myself am deprived of all this, I still exhort you, children, to continue to plow the spiritual arable land and sow not on the thorns of passions, [but on the good soil], and also to plant a vine abundant in fruits, so that in this way you can obtain a supply for the future life. May envy fall among you and love increase, may zeal, self-control, love of silence, and purity of mind flourish. Let everyone be concerned about the benefit of his neighbor. Concern for the benefit of your neighbor If any of you studies something or memorizes something, you, brother, rejoice in this, for you yourself do it, if only you adhere to the right way of thinking. Whether someone is strong in dialectics, in the ability to express himself concisely, or someone goes ahead, is placed among the highest persons, shows useful activity, has become the first - you rejoice that your member has been honored, so that, otherwise, you will not be struck by the arrow of malice. If someone sings well, then you sing, if someone writes or draws beautifully, then you do it. The gift of silence is your virtue; let the ability of a reader to make long, chanted speeches with his voice tune your soul with joy. Even if someone takes advantage of a relaxation in their lifestyle, do not reproach him for it and do not pay attention to the carnal, for this is allowed either for the sake of a weaker physique, or for the special diligence he has shown, or for some other reason. And where did you come from, such a researcher? Can clay, says the apostle, say to the potter: Why did you create me like this? (Rom. 9:20–21). Or can an animal say to its driver: “Why have you put such a burden on me?” Likewise, you do not have the right to engage in the proceedings of the above matter. Keep an eye on only one thing - to fulfill your obedience and so that your observers can see it. But woe is me: in admonishing you, I should first condemn myself. Nevertheless, I will not stop my unreasonable instructions: perhaps, my most honest children, some small benefit will come from this. Salvation is a great thing and worthy of much wonder. If we do not completely alienate ourselves from the world and begin to live on earth as in heaven, then, forgive me for my stupidity and ignorance, we will not see the heavenly light. Although this word is difficult and strict, it is true. If we, clothed in the holy image, begin to complain about him, then what can the laity do after that? I say this not for the purpose of reproof, but so that the careless will think about it. Are you rejoicing that you left Sodom and Gomorrah and fled to Mount Zoar? All you have to do now is not to look back, for this is your proper end. Therefore, let us rejoice and rejoice spiritually, for the Lord lives and blessed is God, our heart is lifted up, we - if we only wish to take advantage of this - are on the good path: we will not go back for the sake of worldly sweetness and sinful desires, so that for the sake of food or drinks, shoes and our other everyday needs, we will destroy and pervert the truth. I myself am already condemned and I foresee that my reward will be only one coming fire. I ask you, do not fall away from your path, but try, through your good life here, to extend your hand to me. Grant me, most sacred ones, your holy prayers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Dedicated to proving that community life is the highest form of asceticism 597 About constant love for abbots My heart was troubled within me, fear and trembling came upon me (Ps. 54:5-6), when I see that your society is multiplying due to the daily additions of persons sent by God and arriving at this monastery. And who will gird my weakness with spiritual strength, so that I can exercise power and rule over you in a saving way? Or who will cleanse my heart from the passions that have settled in it, so that I, illuminated by Divine grace, enlighten you with the light of knowledge and direct you to the right path of God’s commandments? And this, as has been said many times, torments my soul, crushes my bones and does not allow me to be at peace at all. Therefore, I grieve from the depths of my heart, I cry out to the Lord my God. Often I shed hot tears from the depths of my heart so that His bounties hasten to our aid and intercession. And now I see that here are such [ascetics] who, according to the word of the prophet, could fly like clouds (Isa. 60:8), if only they could find someone who could give wings to their souls; others, as the prophet again says, would lie among you on the ground like honest stones (Zech. 9:16), if they were at the disposal of an experienced builder. What good do you not see? Do you not commit martyrdom every day through your ascetic obedience? Are you not clean by confessing your sins to God and us? Doesn’t your heart burn with love for my unworthiness for the sake of the fear of God? Is not my soul in your souls? And I love and am loved, I am in communication and accepted into communication, I care and serve as an object of care. Therefore, one might say, I am content with just contemplating you and do not want to see any other face. And with you, I have more holidays and celebrations, joy, peace and a happy life than with the bearers of royal crowns and the organizers of magnificent meals. I have neither father nor mother, nor relatives and brothers, just as you have none, except God and a spiritual father. I'm not even talking about relatives in the flesh. So, if we are firm and diligent, we will inherit from the rewarder God the crowns of incorruption and we will be accepted into our midst by the host of saints. Here penances were appointed, and you, as lovers of virtue, zealously accepted them and holyly achieved what was due. And looking at you, how nobly you behaved when you were subjected to penances, I glorify God who strengthens you and honor you as those who achieve salvation. This is said regarding those who are more diligent. But there are also some who live carefree lives. May the fear of God touch them, so that they too may flow beautifully along with all those who are praised. After all, obedience, as it is written, also includes the good that it does not reflect on success and does not notice improvement. At the same time, you remain in humility, although great effort is manifested on your part and sanctifying grace emanates from your members. And you become performers of deeds and signs. I don’t know why the laity flock to the current stylites. If they had observed well, they would have left all of them [the pillars] and gone to you to ask for your prayers. Finally, who among you does not strive for more? Who walks more diligently? Who performs more severe feats every day? Who looks at anything other than God alone and our humility? Who appreciates everything and loves everything you do, and does not think at all about what concerns the flesh? This one is already here having fun with the Angels. And some are even imitators of such your exploits. But John also came before Peter (John 20:4), and Paul came later, yielding first in his calling. And everyone who wants to be humble among you stands above the rest. There are many things I would like to talk about, but neither I am able nor time allows. I remind you of this just a little. You, having the covenants of the Spirit within you, concentrate yourself and compete with each other. Be your guides also in my failure, so that we, having labored admirably during these few days, may reach the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Regarding the end of Pentecost My brothers and fathers. We have already reached the very end of the post, for, as you can see, it is ending. The sacred writings teach us that in ancient times all our blessed fathers, who spent their lives in solitude near the holy city, gathered at that time in it. But since they reached the heights of virtue, they usually brought to our generous and full of every good Master and God the greatest deeds of piety and gifts of the Spirit. But, of course, you brought with you a lot of quite worthy things. One (to boast of your deeds, I will speak as if about myself, for the honor of a son goes back to the face of the father 598) brought the first and main of the virtues - love, another - divine humility, a third - Christ-like obedience, another - diligence and tirelessness in prayer and psalmody, another - diligence and order in manual work. I also have some praise for the following: limiting inappropriate joy, eliminating untimely dates, moving in the right direction, prudence in mutual treatment and responses. I’m not even talking about aversion to insolence, about banishing verbosity, about abstaining from overeating, about avoiding long sleep, about concern for prayer, and finally, I don’t even mention what should be called the first of our blessings - the blessed and martyr’s cutting off of our own will, which alone, as a true sacrifice, is required of us by the Lord. The True Sacrifice Required by the Lord Each individual deed from those that I have listed is a beautiful and sacred offering, and I dare to say that none of you appeared before God empty (Deut. 16:16), as it is written, but each brought something beautiful in himself, except for me, the humble one. For on this basis of your asceticism you have created gold, silver and precious stones, that is, such deeds that will not burn during the test in the future eternal fire and are not subject to the opposite, easily destroyed fate. The divine apostle himself, touching on the latter, says: if anyone edifies on the basis of this... wood, hay, reeds and the like (1 Cor. 3:12). Doesn’t this latter include love of sins, service to passions, slander, love of enmity, partisanship, unity, contempt for others, and other similar things? Fire Test Materials Since for these few days you have been in possession of the deeds I praise, we will not destroy them, brothers, and we will not give them up, I ask and implore you, even during the upcoming change. Let time change, let the day change, as you please and in accordance with the Divine will, but you will remain in My love, as the Lord says (John 15:9), and remain unchanged. It is better to say even higher - be in a good change, always change beautifully, igniting from a small spark of improvement to a flame, changing from a star to the moon, and then from the moon to the sun. And then do not stop in your flow and do not turn to the delights of the world, which give pleasure for a short time, but torment forever, which pass like a dream, but are punished like an act, which are subject to testing and reward before the court of virtue, are conquered by pious people, and for those living according to the flesh are invincible and insurmountable. The delights of the world: pass like a dream, but are punished like an act Who can give me the word so that I can proclaim for your sacred ear that heartfelt speech that I have pondered in my humble soul, so that I myself can ascend to God and more boldly bring you closer to Him with me? And then be prudent yourselves, learning and admonishing one another. But my word again concerns the previous subject, although I have deviated a little... Following the same rule that prevailed in your state in previous days, we will thus first celebrate the holiday of Vaiy, open the entrance to the monastery, allow the stay of those who have come here, look at them, enter into communication and begin a conversation with whomever of the various persons it may be, but mainly about our monastic affairs. May everything be accomplished among us for the glory of God, so that all who see may say this, according to the word of the divine Apostle: God is in them (1 Cor. 14:25). If it becomes necessary to allow one to leave the monastery - this will probably be for many reasons - then the same should be observed. Thus, in a godly manner, we will celebrate the great and holy Easter, conformed to the sufferings of the Lord and illuminated by the light of the resurrection, in Christ Himself, our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the All-Holy Father and His Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. About the need to strive for a new, more perfect birth The Mystery of the Nativity of Christ My fathers, brothers and children. Through your prayers, I have already recovered from my illness, but in order not to harm myself again, I do not attend all-night vigils and have not considered it possible until now to speak before you with a conversation. But you, having your mind enlightened by prayer, which constantly happens to you, also by listening to divine readings and, of course, by psalmody at every hour, announced yourself and taught, carried in your hearts the words and ways of pleasing God. But now the time has come for the Nativity of our Christ. And who is worthy of true communion with this sacrament? Suddenly the lamp of purity shone, for the Lord was born of a Virgin. The sun of humility has shone, for the Creator of all and the Word of the beginningless Father is placed in a wordless manger. The luminary of love shines, for through his love for mankind, the King of all is contemplated by the Mother of God as a breastfeeding Child, is the subject of malice, is subjected to exile, endures and experiences everything else in order to again save the creation that He created, which fell through disobedience. So, participation in the sacrament is, according to what has been said, nothing more than imitation, as far as it is possible for a person. What kind of person should one want to have fellowship with Christ? Therefore, anyone who wants to have communion with Christ must, firstly, be blameless, secondly, humble in wisdom, then - a creator of love: being insulted, he himself is not capable of insulting, tolerates and does not threaten, covers everything, endures everything, has neither the envy of Herod, nor the soul-destroying passion, nor the Jewish unbelief and conceit. So, it’s Christmas time, beloved children. It is possible for us, through change, to be reborn to a life more pleasing to God. If, as a result of carelessness, you became careless and lazy and indulged in bodily aspirations, and counteracted and resisted your spiritual exploits, secretly enslaved to sin and, as it were, died in vice, then be reborn again through the perception of the fear of God and reflection on the upcoming Last Judgment, come to the region of light, increase your beautiful age and strive to become like Christ, driving away bad thoughts from yourself, as the Lord drove out from church of the merchants (John 2:15). Then in this way you will receive the gift of wisdom and understanding and, following this path to a more perfect one, you will be worthy of overthrowing the tempter the devil himself; afterward you may be led to judgment, subjected to blows as if with a cane (see Matt. 27:30), that is, in various ways encountered every day in the brotherhood, after which you can undergo beheading, as it were, with swords and crucifixion, and, finally, through death itself you can achieve the complete cutting off and mortification of your own aspirations and desires. What does it mean to be crucified with Christ and die with Him? This means being crucified with Christ and dying with Him. And he who was crucified with Christ will rise with Him; he who suffered with Christ will reign with Him forever and ever. Therefore, it means that you, too, will enjoy the benefits observed for you if you remain in due constancy and with full readiness begin to follow the path leading to God, rejecting all deviations from it. But some of you are susceptible to corruption. May the Lord God call them to the measure [of perfection], so that no one will be deprived of the Kingdom of Heaven. Beware of noisy habits, gather in the same place, but quietly, talk, but not much. And it should be okay, pleasant, appropriate and useful. Let everyone know his purpose: if he is not a tongue, let him be silent; if he is a hand, let him work; if he is a leg, let him walk; if he is sick, let him serve as an object of care; and if he has recovered, let him get up and serve. No one should drink or eat before dinner, no one should drink wine, no one should worry about himself, according to the apostle, everyone should be friends (Phil. 2:4). But some people do it wrong; whereas many must go to work outside the monastery and the cellarers, as a result, might have less difficulty, the cooks might not have the same worries, and the housekeepers would not have much worries and reports, in reality, the opposite happens: the housekeeper does not have time to rest, answering first one or the other, the cellarer is the same, the cook is surrounded by a crowd, the managers of the classes are looking for and do not find their co-workers. Oh, let this not happen in future, so that heavy penances do not befall those who do such things. Beware that fire does not come down from heaven, and this fire is not the kind you see, it is not kindled with wood, but it affects the soul. And what will and will happen from this, ignorant people like me know. But I will gather and surround, hold and embrace all of you, so that God will not be angry, especially at the time when we live in this city. May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself give you the spirit of zeal, the spirit of vigor, heavenly aspiration, spiritual zeal and fatherly care, may He enlighten you with the light of knowledge and may He save you for His Heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. About Divine fear and keeping the commandments Brothers and fathers. Since I, although unworthily, have been assigned to you as to the vineyard of the Lord, I am obliged almost every day not only to look after it, but also (oh, if only I could do this in my weakness!) to water and cleanse it by watering and digging through the word. The farmer rejoices when he sees that the vine is growing well. I also rejoice when I notice that one of you bears fruit. Blessed, therefore, is the fruitful branch, thickly covered with spiritual tassels, which exude the wine of tenderness and gladden, firstly, God, and then also me, the humble one. For it is about her that God exclaims through David: these are the grapes that My right hand has planted (Ps. 79:16). A barren vine and deprived of the juice of good deeds is worthy of a curse, and if it falls, then, without a doubt, it will hear from above, as if from the face of God Himself, the words once spoken through the prophet Moses: their rod is from Gomorrah; their clusters are clusters of gall, their clusters of sorrow (Deut. 32:32). God forbid that these words be fulfilled on any of us. For, according to the Gospel, a terrible punishment threatens such a person, as the Evangelist John conveys: every branch that does not produce fruit is taken away and thrown into fire, of course eternal (John 15:2, 6). By the grace of Christ, in this God-planted vineyard I have vines of various varieties: some of them bear golden clusters, while others bear blue ones. A first-class vine, along with a sweet deed, also has an attractive appearance through the salting of God’s word. A different kind of vine casts the dark blue color of deep humility. Both are equally useful and equally worthy of God’s gifts. One vine abounds in fruit and multiplies its shoots: it is he who makes one addition [of virtues] after another. And the other is so strong, tall and nourished by the Spirit that cuttings can be taken from her for grafting other vines: this is the one who, having established himself, at the same time benefits his neighbors when he notices and sees that one of them is falling or suffering from the attacks of the devil. Then there are dry vines, devoid of feeling: they do not show competition to each other. You - since you are animated and planted by God - compete with each other, grow and bear fruit together, so that none of you, as has been said, turns out to be barren, but use the divine earth and try to give as many grapes as possible, if not many varieties, then at least the grapes of at least one virtue. I use images, metaphors, allegories and other figures not in excess: although I cannot speak with skillful literary speech, it is useful to insert what I can, rather than completely deprive the speech of it. For one of the inspired fathers says that it is not the one who cannot do it who is guilty, but the one who does not want to do this 599. Therefore, I would very much like, with my insignificant instructions, to build you a ladder from earth to heaven, so that you can ascend and reach the very heights of the highest virtues and contemplate the depth of the heart, the perishability of the shell of this body, the impermanence and fluidity of human life and the vanity and unreliability of human affairs. I would like, further, in my own words, to transfer you from there to the heavenly world and show you the indescribable, terrible and wondrous blessings prepared for you, which cannot be described, counted, or explained. Finally, I would like to place you before the face of the Living God, the Creator of all creation, the Lord of everything, and show you what kind of country there is, what is the heritage of the inhabitants there, what is eternal peace, endless joy, constant rejoicing, insatiable immortality, dwelling with Angels, eternal festive celebration and communion with God along with all the saints 600, so that, immersed in all this, you will be enlightened and by feeding on it, you avoided all evil deeds and so that the eternal good prepared for you would be the only sweetness for you, and the perishing pleasures here, on the contrary, would be bitterness. May your hearts continue to receive the warmth of the Holy Spirit: take the path of piety together, shake off the weight of laziness, so that after such a long run you will not somehow stumble. Likewise, by moving lazily and bumping into each other, do not cause some to fall away. I myself am behind everyone and lie, roll around, but, according to your prayers, I rise in my arms, walk with you foot in foot, but I cannot say to myself that I am walking ahead of you. If we walk the narrow and cramped path, then we will then enter the wide and spacious Kingdom of Heaven. Further, if we do not give up the rough and difficult path, we will receive eternal peace. And thirdly, if we obey the commandments, we will be saved and glorified both in this and in the next age in Christ our God, to Him be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About the rigor of life and not being guided by your mind My fathers, brothers and children. My gift of words is not sufficient to express my thoughts. For I have many of them, but the word, being meager, only partially and to an insignificant extent conveys them. However, despite this, I will not allow myself to stop in front of this difficulty, I will not neglect the fulfillment of the important responsibility that lies with me, but I will try and encourage myself to do what I can. In addition, I know that you yourself, as understanding people and already accustomed to instructions, will be satisfied with little and will add a lot to it on your own. Glory of the Studite Monastery Therefore, children, let us [raise] the eye of our mind! I remind you of the glorious words of the famous blessed father: “Arseny, why did you withdraw from the world?” 601 Let us not cease, children, to reflect, explore and understand what we left and came here for. Of course, in order to gain God, inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and become sons of the Most High, so that we will no longer be flesh and blood, which will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (1 Cor. 15:50), but in order to become completely godlike 602 and spiritual (άλλ᾿ Ό᾿λοι ΰεοειΜς και πνευματικοί ). Father, says the Lord, and do not call your mother to earth: for one is your Father and Teacher (Matthew 23:9-10). I say this so that we do not remember and are not upset when we are told that my father, or my mother, or my relative is so famous. The Lord has called you with a holy calling. Let us remain, my beloved brethren, in His heavenly calling. You have established yourself, strengthened yourself, matured and become white as snow with your angelic and pure life. I dare to say that with your wonderful life and zeal, following the example of the fathers and ancient ascetics, you serve as luminaries in the royal city 603 [Constantinople] not only for the laity, but also for your comrades in the holy image. Many glorify you, and for those who hear about you and for those who see you, you are in the present generation some kind of new gathering, a special society. This work is not of my hands, it was done thanks to your sincere desire for God, as well as the holy prayer and assistance of my and your father 604. That is why you picked up the cross of the Lord and followed Him without any frivolity or pretense: you were not divided between Him and the world, but you lifted everything up and dedicated it to the Spirit, united and agreed with me, insignificant, and with each other, like one bone with another or with a whole body, and you all have one soul, as well as one will 605. Saving middle path So, children, fight your good fight, finish your course (2 Tim. 4:7), courageously enduring the hardships that happen, rejoicing and being comforted by the expected blessings. From outside and from within we will be blown and attacked by many evil winds 606 . For from the soul, it is said, come evil thoughts, adultery, fornication (Matthew 15:19), murder, and so on. Let us set the sails of our soul to sail in a favorable wind, but not to be carried away to destruction. The rocks and pitfalls are not only ignorance, but also the secret not revealed in confession. Beware with all your might of the dangerous places indicated to you earlier, where it is easy to bump into something and die. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left, but follow the middle and royal path. On the one hand, let us not be lazy towards good, moving towards it with slow steps, and on the other hand, let us not, in reckless ardor, run further from the middle path, seeking for ourselves paths even more to the right than the right; Let us also not strive to appear better than others, to be wounded by pride, so that then, for our own wit, we will inherit the prophetic: woe to you (Isa. 5:8). Therefore, O man (1 Tim. 6:11), avoid both errors; Having an eye, do not try to look in a different direction; when acquiring a leader, do not try to get ahead of yourself. For both will equally lead you into the abyss of destruction. Telling you, children, and instructing you is my duty, but for you it serves as a means to affirmation, if only you treat my words with attention. Don’t say to each other that “here is our idle talker talking idlely and tormenting us with frequent teachings, constantly repeating the same thing.” I will not cease in timely and untimely reproaches, begging, forbidding, admonishing (2 Tim. 4:2) and, perhaps, in this way, until my death, fulfilling my apostolic duty, turning away from myself, as far as possible, the terrible punishment for silence. I am firmly convinced that you will prosper greatly: the good among you will become even better, those who lie down will rise, and thus, all of you, leading a good life, will be saved in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About the Last and Inevitable Judgment, and also about not grumbling Children and fathers. Who will open my weak lips to proclaim the truth, so that I can worthily proclaim your spiritual and sensory hearing about God, His holy commandments and justifications? Who will gird me, weak, with strength, so that I can be properly inspired and compete with you, and at the same time also anoint you for the struggle of piety and for ascetic running? These questions cause me great fear, because I want to do all this, but I do not have the strength due to the fact that the eye of my soul is dark and I am engulfed in many and varied sins. For whoever, it is said, declares the mighty powers of the Lord, will all His praises be heard? (Ps. 105:2). After all, Who brought all heaven, earth and sea from non-existence into existence? How does He, in His providence, control the whole world through His ineffable and invisible destinies? In what glory did He place us in ancient times, and how then did He again raise those who had fallen from it to their former state with even greater splendor? Reflections on Death and Judgment What mystery of death does He bring upon us? How does He lead us from this life to the life above? Let's imagine all this, brothers. Let us remind ourselves of the extraordinary journey after the separation of the soul from the body. Let us remember the terrible vision of the Angels then, as well as what the life and situation of the next century will be like. What will we see there? Who will we talk to then? Where and in what places will we be placed? And even before this, how will we, in the presence of all the heavenly Powers and everything from the creation of the world of breath, appear before the terrible and terrible judgment seat of the Lord and Judge in order to give an answer for all our deeds? Thus, I will see God, stand before the Creator and Creator of all things, and answer to Him who has the power of all flesh (John 17:2). But where will I get the strength for this? Where will I get the strength or courage for this? Alas, my children! I will reveal to you what I am experiencing when I think about it all: when I am a little, even for one brief moment, freed from the bonds of sin and lift my darkened mind to heaven, then I am filled with trembling, horror and tears. Oh, if at that hour someone would dig a hole, put me there and bury me there for my many iniquities! But having felt this for a moment, I then change again, again return to a passionate life, make friends with the passions and disturb my soul - both the excitement of the passions and the terrible storms of sin circle and plunge me into the abyss of my many evils. Give me your hand, pull me towards you and let's run together again, as if we had just started doing this. Let us run: one in perfect, without any reasoning, obedience, another in continuous patience, some in Christ-like humility, some in a complete examination of thoughts reaching to the very roots, some in the drinking of contrition, some in grace-filled and cleansing tears, some in brotherly love free from envy, some in some talent received from God, some in the work of teaching, some - in teaching psalmody, some - serving as an example for others in their deeds, and in general, everyone, if possible, we will assimilate everything and share our gifts with each other, although one will turn out to be a brighter star, and the other, on the contrary, a dimmer one. Since the nights have become longer, after Matins, whoever can study, let him study, whoever can verse, let him verse, and also who can pray, let him pray, whoever can bow, let him bow, only with attention. I say this not only for the sake of benefit, but also so that in a dream after Matins you will avoid demonic obsessions. After such exercises, you can go to bed. Let no one seek his own things at all (1 Cor. 10:24) and let no one have his own personal aspirations, since by this he removes himself from the most blessed obedience. It is necessary to issue and receive books in such a way that this matter is pleasing to God: the issuer should not do his job with annoyance, laziness and rudeness, just as the recipient should not grumble and with anger and bickering demand one thing or another. For for you, wretched man, it is enough that you, without bringing anything with you, receive what is given by God; Be careful that you do not suffer the condemnation of the evil servant for this (see Matt. 25:26). In strict obedience, especially to the housekeeper and assistant housekeeper, there should be no excuses: I can’t, it’s not suitable for me, I don’t have the strength, even if the one who declared this was telling the truth. Statements about this must be made with extreme self-deprecation and in polite terms. Before God and his chosen Angels, I confirm that only those in need (for the Kingdom of Heaven requires effort to achieve it - Matt. 11:12) and those who constrain themselves properly (because the path is narrow and straitened - Matt. 7:14) will pass from death to life (John 5:24), from corruption to incorruption, from darkness to light, from slavery to fatherly sonship, from ignominy - to glory, from adversity - to abundant life, from fasting - to pleasure, from non-covetousness and purity - to the immortality and all-bliss of the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ our Lord, to Him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Praise for the active wisdom of the uneducated brothers My fathers, brothers and children. How great is the gift of God, how quickly God’s help comes, and how healing this medicine is for our mental health! As soon as we start talking about salvation, the benefits from it are already close; salvation is easy and the means for this are easily obtained. For as soon as we start talking about this at the present time, we will not be transported anywhere and to what areas! From earth to heaven, from passionate life to the most spiritual life. Therefore, let us not treat this matter carelessly, let us not prefer any other conversations to talking about it, let us not allow ourselves to think that, apart from constant study of this subject, apart from diligent study, research into it, diligence in it, apart from discussing it, scouting, questioning and talking about it, there is any other way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Ask, it is said, your father, and your elders will tell you, and tell you (Deut. 32:7); and also: seek the Lord, and your soul shall live ( Amos 5:4 ); and again: I sought the Lord, and heard me (Ps. 33:5); and finally, the Lord and God Himself tells us: seek and you will find; push, and the opening will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7). So, my children and brothers, let us, with your permission, briefly remember our initial life in paradise and our expulsion from there, or our fate in the next century: both are equally good. You know well, of course, how forefather Adam was expelled. What was the reason for this? Pride and insolence towards God, the Giver of existence and life Himself. He did not abide in the commandment given to him, but allowed greedy eyes to deceive his soul - and, only thinking as a result of the wickedness of his wife, and mainly as a result of the deception on the part of the serpent, about the beauty and pleasantness of the fruit, he fell from the light and contemplation connected with it, became darkened and saw dark things (Rom. 13:12), he knew and he himself was known. Moral and ascetic lesson from the history of the Fall As a result, they began to be ashamed of each other. Thus, bitter pleasure and disobedience drove him out of paradise and forced him to lead a sorrowful and sorrowful life. Therefore, brethren, let us avoid his transgression, lest we too find ourselves in similar bonds. Let us not allow ourselves to be carried away by all sorts of lures conducive to sweetness as a result of images both arising in your soul and coming from external feelings. Although something we see may seem beautiful and pleasant to us, in reality it is not so, for when we taste it, it will produce for us the same thing that it once did for Adam, that is, death and corruption of condemnation. He listened to the serpent’s whisperer, but we will now try not to obey the thought that aggravates us and the nasty demon. He explained to them: if you take away a day from him, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods (Gen. 3:5). The serpent repeats the same thing to us when he says that if you fulfill this or that desire, you will taste such and such pleasure and such and such joy and will rest from painful abstinence. But whoever obeys this will be deceived in his hopes, lose everything he has, and become alien to God. And we, children, will we not tolerate the same thing if we do not understand his devices (2 Cor. 2:11) and deceptions? Disagree with the devil Therefore, no matter how he calls us, no matter what he says, no matter how he raises such thoughts in our souls, we will drive him as far away from us as possible. For in the same way he tries to cast us out of divine and great virginity - from the paradise of God’s commandments, as well as from the God-given and angelic image, in order to cast us into the underworld and settle us in the villages of Kedar (Ps. 119:5). Therefore, our thoughts must be stable - we will in no way open the door or any access to the enemy. Try with all your might to fulfill all the commandments Let us not, children, enter into conversation with him, but when the author of sin rises up against us, we will silently and humbly think about the Lord, as if he were not at all, sealing ourselves with the invincible weapon of the cross, using the God-inspired Scriptures to firmly protect our salvation, daily succeeding and constantly improving in various directions, never finding complete satisfaction in this, never resting on one or another of our success and not considering it a big deal that we are superior to one or the other, but trying with all our might to fulfill all the commandments. This is our good deed, this is our good gain, laudable ascent, perfect work, holy share, unperishable enrichment, guarantee of future inheritance, treasure of eternal blessings. Let us hasten, my children, let us hasten a little more, let us rush forward, quicken our pace, let us stand up for each other, protect each other, help each other, uncomplainingly remaining in the service to which one is assigned, and devoting our labors to God. He who does this adheres to the correct way of thinking, he is all-blessed, and who is not better or more wonderful than him! Only such a person is truly noble, he is even higher than all nobility, more glorious than all kings, higher than all principalities and powers, more precious even than the whole world, even if he was completely uneducated, came from poor parents, or even was from a foreign tribe - a barbarian or a Scythian. Therefore, in the future, there is no point in us raising our eyes high, boasting about our ancestors or previous riches, glory and luxurious life, for we have only one thing we are looking for - so that everyone, no matter who he is, will acquire the fear of God and fulfill His commandments. And I, a sinner, may I be worthy, at least with brother Jonah, or with brother Martinian, or also with Silouan, to share their fate and may I appear here wise, active and good. I have nothing else to think about. This, children, I told you a small announcement about one subject, next week I will tell you about another, although, admittedly, not in the proper form and not in the way required by the dignity of the subject, but I only strive to ensure that you have a subject for spiritual and useful conversations among yourself. May our Lord and God, Mighty and Mighty, strengthen and establish your hearts and thoughts so that, along with listening, you also do what you hear, so that, having been justified, we may find a part in the ranks of the saints, in the Kingdom of Heaven, in Christ our God Himself. To Him be glory and power with the Originless Father and the Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About imitating the lives of our fathers and not getting bored in asceticism 607 Fleetingness and joylessness of worldly pleasures Brothers and fathers. Our God is so good that, having entrusted us with the work of mutual salvation, he will grant you and me, insignificant, some reward for this. I speak and you listen; you work, and I encourage you; so I suppose that I am in some way working with you. Such is the Lord’s love for mankind: He gives both me and you the same rewards. Therefore, rejoice and rejoice, rejoice, be glad, flow, conquer the deceptions of the world, try to have your thoughts rush upward, soaring there and imagining ineffable glory. The commandments are a source of true pleasure Remember, my children, that every difficulty in asceticism that you overcome for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven is nothing. Compared to eternal peace, sorrow and cramped conditions are a fleeting nuisance, like a dream. Having judged good, we, by the power of Him who called us into His Heavenly Kingdom, good, and departed [from the world]; Let us continue to live in the same good way, gradually acquiring success and learning from various temptations to avoid the dominion of what is difficult. After all, how many times have we experienced worldly sweets, and yet absolutely nothing remains of them; how many times have we filled our belly and satisfied our appetite, and yet we have no residue from this satiety; on the contrary, we then only had heaviness in our body. If we plunged into shameful thoughts, we cursed ourselves, receiving sorrow instead of pleasure; indulged in sleep and reduced themselves to the level of animals, but then, on reflection, rejected all this; Having laughed, we then cried. And in general, a person has no joy from pleasure. If we want perfect pleasures and joys, then we will keep the commandments: for an experienced person this is an inexhaustible pleasure that brings the fruit of righteousness (Phil. 1:11; Heb. 12:1). Listen to me, children and brothers, listen to me. Let us not slumber in our souls, let us not spend our days in laziness or waste time on trifles, for the hour is coming, and now it is already (John 5:25), the hour of our repose. God is already sending an Angel to us: having taken our souls, where will he then go with them and where will he send them? Really, when we think about this, don’t we shudder, really, when we imagine this, don’t we feel horrified? Thinking about this, the saints cared about the present matter, and the most blessed martyrs joyfully gave up their bodies to be cut, their members to be cut off and their bones to be crushed, truly becoming a disgrace to the world, both angel and man (1 Cor. 4:9), and through this they received crowns. And our reverend fathers and all-holy monks (παυαγιοι μουαχοι) labored, turning away from the body as from an enemy, finding pleasure in hunger, warmth in cold and complete abundance in deprivation. They were not bound by love for their parents, nor distracted by their tender love for their children, nor stopped by their affection for their brothers; Neither gold, nor silver, nor beautiful clothes, nor food that inflames and excites the body were desired for them. They drank and dressed only in order to live, they appeared disembodied in life and in this way already acquired immortality here. Behold, children, I ask you, being wounded by jealousy towards them, we will suffer, be in poverty, endure strangulation, hunger, thirst, endure heat, reproach, reproach and ridicule and all other sorrows, so as not to lose the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, let the gardener endure his daily labors and burdens, because his crown is already approaching 608. In the same way, let the cook stand by his fire cooking food for the peace of the brotherhood and let him not have any displeasure for this, for his reward is before him. Further, let the cellarer, in the same way, give everyone in a thoughtful manner everything that is required, without getting angry at the burdens that happen to him, and for this his reward will be eternal life. And let the hospital worker also shed his blood in observing and serving the sick; for this he himself will never die. And in general, let everyone be careful about their work, be it physical or spiritual, for for this everyone will receive a rich reward in heaven (Matthew 5:12) in Christ our Lord. To him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About not despising everything here and on earth, as well as about the lives of the saints who came before us My fathers, brothers and children. I am sick in soul, trembling and horrified - I want you to be saved, so that you do not turn away from your good goal, so that, due to my sins, you do not destroy what you have created on the pious foundation of your asceticism, but so that you improve more and more... 609 like the great lawmaker Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David and the entire prophetic face, as well as those who lived in grace and were saved through grace and truth, as well as improvement according to the Holy Gospel. And how many were there? First, the holy and blessed apostles, the most blessed and valiant martyrs, our all-venerable fathers. And the seed of those who please God has not failed in any way, up to the present time. Who understands the mind of the Lord? Or who will be His adviser? (Rom. 11:34). One is the judgment of God, and the other is the judgment of man. Who knows how many virtuous people appear before God even among this evil and corrupt generation (cf. Matthew 17:17)? For one thing is the judgment of God, and another is the judgment of man 610. You remember the famous good and glorious man, you also know the seller of vegetables, the ever-memorable man of God and the famous hospitality of the monks, how much he, as was openly revealed, turned out to be superior to the brother who was separated from him, who led a monastic and hermit life 611. Monks and laity, living in hostels and hermits, hermits and those staying in cities, I will also add, commanders and subordinates, kings and lords, bishops and priests, elders and servants of the Lord and all other ranks serve God night and day, and in heaven a great, unprecedented and boundless feat is being accomplished: some rise, others fall, those help each other, and these are carried away by their neighbors [into temptation]. I tell you all this so that you firmly remember that you need to strive valiantly, be divinely inspired, strive for love and service to the Lord God. Do not, children, treat with contempt my insignificant admonitions - my mental and physical defilement and sin, as well as my careless and imperfect treatment and speech, my lethargy, laziness, carelessness, drowsiness, procrastination and generally shortcomings in all virtues... 612 You and I live equally for the sake of only one thing - so that we can achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. Away from us is property, and money, and monasteries, and monasteries, and buildings, and buildings, vegetable gardens, orchards, fields, vineyards and everything else that we have on earth. We should not have any talk about this, for we have already renounced and abandoned everything for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. At the present time I am telling you all this for the purpose of exhortation, as the One God who knows the secret knows, with sorrow and contrition of heart. I will continue to talk about the same things as long as I live, since in this way I fulfill my duty in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About the wickedness of the devil, how to avoid his shackles Human strength alone is not enough to resist demons Brothers and fathers. Besides my bad deeds, my insignificant soul has only one more thing to do - this is the success of your life and your improvement. This is my joy and crown, my triumph and pleasure. For I believe that since you flow well, then God will save me along with you. Therefore, I pray to the Lord of glory Himself, that He, out of His inexpressible love for mankind, would touch your honest souls and kindle in them, as in ancient times for Israel, a cloudy pillar of fire, in order to pass through the desert of this life, so that He would send you bread that nourishes the inner man. Oh, that I, your accursed provider of food, would be worthy to be such in reality and to share for you with the rod of Divine power the sea boiling with wild and varied passions, so that, having brought you out of it and drowned your godless enemies, I would bring you a land of dispassion, settling in which you could eat honey and milk, the sweetness that flows to the purest souls from virtue! The strength of human nature alone is not sufficient to resist demonic attacks. This also requires a good mood and determination, born from a contrite heart and a humble soul. Enmity of the devil: a thought hidden by the bait of desire So let us acquire it, beloved brethren, let us stand under the strong hand (see 1 Pet. 5:6) of the omnipotent God and we will daily gain His mercy, clinging to Him. Truly a great feat: the serpent is overcome with difficulty. Great are the sorrows that arise from him. He does not sleep at night, does not eat during the day, no care torments him; with all his strength he is awake, plotting, heading and rushing against our God-assembled regiment in order to shake some unstable soul that is honored by the image of God and to which, under the condition of observing the commandment, is promised the indescribable joy of repose in the next century. Based on what I myself have experienced, or what I have heard, or what I have learned from others, I understand its tricks, reveal them to you as those who do not know, and report them to people who are not familiar with it. He is the instigator of sin: he casts, like a fishing rod, a thought covered with the bait of desire. You, children, do not be foolish about this, like the fish, but, as the apostle said, not without understanding his thoughts (2 Cor. 2:11) and without being deceived by appearances, we will drive him away and in this way make his efforts to blind us in vain - he will then fail and go away crying. His lures are as follows: to whom he offers envy, to whom he offers gloom from despondency, to whom he offers a passionate desire to move to another place, to whom he offers a fall from pride, or all this together, trying with all his might to lure a person into the trap of death. Let us therefore be reasonable and, having at the right hand of our souls the One good and merciful Lord for us, we will avoid him [the enemy]. Let not anger rule over us, which should be directed against the serpent alone, just as the fire of lust should not at all kindle our hearts to what is shameful and what should not be, but, adorned in meekness with the beauty of dispassion, be gentle and love one another. Be kind and love each other Let's live a little more, and you will be called blessed, let's run, let's run a little more, and we will soon reach the heavenly city - but what kind? It shines with golden walls and the brilliance of immortality more than any pearls and precious stones. Its pillars are established on the stronghold of faith, brilliant and shining abodes in it emit rays of eternal life. What word is able to depict the miraculous and God-created palace of virgin souls? What will be that ever-flowing and living water of rest, the God-blessed bowels of Abraham, the divine paradise planted in incorruption and guarded by the Seraphim, and, finally, the very Kingdom of Heaven, which is called and recognized as incomprehensible? So, constantly imagining this city in our minds with the power of our thoughts - although we, being here on earth, are still far from it - contemplating it and being excited by its true beauties, let us cheerfully complete the work of travel, not stop flowing and will walk the path as if we do not feel it. This is quite possible, and every reasonable person will understand how the joy of wondrous contemplations distracts the mind and the ardent expectation of the fulfillment of hope reduces work. A sumptuous meal for spiritual pleasure Try to make these insignificant and meager instructions of mine as beneficial to you as possible. Especially listen and assimilate the divinely spoken sayings of the Gospels, Apostles, Prophets, as well as the divinely inspired fathers. Before you is a sumptuous meal for spiritual pleasure. Let us be filled with it abundantly, for this is true delight and good life forever. Whatever task you are assigned to, children, help in it and work patiently, walk, eat, drink; Whether you do any other work, do everything with brotherly love, sympathizing and helping each other, so that, thanks to your unanimity, the name of God will be glorified in everything. I know that you are reasonable people, good-minded, sincere, quiet, believe me, a sinner - let us all together, in view of one common goal, follow the path of the commandments, so that, having achieved eternal life, freed from everything here and emerging, as it were, from prison into freedom, we may reign with our incorruptible and only wise God (Jude 1:25). To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. About keeping the commandments of God before the end of our life comes Brothers and fathers. Constantly striving for benefit, I again take up the usual announcements, despite the fact that I am both worthless and vile before God and people. But what should I tell you? How can I teach you? How can we perfect you in One Spirit and One Heart, you who are true members of the head of Christ, our true God? In view of this, I constantly pray and ask that His grace may dwell in you, so that you may become chosen vessels, prepared for every good work. But alas for me, my children (John 13:33), alas for me, that I, unworthy, dared to ascend to this high level of authority over you and do not have enough strength for that great power. God, the knower of the heart, sees, I am not pretending, but telling the truth: I see your brotherhood, I see your whole life, I comprehend the inputs and outputs of your thoughts and actions, I notice mental illnesses, all sorts of various shortcomings in the spiritual and physical life of each of you individually, I see the constant growth of the herd, I understand how I should take care of the unsteady, how I should extend my hand to those who are falling, and in general, how I should take care of each of you. you, and as a result I am lost in my helplessness. I have no medicine or any medical remedy, I have not acquired any bandages, I have not learned how to make medicinal drinks, but the sick need it, need demands it, and I cannot even express how much I suffer. As a result, when I hear or see how some brother is negligent, lazy, disobedient, idle, sleeps a lot, allows himself wild insolence, insolence, unruly laughter, immoderately idle or does something else bad, I hurt my heart, my body burns, my insignificant soul is overcome by sorrow, I am completely tormented and cannot bear it: I then emit groaning from the depths of my heart, heavy sobbing, bitter tears, I curse myself, I plunge into the abyss of sadness, I exclaim: “Woe is me!” Besides all this, I am also attacked by such terrible storms of passions. And how can I convey what I am experiencing? How is it that after all this I, unclean and unworthy to breathe even air, do not turn out to be truly unreasonable when I talk idle talk and tell you about my affairs and do not tell you anything good, but only tell you about my sorrows that befall me for my sins? But I do this because I want you to become participants in my suffering in order to sympathize with me, to help and assist me. For how can I, a vile monster (1 Cor. 15:8) and a fool to do such a thing? But you, especially those of you who are in charge and in charge, who are in charge of affairs before me, who seek the benefit of everyone, who run with mind and body so that no one does anything unwanted, or says anything, or harbors an evil desire in their hearts - all of you raise your hands to God and stretch them out to me for joint leadership. For even in this case I will hardly be able to lead the sheep of Christ’s flock through the pastures of the Divine commandments, which are distinguished by the most diverse characters and the leadership of which is very difficult. An Exhortation to Patience and Salvation In view of this, my brethren, come, all of you, while the time of our life still awaits, while the earthly disgrace has not yet been destroyed, while there is still the possibility of doing, while streams of tears wash away sins, while the fallen can still rise and the erring one can be converted, come, let us fall and weep (Ps. 95:6) before our Lord God. For a little more, the celebration will cease, the Judge will appear, crowns will be brought, torment will be prepared, and, as the Lord Himself said, some of the people who have done good will go into eternal life, others, who have done evil (John 5:29), into endless torment. Shake off, my most honest children, the dust of despondency from your feet, gird up your loins with wisdom and follow the path of the Lord, do not be sluggish in your work or careless in worship. The trumpet sounded - you joyfully go to a conversation with God at the daytime or nighttime praise. The elder brother called you - go willingly wherever he wants, carry the burden so that the Angels will subsequently carry you. Thirst so that you can drink the water of life forever, starve so that you can taste the sweetness of heaven. If you are reproached, endure it so that you may be glorified with Christ; if they laugh at you, endure it, so that you can then rejoice with the Angels; if they persecute you, rejoice, so as to exalt and make your work heavenly. Yes, yes, I ask and pray you, my dears, before God and people: no matter what dishonor, no matter what mockery or any punishment happens to you, endure, otherwise if you fall away from the commandments handed down to you, then you will reveal yourself to be transgressors of the law given by God and His holy commandments. By the power of our most good God, you have all the means necessary for perfection: you are perfectly attuned, perfectly united among yourself in one Spirit and ennobled, becoming children of God and me, humble, gradual steps, through many years of experience, putting aside carnal wisdom and ascending to a more perfect state - if you like, you have everything and there is no delay in ascension. So ascend, my children, ascend to the mountain of lofty and angelic life, to the firmness of virtues, to the hills and peaks of heavenly thoughts, remembering that it is sweet and pleasant to ascend and that it is good to cleave to God, to place our trust in the Lord (Ps. 73:2B)… 613 Praise to the deceased brother Zosima 614 Living in the flesh, he, of course, had some shortcomings, for no one, as the glorious Job says, is clean from filth, even if he lives only one day (Job 14:4-5). For only God alone can remain incorruptible and sinless. But still, we know how pure he was, and a word of praise to him can serve as an adornment both for me and for you. So, who, firstly, will not praise his complete renunciation and detachment not only from his parents, homeland, brothers, friends, neighbors and the whole world in general, but even from his own aspirations and desires? Our husband was dead about it all. In his deeds he lived for God, was faithful to me, insignificant, and extremely faithful. His soul was my soul, his heart was my heart, his mind was my mind and his desire was my desire. He, like some of you, valiantly endured exile, living in a foreign land, bodily adversity, wanderings and all other sorrows for the commandments of God. After this, he immediately returned here and became the first in our brotherhood, but the last in conceit; he was completely transparent in his frankness, pure in his dispassion, imbued with love, quiet, meek, modest, but at times, when necessary, he knew how to speak well; he reconciled many, maintained peace, introduced order, united and gave good instructions to his subordinates. He was the first in action and the last in rest. Among the sky subordinate to me, he appeared as a star that shines with the rays of his deeds. Who was more zealous than he in submitting to my power? Who respected the rank of abbot more than him, or who respected the primate more than him? Who didn't love working with him and doing business with him all the time? And in all other circumstances, he appeared zealous, cheerful, with a sober mind, with a vigilant eye - in general, one can say that, although he was in the body, but due to his complete dispassion, he appeared as if detached from flesh and blood. I will tell you something about him that remains alien and unknown to many. Can anyone say that he was ever noticed to show any special tenderness towards his brother in the flesh who labored with him? No, this can't be true. Know that until the very end of his life he did not allow not only a conversation with his brother, but also any other conversation with a friend, or with his father, or with any other of his relatives or neighbors. This is the main difference between the valiant Zosima, his highest quality, which alone embraces all his virtues. What can I say about his behavior! He never had a hidden agenda. He was a man, strong in deed and word (Luke 24:19), worked more than many and at the same time revealed insignificant needs: he was satisfied not only with the usual daily portion, but even considered eating just bread to be a lot for himself. Those who pray for us are deceased brethren Let no one think that I am telling fables. For God is the witness to all this, and it does not please Him to speak with partiality, and it is a sin for me. At the present moment, in my opinion, he has reached the blessed end and stands at the right hand of God in holy joy, tasting the pleasure that is due to him, rejoicing with our other brothers, while we are still here, fiddling and jostling with our weak body. Let us be jealous of him, my children, let us try to become equal to him, even surpass him, or even if we lag behind him, then a little, so that the time of glorification has come for us and we are worthy to receive a place with him. Not only he, but also all our brothers who have previously died, are prayer books for us, the humble. But you, my lords and brethren and fathers, beseech and ask for me the Lover of God, that I, spending the remaining days and hours of my wandering, may place my remaining brothers, every one of them, at the right hand, and my brethren, taking advantage of good guidance and feeding on the Divine commandments, may appear as the lambs of Christ and hear the blessed voice calling for the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34) to all who pleased Him. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About the wondrous creations of God and the revelation of the passions 615 Variability of human nature Brothers and fathers. I accept with pleasure your favor, which is manifested in the fact that you diligently listen and assimilate the instructions on salvation coming from my worthless lips. Despite this, however, I do not think that I have accomplished anything with this, and I am not satisfied with what I have achieved. I offered you only crumbs and did not adequately nourish your honest hearts with good instructions. And since our fallen nature cannot always remain in the same state, it is a wonderful thing to both preach and listen, instruct and learn, bring and receive benefit. In view of this, let us seek God, and our soul will live (see Am. 5:4), we will also cry out to Him earnestly, and He will look upon us as upon ancient Israel and hear the cry and groaning of our spiritual sorrow: He will no longer send Moses to us, but He Himself will personally deliver us from the hand of the spiritual Pharaoh and from the bitter slavery of his passions. While we are in slavery in sinful Egypt 616, then it is already necessary that we be persecuted and persecuted by the slaves of sin - thoughts. But when the good God looks upon our patience, then, as if with new ten plagues [like the ancient Israelites], signs and wonders from His stay with us, He will lead us into the land of dispassion, and then in spiritual delight we will sing a victorious song for our liberation (cf. Ex. 15: 1–21). However, not everyone is liberated to the same extent, but one strives forward, [and the other lags behind,] and often a young monk, who labored fervently and from his youth did not surrender to the prince of peace (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), leaves behind him the one who has labored for many years. Understand what I tell you, for you are wise. Let us all strive, and the Lord will soon make His visit and lead us to freedom. The Greatness of God's Creation and the Economy of Salvation Do not forget that he who is careless and has not strengthened his mind with previous punishments again betrays himself to his enemies. But may God deliver us from this. The ways in which God delivers us instills in our hearts the fear of God, which comes from contemplating His wondrous destinies. He made non-existence into existence, and with just one word: he created light, erected the sky like a tent (Isa. 40:22), spread out the earth on the waters, gathered, as it is said, the waters of the sea like a fur (Ps. 32:7), poured out air for breathing to every living creature, established the sun and the moon with many stars on the firmament like two bright eyes, grew from the earth all kinds of fruitful trees, all kinds of herbs and beautiful flowers, deigned to produce all kinds of animals from the earth, all kinds of fish and birds from the sea, and finally, having created our forefather Adam with his own hands, he settled him in the paradise of sweets. Further, He raises up the sun to shine and brings down the sun - day and night alternate, and with them the time of our life flows. What greatness is His and what the depth of His wisdom! Let us fear Him, brethren, and tremble, but, on the other hand, let us also love Him because for our sake He became a man, became the same as us, except for sin, was betrayed for us, led to the judgment seat, was bitten for us, spat on, beaten, mocked, ridiculed, wounded and, finally, crucified and died. He endured all this as a man, but then rose up as God, defeating and killing the villain - the devil and saving his beloved creation. Who, after this, at the thought that God Himself was insulted, will be embarrassed by the insults, but, on the contrary, will not accept them with joy? Who, imagining God being ridiculed, would not willingly bear the blame? Who, looking at God being crushed, would not consider it a pleasure to endure the same thing and would not turn the left cheek of the person who wants to beat him (see Matthew 5:39)? Who, seeing someone crucified, pierced with a spear, and tasting the ocet and gall of God, would not daily prepare himself for death? Yes, my children, I ask you, let us crucify ourselves to the world (see Gal. 6:14) and passions and, if necessary, we will even endure beatings, and if not, then we will accept blows from words, wounds from desires, shedding of blood from cutting off our desires, and in this way we, by the ineffable mercy of Christ, will endure the same thing as He. Get to grips with your obediences in order to fulfill them without any laziness, be inspired to pray, kindling in yourself through the flow of tears (and if there is none, then through humble sighs) the fire of the Spirit, remaining closely united with each other, well-disposed, non-envious by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About not living carelessly and that the Kingdom of God is within us Praise to the virtues of the monastic brethren Brothers and fathers. In view of the fact that a whole sea of ​​​​instructions of our divinely inspired fathers is being proclaimed to us, I should not preach at all, since for those who want to open the eyes of their hearts, these instructions are enough for teaching. But since you claim that the announcements uttered by me, an insignificant one, bring you some benefit (of course, you say this out of love for me: everything that is your own is always received with greater favor), then I, like a monster (1 Cor. 15:8), even more like a worm and an aphid, dare and dare to address you (and only you) with teaching, and at the same time I am afraid that, according to the proverb, to become entangled in my wings, since I am talking about something that I myself did not create, and I do not have a word that would also be confirmed by deeds. But you, children, adorn me yourself and rise up to inspire me. For I see how you compete to become equal with each other, and you compete valiantly to surpass each other in humility. I also see how and how strongly the fatherly virtues are manifested in you. And that I am not lying, the case itself testifies to this. True renunciation [of the world] is the very first good. If it is not present in something, then the whole thing is worthless, just as, of course, under the opposite condition, the whole thing is in the opposite way. On this foundation you are building a building greater than gold, silver and precious stones (see 1 Cor. 3:12), one will and one soul, since you do not separate anything, not even a simple needle, into your personal property from the common property. This is, without a doubt, wonderful, and how could it not be wonderful? But what is even more surprising is that you do not pay attention to food, are content with little, many of you even drink only water, and, in addition, you force me to introduce even greater severity in this. Further, you are indifferent to clothes, you do not demand or care that you have new and beautiful dolls, outerwear or shoes. But what makes me especially surprised is that you, having truly renounced all attachments, do not look for or remember your father, mother, brothers, sisters, but consider the Lord and me, the unworthy, more valuable than all of them. This is all true, children, the true truth! You follow the footsteps of the glorious fathers and are resuming a life that was lost in the present generation: you lead an ancient way of life, and blessed are you, obedients of the commandments. And who am I, damned one, that I found myself placed over you with the rank of primate and abbot? But so that you, children, together with yourselves can save me, let us continue this zeal and not break away from it, but let us help each other, so as not to destroy (see Gal. 2:18) what we have created, but to increase the building more and more. In the previous announcement, I promised to talk to you about the Kingdom of God. Behold, my children, as it is said, the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21), for you truly reign in your divine life and in your thought you stand above principalities, powers and kings, since you philosophize on things above and think on things above, where Christ is our Head (Col. 3:2). Although sorrows often occur in this life, these are only bodily sorrows, and you will be given eternal blessings, you will rejoice with the Angels and rejoice with the righteous and saints, that is, where sickness, sadness and sighing have escaped (Isa. 35:10), where there is unapproachable light, eternal joy, where there is no evening and endless life [Now about the punishment of some of you that happened two days earlier. It is necessary to present in the announcement [the] subject [of the incident]. After all, we must sanctify Sunday, the most revered of all days, first of all spiritually, through our pure participation in the Divine Mysteries. In relation to bodily affairs, we must show ourselves to be inactive. And you, I don’t know, as a result of which, having left under plausible and unseemly pretexts, you ruined this [holiday]. One [by] carrying water and watering the vegetables, another [by] carrying bread to the ship, the third [by] going to buy some things. And all this is not acceptable in the face of God and my humility. For it was necessary not only not to take on any task other than the necessary and inevitable, but to spend time in divine readings, prayers, psalmody, and the liturgy, in which our fathers also set an example for us. And let this be in force from now on, so that [no] brother is removed. You judge [yourself] whether what I say is correct or not. I know that you agree with me on this. Therefore, continue to be saved with me in Christ Jesus our Lord forever and ever. Amen] 617 In Christ our Lord, to Him be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. About being jealous of the lives of virtuous men and avoiding the deeds of the wicked An exhortation to monastic courage Brothers and fathers. As you yourself know, I have no other business than the care and concern for your precious souls, to lift up my unclean hands (see 1 Tim. 2:8) to the Lord and God, so that you are confirmed in His Spirit and in one common will for your life according to God and so that you are all saved, since I alone am worthy of destruction. Therefore, my beloved children, strive in the lists of obedience, endure beatings from sorrows and scourging from insults, shed blood from cutting off your desires. Take heart, for for your valiant victory crowns, rewards and honors are in store for you. Show further, my beloved brethren, resistance to the devil, and he will flee from you: draw near, as it is said, to the Lord, and he will draw near to you (James 4:8), put on, as the great universal teacher Paul commands, the whole armor of the Holy Spirit, for you will be able to resist the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:11) irresistibly. And the devil, through your patience, will be repulsed, defeated, cast down as powerless, and you will begin to trample him under your feet. And thus the words will be fulfilled on you: you will tread on the serpent and the scorpion and all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Yes, yes, my children, if we just strive a little more, then what blessings, what glory, what joy, what joy we will not achieve! The mouth cannot express this, the mind cannot comprehend. Remember that for this sake the martyrs revealed themselves to be sheep (Rom. 8:36); the saints took up the work of asceticism and performed it. So let’s shake hands with each other, let’s help each other. Virtues and works of saints Let there not be in you, I ask you, insignificant, neither the disobedience that expelled Adam from paradise, nor the pride that prompted the Almighty God to shine at the very beginning of the Lucifer (Is. 14:12), nor the gluttony that prompted Esau to sell the birthright to his brother, nor the lust that, through the nasty Delilah, made the invincible Samson a plaything of enemies, nor, finally, envy, which made Cain a fratricide. And why list the passions, each separately? Let us accept the virtues and labors of the saints, which they suffered for the sake of piety: from whom - meekness, from whom - zeal, from whom - strength, from whom - invincibility, from whom - brotherly love, from whom - the most important and God-loving qualities - humility and obedience, so that you may become sons of light, sons of the day, joint heirs of those whose lives you imitate. Ascend, my beloved brethren, ascend the great mountain of virtue, set spiritual ascent in your hearts (Ps. 83:6), become ladders to heaven, rising majestically like the cedars of Lebanon (see Ps. 103:16), seeking those on high, fixing your mind there, so that the end of this temporary life, when it comes, will transfer you into endless life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Him be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. On the need to extinguish by abstinence the excitement of the flesh The purpose of this announcement is the spiritual salvation of you and me, the unfortunate one. I don’t know whether my work is pleasing to the Lord, due to the fact that I am completely unworthy of being placed ahead of others. Oh, if only I were distinguished by life and speech, capable of bringing everyone’s soul to the measure of perfection! But, however, I do not have this, I again remain in the same position, only igniting in you, as much as I can, a spark of zealous desire for the Kingdom of Heaven. But what is my word about? That, children, we should stay awake, be sober and know the extent of our condition. What were we before and what have we become for the sake of the monastic image? Have we not turned from darkness to light? Have we not arrived safely from Sodom to the mountain (Gen. 19:17) of our salvation? Was it not from the abyss of sins that we were saved into the haven of life? And in general, let us think about what great and many benefits we have received in the presence of the Lord and what kindness and mercy we have been awarded. Therefore, constant care is necessary to ensure that we do not fall into the same abyss again and bring a more severe condemnation on our heads. Arrows of the devil outside and inside Therefore, I ask: stand firmly and unshakably - each of you individually - in the rule of asceticism and in your usual concentration. You know what arrows the devil directs from outside and from within (ευθοθευ και εξωθευ) against us, how for our danger and destruction he produces flattering suggestions, passionate movements, harmful pleasures, confusion, confusion and anxiety of the heart that occurs during these states, how he excites and inflames passions, plants, following the example of the Chaldeans, oil, resin, tow and brushwood in the form of violent thoughts and kindles a flame to forty-nine cubits, according to what has been said (Dan. 3:46-47). So who will escape it? Who will not worship the golden image and kneel before Baal (Rom. 11:4)? Who will say: We do not serve thy God, and we do not bow down to the golden body which thou hast set up (Dan. 3:18)? He who keeps himself pure, extinguishes [a sinful feeling] with the help of confession, completely incinerates it every time it is kindled during the day. This is the condition for victory, and blessed is such an ascetic, because he, together with the three [Jewish youths], receives a crown for confession and asceticism. How to resist the devil What is temptation like and how should we resist it? The devil confuses us with the charm of pleasure, and we will begin to strengthen our desire for future benefits. It kindles passion, and we will reverently honor the rational principle of our soul, created in the image of God, or reflect on the fire of Gehenna, which will befall all who do this; and in general, no matter how we are caught, we will be careful. Let's avoid unnecessary meetings with each other, let's look at ourselves and comprehend the frailty of our existence. Impermanence and changeability of life Let us see, brethren, what we are and what we will be a little later - is it not a dwelling place for worms, a stench and some kind of disgusting sight? Look at you, brother, bending over the coffin! Therefore, let us tear apart the veil of our ignorance and darkness of mind. Let us take a lofty look at our affairs, at the impermanence and changeability of life, at its sleepy, fluid and in no way stable state, at this, one might say, ebb and flow of the sea. Yesterday a man was in a high position and in honor, rich and noble, pampered and used the best aromatic substances for rubbing, reclined on a high bed, was powerful depending on his squandered and disappearing wealth, supported and carried by crowds of slaves, was greatly exalted in wealth and in everything else. Now he is carried on a simple stretcher, he is placed in a coffin, taking nothing of what he owned, except for the deeds that he has accomplished in life, and there is crying instead of joy and weeping instead of celebration. The same thing happens with kings, with insignificant and great people, and in general with everyone who has strived a lot in this life and believed that he had something, while in reality all this is subject to destruction. But we, by the grace of God who called us, have freed ourselves from all this and spend a quiet life in His very courtyard, in His flock, caring for His commandments and commandments, and through reading and fulfilling the Divine Scriptures we daily abide with all the saints. After all, we are talking now with Moses, now with Paul, the father of some instructions and the teacher of others, the archpastor, evangelist and compiler of narratives. Truly our life and government are heavenly. Keep in mind, my brothers and children, that the most beautiful life also ensures the reward of eternal bliss, if we do not delight ourselves and become fat like pigs on the day of slaughter (James 5:5), if we do not jump, dance and have fun, if we avoid communicating with animals and galloping like horses, if, out of arrogance, we do not adorn ourselves with beautiful clothes and stop go crazy like children playing. Let all this not complicate or embarrass you; on the contrary, let us be more diligent in our attitude towards ourselves, let us complain and lament at the sight of those who do this. We recalled one passion, let's also say about the others. First of all, improve in obedience, my children, avoid wealth, adorn yourself with humility, do not shy away from work night and day, pleasing each other with the advantages that God has given you; be humble in everything, grieving with those who mourn and extending your hand to your neighbor: the greater to the lesser, the equal to the like. I want you to rejoice, and talk with each other, and encourage one another, and also give rest to the flesh and gradually restore strength, but only all this should happen with attention, properly and as worthily as possible in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. About the fact that you should not engage in secret eating and hide your downfalls The disease that has now shackled both my limbs and my tongue is painful. But in order not to interrupt the custom and not to sadden some of you with deprivation, especially for the reason that my heartache at the time I speak receives some relief, I decided to speak. I don’t know whether you yourself will be satisfied and whether you will not close your ears... However, I do not allow this, because I love you, and on the other hand, you sympathize with me and respond with love. I confess that you are like my soul and mind, joy and crown, hope and aspiration, happiness and salvation. And the illness itself would not depress me, if only you were in joy and had a good opinion, were healthy and in a good position, if you abhorred worldly things and loved heavenly things, if you yourself abstained from carnal relations and were devoted to the love of God. Yes, yes, I ask you, my children, act like this, think like this, live like this, as if you are and are not in this world, as if you own and do not use what is here, like those who are already in the flesh, but are guided by the Spirit. Blessed be the Lord, who has enriched you in virtues, and has deigned you to live together in such multitudes, in imitation of the holy men spoken of in Acts (4:32-37). So, you too constitute, if you wish, the light of the world, the quickening salt (cf. Matt. 5:13-14), the host of angels, the portion of the Lord, the earthly heaven (ουρανός επίγειος), as I heard from one abbot who praised you. Just don’t fall, don’t indulge in carnal desires, don’t love your own in order to benefit in the future. And if our fathers lived in serving the pleasures of flesh and blood, if they had fun, lied and slandered, then it would be natural for you to do the same. But if no one, spending their life in such a way, has reached the Kingdom of Heaven, then why should we, who labor in vain, continue this empty labor? So I hear, forgive me this word, that there are deceptions among you. And for what reason? Because of one glass of wine. Someone comes to the cellarer and gets what he asks for, then turns to the head of the meal and says that he didn’t get it, then to the hospital worker, saying that he didn’t get it anywhere, and he takes it here too. Alas, what folly! Is it not through trivial deeds that we destroy our souls? Yes, I tell you, [this happens] if we do not pay attention to everything. Make sure there is no secret eating. Fear God and do not destroy, along with your souls, my thousand-fold lost soul. I speak not to you, who are engaged in secret eating, but through you, warning everyone. Neither you, the assistant cook, nor you, the cook, eat in secret. And do not hide each other’s sins, because whoever, having seen his brother’s fall, does not report it, is, according to the word of St. Basil 618, the murderer of his brother, and a heavy penance is imposed on him. The blissful state of the submissive I hear that some among you are expressing displeasure about matters that are untimely to mention. Make me your subordinate. Although I speak out of recklessness, I am nevertheless experienced in the matter. After all, what could be more blissful than the state of a subordinate? He is completely pure: he reveals both his outer and inner self to his father, leaving nothing undeclared. Such a one is like the Angels; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals (cf. John 1:27). I am burning [with love] for you, as for my members, and I do not want to harm you in any way, but you yourself, in my opinion, are speaking unreasonably. I hope in God that you all want to be saved and the Lord will accept you all intact. So, my children, for the sake of short-term pleasure, for the sake of a short century, or better yet, for the sake of a few days, let us not deprive ourselves of the sweetness of paradise, a pleasant stay in the host of saints and righteous people, the contemplation and glory of the Lord, the ever-brilliant light, the immortal incorruptibility of these ranks, positions and positions, honors and glorifications, internal and external, immediate and more distant. For My Father has many mansions (John 14:2), says the Lord. And so I contemplate with my mind how many of you fell into illness, and those who remained at work became weak, how meager your food and modest drink, how wretched your clothes - and I rejoice and mourn. I rejoice because you are following in the footsteps of the saints, but I grieve over the passions of the flesh, over the cowardice of some and the unusual way of life of others. But with all this, let each one not lose his reward (cf. Matt. 10:42), but may the Lord, by His righteous judgment, grant eternal rewards according to each person’s dispensation and position, education and reason, life, morals and activity. Reporting in monastic affairs What do you want, my children? Don't you like the fact that I guide you like a father in everything? After all, it is impossible to provide all monastic services to one person. But one has one position, the other another. And when there are transfers, you should not be unhappy with it, and when an appointment occurs, you should be happy about it. Therefore, not everyone should stand at the gate, but only those whom I have appointed; it should be exactly the same in matters of selling and buying - you, my children, should be happy with this. Likewise, the cellarer must report to the steward what he has spent, and the cook to the cellarer. Then the loaves should be distributed by measure, the assistant cook reports the material to the same cellarer, the vestiary, shoemaker and everyone else - the steward, both in terms of quantity and quality, so that your souls are preserved from all harm and passion. I ask: am I speaking well? Therefore, you must completely agree with me. Don't worry in future. So, may the Lord grant you complete stability in good customs, all piety, all understanding and knowledge, so that you may unfailingly present your life to God as a pure sacrifice. To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. About the need to think about death every day My fathers, brothers and children. What do you want me to tell you about? Sent from John and asking: Are you the one who is coming or something else? (Matthew 11:3), as in the current reading, what did the Lord say? Go and tell John what you hear and see. The blind see and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the blind hear, the dead are raised and the poor preach the good news. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me (Matthew 11:4–6). So I tell you: the prophets in their predictions, the fathers in their instructions, now commanded, now threatened, now pointed out what should be avoided, now guided to salvation and depicted the future. Therefore, blessed is he who will not only be a hearer, but also a doer of the law (James 1:22). And Christ also says: if you know this, you are blessed if you do (John 13:17). And if you want me to say more than this, then I have nothing but my sins, because I have fallen a thousand times, because I alone am a sinner and am subject to every punishment. As far as possible, I imagine the terrible and incomprehensible God, as well as what kind of light there is that illuminates every mind and every soul of man and every creation, invisible and visible, and since I do not fulfill His commandments, I am deprived of sight to contemplate Him, Whom, after the unfortunate change of my body, I see as a flaming fire. With my mental eyes I contemplate the beauties of paradise and the inexplicable joy of those who dwell in them, but, robbing my soul with the help of thoughts, I am not able to utter the word of the prudent thief crucified on the right side (Luke 23:42). Self-condemnation Rev. Theodora In the same way, I contemplate the choirs of holy Angels and the inexpressible joys and triumphs of all the saints, but, deprived of everything with which they achieved such a state, I am expelled and, being outside the Kingdom of Heaven, I hear: “Go, deceiver, I do not know you” (cf. Matthew 25:13). And if He also determined punishment for me, then I should be cast into unquenchable fire according to the flame of my sin and condemned into outer darkness (Matthew 8:12) depending on the darkness of my deeds. I must be given over to the undying worm (cf. Mark 9:44, 46, 48) accordingly to the serpent of sin who delights and devours me; bound hand and foot and thrown into a great abyss depending on the abyss of my vice; condemned to the gloomy gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12) according to the overwhelm of my passions, and finally, bound by the demons whose will I followed, I must be beaten and scourged by the Angels and be thrown into the same place of torment. And I believe that among people I alone should be subjected to this, because I alone have sinned so much - if, however, I had not been saved by grace. This, children, is my being and my evil acquisition. But stay awake, be renewed, hurry, acquire wings and strive, purify your souls and bodies, improve your mind and thought. Let not the blooming youth jump like a lamb, lest for his disorderliness he be immediately struck by the sword of death and, like a fool, be thrown with the goats into a place of torment (see Matthew 25:33). In the same way, a man of mature age, as well as one who has reached old age and has gray hair, should not spend his life in carelessness, so that, having deviated from the rules of longevity, he does not hear the following: foolishly, this night your soul will be taken from you, and what you have prepared, who will it be? (Luke 12:20). Let nothing like that happen to you, children. And to those who fall I will say: will not the fallen rise? Will not the one who turns away be converted? Or is there any rhitina, that is, balm, in Gilead? - as Jeremiah says (Jer. 8:22). Will there really not be a doctor to bind and soften these spiritual wounds with oil (see Jer. 8:22; Is. 1:6)? Will it really be impossible to evoke compassion and hear from God: “I have seen your sorrow and healed your ways” (cf. Isa. 57:18)? So, small and great, as they say, old and young, first, middle and last - all perk up, and from now on let us move away from the passions of sin. Let's take a short journey: [we] are at the door of the abode of rest 620 (επι θυραιξ το κατάλυμα). Let us begin to compete in the competition: the lists are very close. Let's swim a little: we are at the very entrance to the pier of eternal life. Therefore, we should talk about everything, do everything and find out everything. Let us be reverent, calm, humble, let us watch, sing, let us renounce our parents according to the flesh, brothers, relatives, and our very soul, in order to draw closer and become sons of Christ our God. For this is what He wants, this is why He created us. He is our first Father 621, for He brought us from non-existence into existence, giving us the breath of life (Gen. 2:7). But perhaps you will recognize me in this: I, being unreasonable, remained unreasonable - as always, so now. Christ our God will purify your thoughts, revive, strengthen and perfect with the help of the prayers of our fathers and save you for His Kingdom. Therefore to Him, our Lord, be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About not enjoying the delights of the present age, but desiring the coming Kingdom My fathers, children and brothers. I must offer you my weak announcements, and I will not stop this matter. After all, even a drop chisels a stone. Likewise, if we pay attention to the matter, we should sober up from frequent teachings and understand that we need to be released (Phil. 1:23) into the land from which we were taken, and most importantly, to come to the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Therefore, let us firmly remember what our life is, which we serve in the flesh, what is the end of the mystery of our death 622. Having imprinted all this in our minds, we will be zealous about the commandments of God and will not cease to achieve the salvation of our souls. Look how many years we have lived and what time we have reached. Let us appear in this lazy race famous for their godly life, like our fathers, who in ancient times flourished in this like villages (Matthew 6:28) and like a beautiful paradise: watered by the water of the Spirit and bringing to God the fruits of virtue, they were called friends of the Lord, served the Divine, purified by deeds and elevated by contemplations, made this earth for themselves heaven, dwelt with the Angels, settled with God. Who will do this now? Who will ascend, as it is said, to the mountain of the Lord (Ps. 23:3)? Who will be exalted like a cedar in Lebanon (Ps. 91:13)? Who will take a krill like a dove (Ps. 54:7), silvered with the Spirit, and fly to the heights of perfection? Who will make righteousness shine in his days (Ps. 71:7)? Who, understanding this, will be called wise? Therefore, by common agreement, by mutual conviction, we will begin to take from each other, share with each other, give to each other, I to you, and you to me. Let us not be rejected, let us not be called an evil and grieving race (Ps. 77:56), a race that could not correct its heart and whose spirit did not prove faithful to the Lord, but let us be called a race of saints, a blessed race. Let us achieve rewards for virtues, let us follow the holy path of our fathers, we will begin to walk along their paths, we will measure the distances they have traveled, we will follow their lives, be jealous of their deeds, imitate their morals, even in a small and brief measure: for a student it is enough to imitate his teacher (cf. John 13:16; Matt. 10:24-25). They were artists of the Divine image, people learned in virtues, and we will only be their imitators. They were wanderers - we will be like that too. Their fatherland was heaven - and our fatherland is also the highest Jerusalem (Gal. 4:26); Their wealth was the commandments of the Lord; we too will acquire it. They did not allow carnal love to bind them, they did not find sweetness in the delights of this age. We will do the same. So, all the saints and righteous were like this in their times, although it is easy to talk about this. But we, as I have already said, will work so that, just as in previous years, everyone who was distinguished by a wondrous life was glorified, so now our name will become known to future generations for the benefit of competition. What could be more blissful and pleasant than this? If you want, then you have no obstacle to the memory of you being preserved. The God who was in those days still exists today, the Gospel is not outdated, the commandments have not changed, and times have not become different. He who provided then also provides now, He who shone then sends light and now: night and day, spring and summer, as they were then, are as they are now, there is no difference. Such is our God, unchangeable, immutable, always the same, preserving His creation both in ancient times and now, always shining on all people the same light of love, not wanting the sinner to die forever (see Ezek. 33:11). The difference and change in circumstances, children, depends on voluntary will - for what prevents even now the stylite from asceticism with fatherly zeal and remaining on the holy pillar? I don’t have time to list other images of the ascetic life. In accordance with what has been said, we, the socialites, must shine in the same way, in order, together with others, to show our life equal to that of our fathers. And this will be possible when we live, guarding our hearts with all our might, and most importantly, observing obedience and the desire to learn and explore everything, and also trying not to make any omission in the commandment handed down to us from the Lord. This is what I, blind, prodigal and having nothing good, hope for and this is what I expect. May the Lord, who does great and unexplored things, through the holy prayers of your father, strengthen, establish, strengthen and inspire you for praise to me, for praise of glory and thanksgiving to God, now and to the endless ages of ages. Amen. About those who live virtuously - namely, that they will flourish both here and in the next century, like God’s paradise My fathers, brothers and children. Good and rich soil needs rain throughout the year to produce fruit. Oh, if the daily catechumen flowing from my insignificant and vile lips throughout the week would serve to multiply the virtues that strengthen your honest souls, just as rain serves to produce fruits that nourish the body! To me you are like a garden in which many trees grow. And one of you, as it were, delights me with humility and obedience, another nourishes me with diligence in work, the third emits an incense with his prudence and the flowers growing on it. And among them - so as not to drag out the announcement too long by counting the wonderful qualities of many faces - some rise high up, like cypress trees, others grow, others strengthen, and others are just emerging; and in general, each of you runs up and strives for the mountainous region of God’s commandments. So, children, let none of you stop in your growth, wither away from the heat of passions and remain fruitless from pride that deprives you of fruit, even if such a person is considered high. Let us, on the contrary, all be inspired, surround each other with mutual care, unite into one soul to create a pillar, and then build ourselves a pillar from earth to heaven, that is, virtue reaching heaven. Now are the holy days - so be holy, you too, now is fasting and poverty of food - cleanse your souls and bodies. Perform longer psalmody and readings, become a euphonious lyre, struck by the Spirit, zealously gather for divine services and show yourself as an angelic face, observe love among yourself, throwing away envy and fulfilling only one heavenly will. Being at peace with each other and treating each other with complete frankness, imitate the angelic unanimity. Try to learn what is useful to you, do with zeal what you are commanded, and you will be sons of obedience. Accept complete non-covetousness, so that, having everything, at the same time have nothing, as befits the rulers of the world and the heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. What is good or what is red, but how can brothers live together? Therefore, I call you, according to the words of the sacred singer David, the most fragrant ointment that descends on Aaron’s wedding, and also the dew of Aermon that descends on the mountains of Zion (Ps. 133:1-3). See with what names the divine David adorns you and with what praises he crowns you! Look, what great rewards and wondrous deeds! Do not live unworthy and inconsistent with the title of those who deserve praise. Now you receive rewards only in words and only from me, and in the next century you will receive a worthy reward from the righteous Judge and God, rich in gifts, when everyone receives according to their deeds. Teachers, try; you who teach, be vigilant; those who bear obedience, bear with them. A cellarer, if he performs his office in a dignified manner, is great. I can say the same about the steward, if he faithfully and wisely, as chosen by God, takes care of brotherhood. The assistant housekeeper should also be included here, because he is an assistant in his position and in his work, therefore, he also shares the reward. The viceroy [proabbot] 623, whom we call first, is venerable in his activity, as well as the cook, tempted by fire and brothers, then the distributor and keeper of shoes (since he also performs a divine work), the tanner, the shoemaker, the supervisor of the work, the calligrapher, and first of all, the canonarch, then all the others, whom I have not mentioned; if they fulfill their obediences in a manner pleasing to God, then they will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19). May the grace of the Holy Spirit increase more abundantly upon you, may the wealth of virtues increase. The blessing of the Lord with the prayer of mine and your father 624 is upon you. Bless me from your honest lips, as from the house of the Lord, and for the sake of your good deeds, may the Lord God appear to you (Ps. 118:26-27) now by doing good deeds, for blessed are they, it is said, who are pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8), and in the next century in the distribution of rewards in Christ our Lord, to Him be glory and power with Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About the fact that, living in a brotherhood, one must renounce one’s personal will, as well as confirmation of the vows of the holy image My fathers, brothers and children. Although my prayer, coming from unclean lips, remains ineffective, nevertheless I continue to pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will open your hearts as much as possible to listen to my weak teachings, not because they are wise or distinguished by verbal perfections, but because they come from a good and caring disposition towards you. And there is nothing strange in this, for, as I often repeat and explain to you, I need to stay awake, work, and even for the sake of your success and salvation, do not consider my own sinful soul dear. We must, firstly, remember that you came here, having renounced your parents, brothers, relatives and even the whole world, and, having been transformed to another, higher life, you have become spiritual children for me. As a result of this, you no longer allow you to be called by the names of your carnal parents, but only by the names of your spiritual fathers and forefathers, showing by this that you have renounced nature and accepted another, voluntary birth. Then we must not forget that none of us has our own personal will, but we all think together and strive for God, and thus what is told in Acts is now being fulfilled for us, namely: that the multitude of those who believed had one heart and soul; and not one of them said that he was his own from his possessions, but he shared everything in common with them (Acts 4:32). So remember this, tempt yourself and be firm, strong and immovable. Let no one, as a result of the serpent’s slander, think about moving to another place and let no one leave paradise. Why condemn a soul to death and allow thistles and thorns (Gen. 3:18) of passions to grow from its labors? Let no one incline towards bodily lust, so that during one moment of time and because of an insignificant, vile and shameful sweetness, he does not lose entire centuries and suffer expulsion from the Kingdom of Heaven. No one, it is said, gets married unless he is legally martyred (2 Tim. 2:5). Likewise, a monk does not achieve perfection and does not receive rewards unless he courageously endures the labors of asceticism. We only carry over what we ourselves promised. You have often listened and heard what is being taught to the brothers who take on the holy image. Their promises are at the same time ours, for we too have made a vow and made a vow between God and people to hunger and thirst and endure nakedness, strangulation, insults and reproaches, and on occasion even to shed blood for Christ. Having endured all this, let us not be surprised at this, for we endure only what we ourselves promised. Maybe someone will consider these promises a joke? But this should not be, for these are great words spoken before the witness of God and His chosen Angels. On the contrary, we should even rejoice that we have been worthy of the promise, and just as the laity boasts of glory, pleasures and luxurious life, so we should rejoice and be proud of the opposite of this. For our image also points to this. They think about the worldly, and we think about the Divine, they think about the carnal, and we think about the spiritual, they think about pleasures, and we think about abstinence. For what distinguishes and separates us from them? Is it really true, children, that only black robes, a tonsured head, and a long beard make a monk? Not at all, for it happens that both a fallen person and an actor have all this. To be a monk means to keep both outward appearance and inner life in order, so as to have the right to say: “I am always the same and do not change” 625 (cf. Mal. 3:6). I earnestly ask you: philosophize in this way - acquire abstinence, silence, poetry, respect for each other, frankness in confession, hard work, zeal for everything useful and all sorts of other good qualities. Let us grow all this, children, and bear good fruit. Good competition with your neighbor Let everyone be jealous of his neighbor in goodness and compete with him, but without any envy or ill will. As I live, says the Lord, and also: I will glorify those who glorify Me (1 Samuel 2:30) and I will prepare for you a place of rest, a land of the living and a place of wondrous settlement (see Ps. 115:5, 8). May you also be worthy to hear this, to see the Light of the world (John 8:12), to behold the Sun of righteousness (cf. Mal. 4:2), unapproachable and inexpressible Joy, the Giver of life, the Treasury of immortality, the most beautiful Beauty above all, the sweet and most amiable Sweetness, since He is all sweetness. Therefore, let us all intensify our prayers and further increase our care for each other in order to reach that day. And truly blessed is the soul that through its good life has made Him its kind and benevolent Benefactor, for He Himself will accept it into the eternal abodes, into His glory, which has the power to judge the living and the dead. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About self-initiators and unauthorized people, namely, that they fall into the abyss of destruction My fathers, brothers and children. Not only am I not satisfied with a single conversation with you about any subject, but I will not stop turning to the same thing many times, since even under this condition we barely comprehend the truth. I am damned and sinful and am not only incapable of managing and ruling over you, but even simply living under authority. But since, on the other hand, I am obliged to use all my strength to bring you everything useful, then I need to do this. Many of you have zeal, but not according to understanding (Rom. 10:2): they are zealous to run, but not to the goal, to strive to love God, but not to the extent that it is useful, for for everything, my dear and beloved children, there is measure and weight. In view of this, the wisest Solomon says: do not be truthful to the great, nor become too wise (Eccl. 7:17), but try to follow the royal path. The great Theologian also writes: “Do not become stricter than the law, more correct than the rule and higher than the commandment” 626. I don’t say this so that diligence in itself deserves blame... 627 Attitude to food. Unauthorized post But accept everything with gratitude: if you lack any food, give glory; put another - praised; they invite you - eat; If the dish is taken away, bear it with patience. Your food is commensurate with your bodily labor. Whether you overeat or undereat, both are equally bad for you. On the one hand, you don’t need to burden yourself and burden yourself, since as a result of this you become lazy in spiritual work, and on the other hand, you don’t need to exhaust yourself, become like half-cooked beets and become as if dead to the speeches and deeds required of you. For example, one tasted, ate, was satisfied, in humility with Saint David praised the Lord (Ps. 21:27), immediately went to his work, obeyed the one who called him, accepted the stone of insult meekly thrown at him and, like the holy stone (see Zech. 9:16), moves back and forth among the brotherhood. The autocrat, who wanted to appear superior to everyone, excited by vanity, tasted a little, thus wounding the conscience of others and not paying attention to the example of the saint. Euthymius, who did not love and turned away from every brother who wanted to be abstinent more than others 628, is insignificant. Then, having become proud, although he does not want to notice it, he begins to be angry in his soul with the abbot, or with the steward, or with the refector, or with the cellarer, because there are few olives, few vegetables and not enough brew. Afterwards, getting up despondent, he does not thank or sing with the rest of the brothers, but wanders around dissatisfied or, pretending that he is sick with some special illness, murmurs, gets angry at the work and launches into vile reasoning: “How can I endure such labor with such fasting - cutting stone, cultivating the land, working on ships”? In this way he will humiliate the monastery and blaspheme the abbot. As a lover of silence, or by intention alone, or even by special exploits, he looks out and seeks a life different from that given to him by God. If you who do all this, consider carefully what I say, you will see that I am not mistaken. For I say all this because I myself have endured such temptations. But, my brothers, let us not do this. You want the strictest fasting - so remember what Basil the Great says: “True fasting is renunciation from all evil, and the measure of strict abstinence is to not have a single passion” 629. Fast from vanity, for this is where sleepiness will be born, fast from envy, which gives rise to the desire to kill, fast from laughter and shamelessness, which give rise to fornication, fast from verbosity and talkativeness, which produce many sins. Fast in such a way that you do not show disobedience at all, do not murmur, do not get angry, do not do shameful deeds in your mind and do not do any bad deed at all, and forgive me, your helmsman, with God's forgiveness for six ounces of bread and one cup of wine. For if you are indifferent to this, without transgressing the prescribed limits of abstinence, you will easily endure other difficult and difficult feats. Now, children, I have already told you a lot of things. But you treat me as speaking to you out of love and moved by concern for you and pray that the Lord will also give me the power of speech to open my weak lips (Eph. 6:19) and not deprive me of anything that my weak tongue should proclaim, but that, on the contrary, all things may be communicated to you in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now and ever and ever and ever. Amen. About announcements - precisely about the fact that they, as a generally useful object, must be treated with respect and desired My fathers, brothers and children. The preached word of God, if it enters a soul that is sober and awake for salvation, immediately inflames it and excites it to even greater and more perfect diligence and fulfillment of the commandments. And if it gets into a soul sleeping and lazy in evil, like, for example, mine, then it remains fruitless and ineffective and disperses into the air. In view of this, you, my luminaries and rulers, pay attention not to my weak words, but to the sacred content of the catechumens, for teaching is a matter of general benefit, and we all equally should desire it more than anything else. Here we all gather together, consult and discuss not about some unimportant bodily and perishable thing, but about the greatest and main subject - about our salvation, how we can be saved, how to complete the path of God, how to avoid the deceit of the enemy, how to cleanse ourselves of passions, what method and what means are needed to acquire virtues, with the help of which we, gradually rising, can achieve perfection, through what successes we can acquire the Kingdom Heavenly. Since the announcements say all this, they should be desirable and respected. For even with them, we are hardly able to think through anything in conversations about such issues and achieve what we are looking for. After all, our enemy constantly opposes us, and if we do not observe strict attention, he drags us into bad deeds. Our nature is very prone to fall; it does not remain public forever. He will have to hear a reading or a good story about the death of death, the appearance at the Court, about the Judge’s determination of retribution - he will lament, sigh, cry, grieve (and this constitutes one of the types of repentance), and a little time will pass - the person, as you can see, has forgotten everything again and instead of contrition he becomes furious, instead of crying he laughs and instead of sorrow he allows a smile on his face. Truly damned, as the apostle says, I am a man: who will deliver me from the body of this death? (Rom. 7:24). Let us in no way, my brethren, let us do this, but let us listen with attention, lament, strain, apply fire to the fire of divine desire, let us ignite our souls for it, let us inspire and excite each other to be imbued with love, be zealous for obedience, show humility, work hard and generally be inspired by everything beautiful and sweet in our angelic life. Now we sow, as a result of this we weep, we endure heavy labor, we are exhausted and exhausted, but after a little we will rejoice, since we will reap with joy (Ps. 126:6) and we will reign with the Lord of all God, if only we suffer with Him in our martyrdom (cf. 2 Tim. 2:12). Therefore, children, I will not cease to appeal to you: while there is time, let us strive, let us work, let us work a little more, endure, endure a little more, until the sleep of this life passes. And I testify to you by the law of God that you will receive crowns, you will rejoice in heaven, you will rejoice forever where sorrow and sighing have fled (Isa. 35:10), - in Christ Jesus our Lord. All glory, honor and worship are due to Him with the Beginningless Father and with the All-Holy and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the endless ages of ages. Amen. About the attacks that the insidious serpent wages against us, namely that they are fought off through sincerity in confession and humility Fathers and brothers. When wartime comes, there is not a moment of peace for carnal warriors. They prepare quivers, shields, armor, spears, arrows and other weapons. Then they make daytime, and also very often night, marches, perform guard duty, and all this with hunger and thirst, especially when they are about to clash with the enemy. There is no need to mention the blows, all kinds of wounds and shedding of blood that they have to endure. But when, after the end of the war, they return home, then a time comes for them full of peace, joy and rest: for their valiant deeds they will receive rewards and royal gifts. The same thing, brothers, should be seen in our lives. After all, aren’t we actually in a war zone? Yes, and even stronger than those of ordinary warriors. For our weapons are not carnal, as the divine Paul says, but are powerful by God to destroy the firmament (2 Cor. 10:4), and our enemy is the evil devil, who leads with him to war all the forces under his command, cast out of heaven and apostatized from God. Real life is not for us a time of rest or carefree living, but we must now mentally put on the full armor, take the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17) and fight. And when we show our strength in war, then our Hero and King of all, God, will stop the war and from our wanderings here in foreign lands will call us to our true home, to the freedom of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is precisely what the Law, Prophets, Apostles and teachers [of the Church] expound. This state of affairs was created among us as a result of the recklessness of our forefather, and was a mockery for the bitter taste. What is the language of the monks and what are their weapons? So, brethren, you now know your lists, you also know what your war is like. Let us arm ourselves courageously and valiantly with abstinence, for we struggle with despondency, and with the desire to move to another place, and with gluttony, and with excessive sleepiness, and with fornication, as well as with idle talk, with vanity, with laughter, with shamelessness and other various unclean passions. He who stands firm, does not yield, but fights and fights with the help of the art of revealing thoughts and through the full armor of patience, he overcomes and wins, and, as a fighter of the Lord, will be awarded an incorruptible crown of glory in the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, I ask you, brothers and spiritual comrades, let us not turn back, let us not allow ourselves to be cut off from the herd, let us not tire of rushing at the enemy, let us not be afraid of his weak attacks and the horrors he raises. He tries to do something great and terrible, but for those who listen, all this is empty and ordinary. Didn’t he rush at our great mentor Anthony, now crawling towards him like a serpent, now appearing in the form of a lion, or a wolf, or some other predatory animal 630? But he was put to shame by the valiant man and driven far away by his prayers. Seal of the Life-Giving Cross In exactly the same way, when he begins to do the same with us, begins to raise whole mountains of thoughts and opens up abysses of passions, we do not need to be afraid, let us calmly mark ourselves only with the seal of the Life-giving Cross, and it will be abandoned. At the present time, as it has been said, brethren, patience is required - let us endure, let us strive. Let each of you look after yourself: how and where is he going, is he living according to my humble covenant, according to the communal rule, with the cutting off of his will? For as long as he lives this way, he rejoices and, eating, not eating, drinking, not drinking, sleeping, not sleeping, being in the world, he stands above the world, being in the city, he lives as if in the desert. But enough of that. Let's move on to another subject. When leaving Matins, a meal, or any day or night service, I ask you not to make noise or start inappropriate conversations. After all, you are told when you can speak and when you need to remain silent. Why lose the sweetness of silence? You haven’t put on your kukol yet—why don’t you start reading the psalm and go to your cell or to your obedience? The day becomes good from the very beginning. Tomorrow, it is said, I will appear to You, and I will see you (Ps. 5:4). So start from the very early morning to beat the sinful lands (Ps. 100:8), begin to observe the routine of your life in order to spend the whole day in God's way. Stop turning your gaze and shamelessly looking at each other, especially at those with pretty faces, because from this, as I know from my own experience, harmful consequences are born. Those who serve in the monastery itself, as well as others, beware of starting conversations with the laity out of old memory. Be in agreement on everything, love each other, being an indestructible union. My father, it is said, and my mother forsaken me, but the Lord received me (Ps. 27:10). May God Himself - our father, our mother, and our brother 631 - grant us a valiant end to our lives. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. About not attaching any value to the present, but wanting only future blessings, and also about serving as an example of virtue for others when leaving the monastery My fathers, brothers and children. Since we have before us immortality, the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven and the promise of endless life, in view of this, while we are still in this life, we will not be careless and will not fall into laziness from despondency. For the triumph is coming, the lists are open, the day is wise, the Lord is wise (Rom. 14:6), he who is awake gains much, and he who is diligent is enriched. But whoever, on the contrary, like me, lies on his side, is lazy and destroys a defenseless soul, goes empty-handed to that life for eternal punishment. You see and notice how people every day, one after another, are accepted by the Lord and, having worked in life, go to Him: some - old, some - still young, some - single, some - married, kings and princes, both rich and poor, along with others, also bishops, and priests, and ministers, and monks, and primates, and subordinates - like wildflowers or like a flower that bloomed in the morning, they wither and wither from death. Therefore, every rational person really acts rationally, he who collects treasures really collects them and he who strives for the goal actually achieves it when he does not attach the slightest value to present goods, but directs and elevates himself to the future alone. Therefore, you, children, have been given the grace that you have fled from the world and clung to God alone. You have closeness to God, joy, exultation, true service to Him, work and feat in order to achieve the fulfillment of the promise given to you. Therefore, children, observe the rules by which you live, remain in the virtue in which you are, building yourself more and more and arranging your souls in churches to the Lord and King of all, God. I am convinced that He Himself views with favor the fact that you, having moved from a silent place to a noisy place, from the desert to the city, continue to maintain the same order of your life. Everyone reveres a virtuous person as gold and, at the sight of him, gives glory to God. They have already sent it about you here. Some, perhaps to praise you, or perhaps with the opposite feelings, will say: “Let’s see if they will remain in their own order here?” And so you remained, strengthened in them; being in the city, you live as if in the desert, being among the noise, you maintain peace and quiet. So you have come out of the test, and this arouses the greatest surprise. A famous theologian says in one place: “What is special about the fact that the snow is cold and the sun is shining? For these are their indispensable properties, even if they did not desire it” 632. Likewise, there is little glory in being silent in the desert and being quiet alone. On the contrary, glory is to live in a city as in a field, and in the midst of noise as in a desert. Therefore, thanks be to God, who, through the prayer of my father and yours, and also through condescension for my sins, keeps you safe and sound. Your glory is also my glory. “Many eyes are watching us and many mouths are talking about us” Since our affairs are like this, when leaving the monastery on business, try to behave, talk, address, talk with the authorities and appear to them with caution, decently, with respectable manners, god-like disposition and respectful speeches. For the more your virtue increases, the more your reward increases. I most sincerely ask you this, my children, do not behave carelessly, indecently and unrestrainedly. For many eyes are watching us and many mouths are talking about us. Try not to be told about you: “Where is their God? (Ps. 78:10), what virtue do they have, what feat do they have? Why do they act so shamelessly and laugh like harlots?” So fear God and do not bring destruction to the entire brotherhood. But speak and do everything as if the Lord hears and sees every word and every deed. For in this way your monastery will exist for a long time, and you will be luminaries in the capital. I wish to tell you many things, and I would like to have the spirit of understanding (Isa. 11:2) so that every hour I can captivate, elevate and lift you up with spiritual vision to heavenly things and, as far as possible, show you the endless, incomprehensible, invisible and unsearchable blessings there, purifying your carnal wisdom and cutting off the obstacles that passions bring. But I do not have the strength necessary for this, you know well how I am overwhelmed by passions - I speak and do not act, I exhort others to run faster, but I myself sit and do not want to take a single step along the steps of virtue. May the Word of God, the Wisdom and Power of the Most High, through the prayers of my father, awaken, raise up, inspire and inspire both me and you in divine love, perfect us in understanding and sanctify our souls and bodies, so that upon leaving this life we may appear pure Judge of all and be worthy to become joint heirs with all the saints from the ages, by the grace and love of mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, through To whom and with whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now and ever and to the endless ages of ages. Amen. About not indulging in carnality, for all this passes like a dream Fathers and brothers. Just as a farmer often comes to his arable land, so I, a sinner, undertake the announcement. He comes to see how the crops grow, and I come to see how things are with the fruits in the vineyard of Christ. And just as he should not hesitate with his visits, so I should not do this with my teachings, for it is useful for both of us. Therefore, I turn and ask you: is there anyone among you who remains unpruned from the dry branches of barrenness, or is there anyone among you who is not dug up due to his unconfessed sins, is there anyone who is not watered due to petrification from the inability to contrite? I hope that you have none of this, but on the contrary, that you bear abundant fruit and are rich in good works of righteousness. My luminaries, flow, ascend to divine heights, become mountains of virtues, so that, as it is said in the Gospel, you shine spiritually in this great city (Matthew 5:14–15). The great weapon for a monk is abstinence The great weapon for a monk is abstinence, for it is an introduction to every virtue, and whoever has obedience is an imitator of Christ; he who is humble in wisdom is equal to the Angels; He who opens his thoughts is as pure as the sun. So, let no one remain without confession, lest he be left unhealed. Seek what is useful and what attracts us to humility, and in every possible way beware of the opposite, for there are some people among you who (I don’t know whether out of ignorance or pride) strive for inappropriate things and, as a result, do not produce mature fruit. Remember where we are and where we will go a little later, how we are connected with the flesh by only one friendship and what we will become after separation from it. As a result, let us listen, be sober, let our minds be constantly directed towards God, let us know the heavenly pleasure received from good, the bitterness of evil and endless suffering in torment. The Lord lives and blessed is God (Ps. 17:47): we will not repent of what we did, namely, that we accepted this holy image, despised everything earthly and cut off our carnal desires with the sword. If we valiantly accomplish our feat, we will rejoice forever. Although I do not endure anything of what I speak about, I do not fast, I do not stay awake, I do not experience ill-suffering in any of the monastic deeds, and I am not subjected to insults, strangling, skin scraping and burning for the love of God, nevertheless I will not allow myself to cleave to anything that is pleasing to the flesh, for all this lasts only a short time and is like a sleepy dream. The reward for this will be eternal and immortal. Strive, child cellarer; be as zealous as possible, cook; you, canonarch, stay awake 633. You, the rest, small and large, first and new, all rejoice, flow faster, be zealous for vigils, services, obedience, and work. May lethargy, anger, bickering, rivalry flee from you, may the mother of murder be driven out - envy, procrastination, laziness, the desire to contradict, acquisitiveness that hides some miserable things. In your mutual relationships, act more out of love, brotherly kindness toward one another, fervent in spirit, working for the Lord, rejoicing in hope, enduring sorrow, remaining in prayer (Rom. 12:10-12), in Christ Jesus our Lord. To Him is due all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About despising present ones for the sake of future benefits, and also about brother Vasily and two pieces of silver Fathers and brothers. Although my announcement is carried out according to the tradition of the fathers, it does not have the same power, for the word of the fathers, supported by good deeds, passed through and reached the depths of the hearts of the listeners, thanks to this great spiritual fruit and growth were obtained. My unworthy voice, since it comes from an unclean and devoid of deeds heart, is as if quiet, weak and unable to excite you. Despite this, I thank you for the fact that you - not as a result of my weak teachings, but as a result of your very ardent love for God - do your work day after day, showing your diligence in living pleasingly to God. Continue, my children, to march, do not cease to be careful, to do useful things, to strive, to observe abstinence, to be satisfied with what is given, to endure all hardships, fasting, scarcity of food, receiving bread by weight, small portions of wine, the difficulty of work, prohibitive attendance at services, hasty departure to church, standing there, staying until the end of the service, as well as insult from a brother, inattention from the steward (for the authorities do not have time to fulfill the desires of each person and, as a result, one is given special attention, while the other remains neglected), removal from relatives, refusal of the desire to visit the parental home, study of poetry, meekness, gentleness, resignation, for if anyone, it is said, complains, then the sin lies on him. This is your torment, this is the suffering of those who are obedient. Torment and suffering of those who are obedient Instead of fire, skewer, instruments for stretching members, wheels, instruments for torture, swords with crosses, the instruments for our torment are all of the above, as well as insults, humiliation, orders, punishment by standing, dry eating, exhaustion of the flesh with abstinence, coercion, the use of bad clothes, shoes, blankets and all sorts of other things necessary in life. And since we, brothers and companions, will be given crowns for our suffering, let us suffer spiritually for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we can then be together with the holy martyrs: then for all the sorrows and oppression associated with this, we will be rewarded with eternal life, inexpressible joy, unapproachable light, joy, where, as it is said, the dwelling place of all who rejoice (Ps. 86:7). We, as a result of our renunciation, have no city, but we will become citizens of the Jerusalem above. We cannot talk about a father according to the flesh, and for this in that century we will find God Himself as our Father. We have no inheritance on earth, but later we will be given a lot with Christ. We have rejected the pleasures of the flesh, that is, all kinds of meat dishes, choice wines, drunkenness, various fish dishes, exquisite bread and everything else, because of which the sensualists call the belly god (Phil. 3:19), but remember that instead you will enjoy what eye cannot see, and ear cannot hear, and the heart of man does not sigh (1 Cor. 2:9). You do not have a wife and do not know conjugal pleasures, but for this you will find the All-Holy Spirit as your spouse, and the sweetness of immortality will embrace you. Therefore, rejoice and, looking at all this, do not stumble, do not hesitate, do not fall, both in the present and in the future, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be. Which ones exactly? Yes, even fire, sword, and death, considering all this a secondary matter, stick to your blissful path. For look at how your brothers are dying—every hour we get closer to death. One died yesterday, the other just a few days ago, the third is also already dying. And who after him? Yes, perhaps I, the accursed one, whose death will be saving for you. I constantly watch and take care of my body, my brain is melting, and my bad flesh is exhausted so that you can all be saved, but since sin operates in me, my work is in vain. [You know that our brotherhood is increasing, you see that brothers have come to us from other places, and others from here are turning to us. But who is really [so] experienced and capable of leading such a herd? And to feed him in the pastures of useful and life-giving teaching, and not to push him into the abyss through negligence, but also to look after and bandage the sick soul, to call upon the lost again, to strengthen the weak, to drive away mental wolves, to firmly establish the flock in pure and strong prayer? All these are the works of the true primate. What can I say to you, looking at my shortcomings, other than to stretch out your holy hands and cry out from [all] your heart to God, so that for your sake the power of [God] would descend upon me and raise me from the fall of sin, and this would become a gift for the improvement of your souls?] 634 The sin of love of money among monks I also want to tell you one grief of my soul. Namely, the deceased brother Vasily 635, due to my sins, did not die with a clear conscience: two silver coins were found on him. Oh, woe to me, inattentive! How did the demon possess him? Why did he need this silver? He compared the two coins to the Kingdom of Heaven! I, my children, do not look at this superficially and worry about it a lot. I often condescended to him when he committed such a sin. After all, to conceal and hide in one’s possession a small copper coin, a needle, a writing tablet or anything else means to be filled with sin. Do you remember, of course, that this is said by Saint Cassian 636? This one sin, according to the divine Mark 637, takes the place of twelve. The unfortunate man, having acquired property, did not acquire either his soul or his heart, and did not fulfill the renunciation, for his soul was in his treasure. Just as someone who stole a whole talent of gold and just one copper coin are equally guilty of theft, although the amount of the stolen goods and the punishment are different, so a monk who renounced everything, even if he only has one needle, will be just as guilty before the Righteous Judge. Woe to me, woe to me, a sinner! How does the devil trip you up? What are you watching? Why are you giving him your consent? Are you not horrified and trembling before the judgment of God? So let us pray, I ask you, my children, for him, let us make three bows (τρεις μετανοίας) and thirty prayers daily for one week, so that the Lord will forgive his sin, if He still wants to forgive. However, He is able to hear our prayer. This short announcement is enough for you for now. And if God gives me a word to open my mouth (Eph. 6:19), then at the right time, or rather, while I live, I, as far as I have the strength, will speak to you, exhort you, teach, instruct and show you both the present and the future, so that we, having somehow been stung by the sting of sin, do not fall into the abyss of destruction, but so that, walking correctly, we achieve the promised blessings in Christ Jesus, Our Lord 638, To Him be glory forever. Amen. About the cohesion of brotherhood in God, namely, that, living in the flesh, brothers are above the body and the world 639 Brothers and fathers. God will visit his garden, which is you; He who planted you as a true vinedresser will give you to drink the water of the Holy Spirit, increase you to the measure of perfection (see Eph. 4:13) and show it to be entirely fruitful and true. After all, this matter is beyond my strength, this occupation is beyond my weakness. I can only say: who am I, Lord, and what is my house? (1 Chron. 17:16), when am I, vile and unclean and not worthy even to be a sheep, so exalted? But He endures and is patient, seeking my turn to Him. For who can stand before Him and appease Him for his various sins? Who can bring down His flock in strength? Who will draw closer to God in order to bring others to Him along with them? I, my children, am separated from Him in a distant corner of the universe. And, however, seeing that you walk correctly, live according to the commandments of God and that each of you tries to overtake and compete with each other [in virtuous living], I rejoice 640. Truly, children, among you God is blessed and receives pure service, and the Holy Spirit rests on your brotherhood. Your face is an angelic choir, your psalmody is the praise of the incorporeal [Forces] and your whole life is a heavenly life, where there is no sign of flesh and blood, no manifestation of personal desires, no concern for perishable things, no care for vain things, no contemptible pleasures and generally nothing that misleads and is misled, as can be seen among the inhabitants of the world working on empty and pitiful things, but everything is full of peace and silence. You have one will, one desire, like the apostles - one heart and soul (Acts 4:32), one path, one desire - to reach 641 God, one life, a common spiritual and carnal property; you are truly a God-called brotherhood, an imitation of the Angels, the ointment that descended on the brotherhood, the brotherhood of Aaron (Ps. 133:2); you live in the flesh and at the same time above the body, you are in the world, but due to dispassion you are outside the world. So, my beloved children, give me your hands, give me, the weak, your help, so that I will be able to lead you. With your past, which many people know, but also with your present life, you have achieved a good and comfortable fatherly standard and, following the middle and royal path, you avoid both extremes. You perform exploits and abstain from them, sleep and stay awake, remain silent and talk, work and rest, pray and ask; if we sometimes allow indulgences and seem to sink down, then we ascend again, and if in one hour we make any omission, then in the next hour we will make up for it, because either the announcement, then Matins, then some other service, then the reading, then the life of the saint, and thus the fallen one again returns to his previous position. We help and protect each other, and if only we have God’s help and the assistance of our father’s prayers, then the devil cannot approach us at all. So, my children, as you have already begun, reject all your will, let everyone take care of his own obedience and, trembling at the curse that threatens a careless and murmuring person, let him in no way do the works of God with negligence (Jer. 48:10). Let the one appointed for observation [ephor 642] (έφορος) observe, the one in charge give orders wisely, let the epitirit 643 (επιτηρών) supervise, the novice, imitating Christ, let him do everything that he is told; Everyone work and follow the time order. Time to work - work; rest time - rest; time of praise - sing; time of prayer - pray properly, cry, sob, as we are called to cry; meal time - let us taste with thanksgiving what is set before us; time for conversation - let's talk rationally, for, as the Word of God says, there is a time for every thing (Eccl. 3:1). He who behaves this way walks successfully: when he eats, he appears as if he is not eating, when he sleeps, he appears as if he is not sleeping, when talking, he is not speaking, and so on, which you can add yourself, since you are people taught by God. May our Lord and God strengthen and strengthen your hearts in all this for His glory, for the praise of me, a sinner, and for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven to all of you who do this, in Christ our Lord, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. About firmly, with divine zeal and quickly completing the field of virtues 644 Fathers, brothers and children. Whenever I need to speak out, I strive to do so, but, realizing my unworthiness, I lose heart and feel cramped and oppressed. At the same time, when I look at how you have multiplied and how some of you are distinguished by prudence, others stand out for their intelligence, others shine with their lives, and still others are famous for their noble origins, then I begin to think that for the general benefit of me, weak, it is better to give up my authority over you than to address you with my weak word, which, although, undoubtedly, stems from a feeling of ardent love for you and care for you, but not bears within itself the signs of a great spirit 645. Indeed, my brethren, I desire that you achieve the expected benefits and that your spiritual sacrifice of obedience is accepted and acceptable. After all, you constantly temper yourself, as it were, by cutting off your will and offer yourself on the spiritual altar in the stench of fragrance (Eph. 5:2) to the Lord God. Therefore, I burn with zeal so that your offering and service may not be defamed, rejected, or lacking any good quality. How can this be achieved? Yes, if you show firmness, patience and strength in prayer, humility in listening to reprimands, instructions, in abstinence, in enduring enemy attacks, and if at the same time no crazy speech comes from your lips. Oh, blessed men, glorious youths, all-blessed fathers, transcendental travelers, needy women and delighters of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 11:12)! I beg you, be strong, endure, flow, complete the race of virtue, win in order to achieve your goal and receive heavenly crowns. Do not, I ask you, run away in vain (Gal. 2:2) and do not labor in vain. After all, you have already accomplished many successes: you left your parents and neighbors, the world and everything worldly, took a vow of virginity, showed non-covetousness, completely broke all connections with all worldly affairs, which are fleeting and lead only to the corruption of death and sin, since you are all one in nature in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28); finally, with your blessed obedience that cleanses you from passions and redeems you from sins, you surrendered yourself to the Heavenly King. How great are your successes! How wonderful are your exploits! So, take care, my brothers, do not fall, do not destroy your high hope with insignificant negligence and petty attempts and do not completely destroy the spiritual church of your successes. Therefore, as pure ones, do everything as it should for the Pure One, offer everything to the God who opposes the proud (Prov. 3:34) with humility, present everything blameless to the Bridegroom Christ. Let your word, it is said, always be in grace, mixed with salt, as it is fitting for you alone to answer each other (Col. 4:6), your address should be imbued with friendliness, your movements, gait and speech should be, as it were, controlled by God and instruct those who look at you. I wish that you all were not like me, since I am not pure and not reasonable, but like our fathers - Akaki, Dositheus, Avvakir, Antiochus, Orsisius, Petronius, as well as Euthymius, Savva 646. I would add here the most perfect Anthony 647. But we can name examples that are even higher than them. In the united body of brotherhood no one is deprived of anything So, my brothers, enrich yourself in virtues, collect treasures from tears, contrition, long-suffering, labors and exploits, depending on the gift sent down to you, for one has a God-given talent for one thing, and another for another. Whoever is superior to his neighbor in one way, and is defeated by him in another, should not be upset by this and do not envy him. For everyone has as much as God has divided, which is the measure of faith (Rom. 12:3). After all, in reality no one is deprived of anything. For you all form one body with many members, and, by the greatest goodness of God, the successes of individuals pass on to everyone else: she accepts each of you as everyone and everyone as each individual. Oh, divine substitution and humane transference! Don't dare not believe it! If you continue in this way to the end of the race, then who can be as successful as you in Christ Jesus our Lord? 648 To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. About the most perfect life, namely, that it leads to endless life Fathers and brothers. The farmer usually strives to reap on his land what he has sown. Likewise, a merchant can get as much profit as he tried during his sea and land travels. And in general, almost every person tries to collect the fruits of his labors and, having collected them, rejoices. So I, the only sinner on earth and an unworthy slave, since I worked somewhat on you, plowed and sowed the word of truth in your honest hearts, - I also begin to reap my fruits and gather in enormous quantities your abundant harvest of virtues. I didn't press as much as I sowed; I only sowed a small amount. I collected a lot, but worked a little, received a huge profit, but worked very little, the opposite of how the loud Isaiah exclaims: where ten husbands of oxen look, he will make one pot, and he who sows six Artavas will create three measures (Is. 5:10). This was all done by your own grace and the fertility of your good soul. And I, insignificant and weak, am horrified and lost. After all, who am I to rule over such souls? Because of your valiant obedience, and also because you follow in the footsteps of our ancient fathers, I become glorious before God and men. For, my beloved children, although I am possessed by many passions and many sinners, but you, by the grace of God and with the assistance of the prayers of my and your father, were able to take up the most perfect life in the present generation, gathered together, closely united with each other, as the rule requires, and lead a strange life compared to others, completely renouncing flesh and blood and being born again spiritually from the will of God (see John. 1:13; 3:3). While still alive, you have already died voluntarily; while still in the flesh, you work on what is higher than it; love for your parents does not possess you and did not hold you back; no city and no country enrolls you among its citizens; you do not have a designated home and fatherland. Thus, the words of the apostle are fulfilled for you: our life is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Further, you endure sorrow, exhaustion, torment, suffering both night and day: fast, watch, you are driven hither and thither, you exhaust your flesh, become exhausted, suffer from the cutting off of your will, and for this you will be worthy of hearing that this is a narrow and sorrowful path, which only a few follow, since the majority flow along the wide and spacious path that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13). So rejoice, children, rejoice and be glad, for your reward is collected in heaven (Matthew 5:12). If you remain steadfast in your obedience to the very end and achieve the ineffable light, then what could be more desirable than that? What could be more blessed than this if you are worthy to become fellow saints? What could be more wonderful than this if you become residents of paradise, where the Lord accepted the thief and where there is incorruptibility and an abundance of all eternal blessings and water flowing into the eternal belly (John 4:14)? What could be more magnificent than when you, being joint heirs with Christ, begin to shine like the sun with all the righteous? What and how great a sacrament will there be for your joy at the time when all creation appears before the face of the terrible and terrible judgment seat of Christ our God, when He appears before all His countless angelic armies, when a fiery river flows before Him, a worm that never sleeps and is eager to attack sinners crawls up and opens to devour the condemned, hell, and also pitch darkness, the most terrible places for torment, when demons will be bound by Angels and subjected to beatings, when some will hear the desired, and others, on the contrary, bitter voice and, finally, disperse: those standing on the right hand will go to the Kingdom of Heaven, and those standing on the left will go with the demons to eternal torment. Therefore, brothers, companions and comrades, let us courageously endure the circumstances of this life, let us bear carnal warfare and put out the fire that is kindling in our members. We will endure the work of vigilance, fasting, obedience, bodily labor, we will endure the cutting off of our desires, we will endure the insults caused by our brothers, as well as the work of psalmody and prayer, we will endure bad shoes that are given to us against our desire, as well as all kinds of clothes - dirty, patched, disheveled, and torn. Let us trample on glory, satisfy anger, weaken despondency, overcome emotional movements, stop chattering lips, let us use words moderately, only for benefit, let us endure the labors of our obediences, and above all this, the Lord God, mighty and mighty and wondrous in His saints (Ps. 67:36), through the prayer of my father and yours, may He grant you unanimity and like-mindedness, and may you be worthy, kept in one spirit and in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3), abide without stumbling in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. About humility, as well as about your own way of life Brothers and fathers. To the extent of the strength given to me, I think I did not omit or hold back anything that was useful and necessary for your life, although, due to my weakness, I did not do it properly and as it should be. Nevertheless, I have declared everything in order to save myself from the punishment threatened, according to Scripture, for silence (Ezek. 3:17-19), and in this way to kindle and arouse your zeal for fulfilling the commandments of God, so that you would be perfect in everything and lack nothing. And so I seem to taste the fruits not of my labors, but of the labors of mine and your father (for only thanks to him the gift of speech was given to me), that is, your successes in virtue, namely: your inextricable unity, close unanimity, renunciation of past family ties - with parents, brothers and sisters and relatives in general, further, God-imitating humility, competition with your fathers in obedience and zeal for the fulfillment of everything that is required by this holy image. After all, if I had not started preaching, then you would not have shown such activity. If I had neglected this duty of mine, would you not have shied away from it too? I say meaninglessly (2 Cor. 11:21), I am like a musician on a perfectly tuned zither, that is, on your brotherhood. Whatever string I strike, a pleasant sound is obtained and the whole sounds harmonious: there is nothing in it that is easily torn or loose, but everything is taut, attractive to the soul, virginal and godlike. I will also compare you to chariots: you run beautifully in mutual competition with each other and run laps in the spiritual arena, so that, having reached your death from this life after seventy [years], you will find yourself a reward for victory on the lists of the coming age. Imagining you in this way, I, my brothers, rejoice and delight, and with my teachings I sometimes drive and stab you like a goad, sometimes I beat and hasten you - in both cases with the fear and mental anguish that I must feel. So this is how things stand with us, and you, therefore, follow after our fathers and take the same path. We set about it and have been observing it for a long time. And at first, as Abba Dorotheos says, we acted awkwardly, were at a loss and were in strong mental darkness 649 (although some young monks do not know this), and then, with the help of God, we began to little by little succeed in one thing or another, we felt cheerful, filled with zeal (for the Lord is able to fulfill what He promised) and thus achieved our present state. Of course, it is not high and does not equal the lives of the fathers. Nevertheless, it, being small, but corresponding to our own strengths, is not despised by God and is not deprived of His attention. If you please, look and you will find it to be true. For among us there reigns harmony, unanimity, one desire, and, as it is told in Acts (Acts. 2:44), community of property, so that no one calls anything his own, and then one also notices what follows from this, namely: unhypocritical obedience, which, as past cases have shown, reaches the shedding of blood, well-ordered behavior, directed according to my instructions and in accordance with the truth, so that the first among you place themselves last and the last, on the contrary, are exalted, the young, but gray-haired in intelligence are superior to real old men and do not trust one who speaks a lot, reads well or has a good voice, and who is distinguished by the opposite qualities and who is rich not in empty words, but in deeds. Further, our way of life and rules regarding food and drink [are established] according to the commandments written by Saint Theodosius 650. I am omitting now, in order not to say too much, the most difficult and difficult task to carry out is the use of common clothing, as well as everything else that is indicated by the rules and commandments. In all this, children, the strength of piety was revealed in you: the Lord is good, so that you constantly and intensively succeed in goodness in accordance with what you have already achieved and know no limit in this ascent. These are your deeds, this is how you distinguished yourself, although not all of them (I want to prick the careless with this, so that they, fearing the word, rush to what should be done). I myself, my beloved children, have nothing and deserve all contempt: I have neither Spirit, nor light, nor purification, nor brilliance, nor contemplation, nor ascension, nor success, nor aspiration, nor flow; I am completely abandoned, passionate, gloomy, devoid of the ability to contemplate, not organized, not strengthened, immature and not approved for salvation. As a result of this, how can I show that my life is an imitation of my father’s life? Therefore, I need to free myself somewhat from the gravest sleep of despondency, look up and rise upward, for the sky, where my father’s life stands, is high, and the earth, where I am with my earthly deeds, is deep (Proverbs 25:3); This is a great distance for me, fathers and brothers. How will I ascend the mountain of the Lord? How can I stand on His holy mountain when I am not innocent in hand and pure in heart (Ps. 24:3-4)? But with the help of your prayers, I hope that someday I will begin to do this, since otherwise it is impossible for you yourself to walk well, despite the fact that you have lived happily to this day. I cannot show any particular freshness of strength and accomplish anything great. And you help me in not changing in any way, unless absolutely necessary, the way of life that I have chosen to establish for myself. And let no one, out of pity for me, neither now, nor after, nor through my father, nor through any other person, turn to me with a request to return to my previous way of life; for this he will receive from me, insignificant, condemnation, and not blessing, since such a person does not intend good either for me or for himself. After all, if, my children, I do not ascend, then you cannot ascend; if I do not lead you, then you will not be able to follow me; If I am not armed with this weapon, then I cannot go ahead of you against the principalities, the authorities and the rulers of the darkness of the world (Eph. 6:12); If I do not discover in myself, albeit to an insignificant and insignificant extent, the properties of the lives of the saints, then you will not be able to become participants in the glory of their children. What do you tell me about this? Am I telling the truth or am I wrong? I do all this, I think, because I love you more than yourself, and not for myself. If you point to someone else’s example, then you will find a lot of such people, more than seven thousand, but they are all saved, but I am not. I don't look at one or the other. But I look only at the commandment and the life of my father, which I was commanded to achieve. Fulfill, children, this request of mine, and may He who gives prayer to those who pray and blesses the righteous bless and accomplish all your work (Heb. 13:21) in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About how all subordinates should live Fathers, brothers and children. How, in your opinion, should I rejoice and be glad, seeing your spiritual and indissoluble communication, continually abiding and ever increasing in divine justifications! After all, you really grow and are strengthened in the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom of God is manifested in you. This is precisely what I rejoice in and reject the frivolity of my negligence, reflecting on the wealth that you are collecting with me. After all, since fathers according to the flesh, seeing the success of their children in worldly affairs, rejoice and have fun, how much more should we experience this - if only we are worthy to be called spiritual fathers - when we see you who have achieved perfection in the Lord? You, children, have enriched me with your own deeds, and I am no longer ashamed of the poverty of my deeds, having become rich with your help. You glorified me, I will even say, you made me king, due to the fact that you yourself reign over passions as over nations, you placed on your spiritual head the crown of the beauty of virtues. Ascend by gradual improvements (ταΐς κατά μικρόν προσθιηκαις) to the heights of dispassion, compete with each other on the lists of piety, rejecting previous passions, shaking off love for the world like dust from your feet, inspired by the desire for love Divine, soaring like spiritual doves to heavenly reflections, looking up and ascending to the things above, where is our head Christ, where are our rewards, where is our indestructible home 651 (η άλυτος κατοικία), where our possession is destined. Your struggle is wonderful, your flow is magnificent, your occupation is very good, the heights of your contemplation of God are amazing. You are not of this world, the Lord said to his disciples (John 15:19; 17:16), and at the same time to you, children. From you, in the words of the apostle, the image of this world passes away (1 Cor. 7:31), therefore you remain safe and inaccessible to moral corruption 652. You, being as if disembodied and disembodied angels, are not limited by place and seem to dominate everything. After all, the believer owns, as they say, the whole world. You remain without inheritance and part, because your portion and lot is God alone. You are left without your fatherland and your city, because your fatherland and city is Jerusalem above, the main city of Paul and other saints. Therefore, do not look at earthly things, do not forsake the Lord - the source of life, do not dig a disastrous pit of iniquity for yourself, do not be carried away by the base, pleasant affairs of this age, taking advantage of the joy of the Lord and contemplating the church of His virtues, and do not consider that there is anything great and blessed under heaven, except for the Divine title that you have and with which you are endowed by the Lord of all. You have become enlightened and white as snow (cf. Isa. 1:18), you have become as wet as milk, you have been adorned like bridegrooms, you have been united by the like-mindedness of the Spirit. Grace to you... from God the Father and the Lord... Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3). May your thoughts be strengthened even more and more, and may you be even more able to penetrate the depths of spiritual pursuits, so that in such your best and angelic life you can truly appear as soldiers of Christ; turning away from the devil, driving away passions, accepting love and serving God (which in your life should not be assessed either carefree or frivolously), being diligent in ministries, quick in acts of obedience and vigorous in vigils, showing leniency to each other and being in agreement, yielding and taking advantage of concessions from others, reflecting on the benefit, each time you humble yourself before your neighbor; when you are insulted, do not respond with anger and do not object; when you indulge in abstinence, then do not laugh or talk idlely, and generally behave piously and avoid prying eyes, harmful insolence and disastrous communication. Who is there among you who rejoices, delights, and celebrates daily in pure prayer, in shedding tears, in abstaining from offensive words, in submitting to the appointed service, in neglecting the dress that must be worn, or shoes, and all other necessary things? Such a blessed one, and I would like to benefit from his inheritance, although he does not even know the alphabet. Let us, brethren, study—I am speaking about this not from personal experience, but from hearing—the sweetness of the Divine, the pleasure of humility, the meekness of obedience, the height of cutting off one’s will. However, you, for the most part, know this and do it, but I only slightly encourage you with the sharpness of the word so that the healing of divine love abides in your souls, which will again delight and arouse the readiness of your heart. Oh, that I could lighten the weight of your carelessness! Oh, if I had the power to tame and soften the inflexibility of your thoughts! Oh, that I would take advantage of washing your feet, removing abundant idle talk from your hearts 653 and awakening you to a more godly life, so that you, strengthened, would walk even faster! But may abundant grace from God be given to you, and with one mouth and one heart and mind we will all give glory to His goodness for what we have achieved, begging Him to meet us well in the future and to give a good end to those who follow us in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. On enduring the flame of lust 654 My children, brothers and fathers. I am your debtor and am obliged to watch and care for your souls, since I am unworthy in this greatest rank, and I will not cease to tell you about useful things, partly on the basis of fatherly tradition, partly on the basis of the study of the Divine Scriptures, partly on the basis of my limited experience, although the very first of you are most capable of offering instructions on the guidance of personal experience and of edifying others. After all, the first slanderer (άρχιδιάβολος) 655, Satan, who fell from the heavenly heights, received from God and the Lord of all the freedom to tempt the unfortunate person. And from Adam to the present time he has touched every generation and passed through every soul. And those whom he found confirmed in divine fear and in the holy commandments, he did not shake or captivate - on the contrary, he was driven very far from them, and those whom he found corrupted and defeated by the onslaughts of passions, he subjugated them and cast them into the abyss of destruction. Therefore, we, children, must stay awake and be well aware of his thoughts and his many different tricks. After all, he is darkness and, however, appears as light (see 2 Cor. 11:44); maliciously, he, however, hypocritically appears in the form of an adviser, and in general all his charm is bitterness and light - darkness 656. In the announcement of the previous day, something was told to you about this, and, however, some, due to my sins, fell, and if you did not understand it exactly, in any case, you clearly heard: if I had not come and spoken to them, says the Lord, they had no sin, but now they have no guilt about their sin (John 15:22). And I, my child, had to express and speak, perhaps even more sad, although for many it was not necessary. But for the edification of some, let those who are safe also hear. In the Holy Proverbs it is written: if they pray to you, saying: come with us, share blood, let us hide in the land a righteous man unjustly and other similar things, do not listen, do not go on the road with them, son, turn your foot away from their paths (Proverbs 1:11, 15). And I, children, will add the following to you. If someone begins to watch [you] and follow you, retire to corners and lure you into secret places, then start conversations, prompted, of course, by his mood, or better yet, by Satan’s intention, and begins to say: “I love you” (auat θσε) or: “I want to tell you something, if only you keep the secret,” then know that in these places and times, in these lips and speeches, there is the devil, but the Lord does not remain. Therefore, run as quickly as possible, dodge and escape as if from fire, as from a two-edged sword, as from a robber and murderer, and quickly tell about what happened. For if you once, out of ignorance or out of sympathy, agree to listen, then immediately, seduced by a feeling of pleasure, you will begin to persuade yourself to answer, and this wicked advice will drag the souls of both to death. For those who know, I can tell you in more detail. And don’t be surprised, children. After all, we are made of flesh and blood, we have fire in our insides, I mean the fire of passions, although we have chosen virginity - a blessed gift and heavenly mercy. Our task truly is to live disembodied while in the flesh, to live disembodied and, so to speak, not to burn in fire, to be dispassionate in passions, because how honorable our dignity is and how much the feat requires labor, so great will be the reward of bribery. After all, if we wish, we are Angels on earth: just as they do not have marriage, so we do not have it either; nevertheless, the star fell from heaven (Is. 14:12) and one of the twelve disciples of Christ became a traitor. Let you, child, be frightened by the fire of Sodom, the impudent lawlessness against the Angels of God (Gen. 12:5), Ham, who mocked the nakedness of his father (Gen. 9:22), Amnon’s corruption of his sister (2 Sam. 13:14), the sin that arose in Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1), and all the accusations in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Be afraid of falling from the sky. Always look at God with your mind, instead of passionate spectacles, try to have a desire for immortality, instead of disastrous sin, enjoy the most beautiful beauties of paradise, instead of curiously looking at beautiful faces, contemplate Divine phenomena. All this is achieved in wakefulness, tears, tenderness, in lamentation, confession, proper silence, in feasible work, curiosity, reading, in tender prayer, in constant remembrance of death. Do all this, my children, think about it with joy, because whatever you experience, you will endure for the sake of the Lord who suffered for us and who has prepared eternal rest for you. Pray also for the one who talks about this, but does nothing because of the wickedness that is inherent in me, so that I too may be fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About the joyful performance of penances My fathers, brothers and children. Since in some announcements I have to turn to reprimands, do not let your heart be troubled (John 10:27) and not be irritated, because you must adhere to the conviction that whether I reprove or call, threaten, exhort or do anything else, all this happens for no other reason than to save you by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Thess. 5:28). I know that you accept me in everything, unworthy, and love me more than hate me when I reprove you. And here the words are fulfilled on you: rebuke the wise, and she will love you (Prov. 9:8), and again: the wounds of a friend are more reliable than the free kiss of an enemy (Prov. 27:6). Therefore, if you, children, begin to patiently accept the word of my humility, then, although it is in itself fruitless, because it does not come from the good treasure of the heart (see Matt. 12:35), it will, however, by the grace of God (I am sure of this!) be saving for you and will become a parting word to eternal life. I am convinced that, together with your host, I will be saved, following your good deeds, I will begin to do good, and by your glory, I will be glorified. Now is the time acceptable, as the apostle says, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). So, my most honest brethren, let us strive together, let us work, act profitably and move forward well; acquiring the stable and abiding in the impermanent and changing 657, we, through our ascetic labors, will achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. Again and again I ask: let us be a little patient until we become stronger in our labors to create virtue 658. Therefore, let the younger one strive, and the older one should hurry, the young man should be courageous, the one who has reached maturity should improve even more, and the old one should strive; In general, no one should be careless, neglect or be indecisive, because the day, my brethren, is at hand and the time of life for each of us is fulfilled. After all, what and how much longer will we live? How and how long will we live so that we can escape the general punishment? No, this is impossible: who is the man who will live and not see death? (Ps. 89:49). And if we all must die, then what does this deceptive life mean, passing like a shadow, like a dream, although for many it seems pleasant and blissful? But good, good for us, who think wisely and before death became dead by killing ourselves by obedience. Indeed, my brethren, you have been wise in this regard, you have already received the greatest benefit from it and have done the proper deeds. You are truly called of God, not of men or through men, but by grace you were called and sanctified and exalted in this sacred calling. What, finally, should you look for? And so that, having lived the remaining days of your life immaculately, holyly and righteously, you will inherit that which no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has breathed into the heart of man (1 Cor. 2:9). I say this not in relation to human views, not with the intention of ridiculing or misleading you. You yourself know that what I am talking about is the truth, and we, with insufficient intelligence, are not able to properly and completely reveal the truth of our deeds in our speeches. But since it is possible to separate human thought and - to a certain extent - to contemplate the truth directly, then we, once we have understood it, will correct ourselves even more, weep great sources of tears, show great zeal, we will be grateful when we are subjected to penance, we will rejoice when we are persecuted, we will be glad when we are reproached, and we will find even greater peace when we are deprived, subjected to contempt and condemnation. And what else should I say? If the spark of love for God begins to burn in your heart every day, then we will strive to ensure that our flesh is subjected to torture, and members are cut off, and blood is shed. For the martyrs, having loved Him, endured this, and the saints, having loved Him, endured this. May you also be with them, my children, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. On imitation of the acts of the holy fathers I cannot and am not able to carry out proper supervision of you worthy of you - for the reason that not only the care and concern for all of you is considerable, but also the great idle talk, foolishness, fear and confusion of my heart. After all, I don’t know anything about the temptation that happened yesterday and the day before. Didn’t the enemy and adversary burst in and kidnap one brother from our God-chosen army? But, by the grace of Christ, he was returned. What else? Along with so much and great tension of my humble word, together with divine reading and paternal instruction, together with constant prayer and teaching in the rules, aren’t there still worries and cowardice, noisy conversations and disobedience, arrogance and vanity, inactivity and impudence, deep sleep (and even during the canon), carelessness and coldness, impatience and cowardice of some every day? After all, I will not blame everyone - otherwise it will be unfair. How should I deal with all this, in your opinion? And how I need to be depressed, grieve and despair about my life! After all, the reason, as said, is my varied and countless sins. How did the holy ascetics live? So, children, pay attention to the ancient generations and see how our fathers lived. You know the length of their abstinence and the inflexibility of their patience. They labored for more than one or two years, or even more than a dozen years, but one remained silent for so many years, and the other for so many years; this one or that one was in obedience, the other was assigned to such and such a service, the other was devoted to such and such an occupation. And their zeal was fiery, driving away all hesitation and showing the soul the path according to God, so they rushed from the worldly to the heavenly, perceived the good light, looking with attention with mental eyes. And the hardships of life according to God were pleasant for them, and the roughness and unevenness of pious activities were smooth and passable. Let the listener remember the great Anthony, the enlightened Euthymius, the Sanctified Savva, the blessed Theodosius, the glorious Hilarion, the equal-angel Arsenius. If you wish, remember also Theodore the Sanctified, the all-praised Dositheus, the blessed Dometian, the beloved Habakir, the most reverend Menas, the God-loving Acacius and all who were with them 659. “How will I be with Job,” says Basil the Great in one of his most sacred words, “if I did not bear with gratitude the misfortune that happened to me?” And again: “How will I be together with David if I did not courageously fight against the enemy?” 660 And I, children, will add the following to you. How will you or I be together with the above-mentioned fathers if we do not follow in their footsteps, if we do not imitate their lives as much as possible? After all, the one who humbles himself and every time brings himself down into the depths of humility, ascends to heaven. He who obeys unquestioningly and motivates himself to every good obedience will be called the son of God. Firm and unshakable in the martyrdom of confessing himself before God, not deceiving himself and not stealing anything from the other brothers, he will confess together with Paul and say: who will separate us from the love of God? Is it tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or trouble, or a sword? (Rom. 8:35). Dispassionate and not bound by parental love, family and worldly relationships, he will boldly say with David: my soul comes to You, but Your right hand has accepted me (Ps. 62:9). Anyone who spends the whole day in tenderness and fear from the words of God, in contemplation of death and contemplation of migration [from this life], will say: I will not die, but I will live, and I will tell the works of the Lord (Ps. 117:17). He who keeps the commandments and rules, is in a pious state, keeps silence in good time and speaks in good time, will be crowned in heaven. Who ascends to heaven and is the son of God Finally, children - if, of course, you believe that I advise you beautifully and tell the truth - I proclaim with a loud voice: while time permits and the holiday continues, while the needs of the Kingdom of Heaven are admired (Matthew 11:12), let us strive, restore our strength, hasten in sacred deeds, because it is written: you will not know the hour of the day, in the same day the Son of Man will come (Matt. 25:13). To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. About continuously working 661 for salvation My fathers, brothers and children. The combination of circumstances and the visit of arriving clergy and secular persons distract us, one might say, from prayer, and from reading, and from communication 662 with you, so I cannot offer you the usual announcement. But I am sure that you make up for my shortcomings by praying for my humility, studying and singing for my wretchedness. And you, children, strive for your goal, fight the good fight (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12) and do the work of God, working one after another and doing things, both spiritual and physical, and in no way allow an interruption in your wonderful activity, in your life as angels and in your blessed stay. So many are in a hurry and struggle in the affairs of the world, acquire perishable things and cannot use them even in this life, but as a result of either human injustice, or the arbitrariness of the authorities, or the villainy of kidnappers, or a shipwreck at sea, or for some other reasons that are difficult to enumerate, they are completely deprived of what they acquired through many labors and worries. Your work, my fathers, remains inalienable, is in gradual increase, and is eternal. For neither the king, nor the boss, nor the ruler, nor the villain can ever take it away. A perishable matter and an eternal matter Therefore it is fitting that you should rejoice and be glad (cf. Matt. 5:12), but not as the world rejoices and be glad, because you are not of the world (cf. John 15:19), but are, my brethren, the election of God. It is necessary that you ease your situation and strengthen yourself with hopes for future benefits and not become exhausted in the face of the sorrows that occur. You know that you reign in the Lord, having strength against passions. After all, what is better – flesh or soul? It is clear that it is the second. Therefore, you, my fathers, truly dominate, for the one who is inaccessible to human fears, invincible by human glory and indifferent to the desires of the world, being independent in relation to sin, should rightly be called the master of the world (δεσπότης κόσμου). Do not wear a gold-wrought crown with pearls and precious stones, for this is a flowing and impermanent substance, 663 but place on the honest head of your soul the crown of the beauty of glory. Who is the master of the world Do not put on a robe of purple and gold, but put on the multi-colored robe of virtues, woven by God and valued much more than gold and precious stones. And the appearance of your soul is beautiful, and all your glory within, according to the psalmist David, is robed with gold and speckled (Ps. 44:14). So, my children, remain strong for a little while longer, and I will remind you of what awaits you in the Kingdom of Heaven: light, life, joy, glory, gladness, bliss, immortality, prosperity, incorruption. And since such great benefits are coming, who will not hurry, who will not achieve and acquire, who will not be willing to endure everything just to receive the one thing sought and found by few (cf. Matthew 7:14)? After all, it is said that women in need delight the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 11:12), few walk through the strait gate (Matthew 7:13), and few are the flock which our Heavenly Father has chosen (Luke 12:32). I speak about this briefly - due to the late hour. And may the God of peace (Heb. 13:20), who sends the gift of prayer to the one who prays and blesses the righteous, strengthen, bless and guide you to every good and godly work in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. On abstinence not only from food, but also from passions 664 What does Lent require? Brothers and fathers. I will announce to you some few reminders. As you know, the Holy Pentecost is currently underway. It requires from us spiritual exploits even more than the previous time, namely, it requires zeal, inspiration, tension, abstinence, patience, prayer reaching to heaven, tearful tenderness, timely silence, proper conversation, unquestioning obedience, humility with heartfelt contrition, appropriate moderation, abstinence not only from varied and satisfying food and drink, but also from envy and hatred, anger and discord, rage, murmuring, pride and every other vile passion. So, children, look at yourself and be careful, I ask you. Cleanse yourself from everything mentioned above, prepare yourselves as chosen vessels (cf. Acts 9:15), organs that are harmonious with God, and psalms most acceptable for the reception of the Holy Spirit. For this is what time calls for; this is what fasting consists of. Don’t tell me: “I sing and verse so much and often, I pray so much, I eat very little and drink very little, I sleep sitting up, I kneel a lot, I stretch out my hands to the eternal sky.” External and internal feats Of course, and this is worthy of approval, why not? But let everyone talk to me about whether he has a cast-down thought, a contrite spirit and a cut-off will, so that he is always obedient, never contradicts, does not complain at all, and even once did not show any strife, does not envy his brother, does not plot anything against his neighbor, does not think about vain things and does not talk idle talk about both, why is he in such a position and why? For some reason this happens so, because from this the heart becomes coarser and the face changes, and also arise - not from the good treasure of the soul, but from the evil one - speeches and idle talk of unbelief, dispassion and despondency, which lead to the destruction of not only the speaker himself, but also those who listen to him. This, brethren, is not the work of fasting; this is not the fruit of abstinence. But if someone, as has been said, has humility and obedience, then the subordinate, with the help of these two justifications, as if on some wings, flies to heaven, and this is not surprising. Two wings to heaven: humility and obedience Although I say this, something unworthy is happening among you. Just as the earth, if left uncultivated for a short time, produces tares, so among you, I affirm, some of the less prudent and temperate ones actually strive for the imperfect, question, quarrel and contradict, lend and change, look and exchange glances, seek something and run around like children, spread news and worldly interests, and about what - about clothes, shoes and similar unimportant items. Why, guys, does this happen? Will this really serve to your praise? And is this what your post is all about? On the contrary, isn’t this mainly your downfall and humiliation? Why are you not content with what you are given? Why don't you remember the day of retribution? Why don't you look at the time ahead? Why aren't you always the same? No one [of his own free will] should neither take, nor dress, nor put on shoes, nor eat, nor drink, but is obliged to do this as required by need and duty and as the head of the monastic household orders. After all, perhaps you, who strive for the best, are completely unworthy of what you wear, and yet you, being unworthy, grumble and seek the best, whereas you should be in humility. Look how great the condemnation you are heaping on your own head. Is this worthy of true monks or chosen novices? It won't happen! This is the behavior of mercenaries and slaves who achieve this or that because they work under coercion and enslavement or for wages. But the native son, knowing that everything belongs to the father, is not like them and, as a lover, is himself loved by his father, always, as you know, remains under the authority of his father and expresses every request affectionately, in a timely manner and with love for his father 665. But haven’t we chosen to serve God and the Lord of all, as faithful servants? So, my most sincere brothers, let us serve Him as our own sons - in accordance with the above comparison. Then do not talk empty words about my humble words, because everyone like that will talk empty words for his eternal punishment, but write them in your pure souls. And those who have not fallen into these sins, rejoice and protect yourself, and those who have sinned, be healed with the help of edification. If anyone continues to commit violations, then penance will befall him. Alas, alas, how among people good does not provoke competition and is difficult to achieve, while evil excites imitation and is easily achievable! No one pays attention to the patient, to the one dressed in rags, suffering from the cold, despised, poorly nourished, neglected, well-behaved, humble and striving for the Divine likeness. But everyone, one might say, tries to look at the worst, at the more searching, contradictory, insulting, murmuring, well-dressed, pampered, resting - and such a person brings evil upon himself and becomes the son of perdition. But have mercy, have mercy, O Lord, and, having covered our souls with Your mercy, grant us to fulfill Your will and carry out Your commandments, so that we, distributing our lives with the greatest accuracy in everything and in every way, may achieve Your promised blessings in the Kingdom of Heaven, for all glory, honor and worship are due to You forever and ever. Amen. Translation from the Greek manuscript. See the preface to this volume. In TFS: “reprimands”. – Ed. In the NPB there is an inscription: “That cleansing from passions should be called repentance.” – Ed. In NPB: “May the Lord and God of my father, by grace and heavenly gifts, preserve you, adorn you, form you, and quicken you to that which is pleasing to Him. For to Him be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen". – Ed. Wed: Rev. John of Damascus. Philosophical chapters, 7. – Ed. Plephre is a measure of length of one hundred feet. See: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 1. P. 319. – Ed. Wed. with the famous saying of St. Basil the Great, repeatedly repeated by the Venerable. Theodore in polemics with the iconoclasts: “the honor given to the image goes back to the Prototype” (St. Basil the Great. On the Holy Spirit, 45 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 135. – Ed. St. Gregory the Theologian. Homily 32, 1 // St. Gregory the Theologian. Creations. T. 1. P. 392. – Ed. According to NPB, a more suitable translation is: “the enduring celebration of all saints and the inheritance of God.” – Ed. See: Memorable tales. Ava Arseny, 40. – Ed. In TFS: “deified.” – Ed. In TFS: “in the capital.” – Ed. In the NPB the words “and also to the holy prayer and assistance of my and your father” are missing. – Ed. Wed: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Great Announcement I, 14; II, 55; 107; III, 37. – Ed. The Greek phrase πνεύματα πολλά της πονηρίας can also be translated as “many spirits of evil” (cf. Eph. 6:12). – Ed. The NPB has a different inscription: “For employees to be cheerful in difficulties.” – Ed. There is no proposal for a gardener in NPB. – Ed. See: Memorable tales. Avva Agathon, 29. -Ed. See: St. Palladium of Elenopolsky. Lavsaik, 15. – Ed. There is no end to the announcement in the manuscript. There is no beginning of the announcement in the manuscript. In the NPB the inscription: “Every creation of God’s hands is worthy of wonder.” – Ed. See note. us. 337. – Ed. The TFS was missing a fragment highlighted in brackets; its translation is given according to the NPB edition. T. 9/2. P. 59–60. – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Rules stated at length, 46; Prologue 6, 1; Rules summarized 46–47; Letter 22, 3 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 2. P. 215, 121, 237–239, 483. – Ed. In TFS: “everyone’s mood.” – Ed. In TFS it is erroneous: “death at the door.” – Ed. In this case, Rev. Theodore, speaking of Christ as the Father, does not confuse the Persons of the Holy Trinity, but means the creation and adoption of man, in which He appears as a Father for us, and not for Himself. – Ed. NPB: "the mysteries of our reasoning" (πέρας του μυστηρίου της διαλέξεως ημών). – Ed. In the NPB there is no talk about the progumen and the assistant steward. – Ed. The NPB does not contain the words “with the prayers of my father and yours.” – Ed. Wed: Mal. 3:6; Number 23:19; Ps. 101:28. These words from Rev. Theodore the Studite, close in meaning to biblical expressions spoken on behalf of God, point to one of the aspects of the ideal of monastic life - the desire to achieve internal spiritual stability and immutability (in the sense of loyalty to God and oneself in good), and also express one of the main ideas of Christianity (and monasticism in particular) - the need for the greatest possible imitation of God and His properties for a person. – Ed. St. Gregory the Theologian. Homily 32, 7 // St. Gregory the Theologian. Creations. T. 1. P. 395. – Ed. There is an omission in the Greek manuscript. See: Kirill Skifopolsky. Life of St. Euthymius the Great, 16. – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Conversation 2, 7 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 881. – Ed. See: St. Athanasius the Great. Life of Rev. Antonia, 9. – Ed. The NPB continues to the end of the announcement: “Be worthy, so that together with Him you may be rewarded with the enjoyment of eternal blessings, so that you may valiantly end your life in Christ Himself, our God. To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen". – Ed. St. Gregory the Theologian. Sermon 37, 16 // St. Gregory the Theologian. Creations. T. 1. P. 439. – Ed. In NPB, instead of this phrase: “Strive, child of the economy, be diligent. Be more zealous, protopresbyter, and help with me.” – Ed. The fragment given in parentheses was missing from the TFS; translation made according to the NPB publication. T. 9/2. P. 185–186. – Ed. The NPB does not name him. – Ed. See: Rev. John Cassian. Institutions of the Egyptian ascetics 4, 3–4; 7, 6–7, 21. – Ed. Rev. Mark the Ascetic. 200 chapters on spiritual law, 135 – Ed. The NPB continues: “To whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen". – Ed. In the NPB the inscription: “That the brethren should be in unity and harmony and not be envious.” – Ed. The NPB adds, “though I myself am a sinner.” – Ed. Ephor – observer, guardian. – Ed. See p. 93 of this edition. – Ed. In NPB the inscription: “About being jealous of the beautiful and achieving it through work.” – Ed. The NPB is more precise: “but from a small spirit it is known.” – Ed. See note. us. 246, 349, 309, 302, 243. – Ed. In the NPB the list is slightly different: Akakios, Dositheus, Basil, Orsisius, Petronius, Avvakyr, Antiochus, Agapius, Aetius, Euthymius, Savvas. Instead of mentioning Anthony, it is written: “I would add Vasily and Gregory here.” – Ed. The NPB continues: “To whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.” – Ed. See: Rev. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. Soulful teachings 10, 105. – Ed. See note. us. 302. – Ed. In TFS: “eternal dwelling.” – Ed. Another translation is possible: “do not mix with corruption.” – Ed. The NPB is more precise: “to wash the feet of your hearts and rid you of much idle talk.” – Ed. In TFS it is inaccurate: “flame of passion.” – Ed. In TFS: “the first devil.” – Ed. Wed: Rev. Barsanuphius and John. Guide to Spiritual Life 58; 59. – Ed. In TFS: “remaining”. – Ed. Further in the TFS the sentence is missing: “Apply labor, as they say, in your youth, so that you may rejoice in your old age.” – Ed. See note. us. 302, 243, 302, 242, 274, 309, 246, 302, 349, 168, 246. – Ed. St. Basil the Great. The rules are laid out at length. Prologue 4, 4 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 2. P. 153. – Ed. Literally: “to continually become covered in sweat” (ιδροΰν άπαύστως). – Ed. In TFS: “intercourse.” – Ed. In TFS: “the material is changeable and fragile.” – Ed. This announcement almost completely coincides with the 33rd announcement from the second part of the “Great Announcement”. Their names are almost the same. – Ed. On the three types of spiritual structure of ascetics, see: St. Basil the Great. The rules are laid out at length. Prologue 4, 3 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 2. pp. 152–153. – Ed. You might be interested in: