БЕЗМОЛВИЕ

(see also: Doing, Silence). The silent person is somehow not characterized by verbosity even in the prayer rule itself. Although all people are created in the image of God, in this respect the silent one is the most special, most accurate image of God. Look what the Evangelist John says about God: “From eternity He was content with His one Word!..”. The consolation that—I hope in God’s mercy—will emerge from your present work will confirm this truth to you. Over time, it will demand that you shake off the leaves even more for the fruit. 77. ...Climate, as the Holy Fathers noted, has a strong influence on those especially who lead a silent life. 80. Do not think that to teach silence you need a seclusion or a deep desert. No! It is much better to learn it between people, through spiritual achievement. The very falls, invisible to your neighbors, visible and known to God and conscience, falls of the mind and heart, will serve to your benefit, making you skilled in the fight against sin, revealing to you all the weaknesses of man. An ascetic, brought up among people by the power of invisible inner feat, is strong, rich in knowledge and spiritual experience, filled with humility, and a refuge and treasure for his neighbor. He is like a tree grown on an open hill, exposed to gusty winds and all other weathers; Such trees take deep roots into the ground, are especially juicy, full of life and strength. On the contrary, the pet of the seclusion and the solitary desert is like a flower and a tree, nurtured and cherished in a greenhouse. He is characterized by destructive effeminacy: at the slightest bad weather he already suffers; the bad weather is a little stronger - he dies. Complete solitude, according to the rules of the spiritual law, is allowed only to those for whose feat, as St. John Climacus puts it, the gracious dew of the Holy Spirit has descended. For such people, it is definitely useful; strict solitude is needed, so that with its help they can freely indulge in the teaching and guidance of the Spirit, which is not the time to talk about now. 156. You wrote to me in your letter: “Run people and you will be saved!” – there was a prophetic voice to Arseny. “How can one who loves silence willingly endure the cramped conditions of a dormitory on a par with newcomers and those still restless?” - When Saint Arseny was in the capital, at the royal court, and prayed to God, when he encountered a temptation, not knowing what to do, a voice came to him: “Run, man, and you will be saved!” – And you had this voice, it resounded in your soul when you lived among the many-witted world; you obeyed him, retiring to a secluded monastery. You did this with simplicity of heart, sincerity, simplicity of intention, with a small, preparatory knowledge of monastic life. You were met with unexpected sorrows and bewilderments! What about that? “God loves you, He wants to give you His mercy, to make you wise,” this is what the holy elder monk said to the holy young monk who was complaining of sorrows. - God sent sorrows; He will also send consolation. When Saint Arseny was already in the monastery, he again prayed to God: “Lord! Teach me how to be saved!” He was given a more complete answer: “Arseny, avoid people, be silent, remain silent: these are the roots of sinlessness.” “And you already heard in the monastery: “Get used to silence,” which greatly contributes to silence. Already in the monastery you heard: “Die for people” - the same as “run away from people.” You heard: “Learn silence between people through spiritual achievement.” Arseny the Great used to admonish the brethren from his experiences: “Strive as much as you have, so that through your inner work, which for the sake of God, everything external will be defeated.” Macarius the Great, the founder and chief mentor of the Egyptian skete famous for asceticism, in which Arsenius the Great lived, usually said to the brethren at the end of the Divine Liturgy: “run, brothers.” One day the elders objected to him: “Where should we run beyond this lonely desert?” The great saint of God pointed his finger at their lips and repeated: “Run, brothers.” 158. You might be interested in: