Беседа

Conversation and the company of neighbors has a great effect on a person. A conversation and acquaintance with a scientist reveals a lot of information, with a poet - a lot of sublime thoughts and feelings, with a traveler - a lot of knowledge about countries, about the morals and customs of people. It is obvious: conversation and acquaintance with saints communicate holiness. “You will deal righteously with the righteous, and with the innocent man according to his innocence, you will deal with the chosen as with the chosen” (Ps. 17:26-27). From now on, during your short earthly life, which Scripture did not even call life, but a wandering, get to know the saints. Do you want to belong to their society in heaven, do you want to be a participant in their bliss? From now on, enter into communication with them. When you leave the church of the body, they will accept you as their acquaintance, as their friend (see Luke 16:9). There is no closer acquaintance, no closer connection than the connection by unity of thoughts, unity of feelings, unity of purpose (see 1 Cor. 1:10). Where there is unanimity, there is certainly unanimity, there is certainly one goal, equal success in achieving the goal. Assimilate the thoughts and spirit of the holy fathers by reading their writings. The Holy Fathers achieved their goal: salvation. And you will achieve this goal in the natural course of things. As one of one mind and one with the holy fathers, you will be saved. Heaven received the holy fathers into its blessed depths. By this he testified that the thoughts, feelings, and deeds of the holy fathers were pleasing to him. The Holy Fathers expressed their thoughts, their hearts, their way of acting in their writings. This means that what a true guide to heaven, attested by heaven itself, is the writings of the fathers. You might be interested in: