Letters

The presented collection “Letters” includes 22 letters from St. Demetrius of Rostov, written in the period from 1704 to 1709 and addressed to a wide range of people: close friends, high-ranking church hierarchs, spiritual children, etc. Main topics and content: 1. Work on the work “The Cell Chronicler” (letters 4, 5, 16-20). The saint shares his methodological principles, the difficulties of reconciling biblical chronology with the data of secular chronographs (the dispute about the year 5500/5506 from the creation of the world to the Nativity of Christ), discusses the structure of the book, combining historical narrative with moral teachings and interpretations. 2. The fight against the Old Believers. Letters 10, 11, 13, 15 are devoted to polemics with schismatics. The saint reports on the writing of his work “Search for the schismatic Bryn faith” (referred to as a “little book”), searches for and discusses materials for polemics (for example, “Mirror” by I.T. Pososhkov, “Eternal Gospel” by Avvakum), shares the difficulties of pastoral work with the schismatics who have multiplied in the diocese. 3. Organization of spiritual education. Letters 1 and 3 touch on the topic of organization and difficulties of the Rostov Greco-Latin school, which indicates his concern for the education of the clergy. 4. Publishing and literary activities. The saint is actively involved in the preparation for printing of books, including the Lives of the Saints (Cheti-Minea), which is mentioned in letters 3, 19. He discusses technical details, proofreading, and distribution of publications. 5. Personal spiritual life and health. The letters are permeated with deep humility, constant memory of death (letter 10), awareness of one’s own weakness and physical suffering (letters 11, 12, 22). The saint describes his illnesses, which interfere with his labors, but do not quench his zealous spirit. 6. Pastoral ministry and human relations. The correspondence reveals St. Demetrius of Rostov as a person with a subtle sense of humor (letters 3, 14), sincere concern for friends and colleagues (Father Theologian, Feodor Polikarpov, Metropolitan Stefan Yavorsky). He appears as an attentive and grateful person, remembering the services rendered to him (letter 10). Letter I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII To the Most Honorable Master Father Theologus, sinful Demetrius! A student of the Rostov schools, Vasily, having studied a little, is coming to your mercy for a vacancy, and with this small charter I visit your love: are you well? Are you in salvation? Have you really forgotten us or are you still remembering us? We don’t forget you, but we remember you. I ask you to inform me of your honesty: is Mr. Stefan Vasilyevich at home, or is he somewhere in exile? His mercy wrote to my unworthiness about the petition, characteristic of the Resurrection of his petitioner, but that petitioner did not appear with us, and our clerks say that without a petitioner it is impossible to do business. And I ordered to write about this to His mercy, but we don’t know whether my writing will find him. Just past the Apostolic Lent, when I was in the city of Yaroslavl, I dared, unworthy beyond the measure of my deed, by translating the relics of the holy noble prince Reverend Theodore and his children from an old reliquary into a new cypress one and took a certain small part from those for my blessing, from which the relics of your honesty were little sent; I want to send it to my benefactor, Mr. Stefan Vasilyevich, if not in exile where it is found. Perhaps you should let me know where it is now? Hello to the Lord and be saved and pray for my arch-sinfulness. From Rostov. 1704 June 28th. P.S. Are lexicons being printed, and will they be published soon? Please let me know. To my honorable fathers: Mr. Joasaph Koldychevsky, Father Joseph the Judge, Fr. I humbly hit Karion (Istomin) with my brow. Dear Sir, Father Theologian! A good man who came from Moscow, having given me your honest letter, only appeared to us within the boundaries of time, and immediately took up the journey; I had a hard time waiting for this little scribble of mine, with which I thank your honesty for your written visit. And I apologize for the fact that I don’t write to your honest people often: sometimes I’m too lazy, sometimes I’m lazy, and sometimes there are no riders to whom the charter could be presented. However, I will correct myself, if, God willing, I will be alive. Stefan Vasilievich, being with us, did not hesitate; I just listened to the presanctified Lenten Liturgy and ate gruzdov with my unworthiness. May God keep him on this path and direct everything for the better. Out of friendship, I will make it known: the month of June and July was printed and sent to me from Kyiv; August, I think, is waiting for Alex there. God would grant that this month would end quickly and be brought to my sinfulness! I ask you to pray about this and about me, an unworthy arch-sinner. To everyone, everyone, everyone, with a low brow, especially to Father Karion and Father Joseph the Judge. Sinner Dimitri. From Rostov, May 22 (1705). To the honest Father Theologist! Hello brother, many years to come! Christ was born, baptized and went into the world to wander and wander, seeking peace for Himself with good people. Have you ever visited? Tea, huddled in the closet of Feologov’s heart and rests on the bed of his God-loving thoughts. And Father Theologus is glad to see him: he treats him with the wine of tenderness. Perhaps, Father Theologian, beat Him, my Light, with your forehead, so that you may visit my weakness, as I am weak and wandering with strength. Father Joseph the judge, Father Karion the forehead. - Hello, holy fathers, for many years to come! Don’t forget me when you extend your prayers to God, and when you drink a full glass of vodka, and I will not forget you in the same way, even if I live in the future... Father Theologian! Your advice is great, but I ask and pray: do it yourself; deign to take the trouble to go with my sent to His mercy and beaten with a forehead, so that he can easily visit my thinness: the ear is alive and with it your honesty visit us. I also pray to your love, Father Theologian: perhaps, look in the Great Menaion of the Octomria of the month on the 29th day, whether there is a life of the Venerable Abraham of Rostov the Wonderworker there, or in other handwritten books where you will find it, and having written it, please send it to me, I pray. And I know this to your honor: Father Archimandrite Pechersk wrote to my unworthiness, wishing that the first three-month book of September, October, and November would begin to be corrected for a second printing more completely than the first, with the appendix of the lives of the saints who had failed. And will they give three Great Menyas from the Moscow Patriarchal Church? Sinful Dimitri. (January 1706 (shortly after January 6). Moscow) To the Most Honorable Master, Father Theologus, humble Demetrius rejoice in the Lord! I thank your love for not depriving me of the knowledge of the wondrous thing I heard about. We are surprised at the new news, which confuses the foolish, and I am blessed for the prudence of him who answered and stopped the lips of the rogue... And I honor your honesty for writing this. I pray that in the future you will not deprive me of the opportunities that arise. I know about my presence, if you deign to know: I am found alive until the will of the Lord; often infirm, and partly I am embarrassed by sadness, seeing the misfortunes of the priest, and in vain their tears and our house are becoming scarcer by the hour. Even though I put my trust in God, I put my trust in them, but when I see their need, I am saddened, because human nature is compassionate, and therefore I sympathize with those in need. This is my demand for your love - I bow deeply to everyone: Mr. Father Karion and my benefactor Mr. Stefan Vasilyevich. Out of boredom, I wanted, if the Lord would please, to compose a Chronicler briefly for the cell; but not the imam of books. All the chronicle books from the Rostov diocese have been taken to you, but we have only the one copied from it, which was collected in the printing yard, even if there is quite the essence of the stories, but the chronology from the creation of the world is not found. Even Latins and Imam, but they are not similar to our years. I pray for your honesty, perhaps, find somewhere such a Russian chronograph that is not (at least) the only one, even if it is more impossible, they would have chronology from the creation of the world, and kindly send it to me, a sinner, for a while, so that my brothers can fly according to our eastern chronology - I humbly pray. From Rostov, May 19, 1707 To the Most Honorable Master, Father Theologus, rejoice in the Lord! Even if it’s not soon, your kind writing will visit our badness, for which I thank you... And even if you demanded it, I did this for the sake of your love. And how does our laziness now exercise itself? advertised: come and see; but there is a great distance between us and you; and even if I had a Pegasus or Alexander's Bucephalus, I would ask for your honesty, but when you arrive, you will visit me, but I myself am almost wandering on foot: neither horse nor rider!., the sheep are scarce from food and there are no horses... Now I see you only with my smart eyes, and I am talking to you with a charter. Once the chronicler of my weak mind begins to write, he won’t be able to write as much, and my physical health will be a little short: my hand is trembling and exhausted, no one is helping. Vanity prevents you from writing, and laziness leads you to lie down. And chronicle books are scarce, and they are difficult to find. All the chronographs from our diocese were taken to you, but not given to us. Without books we need to be wise, like horseflies without a guide to travel... I wrote a short chronology and an ambassador to my Eminence; I remember that we saw your honesty. It was returned to me, although the Eminence did not blaspheme, but others did not like it. Now with Fr. The firstfruits of the Chronicler were given by Raphael to our ambassadors. God knows whether anyone liked it or not. If no one pleases my wretched undertaking, it is not for the sake of publishing it in the world, but for the sake of writing for myself, if only the Lord would help my weakness with your holy prayers, demanding them with a humble brow. Sinful Dimitri. From Rostov, December 31, 1707. Honest Father Theologus, rejoice in the Lord! How has God been merciful to you, how did you get home? Have you lost my copyist, and are you reading it, and are you letting Father Karion read it, to whom I bow deeply? Send a small enclosure to the Chronicler, read it and put it in its proper place. And they also want to have certain applications in certain places, but don’t keep them for very long. Come to Lent while you are still alive. Hello. I wish you all the best and the salvation of your honor. Sinful Dimitri. (Beginning of 1708 (until February 16) Rostov) Blessings and blessings to the Most Honorable Lord, Father Theologus. Hello! Began the Holy Pentecost. May God grant your honesty to wait for the Bright Resurrection in a healthy and soulful manner. I pray, let not too many people read my Chronicler, so that it does not spill out, as if not everyone knew about it, so that unnecessary words do not multiply; differences are the morals of humanity: one seeks benefit, and another seeks grasp. To Father Karion and Mr. Polikarpovich, brow and gratitude to their mercy for feeding my thin-minded clever man, but not to everyone, I pray; This matter still requires a lot of correction, if God helps. To the honest Mr. Stefan Vasilyevich, blessings. For this I give thanks for all his good deeds - I am grateful. His Grace gave me German bread crumbs, but I don’t dare eat them during Lent; isn't it with milk? Perhaps, Father Theologian, ask and let me know if I can eat those crackers during Lent? Hello in Christ the Lord and strive for the Holy Pentecost and pray for me, a sinner, I pray. Humble Demetrius. (2nd half of February 1708 (shortly after February 16). Rostov). Most Honorable Sir, Father Theologian, O beloved Christ, hello, save yourself! Our nobleman Grigory Parfenyev was sent from us to Moscow in a certain weapon. If you deign to send a Chronicler to us, send with him our gentleman. And I ask for the Apocalypse again and again. The money is ready, perhaps just to set the price; I'll send it immediately. Have you heard whether His Eminence of Ryazan will soon return to Moscow? Tell me, I pray, there will be other news, do not hide it from us. I bow to Your Honesty, and I demand the prayers of your saints. Sinful Dimitri. (1708 (after April 5-before June 24). Rostov) Most honorable Lord Father Theologian! about Christ beloved brother. God will save! Thank you very much for sending the copied tables. And I wholeheartedly kiss the words of the Church. I sent the scribe a ruble so that his work would not be in vain. News of unexpected receptions, in the future, if something good happens, please kindly make us happy, I pray. I wrote first to your honesty, what kind of country is the Varangians and where is the city called Tmutarakan, did you not receive an answer? I pray, if anything about this news, please inform my badness. Hello, together, save yourself and remember my curse, your friend. All the best to you, dear sinner Dimitri. (Summer 1708 (after June 24). Rostov) Honest Father Theologian, beloved brother in Christ! The death of the late Josaphat Koldychevsky, our friend and my special benefactor, frightened me. If he, such a healthy man, not old, not crippled, not exhausted by labor, was snatched away by death in such a short time, what can I, powerless, hope for? The fear of death has attacked me, and the fear is intense, because I don’t know either the day or the hour when death judgment from God will befall me, and I’m not ready for the death outcome. How will the book-writing business remain? Will the hunter take over and complete it? And you still need to work a lot in this matter; it won't be finished in a year; Perhaps, in another year, it will be possible to catch up with its completion with effort; and the end is at the door, the ax at the root, the death's scythe above the head. Alas for me! I don’t regret anything, and I don’t have anything to regret: I haven’t collected wealth, I haven’t accumulated money. One thing I regret is that the book-writing that has begun is far from being completed; and there are also thoughts about the Psalter. It is a pity that the Bryn theologians do not interpret the Apocalypse in the same way. Dumka is just around the corner, and death is behind us. However, I entrust everything to the will of our Lord, who possesses the living and the dead. If He is willing, He can raise up a child for Abraham from a stone. I must remember the soul of the deceased in my, albeit sinful, prayers. The deceased lent me his love. Do you remember how he served me, a sick man, lovingly, not disdaining weakness, together with your honesty and with Mr. Dmitry Alekseevich? How can I not remember him, who has passed away, and how can I not pray to God for you, the living! May God save Father Kirion, who fed me cherry berries during my illness. I remember and thank you for all this kind deed of yours, and I pray to God for you. For the deceased, hope is in God that He will not deprive him of His mercy. For all the people condemned him and nearly put him in hell alive; but God's judgment decides contrary. Human judgment is one thing, God's judgment is another. People have condemned, God will not condemn the one whom people send to hell with their opinion and tongue. Who expected that there would be a thief in paradise, a publican among the righteous, a harlot in the palace of heaven? Doesn't everyone send them to Gehenna, seeing their lives? But God’s mercy does the opposite: God shames human judgments with His merciful destinies. If the soul of the deceased temporarily remains in detention somewhere for his sins (and who is without them?), then the treasure of the church, prayers, I say, for the deceased, constantly performed, are powerful to redeem him from his debts, to which we, sinners, will hasten. Desiring God's blessing on your honesty, I bow. Sinner Dimitri. To the Nonas. (October 7, 1708 Rostov) Rejoice in the Lord to the Most Honorable Master Father Theologus! I am writing briefly, due to the weakness of my hand. Mr. Stepan Vasilyevich, while traveling to the city of Arkhangelsk, took from me the fourth thousand and 500 years. Did you return from where you came from, didn’t you bring it, didn’t you want to give it? I pray to his honor that he entrusted your honesty, and your honesty came from His mercy, if He deigns to grant it, and until God grants me to see you. He'll be patient about other things. One of these days I would like to have the book “The Font of the Soul”, but at the present time, be with you until Lent, since my scribes are now very busy. And I myself am too lazy and ill, I am forced to do it by force. The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. I inform you for love and for your cell. In the month of November, the need to be in Yaroslavl called me, a schismatic need: it had multiplied greatly in our diocese. Having been there, he taught with God’s help for quite a week. But words from the lips of pain go to the wind rather than to the hearts of those who listen; For this reason, I abandoned all the work that was before me, writing chronicles, and decided to write a special little book against the schismatic teachers, thinking to myself that God would not torture me about writing chronicles, but about this, if I remained silent against the schismatics, He would torture me. And I wrote a little book with the help of the Most High, but there will still be few places where I will not complete it. I hope for God’s mercy, that by Lent it will be completely accomplished. For this reason, my scribes are extremely lazy, and having completed it, if the Lord pleases us and we are alive, I will send it to you for reasoning. And what is the name of that little book and what is written in it, on a special charter for the ambassadors. Do you have any other new items or schismatic wonders? I pray, beloved, if there is any, send me. Where can we get the Eternal Gospel, which Habakkuk wrote? Is it possible to find it somewhere in Moscow, please? “I remember Vasily Semyonovich and his mother, schema-nun Evdokia. And your honesty is a blessing. P.S. “I’m thirsty,” you say. There is no water here from the flask (stone), One of the tears are floating; I saw somewhere in a certain book of yours words about those plundering church estates and asking your honor to write it down for me, and now I ask: please write it down and send it, I pray. (Beginning of 1709 (until March 7). Rostov). My hand, through the mercy of God, has already begun to heal, it’s time for your nose to be healthy. Mr. Dimitri Alekseevich is not a bad doctor, but God is better than anyone else. - I wish you to be healthy in body and soul. Have you heard, even if not authentically, that the prudent people began to write a chronicle in the reigning city of Moscow? I have tea in the printing yard, for which many chronicle books were taken from everywhere. I pray your honesty, deign to inform me in full what kind of chronicle there will be: from the creation of the world or from the Nativity of Christ, or only about the Russian state and about the universe, and who will deign to work in it? If only prudent industrious people would deign to investigate why the years of the world’s existence are not counted according to the Bible, but according to chronography there are many that do not agree with each other. And the Bible is called Divine Scripture; and why are the years, numbered in the royal scripture, abandoned, and ours come after the chronographs, which are outside the Divine Scripture? Is Father Theologian alive, not to be heard, not to be seen!.. I ask, beloved, Father Theologian, to tell me truly everything, this summer or something, a book is being printed in Moscow and whose reign is the Sovereign - I earnestly ask about this... Dimitri. (Beginning 1709 Rostov) To the venerable Father Theologus, rejoice in Christ! The book of the nameless creator (I.T. Pososhkova), called “Mirror”, sent to us from your honest one, having listened and commanded, I return the packs to your honesty. And I am sending this to you with Moscow clerk Filat Alekseev. “And that little book is truly useful, a great reproof and shame for the schismatics.” If I had received that little book before I wrote mine, I would have learned a lot from it. I finished my life with God's help. I ask your honesty to tell me: who is the scribe of that book, whether he is alive or dead. As long as he is alive, I will write to him; Even if I die, I will remember him. That little book is worthy of being published, it’s just a matter of correcting a few things here and there and cleaning up the needs. The scribes copy out my book completely, but not quickly, they are not skilled, and they are lazy. And to finish off the tea for the Resurrection of the Lord. And when it is completed, I will not hesitate to send to your honor and others who deserve it; The first part is more fully readable, I’ll send it along with the rest; and those from you will need to be returned to us. The old treasurer, monk Hilarion, has reposed; he demands the prayers of your saints, but I am found alive by the will of the Lord. I bow to your love and wish you good health. Humble arch-sinner Demetrius. (Spring 1709 (until April 24). Rostov) The ambassadors of your honesty of the short Phaeton, as well as other Hellenic fables, even in the 39th word of Nazianzus are remembered, a brief interpretation. There is no time to write a lot about this; below I would like to leave the most necessary matters for trifles. I also sent your honor the Capitonian beard, a fair one, long, wide and combed, it would not be a pity to spit on the nude... There are two notebooks about the brads; Please give one to your honesty, the other to Mr. Feodor Polikarpovich from me, and to him in return for the paper and the book. And attach your notebooks to the second part of the Search in the first article before the end of that article. For Saint Euphrosynus (of Pskov) with my forehead, but I would like to truly know about his miracle, what it is. Humble Demetrius. (Summer 1709 (until August 11). Rostov) I’m afraid to write much about Roman purgatory and the ordeals, since ours will not tell the fire to hold souls, although they themselves disgustedly printed in the prologues the souls seen in the fire. Otherwise, there are few written messages and ambassadors of your honesty, but I won’t put this in my little book. I’m already tired of writing against the schismatics: it’s enough, I’ll work on it, I’m stuck... I pray, something useful about the interpretations of the Gospels, but it hasn’t been completely rewritten yet, but as soon as it’s completely rewritten, I’ll send it to you. Thinking of returning to the Chronicler, if God will help my weakness, I pray, pray for me, a sinner, and I bow to you. The handwritten book of the late Parmen was sent to your honor. Sinful Dimitri. (August-September 1709 (after August 11). Rostov) Letter 16. To Metropolitan Stefan (Yavorsky) Great Lord and my beneficent father! At the beginning, I ask for forgiveness for the lengthy and useless writing I offer to the hands of your saints, and I am causing a lot of trouble, and I am interfering with those who are busy with the most necessary and best matters. I don’t see each other and don’t talk face to face: I’ll talk in writing, even though I’m bored; Sorry. I thank Your Eminence for reading and considering my Chronology, which would have been instead of the table of contents of the entire work of the Chronicler composed by me; If only my simple mind would gain so much wisdom, and my infirmity would become healthy, and most importantly, if God’s help would come to you through your holy prayers. There is desire, but no strength; and they still look at the clearing, and the writing hand trembles. I thank the wisely advising observers. The test instructs; and I humbly respond to the comments. On the 1st. Not history, but questionable actions are proposed, and will not be resolved. And it is truly so: that this is not yet history, but a table of contents of history that wants to be, and something undoubted is proposed, but the errors in which ours stubbornly stand are revealed. And what seems to be doubtful is difficult to resolve, except by silence; After all, Russian Chronographs and Russian Bibles do not harmonize well over the years. And the chronology used by the Greeks and Russia for a long time is not based on Bibles, even called Holy Scriptures, but on chronographs; and therefore it is better to remain silent about this. And let the written Chronology remain for me, and not for presentation to the world, like my entire Chronicler; Of course, it is not written with the intention of publishing it in print, but only for my knowledge, and after me, if someone gets a good one, he may not despise it. On the 2nd. Regarding the temptation of schismatics in seeking fame regarding the Nativity of Christ, I answer: I wanted to show that our chronology is incorrect, which they still do not want to see and know. I remember that once in Preobrazhenskoe (the village) Talitsky argued with Your Eminence about the years, claiming that the holy fathers ordained it this way. If the fathers are saints, then why do they not agree with the Bibles? Could the Holy Fathers have been contrary to the Holy Scriptures? Did the holy fathers, condescending only to popular custom, write the years of the world in the same way as we write now, and without affirming it? If the holy fathers wrote the years from the creation of the world to the Nativity of Christ 5500, then why did the last Greek Cyrus Dorotheos, Metropolitan of Monemvasia, write before the Nativity of Christ 5506 years: of which Dorotheus’s chronograph was translated in Moscow into the Slavic language, into the kingdom of the pious Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, and is now found at the Printing House. Likewise, the ancient Constantinople Greek Georgy Kedrin, who lived in the kingdom of Alexei Komnenos, the King of the Greeks, wrote that Christ was born in the year 5506, of which I have a printed work in the Greek-Latin dialect. Have these two chronographs become contrary to the opinion of our 5500 years, counted from the beginning of the world to the Nativity of Christ? And Nicephorus Kallistov Xanthopulus, the creator of the Synaxars of the Triode, wrote that Christ was born in the year of the world 5505: and did this become consistent with the chronology, supposed to be from the holy fathers, written? Should we remain silent about such disagreements, and what is false should not be exposed, and human stubbornness should be tolerated. And it is not difficult to remain silent and not write, it is difficult to study in detail, and to write down an unknown thing. No one will please the schismatics with anything: they are tempted even by good, useful and holy things. A rose is always poisonous to a beetle. And should we follow their madness? However, it is better to endure an unhealed wound in silence than to heal it uselessly and at a loss. Do not cast down beads [Matt. 7, 6]. On the 3rd. About the division of the book. This Chronology is no longer a book, but like the table of contents of a book that wants to be, the arrangement and division of which I send to Your Eminence and their other honors. On the 4th. About monarchies. I will not fail in this book (if God permits it to be written) to mention the former monarchies: but I have not placed my work in those times, for I have no intention of being a citizen of history, a writer, in the opinion of politicians: let this not happen. It’s not a bishop’s business. Worldly people can work in this or translate the historian Justin, who is ready about those monarchies. Spiritual things are before me: and I intend, in the hope of God’s help, to follow the path of Sacred History, not completely excluding secular history, but being more diligent in Sacred than secular things. Under the name and image of the Chronicler, I would like to write some useful moral teachings, so that the reader would not only be entertained with stories, but also taught with moral teachings. This is my intention, if not for others (for who is it that I teach learned men?), then at least for myself. Also for this reason (if this matter were to be accomplished and read by the people of the Commonwealth), I intend to write the Sacred History briefly. I remember that in our Little Russian side it is difficult to find a Slavic Bible, there are very few places where they are found, and hardly anyone can buy one; and rarely does anyone from the clergy know the order of the Biblical Stories, what happened when. One abbot there asked me: when was Elijah the Prophet, after the Nativity of Christ, or before Christmas? And again: the Maccabees lived after the apostles; for their teacher Eliazar, at the trial before the tormentor, cited the Apostolic and Gospel words, as printed in the Prologue of Moscow August on the 1st day. And many others, in conversations among the spiritual ranks, heard speeches worthy of laughter, like this: with which Saint Peter cut off Malkhov’s ear with a knife, then after that Saint Elijah cut off the priests of Baal: “About the shamelessness of Galati” [Gal. 3.1 ]! and for this purpose I would like, if the Lord would hasten with your holy prayers, to briefly teach the Bible History to such people for knowledge, in a book that is not too great and moderate, so that everyone can buy it inexpensively, and it is convenient to learn about everyone, like in the Bibles, the Stories that go in order: but God knows whether this will happen. Thoughts are overseas, and death is behind us: and also the current times take away the mind and the desire to write books; The teaching is silent during the noise of weapons: however, placing my trust in God and in your holy prayers, I am gradually touching on the matter, and it is as if there is already a beginning. I will send it to Your Eminence without delay: I ordered a cleaner rewrite. I apologize again for bothering Your Eminence with this useless reading. “He endures all love,” covers sins (1 Cor. 13:7). Great Lord and my merciful benefactor! The beginning of my clever Chronicler was sent to Your Eminence through the Reverend Father Rafail Kazanovich. But I don’t want to bother your Bishops with food, busy with the most important matters, except for just one small preface for the reader, one page of your Eminence, please read it yourself, I ask; command other prudent persons to carry the rest, and judge whether this matter will be for the benefit of the Church and for the benefit, or not? And how they judge and command, I’m ready to listen: whether to correct something, or leave it aside, or stop altogether. I think that few people will like this work of mine, since it is like a Russian mishmash: History, and some kind of interpretation (from Cornelius and other books), occasionally in places, and some moral teaching, and especially in the first and second thousand years, in which little History is found. Which years, although he passed by idly, he filled in part with moral teachings, taking the occasion from the events of actions that happened in those times. However, in book writing, there is another way of life as a historian, another as an interpreter, and another as a moral teacher. However, I, a sinner, mixed it all up like peas and cabbage, wanting to have a little book like notes and passages, so that sometimes something would be suitable for preaching. Be that as it may, I humbly pray that by your holy command from someone who has taken the time to read this poor work of mine that I have begun, handing it over to your holy hands, I kiss them with my zeal and bow low. From Rostov, December 11th day (1707) Your Eminence Vladyka, My merciful Father and Benefactor of the Holy Spirit! Through the venerable brother Stefan, a philosophy teacher, I did not have time to write what was needed. There was no time for the holiday and the guests. Now, having free time, I am writing to bow to Your Eminence, who never has free time, but I truly sympathize with him, who is burdened with so many burdens. And I pray, as much as I can, that the mighty and strong Lord may strengthen your Hierarchy in bearing such a heavy cross. Do not faint, O Saint of God, under such burdens! a branch under weight always bears fruit. Do not imagine that your labors are worthless before God, who says: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden [Matt. 11.28]. Great is the reward for those who have endured the hardship and heat of the day: labor is not vain, and it is they that prudently steer the ship of the Church of Christ during times of great distress. You please, Your Eminence, solitude; I please also: but Saint Macarius of Egypt’s reasoning is not bad, who writes about the desert dwellers and those who work in cities and for human benefit: the people (desert dwellers) who have grace, only care about themselves; others (teachers and preachers of the word of God) are careful to use their souls; these ones exceed a lot. Strive for Jesus, the ascetic of Christ, who strengthens you. This burden was not imposed on your Holiness by any occasion, but by God’s will: because the crown of righteous reward awaits you. If you bear the good yoke of Christ, make His burden light for you [Matt. 11.30]. About my Chronicler, highly praised by Your Eminence, I would be glad to hear that such things are found in him, which require correction: only, as I asked before, so now I ask, do not work yourself, Most Reverend Vladyka, the most necessary and most important matters are assigned to him. Reverend Father Simonovsky and Mister Polikarpovich could read and discuss. I thank Your Holiness for noticing two things, about Ham’s intemperance and about Canaan his son: it also came to me that legal marriage does not involve fornication; however, I remembered the young Tobiah’s marriage, where the angel precisely calls intemperate marriage fornication. In any case, it will be better when Hama is replaced by intemperance instead of fornication. And I found out about Canaan and Cornelia: the master is not an imam. He wrote Canaan with a moral message; I am sending to Your Eminence that there is still something I would like to correct, if only God helps. According to the ninth century of the second thousand, where it is written about the evil of sin, two things require reasoning: 1. that sin and venial will be remembered by the one who committed it; 2. that God participates in our sins. I explained this, but I don’t know if it’s good? Isn’t it better to leave both of them, so that no one will be indignant at the simplest things? I forgive reasoning and advice; other than that, not doing the work of your Bishop, I bow low again and again. My Most Reverend Master, O Holy Father and Benefactor! Cheers and thanks to Your Eminence for feeding my Chronicler, and for noting some things that require correction. Therefore, I assure myself of the paternalism of your Bishops to my unworthiness of love and true affection. I love this, and I humbly ask for this in the future. This virtue is no less before God, correct your brother and bring him to his senses. I strive, with the help of God, correct some, change others, and leave others completely behind. The chronicle that I have read, if it pleases Your Eminence to keep it with you; be according to the will of your Bishop. And whatever God hastens to write has come to the hands and prudent reasoning of Your Holiness. To me, Your Eminence, one instead of a thousand. This is what happened to our Most Reverend Father Varlaam (of Japan), of blessed memory, that whatever he read and approved, it was undoubtedly published. And although now it was not with the intention that I began to write in order to publish it; however, from Your Eminence I pray and ask for food (if there is one at that time), and correction, as if for publication in print. Perhaps someday it would have been so, if the Lord God, with His help, had extended our lives, and if, with His mercy, He had turned the present time into something better. Without is warfare, within is fear (2 Cor. 7:5). We pray and fear that our sins may not be overcome by God’s mercy and patience. So many iniquities, so many insults, so much oppression cry out to heaven and arouse the wrath and vengeance of God! but let’s keep quiet about this. The will of the Lord be done (Acts 21:14)! With our attention to the matter, and in the midst of the overwhelm, we do not lose hope of salvation. A book of printed poems was sent to me. God gave those Virshop writers a printing house, and hunting, and money, and a free life. Few necessary things are brought into the world: but the most necessary ones, which could be of great benefit to the entire Russian world, the sermons of Your Eminence, God-wise and pious, lie hidden. It is akin to gold and silver metal deep in the bowels of earthly life, and thin iron to ore above: and precious pearls are hidden in the depths of the bottom, but simple stone can be found everywhere. It is worthy of regret if the works of Your Eminence are left behind like this. Having chosen at least half of the fairest ones, Your Eminence published them in print for year-long holidays and Sundays. I think that in Pechersk they would gladly publish it, without requiring any support from Your Eminence, since they printed the Lives of the Saints without any expense to me, they would profit from the books. Doesn’t the difficulty of your affairs and the scarcity of time allow Your Holiness to reconsider your sermons and prepare these cleats? And I advise your Bishops to redeem the time as much as possible [Eph. 5:16], apply diligence in this, although much labor will be required, but a reward from God will be prepared in no small way. To gain glory in eternity, no hard work, and no long time should be spared. Deeds short in virtue are rewarded with eternal amusement. Or it’s better when someone publishes a trifle in the world without shame and without benefit; and the sermons of Your Eminence would greatly benefit the Church of God. And the solemn chariot (composed by Stefan Yavorsky) wanted to ride out of the press into the world, but the rider did not want to, or did not have time to bring it out; and we waited and waited. I bow low to your Archpastorship, fatherly love never falls away; I entrust it to myself, I demand and ask for the prayers of the saints. Letter 20. To Feodor Polikarpov To the Most Honorable Father Theodore Polikarpov, God's blessing! Those who want to know about the Chronicles that we have begun, with God’s help, will know that our intention is not only to go deeper into the Stories, but also to learn from the moral teachings and interpretations of the Holy Scriptures. And if I had written with the rank of Historiography, I would have already accomplished what I started. But what is the need for us to practice writing Histories, since many Chronographs books are filled with them? Below is the same preaching that everyone knows. My rank (I am not worthy of it) requires me to preach the word of God, not just with my tongue, but also with my writing hand. It’s my business, it’s my title, it’s my position! I am writing, therefore, in order to the Lord, moral teachings, and in some places an interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, as best I can, being weak; And I only put the Stories, even in the Bibles, briefly instead of the topic (title), and from those, like from the sources of the stream, I derive moral teachings. And according to chronology, 3500 years have already been written, and the sixth hundred and thousand is being written. But I can’t write quickly, not only because of the difficulty of the matter, but also because of my weakness: I am often exhausted, and God knows whether I can complete what I started? Because of my frequent ailments, the pen is taken away from the writing hand, and the scribe is thrown to the bed, the coffin is presented to the scratches, and they force me to think about death, and besides, my eyes, seeing, see little, and the glasses do not help much, and the writing hand trembles, and the whole church of my body is near ruin: even the long night of this time does not help me in my work: and the days are short and gloomy, and the management of my rank is due, not without some confusion. Now that I’ve just written it, I’ll soak it up and correct it, and in the future God will allow me to write as soon as the day is a little longer. And we do not intend to write with such effort that we will soon complete the book; but only so as not to be idle, and not to eat bread in the dark; and the completion, as God arranges, I look to His merciful help: as He delights, it will be: “In Him we live and move” (Acts 17:28). And we intend to write only before the Nativity of Christ, in which place the Old Law Scriptures of the Holy History are drawn, even in our Slavic language no one has explained the interpretation, but after the Nativity of Christ everything has already been interpreted with honor. The acts of the kingdoms of Rome, Greece and others, even after the Nativity of Christ, are not a bishop’s business to write: someone and a worldly person can do that. It is enough for our brother to see the written Lives of the Saints, whose accomplishments God has vouchsafed us with His goodness. But I, a sinner, if only God had willed and given me help, strength and reason to the weak with the addition of my life, I would like to grab hold of the Psalter after this book and briefly explain it with an interpretation: not because I myself am skilled in this, but by collecting from ready-made interpretations with God’s help. Even more so, in our Slavic language the essence of the handwritten interpretation of the Psalms is: but they are not clear, like in the forest and desert. And I really want that thing, if only God had given it, if only the mortal scythe had not stopped it; Otherwise, I must say with David: “I will sing to my God until I am” [Ps. 103, 33 and 145, 2]. We must do something for the glory of God, so that the hour of death will not find us in idleness. Your mercy is bored with long reading (reading); Sorry. Your chronology is sent to you; I pray that when she retires from your work, send her back to us not in full, but for a while, until God allows me to cope with the work I have begun. I wish God's blessing and all the best to your honesty. From Rostov, November 8, 1708. Humble Bishop Dimitri to the honest nun Varsonofia Evfimievna - God's blessing. There is one Father, common to us all, God, who lives in heaven and is present everywhere. One great Archpastor is Christ, who passed through heaven; one Comforter of all - the Holy Spirit. So, may the Heavenly Father be your Father, Provider, Guardian and Shepherd. May Christ, the Son of God, save you, His lost sheep, which He redeemed with His honest Blood. May the Comforter Holy Spirit comfort you in your sorrow and guide you on the path of salvation. If you, out of our humility, ask for any consolation, then we, the humble, offer you this useful advice: cast away from yourself the thoughts of this world and leave the thoughts of your sadness, with all your soul, with all your heart and with all your mind the love of Christ, place all your hope in Christ Himself, the Son of God, deepen your mind in His most holy wounds, walk after Him with zeal, and then You will become His beloved bride and heir to His palace. Because you love Him, He will love you forever in the future life, and because you work for Him now, He will reward you there. So, neglect everything temporary, vain, and not for the sake of the sorrow caused to you. Look at your Christ, crucified on the Cross: what great dishonor He endured, loving us! Can we really, sinners, not endure a little sorrow out of love for Him? To the honest Father Theologist, dear to me. God will save your love, that you fulfill all my desires and requests. Having accepted the heretical catechism, he looked at it and sent it to you again. I saw it a long time ago, when I was still in Lithuania, but I forgot its creators. I don’t have time to practice it, God would give me any other hunter, because I’m exhausted. You ask me, beloved, about my health. Truly I declare to you that I am weak. Previously, my health was in half, half healthy and half sick, but now the illness prevails and barely a third of my health remains. However, as if I am taking courage and moving in the name of my Lord, in whose hand my life is. Nowadays I don’t do any work: no matter what I take up, everything falls out of my hands, my days have become dark, my eyes see little, at night the candle light helps little, and even harms me when I look at a letter for a long time, and my illness makes me lie down and moan. In my unhealthy state of health, I don’t know what to expect: life or death? Let it be the will of the Lord! I am not ready for death, but by the will and command of the Lord I must be ready, but my Lord is strong to strengthen my weakness. This autumn is difficult for me, the Rostov air is very bad, and the waters are very unhealthy. Sorry, beloved! I can't write much. I hit with my forehead. You might be interested in: