Letter to the Optina Fathers and Brothers

Most Reverend Father Superior 1 and Most Reverend Fathers and Brothers of the God-Saving Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage! By the will of God, I am finishing my miserable work, a book called “Ascetic Experiences,” with publication. A copy of this book will be forwarded to you as a sign of my respect and cordial affection. At the same time, I offer you my most humble request, the fulfillment of which I consider the greatest favor for myself. Take the trouble to write comments on this book, without being at all embarrassed and without stopping from any comment at the thought that it might upset me. I do not recognize the book as my property, but as the property of all monasticism and Orthodox Christianity. Consequently, it is my duty to listen to every comment with gratitude, even if I did not agree with it, because comments expressed with love will give me the opportunity to improve the book for its second edition and thereby more fully satisfy its purpose. Committing yourself to your Holy prayers and so on. 2 Father Hegumen Isaac (in the world Ivan Ivanovich Antimonov, 1810–1894) - appointed rector of Optina Pustyn on July 19, 1862; October 8, 1864 elevated to the rank of Igumen Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov. Essays. T. 7. Letters. M., 1993. P. 456. Here and below the letter numbers are given in the original numbering. ed. ABC of Faith portal