ИНОВЕРЦЫ-СЕКТАНТЫ

1. On the attitude of a Christian towards Molokans in everyday circumstances Your action with the Molokan is more reproachful than others. The communication you are afraid of is not everyday, of course, and not friendly, but religious: not communicating in faith and the Sacraments, and prayers. Why did he come to you, you had to help him... I think that you will do well if, when meeting those people, you speak kindly to them, as if nothing had happened. You can say: “I got a little angry then, I apologize. But this does not mean that I approve of your action: you did something bad...” (1, pp. 222–223). The Molokans of today should be judged more leniently. The instigators are to blame for everything, and these suck in heresy with their mother’s milk (1, p. 228). 2. Redstockism is similar to the Molokans, only this sect is foreign and noble Lord, have mercy on us! What have we come to? In St. Petersburg, a sectarian community is clearly and openly being formed - Redstockism. This is something similar to Molokanism - only foreign and noble. Just know this. You see, they don’t even want to see priests, not just hear and follow them. This is something to think about. In St. Petersburg there are great priests who are ashamed to listen to, but there are also exemplary priests. And it’s like that everywhere. Alas and ah (2, p. 18)! 3. Pashkov is an evil Molokan and a whip, who has no Church, no Sacraments, no priesthood... I am sending you a dozen letters to St. Petersburg. Distribute them to old acquaintances... and even around the city - non-spiritual ones, for whom, in your opinion, it would be useful to read them. This is against Pashkov, who is the worst Molokan and whip, who has neither the Church, nor the Sacraments, nor the priesthood, nor prayers - nothing. Repent, believe in the Lord and live well - that’s all. Everything else is on the side. He travels everywhere with this sermon. And he gathers at his home... and has already confused many... He is about to announce a sect. Another, secondary sect to it, is the “apostolic community.” And that one in St. Petersburg is underway. So you know (2, p. 22). 4. Kind review of the book by A.D. Ushinsky against the Stundaists and encouragement to continue the fight against the Stunda In your last letter you mention Ushinsky’s book. You are being unfair to this book. Its whole drawback is that it does not fully analyze the points being refuted. But the author does not hide this shortcoming, but directly admits that he is a bad theologian, and publishes the book for the purpose of irritating those who can write more fully and inducing them to immediately begin this work. It is therefore completely unreasonable to reproach him for insufficient refutation. He will answer you all: quod potui, feci, faciant meliora potentes. He could be reproached for wrong-headedness; but it's not there. I re-read the manuscript and did not see anything wrong and did not find any reason why I could say: do not publish. Your friend wrote to you: “I was leafing through it and something seemed wrong to me.” - What jealousy! Oh, negliger!.. You yourself are writing a prophecy about the possible harm from this book, namely, that now the Stundists will have a printed statement of their faith. I don't see what harm this can do. If they didn’t have this presentation, it would be a different matter. But they have it and, of course, correspond with each other. Ushinsky received notebooks from them and copied them for himself. But in notebooks it goes without refutation, and in a book - with refutation. Whatever the refutation, it will always leave a trace and cause hesitation. There are points that have been strongly refuted... He who wavers on a few points cannot remain calm regarding everything else. There is benefit, not harm. The harm you assume would have been possible if the teachings of the Kosyakovites had all been published separately; but it is intelligently broken up and peppered with refutations. I'm not saying that the book is satisfactory; but I can’t think that it would be useless. It only turns out to be useless in relation to you, sleeping priests. Ushinsky hopes that he will wake you up. And I was wrong. This is my fault. He should have known you better and not deluded himself with dreams that you would pick up his singing in the same tone. You keep answering him: you’re naughty, brother! He attacked the wrong ones so that we would succumb to your awakening... go away!.. We want to sleep... Well, what can you say against this?! That's exactly how you turn out to be. And if you want to avoid being like that, please sit down and write right now. And here's the program! Ushinsky wrote a book to refute the wisdom of the Stundists. But he only made a start. Much more needs to be added to what he said. This is a preface... Then proceed to the position of each point specifically... The first point of the Stundists reads like this. Here's what to say against him... The deed has been said; but not everything has been said. I’ll finish it... And start writing point by point and fill out the whole book... This will be the case. If you are lazy alone, take two, three, ten - just fill out the book, and the shtunda will be exposed in all its details. Look, be sure to do it. You are given one month; another month for printing; third - all of Russia reads. Then I will beat my palms, shouting: “Well done! That's how the priests are!” (2, pp. 24–26). 5. Review of St. Theophan about Leo Tolstoy 105 You mentioned that many convert to another faith after reading Tolstoy’s works. Wonder! This Leo has no faith. He has no God, no soul, no future life, and the Lord Jesus Christ is a simple man. In his writings there is blasphemy against God, against Christ the Lord, against the Holy Church and its Sacraments. He is the destroyer of the kingdom of truth, the enemy of God, the servant of Satan, as St. himself wrote. the Apostle Paul to the sorcerer Ellim, who opposed his preaching on the island of Cyprus (See Acts 13:8-10). This son of demons dared to write a new gospel, which is a distortion of the true gospel. And for this he is cursed with the apostolic curse. The Apostle Saint Paul wrote: whoever preaches the new gospel, let him be cursed and anathema (cf. Gal. 1:8). And so that everyone would prove this good, he confirmed it another time... (verse 9). In the gospel of this blasphemer, the quotations are similar to ours, for example: John. 1, 1, but the text itself is different. Therefore he is a most dishonest forger, a liar, a deceiver. If any of his nonsense reaches you, reject it with disgust... In our spiritual journals, he is dismantled to the last bones and is comprehensively convicted of madness and evil. But who reads spiritual magazines? And Tolstoy’s notebooks pass from hand to hand secretly and secretly spread lies (2, pp. 42–43; 2, 237–238). 6. The saint’s zeal for opposing the Molokans and the request for delivery of an exposition of the Molokan teachings I pester you with my most humble request. This is the case. In the Diocesan Tambov Gazette in 84, with No. 15, answers to the written presentation of the teachings of the Molokans of the village of Rybnoye began, continued in 85... but so lazily that only 4 answers were given. In 86 not a single answer was given... Whether the answers are written soon or not is a matter for those who answer... but I would like to know: 1. How it happened that the Molokans gave a written statement, for the answers were started in Vedomosti without any preface... 2. Can you get this written statement in its entirety? That's right, the respondents have it. And if you know who these are, then I think it won’t be difficult for you to get them. For God's sake, get it and send it quickly. A certain need forced me to look through Molokanism up and down, i.e. his history and teachings. History is not really an important matter... but teaching is very important. Meanwhile, the points of their teaching are not properly stated anywhere. Only thoughts are written, and mostly in their own words, and not in the Molokan word... Book, St. Arseny compiled, perhaps, gives all the points, but not in detail (2, p. 52). The news about Molokanism in different villages published in Vedomosti only says: this, that, and that are not accepted. Very unfounded. So the presentation of the Rybinsk Molokans seems dear to me, although it may not be universal in some points... For God's sake, get it... and then find out for what reason this exposition was given by the Molokans... It will be a great favor (2, p. 53). 7. Please provide information about the Pashkovites to expose them I’ll wait to hear what you say about the Pashkovites; I urgently need to know what they rely on, that they have fallen behind the Church. Your few words: “they are zealous to enlighten the people and distract them from superstition (churchism) and idolatry (veneration of icons)” - they say a lot. It turns out: they are Molokans, as I exalted them (2, p. 107). 8. About the saint’s letters against Pashkov and about the society established to expose him I am very grateful to you for your message regarding the newly-minted miraculous icon “Kozelshchinskaya”. How powerfully God sent a refutation of Pashkov’s wisdom!.. My letters against him were published by the Holy Synod in large quantities and are distributed freely. And they sent me a very pretty one for the same purpose. I believe that there will be people around you who would benefit from reading them (2, p. 119). 9. A Lutheran woman should not be commemorated in the Church. A Lutheran Jew must be left to the good will of God. In the Church, only those belonging to the Church can be commemorated. Since she does not belong to the Church, she should not be remembered there (2, p. 225). 10. The one who has turned from error is given advice to admonish others and books are sent that guide the denunciation of Stundists and other sectarians Thanks be to the Lord, who freed you from the snares of the devil. Stand now and bravely resist all enemy attacks. Bless, Lord, and may He be your everlasting helper! But you also need to bear fruit. Which? – Circumstances have already shown it to you (3, p. 22). Having been enlightened by the grace of God and having seen the light of truth, now work to enlighten others who turn to you. You don't need to go far to get things done. It is given into your hands by itself. We must believe that this is the will of God. Therefore, take up this matter without hesitation. I’ll send you to the management what I have on hand. Letters to S.P.B. 106 They are directed against Pashkovites. But the controversial side was not taken into account. The only thought was to explain that we have everything we need for salvation and therefore there is no need for us to listen to everyone who comes indiscriminately... The overview of the entire Christian system is complete here... But there is a need to clarify the details... The creed of the Stundists. Book by Ushinsky Alexander. There is also something here that can be used to enlighten the Molokans. Accusatory Theology Archim. Innocent, volumes 3 and 4... Here the matter goes directly against the Protestants... But it is presented scientifically... I believe that you will be able to turn these naked speeches into edifying lessons. The most complete book of all, but the least understandable and digestible book... The Stone of Faith. Written when Protestant wisdom began to break through among us... Read this one after all (3, pp. 22–23) 11. About admonishing the Molokans I was very pleased that your word was so effective on some of the Molokans. Pray that the Lord Himself will instruct you both in how to speak and how to act on these lost ones. Pray especially when approaching the word... and while speaking... For a word from the heart with God’s blessing cannot be fruitless (3, pp. 25-26). 12. How to remember parents who died in sectarianism You ask how to remember your parents who died in sectarianism! In your private prayer, remember them and pray for them, turning to the infinite mercy of God, and commit their fate to it. There is no point in commemorating them in the Church. The Church prays for her children, that they may preserve their faith and succeed in it, but for those outside the Church she prays - to convert them to the faith and join the Church. Since this conversion must take place here on earth, the power of this prayer is limited by the presence on earth of those for whom the prayer is being made (3, pp. 128–129). 13. About the passage of Protestants Shtunda does not like to fast. But she’s a Lutheran, why the hell did they call her a shtunda? It should be called the “German faith”... because it was invented by the Germans and recently: the German faith is only three hundred years old... It is not the original apostate. The original apostate is the Latin faith: it apostatized with both the Germans and the English. But then the Germans and the British retreated from the pope when he started some absurdities in his faith (4, p. 44). 14. About the fight against false teachers I don’t hear anything: what orders do you have in St. Petersburg about counteracting the Pashkovites, Irvingians, and Tolstoyans?! These ulcers are destroying many in St. Petersburg and everywhere. And it would be necessary to oppose them with spiritual warfare. In St. Petersburg there are many excellent priests among the clergy, both in education and in character... Make them trumpeters, and the walls of Jericho, of course, would fall to the consolation of the faithful sons of Israel and to the glory of God. ...It is true that every priest must be self-commanding in defending the truth of God and preserving his flock, but in many cases they do not know that wolves are little by little snatching the sheep from the flock (4, p. 56). 15. About the nonsense of Leo Tolstoy You did well that you refused to read Tolstoy’s nonsense, and don’t pick it up. Look, read what he has written... this Lion, roaring, who to devour. I forgot to write down that Leo recognizes only the Gospel, and then in a distorted form, like his... Epistles of St. He does not recognize the apostles, nor the fathers and teachers of the Church... He has his own mind... Don’t take it into your hands (4, p. 99). It is better not to get acquainted with the writings of unbelievers, even by refuting them. We already owed our dues, and sometimes it’s annoying and sometimes embarrassing. What are they printing now? All sorts of rubbish (4, p. 204). 17. The schism is maintained by extreme ignorance The split is maintained by extreme ignorance. When the conditions of salvation become clear, it will also become clear that all schismatic dogmas are not dogmas, but wasteland! – And the end of the schism (7, p. 92). It is in vain that the Molokans and Stundists are included in the schism. – These are our Protestants (7, p. 92)! 18. Stundist propaganda of V. Chicherin and a request for its suppression Have you heard about a certain Vasily Chicherin, once an adviser to the French embassy? He prayed and came across some kind of sect there, got carried away - and even became something like their priest. He was invited to stay there, but he refused, saying: I have a native Russia, it needs to be enlightened. And so, having left the service, he is now jealous of his sect in Russia. You can’t make out what his beliefs are, but it’s clear: they’re not Orthodox. He doesn’t go to church, doesn’t take communion, turns his nose up at icons, and the like. All with the Gospel or New Testament. A real Stundist. But that's not the point. Let him do what he wants. Here's the thing! He went to war - not to fight, but to seduce the Orthodox. He will wander around the infirmaries. And since there most of all one can meet souls who are disposed to listen about the salvation of the soul, he hopes to seed his sect through this. Abaza, the chief administrator of the hospital department, was the vice-governor in Tambov and a friend of the Chicherin family. Vasily Chicherin’s sister is behind Emmanuel Naryshkin. This Emmanuel and his wife went at their own expense (very rich) to take care of the sick and themselves in Chisinau (introduced themselves to the empress). So you see - Abaza and his wife and Naryshkin and his wife are the most influential people in hospitals. Under their patronage, Vasily Chicherin will seduce the Orthodox, seducing them into his sect, will dive into hospitals... with the Gospel, abusing it to the destruction of souls. He is of a quiet disposition and talks all about the Savior. This is not bad, but what he deduces from here is bad: no church, no Sacraments, no saints... and don’t even think about monks... Now it should be obvious to you that there is a danger for Orthodox souls and there is something to worry about. What to do? It is necessary to arrange for Vasily Chicherin to be escorted out of there, despite the fact that he holds the Gospel in his hands, without any reservations. If you know people through whom you can act, tell them so that, whether they want to inquire about Chicherin or directly order the expulsion, they act in addition to Abaza and Naryshkin, and without even turning to them on this matter (7, pp. 102–104). Did you well punish the Most Reverend Pavel to conduct the business secretly from Naryshkin and Abaza?.. Naryshkina was already with him, she lured him out of money: first 100 rubles, and then another 200... She used it for the business, but it will go under her own name, although she will not say so to anyone. But how can he not tell anyone that the Rev. donated so much? Pavel, and meanwhile she will spend her own, then these too will go under her own. She is so insinuating and knows how to lead her by the nose so well that in Tambov they don’t call her anything other than sly. That’s why I’m painting this side! If you gave even the slightest hint to Rev. To Pavel, who wrote to you, the evil one will certainly deceive him and he will tell her this... Then how can I fight back?! But maybe this won't happen. Probably, the heretic Vasily himself visited him (the Reverend Paul) and spoke sweetly; or maybe he wasn’t, because he considers us all either superstitious or bad believers... not understanding the matter (7, pp. 104–105). 19. Lord Redstock's Tares The beauty you saw on the road, I think, is Naryshkina - before Chicherina. She wrote how rapidly Redstock’s seduction was growing - and all among the highest... Those who listened to him completely fell away from the Church. Bring this to the attention of the Bishop. If you wish, I will deliver extracts from her letters (7, p. 118). 20. Bishop Feofan’s efforts to suppress Redstock’s propaganda. In the case of recognition of the schismatic hierarchy The point is not to give the schismatics a hierarchy, but to recognize their existing one. This is not recognized by the Synod, but by the government. For the Synod, their hierarchy will still remain lay ranks. The government is asking not whether the Synod will recognize it, which is impossible, but whether this will not be harmful for the Orthodox. This is the essence of the question... You can answer both “yes” and “no” without violating Orthodoxy. It's an external matter. There may be harm from this and there may be benefit. The government will help the schismatic bishops to take the schismatic laymen into the hands... For now they do not have much power. And then he will knock the bishops into Orthodoxy. Then the bishops and laity will become Orthodox. Now the effect on the split is going to pieces. - That's good! And there will be harm. At first, all the semi-schismatics will pester them. Perhaps some of the schismatic sectarians will turn to them. When this is immediately revealed, it can be terrifying. But then the opposite effect may occur. I'm joking as I write this. My opinion is counter to the schismatic hierarchy. That’s why I don’t belong to the Makaryev party (7, pp. 119–120). 21. Conditions favorable to the spread of Redstock's influence (From the Appendix to the letter of St. Theophan. - Ed.) The fact is that empty people have developed a strong Christian spirit. This influence of Redstock changed the entire structure of their lives. If it weren’t for him, then they too would have slept to this day, immersed in the emptiness of the world. The clergy as an influence does not exist here. The other day Count Bobrinsky said: “I was an unbeliever until I was 48; only now I believed, thanks to this Redstock” (7, p. 120). Just think about this: if it weren’t for Redstock, then this entire circle, which is growing very much, would have been mired in emptiness to this day. The best and highest families joined him. The religious movement is large. There is no one to oppose this. Those who speak in the spirit are hidden among us. Nobody reads books. And who will the book convert? We do not have a living spiritual word, but we need to group ourselves around someone strong and borrow strength. Poor Russia! The alien Redstock must look for spiritual food. Nearby there is a large stream of complete disbelief. Will no one's voice rise up in the Orthodox Church?! Forms without spirit, so long ago exhibited by our spiritualists, no longer have any effect... It is not the books of scientists that are needed, but the living word of a person who would stop this flow, who would raise his voice in order to keep the best forces of our society in Orthodoxy (7, p. 121). 22. Details about the St. Petersburg sect of Redstock (From letters to Bishop Theophan. - Ed.) But I cannot help but admit that this circle has more Christian feelings than our Lenten, pious ladies. And I myself would have joined them, but the Protestant forms and prayers without the cross, it seemed to me that I was definitely changing my Church. And spiritual conversations, and readings along with interpretations - all this has great charm; and therefore many joined them. We don’t have such an Orthodox center anywhere. Their teaching does not say anything new. They read the Gospel and interpret it; also the Apostle. Of course, there is no mention of the saints, and they are also silent about the Mother of God. The psalms are translated from English and sung. All together there is something very good Christian, but not in our Orthodox spirit. Or maybe it doesn’t matter, as long as they know Christ and work for Him. One smart priest or bishop, if his heart were on fire, would begin to go to these meetings, where the people had already begun to appear, and quietly, without judging anyone, he would direct this entire crowd to the right path (7, pp. 122-123). 23. Saint Theophan about V.A. Pashkov Pashkov ate my soul... This is what I learn from the most reliable sources, or lips. 1. Pashkov with his sister and daughter travel everywhere and preach... they even get into the slums. They go home by invitation. In the prince's house There are meetings with Gagarina... the common people also come. 2. Books with their malice have been printed, which are distributed no worse than St. Isaac's pulpit. In Moscow about. Arseny showed me a little book entitled (I think) “Christ the Savior” - and in it the phrase: “the priest will not forgive you your sins at Confession... he does not have such power...” (thought, but forgot the words). In the middle, perhaps, there will be other things that are bad. The book has been censored. 3. Pashkov says (or shows) that he has written permission - from the Sovereign and Metropolitan, with seals attached - to preach the Gospel. This lie strongly favors him. 4. Not far from me (says who writes) lives a poor bookbinder. Pashkov goes to him and teaches... people gather. Fascinating. And I was. Some policeman came to take a look, listened - and fell to his knees and, well, pray; the same thing happened with the bailiff. 5. My washerwoman and cook (written by the same person) go to listen to him almost every day... and are carried away. To reject them, I started my own readings... They listened and said: that’s good, but it’s better there. My priest found out that I was collecting for reading (for I did it more than once and still do it)... and made me a humble remark that this should not be done: it is dangerous and something else. 6. Pashkov demands that those who are carried away pronounce the words of faith publicly before him, and this he calls confession. It seems (it is not written very clearly) that he writes down such confessors in his catalogue. I’m making a guess: he will gather some thousand and demand permission to form a special agreement (skop) with his own people and freely believe as they believe... Take the trouble to report this to the Bishop... Do not say what I wrote under any circumstances, but just say that this is information of St. Petersburg origin, from a reliable eyewitness. I think that the bishop could call the priests and say: 1. Teach in the Church silently about the dispensation of salvation. Pashkov is a liar in that he doesn’t say everything... He talks about repentance and faith... but doesn’t talk about grace and the Sacraments, about the Church, about communion with saints, about Christian duty, etc.: with him everything is done by faith... and remission of sins without Confession, and grace without the Sacraments. And let the priests tell everything in full. 2. Let the priests start readings in the evenings and collect from themselves and from other listeners... both simple and poor. For reading, choose everything that relates to the general structure of faith. 3. We should compile a book about the path of salvation... simply written and scatter it around the city - for free or for a penny... But the matter should not be left unattended. There is danger. Please do all this in the name of the Lord. But there’s not a word about me (7, pp. 123–125). But there is no doubt that if Pashkov is left free to act, he will form a sect - German Molokanism (7, p. 126). I am receiving new information about Pashkov’s tricks. Again it is mentioned that he has written permission from the Sovereign and the Metropolitan. After all, this is a trick. And N-lai V-vich is sitting and getting ready to draw up a form, waiting for documents, etc. Report to him that in the next world his grace will get two incomplete for this. We need to convey those points to the Metropolitan - and that’s it. If he needs business formality, let him get it himself. And he must be brought to the point of control. Here it is under the Church, and there it is undermining the Emperor. Woe (7, p. 128)! I express my deep sorrow that your letter was not received, and this sorrow is all the more sorrowful and deeper because that letter contained information about the new heretic, which I thirsted for, like someone thirsting for water. My most humble request - repeat everything written down, and especially if you know what words it is expressed in. And I will write and write. There is nothing to write about Protestant nonsense at all... There will be no fruit. And to write, basing it on the words of a heretic, will be right in the eye... So please sit down and write as you wrote - and even more broadly (7, p. 129). If possible, collect the books published by the Pashkovites - and the Holy Scriptures with handwritings and notes. Of these, it is more likely to scratch this soul molester (7, p. 130). The sent catechism pleased me at first, but when I began to look closely, it turned out that it suffered from great uncertainty. Start to refute and you will fight at windmills. The priests of God would have instructed someone more skilled to listen and define the points more precisely (7, pp. 130–131). Send more points. Any books you send are welcome. Get their prayer book, which is mentioned in the article “Russia” (“They send me Russia”). It occurs to me to choose church songs against them, so that it can be seen more clearly how crazy it was that, leaving such beautiful and inspiring songs, they chose such rubbish. By the way, they blaspheme church rules, but look what theirs are like? When they gather for prayer, they sit on chairs, and their main leader reads something to them. When he comes to his senses, he shouts: pray. And everyone jumps off their chairs, kneels down and, leaning their elbows on the seat of the chair, hides their face in their palms. This means they are lost in thought and praying. See - absurdity! We stand in prayer, make the sign of the cross - the instrument of our salvation - and bow down. And they... leave... They should be called mouth-watering because they want to receive grace without the Sacraments: open your mouth - and that’s enough; crazy - they moo about preaching and lie about who knows what; couch potatoes - no need to do anything. All these bright names must be put into use. Then come up with a cartoon picture and also run it (7, pp. 131–132). The letters against Pashkov are not over. I sent two more. It is inevitable to add one or two more to them (7, p. 133). Do you know T.? Who is this?! He is not very Orthodox. If you meet him, grab him by the hair and drag him through the thorniest thorns, so that at the end of the drag there are only bones left. Then cover it with medical plasters so that new flesh grows and a new T. appears - Orthodox, well wiped (7, pp. 133-134). Isn't it old news about Pashkov? They assured that he had completely moved to England. This news that he is advocating requires verification. Check it out, tell me. How absurdly our spiritual power acted against him, out of hand. He's been blowing the trumpet for 5 years - but nothing to him. I began to wonder: had the metropolitan somehow expressed consent to his preaching, having been deceived by Pashkov’s flattering speeches about the meaning of embodied economy (7, pp. 134–135)? And the Moscow Academy is different. L. trampled the first four Ecumenical Councils into the mud, and, having carried out in his reasoning the idea that the Holy Church did not have the truth, but was looking for it... and found it through the struggle of schools of scientists or parties. Destructive thoughts. Recently there was a master's debate there. The matter concerned the 5th Council. The magistrate concluded in his reasoning that the 5th Ecumenical Council rightly condemned 3 chapters... But in his speech he deigned to proclaim: do not think that I am deciding this out of respect for the Council. No, that's what science requires. The cathedral, it turns out, is an unimportant authority. The main thing is science... i.e. reason and its considerations. It turns out that non-Orthodox principles are being introduced. Where are the authorities looking? The Word of God was replaced and composed, not according to the principles of Orthodoxy, but also according to science. Science demanded it. So they remain silent when... this science is presented instead of the beginning of Orthodoxy. Do not be ashamed to trumpet this where it is appropriate (7, p. 135). What is this Pashkov? The Metropolitan wrote that he had left, others wrote that he had been expelled... and would not return. The Lord probably doesn’t know that he only began to act more secretly. They would run to him and tell him about Pashkov (7, p. 137). You can write a lot against Pashkov. When the hunt comes, I’ll write more. The written word embraces only the general. We should get down to details... But where to start? We will wait for a push from him [in letters] or inspiration. Try there what these renegades mean when they say: we have set the goal of ridding the people of superstition and idolatry. This is how Bobrinsky put it. Can you find someone who could explain to us what they mean by these words? Idolatry, probably the veneration of icons and saints. What about superstition? But for both, their words would be needed... Grant, Lord, to the Sovereign the idea of ​​putting Pashkov, and perhaps Bobrinsky, in the Suzdal fortress (7, pp. 141–142). After all, I had a big plan: to gradually dismantle all Protestantism. Yes, all the writer's fervor has disappeared. When he comes again, I’ll scribble something else... about the veneration of icons... The Molokans and Stundists and Pashkov tempt a lot, misinterpreting the worship of them (7, p. 144). I waited with difficulty for the letters from Fr. Vasilyeva. I also received it from Nikitin a long time ago... I received two bales - up to 200. There are 3 more bales at the post office. Therefore, there will be 400–500 of them all. Thank you. Now I will generously send them in different directions. Tambov residents, you can hear, read diligently... Their wisdom is not great. But it is brought under one review and put in its place, which does not have a bad effect on the soul (7, p. 148). The other day, the Moskovskie Vedomosti stated that Pashkov and some other Goedecker (who? Isn’t it the head of the apostolic community?!) came to Riga to preach. Then Pashkov distributed the book “The Path to Salvation,” which sets out his nonsense. It occurred to me to take this very book and put it on an Orthodox footing... and put it to use... printing a warning at the end: look, Orthodox, you will come across a book with the same title, but with a stamp... do not pick it up... This is not a path, but a crossroads (7, p. 159). Ushinsky writes against the Stundists, having obtained points of confession of their faith. He also writes to me and sends me for revision. Although it’s not complete, everything is going (7, p. 167). A whole book could be written about the icons alone. And not a book, but a little book... Icons are a great aid to the misinterpretations of the Germans, they should be punched in the nose (7, p. 167). 24. Letters of St. Theophan against the Stundists Ushinsky, after reading letters to St. Petersburg. 107, sent me his notebooks against the Stundists, whom he personally met and found out all their nonsense. He writes very efficiently. And I asked him to continue. He also asked me to send the teaching points of the Stundists. Maybe the laziness will go away and I’ll write something (7, p. 152). 25. About the religion of the Stundists Ushinsky sent the confessions of the Stundists, two schools, of which one is similar to reformism, and the other is Doukhobor - Quaker. I wrote them off. On the first I made some notes, as Ushinsky asked (for him), but on the second you can’t make out anything: the water is dark. And I just got rid of this almost empty work. However, the confession of reformist Stundists is not an empty matter. No one has it except Ushinsky and also Senator Polovtsev, who sent Ushinsky to the Stundists, and this one gave him a full report of everything found, heard and seen (7, p. 154). 26. About the new sectarian Prugavin You also mention the new sect among the horse breeders of Prugavin. This Prugavin in the “Voice” wrote disapprovingly against the apostolic community - the Irvingians. I thought that he was Orthodox. And that's who he is! Say an extra word about him... if the governor told you, then, of course, he had the means to know well what kind of sect it was (7, p. 163). 27. About Leo Tolstoy’s book “What is my faith?” The other day, a Ryazan landowner, known only in writing, a great deal... temporarily lives in St. Petersburg, sent me the manuscript of Leo Tolstoy, the bashi-bazouk... the enemy of God and the servant of the devil... Title: “What is my faith?” – 35 years old, says: I was an atheist. Now he has accepted the teaching of Christ... But his Christ is not ours, and the teaching is not our Christ God. He wants to make humanity happy... Here is a blueprint for a happy life: 1. Do not resist evil... let them beat, cut, rob - be patient, but be silent... do not defend yourself... 2. Courts are not needed, neither the police nor the army. 3. The oath is criminal. 4. Fighting is contrary to God... 5. Divorce should not be done, even if the spouses commit adultery... He proves it by crookedly interpreting the words of the Lord in the Discourse on the Mount - Matt. 5, 21–48, with great stretch. The tone of his speech constantly spews blasphemy against the Church, which he calls nothing other than a perverter of the teachings of Christ. Before this article... (5 sheets of neat letter without margins), - he says, - I wrote a criticism of dogmas and the Gospel - a set of Gospel teachings. Ushinsky sent me a list of his gospel... Distorted translations of some passages are inserted between the true texts, and in others completely their own are inserted... the content is such that, after reading it, I had to decide: this is white fever nonsense (7, pp. 185-186). He does not believe in the Most Holy Trinity... rejects the incarnate economy, the Sacraments, the Church, the future life... His Christ is not Christ the Lord, but some kind of summary of the most perfect humanity... or something like that. The article may have a harmful influence, and the person who sent it to me wrote that in St. Petersburg many are tempted, especially from the highest circle of ladies. He lithographs his articles abroad, smuggles them... and distributes them secretly. My manuscript is a list (7, p. 186). 28. Lion from the abyss, disturbing the peace of the Savior They wrote from Moscow, as if the writings of this Leo - from the abyss - were being read in great demand. How many godless absurdities he has - every line of it, judge how much evil he does. And all in secret. Moreover, they say, he opened his house and gives everyone access to him - and enlightens everyone. And no one leads with an ear (7, p. 187). I don't remember if I wrote to you about his articles. I now have three: 1) “What is my faith?”; 2) “Gospel” is new and 3) “Confession”. The latter reveals how he reached his present position... All the fanfare... In these articles he mentions 4) his criticism of church dogma. Someone else informed me that he had also published article 5) “What should we do now”... I can’t get the last two. And it is very desirable, especially criticism. In the articles that I have, it is clear that he rejects all dogmas; but there is no evidence. They, he says, are in the aforementioned criticism. No matter how many times I pick up the pen, I can’t write... So, should I leave it like that? The Moscow ruler read the gospel... and should have done something. They have a lot of... scientists in Moscow... I think they'll sort it out bit by bit... But I lack a lot to write meaningfully. We have to rummage (7, p. 187188). The bashi bazooka Leo Tolstoy smashed my head. He babbled a bunch of nonsense - but he has nothing to take on... Everything is almost unproven... And besides, he deigned to say that he is still correcting his thoughts... This is a loophole in which he can calmly say: this is not a decisive thought for me yet... Finally, I received little hope of having a criticism of our dogmas from the all-wise Leo. One beauty declared herself to be his acquaintance. I asked her to ask Lev for a while about that criticism. He replied: I just have my copy, which I need... If you want, I’ll tell you to write, but please pay the money. The money has been sent (he appointed) and the rewritten criticism is awaiting... Will something come of this (7, pp. 188–189)? I read Ostroumov’s articles... Nothing excellent is visible yet, even though the matter is being said. Yes, here Ostroumov has nothing to disagree about. He looks through the confession of the roaring Lion... In this confession there is almost nothing that catches the Orthodox truth. Only at the end there will be a little where he will say why he abandoned Orthodoxy... The general conclusion can be divided: he was an atheist and remained one... A lion from the herd of Antichrist (7, p. 190). There is one more thing worth printing. Maybe I'll take it up. Otherwise, it’s not surprising that I’ll start fighting with Leo. I have the Lvovs: “Confession”, “Gospel”, “What is my faith”, a letter to someone in St. Petersburg... Only in the article “What is my faith” - there is something dangerous, not in the solidity of the reasoning... but in the cry against the Church... often repeated that it has distorted the teachings of Christ (7, pp. 190-191). Currently I am wondering whether to write against Tolstoy. They are already writing, and now there is no need to write. But they write in a very drawn-out manner, and it resembles Krylov’s fable “The Cat and the Cook.” It occurs to me: to choose all of Tolstoy’s fabrications... and then against them to put the confession of faith of the Holy Church... and put them to use. This will be a brief overview of the enemy camp and the Orthodox army. As a warning... otherwise evil is slowly spreading, and the cry of “beware!” inaudible (7, p. 194). But what has been published about Tolstoy makes one wonder how this madman is still left to murder. He is the most evil of all... for he spreads his evil in secret (7, p. 206). Atheists... Tolstoyanism! Where is it? Is it really near you now, in the village? Lord, have mercy! This Tolstoy, whose writings are nothing but nonsense, has followers?! It’s true that Orthodox Rus' has gone completely stupid. He has no soul, no God, no other life. He unashamedly spews blasphemy against the Mother of God, the Savior and the entire Orthodox faith. He even dared to compose a new gospel that was not in agreement with the present one, and as a result he fell under the apostolic anathema. The texts are quoted according to the true Gospel, but the texts themselves say something else... a forger. Of all our idle laughs, he is the most empty and malicious... The real son of Satan. May the Lord save your present benefactors from him (7, p. 251). 29. How to use German writers You are attacking the West. And I'm ready to do the same. In the West, not everyone has their head broken. There are many humble scribblers and workers, not only among Catholics, but also among Protestants. They present general Christian truths well. You can use them in this case, but still not blindfolded. This sin is common among us... If we like a writer, they will start translating him... and then everyone will blow... And among those who are good, their non-Orthodox views are also cited. Generally speaking, it’s a pity to see how with our theologians... everything is just too much. For this, the Lord will send a little monster against us, so that she can knock out all German (non-Orthodox) wisdom from our heads with guns and bayonets. Where is our consolation?! In faith that the Lord Himself watches over His Church. And He is omnipotent (7, pp. 209–210). 30. About Catholic error In appearance, we have many similarities with Roman Catholics: the dogmas are the same, except for the new ones they invented about the origin of the Holy Spirit and - the recent one - about the non-participation of the Mother of God in original sin. They also have dogma and the primacy of the pope. The sacraments are the same; but they have almost all changed in form and differ in it not only from the Eastern Church, but also from their ancient orders. They have Vespers, Matins, Liturgy, and other church prayer services, just like ours. But if you consider how soulless and even meaningless everything is! When you trace the details, it is obvious to everyone how far they are from the truth. Crafty propagandists confuse with a general overview, hiding differences. The same differences that stand out too much, they soften with misinterpretation. For example, in Gagarin... “You,” he says, “have not decided collectively how to believe about the origin of the Holy Spirit; therefore, for you, the belief about the procession of the Holy Spirit and from the Son is a private opinion, which, by accepting, anyone is in no way subject to the judgment of his Church.” Do you see the sophistry? But isn’t the Church’s constant belief that He does not come from the Son the voice of the Church? When their dogma is not accepted, did not the whole Church say that they should not believe it? And did not the Council, which was under Patriarch Photius and Pope John VIII, anathematize those who accepted the procession of the Holy Spirit and from the Son? Then all the theological writings in the East, all the catechisms, what do they mean if not an expression of the teachings of the Orthodox Church? For all this, to believe that the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father is a mandatory dogma, but to believe in Latin that He also comes from the Son is a deviation from the Church, a heresy. Strengthen yourself against this sophistry. They also say: “What prevents you from believing the origin of the Holy Spirit and from the Son? This does not destroy your dogma, but adds new truth to it; knowing five truths is, of course, better than four.” What tricks! It is good to add truth to truth, but if they add falsehood, they distort it. Bitterness added to honey destroys honey. The judgment is written strictly to those who will add (11, pp. 36–37). The spirit of earthly Catholicism. In their opinion, the Church is a political corporation, supported by human forces and means, such as: the Inquisition, indulgences with a visible head. The Orthodox Church is the spiritual union of all in Jesus Christ and through Him mutually. The Church is invisibly ruled by the Lord and heading towards its end. Their dad is taking her and where?!!... For the Lord’s sake, beware of these flattering spirits and protect others (11, pp. 37–38). Now the time has come for us to enter into an open debate with the West. The Latins will lift up their proud eyes. Self-deluded confidence prevents them from listening to the truth. The simple sense sees the lies of their supremacy, and opinions about the origin of the Holy Spirit, and their new dogma, and everything else. All these novelties, according to the consciousness of the Latins themselves, were formed in the 11th century. And in the book [foreign, against the Orthodox Church. – Ed.] this is stated only with misinterpretation (11, p. 71). 31. Harmful influence of the West Theater is not a Christian thing at all, and a person who does not go to it is smart. We adopted it from the West. The West has punished us, and the Lord will punish us, but we have no idea (11, p. 69). Another evil thing we have is our literature, filled with Western spirit, and the Lord also cleanses that with blows from the West. But everything is numb. We got stuck in Western mud up to our ears - and everything was fine. There are eyes, but we do not see; there are ears, but we cannot hear; and we don’t understand with our hearts. Lord, have mercy on us! Send Your light and Your truth (11, pp. 69–70)! 32. About the English “apostle” from the Spirit-Bearing sect You ask how to think about some English apostle? (Redstock). But in your own words there is a solution to how to think about it. He says that the Lord appears to him and orders him what to do and what to say. Don’t you see, or don’t they see there, that he is a deceiver? If the Lord had appeared to him, he would not have sent him to us, but to the Turks, for example, or some other unbelievers. The Lord Himself has repeatedly confirmed and continues to confirm our faith with miracles, holy relics and appearances of Himself and His saints. There is nothing to teach us. On the contrary, he himself needs to learn from us. This apostle is not of the general English faith, but of a special one that has recently appeared. Recently, a sect of spirit bearers appeared there. It occurred to someone that in the Church of Christ the same thing that happened to the apostles should be repeated, i.e. so that the Holy Spirit visibly descends and visibly acts in believers. Several people believed him - more than the beauty. We started thinking about how to achieve this. We thought and thought and thought. Without knowing how, they became convinced that the Holy Spirit was definitely working in them, and they began to assure others of this. They came up with several dark miracles and began to spread them everywhere. So a lot of gullible people gathered around them. They separated from the others and established their own church orders. And here is the sect! Your apostle is from among them. He talks about the Holy Spirit, that everyone must be filled with His grace in order to be saved. This idea is absolutely correct. I revealed it to you in my first letters. But there is only truth in his words. Everything else is a lie! He shouts: believe, believe, and the Holy Spirit will come! This is his main lie! Faith, of course, is an urgent condition for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, but the very receipt of the gift occurs not by faith alone, but by faith through the Divinely established Sacraments. This was the case during the time of the apostles. Here's a case! St. Paul came to Ephesus and, meeting some believers there, asked them: have they received the Holy Spirit? They answered that they had not even heard whether the Holy Spirit existed. It turned out that they were baptized only with the baptism of John. Then St. Paul baptized them with the Baptism of Christ; After Baptism, he laid his hands on them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were renewed by baptism, but did not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He communicated to them through the apostolic laying on of hands, and Baptism only made them capable of receiving the gift and worthy of it. As it happened with these believers, so it happened with everyone: both under the apostles and after them. This is how it still happens in the Church of God - precisely through holy Confirmation, which the Apostles introduced instead of the laying on of hands. We all - baptized and anointed - have the gift of the Holy Spirit. Everyone has it, but not everyone has it. How to achieve it to become effective is depicted in my first letters. Take the trouble to watch it again. Here I will only add that there is no other way to achieve this. Turn now to the English apostle and ask whether he himself has the gift of the Holy Spirit. Doesn't have it. For the English do not have the Sacrament of Confirmation, without which, as without the laying on of apostolic hands, the Holy Spirit has never descended and does not descend. The English have only two Sacraments: Baptism and Communion, but there is no Sacrament of Confirmation. Therefore, there is no gift of the Holy Spirit in them. This apostle does not have it either. Therefore, he talks about what he does not know, and preaches about receiving what he himself does not have. In his speeches you will not notice even a mention of how the Holy Spirit is received. He talks only about the need to have Him and then calls out: believe! It’s like this: open your mouth and the Holy Spirit will fly in. How the word of the Lord comes to this apostle: physician, heal yourself 108 (9, pp. 246–249). 33. Decomposition of Protestantism Protestants have Orthodox Christians, but they are still Protestants. What are these? These are those who adhere to the wisdom of the first Protestants. Today's Protestants have moved far away from the first - and pure - Protestants, i.e. There are almost no people who completely agree with the ancients. They have so many sects that you can’t count them. And everyone is called Protestants. They were already starting to talk about how to unite everyone. It didn't work out. Only a new sect of unionists was formed. So: those Protestants who try to adhere to the ancient Protestants are Orthodox, but still Protestants (6, p. 98). 34. About the views and writings of Leo Tolstoy Leo Tolstoy... somewhere he picked up evil thoughts like a child - and spread them furtively, in manuscripts. But these manuscripts contain only his nonsense, without any evidence... Since our youth do not know the faith, they are easily carried away by these nonsense based on one assumption that such a writer probably has a reason to say so... And in his own head, jackdaws spent the night (8, p. 111). Your son’s speech about Leo Tolstoy amazes me. This Leo was an atheist until the age of 81. Then he decided to take up faith - and fell into the depths of Satan: he does not profess the Holy Trinity; the most absurd concept about God; The Lord Savior is a simple son of man; The Church blasphemes; no prayer, no Sacraments, and nothing churchly is needed; and there is no future life... What good can we expect from such wild teachings? There is nothing bad in moral rules, but there is little good either... Without faith, how can you live a good life? What works of Tolstoy... does your son understand? Until the age of 81, he wrote only novels... And since that time he wrote “The Gospel,” which is a distortion of the true Gospel; wrote “What is my faith?” And here he put all his nonsense... Everything is unproven... he lies for all he knows; wrote “Confession”... how he lived badly, how he reached despair and how he believed in something, but not at all in the truth of God... He also has something else. Everywhere there is the most careless nonsense... Don’t take them into your hands... Doesn’t your son have these essays?! The poison is real for young people (8, pp. 111–112). You did well to refuse to read Tolstoy's nonsense. And don’t take them into your hands... Read what is written by him... by this Lion, roaring, who to devour. I forgot to write down that Leo recognizes only the Gospel, and then in a distorted form, like his... He does not recognize the Epistles of the Holy Apostles, nor the fathers and teachers of the Church... He has everything in his own mind... Don’t take it into your hands (8, p. 152). 35. Characteristics of the Khlysty sect And the whips go to church and do everything; as well as eunuchs. The Skoptsy degenerated from the Khlysty. The Khlysts are looking to extinguish lust, which extinguishment is considered among them to be a spiritual resurrection before the general... They look emaciated, slobbering. They speak quietly, insinuatingly. It is impossible to learn anything from them, because their first point is not to reveal anything about the sect, even if the skin were torn off. That's why there's no point in torturing. At their meetings they do zealous activities: they spin around, each individually or all of them, as in round dances, and different ones do movements until they get tired. This warms the blood, irritates the game of life, which responds pleasantly. They call this pleasant state the presence of the Spirit (nakatil). But there’s nothing spiritual here. And the dancers become pleasantly excited. It’s the same with them – and nothing more. That they have a bad sin is not true; at least the articles sent say this. Sin may happen to others later, but not at meetings, and don’t remember it... The whips, having come into a pleasant excitement from the spinning, others go into ecstasy. Those who are talkative will scream and begin to seethe. Since he has nothing in his mind, but only an excited state and a desire to speak out, he seethes without expressing anything definite. Others consider all this to be revelations of God (8, p. 174175). 36. Instructions on interviewing whips When interpreting with them and when explaining yourself, talk more about how grace is obtained and how grace is manifested in power. It turns out through the holy Sacraments, not otherwise, but it becomes obvious in those who mortify the passions with well-known deeds. (In the Philokalia, see extracts from St. Mark the Ascetic.) This clarity consists in a special understanding of faith, in a peaceful disposition of the heart, in deep prayers, in self-sacrifice for the good of others, in imperturbable patience... so that those who watch cannot be amazed. A distinctive feature of the influx of the Spirit is deep peace and detachment from everything visible - inward before God. Here all bodily movement is stopped and the feeling of use ceases, i.e. everything happens completely opposite to what happens with the whips... Come in from the other side. For them, Christ continues to appear - in people... When someone seems good to them in their opinion, they say: “Christ has appeared”; and direct your speech against this... Please act as God instructs you. Only by the signs you indicated, know that these are whips... or eunuchs... and push on them. Not in church, but in a simple conversation, analyze their separate songs... From the books of the Interlocutor, look through the article about the people of God, from the Kelsey collection - about eunuchs... Make the necessary notes - and return the books when the need has passed. Congratulations on your archpriesthood. Bless, Lord! But if you convert even one whip, it will be equal to the bishopric. These are the most stubborn sectarians. The enemy keeps them in the charm of their apparent serviceability and those flattering pleasures that are obtained during their whirling (8, pp. 175–177). While our intellectuals reverently listen to every word of the newly-minted false prophet, Count Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, Orthodox Russian people with the deepest attention follow the contents of many many letters appearing in spiritual journals - letters belonging to the pen of the great ascetic and luminary of our Russian Church, the deceased Saint Theophan in God (2, p. 40–41). (From the prefaces to the first publications.) Doctor! heal yourself (Luke 4:23) You might be interested in: