МОНАШЕСТВУЮЩИМ

1. Moving to another monastery is ruinous for the internal structure You are in danger of being transferred to another monastery. Although this is honorable, it will be ruinous for your internal structure (3, pp. 210–211). 2. Where God’s purpose is, there is God’s help However, it is undoubtedly true that where God’s purpose is, there is God’s help. And where God’s help is, everything will go smoothly. Therefore, it is better for you to position yourself this way: not to be partial to the place, but only to take care of how to conduct affairs properly, to which the place obliges... and for this one thing to pray and for this one thing to ask for help from the Lord. Whether they leave you in this place or transfer you, try to be without embarrassment, resting in the will of God. And now tune in like this. For in this the stone is solid underfoot (3, p. 211). 3. The order of the authorities about us must be understood as from the hand of God Place yourself in the feeling of being equal to the animal under the jugular, which, whether harnessed to a water carrier or an elegant cabriolet, drives calmly, without thinking about the grace or ugliness of what it carries. If you are appointed to a new place, they will be appointed because it pleases God so... And accept it as if from the hand of the Lord... and be sure that the one who gave you this new place will also give you the strength to act in it as you should... just don’t dream about yourself, humble yourself even more, don’t weaken your spiritual work and don’t belittle your work on it. Be careful from outsiders. Then the place will indicate how to act. May God give you wisdom and courage... wisdom to see how you should act, and courage to do as you should without sparing yourself or others (3, p. 214). 4. Advice on the assigned position of abbess Accept new obedience as a yoke that must be pulled daily, and not as wings to lift up. If you have a sincere desire to have a monastery leadership as a duty to guide all sisters into the Kingdom of Heaven, then the fewer there are, the better. Vladyka told you that you entered the monastery early, you still need to live in peace. I think that he said this with the idea that you need more worldly wisdom, since the abbess needs it in managing the external life of the monastery (3, p. 215). 5. Worldly and spiritual wisdom (attention to God) It's never too early to enter a monastery. Are there many holy women who entered the monastery as children (3, p. 215)? Every time you are scattered when you are in K... But as you quickly get comfortable again, then take from this the science of how to control yourself under the onslaught of impressions from the outside... You propose a question - to teach you how to guard your soul more dangerously. This is a gift from God. Ask and it will be given to you. However, do not sit idly by, but seek and you will find 145. And all our good things come from God, but only when we look for them. Try to acquire the skill of listening to your heart and not giving in to any thoughts, feelings, or urges when they are not in a spirit pleasing to God, but immediately cut them off. Then the ability to listen to God and to every deed or word will come. And everything will be fine: both business and inner attention to God. The basis for this is the feeling for God. The head of this feeling is the fear of God. When he comes into force, everything will improve (3, p. 215). Submit your external things to God's will and accept with submission and pleasure everything that He sends (3, p. 216). You complain about visits from the laity on holidays. What to do? This is how we have already established monasteries. But try to eliminate worldly views and, as much as possible, worldly idle talk from this; Don’t force yourself to talk about spiritual things, but when the opportunity arises, don’t refuse, as if in passing. Return visits twice a year are sufficient (3, p. 218). 7. Advice to the Mother Superior on influencing other sisters You wonder whether you look at those around you correctly, but you look at them as indifferent to everything spiritual, despite your concern to warm them with love for God. And you decide to shut yourself up and talk to your sisters only on occasion. It is not yours alone who is rich in indifference, O. and not only yours. But not everyone who seems indifferent is indifferent. There are many who do not like to talk about themselves, but keep spiritual thoughts and spiritual understanding within themselves. When, while reading in your cell, you come across an article suitable for sisters, call a reader and tell her to read it in church. They will listen and be edified (3, p. 221). Having received the suggestion [from the Angel. – Ed.], you spend a day, and sometimes more, in a detached state and mood. Others do not have this and must themselves, as best they can, ascend to such a state, which is obligatory for everyone. Now compare what is higher: what was obtained without labor or through labor and then achieved?.. And from this you will receive an incentive to humble yourself before everyone (3, p. 230). Make it a rule to always speak to your sisters with a motherly heart and kindness; strictly - without despotism, condescendingly - without concessions. And before speaking, prayerfully turn to God for admonition and giving strength to the word (3, p. 233). 8. About the sister who fell into temptation What's wrong with N.N.? I'm very sorry. You are doing well to treat her motherly and show such warm care for her. May it help her Lord. Let him keep in mind the parable of the prodigal son. The father, seeing his son returning... ran out to him: no scolding, no reproach... hugged his son and returned his fatherly blessing to him. Repentance and a firm intention to stand and do other good things always appeases the Lord. Let him repeat: I have sinned, I will not. And he complacently sets out on his way. May the Lord deliver your monastery from such shocks in the future. This is a good lesson for sisters not to rush indiscriminately into worldly relationships (3, pp. 234–235). 9. About the attitude towards the fallen sister You treated N. well, just like a mother. And bring the matter to the end and put her on her feet, so that later she can walk straight and walk boldly (3, p. 235). 10. Feedback on the management of the monastery You still remind the sisters about spiritual matters, despite their coldness towards this. So it follows: some do not listen, but some listen with zeal and have good intentions in their hearts (3, pp. 238–239). Although you acted strictly with the sisters, you were fair (3, p. 239)! 11. About the attitude towards guilty sisters You did well to behave peacefully towards the sisters who had to be removed from the monastery - and pray for them. The enemy has confused them, and the Angel of the Lord will calm them down and correct them. May the Lord give this to them according to His ineffable mercy (3, p. 240). 12. Advice on continuous and diligent efforts for the success of all sisters of the monastery You have so much to worry about your sisters! It cannot be that one of them is not included in what you offer. Others, in their own measure, assimilate this. But you still do not stop acting on them as much as possible, praying unceasingly that the Lord, Whose daughters they are, will visit them and enlighten their thoughts and hearts (3, p. 243). 13. Advice to a nun subject to dangerous weakness You must declare your weakness of character to Mother Abbess and explain to her frankly what danger you are in. If she doesn’t pay attention to it, her will must be fulfilled. The sisters will pray for you. And God will deliver you from trouble (3, p. 246). However, you also need to take care of yourself. Arm yourself with the fear of God, that God sees everything and is everywhere. Attract mortal memory too. And don’t part with these two (3, p. 246). 14. Measures to maintain purity of speech and thoughts regarding the male sex You must avoid men in every possible way, do not start conversations with them, and if you happen to speak, speak with some rudeness or, at least, coldness and unsympathy (3, pp. 246–247). When, however, there is zeal to keep oneself pure not only from deeds, but also from words and thoughts, then the soul itself will find how to arrange this with God’s help (3, p. 247)! 15. Answer to the question about secret tonsure And you can take secret tonsure, and without it you can be saved. How you feel better, I cannot say; see for yourself. I will just follow your decision and say: if you take a haircut, bless you, Lord; and if you don’t cut your hair, God bless you. Take care to tonsure your soul by renunciation of everything and self-sacrifice, love of mankind and love of God (3, p. 247). 16. Calming the offended by deprivation of the promised mantle We thought about putting a robe on you but changed our minds. Of course, this is sad: it would be better not to even think about it. And then there was public condemnation. But what should we do? It's done. We must endure. The Lord sent for cleansing. Submit humbly to His holy will. When you complacently submit, He will send you a different kind of mercy - internal instead of external (3, pp. 247-248). 17. Peace of mind is acquired by strict fulfillment of the vows of monasticism The monastery is a quiet refuge. Why does your soul have no peace? Look, is it because you do not fulfill everything required by monasticism properly and your conscience reproaches you for this, and you, out of self-indulgence, do not have enough severity with yourself to become a nun in the strict sense. God Himself arouses restlessness in you, wanting you to look around and start doing things right. If you listen to the voice of God, you will find peace; If you don’t listen, there will be no peace. Unless this is what will happen: God will stop arousing anxiety in you, seeing that you do not listen to Him, i.e. will leave you to your lazy will. And there will be peace, only mortal. So please take a look around and fix everything. This is what is needed: to plant the fear of God in the heart, with the memory of God and death... and walk in the presence of God. To have sincere love for all sisters, not to despise, condemn or offend anyone (3, p. 249). In the Church of God, during services and at home, the rule is to maintain the strictest and reverent attention to God and to keep your thoughts and feelings in order. The body cannot be indulged in anything... neither in food, nor in sleep, nor in rest. Don't have an idle moment. Bow down as often as your heart desires. Continuously say the Jesus Prayer, with attention to the Lord present. Remember that a self-indulgent life is completely contrary to Christianity, and even more so to monasticism. Everything must be done with need and self-denial and crossness. Do not let your thoughts wander, but keep them in the single memory of God - mortal memory. Here you go. If you please, tune in this way - and you will be at peace (3, p. 250). 18. About the fight against passions in solitude and communication with others They tell you: “It is more meritorious to strive in the fame of life than to be saved in solitude.” And don't deny it. Those who truly strive do not have merit in mind, but only care about this in order to cleanse themselves of passions and passionate feelings and thoughts. For this purpose, life in communication with others is useful, because it represents actual experiences of struggling with passions and overcoming them. These victories hit passions in the chest and head, and their repetition soon kills passions outright. In solitude, the struggle is only mental, which is as weakly effective as the blow of a fly’s wing. That is why the mortification of passions in solitude takes longer. And what’s more, it always happens almost not by killing itself, but by freezing, freezing for a while, until an encounter with objects of passion... Moreover, it happens that passion suddenly ignites like lightning. And it happens that someone who has had peace from passions in solitude for a long time suddenly falls. But someone who has achieved peace from passions through a struggle not mental, but real, will not be shaken by an unexpected attack. This is the basis on which men experienced in spiritual life command to overcome passions by actually fighting them in communication with others, and after that to retire (4, pp. 12-13). 19. Having broken all previous ties - instructions on a solitary life You have now spent a fair amount of time in your solitude, and your words very significantly define its advantages. For now, this is still just a theory, but I think it won’t be long before practice comes into its own. Theory is a courtier, and practice is a bear from the forest. It will start to break... just hold on. Help you, Lord! There would be zeal and determination to firmly go towards what was expected, and everything would go well, only not like a cast iron, but like pilgrims - on a pawn with a crutch (4, p. 22). I imagine your cell. Three walls, images... How many eyes do you see looking at you! What do they want? To see in you what is in their spirit...i.e. according to the spirit of the Lord, in whose image you were reborn and now have entered into the struggle to achieve similarity to Him. Saints are an example of this, pointers, as well as prayer assistants... These are all the wings they tie up for you. Fly - God help you! How many treasures you collected during your summer wandering around the monasteries! Read and admire with you... How many spiritual honeycombs have they given you? Now you sit and repeat eating them. God grant me good health (4, p. 23)! If it is true that you know only the church and the cell, then it is not surprising for you to add to this, and from the cell to Heaven there will be a blessed movement (4, p. 23). 20. When entering a monastery, you need to surrender your soul to the one Lord, throwing away all earthly desires and hopes. The success of monastic life depends on the monk: God’s help is always ready The desire to enter a monastery is a good desire. It will not be disgusting to God to fulfill it; only, when going to the monastery, make a covenant with your heart: to betray your whole soul to the one Lord, throwing away all earthly desires and hopes (1, p. 38). Whether you will spend your monastic life well is up to you. God's help is ready; but it comes to those who are diligent themselves. If you will take care with all your soul to do one thing pleasing to God, God’s help will always be with you and God will give you success in everything. But if you give up and become lazy, God will leave you. Then, of course, your monasticism will be worth nothing. One must devote oneself to the cause of God to the point of death, that is, at least die, and not deviate from what is good (1, p. 38). 21. A firm desire and decision is a sign of God’s calling As with your sister, despite proposals and a suitable groom, the desire not to get married remains predominant, then she must act according to the instructions of the Apostle and do the best thing. Her desire clearly has a sign of God's calling. Therefore, it is better for her to remain a virgin and enter a monastery (1, p. 43). 22. Obedience is a work entrusted by God Finish the obedience entrusted to you (collecting books for the construction of a parish church), then you will think about what to do. The work of collectors (for rural cell attendants) is difficult, everyone knows. But for a good deed, you can and should struggle. It’s hard, there are troubles, and there are temptations; but as you endure all this for a good deed, God’s help accompanies you and, unknown to you, protects and covers you. God sees your work and prepares a reward for you: either internal only, or external. Be inspired by this undeceiving hope. When you finish this matter, then you are free to do whatever you want. You can enter a monastery and build a cell where it will be more secluded. Both are possible. Just now be patient and do not run away from the work God has entrusted to you. If you quit, you will be like a soldier who fled from the battlefield. Shame and disgrace! And he will get it for this at the Judgment (1, pp. 43–44). 23. Organizing home life like a monastery God's mercy be with you! To a monastery or to live like this? Why, you now have almost a monastery. Do you think that it will be better for you to live in a monastery than now? They won’t let you live in peace there; They will immediately impose tasks on you both in the monastery and in relations with outsiders, because there are few capable people in women’s monasteries... You will have no time to do anything spiritual. If you had hitherto lived in the worldly bustle of life, it would be best for you to go to a monastery... Even if they gave you things to do, but since they are troublesome, they are still not worldly, then among them you would gradually lose the habit of everyday life, and then you would settle down more calmly. And going from your present life to a monastery is the same as going from peace to vanity. I think that you have no reason to go to the monastery, because there you will not find what you are looking for (1, pp. 108–109). So what should we do? - Live as you are. Let the head of the institution be abbess for you, and let your position be monastic obedience. And fulfill it as God’s commandment - and all the time you will be in this obedience, as in the service of the Lord; just take care to dedicate this work to the Lord... both at the beginning of each day, and throughout it, and at the end... thanking Him for allowing us to serve Him another day. Then your free time is all yours... and dedicate it either to rest, then to reading, then to prayer, or perhaps to handicrafts. Once you have stopped external relations, no one and nothing will disturb you... What to do with your position? Continue it while the hunt is on. She does not seem to interfere with your spiritual pursuits. When you leave her, live in your house, like a pious laywoman or like blueberries live... Then you will have a church and a house, and in the house there will be peaceful spiritual pursuits (1, p. 109). If there is no leadership - what to do?! You won’t find it in the monastery either. How can this be? – Take guidance from the Word of God and the writings of the Fathers. General commandments are unknown to anyone, but for specific cases you will find instructions through written communication with someone. Here, in my opinion, is a suitable road for you (1, p. 109)! 24. The monastery and tonsure stimulate one to piety with thoughts The monastery and tonsure greatly excite, but not in themselves, but with those thoughts that are inevitable... For others, both leave no trace (1, p. 112). 25. It is easier for someone without a family to please God The Apostle Paul decided that whoever wants to be saved should not marry or be tied down by family matters. Because it is more convenient for someone without a family to please God. And for those without families, there are many temptations in the world. You will do well if you take refuge in a monastery (1, p. 203). 26. Monastic affairs must be performed as if personally sent from God, dedicating them to the Lord Carry out all monastic orders conscientiously, honoring every task that is assigned to you, do according to these orders, as if personally sent to you from God Himself, and dedicate the work of monastic affairs to the Lord, as if He Himself stood before you and looked at you (2, p. 55). 27. The soul must be made a schema, and the external schema will give rise to only conceit Schima as schema will not give anything; the soul must be made a schema-monnitsa. And the external schema alone will give rise to conceit (2, p. 59). 28. About the monastery charter. Answers to various questions about the structure of skete life You sent me to look over the rules of the monastery and take notes. You are asking a blind man. I have not seen the general monastic life, and not just the monastic life, and from experience I do not know either one or the other. I will, however, say a word or two out of consideration (2, pp. 66–67). It is hardly possible to draw up a complete charter right away, so at the end there is a reservation: “If it later turns out that something needs to be added to this charter, or something to be abolished and limited, this can be done with the advice of the abbots and senior brothers of the hermitage and the monastery.” The first paragraph indicates the goal of the monastery - success in the inner life. Therefore, everything in the charter must be directed towards this goal urgently. Your statute contains something inconsistent with this. This is the procession of the cross from the desert to the skete and in the skete itself. There's no noise here. The hermitages will be shaken for a week. Also: when reading the day-night Psalter at each glory, numerous remembrances are unnecessary. Let this remembrance be done according to the rule when making a commemoration; add your own there - and that’s enough. Or, if desired, commemorate at the end of the kathisma or when changing the reader. In the cell there is prayer, reading and handicrafts. So the Angel determined. Handicrafts should be designated and troublesome activities, which include beekeeping and gardening, should not be allowed. Better are those that can be performed without leaving your cells. Besides knitting, I don’t know anything else among us; the ancients wove baskets and matting. Painting is also busy and exciting. Quite a bit of weaving. It's varied... Opening your thoughts every day is fruitful, and you need to make it urgent. A man can come as much as he wants. For what? There is a general service in the desert (monastery), and the liturgy is always there. For what? For advice?! Who is the advisor? If one is alone, it is difficult for him; if not alone, the monastery will resemble a bazaar. Isn't it better for men to lock the gates too?! Or, if this is undesirable, build a special reception room for those seeking advice, behind the gates of the gatekeeper. Shouldn't we set a certain hour for edifying reading? Everyone is present, and the abbot is here. He chooses what to read and to whom to read it. At the end of the reading, put a solution to questions and confusion, and everyone listens. And the brothers who know participate in the decision. Start your own library and fill it little by little with exclusively ascetic books. And determine how to use it. Allowing men to come who want to establish nothing good will not lead to anything good. Shouldn’t the fellowship of the brethren – hermits and hermits – also be defined by statute?! Perhaps there is something else that requires definition, this should be clearer to you... Take the trouble to reject everything that could distract the brethren from their inner life (2, pp. 67–68). It's good that you tied him to the monastery. Is he fit for a monastery? It takes a while. The worldly spirit will respond a little... But then, I think, it would be necessary to take him through all the obediences, starting with the lowest ones... to become familiar with them, so that he knows what each is, what temptations are in each and what ways for the better. The main thing, I think, is that he needs this to acquire humility... If everything passes, it will be a burnt brick, and if it doesn’t pass, it will be adobe... I express gratitude for what you sent... May the Lord help you in your labors to educate the lesser brethren (2, pp. 68–69). I will proceed from the idea that the monastery is assigned for the success of those monks who, after ordinary internal and external exploits, have reached the point that they feel a strong attraction inside to be there with the one Lord. 1. About the garden. Why start it, but organize the gardening business in such a way that it does not occupy the hermits. Let the gardener manage it. 2. Skityans are not interested in gardening. In a well-established garden there is rarely a need for many working hands. Then send novices from the desert... The garden is separated from the monastery buildings, houses or cells by a special wall, behind which the work is not visible or heard. 3. Let the gardener's cell stand somewhere in a corner, especially in the garden. He himself and with his activities cannot interfere with the hermits. The hut at the brick factory... let it be outside the fence of the monastery garden, further away. The garden fence is connected to the monastery fence... The monastery buildings are separated from the garden by a special wall... with gates... 4. In the gardener's cell, the gardener who can be found will live... A hermit, a monastery, and even a layman... who knows the business... and the hut is brick... who is good for the job... maybe completely alien to both the monastery... and the desert... 5. The apiary is easy to move. Move her as far as possible from the monastery so that there is no thought about her... 6. “Isn’t it better to leave everything as it is?” Then it will be the same as the desert, only on a smaller scale... and there is nothing to bother about it... The hermits should mainly be novices... and already in years... The kitchen is simple... Monday, Wednesday and Friday - dry eating: a loaf of bread and a mug of water at 3 o'clock... On other days, cabbage soup and porridge. Or just cabbage soup and porridge only on Saturday and Sunday. For such a table, two or three novices are enough. From the hermits themselves... a succession can be established for this purpose. There is no need for bread makers or prosphora makers. They will bring it from the desert. Prosphora will be required only for the liturgy. There is no one to serve at the proskomedia. Never let anyone inside the monastery. All the elders are in the monastery and there is no need to build special cells... in a special courtyard... 7. Just as a special yard is not required, there is nothing to determine whether it is nearby or far away. 8. It’s all the same, because everyone has the same job... That’s why there’s no need to build separate cells. 9 . I think the internal walls should be built as they are usually done in monasteries. It is only necessary that there be enough air inside for one... Should thin capital walls... be folded... 10. In the monastery, all the novices... There are no more than two hierodeacons and hieromonks - two each... In the cell, each one of the hermitages lives and is his own novice. To be admitted to a monastery, it is required that the applicant has been grounded and ground in the desert, and most importantly... has an inward gravitation. The hermitages perform all church services, singing and reading themselves...whether it is vocal or silent. 11. To enter the monastery. The desire to enroll is a secondary matter. The main thing is to have a urge and inclination to stay inside. The abbot of the desert must find out this not from the words of the wisher, but through his own testing. The abbot determines whether the needs of the monastery should be preferred or subordinated to the desires of the person wishing to enter the monastery. 12. One who is tormented by passions cannot have the above-mentioned gravity... and it is better for him to be cured among brotherhood. 13. Anyone who has developed the said attraction can be allowed to remain silent. But it happens after passions have subsided, therefore, it is doubtful in the young. 14. Cell activities for the silent (Angel of God showed St. Anthony): prayer, reading and handicrafts. How to accomplish any of this is left to each hermit himself. Everything that I have written comes directly from the idea that the monastery is the abode of those who live exclusively an internal life. The hermitnik, as he fell over the fence into the monastery, should consider himself buried. His cell is a window to Heaven... just let him look there and keep his thoughts there. The only thing in the world is that he, yes God, and brothers in God... I think that their hair will stand on end after looking at my lines. But such people will not have access to the monastery... Only those who have long become accustomed to being inside will get there and, by entering the monastery, will enter their own region. No strangers should be allowed inside... and the gate is always locked with a large bolt. Anyone who needs anything spiritually should go to the desert. Over time, when elders of high intelligence and understanding of weakness and mental health are formed inside the monastery, then they can be assigned to listen to spiritual needs and satisfy them with words. For this purpose, then build a special reception area near the gatekeeper. But we must wait for mature elders to form. When this happens, then an adaptation can be made. It may seem strange to you that I am writing. But I already told you at the beginning that I don’t know anything rationally or experimentally... But I’m writing from the wind... and it’s unlikely that any of this will turn out to be good. What makes me say this is the thought that if the monastery is not organized this way, then it will be the same communal hermitage, only small. And it will not be clear why to bother about establishing it (2, pp. 69–73). 29. About the proper performance of the duties of a dean and about keeping monastic vows Bless, Lord, the goodness of your passing through the position of dean. We must act without fighting, slowly. There is nothing to dust. The main thing is to love the brethren, both great and small, and act in the spirit of love. The weaker someone is, the more you need to have love for him. If you act like this, love will teach you everything. Be afraid to act out of passion like fire. Where there is even a small shadow of passion, there is no use there. The enemy is hiding here and will mix everything up. When you have to demand discipline, avoid that movement of your heart that would cause the dean to consider certain indiscretion an insult to himself personally. How dare he when I ordered? How dare he do this in front of my eyes? “I” in all its forms must be discarded. The dean is not the superior and must act in subordination to the greater. A dean will be good if he is the first to cause disorder through his disobedience or inattention to the rector (2, pp. 171–172). Let the dean not drown out the monk. That rank is accidental, but a monk will die as a monk by vow. So a monk must be watched over more than ever. The deanery can be reset, but where can the monk be reset (2, p. 172)? You have to think a lot and do judgment on yourself every evening, judgment without mercy... and thus learn and become a dean, and be a monk. God bless you! Turn to the Lord with every need. The Lord is near and ready to help. Now you need to have more fear and humility (2, p. 172). 30. Various advice and explanations to the dean on correcting his position and purifying his heart Movements of rage in the event of troubles must be driven away by prayer and meditation each time until they completely disappear. And there will be no harm, otherwise there will be (2, p. 172). When Fr. A. asks the boss about whom, he must speak frankly, as the matter is; this is your duty. You should not be embarrassed by this, because it is not good to act otherwise. How can the abbot know (2, p. 172)?! You must tell your confessor about everything that happens as a result of the confession of others and do as he orders. And, without receiving permission from him, do not begin service. Do not ask for confession, but also do not refuse when told and when the need is visible (2, p. 173). Let the spiritual father decide on desecration every time. It's hard to stay awake. The service will be no good. You can try. If it works, you can continue. You have to work hard for this (so that there is no defilement in a dream). Add abstinence: do not eat at night and drink less - the tea is weak (2, p. 173). Writing is worse than being a dean: you should get rid of it. But since I don’t know what you have done there according to this, I don’t say anything (2, p. 173). Regarding change in general, adhere to the rule of not moving yourself, answering the proposal neither yes nor no, and moving where - go without wincing, as if by God’s command (2, p. 173). We must endure and endure everything without exception, accepting it as from the hand of God. You should not expect that as soon as you give an order, everything will go as desired, but on the contrary, expect resistance in everything and prepare to meet it without embarrassment, with reasonably devised means to counteract it (2, p. 173). We must do everything with all diligence, and leave the success of the work in the hands of God. Why, when there is no success, do not rage, but reproach yourself for having come up with a bad idea, and come up with a new means. Not everyone, however, thinks about it, but is constantly concerned with one’s soul. Let prayer always be in your heart. In the evening, the soul must be cleansed of everything and abolished, so that it remains free, with the Lord alone (2, p. 173). 31. Repetition of the main qualities befitting a dean I think that you have now become accustomed to the deeds of your obedience... Grant, Lord, that everything goes better and better. Wisdom is small! Don’t waste time, be patient, little by little, move everything forward. The Lord wants this and always has an all-powerful helper in these matters. Just you should never allow “I want”, but “the order requires it, I’m your servant” (2, p. 174). 32. Schema is the image of the death of everything earthly You can accept the schema... you can do it without it. When you get healthy and grow old... and all earthly feelings die, then the schema will die. She is the image of the death of everything earthly; no one lives, but Christ lives in me 146 (Gal. 2:20) (2, p. 190). 33. Salvation does not depend on the place and external environment, but on the Christian life. But it’s better to save yourself in a monastery You can be saved everywhere, and salvation does not come from a place or from the external environment, but from your inner mood. If faith is alive, if there are no sins that separate you from God and extinguish the grace of God, if communion with the Holy Church and the fulfillment of everything churchly is strong, and faithful, and zealous, then your state of salvation, all that remains for you is to observe and preserve yourself in this order of life, being in the memory of God and death and always holding in your soul a contrite and humble feeling. With such a mood, you will be saved both in the monastery and without the monastery (3, pp. 8–9). It is better to save yourself in a monastery; but whether this is better for you, someone else could tell you, but I can’t. Attach a prayer so that the Lord will definitely show you what to do. The Lord is near, loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved. He will not despise your prayer. Just pray with all your heart. Do not deny monasticism. Say that you are invited, looking at your monastic life (among the world). Consequently, when you enter a monastery to become a monk, you will not perceive something new, but something that is already familiar to you. There is only one addition: everything should no longer be of one’s own free will. But although this is sometimes difficult, it has the advantage that everything done this way is more favorable to God and has a greater influence on the moral system. May the Lord arrange your path as it pleases Him and is salvific for you. Give yourself into His hands - and He will create... God comes unnoticed (3, p. 9). 34. Blessing and approval for those entering the monastery I'm very glad that a place is opening up for you. God bless! He Himself gives it to you... So it is with God! Enter into action with courage. Do not be afraid of work and do not be afraid of difficulties. Patience is required in every work and in every service, and without it there is no success anywhere (3, pp. 9-10). God will also bless you to accept the monastic robe (ryassophore). And try from this very moment to reveal the real nun in yourself (3, p. 10). 35. The ministry of a teacher in a monastery school is a piece of apostolic ministry Get ready to carry out your service (as a teacher in a monastery school) with all attention, diligence and fear, as a task personally imposed on you by the Lord Himself. Let it be the first object of your prayers and your desires. Put everything behind him, because in his fulfillment your salvation lies. This work is a part of the apostolic ministry and a continuation of their work of preaching to children (3, p. 10). 36. Basic rules for monks What the Jerusalem ascetic asks of the Vyshensky couch potato, I will say: 1) the main monastic rule is to be constantly in God with your mind and heart, or to pray unceasingly; 2) to fuel this feat, certain prayers are prescribed - a circle of daily services that are performed in the church, and some cell prayers; 3) since the Jerusalem ascetic corrects the daily services herself, then no more prayers can be read to her, but instead of reading the usual prayers, bow with the Jesus Prayer or to the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel, to the saint of the same name, to the saints of the day. How many prayers and how many bows, let her determine for herself, in relation to how this is written about in the following Psalter, where it is written out what to read every day for those preparing for Holy Communion. Just don’t let him burden himself. It’s better to do less, leaving yourself the freedom to sometimes add more (3, pp. 76–77). But the main thing is to know that all strength lies in the unceasing feeling for God, which he can kindle as best he can. Behold the law! If there is a feeling, then all the rules are replaced by it alone, and if it does not exist, then no amount of reading works can replace it. Prayers are intended to nourish this feeling, and if they do not nourish, then they are in vain. Only labor, but no use. This is outer clothing for which or under which there is no body, or a body in which there is no soul (3, p. 77). 37. On accepting the proposed tonsure If you yourself were looking for tonsure, perhaps I would tell you: don’t look, let Mother Superior do it herself. And when the mother abbess proposes, then you have to agree. There were experiences that others refused, and then - grief and melancholy. It’s better not to bring this trouble upon yourself (3, p. 168). 38. Disposition to prayer is the root of monasticism You have a disposition to pray... This is the root of monasticism... And please satisfy yourself to the best of your ability and beyond your strength... both in church and in your cell. Would you like to learn how to pray... Pray more often and more diligently - and you will learn. Nothing else is required. If you work patiently, then over time you will develop unceasing prayer... Set this as the goal of your search and search. The Lord is near. Have the memory of God and always try to keep the Lord before you and keep yourself in reverence before Him (3, p. 168). 39. A detailed, convincing and clear explanation of the objections to monastic life presented to a person who feels the calling of God from her relatives Do you have the book “What is spiritual life and how to establish yourself in it”? It explains well that a person has three lives - spiritual, mental and physical. The first is addressed to God and Heaven, the second - to the organization of earthly life, the third takes care of the life of the body. It rarely happens that all these lives are revealed in the same strength, but for one one predominates, for another the other, for a third the third. Above all is spiritual, because the spirit is higher than the soul and body and because through it a person is brought closer to his goal, i.e. to Heaven and God. Are such lives chosen? - Not visible. They themselves reveal themselves in the course of life and then force a person to live according to one life or another... God reveals the need for spiritual life and calls to it. So it's yours. It is fitting to listen to God more than to listen to people... your relatives (3, pp. 195–196). You are confused by the judgments of your family. But there is no basis in these judgments. Look here. “What can you especially do in a monastery that you could not do in the world? (3, p. 196). Business is not the most important thing in life; the main thing is the mood of the heart, turned towards God. Where is it more convenient to observe this - living in the world or withdrawing from the world? The Apostle writes: It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me 147; Our life is hidden with Christ in God. Son, give me your heart. Pray without ceasing 148. Don’t worry about sissy... And there are many such instructions in which the superiority of life is proclaimed, when, like Mary, they choose one thing for their needs (3, p. 196). Turn the question and say: “What is there in everyday life that I could not do while living in a monastery?” Everything that you can do for your neighbors while living in cohabitation with the laity concerns 5, 10, rarely 15 people. And in a monastery there are always more than 100... and there are up to 1000. Thus, in a monastery you can do 10 and 100 times more for your neighbors than in lay life; and the fact that spiritual life is revealed there in a life inaccessible to the laity is a new, irreplaceable appendage. “The Savior never broke up family relationships; on the contrary, he preached love for others and peace.” - You didn’t terminate it?! And what is this: whoever loves his father or mother more than Me is worthy of Me 149? And even stronger: whoever does not hate his father, mother 150 ... etc. - The general conclusion from the words of the Lord is that according to him, family relationships should be subordinated to spiritual needs. Martha was concerned about family relationships when she asked the Lord: Tell her... Mary... let him help me. What about the Lord? – Concerned about many things, Mary chose the good part 151... And in general, the tone of the Lord’s teachings is not at all favorable to family and everyday relationships... And that love was also preached by the world, then from my previous words it is clear that there is more scope for the exercise of these virtues in the monastery than in the world. “You seem to be unable to live in a monastery because your health is weak.” But you are weak, living in a worldly life, and therefore, a worldly life does not give you good health. And from here, rather, this is what follows: since you, worldly life, do not give me good health, then I abandon you as worthless to strengthen my health (3, pp. 196–197). Take also into account the fact that health does not depend on food alone, but most importantly on peace of mind. Life in God, detaching itself from the waves of the world, overshadows the heart with peace, and through this keeps everything in the body in a healthy order. And among the dishes, not only meat is beneficial to health. Lenten times are more favorable for this (3, p. 197). “They do not hinder us from praying” – i.e. They tolerate you going to church and doing the required prayers at home. But prayer is not just that. This is a prayer rite, and prayer is an uplifting of the mind and heart to God according to spiritual needs. Do relatives contribute to this? Not only do they not contribute, but the main hindrance to this is through the thoughts they arouse... And the Savior said that if a hand or a foot or an eye tempts, i.e. They interfere with the good order, we must cut them off... of course, here are relatives. “When I leave the world, I will still live among people.” Of course, there, in the monastery, there are people, but not like that, of a completely different spirit... here they are worldly or worldly, and there they are detached from themselves and everything earthly for the Lord and Heaven. And in monasteries there are also lay people... but there are also those who are not the same... You need to join their circle... and things will be completely different. “In the world we are our own, but in the monastery we are strangers.” On the contrary, for you there are people there, and here they are strangers. Even now you are of a different spirit from your own people and, therefore, half strangers to them... And then you will be completely alienated. “My sister’s heart defect is due to your intention to enter a monastery.” - What fables! It comes from organic conditions; emotional feelings can only influence indirectly, and even then not always. In addition, people with heart defects live for a hundred years. As if your sister will die... when you leave... also an empty worry... to die... and both you and she can die every moment. If you keep this in mind, then no movement will have to be made. O. Ambrose advises well to hurry. Because the Lord calls and calls, and he will remain silent, and from this not only the desire to enter the monastery will fade away, but the very desire to save the soul will evaporate - and you will be a laywoman to the marrow of your bones (3, pp. 201–202). Whose wisdom is this - the attraction to drunkenness has been placed on the same line with your attraction to monasticism?.. Your attraction is clearly from the Lord... This is evident from its constancy and from the fact that you do not see peace because of its dissatisfaction and will not have it. And having satisfied, you may encounter difficulties. But this is inseparable from all good (3, pp. 202–203). And when you enter a monastery, do not expect to rest. This is this path, the path of hardship and struggle... and this will be the real path. And the deceased is not real. Remember what the Lord said about the wide and narrow path... The Lord chooses you... and if you encounter bad things... then they will be from the Lord for your good (3, p. 203). 40. Project of non-monastic monasticism In your letter, the future mother Anna wrote about herself that she was not going well with monasticism. But monasticism can always be arranged without a monastery. Let her imagine how she should have lived if she had now entered the monastery, and therefore build a rule of life for herself - both external and internal. Then you look at it... If you like, I’ll look at it too. And from all these works a monastic charter will be compiled for someone who lives alone and wants to be saved. If she accepts this charter and agrees to follow the rules in action, you will take the trouble to take on the duty of an abbess in relation to her. If the experiment succeeds, then we can also offer it to others, and from others we can create such a society. And what will come out is non-monastic nuns or non-monastic asceticism (4, p. 53). 41. About peace and worldly attachments N.N., a beauty, is advised by one to leave the world, to run away from worldly love, and the other advises her to get married. It is not clear what the first advice is based on, but the second is based on the general concept that the world is different: you need to run from one, but you don’t have to run from the other: “there are worldly attachments that are sinful, and there are saints” (4, p. 59). Marital love is love blessed by God. Why distract from her? We must distinguish between the world and the world. That Scripture says: do not love the world 152, then it also says: God loved the world. What God loved, man must love. We must do everything with reason! Are you asking my opinion about this advice? Here... in the words: do not love the world, the world does not mean at all what in the words: so God love the world 153. In the latter, the world means the perishing human race, which, meanwhile, was dear to God. Because of this, God decided to save him by giving His Only Begotten Son for him. And in the first, of course, that part of the human race that does not want to know God and does not care about pleasing Him; all concern is about pleasing oneself by satisfying one’s passions; does not remember death and does not think about the future life. God does not favor this world and turns away from it, does not love it - and commands people not to love it. Thus, from the word “God love the world” it does not follow that we should love the world without any restrictions, but we must add: “excluding that world that God does not love and from which he tells us to run away, or which he tells us not to love.” For by loving this world, you cannot love God - and you cannot save your soul. I am making this speech all about the conclusion that since God loved the world, we also need to love it (4, pp. 59–60). 42. About the advantage of virginity Now I turn to the disagreement of those persons who were discussed at the beginning. It's not about people at all, but about whether to get married or not. Usually this question is proposed by those who are zealous for the salvation of the soul and want to establish for themselves a way of life that is more conducive to the cause of salvation. This question... it arose back in the time of the apostles: girls who came of age and felt the attraction to be with the one Lord expressed reluctance to get married. The fathers, not being able to solve this matter themselves, wrote to St. Paul (from Corinth to Ephesus): what should they do with their daughters? The answer is contained in Chapter 7. First Epistle to the Corinthians. Its essence is this: it is not a sin to get married, but it is better not to get married, because in the latter case there is complete freedom to please God, whereas in the former there are many obstacles to this. He points out the obstacles that are inevitable in a family, but the essential thing here is that, having committed ourselves to family life, it is almost impossible to avoid contact with the affairs of the world, which God hates and which he told us not to love. This is where the harm lies... why those who distract girls from marriage (if they accommodate this type of life) provide them with the most beneficial service (4, pp. 60–61). 43. Instruction for monastics: those who wish to enter a monastery Your intention to enter a monastery is a good intention. And do not leave it, but rather warm it up. But when and how to act - this must be surrendered to the will of God and patiently wait for God's instructions. When the time determined by God comes, then, as if on a sled downhill, slide down to some monastery. Until that time, live as long as your home arrangements allow in monastic deeds. These deeds are: prayer, fasting, doing good (4, p. 67). Pray morning and evening. Memorize the morning and evening prayers - and always read them as if in a chant, so that the thought can follow the word and the heart can respond to the thought with feeling. After each prayer, it is good to make several bows with a prayer to the Lord, and at the end of all, you can put a hundred. Everything is done slowly, with attention. Then, during the day, as much as possible, keep your attention to God, the omnipresent and all-seeing God. That's all... Not difficult. But if you fulfill it with attention, the prayer will develop in power (4, p. 67). Fasting is not to eat your fill, but to leave yourself a little hungry, so that neither your thoughts nor your heart are burdened (4, pp. 67–68). Doing good... There are many cases of this in the family, and if you can look behind the gate, you won’t have time to do everything there. The most important feat is keeping the heart from passionate movements and the mind from the same thoughts. We must look into the heart and drive away everything wrong from there. By doing everything prescribed, you will be almost a nun, or even a complete nun (4, p. 68). You can be a nun outside the monastery, living like a monk, and in the monastery you can be a laywoman (4, p. 68). The monastery seems like paradise to you. But it also happens to be hard labor. This must be kept in mind. Recently one wrote to me that she fled from the monastery as if from a fire. That's how they snuck her in. And yet she is a faster, a prayer worker, and does all kinds of good and is ready to do. Keep this in mind in advance. Trust in the Lord. He watches over those who devote themselves to Him (4, p. 68). 44. About the meeting of a monastic with men That the hobby happened, I mourn this with you. But it’s already passed, thank God! Now take some precautions for the future. If you please, do this: as soon as you foresee a meeting with a handsome man, drive your heart further into a corner... and do not let him have an outcome. And especially hold feelings and sympathy (4, p. 73). The feeling of a man for a woman and a woman for a man is natural. But it can always be kept within limits in which it will not shake the good decisions of the will. If you prepare for such meetings in advance... then there will be no excesses in this feeling. Practicing this will allow you to reach the point where you will meet every man, even if he is handsome, as if he were not a man... For, according to the Apostle, in the Lord the Savior there is neither male nor female 154. Pray and work on this, and God will bless your work (4, p. 73). 45. Advice to share spiritual experience with younger ones God bless young N.! What do you know, say without embarrassment when she asks. I think that her questions are not too sophisticated and do not go further than what you have experienced and understand well. God made you know what you know. There is no need to leave this knowledge without movement. Somewhere in the apostle there is: whoever knows what and does not tell the questioner sins (4, pp. 80–81). 46. ​​It is possible to lead a monastic life without a monastery It’s very good for you to travel around the monasteries, but you need to find a companion. When the trip is arranged, then you need to pray that the Lord will show you a kind refuge. Where the heart lies, there it will be good. It is possible, after all, to lead a monastic life without a monastery, and without monastic clothing. How God will arrange it (4, p. 86)! N. what to envy?!. After all, you have a monastery at home. All that remains is to retire inside your chest and heart. Take care of this. And you will be a walking monastery, i.e. solitary (4, pp. 86–87). 48. Instructions on the occasion of a failed trip to the monastery Are you upset about your trip? In due time, God will arrange it according to His mercy. On Ascension, if the Lord pleases to arrange the fulfillment of your desire, you will ascend in thought and feeling to the mountain - to where the Lord sits at the right hand of God. And taste the sweetness of being with the Lord. Staying in a monastery, you think, is definitely good. But when there is a hindrance, be patient. Build a monastery in your heart, for this is the main thing. The Lord is nearby everywhere (4, p. 87). 49. Practical instruction for those going to the monastery Visiting Sarov, Diveevo and Ponetaev is a good idea. May the Lord arrange this for you! When you enter the monastery, at the very beginning you need to make a contribution, whatever is required (N. must contribute 1000 rubles, this is not all of a sudden). You will have to do this too. Then leave everything remaining after this contribution in your hands. You cannot live on monastic contents. You need to add something of your own, and this is not for the sake of the flesh, but out of direct necessity. If then anything remains, help the poor sisters from it. You will see what kind of need some suffer there (4, pp. 93–94). 50. After completing the pilgrimage, the person aspiring to the monastery Help you, Lord, to shake off the dust that has accumulated during your journey. You begin the usual pious activities, and your soul will return to its previous mood. Did you like A... monastery?! Well, get ready there. Strictly speaking, this should not terrify you. The people there endure it?! You too can endure it. You can get used to everything. And what may be hard at first, will eventually fall in love and become easy. Think, think about it. But still, pray to God to arrange this matter for you... and it will arrange itself, just as it did for your relative. Now go about your business for now. After all, you are also obedient at home (4, pp. 131–132). 51. Warning from a visitor to monasteries about the peculiarities of monastic life After all, in monasteries... not all heaven... There is earth - and very unkind. The sky is hidden in monasteries. You have to be able to see it. I remind you of this in case... so that when you have to stay in monasteries... you do not conclude from what you immediately see about the general character of the monastery. Chips always float on top; and what is heavier sinks to the bottom and is not visible (4, p. 134). 52. About creating a desert in the heart Learn in the desert to create a desert in your heart... so that there is only a clean atmosphere and a bright sun, i.e. the heart is pure and the memory of God. And the ground is solid underfoot... a strong determination to be saved and to please the Lord (4, p. 136). 53. Salvation of the soul does not depend on the place, but on the structure of the heart The whole point, however, does not depend on the place, but on the structure of the heart. Do not let anything astringent into your heart and try to be a bird, not in a cage, but living in freedom and always able to soar high without hindrance. May the Lord watch over you in such a formation. But living in the world, with all the caution, you look: there is a burr here, there is a burr there. And stand there, plucking them and throwing them away. You have always been attentive to yourself and your paths. And henceforth, watch how dangerously you walk (4, p. 141). 54. About entering the monastery You are being persuaded to enter a monastery. If God pleases and He judges what is necessary for you, then it will come by itself. Then you will not rest your feet, but will flow like fir trees to springs of water. Monastic life is not as difficult as you think. It is not the hard work there, but the lack of one’s own will: to do what is ordered, both sisters, bosses, and stewards must submit... For this, God gives as a reward inner peace, resting in the bosom of humility. The most fundamental reason you have for not entering a monastery now is the placement of your son... Until he is fully educated... and settled, you cannot have peace (4, pp. 151–152). You mentioned secret tonsure... and that you really want it. This is possible. This tonsure will not interfere with your path; on the contrary, it will give you energy... so accept it. God bless! But take care to keep this a secret (4, p. 153). 56. Answer to the question about a long trip for tonsure Are you going to the Caucasus or the Caucasian Mount Athos... And then you write: I really love solitude, and I would like nothing more than to sit alone and be with the Lord. How do both of these desires of yours fit in? The trip, if you decide to take it, will shake you up and scatter you so much that after a year you won’t get your act together and will completely forget about the kind solitude. Ask for answers and advice. – In what I have already said, there is already an answer for you... If you want to disperse and take a dangerous path, go to the Caucasus, and if you want to further strengthen your desire to be with the one Lord, sit in your hut... in every possible way fighting off the community with those who are not of the same spirit as you (4, p. 156). 57. Blessing for the road and tonsure Well, go, if so... God bless! And he tonsured... And he tonsured God bless. With the cutting of your hair, let all earthly thoughts, feelings and movements be cut off... And return home completely new in your internal structure (4, p. 157). 58. Instructions for taking secret tonsure You described all the feelings and dispositions with which you prepared to take monastic vows, accepted and prepared to take it. I’ll just add: you know everything; take the trouble to behave in this way both externally and, even more so, internally (4, p. 157). You keep inner abiding and heartfelt solitude... Grant, Lord, and always keep it for you. This is the main point. When consciousness is inward in the heart, and the Lord is there, then they are combined and the work of salvation is successful. Ни помыслам неправым нет хода тогда, ни тем паче чувствам и расположениям. Единое имя Господа разгоняет все чуждое и привлекает все сродное... Что имеете вы, это само учит вас теперь. Pay attention and beware of offending this hidden teacher with any opposition (4, p. 158). If you have a spiritual confidant there, best of all a confessor, then trust him with everything that happens in you, or all the changes in your consciousness and heart, so that the enemy does not sneak in, dressed in light, ghostly clothes. Someone else’s mind will judge better... and will indicate where the enemy is aiming... and save you from trouble... but your own may get carried away and take the wrong path (4, p. 158). There are an abyss of internal thoughts that seem good... They just hover around a good mood. The trouble is still small if you look at them, but it’s better not to look; it is better, having one thing for need, which was imagined in the heart and stands in the depths of it, and occupy the consciousness with it alone, cutting off everything else without reasoning (4, p. 158). What should you be most afraid of? - Self-satisfaction, self-worth, conceit - and the great other self... Work out your salvation with fear and trembling... The spirit is contrite, the heart is contrite and humbly warmed and held. Hold the thought and aspiration of the hour of death... and often say in words: it’s about to come... Who? – The Angel of Death... will grab the soul and take it to a place from where there is no return. Fear satiety... But, like a beggar, hungry, undressed and shoeless, cry out: God, be merciful!.. in the publican’s voice (4, pp. 158–159). 59. Need for an old woman leader How is it that you are left completely alone? Not a word to anyone. Предлагают вам, чтоб обращались с духовными нуждами, а вы пишете: «Но этого, верно, никогда не сделаю». What is it about you: you already see yourself as perfect and lacking in anything?!! I suppose it came out of your mouth, but it can’t be done that way. Как будете, когда придут смутительные помыслы по разным обстоятельствам жизни монастырской? After all, they will eat your soul until you talk about them with someone. А страстные помыслы придут: самовозношения, презорства, осуждения, недовольства, серчания, подозрения и другие – что вы будете с ними делать? Их надо сказать кому- либо, иначе они засядут внутри и будут там расти и стареть. No no. Подите переговорите с матушкою-игумениею – и или ей самой себя отдайте в ближайшее руководство, или попросите ее, чтоб она указала старицу, к которой вы могли бы в подобных случаях обращаться и переговаривать с нею по временам. This is your law. Do it and notify me immediately. Чтоб сие дело вернее шло, помолитесь и попросите Владычицу, чтоб послала вам старицу. When he sends her, then reconsider every step you take and every business you do - cell and church, no matter what goes wrong. God, deliver (4, pp. 162–163)! 60. About the treatment of sisters (monastic) God forbid you to somehow rise above your sisters and show it somehow. When any sister addresses you with a word, you too turn to her with all your attention, as to a messenger of God. God sent her to test your love and attention to your sisters and your humility before them (4, p. 167). 61. About external and internal feat in monastic life I always remember you in my prayers, asking the Lord to help you successfully complete what you started without stopping or evading. A lot of work! The work that takes one to get used to the external order of monastic life and all its methods is not yet so difficult. Greater work is in putting your inner life in order. Pay strict attention to yourself and strictly judge your thoughts and feelings (4, pp. 183–184). 62. About the relationship with the sisters in the monastery “Concerning all sisters, keep one law, so that you can have a clear conscience before them; but don’t worry about how they treat you. Let them do what they want, and don’t try to notice it. And if you notice that, scold yourself for making a worthless claim to the attention of others. One should not enjoy being shown attention, nor be offended when one sees a lack of it. God’s attention is precious, because it reflects the truth, but human attention – what is it?!” (4, p. 186) 63. About the attitude towards the abbess Love and honor Mother Abbess, and the treasurer, and all monastic authorities. They were established by God, even through people. You need to listen to everyone and thank everyone for everything. And not just them, but all the sisters must be honored and placed far above oneself. You look at them so much that it’s as if they are walking on a mountain or a roof, and you are below - low, low. And if the soul begins to see any sister below itself, then one must strongly reproach oneself and hasten to ask the Lord for forgiveness (4, pp. 187–188). 64. Idle talk with the laity due to the weakening of the fear of God. How to Receive Lay Guests Learn to be hospitable, friendly, accommodating, without losing the fear of God and attention. You can't accept anyone. We must accept it, but without harming ourselves. You need to learn this ahead of time - in private. Sit down and figure out everything how to receive, how to greet and how to speak, so that together you can listen to yourself and remember the Lord. Then, when someone comes, apply what you have thought up to the case, and when he leaves, reconsider how you acted and judge whether it is good. Do this once or twice and you will learn (4, pp. 191–192). 65. Should we judge those who talk in church? You are embarrassed that the sisters in the choir sometimes talk and grin. Говорить им иногда нужно по делу пения и чтения, а тут ошибается какая – вот и усмешка невольная. If they deliberately start talking and laughing, it’s bad, but you can’t say that. К тому же они находятся в таком положении, что враг легче подбивает их на разговоры и смехи. Judge. It is for your sake that they sing and read; It became because of you that they receive wounds from the enemy. Pray for them, and don’t be annoyed. Всякий раз, как будет что подобное, жалость о них спешите возбудить в себе, а от жалости переходите к молитве. To judge, don’t judge... Now, you yourself are in a different mood. Hurry to correct yourself; and leave the others. They stand and fall to their Lord (Rom. 14:4). After all, they will chat and remain silent - and their conscience torments them, and you stand and condemn. Who is better before God - those who repent, or you, the condemner? Not in church, but at home they will sigh and repent, and God will forgive them; осуждение же трудно прощается, потому что трудно чувствуется его грешность (4, с. 192–193). 66. Preparing to be tonsured into the Rassophore Look, when you put on the ryassophore, don’t think that it’s all over and you can lay down other weapons. No. This is where the storm may begin. Now the enemy doesn’t quite distinguish you yet; and when you get dressed, you will become more visible and it will be more convenient for him to aim arrows at you. Approach with fear (4, p. 197). 67. About checking your behavior in the evening What you do in the evening is very good. Carefully analyze the what, why and how, and come up with ways to avoid wrongs and outwit the evil one, turning everything to your advantage. Beating yourself with a rosary or some other punishment doesn’t hurt. But you can still remain a debtor, multiplying your debts every day. And force yourself to feel like that. This will help support a contrite and humble heart, which God will not despise (Ps. 50:19). Pursue humility, which always runs away. It is the trace of Christ, the fragrance of Christ, the robe of Christ! For his sake, God will forgive everything and will not punish all the shortcomings of exploits, and without him no severity will help (4, p. 199). 68. How to improve your spiritual life Take good care of yourself. How many wrong thoughts have passed through your soul! Покайтесь и испросите разрешение, вперед же блюдите, како опасно ходите 155 ( Еф. 5, 15 ) (4, с. 199). “You have little to do - in church, in your cell, sometimes in relations with others. Во всех сих случаях определите себе сообразный с заповедями образ действий ко всякому делу, потом приложите побуждение – все творить во славу Божию и благо ближних – сестер, с самоотвержением и самопожертвованием, – и затем не отступайте ни от чего. And your activities will be right in everything (4, p. 199). What else will remain? - The soul, which you should take more seriously. Our whole life is made up of deeds and thoughts. Organize your affairs, undertake to organize your thoughts - this is the most necessary thing. May the Lord make you wise in all this (4, p. 200). Do you have a book? – Read, reason and apply to yourself. Applying to yourself is the purpose and fruit of reading. If you read without this application to yourself, it will be of no use, and it will also be evil. Только теории собираются в голове и учат не себя направлять на добро, а других осуждать. Take up your ears and listen to this (4, p. 200). If you already have the Philokalia, find and read Hesychius on sobriety. Here is written the very guide to managing and organizing thoughts. Read more carefully, understand more heartily and then act according to the instructions there (4, p. 200). 69. The danger of traveling for spiritual work You are going on a journey and are waiting for it as a special consolation, but I am afraid because of it. There comes a fear that you will dissipate. You will become distracted, cool, and then you will not be able to control yourself. This is what scares me. Cooling can occur at home too. The Lord allows him either to test whether the soul is true, or to show that there is a person without grace-filled overshadowing. It's nothing. You can immediately notice it and take care of yourself. And on the road you won’t even notice how stiff you become. How many objects will fit in your head?! And you will decide: well, at least somehow, I worked hard before. And one form will go without strength and life. Wouldn’t it be better for you to give up traveling?” (4, pp. 203–204). 70. Deviation from traveling on pilgrimage Again to Kyiv and even to Jerusalem! “The last time we traveled to Kyiv, they said: “I’ll turn around, sit down, and go nowhere except to Sarov.” How long have you been to Sarov? Now again the urge to go, and so far. No. This is not God’s work (4, p. 205). Sit down and refuse any exits or travel. This will save you, otherwise it will ruin you. The time has come. Going to worship now means moving backwards. That which is especially pleasing to the Lord for worshiping holy places, you can do at home. You wrote that you have the custom of mentally visiting all the places sanctified by the feet of the Lord and offering reverent worship to Him there. This is why visiting holy places pleases the Lord! Do this - and the Lord will consider you to be in Jerusalem (or Kyiv) at holy places every day. For those who have not yet found the way inside themselves, such journeys are helpful, but for those who have found them, they are ruinous: they lead you out from the inside. Now improve yourself in being inside, otherwise leave the outside. Now you put it this way: never set foot outside the city, and outside the monastery unless absolutely necessary. And then a cell and a church, a cell and a church. This feat is higher even than fasting. When fasting, go easy on yourself, but when it comes to sitting at home in solitude, bind yourself more strictly (4, pp. 205–206). But I remembered that the Lord told the apostles: the enemy wants to sow you like wheat (See Luke 22:31), i.e. He manages in every possible way to break your thoughts, scatter your attention and, plunging you into the darkness of your thoughts, cool your soul and heart, alienating you from the Lord; I remembered this and it filled you with fear. Why I decide: refuse and stay at home. Having in mind the misfortune indicated by the Lord, can you say that you will outwit the enemy and return to your cell safe and sound? Remember, as in the fable: the dove flew free and came back plucked, with a broken leg, and a dislocated wing. Can you say that nothing like this will happen to your soul? Can't? So do not plunge into danger without a faithful guarantee that it will pass you by. Your friend will find another travel companion. Bless them, Lord! And you refuse. For this, the Lord will comfort you beyond your expectations (4, p. 212). 71. Mental journey to holy places And you shouldn’t wander around the world. Sitting in a cell is more valuable than wandering. Holy places and holy relics are honored internally rather than externally. Traveling to holy places, as I already wrote, at first was useful to you, but now it is not good for you. Why don't you heed this? - Because you only believe in your own mind and follow your own will. You have your own will in everything - you have the law. Where will this lead (4, p. 208)? You agree to some concessions. But it was still impossible without contradictions. I had to smarten up. How? What did you learn? That’s what science is for, to contradict, contrary to the Apostle, who commanded: Do not contradict a word, I will demand nothing 156 (2 Tim. 2:14) (4, pp. 208–209). St. Gregory of Nyssa, brother of St. Basil the Great, how he rebelled against female travelers! Gregory Dvoeslov, whose Presanctified Liturgy we have, did the same. And of the ascetics, how many were not favorable to this?! And you are all yours. Sit in the monastery and in the cell: this is the greatest feat. Go around the holy places in your mind, as you do, and worship the Lord intelligently, who has shown in them the signs of His favor towards us. This is better than bodily worship. And everything intelligent, heartfelt, spiritual is incomparably higher than the visible. Even the visible appearance of an Angel is lower than the angelic invisible guiding suggestion. Confirm yourself in sitting in your cell and not leaving the monastery. This is the real science of monasticism. Prayer, reading and handicrafts in the cell and obedience in the church - and that’s it. How simple and uncomplicated! What don’t you pick up on the road? Why haven’t you seen and heard enough (4, p. 209)? My thought is that you need to give up all thoughts about traveling and make a covenant not to go even beyond the gates of the monastery unless absolutely necessary. You did well that you didn’t go, not only because there was a feat of obedience for you, but also because staying at home is healthier for you. Because you have grieved, may the Lord reward you with spiritual consolations. Mentally venerate holy relics and holy places. St. Tikhon and St. Mitrofan, truly, accepted your heartfelt worship to them, as if you were at the cancer of their relics (4, p. 210). You are waiting and will not wait for the ryassophore. Will come. But this is still an engagement: the wedding is far away. You must direct your desires towards this as the main thing, and according to its demand, arrange everything in yourself and around you. I mean not external, but internal (4, p. 211). Is your friend afraid of monasticism? Indeed, we, monks, take on a terrible task upon ourselves. Let's figure out what a monk is? You don’t need this, you don’t need that, and there is no end – you don’t need everything. One God and one soul - that’s a monk. How to get there? Whatever you want, get there; for if someone is not like that, then he is not a monk. But no matter how difficult it is, the spirit of jealousy comes and dispels all fears. This spirit is unstoppable. He finds, is accepted by the heart and produces great changes within. This is the origin of all true monks! It has become more direct to say that monks do not make themselves monks. But there are quiet natures who are not fit for great feats of self-sacrifice. It is more akin to them to live humbly, in simplicity of heart, doing good and helping everyone in need (4, p. 213). 74. Should we accept strangers? You received strangers and treated them. How is this possible? After all, accept one - it’s a pity for the other. Do this one day, and the next the same case will open up. And there open the cell; and all your orders will have to be changed. No, this will lead in the wrong direction, and it is better for you not to take on this matter. So help those in need with something, but the troubles of providing food are difficult and will lead you far. If you have decided to learn solitude, do not interfere with the progress of this skill and keep yourself stricter, away from everything that can entertain (4, pp. 213–214). 75. Minor tonsure and schema The tonsure will come in due time. He is a sign. And, of course, it is much better to accept it when everything it means is firmly established in the soul. A minor tonsure is not yet a real tonsure. There is an angelic image - the schema: it goes to those who have already completely died to the world and live as if resurrected for the future life. Below this is our ordinary monastic tonsure, which you call “becoming a manatean”: this means those who have reached a certain measure of purity, who are skilled in the fight against passions, who never succumb to temptation and who overcome all the slander of the enemy. The original rank - ryassophory - is nothing more than a mark on a sheep that it is from our flock, and who knows what will come of it. This is only the beginning of the struggle and success in it (4, p. 224). What's your news? New Mother Abbess. Congratulations. Grant you, Lord, everything for good. Of course, we must expect something new. I don’t think, however, that this new thing will upset your old order. Don't worry: your secluded life will not be disturbed. But here’s what you’d rather be afraid of! The elders will tell her: what an ascetic we have! She doesn’t know that this ascetic is worth a penny, and she will begin to caress you. A penny ascetic will then become cheaper than a half-penny one. Fearing this, it is better to wish that the new mother would be a little more stern towards you and pay less attention to you. And it is best to surrender to the will of God, having at least one effort - to contain your inner self so that it is pleasing to the Lord. See how your soul is moved by thoughts. From just assumptions, completely unfounded, how she shook up! There is little exercise in wrestling: there are no cases. When your new mother sets tasks for you, you will find yourself in constant struggle with yourself. Stand then and hold your ground. And it will be good. You will become accustomed to such immobility in your thoughts that nothing can disturb you: become like a stone, not shaken by the waves, but breaking them. What I wish for you very earnestly (4, pp. 224–225). 77. Instructions on accepting rhassophorium Bless you, Lord, in new clothes, but do not place this matter too highly. What is Ryasophoria? “You’re all almost the same squirrel in a black dress.” The real tonsure is when they give you the mantle. The Passover lamb was chosen 3-4 days in advance and designated for sacrifice and the Passover supper. But he was not yet a victim, until the very time of the slaughter. So you have just been designated as a sacrifice, and wait for the slaughter to come. When it comes, then it will be done; and what has been done now is worth little. Perhaps, if you are not suitable for sacrifice, you will be thrown back into the common herd. Look and be afraid (4, pp. 225–226). 78. High obedience – altar girls How was it that you were given obedience to the altar so quickly? Are you worth it? - If only the church could be raked. But there’s nothing to be done. Not our will. Bear this obedience wisely. You know, of course, that everything can be turned to your own detriment. Judas turned the apostleship into destruction. Remember this. The obedience given to you is very sanctifying, but you can also get burned. Ask for wisdom from the One who gives it to everyone (James 1:5). Be afraid to get used to the shrine and then look at it as ordinary cell things. Pray to God that He will not allow the fear of Him to depart from your soul throughout this ministry. Do you understand what is happening there? Always contain this in your thoughts and warm up the feelings corresponding to it. Every time you start this service, think that you are just starting to serve for the first time, and hasten to reproduce the freshness of the feelings that were in your soul when you started this for the first time. Your thoughts will have many reasons for entertainment; but this will not excuse you if you allow yourself to have fun. Work hard; and learn to keep your thoughts undistracted. When you serve, no matter what you do, the very movement, think that you are doing it to the Lord himself, who will truly accept this service from you. Pray, and the Lord will direct everything for your good (4, p. 226). You crave decisive solitude. Wait. External solitude will come on its own when internal solitude is established. God will arrange it. Take into account, however, that you can be secluded among the noise of the world and you can be as if in the turmoil of the world in a solitary cell. You will have something better than external solitude if you become so isolated within yourself that no external turmoil can entertain you. Pray about this. Now it's more difficult for you. Your obedience entertains you. But let it teach you how to keep yourself inside, despite the external inconvenience (4, p. 227). 80. Monastic panache Help you, Lord! Remember where you have gotten yourself, and humble yourself. You are now visible. Don’t you need a chic cassock, visible rosaries, and white, smooth collars and sleeves? Yes, tea, and a corset is needed!!! - And the riddles will become more and more complex. Look (4, p. 227)! 81. Rassophores should behave like full nuns The fact that you view your small tonsure as strictly as you would a big one is good for you. Take from this the severity of obligations, and not the reason for lofty thoughts. The work of the vow before the Lord has already been completed, spoken in the heart and sealed with determination. You have to behave exactly like someone who has been completely tonsured. What I wrote, I wrote to indicate the gradualness of tonsure and so that you would not become arrogant. Bless you, Lord, to work for the glory of God, with a sober soul, without self-pity (4, p. 227). 82. The order of the abbess must be accepted as a command from God You stated that you do not want to offend Mother Abbess by refusing (to rewrite the statements). How can you refuse?! When you became a novice, and even a ryassophore, and also those who in their conscience put a ryassophore for full tonsure, then how could the idea of ​​refusing obedience come to your mind? No, mother, now it’s the end of your will. Whatever they tell you to do, do it without hindrance, with all your will, as God commands. Place this underlined word deeper in your heart and act as it suggests (4, p. 229). Accept every command as a word coming directly from God Himself and carry it out as God’s work, as before God, with all zeal and attention, not working as a man, but as God who sees everything, fearing the judgment pronounced on those who do God’s work with negligence (See Jer. 48:10). Please harden this more firmly (4, p. 229). 83. Works of obedience must be combined with unceasing prayer Now delve into the change in God’s view of you and do not allow yourself to act contrary to God’s intention. What happened before? – In the church they stood especially, comfortably, just prayed and warmed themselves in prayer; in the cell too - the main thing was prayer and prayer. Now there is business in the church, and business at home. Do you think it's for nothing? - No. The Lord invites you to take the second step. Previously you were in warm prayer without deeds of obedience, now learn to remain in the same prayer with deeds. This is what the Lord wants from you. Manage it. Before there was work, but now there is more. We must do the work and not deviate from God with our minds, i.e. be as if they were standing in prayer. This is the law: to do work with your hands, but to be with God with your mind and heart. Write, but do not retreat from God with your mind and do not allow your warmth to diminish and your sobriety to weaken. It’s the same when you serve in church. How to manage this - business will teach you. And now you will gain new experience - and you will become even stronger in your inward stay. See God’s mercy in assigning obediences to you. He who is always warm and warm is in poor health. Just a little bit of a breeze, and it will wither away. And whoever goes out in all kinds of weather is safer: he’s used to it and stronger. So the Lord brought you out into a small breeze. Get used to being the same here too. Get used to this small task, and when you encounter something bigger, stand firm without changing. In this sense, accept your obediences. God bless you (4, pp. 229–230)! 84. Reprimand for omitting a rule during written obedience Having finished your written obedience, say: now I will begin my cell work and prayer again. Have you stopped or shortened your prayer rule? This should not have been done. To perform obedience you should have allocated the time during which you were assigned to do handicrafts; perhaps part of the one in which they read. The prayer rule had to be fulfilled without omission. It’s true that their zeal was too overwhelming, or they were carried away by the news of the case, or they wanted to get rid of it quickly so that they could be free again at home. At least you didn’t stop the prayer that was in your heart? No, tea, and here you have suffered a loss, for if you stood before God with your mind and humbly fell before God in your heart, you would not feel the cessation of your prayer work (4, p. 230). I conclude that you have become distracted. You got carried away with the task, and it knocked everything else out of your head, even the most necessary things. It has become bad for you to perform your obedience. It was necessary to fulfill it without becoming frustrated internally, and while working hard, keep your heart at a distance, free, and not take your attention away from your main task. Well, there's nothing to do. Go ahead be careful. At least turn out to be a little more efficient in the church. The main thing is not to worry, take your time and do everything in your own time without confusion. At the same time, no amount of work will dispel or deviate the mind from God. Learn. Now you have a different business than before. Then we were all alone, but now, even in the midst of work, we still have to do our main task unfailingly. Help you, Lord (4, pp. 230–231)! It seemed to you that it was better when you didn’t have written obedience. This is deception. Unquestioning obedience, contrary to our tastes, is dearer than all exploits, and it can only be ruinous if it is carried out unskillfully, as was the case with you, and then mostly only in appearance. In fact, the Lord always rewards the work of selflessness (4, p. 231). You easily look at your feet planted in the matter of obedience. Yesterday you made a vow that you would listen to the abbess in everything, but now you refuse to obey the easy obedience that is at your disposal. Is this how one fulfills a vow (4, pp. 231–232)? The word about obedience is your covenant with the monastery and the basis of your ryasophoria. This covenant is now ruined, and you have cast yourself out of the rank into which you entered with one foot. You need to repent and cry about this. After all, through this, your internal structure should be ruined and, perhaps, has already been ruined, even though outwardly it seems to be being built up. We need to impose a fine on you. Please make three bows to the ground, with tears asking the Lord to forgive the disobedient and deceiver, who in words promises one thing, but in reality does something else. Repent in spirit: this is not a mental sin, but an actual one. And pray to God that He will determine who should give this obedience to you again, and when it is given or left for you, then stop bowing. But don’t tell your mother about this” (4, p. 232). 86. About the feeling of being abandoned by everyone That you had the feeling of being abandoned by everyone is a good feeling. It would have to be timed. Through it the enemy wants to plunge you into despondency, but you learn from it to be a stranger among your own, as if you were a stranger to everyone. How good is that! Thinking that others think about us and are busy with us is bad thinking. It is better to think that everything is on you, and not for you. This will further strengthen the feeling of wandering and cautious living (4, p. 236). 87. Answer to someone who wants to enter a monastery What about a monk?! He who remains one with the Lord is a monk... here is a monastery in the heart. That's what?! Set yourself up like this - and it will be good... You can’t be in a monastery without obedience... but if they give you obedience - that’s the vanity of life. So it’s all the same... stay as you are. I am not writing this in jest (7, p. 16). 88. About the significance of monasteries Now you have seen the monasteries - and you see that they still have the grace of the Lord. Yes, we also have many, many real monasteries where the children of God mature under good supervision. And how much fruit do they bring to the area?! After all, all those who have not seen monks are screaming... only the pickers and assemblers in St. Petersburg and Moscow. With all this, however, we must admit that if they beat us monks, it is because we ourselves turn our backs (7, p. 22). 89. How to live at home like a monastery What kind of monastery do you like? If you please, toil in this order of life. When you are no longer able to trample mice, then the monastery will build itself by itself, whether you are in the monastery fence or not (7, p. 53). 90. The enemy focuses mainly on the monks The enemy does not tempt the laity. The world stands up for him against them. And there is no one to tempt the world-deniers. Here he is as his own person. And, of course, it comes down to the master and skill (7, p. 59). 91. Thoughts on the application of ancient monastic Rules I finished the Rule of St. Pachomius - I take on St. Basil the Great Charter, both of them are strict... Tell the Prosecutor not to arm himself against the monasteries, but to insist only that the ancient Charters be strictly implemented. Half the monks will run away. But together I think that there will be five times more new zealots; for many do not come to the monastery because they are weak in them. When it becomes strict, life will be pleasant and monks will come (7, pp. 59–60). 92. Can nuns teach in church? As for reading teachings in church - printed ones - there is no hindrance to the sisters reading them... The priests are wrong... and what other books are more instructive than these?! – The words of the apostle refer to their teachings, which the Corinthian women allowed themselves... teaching husbands (7, p. 242). 93. Instruction for those striving for monastic life. Different types of feats of celibate life. Patient waiting and home preparation for monastic life You write: “Oh, if only sooner! Now I would fly away somewhere into the desert, so as not to see or hear anything.” No no. There is no hurry. Where there is haste and such zeal - quickly and quickly, there is not God’s business. Confused and good desires are not good and do not lead to good. God goes quietly, unnoticeably, but firmly. Pray and wait patiently, watching to see if the door to the exit opens. The Lord will arrange it in such a way that you yourself will not guess how everything will work out. To become engaged to the Lord - now become engaged to yourself before Him alone. And when to join the choir of His brides, let Him decide. Surrender yourself completely into His hands. You choose a monastery. But the monastery is not the only place for those who do not want to be bound by family ties. At first there were no monasteries at all. Those who decided to work for the Lord, without being bothered by everyday worries, set up a secluded cabin for themselves in their own home and lived in it, alienated from everything, in fasting, prayer and teaching in the Divine Scripture. Then, quite later, when it became inconvenient to live in houses, others began to go outside the cities and villages and lived there: some in a natural cave, some in tombs, some in a specially constructed cell like a hut. And after them, monasteries were established in order to live together and support themselves with common strength, and to carry out the work of salvation through deliberate deeds. But even under them, others, deciding to devote their lives to the Lord in celibacy, did not enter a monastery, but doomed themselves to serve their brothers and sisters in hospitals, almshouses and hospices. All these kinds of life, formed at the very beginning in the Church of Christ, were no longer stopped, but always existed and still exist. And now, among the celibates, some are saved from home, while others go to a monastery, and others take up caring for the sick as sisters of mercy. And you can choose any of these types of life. And which one - we must wait and see which God will indicate. You correctly said that it is more convenient to escape in a monastery. There you can more quickly achieve purification of the heart and that state that is joy in the Holy Spirit. Everything there is adapted to this. I think that due to the state of your health, the monastery is the most suitable place for you. Therefore, do not give up the thought of getting there in due time. The Lord will tell the time. Until then we must be patient. Until then, strive in the first kind - i.e. living at home. Have your own room, have it as a monastic cell and lead life there as if in a monastery. Let your father and mother be for you instead of the abbess, let everyone be yours instead of the monastery sisters, and let you be a permanent novice for everyone. You rush to the monastery as if to freedom and heaven. Exactly, there is complete freedom for the spirit, but not for the body and external affairs. In this regard, there is complete connection [connectedness. – Ed.], the urgent law of not having one’s own will. And there is paradise there, but it is not always found along a flowery road. It is truly there, but it is blocked by thorns and thorns through which one must get to it. No one achieves this without getting chipped and scratched. Keep this in mind - and correct your aspirations for freedom and paradise from the monastery. Wait patiently. Remember the governess 157! She waited for seven years, testing the strength of her intention. But the fire nun came out (9, pp. 261–263). What's the hurry? The monasteries will not go away. You will have time to get into one. Meanwhile, you will become stronger both in intention and in body. Everything in your home is pious. Both your parents and relatives are God-fearing people. You cannot tolerate anything that would be contrary to your decision to dedicate yourself to the Lord, and mature in such an atmosphere and in such a breeding ground. So it’s decided: wait. Gradually adapt your life and skills to those of the monastery (9, p. 263). 94. Submission to parents as preparation for monastic obedience I don’t know how you can disagree with your parents on anything? If this concerns judgment about something, then why don’t you concede this every time with humility? They are older than you and more experienced. You should rather admit an error in judgment to yourself than to assume it in them. So assume: it’s true, I don’t see well, and agree with their opinion. If this concerns any orders around the house, do it their way again, and that’s the end of it. If you can’t do something, explain that you can’t, and that’s the end of it. If, despite this, they insist, do as best you can. And I can’t think of anything so discordant with you that it can’t be reconciled. The enemy is making mountains out of molehills. Don't you really want everything to go as you want? What a proud girl! Not only is it illegal in relation to anything around the house, but even in relation to yourself. Please dedicate yourself to complete obedience to your parents and do everything to please them in order to calm their spirit. This will be preliminary preparation for future monastic obedience or duty in the community of sisters of mercy. The apostle made it a law for everyone to obey one another in the fear of God (see Eph. 5:21). And you try to contradict your parents and break up with them, without fearing God. What does it look like? In whose school did you learn such wisdom?! Be careful, I repeat to you, how dangerously you walk (9, pp. 271–272)! 95. In the heart of the monastery - God and soul It’s better not to make any plans – neither for the monastery, nor for the monastery; for that is not the strength. You have to hurt and disturb your insides so as not to fall asleep. In the dream, Sampson was tied up, shaved, and deprived of his strength. When there is a monastery in the heart, then whether the building is a monastery or not is all the same. This is what the monastery has in its heart: God and soul. However, when God brings you to the monastery, you must go. Just don’t guess again about what you will meet there. You can't even imagine it. Everyone there meets what they need. For one, everything is different from the other. It is better to surrender to the will of God and accept everything as if from His hand (11, p. 5). 96. About monastic solitude Someone once said: make sure that your thoughts do not go beyond the walls of the monastery, and you will soon find the sweet peace of monastic solitude. This is the most blessed part of Mary - to arrange herself in such a way that there is nothing in her thoughts except the church and her cell. How good! I think that the bliss of this state cannot be described. Contact with the world deeply stains our soul. Sit and clean it! - all the work! And then there is death! And you won’t look back when he arrives. Let us at least work as hard as we can. The doors of repentance are open. Try to cry before the Lord, and so on, deeper and deeper. What else can we give? If there are no tears, let’s say: “There is nothing, Lord, in the image of fate, save, just save.” To read to you St. Isaac... It's good that you took it, everything is there. Just pay attention! Collect, collect. This is a spare for you. After all, you are visiting the Mother of God. And She is hospitable - very, very. It's good that you hid! Help you, Lord, in everything. All the best to you from the Lord (11, pp. 65–66)! May the Lord bless your stay in the monastery. May the Mother of God warm you and wipe away everything inspired by the hectic order of life in the world. Rest, calm down, gather yourself - and then with new strength, for a new feat or a new waste of strength. But, God knows, maybe an opportunity will open up for a new order. How good it will be. Peace within oneself and peace without are two fences for a person hidden in the heart. Now everyone is tugging at it, and it doesn’t have the strength to establish itself. The Lord be your helper in everything. It is not suddenly sown with patience, vegetation, growth and fruitfulness are patiently awaited - everything is preserved with patience. This is wisdom (11, p. 66). It’s good that you took your friends with you - the writings of St. ascetics. Under the influence of monastic silence and a prayerful mood, their instructions will be closer to the heart and will be more clearly understood. So, like a bee, collect honey from flowers. The future will provide space and opportunities to put everything into action. The spare does not interfere. There is a proverb: save your money for a rainy day. There are many expenses in life. Collect without getting tired. Everything will come in handy (11, p. 66). In the business you have started, moving back is very disastrous. It starts with the most seemingly innocent little things, the benefits to which a soul that has worked a little hard lays claim. I hope and hope that the Mother of God will always protect you. In your patience gain your soul. Don't be embarrassed by failure. Our business is to work, seek and pursue; and when it comes, only the Lord knows. One Athonite elder (about him is in the Philokalia) pestered the Mother of God for two years - to grant him fire in his heart and was heard. Do not set deadlines - but do it and ask that He who gives prayer to the one praying will grant it to you too. Seek and you will find. You see for yourself that there is some action. And thank God! But it's still a long way off! Don't be exhausted. Once you stay in the monastery, calm down. But it would be good for you to be more secluded as much as you can find opportunities (11, p. 67). 97. About loneliness in the monastery When you go to a monastery, it’s for solitude. Плохо жить в монастыре тому, кто в общении со многими хочет жить там, как бы в обществе. And there you only need to know one thing - the abbot or spiritual father and elder; and relative to others it should be located as if they were not there. Then everything will go well; and without this the confusion is such that it is worse than the St. Petersburg balls. Образование, полуобразование для желающих вступить в монастырь суть вещи сторонние. The main thing is the middle, i.e. a good mood of heart and a good goal. Светлые о всем понятия придут после сами собою, придет и благородство сердца и даже благородство приемов, как это показал не один пример. Правда, что жизнь монастырская нынешняя, как говорят, не походит на старинную, но когда Бог устроит путь, то приведет туда, где будет хорошо и спасительно. Believe this (11, pp. 68–69). 98. On the application by the laity of the rules of salvation written for monks All the articles you sent contain almost exclusively monastic instructions. They will not go to the laity. I convey to you the opinion of people to whom I had to read some of these articles.” They are wrong to think so. In my opinion, those instructions can go to anyone who is zealous for salvation. This zeal will teach them how to take advantage of everything, how to even apply directly monastic rules to themselves. And whoever does not have this concern will not find any edifying scripture. They say: the heart gives news to the heart. Those who gave instructions gave them from the heart, since they formed them in their hearts through their own reasoning and experience. This is an echo of their heartfelt mood. The common spirit that inspired them and all their dispositions was the spirit of zeal for the salvation of themselves and every person. The same spirit is reflected in their word and permeates all their writing. Now everyone who is zealous for salvation, reading their instructions, will pass through the outer letter to their spirit and, according to the spirit of jealousy that consumes him, will enter into a similar mood with those who wrote them and into sympathy for all the dispositions that filled their hearts, from him penetrated into their writings and constitute almost the main content of them. The dispositions of those seeking salvation, or those dispositions with which one inevitably becomes accustomed on the path to salvation, are the same for everyone, whether one is a monk or not. The only difference is in the external deeds by which these dispositions are expressed. That is why I believe that every instruction compiled by a hermit and for hermits is a sweet spiritual meal for every zealot for salvation. There he will find what he needs and will be able to apply it to his life, if things are assigned to express him that are not consistent with the order of his life. Monks are Christians, after all, and those who enter monasticism care about nothing else and work hard than to be true Christians. And the laity are also Christians and should be zealous to be true Christians. Therefore, the monks and the laity agree on the main issue. How can now the instructions to monks not go to the laity? There is a part of the monks that does not go to the laity, but it concerns only the external order of life and relationships, and not the internal dispositions and spirit. The latter should be the same for everyone, for there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism 158 (Eph. 4:5). And that is why good lay people, zealous for the salvation of the soul, do not read enough of the ascetic paternal writings of Macarius the Great, Isaac the Syrian, Climacus, St. Dorotheus, Ephraim the Syrian, Philokalia, etc. And about those who shun the instructions in the articles, you yourself see what needs to be said: “They do not have the Spirit of Christ.” This word is cruel, but what can you do? Let them judge for themselves... What is written in those articles? About how to overcome passions, how to purify the heart, how to plant good dispositions in it, how to pray and succeed in prayer, how to organize your thoughts and keep your attention constantly undistracted, etc. But shouldn’t this be the subject of concern for every Christian? Were not the commandments given about all this by the Lord and the holy apostles? So the Lord says: watch and pray 159 (Matthew 26:41); Watch for those who pray at all times 160 (Luke 21:36). This is a commandment about attention to oneself, one of the main spiritual exploits, which is also called sobriety, according to the words of the Apostle, who says: be sober and watchful (1 Pet. 5:8). But so that no one thinks that this is obligatory only for the apostles alone or only for perfect Christians like them, the Lord added: but what I say to you, I say to everyone: watch 161 (Mark 13:37). By what right do we consider all the instructions about attention, sobriety and spiritual wakefulness, the primary subject of ascetic writings and articles sent to you, to apply only to monks, and not to the laity! Judge other things by this. Thus, when it is said that a narrow gate and a narrow path lead to the belly 162 (Matthew 7:14), it is made clear that they are narrow and cramped not for monks alone, but for everyone in general who cares about entering into the belly, and that, therefore, there will be no place there for those who live widely, whether they are monks or laymen. It is also written that he who strives will abstain from everything 163 (1 Cor. 9:25), that we must put to death the oads that are on earth 164 (Col. 3:5), we must seek the things on high, we must philosophize on things above, not earthly things 165 (Col. 3:1-2), pray unceasingly (1 Thess. 5:17) and make sure that our life was hidden with Christ in God 166 (Col. 3:3) - and thus, asceticism, mortification of the flesh, renunciation from everything earthly, unceasing prayer, disappearance in God are made obligatory on everyone without exception. But this is all that is said in monastic articles! Now you can hear: who is happy with this? Who doesn’t know about this and who doesn’t talk about it? But that’s not what we’re talking about. After all, it is not the law of God that must be bent under our inclinations, usually called infirmities, but our neck under the yoke of the holy and unchangeable law of God! Is it not known that the Lord is generous and merciful: just as the yoke does not impose beyond one’s strength, so does not allow any indulgence? So let's talk about it! Are your objectors not among those who usually say: “Am I spiritual, am I a monk?” or “After all, I am a layman,” thereby dissuading myself from strictly fulfilling the Gospel commandments? But do they really understand what they are saying? By discouraging not only from following certain rules, but also from hearing about them, by their quality as laymen, do they not classify themselves as belonging to the realm of the world that is opposite to the Gospel? And this is scary. The world is an area of ​​destruction. The Lord speaks about Christians in the person of the apostles: If we were quicker from the world, the world would love its own; but as you are not from the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you 167 (John 15:19). Thus, true Christians, although laymen, do not belong to this terrible region of the Christ-hating and God-rejected world and do not consider a single word alien to themselves that came from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ and His holy apostles, do not shun any teaching contained in the Holy Orthodox Church, do not disdain it and do not deviate from it (11, pp. 115-118). 99. General instructions on the path of salvation for a nun The path of salvation, of course, is known to you. Having repented and set the intention to live properly, one must, without any concessions, bear the fruits of repentance in fasting, prayer and helping others. You must love solitude, silence and work so that your thoughts are less distracted. Mind wandering weakens good intentions. It is inadmissible to go to services and bother yourself with bows at home. Reading soul-saving things is good, but not much. It is necessary to remember a little of what you read so as not to read in vain. Show all obedience to the monastery authorities. With sisters, be at peace with everyone, but not make special friendships. If you can help in any way - good, but if not - so be it. Don’t go visit and don’t invite people to your place. Have a constant conversation with the Lord Savior. Know every one your own corner and the Lord - and nothing more (8, pp. 170–171). 100. Instructions before tonsure. Church obedience Tonsured! - Bless, Lord! Of course, you understand what this is. Therefore, approach with fear and trembling, without losing heart before the greatness of the matter, but inspired by the hope in God’s quick help for those who seek it from Him with all their hearts. All who trust in the Lord will not sin. First tonsure at the monastery! Take care to be the first nun, just not with worldly exaltation, but with humility before everyone, according to the word of the Lord, Who commanded the first to be slaves for everyone... Your church obedience is very good, and you understand well what it requires. The Church is the house of God, and everything there is God... Treat every thing there as if it were God’s and act with it as if you had received a command to do so from the Lord Himself, remembering that the Lord Himself immediately watches how you act, and is either comforted by it or offended” (8, pp. 171-172). 101. Answer to the question about entering monasticism Throughout the entire course of your life, it is clear that the Lord is calling you on the path of repentance. And I believe that you will not find peace unless you step into it. You are doing well to kindle this desire in yourself. But whether to perform it now or at a later time is not something I can decide. And now you can, and you can after completing the course at the university. My first thought was to suggest that you complete the course if you hope that the current bad teachings will not affect you. Then the thought occurred to you whether you should go to the Academy and then finish your studies and enter monasticism. Both are possible. And it will be useful for you. Reason with your spiritual father - and God will bless you to do what you find best. I am not against entering the monastery now. What about your habits and hobbies?! Do you think that the walls of the monastery will protect you from them? Oh no! Please prepare for the most difficult struggle! From a distance it is very difficult to give you decisive advice. See for yourself. What about parental blessing? Discuss everything with your spiritual father (8, pp. 173–174). 102. Instruction on how to rule the monastery You ask me for advice on how to rule the monastery. To rule the monastery is wisdom that exceeds my mind. I don’t understand anything about this matter, and no matter what I tell you, it will all be bookish, not businesslike. Look closely and discuss every matter and do it according to the discussion. If it goes well, let it go; and if it’s not good, discuss how to change it. So, learn everything by doing, not from books. A year or two will pass, you will know all the ins and outs of the abbot in detail. There is no point in building theories in advance. What a big deal, sometimes you make a mistake. Make mistakes and learn. Saving is not as important as leading the brothers as they should and where they should. In this, hold on to the faith that everyone who enters the monastery desires to be saved. Take this leash and lead him. Lead everyone together, and everyone separately. This commonality is no wonder. Maintain strict monastic rank and be everywhere yourself - in the church, in the dining room, and sometimes walking through the cells. Leading everyone is very tricky. You need to find out your character and act accordingly. You have to be strict and not let anything go; but with severity and mercy there should be. And severity alone is no good, and mercy alone is no good. Both are needed (8, pp. 177–178). 103. Under what conditions is a change of monastery allowed? I don’t know how to say which is better for you - to live in this monastery you live in, or to move. But I think that it is better not to change places when the temptations that you mention are ordinary temptations that are found in every monastery and place. Overcome them and you will be an ascetic hero... If your temptations are such that they are only found there and you do not see the strength in yourself to overcome them, then, of course, you should move away from evil (8, p. 181). 104. When to go silent Have you heard that silence is better... But you also want it. Seek and you will find. But first you need to undergo a course of novitiate, so that the soul is ground into powder and becomes soft... Then there will be silence... Until then, try to remain silent in your heart... Ask, and the Lord will give (8, p. 182). 105. Books useful to monks Read books and learn to live from them, if you can’t find the elder... Read Abba Dorotheus, the Answer of the great elders Barsanuphius and John, the Ladder, Macarius the Great, Isaac the Syrian, Ephraim the Syrian and the Philokalia... of Basil the Great (8, p. 182). 106. Various answers and instructions to the monastery dean The restless one can ask Fr. take the archimandrite into your monastery, and appoint another in his place, if necessary. There is nothing to be embarrassed about here. This is done for the benefit of that and for the good of the monastery. Movements of rage in the event of troubles must be driven away by prayer and meditation each time until they completely disappear. And there will be no harm; otherwise it will be. You shouldn’t think about other obedience, because it still has its own will... In the evening, the soul must be cleansed of everything and abolished, so that it remains empty with the Lord alone. And so go to bed. Don’t leave without this, but work on yourself (8, pp. 192–194). I think that you have now become accustomed to the deeds of your obedience and the deeds themselves are going tolerably well for you. Grant, Lord, that everything goes better and better. Wisdom is small! Don’t waste time, be patient, gradually move everything forward little by little. The Lord wants this and there is always an all-powerful helper in these matters. Just don’t ever allow “I want”, but “the order requires it; I am your servant (8, p. 194)! 107. To the question of a person living in a monastery about entering the priesthood Do you see how?! Either the monastery is bright for you, or the priesthood. Now the priesthood is bright for you, because you are in a monastery, and when you move into the priesthood, monasticism will become bright for you. You see how you love your parishioners, and the attention of parishioners, and so on, everything goes like clockwork. And the family, children and the entire everyday situation, so complex and annoying, were forgotten. And when you arrive, not everyone will find flexible branches. I suspect that in this light image that you are drawing, there is something very similar to - you can see the red - where does it look as red?! But it still doesn’t hurt to acquire that freedom. Just don’t rush after that. Or how it will work out. Your family circumstances are a big reason. But as long as the father is alive, the matter is tolerated (8, pp. 223–224). 108. Regarding thinking about whether to devote your life to God You feel the urge to devote your whole life to the Lord, but you are afraid to decide to do so. To dedicate your life to the Lord is not left to a choice, but is an urgent Christian duty. And when it is said “to devote one’s life to the Lord,” then of course it’s not just some part, but the whole thing: all manifestations of mental and physical life, and the lightest thought, and the simplest movement of the body. When we are baptized, we deny Satan and all his works... i.e. everything that is not pleasing to God; and we are united to Christ by faith and vow to please Him by strict fulfillment of all His commandments. This is dedicating your life to the Lord. Consequently, you now have nothing to choose or think about making a decision on. The decision has already been made on your behalf. And you are not presented with a choice, but with execution” (6, pp. 8–9). Take the trouble to look at the following Scriptures: 1 Cor. 6, 19, 20. You are not your own, writes the apostle, for you were bought with a price. And here is the conclusion from these words: therefore glorify God in your bodies and in your souls, which are God's, i.e. the strength of soul and body must be dedicated to God... No concession is allowed either to oneself or to the world. Elsewhere it is expressed this way: whether you eat, drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). Testifying to how this was accomplished by the Apostle himself, he says: It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20). So you see how? And you think and rest your feet. You are a slave, bought with priceless Blood. For what? So that by living you may not live for yourself, but for the Lord who died for you and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15). You don't have a single little vein left of your own. But you want to dispose of all your personal property (6, p. 9). You feel the urge to devote yourself to the Lord... This means that your entire inner mood yearns to say: I deny Satan... and unite myself with Christ. Your soul longs to fulfill what the Lord has been expecting from you for so long, for which He has so richly poured out His grace on you until now, towards which everything has been directed; everything that has been in you until now is the fruit of everything that has gone before. You, of course, long ago recognized yourself as a Christian and fell in love with Christianity and lived in this love; but it was semi-independent... inspired by the flow of life... without struggle. And now you have to do this completely independently, with struggle, with rejection of what the world and its prince are offering you on the other side... Do you realize that the prince of the world is offering you: I will give all this to you if, having fallen, you will worship me... If you recognize, then together recognize that the most decisive moment in life has come to you... this is whether or not you should be a real Christian. Please don’t take this moment lightly. Enter into the consideration of the case in order to act like a reasonable Christian, and not like a butterfly fluttering among flowers - balls, theaters (6, pp. 11-12). 109. On the issue of adopting the schema Have you noticed that both rulers through gritted teeth expressed their consent to your abduction? This really caught my eye. By accepting the schema, you will present them with an experience in which they will have to not justify their indecision. You noticed this indecision in me too. And you are wrong. I have already written that, generally speaking, I do not find a schema necessary, but this reasoning was not based on anything on your part, but in general on the external action of schemas. When Fr. Cassian confirmed that the time must, I willingly agreed with him and wrote to you about this, and now I say the same thing: bless, Lord, your schema and give you the strength to reveal in yourself the real schema-woman - the crucified one, for in the East the schema of staurophoria is the bearing of the cross (6, pp. 106-107). Where did you get the idea that I was mocking your schema?! A crow in peacock feathers and a corporal in a general’s uniform is not a mockery, but a lesson to you or a saving reminder not to make fanfare with the schema, but, on the contrary, to judge and condemn yourself with it, that these are peacock feathers, and the crow itself, or: the general’s uniform, and the corporal himself... You will do well if you do as I wrote... write on paper in capital letters and be read (6, p. 107). Schema is not a confirmation of the vows of Baptism, but the imposition of new ones on them... The schemanik is dead; not striving for death... but dead (6, p. 107). Schima-schima! Yes, it's time for us to stop talking. With all my desire and desire, I bless you. And may God help you to be a real schema-montress. There are no special demands from the schema-monk: they are the same as from any monk, but only such that they are already rooted, while a simple monk is still looking for them (6, p. 110). The goal of a monk’s work is the acquisition of ascetic virtues: both external and internal, both physical and spiritual; the goal of the schema’s aspiration is to achieve or build that which, on the basis of ascetic virtues, can be achieved spiritually or built. The consciousness of the schema-monk must enter another spiritual realm... and the monk still struggles and struggles in the ordinary environment... All this and the like makes the difference... but not in the essence of the spirit, but in degree (6, pp. 110-111). You ask about the schema, what does it mean: without accepting gifts. – I think, without bribery... not for money, but out of confidence in dignity. This is not what we mean now... Your schema will definitely be in full force, but only morally. Others cannot recognize her. The fact that you are wearing a cassock cannot be based on the fact that you are wearing a cassock, but on the fact that it was put on properly, and not without permission. You shouldn’t even mention the shaming anywhere or to anyone. Everything is in the spirit (6, p. 112). 110. Instruction to the schema-nice You were in a heavenly state. I wish that it does not stop, but remains and grows stronger and stronger. It does not come from clothing, but from the inner mood, the essence of which is surrendering oneself to the Lord, by faith in love with hope. All these spiritual elements, sources and agents are under the shadow of grace in the area of ​​our will. But if we pay attention to ourselves, we can always control our will with God’s help... Silence is a very suitable thing for this. Help you, Lord! If you need a prohibition, I forbid you to say everything unnecessary and from the necessary only to creation. But there is an inner word. He is forbidden to pay sober attention to himself, and this is supported by unceasing prayer, or a prayerful mood, which consists of the memory of God with reverent fear and the determination to think, feel and desire only what is pleasing to the Lord. May the Lord be before your face, death behind you, the Guardian Angel and St. Varvara... You have probably already returned to your cell... You need to be more careful in solitude. Kelia is a grave. From this grave, mentally build a staircase to Heaven... and walk along it, believing the ascent in your heart; and around it, circle a thick, thick fence and so high that it extends beyond the air area and does not allow the spirits of evil to fly through it to you (6, pp. 118–119). Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find (Matthew 7:7). ...it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. ...it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20). Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:37). ...who... does not hate his father and mother... (Luke 14:26). tell her to help me. You care and fuss about a lot of things. Mary chose the good part (Luke 10:40-42). ...God so loved the world (John 3:16). there is no male or female (Gal. 3:28) ...look, tread carefully. ...do not enter into verbal disputes, which does not serve any good. See letter XXVIII (9, p. 263). ...one Lord, one faith, one baptism. ...watch and pray. watch at all times and pray. But what I say to you, I say to everyone: stay awake. narrow is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life. put to death your members on the earth. seek the things above. Set your mind on things above, and not on earthly things. your life is hidden with Christ in God. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. You might be interested in: