Книга II. Письма

Those who have worked hard in righteous deeds, even if they are overcome for a short time by the power of temptation, then, without losing courage, they will rise up, strengthen themselves and will no longer allow themselves to be deceived. And I will defend this city for Myself and for the sake of David My servant (2 Kings 20:6). The city should be understood as a soul faithful to God. In no case will we pray to God to deliver us from His reproofs and punishments, and we will not turn away from the Father of our souls, so that for a short-term cowardice in something we do not lose the eternal, incorruptible in heaven inheritance and eternal joy prepared for us. Since you write to me that my writings are pleasing and pleasing to you, now accept Saint David, who, instead of the sorrows of this age, preaches to you unceasing joy: Blessed is the man whom You admonish, O Lord (Ps. 93:12); and: “Make us glad for the days in which You struck us” (Ps. 89:15); and: they are satisfied from the fatness of Your house, and from the flow of Your sweets (Ps. 35:9). When he says this, he means us - those who hope for the protection of the wings of God's Providence. 5. To an official under the mayor of Valch And do not sow among the thorns (Jer. 4:3) - says the prophetic word. That is, do not trust the preaching of the word of God to people who are burdened with many worries and lovers of voluptuousness, because the divine words call thorns depraved pleasures and cares that are useless for the soul. The house of your soul is filled from floor to roof with pus, broken shards, dirty rags, dead bones and earth. Therefore, how do you ask me to bring and place the sacred vessels of Divine teaching in your soul, when there is not a single worthy place inside. But at least from now on, sober up and take care of yourself at least a little. If you make even a little effort to cleanse your heart and put it away gracefully, then I am ready to obedience you, offering soul-helping words, and then I will fill your mental house with divine treasures. I wish you to succeed not in conceit, but in the matter of living a good life and remembering God. But sin is not imputed when there is no law (Rom. 5:13). Because until the law is made completely clear, commanding us to do one thing and prohibiting us to do another, in accordance with the concepts of good and evil that are naturally imprinted in us, until then the fact that we sin is not imputed to us, for without the law sin is dead. But when, having perfected the concepts with this commandment, the law existing in us becomes clear, the desire for evil immediately opens in us, and sin comes to life. Just as circumcision is imputed to a careless Jew as uncircumcision, so abstinence and fasting are imputed to gluttony and gluttony to one who fasts like the pagans, does not eat certain types of food, like the Manichaeans, and abhors God’s good creatures. Abstinence practiced in Christ is wonderful and beneficial, but abstinence established in imitation of the pagans and Manichaeans is reprehensible. In any work that contributes to piety, do not give yourself rest, because during rest and inaction we are more likely to accept something sinful and bad. On the contrary, pray more often, read the Lord’s decrees with attention, and direct your thoughts to helping those in need and to protecting the offended. In this way you will be able to avoid not only sinful deeds, but probably also the very thoughts of sin, sinful memories and indecent movements. I praise you for your great care for the soul, for avoiding obscene sights, for not remembering evil and for excelling in other virtues, which you demonstrate while living in the world. But add one more thing to this - remove yourself from the plague - do not keep scoffers with you, and now your crown is ready. According to the word of God, the Israelites who crossed the Red Sea 69 are credited with baptism, although they were not baptized. It was so pleasing to God that the youngest of Ephraim’s brothers should be preferred to Manasseh, so that they would reflect on the meaning of all this. The two golden olive trees of the prophet Zechariah 70 predict about those who believed in Christ: one olive is about the Jews, the other is about the pagans, who were previously like straw, but later, for faith and repentance, they were awarded great mercy, turning out to be golden in spirit. Blessed David punished the murderers of Ish-bosheth with death and, cutting off their hands and feet, hanged them by a spring over the water. This means that baptism into Christ makes the demons who previously enslaved us, who killed our souls before baptism, powerless and ineffective. After the Law of Moses, we received the best hope that can bring us closer to God. According to the word of James: Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you (James 4:8). But the Jewish people did not want to draw closer and cleave to the Lord with hope and faith, so David said: and wrath arose against Israel because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation (Ps. 77:21-22). And God Himself also spoke through the mouth of Isaiah: And the Lord said: Because this people draws near to Me with their lips, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me (Is. 29:13). Many people of bad character, intending to hide from others the sorrow that darkens their hearts, laugh noisily, imagining themselves happy. However, you need to know that inside they are filled with great sadness, because pure joy has turned away from them. Why, giving food and clothing to the Jews living in your house, as if not from a pure heart, do you want to show by this that you are wasting your property on people who are strangers to you, who came from outside, who have nothing in common with you, who are crafty and empty? The Apostle Paul writes: for he who died was freed from sin (Rom. 6:7) not in the sense that all who died are justified, because in that case all the ungodly and lawless would be recognized as justified after death. On the contrary, since every person, after the cessation of a bad life, seems to die to bad deeds, rightly being called not a sinner, but righteous, therefore we will understand what is written to mean that the one who dies to sin, since he no longer commits sin, is justified. The Chief Apostle Peter says: If they slander you for the name of Christ, then you are blessed (1 Peter 4:14), and the Lord Himself also cries out in the Gospel: Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unrighteously for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven (Matthew 5:11–12). And the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews praises those who have ardent faith in the Savior Christ. If so, then do not lose heart and do not be afraid if godless haters revile you for your good reputation, for the kindness of your character, and for your piety that is visible to everyone. Thus, fornicators laugh at the chaste, and the wicked mock the pious, and the vicious scoff at the virtuous, the blind call themselves far-sighted, and the scoundrels enthusiastically glorify sins and the most shameful passions, shamelessly assuring that bitter is sweet. We can only laugh at them, even condemning them, we will shed tears for the death of all those like them. You must thank God that you do not have money that would be required of you to account for on the day of judgment. For it is said: And from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required (Luke 12:48), the tormenting Angels will ask of him. For the money given to him, the rich man will be subjected to severe punishment, strict liability and a terrible examination of whether he managed well or poorly what was given to him by the Providence of God. Don’t put too much faith in old age, because even old people fall. But always call on Christ for help, so that He may be your guardian and your indestructible fence. Your honest soul asks me what is written by the apostle: and the power of sin is the law (1 Cor. 15:56)? It is not as if the divine law is the cause of falls, as some ignorant people misunderstood, and not as if the law gives strength to sin. It won't happen! It is rather characteristic of the law to suppress and destroy sins after strong reproof of those who do wrong and, upon discovering what exactly is indecent, the apostle stops the lips of the Jews, who incessantly boasted of the Divine Scripture, but at the same time, fearlessly sinning, dishonored the Lawgiver by breaking the law. Therefore, the divine apostle says this and similar things in the person of those who boast and are proud of the law. Look up to God. What do you have in common with the earth? Do not even desire to see what the worldly do, because you have withdrawn from the world and from the ways of life. Therefore, do not look at the affairs of everyday life, but be attentive only to yourself and take care to do your work, as befits ascetics. So, take heed, tread carefully (Eph. 5:15) - constantly monitor your life, as the Divine commandment says. If you condemn turning to the worst, avoid turning to the worst. As it is said: he who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but everything consists in keeping the commandments of God (1 Cor. 7:19), as the apostle said. Because neither one nor the other contributes to the salvation of the soul and does not move it towards divine knowledge. What will be useful in spiritual success? It is clear that keeping God's commandments. Just as there is fasting in eating food, so there is fasting in irritability, covetousness, envy, boasting, acquisitiveness, hot temper, drowsiness, laziness, empty curiosity and the like. If you are too curious, you enjoy finding out the deeds of those who act indecently, then you have forgotten your heart and your cell, you have gotten lost, deviated from the truth, you are not following the straight path, look at what end you will come to. If I do not convey to others the grace given to me, then on the day of judgment I will give an answer for the spiritual talent I have buried in silence. Likewise, you will be required to account if you do not teach the heavenly gift of knowledge entrusted to you to others who are capable of accepting it. For you, for your nobility of character, for your honorable life, for your diligence, in which you compete with the most worthy of the monks, have been honored with the great grace of God. Therefore, it is strange to see you under worldly clothing and in public service. Bringing to mind your sinless life, we glorify Christ, saying with David: How desirable are Your dwellings, O Lord of hosts! (Ps. 83:2). Because virginity has truly made you villages, altars, churches, and precious utensils of God. 31. Domestik 72 Menander I don’t want, you say, to leave our fatherly Hellenism, 73 although I recognize it as worthy of reproach. What is this, tell me, venerable one? If your father had been some kind of chieftain of robbers, or a drunkard, or a fornicator, or a usurer, or a brawler, or a tomb robber, would you really, guided by pure thoughts, not want to become better than the unrighteous and vile father of evil wisdom? 32. To the presbyter and abbot 74 Chrysogonus Your love asked me: what does it mean that Baruch said to God: You are eternally abiding, and we are eternally perishing (Bar. 3:3)? Since God is unchangeable and immutable at all times, it is clear that eternal existence in His immutability is attributed to Him. And we, being changeable, perish every moment, repeatedly becoming from one to another and moving from one thought to another. On the day of the Last Judgment: and the powers of heaven will be shaken (Matthew 24:29), that is, the angelic armies, fulfilling the Master's command, putting aside meekness, will become angry against all people with an evil disposition. Unholy, godless, evil and lawless satanic thoughts do not confuse you and do not depress and weaken your good soul, adorned with faith and protected by the Cross of Christ. 35. To the mayor Demosthenes If you do not love the blessed and divine words of Scripture, then you will become like stupid and dumb animals. Just as, wanting to support our life, we eat, drink, talk, listen, so we must attach our hearts to reading the word of God, not knowing satiety. What good is it for you, when you rule over your servants, to be servile to lusts as to unmerciful masters? 38. To the noble dignitary Auxentius The Only Begotten Son and the Word of the Father are the living Word and the hypostatic Word. He was dispassionately born of the Father before all ages and time, One from One, Only Begotten, Light from Light, true God from true God. One with the Father in power, in essence, in grace, in power and in all perfection, so that He contains the Father in Himself and is contained in the Father, with the Father and with the consubstantial Holy Spirit, the Creator of all material things. The Only Begotten Son and Word of God, even after his incarnation from the Most Pure Virgin, did not lose anything and did not become alien to His Divinity, and after his incarnation he remained God. According to the invisible, He is the true God, and according to the visible, He is a true man, having a soul and mind, and not devoid of mind and soul, as Apollinaris claimed. Others rejoice in vineyards and olive groves, many livestock and servants, magnificent houses, gold, silver and other earthly wealth. And you, the all-praised 75 servant of Christ, constantly see the invisible King with your mental eyes, enjoying His grace, are inextricably attached to Him, feed your soul with hope in Him, are comforted by unfading love for Him, constantly being in prayer and singing psalms. You cry with the words of the prophets: I remember God and tremble (Ps. 77:4); I rejoice in Your word, as one who has received great profit (Ps. 119:162). Therefore, the Savior and Creator of everything answers you, so that no one can steal your joy and your joy; you have become like Mary, who chose the good part of the divine instructions. Therefore the Lord will say to you: since My words have taken root in you, I will remember you in My kingdom. Do not be afraid, I am always with you, I will deliver you from all sorrows and save you from attackers. The oracle of the multi-pronounced Apollo, when for the sake of the coming in the flesh of the Lord Christ he was instructed to remain silent, contrary to the expectations of the pagans, as it should be, he became speechless. And everyone can be convinced of this. But why don’t you want to be ashamed or at least ashamed, making speeches in defense of your dumb and pitiful gods, exposing their absurdities and vileness? If you wish to obey me, then it will be much more fitting if you now become like the silence of the oracle from the sanctuary. Why are you grieving, restless, grumbling and complaining, complainer? Why do you show impatience and cowardice, instead of courageously enduring what happened to you? Remember the One who says, advising: My son! If you begin to serve the Lord God, then prepare your soul for temptation: guide your heart and be strong, and do not be embarrassed during your visit (Sir. 2:1-2). For know that without God’s judgment no one will be afflicted by sorrow. Therefore: Trust in the Lord, be of good courage, and let your heart be strengthened, and trust in the Lord (Ps. 26:14), and He will have mercy on you. Are you saying that your sin is insignificant? But for his sake you depart from God and offend God by violating the Divine commandments. Think about it, when someone kills an adult or kills a baby, he equally becomes a murderer and is tried as a murderer. Therefore, also, one who has undergone such a fall will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Do not grumble, man, because it is not proper for a monk to grumble, even if you happen to be exposed to mortal danger while fulfilling the obedience of the brotherhood. As it is said: He who listens to you listens to Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me (Luke 10:16). So the apostle writes: Do not murmur, as some of them murmured and were killed by the destroyer (1 Cor. 10:10). Therefore, if you don’t want to die, stop grumbling. Or how can you, raising your hands to the Lord, pray, according to the Apostolic Tradition: without anger and doubt (1 Tim. 2:8), when grumbling is a product of anger. Those who, through much labor and sweat, having struggled for a long time with voluptuousness, have finally been granted the gift of dispassion, are allowed to communicate with ascetics. And who, like you, is still burdened with voluptuous passions, such dangerous conversations are forbidden, lest they plunge their own and others’ souls into the abyss. Because unless absolutely necessary, one should not look at women, be they nuns or laymen. The laity, who invite us into their homes so that we can pray there, must answer with evangelical humility: I am unworthy (Luke 7:6), but since you believe that monastic prayer will benefit you, and as you believed, so be it for you (Matthew 8:13). And all the fathers and brothers who love us will be asked by me to sincerely pray for the laity who have need. Now it’s best to tell you in the words of Jeremiah: the people are stupid and unwise (Jer. 5:21)! You should have been ashamed of the evil deeds of vanity and idle talk, but you are delighted. You are proud of your other insolences and have fun, exalting yourself over everyone, praising yourself. Be ashamed, says the holy prophet on behalf of God: Bear your shame (Ezek. 16:52). So that you, having come to your senses, know yourself, condemning your worthlessness, acquire the opportunity to be enlightened. Because knowledge of sins is the morning of the soul, and self-condemnation is the beginning of salvation. Confess your weakness to God, so that the possibility of grace may shine for you and God’s will may perform a miracle. 48. Alexander, monk of the grammarians Come, and let us ascend to the mountain of the Lord (Isa. 2:3), as the prophet said, and not: come, and let us be cast into the abyss of the enemy. Indeed, there is nothing so low and creeping on the earth as worldly wisdom, although out of shamelessness it strives to soar in the heights. As the divine apostle says: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God (1 Cor. 3:19). For when the world through its wisdom did not know God in the wisdom of God, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe (1 Cor. 1:21). So the peoples and languages ​​- from the Greeks and barbarians - obeyed the preaching of the apostles, who were ignorant in the word, but had grace-filled knowledge. Therefore, each of those who begin to preach piety must carefully follow the apostolic rules, exactly imitating the model they gave, and not deviate from their impeccable Tradition. Therefore, it is incongruous for us, who have ascended the mountain of lofty wisdom in Christ, after we have despised Hellenic subtleties and dishonorably rejected the pomp of speech, to again be carried away into the dark abyss of frivolity and vain labor. Now that we have become perfect, we again become children, becoming like youths, to highly value verses and stanzas, in which neither the Alexandrian scholar Apollos 76, nor the Roman philosopher Clement 77, nor other countless philosophers and grammarians had any need. Those who are called second after the apostles for the size and composition of the verses did not abolish the Cross of Christ, so as not to deserve the reproach that, contrary to the law of God, they bring honey to the altar, 78 for honey drips from the lips of another man's wife (Proverbs 5:3). That is, the honey of Hellenic eloquence, which deceives the deluded, trying to distract them from the wisdom of God into a trap, to the very bottom of hell. Therefore, do not pay attention to the measure of speech, although you are accustomed to it, so that the divine traits of fishermen, which you recently wished to imprint in yourself with great love, will not be eradicated from you. Do not reach the extreme disgrace of becoming unconcerned about your salvation because of your penchant for versification. Otherwise, you can become a model and a snare for others - those who are disordered, low and weak in spirit, who have no concern for virtue, but all the days of their lives are engaged in poetry out of empty and damned vanity, slavishly receiving bread from the few who deign to give them praise. They do not feed the soul, but starve it to death. Because we must seek bread from God, filled with true glory and honor. These same people, on the contrary, think to imbue themselves with worldly wisdom. And you ask yourself for the bread of the powers above: and you gave them the bread of heaven. Man ate the bread of angels (Ps. 77:24–25), that is, everyone who lives in the spirit, following the church rules, partakes of the wisdom that comes from above, eating the bread of heaven and the bread of angels, and not the bread of the harlot’s wife. Many of the heretics wrote numerous works, but there was no benefit from them, because their ears of corn had decayed, as the prophet says: he will not have any standing bread; the grain will not yield flour (Hos. 8:7). If you admire poets, then you should also admire Apollinaris, who introduced new teachings, who kept within the limits and composed poems, not sparing vain labor, spent all his time composing unreasonable speeches, bloated from useless efforts over poetry. As David said: and their tongue walks upon the earth (Ps. 73:9). Apparently, you are at odds with yourself, you speak beautifully, but act badly, you rage like dogs, without blushing, you bark at everyone. Brother, at least correct yourself now so that your deeds are not in conflict with your vow. To the same extent that you depress your body with a laborious and harsh way of life, humble your heart, counting your exploits as nothing and humiliating yourself, so that when vanity finds access to you, you do not reap nettles instead of wheat, so that your labors do not perish. The evil one realized, by certain signs, that for good deeds you were worthy of inner blessing and accepted heavenly grace, like Jacob and all those who worked for God. Therefore, struck by hatred and wounded by envy, the misanthrope kindled great temptations against you, intending to crush the soul that has loved virtue, instilling in it evil thoughts and encouraging it to embark on harmful deeds. It is not surprising that you, being valiant, are subject to such temptation. When we mentally enter the holy land of divine promise, then as it is written: then the princes of Edom were troubled and trembling seized the leaders of Moab (Ex. 15:15), that is, the cruel, powerful demons. Therefore, they strive to keep and divert us from the blissful entry and make us alien to eternal joy. But you yourself, remaining unperturbed, take courage and strengthen yourself in patience, strengthened by prayer, crushing those who wish to crush us, constantly repeating the prophetic word: do not rejoice, land of the Philistines, because the rod that struck you has been broken (Is. 14:29). For Christ, the man-loving God, will be merciful to us, He will prohibit and abolish the evil overseers of the mental Pharaoh along with their king, their power will be completely crushed, and they will no longer send us for tares and clay to create sin. Because to the extent that we draw closer to God, the demons become annoyed with us. You can destroy the temptation of unbearable sadness and great despondency with abundant crying about sins, good hope and love for the sweetest Savior Christ. Being a true branch of the valiant and illustrious Abba Minukian, you show in yourself the features of this man, for he turned out to be not only a disciple, but also an imitator of our humane Savior Christ, who in deed and word left us an example that true wisdom consists in a pure life and a soul elevated above bodily passions. It is extremely unwise, in my opinion, to abandon concern for the heavenly and eternal, to exhaust oneself with earthly concerns, inventing thousands of pretexts for acquiring temporary and unreasonable benefits. 55. Hilary, a scholastic monk Finally, having stopped your wanderings, you decided to imitate the ancient elder whom you met. For who of the prudent can approve of constantly walking from place to place like hares, without knowing rest, without any great need. Therefore, remain forever in the monastery, practicing silence, remembering death, so that, having been resolved, you may rejoice forever at the feet of Christ. The leaders of our rank 79, having become imitators of the apostles, became like a lamp shining in a dark place (2 Pet. 1:19). Like non-wandering stars, they illuminate the impenetrable night of human life, becoming the foundation of refuges indicating how to safely avoid the attacks of passions. And you, having so many souls under your command, you yourself condemned virtue to exile, forcing it to flee from you, with pleasure you cover your face with the darkness of wickedness and evil, plunging your brothers into bad habits, into storms and constant rebellions, trying to destroy those who should be saved. Who will save you from eternal torment? Because it is scary to fall into the hands of the living God! (Heb. 10:31). Since you engage in reading not for the sake of humility, but out of vanity, the temptation of lustful thoughts does not leave you, because it is of no use to the unreasonable to live in contentment, but to the vain to read and enjoy high words. Knowledge leads the vain and arrogant into pride, just as wine harms someone with a fever. Therefore, until arrogance leaves your soul, the demon will not stop ridiculing and denouncing the arrogant. But if you want him to leave as quickly as possible, hasten to resort to the unshakable pillar of humility, arm yourself with vigils, prolonged prayers and the singing of psalms. Then you will see with your own eyes the death of the enemy. There is no sin in starting food every day at the appointed hour, eating it in moderation. But after you have humbled yourself to a bodily need, you must quickly raise your thoughts to heaven, renouncing earthly concerns. Why, with great care, do you expose yourself to the danger of falling into unbelief, expecting that God will leave you and deprive you of what is necessary for life? You now have several assistants who support you in your weakness, the glorious dignitary Gideon, who respects the monks with all his heart, also the nephew of the most holy bishop, who is very disposed towards the monks, and also the respected deaconess of Christ Theodoula. And if the thought comes to you that they may die before your death, then, without a doubt, God, seeing the meekness and silence of your soul, serenity and concern for improving yourself, will immediately send you people who will serve your needs. God can also raise up from these stones people who are ready to serve with zeal those who lead the monastic life. They will give you what you need, moreover, strenuously asking the ascetic to accept the gift. If the Babylonians, a barbarian people, having captured Jerusalem by right of war, respected the virtue of Jeremiah and generously provided him with every service, not only giving him what he needed for food, but also providing the vessels that are usually used, then will his fellow tribesmen, who from childhood have cleared their minds to accept the best and strive for virtue, not respect the virtuous life. If for some reason they were unable to become ascetics themselves, they honor the ascetics, marveling at their virtue. Therefore, do not worry about many things, but according to the advice of Peter and Paul, watch and be sober in prayer: Cast all your worries on Him, for He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7). For it is said: The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:5-6), and He will provide for you. And in another place it is written: Look at the ancient generations and see: who believed the Lord and was ashamed? (Sir. 2:10). You have read all this, but I remind you. And Daniel in Babylon, being thrown into a den of lions, did not suffer from them, but was dying of hunger, then the prophet Habakkuk, having received a command from God, brought lunch to Daniel, being transferred by an Angel from Judea to Babylon, into that same lion’s den. And the great prophet Daniel, giving thanks, says: You remembered me, O God, and did not forsake those who love You (Dan. 14:38). Keep all this and the like in your mind, constantly turning your thoughts to God. When you are exhausted in body, do not lose heart, thinking that there will be no one to console you. For: It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man (Ps. 118:8). Without a doubt, God will comfort you, and the Source of wisdom has no shortage of Providence necessary for salvation. Return quickly to the monastery from which you came, so that if you remain outside this fence for a long time, you will not become the prey of mental beasts. If you say that you left the monastery in the aspirations of the highest virtue, then remember who said: There are paths that seem straight to a person; but their end is the way to death (Prov. 14:12). For Satan, who has not experienced his tricks experimentally, for the most part ensnares them with something plausible. Monks must behave carefully and soberly, because our feat is much more difficult than the feat of wrestlers. There bodies are in danger, which can easily be returned to their previous position, but here souls are in danger, which are difficult to restore after a fall. The great Moses, having pitched his tent outside the camp, makes it clear that the mentor should be away from the noise of war and not approach the restless horde, having entered into a peaceful life. If you have bowed your soul under the yoke of obedience, then do not be curious to find out the reasons for the orders of the abbot, try with diligence to do what you are ordered, although it will be difficult and difficult. Curiosity to find out the reasons for the mentor’s orders and the desire to evaluate his orders serve as an obstacle to spiritual success. What seems correct and solid to the unskilled cannot be so in reality. Because the artist judges art differently, otherwise the ignorant. For one, the rule is his knowledge, for another, apparent probability. What is plausible does not often turn out to be true, differing in many ways from the truth. What benefit do you get from a wandering life, from ascetic labor and great self-exhaustion, when you again turn your heart to Egypt 80 every day, talking with your family through letters? Fiery love for relatives blocks your path to perfection. Haven’t you heard that the Lord objected to Mary, who was looking for Him among her relatives 81, or how he recognized the one who loves his father or mother more than Him as unworthy of Him, 82, with these words declaring the need to renounce family ties? If you have left Haran 83, and this means feelings, and have come out of the vale of Hebron, that is, from the humiliating deeds of sin, and from the desert in which you can get lost, then hasten, like the patriarchs, to move to Dothan - that is, the abandonment of carnal passions, in which all those striving for dispassion strive. 66. Eleutherius, regimental monk I will not accept you until you cut off your passions, since you have thousands of encounters and many ulcers accumulate on your heart through feelings, and especially I will not accept you, because I intend to move from a careless and unclean life to the virtue of Christ. Therefore, take care of yourself so that careless meetings do not provoke mental illness. For a mind that has recently turned away from a vicious life is like a body that has begun to recover from a long-term illness, for which even a small complication causes the disease to return, as if it were weakened. Spiritual strength is also weak and soon depleted, so one should be wary of the return of vile passion, which usually causes a lot of harm when it is relaxed. Learn from the story of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, that it is common for the virgin and female soul to take upon itself what exceeds its strength and abilities, and to be deceived in its thoughts. If Dina had not rushed recklessly to observe local customs, like those who have already become entrenched and do not enjoy anything reprehensible, then her soul would not have been corrupted, crushed by the contemplation of the sensual. You are the church of God (1 Cor. 3:16), says the apostle. Therefore, so that not a single unclean thought creeps into your thoughts, spread a network of thoughts about the future judgment at the doors of your body and remove your mind from images entering through the senses. If during temptations, having indulged in pleasure, you overshadow the fear of the Divine judgment seat, then remember what happened to Ahaziah 84, who, having fallen from a lattice window, remained seriously ill until death. And the most painful and deadly disease is the sinful one. Just as during a competition a man who is anointed easily eludes capture, but if he gets dirty with sand and dust, it is more difficult for him to escape the hands of the enemy, so here: he who has no worries is elusive to the devil, and he who pollutes the smoothness of a carefree mind with his worries and cares, like dust, has difficulty escaping from Satan’s hands. So, by oil you understand carelessness, and by dust, the manifold worries of the present age. Even a frequently transplanted plant, if watered abundantly, can bear fruit. So you too, although chasing shadows and winds here and there, trying to find out everything and finding peace nowhere, will be able to grow the fruit of truth. The laver made by Moses had a foundation. Therefore, the purification of an ascetic requires firmness, patience, stability and an unshakable way of life. 72. Comasius, monk of the rhetoricians Why, after renouncing the world, do you so carefully collect this rubbish, this dust, this dirty heap of Hellenic books in the monastery without benefit, but with harm? Answer us, collector of superstition and curses. When the Lord Christ prayed on the mountain, His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white like light (Matthew 17:2). This also happens with monks who try to listen to prayer with special zeal, then the faces of their souls shine and its invisible attire shines, which many do not know about. Blessed Peter, instead of fire in the courtyard of Caiaphas, was tempted and subsequently found divine fire at the Sea of ​​Tiberias. Because, being naked because of his renunciation (do not think that I am reinterpreting the Gospel story and mixing in my own reasoning), so, being naked, blessed Peter girds himself with trust in Christ, is thrown into the sea of ​​God’s bounties, comes to Jesus, drawn by love for Him like a chain. And since during his renunciation he was weary, exhausted, distressed by crying and sadness, as if he had lost the Lord, the Vladyka encouraged Peter with wonderful bread and fish, and after the supper the Savior turned to him, who longed to hear the Divine call, and consoled the many ailments of his heart, making him a shepherd. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living (Ps. 114:8), as David says. The future century is called the land of the living - the undying, because earthly life is filled with many deaths, not only in age-related changes, but also in sinful falls of the soul. And where there is no physical or mental change, because there is no whirlwind of thoughts and change of intentions, there no circumstances disturb the silence and serenity, there truly is a country of the living and constantly rejoicing. 76. Neadia, Olympia, Andromache, Julia, Himazia - monks, lovers of litigation What can a reasonable person say, having learned your negligence about the divine and zeal for the piety of the same kind of warriors as you? The reverent warriors, by singing psalmody and prayers, performing divine services and vigilantly staying in the church, defeated the enraged and angry monks, who renounced the silence and service of prayers and psalms that was fitting for them. You have forgotten the sacred vows and the image you took upon yourself, left the place of your asceticism, and are shamelessly busy with other people’s affairs, constantly spending time in courts of justice, bringing there untold noise and rebellion, so that the worldly rulers laugh at you for this, condemning you. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as the apostle says: He will transform our lowly body so that it will be like His glorious body, by the power by which He acts and subdues all things to Himself (Phil. 3:21). Nowadays, it happens that the human body is humiliated, suffering from demonic attacks, and often from the laziness of the soul itself, falling into some kind of vices and defilements, and sometimes it is enslaved and humiliated by sin. And during death and burial itself, with humiliation and dishonor, it drags along the earth and is buried in great misery, as it is said: it is sown in humiliation, it is raised in glory (1 Cor. 15:43). But during the resurrection of all people, having laid aside corruption and humiliation, our body will rise adorned with the glory and splendor of Christ the Savior, and will no longer be seduced into sin and corruption, degraded by mortality, vanity and suffering, but will endlessly remain incorruptible. He placed a man on our head (Ps. 65:12). Sometimes God allows demons to shamelessly sit inside the head, that is, in thought, and drag the soul into obscene thoughts, with which we need to fight and fight without entering into an alliance with them. Do not be cramped in the love of God, says the apostle, and you: but it is cramped in your hearts (2 Cor. 6:12), that is, you do not want to expand your soul with many virtues, to accept and accommodate divine insights. Therefore, what was said in Isaiah is coming true for you: Heaviness is upon the animals that go south through the land of oppression and distress, from where come lionesses and lions, adders and flying snakes; they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels (Isa. 30:6). Lions, asps and the like represent demons. By donkeys we mean lazy, voluptuous and depraved people, and by camels - proud and vindictive. Therefore, demons burden human souls with a wealth of evil and lawless thoughts, leading them to actions and states that are alien to virtue. And nothing is as serious as sin, which the God-bearing fathers liken to lead. If we sigh to God from the depths of our hearts, He will certainly hear us and show miracles. For it is said: change is the right hand of the Most High (Ps. 77:11). Therefore, if you try to please the Savior with virtues, He will remove the burden from your mental donkey, which was carrying loads for demons, and, having unburdened you, will clothe you in apostolic clothes, that is, divine instructions and dogmas. And as he once sat on a donkey on your mind, he will enter the holy city, glorified by all the Angels for the salvation of the unreasonable, who became rational, who, through the love of mankind, created, or, better to say, Recreated, Changed and Renewed the dilapidated soul from negligence and error. Another may still be with Christ in the body, according to what the apostle said: and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20). And even more so, having been stripped of the flesh, as the same apostle writes: I have a desire to be released and to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23). The soul is a wonderful creation of God, inspired by Him, as the intelligible strives for the intelligible. Therefore, the soul burdened with a mortal body longs to be resolved through death and to freely, carefree and fearlessly abide with the Lord, renouncing the mortal for the immortal and immutable. So that after this resolution, in the resurrection, we perceive our own body incorruptible and immortal, as revived by the Holy Spirit, so that together with the body we can remain in unceasing joy and bliss. For man must be restored to a nature pure, divine, ageless, carefree and free from all worries. Sometimes people are in such a state of purity that they become like the sun, moon and stars. But one can see how such a person is often glorified by wisdom from above more than Solomon, and subsequently, for laziness and weakening of attention, is abandoned by God and, putting aside reverence and fear of God, falls into wickedness and great sins. So, one might say, the sun has turned astray, he, beyond expectation, fell into illicit deeds! For something like this often happens - zealous people sometimes, due to negligence, are deprived of the protection of the Holy Spirit. Then Nebuchadnezzar goes to war against them, destroys the city with satanic weapons, and blinds the king - I mean the mind, like Zedekiah, puts the youths in bonds and takes them to Babylon, and the shrine of David and Solomon - everything that was acquired and collected in the treasuries of the heart with great labor and care - takes with him, and the church of the Lord burns and is ready to trample under unclean feet. And I hear how, grieving over this, the psalmist cries out: God, have mercy on me! For man wants to devour me, attacking me every day and oppressing me. Enemies seek every day to devour me, for there are many who rise up against me (Ps. 55:2–3) and: I have placed a man on our head (Ps. 65:12). And Jeremiah mourns the soul, which previously ruled for its prosperity, but is now taken by the right of war (Lamentations 1:7), serving the sins of the devil. But he who has fallen into such calamities, if he does not remain in negligence and cowardice, but repents and turns to the Lord and courageously resumes his former asceticism, will again regain God’s grace, and a prophetic word will be heard about him: On that day I will restore the fallen tabernacle of David, I will mend the cracks in it, and I will restore what was destroyed, and I will rebuild it (Am. 9:11). I wrote all this to you in response to your letter. If the rich man of this century thinks that by his generosity to you he has fully repaid God’s gratitude, then he should, without waiting for your request, ask and beg you to deign to accept his gift. Therefore, knowing the baseness of this person’s soul, as if he were possessed, do not deign him with a word. The hair shirt requires a humble way of thinking, because humility is most desirable to the righteous who imitate their Master. If you, being proud, quarrel, beat your brothers and imitate the insane, then why wear a hair shirt? Your clothes don't match your location. Monastic life obliges us to love truth and truth, and not hypocrisy and pretense, wearing the guise of truth and truth. It is said: Extend Your mercy to those who know You and Your righteousness to the upright in heart (Ps. 35:11). Therefore, those who err in knowledge, like you, will suffer the most severe torment. Therefore, pray that mercy may increase towards you. 86. To Archimandrite Alexander Illuminating the impenetrably dark night of human life with the rays of a thousand of your good deeds, how could you not be numbered among the host of heavenly Angels, who imitates the incorruptible forces, being surrounded by the corruptible, mortal and meager tabernacle of the body? 87. To Archimandrite Fronto I praise the roses of your God-loving words, although you have thrust, as one might put it, small needles of timely denunciations, awakening in us unquenchable love for your reverend and bright soul. When, over time, you can eradicate all harmful and violent passions in yourself, then you will be able to devote yourself to sublime speculation. If, before you overcome hostile demons, you dare to climb the mountain contrary to God’s will, then you will not receive help and assistance from God, and your enemies will sting you like bees. Some daily tame the heart with labor and try to exhaust the flesh with abstinence. And you are in danger that your flesh will burst open from overeating and drunkenness. What are you afraid of when you are hurt by the spirit of blasphemy? Remember that blessed David, anointed with the mysterious oil, immediately found Saul possessed by an evil spirit. And you are invisibly anointed, having taken on a monastic image; I call the grace of the Holy Spirit Divine anointing. You see a horde of mental Egyptians overtaking you, and ahead is a sea of ​​foaming passions, but you will not think that God is protecting you with an invisible hand, repelling a horde of enemies. He teaches my hands to fight, and my muscles break the bronze bow (Ps. 17:35). Not a wax bow, flexible, yielding to demons and passions, immediately breaking in war at the first clash with the enemy, but a copper bow. Because you must acquire from the Lord weapons that can withstand the battle with the enemy. Praise be to your valor as a hermit! Praise to the victorious monument in the field of your virtues! But even more praise to your vain and hypocritical life in seclusion! You are no different from those who trade in the market or litigate in courts, because you invent various troubles, shout, get angry, gnashing your teeth from your trap, scold, ridicule, slander and reproach everyone, stretch your hands out the window and beat the brethren, filling the cell with noise, confusion and disorder. And although your cell is inanimate, it sighs, perhaps, about cruelty and cruelty, like a monk imprisoned in a cage, like a beast, or, better to say, a monk who has surpassed the beasts in his cruelty. Tell me, I beg you, what have you gained by shutting yourself up in this hut? What benefit did you gain for your soul by hiding your body behind these walls? It is said: Ephraim mixed with the nations, Ephraim became like unturned bread (Hos. 7:8). When did they clothe you in monastic attire? And which Abba laid his hand on you? Where did you get such a cruel temper from? Where is the undisturbed prayer and carefree conversation with God? Where have you banished psalms and hymns? Where did the silent way of thinking run away from you? Where are the eternal neighbors of monks - peace, silence, tranquility and faith? What boldness will you have on the day of retribution? It is said: all the foundations of the earth shake (Ps. 81:5), - this means the thoughts hidden in the depths of the heart, which may be changed from sinful to righteous. If you want to enter the sanctuary of heavenly Jerusalem, then enter with many types of virtue and in humility, having prepared paths in your heart (Ps. 83:6) throughout your entire mournful life. And the fact that human life is deplorable is evident from how babies cry when leaving their mother’s womb, and how a person mourns after death. Therefore, enter the sanctuary virtuously and humbly, and not in degradation and pride. Let the words of the Lord frighten you, commanding: and do not go up by the steps to My altar, lest your nakedness be revealed therein (Ex. 20:26), meaning the steps of vice and arrogance. Because your nakedness will be revealed and, as it is said, they will know that there is judgment (Job 19:29). Not only Judas, despising the judgment of God, betrayed the Lord, but the number of traitors also includes Christians who do not fulfill the Divine commandments, neglect them, behave arrogantly and follow their evil desires. He who accepted obedience out of fear of God serves the brethren, but if he subsequently becomes hardened, becomes proud and takes money for his own needs, then he has transgressed Divine laws, rejected and violated the vows of renunciation and submission, therefore he is called a traitor to this word. 100. Archimandrite Eustathius You carefully decorate a full bag, taking care of the fattening of the flesh, like a bird fattening itself in the darkness of ignorance. What justification will you find for yourself when the Judge of all comes? When some of the brethren, before being completely cleansed of passions, without having improved in their way of life, undertake to teach others, then the demons, laughing at them, give signs to each other, as if saying and reasoning: he will be our prey in due time, daring to give advice contrary to the Lord’s will. Therefore, while we are still green and have not become ripe fruits, we will not desire to give advice and teach others, so as not to become toys of demons. The fifty-fourth psalm reminds us of fear, trembling and the darkness of sin: fear and trembling came upon me, and horror seized me. And I said: who would give me wings like a dove? I would fly away and calm down (Ps. 54:6-7), that is, in the moment of disaster that declares me, I will reach God and calm down with my humane Master. Because He is the rest of those who are tired of sin. That’s why he says: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Therefore, David opens the eyes of those who struggle, instructing them not to despair, and ends the psalm with good hope. If we are not lazy in our spiritual work and are soberly concerned about the service prescribed to us by the charter, then it is clear that God, who cares for us, will awaken pious souls to serve us in everything we need. If we ourselves are lazy and do not care about spiritual work, then will we be worthy of being taken care of? Do not become indignant and displeased, being burdened with prolonged temptations, do not be surprised at the severe and frequent attacks, devastation and persecution of mental barbarians. Because we hope that, having endured this with thanksgiving, we will obtain salvation. My ulcer is firm, says the prophet Jeremiah, composing his lament on our behalf, what kind of abuse can those who insult me ​​take against me (Jer. 15:18)? You killed them... stabbed them without mercy (Lam. 2:21). For he betrayed me to the archmagir Nebuzardan and those around him. And Habakkuk said to the Lord: why are you silent and patient, seeing that the wicked devours one who is more righteous than he (Hab. 1:13). Not only sinners, but also zealous ascetics who adhere to virtue are often abandoned by God so that they learn patience and firmness, avoiding pride. And as the Holy Scripture says: I became a laughing stock for my friend, I, who cried out to God and to whom He answered, a laughing stock - a righteous, blameless man... The tents of robbers are quiet and safe for those who provoke God (Job 12:4, Job 12:6). And it is also said: My God! My God! [listen to me] why have you forsaken me! (Ps. 21:1). Because the Lord, who struck me and turned his face away from me, will later have mercy on me: You sent many fierce troubles to me, but you also revived me again and again brought me out of the abysses of the earth (Ps. 70:20). If in My Father’s house there are many mansions (John 14:2), then perhaps God’s vision will be discerned, according to which the entire human race will be structured and distributed. In the hospitals of this century there are many sick and paralyzed people, not everyone can benefit from the same medicine, not everyone can benefit from the same food. The doctor prescribes a special method of treatment for each person, a special way of life. Let this patient, he says, enjoy honey more often, and let another wince at the bitterness of wormwood, and let another taste the tasteless hellebore. So everyone should be treated differently, as it is useful for someone, that is: let this one spend his life in the joy of virtues; and the other, often admonished, shedding tears in the bitterness of being abandoned by God, is thereby drawn to salvation. One is amused by the constant success in achieving something consistent with his desires and intentions, unhinderedly completing the path of temporary life, and the other, with a thousand stumbling blocks, sorrows and sorrows, will perceive liberation as deliverance from evils. For I, as one who pays attention to the unseen, know that everyone will be given what is in accordance with the benefit of the soul. For he is not worthy who praises himself, but whom the Lord praises (2 Cor. 10:18) and: for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (Luke 14:11). But you, having not succeeded in any praiseworthy deed and having raised yourself to a high pillar, want to achieve the greatest praise. Be attentive to yourself, so that you, who are here praised beyond measure by corruptible people, unfortunately, contrary to your hopes, are not called damned by the imperishable God, because here you reveled in human admiration. It is incongruous with anything - to be with your body on a high pillar in full view and in glory, but with your thoughts carried away downwards, not wanting to even think about anything worthy of heaven, and all the time talking with pleasure with women. Previously, you addressed your speech only to husbands, but now you mostly receive women. And just as the sentence was pronounced on the serpent: you will walk on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life (Gen. 3:14), so be careful that this sentence is not fulfilled on you, since you crawl on the earth with your thoughts and feed on earthly speech. Nothing bends you to the ground like vanity crawling on the ground. Whether you like it or not, you are a woman in body. Therefore, stop teaching in church: for it is indecent for a woman to speak in church (1 Cor. 14:35). At least you affirm a thousand times that you have become far from the state typical of wives, having established yourself in virginity, you have become firmer than husbands. Let us not move from place to place indiscriminately, as happened, but stand patiently in prayer, as Saint Moses said to the Israelites: Do not be afraid, stand still - and you will see the salvation of the Lord (Ex. 14:13). I praise you, whose brightness of life has surpassed the moon and preserved humility. The most amazing thing in a mortal body is to see such a soul that leads the life of disembodied Angels. As the Scripture says: According to Your decrees, everything stands to this day, for everything serves You (Ps. 119:91). Here, as they say, what is meant is luminous virginity, contained in mortal flesh and founded by the right hand of the Most High. Pray for me, immaculate bride of the King Christ, who through tireless labor, modesty, vigils, never-drying tears and a thousand other deeds acquired indescribable boldness before the invisible and holy Bridegroom. You are a universe within a universe, so consider every creature within yourself, and understand everything about yourself. Do not look at the external, but fix your gaze on the internal, gather your mind into the mental room of the soul, preparing a church for the Lord that does not have idols. When saving your soul, do not look back at the evil left behind, which you so beautifully renounced; Ascend to the mountain of dispassion, so that you will not end up with the sinful world in eternal fire (Gen. 19:17). Pray to the Lord in this way: open, O Master, Thy hand, rich in alms of spiritual goodness. My hardened and hardened soul will be filled with goodness and tamed. Although I was abandoned by You for laziness, after abandonment you sent down the Holy Spirit again, may He renew my corrupt soul, so that You may rejoice in Your deeds, and then sinners will disappear from the earth - that is, the demonic obsession in my heart. If you have upset God with negligence and carelessness, then try to please Him with diligence and good deeds. As the prophecy says: the waters of Nimrim dried up, the meadows dried up, the grass burned out and there was no greenery (Isa. 15:6). Nimrim is all non-Orthodoxy. Therefore, understand that all heresy is unfruitful because of teachings that differ from the word of truth. But sin is also unorthodoxy, because some, although they know that there is evil, strive for it. Sin can be destroyed by repentance - this means that the grass is withered. When the dry grass is uprooted, then the memory of evil will also perish. Neither virtue nor vice remains immutable and immovable, because the human race has the freedom to change. Therefore, when talking about a brother whom you consider a careless sinner, you do not know that he, perhaps, sighing internally, changed for the better and was saved by God. And you, without knowing, slander and condemn a person who, perhaps, is closer to salvation than you. Vice is attracted to vice, and passion is combined with passion, because they are similar to each other and one evil contributes to the other. The many bad deeds we have done as a result of spiritual insensitivity often entail the worst of all evils - vanity and arrogance. Therefore, one adorned with all virtues must become alien to unreasonable and empty vanity. 122. To Archimandrite Philoxenus He is called a true Israelite 85 who, through examining all creatures, visible and invisible, comes to know the Creator of all, God. It is said: To the pure all things are pure (Titus 1:15). For those who are unfaithful, given over to passions, those who love sin, those who are defiled, everything seems unclean and evil. Everything attracts them to sin - food, drink, clothing, place, time, action, conversation, sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste. Every thing, every movement compels them to sin, calls them to lawlessness, on the contrary, everything prompts the faithful, pure, well-intentioned and sane to thank God, guides them to righteousness and teaches them piety. The unclean spirit of fear often sought you, but did not find you because you were not devoted to him. Now he has found you and confuses you night and day. But do not be discouraged, be patient and pray to the Lord, waiting for him to deliver you as you stand in tearful prayer. If you say that you absolutely can no longer live in a cell alone, defeated by demonic insurance, after spending so much time, after your renunciation of the world, in solitude in the desert, then now take some reverent person to you to spend time together in prayer and singing psalms, until you receive Divine help and the evil spirit is driven away. I am firmly convinced that the demon of fear, put to flight by the holy Angel, will leave you: For [the Lord] will not leave the rod of the wicked over the lot of the righteous (Ps. 125:3). That's why David said: I firmly trusted in the Lord... and I heard my cry (Ps. 39:2). Now, by the grace, power and love of Christ God, eight months have passed, and the unclean spirit has been driven away from you, so that you can again live fearlessly in your cell. In spirit, as you can see, you have become like Saul’s son Jonathan. For he, as it is written in the Holy History, said: look, my eyes were brightened when I tasted a little of this honey (1 Sam. 14:29). In the same way, you, having spiritually partaken of the mental honey - the sweetest words of the Almighty, see with your spiritual eyes what is difficult to see for many and finally began to find out why Jacob bowed to the head of the bed (the top of his staff) (Gen. 47:31). You, who have been completely cleansed and freed from all defilement - from arrogance and arrogance, it behooves you to strive for high speculation. Those who are defiled, who have not yet been washed from the uncleanness of the old man, are not allowed to touch the all-holy words until they are healed and cleansed, for it is said: Do not give holy things to dogs and do not cast your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). When you wish to remain silent, as the monastic image requires, God will raise up servants from these trees and winds and stones. But I see that you do not at all want to live in the desert, having acquired the bad habit of running around different places: countries, villages, cities and streets. When you see that an unbeliever, a lover of worldly vanity, boasts of temporal wisdom and disparages the inspired Scripture because it lacks eloquence, know that he is like Naaman the Syrian, 86 a leper for unbelief, until he knew the benefactor of God, the Lord of all. And Naaman was amazed that the great rivers of Damascus could not cleanse him from leprosy, and he despised the Jordan in the land of Israel. So we, as mental Israelis, have the Jordanian streams of Divine Scripture, which by pronunciation alone seem insignificant and unimportant, but by the power of the sacraments, in the teaching of Christ, they are like this water, flowing into eternal life, healing, cleansing, enlightening all believers. These waters are supernatural, wonderful, glorious and exalted forever and ever. Invisible Midianites 87 - demons present to the mind of their daughters, that is, shameless thoughts that irritate him and strongly urge him to commit a dishonorable and cursed deed. And if someone happens to fall in spirit into the furnace of voluptuousness and invisibly commit internal adultery, as once, under Moses, Zamri committed a visible act, then Phinehas is needed - that is, the priestly word, with the club of a terrible teaching that kills the Jew and the Midianite woman, that is, a lustful disposition and a thought that kindled passion. What Solomon said: The heart knows the sorrow of its soul, and no stranger will interfere with its joy (Prov. 14:10) means a person who understands that he has done wrong. He remembers the terrible torment in eternity, and with good sadness and repentance he heals himself until the end of life. And although he is surrounded by carnal joy and pleasure, he will not fall into pride, which is called alien interference. You say that the saying is not clear to you: Do not plot, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, do not desolate his resting place (Prov. 24:15). This saying has several meanings, one of which I offer you. The dwelling and rest of all the faithful - their food and clothing - is the Savior Christ, because: In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). So, since the Divine Body and Blood is rest for all Christians, this Sacrament is their food and drink, it would be inappropriate to teach the Sacrament to any wicked and treacherous person who, like Simon the Magus, pretends to be a believer. Likewise, to offer the deepest meaning of sacred words to someone unsanctified and evil. For it is said: Do not give what is holy to dogs and do not throw your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). You also asked me: how should we understand what is also written by Solomon: do not be deceived by the filling of your belly (Prov. 24:15) Not as simple bread and wine and not to fill the belly, a Christian partakes of the terrible and longed-for meal in church. In every particle, God’s priests teach us something holy, and we, lifting our spiritual eyes high, partake in the cleansing of sins towards sanctification and salvation. Therefore, it is good not to go beyond the limits of ordinary needs in an ordinary meal. For the best measure in the consumption of food and drink is the need of the body. Why do you show me the Hellenic sages who grew thick beards, dressed in cloaks and are proud, thinking that a beard and a staff make them respectable? The humble tentmaker Paul 88 turned both Greece and the barbarian countries to God. And Plato, whom you praise, when he arrived in Sicily for the third time, did not convince the ruler with his pompous speeches and enormous conceit, but ended his work pathetically and was deprived of his freedom 89 . The Apostle Paul traveled not only through Sicily and Italy, but throughout the entire universe preaching piety. 136. To Philoxenus, keeper of the national census One should not be furious and proud in joy, nor in sad circumstances, indulging in foolishness, lose heart and drown in sadness, as is typical of a soul devoid of courage and pampered. This perishable life is no different from a performance. Success in business here, as well as failure, will not be lasting. 137. To the noble dignitary Lycurgus Who won't laugh at you? Who won’t reproach you for your endless diligence? Who will not mock your insane greed with which you, without knowing peace, accumulate money and consider yourself the owner of what, when you die, you cannot take with you when the terrible angels lead you to another world? And you, by the way, are doing the enemy’s work when, with inhuman unmercifulness and hardness of heart, you cause great harm to your wicked soul. You care about a young relative, whom you consider the heir to your enormous wealth. But I foretell you something sad and extremely unpleasant: your dear heir, to whom during your life, in your right mind and full strength, you bequeathed in writing everything that belongs to you, will soon die. He will inherit no more than three cubits of grave. Of course, you will be amazed to see how the young man is buried before the ancient old man. But perhaps this will not amaze you and will not seem strange to you, because you have already seen how the same thing happened to Aristophanes and Crixentius. But at least now, having sobered up as you should, put an end to your great insatiability. And do not cry for the heir, because he must die, but shed bitter tears for your sin-loving soul. Get busy correcting yourself and doing good deeds before you leave the stage of this century and find yourself where not a single dead person will find room to justify his falls, where no friend, no slave, no relative will be able to protect or help those in eternal torment. I have repeatedly told you and now I repeat that if Apollonius of Tyana 90 did something through sorcery 91, then it does not contain heavenly grace and does not benefit the soul. According to wise and pious people, thirsting for heavenly and incorruptible blessings, such a gift is no better than a handful of barley. Therefore, do not be surprised by sorcery, and do not be dismayed by it; it is better to free yourself from childish timidity. 139. To Chairman Palatine You often say: how can I, covered with a thousand spiritual scabs, filled with many evils, burned by my own conscience, be saved? But look at least partially into the inspired Scripture and you will not need my advice. Look what Solomon says: By mercy and righteousness sin is cleansed (Prov. 16:6). Also look at what the prophet Daniel advises Nebuchadnezzar: atone for your sins with righteousness and your iniquities with mercy towards the poor (Dan. 4:24). Listen to Sirach, who says: Water will quench the flame of fire, and alms will cleanse sins (Sir. 3:30). Alms delivers from death and can cleanse all sin (Tob. 12:9) - that is, from that death that comes as a result of a terrible and trembling condemnation into darkness, as Tobit and Solomon think about it. 140. Ruler of affairs Rigin Not an ordinary person - the universal Savior Christ, but God incarnate and made man and suffered death for the sins of men, according to His will. Many people involved in bird catching have more than once caught crows with snares and nets, and the caught crows did not know that they would become the prey of the catcher. For you, as you say, the future is foreshadowed, the crows prophesy about the past, who did not know that a snare had been set for them, and did not guess their own destruction! Therefore, leave the bird fortune-telling. Some, worthy of such delusions, notice the flight of ravens, describing circles in front and behind and overhead and scattering to the sides, while others guess by the cries of the ravens. Obviously, crafty demons also fly along with crows - in order to lead a deluded person to a guess, they give birds such flight. Therefore, people who reject faith in Christ the Savior are exposed to inevitable dangers, although they had hopes based on the wonderful signs shown by the ravens. Having experienced thousands of losses, losses and torments, they end their lives with a bad death: for the end of an unrighteous generation is terrible (Wis. 3:19). Therefore, if you want to avoid danger and not become the prey of demons, do not engage in such observations: over the flight and cry of birds; over the encounters of all kinds of animals, intelligent or irrational; over the fact that they called you and stopped you - and over all the empty signs. In a word, do not watch anything, but only sin, because it is only useful to beware of it and constantly move away from it. You should also know this: with some people, who, according to the Hellenic custom, observed these spiritually harmful signs, what they foresaw often happened, but not by the strength and foresight of pitiful ravens, or pigs, or dogs, or people, but by the judgment of God, punishing them for unbelief. As it is said: May [the Lord] give you according to your heart (Ps. 19:5), that is, it will be with you as you expected, I will surround you with disasters, sorrows and sorrows, which you feared, having believed you will receive. So that those who are deceived over time come to the knowledge of their vanity and, having resorted to repentance, stop Hellenic observations, finally betraying their deeds to God's Providence, relying on God in everything. Do not be afraid of the spirit of blasphemy that often disturbs your good heart, but fight it, striking it with prayers, charity, defense of the oppressed, long-suffering, humility and meek treatment of your servants. For all this and similar things can drive away from your soul the destroyer demon, who instills in you wild and ungodly thoughts against yourself, against God, against what He has created, the saints and the Sacraments. 143. Lavs, chief ruler of affairs You have neither brothers nor children, so for whom, not knowing enough, do you accumulate gold? The more treasures you have, the more torment awaits you in eternity. Oh that your wealth would benefit God-fearing and reverent men, as it is written: those who thirst will devour his property (Job 5:5). But this will not happen to you, because you are not worthy of it. On the contrary, the saying will come true on you: those who possess wealth are eaten by flatterers. You are doing the right thing in that by fasting, reclining on the bare ground, vigil and unceasing prayer, you overcome the excitement of carnal passions, prescribing victory to God, who always works for us in good, chanting to Him: You, O Lord, rule over the power of the sea: but you subdue the indignation of its will (Ps. 89:10). We do not accept the crazy ideas of the mentally damaged Novat 92, who rejects saving repentance, asserts its meaninglessness, accumulating sins. We also do not accept those who say about themselves that they are pure, but in reality turn out to be unclean, so that those who follow their teachings reach despair and destruction, because all this is contrary to the apostolic rules. 146. To the ruler of affairs Aphrodisius Do you really hope to hide, being an evil and insidious person, plotting intrigues for many good people, hiding behind the guise of virtue? But we know the tree by its fruit, and the wolf will not hide, dressed in sheep’s clothing, but will be known by its teeth and claws. As the Scripture says: Like a hunting bird in a trap, such is the heart of the arrogant (Sir. 11:30), so everyone knows about you that you are proud and envious. Like a snake that bites in silence, and a dog that bites without barking, you are always secretive, being an evil and feigned person. Those against whom you are plotting need God’s help, so that they can say in the words of the ninetieth psalm: He will deliver you from the snare of the fisher (Ps. 90:3). For against whom you plot, you silently throw them into confusion. In accordance with divine knowledge, you, the most excellent one, try to do everything following its rules and laws. Therefore, you spend most of your wealth on monks, looking at them with great love, you only breathe with them day and night. It’s as if you don’t have relatives and children, although there are many of them. What you say to the monks - as if you are their working cattle, ready to serve all their needs without complaint and cordially - is a clear sign of divine knowledge. For you, of course, know that Moses blessed their cattle along with the Levites, according to God’s will. Therefore, in accordance with divine knowledge, you, a God-loving man, together with the monks, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, as their good servant, and with them you will inherit ineffable blessings for endless centuries. Depicting the fickleness of your character, Sirach says: The wheel of a chariot is the heart of a fool (Sir. 33:5). You cannot keep secrets, but you are ready to immediately tell everyone what has been entrusted to you. Hear what Sirach says: You have heard the word, let it die with you: do not be afraid, it will not break you. A fool suffers from a word the same torment as a woman in labor suffers from a baby (Sir. 19:10–11). The first sign of stupidity is to talk about shame, spreading it here and there, and without any shame to reveal what has been entrusted to us secretly - in private. Finally, become wise, a firm keeper of secrets even to death, arranging for your lips and uncontrollable tongue a strong door and a strong lock, imposing a seal of good silence. Only in this way will you be able to be illuminated by the light of divine knowledge, and Scripture will enlighten you, saying: The wisdom of a man enlightens his face (Eccl. 8:1) and also: You have heard the word, let it die with you: do not be afraid, it will not dissolve you (Sir. 19:10) the word spoken to you as a secret. The demon of fornication, like a greedy puppy, usually does not leave the tempted one, but does not rape him. Therefore, it is only up to you - in your power and will - to feed him with indecent things or to put him to flight with anger through prayers, singing psalms, fasting, vigils and reclining on the bare ground. For, as the great James writes: resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). You yourself are able to give each of those living in your monastery the necessary rules. In your letter you asked about food, asking for your opinion on it. Bodily strength varies - some are healthier than others, so it is best to arrange so that the food is varied, in accordance with the bodily condition of each. Offer coarse vegetables to the healthy to satisfy their needs, garden vegetables to the sick and weak, and meat to the extremely exhausted and weakened to strengthen their strength. If, nourishing in your soul the love of God, you delight in singing, according to the Tradition of the Apostles: edifying... yourself with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody... to the Lord (Eph. 5:19), then we are ready to praise you for this. Such activities are beneficial, bringing the singer into unity with God. When you sing in accordance with your feelings and mind, keeping in your mind the remembrance of the Almighty, then the soul renounces vile and destructive passions, is filled with great joy, lovingly rushing towards the Divine, immersing itself in Him, forgetting about everything visible. If, deceived by the devil, by the beauty of singing, you become like those who: creep into houses and deceive women drowning in sins (2 Tim. 3:6), then we, abhorring you for your unclean intention, remind you: Unpleasant. praise is in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent from the Lord (Sir. 15:9). 152. To the locum tenens Eupsychius You ask me: who is depicted in the Gospel as: a man not dressed in wedding clothes (Matthew 22:11)? Look for it not outside, but look into your own heart. All of us Christians are called by God. Therefore, if they entered, clothed in the love of money, or fornication, or envy, and so on, then it is clear that they dared to enter, putting on clothes that were not characteristic of the bright marriage of Christ. But if we change the reprehensible disposition of our hearts and put on, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering (Col. 3:12), then we have put on a robe worthy of marriage. Therefore, let us hasten to put on the robe of salvation. Because it is in our will to put on and undress, to change clothes sometimes for better ones, sometimes for worse ones, since God created man free. The enemy of our salvation - the demon pretends to be compassionate, instilling the idea that there is no judgment or reward for everyone according to his deeds, so he corrupts the deceived, because the first of all sinners is the devil. But our Savior Christ, the only sinless one, testifying, denouncing, curbing, admonishing, and predicting future judgment, saves those who listen to Him. Therefore it is written: Let the righteous punish me: this is mercy; let him reprove me: this is the best oil, which will not hurt my head (Ps. 140:5), that is, it will not harm my mind. 154. I intercede in matters to Orion Woe to you, O unfortunate and damned man! For a small and soon passing pleasure you are trading for an eternal flame! Woe to you, insensitive and unreasonable person, that, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and thoughts (Eph. 2:3), you fall into shameful passions, enslaving yourself to evil deeds, for which you will be cast from eternal bliss into hell, where the merciless Angels will forever scourge you with fiery scourges, since some of the Angels are meek, philanthropic, merciful, compassionate, and others harsh, gloomy, scary, unforgiving, hard-hearted and unmerciful. 155. To the military leader Symmachus The image of piety is composed of two parts: from the knowledge of dogmas and good deeds. Therefore, you should not dissolve one with the other. As soon as someone speaks evil of his neighbor, he is immediately stricken with leprosy in the heart. Therefore, avoid gossip and slander, because you know how, by God’s definition, the prophetess Mariam became a leper for a short slander and for one condemning word. Do not blame God, the wise Creator of the body, but your sin-loving heart. Not a single member of the human body is bad or worthy of condemnation. Our forefather Adam and his wife Eve, when in the beginning they were in paradise, had the same bodies and were rejected not for their bodily members, but for the transgression of God’s commandment. Therefore, blame not the body, but the will. 158. To the younger committee Pierius Love according to God is another thing, and some kind of bestial and unreasonable affection according to worldly relationships and according to the flesh is another. Therefore, what is contained in your letter, namely, that during this month, your rather great attachment to Dionysiodor, the son of the master, has become so strong and unbearable that you do not want to eat or drink unless you first see this youth who loved you in advance, as well as other features and signs contained in the letter you sent to me, clearly reveal my thinness of an insidious and experienced demon who is trying to waylay and capture your virtuous and God-loving soul. For from the letter I can easily discern this robber and his cunning method of action; because he is unsophisticated in doing evil. This spirit of fornication, which the Greeks usually call love, openly, quickly and without any difficulty, draws those who are prone to voluptuousness and careless about future judgments and the universal judgment into the abyss of lewdness, while it approaches those who care about salvation and fight the beasts of voluptuousness with some kind of bait, tricks and deceptions. At first it does not invest anything bad, but only good affection and a tender, but not yet passionate, inclination towards some person, male or female. Then he encourages us to enter into conversations, spend time together, have intercourse together, travel, indulge in soaring thoughts together, have necessary things in common, celebrate together, have fun, have a common meal, and all without lustful thoughts. But this serves as the basis, pretext, beginning and root of sin. Finally, after this, when a lot of time has passed, and the bad habit of each other has become unbreakable, then the demon, turning its action on the bodily members, suddenly ignites a carnal flame, and, like a copper cauldron, brings the members to a boil, and, having struck the heart with kindled arrows of thoughts about illicit pleasure, forces them to commit an evil deed, strongly ignites it, like a Babylonian furnace. Why does the soul, which has already been repeatedly brought to the point of exhaustion, blinded in its spiritual powers by pleasurable irritations, and having become completely relaxed, sometimes has the need to exclaim in the words of Scripture: having bypassed me, and burning like fire among thorns (Ps. 117:11-12), with the liquefaction of the body and obscene movements, pouring into my parts the poison of the vile serpent, not sparingly (Job 16:13), and my soul was filled with reproach (Ps. 37:8). For behold, the strength of the serpent was upon my loins (Job 40:11); suffering and slush (Ps. 37:7), the surrounding area is fenced (Job 19:8) with a wall of shameful passion. And how can I cross this wall (Ps. 17:30)? The demons have prepared a snare for my feet, and slush my soul (Ps. 56:7): darkness is in my eyes, I tried not to see (Ps. 21:3). For grievous blindness is fornication, and, in short, the gratification of the flesh. I am caught like a lion to be killed (Job 10:16), I strive like a dog for chains, and like a bird for a net (Proverbs 7:22-23), I am heated with the strongest heat of uncleanness. Who will pray for me to the philanthropic Master to come to my aid and touch my hand, as he once touched the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15), so that temptation will depart from me, and this cruel and vile love that burns me will leave me, and then I will be able to rise to chastity and soberly serve my Lord? But, in order not to write much now, I convince you, good branch of the good root, beware and beware, as much as you can, from this depraved and crafty demon, avoiding dealing with Dionysiodorus, do not appear with him at festivities, do not go together to ceremonial meetings, do not eat, do not drink, do not spend time together, do not even take a week’s journey with him. If there is a need to meet him, do not look at him closely, so that through your windows, that is, through your eyes, as the prophet says, the death of sin does not enter your soul (Jer. 9:21). But looking down, looking down at the ground, with a stern gaze and a gloomy face, give him answers: do not agree to laugh or wash with him. For we must first seize the strongholds and battering weapons of the nasty serpent, before he catches us in the various nets and snares of this inclination towards the mentioned youth. But this young man has acquired a bad reputation about himself, and it is necessary to avoid the suspicions that are circulating about him. Since the root of an action related to the body is the carnal disposition of the heart, then pluck it out completely before it grows evil and finally forms into a tree; so it will be necessary to use axes, make fire, and feel the need for more help to destroy the tree of obscenity. For the root, with the passage of time, often made a beautifully built wall rotten, and even tore apart a stone. Therefore, avoid corruption, try to avoid the traps of the devil and crush his snares, protecting yourself with fasting, frequent prayer, kneeling, physical labor, pious self-exhaustion and other strongholds and benefits that I often tried to offer you. And with blessed David, sing to the Almighty Savior and Benefactor of our Christ: keep me from the snare that I have made, and from the temptation of those who practice iniquity (Ps. 141:9). Remember also the instructions given in the Gospel: let your loins be girded with chastity, and the lamps of your mind burning: and you are like a man of your Lord when He comes from heaven and finds those who watch (Luke 12:35-37), who sincerely honor and love Him, in order to make them bright, like the sun, in the Kingdom of Heaven. Know also that the enemy tempts others not only with beautiful, but also with vile, ugly faces, both female and male, putting some kind of blind love into the soul. For the demon, a lover of uncleanness, being cunning and varied, often tries, with the help of one or another appearance, to blind with absurd and shameful lust. Therefore, avoid dealing with unclean young people, both handsome and ugly. When at any time you feel and understand that an unworthy passion is troubling you and leading you to a darkened soul and a dirty state, then imagine that your mind is King Saul, who is being crushed by the evil demon of frantic love, as if your heart is possessed by a demon, announce the words of the Holy Spirit: and it will be good for you (1 Samuel 16:14, 1 Samuel 16:16), when you sing to the Lord: keep me from the snare that you have made, and from the temptation of those who practice iniquity; and: deliver me from the hand of the enemy of those who persecute me (Ps. 30:16). And the demon, fearful and ashamed of divine words and much useful sweet singing, will fly away from you, but you yourself, by the grace of God, will be drawn out of the pit of passions (Ps. 39:3) and then you will see an air of purity unusual for you, and a dispassionate, pure, unperturbed state, the clearest good fortune, spreading to the place of some hazy and gloomy night, so What can I say to you: this day, the Lord has made it, we will rejoice and be glad on it (Ps. 118:24). Finally, Angels of God, open for me the gates of righteousness: having entered into it, let us confess to the Lord (Ps. 118:19). Let us confess to You, that You heard me, and You were my salvation (Ps. 118:21). Blessed be God, who has not forsaken my prayer and His mercy from me (Ps. 65:20). If you accuse David of having ten wives, then know that he had them not out of lust, but for childbearing. He proved this by the fact that after the parricide Absalom was with them, David no longer wanted to go to them or to any other wife. And if the Sumanite woman subsequently slept with him, it was only because he felt a strong chill, but did not want to know her, which serves as proof of dispassion. 160. Elena, wife of a noble dignitary Apparently you are a Christian, but you try to imitate the Hellenes and become like the infidels. For if you undoubtedly believe that at the end of this age there will be a resurrection of all the dead, then why do you constantly cry inconsolably and torment yourself? If your most beautiful son Nikaret, who was your only son, has died, then you will see on that day 93 that more beautiful than the sun, in indescribable glory and joy he stands before the Royal Throne and prays for you to Christ, the man-loving King of the ages. And then you will please yourself, seeing that the son you have born is in the heavenly palaces, has boldness before the Creator of all, God, having gotten rid of the world and the various sins living in it, enjoys purity and incorruptible life. Therefore, put an end to your reprehensible cowardice and untimely crying, embrace blissful joy, good expectations and good hopes, so that with your tears you do not upset your son, who has departed from here for good, and do not anger you the Master who received him with love. Remember also what the holy Apostle writes: I do not want to leave you, brethren, ignorant about the dead, so that you do not grieve like others who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Therefore: Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess. 5:16–18). 161. To Presbyter Aristarchus And the world passes away, and so does its lust (1 John 2:17), says John, whom Jesus loved for his purity, meekness and quiet disposition. Therefore, if lust passes away, that is, ceases and perishes, how do you teach that some voluptuous people, even after they die, desire the pleasures of the temporary world? Through negligence, you fell into sin and darkened the glory of chastity, but soon, having sobered up and changed as you should, you returned to your previous state, not allowing yourself to suffer the destructive despair that the devil instilled in you. For it also encourages sin, and after committing a sin it plunges the sinner into despair. Because to sin is a human matter; to despair is satanic and destructive, and the devil himself will be cast into destruction by despair, not wanting to repent. But take heart, gather your strength: and let your heart be strengthened, and trust in the Lord (Ps. 27:14). For we are confident that now you will put in much more work, and will make up for your previous defeat with subsequent diligence, and will be crowned by defeating the enemy who envied you. Then from the nettle you will become a tall, non-rotting cypress or a fruitful palm tree, striking the devil who struck you with sin with the sting of abstinence and suffering in repentance. For voluntary sorrow, voluntary illness and the labors of good suffering are much sweeter and more expensive than involuntary peace and pleasure. Therefore: Do not be afraid of anything that you will have to endure (Rev. 2:10), and you will inherit the throne of glory (1 Sam. 2:8), as the prophets say. The actions and moral state of each person are called the house of the soul. There is a house of truth, a house of courage, a house of chastity, and so on; and on the contrary, a house of unrighteousness, a house of fear, a house of fornication, and so on, filled with various passions and unrighteous deeds. When it is said: truth will arise from the earth and righteousness will come from heaven (Ps. 84:12), then this should be understood morally. Earth is a body that has grown the fruits of chastity through prayer and hope. As some have beautifully defined, fornication is a lie, but chastity is truth and pleasure. The truth that came from heaven is the mind that has accepted God’s gift. For the Lord will give kindness, and our land will yield spiritual fruit (Ps. 84:13): love, joy, peace, long-suffering and everything else that blessed Paul lists (Gal. 5:22). The earth can also be understood as the heart, as the Lord says: And some fell on the good ground and produced fruit, which sprang up and grew, and brought forth some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred (Mark 4:8). To those who care about salvation and cry out to the Savior Christ: remember me, Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom! (Luke 23:42), the good Lord answers: I will mention Rahab and Babylon to those who know me (Ps. 87:4). And whomever the Lord remembers, he saves, and therefore, out of great mercy, he brings harlots and tax collectors into the Kingdom. If our heart, during every misfortune and sorrow, does not intentionally resort to human hopes and does not attract help from there, but through tears, sighs, unceasing prayer and intense vigils it appeases the Almighty and expects protection from Him, then why be embarrassed? Why do we relax in cowardice, hesitate, come to despair that God did not quickly do what we asked for? I think that God does this with the intention of strengthening your prayerful appeal to Him and your persistence, so that, having received what you wanted, you did not quickly retreat, consigning His good deed to oblivion. Don’t lose heart, pray and, without a doubt, you will get what you want. Look how the Lord in the Gospel tells a certain parable about how one should always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). In addition, know that delay will give you great grace, as the holy apostle said: But to him who, by the power that works in us, is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, from everlasting to everlasting (Eph. 3:20-21). Nothing leads to eternal torment more than the fact that many have become imitators of your bad deeds. Because the death of those who imitated the bishop increases his own punishment, as one who neglected church teaching and clearly did something worthy of condemnation. If some refuse to imitate the shameful, then the bishop is subject to considerable condemnation for the fact that he began to teach evil, although those guided by chaste thoughts avoided evil, recognizing his example as bad. 167. To Chairman Onesimus What you collect so insatiably, considering it your own acquisition, is not yours, because it will pass on to other people. The work is yours, but the property is someone else’s. So, why do you appropriate someone else’s as your own, preparing material fetters for yourself, and incur the sorrowful cry of the prophet: Woe to him who enriches himself beyond measure with what is not his own (Hab. 2:6). Because he will destroy his property, and for his insatiable nature he will prepare eternal torment for himself. 168. To the former eparch Tavrian Woe to your soul, inhuman and insatiable! You don’t know that: It is difficult for you to go against the pricks (Acts 9:5), for it is a terrible thing to dare to raise your hand against God, because to offend the saints is, without a doubt, to offend God. With unbearable violence, you seized the ascetics who were seeking refuge in the church of the holy martyr Plato, and threw them into a common cell. By being proud and enslaving the free, you consider yourself autocratic, not thinking about the future. Don’t you think, insensitive, what will happen to you later? Why don’t you, slow-witted, want to foresee the vicissitudes of affairs, especially the fact that in order to achieve your goal you are bringing closer to you the worthless adviser Lawrence, who was an intercessor for those whose estates were subject to inventory. He himself is a dishonest and completely damaged person. Therefore, know that it is not easy to neglect the holy martyr, get ready to suffer the troubles that threaten you. Firstly, the wrath of the mortal king, which will befall you, then you yourself will resort to the defense of that church, which is now desecrated by you. Then a serious illness that will befall both you and your loved ones. After this, the deprivation of enormous wealth that gives you strength. It is then that Cronus, the father of Jupiter, will cry for you and lament, because you honor him above all other gods. Why do you bother yourself, man, getting tired endlessly? Why are you rushing into deceitful vanity? The prophet calls this way of thinking accursed and unblessed: Blessed is the man who places his hope in the Lord and does not turn to the proud and those who turn aside to lies (Ps. 39:5). Do we control our own lives? God’s Providence is in everything, so human efforts without God’s help will not achieve success. On the contrary, God's Providence provides perfect benefits even without human assistance. Therefore, it is a good deed to love what is good. What is good? Firmly rooted in the true faith, cast all your care on the Lord. 170. Bedside 94 Valery You asked me: why is the Most Holy Theotokos Mary called a prophetess in Isaiah? Read in the Gospel: that He looked upon the humility of His Servant, for from now on all generations will bless Me (Luke 1:48). And make sure that the Mother of God Mary is blessed in all nations and in all languages ​​because she bore God incarnate from the Holy Spirit and from Her in her womb and gave birth, remaining a Virgin. If in the whole world they please, praise and glorify This unsown and uncultivated Earth and Her eternal and all-blessed Fruit, then how can you not agree with the fact that the Ever-Virgin Mary is a Prophetess? He filled those who were hungry with good things, and those who were rich he sent away empty-handed (Luke 1:53). Because before the calling, the pagans who thirsted for the divine word, after they believed, were satiated with divine dogmas. But the Jews, enriched by the law and the prophets for unbelief, remain spiritually hungry, walking like beggars, they have lost the gifts given from above. Therefore, the synagogue, as the prophets said: I let her go and gave her a letter of divorce (Jer. 3:8), was thrown out of the house of God, as an adulteress who married other people’s husbands, that is, demons. Having received a letter of divorce, she is not allowed to participate in the Divine sacraments, and therefore remains in poverty. We can see with our own eyes by reading the prophecy written in the book of Judges: God did just that that night: only the wool was dry, there was dew on the whole earth (Judges 6:40), that is, throughout the sunflower there was the dew of the Christian faith, but among the Jews there was dryness, since the life-giving, irrigating and soul-feeding grace had flown away from them. But know that these words: He filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty (Luke 1:53) have another meaning. Those who repent of sins turn to the Almighty and receive food of virtue. The demons, who were previously enriched by our sins, will lose the wealth that, as Isaiah says, they carried on donkeys and camels, because by squandering the wealth of sins, we make the demons lament and weep, turning to repentance. You told me that you are also interested in the literal meaning of what is written, which is clear, but with great curiosity you delve into the spiritual meaning, wanting to interpret the Scripture spiritually. Therefore, by the horn of salvation understand dispassion, and by the house of David - the Church. And if you belong to the spiritual House of David, strive in dispassion, perfecting your soul. This can happen in the midst of the world, just as it did with Joseph and Daniel 95 . And now there is what is said: River streams make glad the city of God (Ps. 45:5), by the city of God understand the Church, and by rivers, I would call the God-loving and blessed Philemon and Nicephorus, who turn out to have acquired the highest dispassion and divine knowledge, as it is said in Scripture: there is bdellium and an onyx stone (Gen. 2:12). The onyx stone signifies the pallor of the face resulting from asceticism, and the hardening of the body from a harsh life, and bdellium signifies the bright and fiery thought of spiritual contemplation. But above them is the gold-bearing river given by God to the world - John, Bishop of Constantinople. He is truly a diamond - glorified from his youth by the light of piety. With success and growth, he raised high the flame of virtuous teaching, excommunicated from mortals and put to work by men who were previously well-meaning and who were praised for virtue, but are now blamed for laziness, although they are shepherds. Jeremiah mourned them: Those who eat sweet things melt away in the streets; those brought up on purple huddles with dung (Lam. 4:5). Having read the Scripture, we will not be surprised to see how you disdain the righteous, laughing and mocking their piety. For it is written: the sinner hates the fear of the Lord (Sir. 1:25) and it is also written: If a wise man hears a wise word, he will praise it and apply it to himself. The frivolous one heard it, and he did not like it, and he threw it away for himself (Sir. 21:18). It is also said: Every animal loves what is like itself (Sir. 13:19), that is, the evil one loves and welcomes another evil one like himself. Do not boast about your hands, kissing them and pleasing yourself because with them you obtain food for your household and other empty and worthless people. It is better to thank God, who gave you hands and provides for you. And if, having forgotten God, you bow to your hands, beware lest over time your hands become weakened from weakness or wither. Anyone who sins moves away from God, regardless of his place of residence. By temperament he withdraws to a foreign country - that is, to a certain way of life alienated from the All-Perfect God. There a person suffers from spiritual hunger, living fornication, squandering his naturally good state with evil will, because where there is no chastity and pious thoughts, spiritual hunger reigns there. The inhabitants of that country are demons who possess the food of sin - sweet in appearance, but burning the larynx 96. 177. To Presbyter Martinian The law commands the Israelites who prepared the Passover lamb: but eat what is baked on the fire, head and feet (Ex. 12:9), so that in these words we may know the truth of Divine Providence. The head here means the Divinity, and the feet the humanity of the Savior. The same is said in the Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1), but then it says: And the Word became flesh (John 1:14). Therefore, let us worship God and believe that God became man. For Christ is at once a visible man and an invisible God. Therefore, it is unrighteous to confess Him only as a man, without implying Divinity, and it is not salutary with Divinity not to confess humanity. Here is a short answer to your letter. You ask what the prophet said: and each of them has four wings; and their feet are straight feet (Ezek. 1:6–7)? The heavenly and holy powers, of course, do not need anything corporeal; moreover, they do not need to bend over - that is why their legs are straight. And the four wings denote the mobility of their nature towards the divine thoughts, free from everything base and bowing to the earth. It seems to me that you are only half bad, and not completely bad. Therefore, noticing the good in you, I have good hope and pray that I will soon see a change for the better in you. Do not be cruel, so as not to experience God’s wrath on yourself, although you consider yourself to be burning with the zeal of piety. So the prophet Jonah was forced to soften the great fervor of jealousy, finding himself in the belly of a whale. Therefore, you too should be careful not to be betrayed to the whale for lack of compassion, subjected to some unexpected temptation. By whale I mean the devil. But so that you don’t think that my admonition is excessive, listen briefly to ancient history, maybe it will teach you to have mercy on the weak in soul. There was a certain Bishop Karp - a disciple of the apostles. With him were two young men who had converted from Hellenic paganism. Leaving the pagan school, they entered the Church and were honored with holy baptism, but when their friends and peers learned about this, they seduced one neophyte, so that, having renounced Christ, he returned to paganism. Karp, upset by this, woke up one night when he usually prayed, indignant at the deceived and deceived, asked God that the wicked and worthless would be killed with one strike of lightning. When he prayed about this, he saw a terrible and amazing vision. Christ descends from heaven and the fiery serpents take flight, and He, with good will and great meekness, takes the young man, carries him out of the abyss and places him on the ground. And indeed, later, having converted, all these young men were valiant Christians. Christ reproached Karp for being gloomy and hard-hearted, as well as for uttering a curse without compassion. Knowing this, bishop, do not mercilessly anathematize, do not forever expel from the Church those who are carried away by wickedness - Philemon and Sosander, but rather, according to the rules of the holy apostles, excommunicate them from the Church for a legal time, reprove, admonish, exhort, pouring out the mercy of Christ on them. Comfort, renew, strengthen, washing them with your own tears, enlighten them with vigils, cover them with prayers when they are naked, rejecting piety out of devilish malice. Inspire them with good hopes when they ask, plead and give alms, in order to appease the only humane and generous Lord Christ. Nowhere does it say in Scripture that the sun was created in the image and likeness of God. How do you preach this? Although the sun is in the sky, shining with the brightest rays, it was created to serve people by command and by law, and not created by God’s hands. Only man is a wondrous living being, created and adorned by the immaterial hands of God, and a rational soul is blown into him. 182. Telesphorus, master of enamel Why do you endlessly tire yourself and, as Solomon said: What is the use... that... labored in the wind (Eccl. 5:15). Because your diligence will be fruitless and useless, since God directs everything and leads as it pleases Him. And you gain much by unrighteousness, but as David said: in vain he [man] fusses and gathers and does not know who will get it (Ps. 39:7). Where there is God's commandment, there is, of course, temptation and the machinations of the enemy. To be convinced of this, look at Adam, who in paradise accepted the commandment of God, and was immediately subjected to the intrigues and attacks of the enemy. And where there is sorrow, where there is great sadness, there, when the time comes, there will be great joy. My soul is grieved unto death (Matthew 26:38), says the Lord. But His sorrow served to bring joy to the whole universe. If we too are sad, enduring sorrows in thousands of temptations, both from demons and from people, our God is able to change all sorrows into joy. Therefore, do not indulge in despondency and immeasurable sadness, because those who are sad will rejoice. But first you need to acquire a certain skill - a certain state of mind striving to acquire virtues. Therefore, where there is sorrow for God's sake, there will be eternal joy. Because the overly saddened Mary Magdalene and the other Mary heard that the Giver of universal joy, Christ, after the resurrection said to them: Rejoice! (Matthew 28:9). Virtue in God is more valuable than wealth, and the feat of silence is more beautiful than countless riches. Therefore, it is wonderful to love the beautiful. Nothing reproaches those who attack us and reproach us more than the correction of those who are reproached, done with meekness and modesty. For such a wonderful change becomes a reproach for those who blame. I know all the sorrows and trials that happened to you. Therefore, take up the weapon of prayer, incessantly calling on the Lord, especially since demons and people strongly attack us, believing that we have no help from above. Therefore, even if we have not acquired strong patrons, but without a doubt, trusting in the Almighty with thanksgiving, we will receive strong help. Look what Sirach's prayer says: I will glorify You, O Lord the King, and I will praise You, my God and Savior; I glorify Your name, for You were my patron and helper and delivered my body from destruction and from the network of a slanderous tongue, from lips that weave lies; and against those who rebelled against me, You were my helper and delivered me, according to the abundance of mercy and for the sake of Your name (Sir. 51:1-4). Also in another place, the same Sirach, advising, says: Look at the ancient generations and see: who believed the Lord - and was ashamed? or who was in fear of Him and was abandoned? or who cried to Him, and He despised him? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful and forgives sins, and saves in times of trouble (Sir. 2:10–11), and saves in times of trouble. Solomon predicted that the Jewish synagogue would crown Christ with thorns, speaking as if about himself: Go and see, daughters of Zion, King Solomon in the crown with which his mother crowned him (Song. 3:11). Since the Lord took upon Himself the sins of all, and the sign of sin is thorns, a crown of thorns was placed on Him. And He was buried in condemned land: it will bring forth thorns and thistles for you (Genesis 3:18), as Adam was told, so that the cursed land would receive blessing. And since the first-created people, having sinned, put on the leaves of the fig tree, the Lord says to the fig tree: let there be no fruit from you forever (Matthew 21:19), that is, let there be no crimes in paradise. 188. To Chairman Numenius You don’t want to admit to yourself that the devil is putting a snare on you. For it is he who instills in you such thoughts that there is no benefit from reading. So that, with your great negligence and oblivion of the Divine commandments, to damage and eradicate in you all righteous thoughts, from which righteous deeds would in due time be born. This mental serpent, for Nahash 97 is interpreted as a serpent, once threatened the Israelites that he would gouge out the right eye of each of them - that is, destroy every good thought. Reading the inspired Scriptures brings many benefits. Therefore, if you want to preserve the eyes of your soul and defeat the evil adviser - I mean the Ammonite Naas living in you, and make your soul's eyes keen, find the path to every good - that is, do not be lazy to be attentive to the holy reading. When we engage in good thoughts, pure in nature, then we are in paradise, free from passions, remain in prayer and ascend into heaven. And when we lean towards evil, we are expelled from the divine paradise, clothed in the leather garments of passions, hardened by sins. But if, once again sobered up by diligence, we refine the coarseness of passionate vestments, we soar like eagles, no longer being called carnal, but spiritual, as it is written: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6). The Apostle Paul tells us about this: But you do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you (Rom. 8:9), therefore, following his advice, you should: put off the former image... of the old man (Eph. 4:22). Because even though we are in the flesh, we do not fight according to the flesh (2 Cor. 10:3), striving with our minds to ascend to heaven, because: Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Christ the Savior will, without any difficulty, resurrect the bodies of the dead faster than you can sneeze. Tell me what is more difficult: to make a statue that never existed before, or to restore a broken one to its former form? Therefore, it is clear that God, who created us from nothing, will be able to restore us who have fallen. Remember that the widow mentioned in the Gospel went to the unrighteous judge for many years, saying: protect me from my rival (Luke 18:3). But he didn’t want to do it and kept putting it off. A rival can be not only a demon, but also carnal wisdom. Subsequently, the judge, forced by persistence, helped the widow. Our Lord told this parable, strengthening us so that we would not despair when we pray for something and ask for something. For the Lord himself, the Lover of mankind, knows the time when to hear us and give us what we ask. And when His will is done, He will avenge the oppressed and offended. As it is written: When they say to me every day, “Where is your God?” (Ps. 41:11), - this was what the demons said to the paralytic lying at the Sheep Pool, when every year he was deceived in his expectations. If a tree, already withered from lack of water, begins to be watered, it will again sprout shoots, and the soul, killed by sin, if it repents and appeases its Master, is again washed from defilement and, having partaken of spiritual grace, nourishing the mind with abundant irrigation, bears the fruits of righteousness. For humility alone the publican was saved. As the Lord says: but whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). Therefore, Saint David is justified by humility: look at my suffering and my exhaustion and forgive all my sins (Ps. 24:18). Therefore, do not be sad, saying: I do not have money to constantly give to the poor. Because God will not require it from the poor. But immediately bring to the Savior what you have - that is, a humble and contrite heart and unceasing prayer, and you will not be humiliated by the One who loves the humble and deigns to give them His consolation. 194. Valens – military doctor The Holy and Life-Giving Spirit, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, produces in us many virtues. He strengthens ascetics in abstinence, and strengthens those who fight for the faith in confession of the Lord Jesus Christ. The tongue of one is used as an instrument of wisdom, and the soul of another is enlightened for prophecy. To one he gives the power to cast out demons, and to another he gives understanding for the interpretation of Divine Scripture. He confirms one in chastity, and encourages the other to generously give alms. This one is given vigil, fasting, disdain for everything worldly, non-covetousness, solitude, and the other is prepared to die for Christ during persecution. Acting differently in each, He Himself by nature remains unchangeable and immutable. In ancient times, acting through the prophets, He spoke in the Divine Scriptures. And subsequently, acting through a small number of apostles - simple and unlearned people, he defeated the eloquence of the Hellenic sages. Through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, He gave the faithful the gift of speaking in all languages, which they did not know. Therefore, knowing that for your great faith and good deeds this Spirit has entered into you, having acquired such a patron, do not be afraid of anyone, neither a demon nor an evil person, plotting against your God-protected home. 195. Magistrian 98 Ilion If God forbade doing evil and plunges evildoers into fiery Gehenna, will He help those who do evil? Therefore, do not say that God listens to corrupt, unclean people who participate in rotten undertakings, putting a person to death and pacifying a horse running along the lists. It won't happen! This is not God's business. But evil demons tend to assist in this. Likewise, sorcerers, having made an image of one of the righteous and bound evil spirits with witchcraft, bury it in the ground when they want to incite a woman to commit adultery, kill a man, or pacify a horse. They fast the cursed fast and hold vigils in front of such an image. Having lit candles and lamps, they call on demons until they achieve their appearance. Then they carry out their plan, but more often than not everything is in vain. Therefore, beware of them so as not to fall into their snare. 196. To the Junior Chairman John Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and it may go well with you (Deut. 5:16). Therefore, do not leave your parents, so that without their care, concern and care you do not become close to evil people and put a noose on yourself. Among the young, there are especially many unreasonable, sensual workers of lawlessness, who harbor all kinds of filth, and they bring great harm to those who come close to them. Therefore, avoid being infected by the impurity of such people. Always be close to your parents, honor them with love, follow their instructions, and may their prayers protect you. Because no matter how much you do for them, you will never be able to give birth to yourself again. 197. To the actuary 99 Theophilus God says to Abraham that those who honor the righteous are blessed by God and are awarded thousands of blessings, and that those who slander the righteous fall into disaster and hopelessness: I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse (Gen. 12:3). David also says: Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak evil against the righteous (Ps. 30:19). I praise you for your good life, because you honor the righteous. If you imitate the wise bee, then do not be lazy to derive benefit from every reading. There is no reason for you to beat your wife, who is chaste and beautiful and has loved you all her life. Out of her great modesty and out of respect for you, she will never look askance at you. Therefore, stop tormenting the one most faithful to you, so that she does not become indignant with you. The sign of a reasonable person is not to lay hands on anyone, but to strike with a word those who act deceitfully. Only dishonest ignoramuses tend to beat up anyone they can get their hands on. 200. I intercede in the affairs of Nimertius You ask me: is it necessary to believe that the Holy Spirit is consubstantial with the Father and the Son? Yes, this is how we believe, taught by the holy fathers, this is how we confess that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who is consubstantial with the Father and the Son, is co-eternal, co-throne, and we glorify with the Father and the Son now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen. The disciples of Christ never allowed men to wash with women, but they disgusted and abhorred it, forbade, rejected and condemned it as something indecent and harmful for Christians. Divine laws command not to swear at all; whether someone takes a true oath or breaks his oath, he is punished. Therefore, avoid swearing both falsely and truly. One saying of Scripture is very suitable for you: Like a gold ring in the nose of a pig, a beautiful and foolish woman is like a gold ring (Proverbs 11:22). Who among the wise would not cry for you? Nature has endowed you with beauty, but you use it for evil - you have fun and live indecently, you fly into every kind of debauchery, you rush furiously at other people’s husbands. You adorn yourself with clothes, gold, precious stones, diligently fertilize your flesh with various luxury inventions - baths, fragrant oils, but you neglect your soul, as if it were someone else’s. Your soul is devoid of all goodness, not adorned with anything, all ulcerated, alien to virtues, stinking and proud, corrupted by foul lusts. And demons inspire us with terrible images and fearful thoughts, and the mind itself often gives rise to confusion, fears and horrors. But both are healed by the Savior, who easily heals all illness and suffering. You just need to call on Him through prayers, charity, reading divine words and worship. All those who are proud of eloquence, who love to do everything for show and, like your reverence, are carried away by human glory and ridicule reverent people for their inability to speak beautifully, are themselves ridiculous to people who love God. Touching the dead body of a person or animal, a marriage bed, dream visions or anything like that will not harm either a man or a woman, because faith in Christ has purified and always purifies the faithful. But for unbelievers, nothing is pure, because their mind and conscience are defiled, everything seems unclean and vile to them. I once learned about a man who threw a stone at his enemy. But the stone, flying sideways, hit the eye of the thrower’s son, who was standing carefree nearby, and made him blind. He who intends to do evil to another, does evil to himself, according to the truthful definition of the all-seeing God. I told you about this so that you stop cursing everyone you consider an enemy, otherwise your own home will be destroyed. We are commanded to pray for our enemies, not curse them. 208. The wife of the committee Stefanide How can I praise you when Solomon has already praised you, saying: Who can find a virtuous wife? its price is higher than pearls (Proverbs 31:10). Her husband is calm thanks to her, because: She oversees the management of her house (Prov. 31:27). Therefore, may you be glorified for this, and also for your faith and honesty. You willingly commit unlawful deeds, but you grumble at the sorrows that befall you according to God’s will. Therefore, I can advise you that if you do not want to give up evil deeds, then do not give up what follows evil deeds. Because retribution is due in accordance with a bad disposition of the heart and bad deeds. 210. To the candidate Aristophanes Do not be surprised to see that the governor Maxim and his brother, entangled in their own false thinking, were exposed to dangers and disasters that they tried to inflict on other people. Look what the Scripture says: and he took away the wheels of their chariots, so that they drew them with difficulty (Ex. 14:25). For what they managed to do for their own safety, wanting to hurt others, God will turn against them, protecting those against whom they plotted. So Haman, who once wanted to hang Mordecai, a righteous man, on a tree, had already prepared the tree, but was disgraced and hanged on this very tree, by order of the king who had previously distinguished him. And Mordecai, whose thoughts were always turned to God, was distinguished with honors and became much more famous than before. Therefore, believe the word of God, which says: Do no evil, and no evil will befall you (Sir. 7:1), for: He who digs a hole will himself fall into it, he who lays a net will himself be caught in it (Sir. 27:29). It is said directly about you: my soul hated... the deceitful rich man and the old adulterer (Sir. 25:3–4). What is the pride of earth and ashes? (Sir. 10:9), for your lot is suffering, corruption and worms. Because you have lived your whole life and grown old in disorder, lies and deception, having become satiated with malice, know yourself. 212. To Trustee Aglaophon When a person is exhausted, seeing that those who hate him are unjustly plundering, growing stronger, and ruling; when he has lost hope, having no helper, then he will see protection and help miraculously given to him from heaven. So don't stop praying and hoping. What is written about in the Old and New Testaments has happened in history. It clearly says that this or that happened, but we, exercising reasoning and thoughts for spiritual edification, apply what is written to ourselves, but do not think that we reject the literal understanding or throw history aside. Let this not happen! We do not reject or abandon what happened in history. But since we are a microcosm (small world), then, by reasoning about what happened before, we apply it to ourselves and derive spiritual benefit. There is now no Joseph 100, no Egyptian woman 101, no King Hezekiah 102, no Judas the traitor, no Lazarus who died and rose again, no Simon the Magus, and so on. But if we see that someone is chaste, we call him Joseph. And if we see an adulterous wife, we say that she is an Egyptian. If any ruler is faithful to God and reverent, we call him Hezekiah. And everyone who betrays the word of truth and betrays others to death is called Judas. If any virtuous person sinned through negligence and then repented, then it is clear that his mind died in sin and was resurrected in repentance, and we call him Lazarus. Those who hypocritically approach the Church of God and are baptized only with water, but not with the Holy Spirit, we usually call them Simon the Magus. Considering everything that has been said, what is said by us in a spiritual sense, you will not be tempted by our words. Therefore, understand everything that happened to the ancients and themselves educationally as what was said about yourself. For as the apostle said: Do you not know that you are the church of God, and the Spirit of God lives in you (1 Cor. 3:16), but not built of stone by Solomon, since either the world, or the present, or the future is all yours (1 Cor. 3:22). You are God's building (1 Cor. 3:9), and the vineyard (Matthew 20:1), and the flock (John 10:16), and everything else. 214. To the Sophist Lucian, Christian One should not keep in mind images that usually damage thoughts, so as not to revive carefully mortified passions and not to spend life in struggle. Because the mind again inclines towards passions that were previously exterminated, the enjoyment of them tips the scales to the ground. This is the property of virtue; if you do not care about it, then the opposite side easily outweighs it. A door tosses and turns on its hooks, and a sluggard on his bed (Proverbs 26:14) - as Solomon says. And Sirach likens the lazy to ox dung (Sir. 22:2). This is what can be said about your laziness. Stay away from the filth of fornication and you will not fall into the snares of sorrow. In everything one can find the Providence of the good Lord for His servants. And if something seems sad and does not entirely correspond to our desires, then the boundless wisdom of the Lord provides for our benefit. But resist the temptations that fall upon us like a storm, and thus you will crown yourself, father, by praying for me. No one can come to Me unless it is given to him from My Father (John 6:65), as our Savior Christ says. Because it is very important to believe in Christ, and this requires assistance from above. For truly believing is characteristic of a courageous soul, which needs the tenderness bestowed by God. But for assistance from above, our will is also necessary. 219. To the scholastic Theoctistus True repentance has the power to free one from a thousand sins in an instant. Even if they resorted to repentance only on their deathbed. Because the tightness of circumstances does not constrain God’s love for mankind. As it is said, if you turn away from your bad deeds, sigh from the depths of your heart, then you will be saved. Let the humble publican assure you of this, who with sighs offered a short prayer and immediately received remission of all debts and, by the judgment of God, was justified more than the arrogant Pharisee, who acted righteously in many ways. Someone has an inclination towards something vain, another strives for something unprofitable for the soul, but you are busy only with wasting your property on ascetics. For this you will receive a great reward after death; already now the grace of the Lord, anticipating the future, moves you to soul-helping actions. When the face is sad, the heart becomes better (Eccl. 7:3). When we are angry with ourselves and upset because we see in ourselves a tendency to do bad things, then our soul, of course, admires the beauty of virtues. As the apostle says: There is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). However, all believers remain male and female. Here the Apostle Paul is not talking about things that are visible, referring to things that are invisible to sight, since in those who look to God, male and female lust is mortified by intention, faith, and desire. 223. Dometian – official under the mayor If the Lord of all Christ God, having died, did not rise from the dead, then: our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain (1 Cor. 15:14), in vain do we eat the Body and Blood of Christ for our own cleansing, in order to proclaim not only the death of Christ, but also the resurrection, and glory, and the eternal Kingdom of Christ. When carnal lust plagues you, fear eternal torment. And as Solomon says: you too will be like one who sleeps in the middle of the sea and like one who sleeps on the top of a mast (Prov. 23:54). For if, during the struggle with the beautiful image that excites you, you can imagine eternal torment, then you will be able to calmly swim across the stormy sea, calmly overcoming the impulse of the demons attacking you. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11), by fire we understand the warmth and regenerating power of grace and also the power that destroys our sins. 226. To the assessor Apolofan You have become somehow bleating and speechless, although you think of yourself that you are reasonable, having refused to serve God and not wanting to listen to Him. Meanwhile, you willingly bow your ear to the enemy, to your destruction, having loved the unnatural ruler, you constantly carry out his commands. Well, the Jewish law commanded a slave who hated freedom to pierce his ear with an awl, as if as a sign that he would never accept the word about freedom. This same thing has been done to you, because you have become an eternal slave of Satan, loving him and earthly life and not wanting to even once hear the words of Divine Scripture, nor think about the future century. Why is the divine word called in Jeremiah a hammer that breaks the rock (Jer. 23:29)? Because the word of God, falling on a heart of stone, breaks everything that is poorly connected, so that a person can surely distinguish the best from the worst, choose the good and reject the reprehensible. You say that you are perplexed about who this powerful and all-good man is, about whom I wrote to you mysteriously the other day, and who the robber is and what kind of weapon he has? The robber is the devil, he took away what was best from us, kidnapped us and took us captive. And his food and weapons are our sins, with which he kills and destroys us. Therefore, the Creator of the world, the Savior, having come here in the flesh, as the almighty, bound the robber devil, led us out of his slavery and, taking the sins of the world, nailed us to the cross, triumphed over the enemy, covering him with eternal shame. 229. To the Church Intercessor Julian The two blind men of Jericho cried out to the Savior: have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David! (Matthew 20:30). You are God and man - have mercy on us, help us. From the night and darkness we call upon You, the Lord of light and darkness. You can strike and heal, You have the power to kill and revive, do not pass us by, humane Lord. Have mercy on us, you who come to have mercy. The people, who did not want Christ to be called the son of David, but the son of a carpenter, were angry with the blind: The people forced them to remain silent; but they began to shout even louder (Matthew 20:51). And the Lord Jesus stopped when he heard the words “Son of David.” Jesus stopped, having stretched out the heavens. Joshua once surprised everyone by stopping the sun, but that he is in front of these two blind men who stopped Christ - the Sun of Truth. The Lord says to them: “What do you want from Me? (Matthew 20:32). Whatever you ask, I will give it to you as the Lord of heaven and earth. Let the heretics and pagans be ashamed who say that Christ is not omnipotent. If you ask Me, who is not covetous, to give you money, I will open a source of gold. For the Lord destroys and makes rich, just as He enriched the righteous men Abraham, Job and David. Ask Me to send down rains - they will come immediately. Or give you bread? And I will give this readily, as I have proven by deeds. Or turn water into wine? Witnesses of the marriage cups at Cana." But the blind answered: Lord! so that our eyes may be opened (Matthew 20:33). You yourself, Lord, who struck with blindness, heal. Have mercy on us now, who angered You before. Create your eyes again, Creator of nature. Open to us the dawn of light that has closed the doors of darkness. Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received sight (Matthew 20:54). Because everything Jesus touches changes for the better. Finally, the blind saw the ordinary light of day, and the light of the heavenly Physician of souls and bodies who healed them. And the light shone in the light. Those who have received their sight follow Jesus, just as Peter and Andrew, having come to Bethsaida, see everything with new eyes, as children with date leaves glorify the Son of David, who always performs wondrous miracles. Do you want to know the meaning of the skin that Elijah threw to Elisha from on high 103? This mantle killed earthly ideas and destroyed carnal desires. By this, not only then sensually, but also now spiritually, into carnal souls filled with sin, wickedness in the mental Jericho, he puts the salt of God's grace and makes believers capable of piety and virtues. 231. To the Church Intercessor Julian By praying to God, we can get rid of lascivious eyes, and no longer see vile lust, and from the grace of the Lord we can receive new eyes, with which we will see the beauty of fragrant chastity; Having become free, we will defeat the bad demons. It’s amazing, you say, why Abraham’s servant, sent to Mesopotamia, does not swear by the head of Abraham, but, putting his hand under his hip, swears an oath to the master. Abraham knew and foresaw with the eyes of his soul that Christ, the Creator of all, would come in the flesh from Abraham’s loins, that is, from his seed. Therefore, for so many generations he confesses the future mystery, saying: God, who will be incarnate from my loins, is the Lord of heaven and earth. That’s why he ordered the servant to put his hand under the thigh. 233. To the noble dignitary Dimarchus Carnal passion, nesting under the womb, becomes impoverished due to the impoverishment of the vessel under which it lurks - that is, the womb. And when it intensifies and begins to move, it undoubtedly has strength, supplied as a result of immeasurable saturation. 234. To the military leader Candidian You wrote to me asking why monks, when wearing a robe, throw it over their left shoulder, revealing the left side, 104 and the laity, when wearing cloaks, leave the right side open? Listen to my interpretation. The Lord said: When you do alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3), that is, the good deeds that you do may be hidden from disastrous vanity and man-pleasing (for doing good for this purpose is useless). And that’s why monks hide their exploits from people, and usually expose their shortcomings in front of everyone. The laity are vain, they love to do everything for show, they forget about what leads to God, but like snakes they crawl around the earthly and temporary. They hide many of their bad deeds and pretend that they are practicing one virtue, for example, chastity, giving alms, fasting, making it obvious to everyone, boasting about it, making noise with bubbles of pride. They betray greatness to a small cause, receiving from people a useless reward - insignificant praise and glory, but being deprived of heavenly rewards. How beautifully it is said about them in the Gospel: they are already receiving their reward (Matthew 6:2); they receive it here, exalted with vain praises. Many, during a storm at sea, throw the cargo with their own hands into the abyss, no matter what jewelry it contains, putting property below temporary life, if only the ship, burdened with the weight of the cargo, is saved from danger. And you, praising those who strive for eternal life, do not want to give out of your wealth to those in need, but you decided to perish with the burden of a huge estate rather than be saved by throwing away at least part of it. Why doesn’t the fear of God affect you the way the fear of the sea does others? If: However, according to His promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13), and we, having been saved from the hand of our enemies, will be given the opportunity to fearlessly and unceasingly serve God, becoming like Him in righteousness, unspeakable joy and unspeakable glory, then how do you teach that there will again be fear, and demonic temptations, and change, and fall, and sin, and everything else? I know that you believe that there is a Heavenly Master, and you are concerned about being worthy of His love for mankind. Therefore, if you want the Lord to be merciful to you, be merciful to your servants. All those slaves who sincerely serve their carnal masters will receive reward from God, but those who are careless, careless, arrogant and lazy to serve as expected will not only not receive any benefits from God, but will also be punished. Maybe you haven’t read what the Scripture says on behalf of God: I will shake heaven and earth, sea and dry land (Hag. 2:6). The Apostle, explaining this, said: they mean changing what is shaken as if it were created, so that what cannot be shaken may remain (Heb. 12:27). And the prophet says: The Lord reigns! Therefore the universe is solid and will not be shaken (Ps. 95:10). And if everything is so, then in the future century, which is unchangeable, do not expect or imagine changes, vicissitudes, falls, fear, human slavery, and so on. God, knowing what is good for us, divided human life into two - the present life and the future; wanting to show that real life is needed for intelligent beings to learn, he allowed sorrow, sadness and illness to exist in it. Because all learning is associated with sorrows and sorrows, from which the students become more chaste and perfect. Life experience teaches us this, for anyone who wants to raise their children well raises them in rigor and difficult studies, so that by being distinguished by exemplary behavior and succeeding in science, they can eventually receive the fruits of their labors. Saint Paul also speaks about this: Any punishment at the present time seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; but afterward through it he brings to those who are taught the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11), teaching us to endure with pleasure what is sad and unpleasant, but which leads us to a good end. As the apostle advises us: My son! do not neglect the Lord’s punishment and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord punishes whomever he loves; he beats every son whom he receives. If you endure punishment, then God treats you as sons (Heb. 12:5–7). Those who rule their subordinates lawfully, righteously and with the fear of God are honored in Scripture, they are blessed both in this age and in the future. But those who act foolishly like you, whose conscience is silent, when the rule of the people is entrusted to them, are pitiful, as unworthy of their dignity, they are condemned by God, although they think that they are judging others. Their mind, created in the image and likeness of God and placed in command, no longer sits on a commanding height, but has been deposed, no longer placed among the subordinates, but the condemned. He who sings to the deaf sings in vain. Likewise, the one who teaches you from the Scripture is full of foolishness, who sleeps even while your body is awake. God and Lord of all Jesus will give to those who love Him the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8), - this is without a doubt truth, and holiness, and incorruptibility, and immutability, and immortality, and eternal joy. What is a thorn in the flesh, the angel of Satan (2 Cor. 12:7), given to the apostle so that he would not become arrogant? The daily sorrows that wicked people inflicted on him, unfavorable circumstances, persecution, and many needs, like a sting, wounding the noble man, did not allow him to exalt himself. Suffering suppresses and brings into inaction the excitement of the flesh and the voluptuousness ignited in the body. As the apostle says: but godliness is useful for everything, having the promise of life present and future (1 Tim. 4:8), and it really is like that, because with the assistance of God we can completely destroy passionate memories and acquire constant purity of mind. If an angry, or lustful, or money-loving thought inclines the feelings of the soul and body, then all the more commitment to reasoning in Christ will tune the mind to renounce not only the sensual, but also the senses, raising the mind to heaven, and engage in contemplation of heavenly things. Don't you see that the rose has thorns? Therefore, do not be embarrassed to learn that the color and splendor of worldly celebrity are followed by thousands of misfortunes, dangers, illnesses, sorrows and various evil intentions inside and outside. And the closer you get to the royal houses, the more vicissitudes and storms you expect, because closer to the sky - closer to thunder, as the popular proverb says. What do you care about mortal people who are not able to reward for everything good done in life and do not always have in their souls the ability to judge sensibly - they are envious people who rather condemn than praise good deeds. Therefore, turn your soul's eyes to heaven, since the highest contemplation reveals the truth. Loving virtue, delight heaven with the spectacle of good deeds and from there attract the highest praise to yourself. Vessels for low use (Rom. 9:21) are fornicators, tax collectors, in a word, everyone involved in unclean deeds. However, they too, by changing their bad disposition to a good one, can become precious vessels needed by the King of the ages. Do not be a judge of judges, because in the Church you occupy the place of the feet, not the head. Therefore, do not condemn the priests for the fact that they are not all pure; it is not your business to judge and re-judge the bishops of the Lord. According to the Providence of God, the helm of the priesthood is not handed over to disembodied Angels, otherwise they, being sinless, would act strictly, immediately putting to death anyone who has sinned. But priests become people of flesh and blood, like us, sinners overcome by passions. They accept the rite of intercession so that when they notice someone who has fallen into something reprehensible, seeing their own sins, they show philanthropy. Look, the first stone of the Church - Peter - the supreme apostle was put into ministry after repentance, because he was not sinless. Therefore, do not demand that everyone be blameless and that not one of the leaders of the Church has any vice or human defilement. And he freed his hands from the baskets (Ps. 81:7), as the psalm says. If you want to learn, do not turn your thoughts to sensual Egypt and do not look at what happened under Moses, but delve into yourself. The basket is called the intertwining of sins, Egypt is sorrow, and the hands are beginnings. Therefore, when you notice that you are enslaved by sin, breathe from your heart to the Lord and from the secret storm, from evil oppression, rush to the freedom of virtue. 252. Symmachus, vegetable seller What is prohibited in food by law means numerous types of vice, depicted through animals and birds living in water and on land. And what is eaten denotes various types of virtue. What is the benefit to you from the fact that, not caring about a virtuous life, you engage in philosophy, convincing yourself that you know the measure of the sun, the effectiveness of the stars, the size of the sky. Often you dare to theologize, invading where truth is inaccessible and research is dangerous, while living worse than pigs wallowing in the mud. And if you listen to my reproaches and ever intend to begin a praiseworthy work, then even then it will be of no benefit to you if you do not agree to know the Lord of all. How do you want to see Constantinople freed from frequent earthquakes and fires, when thousands of absurdities are committed in it, vice enjoys great freedom, and the pillar of the Church, the light of truth, the herald of Christ, His Beatitude Bishop John, has been driven out of the city? How do you ask me to pray for a city shaken by God’s wrath and awaiting thunderclaps from above, when I myself am burning in the fire of pride, shaken by my thoughts, my thoughts are killed by the excessiveness of the lawlessness now committed in Byzantium? The All-Seeing God said to the Prophet Elijah, who had a need: get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there; I commanded a widow woman there to feed you (1 Kings 17:9). Not because the Lord clearly spoke with his lips to this widow, but because he put pious thoughts in her heart to take care of the prophet. Therefore, do not be faint-hearted, but pray, enduring poverty with gratitude. The Lord of all will inspire the hearts of wealthy people to provide you not only with what you need, but also beyond that. 256. Crispus, who returned from captivity By the grace of God you were delivered from the bitter rule of the barbarians. Why did you so quickly fall asleep in carelessness and not appease God, who miraculously delivered you from the hands of strangers and wicked, but became even more enslaved to sins? Those who despise and reject natural good concepts, Divine Scripture and the advice of virtuous men, the Lord moves to chastity with terrible dreams, painful exhaustion, and sometimes other various admonitions. God turns a person to good in different ways, may the words of Elihu from the book of Job convince you of this: God speaks once and, if they do not notice, another time: in a night vision, when sleep falls on people, while dozing on a bed. Then He opens a person’s ear and seals His instruction in order to lead a person away from any enterprise and remove pride from him (Job 33:14–17). Since Peter was wounded by threefold denial, after the resurrection the Savior heals him with threefold confession. It is said: Simon Ionin! Do you love Me more than they? (John 21:15). So you, too, demand only love from those who fall. For whoever loves sincerely, although he falls, he will soon return. Let us not neglect true widows, for God cares greatly for them. He sent the Great Elijah to the widow. And the Lord of all, Jesus, dried the tears of the widow of Nain: he took pity on her and said to her: do not cry (Luke 7:13). James also commands: Pure and undefiled piety before God and the Father is to look after orphans and widows in their sorrows (James 1:27). If you say that the present age is a sea, then with what profit, the acquisition of which you are obliged to take care, will you swim across the sea of ​​​​human life and appear before the Judge? Do not remain ignorant of the Giver of purity, praiseworthy boldness and fearlessness. As long as the Lord acts, you will be protected and protected from evil intentions and worldly storms, protected by the terrible, glorious, brilliant Divine grace and, fearing no one, you will frighten demons and evil people. If you begin to be vain and proud, the Lord will retreat from you, not wanting to help you. And then you will recognize your baseness, trembling even at your own shadow and falling into bodily passions. Because he who has been abandoned by God no longer dares to teach with boldness. 262. To the noble official Ilya You have previously stolen so much of other people’s property, why now, when a small part of it has been stolen from you by the strongest, do you mourn, get angry and gnash your teeth. The Lord, seeing your generosity, the hand generously opened to all those in need, arranged everything so that you suddenly received a huge inheritance. And for this we glorify God. And the cow will graze with the she-bear, and their cubs will lie down together, and the lion, like the ox, will eat straw (Isa. 11:7), by this is meant the Church, where both the great of this world and the subordinates are governed together and nourished by divine dogmas. 265. Guardian of piety Gerasim We, the faithful, have accepted the law of freedom, so that we, as true sons, without coercion and voluntarily, can work more than the slaves who served the Law of Moses under fear and whips. Therefore, try to please God and strive according to your own zeal in the Gospel in order to be worthy of grace. Not only active work in virtue brings bright crowns, but also veneration of those who strive in virtue brings important fruits, because you glorify those who fear the Lord. And Jesus said: I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind (John 9:39). For after the coming of the Lord in the flesh, the pagans, who had not previously seen or understood the Divine Scripture, subsequently believed, received their sight mentally and became wise. And the Jews, who were worthy of error and darkness, have lost the eyes of their souls, so that they do not understand the secrets hidden in the law, although they boast that they know the law and the prophetic books. Wanting to please the destructive demons, you willingly sacrifice calves and lambs on a defiled altar, but you do not want to sacrifice your unreasonable irritability and excessive anger and other inappropriate and impermissible impulses of the soul. If we hate each other, quarrel and be at enmity with each other, plot one against the other, do not love peace and generosity, Satan rejoices, magnifying himself in our evil deeds. On the contrary, if we are in peace and unanimity, curbing our fury, then the evil one, the enemy of peace and love, the irreconcilable opponent of human unanimity, is diminished and humbled. 270. To the tax collector Martyrius All uncleanness, such as fornication, adultery, debauchery, sodomy, and the like, is called winter by Solomon. Therefore, all those who have repented, guided by a righteous thought and freed from such actions, listen with pleasure to the words about chastity. Therefore, winter has passed and the voice of the turtledove is heard throughout the entire earth (Song. 2:11–12). The painful condition that befell your body through the malicious intent of the devil happened to you by God’s permission, so that you would know the furious malice of the enemy and the Providence of Christ, who will soon deliver you from the disease. 272. Silentiarius Nicaret The one who looks at the performance and is enchanted and delighted by shameless lust, whether he wants it or not, is already a perfect adulterer. How can you, not being free from the accusation of adultery, tell me that your soul does not suffer any harm, living in captivity and voluntarily surrendering into slavery to the devil? At least respect your name! The priesthood has become for you the right to arbitrariness, when you furiously beat and rob free people who do nothing wrong. Where can we give place to the great Paul, who decreed: For a bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward, not insolent, not wrathful, not a drunkard, not a murderer, not a covetous man (Titus 1:7). And you, for the sake of vile profit, offend and persecute everyone. The Divine Apostle calls believers the house and temple of the Holy Spirit. How come you were not afraid to bring into the church of God the carrion of fornicating songs and pitiful laughter and soul-harming words? If you first crush the bubble of a high opinion of yourself, considering yourself earth and ashes, smoke, a worm, as Scripture teaches, then praise will not harm you, and insults will not drive you crazy. 276. To the Committee of the East Eleutherius The little things are also important. Judas needed so little to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, or that man from Sebastia, who had gone away for a short time, could have been crowned with the other martyrs. Therefore, leaving behind false interpretations, let us hasten to every good deed. 277. To the bedside Methodius Christ, the Lord of all, was not afraid of death. He came to suffer for the salvation of all people. Therefore, when you hear: My Father! if possible, let this cup pass from Me (Matthew 26:39), understand this not as fear and trembling, but as humility with which He catches the mental serpent, so that he, considering Him a simple man afraid of suffering, would fulfill God’s plan through the Jews who served him. For the enemy, having decided on his own to lead Him to the cross, did not know that he was thereby fulfilling what was said: the wicked is caught by the works of his hands (Ps. 9:17), and his anger will turn on his own head (Ps. 7:17), he was caught by the slave's face and the humble speeches of the Master. Thus was he caught who hunted us, called Leviathan and the serpent. It is said about Christ in the book of Job that He is able to defeat Leviathan and catch him. Therefore, when you also hear that the Lord cries out on the cross: My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46), know that He says this on behalf of all those born of Adam. Just as an intercessor, having not suffered offense and plunder, on behalf of the plundered one calls out to the Judge: we are offended, robbed, plundered. Because if all of us, people, had not been abandoned by God, we would not have been subjected to the reproach of thousands of sins, and would not have made sacrifices to idols. Although some argue that spending time at shows and visiting horse racing grounds brings joy to the soul, this is death and terrible harm to the soul. If you really want to find peace for your soul, then hurry to the church, go to where the monks labor, there you will find consolation and great healing for the suffering. Then test yourself what you are like when leaving a church or monastery, and what you are like when leaving a spectacle or lists. Having compared both, you will not need to admonish the other, because the comparison will be enough to show you the great benefits acquired in the church and monastery, as well as the harm received in the circus and on the lists. It is desirable for me that you observe the rules in morals and actions, just as you do not sin against the rules in writings and speeches, because even immoral people can express themselves correctly. Therefore, stop chasing the purity of language, unless you are a Christian - the Kingdom of Heaven is not acquired by the beauty of expressions, but by good character, good deeds and firm faith. The one who raised Lazarus and who asked about him was the same. The Lord according to humanity asks: where did you put it? (John 11:34), and according to the Divinity he resurrects him: He cried out with a loud voice: Lazarus! get out. And the dead man came out, wrapped hand and foot in graveclothes, and his face was bound with a scarf (John 11:43–44). One and the same as man: He spat on the ground, made clay from the spitting (John 9:6), and according to Divinity he opens the eyes of the blind. And as Peter says: Therefore, just as Christ suffered for us in the flesh (1 Pet. 4:1), according to humanity, but according to Divinity he opens the graves and raises the dead. 281. To the Rod-bearer Xinodor You read with love the words of Bishop John of Constantinople. From them I will compose you an answer to your question. So: And behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and descending on Him (Matthew 3:16). And if, as a result of baptism, the beginning and guarantee of the Divinity dwells in us, in Christ is all the fullness of the Divinity. But do not think that Christ, not having the Spirit, accepted Him; He Himself, as God, sent Him from above, and Himself, as a man, took Him upon Himself. Therefore, the Spirit emanating from the Divine descended upon His humanity. The luminary of the Byzantine Church, or better to say, the whole world, the wondrous high priest John 108, being perspicacious, repeatedly saw that the house of the Lord at every hour, especially during a bloodless sacrifice, was not abandoned by the Angels. Filled with spiritual joy and wonder, he privately told his close spiritual friends about this. He said: as soon as the priest begins to perform proskomedia, suddenly the higher powers, descending from heaven in large numbers, dressed in bright vestments, barefoot and with downcast eyes, surround the altar in reverence and silence, standing before the performance of the great Sacrament. Then, having dispersed throughout the church, each of them assists, helps and gives strength to those in the church, the bishops, presbyters and deacons participating in the Communion of the people. I am writing this to you so that, having learned the greatness of the Divine Liturgy, you do not indulge in negligence, and do not allow anyone else to talk and whisper during the proskomedia, give signs to others, shift from foot to foot, look around, or simply walk from place to place. For the Lord says to Moses, and through him to all the priests: protect the children of Israel from uncleanness (Lev. 15:31). If the devil turns into an Angel of light to deceive and destroy those who are deceived, then why are you surprised that he often turns into animals, cattle and birds? 284. To Chairman Licinius Don’t say: I can’t reconcile with the enemy because he is evil and incurable. Only then can you reconcile him with yourself when you desire this with all your soul. What's fiercer than a lion? However, people also tame him: art overcomes nature, the lion becomes meek and calmly walks around the arena. Therefore, what excuse and justification will you have if you cannot tame a person when they tame animals? And just as meekness is unnatural for a beast, so ferocity is unnatural for a man. Therefore, wish, at least now, to soften and make a friend of your neighbor. 285. Karina, official under the mayor It is said: When he puts all things in subjection to Him, then the Son Himself will submit to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28). As our head, Christ will submit to the Father with His body, as the apostle said: because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones (Eph. 5:30). Thus, Christ makes our submission, because before we were disobedient and disobedient, His own, as our Receiver. 286. To the mayor Priscus Both the one who distributes his property to the poor, and the one who does not think evil against an acquisitive predator and villain, does not curse him, fearing God, will receive the same heavenly rewards. Without a doubt, it is godless and impious to assert that evil is contained in nature and not in will. For, as the Scripture says: the intention of the heart of man is evil from his youth (Gen. 8:21), - you must know the interpretation of this saying. Namely, that man is not by nature partial to reprehensible deeds, and not as a result of those natural concepts that God put into his mind. It won't happen! But it was written from youth that everything bad we acquired was from the devil’s influence. Therefore, we are easily deceived by the enemy, because his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:25), as the Lord says in the Gospel. Blessed Peter says: God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). He did it - not in the sense of creating the Essence of the Word, but he did it according to humanity. For what was crucified but the body? And how else could the apostle designate the corporeality of the Word as soon as he said “he did.” May your hand not be open to receive and closed when giving (Sir. 4:35). But just as you willingly accept wealth, just as willingly give to those in need. If, using the services and having others in your power 109, you think to fulfill the commandments of the Lord by doing alms, then have pity on those who suffer insults and suffer from your splendor. Understand that you have sinned and make amends for your sins. Blame yourself, saying: God! be merciful to me, a sinner! (Luke 18:13), and you will receive salvation. The Lord will accept your confession and your humility. 292. To the Committee Eustochius, head of the issuance of gifts If you often imprint your forehead and heart with the sign of the Lord’s Cross, then demons will flee from you with trepidation. Because they are extremely afraid of this sign. Anger without a reason and for a serious reason is not useful. The Lord rightly forbids us to be angry. Therefore, if you want to philosophize in Christ, then all evil people, destructive demons, and even Satan, the culprit of all evil, will not be able to move you to anger and rage. If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? (John 21:22). That is, if I want John to live in the flesh until I come, to take him out of the body, what does it matter to you, Peter, that he will remain in this life for a long time? You, Peter, follow Me, and in royal Rome you will be honored with suffering similar to Mine, just as I was crucified, so you too will be ascended onto the tree. After enmity has taken possession of you, a strong storm has attacked you, your indignant mind can no longer think or hear sensibly. But if, by making an effort on yourself, you disperse the cloud of hostility, then you will be able to perceive the spiritual clarity given from above. Then, putting aside hatred of your neighbor, you will be filled with the godly love of Christ. And his views, which previously seemed hostile and unpleasant to you, when your thoughts are illuminated by light, will seem benevolent to you. The fact that prayer is a great help is taught by the example of St. David. For before the stone he used prayer and overthrew this animated pillar - Goliath, who dared to mock God's power. Therefore, prayer gave direction to the stone, confused the barbarians, stopped the insolence of the enemy and erected a monument to victory. 297. I intercede in the affairs of Auxentius And he brings to light the shadow of death (Job 12:22), that is, God reveals the nature of sin hidden within. But when you hear about nature, do not think that sin is some kind of living, intelligent being, as some believe. For sin usually begins and ends its existence in human will. Do not neglect communication with holy men, because one glance from them can heal your soul, exhausted by the fall. Their words bring great grace to believers. Because the words of the saints stop warfare, drive out demons, stop the elements, just as Joshua stopped the sun, and Moses bound and loosed the sea, so the three youths turned the flame into dew with their chants. Likewise, those who now imitate them in life, by saying one word, can extinguish the fire of sin, dry up the sources of lust, soften irritability, drive out lust, weaken vanity and love of money, and relieve despondency and sadness. And in the souls overwhelmed by sin they restore great silence. Others say that after the flood, wine was invented, and some, having drunk too much of whole wine, died, so others thought it best to drink in moderation and dilute the wine with water 110, drinking this drink, they remained alive. But those who had not yet drunk the grape moisture, fearing death, asked those who had already drunk whether they were alive. And since they answered yes, they are alive, then, rejoicing for them, their loved ones said: live! live! Therefore, from those times until now, the custom of saying: be healthy has been preserved. I said all this in response to your question. We should not expect to be greeted first and only then respond to the greeting. This is a sign of an arrogant and reckless mind. On the contrary, let us be the first to greet both friend and enemy, so that God will praise us for this and people will approve of us, calling us friendly. For the apostle also commands us: consider one another better than yourselves (Phil. 2:3). Failure to do this, I mean the custom of being the first to greet others, dissolved many friendly ties and created enmity, but fulfilling it stopped long-term quarrels, destroyed enmity, tied friends more closely together and increased mutual affection. 301. To Chairman Valery When, at the sight of an enemy, everything you have endured and heard from him that is deplorable comes to your mind, try to forget it all. And if something remains in your memory, consider it a devilish obsession. On the contrary, remember what that useful person said or did, and if you establish yourself in this thought, you will calm down, getting rid of severity and bitterness. 302. Arkady, enjoying a salary It is said: And... grace upon grace (John 1:16), because, bringing our faith to God as grace and a wonderful gift, we received from heaven incomparable grace - the communion of the Holy Spirit. It is said: You ascended on high, you took captivity captive, you accepted gifts for men, so that even those who resist could dwell with the Lord God (Ps. 67:19). That is, after the resurrection he delivered us from the hands of the devil. And as the apostle says: he gave gifts to men (Eph. 4:8), because, accepting human faith, God gives heavenly gifts to the faithful. In ancient times, when we became like slaves, he gave us heavenly grace, and now, not as slaves, but as beloved children, he gave us the grace of the Gospel, higher and greater than the first, through it we improve and become wiser in heavenly wisdom, boldly approach God as sons and partake of the light of the Divine. In various cases, beyond my dignity, honored by your love for God with thousands of good deeds and seeking what kind of reward to reward you according to decency, but not finding anything like that, I represent a great debtor for myself, namely God. For whoever has done anything for me has lent it to God (Prov. 19:17). The Lord will reward me, as David said (Ps. 137:8). The expression “behind me” means future tense. So, for example, when Scripture says: who will tell a man what will happen behind him (Eccl. 10:14), that is, after him? And Saul says to David: Be sworn to me, for you will not destroy my seed after me (1 Sam. 24:22), that is, after my death you will not destroy my descendants. Let us not be careless and lazy in taking care of ourselves. Even if we fall into the very abyss of sin, it is possible to correct ourselves, becoming better, and destroy everything unsuitable in ourselves, because evil is not motionless, as the Manichaeans claim. But since lust is born from sight, refrain from carelessly looking at handsome faces, lest your glances lead to indecent actions. If Eve had not looked at the beautiful tree, she would not have taken and tasted the fruit and would not have immediately lost her divine wisdom. By Eve we should understand the feeling that first tastes the deadly food itself, and then passes it on to her husband - the mind. I told you about this before. 306. To Nero, Master and Former Hypatus It is said: whoever acts evilly will not escape punishment (Proverbs 16:6). Therefore, you will not escape punishment, although you think to avoid it, you assume that God does not look at your evil and godless deeds, although you think that you have overcome the One who observes everything, but of course, at the end of life you will recognize an incurable fall. 307. To the noble dignitary John All Angels and people admire your valiant soul for helping the children of your living and dead enemies. Living - in order to reconcile their fathers in this way. The dead - in order to attract the favor of the Lord, to be adorned with a thousand heavenly crowns and to earn the prayers of not only those who have been blessed, but also those who see your blessings. This will help you at the trial, no matter what you have sinned, you will be freed from all guilt, showing great mercy and philanthropy to your enemies and thereby becoming like the philanthropic Lord. Everything set forth in the Holy Scriptures is a cloth of gold, a base of gold, and a pattern of gold. Don’t weave a web beyond the bounds of decency. I call your weak thoughts, vain conclusions and false thinking of Hellenic wisdom a web, which you dared to bring into the Church, just as Manasseh once placed idols in the church of God. Stop offering Manichaean fables to the people of the Lord in the distant Church under the guise of spiritual teaching. For your foolishness has become obvious to everyone, as the Scripture says: I will reveal the hidden places of it (Jer. 49:10), that is, of your obstinate soul. 309. To the palace guard Isidore It is said: Before my suffering I was mistaken (Ps. 119:67). Because, proud of the fruits of my success, in arrogance, I said to God: You have tested my heart, visited me at night, tempted me and found nothing (Ps. 16:3), and I said in my prosperity: I will never be shaken (Ps. 29:7). And he was abandoned by You, falling into adultery and murder. As a result, having lost God’s help, I flee in fear from Absalom, my son, and humbly leave the city, ashamed of everyone. The foolish and pathetic Shimei throws stones at me and insults me. Therefore, I appeal to the righteous Judge: I know, Lord, that Your judgments are righteous and You punished me with justice (Ps. 119:75). Because there is no greater sin than conceit and arrogance - I will no longer boast about myself, but I will become humble and say with humility: I am a worm, and not a man, reproached by people and contempted by the people (Ps. 21:7). Our soul will be humbled to the dust, our womb will be humbled to the earth (Ps. 43:26), and we will be humbled to the point of being (Ps. 37:9). Live me according to Your word (Ps. 119:25) and the like. From the Father, before all ages, the Son was born - the living Word, true God from true God, uncreated. The Son is not a creature, the Creator is not a creature, the Creator is not a creature. Everything that the Father has is Mine (John 16:15) - indeed, everything that is in the Prototype belongs to the Image. The Son was not created by command, but shone forth from the Father's essence. Inseparably united in time with the Father, equal to Him in goodness, equal in power. And all that the Lord says about His incarnation: The Father sent Me (John 5:36), or: I cannot do anything on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous; for I do not seek My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me (John 5:30), or: I received this commandment from My Father (John 10:18) and the like should not become a reason for you to belittle the Divinity of the Only Begotten. Because condescension to human weaknesses should not become a derogation in the dignity of the Strong. Therefore, everything derogatory in the speeches of the Lord refers to the Providence of our salvation. Why are heavenly messengers depicted with wings? This signifies the lightness and sublimity of these creatures. Archangel Gabriel descends with wings, not because this ethereal force had wings, but to show the prophet Daniel that the Archangel descended from heaven, left the heavenly abodes and came to people (Dan. 9:21). 312. I intercede in the affairs of Genephlius Learn from Solomon to say: “Who can say: “I have cleansed my heart and am clean from my sin?” (Prov. 20:9). It’s not so scary that you don’t have a pure heart, but that you don’t have recourse to the Lord Christ, who can make it pure, although you need this gift. For Christ can cleanse the heart with the Holy Spirit, which is what one of the ancients sought, prayerfully crying: Create in me a clean heart, O God (Ps. 50:12). God wants to give us this gift along with other blessings, but he expects from us at least a small reason to crown us. For who was more sinful than the publican? But when he said: God! be merciful to me, a sinner (Luke 18:13), then you left the church justified more than the Pharisee. But it was not prayer that made his heart pure, but the disposition with which he prayed. Moreover, God's love for mankind, which does not want our destruction, but prompts us to repentance. God wants us to give Him at least a small pretext, and He Himself does everything else for our salvation. Therefore, we must condemn our sins, confess to the Lord and ask for His mercy before death. So what is the work, what is the burden for a sinner to understand that he is a sinner, and, having said this before God, ask for forgiveness? 314. To the tax collector Dracontius Having united with Christ through devotion of love and the bridle of reverence, one must maintain faith and undoubtedly believe everything that Christ says. Whether He promises the extraordinary, whether He proclaims something supernatural, is not worth exploring, but looking only at the One who proclaims, who can change the usual for the better and transgresses the laws of nature. 315. To the bedside Faustin God does not forbid what Scripture ascribes to God Himself. This is how God allows certain events to happen through someone. He could stop those who do evil, but he does not stop by force, so that human freedom is not constrained. Therefore, only the will of a person is the reason that he is crowned or not crowned. For it is said: God gave them over to a depraved mind - to do lewd things (Rom. 1:28), that is, He allowed them to do so, without stopping them with His power. Some time before this day, some people, hurrying on the road, called on the monk to pray, so that they could complete their journey in good weather. The monk, seeing that the sky is cloudy and the first drops are falling, refuses to pray, fearing failure. But they said to him: you pray, and we believe that without a doubt it will happen to us according to our faith. And when the prayer was completed, they set off on their journey in the rain, without being sad or embarrassed. But gradually the sky cleared, clear weather arrived, the winds died down and the travelers reached the places where they had gone and returned home, having successfully completed their task. I told you about this so that you would understand what is written: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). 317. To the ruler of affairs Parigoria You ask: what good is it for me to cry and shed tears about my sins? Great benefit, such that it is impossible to describe it in words. Because in a worldly court, no matter how much you cry, you cannot escape punishment after the verdict. But here, if you just begin to grieve about the Fall, the sentence is canceled and forgiveness is given to you. Therefore, in Scripture many times those who mourn are blessed. So let us not laugh and be distracted in our thoughts in the church, but sigh over our sins in order to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Do not want all things to be done according to your own intentions, especially when you are arrogant, stubborn and self-willed, so your conviction is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not wish that everything you do will turn out according to your desire, so as not to fall into madness. But if you care about yourself and value the peace pleasing to the Savior, then it is better to allow every business to be done as the Lord arranges. Then you will be granted wisdom and calm the storm of your heart. Those who thank God that others have boldness before Him and please Him, considering their brothers one with themselves, participate in the gift of brotherhood. Because admiring your neighbor will not harm you, but will even glorify you, if you only maintain a healthy way of thinking. Therefore, if your neighbor ends up in a rich house and is honored, do not envy, but rejoice; if he earns the approval of powerful people, rejoice; by doing this, you will please our Savior. When your spiritual father tells you something unpleasant or cruel, accept and bear it wisely and generously, because this is not done out of passion, but dispassionately. If, as you say, he acted cowardly and insulted you, then he did this not from the heart, but in a bad mood. Just like a mother sometimes wishes something bad for her child. For that she does not wish harm to her child from her heart is evident from the fact that she soon repents and cries if the child gets sick. During the exodus from Egypt, when Pharaoh's army pursued the Israelites, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea with a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters parted. And the children of Israel passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground: and the waters became a wall to them on the right hand and on the left (Ex. 14:21-22). And there were two olive trees on it (Zechariah 4:3). Ephorus - a high-ranking judicial official in Byzantium. Court rank in Byzantium. Hellenism - that is, paganism, the veneration of the gods of Hellas (Greece). At that time, the abbot of the monastery was not always in the priesthood, as is the case in this case; usually a spiritually experienced elder became the abbot. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth (1 Cor. 3:6). Roman philosopher Clement - St. Clement, Pope of Rome. You shall not burn any honey as a sacrifice to the Lord (Lev. 2:11). The leaders of our rank are the abbots of monasteries. Turn your heart to Egypt - that is, to the land of spiritual slavery, just as the Jews on the way to the Promised Land wanted to return to Egypt (book of Exodus). He said to them: Why did you seek Me? Or did you not know that I must be concerned with the things that belong to My Father? (Luke 2:49) Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever loves a son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:47). Haran is the land where the family of Abraham migrated on the way to the Promised Land. Ahaziah is the son of Ahab and Jezebel, the king of Israel, a contemporary of the prophet Elijah. Jesus, seeing Nathanael coming to Him, says of him: Behold, truly an Israelite, in whom there is no guile (John 1-47). Naaman the Syrian, the military commander of the Syrian king, was sick with leprosy, on the advice of a slave girl he turned to the prophet Elisha and, having washed himself in the Jordan, was healed. He believed in God. This is discussed in the 2nd book of Kings, chapter 5. One of the peoples of Palestine; Midianite girls willingly entered into relations with Jews during their wanderings in the Sinai desert, as a result of which the Israelites began to worship pagan gods. This is discussed in the book of Numbers, chapter 25. The Apostle Paul earned his living by making tents and belts. There is an opinion that once in Sicily, Plato, on the orders of the Syracusan tyrant Dionysus, was sold into slavery. Apollonius of Tyana, a Pythagorean philosopher of the 1st century, was an opponent of Christianity and practiced occultism. Witchcraft - witchcraft, magic, occultism. Novatus, a presbyter of the Carthage Church, was in schism with his bishop St. Cyprian on how those who had fallen away during persecution should be received into the Church. That day is the day of the general resurrection of the dead. Bedkeeper is a court rank in the Byzantine Empire. Joseph, the son of Jacob (book of Genesis), and the prophet Daniel were courtiers, like the addressee of the Monk Nile, which did not prevent their salvation. The letter contains an interpretation of the parable of the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11–32). Nahash, the ruler of the Ammonites, a contemporary of the first Israeli king Saul, having besieged the city of Jabesh-gilead, offered peace to its inhabitants on the condition that the right eye of all the inhabitants be gouged out (1 Sam. 11:1-15). Magistrian - an official of the city administration in Byzantium. An actuary was an official in the Byzantine Empire. Joseph, son of Jacob, is considered a model of chastity. The Egyptian woman is the wife of Potiphar, the owner of Joseph, whom she tried to seduce and then slandered. Hezekiah, the king of Judah, was distinguished by his piety. And he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him (2 Kings 2:13). In those days in Byzantium, where the climate was much milder than in Russia, the mantle was not only a ceremonial symbolic attire, as it is now, but then it was sewn from dense material and the monks wore it instead of a cloak. Legate is an envoy with special powers. Archon is the title of a noble nobleman in Byzantium. Dux or duka is the title of a noble nobleman in Byzantium. High Priest John - St. John Chrysostom. Having others in your power - that is, slaves. In Byzantium it was considered good manners to dilute wine with water. You might be interested in: