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“Believe in” the Son of God... “to have eternal life” (John 3:16). If anyone believes in the Son of God, then “his feet will not stumble” (Proverbs 4:12); and although he passes through the fire, “the flame will not burn” him (Is. 43:2). “Believe in” the Son of God, “as the Scripture says, from his belly shall flow rivers of living waters” (John 7:38). The multitude of wood increases the flame; and in the heart of man the fear of God increases knowledge, and activity strengthens it. Be extremely sober when you sow the seed of your Lord, so that the enemy does not mix in both the tares and anything of his own, because it is his custom to do evil through good. Let us ask the Lord for grace to grant us the knowledge and meaning to be sober in everything. “The furnace tempts” (tests) silver and gold (Prov. 17:3), and the fear of the Lord is the thoughts of those who love the Lord. Just as an artist, sitting at an anvil, finishes useful vessels, so the fear of God destroys every evil thought in the heart and replaces it with a reasonable word. Let us give glory to Him who gives His fear into our hearts, for He is “the teacher of man’s understanding” (Ps. 93:10). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but understanding is good to all who do it; Godliness is the beginning of feelings” (Prov. 1:7). A wise man will keep the commandments of Christ, and whoever acts on them will never be ashamed. Whoever leaves them is foolish, his hope is vain; and whoever truly observes them passes “from death to life” (John 5:24), will never see darkness, and will find grace on the day of his death. Faithful Angels will be the guides of his soul, his foundation will be established on an unshakable stone, and he will become the heir of eternal life. He is the most blessed of all, because he has learned to do the will of the One who created him. At the sign of the trumpet, the army is prepared for battle, but during the feat, not everyone participates in the battle. Many are monks only in appearance, but few are ascetics. During temptation, the dignity of a monk is revealed. Before death, do not please anyone, and before death, do not despair of anyone. Do not call yourself righteous and blameless before the Lord, for what is hidden from you has been revealed before God. We must believe that if we give ourselves to Him, there will be fruit from our work. I would rather be active and distinguished from the brethren than to break the commandments and be abominable to them. He who knows all Scripture and does not care about the commandments of Christ will “suffer many beatings” (Luke 12:47). And whoever does the will of the Lord will be recognized as a perfect man. A perfect husband does not need a place, but prudence is needed, and the weak need to have a place in accordance with the rules. Who is the perfect husband? Who truly loves the Lord and loves his neighbor as himself. Fear the Lord, and you will find grace, for the fear of the Lord produces such morals and customs that form virtues in us, and fearlessness gives rise to bitter rivalry, intrigues, and the like. The fear of the Lord is the source of life. The fear of the Lord is the stronghold of the soul. The fear of the Lord puts spiritual thought in order. The fear of the Lord is the storehouse of the soul. The fear of the Lord in every activity gives grace to those who fear the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the pilot of the soul. The fear of the Lord enlightens the soul. The fear of the Lord destroys wickedness. The fear of the Lord weakens passions. The fear of the Lord brings back love. The fear of the Lord kills every evil desire. The fear of the Lord cuts off voluptuousness. The fear of the Lord is the school of the soul, and proclaims good hopes to it. The fear of the Lord rewards with peace. The fear of the Lord fills the soul with holy thoughts and hands it the scepter of the Heavenly Kingdom. No man is as exalted as he who fears the Lord. He who fears the Lord is like a light, showing many the way to salvation. He who fears the Lord is like a fortified city standing on a mountain, and wicked demons tremble before his face. Very blessed is the soul that fears the Lord, because it always sees the righteous Judge before it. If you fear the Lord, then keep His commandments, and you will not be ashamed. Some leave a place for the sake of virtue, and others for the sake of idleness and disobedience; another is chasing an inheritance. One examines many things in order to learn wisdom, while another examines many things for the sake of vanity. One runs the race and strives out of love for Christ, and the other out of vanity. One obeys for the sake of the commandment of Christ, and the other - for the sake of the highest degree and vile profit. Another praises his neighbor for the sake of man-pleasing, another praises his neighbor for the sake of the commandment of Christ, and another humiliates his neighbor for the sake of gluttony. One humbles himself for the sake of Christ’s commandment, the other humiliates himself out of madness. One tirelessly works for the love of money, the other works hard for the love of charity. Some work when they shouldn’t, and others do nothing while working. Some people sing psalms in a loud voice when they shouldn’t, but during psalm singing they remain silent, or chatter idlely with their neighbors. Some people stay awake when they don’t need to, but during their vigil they grumble. It is written: “Hell and destruction are manifest before the Lord, as the hearts of men are not” (Prov. 15:11). The beginning of a good life is tears during prayer, and the beginning of a right way of thinking is listening to the Divine Scriptures. Thousands of books in the ears of the insane are worth nothing. And who is foolish but one who despises the fear of God? It is written: “A wise man accepts the commandments with his heart” (Proverbs 10:8). “Give wine to the wise, and he will be wise; tell the righteous, and he will receive it” (Proverbs 9:9). “A son will be punished wisely, but a fool will be used as a servant” (Proverbs 10:5). “The riches of laziness are scanty, but strength is strengthened by wealth” (Proverbs 11:16). The wise man, being afraid, will turn away from evil; “The fool, relying on himself, mixes with the lawless. A fierce man does things without advice, but a wise man endures many things” (Prov. 14:16-17). Honor the Lord, and your ways will be prosperous. Honor the priest and the elder, may the blessing of their lips descend upon you. Honor the elders, as many have served Christ. Honor your brothers as servants of Christ, so that they will love you. If you love silence, brother, then you will complete your voyage in silence. He who runs away from the silence of his cell dreams of earthly things, and he who cares about his inner work longs for what is prepared for the saints in heaven. The Lord knows in advance the thought of a monk who desires the priesthood; and the priesthood is a high degree if they pass it without blemish. The Christ-loving king is the most blessed of all: he will leave his memory as a blessing, and praise will be given to him in heaven and on earth. The unfaithful king did not know wisdom in his life and, having died, left his memory to curse, and his reproach will not be erased forever. The throne of the faithful prospers forever. The righteous judge will be sought, and the lips of the righteous will bless him. But the unrighteous will not have mercy on his life, because he will not create judgment and righteousness on earth. It is written: “He who offends the poor does much harm to himself. Do not force the poor, who is already poor, and do not annoy the weak at the gate: for the Lord is about to judge him” (Prov. 22:17, 22-23). It is written: “Deliver those who are led to death” (Prov. 24:11), and do not deliver the servant into the hands of the master, lest he curse you and you perish. It is written: “Rejoice... the one who perishes will not be blameless; the one who is merciful will receive mercy” (Prov. 17:5). The faithful have a whole world of wealth, but the infidel does not have even an obol. “The beggar who has mercy gives back to God, and according to his giving he will be rewarded” (Prov. 19:17). It is written: “Weight is great and small, and measure is too much, both are unclean before the Lord” (Prov. 20:10). “If you dig a hole, the sincere will fall into shame” (Proverbs 26:27). But fear the Lord, and “in the day of cruelty he will deliver you” (Ps. 40:1). A pious king will take care of the piers at sea, but an experienced and wise king will not leave the fortresses on his borders neglected. Both arise in the heart of the king due to his extensive experience and love of mankind. A faithful king always has in mind the eternal judgment and, remembering the righteous Judge, will not forget about the liberation of souls kept in need and cramped conditions, in prisons and imprisonment. Blessed is the man who by a temporary power has acquired eternal glory. Whoever is king today will die in the morning, but whoever does the will of the Lord abides forever. A doctor becomes skilled through actual experience. Great luxury gives rise to passions and illnesses, and hard work tires at the very time of work, but when tired it brings health and prosperity. Do not, monk, desire to eat meat, and do not drink wine to the point of intoxication, otherwise your mind will become coarse, and you will have no end to the cares of life. Trim a palm tree and it will shoot upward; cleanse your soul from worldly cares, and it will grow in virtue. He who patiently endures being slandered or offended is like one who has imprisoned a lion in a menagerie; and whoever reflects slander and insult is like a person who destroys himself. It is good to come to the service of God before everyone else, but it is not good to unnecessarily leave the service before leaving. Come, brother, and listen to the Divine Scripture so that you may benefit from it. Just as a traveler in hot weather appreciates a cup of cold water, so the word of God waters the soul. If you want to listen, come; and if you listen, you will be wise. And if listening to the word is difficult for your patience, then all the more difficult for you to carry it out in practice. So, conclude from this that you are as careless as I am. Having entered the house of God, let us not soar with our minds; On the contrary, let our inner man engage in contemplation and prayer. And when we pray, we will say: “Our Father, who art in heaven...” so that no other thoughts will confuse our mind. When standing in prayer, know Who you stand before. May your whole soul and your whole heart be turned to Him. Understand what I say. If someone, taking a bundle of money in his hands, goes to bargaining with the intention of buying bulls, will he look at the dogs? Isn’t his whole thought occupied with what he wants, so as not to be ridiculed otherwise and not to waste in vain what he has in his hands? If a brother who has become close to you is weak in body, and happens to cough or spit often, then do not be embarrassed by this, but remember that many have given themselves up to serve the sick and crippled. If you are healthy in body, then do not be arrogant, but be afraid; For as a many-stringed harp is in the hand of a man, so is all flesh in the hands of Jesus Christ our Savior. It is written: “The eyes of the wicked always receive evil; But the good always remain silent” (Proverbs 15:15). “The path of the wise mind is that he may turn away from hell and be saved” (Prov. 15:24). It is written: “The unpunished will not love those who rebuke him, but will not speak with the wise” (Prov. 15:12). “The wicked sinner sins, but the one who has mercy on the poor is blessed” (Proverbs 14:21). It is written: “If your enemy falls, do not rejoice over him, but do not be proud of his stumbling. For the Lord will see, and He will not be pleased, and will turn His wrath away from him” (Prov. 24:17-18). “He who stops his ears, who will not listen to the weak, will call him, and he will not listen to him” (Prov. 21:13). “Do not boast about the morning, do not worry about what you will give birth to (the day)” (Prov. 27:1). “Do no evil, and no evil will befall you” (Sir.7:1). “Do not love to slander, lest you become arrogant” (Proverbs 20:13). It is written: “Whoever speaks a word before he hears it is foolishness and reproach” (Prov. 18:13). “A father does not rejoice over an unpunished son” (Proverbs 17:21). “A son will be punished wisely” (Proverbs 10:5). Wisdom does not lie in a thorough study of the Scriptures, but, as it is written, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom... to understand the law and to think good thoughts” (Proverbs 9:10). Faith gives birth to a good thought, and a good thought is a river of living water. Whoever purchased it will be filled with its waters. Without oil the lamp will not burn, and without faith no one acquires a good thought. It is written: “Whoever ignores punishment hates himself; but he who observes reproof loves his own soul” (Prov. 15:32). “Do not fall into litigation quickly, lest you repent later” (Prov. 25:8). “Better is a good name than much wealth, but good grace is better than silver and gold” (Prov. 22:1). Without patience you cannot build a tower, and without knowledge you will not succeed in virtue. There is no measure of patience if it is dissolved by humility. The gift of patience is from the Lord, and He gives it to those who love Him; those who possess it will be freed from many sorrows. “Do not multiply words with a fool” (Sir.22:12), “but by sparing your lips, you will become wise” (Prov.10:19). If a prudent monk is sent to serve, then those who see him will give glory to the Lord. But a man who is mad and drunk shamefully commits outrages in the villages, he disgraces the abbot and the brethren. Fearlessness gives birth to youthful thoughts, and the fear of the Lord makes even the young old. Honor the Lord and do not tempt a layman. Imitate the prophet Samuel, because he pleased God and edified people. And the sons of fearlessness fell by the sword. Do not give brave young men and old men the courage to do indecent things. For he who fears the Lord will take care of his people. Reverence with humility and love lifts the head of the monk, “and during the visit” he will shine (Wis. 3:7). Hatred or envy under the guise of piety is bitter water in golden vessels. Put the tree of life in it, and it will become sweet, because the water was sweetened with the tree (Ex. 15:25), and all the slander of the insidious enemy was abolished by the Cross of our Savior Jesus Christ. Love enlightens the eyes of the mind, and whoever loves enmity and quarrel is like a man who often puts his hand into the hole of asps. What a worm is in a tree, so is vanity in a monk; and like moth in clothing, the passion of the love of money is in the human heart. “Do not rise up, lest you fall and bring dishonor to your soul” (Sir.1:30). For “the Lord accepts the meek, and humbles sinners to the ground” (Ps. 147:6). He who exalts himself prepares for dishonor; and whoever serves his neighbor in humility will become glorified. Whoever is compassionate towards his neighbor on the day of sorrow, the Lord will always be merciful to him, because a person’s alms are like a seal with him. Another person, while he does not have any power, turns out to be meek and merciful; then, as soon as he receives power, he is ready to order and command, without examining anything; but if power is taken away from him, his own decrees are intolerable to him. He, like a fool, did not recognize his weakness. In all your deeds, brother, “remember your last, and you will never sin” (Sir.7:39); do not be arrogant and expansive, but humble yourself; The punishment of the wicked is fire and the worm. Acquire the fear of God so that the demons will fear you; the outer alone is always vain. If we all want to order and be in charge, who will be the subordinate or the obedient? If we all want honor for ourselves, who will give honor? A wise man refuses to give rather than receive commands, fulfilling the commandment of the One who said: “Whoever wants to be in you, let him be your servant; and whoever wants to be first in you, let him be your servant: just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life redemption for many” (Matthew 20:26-29). “If you make thee an elder, do not be arrogant, but be in them as one of them” (Sir.32:1). Consider your previous labors, and know that your subordinates are doing the same labors, and do not be careless about them, but take care. It is written: “In the multitude of nations, glory to the king; in the impoverishment of the people there is contrition to the mighty. A man who is long-suffering is wise, but a man who is faint-hearted is foolish” (Prov. 14:28-29). Let us pray that we may be vouchsafed the gift, and having been vouchsafed, let us think lowly of ourselves. If anyone cares about his brothers and teaches them admonition and the teaching of the Lord, then his soul will be pleasing to the Lord. He who neglects his life sins before God. Do not rejoice in the ignorance of your brothers, because there is no glory for you in dishonor. Do not envy the success of your brothers, for the Scripture says: “I have no more joy than this, so that I may hear my children walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4). It is written: “Those who have no control, like leaves fall, but salvation is in much counsel” (Prov. 11:14). If a brother is knowledgeable, there is no sadness in his spirit if he lives holy. As Jacob turned to Laban the Syrian, so turn your face to him. Do you call yourself knowledgeable? Let them know this by your deeds. Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so knowledge without activity is idle. Signs of a good life in a young monk are humble abstinence from drinking wine and verbosity. Whoever loves them will not see their good life through to the end. Do not force your brother to drink wine to the point of intoxication, even if he has been drinking for a long time, for a ship takes a long time to build, but is crushed instantly with one blow. Let your soul love the meek young man, and do not place on him a burden beyond his strength, in order to save your soul in the Lord and receive an unfading crown of glory at the appearance of the Archpastor. Surround your house with a wall on all sides, and do not leave a hole in the fence, so that the enemy, entering through it, does not plunder your house and you become the cause of your death. Provide for the needy, and do not say: “He has no need,” so that good admonition does not subsequently lead to poverty. Whatever methods the Lord has given you, use them to help the poor, so that we do not be condemned for lack of love and unmercifulness. Let us listen, brothers, to the one who says: “If we have food and clothing, we will be satisfied with these. But those who want to get rich fall into misfortunes and snares, and into many senseless and harmful lusts, which plunge people into destruction and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:8–10). Honor your father with all your might, and do not violate the statutes of him who begat you in the Lord; in this case, the crafty demons will not overcome you. Especially humble your soul before the Lord - and you will find grace. For “the Lord destroys the houses of troublemakers” (Prov. 15:25), “and plant the meek in their place” (Sir.10:17). “Do not reproach a person who turns from sin... Do not dishonor a person in his old age: for you yourself will grow old” (Sir.8:6-7). Do not neglect the sick, for it is written: “He who stops his ears, who will not listen to the weak, will call him, and he will not listen to him” (Prov. 21:13). He is hated in the neighborhood who carries speeches from house to house; “A wise man leads in silence” (Proverbs 11:12). Do not enter your brother’s cell without first knocking on the door, because indignation is indecent to silence. An intelligent abbot strengthens the souls of the brethren with his admonition and teaching of the Lord, but he who neglects them will suffer harm. Show honor to the elders for the sake of the Lord and for the sake of the most leading of the brethren. Do not force the elders to work, because they crushed the flesh of their youth with their exploits. For those who fear the Lord, the testimony of their conscience is sufficient. It is not good for a person who is able to work to eat bread in idleness, when the apostle says: “I have kept you for myself without being cold, and I will keep it” (2 Cor. 11:9). It is written: “The blessings of mercy: for these will be mercy” (Matthew 5:7). Do not offend your neighbor under the pretext that he is not standing in the right place; the church is not made up of pillars, but of people; Therefore it is written: “Woe to him who multiplies himself, since he does not exist, how long?” and aggravating the burden of his burden. For suddenly those who gnaw at him will rise up, and your accusers will take courage, and you will become their plunder” (Hab. 2:6-7). He who builds a house for himself in unrighteousness builds a monument for himself, testifying to his covetousness, for the saints hated every unrighteous way. It is a great danger for children to live in a monastery if there is no proper management there. And whoever raises children in a manner pleasing to God is blessed. The shepherd who sleeps outside the sheepfold prepares himself for considerable damage, because the sleep of shepherds is joy for the wolves. If a brother humbles himself under your hand, then understand that he is not doing this out of fear of you; and therefore remember the Lord, for Whom he endures, and you should not embitter him. Do not seek profit that is harmful to the soul, for what is more valuable than the soul? A poor monk who is silent in humility is better than a rich monk who is filled with pride and arrogance. Do not confirm your alliance with your brother with an oath, but be of one mind with him in the fear of God. Look, monk, and wanting to please those who think in a worldly way, do not ruin your monastic life, but remain in the fear of God all day long. A grumbling monk will suffer great harm, but if he endures everything courageously, then he will inherit joy. Let us not be faint-hearted, beloved, because we cannot live forever in this life. Whatever anyone does for the Lord, it is all profit to him. For “the belly is meat and the belly is meat; God will bring to naught both this and this” (1 Cor. 6:13). If you, monk, are attentive to yourself, then, firstly, you will do yourself a favor, and then you will bring joy to those who love you, since Wisdom says: “Son, if you are wise, you will be wise for yourself and your sincere ones; if you are evil, you will only draw evil” (Proverbs 9:12). Understand, monk, what I say; let us not have reverence outwardly, and luxury in our cells, so as not to become like “these are the graves that have been laid down” (painted), “those outside” (outside) “are” red, “inside” (inside) “the essence of the bones” of men... “and uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). For in every place there is one God, to whom be glory forever! Amen. Humble the thought of pride before pride humbles you. Put down the thought of arrogance before it overthrows you. Crush lust before lust crushes you. Do not reproach your brother for inconstancy, lest you yourself fall into the same weakness. If you live with a great old man, then not only recount his virtues, but also imitate his life, for this is useful for you. Towards the beginner, monk, show patience, because everything is possible with the Lord. The beginner, who hates humility, has no weapon to fight against; and he will suffer a great defeat. He who desires carnal peace prepares for himself many illnesses, but he who is long-suffering is saved. An intelligent abbot will not consider it unimportant to listen to the bewilderment between the newcomer and his elder, but the knowledgeable one will examine the matter exactly and reconcile them with the fear of God. He who multiplies words in a monastery multiplies quarrels and self-hatred, but he who guards his lips will be loved. Good is obedience observed for God's sake, beloved; therefore learn what kind of obedience is pleasing to God. Obedience observed for the sake of God is filled with holiness even to death. Make efforts for your soul, and do not be embarrassed by your fall, for there is shame, which leads to sin, and there is shame, in which there is glory and grace. If you fall into illness, beloved, remember who says: “Son, do not despise the punishment of the Lord; let us rebuke him; for the Lord loves him, punishes him, and beats every son whom he accepts” (Proverbs 3:11-12). Whoever is imprisoned and thinks to resist the king, will he do himself any good? And whoever falls at his feet and begs is more likely to arouse compassion for himself. The brother once fell ill and said to himself: “Woe is me, a sinner! I will grow old in this weakness.” He recovered, and again another illness befell him, which was worse than the previous one; and he said the same word again; meanwhile, he did not tell the person about his suffering, but began to ask for mercy from the Lord, who gives health in illness and strength in weakness. If a spirit of despondency comes upon you, do not leave your home, but resist this spirit with patience. Let no thought persuade you to move from place to place. For if you incline to this thought, you will never have patience. “It is written: How will the youngest correct his path? Always keep Your words” (Ps. 119:9). In this way the one who lives in society with the brethren will be saved most of all. One must acquire the fear of the Lord and the highest degree of chastity, from which are born love, joy, peace, obedience, generosity, self-control, patience and everything that is appropriate for Christians. “Let every man be quick to hear, and heedless of his words, and heedless of wrath; for wrath hath not wrought the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20). Even if he sees, he does not see what is not useful to him, and when he hears, he does not hear what is obscene. Let him make himself the last of the last, and find hope for himself. For “everyone who exalts himself will humble himself, but he who humbles himself will exalt himself” (Luke 18:14). If someone begins to give orders, but does not help in labor to the best of his ability, then he will have labor at the end. The same wind does not always blow, but there are changes in the winds; therefore, we must accustom ourselves to the task, for we do not know what the day will bring forth (Proverbs 27:1). Always have before your eyes the One who said: “Judge not, lest ye be judged: for by the same judgment ye judge, you will be judged; and measure according to the measure, it will be measured to you. What do you see, the bitch that is in your brother’s eye, and the log that is in your eye, don’t you hear? Or what do you say to your brother: leave him alone, so that I may remove the speck from your mind: and behold, the log is in your eye? O hypocrite, first remove the thorn from your hair, and then you will see that the mote has been taken away from your brother’s hair” (Matthew 7:1-6), and, without a doubt, you will gain grace before the Lord and before people. Do not allow your eyes to turn this way and that, and do not peer into the beauty of others, so that with the help of your eyes your enemy will overthrow you. Compete not with those who are more careless than you, but with those who are adorned with every virtue. Don't be frivolous, brother; what is done without the fear of God has no consequences other than condemnation and repentance. Blessed is the soul that works for the Lord in truth, because in the end it will find rest from the Lord. A little negligence gives birth to sin, and a little sobriety averts great harm. It is better to eat about the Lord and thank the Lord, than not to eat and condemn those who eat and thank the Lord. Have you sat down to dinner? Eat bread, and do not slander your neighbor, lest through slander you become a devourer of your brother. For it is written: “My people devour bread for food, but have not called the Lord” (Ps. 13:4). Be sound in your faith and eat everything that is offered to you in the Lord. If you are offered something edible that you do not want to eat, do not send him away from the meal, when many want to eat and thank the Lord. Have you sat down to dinner? Eat like a man, and don’t look around like an ignoramus. One brother said: “It is not because of any pickiness that I refuse to eat meat: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is considered acceptable, being accepted with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:4). But since it is written: “Sweets do not benefit a fool” (Proverbs 19:10), then it is unreasonable for a monk to eat animal meat.” When pieces are offered, do not disdain the pieces, for the Lord commanded His disciples to gather up “the excess of the grain, so that nothing should perish” (John 6:12). If a brother, yielding to temptation, leaves his place, and then, repenting, wants to return, then do not prevent this, beloved, but rather advise him to do this; “Do not consider what the day will bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). Such people should not be despised as having fallen into deception, but rather they should be accepted again as having been freed from weakness. If you live with the brethren, do not give anyone a reason to separate from the fraternity, so as not to be condemned in the next world. Most of all, beware of seducing anyone, so as not to be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven along with those who create temptations. If your brother finds it difficult to do, share the work with him so that on that day you may be worthy to hear from the Lord: “What you did to the least of these brethren of Mine, you did it for Me” (Matthew 25:40). He who neglects the weak angers the Teacher, and he who rejoices in the fall of his brother is subject to a disastrous fall. Don’t say: “Today I will sin, but tomorrow I will repent.” But we’d better repent today, because we don’t know whether we’ll live to see tomorrow. Have we sinned, beloved? Let us repent, because the Lord accepts the repentance of those who truly repent. Monk, don’t say: “Here there is war and cramped conditions, but there is peace and a carefree life.” For do you know who is fighting with us? Isn't the devil our enemy? So, listen to what Job says: “And the Lord said to the devil: Where are you coming from? Then the devil spoke before the Lord: “Having passed through the heavens and traversed all the earth, he has come” (Job 2:2). Therefore, know that wherever you go, the sky is always above you. Therefore, remain in the place where you are called and resist the devil; and he will run away from you. And draw close to God, and He will draw close to you. He who loves gold will not be justified; and whoever loves the Lord will be blessed. He who puts his trust in gold will fall; and whoever puts his trust in the Lord will be saved. Woe to the one into whom unbelief, fearlessness, ignorance, foolishness and shamelessness have entered, because “the parts of the fox will be (they will fall as prey to the foxes)” (Ps. 62:11). But blessed is the soul in which the fear of God dwells. Whoever does not like to serve one master will serve many, and whoever does not want to obey one superior will obey many in different places. Anyone who does not stay with one handicraft will be overwhelmed with different things. Whoever decorates his clothes harms his soul, because expensive clothes disgrace the soul of a monk; Poor clothes are fitting for a monk. An evil reproach to a monk is pride, insolence, insensibility, shamelessness, recklessness, hot temper, madness. A reproach to a monk is a wandering eye; for the wandering eye causes much sorrow to those who follow it. If you do not refrain from wandering your eyes, you will not pave the straight paths of chastity. A reproach for a person is to get drunk with wine; Having seen many, I did not find anyone like the drunkard. The monk who boasts of his strength is the first madman; It is shame and reproach for a monk to boast about his own strength: “boast, let him boast in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31). “A fool (a fool) lifts up his voice in laughter” (Sir.21:23), and even crazier is the one who, while walking, strongly moves his shoulders and waves his arms. It is a sign of ignorance in a monk if, in great excitement, he lifts the left side of his shirt; he who has learned decency in everything will be reverent. A disastrous passion in a person is to make oaths habitual to his tongue. Do not make oaths familiar to your tongue, so that your ignorance does not increase, and instead of justification, you accumulate heaps of sins. Glory to the monk - to fear the Lord and keep His commandments; glory to the monk - to humble himself before the small and before the great. Glory to the monk - prudence and humility. Glory to the monk - forgetfulness of malice, and patience, and sobriety in every good deed. Do not despise the elder if you wish to enter into the work of monastic life, because the Lord did not reject those who came at the “one ten hour” (Matthew 20:9), and you do not know that perhaps he too is a “chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15). If you love pride, you will become part of the demons; if you love humility, you will be a part of the Lord Christ. If you love the love of money, you will leave here with nothing, and if you love non-covetousness, you will not be deprived of heavenly wealth. If you hide the passion of memory and malice in your heart, you will become an abode of rage and ignorance, and with them sadness, and the appearance of your face will change. For it is said: “The way of those who remember evil is death” (Proverbs 12:28). A highly intelligent person will suffer much sorrow, but a humble person will always rejoice in the Lord. High-mindedness strives for honor at all times, but humility does not exalt itself in glory, and does not worry about dishonor, because it expects a reward from the Lord. He who hides the memory of malice in his heart is like one who feeds a serpent on his breast. Do not give sorrow to your heart, for “sorrow makes the death of the world,” and sorrow, “according to God,” brings you eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10). Seek the Lord, beloved, with all your strength, so that your soul may be saved and vice may not enter your heart. Just as a threshold in a river turns the flow of water in a different direction, so vice turns knowledge away from the heart. “If you persecute the truth, you will comprehend it and put on the nude like a podir” (Podir “(c.-sl.)” is the long robe of the Old Testament priests, like a sakkos) of “glory” (Sir. 27:8). A monk who interferes in everyday affairs will suffer a lot of harm, but one who remains engaged in ascetic labors will not suffer harm. Whoever, after renouncing and moving away from the world, turns his thoughts to the worldly, is no different from a person who cuts his own hair. Whoever thinks to joke with one and the other is deceiving himself, for it is written: “God cannot be mocked. For whatever a man sows, that will he also reap” (Gal.6:7). Do not look, monk, into the city streets, and do not wander through the city squares, lest you come across something and your soul creeps (slides) into destruction. Arrogance blinds the eyes of the wise, but humility enlightens them with love, for “he will teach the meek his way” (Ps. 24:9). Don’t go, brother, into the mud of mud (creeps) and move away from people who walk fearlessly. It is dangerous for a person to rely on himself; He who trusts in the Lord will be saved. He who adorns his clothes will become proud, but a proud monk is a fledgling eagle. A humble monk is an easy walker and, as it were, a sharp shooter. Just as iron (the sword) refines and subdues everything, so humility according to God destroys the machinations of the enemy. What a spear is to a trapper, and a weapon is to a warrior, humility is to a monk. Hurry, brother, to voluntarily enter the narrow and cramped path, before you involuntarily enter the even cramped path. A worldly man’s boast is his way out, but a monk’s praise is his intention not to cross the threshold of his home. Beloved, listen: a fighter during a feat closes his lips: and you close your lips for everything unnecessary, and you will have hope. It is said: “How great is he who has gained wisdom, but there is none greater than he who fears the Lord” (Sir.25:13). The one who began is great, but not the one who continued; Great is the first, but not as the one who did it. Do not love carnal peace, lest you find spiritual harm in it. Do not be curious about someone else's, so as not to destroy your own. Do not go into excessive work, because it is good and useful to do everything in moderation and in order. Anyone who does not have the fear of God in his heart, even if he began to eat honey and milk every day, cannot be at peace; but the believer endures everything courageously. Remain under the good yoke of the Lord, so that you may escape the evil and heavy yoke of this world. Do not go to your brother’s cell. If you have a useful book, and your brother, having heard it, wants to use it, don’t be stingy, give it to him. And you, beloved, use the book carefully and return it in peace to the one to whom it belongs. If you have a monastery book in your cell, then do not throw it away with disdain, but take care of it and carefully wrap it, as if it were God’s. An impudent monk shames the abbot and brethren, but a wise one preserves their honor. Abstinence wears out the flesh, and overeating makes the mind coarse. What gives a monk patience in his cell is not the fact that he, without grieving, does the work according to the established order, but the fear of God, the remembrance of death and torment. It is better to engage in business, prayer and meditation while reading the Divine Scriptures, than to stop at the wrong time and indulge in idle talk, from which slander is born. Do not tempt your brother by persecuting him with ridicule, lest you yourself be handed over in need; for it is written: “Whoever provokes words will not be saved” (Prov. 19:7). Whoever makes himself hated by his malicious intent will be the one who will be loved? And those who love those who love you, “what is your reward,” as the Lord said. “Do not sinners do the same things?” (Matthew 5:46). A hot-tempered man will stir up the souls of his brethren, but a long-suffering man in love will fear the Lord. Do not burden a young worker, and do not go with a foolish old man; and wise elders are the support of the brethren in God. A great thing is abstinence of the eyes, belly and tongue, and if mercy is still in abundance with it, it will shine like a light. A person who praises his neighbor in his absence is the same as one who collects good things into his treasury. Fear the Lord and you will inherit good things. Do not walk in the ways of sinners, but follow the paths of the righteous. If you love the ways of righteousness, you will find eternal life. If you love silence, you will sail in silence. If you love silence, you will be loved by many. If you turn away your eyes, “not to see vanity” (Ps. 119:37), you will find pure thoughts. If you love abstinence, you will curb the demon of fornication. If you love poverty, you will put the demon of the love of money to flight. Whoever hides gold in his cell accumulates in himself the passions of arrogance and insubordination. And whoever collects prayers and alms into his treasury grows rich in God. Others save money for themselves, and you, monk, save prayers and alms for yourself. Others have fun with pipes and music, but you, monk, have fun with psalmody and glorification of the Lord. Others enjoy luxury and drunkenness, but you, monk, enjoy abstinence and holiness. Others find joy in pleasures, but you, monk, find joy in God, Who has prepared a crown of glory for you and those who love Him. A man who loves Christ is an insurmountable tower, and a man perfect in love is an indestructible wall. If, while walking, you want to do some thinking, then think silently, and you will avoid vanity. It is good to raise someone who has fallen to his feet, and not to ridicule him. The north wind makes the sea turbulent, and temper stirs the thoughts in a person; but generosity drives away irritability; without irritability, anger also ceases. If you do not want to build, beloved, then do not destroy what has been built; If you don’t want to plant, then don’t uproot what you planted. If you do not want to remain silent, brother, then do not corrupt those who are silent. If you don’t want, brother, to offer hymns to the Lord, then don’t interrupt those singing. “The rich man spoke, and kept everyone silent, and lifted up his word even to the clouds” (Sir.13:28). And God speaks to us in the Holy Scriptures, but we do not want to shut up and listen; opposite to the one who speaks, who dozes, and the other is spinning with thoughts somewhere far away. But what does Scripture say? “He who turned away his ear did not listen to the law” of the Most High, “and he himself detested his own prayer” (Prov. 28:9). A careless monk thinks during prayer about hearing: “Amen,” but he who prays with a sober mind is not embarrassed. May what the prophet said not fall on us: “This people draws near to me with their lips... but their heart is far off” (Is. 29:13). Do not tempt your brother, and do not conspire with him to commit sin, lest the Lord become angry with you and deliver you into the hands of evil people. Blessed is the man who has not offended his neighbor in any way, because “his reward is many in heaven” (Matthew 5:12); but whoever is foolishly tempted will cause many to stumble. If a person does not first of all have his sins before his own eyes, then he cannot remain silent in any place. Blessed is he who began a good life and completed it in a godly manner. It is written: “He who honors his father will rejoice over his children and on the day his prayer will be heard. Glorify your father and he will live a long life,” and on the day of his death he will gain grace. “Honor your father in deed and word... may you find blessings” from him. “Thou shalt not be glorified in the dishonor of thy father, for thou art not the glory of the father's dishonor. Glory to a man comes from the honor of his father, and a child’s reproach to his mother comes from dishonor” (Sir.3:5-11). You have, monk, instead of carnal parents, who gave birth to you in the Lord in spirit and guide you to eternal life. Listen to the one who says: “Child, carry on your deeds in meekness, and you will be loved as a pleasant person. As great as you are, humble yourself, and you will find grace before the Lord... for great is the power of the Lord, and is glorified by the humble. There is no healing in the guidance of the great: for the garden of wickedness has taken root in it” (Sir.3:17-18, 20, 28). Three kinds of deeds increase vanity, and the fourth kind is not among the good ones: if the young do not obey; if the elders are jealous of the successes of the younger ones; if the reverent one deviates into worthless deeds, and if the superior with his ignorance oppresses the souls of the brethren. Four kinds of deeds increase glory, and the fourth kind of good before the Lord and before people: if the brethren are unanimous in meekness and righteousness, if a brother teaches his brother the fear of the Lord, if the younger ones are subordinate to the elders as if they were their masters, and if the superior loves his brethren as himself and truly cares about the salvation of their souls. Pride, in any form, is dangerous to a person. Do not love pride, beloved, because there is no benefit in it. Every infirmity is healed with care, but the disease of pride is a difficult evil to heal; because she rejects healing medicine and invents mortal poison for herself. May she not be among the servants of Christ! The word true and modest is the praise of a monk, and who loves jokes; he's crazy. A holiday for a monk - keeping the commandments of Christ; The consolation is not to do anything bad. The joy of a monk is the transition to the Lord, and his praise is the fear of the Lord. I could not have a part in worldly wisdom; I ask the Lord for grace and remission of sins more than emerald, hyacinth, and barrels full of gold, and the learning of this world. I confess to You, Master Father, that You did not deprive me of what I asked and did not despise the prayer of Your indecent servant, because You are the hope of the hopeless and the help of the helpless. May the name of Your Majesty be blessed forever! Amen. Ask, monk, from the Lord what is appropriate to your vow, and he will give you twice as much. Without water a tower cannot be built, and without knowledge virtue cannot succeed. I saw a young man who wisely consoled an old man, and for this let us give glory to God. “Do not follow your lusts,” monk, “and refrain from your lusts. If,” it is said, “give good will to your soul,” create “joy” for your enemy (Sir. 18:30–31). He who feeds the flesh of his body feeds evil lusts, and shameful thoughts will not become scarce in him. Oppress, monk, and enslave your flesh, so as not to be rejected. Do what is good in your flesh, and you will bear fruit for God. Do you want, monk, to achieve peace in the company of the brethren? Be content with the common meal of the brethren and “there will be healing in your body and healing in your bones” (Proverbs 3:8), and your soul will not suffer harm. “If you keep your eyes on cups and glasses, watch” (then) you will get sick... “as if you were wounded by a serpent” (Prov. 23:31-32). If you see a reverent man holding food in his hands, do not judge him in your mind, because you do not know to whom he will offer it. Take care, monk, about your inner work, and do not decorate useless walls, because the splendor of the cell does not give the monk patience. We will look for something that satisfies our needs, because what is superfluous and serves our entertainment is useless. The lazy monk looks for an excuse and says: “Today I live here, and tomorrow I will go to another place; Why should I work?” Place a hammer and an anvil in your mind, monk, and test the thoughts of your heart; and those that turn out to be worthless, throw them away. He who rejoices at the fall of the pious falls twice. And whoever turns a person “from the error of his way” will be saved (James 5:20). If a brother has sinned, we gladly blame him, but if we sin ourselves, we do not gladly accept reproof. Fight, brother, not for the devil, but rather with the devil. Accept, brother, “from your youth... punishment, and even to your gray hairs you will find” grace and prudence (Sir.6:18). A monk who is ready to courageously endure whatever happens will only partly have sorrows. Your own betrayal is negligence. Negligence - and dangerous captivity; and sobriety makes captives those who captivate. “In the festival of hands the church will drip” (Eccl. 10:18), and he who lives in it will run away from it whenever he wants. A lazy monk will not lock the door of his cell until it breaks, flapping in the wind; and a sober monk will be blameless. He who bridles his eyes will become light; but he who has a wandering eye will take upon himself a burden. For it is said: “the vapor of lust changes” (corrupts) “a mind that is not evil” (Wis. 4:12). If, out of passion, you give free rein to your eyes to look at vanity, then quickly stop them, so as not to fall into the shame of carnality. When the flesh is inflamed, do not touch the secret members, so as not to cause severe inflammation. Blessed is he who has conquered all carnal lust. It is just as bad to let an evil thought grow in the soul as it is to let grass grow in a garden of vegetables. Can an island lying in the middle of the sea stop the waves from hitting it? At least the island resists the waves. Likewise, we cannot stop thoughts, but we can resist thoughts. Maybe someone else will ask: “Why is the soul sometimes overcome by thoughts?” Because the soul does not resist thoughts, but allows them to enter inside, and they, finding food for themselves there, gradually upset the soul. Four passions are difficult to heal (Proverbs 30:16), and these are self-love, love of money, vanity and covetousness, for they do not say: “it is sufficient” (Enough!). However, it is not impossible for God to heal from them. Before passion takes root in you, tear it out of yourself, and before it sprouts, pluck its root from the very depths. For if you allow it to take root in you, it will dominate you. He who prays soberly burns demons; and whoever prays absent-mindedly, they laugh at him. He who is carried away by his own wishes and pleasant thoughts easily becomes a prisoner, but he who abstains will be saved. Unbelief gives rise to double-mindedness, and double-mindedness gives rise to negligence; negligence is oblivion, oblivion is despair, and despair is death. Why do passions prevail in us? Is it not because of our negligence? Do not be a slave to your members, lest your members rule over you. Use them for good deeds, and not for evil, and you will become an acquisition (acquisition) precious to your Master. The sign of a lazy soul is to be reluctant to listen to Scripture. And a sober soul accepts the words of God, like a thirsty earth accepts rain. A good bed nourishes sleep, but ungodliness increases it. Do you have a sheep? Don't lock up the wolf with her. And whatever thing your enemy fights against you with, do not bring him into your house. And if you do, do not weaken in thought, but have the fear of God before your eyes, so that your enemies do not laugh at you. A house built on sand cannot stand; and asceticism, to which anything is mixed, does not last long. And whoever works in the fear of God will not lose his reward. During prayer, do not engage in extraneous conversation, and your mind will not be darkened for prayer. Have you, brother, begun to sing psalmody to God? Open your mouth to the word of God, according to the word of him who said: “I will sing to my God, where I am” (Ps. 103:33). Be careful that, through your carelessness, alien thoughts do not disturb your thoughts. But, having sung in the spirit, “sing also in the mind” (1 Cor. 14:15). A great gift is tears in prayer, and being carried away by demonic thoughts is the same as death. Demons make a heart that has fallen from the heights of heavenly thoughts become attached to earthly things. And when it despises the corruptible, then it will accept the imperishable. Tawny owls will gather to the carrion; and to the soul that despairs of itself, demons will gather; “Where there is a corpse, there the tawny owls will gather” (Matthew 24:28). Let us lift up our minds, beloved, for a little more time, and let us pass from here, “and what you have prepared, for whom will they be?” (Luke 12:20). Just as smoke drives away bees, so does vice drive knowledge from the heart. No one is amused by the truth, but everyone is amused by covetousness (greed); no one rejoices that he has not offended his neighbor, but everyone is glad if he bargains for a lot for a little. Lightning precedes the thunder (Sir.32:12), and every bird moves away from the face of the thick cloud. The boastfulness of the hunter who chases the boar betrays itself to the slaughter; and the husband's anger prepares his downfall. The lion, chasing prey for his belly, becomes a captive; and the glutton humiliates himself for the pleasure of the belly. An unbridled horse betrays its rider into the hands of evildoers; and a stiff-necked (unfeeling) person falls into trouble. They track the beast through the snow; and during temptation, Satan watches the monk. The dignity of a monk is learned through temptation. Try, beloved, to acquire prudence; the virtues of monastic life are hidden in it. What does it mean to have prudence? To protect another from temptation, and to choose what is best and what leads to salvation. Do you want to be great? Be the least of all (Mark 9:35). Do you want to gain a good name? “Pass your deeds in meekness” (Sir.3:17). “Whoever fears the Lord will have good in the end” (Sir.1:13), because He will glorify those who fear Him. Do not listen, monk, to envy; Do not scheme against your brother and do not give him a reproachful name. If you wish to drive him out of his place with shame, be careful not to be subjected to what you intended for another. “Dig a hole” for your neighbor and “will fall into the nude” (Eccl. 10:8). Listen to what is written: “Their sinners will fall into the snare” (Ps. 140:10). And on him what has been said will be fulfilled: “But all who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Don’t imagine, brother, an excuse when you say: “This brother is doing harm to the partnership.” But do not do evil to another, and do not enter into community with those who do evil, because God tests “the hearts and the wombs” (Ps. 7:10). If your brother leaves the monastery, do not be arrogant in your thoughts, brother, and let him not be dishonest in your eyes: “Do not consider what he will give birth to (the day)” (Prov. 27:1). Listen to the one who says: “Be sure to stand and be careful, lest you fall” (1 Cor. 10:12); “Do not praise yourself for this skillful man, but God praises him” (2 Cor. 10:18). For many thought of themselves that they had gained the upper hand and were in charge, but they went from being out of the woods to out of the woods, and desperate people accepted grace, because “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). If you see a person who is disobedient and intemperate, proud “and wise for himself” (Prov. 9:12), then his root is already half dead, because it does not accept the fatness (sweets) imparted by the fear of God (Ps. 16:10). And if you see a silent and humble person, then know that his root is strong; because he is filled with the fatness of the fear of God. If our superiors are not with us, brothers, but they are somewhere else, then the Great One is with us. For He who said: “Where... they are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them” is not deceitful (Matthew 18:20). So, let us be attentive to ourselves, beloved! An unruly monk lays his hands on a person, but a merciful one will have mercy. When you give a brother a deed, you are doing a good deed, if only you give him a reward in the love of God, because not to harm another is a reverent deed. He who has found the path of long-suffering and kindness has found the path of life. An absent-minded person works on holidays and serves as a servant on weekdays. The sparrow lures the sparrow into a trap; and a sinner like himself is drawn into the depths of evil. Avoid, monk, being with those who love idleness and do not want to remain silent. Flee, monk, those who love feasts and say: “I make a feast today, and you will make it the next day.” For if you bow to these words, you will not lead a valiant life. On the contrary, in order to receive eternal life, imitate those who are burning in spirit and follow the narrow and strait path, because the wide and spacious path leads those who follow it “to destruction” (Matthew 7:13). A careless and careless monk, as soon as some thought comes to him, having locked the door of his cell, he himself rushes here and there, like a ship without a rudder; and whoever sits patiently in his cell does not get carried away by vain thoughts. He who is jealous of his brother’s success excludes himself from eternal life, but he who helps his brother will be his accomplice in eternal life. For if both those who do evil and those who participate in them are punished by the court, then will not the Lord even more reward the one who promotes the fulfillment of His will? It is written: “Many are the sorrows of the righteous, and the Lord will deliver me from them all” (Ps. 33:20). “Many are the wounds of the sinner” (Ps. 31:10). “The death of sinners is cruel” (Ps. 33:22). It is not yet a virtue to be dishonored and not feel it; on the contrary, here is a virtue - to recognize this and despise it for the sake of piety, for it is said: “The sluggard is not humbled by reproach” (Proverbs 20:4). It is better to stop irritation with a smile than to rage indomitably. But to a wise man, crying is sweeter than laughter. “Who will put a treasure in my mouth and a seal of understanding on my lips? Let me not fall before them, and let not my tongue destroy me... Master of my life, do not leave me in their council and do not let me fall into them” (Sir.22: 31; 23:1). For You said, Lord: “By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). If the prophet said: “like a port” (rag) “all our righteousness is unclean” (Is. 64:6), what will I say, born in sins? And now, Master, all my hope rests on Your bounties. “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). “Lord... do not let me be proud of my eyes, and turn away evil lust from Me” (Sir.23:4). Do not believe in deceptive dreams, beloved; “For many were deceived by sleep, and those who hoped in her fell away” (Sir.34:7). For what measure of perfection have we achieved so that we can see visions of Angels? Great is the success and great is the glory of humility, and there is no fall in it. A sign of humility is to meet your brother's needs with both hands, just as you would accept an allowance yourself. A monk who seeks an inheritance from his carnal parents will fall into temptation, but he who seeks the Lord will be saved. Don’t say: “What will I eat if I grow old?” We are not allowed to worry about the morning, but you are already worrying about old age. Let us seek “the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added” to us (Matthew 6:33). For He Himself said: “For your Heavenly Father will tell you what you require before you ask” (Matthew 6:8). If we do not look for this first of all, then it will clearly be that we do not care about it. So, “cast your sorrow on the Lord, and He will nourish you” (Ps. 54:23). If the Lord prospers (succeeds) in your hands, then take care of it as if He Himself had to give an account of it. He who has mercy on the poor will be filled with good things, but for those who have no mercy the heavenly bridal chamber will be closed. He who trusts in man will not see good things, but he who trusts in the Lord “will be saved” (Prov. 29:25). “Do not be quick with your tongue” (Sir.4:33), because “in the mouth of righteous men grace drips” (Prov.10:32). Many foods make the mind coarse, but good abstinence cleanses it. Be attentive to yourself, monk, be attentive to yourself when meeting women. Be careful, beloved, that your soul is not caught under the pretext of a kukol, or analava, or some other garment, for the wicked man has many ambushes. It is better to wear old clothes and take care of your soul in the fear of God, than to dress luxuriously and live improperly. He who keeps the commandments loves himself, but he who neglects them harms his soul. A drunken and irritable man disturbs the souls of his brethren, and his shame is constantly with him. Apply emollient medicine to the scab, and reverence to the unhypocritical young man. A young monk who follows his own thoughts and does not accept the advice of experienced people becomes a desert. The bad mistake in a young monk is disobedience, but submission to the Lord is a strong cover. The proud and rebellious man will see bitter days; but the humble and patient will always rejoice in the Lord. It is a great thing to find a humble and patient person; His kindness has no measure. Do not argue against the truth and be ashamed about your lack of punishment: do not be ashamed to confess your sins (Sir.4:29-30). Don’t say: we sinned, and what will happen to us? The Lord is long-suffering. Do not hesitate to turn to the Lord and do not delay day by day (Sir.5:4, 8). Remember that wrath will not tarry (Sir.7:18). “Do not let your hand be stretched out to take, but be bent to give” (Sir.4:35). A prudent monk will protect himself with love, while a foolish one will increase hatred towards himself. He who exalts himself over his brother is mocked by demons. Never humiliate your brother, because it is written: “Many torments have sat on the earth, but the unexpected has been tied with a crown” (Sir.11:5). Rejoice in the truth, but it is better to look at sin with despondency. Love of fame is a mental illness, a crafty passion. Have you, monk, left your cell on business? Observe your feelings so as not to incur abuse and confusion of thoughts. “Where there is no fence, the property will be plundered, and where there is no patience, he will sigh in wandering” (Sir.36:27). The lazy monk gathers many excuses for himself, and the drowsy one falls into trouble. A covetous monk is like a barren palm tree, and a non-covetous monk is like a trimmed palm tree that grows tall. A monk attached to the material is like a hawk flying with straps on his legs; wherever he sits, he will immediately become confused; and not attached to the material is the same as a traveler equipped for the road. Many seem to themselves to be prudent, and cannot imagine that their imaginary prudence will turn to the detriment of their soul. There is no wisdom, no prudence, no good counsel in a soul that hates the fear of God. True wisdom does everything according to God. “A sweet throat will make many friends” (Sir. 6:5), and he who loves the Lord will keep His ways. Show honor to your brother before his friends, and you will be honored before the Lord. A faithful steward will win the souls of his brethren, but the order of the vindictive will scatter them. A prudent steward will divide fairly, but a foolish one will prepare quarrels. An insatiable monk will not be satisfied with his fair share, and the talkative one will cause confusion, but the one who fears the Lord “leads to silence” (Prov. 11:12). A drunken steward will be deprived of glory, but a temperate, modest and humble steward will succeed in glory. Do not cover yourself with weakness, monk, when you are healthy, for it is written: “And bring their desire to them” (Ps. 77:29). Let us not reject, brethren, the grace of the Lord, who gives us strength to do good, but by doing good with this strength, let us continually thank the Lord. He who laughs at his neighbor is, as it were, slandering him, and slander is hateful to God and people. He who grieves his neighbor provokes him to irritation, but peacemakers are blessed, “for these shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Show honor to the elders for the sake of the Lord; be compassionate towards the young man who is left behind, and you will receive a reward from the Lord. It is written: “Do not do what is worthless that perishes, but do what is worthless for what abides in eternal life” (John 6:27). Let your hands do what is good, so that you can give to the needy (Eph. 4:28). And let your heart always be turned to the Lord, and then you will do what is good and what does not perish. Work, brother, and don’t play around, for idleness has taught you great vice. A monk who grumbles will suffer much harm, but he who endures everything courageously will find his wealth in the end. A prudent minister will not be slack in his work, and he who fears the Lord will not cause his brethren to stumble. You run, beloved, stinging your body with arrows; Better run away from those who sting your soul. You run around a snake that bites your body; Better run away from the woman who gnaws at your soul. He who attends to the beauty of a woman instills in his soul the desire for her beauty, and whoever lingers at the door of her house is like one walking on ice, because creep is not far from him. You run, beloved, from the fire so that your body does not burn; flee from sin, so that your body and soul do not burn in unquenchable fire. Like two fighters, a monk is in company with a woman; the sober one will collect gain, but he himself will not be robbed. A faithful doorkeeper is, according to God, a faithful keeper of souls, but an unfaithful one betrays his soul to be plundered. We count the time that we have lived in a solitary life, and out of ignorance we exalt ourselves in the negligence to which we indulged in it. Praise for a person is not one time, but success, and success is not to acquire gray hair, but to acquire a valiant life. A warrior gains distinction with a shield, sword and helmet, and a novice monk – with faith, repentance and love. Faith gives birth to purity, humility, obedience, long-suffering and self-control; repentance is tears; and love is patience and hope. Whoever constantly moves from one cell to another will acquire vain thoughts; whoever stays in one place is more silent. “From your youth,” beloved, “choose punishment, and even to your gray hairs you will gain wisdom” (Sir.6:18). From your youth, sow your field, and be careful that thorns do not sprout in it, as in an uncultivated field. Bring good fruit from it, and give glory to Him who gives you strength. Rains breed weeds, and dealing with worldly people produces the passion of arrogance. But he who fears the Lord does not boast. If you have been vouchsafed a gift, do not be arrogant, for you do not have a single perfection, “which you have received” from God (1 Cor. 4:7); and if you do not walk according to His commandment and will, He will take away His property from you and give it to someone better; and then you will be like a man whose pen has just been dipped in ink. Like two roosters in one place, there are two thoughts in the heart of a monk. Get away from what is alien to you, and your soul will become silent. A prudent person will keep the commandments, and whoever keeps them has acquired a paradise of eternal joys. Speak a word of consolation to a careless soul, and the Lord will strengthen your heart. If, after prayer, it is time for you to drink a cup of wine, then go hastily to your cell and, having closed the doors, thank the Lord, Who has supplied and continues to supply you. For if you multiply speeches after dinner, it produces ghosts and contrition. A person who gets drunk in the evening does and says what he shouldn’t, and in the morning he repents, but if he finds wine again, he does the same again. If you once fell into temptation, then beware in future. For it is written: “He who is born of God keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18). Do not drink wine to the point of intoxication, beloved, even if your friends who are with you beg you, for if wine overcomes you, then those who begged you will be seduced by you first of all. Be especially attentive to yourself so that oblivion does not take possession of you. The glutton works and laments how to fill his belly with food, and when he has eaten, he suffers during digestion; abstinence is accompanied by health and sobriety. A wandering monk is not invulnerable if he does not stay sober, but one who remains in the place to which he is called is more likely to find peace. He who puts little into nothing will gradually fall, and laziness little by little gives birth to involuntary poverty. If you are knowledgeable, do not reject the instructions of holy men, because this too is the fruit of knowledge. It is humiliating for a monk to enter into communication with any crowd of people; the reward for this is sadness and repentance. It is written: “Those who are righteous are praised, men will rejoice” (Prov.29:2); “The name of the wicked fades away” (Proverbs 10:7). “Let him who is sincere praise you, and not your own lips; let a stranger, and not your lips” (Prov. 27:2). “Temptation to strip silver and gold” (fiery test); and a man is “tempted by the lips of those who praise” him (Prov. 27:21). “A wise son keeps the law, but he who feeds a hungry man dishonors his father” (Prov. 28:7). Give honor to everyone for the sake of the Lord, without demanding honor for yourself, and you will find grace from the Lord. It is written: “He who does not disgrace the face of the righteous is not good; he who will sell his husband for a piece of bread” (Prov. 28:21). It is also written: “Blessed is the man who fears everyone because of their reverence, but he who is hard-hearted falls into evil” (Prov. 28:14). “A man who loves wisdom, his father rejoices; but he who feeds fornicators destroys his wealth” (Prov. 29:3). It is better to herd wisely than to herd carelessly. It is better to study diligently than to teach and do as you should not. He who admonishes himself admonishes another; He who teaches himself teaches his neighbor. Do not burden your brother, for even if you place a load on your livestock that is beyond your strength, it will stop halfway. In everything that comes your way, behave wisely and remember that God has given you help. Do not incline your ears to shameful speech, lest your mind be defiled. “Just as... the smoke of smoke is unprofitable” (Proverbs 25:20), so a shameful word is harmful to the soul. If the spirit of fornication bothers you, rebuke it, saying: “May the Lord consume you, full of stench, the demon of uncleanness!” For we know him who said: “The wisdom of the flesh is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). There is no wisdom, no prudence, where there is no fear of God, for the fullness of wisdom is to fear the Lord. It is written: “There is always light for the righteous, but the light of the wicked fades away” (Proverbs 13:9). “The tree of life is the desire” of the righteous (Proverbs 13:12); “He who hates reproof is foolish” (Proverbs 12:1). “You cannot avoid sin by speaking too much; but by sparing your lips, you will be wise” (Prov. 10:19). “Thoughts of the righteous destinies; But wickedness is ruled by flattery" (Thoughts the righteous is righteousness, but the plans of the wicked are deceit) (Prov. 12:5). He who precedes his neighbor with honor will gain honor, and he who does not respect the face of his brother will be admonished by the difficulty of his position. If you eat food with your brothers, then according to the rule, raise your hand to the dish; for “the turtle dove and the village gusset, the sparrows” (sparrows) “have preserved the times of their entrances” (Jer. 8:7). Raise your hand, and don’t be young because others are younger than you. And you, beloved, after spending the whole day in fasting, in one minute you become confused! Idleness is pleasant to you, but its end is bitter. You will be exhausted while working, but you will rejoice afterwards. It is written: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord; but if you do what is right, He will be pleased” (Prov. 12:22). He who multiplies his words will become vile; and whoever restrains his mouth will be loved. If you see that a careless person has turned to virtue, do not weaken in thought, but be all the more courageous, and during times of temptation strive to the greater extent. We, monks, will not transgress the measures of humility, lest we violate our reverence with something apparently done thoroughly. Thus, we will not consider it a great thing to suffer loss, because it is said: “But it is not fitting for the servant of the Lord to be boiled” (2 Tim. 2:24); “Blessed is the man who fears everyone because of their reverence” (Proverbs 28:14); “Do not strive to be angry in your soul, for wrath rests in the bosom of the foolish” (Eccl. 7:10). It is written: “A wise son is obedient to his father, but a disobedient son” leads to dishonor (Prov. 13:1). “He who guards his mouth guards his soul; but he who is bold with his mouth will fear himself” (Prov. 13:3). “Nothing is good for the wicked son” (Prov. 13:14), but he who keeps the commandments is blessed. “The law of the wise is the source of life: but the fool will die by a snare” (Proverbs 13:15). “He who walks rightly fears the Lord: but he who corrupts his ways will be dishonored” (Prov. 14:2). “You seek wisdom from the wicked, but you do not find it; but the sense of the wise is convenient” (Prov. 14:6). A garden without a fence will be trampled and empty; and whoever does not keep his mouth will destroy the fruit. “Trust in your wealth, this one will fall; but stand up for the righteous, that one will shine” (Prov. 11:28). He who squanders his wealth recklessly becomes poor; but whoever spends his faith in the Lord will never be abandoned. For it is written: “Give to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in glory” (Ps. 112:9). “They multiplied their wealth with interest, and the gain of the one who shows mercy is gathered by the poor” (Prov. 28:8). No matter how much a person exalts himself in the pride of his heart, he still tramples the ground from which he was taken and goes to the ground; The Lord exalts the humble. Smoke drives the bees away, and memory drives knowledge out of the heart. Pray to the Lord and shed tears before His goodness, then the memory of malice will not settle in your soul, and your prayer will be “like a censer” (Ps. 141:2) before Him. It is written: “Everyone who is high-hearted is unclean before God” (Prov. 16:5): “Glory goes before the humble” (Prov. 15:33). It is also written: “The husband seeks guilt: although he is separated from his friends, he will always be reproached” (Proverbs 18:1). Likewise, a monk who leaves the monastery blames the abbot and the brethren. It is written: “There is a way that a person thinks is right, but the last one ends up in hell” (Proverbs 14:12). And he also says: “The bold-hearted is satisfied with his ways, but a man is good because of his thoughts” (Prov. 14:14). Let us comfort one another, beloved; Let us serve one another, teach one another the fear of the Lord, until we enter the harbor of life. A gluttonous monk will care about many things, but an abstinent one is like a chamois in a field. What water is to fish, what silence in humility and love is to a monk. A monk’s traveling stock is reverence in the fear of God. The fear of the Lord is hallmark gold; whoever has purchased it will not be left behind. Enemies are trying to occupy your thoughts, monk, with rumors about carnal parents, but your joy and consolation in the Kingdom of Heaven will be abundant if you work patiently for the Lord to the end. Whoever wants to live peacefully in every place should not seek his own peace of mind, but the peace of others in the Lord, and find peace for himself. But the grumpy and malicious will never calm down. Until someone neglects the fear of God, he will not sin. Do you want not to sin? Keep the fear of God. And imagine sin as like high mountains, or the troubled surface of the sea, or a fiery flame that devours those plunged into it. For the enemy tries to reduce sin in your eyes until you fall into it. Do not have the desire to sin and, in your apology, do not point to your father, because Samuel lived with Eli, and Gehazi lived with Elisha. Have you been appointed shepherd? Do not bring destructive wolves into your flock, so that they do not devastate your flock, and when the Archpastor comes, this will be unpleasant for Him. Remove from the sheep every thing that is harmful to them, and you will not be called an evil worker. “Among the brethren, their elder is honorable, and he who fears the Lord is before His eyes” (Sir.10:24). Before starting a thing, imagine its end, and before a quarrel, blame Satan for it. For it is written, “He who is born of God keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18). It is not difficult to reach the point of vice, but it is scary and difficult to remain in the same vice. If a quarrel occurs between two brothers, then the first one who repents will receive the crown of victory, but the other one will also be crowned if he does not reject repentance, but willingly does what is necessary for peace. A sign of ignorance in a monk is to bare his legs while sitting with his brothers; the reverent one will sit gracefully. Concerning many words, monk, reason that the end of a thousand words will be silence; Therefore, having taken advantage of the benefits in advance, avoid losses. Don’t worry about your belly, monk, and you will have peace. Arrogance overthrows, but humility receives a victorious reward. If you bring someone, beloved, into your cell, try to let him go without being tempted, that is, do nothing without the fear of God, so as not to become an example of indecent deeds for him. For the apostle says: “Be without offense, Jew and Greek and the Church of God” (1 Cor. 10:32). Give honor to everyone, monk, not for the sake of reward, but for the sake of the Lord. Without rottenness, a worm cannot be bred, and it is not exterminated without careful supervision. Negligence does not arise without negligence, and it is not eradicated without diligence. But fear the Lord and you will find grace. Let the enemy not catch you, monk, doing anything alien to your vow. Never let you be surprised by a people-pleaser who tries to please many, but not the Lord. He who fears the Lord will not stumble, because he walks in the light of His commandments. Irritability in a person is a ditch for him; and whoever has overcome irritability in himself has passed this ditch. He who forms his people has peace with those outside; and the arrogant increases enmity towards himself. Blessed is the man who with meekness bore the yoke of the Lord Christ to the end, because pride is dangerous. The Lord dwells in the unanimity of the brethren, and their enmity amuses the evil one. How long will the earth hide the seed sown on it? Until it receives the “stench” (fragrance) of “water” (Job 14:9). Secretly, beloved, fulfill the commandments of the Lord, and the Lord will reward you openly. The monk is lazy and proud, as soon as he sees the work, he hides, and at dinner he puts himself among the first. A prudent monk does not prefer himself to humble brethren, but is a model for the faithful. He is not merciful who does not have compassion on the weak. For “the blessings of mercy are: for these will obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). A faithful steward will not deceive his brethren, and a valiant one does everything according to God. Do not wrong the hired man who gives you his life, and do not withhold wages from the worker, because he serves you. Give your payment on time and you will receive your reward on time. He who remains silent when accused of vice hides a memory of malice in his heart, but he who defends himself with meekness and peace is not a memory of malice. The ignorant laughs at the elders, but the educated will be loved; and whoever loves learning loves life. Just as the grass withers due to frost and snow, so sin dries up the heart of the one who commits sin. And just as a seed sprouts when it rains, so the heart blossoms with good deeds. An irritable and noisy person is generous with oaths, but a silent person is reasonable. What is irritability? This is a brazen and shameless passion, followed by sadness and repentance; sadness consumes the heart of a person who has fallen into it. Do not let your heart be sad, but console yourself in the Lord. Unbelief gave rise to double-mindedness, and double-mindedness led to false teaching, and false teaching leads to error; Therefore, whoever has fallen into error, let him cry out to the Archpastor and Savior of our souls, so that he will convert and bring him into the fold of His sheep. Do not be curious, beloved, saying: “How does this or that happen?” But believe in the Lord, and He will enlighten your mind. To the extent of faith and grace dwells in the soul. For “the Lord is faithful in all His words and honorable in all His deeds” (Ps. 144:13). Forged trumpets rang out to the camp of the children of Israel in the wilderness, and the apostolic sermon rang out to all nations. Like a calling trumpet, so is a faithful husband. An active person is the rod of Christ. Just as a bunch of grapes lying on the ground becomes unusable, so the mind, entertained by earthly things, is incapable of virtue. Whoever plots rebellion will suddenly suffer destruction, division and incurable contrition, because he rejoices in everything that is hateful to the Lord; and whoever loves peace will inherit peace; meekness in a person prevents irritability. If you are subjected to slander, and later the purity of your conscience is revealed, do not become arrogant, but work in humility for the Lord, who delivered you from human slander, so as not to fall into an extreme fall. Just as acorns feed pigs, so evil thoughts feed evil desires. Like the poison of asps, irritability and resentment are likewise, because they change the face, disturb the mind, relax the veins, and produce in a person a lack of strength to accomplish a task; and meekness and love put all this aside. How is memory malice destroyed? Contents in memory of the fear of the Lord and the day of death. “Remember your last,” beloved, “and stop” indulging in anger (Sir.28:6). Remember death and do not become exalted, for a little more and you will be brought down to the grave; and what benefit will evil deeds bring you? Support the weak, beloved, because the strong have no need of you. It is written: “they do not require a doctor to be healthy, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12); and again: you, “who are strong, bear the infirmities of the weak” (Rom. 15:1). If you see that a person on earth has achieved great dignity, do not be surprised at this; but marvel at the one who hated earthly glory. If you appear before your brothers as pure as gold, then consider yourself an indecent vessel, and you will avoid pride, which is hateful to God and people. A young monk, walking around the monastic cells, learns not only to be idle, but talkative, curious, talking about things he shouldn’t; but he who is silent in humility will be loved. Do not drink wine alone with a brother about whom there is a bad rumor; Don’t joke with an ignoramus, don’t slander anyone. Keep yourself clean, go to feasts, so as not to worry about it at the end of your life. If you are not strong in morals, do not be friends with a person who is weak in mind; I say this not so that you would disdain anyone as a sinner, but so that when both sides are weak, you will not suffer harm from him, and he from you. If you are able to give advice about the Lord, give it and you will receive a reward. If you see that your brother is sinning and you see him the next morning, then do not recognize him as a sinner in your thoughts; for you do not know that, perhaps, when you left him, he, after his fall, did something good, and appeased the Lord with sighs and bitter tears. Therefore, one must refrain from making judgments about others; Each of us must humble ourselves, according to the words of him who said: “My iniquities have exceeded my head, for a heavy burden weighs upon me” (Ps. 37:5). All the wood in the forest is not enough for a fire; and the flesh will not be satisfied with rest. The fear of the Lord is a paradise of sweetness; and foxes inherit fearlessness. If a brother, having yielded to the enemy, flees from the monastery, and you, monk, go to look for him and find him, then speak to him peacefully, so as not to add illness to the illness of his soul. Look at yourself, too, so that you too do not fall into temptation. If you, beloved, are skilled in healing, and you heal, then be sober, so that, while healing others, you yourself do not end up suffering. Listen to what the apostle says: “Let not our “good” be blasphemed (Rom. 14:16). You have made a good start, try and finish well to receive the full reward. Do not give me, common Lord of all, such a heart that hates submission and fatherly admonition; Remove proud thoughts from me, for You, Lord, “have rebuked the proud” (Ps. 119:21). It is written: “Make the assembly acceptable to yourself, and humble your head to the prince” (Sir.4:7), “and do not be ashamed of your soul: for there is shame in bringing sin, and there is shame in glory and grace” (Sir.4:24-25). Do not upset your brother by slandering his brother, for it is not the work of love to incite your neighbor to the destruction of his soul. Be a peacemaker in order to be worthy of the title of son of God. Desire this, beloved, to be loved with the love of our Savior Jesus Christ, and hate carnal love, which includes the following: gluttony, drunkenness, luxury, envy, malice, lasciviousness, passion, contrition, sadness and the like, the end of all this is death. And the love of Christ includes the following: goodness, modesty and knowledge, and the end of this is eternal life. Cling, beloved, to a man who fears the Lord, but do not like to spend time with the careless. “Be patient,” beloved, “of the Lord” (Ps. 26:14), so that He may magnify you, because the glory of this world is fickle. Always keep the Lord before your eyes, for He saves those who trust in Him. An armed warrior is terrible in battle; and he who has put on faith is afraid of invisible enemies. A mad man will say: “Who will frighten me?” And the humble one will turn out to be prudent (well-reasoned). The food for fire is firewood, and the food for irritability is arrogance. Do you want to tame your irritability? Take up humility and walk in the way of the meek and humble. If the brethren are greatly upset with each other, then blessed is the peacemaker; and whoever incites them to quarrels will not go unpunished. The sand stone and the unfaithful soul will soon crumble, but in the soul of the faithful the mind is motionless. The spirit of wisdom rests on a meek and humble person, because the Lord loves those who walk in wisdom. Be careful, beloved, that by desiring excessive honor for yourself, you do not bring dishonor upon yourself; in the true sense, it is an honor for a person to do everything according to God; It is a great dishonor to break the commandments. A drunken shepherd will not save the sheep entrusted to him, and a sleepy shepherd himself will become the prey of animals. For “thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard” (Proverbs 26:9), but the soul of the abstinent falls to God. Gold does not give patience, but faith puts the one who acquires it on a solid foundation. It is a flaw in man to not know the Scriptures; but the one who knows it and neglects it has a double disadvantage. Comfort yourself, beloved, enduring every sorrow, so that you do not become arrogant if others often console you. For the apostle says: “Comfort yourselves every day until the day is condemned, lest anyone be hardened by you through sinful flattery. For we are partakers of Christ, even if we hold on to the firstfruits” (Heb. 3:13–14), and the firstfruits of all virtue is faith. A monk acquires a valiant life by listening to his father’s instructions. A monk becomes unarmed if he loves disobedience and a long path. It is a diabolical thought for a monk to desire someone else’s degree. It is easy to spot a monk who interferes in everyday affairs. A meek and silent monk inherits eternal life. The sun, moon and all the stars rejoice over those who rightly serve the Lord Christ. He who loves silence in love collects treasure for himself in heaven. He who truly fears the Lord becomes a physician of the passions. The meek monk is a guard watching over the passions. The nations will praise the Lord at the sight of a man who is not careless about his salvation, but cares about his outcome and how to appear at the Last Judgment Seat of Christ. Anyone who loves his own salvation becomes the abode of the Holy Spirit. Anyone who loves purity and chastity becomes a church of God. Remembrance of death and punishment is a sword against the demon of despondency. A prudent monk does not judge his neighbor. The words of eternal life are entrusted to a Christ-loving man. A strange-loving person is pure wheat. At any time for a person to reproach himself is the cleansing of sins. Abstinence is the nerve of patience. He who deviates from the commandments of the Lord kills his soul; everyone who actually observes them will inherit unspeakable joy. Sing, beloved, with your spirit, sing with your mind: “If Your words are sweeter to my throat than honey” and the honeycomb “with my mouth” (Ps. 119:103). The beginning and end for the faithful are faith, hope and love; and from the grave, the grave is despondency, especially if it has unbelief as its supporter (ally), for its fruits are filled with deadly poison. Always remember, beloved, about the Terrible Judgment Seat of God, and this will be a support for you; and you will repel those who plot against your soul. A prudent monk, sent to serve, will lay down his soul for the sake of peace, but a crazy and ignorant one prepares quarrels. Lord and Master of my life! Do not give me the spirit of idleness, inquisitiveness and covetousness, but give Your servant the spirit of chastity and patience. It is better in a pure heart, for the sake of virtue, to have unclean feet than purity that is pretended to be, and a partial washing. “If anyone corrupts God’s church, God will corrupt him” (1 Cor. 3:17), says the Divine Scripture. Like a dog, vigorously resist the demon of fornication; Do not agree to be carried away by such a thought, because from a spark there will be many coals, and from a bad thought bad wishes will multiply. Try to destroy the memory of them more than the secret stench. Just as fragrance delights the sense of smell, so the Holy Spirit delights in purity and dwells in man. Just as a pig finds pleasure in wallowing in the mud, so demons find pleasure in fornication and uncleanness. In purity dwell great light, and joy, and peace, and patience, and in fornication dwell sadness, despondency, insatiable sleep and thick darkness (lies). Love, monk, purity in the love of Christ; it is as fitting for your life as it is fitting for a carpenter to have a stapler. One brother, suffering abuse from fornication, rebuked the demon and said: “Go into the darkness, Satan! Don’t you know that, although I am unworthy, I nevertheless bear the members of Christ?” And immediately the disintegration ceased instantly (as if someone blows and extinguishes a lamp); Therefore, he marveled at this to himself and glorified the Lord. There is great purity in the love of Christ, and fornication is great dishonor. Why do you love to dress up with such fearlessness? Listen to what the apostle says: “flee the lusts of young people” (2 Tim. 2:22). Don't you know what kind of enemy you are fighting? Don't you know how hard it is to be a snare for another soul? How can you not consider what rottenness and what corruption those who do such things inherit? It is advisable for me to make it known to you that even if the outer man is dressed up, but the dwelling of the soul is desecrated, then his beauty will not be slow to be damaged. And if you acquire spiritual beauty, then from this beauty and from this light something pours out onto the outer person, and such beauty is permanent. He who adorns his clothes and fills his belly will endure many battles, but he who is sober is terrible to his opponents. The wicked soul, when it is flattered, is exalted, and when it is insulted, it becomes furious; but a good soul does not rejoice at flattery and is not indignant at insult. Silence to a young man is like a bridle to a horse; but the unbridled one falls into trouble. Let the fear of God in your heart, beloved, be the same as a weapon in the hands of a warrior: with it, in humility, repel the temptations that the devil brings upon you; let your enemies be as thin as dust before you. Be brave, because you will not be defeated with such a weapon. He who does not love the Lord leads the steward into temptation and provokes his superiors; and whoever loves the Lord keeps His commandments. A wise doorkeeper knows how to give an answer to the poor and cowardly, but the unwise one will be proud. If we don’t supply you with anything else, brother, then let us at least supply you with a kind word, taking care of ourselves, so that we don’t fall into the same thing. For it is said: “in all” your deeds “remember your last, and you will never sin” (Sir.7:39). A lazy doorkeeper will suffer a lot of harm, but one who is passionate in spirit will prepare for himself a crown. The brethren, standing during the service of God, bless God; How are you, monk, soaring with your mind outside? Don't you know that you are doing harm to yourself? Say to the thought: “If there is a distribution, don’t we try to come first; and if such effort is about the carnal, then shouldn’t there be much more about the spiritual?” Be fervent in spirit, like the saints, so that you can be with them in the Kingdom of Heaven. He who talks idle during business has fun while doing business; and whoever immerses his thoughts in the holy word will have more time. If during work the spirit of fornication disturbs you, do not be lazy to stretch out your hands in prayer; and if he attacks you even more, bend your knees in prayer, and the prayer of faith will resist for you. Do not fall asleep with a bad thought about someone, so that bad dreams do not bother you at night. Not only let your gaze be lowered, but also your heart should not exalt itself above others. Deliver your brother from sin, and the Lord will deliver you on the day of wrath. Let those who work in the monastery not disdain to cleanse the latrines, because it is not at all a shame to endure for the sake of the pious. Do not be afraid of work and do not say: “I wish I could not be exhausted,” but rather imagine in your mind that all the saints pleased God with their suffering. A lazy monk is of no use to himself or his neighbor, but a lazy monk stimulates the careless to virtue. He who despises the superior is a sinner, but he who obeys the Lord will inherit glory. Do not corrupt the novice monk and the soul that thirsts for the Lord, “for the Lord will see, and He will not be pleased” (Prov. 24:18). A wicked son will speak evil of his parent, and those who listen to him will condemn him. What will the unmerciful one endure, who repays evil with good? Do not like to hear about other people’s failures, so that your sin will not be heard by everyone. He who is silent at meals is like one who eats bread with honey; and he who is verbose will provoke even the silent one. Eat the fish slowly, and let your drinking be quiet. A monk who loves idleness will not like a faithful gatekeeper; and whoever cares about justice will not seduce his neighbor. Suppress your lust, beloved, before it overwhelms you; because she brings those who submit to her to the bottom of hell. There is no measure of patience, unless it is dissolved (combined with) love. Lord the King! Grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother. If two beginners live with an old man, which of the two is greater before the Lord? One who humbles himself before his brother in the fear of God. For He who said: “He who humbles himself will be exalted” is not deceitful (Luke 18:14). Whoever has two beginners with him needs great sobriety, so that the enemy, finding an opportunity, does not do something peculiar to him with them. If a beginner loves laughter and freedom, then he is preparing himself for contrition and disaster. Love not “blasphemers, not like yams, but rather give thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:4). Do not be disobedient, stubborn and disdainful, so as not to harm both yourself and those who listen to you. If you are truthful, reverent and humble, the Lord will pour out His bounties on you. Listen, beloved, to him who admonishes you about the Lord, so that you may bear fruit for the Lord God. Fear the Lord, and He will be your wall, and on the day of death you will find grace. Do not, monk, disparage the layman in your mind, because the Lord alone knows the secrets of the heart. Honor everyone for the sake of the Lord, so that the Lord of all will honor you. Whoever wants to move a stone will place a lever not from above, but from below, and then he can easily turn the stone. This is a model for humility. Have you left your cell, monk, and are you walking around the world? Are you really not afraid of lawlessness and wrangling in the city? (Ps.54:10). He who is completely detached from the worldly way of thinking remains invulnerable; and whoever is not distracted often takes the blows. When it happens that the monastery in which you live suffers an extreme need for what is needed for the body, do not leave room, because then you will find a lot of work for yourself in this place. The wicked will not like a pious abbot, and the righteous will not like any unrighteousness. Forgive your brother if he has sinned against you, and the Lord will forgive you your sins. Hasten to come to the cell to the brother who insulted you, and repent before him from a pure heart, according to the word of the One who commanded to forgive his brother’s sins not only “up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). Accept, beloved, repentance from your brother, as from one sent by God, so that, by humiliating the Sender, you do not incite Him to anger against yourself. Love the world and the holy, so that you may be worthy to see the face of the Lord God. Do not attack your brother on the day of his sorrow, and do not add new sorrow to his spiritual sorrow. A hardworking abbot is the deanery of the brethren, and prudent elders are a consolation for the younger ones. One should not trust those who speak evil, because slander often occurs out of envy, but one must better seek the truth. We must stop the mouths of those who are impudent and plotting trouble, so that the brotherhood may remain serene. If you see brethren conspiring for a bad deed, do not join in their disorder, but turn away and enter your cell, remembering who said: “But it is not fitting for the servant of the Lord to be boiled” (2 Tim. 2:24). And if you see a brother who is faint-hearted or weak, then it is wonderful to have compassion for him. Truth will gladden the heart of him who does righteousness. Refrain, brother, from jokes, so that they do not make you shameless; shamelessness is the mother of lewdness. Do not go to the cell of drunken people, so as not to suddenly destroy the wealth of chastity. Do not remember evil against your brother, for it is written: “The way... of those who remember evil is to death” (Prov. 12:28). Can't you bear to be insulted? Keep quiet and calm down. Can't see if someone is looking at you? And don't look at anyone. Do not agree with anyone who inspires you with something like this: “How long will you patiently please every brother?” We will answer him: I hasten to become free today, and the Lord will take care of tomorrow. For He Himself said: “Do not worry about it in the morning” (Matthew 6:34). Blessed is he who has found good companions and hated his own will. Do your work without deception, brother, for this is fitting for the faithful; and you will find grace in your labors. Do not drink wine to the point of intoxication to please people, for then you will be greatly ashamed when they find you drunk. Like a golden chain around his neck, the monk is adorned with reverence. Like sweet honey to the mouth of a man, so are the words of God to the soul that fears the Lord. Wise elders are the support of the brethren, and those who are not wise will be quarrelsome. Both God and people hate pride, but the Lord exalts those who love humility. A monastery that adheres to good rules is a safe haven; and “those who have no stewardship fall like leaves” (Prov. 11:14), because the servant must serve as the Lord, from Whom he will receive a reward, and not as men; and the one whom he serves must behave humbly, as if the Lord served him. Have you eaten the bread and are you satisfied? Give glory to God who nourished you. And if you want to content your belly with little, give glory to God who strengthened you and do not say in front of everyone: “I did not sow even such and such a share of grain.” What do you attribute to this? Do you not condemn only those who eat and give thanks? Be patient with the Lord in the day of trouble, so that he may cover you in the day of wrath. Do not laugh at someone who is distressed, do not rejoice when you see someone who is corrupt, so that the Lord will not be angry with you and you will not be left without protection on the day of trouble. Do not persecute your brothers out of lust; for if this advice is not from God, it will not take place; and if from God, then, although “in a vessel” you will hide yourself, like Saul (1 Samuel 10:22), and from there the Lord will take you and make you an elder over His people. Who won’t sigh when he sees that, without demonstrating a single virtue of monastic life, we are harassing the authorities? Why do we often suffer shipwreck on land? Is it not from unbelief and ignorance? Not knowing how to wield an oar, we undertake to steer the helm. Who is more wicked than a man who has sweet water and does not give drink to a thirsty soul? Or who is more envious than a man who has a useful book and does not give it to his brother for edification? But who is lazier than that thirsty person who sits near a source and does not stretch out his hands to take water and quench his thirst? And who is more negligent than a man who owns a book and is negligent about reading? Work with someone who needs to learn to read and write, so that, reading about the wonderful deeds of God, he will bless the wonderful name; and God will be your rewarder. A monk in despondency is attacked by negligence, and when he has patience, arrogance attacks; but whoever really loves the Lord rejects both. A lazy monk will lose many things, but a sober monk will not neglect a single hour. A monk who is lazy and loves to argue will not gain fame for himself, because he provokes against himself. A rebellious monk will explore many places, but a humble monk will submit to the Lord. A prudent beginner is obedient to his elders in the Lord, but a disobedient one will be dishonored. He who keeps his body clean will deserve surprise from many; and whoever neglects cleanliness will be condemned by most people. Note, beloved, the measure of each of the subordinates, according to the word of the One who said: “He who bears fruit and creates a hundred, but sixty, and thirty” (Matthew 13:23). A gluttonous monk calls fasting a time of sadness, but an abstinent monk does not look gloomy even during fasting. Do not do anything that makes your neighbor sad, but be polite in your dealings with everyone. An impolite person spies on his neighbor; but he who walks in the light does not dwell on evil. He who loves the Lord does not irritate his neighbor, but preserves himself, according to the words of Him who said: “Whatever men will do to you, so do you to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Work hard, monk, during the storm, so that you may rejoice when you enter the harbor of life. The enemy arms the careless brethren against the zealous, and the zealous find something to do with the careless, bearing their infirmities for the sake of the Lord. He who shows mercy to his neighbor will find mercy from the Lord, but “judgment... without mercy he who has not shown mercy” (James 2:13). Do not agree with your brother to sin, but it is better to deliver him from sin, so that your soul may live in the Lord. Let the fear of God always be before your eyes, and sin will not prevail over you. Don’t say: “Today I sin, but tomorrow I will repent.” For you have nothing certain about tomorrow; Let us repent today, and the Lord will take care of tomorrow. Others take a walk, and as soon as they hear someone calling to prayer, they get down to business; but you, beloved, do not be negligent in the service of God, so that the eye of your mind may be enlightened. Whoever has a bold mouth will be mocked; but he who fears the Lord will be respected. Believe in the Lord with all your heart, and you will find grace at all times. If you abide in Him, you will not lose your reward. Water pipes are used during a fire, and tears - during temptation. Water extinguishes the fire in the house, and tears during prayer extinguish evil desires. Like a palm tree growing on the banks, so is the unanimity of the brethren in the Lord. He who honors his elders will be pleased by his younger ones, and on the day of his prayer he will be heard. If you lend something to your brother, and he hesitates to return, and you want to remind him, then remind him once, because he often finds oblivion. If you have borrowed something from your brother, and he, out of fear of God, does not remind you, you yourself, as one who fears God, do not deprive him of what you borrowed, according to what is written: “Let us be no one else, but rather love one another” (Rom. 13:8). Brethren, we must despise all perishable things, but take care of life alone. If you are entrusted with mediation in any matter, do not be negligent about your salvation, presenting your sins as an excuse, because Joseph in Egypt was a mediator in the matter, and took charge not of just one house, but of the whole of Egypt, but did not deviate from the path of truth, and the Lord glorified him. If your soul is sound before the Lord, you will benefit from everything. If you see someone selling something, say to yourself: “This man, lusting for the temporary, endures so much in order to collect fleeting goods. Will you, my soul, despise the imperishable?” If you see people arguing among themselves, say to yourself: “These people are making so much effort and arguing among themselves about something that is not at all useful. Can it be that you, my soul, having so many talents, will you not fall down to God as you should, so that your debt may be forgiven?” If you see someone building a house out of clay, then say to yourself: “These people, building a house out of clay, are using their efforts to complete the work. Will you, my soul, neglect the eternal abodes? But so that, speaking about both separately, I do not prolong the words, I will say: whatever we see in life - worldly thoughts and everyday reasoning - we will replace them with spiritual ones, and with the grace assisting us, we will certainly receive benefit. What is a monk? A monk is like a man who rushes from a height and, finding a rope (rope) hanging high above the ground, grabs it, hangs on it and incessantly cries out to the Lord for help, knowing that if he weakens and lets go of the rope from both hands, he will fall and die. Eat (grasp), monk, for eternal life, to which you are called, having confessed your good confession before many witnesses: “For yet a little time, the one who comes will come and will not cut down” (Heb. 10:37). Because we do not want to endure even a small sorrow for the Lord’s sake, we involuntarily fall into many and severe sorrows. Because we do not want to abandon our own will for the sake of the Lord, we are preparing spiritual harm for ourselves. Because we do not tolerate for the sake of the Lord to be in submission and humiliation, we deprive ourselves of the consolation of the righteous. Because we do not obey the admonition that is given to us for the sake of the Lord, we make ourselves the playground of wicked demons. Because we do not accept punishment with the rod, a konob (cauldron, frying pan) awaits us, in which there will be no comforter. “Who will give my head water and comb out the source of my tears?” And a cheerful face for strangers, “and I weep” for my sins “day and night” (Jer. 9:1). “I laugh” (Eccl. 2:2): “Get away from me”; and tears: “Come to me,” for my sin before the Lord is very great, and there is no number of my sins. Did you know that people have three different types of tears? There are tears about visible things - and they are very bitter and vain. There are tears of repentance when the soul desires eternal blessings - and they are very sweet and useful. And there are tears of repentance where there is “crying and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12) - and these tears are bitter and useless, because they are completely unsuccessful when there is no time for repentance. Be sober during your youth, beloved, so that you may be worthy of praise at your death. Do not rely on the evil one, who inspires you with deceptive thoughts and says: “You are still young; You have many more years to live, so now have fun and do not sadden your soul; in your old age you will repent.” Are you really so unreasonable, brother, and don’t know that the evil one will deceive you in this? If you do not repent of your youth and at an age full of strength, when you are able to endure any labor and endure any feat, then, when you grow old, will you not present the impotence of old age as an excuse? And if in your youth you are kidnapped from here, what should you do then? Therefore, leave the path of the enemy, and listen to the voice of the true Master, Who said: “Watch... and pray... for you do not know the hour of the day” (Matthew 25:13. Mark 13:33). Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, You, Who have power over life and death, know the unseen and secret, from Whom neither thought nor reasoning is hidden! “Cleanse me from my secrets” (Ps. 18:13), for “I have created evil before You” (Ps. 50:6). For behold, my days are becoming scarcer from day to day, and my sins are multiplying. You, Lord God of spirits and all flesh, know the great weakness of my soul and body; Give me, Lord, strength in my weakness and help me, the poor one. For you know that “like a miracle has been done to many, and You are my strong helper” (Ps. 71:7). Give me, Lord, a grateful heart to always remember Your blessings, good Lord, and do not remember my sins, do not be vindictive towards my sins! Do not despise, Lord, the prayer offered by me, insignificant and sinful; but just as Your grace has covered me until now, do not take it away from me until the end. She made me wise to understand everything, and blessed are those who keep her ways, because this will be a crown of glory for them. I confess to You, Lord, and I, unworthy, praise You, who showed me many bounties, because You were my patron and helper, since the name of Your greatness is blessed forever. Greatness befits you, our Lord God! Teach your brother, beloved, not the path that leads to the world, but the one that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. Fear the Lord with all your strength, and do not compete with the works of the wicked, for their fire will not be quenched, and their worm will not die (Mark 9:44). You might be interested in: