В исправление тех, которые предаются страстям и домогаются почестей

I am horrified, my brothers, and I tremble, and I am consumed with grief because of what the prophet said: “You see, you are contemptuous... and wonder... and disappear” (Hab. 1:5). And most of all I am horrified for my own ignorance, because I have become the path to all iniquity, and the enemy has bound every member of mine with all sin. And because of the shame that covers me, I need to grieve and cry for myself, and then take care of others. You must first tear out the log from yourself, and then look at the knitting needles of others. Now the negligence observed in our times plunges me into great sadness. For I see the negligence of the current catechism teaching, and I cannot bear it, like the prophet who says: “I have seen those who do not understand and are lost” (Ps. 119:158). For what weapon does the enemy not have between us? What cunning tricks does he not use to control us? Alas! Who will not cry over the disasters that threaten us? But I beg you, who have chosen this life, listen to what I say and tremble. We wear an angelic image, but we act in concert with the devil. Our image is angelic, but our life is worldly. Do the Angels really live in the quarrel and rivalry that we see today among monks, because rivalry, envy and slander have taken root among them? The cunning man has poured his poisons into each of us in different ways, and with his machinations he stumbles everyone. Another observes fasting, but gives himself over to rivalry and envy. Another refrained from making obscene wishes, but was bound by vanity. Another succeeded in vigil, but became entangled in the net of slander. Others avoid slander, but are filled with insubordination and contradiction. Another abstains from food, but drowns in pride and arrogance. Others are tireless in prayer, but succumb to irritability and anger. Some have succeeded in something small, but they already exalt themselves above those who are more negligent than him. Everyone is bound by sin in one way or another, and there is no one who understands. This causes quarrels and discord among the monks. Alas! Who won't sigh, who won't shed tears? What a mess we have brought this angelic life to! We have left the world, but we think about worldly things; we have given up our property, but we do not stop competing; left at home, but every day we are exhausted from worries; We have no wealth, but we willingly fall into pride; they considered marriage low for themselves, but did not banish vain desires from themselves; Outwardly we are humble, but in our hearts we strive for honor; Apparently we are not acquisitive, but in reality we are possessed by covetousness; in words we are not acquisitive, but mentally busy with a lot of acquisitions (acquisition). Who will not cry over our catechumens? One must look and marvel at the plans of the monks, especially the young and new ones. They have not yet had time to utter their renunciation of the world, but they are already arrogant (proud); They have not yet taken on the monastic image, but are already giving in to arrogance; They have not yet listened to instructions, but are already giving advice to others; They have not yet seen the vestibule, but are already dreaming of the inner; They have not yet entered the degree, but are already flying along with the clouds; They have not yet tasted asceticism, but have already armed themselves with vanity; they have not yet heard a word of admonition, but are already reprimanding; not yet joined to the brotherhood, but already in power; They have not yet entered the monastery door, but they are already reproaching, condemning, expressing their displeasure. But why am I wasting my time? They have many plans. So there is no one who understands; There is no man who would renounce the world for God in order to enslave himself to his brethren out of obedience. On the contrary, if someone has been reprimanded, he considers it fair to fight back; if given an order, he does it in his own way; in good things they do not show competition, but in useless things they compete with each other. Not even three days since he pronounced his renunciation, and he is already competing with those who have grown old in the monastic form; not wanting to obey, they plan to study the arts. Not having the strength to endure the bodily heat, they spy on each other. He has taken on the yoke and gives orders himself, reprimands, and gets angry. “Do it, brother.” “I won’t do it,” he says, “if so-and-so doesn’t come with me.” So and so is given time to study the Divine Scripture, and I must be given time for this.” And often, before renunciation, another lived in work, not knowing before which his right or left hand was, and, having entered the monastery, he turns out to be a lover of learning and an interpreter. “So-and-so brother lives in retirement: I need to live like that too. My brother was given new clothes, I need to be given them too. My brother went on a date with his fathers, and I need to see him too. My brother has been honored, and I should do the same. So-and-so has been entrusted with power, but am I not worthy of being entrusted with this or that?” These are the exploits of young monks! Here are examples of humility and the works of beginners! This is how they try to inherit the Kingdom, not knowing that by doing so they are bringing the soul down to destruction, not knowing that through this they are becoming enemies of God! By this we clearly show that not for one minute have we renounced external life, that is, the world; for outwardly we have renounced, but in reality we are thinking about worldly things, and we have no justification. In appearance we are monks, but in character we are somehow cruel and inhuman; in appearance they are humble, but in disposition they are ulcerous; in appearance they are reverent, but in character they are murderers; by appearance they are full of love, but by disposition they are enemies; by appearance they are friendly, but by disposition they are haters; in appearance they are ascetics, but in disposition they are aphids for ascetics; by appearance they are fasting people, but by disposition they are sea robbers; chaste in appearance, but adulterous in heart; outwardly they are silent, but in their hearts they are vagabonds; in appearance they are meek, but in disposition they are arrogant; by appearance they are comforters, but by disposition they are offenders; by appearance they are advisors, but by disposition they are seducers; in appearance they are simple-minded, but in disposition they are dangerous; in appearance they are not envious, but in disposition they are envious; In appearance they are intercessors, but in character they are traitors. And why does it happen that we are like this? Because we do not have true humility; because we do not have the fear of God before our eyes; because we neglect the saving commandment; we reinterpret it in our own way and consider it unimportant. “The heavens were established by the word of the Lord” (Ps. 32:6), but we do not accept the Lord even as a brother. His lips uttered a terrible, incomprehensible, trembling word: “Whoever wants to be in you... let him be the least of all and the servant of all” (Matthew 20:26. Mark 9:35). And we, having not yet seen the threshold of the monastic image, are arrogant, we exalt ourselves in front of each other, we overtake each other; we are all reasonable in ourselves, all officials, all stewards; all have the right to reprimand, all legislators, all lovers, all interpreters, all teachers, all rulers, all trustees, all stewards, all first, all second. Doesn’t the apostle also convince you when he said: “If the whole body... is hearing, where is the hoot?” (1 Cor. 12:17). If all are first, all are superiors, all are stewards, then what is the difference according to God’s distribution? However, don’t you believe the one who said: “And no one accepts honor to himself, but he who is called of God” (Heb. 5:4). And the apostle also says: “Do not have many teachers” (James 3:1). For this reason God has established rulers and powers. For in heaven, being ministering spirits, everyone is incorruptible and immortal, but God did not deign that everyone should be in the same rank; on the contrary, it is established that the Divine and incorruptible servants should have “Principalities, and Authorities, and Powers, and Dominions” (Eph. 1:21); and each of them does not step out of his own rank, so that everything happens in a certain order and way. Why do we compete with each other with unlawful jealousy? Angels and Archangels do not violate commands; but we get ahead of each other, push each other, distinguish ourselves from one another, mutually rush to get ahead of each other, humiliate, belittle each other, as if we ourselves are able to do something more. What a blindness of mind that allows one not to believe the one who said: “Everyone in the calling to which he is called, let him abide in it” (1 Cor. 7:20). How not to fear the One who says: “to whom much will be given, much will be required of him” (Luke 12:48), so that at least in this way we can acquire humility! No, brothers, it’s not like that, we won’t spend our lives in low things; not so fearlessly, as if we would not hear a terrible sentence; Let us not live as if we will not soon give an account; no, not like that, I ask you about it. Let us not serve as a stumbling block and a temptation for outsiders, let us not add sins to sins, and let the beautiful image of monasticism not be blasphemed for our sake, but rather glorified. The terrible hour will come, will come and will not slow down, in which we, the tortured, will have no excuse. For how will we be able to answer the Lord? What more could He do for us that He didn’t do? Have we not seen God the Word humbled, in the form of a servant, so that we too might become humble? Didn’t they see His unthinkable (incomprehensible) face spat upon, so that we, insulted and subjected to punishment, would not become embittered? Or didn’t they see how His holy spine was given over to scourging, so that we too would obey our superiors in everything? Or didn’t they see how His face, which “looked upon the earth and made it shake” (Ps. 103:32), was covered with ears, so that we, humiliated, would not become ferocious? Or have you not heard how He says: “I am, and I do nothing for Myself” (John 8:28), so that we too would not be arrogant, self-willed and autocratic? Or have you not heard, as He says: “But I do not resist, neither am I contrary to the word” (Is. 50:5), so that we would not contradict and be disobedient? Or have you not heard, as He says: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29), so that we too become meek and humble, and do not envy each other, do not bite and eat each other? What excuse shall we give Him? No, my brothers, I beg you to live differently; not in such a way that, due to carnal passions, we will be deprived of immortal bliss; not so that for the sake of temporary honor we will lose eternal glory; not so that for a quarrel, or rivalry, or envy they condemn us to terrible Gehenna. If you once sought salvation, then why are you busy with your neighbor’s affairs? If you once took on the yoke, then why do you throw it off yourself? How then will the fruit of your obedience appear in you? Take heart, take heart, beloved! Not dignity, not honors, not greatness, not being called first or second, not being called abbot, not something that will make you glorious, give you honor, entrust you with dignity, introduce you into the Kingdom of Heaven and grant remission of sins. This does not free you from torment, but it condemns you. Humility, obedience, love, patience and long-suffering are what save a person. For it is impossible to earn praise and be saved except by imitating the Lord in everything. Haven’t you heard that He says: “I will not come and let them serve” Me, “but serve?” (Matthew 20:28). And again: “I came down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 6:38). And again: “Everyone who exalts himself will humble himself, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Have you not heard what He says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for of them is the Kingdom of Heaven?” (Matthew 6:3). Haven’t you heard how it was promised to expose you, because “when you sat down, you slandered your brother?” (Ps.49:20). Haven’t you heard that “You shall hate your brother in the darkness?” (1 John 2; 11). Have you not heard that the devil fell from heaven because of his pride? Have you not heard what and how high a glory he lost for resisting God? Have you not heard that for one reproachful word, Miriam, the sister of Moses, was stricken with leprosy? So, why, having so many examples of how asps block our “ears” (Ps. 57:5), I mean not the physical ears, but the ears of our heart? For those of the body hear, but those of the heart do not remember. Why don’t we believe the one who says: “Abide in love abides in God?” (1 John 4:16). Therefore, I beg you, the chosen flock of Christ, let us be sober while there is time; Let us be chaste while we are free, so that this terrible and painful hour does not come, and so that we do not cry bitterly, repenting of the irrevocable. Let us be sober, so as not to be ashamed of this great shame before God, Angels and men. Let's stop competing; Most of all, you who are in your prime, humble yourself as much as you can, so that you can achieve perfection. In the time of our fathers there was more freedom, and look how much severity they had, how much humility, how much abstinence, self-neglect and humiliation. And now there is a great battle ahead; do not neglect it, do not think that you have achieved perfection. A lot of work and many feats are needed in order to be saved. Do not think that to gird yourself tightly and drag your clothes behind you already means to be a monk, that this saves you if you have clean hands, speak eloquently, or interpret Scripture, and that perfection lies in cutting your head, or vice versa, removing your hair, and not having corresponding and corresponding virtues. I do not say this to humiliate the monastic image. Let it not happen! But the monastic image must be followed by character and deeds, because one image without deeds means nothing. So, don't be careless and don't relax. For it takes a lot of work to curb youth and bodily aspirations. If you are offended by what I say, it does not sadden me. I want you to use cauterization and through this you will get rid of the rottenness. But do not think that because you hide your weaknesses, this is hidden from God. I tell you that what you do in secret is shameful for me to even describe. And if I describe it, you will not stand still, but will run away. Therefore, I beg you, humble yourself with obedience, love, self-control, humiliation. Through this, submit to each other and be forgiving to yourself, arming yourself with fasting, prayer, and vigil. Do not be strong in competition, but relaxed for psalmody; in thoughts - vigilant and looking with a fixed gaze, like wild animals, and in prayer - dozing and closing their eyes; for idle talk - strong, like oxen, and for God's praise - powerless, like foxes; in verbal debates - irresistible, and during a spiritual conversation - yawning, accepting jokes cheerfully, and listening to admonitions gloomily; during the day, for gluttony, they are healthy, and for night prayer, they are sick and barely moving; for human conversation - cheerful, and for correcting affairs - relaxed; to order - ready, and to obey - unprepared; when they obey us, we accept it with pleasure, and when they demand obedience from us, with displeasure; in orders - strict, and in execution of orders - gloomy and grumbling. Do not lower your sleeves to your fingers, and your tongue to your chest. Do not be hasty and zealous when it comes to meals, and careless and relaxed when it comes to business; in heavy eating - strong, and in fasting - powerless; joyful when they invite you to drink wine, and gloomy and sad when you have to drink water; to look around - attentively, and to recognize something good - darkened; in dealing with women - friendly, and in dealing with brethren - stern. But I beg you, beloved children of God, to be zealous for what is beautiful, for what is honorable, what serves for edification, what is praiseworthy, and most of all for humility, for love, for goodness, for meekness, for forbearance. Be compliant with each other and do not start arguments about things that are not useful for anything; Be not lazy in fasting and prayer, so that you will be able to overcome carnal passions, so that for the sake of insignificant passions you will not lose so many benefits and, by seeking the temporary, you will not lose eternal glory. I beg you, let us try to do what is pleasing to the Lord while we are still in the flesh! Let's try, let's hurry, we have a great storm ahead of us; Let's not be careless. We do not fight with visible people, from whom, by looking around, you can bring yourself to safety. Those who fight us are invisible. Therefore, the danger is great for those who are careless, and the reward for the winners is great. Not without skill we will enter into battle with them, and we will defeat them. If the enemy, I will say as an example, incites gluttony, we will attack him with fasting. If lust for a woman irritates us, then, using patience, we will overcome the feeling, and the enemy will immediately run away from us. If it prompts us to anger, let us arm ourselves with peace. If it brings us to irritation, we will take up meekness. If hatred inflames us, let us cleave to love. If it incites you to seek honor, we will show humiliation. If it incites us to seek glory, let us embrace our insignificance. If dreamily leads you to heights, let us write before us the humility of the Lord. If it prompts us to compete with our brother, let us think about the fall of Cain, and if it leads to envy, let us think about the death of Esau. If it invites slander, we will protect ourselves by silence. For if we resist the enemy in this way, he will not stand against us and will flee, and grace will return to us. Believe me, my brothers, I myself am guilty of everything I advised you to beware of, but at least you should be clean. I am mired in sins, but with your wonderful repentance, try to redeem me from my sins. Believe me, no matter what I told you, I didn’t do any of it exactly myself; but decorate my words with deeds. I am sure that you will turn out to be impeccable, but I am being condemned for not doing what I say. So, let us not be careless about our salvation, and we will not consider everything that is said to be a parable, because we have not proposed anything beyond Scripture, and everything that has been said is not false. Oh, that all of you, having received the seed of the word as good soil, would bear fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, some a hundredfold, so that, adorned with fruits, shining with virtues, you might bring joy to our Lord Jesus Christ, and He would rejoice you in the rest of His Kingdom forever and ever! Amen. You might be interested in: