Слово на Второе Пришествие Господа нашего Иисуса Христа

My Christ-loving brothers, listen to the Second and terrible coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I remembered that hour and trembled with great fear, thinking what would be revealed then. Who will describe this? What language will it express? What kind of hearing will contain what is heard? Then the King of kings, having risen from the Throne of His glory, will come down to visit all the inhabitants of the universe, make settlements with them and, as a Judge should, give a good reward to those worthy, and also execute those who deserve punishment. When I think about this, my members are filled with fear, and I am completely exhausted; my eyes shed tears, my voice disappears, my lips close, my tongue becomes numb, and my thoughts learn silence. Oh, what an urgent need I have to speak for our benefit! And fear forces me to remain silent. Such great and terrible miracles have not happened since the beginning of creation and will not happen throughout all generations. It often happens now that if lightning flashes stronger than usual, it terrifies every person, and we all bow to the ground. How then will we bear it, how soon will we hear the voice of the trumpet from heaven, surpassing all thunder, calling out and awakening the righteous and the unrighteous who have fallen asleep from time immemorial? Then in hell human bones, hearing the voice of the trumpet, will run diligently, looking for their compositions, then we will see how every human breath will rise from its place in the blink of an eye, and everyone from the four corners of the earth will be gathered for Judgment. For the Great King, who has power over “all flesh,” will command, and immediately with trembling and diligence they will give - the land is their dead, and the sea is theirs. What the beasts tore to pieces, what the fish crushed, what the birds plundered - all this will appear in the blink of an eye. Not a single hair will be lacking. How will we bear this, brothers, when we see a river of fire flowing with fury, like a fierce sea, devouring mountains and wilds, setting fire to the whole earth and “the works that are on it!” Then, beloved, from such a fire the rivers will become scarce, the springs will disappear, the stars will fall, the sun will darken, the moon will pass by, according to what is written, “the sky rolls up like a scroll” (Is. 34:4). Then the sent Angels will flow, gathering “the elect from the four winds,” as the Lord said, “from the end of the heavens to the end of them” (Matthew 24:31); then we will see that, according to His promise, “the heavens are new and the earth is new” (Is. 65:17). How will we bear it then, lovers of Christ, when we see the prepared terrible Throne and the appearing sign of the Cross, on which Christ was nailed by his will for us? Then everyone will see the terrible and holy scepter of the Great King appearing on high, everyone will finally understand and remember the word of the Lord who predicted that “the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven” (Matthew 24:30), and it will become known to everyone that after this the King will appear. At this hour, my brothers, everyone will think about how to meet the terrible Tsar, and will begin to trust all their deeds; then he will see that his deeds - both good and bad - stand before him. Then all those who are merciful and sincerely repentant will rejoice when they see the prayers they have sent; the compassionate will see that the poor and wretched, to whom they showed mercy here, plead for them and proclaim their benefits before Angels and men. Others will also see tears and labors of repentance, and they will appear joyful, bright, glorious, “waiting for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Why not tell me briefly about the most important things? When we hear this great voice and terrible cry, which from the heights of heaven will say: “Behold, the Bridegroom comes” (Matthew 25:6), - behold, the Judge is approaching, behold, the King appears, behold, the Judge of judges is revealed, behold, the God of all is coming to judge the living and the dead! - then, lovers of Christ, from that cry the foundations and the womb of the earth will tremble from its ends to its ends, and the sea and all the depths; then, brothers, oppression and fear and frenzy will come to every person from the cry and the sound of the trumpet, from fear and hope of what is coming to the universe, for, according to what is written, “The powers of heaven will be moved” (Matthew 24:29). Then the Angels will flow, the faces of the Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim will gather, and all the many-eyed will exclaim with strength and power: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who is and is and who is to come” (Apoc. 4:8). Then every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth will cry out with trembling and strength: “Blessed is he who is coming” ( Matthew 21:9) King in the name of the Lord. Then the heavens will be torn apart, and the King of kings, our Most Pure and Glorious God, will be revealed, like terrible lightning, with great power and incomparable glory, as John the Theologian preached, saying: “Behold, he is coming from the clouds” of heaven, “and every eye will see him, and those who are like him will weep, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn for him” (Apoc. 1:7). What soul could then find so much strength in itself to endure this? For heaven and earth will flee, as the Theologian says again: “I saw the throne, great and white, and Him who sat on it, from whose presence heaven and earth fled, and no place was found for them” (Rev. 20:11). Have you ever seen such fear? Have you seen such extraordinary and terrible things? Heaven and earth will flee: who will be able to stand after that? Where will we, sinners, run away when we see the Thrones set up and the seated Lord of all ages, when we see countless armies standing in fear around the Throne? Then Daniel's prophecy will be fulfilled. “In vain,” it is said, “until now the Thrones were erected, and the Ancient One was gray, and His clothes were as white as snow, and the hair of His head was as pure as a wave, His Throne was a flame of fire, His wheels were scorching with fire. A river of fire flows forth before Him: thousands of thousands serve Him, and ten thousand stand before Him: the Judgment is seated, and the books are opened” (Dan. 7:9-10). There will be great fear, and trembling, and frenzy at that hour, brothers, when He gathers an impartial judgment seat, and those terrible books are opened, where our deeds and words are written, and everything that we said and did in this life, and that we thought, as it is written, will be hidden from God, who tests “hearts and bellies” (Apoc. 2:23), for “the power of your heads has counted all the essence” ( Luke 12:7), that is, the reasoning and thoughts in which we will give an account to the Judge are taken into account. Oh, how many tears we need for this hour! And we arrive in negligence. Oh, how much we will weep and groan for ourselves when we see the great gifts that those who have labored well will receive from the King of Glory! Then with our own eyes we will see the indescribable Kingdom of Heaven, and, on the other hand, we will also see the terrible torment that is opening, in the middle - every tribe and every breath of man from the ancestor Adam to the one born after all, and everyone will bow their knees with trembling and bow down, as it is written: “As I live, says the Lord: For every knee will worship Me” (Rom. 14:11). Then, lovers of Christ, all humanity will be placed in the midst of the Kingdom and condemnation, life and death, amidst security and need. Everyone will be waiting for the terrible Judgment Hour, and no one will be able to help anyone. Then a confession of faith will be required from everyone, an obligation to Baptism, a faith pure from all heresy, an unbroken seal and an undefiled tunic, according to what is written: “All who are around Him will bring gifts” (Ps. 75:12) to the terrible King. Because from everyone who has entered into citizenship in the Holy Church, an account of the strength of each will be required: “the mighty will be tormented more powerfully” (Wisdom 6:6), - according to what is written. To everyone, “to whom much will be given, much will be required of him” (Luke 12:48). “Everyone shall measure accordingly; it will be measured to him” (Mark 4:24). However, whether someone is great or small, we still confessed the faith and accepted the holy seal. Everyone equally renounced the devil by breathing on him, and everyone equally made a promise to Christ by worshiping Him - if only you understood the power of the Sacrament of the font and the renunciation of the alien (demon). For the renunciation, which we undertake to do at holy Baptism, is apparently expressed not in many words, but in the thought contained in it, and it is very important. Whoever was able to preserve it is blessed. For in a few words we renounce everything that is called bad, that only God hates, we renounce not one, not two, not ten bad deeds, but everything that is called bad, everything that is hated by God. For example, it is said: “I renounce Satan and all his works.” What's going on? - Listen: fornication, adultery, uncleanness, lies, theft (robbery), envy, poisoning, fortune telling, sorcery, irritability, anger, blasphemy, enmity, quarrels, jealousy, I renounce drunkenness, idle talk, pride, idleness, I renounce mockery, pipe-playing, demonic songs, child molestation, fortune telling by the flight of birds, invoking spirits, fortune-telling writing on leaves, renouncing sacrifices to idols, blood, strangled and carrion. But why talk a lot? There is no time to list everything. Let's leave a lot and say simply: I renounce everything that happens in the sun, moon and stars, in springs and trees, at crossroads, in liquids and cups, many disorderly deeds, which it is shameful to even talk about. We renounce all this and the like - everything that we all know is the works and teachings of the devil - through renunciation at holy baptism. We learned many bad things when we were previously in darkness under the power of the devil, until the light touched us, while we were “sold” under sin (Rom. 7:14). When the humane and merciful God was pleased to deliver us from such error, the East visited us from above, the saving grace of God appeared, the Lord gave Himself for us, redeemed us from idolatry’s flattery and deigned to renew us with water and spirit. Therefore, we renounced all this, “putting off the old man with his deeds” (Col. 3:9), and put on the new Adam. So, whoever, after receiving grace, does the evil deeds mentioned above, has fallen from grace, and Christ will not benefit (help) him in the least while he is in sin. Have you heard, lovers of Christ, how many evil deeds you have renounced in a few words? This renunciation and good confession will be required of each of us at that hour and day, for it is written: “For by your words you will be justified” (Matthew 12:37). And the Lord also says: “I judge from your mouth, O wicked servant” (Luke 19:22). So, it is clear that our words will either condemn or justify us at that hour. How will everyone be interrogated? Shepherds, that is, bishops, will be questioned both about their own lives and about their flock; From everyone they will demand (good) verbal sheep, which he received from the Chief Shepherd Christ. If, through the bishop’s negligence, a sheep dies, then its blood will be exacted from his hands. In the same way, the elders will give an answer for their Church, and together the deacons and all believers will give an answer for their house, for their wife, for their children, for their male and female servants: did he “bring them up in the discipline and teaching of the Lord,” as the Apostle commanded (Eph. 6:4). Then kings and princes, rich and poor, great and small, will be asked about all the deeds that they have done. For it is written that “we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10); “Let everyone accept what he has done with his body, either good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10). And in another place it is written: “There is nothing that will be put out of My hand” (Deut. 32:39). “We ask you to tell us what will happen after that,” they ask me. With my heart disease I will say that you will not be able to hear what will happen after this. Let’s stop talking better, lovers of Christ. The Christ-loving ones again said: “Is this really more terrible than what was said before, which we have already heard from you?” The teacher, crying again, said: “I tell you with tears, without tears it is impossible to tell everything, because it will be the last. But since we have a commandment from the Apostle to deliver “this to faithful men” (2 Tim. 2:2), and you are faithful, then I pass this on to you, and you tell others. If I am sick at heart while telling this story, then be compassionate towards me, blessed brothers. Then, lovers of Christ, after the deeds of everyone have been examined and declared before angels and men, and “he will put all enemies under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:25), he will abolish “all rule and all authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24) and “every knee will bow down” to God (Rom. 14:11), according to what is written. Then the Lord will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Those who have good deeds and good fruits will be separated from the unfruitful and sinful. And they will shine like the sun; it is those who have kept the commandments of the Lord, who are merciful, poor-loving, orphan-loving, hospitable to strangers, clothe the naked, visit those in prison, intercede for the oppressed, visit the sick, weep now, as the Lord said (Matthew 5:4), have now become poor for the sake of the wealth stored in heaven, forgive the sins of their brothers, have kept the seal of faith unbroken and pure from any heresy. The Lord will place these on the right hand, and the goats on the left, that is, precisely those who are barren, have angered the good Shepherd, do not heed the words of the Chief Shepherd, are arrogant, ignorant, who at the present time of repentance, like goats, play and bask, who spend the entire time of their lives in gluttony, drunkenness and hardness of heart, like that rich man who never showed pity to the poor Lazarus. That is why they are condemned to stand on their feet, as unmerciful, uncompassionate, having absolutely neither the fruits of repentance nor oil in their lamps. And those who bought themselves oil from the poor and filled their vessels with it will stand at the right hand in glory and joy, holding brightly burning lamps, and will hear that blessed and merciful voice: “Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Those standing on their heels will hear this formidable and severe sentence: “Depart from Me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angel” (Matthew 25:41). Just as you did not show mercy, so now you yourself will not have mercy, just as you did not listen to My voice, so now I will not listen to your complaints, because you did not serve Me: you did not feed the hungry, you did not give drink to the thirsty, you did not take in the strange, you did not clothe the naked, you did not visit the sick, you did not come to Me when I was in prison. You have become workers and servants of another master, that is, the devil. Therefore, depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. Then “these go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into everlasting life” (Matthew 25:46). Will everyone go into the same torment or will the torments be different? – There are different kinds of torment, as we heard in the Gospel. There is “utter darkness” (Matthew 8:12), and from this it is clear that there is another darkness - the deepest; “Gehenna of fire” (Matthew 5:22) – another place of torment; “gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42) is also a special place; the never-ending worm (Mk.9:48) – in another place; “lake of fire” (Apoc.19:20) – again a different place; tartar is also its place; “unquenchable fire” (Mark 9:43) – a special country; “Sheol” (Phil.2:10) and “destruction” (Matt.7:13) are in their places; “the deepest countries of the earth” (Eph.4:9) – again another place; hell, where sinners reside, and the bottom of hell is the most painful place. The unfortunate ones will be divided into these torments, each according to the measure of his sins, either more serious or more tolerable, according to what is written: “Everyone is burdened with the wheat of his sins” (Proverbs 5:22). The same meaning is what was said: “the slaughters will be many...and the slayings will be few” (Luke 12:47–48). Just as there are differences in punishments here, so in the next century. Those living in enmity among themselves, if they happen to be transferred from the body in such a state, at the hour of Judgment will find themselves inexorable condemnation and, like the hated, will be sent into utter fire and endless darkness, because they have neglected the easy commandment of the Lord, which says: “love one another” (John 15:17) - and let them go “up to seventy times sevenfold” (Matthew 18:22). ). But everyone who has sinned should not live carelessly, and also despair, because “the imams interceded with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the cleansing for our sins” (1 John 2:1-2), - but for the sins not of those of us who live carelessly, lie and sleep, luxuriously and laugh, but who cry, bring repentance, cry out to Him day and night - they will receive consolation from the Comforter. And whoever has sinned and forgotten his sin, and in such a state is transferred from the body, the wrath of God will fall on him, about which Manasseh announced, saying: “The wrath of Your rebuke against sinners is unbearable” (2 Chronicles 36. Mol. Manas.). Woe to the fornicator! Woe to the drunkard! Woe to those who “drink wine with timbrels and flutes, but do not look at the works of the Lord” (Is. 5:12) and do not remember His words! Woe to those who mock the Divine Scriptures! Woe to those who waste the time of repentance and conversion (to God) in distraction and laughter! They will seek the time they were waiting for and will not find it. Woe to those who question the spirits of flattery and listen to the teachings of demons, because in the next century they will be condemned along with the demons! Woe to those who write lies! Woe to those who are devoted to sorcery, fortune-telling, child molestation and similar matters! Woe to those who take wages from a mercenary, because whoever takes wages is the same as shedding blood! Woe to those who judge unrighteously, “to those who justify the wicked for the sake of gifts; Woe to those who desecrate the holy faith with heresies and agree with heretics! Woe to those who suffer from unhealed passion, that is, envy and hatred! But why talk a lot and not stop the words soon? Woe to all who will be destined to stand on their feet on that terrible day! For they will be covered in darkness and will weep bitterly when they hear the sad sentence: “Depart from Me curse” (Matthew 25:41). Others will also hear the sorrowful sentence: “Let sinners return to hell” (Ps. 9:18). Others will hear: “Amen I say to you, I know you not” (Matthew 25:12); “Depart from Me, all that do unrighteousness" (Luke 13:27). And others, namely the envious ones, will hear: “Take what is yours and go” (Matthew 20:14). It is obvious that the same place will go to those who heard: “Depart from Me into the fire.” Others will hear: “having tied his hand and nose...throw him into utter darkness” (Matthew 22:13). Others, like tares, will be bound to be burned in the fiery furnace (Matthew 13:42). As there are many ways of salvation, there are so many abodes in the Kingdom of Heaven; and just as there are many types of sin and sinful deeds, there are also many types of torment. Whoever has tears and contrition, cry with me! And I, my blessed brothers, remembering that disastrous separation, cannot bear it, because in that terrible hour everyone will be separated from each other by the disastrous separation, and everyone will go into exile from which there is no return. Who is so hardened in heart that from now on he does not mourn the hour when bishops will be separated from their fellow bishops, presbyters from their co-presbyters, deacons from their co-deacons, and readers from their fellows? Then those who once reigned will be separated and will cry, and will be driven out like slaves. Then the princes and the unmerciful rich will groan and, pressed from everywhere, will begin to see if there is anyone who could help them: wealth is not visible, flatterers do not stand before them - they will not find mercy anywhere, because they have not had mercy and have not made any advances in order to find mercy, just as the prophet speaks of such: “they have fallen asleep in their sleep, and have gained nothing” (Ps. 75:6). Then parents will be separated from children, friends from friends; It is sad when spouses who have not kept their bed undefiled are separated. Then those who are virgins in body, but unmerciful and cruel in disposition, will be excommunicated; “Judgment is without Mercy for him who has shown no mercy” (James 2:13). But I will pass over much in silence, because fear and trembling surround me at this narrative. I will say briefly: then the sinners will finally be expelled from the Judgment Seat and taken away by the merciless Angels, receiving pushes and beatings from them, gnashing their teeth, turning more and more often to see the righteous and the joy from which they were excommunicated. And, seeing this ineffable light, they will see the beauties of paradise, recognize acquaintances in that country, see the great gifts that those who labor in goodness receive from the King of glory; then, gradually moving away from all the righteous and friends and acquaintances, they will finally hide from God himself, having already lost the opportunity to see joy and true light. Then they will approach the described torment and there they will be scattered and dispersed. Then they will see that they are completely abandoned, that all hope for them is lost, and no one can help them or intercede for them, because the Judgment of God is righteous. Then, finally, in bitter tears, sobbing, they will say: “Oh, how much time we have wasted in negligence! Oh, how we were deceived! Oh, how they mocked the Scriptures! There God spoke through the Scriptures, but we did not listen; now we cry here, and He turns His face away from us. What benefit have the ends of the world brought us? Where is the father who gave birth to us? Where is the mother who brought us into the world? Where are the brothers? Where are the children? Where are your friends? Where is the wealth? Where is the estate? Where is the word of mouth? Where are the feasts? Where are the crowded and barren fields? Where are the kings and rulers? Why is it that none of them can save us, and we are no longer able to help ourselves, but are completely abandoned by both God and the saints? What are we going to do? There is no time for repentance, our former estate is no longer much, there is no use for tears, the poor and wretched are no longer visible selling oil, because the market is over! When we had the time and the opportunity, when those selling with tears cried out: “Buy,” then, covering our ears, we did not listen and did not buy, but now we are looking and do not find. There is no longer any deliverance for us, the poor; we will no longer receive mercy, because we are unworthy. The Judgment of God is righteous! We will no longer see the holy rites, we will not see the true light, we have become orphans of everyone. What can we finally say? Save us, all you righteous ones! Save us, apostles, prophets and martyrs! Save the face of the patriarchs! Save the order of monastics! Save, Honest and Life-giving Cross! Save, Kingdom of Heaven! Save, heavenly Jerusalem, mother of the firstborn! Save, Paradise of sweets! Save you too, Lady Theotokos, Mother of the Lover of God! Save us, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters! We won’t see any of you again!” And each one goes to the place of torment that he has prepared for himself by his evil deeds, “even though their worm dies and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48). Behold, I told you at your request and fulfilled your desire; Behold, you have learned what we will prepare for ourselves; Behold, you have heard what the careless, the lazy, and the unrepentant gain. They heard how those who mock the commandments of the Lord will be ridiculed; we have heard how our soul-corrupting life deceives and seduces many; they learned what a mockery those who mock the Divine Scriptures will be. Let no one fall into deception, my blessed beloved, let no one remain in unbelief, as if what is said about the Judgment is just empty words. On the contrary, let us all absolutely and undoubtedly believe the Lord, His Divine Scriptures, that there is a resurrection of the dead and Judgment and reward for good and bad deeds. Having despised everything temporary and neglected it, let us worry about how to appear and give an answer before the terrible judgment seat in that tremulous and terrible hour, for this is an hour of many tears, much pain, much sorrow, which evaluates the whole life. The holy prophets and apostles predicted about that terrible day and hour; from one end of the universe to the other, in churches and in every place he cries out and testifies to everyone and entreats the Divine Scripture to everyone, saying: “Look, brothers, listen, be sober, pray, be merciful, be prepared, “for you do not know the hour, in the same day the Son of Man will come” (Matthew 25:13).” So, all God-bearing men, as I said, cry out with sorrow and tears, foreshadowing the need of that day. The prophet Isaiah said about him: “Behold, the day of the Lord will make the whole world empty, and sinners will be destroyed by it” (Is. 13:9). And the same prophet also says: “Behold, the Lord comes, and His arm is with power, and behold His reward is with Him,” everyone’s work is before Him (Is. 40:10). Another prophet cries out, saying: “Behold the Lord is coming...And who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand in the vision of Him” (Mal.3:2)? Another prophet cries out, saying: “Lord, I have heard Your hearing and feared... and there is trembling in my bones” (Hab. 3:1, 16). Another prophet cries out on behalf of the Lord, saying: “On the day of vengeance I will repay... and what I have taken out of my hand” (Deut. 32:35, 39). The God-speaking David said about that day: “God will come, our God, and will not be silent: a fire will burn before Him, and a green storm will surround Him” (Ps. 49:3). Paul the Apostle cries the same thing: “In the day when God judges the secret of man according to My gospel” (Rom. 2:16), and also says: “Beware how dangerously you walk” (Eph. 5:15). “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hand of the Living God” (Heb. 10:31). Blessed Peter, the chief apostle, also cries out about this day, saying: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night... for whose sake the heavens will be destroyed, and the scorched elements will melt” (2 Pet. 3:10, 12). And again it says: “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be burdened with gluttony and drunkenness and the sorrows of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly: for a snare has come upon all that live, upon the faces of all the earth” (Luke 21:34-35). “Be on guard, for you do not know at what hour your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). And again: “Strive to enter through the strait gate” (Luke 13:24), which leads into life. We will follow this path, my brothers, so that we may inherit eternal life. For whoever follows it, there is no doubt that he will inherit eternal life, because the path itself is life. Although there are few who find it, we, beloved, will not lose this path. Let none of you walk along it, lest you come to destruction, just as the prophet says: “Let the Lord be angry, and you perish from the righteous path” (Ps. 2:12). Let us listen to what the Master says: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). “I am the way” (John 14:6). “When you walk on Me, do not have to walk in darkness, but have living light” (John 8:12). So, let us follow this blessed path, which all those who loved Christ walked: the journey along this path is sorrowful, but the rest is blessed; the procession is cruel, but the place of inspiration is spacious. Walking along it - repentance, fasting, prayer, vigil, humility, spiritual poverty, neglect of the flesh, care for the soul, reclining on bare ground, prohibiting oneself from bathing, hunger, thirst, nakedness, alms, tears, crying, sighing, kneeling, dishonor, persecution, plunder, strangulation, handicrafts, troubles, slander. Walking along this path is to be reproached and endure, to be hated and not harbor hatred, to suffer and repay with good, to forgive debts to debtors, to lay down one’s life for friends and, finally, to shed blood for Christ when circumstances require it. If anyone passes through these narrow gates and that narrow path, he will receive a blessed reward, a heavenly reward, which will never end. But wide gates and a long path lead to destruction. Walking along it in the present is joyful, but there it is mournful; here it is sweet, and there it is bitterer than bile; here it’s easy, but there it’s hard and painful; here it seems to have no consequences and does not mean anything, and there, like wild beasts, it will surround those who have completed the path of life and those who have not repented, according to the word of the prophet, for he says: “The iniquity of my heel will pass over me” (Ps. 48:6), that is, the depravity of this life or walking along a long path will bypass, which the apostle partly counted, saying: “Which is adultery, fornication, uncleanness... idolatry... zeal, envy, rage, and... strife... envy, murder" (Gal. 5:19-20), - and the like. This is walking along a long path. Equal to it are laughter, cries, fun, harps, pipes, dancing, ablutions, magnificent clothes, costly suppers, applause and rumors, carefree singing, soft beds, various couches, gluttony, brotherly hatred and, worst of all, unrepentance and failure to remember the departure from this life. Such are the journeys along the inconvenient path that many take, and therefore they will find a shelter in accordance with this. Instead of pleasure - hunger, instead of drunkenness - thirst, instead of rest - illness, instead of laughter - sobbing, instead of harp - crying, instead of fattening of the flesh - a worm, instead of carelessness - care, instead of dancing - being with demons, instead of idle activities, divination and other crafty enterprises - pitch darkness, fiery Gehenna and everything like that that makes up the pastures of death, where she grazes her sheep, her disciples. and his friends, walking the broad and spacious path, according to the word of the prophet. For he says: “Like sheep are laid in hell; I will preserve death” (Ps. 49:15). And we, beloved brothers, turning away from this inconvenient path, will listen to the Lord, who says: “Strive to enter through the strait gate: for many, I tell you, will seek to enter, but will not be able to” (Luke 13:24). And many other similar things cry out to the Lord and all God-bearing men. Keeping this day in mind, the holy martyrs did not spare their bodies, but endured all kinds of torment, rejoicing in the hope of receiving crowns; others labored in the deserts and on the mountains and are now laboring in fasting and virginity. Not only men, but also wives - the weaker sex, walking through the narrow gates and narrow paths, delighted the Kingdom of Heaven. Who will endure such shame, when on that day women will be crowned and many men will be put to shame? For “there is neither male nor female” (Gal. 3:28), but each one will receive his own reward according to his labor. And not only did this happen in deserts and mountains, but even more so in cities, on islands and in churches, where many of those who were being saved shone forth. Since each in his rank carefully observed the Lord’s commandments, bishops, presbyters and other church ranks, kings and princes, principalities and powers shone forth, for the Lord God did not make a distinction, did not prefer one place to another, but said this: “Where... are they gathered in My name,” whether in the desert, or on the mountains and in dens, or in every place of My dominion, “there I am in their midst” (Matthew 18:20), and I will be with them until the end of the age, and in the age to come I will preserve them for endless ages. Having this terrible judgment and an incorruptible Judge in mind, blessed David every night wet his bed with tears and begged God, saying: Lord, “do not enter into Judgment with Your servant” (Ps. 143:2), - may it not please You, O Lover of Mankind, to carry on a dispute with me. Having no justification, therefore I myself propitiate Your goodness - “Do not enter into Judgment with Your servant,” for if you want to do this, then “no one living will be justified before You” (Ps. 142:2). See, brothers, how blessed David fears that day and hour, prays and prepares for the answer. Therefore, you too, Christ-loving brothers, come before that day comes, before the market is over, before God apparently comes and finds you unprepared. Let us precede His presence with confession, repentance, prayers, fasting, tears, and hospitality; let us anticipate before He apparently came and found us unprepared. Let us not stop bringing repentance, persistently begging and preparing to meet the Lord, all of us together - men and women, rich and poor, slaves and free, old men and young men. Look, no one says: “I have sinned a lot, there is no forgiveness for me.” Whoever says this does not know that God is the God of the repentant, came to earth for the sake of those who suffer and said: “There is joy in the one sinner who repents” (Luke 5:10); and again: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). True repentance consists in moving away from sin and hating it, like the one who says: “I have hated iniquity and detested it” (Ps. 119:163); and again: “I have sworn and appointed to preserve the fate of Your righteousness” (Ps. 119:106). And then God joyfully accepts those who come to Him. But look, let no one dare to say: “I have not sinned.” Whoever says this is blind, has closed his eyes, deceives himself and does not know how Satan conceals him both in words and in deeds, now through hearing, now through the eyes, now through touch, now through thoughts. For who can boast that his heart is innocent and all his feelings are pure? No one is sinless, no one is pure from defilement, no one is completely free from guilt, except the One who became poor for our sake, “He is rich.” He alone is sinless - the one who takes away the sin of the world, who wants to be saved for all people, who does not want the death of sinners, the humane, the all-powerful Savior of all people, the Father of orphans, the Judge of widows, the God of the repentant, the Doctor of souls and bodies, the hope of the hopeless, the haven of the overwhelmed, the help of the helpless, the way of life, calling everyone to repentance and not turning away from any of the repentant. Let us also resort to Him, because all sinners who resorted to Him received salvation. Therefore, we, my brothers, will not despair of our salvation. Have we sinned? - Let's repent. Have you sinned a thousand times? “We will repent a thousand times.” God rejoices over every good deed, especially over the repentant soul, He bows down to it, accepts it with His own hands and calls on it, saying: “Come to Me, all you who labor” (Matthew 11:28), because He who comes “to Me will not be cast out” (John 6:37). “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” in the mountain city, where all My saints rest in great joy, come to that unspeakable, incomparable and inscrutable joy, to those blessings, “in which the angels desire to rest” (1 Pet. 1:12), come to where the faces and ranks of the righteous. There Abraham's bosom receives those who have endured sorrow, as it once received the beggar Lazarus; there the treasures of My eternal blessings are opened; there is the blessed land of the meek. “Come to Me, all of you... and I will give you rest,” I will rest you where everything is quiet and serene, where everything is bright and pleasant to see, where there is no one who offends or is oppressed, where there is no more sin or repentance, where there is an unapproachable light and unspeakable joy. “Blessed are you who mourn” (Matthew 5:4), - cry, bring repentance, turn to Me, - “and I will give you rest” where there is no labor, no tears, no care, no care, no lamentation. Turn, sons of men, “and I will give you rest” where “there is neither male nor female,” where there is neither the devil, nor death, nor fasting, nor sorrow, nor quarrel, nor zeal, but joy and peace, tranquility and delight. Turn to Me, and “I will give you rest” where there is water of rest, and a green place (Ps. 22:2), and grapes cultivated by the God of all. The Lord will give rest to the meek in that blessed land on which I grow - the true vine, “and My Father is a worker” (John 15:1). “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” where there is incorruptible life and joy in all goodness. “Come to Me, all you who labor, and I will give you rest” where there is only goodness, where there is unceasing joy, eternal joy, never-evening light, never-setting sun. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn” from Me, “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29) where the voice of those celebrating, where unknown treasures of wisdom and knowledge are revealed. “Come to Me, all of you... and I will give you rest” where there is a great gift, incomparable joy, unfailing joy, unceasing singing, unceasing praise, unceasing thanksgiving, unceasing Theology, an endless Kingdom, countless wealth, limitless ages, an abyss of generosity, a sea of mercy and philanthropy and everything that cannot be uttered by human lips, but it is expressed only in dreams. There are ten thousand angels, the triumph of the firstborn, the thrones of the apostles, the high seats of the prophets, the scepters of patriarchs, the crowns of martyrs, the praises of the righteous; there the reward is set aside and a place is prepared for every beginning, power and rank. Come to Me, all you who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and I will fill you with the good things that you have desired, “for which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man” (1 Cor. 2:9). For this is what I have prepared for those who repent of their evil ways. I have prepared this for the merciful and the poor in spirit. This is what I have prepared for those who cry in repentance. This I have prepared for those who are persecuted, those who are reproached for My sake. “Come to Me, all of you who are burdened,” shake off and throw off the burden of sins, for, running to Me, no one remained burdened, but abandoned a bad habit, unlearned the art that they had borrowed from the devil to their detriment. Having learned good art from Me, the Magi, coming to Me, abandoned sorcery and learned theology; tax collectors left the tollhouses and formed churches; the persecutors ceased to pursue and desired to be persecuted. Harlots hated fornication and loved chastity; the robber abandoned murders, weaned himself from robbery, adopted pure faith and became a resident of paradise. Therefore, come to Me, you too, for “him who comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). Have you heard, beloved, the good promises and the sweetest voice of the Savior of our souls? Who has seen such a kind Doctor? Therefore, come, let us worship and fall down to Him, confessing our sins. Glory to His love for mankind, glory to His longsuffering, glory to His goodness, glory to His condescension, glory to His mercies, glory to His kingdom, glory, honor and worship of His name forever. Amen. I will also say and will not stop saying: we sinners will not be lazy, we will not be afraid, we will not stop crying out day and night with tears, for He is merciful and not deceitful, and will undoubtedly take vengeance for those who cry out to Him day and night. He is the God of penitents, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen. You might be interested in: