Слово о братиях, почивших о Христе

Why have we, beloved, gathered today so diligently and at the same time decently? For we were all called here for one purpose by the brethren who were called on our behalf to Christ. That is why we gathered so willingly to sing songs to Christ. Those who left us in the flesh raised us up, those who praise us in heaven with the Angels encourage us to praise on earth, they make up faces of us, enthroned to the faces on high, they offer us a spiritual meal, satiated with the joys of heaven, they offer us wine of tenderness, filled with the consolation there, they light lamps among us who have enlightened their hearts and gone to the inaccessible Light. The venerables from among us were taken to themselves by the venerables before the Lord. And those who walked beautifully towards God moved away from us. They left us orphans and went to their Fatherland; left corruption and moved to incorruption; hid themselves from the world and shone before Christ; they departed from the earth and settled in the heavenly Jerusalem; left the bliss of this life and achieved heavenly bliss; rejected vain rebellions and went to seek serenity; moved away from the storms and unrest of the world and directed their path to a quiet pier; left the dark shadow of life and ascended to the Sun of truth. And while they were still with us, they were not with us, but stood before God with their minds; while still on earth, they had residence in heaven; living in the flesh, they were not in the flesh, because they did not have an abiding city here - they had one heavenly city; they did not have their own Fatherland here, but they had one mountainous Fatherland; They did not have temporary wealth here, but they had heavenly wealth. Being wanderers and strangers, like all their fathers, alien to the world and everything in the world, they constantly adorned their souls, looking at grief, thinking about things above, thinking about things above, lusting after the beauties there, the abodes and vestibules there, the heavenly ceremonies, the heavenly chants, the festivities there, the eternal blessings, the inexhaustible gifts of God; They turned their gaze to them, strove for them, and therefore received them; They were in a hurry, that’s why they entered the Fatherland, into the bridal chamber on high; flowed, that’s why they reached; They fasted, and therefore they rejoiced; They did not remain in negligence, therefore they rejoice; they became wise because they neglected this life, they moved away from us, went their beautiful and pleasing way, they moved away and settled in a holy and eternal country, they departed suddenly and soared like pure, undefiled doves, soared like deserted and innocent turtle doves, soared from us like sweet-tongued swallows. They were separated from our flock like pure and holy lambs; they have withdrawn from the fences, and the sheep are mourning; we left our nest, and we cried like chicks. One member is absent, and the other members are sick. We shed tears because we have lost your goodwill; we sigh because we do not see your face; we weep because we too will depart soon; we get sick because we are kidnapped so suddenly. We complain as soon as we remember your virtue; we complain as soon as we turn our gaze and do not see your love; we cry because dumb animals also cry when separated from their fellow tribesmen; we weep because the ox roars, looking for its yoke, and the swallows cry when their chicks are stolen, and every bird screams when its brother is separated from it. Even if this was useful for you, then you caused us grief. What you desired has become regrettable for us. “The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord” (Ps. 116:6); but “the death of sinners is cruel” (Ps. 33:23). That’s why the prophet said: “What am I afraid of, on the day of fierceness? The iniquity of my heel will pass over me” (Ps. 48:6). The day will come, brethren, it will certainly come, and the day will not pass us by, in which a person will leave everything and everyone, and will go alone, abandoned by everyone, humiliated, ashamed, naked, helpless, having neither an intercessor, nor a companion, unprepared, unrequited, if only this day overtakes him in negligence - “in a day he does not care, and in an hour he knows not” ( Matthew 24:50), while he has fun, collects treasures, lives in luxury, and indulges in negligence. For one hour will suddenly come, and everything will end; a little fever, and everything will turn into futility and vanity; one deep, dark and painful night - and a person will go like a defendant, where those who capture (take) him will lead him. Then, man, you will need a lot of wayfinding signs, a lot of helpers, a lot of prayers, a lot of helpers in this hour of separation of the soul from the body. Great is the fear then, great is the trembling, great is the mystery, great is the upheaval for the body upon its transition to the other world. For if on earth, when moving from one country to another, we need some kind of wayfinders and guides, then how much more will they be needed when we move into the infinity of the century, from where no one has returned? I also repeat: you need many helpers at this hour. This hour is ours, and not any other; our path, our hour, and the terrible hour; ours is a bridge, and there is no passage across it; this is the end common to all, common, and terrible for all; a difficult path, but everyone must follow it; the path is narrow and cramped, but we will all step on it; This is a bitter and terrible cup, but let us all drink from it and not another; The mystery of death is great and hidden, and no one can explain it. It is terrible and terrible what the soul then experiences, but none of us knows this, except those who preceded us there, except those who have experienced it. When we sit with our brothers who are dying and struggling with death, don’t you see how much terrible things happen then? What kind of constraint are they in, what kind of confusion are they in? Don't you see how they sigh? Haven’t you seen them covered with cold and bitter sweat, like reapers in a field? How do they turn their eyes this way and that? How do others grind their teeth? How are they struck with horror in confusion? How many people tear out their hair? How they jump up from their beds and want to run, but cannot; they see what they have never seen, they hear from the authorities what they have never heard, they endure what they have never tolerated; They are looking for a deliverer, and there is no one to save; they are looking for a companion, and no one accompanies them; they are looking for a comforter - and no one dares to do it! Then, looking at them, we tremble, cry, and, holding their hands, kiss them, pour them with tears, wipe the sweat from their faces, wipe their scorching tongue with water, put our ears to hear the words being spoken with effort, then ask: “How do you feel now? Do not be afraid, God loves mankind.” So we tell them, and we ourselves wet our chests with tears; our hearts burn within us when we say this. Then there is no evil love in us, no care for property, no concern for food, but we see before us the great and terrible mystery of death, and we tremble, we nod our heads, we take on a sad look, we mourn ourselves, and we sadly repeat; "Alas! Alas!". When the departing one, bidding farewell to all of us and greeting everyone, says: “Farewell, farewell, brothers, farewell, good brothers; stand up and pray diligently for me at this hour. I am now going on a long journey, on a path that I have never walked before, to a new country for me, from which no one has returned, to a dark land, where I don’t know what will meet me, to deep hell, from where no one has returned. Farewell, farewell, my beloved brothers, I no longer have a brother. Farewell, friends; I am no longer your friend, but a stranger. Farewell, friends; farewell, beautiful host, for me it is no longer a host of rejoicing, but a host of weeping. Forgive me, my neighbors, forgive me, forgive me. Not long, and you will finally come there, come quickly, overtake us; We are waiting for you there; We expect you to come to us. And we won’t come to you, we won’t see you in this life. What we learned, we know; what we have done is what we will receive. Now I’m leaving and will not return to you. If you have now done something good, you have acquired it. If I sent something there, it will meet me. And if I saved something with myself, then what good is it to me? If I have pardoned anyone, then at this hour I will have pardon. If I protected someone, then I will now find protection for myself. If he saved someone, he will precede me at this hour, because the present hour of the exodus of my soul is difficult and difficult for me. More than any other hour, this present hour is cramped and painful for me, because I am unprepared to eat (take on); The present night is gloomy for me, because I am cut down like a dry and barren tree. The real path is difficult for me, because I have no good parting words. But you shed bitter tears for me, and help me, be merciful, help me, show compassion, pray for me, so that you can find mercy for me there. I don’t demand much, because I have sinned a lot. Why do you, brothers, light candles for me? I did not light the lamp of my soul. Why clothe me in light clothes? I don’t have light clothes on. Why wash my body with water? I did not shed tears like water. Why put me in graves with the saints, whose life and morals I have not shown in myself? How I deceived myself! How he mocked himself, saying: “I’m still young, I’ll enjoy life for now, taste the pleasures of the world, let my soul be comforted by life, and later I’ll repent. God loves mankind and will undoubtedly forgive me.” Thinking like this every day, I wasted my life badly. They taught me, but I didn’t listen; they gave me instructions, and I laughed; I listened to the Scripture, and I end my life as one who has not heard; heard about the Court - and mocked; heard about death - and lived like an immortal, neglected (despised) it like an eternal one; and behold, now I am unprepared to eat, and I have no helper; behold, I am caught unrepentant, and I have no one to deliver; Behold, I make prayers, and no one listens to me; Behold, I am under condemnation, and I have no one to save. How many times have I decided to repent, and again I did the worst! How many times have I fallen before God, and again retreated from Him! How many times did He have mercy on me, and again I upset Him! And so, now I walk in a distressed state. How many beautiful things He has given me, and how many bad things I have done!” So often a dying person talks to us, those present, and suddenly his tongue is tied, his eyes change, his mind transforms (destroys), his lips fall silent, his voice is interrupted. When the Sovereign Powers approach, when terrible armies come, when the Divine Takers command the soul to move from the body, when, carrying us away by force, they take us to the inevitable Judgment Seat - then, seeing them, the poor man, even if he was a king, or a ruler, or a tormentor, or a ruler of the world, all comes into vibration, as if from an earthquake, all trembles, like a leaf shaken by the wind, beats like a sparrow in the hands at the catcher, he becomes completely numb and amazed (perplexed), seeing terrible Powers, seeing new and majestic visions (faces), seeing terrible images, seeing menacing and stern faces, seeing the order of things that he has not seen before, and thinks to himself and says: “Blessed is the One Immortal, the One Eternal King! What does the earthly kingdom mean in comparison with this? What is human, temporary management? What is our vain and inhuman power? Here are the truly heavenly armies, here is the eternal power of the authorities, here are the terrible visions of the One Terrible One, here are the powerful servants of the One Almighty, here are the rulers of the One Sovereign, here are the mighty of the Strong God, here are the terrible and terrible visions! All this is then seen by one, received from us, and no longer pays attention to us, but brought into a stupor by the Forces calling him, he is amazed. Sometimes he says prayers in a whisper, as much as his tongue allows. From his speeches and from the positions he takes, we who are present often hear and conclude that he has seen the Sovereign Powers, and we are all horrified in awe and give signs to each other, saying: “Be silent, and do not disturb the one who is lying down, stop the noise, be silent, do not speak to him anymore, do not make exclamations, so as not to confuse and disturb him. Pray that his soul departs in peace, ask that he be given a resting place; fall down in prayer so that you may have man-loving Angels for him; fall down in prayer to find him a merciful Judge; burn the fragrance, because he sees an angelic appearance; pray, because he is now in great struggle. Observe this for yourself and pray. Watch carefully and do not forget this sacrament; Strain your eyes, and take care of this hour yourself.” What is a person? Nothing. What is a person? Worm. What is a person? Ash. What is a person? Sleepy vision. What is a person? Shadow. Now, it has outlived its usefulness; behold, he was gone; behold, he is motionless, lifeless, silent; behold, he died; this great and invincible lion, the tormentor, the powerful, tall, terrible ruler for everyone, lies down and has become meek like a sheep. He left us; appeared and disappeared, was born - and as if he had not been born; towered over many - and it was as if he had never existed! The ruler himself now listens to commands; he who made the bond is bound; and behold, he must go wherever those who eat him lead him. On this day, as soon as the Divine takers arrive, having revealed the soul, they ascend through the air, where the Principalities and Powers and the rulers of the opposing forces stand. These are our evil accusers, terrible tax collectors, inventory clerks, tax collectors; they meet on the way, describe, examine and calculate the sins and handwritings of this person, the sins of youth and old age, voluntary and involuntary, committed by deed, word, thought. There is great fear there, great trepidation for the poor soul, indescribable the need that she will then suffer from the countless multitude of darkness surrounding her, slandering her, in order to prevent her from ascending to heaven, settling in the light of the living, and entering the land of life. But the holy Angels, having taken the soul, take it away. Then we, burying the dead body, and, as a stranger and stranger, taking it from our own home to the grave, we see another great and terrible sacrament, seeing that small and great, kings and commoners, torturers and slaves, have all become one dust, one dust, one ashes, one stench, one rottenness, one worm. As is the Ethiopian, so is the once handsome; as is the youth, so is the decayed old man; like the paralytic, so is the irresistible and strong; They all became what they were at the beginning, one dust, according to what was said to them: “As you are earth, you shall return to earth” (Gen. 3:19). You are earth, and again you will be dust. And we often, seeing those lying in the grave already decayed, point out to each other, making signs with our fingers and saying: “Look, this is such and such, this is the tormentor, and this is such and such a warrior, and this is such and such a king, and this is a descendant of such and such; here is the daughter of so-and-so, and this is the one who was once exalted in her youth, and this is the formerly magnificent young man.” So, sighing often, we say at the graves, and we shed tears, seeing that you cannot discern any youth there, seeing a great and terrible mystery; seeing that every age is blotted out there; seeing that every pleasant eye is quenched there; seeing that every greyhound tongue is silent there; seeing that all sorts of sweet-talking lips are sealed there; seeing that all the beauty of the teeth had crumbled there. Looking at this, let us beg the humane God to grant us mercy from Him. The power befits him forever and ever! Amen. We see a great, truly, and terrible mystery. We see that age has been erased there. We see that all bodily beauty has changed there. We see that all facial beauty has become useless there. We see that every pleasant eye is extinguished there. We see that all sorts of kindly lips are imprinted there. We see that every greyhound (quick) tongue has fallen silent there. We see that all the beauty of the teeth has crumbled there. We see that all the hair braiding there has rotted. We see that all the beauty of age is crushed there. We see that all superior power there ceased, all self-government and arrogance ended there, all youthful contempt (pride) subsided, all vain human efforts and all labor ended there, calmed down, ceased. We speak, and no one listens; we cry, and no one listens. We call those lying down by name, saying: “Where have you gone, our brothers? Where do you live? Where is your location? Why did they leave us so suddenly? Give us a voice, talk to us as you once talked, answer us.” “We,” say those who have left us while still in life, “we, that is, the soul of each of us, are in a place suitable for the soul, according to its dignity. And this dust, lying in the grave before your eyes, this ashes that you see, this stench, these rotten bones, these unclean worms - the bodies of those young men and women who were once desired by you. This ashes are the very flesh that you embraced in your arms and kissed insatiably. These bared teeth are the same face that you covered day and night with countless kisses. This pus and disgusting moisture is the very flesh in whose embraces you indulged in sin. Therefore, look, and be absolutely sure, those who are still in the flesh, in this vain life, know that when you embrace your young cohabitants on the beds, you embrace dust and mud. Know that when you kiss their members, you kiss stench and rottenness. Understand that when you are kindled with love for them, the object of your desire is worms, ashes, stench. Do not indulge in error, foolish young men and maidens. Do not be deceived by the vain beauty of youth, because we, lying before your eyes, rotten dead, once, during our lives, like you now, were visible and majestic, anointed with incense, were loved, enjoyed and prospered; and so, as you see, all this became clay, dust, ashes and a stench. Do not deceive yourselves anymore, but among us, who preceded you and are now in the grave, learn, and be chaste, and be convinced that there is judgment in hell, there is endless torment, there is darkness impenetrable by light and joyless Gehenna, there is a never-sleeping worm, incessant crying, incessant gnashing, inhealable sorrow, there is an impartial Judge, merciless servants, there is bitter and eternal lament.” Our brothers who preceded us there teach us this, if not in words, then in deed. As those who commemorate them, we longed to learn something, to hear, or to find out where they were, in what state of their souls, whether they were on fire or down; do they see us now, and will we ever see them, will we kiss them there, or, in general, will we know them. But no one knows this, because no one came from there, and no one revealed to us the state there, where it is, and what it is like. God, as if with a wall, blocked this from us; hid it, hid it, left it there for us in the shadows until we ourselves go there and reach it there, when we all rise from the dead, we all appear, confess, and give an account at that great and terrible, at that awe-inspiring and inscrutable Judgment Seat of the Judge, when he comes from heaven to judge the whole universe from the east of the sun to the west, when their voices sound terrible trumpets, when the creation will be shaken and confused in fear and trembling, when the tombs will be opened, and all flesh will rise naked and open, when every mouth will be stopped, and every breath will bring confession, and before the Judge the fiery river will flow, about which Daniel speaks: “In vain, until the thrones were set up, and the Ancient One sat... His throne a flame of fire, His wheels a scorching fire: a river of fire flowing forth before Him: thousands of thousands served Him: and these stood before Him: the judgment was seated, and the books were opened” (Dan. 7:9-10). Job cursed this day, saying: “Let him curse that day, that he may overcome the great whale” (Job 3:8), that is, the devil. About this day another prophet cries: “Behold, it comes, says the Lord Almighty. And whoever endures the day of His coming" (Mal. 3:1-2), when "God will come, our God, and will not be silent: a fire will kindle before Him, and a storm will surround Him. He will call the heavens from above and the earth to judge His people” (Ps. 49:3-5), and He will call all flesh to that Last Judgment, where there is neither small nor great, neither slave nor free, where there is neither king nor subject, but are still subject to judgment, all prisoners, all naked, abandoned by all, all trembling, crying, confused, tormented, worried about what to say to everyone, what to justify yourself before the Judge for what you have done that is bad. Where is the majesty of kings? Where is the arrogance of the torturers? Where is the pride of the foolish? Where is the effeminacy of youth? Where is the elegance of the clothes? Where are the upcoming and accompanying slaves? Where are the removed daughters? Where's the gold? Where's the silver? Where are the golden-brided horses? Where are the fragrant ointments? Where is the smoking? Where are the fragrances? Where are the vain expenses? Where's the fun? Where is the luxury? Where are the feasts day and night? Where are those who drink wine and revel in luxury with tympanums and dances, but do not care about God and the poor? There is nothing like that there, but bitter: alas! Alas! We no longer need to become rich, but to tremble; there is not decoration, but darkness; there you can not rejoice, but cry; there is not the grandeur of youth, but imprisonment in hell; there is no propitiation, but great fear; not consolation on that terrible and trembling day, but righteous and strict retribution. Excellent help to you that day if you showed compassion for the poor here. Your wonderful defenders before Christ are the poor whom you nourished, towards whom you were merciful, whom you sheltered and saved. Wonderful and strong intercessors for you - Christ's brethren, the poor, orphans, widows, strangers, the helpless, the crippled, the blind, captives, abandoned by everyone, in torture, in deserts, in prisons, in captivity, in illness, in troubles - saved and pardoned by you. There they will then be your great representatives, great intercessors, great helpers; They will show Christ what you gave them, how you fed them, how you gave them rest, how you served them. There they will be, like the brothers of Christ, your wonderful brothers. For if one royal brother often has great power in intercession with his brother, the king, is not intercession much stronger when many brethren plead? And that Christ, in that terrible hour of Judgment, calls the poor brethren, then listen to what He says to the righteous, who will then stand at His right hand: “Because you have made one of these lesser brethren, you have made them for Me” (Matthew 25:40). Saying this, He will, without a doubt, point with His finger at those standing there and sitting at His feet. Who is so worthy, so blessed, to be called the brother of Christ at that hour when all Angels and men are terrified and trembling? What treasures, what wealth, what crowns is this name not higher for you? Who are they to please us? Who are they that we should praise them? Who are they that we should be jealous of them? Who are they, on this day and hour of the awe-inspiring Last Judgment, boldly, boldly, fearlessly approaching Christ as their Father and sincere friend, firmly confident and knowing that He will accept them as sons and sincere friends, because they sincerely served Him and kept His commandments? Who is this blessed one, whom Christ, sitting on the throne, seeing ascending to Him, will receive and meet with a cheerful face, with a grinning (smiling) gaze and with a joyful greeting, showing him with benevolent frankness, will embrace him, kiss him, will caress him, like a dear son who has returned from a foreign country after a long separation, and will say to him in words similar to these: “Pleasant is your coming, good and faithful friend, welcome is your coming, My nourisher, My stranger, My patron. I thank you for your affection and I will not forget your love. I remember how much good you did to Me. I know how you laid Me to rest.” Then, telling him this, holding him with his hand and placing him in the middle, before all this great assembly, before the Angels and Archangels, before every Principality and Power, before the righteous and prophets, apostles and saints, and pointing to him to everyone, Christ proclaims, saying; “When this man saw Me hungry, he fed; I saw those who were thirsty, and quenched My thirst; I saw him numb from the cold - he covered him up; saw him as a stranger, he took him in; I saw you sick, you served Me; he brought Me into his house, he washed my feet, he washed away my wounds, he made me rest on his bed; He opened the doors of his house to Me, met Me with joy, made Me welcome; He saw Me in extremes, and delivered Me; found Me in prison, ransomed Me. That’s why I say to him: “Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful for a little, I will make you over many: enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21), enjoy the joys of My paradise, enter into the Kingdom of your Lord, enter into eternal life.” And not only will Christ then say this to those who have pleased and served Him, but He will invite them to lie down, and He Himself will serve them. In order for us to enjoy such broadcasting, and glory, and honor, let us flow, beloved, let us hasten, let us precede, so as not to be preceded, let us desire, so as not to be suddenly caught up, let us enter, so as not to be left out. Let us be careful, beloved, we will speed up the procession, we will delight, we will warn. Let us cast off the laziness in which we have been living until now. Let us put aside vain procrastination, let us reject hopes that deceive us day after day. Let us no longer deceive ourselves, deceive ourselves. Let the evil one mock us no more. Let us not be deceived by unclean thoughts in the present day and in the morning, because many, having planned many things, did not live to see the morning, but were suddenly snatched away by death, like a sparrow by a hawk and a lamb by a wolf, or like a captive by a robber, and were completely unable to speak, make a will, or even utter a word. Some, having fallen asleep healthy in the evening, did not live to see the morning; others, sitting at the meal, gave up their breath; others died suddenly while walking and playing; others, dying in the bathhouse, found a funeral ablution for themselves in it; others were suddenly kidnapped by death during marriage, in the bridal chamber itself they made wedding clothes for themselves along with funeral clothes, and the place of the pipers (who wield the flute) was taken by the mourners, and the place of the dancers by the mourners. And we know all this, we know everything; and this is the most painful thing, that voluntarily and knowingly we sin and deceive ourselves. Therefore, we will not find any leniency from God, for it is not out of ignorance, but with knowledge that we fall into deception; We hear the Divine Scriptures and boast that we have heard, but we do not fulfill what is said in them. I beg you, finally, to be not only listeners, but also doers of the teaching. If anyone, having an evil habit of fornication, after listening to what has been said now, cuts off this habit, then he is an excellent listener. If someone had a grudge against his neighbor and is reconciled with him, then he is a wonderful listener. If someone, brought to contrition by the present word, becomes merciful and generous, then he is a wonderful listener. Let this or any other reading not serve us as condemnation, because we listen and do not act. If the death of your brother does not make you wise, then no one will be able to benefit you. If, looking at a dead man, you do not repent, then when will you turn back after that? If what is said does not lead you to contrition, then you will never give up sin. This, beloved, from the Divine words, was offered to us by our brethren who preceded us to Christ; Such and such have prepared life-giving foods, such and such have dissolved the wine of teaching for us; such and such amusement and pleasure was brought to us as a gift for our salvation, so that, by reflecting on this night and day and every hour, and in church, and in the marketplace, and in the house, and at meals, and in courts of law, and in beds, and in the bathhouse, and at feasts, and in meetings, we could lag behind the evil and vain habit and from negligence, and turn our souls to repentance, evade present, to appease the Master, and to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven, by the grace, and generosity, and love for mankind of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because to Him be glory and power, now and always, and unto the ages of ages! Amen. You might be interested in: