41. 1416 г. сентября 9. Послание митрополита Фотия Псковичам о соблюдении церковных законоположений, о несообщении с литовскими раскольниками и покровительстве выходящим оттуда верным сынам Церкви

From the Rumyants manuscript. Museum No. 204, l. 430–433, indicating the different readings of the list in the Synod. collection No. 562, l. 391–393. It was published, according to the same lists, in Volume I of “Historical Acts” under No. 20. And this is about the priests of teaching and the laity of punishment Blessing of Photius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus', in Pskov, in the Holy Spirit, to my children, the mayor and the thousandth, and the old mayors and thousanders, and to the entire priestly and monastic rank, both small and great, to all the fulfillment of Christ of the Lord, to the holy people, who are all found in the God-saved state of Pskov. O children of the Lord, beloved of our humility! Your message is dear, I wrote to you before from the divine scripture 1821, for your spiritual benefit, since I long to hear a lot about your every stay in the good, and now I am writing to you from the divine scripture. And understand this first, O priests of the Lord, servants of the true truth, and look diligently at how you govern yourselves, and how you instruct the verbal flock of Christ, entrusted to you, on the path of salvation. 1822 Every day you yourself read the holy gospel, Matthew says from the words of Christ: “Say the Lord: you are the light of the world, you are the salt of the earth”: and again 1823: “so let your light be enlightened before men, so that they will see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” And you know, O elders, that Christ says that the priest of the Lord is worthy to be like light; and when there is light itself, then it can enlighten others, as the great preacher Apostle Paul says: “It is fitting for a shepherd to be skillful and a divine man, having a good image for himself and giving to others.” And for this reason, my children priests, I write to you, let yourself be sober first, and so may you shepherd the flock of Christ in everything, according to the pleasure of God. But you, my beloved children in the Lord, Christ's people of the Lord, I beg you diligently, spread your spiritual feelings, and understand how we have been redeemed 1824 of Christ our true God with the honest blood, with which redeem us from the work of idols and bring us into the knowledge 1825 of the true Orthodox faith, and for this sake, my children, see that you are not mere words We are only called Christians, but are accomplished 1826 in all sorts of deeds worthy of true Orthodoxy, and 1827 are worthy to accomplish 1828 yourself, according to Spasov’s Gospel word, which says: “Not everyone says to me: Lord, Lord, and will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but do the will of my Father who is in heaven.” And for this reason I am writing to you, for your spiritual benefit, so that your faith will be as I hear, but also may the grace that blooms in you 1829 in God with virtues increase more and more, for the pleasure of God, as the great preacher and Apostle Paul says: “show me faith from your works, and works from your faith: for faith without works is dead, and works without faith.” And for this reason the Apostle says, “faith and works,” so that we may purify our soul and body. And for this reason, my children, I am writing to you from the divine scripture about your spiritual benefit, since we ourselves are skilled in the divine scripture. And about this, my children, I write to you that I have copied from the divine scriptures and from the divine rules about the division of God’s church from unholy 1831 men, who are near your limit to the curse and have created a rebellion against the church of God, which by the grace of Christ will not be satisfied in any way, just as those who previously made annoyance 1832 against God’s church; and I hope, son, that my scripture has come to you. 1833 And look, my children, but it is not surprising 1834 this is, for this word of Savior has come true, spoken 1835 in the Holy Gospel: “for the last times are difficult and the days are evil, and some will depart from the faith, and time provides its servants.” And look, my children, at your true and Orthodox faith and customs, given to you by birth from God, moving away from 1836 and hearing those unrighteous people sweep away God’s law and holy rules; and I beg you to accomplish these things, just as by the grace of Christ you have previously created worthy thanksgiving and praise to your great power and to the entire 1837 invincible Christian faith, instructed by the grace of Almighty God and the mind given to you by God. And I give thanks for everything, and I pray to the God who is worshiped and glorified in the Trinity, the all-good lover of mankind, who will always give you wisdom to please him, who will protect you in everything and strengthen and preserve the power of your life in all good things, in the prospering of every blessing; and may my prayer and blessing be with you. And whoever, my son, having experienced that great and God-hated church rebellion, may turn away from that country to live with you, even worldly people, or monks, and run from there to your Orthodox and God-pleasing state: and you, sons, would accept them, like all true Orthodox Christians who are running away from untruth, into your Orthodoxy. And may God's grace be with you in everything. And the letter was given in Moscow, September 9, Indictment 10. 1838 In authentic true; corrected according to S. Of course, of course, the district message about Tsamblak, published here, No. 39. You might be interested in: