Отдел второй. Надежда на Бога

General Concepts of Christian Hope 1. Thoughts on hope in God 1. “If you truly call God your Father, then trust in Him as the only Father, all-good, all-powerful, wise, unchangeable in His love and in all perfections; trust in Him regarding the blessings of this temporary life, but especially regarding the gift of future blessings in Christ Jesus; deeply impress upon the heart the words: God is my Father! Our Father! Like you are in heaven. But since, through the love of the Heavenly Father for you, you yourself became a child of God, as having come from him, as having reason and free will, then you must certainly use your efforts to achieve the blessed and eternal inheritance of heaven; you must know and always remember that you are a fallen being - and just as you fell, having reason and freedom - fell by your own will, then with the same reason, enlightened by the light of the word of God and the insights of the Holy Spirit, with the same free will, supported by the grace of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus - rise from your fall and go unceasingly to the heavenly, endless Belly, despising everything earthly, as corruptible and fleeting, especially without being attached to silver and gold, to food and drink, to this poison, because of which the entire human race has fallen into such depths of evil.” 2. “Trust not in piles of money, but in God, who continually cares for everyone, and especially for His rational, verbal creatures, and especially for those who live piously. Believe that His hand will not fail, especially for those who give alms, for man cannot be more generous than God. The proof of this is your own life and the lives of all former people who gave alms. Let God alone be the treasure of your heart; Cling to Him completely, as created in His image and likeness, and flee from the earthly aphids, which constantly corrupt our souls and bodies. Hurry to eternal life, to life that does not grow old for endless centuries; draw everyone there as much as you can” (from the book “My Life in Christ”, Father Archpriest of Kronstadt John Sergiev, vol. II, ed. 1st 1892, p. 354). 2. The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior, whom will I fear? Let my enemy, hiding, catch me like a bird And, beckoning with friendship, he prepares destruction for me; Let slander come with malice, two fierce snakes, They crawl to poison my golden days; Let poverty, orphanhood, illness, misadventures, Like clouds flying at me from afar; Let the lightning flash, let the thunder crash over the head, I am not afraid: the Lord is with me! 3. Biblical examples of strong hope in God among believers Holy King and Prophet David: “David answered the Philistine: You come against me with a sword and a spear and a shield, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which you have reproached” (1 Sam. 17:45). “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him... and I will glorify Him with my song” (Ps. 27:7). King Hezekiah: “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; and there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, either after him or before him” (2 Kings 18:5). King Jehoshaphat: “Our God! You judge them (i.e., the enemies of Israel). For we have no strength against this great multitude that has come against us, and we do not know what to do; but our eyes are to You!” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Righteous Job: “Behold, He kills me, but I will hope; I would only like to defend my ways before Him!” (Job 13:15). Holy Prophet Isaiah: “And the Lord... helps Me: therefore I am not ashamed, therefore I set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not remain in shame” (Is. 50:7). Holy Prophet Daniel: “Then the king rejoiced exceedingly over him and ordered Daniel to be raised from the pit; and Daniel was taken up out of the pit, and no harm was found on him, because he believed in his God” (Dan. 6:23). St. Apostle Paul: “I know in whom I have believed, and I am confident that He is able to keep my pledge for that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). 4. Sayings of the word of God about hope in God – A person should place his hope only in God alone: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in princes” (Ps. 117:8, 9). – “Trust in the Lord forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isa. 26:4). - “Do not put your trust in princes, in the son of man, in whom there is no salvation” (Ps. 145:3). - “Stop relying on a man whose breath is in his nostrils, for what does he mean?” (Isa. 22:22). - “Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his support, and whose heart departs from the Lord” (Jer. 17:5). - “Commit your way to the Lord and trust in Him, and He will perfect and bring out your righteousness like the light and your justice like the noonday” (Ps. 36:5, 6). - “Commit your deeds to the Lord, and your undertakings will be accomplished” (Prov. 16:3). – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). - “Do not be afraid of them; for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord" (Jer. 1:8). - “Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him, as to a faithful Creator, doing good” (1 Pet. 4:19). - “When I am afraid, I trust in You” (Ps. 55:4). “The mountains will move and the hills will be shaken, but My mercy will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you” (Isaiah 64:10). 5. No, we are not pathetic creatures! No, we are not pathetic creatures, Gave reason, thought, imagination, And blessed the feelings with fire! There are many unforgettable minutes, There are many joys of the saints! Happy, blissful and bright moment, When the peace of sacred thoughts And with the purity of all my feelings There is a manifestation of the spirit in everything; Anticipates under the yoke of decay 6. Visions of the abodes of the Kingdom of Heaven 1. One pious warrior was dying and saw a green meadow, decorated with flowers of fragrant herbs, on which one could see gatherings of people dressed in white clothes. There was such a pleasant smell in this place that the very pleasantness of the smell saturated those living and walking there. An amazingly beautiful house was being built there, apparently made of gold bricks. The golden bricks for building the house were carried by elders and youths, maidens and youths. And another man had a vision that his house was being built for him, but his workers came to build it only on Saturdays. Afterwards, the one who had the vision had a revelation to clarify the vision that this house was built only on Saturdays because this man had the custom of taking Blessed Peter to the church on Saturday and distributing to the poor what was left of the food and clothing produced on other days (St. Gregory. Doubles. Works. 1858, pp. 328 and 331). 2. There was a vision of St. Mavra: a wonderful husband appeared to her, his face shone like the sun; He, taking her by the hand, led her to heaven, showed her a throne covered with white clothes and a beautiful crown lying on it. She, amazed at the beauty, asked her husband who was driving: - This is your reward for your exploits; a throne has been prepared for you, clothes on it and a crown. He raised her even higher, showed her another throne, similarly covered, clothes and a crown; again she asked him: “Your husband Timofey,” answered the guide. - Why are they separated from each other? - There is a great difference between you and your husband: you received an exhortation from your husband to the feat of martyrdom, and he is the culprit of your crown. 3. One day righteous Martha, mother of St. Simeon Divnogorets, having arrived to see her son on Divnaya Mountain to say goodbye to him, stopped to spend the night with him. In a dream vision, she (that is, her soul) was taken up to the heights of heaven and saw a bright and wonderful chamber, which is impossible to describe. When she walked around this chamber, she saw there the Most Holy Virgin Mary with two bright Angels. Our Lady told her: She bowed to Her with fear, joy and reverence and said: - Oh, Lady! I am amazed at the beauty of the chamber, because I have never seen such chambers in my entire life. – Who do you think she’s getting ready for? “Don’t you know that this peace is prepared for you, in which from now on you will remain forever: your son bought it for you.” The Mother of God ordered the Angels to place a wondrous throne in the middle and said to her: “This glory is bestowed upon you because you lived a godly life in the fear of the Lord, and then added: Do you want to see even better things?” And she told her to follow Him. They ascended to the highest heavenly places, where the Mother of God showed her the most wonderful and brightest, better than the first, chamber, filled with heavenly glory, which the human mind cannot comprehend and the tongue cannot express. The Mother of God said: “Your son created this chamber for himself and began to build a third.” The Mother of God again led her higher to the sunny east and showed her from above the heavenly villages, in which many rejoicing husbands and wives were rejoicing, and said: “Your son asked God for these places for those who live in observance of the commandments of the Lord, chastely and righteously, and do alms with zeal, for which they themselves will be worthy of mercy from the Lord: blessed is mercy”... (July 4th. Martha). 4. In the life of Rev. Eupraxia the Virgin says: “The Mother Superior told the following vision: I, having taken Eupraxia, was led by bright men to some wonderful gates; they opened themselves; we went inside; here they saw a chamber not made by hands of indescribable beauty and a high throne; the bright King sat on it: I could not enter the middle, but the Angels took Eupraxia and brought her to the King - they bowed to Him and kissed His feet; I saw there dozens of angels and countless saints: everyone stood and looked at Eupraxia; I saw the Mother of God, who took Eupraxia by the hand and showed her a beautiful palace and a prepared crown, shining with glory and purity, and heard the voice: “Eupraxia! this is your reward and peace; now return and in 10 days you will be satisfied with all these endless blessings” (July 25). 5. After the death of Philaret the Merciful, one pious man was honored to see his monastery not made by hands. He said this: “In admiration, I saw myself in a bright place, where I saw a bright and handsome man who showed me a river of fire flowing with such noise and fear that a person cannot stand. On the other side of the river, a beautiful paradise was visible, filled with indescribable joy and joy; the whole place was filled with fragrance; beautiful, large, fruitful trees were swayed by a quiet wind; everything that God had prepared for those who loved Him was beautiful there. There, among people in white robes, rejoicing and having fun and enjoying the fruits, I saw Philaret the Merciful, but did not recognize him; he was in light clothes and sat on a golden throne in the middle of the gardens; on one side stood children holding candles in their hands, and on the other, crowded the poor and wretched. One young man appeared here, with a bright face, with a golden rod in his hand, and I dared to ask him: “Sir, who is it that sits on the bright throne among those bright-looking men, is it not Abraham?” The young man replied: “Filaret of Amniat, a lover of the poor, similar to Abraham in his honest life.” St. Philaret looked at me and began to quietly call me, saying: “Child! come here too and enjoy these blessings.” I told him: I can’t, the fiery river forbids and frightens me, the path through it is narrow and the bridge is inconvenient, I’m afraid that I won’t get there either. Filaret said: “Go fearlessly, everyone came here this way, and there is no other way; I will help you; and stretched out his hand. I began to pass the fiery river without harm, and when I approached his hand, the vision ended and I woke up” (“Ch.-M.” December 1). 6. In Constantinople, a pious man had a vision: he saw a great and wonderful house, its gates were decorated with gold and precious stones, over the gate there was an inscription: “The abode and eternal rest of Blessed Basil the New.” The husband read the inscription and marveled at the beauty of the building of that house; A beautiful young man came out of this house and said to him: “Why are you marveling, man! Do you want to see something more beautiful than this? After this, the wonderful young man opened the gates of the wonderful house, inside it I saw beautiful and wonderful chambers, the beauty of which is impossible to describe and comprehend with the human mind. Rev. Vasily sat on the royal throne in great glory, surrounded by many wonderful and bright men and young men. There I saw beautiful gardens and everything was filled with joy and joy. A voice was heard: “This is the reward upon repose that is accepted by all who loved God and their Creator and served Him diligently” (Mar. 26 part of the life of St. Vasily) (Arch. G. Dyachenko). My spirit! Power of attorney to the Creator! Take courage, be patient! Are we all led through life by a flame? Everything is His gift! And more beautiful than everyone else Darov - the hope of a better life! When will I see a calm shore, When a stream of heavenly blessings 1. Every business should begin with a blessing. One day, Grand Duke Izyaslav visited the Monk Theodosius of Pechersk and stayed to dine with him. Simple monastic food was prepared on a simple table: black bread and ordinary vegetables. But this food seemed so tasty to the Grand Duke that he tenderly asked the Monk Theodosius: “I have a lot of everything, expensive supplies, overseas seasoning, learned cooks, but I have never eaten at home with such a taste as yours: why is this?” - “Sovereign! “Theodosius answered, “our brethren, when they want to cook food or bake bread, have this rule: first they take a blessing from the abbot, then they bow three times before the altar, light a candle from a lamp before the image of the Savior, and with this candle they light a fire in the kitchen and bread room. When it is necessary to pour water into the cauldron, the servant says to the elder: “Bless, father!” - and he will say: “God bless you, child!” Thus, everything we do is done with blessing. That's the reason why everything tastes good here; and your servants begin every task with grumbling and annoyance at each other. And where there is sin, there can be no pleasure. In addition, your butlers often beat servants for the slightest malfunction; and their tears also add a lot of bitterness to the food, no matter how expensive they are.” The Grand Duke agreed that the holy elder was telling the truth, accepted his blessing and returned home. When taking on any task, you should always pray to God, or at least cross yourself and say to yourself: “Lord, bless!” (according to “Ch.-M.”). What should you do to please God? - Saint Anthony the Great was asked, and said in response: “Wherever you are, always have the Heavenly Father before your eyes; Whatever business you undertake, see if it is approved by the Holy Scriptures” (“Spiritual colors”). 3. Prayer is an angelic work St. John Chrysostom says that prayer is an angelic work. “We especially must say about prayer,” he says, “that a praying person talks with God. Everyone knows how important it is for a person to talk with God; but no one can express this importance in words; for this honor is higher than the dignity of the Angels themselves... Prayer is a common work of Angels and men; Regarding prayer, there is nothing special between one and the other nature; prayer distinguishes you from the dumb; it also connects you with the Angels. He will soon unite with them, achieve their life, honor, dignity, wisdom and knowledge, who tries to spend his entire life in prayer and serving God” (“Christ. Reader”, 1835, part 3, pp. 3–5). Yes, they will penetrate into the depths of the soul 5. Prayer is food for the soul Prayer is for the Christian soul what food is for the body, what water is for trees and fish. The Holy Fathers very often call prayer the food of the soul. “All people have no less need for prayer,” says St. John Chrysostom - like trees in water; for just as they cannot bear fruit without receiving juice from the roots; so we, without being nourished by prayers, cannot bear in abundance the valuable fruits of piety” (from the 1st word on prayer). “If you deprive yourself of prayer,” he says, “you will do the same as if you took a fish out of water; for just as water makes up the life of a fish, so prayer makes up your life. Through prayer, like through water, you can soar, go through heaven and get closer to God” (“Christian Reader”, 1835, part 3, page 8). “Do not abandon prayer as spiritual food,” says St. Gennady, “for just as the body, deprived of food, weakens, so the soul, deprived of prayerful food, approaches relaxation and mental death” (“Rules on the Faith and Life of Christ,” right. 44 in “Addition to the Works of the Holy Fathers,” 3rd). 6. How a Christian should pray to God 1. “In prayer, the main thing that you need to take care of first of all is a living, clairvoyant faith in the Lord,” says our great modern prayer book, Fr. Archpriest John Sergiev (Kronstadt), - imagine Him vividly before you and in yourself - and then, if you want, ask for Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit, and it will be done for you. Ask simply, without hesitation, and then your God will be everything for you, performing great and wonderful deeds in an instant, just as the sign of the cross accomplishes great powers.” 2. “Ask not for yourself alone, but for all the faithful, for the entire body of the church, spiritual and material blessings, not separating yourself from other believers, but being in spiritual unity with them, as a member of the one great body of the Church of Christ - and loving everyone as his children in Christ, the Heavenly Father will fill you with great peace and boldness.” 3. “When praying, pay close attention to the words of the prayer, feel them with your heart. Do not distract your mind from them with any thoughts. When praying during divine services, performing the sacraments and prayers on various occasions, firmly rely with your heart on the very words of church prayers, believing that not a single word was put in vain, each has its own power.” 4. “When you pray, be like a babbling child, merging into one spirit with the spirit of the spoken prayer. Consider yourself as nothing, accept prayers as a great gift from God. Completely abandon your carnal mind and do not listen to it, for the carnal “mind is arrogant” (1 Cor. 8:1), doubts, dreams, and blasphemes. If, during or outside of prayer, the enemy stabs your soul with any blasphemies and abominations, do not be discouraged by them, but say with firmness in your heart: for cleansing from these and similar sins, our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth; It is in these and similar weaknesses of spirit that the Most Merciful One came to help us; and when you say these words with faith, your heart will immediately calm down, for the Lord will cleanse your heart. In general, one should not lose heart from any sin, like from a dream, but trust in the Savior.” 5. “A person who prays, like a hungry person, must hunger and strongly desire those benefits, especially spiritual ones: forgiveness of sins, sanctification, confirmation in virtue, which he asks for in prayer. Otherwise, he wastes his words in vain. Understand the same about giving thanks and glorifying the Lord: hunger to thank and glorify the Lord unceasingly, for everything is from Him, everything is gifts of His goodness and mercy.” 6. “When you pray to God, you talk with him face to face; talk with Him as with a king - eye to eye, with Matter, the Queen of Heaven, talk as if with a living person, with Angels and saints just as eye to eye, and let your heart not be occupied with anything extraneous at this time or attached to anything, for say: will you, while talking with the king or queen, be engaged at this time in anything extraneous or unimportant, for example. look out the window at people passing by, or examine things in the chambers, etc.? And wouldn’t this be an extreme insult to the royal majesty? How can we do something like this and much worse than this when talking with the Lord?” (from the book: “My life in Christ” by Archpriest John Sergiev of Kronstadt, vol. II, ed. 1st 1892, pp. 26–27; 138–139; 145; 381). 7. “When praying, we must certainly take control of our heart and turn it to the Lord. It must not be cold, crafty, untrue, or double-minded. Otherwise, what is the use of our prayer, of our fasting? Is it good to hear an angry voice from the Lord: “These people draw near to Me with their lips, and with their lips they honor Me; but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8)? So let us not stand in church with spiritual relaxation, but let each one burn in his spirit, working for the Lord. And people appreciate a little those services that we do coldly, out of habit; and God wants precisely our heart: “Give Me, son, your heart” (Prov. 23:26); because the heart is the most important thing in a person, his life; more - our heart is man himself. Therefore, whoever does not pray or does not serve God with his heart is the same as not praying at all, because then his body prays, which in itself, without a soul, is the same as the earth. Remember that when you stand in prayer, you stand before God, who has the mind of all. Therefore, your prayer should be, so to speak, the whole spirit, the whole mind” (from the book: “My Life in Christ” vol. I, Archpriest of Kronstadt Fr. Ioanna Sergiev, ed. 1st 1891, pp. 4–5). 7. Stories about the power of Christian prayer A great thing is prayer combined with faith! What can such a prayer not do? Such prayer raises the dead, heals the sick, saves at sea, on travel, from fire, sword, from all kinds of enemies; such a prayer brings down peace from heaven to troubled souls, establishes silence in families, love between brothers and sisters - it brings down blessings on peaceful and honest labors, turns the unbeliever to faith, admonishes the wicked, averts the thunder of God's wrath from sinners, in a word: it brings down all blessings, temporary and eternal, mental and physical, it brings down both on the worthy and on the unworthy for the sake of the worthy. To see more clearly that this is exactly the case, let us present several examples of the power and effect of prayer. 1. Here is St. Alexy, whose incorruptible relics rest in our ancient throne city, goes to the Horde to the unbelieving khan; at his request, he prays over his sick wife Taidula - and through the prayer of the righteous man, the sick woman is healed. The Miracle Monastery, built by this saint, stands and will stand as a monument to such a miracle and the action of righteous prayer. 2. St. Basil the Great, while on his deathbed, almost without breathing, was visited by a friend of his non-believer Jewish doctor. An unbelieving doctor predicts the hour of his death. “What if I live longer?” - says the saint. “Then I will believe in your Christ,” said the doctor. The saint wanted his friend not to be deprived of eternal life - and so, after his departure, the saint prayed to the Lord that for the sake of glorifying the name of Christ, for the sake of saving his friend, he would extend his life. And the Lord heard the prayer of faith. The saint, already dying, almost without breath, lived longer than the appointed time. The doctor comes and can hardly believe what he sees. Struck by the miracle of God's omnipotence, he believed in Christ and began to ask for baptism. “I will baptize you myself,” said the saint, although at that time he could hardly catch his breath. And, lo and behold! When the hour of the sacred rite has arrived, St. himself appears. Basil, standing before the altar of the Lord, offers prayers for those present, the Jew and his whole house, baptizes and distributes the Lord’s Supper to all the faithful, i.e. He performed the liturgy, the sacrament of baptism, gave communion to everyone, and all this lasted five or six hours - and only at the end of all this, peacefully on the same day, he surrendered his soul to God. Such is the power of prayer! 3. But will you say that the success of such prayer depends on the righteousness of those praying? No, the prayers of sinners are also powerful before God, only, of course, those who repent. Remember the residents of the city of Ustyug. With their tearful prayers before the icon of the Mother of God, they saved themselves from the stone cloud that was ready to break out over the city for their sins. They write about the elders of the Panteleimon Monastery on Athos: “When they see a cloud ready to destroy the ripening grapes in their vineyards either with heavy rain or hail, they all stand in prayer at the ringing of the bell, and as soon as they stretch out their hands to the sky, the thunderstorm passes and breaks out in a whirlwind somewhere in a deserted place.” So in everyday and economic matters, prayer is equally effective as in matters concerning salvation. So, blessed is the one who has a strong will and knows how to pray fervently: he is safe in his ways - prayer will protect him, protect him, console him, confirm him. He is like a rock that no sea storms can harm (“Soul. Read”). 8. Pray during a trial When the heart aches from sorrow Don't be flattered to find peace There is no heat in it; there is no hello in it. One thing... pray! pray! pray! 9. Perseverance in prayer “Amen, amen, I say to you... whatever you ask from the Father in My name, he will give it to you” (John 16:23), said the Lord, and with further confirmation: “Amen, Amen, I say to you.” What a shame for us that we do not know how to use such a false promise! And it would be good for us to be ashamed of that: otherwise it casts a shadow over the promise itself, as if it were too great and unfulfillable. No, the blame is entirely on us, and mainly in the fact that we do not recognize ourselves as faithful servants of Christ, and our conscience does not allow us to expect any mercy from the Lord. Moreover, it also happens that if sometimes someone comes to ask God for something, it is with a divided soul: he will mention it in passing in his prayer once or twice - and gives it up, and then says: “God does not hear.” No, when asking for something in particular, one must remain persistent and tireless in prayer, like the widow who, by her pestering, forced the heartless judge to grant her request. Real prayer books, asking for something in prayer, combine with prayer fasting, vigils, deprivation of all kinds and any kind of charity, and moreover, they ask not for a day, not two, but months and years; That's what they get for it. Imitate them if you want to have success in prayer (from the book “Thoughts for Every Day of the Year”, Bishop Theophan the Recluse, pp. 164–165). 10. Conditions for prayer favorable to God If you want your prayer to be pleasing to God, then first learn how to perform it. The Wise One says: “Don’t even pray first, prepare for yourself” (Sir. 18:23). This means: first put aside all worldly cares, cut off all vain thoughts, then turn your whole mind to God, stand before Him with fear, reverently, as you stand before an earthly king, then pray with attention, as David teaches: “Sing to our God... sing wisely” (Ps. 47:7, 8), that is, listen and understand what you read and sing in prayer. What is the use of prayer that is done without attention and without meaning? There is prayer on the lips, but sinful thoughts on the mind; the tongue prays, but the heart insults the One to whom it prays; The mouth honors God, but the heart is far from Him. Can such a prayer be pleasing to God? Will the Lord hear her? “How do you want the Lord to hear you when you can’t hear yourself?” - says St. Cyprian. “You want God to remember you when you pray, but yet you yourself don’t remember what you are doing!” Prayer without attention is like a censer without fire and incense, like a lamp without oil, like a body without a soul. This is an insult, and not pleasing to Christ our God, for it is not the words emanating from the mouth that implore Him, but the mind directed towards Him - not the voice of our throat that enters the mouth of the Lord, but the sighing of a contrite heart. Then, if you want to send a prayer pleasing to God, then send it with faith and hope without doubt, as St. ap. James: “Let him ask by faith, doubting nothing: hesitating, for he is like the trouble of the sea... Let him not think... that he will receive anything from God” (James 1:6, 7). And St. Theophylact says: “If a person does not believe that he will receive what he asks from God for good, then he prays in vain.” And Climacus says that without faith, prayer cannot fly to heaven. Kindness and mercy, forgiveness for a brother who has sinned and alms for the one who asks - these are the two wings of prayer. If you want to ask God for something, then first do not refuse the one who asks you. If you seek forgiveness from Christ, then first forgive the brother who grieved you. And the Gospel commands first to be reconciled with your brother, and then to offer a gift to God with prayer. When praying, you also need fasting, you need patience, labor, and the mortification of sinful desires. But what is needed most is a clear conscience. “If our heart, that is, conscience, does not despise us,” says the beloved disciple of Christ, “the imam’s boldness towards God, and if we ask Him, we are acceptable from Him, as we keep His commandments” (1 John 3:21, 22). A pure heart, a clear conscience - this is a sign of godly prayer; Let us clear our conscience with true repentance, we will fulfill the commandments of the Lord - and the Lord will hear our prayers. Why sometimes does He not listen to the prayers of sinful people? Yes, because these people themselves do not listen to His commands. So the wise Solomon says: “He who turned away his ear from disobeying the law of the Lord... he himself detested his own prayer” (Prov. 28:9). How can God hear the prayer of a sinner when the sinner gravely offends Him day and night! Everyone, ask yourself for the gift of prayer from God Himself, who gives prayer to the one who prays: for we ourselves do not even know how and what we should pray for, if He Himself does not instruct us by His Holy Spirit (from the works of St. Demetrius of Rostov; sn. 129 No. “Tr. folio.”). 11. Diligent prayer workers 1. The holy martyr Anastasius the Persian, seeing the miracles performed by the honorable and life-giving cross of the Lord, believed with all his heart in the Lord crucified on him and, having become a monk, completely changed the way of his life. He was a virtuous, meek and hardworking monk; For the sake of daily work, he never abandoned prayer. His day was spent in constant labor: either he worked in a cookery or a bakery, then he worked in the monastery garden, or he performed other monastic obediences. Despite all this and the fatigue from constant work, the holy venerable martyr Anastasius never abandoned public prayer in the church, and it never happened that he abandoned the established cell rule. In addition, he found time to read the Divine Scriptures, read legends about St. martyrs and at the same time poured tears into the book, expressing with them compassion for the patience of the passion-bearers and burning with heart to imitate their lives and deeds. The Lord heard his prayer: he honored the Monk Anastasius with the crown of martyrdom and numbered him among the elect (“Ch.-M.” Jan. 22 days). No matter how great and tedious your labors and activities may be, Christian, do not abandon either morning or evening prayer, and the Lord will give you strength and bless your labors with success (“Sunday Thursday”, 1888, No. 34). 2. The Monk Nicodemus, whose memory is July 3, was born in the Rostov district, and was named Nikita at baptism. His parents were engaged in arable farming and cattle breeding. One day, when he, as a young man, was tending his father’s sheep, he heard a voice in the field calling him: Nicodemus! Nicodemus! Frightened by the call, the young man ran to his parents and told about what had happened. “It is right for you to be the monk Nicodemus,” the parents then said to their son. And so it happened. To earn money, Nikita moved to Moscow, where he soon entered the Chudov Monastery and was tonsured with the name Nicodemus - one holy fool named Elijah, seeing him, called him the hermit Khozyuchsky, which predicted to him that he would be saved in the Khozyuchy desert. All this has come true. Having lived for some time at the bishop's house of Metropolitan Paphnutius of Krutitsa, he, loving solitude, with his blessing, retired to the Kozheezersk monastery, where he lived in monastic deeds for a year and a half. But since here, as in Moscow, it seemed noisy to him, he retired to the nearby desert on the banks of the Khozyucha River. Here, among the impenetrable swamps, in the thicket of dense bushes, he built himself a small cell and began to strive - he built a vegetable garden near his cell, on which he worked, combining labor with prayer and psalmody. Neither day nor night did he give himself rest, practicing in prayer; - Only in the morning, and then sitting, did he allow himself to take a little nap. The Jesus Prayer was constantly on his lips and in his heart. With it he drove away enemy attacks. In winter, sometimes a snowstorm swept the hermit’s dwelling, and the saint patiently waited for the spring sun to drive the snow away from it. St. Nicodemus performed many miracles during his lifetime. Seven days before his death, Saint Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, and Dionysius, Archimandrite of the Trinity Lavra, appeared to him in the same form as they write on the icons of Angels, appeared to him and announced the time of death. Before his death, the brethren begged him to move to the monastery. The monk died in 1640. His relics rest hidden in the Kozheezersk monastery. We see that Saint Nicodemus constantly practiced prayer day and night and worked while praying. There is no need to prove the benefit and need of such prayer for every Christian. And every Christian, no matter who he is, should also love prayer and practice it as often as possible: he should try to acquire a constant prayerful mood, so that, according to the Apostle, he prays unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Without prayer, like without air, he cannot live. Without prayer, his soul moves away from God and dies. How can anyone living in the world be constantly in a prayerful mood? This is possible for anyone. You got up safely in the morning from your bed and, having prayed to God, having read, if time permits, a few from the Gospel and from other books, you begin, blessed, for your deeds. The bustle of the day begins: one has household chores, another has work to do at work, trade, or craft. All our attention is focused on the work we are doing. In this case, there is unrest, anxiety, displeasure, and if a certain task is carried out by a whole meeting of working people, then there may be idle laughter, conversations, gossip and even abuse. But don’t be embarrassed by this, in the world this is all so common - you know that swearing is a sin, gossip is also a sin, idle talk will also be condemned in court, and knowing this, refrain from all this, and, instead, it is better to turn your thoughts to God, remember His mercies shown to you, remember your sins of one or another, and sigh before God about them, and do this more often, as often as possible. Say the Jesus Prayer, also the prayer of the publican, the thief, and finally, the most common and short prayer: Lord, have mercy - and with all this you will maintain a prayerful mood in yourself, and your occupation will not interfere with that - you will be in union with God, God will be with you, and you with Him; prayer will bring down the blessing of God on you, and if you do this every day, then you will prosper, improve in prayer, and the path of your life will be a good, safe path - it will be the path to the Kingdom of Heaven (see Resurrection Day 1900, No. 25). 12. He who prays with zeal, an Angel prays with him In his youth, the pious Gregory, later Bishop of Akragantia, went to various elders to learn from their example of pious life and monastic deeds. One day he approaches the cell of a great elder and hears the pleasant singing of many faces. As he came closer, he heard the voices of only three singing. When he approached the door of the cell, he heard that one elder was singing and finishing the ninth hour. Not daring to knock on the door, so as not to disturb the peace of the person praying, he stood overwhelmed with fear. At the end of the prayer, that holy elder saw the young man standing and immediately recognized in spirit who was standing before him, and said: “Child Gregory, come here.” God-fearing Gregory came into greater fear when he heard that the unknown elder was calling him by name. Entering the cell, he saw one elder, he could not see anyone else, and he was surprised that one elder was singing, but the voice of many singing was heard, and he realized that the Angels of God were singing with him. – So, Christian, the Angels sing and glorify God together with those who perform their home prayer with zeal and love! Gregory fell at the feet of the elder with tears, saying: “Have mercy on me, father, and pray for me, a sinner, that God will save my soul.” The elder blessed the young man and said: “God will have mercy on you, child, and will give you reward for your labors” (“Ch.-M.” Nov. 23 days, sn. Resurrection Thursday 1888 No. 34). 1. Pray, child: doubt is a stone Your prayer is a pure flame Pray, child; listens to you Creator of countless worlds, And he counts the drops of your tears, 2. It used to be in the deep midnight hour, Little ones, I will come to admire you; It used to be that I like to sign you with a cross, Pray may grace be upon you The love of Almighty God... O children, in the deep midnight hour Pray for the one who prayed for you About the one who loved to mark you with a cross; Pray that grace will be with him, 1. Stories about the power of the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” In June 1887, I was called, says one priest from the Ryazan province. O. A. Nadezhdin, - for the communion of St. the secrets of one old man - a peasant from. Nizhny Beloomut M.D. Koshelev, where I heard from him the following testament to his children: “Children,” said their elder father, “I feel that death is not far from me; You will live after me, alone, but never take on bad deeds; it is better to read God’s prayer “Our Father” more often; read it at home, in the forest, and in the meadow - everywhere this prayer has saved me, a sinner, many times in life from various misfortunes and death - it will save you all from great troubles, if only you diligently read this prayer in all your grief. Animals obey her, and water obeys her. She is God’s,” that is, given by God. Wanting to learn more from the elder father why exactly he gave such a Christian commandment to his children, I asked him: M.D.! Have you experienced anything special in your life from the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father?..” “Yes, father,” the elder answered me with tears in his eyes, “if it weren’t for this prayer of God that kept me in life, then I would not have been in this world long ago.” “Tell me at least something from your life, M.D.,” I told him, “about the power of the Lord’s prayer manifested over you.” Maybe this will be instructive for others too. 1. “I don’t remember everything, father,” said the elder, “but I still remember some things well.” One day I went into the forest to pick myself some mushrooms; it was a long time ago; I was then 20 years old. I walked through the forest, looking to see if a mushroom was growing somewhere, and little by little I entered a dense linden forest (a young, dense linden forest). Suddenly a large wolf ran out from behind a bush and stood rooted to the spot about three steps from me; with his mouth open and his teeth clicking, this beast clearly wanted to rush at me. The fur on it stood like bristles, the wolf must have been hungry. What was I supposed to do? I had nothing in my hands except a small wallet. I was very scared of this beast. But still, God delivered me from him through the power of His prayer. When I read the “Our Father” prayer once, the animal began to look at me more kindly, and when I read this prayer of God another time, the wolf, growling loudly, ran away from me at a trot, as if scorched by fire, and I remained unharmed. This is how great the power of the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father!” 2. - And another case. “Once I was working in the mowing with my comrades,” old man M.D. continued to say. “It was a very hot day.” The four of us went to swim in Lake Icy 76. Three of my comrades, hastily throwing off their underwear, ran from the shore into the water and swam further. “Rush,” they shouted to me, “and you too.” I rushed, but ended up in a very deep place. But as a swimmer I was a bad one, no matter how hard I tried to swim out of the depths, I still didn’t swim out, but went straight to the bottom. Oh! I died: I was drowning, and, holding my hand over my mouth, I began to read God’s prayer “Our Father” in my mind... I remember that when I said to myself the words: “but deliver us from the evil one,” then at that very moment, according to my comrades, I quickly jumped out of the water and, having made a jump, appeared at the very shore with a pale face, with dull eyes, and two comrades took me and pulled me out of the water to the shore. When I came to my senses, two of my comrades told me: “We thought that you had completely drowned, and we already sent one of our comrades to the fishermen to take a net from them to catch you.” “So, by the power of His prayer, the Lord miraculously saved me from drowning,” old man M.D. said, crossing himself. 3. “There were other, equally amazing incidents in my life. I remember that during the last cholera, I don’t remember what year, many people died from it in our village. I hear that my neighbor has died. I gained a lot of money. About two days after the death of my neighbor, vomiting and terrible convulsions began with me. “Pour pepper into his mouth,” his relatives said, “and rub him all over.” “I don’t want to drink it and rub myself with it,” I answered them in a weak voice. But I don’t want to die. That’s how I came to my senses, and immediately read the Lord’s Prayer in the hut: I read it once, twice or more, and for that very minute I felt better—the heat inside subsided, and the cramps weakened. And so, thanks to the Lord, without any medicine, through the power of the Lord’s Prayer, I not only remained alive, but also lived to an old age. 4. “Once a couple of my horses, frightened by something, began to trample me through the meadow pits and hillocks so much that I thought that the end of my life was coming; however, I only read the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” with tears twice... and my root horse fell out of the blue, and through that I remained alive and unharmed. - I received many, many good things from God for the sake of St. His prayer “Our Father” on earth, now I would like to move into another life with this prayer in my mouth and in my heart and appear with it at judgment. This is how the Christian elder M.D. ended his instructive stories about the power of the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” (“Sunday Day” 1887 No. 20). On the first request of the Lord's Prayer In ancient times there lived a holy man. His holiness was so great that even the Angels were surprised at it and deliberately descended from heaven to see how, while living on earth, one could be so like God. And he lived simply, spreading goodness around him, like a star spreads light, like a flower spreads aroma, without noticing it. Every day of his life can be defined in two words: he did good and forgave. He never said a word about this, but it was expressed in his smile, in his friendliness, good nature and hourly charity. - Lord, grant him the gift of miracles! - I agree. “Ask him what he wants,” answered the Lord. And the Angels asked the saint: – Do you want to give health to the sick with the touch of your hands? “No,” answered the saint: “it would be better if the Lord Himself does this.” – Don’t you want to have such a gift of speech, by the power of which you would turn sinners to the path of truth and goodness? “No,” said the saint, “this is the work of the Angels, and not of a weak person; I pray for the conversion of sinners, but I do not convert. “Perhaps you want to become a model of patience, attract people to yourself with the radiance of virtues and thereby glorify God? “No,” said the saint, “by attracting the attention of others to myself, I will thereby distract them from God; the Lord has many other means for glorifying Himself.” - But what do you finally want? - asked the Angels. The saint answered with a smile: -What do I want? May the Lord not deprive me of His mercy! With her I will have everything. But the Angels continued to insist: “Still, you need to ask for the gift of miracles, or we will give it to you by force.” “Okay,” answered the saint, “I want to do good without knowing it myself.” Confused by this request, the Angels began to consult among themselves and settled on the idea that the shadow of the saint, both behind and on his sides, invisible to them, would have the gift of healing the sick, alleviating sorrows and comforting sorrows. And so it was. When the saint passed, his shadow, reflected around and behind him, covered the trampled roads with greenery, decorated withered plants with flowers, returned clean water to dry streams, fresh complexion to pale babies and quiet joy to weeping mothers. And the saint still simply went through his life, spreading goodness around him, like a star emits light, like a flower - fragrance, without knowing it. And the people, honoring his humility, silently followed him, not telling him anything about his miracles, and, forgetting even his real name, began to call him “the holy shadow.” If we live holy, then good edification, like a shadow, will follow us everywhere and work miracles everywhere, which we will learn about only on the day of judgment (borrowed from “Handbook for Rural Shepherds,” No. 11, 1884, March, pp. 255–267). Here is the following very edifying story about the power of example. An unbeliever and a denier of all that is holy once walked in the morning - from his house. It was in the winter after a snowstorm, when the street was covered with snow - and you had to work a lot with your feet to pave your way. Suddenly he notices that his nine-year-old son, despite the deep snow, is following him. “What are you doing,” the father shouted, “you can’t follow me today!” - But the boy answered cheerfully and lively: “I put my foot exactly in your tracks, and it’s easy for me.” The child had no presentiment that with these words he had caused a whole storm in his father’s chest. “What if this child follows exactly in my footsteps,” thought the father, “where will my footsteps lead him, if he follows me, as he did now, and where will we both come with our son?” From such thoughts the father came into awe, whereas before he had never felt concern for his soul and his way of acting. These restless hours ended with the fact that the father could subsequently say to his son: “Follow me, because I follow Christ” (“Sunday Thursday”). 3. Do not show off your good deeds to the world “They will say: how then will Christ’s word be fulfilled: “So let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)? – Don’t worry: the word of Christ will be fulfilled by itself and will not require your help. It is said: “let your light shine,” naturally, of itself, as every light shines; and it is not said: show off your light. Good deeds are deeds of light by nature: do them secretly, and the light will shine when and as much as God and the Giver of Light commands. The trouble is if you do dark, evil deeds: from these, of course, there is no and there will be no light, and God will not be glorified by them” (Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow). 4. Stories that lead to the truth that one can be saved in the world Two elders who lived in the desert asked God to reveal to them whether their exploits were in any way pleasing to Him. And they were informed that they had not yet compared in holiness with the commoner Eucharist and his wife Mary, living near Egypt. The monks went to look for these people and soon found them. The Eucharist received the strangers, washed their feet and offered them food. “No,” said the monks, “first tell us about your good deeds.” We came to you for this spiritual mess, “and therefore, until you tell us, we will not taste anything from you.” The Eucharist humbly answered: - I don’t know what good deeds I have; - I am a simple shepherd, - I live with my wife in the village. “God Himself sent us to guide you.” Hearing this, the Eucharist was afraid and answered: “I tend the sheep that I received from my parents, and I divide the profit from them into three parts: I spend one on the church and the poor, the other on welcoming spiritual shepherds and strangers into the house, and the third I keep for my own needs; We both maintain purity of life, pray to God every day, wear rough clothes, eat simple food and do not know quarrels and abuse. Hearing this, the elders glorified God and left. The Monk Paphnutius, a strict ascetic of piety, once prayed to God to reveal to him which of the saints he was like. And the voice of God came to him: “You are like the elder of the nearest village.” Paphnutius immediately went to him. When he knocked on the foreman’s door, he, as usual, came out and received the guest. Having washed his feet and offered him a meal, he asked him to taste the food. But Paphnutius began to question him about his affairs and, among other things, addressed him with the following request: “Tell me your way of life, for you have surpassed many monks, as God revealed to me.” He answered him that he was a sinful man and unworthy even of the name of a monk. However, Paphnutius insisted on his own, and the foreman finally said the following: “I had no need to talk about my affairs; but since you say that you came at the command of God, I will tell you the following about myself: this is already the thirtieth year since I separated from my wife, having lived with her only three years and having given birth to three sons from her, who serve me in my affairs; I still haven’t given up my love of strangeness. None of the villagers will boast that he received the stranger before me. The poor or the stranger did not leave my house empty-handed, without first receiving what he needed for the journey. I did not let the poor man, depressed by misfortunes, pass by without giving him sufficient consolation. I was not partial to my son at the trial. Foreign fruits did not enter my house. There was no enmity that I did not reconcile. Nobody accused my sons of indecent acts. My flocks did not touch other people's fruits. I was not the first to sow my fields; but, providing them to everyone, he himself used only what was left. I did not allow the rich to oppress the poor. All my life I have never upset anyone, I have never condemned anyone. This is what, as I remember, I did according to the will of God” (“Lavsaik”, p. 190; sn. Resurrection Thursday 1884 No. 32). (On glorifying the name of God through the lives of ordinary villagers) “Even if you live far from the holy church, still go to the holy church on all Sundays and holidays, and according to your strength, give candles in honor of God. Every year, partake of the congregation and the Body of Christ. And live peacefully, don’t quarrel with anyone, and don’t hang around with thieves, and don’t keep thieves in your house. Work at someone else’s work as if you were working for yourself: do not differentiate someone else’s work from your own. Never say any lying word to anyone, because lies are the network of the devil. Those people who love to lie will be called sons of the devil, and therefore be very afraid of lies, so that you do not become a son of the devil. And don’t do any harm to anyone, but live like a Christian, feed on your own labors, not those of others. So take care of yourself so that you don’t take a turnip or a pea from a neighbor or a stranger. And if a visitor asks you to spend the night, then protect his belongings in every possible way, and give him a quiet place to stay for the night, and if you have it, then put bread, milk, and eggs in front of him for free; if you are poor, then at least give him what he asks for money, and don’t take too much from him. And feed the poor man, even if you yourself are poor, for free: God will pay you for him. And if you really have nothing, then at least give him kvass to drink: and for that you will receive a reward from God. And behave like a Christian in everything. Do not accept any fortune tellers, and do not touch fortune telling yourself - do not believe in any signs and place all your hope in the Lord God. And if you touch any kind of divination, then you will ruin all your good deeds and instead of blessing you will deserve a curse, instead of the Kingdom of Heaven you will inherit eternal torment. Therefore, be very afraid, my son, of all untruths and sorcery, lest you destroy your soul. And whatever your situation, my son, be grateful to God for everything, and don’t complain about God for anything. Live like this, and you will be saved, and you will be an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven.” 6. An example of zeal for spreading the glory of God's name The lot fell on the Monk Abraham the Recluse to go to a certain pagan village, where the most stubborn and bitter people lived. Rev. Abraham built a church in this village and, despite the fact that he was repeatedly beaten and thrown out of the city half-dead, he again returned to his feat and did not weaken in jealousy. This went on for three years, and finally the zeal and patience of the righteous triumphed. One day the wisest of the elders in the assembly of the people said: – Do you see Abraham’s unparalleled love for us? No matter how much we insulted him, no matter how much we tormented him, he did not even say a bad word to anyone - in truth he was sent from God. “We still think the same,” the people answered. They immediately decided to go to the monk and declared themselves believing Christians. So St. Jealousy, after three years of much suffering, triumphed over unbelief and malice (according to “Ch.-M.” October 23). 7. High Hierarchs of the Slavic world St. Cyril and Methodius were two brothers, Greeks from the city of Thessaloniki, who lived in the 9th century, not far from Mount Athos. By their origin and education, from a young age they occupied honorary positions: Methodius was the ruler of the region, and the scientist Cyril was a librarian and teacher in Constantinople. Subsequently, the brothers could achieve higher rank and importance; but, out of humility, they themselves did not want this. They outlined a different, more worthy goal in life: to teach and enlighten their neighbors with the light of the Gospel. For this, the ever-memorable two brothers chose monastic life and in a monastery, not far from Mount Olympus, they began to prepare for the difficult task of preaching about Jesus Christ. First of all, they studied the dialect of neighboring peoples - the Slavs, compiled a special alphabet for them - a matter of the greatest importance, then they translated the necessary sacred and liturgical books into the Slavic language and opened the work of converting the pagan Slavs to the Church of Christ. Thus, the Monks Cyril and Methodius first (in 858) converted the Kazar prince and his people to the true faith; for such a good deed they receive from the newly enlightened not gold and rich gifts, but 200 Greeks who were languishing in captivity are brought to freedom; then the enlighteners went to the principalities of Pannonia and Moravia. On the way we stopped in Bulgaria; Her prince Boris was confirmed in the faith and another 4,500 people were converted and baptized. In Moravia, St. the brothers worked hard for 4 years. Using liturgical books translated into Slavic, services to God were opened everywhere, schools were opened, and children were taught Slavic literacy. And for the sake of the Slavs, says the Chronicler Nestor, hearing the greatness of God with their tongue. Such preaching and educational works of the brothers, as a soul-saving and holy work, did not please our enemy, the devil: he aroused envy of the Slavic apostles in some German bishops and priests. One of them, Cyril, soon fell ill from tiresome travels to Rome to see the pope, from grief and slander and died at the age of 42, on May 11, 869. After his death, his brother Methodius, already in the rank of Archbishop of Moravia, continued the work of enlightening the Slavs. He completed the translation of sacred and liturgical books; He prepared many students and employees from the Slavs and with them traveled around the Slavic countries for 15 years. In 874 he baptized the Bohemian prince and his wife and many of the people. Methodius's disciples planted the Orthodox faith in Poland. After this, the Croats and Serbs heard the Gospel of Christ; and then the light of Christ penetrated to the borders of Kiev - into Russian Volyn. The Apostle and Archbishop of the Moravians, Methodius, died on April 6, 885. During the apostolic activity of the unforgettable Slavic first teachers and educators, Cyril and Methodius, our Russian people did not yet know Christianity. Only 100 years later, under St. Prince Vladimir, our ancestors were baptized. It was then that the precious works of Saints Cyril and Methodius came in handy to our Slavic ancestors. Having accepted the Christian faith, the Russian people did not yet have their own literacy, and therefore our ancestors, the Slavs, accepted the Slavic alphabet and sacred books in the Slavic language from the southern Slavs, from the Bulgarians. Thus, thanks to the labors of their first teachers, Cyril and Methodius, the Russians also received the opportunity to understand the word of God, to listen to divine services in their native, understandable language, in the same language in which we still perform divine services. From the books translated by the ever-memorable brothers and their disciples, the then Rus' began to learn a new and true faith. Reading or listening to the word of God in an understandable, native, Slavic language helped our ancestors more easily and quickly learn the truths and rules of the faith of Christ; Subsequently, Russian princes and metropolitans founded schools and spread spiritual and moral education among the people. This is what a great and important service was provided to our ancestors by the unforgettable educators of the Slavs - the Monks Cyril and Methodius! (According to “Ch.-M.”). 8. Hymn to Saints Cyril and Methodius, educators of the Slavs Glory to you, brothers, enlighteners of the Slavs, Holy Fathers of the Slavic Church! Glory to you, teachers of the truth of Christ, Glory to you, our creators of letters! Be a link of unity for the Slavs, Holy brothers, Methodius, Cyril! May the spirit of reconciliation overshadow him By your prayer before the Lord of hosts! About the second petition of the Lord's prayer 1. Three types of the Kingdom of God What is this Kingdom of God for which we ask God in the Lord's Prayer? God reigns in the visible world or in the universe from generation to generation, for all ages, over all and in all; Consequently, His kingdom embraces everything that lives in the world, both visible and spiritual. But according to the time of manifestation of this kingdom, it appears in three forms. 1. God has reigned in the visible world since its creation. He preserves the existence and powers of creatures, the laws given to nature, and directs everything towards those good purposes for which everything living in nature was created. Without His knowledge, nothing is accomplished here: “The Lord has prepared His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all,” says the psalmist (Ps. 102:19). But this kingdom began a long time ago and continues uninterruptedly to this day; and man, from his very creation, was introduced into this kingdom, as the ruler of everything living and created by God; therefore, it is not this kingdom that we ask for in the Lord’s Prayer when we say: let him come. 2. The Lord still reigns in a special way in the human race, namely through His saving grace, dwelling and acting in the Holy Spirit. Orthodox Church. This reign consists in the fact that He leads the human race to spiritual perfection, holiness and eternal bliss. This kingdom of grace is desirable for every person and, therefore, it should be the subject of our concern and prayer. 3. The Lord, finally, reigns in the highest, spiritual, heavenly world, revealing His eternal glory to the host of Angels and the righteous who have achieved perfection. – This is the kingdom of glory, for which the kingdom of grace guides and prepares. Every Christian should strive, and many do strive, to achieve glorification in heaven; therefore, this kingdom should also be the subject of our prayer to God (from the book of Archpriest G. Dyachenko: “Lessons and examples of Christian hope”). 2. Thoughts of St. fathers about the acquisition of the Kingdom of Heaven 1. “God sells justification for the smallest price to those who are looking to buy it, such as: for a piece of bread, for wretched clothing, for a cup of cold water, for one obol 77,” says St. Epiphanius, bishop Cyprus (Epiph. Cyprus; sn. “Memorable tales of the Holy Fathers” according to the 4th edition. St. Petersburg, 1871, p. 114). 2. “Truly, the Kingdom of Heaven has no price to estimate,” says St. Grigory Dvoeslov. - But, however, it is valued as much as you have, for for Zacchaeus it was worth half of the estate, because he kept the other half for the fourfold reward of what he acquired unrighteously (Luke 19:8), for Peter and Andrew it was worth leaving the nets and the boat (Matthew 4:20); for a widow it was worth two mites (Luke 21:2). So the kingdom of God, as we said, is worth as much as you have” (Gregory Dvoeslov “on the Gospel. demon.” V, § 2, p. 44). 3. The true and direct path to the Kingdom of Heaven The path to the Kingdom of Heaven is I. Christ Himself: only he follows this path who follows I. Christ. But how should you walk along it? Listen to what I. Christ Himself says: “Whoever wants to come after Me,” b) “and take up your cross”, c) “and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). 1. So the first duty of a Christian, that is, a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, is to deny himself. To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to purge from our hearts everything that binds us to the world; do not harbor bad desires and thoughts; extinguish and suppress bad thoughts; avoid cases of sin; not to do or desire anything out of selfishness, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself means, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, to be dead to sins and the world, but alive to God (Rom. 6:11). 2. The second duty of a Christian, that is, one who follows Jesus Christ, is to take up his cross. The name of the cross refers to suffering, sorrow and trouble. To take up your cross means to accept and uncomplainingly endure everything that is unpleasant, sorrowful, sad, difficult and difficult happens to us in our life. And therefore, whether someone offends you, laughs at you or causes you boredom, sadness and annoyance, or you did good to someone, and he, instead of thanking you, rebels against you and even makes intrigues, or you want to do good, but you fail, has some misfortune happened to you, for example. either you yourself are sick, or your wife, or children, etc., or you, with all your activity and tireless labor, endure need and lack, or even poverty and misery itself suppresses you, or besides this you suffer some kind of trouble: endure all this without malice, without grumbling, without gossip, without complaint, that is, without considering yourself offended and without the expectation of earthly reward: but endure all this with with love, joy and firmness. 3. The third responsibility of a disciple of Jesus Christ is to follow Him. To follow I. Christ means in all my deeds and actions to imitate the deeds and actions of I. Christ. As I. Christ lived and acted on earth, so we must live and act. So for example: a) I. Christ always gave thanks and praise to God His Father and always prayed to Him; in the same way, we, in every state and in all circumstances of our life, must thank God, love Him, and openly and secretly give praise to Him and pray to Him, and always have Him in our mind and heart. b) I. Christ revered His most pure Mother and His imaginary father and rulers and obeyed them; in the same way, we must listen to and honor our parents and educators, not irritate or offend them with our actions: we must respect our superiors and all authority, and we must obey them and meekly carry out their commands. c) I. Christ, King of the Universe, paid tribute to the king of the earth, and the Judge of the living and the dead did not want to appropriate to Himself the civil power of a judge or divider (Luke 12:14); in the same way, we must pay tribute to our king without any grumbling, and not accept power that does not belong to us, for example. the power to judge and condemn those in power, etc. d) I. Christ fulfilled the position He took upon Himself and the work for which He was sent into the world with willingness, zeal and love; in the same way, we must diligently, willingly and uncomplainingly fulfill our duties that God and the Lord impose on us, despite the fact that our positions are either difficult or low. e) I. Christ loved every person and did every kind of good to everyone; in exactly the same way we must love our fellow men and, as much as possible, do good to them, either in deed, or in word, or in thought. f) I. Christ gave Himself for the salvation of people; in the same way, in order to deliver good to people, we should not spare either our labors or our health: to save and protect the fatherland we should not even spare our very lives; and for I. Christ, as our redeemer and benefactor, we should not spare the very consolations of our soul, nor our body, nor our belly, like the holy martyrs who endured various torments and death for Jesus Christ. g) I. Christ willingly gave Himself up to suffering and death; in the same way, we should not run away from the suffering and sorrow sent to us from God: but we must also accept and endure them with humility and devotion to God. h) I. Christ forgave His enemies everything that they did to Him, and moreover did them every kind of good and prayed for their salvation; in the same way, we must forgive our enemies, repay with goodness the evil done to us, bless those who scold us, in full faith and hope in God, the most just and all-seeing Judge, without whose will not a hair of our head will perish. Having endured an insult without complaint, without revenge and with love, you will act like a true Christian. i) I. Christ, the King of heaven and earth, lived in poverty and through His labors earned Himself the necessities of life; exactly the same way, we must be hardworking and lazily seek what is necessary for our life, and be satisfied with our condition and not desire wealth, because, according to the word of the Savior, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:24). j) I. Christ, being meek and humble in heart, never sought or desired praise from others; in the same way, we should not boast in anything before others and seek praise from others. For example, whether you do good to others, whether you give alms, whether you live more piously than others, or you are more intelligent than many, or in general you are better and more distinguished than your brothers: do not boast about this either before people or before yourself. Because everything that you have in yourself and in yourself that is good and praiseworthy, all this is not yours, but the gift of God - yours are only sins and weaknesses, and everything else is God’s. j) Following Jesus Christ also means obeying the word of I. Christ, and therefore we must listen, believe and do everything that I. Christ said in the Gospel and through His apostles, and do all this without sophistication and in simplicity of heart. Whoever listens and heeds the word of I. Christ can be called his disciple: and whoever listens and fulfills His words, and, moreover, in simplicity of heart and with perfect devotion, he is His true and beloved disciple. So, this is what it means to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ! These are the true qualities and properties of a disciple of Jesus Christ. This is the true and direct path to the Kingdom of Heaven! And this is the path that Christ Himself walked while living on earth, and that Christians should follow! There was, and is not, and there will be no other way but this path. And of course, this path is not smooth, narrow and prickly, and it will especially seem so at the beginning, but it directly and truly leads to paradise, to the Kingdom of Heaven, to eternal bliss, to God - the source of all bliss. This path is sorrowful, but we can say that for every step along it there are thousands of rewards. Suffering on this path is not eternal, and even, one might say, momentary, but the reward for it is endless and eternal, like God Himself. Suffering will become less and easier day by day, and the reward will increase hour by hour more and more, throughout the endless future life. So, do not be afraid of this path, for the smooth and even path leads to hell, and the prickly and uneven path leads to heaven (extracted in abbreviation from the book “Indication of the path to the Kingdom of Heaven,” Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, ed. 14, Moscow, 1886, pp. 23; 31–32; 42–46). 4. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God Consequently, in order to receive the kingdom, one must become decorporalized and deblooded, that is, establish oneself in such a character of life that there is as if there is no blood and flesh. This is achieved by complete renunciation of blood and carnal deeds. “The essence of the deeds of the flesh has been revealed, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, adultery... enmity, zeal, envy, rage, discord, strife, temptations, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, disorderly cries and the like.” Having listed all this, the apostle added: “I tell you what I also told you, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19–21). “If you have ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15) (from the book: “Thoughts for every day of the year”, Bishop Theophan, p. 87). According to Palladius of Elenopolis, in the monastery of Abba Apollos there were up to five hundred brothers, and they all always rejoiced, despite the great desert hardships, and rejoiced with such joy that no one here on earth can indicate such joy and bodily joy. There was no one boring or sad among them, and Abba Apollos used to say: “Those who are destined to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven should not grieve on the path of salvation; let the pagans groan, let the Jews weep, let sinners mourn, and those who walk the right path should rejoice” (Lavsaik, 47, p. 168; book, “Interpretation of the Epistle to the Galatians,” Bishop Theophan, Moscow, 1875, p. 381). About the third petition of the Lord's prayer 1. Complete surrender of oneself to the will of God In the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra there once lived a pious ascetic, teacher. Nikon Sukhiy. One day he was captured by the Polovtsians. Rich relatives tried to ransom him, but he did not agree, saying: “If the Lord wanted me to be free, he would not have delivered me into the hands of these lawless people, but we, “if we receive good things from the hand of the Lord, will we not endure the evil ones?” (Job 2:10).” This is complete surrender to the will of the Lord! And what a wondrous miracle the Lord performed for His faithful servant! In captivity, Rev. Nikon was in chains and with his veins cut, he was sitting in prison, surrounded by strict and numerous guards. “But at six o’clock in the morning the prisoner became invisible, and as soon as they heard a voice: “Praise the Lord from heaven,” he found himself in the Pechersk Church when the brethren were singing communion at the liturgy (“Ch.-M.” Dec. 11). 2. What is the true happiness of a person? Does happiness consist in what we are accustomed to and believe it to be? We usually call happy someone who occupies an honorable position, has a high rank, owns large capital, spends his life in bliss and luxury, etc. But if we look at life with the eyes of faith, we will see that happiness also lives among people of humble origin, among poverty and misery, among hunger and cold. One teacher, famous for his knowledge, once met a beggar old man on the church porch. His emaciated body was covered with rags, and he was covered in wounds. - Good afternoon to you, old man! – the teacher said in greeting to the beggar. “I don’t remember a day that was ever unhappy for me.” - I have never been unhappy. The teacher was surprised and, thinking that the beggar had not listened well to his words, added: - I wish you to be prosperous. The beggar noted that he had never been “ill-fated.” “Are you really the only lucky one among all people,” the teacher asked in complete bewilderment, “when earthly life is full of sorrows and deprivations?” “Unhappy is he,” explained the beggar, “who seeks happiness; and on earth there is no other happiness than to rely in everything on the will of God; I always accept the pleasant and the nasty, the bitter and the sweet from God from God with love and humility and desire only what pleases the Lord - and therefore everything happens according to my desire. And indeed, in life we ​​can be calm, happy, blessed, only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He loudly calls out to each and everyone seeking salvation: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: 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: for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30). Thus, the Savior directly says in these words that only in Him alone will we find peace for ourselves, only then will we be happy when we fall to Him and take upon ourselves His yoke and burden, that is, when we fulfill His holy orders. commandments. His whole law, all His commandments are contained in two main ones: “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul, with all thy strength, with all thy mind” and “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Luke 10:27; Matt. 22:37; Deut. 6:5). Organize all your affairs according to these two commandments - and you will find true happiness for yourself (according to “V. Ch.” for 1888, No. 1). 3. God makes everything better There was a certain mason Eulogius. Every day he spent all the money he earned on the poor and strange. One of the pious elders, seeing Eulogius, thought: if, having nothing, Eulogius feeds the poor and strange, then how much good he would do if he were rich! And so, after such reflection, the elder turned with a strong and persistent prayer to God for Eulogius and asked God for wealth for him: Eulogius found a lot of gold in a stone mountain. So what? Having quit his job, he became a nobleman and became stingy and proud. And he would have died. Only through the prayers of the elder did God deprive Eulogius of his wealth, and he was forced to return to his previous occupation and again became generous and merciful to all the poor (according to the Prologue). On the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer “Don’t worry” (Matthew 6:31). How to live? You have to eat, drink, and dress! But the Savior does not say: do nothing, but: “Don’t worry.” Do not torment yourself with this worry, which eats you up day and night, and does not give you peace for a minute. Such care is a sinful disease; it shows that man has relied on himself, and has forgotten God, that he has lost his hope in God’s Providence, that he wants to arrange everything for himself through his own labors, to obtain everything he needs, and to preserve what he has obtained in his own ways. He clings with his heart to what he has, and thinks of resting on it as on a solid foundation. Love has bound him, and he only thinks about taking more into his own hands. This Mammon became him instead of God. And you work, work, and don’t torment yourself with evil worries: expect every success from God, and commit your fate into His hands; Accept everything you get as a gift from the hand of the Lord, and in strong hope expect from Him continued generosity. Know that one minute - and there may be nothing left of everything that the rich have, if God pleases. All decay and dust. Is it worth tormenting yourself over this? “Don’t worry about it!” (from the book: “Thoughts for every day of the year”, Bishop Theophan, pp. 175–176). 2. What is the daily bread that we ask for in the Lord's Prayer? Man by nature consists of soul and body, therefore food (or bread) is required for him both mentally and physically. Here the Lord teaches His followers to ask for both food from the Heavenly Father. In order to live spiritually, they must daily ask for spiritual bread, which is twofold: 1) every verb that comes from the mouth of God, by which, before the testimony of I. Christ, man lives (Matthew 4:4); 2) the body and blood of the Lord, about the life-giving property of which I. Christ Himself speaks like this: “Amen, amen, I say to you: unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourself... For My flesh is truly meat, and My blood is truly beer” (John 6:53, 55). Then, in order to live bodily, Christians must ask themselves from the one Giver of blessings and 3) bodily daily bread, that is, only what is necessary in order to exist or live. The eyes of all of them, as St. king and prophet David, must trust in the One who gives them food in due season, opens His hand, and fulfills every kind of good pleasure among animals (Ps. 145:15, 16). It is clear to each of us how much bodily food is necessary for temporary life, but the need for spiritual food, which is much more necessary for everyone, many of us understand little, and do not try to understand. This is why many Christians feed their souls with the fruitful and saving word of God insufficiently and without proper attention; many also rarely and without proper preparation begin the terrible and life-giving sacrament of St. communion. To do so is unreasonable and sinful (from the book “Lessons and Examples of Christian Hope”, Archpriest G. Dyachenko). 3. The soul needs spiritual food daily A man once asked a sage: – Why do you constantly read books that contain teaching about the Divine and the duties of man? You've already read them several times, haven't you? The sage in turn asked him: - Why do you now demand food for yourself? Did you eat yesterday? “I do this in order to live,” answered the questioner. “And I read in order to live,” said the sage. – It is clear that, according to the concept of the sage, just as the life of the body requires material food every day, so the soul needs spiritual food every day (Peter, Bishop of Tomsk; sn. “Spiritual Colors”). 4. The Word of God is food for the soul 1. St. John Chrysostom says: “What bodily food is for maintaining our strength, so is reading (the Scriptures) for the soul. It is spiritual food that strengthens the mind and makes the soul strong, firm and wise, not allowing it to be carried away by unreasonable passions, on the contrary, further facilitating its flight and lifting it, so to speak, to heaven itself” (on the book of Genesis “dem. 29”, p. 133, St. Petersburg 1852). 2. “You see that during a time of rainlessness, the earth, having dried out, does not produce fruit: understand that this is how the soul, not watered by the dew of God’s word and grace, dries up and becomes barren. Our body is exhausted from hunger and thirst, and then, when it is not nourished with food, it dies: so the soul, when it is not fed by the word of God, becomes exhausted, and then dies. This admonishes you, just as your body seeks food and drink every day, so your soul must constantly seek food, drink and consolation from the word of God, so that, exhausted from hunger and thirst, it does not die forever” (from “The Works of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk,” ed. 3, vol. II). “I can’t understand,” said one reverent monk: “how do worldly people live for a whole year without communion of the Divine body and blood of Christ? We, sinful monks, live only by confession and this saving sacrament. I’m talking about spiritual life: the soul becomes weak, the heart hardens, the mind becomes fussy - what to do then? - You will go to your spiritual father, open your whole soul to him, clear your conscience with the sacrament of repentance; receive Holy Communion Christ's mysteries, and then again it will become light, bright, joyful in your soul and again you will be encouraged, renewed in spirit, and you will easily drive away sinful thoughts... Truly this is the bread of heaven, this is the cup of life; Eating from them, our soul lives an immortal life... That is why on St. Mount Athos and it is a rule that monastics confess and receive communion every week, and novices every other week. Wise rule!..” The holy and wise fathers testify to the same thing. “Truly, nothing contributes so much to the purification of the soul, the enlightenment of the mind, the sanctification of the body,” write the Venerables Callistus and Ignatius, “nothing helps to pacify passions and drive away demons so much as the frequent communion of the holy and life-giving mysteries of Christ with a pure heart and zeal.” “When we are unworthy,” says the Monk Hesychius, “we are honored with fear and trembling to partake of the Divine and most pure mysteries of Christ God, then this Divine fire, entering into us, immediately drives away the evil spirits of malice from the heart and forgives us former sins, and our mind is then freed from the restless torment of evil thoughts.” Here comes St. Basil the Great prays: “Have mercy, O Lord, and may this holy (holy mystery) be with me... to drive away all dreams and evil deeds and the actions of the devil, acting mentally in all my hearts.” The ancient Christians knew the power of this sacrament: they took communion every service, every holiday, at least once a month. That is why they were strong in virtue: not that we are sinners! (Extracted in abbreviation from No. 361 “Trinity leaf.”). St. martyrs imprisoned for confessing the Orthodox faith - and they tried with all their might to be worthy of holy communion, in order to sincerely unite with the Lord in these divine sacraments and enter into the afterlife with a guarantee of eternal blessings (John 6:53-58). “The Venerable Martyr Lucian the Presbyter, after many different torments, was thrown bound into prison and here he lay on sharp stones for 40 days... The feast of the Epiphany of the Lord came; St. Lucian strongly desired to partake of the holy mysteries, as did the Christians who were with him in prison. He began to fervently pray to the Lord about this, and the Lord heard his prayer. Some of the Christians, secretly from the guards, brought bread and wine to the martyrs in prison. Presbyter Lucian said to those prisoners with him: - Stand next to me and be part of the church. When the Christian prisoners stood around Saint Lucian, he said to them: - Let's perform the liturgy and partake of the Divine Mysteries. “Where, father, shall we put the bread,” his disciples asked, “is there no table (throne) here?” He, tied up, lying face up on sharp stones, answered: “Put it on my chest, and there will be a living throne for the living God.” So, in prison, on the martyr’s chest, the Divine Liturgy was performed, with all the prayers that belonged to it, ceremoniously and reverently, and everyone was partakers of the Holy Spirit. tain" (“Cheti-Minei” October 15). About the fifth petition of the Lord's prayer The two merchants had a long and strong enmity with each other, growing more and more day by day. Brutally persecuting each other, they sought out every opportunity and every means to cause mutual harm. Finally, one of them, more obedient to the voice of conscience and St. faith, he intended, through generosity, to make the enemy his friend. What is he doing for this? Something that in our time hardly any merchant would dare to do. He sent those who wanted to buy something from him to his enemy under the pretext that he did not have the required goods, or that the enemy had them better and cheaper. When his enemy found out this, he was so touched by the nobility of his opponent’s spirit that he immediately reconciled with him with all his heart (from No. 77 of the Trinity leaflet). 2. Christian, farewell always! Wanting to know how many times one should forgive a brother, St. Peter asked I. Christ: Should I forgive up to seven times? And having said this, I thought that I had prescribed the greatest measure. How short is human patience! The Lord, applying His long-suffering to our infirmities, determined: not seven times, but seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21, 22). This is the same as saying: always forgive, and don’t even think about not forgiving. All-forgiveness will be a distinctive feature of the Christian spirit, just as all-forgiveness is the source and constant support of life in us in the Lord, on the face of God. Constant forgiveness of everything to everyone is the outer garment of Christian love, which, according to the Apostle, “is long-suffering, merciful, not easily irritated, and covers all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7). It is also the surest guarantee for forgiveness at the last judgment; for if we let go, our heavenly Father will also let us go (Matthew 6:14). Thus, if you want to go to heaven, forgive everyone, sincerely, from the heart, so that not a shadow of hostility remains (from the book “Thoughts for Every Day of the Year”, Bishop Theophan, pp. 242–243). “If...you forgive man their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: if you do not forgive man their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14, 15). “Let go, and they will let it go to you... by the same measure that you use, it will be measured to you!” (Luke 6:37, 38). Here is the story we read in the life of St. John the Merciful: There was one nobleman in Alexandria who, despite all the admonitions of the saint of God, did not want to hear about reconciliation with his enemy. Once the saint invited him to his home church for the Divine Liturgy. The nobleman has arrived. There were no pilgrims in the church, the patriarch himself served, and in the choir there was only one singer, whom the nobleman began to help in singing. When they began to sing the Lord's Prayer: Our Father, the saint also sang it; but in words: give us our daily bread today - St. John suddenly fell silent himself and stopped the singer, so that the nobleman alone sang the words of the prayer: and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors... Here the saint turns to the irreconcilable nobleman and with meek reproach says: “Look, my son, at what terrible hour and what you say to God: forgive me, as I forgive... Are you telling the truth? Are you leaving?..” These words struck the nobleman so much that he threw himself in tears at the feet of the archpastor and exclaimed: “Whatever you command, lord, your servant will do!” And he did it: on the same day he made peace with his enemy and with all his heart forgave him all his insults” (Life of St. John the Merciful). 4. Behold what is good or what is red, but let the brethren live together All people according to Christ are my brothers, And brothers should be friends with each other, And so, since I breathe enmity towards my neighbor, Then I am a monster, fiercer than a snake. 5. He who hates his brother is in darkness The Holy Martyr Nicephorus was in great friendship with one priest named Sanrikios. But soon their friendship changed into great enmity, which intensified to the point that they could not look at each other. St. Nicephorus, however, soon realized his sin, repented and used all measures for reconciliation; but Sapriky still remained an irreconcilable enemy. Meanwhile, persecution against Christians suddenly began. Sapricius was subjected to cruel torture for confessing I. Christ, and then he was led to death. When Nicephorus found out about this, he hastened to say goodbye to the martyr and, meeting him on the way, fell at his feet and said: “Martyr of Christ, forgive me.” Sapriky was silent. Then Nicephorus fled to another street and, before leaving the city, again asked Sapricius for reconciliation, but enmity tied his tongue. Noticing Nikephoros’s intense requests, the soldiers surrounding Sapricius said: “We have never seen someone as stupid as you: why are you asking for mercy from someone who will soon be without a head?” But Nicephorus did not lag behind and, at the place of execution, once again repeated his request for reconciliation, and still did not bend Sapricius to peace. How did such persistent hatred end? Sapriky, blinded by enmity against his neighbor and thereby deprived of grace-filled help, suddenly changed into an enemy of Christ and became an apostate. Thus the words of St. Apostle were fulfilled on him. John: “Whoever hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11). St. Nicephorus, struck by the betrayal, spent a long time trying to persuade Sapricius not to renounce the saint. faith and immediately confessed I. Christ and received the crown of martyrdom, lost by the irreconcilable Sapricius in enmity. Among us there are those who are at enmity with each other, often without any good reason. Let us not harbor anger towards each other, but let us hasten, like Nicephorus, to be reconciled on the same day, so that the sun does not set on our anger. Note that if you have enmity against someone, you do not have the right to ask for mercy from God (Matthew 5:23, 24) (from the Monthly published magazine “Resurrection Thursday” Kiev, 1875, pp. 45–46). About the sixth petition of the Lord's prayer One day, a demon came to the cell of the teacher at night. Macarius of Alexandria, (d. 394 or 395), said to him: “Get up, Abba Macarius, and let’s go to church for worship.” Macarius, being filled with the grace of God, understood the temptation of the devil and answered him: “Oh, liar and hater of goodness! What kind of participation can you have in the divine service and what can you have in common with the council of saints?” The devil said: “Don’t you know, Macarius, that without us there is not a single church service and not a single monastic meeting? come and see our deeds.” The elder answered: “May the Lord forbid you, you unclean demon.” And, turning to prayer, he asked the Lord to show him whether what the devil said while boasting was true. When the time came for the midnight service, he went to church, asking God within himself to reveal and show him whether what the devil had said was true. And so, throughout the church he sees, as it were, some small youths in the form of Ethiopians, quickly walking around the church and flying. In that monastery there was a custom: one brother read psalms, and the others sat and listened, and so, next to each of the brothers, those Ethiopians sat and laughed at them. Those who touched their eyes with their fingers now began to doze off, and those who put their fingers on their lips immediately woke up; before others they walked in the likeness of women, and before others they did something else. And what they presented before someone, he reflected on that within himself. But from some, as soon as they began to do something like that, they were immediately driven away and removed by some force, and could no longer stand in front of them or even pass by. And some weak brothers, who did not listen to prayer, sat on their necks and shoulders, mocking them. Rev. Macarius, seeing this, sighed from the depths of his heart and said: “Look, Lord, and do not be silent, rise up, O God, so that Your enemies may disperse and flee from Your presence, for our soul is full of reproach.” At the end of the service, prof. Macarius, calling each brother one by one, asked what he was thinking about during the service, and each one revealed his thoughts. It turned out that everyone was thinking about what the demon represented before him, mocking him (according to “Ch.-M.” Jan. 19). 2. A Christian should not be arrogant when temptations attack him During the brutal persecution of Christians from Diocletian, St. Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea, both himself withdrew from the city and advised his flock to leave if anyone did not feel within himself the strength and gift of God to endure torment for the faith of Christ. “It is better,” said the saint, “to take refuge and wait for the divine calling to martyrdom and heavenly help, than to fall into arrogance and, having boldly embarked on the feat of confession, bring oneself under temptation and betray the faith.” Thus teaching, St. Gregory with one of his deacons left the city and hid in the desert. The royal commissioners who came to Neocaesarea to search for Christians first of all tried to find St. Gregory, who was known to everyone as the head and shepherd of the Christian. Not being found in the city, they, at the direction of one of the pagans, tried to catch St. Gregory on one of the nearby mountains and was so surrounded that no one could leave. Seeing the approach of the soldiers, St. Gregory and the deacon accompanying him began to pray with raised hands, asking for God's protection. And indeed, the warriors passed by several times, but they were not noticed. Coming down from the mountain, the soldiers said that there was no one there, but they only saw two standing trees. Such obvious patronage of God showed that the removal of St. Gregory from the city was necessary for the good of the church. At the same time, we see what a powerful force prayer has to protect us from enemy attacks (according to “Ch.-M.” November 17). 3. Betrayal of this vow due to temptation from the devil To understand how strong and seductive the temptations of the enemy of our salvation can be, let us listen to the following story from the patericon. “One young monk, who labored in a monastery, wanted to live as a hermit and begged the abbot to go to a remote place in the desert for a hopeless residence. God blessed the monk's intention and showed him a special sign that showed him the very place of such residence: when on the way the future hermit, exhausted, fell asleep together with the monks accompanying him, an eagle flew in and, striking its wings, woke them up; then the eagle flew away from them and sat down in sight of them on the ground. The accompanying monks said to the young monk: “Here is your angel, get up and follow him.” He stood up, said goodbye to the brothers, followed the eagle and walked to the place where the eagle was sitting. Then the eagle rose, flew further and sat down again; and the monk followed him; and again the eagle rose and flew not far away, and his brother followed him. This went on for three hours. Finally, the eagle turned to the right and did not appear again. The monk followed him and saw three palm trees, a source of water and a small cave. He said to himself: “This is the place that the Lord has prepared for me.” And the young monk began to remain silent here, eating dates and drinking water from the source; He lived here for six years as a hermit, not seeing anyone. But then the devil came to him in the form of a worldly young man and began to examine him from head to toe. His brother asked him: “Why are you looking at me?” He said, “Don't you recognize me? I am your father’s neighbor,” and named the name of the hermit’s father and mother and sister. Then he said: “Your mother and sister died more than three years ago, and your father died only recently, making you his heir; before his death, the father asked everyone to find you, so that you would come home, take the property and distribute it to the poor for your soul and your father; many went to look for you, but did not find you, but I, having come on my own business, recognized you; do not delay, go and do the will of your father.” The hermit answered: “I should not return to the world.” But the devil, through various seductive suggestions, persuaded the hermit to leave his cell, escorted him to the city where his father lived, and then left him. The monk enters his parents' house with the confidence that his father is no longer alive, and now the father himself comes out to meet him, alive and well. At first the father could not recognize his son, and the son was ashamed to explain the true reason why he left his cell; but he said that the reason for this was his filial love and affection for his father... So he remained in the world, finally betraying his monastic vows” (from “Fatherly” 8, 94). “When you are faced with a temptation to sin, then vividly imagine that sin greatly angers the Lord, Who hates lawlessness. “For You are not a God who wills iniquity” (Ps. 5:5). And in order for you to better understand this, imagine a truthful, strict father who loves his family, who tries by all means to make his children well-behaved and honest, so that for their good behavior he rewards them with his great riches, which he prepared for them with great difficulty, and who meanwhile sees, to his sorrow, that the children do not love him for such a father’s love, do not pay attention to the inheritance prepared by the father’s love, live without direction, rush rapidly towards destruction. And every sin, mind you, is death for the soul (James 1:15, etc.), because it kills the soul, because it makes slaves of the devil-murderer, and the more we work for sin, the more difficult our conversion, the more difficult it becomes. or rather our destruction. Fear with all your heart all sin” (from the book “My Life in Christ”, Archpriest John Sergius, 1st ed. pp. 5–6). 5. Means to resist the devil and defeat him 1. Invocation of the most holy name of I. Christ. “The strength of the name of Christ,” says St. tormented Justin Philosopher, - the demons tremble and are horrified; and now still, conjured by the name of Jesus Christ crucified, they obey us.” St. Gregory the Theologian: “To this day demons still tremble at the name of Christ; The power of this name is not weakened by our vices.” 2. Prayer, fasting and spiritual vigilance. “Whoever “bears our struggle against blood and flesh,” writes St. Basil the Great, “but against the principles and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual wickedness” (Eph. 6:12), then it is necessary to prepare for the feat by abstinence and fasting” (Discourse on Fasting 2, in works. VIII, 19). “When the devil sees,” St. also notes. Chrysostom, “that we are awake and sober, then, thinking how in vain he will work, moves away from us and hides.” 3. Using the sign of the cross with faith. “Not just with a finger,” John Chrysostom commands, “one must depict it (the cross), but this must be preceded by a heartfelt disposition and complete faith. If you portray it on your face like this, then not one of the unclean spirits will be able to approach you, seeing the sword with which he was wounded, seeing the weapon from which he received a mortal wound. For if we look with trepidation at those places where criminals are executed, then imagine how horrified the devil and demons are, seeing the weapon with which Christ destroyed all their power and cut off the head of the serpent” (see “Dogmatic Theology” by Macarius, vol. II, pp. 241–243). 6. An example of the caution with which the saints avoided temptations to sin When the teacher When Isaac of Thebes entered the church, he tried to avoid any meetings. When the service ended, as if driven by fire, he hurried to go to his cell. Often after the service, the brethren were given crackers and a cup of wine, but Isaac never took it, not because he rejected the blessing of the brethren, but in order to maintain the same silence that he observed during the service. One day, the brethren who came to visit him in illness asked: “Abba Isaac! Why do you run away from the brethren after the service? He answered: “I do not run away from the brethren, but from the wiles of demons. If someone with a lighted lamp stands in the open air for a long time, the lamp will go out. So if we, having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit during the holy offering, remain outside the cell for a long time, our mind will be darkened” (Venerable Tale of the Subsidiary St. from p. 97, 2). About the seventh petition of the Lord's prayer 1. About how St. Anthony fought demons In the life of St. Anthony the Great says that one night demons beat St. Anthony so strongly that the next day the pious man, who was bringing him food, found him unconscious and brought him as if he were dead to the nearest village church. But he, having come to his senses, begged his friend to take him back to the cave, where, unable to stand, he lay, without ceasing to pray and fight against invisible enemies. But the courage of the saint only inflamed their rage: the demons made noise and knocking, as if wanting to shake the building at its foundation, and then, approaching him in the form of lions, tigers, bears and other predatory animals, they intended to frighten him with roars and whistles, rushing at him with open mouths to devour him, and even struck him several blows. But Anthony, despite the blows, maintained patience, firmness of soul and reproached them for weakness: “If you had power over me,” he said, “then it would be easy for one of you to destroy me; but since the Lord has taken away your strength, you are trying to frighten with multitudes; It even serves as a sign of your weakness that you turn into animals. If you can and have power over me, then do not hesitate and attack, and if you cannot, then why are you fussing in vain? The sign of the cross and faith in my Savior serve as my indestructible shield.” So he spoke to them, and the demons, irritated by his contempt for them, gnashed their teeth from the despair into which the impossibility of defeating the saint plunged them. person. Seeing this, St. Anthony, raising his eyes to heaven and calling on Jesus Christ for help, saw the top of his home open: heavenly light illuminated him, the pain in his body was destroyed, and the hordes of unclean spirits instantly dispersed. In this light I recognized St. Anthony the presence of the Savior, Who filled him with inexpressible sweetness. Anthony, with the love and trust of a submissive son, lifted up the lamentations of his soul to Him and cried out like this: “Where have you been, most good Jesus, where have you been? Why didn’t You rush to help Your servant when the demons were tormenting him?” And so, he hears a voice saying to him: “Antony! I was with you and wanted to be a witness of your struggle; and because you stood firm, I will always be with you and glorify your name throughout the whole earth!” The feeling of joy from the closeness of the Lord to him gave rise to a feeling of gratitude in his soul, and he began to pray, not feeling any pain in himself, but, on the contrary, feeling an even greater strength of strength. He was then about 35 years old (from the brochure “The Life of Our Father Anthony the Great and His Oral and Written Spiritual Ascetic Instructions.” Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra by Hierarch Agapit. St. Petersburg, 1865, pp. 15–17). 2. What do the words mean: “But deliver us from evil?” “Here we ask,” let’s say in the words of the “Orthodox Confession,” “for deliverance from all other evils that a person can hardly endure, which are: hunger, plagues, wars, fires and others like that. We ask God’s love for mankind to turn all this away from us. Here we also ask God that, at our death, He would remove from us every temptation of the enemy of our soul and grant us the grace to piously and safely accomplish the feat under the protection of His grace, and under the guidance of the Angel who protects us. We must always earnestly ask God that at our death He will deliver us from the temptations and attacks of the devil. Finally, we ask for deliverance from eternal torment in hell and from the cruel devil” (“Right Spanish” Part II, Question 26). 3. Is it possible to believe that wizards can spoil people, that is, put a demon in them? “Corrupted”, that is, spoiled by wizards or sorcerers, have never existed and now do not exist. Superstitious wizards, or sorcerers, are harmful only to themselves, and not to other people: they only deceive themselves and others - simply self-deluded deceivers. The devil cannot help the superstitious wizard in anything, because he himself cannot do anything without God’s permission: without God’s permission, the devil cannot even approach a person, as can be seen from the example of the righteous Job; in the same way, the devil cannot disobey the command of God, as can be seen from many examples described in the Gospel. St. John of Damascus says: “Devils have neither power nor strength against anyone, unless this is allowed at the discretion of God, as happened with Job, and as it is written in the Gospel about the pigs of the Gadarenes. But with God’s permission, they are strong, they accept and change the dreamy image they want” (Exposition of Ver. Book II, Chapter IV, p. 58). Therefore, the popular belief is that wizards or so-called sorcerers “spoil” people, i.e. they place devils in whatever people they want, which is absurd and completely unfounded. Therefore, one should not attribute special powers to them and fear them... The devil takes up residence in people by God’s permission, therefore, on his own, no outsider, a magician or sorcerer, can have any participation or mediation in this disaster. The devil takes up residence in demon-possessed people because these people have attracted evil spirits to themselves: they themselves have prepared within themselves a dwelling place for the devils, swept out and adorned with unrepentant sins, unoccupied by God, by the grace of God, prepared by a sinful life for the receptacle of the devil. Possessed people, by their unrepentant sins, instead of the dwelling place of God become a receptacle for the unclean spirit. Our Savior speaks about this this way: When the unclean spirit comes out of a person (expelled out at our baptism), it walks through waterless places, looking for peace, and does not find it. Then he says: I will return to my house from where I came. And here he comes. And if, having arrived, he finds him not occupied with God, when someone loses the Holy. Spirit for his unrepentant life, then the unclean spirit goes and takes with him seven other spirits (both seven spiritual gifts, and, in contrast to this, seven spirits of malice, or seven mortal sins and passions; seven can also be taken as a designation of a multitude in general, and not in the strict sense) (“Interpretation of the Gospel.” Bishop Michael), more evil than themselves, and having entered, they live there; and for that person the last thing is worse than the first (Matthew 12:42–45; Luke 11:24–26). Thus, people possessed by evil spirits, who were attracted to themselves by their unrepentant sins, should complain in their temporary and eternal torment not to wizards or sorcerers, but only to themselves (Resurrection Day). 4. How and who can drive out the spirit of evil from a person? The Savior Himself said that the spirit of evil can be driven out by fasting and prayer, and not by magical power. It is not wizards who can drive out the spirit of evil, but only saints. the apostles, to whom the Savior Himself gave authority “against the unclean souls, that they may cast them out,” and after them the shepherds of the church have the same authority as the successors of the apostles. (Matt. 10:1) They have in St. The church provides grace-filled means for driving out unclean spirits, such as: prayers and incantations in favor of believers possessed by unclean spirits, reading the Gospel, blessing of water, confession of those possessed by unclean spirits, blessing of oil, communion of St. mysteries and other God-given remedies. Those suffering from unclean spirits should make fervent prayers to the Lord I. Christ, His Most Pure Mother and to that saint whose name is named after them, and also confess and receive Holy Communion more often. secret Then the spirit of malice cannot live in a person. In the lives of the saints of God we find that the most powerful means of driving away demons is the frequent communion of St. and the life-giving mysteries of Christ. About Rev. John of Vostrsky is told that this St. The husband once asked the demons who were tormenting the young women: “Why are they afraid of Christians?” – You have three great things that we are afraid of: one you wear around your neck (the Holy Cross); - you wash yourself with another (holy baptism); you eat the third in church (holy communion). – Of these three, which one is scarier for you? - asked the reverend. John. – If you, Christians, knew well how to preserve what you partake of, then none of us would dare to approach you (Trinity leaf. No. 361). 5. Over whom do demons have power? Holy torment. At a young age, Tryphon healed illnesses and cast out demons. The Roman Emperor Gordian, from whose daughter St. The martyr Tryphon cast out the demon and wished to see the expelled demon with his own eyes. St. torment. Tryphon really summoned the demon, and everyone saw him in the form of a black dog with fiery eyes. St. torment. Tryphon asked the demon: -Who sent you to become a maiden? – Father, the ruler of all evil, who sits in hell. -Who gave you such power? – We have no power over those who know God and believe in the only begotten Son of God; only by God’s permission do we inflict light temptations on them; and over those we have complete power who do not believe in God, walk in their own lusts and do what pleases us; the things that are pleasing to us are: idolatry, blasphemy, adultery, envy, murder, pride, etc. These people are entangled in sins like nets; they are our friends, and the same fate awaits us (“Ch.-M.” February 1). 6. Who is the enemy of our salvation fighting? One desert elder, having risen at night according to custom to pray, heard the sound of a military trumpet calling for battle, and wondered where the troops could come from in such a barren desert? Then a demon appeared to him and said: “Yes, this is of course a war, because you are standing in prayer; lie down and sleep if you don’t want us to fight with you; We fight only with those who arm themselves against us with prayer, but we do not fight with the lazy” (Prol. February 21). So, “Be sober and watch, because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Resist him with firm faith, prayer and curbing your carnal lusts. “This... generation,” the Lord said about the devil, “is driven out only by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21) (Arch. G. D-ko). 7. Be a strong fighter against the devil “If you happen to be burdened with food, then force yourself to perform physical labor, so that before nightfall your stomach will be relieved and you will not see the dreams and ghosts of sin. Be a strong fighter against the devil: if he hits you in one direction, hit him in the other; if he draws you into excessive saturation with food, burden him with vigil; if he burdens you with sleep, crush him with bodily labor; if he seduces you with vanity, humble yourself in some way. And know that Satan does not grieve so much for anything, and is not driven away and disarmed by anything so much as when a person loves humility and dishonor” (“Father.” Bishop Ignatius p. 344). In His sayings about the beatitudes, the Lord depicts a heavenly heart (Matthew 5:1–12). His mood includes humility, crying and contrition, meekness and lack of anger, complete love of truth, perfect mercy, purity of heart, peacefulness and peacemaking, patience with troubles, wrongs and persecution for the faith and Christian life. If you want heaven, then be it. And here you will still have a taste of paradise, which you will enter ready after death, as a destined heir (from the book “Thoughts for Every Day of the Year” by Bishop Theophan, pp. 87–88). 2. With guidance and fulfillment of which New Testament commandments can we achieve heavenly bliss? Under the guidance of the nine commandments of the Lord about beatitude, which Jesus Christ pronounced on the mountain aloud to His disciples and people, and which, for the constant teaching and reminder to us, are sung and read daily at the liturgy, at the small entrance, when the royal doors are opened for the first time. They read like this: 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for to them is the Kingdom of Heaven. 2. Blessed are the mourners: for they will be comforted. 3. Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. 4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be satisfied. 5. Blessedness of mercy: for they will receive mercy. 6. Blessed are those who are pure in heart: for they will see God. 7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for these shall be called the sons of God. 8. The blessed ones were expelled for the sake of righteousness: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 9. Blessed are you when they revile you, and despise you, and say all sorts of evil things about you lying, for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:3–12). This is the path to true bliss! Let us remember that we were created by God for eternal life and eternal bliss, that through sin we lost this bliss and were expelled from paradise, subjected to the curse of God, doomed to work, sorrow, illness and death, that now we are wandering in exile, looking for the fatherland from which we were expelled, and the lost bliss, that this fatherland and bliss are returned to us again by the Heavenly Father through intercession and the merits of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, under the condition of faith in Him and fulfillment of His commandments (extracted in abbreviation from the “Complete collection of works” by Archpriest John Sergiev, vol. I, ed. 1890, pp. 152–153). About the first beatitude You have all seen and see the poor physically; therefore, in order to paint an image of spiritual poverty, let us first depict bodily poverty in order to explain the like to similar things. A beggar, as the word itself shows, is one who has nothing of his own, who expects everything only from the mercy of others: he does not have his own piece of bread to satisfy his hunger, and the usual drink for most to quench his thirst: he has no shelter where to lay his head if they do not give him money for lodging for the night; does not have clothes, unless a compassionate person takes pity and buys them for him, or, although he has clothes, they are old, dirty, full of holes, worthless, which you don’t even want to touch; He is disdained by everyone: we reproach him from everyone; he is like rubbish, like some kind of dung, although some are poor in the eyes of God, perhaps like gold refined in a furnace. An example is the gospel Lazarus. Now let us apply these traits of a beggar physically to a beggar spiritually. A poor person in spirit is a person who sincerely recognizes himself as a spiritual poor man who has nothing of his own; who expects everything from the mercy of God, who is convinced that he can neither think nor desire anything good if God does not give good thoughts and good desires, that he cannot do a single truly good deed without the grace of Jesus Christ; who considers himself more sinful, worse, lower than everyone else, who always reproaches himself and does not condemn anyone; whoever recognizes the clothing of his soul as foul, dark, fetid, worthless, and does not cease to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to enlighten the clothing of his soul, to clothe it in the imperishable robe of righteousness; who constantly runs under the roof of God, having no security anywhere in the world except the Lord; whoever considers all his wealth to be a gift from God and diligently thanks the Giver of all blessings for everything and willingly gives from his wealth to those who need it - that is who is poor in spirit. And such and such a poor spirit is blessed, according to the word of the Lord; because where there is humility, the consciousness of one’s poverty, one’s poverty, wretchedness, there is God, and where God is, there is cleansing of sins, there is peace, light, freedom, contentment and bliss. It was to such a poor spirit that the Lord came to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, as it is said: “to preach My messenger to the poor” (Luke 4:18), to the poor in spirit, and not to those who are rich; for their pride repels the grace of God from them, and they remain an empty and stinking church. Don’t people also willingly extend a hand of help and mercy to those who are truly poor and in dire need of the most necessary things; Isn’t it all the more merciful to God about spiritual poverty, fatherly condescending to her call and filling her with His spiritual treasures? “Give good things to those who hunger” (Luke 1:53), it is said. Are not the valleys abundantly irrigated with moisture; Aren't the valleys blooming and fragrant? Aren't there snow and ice and lifelessness on the mountains? High mountains are an image of proud people; valleys are an image of the humble: “every wilderness will be filled... every mountain and hill will be humbled” (Luke 3:5). “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6) So, blessed are the poor in spirit, that is, those who consider themselves to be nothing, as those are the Kingdom of Heaven (extracted in abbreviation from the “Complete Collection of Works” by Archpriest John Sergiev, vol. I, pp. 167–168). At one time, Saint Sergius, with his prayers to the Lord of life and death, resurrected a dead baby. The father, seeing his child alive and being overwhelmed with fear and joy, fell at the feet of the man of God and gave him splendid thanks. The saint of God not only did not appropriate this work, characteristic of the one God, to himself, but also considered the very opinion of it to be painful for himself. “No, my child! - he said, - your son was not dead, but he was exhausted and weak from the cold; only it seemed to you that the child died. Be sure that, having been brought into a warm cell, it warmed up, and do not at all think that it came to life” (from the life of St. Sergius). When St. John of Damascus, who was the ruler of the city of Damascus, after the miracle of healing his truncated hand through prayer before the Mother of God, entered the monastery, he was at first under the leadership of one virtuous elder. One day, the elder, wanting to test John’s humility, sent him to the city of Damascus to sell there the baskets that the monks were weaving for the benefit of the monastery. John willingly fulfilled the elder’s command; dressed in rags, he came to the city where he had once been the most noble nobleman, and sold the baskets. Such a feat was not burdensome for John: having surrendered to God with all his soul, he could no longer value earthly splendor and greatness and therefore did not consider any state humiliating for himself (“Ch.-M.”). Do you want to be closer to the Lord in heaven? Be more humble and lower before others here. 5. Examples of deep humility 1. Rev. Moses says: “If a person does not recognize himself as a sinner in his heart, God will not hear him” (Venerable Tale of the Sublime Saint and Blessed Father, p. 160, § 14). When the teacher Moses was made a cleric and they clothed him in a surplice, the archbishop said to him: “Now you have become all white, Abba Moses!” He answered: “Oh, if only, sir, from the inside as well as from the outside.” The archbishop, wanting to test Abba Moses, said to the clergy: “When Abba Moses enters the altar, expel him and follow him to hear what he will say.” The elder entered, the clergy began to revile him and kicked him out, saying: “Get out, Ethiopian!” The elder, leaving, said to himself: “In truth, what has been done to you, black Ethiopian: you are not a man, why do you go with people!” (ibid., p. 157, § 4). Such was the humility of one of the great ascetics! And the remark of the blessed fathers is true: “The closer a person is to God, the more he recognizes himself as a sinner: for the prophet Isaiah, having seen God, called himself accursed and unclean (Isa. 6:5)” (Venerable Tale of the Holy and Blessed Fathers, p. 162, § 2). 2. Abba Mios said that in the monastery there lived one old man, distinguished by his exploits, who was one of the slaves. Despite the fact that he already had complete freedom and was himself a leader and boss of others, this elder went to Alexandria every year and paid rent to his masters. When he came to them, he poured water into the laver and washed their feet. The Lord said to him: “Father! you force us to accept such a difficult service from you!” He answered them: “Through this I testify that I am your servant. In gratitude for giving me freedom to serve God, I wash your feet.” The gentlemen did not accept the quitrent, but the elder told them: “If you do not want to accept the quitrent, I will remain here to serve you.” The gentlemen, respecting him, left him to do what he wanted, and released him with great honor and with many donations (from the Patericon). (Prot. Gr. D-ko) About the Second Beatitude 1. What should a true Christian cry about? First, weep for what you have desecrated and are constantly desecrating the image of God within yourself with your sins. Think, man: God has depicted Himself in you, just as the sun is depicted in a drop of water; you are made, as it were, by some god on earth, as it is said: “Az rekh: you are gods of nature and sons of the Most High” (Ps. 82:6), and you daily throw into the dirt, stain this image with worldly passions, addiction to the world, unbelief, pride, hatred, envy, intemperance and drunkenness and other passions, and through this you extremely anger your Creator and you irritate His long-suffering. It is worthy and righteous to cry about this day and night. Cry! Secondly, cry because you only bear the name of a Christian, but do not fulfill the vows and obligations of a Christian given at baptism and live like a pagan: clinging to the earth and not thinking about heaven and about life there, which has no end, that, having been a Christian for such a long time, you still do not have the spirit of Christ, you are not conformed to Him in the least, you do not imitate His life - which is not yet Christ dwelt in you by faith and did not imagine in you that you had not yet become a new creation, had not put on Christ, according to the scripture: “if you were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Thirdly, cry about the fact that your heart is constantly being torn and doing everything contrary to the Lord, cry about his evil inclination, unrepentance, and non-correction. We pray so much, we repent, we read, we sing, we receive Holy Communion so much. life-giving mysteries that can transform a stony heart and make it soft like wax, and we do not change for the better through negligence. O damnation! oh malice! O corruption of the heart! oh pride! O earthly passions! O flattery of voluptuousness and love of money! - So, cry because although you repent and pray, you do not bring to God the fruits worthy of repentance, the fruits of faith and love: the fruit of meekness and gentleness, the fruit of abstinence, purity and chastity, the fruit of alms, etc. Cry internally when you feel a rush of unclean thoughts to your heart; cry when you are carried away by pride, anger, envy, greed, stinginess; cry and pray when you feel enmity and not love towards your enemy, for it is said: “love your enemies... and do good to those who hate you” (Matthew 5:44); cry before God with the inner cry of your heart, when you are carried away by the passion of drunkenness, love of money and covetousness, when resistance and disobedience to your parents or to your superiors and elders will confuse and carry you away; cry at the feeling of poverty and wretchedness of our nature, at the thought of the countless benefits of the Creator to us and about our ingratitude towards Him. May your tears be a weapon against all sin: and the Lord, seeing your humility, recognition of your weakness, your strong desire to keep yourself clean from all sin, will extend a helping hand and send you the Comforter Spirit, who will stop the violence of sin, extinguish the fire of passions and bring down the dew of grace into your heart. Cry for your sins, cry for people’s too; cry over the fact that many peoples have not yet come to know the true God and the Lord Jesus Christ and are in the darkness of paganism, worshiping creatures instead of the Creator; that the Christian faith is persecuted in infidel countries, and many of your brethren suffer under their yoke; weep for the unrighteousness that prevails on earth, from which all “who want to live godly in Christ Jesus” suffer (2 Tim. 3:12); cry about the violence and oppression of the rich and powerful, about the poverty and helplessness of the poor; lament that Christian love has dried up among many and in its place pride, lust and carnality in all forms have reigned; that many Christians fall from the heights of redemption and respect neither the church, nor the sacraments, nor its teachings. You will say: what is the use of my tears? - By this you will fulfill the commandment of the apostle - “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15); In general, you will fulfill the commandment to love your neighbor, and the whole law is in love. And the benefit is that as a reward for your tears you will receive consolation from God and forgiveness of sins. What else should we cry about? We must also cry about our unpreparedness for the terrible and righteous test at the world court. Many holy saints of God cried day and night all their lives, at the thought of the Last Judgment and the subsequent eternal torment of the wicked; and we, as if we are some righteous people, are indifferent to this final, terrible decision of our fate, or others still dare to reject the truth of the future judgment and Gehenna. “To everything, brethren, there is a time... a time to weep, and a time to laugh” (Eccl. 3:1, 4). Now is the time to weep. And so we will weep for sins (extracted from the Complete Works of Archpriest John Sergius, vol. I, pp. 166–169). 2. Nature teaches a lesson in spiritual crying. Saints, when contemplating nature and its phenomena, very often learned for themselves instructive lessons of faith and piety. So eg. did often St. Ephraim the Syrian. “One day,” he writes, “getting up very early, I left with two brothers from the blessed city of Edessa; Raising my eyes to the sky, which, like a pure mirror, shone the earth with glory with stars, I said in surprise: “If the stars shine with such glory, then will not the righteous and saints, who have done the will of the holy God, shine with the ineffable light of the Savior more at the hour when the Lord comes?” But as soon as I remembered that terrible coming of the Lord, my bones shook; soul and body trembled; I cried with heart disease and said, sighing: what kind of sinner will I turn out to be in that terrible hour? How will I appear before the throne of the terrible Judge? How can I, the scattered one, have a place with the perfect? How can I, the barren one, be among those who bear the fruits of righteousness? What should I do when the saints in the palace of heaven recognize each other? Who will recognize me? The righteous will be in the palace, the wicked in the fire; the martyrs will show their wounds; ascetics - their virtues; What will I show except laziness and negligence? (from the works of St. Ephraim the Syrian, see the word touching). 3. Stories about repentant crying and heartfelt contrition for sin 1. The king and prophet David sinned gravely before God by killing Uriah and taking his wife for himself; but, realizing his sin, he wept bitterly and greatly day and night, expressing his repentant feeling and contrite heart in the psalm: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy” (Ps. 50:3). 2. The Apostle Peter never ceased to mourn his fall, his brief threefold renunciation of Christ out of a sense of self-preservation: throughout his life he never ceased to shed tears about his act. This is evidenced by the disciple of St. ap. Peter Clement, Bishop of Rome. He talks about St. Peter like this: “On both cheeks. Peter, two deep wrinkles or depressions formed, along which, as if through channels, the tears shed flowed. He cried not only during the day, but also at night; every night, after the first rooster crowed, he got out of bed and prayed with tears until the morning.” He, therefore, could rightfully say with the psalmist: tears are food for me day and night (Ps. 41:4) - tears for him were like daily bread, since he never stopped crying. “One time,” says the blessed one. Augustine, “Peter sinned, but he always cried.” 3. Tears constantly flowed from the eyes of the Monk Arseny of Novgorod. He cried for his heavenly homeland. He cried, but we would be sinning if we thought that his life was bleak. He who does not allow himself earthly consolations and even burdens his life voluntarily for the Lord, enjoys the hopes of a blessed eternity, enjoys spiritual peace, before which the laughter and merriment of human frivolity is grief (Luke 6:25) (from the book “Russian saints, revered by the whole church or locally” by Philaret, Archbishop of Chernigov, part II, St. Petersburg, 1882, p. 374). 4. Ave. Theophilus labored in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. One day Theophilus was in a cave where his brother John had recently been buried. Having been there, St. Mark the Caveman, by inspiration from God, told Theophilus that he did not have much time left to live, that if he were ready for death, he would not have left the cave now, but the Lord was giving him some time to prepare for the exodus. Theophilus was so amazed by this notification of the approach of his death that, having come to his cell, he gave away everything he had, and from that time on he continually shed bitter tears day and night. No matter how much the brothers consoled him, he could not console himself with anything; From incessant crying he finally lost his sight. The outpouring of tears from the saint was so great that he soon filled a whole vessel with them, so that at the end of his life he could pour them on his sinful body as evidence of his justification before God. The Lord heeded the cry of His servant: three days before the death of the saint, his sight was restored, and he was consoled by the appearance of the Angel of the Lord, who, holding in his hands another vessel, larger than the one in which his tears were collected, said: “Here in this vessel are your tears, which I, at the command of the Lord, collected every time they poured out from the sighing of your heart, and now I am sent to tell you the joy that you are with joy.” you will go to the Lord, who said: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Thus, St. Theophilus, through tears of repentance, acquired for himself the inheritance of the righteous in the Kingdom of Heaven (from the Kiev-Pechersk Patericon). 4. What should we do now? There is a legend about one old man who, having left the world, retired to deserted places, but did not build a cell for himself, but instead moved from place to place, like a migratory bird. Whether anyone saw him eating food is unknown; but no one has ever seen him without tears, sobs and lamentations. If it happened that he, like a desert dove, approached any city or village, he did not enter them, but sat down nearby, on some stone, and kept moaning and crying, repeating: “Something will happen, something will happen!” It happened that townspeople or villagers came out to him and, out of compassion, began to console him; and he began to sob and cry even more. They offered him food, clothing, and money - nothing occupied him or consoled him: he kept crying. Sometimes they asked him: “What are you crying about? What trouble has befallen you? Tell us; perhaps we, according to our strength, will help you.” But the elder began to cry even more from these words, without uttering a single word in response. Finally, after much coercion, he, through tears and sobs, sometimes said, especially to residents of big cities: “You are unlikely to help me! This is my misfortune: my master entrusted me with great wealth; and I squandered it all on balls, theaters, festivities, celebrations and a luxurious, unclean life with obscene women. Now my master is looking for me, and it will be a disaster for me if he finds me! He will bring me to trial and shameful execution. I don't know what to do! Something will happen, something will happen!..” And again the old man indulged in tears, sobs and screams. Do you understand what he was crying about? He cried about his sins, fearing the judgment of the Lord of all God. Now, if we cry like this, then perhaps God will have mercy on us... (from the writings of the Recluse Bishop Theophan). 5. Thoughts on spiritual crying 1. “Like after heavy rain,” says St. John Chrysostom, “the air becomes clean, and after shedding tears, silence and clarity comes, and the darkness of sin disappears” (6 demons on the Gospel of Matthew). 2. “Just as worldly joy is mixed with sadness,” says the same church father, “so tears for God grow everlasting and unfading joy” (ibid.). 3. “Crying over sins,” says St. Dimitri, Metropolitan. Growth - washes the soul, whitens all darkness, cleanses the conscience, enlightens the mind, resolves sinful bonds, blots out the handwriting of all iniquities” (Part I, p. 27). 6. The power of repentant crying for sins One day Rev. Niphon saw two Angels who carried a man’s soul to heaven, not allowing it to be tortured in aerial ordeals. The demons, the air tax collectors, began to cry out: - Why don’t you give this soul to us? because she is ours. - How will you prove that she is yours? “Yes, she,” the demons answered, “before her death she did only one evil, and there is no sin that she did not commit; she was enslaved to passions and was separated from her body without repentance; and whoever died a slave to sin is ours. One of the Angels answered them: - Since you always lie, we don’t believe you; let the Guardian Angel of this soul be called, and let us give him faith; for he will not tell a lie. The Guardian Angel appeared and the Angels asked him: – Has this soul repented, or has it left its body in its sins? “Truly, this man was a sinner,” answered the Angel, “but when he began to get sick, then with tears he confessed his sins to God and, with his hands raised to heaven, earnestly asked God for mercy.” Then the Angels retained the soul, and the demons were put to shame. But they did not calm down and cried out again: - If this man could be pardoned, then the whole world will be saved, and are we working in vain? “Yes,” answered the Angels, “all sinners who confess their sins humbly and with tears will receive forgiveness from God, and those who die without repentance will be judged by God.” And with these words, “I went away,” it is said, “to the gates of heaven, and that soul was saved” (compiled from the Prologue, December). About the third beatitude 1. Characteristics of a meek Christian A meek person never repays evil for evil, insult for insult; does not get angry, does not raise his voice in anger at those who sin and offend; “he will not contradict, nor cry, and no one will hear his voice” (Matthew 12:19); the meek, being reproached, does not reproach, enduring suffering and misfortune from others, does not threaten with vengeance, but allows the one who judges righteously to take revenge for himself (1 Pet. 2:23). Here is a majestic image of meekness! This is her being! And how can we act differently, how can we be irritated, angry, take revenge? God, our common Father, before whom we sin without number, always deals with us in His meekness, does not destroy us, is long-suffering to us, and unceasingly benefits us. And we must be meek, lenient and long-suffering towards our brothers. “If you forgive man their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” says Jesus Christ. “If you do not forgive man their sins, your Father will also forgive you your sins” (Matthew 6:14, 15). In addition, we, as Christians, are all members of one body, and the members take care of each other in every possible way; Moreover, we are called sheep of the verbal flock of Christ - why is that? because the sheep is meek, gentle, and patient; so should we be. Only those of us belong to the flock of Christ who are meek and gentle, like lambs, and those who do not have the spirit of Christ, His meekness and gentleness, are not His. “If...he who does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Rom. 8:9). At the Last Judgment, only sheep will stand on the right side of the Judge, and lively goats on the left - and the sheep will be brought into heaven, and the goats will be sent to Gehenna (from the “Complete collected works” by Archpriest John Sergiev, vol. I, pp. 173–174). 2. Generosity against resentment A certain old monk named Cyrus, being from a low family and very meek, did not like the brethren of the monastery where he was taking refuge. It often happens that for humility or for other good qualities someone will finally love someone who was not loved before; but the fate of the Rev. Kira was not like that! As time went on, the hatred of the brethren increased: not only the elders, but also the young men under temptation, insulted him and often even kicked him out from the table. This went on for 15 years. The Monk John Climacus happened to be in this monastery. Seeing that the meek Cyrus, being kicked out from the table, often went to bed hungry, he asked him: tell me, what do these insults against you mean? “Believe me, dear guest in Christ,” answered the humble elder, “that the brothers do not act this way out of malice; they only tempt me whether I wear the image of an angel worthily. Having entered this monastery, I heard that the hermit should be under trial for thirty years, and I lived another half” (Prologue March 12). Christians! This is an exemplary action against those who offend us. The meek Cyrus did not want to actually take revenge on his persecutors, but still looked on the bright side at their insults; gave their actions the best meaning when they were insane, preserved their honor when they dishonored themselves; He accepted as the highest happiness what others would consider to be a complete misfortune. Do the same, and you will always be reconciled with your enemies. 3. Examples of Christian meekness 1. Once St. Spyridon, Bishop of Trimifuntsky, entered the royal palace; His clothes were very modest. One of the royal servants recognized him as a beggar and even hit him on the cheek, but when St. Spyridon, according to the word of the Lord, offered him another one, then he, recognizing the saint in this act, fell at his feet and began to ask for forgiveness (“Ch.-M.” Dec. 12). 2. Here is another example of Christian meekness... Once the Monk Theodosius, abbot of Pechersk, was with the Grand Duke Izyaslav, and delayed his departure until late in the evening. The Grand Duke did not want to let the saint go on foot, and ordered one of the servants to take him. But this servant, considering Rev. Theodosius, acting as a simple alms collector, after a while, told him this: “Chernorizets, it’s time for me to rest in your place.” Rev. Theodosius complacently gave up his place to him and began to drive the horses himself, while the servant fell asleep. But then, in the morning, waking up, the servant sees that all the nobles who were going to the Grand Duke were bowing to the saint. Feodosia. His horror increased when, arriving at the monastery, he saw that all the brethren had gone out to meet their abbot and reverently accepted his blessing (according to “Ch.-M.”). 3. The Monk Ephraim the Syrian loved solitude and did not go to the common meal of the monastery where he lived. One of his disciples brought him food to his cell. One day, while walking from the kitchen, a student accidentally dropped a vessel with food and broke it. He did not know what to do, fearing the wrath of his elder. But St. Ephraim saw this from the window and cheerfully said to him: “Don’t be sad, my child! If the food did not want to come to us, then we ourselves will go to it.” And he went; sitting down on the ground near the broken vessel, he began to pick up food (“Ch.-M.”). 4. When the villains came to Abba John the Persian, he brought a laver and begged them for permission to wash their feet. The villains were ashamed: they began to ask him for forgiveness and repent of their maliciousness (Venerable Tale of the Sub. Saint and Blessed Father). 5. The forty martyrs who died for Jesus Christ in Lake Sebaste serve as a touching example of Christian meekness. They were officers and simple warriors, undaunted on the battlefield, pious and knowledgeable in the Divine Scripture. When they refused to turn to the gods, at the suggestion of Prince Lysias, he ordered them to be stoned. This is not enough: accusing the beating ministers of weakness and negligence, he himself grabbed a stone and threw it at one of the martyrs, and then ordered them to be placed in a lake among the ice, pressing from everywhere, where they froze. They did not take up arms, did not resist and defend themselves, even though they could, but they endured everything with meekness for Christ, like lambs (“Ch.-M.”) (Prot. G. D-ko). 4. There is feat in battle too... There is feat in battle, There is a feat in the struggle, - The highest feat in patience, 5. Any work is more valuable before God the more it is done with great patience and without grumbling. The following example is given in fatherly legends: a certain brother, who lived in a dormitory, so loved humility and patience that he voluntarily accepted all accusations. Despite this, the abbot, who knew the exploits of this brother, did not humiliate him in front of other brethren and did not deprive him of his favor. The brethren began to grumble. The abbot told them: “For me, one mat of this brother’s work, made with humility, is more pleasant than all yours, made with pride.” To prove this by the court of God, Abba ordered to bring mats made by the brethren and a mat made by the accused brother; then they lit a fire, and Abba put all the mats on the fire. The work of the grumbling brothers was burned, but the mat of the humble brother remained undamaged. Then everyone knew how valuable deeds done without grumbling are before God. And so, according to the commandment of the Apostle: “Do everything without grumbling, so that you will be blameless and purposeful... in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation” (Phil. 2:14, 15) (from Fatherland § 93). 6. The need to patiently bear one’s cross The Savior said: “Whoever does not bear his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; having been skilled, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). Without grief and suffering, with constant happiness, a person would completely forget God and would not be sufficiently purified and prepared for the future life. Just as a thresher beats sheaves to separate the grain, or as a gardener trims the branches of a tree so that it is shady and more fruitful, so the Lord strikes a person with misfortunes for his moral purification, strengthening and eternal salvation. Consequently, all misfortunes, like blows from the fatherly right hand of the Almighty Ruler of the world - God, a person must endure with filial love and without complaint. All of us Christians are especially encouraged to bear the cross of life without complaint by the example of our Hero, the Lord I. Christ. In His living example, Christians are shown the only true path of salvation, and anyone who deviates from His path goes astray and perishes. We cannot bear the cross of Christ: it is immeasurably great and heavy for us. We must each take up and bear our own cross - and will take our own cross, and not Christ’s, it is said - only our cross-bearing must be done for the sake of Christ, and not to show our generosity, and, moreover, in the image of the Savior bearing the cross. The Savior endured great suffering innocently and voluntarily, and our crucifixion must be the same, otherwise it will not be salutary - because the wicked also suffer a lot (Ps. 31:10) - but this is not a merit for them, but righteous retribution for evil. St. ap. Peter says: “It pleases God if anyone, thinking about God, endures tribulations, suffering unjustly. For what kind of praise is it if you endure being beaten for your misdeeds? But if, while doing good and suffering, you endure, this pleases God. For you have been called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that we would follow in His footsteps. He committed no sin, and no flattery was in His mouth. Being slandered, He did not slander each other; while suffering, he did not threaten, but handed it over to the Just Judge” (1 Pet. 2:19–23). Following the example of I. Christ and Sts. the apostles were true crusaders, enduring persecution, reproaches, slander, reproach and death for Christ with patience and even joy (1 Cor. 4:12). True, the lot of martyrdom is not assigned to everyone, but we have the opportunity to be true crusaders, in the spirit of the teachings of Christ, if, as the apostle says. Paul, we crucify our flesh with passions and lusts (Gal. 5:24), if we observe meekness and generosity in the face of insults and insults, we refrain from envy, anger, slander, ill-will and revenge at a time when we are unjustly persecuted - this is an accessible and close path of Christian cross-bearing for all of us (compiled from No. 11 “Resurrection Conversations”, published by the Society of Lovers of Spiritual Enlightenment in Moscow). 7. He who endures to the end will be saved During St. John Chrysostom, the Monk Hierax labored for many years in the deep desert. One day the demons came to him visibly and said: “Elder! you will live another fifty years; Is it possible to endure for so long in this deserted desert? Get out of here! “The elder answered them: “It’s a pity that I have so little time left to live in the world; and I had enough patience for another two hundred years.” At these words of Hierax, the demons disappeared... This means that St. the ascetic decided to endure all the sorrows, all the hardships of desert life to the end. Obviously, he firmly remembered the words of the Savior: “In your patience you will gain your souls” (Luke 21:19). “He who endures... to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). And we, sinners... will take on some good deed with all the ardor, with all the zeal, but as soon as we encounter some obstacle or failure, we are ready to completely abandon the good deed, as if we were not at all capable of it! Oh, how many good intentions we have in this way remain unfulfilled! how many good deeds are unfinished... What does this mean? Why is this? Because, of course, when we take on a good deed, we look only at its fruits, and do not care at all about whether we have enough strength to carry out our plans. Because we forget, or, better said, we don’t want to know at all that no truly good deed can do without temptations and sorrows; such is the law of good deeds. Do you want to do good that is truly pleasing to God? Be patient, be prepared for all sorts of sorrows and hardships, maybe even suffering from human unrighteousness, for it is said: “Son, if you begin to work for the Lord... prepare your soul for temptation” (Sir. 2:1), and in temptation the most necessary thing is patience. But we don’t even think about it; That is why our good is fragile, impermanent, and that is why it does not have a proper price in the eyes of God (according to the “Trinity Leaf” No. 200). “Behold, you are healthy: let no one sin, lest any worse befall him” (John 5:14). Sin not only affects the soul, but also the body. In other cases it is quite obvious; in others, although it is not so clear, the truth remains the truth that illnesses of the body are always and always from sins and for the sake of sins. Sin occurs in the soul and directly makes it sick; but since the life of the body comes from the soul, then from a sick soul, of course, life is not healthy. The very fact that sin brings darkness and darkness should have an adverse effect on the blood, in which the basis of bodily health is based. But when you remember that it distances a person from God, the source of life, and puts a person at odds with all the laws operating in himself and in nature, then one must still marvel at how a sinner remains alive after sin. This is the mercy of God, awaiting repentance and conversion. Consequently, the sick person, before doing anything else, must hasten to cleanse himself of sins and reconcile himself with God in his conscience. This will pave the way for the beneficial effects of medicines. It is heard that there was some famous doctor who did not begin treatment until the patient confessed and received Holy Communion. tain; and the more difficult the illness, the more insistently he demanded this (from the book: “Thoughts for every day of the year” by Bishop Theophan, pp. 134–135). 9. On a patient and meek attitude towards the sick A certain Eulogius, moved by love for God and desiring immortality, renounced the noise of the world and, having distributed all his property to the poor, kept only a small part of the money for himself, because he could not work. But having felt his weaknesses in bearing the labors of monastic life and constant vigil, as well as his inability to live a solitary life in seclusion, he chose the following type of pleasing God. Having once seen a crippled man, who had neither arms nor legs, sitting in the marketplace begging for alms from passers-by, Eulogius made a covenant in his soul: in the name of God, take the weakened man into his home and rest him until his death, in order to save his soul through patient service to him. Having made this secret covenant, Eulogius approached the weakened man and offered him his services, to which the sufferer agreed with joy. Thus, Eulogius took the crippled man into his home and began to serve him as a father; He provided him with everything he needed, fed him, watered him, clothed him, washed him, and carried him from place to place in his arms. With such continuous care from Eulogius, the crippled man lived with him for 15 years. Finally, the spirit of evil, envious of our salvation, upset their mutual agreement, instilling in the crippled man dissatisfaction with his position. From time to time, the crippled man began to get more and more bored, complain about his situation and loneliness, and finally began to insult his benefactor with reproachful words: “You brought me into your house so that through me you would be known as beneficent, poor-lover, and merciful!” You think you can earn the Kingdom of Heaven through me! I don't want your affection! I don't need your services! Eulogius endured insults for a long time, consoled the ungrateful man, asked him to tell him frankly what he was dissatisfied with, and offered new services; but this embittered the weakened man even more, and he began to demand that they take him out into the street. “I’m bored with your life,” he told his benefactor, “I want to eat meat that you yourself don’t eat and don’t give me.” Patient Eulogius brought him meat. The weakened man began to shout, with much greater grief than before: - I can’t be alone with you; I want to be among society! Eulogius, humbly calming the whimsical sufferer, said: - I will bring the monastic brothers to you; they will often come to us, and we will not be alone; calm down, put aside the melancholy that oppresses you! Then the weakened man resolutely said to Eulogius: - I hate you! It's painful for me to look at you! take me out of here, throw me on the street where you took me from: and you will do me the most pleasant favor! Eulogius finally became perplexed: what should he do with the crippled man, who gave him no rest day or night; and whom, by vow, he undertook to rest until his death? On the advice of some ascetics who lived in his neighborhood, Eulogius, taking the crippled man with him, went to the monastery of Great Anthony to bring such a difficult matter to the court of the holy elder. St. Anthony, in the presence of the monastery brethren, ordered Eulogius to tell: where and how, on what occasion, did he accept the crippled man into his house, how many years did he serve him, and what hostility had recently arisen between them? After listening to the story of Eulogius, St. Antony tells him: so, you want to leave him? but He who created him will not abandon him. You will abandon him, and God will raise up someone better than you and will raise him up!.. Then, turning to the crippled man, he says: and you, crippled one, will you stop rebelling against God and irritating your brother! Do you not know that Christ serves you? How dare you speak against Christ! Wasn’t it for Christ’s sake that he gave himself into your service?.. Finally he said to both of them: stop fighting, children! go in peace; give up all the grief that the demon has sowed between you, and with pure love return to the cell in which you have lived for so long. God is already sending for you. This temptation was brought upon you by Satan; he knows that you are both already at the end of your race and will soon receive crowns from Christ, he is for you, and you are for him. So, don’t think about anything else: if the Angel, having come for you, does not find you in the same agreement, you will lose your crowns... And the reconciled ones returned to their home, where, after living in peace and mutual harmony for forty days, both died: first Eulogius, and three days after him the crippled one (Prologue Sept. 12). 10. About gentle treatment of animals In the word of God we read: “Do not muzzle an ox when he is threshing” (Deut. 25:4). “Do you have any cattle? watch him, and if he is useful to you, then let him remain with you” (Sir. 7:24). And the Holy Church also prays for the multiplication of livestock and the preservation of their health: “bless the herd of livestock and multiply them, and deliver them from a destructive illness” (prayer when driving out to pasture). Isn’t it the same need to take care of domestic working animals that our common sense inspires in us? Doesn’t it tell us that every livestock, animal, and bird is God’s creation, and therefore neither you, nor I, nor anyone else has the right to offend, torment and starve them. Moreover, livestock and animals can live without us (for example, wild ones); God feeds and protects them. But the farmer cannot live without the help of livestock. Horses and oxen cultivate the land and transport loads, sheep provide warm clothing, cows provide food and shoes. How can you, cruel master, raise your hands against God’s creation, which is necessary and useful to you? Doesn't it mean that when you torture, starve and beat animals, you destroy your own well-being? If we listen to the voice of our heart, it will tell us pity, compassion and sympathy for our unrequited, unreasonable and at the same time almost free workers - horses. Let us remember their labors, hardships, and patience. After all, they are the wings and collaborators of the farmer. “And for all this they do not demand from him any payment, nor clothing, nor shoes, but only straw and hay, and a little oats. Behold, the Reverend Father Gerasim of Jordan loved cattle and animals, fed them, caressed and treated them. One day during Lent, while walking through the Jordanian desert, he met a lion with a sore leg, swollen from a splinter. The holy elder took the splinter out of his leg, cleaned it and tied the wound with linen, and released the beast. But the lion, as if in gratitude, did not leave the benefactor and followed the monk. From that time on, he fed the beast and ordered it to guard the donkey, which was carrying water for the needs of the monastery. When the donkey was stolen, the lion willingly performed the duties of the donkey, carrying water to the monastery. After the death of his benefactor, the Monk Gerasim, the grateful lion grieved for a long time, roared for him and died at his grave (Arch. G. D-ko). 11. When we see our neighbors sinning, we need to pray not for their destruction, but for their admonition and guidance on the path of truth St. Apostle Carp was one of the 70 apostles. One day he asked God to punish two Christian sinners for living carelessly. Suddenly he sees a deep abyss, on the edge of which stand those two people for whose punishment he prayed. At the same time, the Lord appeared and said to him: “Do you want these people to perish?” He answered joyfully that this was what he was praying for. But the Lord told him: “Beat Me, torture Me again, crucify me. I am ready to endure everything, but I cannot tolerate the destruction of sinners.” Thus the Lord moderated the apostle’s jealousy. Carp. Isn't that right? He stopped the ap. James and John, who wanted to destroy the Samaritan village? He told them: “The Son of Man came not to destroy the souls of men, but to save” (Luke 9:52–56). A true Christian should ask God not to send disasters to sinners, but to enlighten and guide them on the path of truth. – Often simple people light a candle in front of an icon and pray in church so that the Lord will send misfortune to the enemy, and some are so cruel that in their prayers they ask God for the death of a person who has inflicted an insult of little importance to them. This unreasonable and sinful prayer can turn on the head of the petitioner himself (according to “Ch.-M.”). 12. How a Christian should treat his illness “When your flesh suffers from illness, remember that the first enemy of your salvation suffers, who is weakened by illness, and generously endure your illness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who endured the cross and death for us; Also remember that all our illnesses are God’s punishment for sins; they cleanse, reconcile us with God and introduce us again into His love: Your peace, it is said, and grant us Your love: for You have given us everything. Remember that in illness the Lord is with you: “I am with him in sorrow” (Ps. 90:15), that it came from the beck of the Master, fatherly punishing us. Believing in prosperous times, see that you do not fall away in times of adversity, but, like a martyr, be constant in faith, hope and love” (from the book “My Life in Christ”, Archpriest John Sergiev of Kronstadt, vol. II, ed. 1, 1892, p. 69). 13. Stories about the wondrous patience of St. ascetics in enduring illnesses The holy ascetics, when they were exposed to illnesses, accepted them as the greatest blessing of God, tried to remain in praise and thanksgiving to God, did not seek healing, although miraculous healings are most often performed among the saints. monks. They wanted to patiently and humbly endure God’s permission, believing and confessing that it was more beneficial to the soul than any voluntary feat. 1. In the Egyptian monastery, where the greatest saints stayed. monks, lived the Rev. Benjamin. For his virtuous life, God gave him the abundant gift of healing ailments. Having this gift, he himself suffered from a severe and prolonged water illness: he became unusually swollen. They were forced to take him out of his own cell to another, more spacious one. To do this, the doors and jambs in his cell had to be removed. In the new room they arranged a special seat for him because he could not lie on the bed. Being in this position, Rev. He continued to heal others, and those who, seeing his suffering, sympathized with him, exhorted them to pray for his soul, without worrying about his body. “When my body is healthy,” he said, “then I have no particular benefit from it. Now, having been exposed to illness, it does not bring me any harm” (“Alphabetical Patericon”). 2. Abba Peter said that he, having once visited St. Isaiah the hermit and, having found him suffering from a severe illness, expressed regret. To this Rev. said: “So depressed by illness, I can hardly keep in my memory the terrible time (of death and judgment of God). If my body were healthy, then the memory of this time would be completely alien to me. When the body is healthy, then it is more inclined to incite hostile actions against God; sorrows serve as an aid for us to preserve the commandments of God” (St. Isaiah the Hermit. Homily 27). 3. The great ascetics and miracle workers did not teach healing, which was so convenient for them, to their disciples who were exposed to illness by God’s allowance or providence, so as not to deprive them of spiritual success, which must certainly be achieved by illness, endured with Christian patience. Hegumen of the Gaza hostel, Rev. Serid, a student of the great Barsanuphius, who remained silent in the same hostel, was ill for a long time. Some of the older brothers asked Barsanuphius to heal the abbot. St. Barsanuphius answered: “Some of the saints here could have prayed to God for the health of my son, and he would not have been sick for a single day; but then he would not have received the fruits of patience. This illness is very useful for him for patience and thanksgiving” (Answer 130; book “On miracles and signs” by Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov). 4. “There was someone named Stephen,” says St. Gregory Dvoeslov, the abbot of the monastery, was a very holy man, primarily distinguished by the virtue of patience. Out of love for his heavenly fatherland, he despised everything and avoided all possessions in this world; avoided worldly noise and was busy with frequent and prolonged prayers. And the virtue of patience grew so high in him that he considered as his friend the one who did something offensive to him; for reproach he gave thanks; if in his very wretchedness any harm was done to him, he considered it the greatest profit; He recognized all his enemies as his helpers... When the day of his death came, then many gathered, and some saw the Angels entering with their bodily eyes; All those present were seized by such a strong fear that at the exodus of this holy soul no one could remain there, and everyone fled. So think about how terrible Almighty God will be when He appears as a righteous Judge, if He so frightened those present when He came with good will and mercy; or how terrible He could be if He could be visible, if His invisible appearance so struck the souls of those present! This is the height of reward his patience brought him!” (From Bes. St. Grig. Dvoeslov). 5. A certain elder of the Pyrgian Lavra, named Mirogen, led such a strict life that he suffered from water sickness. And when other elders came to him with a desire to treat him, he always told them: “Fathers, pray for me, so that my inner man does not suffer from such a disease; and as for the real illness, I ask God that He does not suddenly free me from it” (“Meadow spirit.” p. 11) (Prot. G. D-ko). 14. How did the saints view illness? There was one husband who often suffered from various ailments. It happened that in one year no illness befell him. The pious man began to cry and grieve, saying: “The Lord has abandoned me and did not want to visit me this year!” Another, equal to him in patience, during a serious illness, refused the food offered to him by his brother as a consolation, saying: “Believe me, brother, I would like to spend thirty years in this illness.” We think that these people would not have endured suffering so complacently if they had not hoped to receive more rewards from the Lord for their patience than for other good deeds (Honored Tale about the Holy and Blessed Fathers). 15. Misfortunes are often sent for our sins When the Monk Ammun lived alone in the Nitrian mountain, they say that they brought to him a youth bound in chains, who was in a rage, which opened in him from being bitten by a dog. From unbearable pain, the boy bit himself all over until he bled. St. Ammun, seeing his parents who came to ask for a son, said to them: “Why are you bothering me, demanding something that exceeds my strength? Help is ready in your hands: reward the widow whose ox you secretly killed, and your boy will be healthy.” Amazed by the evidence, they joyfully did what they were told. And through the prayer of Ammun the boy became healthy (from Lavsaik, p. 32). 16. Joy over sorrows A certain brother became more cheerful in spirit the more he was dishonored and mocked. He said: “Those who dishonor us and mock us provide us with the means to succeed, and those who praise us harm our souls” (Fatherland of Bishop Ignatius). About the Fourth Beatitude 1. All the saints who pleased God did not consider themselves righteous “When I was still young,” one saint said about himself. old man, I thought to myself that maybe I was doing something good, but now that I’m old, I see that I don’t have a single good deed in me.” This is because,” he explained, “the closer a person becomes to the all-holy and perfect God, the more he recognizes himself as a sinner and unworthy to approach Him, which is why the prophet. Isaiah, having seen God, calls himself accursed and unclean. Therefore, the Savior Himself does not call the perfect righteous blessed, but only those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, that is, people strenuously striving for righteousness. And all the great ascetics, all the saints who pleased God, never considered themselves righteous people who had achieved complete perfection, but always saw themselves as sinners and therefore constantly strived for new and higher exploits, never stopping in them (according to Ancient Pat.). Princess Evdokia, having become a widow after the death of her husband, Grand Duke. Demetrius of Donskoy (in the 14th century), led an ascetic life: but this was known only to the Lord, and before people she appeared as a magnificent princess, wore rich clothes, adorned herself with pearls, and appeared everywhere with a cheerful face. Such a life for the widow princess gave rise to bad rumors. People always and everywhere love to judge others poorly. The bad rumor about the mother that reached the children offended them, and Yuri Dmitrievich could not hide his concern from his mother. The love for secret asceticism now came into conflict with the love for children. The princess mother decided to satisfy both of them as much as she could. She called the children to her prayer room, took off some of her clothes - the sons were frightened when they saw the thinness of her body, exhausted by fasting and worn out by chains. She asked the children not to reveal to others what they had learned, and advised them not to pay attention to people’s rumors about her (from the book “Russian Saints, Revered by the Whole Church or Locally,” Philaret, Archbishop of Chernigov, part II. St. Petersburg, 1882, p. 345). 3. When doing a good deed, do not be embarrassed by the thought that it is small “A wandering wanderer will see a small lamp in a hut - and will follow its light, and will find salvation in the hut from a cold night or an animal, and will calm down in safety, and will rejoice at the hospitality of strangers. And a modest good deed of a person, invisible in the world, if animated by a good and holy intention, is a deed of light, which acts in this capacity on those who see it, attracting them to goodness: and even, under the control of Providence, sometimes extends its effect to an immeasurable distance. Look at the widow indicated by the Knower of the Heart, who, out of an abundance of pious zeal, put the last two mites into the treasure of the church. What a small good deed! But before how many millions of people has it already been enlightened, and will continue to be enlightened in the Gospel, teaching some to do good in small ways, and others, both in small deeds and in small people, to highly value good feeling and holy thought” (from the sermon of Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow). 4. God counts all human labors in order to give His heavenly reward for them A certain old man, as it is related in fatherly legends, remained silent in the desert. His cell stood far from the water, several miles away. One day, while going to fetch water, the elder was tired and said to himself: “Why do I need to endure this labor? I will move and live near this water.” By such a movement the elder would have relieved himself, but he would have broken his silence and thus betrayed his monastic vow. When he was thinking about what to do, he looked back and saw someone following him and noticing his tracks. The elder asked him: “I am the Angel of the Lord,” he answered, “and was sent from God to count your steps, so that for each step you receive a reward.” The elder, having heard this, immediately strengthened in spirit and patiently endured the distance of his cell from the water (from the Fatherland by Bishop Ignatius, § 95) 5. No one should lose hope of correcting and preparing their soul for salvation The feat of saving the soul is difficult, but it is made easier by God’s help and our zeal, by the strength of which, working tirelessly, we will gradually achieve success that we did not expect. One monk was embarrassed by thoughts about the difficulty of salvation and could not continue his feat from despondency. He went to one holy elder and told him about his sorrow. The elder, after listening to his brother, told him the following parable: a certain man had land, which, due to neglect, turned into inconvenient land, overgrown with thistles and thorns; subsequently he found it necessary to cultivate it and said to his son: “Go, clear this field that belongs to us.” The son went. When he looked around the field, he saw that it was overgrown with many tares and thorns. Lost in spirit, he said to himself: “When will I eradicate all this rubbish and cleanse the earth?” With these words he lay down on the ground and went to sleep. He did this for many days. After this, the father came to see what had been done and saw that nothing had been done. To his question: why? the young man answered his father: “I came to work, but, seeing a lot of thistles and thorns, I refused to do the work, threw myself to the ground out of embarrassment and slept.” Then the father said to him: “Son! If you worked every day the same amount of land that you occupy while lying on it, your work would progress little by little.” Hearing this, the young man acted according to his father’s instructions; In a short time the field was cleared and cultivated. “So you too, brother,” the elder said as an instruction to the monk who came to him, “little by little, enter into the feat and do not lose heart, and God, by His grace, will raise you to your previous state.” Hearing this, the brother left and did as he was taught. Having found peace of mind, he prospered in the Lord (Fatherland, p. 495). 6. What is prohibited and subject to condemnation? – “From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy - this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:19, 20). – “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and you did not give Me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and they did not accept Me; I was naked, and they did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and they did not visit Me” (Matthew 25:41–43). - “Take heed... to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and lest that day come upon you suddenly” (Luke 21:34). - “And since they (the pagans) did not care to have God in their minds, God gave them over to a depraved mind - to do lewd things, so that they are filled with all untruth, fornication, wickedness, greed, malice, filled with envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, slanderers, slanderers, haters of God, offenders, self-praise, proud, inventive in evil, disobedient to their parents, foolish, treacherous, unloving, irreconcilable, unmerciful” (Rom. 1:28–31). – “Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not covet the things of others” (Rom. 13:9). - “Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor wicked people, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9, 10). - “I am afraid that... I will not find among you strife, envy, anger, quarrels, slander, gossip, pride, disorder” (2 Cor. 12:20). – “The works of the flesh are known; they are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, quarrels, envy, anger, strife, disagreements, (temptations,) heresies, hatred, murder, drunkenness, excesses and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19–21). - “Let us not be conceited, irritate each other, or envy each other” (Gal. 5:26). - “Let all bitterness and rage and anger and crying and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Eph. 4:31)! “Fornication and all uncleanness and covetousness should not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints. Likewise, foul language and idle talk and ridicule do not become you” (Eph. 5:3, 4). - “Mortify your members on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust and covetousness, which is idolatry, for which the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience... now you put aside everything: anger, rage, malice, slander, filthiness of your lips; do not tell lies to one another” (Col. 3:5, 6, 8, 9). “The law was not made for the righteous, but for the wicked and disobedient, the ungodly and sinners, the depraved and the defiled, for those who insult fathers and mothers, for murderers, for fornicators, homosexuals, slanderers, bestialists, predators of mankind, liars, perjurers, and for everything that is contrary to sound teaching according to the glorious gospel of the blessed one.” God, which has been entrusted to me” (1 Tim. 1:9–11). – “In the last times, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars, having their consciences seared, forbidding marriage and eating what God created to be eaten with thanksgiving by those who are faithful and know the truth” (1 Tim. 4:1-3). “Whoever teaches otherwise and does not follow the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching of piety is proud, knows nothing, but is infected with a passion for competitions and verbal disputes, from which envy, strife, slander, and crafty suspicions arise. Empty disputes between people of damaged minds, alien to the truth, who think that piety serves for profit. Keep away from such people” (1 Tim. 6:3–5). – “Know... that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfriendly, unforgiving, slanderers, intemperate, cruel, not loving goodness, traitors, insolent, pompous, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Avoid such people” (2 Tim. 3:1–5). “And we were once foolish, disobedient, lost, slaves of lusts and various pleasures, living in malice and envy, being vile, hating one another” (Titus 3:3). 7. What is approved and has the promise of blessing? – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:3–12). – “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you accepted Me; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:34–36). - “If you have a ministry, remain in service; if you are a teacher, in teaching; if you are an exhorter, exhort; if you are a dispenser, give in simplicity; if you are a ruler, be in charge with zeal; if you are a benefactor, do good with cordiality. Let love be unfeigned; turn away from evil, cling to what is good, be brotherly loving to one another with tenderness; respect one another предупреждайте; в усердии не ослабевайте; духом пламенейте; Господу служите; утешайтесь надеждою; в скорби будьте терпеливы, в молитве постоянны; в нуждах святых принимайте участие; ревнуйте о странноприимстве. Благословляйте гонителей ваших; благословляйте, а не проклинайте. Радуйтесь с радующимися и плачьте с плачущими. Будьте единомысленны между собою; не be arrogant, but follow the humble; do not repay evil for evil to anyone; but be at peace with all men, if possible. Do not avenge yourself, beloved, but give way to the wrath of God. For it is written: “Vengeance is mine,” says the Lord (Deut. 32:35). So, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink: for by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head (Prov. 25:21, 22). Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:7–21). “We do not cause anyone to stumble in anything, so that their service is not reproached, but in everything we show ourselves as servants of God, in great patience, in adversities, in needs, in difficult circumstances, under blows, in prisons, in exiles, in labors, in vigils, in fasting, in purity, in prudence, in generosity, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapon of righteousness in the right and left hand, in honor and dishonor, with blame and praise: we are considered deceivers, but we are faithful; we are unknown, but we are recognized; we are considered dead, but behold, we are alive; we are punished, but we do not die; we are saddened, but we always rejoice; We are poor, but we enrich many; We have nothing, but we possess everything” (2 Cor. 6:3–10). - “Brothers, rejoice, be improved, be comforted, be like-minded, be peaceful” (2 Cor. 13:11). - “The fruit... of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22). “I, a prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and meekness and long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, trying to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling... be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:1-4, 32). – “Imitate God, as beloved children, and live in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet savour” (Eph. 5:1, 2). - “Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if there is any joy of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if there is any mercy and compassion, then complete my joy: have the same thoughts, and have the same love, be of one accord and of the same mind” (Phil. 2:1-3). “Finally, my brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence or if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Think about what you have learned and heard and seen in me” (Phil. 4:8, 9). – “If you have been raised with Christ, then seek those things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God; Set your mind on things above, and not on earthly things. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God... Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Col. 3:1–3, 12). - “Admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil; but always seek the good of each other and everyone. Always be happy. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Don't quench the spirit. Do not disparage prophecies. Test everything, hold on to what is good” (1 Thess. 5:14–21). - “You... say what is in accordance with sound teaching: so that the elders are vigilant, sedate, chaste, sound in faith, in love... patience; so that the old women also dress decently for saints, are not slanderers, are not enslaved to drunkenness, and teach goodness; so that they admonish young people to love their husbands, to love their children, to be chaste, pure, caretakers of the home, kind, submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God is not reviled” (Tit. 2:1-5). - “Remind... to obey and submit to authorities and authorities, to be prepared to do every good work, to speak evil of no one, to not be quarrelsome, but quiet, and to show all gentleness to all people” (Titus 3:1, 2). – “Let brotherly love remain among you. Do not forget your love of hospitability, for through it, some, unknowingly, showed hospitality to Angels. Remember the prisoners, as if you were in bonds with them, and the suffering, as if you yourself were in the body. Let everyone's marriage be honest and the bed undefiled; But God judges fornicators and adulterers. Do not have a disposition that loves money, being content with what you have” (Heb. 13:1-5). (From the works of St. Vas. the Great in the new translation of Greek: Rules of a God-pleasing life). 8. Brief rules on how to save your soul 1. Repent and turn to the Lord, recognize your sins and mourn them with contrition of heart. 2. Abide in God with your mind and heart, and work with your body in performing your obligatory tasks. 3. Guard your heart from evil thoughts and feelings - pride, anger, condemnation, addiction, etc. 4. Sacrifice your whole life to God, and live no longer for yourself, but for God, doing what is pleasing to Him. 5. Humbly surrender yourself to the will of God, and with patience stand firmly in the order of saving life. 6. Let your support for this be your constant concern for acquiring living faith, hope and love. 7. The tools of such a life are prayer, fasting, vigil, solitude, work, frequent fasting, reading the word of God, etc. 8. Protect yourself with the fear of God: remember the last thing - death, judgment, hell, the Kingdom of Heaven. 9 . Above all, pay attention to yourself: keep your mind sober and your heart untroubled. 10. Acquire (that is, acquire) the spiritual fire of God’s grace, so that it burns the thorns of your passions and sins and plants the seeds of virtues in your heart. So arrange yourself, and by the grace of God you will be saved (from the Works of Justin, bishop of Ryaz. and Zaraisk, vol. IX). About the Fifth Beatitude 1. Blessedness of mercy: for these will be mercy What does a sinner need most? God's mercy, non-punishment for our sins, continuation of God's long-suffering towards us, the granting of more time for repentance, the very awakening of the soul to repentance, forgiveness of sins, and in the end - pardon at the Last Judgment of God. That is why the church, on our behalf, often says: Lord, have mercy! And so, if you have already recognized yourself as the greatest sinner, worthy of all condemnation and torment, if you have known the abomination and absurdity of sins, the immeasurable offense through them of the Lord God and the greatest responsibility for them; If you are hungry and thirsty for justification and God’s mercy, then try to show the mercy that is possible for you towards your neighbors: “Blessed are the mercy,” says the Lord, “for you will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7). For mercy to the brethren, you yourself will receive mercy from God; for temporary mercy - eternal mercy, for small mercy - infinitely great mercy; for you will not only receive pardon from eternal condemnation for sins at the judgment of God, but you will also receive eternal bliss. Anyone can conveniently show mercy to their neighbor: because mercy can be different, just as a person’s needs are different - spiritual and physical, how different is the position of people in society, their condition and title. The main works of bodily mercy are common to everyone, the following: 1) to feed the hungry, 2) to give to the thirsty, 3) to clothe the naked, or those who lack necessary and decent clothing, 4) to visit the one in prison, 5) to visit the sick, serve him and help his recovery, or Christian preparation for death, that is, call a priest for confession and communion with St. the mysteries of Christ, 6) to welcome the stranger into the house and calm him down, and 7) to bury the dead in poverty at his own expense, or with collected alms. All of these acts of mercy, except the last one, are mentioned by the Lord Himself when depicting His last terrible judgment. These are His words: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him; and will separate one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right hand, and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand: Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you accepted Me; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:31–36). From these words of the Lord you see how necessary and important—infinitely important—Christian charity is for us. It is necessary because without works of mercy it is impossible to inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world for those blessed by the heavenly Father, and “judgment without mercy to him who showed no mercy” (James 2:13); is infinitely important because the mercy shown to one’s neighbor is shown personally to Jesus Christ Himself, according to the testimony of Himself: “Since you have made one of these least of my brethren, you have created one for Me” (Matthew 25:40); for all people, especially Christians, are His lesser brethren, and Christians are also His members. The works of spiritual mercy are as follows: 1) to convert a sinner from error through exhortation, for example, an unbeliever, or a non-believer, a schismatic, or a drunkard, a fornicator, a spendthrift, etc.; 2) teach the ignorant truth and goodness, for example, teach someone who does not know how to pray to God to pray, teach someone who does not know God’s commandments the commandments and their fulfillment; 3) give good advice to your neighbor in a timely manner, for example, in a difficulty or in danger that he does not notice, in illness, in the event of someone’s malicious intent on whose life or well-being; 4) pray to God for everyone: “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16); 5) comfort the sad: “comfort the faint-hearted” (1 Sol. 5:14); 6) not to repay or take revenge for the evil that people have done to us, “not one who repays evil for evil” (Rom. 12:17); “or annoyance for annoyance” (1 Pet. 3:9); “Do not take revenge on yourself, beloved, but give place to anger” (Rom. 12:19), i.e. God's 7) forgive offenses from the heart, knowing and remembering that he who offends another first of all offends himself, bringing upon himself the great wrath of God; that he offends at the instigation of the enemy, that we deserve to be offended by our sins, and finally, that God himself forgives us our sins and insults caused to His greatness (extracted in abbreviation from the book “Complete Collection of Works,” Archpriest John Sergiev, vol. I, pp. 189–192). St. Apostle Thomas preached in India. One of the local kings wanted to have such a luxurious palace as the Roman Caesars had, and was looking for someone who could build him such a building. They told him that St. Thomas is a skilled builder and architect. The king calls the apostle, offers him this assignment, and when he does not refuse, gives him a lot of gold, and he himself goes to his other regions for a long time. But the Apostle Thomas distributed all the gold that he received from the king to the poor and needy. This was reported to the king. The king, returning, asked St. Apostle: “Ready,” answered the apostle, “only not on earth, but in heaven.” The king took these words as mockery and concluded with St. Thomas to prison. While in the following days the king was thinking of some kind of execution to torture the saint, at that time his brother’s brother became terribly ill and fell into a prolonged faint. In this state, his soul saw wonderful visions: a kind Angel carried her to heaven, and various chambers were shown to her there, but one of them was the most beautiful of all. When asked who owned such a wonderful palace, the guide said to the admiring soul: “The architect Thomas built this house for your brother.” And when the soul wished to stay in this house, the guide added: “If you do not spare your property and ask Thomas, he will build one for you too.” The vision is over. The patient came to his senses and told his brother everything he had seen and heard. The king was amazed by the vision of his brother and immediately freed the apostle, who taught both of them the faith of Christ and baptized them. They became merciful and charitable Christians. You see, what is the power of alms and good giving. With it we create a beautiful chamber for ourselves. Each of our alms is a good, good stone that we place here on earth, and it is invisibly transferred to heaven. Let us look for our treasure in heaven, where neither aphids, nor worms, nor fire, nor anything else will destroy it (according to “Ch.-M.” Oct. 6). 3. The best cure for diseases In Antioch there lived a nobleman named Archela. Once his face was covered with leprosy, it was a terrible disease, and he suffered from it for a long time. Despite all the efforts of the doctors, Archela could not be cured of leprosy. It was hard for the unfortunate man: his neighbors looked at him with disgust, his friends abandoned him, and he was forced to constantly hide from everyone. One of the patient’s closest friends, taking pity on his hopeless situation, finally suggested that he go to a neighboring monastery. “There is a monastery not far from us,” he said: a monk named John (St. Chrysostom) lives in it. I hear a lot of good things about him, and many Christians turn to him for help: let’s go to him and ask for his prayers.” Archela agreed, and both of them, coming to the monastery where the monk John lived, fell at his feet and asked for healing. In response to the requests of his friends, the monk said to the sick man: “From now on, make a vow to God to act from now on according to His commandments; then fill the hands of the poor with what you have, and finally believe that God is able to heal you.” The sick man answered: “What you command, I will do everything to the end, and if I took anything from anyone unjustly, I will give it back, just heal me, Reverend Father!” After this, the monk John ordered the brethren to wash the sick man with sacred water - and he became completely healthy (“V. Ch.” 1889, No. 28). 4. The work of mercy towards suffering neighbors is higher than fasting Rev. Dositheus, dying, was admonished by the kind words of his abbot: – Child, go in peace to the Lord, and pray for us at His throne! The brethren of the monastery in which Dosifei labored were tempted by this parting word from the abbot, for they knew that Dosifei was not distinguished by either fasting or prayer vigil, and was often late for all-night vigils, and sometimes did not come at all. The abbot learned about this temptation, and one day, at a general meeting of the brethren, he asked them the following questions: – When the ringing of bells calls me to the church of God, and I have a suffering brother in my care: what should I do then? Should I leave the sick man and rush to church, or should I stay in my cell and console my brother? “In this case, the Lord will accept helping a suffering brother as true worship.” – But when my strength weakens from fasting and I cannot, as I should, serve the suffering, should I strengthen myself with food in order to watch over the sick more vigilantly, or continue fasting, even though the sick have suffered through this? “Excessive fasting in this case would not be so pleasing to God as caring for the needs of a sick brother,” answered the monks. “You are reasoning correctly,” the abbot told them, “why do you condemn Dosifei, who, due to the duty assigned to him to care for the sick, did not always come to church services, did not always fast like others?” Meanwhile, you yourself witnessed how zealously, with what vigilance he served the sick; with what love he fulfilled their demands, often whimsical! and who among you can say that he has ever heard him grumble about work and fatigue! Such was the worship of Dositheos; and the Lord accepts him as His faithful and zealous admirer: for in the person of the suffering brethren he served the Lord himself (“Cheti-Minea” February 19). The Monk Hilarion the Great, accompanied by monks, went around the monasteries, visiting the brethren. One strange-loving monk had a vineyard, from which he annually received about a hundred measures of wine. He received St. with love and joy. Hilarion and asked the monks accompanying him to go into the vineyard and pick bunches of grapes as much as they wanted; (at this time the grapes are already ripe). The monks took advantage of the offer of their good brother. The monk, seeing such love and zeal of that brother, blessed his vineyard. The Lord rewarded the monk’s love of hospitability: that summer he collected more than three hundred measures of wine. Another stingy and cruel monk, seeing Hilarion passing by with his monks, assigned guards to his vineyard so that no one would take even one bunch of grapes. The watchman, throwing a stone at the passing monks, shouted: “Do not approach the vineyard - it is a stranger!” What happened? The stingy monk collected very few grapes and when he made wine from it, it was very sour (“Ch.-M.” October 21). 6. John the Merciful’s answer to the question about giving alms One of the housekeepers asked John the Merciful: “Should we respect the requests of people whose clothes do not show poverty?” The man of God answered: “If you are a servant of Christ, then give alms as Christ commanded, regardless of the faces of those demanding. Are there not enough money lovers dressed in tattered rags? and how many are there poor, worthy of every pity, neatly dressed? There are thousands of cases where someone who, although yesterday could cope with need without the help of others, today involuntarily demands assistance. Take special care of orphaned girls: nature itself forces them to dress as neatly as possible. Take note of this and do not become too wise” (from the life of St. John the Merciful). 7. A remarkable incident from the life of St. Grigory Dvoeslov St. Gregory the Dialogue, Pope of Rome, was extremely merciful to the poor and unfortunate. He distributed allowances to them on the first day of each month; He often visited the sick and treated the poor and wretched at his place, serving them himself with the greatest humility. Once, it is told in his biography, when he was still a monk in the monastery of St. Andrew the First-Called, a man appeared to him, who with tears told him that he was the owner of the ship, but in a storm he lost his ship and all his and other people’s luggage that was on it. Gregory, after listening to him, gave him six gold coins. An hour later he came again: “Have mercy on me, servant of God,” he said, “you gave me little, but I lost a lot.” Gregory gave him six more gold coins; but the same man came a third time, saying: “I have a lot of debt; help me." Gregory had no more money, but gave the unfortunate man a silver dish. A few years after this, St. Gregory, who was already a pope, once ordered dinner to be prepared at his place for twelve poor wanderers. To his surprise, he saw that not twelve, but thirteen people were sitting at the table. He told the steward about this; but he insisted that only twelve people were dining; the thirteenth was invisible to everyone except St. Gregory. After lunch St. Grigory, having dismissed everyone, went up to the one he saw and asked his name. - Why are you asking about my name? - he answered: - it’s wonderful! Gregory insisted and learned that it was his Guardian Angel, who once, in the form of a beggar, experienced his mercy and since then has been with him inseparably, protecting his life. St. Gregory fell to his knees and thanked the Lord. Saint Gregory ruled the Roman Church for 13 and a half years and died in 604. He is known in history under the name of St. Gregory the Great. His memory is celebrated in the church on March 12 (“Ch.-M.” March 12; sn. “V. Thu.” 1889 No. 11). 8. A story about how to give alms in a saving way In an African country there was a publican named Peter; he never showed mercy to the poor, did not go to church, did not fear God and was not ashamed of people. The good Lover of mankind, not desiring the death of a sinner, but caring for the salvation of all, worked with Peter according to His goodness and saved him in this way. At one time, the poor and wretched were sitting on the street, praising the houses of the merciful, and reproaching the unmerciful. Peter's speech touched upon him, and everyone unanimously testified that no one had ever received alms from him. Then one poor man said: “What will you give me, and I will certainly ask him for alms?” They made a deposit, and the poor man went to the gates of Peter. When the publican came out of the gate, carrying the loaves, the poor man began to ask him for alms. The publican, wanting to get rid of the beggar, threw bread at him, with which the poor man came to his brethren. Two days after this, Peter became very ill and was close to death. And behold, he sees a vision: he is being tortured at the judgment seat and his deeds are being put on the scales; On one pan of the scales the demons put all the bad deeds of Peter, and on the other the bright men put only the bread that the wretched man forcibly received from him, and yet the bowl of bread overtook. Then the bright men said to Peter: if small alms help a lot, then how saving will great alms be. - From that time on, Peter became “greatly merciful, as if he did not want to spare himself.” One day a beggar asked Peter to give him clothes; Peter gave away his rich clothes, which the beggar sold to the merchant. Peter, accidentally seeing his clothes at the market, was greatly saddened, saying: “God did not accept my alms and I was not worthy for the poor to have my memory (clothes). But in a dream a certain man appeared to him, dressed in these clothes, and said: “Christ wears the clothes given to the beggar.” Peter, getting up from sleep, said: “If the poor are Christ’s; The Lord lives! and I will not die until I am one of them.” After that, he distributed all his property to the poor and freed the slaves, leaving only one. Peter once said to this servant, under the condition of secrecy: “Let us go to St. hail and sell me there to one of the Christians, and give the money to the poor.” The slave, no matter how much he resisted, was convinced by his master, and sold his master to a certain Zoilus, and thus Peter the Publican sold himself into slavery for Christ’s sake. Zoilus rejoiced at Peter, for through him his economy improved; he wanted to free Peter from slavery and live with him as with a brother, but Peter did not agree. One day, guests from Peter’s homeland arrived at Zoilus and, recognizing the latter, revealed to the owner who he was. Peter then ran away from home, and they searched for him in vain. Then they created great lamentation for him and glorified God, who has many hidden servants. Peter, fleeing human glory, hid in unknown places, even before his blessed repose to the Lord. Learn, Christian, from the life of this saint, how to give alms in a saving way. People do not bless the unmerciful, and in heaven the Lord rightly condemns him. Your alms, as you see, go to Christ himself, and every poor person to whom you give represents Christ. When you give to a beggar, you are giving to the Lord Himself. That is why the Lord rewards the merciful in this way, calling to them: “Blesseds of mercy: for they will have mercy” (according to “Ch.-M.”, September 22). About seventy years ago there lived in St. Petersburg a kind and pious nobleman. Unfortunately, he had the misfortune of falling into disgrace with the sovereign: some kind of slander was brought against him before the sovereign, he was put on trial, and the case threatened him with prison. The unfortunate nobleman fell ill and went to bed out of grief. At this time, a strict ascetic of the Valaam Monastery, Father Nazarius, arrived in St. Petersburg. He knew the unfortunate nobleman and came to console him in his grief. The nobleman’s wife greeted Nazariy with the words: “Pray, father, that my husband’s case will have a good outcome.” “Okay,” the elder answered her, “of course, we must pray to the Lord; but it is necessary to ask for the petition of those close to the sovereign; give me some money, I'll ask for it for you myself. “No,” he said, “that doesn’t suit me: are there any copper or small silver?” They served both. Father Nazarius took the money and left. Late in the evening he comes again to the nobleman and calmly says: “All the king’s entourage promised to intercede for you; calm down and wait for good news. So what? While the elder was still sitting at the patient’s bedside, news of the successful completion of the matter was received. The good news had a beneficial effect on the patient. He began to thank the elder and asked him to reveal to him which of the sovereign’s associates took part in him more than others. It was only then discovered that Fr. Nazariy did not visit anyone close to the sovereign and did not ask anyone. Instead, he walked the streets of the city all day and distributed to the poor the money he had taken from the nobleman. “So, thank the Lord,” the elder said in conclusion: “He, the merciful one, heeded the prayers of the poor and put it in the heart of the good sovereign to reconsider your case once again; Yes, do not forget His nobles, your benefactors, the poor and the wretched: they can do much with the Lord God! (according to Trinity leaf.). 10. Gratitude for alms One day Abba Arseny fell ill in the monastery, and he didn’t even have a shirt to change. Not having anything to buy it with, he accepted alms from someone and said: “I thank You, Lord, that I have been worthy to accept alms in Your name!” (from “Venerable. Said about the sub-Saint and Blessed Fathers”). In those days when St. Basil the Great ruled the Caesarea flock with glory; one presbyter named Anastasius lived near Caesarea. He was a virtuous, temperate, meek man, especially merciful to the poor and charitable. His wife, Theognia, was a worthy friend of her virtuous husband; They lived for fourteen years in love and harmony, not as husband and wife, but as brother and sister. Having no children, they gave all their worries, all their love to the poor, beggars, wretched and strange; That is why the grace of God rested most abundantly on the holy spouses. One day St. Basil the Great said to his clergy: “My children, come with me, and we will see the glory of God.” Having said this, the great saint, surrounded by clergy, left the city without telling anyone where he wanted to go. But the pious Anastasius, by the power of the Holy Spirit, learned that St. the archpastor wants to visit his house, and said to his wife-sister: “I’m going to work in the field: you, my sister, clean up our home, and at the ninth hour, taking a censer and a lit candle, go out to meet Saint Basil the Archbishop, who is coming to visit us sinners.” Pious Theognia was surprised at the wonderful words of her husband, but unquestioningly fulfilled everything ordered to her. At nine o'clock she left the house and met St. with great honor. archpastor. St. Basil, having blessed her, asked: Hearing her name, the virtuous wife was surprised and answered: - Hello, Saint of God, your servant. - Where is Anastasy, your brother? – the saint asked her again. “Vladyka,” she answered, “he is my husband, and now he works in the field; but I will now go and call him. “Don’t bother,” said St. Vasily, now your brother is at home... When everyone approached the presbyter’s house, they were met by Anastasius himself. Having bowed to St. archpastor, he kissed him and, leading him into his house, washed his feet. Then everyone went to church, and St. Vasily ordered Anastasius to perform the divine liturgy. In vain the humble presbyter refused, granting this honor to the distinguished guest - the saint reminded him of the sanctity of obedience - and Anastasius began to perform a bloodless sacrifice. And so, when he stood before St. throne, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a fiery cloud, overshadowing the clergyman and the entire altar, so that all those present were horrified. Having communed with St. Tain, everyone again went to the presbyter’s house, where the hospitable host offered his guests a modest dinner. During lunch St. Basil the Great turned to Anastasius and asked: - Tell me, my brother, what property do you have, and how do you live? Tell everything frankly. “Saint of God,” the presbyter answered then, “I am a sinful man; I have two pairs of oxen, and on one I plow my own field, and on the other my worker. The income from one pair goes to our maintenance, and from the other - to alms to the poor; My wife helps me with my work... “Call her sister,” the perspicacious saint then interrupted his speech, “and tell me about your other good deeds.” “Holy Lord,” was Anastasia’s humble answer, “I am a sinful man and I don’t know any virtue in myself.” Then St. Vasily told him: - Get up, come with me. They got up from the table, and the saint, leading the owner to a locked door into one room, said: “Saint of Christ,” answered Anastasius, “please do not enter here, for here lies my property.” “That’s why I came, to see your estate,” said St. the archpastor and ordered the doors to open. Immediately the doors opened by themselves, and the saint, entering the room, saw here an incurable patient lying on a bed, whom the owner and his pious wife were caring for in secret from everyone. “Why,” Vasily the Great then turned to Anastasius, “did you want to hide your wealth from me?” “My father and lord,” the embarrassed presbyter justified himself, “forgive me, but this sufferer is very irritable and grumpy, and I was afraid that he would offend you.” Then St. the archpastor praised Anastasius’s mercy and said: “Leave me in this room tonight, for I also want to share your reward with you.” Everyone went out and closed the doors, leaving the saint alone with the sick man. The sufferer lay as if dead from severe torment. But the great miracle worker turned for help to the heavenly Physician of souls and bodies and prayed to the Lord all night. The next morning he went to the sick man’s bed and said a prayer over him. And immediately he stood up, relaxed and healthy, and exclaimed: – Glory to Thee, O God, who doeth the will of those who fear Thee! This exclamation was heard by Anastasius and his other guests, and when they approached the sick man’s room, the great wonderworker Vasily came out of it, leading the healed man by the hands, who glorified God and Saint Basil and his merciful host, Presbyter Anastasius (“Russian pilgrimage” No. 25, 1887). “Let not your fool know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3), says the Lord in St. Gospels. This gracious word of Christ has sunk deeply into the heart of our Russian people, and it is touching to see or hear how sometimes the love of a Russian person is expressed precisely in secret alms... This is what one traveler says in the Nizhny Novgorod Diocesan Gazette. “I stopped to spend the night in a small, poor village; the huts were small, stuffy, the courtyards were almost open. I chose to stay the night in the cart in which I was traveling. Soon the evening came - quiet, warm, real July. At first, many people were passing along the street, returning from field work; then little by little everything became quiet, the lights in the houses went out and all talking ceased. The inhabitants, tired from the day's work, seemed to be fast asleep. But then, amid the ensuing silence, a gate creaked in one courtyard, and a woman came out, carrying something under the hem of her caftan. She hurriedly walked down the street, went up to the house that was opposite my cart on the other side, knocked hard on the window of this house, put something on the rubble under the window and hurriedly went home. A boy of about ten came out when he knocked; it was noticeable that he was not at all surprised by the untimely knock on the window and was not even curious to look: who was knocking and where did the knocker go? Approaching the rubble, the boy took what the woman had put there and calmly returned home. Less than five minutes later, another woman appeared from another hut, who, like the first, carefully approached the mentioned house, also put something on the rubble and, knocking on the window, quickly left. The boy came out again, took what he had brought and left. Meanwhile, someone else approached the house from the other side of the street, also knocked on the window, put something on the very windowsill and left... Tired of the road and enveloped in the cool of the night, I soon fell asleep and I don’t know whether the mysterious wanderings to the mentioned house continued. And when I woke up, the sun was already high, my driver harnessed the horses and we soon set off. Then I asked the coachman: who lives in that house to which the inhabitants approached at night? and what does this night walking mean? And the coachman explained to me that an old widow lived here with her orphan grandchildren, but now, I hear, she fell seriously ill; That means they gave her secret alms: cottonmouth, for example, or milk, or beef, and some even brought clothes from her. “This is our custom,” the driver explained: “they try to give secret alms to orphans, the sick and the poor, so that neither other people, nor the poor themselves who receive alms, know who is doing it... Tomorrow is the feast of the Smolensk Mother of God: so the good people remembered the old woman Ivanovna for the holiday: otherwise how could she, a sick old woman, feed herself with little orphans without someone else's help?..” Good, holy, truly evangelical custom! And God grant that there be more such customs in our holy Russia! There lived a rich man. He helped the poor and was loved very much. In his room there was a large iron piggy bank nailed to the wall, and above it was written in gold letters: “God’s piggy bank.” When the Lord sent some joy to the rich man: christening, angel day or something else, then the wife would say to him: “God has given us plenty of everything, invite a full house of guests, let people rejoice with us.” - How many people should you invite? - he asks his wife. “Well, at least forty people,” answered the wife. The rich man would think and say: “You know, my dear, there are a lot of poor people now, many have children crying from hunger and not sleeping: so wouldn’t it be better to invite twenty people to us, and I’ll put what would go towards wine and food for the other twenty into God’s piggy bank?” That's what he usually did. A good person would read or hear about some misfortune: a fire, a flood, a hailstorm, and he would immediately say to himself: “God, you saved me from such a misfortune!” and again throws the thanksgiving sacrifice into the piggy bank. It used to be that a merchant would come to a rich man with goods. The rich man looks at this other product and goes for the money. Suddenly he accidentally looks at the piggy bank and says to himself: “Wait, what do you need so much for? You can get by with half.” And he will take half as much as anything; and what had to be paid for the other half will be thrown into God's piggy bank. Day after day, year after year - in the old age of the rich man, a huge amount of money accumulated in God's piggy bank. Before his death, he called the old people of the village where he lived to him and told them: “Without taking a penny from my children, I collected a lot of goods for the cause of God; I walked less, scattered less than I could; what I intended to let through my own or my friends’ throats, and what I wanted to spend on a whim, you will find in this God’s piggy bank.” Opening the piggy bank, the old people found a huge amount in it and shed tears of joy. When the rich man gave his soul to God, people called him their benefactor. The memory of this good man will never disappear in his homeland: the orphanage for children, the school, the hospital and the new stone church (from “Science” by Archpriest Naumovich) that have come from God’s treasure will forever remind posterity of him. 14. St. Philaret the Merciful St. Philaret belonged to a rich and noble family. From an early age, his parents instilled in him the love of God, and he lived in such contentment and happiness that rarely befall people. But Filaret remembered his duties. “God didn’t give me wealth,” he says, “so that I could use it alone, but so that I could share it with the poor.” And indeed, Filaret shared the latter with the poor not only when he was rich, but even when he became poor. Helping the poor, Filaret himself reached such poverty that he began to need daily food for himself and his family. Sometimes neighbors, out of regret, sent him bread or flour, but even here the merciful Philaret shared his share with the poor. God was pleased to again endow the kind and meek Philaret with wealth: his granddaughter became the wife of the king himself; Philaret was honored and given rich estates. But Filaret still remained merciful, meek and humble, rejoicing that he had the opportunity to help the poor more (according to “Ch.-M.”). 15. Mercy of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, under whom Rus' was enlightened with the light of the Christian faith, was a model of Christian charity in ancient Rus'. Having given tithes for the maintenance of the church, he at the same time commanded that the cripples, the beggars, and strangers should be kept at the churches, that there should be almshouses and hospitals. Such institutions were in the Church of Christ from the first times, and Vladimir wanted the Russian Church to be an imitator of the primal church. In his house on holidays, he organized dinners for clergy, boyars and the poor; on especially solemn days, such as during the consecration of churches, he distributed a lot of money to the poor; the poor and wretched could freely come to the prince's court and take for themselves everything they needed, food and drink. Not only that. The weak and sick,” he said, “cannot reach my court, and he ordered to arrange special carts, put bread, meat and other supplies in them, and distribute them to those who could not come to the prince’s court themselves. So he did charity not only in Kyiv alone, but also in all other cities. Another work of Vladimir’s mercy: during the times of paganism, both here and everywhere, there was severe slavery. In paganism, people were usually taken in war, the strong and rich enslaved the weak and poor, and then sold them for money to whoever needed it. Vladimir not only did not allow this, but he himself ransomed the prisoners and released them (according to “Ch.-M.”). 16. St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker, as a great example of Christian mercy towards prisoners in prison “I was in prison... and visited Me” (Matthew 25:36) - this word penetrated deeply into the soul of the saint. Anastasia. Cheerful, bright, delighted with the joy that she gave to others, she walked around the prisons every day, and everywhere she was greeted as an angel of God. But the grace of this consolation did not last long with her: her husband was indignant at her and, fearing that she would waste all her wealth on prisoners, began to keep her locked up, placing guards over her. She reached despair and wrote to her former teacher: “Pray to God for me, for whose love I suffer to the point of exhaustion”... The elder answered her: “Do not forget that Christ walking on the waters is able to calm every storm: “He, having risen, rebuked the wind and the disturbance of the waters: and there was calm, and there was silence” ... (Luke 8:24). You now stand as if among the waves of the sea, patiently wait for Christ - He will come to you... Light is always preceded by darkness; life is promised after death; The end is coming for earthly sorrow, as well as for earthly joy. Blessed by God is he who trusts in Him.” Soon St. Anastasia became a widow and was given the freedom to give all her wealth and her whole life to the ministry that she loved so much. Now she was no longer limited to the dungeons of Rome alone, she moved from city to city, from country to country - she delivered food and clothing to prisoners, washed their wounds, bribed hospital guards with big money so that they freed the sufferers from the iron shackles that were rubbing their wounds. For these deeds, she was given the name Pattern Maker. How many her love brought comfort, how many she gave strength to endure to the end! Working day and night, she completely forgot that she herself could be subject to persecution: one day, having come to the prison to the prisoners whom she had served the day before, she did not find them in place, since at night they had all been executed in order to make room in the prison for many other newly captured Christians. “She cried bitterly and asked everyone through her tears: “Where are my fellow prisoners?” Concluding from this that she was also a Christian, she was taken and presented to the ruler for trial: she was crucified between four pillars and a fire was lit to burn her, but before the flame flared up, she died in the midst of torment (from the book: “History of the Orthodox Church,” new corrected edition by K.P. Pobedonostsev, pp. 62–64). 17. He who gives to the poor gives to Christ In Constantinople there lived a poor man; He was constantly followed along the streets by many poor people; he gave alms to everyone, but in order to hide it from people, he pretended to drive them away and push them away. One day one of his friends asked him why he was so merciful, and heard the following story: “I was 10 years old when I happened to enter church and hear a sermon from a priest in which he said that whoever gives to a beggar is giving into the hands of Christ Himself. I didn’t believe it and went home, thinking: “I know that Christ is in heaven, at the right hand of God the Father: how will He accept what is given to the poor on earth?” On the way I saw a beggar in rags, and above his head was the face of the Savior; some kind person meets him and serves him bread; but, at that moment as he extended his hand to give bread, the image of the Savior extended His hands to him and, accepting the bread, gave him a blessing. Seeing this, I believed that he who gives to the poor gives to Christ Himself. And to this day I see the same face of the Savior over the heads of the poor, and with trepidation and love I hasten to give as best I can” (from the Prologue). 18. An example of zeal in the spiritual edification of neighbors “One old man, laborious in physical deeds, but not skilled in thoughts, came to Abba John for edification. After listening to his instructions, he returned to his cell and forgot what Abba John had told him. Again he went to ask him and, having heard the same thing, went back, but when he reached his cell, he forgot again. Thus, he came to Abba John many times, and on the way back he was overcome by forgetfulness. After this, meeting with the elder, he said: - Do you know, Abba! I again forgot what you said, but so as not to bother you, I no longer came to you! Then Abba John says to him: He lit it. Abba also said to him: - Bring other candles and light this one. He did so. Then John asked the elder: – Did the light of the first candle diminish because many candles were lit with it? - So John will not fade away; even if the whole Skete came to me, it would not alienate me from the grace of Christ. Therefore, come to me whenever you want, without any doubt. And for the patience of both, God freed the old man from forgetfulness. Such were the deeds of those who lived in the monastery: they encouraged those who were tempted and made themselves compulsory in order to mutually improve others in goodness” (from the “Honored Legends of the Sublime Saints and Blessed Fathers” § 6). 19. Saying the word of God about almsgiving - “The blessings of mercy: for these will be mercy” (Matthew 5:7). - “Judgment... without mercy to him who has shown no mercy” (James 2:13). - “Who... has the riches of this world, and sees his brother demanding, and closes his womb (heart) from him, how much of the love of God abides in him?” (1 John 3:17). - “Blessed is he who considers the poor and the wretched; in the day of cruelty the Lord will deliver him” (Ps. 40:2). – “Alms cleanses sins” (Sir. 3:30) and “delivers from death” (Tov. 12:9). - “The poor who have mercy give back to God” (Proverbs 19:17). - “Don’t say: when you go away, come back, and I’ll give you back in the morning” (Proverbs 3:28). - “Do not offend hungry souls and do not anger a husband in poverty” (Sir. 4:2). – “Do not forget about charity... and fellowship: for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb. 13:16). About the Sixth Beatitude 1. Blessed are those who are pure in heart: for they will see God In this commandment, the Lord, pleasing the pure in heart, inspires in all of us to strive to acquire a purity of heart, which is the container of life, as the scripture says: “Guard your heart with all care: from these comes life” (Prov. 4:23), and on which our joys and sorrows, contentment and discontent depend. Are there any who live on earth who are pure in heart? In the New Testament, in the kingdom of grace, of course, there are pure-hearted people, known to the Lord, as it is said: “The Lord knows Him who is” (2 Tim. 2:19), and sometimes appears to people, such as the holy saints of God, glorified by God during their lifetime with the gifts of insight and miracles, and all are gentle and humble in heart. If the Lord pleases the pure in heart, then, without a doubt, there really are such; but purity of heart in people is very, very rare, like pure gold is rare, like precious stones are rare; are rare now, but they were even rarer in the Old Testament, when the people of Israel lived under the law, and not under grace, and when the majority of people were mired in idolatry. All people are conceived and born in lawlessness; only the grace of God takes away these iniquities and makes some worthy ones his chosen vessels, purifying their hearts and souls. “Behold, I will touch your lips, and He will take away your iniquity and cleanse your sins” (Isa. 6:7), - said the fiery Seraphim to Isaiah, chosen as a prophet, touching his lips with a burning coal, - and through this touch the sinful impurity of the man of God was taken away. “Oh, that the pure would come from the unclean,” exclaims the long-suffering Job, and continues: “not one!” (Job 14:4). Where does this general sinful impurity in people come from, when they are created in the image and likeness of God, and God is most pure and holy? From the devil, who is most often called in scripture an unclean spirit, and in church prayers, precisely when an evil spirit is conjured, an alien, foul and disgusting spirit. It was he, this unclean spirit, having become, after his fall from God, an unclean vessel of all the uncleanness of sin, from the beginning with his unclean breath the hearts of the first people were desecrated and, having deeply infected their entire being, soul and body, with the uncleanness of sin, he transmits this uncleanness, like hereditary corruption, to all their descendants, even before us, and will defile, especially the careless and unbelieving, until the end peace, as St. Angel St. to the Apostle John in the Apocalypse: “The time is near. Let the unrighteous still do injustice; let the unclean one be still defiled; let the righteous still do righteousness, and let the holy one still be sanctified. Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his deeds” (Apoc. 22:10–12). To cleanse the heart, great labors and sorrows, frequent tears, and unceasing inner prayer are needed; abstinence, reading the word of God, the scriptures and lives of the holy saints of God, but the main thing is frequent repentance and communion of the most pure mysteries (from the book “Complete collection of works” by Archpriest John Sergius, vol. I, pp. 203–206). 2. Those who are pure in heart will see God “Those who are pure in heart... will see God” (Matthew 5:8). God is the all-seeing Eye, like an intelligent Sun, standing above the world, penetrating with His intelligent eyes into the thoughts and hearts of people, illuminating every creature. Our soul is eye from Eye, sight from sight, light from Light. But now, after the Fall, illnesses on our eye-soul are sins. Take off the thorn - and you will see the mental Sun, the infinite Eye, which is so much darker than the material sun” (from the book: “My Life in Christ”, Archpriest John Sergiev of Kronstadt, vol. VI, 1st ed. 1892, p. 4). The heart is the spiritual eye with which we contemplate what is invisible to sensory eyes and incomprehensible to the mind. To the extent that the heart is pure, it is capable of spiritual contemplation. A certain Autolycus, an educated pagan, asks one of the saints. husbands (Theophilus Bishop of Antioch): “Show me your God.” Theophilus answered him beautifully: “Show me your man - and I will show you my God.” Show that the eyes of your soul know how to see and the ears of your heart know how to hear - for just as the bodily eyes of sighted people see the objects of this earthly life, just as the ears distinguish sounds: so exactly there are ears of the heart and eyes of the soul to see God (To Autolycus 1, 2). 4. Thoughts on Christian purity of heart 1. “What is a pure heart? Meek, humble, unguileful, simple, trusting, undeceitful, unsuspicious, kindly, kind, unselfish, unenvious, non-adulterous” (from the book “My Life in Christ”, St. John Sergius, ed. I, vol. I, p. 81). 2. “Christians especially need to have a pure heart, because with the eyes of the heart we need to see God as He is - with His love for us and with all His perfections, the beauty of the Angels, all the glory of the Lady, the beauty of Her soul and Her greatness as the Mother of God, the beauty of the souls of the saints of God and their love for us; you need to see them as they are in themselves, you need to see the truths of the Christian faith with all its sacraments and feel their greatness; you need to mature the state of your souls, especially your sins. An unclean heart, that is, occupied with an addiction to earthly things, nourishing carnal lusts, desires and worldly pride, cannot see anything that we have indicated” (from the same place, p. 29). 5. Stories about saints who kept their hearts pure 1. The highest and unattainable image of purity of heart for man is represented by the God-man Jesus Christ. The Holy Apostle Peter says about Him that He “committed no sin, lest flattery be found in His mouth” (1 Pet. 2:22 – words from Is. 53:9). I. Christ is the only example on earth of perfect purity of heart. This example is completely unattainable for anyone. Even St. Ascetics and saints of God did not achieve perfect purity of heart. 2. Among all earthly beings, one immaculate and most pure Mother of God came closest to true and perfect purity of heart. She is, par excellence, an image and example of purity of heart; She is primarily the patroness of maidens and virgins, a quick helper of pure souls; St. turns to Her with such prayer on behalf of the believers. church: once a pure dwelling of God, pure, praying with the disembodied, so that I might complete my life’s path more pure. (Can. Arkh. and English. verse. God.). 3. John the Baptist, a wonderful desert dweller and preacher of repentance, a strict virgin, a great fighter and martyr for truth, serves as an example of purity of heart. 4. All St. Ascetics of piety strove to achieve purity of heart and, to the best of their strength and ability, achieved it. So, oh Rev. The Silouans say that he never allowed thoughts into his heart that would anger God (“The Most Valuable Tale of the Sublime Saint and Blessed Father,” p. 311). 5. They also talk about Rev. Isidore, that during the forty years of his exploits, feeling sinful thoughts, he never indulged in either desires or anger (ibid. p. 108). 6. Rev. Isaac the Syrian sets St. Sisoya. He completely renounced worldly desires and thoughts and, having returned to his original simplicity, became like a baby, only without the shortcomings of an infant. Rev. Sisoi even asked his disciple: “Have I eaten or not?” But, being a baby to the world, he was a perfect soul to God (St. Isaac the Syrian, “Words of Subjects,” p. 142). How rarely and how difficult it is to achieve purity of heart and the Holy Spirit. ascetics, show the words of St. Pimen, who said: “Many of our fathers were strong in exploits; but strong in purity of thoughts - one or two” (“The Valuable Tale of the Sublime Saint and Blessed Father,” p. 252). 7. St. torment. Justina can also serve as an example of the purity of the heart, of this inner “man.” There was a sorcerer Cyprian in Antioch. One young man asked him to win over Justina, a beautiful Christian woman, whom he wanted to take as his wife, but she did not even want to look at him. Cyprian sent demons in his service to her several times, so that they would stir up her love for the young man in their own way; but they approached her dwelling, but could not go inside and, turning back, said that from there - from inside - the light reflected and scorched them; for that Justina, like some kind of cloud, is clothed with light, and we were not able to look at her 79 . This is the best example of how bright a soul can be when it is a Christian, pure in its conscience and devoted to the Lord. With a clear conscience, the fear of God fills the soul and keeps it inviolable. Then the Lord, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, visits that soul, and it all becomes light and shines like a star (see op. Bishop Theophan “What is spiritual life?” p. 55). (Prot. Gr. D-ko). 6. Means for acquiring purity of heart We have sure means through which we can cleanse ourselves and our hearts from all sinful filth. What are these means? 1. This is a reverent invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. “In My name the demons will be destroyed” (Mark 16:17), said the Savior Himself. In the name of Jesus Christ, mental demons, sinful thoughts, and evil lusts are driven out of the heart. That's why St. the church forces us to constantly cry out to the Savior: Jesus, cleanse my mind from vain thoughts; Jesus, keep my heart from the lusts of the evil ones (Acath. to Jesus, ikos XI). Many observations show that frequent invocation with faith and reverence of the sweetest name of Jesus Christ in the so-called “Jesus Prayer” can not only expel all unclean movements from the heart of a Christian, but also fill it with high bliss, heavenly joy and peace. Thus, they say about one eight-year-old boy that he was forced to often repeat the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” At first he did not like it, and he avoided prayer in every possible way; but then little by little he became quiet and silent, and finally he became so accustomed to prayer that, without any compulsion, he always did it and in every case. When they asked him: “Why did he love prayer so much?” - he answered in simplicity of heart: – When I say a prayer, I feel very good! “I don’t know how to say it,” he answered, “I’m having a lot of fun!” Fun, good, - the blessed youth could not say anything more about the gracious consolation that his pure childish soul experienced! But even the wisest husband could not have said anything better in his place. It’s fun, it’s good: after all, didn’t the apostles say the same thing on Tabor: “It is good for us to be here, Lord” (Matthew 17:4). 2. The second means to cleanse the heart is fervent prayer. “The heart is contrite... God will not despise” (Ps. 50:19), says one of those who cleansed his heart. Holy prayer warms the heart, arouses reverent tenderness and attracts grace that cleanses and sanctifies the heart. So is St. The church teaches us to cleanse our hearts with warm and tender prayer, when it commands us to cry out to the Savior: grant me tears, O Christ, drops that cleanse the filth of my heart. (Sequel to Holy Communion, hymn 3). When impure desires and sinful thoughts invade our hearts, St. fathers, our experienced mentors in piety. Rev. One brother asked Abba Moses: “What should a person do when temptation or a hostile thought attacks him?” The elder answered him: “Then a person must with tears beg the goodness of God for help; and he will soon calm down if he asks wisely, for the Scripture says: “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear: what can man do to me?” (Ps. 118:6) (Ven. Tale of the sub. of the Holy Fathers. p. 160, § 16). And Rev. Pimen the Great gives the following advice on how to deal with tempting thoughts that harm keeping the heart pure: “This matter is similar,” he says, “as if a person had fire in his left hand; he takes water from the bowl and puts out the fire. Fire is the enemy’s suggestions, and water is fervent prayer before God” (ibid., p. 218, § 146). 3. Further, constant observation of the heart and abstaining from evil lusts and passions. “Son,” says divine wisdom, teaching the laws of spiritual life, “son, guard your heart with all care” (Proverbs 4:23), that is, see and try that your heart is guarded from sin and kept in innocence and purity the way it came out of the baptismal font. Here are some pieces of advice from ascetics who are experienced in guarding their hearts from all sinful filth: “When a pot is heated from below by fire,” says Abba Pimen, “neither a fly nor any other insect or reptile can touch it; when he has a cold, they sit on him: the same thing happens to a person: as long as he remains in spiritual activity, the enemy cannot hit him” (Ven. Tale about the ancient Holy Fathers, p. 212, § 111). It is from inattention to maintaining purity in the heart that a person’s moral decline mainly occurs. One of the ascetics (Abba Orsisius) depicts the disastrous consequences of such inattention in this way. “I think,” he says, “that if a person does not carefully guard his heart, then everything he hears is forgotten and remains neglected, and thus the enemy, having found a place for himself in him, overthrows him. When they prepare and light the lamp, then, if they do not add oil to it, little by little its light will weaken, and it will finally go out completely. In addition, it sometimes happens that a mouse walks around it and tries to eat the lamp, but until the oil goes out, it cannot do this; if he sees that the lamp has not only gone out, but has already grown cold, then, wanting to carry away the lamp, he knocks down the lamp too. If the lamp is made of clay, it breaks; if it is copper, then the owner installs it as before. The same thing happens with a careless soul: little by little the Holy Spirit moves away from it, until it completely loses its ardor, and then the enemy destroys the soul’s disposition towards good and defiles the body itself with evil. However, if a person has not completely become impoverished in love for God and has reached the point of negligence only out of weakness, then the merciful God, sending His fear and remembrance of torment into his soul, encourages him to be vigilant over himself and watch over himself with great caution, until His visitation” (Dost. Tale, p. 182, § 2). 4. Physical labor, weakening the attack on the soul by unclean thoughts (voluptuous, angry, etc.), contributes to a high degree to keeping the heart pure. They once asked Abba Agathon: what is more important - physical labor or guarding the heart? To this the elder replied: “Man is like a tree; bodily labor is leaves, and keeping the heart is fruit. But since, according to Scripture, “every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10); then it is obvious that we must take full care of the fruit, that is, of preserving the mind. However, we also need leafy clothing, that is, bodily labor” (Venerable tale, p. 29, § 8). 5. Fasting is one of the surest means to achieve purity of heart. “Fasting tames our passions and curbs bad habits, and by vigil,” says St. John Climacus, - the heart is softened, purity of thoughts is observed, obscene imaginations are driven away" (Ladder). 6. Solitude is also one of the means to achieve this virtue. Solitary living in the desert greatly contributes to the purity of the heart. Eliminating all temptations and every reason for entertainment, it provides a complete opportunity to enter into oneself, observe all the internal movements of the soul, discover weaknesses, and see more clearly one’s sins and dangers from spiritual enemies. One St. The ascetic explained this well with the following experience: three learned friends decided to enter monasticism. One of them chose his own business - to pacify those who were quarreling, according to the scripture: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9); another is to visit the sick; and the third went into the desert for silence. The first, no matter how hard he worked, could not stop the discord between people and calm everyone down. Overcome by boredom, he went to the one who served the sick, and found that he, too, was exhausted from cowardice and was no longer able to fulfill the commandments. Then both went to visit the one who lived in the desert, told him their affairs, and asked him to tell them what benefit he had received in solitude. He, after a short silence, pours water into the vessel and says to them: “Look into the water.” The water was cloudy. After a while he again said to them: “Look how bright the water has become.” They looked and saw their faces in the mirror. Then he said to them: “The exact same thing happens to us, when someone is among people - because of human noise and fussiness, he does not see his sins - but he who is worthy to see himself, his sins, according to St. Isaac the Syrian, who was more blessed to see an Angel, of course, because, seeing your sins, you can cleanse them, and by purity make your soul angel-like” (another Patericon). (Archpriest G. D-ko). About the Seventh Beatitude 1. Praise for Christian Peacefulness St. Gregory of Nyssa, praising the peace and harmony of people, says: “Of all that people strive to enjoy in life, is there anything sweeter than a peaceful life? Whatever you call pleasant in life is pleasant only when it is connected with the world. Let there be everything that is valued in life: wealth, health, wife, children, home, relatives, friends; let there be beautiful gardens, places for cheerful feasts and all the inventions of pleasure... let all this be, but there will be no peace - what good is that?.. So, peace is not only pleasant in itself for those who enjoy the world, but also delights all the blessings of life. Even if some misfortune happens to us, as usually happens to people, during times of peace, and it is more bearable, because in this case evil is tempered by good... You judge for yourself: what kind of life are those who are at enmity with each other and suspect each other? They meet gloomily and abhor everything in each other; their lips are silent, their eyes are averted, and the ears of one are closed to the words of the other. Everything that is pleasant for one of them is hateful for the other, and on the contrary, what is hateful and hostile to one is liked by the other. Therefore, the Lord wants you to multiply the grace of the world in such abundance, so that not only you yourself can enjoy it, but so that your life serves as a cure against the illness of others... He who prevents others from this shameful vice shows the greatest benefit and can rightly be called blessed, he does the work of the power of God, destroying evil in human nature, and instead introducing the communion of good things. The Lord calls the peacemaker the son of God because the one who brings such peace to human society becomes an imitator of the true God. The Giver and Lord of goodness completely destroys and destroys everything unnatural and alien to goodness. He commands similar activity to you; and you must extinguish hatred, stop enmity and revenge, destroy quarrels, drive out hypocrisy, extinguish the smoldering memory of malice in the heart and introduce everything opposite in its place... love, joy, peace, goodness, generosity, in a word, the whole collection of blessings. So, isn’t he blessed who gives away divine gifts, who imitates God in his gifts, whose benefits are likened to the great gifts of God? (Grieg. The lower word about the blessed one in Christ. Reading. May 1842, pp. 164–165, 169–170, 177–178). 2. Sayings of the word of God about peace with neighbors – “Thus says the Lord of hosts... love truth and peace” (Zech. 8:19). – “Have peace among yourselves” (Mark 9:50). - “I beseech you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that... there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in one spirit” (1 Cor. 1:10). – “Be at peace with one another” (1 Col. 5:13). – “Seek peace and follow it” (Ps. 33:15). – “Keep... peace with all who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22). – “Let us seek what makes for peace” (Rom. 14:19). - “Make peace with your opponent quickly, while you are still on the road with him” (Matthew 5:25). – “If possible on your part, be at peace with all people” (Rom. 12:18). – “Try to have peace with everyone” (Heb. 12:14). - “It is very humiliating for you that you have litigation among yourself... why would it be better for you not to endure hardships?” (1 Cor. 6:7). – “Whoever loves life and wants to see good days, keep his tongue from evil... seek peace and strive for it” (1 Pet. 3:10, 11). - “Be like-minded and peaceful, and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11). – “Deceit is in the heart of evildoers, but joy is in the heart of peacemakers” (Proverbs 12:20). – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). 3. Should a Christian treasure all peace? “Let no one think that I claim that all peace must be treasured,” says St. Gregory the Theologian, “for I know that there is wonderful disagreement and the most destructive unanimity, but we must love a good world, which has a good goal and unites with God” (In Russian translation, vol. I, p. 237). “The reconciliation of us with each other is most important for God the Word,” teaches St. Isidore Pelusiot, - for He who reconciled the heavenly with the earthly puts an end to our enmities, not allowing them to arise, and uprooting those that arose. He says: “Do not be angry with your brother in vain” (Matthew 5:22). Since he knew the creepiness of human weakness, he destroys the roots of the enmity that has occurred, and suffers so that the gift assigned to Him remains unbrought until we are reconciled with each other. Therefore, in what has been said there is extreme philanthropy, but not devoid of justice. “You will seek,” He says, “philanthropy; and the offended seeks revenge; You call Me merciful, but he is truthful; you ask for leniency, and he cries out that no help was provided to him. Calm him, who rightly cries out, and you will not be deprived of My favor; reconcile with the offended - and then beg for My reconciliation with you. I do not sell for the gift of vengeance justly demanded by others; I do not humiliate the incorruptible court; I do not show favor to the offender while the offended person complains. Not a small, but an extremely high and great gift I give you - I postpone the investigation of the matter, I do not immediately pronounce a decisive verdict; I give you time to satisfy the offended” (Works of St. Isidore Pelusiot, vol. 3, pp. 13–14). 5. Examples of Christian peacefulness 1. St. Gregory the Theologian, having learned that the fathers of the 2nd Ecumenical Council were arguing about the rights of his priesthood in Constantinople, voluntarily renounced these rights, declaring: “I am no better than the prophet Jonah: throw me into the sea, so that the excitement that has occurred for my sake will subside” (“Ch.-M.” January 26). 2. Abba Paul Cosmit and Timothy, his brother, living together, often argued with each other. Finally, Abba Paul said one day: “How long shall we live like this?” To this, brother Timothy answered him: “Do me a favor, when I insult you, bear with me, and I will tolerate it when you insult me.” By doing this, they were peaceful and tranquil the rest of the days of their lives (from the “Act. Tale of the Sub. St. and Blessed One”). About the Eighth Beatitude 1. Blessed One expelled righteousness for the sake of: for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them By righteousness here we generally mean life according to the commandments of God; This means that blessed are those who are persecuted for faith and piety, for their good deeds, for constancy and steadfastness in faith. But why does the world persecute true faith, piety, truth, which are so beneficial for people, who bring unity, mutual love, good morals, peace, silence, order into scattered human societies? Because “the whole world lies in evil” (1 John 5:19), people “loved evil more than goodness” (Ps. 51:5), and the prince of this world, the devil, who works in the sons of disobedience, hates the truth with hellish hatred and persecutes it, since it serves as a reproof of unrighteousness, pricks its eyes, oppresses it. Evil, depraved people have always hated and persecuted the righteous, and will continue to hate and persecute. Cain hated his righteous brother Abel, persecuted him for his piety and finally killed him; The beastly Esau hated his meek brother Jacob and persecuted him, threatening to kill him; The unrighteous children of the patriarch Jacob hated their brother, the righteous Joseph, and sold him secretly to Egypt so that he would not be a thorn in their side; The wicked Saul hated the meek David and persecuted him until his death, encroaching on his life; The Jews hated the prophets of God, who denounced their lawless life, and beat some of them, killed others, stoned others, and finally persecuted and killed the greatest Righteous One, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, the Sun of righteousness, our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the blessing of exile for the sake of righteousness: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs... And Christ said as it were: do not be discouraged and do not despair, my faithful followers, proclaiming to people in word and deed my truth and with unconquerable firmness, even to exile and death, standing for my truth, for my commandments: I will be your support, your strength, your consolation, your inner bliss in all suffering, adversity and sorrow, with all torture and torment for My name. “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds in Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5); because in all sorrows, exiles, torments, I myself will be inside you, my kingdom will be, the kingdom of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whether you are expelled from your fatherland, to whom God Himself has become a Father through Me, your fatherland is heaven, as the Apostle says: “Our life is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20), or, as it says in My prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven: for where the Father is, there is the fatherland, there all His children will be gathered; whether your property will be taken away from you, but the one who follows My footsteps has a better property, eternal, in heaven, and not a temporary property on earth, like a dream; - they will deprive you of your honorable name, ranks, distinctions, but they will not deprive you of the name of a Christian, the name of the children of God, the title of heir of God and joint heir of Christ, the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and these names and distinctions are more honorable than all worldly names and distinctions; whether they will deprive you of life itself, - but “fear not those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: fear rather than him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The word of the Lord came true exactly: the exiles and martyrs for the name of Christ, even in earthly life, with all the persecutions, sorrows, deprivations, torments, triumphed over their persecutors, rejoiced and had fun, going to severe torment, as if they were going to take the kingdom, had a royal spirit, royal greatness, invincible patience, and with their faith and their patience they put all theirs to shame tormentors-kings and hegemons, - and after death they inherited the Kingdom of Heaven and now reign with Christ, according to His word: “To him who overcomes I will give to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also conquered and sat with My Father on His throne” (Apoc. 3:21). Love righteousness in all things, and hate unrighteousness or sin of every kind; express directly and boldly the holy truth and reprove untruth with meekness and patience, so that truth reigns as it should, and unrighteousness is put to shame and eradicated and does not raise its head high with insolence - “let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness” (2 Tim. 2:19). Will people be offended by your truthful speech, will they not love and favor you? So what? People will find you unpleasant (like an eyesore); but for this you will be the mouth of God, the apple of God’s eye. However, even here all honest and truthful people will respect you, and in heaven the Angels and all the saints will bless you, and with joy they will accept your soul into the heavenly villages when it is separated from this mortal body, for the inhabitants of heaven do not look without sympathy at our local deeds, virtues and at our struggle with sin and untruth, but with great participation and sympathy, as members of the one body of Christ, like the Lord testified, saying that “there is joy in heaven for one sinner who repents” (Lk. 15:7), or, as the apostle says: “If one oud is glorified, all ouds rejoice with him” (1 Cor. 12:26). And how calm the conscience is, how pleased a person is when he expresses the holy truth, and how tormented his conscience is when he is ashamed or afraid to express it when necessary! But why, for the most part, does untruth multiply and boldly raise its head, if not because they give it free rein, as they say, and do not expose it! However, prudence requires that we not always and not tell the truth to everyone: 1) we do not need to state our truth when the matter does not concern us, when for this purpose there are people called by their position to tell the truth; 2) when we foresee that the word will plunge us into obvious danger, and no benefit will come from our word. Then it is better to secretly pray to God, so that He Himself will enlighten the unrighteous and guide them on the path of righteousness, or send powerful and capable people to expose untruth! And virtue requires moderation and prudence, so that without prudence, virtue is no longer virtue, or loses a lot of its value (from the “Complete collected works” by Archpriest John Sergius, vol. I, pp. 218–224). 2. St. sufferer for truth St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, was a great zealot for truth. Without fear of persecution, according to his sacred duty, he could not look indifferently at the vices of people and exposed them. Of course, vicious people, for their part, could not indifferently tolerate the denunciations of the preacher of truth. His enemies were multiplying, but he was ready to endure any persecution for the sake of truth. His evil enemies soon triumphed, and the saint was condemned to imprisonment. When his friends complained and grieved for him, he was completely calm and even cheerful. Pray, my brothers,” he said, “remember me in your prayers. When the tears of those around him were the answer to this: “Don’t cry, my brothers,” he continued, “our real life is a journey, during which we must endure both good and bad.” Looking at the people who surrounded the holy house and filled the church, the archpastor’s heart was filled with sadness. He once again appeared in the church, which was so often announced by his preaching, and, consoling the sad flock, said: “The waves are strong, the storm is cruel; but I am not afraid of being drowned: for I stand on a rock. Let the sea be fierce; it will not crush the stone. Let the waves rise; They will not swallow up the ship of Jesus. Tell me what should I be afraid of: death? But for me “to live, O Christ, and to die, is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Links? But “The earth is the Lord’s and its fulfillment. We have brought nothing into this world: it is clear that we can endure whatever we can” (Ps. 23:1; 1 Tim. 6:7). I despise the fear of this world and laugh at its blessings; I am not afraid of poverty and do not desire wealth; I am not afraid of death and not partial to life... Let the whole earth fall into confusion. I have sacred words; I read them; here they are: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Christ is with me: whom should I fear? Let the waves rise, let the sea become fierce, let the strong rise: all this is weaker than a web. Christ is my fortress, Christ is my immovable stone.” The saint was exiled to a remote place in Armenia. But he not only did not lose heart, but even consoled others from the place of exile. He wrote: “Whoever does not harm himself, no one can harm him.” The famous archpastor had to walk on foot to the place of exile for three months, sometimes in unbearable heat, sometimes in pouring rain, without rest and without changing clothes. This punishment completely depleted his already weak health. He partook of the Holy Mysteries and left this world, which was not worthy of him. The great saint was persecuted for the sake of truth; but he is now in heaven, in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the word of the Savior has been fulfilled in him: “It is blessed to drive out righteousness for the sake of them: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs” (Matthew 10) (according to “Ch.-M.”). 3. Persecuted for the truth of icon veneration What the defenders of the veneration of St. did not experience. icons during the iconoclastic heresy! and exile, and prison, and deprivation of property, and torture, and cruel executions. 1. At St. John of Damascus, a zealous defender of the veneration of St. icons, his right hand was cut off, which, after his prayer before the image of the Mother of God and after the sleep that followed the flow of blood, miraculously grew back. Admired by the mercy of the Lady, he sang a song: in You, O Gracious One, every creature rejoices... - and that miraculous image, before which this miracle took place, received the name Three-Handed ("Ch.-M."). 2. But two brothers, Theodore and Theophanes, nicknamed the inscribed ones, suffered especially and unusually from the iconoclasts. The Patriarch of Jerusalem sent them to Constantinople to maintain Orthodoxy, and they courageously fulfilled this assignment, enduring many torments for their piety: they were sent into captivity three times, having previously been subjected to torture, and three times they were returned for new torture. Emperor Theophilus the iconoclast ordered that a shameful inscription be drawn with needles on the faces of the confessors and sent to Jerusalem. For a whole day, the sufferers were tormented by the faces that were drawn on them: blood flowed in streams; Finally the inscription was finished. Departing, St. The sufferers said to the tormentors: “Know all who hear that the Cherubim, the guardian of paradise, when he sees this mark on our faces, will retreat before us, giving us free entry into paradise. For since ages there has not been such a new torment. And these inscriptions will be found on our faces even on the day of judgment, and you will be commanded to read them, according to what was said: “Before you have made one of these least of my brethren, you have made me” (Matthew 25:40) (according to “C.-M.”). (Prot. G. D-ko). About the Ninth Beatitude 1. Blessed are you, when they revile you, and despise you, and say all sorts of evil things against you, lying, for my sake Are there even now reproaches and persecutions for the truth, for the faith of Christ? There are and will be until the end of the world, because the kingdom of God has not yet come in all its power for many, and for the majority it has not yet come at all; there is still a lot of wickedness and untruth in even Christian societies; Satan is not yet bound and freely walks around the earth and passes through the heavenly places: and now, it seems, he is most rampant against those who hold the right faith, “knowing that there is little time to have” (Apoc. 12:12). Only now he persecutes not with torture, not with executions, but with unbelief, imaginary progress (movement forward), freethinking, indiscriminateness to faiths and daring denial of faith, reproach, ridicule, blasphemy, slander, or proud inattention and contempt. Pious people are now called names of bigots, backward people with narrow views; the Christian faith is called the faith of the mob; Christian compassion - weakness, alms - stupid extravagance; external prayer - hypocrisy; delight and joy in prayer - almost madness: on the contrary, wide unbridledness of the flesh or licentiousness, pleasing all its countless lusts - modern progress (i.e. improvement); alienation from home and public prayer, rejection of all rituals in faith, life resembling neither Christian, nor Jewish, nor Tatar, nor pagan, but like some kind of animal, alien to any obligations of faith, is considered a well-known tone, a sign of modern man. Agree that it is very unpleasant for any believer to live among such people, and happy is the one who does not live among them; and whoever lives, endure persecution, ridicule, barbs, however, do not be silent, but be able to give an answer about your faith, about your hope, so that wickedness will be put to shame; “Answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest the wise man appear to himself” (Prov. 26:5). How else does untruth, the wickedness of the present time, persecute truth and piety? Inattention to the works and merits of the pious and truth-loving, depriving them of fair, due honor and reward, while the ingratiating and bribery untruth too generously ascribes to itself the glory, honor, and wealth of this world. And it’s no wonder: whoever seeks what gets it. The truly pious and righteous do not seek glory from men, seeking glory from the one God, although they do not shy away from it for the glory of God and for the joy of those who fear God when it reaches them; but the people of this world, whose treasure is on earth, covet it and acquire it. Those who willingly give away their own to those in need, and therefore are not rich, but these people constantly try to increase their wealth, rightly and unjustly, and therefore they become richer. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is abundant in heaven. As the righteous endure reproach, persecution, and deprivation on earth for their righteousness, their reward in heaven increases; here they are often deprived of everything, there they will receive everything in abundance: incorruptible glory, an incorruptible crown, an unfailing treasure, unceasing joy, an endless kingdom, which may the Lord give us all to receive through the grace and generosity and love of His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be honor and glory, now and ever and unto the ages of ages (from “The Complete Collection works" by Archpriest John Sergiev, vol. I, pp. 224–226). 2. Stories about St. martyrs and martyrs 1. The three-year-old martyr St. Kirik, although he was only three years old, could well be called a Christian martyr. He rushed from the hands of the tormentor to his mother (Iulita), who was being beaten with sinews, and even said at the same time: “I am a Christian.” Then the cruel tormentor (Dometian), admiring his special infant beauty, threw him from his knees onto the floor, kicked him to throw him away from his judicial exaltation, and he, gradually falling from the stone stairs, stained the whole place with innocent blood and died even before his martyr mother (“Cheti-Minea” on July 15). 2. St. Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. St. Sophia was a widow, originally from Rome, - her daughters were young: Vera 12 years old, Nadezhda 10 years old, and Lyubov 9 years old. They suffered during the persecution of the wicked king Hadrian. Reading the suffering of these saints. martyrs, we involuntarily come to amazement, how could these such young girls so courageously stand in the confession of the faith of Christ in the face of terrible torment and death? In vain the cruel tormentor exhausted all brutal means to force the confessors faithful to Him to betray Christ: one after another they joyfully accepted death. Their mother, St., was also awaiting martyrdom. Sophia, but the tormentor left her alive, believing that the deprivation of her daughters would be torment for her, and meanwhile St. Sophia rejoiced that her children were awarded the crown of martyrdom and united with Christ, their heavenly Bridegroom. What animated this holy family in the feat of martyrdom? It is not surprising if St. Sofia, already elderly, could be firm in her determination to suffer. But where did her children, these young creatures, derive such necessary strength to renounce the blessings of the world and life itself, to despise the fear of torment and joyfully face death? Obviously, in those holy feelings that from childhood were implanted in their minds and hearts by their pious matter, St. Sophia. How strong and irresistible her suggestions were to the children can be seen from her last exhortation to them to be faithful to Christ until death. This is what St. said. Sophia, preparing her children for the feat of martyrdom: “My beloved daughters! The time has come for your feat, the day has come when you will prove to your immortal Bridegroom your firm faith, undoubted hope and unfeigned love; the hour of your joy has come, and you will be crowned with the crown of martyrdom with your dear Bridegroom and will enter with Him into His blessed chamber. have pity on your young body and your youth and do not grieve over the deprivation of temporary life, for the sake of eternal life. Christ is indescribable beauty and eternal life. I think that the king will caress you and promise you gifts, but do not be enticed by anything: all this disappears like smoke, like dust is scattered by the wind, and withers like flowers, like grass. Do not be afraid when you see the torment: “Those who suffered a little, you will triumph forever, my daughters!” The daughters listened to their mother with tenderness and were inflamed with such a strong desire for martyrdom that nothing could force them to change their confession. But they are blessed with Christ in His eternal kingdom (according to “Ch.-M.” September 17). 3. St. Lawrence. In the year 257 A.D., a cruel persecution of Christians was launched by the Emperor Valerian. The severity of the persecution fell especially on the altar servers. Among other Christians, St. Lawrence, deacon of the Roman Church. – Where are the treasures of your church? – Valerian asked him. “Come, sir, I will show them to you,” answered St. Lawrence, and then pointing to the poor, widows, orphans, the blind and the lame, said: “Here they are, these treasures, of which there is nothing more precious in the world, and which even the tyrants themselves cannot and will not want to deprive us of.” Condemned later to burning, St. Lawrence, having astonished his contemporaries with his firmness, amazes his posterity. Before his eyes they prepared a fire and heated an iron grate, on which they laid him in chains. The slow fire increased the torment of the sufferer, but his face shone with extraordinary greatness: suffering did not force him to make a single complaint, not a single groan. When the fire consumed one half of the body, he said to the guard with marvelous firmness and amazing patience: “It’s baked; it's time to turn!" What wonderful patience! This is what true faith and ardent love for the Savior can do! (according to “Ch.-M.”). 4. Holy Martyr Potamiena. She was the slave of a pagan and, following his denunciation, after various tortures, she was lowered into boiling tar. During her torment, one warrior named Basilides, touched by her suffering, tried to protect her from the insults and curses of the enraged people. In gratitude for this, Potamiena promised after her death to pray to God for his conversion to the path of salvation. Three days after her death, Potamiena appeared to him in a dream, placed a crown on his head and said that he would soon suffer for the name of Christ. Basilides then announced that he wished to be imprisoned; received St. baptism and soon afterwards ended his life as a martyr (“Cheti-Minei.”). 5. St. Great Martyr George. The Holy Great Martyr George came from Cappadocia and was a Christian and received a good upbringing. Having entered military service, he attracted the attention of the emperor with his courageous beauty and soon became a military leader. According to his rank, he participated in state meetings. Seeing that the government's actions were directed against Christians, he decided to profess and defend the holy faith. Having disposed of his property, he appeared at the council of the emperor, where the fate of the Christians was to be decided that day, and courageously defended them. George was first chained in stocks and a stone was placed on his chest; then they tied him to a wheel that turned over iron nails, and they tormented his body with them; then they planted it in quicklime; then they put him in boots with sharp nails and beat him with ox sinews until his body seemed to be stuck to the ground with blood. But after every execution, the body of St. The great martyr, as a result of prayer to the Lord, was instantly healed. Emperor Diocletian, attributing these miracles to magic, ordered the then famous wizard Athanasius to prepare poison for St. George, but the poison did not have any effect on him. The amazed wizard solemnly confessed Jesus Christ and was beheaded by order of the emperor. Then Diocletian, with flattering promises, began to persuade George to renounce Christianity. George expressed a desire to go to the church of Apollo. The Emperor and George, accompanied by the court and people, enter the church; everyone expects that St. the martyr will make a sacrifice to the gods. But St. George made the sign of the cross - and the idols fell to the ground noisily. Then the emperor, at the request of the priests, ordered the confessor's head to be cut off. The miraculous suffering of St. George was converted to Christ by Diocletian's wife Alexandra and many other pagans. Queen Alexandra also became a martyr for Christ (“Ch.-M.”). 6. Great Martyr Pantoleon, renamed Panteleimon. He was instructed in the Christian faith by St. presbyter Ermolai and served as a doctor at the royal court in Nicomedia. Calling on the name of the Lord Jesus, he healed the most difficult illnesses completely disinterestedly and only demanded that those healed believe in Jesus Christ. Convicted of Christianity before the Emperor Maximian, he was demanded for interrogation and, after courageously confessing himself to be a follower of Christ, he was given over to cruel tortures; they tormented him with a sharp iron and then scorched his wounds with fire, threw him into a cauldron of boiling tin and to be devoured by wild beasts, was wheeled around and finally wanted to drown him in the sea, but the martyr remained unharmed throughout. Then the emperor ordered to behead him with a sword and burn his body (in 305). But even after death, the body of the great martyr remained unharmed in the fire. Nowadays part of the relics of St. Panteleimon is located in the Panteleimon Athos Monastery and part of the relics are in the Moscow Chapel of Panteleimon (according to “Ch.-M.” July 27). 1. “Oh, that the beasts appointed to tear me apart, whom I ask to hasten my death, would take pleasure in me! If they don’t want to hurry, I will make the effort myself, I will insist that they tear me to pieces! May fire, execution on the cross, beasts, breaking of bones, cutting of parts (of the body) and all the horrors of the devil rush at me, just so that I can enjoy Christ!” - With such zeal, with such readiness, St. Ignatius of Antioch expects, demands, forces himself to suffer for Christ! (“Ch.-M.”). 2. “Oh, good cross, long desired, passionately loved, relentlessly sought, and now prepared for the desiring soul! “I come to you calm and joyful: and you accept me with triumph!” - Thus calls St. Andrew the First-Called, and in the horrors of death on the cross he delivers his bliss. 3. “There is no greater glory than to share dishonor with Jesus” (Philar. m. Moskov.). 1. What must be done to inherit an eternal belly? In order to truly know what we must do to obtain eternal life, or eternal bliss, without a doubt, it is most reliable to pay attention to what Christ Himself recognized or presented as necessary to obtain eternal bliss. a) I. Christ presented faith in Him as necessary to receive eternal life, or eternal bliss. For this is what he said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so it is fitting for the Son of Man to be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but may have eternal life. For God loved the world, for He also gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but may have eternal life” (John 3:14–16). b) I. Christ declared love for God and neighbor necessary to obtain eternal life, precisely when the lawyer asked I. Christ: “What have I done, will I inherit eternal life?” and when the Lord asked him: "What is written in the law?" c) I. Christ presented the need for observance of all the commandments of God to receive eternal life, namely, when a certain young man, like the aforementioned lawyer, asked the Lord: “What good will I do, so that I may have eternal life?” then the Lord said to him: “If you want to be taken into your belly, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:16, 17). d) I. Christ taught that those who abandon or reject everything that prevents them from clinging to Him with all their hearts will receive eternal life. For this is what He said to His disciples: “Whoever leaves a house, or a brother, or a sister, or a father, or a mother, or a wife, or a child (no doubt, only if they distract him from Christ and the Christian life), or a village, for My name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). e) I. Christ presented that all the sheep who carefully listen to His word and follow Him in life will receive eternal life. For this is what He said: “My sheep hear My voice... and they come after Me: and I will give them eternal life” (John 10:27, 28). f) I. Christ taught that all who worthily receive His holy communion will receive eternal life. body and blood. For this is what He said: “I am the bread of life... which came down from heaven: whoever eats of this bread will live forever... whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood... will live forever” (John 6:51, 54, 58). g) I. Christ demonstrated through the holy prophet in the Old Testament that those who bring true repentance will receive eternal life. For this is what it says: “If a wicked man turns from all his iniquities that he has committed, and keeps all My commandments and does justice and righteousness and mercy, he will live and not die” (Ezek. 18:21). h) Finally, St. the apostle declares that people who do good deeds in life will receive eternal life; for so he said: God “will reward everyone according to his deeds: according to the endurance of good works, glory and honor and incorruptibility, eternal life to those who seek” (Rom. 2:6, 7). i) Only those who live within the fence of the Orthodox Church, as its faithful and obedient children, can inherit eternal life. Since I. Christ, according to the saying of St. ap. Paul, is the Head of the church and that is the Savior of the body: then, in order to have participation in His salvation, it is necessary to be a member of His body, that is, the Catholic Church. Remember, brothers, that without obedience to St. Orthodox Church, without a close union with it it is impossible to be saved, even if someone shed his blood for Jesus Christ. Remember, beloved, the formidable words of the Savior: “If (your brother) disobeys the church, you will be like a pagan and a publican” (Matthew 18:17). Therefore, beware of false teachers who want to tear you away from the obedience of St. churches! This is what we must do to inherit the eternal life. To the question: what must one do in order to inherit an eternal life, one can give another answer from the opposite side, namely: a) All who do not believe in Jesus Christ will not inherit the eternal life: for “whoever does not believe in the Son of God,” said John the Baptist, “will not see the life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). b) All those who in this life do not walk through the narrow gates of the Lord’s commandments will not inherit the eternal life; for the Lord said: “There is a narrow gate, and a strait path you bring into the belly”; and “bring in the wide gate and the broad way into destruction” (Matthew 7:14, 13). c) Everyone who is disorderly attached to love for something created by God will not inherit the eternal life, no matter how important, or dear, or kind it may be to us: for “whoever loves,” says the Lord, “father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). d) All those who remain without true repentance will not inherit the eternal life. “You will die in your sin,” the Lord said to the unrepentant Jews (John 8:21). e) All those who do not partake of the flesh and blood of the Lord I. Christ will not inherit the eternal life; for this is what the Lord said: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have life in you” (John 6:53). f) Finally, all those who, fearing difficulties, do not overcome sinful lusts in themselves, but allow them to act within themselves until the end of their lives, and die with them, will not inherit the eternal life. For this is what the Lord said: “He who overcomes will inherit everything... But the fearful and the unfaithful, the abominable and the murderers, the perpetrators of fornication and the perpetrators of enchantments, the idolaters and all those who lie, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and the bogeyman, which is the second death” (Apoc. 21:7, 8). Believe in the Lord, all who do not want to lose their eternal life! Leave a life contrary to His commandments and live according to His commandments, bring true repentance, partake of His body and blood more often; and you will certainly have an eternal belly (see “Words and conversations on all Sundays and holidays” by Gregory, Archbishop of Kazan and Sviyazh., vol. I, pp. 315–321; book of Archpriest Gr. Dyachenko “Full annual circle of short teachings”). 1. Whoever wants to be saved must belong to the one holy Orthodox Church, be her faithful son, obey its institutions in everything, such as: fasting, going to the church of God, honoring spiritual shepherds, etc. If someone does not obey the church, if someone has separated from the church out of the spirit of rebellion or pride, if someone is a schismatic: then no matter how many bows he makes, no matter how much he fasts, no matter how much he prays, he will not to be saved. The Lord compared one who disobeys the church with an idolater: “If anyone disobeys the church,” He said, “be like a pagan and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:17). A schismatic and a heretic are alien to humility, just as the devil is alien to humility: and therefore they are alien to salvation, just as the devil is alien to it. Once upon a time the devil appeared to the Monk Macarius and said: “Macarius, you fast a lot, but I don’t eat at all; you sleep little, and I don’t sleep at all; you conquer me only by your humility.” John Climacus, like the Lord, showed His humility by the fact that He “was obedient to the point of death, death on the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Without obedience to the church there is no humility, without humility there is no salvation: “Humble yourself, and save me,” said the prophet (Ps. 114:5). 2. Whoever wants to be saved must further, albeit little by little, but often pray to God. On weekdays, pray to God at home, if everyday affairs and services do not allow you to go to the church of God; in the morning - rising from sleep; at night - going to bed; before lunch and before dinner. On holidays and Sundays, one must take part in public church prayers. It is great happiness for a sinful person that he is given the opportunity to attend the Church of God: he can beg God to forgive him his sins and grant him salvation. David was a glorious and rich king, he was also a prophet, but he asked one thing from the Lord: “I have asked one thing of the Lord, this I will require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and that I may visit His holy church” (Ps. 27:4). The Holy Fathers call prayer the mother of all virtues, because with it one can ask from the merciful Lord all other virtues, all temporal and eternal blessings, as the Lord Himself testified. “Ask,” He said, “and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; press, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). 3. Whoever wants to be saved must, according to his strength, do mental and physical alms and generally love his neighbors as himself. Mental alms consists of forgiving our neighbors for their sins, that is, insults and insults inflicted on us by our neighbors, as well as in our concern for the salvation of the souls of our neighbors, for example. about teaching them truth and goodness. Physical alms consist of helping one's neighbor as much as possible with bread, clothing, money and hospitality. The Lord said: “Blessed are the mercy: for these will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7), that is, they will be saved. On the contrary, judgment without mercy awaits the unmerciful (James 2:13), that is, the unmerciful cannot be saved. 4. Whoever wants to be saved must bring to God, whom he must love above all, thorough repentance for his sins, both during his daily prayers, and especially before his spiritual father during the sacrament of confession. The God-inspired prophet proclaims: “I have known my iniquity, and I have not covered my sin; – Consider the order of the words spoken by the Holy Spirit: first, a person recognizes his sins, which is achieved by pious examination of himself; then he rejects those excuses with which an evil conscience usually tries to excuse its sin; finally, the repentant person becomes an accuser of himself and expresses to the Lord, with his spiritual witness as a witness, all his sins, without at all sparing his pride. Then he receives forgiveness from God for his iniquities. The Apostle said: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, that he may forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). After cleansing oneself, confessing to one’s spiritual father, having made a strong intention not to sin in the future and, in any case, to fight strongly against temptations to sin, one must, with the fear of God, faith and love, partake of the all-holy body of Christ and the all-holy blood of Christ, which is completely necessary for salvation. The Lord said: “Amen, amen, I say to you: unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you,” that is, you do not have salvation. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood will have eternal life,” that is, he has salvation (John 6:53, 54). One must confess and receive communion at least during all four fasts, four times a year. If, unfortunately and unhappily, everyday worries do not allow this to happen, then you should certainly partake of it once a year. 5. Whoever wants to be saved must generously endure all the sorrows that will be allowed to him during this short wandering. Will there be a crop failure, or the already ripened grain will be destroyed by locusts, or hail will strike; whether there is a loss of livestock, a fire, illness of one’s own and family members, the death of one of the closest relatives, whether one has to endure persecution and insults from a strong person: all this must be endured generously, without grumbling, especially without blasphemy. The Lord commanded us to win our souls through our patience (Luke 21:19); “He who endures to the end,” He said, “will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Sorrows sent by God are a sure sign for a person that that person has been chosen by God and loved by God. “I,” the Lord testified, “even if I love, I reprove and punish” (Apoc. 3:19). For this reason, the apostle consoles the grieving and suffering person in this way: “my son, do not be overwhelmed by the punishment of the Lord, weaken below, we reprove from Him. For the Lord loves him and punishes: he beats every son, but he is accepted. God will be found to you” (Heb. 12:5–7). Such is the dignity of earthly sorrows when they are endured with complacency! They are the gift of God (Phil. 1:29)! they are a sign of a Christian's adoption to God! - In order to learn to patiently and complacently endure sorrows, one must meet each coming sorrow with the words of a prudent thief: I accept what is worthy of my deeds: remember me, Lord, in Thy kingdom (Luke 23:42). It is also useful to remember and repeat the words of the much-sick Job: “We have received good from the hand of the Lord; shall we not endure the evil” (Job 2:10)? “As the Lord willed, so it was: blessed be the name of the Lord [forever]” (Job 1:21). 6. Anyone who wants to be saved must read divine books. “Blessed is the man,” said St. the prophet David, who did not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the path of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the destroyers: but in the law of the Lord is all his will, and in His law shall he learn day and night” (Ps. 1:1, 2). Our mind, as darkened by sin, cannot in any way be satisfied in relation to salvation with its own thoughts, weak, wavering, deceptive: it needs, through attentive reading or careful hearing of the word of God, to borrow Divine thoughts from it and be admonished by them. The Holy Fathers called reading and hearing the word of God the king of all virtues. The Word of God reveals to us all the sinful passions that live and act in our damaged nature, reveals all their tricks, exposes malice when, to deceive us, it hides behind the guise of virtue, and teaches us to fight the sin living in us. Save yourself, brothers, save yourself! The earthly life of each of us is very short - we don’t know how it will pass. We cannot see how death will creep up on each of us. Brethren! Whoever of you has lived piously until now: let him continue to live like this. Whoever has hitherto allowed himself to lead a sinful life: let him bring repentance and from here begin to lead a virtuous life, avoiding sins in every possible way, without which salvation is impossible. “As I live, says... the Lord, as I do not want the sinner to die, but to be converted... and I live to be him” (Ezek. 33:11) (from the book of Archpriest Gr. Dyachenko: “The Complete Yearly Circle of Brief Teachings,” vol. II). 3. By saving, save your soul The three were swimming in the river on top of the waterfall. While crossing the river, the two noticed that they were being carried away. The water seemed to flow quietly, but as it approached the waterfall its flow accelerated. Concerned about this, they quickly returned to the shore and called their comrade to them, not advising him to put his life in danger. But he laughed: “It floats so easily.” His friends trembled for him and shouted to him: “Stay to the shore, it will drag in.” He laughed again: “But it floats so easily.” A minute later he felt that the current was carrying him away with terrible speed. With all his might he tried to get closer to the shore. How he fought against the river that was dragging him into the abyss! But it was already too late, and all his efforts were in vain. The raging water seemed to mock his horror, muffled his screams and irresistibly carried him along. Another soul-rending scream, and the swimmer was in the abyss. Swimmers and us. It is very easy and convenient to follow the flow in life. But soon you can find yourself in a whirlpool. “When you save, save your life.” (Gen. 19:17). 4. A statement of the commandments, by observing which you can save your soul St. Hermas, an apostolic man, whom St. highly praises. ap. Paul (Rom. 16:14), is famous for his book called "The Shepherd", which in the first centuries was read even in churches along with the apostolic epistles. We think it will be useful for us to become familiar with the soul-saving commandments that are set out in this book, by fulfilling which you can save your soul. We think that the word of the apostolic man will be more convincing for you than our feeble ranting. He begins to present them as follows: “I prayed,” he says, “at home and then sat down on my bed. “I see a husband enter, his appearance inspiring respect, in shepherd’s clothes. He was wearing a white cloak, a knapsack hung over his shoulders and a stick in his hands. He greeted me, and I greeted him. Then he sat down next to me and said: - I was sent to you to stay with you the rest of your life. When he said this, I thought that he was tempting me, and I asked him: - Who are you? - for I know well the one to whom I am entrusted. - So you don’t recognize me? – he asked. “I am the shepherd to whom you are entrusted,” he said. With this word his face changed, and I recognized him as my guardian angel. I felt ashamed, fear and grief began to disturb me; – but he reassured me, saying: “Don’t be afraid. I have been sent to show you everything by which you can save your soul. Listen carefully and write everything down for memory, so that by re-reading it from time to time, you will refresh your thoughts and strengthen your shaky will. If you keep everything that is revealed to you from a pure heart, you will receive from the Lord all the benefits that He promised to His faithful. If, after listening to my instructions, you not only do not correct yourself, but, on the contrary, begin to add sins to sins, then the Lord will send trouble after trouble to you until He crushes either your heart or your bones.” Having said this, my shepherd, the Angel of repentance, offered me twelve commandments, in the following order: 1. Believe in one God, worshiped in the Trinity, the Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible, Who called all creatures out of nothing into existence and gave them as many perfections as each of them can contain. 2. Live in simplicity and purity, do not harm your neighbor even with a word, on the contrary, help everyone in their needs, without discerning who asks and to whom you give. 3. Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth: love the truth and flee lies. 4. Like the apple of your eye, maintain marital fidelity, for this is the immutable law of the Creator - to be pure and blameless before Him either in virginity or in an honestly preserved marriage. If you got married, don’t look for permission or another wife: you decided to be a virgin, don’t look for a wife. Likewise, when a husband or wife dies, the surviving half does not sin when it enters into a second marriage; but he receives greater honor from God when he decides to keep widowhood in purity and immaculateness. “At these words,” says Erma, “I asked him: what should someone who sins do? “Repent,” the Shepherd Angel answered me. I tell him: “I heard that besides baptism there is no other repentance, that by plunging into the waters of rebirth 80 we receive remission of all sins and should not sin in any way after that.” The angel answered me: “Baptism is not called repentance. God established repentance for those who, having been called through baptism into the number of believers, then fall into sins, through the wiles of the devil. - The merciful God accepts the repentance of such; but you need to know that frequent falling into sin, corrected even by frequent repentance, makes repentance itself suspicious; - and you can finally fall so that after that fall there will be no opportunity to get up again and begin to live for God. Let everyone who looks lightly at sins fear this.” Having said this, the shepherd began again to continue indicating God’s saving commandments for us: 5. Walking the path of the commandments, you cannot avoid obstacles and labors. Take courage and let your heart be strong: be patient in doing good deeds and enduring all the troubles along the way. 6. Remember that with every person there are two Angels - good and evil. One attracts him to good deeds, and the other to sins and vices. Pay attention to yourself, and lean towards the first, and reject the second, guessing from the inner thoughts of your heart which of them is giving you lessons at that time and wants to rule over you. 7. Fear the One God the Creator and Provider and Savior, and do not humiliate your childish devotion to Him and your strong trust in Him with the empty fearfulness of the dark forces. 8. Make sure to show yourself as a zealous fulfiller of all God’s commandments without exception and a thorough creator of all the deeds that an Angel will inspire in your heart or indicate a combination of circumstances in your life - and you will be a son in the house of God, and not a slave. 9 . Pray, strain yourself in prayer, pray unceasingly, so that every time, as needed, strength will come to you from above to do good, and help to evade evil. Prayer makes the earth-born a celestial being and clothes him with heavenly purity and holiness. 10. Flee false prophets - fortune-tellers and magicians (spiritists, i.e., conjurers of spirits, who then appeared in large numbers. Among them was Simon the Magus with his disciples), through whom the enemy destroys the servants of God. Those who are weak in faith turn to these deceivers, and they, answering them according to the desire of their hearts, fill their heads with dreamy hopes. Immediately, mixing a drop of truth with a sea of ​​lies, they seduce them and again draw them back to paganism. He who sincerely believes and has devoted himself to God will not go to them. Such a person is looking for heaven, but they usually wonder only about earthly things. 11. May the living Church of God be your teacher, your only teacher, the pillar and foundation of the truth. In it is the light of immutable true knowledge. - Outside there is darkness and darkness. There the prince of peace set up his teaching pulpit and blinds the minds of those who listen to him and do not want to listen to the voices of the church because they are secular. Here's a test for you: what disagrees with the teachings of the church, that is, the voice of the father of lies! - Pay attention and keep yourself clean from this fall. – Here is another sign: the word of truth establishes deep peace, tranquility and sweetness in the believing heart; the word of the deceitful raises dreams and doubts and, like salt water, kindles the thirst for knowledge, locking the mind like a captive in an uncertain, dark desert. 12. Without your closest leaders it is impossible to live holy on earth. You will find them in the church, where the Holy Spirit appoints them to shepherd the flock of Christ. Pray to the Lord to grant you what you need. At the right time, and without your asking, he will tell you a comforting word. The Spirit of God will teach him what is appropriate to say to you, and you will hear from him what God wants from you. Beware, however, of flattering spirits here too. Humility and quietness adorn a true leader. Where there is pomp, that is, external shine in word and life, there is flattery. Heed this and you will be saved. These are all the twelve commandments that the Shepherd Angel gave,” concludes Erma. “After listening to them, I told him: - Excellent rules, but is there a person who could fulfill them properly? To this the Angel answered me: – Accept them with your heart in simplicity, without thinking, and you will not encounter any difficulty in fulfilling them. But as soon as you begin to decompose in your mind whether and how it is possible to do both, and whether it is possible to somehow free yourself from under this yoke, the enemy will creep up, create weakness in your heart and make you incapable of any good. - But there is so much to say!.. Know that if you do not do something, there is no salvation for you, there is no salvation for you, nor for your children, nor for your family. Having said this, the Angel changed in his face and became so terrible that I don’t know if there is anyone who would be able to bear his gaze at this moment. I was scared. - The angel, seeing my embarrassment, began to speak meekly to me, with a face capable of pouring joy into my heart: - How do you think and say this? – Have you forgotten the omnipotence of God? – Is it possible that He who put everything under your feet did not give you the strength to fulfill His commandments? - Know that he who always has God in his heart will easily fulfill these commandments. Whoever has Him only at the end of his tongue will fall under the weight of them, considering them impossible to fulfill. - Who does not ask God for strength to fulfill St. His commandments? – But the enemy is strong: he tempts the servants of God and keeps them in his power. “No,” the Angel answered me, “the enemy has no power over the servants of God.” He can tempt those who believe in God with all their hearts, but not rule over them. Resist him with courage and he will run away from you. This was the end of the angelic instructions set out in the second book of St. Hermas called: “The Shepherd”. For our part, we do not dare to add anything to all this! - says the disciple of the apostles, the husband of the apostles. And really, why do we use our limp words here? - Let’s just say one thing: how comforting it is to know that in our time the same thing is being said that was said under the apostles, immediately after the apostles, and that, consequently, for eighteen and a half centuries, the same word of truth has been heard unchanged in the Church of God. If now every word stands before two and three witnesses, then how firmly should the word of truth stand, preached in the Church of God, when such an immense host of witnesses stands for it? Brothers! Let us pray to the Lord that He will grant gracious help to fulfill these saving instructions given through St. apostolic husband (compiled from the Words to the Tambov flock, Bishop Theophan; book, “The Complete Yearly Circle of Brief Teachings,” Archpriest Gr. Dyachenko, vol. II). The lake is called icy because, due to the many springs, the water in it is always cold. Obol is a small copper coin. Malachi - masturbation, a grave sin against the seventh commandment. Both the young man and the sorcerer then turned to Christ. See Oct. 2. Chet.-Minea. Re-existence is a new, renewed existence; The waters of rebirth are the font of baptism, from which a person emerges clean from sins for a new life in God. You might be interested in: