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Question What is the main reason for Adam's first moral fall? Rep. “Many people offer many and different guilts for the fall of Adamlya: some are unbelief, others are disobedience, others are pride and love of glory, others are different guilts. We are, says the saint. Demetrius of Rostov in the alphabet (hour 1, chapter 1), not a single one of them is imaginary, just madness and failure to consider all things. The first commandment for Adam in paradise was to do and keep, that is, to do with your mind, which you understand to be good, and keep the commandment, not to approach. But if you don’t do it with your mind, for this reason you don’t keep the commandments (and the first moral fall occurred). From the idleness of Adam's wise age, there was unbelief in not believing in God, Who spoke and commanded. Therefore, from unbelief - disobedience and crime, from crime - the falling away of the Lord's grace, and alienation from His divine love. If Adam had understood the benefactor and had prejudged the commandment for himself, he would not have disbelieved the commandment. If he had believed, he would not have disobeyed... For Adam fell away from God and His grace through no other reason, but through madness. It is no other than the one who will join Him, namely, with reason and the knowledge of all things.”... Question How easy and to what extent is it close for everyone to fall morally? Rep. It is always more convenient to descend than to ascend; and for the sake of falling it is enough to indulge in the striving of passions. The most daring sinner was formerly timid. It is impossible to regard wickedness as such an abyss that a person could suddenly dig up for himself. At first it was only oblivion of the law, weakness in the creation of virtue, negligence in avoiding cases of vice... He thought that to save him, one desire was enough, so as not to destroy himself. So, he falls into vices from the very fact that he was not afraid of falling... Solomon, having already given himself over to passion, becomes an idolater; jealousy drives Saul into a frenzy; pride confirms Absalom's perseverance; greed makes the Apostle (Judas the traitor) a traitor... All this began with negligence, and ended in vice and wickedness. Small wells destroy the dam; and when the dam breaks, what can hold back the river’s desire?.. Question What admonition does our father Demetrius, the Rostov saint, offer to those like the saints, as a warning against moral failure? Rep. Do not rest, man, He exhorts; do not be sad in this world; but always be alert and cautious, always strive and be sober. One thing is before you: either you will defeat the enemy, or you will be defeated by him... You are on the path of this age: walk. If you are on the spring ice, do not be sad; You are in the battle of this world, fighting; in the marketplace you are temporary: buy. Take care that you do not go skinny and naked to your eternal home. Take heed that you walk with your fall; therefore, in your sleep, stay awake, as the wise son of Sirach teaches.” Question What do you say in response to this? Rep. I will pray this prayer: Be the protector of my soul, O God, as I walk in the midst of many snares: deliver me from them and save me, O Good One! The Holy Church is made up of clergy and laity, or shepherds and flocks. Question What is the position of the flocked people to the shepherds? Rep. 1) since the shepherd says the word of God: what he teaches, you diligently listen, Christian, and do it. The Apostle exhorts about this: obey your mentors and repent: for they watch over your souls, so that they do this with joy, and not sighing: for it is not profitable for you (Heb. 13:17). 2) The shepherd is God’s messenger, who is sent from God to you, and proclaims to you the path of salvation and calls you in the name of God into His eternal kingdom. Honor him as the messenger of God, who proclaims great good things to you and calls you to them: those who accept you will accept Me (Matthew 10:40). 3) because the shepherd provides for the common good; then love him as your father and benefactor, and be grateful to him. Do you call him father? Good: he gives birth to both you and everyone - not to a temporary, but to an eternal life; love him, too, as you love your father. 4) He cares about everyone and about you; Do not leave him in need, and whatever he requires, help him in that, and fulfill his shortcomings (i.e., help his needs) from your estates, and time has to take care and provide for the common good. He who cares and provides for everyone must provide for everyone. 5) Many of the people are unkind and do not like pastoral reproof, and want to live of their own free will, and they invent and scatter quite a few slander against the shepherd. Therefore, when you hear some kind of slander against the shepherd and the rumor is evil, do not believe it, and stop your mouth, so that you will not tell anyone else about it. Otherwise you will sin gravely; for you will repay evil for good; and this is great lawlessness. It’s hard for a simple person, much less a shepherd, to slander and dishonor. Hence, there is great disorder among people, contempt and disobedience will follow for the shepherd; and through this his work may be useless. Heed this diligently and beware of evil rumors against the shepherd; Moreover, beware of spreading an evil rumor about him, lest you discover the vengeful hand of God on yourself. 6) If you see any weaknesses, such as can be found in the pious, in a shepherd, do not be tempted and do not judge him, but remember that the shepherd is the same person as other people. 7) since the shepherd is subject to many temptations, and especially the devil and his evil servants rebel against him, and therefore requires special God’s help and reinforcement: then, just like all people, you should pray to God for him, that he may help him and strengthen him. The well-being of a home depends on a good owner, the well-being of soldiers depends on a good commander, and the well-being of a sailing ship depends on a good helmsman. Pray for the shepherd to be wise and kind, and Christian society will be prosperous. 8) When the shepherd himself does not do what he teaches, but lives contrary to the teaching, listen to the word of Christ, which says about such shepherds: in the seat of Moses sit the scribes and the Pharisee. Whatever slaughter you are commanded to observe, observe and do; but do not do them by deed; they speak and do not do (Matthew 23:3, Part 1). Question How does Saint Tikhon reflect on shepherding? Rep. What is the head in the body, is the shepherd and boss in Christian society. When there is a reasonable head in the body, then the whole body is in a good state: so, when in a Christian society there is a reasonable shepherd and leader, then the society is in a good state. Happy is that body in which there is a reasonable head: blessed is that Christian flock in which there is a reasonable, kind and cheerful shepherd... Oh, beloved shepherd! You are the light of Christian society; Everyone is looking at you like a candle burning in the night, so awaken the light, so that those who look at you will be enlightened! Be like a mirror into which you look and wipe away your vices from your face! Be like a reasonable head. If you are reasonable and kind, then all the Christian society subordinate to you will be blessed (part 11). Such were the three great luminaries among the hierarchs: Basil, the divine mind; Gregory, divine voice; John, the all-red lamp, are the three highest saints of the Trinity, magnify them, my soul, and every one! When the patriarch reposes, says the Reverend. Metropolitan Gabriel in his book: on the ministry and orders of the Orthodox Church (§§307–330): then the sovereign, as the patron of the Church, convenes bishops by decrees, so that the election of a new patriarch is from the Council. None of the assembled bishops dares to enter the great (as the patriarchal) church, lest they imagine themselves admiring the power of the patriarch. A cathedral takes place in a special church or chamber where icons of St. Apostle, in order to arouse the attention of those gathered to the immaculate disposition of the spirit of St. The Apostles elected ministers of the Church, and by this example, taking away all partiality, they raised hearts to the grace of the Holy Spirit. Three lamps are lit, censing occurs, and the first bishop reads the litany, in which he remembers the deceased patriarch. Those assembled, sitting in order, give votes for three persons. Two bishops and a chartophylax bring the names of the chosen ones to the sovereign, to whom, as the anointed of God, from ancient times from St. The father is left to approve one of them. On the appointed day, at a meeting of bishops, and in front of a multitude of archimandrites, abbots, priests, clergy and people, and at the lighting of lamps, there is a litany from the appointed patriarch and the royal charter is presented to him through the most important nobles. When presenting it, they say this: “our strong and holy sovereign, the divine and great Synod calls upon your Holiness to the highest throne of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.” If the chosen one is a bishop, then the sovereign, before his arrival, sends a mandia with sources and a panagia; and upon arrival, he hands over the staff, as a sign of pastoral authority, and accepts the blessing. Then the chosen one, from the royal chambers through the courtyard, on horseback, marches to the Patriarchal Church, accompanied by Synclitus. The next day, in the presence of the sovereign, bishops, clergy and people, St. Liturgy. Upon entering the altar, candles are distributed at the Trisagion; The first two bishops, holding him by the arms, take him to a high place and seat him, exclaiming: axios! After the takeover of the Greek kingdom by the Mohammedans, the Sultan is asked for the chosen one from the Council, and when they receive the decree, the hartophylax or the great steward, in the presence of the bishops, clergy and people, proclaims to the chosen one: “Divine and sacred Council of the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops, bishops, the most honorable clergy and the noblest nobles and the Christian people, your call bishopric from the throne of the most holy metropolis (name) to this highest and great patriarchal - the most holy, great throne of Christ's Church. Question What should Christians, and especially pastors, be sad about? Rep. 1) Christian sadness, like joy, should not be the same as that of the sons of this age: they should not grieve that they do not have wealth, honor, glory... 2) Christian sadness is the sadness that Christians have a high and heavenly title, but cannot walk worthy of this calling, being crippled by the weakness of the flesh; that God is called Father, but, as duty requires, we love Him completely and are unable to please Him; that they receive unspeakable blessings from Him and hope especially for these in the next century, but cannot adequately thank Him... Every Christian (and especially a shepherd) needs this sadness: such sadness is favorable to God, because the spirit is broken and the heart is contrite. 3) Sorrow for God is that with which those who have sinned before the Lord and who repent after conversion grieve... They grieve because God, Who is eternal love and goodness, was insulted by evil deeds, Whom they should have revered, and were dishonored by lawless living; Whom they should have loved and listened to most of all, they did not love and did not listen... This sorrow, unrepentant repentance, brings salvation, and the Apostle boasts of it (2 Cor. 7:10). 4) Christians should grieve when they hear or see their neighbor sinning (they should grieve, and not condemn, for they themselves are subject to the same case); - to be sad, because such a person angers the good God, and through this their brother perishes, and perhaps not alone, if he is the father of a family or a ruler. Saint David had such sorrow: sorrow, he said, receive me from the sinners who forsake Thy law, O Lord (Ps. 119:53)! The ap. had such sadness. Paul, the teacher of the universe, as can be seen from his epistles. All Christians, but especially pastors, bishops and priests, should have such sadness and pain for their spiritual children until Christ is imagined in them (Gal. 4:19). All the sorrow of this world is useless; but only sorrow for God is useful and soul-saving: for it cleanses the soul from sins. We see in the world, our holy father Tikhon talks in Zadonsk solitude, that people cry: they are born crying, they live with crying, they die with crying. People are crying; for they live in the world, a place of mourning, a vale of sorrow. There are many reasons why people cry, and everyone who cries has their own reason for crying. Weep also, Christian; for you too live in a deplorable vale. Cry before time runs out, while tears are useful; cry, but you will not cry forever; cry and be consoled. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. People cry because they are unhappy: cry, Christian, because you are a sinner; for great misfortune is sin. People cry because they do not have physical health: you too cry because you do not have spiritual health. People cry that they are in sickness and disease: you also cry that your soul is sick, sick and infirm: for a serious illness is pride, envy, anger, impurity, love of glory, voluptuousness, love of money, and you have as many tormenting illnesses as there are passions and lusts. Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed (Jer. 17:14). People are crying because they have lost wealth: cry too, because you have lost wealth, in St. baptism given to you by the heavenly Father. People cry who are in poverty and poverty: cry also you, who are poor, and wretched and damned. More unbearable than poverty is sin. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and wretched (Ps. 85:1). People cry because they have no food and drink: you too cry because your soul is wasted away by hunger, deprived of hearing the word of God; for it is a great and grievous famine to not hear the word of God. People cry because they are naked and have nothing to cover their nakedness; Weep also, because your soul is hungry: sin has exposed it. Shame - bodily nakedness; but more shameful - spiritual nakedness! People see bodily nakedness; but God and the holy Angels see His spiritual nakedness. Blessed is he who watches and wears his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his nakedness (Apoc. 16:15). People cry because they fall and are broken: you too, Christian, cry because you are falling into sin, and your soul is broken and exhausted: a hard and cruel fall is sin. It is better, far better, to fall in body than in soul, and with your feet than in sin. Be careful to stand, lest you fall (1 Cor. 10:12). People cry for their dead parents, brothers, relatives, friends: you too cry for your dead soul, like Martha and Mary for Lazarus. Let the heavenly Father also say about you: for this son of mine was dead and is alive again. People cry because they suffer violence and insult from their enemies: you too, my soul, cry before God for your spiritual enemies, who are trying to take away your eternal salvation. They are the devil and his evil angels. People cry, called and led to the trial, fearing, so as not to be disgraced at the trial and not to fall into condemnation and punishment: cry, too; for you too will be called to judgment - not human, but God's... People cry because they have a lot of debt on themselves, and not having anything to repay, they are afraid that they will be thrown into prison: weeping and you, because you have lent a lot to the heavenly King through your sins, and truly have nothing with which to pay. People sitting in prison cry because they do not see the light: you also cry because your soul is enveloped in the darkness of passions and does not see the divine light. Bring my soul out of prison. People are crying, bound by bonds and shackles, because they have no freedom: you too cry because your soul is bound by sins, like bonds, and does not have its freedom. If the Son of God sets us free, we will be free indeed (John 8:36). People living on foreign lands cry because they do not see their home and dear fatherland. This is how the Jews wept while in captivity in Babylon, as they proclaim about themselves: on the rivers of Babylon, there weeping and weeping, never remembering Zion for us. Weep also, O Christian, that you live in this world as if in a foreign land, and do not see the heavenly fatherland and the beautiful mountainous Jerusalem. Woe to me, for my coming continues (Ps. 119:5)! Cry my soul, and be comforted here and there. Who will give water to my head, and a source of tears for my combs, and I weep day and night (Jer. 9:1)? Word: Flesh has in St. Scriptures have different meanings. Flesh is the name given to our body, which eats, drinks, is born, gives birth, dies and decays. The flesh is the totality of our sinful inclinations, desires, aspirations and deeds, contrary to the law of the Lord. – In this last sense, I will offer you the reasoning of our Holy Father Tikhon about the flesh and its difference from the spirit. – In a person who has accepted the Christian faith, two laws are found: the law of the flesh and the law of the spirit (Gal. 5:17). There is constant warfare between these laws: the flesh wants to be proud and magnified; but the spirit is to be humble. The flesh wants peace, bliss; spirit - to stay awake, to work. The flesh wants to take revenge on its enemies; spirit - to love enemies and do good to them. The flesh wants to please its sensuality; spirit - to be chaste. From now on you see for yourself, beloved brother, what is the difference between carnal and spiritual wisdom, and how a carnal man differs from a spiritual man, and what is the end of the carnal. For a natural man, death is cruel (Ps. 33:22), but for a spiritual man it is peaceful. The carnal, dying temporarily, dies eternally. But the spiritual passes through death to eternal life. Let those who strive diligently go against the flesh, holding fast to the grace of the Spirit. Saint Tikhon explains and instills the duty of Obedience in his Spiritual Treasure, under the article: Master and Slave (Part 10). “A slave is called by the name of the master whose slave he is: this is how a Christian is called a Christian, because he is a slave of Christ. A slave is called a slave of one or another master because he works for him, does his will, pleases and obeys him: so a Christian is called a servant of Christ because he works for Him, does His will, pleases Him and repents. The master does not recognize as his faithful servant that slave who does not do his will: so Christ does not recognize that Christian as his faithful servant who does not fulfill His commandments. Why do you call Me: Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say (Luke 6:46)? A servant walks before his master with fear and reverence, so as not to anger him: so Christians must walk before Christ their Lord with fear and reverence, so as not to anger Him. Although they do not see Him before them; but He sees everyone and looks at everyone. The slave does not know when the master will call him to him; and therefore a good servant is ready at all times and expects this: just as a Christian does not know when Christ the Lord will call him to Himself: Christ calls everyone to Himself through death, and therefore a good Christian always prepares for the outcome. When the master leaves somewhere, the good servant always awaits his arrival: so Christians should always expect the second coming of Christ, according to this word: let your loins be girded and your lamps burning (Luke 12:35). A slave, when he appears before his master, is faulty, is punished: so a Christian, when he appears before Christ the Lord, faulty, accepts punishment. A slave, no matter how faithfully he works for his master, fulfills his duty, does what he is obliged to do: so a Christian, although he works faithfully for Christ the Lord, nevertheless must recognize himself as unworthy (Luke 17:1). Fickle and evil slaves, behind the eyes of their master, live according to their will and are willful, thinking that their master does not see: so many unscrupulous Christians act against their conscience and the law of God, as if Christ did not see them, and only that they do not say: Christ is in heaven, far from us, he does not see us and our deeds. And maybe many people really think and say so. But the Psalmist sings to everyone: the Lord looked down from heaven, seeing all the sons of men: He who created their hearts alone, meaning, for all their deeds (Ps. 33:13–15). Does not the planted ear hear? Or does he who creates the eye not look (Ps. 93:9)? If a slave, having overthrown his duty of obedience, became so mad and frantic that he began to shout, make noise, etc., in front of his master; then this would show extreme disrespect and annoyance to his master, and would incite him to great anger: such madness and frenzy are shown by Christians who, before Christ the Lord, who watches over all, are lawless and self-willed. This includes disorderly shouting, dancing, foul and inappropriate songs, quarrels, fights, etc. All this and other similar things are Christian madness and frenzy, committed before the eyes of Christ the Lord. Hence there are terrible executions, such as great fires, pestilences, invasions of foreigners, earthquakes, etc... Our God is a consuming fire: it is terrible to fall into the hand of the living God (Heb. 12:29, 10:31). Consider this." About repentance, as our most important duty, St. Tikhon spoke to his Voronezh flock in a word in the new (1765) year - the next. Repent (Matthew 4:17). Everyone, I think, he said, is surprised in his mind when he hears this proposal: repent, and thinks: this is what this preacher is now offering! This holiday is cheerful and bright; Everyone is now wishing Happy New Year; and he offers us sadness. This day, on which we celebrate three holidays: the Circumcision of the Lord, the memory of the great Basil and the new year (1765), inspires to have fun; and he induces mourning and fasting in repentance: repent... But if you consider what repentance is, you will see for yourself how proper it is to offer it in the New Year. What is repentance? Repentance is an aversion to the former sin-loving life and a new perception, governed by the law of God. So for example. say: whoever was drunk and voluptuous before must be abstinent. Those who have hitherto lived their lives in enmity and quarrels must be reconciled and have peace with everyone, as far as it depends on them. Whoever touched the name of his neighbor with a slanderous tongue, and thus tormented his glory, he must tie his tongue, and allow it only to glorify God and to build up his neighbor. This is what repentance is; It is fitting for sinners to say: repent, sinners who are starting the New Year.” Question Don’t you remember how Saint Tikhon turns the ordinary, often heard word: arise, into a call to repentance? Rep. “It happens that a man stirs up a lazy man and says to him: stand up; it's time to get down to business. This is how God’s saving grace awakens a Christian who is careless about his salvation: get up and go to the work to which the Lord has called you. Time is running out and will not return; your life ends; death comes suddenly, Satan, like a cunning thief, steals your salvation. Arise from your sleep, and rise from the dead, and Christ will illuminate you (Part 11)! Question What is repentance and what are its accessories? Rep. Repentance is regret and sickness for sins committed after baptism, which, through unfeigned and true confession with contrition of heart, are forgiven through priestly permission. The mystery of repentance is accomplished through the blessing and prayer of the priest, which begins with these words: Our Lord Jesus Christ, by grace and bounty, etc. In this mystery: 1) the repentant and the priest who accepts the confession must be of the Orthodox faith, not heretics. Otherwise, both the confession and the permission will not be valid. 2) Let the repentant have contrition of heart and sorrow for the sins with which he angered God. 3) The repentant must confess his sins in detail and separately, humbly, reverently, self-accusingly and without blaming others, with the indispensable intention not to return to those sins that were confessed. 4) Upon confession, let the penance be fulfilled, assigned by the confessor, who is obliged to keep what was confessed to him under the seal of secrecy. Question Tell me something about this subject from the great preacher of repentance, St. Chrysostom? Rep. This is what Saint Tikhon wrote out from it (Part 1): “Repentance cleanses all sins, whatever they may be. Repentance does not come from a long time, but from the fervor of the heart. Five days are enough for repentance, if you are sober, you will begin to pray, you will be vigilant. There is no need to be ashamed of repentance, but of sin. True repentance is to not only abstain from previous sins, but especially to do good. Whoever repents after a sin is not worthy of crying, but he should be counted as a blessed one.” Question What does repentance consist of? Rep. (Part 1, sheet 71). Saint Tikhon answers this question: 1) from the Holy Scriptures: sorrow, even according to God, unrepentant repentance brings salvation (2 Cor. 7:10). I have known my iniquity and have not covered my sin; reh: let me confess my iniquities to the Lord (Ps. 37:5). I will proclaim my iniquity, and I will take care of my sin (Ps. 37:19). 2) From St. Chrysostom (which is already given above), - and 3) From one’s own reasoning: 1) One must renounce oneself, that is, one’s own will, and passionate lusts, and strive against all sin, and not only not fulfill it by deed, but also drive away thoughts. 2) Having thus changed, begin a new life, submit your will to the will of God, follow the holy example of the life of Christ. And if you stumble and fall due to weakness, immediately, recognizing your damnation, resort to God’s mercy and ask with deep humility for forgiveness. 3) For past sins, even before the end of life - to regret that with them they angered the man-loving God, did not listen, and fulfilled the evil will of His enemy the devil... 4) The past time, as in vanities, lust, sins, and therefore lived in evil, is often discussed and mourned. For from this will follow spiritual poverty, which is very necessary for repentance. Question How does Saint Tikhon strengthen the hope of the repentant? Rep. God Himself calls us to repentance and commands us to repent, and is patient with us, waiting for everyone and accepting those who repent. 2) God promised not to even remember the sins of those who repent (Ezek. 33:16), and He confirmed His promise, so that we would not doubt coming to Him in repentance, with an oath. As I live, says the Lord Adonai: I do not want the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn and live (Ezek. 33:11). 3) The examples of those who repented and received mercy from God testify to this; also the parable of the prodigal son, the lost sheep, and many examples in the Menaion: read, and you will be strengthened in hope. 4) Christ came into the world for this reason, to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). 5) The heavenly father rejoices with all the Angels over the repentant sinner (Luke 15:10). Question What is the benefit for repentance? Rep. Show mercy to everyone; forgive offenses to one's neighbor; stand strong against sin; and call on Christ for help. Look at this in the discussion about sin. St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov, thus depicts the worship of the soul of a Christian to the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born in Bethlehem for our salvation. I worship Your first star, from the Father without a mother, and your ineffable care for us. I adore Your condescension and the action of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Incarnation, the Nativity and the bestial manger, for the sake of our salvation, O Lord who loves mankind! I also adore You, Most Holy Theotokos, through Your Nativity showing us the true light, hope for the hopeless, helper to the weak, and intercessor to all sinners! Cover me and protect me from troubles and needs of body and soul. I adore You, O Most Holy One, with the Eternal One holding the Child in Your hand, the Lord Jesus Christ, and I admirably honor You. Question What is worship? 0tv. Worship is a sign of submission, that is, humiliation and humility. The types of worship are numerous and the objects are many... Let us stand on the rock of faith and tradition of the Church, without transgressing the limits set by St. fathers, and without leaving the institutions of the Holy Apostolic Council of the Church of God. Question What St. John of Damascus speaks of worship to the East? Rep. We bow to the East not simply and not without reason. Since we consist of visible and invisible, i.e., sensory and spiritual nature, we offer twofold worship to the Creator: we sing with our minds and bodily lips, we are baptized with water and the Spirit, and we unite with the Lord in two ways, partaking of the sacraments and grace of the Spirit. So, since God is intelligent light (1 John 1:5), and Christ is called in Scripture the sun of righteousness Mal. 4:2) and the East (Zech. 3:8): then the east should be dedicated to worshiping Him... And the divine David says: sing to God of the kingdoms of the earth, sing praises to the Lord, who has ascended into the heavens, to the east (Ps. 67:33, 34). The Scripture also says: God planted paradise in the east and settled there with man, whom he himself created (Gen. 2:8). And when a person transgressed the commandment, he was expelled and the sweets of paradise were introduced (Gen. 3:24), that is, in the west. Therefore, wishing to return to our former fatherland and directing our gaze to it, we bow to God to the East. And the tabernacle of Moses had a veil and an atonement also to the east (Lev. 16:14). And in the famous temple of Solomon, the gates of the Lord were in the east. The crucified Lord also looked to the west: thus we bow, directing our gaze to Him. Ascending into heaven, He ascended to the east, and to the east the Apostles bowed to Him; and He will come from the east just as they saw Him ascending into heaven (Acts 1:11). What He himself said: just as lightning comes from the east and appears to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27). And so we must bow to the east: this is the unwritten tradition of the Apostles; for they have delivered many things to us even without Scripture. Question What advice does the saint give to a Christian? Tikhon regarding thoughts? Rep. The whole Christian feat consists in stopping at the beginning evil thoughts that rebel against the Holy Faith and the law of God, and want to transform a pious heart, and not allow them to grow and intensify. For this, all the saints of God strove and labored. For this reason, even now those who want to live piously in Christ Jesus strive... In this work of asceticism for the salvation of our souls, we must imitate those people who either defend their house from a thief who finds them, or defend their city from the enemy. Then they use all their diligence to be undefeated from their enemies: they resist and repel them, they are wounded and wounded: this is what we should do when our enemy the devil attacks the house of our soul - through evil thoughts - and wants to destroy it; must resist it, reflect it and not allow it. Or as the owner strives to extinguish his house that is on fire: so we must, when the evil one throws evil thoughts into our souls like fiery arrows, we must extinguish and not allow our house to catch fire. Question How should we accept, preserve and develop good thoughts? Because just as there are thoughts that arise from the root and seed of carnal birth - evil, so there are thoughts that arise from the seed of a new, spiritual birth - good; and just as there are thoughts and impressions that are inspired by the angels of Satan - dark ones: so there are thoughts, ideas, impressions (in reality and in dreams) that are excited and introduced by the Angels of God - grace-filled, light. Rep. And let the article from the works of St. Tikhon serve us with a complete and clear answer to this question (Part IV, Chapter 2): about spiritual wisdom. In it (§27) up to 150 cases are presented, teaching how, with the help of grace and God's word, thoughts related to spiritual reasoning can arise, develop and be irritated from simple, encountered objects. For example you see a slave approaching his master with fear. This incident allows you to judge that you should turn to God with incomparably greater respect... You see a blind man who does not see the path or anything; From this case, turn your thoughts to spiritual blindness... You see a hive of bees; direct your thoughts to reasoning about subordination, about order, about work, about unselfishness and about the public good... You see leaves falling from the trees in the fall: remember and think about the transience and changeability of happiness, etc. 2) The second mentor and guide to good thoughts, to the development, and revelation and multiplication of them - be for you St. Tikhon, a spiritual treasure collected from the world, which I advise you to read more often for this purpose, observing what holy thoughts are in your holy soul. Tikhon arose and how they developed, for example. in these articles: arise; lamp; and we will go there; follow me; I owe you a lot; bridle; – kokosh or chicken; the blind man and the one who sees with him (Part 11); he did his job and left; citizens waiting for the king; whose are you? Don't be afraid, I'm with you; great ; he is with him for one thing; I’ll come tomorrow, etc. (Part 12). Father and children; captive and liberator; reasonable head; deaf; the bride and groom themselves, etc. (Part 10). Saint Tikhon often and loudly spoke against the care of this world. Let us cite one place here (Book VI, Chapter 11). Let us now put aside all worldly concerns. But the rich man calls up and presents a reason: “I have children. We need to leave a legacy for the children.” Answer: it’s true, you shouldn’t leave your children: the natural fatherly love for children requires it... Don’t leave your children; but do not abandon the poor who ask you for mercy for the sake of Christ, who died for everyone and for you. Love children; but not only love Christ more than children, but also love yourself more - Christ, who asks you through the poor. But at the same time, pay attention to the following: 1) When you want to leave an inheritance to your children, it is not known whether it will go to your children after death, or to your enemies. For it often happens that property goes to strangers after death, and not to those we wish for during our lifetime. 2) “It is not known, says Basil the Great, whether your abandoned wealth will be useful to them.” For many children are corrupted by their father's wealth and perish temporarily and eternally. 3) Your soul is closer and dearer to you than your children; You should take more care of her than of your children... 4) Children, even if left without an inheritance, can acquire an estate, just as you acquired it. For God, who gave to you, can also give to them; and the soul, left from you without care, from whom will it find mercy when you despise the commandments of God?.. 5) Your children have a common provider - God, who provides for everyone. Entrust both yourself and your children to His Providence, and teach them apostolic admonition, so that their trust is not in perishing wealth, but in the living God, who richly gives everything for enjoyment (1 Tim. 6:17). Finally 6) there is no better inheritance than for your children to inherit your virtue and your good morals. Try to leave this legacy to them... Another thinks and says: “I want to live in the world, and for this I am storing up my property and saving it.” Answer: That’s what the Evangelical rich man thought about living in the world, eating, drinking, and being merry; but do you know what God told him (Luke 12:20)? So you promise yourself something that is not in your power; you want to live in the world, but death is before you, and the judgment of God is at the door, and God says from heaven: foolishly, this night they will take your soul from you, and what you have prepared - who will they be? Another thinks: “If I put aside the cares of life, then how should I live?” Answer: You won’t have anything to live with, but something to live luxuriously. There will be nothing to expand and decorate buildings, chambers, walls; there is nothing with which to fill rich tables, nothing with which to stock up on expensive wines and receive frequent guests; there is nothing to buy diamonds, yachts and other delights and vanity... There is nothing to play cards and support a dog's hunt; because all these vain expenses require a lot of dependency... And when the excess is taken away, the luxury will cease: then there will be enough for you and those who demand from you; for nature is not content with much; but whim and luxury are destructive and are not happy with the whole world... Stinginess, pride, love of money, and covetousness invents many other reasons and excuses. For this reason I say to you: do not worry about your soul, what you eat and drink, and about your body, what you put on: is not the soul more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don't you eat them better?.. And why are you worrying about clothes? Look at the villagers, how they grow, neither toil nor spin. I say to you, even as Solomon in all his glory is clothed, as if he were one of these. If the hay of the village exists today, and is swept into the cave in the morning, God dresses it like this: isn’t it much more than you, you of little faith? Don’t worry about the pits, or what we drink, or what we wear. The pagans are looking for all of them. For your heavenly Father knows that you require them all. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:25–33). Every vice is a mental illness. Anger is a heart disease; Pride is a spiritual illness, etc. Therefore, it is fitting for us to put here the letter of the righteous Tikhon on spiritual healing (see part 14, paragraph 7). You asked me, my friend and friend, to tell you something that would benefit your soul. I praise your desire. But I, as I myself am poor and wretched, take from the psalms of David, as a saving spiritual pharmacy, medicine that is useful to our souls and I impart it to you. It is bitter, but it is good for the soul. Salt is bitter, but it drives out worms and does not allow them to become rotten (these are our various vices). This salt and medicine is an accusatory word. Please, please accept this medicine and apply it to your soul. And whatever ailment (i.e., vice) she suffers from, apply similar medicine, and apply it until that ailment (i.e., vice) is healed. Understand what I am writing; May the Lord give you understanding! There, that is, in the psalms, it is sung: this is what you have done and kept silent (Ps. 49:21). Who says this? God. To whom? To a sinner. What does it mean: this is what you did? This is what it is: you, sinner, have despised My words given to you for the sake of your correction; and then how you should have them before you, honor them, love them, as the words of My mouth, and correct your life according to their rule: you cast them down behind you, and thus committed lawlessness, and committed various vices, and gave temptations (vv. 17-20). This is what you created. What does God say next? And kept silent. What does this mean - and keep silent? That is, you sinned and committed these and other sins and vices. And I saw: I saw, but was silent, waiting for your conversion, repentance and correction; but you remain uncorrected as you were; you do evil, as you did; You are wicked, just as you were wicked; you have My words behind you, just as you also had; and with your vices you give temptation, just as you gave... What next does God say to the sinner? Listen, you are angry at iniquity, for I will be like you. I will reprove you and bring your sins before your face (v. 21)... Here is a bitter medicine for you, brother, but one that drives out rotten and old juices from the soul, that is, vices "... Do you want a mirror so you can see your vices? Read (Part 13, Art. 20): The mirror shows the vices on the face. What blemishes are on the face, reflects the perspicacious teacher of our Church, holy. Tikhon is in his solitude in Zadonsk, the same sins are in his soul. What is a mirror to the face and vices: what is the same is an accusatory word for the soul and sins. The mirror shows us what is on the face; so an accusatory word, like a mirror, shows and exposes what vices there are in the soul; those that are not there are not shown or denounced. When a person, having seen the defects on his face, smooths them out, then even the mirror no longer shows them: so, when the soul, having abandoned sins, cleanses them with repentance and faith; then even the accusatory word does not concern her. And what an accusatory word does is what conscience does to the human soul. For conscience agrees with the laws and the word of accusation... So God set two witnesses and accusers for the human soul: outside is His law; inside the soul is conscience. Both of these witnesses testify and convict us faithfully and concordantly. They will be witnesses to everyone at the second coming of Christ. Whatever we do now, they will testify there. Have we sinned here? Our sins will be exposed there. Have you repented and made amends for your wicked deeds here? There they will not reprove for them... From here it is clear that if the preaching of the law of God is necessary, so that people recognize their sins from it, just as we recognize the blemishes on the face from a mirror, and having recognized them, we smooth them out with repentance and faith... The obedience that a Christian must show to his God is that he should try to submit his will to the will of God in everything, and whatever God commands, he should show himself willingly, and not look at what pleases the world or the flesh (Eph. 5:9, 10). True obedience does not look at whether what is commanded is difficult or easy, but in any case, giving one’s heart in obedience to God, it cries out: my heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready! True obedience is not commanded, but the commanding person, the will and desire reason; God is the One Who commands - God, the creator and provider, and no other... An insult and an insult to the king when a slave does not give him due obedience; How much more is it offensive to God when we do not show obedience to Him, as the King and Lord. The son glorifies his father and the servant fears his master: And if I am the Father, where is My glory? And if the Lord is I, then where is my fear, says the Lord Almighty (Mal. 1:6)? Heed this, Christian, Saint Tikhon exhorts. Faith has the property of recognizing, confessing and naming God as its God, Lord and King, as we read in the books of the prophets, apostles and holy fathers, and we also see in church songs. Therefore, when you believe that your God is God, Lord, King and Savior, then you must show your faith by your works - you must show obedience to God, the Lord, your King and Savior. Question What does St. Tikhon say about disobedience? Rep. Since great and grave evil and shamelessness are disobedience, we will see if we imagine that 1) fearlessly not listening to the Holy, Great and Infinite God, the Lord, Who holds the whole world in His hands; Whom the holy angels worship with great reverence, the earth and ashes (i.e. mortals) do not listen, but are gifted with reason. 2) That without true obedience nothing pleases God - neither confession of His name (Luke 6:46), nor prayer (John 9:31), nor singing and praising (Matthew 15:8), nor preaching God's word (Ps. 49:16), nor the gift of miracles, etc. (Matthew 7:22). 3) That the guilt and teacher of disobedience is Satan with his evil angels: he is the first seditious and disobedient, and 4) the fruits of disobedience are every sin and torment of conscience (Part VII, Art. 3, about the Christian position towards God). Therefore, every morning we cry to the Lord like this: Lord! give me humility, chastity and obedience (morning prayer). Wanting to talk about fasting, I will offer you from St. Tikhon: 1) the concept of true fasting and 2) how indecently, according to the custom of this world, the majority of Christians observe Great Lent? 1) There is physical fasting, and there is mental fasting. Bodily fasting, when the belly fasts from food and drink; spiritual, when the soul abstains from evil thoughts, words and deeds... Physical fasting is useful for us, because it serves to mortify passions; but mental fasting is absolutely necessary, so much so that physical fasting is nothing without it... Let your mind fast from vain thoughts! Let the memory fast from resentment! May your will and fasting be from evil desires! May your eyes turn away from bad vision, and your ears from vile songs and whispers! Let the tongue fast from slander, lies, flattery!.. This is true Christian fasting (Is. 56:4-10)! 2) Shame covers my face, calls out the Monk Tikhon, when I imagine how Christians spend the week that precedes the Great Lent - Shrovetide... Illness and pity crushes my heart, it is in vain to celebrate it in vain, because they are defaming the holy and pious Faith... Our Mother St. The Church today sings this to us in its songs: “Having opened the threshold of divine repentance, let us begin diligently... to create brushes and put aside passions.” Inde like this: “bright pre-celebration of abstinence, bright pre-celebration of fasting today.” In another place it’s like this: behold, this is the time of repentance, the pre-festive move of this fast.” And in another song it’s like this: let us not defile all the entrances and vestibules of the fast with evil by intemperance.” What then? Do Christians listen to the sweet and kind Matera with their song? Oh! She gave birth to sons, she extends her and God's plaintive voice, - they gave birth to sons in the font of restoration, drinking the milk of God's word, raising them with the sacraments of faith... but they rejected Me. How did you get rejected? Listen! She inspires more reverence in these days; and they are more outrageous; she commands more abstinence; and they give themselves over to passions more; she determines fasting, and they overeat and drink more; She orders the purification of bodies and souls, but they defile more... Hear the sky and inspire the earth! Christians rejected their mother; Christians of the Orthodox Church of Christ do not listen... A terrible thing! He who does not listen to the Church is like a pagan and a tax collector. He who does not listen to the Church is not a son of the Church; Christ is not his shepherd. To whom Christ is not a shepherd, he is not Christ’s sheep; He who is not Christ’s sheep expects eternal life in vain (Part III, p. 50). Peter and Paul, the holy apostles, are thus praised by St. Chrysostom at the end of his conversations on the Epistle to the Romans: “Where the Cherubim praise and the Seraphim soar, there we will see Paul and Peter... For this I love Rome. Although one can praise a lot about it: its vastness, antiquity, beauty, power, military prowess; however, I leave all this aside and glorify him for the fact that Paul, during his life, was committed to the Romans, loved them very much, talked with them personally, and ended his life in Rome. And this is why this city is especially famous than everything else. Like a great and mighty body, Rome has two bright eyes - the holy bodies of the apostle: Peter and Paul. The sky is not as brilliant when the sun pours out its rays as the Roman city is, illuminating all the ends of the universe with these two luminaries. From here Paul will be caught up, from here Peter... What a spectacle it will be for Rome when Paul and Peter rise from their graves there and are caught up to meet Christ!.. Who will let me now touch Paul’s body, cling to the tomb, and see the ashes of this body, which made up for the lack of Christ’s sorrows, bore the wounds of Christ, and sowed preaching everywhere; - the dust of the body in which Paul flowed around the universe! The ashes of the body through which Christ spoke, a light shone more brilliantly than any lightning, a voice thundered, more terrible for demons than any thunder!.. The ashes of the body through which the Spirit gave his wondrous prophecies to the universe!.. What did not the good lips of Pavlov do? They cast out demons, forgave sins, stopped the mouths of torturers, bound the tongues of philosophers, brought the universe to God, convinced the barbarians to be wise, transformed everything on earth... I would like to see the dust not only of the lips, but also of Pavlov’s heart, which, without error, can be called the heart of the universe, the source of a thousand blessings, the source and element of our life! From this heart the spirit of life overflowed into everything and was taught to the members of Christ. This heart was so spacious that it contained entire cities, tribes and peoples... But let us not marvel at Paul, not only be amazed at him, but also imitate him, so that even after we depart from here, we may be worthy to see him and participate in the ineffable glory, according to the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and together to the Holy Spirit, be glory and power - now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Question And praise to St. himself. Where can I find Chrysostom and what is it like? Rep. In the teaching of St. Demetrius of Rostov (part 3, sheet 256) - this: Christ’s mouth, Paul’s mouth; Pavlov's mouth - Chrysostom's mouth; Chrysostom's mouth - Christ's and Paul's mouth. We kiss your golden lips, great servant of God, we accept and praise your new praiseworthy name of Chrysostom, which has been named to you, although feminine, but inspired by God... Look down on us from above and bless us with your blessing... Question How Saint Tikhon reflects on the veneration of St. icons? Rep. In his own special way - like this: “everywhere and in all things, remember with love the Lord your God and His holy love for us. Everything that we see in heaven and on earth, in your home and in sacred churches, excites you to the remembrance of the Lord your God and His holy love... This image is the image of Christ, is the image of my Savior, Who for my sake came into a poor world to save me who was lost, and suffered and died for me: and so - from sin, the devil, death, hell, redeemed me. I adore His inexpressible love for mankind. This image - the image of the Mother of God - is the image of the Most Holy Virgin, who gave birth to the Lord my God Jesus Christ in the flesh without seed. Blessed is the Mother who bore God in the flesh, and blessed is the fruit of her womb... Blessed is the womb that bore the Lord my God, and the breast that pissed. This image of the Forerunner is the image of that great prophet who was sent from God before the face of my Savior Jesus Christ, and He, who had already come into the world, announced to people and pointed to Him: behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, and He was vouchsafed to baptize in the streams of the Jordan. This image of the Apostle is the image of the disciple of My Savior, who (the disciple) himself saw Him, and treated Him, and saw Him working miracles, and heard Him teaching, and saw Him suffering for the salvation of the world, and resurrected from the dead and ascending into heaven. This image of a martyr is the image of that ascetic who stood to the point of bleeding for the honor of my Savior Jesus Christ, and for His holy name he did not spare his life and established our pious Faith as true, through the outpouring of his blood.” That's how blessed it is. Tikhon teaches to venerate St. icons. Let's add from St. our father John of Damascus about St. icons Rep. An icon is a likeness, a representation, an image in which the object depicted is visible. Question Why is an icon made? Rep. Every icon is an image, a representation of a hidden thing. That is: since a person does not have pure knowledge of invisible things (for his soul is clothed with a body), nor of that which is distant from him in place or time (for he is limited by space and time): then, to introduce him to knowledge, to show and reveal hidden things, images (icons) are made... Question Who first gave the idea to depict icons? Rep. God Himself was the first to give birth to His only begotten Son and His Word, His living image, a natural and in no way different expression of His eternity. He also created man in His image and in His likeness. Question Like St. John of Damascus speaks in his exact presentation of the Orthodox Church. Faith about the veneration of Saints and their relics? Rep. (Chapter 15) “We must honor the Saints as friends of Christ, as children and heirs of God, according to the words of John the Theologian: And when they received Him, He gave them the power to become children of God (John 1:12). Why are they no longer slaves, but sons (Rom. 8:17), and the Lord says to the Apostles: you are my friends, to whom I say you are servants (John 15:14, 15)... How can one not honor those who are servants, and friends, and sons of God? The honor given to the most diligent colleagues proves love for the common Master. The saints have become treasuries and pure dwellings of God: I will dwell in them and walk around (2 Cor. 6:16). The righteous souls are in the hand of God; and no torment shall touch them (Wis. 3:1). For the death of saints is more a dream than death... And that God dwells through the mind and in the bodies of saints, the Apostle testifies: or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit living in you (1 Cor. 3:16)? How can one not honor animate churches, animate dwellings of God? The saints are alive and stand before God with boldness.” Oh St. relics “The Lord Christ gave us the relics of the Saints, like saving springs that exude many different benefits and pour out fragrant myrrh. And no one should doubt this. If, by the will of God, water flowed in the desert from a strong and solid stone and for the thirsty Sampson from the jaws of a donkey (Judges 15:17–19): is it not probable that fragrant myrrh flows from the relics of martyrdom? On the contrary, this is certain for those who know the power of God and the honor He bestows upon the saints. According to the law (Old Testament), anyone who touched a dead person was unclean. But saints are not dead. For since the time when He who had life in Himself and the author of life was numbered among the dead, we no longer call those who fell asleep in the hope of the resurrection and with faith in Him dead. And how can a dead body perform miracles? How, through the relics of saints, demons are cast out, diseases are repelled, the weak are healed, the blind receive their sight, lepers are cleansed, temptations and sorrows cease, and every good gift from the Father of lights descends on those who ask with undoubted hope? How much do you work to find a patron who would introduce you to a mortal king and put in a word for you? Shouldn’t we already honor the representatives of the entire human race who pray to God for us?.. Let us, believers, pay veneration to the saints with psalms, songs and spiritual singing, contrition of heart and mercy for the poor: because such service is most pleasing to God. We will erect monuments to them and display visible images, and by imitating their virtues, we ourselves will become their animated monuments. Let us honor the Mother of God as the true Mother of God, the prophet John as the Forerunner and Baptist, the apostle and martyr... Let us honor the Apostles as the brothers of the Lord, as witnesses and servants of His suffering, firstly the Apostles, secondly the Prophets, thirdly the shepherds and teachers. Let us honor the martyrs of the Lord, chosen from every rank, as soldiers of Christ, baptized with the baptism of His death. Let us honor our venerable fathers and God-bearing ascetics, who endured a more difficult and prolonged martyrdom of conscience, who lived in sheepskins and goatskins, in deprivation, sorrow, embitterment, wandering in deserts, in mountains and in dens, of which the whole world is not worthy (Heb. 11:37, 38). Let us honor the prophets and patriarchs who lived before grace, who foretold the coming of the Lord. Looking at the way of life of all these saints, let us be jealous of their faith, love, hope, zeal, life, steadfastness in suffering, patience even to the point of blood, so that together with them we may be worthy of crowns of glory.” Question How blessed. Tikhon talks about the blissful state of the righteous? Rep. Having put on the robe of immortality and glory in the resurrection, they will appear in the joy of the heart to the King of glory, Whom here in this world they served with faith and righteousness, and by faith they fought for the honor of His name, and they will hear from Him the longed-for voice: Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). They will hear from their righteous Judge and King praise for their faithful service, which they showed Him, struggling against sin; they will see their virtues as spiritual treasures, revealed to the whole world, pronounced in the ears of the whole world - virtues that they performed in secret before the Heavenly Father for His glory; They will see the house of their heavenly Father, open to them, and many mansions (John 14:2), and they will come to Zion with joy, and everlasting joy will be upon their head: for praise and joy will be upon their head, and I will receive joy; sickness, sorrow and sighing will have fled away (Isa. 35:10). And the faithful servants of Christ will enter into the joy of their Lord and begin a blissful eternity with triumph and an exclamation of spiritual joy. It is true that even the righteous are troubled by the fear of God’s judgment, for there is no one without sin. Therefore, with humility we pray to God: do not enter into judgment with Your servant; for no one living will be justified before You (Ps. 142:2). However, holy faith, with which they serve their King Jesus and look at His rich grace, softens this fear and gives the comforting news that everyone who believes in Him will not be ashamed. Therefore, Saint Chrysostom, discussing this day, says: “This day is a desirable day for the living, but a terrible day for the lawless (Conversations 20. on Matt.).” Holy Tikhon simply and vividly explains the blissful state of the righteous in Spiritual Treasure (part 13), under the title: There we will be safe. “We hear people saying this word: We will be safe there. But no matter what place in this world this word is spoken about, it will not be entirely true - whether about the house, about the fatherland, etc.... Why? Because there is no completely safe place in this world... From the womb to the grave, a person faces constant warfare and danger. Therefore, it is quite decent and correct for us to speak only about the eternal life: there we will truly be safe! We won't have anything to fear there. There we will live without any fear in a calm and peaceful city; there we will have perfect peace and tranquility... Living here, we are afraid of battles and invasions of foreigners and enemies; There will be no such fear; for there will be one kingdom of God, full of peace, righteousness and joy. Here we are afraid of fire, famine, pestilence: nothing like that will happen there. Here we are afraid of evil people who either openly or secretly slander us: they will not take place there. Here we are troubled by false brethren, and defeat a man in his household (Matthew 10:36): there are like-minded and loving brethren. It is not safe here and there is friendship: there will be shameless, true and faithful friendship, because everyone will have one heart, thought, will, desire and perfect love for each other. Here we are afraid of heretics and libertines of St. Faith, of the flesh and the temptations of the world: they will not be there. Here we are saved from sin: there is perfect truth and love. Here we are afraid of illness and sadness: there will be no illness, sadness and sighing. Here we are afraid of the devil and evil demons: that will not happen there; for they will be confined in their own place. Here we are afraid of death and hell: there we will triumph over death and hell forever. Where is your sting, death? Where the hell is your victory? Thanks be to God, who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:55–57). Do you see, Christian, danger and safety? In this world, it is dangerous for anyone living everywhere and always: the future life has no danger. There, only there, is it truly safe, and all perfect eternal bliss is there... If our life in this world is dangerous and poor: why should we want to live here for a long time? Alas for me, cries the Prophet, for my coming will continue! If there in the eternal belly there is only safety, peace, tranquility, joy, joy, bliss: let us hasten there, let us hasten, despising all the vanity of this world: there we will be safe. Blessed is he who you chose and accepted, O Lord! He will dwell in Your courts, He will be filled with the good things of Your house: holy is Your church (Ps. 64:5, 6). How beloved is Your village, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs and ends for the courts of the Lord (Ps. 83 to the end). Question As in sacred. Does Scripture depict a place in which the righteous are blissful and their very bliss? Rep. The place of bliss of the righteous, as in the Holy Place. Scripture, and in the writings of St. The Fathers are called: paradise (Luke 23:43), the bosom of Abraham (Luke 16:32), the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3), the kingdom of God (Luke 13:28, 29; Matt. 6:33; 1 Cor. 15:50), the house of the heavenly Father (John 14:2), the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ( Hebrews 12:22; 4:26)... Question What is the blessed state of the righteous? Rep. 1) In peace or rest from labor (Heb. 4:3, 11; Rev. 14). 2) Not involved in any sorrows and suffering (Look at this article by Blessed Tikhon: we will be safe there; and: now you are freed from all troubles, Abbreviated Spirit. Rev. 7:16). 3) In reclining - and therefore, in close communication with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other saints (Matthew 8:11). 4) In mutual communication with thousands of Angels (Heb. 12:22, 23; Luke 16:22). 5) In standing before the throne of the Lamb, in glorifying Him and serving Him (Apoc. 7:9, 17). 5) In cohabitation (John 14:3) and in fellowship with Christ (2 Tim. 2:11, 12). 7) In the sight of God (1 Cor. 13:12; 2 Cor. 5:8; Heb. 12:14). “You, divine and sacred head, calls upon St. Gregory the Theologian in his funeral homily to his brother Caesarea, enter into heaven, rest in the bosom of Abraham, behold the Angels there, the glory and splendor of the blessed, or better, form one face with them and rejoice... and may you appear before the great King, filled with the heavenly light.” And in another funeral homily of St. Gregory the Theologian speaks to the piously departed soul: “I am sure that much better and more excellent than what is visible is your present state: the voice of the celebrants, the joy of the Angels, the heavenly order, the vision of glory, and most of all - the purest and most perfect illumination of the Most High Trinity, no longer hidden from the mind, as bound and scattered by feelings, but wholly, with the whole mind, contemplated and acceptable and illuminating with the full light of the Divine.” They also depicted the bliss of the righteous saints. Cyprian, St. Chrysostom and other Fathers. Question Will the bliss of the righteous be the same? Rep. The bliss of the righteous in heaven will not be the same, but will have its own degrees, according to the moral dignity of each. This truth, which follows from the very concept of God’s justice, the difference in the merits of the righteous and, not equally, the ability to enjoy bliss revealed in them, 1) is clearly attested in St. Scripture: in My Father's house are many mansions (John 14:2). And one more thing: the Son of man will come, and then he will reward everyone according to his deeds (Matthew 16:27). The parable of various talents and various rewards for using them (Luke 19:17). 2) St. repeats himself many times. Fathers, namely: St. Ephraim. “The Lord named many monasteries not according to the difference in location, but according to the degree of talent. Just as everyone enjoys the rays of the sun, according to the purity of their visual power, so in the next century everyone, in their own measure, is illuminated by a single mental sun, and according to the degree of dignity, draws joy and gladness” (about the blessed abodes). St. Basil the Great. “Since the Father has many mansions, he will rest some in a more excellent and higher state, and others in a lower state, but all for the sake of honor will have peace” (Interpretation of the prophet Isaiah). Question What does St. say about the eternity of bliss? Scripture and Orthodox dogmatic theology? Rep. If the torment of sinners in hell seems terrible, it is especially because it will never have an end; then, on the other hand, the bliss of the righteous in heaven becomes even more desirable, because in the same way it will be endless forever. For in Scripture it is directly called eternal life (John 10:28; 11:25), eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15), eternal salvation (Heb. 5:8), and eternal glory (1 Pet. 5:10). At St. Ephraim the Syrian we read: come to Me, all of you, and I will give you rest - “where there is a great gift, incomparable joy, indispensable joy, incessant singing, continuous theology, an endless kingdom, limitless ages, an abyss of generosity, a sea of ​​mercy and love for mankind (word for the second coming of Christ).” St. Hilary: “This is the inheritance of the saint: life, and incorruptibility, and the kingdom, and eternal cohabitation with God.” St. Chrysostom: “what will happen (after the general judgment), what will the word depict, that is, the sweetness and joy that comes from communication with Christ?.. The joy is not only from pleasure, but also from the confidence that these blessings will never end... (word to Theodore the fallen). Question To avoid idleness and other worldly vices, what rules must be followed? Rep. 1) There is a time for everything and a time for every thing under the heaven (Eccl. 3:1). Take heed of the times and be guarded from the evil one (Sir. 4:23). Do not do secret things before a stranger: do not think about what will be born to you. Do not show your heart to every person, lest he reward you with false grace (Sir. 8:21, 22). Do not bring every person into your house: for many are the wiles of the flattering one (Sir. 11:29). 2) Be careful with your words. Before you hear anything, do not answer, and do not get involved in the conversation (Sir. 11:8). He who speaks a word before he hears it is foolishness and reproach (Prov. 18:13). Shorten the word, saying many in small words: be as one who knows, and be silent together (Sir. 32:10). Let your word always be in grace, mixed with salt, leading as it is fitting for you to answer everyone alone (Col. 4:6). 3) Removal from the dispute. Remember this, testify before the Lord, and do not argue, for any reason (2 Tim. 2:14). Glory to the husband for turning away from vexation: every fool is entwined with these (Prov. 20:3). Do not litigate about things that you do not need (Sir. 11:9). Move away from the quarrel and blot out your sins (Sir. 28:9). 4) Good conduct in meetings and at meals. When you are called to marriage, you go and sit in the last place (Luke 14:8–11). If you sat down at a great meal, do not open your throat at it, and do not say: there is much in it... Do not stretch out your hands and do not bend in salt... and do not be satiated, lest you be hated. Stop first for the sake of punishment... and if you sit in the midst of many, do not stretch out your hand first (Sir. 31:13-20). Do everything with advice: drink wine with advice (Proverbs 31:4). At the feast of wine, do not reprove the sincere, and do not humiliate him in his joy (Sir. 31:36). 5). A rule regarding the treatment of the rich and powerful. Do not create more burdens for yourself, and do not share in the strongest and richest things for yourself. Some communion for the mountain cook with the cauldron (Sir. 13:2, 3). Among the nobles, what is happening is not equal. Do not stand in the place of the strong (Proverbs 25:6). Whenever a strong one calls you, retreat, and only then will he call you. Do not come close, lest you be rejected, and do not stand far away, lest you be forgotten. Do not talk to him, and do not believe his many words: for with much conversation he will tempt you, and by laughing he will tempt you with your secret. Be careful and pay close attention, for you are walking with your fall (Sir. 13:12, etc.). 6) Discretion in meetings. Let those who make peace with you be many, but your advisers are one from thousands (Sir. 6:6). Do not speak counsel with him: you will not be able to keep your word (Sir. 8:20). Keep your soul from the adviser, and understand first what he needs: for he himself (often) consults (Sir. 37:8). Do not confer with the one who spies you, and from those who see you, there is hidden advice... But only always be with a reverent husband, if you know him to keep the commandments of the Lord: who with his soul is after your soul, and if you sin, he will hurt you (Sir. 37:10, 14-16). Do nothing without advice... Salvation is in much advice (Sir. 32:21; Proverbs 11:14). Question What is Orthodoxy? Rep. What Orthodoxy is, and what Orthodoxy consists of, is fully and clearly set forth in the following week of Orthodoxy. It contains 1) St. Church in the word of St. Paul prays to be guarded from those who create strife and strife, except for the teaching that we have already learned. 2) The right and power to excommunicate—to anathematize unrepentantly and bitterly those who oppose it—is indicated in the word of the Lord Himself and His head—Jesus Christ: if the Church disobeys you, be like a pagan and a publican, that is, a person alienated from the Church. 3) The bishop in prayer gratefully confesses God’s good deeds to the human race and condescension to the weakness and infirmity of our nature, and with humility and contrition confesses that “that the saving gospel has already been received joyfully; but the thorns of vanity and passions create it unfruitfully, and as iniquities multiply, such as heresies and schisms, opposing the truth of the Gospel, they deny grace and expose themselves to the judgment of Your Most Holy Word.” (And turning to God the Father, he cries out): “Your Church prays to You, presenting to You the author and perfecter of our salvation, Jesus Christ: be merciful to them; Strengthen them in Orthodoxy with Thy power.”... 4) Next, the Protodeacon from the prepared place proclaims the essence and objects, or members of Orthodoxy: “Who is the great God, even as our God! This God of ours, guiding us towards the saving promise, did not forsake Himself without witnessing, but He first proclaimed the salvation that would be, through the forefathers and prophets, and vividly described it in various images. This is our God... in the last days of these words spoken to us in the Son... Assure us by the power of the Holy Spirit of the truth of the gospel... Ambassadors and Apostles... Confirm the Gospel with various powers and miracles. This saving teaching follows. We believe in One God the Father, and reads the Orthodox Symbol - all the way to the end, adding: This is the Apostolic faith, this is the fatherly faith, this is the Orthodox faith, this is the faith that establishes the universe." Question Who exposes himself to judgment, excommunication and anathema? Rep. 1) Those who deny the existence of God and affirm that this world is original, and everything in it without Providence exists by chance. 2) Those who say that God is not Spirit, but flesh, etc. 3) Those who dare to say that the Son of God, the Holy Spirit is not consubstantial with the Father, etc. 4) Those who falsely say that the coming of the Son of God into the world in the flesh and death is not necessary for our salvation... 5) Those who reject the immortality of the soul, the end of the age, future judgment, etc. 6) Those who reject Councils St. Father, etc. 7) Those who think that Orthodox sovereigns are elevated to thrones, not by God’s special favor... and so dare to rebel and betray, etc.... Conclusion. Holy Trinity! glorify and establish these (those who submit and adhere to Orthodoxy); Convert the libertines and blasphemers of the Orthodox Faith and the Church of Christ, and cause them to come to the knowledge of Your truth... Amen. Question Like St. Tikhon talks about justice? Rep. (Part 9. Chapter 3, §462, etc.). True justice is necessary in court, so without it there cannot be a righteous trial, but only a type of trial... It requires that the right be acquitted, and the guilty be condemned; so that the offended is protected, and the offended is pacified; the embittered one is pleased, the embittered one is punished, and others are afraid. Investigation justice in the matter of judgment does not know the person, as God commands: let you not know the person in court; but it’s just a matter of looking and listening. The rich and the poor, the dignitary and the simple, the relative and the unrelated, the friend and the enemy, the known and the unknown in the matter of court are equal to him... Therefore, justice is not indecently likened to a person who has closed eyes, because in court they do not look at faces, but only hear cases; He is likened to one who has one ear open and the other closed; because one listens to the informer, the other protects the defendant; likened to scales; because a matter, as on a scale, is placed on reasoning and consideration, it measures and examines, and on which side the truth weighs (outweighs), it leans toward that side and justifies. Question What transforms justice the most? Rep. Four things: passion for covetousness, human fear, carnal love and hatred of enemies. These are, above all, the enemies of justice. Pious judges should not look at faces, but at deeds, and not be deceived by gifts and not be afraid of human fear. For if the judge stretches out his hand to the gifts and judges by them, then in the place of righteousness he will set up mammon and, instead of the judicial sanctuary, he will create a marketplace. If, for the sake of human fear, he allows untruth, then he will be afraid of man, and not of God, Who commanded to preserve the truth, and human fear will prefer the fear of God. If he bows to the love of his friends, he will abandon and insult God, who loved him. If for the sake of enmity he condemns the enemy, then he will take revenge, and not judge, and commit malice, and not carry out judgment... And so let the judge drive away human fear with the fear of God, and let him strengthen himself with trust in God, to Whom both higher and lower, judges and authorities are subject to judgment. Let carnal love be extinguished by the love of God! And may hatred of the enemy prevail over patience with meekness! Question What motivates the preservation of justice? Rep. 1) God is eternal righteousness, Who is pleased with righteousness and irritated by unrighteousness, Who says to the judges through His prophet: You shall not commit unrighteousness in court (Lev. 19:15). 2) If all Christians need to preserve the truth when they want to be Christians, how much more so should the judges, who, as the best and wisest of all, are chosen from all, and who are placed on high as luminaries. 3) An oath made before God and St. The Gospel is to preserve and defend the truth, and to eradicate untruth. 4) The integrity and well-being of society, which is created and preserved from the truth preserved, from untruth it is ruined and falls... Judicial truth eradicates evil, and untruth teaches evil. One and another evil man escaped the reward of execution: with this hope many learn evil, and so evil grows. For this reason, the wrath of God and the terrible judgments of God are sent to us. General untruth is punished by general execution. In the present age we see this evil: truth is trampled underfoot, and unrighteousness prevails... 5) We see in Scripture that the terrible judgment of God thunders on unrighteous judges: cursed is he who evades judgment to the beggar, and the orphan, and the widow. And again: cursed is he who takes the gift of striking the soul with the blood of the innocent (Deut. 27:19, 25; Isa. 10:1, 2)... The unrighteous judge will be crowded from everywhere when he stands at the judgment of Christ. His conscience, the rule and law common to all people, will expose him; the promise made during holy baptism will expose him; the oath will convict; will reprove God's word; they will denounce the tears of widows, orphans and other poor people, shed, but not achieving anything through bribery; deeds, glory and thoughts will appear, unrighteously, craftily and cunningly intended. The strong ones will be greatly tormented. Remember this, judge! Question How did Saint Tikhon teach his flock about the meaning of the holidays and how to celebrate them? Rep. There is, he said, a bad and harmful custom of celebrating holy holidays through drunkenness and indecent games, which the Holy Church has set for the glory and honor of God, and others - in memory of the holy saints of God. There is a pagan custom of drunkenness, goat-voiced people, celebrating their own holidays in the disorderliness of their own filth - pagans who do not know the true God, but honor the creature instead of the Creator and deify disorderly passions. You celebrate the holy holidays established by the Church not in drunkenness and disorder, but with reverence and meditation on the great blessings of God shown on those days. Celebrating this way, instruct God’s appointed people (This was written to the clergy). When I suggest that you do not celebrate holy days in drunkenness, I do not mean to abstain from drinking in every possible way: you can drink wine or something else for the glory of God, so that on such days, with spiritual joy, there will be bodily consolation; so that a person rejoices in spirit and body, and, rejoicing in heart and lips, thanks God the benefactor... I forbid you not to drink, but to get drunk always, and even more so on holidays. I’m telling you especially here about Cheese Week, so that you don’t see it off the way you see it off. Cheese Week is the threshold of Great Lent, just like the Church of St. calls. And therefore we must behave more temperately this week than before. But the problem is ours! When is there more drunkenness and other bad deeds, if not on the days appointed for preparation for the exploits of Great Lent? I ask and pray that you leave this soul-destroying custom, and not look at what happened, but think about what you should do, and what the saint demands. Church, Our Mother (special word about Cheese Week). Question How does Saint Tikhon talk about idleness? Rep. Idleness or laziness is itself a sin; for it is contrary to the commandment of God, which commands us to eat our bread in the sweat of our brow (Gen. 3:19). The human heart cannot be idle; but always busy with some thoughts. And since it is prone to all kinds of evil, and to an idle heart, as to a house marked and decorated, the spiritual enemy the devil conveniently approaches and fills it with evil thoughts, like tares: then idleness gives birth to many iniquities... Idleness not only destroys the soul, but also harms the body... Just as water is corrupted, which has no flow: so the human body, without movement and labor, deteriorates and weakens... Like sleep through labor. sweet, so without labor one can be restless... To avoid idleness, let us remember that time is the most precious treasure: just as a spoken word cannot be returned, lost time cannot be returned. Time is a market in which the talents given to us by the Lord must, with the help of God, be multiplied and increased. The inextricable one, that is, the one who indulges in idleness, is cast into utter darkness (Matthew 25:30). Go to wickedness, O lazy one, and be jealous when you see his ways (Prov. 6:6–11. Part V). A prayer for devotion to God and an example of marvelous devotion to God. 1) Prayer. It is truly worthy to worship You, my Lord Jesus Christ, the glorified and worshiped God of all the saints... And, unworthy as I am, I approach shamelessly and pray: save me, my Savior, according to Your goodness, and not according to my works. You want to save me; You think how to save me; Save me as you want, as you are able, as you know. I trust in You, my Lord, and I commit myself to Your holy will: do with me whatever you want. If you want to have me in the light, be blessed. If you want to have me in the darkness, be blessed again. If you open the doors of Your mercy to me, then it is good and good. If you close the doors of Your mercy to me: blessed art thou, O Lord, who shutth me to righteousness! If you do not destroy me with my iniquities: glory to Your immeasurable mercy. If You destroy me with my iniquities: glory to Your righteous judgment! As you wish, arrange a thing for me (St. Demetrius Rostov.). 2) Example. Know, beloved, that in all troubles, sorrows, sorrows and temptations, there is no small joy from the one who in everything entrusts himself to the will of the Lord, which is naturally good, always wanting our best and building everything for our benefit... But listen to the same story about this, just like us, says the saint. Demetrius of Rostov, it happened: “There was a certain teacher who was famous, who for a long time prayed diligently to God, so that he could show him such a person from whom he could be guided on the right path, conveniently and safely leading to heaven. One day, when he was especially fulfilled by this desire, he heard a voice from above, commanding him to leave his cell to the vestibule of the church: there, he was told, he would find the person he was looking for. He left and found an old man in poverty at the church doors, all raw, covered with injuries, wounds and pus: his clothes were very thin. As the teacher passed by him, according to his custom, he greeted him: good day to you, elder! The elder answered: I don’t remember ever having an evil day. The teacher, hearing this answer, stood up and, as if correcting the first greeting, said: May God make you happy! The elder answered: I have never been unhappy. The teacher, considering the elder to be eloquent and wanting to tempt his mind, said: God will save you for despising worldly well-being; Otherwise, tell me, I pray, are you the only one who is comfortable among the poor people? For Job is a lie when he says: a man is born of a small child, and is filled with many troubles and evils (Job 14:1); How did you alone escape all the evil days? To this the elder said: so it is, my lord, as if you had never known such misfortune and misfortune, telling me: God has given me abiding, for this I am grateful, and not to desire well-being, my well-being is. This insurance of happiness and misfortune does not harm anyone, except those who are afraid of the loss of one and the adventure of the other; but I do not care about happiness and never pray for it to the Heavenly Father, who rules everything, and therefore I have never been unprosperous, because for such a person everything happens according to his desire. Am I melting with hunger? For this I thank God, as the Father who knows everything we demand. Am I embarrassed by the scum, or am I pierced by raindrops, or do I endure some other kind of air pressure? I also praise God. When everyone reviles me, I praise God equally. We know that God creates everything; and it is not possible that what God does is not good... For the will of the Lord is completely good and right, and can neither become better nor be evil: it passes judgment on everyone, but on it no one. Yes, I adhere to it entirely, I have diligence; and with all my thoughts I am diligent about this, so that what God wants, I would like; and what God does not want, and I would not want. Therefore, I never consider myself unhappy when I plunge my entire will into the will of God and agree with it so that I neither want nor want anything except what God wants or does not want... This is the right path to God, which is to be in agreement with His holy will in everything... (Apology to quench sadness). In Your hands, Father, Son and Holy Soul, I commend myself, weak and damaged. Correct me, Holy Trinity! Question Is it the same thing in God: foreknowledge, predestination and providence? Rep. Foreknowledge, predestination and providence differ in God in their actions. Providence refers to created things. But foreknowledge and predestination were in God before the existence of all creatures, although they are different from each other. Foreknowledge is one knowledge of the future, without defining it in particular, that is, it does not determine the existence of this or that thing. But predestination, depending on foreknowledge, is a particular determination, that is, it precisely determines what should be; but defines only good, not evil. For if it also defined evil, then this would be contrary to the natural property of God - goodness. And so we can rightly say, according to our way of thinking, that foreknowledge precedes in order in God, followed by predestination, and after creation, providence for what was created. The Apostle clearly teaches us this, saying: those whom you foreknew, you also presented; and those you ordained, you also called: and those you called, you also justified them; and those you justified, you also glorified them (Rom. 8:29, 30). However, these words should apply only to man. since other creatures (except angels, who are in a solid and immutable state) are not subject to predestination; for they have no freedom; and therefore there can be no sin in them. And everything that they do, they do by nature, and therefore they are neither punished nor rewarded (Orthodox Confession of the Catholic and Apostolic Church of the East. Issue 30). About predestination and foreknowledge of St. John of Damascus (chapter XXX of the Orthodox Faith) says this: 1) One must know that God sees everything, but does not predetermine everything. He foresees what depends on us, but does not predetermine it. For he does not want evil to happen and does not force virtue. Predestination is the child of God's command based on foreknowledge. God predetermines according to His foreknowledge that which does not depend on us. For, according to His foreknowledge, He has already predestined everything that is in accordance with His goodness and righteousness. Note Like St. Maxim - in a conversation with Theodosius of Caesarea, he says that God’s foreknowledge extends to what depends on us, such as words and deeds; and predestination is the only thing that happens to us by order of God, such as rewards, punishments, and so on... In general, the teachers of the Orthodox Church, fearing that from the teaching of God's foreknowledge someone would draw a conclusion against human freedom, often repeated that free human actions are not performed because they were foreknown by God; but because they were foreknown, they were meant to be committed by man, since God is not the cause of our evil deeds. This is how Justin the Martyr reasoned in his first apology, Theodoret in his interpretations (on chapter 2 of Ezekiel) and others... St. Chrysostom asked: why, even before the birth of Jacob and Esau, was one of them honored, and the other condemned? answers: He to whom the secret thoughts are revealed clearly knows who is worthy of crowns and who is worthy of punishment. And one more thing: He who knows the heart knows how to discern and knows who is worthy of salvation. For He alone truly knows whom to crown... 2) He must know, continues the St. John of Damascus, that although virtue is given by nature from God, He is the cause and beginning of all good things; and without His cooperation and help it is impossible for us to wish or do good. However, it depends on us either to remain in virtue and obey God, who calls us to it, or to move away from virtue, that is, to live viciously and follow the devil, who, not against our will, attracts us to vice. For vice is nothing other than the removal of good, just as darkness is the removal of light. Question How does St. Tikhon reflect on the transfiguration of Jesus Christ? Rep. Having eaten three of His disciples: Peter, James and John, He took them up a high mountain and there showed them some part of the glory of His kingdom. Let us also ascend, says Saint Tikhon, with our minds to St. this mountain, on which the feet of our Savior stood, and there we will see a glorious sight. We will see there the incarnate God, who also walked on earth like other people; His face shines like the sun, and His vestments shine like light; We will see the two most glorious prophets Moses and Elijah standing before Him, and talking with Him... We will hear the voice of God from the cloud there: This is My Son, etc.... Let us pause here and reflect... 1) Seeing the magnificent glory of Christ our God on Tabor, we see more clearly how much He humbled Himself for our sake... The same glory of Him was always with Him, but is hidden from our eyes. And who could and would dare to approach Him if He, even in the glory that He showed at Tabor, turned and walked on the earth? 2) Two great prophets Moses and Elijah appeared to Him there... We see that Jesus Christ is the Lord of the prophets, Who appeared on earth in human form and is the true Messiah, preached by the prophets. 3) The flesh of Christ, glorified on the mountain of saints, assures us that the glory of God’s elect in eternal life will be like Christ’s, as Christ himself declared (Matthew 13:43) and St. Apostle Paul (Phil. 3:24). 4) St. Peter the Apostle, having seen a certain part of this glory, was completely filled with joy: what kind of joy will be poured into the hearts of God’s elect in the future life, when not a part of the glory, but all of it will be revealed? 5) May this glory and joy be an encouragement for pious souls to do good deeds - to the end. Christian! In your boredom and in your need, raise your mind to where the face of Christ is illuminated like the sun, and to where the righteous women shine like lights, and they see God face to face, and people have a kind friendship with the angels and in the joy of the spirit they constantly sing: Alleluia. 6) Lift your eyes to this glory and joy, you too, who are earthly and not heavenly, so that you learn to desire and seek the glory and joy of heaven, eternal, and not earthly and temporary. And 7) may Your light, Christ, shine upon my sinners - mind, heart, will - forever! Amen. Question How does Saint Tikhon, who himself vigilantly prepared for the future life all his life, talk about preparation for death? Rep. 1) From the word of the Lord: be prepared; for at that same hour, do not forget, the Son of Man will come (Matthew 24:44). 2) From Saint Chrysostom. For this reason, God left the day of our death unknown to us, so that we, for the sake of the unknown end of our life, would always maintain ourselves in virtue (Conversations 4, after Hebrews). For this reason, God gave us a difficult and difficult life, so that we would be aroused by present sorrow to desire future blessings (Discourse 6 to the people of Antioch). Death is not evil, but bad death is evil (Conversations 35 on Matt.). since our dwelling is in heaven, we must always prepare ourselves for the departure from here, and send all our blessings there, so as not to lose them (Conversations 12 on Matt.). 3) From my own reasoning. Preparation for death is nothing other than true repentance... Many people of the present century, sometimes until illness, sometimes until old age, sometimes until death, postpone repentance. This delay is a grave sin and the deception of the devil. A grave sin: for this is a sign of extreme negligence and sinful sleep about salvation. The charm of the devil: for in this way he darkens our spiritual eyes, so that we do not see the subsequent spiritual destruction from it. Tips to prepare for death: 1) Remember that you must die, but when and where is unknown. 2) Bring to mind prisoners condemned to death, who are waiting from hour to hour to be led to death. For we, too, have been sentenced to death by the judgment of God and must expect the execution of this sentence every day... 3) To remember those who are dying and drowning at sea, who were all in such fear, confusion and cramped conditions at that time, those who saw this know. 4) Hold firmly that what happened to others can happen to you too. Many people have accidentally drowned in water, and this could happen to you too. The earth has devoured many living people, and this could happen to you too. Many have been struck by thunder and lightning, and this may happen to you too. Many, while sleeping, did not wake up from their sleep, and you should expect the same. Many, sitting, walking, dining, ended their lives; and you are subject to the same case... And that until now nothing like this has happened to you, then attribute it to the goodness of God, leading you to repentance, and for this greatly thank God that He, with His mercy, did not allow you to fall into such cases, but from now on, be afraid and act dangerously... Learn to act more carefully from other disasters and pay attention to yourself. For there are almost as many deaths as there are people. We are all born in the same way, but we die in different ways. You will not be so afraid of death in the parish itself, when you expect it every day and hour; as surely as an enemy whose attack was always expected is not terrible. Remember that you are subject to countless deaths; and when, and how and where to die, the judgment of God hid this. The Church of Christ honors the saints not as any gods, but as faithful servants, saints and friends of God; praises their exploits and deeds accomplished by them with the help of the grace of God, to the glory of God, so that all the honor given to the saints relates to the majesty of God, whom they pleased on earth with their lives; We honor the saints with annual remembrances of them, national celebrations, the creation of churches in their name, etc. Holy Scripture resolutely forbids rendering Divine worship and service to anyone other than the one true God (Deut. 6:13; Isa. 42:8; Matt. 4:10); but it does not at all prohibit paying the proper lower respect to His faithful servants, saints and friends. I have great honor from Your friends, O God (Ps. 139:17)... Honoring the saints, St. At the same time, the Church calls on them in prayers, not as any gods who can help us with their own power, but as our representatives before God, the only source and dispenser of all gifts and mercies to creatures (Jas. 1:17); as our representatives and intercessors, having the power of intercession from Christ, Who alone is, in the proper sense, the independent intercessor of God and men, giving Himself deliverance for everyone (Right. Confession, Part III. answer to the same question. Post. Eastern Patriarch. on the Right. Faith, Chapter 8). In the Stone of Faith of the Orthodox-Catholic Church, the dogma of veneration and invocation of saints is stated as follows: firmly and beyond any doubt we must believe, for the Angels of God and other saints, having come out of this life, intercede for us and help us, mainly with their merits, which they have in abundance here on earth, and purely with their prayers. Godly, like friends of God. For this reason, it is pious to call them, not just the Angels of the Lord, but also other saints who have come from this life... Thus the entire Orthodox-Catholic Church, such councils of the universe, localities, such as the Holy Fathers, the luminaries and pillars of the church, have believed, confessed and taught (Part 2, the dogma on the calling of saints). Question What kind of prayer is called diligent? Rep. 1) Constant, unrelenting prayer - such as our Lord Jesus Christ inspires with the words: watch, pray (Matthew 26:41). 2) Prayer according to the Gospel, at the Divine Liturgy, from the priest: Lord our God, accept this prayer diligently... It is added from St. Basil the Great, and with it the priest, lifting up prayers and the diligent cry of the Church to the Almighty, inclines Him to accept them graciously and send down His bounties. 3) Prayer voice: Lord have mercy, repeated three, twelve, forty and fifty times. 4) On the great canon of St. Andrew: have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, proclaimed several hundred times. 5) And the most touching stichera, on Wednesday of the 5th week of St. Lent, sung at Vespers. Let us repeat some of them for our soul perishing from sin. I am contained by the weight of negligence, I am wallowing in the mud, I am shot by an arrow from Belial; and I defile my hedgehog according to the image; converter of the heedless and deliverer of those who have sinned, Lord, before I even perish, save me. By the will of those who sinned more than all, for this reason I am abandoned, the imam of the enemy of my soul, the wisdom of the flesh, and darkens me; enlightenment of those who are in darkness and a teacher of the erring, Lord, before I even perish, save me. “Be good to me, my benefactor, my deliverer, my Savior, and do not reject me; see me lying in lawlessness, and raise me up, like the Almighty, that I may proclaim my deeds and cry to You: Lord, before I even perish to the end, save me.” “Confirm, O Master, that my soul will flow to you and work for you forever, for you are my protection, and guardian, and intercession and help; Vouchsafe to the Word of God to cry out to me in boldness: Lord, before I even perish, shepherd me.” Read the rest of this most diligent penitential prayer and sing it yourself, and for each verse make three prostrations to the Most Holy Trinity. Question How does St. Tikhon talk about reconciliation with one's neighbor? Rep. 1) From the word of the Lord. If you bring your gift to the altar, remember her as if your brother has something for you: leave your gift before the altar, and go first and humble yourself with your brother (Matthew 5:23, 24). 2) From Saint Chrysostom. God cares so much about our reconciliation that He deigns His sacrifice to be imperfect, and His service to stop until hostility and anger cease (Book 1, about contrition to Demetrius). The more someone turns away from seeking reconciliation, the greater the punishment he collects (Book 2, about enmity towards the people of Antioch.). We must hasten to reconcile with those who have offended us, although rightly or unjustly they are angry with us (Conversation on the words: if the enemy is hungry). True reconciliation with a brother is a sacrifice (Conversations 61 on Matt.). 3) From my own reasoning. It is difficult for those living in society not to offend each other in some way. Therefore, reconciliation is necessary. The offender needs to seek forgiveness from the offender. The offended must forgive, according to the word of Christ: forgive, and it will be left to you. Reasons why we should be reconciled with our neighbors. 1) Christian love requires that we resign ourselves with regret to those whom we have offended in some way, and that we recompense that offense in some way. 2) They demand this: the commandment of Christ; Go first, reconcile yourself, and give peace to your conscience, because the conscience torments the offender until he is reconciled; and security of life: for the offended can be angry with the offended and in some way harm or kill him. 3) Non-reconciliation results in mutual enmity, which is hateful to God and harmful to society and to those at war. 4) God does not accept our gift or our prayer until we are reconciled with our neighbors... Do not think anything, beloved: go, submit, humble yourself before your neighbor, do not listen to what the spirit of pride whispers in your ears, but listen to what the meek and humble Jesus your Savior says to you: go humble yourself with your brother. Saint Mitrofan, as someone spoke in His monastery before His holy shrine, serves for us as an example of pure and enlightened faith, alien to any error. He owes his birth to pious parents, who, without a doubt, considered it their most sacred duty to give their son a Christian upbringing... He himself says in his spiritual will that he was raised in the Orthodox Faith and remained in it until his last breath. Was it not this enlightened faith that gave birth to and nurtured in his soul a holy love for the silent monastic life?.. What else, besides the glory of the height of his enlightenment, prompted the brethren of the Kozmina Monastery to beg him to accept the title of abbot over them? What, if not confidence in his spiritual wisdom, prompted the pious Sovereign Tsar Theodore Alexievich to hand over to him the rod of rule over the Voronezh flock to maintain the purity of faith amid the turmoil of the schism? This should be the faith of every Christian!.. Saint Mitrofan serves as an example of the simplicity of faith... He was not carried away by various and alien teachings; He turned away those of his contemporaries who, having indulged in absurd speculations, were subject to schisms that caused disastrous disturbances in the Church. He always thought as the God-bearing Fathers of the Church taught. He says in his will that he believed in God in the One Holy Trinity. And that St. The fathers spoke at the seven Ecumenical Councils, in which he remained until his last breath, like the son of St. Eastern Churches... The faith of each of us should be distinguished by such simplicity!.. St. Mitrofan serves as an example of a strong faith, unafraid of any dangers... What danger threatened him in the faceted chamber from violent schismatics! Death yawned around him when these fallen sons of the Church, spewing blasphemy against the Orthodox Faith, striking Nikon with thunderous curses, threatening Patriarch Joachim with death, like angry tigers, came to ask Kings Peter and John to open a debate about the faith. But our great Afanasy was not afraid of anything... He had occasion to testify to the firmness of his faith before the Tsar, the great transformer of Russia. Saint Mitrofan is an example of humility. How many times in his spiritual testament does he call himself a sinful servant of God, his soul sinful and indecent! With what trepidation he imagined and reminded his flock of that terrible judgment seat of Christ, at which the shepherds would be punished! How pained he was that his promise to lead a silent and solitary life was not fulfilled!.. With what tears he asked for forgiveness from the entire Church of God, from the fathers of his most holy patriarchs, from his Eminence metropolitans, archbishops, bishops, or whoever after him will be in the city of Voronezh on the Bishop's throne! With what great zeal he asked for holy prayers from the consecrated cathedral and from the entire Orthodox people, may they pray for his soul... may the Lord show mercy to the distressed soul and forgive his sins!.. What self-abasement on the part of the saint!.. We see, says Saint Tikhon (Part XII. Secret Spirituals, under the Art. Oath), that when a person is either elected to the army, or elevated to some honor, or assigned to some other task of the sovereign, he takes an oath and promises with an oath to serve the sovereign and society faithfully and righteously and to act with a clear conscience. This is the power of the oath! Thus, all Christians, entering the Holy Church, accepting the honor and dignity of the highest name of the Christian and enrolling in the army of the heavenly King, swear to abide in this to the end, swear and promise, having renounced Satan and all his evil deeds, to serve with faith and truth the one Christ the Lord, the heavenly King, throughout the entire time of their lives. You see this oath, oath and promise of Christians. Read every form depicted before holy baptism. There everyone proclaims three times: I deny Satan and all his works, and all his angels, and all his service and all his pride, and spits on him. He also comes to Christ and says: I am united with Christ, and the Christian repeats this three times! What do these vows and denials mean if not an oath and an oath, by which we promise, having renounced Satan, and our sins and lusts, and the vanity of this world, to follow the footsteps of Christ the Lord with faith, humility, meekness, and patience? This is the power of our vows made under St. baptism! People who do not keep their oath to the sovereign and society are grievously sinning. Such unfaithful sons of society are more evil than external enemies and are called by a dishonorable name: traitors. These are rotten members who damage the integrity of the entire society. This is how Christians sin very gravely, who in holy baptism swore, swore and promised to serve Christ the Lord, but broke their vows and lied. Question What do other moralists say about the oath in general? Rep. Here's what: 1) An oath or oath, if all its accessories are observed, is important and necessary. It is an act of God-worship, in which those who swear confess God most highly - wise and omniscient. On the part of those taking the oath, it is evidence of public respect for the Divine name, by which assurances are confirmed, and serves to glorify Him (Heb. 6:13). The oath is not a human institution, for it is accepted, approved and sanctified by God himself. By me he himself swore, says the Lord God (Gen. 22:16). In societies, to maintain mutual trust, an oath or oath is absolutely necessary. Calling God as a witness to the truth of words or promises would not be necessary in a society where there is no lie and deception, and perfect truth and holiness reign. And where there is no dominion of perfect truth, but piety has not yet completely weakened, there, in necessary cases, there is no more effective means of maintaining mutual fidelity than witnessing the truth before God. Jesus Christ taught: I say to you: do not swear in any way (Matthew 5:33). This and similar passages must be understood in this way: a) every Christian, according to his rank, must live in such a way that he does not have the slightest need for an oath; b) the Savior’s words are directed against the abuse of the oath by the Jews. The Universal Church has always allowed the oath to be taken in necessary cases. From small to great, God knows everything exactly, and provides for every creation in particular, it is said in the Orthodox Confession of the Catholic and Apostolic Church (Part 1. Answer to Question 29). Every created nature, both visible and intelligible, in order to maintain itself, needs God’s care, that is, Providence, says St. Vasily the Great. I see St. reasoning. Ephraim the Syrian, I see buildings and conclude about the creator, I see the world and know Providence; I see that a ship without a helmsman is sinking... The flock depends on the shepherd, and everything that grows on earth depends on God... It is in the will of the king to arrange regiments of warriors; in the will of God there is a definite charter for everything; there is nothing on earth that is not spoken; because God is the beginning of everything (public teaching). The Creator controls the creation, and He did not leave the ship He built without control, says the blessed one. Theodorite. And Saint Tikhon, the ascetic of Zadonsk, how in the simplicity of his thoughts and words does he philosophize about the providence of God? You see, he says, human, or animal, or animal footprints, and from them you will recognize their walk - one or the other. On this occasion, remember that the prophet of God sings about the paths and traces of Providence: Thy processions were seen, O God, the processions of my king God. (Ps. 67:25, 26). The works of our God are, as it were, traces of Him, from which we recognize His Divine processions in the all-containing and all-governing providence, and His Self. When we look at the sky and its beauty, at the sun, moon and stars and their light, at the earth and its fulfillment, we recognize in them the processions and incessantly - the active providence of our God; We recognize Him Himself, and we are convinced to glorify His almighty power, who created all this with His Word and preserves it by His will; His wisdom, which so wonderfully arranged and governs everything; His goodness, according to which, as if He Himself did not require anything and was content, He created and contains everything... It is impossible not to recognize the continuous action of the omnipotence of the wisdom and goodness of God when we carefully consider how the sun, for the benefit of the heavens, rises and sets, and again rises and flows around the entire immeasurable expanse of heaven in twenty-four hours - and when it approaches us it produces spring and summer: when it seems to depart from us, it leaves us autumn and winter. How do clouds, like bellows filled with water, hold on in the air, the subtlest element, and do not fall, move from place to place, carry water and release it to the ground? How does the earth, a great and heavy mass, rush through the air and hold on without protruding from its features? How does it produce various and countless fruits from its depths, as if from a treasury? How does the same fire soften some things, harden others, and completely consume others? How do fish live in the waters, but do not drown or die, while animals and birds cannot endure this? How is there one soul within a person, but it exhibits different actions - understands, wants, remembers, is surprised, horrified, etc. sees, hears, smells, etc.? How can such a great and abundant fruit be hidden in a small seed? In truth, this is nothing other than the traces of God’s omnipotent wisdom, which invents, accomplishes, and arranges and contains everything in His order. St. David, reflecting on the wise and wondrous Providence of God in the arrangement and preservation of the universe, exclaimed in admiration of the spirit: bless my soul the Lord (Ps. 103:1)! Question What private actions are the providence of God made up of? Rep. Of the three: 1) preservation of creatures: this is an action of God by which the Almighty contains in existence both the whole world and all the creatures that are in it with their powers and laws. 2) Assistance, with which the All-Good, allowing creatures to use their own powers, provides them with his help and reinforcement. And 3) control of creatures, through which the Infinitely Wise directs them towards His goals, correcting and turning, if possible, their bad deeds to good consequences. Saint Tikhon especially reveals the traces and paths of this tripartite providence of God in the preservation and management of the Church of God in the Old and New Testaments... The same God, so he says (see 118th article on the treatise on spiritual wisdom), Who miraculously created the world out of nothing, creates with His providence and in the created world things that are His alone. The terrible executions revealed to the wicked are the traces and paths of His righteousness, which manifests its effect on the lawless and His enemies. His mercy and good deeds are traces and witnesses of His goodness, which presents itself for the consumption of His worthy servants who seek it. During the global flood, on the wicked, who perished in the waters, the truth of God, and on the righteous Noah, in the midst of the waters, preserved with his house, the goodness of God showed itself to us. Sodom and Gomorrah, with the surrounding cities burned, what if not the punitive providence of God testify? But Lot, the righteous, preserved, preaches His goodness and mercy. In the exodus of Israel from Egypt we also see traces of the truth, wisdom and mercy of God. The proud and bitter Pharaoh and his army learned the work of God's truth; and the faithful, embittered by him, God’s people sing the mercy of God and preach to us. The almighty, all-wise providence of God opened the way for him there, where it seemed impossible to find a way, and where everyone despaired of salvation, there he showed him the means to salvation, so that Israel, which was facing obvious destruction, was saved; and the one from whom he expected death died at sea. We see the same processions of God and traces of His miraculous providence in subsequent times and places. We see the terrible traces of His wrath when the earth was opened and devoured Dathan, and covered the host of Abiron (Ps. 105:17). We see traces of His merciful providence, when people, bitten by serpents, looked at the serpent, ascended at His command, and thereby were healed; It was not the serpent that healed them, but His Divine providential power. But in a most special, miraculous way, God’s providence reveals itself in the preservation, spread and protection of the most holy Orthodox Christianity. The entire Church, scattered throughout the universe, but united by one spirit and faith, knows and confesses Christ dishonored, mocked, wounded, tortured, crucified and died among the villains; but he honors the same resurrected and glorified King, reveres Him, rejoices in Him; He places all his hope, joy, and joy in Him, and worships Him like God. What is this if not the trace and work of God’s almighty providence?.. Who could hope for salvation and deliverance from someone who was martyred and crucified? But the power of God, which is the salvation of everyone who believes, makes it possible for us to establish salvation and eternal life in Christ crucified, and we do not know or recognize any other deliverer and savior except Him alone; and although we die, are laid in graves and decay, and like earth we turn to earth, we firmly hope in Him, who died and rose again, to rise, to come to life, and to receive a new, better, eternal life. And, what increases the miracle, not through the wise men and rhetoricians of this age, not through the glorious and noble ones, the universe gave and wrote down its heart and names to the Crucified One, but through the simple, the unlearned, through the tabernacle workers, fishermen, publicans. How many of them were there who did something unheard of and incomprehensible to their minds? Twelve. Rep. That's what the saint answers. Tikhon that how to create the world, save, preserve and renew it is the work of one God. And just as from the visible creation we come to know God and His omnipotence, wisdom and goodness: so from the conversion of the pagans, darkened by the darkness of errors, to Christ we come to know His omnipotent, wise and all-good providence. Both in the creation and in the redemption of the world, Thy processions are visible, O God, the processions of God my King (Ps. 67:25). God's providence, especially about man, is holy. Tikhon touchingly reveals in his Spiritual Treasure (Part 12), delving into his thoughts into ordinary, simple words: don’t be afraid, I’m with you. “It happens that in his Zadonsk solitude the saint talks to himself. Tikhon, it happens that a mother, seeing her child grieving and crying, consoles him and tells him: don’t be afraid, I’m with you. Thus, the merciful and humane God says to the faithful soul, which is in temptations and misfortunes, grieving and lamenting and afraid: do not be afraid, I am with you. I am your creator, I am your provider, I am your savior, I am your helper and intercessor; I, who hold everything in My hand, am with you (Isa. 49:14, 15). This is how the Lord was with His faithful Noah, and saved him from the global flood. He was with His faithful Lot, and saved the righteous from the execution of Sodom. He was with His servants - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and preserved them in the lands of their coming (Ps. 104:14). He was with Joseph, and in the misfortunes and temptations that came upon him, he preserved him and glorified him. I was with Israel in Egypt, and during their exodus from Egypt, and parted the Red Sea for them, and in the desert I fed them with wonderful manna, I struck down their enemies in the presence of them. He was with David, His anointed, in various temptations and persecutions. He was with Jonah in the depths of the sea, with three youths - in the cave of Babylon, with Daniel - in the ditch, etc... He was with the apostles, he was with the martyrs and preserved them in the midst of terrible torment; was with the hermits who lived in caves, dens and abysses of the earth, and saved them from the machinations of the enemy; was, is and will be until the end of the age with His faithful servants, according to a false promise: Behold, I am with you, and so on. (Matthew 28:20). Lord, be strong with us? The images or methods of preserving and managing the Divine are numerous and varied; but they all refer to two, of which one is called natural, and the other supernatural. God's providence is general and private. The first embraces the whole world in general; the second is the one that extends to the most particular and special beings of the world, no matter how small they may seem. “But even for one day God does not cease from the work of governing creatures,” says one of the teachers of St. Churches, so that they do not immediately deviate from their natural paths... For creatures for which a Creator is necessary, a Provider is also necessary: ​​otherwise the world, carried by chance, like a ship in a whirlwind, would have to instantly collapse (Gregory the Theologian).” Question What kind of sermon in the universe is there, incessant, universal, but silent? Rep. "The heavens will tell you the glory of God (Ps. 18:1). How will they tell you? They have no voices, they have no lips, they are not equipped with a tongue - how can they tell you? Through their mere appearance. For if you see their beauty, majesty, height, structure and appearance, which has endured through so many centuries, you will hear from them, like a certain voice, assuring you about their Creator and prompting you from a single view of them to worship the One who created such a great and beautiful body. The sky is silent, but the sight of it makes a voice from itself, every trumpet is louder... Speeches are not the essence, lower than words, their voices are not heard (Ps. 18:2), that is, there is no people, there is no language that cannot understand the speeches of the sky... And the Scythian and the Barbarian, and the Indian and The Egyptian, and everyone on earth, understands it and hears their voice... But how are they intelligible? The sky, with its beauty and majesty and other properties, leads the viewer into sacred horror and wonder about God. (I believe) and in the Holy Spirit of the Lord... who spoke the prophets... Since the time of Samuel, the prophets have walked in constant, almost uninterrupted succession. What are prophets? The prophets were men raised up and appointed by God as guards for the house of Israel (Ezek. 3:17), that is, guardians and guardians of faith in God and in His promises. Question What are their distinctive properties? Rep. Pure and high morality, renunciation of all worldly worries and cares, complete unselfishness and impartiality, tireless zeal in one’s service, fearless readiness for all hardships, suffering, even death for the glory of the God of Israel - these are the general and distinctive properties of the prophets. What about predicting the future? Predicting the future is the main, but not the only duty of their prophetic ministry. The prophets had the responsibility of moral supervision of the people, their spiritual education and enlightenment. As teachers, the prophets explained to the people the meaning of the law, tried to sow and grow virtues, exposed vices, warned and threatened future punishments for unbelief and wickedness. The prophets were not teachers only of a select circle of educated people, like pagan philosophers, they did not hide wisdom in secret, did not cover it with veils impenetrable to ordinary people, as envious eastern priests did with their wisdom. The prophets were teachers of the people in the full sense of the word - they clearly and openly proclaimed the truth to the king and the priest, the nobleman and the commoner, both the educated and the unlearned... It is enough to point out here one example - King David... The prophets in the kingdom of Judah also had a special, extraordinary authority. God Himself declared Himself the King of His people. Consequently, every king who sat on the throne of David, speaking approximately to our concepts, was the vicegerent of God in Judea. Therefore, the prophet, as an intermediary between God and the king, was authorized to reveal the royal orders of the heavenly King to His earthly viceroy. Question What was the main purpose of the prophets? Rep. Revealing and clarifying the promise of the Messiah in a way most understandable to human understanding. And the prophets fulfilled this purpose to the extent that the Spirit of Christ who was in them determined for them (1 Pet. 1:11). Saint Tikhon briefly but clearly accounts the predictions of the prophets about the Messiah and their fulfillment (letter 2, part 14). “Listen and consider the predictions and their fulfillment,” he says, and confirm your faith. It was predicted that Christ would be born of a virgin not made of art (Isa. 7:14), and so it was (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26, 27). It was predicted that a child would be born from the tribe of Judah in the city of Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). So it came to pass: our Lord rose from the tribe of Judah (Heb. 7:14), and Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem in Judea (Matthew 2:1). It was predicted that from the seed of David would be born (2 Sam. 7:12; Isa. 11:1), and it came to pass: from the seed of David was born Christ according to the flesh (Rom. 1:1, etc. Matt. 20:30). It was prophesied that they would come to the born Christ with gifts to bow (Ps. 71:10, 11, 15), - and it happened like this: three wise kings from the east came to bow to the baby Christ (Matthew 2:11)... The Lord promised to send His Angel before the face of His Christ (Mal. 3:1), - and it happened like this: An Angel was sent before the face of Christ, an Angel not incorporeal, but invested with flesh, John the Great, to whom Christ Himself testified (Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:27). This Angel of God came before Christ and prepared the way for Him (Mark 1:2, 7; Matt. 3:11), and therefore was called the Forerunner... It was predicted that Christ would begin His holy preaching in Galilee (Isa. 9:1, 2), and so it was: there the first light of the world appeared; there this light flashed to those sitting in the darkness; there Jesus, our Light, began to preach and say: repent (Matthew 4:17). It was predicted that Christ would teach in parables (Ps. 77:2) - so it will be... read His Gospel and you will see. It was predicted that many would not listen to the teachings of His saint, would not believe Him, and would not accept Him (Is. 6:9, 10) - and so it came to pass: the scribes and Pharisees did not listen to the teachings of Christ, and they did not accept Him (John 1:11). It was predicted that Christ would bring good and joyful news to people (Isa. 61:1–3), and so it came to pass (Luke 4:17–21). It was predicted that Christ would perform many miracles (Isa. 35:5, 6). It was fulfilled like this: how many miracles and signs Christ performed, the Gospel testifies, read for yourself. It was predicted that many of the Jews would hate Christ, who was promised and sent to them, and whom they were waiting for (Ps. 68:5), - and it happened like this: the Jews hated Christ, reproached, slandered, persecuted and killed; read about the rest for yourself... Just as the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled, so what was predicted in the New Testament has been fulfilled and will be fulfilled. Christ predicted that some of the disciples would betray Him, that all the disciples would leave Him, that Peter the Apostle would deny three times, etc. - and so it was. He predicted that Jerusalem and the church in it would be ruined, and not one stone would be left on another, and it came to pass: the church and all of Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans. Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and all the faithful, and it was fulfilled: the Holy Spirit came on the Apostles (Acts 2) and His grace was poured out on all flesh. Those prophecies whose events we expect will also come true. Teaches, according to scripture, of the resurrection of the dead: it is certain and will be (1 Cor. 15; John 5). We are awaiting the second coming of Christ and the Last Judgment: it will inevitably happen. Christ will come to judge the living and the dead, and everyone will be accepted according to their works... Saint Tikhon found the following petitions for various occasions and needs: 1) The petition of a repentant sinner. Remember Your mercies, O Lord, and Your mercies, as they have been since the ages. Do not remember the sin of my youth and my ignorance, O Lord! According to Thy mercy, remember me, for the sake of Thy goodness (Ps. 24:6, 7). Man sins a lot in his youth and ignorance. And when the penitent reflects on this and looks at the truth of God, much of his conscience is troubled and saddened. In this case, the one who has fallen behind from sins and who repents should remember God’s endless mercy and the bounties that He promised in His holy word to all who repent, and often repeat with the Psalmist: remember Your compassions, O Lord, and Your mercies, which have existed from eternity, etc. (Ps. 24:6). 2) Prayer of one who feels the wrath of God in his conscience. Lord, do not reprove me with Your wrath; do not punish me with Your wrath (Ps. 6:2). In a similar way, the prophet Jeremiah cries out: Punish us, Lord, especially in judgment, and not in rage, so that you do not make us humble (Jer. 10:24). And this is the Psalmist; Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living will be justified before You (Ps. 142:2). One must not simply ask for deliverance from God’s punishment, but from the wrath and severity of God’s truth, which threatens every sinner with eternal torment. The father's punishment, although it is sad for our flesh, should be desired. 3) Petition in various temptations. Lord my God, I trust in You, save me from all those who persecute me and deliver me. lest he, like a lion, snatch away my soul; I am not the one who delivers, but the one who saves (Ps. 7:2, 3). Satan, with his evil angels and servants, constantly persecutes and seeks to catch and kidnap the faithful, like a lion (1 Pet. 5:8). Against these enemies there is no other remedy (salvation) than fervent prayer to God. 4) How is it appropriate to console a grieving soul through faith? How sorrowful art thou to my soul; and you confuse me with Vskaya; trust in God, for we will confess to Him, the salvation of My face, and My God (Ps. 41:6). In great sadness, a person does not know what to do. In this case, beloved Christian, cast your sorrow upon the Lord; console yourself with the endless mercy of God, for the Lord will not forever reject you. For the humble will show mercy according to the abundance of His mercy (Pl. 3:31, 32)... Although your enemies, the devil and his servants, say to you: Where is your God? Speak to your soul, console it with the holy David: why is my soul grieved? The Lord is near to all who call on Him (Ps. 41:4, 6; 145:18). 5) A petition or prayer to Christ the Son of God, taken from the parable of the sower of the seed. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who appeared in our humble flesh on earth, and sowed the good seed of faith in the villages of this world! Protect my heart with Your fear, so that the evil one does not come and delights in the seed of Your words, and cleanse my heart from the thorns of the sorrow of this age and make it good soil to receive Your Divine word, so that I may produce the fruit of faith and have a share with Your chosen ones, who bear fruit - one hundred, one - sixty, one - threety (Matt. 13:8 ). For blessed are you with the Father and the Holy Spirit - forever and ever Amen. 6) A petition taken from the story of the apostles in distress at sea. God! Save me, I'm dying. Behold, my ship is in distress from the temptation of the waves, and is near drowning. You, as God is merciful and compassionate to our weaknesses, by Your omnipotent power, forbid the disturbance of disasters that want to plunge me and bring me down into the depths of evil - and there will be silence: for the winds and sea will listen to You. Amen. 7) A petition taken from history for transformation. Co-origin with the Father and the Holy Spirit - the Word, for our sake man and for our salvation, born of the Virgin and alive on earth! Make me worthy to taste Thy goodness, which Thy saints, who love and honor Thee, still taste, wandering in the deplorable vale of this world, and to behold Thy ever-present light with my intelligent eye: - the light which Thou didst show to Thy holy disciples in the transfiguration of Thy most holy flesh, and now by faith in vain, then, face to face, I will be worthy to see Your glory and, with Your chosen ones, to praise You, and Your beginningless Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 8) A petition taken from the story of the lepers. Jesus, physician of souls and bodies, have mercy on me! To You, who dwells in heaven and looks upon us the humble, I lift up my voice from the earth with sighing and faith: cleanse my soul, leprous with sins, as You cleansed ten leprous men, so that I may appear clean before Your most holy eyes when You come in Your glory. Amen. 9) A petition or prayer taken from the story of the blind men. Son of God, eternal light and give light to everyone! Have mercy on me. Enlighten the eyes of my heart, darkened by the darkness of sins and passions, just as you enlightened the blind who cried out to You. May the eyes of my heart be opened, so that I may see You, the Unstoppable Light, and with faith and love I will follow You, who walked the earth for the sake of the accursed One. Amen. 10) Petitions taken from various Gospel stories. Jesus, Son of God! Look at me as you looked at the sinner in the house of Simon, at Peter, who rejected You, at the thief who was with You on the cross, and number me with those who repented to You - tax collectors, fornicators and other sinners. For You are God and our Savior, Who came into the world to save sinners, and from them I am the first. Amen (Part V ΙΙ, ch. 5). I. Great and ineffable is the power of the Psalter! Singing psalms, according to the testimony and personal experience of St. fathers, decorates souls, calls on Angels for help, drives away demons, dispels darkness, makes saints, strengthens the mind of a sinner, atones for sins, invites faith, hope, love; like the sun enlightens; as water purifies; like a fire scorches; as oil anoints; puts the devil to shame; God shows; quenches bodily lusts... Psalms are prayed for those who are to come; they sigh for the real ones; repent of the past; they rejoice over good deeds... The Psalter is a joy to the elders, an adornment to the young, old age and perfection to the mind, to Christ himself, the helping and bestowing God... II. St. Tikhon has (part 2) an abbreviated version of the Psalter in the form of a canon, with the refrain: have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Inspire my words, O Lord, understand my calling. Listen to the voice of my prayer, my King and my God: as I will pray to You, Lord. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Arise, O Lord my God, may Thy hand be lifted up, do not forget Thy poor ones to the end. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. You, Lord, have preserved us and kept us from this generation and forever. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Look and hear me, O Lord my God, enlighten my eyes, lest I fall asleep into death. Yes, not when my enemy speaks; let us strengthen ourselves on it. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Make my steps in Thy paths, so that my steps may not move. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Surprise Your mercy, save those who trust in You from those who resist Your right hand: save me, O Lord, like the apple of your eye. Resurrect, Lord, precede me, and stifle them, deliver my soul from the wicked. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Who understands the Fall? Cleanse me from my secrets, and spare your servant from strangers. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. May you not depart from Me, for sorrow is near, for you cannot help me... Lord, do not remove Your help from Me: come to my intercession. III. The Psalter, according to its content, can be divided into three types: the first type of psalms includes teaching psalms. About the knowledge and calling of the One true God (Ps. 28, 32, 96, etc.). About the Son of God (Ps. 2, 39, 71, etc.). About the Holy Spirit (Ps. 32, 50, 142). About the face of Christ, about His priestly, prophetic and royal office (Ps. 2, 39, 44, etc.). About His suffering (Ps. 2, 15, 21, 30, etc.). About the resurrection (Ps. 15, 20, etc.). About the ascension (Ps. 8, 20, 46, etc.). About the creation of the world and providence (Ps. 32, 103, 100, etc.). About the Gospel or about the grace-filled remission of sins through Jesus Christ (Ps. 13, 31, 97, etc.). There are six psalms of repentance about turning to God (Ps. 6, 31, 47, 50, 101, 129)... The second type includes psalms of thanksgiving: for the creation of the world and providence (Ps. 99, 103, 110, 135, etc.). For the remission of sins and for spiritual blessings (Ps. 31, 64, 65, 84). For the liberation of the Church and the righteous from disasters (Ps. 17, 22, 29, 33, 35). For the good deeds shown to the people of Israel (Ps. 80, 104, 105, 107, 113). For the kingdom of the Messiah, for the Gospel and for the Church (Ps. 23, 47, 49, 92, 117, 121, 131). The third type includes psalms of consolation and petition. Comforting: in the feeling of the wrath of God and the fears of conscience (Ps. 38, 41, 42, 46); in illness and death (Ps. 6, 32, 37, 38, 89, 120); in the misfortunes of the righteous, persecuted by the wicked and false teachers (Ps. 3, 9, 10, 40, 51, 54, 57, 72, 90, 111); – against the temptation of the Cross (Ps. 36, 48, 72). Petitioners: for the remission of sins and confirmation in virtue (Ps. 6, 12, 24, 25, 37, 50); – about protecting the Church and the righteous from disasters, persecutors, false teachers and all enemies (Ps. 11, 26, 34, 43, 53, 55, 58); – about the spread of the Church (Ps. 66, 67, 85, 92, 97); – about the government and about public welfare (Ps. 19, 59, 60, 62); – about the common world (Ps. 59:84); – about a peaceful and painless death (Ps. 38:89). (From Ambrose's guide to reading Holy Scripture). To make the psalter more beneficial to the soul, pray to the Holy Trinity: All-holy Trinity, God and Creator of the whole world, hasten and direct my heart to begin with reason and finish the good works of these God-inspired books, even as the Holy Spirit vomits the mouth of David. Realizing my ignorance, falling down, I pray to You, asking for help from You: Lord, guide my mind, and strengthen my heart; not about the words of the lips to chill (sorrow), but about the mind of those who say to rejoice and prepare to do good deeds, even as I learn and say... And now, Master, bless, so that I sigh from my heart and sing with my tongue. Question How holy. Tikhon talks about the narrow path? Rep. (Part 6, ch. 5, §§203, 205). Human life is a journey from the very hour of birth to the hour of death. This path is twofold - narrow and spacious. The strait or narrow path is fenced within the boundaries of the law of God, so that it is not allowed to deviate either on the right hand or the other; the wide path is the one that has destroyed the fence of God’s law and gives freedom to wander at will. “On a narrow path,” says St. Basil the Great, mortification; on the extensive gratification of the flesh. In the close - fasting... in the spacious - drunkenness. On the close - tears; in a long one - immoderate laughter. On the close - prayer; in spatial – dancing. On close quarters - sighing; in the long one there is joy and faces. On close - cleanliness; on the broad - fornication (on Ps. 1)". On the narrow path, the leader is Christ himself, the Son of God, who bore the cross and was crucified on the cross. Along this path follow His faithful, who have renounced this world and lusts and taken up their cross, and follow Him, as their leader and leader, with humility, patience, and obedience. In the vast world, the ruler of the world, the prince of this world and darkness, leads; those who work in this world walk along it, and they follow it with pride and majesty. Question What are the reasons why the pious, walking in the path of Christ, endure sorrows? Rep. 1) Satan, from whom they were freed by the grace of God, wages war against them in order to tear them away from Christ and again enslave them to his dark power; and he does this himself, or through his servants, evil people. 2) Satan, being unable to do anything to Christ, Who destroyed his dark kingdom, rushes towards his servants. “The devil,” says St. Basil the Great, feeling his powerlessness to cause offense to God himself, turned his hatred on His image, that is, on man (Word in Lakiza). 3) The pious are not of this world: their homeland is heaven; therefore the world hates them and persecutes them (John 15:19). Just as a sea of ​​dead animals spews out, so this world, which, like the sea, is troubled by troubles and misfortunes, casts out everyone who has died from carnal lust, lust of desire and worldly pride, which is everything in the world. 4) The pious learn through adversity and sorrow the virtue of patience, which is the crown of godliness (Rom. 5:3–5). “Look,” says St. Basil the Great, what does grief lead to? To hope that the hedgehog will not be put to shame. Are you sick? Rejoice; for the Lord loves him and punishes him. Are you poor? Have fun; for with Lazarus you will inherit good things. For the sake of Christ's name do you endure reproach? Blessed are you; for this reproach will be turned into angelic honor and glory (on Ps. 59:5). Through sorrow, becoming conformed to Christ the Son of God, the pious through their own experience come to know the suffering of Christ and learn to honor it dearly and highly. Just as we recognize the sweetness of honey when we taste it; So we feel the grief of disasters most of all when we experience them ourselves: therefore, we understand the grief of Christ’s sufferings better when we ourselves taste the sorrows of troubles and misfortunes... Although the narrow path is narrow, and few follow it, it leads to the space of eternal joy and joy. Although the spacious one is wide and many walk along it, it leads into the narrowness of eternal sorrows, sorrows and sighs. Lazarus, mentioned in the Gospel, walked a narrow path of illness and poverty; but after death he was carried by the Angels to Abraham’s bosom. On the contrary, the rich man, dressed in purple and fine linen, rejoiced brightly all day long, and did not want to show mercy to the poor and much-ill Lazarus; but after death in hell he lifts up his eyes, in torment, and after expensive wines asks for a drop of water, but does not receive it. Enter through the narrow gates, exhorts Christ our Savior, for through the wide gate and broad path you lead into destruction... Terrible is the path of this flesh of ours, which wants to live in space and in all sorts of sensual joys!.. He who wishes to ascend this path must renounce everything, must cut off his own will; must abandon his whims; should not be horrified by dishonor, abuse, poverty, exile and other disgusting things; should not think about revenge, looking at the boss and leader Jesus Christ the Son of God.