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Question What should Christians rejoice about?
Rep. 1) What a person loves, he rejoices in: and how love is twofold - worldly, or carnal, and spiritual, or God's; so joy is twofold: worldly, or carnal, and spiritual, or Christian... 2) The sons of this age rejoice in honor, glory, gold, silver, luxuries and riches of this world: this is their treasure, joy and amusement; and therefore they rejoice in this treasure of theirs, because they love it. Christians must drive this joy out of their hearts and not give it a place in their hearts. The Holy Spirit leads them away from this joy: love not the world, neither am I in the world (1 John 2:15). What a person loves is what he rejoices about. And therefore, just as he loves the world, Christians should not rejoice in it... 3) True Christian joy lies in God: this is their treasure, consolation, joy and amusement! They should rejoice in this, that they believe and work in a God different from what the pagan gods were and are - soulless, deaf, dumb, blind, silver and gold, the work of human hands (Ps.
113:12–15), but - they work for the living, immortal, ever-present, wise, omnipotent God, who holds everything in His hand, who provides for everyone, good and merciful, his creator and provider; and in this the Holy Spirit commands them to rejoice: rejoice in the righteousness of the Lord (Ps. 32:1). Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say: rejoice (Phil. 4:4). 4) This joy to them and from here should flow from the fact that they call the great God their Father and have them and cry out to Him like this: Our Father, who art in heaven! It is great to name an earthly king and have him as a father; incomparably greater is the dignity of the king of heaven, God the Almighty, to have and recognize as a father. 5) Christians draw spiritual joy and comfort from the fact that they, by the grace of God, are called from darkness into the wonderful light of God (1 Pet. 2:9), and from the realm of Satan into the kingdom of Christ (Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12); - that the prince of this world is not over them, as over the pagans, those who do not know God and other lawless people; but the King of the world, the king of heaven, the righteous king, the Son of God, the Hypostatic Word of the Father, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, reigns, rules, protects and preserves them.
6) Finally, this joy is greatly increased for them by the hope of future life and bliss - that by the grace of God a treasure of ineffable and eternal blessings has been opened, which they hope to receive from the grace of Christ when they return before death. With this, the culprit of joy himself, Jesus Christ, consoles them, saying: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is many in heaven. However, Christian joy can also be about temporary blessings, for example. about the victory over the enemies of the Church, about the goodness of the air, about the abundance of the fruits of the earth, about the health of oneself and one’s neighbor, and about other things... But this joy, as its origin comes from God, the giver of all blessings, so it relates to Him and should rest on Him alone. For God's blessings are evidence of God's goodness and are like streams flowing from a source, like rays descending from the sun to the earth.
Streams lead us to the source, and show us the source; and the rays of the sun, which illuminate and warm us, raise our eyes to the sun: thus temporal blessings flow from God, as a source, and, like rays from the ever-present sun, descend upon us and warm us, and raise our minds and hearts to Himself, and inspire us to love Him, and rejoice in Him, as a lover and benefactor (Book VIII, Ch. 9).
Saint Demetrius of Rostov, urging not to put off repentance, says this: the young put off repentance until old age; the old one puts it off until the time when he begins to feel sick towards death: then, he says, I will repent. But, oh madness, do you really want to repent when you are exhausted in body and spirit?.. You will say: this prudent thief confessed at his death, exclaimed: remember me, Lord, when you come in Your kingdom, and was saved - and others, having brought their repentance to God at their death, did not perish. You say good things; but tell me with certainty: will you receive what they received? But if a useless, sudden death comes, which you do not expect, then will you find time to repent? It happens that at the end of their lives some people find time to repent, and their repentance is accepted by God: but not everyone receives this, and not many, and rarely, and only those who in their life, albeit sinful, have acquired some good deeds worthy of remembrance from the Lord and mercy. An example of this is the thief crucified with Christ. It is told about him: when the Most Pure Mother of God with her Son, Christ the Lord, and with St.
Joseph the betrothed, fleeing from Herod, traveled to Egypt, somewhere in empty places robbers attacked them and wanted to take away the donkey on which they were carrying some necessary things, and sometimes the Mother rode with the Divine Child Jesus. One of the robbers, seeing the boy, green and red, and surprised at the unusual beauty, said: if only God would take upon Himself a human body; then there could not have been a more beautiful youth than this. Having said this, he rebuked his friends, the other robbers, and did not allow them to embitter these travelers. This thief, after some time, was caught and condemned to death on the cross, and crucified with our Lord, and from the cross he cried out to Him: remember me, Lord, when you come into Your kingdom (Luke 23:42). The Lord, remembering his long-established virtue, had mercy on him and promised him paradise: today you will be with me in paradise... (Luke 23:39). Do you hear how repentance and forgiveness are given at death? Those who, although sinful, have done something good before. Let us not doubt, says St.
Isidore, that at death a person will be justified by tears of repentance; but since this rarely comes true, it is fearful, lest repentance be postponed until the end, but unexpectedly, before repentance, sudden death will befall.
Let us especially note here this saying: rarely, and let us also remember St. Gregory, who says: often those whose iniquities God is patient with are abducted by an unexpected death, so that it is impossible to cry over what they have done at death. Nobody ever said: I will repent at death, I will repent of my last illness. Therefore, our Lord inspires us: it is appropriate to do it until it is day; the night will come when no one can do anything (John 9:4). The day is our life; night is our end (part II, teaching in week XXIV to five days).
An example of the ranting of a divine saint is found in St. Tikhon in the 7th hour. Ch. 5, §337. The faithful soul cries out: You are, O Lord, a refuge from sorrow, supporting me. My joy, deliver me from those who have passed me by (Ps. 31:7). God answers: I will admonish you and guide you on this path; if you go there, I will fix My eyes on you (Ps. 31:8). Faithful soul: look upon me and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of those who love Your name (Ps. 119:132). God answers through the Prophet: to whom will I look, only to him who is meek, and silent, and trembles at My words (Isa. 66:2). A faithful soul says: Lord, who dwells in Your dwelling? or who will dwell in Your holy mountain? God answers: walk blameless, and do righteousness, speak the truth in your heart, so that you do not do evil to your sincere, and do not accept reproach from your neighbors (Ps. 14:1-3). The faithful soul cries out: create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb (Ps. 51:12). God says: I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you: and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh, and will give you a heart of cloth (Ezek. 11:19). Faithful soul: the sorrows of my heart have increased, deliver me from my needs (Ps. 24:17).
God: call Me in the day of your sorrow, and destroy you, and glorify Me (Ps. 49:15). Faithful soul: remember me, Lord, when you come into Your kingdom (Luke 23:42). Christ answers: Be faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life (Apoc. 2:10). Faithful soul: do not forsake me, O Lord my God, do not depart from me; attend to my help, O Lord of my salvation (Ps. 37:22, 23)! Christ answers: Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). The faithful soul cries: cast me not away from Thy presence (Ps. 50:12). Christ answers: He who comes to Me I will not cast out (John 6:37). Faithful soul: do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living will be justified before You (Ps. 143:2). Christ answers: God so loved the world, as He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but may the world be saved by Him. He who believes in Him will not be condemned (John 3:16, 17). A faithful soul says: do not remember the sin of my youth and my ignorance (Ps. 24:7).
God answers: the wicked man, if he turns from all his iniquities that he has committed, will keep all my commandments, and will do justice, and righteousness and mercy, he will live and not die: all his sins that he has committed will not be remembered (Ezek. 18:21, 22). Faithful and repentant soul: my iniquities have exceeded my head, and like a heavy burden weighs me down. (Ps. 37:5). God through the Apostle: where sin abounds, grace abounds (Rom. 5:20). Faithful soul: do not forget your poor to the end (Ps. 9:33). God answers: when will a woman forget her childhood, lest she have mercy on the offspring of her womb? Even if the woman forgets these, I will not forget you, says the Lord (Isa. 49:15). Faithful soul: do not turn Your face away from Your servant, as I grieve, hear me soon. God: it is not enough for sin that they grieved him, and smote him, and turned away my face from him: and they grieved, and went decrepit in their ways. We saw his ways, and healed him, and comforted him, and gave him true comfort (Isa. 57:17, 18). Faithful soul: guide me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy truth (Ps. 85:11). Christ: I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). The way: for no one will come to the Father except by Me (Jn.
14:6). Truth: believe in Me and do not be deceived by My word. Belly: believe in Me, even if you die, you will live (John 11:25). A faithful soul says: in the same way the tree desires the springs of water: my soul desires the tree for You, O God (Ps. 41:2)! Christ answers: come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). The faithful soul cries out with the Apostle: I have a desire to be resolved and to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23). Christ answers: today you will be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).
Saint Tikhon, in the Spiritual Treasure collected from the world, and in his treatise on spiritual wisdom, presents us with excellent examples of Meditation, drawn from sensory objects or incidents of life, and applied to Christian moral teaching and doctrine. Here are a few such examples of such reflection: I. You see, says the saint. Tikhon from his cell in Zadonsk, that every creature serves everyone equally. The sun, moon, stars illuminate everyone equally; the earth contains and nourishes everyone equally; water will give everyone something to drink; - Equally, I say, both rich and poor, and master and slave. Think about it: what can we learn from this? Because our blessings, given to us from God, should be common to us and our neighbors. II. You see that one creature serves another, the higher elements help the lower ones. The sun enlightens and warms the air and earth; clouds irrigate the earth and air; the earth provides food for us and the animals. What does thinking about this teach? Because otherwise we, like rational creatures, must help each other: the rich to the poor, the wise to the unwise, the healthy to the weak, the free to those imprisoned.
Therefore the word: what need do I have of it? must be expelled from Christian territory. III. You see, either in a wife - a mother for her children, or in a bird - for her chicks, or in cattle and animals - for her offspring, ardent love. From this incident, raise your mind to the love of God. If He planted so much love in His creatures, then He Himself has incomparably greater love (Ps. 49:15)! This paternal love of the heavenly Father delights the righteous and comforts the sinner... IV. You see that during spring everything is resurrected and reflected again; the earth produces fruits from its depths, the trees put on leaves, the grass turns green... From this sensual spring, let meditation lead your mind to that beautiful and highly desired spring, which the good God promised, and in which the bodies of the faithful departed from the earth from the beginning of the world, like seeds, by the power of God, will vegetate and be clothed in a new beautiful form and in the robe of immortality. V. You see that a filled vessel, or a watered lip, does not contain anything else, but an idle vessel contains everything. Think from here that the soul, filled with love and peace, cannot contain anything spiritual and heavenly.
From this, learn to drive out worldly love, so that the will of God may enter your heart. VI. You see the sun rising in the morning and making everyone happy. Thoughts, since the souls in which Christ feel great joy, the sun of eternal truth will rise. VII. You see a bird sitting and looking around here and there so that no one catches it or shoots it. Let this example teach the one who reflects in a similar way to look around and beware of the devil’s snares and his arrows in this world. The arrows of our enemy are: pride, anger, impurity and other passions. VIII. You see that the light is burning and burning out. This example reminds us that our life, like a candle, burns and then goes out. IX. You see or hear that the father renounces his disobedient and defective son and deprives him of his inheritance. Thinking about this incident will bring you to the terrible idea that Christ will renounce defective and unrepentant Christians. X. You hear consonant and sweet music and singing.
May your spirit be carried away by meditation into the heavenly villages, and there listen with the ears of your soul as the Council of Angels and the holy faces in agreement send up singing to the Trinitarian God. XI. You see that when there is no rain, the earth is dry and does not produce fruit. So the soul, not watered by the dew of God’s word and grace, dries up and becomes barren, etc. St. Tikhon in the article: there is a lot about spiritual wisdom.
Like our holy father Demetrius of Rostov, talking about the paralytic of the Gospel (John 5), this, among other things, exclaimed: looking with my sinful eyes at your piety, about my beloved, undoubtedly in my mind the imam is this, that if not all, then most of you, in the past St. Pentecost, abstinence, fasting and warm prayers from a contrite heart and confession of one’s sins and those of St. through repentance, having reconciled to God, from spiritual weakness we rose to health: glory to God! But I doubt that anyone will return to their previous sinful deeds; I’m afraid that someone would become like an animal that returns to the Kaltinny after washing; I’m afraid that no one wants to fall into the same spiritual weakness, or has already fallen in childhood. I commend such a one as Christ from the fall with the words: Behold, thou art healthy, in whom sin not (John 5:14). Oh, since there is cruel evil, after repentance you will return to your previous iniquities and sins! A person falls once into some grave sin - he is not yet completely contrite like (Dagon, 1 Sam.
5), there is still hope for an uprising; The hand of the Lord will yet raise him up and strengthen him, as it is said: even if he falls, he will not be broken, for the Lord strengthens his hand; for he is strong enough to set him up (Ps. 36:24; Rom. 14:4). Then, having been installed through St. Repentance is in its place, as with the ark - this Dagon, at the first grace of God, when he falls again, when he returns again to the first lawlessness, then his most cruel fall is incomparably: for, like Dagon, he destroys both the head - the sound mind, and the hands - the acts of the mind, and his spiritual face is extremely disfigured before God and man; because it not only angers God more bitterly, but also becomes a temptation for people, a source of condemnation, laughter and reproach. Many, after repentance, return to their first iniquities with such hope and thinking like this: I sinned and repented; and I will sin again and repent again; and then again I will sin and again I will repent, for it is written: as soon as you fall, as soon as you rise, you will be saved. Oh, false hope! Oh, unknown hope, not based on solid stone, but based on sand!
It’s not for you, it’s not for you, who returns willingly and on purpose to the first crime; This scripture does not serve you: as soon as you fall, rise up and be saved, but for those who, by some chance, creep into sin. Do you hear St. John Chrysostom: “He is unworthy of forgiveness who, after forgiveness, still sins; unworthy of health, who, after healing, again wounds himself with a wound; unworthy of cleansing, who, after cleansing, still defiles himself”... You hear the scripture in the book of Jesus son of Sirach: for two my heart was sorrowful, and for the third I found wrath: a man who is a fighter, exhausted by poverty, and a man of understanding is humiliated, and a man who returns from righteousness to sin will suffer the wrath of God and will be given over to the sword of eternal punishment (Sir. 26:24ff.). He who returns to sin, the second crucifies the Son of God and tramples on His dearest blood, shed for the salvation of the world; and by such evil behavior, we sinners are likened to the evil Saul: the spirit of the Lord depart (from Saul), and the evil spirit crushes him (1 Sam. 16:14)...
Let us therefore be afraid, brethren, to return to our former evil deeds; let us think lower, lest we fall into the cruelest torment. Let each of us say in his soul: behold, you are healthy by the grace of God through St. repentance, let no one sin, lest it be worse... (John 5:14). Oh Lord! You yourself give us what you command, and save us from severe falls into sin all the days of our life. Amen. (Part II abbr.).
Paradise - the blissful abode of the first people, whether it was in Palestine, in the East, or on the island of Ceylon, or, as others thought, in the highest countries of the air, now does not exist, at least it is unknown, and one should think that the flood, which gave the whole earth a completely new appearance, completely erased its traces. It is enough that at this paradise Adam is straight gray-haired, and weeping over his nakedness: alas for me, who was warned and robbed by the deception of the evil one!.. For whom I will not see my Lord and Creator; For I will go into the land from which I would not have been taken. Merciful, generous, I cry to You: have mercy on me, fallen (triod. week. cheese)! Here let us look with tenderness at that paradise that Christ the Savior promised from the cross to the prudent thief: today you will be with Me in paradise, and which constitutes the eternal heritage of Christians, deserved by Christ... This is how Saint Tikhon talks about this heritage (Part IV, Chapter 4). As the Christian fatherland is heaven; so is their inheritance in heaven, an incorruptible and unfading inheritance. And how much it is and what it is, we can’t just describe it, but we can’t even understand it with our minds, but only by faith we see it now, like a mirror in fortune-telling...
We note several of the present, the future, and of the visible, the invisible, and of the perishable, the imperishable. If, for the sake of this corruptible and humble body, the man-loving God created such great good things in heaven and on earth, in the air and sea: then how great will this good be, which God’s elect will inherit, in the heavenly fatherland, where they will see Him face to face? If in this deplorable vale, in wandering and exile, so much gives: how much will he give in His house, where His glory shines?.. Then there too they will inherit the crown of all desires. Do they wish for lordship? Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43). People desire lightness and strength: then they will be like the Angels of God. People desire incorruption and whole health: then they will be incorruptible (1 Cor. 15:42). People want strength: then they will be strong in heaven; For what is sown in weakness is raised in strength (1 Cor. 15:43). Glory is desirable for people: they will be there in glory; For as it is sown not in honor, it is raised in glory. People desire triumph: there they will triumph over death and hell (1 Cor. 15:55)...
People desire sweet singing: there they will hear angelic singing and they themselves will endlessly and laboriously sing the glorious song: Alleluia. People desire reason and wisdom: there the wisdom of God will reveal itself to them. People desire friendship, harmony and peace: there they will love God more than themselves, and each other as themselves, and God will love them as their children; there will be one will and one desire; for everyone will want what God alone wants... It is most desirable and desirable to see God: there they will see God and the Son of God Jesus Christ face to face. Behold the inheritance of Christians, which the heavenly Father has prepared for them, by the grace of His only begotten Son! This heritage - this paradise we lost - was us; but through the labors and obedience of the Son of God it returned to us. Those who fight the good fight, those who finish the race, and those who keep the faith enter into it (2 Tim. 4:7). In recent years, having become incarnate of the Virgin, Lord, having called me, bring me again into paradise!
A prayerful example of repentance that is soul-saving and all-soul is found in the 1st part of the works of St. Demetrius of Rostov: “You have found a solitary place, and having become one, sit down, reflecting on your life, and bringing to mind all your sins, committed from youth, confessed and unconfessed... Raise your mind from the earth to the throne, the Cherubim and Seraphim of the present; There, seeing with your intelligent eyes, God, sitting on high on the throne, watching your coming, and listening, if you want to speak, fall at His feet, and with fear begin to say to Him: I confess my sins, and I bring them before Your all-seeing eye, in the hearing of all Your Angels and Archangels, my iniquities! I have sinned, my Lord and Creator!.. Behold my ulcers, scabs and putrefaction, O merciful Physician! Behold my heavy burden, O good Lord! Behold my studio! By these deeds I have saddened and angered Your goodness; These have desecrated Your image, insulted Your Holy Spirit and driven away my Guardian Angel from myself; With this, Your dearest blood, shed for me, was trampled underfoot and imputed to nothing... For this, my joy was a demon, my crying was an Angel, and my soul died.
I confess this, I reprove this to myself, and I commit guilt to myself... I put all this into Your great mercy... and without shame I fall to You, the all-merciful and all-generous, in the pain of my heart, crying out in repentance: I have sinned, Father, into heaven and before You; sinned and lawless, having been a transgressor of Your commandments... I am not worthy to open my mouth before You; I am not worthy to look upon the heights of heaven... Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, have mercy, and accept me into repentance and call me to reason, raise up the fallen, seek the lost, heal the ulcerated, raise the dead, convert me, O Lord of hosts, and I will be saved... I regret, I sincerely regret, like You I angered My Creator, eternal and endless goodness, I grieved with my malice, and I had to love him unceasingly, and keep Your commandments, but even hating this, I gave myself countless sins. Even though I wanted it earnestly, I barely thought about it and neglected it; Even though I had something sweet to satisfy myself with, this bitter thing I rejected; I had to cleave to the Unman, but I broke away from it; He alone had to live, and he died, but I live by sin, by pleasure and passion...
I had to fear and venerate this, I have offended and dishonored myself in the lesser brethren and in myself, I have desecrated everything to myself in deeds, words and thoughts: I had to give thanks and glorify Him unceasingly, remaining with Him, from this I turned away and ran in the path of corruption, and were too lazy to open my mouth to the glory of His Most Holy Name... Oh, God mine! Oh, my Creator! Now I painfully regret all this and will not stop regretting it. Oh, that you would never anger the Lord, my God, and that you would be counted first among the dead, having angered You, my good God. Vskaya. I was born, I live to this day, and I grieve Thee, my Lord... why is my heart troubled? Below, because of the fall of the blessings of heaven, he is exhausted, below, he is trembling with torment, as if he is melting about this, as if You were angry, all that is good, all that is sweet, all that is dear, all that is desired: I will definitely begin to regret this and will not stop from now on and forever... And what will I do? We know that you are good, my God; You are merciful, my Creator; You are merciful and generous, my Redeemer; You are so merciful that you did not spare your soul, but you laid it down for us sinners.
And you do not do us according to our iniquities, nor repay us according to our sins. Therefore I will do this: at Your most holy feet I will fall and weep before You, the Lord who created me. I, the abyss of sins, I plunge myself into the abyss of Thy mercy, my God, and I pray to Thee: guide me to true repentance and bring me to my insensible and petrified senses. You have accepted many sinners who repent: David, Manasseh, the tax collector, the harlot, Peter, Saul, Photinia, etc. Do not reject me either. Call me also... Weigh, Lord, that I hate my vile deeds, and for their own sake I hate them, and I do not want to irritate You, my good God, with them. Just You, Lord, give me help: without You I can’t do anything. I have the will to repent, if You, God, help me. Help me, and I will be saved. I believe, Lord, in Your compassion: help my unbelief. I believe that You are near to all who call upon You in truth. Truly, truly, truly, I want to turn with all my heart to You, my God. God, attend to my help, Lord, strive for my help (Ps. 69:2).
(Therefore, having risen from the earth, strengthened in trust in the Lord and meditating on His great goodness, honor Psalm 103, so that your soul may be comforted.)
And for an example of firmness against schism and - in order to have an understanding of schism, we will write out a few lines from the biography of St. Tikhon. Saint Tikhon, in his Zadonsk hermitage, in addition to many temptations from his various thoughts, experienced an outside temptation. It is known that both the priestly and non-priestly schismatics, throughout almost the past century, were worried in their conscience about the lack of either the Church, or the correct priesthood, or the Church sacraments, and the first of them (i.e., the priests), always being deceived only by the vicious priests who ran over to them, various invented means to obtain a special Bishop for themselves, who, according to their rituals and books, would ordain the priesthood and performed other bishop's actions in their church.
They turned to the patriarchs of Constantinople and Serbia with requests for this; then to the Georgian Catholicos, then to the metropolitans of Moldavlachia and Crimea (?), then to the foreign Bishops of the Greek confession, staying in Poland and Russia, begging some to either go to them, or it is better to consecrate someone as a Bishop from among their like-minded people. But all these attempts were in vain. The Crimean Metropolitan alone sometimes dedicated deacons, priests, abbots and archimandrites for them; and Metropolitan Anthony of Moldova, having been deceived by forged letters drawn up in the name of the Kyiv Metropolitan, who allegedly asked him to ordain a bishop in Chigirin, in 1724, although he had ordained one Kyiv monk, deprived by the court of both the priesthood and monasticism; however, the false bishop was caught, and, being kept in different places under guard, finally died under it in Kyiv in 1735.
This first unsuccessful experience later encouraged two other monks like this deceiver to call themselves Bishops without consecration; but, to their shame, the schismatics themselves recognized their deception... Having then decided in their thoughts to find a ready-made bishop and having heard about the holy life of the Right Reverend Tikhon, or perhaps having learned his regret about leaving the diocese, they imagined that they could win him over, and sent a Saratov merchant from Moscow to him with an offer. But the pious and always zealous for the Faith and the Church, the Shepherd received the messenger with contempt and, denouncing the superstition of his like-minded people, answered: “what do they propose to him to begin with, when those who propose are empty and vain”?..
We read about the creation of Eve in the chronicle of St. Demetrius of Rostov (l. 33) is as follows. God made Adam, over all His earthly creation, king and ruler, and subject to him all under his nose, all sheep and oxen... (Ps. 8:7, 8) so that he may possess them. And he brought to him all the cattle and birds and beasts, meek and submissive (then the wolf was like a lamb, and the hawk was like a kokosh, in disposition, without harming each other), and Adam gave them all names as it was fitting and proper for each to be named. For Adam was made very wise by God and had the understanding of an angel. Thus, the all-wise and all-good God, having created Adam, wanted to give him a partner as a kind companionship, so that with whom he could enjoy so many blessings, and he said: it is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a helper (Gen. 2:18). And God cast Adam into a deep sleep, which is called ecstasy (exasperation): then he understood in spirit, he saw both what was happening (the creation of a wife from him) and the mystery of the subsequent marriage, and, more importantly, the union of Christ himself with the Church. For, according to theologians, then the mystery of the incarnation of Christ was revealed to him from God; He was given knowledge of St.
The Trinity, and at the same time he understood about the Fall of the Angels, and about the multiplication of the human race that was to take place through it, and many other mysteries of God he learned by revelation; but his own fall was hidden from him by the destinies of God. In this wonderful dream, the Lord took one from Adam's ribs and created a wife for him, and Adam, rising from sleep, saw and exclaimed: Behold, bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh (Gen. 2:23).
Question What St. Dimitri Rostovsky remarks about the creation of Eve?
Rep. As in Adam from the earth, so in the one creature from the rib there was a prototype of Christ from the Most Pure Virgin incarnation, like St. Chrysostom explains this eloquently: “like Adam without a wife, bring a wife; So the Virgin without a husband gave birth to a husband, repaying her debt to her husbands for Eve. Adam, after the removal of the rib, is intact; the Virgin is also incorruptible, by the origin of the Child from Her.” In the same creation from the side of Adam, Eve was a prototype of the Church of Christ, which was formed from the piercing of His side on the cross. “Adam sleeps,” says the blessed one. Augustine, let there be Eve. I sleep Adam, Eve becomes from the rib. Christ dies, let there be a Church. I will die to Christ, the rib will be pierced by a spear, so that the sacraments may expire, or the Church will be adorned.”
Question Whose birth is nobler - Adam's or Eve's?
Rep. Adam was created outside of paradise, Eve was created in paradise. Adam - from the dust of the earth; Eve is from a human bone. In truth, the birth of Eve seems nobler than the birth of Adam. But the wife is not higher or more disrespectful than her husband, and is even subordinate to her husband. Here lies a lesson and teaching for those who are proud of their nobility. For he is not great and honorable who, being noble, has a woman’s mind and heart, and an unjust life; but he who is prudent and courageous, and virtuous in life, even if he comes from a simple family.
Moses once struck a stone in the desert with a rod, says St. Demetrius of Rostov, in his lament at the burial of the Lord Jesus Christ, - and the flow of water: the warrior struck the side of the stone with an iron spear - Christ, and blood and water came out (John 19:34). Our Lord flowed out two springs from His most pure ribs - blood and water: water for our washing; blood - for our sanctification... Whoa, whoa, people like us, honey from stone? We, oh our dearest stone - Christ! This is sweetness from Your most pure ribs... We know that You came forth on the third day from the tomb: but may our hearts never cease from Your most pure plagues, until we dwell in our tomb. What is more desirable to our hearts, what is more kind, what is sweeter, more than Your most pure ulcers, even the combs of tears we contemplate, the lips that are kinder, even if unworthy, we touch, but we kiss the sweetest with our hearts, worshiping them (from Lamentations).
I worship Your most pure, most holy and life-giving ulcer, which is in Your right hand, and I pray to You, my Lord: vouchsafe me to stand at Your right hand.
I worship Your most pure, most holy and life-giving wound, even in Your hand, and I pray to You, my Lord: deliver me from part of this evil.
I worship Your most pure, most holy and life-giving wound, even in Your gum, and I pray to You, my Lord: guide me on the right path of repentance.
I worship Your most pure, most holy and life-giving wound, even in Your nose, and I pray to You, my Lord: forbid my feet from every evil way.
I worship Your most pure, most holy and life-giving wound, even in Your most pure ribs and in Your perforated heart, from where blood and water flowed out - for our redemption, and I pray to You, my Lord: crush my petrification, strike my hard heart, erase it with Your fear, wound it with Your love, so that I may love You, my Lord with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my thought, with all my strength and with all my thoughts; and let tearful springs flow from my contrite heart, washing away my sinful defilement (Part I, works by St. Dime). Amen.
Question The Orthodox confession of the Catholic and Apostolic Church of the East is contained in the twelve members of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Symbol. Tell me, asks St. Demetrius of Rostov, tell me clearly what you understand and what you believe in each member.
Rep. In the first, St. answers. Demetrius, I believe that there is one God Almighty, the Creator of all visible and invisible creatures, the Father and Sustainer, and that He created heaven with all its creations and angels, the earth with men and animals, and everything else in His time from nothing by His omnipotent command and desire, and contains all of it. In the second, I believe that our Savior Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, from the Father before all ages, in an ineffable manner, begotten like light from light, essentially and impassively.
In the third, I believe that the true Son of God is consubstantial and equal in honor with the Father, so that the human race, condemned by the fall of Adam into hell - into the region of Satan - will save from heaven and receive flesh to man, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, made from Her virgin blood by the Holy Spirit, verbal and animated, and not without a soul, less dreamy, but perfect God and perfect man, verbal from the soul and consisting of human flesh, one Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and not two Sons, one Filial and Divine Hypostasis, having two natures: according to Divinity from God the Father before all ages, according to humanity - from the Virgin Mother of God in due time. In the fourth, I believe that our Savior Lord Jesus Christ truly endured spontaneous passion, torment and crucifixion, out of unspeakable love for his creation - man, and not dreamily, below the Divinity, but only by humanity he was crucified and buried.
Fifthly, I believe that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with the same flesh, was received in the womb of the Virgin Mother of God, and by her suffered and died, and by the omnipotent power of Divine was resurrected on the third day, as I foretold the prophecies. In the sixth, I believe that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of His Divinity, after His forty-day stay with His disciples, ascended with His flesh into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, for God is of equal honor and consubstantial. In the seventh, I believe that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the ultimate judge of the living and the dead, the righteous and the sinful, and with the same flesh that He received from the Virgin Mary, and suffered, and was buried, and ascended, to come to earth with all the Angels, with much glory, to reward each according to his deeds, to his kingdom, which is a reward for the righteous. will be accepted, there will be no end. In the eighth, I believe that the Holy Spirit is perfect God, consubstantial with the Father and the Son: proceeding from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is equally worshiped and glorified.
In the ninth, I believe that there is only one holy, catholic and apostolic Church, which, by the blood and teaching of Christ, the apostles, the holy. father and martyr confirmed; even the gates of hell cannot be overcome; to which the Orthodox Eastern Confession adheres to a certain salvation, following its legalizations unharmed. In the tenth, I believe that unless someone is baptized, he cannot be saved. And so the mystery of baptism is the door of God's grace. Even if we are not baptized, the blood of the Son of God is of no use; If we are baptized, imams, forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation, and we become accomplices of the merits of Christ the Son of God, and we oblige (i.e., we undertake to fulfill) the entire Christian law, and especially the reverent communion of the Body and Blood of Christ under the guise of bread and wine. In the eleventh, I believe that with the same flesh that came and was created from God and lived in the world, at the voice of the Son of God in the last time we will all rise again, and we will receive according to our deeds - either eternal life or eternal torment.
In the twelfth, I believe that both the kingdom of heaven and hell are endless, and that, after the resurrection from the dead and the day of judgment, we will have eternal life: either blessed with God, or damned with the devil. Amen.
Question How did Saint Tikhon talk about the foundation and beginning of the Christian religion, or rather, the most holy and saving Orthodox Faith?
Rep. Adam and Eve, our forefathers, by transgressing God’s commandments in paradise and by their obedience to Satan, greatly angered God and brought God’s oath upon themselves (Gen. 3), for this they were expelled from paradise and condemned to death, and fell into eternal torment; and with them we, as their sons, are also subject to execution and oath by God's justice. But God, being good and merciful, then promised to send deliverance to them and all their descendants. The merciful God foretold this deliverance, which was to come to the whole world, in various ways. Presented through the patriarchs and St. men with all kinds of signs, foretold through the prophets by His Holy Spirit. This is the beginning of Christianity!
And as the time approached to send this deliverance to the human race: the Prophet was born from the barren parents of Zechariah and Elizabeth the righteous - John the Forerunner and Baptist. In the sixth month after the conception of John the Baptist, the Archangel Gabriel, by God’s command, came to the Most Pure Virgin Mary in the city of Nazareth, and first greeted Her like this: Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you. Then he announced to Her that She would give birth to the Son of the Savior of the world... Behold the servant of the Lord, She declared out of some dispute, be unto Me according to your word (Luke 1:28, 38). So, the Son of God, by the good will of the Heavenly Father and the action of the Holy Spirit, without the seed of a man, was conceived by the flesh in a virgin’s womb, in a way unknown to us. In remembrance of this good deed of God, the Church celebrates the day of the Annunciation annually on March 25th. From here our salvation began to be arranged.
When the time came for the Virgin to give birth to the Son of God, She gave birth, but not as other wives give birth, that is, with illness; a - without illness and without violating one’s virginity. And therefore, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, was a Virgin before the Nativity, and remained a Virgin after the Nativity until Her Dormition. The Son of God, as before the age was born from the Father without a mother, so in the summer he was incarnated from a Mother without a father... We celebrate the Nativity according to the flesh of the Son of God, our deliverer, on December 25th. This wonderful Child, born for our deliverance, was circumcised on the eighth day according to the law of Moses, and He was given the name Jesus (Luke 2:21), which means Savior.
When forty days had passed after birth, the Mother brought the born Child to the church of God before the Lord, according to the law. At that time, according to God's will, St. In the Spirit, Simeon, a righteous and already elderly man, was promised not to die until he saw the Messiah. Simeon had just seen the Child brought by the Theotokos Mary, and by the Holy Spirit knew that He was Christ, promised by God and preached by the prophets, and taking Him in his arms with splendid reverence, he sang with great joy: now dost thou let thy servant go, O Master, according to thy word, in peace, as mine eyes have seen (Luke 2:29, 30). And we remember this on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, celebrated annually on February 2.
Having been twelve years old, on the feast of Easter in Jerusalem, sitting in the Church among the teachers, the Lord Jesus Christ listened to them and asked questions, and all who heard marveled at His understanding. For at His small age, the Hypostatic Wisdom of God acted, and the mind, not human, but Divine, appeared in Him (Luke 2:46, 47).
And when he came of age and was about thirty years old, Christ the Lord came to the Jordan River to John the Baptist, among others, to be baptized. John, having learned by the Holy Spirit that He was the Messiah about whom the prophets had predicted, refused to baptize Him, saying: I must be baptized by You, but You are coming to me (Matthew 3:14). But as the Son of God demanded that he baptize Himself, John, as a servant of the Lord, baptized Him, and heard the voice of God the Father about Him, and saw the Holy Spirit above him in the form of a dove (Luke 3).
Christ was baptized, not washing himself from the filth of sin (for he is sinless), but cleansing us from sins and sanctifying the watery nature with His most pure flesh. We celebrate the Baptism of Christ on January 6th.
After baptism, he was led by the Spirit into the desert and fasted for forty days. Imitating Christ, the Church maintains the fast of St. every day. Pentecost, before St. Easter.
After completing the forty-day fast, Christ was tempted three times by the devil, revealing that everyone who begins to work for the Lord must be tempted... Preaching the Gospel, he gathered twelve disciples, whom he called Apostles, and with them from place to place, from city to city, he taught about salvation and the kingdom of heaven, showing the way to it and performing miracles not like saints - through prayer, but by the power of his Divinity, by one word... This is written at length in the Gospel; It is written how he accepted sinners when they came, and with His power, like God, forgave their sins, how He healed all kinds of illnesses and ailments; to the blind - vision, to the deaf - hearing, to the lame - to walk, to the dumb - he gave words to speak, he raised the dead, etc...
And as the time of His suffering approached, taking with Him three of His most chosen disciples, He led Him to the top of Mount Tabor, where, when He prayed, His face illuminated like the sun, and His vestments became white as snow. Two prophets appeared there: Moses and Elijah; then a voice thundered from the cloud that covered the apostles: This is my beloved Son, listen to him (Mark 9:7). This phenomenon shows both the foundation and condition of the Christian Religion, and the fact that He has to accept suffering by His will, and that after death in the eternal life there will be the same glory for those who believe in Him and follow Him in patience. This Transfiguration of Christ is celebrated on August 6, as a great proof of Christianity.
When, so continues St. Tikhon talked about the foundation of Christianity - when the time came for Christ to suffer and die, He solemnly entered Jerusalem, accompanied by exclamations: Hosanna!.. (Matthew 21:9). And there, after receiving many dishonors, ridicule, blasphemy, wounds, he was hanged naked on a cross between two thieves, at about six o’clock in the afternoon, and then darkness came over the whole earth, and the veil of the church was torn, the earth shook, the stones disintegrated and the bodies of the dead rose...
On the third day He rose again by the power of His Divinity and appeared to His disciples many times, teaching them the kingdom of God... And after instructing them for 40 days, He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father... On the 50th day after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of tongues of fire on all the Apostles, by whom they were strengthened by idolatry, demonic deception abolished, and the coming of the Son of God was preached in the world, and they taught everyone as they themselves were taught by Christ and the Holy Spirit living in them, whose teaching is holy. The Orthodox Church, to this day, alone invariably contains...
Here's from St. Tikhon - an explanation of the foundation of the Faith, which we were taught, by which we maintain and by which we may be saved!
Patriarchal religion, or the theology of the patriarchs, teachers of the church and interpreters of St. The Scriptures are presented in the following points: I. God is a being independent of anyone and different from this world (Gen. 1:1). He is pre-eternal (Gen. 21:33), omniscient (Gen. 3:11; 15:13–15; 18:18; Ex. 1:7), true (Gen. 6:7; Gen. 7; Gen. 25:16), omnipotent (Gen. 17:1; Gen. 18, 19; Gen. 33:20), holy and righteous (Gen. 18:25; Gen. 19:13), loving and merciful (Gen. 24:12; Gen. 32:16), desiring the salvation of all people (Gen. 6:3), supreme (Gen. 14:19). One in essence, but Trinity in Persons (Gen. 1:1, 2; Gen. 19:24). II. God made everything out of nothing in six days (Gen. 1). He is the supreme ruler of all creatures (Gen. 14:20; Gen. 45:5, 8, 9, Gen. 8:20), and has charge of all things (Gen. 22:8, 13, 14). III. There are evil angels (Gen. 3), who tempt the good, and good angels, who serve the righteous (Gen. 28:12; Gen. 32:1; 24:7, 40). IV. God at the beginning created one man and one wife (Gen. 1:27). Having produced the body of a man from the earth, He breathed a soul into it (Gen. 2:7), and He made a wife from the rib of the husband (Gen. 2:21, 22). He created both of them in His image (Gen. 1:27; 5:1, 2), which consisted in the ineffable likeness of God (Gen. 1:26), containing great knowledge and wisdom (Gen.
2:19, 20, 23; 3:22), perfect holiness (Gen. 2:25; 3:22), immortality of the body and the removal from it of all diseases and infirmities (Gen. 2:17; 3:10, 19), possession of light (Gen. 1:26, 28, 30) with residence in paradise (Gen. 2:8). V. The forefathers, being deceived by the cunning of the devil, sinned and lost the image of God (Gen. 3:1-13), and especially wisdom (Gen. 3:8) and holiness (Gen. 3:10). Death and every misfortune are the fruits of their fall (Gen. 3:17–19). VI. Sin is not from God (Gen. 1:31). People are born evil (Gen. 5:3; 6:5; 8:21). Anyone can be freed from guilt, punishment and the yoke of sin (Gen. 3:15; 4:7). VII. The Messiah will come, true God and true man, and He will be born of a woman without the seed of a man (Gen. 3:15), from the tribe of Abraham (Gen. 12:3), Isaac (Gen. 17:19–21; 26:4), Judah (Gen. 49:10). Before the kingdom of Judah is completely destroyed, He will endure torment and abolish the power of the devil (Gen. 3:15) and finally send down peace and all spiritual blessings not only to believers, but also to the pagans themselves, by His sole goodness without any merit (Gen. 12:3, 22:18; 26:4; 49:10–18 ). VIII. Collection of one's sins and contrition of the heart is necessary (Gen. 3:8–13; 42:14, 21, 22). IX. Men will be justified by faith (Gen.
15:6), and everything that comes from faith is good, and everything that does not come from faith is evil (Gen. 4:4, Heb. 11:4). X. Everyone can and should lead a holy life (Gen. 4:7; 5:22; 17:1). Everyone is obligated to obey God in everything (Gen. 6:22; 22:3). Human duty is to have fear of God (Gen. 22:12; 31:54), to glorify Him (Gen. 14:20; 24:27), to testify and show Him gratitude for the bounties poured out from Him (Gen. 17:17; 24:52). One must honor God and ask for all good things from Him alone with a reverent thought (Gen. 17:17; 18:22; 32:9, etc.). To fulfill the vows made before God (Gen. 28:20). Information about God and His glory must be spread (Gen. 12:8; 14:22, 23). Idolatry must be avoided (Gen. 35:2–4). God hates pride (Gen. 11:1). Sacrifices were instituted by God himself (Gen. 3:21; 4:4), and therefore must be offered (Gen. 8:20). The Sabbath must be kept and kept holy (Gen. 2:3). God commands to pray for others (Gen. 18:22; 20:7), and He accepts prayer for others. Children should honor their parents (Gen. 9:24, 25). The duty of parents is to teach their children the commandments of God and encourage them to fulfill them (Gen. 18:19).
Slaves must show all obedience to their masters (Gen. 16:6–9; 24). It is not forbidden to have just wars (Gen. 14:13), anger is considered a sin (Gen. 4:5, 6; 49:7). Discord must be avoided (Gen. 13:8, 9). Homicide is prohibited by God himself, and therefore it must be avoided at all costs (Gen. 4:8, 12, 15; 9:6). Hospitable hospitality must be respected and fulfilled (Gen. 18:1; 19:1). Be gentle (Gen. 50:19–21). Marriage was instituted by God in the state of man, who was still in innocence (Gen. 1:28; 2:18). Therefore, he is sinless for everyone (Gen. 5:22). To have a virtuous wife, one must ask God (Gen. 24:7–12). Let the wife submit to her husband (Gen. 3:16). Any impermissible means in discussing marriage should be avoided (Gen. 6:12). Childbearing is a gift of God (Gen. 4:1; 25:21). All uncleanness must be avoided (Gen. 38:9), such as fornication (Gen. 34:7) and adultery (Gen. 20:3, 7, 9). XI. God loves the righteous (Gen. 6:8), sometimes tempts them (Gen. 22:1), but is always present to them (Gen. 26:3; 28:15; 39:2, 3) and has special care for them (Gen. 29:32; 31:42; 19:22; 15:1). XII. And the righteous are subject to sinful weaknesses (Gen.
9:21; 19:31), and therefore sometimes they are unworthy of the good deeds of God (Gen. 32:10). XIII. There is eternal enmity between the righteous and the wicked (Gen. 3:13). XIV. Circumcision, which is nothing more than a sign of God's covenant, given by God himself to the descendants of Abraham, must be performed on infants themselves, as capable of receiving grace and the covenant (Gen. 17). XV. People will all be resurrected (Gen. 5:24; 28:13; Matt. 22:32). XVI. God is the judge of all men (Gen. 18:25). XVII. Finally, the future life is prepared for the righteous (Gen. 5:24; 25:8; 49:29; Heb. 11:10; 14:16. Metropolitan Ambrose's guide to reading Holy Scripture).
Question Besides the spoken and written word, in what other ways are the truths of the Patriarchal Faith taught?
Rep. In Prototypes, that is, in events and persons who similarly signified and represented our Lord Jesus Christ, His properties and future ministry and work. These during the time of the patriarchs were: Adam (Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:45), Abel (Heb. 12:24), Enoch, Noah (Matthew 24:37; Luke 14:26), Melchizedek (Ps. 110; Heb. 7), Abraham, Isaac (Heb. 11:18, 19), Jacob and Joseph (ibid.).
The Holy and Great John, the Forerunner and Baptist of Christ, is called in the songs of the Church the extreme prophet and Intercessor (intermediate link) of the Old and New Grace - the time of the Old Testament and the New Testament. What St. John the Baptist was between the Old Testament and the New Testament times, also in some respects Moses was between the patriarchal and sub-legal times, that is, the extreme prophet, the last: the last of the patriarchal and the first of the sub-legal times, and the intercessor or mediator of the Patriarchal and Sub-legal religion.
Question What else do you need to know about Moses the Seer of God?
Rep. His fatherland was Egypt (Ex. 2:6). He was a Jew by birth (Ex. 2:1). His preservation and the reason for his name are read (Ex. 2:10. Comp. Heb. 11:23). The genealogy is described (Ex. 6:16–20). He was brought up at the court of the king of Egypt (Ex. 2:10). St. Stephen testifies that he was very learned (Acts 7:22). From Egypt, despising dignity and courtly happiness (Heb. 11:24–27), he fled to Jethro, the priest of Midian, with whose daughter he married (Ex. 2:15–21). The removal of the Jews from Egypt was entrusted to him directly from God (Exodus 3:4), which he performed with many miracles (Exodus 12:1 cf. Heb. 11:28). The main leader of the Jews was appointed by God (Ex. 14:31). His relationship with God was such as no other mortal had ever had (Exod. 33:11; Num. 12:6–8 Deut. 34:10). His most sacred and miraculous deeds are described in the books that he left us. He was of very great piety, steadfastness and patience (Num. 12:3, 7). He continued his life, unharmed by his mental and physical strength, for up to 120 years (Deut. 34:7), of which he spent 40 years at the court of Egypt (Acts 7:23), 40 years in the flight of Midian and 40 years in ruling the people of Judah.
In the desert, Sin fell into a certain temptation (Num. 20:12), and for this he died outside Canaanite or Palestine on Mount Piazgeh (Deut. 34:1–5). He was a clear prototype of Christ (Deut. 18:15–18; cf. Acts 3:20–23). Moses, as a writer, is more ancient than anyone from whom writings have remained to us: he lived and wrote 500 years before Homer (Ibid.).
Question What should we know about the book in which St. Did Moses teach us the patriarchal religion?
Rep. This book is the first of the most sacred, divinely inspired, canonical, i.e. correct, which are called correct-canonical because they contain an unchangeable rule of faith and human actions. This book of Genesis. It was written from Moses, not during his wanderings in the land of Midian, but after the Israelites came out of Egypt. For before his calling at Horeb he had not yet been appointed a prophet. The book of Genesis was written by Moses in order to commemorate the beginning of all created things; also – sin and true salvation; to renew in the world true knowledge and veneration of the true God, heaven and earth the Creator, instead of whom idols began to be venerated; show the genealogy of the Messiah, the beginning of the Church and its various growths over many centuries; to inform the people of God about their ancestors and about the promises given to them, and to awaken them to faith and immaculate life; moreover, to keep it known, for which God, leaving other nations, turned to Abraham and his generation (ibid.).
Question When and how do patriarchal times end and legal times begin?
Rep. The removal of the Israelites from Egypt through Moses and the legislation of Sinai. How the time of patriarchal religion ended and how the time of subordinate religion began, with what miracles and Epiphanies, with what resistances of human malice and cowardice - this is described in detail in the book of Exodus. She ranks second among the canonical ones; written by Moses upon the acceptance of the law from God on Mount Sinai and upon the construction of the Tabernacle - the marching church of God. The Book of Exodus was written for the purpose of preserving the memory of Israel's exodus from Egypt, as a special blessing of God; show the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham about the multiplication of his seed and his removal from Egypt (Gen. 15:13–14), to offer clearer evidence of Divine grace, extreme patience, omnipotence and justice of God; describe (as an example to all peoples) the fundamental foundations of a God-correct society; to discover future things and events, which at one time should have appeared, and hitherto had been destined in their shadows and prototypes.
Question What are these prototypes?
Rep. The prototypes of our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Exodus are indicated by the Holy Fathers as follows: Moses, Aaron, the Passover lamb, Manna, the stone (Exodus 17, fn. Mark 10:4), purification (Exodus 37:6, fn. Heb. 4:16) and the Tabernacle (Exodus 40, see Heb. 9).
Question Besides the Book of Exodus, in what other books is the essence and teaching of the religion under the law set forth with particular completeness?
Rep. In the book of Psalms and the prophet Isaiah. To see this more clearly, let us look at 1) the content of all the psalms of the Psalter and 2) the content of the 4th part of the prophecy of Isaiah.
Psalm 1. In it the Prophet teaches that the righteous will always be blessed, and the wicked will perish.
Psalm 2. St. prophesies David about the suffering of Christ and about His spiritual kingdom, further says that the enemies of the Church will perish, and those who believe in Christ will be saved.
Psalm 3. David complains about the many enemies, places his trust in God and asks for help from Him; finally rejoices at the end of his misfortunes.
Psalm 4. David prays that God will protect him from his enemies; then he rebels against their wickedness and teaches that true bliss does not consist in an abundance of visible blessings, but in peace of conscience.
Psalm 5th. A prayer to God that He would destroy the attempts of enemies and establish the righteous in integrity.
Psalm 6th. David fears that God will be completely angry with him for his sins. Why does he pray to forgive him his sins, and thereby calm his troubled conscience, and protect him from his enemies.
Psalm 7th. David represents his innocence and the malice of his slanderers, and describes the righteous judgment of God.
Psalm 8th. He preaches the greatness of God, which is revealed most of all in the fact that God the Father gave Jesus Christ, who was previously humiliated by death on the cross, power in heaven and on earth, seating Him at His right hand.
Psalm 9. David praises the Lord that He delivered him from his enemies; then he describes the malice of the persecutors of virtue and concludes with a prayer for the protection of the righteous.
Psalm 10. David does not despair of the persecution that surrounded him; because he hopes that no matter how cunning and cruel his enemies are, God will protect him and consume the wicked.
Psalm 11th. The Church complains that there are few true righteous people, and that the truth of the word of God is disfigured by false teachings of men, and finally asks God to confirm the truth of the Gospel.
Psalm 12. This contains a sample prayer of a person struggling with sin and asking for help from above to defeat it.
Psalm 13th. The extreme corruption of the human race is described, extending even to godlessness. Finally, the temptation and salvation of people is foreshadowed.
Psalm 14. It is explained who the righteous are and the heirs of heavenly bliss.
Psalm 15. Christ prays to the heavenly Father to strengthen Him in temptation and in bearing the cross and death; foreshadows the rejection of the people of Israel and the election of tongues. Then he thanks God, knowing that He will not leave Him in death, but will resurrect Him and seat Him at His right hand.
Psalm 16. David, the persecuted, describes his innocence, his wickedness, and the power of the wicked; calls on God for help and is consoled by the hope of the Messiah.
Psalm 17th. David, having got rid of all his enemies, thanks God, preaches His wrath against the wicked and God's favor towards the righteous.
Psalm 18. It is explained how much the word of God enlightens the soul, and when His power is saving.
Psalm 19. A sample of the people's prayer for the Tsar.
Psalm 20. The glory of Christ, which He received after His exhaustion, is described, and then it speaks of the rejection of the Jews and all unbelievers.
Psalm 21. Many circumstances of Christ's suffering are described. Then Christ asks the heavenly Father to strengthen Him in accomplishing our salvation. Finally, he prophesies about the greatness of His kingdom and the calling of tongues.
Psalm 22. The Church glorifies the Lord, its supreme Shepherd, who preserves it, nourishes it with His word, strengthens it with the sacraments and enriches it with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 23rd. It talks about the spread of the kingdom of Christ to all nations; the properties of true members of the Church and the second coming of Christ in glory are described.
Psalm 24. We ask God to keep us in misfortune and, forgiving us our sins, to direct us on the path of His commandments.
Psalm 25. Prayer so as not to lose our integrity, which we acquire through faith in God.
Psalm 30. David, or more specifically Christ, typified by David, asks God not to leave Him in suffering.
Psalm 31. It says here that a person’s bliss lies in when God forgives him for his sins, and that for this he must humbly confess his sin before Him.
Psalm 32. From the contemplation of creatures, the omnipotence of the creator and the Divine providence for everything are proven; the vanity of human advice is described.
Psalm 34. David, or more specifically Christ, typified by David, complains to God the Father about the cruelty of his wicked enemies and asks for righteous judgment.
Psalm 36. The Prophet teaches us not to envy lawless people when they are happy, and shows what end awaits the righteous and the sinner.
Psalm 39. The Son of God, foreshadowing his own incarnation and suffering for the sake of reconciling man with God, asks the heavenly Father to strengthen and glorify Him in the feat of Christianity.
Psalm 41. The believer laments that he is separated from the Church, from his faithful brothers; complains about misfortunes and places all his trust in God.
Psalm 43. It is prophesied about the persecution of Christians, and even more so of the primacy of the Church.
Psalm 44. Under the name of king and queen, Christ, the King of heaven and earth, and the Church, His immaculate bride, adorned with the gifts of His grace, are described.
Psalm 45. Here, under the name of fortification, it is said about the Church that, under the protection of God, amid all attacks, it does not move forever.
Psalm 46. Christ is depicted as having ascended into heaven and spreading His spiritual kingdom to the tongues, converting them to His faith.
Psalm 47. The coming of the Messiah and the Church's beauty and greatness are glorified.
Psalm 48. It is prophesied about the teaching of Christ in parables, and about the resurrection of the righteous to life; then it speaks of the vanity of the world and all visible blessings.
Psalm 49. It is prophesied about the coming of Christ, about the beginning of the Gospel, about the election of believers and about the destruction of sacrifices; Finally, sinners are condemned for not fulfilling God's law.
Psalm 50. David, lamenting his sin, resorts to God’s mercy, representing original sin, and that man cannot justify himself by himself; then he asks God to renew his heart and spirit with His Holy Spirit, and teaches him what kind of sacrifice is acceptable to God.
Psalm 52. The extreme corruption of the human race is described, extending even to godlessness; the redemption and salvation of men is finally foreshadowed...
Psalm 54. The corruption of the city's inhabitants, the treachery of friends and the death of the wicked are described...
Psalm 66. The Prophet prays for the coming of the Messiah and prophesies that the pagans will also know Him and believe.
Psalm 67. A solemn song about the victory of Christ over His and our enemies; further prophesies about the spread of the kingdom of Christ through the Apostolic preaching.
Psalm 68. Christ complains about the cruelty of suffering and the malice of his enemies; asks God the Father for help and deliverance; He condemns those hardened in unbelief to eternal destruction and foreshadows the establishment and spread of His Church.
Psalm 71. It is prophesied about the Son of God - the eternal King, about His coming to earth and about the spread of His peaceful and blessed kingdom in all nations.
Psalm 72. The temptation of the righteous is described, who are sometimes tempted, seeing the wicked in happiness, but are again encouraged, feeling the love of God for themselves...
Psalm 83. The blessedness of true members of the Church is described. Next, the Psalmist glorifies the power and actions of God’s word, and asks God to preserve it inviolably in His Church.
Psalm 86. It is prophesied about the steadfastness of the Church of Christ, and that in Her people from all tribes will be born into a new life, and secrets hidden from centuries will be revealed.
Psalm 87. The righteous man complains of despondency of spirit, which comes from despair of God’s mercy; Moreover, he also lists other temptations, such as: poverty, contempt from everyone, fickleness of friends and betrayal of family...
Psalm 91. The manifold wisdom of God is proclaimed, which He reveals in governing the Church...
Psalm 94. The psalmist speaks of the Divine majesty of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 100. It depicts what the sovereign himself and the servants of his reign should be like...
Psalm 108. Christ complains about the treachery of His betrayer Judas, and about the cruelty of the Jews who crucified Him.
Psalm 109. It is prophesied about the incarnation of the Son of God, about His kingdom and priesthood...
Psalm 117. Christ, together with the Church, brings thanks to the heavenly Father for defeating the devil, death, world and hell.
Psalm 118. The superiority of God's word is proven, and that all the bliss of man consists in the knowledge and execution of it...
Psalm 144. God's omnipotence, goodness, justice and all-wise Providence are glorified.
Psalm 146. The providence of God is described, both general for all creatures and special for believers.
Psalm 147. The Church glorifies God for the fact that he especially provides for her, spreading the preaching of the Gospel in her and sending her the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 149. The psalmist encourages us to praise Christ our King and rejoice in the blessings His merits have acquired for us.
Psalm 150. The prophet encourages us to praise God in every way and with all our hearts.
Question Who was Prophet Isaiah and what were his characteristics?
Rep. He was the son of Amos - not the prophet Amos, but another certain Amos. Almost all Jews claim that he was the brother of King Amaziah. He prophesied with extreme zeal for about 60 years, with general damage in Judea, and especially in Jerusalem. He had the utmost insight from the Holy Spirit. The style with which he wrote his prophecy is so excellent that we do not see anything like it in any of the ancient pagan writers. He portrayed the Messiah and His life in such a way that none of the prophets can compare with him. Therefore, blessed Jerome (vol. III, p. 7) calls him the Evangelist.
His predictions or Gospel sermons about Christ are most contained in the 4th part of his prophetic book. There are eight of them. 1) About the coming of Christ and His superiority (Isa. 40–42). Here is a prediction about the Forerunner and so on. 2) About the consecration of Christ (Isa. 42–43). Here is the word of God the Father about the beloved Christ and to Christ (Is. 42), the consolation of believers (Is. 43). 3) About Christ and about King Cyrus (Is. 14–50). 4) About the rejection of the synagogue (Isa. 50–52). Here is Christ's discourse with the Jews; His office and suffering (Isa. 50), the consolation of Zion, the prayer of the Church, patience, fear (Isa. 51). 5) About liberation from captivity, about redemption through Jesus Christ, the suffering and glory of Christ (Is. 52–54). 6) Calling to Christ, eternal union with Him (Is. 55), Jerusalem shining with glory, inheritance of tongues (Is. 60). 7) About the works and gifts of Christ for the Church (Isa. 61–63). It contains here that Christ, anointed with the Holy Spirit, preaches, and the Church rejoices in Him (Is. 61). The radiance of Zion, the zeal of the believers (Isa. 62). 8) About the prayer of the Church, about the rejection of the Jews, about the title of tongues, about the kingdom of Christ (Isa. 63 to the end). Here the reasons for the blasphemous death of Christ are explained. Song of the Church (Isa. 63).
The desire for the coming of Christ, the confession of the Church (Is. 64). The rejection of the Jews, the reasons for it and the calling of tongues (Isa. 65). The vain hope of the Jews in external worship of God, the radiance of the kingdom of Christ and prosperity (Isa. 66. See the leadership of the Reverend Ambrose).
Our Mother St. The Orthodox Christian Church, turning to the subordinate, gratefully and joyfully sings: Isaiah, rejoice, I have a Virgin in my womb and for the sake of the Son Immanuel: East is His name, He is magnified, We please the Virgin forever. Amen.
Question How does Saint Tikhon teach about the office of Parents?
Rep. The most important task for parents is to raise their children in the fear of God and good morals. Without this, all teaching and education are nothing. The small tree that is inclined towards the side will continue to grow, and the new vessel, when it is filled with it, will emit such a stench. Likewise, small children, as they are raised, will live the same way... Pay attention, parents, to the following points, and act on them. 1) As soon as children begin to understand even a little, then begin to pour the milk of Christian teaching into their hearts, so that, like new and idle vessels, little by little they will be filled and grow in piety. 2) All Christians are baptized, and so are your children. Remember, father and mother, that they were baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One Trinitarian God, and - what is the power of baptism? What vows did they make then? How were Satan and all his evil deeds denied? Who is Satan? and what are his evil deeds? How did you promise to work in faith and righteousness for Christ, the Son of God? Who is Christ, and why did he come into the world, and what does he require from us? Remind us of death, of the judgment of Christ, of eternal torment and eternal bliss.
Bring before their eyes who the Christian God is? who, and how, and for what purpose created heaven and earth? And - that our Christian God is present everywhere and in every place invisibly, and sees everything and every deed, and hears every word, and favors for a good deed, and punishes for an evil one. 3) The Law of God, contained in the Ten Commandments, is the rule of Christian life. Word, deed and thought, in accordance with the law of God, are virtue; but every deed, word and thought that is contrary to the law of God is vice and sin. Therefore, parents, teach your children to know the law of God and to fulfill His commandments. 4) Holy baptism does not benefit those Christians who live fearlessly and lawlessly and do not care about the law of God: they are outside the number of true Christians and before God, like pagans... Remind your children of this, so that they may live in the fear of God, and beware of every sin, like a deadly poison, and be trained in every good deed. 5) It is useful for them to confirm this word of the natural law, both of God and the Gospel law: what you do not want for yourself, do not do to another.
A short word, but it contains everything... 6) Sin, left without punishment, is the cause of another sin and a disastrous sinful habit. Therefore, for every offense, admonish and punish your children, according to the extent and quality of the offense, so that they know and remember why they are being punished, and fear... God Himself punishes His chosen children, as we see in Scripture and in practice to this day: does He not love them? Let it not be (Heb. 12:6)!.. Junia, unpunished and come of age, are like untrained and ferocious horses. Therefore, Christian, love your children in a Christian way and punish them. Let them now be ill in body while they are young, so that later you will not be ill with them in your heart! Let them cry for you, so that you do not cry for them and for them! However, moderation in everything is commendable and necessary. 7) It is dangerous to let children out of the house; for they will see many temptations and reasons for sin... There is nothing more useful for them than to stay at home. The walls of temptation cannot give. 8) Children follow the lives of their parents as a rule. What they see in them, they do themselves... Woe to every person, and especially to parents, the temptation comes from them!
Therefore, when you want your children to be good and fearing God, be yourself, the parent, good and fearing God. Otherwise you won't have time to do anything. An evil deed is stronger than a good word. 9) All human diligence, without God’s help, and even more so in this important matter, is not enough. Therefore, pray diligently that God himself will help you to be kind yourself and to instruct your children to be good. Finally, 10), beloved, you knew how to give birth to your children, know how to raise them well, so that you will be their true father. You are called a father according to the flesh: be a father also according to the spirit. You gave birth to them to temporary life: get sick and give birth to them to eternal life, and there you will appear with them to Christ, and joyfully cry: “Behold, these are the children, you have given them to me, Lord!” (Isa. 8:18). What I sincerely wish for you. May God help you (Part 1)!
What shall we bring to You, Christ, since You appeared on earth as a man for our sake? Every creature created by You brings thanks to You. Angels - singing; heaven - a star; volsvi – gifts; shepherding is a miracle; earth is a den; desert - manger; we are the mother of Virgo. But I, a sinner, bring You this appeal and prayer: Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me! Sweetest Jesus, save me!
The ascetic of Zadonsk, Saint Tikhon, reflecting on the great mystery of piety, that is, on the incarnation, talks like this. “What was foretold about Christ in the Old Testament was fulfilled in due time. Christ has come; The Messiah, awaited from the world, appeared into the world and wrought our salvation in the midst of the earth. And already from that time 1789 years (now, by the long-suffering of God, already 1864 years) have passed, and sinners who loved His appearance are saved; throughout the universe professes St. The Church sings and worships its Deliverer and Savior, and glorifies Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit. What to render only to the merciful Deliverer, only to the wonderful Lover, listen, I’ll tell you. He does not demand great things from us. For His love for us, we will repay Him with love. For His good deed, let us show gratitude, and glorify His sweetest name before everyone. For His name's sake, love your enemies, and bless those who curse you. For His name's sake, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, serve the sick; in the dungeon of the one sitting in prison; For the sake of His name, endure all troubles with a grateful heart.”
Today God rests on reasonable thrones (this is how the Church sings (September 8) the birth of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary), a holy throne has been prepared for Himself on earth; having established the heavens with wisdom, made the heavens animated by love for mankind: from the barren root cause us to grow Your Mother, Who is God of miracles and the hope of those who hope not, O Lord, glory to Thee! (Verse, I cried to the Lord 1). This is the day of the Lord, rejoice, people: for behold, a palace of light and a book of the Word of the living, came from the womb. And the door, born to the east, awaits the entrance of the great Saint, who alone and alone introduces Christ into the universe, for the salvation of our souls. (Verse 2). What is the noise of those celebrating? Joachim and Anna are triumphant in secret, rejoice with us, saying, Adam and Eve today: for by their crime of old you closed paradise, blessed fruit is given to us, the Virgin Mary opening it is the entrance to all. Rejoice at Joachim and Anno, rejoice, for the intercessor of joy and salvation, the Virgin is born to us from barrenness.
Saint Andrew of Crete speaks like this in his homily on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. A real holiday is the beginning of the holidays for us. Behold the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, and with it the renewal of the human race!.. Virgo, oh miracle! becomes a mediator between the greatness of the Divine and the insignificance of the flesh, and becomes the Matter of the Creator... Who is this Virgin? What parents did she come from? Let's talk about this briefly. Mary, the glory of all, was born from the tribe of David, having parents Joachim and Anna. Joachim was a meek, pious husband, brought up in the fear of God... Similarly, Anna was a God-loving, sober wife, who lived with her husband in all purity... Joachim and Anna lamented that they did not have a successor to their family; however, the spark of hope had not yet died out in them: both of them sent prayers to God to give them a child. Both, imitating the heard prayer of Anna (the mother of Prophet Samuel 1 Samuel 1:10), did not leave the church, fervently asking God to give fruit to the childless. And from barren parents, as from faded trees, a glorious fruit grew for us - the immaculate Virgin!.. People of God, holy language!
Let us honor the memory of the Godfathers! May each of us, according to the measure of grace given to him, bring a worthy gift to this triumph!..
Question Like St. The church celebrates the birth of St. John the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist?
Rep. Today the voice of the word, the voice held for unbelief, allows fatherhood, and the Church shows good fortune, resolving the infertility of matter: a lamp of light is coming; the dawn of the Sun of Truth heralds the coming of Thy (verse on the Lord's proclamation). The limit of the prophets and the beginning of the Apostles, the earthly angel and the heavenly man, the voice of the Word, the warrior and forerunner of Christ - today Elizabeth gives birth and rejoices, and Zechariah appears in old age, silence, as if he had laid aside a bond, and as the parent of the voice, he prophesies most clearly: as a child you were called the Prophet of the Most High, and you will prepare His way.
Blazh. Augustine, in his word for this day, talks like this. Today we celebrate the Nativity of St. John. Such an honor is never given to any saint. Only the Nativity of Our Lord, His Most Holy Mother and John is honored and celebrated by the entire Christian world. This is because John was born of a barren mother, and Christ was conceived by a Virgin. Both are wonderful. In Elizabeth infertility was overcome, in blessed Mary the very rules of nature were overcome. But Elizabeth, having known her husband, gave birth to a son: Mary conceived, believing the gospel of the Angel. Elizabeth conceived a man; Mary is the God-Man... So, if we want to celebrate this sacred day not only in carnal, but also in spiritual joy; then let us prepare, as much as possible, our hearts for giving alms and for maintaining peace with everyone. We will try with all our might not only to ourselves, but also to our families and all those close to us to keep us from vanity and shameful speech; do not allow anyone to desecrate the holy festival with lustful songs. For then only St.
John can receive for us what we ask of him when he sees that we celebrate his festival in peace, in abstinence, chastity and chastity. May the Lord Jesus Christ grant this to you, living with the Father and the Holy Spirit and reigning forever!
In 1774 St. Tikhon, on the occasion of the Turkish War and the Moscow pestilence, from his Zadonsk solitude, wrote to one of his friends an admonition against luxury and festivities. “Is now the time for us to rejoice like this (although such rejoicing is not always appropriate for Christians): for the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17)? Now there is war, now there are fires, now there is an ulcer, then other misfortunes come upon us and humble us. But people don’t feel it! What and from what should we resign ourselves? Troubles and misfortunes multiply, but luxury and sin - the cause of troubles and misfortunes - multiply; but a righteous God is the more angry. What comes from there? Greater troubles must be expected, just as the weak, whose weakness is not cured, but is more irritated, must expect greater illness; or like a fire that is not extinguished, but is fanned, needs to multiply more. Before destruction, people become more and more enraged. The Lord says: unless you repent, you will all perish likewise. This is a terrible word...
Our brothers fall from bullets, cannonballs and swords in war; others are in constant fear and sadness, but here we are having crazy fun. They must be helped against the enemy; but instead, with festivities, luxury and other sins, we sharpen the foreign sword against them, and so we fight against ourselves. Oh, cruel times and evil days! Oh, the blindness of unrepentant and corrupt hearts! Is it possible to have fun in these sad and troubled times? Oh, how sin increases and piety diminishes! These people act like those foolish shipbuilders whose ship breaks and they dance; or like those crazy citizens whose city is burning and they are having a banquet. The Fatherland groans from troubles and misfortunes, the young men become impoverished; the treasury is depleted by the war; elders and youths remain and infants; Everywhere mothers, fathers, wives, brothers and friends lament and cry for those who have fallen in battle and are in danger of death, but these revelers are having fun, as if they were not the sons of the fatherland. Oh luxury! luxury! How do you blind, madden and harden people's hearts?
It’s time to come to your senses, so that forever you will not repent with the wicked about whom it is spoken (Wis. 5).” Saint Tikhon concludes this letter as follows: “tell them (the points of the letter) to others, so that those who are so merry will recognize their sin and repent. And when you don’t report, it will be a sin for you. Hello.
January 20, 1773."