About the benefit of patience

The book is based on Sschmch. Cyprian of Carthage “On the Good of Patience” is a conversation he delivered in the first half of 256 during a dispute about the baptism of heretics. St. Cyprian views patience as the most important Christian virtue, which comes from God. Patience is likeness to Christ, who in His earthly life set the best example of this virtue, meekly enduring all suffering right up to death on the cross. It is she, together with love, who is able to preserve church peace and prevent schisms. The author gives examples from the Holy Scriptures: the patriarchs, prophets and all the saints who symbolically bore the image of Christ, when praised for their virtues, especially valued praise for the fact that they maintained patience with a firm and constant calm of spirit. Impatience causes a lot of harm. St. Cyprian writes that in the original state, man possessed not only the image, but also the likeness of God, which was manifested in various virtues. After breaking the commandment, a person’s bodily strength disappeared along with immortality. The human spirit is now forced to constantly struggle with bodily infirmity and weakness. The essay talks about the purpose of the Incarnation - God Himself descended from heaven to earth to save man from sin and death. He voluntarily became mortal so that, being innocent, he could endure death to save the guilty. In his treatise, St. Cyprian teaches about two natural actions that relate to one and the same Person of the God-Man: “He who feeds others fasts forty days, hungers and feels hunger, so that those who feel hungry with words and graces may be nourished with heavenly bread... During the most suffering and bearing of the cross, before the inhuman murder and shedding of blood came, how many blasphemous curses did He patiently listen to, how many insulting ridicule did He endure?.. He who is judged is the One who Himself has to create judgment; The Word of God is silently led to the slaughter.” At His Second Coming, the Lord will no longer appear in humiliation, but in power. Christ gives eternal life to believers as a reward, and eternal torment to unbelievers. *The title of the work in Latin is De bono patientiae. Intending to speak to you, beloved brothers, about patience and wishing to depict its benefits and benefits, what better place for me to begin than by pointing out the need for patience at this time on your part to listen to me, so that patience can be accompanied by both what you now hear and what you learn, because the teaching and saving word of the doer is learned only when what is said is listened to with patience. And among the various measures of heavenly discipline, which will give the correct direction to the teaching leading to the achievement of the Divine rewards of our hope and faith, I do not find, most beloved brothers, anything so important and useful for life, so necessary for gaining glory, as the requirement that we, with reverence and devotion, relying on obedience to the Lord’s commandments, especially with all diligence, maintain patience. Philosophers also cared about him, as they themselves admit. Only their patience was as false as their wisdom was false. For how could one be wise and patient who had no concept of either the wisdom or the patience of God? Moreover, God Himself makes the following remark about those who consider themselves wise in this world: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and hide the understanding of the prudent” (Is. 29:14). The Divine Apostle Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, sent to call and teach the pagans, also speaks for our instruction: “Beware that no one deceives you with philosophy and vain flattery, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ: for in Him dwells all the fulfillment of the physical Godhead” (Col. 2:8-9). And in another place: “Let no one deceive himself! If anyone thinks that he will be wise in you in this world, let it happen, as if he will be wise. For the wisdom of this world is a riot with God, for it is written: “Stay wisdom in their deceit” (1 Cor. 3:18-19). And again: “The Lord is the message of the thoughts of men, for they are vanity” (Ps. 93:11). Thus, if true wisdom is not there, then true patience cannot be there. If a wise man is at the same time humble and meek, and we do not see philosophers as either humble or meek, on the contrary, always dreaming a lot about themselves, and because they think a lot about themselves, displeasing to God: then it is clear that there is no true patience where there is exorbitant audacity of feigned freedom and the unrequited vanity of a boastful and half-open heart. As for us, beloved brothers, we, being philosophers not in words, but in deeds, valuing wisdom not by dress, but by truth - we who place the consciousness of virtues above vanity - speak little, but live as servants and admirers of God - we must show in spiritual obedience that patience which we learn from Divine instructions. We have this virtue in common with God; From Him patience begins; from Him the glory and virtue of patience derive their origin. The beginning and greatness of patience comes from God. A person must love what is pleasing to God and the greatness of God offers him the good that he himself loves. If God is our Master and Father, then let us imitate the patience of the Master and at the same time the Father, because just as servants must be obedient, so it is indecent for children to be degenerates. And what and how great is patience in God! Allowing with extraordinary long-suffering the existence of pagan temples, built by people in reproach of His greatness and glory, allowing earthly inventions and sacrilegious sacrifices, He makes the day, and the sun shines equally for both the good and the evil, and - when He waters the earth with rain, no one is excluded from His benefits, so that the rains pour out indifferently as much for the righteous as for the wicked. unrighteous. With His constant, equal long-suffering, we see that, at His beckoning, the evil and the good, the pious and the wicked, the grateful and the ungrateful, obey the times, the elements serve, the winds blow, the springs flow, the harvests become fat, the grape clusters ripen, the gardens abound in fruit, the groves become green, the meadows bloom. And, despite the fact that they upset God with frequent, or better yet, constant insults, He moderates His indignation and patiently awaits the one day predetermined reward. Having full power to take vengeance, He would rather continue to be patient, that is, graciously long-suffering and putting it off until another time, so that, if possible, the anger that has been extended too far can finally change, and so that a person infected with vices and atrocities, although late, turns to God, as He Himself reminds us of this, saying: “I do not want the death of a dying sinner..., but to turn to him... and live” ( Ezekiel 18:32). And again: “Turn to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and generous, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and repent of your wickedness” (Joel 2:13). The Divine Apostle Paul, having in memory these words about calling the sinner to repentance, addresses him with the following words: “or are you careless about the riches of His goodness and meekness and long-suffering, not knowing how the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Because of your cruelty and unrepentant heart, you stored up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will reward everyone according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:4-6). The judgment of God is called righteous because it is late, because it is postponed for a long time and many times, so that God’s long-suffering may serve man’s life: punishment befalls the wicked and sinner only when repentance can no longer bring any benefit to the sinner. For our more complete understanding, beloved brothers, that patience is the work of God and that everyone meek, patient and humble imitates God the Father, the Lord Himself, when giving saving commandments and, speaking Divine instructions, leading the disciples to perfection, affirmatively said in His Gospel: “You have heard, as it is said: Thou shalt love thy sincere man, and hate thy enemy. But I say to you: love your enemies... and pray for those who do evil to you... so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, as His sun shines on the evil and on the good, and rains on the righteous and on the unjust. If you love those who love you, what kind of reward do you give? Don’t publicans do the same thing? And if you only kiss your friends, what else are you doing? Don’t even pagan women do the same? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43–48). Thus, the children of God, according to the Lord, become perfect and, restored by the heavenly birth, according to His instructions and teachings, reach maturity if the patience of God the Father abides in you and if the likeness of God, lost by Adam through sin, is revealed and manifested in our deeds. What a glory to be made like God! What and how great happiness is to have such virtues that can be equal to Divine virtues! And this, beloved brothers, was not only taught in words, but was fulfilled in action by Jesus Christ, our God and Lord. Having come, as He Himself said, to fulfill the will of the Father, He, among His other admirable virtues, in which His Divine greatness was expressed, showed the Father’s patience with constant patience. All His actions from the very moment of His birth are accompanied by patience. First of all, descending from heavenly heights to earth, the Son of God does not neglect to put on human flesh - and the sinless One Himself does not hesitate to bear the sins of others. Then, putting aside immortality, He deigns to become mortal, so that, being innocent, He may die to save the guilty. The Lord accepts baptism from a slave and, having the power to grant remission of sins, Himself does not hesitate to wash the body in the font of rebirth (Matthew 3:15). He who feeds others fasts for forty days, hungers and feels hunger, so that those who feel hungry can be fed with words and graces from heavenly bread. He enters into a fight with the tempter the devil and, content only with showing victory over the enemy, confronts him with words alone (Matthew 4:2). He does not show His dominion over the disciples as over slaves, but, being gracious and meek, He loved them with brotherly love; He even deigned to wash the feet of the Apostles in order to teach by His example what a servant should be like towards his equals, when the Master appeared as such in relation to His servants (John 13:5). And it is not surprising that He behaved this way with those who obeyed Him, Who, in His long-suffering, endured Judas with Him to the last extreme, ate food with the enemy, knew His domestic enemy and, however, did not declare him, did not reject the kiss of the traitor (Matthew 26:25). And what kindness and what patience is there in condescension towards the Jews? He persuades them, the unfaithful, to believe, he shows favor to the ungrateful, he meekly answers those who contradict him, he graciously tolerates the proud, he condescendingly yields to his persecutors, and until the last hour of the suffering of the cross he wants to convert the murderers of the prophets who constantly resist God. During the most suffering and crucifixion, before the inhuman murder and shedding of blood came, how many obscene curses did He patiently listen to, how many insulting ridicule did He endure? He who, shortly before His spitting, opened the eyes of the blind man is subjected to the spitting of scolders; Whose name, for His servants, now serves as a scourge on the devil with his angels, Himself experiences scourging - crowned with thorns, Crowning the martyrs with unfading flowers; struck in the face with his hands (palmis), presenting the true victorious branches (palmas) to the winners [Palma means palm and victorious palm branch. There is obviously a play on words here]; he takes off his earthly garments and dresses others with the garments of immortality; He who gave us heavenly bread for food is filled with bile; He who offered us the saving cup to drink is drunk with milk (John 19:6; Matt. 27:29). He, innocent and righteous, even more - Real innocence and truth, is imputed with the wicked; truth is suppressed by false evidence; He who is judged is the One who Himself has to create judgment; The Word of God is silently led to the slaughter. And at a time when, because of the cross of the Lord, the heavenly bodies come into disarray, when the earth shakes, day is replaced by night, the sun hides its rays and its gaze, so as not to be forced to bear witness to the atrocity of the Jews, He remains silent, does not become indignant, and even in His suffering does not express His greatness; all things are continually and unremittingly endured until the very end, so that patience may be fully and most perfectly revealed in Christ. And after all this, He is ready to accept His very murderers, if only they would turn to Him: filled with benevolent patience and complacent for the salvation of all, He does not conclude His Church for anyone; – does He honor His very opponents, blasphemers, ever-present enemies with His name not only with forgiveness, but also with rewards in the Kingdom of Heaven, if only they repent of their crime, if they recognize the atrocity they have committed? What patience, what kindness can be greater? Even he who sheds the Blood of Christ is quickened by the Blood of Christ. Such and so great is the patience of Christ; and if it had not been such, the Church would not have had the Apostle Paul. Therefore, if we, most beloved brothers, are in Christ and put on Him; if He is the way of our salvation; - then, following Christ along the saving paths, we will imitate the virtues of Christ, as St. The Apostle John, saying: “He who says to abide in Him must eat as He went to eat, and let him also walk in the same way” (1 John 2:6). Also, the Apostle Peter says in his Epistle: “Christ suffered for us, leave us an image, that we may follow in His footsteps: Whoever committed sin did not find deceit in His mouth; Whoever we reproached did not reproach, nor did we forgive the suffering; but he committed Himself to Him who judges Him unjustly” (1 Pet. 2:21-23). Finally, we know that the patriarchs, prophets and all the saints who symbolically bore the image of Christ, when praised for their virtues, especially valued praise for the fact that they maintained patience with a firm and constant calm of spirit. Thus, Abel, the first to initiate and sanctify the martyrdom and suffering of righteous people, does not resist, does not confront the murderer of his brother, but meek and humble with patience accepts death (Gen. 4). Thus, Abraham, who believes God, the first to lay the beginning and foundation of faith, being tempted in his son, does not fall into doubt, does not hesitate, but with complete and complacent patience obeys the commands of God (Gen. 21). And Isaac, who foreshadowed the sacrifice of the Lord, is patient when his father places him on the altar for slaughter (Gen. 18 and 33). Jacob, driven out by his brother, patiently leaves his land and then with great patience, humble request and peaceful gifts reconciles his persecutor, who harbors strong malice towards himself (Gen. 33). Joseph, sold and rejected by his brothers, not only patiently forgives them, but also, when they came to him, generously and mercifully gives them wheat free of charge (Gen. 45). Moses is often despised by the ungrateful and treacherous people, almost stoned, yet he is meek and patient, and intercedes for him before God (Ex. 32). And what great, amazing and purely Christian patience did David, the ancestor of Christ according to the flesh! Often he had the opportunity to kill King Saul, who pursued and wanted to kill him; however, despite all this, when he himself was caught and when he was handed over, he wished better to save him, and not only did not repay the enemy with evil for evil, but also noted for his death (2 Samuel 20). Finally, all the murdered Prophets, all the martyrs, famous for their glorious death, achieved heavenly crowns through patience; because it is impossible to receive a crown for illness and suffering if illness and suffering are not preceded by patience. But in order to understand more clearly and better, beloved brothers, how useful and necessary patience is, we need to think about that sentence of God, which, at the very beginning of the world and the human race, was pronounced upon Adam, who had forgotten the commandment and transgressed the law; then we will learn how patient we must be in this life, we who are born for this reason, to endure sorrows and suffering. It is said: “Because you listened to the voice of your wife and you ate from the tree of which you were commanded not to eat this one thing, from which you ate; the earth is cursed in your deeds; bear it in sorrow all the days of your life; thorns and thistles will grow for you, and you will take away the salt grass; By the sweat of your brow you have carried away your bread, until you have returned to the land from which you were taken: as you are the earth, you will go back to the earth” (Gen. 3:17-19). We are all subject to this sentence until, through death, we depart from this age. We must spend all the days of our lives in sorrow and lamentation; in sweat and labor we need to eat bread. Hence, each of us, being born and entering this world, begins with tears and, not knowing anything at birth; only knows how to cry. The young soul, immediately upon its appearance, according to natural foreknowledge, already mourns the misfortunes of a fleeting life, with crying and groaning it testifies to the labors and worries of the world into which it enters; because you need to sweat and work as long as life here continues. Those who shed sweat and labor can most likely find joy in patience only. This consolation is suitable and necessary for everyone living in this world, but it is especially necessary for us, on whom the attacking devil primarily directs his blows, for us, who, standing daily in battle, become exhausted from confrontation with an inveterate and experienced enemy, and who, according to the instructions of the Lord, in addition to various and constant struggles with temptations, also in the fight against persecution, need to abandon our father’s inheritance, go to prison, wear chains, spend your life and, with the help of valiant patience, endure swords, beasts, fire, crosses and, finally, all kinds of torment and executions, according to the word of the Lord, who said for our instruction: “This commands you, that in Me you may have peace; in the world of sorrow you will be, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). If we, having rejected the world and the devil, are very often subjected to insults and enemy attacks from the world and the devil, then shouldn’t we value patience all the more, with the help and assistance of which we could endure all hostility! The saving commandment of the Lord and Teacher is: “he who endures,” he says, “to the end, he will be saved” (Matthew 10:22); and again: “If you continue in My word, you will truly be My disciples. And you will understand the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32). It is necessary, beloved brothers and sisters, to take care with all patience and effort that we, having received the right to aspire to truth and freedom, can acquire the very truth and freedom, since the very fact that we are Christians is a matter of faith and hope; but in order for faith and hope to bear fruit, this requires patience. We are not looking for present glory, but for future glory, as the Apostle Paul reminds us when he says: “For by hope we are saved, but the hope that is seen is not hope; Who sees what and trusts? If we don’t see him, we hope, we wait with patience” (Rom. 8:24-25). Therefore, waiting and patience are necessary in order to fulfill what we have begun and so that, with God’s blessing, we receive what we believe in and hope for. Finally, in another place, the same apostle, teaching righteous and merciful people who, giving their property to increase it to God, hide treasures in heaven for themselves, so that they too would be patient, says as a teaching: “In the same way, imams, let us do good to everyone, especially to those close to us in the faith. But let us not be discouraged from doing good, for in its season we will reap” (Gal. 6:10 and 9). He admonishes that no one should weaken in charity due to lack of patience, so that no one, carried away or overcome by temptations, should stop halfway in the field of praise and glory, and so that when what has been begun ceases to be perfect, the past does not perish, according to the Scripture: “The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him, in that day he will be deceived” (Ezek. 33:12). And again: “Take hold, O imashi, so that no one may receive your crown” (Apoc. 3:11). These words contain an admonition to maintain patience and courage, so that with the help of unflagging patience, one who, in his valiant endeavor, has already become close to the crown, can be crowned. Patience, beloved brothers, not only preserves good, but also prevents evil: pleasing the Holy Spirit and clinging to the heavenly and Divine, it, strengthened by its virtues, reflects the deeds of the flesh and body, by which the soul is overcome and carried away. Out of the many, let us pay attention to the few, in order to understand the rest from the few. Adultery, lying, murder are mortal sins. But let there be courageous and unflagging patience in your heart; then neither the consecrated body - the church of God - will be desecrated by adultery, nor the innocence devoted to truth will be infected by lies, nor the hand, after the offering of the Eucharist, will be desecrated by sword and blood. Love is the union of brotherhood, the foundation of the world, the strength and affirmation of unity: it is greater than faith and hope, it precedes charity and martyrdom, it will forever remain with us with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. Take away her patience, and she, like a ruined woman, will cease to exist. Take away her ability to endure and endure, and she will be left without roots and strength. The Apostle, speaking about love, connected with it tolerance and endurance. “Lovers,” he says, “are long-suffering, merciful, do not envy love, are not conceited... are not irritated, do not think evil...; they love everything, they have faith in everyone, they all trust, they all endure” (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Thus, he shows that love can remain invariably steadfast, because it knows how to endure everything. And in another place: “they endure,” he says, “one another through love, diligently keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:2-3). This confirmed that neither unity nor peace can exist if the brothers do not support each other with forbearance and if, with the participation of patience, they do not maintain a union of consent. Moreover, not being strong in patience and tolerance, could you not swear, not slander, not demand back what was stolen from you, turn the other cheek to the killer when you received a slap in the face, forgive your brother who sins against you, not only seventy times seven, but also all his sins? We know that Stephen did exactly this when, being forcibly stoned by the Jews, he asked not for revenge for himself, but for forgiveness for the murderers. He said: “Lord, do not put this sin on them” (Acts 7:60). This really should have been the first martyr of Christ, because he, preceding the glorious death of subsequent martyrs, was not only a preacher of the Lord’s suffering, but also an imitator of Him, filled with the greatest patience and meekness. What can we say about anger, about discord, about pretense, which should not exist in a Christian? Let there be patience in the heart, and they cannot have a place in it, and even if they tried to ascend into it, they immediately run away, not finding refuge there for themselves, so that the dwelling in the heart remains peaceful, in which it is pleasing for God to dwell. Finally, the apostle, admonishing us, says in our teaching: “Do not offend the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are marked on the day of deliverance. Let all grief, and anger, and wrath, and cry, and blasphemy be taken away from you” (Eph. 4:30-31). Thus, a Christian, having freed himself from rage and carnal strife, as from the unrest of the world, and having begun to dwell calmly and peacefully in the haven of Christ, should not allow either anger or disagreement in his heart; - He is not allowed to repay evil for evil, nor to hate. Patience is also necessary for various injuries of the flesh and for frequent and severe diseases of the body with which the human race is daily amazed and suffered. For, since as a result of the first transgression of the commandment, bodily strength perished, along with immortality, and weakness appeared along with death, and strength can only be returned with the return of immortality; then it became necessary to fight against this powerlessness and weakness, and this fight can only be supported by patience. For us, too, temptations and trials are sent to various sorrows, and the quality of the temptations varies greatly, such as damage to property, severe fevers, suffering from wounds, loss of those dear to the heart. The righteous are especially distinguished from the wicked in that the wicked, due to impatience, complains and blasphemes in misfortunes, and the righteous through patience wins praise, as it is written: be generous in illness, and long-suffering in your humiliation: “as gold is tempted with fire” (Sir. 2:4). Thus Job was tempted and tested - and through the virtue of patience he achieved highest praise. How many arrows did the devil shoot at him? How many tortures were used? He is struck by the loss of property, his large family is taken away from him; a master rich in property, and even more a father rich in children, he suddenly ceases to be both a master and a father: he is covered all over with wounds, and even insatiable worms wear away at his rotting and decaying joints. And so that there is nothing left that Job did not suffer in his trials, the devil arms his wife against him, using the ancient method of his lewdness, as if he could seduce and seduce everyone through his wife, as he did at the beginning of the world; and yet Job, struck by severe and frequent attacks, does not become so exhausted that, despite his disasters and sorrows, with the help of victorious patience he does not bless God out loud (Job, chapters 1 and 2). In the same way, Tobiah, following the glorious deeds of his truth and mercy, was tempted by the deprivation of sight, just as he patiently endured blindness, he earned just as great praise from God for his patience (Tov. 2). But in order to make the benefit of patience even more obvious to us, let us think, dear brothers, about how much evil a lack of patience causes. For just as patience is the good of Christ, so, on the contrary, impatience is the evil of the devil, and just as the one in whom Christ lives and dwells is patient, so, on the contrary, the one whose mind is dominated by the lewdness of the devil is always impatient. Let's pay attention to the very beginning. The devil could not tolerate the fact that man was created in the image of God; as a result of which the first himself died and (him) was destroyed. Adam, who through impatience could not abstain from mortal poison, contrary to the Divine commandment, suffered death and, not having patience as a guardian, did not observe the grace received from above. Cain killed his brother because he could not tolerate his sacrifice and gift; Esau, who did not overcome his passion for lentils, lost his birthright and fell from on high. What else? Is it not because the Jewish people, treacherous despite all God’s blessings and ungrateful, fell away from God for the first time because they had the vice of impatience? Unable to bear the length of Moses' conversation with God, he dared to demand pagan gods for himself in order to name an ox's head and an earthly idol as leaders on his journey! This people always had such impatience, so that, constantly impatient with Divine teaching and admonition, they went from killing their prophets and righteous people to crucifixion on the cross and shedding the Blood of the Lord. Impatience also produces heretics in the Church, and, like the Jews, incites those who rebel against the peace and love of Christ to hostile and violent hatred. It would take a long time to list the particulars: in general, everything that patience builds up to glory through its deeds, impatience casts down to destruction. Why, most beloved brothers, having carefully examined both the benefits of patience and the evils of impatience, let us with all diligence preserve patience, through which we abide in Christ, so that together with Him we can come to God; Let us maintain patience, which, being comprehensive and diverse, does not lie within narrow boundaries and is not limited to small limits. Thus, the virtue of patience extends far; abundant and fruitful, although it originates from one source, through the abundance of veins it develops along many paths leading to glory, so that we cannot deserve perfect praise for any of our actions if it does not receive from here the firmness of completion. Patience makes us pleasing to God and preserves us for God. It moderates anger, bridles the tongue, controls the mind, preserves peace, maintains piety, tames the impulse of lust, softens the force of anger, extinguishes the flame of malice, stops the violence of the rich, animates the poor in poverty, preserves blessed chastity in virgins, - laborious purity in widows, - mutual love between the united bonds of marriage. It humbles in happiness, strengthens in misfortune, makes meek in the face of insults and reproaches. It teaches you to quickly forgive those who sin, to beg a lot and for a long time if you yourself sin. It overcomes temptation, endures persecution, and accomplishes suffering and martyrdom. It firmly establishes the foundations of our faith and raises the shoots of hope high. It gives direction to our march, so that, walking along the paths of the patience of Christ, we can also adhere to the path of Christ. It ensures that, imitating the patience of the Father, we invariably remain children of God. Meanwhile, I know, beloved brothers, that very many, either due to the severity of cruel insults, or because of their bitterness towards those who offend them and treat them cruelly, desire immediate revenge. Why, at the end of our speech, it is impossible not to express the fact that, in these troubles of a troubled world, we, subject to persecution from both Jews, pagans and heretics, must patiently wait for the day of vengeance and not hasten retribution with a hasty complaint, especially since the Scripture says: “Be patient with Me, says the Lord, on the day of My resurrection for a Testimony; My judgment is before a multitude of tongues, even before kings are received; My wrath must be poured out on you” (Zeph. 3:8). The Lord commands us to be patient and wait with courageous patience for the day of future vengeance. He says in the Apocalypse: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Offend and offend again; and let the filthy one be filthy still; and let the righteous still do righteousness; and holy, holy still be he. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward everyone according to his work” (Rev. 22:10-12). In the same way, the martyrs, who cry out and with obvious sorrow demand immediate vengeance, are commanded to wait and endure until times end and the number of martyrs is fulfilled. “And when, it is said, I opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been beaten for the word of God and for the testimony that I had. And I cried with a great voice, saying: How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth? a little, until their detractors and their brethren will die, having suffered beatings, like these also” (Apoc. 6:9-11). About the onset of Divine vengeance for the blood of the righteous, the Holy Spirit announces through the prophet Malachi, saying: “Behold, the day (of the Lord) is coming, burning like a furnace... and there will be foreign women and all who create all things.” the lawless one is like a stalk, and I will set the day of the Lord on fire, says the Lord” (Mal. 4:1). We read the same thing in the psalms, where the coming of the Judge of the Lord is foreshadowed, glorified by the greatness of His judgment: “God will come, our God, and will not remain silent; a fire will kindle before Him, and a storm will surround Him. He will call the heavens from above and the earth to judge His people. Gather to Him His venerables, His bequeathing covenant regarding sacrifices. And the heavens will proclaim His righteousness, for God is the Judge” (Ps. 49:3-6). And Isaiah also predicts, saying: “Behold, the Lord will come like fire, and like the storm of His chariots, he will exact vengeance with fury... For by the fire of the Lord they will be judged, and by His sword they will be wounded” (Is. 66:15-16). And again: “The Lord God of hosts will come out and destroy the army, stir up zeal, and cry out against His enemies with strength. I will remain silent and eat, and I will always remain silent and be patient” (Is.42:13–14). Who is this who says that he was silent before, but will not always be silent? This is the One who “is led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearers is silent, so He opens not His mouth” (Is. 53:7); This is the One who “will not cry... His voice will be heard outside” (Is. 42:2). This is the One who did not resist, did not speak out when He put His cloaks on the wounds and His cheeks on the blows, but He did not turn His face away from the cold of spitting (Is. 50:5-6); This is the One who did not answer when the priests and elders tried Him, and Who, to the surprise of Pilate, maintained the most patient silence. Yes, it is He who, having remained silent during suffering, will not remain silent later during vengeance. This is our God, that is, not of all, but the God of the faithful and believing, who will not be silent when he openly comes the second time; because, having previously been hidden in humiliation, He will come openly in power. Him, His Judge and Avenger, Who equally has to be noted both for the people of His Church and for all the righteous from the beginning of the world, we will wait for Him, beloved brothers. Whoever desires vengeance for himself too much, let him think that the One who takes vengeance has not yet been avenged. God the Father commanded to honor His Son, and the Apostle Paul, remembering the Divine commandment, sets it out as follows: “God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, those in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil. 2:9-10). And in the Apocalypse, the Angel of the Lord stopped John when he wanted to give him Divine worship, saying: “See, neither (do not do this), for I am your slander and your brethren worship God” (Apoc. 22:9-10). This is what the Lord Jesus is like! And what is His patience when He, worshiped in heaven, has not yet been avenged on earth. His patience, beloved brothers, Let us keep in mind in our misfortunes and passions that we will await His coming with complete submission. And we will not, in wicked and shameless haste, insist that we, the slaves, receive protection before our Master. Let us rather be steadfast and diligent in our work, unflaggingly vigilant and, firmly remaining in all patience, let us keep the Divine commandments, so that when the certain day of wrath and vengeance comes, we will not receive punishment along with the wicked and sinners, but glorification along with the righteous and those who fear God.