Огласительное поучение первое

[To those preparing in Jerusalem for enlightenment, said without preparation, introducing those approaching baptism, to the words of Isaiah the prophet: wash yourself, make yourselves clean, etc. (Isa.1:16).] 1. Disciples of the New Testament and partakers of the mysteries of Christ! Now by calling, and soon by grace, make yourself a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek. 18:31), so that the inhabitants of heaven may rejoice. For if, according to the Gospel, there is more joy... over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7), then how much more will the salvation of so many souls arouse the heavens to joy? Having entered upon the blessed and good path, walk reverently in the path of piety, for, always ready for your deliverance, the Only Begotten Son of God stands here, saying: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Burdened with crimes and bound by the bonds of their sins! Hear a prophetic voice crying: Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove your evil deeds from before my eyes (Isa. 1:16), so that the face of the angel may cry to you: Blessed is he whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered! (Ps. 31:1). You who have now lit the lamps of faith, keep them unquenchable in your hands, so that He who then opened paradise to the thief on this all-holy Golgotha ​​for his faith may also vouchsafe you to sing the wedding song. 2. If anyone here is a slave of sin, let him prepare by faith for freedom and the revival of adoption and, having laid aside the most shameful slavery of sin, and entering into the most blessed service of the Lord, may he be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven through confession; put off your former way of life, the old man, which is corrupted by the deceitful lusts (Eph.4:22), in order to put on the new man, who is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created him (Col.3:10). Through faith, obtain the pledge of the Holy Spirit, so that you may be received into the eternal dwellings. Begin the mystical sealing in order to be known to the Master and so that, having been numbered among the holy and verbal flock of Christ, you may stand at His right hand and inherit the life prepared for you. For those who are still under the weight of sins remain on their backs, because they do not approach the grace of God, bestowed by Christ in regeneration through baptism. I do not mean rebirth of bodies, but spiritual rebirth of souls. For bodies are born from visible parents, but souls are regenerated by faith, for the spirit breathes where it will (John 3:8). And then, if you are worthy to hear: well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21), when not the slightest defilement of pretense is found in your conscience. 3. For if anyone who is here thinks to tempt grace, he deceives himself and does not know the power. Have, O man, an undisguised soul, for the sake of the searching heart and womb (Ps. 7:10). For just as those who recruit people for the army look diligently at the age and physical constitution of those chosen, so the Lord, when choosing souls, tests the wills. And if pretense is hidden in someone, then he rejects such a person as incapable of true military service. If he finds anyone worthy, he will quickly give him grace; does not give sacred things to dogs (see Matt. 7:6), but in whomever he sees a good conscience, he places a saving, miraculous seal on him, from which evil spirits tremble and which the Angels know, so that those, being driven away, would run away, and these, as if they were their own, would accompany him. So, those who receive this spiritual and saving seal must also have their own will. For just as a pen or a sword requires one who acts, so also grace requires those who believe. 4. You accept weapons that are not perishable, but spiritual. You are finally planted in spiritual paradise. You get a new name that you never had before. For before this you were a catechumen, but from now on you will be called faithful. You are finally transplanted into spiritual olive trees; from the wild olive, being grafted into the fruitful one, from sins to righteousness, from filth to purity, you are grafted into the holy vine. However, if you remain in this vine, you will multiply like a fruitful branch; if you do not abide, you will be destroyed by fire. So, let us bear fruit in the proper way, so that the same thing does not happen to us as to that barren fig tree; so that Jesus, having come, would not curse now for barrenness, but so that everyone could say this: But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, and I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever (Ps. 51:10), an olive tree that is not material, but spiritual, luminous. So, God’s work is to plant and irrigate, and yours is to bear fruit; God’s work is to bestow grace, and yours is to receive and preserve. Do not despise grace because it is given freely, but when you receive it, keep it reverently. 5. The present time is the time of confession. Confess what you have done in word, in deed, in the night, in the day. Confess at an acceptable time... and on the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Receive heavenly treasure. Be diligent with your spells. Go to public teachings without hesitation and remember what will be said. For it is not said so that you may merely hear, but so that by faith you may seal what is said. Put aside all human cares, for you strive for the sake of your soul and completely abandon everything worldly. What is left is of little importance, but what is given from the Lord is great. Leave the present and believe in the future. You have spent so many years in vain labors for the world, and for forty days will you not engage in prayer for the benefit of your soul? Stop and know that I am God (Ps. 45:11), says the Scripture. Avoid idle talk and neither speak ill of others, nor listen to others who speak ill, but especially be ready to pray. Show the recluse in you by the solitude of your heart. Cleanse your vessel so that you may receive greater grace. For the remission of sins is given equally to everyone, but the communion of the Holy Spirit is given according to the measure of each person’s faith. If you work a little, you will receive little, but if you do a lot, then the reward is great. You strive for yourself, see what is useful for you. 6. If you are angry with anyone, forgive me. You begin to accept the forgiveness of sins; It is necessary that you yourself forgive the sinner. Otherwise, with what expression will you say to the Lord: forgive me my many sins, when you yourself have not even forgiven your fellow servant even the smallest ones? Be diligent in pious meetings, not only now, when the ministers of the Church require this of you, but also after receiving grace. For if a thing is good before you receive it, will it really not be good after receiving it? If before the planting you could be fruitful and cultivated, can you not be more useful after the planting? Strive for your soul especially these days. Nourish it by reading the Divine Scriptures, for the Lord has prepared a spiritual supper for you. Say with the psalmist: The Lord is my Shepherd; I will not lack for anything: He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters, He refreshes my soul (Ps. 22:1-3); so that the Angels may rejoice with you, and Christ Himself, the Great Bishop, having accepted your will and presenting you all to His Father, said: here I am and the children whom the Lord has given Me (see Isa. 8:18; Heb. 2:13). May He keep you all pleasing to Himself. Glory to Him and power forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: