Письмо 138

Thank God that you are in the monastery; Why are you so cowardly that you stayed there for so long? You can’t turn it back, you need to be at peace with your current situation. Attachment to relatives is still your weakness: you should not hate them, but love for God should be preferred over it. The reason for your double-mindedness, I believe, is partly N.N.; He was here too, and argued that you were doing the wrong thing, that you weren’t living with your parents, and cited a text from the Gospel about those who bring gifts, but in a completely opposite direction, and it doesn’t apply to your situation; that’s right, he filled your head with his reasoning. But we see how holy fathers left their parents for the love of God, of whom Pimen the Great, what did he do with his mother? And when she needed his intercession for her daughter, he did not heed it. The Monk Theodosius of Pechersk, Euphrosyne under the name Izmaragda, her father’s only daughter, left him and hid from searching for him in a monastery. You will find many others who you should imitate as much as possible. They were not despisers of the Gospel, but doers of it. It is known where this wisdom comes from. I advise you to be calm on this side; You can sometimes console your parents, but for a short time, by visiting them; After all, you can’t live a century with them. Let us suppose that if they were in such distress that they had no food and no care from anyone, then perhaps they would have some respect to be with them; but, thank God, they also have a fortune, and there is someone to serve them; For you, who have dedicated yourself to serving God, will it be useful to deal with the light that often visits them? But for us, even seeing worldly people does a lot of harm, not only frequent conversations with them and advice on how to teach the saint about this. Isaac the Syrian. Those who benefit you pay you those who are contrary to you: these are the fruits of your vain deeds. Having taught his student to read and write, she truly thought that you were doing good: and through the same thing you would reap thorns: but may the Lord deliver you from these temptations. Hieromonk Macarius. Read in the life of St. Simeon and John, July 21st, in your Menaions, on page 80: what instructions did Abbot Nikon give them about parents, mothers and wives; this is very becoming of you; I accidentally happened to read; it may be for your benefit at this time. November 7, 1842. You might be interested in: