Письмо 214

So we spent one week of holy fasting, thank God! Now is the time pleasing, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Let us take care not to miss his tuna without gaining spiritual benefit. “Let us fast a pleasant fast, pleasing to God; not only by removing oneself from brushes, but also by alienating the evil ones, this fast is true and favorable” (poetry of the fasting triod. in the 1st week)! It becomes you, as the head and leader of Christ’s verbal flock, to instruct those you flock by example and words; Yes, we are sure that you do not leave your duty unfulfilled. We received your letter dated January 18, but did not respond to it, because we were still waiting for your letters; but, apparently, during your studies, time did not allow you to do this. You ask: would it be good to write St. John the Baptist and the Holy Prophet Elijah on the southern and northern gates of the iconostasis? Why, it seems, not write the Old Law prophets? Many are written about the new grace of the martyrs, and Archdeacon Stephen and Lawrence are depicted. However, we don’t know the rules for this at all and cannot definitely write to you. You write that when you visited holy monasteries, you found everywhere better than you; We need to think about ourselves in such a way that we are worse than everyone else; maybe we will attract God’s mercy to ourselves; However, where we see non-correction, we must try to correct it. We ask you not to leave us in your holy prayers, and, wishing you and your entire flock a peaceful dispensation and health, mental and physical, with our deepest respect we remain your unworthy pilgrims, the sinful I.L. and I.M. And to you, most venerable mother V., we send our unworthy blessing; thank you for your writing, in which you describe N.N.’s pitiful dispensation; do not boast about your health, both mental and physical; You know that these latter come from the former, so it is necessary to take more care about the healing of these - spiritual ulcers, so that they do not appear ugly in the next century; Although the body hurts, it is temporary - and everything will rot, but the soul is eternal and immortal! Now, especially during fasting time, take care of her treatment; The doctor is always ready to provide medicine, but the matter is up to us. February 14, 1839. You might be interested in: