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I can imagine what kind of spiritual labor and sorrow lies ahead of you in accepting and arranging for the grandchildren sent to you from His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret - his maiden S. It is flattering to have such reviews and to receive favorable letters from the head of the Russian Church, but your heart is struck by the fear of the future of its spiritual formation: who will entrust this verbal sheep with supervision? This is not a simple girl who comes and lives as she wants, although for those you will give an answer to God; but there is concern about it here too. Our current monastic age is truly difficult, because of our negligence our mentors and mentors have become extremely impoverished; and battles come from everywhere: on the right hand and on the left, on the inside and on the outside. Who will explain and show the way to avoid the numerous enemy networks? When we ourselves are entangled by them, and, not having the main weapon, humility, we cannot follow the right and innocent path and guide others. It is also the great mercy of God that he gave us the teaching of the holy fathers, who lived an active life and showed us this path. But even here the networks of the enemy, and the bait on those who are arrogant and lacking in humility, are great; taking things beyond their measure, or misinterpreting them, they fall into delusion. And whoever could, at least a little, show others the right, their holy teaching, even in their weaknesses, according to the word of Saint John of the Climacus, but even here the enemy stumbles; they rise up against them and proclaim them heretics; as happened at S.B. and partly at the B. monastery, as happened to us. Due to these circumstances, there is considerable work and sorrow for you in caring for this young girl. The Lord has you and your monastery in a good opinion, but this must be justified in practice: appearance alone cannot be justified. You are asking for my advice: what should we do, who should we entrust it to, will it be good to keep it? The mallow girl agrees to take it, but doubts the contents; You know better your sisters, who could entrust it to; but for me it’s not so much knowledgeable; As much as I can, I do not refuse, according to your faith, to give advice: it seems to me that it would be better if she were in front of your eyes and learned from your instructions; A.N.N. lives with you; Are you afraid of temptations for her, according to many rumors in your cell? If you give her to M.O., there may be no temptation for her, there are fewer people, but it doesn’t prevent you from having her under your own care, that is, so that she opens up to you in everything; I have a spiritual dispensation. O. is unknown, so I can’t give advice and rely on her; As for maintenance, this is unnecessary care; Will her father really leave her without food? There is no doubt about this; even more so is the Heavenly Father, who said: seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and this will be added to you, and who continually cares for all His creatures. Place all your trust in Him, both in bodily and spiritual care, and in the Most Pure Virgin Mother of God, our Most Merciful Intercessor, accept it. Is it really possible to refuse to accept such a person who was deigned to give you this assignment? Here is my advice to you: let the grace of God, which called this young virgin to serve herself, fill what is missing. There seems to be no difficulty in unsubscribing; Just as he writes to you simply, so you answer; he will not demand from you pompous words, but more simplicity and truth; and sometimes you may be offended by a high syllable, seeing in it something other than your mind and feeling. Mnogohreshny I.M. June 27, 1842 You might be interested in: