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I received three letters from you, from which, seeing your actions, I heartily regretted that you had accepted a responsibility that had nothing to do with you - matchmaking; and instead of feeling guilty, you think that you have done a good deed; and you are also planning to go to a wedding, and because you are prevented from doing so, you grieve with Mother Superior; Why is it reasonable for a nun to go to a wedding? If she had let you go, she would have brought great dishonor on herself and the entire monastery; visiting afterwards is a different matter, and she doesn’t stop you from doing that either. I advise you to reproach yourself for all this and that you have taken on the wrong business. Think again, did you do a good thing: marry a non-Christian? Isn’t this main prosperity – the unity of the spirit in the union of peace by faith? When there is difference of opinion in faith, can there be true friendship and love? You would make sure that he accepts our religion: then you could give advice on it. No wonder your mother had feelings against matchmaking: you attribute it to something else, but I believe it was an unreliable premonition; but meanwhile you were triumphant that you were doing a good deed, but were mistaken. You write that your brother found a way to show you as an heir: it’s true that he consulted with someone knowledgeable. Leave it to their will, he wants to do this for your peace of mind, without causing harm to anyone else. If this change could result in someone being deprived of anything or suffering losses, then it would be necessary to resist this; and as long as there is no harm to anyone, according to the next part, and you remain in mind, then be calm; There will be no action on your part, but they themselves do as they want. I remain the wisher for your health and salvation, many-sinful hieromonk Macarius. July 19, 1849. You might be interested in: