7. Наставления прп. Паисия христолюбивому запорожскому воинству

Of considerable interest are the teachings of Elder Paisius about the service of the Zaporozhye Cossacks as a “Christ-loving army.” In one of the last surviving letters to St. Paisiya to Kalnyshevsky, for March 1772, the elder pays a lot of attention to the military exploits of Koshevoy Ataman during the Russian-Turkish War and instructs him to continue to firmly and with faith fight the “enemies of the Cross of Christ.” This teaching of the elder is of particular interest, so let us quote it in more detail: In the firmament of heaven, the exalted solar circle, the established city on the high mountains, and the human soul shining with nobility and high virtues cannot hide. We see this Truth so clearly and so openly irresistible, the more insightfully we enter into the circumstances of affairs: the bright sun is often covered with darkness and darkness, and a shining noble soul with high virtues, not even the darkest slanderous forces of evil envy can darken. A virtuous man, like a lion, trusts and is not afraid, because God is with him, and who is with him! The Israeli leader Gideon the glorious, of old, trusted in God, and with that trust, numerous thousands of Midianites, destroyed all of them with three hundred soldiers, and finally destroyed them. Your Highness, you also hope that as then, so always, and until the end of time, it happens, and there will be an omnipotent and insurmountable help from the Lady who helps in battles, who protects and preserves the life of your majesty from all slander. We have heard with delight how the omnipotent God has granted you glorious victories over the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and for this we glorify the Mercy of God, who has armed, wised and confirmed your highness with undoubted faith, strong hope, courage, courage, true reasoning, which with your wise leadership and The entire army of the glorious Lower Zaporozhian Zaporozhye was wisely trained in military art, only they strongly killed, slaughtered, exterminated the damned Mahometans, the ancient Voalites, the wicked Hagarians without any mercy, zealous for Piety, like sometimes Elijah for his Lord God, which is no longer necessary. And everything that happens, God is glorified in it. Because the enemies of the Cross of Christ are eradicated, as faith spreads, as God is glorified, so His servants become glorified, just as your glorious name is known everywhere, is heard everywhere, is glorified everywhere by the God-given intelligence, courage, courage, military skill and other virtues that the Spirit has endowed you with. Holy. Virtues do not just glorify people, but many times they deliver from death, protect from enemies, and completely preserve them from all slander. Virtues lead to eternal bliss, virtues enrich them with great virtues and advantages. Virtues are nourished with hope for undoubted future rewards. O holiness of virtues, the superiority of a noble soul, and the high virtues associated with it, which we clearly see in your greatness. For this reason, we undoubtedly congratulate Your Highness with them: and we wish that the Most Good God, with your life, has vouchsafed you to complete this chaste Lenten course and worship His Savior with passion, may you also be worthy to enjoy His bright Resurrection, and may He grant your adversary complete victory 91. TsGIAC of Ukraine. F. 229. Op.1. D. 166. L. 99.