Small announcement

The “Small Catechism” (“Small Catechism”) is 134 short catechetical teachings of St. Theodore the Studite, addressed to the monks. Created during the period 820-826, these instructions reflect his pastoral care. The combination of teachings into a collection occurred after the death of the monk. Of particular note is Announcement 31, which was dictated by him on his deathbed. According to the oldest edition of the Studite Charter, the teachings from this collection were supposed to be read in the monasteries of the Studite confederation 3 times a week. Announcements can be divided into 2 parts: 1) teachings that have inscriptions and are intended for reading in the post-Easter period (1-73); 2) teachings without inscriptions (74-134). They were read consecutively on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year. The reason for the conversation about monastic life was the holidays of Easter, Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost, etc., the change of seasons, church unrest, deviations of monks from the monastic rules, illness and death of brothers, etc. The teachings speak of contempt for the world and disasters, and constancy in ascetic deeds. The main topics covered in the “Small Announcement”: 1) ascetic life and struggle with passions (Acts 1, 16, 57, 60, etc.). St. Theodore calls for constant spiritual warfare, for the mortification of passions, for sobriety of mind and preservation of feelings. Such vices as gluttony, carnal lust, despondency, condemnation, as well as ways to overcome them are examined in detail; 2) virtues as the path to salvation (declarations 19, 24, 48, 80, 81, 104, 111, 113, 128, etc.). Particular attention is paid to the acquisition of virtues: obedience, humility, patience, faith and love; 3) monastic life and community service (Acts 11, 46, 87, 117, 133, etc.). Many teachings are devoted to the rules of cenovic life: maintaining order, unanimity and peace among the brethren, obedience, the importance of giving up solitude for beginners; 4) sacramental and liturgical life (catechumens 8, 53, 107, etc.). The need for frequent communion of the Holy Mysteries, the importance of fasting, as well as the meaningful celebration of church dates (Christmas, Ascension, Annunciation, Easter) are emphasized; 5) eschatological and dogmatic aspects (declarations 5, 13, 15, 101, 112, etc.). Constant remembrance of death and the Last Judgment serves as an incentive to repentance and a godly life. An important place is occupied by dogmatic explanations, especially those related to icon veneration; 6) consolation and support in persecution (Acts 51, 92, 114, etc.). St. Theodore strengthens the brethren in the faith, calling on them not to be afraid of persecution, to courageously endure trials and to remain faithful Christians, even in the face of death. The teachings are distinguished by sincerity, fatherly concern and a deep understanding of human nature. The monk not only gives instructions, but reveals the spiritual meaning of each action, warns against mistakes and inspires on the path of virtue. * Title of the work in Greek: Μικρα ​​Κατήχησις. * Title of the work in Latin: Parva Catechesis. Small catechumen of our venerable father and confessor Theodore, abbot of Studium, catechumen to his disciples 1 Announcement 1. That our whole life should be spent in struggle 2 Look at the crucified Jesus. Brothers and fathers. Having been deemed worthy by the grace of Christ to celebrate Holy Pascha, let us again set about our affairs, working, but at the same time remembering the life-giving passion of our Savior Jesus Christ. For the memory of Easter should not disappear just because it has passed, but we will always bring before the eyes of [the mind] the saving passions, the crucifixion, burial, resurrection, so that through constant deepening in them we will be elusive to the passions; and if we ever find ourselves overcome through inattention, we will immediately look to the crucified Jesus, the Lord of glory, and healing will immediately appear to our souls. All life is in the fight against sin. So in ancient times, Israel, when wounded by snakes, looked at the copper serpent and was healed (Num. 21:8-9). And you know that evil thoughts bite like snakes, pouring poison into the soul, which must be removed with every diligence as soon as this happens, so that delay does not make the wound difficult to heal. Keep in mind that spring gets your blood pumping. The flesh lusts after the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh (Gal. 5:17), and the strengthening of one is the weakening of the other. From now on, let us be careful, using food, drink and everything else in moderation, so as not to enslave the soul, but to have victory over the body. A runner on the lists is declared a winner not when he runs one or two stages, but when he completes the entire double path (τούς διαύλους) 3 . Therefore, we [will be declared winners] not only when we spend Pentecost or Pentecost properly; but if we do not spend our whole lives in struggle, then we will not escape the snare of the devil (cf. 2 Tim. 2:26), we will not receive a reward for victory. Exhortation. So, brethren, let us still fight the good fight, let us still labor for the service of virtue, let us still suppress the flesh, let us still enslave the body, let us still overcome the passions, always bearing the death of the Lord Jesus in our body (2 Cor. 4:10), always bearing the condemnation of death within ourselves (2 Cor. 1:9). For, of course, we too will die, like our fathers and brothers, and we will move from here and go to unknown places and see visions that we have never seen. What I say is both terrible and full of amazement, at least to those who have intelligence. Therefore, let us always be in fear and trembling, protecting ourselves from feelings, from empty rumors, from harmful sights, from effeminate smells, from every bad deed, completely abandoning ourselves to the Holy God, so that we may be pleasing heirs to Him of eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 2. About the fact that we should always die a voluntary death, and about observing order 4 To be dead to the world, but alive to God. Brothers and fathers. Easter has passed and the holiday is over; but the rejoicing or celebration, if you like, has not passed, for it is possible for us to always rejoice and celebrate spiritually, according to what has been said: rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say: rejoice (Phil. 4:4). How will this happen? If only we always have a living remembrance of the sufferings of our Savior Christ, namely, that the Lord of glory was crucified and buried for us, and on the third day rose again, having resurrected and quickened us along with Himself, so that we who live live not for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15), so that we can boldly say with the Apostle: I live not for anyone, but for Him who lives in me. Christ. And as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20). The conclusion from this mystery is that we must be dead to the world, but alive to God. To be saved one must avoid carelessness. And as a result of this, after Easter we must work and watch, pray and lament, weep and be enlightened, always bear the death of the Lord Jesus in the body (2 Cor. 4:10), die every day (cf. 1 Cor. 15:31) of our own free will, always be separated from the body and depart to the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8) by removing ourselves from the wisdom of the flesh. Don’t say: “I’ve been struggling for a long time, and I need reassurance.” There is no peace here. Do not say: “I have grown old in virtue and am not afraid.” Fear of change (φόβος τροπῆς) 5 should always be there. And Satan instantly cast many who grew old in virtue into the abyss of sin. In the same way, be sure to stand, and be careful, lest you fall (1 Cor. 10:12), and let him who thinks that he is guarded be careful that he does not find himself unguarded. Therefore, let us always have protection, and attention, and moderation in sleep, and in food, and in drink, and in everything else, so that the body is suppressed and enslaved, so that it, like a young horse, frolicking and biting the bit, does not push us into the abyss of sin. In the previous teaching I admonished you not to separate yourself or stay in hidden places, 6 but some of you were there again. So that the Lord may be glorified in everything. What do you want? Will I come to you with a club, or with love and a spirit of meekness? (1 Cor. 4:21). In general, I told you, and you did not listen; you saw that your brother suffered penance for the same thing, and you did not humble yourself. See to it that none of you fall into the same kind of disobedience. It is not without meaning and not in vain that the teachings (κατηχήσεις) are spoken. For there is no disorder with God, but peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Cor. 14:33). Therefore, everything is done in an orderly manner (1 Cor. 14:40), so that the Lord may be glorified in us in everything. Having come together from here and there, brethren, take heed to yourselves how to sit and how to walk, not as free 7, but as bound in spirit, not as unattended, but as supervised by the Lord, watching your every movement and every action of yours; do not go here and there, but remain calm (ἡσυχάζοντες) in your premises, indulging in handicrafts, prayers and your psalmody, do not collect for yourself anything covetously, but be content with what you have. For [the Lord] Himself said: I will not leave you, I will despise you (Joshua 1:5), so we say with boldness: The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man will do to me? Remember your brothers, who, looking at the end of their lives, imitate their faith (Heb. 13:6-7; cf. Ps. 118:6). Such is the blessed Dometian, whom we have sung and whose memory is with the saints. What kind of purchase did he make, what kind of life did he spend, gaining an eternal reward with a few labors and deeds? Man is insignificant in the flesh, but since he mastered virtue and loved God, God exalted him, as it is written: He who glorifies Me will only be glorified, and he who despises Me will be dishonored (1 Samuel 2:30). Therefore, we should rejoice and be glad over such brothers. But there will be no benefit if we do not bring something from our side. Contributing according to our strength, we too will have a portion with the saints in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 3. About the fact that we must walk worthy of the monastic title and the persecution that we endured for the Lord 8 Fornication of faith and fornication of the body. Brothers and fathers. We, the humble ones, rejoice with joy when we see you coming here every year, and we celebrate your coming, as if the second Easter. But since you each bring us carnal things, as much as your hand can supply, then we, as far as possible, will give spiritual things in return. So, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I call on you, brethren, to walk worthy of the monastic title, the confession that we have confessed, and the persecution that we have endured for the Lord. For there are, there are those who condemn the confession of Christ as the cause of fornication, 10 which is terrible to say, and they say: “It is better to become an accomplice of heresy than to accept persecution for Christ.” Deviation into heresy is fornication of faith. Their condemnation is just, and their advice is close to the advice of Balaam, who laid a temptation before the children of Israel (Num. 22-24). However, there are two types of fornication: one is the fornication of faith, the other of the body. Anyone who is carried away by a heretical community falls into fornication in relation to God, but at the same time he can fall into fornication in the body. Therefore, those who say such things are fornicators and deceivers who ensnare weak souls. We, brethren, will more firmly organize our lives both for ourselves and for those who oppose the truth, remaining in good behavior and guided by good instructions. Every one of you should have a psalm, have a teaching, have a tongue, have a revelation, have a legend: let all things be for edification (1 Cor. 14:26). Whether we go where we need to, let us walk reverently, so that our face may shine with grace for the benefit of those who see us. If we happen to meet a woman, we will meet with full attention to ourselves, with our eyes downcast, so as not to receive a sting and an arrow in the heart. In short, everything should be done to the glory of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. The beneficial effect of love for God. Love for Him completely changes the admirer, forcing him to belong not to himself, but to Him Whom he loves. And this can be observed in those who love carnally. For if a husband loves his wife, he gives himself entirely to his beloved, breathing her and dreaming about her. And if someone talks about the sun, he will not want to see the sun, but the desired one. And if someone offers a meal, he will prefer not to take advantage of it, but to communicate with his beloved. What is more beautiful than the Lord Christ? What is sweeter than His blessed love? Isn't He more beautiful in kindness than the sons of men (Ps. 44:3)? Isn’t He, according to the saying [of Holy Scripture], sweetness and all desire (Song. 5:16)? Showing this, that is, the warmth of love for Him, the saints say: one - in the same way the tree desires the springs of water, my soul longs for You, O God (Ps. 42:2); the other is “my love, the crucified Christ” 11, and another again: for the love of God will support us who have judged this: for if one died for all, then we all died. Christ died for all, so that those who live live not for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again (2 Cor. 5:14-15). With such love God loved the world (cf. John 3:16) and so strongly and irresistibly was He Himself loved by the saints. Where there is purity, there is Christ. And since we do not love Him fervently, we are therefore captivated by evil thoughts and desires of the flesh, encountering sorrow instead of pleasure, bitterness instead of sweetness, anxiety instead of peace. But, brethren, we must awaken and cleanse our souls from such destructive desires in order to have Christ as our dweller. For where there is purity, there is Christ. This is the blessed and longed-for life, and by living this way we inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 4. That we should be attentive to ourselves and avoid harmful places 12 and sinful customs Brothers and fathers. Time calls us after the holiday to return to the interview and give the usual teaching. The spiritual wealth of Lent. And we proceed with zeal, knowing that this is what we have been appointed for, and woe to us if we do not talk with you as much as possible. What can be said under the present circumstances? It is precisely that each of you, as a certain merchant, during the Holy Pentecost collected spiritual wealth for himself, entered Holy Pascha, as if into a harbour, carrying with him many wonderful goods of virtue, namely: fasting, vigil, prayer, hard work and other similar objects of pious effort. Preserving these benefits is not a matter of ordinary concern. For it is impossible to assume that as it happens in the sensual (τοῦ αἰσθητοῦ) harbor, so in the spiritual (τοῦ νοητοῦ). For there [in the sensual pier], as soon as one enters the pier, he indulges in inaction and carelessness regarding sea unrest and misfortunes; here, on the contrary, when the flesh is calmed, passions become even more fierce and the spirits of malice attack like storms: the spirit of fornication, the spirit of gluttony, the spirit of love of money, the spirit of laziness, the spirit of sadness, the spirit of pride 13, and we must be careful lest we drown in the harbour. Saint David once carelessly looked at the wife of Uriah, and what he endured is known to the readers (2 Samuel 11–12). The haven is spiritual and sensual. Jacob was satisfied and the beloved was rejected (Deut. 32:15), says Scripture. Someone touched unintentionally and, inflamed with lust, gave birth to lawlessness (cf. Ps. 7:15). Listener, pay attention. Avoid destructive places and sinful morals (ὀλεθρίους τόπους καὶ τρόπους ἁμαρτίας) 14 . Bound yourself with rules regarding the eyes, and hearing, and smell, and taste, and touch, and food, and drink, and sleep, so that you are not drowned by the pressure of passions. After all, you should also know that he who sails on the sensory sea is involuntarily exposed to storms and disturbances, while he who passes on the mental sea is the master of storms and silence. For if someone courageously drives away inappropriate thoughts, he will be filled with silence, having the Holy Spirit as a companion, as it is told about Saint Arsenius 15. But whoever has unbridled feelings and allows passions to penetrate himself like waves, he himself stirs up a most evil storm for himself. If he does not quickly tame his agitated thoughts, he will be forced to say with the well-known unhappy exclamation: I have come to the depths of the sea, and the storm has drowned me (Ps. 68:3). Therefore, let the thought 16 [good] prevail and let the best not be overcome by the worse, but let the spirit (τὸ πνεῦμα) rule and lead to the better. The harmfulness of sin Or do you not know what sin has done? Didn't he introduce death into the world? Was it not he who corrupted the earth? Was it not he who filled the universe with cemeteries and tombs from centuries to the present? For man was incorruptible before the crime, and nothing of what was said now happened while the primordial [Adam] invariably remained in this commandment. He is the culprit of eternal torment, he kindled the unquenchable fire of Gehenna, he is food and the undying worm 17 (see Mark 9:44–47); he made even man, who was in honor, like beasts senseless (cf. Ps. 48:13). Since it is such and so strong, destructive and deadly, then, brethren, we must avoid it as much as we can, and choose virtue, which raises people to the level of Angels, resists death, resists demons, defeats the princes of this world and, finally, promises the Kingdom of Heaven, which may we all achieve by the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father with the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now and ever and ever. Amen. Announcement 5. About the Last Judgment and that we carefully pass the days of our real life 18 We are approaching death. Brothers and fathers. The duration of real life should not give rise to frivolity, relaxation and negligence in you, but all the greater struggle and the most zealous desire to please God, since we are approaching death. For no slave, approaching his master, or a messenger approaching the one who sent him to give an account, remains completely careless, but is so worried that he seems to lose his temper. What then? And we are approaching our Lord, better to say, the Lord is approaching us and His Terrible Judgment Seat, to which we will all appear naked and open, to give an account (cf. Heb. 4:13) of what we have experienced and to receive either the Kingdom of Heaven or eternal punishment. But who is ready for this? Who is able to indulge in carelessness, and will he not be more inflamed than fire with the desire to fulfill the will of his Lord, so as not to turn out to be the same as that servant who was bound hand and foot and thrown out of the bridal chamber (Matthew 22:13)? Exhortation. If these examples do not frighten us, then based on the present 19 we will conclude about the future. Don't we see how the king's enemies - some are tormented in prison, others are tortured with whips? Some are sent into exile, some lose their eyes, others are in danger of their very lives. But even those who have not been guilty of anything stand with fear and serve with trepidation, being sent here and there, to war and difficult tasks. And there is no one who would contradict; there is no one who disobeys. If this happens with a mortal king, then isn’t it all the more necessary that with the immortal one King and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15) this should be done with fear and trembling and nothing should be done except what is commanded. Or, as the Holy Scripture says, are you careless about the riches of His goodness and meekness and long-suffering, not knowing how the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Because of your cruelty and unrepentant heart, storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will reward everyone according to his deeds (Rom. 2:4-6). Let this frighten us, and let us spend every day carefully and prudently, early in the morning immediately getting up with readiness and driving away sleep and soberly praying, whenever the hour for awakening strikes, so that we can go out vigorously to our work: a cellarer in the cellar, a cook in the kitchen, a servant in the ministry, a consoler in consolation, in general, everyone laboring peacefully in everything. Nowhere is there murmuring, nowhere is there disobedience, nowhere is there screaming, nowhere is there contradiction and anger hidden in the soul in order to appear peaceful from the outside, but inside to harbor anger and, when the opportunity arises, bite like a snake or take revenge like a vengeful camel. The insult happened and passed. Was there remorse? Forgive sincerely, without being inflamed by thoughts again, without repaying, as it is written, evil for evil, or annoyance for annoyance: the opposite is blessing, knowing, as if in this calling, you will inherit blessing. Even if you love your life and see good days, let you keep your tongue from evil and let your lips not speak flattery. May he turn away from evil and do good, may he seek peace and may he hold on to it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are on their prayer: but the face of the Lord is on those who do evil (1 Pet. 3:9-12). But this is very little. What's more? We have a struggle to the beginning, to the power, to the ruler of the darkness of this age (Eph. 6:12), against the approaching persecution, which greatly threatens this and that, as we hear. So, if we are not prepared for less, how will we deserve praise for more? He who is faithful in little is also faithful in much (Luke 16:10), as the Lord says. Since you, by the grace of Christ, have proven faithful in both small and large things, both in obedience and in confession, 20 then do not limp on one side or the other, but be perfect in every way, fully prepared to do every good work (cf. Titus 3:1), causing no stumble in anything, so that your service may be blameless (2 Cor. 6:3), pleasing the Lord in everything, so that you may inherit The kingdom of heaven is in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 6. About the fact that we should be fragrant through the acquisition of virtues 21 Spiritual fragrance. Brothers and fathers. By the Resurrection of Christ and creation, having laid aside, as it were, a kind of deadness - a winter cover, it blooms again and, as it were, comes to life. And indeed, we see that the earth produces greenery, the trees produce leaves, animals jump, the sea has calmed down, everything has changed for the better. But why I said this, this should explain. If soulless and dumb [creatures] rejoice so much and are so adorned for the Holy Resurrection, then how much more should we adorn ourselves with life and be fragrant in spirit, honored by the mind and image of God! For truly the fragrance of Christ is the one who assimilates virtue to himself, as the apostle testifies, saying: For the fragrance of Christ is of God in those who are being saved and in those who are perishing; For we have the stench of death into death, and for the stench of life we ​​have the stench of death into the belly (2 Cor. 2:15-16). To this it must also be said that even Adam, before breaking the commandment, was a fragrance to God, being adorned with immortality and incorruptibility and indulging in heavenly contemplations, which is why, like a certain fragrant and flowery meadow, he was worthily installed in paradise, breathing virtues. And the patriarch Isaac, sensing a pleasant smell in his son Jacob, said: Behold, the stench of my son is like the stench of the fields, so the Lord bless him (Gen. 27:27) - of course, a smell understood spiritually. The spiritual world is a combination of virtues. So, brethren, let us also be fragrant with the spiritual fragrance that everyone prepares for himself through a combination of virtues, as truly the best world-maker. This world is blessed; this ointment is pleasing to God; this ointment attracts angels and repels demons. Attracted by this fragrance, the wives followed Jesus, as is sung in the hymns; carried away by this fragrance, and we will continue to flow, purely celebrating the holy Midsummer of Pentecost, which is at the door 22, as it is written: at the half of the feast Jesus went up into the church and bowl. And the Jews marveled, saying: What is the message of this book without studying? ( John 7:14–15 ). But this was before suffering; now, after the resurrection, appearing and gathering with the holy apostles, initiating them into the most intimate and mysterious, and - oh, ineffable condescension! – touched food after the resurrection; although His holy flesh did not need it, however, in order to confirm His resurrection, He ate and drank, and gave His side to be touched, and to those who thought that He was a spirit, He said: You see My hands and My nose, as I Am Himself: touch Me and see: for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see Me having (Luke 24:39). We will depict Christ on the icon. What do you say to this, O Christ-fighter? If it has flesh and bones, then it cannot be depicted on an icon? If he doesn’t have the second, then he didn’t have the first. But He Himself silently testifies to Himself that He can be depicted on an icon, for one must agree that one follows from the other 23 . But the iconoclasts, who think like the Manichaeans 24, will receive similar and equal retribution, eternal destruction, as it is written (2 Thess. 1:9). Exhortation. But we, brethren, believing in Orthodox wisdom that we both see and worship our Lord Jesus Christ in the icon, will show a life worthy of faith - pure, impeccable, immaculate, so as not to limp on both sides (cf. 1 Kings 18:21), but, having earned praise in both respects, to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 7. About the Ascension of our Savior Jesus Christ and that we ourselves should live pleasing to God Brothers and fathers. Standing on the eve of the Ascension of our Savior Jesus Christ is for us a holiday of holidays and a great and supernatural sacrament, for our nature rises beyond the bounds of heaven, as it is written: by grace we are saved, and with Him we are raised and seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:5-6). Who is at the right hand of God (Rom. 8:34), above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. And put all things under His nose, and gave him the head above all the church, which is His body, fulfilling all things in all (Eph. 1:21-23). So, do you see to what height of glory human nature has been raised? Is it not from earth to heaven? Is it not from corruption to incorruption? How much does one labor to become pleasing to the king of the earth and the corruptible! The significance of Christ's Ascension for human nature. But we, although alienated and enemies in evil thoughts (Col. 1:21), are not only reconciled to God and the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, but also exalted to sonship. And now our nature is in heaven, worshiped from every visible and invisible creature. Such is the greatness of the ineffable love of our good God, and, thinking about it, the blessed apostle exclaimed: this is the hope of His calling, and this is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and this is the abounding majesty of His power in us who believe, according to the work of the might of His strength, which He has done in Christ (Eph. 1:18-20). Because what happened? The All-Good One came to us through a virgin birth, enslaved himself to the corresponding laws of nature, ascended to the cross, nailing the handwriting on us on it (Col. 2:14), descended into the netherworld [of the earth] (Eph. 4:9), resolved the disease of death (cf. Acts 2:24) and, having resurrected human nature with Himself, ascended in glory (cf. 1 Tim. 3:16), finally revealed Himself to God and the Father for us. This, to put it briefly, is the essence of the holy holiday. Blissful life. And contemplating this, brethren, and the fact that we are the body of Christ, we will reverently honor the gift, we will preserve the nobility [of origin], we will not betray grace, we will not make the hooks of Christ the baits of fornicators (1 Cor. 6:15), but we will purify ourselves even more with both thoughts and actions, we will further remove ourselves from carnal lusts, which make war on the soul, our life having good in themselves (1 Pet. 2:11-12), peaceful, submissive, obedient, humble, well-ordered. This life is the blessed life. Joys and amusements, laughter and intemperance and everything that is inappropriate should be provided to those who love flesh and life, who seeing do not see and hearing do not hear, having a hardened heart and heavy ears (cf. Matt. 13:13-15), so as not to distinguish good from evil, light from darkness, life from death, but to go into the prepared fire (cf. Matt. 25:41). For the lust of the flesh is fire, and yet they run to it uncontrollably; the love of money is a pit, and, however, they do not stop going into it voluntarily, calling upon themselves a demon, worthy more to perish than to bliss, since they, rejecting what is truly good, receive harmful deceptions in return. Exhortation. But we, brethren, will hold to the confession in which we stand and boast in the hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:2), let us take up the feat that the saints fought, namely, the blessed Pachomius 25 who is now praised, let us look sensibly, listen sensibly, touch sensibly, use all our members healthily, so that, guided by the word of God and being servants of the word, (τοῦ λόγου ϑεραπευταί), we have become heirs according to the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 8. About the fact that one should partake of the Holy Mysteries with a clear conscience, said on the day of Ascension Brothers and fathers. Today is the Ascension, and this holiday is the completion of the 26th House of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who is not a member of Christ is unworthy of Communion. For having completed everything, He, according to the will of the Father, ascended in glory (1 Tim. 3:16) and raised us up and seated us in heaven (Eph. 2:6) through His holy flesh. And what is the riches of His glory and what is the abounding majesty of His power (Eph. 1:18-19), which He elevated our humble and insignificant nature to the royal throne, which is worshiped by all heavenly powers. Thinking about this, let us be afraid, brethren, and reverently honor the greatness of the gift and let us live worthy of our Head, as members of Christ (1 Cor. 6:15), as fellow members of the body and partners and joint heirs with Him in purification, in understanding, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in the word of truth, in the power of God ( 2 Cor. 6:6-7), in all obedience and humility, in all diligence and attention, not recognizing anything inappropriate, not doing anything contrary to the commandment. So, he who defiles the body is no longer a member of Christ; the vindictive is not a member of Christ; He who possesses any other passion is not a member of Christ and therefore is not worthy to partake of the Holy Mysteries (μετέχειν τῶν ἁγιασμάτων). Delay in evil is disastrous. For the apostle says: let every one tempt himself, and so let him eat from the bread and from the cup, let him drink: for he who eats and drinks unworthily, judges himself to eat and drink, without discerning the body of the Lord. For this reason, there are many in you who are weak and sickly, and sleep contentedly. Even if they had reasoned with themselves, they would not have been condemned. If we judge, we are punished by the Lord, lest we be condemned with the world (1 Cor. 11:28–32). Therefore, let us be sanctified and purified in order to worthily be called members of Christ and partake of the Holy Mysteries. If, however, it still happens that, through inattention, evil lust, or anger, or envy, or hatred, or anything else hateful to God, flares up in us, then let us not be amazed, 27 but let us quickly return to our previous state and become sober, and let us not slack off in evil, for delay leads to inevitable condemnation. Besides, doesn't death come suddenly? Yesterday we visited the sick bishop 28 and found him in a terrible situation, completely exhausted by fever, completely confused with despair, turning his gaze here and there and finding help nowhere except his conscience, good or evil. What then? Aren't we going to suffer the same? Well, isn’t this a dream and a shadow compared to future torment? That fire does not go out, the worm does not die (Mark 9:44-48), the darkness does not dissipate, the bonds are not broken, hell has no end, the gnashing of teeth does not cease and all other torments are eternal. Hell has no end. Therefore, clearly understanding this, brethren, let us not be passionate, nor jealous, nor ill-willed, nor angry, nor slander, nor lie, nor do anything else against anyone, but let us maintain peace, and remain in a cheerful mood, and be contrite, and do good, and love one another God-lovingly, and do everything commanded in order to avoid torment and achieve eternal life. in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 9. On the descent of the Holy Spirit and the death of the unfortunate Euprepian 29 Brothers and fathers. We have reached Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, for the Lord says: You have no food, but I will come. If I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you; If I go, I will send Him to you, and when He comes... He will guide you into all truth (John 16:7–8,13). Oh, what a promise and honor this is! He promised to send not an Angel, not a man, but the co-natural Spirit Himself (συμφυὲς τὸ Πνεῦμα). So, the Only Begotten Son, having completed his father’s work, ascends to heaven; the Holy Spirit descends, let there not be another God! - but another Comforter (John 14:16), as it is written, and - oh, inexpressible love for mankind! “God Himself is our comforter, and He encourages the dejected and tormented soul not to lose heart in misfortunes, as the holy Apostle testifies, saying: outside of war, inside of fear.” But the humble were comforted; God comforted us with the coming of Titus (2 Cor. 7:5-6). He consoles the heart frightened by demonic fear, raising it through confidence to invincible courage. Saint David testifies, saying: for you, O Lord, have helped me and consoled me (Ps. 85:17). He encourages the hating mind to live in peace and silence (ἡσυχία). The Apostle testifies, saying: we pray according to Christ, as we pray to God; we pray according to Christ: be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). Do you see the incomprehensible condescension? Do you see the incomparable gift? Woe is the Only Begotten Son interceding for us before the Father, as it is written: Who is at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes for us (Rom. 8:34). The Holy Spirit comforts in many ways. What, on our part, will we render to the Lord for this? We can only learn the well-known saying and say: all my bones say: Lord, Lord, who is like You? Deliver the poor from the hand of those who strong him, and the poor and the wretched from those who plunder him (Ps. 34:10). And again: our help is in the name of the Lord, who created heaven and earth (Ps. 123:8). And: if the Lord had not helped me, my soul would have entered hell (Ps. 93:17). And again: The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear, what will man do to me? (Ps. 117:6). Having such a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, invincible power, a great protector and God and supporter, we will not be afraid of the enemy’s fear, we will not be afraid of opposing forces. But, as having Him as our companion and enduring ascetic and confessional labors together with us, let us still courageously and firmly strive towards them, spending day after day in them, not being seduced by the deceptions of the dragon and not exhausted from his continuous attacks. Carnal lust. Let us extinguish carnal love as it fills the house of our soul with fire. It is not pleasure, but a serious illness; not pleasure, but frenzy of the mind and evil darkness. And those who have tamed the fury of the flesh know this and have a desire for God alone. What could be more lovable and desirable than Him? Such a one lives in the flesh and above the flesh, in the world and above the world, in real life and above the visible, in him waves of grace, driven by the quiet winds of the Spirit, pacify, as far as possible, his soul. But why? Because voluptuousness (τὁ φιλήδονον), winning, greatly distorts and changes us, sinking down to earth, flesh and blood, and therefore completely alienates us from the good God. Haven't you heard what the unfortunate Euprepian suffered? For they recently told us that he died, and he died - woe to me, the unfortunate one! - not a temporary, but an eternal death, ending his life in the arms of Eve. Oh, what the unfortunate man has suffered! You know that before the lamp of both fidelity and honesty shone on his head. Wasn’t he, along with me, imprisoned for confession? The love of pleasure alienates one from God. Wasn't it he who was elevated to the degree of economist in Sakkudion 30? Was it not he who went to great deeds for the current confession 31, being beaten twice and enduring it in the best possible way? What then? Having with him, as a steward, a monastic mug and what was dipped into it, he was tempted by gold and, overwhelmed by the love of money, like Judas, betrayed it - woe is me! - Christ. On the one hand, he rejected the vow of virginity, on the other, like Gehazi, having bought fields, vineyards, oxen and sheep, he inherited not only his leprosy (2 Kings 5:27), but, as I think, something more terrible. This, my brothers, is what the love of money has done! I exhort you to run away from this passion as a source of betrayal. This is what unbelief has led to! We flee this darkness as it separates us from communion with the Lord. We also run away from every other passion that besieges our unfortunate soul: I mean rage, envy, anger, pride, stubbornness, isolation. Avoid being alone 32 in order to avoid the punishment that threatens you from the Lord. For it is said: woe to that one if he falls and there is no second to raise him up (Eccl. 4:10). This is exactly what he (Euprepian) suffered, which was what was discussed. The love of money is the source of betrayal. After all, if he had a friend, then, although he had fallen, he could, with his help, rise again, again mourn his sin. But he had no one and therefore died, unfortunate, going to his place. Brethren! This sad event is worthy of crying and sorrow; this terrible example is worthy of fear and trembling. It is said: be determined to stand and be careful, lest you fall (1 Cor. 10:12). You, who walk your path well, be careful not to be thrown down when you see the fall of someone who previously ran well. Those who have passions within themselves are rejected by brotherly love. Perhaps someone thought that the Angel would fall sooner than this brother. However, having dozed off, he fell. And the reason for this is love of money. I would not talk to you about the love of money if I were not afraid that you, now running away from persecution - one here, the other there, faced with the need to take care of the means for living, will fall into the temptation of the love of money if you do not carefully monitor yourself. Hence, some, wanting to get rich, do not want to have a companion. Hence, having passions within themselves, they reject brotherly love. Therefore, their legs cannot remain calm, but they, like dogs, stagger here and there to get money from pious people. Hence, some, themselves slaves of passions, buy slaves, having lost their sovereign dignity. Others, traders and buyers who receive trading profits, purchase less necessary things for their use. The salvific value of repentance. Beware, brethren, of the judgment of God. Beware of His great eye 33, which watches you vigilantly. No one can hide from Him by doing anything in the recesses of his heart, not to mention actions according to the outer man. Beware of the death sentence, because now two of our brothers have died, Miletus and Barnabas, and others before them, and we are moving one after another. I exhort you, let death not seize any of you unprepared and unsettled. A considerable misfortune is alienation from God, alienation from the Kingdom of Heaven, Judgment and eternal reward, which no flesh can bear, even if it can imagine, much less actually experience. However, this will happen if we do not do what pleases God. In order for us, the unfortunate, to avoid the wrath coming on the disobedient sons (Eph. 5:6), I exhort: let us do what is commanded, we will henceforth serve the Lord, and whoever feels that he lacks something must cleanse himself, renew his soul according to the will of God, for the Lord is near to all who call on Him (Ps. 145:18). Every day He allows repentance, every day He destroys our sins and always calls us to choose eternal life, which may we be worthy to achieve in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 10. That martyrs are not only those who shed blood, but also those who lead a life pleasing to God 34 Brothers and fathers. The Feast of Feasts is Holy Pentecost, which we are honored to celebrate; and now we are approaching the feast of All Saints 35. But since it is proper on the day of the holiday to acquire something good through holy meditation, then think, if you like, how many and which saints are now remembered. Who can number the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore (Gen. 22:17)? Who are the holy martyrs? So there are countless martyrs in the whole world who, by faith, defeated hostile forces, armed themselves against the troops of tyrants, went to fire, sword, animals, to all kinds of torture, considering torment a consolation and the shedding of blood a joy. And in this conviction they walked on kindled coals, extinguished blazing fires, in their nature they did what exceeds nature, thereby defeating kings and tyrants. What did they testify to? That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (cf. Matt. 16:16), and that through His name eternal life is given, as it is written (cf. Acts 4:12). But are those only martyrs who shed blood? No, but also those who lead a life pleasing to God. For the apostle says: they walked in sheepskins and in goatskins, destitute, sorrowful, embittered: the world is not worthy of them, wandering in deserts and in mountains and in dens and in the pits of the earth (Heb. 11:37-38). And a little lower: a cloud of witnesses has surrounded us with so much wealth, putting aside all pride and making it easy to commit sin, let us strive with patience for the fight that is set before us, looking to the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-2). Martyrdom in the broadest sense. You see that in general he calls martyrs all those who love piety and who lead a hard life in patience. Thus, we too are included in this martyr’s host. For we, too, by the fact that we love and patiently walk the difficult path of the life of the cross, by the fact that we fulfill the vow of virginity and do not turn away from the struggle of obedience, testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; We testify that there is Judgment and retribution; We testify that we will give an account before the Last Judgment Seat of Christ about how we lived in opposition to the devil, the enemy of Christ, who torments us with evil thoughts and destructive lusts, forcing us to renounce God. For indeed those who have corrupted themselves by their behavior voluntarily follow the enemy, saying by their deeds that there is no God, just as Saint David said: the fool says in his heart: there is no God (Ps. 52:2). For if the enemy does not bring about oblivion of God in the souls of people and, as it were, a renunciation of Him, he cannot incline the mind to the attraction of the flesh, to the unbridledness of sin, drunkenness, lewdness, feasts, covetousness, idolatry and all kinds of other shameful deeds. Having taken possession of the soul, he leads it along with him, tearing it away from God, and plunges it into unquenchable fire for eternal torment. How disastrous is such seduction and how terrible is its end! Exhortation. But we, brethren, as witnesses of Christ, will still give good testimony, we will still confess a good confession, rejoicing with all the saints that we have been deemed worthy to testify for Christ, without bending the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18) - I mean before the lust of the flesh and other pleasures of life; Let us not believe him when he offers arguments for renouncing obedience, but let us fight with him daily, as if in a battlefield, struck, but not defeated, courageously speaking out and not being afraid. What is the use of such a testimony, you know. You know that those who testify for someone in life become partners in his joy and in the benefits for which they gave testimony. We can conclude from this that Christ’s witnesses 36, as those who testified about Him to everyone and endured incredible torment for true testimony, will be declared His co-heirs in the coming century. For the apostle says: when Christ our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). With them we, who are still fulfilling our testimony, - and indeed for a long time and throughout our lives - may we be worthy to receive an eternal reward 37 and eternally triumph with Christ, to whom belongs glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 11. Instruction on Peace 38 Brothers and fathers. The Day of the Lord 39 is a day of peace. For on this day the Lord 40, having disarmed the enemy, said to the disciples: peace be with you (John 20:19). In saying this, He gave peace not only to those and not for one day, but He pronounces this wish for peace for everyone and forever, equally for us, the humble. Therefore, let us have peace and live in peace among ourselves. On the one hand, according to the external person, this means not to have enmity towards any of the brothers, but to be lovingly (ἀγαπητικῶς) towards everyone. “All understand this,” He says, “for you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35). Peace according to the outer man and peace according to the inner man. On the other hand, according to the inner man, this means that we have peace and tranquility from harmful passions. For then we can say with the apostle: peace be with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have found this grace through faith, in which we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:1-2). Since we are changeable by nature and a terrible shock can happen to us - for anything can happen - then even then we will immediately return to our previous state, having peace with God. For this is our peace, having made both one and destroying the mediastinum of the fence, having abolished the enmity with His flesh, having abolished the law of the commandments of the teachings, so that He might create both by Himself into one new man, creating peace, and reconcile both in the one body of God by the cross, killing the enmity therein (Eph. 2:14-16). This is what the apostle says. This is [testified] by the work that the Lord did, as He Himself says to His Father: I have completed the work that you have given Me (John 17:4), that is, reconciling the heavenly and earthly 41, making us ourselves sons of peace and love. If someone says: how can we agree that we should not always be in a struggle, when the apostle says: our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, and against the authorities, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12), - we can answer him that the apostle explains what kind and how great this battle is, but not that we are fighting with ourselves. For in another place he says: casting down the thoughts, and taking every exaltation upon the mind of God, and taking every mind captive into the obedience of Christ, and being ready to avenge all disobedience (2 Cor. 10:4-6). It is clear that whoever is so inclined has stopped fighting and is keeping peace. And in no case, brethren, do you consider it burdensome, since I speak and dwell on this, scouting and investigating this one thing or the other. For this speech is not useless, but, on the contrary, very useful, since the word paves the way to action. The word paves the way to action. Others who are of this world, let them talk about worldly things: about agriculture, about trade, about profit and loss, about other vain subjects of concern. What else will we talk about if not about what we should talk about - about the soul, about escape from passions, about the acquisition of virtues, about the separation of body from soul, about the judgment seat of Christ, which we must appear before, about Judgment, retribution, about the Kingdom of Heaven itself? May we become heirs by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belongs glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 12. About what we should spend our lives in reverence and love for God, and about the dormition of brother Evdokim 42 Brothers and fathers. The Sunday itself, which we celebrate today, is a sufficient lesson for us, if we are careful. Indeed, on this day our Lord Jesus Christ raised us up, defeated by sin; on this day He brought us to life together, having been put to death by the sins and uncircumcision of our flesh 43; on this day He again opened the doors of paradise for us to partake of the tree of life, which is His life-giving Body and Blood; on this day, as freed from death, we can say in the words of the prophet: where is the sting of death; Where the hell is victory? (1 Cor. 15:55). Exhortation. You are defeated by Him who said: take heart, for I have overcome the world (John 16:33). On this day, speaking in the apostolic word, God and the Father has risen and made us sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he will show the utmost riches of his grace through goodness on us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6-7). Oh, inscrutable gift! From what and to what did He lead us? From death to life, from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, from enmity to sincere fellowship - and so much so that he made us conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). How inexpressible is this grace! How immeasurably great is His love for us! For He gave His only begotten Son as a ransom for us all (cf. John 3:16). It is time to say: who will proclaim the mighty powers of the Lord? Have all His praises been heard? (Ps. 105:2). The mystery of death. So, let us love Him who loved us, let us die for Him who died for us, not returning to flesh and blood, not being deceived by the seductions of the serpent, not being carried away by the pleasures of life, not eating from the fruit of sin, from which is death, for it is written: for it is the will of those who sin for us, after receiving the understanding of the truth, for those who do not find a sacrifice for their sins; resistance (Heb. 10:26–27). Therefore, let us work for the Lord with reverence and fear (Heb. 12:28), let us conduct our lives with intelligence and steadfastness, and with prudent patience let us perform our services, observing precision not only in spiritual but also in bodily matters, even to the point of lighting wood and pouring water, since in these things, as you see, there is a need for these things on this island 44. With all this, let us remember death, because even now our brother Evdokim has gone to the Lord. If even the death of a brother does not enlighten us, what will finally convert us? If even the mystery of death (μυστήριον τοῦ θανάτου) does not convince us, then what can keep us from destructive passions? Now, when we talk and consult about this or that, the terrible hour of death may suddenly befall us, but terrible and unbearable for those obsessed with sins, for those who have fallen not purified by repentance, for those who live disorderly, disorderly and wayward, but pleasant and much desired for those who love God, the virtuous, pious, obedient and humble. Exhortation. Therefore, I exhort and remind, my brethren, having adopted such thoughts, let us withdraw from passions as much as we can, and, embracing Christ with love, advance in virtue, so that, having thus ended our lives, we may inherit the Heavenly Kingdom in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 13. About remembering death and about answering 45 at the Last Judgment for everything we have done in life 46 Brothers and fathers. Today is Sunday, and I need to talk about death. After all, you know how often our brothers and fathers pass away one after another. This is nothing more than a reminder that we too will soon move from here, we will move not to perishable and earthly places and countries, but to spiritual and eternal abodes, from which it is impossible for anyone who once entered there to return. Death is terrible when you hear about it; but she is even more terrible when you see her through her eyes; We experienced this six days ago at the death of the Khalkin abbot 47. For, having caught him at his last breath, we were amazed at what happened, when at one moment he was with us and immediately left us, being put to death. And indeed, it was terrible to hear and terrible to see. While still breathing, the blessed one said the following words: “I am taken by surprise,” and while saying this, he shook his head and hand, but did not reveal his thoughts. But we felt where this anxiety came from. I didn’t say this to cast a shadow on him - let it not be! - but in order to frighten ourselves, and to warn you, so that we are not taken by surprise, so that there is no need to utter the same words at the hour of death, but we will be ready to meet it without embarrassment, for it is written: we are prepared and are not embarrassed (Ps. 119:60). Law of obedience. But we will not achieve this if we do not pay attention to ourselves every time, if we do not firmly preserve the good that we do and correct our sins through repentance, being always ready as those who are immediately taken to heaven. For before whom, I ask, will we appear? Is it not before the Judge and God of all, to whom every knee will worship, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess (Phil. 2:10-11)? What will we report on? Is it not in everything that we have accomplished in life in word, deed or thought? Every time this comes to mind, it gives me horror and almost deprives me of my senses. But you need not be afraid - I say, you are well-behaved and have placed all your care in the law of obedience, for such is life in true obedience. After all, in fact, what kind of justification are they preparing for themselves before the Last Judgment Seat of Christ who withdraw from obedience, live separately, wander here and there, have no ground under their feet, and bring bought slaves with them? Woe to me, unfortunate one! How fascinating evil is! How those who rightly followed the path of monastic life turned back! Denouncing deviations from monastic vows. It is better for them, says Scripture, not to know the path of righteousness, than for those who have known to turn back from the commandments handed down to the saints. When a true parable happened to them: a dog returned to his vomit, and a pig washed himself in the pot (2 Pet. 2:21-22). What do you say, friend? Are you pulling the yoke of a slave, you celibate? Fugitive from the world? Having renounced all carnal lifestyle? Therefore, take yourself a wife... For these two things belong to the world and the things that are in the world. For those who have chosen the crusader life, both are alien. But the reason for this, apparently, is sin. Since we are carried away by passions and are lovers of money, then, I would add, we are also lovers of women. So that there is no witness and exposer of what is happening in secret, we do not want to have a brother, but we choose loneliness or the slavery of covetousness, as having truly sold ourselves to sin, slaves of flesh and blood. Hence the internal destruction, temptations, falls, both known and unknown to everyone. Hence my crying and sorrow. I expose and rebuke, and no one listens. But what does Scripture say? If he had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin: but now they have no guilt about their sin (John 15:22). I, wretched one, am innocent of the blood of such (cf. Acts 20:26). I could completely cut them off according to the commandment of the commandment. But since there is now persecution, I put it off until someone arises from the devil’s snare and is caught from him into his own will (2 Tim. 2:25-26). You are blessed by the Lord, you who live together with each other, in twos and threes, living - which is even more worthy of praise - according to the rule of the monastery, staying at home and not making untimely exits, except for the necessary, especially in the square and national festivals; you, who serve one another and thus seem to rule over the world, pure from the slavish desire to acquire slaves, doing everything in a God-loving and good manner - may grace and peace be multiplied to you (1 Pet. 1:2), and you will see the blessings of Jerusalem (Ps. 127:6) in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen. Announcement 14. About our godly life and that we should not be afraid during persecution 48 Life today is a rebellion. Brothers and fathers. We must speak, and not remain silent for a long time. For silence brings sleep to the soul, and such sleep is the cause of death. Praying for deliverance from him, Saint David said: enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep into death (Ps. 12:4). The Word moving in the heart is a source of water flowing into the eternal belly. What could be more useful than that? And knowing this, the blessed apostle said: let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourself (Col. 3:16). You see, he calls us to teach and admonish each other and not be content with just our memories. I, humble, confess that every time I talk with you, I receive benefit, for I withdraw myself from the rebellion of this life, become more sober and come to the consciousness of my own sins. After all, the present 49 life is a rebellion; During it, evil speeches and vain rumors intrude daily, and at the same time the devil attacks with hostile thoughts. You must always eliminate this with a word and keep your conscience clear and pay attention to what you are assigned to. What are we determined for? Who will be with the Lord and who will not. To ensure that, as it is written, we work for God living and in truth, and wait for His Son from heaven, who rose from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:9-10). But no slave dozes, does not rest and does not sleep, waiting for his master, guilty of his judgment, but is sober, awake and worried about his meeting, about which the apostle again clearly speaks: for the Lord Himself, in command, in the voice of the Archangel and in the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first: then we, who are left alive, will be raptured together with them We were clouded to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16–17). But who is it? The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the pure in heart, the meek, the peacemakers, the merciful, those who have endured the yoke of obedience to the end, who have kept their confession inviolable - these will be with Him. But those who have committed evil deeds, disobedient, disobedient, apostates from the confession, rejecting obedience, doers of other evils - these will not rise to the clouds (cf. 1 Thess. 4:17), they will not be with the Lord, but what is most disastrous is that they will receive torment, eternal destruction, from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His strength (2 Thess. 1:9). Let him neither think nor say this about you! Therefore, we must cry out for help and take care of our salvation, knowing that persecution is before our face. Here, besides others, the housekeeper of brother Gregory was captured 50. And we don’t know what will happen ahead; and temptations seem to be approaching us. But we will not be afraid and will not fear the temptations that rise against us: If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom.8:31). If He was with us in past persecutions, why should He not be with us, humble ones, in the present, giving us strength and strength for everything, according to His promise? What else will our opponents do? Will they be expelled again? But the earth is the Lord's and its fulfillment (Ps. 23:1). Will they be imprisoned again? But there is nothing sweeter than being imprisoned for Christ. Will they be scourged again? But the more crowns they will bring us. What if they kill you? After all, our Lord was killed. If we die with Him, says the Apostle Paul, then we will live with Him; if we suffer, we will also reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:11-12). Such was the blessed and greatest witness of Christ Theodore, 51 whose memory we now commemorate. Exhortation. He endured everything with joy for Christ. With the same faithfulness, we, the humble, will also serve the Lord; with the same hope we will endure all the sorrow and distress of the coming troubles, so that both for obedience and for confession we may be worthy to be heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 15. Dogmatic - about the veneration of holy icons and worship before them 52 Brothers and fathers. Celebrating the memory of the Forerunner yesterday, we, no doubt, remembered our residence in the monastery 53. Just as at that time we were all together and walking in the house of God with like-mindedness (Ps. 54:15), so now we are scattered in all directions - in different places and villages. But since this dispersion [occurred] by the will of God, we must rejoice, in accordance with the commandment of the commandment: Rejoice and be glad, he says, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:12). Iconoclasts are like the Jews in ignorance of God. In addition, in this way we are likened to our Master, who said: if you drive Me out, you will be driven out; If you keep My word, they will keep yours. But they are doing all these things to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me (John 15:20–21). And indeed, just as the Jews, by not accepting the Son, showed that they do not know the Father, so the iconoclasts (оἱ εἰκονομάχοι), by not accepting the icon of Christ, show that they do not know Him. The truth is obvious, but only one in a thousand comprehends it. Notice how their evil wisdom is doubled: they say that under no circumstances should one erect (ἀνασταλοῦν) 54 an icon of Christ, then they say that it is possible, only in equal meaning with [signs] telling about war and hunting 55 . One should not worship it, they say, just as one should not worship the image of a horse, bull, dog, lion, tiger, snake, bird, fish 56. Who is so insensitive that he does not groan when he hears this? Who can resist tears? They are not ashamed to put the icon of Christ, before which the Angels revere, which the demons tremble, on a par with images of animals and four-legged animals, reptiles, birds and fish, and not to honor them on an equal basis! Terrible madness - and even more terrible audacity! What next? Why should we honor the icon of Christ? The image of a person is called a man, a bull - a bull, a donkey - a donkey, a camel - a camel, a partridge - a partridge and others, depending on the genus, either animals or plants; the image of Christ, the Mother of God or any of all the saints is in no way allowed to be called either by the name of the prototype (πρωτότυπον), or by the image derived [from it] (παράγωγον) 57 , but they simply say - an icon, without adding whose, so as not to sin. They are filled with such foolishness and mockery! "This is their faith." But you, brethren, in addition to what was announced by our holy fathers and by me, the humble ones, pay attention and understand that if the places where Christ was born are and are called sacred and worshiped, and if someone takes sand or a stone from there, he keeps it as a sacred jewel 58 - then all the more should you honor the icon of Christ and worship before it; on it He is visible, as in a mirror, and evokes worship. For such is the property of an image that it represents the face of the person depicted. I know that in Rome they honor the keys of the supreme of the apostles, Peter, although the Lord gave him not sensual, but spiritual keys - to bind and loose (Matthew 16:19). What is betrayal of truth? But they, having made silver ones, display them for worship: such is their faith. There, according to the word of Christ, is laid the indestructible stone of faith (Matthew 16:18); here, as can be seen, unbelief and lawlessness are growing 59. Therefore, I, humble, sick at heart and fearing condemnation for silence, of necessity say what I say, albeit briefly and a little. If heterodox people do not stop raising their blasphemous tongues against Christ in private and in society, verbally and in writing, then why don’t we, sitting at home, talk among ourselves about what our duty is? And how will we endure the wrath of God? How will we imitate our fathers, who called it a betrayal of the truth to remain silent and hide in such cases? So, one must speak and listen and serve [the truth] in word and deed. For the blessed apostles, not only with divine preaching, but also with an immaculate life, overcame the world, illuminating with the light of truth those who were in darkness and salting those who were overcome with the salt of wisdom (cf. Col. 4:6; Mark 9:49-50), carrying with them only a bag and a rod. By imitating them, brethren, we too will earn approval in both respects, being content with things (Heb. 13:5), not lovers of money, but not covetous - but this is not said for you, but for those who are far away - without making untimely exits, without entering into communication with women who cause death. If we do this, then God will be glorified in us, the confession before us will be magnified, and our opponents will be ashamed almost to the point of conversion. If not, then there is a danger that instead of gratification we may earn eternal condemnation. May the God of the world Himself, who organizes and changes everything for the better, preserve His Church in the world, protect us and bring us all into His Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and honor with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 16. On the mortification of passions and spiritual harvest 60 Brothers and fathers. And we have a harvest ahead of us. The present time is the time of harvest, the time of labor and sweat. For a man goes out to his work and to his work until the evening (Ps. 103:23), now bending, now straightening up in accordance with the demands of the work, and does not give himself rest until he finishes the harvest and threshes and brings the received seeds into the granary. What can I say here? And the fact is that if this is the case in carnal affairs, then even more so in spiritual matters it is necessary to have this rule. For we also have a harvest ahead of us, according to the word of the Apostle: “Whoever sows with poverty, he will also reap with poverty, and he who sows with blessing, with blessing, he will also reap” (2 Cor. 9:6). Again, the Lord says to His disciples: Do you not say that there are still four months, and the harvest will come? Behold, I say to you: lift up your eyes, and see the fields, as if they are already ready for harvest. And the one who reaps receives the reward, and gathers the fruit into an everlasting belly, and the one who sows rejoices and the one who reaps together (John 4:35–36). Spiritual fruits must be collected with prudence. Here is the harvest indicated to us. Therefore, we too will go forth with all readiness into the harvest, gathering fruits that are not carnal and temporary, but spiritual and abiding in eternal life: sanctification, peace, love, joy, complacency, patience, mercy, meekness and every other virtue. These are the fruits of the Spirit, which must be collected with prudence, that is, without mixing the good with the bad, such as, for example, loving, but without partiality, competing with good, but without envy, speaking about a brother, but without enmity, and moreover, sincerely doing the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2), as it is written. If you must invest them in the granary, then let there be constancy in this, achieved by humility, as the Lord says: when you have done all that is commanded you, say, “For we are unworthy servants; Again the apostle says: what did you receive, what did you bring? Even if you have accepted that you boasted, as if it were not accepted? (1 Cor. 4:7). Eternity to come. Such is your harvest, such is our labor, which lasts not two or three months, but until the end of our lives. However, if you compare it with the coming eternity, it will be counted in one day. There is no end; there everyone will eat from the fruit of his hands; there we will rejoice in Him, who rules over the world by His power (Ps. 65:6-7). Blessed is the one who is careful and who has labored the most. Let us only put to death our evils that are on earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust and covetousness (Col. 3:5); Let us only bear the yoke of obedience, enduring each other with love (Eph.4:2), bearing each other’s burdens and thus fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal.6:2), as it is written. And blessed is he who, out of caution, fears everything; Blessed is he who labors the most, for he who has more labor has greater reward. And whoever chooses the very last service will be honored with primacy, as the Lord says: if anyone wants to be old, let him be the least of all and the servant of all, for the Son of Man did not come and be served, but let him serve and give His soul redemption for many (Mark 9:35, 10:45). Let us think about this, brethren, let us strive to do this so that we may be worthy to hear this voice: Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful for a little, I will make you ruler over many: enter into the joy of your Lord (Matthew 25:21), to whom be glory and honor with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 17. On the spiritual harvest and constant exercise of those serving Christ 61 Brothers and fathers. As you can see, it is harvest time, and every farmer gets up to collect seeds, and neither continuous labor nor the scorching sun tires the worker, but from morning to evening he works, now bending, now straightening, until he finishes the work at hand. What then? We, who are called servants of Christ and have chosen the monastic life, do we have a harvest? The Christian's Diligent Harvest. Yes, we have, and our harvest is such as our Lord Jesus Christ pointed out to His disciples, saying: Do you not say that there are still four months, and the harvest will come? Behold, I say to you: lift up your eyes, and see the fields, as if they are already ready for harvest. And the one who reaps receives the reward, and gathers the fruit into an everlasting belly, and the one who sows rejoices and the one who reaps together (John 4:35–36). Thus, from what has been said it is clear that we have both sowing and harvest, and not for any specific time, but constantly and forever. Therefore, brethren, let us henceforth diligently reap, namely: the teacher - teaching, the ruler - care, the steward - economy, the servant - service, the novice - obedience, those who have taken a vow of silence - silence, the one who prays - remaining in prayer, everything in everything, as far as possible. It would be strange if those who worked carnally worked diligently, but we would approach spiritual work lazily and carelessly. It would be strange for us to be disgusted by the ascetic way of life, while those, dripping with sweat, do not leave their work. Isn't it the Kingdom of Heaven that awaits us? Isn't it eternal life? Isn't it joy unspeakable? Is it possible for those who indulge in laziness to acquire anything great and desirable? Never. So, we must rise with all haste and reap not something temporary and perishable, but something incorruptible and eternal, so that it can be said about us: bear the labors of your fruits: blessed are you, and good will come to you (Ps. 127:2). Let no one say: “I am sick and cannot press.” You are sick in body; but in spirit, if you please, you are strong to do good. You have tears, you have contrition of heart, you have guarded mind, you have meekness, you have peace and sanctification - these are most dear to God. Let no one say: “I have fallen and cannot walk straight.” Just wish, and the poor will lift you up from the earth, and the wretched from the rotting place will lift you up (Ps. 112:7). The food that falls does not rise, or the one who turns away does not turn? (Jer.8:4). As I live, says the Lord, I do not want the sinner to die, but to turn and live to be him (Ezek. 33:11). Harvest of the Saints. What kind of rational basis will we have, finally? What is a plausible excuse for not fulfilling the commandments with all diligence and not achieving the promised benefits? Look how our fathers worked: they sowed, reaped and gathered eternal life into their granaries, and now they rejoice, awaiting the revelation of the last day, on which they will be enlightened like the sun (Matthew 13:43). Therefore, brethren, I urge you, let us not be alienated from these blessed ones, and for the few and insignificant pleasures and days [of our present life], let us not sell our salvation in order to be subjected to eternal torment, but, as far as possible, let us strive to follow them, enduring everything, enduring everything, in order to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages. centuries. Amen. Announcement 18. On contempt for the pleasures of this life and the desire for eternal blessings 62 Brothers and fathers. Harvest time leads to exhaustion 63 of the body, when night vigil is also added, and we soon begin to be burdened by listening to teachings 64 . But since, according to the commandment of the Apostle, we must be as if dying daily (1 Cor. 15:31) - and everyone who dies speaks about what relates to burial, and forces those present to be attentive - then let us not be burdened to listen, but let us listen to what is said, as if present at the reading of a will. Our testament is the Gospel. The will of those living according to the flesh, as carnal, speaks of carnal things, that is, it leaves an inheritance to the wife, children, brothers, relatives, or makes some other orders, as usual. Our will does not prescribe anything like this, but what? For we are strangers and strangers on earth (Heb. 11:13) and have brought nothing into this world: surely, for we are able to endure what we can (1 Tim. 6:7), passing from corruption to incorruption, from dishonor to glory and from mortality to immortality, so that the one who would call this testament the Gospel would not be mistaken, as the apostle said: I have a desire to be resolved and with It is much better to be Christ (Phil. 1:23). And again in another place: I am already hungry, and the time of my departure has come. I fought the good fight, I died, I kept the faith. Otherwise the crown of righteousness will be kept for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will reward me in the day, not only to me, but also to all those who have loved His appearing (2 Tim. 4:6-8). Strive not for the visible, but for the invisible. You see that it seems to be preaching about our departure from this world. So, since our testament is the Gospel, let us joyfully listen to what it says, and diligently take up the feat, not paying attention to anything carnal, not to wives, not to brothers, not to relatives. But why am I talking about this and that? In general, one should not pay attention to anything created. One of the holy fathers, when leaving his cell, put a veil on his head so as not to see the sunlight. When asked the reason, he replied: “Why should I see this temporary light?” 65 Thus, this God-loving man, having renounced everything, was embraced only by the love of God and contemplation. He also examines the heavenly creature, marveling and praising the artist - God. But he soon passes through everything sensory and turns to invisible things, inspiredly drawing from here joy and spiritual joy. Such was the patriarch Abraham, for it is written: By faith Abraham came to the land of promise, as in a stranger, and dwelt in shelters with Isaac and Jacob, with the same heir of the promise: for he waited for the foundation of a rich city, of which God is the maker and maker (Heb. 11:9-10). Such is the great Moses, who by faith left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the queen: for having seen the invisible, he endured (Heb. 11:27). Such are all the saints, who looked not at the visible, but at the invisible (2 Cor. 4:18), striving not for the temporal, but for the eternal, and thereby formed themselves in divine imitation, as far as possible. We too will internalize this desire and will never desire the beautiful things of real life and will not admire those who live according to the flesh. But let us mourn them even more, because, having received the promise of inheriting the promised blessings, they fuss about acquiring gold, silver and corruptible pleasures, voluntarily remaining blinded by what is beautiful. But we, brethren, in the words of the Apostle, beholding with revealed face the glory of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18), we will seek the things that are on high, let us meditate on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1), so that it may be said of us: you are not of this world (John 15:19) and your life is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), where we may also stand blameless on the day of retribution of the righteous Judgment of God before the terrible and unfaithful judgment seat of Christ, hearing the desired voice and receiving the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 19. On patience and what should be accepted by those who come with the desire to renounce the world 66 Patience is the greatest virtue. Brothers and fathers. Time passes quickly, and the fast of the holy apostles 67 has already passed, which tormented us with thirst from the heat, but at the same time consoled us with hope. For this thirst prepares for us the drink of immortality, and the bitterness of the mouth that comes from thirst prepares the sweetness of paradise. Knowing this, brethren, let us joyfully endure all sorrowful things for the sake of God, in the hope of reward. But visible hope, as the apostle says, is not hope: for who sees that he also hopes? Even if we don’t see him, we hope, we wait with patience (Rom. 8:24–25). So, patience (ὑπομονή) is the greatest virtue of the virtues. For their patience, the martyrs were decorated with heavenly crowns. Through patience the saints acquired the reward for truth. Salvation and benefit of all. Therefore, let us also use patience for obedience, humility, non-anger, performance of services, for all other feats of obedience, and we will receive compensation equal to them. I know the yoke of obedience, I know the difficulty of cutting off the will, but, on the other hand, I also comprehend the sweetness of such a life. For if one’s own will is cut off, then the path is easy and salvation is convenient, so one must take care of cutting off one’s will, and then an easy and blissful life will begin. Work in the hostel? But also a consolation. Does anyone work harder than his neighbor? But he will also receive a greater reward. Each one will receive his reward according to his labor (1 Cor. 3:8). Does anyone obey his neighbor out of love? He will get the championship. For if anyone wants to be first in you, he will be your servant (Matthew 20:27). Is anyone unable to take on more difficult cases? Let him not neglect those within his power, so that the Lord may be glorified in all. And let no one be indifferent to what is useful for everyone. Although this has been often spoken about, it is necessary to recall it now, because a considerable struggle lies ahead. Behold, I have given before you this day life and death (Deut. 30:15). And so that we choose life and flee eternal death, for this is our word and admonition, teaching and consolation. I know and am convinced that neither I, the humble one, nor you, the listeners, have any use for what we are talking about. I do not want, brethren, to leave you in the dark about the fact that although we are in exile for the word of God, however, living as if in a monastery, we do not reject those who come with the desire to renounce the world. We do this through our brothers scattered everywhere, who are commanded to accept such as possible and include them in the brotherhood 68 . Many have departed from us, but many have joined, and our brotherhood is increasing - both those who have passed away and those still living - and God is glorified in you, and may Himself glorify you in Himself, according to promise. As are the bosses, so are the subordinates. But since as are the superiors, so are the subordinates, I convince you: we, appointed to be the head and example for others, will live honestly, justly and piously, with our lives directing others to uprightness in word and in life. Let there be no unseemly outcry, no disputable conversation, and let no unprofitable word come out of our mouths, but let it be good for the building up of faith (Eph. 4:29), so that your work in them may not be defiled, but in everything pleasing the Lord our good God, we will receive the good things promised to us in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. and forever and ever. Amen. Announcement 20. About what should preserve the beauty and attractiveness of the soul unsullied, and about repentance 69 The Feast of the Transfiguration depicts the state of the future century. Brothers and fathers. Having been honored today to celebrate the pre-celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord, we will also say a lesson about it, fulfilling our duty in a few words. All the feasts of the Lord bring to mind the sacraments of the appearance in the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, namely, that He was born, baptized, crucified, buried, resurrected on the third day and ascended in glory. The Feast of the Transfiguration depicts the state of the future century. For just as His face was illuminated like the sun, and His robe was white like light (Matthew 17:2), in the same way He will come from heaven like lightning, with much power and glory, to judge everyone. And just as Peter, James and John were with Him on the Holy Mountain, so in the Kingdom of Heaven the elect will be with Him, enjoying His ineffable theophany and inexpressible joy. Who's ready for this? Who is worthy to enter into this joy? Who else if not the one who has a pure and immaculate life? Pure soul. For God, being pure, it is better to say, being the Highest Light, will accept the pure to Himself, and putting a pure soul in us, and will demand it from us pure. For if she was created in the image and likeness of God, then it is clear that, being a reflection of Divine beauty, she herself participates in this beauty. And knowing this, the psalmist said: Lord! by Thy will, grant strength to my kindness (Ps. 29:8), that is, to the beauty of my soul, so that, leaning towards the vile passions of sin, becoming ugly, it does not fall away from God and be deprived of Divine rewards. Beauty is illusory and true. Since it is confessed that we have an attractive and beautiful soul and that we will have to give it to God as a pledge on the last day of the Resurrection, I urge and remind you: let us love this beauty and preserve this attractiveness, not paying attention to the attractiveness of this age and the beauty of flesh and blood. For this is not beauty, but the ghost of beauty, or rather, decay and change. We will see this based on the end of things. For what is beautiful and flourishing today is destined tomorrow for a stinking and disgusting tomb. Thus, there is nothing attractive, beautiful, except only one admirable virtue, which we should strive for most of all. If an unstable soul is defiled by evil thoughts, which, admittedly, happens very often (for who can boast that he has an immaculate heart?), then it is necessary to cleanse it as quickly as possible and bring it back to its previous state of mind, so that, having taken root in evil, it does not bring death. And let no one say that he could not cleanse himself, being burdened with many sins, having heard what the Lord said: though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Even if they are like scarlet, I will be like wool (Isa. 1:18). You see God’s indescribable love for mankind. Examples of saints' repentance. The Lord promises not only to cleanse the repentant, but also to elevate him to the highest level of beauty. And examples before your eyes. David was a prophet, and when he fell into the sin of adultery and murder, he did not despair, but soon repented and again received the prophetic gift. Manasseh corrupted Israel for fifty-two years, but when he repented, he received salvation. The chief of the apostles, after his renunciation, through the healing of tears, again took on the burden of the apostleship. Mary of Egypt - not to mention countless others - reached the extreme limit of lust; nevertheless, after she repented worthily, she ascended to the highest level of virtue 71 . Thus, there is no excuse for powerlessness for someone who wants to be saved, unless he is insensitive and has not voluntarily given himself up to death. But we hear: Where are you dying, O house of Israel? (Ezek.18:31), and why do we choose eternal death when immortal life is set before us? Our good Lord calls daily: Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Eternal death and immortal life. But we do not want to throw off the yoke of sins. He cries: I am the light of the world: walk in Me, not to walk in darkness, but to have the light of life (John 8:12); but we turn in the opposite direction, saying by our deeds: We do not want to lead Your ways (Job 21:14). So, it remains for us to hear: walk by the light of your fire and by the flame that you kindled (Isa. 50:11). Those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21), says the apostle. Let it not be that this can be said about us either. You are my friends, says the Lord, and whatever you do, I command you (John 15:14). Let us do everything commanded to us, so that we may be worthy to be called His friends (φίλοι), in order to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 21. On the commemoration of the death and the Dormition of Michael, His Holiness Metropolitan of Sinada 72 The holiday is great and difficult. Brothers and fathers. Many national holidays of God and man are celebrated in this life, but one is a great and difficult holiday - this is human life. After it, it is impossible for the deceased to go to any other holiday, but it is necessary to wait for the last day and the last fire, which will judge and cleanse all our deeds. Having completed this holiday, our spiritual father Michael, His Holiness Metropolitan of Sinada, departed to the Lord. His life is worthy of praise and his word is luminous. And we believe that in the upcoming confession we will have him as a defender before God, along with other fathers and confessors. Therefore, let not the hated iconoclasts exalt themselves (Ps. 65:7), saying that the confessors of Christ are saddened, but rather let them know that the repose of such persons is an unshakable stronghold of the Church of God, for those of us who remain - the affirmation of the truth in the spitting of their darkened error. The hour of death is unknown. But since a person is saved by faith and hastening love (Gal. 5:6), now, as always, I urge you to fulfill the Divine commandments, to always be ready for the outcome, since the hour of death is unknown. For know that the father mentioned earlier, unexpectedly seized by severe pain and scorching fever, became speechless the next day and gave up his spirit on the third. But even before him, Athanasius, the famous abbot of Pavlo-Petria 73, was not sick for even one day, but was immediately removed from among the people. We know that some, being struck by lightning, burn, others die at sea, and in general there are many unexpected accidents. In view of them, we must be afraid and carefully watch, lest the devil, deceiving us day after day, bring us to the last hour, when worries about repentance are useless and in vain. In the hour of death, nothing can help except a good conscience. Don't these examples scare us? Doesn't fear overwhelm us at the thought that at that hour, when the tied tongue cannot speak a word, the soul, separated from the body, will come out, when there will be, perhaps, many present and crying, but no one who could help, except a good conscience. Therefore, I urge and ask: let us meet this hour in confession, in tears, in prayers, in obedience, in humility, in intense service, in every good work, so that, caught in negligence and carelessness, we do not fall asleep into eternal death, for which Saint David prays for deliverance (Ps. 12:4). What can we do? But perhaps someone will say that he would like to, but cannot. But what is it? If we are talking about something that exceeds nature, then I agree that it is impossible to fly through the air or walk on the sea, it is impossible to speak with your nose, or smell with your tongue. For this is impossible and unnatural. But if the matter concerns what is natural and depends on the will, then this word is false. For just as we can rejoice and laugh, we can also humble ourselves and shed tears. And just as we can defile ourselves with bad wishes and a weave of inappropriate thoughts, so we can cleanse ourselves of passions. And just as we can become embittered and be bad, we have the power to be moved and lament. Evil lust (πονηρά ἐπιθυμία), which turned into a habit for us, made us incapable of virtue and strong in evil. One should cling to God. We must not despair - yes we will not - but we must begin and try not to spend carelessly not only the day, but also the hour: to be sober, to stay awake, to be blameless and pure, and to cleave to God so that we can say: my soul clings to You; Thy right hand is acceptable to me (Ps. 62:9); and thus, having passed well here, leave here with good hope and receive the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 22. About the Dormition of John, His Holiness Metropolitan of Chalcedon, and that we will recognize each other after the Resurrection 74 Brothers and fathers. Having left you for a short time in the previous days, then returning, we found you living in peace among ourselves and in a good mood and thanked the Lord for your deanery. It is characteristic of novices who are skilled and confirmed in goodness, in which you must be strengthened more and more by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that both in our humble presence and in our absence we preserve ourselves healthy and undamaged. The reason for my departure, as you know, was the death of the blessed Metropolitan of Chalcedon John, who, having fought a good fight and finished his course and kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7), went to the Lord, receiving the wonderful crown of confession with our previous fathers and brothers. But since he died from a burn, some are perplexed, saying: “If he was a wonderful person, then why did he die so badly?” But such people seem to suffer from ignorance of the matter. The true criterion is the Orthodox faith and an impeccable life. For what is morally good and bad is determined not by how - one way or another - who died, but by whether he had the Orthodox faith and an impeccable life, so that whoever acquired this, there is no reproach for him whether he dies from water sickness, or from a burn, or having suffered something else terrible, whether on land or at sea. For this does not depend on us, but lies in the hidden judgments of God, who knows how to arrange what is beneficial for everyone, whether during life or at the end of it. In addition, some argue about something else to the ruin of those who hear (2 Tim. 2:14), namely, that people will not recognize each other after the Resurrection, when the Son of God comes to judge all things. For they say: “How is it possible for us to recognize each other, when, being corruptible, we will become incorruptible and immortal, when there will be neither Greek, nor Jew, nor barbarian, nor Scythian, nor slave, nor free, neither male nor female (Col. 3:11), but all will be angelic. Possibility of Resurrection. But first of all, it must be said that what is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27), since we do not confess the Resurrection itself on the basis of human wisdom. For how is it possible that a decayed body, perhaps eaten by an animal, or a bird, or a fish, in many different and successive ways, could be gathered together on the last day? But nevertheless, by the ineffable power of God, it will unite and rise, and each soul will recognize its body with which it lived. If she recognizes her own body, then it is clear that she recognizes the body of another. Then it must be said that such wisdom should also destroy the coming judgment, for judgment occurs over well-known persons. For no one brings into court people unknown to him, but those whom he knows, as it is written: I will reprove you and bring your sins before you (Ps. 49:21). Everyone gets to know each other. Thus, if we do not recognize each other, we will not be judged; If we are not judged, we will not receive a worthy reward for our deeds. And again, how will the word of the Lord be fulfilled, spoken to the disciples: you also will sit on the double throne, judging the delusional tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), if they do not know those whom they will judge? How then will blessed Job receive double his children if he does not recognize them in the Kingdom of Heaven, since he received some here, and others according to the promise he will receive in the coming age? In words: a brother will not deliver, will a man deliver? (Ps.49:8) – Saint David especially shows that brother recognizes brother. So, from all sides this assumption turns out to be absurd, and in wickedness it is equal to the fable of Origen. Not in the properties of corruption, but in the beauties of immortality. But we, brothers, believing, will believe that we will be resurrected and incorruptible, and we will recognize each other not in the properties of corruption, to which we are now subject, but in the beauties of immortality, according to the ineffable will of God, just as our first parents, before the crime, being incorruptible, recognized each other, and after the crime, having undergone corruption, they also recognized each other, but at one time in this way, and at another in another way. Therefore, one must believe that a brother recognizes a brother, a father a child, a husband’s wife, one another, and, I would add, an ascetic’s ascetic, a confessor’s confessor, a martyr’s companion, an apostle’s co-apostle—all of all, so that those who rejoice may have their dwelling place (Ps. 87:7) in God, who, with all other blessings, also grants the ability to recognize one another. Exhortation. Therefore, I exhort you, brothers, let us firmly keep the faith. For you see how many deviations there are from it and how much we should be grateful to God that we were not led into any error, but received the Orthodox faith, and we will also lead an immaculate life. For you know with what wind the devil blows against us day and night. But he will never overpower us, always finding us protected by love for God and faith. Therefore, we will continue to stand, and the devil will flee from us (cf. James 4:7). Let us weep and extinguish his kindled arrows of passion (cf. Eph.6:16). Let us therefore humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6), and He will exalt us. Let us endure to the end, and the devil will leave, and we will be saved in the Kingdom of Heaven, in Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 23. About the spiritual celebration in this life and about the achievement of the Kingdom of Heaven 75 Brothers and fathers. From time to time, there and here, as now in Nicomedia, festivals are held, to which people flock, selling and buying, but this does not last long, and they disperse again. The spiritual holiday, continuing throughout everyone’s life, is one and continuous. On it the object of purchase and sale is not gold, not silver, not clothing or anything else transitory and perishable, but the salvation of the soul, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven, to the achievement of which people should apply all their diligence, but many care little about it, using all their labor and diligence on vain and perishable things. Our goal and good purchase. We, brethren, will not depart from our goal and from the good purchase, but listening to the Lord, who says: The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21), we will diligently pursue it every day, acquiring not gold or silver, but right faith and blameless life, obedience, perseverance, humility, patience, love, which is the basis of perfection (Col. 3:14). The Lord showed this in the Gospels, saying: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant, looking for good beads; and if you find one bead of great value, you will sell all that you have, and buy it (Matthew 13:45–46). Here you are, good merchants (cf. Matt. 13:45), who left everything and instead of everything bought beautiful, extremely beautiful and precious beads - Christ, namely, by lifting up the cross and following Him in honor and righteousness (Luke 1:75). But if the festival is a time of joy, wakefulness and awakening from sleep, then we, brothers, will be joyful and awake, buying our salvation in this festival. A good merchant is one who acts carefully in everything, never getting irritated. Exhortation. Good is the buyer who receives dishonor in response to kind speeches. A good changer is the one who gives blood and receives spirit in return 76 - through the patience with which he performs the service. But since we are talking about service, let us honor those who perform the turn [of work] in the kitchen as those who work harder, bearing each other’s burdens and thus fulfilling the law of love (cf. Gal. 6:2); Let us honor those who care for the natural needs of the brethren as good and experienced stewards of the Lord; Let us also honor those who sing willingly and reverently in psalmody as deserving of a greater reward. And look, what is our life, what is our behavior, what is the blessed purchase, which our holy fathers made with full zeal, which, having fulfilled and completed well, we will return home, according to what was said by blessed David: return, my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt well with you (Ps. 115:6). And may we all exclaim the same at the hour of death and may we achieve eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 24. About the inexpressible mercy of God, about love for Him, about hatred of the devil and about humility, spoken at the beginning of the year 77 Brothers and fathers. The beginning of the year has already come, when the following words of the Gospel are read: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for the sake of My anointing to preach good news to the poor, to send Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach remission to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the brokenhearted go to joy, to preach the year of the Lord is pleasant (Luke 4:18-19). Therefore, since the Only Begotten Son of God was sent by the Father into the world as a propitiatory sacrifice, we, the blind, will again receive sight, the captives will be liberated, the contrite will receive joy. But who is blind? Who is blinded by addiction. Who is the prisoner? One who is led astray by evil thoughts. Who is broken? One who is burdened with sins. God's love and mercy for people. The Lord heals such people. For He is a physician not only of bodies, but also of souls, and not only did He appear bodily to those living then, but He is also now present invisibly, preaching the same gospel, taking away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and healing every disease and every disease among people (Matthew 9:35). Therefore, from now on, let no one remain unenlightened and unhealed, but let him approach with faith and receive blessings from the Lord and alms from God his Savior (Ps. 23:5). Oh, inexpressible love for humanity! He brought us from non-existence into existence, He raised up the fallen again; He granted us the third grace - monastic perfection. And if we still sin, He does not turn away, but allows us to come to Him; encourages us when we are oppressed; comforts us when we cry; anoints when we make a flow [to goodness]; strengthens us when we are weak; heals the wounded and, if they are ready to plunge to the very bottom of hell, humanely delivers them from danger as quickly as possible, so that in fairness it would be fitting for everyone to say: if the Lord had not helped me, my soul would have been in hell in the slightest (Ps. 94:17) and: I have rejected the mouth that has turned, and the Lord has accepted me (Ps. 118:13). And everyone knows what temptations he fell into and how he immediately found the good God to be his helper in his sorrows. In addition, the All-Good One nourishes us physically with the annual fruits of the earth, spiritually with the Most Pure Mysteries, more than a mother and nurse, caring for us and embracing us with love. For a mother feeds her child with milk for a time; our true Lord and Father gives us his own body and blood for food and drink, and this always 78. O unexplored boon! O incomparable gift! How is it possible not to love Him? How can one not desire passionately? How can one not become inseparably attached to Him? Therefore, if we are not so disposed, the sky will indeed cry out, the earth will rebel, and the very stones will expose us in extreme insensibility. Love God and hate the devil. To prevent this from happening, let us hold fast to our love for Him, rightly hating the devil and turning away from him. For just as a benefactor is loved and desired according to his good deeds, so in proportion to his evil deeds one should hate the evil one and turn away from him. For he is the destroyer of our life, he is a murderer from time immemorial (John 8:44), according to the word of the Master. He has cut our race into countless sects, with many arrows of sin he stings the universe and seeks to devour it. If we do not hate him, then there is no punishment that would properly punish us for joining the enemy and the murderer. Flight from the devil. But let us run away from him, brothers, let us run away as far as possible. What does this escape consist of? In moving away from bad deeds and thoughts, as well as in getting closer to God and returning to good deeds. Success that is not protected by humility is fragile. Therefore, let us choose good, serving the Lord with all humility, meekness and obedience, knowing that any success not protected by humility is fragile. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6) and let us, who have a proud opinion of ourselves, not flow in vain, but let us all hasten, strive and run happily, so that we may achieve to become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 25. That we should not bring thorns and thistles of passions, but grapes of virtues 79 Brothers and fathers. I don’t know every time what to say or what to say that is new compared to what the saints have said, except to repeat the same thing and talk with you about the same thing for guidance for the better. So, today we’ll talk briefly about something and, if you wish, we’ll touch on what’s before our eyes. What is this? Is it time for the grape harvest? And where the branches are laden with fruit, there is joy and blessing; Where there is scarcity of fruit, there is sadness and despondency. “How does this concern us?” - one of the listeners will say. And a lot, since we too are called allegorically the vineyard of the Lord. Don’t you know what song is sung during the celebration of the schema? Don't we all repeat it? Vineyard of the Lord. Lord, Lord, look down from heaven and see, and visit this vineyard: and perfect and plant what your right hand has planted (Ps. 79:15-16). That is why the Lord in the Gospel says the following words: I am the vine, you are the birth. And he who is in Me, and I in him, will produce much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). So, let us abide in our good Lord, as those planted by Him like a vineyard, and bring Him clusters of virtues in order to receive blessings from Him. Bringing thorns and thistles of passion, let us not fall under the sentence that says: every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire (Luke 3:9). He is cut off by death and thrown into the fire - of course, into the eternal fire, into which those who have done evil deeds, who have renounced their confession, who have corrupted their body, will be cast into waterless clouds, blown by the wind; the trees of autumn, barren, twice dead, uprooted; the waves of the fierce sea, singing their shame; lovely stars, by whom the darkness of darkness is reserved forever (Jude 1:12–13). Why does the apostle cry: flee from fornication: every sin that man commits is besides the body: but the fornicator sins in his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit living in you, which you have from God, and which you carry as your own? Bought naturally with a price (1 Cor. 6:18–20). How are we not ashamed of heaven and earth to return again, purchased by the honest blood of Christ? How can we not blush before ourselves, holy on the outside, but filled with uncleanness on the inside? How long will we limp on both knees (cf. 1 Kings 18:21)? One must devote oneself entirely to God. Until when do we settle on one path? Woe to me who walks in two paths (Sir.2:12), that is, sin and virtue, for they have nothing friendly with each other. Not a single prudent household member serves either his master or his enemy. Children! One must devote oneself entirely to God. For in this way we can achieve life according to God. Therefore, let us not dwell on the sensory, like unreasonable animals, but with spiritual powers we will contemplate the heavenly, turning our senses from the corruptible to the imperishable, from the transitory to the imperishable. On the other hand, we will not allow the artist of evil to poison us with criminal thoughts. But as soon as he instills carnal lust or any other evil, let us quickly repel the evil one. How? With prayers and supplications, tears and heartfelt contrition. Such is our invisible struggle, such is our irreconcilable struggle. Invisible battle, irreconcilable struggle. So, imitating the physical warriors, flaming in spirit, let us rush towards the invisible enemies. And just as those who are defeated do not retreat in the hope of reward, so we will not return, even if we receive dozens of wounds, but we will still stand, we will still fight, strengthened by the help of God. Exhortation. I exhort you, my brethren, for this is why I labor, pronouncing these short teachings, and I rejoice for those who walk quickly, and I am sad if someone slips. But let us all walk the straight path, do good, continue in psalmody, service, obedience, humility, and the God of peace will be with you (2 Cor. 13:11) in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 26. That we should not indulge in shameful passions and think that carnal lust brings joy 80 Must preserve the grace received. Brothers and fathers. We rejoice with joy every time the Feast of the Lord comes, and naturally. For then we are enlightened, contemplating the mystery of it [the holiday], as now, on the day of the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross 81. For how exceedingly great and extraordinary is the joy that the tree on which the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ stood, on which He, being crucified, shed His life-giving blood, is a tree we have been honored not only to contemplate, but also to embrace. How many people work to acquire perishing gold for themselves! (cf. 1 Peter 1:7). We have a gift right away. For at the same time as we embraced [the Cross], we acquired enlightenment, sanctification, and deliverance. So grace is quick and so the gift is given without difficulty to those who come with faith. But nevertheless, the work of prayer is needed to preserve such grace, since what is easily acquired is usually taken lightly. But we, brothers, must maintain grace. Therefore, let us not defile our sanctified lips with false words and vain speeches, let us not darken our enlightened eyes with prodigal glances, let us not defile our heart, illuminated by the radiance, with evil intentions, and let not sin, as the apostle calls, reign in your dead body, so that you listen to it in its lusts; Below, imagine your uds as weapons of unrighteousness against sin, but imagine God’s as from the living dead, and your uds as weapons of God’s righteousness. Let sin not possess you: for you are not under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:12–14). You see that in the law sin reigned, but in grace righteousness, having reigned, delivers us from all sin, as it is written: but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11). So, let us honor, I ask you, purification, let us preserve sanctification. Why do we bring ourselves into dishonor, having become honorable? Why do we take more care than necessary about the body, which after a little [time] we leave in the coffin? Why do we think that carnal lust brings joy, which in reality is a deadly disease? Carnal lust. For carnal lust is the snare of the devil, carnal lust is the poison of destruction, carnal lust kindles an unquenchable fire, and yet we, people, are drawn to it, like voluntarily sold slaves. And I heard one of those possessed by this passion say that it is better to wish for death by hanging than to serve this sin. For he, like a cruel despot, commands the slave: go - and he goes, come - and he comes (cf. Luke 7:8), do this - and he does. In the same way, sin commands its subordinate something much worse: say shameful things - and it says, do something bad - and it does. Usually he, like Cain, groans and trembles. Whether he is sailing on the sea, he is afraid of a shipwreck; if he passes through the desert - he is afraid of attack; if thunder thundered - and it seems to him that there was thunder for him; whether lightning flashed and he was afraid not to be burned. Seeing does not see and hearing does not hear, because his feelings are upset. What's more terrible than this life? It is better to be given over to beasts than to destructive passions. It seems to me that it is better to be given over to beasts than to destructive passions, because there the body perishes, here the soul and body. This is not a virtuous man who, being free from sin - I mean not only carnal lust, but also any other passion - rejoices and enjoys, reigns with righteousness: he is fearless both on land and at sea. For he has God living in him, to whom he calls in unfortunate cases: I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Ps. 22:4); I will not be afraid of the people around who attack me (Ps. 3:7); I will not fear; the earth is always troubled, and the mountains are cut into the hearts of the sea (Ps. 45:3). Blessed life obtained by the grace of God. This is a good life. This is the blessed life that we, brethren, have received by the grace of God. We remain in it and will strive to excel in it even more, submitting ourselves to everything with reverence, practicing all obedience, putting on all humility, acquiring for ourselves all spiritual purity, seeing death operating before our faces. For our spiritual father Peter, the most holy Metropolitan of Nicea, has already left us, whose outcome is happy, since he died during the persecution. With him, may we also be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 27. On spiritual sowing and on vigilance in divine reflections 82 Brothers and fathers. Now is the time to sow real seeds - wheat and others. At this time, we see how people are at work from morning until late at night, trying in every possible way to sow as best as possible and enough so that they have provisions for the body. What then? Will we, workers of spiritual sowing, sleep? Will we remain unsown with what we should? How will we endure eternal hunger? Or what excuse can we imagine for inactivity? Therefore, let us awaken even more powerfully than those who sow carnally and let us sow more richly, because you sow with poverty, and with poverty you will also reap; and sow for a blessing, and you will also reap a blessing (2 Cor. 9:6). What shall we sow? Prayers, supplications, petitions, thanksgivings, faith, hope, love. These are the seeds of piety. The soul is born to feed on them. But in carnal sowing, the worker is patient, waiting for the rain to fall - sooner or later; In our sowing, we ourselves are the gentlemen to rain and irrigate, that is, to cry and lament, whenever we want and as much as we want. And since the choice is in our power, then, I ask, let us sow as much as possible and irrigate more abundantly, let us multiply the fruits of our righteousness, so that when the spiritual harvest comes, we can fill our hands and bosoms with spiritual sheaves, so that we are worthy to hear: the blessing of the Lord is upon you (Ps. 128:8), blessed are you from the house of the Lord (Ps. 117:26), the labors of your hands bear it: blessed are you, and good will come to you (Ps. 127:2). This is our word about it. But I would like to remind you, brothers, that the nights are now increasing as the days are decreasing. And just as wakefulness exhausts the body, so prolonged sleep fattens the flesh. And when the flesh becomes fat, passions increase along with it. What can I say? Every one of you has a psalm (1 Cor. 14:26), has something to do, has a prayer. Let everything be done in proportion, everything for the creation of the soul, for the good of the spirit, so that Satan does not tempt you with intemperance (1 Cor. 7:5). I say this not only in relation to sleep, but also in relation to food, drink and everything else. For what happens with the observance of the correct measure is wonderful, because it keeps us healthy and unharmed from deviations in one direction or another. Since the emperor returned from his campaign 83, then perhaps thoughts enter your hearts (Luke 24:38) when you think about how the affairs of the Church or your own affairs will go. But it is written: cast your sorrow upon the Lord (Ps. 54:23), and He will do it; and if God is for us, who can be for us? (Rom.8:31). Just as in previous years He preserved our lives, delivering us from various temptations and sorrows, so He will preserve [it] in the future. Let us only live worthy of the Gospel, having a heavenly residence, like strangers (see: Ps.39:13; Heb.11:13) and strangers on earth. After all, there is no part or share for us here. For who, having come from eternity to this life, remains to inherit anything? Didn’t everyone who came leave again, as if from a foreign country - so that staying here is staying in a foreign land, but our true home and inheritance and wealth are in the next century. Having passed into it, may we be worthy, together with all the saints, to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 28. About faith and the fact that we should not waste our lives in vain and recklessly, and that the present is a dream and a shadow in comparison with the future 84 Virtue is difficult to achieve for human nature. Brothers and fathers. Once a year, the sown land provides the farmer with fruits for the whole year. The soul, even receiving the sowing of instruction every day, barely reaps the fruits of virtue throughout its entire life. And the reason for this is that a person’s mind has been diligent about evil from his youth (Gen. 8:21). Therefore, virtue is difficult to achieve for human nature. And no one can defeat evil without exhausting himself with much and prolonged labor and without suffering. And this was shown by the saints who lived in ascetic deeds, fighting sin (ἀσκητικῶς τε καί ἀθλητικῶς). What were they seeking or seeking? The promised blessings, which no eye has seen, nor ear heard, and the heart of man has not sighed (1 Cor. 2:9). Where did they have the guarantee of their expectation? In faith itself. For God, who gave them firm faith, also gave them the ability to hope without doubt, and with hope the power to perform signs and wonders. Therefore, as the holy apostle says, they conquered kingdoms, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the sharpest sword, gained strength from weakness, were strong in battle, put to flight the hosts of strangers, received wives from the resurrection of their dead: others were slaughtered, not receiving deliverance, but a better resurrection they will improve (Heb. 11:33–35). Do you see how great and how many are the victories of faith? Now faith is the revelation of things hoped for, the revelation of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Therefore, strengthening ourselves in it, we, brothers, will also defeat the devil and fight destructive passions. The lust of the flesh is fire, and is now flaming. And if we extinguish it with tears and prayers, we will begin to triumph together with the children. The unbridled passions of dishonor are wild beasts, and if we bridle them by the enslavement of the flesh and the subjection of life, we will rejoice with Daniel. Why don’t we inherit the promised eternity through small efforts? Is not the present a dream and a shadow compared to the future? However, this comparison is not true either. For how is it possible to compare a finite age with infinite centuries? Or how is it possible to compare a world that will soon end with endless affairs? However, we think that there will be endless and inscrutable joy of those who rejoice, and there will be [endless] punishment of those punished; and if only the thought of this causes us embarrassment, then how much more is the unbearable actual experience. The benefit of a monastic community is preparation for death. Therefore, from now on, let not a single day pass unreasonably and outside the rules and thereby consume our life in vain and fruitlessly, but let each day, according to the instructions of St. Anthony, be considered as if it were the last 85 and thus improve us and make us ready for the outcome. But how is it possible, someone will say, to do this in a dormitory, where everyone is distracted by his ministry? It is absolutely possible if we wish, and much more possible than for those who have chosen peace. For where there is one’s own will, one’s own power in everything and life without indicating errors, [there people] are careless about the thought of death 86. Here, the martyr's cutting off of one's will, the assigned service and, moreover, the penances that occur best prepare one for a death sentence. Therefore, the blessed apostle, saying: I am dying all the days, such is your praise, even imam in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Cor. 15:31), said this, not being in peace, but tormented by countless trials. Exhortation. Therefore, we will also take care of what we are looking for, never, day or night, without ceasing to remember death. For in this way, by the mercy of God, we will drive away from ourselves evil lust, neglect of service, despondency, carelessness, evil slander, and all other evils. Then, coming to the end of our life, as those who warned him with our concern about death, we will not be afraid and embarrassed, but we will calmly look at the holy Angels, with great joy we will depart from the body and achieve eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 29. On thanksgiving and instruction on the veneration of the icon of Christ and on the confession of our brother Thaddeus 87 Thanksgiving as a way of salvation. Brothers and fathers. God has given us many ways to accomplish our salvation. One of them, and the first one, is thanksgiving. For the apostle says: First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world (Rom. 1:8). And he greets you everywhere, thanking God. And the Ladder says that thanksgiving should precede prayer 88 . So, let us thank God, first of all, for the fact that He brought us from non-existence to existence, creating us for good works, which He prepared for us to live in them. Let us thank Him for leading us to adoption through Holy Baptism. For it is said: When the little ones received Him, He gave them the right to become children of God, not by blood, nor by carnal lust, nor by the lust of men, but born of God (John 1:12-13). Let us thank Him for leading us to monastic perfection, for it is said: if you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and have treasure in heaven, and come after Me (Matthew 19:21). Let us thank Him for leading us after the previous confession to the upcoming one. And we were not deceived and did not get lost. But we know that the Only Begotten Son of God, having become flesh (John 1:14), as John declares, is described according to the flesh, has an image, and through His image He is worshiped. For how many people, outside the Gospel, are in the error of unbelief! Others, not external to the Gospel, went astray regarding the faith and suffered shipwreck, like the iconoclasts, who do not confess that Christ can be described, nor that He has an image and is worshiped in His image, and thereby removing themselves from His saving Economy, as far as it concerned them. Thinking about this, brethren, let us joyfully thank the Lord, lament in thanksgiving, weep in contrition, enlighten ourselves in weeping, and accomplish our salvation in enlightenment, as the Word promised. For let us not think that faith is simple. Although she is alone, through understanding or misunderstanding she is exalted and diminished, for it is said: O you of little faith! Why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31), and in another place: great is your faith: let it be as you wish (Matthew 15:28), and again: I have not found much faith in Israel (Matthew 8:10). See how she is exalted and diminished. Faith and understanding. Let no one say: “I am a simple person, and how is it possible for me to understand faith?” The good God extends the rays of His goodness to everyone. What does the apostle say? You see your calling, brethren, that you are not many in wisdom according to the flesh, do not be many in strength, do not be in abundance in nobility, but God has chosen the violent world, that it may put to shame, and God has chosen the weak of the world, that it may put to shame the strong, and the weak of the world, and the lowly, God has chosen both the things that are not, and the things that are, He has brought to naught ( 1 Corinthians 1:26–28). The union of faith and life by faith saves. Don't you observe what was said in your own eyes? Do you not remember our blessed brother Thaddeus 89 in order to bypass others? Wasn't he a Scythian? Wasn't he a slave of people? And, having freed himself, didn’t he become a monk? Was he not ahead in the previous and in the present confession? And since he understood his faith and exalted himself in accordance with it, walking as he should, he was honored to be crowned with the crown of martyrdom, having moved from here on the third day of his feat. In the same way, brothers and sisters, we will live, not making excuses through ignorance, but searching and studying and being magnified according to our faith. And this will happen if only a good life joins our faith. For faith, aided by love (Gal. 5:6), perfects our salvation. And our salvation depends on both of them: neither faith in itself nor life in itself saves, but one and the other, together observed and united, saves, so that in this way we too may attain unharmed to a perfect man, to the measure of the age of the fulfillment of Christ (Eph. 4:13) and be worthy, together with the saints, to receive the promised blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy One. Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 30. About the ineffable care of the Lord Christ and about our constancy in a life pleasing to God and immaculate 90 What kind of sin did the Lord become for us? Brothers and fathers. Great and ineffable is the love for us of our Lord Jesus Christ, because not only did he come to bring peace to us, far and near (Eph. 2:17), as it is written, but he also ascended into heaven and left us His holy apostles, preaching the same gospel and acting as His messengers. For blessed Paul says: for Christ we pray, just as we pray to God, we pray for Christ: be reconciled to God. For he who knew no sin, commit sin on us, that we may be the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:20–21). Oh, endless care! Oh, inexpressible love for humanity! For those who knew no sin, create sin for us. Why and how? He is not talking about condemned sin, let it not be! For He did not commit sin, lest flattery be found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). But the fact that He took on our nature, damaged by sin, accepted our ailments and bore our illnesses (Matthew 8:17), that He was crucified for us and suffered the most shameful death. This means: commit sin for us. For what? May we be God's righteousness in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). How? Freed from the condemned sin and living and moving in Him (cf. Rom. 6:11; Acts 17:28). Therefore [the apostle] adds, saying: We pray with great haste, that you may not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1). See how he convinces and warns. What does it mean: you did not receive the grace of God in vain? This means that we do not go back, so that we do not succumb to the same passions that we abandoned, and so that we do not become violators of those vows with which we have bound ourselves before the witnesses - God and the Angels. But why? Let us begin to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4), a pure and blameless life, a virtuous and heavenly life. Having reached this point, I want to show you some of the innermost power of the word. The soul is threefold. Our soul consists of three parts - thinking, furious and desirable (λογιστικοῦ, θυμικοῦ καί ἐπιθυμητικοῦ) 91 . Thoughtful so that we rightly believe in the Holy Trinity; furious so that we would be angry with the seducing serpent, not allowing him to come to us; desirable so that we desire and love the God who created us. The devil, having changed and perverted the powers of the soul, has long begun to prepare our destruction. How? By force of desire he seduced our forefather Adam into eating [the forbidden fruit]; causing Cain to kill his brother Abel with furious force; by the power of thought, diverting humanity into idolatry. This is the way of action and such is the envy of the enemy. We, brothers, will remain in that for which we were created, protecting ourselves with the three powers of the soul and adorning ourselves with the Spirit. Let us not destroy the nobility with which the Lord ennobled us by adopting us as sons to God and the Father. The little ones received Him, says the Gospel, and gave them the realm to become children of God (John 1:12). Therefore, since we have become children of God, let us not be children of wrath; since we are called heirs of God (cf. Rom. 8:17), let us not be heirs of the unquenchable fire; and since we are recognized as members of Christ, let us not make ourselves members of fornication (cf. 1 Cor. 6:15). Let us not look back at the world and what is in the world; Let us not look at the beauty of real life, which is vain and soon perishes. What do we take with us after death? For suppose we have had our fill of all the passion of flesh and blood. What good is blood if we never go down into decay? (Ps.29:10). Let us look at the tombs and see the end of lusts. Let's say that we acquired property and money. What then? Didn't we come into the world naked? It is clear that we will leave naked (cf. Job 1:21; Eccl. 5:14), taking nothing with us except our activity (το πρακτικόν) - right or wrong. Therefore, Saint David also cries out: I have asked one thing of the Lord, this I will require, that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and that I may visit His church (Ps. 26:4). Exhortation. This is a blessed life, this is a good destiny (cf. Luke 10:42), which our holy fathers chose, like the now remembered Paul, the blessed confessor 92. We have heard a little about how many and how great his works and exploits are. Imitating them, we, brothers, will continue our asceticism, we will endure the persecution that we have received, we will observe the rest of the order of life, zealously carrying out the course. If we slip, let us hasten to rise, defeating our enemy the devil, so that we too may receive the crown of righteousness with all the saints in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 31. About the coming Judgment and the fact that the present persecution has given some reasons for virtue, and others for wickedness 93 For some, persecution is a reason for virtue, for others it is for wickedness. Brothers and fathers. I was sick and again through your prayers I recovered. But until when will we return to this “again”? Without a doubt, the day of death will come when this “again” (πάλιν) will not take place, the day of death will come that will separate me from you and send me away from here. However, because of this, one should not think about orphanhood, for He is faithful who said: I will not leave you orphans (John 14:18); and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20), and especially because we will see each other on that day - oh, if only we could say! - in inexpressible joy and in endless life. You know what I suffered during my illness; you know how, tormented by chills, I was subjected to unbearable shaking, and how soon afterwards I was enveloped in scorching heat for the whole day. And so, suffering, I thought to myself: in the coming Judgment, won’t the unfortunate person move from the torment of Tartarus to fiery Gehenna and won’t he, perhaps, be subject to two or more punishments? However, one or two [punishments a person is subjected to], from the suffering here, one can conclude that the wrath of God against sinners is unbearable (see 2 Chron. 36:23 b). Therefore, with much fear and trembling one must restrain oneself so as not to fall into these unbearable torments. For some, real persecution served as a reason for virtue. During it, they shone like lights in the world, as if holding animals, to my praise, so to speak, on the day of Christ (Phil. 2:15-16). What wonderful things they did! What perfection we have achieved! They have saved and are saving themselves, having become experienced in temptations, having been purified in adversity like gold, and they also dispose others and are the saviors of many: both those who observe the same order of life, and those who lead a different way of life 94 . May my part be with them, and may anyone who pleases join me. Monks falling away from their rank. For others - and there are very few of them - persecution was a reason for the manifestation of wickedness, namely for those who, in a freely chosen way of life and not constrained by obedience, commit their own shame (Jude 1:13). Therefore, it is very appropriate to say in the words of Scripture: their appearance is darker than soot (Lam. 4:8). To them I also cry: wicked sons, you have forsaken the Lord, you have changed the laws of monastic life, you have no straight roads, but, like lame people, you stagger (cf. Heb. 12:13), rushing here and there; you have fallen behind your companions and have become woman-loving - some live alone, others hire more slaves, some lead a trading life, carried away by the love of money. Neither the prophetic curse, nor the apostolic threat, nor the admonition of my humility frightens you. One of these, as I know, having fallen in love with a girl 95, decided to commit theft and renounce God for her. What do you say, unhappy and pathetic? How many times have you sung: How will I depart from Your Spirit, and how many times will I flee from Your presence? (Ps. 139:7). You were completely led into infatuation by the devil, who deceived Eve and together [with her] expelled our ancestor Adam from paradise. You are thinking of completely renouncing Christ, with whom you were united by the vow of virginity, and uniting with sin, through which death entered the world. Do you not hear what the Scripture exclaims about those who do this: their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched (Is. 66:24)? Do you not hear what the apostle says: God judges the fornicator and the adulterer (Heb. 13:4)? And again: if anyone corrupts God’s church, God will corrupt him (1 Cor. 3:17). What will you gain by committing sin? Is it not darkness and a sword piercing your heart? Isn't it an abyss of despair? Is it not the devil himself, who deceived you, who forces you to grab a noose, like Judas once did? Sober up, darkened one! Flee the mortal net, O lost one, do not let yourself be drawn into the snare of hell, so that here you can live the life of Cain, groaning and shaking and avoiding every familiar face, and in the next century be condemned to fiery hell. What else will I, unhappy, limited to one place, do for all those previously named? What else but a groan, a spell, an indication of the coming sword? And if they had heard and turned from their sinful path, which leads to destruction, then they would have been saviors both for themselves and for me, the humble one. If not, they alone will exhaust the cup of disasters to the bottom, some will go into the fire that they kindled, some will receive eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of His strength, when He comes to be glorified in His saints and to be marvelous in all (2 Thess. 1:10), who walked faithfully in His commandments, giving them worthy rewards, and to those who do the opposite - endless torment prepared for them. Exhortation. But you, my brethren, I ask you to walk in the right way, so that the word of virtue that comes from you, even when dealing with the wicked, will lead them to the knowledge of the truth - enduring everything, believing everything, enduring everything, pleasing the Lord in everything, so that we may avoid punishment and achieve the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Himself, our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. forever and ever. Amen. Announcement 32. About the Feast of the Nativity of the Savior and that we zealously adhere to our ascetic life Brothers and fathers. The feast of the Epiphany (τἁ ϑεοφάνια) 96 is already approaching, and the day of joy is at the door; great joy, such as has not been seen since ages. For the Son of God does not come to us in fortune-telling and symbols, as he once appeared to the fathers, 97 but through the birth of the Virgin he descends, appearing to us personally. There was nothing more blessed than this in the generations of generations, and nothing was more amazing in all the miracles that God has created since the ages. Therefore, the Angels preach the mystery [of birth] and the star indicates that the Heavenly One was born on earth. Therefore, the shepherds rush to see the blessed salvation and the wise men bring royal gifts (see Luke 2:7–20). Therefore, a new song is sung about new deeds, that in the highest God, glorified, has appeared on earth as peace. And the apostle testifies, saying: For this is our peace, having made both one, and having destroyed the mediastinum of the fence, having destroyed enmity with one’s flesh, having abolished the law of commandments by teaching, so that both may be created into one new man, creating peace, and will reconcile both in one body of God by the cross, killing the enmity therein (Eph. 2:14-16). The prophets and righteous men who were from the ages wanted to see this, but they did not see it except by faith. We saw and touched with our hands, as it is written, the Word of the living, and the living was revealed (1 John 1:1-2), and we received adoption as sons 98. But what shall we render to the Lord for all that he has rendered to us (Ps. 115:3)? Already Saint David, warning, exclaimed: I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord (Ps. 116:4). So, let us rejoice, brethren, that we too have been deemed worthy to repay the Lord for all that He has given us. What kind of reward is this? The cruciferous life [of the monks] that we have chosen, and the confession in which we stand and boast in the hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:2), which is undoubtedly evidence. And in this way we should celebrate not just one day, but throughout our entire lives. Sinners cannot celebrate and be free. Those who are controlled by the flesh and are in captivity to the passions can neither celebrate, although they seem to be celebrating, nor be free, being slaves of the passions, sold to sin. That is why it is written: everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. But a servant does not abide in the house forever: a son abides forever (John 8:34–35). Since we too have been worthy to be called sons by grace, we will abide in the house forever (cf. John 8:35), if only we firmly preserve the life we ​​have begun to the end (Heb. 3:14). Therefore, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, let us adhere to our ascetic state and let us encourage one another in encouraging love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24), in obedience, in humility, in meekness, in all other excellent aspirations, not deviating from our intention, but being excited more and more, and the more the more we see that day approaching. For the day of the Lord is approaching, great and glorious (Acts 2:20), when the Judge of all will openly appear and they will see Him in the glory in which the apostles saw Him at the Divine Transfiguration, weighing and judging every thought and rewarding each according to his deeds. May we also see Him, together with all the saints, mercifully looking at us and accepting us into the Kingdom of Heaven by the grace, mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, for to Him belongs glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 33. About the remembrance of death and about heartfelt contrition, said on another day of memory of our blessed father Plato Brothers and fathers. Yesterday we commemorated our father, and we did it according to his dignity. For spiritual children must render to their father what is due. Of course, do not think that for remembrance it is enough just to sing psalms and be comforted physically. Joy is physical and spiritual. It is necessary to rejoice spiritually, as it is written: those who are praised by the righteous will rejoice (Prov. 29:2), without a doubt, with spiritual and constant joy. For bodily joy, having flattered sensuality a little, disappears; spiritual joy is inexhaustible and inalienable. If any of you cried, was sad, was tormented at heart, if any of you accepted the Spirit and withdrew from passions, he knows the power of this word and knows how to commemorate his father or brother. For remember, brethren, the former days when the father lived with us, talked and moved among us. Now let us carefully consider where he is, with whom he lives and among whom he and each of our brothers move. Can't this, when perceived by the mind and conveyed in words, bring delight to the soul? Let's look, if you like, at ourselves. Will we not also leave here a little later, and others will commemorate our memory, just as we now remember those who have gone before? Truly, brothers, this is how our life is structured, and we are mortal people who do not know tomorrow. What kind of life is ours? There is a pair, as it is written, which appears in the morning and then disappears (James 4:14) - a spring flower that blooms early in the morning and immediately fades. A man is like the grass of his days, like the flower of the field, so he will blossom (Ps. 102:15). Man is like vanity: his days pass away like shadows (Ps. 143:4). All flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man is like the flower of grass (1 Peter 1:24). Who is blessed? For the sun rose with heat, and withered the grass, and its flower fell away, and the beauty of its countenance perished (James 1:11). So we will fade, so we will leave here, as the saints said. For the above examples belong to them. But blessed is he who unites [with God]; Blessed is he who seeks God; blessed is he who mortifies himself in feats of obedience, does not contradict, does not grumble; obedient, diligent in work, not lazy in service, contrite in heart, merciful, affectionate, kind, preparing for the outcome. For the end will come, will come, brothers, and will not delay, the terrible day of death will come, the royal messenger, coming not from the underworld, but from heaven and saying to the soul: “Get out of here, the King and God of all desires you.” But may we, through the intercession of our father, be found ready at that hour, and may we depart from here without fear and be resettled into eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 34. About the exodus from this life and about peace in the Kingdom of Heaven 99 Brothers and fathers. So we move from year to year, from time to time, from holiday to holiday, and there is no stop in this life. But, without a doubt, we must come to the end of this life and enter into our rest. He who entered into His rest, also rested from his works, as God did from his own (Heb. 4:10), as it is written. What kind of peace is this? Of course, the Kingdom of Heaven, to which the apostle leads us, says: let us strive to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall into the same parable of disobedience (Heb. 4:11). What is he saying? That God promised the Israelites to lead them into the Promised Land, but since they turned out to be disobedient and irritated Him, they did not have to enter - so we will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven if we are disobedient to His commandments. Forty years, says the Lord, they were indignant for this reason, and said: they always err in heart, but they have not known My ways: for they swore in My wrath, if they entered into My rest (Ps. 95:10-11). This is not forty years, but a continuation according to the pre-establishment of everyone’s life. If we do not strive to fulfill all the commandments of God, then He will say regarding us: if they enter into my rest. The corpses of those who did not enter [the promised land] fell in the desert; If we do not enter [the Kingdom of Heaven], then our bodies and souls will be cast into fiery Gehenna, which is much heavier and more destructive than the punishment of those, as it is written: Who has rejected the law of Moses? Without mercy, in front of two or three witnesses, he dies; How much worse will he be worthy of torment, having trampled upon the Son of God and taken the blood of the covenant filth, by which he was sanctified, and rebuked the Spirit of grace? ( Heb. 10:28–29 ). What reasons blocked the entry of those? Unbelief, of course, murmuring, slander, contradiction, bitterness, pride, fornication. This is what destroyed them. Exhortation. Therefore, brethren, we flee from these destructive passions as from the face of fire, not disbelieving God in what He promised, but believing that He is able to do what He has promised (Rom. 4:21). Let us neither grumble, nor slander, nor contradict, nor become bitter, nor proud, but rather let us be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave us (Eph. 4:32), always bearing the death of the Lord Jesus on our bodies (2 Cor. 4:10), always being ready to die for Christ, always being renewed by prayers, supplications, tears, contemplation of heavenly things. visions. Living this way, we will not enter into a land boiling with honey and milk (Deut. 27:3), but into the land of the meek. There is the source of life and immortality; there is the beauty of the highest Jerusalem, where there is joy and gladness, there is the radiance of the blessed and Life-Giving Trinity in Christ Himself, our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 35. On virginity and the return of brother Memnon 100 The virtue of virginity reaches the top of heaven. Brothers and fathers. Those competing in the lists race run once a year, and this lasts for one short period of time; then both those who win and those who lose in this way leave the competition. Those who complete the race of virginity do not run for one day, but throughout their entire lives, and they run along an invisible path, because they also struggle with invisible enemies. Thus the greatest virtue is the virtue of virginity, because it reaches to the very top of heaven. For human life is divided into two types of states: married and celibate; Marriage constitutes the lower world, while celibacy fills the higher. And the first is subject to slavery 101 to corruption, and the second is honored to shine with incorruption. And just as if someone saw a winged man, he would naturally be surprised at how he has the appearance of either a man or an Angel, so one who maintains ascetic virginity presents a strange sight: he is in the flesh and above the flesh, in the world and above the world. That is why they say that he renounced the world, since he chose a worldly life. The Lord showed this in the Gospel, saying: these are the eunuchs who were born from the womb of matter, and these are the eunuchs who were born from man, and these are the eunuchs who distorted the Kingdom for themselves for the sake of the Heavenly One. He who is able to contain, let him contain (Matthew 19:12). You see how inconceivable this gift is for many and is given only to those who crucify themselves with their lives. Therefore, brethren, let us rejoice and rejoice with each other, let us give thanks and give immeasurable thanks that, by God’s love for mankind, we have been called to such dignity, by which God is glorified and by which people are amazed. Not only this, but we will also live as carefully as possible, because both in former times and now many have fallen from this height - some being struck by pride, others giving in to carelessness. For both of these bring destruction to the soul. What is the remedy to get rid of this? The bird has safety in its flight. For whenever she notices the presence of a hunter, she, spreading her wings, flies over and avoids being caught. Reflecting thoughts with thoughts. In the same way, every time the devil, the fisher of our souls, appears, as if inspired in the spirit by sublime contemplation, we will seek wisdom from the highest and above. Therefore, whether he points to the sweetness of lust, let us be ashamed of the nobility of our soul; whether he puts forward the feasibility of sin, let us think about the punishment of the Judgment, and [thus] contrasting one with the other, reflecting thoughts with our thoughts, we will be saved from the murderer. What then is the end of the exploits? For those who flee carnally there is a perishable crown, but for us it is imperishable; For those it is temporary joy, but for us it is eternal. Exhortation. And blessed are we, brethren, if we hold on to the boldness and praise of hope even to the end (Heb. 3:6). Therefore, I ask: let us continue in prayers, supplications, heartfelt contrition, tears, humility, obedience, confession and other ascetic deeds and, with the help of God, achieve victory over the enemy. But enough has been said about this. The next word is about brother Memnon 102, because, although he somehow returned, we need to accept him, so that he will not be lost to much sorrow (2 Cor. 2:7). Besides this, I have to say: for everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin (John 8:34), according to the word of the Lord, and is an abomination to those who love virtue. And perhaps we will be ashamed and embrace him, so as not to be stained by his sin? But since our Lord Jesus Christ did not push away the prodigal, who spent his property with harlots (cf. Luke 15:30), we will not push away either, but will gladly accept our brother and rejoice with gratitude at his return and pray for his salvation. For by doing this according to the commandment, as disciples of the Word, we will inherit the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 36. About the fact that we stand firm in our confession, and about the death of brother Theodulus, said in the middle of the holidays 103 Brothers and fathers. Celebrating in previous years, we never celebrated a holiday in honor of the Lord our God as we do now, 104 because then we celebrated both in the holy church and with a larger gathering of brethren. Rejoice and tremble. You saw then larger crowds and more abundant tables, and now you see how we live in a foreign land. As a result of this, we should both rejoice and tremble: rejoice because of the fulfillment of God’s promises, tremble because of our unworthiness to accept [them], fearing that by insensitivity to good deeds we will not provoke the Benefactor to deprive us of his care. For if we accept blessings with a feeling of gratitude, serving Him with fear and trembling, then this is what the Lord says: the waterpot of flour will not fail, and the boasting of oil will not be diminished (1 Kings 17:14). You see, brethren, that the holidays pass, and the meetings cease, and our days pass, and each of those here individually moves away. Our brother Theodulus has already departed, and he is one of the best, because he, both skillful in obedience and firm in confession, endured wounds and prison for Christ and ended his life during persecution. What could be nicer than this? So many of our brothers - for their number extends to a hundred or more - having shone like the stars to which places they were thrown, they left their sacred bodies there as a testimony to Orthodoxy both for those living now and for subsequent generations. I am talking not only about the meeting of our brotherhood, but also about brothers from other monasteries who ended their lives in exile. But I would not include here those living in their own monasteries, who, like fugitive soldiers, returned back before the end of the period of persecution, as it is written: peace, and where there is peace (Jer. 6:14), “And where I find you, there I will judge you” 105. This is precisely the greatest affirmation for the Church of God, that it had such a large cloud of witnesses about the worship of the icon of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God and all His saints, so that if there were no other guarantee, this alone would be enough to prove the truth to those who have reason. Therefore, let the opponents belonging to heterodoxy be ashamed. For tell me, which of them, fighting for their faith, ever suffered such suffering? Of course, no one. But, like nocturnal animals, they soar and are bold in the night of their heresy; when the day comes and Orthodoxy shines like the morning star, they hide in their own holes of their crafty wisdom. They go by the light of fire and the flame that kindles it (Is. 50:11); But we, brethren, being loved by the Lord and having been created on the foundation of the apostle and prophet (Eph. 2:20) and our God-bearing fathers, will stand firm, not being embarrassed in the future by any human intimidation. And we will be unshakable if only, according to the apostolic commandment, we build from gold, silver and precious stones, but not from wood, hay and brushwood (1 Cor. 3:12), this food of fire. Nothing can deviate someone so affirmed from faith in Christ. Let us, brothers, honor the mystery of the holiday that we celebrated. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse upon us (Gal.3:13), as it is written. Therefore, we will no longer be under a curse: Christ washed us in His blood with the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Let us not return again to those shameful deeds that we abandoned. If not, then on the day of His revelation He will perhaps tell us the following: “I have made you to be of the same body and conformed to Myself, but you have made My members the horns of fornication (cf. 1 Cor.6:15); I washed you from your sins, so that you had no filth, or vice, or anything from such (Eph. 5:27), but you chose again to pollute yourself with the stench of passions and become blackened with the filth of sins; I have abundantly filled you with intelligent light through the Holy Spirit, and you have made your mind a dwelling place of violent passions; I made you joint heirs of eternal blessings, but you chose to have My adversary as a joint heir - go away from Me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angel (Matthew 25:41).” But let us never hear, brethren, such a terrible voice and let us never experience such unbearable anger. Therefore, with all diligence, let us try to live in accordance with our former life, loving purity, shedding tears, strengthening contrition in our hearts, performing feasible services, carefully vigilant in the work of God day and night, so that the enemy, having penetrated, does not devour the inattentive soul. Oh, if only we could avoid the serpent even during the vigil, not to mention the time when we doze off a little. Our nature is negligent and prone to failure, someone will say. I also agree, since I myself am of the same nature. As soon as something like this happens, there will immediately be repentance, confession, contrition of heart, admonition and a living desire to restore the previous state. And by doing this daily, we will achieve what we are looking for, and having received what we are looking for, we will hear the desired voice and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 37. On the fact that one should not spend holidays in drunkenness and intoxication, and on the remembrance of death 106 To celebrate is to cleave to God. Brothers and fathers. The holidays have already passed - Christmas and Epiphany, which we were honored to celebrate in honor of the Lord our God in such an extreme way. And it is not sad, but very joyful, that we are exiled and live being persecuted for the sake of Him who made Himself of no reputation and took the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7). For what else does it mean to celebrate but to cleave to God? They cling more strongly to God by moving away from the material and through dispassion to this world. For what shall we say concerning those who live in the deserts and in the mountains and in dens and in the pits of the earth (Heb. 11:38)? Aren't they celebrating? Yes, in their silence they celebrate more than others, more sublimely and more godlike than those who believe the celebration is in luxury and drunkenness, in feasting and drinking, forgetting that they deceive themselves, whom the Divine Scripture laments, saying: rejoice on earth and enjoy yourselves: your hearts will be fattened like the day of slaughter (James 5:5). For such were like pigs ready to be slaughtered; whose belly is God, and whose glory is in their cold (Phil. 3:19). Therefore, we have a better celebration if we only pay attention to ourselves and live worthy of our calling and confession of Christ. Let us think, brethren, that our days run by as if on horses, and time, like a kind of spinning wheel, brings in some through birth, and drives out others through death, not at the same age and not at the same time, but old men before young men, and young men before old men, fathers before children and children before fathers, together every age, because God has ordained this way, so that, not knowing the [hour] of death, we should all be every day. ready for the outcome. Therefore, let us stay awake and sober, so that death, coming unexpectedly, does not overtake us unprepared and so that we do not repent in vain and uselessly. Don’t you know how in the previous days I suddenly fell into illness and how my soul suddenly entered hell (Ps. 93:17)? But if I recovered, then, of course, not forever. In the future, I, who have already grown old, must leave you and move to my fathers and brothers. Just pray that I depart in good conscience and after an unsullied life. So, overwhelmed by torment, I reflected and said to myself: if such is this torment, then what will be the torment of the coming judgment? And if we cannot endure suffering for three or four days, how will we endure eternal torment? Therefore, I advise you to think about this, to be diligent and to live carefully: on the outward side - with all caution and humility, hard work and patience, and on the inward side - guarding your heart in every possible way (cf. Proverbs 4:23) and not allowing the evil serpent, the great dragon, to whisper to you and attack you (cf. Revelation 12:9), and not making the house of God a dwelling place of passions, but [striving] to present ourselves pure to God and here, before the coming age, to live a blessed life. For what is more blessed than to live in peace with God with a pure heart? But this will not happen if work, prayer, tears, contrition of heart, zeal, and burning of spirit are not preceded, although even with them the enemy does not cease to lie in wait and bring a sudden war upon us. He does this because he sees that we ascend to heaven and are rewarded with unspeakable joy. But the passions of this present time are equally unworthy for the glory that desires to appear in us (Rom. 8:18). Therefore, with every power possible according to the power ( Col. 1:11 ) of our faith and hope, we will try to turn the war to our advantage, to destroy the machinations of the demons, imitating those running on the lists, who are so tense that by the end of the run they are out of breath and barely catch their breath. But their race is but one day, and their crown is perishable; We run throughout our entire lives, which is why the crown is imperishable and the rewards are eternal. May we all achieve them, cheerfully completing our course in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 38. On imitation of the lives of the fathers and remaining in the rank in which we are called by God 107 How to imitate the holy fathers. Brothers and fathers. Carefully examining through reading the lives of our fathers, we are surprised, and rightly so. For they are worthy of wonder, because angelically, living in this flesh with all dispassion, they pleased the Lord. One must not only be surprised, but also imitate them whenever possible, and imitate them in the appropriate way, that is, a cenobite - a cenobite, a silent man - a silent man, a hermit - a hermit, an abbot - an abbot. For what is the use of imitating someone who does not lead the same life as us, but a different one? Not only will we not get any benefit from this, but it is possible that we will encounter obvious harm. Therefore, many, having abandoned their way of life, apparently out of love for God, lost their own merits and did not achieve what they wanted. Let's think about what happened in our generation, so as not to touch upon ancient stories. Examples of disastrous self-will in asceticism. What benefit did the so-called psalmist (τὁν λεγόμενον ψαλτήριον) benefit from his rising on the pillar? Was he not carried away from there in a frenzy? And now he is neither a Cenobite nor a stylite. How did the pillar benefit Saprit? Did he not leave there for the sake of Orthodoxy and fall into heresy, truly becoming a traitor? And now he is the most cruel among the persecutors. But let's look at our brotherhood. Didn’t Peter, who had long been successful in obedience, go into the wilderness, apparently out of piety? And how he returned from there and what his end was, you know from experience. And Amphilochius, still living today, was he not first a stylite, then a recluse? And now he lives shamelessly, wandering here and there. The temptation of the devil is to inspire someone else’s things, so that you lose yours too. This is the temptation of the devil - to inspire someone else’s things, so that you lose yours too. Therefore, the apostle cries: let every man in whom he is called, brethren, abide in him before God (1 Cor. 7:24). Called to be a silent man - there is no need for you to think about the cenobite; called by the cenobite - you have no need to think about the silent man. Every one in his rank (1 Cor. 15:23) please the Lord. Everyone has their own examples, according to which they must organize their lives. Therefore, imitate those who have shone in obedience. Which ones am I talking about? Not only about the ancient saints, but also about the saints in our brotherhood. Imitate blessed Dometian, whose faith is fiery; imitate blessed Zosima, whose obedience is unfeigned; imitate blessed Mark, who, accepting abuse and dishonor as a joyful greeting, remained steadfast in his way of life. Imitate blessed Terentius, who, for many years zealously serving the sick in the kitchen, [never] was faint-hearted and did not shy away [from work], but even when they offered him to move from here, he did not agree, wanting better to suffer together [with others] in his service 108. Imitate other brothers, many distinguished in their obedience, whose names are in the books of animals (Phil. 4:3). Imitate these, not the hermits. Let Father Ioannikis 109 with those like him have the desert and the mountain - but you love obedience and hospitality. He currently does not tolerate persecution - but you are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. He is not imprisoned - you are in prison for the Lord's sake. He is not beaten - you are beaten for Christ. How much higher is this than those feats! I will say something about myself, humble one. Since I have been unworthily placed at the head of you, will I leave my leadership and go to the desert or to another way of life that presents itself? But this is [unworthy] neither of the head nor of the shepherd, who must lay down his life for his sheep (cf. John 10:11). Therefore, it is not appropriate for you to plot or do anything other than what you are doing now. Hence the sterility and disorder of real life, and hence the fertility of obedience that we seek. Exhortation. Therefore, everyone, as God has divided there (Rom. 12:3) and as the Lord has called him, so let him walk, so let him live and so please the Lord, so as to be worthy to hear: Well done, good and faithful servant, for a little time you were faithful, I will make you ruler over many: enter into the joy of your Lord (Matthew 25:23), to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen. Announcement 39 On what should imitate the lives of our fathers 110 Who is a true monk? Brothers and fathers. There is nothing more blessed than our life, nothing more sublime than our life, if only we live according to what we are called. But let us not have a residence that is contrary to our name. For a monk is one who looks to God alone, who desires God alone, who is devoted to God alone, who prefers to serve God alone, who has peace with God and is the cause of peace for others. Whoever does not have this, but, on the contrary, has envy, zeal and division, is blind, forgetfulness, the method of cleansing his ancient sins (2 Pet. 1:9), as it is written. And for what reason I said this, you, the guilty ones, know. And I say this not in order to sadden you again, but in order to confirm you in the future not to fall into the same sins. During the time of our fathers, slander (καταλαλιά) was not accepted, but the one who heard the slanderer either stopped his ears, or turned the slander in a good direction. Now we gladly open the ear of the slanderer and listen to him with such desire as we have never listened to a reading proclaimed [in church]. Under our fathers, nothing was said without reason, but meekly and decorously; now they [speak] with anger, shouting and distortion of the face. What could be uglier than this? Under our fathers there was no grumbling, but everyone gratefully accepted what was given; from this, the bitter became sweet, and the unpleasant became pleasant. Now we grumble, condemning this and that, and not only within ourselves, but also publicly, in order to create more murmurers and grieve God more. This, my brothers, should not be so, and these are not the properties of monastic life, and the sin is not small - the sin of condemnation. It is said: a troublemaker cannot inherit the kingdom (1 Cor. 6:10). But grumbling is no small sin; It is said: do not murmur, as Neti murmured from them and perished from the Destroyer (1 Cor. 10:10). And idle talk is no small sin; It is said: Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but let it be good for the creation of faith, so that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not offend the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are marked on the day of deliverance (Eph. 4:29-30). Don't you see the threat that by talking idlely we anger the Holy Spirit? Should we not be afraid that we will give an account on the Day of Judgment and regarding [every] idle word (Matthew 12:36), as the Lord said? Why, finally, are we inattentive to ourselves? Why don't we prepare ourselves to be in perfect order in the face of what's coming? Are you offended? Bear the reproach generously, suppressing grief in yourself, for it is said: I was confused and speechless (Ps. 77:5). And the insult will pass, but your virtue will endure forever. Have you received any objectionable food or drink? Give thanks for what you have, because others would like to at least taste what you often condemn, considering it bad. And if we do not have even this, then what will our obedience consist of and what praise will there be about it? For neither by abstinence, nor by vigil, nor by lying on the ground, nor by any other labor can we earn praise and so testify to the feat of the cine life, as by cutting off our own will. Exhortation. Therefore, having put aside all malice and all flattery and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, as the Supreme Apostle commanded, like newborn babies, let us love the verbal and unflattering milk, so that we may grow in it for salvation, having tasted it, because the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:1-3), if only we desire eternal life. And let us not refuse instructions, let us not lose heart, each time restoring ourselves from a fall. For by being thus praised, we will attain to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 40. That we live in the renewal of life, as promised during [the adoption of] the holy schema 111 How to desire to hear the word of God. Brothers and fathers. Just as the hungry desire to eat and the thirsty to drink, so we should desire to hear the word of God. For from listening we receive very great benefit: if we were careless, we leave our negligence; if we were diligent, we become even more zealous. In both cases, excellent results are obtained. What is the real word? It is said: God so loved the world, as He gave His only begotten Son to eat, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). And not just - he gave, but even to death, death on the cross (Phil. 2:8). How? Through Adam's crime we were enslaved to the devil; death reigned over us, sold to sin (cf. Rom. 7:14), made subject to corruption and captive to it. And then came the Only Begotten Son of God, who gave Himself as a ransom for all (cf. 1 Tim. 2:6), Who not only snatched us from the power of death, but also, having washed us from our sins with His blood, made us kings and priests to His God and Father (Rev. 1:5-6), as it is written. Do you see the mighty love of His power? Do you see the immeasurable mercy of His love for mankind? How unsearchable are His mercies and incomprehensible are His tender mercies, which He poured out on us richly, Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:6)! What, finally, do we, the humble, say to this? What shall we think? Shall we move on to sin again? Shall we seek slavery? Shall we choose dishonor, corruption and condemnation? Let it not be, says the apostle. If we die by sin, how can we live again in it? Or do you not understand, just as we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ has risen from the dead in the glory of the Father, so we too will begin to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:1-4). Life renewal. Let us, brethren, walk in the newness of life, as we promised at the time of [the adoption of] the schema; Let us live in truth and reverence, as befits saints (Eph. 5:3), in peace and unanimity, in honesty and nobility, in holiness and dispassion, not being carried away by the former errors in our ignorance (1 Pet. 1:14), but avoiding passions like fire, being established on the rock of our faith. For this is renewal. What is dilapidation? Carnal lust, by which our forefather Adam was captured, became an exile from paradise and entered this mournful life; the envy with which Cain was inflamed and killed his brother for preferring gifts, after which he shook and groaned throughout his entire life. From these two sins, a myriad of evils in the world received power. Hence the flood, which completely destroyed all life on earth. Hence Sodom and Gomorrah, reduced to ashes by fire and brimstone to reveal the wicked. Do you see what sin and lust have done, and the pride of life has done (1 John 2:16)? But we, as it is said, were called by the grace of God, achieved freedom and were elevated to adoption. Exhortation. Let us stand in the freedom (cf. Gal. 5:1) for which Christ freed us, and in the glory with which He glorified us, let us preserve ourselves, turning away from all vanity, counting everything for the sake of Christ as nothing (cf. Phil. 3:8) dishonor [considering] honor, sorrow with joy, wounds with pleasure, persecution with bliss, death with life, as we preferred [to do] and our holy fathers and brothers who we commemorate today, whose names are in the books of animals (Phil.4:3). For, living like this, we too will appear here, like lights in the world, holding the word of animals (Phil. 2:15-16), but in the future life 112 we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 41. That we carefully read the lives of the fathers in order to imitate their virtues 113 Brothers and fathers. It is impossible to say what benefit we receive and in what joy we participate in those days when we read the lives of our holy fathers. For tell me, what is more pleasant than contemplating their immortal deeds, miracles and rewards for victory over demons? It seems to me that even stones feel this benefit, not to mention a reasonable person. From this, the human mind is enlightened, putting aside the dark wisdom of the flesh. From this the soul is touched, soaring to divine love. And if we tell the whole truth, then these [saints] are God’s paradise of Eden, filled and adorned not with material plants, but with the fruits of the Spirit, where the breath of life is fragrant, where the serpent did not bite, but received wounds himself, did not expel, but was himself expelled, as it should be. And if, according to the word of the Lord, the Kingdom of Heaven is within you (Luke 17:21), then the one who calls the Kingdom of Heaven [the saints] on whom our good God rested and gives gifts to His servants, like some generous gift, will not sin. What are the kingdoms of the earth compared to this to me, empty insignificant glory and a belly that is being destroyed (cf. 1 Cor. 6:13)? What is gold, silver, shiny clothes and everything else that is destroyed by moth? What is applause, noisy praise and the vain labor of lifting [the praised] up and down? Of course, it is impossible to compare them, except in the same way as one compares light with darkness, life with death, truth with ghosts. Exhortation. If this is so, then let us rejoice, with unspeakable and glorified joy (1 Pet. 1:8), that we have received the best part and trace our origins from such a great race - the chosen race (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9), shining with divine nobility. Let us not only rejoice, but also imitate, as far as possible, their virtues, so that we do not bear the name in vain, having only an image of piety, but denying its power (2 Tim. 3:5). Just as in a hospital everyone chooses a medicine according to their illness, in the same way we, paying attention to those close to us in life, will receive something useful from here. Therefore, I, unworthy, will look at those who shepherded worthily, the steward at those who ran the household faithfully and wisely, the cellarer at those who tended the cellar judiciously and conscientiously. Thus [let him act] the canonarch and the host, the cook and the head of the meal, thus [let him act] everyone appointed to any service. For we have examples if we wish. Let there be no disobedience among everyone. But at the first call, show up. For to say, “Wait a little, and I will appear,” and to say this to the steward, is criminal and worthy of condemnation. Let there be no evasion from service, but obedience unto death. Let no one be dissatisfied with his fate, condemning this place as not having this and that. For such a one is guilty of the judgment of those who grumbled in the wilderness [the Jews], whose destruction is terrible (cf. 1 Cor. 10:10). But who [does] this? Ignorant, impatient, infants of mind, unworthy to breathe air, much less receive so much consolation. However, may our good God bring understanding to the foolish, and may He also make wise the wise and save everyone in His Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 42. That there is nothing blessed in people except virtue, for it alone is worthy of glorification 114 Brothers and fathers. Some people revere wealth, others power, others luxury, others carnal lust. But none of this is blissful, because nothing lasts forever, but is destroyed along with the present age. However, even here this did not satisfy many, but only appeared and immediately, like a dream, eluded its owners. Saints are like luminaries rising in the days of their memory. Virtue alone is worthy of glorification, since it itself constitutes immortal possession and makes those who partake of it blessed 115. For think how many rulers and living in luxury there have been since the ages, and not one of them is remembered with praise. The glory of the virtuous is unquenchable. And this is evident from what we do. Yesterday we glorified blessed Chrysostom, today - glorious Ephraim 116, and tomorrow - another saint. And thus, throughout the year, like luminaries, rising in the days of their remembrance, they open our lips for reverent prayer and illuminate our path to God. Therefore, the sacred word is true: those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, as if He were the firstborn among many brethren; and those who were called, these also are justified; and those who are justified, these also you will glorify (Rom. 8:29–31). What do we say to this? Are we not involved in such a title and glory? In no case [can you say that]. And we, the humble, have both a life of the cross and the right to bliss, since we actually endure persecution for Christ to this very hour, in addition to our previous deeds of good confession. Virtue. Oh, how wonderful is virtue! What does she give to those who firmly hold on to her! But it's here; what about the coming century? Who could depict that bliss and that glory about which the Lord speaks: then the righteous will shine like the sun (Matthew 13:43)? Since He Himself is the Sun of righteousness (Mal.4:2), He promised that the righteous, as being conformed to Him, would shine like the sun. The Apostle says: For as long as we suffer with Him, we also may be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17). And in another place the Lord says: Father, these which you have given to me, I will, that even where I am, they also may be with me: that they may see my glory, which you have given to me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). See where we're going? Where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1). Where is joy and joy, where are the faces of Angels, where is the church of the firstborn in heaven written (Heb. 12:23), where are the brothers and fathers who are kindred to us in life, we will go there a little later, there we will rejoice in Him, who rules over the age with His power (Ps. 66:6-7), as blessed David sings - not over an age of a thousand or ten thousand years, but over an age that does not grow old and having no end. But who deserves it? One who zealously stays sober and stays awake every day and every hour, so as not to doze off in soul. For during this slumber, passions, like wild animals, attack us, taking possession of our soul. Who is worthy of eternal salvation? As long as we are on our guard and watchful over ourselves, then no predator will rob us, no dragon will kidnap us. Therefore, we must stay awake and carefully consider [with our minds] what was said before, as well as the opposite - the torments that threaten our opponents: the unquenchable fire, the utter darkness, the undying worm (see Mark 9:44-48; Matt. 22:13) and all others, so that, filled and embraced by such thoughts, we can bypass the snares of the enemy, pass from here blameless and reach The kingdom of heaven is in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 43. About the good deed of God and about the reward of our godly and well-adorned life 117 Brothers and fathers. Always enjoying the benefits of God, we must always thank Him with burning hearts and intense prayer in order to acquire His even richer mercy. For look what [His] good deed is now. Didn’t He feed us as in the desert, in the place where we were thrown when, fearing the Hagarites, we fled from a foreign country? 118 And this for many days. Has He not opened the door of peace for us here, where the church is beautiful and the dwellings are decent, and the one who received us is our unanimous brother 119 . Oh, how great is the care of the good God for us! For what did He not do that should have been done? During the flight itself, He gave us bread, wine, fish, everything else, as much as we needed, and even more than we needed, so that those who saw it were amazed. For this, we, the humble, must not only give thanks, but also lay down our souls to the point of bleeding. Therefore, I ask you, let us kindle within ourselves a stronger love for Him, let us cleave to Him entirely, and give Him the most kind reward. What is the reward? To live here for the glory of His worshiped name, so that what He said would be fulfilled: So let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). And the apostle in one place says the following: Thanks be to God, who has always made us victorious in Christ Jesus, and who has shown us the stench of His mind in every place. For Christ is the aroma of God in those who are being saved and in those who are perishing (2 Cor. 2:14–15). The virtuous is the fragrance of God. You see that the virtuous is the fragrance of God (εὐωδία ϑεοῦ), wherever he lives. For virtue by its very nature is such that it cannot be hidden, but the one who practices it is visible to everyone, as it is written: a city cannot hide from the top of a standing mountain (Matthew 5:14). The city is the human soul, the mountain is the pinnacle of virtues, where those who ascend shine like lights in the world, holding the word of animals, to their own praise on the day of Christ (Phil. 2:15-16). Let us also, brothers, ascend this holy mountain. But we cannot rise there unless we first leave behind the lower things, that is, the desires of the flesh and thoughts, the destructive pleasures of this life. Moving away from them is an ascent to virtue. So, let your heart be cleansed of bad thoughts; let the eye learn to look right, let the ear be closed to hearing evil, let the tongue restrain itself from speaking vain things, let the hand not touch what it should not touch, let the foot be directed towards the path of peace (cf. Luke 1:79) Physical beauty and spiritual beauty. and let all members learn and be sanctified by the beauty of Christ, because Christ is most adorned in a soul that is pure from passions. The king of the earth loves the beautiful in body; the heavenly King and God loves the one who is spiritually adorned, even if in appearance he was poor, blind, lame, crippled, or had any other shortcomings that are considered shameful among people. Hence the ignoble become noble, the inglorious become glorious, the poor become rich. Hence the blessed apostles from fishermen [became] leaders throughout the whole earth. Hence the unlearned Anthony was wiser than the wise men 120. From here - let's take an example closer to us - our Thaddeus, a Scythian by birth and a slave, as you know, rose to the height of the confession of Christ and became famous in the world 121. The meaning of human will. Oh, the ineffable love of our good God! What a convenient entrance to Himself He has given us! For you don’t need an intermediary, or money, or any favorable combination of circumstances, but you just have to wish it – and everything is achieved. For everyone can choose good - both small and great, wise and foolish, just as anyone can desire to see the sun. So, do you want to be great in heaven? Choose to be the last here (cf. Matt. 19:30). Do you want to be called the son of God (cf. Matthew 5:9)? Calm your soul from passions. Do you want to be seen by the eyes of God? Hold fast to the truth. But who deserves it? He who willingly accepts the teaching, does the truth, strives to be enriched with Divine gifts. But may it be possible for us too, if in such a mood we begin to fulfill the life-giving commandments, to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven with all the saints in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 44. That the steward and everyone else do everything for the brotherhood not out of partiality, but out of goodwill and brotherly love, so that God is always glorified 122 Do not become proud from praise and do not lose heart when blamed. Brothers and fathers. The previous teaching may have saddened you, because it condemned you. But this is also useful. For sorrow for God produces joy (cf. 2 Cor. 7:10; Heb. 12:11), and a reproach made out of love can return to debt, and what the apostle said is finally fulfilled: with the weapon of righteousness on the right hand and on the skin, with glory and dishonor, with evil and praise (2 Cor. 6: 7-8). For we are filled with both and must necessarily endure both: not to become proud from praise and not to lose heart when reproached. I return to the same speech. Which one is it? That both the servant and the one in charge of the services must equally participate in the service - I mean the housekeeper, the assistant housekeeper, the cellarer, the cook, the refector and anyone else who is assigned to a certain service, so as not to fall under the curse of the One who said: cursed is everyone who does the work of the Lord with negligence (Jer. 48:10), but it is better to be worthy of the praise of the Lord, Who said: whoever is a faithful servant and a wise man, whom will his master set over his house? Blessed is that servant, who, when his master comes, will be found doing such things. Amen I say to you, for he will set him over all his possessions (Matthew 24:45–47). You see what and how great an honor He gives to those who serve well. Consequently, He will assign the opposite lot to those who serve poorly. The salutary nature of serving in a monastery. Therefore, I ask you, brethren, to each conscientiously fulfill the ministry entrusted to him and thereby glorify God and acquire your salvation. Let the steward take care of bodily needs, giving everyone their due, not doing anything out of partiality or partiality, but out of goodwill and brotherly love. Let the cellarer see how to acquire food for the brotherhood flawlessly and with the desire to reassure them, without having anything left unattended or spoiled in the cellar. Let the cook maintain his conscience when boiling and preparing [food], as if offering his service to God. Let the refectory contain a clean meal and the necessary vessels, serving the brethren as the Lord. Let others act similarly in other ministries. I say this not in order to set the servants against those who manage the ministries, but so that everyone, to what he is called, performs his service, looking to God, from whom he should expect reward. Isn’t management also entrusted to me, the humble one? And even more. Therefore, just as I must take care and be vigilant about your souls, convince and admonish everyone in private and publicly, proclaim the righteousness of God and the coming sword, so you should fulfill your ministries without laziness. An exhortation to unity and mutual love. And thus, my brethren, let us be united more and more into one body and one spirit, just as we were called quickly in the one hope of your calling (Eph. 4:4), loving one another, as we are members of one another, enduring each other, caring for one another, bearing each other’s burdens (cf. Gal. 6:2). Let it not happen to us that we will come to consciousness too late and, at the time of our exodus, regret our wasted time. But may we always be ready, trustworthy, blameless, blameless, so that, leaving here with a good conscience, we may reach the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 45. Censure of brothers who have violated order, and instructions calling for its preservation Brothers and fathers. We left you for a short time and, appearing again, we found disorder among you (for we must make it known to everyone), and such great disorder that some stretched out their hands and grabbed each other furiously, with anger and shouting. As for one of them, this is not entirely strange, because he is a layman and is not accepted among the brethren. Did the monk come down from the cross? As for the other, it is very strange, because he did this while he was a monk who was crucified to the world, who has flesh nailed to the cross. When, I ask, brother, did you come down from the cross? When, having been freed from the nails, did you lay hands on Jesus in the Jewish way? For it is said: He who created these My brethren, the least of them, create to Me (Matthew 25:40). Are you not afraid of the face of Him who speaks this? Are you not ashamed of the Angel, the guardian of your life? Didn't you blush with shame before your brothers and strangers who saw this? It is said: so let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Your evil deed, on the contrary, has darkened you so much that the name of God is blasphemed through you (cf. Rom. 2:24). Woe to me, a sinner! To what height of life were we called and where were we cast down, behaving like evil-minded laymen? But they say that he started cursing. However, have you not heard what the Lord said to the servant who struck Him? How to deal with those who insult and offend. If you speak evil, bear witness to evil: if it is good that you slay Me (John 18:23)? And on the cross again: Father, let them go; for they know not what they are doing (Luke 23:34). You must bless them when they insult you, pray for them when they beat you, and admonish them when you are reviled. By not following a good example, whose imitator have you become? Is this fidelity to instructions? Is this the commandment given by the blessed apostle? Let all grief, and anger, and wrath, and cry, and blasphemy be taken away from you, along with all malice (Eph. 4:31). You end up in hand-to-hand combat, tearing out hair and strangling each other. So, the law of God is rejected with contempt: the forger forges silver in vain, in the words of the prophet (Jer. 6:29). I, the humble one, work recklessly and in vain. However, I will not stop doing my job, especially when I have many attentive listeners. Where is the reason for such disorder (after all, one must not only condemn sin, but also indicate its treatment)? Evil conscience. An evil conscience introduced this new crime - proud thinking about oneself, the plans of an evil heart. If he tells me this, they say, I will answer him this way; if he does this to me, I will repay him in kind. Then, when irritation occurs for some reason, then we bring out what we were planning in secret. For He who said is false: out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man takes away good treasures; and the wicked man takes away evil treasures from evil (Matthew 12:34-35). Therefore, let our heart be a treasure of good intentions, and not only will we not bear anything evil and will not compete, but if someone hits us on the right cheek, we will offer him the other (Matthew 5:39), and no matter what happens, we will endure it, obeying the Gospel commandment. And are you dying in this place, the house of Israel? (Ezek.33:11) - it’s appropriate to tell you here too. Why do we spend our lives recklessly and in vain, day after day, being experienced and knowledgeable in food and drink, but being inexperienced and ignorant in doing the commandments of God? Isn’t it better for us to strengthen ourselves so as not to be upset, not angry, not to be angry, not to shout, which is why insults and even worse things break out like some kind of arrows. Exhortation. Here I bequeath to you before God, who gives life to all things, and Christ Jesus, who bore witness to the good confession under Pontius Pilate: that you keep, as the Apostle calls, the commandment to be undefiled and without shame (1 Tim. 6:13-14), so as not to force me to subject you to the most severe punishments, but so that, on the contrary, by maintaining order and not disorderly, you may calm me, a sinner, too, and to please God, and to achieve eternal blessings by the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 46. About peace, meekness, forbearance and virginity 123 Brothers and fathers. Neither I should be saturated by a salutary interview, nor you by a useful hearing. But both sides must desire both as much as those who are thirsty want to draw water. This is a sign of prosperity, this is the basis for salvation. Words pave the way for actions. For words pave the way for deeds: good for good, opposite for opposite. Therefore, since we want to do good deeds, let us use good words and useful conversations, so as not to sin in our due. The apostle himself, teaching this, says the following: let every word that is rotten come out of your mouth, but let it be that which is good for the creation of faith, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not offend the Holy Spirit of God, by Him you are marked on the day of deliverance (Eph. 4:29-30). And again: let all sorrow, and anger, and rage, and cry, and blasphemy be taken away from you, along with all malice: be kind to one another, merciful, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:31-32). Monks should be, as it were, incapable of committing sins. Do you see what he commands? What precision in the definition of the commandment! And who is he saying this to? Not to monks, but in general to all people devoted to worldly affairs. Regarding the monks, it is proper to say the following: they who are like Christ have crucified their flesh with passions and lusts (Gal. 5:24), appearing as if incapable of sinful acts. If this is so, then judge what punishment those who fought deserve. They not only quarreled, but also laid hands on each other. And you, a layman who has just been counted among us, extend your hand to the monk! You, monk, dare to beat someone preparing for obedience with a stick! Therefore, you are not a monk, but a monomachus, 124 not an ascetic, but a robber, not a son of the world, but a child of wrath. For was it not from cursed words that blows came, and was it not that blows were followed by murder? Those who act in this way will be subjected to deserved punishment, so that they do not go to the worse. But you, beloved, as disciples of a meek and peaceful Master, live meekly and peacefully, having peace and holiness with everyone, of whom no one else will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14), and especially honoring the Body and Blood of the Lady, with whom we have been honored to partake. The proper state of those approaching the Eucharist. The soul receiving the Most Pure Gifts should not allow confusion, frenzy and wild desires within itself. The lips drawing from the immortal source should not utter dirty words and stinking impurities. Eyes, sanctified by honest Blood, should not look brutally and imprint in themselves prodigal views. Let the hand that preserves the Divine treasure not touch what it should not. But all members, as members of Christ, must be kept and kept [pure]. Of course, every virtue is great, and acquiring it is the object of the most intense desire. However, there is no virtue as high as virginity. For virginity is the virtue that shone first of all in paradise, before the serpent cunningly deceived our first parents. Virginity was honored to be the mother of Christ. Virginity makes people Angels. Marriage begins and ends with corruption, but virginity raises the world to incorruption. “How can we acquire it?” - someone will say. How else but through countless efforts and sweat? For where a great task lies ahead, the greatest zeal is needed. The soul is like a sword. Just as a sharp sword can cut down attackers, so the soul, as if forged in fire and tempered in tearful water, must cut and disarm demonic thoughts. Resisting demons to the end. If it becomes dull, it must be sharpened again, so that it does not slay thousands, but darkness (cf. Ps. 90:7), as David sings; because there are many who fight against us from on high (cf. Ps. 55:3), and thousands of spirits of evil wage war against us. Resistance to them to the end reveals the warrior of Christ and makes him a true crown bearer. May God's mercy forgive those who have sinned, and may we, who walk our path well, have zeal to fulfill every commandment of God and achieve the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 47. That evil thoughts should not take root in us, and that we should not beat each other 125 Brothers and fathers. We are not accomplishing anything great if we talk to you two or three times every week. But if you could do this every day, you would get considerable benefits. For we all fall every day and need mutual admonition and help in order to return to our previous state and achieve it. Virtue and vice. This state is virtue, and any deviation from it is evil and is called evil. The lazy and careless person considers as sin only lawlessness that has actually been committed, such as adultery, fornication, unbridledness, uncleanness and all other evil deeds that are serious under the law. But he who is zealous and accurately fulfills [the commandments] does not consider as innocent the inappropriate dreams of the mind, and those agitations in the body that are associated with them, but strives to destroy all this and be at peace from destructive passions, that is, to have peace with God our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1), as the apostle says. Going to him, the soul rejoices with truly great joy and enjoys inexhaustible pleasure, dwelling in thoughts about God and delving into the contemplation of His ineffable greatness until it forgets itself. Don't let bad thoughts take root. When she comes out of this state and is carried away by absurd desires, then she becomes indignant and worried, just as a ship is in distress from a stormy sea, and, if the Lord does not come to the rescue, it may suffer shipwreck. Therefore, brothers, we must be careful so that evil thoughts do not take root in us, but it is necessary to pull them out by the roots. For if the serpent finds a place to penetrate inside and little by little squeezes in, then it will not lag behind until it gives birth to death. Therefore, Scripture says: he will watch over your heel, that is, the goal of the work, 126 and you will watch over his head (Gen. 3:15), that is, the intrusion of the thought [into the soul]. Let us henceforth courageously stand against attacks, destroying fiery thoughts and cutting through the salty sea of ​​sin, so that we too can say with David: we have passed through fire and water, and brought us to rest (Ps. 65:12). Passion of anger. However, not only this passion [carnal lust] outrages and changes the soul for the worse, but even more anger. For it is said: my eye is troubled with wrath (Ps. 6:8), their wrath is in the likeness of the serpent (Ps. 57:5), wrath rests in the bosom of the foolish (Eccl. 7:10), and the rush of his wrath is his downfall (Sir. 1:22). Where does such passion come from, if not from a proud and contemptuous spirit, considering itself something [high] and opposing itself to the lower? For he who is humble in heart, imitating the Lord, is meek and quiet, does not quarrel and does not shout, but, if it happens, he himself is rather insulted than insulted; they beat him, and he does not respond with blows. Those in question not only insult others with anger, but dare to beat, and, moreover, brothers of the same lifestyle as themselves. They, then accused of recklessness, answer that in no case can they be found guilty according to the canon, since, they say, we did not strike ourselves, but through others, and to justify their crime they cite the saying in “The Ladder” 127, not realizing that this is an artificial and unfair argument. The father himself shows this when, recalling the words of the apostle, he says the following: “Reprove, rebuke, entreat (2 Tim. 4:2), but do not strike” 128. If he commands not to beat, then who dares to take away or add anything to the apostolic tradition?! Moreover, if the fact that they do not beat themselves, but through others, frees them from accusation, then all tyrants should be free from the charge of murder, for not themselves, but through their servants, they beat the prophets and martyrs, and in this case, let no one say that one or the other punished this or that, but should find out the names of the servants; but all this is absurd. It is necessary to keep in mind the apostolic canon, which reads: “...we command that a bishop or presbyter or deacon who beats the faithful who sin or infidels who commit untruths is cast out” 129 . Was it really hidden from the Holy Spirit that they were beaten by others? But away with this idle talk! We should take an example from those who ordain or are ordained for money. Will they really escape deposition only because they accepted or gave not themselves, but through the hands of others? 130 In no case. The same should be thought and thought about the fruits of anger, which must be eliminated from the soul in the same way as evil lust. And one must go neither right nor left, but the royal path, that is, the path of the Gospel and Apostolic laws. For, thus following in the footsteps of the saints, with them we will achieve eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 48. On obedience, unanimity and peace 131 Brothers and fathers. I return again to the same speech, and especially when I hear the apostle saying: take heed to yourself and to the teaching and abide in them: for by doing this, you yourself will be saved and those who will listen to you (1 Tim. 4:16). So, it is necessary for me to speak, and for you to listen and put my instructions into action. What to talk about now? About the external way of our life, because, although we are in exile, we live, as in the monastery, not one or two, but many together. We do not have the means of cinema 132, but we have excessive labor. For brethren, and fathers, and friends, and strangers, and the poor constantly come to us. Accepting everyone and satisfying everyone requires a lot of spirit and a lot of work. Therefore, the steward must be prudent and vigilant, like the steward of God. But this will serve no purpose if the steward does not have an assistant who agrees with him and is vigilant like him. And the assistant steward will not succeed in anything if he does not have a cellarer following him. And the cellarer’s business will not go as well as he would like if he does not have an assistant in the person of a cook, 133 and the others will also not have it if they do not have others who are similarly minded. And just as there are many members in one body (cf. Rom. 12:4), but everyone cares equally for each other. And if one oud suffers, all ouds suffer with him, and if one oud is glorified, all ouds rejoice with him (1 Cor. 12:25-26), so it is in brotherhood. If this condition is not met, then we will have neither cinema, nor peace, nor harmony, but internal discord and decay. If this is so, then how dare anyone do anything of his own accord or, when the day has already arrived, indulge in a private occupation 134 or some kind of handicraft, but not go out on a common and generally useful matter? Or how dare anyone refuse when he is called to action and disobey those who have power 135 over him? Not a novice, but a disobedient one, not a brother, but a stranger. Such a one is not a novice, but a disobedient one, not a brother, but a stranger. If this has happened before, beware in future so that those caught in such guilt will not be subject to the penance imposed for outrage 136 . Do you not hear what the apostle commands? Be kind to one another, merciful, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:32). Let us also be kind to one another, bearing each other’s burdens and thus fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2), as it is written. Human thoughts and variability. I asked you before and now I ask: let us not faint under the weight of our thoughts, but with the joy of the Holy Spirit let us complete the work that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author of our faith and Finisher (Heb. 12:1-2), who gives prayer to those who pray and victory to those who want to overcome. Don’t you remember how recently a storm suddenly arose, and then the air cleared again? This happens with thoughts (λογισμοί). They disturb him a little and leave again. Oh, if only we weren’t so carried away by them! For why should we not always have peace in our souls? But this is impossible, since we are changeable and do not remain the same for even one day, much less this cannot be the case all the time. An exhortation to patience. But pay attention to the extremely stubborn malice of the devil, who, having been driven away, comes again and, being darkness, is transformed into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), wanting to take us by deception. But let the serpent leave us, and we will always begin to say: “We will not deny You, Christ, and we will not violate our confession, we will not abandon virginity, we will not lose our nobility.” Or do you not know, brethren, from what state and into what state we have passed? Is it not from insignificance to glory? Is it not from ignorance to knowledge? Is it not from dishonor to honor? We have the word, and knowledge, and a good name, and sleight of hand and mouth. And you are truly dear sons, more precious than gold. But what else is missing from your golden obedience! Patience. It is said: For I will require patience, that having done the will of God, you may receive the promise (Heb. 10:36). What is this promise? The Lord Himself said: I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will prepare a place for you, and again I will come and take you to Myself, so that where I am, you also will be. And even as I go, I know, and I know the way (John 14:2–4). And no one will take your joy from you (John 16:22). Thinking about this and foreseeing the inexpressible and ineffable glory that is to be revealed in the saints, let us, brethren, endure everything patiently: if we must starve, we will starve; if we must suffer, we will suffer; If we must die, we will die, so that we may inherit eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 49. About abstinence and the confession ahead of us 137 How Christians should celebrate. Brothers and fathers. Many people call these days holidays 138 because during them they get drunk and behave indecently, not realizing that these days herald abstinence from meat, and not satiety and drunkenness 139 . For this is characteristic of the Hellenic festival. Christians must show moderation and not indulge the flesh in lust (Rom. 13:14), as the Apostle teaches. However, evil, having turned into law, leads the world wherever it wants. Intemperance is the mother of sin and death. Examples of harmful intemperance. We, brothers, avoid intemperance even in what we are allowed to use, knowing that intemperance (άκρασία) is the mother of sin. For our ancestor Adam, while he abstained from forbidden food in paradise, rejoiced and had fun, filled with Divine instructions and insights. When he did not abstain and touched the tree of disobedience, he was immediately expelled from the paradise of sweetness, and intemperance became the mother of death for him (Gen. 3:19, 23). In the same way, the Sodomites, being full of bread (Ezek. 16:49), became furious, incurred the wrath of God and were consumed with fire and brimstone (Gen. 19:24). In the same way, despised Esau, carried away by his voluptuous eyes, gave up his birthright for one dish (Gen. 25:33). But the people of God also sat down to eat and drink and rose to play (Ex. 32:6). Similar things happen today. Feasting and drunkenness, screaming and demonic dancing not only during the day, but also until late at night. So intemperance is disastrous, and through it death entered the world. We, the brethren beloved by the Lord, should be grateful to God that He freed us from such a vain way of life and resettled us into this blessed life, where there is not intemperance, but moderation, not drunkenness, but sobriety, not excitement, but peace, not noise, but calmness, not foul language, but thanksgiving, not shamelessness, but purity, holiness and chastity. From this life came our divine fathers, who, with God's help, trampled passions, drove away demons, became like Angels, performed miracles, achieved heavenly glory, and became an object of wonder for the world. One of them is Blessed Anthony, whose life we ​​read and learned 140 how God exalted him in high places, so that the kings of the earth considered it great to write to him and read what he wrote 141. Exhortation. And we, humble ones, follow the life of these blessed fathers. And how we imitate them, this is evidenced by our monastic perfection, renunciation of the world, alienation from the fatherland, from our clan, humility, obedience, this upcoming confession, for which we were persecuted 142. Therefore, let us rejoice and rejoice with each other that God has granted this to us and that we lead a spiritual life in which, if we wish, we can celebrate every day and rejoice with endless joy. Therefore, I ask you, let us adhere even more tightly to our feat and this confession, for the rumor has spread that the emperor is considering our case 143, and no matter how suddenly the royal ambassador appears. But let us not be embarrassed by what is being said now. If God is for us, who is for us? (Rom.8:31). And if He helped us before, will He really not help us in the future? Only let us stand courageously, only let us constantly pay attention to ourselves, and He will give us the strength to live in everything pleasing to Him and to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 50. About the great and glorious day of our Lord Jesus Christ, said on the day of meat 144 Brothers and fathers. It is a universal law for [the laity] to abstain from meat dishes on this day. And you just need to look at the competition in the consumption of meat and wine that they have, and at the spectacle of those vulgar festivities, which are embarrassing to even talk about. One must use [food and drink] moderately, thank the Lord for what has happened before, and prepare worthily for the upcoming festival. They, on the contrary, carried away by the machinations of the devil, do something completely different, showing that they have accepted one thing instead of the other. What can I say about this? And so that we, humble monks, do not turn our minds there and are not carried away by their desires, which are worthy not of wishes, but of weeping. On the contrary, let us turn to the Gospel, which we must listen to today and which was sung in the canon, reflecting on that great and glorious day (cf. Acts 2:20) of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when the Judge will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left (Matthew 25:33). And He will pronounce, turning to those standing on the right, this blessed and much-desired call: come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). To those standing on the left He will say this most terrible and saddest sentence: go away from Me, the curse, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angel (Matthew 25:41). Exhortation. These words fill with horror, fear and frenzy. Reflecting on this, both we and those must fall down with prayer, weep and thereby appease God, before we actually undergo what we have heard about. But while those remain in this state, we, I ask you, will joyfully listen to the gospel sermon, serving the Lord with fear and trembling (cf. Phil. 2:12), removing from the soul all evil, and instead acquiring all knowledge of good works, compassion, good will, modesty, meekness, patience and everything else that is excellent and praiseworthy, so that, by living worthy of the Gospel of Christ, we may become heirs of the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen. Announcement 51. That we must be bold and courageous during the present persecution 145 Where sufferings increase, the consolations of the Holy Spirit also increase. Brothers and fathers. Today we had to talk about abstinence, since the Holy Pentecost is at the door. But the rumors spreading everywhere do not allow us to do this, transferring our thought and our word to something else. For I already informed you in the previous teaching that the emperor is considering our case and now, as they say, he is strongly threatening us through the commander of Nicomedia. If we respond to [his threats] in a manner worthy of God, he will certainly not bear it and will accomplish what he has in mind. What can I say to this? Again persecution and again receiving an honorary wreath. Where sufferings increase, the consolations of the Holy Spirit also increase. For the apostle says: Just as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds in Christ. If we grieve for your consolation and salvation, which operates in the patience of the same sufferings that we suffer: and our hope is known about you. If we are comforted by your consolation and salvation, knowingly, just as we are part of our passions, so also we are comforted (2 Cor. 1:5-7). Common suffering and common consolation. With these words, the apostle showed us that we mutually participate with each other in consolations and sufferings as being one body and one spirit, just as we are called quickly in the same hope of our calling (Eph. 4:4). Therefore, from now on, let us not lose heart, let us not despair, but let us all rise together as good soldiers of Christ, carrying our weapons, not carnal, but mighty in God in order to destroy the fortifications [of the enemy] (2 Cor. 10:4), that is, prudence, courage, chastity, justice 146, and thereby fulfill what God said: when you are persecuted in the city this one, run to another (Matthew 10:23). And when we go there, we will not worry about the pits, or what we drink, or what we wear (Matthew 6:31). He said: I will not leave the imam to you, but the imam will retreat from you (Heb. 13:5), so that even there He will open the door for us and come to our aid in everything. Joy from the coming persecution. How can we not rejoice, having such promises? How can we not rejoice that we are disciples of the Lord? So they persecuted the holy apostles, to whom the Lord said: blessed are you, when they revile you, and destroy you, and say every evil word against you, who lie, for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:11–12). So, the present is worthy of joy and cheerfulness. For it prepares for us joy unspeakable, eternal life and an unending kingdom. It is said: Do not go into the way of the tongue, and do not enter into the city of Samaritan (Matthew 10:5). Attitude towards heretics. This must be understood in relation to heretics 147. Therefore, we will not enter their churches and houses, but we will stay where the son of peace is (Luke 10:6), the seed of godliness (cf. Matt. 13:38), and from there we will receive food, as in former times. Let us beware of those who pretend to hold the truth, who say that they are leaders, but they are not leaders, but deceivers, deceiving and themselves astray, deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim. 3:13), whose judgment is righteous (Rom. 3:8). Let us keep an unwavering faith and an immaculate life, not weakening one by the other, but remaining blameless and perfect in both. The subject of the upcoming confession is the doctrine of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever does not confess that our Lord Jesus Christ can be depicted by painting does not confess that He was visible in the flesh. For to be visible in the flesh and to be an object that can be depicted by painting are one and the same thing. He who does not worship His holy icon does not worship the Lord. For on the icon is the very prototype (τό πρωτότυπον), the icon (εἰκών) appears to the eye and is worshiped as the prototype of the one depicted on it. Although the iconoclasts say that they honor [the Lord], they lie. For it is said: They confess God, but His works are averted (Titus 1:16). The dogma of icon veneration is an apostolic and patristic teaching. We worship Christ and His icon, we worship the Mother of God and Her icon, the saints and their icons. And this is the apostolic teaching that we received from our holy fathers. And I propose to you, children and brethren, to preserve this pledge through the Holy Spirit who lives in you (cf. 2 Tim. 1:14), intact and intact. Pray for us, the humble, that the Lord will give us a word at the opening of our mouth (Eph. 6:19) for an answer, so that we will not be put to shame by our hope and that together with you we will immaculately accomplish the feat that lies ahead of us and achieve the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 52. About abstinence and prayer, said on Friday of Cheese Week 148 Brothers and fathers. Often when I please your life, I do it not flatteringly, but in truth, not wanting to express regret for those living in the world, but trying to make you more diligent. For you yourselves know what is happening in the world today: feasts and drunkenness, festivals and joy, shouting and dancing, and all other actions of the power of the evil one, whose judgment is righteous (Rom. 3:8), as it is written. Monastic life. Our life is not like that. Which one? Day and night we praise the Lord, according to the law handed down to us from our holy fathers. Psalmody follows psalmody, reading follows reading, prayer follows prayer. In thoughts - observation of thoughts, in the heart - concern for Divine words, timely silence, decent conversation. We serve each other, we support each other. Everything with us is determined by measure and weight, although on a holiday there is usually some bodily consolation, and this is appropriate. For listen to what the Lord says to Judas: whatever you do, do it quickly. This is why no one knows from those reclining, to whom he spoke. But I am sure that the ark was named Judas, because Jesus said to him: buy what we require for the feast, or give something to the poor (John 13:27-29). You see that they took care of both the holiday and the poor. This is what we, the humble ones, as you see, try to do. But blessed is God, who has deigned us to partake of such a life: not from the works of righteousness, which we have done (Titus 3:5), for we did nothing good on earth, but by His mercy (Titus 3:5) He called us. Therefore, each of us must always say with a contrite heart: who am I, my Lord, Lord, and what is my house, that you have loved me so much? (2 Samuel 7:18). And this is our business. Life is worldly. You rarely find something like this in the world. For there day follows night in worries about the affairs of this age, in the deception of wealth and in other troubles, so that a person has no time to breathe. Either they are reconciled with each other, or they clash with hostility: oaths and lies, and murder, and theft, and fornication spread over the earth (Hos. 4:2), speaking in prophetic words, and much more that is not easy to retell. Bringing all this to mind, Blessed Chrysostom said that hardly even the most insignificant part of the world will be saved 149. This word is scary, but it is true. Anyone who truly understands such a saying should grieve and grieve over this. Crying and regret for the death of brothers is the work of saints and all Christians. For are we not all brothers to each other? Is it not from the same blood? Are they not from the same land? And if someone sees an animal rushing along a steep slope, will he really not have pity on it? But shouldn’t we more regret the death of our brothers and those who share the same faith with us? Therefore, the blessed apostle wept for the enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:18), praying for them with constant sorrow in his heart. Therefore, the prophet Jeremiah mourned for Israel and left his lament fully expressed in Scripture. Therefore, the great Moses cried out to God: if you forgive them their sin, forgive them; Otherwise, blot me out of Your book (Ex. 32:32). And each of the saints, overwhelmed by such compassion, prayed for others. Therefore, if we wish to follow them, we will not only take care of ourselves, but also pray for the whole world, regretting and mourning those who live a depraved life, those who are established in heresies, those who are deceived, those who are darkened by paganism, and in general, make prayers and supplications for all people (1 Tim. 2:1), as the Apostle commanded us. For by acting in this way, we will benefit ourselves before others, contrite and cleansing ourselves from a passionate lifestyle. Having freed ourselves from it, we will be worthy to achieve eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 53. About fasting and that the true fast of a true novice and obedient is the cutting off of one’s own will 150 Brothers and fathers. Our good God, who gave us life, leading us from year to year, has kindly brought us to the present time of fasting, during which each of the zealous labors as he wishes. One remains in abstinence, fasting for two or three days; the other is in vigil, staying awake for so many or so many nights. One does an unusual amount of kneeling, the other does some other good deed. In general, on these holy days one can observe a lot of zeal and diligence. The feat of obedience has a martyr's crown. The truly obedient does not perform obedience for any specific time, but always has the same feat. What is this feat? So as not to live according to your own will, but to act according to the instructions of the one who leads. It is above all other aspirations and has the crown of martyrdom. However, you also have a change in food, an increase in genuflections, an increase in psalmody, according to the custom formed from the beginning. Therefore, I exhort: let us joyfully accept the gift of fasting, without becoming gloomy (cf. Matthew 6:16), no matter how we study, but with a cheerful heart we will go through Lent without malice, without slander, without anger, without ill will and envy, we will have mutual peace and love, we will be meek, obedient, full of mercy and good fruits, keeping silence in good time, since noise is harmful in the community, saying what we should, for unreasonable silence does not bring any benefit, above all thoughts vigilantly, so as not to open the door to passions, not to give room to the devil (cf. Eph. 4:27). It is said: if the possessing spirit comes against you, do not leave your place (Eccl. 10:4), so that the enemy can tempt, but cannot enter. The gentlemen themselves are above themselves. We are masters over ourselves. Let us not open the door to the devil, but let us preserve our soul, like the bride of Christ, undamaged and untouched by the arrows of thoughts. For in this way we can become a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Thus, we will be worthy to hear: blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8). Briefly speaking, as much as is true, as much as is honest, as much as is righteous, as much as is most pure, as much as is most lovable, as much as is worthy of good praise, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, using the words of the Apostle (Phil. 4:8), let us say: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you all (2 Cor. 13:11) in Christ Jesus our Lord, To whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 54. About fasting and dispassion, said at the beginning of Lent 151 The Salvation and Benefits of Fasting. Brothers and fathers. The time of fasting, in comparison with the whole year, is like a calm pier to which all people flock and receive spiritual peace. The coming time is saving not only for monks, but also for the laity, small and large, superiors and subordinates, kings and priests, for every kind and age. For cities and villages are becoming more and more calm from noise and turmoil; instead, psalmody, hymns, prayers and supplications are proclaimed, with which our good God is propitiated, pacifies our spirit, forgives our sins, if we fall down with a pure heart and cry before Him, promising future improvement. Pastors should talk to the laity about their responsibilities. But the leaders of the churches must have a conversation with the laity about their responsibilities. For just as those who run in a race need the approval of their allies, so those who fast need encouragement from their mentors. I, as the head over you, the most honest ones, will speak to you, and I will do this in a few words. Fasting is a renewal of the soul. For the holy Apostle says: although our outer man decays, yet the inner man is renewed all the days (2 Cor. 4:16). If it is updated, then, of course, it is decorated according to the model of pristine beauty. By adorning himself, he lovingly attracts to himself the One who said: I and the Father will come and make our abode with him (John 14:23). An exhortation to fasting correctly. If the beneficial effect of fasting is usually such that we become God’s dwelling place, then we should accept it with joy, not being burdened by the simplicity of food, knowing that the Lord, who is able to supply a variety of food, supported thousands of people in the desert with just bread and water; knowing then that the unusual, made easier by diligence, will cease to be unpleasant 152. Fasting is not limited to food alone, but requires abstinence from all evil, as our divine fathers said 153. Therefore, I exhort you, let us refrain from carelessness, frivolity, despondency, envy, discord, malice, self-righteousness, and self-will. Let us abstain from harmful carnal lust, because this manifold serpent attacks us even when we fast. The deceitfulness of carnal lust. Let us listen to the one 154 who says: “The fruit that killed me was red in appearance and good in food (Gen. 3:6).” 155 But notice that he calls it beautiful in appearance, and not in nature. For, just as someone who receives a pomegranate apple, decorated with red skin on the outside, later finds it rotten inside, so carnal lust feigns promises of inexpressible sweetness, and when it is satisfied, it turns out to be bitterer than gall and pierces the captive soul more powerfully than a sharpened two-edged sword. This was experienced by our ancestor Adam, who was deceived by the serpent. For when he touched the forbidden food, he found death instead of life. This was experienced by all who were similarly deceived from that time to the present. For just as he himself, being darkness, is transformed into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), so he knows how to transform evil into good, bitter into sweet, dark into light, shameful into beautiful, deadly into life-giving, and the all-evil one does not always cease to deceive the world in this way. By reasoning, remove the veil of pretense from evil. But we, brethren, will not be seduced by its various lures and will not tolerate anything, like birds that greedily pounce on random food and fall into the net of a fowler, but, by reasoning by removing the veils from evil, we will consider it naked and thus easily avoid crime. In addition, let us be ready for the psalmody performed in due time; Let us be diligent in hymns, attentive to the readings, kneeling in a certain amount for each hour, working with our hands, because it is pleasant to work and he who does not work is not worthy to eat (cf. 2 Thess. 3:10). Let us bear each other's burdens (Gal.6:2), because one is weak, the other is strong. Let us use food, drink and other means of life in moderation, so that we will not be jealous in bad deeds, but jealous in good things. Let us be kind to one another in everything, merciful, meek, obedient, filled with mercy and good fruits (Eph.4:32; James 3:17). And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds (Phil. 4:7), and may we be worthy to meet here blamelessly the day of the Resurrection of the Lord, and in the coming age, after the Resurrection of the dead, to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 55. That we establish our imperishable dwelling through the perception of virtues 156 Brothers and fathers. Worldly people, when they are building an expensive house, do not give themselves rest, working day and night, worrying, exhausting themselves until they complete what they are striving for. Imperishable dwelling. And their zeal is so great that their whole mind lives there and thinks about how best to arrange the ceiling, how the floor, decorated with marbles with all its splendor, would provide a pleasant view to lovers of spectacles. And if someone wants to distract them from that concern, they are indignant, as if they had been dealt the greatest insult. But we, creating a dwelling that is not perishable, but incorruptible, not made of stones and wood, but skillfully constructed from spiritual gifts, shall we really be lazy and remain far behind the jealousy of those? Wouldn't this be the greatest injustice of all? That dwelling, having received people devoted to the flesh and having changed many masters, will finally be abandoned and empty. This also receives the Holy Spirit, since we are the church of God, and the Spirit of God lives in us (1 Cor. 3:16), as the divine apostle says. And when we leave here, it goes with us, remaining in heaven indestructible and eternal. But what is the wood of this dwelling? Perception of virtues. Virtues. Take first of all the fear of God, laying it as a kind of foundation, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 110:10), then prudence, courage, chastity, justice, so that [these virtues], holding on to one another and united and made up by the union of love, grow into a holy church in the Lord (Eph. 2:21). 157 We will always build this church, brothers, within ourselves and will not cease to decorate it with the beauty of virtues, so that we may have the Holy Spirit as our dweller, so that by the attractiveness of life we ​​will attract the eyes of Angels and people. But since abstinence is one of the virtues and we practice it more than others, we will give praise to God that we have completed one of its tasks. Flesh and spirit are opposed to each other. Our faces changed compared to the previous, but good change, shining with pallor from abstinence. Our lips were filled with bitterness from gall because of the late eating of food, but our spirit was delighted, being inspired by hope. They oppose each other, and when one wins, the other is usually rendered powerless. The need for daily nutrition during fasting. Perhaps someone will say that eating every day is a lack of perfection 158 . No way. For the Lord would not have commanded us to always ask for our daily bread (Luke 11:3); the prophet Elijah would not have been fed every day by a raven in the wilderness (1 Kings 17:6); Paul 159, who settled in the desert before the divine Anthony, would not have received daily bread from above; the great Anthony himself would not prefer eating food every day, even a little, to fasting for more than one day or a week 160. And this, it seems to me, is for this reason. Our body, exhausted by the labors of the whole day, weakens in the senses, like a racehorse, and needs rest, therefore the Creator of nature arranged it so that it should be strengthened by daily nutrition and remain capable of further work, and not be upset and weak, which is experienced by those who fast for two or three or five 161 days. For they cannot bow often, nor sing psalms loudly, nor perform other services easily, except if this happens supernaturally (εἰ μή τι ἄρα, ὑπερφυές τὁ γινόμενον) 162 . So, daily nutrition is not only for the imperfect, but also for the perfect, to a certain extent and according to the rule. Know well that everything with us is established according to the rules of the fathers. And may we be given more and more health of body and strength of spirit 163 so that we can work for God living and in truth and wait for (1 Thess. 1:9-10) the last day when you will shine like the sun (cf. Matt. 13:43), inheriting the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever forever and ever. Amen. Announcement 56. That we should not strain ourselves beyond our strength in divine pursuits and feed the soul with spiritual contemplations 164 Brothers and fathers. Since every beginning is difficult, the onset of fasting with a change in food and activities introduces some difficulty and severity. However, it is eased and softened by diligence and perseverance. Therefore, it is written: any punishment at the present time does not seem to be joy, but sorrow; Afterwards, the fruit is peaceful to those who are taught and rewards righteousness (Heb. 12:11). Zeal and carelessness. Therefore, we too, having been honored to live one week of fasting, in the future, thanks to experience, we will become even more zealous, knowing that zeal (ἡ προϑνμία) strengthens the soul and body, making the heavy light and the burdensome bearable, while carelessness (ἡ ραϑυμία), on the contrary, makes the light heavy and the bearable burdensome. Of course, we will not strain ourselves beyond our strength in our studies, but together with good spirits we will protect the health of the body. For what is the use of first going quickly and then quickly falling? Isn't it better to walk carefully, paying attention to the tension of your temporary home 165? But since a day spent in [excessive] efforts usually causes despondency (ἀκηδία) 166, let us feed our soul with good activities and spiritual contemplations, so that it does not dwell in worldly affairs, which are associated with frivolity, confusion, suffering and bitterness, but in matters of sweetness and joy. It is said: I remembered God and rejoiced (Ps. 77:4). Subjects of spiritual reflection. So, our mind must be directed to God, to the contemplation of heavenly things, to the beauties of paradise, to eternal places of residence, to the choirs of Angels, to the way of life where the souls of the righteous and sinners now find themselves; must be directed toward what the appearance of our great God Jesus Christ will be like when, according to the sacred word, the heavens pass by with a noise, the elements are destroyed when they are burned, and the earth and the works on it are burned up (2 Pet. 3:10); then - to how each soul will perceive its body, how numerous this collection of people will be from Adam until the end of the century, what is the greatness of the terrible face of Christ, which surpasses the sun in its radiance, what kind of His voice we will hear; finally, what will be the condition of the righteous who have received the Kingdom of Heaven, and of the sinners who have been sent to eternal torment. About this, brethren, we must care and meditate, in this we must revolve, as being outside the world, as having our residence in heaven (cf. Phil. 3:20) and having nothing in common with those who live according to the flesh. In these reflections one must lament, weep and be enlightened in order to lead a peaceful life here and have the hope of achieving future eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 57. About protecting our soul from destructive passions 167 Brothers and fathers. After fasting for the first week, we seem to each other somewhat different compared to how we were before, thinner and paler. The benefits of fasting for the soul. But even if our outer man decays, yet our inner man is renewed all the days (2 Cor. 4:16), as the apostle says. For as we usually see the body from good nutrition - blooming and full, the soul becomes like this from abstinence, so that by humbling the body, we acquire the beauty of the soul, that beauty that David desired and prayed: Lord, by your will give strength to my kindness (Ps. 29:8). By this same beauty, as Blessed Paul affirms, we are betrothed to Christ: for I have betrothed you to one husband to present a pure virgin to Christ. I am afraid that, just as the serpent deceived Eve with his wickedness, your minds will also be corrupted from the simplicity of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2-3). The soul is the bride of Christ. Do you see the greatness of the gift, since we are worthy to have Christ as our bridegroom? Do you see how the betrothed person fears for our firmness? Therefore, our soul is like a betrothed virgin. Just as such a virgin abstains from seeing her husbands, remaining in her palace and making every effort to keep herself pure until the time of her wedding comes, so our soul must, with all diligence, keep itself pure from the destructive passions of sin until the very end, when it, leaving its body, as if from a certain palace, if it is well-behaved, shining with good deeds, will delight the holy Angels, and completely fair. If she is disfigured by sin, she will please the demons as an insult to Christ, which is sad to talk about and think about. For this reason we torment our flesh and treat it cruelly; like chains, we restrain the impulses of the body so that it does not throw down the driver - the mind (νοῦς) - not only at the present time, but throughout life. What is ascetic life? For what is ascetic life if not curbing passions, mastery over thoughts and constant struggle with invisible enemies? Isn't this unfortunate for the flesh? But even now our light sorrow, when it is multiplied into prosperity, will make the burden of eternal glory for us, who are not seen by us, but unseen (2 Cor. 4:17-18). Exhortation. So, for the sake of invisible blessings, angels desire to enter into marriage (1 Peter 1:12), for the sake of the bridegroom Jesus Christ, to whom we are betrothed, I exhort and ask you, brethren, to keep your soul pure from evil deeds and from unclean thoughts that defile us, as the Lord said. Let us not think at all about anything bad, for from thoughts, like from fire, lust is kindled, but we will continue to stay away from passions, driving away the tempter at the very beginning of his attack, decorating the soul with good deeds, diligently adhering to the feat of abstinence that lies ahead of us, so that, having left here clean, we will ascend to heaven with inexpressible joy and enjoy the joys of the heavenly bridal chamber in Christ Jesus our Lord, To whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 58. About unanimity and love and that we courageously endure the labors of virtue to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven 168 Brothers and fathers. I, the humble one, rejoice for you that you walk with one mind, live in peace with each other and patiently endure the time of fasting. This [leads] to your salvation, this [serves] to your hope. The great blessing of peace and unanimity. For what a great blessing is peace and unanimity in the community, when evil deeds are eliminated: disorder and unrest, disputes and slander, disobedience, arrogance and all other evils! Such 169, first of all, do good themselves, then they bring the greatest benefit to others by being an example of virtue for them. For just as those who are the cause of temptation are the heirs of the curse, so those who improve in virtue inherit the blessing. Love to God. Let us never, my brethren, fall away from this glorious state, from this praiseworthy way of life, and let us never cease to love God, for it is written: Thou shalt love the Lord God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30). He who really loves like this does not become satiated, does not fall, is not careless, but adds more and more fire to fire, ignites desire with desire, setting the ascension of virtues in his heart and going from strength to spiritual strength (cf. Ps. 84:5-7). And he does this continuously. Do you not see how much those who work carnally care about vain and corruptible things? Don’t you see how the shipbuilders who are here, before your eyes, work for whole days without giving themselves any rest? For what? To get some gold to deliver what they need to their families. But we, who work to enrich ourselves with the Divine, to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven, to enjoy eternal blessings, in order to avoid eternal torment, will we really not endure everything with all zeal and vigilance, ready to shed blood for the Lord, if necessary? Idleness is the mother of depravity, work is the preservation of the mind. My brothers, I urge you, let us be courageous at all costs, rejoicing in hope, enduring sorrow, remaining in prayer (Rom. 12:12), doing our work - psalmody, poetry, reading, so that with such activity we can keep our mind, distracting it from wasting time on vain affairs, since idleness is the mother of depravity, and work is the preservation of the mind. Therefore, let us not deviate from our way of life, valuing even more obedience, order, assistance to our neighbors and everything else that accomplishes the salvation of our souls, above all praying for our brothers scattered here and there. For woe to me if I do not see with my own eyes that each of them is saved. However, they too will earnestly pray for me, the humble one, that the Lord may give me the word to open my mouth (Eph. 6:19) and a blameless life, so that you and we may attain salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 59. That we should meekly and joyfully complete the days of fasting in the hope of eternal life 170 Brothers and fathers. Fasting is wonderful if it has what is characteristic of it, that is, peace, meekness, decorum, obedience, humility, compassion and so many other types of virtues. The devil seeks to instill in those who fast the completely opposite and make them arrogant, angry, irritable, arrogant, in order to completely destroy the benefit they have received. But we are not unaware of his plans (2 Cor. 2:11). The benefits of fasting for the soul. Let us go through our lives peacefully, meekly, calmly and steadfastly, enduring each other with love (Eph. 4:2), knowing that it is pleasing to God. For even if you bend your neck like a ring and cover yourself with sackcloth and ashes, even then you will not become pleasing to Him if you do not have this. Without a doubt, fasting torments and exhausts the body, but the soul develops and blossoms. For it is said: although our outer man decays, yet our inner man is renewed all the days (2 Cor. 4:16). And again: for now our light sorrow, after it has been multiplied into success, will make us the burden of eternal glory (2 Cor. 4:17). Therefore, with reward in mind, let us patiently endure the labors of virtue, giving thanks to God and the Father, who has called us to partake of the inheritance of the saints in the light (cf. Col. 1:12), who has delivered us from the power of darkness and placed us in the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13). Don’t we partake of His most pure Body and Blood every day? What could be nicer than this? What could bring more pleasure? After all, those who participate [in the sacrament of the Eucharist] with a clear conscience receive eternal life. Don’t we talk every day with the divine David and other holy fathers, reading their works? What could be more comforting than this for the soul? Difference between joy and pleasure. Have we not completely renounced worldly morals and relatives according to the flesh? What could be more blissful and sublime than this? Because our life is in heaven, from there we also wait for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humility, so that he may be conformed to the body of His glory, according to His operation He can enable Him to subdue all things (Phil. 3:20-21). Therefore, my brothers, let us rejoice and be glad (cf. Matthew 5:12), despising all pleasure. For all flesh is like hay, and all the glory of man is like the flower of grass. The grass is gone, and its flower falls away (Is. 40:6), but the work of virtue endures forever. If any of you suffers, says the brother of the Lord, let him pray; is anyone happy? let him sing (James 5:13). If anyone is tempted by an evil passion - for the tempter is always active - let him endure, listening to him who says: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; having been previously skilled, he receives the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). If you know this, blessed are you, if you do (John 13:17), said the Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 60. About unexpected departure from this life and that one should firmly guard one’s feelings and mind from evil lusts 171 Brothers and fathers. In the presence of the holy father and teacher, we do not need to talk 172. However, as is our habit, we will say little. Our life, as you can see, is passing day by day, we are approaching death, and we must leave here and venerate ourselves to our brothers and fathers. Therefore, a lot of wakefulness, attention and readiness of the heart are needed. We heard the story of the flood, which is being read today, we hear the Lord saying in the Gospel: just as in the days of Noah, I ate, feasted, married, bought, sold (Luke 17:26-28), and suddenly the flood came; so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. And perhaps we are surprised by those who lived at that time, how insensitive they were and did not turn out to be more trembling and fearful. Let us take care that what we condemn does not suddenly befall us. Now the ark is not being built, which will be completed in a hundred years, but every day they see how the tomb 173 is filled, into which we will also enter. Now death acts every day, when each of our brothers leaves one by one. The present is more terrible than what was then. Therefore, you must be careful. I don’t say: let’s not eat, let’s not drink, let’s not put on clothes. That's not what I'm saying. But whether we eat, drink, or do anything else, we will do everything for the glory of God, without giving temptation to either the Jews, or the Greeks, or the Church of God (see 1 Cor. 10:31-32), as the Apostle teaches. Storage of feelings and mind. So, I urge and beseech you, my brethren: fulfill my joy, that you may also be wise, the same love, as the apostle again says, rich, of one accord, of one mind: nothing through zeal or vanity, but through humility of mind, creating honor for one another (Phil. 2:2-3). Let us protect our senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, through which death enters. Let us curb our mind so that it does not get carried away by what it should not, does not deviate into shameful deeds, does not paint bad images, does not embrace sinful desires, from which we receive neither benefit nor pleasure; on the contrary, we become even more sad and contrite, not achieving anything good. One rest and one pleasure - to cleanse the soul and turn one’s gaze to dispassion. Let us not be careless, we are called to the peace and joy of dispassion, but let us hasten and strive with intense care to correct every vice. And God will be a helper, for the Lord is close to those who wait for Him. And thus living, may we attain the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 61. About the fact that we should not plunge ourselves into temptation, and about fasting 174 Brothers and fathers. Yesterday there was excitement, today there is silence; Yesterday there was a will, and today there is peace. But blessed is God, who drove away temptation and strengthened us to remain steadfast in anticipation of what is threatened with us. The property of true Christians, true monks. This is characteristic of true Christians, this is characteristic of true monks - to always be prepared for dangers for the sake of virtue and not consider anything preferable to the commandments of God. Those who came 175 said what they said and left, not so much striking us with fear as being ashamed themselves. The Lord will give you the full reward for choosing to be persecuted for Him. For, being rich in mercy, He crowns the one who chooses good for one purpose 176. However, the temptation has not been dispelled, but it still remains, and especially now, because everywhere there are commands from rulers that no one should remain uninvolved in the heretical community. Therefore, let us obey the apostle, who says: walk in wisdom among those who are outside, the time is redeeming. Let your word always be in grace, mixed with salt, leading as it is fitting for you alone to answer each other (Col. 4:5-6). With these words, He teaches us not to plunge ourselves into temptation at any chance, > and, on the other hand, not to remain silent about the word of God. For it is said: if he is offended, My soul does not take pleasure in him (Heb. 10:38). But enough of that. Fasting, tears, prayer, love, jealousy. Fasting has already moved forward enough and encourages us, brothers, to move forward with greater and greater zeal. Every person has the will to have in his heart, not out of sorrow, nor out of need: God loves a faster willingly (2 Cor. 9:7). However, the social rule does not allow everyone to live the way they want; but this is the limit of abstinence for the obedient - cutting off one’s will (τοῦ οἰκείου ϑελήματος ἐκκοπή). Fasting is good because it tames passions and subordinates the flesh to the spirit. A tear is good because it cleanses and washes the soul from sins and presents it pure to the Lord. Prayer is good because it inspires the mind and makes it an interlocutor with God. Love is good because everywhere it despises its own in favor of its neighbor. Jealousy is good because it makes work easier, it makes the spirit young and the old man is disposed to act with youthful speed. Exhortation. Therefore, let us be complacent and diligent. Psalmody time? Let's go through it diligently. Doing time? We will work hard. Time for silence? Let's remain silent wisely. Chatting time? Let's talk in moderation. In a word, let us do everything gracefully and in order (1 Cor. 14:40), as we are commanded, staying out of confusion and all strife. Let as many bows be made and ordinary poetry be performed as much and as each person’s strength allows, taking care of the health of the body. And may the God of peace lead us to the ruler of days 177, the Resurrection of Christ, and make us worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, where there is no food and drink, but truth and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). May we receive them abundantly in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 62. That we imitate the sufferings of the Lord 178 Brothers and fathers. How fortunate it was that we left that monastery! 179 Why is my freedom judged by another conscience? (1 Cor. 10:29). And why should we still ruin ourselves in vain? We adapted as best we could and as time allowed. Now, when they have not accepted for Christ - for the time itself demands this - it is necessary to listen (as some do) to the prophet who says: come out from among them, separate yourself (Is. 52:11). If others act differently in this regard, they themselves will answer before the Lord on the Day of Judgment. It seems to me that joining them is the same as being indifferent towards heretics. You see that separation from them removes us from the world and at the same time leads us to tribulation, hardship, hunger, persecution, prison and death. But in all these we are victorious for the sake of those who love God (Rom. 8:37), who, when he sees a soul thirsting for Him, gives it strength so that it can endure torment for Him, as the forty martyrs we recently commemorated together with others testify. For we cannot say that they were of a different nature compared to the one we have. But since they loved God from a true heart, they strengthened themselves in their weak flesh to defeat the invisible enemy and accomplish such and such a great feat that all Christians sing about. And indeed, blessed is the one who was worthy to be a partaker of the sufferings of Christ at least to some extent: persecuted - because He was also persecuted, captured - because He was also taken, mocked - because He was reviled, suffered scourging - because He also suffered, imprisoned - because He was also imprisoned in it. That is why it is written: if we die with Him, we will live with Him; If we endure, we will reign with Him; if we reject, He will also reject us; Even if we do not believe, He remains faithful; He cannot deny himself (2 Tim. 2:11–13). You see what and how great the promises and threats are. Let us henceforth strain our strength and strive, so as not to disgrace what we have endured by the grace of Christ: exile, prison, scourges. Although we were not all imprisoned and not all were scourged, such communion of life is also a communion of suffering. For if one oud suffers, all ouds suffer with it; If one ud is glorified, all uds rejoice with him (1 Cor. 12:26). Let us continue to be one body and one spirit, as we are also called, in the one hope of our calling (Eph. 4:4), having Christ as our head, so that we may please God and attain the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 63. The Legend of Christians Killed in Bulgaria on Holy Pentecost because of Eating Meat 181 Brothers and fathers. In this teaching, I want to position you for consolation with a certain legend 182. This is the story. In Bulgaria, as those who know this well say, an evil decree was issued by the local ruler so that the Christians and our brothers in captivity there should eat meat on the days of the Holy Pentecost: those who obey this should be allowed to live, and those who do not obey should be killed. This command of the wicked received great force. The people gathered with their wives and children; a lot of crying and sobbing - either on the part of those devoted to the Christian law, or on the part of those who were afraid of bodily death; finally - alas, sad news! - they are defeated, defeated by bowing to the wicked command. Fourteen of them, having separated, began, on the contrary, to convince them not to yield, not to obey and not to eat meat contrary to the Christian law. At these words, the people began to attack them and convince them to give in to necessity, not to give themselves up to death so easily, and then, having repented, to turn again. But nothing could convince and soften them, looking at God and the promised bliss. So, the Scythian, seeing the firm opposition on the part of these men, decided through one to win over the others to his side; Having killed this, he immediately gave his children and wife into slavery to the Scythians, hoping that others, struck by this, would be forced to come over to his side. But they remained even more adamant, crying out: “We are Christians and hold on to the part of our deceased brother.” In this confession they were beaten to death and died in the Lord. So, you see, brethren, that even now the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is still in force. Whoever loves his father or mother more than Me is worthy of Me; and whoever loves a son or daughter more than Me is worthy of Me. Below he will not accept his cross and will come after Me, not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:37–38). And again: do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: fear him more than he who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). They obeyed the gospel commandments, were obedient to the Lord and were crowned with the crown of martyrdom, imitating the holy Maccabees, doubling the number, since there were seven of them and fourteen of these. And those suffered because they did not taste pork, and these - because they did not accept any meat contrary to the Christian law: this seems to be much higher, for those were completely forbidden to use pork, but they were allowed to take any meat out of need, and they would not have been condemned, as St. Basil says 183. But since a command came from the Scythians, which meant a renunciation of the faith, they did not take it down, but considered everything to be of secondary importance because of their love for Christ. O blessed men! O blessed purchase - in one moment of time to acquire eternal peace! What will those who do not consider communication with heretics to be renunciation say to this? Eucharistic communion with heretics. For if there the renunciation of the people was accomplished through eating meat, much more is it accomplished here through communion in an unholy sacrifice. Where are those who say that suffering for the icon of Christ is not martyrdom? For if there the crown of martyrdom belongs to those who did not eat meat, then how much more glorious is the martyrdom of those who did not renounce Christ! However, they, being dark people themselves, say unreasonable things, trying to confuse others with their misfortunes. Exhortation to Confession. We, brethren, will glorify our good God, who glorifies those who glorify Him, who even in our age reveals martyrs, thinking also that if people, simple in appearance and little learned, having a wife and children, leave everything because of love for Christ, then how much more should we, who have no wives and have renounced the world, appear like saints when the time demands it. But this is on a certain day and when Christ calls. Now let us stand in martyrdom, which occurs incessantly in the conscience. Let us not bow our knees before Baal (1 Kings 19:18), let us not yield to him, brethren, being smitten with thoughts, but rather let us quench the kindled arrows of the evil one (cf. Eph.6:16) with tears, prayers, contrition and other torments of the flesh, so that we too can speak with the apostle: I am dying all the days, such is your praise, brethren, I am also imam in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Cor. 15:31) and with Saint David: For your sake we are put to death all the day long, counted as sheep of the slaughter (Ps. 43:23). With them, may we be worthy to be heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Annunciation 64. About the Economy and Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ and what should be spiritually celebrated, said on the day of the Annunciation Brothers and fathers. The Annunciation has arrived - and the first of the feasts of the Lord, and we must celebrate not simply, as many do, but with understanding and reverence for the sacrament. What kind of sacrament is this? And the fact that the Son of God becomes the son of man, having chosen the Holy Virgin, dwelling in Her, from Her building a church for Himself and becoming fully human. The purpose of incarnation. For what? Let him redeem those under the law, as it is written, so that we may receive sonship (Gal. 4:5), so that we are no longer slaves, but free, no longer passionate, but dispassionate, no longer loving the world, but loving God, walking no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh, the carnal, are wise, and those who are according to the Spirit, the spiritual. Wisdom for carnal death is; and spiritual wisdom is the life and the world. For the wisdom of the flesh is enmity against God: for it does not submit to the law of God, for it can do less. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:5-8). This, in short, is the power of the sacrament. And therefore we must spiritually celebrate and behave spiritually - in truth and reverence, in love, meekness, in peace, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 6:6), so as not to show the Economy of our Lord Jesus Christ as vain and ineffective in relation to us. However, we must pray and grieve for the whole world. Why? Because the Son of God came to save the world, and the world rejected Him. Who denies the Son of God. Tribes and languages ​​reject Him. The barbarian nations reject Him. Those who are called by His holy name also reject Him, some by their vicious lives, others by their perverted faith. What should He have done and did not do? Being God, He became man, humbled Himself, being obedient even to the point of death, death on the cross (Phil. 2:8), gave us to eat His Body and drink His Blood, deigned to call Him our father, brother, head, teacher, bridegroom, joint heir, and He did everything else that there is no need to talk about. And yet He is rejected [by them] and endures it. For it is said: I came not that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world (John 12:47). What should we, brothers, say to this? Grief and prayer for the whole world of true disciples of Christ. The fact that true disciples grieve over the renunciation of their fellow disciples, thereby showing their love for both the Teacher and the disciples; in the same way, true slaves suffer at heart during the rebellions of their fellows. Therefore, the great apostle commands that prayers, supplications, petitions, thanksgivings be made for all people, for the king and for all who are in power (1 Tim. 2:1-2). In another place he says the same about himself: I speak the truth about Christ, I do not lie, my conscience obeying me through the Holy Spirit, for my sorrows are great and an unceasing illness to my heart: I prayed for I myself was excommunicated from Christ according to my brethren, my relatives in the flesh (Rom. 9: 1-3). Do you see the power of love? Do you see the height of favor? Moses also shows the same thing, saying to God: if you forgive them their sin, forgive it; Otherwise, blot me out of Your book, You have written me down (Ex. 32:32). Thus, we, as true and unfalse disciples, must not only take care of ourselves, but also about our brothers and the whole world, grieve and pray for them. For by thus doing what is pleasing to God, we will become heirs of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Brothers and fathers. Since the Annunciation has arrived, I will try to tell you something brief about the Annunciation in order to show from here how great is the vow of virginity that we are honored to take. The greatness of virginity. For to whom did the Angel Gabriel say: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you (Luke 1:28)? Isn't it the Holy Virgin Mary? And from whom did God and the Word Himself incarnate and become man? Is it not from that same blessed Virgin? So, virginity produced the Life of all. Virginity is the queen of virtues. Virginity is the bride and bride-bearer of Christ. And if you wish, let us listen to blessed Paul, who says: he who is not married cares for the Lord, how he may please the Lord; But he who gets married worries about the things of the world, how to please his wife. The wife and maiden were separated. The one who has not violated the law cares about the Lord, how to please the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit; but the one who encroaches is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband (1 Cor. 7:32–34). Do you see the power of the word, how someone who is married does not have free time to take care of the things of the Lord, but only cares about the things of the world? Therefore, virginity had a good part. For in the Kingdom of Heaven, virginity is given primacy. That is why it is written in the Apocalypse of St. John: these are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, but are virgins: these will follow the Lamb, even if He goes (Rev. 14:4). This is the advantage that those who have chosen virginity, who follow Christ and rejoice with Him, have been awarded! But pay attention, brethren, that the higher and more wonderful this virtue is, the stronger and the destroyer of our life tries to bring us down primarily over other passions with the passion opposite [to this virtue]. And who could count how many he has overthrown since the beginning of time? In Asia and at the present time, a dragon, as I heard from someone who knows this well, was able to seduce a husband who had labored and wondrously for many years in his life, so that he not only completely renounced the holy state, but also seduced a woman. What could be sadder than this? Such are the tricks of the devil and such are the results of his [activities]. Exhortation. We, brothers, I exhort, let us guard ourselves like the apple of our eye, being ashamed of our bridegroom, Christ, not handing over the treasure entrusted to us to keep the virginity of virginity, so as not to experience what the fish endure, which, being deceived by the bait, swallow the bait and find death. For carnal lust is a bait that destroys and does not give pleasure, which is deadly and not life-giving. May we be delivered from it by the power of God and for the future remain pure and blameless as long as we breathe, so that, having left here victoriously, we may reach the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 66. About the fact that this Easter is an image of the future and eternal Easter, and about patience and courage 184 Easter is temporary and eternal. Brothers and fathers. Pentecost has already passed, and the soul rejoices at the onset of Easter, since during it it hopes to rest and be freed from many works. Why did I start this speech? Because our whole life, heading towards eternal Easter, directs speech towards the same thing. For although this Easter is important and sacred, it is, as our fathers teach, an image of that Easter 185. For this Passover occurs for one day and passes away; the same - continuous Easter. Hence there is sorrow, sorrow and lamentation. There is joy, joy and eternal triumph; there is the noise of those celebrating, the choir of those praising and the contemplation of eternal light, where is the blessed meal of Christ, where is the meal filled with eternal blessings, and the new drink about which Christ said: the Imam will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink with you new in the Kingdom of My Father (Matthew 26:29). He spoke to his disciples about this Kingdom, intending to ascend into heaven: I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am, you too will be. And even as I go, I know, and I know the way (John 14:2–4). And in another place again: in that day you will understand that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you (John 14:20). And in another place: Father, these which you have given to Me, I will, that even where I am, they also may be with Me, that they may see My glory, which you have given to Me, because you loved Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). Since this concerned not only the apostles, but also us, He said again: I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe their word in Me. That you may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us (John 17:20–21). What could be more comforting than these words? What could be more convincing? What soul can they not soften? The reason for the patience of the saints. What kind of heart can they not bring to tenderness, even if someone were to talk about stone nature, let alone about the human heart? Reflecting on this, the saints endured what they endured, considering grief as joy, cramped space as space, struggle as pleasure, exploits as rest, death as life. The machinations of the devil. Therefore, we, my brethren, since we are seized by the same desire and are looking for the same Easter, I exhort you to boldly and courageously endure the present, without losing heart, without being lazy, but getting even more excited, watching the evil serpent, cunning in his machinations against us, who takes the form of a bright Angel (cf. 2 Cor. 11:4), presents things differently in comparison with what they are [in reality]: he shows darkness with light and bitter with sweet 186. In this way he seduced our forefather by deceiving his sight and showing [him] that which was not so beautiful, and then expelling him from paradise because of eating. But we, having learned from experience what a deceiver he is, will not leave the paradise of the Divine commandments, and every time he begins to show us a beautiful fruit, we will not direct our spiritual and physical gaze there, since we are seduced, but we will avoid looking at him in every possible way. What is this fruit that seems beautiful? Carnal love, vicious desire for each of the destructive passions. Avoiding them, my brothers, let us keep in memory our experience and celebrate the eternal Passover with all the saints in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 67. That the daily celebration and celebration of Easter to the Lord God consists in the mortification of passions and the resurrection of virtues 187 Brothers and fathers. The day of Easter is approaching, since with God's help we have crossed the middle of Lent. But why do we strive to achieve this Easter, which comes and goes? Have we not done it for many periods of years? And the real Easter will pass. For nothing is permanent in the present age. But our days pass away like a shadow (Ps. 143:4), and our life strives like a swift horseman until it brings us to the end of life. Well, they say, isn’t Easter desirable? Of course, desired, and very much so. Why not? Daily Easter. But Passover is celebrated daily. Which one is it? Cleansing of sins, contrition of the heart, tears of compunction, purity of conscience, mortification of the evils of fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust and every other active vice that exists on earth (cf. Col. 3:5). For the one who is worthy to be in such a mood, not once a year, but, so to speak, celebrates Easter every day and celebrates the much-desired holiday to the Lord God. Whoever does not have what was said before, but is obsessed with passions, does not have this celebration. For how can one who has a belly with God celebrate (cf. Phil.3:19), who is inflamed with carnal lust, who is tormented by envy; who is immersed in the love of money, who is enslaved by vanity, who is overwhelmed by other passions? Unless someone would say that the one who suffers from a fever rests, and the one who suffers a shipwreck sails safely. But these speeches are unacceptable. For it is impossible for one who is in darkness to be light and who cooperates with sins to celebrate. The Bliss of Monastic Life. Concerning you, brethren, we are convinced of the best and heading towards salvation. After all, our life is nothing more than preparation for the holiday. For look at what is happening [with us]. Psalmody follows psalmody, reading after reading, teaching after teaching, prayer after prayer, like some kind of circle, leading us to God and uniting us with Him. How truly beautiful, extremely beautiful this way of life is! How blessed and blessed is such a life! Therefore, when the desired Easter is indicated to us, we will strive for this, dear brethren, and we will celebrate this, as much as we can, every day through the mortification of passions and the resurrection of virtues, in imitation of the Lord, for He also suffered for us; leave us an image, so that we may follow His footsteps (1 Pet. 2:21). I say this not so that we become a judge of others: each one will bear his own burden (Gal. 6:5), but also so that we, feeling the grace given to us from God, thank the Giver, glorify the Benefactor, give thanks to the Master, who not only gave the present, but will reward those who work diligently to Him to the end with the promised blessings, that eternal Easter in heaven. May we all achieve it through the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 68. About the fact that we must henceforth be renewed through patiently enduring the temptations that befall us, both visible and invisible 188 Brothers and fathers. Since winter has passed and spring has come, we see that everything is blooming, that is, plants are blooming, the earth is producing greenery, birds are singing, everything else is being renewed. Contemplation of the meaning of God's creations: lessons for the soul. And on this occasion we rejoice and glorify the best artist - God, Who annually changes and renews His creation, and this is understandable. For His invisible, from the creation of the world, was conceived by created things; His essence, and His ever-present power and Divinity are visible (Rom. 1:20). We must not stop here only, but go further and, using the example of ourselves, contemplate the meaning of creations (τόν τῆς κτίσεως λόγον). How? [Please note] that this update is due to winter. After all, creation would not have reached a flourishing state if there had not been snow, rain and winds before. The same thing happens with the soul. If it was not previously overwhelmed by grief, difficulties and misfortunes, then it will not blossom and bear fruit. Having endured [this], he will bear fruit and receive blessings from God, as it is written: For the earth which has drunk the rain that comes in abundance and brings forth good things in the same way as it does, receives blessings from God (Heb. 6:7). Therefore, we, brethren, will endure every grief, every oppression, every temptation, whether visible or invisible, even fasting, which we spend, hungry and thirsty and otherwise exhausted, in order to bear fruit and receive the blessing of God; and not only for this, but also so that we can nourish Christ and welcome Him. God feeds on the beauty of our soul. For just as we are nourished by the contemplation of creation, so He is nourished by the beauty of our soul. What are the fruits? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). With this He feeds, with this He is accepted. And blessed is he who feeds Him, because He will feed him with eternal blessings; and blessed is he who receives Him, because He too will receive Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Alas! If someone has received an earthly king into his home, he is very happy and happy. Much more [should he rejoice and be glad] who welcomes into his home the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That He is accepted is clear from the words that He said: “I and the Father will come and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). And again: if you have My commandments and keep them, you will love Me; but he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and I will appear to him Myself (John 14:21). since these are the promises, we will not only endure [with sorrow], but also with joy we will endure everything that is present and what is being talked about and what is expected, listening to the apostle who says: now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, for I am fulfilling the deprivation of the sorrows of Christ in my flesh for His body, which is the Church (Col. 1:24), and Saint James convincing: have all joy, my brethren, always The temptations you fall into are different, knowing that the temptation of your faith will work through patience: but let patience be perfect, so that you may be complete and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). You see that in temptation there is joy and in sorrow there is pleasure. For this is what happens when we endure according to God. This is how the saints lived. So we too, by mastering ourselves and forcing ourselves and following in their footsteps, we inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 69. That those who have spent their lives in oppression and cramped conditions enjoy some carefree and ineffable pleasure 189 Brothers and fathers. Every person who begins speech and deed experiences oppression and difficulty at the beginning, but at the end of the feat there is joy and joy. Therefore, the farmer, as it is sung, sows in tears, but reaps in joy (Ps. 125:5); and a commander, going to war, is naturally sad, but returning from war, he is overly happy. Therefore, we, having come to the end of abstinence, no longer remember the torment of previous exploits, but rejoice in the present and glorify the Lord. Oh, if only you would continue to be distinguished by your good deeds! A godly time of fasting. For I testify to you that you rightly completed the time of fasting - unquarrelsomely, calmly, obediently, in contrition of heart, each having fulfilled his ministry well. And let thanks be to the mighty God, who strengthened you to do this. From here, brethren, let us take an example for the end of this life, when each of us rests from his works, when Christ appears (Col. 3:4), when he delivers the kingdom to God and the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power (1 Cor. 15:24), as it is written. Saints. For then the saints will not experience suffering and exploits because of virtue, but will forever enjoy some carefree and ineffable pleasure. Who is this? Glorious before the Law 190 and in the Law are the fathers and prophets, like Abraham, like Moses; in Grace - the blessed apostles, the victorious martyrs, the whole face of the saints. Besides them and before them is the great Forerunner, whose imitator Plato, our reverend father, was honored to be in his denunciation of the adulterous king. We are honored to celebrate his memory today 191. But since a good teacher must also have good students, so that a tree can be recognized by its fruit (cf. Luke 6:44), I urge and ask: we too will walk according to the same rule and along the same paths that he and our other fathers and brothers walked, omitting nothing from either the feat or the upcoming confession. For you, of course, have already heard what unfortunate Alexander did: he renounced both obedience and confession. And why did he put up with it? Was it because he was secluded (I often reproach those who live alone for this), and was it because he was a lover of money, like Judas? Both of them betrayed the Lord of glory: one - to the Jews, the other - to the iconoclasts, like-minded with the Jews. Therefore, the apostle rightly cries out: the love of money is the root of all evil, which is what Nice desires, having strayed from the faith, and brought many diseases to himself (1 Tim. 6:10). Here I would like to censure some of you, and quite rightly so. For what? Because when he, reckless, was power-hungry and strived for primacy, you, who jokingly attacked him, proclaimed him a priest. And he, at the instigation of the devil, brought the joke into action. > Oh, what the unfortunate person has suffered! He suffered shipwreck in faith, lost the gifts of virtue, saddened us, the humble, [and also] offended, as far as it depended on himself, the Church of God. But may our good God, who brings out the soul immersed there from the depths of destruction, call to Himself from the fall of one time and him, who repented, mercifully treat your haste and idle talk, and save us all in His Heavenly Kingdom in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 70. That we endure all torment in imitation of Christ and the saints 192 Brothers and fathers. Perhaps the previous announcement, showing that trials await us, saddened you. But because these words have spoken to you, says the Lord, your hearts will be filled with sorrow. But I tell you the truth (John 16:6–7). And again the apostle: for me to speak is not lazy, but to you it is firm (Phil. 3:1). Therefore, I exhort you, let us protect ourselves with all spiritual caution. And if what they are talking about turns into action, we will meet it valiantly with the help of God. If not, then even in this case it will not be useless for us, since our good God approves of such preparation and, in addition to labors and blows, crowns those who choose them. Pentecost is already at its end, and time has brought its good crown, that is, the remembrance of the life-giving passion of the Savior, in which we can receive the greatest consolation. For if the Lord and our God was taken for our sins, what is important if we, unworthy servants, are taken for Him? It is a blessing to be a partaker of the passion of Christ. And if He was bound and bound and taken away and imprisoned, what wonder is it if we endure the same for the Master? Of course, it is too painful that we did not forestall Him in such great torment. But even if we were to be scourged, we will endure the scourging; if we had to endure beatings, we would endure them too; if we had to be spat upon, we would endure the spitting; finally, if we had to die, we will suffer a glorious death. Heavenly pleasures and the glory of the saints. And good for him who is worthy in some way to be a fellow-partner of the passion of Christ. What bliss! Here is immortality! Do we not hear what the apostle says: other things, let no one give me labor: for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body (Gal. 6:17). He seemed to say this: “Let no one despise me, for I wear on my body the ornaments of the All-King Christ.” Such was Saint Ignatius, who called himself the God-Bearer because he bore the suffering of Christ 193. Such was Saint Eustratius 194, who during the most torment cried out and said: “Now I know that Christ lives in me.” O blessed words! O blessed souls! For whose memory are we commemorating? Whose birthdays are we celebrating? In whose honor do we build sacred churches? Whose relics do we venerate? Aren't they martyrs? Is it not confessors? Is it not the reverends? And if here they were rewarded with such glory from the Lord, then what and how great radiance they will enjoy in the coming century! This is indescribable and incomprehensible. Good purchase. God's love for everyone. Here is a good purchase, here is a blessed exchange 195: with small labors and deeds to buy eternal and endless blessings. Let us also imitate them, brothers; let us mix our blood with the Holy Blood. For even now it is possible [to do this], since neither the nature has changed, nor has He who said: see, see, that I am and do not change (Deut. 32:39). He loves everyone equally, died for everyone, is offered to everyone as inexhaustible pleasure, desires the salvation of everyone, and this is His wealth. For it is said: He is rich among all who call on Him (Rom. 10:12). Therefore, let us call on Him in present circumstances, and He will give strength and power (Ps. 67:36) to our souls; let us embrace Him, and He will destroy our enemies (Ps. 107:14), visible and invisible; Let us wait for Him, and He will crown us on the day of the Resurrection of the dead, on the day of His appearing in glory, on which may we also be worthy to come blameless and stand before His throne without condemnation, giving a good answer in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 71. About the fact that we must protect ourselves from the wickedness of the devil, and about not moving away [from the brethren] 196 Brothers and fathers. The Lord said in the Gospel: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asks you, that he might sow you like wheat: I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail (Luke 22:31-32). Something similar happened before this to us, the humble; but the All-Good [Lord] did not allow us to be subjected to more sorrow than we could [bear], but created with temptation an abundance so that we were able to bear it (1 Cor. 10:13). You know what I'm talking about; and I approved of your brotherly responsiveness and the common enduring of grief as [a deed] pleasing to God, useful and praiseworthy, in accordance with what the apostle said: Behold, this very thing, if you were offended by God, how much diligence has it done in you? But response, but indignation, but fear, but lust, but jealousy, but revenge? In everything, imagine being pure in things (2 Cor. 7:11). This mood is characteristic of true brothers; The word [of God] also requires it, for it says: if one soul suffers, all the people suffer with it; If one ud is glorified, all uds rejoice with him (1 Cor. 12:26). The goal of the devil's efforts and care. Pay attention to the diligence and care of the devil, how he, like a lion, roars, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), someone to capture as a prey - either in part or in whole. And he is not satisfied when he takes over in part, but he always moves forward - for the worse, until he brings about sinful death. For example, he first tries to make us accept the preposition (τήν προσβολήν), and then say something bad in our hearts. Then, having desecrated and poisoned the soul in this way, he takes it out of its natural state and makes it mad, unreasonable and blind 197, striving for what it should not - [makes it] darkness instead of light, sorrow instead of sweetness, death instead of life 198. Such is the destruction of temptation. Mental abuse. We, brethren, will guard our souls with all care, not giving room to the devil (cf. Eph. 4:27), but immediately rejecting the excuse. If we are defeated by him, then at least let us not become defiled. If we experience this too, then we will not hesitate and will not be subjected to his violent enticement to commit sin 199 . We happen to experience this as a result of those states that previously took possession of the soul, as a result of previous memories. But let us avoid those thoughts that previously controlled the soul; Let's avoid youthful memories. For if we dwell [in these thoughts] through [mental] contemplation, then what can be said about this other than that our hearts are turned to Egypt (cf. Acts 7:39)? This we should observe according to the inner man; in relation to the external [one should act] as the apostle teaches: let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but let it be good for the creation of faith, so that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not offend the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are marked on the day of deliverance. Let all grief and anger and rage and cry and blasphemy be taken away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, merciful, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave us (Eph. 4:29-32). Separation from the brethren is the cause of the fall. In addition, we will avoid isolation (τοῦς ἀφιδιασμοῦς) [from the brethren], as the cause of the fall. What is this? Are your brothers inside the courtyard, and you outside? Are your brothers in silence, and are you in idle talk? Your brothers go to bed, and you wander here and there - to places that are not allowed? Hence the temptations, hence the falls. What becomes of a sheep that is separated from the flock? Is it not the prey of beasts? So is the one who breaks away from brotherhood. But we, brothers, [will] never [act] in this way, never! Do and think everything as if in the presence of the Lord. Let everything be in order and in order (1 Cor. 14:40); everything - carefully and prudently; everything - as if in the presence of the Lord, who sees our hidden and obvious, happening night and day, all our movements, both bodily and mental, so that, thus, we would be without offense, Jew and Greek and the church of God (1 Cor. 10:32). And this is what this word is about. The labor is over, but the reward remains. Since the Pentecost is coming to an end, let us give glory to God, who deigned us to complete it, who gave us the strength for exploits during it. Now the labor is over, but the reward remains; the body became thin, but the spirit became fat. Become fat [spiritually] and be sanctified more and more, and [may] your spirit and soul and body be perfect at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:23), to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 72. About the suffering of the Savior and the teaching about humility and patience 200 The Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and fathers. The present day is holy and revered, for from this very [day] the Lord begins to endure suffering for us on the cross, in accordance with what is said in David: How are the nations reeling, and the people having learned in vain? The kings of the earth appeared, and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ (Ps. 2:1-2). For they gathered together, holding a villainous council against the Lord, and Judas, the treacherous disciple, renounces and betrays the Teacher with a treacherous kiss, and the Lord of all is led bound, and the judgment seat stands, and he is questioned, and answers, and, having given an answer (oh, terrible hearing!), he is struck on the cheek and patiently endures, saying: if you speak evil, bear witness to evil; Is it good that I'm beshi? (John 18:23). Then He is subjected to mockery, mockery, ridicule, ridicule, spitting, receives a beating on the cheek, scourging, ascends to the cross and, being on it, prays for His murderers: “Father, forgive them [sin], for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Then He drinks bile and vinegar, is pierced by a spear, and dies - immortal. The spiritual fruits of hearing about Christ's sufferings. Such, in a nutshell, are the sufferings of the Lord, and the one who hears about them intelligently is no longer angry, no longer irritated, is not fierce, is not arrogant, does not exalt himself over his brother, does not envy, is not a lover of glory, but is humbled, contrite, considers himself to be earth and dust, desires to participate in the sufferings of Christ (cf. Phil. 3:10), hastens to become like Him in death in order to become a partaker of the glory in His resurrection. But dare, too, because you have participated to some extent and are participating in the Lord’s sufferings. For watch where you are. Is it not in exile, not in persecution because of His word and because of His testimony? And before, have you not experienced imprisonment? Have you not shed blood from the beatings? Haven't some of our brothers even died in courageous struggle? Such is our praise in the Lord and such is the gift. But since it is not safe for a person to please before reaching the end (cf. Sir.11:28), due to the slight changeability [of his nature] and the unknown of what the coming day will bring, then I beg you: stand steadfast and irresistible in the Lord, as if in one Spirit, and with one accord striving according to the faith of the gospel, and not wavering from any of those who oppose you (Phil. 1:27-28); not one who causes stumble in anything... but in everything he considers himself to be God's servant (2 Cor. 6:3-4) - in obedience, in humility, in meekness, in long-suffering, in much patience. For I will require patience, so that having done the will of God, you will receive the promise: for yet a little, but a little, the One who comes will come and will not fail (Heb. 10:36-37). If He comes and does not delay, then why should we be reluctant to endure sorrows and not rather prefer to die daily for the Lord? For it is written: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will reign with Him; If we reject, He will also reject us; Even if we do not believe, He remains faithful; He cannot deny himself (2 Tim. 2:11–13). The Last Judgment and Retribution. What joy will the saints have when they see the Lord coming from heaven with His angels of power (2 Thess. 1:7), calling them to unspeakable joy, crowning them, having to abide with them forever and ever! But what sorrow will those who disobeyed the Gospel have, who have pushed His commandments away from themselves, and who will suffer torment, as it is written: eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His strength, when He comes to be glorified in His saints and to be wondrous among all who believe (2 Thess. 1:9-10)! Exhortation. So, brethren, carefully considering this and considering, let us more and more cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, creating holiness in the passion of God (2 Cor. 7:1), zealously striving for what is better, being raised to what is more perfect, hating evil, clinging to what is good, being kind to one another with brotherly love, honoring one another more. creative, with non-lazy diligence, burning in spirit, working for the Lord, rejoicing in hope, enduring sorrows, abiding in prayer (Rom. 12:9-12), so that in such purity we may worthily celebrate the coming Easter, and be worthy to enter into the possession of eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 73. About the suffering of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ 201 The Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and fathers. And always the memory of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ has the ability to bring the soul into tenderness, but especially in these days, on which each of them took place. What kind of [suffering] is this? The murderous council against Him, the capture of [Him] by the Jews, being led to death, appearing before the judgment seat of Pilate, interrogation, interrogation, strangulation, spitting, reproach, ridicule, lifting on the cross, nailing of hands and feet, eating bile, perforation of the rib and everything else that happened along with this, which neither the world can contain nor adequately depict not only human language, but also all together angelic languages. For let us imagine, brothers, this great and inexplicable mystery. The Lord, who reveals the counsels of the heart (1 Cor. 4:5) and knows every thought of man, is led to a council [condemning Him to] death; He who bears all things with the word of His power (Heb. 1:3) is delivered into the hands of sinful people; bind the water on the clouds ( Job 26:8 ) and in due time and equally everywhere he who scatters [it] throughout the earth is led as a prisoner; he who measured the heavens by a span and the earth by a handful and set the mountains by standard ( Is. 40:12 ) is struck by the hand of a servant; decorating the surface of the earth with various flowers is crowned with a crown of thorns for dishonor; he who planted the tree of life in paradise is nailed to the accursed tree (see Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13). Great and supernatural visions! The sun saw this and darkened; the moon saw and was eclipsed; the earth felt it and shook; they felt the stones and disintegrated; the whole creation trembled [at the sight] of the reproach of the Lord. So the soulless and insensible elements, as if animated and feeling, from the fear of the Lord and from the contemplation of [these] visions, came out [from their limits] and changed; Will we, venerable in mind, for whom Christ died, remain in these days without contrition and tears? And wouldn’t we be more dumb than the dumb and senseless stones? Exhortation. In no way, brethren, in no way [this should happen]; but it is better, having come into amazement befitting God, and having been changed by a good change, let us motivate ourselves to tears, sacrifice [our] passions, in exchange for reproaches [of the Lord] and wounds, and we will endure reproaches and wounds, one through obedience, and the other through constant confession. Don't we see how many incentives for divine love there are [in this]? Who has ever suffered imprisonment for a friend? Who gave themselves to be slaughtered for their beloved? But our good God accepted not one or two, but countless sufferings for us, the condemned. Therefore, rightly, the blessed apostle, reflecting on this and being in a strong feeling of love for God, said: I am aware that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor the lower Power, nor the present, nor the future, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation can separate us from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord ( Rom.8:38–39). For God had such love for us, as He gave His only begotten Son to eat, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but may have eternal life (John 3:16). Since the saints had nothing to bring in return for such love, they brought their own bodies and blood through asceticism and courageous enduring of suffering, singing the song of blessed David: what will I render to the Lord for all that I have rendered? (Ps. 115:3). We, brethren, will always proclaim this saying, serving Him with an insatiable disposition of love, striving more and more for the best, so that we may become holy heirs of eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 74. Against Michael, who reigned wickedly, and against the overthrow of faith and so that we are not embarrassed during trials Brothers and fathers. It is not lazy for me to speak, but to you it is firm (Phil. 3:1), says the apostle. Therefore, I, humble, as far as I have the strength, will not cease to do the same, now encouraging, now admonishing, now strengthening you, - whether I can somehow, together with you, avoid the wrath that is coming on the sons of the disobedient (Eph. 5:6). That even now there are sons of disobedience, there are many examples, but one of the most important is [the example of] the emperor, not only in relation to the overthrow of faith, but also in relation to the conclusion of an illegal marriage 202. How can you not complain about this, how can you not grieve? After all, temptation has again been created in the Church of God, and overthrow [is added] to overthrow, persecution to persecution. Don’t you know, brethren, what happened under Constantine, the father of the one who has now given up her monastic vows and taken on royal dignity? 203 Is not adultery [committed] by rejecting his lawfully married wife and bringing in another, according to the word of the Lord? Was it not from this [crime] that persecution and misfortune arose in the Church of God? Hasn’t evil, having spread from one to many, desecrated our universe? The same can be seen by [anyone] who has intelligence and prefers to suffer for the truth, while others have no concern [namely those] who seek real [goods], or better yet, are enslaved to power and always conform to its opinion. Exhortation. We, brothers, will remain established in an unchanging faith, not deviating from the right judgment of the commandments, not in any way allowing ourselves to be led into deception by the fabrications of some, and, if you wish, first of all, with love, we will practice silence. For this reason, he says, the one who understands will remain silent at that time, for the time is evil (Am. 5:13). Then we will be ready [for persecution] so that we, who were not in danger of persecution in this case, will not be allowed by people to remain [completely] without testing. What [is] the preparation? It is to endure everything courageously and not consider anything preferable to the love of Christ, but to say with David: The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid: what can man do to me? (Ps. 117:6) and together with the apostle: For me to live, Christ, and to die, is gain (Phil. 1:21). Woe, says [Christ], the world is tempted; For there is a need to come by temptation (Matthew 18:7), so that those who have been tested may become manifest. Do you see that when there are temptations, then God’s chosen ones appear, when there is fire of temptation, then the soul is tested like gold? When there are temptations, then God’s chosen ones appear. And if we had not been tested in misfortunes, we would not have learned to fight; but since we have tasted this blessing not once, not twice, but many times, and this was given to us from God - to suffer for Christ, then, brethren, we will never be embarrassed and say: “again a test.” Yes, another test. Has the struggle of invisible enemies against flesh and blood ended? Is the field of divine competition over? It will end when we move from here; while we are in the flesh, trials and war, of course, remain [with us]. None of the saints despaired during the duration of the trials and did not change during the constancy of sorrows. But David says: Tribulation and need have found me, Your commandments are my teaching (Ps. 119:143). Jeremiah says: I have not labored, I have followed You, and I have not coveted the day of man (Jer. 17:16). The Apostle says: I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. In the same way, I have pleasure in weaknesses, in annoyances, in troubles, in exiles, in tribulations according to Christ: for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:9-10). So, brothers, we also need to position ourselves and speak, having Christ as our protector and helper in the struggle. For [Scripture] says: I will not leave you; I will despise you (Joshua 1:5). And: if God is for us, who is for us? (Rom.8:31). And if for many it is a joy to fight for a mortal king, how much more [does it bring joy] to us to fight and go into the arena for the King of all [that exists]. In this decision, brethren, we will remain, whether the test comes or does not come, besides the fact that temptation from the enemy [threatens] always, even if not in an obvious way, invisible. But in trials there are crowns and in war there are rewards for victory; and he who has suffered much will obviously also receive many rewards - oh that we, having emerged victoriously from this life, would inherit eternal life with all the saints in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 75. That he who has chosen life according to God should not behave boldly, and that he should endure sorrows with gratitude, looking at future rewards Brothers and fathers. I would like each of you individually to see me in person; diligently caring for your salvation and fearing the responsibility of my primacy, I would like, according to my strength, to talk with everyone. But since persecution does not allow this, I exhort both those gathered in one place, and those separated, and everyone in general - to constantly pay attention to ourselves both in relation to the hospitality that we enjoy and in relation to the treatment [with others] in which we find ourselves, doing nothing beyond what is prescribed: contrary to the law, not to talk to each other freely, not to talk often with boys, and especially with women, but if there is a need to see [them] or meet [with them], [do this] with caution, keeping your mind down and your eyesight down. For the Scripture says: do not disdain virgins... do not mingle with the one who sings, lest you get caught up in her endeavors (Sir.9:5,4). Having God present everywhere and seeing our every movement and action, both in body and in spirit, so turn and act according to the place in which everyone is imprisoned, enduring the misfortunes of persecution with gratitude, looking also at the reward prepared for you. For God is not unjust [to] forget about your work and the labor of love that you have shown for the sake of His name from the first day of your denial, leaving the world and the things belonging to the world, parents and brothers, family and fatherland, and giving up your very body to fight - for the sake of obedience and true confession. How great is your vow, but how great is the reward! Do you not see those who live in the world, how they are distressed and in misery? Some strain themselves in labor, agriculture, are subject to taxes and taxes, so that they themselves lack food and drink; others, holding a position in the army, fight and suffer attacks on land and sea, kill and are killed. We, freed from all this, have been honored to serve the living and true God. Not to mention other things, isn’t this enough for us to rejoice, give thanks and have fun? Of course, my brethren, for this sake I ask you to live even more carefully, doing everything gracefully and in order (1 Cor. 14:40), moving away from carnal lusts that make war on the soul (1 Peter 2:11-12), immediately repelling attacks from yourself and acquiring purity of soul, so that, having moved from here in purity, you can achieve eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 76. On the remembrance of death and hatred of the world and worldly things Brothers and fathers. How wonderful is the instruction, how useful is the reminder to be sober and watchful, preparing us for the performance of [our] duties! And may we never neglect to do this and let us never lag behind thinking about God, and loving Him, and [thinking about] separation from our body. For a little later we will be separated and die, like all our fathers, and we will move to another world, to another life, to another way of life, limitless and endless. Here life is like a shadow and a dream, limited to a few years. Let us not look at the distance of time from the foundation of the world to the end of the age, but [let us only look] at the life of each [person individually], because it reaches the limits indicated by David (Ps. 89:10), and, moreover, in rare cases, without extending further. All the saints spent their lives thinking this way. By faith, as the apostle testifies, when I died, I did not accept the promises, but from afar I saw, and kissed, and confessed, as strangers and aliens are on the earth, for such people appear as they seek the fatherland. And if only they had remembered it, having come out of it, they would have had time to return: but now they desire the best, that is, the heavenly: even so, God is not ashamed of these, God is called them: for the city is prepared for them (Heb. 11:13-16). Here is our city, here is our fatherland; Here are our fathers and brothers, both in the flesh and in the spirit. Why, then, do we consider this temporary life pleasant? Why are we nailed to her image? Why, when leaving it, do we forcibly break away [from it]? It is common for the unreasonable to not want to come home from exile and return from war to peace. But we, beloved brethren, as wise, as destined for this very thing and having fled the world and those belonging to the world, let us use our life to meditate on death and with this meditation we will repel all lust, all negligence, all pride, all despondency, all wickedness, so that in this way, doing what is pleasing to the Lord, we become heirs of eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion. Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 77. About true and sincere obedience, about our confession and about the preservation of the Divine commandments Brothers and fathers. Your food according to the flesh is one thing, but according to the spirit it is another: one is supplied by the economy in the form of food, drink and clothing; the other by me, humble, in the form of words and teachings. And just as this is given out of necessity, so this constitutes a necessary duty, so that I do not accomplish anything great by telling you these short and poor words; but rather I fear and tremble, as one who has to give an account for your souls (Heb. 13:17), - not to the king, leader and ruler, but to God, the Judge of all, to whom every knee will worship, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess (Phil. 2:10-11), which is amazing even to the saints who have shone with life and word, and not like me, the unfortunate one. But, I exhort you, as brotherly lovers, help both yourself and me: for yourself - by the successful implementation of virtue, and for me - with prayers, besides the fact that your improvement is my success and vice versa, since we are all one body and separate from each other (1 Cor. 12:27). And if one man suffers, he says, all the tribes suffer with him; if one man suffers, all the tribes rejoice with him (1 Cor. 12:26). And it follows that I take care of what concerns you, and you [should take care] of what concerns me, for I am in you and you are in me, according to the way of love, and thus the union of true brotherhood is determined. Exhortation to Confession. Keep your wonderful obedience towards me, genuine and unselfish, in which you were born and grew and perfected and succeeded by the grace of God, to the extent of confessing it both in previous and subsequent [circumstances]. Do not be afraid of kings, do not be timid of rulers, prepare for competitions, for blows, for exiles, for prisons, for death penalties; be worthy of your name, as everyone knows. Therefore, brethren, do not change your virtue, do not destroy your praise and do not change your good name for a bad name, but build on the previous one in a laudable manner, being on guard in every way, being protected inside and outside by the Divine commandments, overcoming every trial, overcoming every sorrow, knowing also that we are still in struggle and persecution and do not know what the coming day will give birth to. However, if God is for us, who is for us? Who did not spare His Son, but gave Him up for us all, how can He not also with Him give us all things? (Rom.8:31-32). So hope, so believe; and, living by this conviction and hope, you will receive, as I know for sure, an inheritance and a share with the saints in the Kingdom of Heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 78. On listening attentively to the Holy Scriptures Brothers and fathers. We all humans have both eyes and ears; but not everyone has the ability to see and hear, but [only] those who have an ear that can hear well and an eye that can see well. Therefore, the Lord says in the Gospel: if you have ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 13:9). About those who are not able to hear, the prophet says: God give them the spirit of tenderness 204, eyes not to see and ears not to hear (Rom. 11: 8; cf.: Is. 6: 9-10). So, wisely, and not simply, and how we will have to listen to what is read to us, so as not to fall under threat, especially so that we have [the opportunity] to say in accordance with what is written: the punishment of the Lord opens my ears (Is. 50:5). He who listens in this way [really] listens, is contrite, purified, enlightened, becomes clear, rejoices in accordance with what is sung by David: Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord (Ps. 32:1). Yet he considers everything here to be a fleeting shadow; he considers everything as rubbish, in order to gain Christ (Phil. 3:8). For example, he hears that Christ says to the disciples: I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you; It’s still a little while, and no one in the world will see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, and you will live (John 14:18–19). And again: I am the true vine... you are the birth (John 15:1, 5). And again: you are my friends, and if you do, I command you; This is not what I say to you, servants, for a servant does not know what his Lord is doing; But others said to you, that all that I have heard from My Father I have spoken to you (John 15:14–15). And again: you have been with Me in My adversities, and I make an everlasting covenant with you, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom (Luke 22:28-30). Hearing this and similar things, a God-loving person not only rejoices, but also prefers to die for Christ every day. The ardent love of the saints for Christ. This is how all the saints lived, with such intentions they solemnly testified to their fiery love for God. Jeremiah says: I did not bother to follow you, and I did not desire the day of man (Jer. 17:16). David also [says]: What will I render to the Lord for all that I have rendered? I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord (Ps. 115:3-4). The Apostle, in turn, says: for it has been given to you from God to believe in Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him (Phil. 1:29). In the same way, the apostles, having received many blows, rejoiced, as [Scripture] says, because for the name of Christ they were deemed worthy to receive dishonor (Acts 5:41). And in general, each of the saints with such sayings reveals his ardent love for Christ. Therefore, we, brethren, will listen carefully to what is said, and with ardent love we will love our beloved God, always thanking [Him] for all the blessings that He has given us, because He chose us from the beginning for salvation in the sanctification of our present calling, He granted us to serve Him with the Orthodox faith and not be carried away by error. How many have gone astray, being deceived by the lies of men, by the cunning wiles of flattery (Eph. 4:14)! The teaching of the saints is a rich spiritual meal. How many suffer hunger - not the hunger of bread, nor the thirst of water, but the hunger of hearing the word of the Lord (Amos 8:11), according to what is written. We have been given the teaching of the saints, like a certain meal rich in food: from here one adapts [to himself] the word, as if some seasoning, and the other works the Divine words, like gold, both here and there enjoy the sayings. It is timely to say with the apostle: if God is for us, who can be against us? Who did not spare His Son, but gave Him up for us all, how can He not also with Him give us all things? Whoever claims to be God's chosen one, God will justify. Who is to judge? Christ died, and even more so also rose [from the dead], Who is at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes for us (Rom. 8:31-34) - obviously, before God and the Father, Who will give us His eternal Kingdom, because to Him belongs glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 79. About the fact that we should not weaken in spirit, but should be courageous in relation to the work to which God has called us Brothers and fathers. The Apostle, wanting to awaken from carelessness, said: always rejoice in the Lord, and again the river: rejoice. Let your meekness be reasonable to all people. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made to God (Phil. 4:4-6). Therefore, let us not lose heart, but let us strengthen ourselves and take courage in the work to which God has called us. For He Himself called us from life in society to the monastic vow, He Himself clothed us with the robe of salvation and the robe of joy (Is. 61:10), He Himself redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse against us (Gal. 3:13). With the freedom with which Christ freed us, stand firm, and do not remain under the yoke of work (Gal. 5:1), so that we do not again become subject to passions. Attitude towards slavery. The purchased slave, having been freed, will not ever want to become a slave again, but, moving away from slavery as far as possible, he rejoices that he was worthy of being redeemed from slave tyranny, although slavery is not something completely bad. For the apostle says: Have you been called a servant? Don't be careless; but even if you can be free, enslave yourself more. For he who was called in the Lord is a servant, a freeman of the Lord; likewise also a called freeman, a servant is Christ's (1 Cor. 7:21-22). And, however, the freed one does not want to return again to the yoke of slavery. Moreover, we, who have long been freed from sin, must stand far from it. Sin is the worst of evils. Don't we know what he made us into? Didn't he drive us out of paradise? Didn't he make us mortals from immortals? Didn't he bring us into this weeping life? Didn’t all evil happen and happen through him? Therefore, let us avoid it as the worst [evil]; let us hate him as worthy of hatred. Let us love virtue better, as it makes people angels, even more - gods, according to [said]: Az reh: you are gods by nature and sons of the Most High (Ps. 82:6). The power of virtue. What is the power of virtue? Turning away from the world and connecting with God. No one, he says, can work for two gentlemen. If you cannot work for God and mammon (Matthew 6:24), you cannot be devoted to virtue and vice. For there is no communication between light and darkness (2 Cor. 6:14). And the commandments of the Lord are easy; and on the other hand, it is difficult and completely impossible to allow us to have the opposite and deny each other and at the same time be devoted to both virtue and vice, that is, carnal lusts and spiritual improvement. And if we stretch forward to the extent of perfection, then this is the grace of God, from whom every gift is good and every gift is perfect (James 1:17). Exhortation. And we will remain steadfast, preserved by the fear of God, unchanging and unshakable in the most beautiful skill 205. If we suffer from a deficiency, we will strain and hasten to move forward towards perfection while there is time for work, strengthened by faith, inspired by hope, bound by love, adorned with humility, shining with obedience, strengthened by patience, enlightened by confession and guided by all other perfections, like true monks, like true novices, like those tested in Christ, like servants of the Lord, so that and we have lived our life here comfortably, and have achieved the greatest blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Catechumen 80. Instruction on Faith Brothers and fathers. We now offer you the food you need in words: although it is short and poor, we offer it out of necessity, so that we will not be accused of silence, and you will have brief consolation. For [even] if you are very much consoled by the reading of the divine fathers, you still need, in any case, our humble instruction, and, I dare say, more of this than that, since this is read in historical order, this is also said to your face and offered for reproof. I will reprove you, he says, and bring your sins before you (Ps. 49:21). And even if he had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin; now they have no guilt about their sin (John 15:22). However, this cannot be said about you, for we do not speak to you in the same way as to unbelievers and those who are subject to sins - let it not be! - but as with sons of obedience, as with beloved children, as with those who have one soul and one body and wage one conflict, that you may prosper, that you may prosper, that you may be pure and without stumbling in the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Phil. 1:10-11). And the word [this] is spoken for your sake, for what wonder if the One who in ancient times poured out water for Israel from a steep rock (Ex. 17:6; Num. 20:11) and from my stony heart flows a short word, drawing from which we will thank the Lord, who gives food and drink and guides the manner of our behavior in this life, as in the desert. But since we remembered ancient history, if you like, let’s consider what happened then to the unbelievers, about whom the apostle speaks: but God was not pleased with the multitude of them, for they were defeated in the wilderness. This is how we should live, so that we will not be the lust of the evil, as they also desire. Do not be idolaters, as they are not, as it is written: When men sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Let us fornicate below, just as Netiy committed fornication from them, and fell in one day twenty-three thousand. Let us not tempt Christ, as we were tempted by Netia and destroyed by serpents. Do not murmur, as Neti murmured from them and was killed by the Destroyer (1 Cor. 10:5-10). So, brethren, considering this, let us avoid the causes of God’s wrath: let us avoid evil lust, let us avoid murmuring, let us avoid tempting Christ. How can He be tempted? Reasons for God's wrath. Because we fall into thoughts of unbelief and say: “Will we have enough of what we need? Will we survive this and that?” We will never, brethren, [speak like that], for this is [a matter of] unbelief and doubt. But how [shall we proceed]? Let us believe that we will endure everything. How all saints achieved holiness. Having believed so, Noah escaped death from the flood by preparing the ark; Having believed so, Abraham became the father of many nations; Having believed so, Moses crossed the sea as if on dry land (Heb. 11:7, 12, 29); Having believed so, the three youths were refreshed with dew in the oven, and were not burned (Dan.3); Having believed so, Daniel came out unharmed from the mouth of the lions (Dan.14:36). And to put it briefly, in this way everyone, including the righteous, achieved the holiness of righteousness, and the martyrs were martyred. Thus, having believed, brethren, we will endure everything, and overcome with Christ, and receive crowns of righteousness, and hear that great saying: Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 81. About the love of the abbot and the fact that one should not engage in the vain affairs of life, but should strive for the best Brothers and fathers. I am talking with you of my own free will, and not under compulsion, although I need to talk [with you]. I am jealous for you with God’s jealousy (2 Cor. 11:2), although I am a sinner, and I rejoice greatly at your success. If, however, I often have to upset you, as [was] the day before, then this is not because you are offended, but so that you may know the love that I love you in abundance (2 Cor. 2:4), since he who loves diligently educates: who is the son, who is not punished by the father? (Heb.12:7) - that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4). For I especially approve of you and testify that you are obedient and submissive, and fulfill the commandments of your fathers, so that I do not know whether there are others [similar] who are in obedience in this kind. I am not telling you flattery, but the truth. For who is so unanimous with the father or [so] follows the abbot in what is in accordance with the commandment of the Lord, how distinguished you are in both respects? And [this] is evidenced by exile and persecution, prisons and [other] disasters, opposition even to the point of bloodshed when you fight against sin (Heb. 12:4). And this is not from you, but the gift of God (Eph. 2:8), from whom is the praise. And let others have money and property, monasteries and monasteries; It is enough for me to have good fame only to have you and to be adorned by you. For you are my joy and my crown (Phil. 4:1), and life, and jealousy, and everything else that is beautiful. I only ask you not to deviate from good will and not to set a limit to goodness and ascension [according to degrees of perfection], but just as those who become rich in the flesh do not receive satiety in the pursuit of greater acquisition, so you, until your last breath, do not cease to strive for what is better in spiritual terms, since you are unworthy of the passion of the present time for the glory that desires to appear in us (Rom. 8:18). Works and exploits of saints. Don't you see in the lives of the saints with what labor and effort they accomplished [their exploits]? Don't you see the suffering of the saints, with what shedding of blood and in what torment they died? Because of what? To gain Christ in order to receive benefits that surpass understanding, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor. 4:18). The perishability of the material world. Isn't the sun beautiful? But it will also fade a little later. Isn't the moon beautiful? But she will not give her light either. Aren't the stars beautiful? But they too will fall (Matthew 24:29). Isn't the sky beautiful? But it will also wear out like clothing. And everything will be changed, and new heavens and a new earth must take place (2 Pet. 3:13), as it is written, and a blessed and indescribable life will begin, life with Christ and expected with Christ. These are the promises and with such thoughts, brethren, let us help ourselves, with the supersensible conquering the sensual, with divine love bridling carnal love καταστέλλοντες) and, as the apostle teaches, seeking the highest, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God, wise on high, [and] not on earth (Col. 3:1-2), as some people, like pigs, wallow in the mud of lusts and drown in the swamp of passions, and their end is destruction... and glory in their cold... Because our life is in heaven, we are also waiting for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:19-20), whom we will be worthy to see graciously receiving us into His Kingdom, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 82. On cleansing oneself from all filth through God-given repentance Brothers and fathers. The wound of my leg has saddened you, and rightfully so. For you, as brotherly and loving people, sympathize with me both in joy and in sorrow. I borrow instructions from here. How? When I received a wound due to my sins, I immediately began to need both quiet lying in bed and treatment, which is why for three days I could not have communication with you; then, when, by the grace of God, I recovered, I am again [with you] and talking with you. Sinful wound in the heart and healing through repentance. This also happens with illnesses of the soul. Whether someone has received a wound in the heart from sight, from hearing, has been carried away by a demonic thought and has been inflamed by evil lust - anger, rage, hatred, envy, contradiction, disobedience or some other disastrous passion, healing is immediately necessary, and this is repentance, sadness, crying, lamentation, a broken heart and other means of repentance, and [one can] again strengthen and return to the former condition. If this is not done, then we will find ourselves adding sin to sin and wound to wound - and the passion becomes incurable, and we become sick with sin to the point of death (cf. 1 John 5:16-17). But let it not be so, brothers! But first, we must guard ourselves so as not to sin. What is most pleasant and blissful. For what is more pleasant and blessed than to have a pure soul and a mind not affected by passions? If we happen to sin, since our nature is prone to fall, then we must quickly correct it and nothing should be left unhealed even for one hour, because death is a thief and we do not know at what hour the thief will come - at midnight or at the cry of the loop (Mark 13:35); To leave the body unprepared is very dangerous, and [so] to appear before the judgment seat of Christ is very scary. For, says [Scripture], the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-sword, cutting even to the division of soul and spirit, members and brains, and judging by the thoughts and thoughts of the heart. And there is no creation that is not manifest before Him, but all naked and declared before His eyes, a word to us that is unmanly (Heb. 4:12-13). And even if the righteous can barely be saved, when this is in such a state, where will the wicked and sinful appear? (1 Peter 4:18). And if Daniel the prophet, seeing in a vision, trembled and fell into a frenzy, what will we experience when we come to the actual deeds? God's judgment. The river, he says, is flowing before Him, thousands of thousands serving Him, and ten thousand standing before Him, the judgment seat and the books opened (Dan. 7:10). So when it comes, who can resist? Who will remain bold? Only he who has right faith and good work, who has acquired courage and justice and chastity, is the son of obedience and the fulfiller of [the commandment of] submission [to the leader]. Therefore, brethren, we must pay attention to ourselves with all care, fear the hour of death and be ready for the end at every hour - and [then] our murderous enemy will not go unnoticed, robbing us, always inspiring us to carelessly waste the present time, and to postpone the fulfillment of the commandments for the future. Such is the serpent that deceives [us] and is riddled with various types of vice, which we will not leave unnoticed, but will drive away and repel each time by the power of God. A kind reminder always renews the soul. Therefore, I, humble, have gathered you here at this hour so that you can hear five words from my lips, in order to be comforted and comforted by the mutual reminder [offered to you]. For a good reminder always renews the soul. And if we do this in imitation of our fathers, then I know well and am confident that we will acquire salvation for ourselves, we will appease God and we will be worthy to receive His Kingdom in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 83. Grateful for the fact that we provide sufficient hospitality to our visiting brethren Brothers and fathers. We must thank the Lord for the blessings that He has given us, especially in this stay on a foreign side, because we, being in persecution, spend our lives as in a monastery, and have enough wealth to show hospitality to those who come. See how many brothers constantly come to us from here and there? And naturally, because where else will they turn their gaze, if not directly to God and to our humility? Do you see that other brothers and fathers, suffering poverty and lack, are visiting [us]? Almost not a day goes by without accepting [someone]; and, however, with all this we had no shortage of what we needed, on the contrary, complete contentment with abundance. And what else can be said except that He who spoke the promise is not false: seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). And indeed, we were given some of the fruit of wheat, wine and oil (Ps. 4:8) and other necessary items - all beyond our expectations, and we are not able and [strength] to utter a worthy word in order to thank His goodness. Even if we are somewhat embarrassed and burdened, of course, by [such] methods, look, however, what a reward and what praise God has! Even those who live in monasteries are surprised that God has given us to do what they are not able to do. For what? So that the power of God can be known, which is done through faith and hope, and not for human merit. And it seems to me that what is happening now is very similar to what happened during Israel’s stay in the desert. Now is the fourth year 206 since God has given us bodily food without any lack, although we neither sow nor reap, not sending manna from heaven, but opening for us the storehouses of [people] who have it; not pouring out water from a rock, but pouring out [wine] for us from the wine stores of [people] pious and other things [sending to us] that are inconvenient to talk about [at the present time]. Isn't this surprising, isn't it extraordinary, isn't it commendable? I will say something else in the apostolic word: we are as poor, but have many riches: as we have nothing, but contain everything (2 Cor. 6:10). Such are the gifts of our good God, such are the blessings, and there is fear, lest we offend the Benefactor by insensitivity to what He has honored us with. But, brethren, let us all pay careful attention together - both here and strangers - and diligently fulfill the commandments of the Lord, and let us understand one another in encouraging love and good works (Heb. 10:24), not living carelessly and not doing the will of the flesh and thoughts and not falling into murmuring like those who grumbled in ancient times, and not tempting Christ like those who then tempted, for example: can God deliver this and that to us in the future? All things are possible to the believer, as it is written (Mark 9:23). And if we believe, the Lord will give us everything we need for salvation and food for the body, and we will [safely] cross the desert of this life, enlightened by the light of truth, and we will put the invisible Amalek to flight, 207 being armed with strong weapons of the Spirit, and we will not enter the promised land - because we do not strive for the temporary and transitory, but into the Kingdom of Heaven, for He is faithful who spoke the promise and said: the blessed ones were driven out for the sake of righteousness, for these are the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10); To him be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 84. About the fact that one should not give a reason to those looking for a reason [to accuse], and that one should fight against passions Brothers and fathers. Regarding the sad circumstances that have befallen [us], it is timely to say the apostolic saying: temptation has not reached us, but only man (1 Cor. 10:13). We say this about Mr. Theoktistus, our good old man in all respects. What kind of test? The fact that he himself was imprisoned on an island called Halki, and his presbyter 208, slandered by a subordinate [to him], as if he did not remember the emperors, was subjected to a severe beating. Temptations flare up, and for the most part we are found to be the perpetrators of temptations. For how is it possible to run a monastery and not remember the emperors? Or how can we allow the brothers and fathers who escaped [from imprisonment] to remain in the city and not disturb the heretics? Come out from among them and separate yourself, says the Lord, and do not touch uncleanness (2 Cor. 6:17). Those who do the opposite and suffer the opposite. Advance caution. Therefore, we, humble ones, withdrew from those living in the city, staying in this remote [from the city] area 209, so as not to give a reason to those looking for a reason [to accuse] (2 Cor. 11:12), and the Lord has kept us unharmed until now. But it will also be preserved [for the future] if we pay attention to ourselves, do not say this and that indiscriminately, and do not expose our ears to vain and ambiguous speeches. What does the apostle say? Let your word always be in grace, mixed with salt, leading as it is fitting for you alone to answer each other (Col. 4:6). And the brother of Christ, in turn, says: Thus speak and do such things, as if those who have the law of freeness received judgment (James 2:12). Temptation human and demonic. Therefore, let us be careful not to fall into temptation untimely, but to get rid of real disasters as if from a snare. And such is human temptation, that is, easy; [temptation] the demonic is very difficult and secretive; it, being aimed at testing us every day, hour and moment, makes resistance to it very difficult and victory difficult to achieve. But since everything usually succeeds through diligence, we will steadfastly withstand [the attack of the enemy], and we will win with the help of Christ, for He together with us endures the competition [with enemies], for without Me, He says, you cannot do anything (John 15:5). Let us try not to fall into this temptation, and not to fall under the power of the devil; this, therefore, does not mean being imprisoned on an island, and [moreover] for a short time, but being rejected from God and cast into utter darkness; and it does not mean to endure the scourging for so many and so many blows, but - countless scourgings and endless torment. And they will come forth, says the Lord, having done good for the resurrection of life, and having done evil for the resurrection of judgment (John 5:29). Therefore, brethren, let us fear and tremble, using all our might, according to the might of the Spirit [indwelling] us, putting down thoughts, as it is written, and every blasphemy charged to the mind of God, and bringing every mind captive into the obedience of Christ, and being ready to avenge all disobedience (2 Cor. 10:4-6), and this without ceasing. Martyrdom is multi-faceted and multi-day. And this is an insurmountable war, and this is a martyrdom of many types and many days. Whoever, constantly exposed to the blows of thoughts, does not succumb to them and does not bow the knee to Baal (cf. 1 Kings 19:18), but resists and overcomes passions - lust, rage, anger, envy, he undoubtedly endures torment every day and can say with [the Apostle] Paul: I am dying all the days: such is your praise, even imam of Christ Jesus the Lord ours (1 Cor. 15:31); to the end of his exploits he will have the boldness to add: I fought a good fight, I died, I kept the faith; otherwise the crown of righteousness will be kept for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will reward me with in the day (2 Tim. 4:7-8). May we all have the opportunity to say the same thing, and be adorned with the crown of righteousness, and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 85. Instruction on avoiding disastrous pleasure Brothers and fathers. The apostle shows what kind of feat a teacher should have regarding his disciples, saying to Timothy: be present in time and in time, reprove, rebuke, entreat with all long-suffering and teaching. The time will come when they will not listen to sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2-3). Let me not have to speak to you in such a mood; but since our nature is prone to laziness and strives downwards, forgetting about instructions, it always needs to be aroused, as if with some kind of pointed stick, by the blow of a word, so that it awakens and sees the joy set before it. So what? Isn't the Kingdom of Heaven promised to us? Isn't life immortal? Isn't it joy unspeakable? Isn't it heavenly pleasure? Aren't these honors equal to the angels? Isn't it eternal rest? For what purpose are bonds and prisons? Why exile and bitterness? Why torture and death? Is it not for the sake of achieving the benefits set before us and avoiding the promised punishments? Look at the martyrs, with what joy they shed blood, with what readiness they go under the sword, into the fire, among the beasts and all kinds of other suffering. Look at the saints, with what spiritual pleasure they bridled and enslaved the body and did not consider anything more kind than virtue. Why are we slumbering, why are we distracted, why are we submitting to pernicious and destructive passions that wound the heart sharper than an arrow? Come out from among them and separate yourself, says the Lord (2 Cor. 6:17), - one can exclaim here too. Let us come out from them as from Sodom and Gomorrah, which were burned with fire and brimstone (Gen. 19:24–25); Let us put aside the wisdom of the flesh, which resists and fights the spirit; let us free ourselves from enslaving addictions and find peace for our souls. Blissful pleasantness and sacred pleasure. What could be more peaceful than a soul that remains undisturbed by passions and has peace with God? This is joy and gladness; this is blissful pleasantness and sacred pleasure, so if we want to enjoy pleasure, we will avoid the destructive pleasure of the flesh, from which corruption and death are born. For whoever sows, says [the apostle], to his flesh, from the flesh he will reap corruption, but whoever sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit he will reap eternal life (Gal. 6:8). And if we wish to appear glorious, then we will despise the vain glory of man, putting on humility and perfecting ourselves in every good deed. In this way, we will comfortably pass through this present life to the end, and achieve future blessings through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 86. About thanksgiving and not losing heart in temptations Brothers and fathers. During these three years we experience some new life: we are not completely persecuted, and we do not remain completely without persecution, 210 which is why we see each other and visit each other. And this is the work of God’s love for mankind: since He saw that we were exhausted from the duration of the previous persecution, He weakened the prison sentences, while Orthodoxy is still subject to persecution, according to the unsearchable judgments of His righteousness. And so it is. However, looking [at the matter] in general, I think that there are not many who are persecuted for the Lord. Seeing, one might say, daily, how many of our brothers come [to us], I feel some relief at the thought that there are so many who did not bow the knee to Baal (cf. 1 Kings 19:18), but kept themselves to the Lord, like the stars shining in every place of His dominion (Ps. 103:22). The power of the Church. So, this generation also has something to boast about before the next ones, for truly God is with us (1 Cor. 14:25) and the Church has not lost its strength, according to the false promise of the Lord (cf. Matt. 16:18). All those who had attacked her for centuries, like sea foam, disappeared; she, like an indestructible stone, remains in the same faith and [in the same] confession. We must rejoice and rejoice in this, but [together we must] also stay awake, and be sober, and be ready, lest temptation suddenly come again. But we must try to maintain our confession not once, or twice, or [in general] many times, but until the end of our lives; and we should not be afraid of rumors spreading, and we should not be afraid of either scourges that seem ready to tear the body, or prison sentences that crush the flesh, or any other human oppression, but we should fear God alone, at whose wave everything is shaken, and we should fear only eternal torment, the test of which is inexplicable. The present, whether sad or joyful, changes very quickly, like dreams, as it is written: the arrows of a child are their plagues (Ps. 63:8). The invisible persecutor. We must [still] fight with them, and [especially] with the invisible persecutor who attacks us daily, who never ceases to strike us not with sensual scourges, but with invisible thoughts, and to burn us not with material fire, but with evil lusts, and to tempt our souls and besiege us with other passions. Therefore, have your loins girded with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having put on your shoes for the preparation of the gospel of peace: having taken upon all the shield of faith, in which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one, and you will receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:14-17). These are the apostolic instructions. We, the humble ones, express them and together ask them not to weaken in sorrows and not to faint in temptations, knowing that enduring great temptations presupposes [receiving] great crowns. May God give [us] strength, for He is able to accomplish what He has promised; is strong to strengthen us not only to withstand blows, but also fire, and sword, and animals, and everything else like that. Being so convinced, the apostle says: in all these we overcome for the sake of those we love. We know that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor the lower Power, nor the present, nor the future, nor the height, nor the depth, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:37-39). If we set ourselves up in this way, then [we will endure] daily martyrdom after martyrdom and compete in contest after contest, and with the martyrs will be our lot in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 87. About non-covetousness and not living alone Brothers and fathers. God gave us the greatest gift in this persecution for Him, as He Himself said in the Gospel: it is blessed to drive out righteousness for the sake of them, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs (Matthew 5:10). Let us see that, by living unworthy of [such] pleasure, we do not turn persecution into condemnation for ourselves. The persecuted one, firstly, should not lead a solitary life, but should live together with another brother. Wherever two or three are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20), said the Lord. Then, he should not make exits other than those necessary, but should stay in the place where he enjoys hospitality, and there engage in prayer, supplication, reading, psalmody, handicrafts and other good crafts; avoid looking at a woman, separate yourself from every brother who walks disorderly (2 Thess. 3:6), be complacent, grateful, trustworthy, content with what you have, ready to accept suffering for Christ, for where there is persecution, there [it] follows suffering. If this is so, then where are those who live in solitude and are the heirs of grief? For woe, he says, is for one, because if he falls, there is no [other] to lift him up (cf. Eccl. 4:10). Where are those who have slaves and lose monastic freedom? Where are those who buy fields and vineyards, oxen and mules, and bring upon themselves the leprosy of Gehazi (cf. 2 Kings 5:27)? Hence the love of money, hence the love of greed, hence the inconstancy and unwillingness to live with one’s brother, but [the desire] to live alone and according to one’s own will, hence the fact that for your sake the name of God is blasphemed among the pagans, as it is written (Rom. 2:24; cf. Is. 52:5; Ezek. 36:20); hence the spiritual fall, for how can one who lives carelessly not fall? Do you not know, says the apostle, that you are the church of God, and the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone corrupts God's church, God will corrupt him (1 Cor. 3:16–17). And again [he] says: Do not flatter yourselves: neither the harlot, nor the idolater, nor the adulterer, nor the wicked, nor the sodomite, nor the covetous, nor the thief, nor the drunkard, nor the molestress, nor the extortioner will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10). And this is said about those who lead a public life; That’s not what they say about you. What then? And those who are Christ's are the flesh crucified with passions and lusts (Gal.5:24). And one more thing: you are not of this world (John 15:19); and: our life is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Why, then, do we ruin our bliss? Why do we humiliate the nobility of our title? Why don’t we imitate our brothers who live well, whose lives are bright and praiseworthy before God and people? Isn't it time for us to finally sober up? Isn't it time to come to your senses? Isn't it time to take care of your salvation? Isn't it time to have the day of the outcome before our eyes? How will we stand before the judgment seat of Christ? What answer will we give, who have to give an account of [every] idle word (Matthew 12:36), being convicted of something much greater and more serious? Exhortation. But let us be sober, brethren, at least for the last time, come to our senses, reject passions, put aside dark deeds and put on the armor of light (Rom. 13:12), guarding our hearts in every way, pleasing the Lord in every possible way, so that, having been saved in this way, we become heirs of eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen. Announcement 88. On remembering death Brothers and fathers. What is so beautiful and beneficial for the soul as the memory of death? I am encouraged to talk about this with you regarding the bishop who died in Elias 211; You didn’t see how he died, but we, having seen it, received great benefit from it and were touched, having a reason to relate to ourselves what happened to him. So, he appeared and left - just as if someone, having put together a tent, destroyed it, and would never return to this life. He no longer needs the sky, the earth, the sea, the sun, the moon, or the stars; He will no longer breathe this air, will not make a voice with his throat, will not look with his eyes, will not hear with his ears, will not smell with his nostrils, will not touch with his hands, will not walk with his feet and will not do anything else characteristic of real life, for it has concluded for him, and he now awaits the judgment of retribution. The reward is still being arranged, as it is written: And all these having obeyed by faith, not having received the promises, I foresaw the best things for us, so that not without us they would receive perfection (Heb. 11:39-40). So, what awaits us, brothers? What else but that we too will be subjected to the same thing? Will we not die in the same way? Shall we not, in the same way, return to the earth from which we were taken? Shall we not likewise be ashes and dust? Let's bend over to the coffins and see how the structure of our lives ends. Why are we so caring for this poor body, which a little later we will consign to the earth and the worm? Why are we carried away by passions that we will encounter at the end? The dying man, still breathing, said that two certain faces appeared to him - a woman and a man; That one is tall, this one is short and dense; and they spoke to him accusatory and sternly, from which he groaned, and cried out for help, and trembled, and was horrified at leaving his body. Don't you see what the sentence of death is? What will we see during the exodus? Don’t you see that even before death, demons are our accusers and accusers? And it happens like this: whatever active thoughts we kindly accept here, we will see these same ones during the exodus. If we always see the Lord before us, as it is written (Ps. 15:8), if we imagine the guardian of our life - an Angel, if we contemplate such and such saints, then we will see them at our last breath. If we do not act this way, then, on the contrary, we will accumulate evil images, demonic thoughts, and then we will meet them, which is regrettable and harmful. Therefore, let us direct our feat so that we are not overcome by such ideas, but so that at the hour of exodus we find ourselves with a pure heart, so that we too can boldly say: in peace together I will sleep and rest (Ps. 4:9). For for the virtuous, death is a dream 212, just as the Lord said: Lazarus is our friend, but I go and awaken him (John 11:11). If it is a dream, then, obviously, the cause and beginning of repose becomes the foundation of eternal life, as the holy apostle says: now Christ has risen from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died (1 Cor. 15:20). And again: death was sacrificed in victory. Where is the sting, death? Where the hell is victory? The sting of death is sin, but the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:54–57). Behold, death is swallowed up, behold, victory is granted, for [the Lord] says: To him who overcomes I will give food from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7). Behold, the field of the Kingdom of Heaven is open; Here lies the blessed feat. To the one who overcomes, a crown and possession of life! Exhortation. Therefore, we, brethren, will try to defeat the devil, trample on passions, cleanse ourselves completely from evil, acquire virtues, so that we may become inhabitants of paradise, and eat of the tree of life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 89. About what we must work out our salvation with all zeal and zeal Joy, prayer and thanksgiving. Brothers and fathers. There is a time for every thing, as it is written (Eccl. 3:1). The time to work out our salvation is always and everywhere. For the apostle says: rejoice always. Pray without ceasing, giving thanks in everything (1 Thess. 5:16–18). Indeed, our salvation is determined by these three good deeds 213 (κατορϑώμασι), for everlasting joy is the property of righteousness; Continuous prayer does not give place to the devil in us, and constant thanksgiving is a clear proof of love for God. Guided by these instructions in all respects, let us please the Lord, not being faint-hearted in any case and not slackening through negligence either in services, or in psalmody, or in our handicrafts, but doing everything with all diligence, as good builders of the various graces of God (1 Pet. 4:10). Don't we see with what zeal the soldiers go with the king? And for what? To wars, to slaughter, to death. And yet, for transient fame, for fleeting wealth, they willingly do anything. But when we are called into the Kingdom of Heaven, to eternal life, to joy unspeakable, shall we indifferently and carelessly, and not with all zeal and zeal, present ourselves to God as good soldiers of Christ (2 Tim. 2:3)? Valor of the Holy Fathers. Read the book that I hold in my hands, and you will see and know the virtues of the holy fathers [depicted] in it, what zeal they have, what fervor of spirit, what feats, and how for this reason our all-good God glorified them, revealing them in some way as if equal to God through the signs and wonders that they performed. Here shone not only those who were beautiful from the beginning and ignorant of evil, but also those who, having deviated [from the right path] and fallen into grave sins, corrected themselves with the most perfect repentance. And no one has any excuse for carelessness and negligence - unless someone is hard-hearted and insensitive; The apostle says about him: Arise, sleep, and rise from the dead, and Christ will illuminate you (Eph. 5:14). Or are you careless about the riches of His goodness and meekness and long-suffering, not knowing how the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Because of your cruelty and unrepentant heart, you stored up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom. 2:4-5). Look, careless one, fear the threat and rise from the sleep of carelessness, because death will suddenly appear. Brother Candide died righteously, and before him there was another, and someone else will follow him; no one will remain, we will all move on [to another life]. And it is good for him who lived well, because he made an immortal acquisition, received eternal profit, having acquired the best with diligence and care. But since the market place is still standing and the exchange of the Kingdom of Heaven is yet to come, then come, I ask [you], brothers and fathers, let us all be vigilant, let us all be sober, let us all acquire Divine and incorruptible things, so that together with all our brothers we may become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen. Announcement 90. About what should not open the door to the devil by accepting evil thoughts Brothers and fathers. It is not without difficulty that I tell you these few and insignificant words. But since the primate’s job is to work in word and teaching (1 Tim. 5:17), according to the word of the apostle, I take upon myself the small labor necessary for the common good. And this [I do] with joy; since even a shepherd works when tending his flock, and, however, rejoices due to the expectation of a reward or [having earned] the favor of the chief shepherd. And the word is not useless, although some may think that no benefit comes from the conversation. For how can a diligent man fail to benefit from hearing that he will be crowned because he works diligently for the sake of virtue; the careless one [won't he benefit from the fact that] he will be ashamed for his negligence about good? But I ask: zealous - be even more zealous and careless - arise, because the time is favorable, because the time of salvation (cf. 2 Cor. 2:6), which, if we lose, we will never find. Wasted time. Eternal treasure. From now on, let not even one day pass carelessly and carefree, but every day we will acquire eternal treasure - prayers, supplications, petitions, thanksgiving (1 Tim. 2:1), tears, contrition, enlightenment, good contemplation. And let us not conclude from what is in us about what is characteristic of our neighbors, but let us think that everyone accomplishes his salvation in secret, although from the outside it seems otherwise. Didn’t it also happen during the time of our fathers that many who did not seem to mean anything shone much brighter than those who seemed [so]? Likewise, in our generation, and even in our brotherhood, the same thing happened: many shone from the ignorant and ignorant, and especially in the confession of Christ. And where does this come from? This, it seems to me, is not so much from external effort and tension, but from the internal structure. For where there is a peaceful state and purity of heart, meekness and silence, there is the limit of virtue and there the Lord looks, as it is written: to whom will I look, only to the meek and silent and trembling of My words (Is. 66:2). Therefore, let everyone try to present themselves as pure in conscience to the Lord, without opening the door to the devil through the acceptance of evil thoughts. To whom does the Lord look? For when we accept [them], you know how the Lord we suffer, how we become hardened, how we change, what bitterness and not pleasure we gather. When we return again [to the proper state], what peace and silence we again feel, sweeter than honey, as if we had reached the pier. Why is it worthy of surprise, as we are, when virtue is so sweet, amiable and worthy of aspiration, while vice is bitter, disastrous and disgusting, we are captivated by vice, rather than being transformed rather into a state of perfection. But even if we are often defeated due to the weakness of [our] nature and because the thought of a person is diligent in evil from his youth (Gen. 8:21), however, let us not weaken in returning ourselves [to the good path] again. And the Lord, seeing [our] labors, will take vengeance (Luke 18:8) for us, and for the fact that we are attacked, will reward us with eternal rewards, and for what we endure, will crown us with the crown of righteousness, place us together with the saints and will honor us with His Kingdom, and to Him belongs all honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen. Announcement 91. About boldly speaking out in the fight against destructive demons Brothers and fathers. We still continue to talk about how and how what and how we are talking about will end. And it is not surprising, for the soul usually stops at such speeches. But, if you wish, leaving behind the verbosity, let us take care of ourselves, and night and day we will carefully monitor the struggle invisibly aroused against us, so that, paying attention to the physical war, we ourselves do not receive wounds in the soul. Who are those who fight with us? Destructive demons, spirits of evil, rulers of the darkness of this age (Eph. 6:12), whose number is endless and their fury against us is inexpressible. However, let us neither fear nor be horrified by them: we also have a helper in the struggle and an intercessor - the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ, Who accepted our ailments and bore our illnesses (Matthew 8:17), Who suffered in Him... He was tempted, and was able to help those who were tempted (Heb. 2:18), to Whom we cry with boldness: Lord, judge those who offend me, overcome those who fight me. Take the weapon and the shield and rise to my aid. Take away the sword and imprison those who persecute me (Ps. 35:1-3). The struggle is physical and spiritual. For our enemies really pursue us and thirst for our destruction, placing temptations in our path (Ps. 139:6) and in every way trying to push us into the ditch of sin. But we, like warriors, will fight, putting on the armor of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation (1 Thess. 5:8), for with these weapons war is averted. And the surprising thing is that in the struggle itself lies the crowns. In physical wrestling, if the wrestler does not overthrow his opponent, he is not crowned; here, if the fighter is not overthrown by the enemy, he is crowned. And this is clear from what was revealed to some of our holy fathers about his own disciple, who seven times fought [against the thought] to leave unnoticed without [the elder’s] permission and received crowns seven times for patience 214. So, if in the battles themselves there are crowns, then I ask you, brothers, let us endure the struggle patiently, not weakening from the duration of the battle. Was not Saint Sarah 215 severely attacked by the demon of fornication for forty years? And yet she was not exhausted. And one novice, undergoing the same struggle and asked by his abbot: “Do you want me to pray to God so that He will remove the struggle from you?” - did not agree, because he saw that in battles there are rewards for victory 216. To destroy the struggle, nothing has such power as prayer, tears and contrition of the heart. So, when the enemy attacks or even inflicts a wound, through our carelessness shooting an arrow of lust into the heart, we immediately use prayer - and [the enemy] will run away from us; let us shed tears and the ember of delusion will go out; let us humble ourselves, and the Lord will exalt us. And blessed is he who daily compels himself to the work of God, enduring the sorrows of obedience, for obedience is the achievement of [people] of the greatest [spirit], who keep their integrity unharmed. Having reached the end of his exploits, he will move from here with complete joy and indescribable pleasure, not being afraid from hearing evil, as Saint David sings (Ps. 112:7). Don’t we see how [the warriors], who have shown their valor in wars, return to their homes, showing signs of struggle and victory? So let us think about the one who showed his valor in the invisible war and fought a good deed in it, that he will be gloriously glorified in the great city, God is his artist and creator (Heb. 11:10), and he will be glorified by the angels, and will be crowned with the Lord, inheriting eternal consolations. May we also be worthy to achieve them by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 92. That we should not doubt during prolonged persecution, but should place our hope in God Brothers and fathers. Our desire and prayer to God is for the peace of the Church of Christ. For what is more useful than the world for us to lead a quiet and silent life in our own monasteries? However, it is in any case useful to think so, but [it is necessary] to know that a longer duration of persecution also serves as a reason for greater testing. Divine test of the saints. Therefore, the apostle says: I am willing in weaknesses, in annoyances, in troubles, in exiles, in tribulations according to Christ: for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:10). Therefore, leaving [the questions] of how long and until what time, let us leave the reasoning to God, Who fully knows [how] to distribute the length of time with benefit [for man]. Listen to what the Scripture says: God tempted Abraham (Gen. 22:1). Is it for a short time? In no way, but over the course of many years and many trials. And when [God] saw that he had improved in faith, then he said to him: “Now I know that you feared God, and you did not spare your beloved son for My sake” (Gen. 22:12). He also tested Job with even greater disasters for many years. And when he saw that he had improved in patience, he said to him the following: Do you think that Me, having created you differently, will you appear truthful? ( Job 40:3 ). In the same way, he experienced the other prophets, and the holy apostles, and the blessed martyrs, and all the saints and righteous ones through many sorrows for many years, and testified [about them], and helped [them]. Therefore, the same should be assumed regarding us. We have not yet resisted to the point of blood, struggling against sin (cf. Heb. 12:4); We have not yet burned enough [in the fire] of sorrows; We have not yet presented evidence of the purity of our faith. That is why there is a slowdown [in stopping persecution]; on the other hand, since some of the fallen apparently recovered, but not by a real decision, but feignedly and for reasons of benefit, then time shows [regarding] these [people] what they are like. Such is Heracliot, such is Kafarin 217, who again fell back to the emperors because of the desire [to regain] the monasteries that belonged to them, or better [to say], meaning perishable and transitory [goods]. Regarding them, the following could rightly be said: it would not be cold or warm. Because you are stupefied, and neither warm nor cold, the Imam vomited you out of My mouth (Rev. 3:15–16). And I cannot praise those who, on the one hand, have preserved the confession [of the right faith], and on the other, have not abandoned concern for the monasteries that belong to them and are, as it were, having faces on both sides, both with us and with the heretics: with us - by confession, with the same because they retained the monasteries for themselves, having taken advantage of the world before [reaching] the world and before reducing the [triumph] of Orthodoxy for themselves persecution Christ is still being persecuted, but they got the monasteries back; Saints are still subject to anathematism, and they have become submissive to heretics. Even the stones should cry out and testify to the [continuing] persecution, and even the trees should mourn and lament [over] the dishonor of Christ. How can someone who owns a monastery or is located there say that there is persecution [now]? Why should he [else] seek peace other than the one he [already] enjoys? But this is a trick of the devil to make confession futile, to despise persecution for Christ, and, it seems, to defile everyone. But, by the grace of Christ, he was not able to [achieve] this, for many lived in persecution and [however] firmly kept their confession; and not only those who were good from the beginning, but also those who took advantage of repentance, because they were expelled from the monasteries for their opposition [to the heretics] and preferred life in persecution. Let us also be with them, humble, kept firm and steadfast in faith and life, having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). If we have it [faith], then, even if the whole world is in motion, it will not be able to cause us any harm, because with us is Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 93. About those who were seduced by carnal pleasures and were again called [to God] through repentance 218 Brothers and fathers. There is no obstacle for anyone who wants to be saved, and for someone who has reached even the final limit of evil, there is no excuse to keep him from returning [to God] again. And that [this] word is true is proven by many testimonies. Examples of saints' repentance. One of many [such testimonies] is that which relates to David, the chief of the thieves 219, read to us on Friday 220. The Word showed what he was like before - a murderer and full of all evil - and how he, having repented again and approached God through the monastic way of life, became so impeccable that he healed even those possessed by the devil. For the Angel says to him: “David, David, the Lord God has forgiven your sins, and from now on you will do signs.” In this [one can see] the inexpressibly great love of God, Who not only forgave him for his murder, but also showed him as a bearer of signs. Do you want to see other [evidence]? Look at Manasseh, who for fifty-two years persuaded Israel to serve soulless idols; but he, having sincerely repented, was saved and in joy sang a song to God, which the Church of God sings to this day (cf. 2 Chronicles 36:23 [a]–[m]). As for those who were carried away by carnal love and returned again [to God], there are so many of them, their number is so significant that it is impossible to list them. Among them is the divine David, who, after adultery and murder, again received the gift of prophecy; then Mary of Egypt, after incessant sin, rose to the angelic way of life and was awarded clairvoyance. Thus, no one and in no way is left with any excuse not to return to salvation through repentance. He who is enslaved by sins does not enjoy. Therefore, we, brothers, will be even more zealous, maintaining firm hope and believing that if God, by ineffable mercy, again called to Himself and saved even those who had fallen into the depths of evil, much more will He save us, who serve Him day and night. Hearing about the conversion of a sinner, let no one say that if he enjoyed the blessings here, he will also receive those there. He who is enslaved by sins will not enjoy either the blessings here or there. For what pleasure, tell me, is it to indulge in fornication, gluttony, love of money, robbery and to be enslaved by other passions? Do not such people’s hearts burn with vile lusts, like those of people possessed by a fever? So it would be more accurate to say that such people, being punished here, will endure endless torment in the next century. Because they preferred harmful and corrupting pleasures, their fate is to moan and cry, and not as they think that sinners and dissolute people receive pleasure. Whoever prefers virtue and lives virtuously, always possesses these and other blessings, enjoying indescribable pleasure through dispassion, like [all] saints, who always rejoice in the Lord and, in comparison with the love of God, consider everything to be of secondary importance. Exhortation. Imitating them, we, brethren, will rejoice and also rejoice with each other, having concern for our salvation, for deeds, patience, obedience, for cutting off the will [which is martyrdom] and for other activities and deeds, so that, having perfected ourselves in them, we become participants in eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen. Announcement 94. That what is considered a misfortune in the life of the monk is actually filled with great joy due to the hope preserved for us in heaven Brothers and fathers. That monastic life is cramped and sad is clear from what the Lord said: if anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and come after Me (Matthew 16:24). What we see speaks loudly about the fact that life is sad for the laity. But I’m not talking about everyone, and who could touchingly talk about each individual case? But, if you like, we will talk only about those who fled from the war. What then? Didn't they lose everything they had by escaping almost naked from the hands of foreigners? Were not some of them subjected to insult and expulsion, although [previously] they were superior [to others], - some of them were expelled [even] from their own power; others, scattered here and there, are in [constant] fear and trembling [in anticipation of what] they will have to endure a little later. Their only fault is that they did not stay in the war and did not die. Such obedience and [such] perseverance are required of them that they neglect their very body and life, if necessary, to please the king. Our sorrow, brothers, is [combined] with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that even what seems sorrowful becomes very joyful due to the hope [of receiving those benefits] that are reserved for us in heaven. After this, are we not ashamed that for the sake of short-term glory and reward they endure so much and so great, not daring to say a word before their rulers, while we will not patiently endure even accidental sorrow for such great and heavenly [benefits]? And what sorrow? Something that happened against our will - service, command, food, drink, clothing, shoes, place and image of obedience, anything else that burdens [us] during service. But [all] this, although regrettable, is not so significant that it could deviate us from our duty: for the passions of this present time are unworthy for the glory that desires to appear in us (Rom. 8:18). For the sake of these [goods], even if we were burned every day, we would have to endure it, not to mention such feasible and tolerable things. But I say this not so that we grieve, but so that we may know the love with which our good God loved us, Who took [us] out of ordinary life and included us in this sacred and heavenly title, Who also demands from us not for Himself, for the All-Good One is full of [goods] and does not need [anything], but for ourselves, so that we, the humble, may receive blessings and be saved. Therefore, brethren, putting aside all double-mindedness, in our patience we will win our souls (Luke 21:19), holding ourselves above every temptation that befalls us and not allowing any thought to prevail over us, even if [it] was allowed to test and tempt [us] to the utmost degree to break into [us] and sadden our lives, so that we, together with the apostle, would have the boldness to say: in everything it is sorrowful, but not cold; hopeless, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; overthrown, but not destroyed; always bearing the death of the Lord Jesus in the body (2 Cor. 4:8-10) and so that, having pleased God with such a mood and [such] a well-ordered life, we become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 95. About the narrow and sorrowful path and about the comfortable haven of eternal life Brothers and fathers. Anyone who makes a long and difficult journey endures great labors and sorrows, being exposed to the inconveniences of travel, but in the hope of a peaceful refuge, he endures the sorrowful and overcomes the difficult, moving forward with all zeal and effort. What does this parable want [to say]? The fact that in this life we ​​also make a journey, and [the journey] is narrow and sorrowful, as well as long and arduous. And how could he not be like that, if he must maintain virginity and chastity throughout his entire life and observe unshakable subordination and obedience, in addition, cast down thoughts and every exaltation charged to the mind of God and captivate every mind into the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10: 4-5) and do everything else that is connected with this, in accordance with the monastic way of life. But there is a good purpose here too. What is this? Eternal life, which the unfaithful God promises to give to those who wait patiently for Him. How can you glorify God? So, brethren, let us endure with gratitude and patience all the sad circumstances of life here, glorifying God both in our body and in spirit. How can you glorify God? I will tell you based on one example. Two days before this, the laity came here to look at us and, seeing that we were sitting with one accord and peeling the onion with our hands, and practicing the hymns of David with our lips, they glorified God, gave thanks, and received benefit. And now what the Lord said was fulfilled: so let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). And in this case you glorified God in our body and in spirit. But also try to glorify Him always, in every way, living worthy of God. And this is because we, people, are mostly driven by competition to what we should do: do not be jealous of those who are evil, do not envy those who create lawlessness. Like grass the grass will soon dry up, and like the herb the herb will soon fall away (Ps. 37:12), but zealously imitate those who do what is good and useful. Who should be imitated? In fact, even in this life, those who have devoted themselves to any art try to borrow the rules of their favorite art not from the worst, but from the best [experts in this art]: for example, a carpenter - from someone who skillfully carpenters; painter - from one who paints with full knowledge of his craft; and in general, no one prefers to choose to imitate [people] ignorant and uninitiated, but [imitates] experienced and initiated [in art]. The art of arts and the science of sciences. If this is the law and [this is] the rule in relation to material and perishable things, then all the more in this art of arts and science of sciences we must order our lives according to the examples of good men and not be guided by opposite models. Therefore, let us imitate those who have maintained obedience from youth to old age; I am not talking about the ancient saints [only] but [also] about those who have shone forth in our brotherhood. Let us imitate those who, with their simplicity, destroyed the tricks of the devil. Let us imitate those who, in unreasoning obedience, successfully completed their ascetic struggle. If you want, let us imitate the one who encourages [us]: be an imitator of me, as I am of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1) and in another place he says: Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved to eat us and gave Himself an offering and sacrifice for us to God as a fragrant aroma (Eph. 5:1-2). So Christ gave Himself to God as a sacrifice and offering for us; Can we really not endure even occasional sorrow with gratitude? Christ was subjected to slander, as it is said: the reproach of those who reproached Thee attacked me (Ps. 69:10); and we cannot bear even minor attacks and reproaches from our neighbors. How will we be with the saints if we do not follow their footsteps? How can we, who are not conformed to the death of Christ and do not participate in His most pure sufferings, reign together with Christ? And even if the righteous are barely saved, where will the wicked and sinful appear? (1 Peter 4:18). Note the greatest accuracy [of the expression] that the righteous will hardly be saved. Who is a righteous man? But how can one be righteous who is impatient, cannot bear toil, remembers a previous offense, becomes inflamed and indignant, and does not have peace with God? So, those who do this, of necessity, find themselves cut off from cinematic communication; Having left this life, they necessarily fall under eternal condemnation. In foolishness I will say what I have to say. Wasn't I also a novice? Did he not have an abbot, a steward, a spiritual and carnal father? Did you not have spiritual and carnal brothers? Among them I spent my life, as if on fire, tossed here and there and in battle with two opposing lives. But I could not save myself except through patience, the necessary declaration [of my thoughts], and the fact that I always attributed crimes to myself. For otherwise it is impossible to keep your soul in peace amidst sorrows. You remain the same as you were. Indeed, it is enough to say [what has happened] up to now. You are trying to teach and admonish me as a person who is supposedly ignorant and ignorant of what I am talking about, although even boys clearly understand that you are under the influence of the devil’s suggestion. You have not humbled yourself under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6), which consists of rest, tranquility and absence of worries. It seems to you that you are confessing [your thoughts], but in reality this is not a confession: you are organizing a debate of words and a praetor’s court for the destruction of your souls, as well as [for the overthrow of the spiritual] structure of me, the humble one, and all listeners. Perhaps you grieve at what I say; and I notice that you [are indeed] grieving; but I also speak, suffering and as one who will give an account of each of you on the day of Judgment. Exhortation. But since it is written: now is the time acceptable, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2), then, brothers, let us remove vices from our souls, learn to do good, appear pure before our Benefactor, before the great and enlightened day of the Lord comes (Acts 2:20), in which we will give an account even for idle words, so that, having passed on from this life, as far as possible, with a good conscience, We have received eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 96. On the separation of brother Carterius 221 and instructions on unanimity and peace Brothers and fathers. Having often talked with you [at the present time], I apparently [no longer] have the need to talk [more], since you have already improved as you should have, and do not need reminders. However, as I now see, [to talk again] is very necessary, since even with such my [frequent] conversations, indignation and rebellion do not cease to act in some of you. That is why I am surprised how those who should be teachers, judging by the times, are still in vain infancy, acting unreasonably [even] recklessly. Lack of love. The reason is lack of love. For if, according to the Apostle, love is long-suffering, merciful, does not envy, is not conceited, is not proud, does not act rudely, does not seek its own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, embraces everything, has faith in everything, trusts everything, endures everything (1 Cor. 13:4-7), then it is obvious that when it is absent, the opposite takes power. – disbelief, despair, impatience, discord, conceit. And how, being in such a state, can we be worthy to be called disciples of the Lord, when He cried and said: of this all understand, as you are my disciples, if you have love among yourself (John 13:35)? And again in another place: if you continue in My word, you will truly be My disciples. And you will understand the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31–32). Not disciples of Christ, but enemies of Christ. So, if we do not have love and truth, but [have] enmity, quarrels and discord, then we are not disciples of Christ, but enemies of Christ, although [this] word is hard. In this case, why do we live, poor people? And why do we breathe air if we are not doing what is pleasing to the Lord? In fact, what benefit did Brother Carterius receive by separating from us and leaving for another community? Moving from one society to another in itself is harmful and completely frowned upon. If this is done by someone who has separated from the abbot, does he not arouse suspicion? And especially [if we take into account] what the brother was convicted of 222, accused of and [for which] he was assigned penance. It seems for this reason, unable to bear the concern for [his] safety and the opening of his conscience, he demanded separation; But I, condescending to his weakness, so that, having fallen into greater evil, he would not be overly consumed by sadness (cf. 2 Cor. 2:7), ordered his separation. However, he was seen to accuse one and the other without basis and in vain, collecting pretexts for his separation [from us] and causing confusion here among you. But the one who troubles you will bear sin, no matter who it is (Gal.5:10). Debate over words is a matter of direct destruction. Therefore, whoever begins to enter into a debate of words, let him know that this is a matter of direct destruction. And if he [argues] with equals, then perhaps he is still amenable to admonition; if with the highest, then this is clear evidence of the death of the one who enters into a dispute of words. Therefore, I ask [you], my brethren, if he acted unreasonably and erroneously, then you act prudently and cautiously, having peace with everyone who is holy, and no one else will see the Lord: beware, lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of sorrow spring up and do evil, and thereby many become defiled (Heb. 12:14-15). You must retain my instructions. What is this [instruction]? You [should] show good zeal towards those who do evil, hate vice and turn away [from it], and not consider [themselves] as enemies, but admonish them as brothers (2 Thess. 3:15), so that you are worthy of the praise of the apostle, who says this: in everything, present yourself to be pure in things (2 Cor. 7:11). But I, my brethren, say this to you, not insulting [you] or rebelling [against you], but loving and sparing [you] and [together] fearing the example of Elijah towards his sons (1 Sam. 3:13), [I say] for my own sake and for yourselves. If you do not reason this way, then after a little time the days will come when this tongue will be taken away from you, and then you will know that what I, the humble one, spoke about was true. But the God of peace, who desires to be saved by all mankind and to bring the truth into the mind (1 Tim. 2:4), will not allow that [brother] who is separated from us like a sheep to end up in the mouth of the murderous dragon, and will keep you, His good lambs, doing those things that are pleasing to Him, within the fence of His commandments in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen. Announcement 97. That we must evade those who have undergone penances and again gone over to the side of the heretics Brothers and fathers. Again, they say, a war has begun, and an internecine war 223. Can there be anything worse than this when Christians destroy each other? But we must always pray to God to pacify our fellow citizens both in relation to worldly power and in relation to faith. This is why we remain here, humble. While here, we must spend our time not simply and as necessary, but with great attention and caution, so that, while preaching to others, we ourselves do not turn out to be worthless (1 Cor. 9:27). We say this, bearing in mind those who fell under penance and again took the side of the heretics, which is why we recently refused to accept what they sent, as harmful and dangerous to the soul. Having learned about this, some of the fathers who were with us were indignant, as this seemed to spark trouble. We do not at all want to stir up trouble, however, fearing condemnation for indifference to faith, we cannot concede anything of the truth and desecrate the confession of Christ. One of the prophets says: they do not separate the holy from the unholy (Ezek. 22:26), but everything is equally equal among them. And the apostle, in turn, says: what communion of righteousness with lawlessness? Or which part will I return with the wrong one? Or some kind of laying down the Church of God from idols? (2 Cor. 6:14–16). And again: [we command] you to separate yourself from every brother who walks disorderly, and not according to tradition, which you received from us (2 Thess. 3:6). And again: if a certain person, we call him a brother, is a fornicator, or a covetous person, or an idolater, or a troublemaker, or a drunkard, or a predator: with such one it is lower than food (1 Cor. 5:11). All this frightens and oppresses our hearts, and for the sake of this we decided [rather] to endure any sorrow and difficulty than to change our fidelity and salvation. But since it is written: if one ud suffers, all uds suffer with him; If one soul is glorified, all nations rejoice with it (1 Cor. 12:26), but you are our true members and “the womb of the heart,” then we considered it necessary to inform you about the present circumstances, so that you would know and, knowing, sympathize with [us] and pay attention to what will happen from here. “For,” he says, “let him who does good expect trials for it” 224. Judge for yourself, I ask you, about what is being said: is it fair to consider as equals and recognize as being in communion [equally] both those expelled from their own monasteries for the truth, and those who took possession of the monasteries through betrayal of the truth? So, the expelled suffer expulsion in vain. Was it in vain that we fought for this in previous times? And on top of that, we also turn out to be deceivers, who say one way to some and another to others. Those who strictly adhere to the confession will rightly complain about us if they see that we have been carried away along with such [people] and have become a temptation for the Church of God. But let us not be carried away along with them and destroy ourselves. Refrain from communicating with heretics. In the previous time, we gave orders as circumstances required and [acted] as we should; [and] now you should do [the same] and not shy away. If he commits an offense, says [the apostle], my soul does not take pleasure in him. But we have no accusation of destruction, but faith to supply the soul (Heb. 10:38–39). Do you see that he called evasion ruin? Therefore, the same apostle says: I am pure from the blood of all, for I did not hesitate to tell you the whole will of God (Acts 20:26-27). So we too, affirming ourselves in the apostolic teaching, as well as [in the teaching] of our holy fathers (for they, in agreement with the apostle, say the same thing), will refrain from communicating with heretics and with the traitors carried away by them, and we will adhere to the exact confession in which we stand and boast in the hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:2), fulfilling the rules and all other perfections, so that we may be perfect and complete, not in what we lack (James 1:4), and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, may guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7), our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 98. On submitting to the abbot and gratefully enduring feats of obedience Brothers and fathers. I, the humble one, rejoice in you because you obey and submit to my weak word in everything, whether I grieve you or encourage you, blame you or praise you. And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). And this is proof of true and genuine obedience, which means that the reward is great (Heb. 10:35) and the reward for the struggle, as [this] is accordingly recognized by our holy fathers. If there is a struggle, then it obviously has battles and clashes corresponding to it. The martyrdom of our conscience. For no one is a martyr without experiencing torment, and no one is awarded a crown if he does not withstand the struggle established by the law (cf. 2 Tim. 2:5). Therefore, we too, without weakening, will commit the martyrdom of our conscience, enduring everything complacently: reproaches - like scourging, cutting off our desires - like shedding blood, intrusions of thoughts - like fires kindled by the devil. Fire does not go out except by pouring water on it; so the flame of foul lust [quenches] no other way than through quiet lying down; so the mind, burdened with thoughts, [is relieved] only by openly announcing them. So the life-saving drugs are obvious; and [now], being in a healthy state, become even more healthy in the Lord. A petition to God without a doubt. If anyone is deprived of wisdom from you, the brother of the Lord cries out, let him ask from God, who gives to all without respect and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Let him ask by faith, without hesitating: if you doubt, you will become like the turbulence of the sea, tossed and tossed by the winds. Let no man imagine that he will receive anything from God. The man is double-minded and unsettled in all his ways (James 1:5–8). Let us not be double-minded and not hesitate with doubts in our petitions. But let our petitions be made to God with gratitude and sincere faith (Phil. 4:6), and in any case we will receive what we desire: the alien fire will go out, and hostile thoughts will dissipate, and, with God’s help, the martyrdom of obedience set before us will be accomplished. I wish, brethren, that you also know that our box [for storing money] does not have much in it (cf. John 12:6), while expenses are added, but income is not added. This is especially noticeable now when there is a shortage of wine, which even bothers the weakest. Test and trial of virtue. But do not be discouraged: the Lord provided immediate help from the fruit of wheat and wine and other necessary items and will provide more, if only we rely entirely on Him and do what is pleasing to Him, without retreating from trust in Him. For He Himself said: I will not leave you; I will despise you (Joshua 1:5). And again: seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). If sometimes there is a deficiency, it is not surprising, for this is a test and test of virtue. Was not the patriarch Jacob righteous? And, however, oppressed by hunger, he sent our fathers to Egypt to buy wheat. Wasn't the prophet Elijah righteous? And, however, having come to Zarephath of Sidon, he shouted after the widow: bring me a little water in a vessel, and drink... and break up the bread... yes yam (1 Kings 17:10-11) - I was looking for nothing else, but quickly prepared and necessary food. And who [does] this? Elijah, who closed the sky with a word so that it would not give rain, and again resolved the prohibition through prayer. Sign of the disciples of Christ. But we, insignificant both in external and internal state, if we tolerate something like this, then [it will be] not contrary to justice, and we should not be burdened, but [should] be grateful both in abundance and in shortage. For this is a sign of the disciples of Christ, and not of those who murmur to their own destruction. And, being in such a disposition and mood, we will easily bypass present disasters and achieve future blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 99. That we must be nailed down by the fear of God so as to avoid the soul-destroying attacks of demons Brothers and fathers. When the attack of the Hagarians 225 happened, we immediately became frightened and lost heart, fearing that we might fall into the bloodthirsty hands of the godless, and not in vain. And when there is an attack by demons, we do not notice it and are not afraid, through inattention, to be convenient for being captured by the spirits of evil. Enemies visible and invisible. However, as for visible enemies, [their] attack occurs at a certain time, and rumors coming from afar make it possible for those who wish to escape here or there. As for the invisible enemies, this is impossible to say, because day and night every hour they are busy attacking us, so that, one might say, they do not allow us to breathe. Therefore, greater fear and greater caution are required here, so as not to be captured, but to avoid their soul-destroying raids. Where to run away to? Of course, to God, for [David] says: God is our refuge and strength, a helper in the tribulations of those who have come upon us greatly (Ps. 45:2) and: the Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them (Ps. 33:8), and [more]: those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion: they will not move in the living age in Jerusalem ( Ps. 125:1). So, if we have the fear of God and confidence, we will not fear in the face of our enemies. Bread and water – the word of God and tears. Let us pay attention to the fact that a fortress can only be captured if there is a shortage of bread and water. What is this about us? Tears and the word of God, from which and with which the soul is nourished and saved, and in the absence of which it is devastated and given over [to captivity]. Therefore, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16), as it is written. And let the tears never cease. Internal betrayal - passions and thoughts. There is, however, as they say, internal betrayal. And what is this again? The passions living in us and the thoughts arising from the betrayal of the carnal way of thinking, which, like traitors, open the door to hostile demons. They should be expelled and guarded with all security, so that our city, that is, our soul, is not taken, so that we are not robbed by sin and so that we do not conclude a truce with destructive passions, but so that we remain in the virtue in which we were created, for the glory of the Creator, for the praise of me, a sinner, on the day of Christ. The need for good order in the performance of worship. Yesterday I was angry with you for singing psalms. I ask and pray [you] to sing harmoniously and as established by the rule, but not simply and haphazardly, scatteredly, and thereby offend not me, a sinner, but the Holy Spirit. For this is what He commanded: sing wisely (Ps. 46:8). It is impossible to sing intelligently if we do not observe [such an order] that the choral part does not begin a verse until the previous one has ended, the psalms are sung slowly or quietly, the verse is performed more slowly or quickly. If, as happens, [one notices in the performance of the psalms] lethargy and negligence, then one should beat out the beat for the other, and let, first of all, decorum be maintained. And if in other matters good order is the most beautiful thing, then even more so in a conversation with God. Is it not in the absence of order that absurd ideas and captivity of the mind occur? But with good order, isn’t it quicker [to achieve] attention and protection [of the mind] and complacency 226 . If sweet, says [David], your words are sweeter to my throat than honey to my mouth (Ps. 119:103). Exhortation Therefore, I ask and implore you: with all zeal, let us try to practice this virtue, helping each other and correcting each other in singing. Thus, by wisely fulfilling the psalms, we will find complete rest for our souls, and for others we will be a wonderful example and, in all [other] ways, serving God, we will become heirs of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 100. About directing the mind to the right side - to the indescribable beauties of God's creation Good reflection on the works of God. Brothers and fathers. This is where the mind [should remain] always, this is where the heart should stay awake - in the work of God, in the field of asceticism, and not jump here and there like a captive. Is the water in the sea becoming scarce, or is the air becoming scarce for the person who breathes? Likewise, and even more so, good thinking should not become scarce in us when we look at the boundless sea of ​​God’s amazing deeds, in which the mind does not have free time to waste time on the things of life and be carried away by vicious thoughts. For he, by his very nature, being in constant motion, cannot remain calm, but wherever we direct him, he necessarily rushes there, to the right or to the left. And if to the right, then he has [the opportunity] to pronounce the words of David: Lord, by Thy will grant strength to my kindness (Ps. 29:8). For preoccupation with vain things is a turn away from God, and exercise in depravity is confusion, harmful to the soul. Let us always try to direct it 227 to the right and see good sights. What are these? Angelic and Heavenly Powers, the indescribable and inexplicable beauties there, the light-like abodes of the apostles, prophets, martyrs and all the righteous; the very vault of heaven, the sun's ray, the lunar shine, the choirs of constellations and all other objects subject to the senses - not so that we can dwell on them, but so that, through them, contemplating the Creator of all that exists - God, we preserve our beauty intact. For God first adorned us in paradise, making us worthy of His image and likeness. Although by disobedience we darkened and upset ourselves, and very much, He adorned us again with grace; the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus Christ our Savior poured out on us richly (Titus 3:5-6); but, however, even here we became unfit. For the third time He adorned us in the vow of virginity 228, forgiving us all our sins, destroying the handwriting on us (Col. 2:13-14) by a life of the cross, like baptism. Acceptance of monasticism means forgiveness of previous sins. Let our soul remain in its beauty, so that it may be worthy to hear: You are all good, my neighbor, and there is no vice in you (Song. 4:7). If, however, it again happens to be defiled by vice, since we are subject to change, and no one is clean from filth (cf. Job 14:4), and no one can boast that he has an immaculate heart (Proverbs 20:9), then we will cleanse ourselves with tears. Wash me, says [David], and I will be whiter than snow (Ps. 50:9). And [the prophet Isaiah] says in turn: wash yourselves, [and] cleanse yourselves, take away wickedness from your souls (Is. 1:16). And blessed is the soul that always purifies itself in this way, that has renounced every bad inclination and has acquired aspiration, desire and love for God alone, daily awaiting death with pleasure. In any case, she will come, and we will have to pay the common debt. But oh, that [we] might, reverently and righteously [having lived] be worthy of this, so that when the remains of each of us are presented for the last kiss to those who wish while singing psalms, as a chosen vessel, as an instrument of righteousness, our soul would be taken into eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 101. On the incarnation of the Lord Christ, mourning for our fallen brothers and instructions on caution Brothers and fathers. There are few [nowadays] listening due to the departure of some brethren; but even if there is only one listener present, one should not neglect [the teaching]. For the Lord says: Take heed that you do not despise one [of] these little ones: for I say to you, as their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven. For the Son of Man came [to seek and] to save the lost (Matthew 18:10–11). Oh, how inexpressible is [God’s] love for mankind! The Lord came in the form of a slave to the runaway slave in order to free him from slavery to the devil; the true Light came (cf. John 1:9) to recover the lost coin (cf. Luke 15:9), in order to call him out of the darkness of sin. Therefore, it is necessary that we, the humble ones, imitating the all-good Lord, work for each of you, talk [with you] and lay down our very soul [for you]. Oh, if I had wings to fly and be in each brotherhood - to see them and talk [with them] about duties, and not only [to see them], but also those who followed the path of Cain, [succumbed] to the deception of Balaam (Jude 1:11). Who am I talking about? About Leontius, Ermia and Nektarios, who retreated from us and from the faith, and received the presidency as a reward for their retreat. If I, being humble, saw them and talked [with them], then, even if I [didn’t achieve] anything else, at least I would have consoled my soul. I would also like to see those who, due to my sins, threw off the holy schema and put on the clothes of lawlessness and sin in order to mourn [them] even more. One of them, the famous Pigasius, is said to have reached such disgrace that, by royal appointment, he received command over the people, instigated hostile actions [against himself], committed murders, and while killing [others] lost his own life. What a misfortune! What an abyss this unfortunate man has fallen into! At first he fell away from the brotherhood; then he followed his lusts here and there, becoming corrupted like a dumb animal; then he gave up his monasticism and finally ended up with such a terrible [incident] that we heard about. Pray for the fallen, and protect ourselves. Therefore, I ask [you] to pray for them, and to protect yourself, so as not to weaken in ascetic constancy, for by gradual relaxation and lethargy the soul is led to destruction. That is why I pity and mourn those who now live separately, since they are in plain sight, like ready prey for the devil. For if a wolf steals a sheep from a sheepfold, much more will he, having caught it, destroy it if he finds it outside the flock. Don't you know what furious malice the devil has against us? The devil especially rejoices at the death of the monks. He attacks all people, not just humble monks; He rejoices at the death of many, but does not delight [in this] as much as if he overthrows one monk. That’s why he fights, and sits nearby, and fights, in order to distract the novice from obedience, the silent one from silence, the stylite from the pillar, the hermit from the shutter, so that, having taken them into his hands by [such] movement, he pushes them where he wants. In the same way, those who remain within their own boundaries and places of [performing] virtue are elusive to the devil, rushing above his nets. Exhortation. Therefore, brethren, we, using the power given to us by God against him, will put the enemy to flight, protecting ourselves with divine fear, casting him down with heavenly thoughts, and not allowing his thoughts to dominate [us], so that, having gained victory here, we will receive the crown of righteousness in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 102. About the tricks of the insidious serpent and that with true humility and walking the royal path we will avoid his varied intrigues Brothers and fathers. The present day requires that I talk with everyone, but not to the same extent as with those who have recently arrived, since they have not been listeners to my humble word for some time. What word? So that we may lead a life worthy of persecution for Christ in all godliness and purity (1 Tim. 2:2), as children of obedience, not being the first to be transformed by ignorance of your desires (1 Peter 1:14) and not weakening the strength of our ascetic perseverance. For you see, brethren, that the devil, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8); and since he now sees us divided by persecution, he advances harder, trying to steal the soul. When the devil is put to shame. But we will watch and be sober at all times and in [every] place, being protected by the Divine commandments, and he, not finding a place in us, will go away disgraced. If he finds a place, he will attack even [stronger] and will not stop [attacks] until he hits and destroys. Don’t we know how many he has already destroyed since the creation of the world? Did he not bring the first man to expulsion from paradise by seducing him through pleasure? Did he not arm Cain for fratricide? Didn’t he tear Judas away from the face of the apostle, making him a traitor to Him who is the Life of all? Didn’t he also put to death many others, countless in number? A variety of devilish wiles. Even now he acts, lies in wait and seduces and almost consumes the universe; it is difficult to avoid and requires extreme attention, for he tries to seduce us [from what we should] and entice us to the opposite, not only through a dissolute and base life, but also through overly intense asceticism, taking on various forms through many tricks and deceptions and spreading many nets across the earth to [catcher] us, as was revealed to Blessed Anthony 229; These snares can only be avoided by humility, as the legend [explains]. The meaning of humility in the fight against the devil. Therefore, using humility, we will avoid deviations and deviations that belong to him, 230 walking the royal path 231 and not deviating either here or there, but conforming to the rule of the holy commandment handed down to us and following in the footsteps of the fathers who preceded us, whose life is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). So, let our mind be separated from evil thoughts, let our heart delve into Divine words, let our lips open only to praise God, let our eye see what is right, let our ear not accept vain news; let your hands begin to move to work, let your feet step decorously; let food and drink be moderate, sleep - established by the rule; Let there be no exit [from the cell] except for what is necessary; let there be no insolence that causes death, and let nothing other inappropriate operate in us; but let everything be done piously and wisely. The lifespan is not long, the limit of exploits is close. And the definite period is not long, and the limit of exploits is near. And what is the reward for your labors? The Kingdom of Heaven, for which, brothers, we will strive again and again, we will fight; if we stumble, we will get up again; If we fall asleep, we will wake up immediately. We will force nature, we will kill the uds that are on the earth (Col. 3:5); Let us acquire virtues. I say this also regarding myself, since I myself am clothed with weakness, obviously being of the same nature as you, so that we all, sincerely and without giving any temptation [having lived and] moved from here, may achieve eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 103. About preserving the Divine commandments, and a just threat to those who live carelessly Brothers and fathers. God, who created us and brought us from non-existence into existence, placed us in this life as if in a school 232 so that we could learn the Gospel of His Kingdom. Therefore, sending His disciples to preach, He commanded them, saying: Go and teach all languages, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all the things given to you in commandments (Matthew 8:19-20). What are these [commandments] that He commanded? Differences in the commandments of the Old and New Testaments: actions and motives. According to the Old Testament, the following [was commanded] to indicate [only] in part: Thou shalt not kill. Don't commit adultery. Do not steal, do not bear false witness (Ex. 20:13–16 et seq.; cf. Deut. 5:17–20). According to the New Testament, [He gave commandments] even more sublime and strict, for He says: it was said to the ancients: you shall not kill: whoever kills is guilty of judgment. But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother is guilty of judgment in vain (Matthew 5:21-22). Again: it was said by the ancients: do not commit adultery. But I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28). And again it is said: “do not swear.” I tell you not to swear in any way (Matthew 5:33–34). Again: it is said: love your sincere and hate your enemy. But I say to you: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you (Matthew 5:43–44). Do you see how different the two Testaments are? One prohibits the actions themselves, and the other the reasons from which the actions [arise], so that sin does not take root from here. So, if we find ourselves living neither according to the Law nor according to the Gospel, but, one might say, in a pagan way, then what will we experience on that day? Exhortation. Do not flatter yourself, says [the apostle], neither the harlot, nor the idolater, nor the adulterer, nor the wicked, nor the sodomite, nor the covetous, nor the thieves, nor the drunkards, nor the molesters, nor the predators will inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10). And therefore, as often [before], so now, with determination, I proclaim that no one should live alone, that no one should be indifferent [to the matter of his salvation], that he should not hoard gold, that he should not acquire a slave, that he should not breed horses or bulls, that he should not do anything else contrary to the rule [established during] persecution: from this come sins that are [even] more significant and serious. And yet there are some of you who stubbornly disobey and argue against the truth. But I, humble one, am clean from your blood (cf. Acts 20:26). For I did not fail to proclaim to us the truth of God and silently announced the sword that was coming on the sons of disobedience ( Col. 3:6 ). Or are we annoying the Lord? Is food his strongest food? (1 Cor. 10:22). For even the ax lies at the root of the tree: every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10). Aren't you afraid of [this] example? Do you not tremble before [this] threat? Are you not afraid of the death that we will suffer in a little while? How will we see the terrible angels coming to take us from the body? How will we travel that long and endless path without acquiring travel supplies for it? How can we, having an evil conscience, stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to whom every knee will worship, and every tongue will confess (Rom. 14:11)? So, we will inevitably be sent to where the fire does not go out and the worm does not die; there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. But, brethren, so that this does not happen, come, let us worship... and weep before our good God; let us precede His face in confession (Ps. 94:6,2), in petition, in contrition, in tears, in prayers, in fasting, in purity, in all good behavior. And this is cleansing for our sins (1 John 2:2); and He has not yet closed [the doors of His mercy] from us, but [mercifully] receives us as a harlot, as a dissolute [son], as a thief (John 8:3–11; Luke 15:11–32; 23:42–43). Exhortation. In fact, I ask you, brethren, let us arise, awaken, and strive, so that, just as well-learned children, dismissed from school, go home joyfully, so we, as sincere disciples of the Gospel, having renounced this life, joyfully move into eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 104. About sincere and true love and obedience towards the abbot and about the terrible test of the righteous Judge Brothers and fathers. What I said in the previous announcement for the sake of those present then, I said with difficulty and sorrow; Now I have to say the best things about you that relate to salvation, because by the grace of the all-good God you obey and submit to my humility, doing nothing besides what was commanded to you. This is a joy and a crown not only for me, but also for you, who [even] before me chose virtue preferentially. And what could be sweeter, more pleasant and more beautiful than for a novice to live according to the commandment and do nothing of his own free will? True obedience is a sad and carefree feat. This is what true obedience consists of; this is the blessed life; this, one might say, is a much-sad and [at the same time] carefree feat: much-sad for one who is still governed by his desires; careless for the one who managed to cut off his own will, who has the boldness to say along with the apostle: “I live as no one, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). For, not living according to his own will, he, through the mediation of the abbot, lives for God and, beholding the glory of the Lord with his revealed face, is transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord, as it is written (2 Cor. 3:18). Such a person does not care about the world, is not afraid of death; Such a person leads a carefree and unburdened life, devoting himself entirely to God. Whoever relies on his own desires and thus neglects the laws of obedience, acts arbitrarily and pleases himself, drags out a painful life, caught by the devil into his will. Although sometimes it seems that he is fasting or staying awake or doing some other good thing, [all this] is disapproved, because everything that is not from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23), and what does not happen according to the general rule is brought in from the doer himself and is alien to the reverence of God. And therefore rightly I reproached such; I praise you and ask you [more] to remain in the most beautiful obedience, in patience, in cutting off your will, in faith, in hope, in love and in [all] other novice activities for the sake of your own salvation and [serving] as a good example to the whole brotherhood. God's judgment. Therefore, my brethren, I exhort: for yet a little is great, the one who comes will come and will not cut down (Heb. 10:37); the last day will come, on which the works of darkness will be revealed and the intentions of the heart will be revealed (1 Cor. 4:5). A terrible and honest Judge will come, Who will compare novice with novice, abbot with abbot, bishop with bishop, chief with chief, king with king, one through the other will convict or justify and reward each according to his deeds: for those who seek after the patience of good deeds, glory and honor and incorruptibility, eternal life; and those who zealously oppose the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and wrath, sorrow and distress, as it is written (Rom. 2:6-9). What kind of person should you be at the hour of death? What we should be afraid of and [what] we should strive with all zeal for is that at the hour of death we should not be caught deprived of good deeds, but should find ourselves containing the fruits of good perfections. If the enemy opposes us, we must prove ourselves in good deeds, [which] is certain, for he, as the Lord said at the hour of death, is not a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, for there is no truth in him (John 8:44), then let us be [more] filled with courage and generosity against him, putting works, efforts, prayers, petitions, tears as the basis, and he will turn out to be completely weak if the Lord helps us in the fight and to help in our weakness, giving us eternal victory in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 105. About cleansing ourselves from passions and taking upon ourselves the labors of virtue Teaching and instruction - peace and prosperity; presence of the Holy Spirit. Brothers and fathers. Perhaps someone will say that we do not receive any benefit from these announcements; but, it seems to me, we get a benefit, and a big one. For what plows are to the earth, and water to the thirsty, so is the word of announcement to the one who listens with sound senses. For why does the soul usually become worse? Where do the quarrels, disputes and discord in brotherhoods come from? Is it because there is no teaching and instruction? Where there is teaching and instruction, there is peace and prosperity; and where there is peace and prosperity, there the Holy Spirit rests. For this reason, I, humble, with fear and love, try to talk, instruct, encourage and remind you if I can somehow save both myself and you from the various temptations of the devil. I admit that you yourself help me a lot, especially those who rise in brotherhood, and that you are all my collaborators in goodness. Az, says [the apostle], planted, Apollos gave water, but God will increase (1 Cor. 3:6), so that success is not only mine, but also yours, or better [to say], it belongs to God, from Whom is all perfection in people. Everything is for the common good. Therefore, I ask you: direct [everything] for the common benefit, according to the ministry that is given to each, and be built together into a habitation of God by the Spirit (Eph. 2:22). For the apostle says: If anyone builds on this foundation, gold, silver, honest stone, wood, hay, reeds, every work will be revealed; the day will reveal it by fire, and every work that exists will be tempted by fire (1 Cor. 3:12-13). Let us pay attention to what he says, how he compares virtue with gold, silver and precious stones, and vice with firewood, hay and straw. All this will be tested by the fire of judgment, [and] the fragile will be burned, but the strong will be preserved. Man is the church of God. To this, using an even more terrible word, he adds: Do you not know that you are the church of God, and the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone corrupts God's church, God will corrupt him: for the church of God is holy, just as you are (1 Cor. 3:16-17). What a gift that we are worthy to be called the church of God! But what is the threat that if we corrupt God’s church, we will be destroyed by God! Let us not, my brethren, corrupt the church of God within ourselves, and having been worthy to have the Holy Spirit as our dweller, let us not allow ourselves to become a dwelling place of passions; just as, having freed ourselves from sin, let us not allow ourselves to be enslaved to the devil again. But let us be pure and without stumbling in the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God, as it is written (Phil. 1:10-11). Where there is spiritual work, sin does not penetrate the soul. Let our heart be always awake, devoted to work, filled with the fear of God, and constantly thinking about death. Where there is such labor, there is no place for sin to penetrate [the soul]. When the heart is inactive and insensitive, then lust quietly penetrates, irritating and revolting us and not allowing us to return to our previous state. Therefore, let us set to work for the sake of [acquiring] virtue in order to find a blessed life; let us set to work for the sake of [acquiring] good in order to find permanent peace; let us take up weeping in order to find joy in the Lord; Let us begin to walk the narrow and sorrowful path (cf. Matt. 7:14) in order to find the favorable life born from here. And this is the greatest of enterprises and the best of successes: in return for small labors and exploits for the sake of virtue, to receive endless and eternal benefits. Let it be that we all receive them through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 106. About soberly and wakefully steering the ship of our life Sea of ​​Life. Brothers and fathers. Human life is like some other sea, on which we all mentally sail, as if in some ship, having entered this body. And we do not sail at any specific time, like those sailing across the sensory sea, because they either swim or take refuge in the harbor. But we sail constantly, night and day, in bad weather and storms. And the sea [is] formidable, and not only formidable, but also very long, the same in length as the duration of our life. In it there are so many sudden violent disturbances raised by the spirits of malice, so many demon pirates are attacking [to] drown us, [which] cannot be said. Why did Saint David, knowing this, prayerfully say: let me get rid of those who hate me and from deep waters. Let no storm of water drown me, let the depths below devour me, let the peers of their mouths lower their lips about me (Ps. 68:15-16). The importance of staying awake and sober. If David, such and such a great [man], feared and prayed not to be drowned, which he once experienced while dozing off (2 Samuel 11-12), what will we, the humble, say, and how much should we fear and pray so as not to experience the same thing? And our mind is like a helmsman: when it is awake and sober, it reflects the storm of passions, being [only] sprinkled a little by the thoughts that strike it; when he is careless and careless, he takes passion into himself, like some kind of drowning stream. Then, finding himself overflowing with water, he suffers a great shipwreck of sin, which is deplorable for us to hear about, and even more deplorable to think about. The voyage of our life is so terrible and so dangerous, and therefore let us soberly and vigilantly control the ship, repelling passions far away and immediately eliminating intruding inappropriate thoughts, so that if we slow down, we will not be drowned. Danger even for experienced ascetics. I say this not only in relation to the younger ones, but also to the older ones and those who have spent a long time in asceticism, for the devil does not leave them without attack; the great and God-bearing Basil speaks about them in some place: “The most pitiful sight is after a vigil, after a harsh life, after a long prayer, after abundant tears, after abstinence for twenty or even thirty years, through the carelessness of the soul and through negligence, one finds oneself deprived of everything” 234 . It was I, the humble one, who heard and saw, and mourned and mourn, reflecting on how such a great wealth of virtues, collected over so many years, perished from the malice of the devil in one instant of time, leaving the ascetic of piety empty and worthless. So great is the mystery of our salvation and such is the enmity of the devil when he sees us ascending to heaven from where he fell. But let him be like this and attack us with such fury. Exhortation. We, brethren, small and great, young and old, will all unanimously firmly watch with God's help, so that we do not, through inattention, destroy what we have acquired through many labors and exploits - I mean renunciation [of the world], obedience, chastity, tears, previous and later confession. But let us be still [more] awake and vigilantly watchful, keeping the sail of our hope hoisted and guided by the winds of the Spirit, until we reach the limit of life, the harbor of immortality, so that for the load of virtue we may receive the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 107. About remembering death and not being careless about the communion of the Holy Mysteries Brothers and fathers. Yesterday, as soon as the royal [envoy] arrived, we immediately became confused and alarmed at the unexpectedness of his appearance to observe us. But after we learned that his coming was not for our sake, we [even] more quickly abandoned our worries. I ask now, for what [other] reason were we worried, if not because for [our] present confession we are not only unpleasant to the king, but also very hated and despised? On the contrary, if we were kind and close [to him], we would be very happy, knowing that he [sent from the king] came to us, in any case, with a good purpose. What does my preface want to show? Who and how will meet death. The fact that the soul, which through a good life has been rewarded with the fact that God is merciful [to it], will not be afraid when, during the exodus [from the body] from the King of all, an Angel is sent for it, but will look at it with pleasure and joyfully go to its Master. The same soul that does not find itself in such a state will undoubtedly become confused and alarmed, having no stability in itself and [not receiving] consolation from anywhere. For here both friend and brother can calm the soul and dispel anxiety; there is the absence of all this, when the Angel sternly and menacingly takes the poor soul. And maybe we are afraid about [this] word. But if hearing aroused fear, then what would we experience if we were actually [doing these] things? How will such a soul appear before the judgment seat of Christ? The river of fire, says the prophet Daniel, stretches before Him; thousands of thousands stand before Him and darkness serve Him (Dan.7:10); and the Judge is terrible and incorruptible, and the answer is even for an idle word, as it is said in the Gospel. And how will the soul bear [all this] then? And it is truly terrible to fall into the hands of the Living God (Heb. 10:31), but even more terrible when she hears the most righteous renunciation of her (Matthew 25:41), consigning [her] to endless torment. Exhortation. For this reason, my brethren, I ask and pray [to you]: let us be reconciled with God before death, we will acquire His favor, we will make our friends the Angels who are coming for us, we will have the eye of thought awake, we will make our mind invincible, not bowing to the attraction of passions; but even if we slip a little, we will quickly get up, extinguishing with many tears the fiery arrows of the evil one (cf. Eph. 6:16) and opposing them with ardent love for Christ. The need for prayers for each other. The prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much, he says (James 5:16), so that we need to pray for each other and remember each other. Tears, contrition and - above all and together with everything - the communion of the Holy Mysteries mean a lot. Seeing how carelessly you treat him, I am very surprised: if the day of the Lord comes 235, then you [are still approaching the Holy Mysteries]; if the liturgical meeting (σύναξις) happens on another day, then you are not suitable at all. The censure of the rare and the need for worthy Communion. Even in a monastery [before] it was possible for anyone who wished to receive communion every day, but now [this happens] less often and [even] does not occur anywhere. And I say this, not at all wanting you to receive [the Holy Mysteries] simply and carelessly 236. For it is written: Let a man tempt himself, and let him eat of the bread, and let him drink of the cup. He who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment without discerning the body of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:28–29). So, this is not what I say, let it not happen! [But I speak for this purpose] so that, [burning] with a strong desire for communion, we purify ourselves as much as possible and become worthy of the gift, for the Bread that is set is the communion of life (ζωῆς γάρ μετουσία ἐστίν ὁ προκείμενος ἄρτος). The Lord says: I am the bread [animal] that came down from heaven: if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever, and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:51). And again: he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood will remain in Me, and I in him (John 6:56). Do you see the ineffable and limitless gift? He not only died for us, but also offered Himself to us as food. What could show His great love [for us] even more clearly? And what is more salutary for the soul? Even when ordinary food and drink are offered, there is no one who would refuse to take part in the daily [meal]; and if he does not take part, he will be very burdened by it. When it is not ordinary bread that is offered, but the Bread of Life, and not an ordinary cup, but the Cup of immortality, then we consider [this] matter to be indifferent, and not in any way necessary. And what kind of unreason and recklessness does this [attitude] serve as [evidence]?! But if this has happened until now, then, please, let us beware [for the future], knowing the power of the gift [of God], and, as far as possible, we will cleanse ourselves and partake of the Holy Mysteries. And if we happen to be engaged in handicrafts, then when the giver of the sign 238 notifies [about the beginning of the liturgy], we must leave the work and with the greatest readiness take part in the gift. And this, it seems to me - it’s better to say, as it happens in reality - will be of great benefit to us if, [impelled] by the preparation for Communion, we keep ourselves pure. With an indifferent attitude towards Communion, how can we avoid the captivity of passions? It [Communion] will also be our parting word for eternal life. May we be worthy to receive it by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 108. That we should be disposed to exploits of virtue The nature of virtue. Brothers and fathers. Virtue by nature is something always moving (ἡ ἀρετή τὁ ἀεικίνητόν τι) and never stops in [this] forward movement, but always leads those participating in it to the better. And, showing this, the apostle says: I am not already reached, or already accomplished: but I grieve, even if I comprehend, those things which were also comprehended from Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:12). And again he says: Forgetting those things which are behind, I have stretched myself to those things which are before, I pursue with zeal for the honor of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14). Thus, there is no stop [in the pursuit of good], for immobility in good becomes the beginning of evil 239. Therefore, we, brothers, will not stop in the field of virtue, but we will always be mobile, as if newly created [for good], moving from strength to strength (Ps. 83:8), until we reach a perfect man, according to the age of the fulfillment of Christ (Eph. 4:13). The importance of good spirits. How will this happen? If we spend every day in a good state of mind. For example, morning comes, and we, soon getting up from sleep, go to prayer. When we come from there, we will cheerfully get to work, at the same time singing [a song] to the Lord in our hearts and at the same time working with our hands. The day is over - let us go to sleep with gratitude and contrition, so that, thanks to such a change, what was said by Saint David will be fulfilled: the verb burps out the day, and the mind proclaims the night of the night (Ps. 18:3). Let the day [not pass] in indifferent actions and in captivity [by sinful thoughts], and the night - in lying down and lusts, I do not say - in deeds - let it not be! - but even mentally, for the word of truth requires that both body and soul be clean. Lust is not pleasure, but life is painful. But do we want to have attraction? But what is more desirable than virtue, the enjoyment of which is pleasant and insatiable? Do we love beauty? But what is more lovable than the Lord, by whose beauty everything is adorned? Evil lusts that irritate the soul eat it up worse than any beast, so that this is not pleasure, but a painful life. Do not be mistaken, says [the apostle], flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; below corruption, incorruption inherits (1 Cor. 15:50). So, who has sin, having captured, not dishonored, humiliated and put to death? Take two of many, Amnon and Joseph. Didn’t fornication with his sister lead one to murder (2 Samuel 13), and didn’t chastity towards an Egyptian woman make another a king (Gen. 39)? So virtue is amiable, desirable and salutary, but vice is very base, disgusting and destructive. Why do we choose not virtue, but vice? And yet we, people, are led into a great error, choosing death instead of life, lovingly accepting darkness instead of light, and loving corruption instead of incorruption. What could be more deplorable than this? But why, wanting to be lovers of goodness, cannot we [be like that]? From the fact that we desire not with a true desire, but with a feigned one, since, being autocratic, we choose what we desire in every possible way. But being in evil deeds from youth has produced in us a habit that seems inseparable from passions. However, what does the apostle say? I speak humanly, for the weakness of your flesh. Just as you presented your servants to impurity and lawlessness for iniquity, so now present your servants for righteousness into holiness (Rom. 6:19), that is, in contrast to [the tendency to sin], we must show an intense desire for virtue. Exhortation. Therefore, my brethren, let us knock again [and again] without retreating, and in any case our all-good God will open the door for us, doing in us what is pleasing before Him and giving us eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 109. About the death of brother Theosost and about leading a pious and holy life Brothers and fathers. Now we have fully learned about our brother Theosost 240 that he has died; and it is necessary to say something a little about him, because he was a man famous [for his ascetic] experience, whom many praised - both monks and laymen, who himself was subordinate, and had [others] in subordination; being tempted in what he experienced, he was able, using the apostolic expression, to help those who were tempted (Heb. 2:18), and therefore acquired for himself many proven children according to God. For the sake of the truth, he endured sorrows and oppressions, persecutions and temptations, and, moreover, not accidental ones, in which, having died, he went to the Lord. But why am I saying all this? In order, brethren, that in our brother we may also contemplate what applies to us - that if we live well and holy, then like [him] others will praise us after death, and we will be the instigators of good zeal for those who follow. If [we live] badly, then not only will we not be praised, but we, on the contrary, will be subjected to the punishments of endless retribution, which is scary to think and talk about. The importance of thinking about death. Pay attention to this: how we move from here one after another, and where we are going, and what kind of life is arranged for us here for a few days, [to] live as long as [is required] for the test of virtue, and then move on to where we will stay forever. It is the business of prudent [people] to think about this; and whoever thinks about this trembles and fears, always [being] in readiness for daily death, daily expecting liberation from his body and thereby arousing in himself zeal for the work ahead of him in the service entrusted to him - to such an extent that he constantly adds labor to labor. For where do the feats of the saints surpass nature come from? Where does their patience last? Where does the constancy of obedience come from? Where does submission come from until old age and even beyond that? Where do the exploits of the martyrs come from? Where does the cutting off of members come from? Where does the bloodshed come from? Is it not from here, is it not from their reflection on the frailty and transience of life, on the need to appear before the terrible Judge and on the infinity of eternal torment? From here everything seemed bearable to them. Hence the enduring of terrible torment, as if in the bodies of others. And blessed is the soul that meditates on this day and night, that changes life, like a wanderer, like a guest, which receives that blessed and secure life, about which the apostle speaks: for the creation is longing for the revelation of the sons of God: for the creation is subject to vanity, not by will, but for him who obeyed, in the hope that the creation itself will be freed from the work of corruption into the freedom of the glory of children of God (Rom. 8:19–21). Do you see that, according to the promise, everything will be changed into incorruption and the creation will be translated from slavery into freedom (cf. Rom. 8:21)? How great, however, is the day about which Saint David speaks: better is one day in Your courts than thousands (Ps. 83:11)! And the chief of the apostles, in turn, says: with the Lord one day is like a thousand years (2 Pet. 3:8). Also, the Apostle Paul says: being conformed to His death, if I reach the resurrection of the dead (Phil. 3:10-11). Therefore, my brothers, we will direct our minds and hearts there too; let us transfer our attraction there; let us transfer our thoughts and intentions there; there we will reinforce our desires and our requests, so that, occupied with such subjects, we remain unattainable by the 241 rulers of this age (cf. Eph. 2:2), who has the power to tempt us, but does not have the power to overthrow those already protected by the weapons of asceticism. I, the humble one, pray that you will not only escape it, but also overcome it and receive the crown of righteousness in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 110. About our life, which produces joy, and about not losing heart in the fight against the enemy Only true monks rejoice. Brothers and fathers. The Apostle commands everyone to always rejoice in the Lord (Phil.4:4); It seems that only true monks rejoice, who do not care about their wife, children, slaves, money, property, or anything else that those who love the flesh zealously do. Their only concern is how to please the Lord. Taking care of this means always rejoicing in the Lord. For where there is marriage, and slavery, and those born from this anxiety, this care is evil, [which] God gave the son of man to exercise in it (Eccl. 1:13), as Solomon said; there it is inconvenient to rejoice in the Lord, when the above distracts the mind from the sacred memory of God, in which it is [only] possible to rejoice. The feat of virginity is the greatest and exceeds nature. Since we too are among those who rejoice in the Lord, then, brethren, let us rejoice and rejoice with each other, expecting for our virginity and non-covetousness a reward from God the Rewarder, Who promised to give a reward even for a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42), and not only for such great feats that exceed nature. For the feat of virginity is the greatest feat that exceeds nature, coming into contact with the angelic way of life, introducing a person to the original state that [was] in paradise, when there was neither marriage nor slavery, but a certain life was safe and life was carefree. If someone says that he does not rejoice, but is sad, then I ask: for what reason? Because he committed sins? But they are forgiven for the sake of renunciation 242, obedience and open recognition of them. A sign of receiving a crown. Weapons to fight the devil. Why do you receive wounds from your thoughts every day? But this is also a sign of receiving a crown. For no one adorns a wreath to a person who has nothing to do with war, but [adorns] a warrior; and no one rewards with gifts the one who does not perform in the arena, but [rewards] the one who competed the most 243 . Don't you see that from where we say sorrow arises for us, from there we actually have joy? Let us, brethren, rejoice with spiritual joy, resisting and more powerfully resisting the tricks of the devil, repelling his attacks with prayers and supplications, crushing his nets with humility and obedience, drowning him with tears and contrition like Pharaoh (Ex. 15:19), driving him far from ourselves by self-accusation and confession, overthrowing him with all other successes [in asceticism] God's. The cunning and deceit of the devil. So, [let] him be varied in his intrigues and very experienced in depravity; let him know how to lie in wait for opportunities to attack [us], seeking to kill us; [let him] know how to withdraw as if defeated, so that, having attacked unexpectedly, he can find the soul unprepared and do with it what he wants. But we, standing on guard, will be sober, we will be vigilant, having a vigilant eye on the mind and a burning heart with love for God, and as a result we will remain invincible and steadfast. Exhortation. In fact, I ask [you], let us not be careless in the struggle, let us not lose heart in the battle with the enemy, for the end of our exploits is near: for if there is a little, the one who comes will come and will not cut it down (Heb. 10:37) - either at the end of everyone, or at the end of the whole [world], when He will be revealed from heaven with the angels of His power (2 Thess. 1:7) and in glory unspeakable, and every eye will see Him, and those who are like Him will see Him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn for Him (Rev. 1:7). How terrible that sight is and, due to the complete frenzy into which it leads a person, inexplicable. Then those who have fought the good fight, those who have remained steadfast in temptation, those who love holiness, those who are active in obedience, those who are obedient, who have pleased the Lord in everything, will rejoice. But may it be that we too may be numbered among them and receive eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 111. On patience and contrition Brothers and fathers. I still do not stop speaking and exhorting, because I am in an anxious state, because [I have] gray hair, and I am afraid of judgment for my leadership. And how can I not be afraid of him? How can I not decide not only to speak these short words, but also to give my very humble soul for each of you! The image of this world is passing away. So, brethren, let us listen to what the apostle says: the time has ceased; there are other things, and even those who have have wives will be as if they had not; and those who weep, as if they were not weeping: and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if not containing; and those who demand this world, but they do not demand it: for the image of this world is passing away (1 Cor. 7:29-31). What does it mean: the image of this world passes away? That is, it passes by, runs quickly, without stopping even for one day; but yesterday it was clear, and today it is cloudy; yesterday - well, and today - misfortune; one rises to the heights, and the other falls from the height of his dignity; one from the rich becomes poor, the other from the poor becomes rich, and [in general] our miserable life is subject to countless changes and vicissitudes, never having firm stability. Why did this happen? Of course, from our ancient indiscretion. Since we neglected the holy commandment given to us in paradise, being deceived by pleasure as a result of the serpent’s cunning, we were rightly given over to this long-suffering and changeable life. For her sake, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ took place, returning us to our original state and restoring us to a safe and carefree life. The property of prudent and experienced people [in asceticism] is to be firm in unstable [circumstances] and to remain unshakable in vicissitudes. Who is this characteristic of, if not those who crucify themselves for the world and follow 244 the Lord? The meaning of obedience. By the grace of Christ, such are we, dear brethren, who have renounced [the world] with good renunciation and submit [with] excellent obedience, through which a return to the previous state occurs. For since we were expelled from paradise for disobedience and disobedience, our all-good God was pleased that we would again receive paradise through obedience and obedience. So, let us rejoice that we are in subjection, because it returns us to eternal life, but [at the same time] constancy in exploits and patience in sorrows are required. For if carnal victory cannot be achieved otherwise than with great labor and effort, then all the more to run victoriously through the course of this life is characteristic only of [people] who are courageous and strong. Let us, I ask, stand courageously, daily sober, vigilant, directing our desire to God alone, contemplating Him, shedding tears and [imbued with] contrition, enlightened by prayers and supplications, and thereby attracting the grace of the Holy Spirit. What does God delight in? A soul fragrant with virtues. For God does not delight in anything other than a soul that is pure from passions; and no meadow covered with many flowers can be as fragrant as a soul fragrant with virtues. If we happen to doze off sometimes, we will wake up as soon as possible. If we happen to sin seven times a day, then we must repent seven times and we will be accepted; and if we experience this seventy-seven times, the same number of times [should be] repentance, and we will not be deprived of hope for pardon, according to the Divine promise (Matthew 18:21-22; Luke 17:4,6:37). Exhortation. Just, please, let us be constant and never stop calling ourselves back from the fall. The end of exploits is already near, joy and gladness and the crowns of truth are already near. May we be worthy to achieve them by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 112. About the last day and about the appearance of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ Brothers and fathers. My thought is poor and my tongue is weak to speak; however, necessity prompts me to talk with you. What is the need? The judgment that threatens me as a primate, and the duty of love towards you: firstly, that on the day of Judgment I will give an account of you to God, whom I, humble, tremble; secondly, the fact that the good shepherd lays down not only his word, but also his life for the sheep (cf. John 10:11, 15). Exhortation. Come therefore, brethren, let us make a saving covenant concerning the last day; Come, let us be reconciled with God before the inevitable hour of death comes, for, it is said, in death there is no one to remember You, but in hell who will confess to You? (Ps.6:6). Don't we see that our brethren are being kidnapped every day? Don't we see that we are like sheep [doomed] to the slaughter (Ps. 43:23; Rom. 8:36): today we exist, but tomorrow we are not? So Brother Liberius was taken, and his death crushed my humble soul, for, as they say, he was found in his cell suddenly dead, lying on his side like someone sleeping. Such is his demise! We don’t know what our end will be, and we don’t know what kind of death we will die: whether suddenly or having previously fallen ill. On land or at sea, in solitude or with the brethren? Who understands the mind of the Lord? Or who should be his advisor? (Rom.11:34) to know the day and hour, manner and place of your death? Brethren, the definition of death is truly terrible, and it is terrible to fall into the hands of the Living God (Heb. 10:31). Therefore, I ask, we will always be in asceticism, we will always be attentive, we will always be engaged in divine [subjects]. So and so, they say, received such and such a position of authority, earthly honors and heavenly honors. and the other became a powerful man; one became rich, and the other became king. But what [means] all this passing by like a dream? She fell asleep with her sleep, and gained all her wealth in nothingness in her hands (Ps. 75:6). All the glory of man is like the flower of grass (Is. 40:6). God's chosen ones achieved the best position and received inalienable honors. What are these? Some are apostolic, others are prophetic, some are martyrs, these are venerable, others are, although the most recent, yet saving. Their names are in the book of life (Phil. 4:3), their glory is unfading, their joy unspeakable. We too will imitate them, brethren, and, in any case, we will receive one of the honors, for grace is not envious and [is] good for everyone, small and great, wise and simple, old and young. If we do not [we imitate], then the Master will not accept us into the heavenly bridal chamber, but will close the door from us (cf. Matt. 25:10). Betraying their own salvation. Woe, says the Lord, to that man to whom the Son of Man is betrayed: it would have been good for him if that man had not been born (Matthew 26:24). It is obvious that [here] we are talking about a traitor; but it can rightly be said about anyone who betrays their own salvation. Are we not thinking about the appearance of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)? Do we not reflect on the regrettable denial that the incorruptible Judge will pronounce against all who stand on the left hand (Matthew 25:41)? Do we not think of unquenchable fire and eternal and unbearable torment? Oh, who will understand this? Who is the intelligent helmsman who will guide himself and keep his soul unswamped by the spirits of evil? Since we, brethren, by the grace of Christ have chosen a calm, quiet and silent life, we will still sail safely, we will still endure everything complacently, protecting each of our members with the fear of God. Let the eye be closed so as not to look with empty curiosity; Let the ear not accept hearings about empty things; let the tongue be protected from slander, for [the apostle] says: he who slanders a brother or condemns his brother slanderes the law and condemns the law (James 4:11); let your hands work according to your strength, since the lazy should not even eat, according to the apostolic judgment (2 Thess. 3:10); Let your feet be directed towards the path of peace (cf. Luke 1:79); let the heart not deviate into the words of wickedness (Ps. 140:4), so as not to invent excuses for sins; but let everything be done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40), so that by living well in everything, we may attain eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 113. About faith, love and virginity 245 Brothers and fathers. Two [necessary] means of salvation for man: faith and love. And if I saw that you were wavering regarding faith, then I would begin my speech about it, trying to restore you to the right way of thinking. For without faith it is impossible to please [God]: but believing is fitting for him who comes to God as He is, and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Since by the grace of Christ your faith is sound, we stand in it, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:2), then we, omitting talk about faith, will talk briefly about active life. So, I ask you, brethren, as always, and now, not to be inattentive in relation to asceticism, to monitoring thoughts, to [observing] the valuable treasure of virginity, which we, by the grace of God, accepted with love and against which the enemy with all zeal is seeking means to steal our salvation. For he knows that by successfully completing this feat we become like God, just as by falling away from him we are drawn closer to senseless cattle, as it is written: a man who is ignorant of honor is likened to senseless cattle and becomes like them (Ps. 49:13). Oh, how many from time immemorial [this] deceiver secretly destroyed through carnal lust! But even now he continues to act and deceive - not only the young, but also the old, and, moreover, not only the more careless, but also the more zealous, and uses this weapon against almost every soul. How the devil incites carnal lust. The poison begins to be prepared: first by accepting inappropriate thoughts; then, having inflamed the heart with the lusts of flesh and blood, he challenges him to say something forbidden; then instills the audacity to touch a [bodily] member - either one’s own or someone else’s; Finally, in this way it causes death, for, as [the apostle] says, lust, when conceived, gives birth to sin, but sin committed gives birth to death (James 1:15). Let us, brothers, avoid eternal death; Let us avoid a very serious illness of the soul. It seems to me that this disease is similar to scabies. The consequences of captivity of the soul by the passion of lust. Just as a person with scabies, when itching, apparently receives pleasure, but in fact receives not pleasure, but suffering, so one captured by the passion of lust receives not pleasure, but sorrow, not calm, but frustration, not a good mood, but despondency. Such a person is pitiable, hopeless, timid, afraid even of shadows, not to mention the future Judgment. What [means] is there to avoid [this] evil? How to resist the passion of lust. Firm resistance to attacks [thoughts]. Therefore, when passion comes (for it comes - and no wonder! - either through the negligence of the mind, which does not have good contemplation, or through the envy of the enemy), struck [by it], quickly get up, pray, breathe, shed tears - and it will soon go away, but you will rest in the Lord. For nothing is so pleasant for the soul as not to be possessed and enslaved by passions. Don't we see what the Lord is saying? Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin: but a servant does not remain in the house forever (John 8:34-35). Is it possible that, having been freed from sin and elevated to adoption as sons [to God], we will again enslave ourselves to sin? Can it really be that, having been under the strong hand of God, we will enter into an agreement with the devil? It won't happen! Even though I have destroyed, I build again, I imagine a criminal, says the apostle (Gal. 2:18). Exhortation. Let us not, brethren, be transgressors of God’s covenants and, once freed, we will not find ourselves [again] enslaved to the devil and we will not store up wrath for ourselves on the day of wrath and revelation of God’s righteous judgment (Rom. 2:5). For about such it is written that their fire will not be quenched, and their worm will not die (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). But with the freedom with which Christ freed us (Gal. 5:1), we will stand, abhorring the vile dreams of the serpent, daily confronting and resisting not only this passion, but also all other [passions], trampling on envy, turning away from wickedness, hatred of brother and every other vice, in order to avoid eternal torment and receive the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion. Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 114. On the monastic way of life and on counteracting the advancing heresy True brothers and fathers. Brothers and fathers. I will not stop calling you by this beautiful name of brothers and fathers, knowing that in relation to you [this] name is true and [such] name is not false. In fact, true brothers and fathers are those who, more than their ancestors, more brothers, more kinship, more fatherland, loved God more than all visible things [and] accepted life together; in whom there is one heart and one soul (cf. Acts 4:32), whose father is God and whose fatherland is Jerusalem above. Such are you, brothers beloved by the Lord, and to call you from the Scripture, you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy tongue, a people of renewal, so that you may proclaim virtues out of darkness, who called you into your wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). Monastic life is a wonderful light. For especially monastic life is a wonderful light - [that life] into which we are called and in which we proclaim the praises of Him who covered the heavens with His virtue (Hab. 3:3). Here are wisdom, chastity, courage and justice 246; here are monuments of victory over the evil one and victory in Christ. The weapons of our army are not carnal. But God is strong in destroying the firmament: casting down thoughts, and taking every exaltation to the mind of God, and bringing into captivity every mind into the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5). Who was persecuted? And if you want to look at [only] visible enemies, then let us imagine how many and what kind of persecutions have befallen the Church of God from the ages and who was persecuted, who was beaten, who was sentenced to death. Is it not those who crucified themselves to the world (Gal.6:14)? But, bypassing ancient events, we will talk about the present generation and the heresy that is now approaching 247. Who resisted unto blood (Heb. 12:4), struggling against sin? Monks are the nerves and pillars of the Church. Are not our fathers and brothers blessed, both of our monastery and of others? And indeed, such perfections and feats belong to monks; monks are the nerves and pillars of the Church. Such and so great is the dignity that is bestowed upon us by the goodness of God. But since where there are treasures, there are thieves in wait, and the treasures of the soul are virtues, then I ask and remind you: let us stay awake, sober, remaining unrobbed - we will not be carried away by pleasure, nor will we be embittered by anger, nor will we be darkened by unbelief, nor will we expose ourselves to danger by avoiding confession, nor will we allow any other passion to dominate us; but, being above disastrous passions, we will gradually move forward with zeal until we reach the limit of our life. We are the monastery and church of God. Perhaps you are saddened by the rumor that our monasteries are being destroyed by the enemies of the Lord; but there [is] no sadness in this. For we are the monastery and church of God, to whom it is said: if anyone corrupts God’s church, God will corrupt him (1 Cor. 3:17). In addition, even before, often [churches and monasteries] were destroyed by those who persecuted us, but, by the providence of God, they were again brought to their original state. Perhaps, and this worries you, that we do not own monasteries [in sufficient numbers], corresponding to the large number of persecuted people, [not being able to] renew [them], plant them, and do all the other wonderful things. I am so far from being worried that I am very ashamed of such [people]. For if our persecution and the whole feat [are carried out] because of the overthrow of faith, and it has not yet been restored, but the name of God is still blasphemed and our holy fathers are anathematized, then is there any benefit in owning monasteries, and isn’t this rather a harm and betrayal of the truth recognized by all? Who, having run half, received a reward for victory, when the order was to run not only the whole distance, but, moreover, in the manner prescribed by law? For [Scripture] says: no one will be crowned if he strives unlawfully (2 Tim. 2:5). Double confession: in faith and word. So, having abandoned these thoughts, if they exist, and completely rejecting ambiguous evidence, let us adhere to only one thing - our twofold confession, in faith and word, believing the promise of the One who rightly said: seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). May it be that we too may be worthy to receive it through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 115. About remembering death, about the death of brother Jacob and about repentance Brothers and fathers. Until when will I, humble one, talk with you? How long will you, honorable and beloved, listen to my poor word, reminding you of what is due? And now two of our brothers, Jacob and Vassian, one has already gone to the Lord, and the other is standing at the very door of death. Are we immortal? Do we not drink the same cup that those who went before [us] drank? The blessed fruits of contemplating death. Blessed is the one who does this very thing, making thinking about death his life.... For it is obvious that where there is thinking about death, there is conscience, contrition, tears, pleasure, enlightenment, desire for the best and that which is higher than the world. Where this is not the case, evil thoughts arise, which the Lord forbade in the Gospel, for they captivate those who are taken captive, and deceive those who love life. We, brethren, must always and constantly remember death and try to ensure that, not through human lusts, but through the will of God, we may live in the flesh for the rest of the time (1 Peter 4:2-3). For it is enough that in the past time of life we ​​acted according to the will of the flesh and mind. It is enough for us [to be seduced] by the deception perpetrated by the devil, who stealthily diverts us from good aspirations and confuses us with evil desires, from which we have never benefited, but, on the contrary, have suffered misfortune and humiliation. Now is the time acceptable, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts (Heb. 3:7-8), cries the Holy Spirit. An exhortation to daily repentance. Since He saw the tendency towards sin of our nature, which does not have stability even for one day, He humanely ordained repentance, now and today, so that no one would have an excuse to evade [it], but so that everyone, whether anyone has sinned a lot or a little, long ago or recently, hearing [this] saving appeal, daily with zeal renewed and restored himself [by repentance]. Look at the kindness of our good God, who gives us quick and easy healing of sin. True, those who receive bodily wounds are also cured, but for healing - in order to [be able to] again stand against enemies - they take a long time. We have both a wound and a healing at the same time, if only we want to immediately put our enemies to flight. Therefore, let us not neglect to repent daily and be renewed in spirit, but let the failure that has occurred, whether in mind, in word or in deed, not serve as a reason for negligence; but, no matter how many times we are struck, just as many times we will return to our previous position, fearing the judgments of God and disarming the passions with all our might. When Moses, God's servant, stretched out his hands on the mountain, then he put Amalek to flight; when he lowered [his hands], then he took strength (Ex. 17:11). In the same way with us: when the mind, pursued by passions, turns out to be extended to God with thoughts, as if with hands, then it puts the invisible Amalek to flight; when he leaves [to do this], he himself becomes enslaved. So what should you do? Nothing more than, during an attack by enemies, to stretch out our minds and hands to God, who is able to save from death - and by this the enemies will be put to flight, but we will receive glory for the victory and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 116. About real visible and invisible temptations and oppressions and about achieving eternal life 248 Brothers and fathers. I am convinced that it is not alien to your thoughts that our spiritual brother, Mr. Evstratiy, recently came here, since you are asking about the reason for his arrival. And it is not surprising, for [in front of you] there is an object that causes these thoughts to arise in you. But, you must agree, not everyone should always reveal what happens, [but] only to the most prominent of the brethren. And we learn this from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who sometimes revealed the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven to all His saints, and sometimes took Peter, James and John and revealed the secret to them alone (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-9). However, so that you too may know in part, [I will tell you] that his arrival took place for the sake of the Church of God. For he announces, as if from the words of those who know, both about the time of the council, and about the restoration of the faith, and about the return to their former state of the persecuted. We responded to this with full attention to what should have been said, in no way, by the grace of God, without deviating from what should have been said. Hence we assume that trials and tribulations await us again. But, says the blessed apostle (for it is good [in this case] to remember his words), I do not make a single care, nor am I honest with my soul, unless I end my course with joy and the service that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). Therefore, we, brethren, will think and say the same thing according to the measure of faith given to us, rejoicing in suffering for Christ and being ready to suffer for Him and not refusing to endure persecution again [on the basis] that we have already been persecuted many times, but hearing that through many tribulations it is fitting for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Acts 14:22), let us rather be willing to suffer much and endure much in order to achieve that blessed one entrance. Before the fight, one must prepare for it. Perhaps, by the grace of God, nothing untoward will happen [to us]; but it is good to make preparations for the struggle before the struggle, so that during the struggle you can meet [it] with dignity. For a soul that is not prepared, that does not keep itself ready, but is immediately exposed to danger, is easily overcome. But what am I talking about struggle? [We have] daily struggle, daily war, not visible, but invisible; and not to the body, but to the soul, causing wounds and death. Moreover, having girded the loins of our minds (1 Pet. 1:13) and, like good soldiers of Christ, having put on ourselves the weapons of righteousness, let us wage war diligently and not allowing ourselves to slumber. For no one who sleeps raises a trophy 249 and no one who lies on his side reaps the harvest, but in both [cases] a lot of sweat and labor is required. If this is the case here, then all the more so in our war, in which arrows, like lightning strikes, fly suddenly: from here evil lust besieges, from there a passionate desire for glory, from another place envy, from another side blasphemy. There are many other intrigues of the devil, who tries in every possible way to shake the soul and seeks, as it were, to devour it, as if we have no hope of living (2 Cor. 1:8), and everyone can say: if the Lord had not helped me, my soul would have entered hell in a little way (Ps. 93:17); But in all these we overcome for our beloved (Rom. 8:37) and, speaking together with David, let us create power in God, and He will be despised by our enemies (Ps. 107:14). That is our world. Having created the wallpaper as one and destroyed the mediastinum of the fence, destroying enmity in His flesh (Eph. 2:14-15), that is, having defeated and trampled upon the devil and from that time on given us [the power] to overcome and as a reward for victory promised the Kingdom of Heaven, which may we all be worthy to receive in Christ Himself, our God, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 117. About the fall of brother Memnon and the instruction not to be alone, so that we can overcome the corrupting passions that arise in us thanks to feelings Brothers and fathers. I always strongly desire to give you a word of exhortation, I borrow reasons from here and there. And now, having heard that something unexpected happened in Bithynia, I borrow the beginning of the word from here. What happened? They say that there not one, but two and three leopards, appearing unexpectedly, harm not oxen, not sheep or other animals, but only people, so that the local inhabitants, struck by great fear, lock themselves in their houses all night, until dawn. This event is proof of the wrath of God. But I will tell you why I am talking [about this]. Fierce animals are spirits of evil. And we have many beasts, and fierce beasts - I mean the spirits of evil: the evil beast is vanity and all other bad passions that [not only] at night, but also during the day, boldly attack and rush to devour the soul. Therefore, the blessed Apostle Peter commands: Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, like a lion, roars, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). And again Saint David prays, saying: lest when a lion snatches away my soul, I am not the one who delivers, but I will save (Ps. 7:3). What should we do in these circumstances? Nothing else but to settle under the roof of the God of heaven (Ps. 90:1) and keep ourselves inside from wandering feelings. Deserted places. For if the eye wanders here and there, the ear perceives corrupting speech, the mouth speaks what it should not, and the mind enters into absurd [thoughts], the soul, as it were, goes out into deserted places, which the Lord does not watch, and here it becomes the prey of beasts. The unfortunate Memnon also suffered this now, having become the prey of the devil. I do not see his clothes bloodied, as in ancient times the patriarch Jacob [saw the clothes of] Joseph his son (Gen. 37:31), but [I see] his very soul, slain by the sword of sin. Adam was immortal by grace. For sin is the mother of death: sin made mortal our forefather Adam, immortal by grace; sin brought upon the world universal destruction from water (Gen. 7); sin burned Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24) and the surrounding cities; sin even now puts to eternal death everyone who takes it into himself. Let us, brothers, avoid him like fire. It is better to fall under fire, sword and beasts than to fall into destructive passions. Why did that poor [our brother] fall? Not from anything other than the fact that he lived in solitude. Truth rightly said to him: woe, because if he falls, there is no one who can raise him up (Eccl. 4:10). Fearing this, I, humble, did not cease to proclaim to him and to others what I still proclaim: let no one be left alone; let no one make the path [alone]; let no one wander hither and thither idle; let no one live with women, which is why [carnal] love burns like fire. And the son of obedience yields, obeys, and is saved in the Lord; the son of disobedience, taken captive alive by the devil, is put to death. Although I imagine myself innocent of his blood, because I did not keep silent, but announced in advance the sword coming against him, I still mourn and grieve, as if for my own member. Caution, improvement and fear of God. But I also have something to say to you, beloved ones, in the form of a reproach. What's happened? In the Acts of the Holy Apostles it is written that a period of about three hours passed after Ananias died, but his wife Sapphira did not know about what had happened (Acts 5:7). Although the thing was clearly happening and there were a lot of people present, [she did not know] because there was caution, orderliness and the fear of God. And here, a few days before, I told you something in secret - and immediately this word spread from here to Constantinople, and from there to Prussa. And I find myself in a shy position on both sides - both when I speak and when I don’t speak: when I speak, because what is taken out [from here] is something that should not be taken out; when I don’t speak, because I don’t know how to act correctly without using the advice of [others]. And why do we, brothers, act unreasonably? And why are we intemperate with our tongue? And why, ahead of time, will we plunge ourselves into danger? This is not characteristic of sincere disciples, but of persons of the opposite mood. No, I beg you, let us not act so indecently; but from now on let us have caution, orderliness, fear of God, and order in everything, so that, having lived according to the will of God and pleased Him, we may become heirs of eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 118. On the constancy of our unwavering confession and submission and on intense attention and vigilance in ministries Brothers and fathers. Others enjoy and boast of other stories, that is, warriors with stories of wars, sailors with stories of the sea, farmers with stories of agriculture; practicing other arts and sciences - stories about those who are zealously devoted to these [arts and sciences]; and in general, there is no one who does not enjoy the messages relating to him. We are pleased not with the story about this, because ours is not carnal, but [the story] about the salvation of the soul, about pleasing God, about moving from here, about returning there and, as the apostle says, what is true, what is honest, what is righteous, what is most pure, what is most loving, what is good praise, whatever virtue and whatever praise ( Phil.4:8), - this should serve as a subject for us both to talk about and to strive for acquisition. What could be more pleasant and blissful than this? And everyone can see this from what the end of these and other [things] is: of those [things], both the beginning and the end are usually destroyed along with the present age. For where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the questioner of this century? (1 Cor. 1:20). Who, famous for human real deeds, remains in life? On the contrary, did not the memory of all of them perish with a noise (Ps. 9:7)? Our [deeds] both the beginning and the end are indestructible and eternal. For they consist in virtue, which is capable of making those who have mastered it gods, if He is true who said: Az reh: you are a god by nature and a son of the Most High (Ps. 82:6). Virtue has the power to make gods. Oh, what a great gift we have been awarded, what mercy we have received! So, come, let us rejoice in the Lord, let us exclaim to God our Savior: let us precede His face in confession, and let us exclaim to Him in psalms (Ps. 94:1-2), for He has chosen us from the beginning for salvation in the holiness of the spirit and the faith of the truth, in which He has called us through the acceptance of our schema to receive the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 2:13-14). Exhortation. Therefore, brethren, let us stand steadfastly in the faith; let us firmly hold the indestructible confession; Let us observe unfeigned submission; Let us keep our virginity intact. For we have one object of ardent love - the Bridegroom Christ, more beautiful in kindness than the sons of men (Ps. 44:3), one inheritance - the Kingdom of Heaven, the blessings of the highest Jerusalem. Let flesh and blood, wealth and glory and everything inherent in vanity be lost, let it retreat further from us. There would be no virtue if there were no war. However, while we are in this flesh, there is also war, for there would be no virtue if there were no war. If, when it happens [to us] to be captivated by thoughts, we become confused, then we will rather call ourselves [to the previous state], fearing only one sin in practice 250, since it is fatal and throws [us] far from God. We will reflect thoughts from ourselves with thoughts and against wishes, on our part, we will deduce wishes, and this - without negligence. The demon's goal through the constant war is to create despondency in us so that we refuse to resist [him]. But if we remain patient in opposition and resist the devil, we will gain victory over him and [receive] the crown prepared for us in heaven. For the brother of the Lord says: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; having been tried before, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). Therefore, brethren, rejoice in the Lord; you who carry out [various] ministries, know that in them lies a great reward for you. You who study the sciences, be careful not to anger God with them. [Is it] work time? Let's get to work. [Is] the time for teaching? Let's get down to science. If your brother [begins] to work, and you [take on] a lesson, then you are not walking out of love (Rom. 14:15), but you are alienating yourself from the brotherhood. Or don’t you hear what the apostle says: if he wickedly tempts my brother, I will never eat meat, lest I tempt my brother (1 Cor. 8:13). And you not only seduce your brother, but when you are called, you do not appear, inventing excuses and pretexts for yourself and not thinking about the fact that you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom. 2:5). Help each other, as befits saints. But to prevent this from happening, let us listen to the Apostle, who says: let everything be done in good order and in order (1 Cor. 14:40): first, deeds, and then doctrine. Let us help each other, as is fitting for saints, and lay down our souls for each other, as sincere brothers, so that God may be glorified, and we, being in good condition, may become heirs of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 119. That he who seeks God by keeping the commandments remains undaunted in the presence of demons during the exodus, as well as the memory of death and love Not a single day is idle and unskillful. Brothers and fathers. When death is due, this is the common punishment for all, when there is hope [of receiving] the Kingdom of Heaven, and [on the other hand] fiery hell threatens, is it possible that I hesitate and avoid speaking, and you listen? No way. On the contrary, then you must do this, and even more so, as soon as you see the day [of judgment] approaching (Heb. 10:25). For incessantly, at every period of time, the last day of every person is approaching, and a certain expectation of judgment and jealousy of fire is terrible, to destroy those who want to resist (Heb. 10:27), as the holy Apostle says. Therefore, brethren, let us not weaken and let us not spend a single day idly and unskillfully, but let us be sober every day, stay awake, let us seek God, using the expression of the psalm (Ps. 68:33), and our soul will live. How can you search for God? How can one seek God? By keeping the commandments, of course, according to the instructions of the [Gospel] beatitudes, that is, humility, weeping, meekness, purity of heart, peace and holiness (see Heb. 12:14; Matt. 5:1-12). If the one who seeks God takes possession of them, then he has found God and, having found it, is without fear during the exodus - he is not afraid of demons, is not embarrassed by the presence of Angels, entering into communication with them, as if with his own, and joyfully departing to his Master, taking with him a good conscience as an excellent support. The importance of preparing for death. One who is not prepared in this way will fall into inevitable danger, having no place to turn his eyes or from whom to seek help. If someone here falls, for example, into the hands of tormenting people, or into a rough sea, or into a land covered with stones, or into some other dangerous disaster, then he is not without hope of liberation from here; there, all hope of salvation is taken away, since there is no one who would help and deliver - no Angel, no man, no father, no mother, no brother, no friend, absolutely no one; but the poor soul, in terrible helplessness and tormented by inconsolable grief, leaves from here. And although the word depicting [this] is terrible, it [still] does not comprehend the actual truth. For the eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, and the heart of man has not breathed (1 Cor. 2:9) it is written both about good things and about the opposite - about what God has prepared for those who love Him, and about what [He has prepared] for the sons of disobedience. The importance of remembering death. Therefore, I ask you, brothers, to have an unforgettable memory of death and with it to put to death the evils that are on the earth (Col. 3:5), and to purge the love of pleasures from your soul. For what is this love for the flesh to us, from which we receive no benefit, but, on the contrary, feel suffering? For every sin easily entangles you in its nets. Let us look, if you like, into the tombs and see what kind of stench we are striving for, for such is all flesh: it begins with corruption, and passes into corruption. And all the glory of man is like the flower of grass (1 Peter 1:24), but virtue is inalienable. The saints, having loved her, pleased God; their spirit is in heaven, and their sacred bodies are means of salvation for those living on earth in signs, wonders and powers. God allows heretics and sinners to perform signs and wonders. Since the word is about signs, [I will say that] even now signs are being performed, as we hear. And it is not surprising, for the grace of the Spirit, which was active then, does not cease to act now. However, one should not indiscriminately believe what is told about, for it is written: Believe not every spirit, but tempt the spirits that are of God, for many false prophets went out into the world (1 John 4:1). For many heretics and violators of the Divine commandments - both in ancient times and now - are allowed to perform signs and wonders in ways that [Divine] Providence knows. Therefore, we should not get carried away by them, but we should test true disciples according to the sign (χαρακτἡρ) given to us from the Lord. What is this sign? Of this, he says, everyone understands, for you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35). Taught by this, the apostle says the following: although I speak with the tongues of men and with the tongues of angels, I am not an imam of love, but there is a ringing brass, or a clanging cymbal. And even if an imam has prophecy, and has all the secrets and all the mind, and even if an imam has all the faith, even if he has given up mountains, but I am not an imam for love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give up my body and burn it, I have no love, it will not profit me at all (1 Cor. 13:1-3). Those who perform signs may fall away, but love does not fall away from God. Do you see how high love is? She, like a queen, rises above all the gifts of the Spirit; it can never fall away, but those who perform signs (σημειουργοί) sometimes fall away. For the Lord said in the Gospel: many will say to Me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name we have cast out demons, and in Your name we have done many mighty powers? And then we will confess to them, because I have known you no more: Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity (Matthew 7:22–23). Truly, how terrible [such] answer is and how difficult [such] renunciation is! So, my brethren, let us seek [the acquisition of] love and its allies - faith and hope, and we will [not only] live more securely than those who perform signs, but also, recognized as true disciples of the Lord, we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Himself, our God, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 120. That those crucified for the world should not crave the vain things of life, but should succeed in the best The transience of earthly life. Brothers and fathers. Our days pass by like hours, weeks like days, months like weeks, years like months. So time flies and drives everyone towards the last day of the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, on which all will be naked and declared before His eyes (Heb. 4:13), as the word [of God] says. So, why does man...trouble in vain (Ps. 39:7)? What does the king hope for gold and troops? Why does one who loves wealth hope for false wealth? Why does the sensualist wallow in the muddy swamps of sin? One should weep, grieve, and, as much as possible, purify oneself daily before the judgment of death comes, in order to avoid the wrath that is coming...on the sons of the disobedient (Eph. 5:6). These, speaking together with Scripture, do not know anything, they blaspheme; If by nature they are like dumb animals, they will be desecrated. Woe to them, for they followed the path of Cain and rushed into the flattery of Balaam for bribes, and perished in the bickering of Correus (Jude 1:10-11). Sinful monks deserve more severe punishment. I am afraid that this word, condemning those, will not touch us, who pretend to be something (Gal. 2:6). For when one litigates over his father’s inheritance, going on a long journey, when another, in order to increase alms, fusses and competes a lot, when another selfishly and unmonastically rushes to acquire this and that, then do they not deserve the same sentence as those? And they still have an excuse, albeit an empty one, that they care about their wives and children. But to you, who were crucified to the world (cf. Gal. 6:14) and have one treasure - the cross, what sentence remains, if not that those who do this are worthy of a more severe punishment? For it is written: the stronger will be tormented more severely (Wis. 6:9) and: the most severe judgment will prevail (Wis. 6:5); also: having given much to him, they ask from him the most (Luke 12:48). Sons of humanity, how long will the heart be heavy? Why do you love vanity and seek lies (Ps. 4:3), inventing arguments to justify your passions and presenting innocent persecution as the reason for them? Look at the ancient generations, and see who has faith in the Lord and is ashamed? Or who remained in His fear and remained? Or who called Him and despised Him? (Sir.2:10). The benefits of God to those who believe in Him. Wasn't Patriarch Abraham an exile from his land at the command of the Lord? And yet he received the title of the father of many nations. Didn’t Patriarch Jacob go to Mesopotamia with only one staff? And yet he returned from there rich. Wasn't Joseph taken to Egypt to be sold? And yet there he became equal to the king. Didn't the Prophet Elijah, pursued by Jezebel, even flee without a scrip? However, he was fed by a raven. Didn't the blessed apostles go out to preach unprotected and unarmed? However, they conquered the universe. Didn’t you yourself suffer persecution and plunder in the previous years? However, you also found the promises of God to be false. Where does [this] evil come from? And what kind of madness is this? Apparently, we have forgotten about the good deeds of God, like ancient Israel, and we are tempting Christ as we were not tempted by them (1 Cor. 10:9). But what does [Scripture] say about them? Forty years of indignation of that generation, and they said: they always err in heart, but they did not know My ways, for they swore in My wrath, lest I enter into My rest (Ps. 94:10-11). See, brethren, lest the same thing be said to you, who do not have a grateful disposition towards your Benefactor and are not content with what [you] have. Therefore, your legs do not have to rest, as you walk around - here and there; Therefore, you have courts and disputes among yourself, just like the laity; therefore, life is solitary, and not together with a brother, and if with a brother, then it is feigned. For how, having with him a kind companion with whom he enters into an agreement [I am talking about the love of money], will anyone be able to acquire a brother of one accord? No way! Woe to them as worthless! I am not talking about you, my brethren, and not about those who here and there live worthy of God, but about those who live badly and contrary to the commandment, as stated above, for whom we pray that they will finally begin to walk straight and improve, so that no one will perish, but all will be saved in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 121. About the remembrance of death and about one venerable deceased elder Death is a terrible mystery. Brothers and fathers. Although there are many useful stories that usually touch the soul, none of them contain as much benefit as the news of death. For death is a terrible mystery, both when we hear about it and when we think about it. Since the venerable old man has now passed away, it is necessary to say at least briefly about him for the general benefit. The very fact that from youth to old age he worked for the Lord in a monastic way of life serves as sufficient praise for the elder; then [serves as praise] the fact that, among the courageous confessors, he was taken by the wicked Leo 251 and was quite tortured: they tormented his back and chest with three hundred blows of whips, they smashed his face with slaps and blows of the fist, so that two teeth fell out; after that, several years later, they released him from prison and left him free. He, in accordance with his previous way of life, again shut himself up in a cell, since he was also a stylite, and there, spending the rest of his life in great patience and constraint, he gave up his spirit [to God]. And the wicked [tormentor] committed lawlessness in vain, and the fighter ascended to God, adorned with the crown of confession. Never forget about death, so that eternal death does not overtake you. But we, brothers, what will we do and what will we think about? How much longer will we live? Is it a lot or a little? And who knows what the next [day] will bring forth ( Proverbs 27:1 )? So, death is a sufficient instruction, for what we saw in our brother will happen to us ourselves a little later. For there is no one who would cross the border of death. Therefore, brothers, let us never forget about death, so that eternal death does not overtake us; Let us not love the present age, so as not to enter into enmity with God. For it is written: Whoever desires to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4). Don't you know that love for this world does not allow the soul to desire to leave the body? For just as Israel hurried to free itself from Egyptian slavery and enter the Promised Land, in the same way we should strive to emerge from the slavery of corruption in this body and enter into the inner veil, where Jesus the forerunner appeared for us (Heb. 6:19-20), that is, into the blessings of the highest Jerusalem. Parting words to eternal life. So, let us hate even [more] the vanity of the world, we will eagerly acquire virtues, we will, as if in a favorable trade, be enriched with Divine objects - prayers, tears, purification, enlightenment, dispassion, which are parting words to eternal life. Let us take care of food and drink, clothing and everything else necessary for the body to the extent [necessary] in order to live and zealously fulfill the commandments of God. If we spend our time this way, then every day [we will have] a holiday, every day - joy, fearlessness before death; and even though [we] happen to be subjected to countless sorrows, nothing can shake [our] good conscience. If we spend our lives in malice, envy, hard-heartedness and other vices, then - oh, deception! – [we will have] daily death and condemnation before judgment. Then death will come like a roaring lion and like a rearing she-bear. And how will the poor soul endure its eternal destruction? For [Scripture] says: If judgment be from you first, what will be the end of those who resist God’s Gospel? And even if the righteous are barely saved, where will the wicked and sinful appear? (1 Peter 4:17–18). Moreover, my beloved brethren, we will always be filled with fear [of God] 252 and worried [about the nearness of death] 253, always abundant in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain before the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). You know about brother Socrates that he came from the east, fulfilling his obedience and apologizing for being late. We wanted to keep him here as a skilled brother. But since it is written: [blessed] is he who has a tribe in Zion, and a tribe in Jerusalem (Is. 31:9), then we decided to turn him there again in order to receive mercy through him. And we, brethren, should rejoice that from among our brotherhood in Holy Zion, the Mother of Churches 254, the holy patriarch there appointed one priest and steward. However, may the good God preserve both him and us and fulfill all the good pleasure of goodness and the work of faith with power, for may the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 1:11-12), to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 122. About serving the Lord patiently and complacently and zealously completing the field of our asceticism 255 Brothers and fathers. It is a good activity that after the vigil we begin to listen to the word of God, rising from strength to strength (Ps. 83:8). Even if we do not have enough words to talk, what is done in imitation of the holy fathers is not useless, but, on the contrary, even very useful. For our fathers labored in word and teaching, imitating the blessed Apostle, who says in Acts: for three years, night and day, without ceasing, teaching one of you with tears (Acts 20:31). In the same way, in another place, he says: let those presbyters who practice goodness be granted special honor, especially those who labor in word and teaching. For the Scripture says: Thou shalt not turn away the threshing ox; and: the worker is worthy of his reward (1 Tim. 5:17–18). See how necessary teaching is. For just as plants need watering in order to bear fruit, so those who are taught in order to do good [need] the encouragement of a teacher; and just as those [that is, plants] dry out if they are not watered, so these too, if they are not taught, become unusable. Therefore, I, humble, diligently try to ask, exhort, and sometimes even reproach and reproach - if I can’t somehow [achieve] so that you too can be saved with me. But you, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His strength: put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:10-11), because he does not sleep, but watches against us, and even more so when he sees souls struggling [against him]. So, when he comes upon us - and he comes day and night - let us stand courageously; let us resort to the One who can save [us] from the death of sin, with fervent prayer and hot tears - and the enemy will soon flee. For the psalms say: call upon Me in the day of your tribulation, and destroy you, and glorify Me (Ps. 49:15). Did the enemy inflict a wound? But the Lord healed. Was he confused? But he who said to the sea: be silent, cease (Mark 4:39) - also tamed the thoughts that were agitated in us. And how great is God’s blessing! - Before we have time to call on Him, He, the Good One, warns [us] in mercy and mercy - He gives prayer to the one praying, dispels the cloud of sadness and sends light into the heart through good thoughts. And what doesn’t He do for us? For if He gave Himself up to death for us, death on the cross, how could He not also give us all things with Him? (Rom.8:32). Exhortation. Therefore, brethren, let us stand firm, serving Him complacently, restoring ourselves from falls, zealously running the field of asceticism, knowing that at the end of our deeds, crowns are preserved. Therefore, let us make more use of confession [of sins], because confession is a bond that prevents us from sinning; Let us maintain humility, because through it the flaming arrows of the evil one are crushed (Eph. 6:16); Let us keep faith, because without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). The cause of falls is the love of pleasure. Perhaps we are perplexed, and very perplexed, how we are caught up in inappropriate thoughts, despite the fact that we strain [in the fight against them]. But we suffer this because of the crime [committed] in Adam. For, says [the apostle], there is royal death from Adam even to Moses and over those who have not sinned in the likeness of Adam’s crime (Rom. 5:14), and our nature has become very sick with the love of pleasure. But then, by virtue of the coming of Christ, having been strengthened by the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), she again rose to her original state. But since, having once fallen ill, she learned to be ill, then through negligence she slips because of the love of pleasure. However, the saints strengthened themselves so much with the fear [of God] and love for God that they were not only strong for themselves [in maintaining constancy], but also extended their hand [to help] to others - they cast out demons and performed countless miracles. And we, my brothers, will try to imitate them, although we are far from [their] way of life. And our good God accepts our small offering, as well as the great perfections of those, and with them he gives us His Kingdom in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 123. About walking non-lazyly along our spiritual path; about hating the pleasures of this life, and about our blissful home 256 Brothers and fathers. Travelers are in the habit of encouraging and encouraging each other for the upcoming journey - not to deviate either to the right or to the left, but to follow the royal path; and not only this, but also to eat, drink and sleep in moderation, in order to make the hardships of the journey easier for yourself with a proportionate diet. What does my introduction want [to say]? Comfort and encourage each other in their exploits. Of course, you yourself know that in this life we ​​too are travelers who have embarked on a path filled with countless works. And we must console each other and encourage each other in our deeds, step unerringly, be abstinent in food, drink and sleep, so that, burdened with them, we do not become more lazy about the journey, but must be irrevocably opposed to the pleasures of this life. For those who make a journey usually do not turn this way and that, right and left, but, sticking to one [direction] of the path, direct their gaze to a place to rest. Oh, how wonderful is our resting place! But how much more blissful is it to be there! It is not temporary, but eternal and full of not perishable, but incorruptible blessings; there is joy, peace and rejoicing. The Lord in the Gospel says the following about him: in My Father’s house there are many abodes; Otherwise, I would say to you: I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am, you also may be, and even as I go, you know, and you know the way (John 14: 2-4). Do you see [what] inexpressible and ineffable promise! Who won’t stand up, who won’t run, who won’t want to rush to those eternal abodes? Desiring them, blessed David sang: Since Thy village is beloved, O Lord of hosts. My soul longs and ends for the courts of the Lord (Ps. 84:2-3). For truly those places are worthy of pursuit. Here we are as if in exile, and the duration of our life is the shortest, since the entire present century, in comparison with future centuries, is considered as one day. Why should we make friends with the world? The present century is like one day. Why strive for the current 257 [benefits]? Why pay attention, I do not say - to this or that attraction, but even to the sky itself, to the earth and sea, to the sun, moon and stars and to everything else visible? Why is it useless to become attached to something that we will leave behind a little later? I have asked one thing of the Lord, says [David], then I will require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and that I may visit His holy church (Ps. 26:4). He who was worthy to enter into it was delivered from that difficult day, about which one of the prophets speaks: What do you want with [this] day of the Lord? This is darkness, not light (Amos 5:18). But the blessed apostle also called it the day of wrath, saying: store up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who rewards everyone according to his deeds (Rom. 2:5-6). To present some picture of that painful day using the example of what happens with us, I will remind you, if you want, of a man who came here shortly before, who, having been struck by a demon, was strangled and burned by him, worried and screamed day and night, without any calmness and relief [of the disease]. Do you think [this] husband’s punishment is bearable? Of course it's unbearable. However, this is a dream compared to the future [punishment]. How will we endure this [last] - the unquenchable fire, the restless worm (see Mark 9:44-48) and countless other eternal punishments? But, Lord, [let this happen] not to us, not to us! Let it be so with us that, having been delivered from all these [punishments], we achieve the promised blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 124. That we should not open the door to passions, but should remain outside vile lusts Brothers and fathers. Quite some time has passed since we interrupted the usual announcement and good order in relation to each other, since we were scattered here and there due to the raid of the Hagarians 258 . But since we are commanded to bless the Lord in every place of His dominion (Ps. 103:22), then even in such circumstances we should not be careless, but, as far as possible, we should take care of the structure, and the exercise, and the work, and the conversation with each other, taking the visible as examples of the invisible. For if, out of fear, lest we fall into the hands of the Hagarians, we fled here and live wherever [we have to], then out of fear, lest we become subject to invisible enemies, we must go to an even more distant and safe place. What kind of deletion [is this]? Sin: from thoughts through words into deeds. Flight from sin, with which, as if with a sword, the devil tries to kill every soul. Let us avoid him, my brothers, as much as possible, and [moreover] even to the point of thoughts. For from thoughts it passes into words, and from words it passes into practical activity. It is hard and difficult not to get caught up in inappropriate thoughts. But if we are captured by them, we will try to quickly eliminate them with prayers, tears, heartaches born from the fear of God, so that if they slow down they do not cause death, and this [happens] daily. Undeclared war. Shipwreck of the soul. For an undeclared war is constantly [happening] within us; and [it] cannot be avoided except by deep and unremitting observation of the mind, with help from above. Comparison of spiritual life with sailing. Don't we see how rough the sea was during these three days? In the same way, the [excitement] of passions occurs, and it is as severe as the [severe] shipwreck that happens to the soul. But this (that is, sea waves) is caused by God, who sends winds to the sea at the right time for the benefit of [people]; We ourselves are the culprits of this [unrest]. For we should spend our lives as if in a harbor and in safety, without opening the door to passions. If we open it, the spirits of evil will blow on us, and great commotion will arise; and [then] we will not receive salvation if we do not quickly calm down the indignation. What need is it that we should be subjected to indignation and excitement and be under the fear of shipwreck? Why don’t we take advantage of quiet peace, but voluntarily bring dangerous death upon ourselves? Do we not reproach those who, during a storm, leave the harbor and drown in the waves for foolishness? But we should consider ourselves incomparably more unreasonable when we plunge ourselves into the excitement of passions. For what disturbance does not the evil lust that blows into our hearts cause? Doesn't she carry us hither and thither, as if with the aim of strangling and drowning us? Doesn’t envy drive the mind out of the mind in the same way, hurting the heart along with the body? Doesn't unbelief also darken the soul, making it weakened? And doesn’t each of the other passions generally make a person alien to his natural state and make him more unreasonable? So, my brethren, let us avoid destructive passions in the future, so that the same thing that God says [about the antediluvian people] will not be said about us: My Spirit shall not abide in these men, for they are flesh (Gen. 6:3). He called them flesh not in the general sense, since God the Word Himself was flesh (John 1:14), but [He called flesh] obviously a carnal way of thinking, mired in indecent lusts like beasts and not allowing [man] to lift up his desire for God. Since we have dedicated this [desire] to God, according to what is written: our life is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), let us hear better: “you are not of this world, just as I am not of this world” (cf. John 17:14). Can anything be more blessed - not only in relation to the future age, but also to the present - than to be outside of indecent lusts and not controlled by the flesh, but to be led by the Spirit (cf. Rom. 8:14) [the Holy One]? Bliss and happiness. This is bliss; this is pleasantness; this is happiness; this is angelic life. Such is the word of life in the world; he is also revered by those who wear a diadem; such is the ruler of the world, full of Divine distinctions, always ready for the outcome, not afraid of death. Exhortation. And we, brothers, will strive as far as possible to become the same; for [this] is possible if we fully desire it. Having become like this, here too we will enjoy a joyful disposition of spirit all our lives, no matter how many and no matter what sorrows in the flesh happen [to us]; in the next century we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, enjoying with all the saints eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 125. About obedience and about being ready for any service with faith and a pure heart Brothers and fathers. Fearing the condemnation to which he who hid the talent in the ground was subjected, to whom the Lord says: you are a wicked and lazy servant... it was fitting for you to give my money as a trader, and when I came, I would take what was mine with interest (Matthew 25:26–27), Perfection of obedience. I say these short words out of necessity. It remains for you, as good traders, to put into practice what is said; This you, by the grace of God, both fulfilled and are fulfilling through your good obedience. However, there are some among you who not only do not increase what [they] have been given, but also almost destroy what they have. Who could they be? These are those who refuse to serve and, instead of any justification, throw in [the word] “sorry” (συγχώρησον). What are you saying, brother? You promised obedience until death, and now you refuse the service for which you are capable by the grace of God! So, obedience is destroyed! “But,” you say, “I was afraid to swim across the sea!” You were afraid to cross the sea out of unbelief, being afraid of fear where there is no fear (Ps. 13:5). For if you had been faithful to obedience, then not only would you have sailed across the sea, but, having thrown off your dress, you would have swum naked across the water, imitating that famous ascetic who, relying on the commandment of his father, was not afraid to swim across that stormy river and, having crossed, turned out to be unharmed, so that those who saw were amazed. Obedience can even tame animals; the witness of [these] words [is] the one who, by order of the [spiritual] father, tied the hyena 259; obedience works miracles among the dead, and this was proven by Akakios, who uttered a voice from the grave 260. But what does both say? The Only Begotten Son of God Himself accomplished the Economy of the salvation of the world, being obedient even to the point of death, death on the cross (Phil. 2:8). These are the perfections of obedience (ὑπακοἠ). Do you want [now] to know what is the cause of disobedience (ἀπείϑεια)? Remember about Adam, who introduced death into the world by disobeying God by eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3). Remember Saul, and you will find that he, having disobeyed Saint Samuel, on Mount Gilboa lost not only his kingdom, but also his life (1 Samuel 31:5). Moreover, remember that man of God who, having fallen into the guilt of disobedience as a result of the deception of the false prophet, was given over to be devoured by a lion (Dan. 6:11-16). And what about the blessed Apostle Peter? Having reverently refused to have the Lord wash [his feet], did he not hear: If I do not wash you, have no part with Me (John 13:8)? And what about the one who at Saint Euthymius 261 refused the duty of a cattleman for reasons that seemed valid? Didn't he, having received the demon, begin to exude foam? Such is the judgment against those who refuse the assigned obedience, against those who contradict, for every evil obedient will raise contradictions. The Church is one body. The Lord sent away the angel without mercy (Proverbs 17:11). In general, we are many in one body, but hear each other according to one (Rom. 12:5): one takes the place of the eye, the other takes the place of the ear; this one is the nose, and this one is the tongue; another - arms, and the other - legs. If all the members do not do what is proper to them, but dispute [each other]: the eye [wants] to hear, the ear to smell, the nose to speak, the tongue to touch, the hand to walk, then will not the whole body perish and be destroyed? If this is so, then let each fulfill his ministry and whatever gift he has received from God, [thus] let him serve for the common good, keeping in mind that [everything] that belongs to us [is] in the hand of God. Not because [whoever] sails on the sea will certainly end there; and not because [the other] remains on land, there [he] has to die; but just as our good God, from the foundation of the world, determined the time, place and manner [of death], so the end of everyone will come. I have stated this not so much for those whom we are talking about (for I have already accepted them for the sake of [their] obedience), but for all who hear, so that we carefully listen to ourselves and actively fulfill those vows that we made before God and [His] chosen Angels, and do not deviate, even if what is ordered poses a mortal danger. For this is what the fathers commanded, and first of all Basil the Great 262. Living in this way, we will not die by sin, but will live by righteousness and will receive the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 126. That those crucified to the world through true renunciation and submission should regard separation from the body with joy Brothers and fathers. I am a little ill at the moment: my heart wavered, and it seemed that I would leave you. How long will I live, humble one? You see what you see: that old age oppresses me, and my peers have moved away, and in my order the end is coming. What then? Should I be sad about this? It won't happen! The mystery of death should not be sad, but joyful. Let those who live according to the flesh grieve if they wish, being separated from wives and children, servants and maids, property and money and other attachments of this life, with which they are captivated. For us, for whom, due to true renunciation and submission, the world has been crucified (cf. Gal. 6:14) and only one cross remains, the mystery of death should not be sad, but joyful. And what do I say: “for us”? And it is obligatory for all Christians [to] treat separation [from the body] with joy. For before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, death, through the crime of Adam, dominating and reigning over our race, was terrible and disgusting even for the saints themselves. But after Christ, the Life of all, tasted death for everyone (Heb. 2:9), renewing the way for us with a living and new veil, that is, His flesh (Heb. 10:20), and, as it is written, death was sacrificed in victory (1 Cor. 15:54), - and we, dying, are not relegated to the kingdom of hell, but are elevated to the Kingdom of Heaven and do not rest in darkness and darkness. the shadow of death (Ps. 87:7), but we ascend into endless light and into the safe life that God promised to those who love Him 263. Readiness of the heart. So, repose should not be avoided, but, on the contrary, accepted with great joy, and [with joy] the greater, the more we are equipped with a prepared heart. For it is terrible, brethren, during the exodus to call back the lost time and seek [extension] of the days of life in order to acquire perfections. This is scary and very difficult. For one captured in such a state will, of course, be embarrassed and very worried, leaving the body as if not as a reward for exploits, but as punishment for sins. And what a terrible vision he will encounter! In order not to allow us to endure this, I remind and ask: we will always be ready for the outcome, considering every day the last day of our life, as Saint Anthony teaches us 264. Exhortation. If we make this the basis [of our activities], then we will never be dissolute, nor relaxed, nor lazy, nor inactive, nor contradictory, nor disobedient, nor unbridled, nor arousing laughter, but, on the contrary, we will be obedient and courteous, having contrition and sound feelings, meek and peaceful, sincere and innocent, ready to do every good [deed], in imitation saints For they, having lived in this way, received the promised benefits. I have set out all this, confirming not only you, but also myself, so that, having spent our lives in such preparation, we at the hour of exodus would find ourselves fearless and fearless, exclaiming in the words of David: turn, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has done good to you and: I will please the Lord in the land of the living (Ps. 115:6, 8). May we all be worthy to achieve it by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 127. About boldly and courageously resisting human temptations Brothers and fathers. And it is not untimely to speak, and it is generally beneficial to listen; and it is not in vain that we prepare ourselves and prepare ourselves for the sake of virtue. It’s great to prepare yourself for temptations in advance. For if, having done so, we were confused and alarmed as soon as rumors regarding the faith spread throughout the city, then how much more afraid would we have been if we had not been prepared: we would have found ourselves in an even more difficult situation. Therefore, it is wonderful to talk and prepare ourselves in advance, so that, with God’s help, deeds in the deeds themselves will be easily accomplished for us. What are they talking about? After the criminal council 265, which was carried out deliberately to overthrow the faith, after the anathematization of our blessed fathers, after persecution for twelve years, 266 after expulsions and thefts [of property], after prisons and fetters, after blows and capital punishments and the shock of the universe, when there was nothing new left, the rulers are drawing us to settle scores with the leaders of wickedness 267 . Secular power and ecclesiastical power. And not only this, but [they also demand] that we recognize the main leaders as our judges in what we say and object to each other. But they are not allowed to delve into our affairs, as Gregory the Theologian says 268; nor should they be accepted as judges of Divine dogmas. For God has appointed a sword for rulers. [The Apostle] says: Princes are not afraid of good deeds, but of evil. And also: he does not carry a sword without mind: for he is God’s servant, an avenger of anger against those who do evil (Rom. 13:3,4). The Holy Apostles [belong] to the power of Divine dogmas, definitions and resolutions [of perplexities], moved by the Spirit [of the Saints]. Apostolic succession of ordination. For the Lord said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit: Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven them: and whose sins you hold, they hold fast (John 20:22-23). And again: the tree that you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and the tree that you loose on earth will be loose in heaven (Matthew 18:18). It is obvious that as this was said to them, so it is also said to their successors - consistently, until the present time. Therefore, to allow rulers to be judges in such [cases] is to deny the authority given to them [that is, the apostles and their holy successors] by the Holy Spirit. And how could they reach the sublime dogmas of truth if they did not prepare for the perfection of life? The rulers crucified the Lord of glory. Listen to what the apostle says: But we speak wisdom to those who are perfect, but we speak not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world who pass away, but we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in mystery, which God hath ordained before the world for our glory, which no one knew of the princes of this world; if they had understood, they had not crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:6-8). Do you see that the rulers crucified the Lord of glory? So, if now the judgment of the rulers is carried out over His immaculate image 269, then this is nothing other than the judgment of the Jews and Pilate again. At least there was death. But even this was determined by God so that we would not have the desire to enter into conversations with the wicked. For [the Lord] says: Do not let the holy thing be a dog, neither cast your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). In accordance [with this], the inspired Paul instructs not to enter into disputes over words, which in no way serves to benefit, but to the frustration of those listening (2 Tim. 2:14). In agreement with them, Ignatius the God-Bearer says the following: “I warn you against animals that have a human image - against heretics; You should not only not accept them, but, if possible, not even meet [with them]” 270. And all the saints, [speaking generally], so as not to prolong the announcement, testify to the same thing. If they speak thus, how can we dare to be transgressors of the Divine commands in both matters? In no way - at least death was imminent. This, brothers, is what we ask of you out of necessity. I am not saying that the word of truth has weakened among us, since, if it pleases the kings, we are prepared for an answer (1 Peter 3:15), according to the commandment that commands us to give the word of faith to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who girdes with strength the weak and gives the word even to the dumb. This is the thing they are talking about. Let's win together with Him. But be of good courage and be strong in spirit, not wavering from any one who opposes you (Phil. 1:28). You, as soldiers of Christ, having donned the weapons of your faith, stand unshakable and motionless. And if a warrior, having a leader experienced in war and holding trophies, does not allow himself to be timid, but is inspired and fights with him, then how much more courageous should we be, having as a comrade-in-arms and companion in the ongoing human temptations the Lord of the highest powers and the Lord of all creation. Be of good cheer, says the Lord, I have peace in victory (John 16:33). Therefore, we too will dare; and we will be confident that we will overcome together with Him, who has power over everything. To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 128. On submission and cutting off desires 271 Brothers and fathers. The catechetical word, on the one hand, has the ability to strike those who lack virtue, but, on the other hand, it has the ability to heal. Where does our sadness come from? For this very sadness about the lack of what must be done as a duty has the ability to produce correction in the soul. For sorrow, even according to God, as the apostle says, unrepentant repentance leads to salvation (2 Cor. 7:10). But let's see, if you like, what our sorrow is. Is it that evil thoughts arise in us, striving, like enemies, to lay siege to our soul? But it is written: if an army gathers against me, my heart will not fear; If he rises up against me, I will trust in Him (Ps. 26:3). Or is it that the yoke of obedience is hard? But again it is written: it is good for a man when he bears the yoke in his youth (Lam. 3:27); he will serve the Lord alone in the same place. And again: My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Or is it that he who lives in subjection has no gain of his own? But here is the apostolic word: Behold, I have left everything and died after You: what then will happen to us? (Matthew 19:27). What a terrible and glorious promise! Haven’t you also, having left everything in the same way, followed the Lord? Didn’t one leave his parents, this one his brothers and sisters, one his wife and children, another his houses, another his fields, and all of them, most of all, his wishes? The last one is the most difficult for people to achieve. Cutting off your will is shedding blood. Therefore, if someone were to talk about intense fasting, or about being awake, or about sleeping on bare ground, or about the absence of a bath, or about a solitary life, or about any other of our divine activities, then [all this] happens according to the free will of the person doing it. What happens of one’s own free will, although difficult in itself, is easily fulfilled if desired. The same thing that is done when the will is cut off, even if it seems easy, is accomplished with difficulty. The Holy Fathers defined this as the shedding of blood. And this perfection is not characteristic of anyone else except a true novice, who could say with the apostle: “I live as no one, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). Since he does not live of his own will, through the will of the abbot he lives for God and is an imitator of the One who said: I came down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me (John 6:38). Do you see how high the image of [our] life is?! Isn't he an imitation of Christ? Isn't this the apostolic [way of life]? And it’s not that I’m flattering you. One is the judgment of God and the other is human. Truth itself certifies the non-falsehood of a word. If people do not write words of praise in honor of those who have accomplished this, then their glory does not diminish from this, because God does not look the same as man, but the judgment of God is different and the judgment of man is different 272; and, perhaps, on the day of reward the humble one will be more glorious than those who seem noble, as it is written: the last will be first, and the last will be first (Matthew 19:30). Exhortation. So, rejoice and tremble: this is because of the gift of God, and this is because of the vicissitudes of the mind, because we do not always remain the same. And let us understand, in the words of the Apostle, one another in encouraging love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24), not weakening in cutting off the will, about which the whole word is, and not being lazy in the performance of ministries, but more and more strengthened in zeal, accepting each other (Col. 3:13), bearing each other’s burdens (cf. Gal. 6:2), as brothers, as having a common soul and body. And so, as you strive day by day and complete your race, as I well know, receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 129. About the fact that one must fight with constant attention against invisible enemies, and about avoiding communication with heretics The struggle is not just for one day, but for a lifetime. Brothers and fathers. A brief word of consolation for us who are poor in deed and word; however, it is necessary to comfort you and stimulate you spiritually as much as possible. For if those who run in the lists need encouragement from those accompanying them, and those who fight in war need encouragement from their comrades, how much more do you, who have undertaken war with invisible enemies, need to be anointed with words of consolation and to be properly guided by the spirit, you whose struggle is not for one day, but for a lifetime. And if you win, then you will have the indescribable crown of incorruption; and if you are defeated, then the shame of endless shame. But let us, brethren, never tolerate this and let us not be put to shame in our expectation, but by constant attention and unrelenting confrontation, with God’s help, compare the invisible war with the visible war. gained victory over the devil. You know that those who wage and carnal war are in full tension. They say that their faces change and some appear to be others due to the concentration of their thoughts and the intensity of their minds on thinking about one subject. At that time, they do not remember either their wife, or their children, or their parents, or their brothers, or absolutely anyone else, but their mind, thought, and body are devoted to war. In the same way, we must be tuned to the inner man and have no fear of the enemy and burn in spirit, like good soldiers of Christ. The enemies, seeing us in this state, are careful not to attack [us]. When they see [us] frightened and relaxed, then, drawing their bows, they inflict wounds on our soul with inappropriate thoughts, as if with arrows. But even in this case one should not despair, but through repentance one should again restore the health [of the soul] and again wage war; and so it always is. Such an invisible war spread throughout the entire universe. And if you want, lift up the eyes of your mind, and you will see that the heavenly realm is filled with this kind of wounds. And the serpent inflicts [these] blows not only on unbelievers and heretics, fornicators and adulterers and those who commit similar wicked deeds, but also on those who treat them indifferently and have fellowship with them, if only the word is true: touch the tar, and join the proud, it will be like him (Sir. 13:1). Prohibition of liturgical prayer for dead heretics. I am now accused of forbidding an Orthodox person to offer [prayers] at sacred commemorations during the celebration of the sacrament for one who pretended to be Orthodox, but had communion with heresy all the time. For if he had previously, at least at death, through confession [been worthy] to partake of the Holy Mysteries, then the Orthodox could have made an offering for him. But since he departed in communion with heresy, how can one place him in community with the Orthodox? The Holy Apostle says: cup of blessing, even as we bless, is there not fellowship in the blood of Christ? The bread we break is not fellowship of the body of Christ? For as there is one bread, we are one body and we are many: for we all partake of one bread (1 Cor. 10:16–17). One body, but alien to Christ. Consequently, by analogy, communion in the heretical bread and cup is the property of the opposite part and makes the participants one body, alien to Christ, for there is no communion between light and darkness, no communion of righteousness with lawlessness, no participation of the faithful with the unfaithful, no agreement between the church of God and idols, as the same [apostle] proclaimed elsewhere (2 Cor. 6:14-16). But we should weep for such, and for those who are still alive, we should pray that they may escape from the snares of the devil; to give thanks for ourselves, for God chose us from the beginning for salvation in the holiness of the Spirit and the true faith (2 Thess. 2:13), to serve Him in the Orthodox faith until the present confession; if we accomplish it immaculately and irreproachably, then may He vouchsafe [us] His Heavenly Kingdom in Christ Himself, our God, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 130. On the remembrance of death and virginity 273 Any time is convenient for saving the soul. Brothers and fathers. For different tasks, different times are determined: another time for sowing and another for harvesting; some times are for peace and others are for war; one time for activity and another for leisure. For the salvation of the soul, any time is convenient and every day is favorable, if we want. Therefore, we will always be active for good, flexible, cheerful, putting into practice what is said. For it is not the hearers of the law, says [the apostle], who are righteous before God, but the creators of the law, [these] will be justified (Rom. 2:13). So, whether there is an invisible war ahead, we should fight complacently and, with God’s help, drive away the demonic thoughts that rise against us, so that, remaining for a long time, they do not cause us death; If the spiritual harvest begins, one should reap diligently and collect travel supplies for eternal life in spiritual storehouses, so as not to die of starvation forever. There is always a time for prayers, a time for tears, a time to stop falling, a time for the raptures of the Kingdom of Heaven. Why are we still delaying? What are we postponing? Why are we postponing our correction from day to day? Does not the image of this world pass away (1 Cor. 7:31)? Are not those who depart [from us] daily innumerable? Do not the opened tombs triumph over our poor nature? Doesn’t the earth [testify to the same thing] by accepting bodies akin to [it]? Will we really stay [here] until the end? Don't we see, the Saints died daily and lived like that. how many have already left our brotherhood alone, not to mention others? Where are our blessed fathers? Where are the brothers, spiritual and carnal? Where are the fellow countrymen? Where are the friends and fellow psalmody singers? Are we not left with only images of them, alien to reality? But it seems we don't remember [our] promises. When the death of a brother or father occurs, we immediately come to our senses, to contrition - we correct ourselves. But when a little time passes, we forget both about [our] promises and about contrition. But this is not how the saints of God [acted], who spent their whole lives thinking about death, dying every day - and living like that. Every day, according to the word of the apostle, they were crucified to the world (Gal. 6:14), every day they moved to God by their disposition of spirit - [and now] in reality they lead a blessed and wonderful life. And the example of the ten virgins does not frighten you. Behold, the bridegroom is coming, come, he says, to meet him (Matthew 25:6). And the wise came out to meet him with shining lamps: they went down with him to marriage (Matthew 25:10). The foolish ones, who were late to come due to lack of good deeds, began to cry out: Lord, Lord, open to us. He answered and said to them: Amen I say to you, we do not know you (Matthew 25:11-12). And [to this] the Lord adds: Beware, for you do not know the hour of the day (Matthew 25:13). Exhortation: “fix everything.” So, we must stay awake, awaken the soul from sleep, be sober, contrite, observe chastity and purity, be enlightened, so that suddenly death does not close [the doors] from us, and [then there will be] no one who would open [them] and help. Therefore, let us hasten to prepare for the outcome of things pleasing to God: let the lazy one awaken; let the disobedient become obedient; let the proud one humble himself; let the cruel one soften; let him who does not shed tears lament; he who does not confess, let him confess; let the idle one start working, fix everything. I would also add this: let the woman-loving person limit himself. What does this [mean]? To avoid being with women for a long time and not spending time with them, which ignites the fire of sin. Let us listen to what the Scripture says: if anyone binds fire into the depths, will he not burn [his own] garments? Or whoever walks on coals of fire will not have his feet burned? Such is the man who goes in to a husband's wife (Proverbs 6:27–29). But even a virgin living in monasticism, a married woman, as well as one who has vowed to remain a widow, have a Bridegroom, the Lord of glory. But I say this to those who, scattered here and here, live according to their faith, come up with excuses for justification for sins, not noticing that the Lord commanded that even the tempting eye be plucked out (Matthew 5:29), not to mention those who behave differently. This is what I have to say to you: we must be strong and bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom. 15:1) and serve as an example of good deeds for those who are not comfortable, which you are, by the grace of God, but also be, by the grace of God, and be saved in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 131. About divine activities and about our blissful way of life Brothers and fathers. On previous occasions I began a conversation with you in a different way; now I begin the word with a question. And I ask about the feat of asceticism ahead of us. What do you say, brothers? Do we [already] have what we strive for? Have we achieved eternal life? Have we received hope of salvation? The attractiveness of monasticism. Or have we not yet achieved what we should? As far as one can judge from appearances, I think that you have not omitted anything from the novitiate laws and rules, which is the main thing in the matter of your salvation. Oh, that even in what is hidden you would remain healthy and unharmed, so that for your sake I, the humble one, might receive mercy! Let us both glorify God for the fact that we have been deemed worthy to choose the good part, that is, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His words (Luke 10:39, 42). Others worry and fuss about many things, that is, about their wife and children, about property and money; We have one concern - how to please the Lord. Others serve in the army of the earthly king and are forced to serve the king’s orders in every way - to the point of blood; Our military service is voluntary, since we fulfill with all freedom the commandments of the King of all - Christ, and we have a promise after the war to receive an unshakable kingdom. Others undertake a long and difficult journey for a profit that is insignificant and subject to chance; We are presented with the duty to walk in the house of God with one mind (Ps. 54:15), night and day to offer praises to the greatness of God, and through this acquire not gold that perishes, but treasure that is safe from robbery and eternal. If we encounter something sad and challenging, either sensually or invisible [and indeed happens], but even this, [endured] for the sake of the word of God and hope, is very easy for us, and we rejoice in sorrow and feel free in a cramped situation. This life is such that it attracts those with intelligence even with its troubles. Who does not love his parents and is not attached [to them]? However, leaving them out of love for God, the sons of men flock here. What is connected as closely as a married couple? Although two are one flesh, according to the word of the Lord (Matthew 19:6), the sword of the gospel, having cut [their union], sends them here. Here the ruler lays down his rule, and the rich discards his wealth as rubbish, and the poor forgets about his poverty, and the orphan is delivered from his orphanhood. I could add: and the king, laying down his purple, is numbered among them, for [our brotherhood] is the equally honorable Body of Christ and the common haven of salvation. In fact, even when death happens, [here] there is no crying and beating one’s chest, like those who love life, but the burial of the deceased is calm, for here neither the wife wails, nor the children scream, nor the relatives compose lamentable songs, remembering this and that. Monastic brotherhood. But [here] death happens with joy, and death comes with good hope. Although you should cry a little; but this is also legal, out of spiritual love for the departed, since the Lord also wept over Lazarus (John 11:35), showing that this is characteristic of nature. What life from eternity is more blessed than this? Has any other way of life appeared than this, bringing one closer to God? Therefore, it is timely to say as David did here: the commandment of the Lord is blessing and life forever (Ps. 132:3). Therefore, brethren, let us rejoice and rejoice with one another; let us give thanks and give thanks again; Let us love, and love very much, our good God [because] He has called us from darkness into light, from dishonor to glory, from obscurity to fame. Each of you knows where he came from, and from whom he was born, and with whom he has now entered into fellowship, and whose brother he is called, and with whom he lives together. I'm talking about appearance. And this is only [the threshold] of future promises, so that if we completely fulfill the feat set before us, continuously working in subordination [of ourselves], bearing the fruits of obedience, as if in paradise, being diligent in ministries, striving in every good work in accordance with the limits set for us and the laws of subordination, then we will find at the end of them the eye has not seen, and the ear has not heard, and in the heart of man not the sigh that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). May we all receive this through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 132. About the death of Brother Gregory and that we should always be ready for the outcome Brothers and fathers. The news of death that we now hear from afar and near is becoming more frequent, and especially [about the death] of our spiritual brothers and fathers. And indeed, besides others, Brother Gregory also left us, whose life was commendable and his death was blessed, since he died in persecution for Christ. What does this mean? Of course, we too must move on from here – small and great, old and young. For the punishment of death is the same for everyone, and one will end his life earlier and another later. After this, how can we help but reflect on what we must experience when the soul is separated from the body? How can we bear the presence of Angels if we have not put on the weapons of light? How will we go that way if we do not bring with us the travel supplies of eternal life? How can we bypass the ruler of this world, about whom the Lord said: The prince of this world is coming, and in Me he will have nothing (John 14:30), if we do not become free from the passions that enslave [us]? Blessed, says [the Lord], is that servant whose master, when his master has come, will find himself doing this: Amen, I say unto you, that he will set him over all his possessions (Matthew 24:46–47). What a nice voice! Shall the evil servant say in his heart: My master will come, and will begin to beat his minions, and eat and drink with drunkards: the master of that servant will come on a day he does not like, and at an hour he does not know, and he will spread him to pieces, and he will put a part of him with the infidels: > there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth ( Matthew 24:48–51). Does this parable really not frighten us? Doesn’t this threat really humble [our] flesh? And these are not fables or empty words. The word does not even reach [the expression of] the actual truth of what is signified. For that crying does not correspond to this crying, and the gnashing of teeth does not correspond to this gnashing, but [between them] there is such a difference as between dreams and reality. Then the fire there will not go out, but the fire here goes out; and the worm [that one] will not die, but the one here dies (Mark 9:44–48). But who understands and studies [this]? Who sees and hears? For one can see without seeing, and hearing without hearing due to the coarsening of the soul (see Matt. 13:13) and the attachment of the heart to passions. Who has acquired the lament pleasing the Lord and daily cleanses himself from the defilements that gather from here and there, and does not put off cleansing until tomorrow? For [the Lord] says: his wickedness prevails over the day (Matthew 6:34). Whoever succeeds in ardent love for God and thereby rejects all partiality and says with David: my soul clings to You: but Your right hand has accepted me (Ps. 62:9). What blissful dispassion! Exhortation. The Word [of God] requires us to prepare ourselves in such a way that we are on fire in spirit (Rom. 12:11), put on the armor of faith (1 Thess. 5:8), inspired by hope, ready for the outcome. Therefore, I ask and pray [you]: let us be determined as if we were dying every day, let us force ourselves as much as we can, knowing that the nature of virtue is forced and always leads upward, while vice - downward. Let us acquire cleansing tears, which give rise to contrition of heart and humility of thoughts. By living a dispassionate life, let us make the holy Angels our friends, so that at the hour of departure they will condescendingly carry us to the Lord. And I say this not as someone who has done something good, but as someone who diligently wants to do something good with you, as someone who is obligated to speak and not be silent, as someone who loves you with the love of God, so that we all, by doing good, may become heirs of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 133. About the saving confession [of thoughts] and that everyone should serve others with the gift that he has received 274 Confession of thoughts is a great and saving activity. Brothers and fathers. And I want to remain silent, and I am forced to speak: this is so as not to upset you, but this is for the sake of the commanding commandment. For [the Lord] says: Speak and do not remain silent, for I am with you (Acts 18:9–10). For although this was said by the Lord to the apostle, the corresponding word [is spoken] to all who have received the authority of leadership. And you are the people of the Lord, and a sanctified people; I could add: [and the people] are many, if we only take into account the whole brotherhood. But what makes me sad about you these days, and [moreover] with unbearable sadness? Apparently, confession [of thoughts], a great and saving activity, has been abandoned. And if I saw that you have become better because of this, I would rejoice as one who is relieved in business, for healing the infirmities of others requires a lot of work. But since I see that you have changed in the opposite direction, I understand the reason. Thought is the beginning and root of sins. In fact, tell me, where do your willful actions and inappropriate actions that arise from this come from? Is it because you do not open, but hide your harmful thoughts? Indeed, both the beginning and the root of our sins are an inappropriate thought (ἔκτοπος λογισμός), which, being brought out, is driven away by the grace of God; if it is hidden, then little by little it turns into the works of darkness. Hence - spiritual death, hence - separation from each other, hence the self-justifying words of ignorance and delusion. But, [good] man, even animals that have no reason, of themselves, know how to avoid harmful food, and not only man, who from the most holy baptism has been enriched with all knowledge of good. But you have not heard, as the Scripture says, that the God of the first world will not show mercy, but preserve Noah’s righteousness as a preacher, and bring a flood to the world of those who dishonored (2 Pet. 2:5). You have not learned that the Lord burned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, condemned them to destruction, and set an image for those who would commit wickedness (2 Pet. 2:6). Do you not often hear the apostle cry: do not flatter yourselves: neither harlots, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexually immoral women, nor covetous women, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor molesters, nor predators will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10)? How can you, hearing this, say that you don’t know [what] is bad? This is an excuse and an excuse. But what can I say about teachers of such matters? One must edify, strengthen and confirm by one’s own example the one being taught, so that his salvation will contribute to the glory of the teacher; those who do not say anything useful bear the name [of the teacher] in vain. Perform your service as if in the eyes of the Lord. Look at the ancient generations, at the examples of our holy fathers; but mainly, to talk about something closer, look at our brotherhood, as they usually say: what Abba Dorotheos did to blessed Gregory, what Abba Arsenius [made] the thrice blessed Thaddeus, what Abba Lucian [made] the famous Jacob 275, what the others [made] the rest, so as not to present a lengthy account. To him who has, says [the Lord], will be given and he will have abundance; But from the one who does not have, and thinks he has, it will be taken from him (Matthew 25:29). Aren't you afraid of the threat? Do you not tremble at Him, Whom all things tremble? Therefore, I ask and pray [to you]: let everyone who receives a gift (1 Peter 4:10) fulfill his ministry and do everything as if in the sight of the Lord. Let no one henceforth remain without revealing [their thoughts]; let no one be lazy and weak, immoderate in food and drink, from which passions are born. Let no one be noisy or argumentative, thereby disconcerting the brotherhood. Do you even dare to settle scores with a layman in a militant manner and fight with him with equal [weapons]—bad arguments? "Not a monk, but a villain." Therefore, you are not a monk, but a villain, and not a son of the world, but a child of wrath. And who does this? Young people who are not worthy to even say a word. Nevertheless, we must bear the strong weaknesses of the weak and not please ourselves: let everyone please your neighbor for the good of creation. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of those who reproach You have attacked Me (Rom. 15:1-3). Therefore, we must endure reproach with Christ and for the sake of Christ and try to do everything according to the example of His way of life, so that, having pleased God, we receive the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Himself, our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Announcement 134. About not being confused by the abbot’s reproaches, and about the fact that through many sorrows we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven 276 Monastic brotherhood. Brothers and fathers. The saying of the Divinely inspired Scripture is as follows: I love Me who love Me, but those who seek Me will find Me (Proverbs 8:17). And it shows a sign of love, saying: he who loves punishes diligently (Proverbs 13:25). Since I, the humble one, was placed over you for this purpose, in the previous announcement I necessarily rebuked you, not that you should be offended, - I dare to say the word of the apostle, - but that you might know the love that the Imam has abundantly shown to you (2 Cor. 2:4), grieving with you during your sorrow and rejoicing with you during your joy. For who else should I look at, or about whom else should I grieve and rejoice, if not about you? You are my brothers and children; both fathers and friends; and relatives, and beloved, and desired; [you] are joy, and a crown, and everything else that serves to signify kinship. I testify that you treat me the same way and do not turn to my parents, or to brothers, or to kinship, or to the fatherland, or to anything else that is visible, but only to God and after God - to my humility. And thanks be to God, who so united us in the Holy Spirit, that we loved and were mutually loved, served [others] and received services from others—one body and one spirit, just as we were called in one hope of your calling (Eph. 4:4). Therefore, brethren, let us rejoice and rejoice in one another, and let us not be troubled because you are often reproached, but let us endure the instruction patiently, because it is [done] out of love [for you] and for the common good. For it is written: son, do not despise the punishment of the Lord, but weaken from him when he is rebuked, for the Lord loves him, punishes him, beats him, but accepts him (Proverbs 3:11-12). And the apostle says: if you endure punishment, as God is found to you as a son. Who is the son, who is not punished by his father? If you are without punishment, all were partakers of him; for you are by nature adulterers, and not of sons (Heb. 12:7-8). Salvation through sorrow, in imitation of Christ. Then, wealth and power and other things that people desire are not obtained without difficulty, but with great effort and labor. Is it possible to assume that achieving God and Divine rewards would be a very easy and convenient matter, and not filled with countless labors and sweat? And wouldn't this [assumption] be evidence of extreme stupidity? That is why we hear that through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22) and that we must lead through the narrow gate and the narrow path into the eternal life (Matthew 7:14). And for what reason? Because we [ourselves] did not want to remain in the carefree life given to us from the beginning in paradise and in boundless joy, but foolishly preferred to fall into the [real] multi-passionate and multi-sorrowful life. And we can return there only by exercising [in enduring] regrettable circumstances, in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, as [the apostle] says, instead of the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, being careless about the shame (Heb. 12:2). Sorrows for God are a holiday for saints. However, since sorrows for God are eased by the hope of eternal blessings, they are usually not painful, and therefore for the saints the present time is called a holiday. Saint David also testifies to this, saying: Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord (Ps. 32:1), hinting at everlasting joy. The blessed apostle says the same thing in this way: rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say: rejoice (Phil. 4:4). And this is said [to Christians], although they mourn and cry, struggle and struggle, and suffer in many ways. But sorrow for God is considered a matter of joy for the virtuous (cf. 2 Cor. 7:10). Exhortation. Let us, brothers, as if holding a daily holiday, patiently endure sorrows for God, never weakening from the devil’s attacks and snares. But if we ever happen to doze off and get carried away in mind, word or deed by something that we shouldn’t, then we will quickly get up, return to our previous state and again serve the Lord with ardent zeal, knowing that even from the kings the warrior who fights and fights receives honors, and not the one who runs away and is not inclined to war. So we too, remaining in an invisible war until our last breath, will be worthy of eternal rewards, by the grace of God, in Christ Himself, our Lord, to Whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. The scientific edition of the “Small Announcement” and notes were made by P. K. Dobrotsvetov. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title “On Holy Easter”. – Ed. Refers to the journey there and back in a running sport. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “After Easter and in memory of Blessed Dometian”, “On St. Thomas’ week”, “For renewal”. – Ed. Changes not in the external, but in the moral structure - actions leading to sin. – Ed. The Greek ἄφετοι can also be translated as “loose”, “free”. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “After Easter”, “For the Week of the Myrrh-Bearers”, “For Renewal”. – Ed. We are talking about the persecution that befell St. Theodore and his monastic brethren from the imperial iconoclastic authorities for their profession of icon veneration. – Ed. It can be assumed, based on the subsequent content of this announcement, that one of the Studite monks who dispersed during the persecution fell into the sin of fornication, and there were such “moralizers” who called the reason for such a moral decline a firm adherence to the truth of icon veneration, for which the monks suffered exile and dispersion. – Ed. Compare: St. Ignatius the God-Bearer. Romans 7. In TFS: “disastrous provisions.” – Ed. Rev. here. Theodore gives the traditional enumeration of the main passions, sins and, accordingly, unclean spirits. Evagrius of Pontus, who was the first to generalize and classify sinful passions, calls them eight: gluttony, fornication, love of money, sadness, anger, despondency, vanity, pride. His enumeration has become classic for Christian asceticism. Rev. Theodore did not mention two more in this place: anger and vanity. – Ed. In TFS: “Avoid disastrous situations and sinful customs.” – Ed. Rev. Arseny - Egyptian saint ascetic of the 4th–5th centuries. Information about him is contained in the “Sayings of the Holy Fathers” (“Apothegmami”). “They told about a certain brother who came to the Skete with the purpose of seeing Abba Arseny, the following. This brother came to the skete church and earnestly asked the clergy to give him the opportunity to see the elder. They told him: “Stay here for a while and you will see him.” The brother answered: “I will not eat any food before I see him.” Then the clergy sent one of the monastery brethren to accompany the strange brother to the elder’s cell, which was located at a very long distance from the monastery church. Having reached the cell and knocking on the door, they entered the cell; Having greeted the elder, they sat down and sat for a long time, remaining in silence. Finally the skete brother said: “I’m leaving, pray for me.” The strange brother did not dare to start a conversation with the elder and said to the monastery: “I am going with you.” They both went out together, and the strange brother of the monastery asked: “Take me to Abba Moses, who entered into monasticism from the robbers.” When they came to the Abba, he received them very warmly, gave them wise and holy instruction, and sent them away, expressing great love. Then the monastery brother said to the wanderer: “So I took you to a stranger and to an Egyptian: which of the two did you like more?” He answered: “However, the Egyptian was more to my heart.” Some of the fathers, hearing this, prayed to God, saying: “Lord, reveal to me the secret of the matter: one runs away from everyone for the sake of Your name, and the other accepts everyone for the sake of Your name.” And then in a vision two great ships appeared to him on vast waters. In one ship he saw Abba Arseny, silently sailing, and the Spirit of God with him, and in the other, Abba Moses, sailing in the company of Angels, who fed him with honey flowing from the honeycomb” (see: St. Ignatius Brianchaninov. Fatherland. Abba Arseny, 11). See also: Memorable tales. Ava Arseny. – Ed. Here the Greek word ὁ λογισμός can also be translated as “reason.” – Ed. In TFS: “the never-ending worm.” – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the Midsummer of Easter”, “On the Week of the Samaritan Woman”. – Ed. That is, persecution of icon worshipers (see: TSPC. P. 25). – Ed. By confession is meant confession before the iconoclastic authorities. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the pre-feast of the Midsummer of Easter”, “On the Midsummer of Easter”. – Ed. The sermon was apparently delivered on the feast of Mid-Pentecost (celebrated on Wednesday of the fourth week of Easter) or on the eve of it. – Ed. In one of the lists: “and each of them mutually proves the other.” – Ed. Rev. Theodore compares the iconoclasts with the Manichaeans, since the Manichaeans denied the truth of the flesh of Christ and the authenticity of the Incarnation, and the iconoclasts denied the depiction of the flesh of Christ on icons. – Ed. Rev. Pachomius the Great (292–346) – founder of Egyptian cenobitic monasticism. His memory in the Orthodox Church is celebrated on May 15/28. – Ed. By Economy, the holy fathers of the Church meant the entire sacrament of salvation, the center of which is the Incarnation (see: TSPC. P. 30). – Ed. It can rather be translated as: “which is not surprising.” – Ed. It is not entirely clear which bishop we are talking about. Maybe about the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, who were during the life of St. Theodora were Paul IV, St. Tarasius and St. Nikifor. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “Before Holy Pentecost”, “On the Sunday of Pentecost”. – Ed. The monastery where the Rev. labored for a long time. Theodore. Honorable mentions from Rev. Theodore on Euprepian, see: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Letters 36, 38, 40, 41, 133, 178 // Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 3. In letter 329, dated 818, Rev. Theodore writes that Euprepian succumbed to grave temptations. So this announcement, which speaks of an even greater fall of this monk, was written after 818 - Ed. In TFS: “real confession.” – Ed. One of the principles of monastic life, which was defended by the champion of communal monasticism, Ven. Theodore the Studite. Monks in a cenobitic monastery must form a single body, therefore any unauthorized solitude, as well as the formation of “parties”, is unacceptable. – Ed. In TFS: “His great eye.” – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the Sunday of All Saints”, “On the Sunday of the Week of All Saints”. – Ed. All Saints Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost. – Ed. The Greek μάρτυρες (witnesses) is also translated as “martyrs.” – Ed. In TFS: “retribution”. – Ed. In one of the lists the title is different: “On the teaching of silence and peace,” in the other: “For a new resurrection” (“For renewal”), that is, on the eighth day after Easter. – Ed. The Greek ἡ κυριακή, i.e. “day of the Lord,” means the Sunday day of the week. – Ed. In one of the lists: “Creator and Lord.” – Ed. In one of the lists: “heavenly, earthly and under heaven.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “Sunday 2nd”. – Ed. The phrase must be understood in a figurative sense: we are not talking about physical circumcision, but about sin living in human nature after the Fall (cf. Lev. 26:41; Jer. 6:10, 9:26; Acts 7:51). – Ed. One of the Princes' Islands, to which the Rev. was exiled. Theodore (see: TSPC. P. 40). – Ed. In TFS the word ἀπολογία was translated as “defense”, but in this case it is better translated as “response”. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “Sunday 3rd”. – Ed. We are talking about the abbot of the monastery on the island of Halki (Halkitos), located 12 km from Constantinople. To this island in 809–811. was sent to the second exile by Rev. Theodore the Studite. See: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Epigrams, 98 // Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 3. – Ed. More precisely: “during temptations.” – Ed. In TFS: “real”. – Ed. Further, a fragment of the original Greek text is corrupted (see: TSPC. P. 45). The persecution of iconoclasts against icon worshipers still continued. – Ed. Perhaps we are talking about the military. Theodore Stratilates of Heraclea († 319; commemorated on February 8/21). – Ed. In some manuscripts the title is different: “After the celebration of the memory of John the Baptist,” “On the Nativity of John the Baptist,” “The same month (June), the 23rd day.” – Ed. Appeal to monks scattered by iconoclastic persecutions. Rev. here. Theodore reminds them of their former quiet residence in the Studite monastery they left, where the main church was dedicated to St. John the Baptist (see: TSPC. P. 46). – Ed. “Erect”, “install”. – Ed. In TFS: “used in war and hunting.” – Ed. Apparently, the iconoclasts’ comparison of the icon of Christ with images of animals is falsely based on the Old Testament prohibition on pagan sacred images (see: Exodus 20:3–5). – Ed. In TFS: “...call them by names, even in a figurative sense.” – Ed. Christian relics, like holy icons, were traditionally objects of worship and, accordingly, were subject to destruction by iconoclasts (see: TZRS. R. 47). – Ed. Prev. Theodore speaks in this case about the holiness of the Roman see not in an absolute sense, but means that the iconoclastic heresy dominated in the East - in Byzantium, and in the West - in Italy, which was no longer covered by the power of the Roman emperor; at that time icon veneration was preserved. – Ed. In some manuscripts the name is different: “At the beginning of the harvest”, “The month of June 1st”, “On Friday”. – Ed. In some manuscripts the name is different: “On the 15th day of the month of June”, “On Summer Sunday”. – Ed. In some manuscripts the name is different: “On the 30th day of the month of June”, “On Sunday”. – Ed. In TFS: “causes relaxation.” – Ed. Harvest time is a time of special labor for the monks and exhaustion of their strength, since during this period of the year they had to sleep even less and work more than usual. In addition, the prescribed prayer vigils were not canceled (see: TSPC. P. 53). – Ed. See: Memorable tales. Abba Silouan, 2. – Ed. In some manuscripts the name is different: “After the Lent of the Holy Apostles”, “After the Lent of the Holy Apostles”, “The Month of June 29th”. – Ed. Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Petrov Fast). – Ed. The Studite brotherhood, whose monasteries belonged to the Studite monastery (see: TSPC. P. 56). – Ed. In one of the lists the title is different: “On the Transfiguration of the Savior. The month of August 6th." – Ed. In TFS: “possibly.” – Ed. Rev. Mary of Egypt. The commemoration takes place on April 1/14 and in the fifth week of Lent. – Ed. St. Michael, Bishop of Sinad (Phrygian), is a confessor of Orthodoxy who suffered for the veneration of icons. Member of the VII Ecumenical Council. During the reign of the iconoclast emperor Leo V the Armenian, he was sent into exile, where he died in 821. Memory in the Orthodox Church on May 23/June 5. It seems that this announcement by Rev. Theodora may date from this or a nearby year. In one of the lists the name is different: “The month of May 23rd.” – Ed. Prev. Athanasius, abbot of Pavlopetria († 821–826), confessor for holy icons during the reign of the iconoclastic emperor Leo V. He suffered scourging and exile. Memory in the Orthodox Church - February 22/March 7. The Pavlopetria monastery was located in the region of Nicomedia in Asia Minor. – Ed. In one of the lists the title is different: “On the beheading of John the Baptist of the Lord. The month of August 29th.” – Ed. In some lists the name is different: “On the pre-celebration of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” “After the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” “The month of August 15th.” – Ed. Wed. the well-known patristic expression: “Give Blood, Receive the Spirit,” found in collections of sayings of Egyptian monks (Memorable Tales of the Egyptian Ascetics; Alphabetical Patericon, 453; Longinus, 4). Implies the proximity of martyrdom and monastic feats. – Ed. In one of the lists the title is different: “At the beginning of the indiction. September 1st. The beginning of the month with God." – Ed. Wed: St. John Chrysostom. Discourse 42 on the Gospel of John. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “The month of June 6th.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On the Exaltation of the Honest Cross.” – Ed. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on September 14/27. – Ed. In some manuscripts the name is different: “To the North”, “September 26th”. – Ed. Perhaps we are talking about the return of Emperor Michael II to Constantinople in October 823 after the suppression of the uprising of Thomas the Slav. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “The month of October 6th.” – Ed. St. Athanasius the Great. Life of St. Antonia, 7; 19. – Ed. Here again the criticism of Rev. Theodore addressed the hermit life, which carries greater threats compared to cenobitic monasticism. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Rules, stated at length, 7 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 2. pp. 166–169. – Ed. In some lists the name is different: “In memory of the holy martyr Thaddeus”, “Month of November”. – Ed. Rev. John of Sinai (Climacus). Paradise Ladder 28, 7. – Ed. Prev. Thaddeus the Studite, confessor († 818 or 816). The memory takes place on December 29/January 11. See: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Letters 126, 183, 185, 186, 187, 191, 194, 195, 198, 204, 251, 301, 381 // Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 3. – Ed. In some manuscripts the name is different: “In memory of St. Paul the Confessor”, “The month of October 27th, for the earthquake”, “The month of November 7th”. – Ed. Here is the classic doctrine of antiquity and patristic literature about the three-part composition of the soul. – Ed. St. Paul, Archbishop of Constantinople († 350), confessor of Orthodoxy in the 4th century. A native of Thessalonica, he inherited the See of Constantinople after Bishop Alexander in 336. He was soon deposed by the Arian Macedonius, who was supported by Emperor Constantius. After Paul returned to the same pulpit from exile, he was again sent into exile in the West. Under pressure from the Western emperor, Constans again occupied his see, but after the death of the latter in 350, the Arians again exiled him: to Singara in Mesopotamia, to Emesa and finally to Kukuz in Armenia, where he was strangled. St. Paul is a zealous defender of Orthodoxy and a close associate of St. Athanasius the Great and Pope Julius. His memory in the Orthodox Church is celebrated on November 6/19 (see: ODCC. P. 1241). – Ed. This announcement was dictated by Rev. Theodore on his deathbed (see: TSPC. P. 82). In some manuscripts it has a different name: “Before the Dormition of our Reverend Father Theodore”, “In memory of our Reverend Father and Confessor Theodore the Studite”, “The month of November 11th”. – Ed. That is, both monks and laity (see: TZRS. R. 83). – Ed. In TFS: “with a girl.” – Ed. In the Greek Church, Epiphany meant the Nativity of Christ, while Epiphany, in the sense of the feast of the Epiphany, is called the “Feast of Lights” by the Greeks. – Ed. That is, the Old Testament righteous. – Ed. In TFS: “filial position.” – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ,” “The Month of January.” – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “In memory of St. Basil”, “The month of January 1st”, “On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son”. – Ed. About him, see: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Small announcement, 117 // Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 2. pp. 211–212. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the Sunday after the Feast of Lights” (i.e. after the Epiphany). – Ed. Written around 821. See: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 643. The TFS erroneously refers to Ezek. 21:30. This famous expression belongs to the so-called agraphs. See: Clement of Alexandria. Which of the rich will be saved?, 40; note us. 516 of the second volume of the Works of St. Basil the Great. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the Sunday after the Feast of Lights”, “The Month of January 13th”. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the Holy Fathers”, “On Saint Euthymius”, “On the celebration of the Feast of Lights”, “The month of January 20th”. – Ed. Studio monks. About them, see the notes to volume 3 of the works of St. Theodora Studite. – Ed. St. Ioannikios - an old soldier who became a hermit; outlived the Rev. by twenty years. Theodora. He was also a champion of icon veneration. In the struggle for icon veneration, he was as outstanding a figure among the hermits as the Venerable. Theodore among the Cenobites (see: TSPC. P. 97). – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “For the life of the fathers”, “In memory of St. Gregory the Theologian”, “The month of January 25th”. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “For the life of the fathers”, “In memory of the holy Abbas”, “In memory of St. John Chrysostom”, “The month of January 27th”. – Ed. In TFS: “in the future belly.” – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “For the life of the fathers”, “In memory of the three holy hierarchs: Basil, Gregory and Chrysostom”, “The month of January 30th”. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “For the life of the fathers”, “In memory of Chrysostom and St. Ephraim”, “The month of January 27th”, “On Friday”. – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Conversation 22, 4; 26 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 1059, 1089. – Ed. This statement should be understood literally, since the memory of the transfer of the holy relics of St. John Chrysostom to Constantinople takes place on January 27/February 9, and the memory of St. Ephraim the Syrian - January 28/February 10. Accordingly, this announcement was made on January 28th. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “On Blessed Thaddeus and Saint Anthony”, “The month of January 17th”. – Ed. In 821, Arab raids reached the Crescentian places in Asia Minor, where the saint was located. Theodore. The Arabs were attracted to their side by the rebel Thomas the Slav. – Ed. Rev. Theodore at that moment was with his companions, possibly in the vicinity of Chalcedon. – Ed. Wed: St. Athanasius the Great. Life of St. Antonia, 72–73. – Ed. Venerable Martyr Thaddeus the Studite († 818) – monk of the Studite Monastery; suffered during the persecution of the iconoclasts. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “On Appropriate Service.” – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “About those who fought,” “On Friday.” – Ed. Here is a play on the words “monk” (μοναχός) and “monomakh” (μονομάχος). "Monomakh" is translated from Greek as "combatant". One of the lists contains the ironic μοναχομάχος, which can be translated as “monk fighter.” – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “On standing firmly in our confession”, “On the Dormition of Brother Theodulus”. – Ed. The words “that is, the purpose of doing” were omitted from the TFS. – Ed. See: Rev. John of Sinai (Climacus). Paradise Ladder 8, 20. – Ed. “If you want or think that you want to take out your neighbor’s twig, then do not use logs instead of a medical instrument. The log is cruel words and rough treatment; The medical instrument is gentle admonition and long-suffering reproof. Reprove, says the apostle, rebuke, entreat (2 Tim. 4:2), and did not say: “And strike”; if this is also required, then not by itself” (Venerable John of Sinai (Ladder of the Climacus). Paradise Ladder 8, 20). Rev. here. Theodore speaks out against the abuse of the words of the reverend. John Climacus on reproaching others. – Ed. Rev. Theodore refers to the 27th canon of the Holy Apostles, which in Russian translation reads in full as follows: “We command the bishop, presbyter or deacon who beats the faithful who sin or who offend the unfaithful, and through this, desiring to frighten, to throw them out of the sacred rank. For the Lord did not teach us this at all: on the contrary, when He Himself was struck, He did not strike; we reproach, but did not reproach; while suffering, he did not threaten (1 Pet. 2:23)" (see: Rules of the Saints Apostle and Saints Father with interpretations. [M.:] Pilgrim; Siberian Blagozvonnitsa, 2000. pp. 58–59). Wed. also the commentary of the Byzantine canonist A. Aristin: “But the one who prudently punishes with a scourge the one who sins against sacred objects is not subject to eruption, just as the Lord, with a scourge made of rope, expelled the merchants from the church of the law. For this purpose, church nomophilaxes and ecdics are elected, as persons appointed since ancient times by the fathers to punish such crimes” (Ibid. p. 60). Likewise, confirming this rule, the Double Council of Constantinople in 861 decided to admonish those who are disobedient to the church authorities “by bringing local civil leaders to trial” (Dvukr., 9; Russian translation, see: Rules of the Orthodox Church with interpretations of Nicodemus, Bishop of Dalmatia-Istria: In 2 vols. M.: Father's House, 2001. T. 2. P. 300). – Ed. The problem of simony has repeatedly become the theme of the apostolic, conciliar and patristic canons (see: Ap. 29, IV Ecum. 2, Trul. 22, VII Ecum. 19, the epistles of the Patriarchs of Constantinople Gennadius (459) and Tarasius (787), as well as the 90th canon (Epistle 53 to the chorebishops) of St. Basil Great). It is characteristic that the latter also exposes various tricks of bribe-takers. The canonical punishment for simony is the defrocking of both the clergy ordained for bribes and the bishop who ordained him. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has the title: “On Service.” – Ed. That is, a large monastic economy, characteristic of a cenobitic monastery. Rev. Theodore and part of his monks were at that moment in exile from the Studite monastery. – Ed. About the organization of the monastic hierarchy of the Venerable. Theodore the Studite, see: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 1. pp. 305–306, 325–328, 338. – Ed. In monasteries and communities, Rev. Theodore there was a rule of universal participation in monastic obediences and labors, so free time for personal affairs and recreation was strictly regulated. – Ed. We are talking about the abbot and other senior officials of the monastery. – Ed. See: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Penances for monks, 52 // Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 2. P. 502. – Ed. In some lists the name is: “On Friday of Meat Week.” – Ed. In some ancient manuscripts the quoted first words of this catechumen sound slightly different. For example, Rev. Nikon the Montenegrin writes: “Likewise and like the saints, Theodore the Studite, following the holy fathers, says in the announcement for Friday of Meat Week: “Brothers and fathers. These days... the mother is sin”” (Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 645–646). – Ed. We are talking about the time of the church calendar preceding Lent - Meat Week. – Ed. Memory previous Anthony takes place on January 17/30. – Ed. Wed: St. Athanasius the Great. Life of St. Antonia, 81. – Ed. We are talking about the iconoclastic persecution of 815–820. – Ed. During the uprising of Thomas the Slav in 821–824. Rev. Theodore was suspected of sympathizing with him and was summoned by Emperor Michael II to the capital. – Ed. Some lists have a different name: “On the Sunday of Meat Week.” – Ed. One of the lists has a different name: “On Cheese Week.” – Ed. Four “generic” virtues are listed. See: St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 2. P. 977, note. 3. – Ed. We are talking about iconoclasts. – Ed. The week following the Meat Week. – Ed. Wed. about the inhabitants of Constantinople in the 4th century: “How many people do you think are being saved in our city? What I am about to say is difficult, but I will say it. Out of so many thousands it is impossible to find more than a hundred being saved; but I also doubt these” (St. John Chrysostom. Conversations on the Acts of the Holy Apostles 24, 4). One of the lists has a different name: “On the Sunday of Cheese Week.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On the fourth day of the first week of fasting - Ed. Wed: Rev. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. Soulful teachings, 10. – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Commentary on the prophet Isaiah, 31; Conversations 1, 10; 2, 7 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 642, 873, 881. – Ed. St. Gregory the Theologian. Word 44.6 // St. Gregory the Theologian. Creations. T. 1. P. 555. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On Friday of the first week of Lent.” – Ed. Wed: Rev. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. Soulful teachings, 14. – Ed. The tradition of ancient monasticism often meant complete abstinence from food by fasting. – Ed. Rev. Pavel of Thebes (III–IV centuries). Rev. began his asceticism earlier. Antonia. Tradition says that St. Anthony was present during the last days of the life of the Venerable. Paul and buried him. His memory is celebrated on January 15/28. According to legend, he received food from a flying raven. – Ed. Wed: St. Athanasius the Great. Life of St. Antonia, 7. – Ed. The words “or five [days]” were missing from the TFS translation. – Ed. This means under the special action of Divine grace. In TFS: “...easy to perform. Is it because they lead an unnatural life? – Ed. In TFS: “fortress of the soul.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On Sunday of the first week of Lent.” – Ed. This refers to the body (cf. 2 Cor. 5:2). – Ed. In TFS: “indifference.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “In the second week of Lent.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On Friday of the second week of Lent.” – Ed. That is, living in peace and unanimity. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On the fourth day of the third week of fasting.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “In the third week of Lent.” – Ed. Most likely, a high-ranking church official, possibly a bishop, visited the monastic community. French publishers of the late 19th century. believed that Rev. was mentioned here. Plato, therefore this announcement was dated to before 813 (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 647). – Ed. In TFS: “the grave is being completed.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On Friday of the third week of Lent.” – Ed. The TFS added: “[enemies, persecutors].” We are talking, apparently, about the emperor's envoys who arrived at the monastery of St. Theodore with threats in order to attract him to communicate with the iconoclasts. French publishers of the 19th century. give a reference to letter 246, which Fatouros attributes to 816. Apparently, this announcement can also be dated to this time (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 647). – Ed. Wed: St. John Chrysostom. Citation for Easter. – Ed. This refers to the holiday of Easter. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “In memory of the forty martyrs.” – Ed. Rev. During his exile, Theodore sometimes changed his place of residence, moving from one monastery to another (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 647). – Ed. Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, executed under Emperor Licinius in 320. Their memory in the Orthodox Church is celebrated on March 9/22, during Lent. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On the Sunday of the third week of Lent.” – Ed. In the Synaxar of Constantinople on July 26, the story is told about the martyrs in Bulgaria - Greeks who were captured during the defeat of the emperor. Nikephoros in Bulgaria in 811 and those who did not want to renounce Christ, were tortured and beheaded for this. It is possible that the meat offered to them was sacrificed to idols. – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Letter 236, 4 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 2. P. 823. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “In the middle week of Lent,” that is, in the fourth week. – Ed. Wed: St. Gregory the Theologian. Sermon 45, 23 // St. Gregory the Theologian. Creations. T. 1. P. 571. – Ed. Wed. Is. 5:20 ; Rev. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet. Guide to Spiritual Life, 58. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On Friday of the middle week of Lent.” – Ed. In one of the lists the title is different: “On the fifth Sunday of Lent and about spring.” – Ed. In some lists: “In memory of our venerable father Plato”, “On Thursday of the fifth week” of Great Lent. – Ed. In TFS: “before the law.” – Ed. Judging by the instructions of Rev. Theodora, we are talking about local veneration among the Studite monks of the memory of St. Plato, and, therefore, this announcement refers to the time after his death, which followed around 814 - Ed. In some lists the name is different: “At the end of Lent,” “On Friday of the fifth week of Lent.” – Ed. See: St. Ignatius the God-Bearer. Epistle to the Romans, 6. - Ed. The Holy Martyr Eustratius suffered in Sebaste of Armenia during the persecution of Diocletian in 302. His memory is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on December 13/26. – Ed. In TFS: “blessed exchange.” – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On Friday of Lazarus” Saturday. – Ed. Here prev. Theodore the Studite, with minor variations, cites the traditional patristic ascetic teaching about the origin of sin in man: the devil's mental pretext, combination, conversation, consent, sin in practice. Regarding the stages of spiritual warfare, see: Rev. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. Soulful Teachings 12, 136–137; Rev. John of Sinai (Climacus). Paradise Ladder 15, 74. – Ed. Wed: Rev. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet. Guide to Spiritual Life 58, 233. – Ed. Wed: Rev. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet. Guide to spiritual life. – Ed. In a number of lists the name is different: “On Great Thursday”, “On the Holy and Great Thursday of the Great Week”. – Ed. In one of the lists the name is different: “On Good Friday.” – Ed. Emperor Michael II Travl ("Stutterer") ruled Byzantium from 820–829. In an effort to restore peace in the empire, he stopped the persecution of icon worshipers, favored the expelled Studites, but was also tolerant of the iconoclasts. The second marriage of Mikhail Travl with the daughter of Emperor Constantine VI, Thekla, whom Mikhail returned from the monastery, aroused the reverend’s rejection. Theodore and his monks, so they chose to remain in exile (see: TSPC. P. 167). – Ed. Rev. here. Theodore recalls the events of 795 in view of new events - Emperor Michael II's dismissal of Constantine VI's daughter from among the nuns (around 821). On Constantine VI and the Mikhian schism, see: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 1. pp. 27–46. – Ed. In the Synodal translation: “spirit of slumber.” – Ed. In TFS: “fixed in relation to the most beautiful skill.” – Ed. Around 818 (see Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 648). Consequently, even before those severe punishments - imprisonment, scourging, etc., imposed on Rev. Theodora is on the brink of life and death. Although 824 is also possible - the 4th year after the liberation of St. Theodora. – Ed. See note. us. 178 of the first volume of the Works of Rev. Theodora Studite. – Ed. Certificate of stay of Rev. Theodore and his monks in exile - most likely in the Crescentian places after being released from prison after 820 - Ed. The announcement dates back to approximately 825–826. (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 649). – Ed. A settlement in Bithynia (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 648). – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Conversation 17, 1 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 1018. – Ed. In TFS: “virtues”. – Ed. Life of Fathers 5, 7, 43. – Ed. See: Memorable tales. Mother Sarah, 1. – Ed. Life of the Fathers 5, 5, 20. See also: Rev. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. Soulful teachings 13, 6. – Ed. We are talking about the abbots of the monasteries of Heraclea and Kafar (“Pure”). The first first approved the adulterous marriage of Emperor Constantine, and then entered into communication with heretical iconoclasts (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 650). The same should be assumed about the second. On this, see Letter 222 (summer - autumn 816). - Ed. In some manuscripts: “On the Sunday before the Transfiguration.” – Ed. Rev. David of Germopolsky. Memory 6/19 September. About him see: Blzh. John Mosch. Spiritual meadow, 143. – Ed. The memory of this saint in the Ancient Church was celebrated on December 29 according to the old style (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 650). – Ed. Carterius is a Studite monk, punished for an unknown offense; eventually left the monastery, which caused grief to the reverend. Theodora (see: TSPC. R. 209). – Ed. In TFS: “agreed”. – Ed. We are talking about the uprising of Thomas the Slav in 821–823, who proclaimed himself emperor. Despite the fact that the rebels besieged Constantinople for a year, the uprising was suppressed. Emperor Mikhail Travl, fearing that Rev. Theodore the Studite will take the side of Thomas, who proclaimed the veneration of icons; he demanded Theodore to the capital, where he stayed for some time until the defeat of the uprising in 823, after which he returned to Asia Minor to Cape St. Tryphon, where he ended his life in 826 - Ed. Wed: Rev. Mark the Ascetic. Word 1. On the spiritual law, 41. – Ed. The estimated dating is 821 (see: Theod. Styud. Parva Cat. P. 651). – Ed. In TFS: “pleasures”. – Ed. That is, in accepting monasticism. – Ed. See: Rev. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. Soulful teachings 2, 30. – Ed. That is, inspired by the devil. – Ed. See: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 1. P. 230 (note). – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Conversations on Shestodnev 1.6 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 327. – Ed. In TFS: “has its own affiliation.” – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Conversation 12. At the beginning of the Book of Proverbs, 16 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 988. – Ed. That is, Sunday day of the week. – Ed. In TFS: “no matter what happens.” – Ed. Through the semantron (σημαντήρ), a wooden percussion instrument (beat), calling monks to worship (see: TZRS. R. 233). – Ed. Wed: St. Gregory of Nyssa. On the Life of Moses the Lawgiver 1, 4. – Ed. Theosost is a Thessalonian abbot who suffered persecution during the second “Michian” schism in 809 (see: St. Theodore the Studite. Letters 43, 44, 51 // St. Theodore the Studite. Creations. Vol. 3). – Ed. In TFS: “hidden from.” – Ed. In this case, it may mean renunciation of Satan and sins in Holy Baptism, as well as renunciation of the world in monastic tonsure. Since he was tonsured, according to the conviction of the Rev. Theodore the Studite, just like Baptism, has the power to blot out previously committed sins (see: St. Theodore the Studite. Creations. Vol. 1. P. 412). – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Conversation 7. To those who get rich, 8 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 1. P. 930. – Ed. See: Matt. 10:38, 16:24; Mk. 8:34; OK. 9:23. – Ed. In some manuscripts it has a different name: “On the first Sunday of Lent. Week of Orthodoxy." – Ed. Prev. Theodore lists four “generic” virtues. – Ed. The announcement was probably made at the end of 820 (see: Theod. Stud. Parva Cat. P. 651). – Ed. That is, a victory monument. – Ed. In TFS: “sin turned into action.” – Ed. Iconoclast Emperor Leo V the Armenian (813–820). – Ed. In TFS: “we will always be fearful.” – Ed. A more accurate translation of the word ἐναγώνιοι would be “ready for battle,” “warlike.” – Ed. Church of Jerusalem. – Ed. One of the manuscripts has a different title: “On the second Sunday of Lent.” – Ed. In one of the manuscripts there is an additional inscription: “It was said at the entrance with a panagia.” – Ed. In TFS: “real”. – Ed. See note. 2 above. – Ed. (In 821, Arab raids reached the Crescentian places in Asia Minor, where St. Theodore was located. The Arabs were attracted to his side by the rebel Thomas the Slav. - Ed.) Memorable tales. About Abba John, a disciple of Abba Paul. – Ed. Rev. John of Sinai (Climacus). Paradise Ladder 4, 120. – Ed. Rev. Euthymius the Great (376–473) – founder of Palestinian monasticism. – Ed. Wed: St. Basil the Great. Rules set out at length 28, 2; Rules, briefly stated, 152 // St. Basil the Great. Creations. T. 2. P. 194, 267. – Ed. Wed: St. Athanasius the Great. Word on the Incarnation of God the Word, 27. – Ed. Wed: St. Athanasius the Great. Life of St. Antonia, 19. – Ed. We are talking about the iconoclastic council of March 20, 815 - Ed. By twelve years of persecution we should mean the years of all three expulsions of St. Theodora: 1) 796–797; 2) 809–811; 3) 815–820, as well as the next one or two years after 820, when Rev. Theodore was forced to have an interview with the iconoclasts. – Ed. This announcement can be dated to 821–822. Wed: Rev. Theodore the Studite. Letters 418, 429 // Rev. Theodore the Studite. Creations. T. 3. Wed: St. Gregory the Theologian. Sermon 18, 34 // St. Gregory the Theologian. Creations. T. 1. P. 240. – Ed. That is, the trial of iconoclasts over the Orthodox veneration of holy icons. – Ed. St. Ignatius the God-Bearer. Epistle to the Smyrnites, 4. In one of the manuscripts there is an additional inscription: “The month of October, the first week.” – Ed. Wed. the dying words of Abba Agathon, quoted by Abba Dorotheus. See: Rev. Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. Soulful teachings 2, 37. – Ed. In one of the manuscripts the title is: “At the beginning of the Holy Pentecost: an announcement on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee.” – Ed. In one of the manuscripts the title is: “On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.” – Ed. Rev. Theodore apparently lists the names of the most prominent Studite monks. – Ed. In one of the manuscripts the title is: “On the fourth day of Meat Week.” – Ed.