Various meetings for the benefit

Composition by St. Tikhon of Zadonsky “Various meetings for the benefit” are short notes and extracts from apothegmas, lives of saints and Holy Scripture, which end with doxologies (with the refrain “Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee”) and verses of the 8th biblical song of the canon (song of the Babylonian youths). If anger is natural to you or you are prone to it out of habit, then diligently beware of what arouses this passion. Calm yourself down for a little while and count how many days you haven’t been angry. By your nature, you are accustomed to being angry every day, but if you go two or three days without being angry at anything, this is already a true sign that your anger is waning. If you see that you haven’t had any anger or rage for a whole week, then go to church and earnestly thank your Creator for this mercy. Today I wasn’t sad about anything and tomorrow I won’t bother, but what if I start doing the same thing for five or six weeks in a row, won’t I be better off than before? February 9 days. About Sapricius the priest and Nicephorus the martyr, who quarreled with each other, and Nicephorus asked forgiveness from Sapricius, who was both tortured and led to death. But Sapriky did not forgive Nicephorus, and before his death he rejected Christ, and Nicephorus instead entered into the feat and accepted the crown of martyrdom. So malice is hateful to God! In this book, which you see, it is written about people who are pure, sober, who spoke the truth, who are merciful, humble, meek, who have unfeigned love, who have suffered everything that is nasty and cruel, who have endured sorrows and misfortunes, who have finally loved Christ so much that they did not prefer His love to their father, nor their mother, nor their wife, nor their children, nor their villages, nor their wealth, nor anything worldly, nor even their souls. they were spared and betrayed for Christ. “I have flown one race, O Lord, and I have marched an army for me, O Lord, and I have not rejected You, O Lord, save my spirit.” – The martyrs walking on the waters sang songs (See Cheti-Minea, April 16). In the life of Mark the Evangelist (April 25) there is a fair description of Christian life during the apostolic stay, from Eusebius and Nicephorus historians. Spiritual martyrdom 3. What is an idolater? This is a sin-loving person. 4. What is idolatry? 5. What is a feat of martyrdom? 7. What are the servants of the tormentor? These are thoughts that lead to sin. 8. What is manifold torment? This is a constant struggle with thoughts. 9 . What is the rejection of Christ? 10. What is a sacrifice to an idol? This is the fulfillment of sin by deed. He who resists them is a martyr without blood. A sign of diligent repentance is forgetfulness of malice. Some gave themselves up to illness and labor for the sake of forgiveness: the unforgettable one preceded everyone (Ladder, p. 135). The Apostles, as if they had seen the Resurrection of the Creator, marveled, singing the praise of the Angels. Lord, my God, accept the soul of Your servant, who has been washed by Your Blood, and open for him the doors of the kingdom of heaven. When Arseny prayed and said: “Lord, instruct how to be saved?” - there was a voice from above, saying: “Arseny, avoid people, and remain in silence, for this is the root of sinlessness.” (In the life of St. Arseny). Mental defilement - vanity, ambition, love of money, envy, brotherly hatred, anger, memory malice, condemnation, pride (In the life of St. Arseny). “Arseny, why did you come here? Not for rest, but for work; not for laziness, but for feat. So, strive, work and don’t be lazy. (In the life of St. Arseny). Saint Arseny said about himself: “Many times I repented about the word I spoke, but never about silence.” I sing to Thee: for by hearing, Lord, I heard and was horrified; You come to me, looking for me who has gone astray. Eparch Rusticus said to the martyr Justin: “So, do you think that you will ascend to heaven and receive some reward from your God?” The martyr answered: “I don’t think, but I know for sure and without a doubt I hope so” (In the life of the martyr Justin 2nd, June 1). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23). “No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, then God abides in us, and His love is perfect in us. We know that we abide in Him and He in us from what He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4:12–13). “Deep is the heart of a man above all things, and he is a man, and who can know him?” (Jer. 17:9). “From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord, for with the Lord is mercy and great is his deliverance, and he will deliver Israel from all his iniquities” (Ps. 129:5-6). “Seek the Lord and be strong, seek His face always” (Ps. 104:4). “Lord our God, give us peace, for You have given us everything. Lord our God, gain us, Lord, we know no other besides You, we call Your name” (Isaiah 26:12–13). “Lord, Your mercy endures forever; Do not despise the work of Your hands” (Ps. 137:8). “Tell your iniquities first, that you may be justified” (Isa. 43:26). “Shimei came out and cursed and threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty were on the right and left of the king. And so Shimei said, cursing him: “Go away, go away, murderer and lawless one. The Lord turned all the blood of the house of Saul on you, because you reigned in his place, and the Lord gave the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and now you are in bloody trouble, for you are a bloodsucker.” And Abishai the son of Saruin said...” – and so on. “And the king said to Abishai: “What do you and me, sons of Zeruiah? Leave him, and so let him curse, for the Lord told him to curse David...” and so on. “Perhaps the Lord will look upon my humiliation”... and so on (2 Samuel 16:5–12). Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. “Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise Him, all you people, for His mercy is established upon us; the truth of the Lord endures forever” (Ps. 116). “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name” (Ps. 102:1). “Praise the name of the Lord, praise the servants of the Lord” (Ps. 134:1). “Confess to the Lord that He is good, for His mercy endures forever” (Ps. 136:1). “Praise, O my soul, the Lord; I will praise the Lord in my life” (Ps. 146:1). “Praise the Lord from heaven, praise Him in the highest” (Ps. 149:1). “Praise God in His saints, praise Him in establishing His power” (Ps. 150:1). “Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers, praised and exalted forever.” “And blessed is the name of Your glory, holy and praised and exalted forever.” “Blessed art thou in the church of Thy holy glory, praised and exalted forever.” “Blessed art thou, who seeth the abyss, who sits upon the Cherubim, and is praised and exalted forever.” “Blessed are you on the throne of the glory of your kingdom, praised and exalted forever.” “Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praised and exalted forever” (Dan. 3:52–56). Praise be to the Lord of the three youths: “Sing to the works of the Lord and exalt them forever. Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord; sing praises and exalt Him forever” (Dan. 3:57). “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Angels sing of God's love for mankind at the birth of the Son of God (see Luke 2:14). Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. “Sing to the works of the Lord, and exalt them forever.” “Bless all the works of the Lord, sing praises to the Lord and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, O Angels of the Lord, the heavens of the Lord, sing praises and exalt Him forever.” “Bless all the waters that are above the heavens, all the Powers of the Lord, sing to the Lord and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, sun and moon, stars of heaven, sing praises and exalt Him forever.” “Bless all the rain and dew, all you souls, sing to the Lord and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, fire and heat, cold and heat, sing and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, dew and frost, ice and frost, sing and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, O glory and glory, night and day, sing and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, light and darkness, lightning and clouds, sing and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, O earth, mountains, and hills, and all that grows therein, sing praises and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, springs, seas and rivers, whales and everything that moves in the waters, sing and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, all the birds of the air, all the wild animals, and all the living creatures; sing praises and exalt Him forever.” “Bless you, sons of humanity, may Israel bless the Lord, sing and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the Lord, O priestesses, O servants of the Lord, sing to the Lord, and exalt Him forever.” “Bless the souls and souls of the righteous, reverent and humble of heart, the Lord, sing and exalt Him forever.” "Bless, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, sing praises and exalt Him forever" (Dan. 3:57–78) “Bless the apostles, prophets and martyrs of the Lord, sing to the Lord and exalt Him forever.” “Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit of the Lord, now and ever, and unto ages of ages, amen.” “We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, singing exaltedly to all ages.”