Увещательное послание к Геллению, о монахах

You ask about the power of my speeches, which no longer exist since I became weak for the world, took upon myself a sweet burden - the Cross that saved me, and exchanged everything human for Christ. And what other speeches I have, they are not too soft and flattering (for such speeches are not pleasing to the most perfect Word). They do not speak about the race, not about the happiness that puffs up the foolish, not about the fiery power of eloquence - this great glory of you and your brother, not about how cities are ruled by the helm of your mighty hand. Let such objects be left to vain words. As for my speeches, you will not find in them even the slightest pleasure to your friends, but you will meet pious advice that will make you better; just have a humble ear. Or, perhaps, you will give my words a better reward by showing your favor to a larger number of people, and not to the ten needy ones, about whom you, my good one, yesterday gave me your promise and consent, as a man of no small size who shows great mercy to the little. But take into account those words of mine that I will speak to you from the depths of my heart, borrowed from heavenly books. Some bring gold and silver, and other fine silk fabrics as gifts to God, while others offered themselves as an immaculate sacrifice to Christ, while others pour out pure drops of tears. But let the following gift be given to Christ from you. There are God's servants; Grant them complete freedom, they who, with a calm mind, perfect souls, raise many others to grief and make them the secret places of heaven. Grant freedom to all Christ-bearers who stand above the earth, are not bound by the bonds of marriage, barely touch the world, and day and night glorify the King with their chants, are averse to earthly acquisitions, with which the prince of the world deceives the pitiful earth-born, mocking them by giving these gifts to one or the other. Grant freedom to those who have one supreme wealth - the hope of receiving something that does not perish and does not pass from hand to hand. They do not need a rib that would love their flesh, they do not rely on a young hand, that is, on children, they do not rely on half-bloods and comrades, on blood and on dust that will perish in the morning; in cities and societies they are not proud of their arrogant fortress, similar to the fortress of a powerless wind, they do not chase after fleeting human glory - this delight of the dreamer: but they raise their whole mind to God, they tie their ship to the divine solid stones. They are the mysteries of the hidden life of Christ the King, and when it appears, they will shine with glory, contemplating the pure radiance of the Trinity, converging together and revealing itself to the immaculate eyes, contemplating the great glory of the heavenly army, not in dark forms and not in a few traces of truth. But this will happen later; at least everything here is worthless smoke and dust for those who preferred heavenly life. Some of them enjoy deserted caves and beds ready everywhere on the bare earth, but they hate houses, avoid urban crowds, love peace, akin to heavenly wisdom; others exhaust themselves with iron chains, and thinning dust, thinning sin together; and others, confined in cramped houses, like beasts, did not even encounter a human face. Often, imitating half the patience of Christ, they spend twenty days and nights without food. I will boast: among them was a sheep from my flock - someone who left this small city. And someone bound his talkative tongue and lips in silence, while with one mind he praised the great Mind. There was also one who, for whole years, standing in the sacred church, spread out his clean hands; and the dream did not touch his leaders, but like an animated stone (incredible self-forgetfulness!) he was set up in Christ. The neighbor raven gave the rest of the meager meal to the other, and one piece of bread was enough for both. And someone ascended from here to the divine mountain to Christ, from which he, after suffering, left people, and there, not entertained by word, mind, or body, he stood under the snow and wind, and did not yield to the petitions of the pious men gathered around him, but, having risen with his mind from the earth and becoming higher than people, he firmly held on to the great Christ the King, until he built a new home for himself, lifeless, when for There was no guardian hand for the burial. Oh! A terrible word has reached me, as if monks who are faithful by name and by life, whom many know, but not many are humiliated for ardor that exceeds the requirements of prudent piety - as if the following law has been established among such monks. If one of the reverent men comes to them, not knowing our charter; then they welcome him cordially in their abodes, showing him all kinds of friendship, and his heart is delighted with God’s word, which the Spirit has inscribed, and at the same time they offer him a bright meal. Then someone comes out on Wednesday, reminds us of the harsh rules and (with secretive expressions calling for a cruel word) proposes the following question: is it good for a pious person to accept death for the sake of God? And if the one who comes foolishly praises such a death; he continues: witnesses of the truth willingly die in many kinds of deaths by their own hands, sometimes not satisfying the needs of the womb, sometimes falling from the mountains into the depths and being strangled. So with joy they move away from the local battle and mournful life! - My King Christ! have mercy on the minds that are faithful, but reckless, like a victorious horse rushing far towards its goal, because it has trusted itself to the speed of its feet and is not restrained by the bridle! Everyone enjoys striving for one virtue. Because there are many mansions, there are many ways to acquire them. But why should I describe it in detail? They walk a narrow path that few people follow here; they enter through the sorrowful gates, where the good enter with much difficulty. Such is the heritage of Christ, such is the fruit of His sufferings that Christ brings from the earth to the Father! This is the support of the word, the glory of people, the foundation of the world, likened to heavenly creations! Their family is luminous for me too. Let envy cry its eyes out! I ask you to have a good disposition towards them. First, love the meek Kledonius, who lives for the poor and brought everything as a gift to Christ, but first of all himself, and then he brought what he acquired, leaving nothing for earthly life. This is a pearl between expensive stones; it is the morning star between the stars; this is the spring between the seasons; this is a rose between plants. Having once been adorned with glory at the court of the king of the earth, he has even greater glory in our fence, because he stands before the King Christ. Love Eulalia, who is superior in many ways to his peers. The great and mighty brother Helladius left him, as if deprived of his half, flying away to the face in which he wanted to be; he himself remained here alone, no longer finding anything better than his Helladius, and has care for his mother, who is depressed by a serious illness and barely retains a few dewdrops of life. But to portray this woman would require a long word; It’s enough to say briefly: she is the mother of Elladius and Eulalia. God did not give you Carteria; but you will make him your friend, through goodwill towards your comrades, and this, I say, is Carterius, for whom great glory awaits in heaven, because in spirit he is always elevated above the flesh. Be lenient towards the great Nicomides, if you ever hear about him. He devoted his mortal life to heavenly life, was jealous of the ancient sacrifice of the great Father Abraham, consecrating to God two children who voluntarily hastened to the sacred sacrifice, and made the marriage good, and tried for crowns, both married and celibate life, did not leave his dusty branches to the earth, but so that, having renounced this life, he would completely move to the mountainous land, his class (this fruit is the most distinguished in circle of husbands and wives, that is, a dear son in the circle of husbands, and a daughter in the circle of wives) entered into our faces. And I hope that these green branches of the fragrant tree will be worthy of the heavenly bodies. And if they surpass their parents themselves; then they will also be obliged to their parents. But let us leave this to the hand of the sovereign God, who puts a great end to great hopes. Now the father among his children is like a fast-flying eagle, which, flying next to the chicks, controls the flight of the newly fledged ones, so that they, on still timid wings, follow him along the swells of the air. So he teaches children many lessons of piety. But he finds nothing more useful than his virtue. He dedicated his children to God's word and divine life, instilling goodness in them from a young age, and prepared for them the greatest inheritance - sacred poverty, so that they would not lack this weapon that would contribute to a successful journey. This is Nikomides - my glory, the glory of my flock, close to me by blood! Theognius is not among the latter. Standing on earth, he touches the heavenly thrones; he is affectionate, sweet-tongued; the radiance of a benevolent spirit is always visible on his blooming face. He never imitates women and does not impose on himself false embellishments of virtue that diminish its beauty, but God-pleasing fear watches inside the heart, and it is manifest to the only All-Knower of the unseen. Although he entered the field of virtue later than others, yet, due to the speed of his feet (which is very wonderful), he was far ahead of those who entered before him. How quickly I tasted wisdom myself; showed the dear children the best lot. And ascending that ladder, which our forefather Jacob, the son of Isaac, saw established from earth to heaven, ascending in order to see God himself, the highest source of heavenly lights, he has already passed one of the steps, rests on the other with his feet, and touches the third with his hand, while his gaze extends further. This is the way for people, and this is how a noble parent raises his blood to Christ! Evander has many expensive treasures hidden in his soul; his heart is whiter than a gray-haired head. Who among the sane will forget about Asterius or his brothers - this sacred trinity? They have common wisdom, their common life has united together, and, with a common hope, only flesh separates them. I will keep silent about Philadelphus - my heart, about this noble blood of Macrovius, who, of all the sheep of my flock, is actually my sheep; about my friend, whom the merciful Christ embraces with great wings, who is not puffed up by the pride that takes possession of everyone. I will keep silent about the high-ranking Rigin, about Leontius, about Iliodor, who possess the high gift of Christ's wisdom. I will keep silent about others - the bright stars among men of simple character, even unknown to many of the peace lovers, about these venerable members of Christ. For who can number these seals of the Immortal, these flesh-bearing beauties? All of them are servants of the almighty God, and each of them is accomplished in a special path of piety. With light feet they trample the earth; These are fine sheep belonging to the gum side; These are the stones of the great church, and Christ binds them together with the all-kind consent of the spirit. With small sparks of life, they spend their real life in poverty, they give in a little to the culprit of evil - the womb, they pacify the cruel rebellion of passions within themselves - these black waves erected by the Belial; They set a measure for the word and a measure for silence, they keep laughter, and hearing, and motionless eyes in check. Without shoes, with combed hair, with tears in their eyes, having only a tunic, these earthly dead live with their thoughts in heavenly things, constantly having before their eyes the great glory of God and the local glory of the souls of the pious. You also honored the virgin wives who call the King their Bridegroom, who enters into communication with the purest hearts, and who wait for Christ with watchful eyes, having lit never-drying lamps; You honored them, I say, when you recognized this adornment of mine, this brightest eye of my flock; honored, if only he honored at least one of them. For this is a common mercy for all good people, if one of them sees the good done to himself; This is the law of friendship, according to which everything becomes common property for them! Truly, these wives also have great intelligence; because they, with a courageous spirit, cast out the seductive Eve from their hearts. Yes, and they have a safe fence around their body - sackcloth, and ashes on the ground; and they have the cures of chastity, Prayers, kind sighs, sleepless nights, sources of tears flowing internally. Their knees have become hard, their weakness has been forgotten; because they hold on to the strengthening garments of Christ. But the tenderness of the flesh and shiny clothes, and this spring, soon fading beauty, both natural and that external that men with their own hands bring to lustful faces - all this is expelled from their hearts. And it will be a little to say that these women, in strength of mind, both in body and in wisdom, became equal to their husbands. For Christ, Who from the starry sky appeared on earth in human flesh and became the son of man through the immaculate Virgin Mother, in order to fulfill the law of humanity with His most pure birth, when He rose from the tomb on the third day, the wives were the first to see, because of their ardent desire, and announced to their beloved fellow disciples, having tasted Christ’s experience of the healing of the past. And throughout the whole earth, wherever the saving teaching has penetrated, you will find many wives who, either having formed a society, nourish in their hearts a common love for heavenly life and are led by the same rules, or remain with their weak parents and brothers, and have them as witnesses of their chastity. I have few such wives; however, I will argue with many, admiring the heavenly beauties of Christ. The fable strewed the houses of the Lydians with golden sand and gave them a river that brought gifts of happiness; and the gold-bearing ants carried wealth to the black Indians, collecting it in the sand. The Nile, flooding the fertile plains in due time, made Egypt powerful. One admires birds, another admires trees, and others admire stones that shine pleasantly from the inside. But King Christ gave me an adornment that is more excellent than all others - this is a crown among many pious ones. What is certain is that God always gives grace to the little ones, as the ancient promise assures. Bethlehem became between the first cities; and my little city was given to be the new Bethlehem. He was famous for the birth of Christ; and mine is famous for the friends of Christ. Such a new host is shining before you in my country, similar to that produced by Armenia - your fatherland, a country adorned with good sons, surpassing other countries in many ways, so especially glorious in that there are many in it who have not known the bonds of marriage! Having shown mercy to them, you will show, most excellent, a small mercy to me, but much greater to yourself; You will acquire for yourself, your children and your wife the greatest wealth - the hope of a most luminous life. If you, the most indulgent of all my comrades, remember at all about my old friendship (I will in no way put my name along with the names of pious men); then do not dishonor me (which is not characteristic of friendship), but show mercy and honor to my comrades. And I have some meaning to many. And even if it had not for many; then you, lucky one, should respect our friendship above everyone else. By this you will please all your friends, and they will be pleased by the honor done by the monk. You will especially please Basil, whom Christ especially honored, and who, as a mediator, unites distant friends and binds them much more tightly with common love. And to please him is what justice itself requires of you, respect for the fatherland, for friendship, for fellowship in learning, for pure sacrifices, for an inspiring life. For he, like the second after Aaron, standing inside the tabernacle that is not accessible to everyone and having before the eyes of God reigning on high, with his Prayers brings mortals into communion with the Immortal. But what you do for me will be a gift for Vasily; and what is brought as a gift to him will be offered to Christ himself; what is offered to Christ is offered to the Father. I beg you for souls and for heavenly life, I beg you for members thinned by the spirit. Show mercy to the day's labors, to the night chants, to reclining on the bare ground, to tears, to old rags, to weary eyes, to a pure mind, to sacred words. By honoring virtue, you will expand the path to virtue for many, and you will receive a large reward from God, you will sow here something permanent and you will reap incorruptible, heavenly fruit, instead of meager - rich. Respect the god-like gray hair of my father, who with both, and the many years and honesty of morals, will fill a whole wonderful story for people. I will tell you, my son, in the weakness of my strength, the last word. Spare our flock, spare the flock for which I tremble; because I suffered a lot for her, and God entrusted me with herding for many decades. God will give you everything that He gives to the pious, but above all else, so that you can meet a wonderful old age, such as the old age of my God-wise father. But I will speak a good word from our Scripture. God's measures are equal to our measures; By what we measure to each other here, by what the great God rewards people. But may He reward you with the best for the best, both now and on the last day! Nowadays, for every person, there is either a good or bad foundation for a short-term life, and the great acquisition of heavenly life fluctuates on small scales, weighed on one side or the other. And Christ took upon Himself humanity at the imposition of taxes, when Caesar took a census of the whole earth. God himself gave mortal tribute to give mortals relief from slavery. Almost the grace of Christ, and have mercy on people. Almost, and by conducting a good census, you yourself will be recorded in a good heavenly book. And if you conduct a bad census... let someone else say it, and I will at least say that it is better to conduct a righteous census. Is it really not enough that a heavy yoke was imposed on mortals by the first sin of the forefather, and by the murderous tree, and by the envy of the serpent, and by the crime of the wife, and by the disastrous taste of opposing knowledge, which made me mortal, and immediately, casting me down into the earth from which I was created, filled my life with sorrows, forced me to bear illnesses and labors, to remain bowed down to wide ridge of the earth under the burden of misfortunes - is this not enough, but my brother - one dust with me, immersed in the same sin with me, betrays me to even greater sorrows? No, this is not permissible, this is unusual; It is much better to give the sick medicine rather than new labor. This is the gift that our brotherhood sends to you, my good one, is a gift indestructible by time. And you, the adornment of Armenia, Hellenius, who is entrusted with establishing the correct measure of taxes in our country, establish it, with the help of the immaculate hand of the great God, establish it immaculately, and do not subjugate the corrupt mind of unrighteous self-interest. If you weigh correctly to everyone, trembling the great Eye; then we, although we are a small city, will carry your name, the best, not only among the inhabitants of Dio-Caesarea, and we will write on the boards: “Here is a virtuous man; Even a scoffer will not find food in it!” You might be interested in: