How to be saved in the modern world. Metropolitan anthony of surozh

2010.04.17 | question

Thank you, mother Alexandra, for worrying about our sinful souls. Help me also by teaching me how to be saved in the world, in a family where only you believe in God. It is difficult in vanity to keep the commandments of our Lord. Sincerely, Vladimir.

answers Alexandra

Vanity of vanity of strife Living in the world, we are necessarily subject to vanity: we have social and family responsibilities, and in general we are surrounded by people and cannot help but be scattered by the mind, meeting with them. But this vanity does not depend on us, and God will not ask us for it. But the fact that we use the rest of our free time for vanity is already our fault, and it will be bitter at the Last Judgment to realize that there was an opportunity to acquire something for eternity, there was a time, and we ruined it. I don’t remember who, in the Znanie-Sila magazine, provided statistical data (it is unlikely that we did this) that in almost every family and in society as a whole there is no consonance in faith. And this is not accidental, for the Lord Himself said: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword ”(Matthew 10:34). Therefore, we have to apply all our faith, collect all mental and physical strength in order to live according to the commandments of the Holy Gospel. The Church in her Sacraments and prayers gives us the grace-filled power to live righteously. And if we sin in something (which is not marvelous), let us remember the word of Christ that He came to save sinners. Let us humble ourselves, repent, take communion and start living the gospel again. And this is how not only the weak-willed and those of little faith have to live, but also such giants of faith and Spirit as the Apostle Paul, who said to himself: “I start all the days,” that is, every day I have to start all over again. And on this path of repentance, God Himself comforts the ascetics of the faith, as He promised: “Come to Me, all who are toiling and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). In the meantime, “save your souls by your patience” (Luke 21, 19). But this is on paper. In life, everything is much more complicated. A lot depends on your character, on your wisdom in knowing the soul of your neighbor, on possible leadership in the family (in our time, more often a woman is in charge, however, the men themselves are to blame for this, they do not intend to somehow change their spouse: it is too troublesome. to remain silent, accepting with regret the fact of the wife's leadership, or - to divorce. There is no church commandment for us now: "Let the wife fear her husband" and that the Family is the Small Church, in a sense it is a mystery. And the head of this Small Church and the King is for all family members - a husband! "Patience and work will grind everything" - you need to treat the spiritual level of your loved ones with patience and understanding, you need to show your fear of God by your example (for you only need to fear God), you need to be patient and humble, but firmly stick to your own free choice: to serve God A very difficult question No prophet is accepted in his own country (Lk. 4:24), the Lord said. Confirmation of this is found in our reality. You need to know you personally and all members of your family in order to advise you anything. Life is such a difficult thing if there is no God in the soul. Yes, and our atheistic past, its "dogmas", with such a heavy burden lie on our imperfect souls. Think: the lessons of Orthodoxy have not yet been introduced in schools. Funny, if not wild. I often hear from middle-aged and older people: "We were taught this way ..." And I don't even want to talk about modern youth ... West, West, West ... In all difficult circumstances, we must mentally turn to God. If we do not want this and fall into despair, then we ourselves are to blame, and not the circumstances and God who did not send them, because everyone who humbles himself before the providence of God and with a childish hope will ask God for help, will receive from Him heartfelt peace. Sorry for the confused answer. Peace be upon you and God's blessing.

- How can a Christian be saved in the modern world?

- Very simply: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13: 8). At every place, at all times, we must try to live according to His commandments. If you made a mistake, you need to immediately repent before God, not waiting for you to go to confession. Moreover, in confession you can forget that you have done wrong. One must repent right there and not think that this is nonsense or a trifle, do not postpone it for later. After all, people often die quickly and suddenly. One friend had an abscess, then blood poisoning, and he died. It seems that such nonsense is an abscess, but no, not like that.

And the worst sin is the one that we commit knowingly. Therefore, life in the modern world should proceed in the same way as always: at every moment of time we must live according to the Gospel, according to Christ, otherwise we should not be called a Christian, we should not deceive ourselves.

- Should we treat television as a satanic work?

- It's not about TV, but who watches TV. Anything can be broadcast on TV. If the Apostle Paul had now resurrected and he had been offered to appear on television, he would have agreed. And we would treat TV well. Television is only a natural link in the process of scientific and technological development. It is not necessary to talk about the TV, but about the person. Why watch rubbish? Even a cow, when she sees a cloud of dust flying towards her, closes her eyes. And a person, the more dirty things are shown on the screen, the wider they open them.

- I am a hieromonk, I serve in a parish church, would you like to go to a monastery again or because of difficulties stay in the world?

- This question is not for me. How can a man in a tie give advice to spiritual people? The matter is very individual and personal. I know that it is very difficult to find a good spiritual leader now. Earlier, monasteries arose around a person. Here, the Monk Sergius was, and they came to him, or went to others. To Nil Stolobensky, Nil Sorsky ... We came to a holy man, living next to whom meant being edified by his way of life, by his word and deed. Now the situation has changed, we are restoring monastery buildings, but monasteries are not walls, temples and cassocks. Monasteries are true spiritual life, separated from the bustle of the world. Athos is closed to women, because for male monasteries this is the first monastic rule. And find today at least one monastery in Russia where this rule is fulfilled?

The Council of Bishops in 2000 decreed that only married priests or elderly monks should be sent to convents. And yet monks who are under thirty are sent to take care of them. This destroys the Church. Church life is not measured by the number of monasteries and churches. Measured by quantity, so Catholics are a hundred times more spiritual than we are. It must be measured by the spiritual order of life. Where this is, I do not know. But if there is no monasticism, that is, a way of life that has protected itself from the world, then there will be no Church. Remember that the Roman Church was the foremost and most revered of the Orthodox Churches, but became Catholic. The name will not save, the right life will save, but conditions are needed for it; where they are - see for yourself.

- I read that the word "accursed" cannot be repeated often in prayer and thus slander your soul, if you do not feel the sin of vanity behind you, for "take care and love your soul." Explain.

- The word "accursed" is not often found in prayers, and even if it does occur, it is in the sense of realizing one's sinfulness, one's unworthiness, one's curse. There is nothing bad in this. This word precisely expresses what is in each of us. And God forbid that we feel it. Moreover, those who do not feel this in themselves cannot pray properly. If I am not accursed, if I am the best in the world, then what kind of supplication are we talking about? Then you can conduct a dialogue with the Lord called "prayer".

I saw something like this in a Protestant church, when a parishioner sits cross-legged, it seems that now he will light a cigarette, for him prayer is "a dialogue with God." And, unfortunately, this terrible idea sometimes slips into our "theological" writings.

You need to understand the meaning of the word and feel that you are really cursed before God. If I cannot spend a single day as a human being, then who am I? We have one sin, one curse. So there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of this word.

Now about the feeling of vanity and self-talk. Show me a man in whom there is no vanity, I would kiss his shoe. I am not vain as long as I sleep, and in my sleep I can still see something. And so for the slightest reason already nose up. It is not for nothing that John Climacus has magnificent words that only an equal angular one can endure human praise without harm to himself1. The extent to which we are conceited, the extent to which we are offended and irritated, and we suffer. Because it is one and the same property of our soul. Do not mix different things: one thing is the illness of my soul called "vanity" and, on the other hand, sin itself is an act of vanity. Right now, for example, I am not conceited, because I have no time, I am thinking about the question of vanity, but it sits in me! A minute later, they gave me praise and that's all - melted with delight. Sin and sickness are two different things: sin is a manifestation of sickness, and if this manifestation is not present in me at the moment, this does not mean that there is no vanity in me. I must say, to my great regret, that all the passions in each of us are, all to one, even those about which we cannot even think about, which, if we are told about them, we will indignantly reject. Do not forget the example of the Apostle Peter, who was excited: "Lord, I will die with You!", But how he acted in life, from whom he denied! (Matthew 26, 33)

Maybe I don’t remember when I was vaulted, but I know perfectly well that I have vanity, and therefore I always have to repent while there is time.

- Say something about silence in the world.

- Yes, you already know. We need to talk less and pray more. And if a person feels even a little what prayer is, he will be drawn to it, and then he will even run away from empty conversations. But for this you have to feel, and in order to feel, you have to exercise. Silence has different levels: there is the silence of the tongue, and there is the silence of the mind. If we learn to be silent with our mind, then we will not talk with our tongue, that is, we will not allow our thoughts to roam all over the world and consider hippos, kangaroos and other all kinds of creatures. Then, you see, we will learn to remain silent.

- In the Russian Orthodox Church there is a tradition of obligatory confession before communion. There is no such tradition in the Greek Church. What is to be done in our practice, when we do not have confession, but "an account of sins", when the priest hurries the confessor, because the queue is long, but internal sins remain with you?

- The sacraments of communion and penance are two different sacraments. They are not directly related to each other. But it is a great blessing that this connection, the inseparability of these two sacraments, is still preserved in the Russian Church. If only to stop this in our people, then I do not know what will begin then. People will approach the sacrament forgetting what reverence is. In preparation for the sacrament, parishioners observe a one-day fast. Some impose a longer fast, but, by the way, I am against this for the laity: people work, and it is not easy for them to take down one day of preparation as it is for us the entire Great Lent. A person prepares for confession, repents and thinks: "I see that I will be given two minutes. But I do not repent to the priest, but to God. Lord, accept my repentance! I am sinful in this and that ..." repent before God internally as if He hears you, and say directly: "Lord, forgive me for this and that ..." this will be enough. A priest is not a confessor. I have the opportunity to open my soul to the confessor, but it will take more time. Confession is something different, and therefore one must repent here. In the same line, while waiting, you need to repent before God with all your heart.

And, thank God, we still have the practice of the inseparability of confession and communion! I observed in the West, in Cyprus: Orthodox people meet - they have not seen each other for a long time, therefore they sit until one o'clock, until two in the morning, with wine and nuts, there is a completely worldly conversation. In the morning, you look at the liturgy - these people go to communion. Where there is no reverence, there is no faith, there will be no benefit, only the danger of communion to the detriment. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul: "He who eats or drinks unworthily, eats judgment on himself. That is why many of you are sick" (1 Cor. 11:29) 2 ... And what? Further, in Church Slavonic, "they sleep contentedly," that is, literally, "die."

That is, a dishonest approach to the sacrament can lead to death. Therefore, it is good that confession is obligatory for us before communion.

- Greek monks smoke and they do not consider it a sin, but for our monks it is a sin to drink tea. Why is this so?

- Let's turn to the concept of sin again. Anything that harms the body, soul or spirit of a person is considered a sin in Christianity. It is a sin to overeat, because it harms the body. It is a sin to be angry, even doctors will say that it is harmful. So the smoke does not bring any benefit to a person, it does harm, therefore, it is a sin. We can only regret that smoking is allowed in Greece - the process of secularization is underway. Soon the concept of sin will disappear, and anything will be considered a virtue.

- In the encyclopedic dictionary of modern Russian civilization about Vladyka John (Snychev) it is said that his activities contributed to the growth of the Orthodox movement. How do you assess the activities of Vladyka John? Who is the confessor and preacher of Russia now?

- We Russians do not know the measure of anything. Dostoevsky was right when he spoke about Russian: "The man is too broad, I would narrow him down." Well, if we undertake to praise - make way for the earth, we begin to scold - we will grind into powder. As for the Vladyka's admirers, well, you love him and respect him, but know when to stop, otherwise he has already become the confessor of Russia, is it really possible? I knew him, he was, indeed, a very pleasant person, a sincere Christian, but very low in his intellectual abilities. He wrote the book "The Autocracy of the Spirit", where he turned the whole story, where Ivan the Terrible with his oprichnina was placed among the saints, which is incomprehensible. A certain group of people use his name as a battering ram to oppose the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, publish a newspaper in huge print runs, send it out free of charge everywhere. And this despite the fact that there is an undeclared, but real war against Russia. They really need to split the Russian Church, they need a civil war, all their forces are thrown into this.

There was a newspaper called "Russian Thought". In fact, there was nothing Russian there, the newspaper was Jewish. One correspondent named Shtarkman directly wrote that Russia poses the greatest threat to the security of the United States, therefore the main task is to introduce non-Russian philosophies and religions in Russia, including Catholicism as one of the powerful international forces.

Not everything is said here. Movements that hide behind the name of one metropolitan, then another confessor, must be judged by their fruits. They bring confusion and do not give anything good to the human soul. And I advise you not to succumb to their advertising: "Confessor of Russia", and even with a capital letter.

Let me give you an example. In the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where the relics of one of the greatest saints of the Russian Church, the Monk Sergius, are located, not a single icon has streamed myrrh or streamed myrrh, and somewhere in apartments and churches hundreds and thousands of icons are streaming myrrh. Go there and you yourself will pacify. Why? I advise you to think about it.

- What is spiritual sensuality and how to distinguish between spiritual and emotional affection?

- Here the person is already full and still looking for something else to eat. At the feasts of Petronius4, for example, two nightingale tongues were served as a dessert on small golden plates. I don’t know what they felt, but gourmets were of the highest category then, they were looking for special pleasures. And what is looking for someone who has fallen into a whirlpool, into the abyss? He shouts: "Save!" Hieromartyr Peter Damascene remarked: "The first sign of the beginning health of the soul is the vision of one's sins, countless as the sand of the sea."

You have probably noticed that you cannot touch us from any side: you cannot scold us - we are offended; you cannot praise - we begin to pride ourselves; it is impossible for someone to feel good - we begin to envy; you can't sit down at the table with tasty food - we overeat. You cannot approach a person from either side, everywhere he is in boils, and nevertheless, he feels exactly according to Gorky: "A man - it sounds proudly."

Orthodoxy speaks of diseases that sit in a person from all sides. And the first sign of incipient health is the ability to see these abscesses. If I see it, I will begin to be treated, but until I see it, I will say to others: "You will be treated yourself." In illness, a person does not seek spiritual consolation, he seeks healing, and so it is happy when at least a sore on his nose has passed. Healing also brings him pleasure: everyone who was seriously ill understands this perfectly.

And it is quite another matter when a jaded one is looking for somewhere else to pick with a fork, when an unhealed one is looking for spiritual pleasures. He, the poor, does not see what state of illness he is in, his soul is already decomposing, and he also needs pleasure. This is called - spiritual voluptuousness: a person seeks "gracious experiences", "divine revelations" and "spiritual pleasures".

If Christ is the Savior, then I am the perishing one, but the perishing does he seek voluptuousness? The leper seeks not pleasure, but healing.

Therefore, the one who in the Christian life takes the path of seeking various spiritual gifts and experiences, delight in prayer, he has embarked on a vicious path. This path, by the way, was followed by the Catholic saints.

- What is the difference between spiritual joy and spiritual joy?

- When we talk about spiritual joy, we are talking about the neuropsychic aspect. And spiritual joy is grace-filled.

References

1. "Great people tend to endure grievances with courage and joy, while saints and saints tend to listen to praise without harm." [Ladder, 22:12]

2. (1 Cor. 11, 27-30) "Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty against the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let man test himself, and thus let him eat of this bread and drink from this cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not considering the Body of the Lord. For this reason many of you are weak and sick, and many die. "

3. "... Someone, a person who is even higher in heart and with a lofty mind, begins with the ideal of the Madonna, and ends with the ideal of Sodom. It is even more terrible who, with the ideal of Sodom in his soul, does not deny the ideal of the Madonna, and his heart burns from him, and verily, verily it burns, as in the youthful blameless years. No, the man is wide, too wide, I would narrow it down. The devil knows what it is even, that's what! What the mind seems to be a shame, then the heart is entirely beauty. Is beauty in Sodom? Believe that she is in Sodom for the vast majority of people, did you know this secret or not? The terrible thing is that beauty is not only a terrible, but also a mysterious thing. Here the devil fights with God, and the battlefield is the hearts of people .. . ".

Dostoevsky F.M. Brothers Karamazov. PSS in thirty volumes, v. 14., - L .: Nauka, 1976, p. one hundred.

4. The book of Petronius the Arbiter "Satyricon" (1st-2nd centuries AD) Satiricon or satirarum is an ancient satirical novel. The main episode of the surviving part of the novel is a feast at Trimalchio, a rich tyrant from freedmen who does not know what new luxury and eccentricity to invent for his boundless arrogance and pleasure. Here we unfold before us pictures of washing in a bath, home and dining, vulgar amusements, recitation of poetic impromptu, stupidity and vulgarity of behavior of the owner, his wife covered with gold and jewelry, but stingy to the meanness of his wife, unusually rude marital bickering in the presence of guests.

5 Venerable Peter Damascene. Creations. Book one. A necessary and very useful indication of the seven bodily deeds.

Alexey Osipov, professor of the Moscow Theological Academy
Transcript of A.I. Osipov CC "Russian Week"
Russian Week online magazine - 15.11.2007.

Greetings, dear brothers and sisters, the Orthodox radio station Radonezh is on the air. Today, the founder and confessor of the Vvedensky women's monastery in the city of Ivanovo, Archimandrite Ambrose Yurasov, answers your questions. The program is being hosted by Hierodeacon Eleazar Titov. You can ask your questions by phone or send them via SMS.

Father, bless.

God bless.

Now, before the broadcast, we listened to the chants of the Greek church, and they inspired memories of Athos. We were on Athos, we saw how the fathers pray there. And so the topic of today's show was born. Monks, especially on Mount Athos, try to restrain their feelings, do not say too much, do not look too much. I am not even talking about coarse passions.

Why are they doing this? Because it is necessary for salvation. An absent-minded person cannot pray with concentration. A person overwhelmed by many conversations also cannot pray with concentration. He will be constantly confused by thoughts and any painting of different images. But an Orthodox person living in the world also needs to be saved. And the conditions for him are the same. And prayer is needed not scattered.

How to achieve in the world what monks achieve in monasteries? Is this even possible?

The Optina elders say that if you live in the world, it is more difficult to be saved. Although in the sacrament of baptism we made a promise to God to follow His will in everything, and the monks only in one thing: they do not marry. Everyone has responsibilities: both monks and worldly people. Of course, if someone married, then it is said that the wife is saved through childbearing if she abides in faith and love. This is how the Optina elders say: here, imagine the abyss that everyone has to cross. And in this abyss there are such monsters as crocodiles. And the tablet is a perch. We must walk along this perch.

Or maybe your head is spinning, and balance can be lost. It's hard to go. But next to it, two or three steps away, there is a bridge. The bridge is easier to pass. So to walk along the bridge is a monastery life. But to walk on a die, on a perch - this is worldly life. But in order to pass and be saved, a person must always remember: everything that we do, say, think does not disappear.

All this is imprinted in eternity for all time. If a person in this life has accustomed himself to live according to the Gospel, according to the teachings of the holy fathers, and has accustomed himself from childhood, this is good. He will learn to live right. Because, passing into that world, all the baggage: goodness, and prayers, and morality - he will take all this with him. And for this he will have a great reward: a new heaven, a new earth.

The person who does not live according to the Gospel, does not live according to conscience, drowns in vices and passions, lives in pride, he has no sense of repentance. And repentance is correction. And in his life he did a lot of all bad things, all this goes with him to that world. And for this he will not receive a reward. And he will receive what he acquired. That is, it all goes with him.

Therefore, since the Lord gave us time for repentance, for correction, we must control every word. We must accustom ourselves to everything good, kind. You can train yourself never to be irritated, not to be indignant, not to shout, not to make noise, not to raise your voice. You can learn to never cheat. Only tell the truth. You can train yourself not to talk a lot. Only succinctly, briefly, precisely.

And it happens how? If my husband said something, maybe a little bit with anger, then we try not to add water, but gasoline. To keep the flame higher. And we can arrange such a scandal! And the whole family is going into the blast ourselves. And then they ask: why are our children so ill-mannered? Because we ourselves are ill-mannered. Once we said that it is not necessary to force the child to eat. Let your child get hungry. When he gets hungry, he will eat many times more and be healthier. And then let's go for dad, for mom, for grandmother. He doesn't want to, so let's force-feed him.

It is not right. How wrong it is if a husband or daughter is already adults, to force them to go to church to receive communion. Come on, go to the church to commune. Can not be so. Only believers take communion. They receive Christ into themselves. If, for example, a daughter or a husband felt that they needed to repent, then there is an opportunity. Let him go and repent. But you can remind yourself that you need to repent. It will be good and easy for you. And so the demons will tighten. Now he has not repented, then he has not repented. And everything below, below, below. And then the soul is already empty, evil spirits enter it, and then evil comes out of us. When the Holy Spirit lives in a person, there is no evil in this person. He tries to spread this world around him, and all people become happy, and when he throws tantrums, screams and noise, he is all turned on and everyone around is turned on. And all this is imprinted in eternity for all time. And we are sick at heart.

Father, I would like to distract myself a little. They remembered about Athos. Probably, listeners will be interested to hear your experience about Athos. I know, although you were not an inhabitant of the Holy Mountain, but you even wrote a petition at one time to go to Athos, to take monasticism there. But your children are monks there now. For 25 years already.

For more than 25 years your children have been monks on Mount Athos. You also met with Elder Paisius. Please tell our radio listeners about Athos, seen with your eyes. -Before going to Athos, I read a lot about Athos, studying it. And when I graduated from the seminary, I wrote a petition to the rector, already being a hieromonk: I want to go to Athos. And at this time there was a recruitment. He read the petition, looked at me and said: Father Ambrose, you will be needed here too. I say: sir, bless. Well, as we say: Lord, your holy will be done both in heaven and on earth.

So, God's will is like this. And all the same, the Lord did not leave. Three times I visited the holy Mount Athos. Although I myself did not get there, one person came to me, I baptized him, he became Orthodox and went to the Holy Mountain, and now he is a big boss there.

Spiritual?

Spiritual, in the Synod. All twenty monasteries. Each monastery has its own person.

Representative….

Representative. Well, when did we go? We met two years ago and traveled around Mount Athos. Well, we must thank God. Athos is the lot of the Mother of God, the Holy Mountain. And since there are seventeen Greek monasteries, then, of course, God's attitude towards our monastery is very pleasant. It's not at home, it's abroad! The Lord speaks especially to our monks, has mercy on them and saves them.

Well, if God determined me to be in Russia, then thank God. As mothers say: Father, come, tomorrow we will congratulate you on your forty-fifth birthday. Of course, in the life that I lived, I lived dearly, there were fewer sins, and as soon as the people began to confess, there was a flood of people, a flood of sorrows and everyone was in trouble. Because the dark forces pay for each person, take interest. So the will of God is like that. Such a path for each person must be carried, this is a punishment.

Well, I would like to say that I try not to go beyond, we have a prayer book for clergy. What is said there is from the experience of the spiritual fathers. We ask if a person goes to church. We say that if you rarely go to church, then there are apostolic rules. Those who have not been to church for three Sundays are excommunicated. It's like being fired from work. Those who do not observe fasting are also excommunicated on Wednesday and Friday. That is, we give direction.

And of course, it can be very interesting. They come and let one woman down. She is forty-seven years old, she is so thin, and she cannot put on a cross. I say why? -And I have some men inside. They do not give me rest day or night. And I cannot wear a cross. Well, then I began to ask: where do you live, with whom do you live, do you work? It turned out that she had been selling her body for five years. I ask: how many were there? she says: and I don’t know how much. But for me, the most interesting thing was this. When she repented of everything, I read a prayer of permissiveness and a prayer for any weakness, she raised her head from the Gospel and clap her eyes, looking around. I say: what are you? How do you feel? And she says: I was asleep. And now I woke up.

Asks: where am I? I say: in the temple. You have confessed. Yes? What is this talking about? The fact that a person lived in passions. It was one life. And now the man is awake. And it turns out that there is another life. In the same way, when death comes, a person wakes up again in another life. Because death is always near us, it does not go far.

That is why the Lord said: in what I find, in that I will judge. We must always be ready. Because our whole life will be imprinted in eternity. And of course, if a person repented, gave God a promise not to do this anymore, the Lord forgives, has mercy, but so that we do not return to this vomit again, as it is said in the Holy Scriptures, as demons return. Likewise, we must not return to sins.

Dear brothers and sisters, I would like to remind you that you can ask your questions on the live broadcast phone, or send them via SMS. Father, we have received the first question.

Please speak, we are listening.

Hello.

Hello.

Christ is Risen.

Indeed he is risen.

I have a question for Father. Could you somehow resolve such a doubt. The spouses, having been married for twenty years, live separately. That is, the wife decided that she and the children would live on her own, and that her husband would also live on his own. But, of course, they do not forget to come for money to support the children. Is this a normal family arrangement? Or is it some kind of flaw, or what is it?

Save me, God.

They weren't married?

Unknown. They just lived together for twenty years, have children, but the wife does not want her husband to live with them, but wants him to pay child support. Is it okay?

It will be normal only when two people, husband and wife, are married, married and live in Christ. It is one flesh. They should be together. And since people do not go to church, they do not observe fasting, do not pray, how does it work? If a person does not eat food, does not drink water, his body weakens, it can die.

Likewise, our soul requires food. If we don’t go to church, we don’t read the Gospel, we don’t honor the holy fathers, we don’t pray, and this is all food for the soul, then a person spiritually dies and falls away from the church. And then they fall away from God and fall away from each other. Because only love, the love of Christ, the gospel spirit can unite two people. If, for example, a building is being built, and the bricks are stacked without mortar, then, no matter how much they stack, it will still fall apart.

So it is in family life. If two people, husband and wife, do not have communion with God, and God is love, then souls become empty and all this falls apart. And then we are looking for who is to blame? Is this normal or abnormal? There is no life without God. Because God is the source of life, the source of love. If there is no communion with Him, then there will be no communion with each other.

Okay, father, let's get back to our main topic. How can a person be saved in the world. Well, I’m on my own, maybe I’ll tell you. Before the seminary, I lived in the world for 27 years and worked. But kind people told me, I went to church since childhood. We lived poorly, there was no Gospel. But there was faith. I did not pay attention to who how he lives. They taught me to smoke, drink, so God saved me. Here they will give a coal from the stove: light it, I will take the fire, I give it to them, they pull, pull. Then they tell me: drag on. I say: drag yourself on.

So God saved. I didn't even keep the smoke in my mouth. True, they taught me to drink. We were young, after all. We went to the collective farm to harvest. We took two or three string bags of vodka, a lot of bottles. And we go on the train, there is half a day to go. They pour me a glass, I drank. The second is poured. And I don’t drink the second time. I only drink once. A glass or a glass. Yes, drink, they say, it will be more fun. Yes, I'm already having fun, -I tell them. I will not drink. And they did not offer me any more, and I did not buy anything. And in this way the Lord kept me safe.

I read the Jesus Prayer, "Mother of God, Virgin, rejoice." How many prayers I knew, I read everything. Even in the army for three years, even under a blanket, I read "Our Father" and "Theotokos, Virgin, rejoice." Even when I came to Moscow for the first time, I did not look at the mass of people, I just read the Jesus Prayer, looked at my feet. It turns out it is possible, everything depends on us. I tried not to look around, because it was all empty for me.

And so until today I live a monastery life. He lived in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra for ten years, in the Pochaev Lavra for five years, and here already in the Ivanovo region and in Ivanovo - a total of thirty years in total. It turns out forty-five years. And this is all the grace of God.

And it is still unknown how he could have lived these forty-five years before God. Do not know.

Father, we were asked this question. I have no family, no husband, no child. How to deal with it?

Well, if a person in his life aspired, well, let's say, to get married, and such an opportunity was not presented to him, the glory of God is for everything. And if a person aspired to a monastery and could not get there, thank God for everything. It means that he has such a path. Because there are no big and small cases for little things. Everywhere is God's craft. You just need to learn to thank God for everything. It will be very good.

Father, here again to our main topic, about salvation in the world. Some people, as you said, in the world prayed the Jesus prayer. And other people, I have heard, say this: this unceasing prayer is only for monks. Worldly people do not need it. They simply cannot afford it in the world. So under the power or not under the power?

The Monk Seraphim of Sarov addressed the Orthodox workers, who read the prayer to Jesus before lunch, and after dinner they read "Theotokos, save us." We read all day, from morning to evening. And so he told them that they should not forget the "Symbol of Faith", "Our Father" should be read, "Theotokos, Virgin, rejoice." And now it is usually like this: I, they say, fulfill the Seraphim rule, "Symbol of Faith", "Theotokos" - and go to bed.

They used to read the Jesus prayer, especially in the early days of Christianity, although the prayer was written differently. They read:

“Lord Jesus Christ,

Holy Trinity and Mother of God,

Have mercy on us. "

Mother of God, have mercy on us,

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Have mercy on me, a sinner.

And soon, probably, they will generally say:

Father, well, good. Here, please tell me, the fathers say that it is not a place that saves a person, but God saves. But all the same, the soul is drawn to Athos. If someone wants to be a monk, the soul is drawn to Athos or Jerusalem. Is there a difference for salvation - whether to pray at home or on the Holy Mountain?

If a person comes ...

Forgive me, father, I didn’t finish. Or to be a monk in Russia, or on the holy Mount Athos? Is there a difference in this?

I think so. God is in every place, and whom God will determine where. It is very beneficial for beginners to devote themselves to holy places. Stay there, see how people live there. I also did not go anywhere, starting my monastic life. For twenty years I began to travel to the Pochaev Lavra. It was being born again for me. And he was in Kiev and Vilnius. Where were some monasteries. I was in Estonia. And that strengthened me.

Well, is there a difference between being a monk in Russia or being a monk on Mount Athos? Does the place itself affect?

Yes, the place does. Holy Mount Athos contains Orthodoxy. There is a service every day, and at night. It makes itself break. And then get used to it in three or four years to pray at night.

Yes, as one monk on Mount Athos told us that it was difficult to get used to for the first three years, and then when he entered this rhythm of monastic life, it became easy and gracious. We have another call.

Speak, we are listening to you.

Hello! Servant of God Eugene.

Hello.

Here is the question: I was in a monastery for confession, the priest imposed a penance: read the canon of repentance to Christ for forty days. But I ignored, did not read, and again committed the same sins. And now, before going to confession again, is it necessary to fulfill what I was told? Or should I go to confess again?

Well, it can be said: the cat cried, not penance.

Well, nevertheless, it is necessary to fulfill it?

It is imperative to do it.

Necessarily. Well, you actually have to read the canon of repentance every day, both to the Mother of God and to the guardian angel. Then the Lord, the Mother of God and the guardian angel will especially keep this person. And plus to this and the akathist is also the Mother of God and the Savior. Gospel, two letters ...

Bows.

Fifty fans.

But should this person first complete the penance for forty days, and only then go to confession?

No, you have to go and tell about your sins.

Whatever ...

Whatever. I must say that I didn’t do it, father, forgive me, but I will do it.

Father, they asked again a question about Father David. How to pray for him?

As for everyone.

But he was abbot. He passed away. The deceased abbot David.

We also have one call. We are listening to you, speak.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

I would like to ask a question about the Apostle Paul, his letter to Timothy. Here he writes in the 2nd chapter, beginning with the 12th verse: a ... I do not allow either to rule over my husband, but to be in silence. And first Adam was created, and then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the wife, being deceived, committed the crime. But she will be forgiven if she abides in faith and love and the holiness of chastity. So, the question is: what does it mean: if he abides in faith, and love, and the holiness of chastity? What is the sanctity of chastity?

When a person is a believer, he confesses, cleanses his soul from his sins. And chastity is when the mind is whole and the body is whole. It is considered that a person is chaste. And since you are married, you can behave chastely in marriage. Do everything before God. Do not allow any liberties, no perversion. This is how it will be.

I even remember, father, how Alexei Ilyich Osipov told that he met one family, and my husband confessed to him, they had already lived to old age, he said: I have never seen my wife in the nude, although my husband is hers. And they have children ...

One of the elder's disciples asked: Father, what are the signs of the end of the world? He said: pray. There are signs and look, now you see - a man wears a shirt over his trousers. This means, godliness covers wickedness. And a belt. And the time will come when the shirt will be tucked into the trousers. This means, wickedness will cover godliness.

Now a man with a beard wears a woman's dress and is not ashamed to show himself in this form to the whole world.

Yes. It’s interesting, when the global flood was, 2262 was before the flood. This is from the first Adam to the flood. And now the righteous Noah preached for 120 years, when he was building the ark, that there would be a flood. And what is interesting, people at that time walked with jugs and treated a friend with water at the meeting. Here, we have good water, but we also have good water. And they poured it. We went with jugs. Whether they wanted it or not, it meant that they would all perish from the flood. Further in the Holy Scripture it is said: the first world was destroyed by water for its sins, and the second world was destroyed by fire.

Now people walk around with lighters, smoke cigarettes. They know that it is harmful, and if it is harmful, then it is a sin, but they still smoke. And this last world will be destroyed by fire.

We got another call. We are listening to you. Speak.

Hello, priests. Bless, Father Ambrose, to God's servant Galina

God bless you.

I have a question. I don’t know if I’ll get consolation or not. I have such a situation, a close relative committed suicide, drunkenness, so to speak. And he had a very hard life. His father was a drunkard, he treated him very cruelly. And my mother was a kind-hearted person, she helped everything. But she did not know God, because since the revolution she was brought up in an orphanage. That is, no one could tell her about it. He committed suicide in the late 90s. Well, I have been tormented all these years. You see, he was unbaptized. I have a little book: a prayer for suicide. It doesn't fit. There is a canon about the unbaptized, which also does not fit. Well, why don’t I remember him now?

Okay, mother, thank you. There are apostolic rules. It says so: if a person was clinically ill and committed suicide, he was beside himself, did not understand what he was doing. It happens. Then you can perform a funeral service and pray for him. One woman came to me and said in confession: Father, I want to commit suicide. I approached, opened the balcony on the 9th floor, grabbed the railing, looked down and thought: where am I going to fly? Only the desire appeared, I look - my legs rise, already at the level of the railing. I only say: Lord! And then my legs dropped.

Even the thought of this should not be allowed. If he was on the clinical record and deliberately committed suicide, then the church does not serve the funeral service and does not pray. And since your person was also not baptized yet….

And drunk ...

And drunk ... .. But you have to pray. They still need our prayers as much as possible. Give alms, especially near the temple to the poor — those who can pray for it. And there further will be provided by the will of God. You can, I think, read the Gospel at home. On the chapters, commemorate him with repentance. You can read the Psalter at home and commemorate it in Kathisma. If it is terribly bad, then you need to put it aside. But you still need to pray as much as possible.

Another question was asked. We have a difficult situation. The nephew is two and a half years old. His father was intensely fond of yoga and on Halloween, a Western holiday, demonic - when everyone dresses up in clothes, for example, demons, witches and other unclean things - on this day he committed suicide. Now we notice that the child seems to be living a double life. Either he is gentle and affectionate, then it is as if a demon is in him, and he becomes aggressive and cruel. Can a baby be taken to read reports? Or is there something else you can do?

First, parents should repent of all sins. And to all relatives. And since this is a baby, he has no heavy sins, then commune him more often, so that all uncleanness will come out of him.

I would also like to know if he is baptized or not? Or maybe not baptized.

Well, of course, if you asked such a question, it means that he is baptized. Here I have a friend of one girl, somewhere she is already thirty years old. And often she has hysterics, despondency, despair. And when they tried to find out why all this is happening and why. I told her: have you gone through the war? You have seven children, and your husband was killed? You have everything - shelter, food, a temple, and a priest. Well, everything is there. Well, what are you missing?

She replied: And I do not have enough inner peace. Why is it missing? It turns out that from childhood, when she was little, her parents fulfilled all her whims. She asks for something, and begins to fall, if she is not given it, screaming, crying, and so on, until she gets hers. And she, therefore, achieved her goal, and now she has it all coming out sideways. Suddenly something is wrong - immediately hysterical.

Father, let's recall the live broadcast phone. You can ask your questions by phone live, or send them by SMS.

Father, please tell me how to find a spiritual father? Servant of God Boris.

Our source is God. Everyone turns to him, he helps everyone. If we asked, and suddenly not immediately, but to someone at once, the Lord will send a spiritual father.

The main thing is not to forget to thank later. And then very often people, having received a blessing from God, immediately forget that they need to thank.

For example, in the Protestant Church they say: why turn to the saints? One mediator between God and man is Christ. Why do you need saints? And here is the secret here. God is the source of life. All the saints are around God. They all live in God. If we turn, for example, to St. Nicholas, then this prayer goes to God. And all the saints perceive God. So there are no intermediaries here. I say so. And when I was writing my candidate's work, for example, an apartment, my acquaintances lived behind the wall. I call them. I don’t get to them right away.

I get to the telephone exchange, where the block is triggered and then the call rings. There is a central block where the signal is received. So it is here. The center is God, and in God all the saints live. All saints have one God. God of Israel.

Father, well, really, how to find a spiritual father? Can I say this: when I go to church, and what kind of father I meet, he will be my spiritual father? We know there have been such examples. And here is your personal example too.

Yes, it was like that for me too. Well, you still have to look for a spiritual father in this way: if a person lives in some area, then the church should be in that area, and the priest too. This is his spiritual father. Either you live somewhere in the village, or there is one church in the city. And that priest is your spiritual father.

Well, what if, for example, he does not suit for some reason?

Well, if it doesn't, then you have to come to some monastery and find some spiritual father there. Well, for example, Moscow. I went to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, took a closer look at whom I could trust and confess.

By the way, I heard that the late Father David, whom they remembered today, was once asked by a man: Father, how to find a spiritual father? And he answered him: how would you look for a wife for yourself? Wouldn't any suit you? Did you look closely? Look for a spiritual father in the same way. That is, for this you need to make some kind of independent effort. That is, to study, suitable - he is not suitable as a spiritual father.

The mistake is this: we touched on this topic a little yesterday. After all, everyone is looking at the priest. Does he smoke? Doesn't she swear? Doesn't he drink? If he somehow behaved inappropriately, maybe he scolded someone, said: get out of here, you are not ready. So at once such an insult, I will not go to church, as if there is no God. I gave an example like this. The man is ill, he calls an ambulance. He doesn't ask the doctor: do you smoke? Do you swear by the mat? Are you drinking? It doesn't interest him. He is only interested in giving him first aid.

So a person, when spiritually sick, he must find a priest, well, at least in the place where he lives. And he no longer repents to the priest, but in the presence of the priest he repents to God. And when you have sincerely repented, and you always have to repent like the last time, the time will come when it will really be the last time. He repented, was reconciled with God, the priest read a prayer, the Lord forgave sins, if he did not hide sins from Him. The most important thing is to be reconciled with God.

Father, tell me. A person lives in the world, looks for a spiritual father, believes that he has found. Well, really, maybe I found it. And he tries to try on the same relationship with the spiritual father as with the novice who lives in the monastery with his spiritual father. In general, is such obedience to one's spiritual father in the world possible, which is the case for novices in a monastery?

No, just what am I talking about? Even some priests, it seems to me, make a mistake, demanding from the people of the world the same obedience that a novice should show to his spiritual father in a monastery.

When they ask me: Father, can you be my spiritual father? I say "No. Only God suits it. There were such cases. Well, well come and confess. I have never seen this man again. Especially grandmothers, women say: here, I went to Pochayevo, I have a spiritual father there. Everyone says: I also have a spiritual father. In the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, I also have a spiritual father and somewhere else there. In general, there are many spiritual fathers. And there should be only one spiritual father.

Then they come with such questions: Father, should I change my apartment or not? One priest says: change. She goes to another. Father, how can I change my apartment? No. He goes to the third, to the fourth and then looks: who said more? This is a lie.

Percentage?

This is a lie. This is not how the Orthodox do. If you prayed, asked the Lord, turned to one and wait. The Lord through him will tell you whether to change or not to change. Well, if a person lives in a monastery and has a spiritual father, then he must obey. Not as you say, I say: do not eat. How can you not eat it? I eat. I say: don't drink, but you drink. That is, what were the novices before? They were told: to plant the cabbage upside down, and they planted it that way. Or take a dry grape stick, plant it at a distance of five kilometers and water it three times every day.

Did he walk five kilometers?

Yes Yes. And for obedience she bore fruit.

Good father. But still, I will finish you off with this question. Is every priest capable of being a spiritual father?

I think not. I once met with a man who was a personal secretary, an adviser to Patriarch Tikhon. He was 92 years old. It was in Siberia. He says: you graduated from the academy, this does not mean that you are already a shepherd. You have to cook for another ten years in this pot with the people, then you will understand something. But when he said: I read the Bible, I knew it almost by heart. This is how good people lived.

Father, today we have a shorter broadcast. Therefore, we ask our radio listeners to pray for the health and salvation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Archimandrite Ambrose, Nun Anna, Archpriest Alexander and other Orthodox Christians. Father, we still have five minutes before the end of the broadcast for the traditional word of consolation.

And you say something.

Father, I'd rather listen to you.

I would like to put it this way. Living in a family, one must learn to speak calmly with each family member, not to raise his voice. Better to listen. If mom told her daughter: remove from the table. -Bless. Clean the apartment. -Bless, go for bread. -Bless. That is, do everything the first time, and there will be joy in your soul. And the more we do good to everyone, the more joy there will be in our souls.

And when we are capricious, do not obey, and we will always find time for chatting, for TV, for a computer, this is bad. We must educate ourselves here. We study here to get rid of anger, evil, irritation, resentment, indignation, screaming, noise. Because here we are learning how to live properly. All our deeds, words, thoughts - everything will be imprinted here in eternity.

And, of course, blessed, many times blessed is the person who has done a lot of good in this life. Because you need to hurry to do good. It will save us. Both words and thoughts - everything must be done only good. Then it will be good in my soul. And if we disobeyed, insulted someone, offended someone, then our souls are disgusting. Why? And the Holy Spirit left us, and dark forces filled our soul. And this makes us feel bad.

Why are we angry? Because the evil spirit lives in us. And we see the fruits. Bitter and sweet water cannot flow from one source. What the soul is filled with, it pours out of it. And so you don’t have to justify yourself that my husband is bad, so angry. Well, since there is time, I will say: you cannot go to the grandmothers, but one woman came to the grandmother and said: my husband has become so angry, terribly angry. I don’t know how to get rid of him so that he is not angry.

And that one: very simple. Here are two bottles of water on you, and as soon as you have evil against your husband, fill your mouth with water and hold it. When the water runs out, come, I'll give you some more. Well, the water ran out, two bottles. Well, how? - asks. That to her: Half has already stopped screaming. - Well, here are two more bottles for you, and it will stop altogether.

And there was also such a case that one woman came to the priest and said: my husband is so wicked, I don't know how to get rid of him. And the dog was torn from the chain at that time. He says: look, I locked the dog in the booth on the turntable. She growled there and stopped. So the Lord gave two constipations for our tongue: lips and teeth. Keep quiet and don't say anything to anyone. And you will quickly get rid of this anger.

Save the Lord, father. Dear brothers and sisters, our program has come to an end. The founder and confessor of the Vvedensky women's monastery in the city of Ivanovo, Archimandrite Ambrose Yurasov, answered your questions. The program was hosted by Hierodeacon Eleazar Titov.

We ask your holy prayers.

Monk Ephraim the Syrian

There is abstinence in the language - not to speak a lot and not to speak empty, to speak the language and not to slander, not to offend with a word, not to swear, not to idle about which one should not, not to slander one another, not to condemn a brother, not to reveal secrets, not to do that. that is not ours. There is also abstinence for the eyes - to have vision, not to direct the gaze or not to look attentively at everything pleasant and at something indecent. There is abstinence in hearing - to have hearing and not be amazed by empty rumor. There is abstinence in irritability - to control anger and not suddenly ignite. There is abstinence from glory - to control your spirit, not to desire glory, not to seek glory, not to be exalted, not to seek honor and not to be puffed up, not to dream of praise. There is abstinence in thoughts - to cast down thoughts with the fear of God, not to lean towards seductive and inflamed thoughts, not to delight in them. There is abstinence in food - to control oneself and not to look for food in the abundance of expensive dishes offered, not to eat at the wrong time, not to indulge in the spirit of the womb of pleasure, not to be excited by greed for good food and not to desire one or the other food. There is abstinence in drinking - to control oneself ... and not to drink wine unnecessarily, not to seek out various drinks, not to chase after pleasure - to drink skillfully prepared mixtures, not to consume excessively not only wine, but, if possible, water. There is abstinence in desire and in vicious voluptuousness - to possess feeling, not to indulge in accidentally aroused desires, not to bow to thoughts that inspire voluptuousness, not to delight in what subsequently arouses hatred towards oneself, not to fulfill the will of the flesh, but to curb the passions with the fear of God. For he is truly abstinent, who longs for heavenly goods and, striving towards them with the mind, turns away from carnal lust, abhors carnality. He who does not like to look at women's faces, is not captivated by bodily appearance, is not attracted by beauties, does not delight in pleasing to smell, does not catch words of flattery, does not stay with women, especially immodest ones, does not last conversations with wives.

The reward for abstinence is great, and there is no limit to its greatness. Therefore, truly blessed is he who has actually acquired abstinence.

Blessed are the temperate, because heavenly joys await them.

Let us be hardworking, but in ordinary affairs no more than in the work of God.

For the abstinence with which you have exhausted yourself here, your beauty will shine in the bridal chamber.
Saint Basil the Great

Works convict us when in sorrow we rather resort to everything else, but not to God. Does your child hurt? You are looking for blank inscriptions in the face or hanging on the neck of a baby, or, finally, you go to the doctor for medicine, neglecting the One who can save. In general, in every need, you expose yourself that in words you call God a refuge, but in practice you seek help from the useless and vain. But for the righteous, the true help is God.

Do not become addicted to wealth with your earthly soul, but take advantage of it, do not love it excessively, and as one of the benefits do not marvel at it, but use it in service as a tool.

One should not worry about the abundance of what is necessary for life and make an effort about satiety and splendor; but one must be clean from all kind of covetousness and panache.

Every day and hour to be awake and, with perfect delight in God, be ready, knowing that the Lord will come at an hour in which he does not expect.

What is characteristic of a Christian? To cleanse oneself from all defilement of the flesh and spirit by the Blood of Christ, to create holiness in the fear of God and the love of Christ.

Obedience to the gospel will require accountability from all people, whether they are monks or married.

A Christian should not speak ill of anyone, not slander, or even listen to slander with pleasure at all, not quickly believe what they say to whom, not surrender to the power of irritability, not submit to a wish, not be angry with a neighbor in vain, not keep who does not enjoy, does not repay evil for evil.

Never to justify oneself, to recognize oneself as sinful more than all before God and before people, to admonish the outraged, to console the faint-hearted, to serve the sick, to take care of hospitality and brotherly love.

To move away from people who are worthless, carnal and vain, to think more and speak less, not to be impudent in speech, not to allow excess in conversations, not to be ridiculous, but to adorn ourselves with modesty, to lower his gaze down, and to uplift his soul; not to respond to contradictions with contradictions, to be humble, to work with your own hands; always remember the latter, with the hope of rejoicing, enduring sorrows, praying incessantly, giving thanks for everything; to be humble in front of everyone, to hate arrogance, to be sober and to guard the heart from evil thoughts, through the fulfillment of the commandments to collect treasures in heaven; to make oneself a test in daily thoughts and actions, not to go into everyday worries and unnecessary conversations, not to be curious about the life of careless people, but to compete only with the lives of the holy fathers; rejoice, not envy those who succeed in virtue; to sympathize with the afflicted, to weep with them and to mourn greatly for them, but not to accuse them, not to reproach him who turns away from sin.

Is the day gone? Give thanks to the One who gave us the sun for the administration of daily affairs and who gave fire to illuminate the night and serve for other everyday necessities.

You put on a tunic - thank the One who gave it; put on a cloak - deepen your love for God, who has given us covers suitable for winter and summer and preserving our life.

Whether we receive it sooner or slower, let us be grateful to the Lord, because everything that the Lord does, everything is building for our salvation, only let us not stop petitions out of cowardice.

A Christian must have a mindset worthy of the heavenly calling and live worthy of the gospel of Christ.

A Christian should not be scattered or distracted by anything from the remembrance of God, of His will and judgments.
Saint Gregory the Theologian

Christians live down, but above everything else; among people, but above all human; connected but free; shy, but unstoppable; have nothing in the world, but have everything premium; they live an extraordinary life and despise one, but care about the other; through mortification, demons are mortal; through renunciation of the creature they are united with God; do not know passionate love, but burn with divine love, passionless; their legacy is the Source of Light ...

If you call yourself a Christian in the sense that you confess Christ as God, then prove your confessions by deeds.

Saint John Chrysostom

For the sinner there is no greater benefit than always having in mind and before his eyes his sins and as often as possible to lament and test himself. Nothing more likely than this placates the wrath of God - neither fasts, nor vigils, nor anything else of that kind.

In order for us to be lovable to God, we will develop spiritual beauty, daily washing away all impurity by reading the Scriptures, prayers, alms, and like-mindedness with each other.

One who wants to please God and be virtuous and pure, it is absolutely necessary to lead a life not calm, pleasant and carefree, but sad and full of many works and deeds.

Why does worldly sorrow produce death? Because excessive sadness usually leads to either doubt or destructive blasphemy.

If you want to become equal to the apostles, nothing stands in the way: it is enough for you to fulfill only the virtue of alms, so that you will not be poorer in anything than the apostles.

Without virginity, you can see the Kingdom of Heaven, but without charity there is no way for that.

After all, while living in a city, you can imitate the wisdom of the desert dwellers, (both married) and family can pray, and fast, and come to tenderness.

What, in fact, is the use of earthly pleasures? Today it is there, but tomorrow it is not, today it is a beautiful color, and tomorrow the dust is scattered, today the fire is blazing, and tomorrow the ash has cooled.

If you care about your salvation, prove it not with words, but with deeds ... Therefore, try to correct your life, because a non-believer will ask you: “How do I know that God has commanded what is possible? this excellent religion, you don't do anything like that. " What will you say about that? No doubt, you will begin to answer: "I will show you others who do, namely: the monks who dwell in the deserts (and the saints)." But are you not ashamed to acknowledge yourself as a Christian and refer to others, as if you cannot prove that you yourself are doing Christian deeds? The unbeliever will immediately object to you: "What is the need for me to walk in the mountains and deserts? If it is impossible to wisdom in the cities, then this can be a great accusation against the Christian life, for the realization of which it is necessary to leave the cities and flee to the deserts."

Do everything out of obedience to the Lord and how you would do everything for His sake. This is enough to prevent any temptation or confusion.

In the body, God is glorified by the one who does not indulge in fornication, who does not get fed up, who does not care about external adornment, who shows as much care for himself as is necessary only for health, who does not commit adultery, as well as the one who does not imitate herself with incense, does not paint her face with paints, which is satisfied with the look that God has endowed her with, and does not add anything artificial to that.

Saint Gregory of Nyssa

The limit of your caring for life may be the satisfaction of needs with what you have.

Rev. Isidore Pelusiot

The Lord, carried in the Mother's womb, is included in the national census and paid kinson to Caesar, legitimizing us to be obedient to the authorities, when this does not harm piety in the least. Therefore, we, too, will imitate what our God Himself taught us, who has become impoverished by economy, and we will not renounce tax under the pretext of our poverty.

He who portrayed for himself the most temperate and content with little life is glorious and great in soul.

It is necessary by all means to yield to power in that in which neither piety nor virtue is harmed, but, on the contrary, are made from the modesty of their venerators more regal and glorious.

And wealth, be it great and theca from everywhere; and dignity, be it royal; and mental gifts, adorn themselves with the gift of words, mean nothing if they are not united with trust in God. For that wealth, which God does not confer, is rotten, often uprooted and taken away from those who acquire it, like a barren and wild tree that harms the trees close to it; mental gifts that are not adorned with Divine wisdom are useful as those who do not know self-restraint. The Lord turns back the wise, advice overwhelms them (Is.44,25). Therefore, if the local is not strong for the unsteady before God, and the future is even more unreliable, then let us take hold of the sacred anchor.

He who is busy with everyday life will not imagine anything heavenly, nothing angelic.

Rev. John Cassian

We must know that we will lift up the labor of bodily abstinence so that by this fast we can reach the purely heart. However, this labor is used by us in vain, if, knowing the goal, we tirelessly lift up the labor of fasting, and the goal for which we endure so many sorrows, we cannot achieve; it is better to abstain from the forbidden food of the soul (that is, sins and vices), in which there is at first a disastrous devouring of brothers, about which it is said: "Do not love to curse, lest you be cut off."

The Kingdom of Heaven is admired not by careless, not dissolute, not spoiled, not pampered, but energetic seekers (Abba Abraham).

Remember that in the visible abstinence of the flesh there is still no fullness of perfection, it can also be had by the unfaithful, either out of necessity or out of hypocrisy (Abba Theona).

Blessed Diadochus

Abstinence is an attribute of all virtues, which is why the "striving" must "abstain from everything" (1 Cor. 9:25). As some smallest member of the human body is taken away, the whole appearance of a person becomes ugly, so when someone neglects only one virtue, he upsets all the beauty of abstinence, although he does not see it. Why should not only bodily virtues pass easily, but also those that have the power to cleanse our inner man? For what is the use of keeping the body virgin, when the soul fornicates with the demon of disobedience? Or how will he be crowned who, out of gluttony and all other lust of the forest, watches over himself, and neglects boastfulness and popularity, not tolerating even the slightest insult, while he knows that the light of truth has to balance the cup (of gratitude) with the deeds of righteousness of only those who did them in a spirit of humility?

Reverend Nilus of Sinai

Wealth, if you have - squander (needy), and if you do not have - do not collect.

The perfect goal of abstinence is not to mean malice, relaxation, and the perfect unsuitability of the body for everything, but the convenience of mental movements.

Venerable John Climacus

We will not be accused at the departure of our soul for not doing miracles, that we did not theologize, that we did not achieve the vision, but, without a doubt, we will give God an answer for not crying incessantly over sins.

The lay people asked me: "How can we, living with wives and intertwining with worldly concerns, can touch a more perfect life?" I answered them: "All the good that you can do, do: do not condemn anyone, do not hide, do not lie to anyone, do not ascend to anyone, do not have hatred for anyone, do not leave church meetings, be merciful to those in need, be merciful to anyone. do not seduce, do not touch someone else's honor and remain faithful to your wives. If you do this, you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven. "

If you overcome this mistress (womb), then every place will help you to acquire dispassion; if she then has a battle, then you will be in poverty until the grave.

When you sit at the table, bring yourself to memory a deplorable meal of worms - and you will enjoy less.

Rev. Isaac the Syrian

On all the paths that people walk in the world, they do not find peace until they come closer to hope in God and confidence in Him alone.

He who trusts in God is steadfast in heart, and his dignity is evident to all people, and his praise is evident to his enemies.

Monk Nikodim Svyatorets

When you see things that are beautiful in appearance and valued on earth, think that they are all insignificant, like some kind of rubbish, in comparison with the beauties and riches of heaven, which you will undoubtedly receive after death if you despise the whole world.

You must watch your ears. And firstly, do not listen to shameful and voluptuous speeches, songs, music, from which the soul is filled with whim and softened, the heart flares up with fleshly lust. Secondly, do not listen to noisy and ridiculous speeches, empty and fabulous stories and inventions, and if you involuntarily hear them, do not enjoy them and do not approve of them. It is indecent for Christians to find pleasure in such speeches, but only to depraved people. Thirdly, do not listen with delight to the judgments, slander and slander that they now spread about their neighbors, but either suppress them, if you can, or move away so as not to hear them. Fourthly, do not listen to empty and vain speeches in which most of the peace lovers spend their time, and do not enjoy them. Fifth, finally, they vomited in general from listening to all sorts of words and speeches that could affect you mentally, among which not the last place is taken by the flattery and praise of flatterers. But love to listen to divine words, sacred songs and psalms and everything that is honest, holy, wise and soulful; especially love to listen to reproaches and reproaches when someone showered them with them.

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

Stop thinking about how to find honor, glory, wealth in this world, how to set up a rich table, how to receive and visit, how to build and decorate a rich house, how to dress better than others, how it would be wiser and more glorious than others to appear, as if on good horses and rich carriages, as if to get more land and peasants, how to build the most pleasing gardens, how to make galdarei beautiful in them and dig profitable ponds, and so on - but think how receive eternal salvation. Let this first thing be for you in all your plans, undertakings and deeds; Then, I tell you the truth, your soul will hear the word of God and create fruit similar to that. Otherwise, although you will know the entire Holy Bible and other Christian books by heart, you will not get any benefit to your soul from them, if you do not leave your whims as deafening to the soul and the words of God. Leave them, may the word of God enter your soul.

We see that wherever one cattle goes, other cattle follow her and that one will follow, although he will be harmed from there. So many people recklessly do and act according to feelings, and not according to reason, and they will follow each other in the beastly example, not paying attention to whether it will be beneficial or harmful to them. We see this lawless and pernicious jealousy in the world. One began to give frequent banquets, drink, walk and get drunk and drink others - the same is done by the other and others. One began to flaunt - others will follow him. One has collected a lot of wealth - and others are trying to do the same. One shameless woman smears her face with whitewash and paints - others will follow her. ... Evil begins in one thing - and everyone does it, and it enters into the custom, and is strongly affirmed, so that it is impossible to eradicate it, like an old disease. To me, people will laugh when I don’t do what they are doing. ... Even though the whole world does what is disgusting to God and harmful to itself, you do what is pleasing to God and is beneficial to you. The whole world will not intercede for you before the judgment of God. There you will not say: well, he and he did it. One thing you will hear from the Judge: why did you not do what I ordered you? One God, more than the whole world, should be incomparably worshiped. Be in the world like Lot in Sodom, where everyone was lawless, but he did not imitate them and did what the holy will of God pleased; do it too, do not imitate what the wicked world does. What bad things people do and you see or hear - as if you had not seen and, like a deaf man, had not heard. Always turn your heart's eyes to eternity, and all worldly affairs will be as behind you, and you will live in the world as one, knowing your Creator and His holy will. "Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, then seek the things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God; think about things above, and not about things on earth" (Col. 3: 1-2).

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov

When asked whether one should be treated for illnesses, the elder said: "Illness cleanses sins. However, your will. Go the middle way. Do not rise above your strength. You will fall, and the enemy will laugh at you. Here's what you do: reproach - do not reproach. Persecute - endure. Blaspheme - praise. Condemn yourself - so God will not condemn. Submit your will to the will of the Lord. Never flatter. Know good and evil in yourself: blessed is the man who knows this. Love your neighbor - your neighbor is your flesh. If according to the flesh If you live, then you will destroy both soul and flesh. And if no-to-God, then you will save about them. These deeds are greater than going to Kiev. " When asked whether it is necessary, in order to maintain one's title, to be involved in costs that exceed the prosperity of a person, the elder said: "Whoever can. Better than God sent him. Bread and water are enough for a man." When asked whether pleasing people should go to the point of disagreeing with the will of God, the elder replied: "Many died for this love. If anyone does not do good, he sins. One must love everyone, and most of all, God." To the question of how to govern under the ruled, Father Seraphim replied: "With graces, relief of labor, and not with wounds. Sing, feed, be just. If God forgives, and you are goodbye." Then the elder said: “What the holy Church has kissed and received, everything for the heart of a Christian should be kind. Do not forget the holidays. oil to the church. Alms will do you much good. " When asked about virginity and marriage, the elder said: "And virginity is glorious, and marriage is blessed by God. Only the enemy confuses everything."

It is necessary to supply the soul with the word of God, for the word of God, as Gregory the Theologian says, is angelic bread, and souls who hunger for God feed on it. Most of all, one should exercise in the reading of the New Testament and the Psalms, which should be done by one who is worthwhile. From this there is enlightenment in the mind, which is changed by the change of the Divine.

One must train oneself in such a way that the mind, as it were, floats in the law of the Lord, which, being guided by, must arrange one's own life.

Zadonsk hermit George

Oh! Until the time has passed, read church books, listen, pray, work, do not sleep, do everything for the Lord's sake, may the Lord save by His mercy, and cleanse, and renew, and give eternal joy to the suffering heart, and day and night to the one who seeks the Lord. his own. All sorrows, need and hardship, no matter how hard it may be, if we accept in spiritual struggle, for the sake of doing the commandments of the Lord, and endure temporarily to the end, then we will already rejoice forever, without end. Read the Psalter with prayers and bows - this saves from all hostility and peaces the waking soul.

Pray earnestly to the Lord, until the time has passed, as long as the soul is in the body. The Christian pious house in itself does not tolerate idle talk, jokes or crazy laughter and dancing, no envy, no anger, no censure, no voluptuousness, from which God save every saving soul. In the Christian home, reverence, decency, peace, silence, simplicity, pure love and gentleness reign; in it the commandments of Christ are preserved and everything is done for the glory of God. I ask you with a sincere word, live and think, as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself teaches, the Word of God - this is peace and eternal joy itself! .. You must always remember and understand that true Christians are alien to pagan deeds, customs and amusements. One should run from those people who are not afraid and do not honor God.

When you sympathize with those who are sick and with the sorrowful, bearing together your sorrows, then you are truly following the straight path to the Kingdom of God.

The prudent and Christian girl, who wants to be saved, seeks only God and clings to Him alone. She only loves Him and wants to please Him alone. She keeps her spirit, heart and body, eyes and all her senses clean. She reveres her body as the temple of God. Modesty is seen in her clothes and in all her looks. Everything shows her chastity - her eyes, her words. She fears everything, fears even the sight of evil; she sees God everywhere before her. She partakes of the Holy Mysteries with reverence and due preparation: here she finds her joy, consolation, strength. She prays with all diligence to God, the Holy Virgin Mary of the Mother of God, her guardian angel and all the holy virgins. She is faithful in the smallest things, but she does not rely on herself: she resists even the smallest cases of sin and the smallest temptations, she withdraws from everything that has or may have even the smallest form of evil; she runs away from men's gatherings, games, merriments, shows. She watches herself everywhere with great attention and observes caution; getting out of bed and lying down and dressing her, the mirror is the crucified Jesus Christ, at whom she often gazes. She loves prayer, meditation, reading soul-saving books, worship, and in all that she takes pleasure in. She is always busy and never idle; she is careful in the performance of all her offices and in the performance of all that God requires of her in the condition in which He called her. The life of a Christian girl is a life hidden in God, spiritual, inner, humble, simple, repentant, exemplary, edifying, solitary, not loving to show herself. A Christian girl never goes there where her chastity would be in danger, and avoids all cases to that. She deals with God, often lifting her spirit and her heart to Him, singing or reading psalms and other spiritual songs; she turns her eyes away from all images and pictures that are dishonorable, seductive and indecent, and from all that is repugnant to chastity. She hides her eyes from the vanities of the world; her speeches and conversations are pure; everything in her shows chastity; she does not know joke words; she mortifies her body, her feelings, her passions and turns her eyes only to such objects that cannot tempt and tempt. She is moderate in food and drink; she is peaceful and in accord with everyone. She instills in everyone and everywhere the love of chastity with her meekness and her words; she covers her body with the greatest modesty, so that nothing shows the opposite of Christian meekness and decency. She does not walk proudly, does not make signs with her eyes and body movements, does not look around in all directions, but always walks modestly; she sighs for sins committed against chastity; she is not attached to the world, to honor, wealth, pleasure. She often prays to God that everyone should live chastely; she loves solitude, silence, silence. She constantly watches over her heart, words, conversations, eyes and all her feelings.

Right Reverend Anthony, Archbishop of Voronezh and Zadonsk

The gospel is not for monks alone; worldly people are in the sea of ​​life; their ship is threatened by frequent disturbances. If they do not adhere to the word of God and place it in the foundation of their thoughts, feelings and deeds, they will perish, they will not reach the desired fatherland - not demons.

When there is anxiety, then it is up to God. So people, for the most part, in adversity, resort to their Creator - in happiness they think little about the Cause and Giver of all blessings God, care little about the salvation of their souls. In happiness, according to John Chrysostom, a person should consider himself a debtor to God, and in misfortune, when he endures misfortune without murmuring, with thanksgiving and prayer, then he has God as his debtor.

Humility is height. Can I judge others when I myself have many shortcomings?

I do not know what is in the heart and mind of a neighbor. There are no windows through which I would penetrate with my gaze into the soul of another. But I know myself very much: I am a sinner. I know this very well, but in the judgments of other people I can be wrong. Do not judge, but you will not be judged.

The mysteries of God are revealed to the meek. "To whom I will look," said our Lord, "only at the meek and silent, and trembling words of Mine." Who is the meek? The one who, when reproached, but he does not get angry.

He who is humble in heart is likened to the Son of God. The humble one and slander, and backbiting, and spitting, and beating, and all kinds of calamities complacently endures and prays for his very enemies. The humble thinks that he is the worst, the most sinful. He loves everyone, wishes well to everyone. Carrying God in his soul, the humble does not bear any sorrows. When he is on his jaws, he rejoices, he is always calm, all his friends. Here he also looks forward to the joy of heavenly life. The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, took our flesh; Our Creator came to have mercy on us sinners. He forgives us our debts, our iniquities, our insults that we do to Him. How can we not forgive our neighbors for their injustice against us, their insults? If the Lord loves us and commanded us to love mutual - love, He said, one another - then how can we not love everyone? How can one disobey such a Benefactor?

I have lived for many years, but there are no good deeds. When I look at people, they are all good, holy; I alone am a sinner, I blame myself, but I consider everyone good. I'm not good alone.

When someone announced to the Right Reverend that someone was slandering you, then the archpastor said: "He still does not know everything about my weaknesses and shortcomings; I am even worse than how he thinks of me." And when the one who spoke badly about him came to him, the Reverend did not reprimand him, did not make excuses to him, but with excellent love and affection received him, treated him, benefited him, spoke well of this in fulfillment of the Savior's verb: "Love those enemies yours, do good to those who hate you, bless the biting you and pray for those who do you wrong "(Luke 6: 27-28).

Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow

If a person has worked for God for a year and does not leave a good intention, this work cannot be lost from a change of circumstances. And in family life, you can find and separate time for prayer and silence. Home prayer The Lord will accept instead of church worship, when there is no convenience in participating in this. Nobody advises you to work for two gentlemen. But the Lord can work both in solitude and in a family. If you clearly see obstacles in this last position, stay in the first one.

And that deprivation that you cannot attend the temple of God, accept not only with sorrow, but also with peaceful obedience to the will of God. May the name of the Lord dwell in your heart, and may the incense of prayer rise from your soul, and then you are not alien to the temple of God.

Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Earthly concerns constantly oppress thought to the earthly, tie it to the temporal and perishable, robbing it of the remembrance of eternity. This, however, should not discourage the Christian. If he cannot constantly abide in the realm of the eternal and spiritual, then he can turn to it often and prepare for death in good time. One must prepare for it by keeping oneself from every deed, word and thought, forbidden by Christ's commandments. One should prepare for it by daily or, if possible, frequent confession of one's sins both before the spiritual father and in the cage of the soul before the one Heart-bearer - God. One must prepare for death by abstaining from brushes and drinks, abstaining from idle talk, jokes, laughter, absent-mindedness, amusements and games, abstaining from luxury required by the vanity of the world, and from all excesses that make the thought of death alien to the mind, flatteringly representing earthly life, as it were endless. It should be prepared with prayers from a contrite and humble heart, with tears, sighing, sobbing; should be prepared by abundant almsgiving, forgiveness of offenses, love and good deeds to enemies, endurance of all earthly sorrows and temptations, with which the eternal sorrows of hell are expiated. If death catches a Christian in this feat, then, of course, it will find him girded, that is, prepared to make a long journey from earth to heaven, and with a burning lamp, that is, with reason and behavior illuminated by Divine truth.

What should we do, they ask here, so as not to fall away from the Redeemer and not be subject to the wrath of God? “For this reason,” the holy Apostle Paul answers this question, “it befits us to pay more attention to what we have heard, but not when we fall away” (Heb. 2: 1). This means that we must spend our lives with special attention to the New Testament, into which God was pleased to enter with us, uniting us with Himself by the holy sacraments, declaring to us His all-holy and perfect will in the Gospel, crowning the faithful sons of the New Testament with the obvious and tangible gift of the Holy Spirit. Let us remember the death and judgment of God, to which we immediately undergo after separation from the body; let us remember the blessed or sorrowful eternity, which should be our lot in accordance with the dictum of the judgment of God. With constant remembrance of death, the judgment of God, of blessed or disastrous eternity, the heart's attitude to earthly life changes: a person begins to look at himself as a wanderer on earth, the pledge of coldness and indifference appears in his heart to earthly objects, all his attention turns to study and fulfillment of the gospel commandments. Just as a traveler, lost in a dense forest during a dark night, tries to get to his home by the sound of a bell or trumpet, so a true Christian, by paying attention to the teachings of Christ, strives to leave the realm of the false mind, born and nourished by life according to the flesh.

During their earthly life, people are given various positions by an incomprehensible fate: some enjoy wealth, glory, power, health; others are poor, so insignificant in human society that anyone can offend them; others spend their lives in sorrow, passing from one sorrow to another, languishing in sickness, in exile, in humiliation. All these positions are not accidental: they, as tasks to be solved, as lessons for work, are distributed by the providence of God so that each person in the position in which he is placed, fulfilling the will of God, will work out his salvation. Those who bear the burden of afflictions must bear it with humility, with obedience to God, knowing that it is entrusted to them by God. If they are sinful, then afflictions serve as a punishment in time for their sins. For the consciousness of their sinfulness, for the complacent endurance of grief, they are delivered reward in eternity. If they are innocent, then sent or tolerated sorrow, as if it befell them at the behest of God, with an all-good Divine purpose, prepares them for special bliss and glory in eternity. A murmur against the sent sorrow, a murmur against God who sent sorrow, destroys the Divine purpose of sorrow: deprives of salvation, exposes him to eternal torment.

Whoever wants to be saved must belong to the one holy Orthodox Church, be her faithful son, obey her orders in everything ...

Anyone who wants to be saved must, although little by little, often pray to God. On weekdays, pray to God at home: in the morning, rising from sleep; at night, going to bed; before lunch and before dinner. Do not even have breakfast or dinner without remembering God and depicting the sign of the cross on yourself. On holidays and Sundays, he must take part in public church prayers. Go to Matins, to the All-Night Vigil, to Divine Liturgy and Vespers. It is a great happiness for a sinful person to attend the church of God: he can pray to God that God forgive him his sins and grant salvation ...

Whoever wants to be saved must, according to his strength, do charity of soul and body. Spiritual charity consists in forgiving our neighbors for their sins, that is, insults and insults inflicted on us by our neighbors. Bodily charity consists in helping one's neighbor with bread, clothing, money and hospitality ...

He who wants to be saved must bring to God thorough repentance for his sins, both during his daily prayers, and especially before the spiritual father during the sacrament of confession ...

After cleansing oneself, confession before the spiritual father must, with the fear of God, faith and love, partake of the all-holy Body of Christ and the all-holy Blood of Christ, which is necessary for salvation ...

Whoever wants to be saved must endure very stiflingly all the sorrows that will be allowed to him during this short earthly journey. Will there be a crop failure or the already ripe grain will be destroyed by locusts, beaten by hail, will there be a death of livestock, fire, own illness and family members, death of any of the closest relatives; whether you will have to endure persecution and insults from a strong person - all this should be endured generously, without murmuring, especially without blasphemy ...

One who wants to be saved must engage in reading Divine books. "Blessed is the man," said the holy prophet David, "who does not go to the counsel of the wicked, and there are not a hundred sinners on the way, and not gray on the seat of destroyers: but in the law of the Lord all his will is, and in his law day and night will be learned" ( Ps. 1: 1-2). Our mind, as darkened by sin, can in no way be satisfied with respect to salvation with our own thinking, weak, wavering, deceitful: it needs to borrow from it the thoughts of God through attentive reading or carefully listening to the word of God and be instructed by them. We must study the word of God very reverently and very often in order for it to be our guide in the work of salvation, because our own thoughts can easily distract us from the path of salvation, mistaking unrighteousness for truth. Our own thoughts are so damaged by sin that they even contradict and oppose the word of God. It is a great misfortune to trust them! On the contrary, it is a great blessing when someone unforgivingly adheres to the word of God, like a blind man, clinging to the hand of his guide. The holy fathers called the reading and hearing of the word of God the king of all virtues ("Flower garden" of the priest Dorotheus, St. Peter Damascene about reading according to Bose, about reasoning ("Philosophy", vol. 1, part 3) and many other fathers). The Word of God reveals to us all the sinful passions that live and operate in our damaged nature, reveals all their tricks, exposes malice when it is covered with the mask of virtue to deceive us. The Word of God reveals the intrigues and designs of the enemy of our devil, admonishes us how we must repel this wicked foe who is thirsting for our destruction. The Word of God invariably calls us to repentance, revealing to us the infinite mercy of God for the fallen and suffering humanity under the yoke of sin; it teaches us how to bring repentance, how to make this repentance valid and fruitful. The Word of God presents to us all the vicissitudes and vanity of this world; it paints before us the fatal consequences of the deception of the world and sin; it reveals before us a majestic eternity with its rewards for a pious earthly life and with its terrible executions for iniquities committed on earth. The Word of God teaches us the most detailed and accurate teaching about virtues and about the means, how to acquire virtues, how to become pleasing to God. In short, the word of God teaches us salvation.

Some are the faithful son of the Orthodox Church, some every day, or even better, if every hour, at every place of God's dominion remembers God and asks Him for mercy and for power, some carefully visit the temple of God on Sundays and holidays, and pray at home every morning and evening. He who is merciful to the poor and strange, who brings repentance for his sins and partakes of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, who endures the sorrows sent to him by God, who carefully studies the word of God, he has a precious pledge of salvation. He still has a feat ahead of him: he must keep his treasure - his salvation from sins, especially from the sins of mortals.

I would not advise you to enter into a detailed and subtle examination of your sins and sinful qualities. Collect them all into one vessel of repentance and cast them into the abyss of God's mercy. A subtle examination of his sins will not be found by a person leading a secular life: it will only plunge him into despondency, bewilderment, and embarrassment. God knows our sins, and if we constantly resort to Him in repentance, He will gradually heal our very sinfulness, that is, sinful habits, qualities of the heart. Sins, committed by word, deed, or the addition of thoughts, must be said in confession to the spiritual father, and, I repeat, a secular person must not indulge in a subtle examination of sinful qualities: this is a trap set by the catcher of our souls. But it is known by the embarrassment and despondency produced in us, although outwardly it is treated with the speciousness of good.

He deals with eternity as it should, who constantly exercises in reading the New Testament and the writings of the Holy Fathers, teaching them to understand the Gospel of Christ correctly, who, knowing in this way the will of God, good and perfect, corrects according to it his way of thinking, his spiritual movements, and errors and hobbies heals with repentance. A Christian living in the midst of the world should not read the holy fathers who wrote for monastics. What is the use of reading those virtues that cannot be performed by the deed? There can be no benefit, but there can be harm, consisting in the fact that the dreaminess of a spiritual state is aroused in a person, which does not reach him in any way. This reverie will be a time to flatter the imagination of high virtues;

time to bring gloom and despair to the soul, when we see that we cannot fulfill these virtues; always and constantly distract us from good deeds that go directly to us - thus making our life empty, barren. A Christian, whose lot is to carry out and end his life in the midst of the world, should be read by the holy fathers, who wrote in general for all Christians. Such are the writers whose works were written in Russian or translated into it: St. John Chrysostom, St. Demetrius of Rostov, St. Tikhon of Voronezh, Nikifor of Astrakhan, George the Recluse. Abundant reading field! An abundant spiritual pasture where the verbal sheep of Christ can feed until they are full and fat!

He who wants to serve God correctly should not ask God for anything, such as tears or something else in accordance with his dream; must ask God that God would give him what is good for his soul; a person does not know what exactly is good for his soul. He who, in his petition, renounces his own will for the will of God, can receive true humility.

Solitude was always useful when, according to the spirit of the times, there were many pious people in the society; and now, with the general spread of debauchery, solitude and withdrawal from acquaintances and acquaintances is a necessary condition for salvation.

It is very good when a person constantly sees and confesses himself to be a sinner. From such a self-view, the human spirit is constantly in humility and God-loving sorrow. But it is necessary that such self-perception be diluted by prudence and not go over the proper measure. In the latter case, it can be harmful, it can put a person in complete bewilderment about his residence.

Our nature is damaged by sin. For this reason, the heart of every person produces by itself a great deal of tares. And therefore, whoever sees the tares arising in himself should not be surprised at this as something extraordinary, should not be perplexed and cowardly. It should be so! The tares of the heart do their own thing: they grow and grow; when weeded out, they reappear. And we must do our own thing: weed and weed the tares. By this position humility is rooted in man. The mercy of God descends to humility. The Almighty and All-Good God looks at us unswervingly. That is why He allows us a position that leads us to humility, in order to grant us His mercy. There is a time for everything: there is a time for cultivating the land for sowing bread, there is another time for sowing, another time for reaping, for milk feeding, for turning into flour, for baking, and finally, for eating bread.

Have peace in mind and heart; Drive away those confusion with complacency. Tell yourself when different thoughts start to confuse you: "I surrender to God with all my weaknesses and my circumstances. Let Him do His holy will over me." The providence of God arranged it in such a way that His people, when they left Egypt, received their wages for the work done in Egypt. You have gone to Revel to enjoy L-i Al-ny and be peaceful; fulfill with care what you went for, and keep your soul, which you must observe at the Judgment Seat of Christ. When you cannot save yourself from a noisy society, then try to save yourself from verbosity and unnecessary jokes, and when you don’t save yourself from this, then wash yourself in repentance. Keep the world in yourself! Know that if there is embarrassment in you, then this is a sign that some false thought has crept into you.

Let the will of the Lord our God be over us all, much more than we, who knows what is good for us. Let us surrender ourselves to Him in faith. Such faith is humility, as one holy father said, because humility is complete devotion to God with complete distrust of oneself. Do not be embarrassed that at times you feel bitterness, coldness and the action of passions. These periods of mental disorder must be endured with patience.

When they sweep a room, they don’t look at the litter, but they’re all in a pile — and out there. So do you. Confess your sins to your confessor, and that's all, but don't enter into consideration of them. The Holy Fathers very much forbid this to those who cannot correctly consider themselves: such consideration is confusing, leads to relaxation and frustration. Beware of sins, repent of those done out of weakness and enthusiasm, do not allow yourself to be perplexed and despondent in repentance, and do not expect sinlessness from yourself.

Saint Theophan, the hermit of Vyshensky

It is possible to be saved everywhere, and salvation is not from the place and not from the external environment, but from the internal mood. If faith is alive, if there are no sins that separate from God and extinguish the grace of God, if communion with the Holy Church and the fulfillment of everything churchly is strong and faithful and diligent, then your state is saved, you only have to observe and keep yourself in this rite of life, staying in memory of God and death and keeping in the soul always a broken and humble feeling.

Looking for salvation? Good deed. Seek and find.

Repentance, of course, is in your work. What else is needed? To shy away from sins and do every good that is encountered in the course of your life, not only with your body, but also with your soul and heart, not only externally, but also internally, that is, so that your thoughts and feelings are always pleasing to God. What else besides a good life ?! The Prophet says: "I will seek for you my face, for your face, Lord, I will seek." This expressed the unceasing memory of God, with unceasing zeal to please all of Him. This is the prayer structure inside.

Prayer is the fulfillment of the prayer rule. You must have a rule and always strictly follow it.

In the morning, do morning prayers, in the evening - prayers for sleep, slowly, with appropriate thoughts and feelings. As the day goes on, sigh to the Lord, who is everywhere, as often as possible.

If you find an opportunity, go to church. On Sunday and holidays - urgently, or even during the week, as soon as you manage, go, first once a week, then two, three or more ... And every day you can.

Perfection can be achieved among family life ... You just need to extinguish and eradicate passions. Pay attention to this and pay attention to this.

Salvation is not from the place, but from the mood of the soul. Everywhere you can be saved and everywhere you die. The first angel between the angels died. The apostle perished among the apostles in the presence of the Lord Himself. And the robber on the cross escaped! Are you looking for salvation? Good!

Not only hand over everything into the hands of the Lord, but also be glad, rejoice, give thanks. It is true that there is something to knock out of you - and now the Lord has directed so many hammers at you, which beat you from all sides. Do not interfere with them with your anger, opposition, discontent. Give them freedom, let them, without being ashamed of anything, do the work of God over you and in you, to which the Lord has appointed for your salvation. The Lord loves you and took you in his arms to drive out everything worthless from you. As the washerwoman crumples, rubs and pounds the laundry to whiten it, so the Lord rubs, crumples and pounds you to whiten you and prepare you for the inheritance of His Kingdom, where nothing unclean will enter. So look at your position and be firmly established in it and pray to the Lord that He will confirm such a view in you and deepen it.

Then accept with joy any trouble as a medicine offered by the Lord Himself. Look at those around you as instruments of God for your good, and behind them always see the hand of God that benefits you. And say for everything: "Glory to Thee, Lord!" But try so that it is not only in language and in thought, but also in feeling. Pray for the Lord to feel this way.

Marital life does not close the door to the Kingdom of Heaven, it can not interfere and improve in spirit. It's not about external orders, but about internal dispositions, feelings and aspirations. They should be jealous and thrust into the heart. Read the Gospel and the Apostle and see how a Christian should be attuned, and take care to be so attuned. Little by little, everything will come and take its place. The main thing is prayer. She is a barometer of spiritual life. One must constantly be with the Lord, for without Him there will be no success in anything.

Allow yourself to write in your memory that from the moment of awakening to the minute of closing your eyes to sleep, you should always conduct business in such a way that the whole day would represent an uninterrupted chain of acts of self-denial, and all for the Lord's sake, before His face, for His glory. Acts of self-denial are not huge that the essence, but go among the ordinary affairs of everyday life and consist in internal decisions and turns of will. They can be under every word, look, movement and under every little thing. Their distinctive feature is not to allow self-indulgence in either big or small, but in everything to go against oneself. I do not know how to explain this to you in your everyday life with examples. Please arrange it yourself. Sit down, for example, on the sofa, the desire comes to fall apart and play barriers - refuse and bring the members into tension, to the string. It is the same in everything. This is a trifle, but the ruble is made up of half. By the end of the day, you will see how your conscience will tell you that you stood guard for good. And consolation. And most importantly, if you get used to small things, you will be more willing to do the same on big things.

The fact that you do not have enough time due to the hassle and family and extra-family affairs is also a mercy. To whom everything has no time, he does not have when to get bored of idleness and idleness; Nor does it have in common the danger that idle ones endure. There is only one thing that needs to be eliminated: it is the mental anxiety because of this. And it seems to me that it is convenient to achieve this without chasing too much work, but doing with all attention only what is proposed to be done by the course of affairs. The basis should be a strong belief that all accidents come with us from the Lord; to each of them, the Lord invites us to do what is required according to His commandments in such circumstances - and looks at how we will act, whether we guess His will and, having guessed, will do what is pleasing to Him? Whoever has this in attention will always have only one thing and will have in his soul, without tormenting himself with others. Having done one thing, he will take up another, etc. until he closes his eyes to sleep. So every day. The soul will not see any many things and will not languish for that. She always has only one thing to do - in the face of the Lord.

If you find it convenient, make more frequent visits to the temple of God. Nowhere is the spirit of prayer revealed so much as in churches with an attentive and reverent stay in them. If you do this, you will soon see the fruit ... but not after the first and second visits to the temple ... You must use months ... and show constancy and patience in this work.

Peaceful pursuits at home - what a delight! Here only you will be the real gentlemen. And there - the slaves ... and we will not be able to say whose! It is only evident that you do not own time, or occupations, or yourself. Everything is taken away and someone is pushing you around, and, moreover, with such despotism that you cannot resist. Who is this prince there ?! Disassemble, please. If you get to the truth, make sure how to thoroughly escape from the dark-dark light ...

God bless all your undertakings. You are family. You cannot help bothering about everyday things. It is not forbidden either; on the contrary, it is commanded to work in order to have content and to help others. You just need not to torment yourself with care, and while working, put all hope on God, and everything that God gives is superfluous, return it to Him through the poor, like a master's rent.

After all, it is no wonder to be saved. You just need eyes and energy. It's all simple. Be with God with your thoughts and with your body do the deeds that lie on you according to the commandment.

And you are in the monastery ... You now have no way there. Set up a monastery at home. It is very possible for you. After all, your spouse has monastic inclinations. Now it is absorbed by salts, acids, gases, etc. This part gives nothing: it is too earthly. But the boundless Wisdom of God, which arranged everything by measure, weight and number, is here more tangible for even bodily eyes. Let him talk to God in the elements, and you stay in prayer and beneficence. And your mother-in-law will be kind ...

Only a society of all sorts of sophisticated personalities ... There is nothing to do. You have to endure. Remember Lot ... Sodom is all around, and he is on his way ... He was tormented by his soul, but this did not interfere with salvation. Run away from judgment, thinking about others - awkward - that it was they who only temporarily gave themselves privilege and scope. But they are about to settle down and go good to the Lord.

Secular customs, I think, can be harmlessly abandoned by many, yielding in time only to the most inevitable. Ask the Lord for guidance and strength. He is our Savior and wants everyone to be saved. Ask - and everything will serve ... only everything in due time.

The greatest danger from relentless troubles is the suppression of religious feelings. You seem to be experiencing it. And it's a pity; completely cool, as you are afraid, it is very possible.

But this is not from the nature of everyday affairs, but from our oversight, according to which we allow ourselves to get bogged down with thoughts, feelings, desires, and worries into one everyday life. But this may not be the case. Begin everything with prayer, continue with hope, end with thanksgiving. Every business will be wrapped in a Divine garment, and will not knock God out of the soul ... Then, moving from business to business, at the transition, drive out everything everyday from the soul and be with God with attention and feeling or repeat any verse from the psalms.

It is doubtful that salvation could be arranged apart from fulfilling the duties imposed by rank and fortune. For as the one and the other are from God, the one and the other can be turned either to please Him, if it is fulfilled by faith, or to insult Him, if it is not fulfilled.

Venerable Macarius of Optina

We must turn to ourselves and, being in the Orthodox Church, on the basis of her teaching, build up our salvation by fulfilling the commandments of the Lord; seeing your weakness, ask for help from God by prayer, but a humble prayer, a publican, and not a Pharisee; and to have an everlasting self-reproach in the heart, also to have a well-minded heart for mercy and compassion for our neighbors, to help in their needs, to condescend in weakness, to forgive those who have offended us; and if something happens to be done according to the will of God, not to ascribe to himself, but to the help of God; rather, remember your sins, with the hope of the mercy of God, which leads us to humility and makes up for our shortcomings before the merciful Lord, who humbled Himself even to the point of being a slave to the image.

I see that you have a desire to bring yourself closer to God and receive salvation. This is the whole duty of every Christian, but this is accomplished through the fulfillment of the commandments of God, which all consist of love for God and neighbor and extend to the love of enemies. Read the Gospel, there you will find the way, the truth and the belly; preserve the Orthodox faith and the statutes of the holy Church, learn from the writings of church pastors and teachers, and understand your life according to their teachings; but prayer rules alone cannot benefit us. I do not discourage your rules, which you are writing about, and leave it to your will to continue these, but I advise you to try as much as possible to pay your attention to the deeds of love for your neighbors: in relation to your mother, your spouse and children - care about bringing them up in the Orthodox faith and good morality - to people subordinate to you and to all your neighbors. The Holy Apostle Paul, counting the different types of virtues and deeds of self-denial, says: if I do this and this, “love is not an imam, there is no benefit to me” (1 Cor. 13: 1-3).

There is the will of God by good pleasure, and there is the will of God by permission - and this last happens when we want it to be the way we think it will be good for us. And when we surrender ourselves to the will of God and seek not what we want, but what will be pleasing to Him and useful to us, then in this there is the will of God by good pleasure, useful and saving for us, and with the will of God, which happens by permission, sorrows are inevitable and sorrow.

Venerable Ambrose of Optina

We must live on earth as a wheel spins: with just one point it touches the ground, and with the rest it will certainly strive upward; but we both lay down on the ground and cannot get up.

You can also live in the world, just not on the Jura, but to live quietly.

To live is not to grieve, not to condemn anyone, not to annoy anyone, and my respect to everyone.

You need to live unhypocritically and behave approximately, then our work will be true, otherwise it will turn out badly.

Love is, of course, above all. If you find that there is no love in you, but want to have it, then do the deeds of love, although at first without love. The Lord will see your desire and diligence and will put your love in your heart. And most importantly, when you notice that you have sinned against love, immediately confess this to the elder. It can sometimes be from a bad heart, and sometimes from the enemy. You yourself cannot make it out; and when you confess, the enemy will depart.

Whoever has a bad heart should not despair, because with the help of God, a person can correct his heart. You just need to carefully watch yourself and not miss an opportunity to be useful to your neighbor, often open yourself to the elder and do alms that you can. This, of course, cannot be done suddenly, but the Lord is longsuffering. He then only ends a person's life when he sees him ready for the transition to eternity, or when he sees no hope for his correction.

If you accept people for God's sake, then believe me, everyone will be good to you.

In order for a person to correct himself, he does not suddenly have to lean on, but how they pull the barge: pull-pull-pull, give-give! Not all of a sudden, but a little. Do you know the rampage on the ship? This is the pole to which all the ropes of the ship are tied; and if you pull for it, then slowly and everything stretches; and if you take it right away, you ruin everything from shock.

The boredom of the despondent grandson, and the lazy daughter. To drive her away, work hard in business, do not be lazy in prayer; then boredom will pass, and zeal will come. And if you add patience and humility to this, you will save yourself from many evils.

Make it a rule not to say anything to your mother or sister when you are outraged at their injustice. Step aside and, no matter what your mother says, be silent; take the Gospel and read, even though you do not understand anything at this moment. Let it be done only for the Lord and do as much as you can. You are more indignant at what you are not able to do: you take on a lot and you cannot cope. You don't have enough strength, but you want to do a lot, which is why you get annoyed that they don't appreciate your labors and sacrifices. And do what you can for the Lord's sake, and do not be upset when people do not appreciate. Remember that you did not do it for the sake of them, but for the sake of God, and expect the reward from the Lord, and not from people.

Maybe someone will say: is it really impossible to talk about anything everyday, except for one spiritual salvation? We can talk about everything, only with the consciousness and grateful remembrance that the Lord, by His goodness and mercy, created the whole universe for man: He created the earth for his temporary stay on it and together to test his will, to which it is inclined, to good or evil; and heaven is for the eternal bliss of those who are worthy and who do not oppose the word of God and who have repented. Only some disobedient to the word of God and unrepentant sinners go into eternal fire, prepared not for people, but for the devil and his aggression; people, as it were, voluntarily go there. Also, if we gaze at the sun, we must think with grateful remembrance that it too was created for a person to illuminate and warm the earth on which we live. If we see rain falling, then we should think that through it the sown grain fields and other crops that provide us with food are fattened. If we eat food and drink, then we should gratefully think that in this temporary life we ​​cannot exist without this.

It is not only indecent to speak while standing at church services, or to look around with your eyes, but also anger the Lord with inattention and fearlessness. If we cannot mentally, then at least physically and apparently, let us behave decently. Physical and visible decency can lead us to the good dispensation of inner thoughts. As the Lord first created the human body from the earth, and then breathed into it an immortal soul, so external training and visible decency precede spiritual well-being; It begins with the preservation of eyes and ears, and especially with the retention of the tongue, since the Lord in the Gospel says: "From your lips I judge thee," that is, we often say out of inattention what we will be judged most of all and first of all for. It is very easy and convenient to say a lot, but it is very inconvenient to bring repentance in this.

Your third question is how you can achieve inner Christian perfection, since your efforts about this are unsuccessful. If you want your business to be successful, then the first condition is required: leave everyone with their deeds to the providence and judgment of God, to their own will - let them act as they know, as they want and as they understand. The Apostle Paul writes: “Kiyzhdo is known by his thought, in the face, and in the face,” that is, one reasoning in this way, and the other in this way, and each acts according to his own intention. And the One Judge of the living and the dead, knowing the intentions of each, will reward commendably not according to deeds, but according to the intention of deeds ... pride. We look vigilantly at other people's sins and shortcomings, and look at our mental weaknesses and occurring sins as if through a dull glass. In order to learn humble sincere repentance, we must carefully read, besides other books, the books of Ephraim the Syrian, where we will see that, first of all, we must abandon jealousy not for reason, which Saint Isaac of Syria calls jealousy a buoy and which, under specious pretexts, is most harmful in spiritual life. ...

Reading spiritual books without direction, you are afraid that you will not fall into any wrong thoughts and wrong opinions. Your fear is very well founded. Therefore, if you do not want to suffer such a spiritual calamity, do not indiscriminately read any new compositions, even if they have a spiritual content, but such writers who have not confirmed their teaching by the holiness of life; but read the creations of such fathers who are recognized by the Orthodox Church as firmly known and undoubtedly edifying and soul-saving.

Read not only for guidance regarding right opinions and understandings, but also for guidance in life itself, in order to know and be able to know how to act in a purely Christian way when, according to Orthodox ordinances. For the same purpose, read the book of Abba Dorotheus, which is justly called the mirror of the soul. This mirror will show everyone not only his actions, but also the very movements of the heart.

During fasting, and especially on the days of fasting, it is decent and useful to read the works of Ephraim the Syrian in Russian translation, choosing chapters on repentance. The rest of his writings can be read at any time; it also does not hurt to repeat the chapters on repentance.

In a letter through Fr. Isaiah you wish to have my own handwritten line, calling yourself my spiritual daughter. If so, listen to what your spiritual father will tell you. If you want to be prosperous in your life, then try to live according to the commandments of God, and not according to simple human customs. The Lord speaks through the prophet Isaiah: "If you listen to Me (that is, by fulfilling the commandments of God), then the good land will sieste." The main commandment in the promise: "Honor your father and mother, so that you will be blessed and you will be long on earth." Inappropriate antics or outbursts in front of parents are by no means excuseful. A wise word is spread between people: "Eggs do not teach a chicken." A young age must first teach and admonish oneself by keeping the eyes, curbing the tongue and, in general, good-natured and modest behavior and treatment of others, reflecting from oneself even thoughts that are illegal and God-repugnant, because people look only at the face, but God looks at the heart, and from Our fate depends on him, both in the present and in the future life. Do not judge or condemn anyone, and you yourself will avoid condemnation from God. Finally, remember and never forget the terrible word of the Lord: "If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, and I will be ashamed of him, when I come in the glory of My Father with the holy angels."

Silence among the seven works of Peter Damascene in "Philosophy" and said in the 254th answer of Barsanuphius the Great, so as not to deal freely with others, for you, living in the world and family, has the same meaning and meaning. Silence in this work is also called helplessness, so as not to worry about anything according to human calculations, but in everything, concerning oneself and family, to be entrusted with the providence of God, doing only possible according to one's strength. Freely not to deal with others in the Slavic translation reads: to have impudence, that is, not to interfere in other people's affairs, to avoid acquaintances and connections unnecessarily, also inappropriate talk and gossip, to speak briefly and out of need and only to a question. But I will say that doing this is inconvenient not only for you, but also for us. That is why our blessed elder (Father Makarii) himself adhered to the path of self-reproach and knowledge of his weakness, and taught others the same, because without humility, good workers will not be justified.

You write that among the world and family it is extremely difficult to detach oneself from the earthly. Indeed, it is difficult. But the Gospel commandments were given to people living in the world, for then there were no monks or monasteries. All Christians should remember the word of the Lord: "In the world you will be afflicted"; also said in the Acts of the Apostles: "Through many sorrows it befits us to bring us into the Kingdom of Heaven." It is not determined by what sorrows, but generally said: by many, for each person has his own sorrows, depending on his external position and internal dispensation and mental weakness. In accordance with all this, one has to experience one kind of sorrow, another - another kind. But for all the Lord laid down one general rule: "In your patience, gain your souls" and "He who endures to the end, he will be saved."

You ask how you should live in order to save your souls. Read more often the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of the Evangelist Matthew and try to keep the commandments of God and live holy, moving away from all sin, and repent of your previous sins before God and confess before your spiritual father.

Elder Barsanuphius Optinsky

It's hard to be saved in the world. Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, went into the wilderness to ascetic there in fasting and prayer, but the Lord did not bless him to stay there. Appearing to the saint, the Lord commanded him to go into the world. “This is not the field in which you will bear fruit for Me,” said the Savior. Saints Taisia, Mary of Egypt, Evdokia also did not live in monasteries. You can be saved everywhere, just do not leave the Savior. Grasp onto the robe of Christ, and Christ will not leave you.

According to the Lord Himself, there is only one way to Him, to His Divine love - the fulfillment of His commandments, about which He says: "My commandments are not difficult." His commandments are known to all, they are read or sung every day at the Divine Liturgy: "Blessedness of crotzia", ​​"Blessedness of mercy". Someone will say: "I cannot keep this commandment, since I have no funds for alms." No, everyone can fulfill the commandment of mercy, if not materially, then spiritually. Ask: "How is it?" And here's how: you were offended by such and such or such - forgive him! So there will be spiritual charity. "No, I can't! How can you forgive such a terrible insult? But when I remember it, I am so ready to tear that person to pieces, and you say" forgive me. " “But you have to forgive!” - “This is beyond my strength!” - “Not enough strength? Ask God! Turn to Him and say: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, and help me to forgive!" Say this once, twice, three times - and you will learn from experience yourself - forgive the offender. "

But another one says: "So and so, she carried my name like evil in front of people, she said this, which never happened, does not give me a pass with barbs and ridicule." - “Is it possible to endure all this?” - “Can't you? And so, in any difficult situation, turn to the Lord - and he will help you. Fulfill His commandments and ask for His help. The trouble is if someone rely on his own strengths and decides to fulfill them without resorting to Divine help, whoever decides to do without humility. Two virtues are necessary in the matter of salvation: one is love, the other is humility. Without these two, not only clever prayer, but salvation itself is impossible. After all, Tolstoy, how he ended horribly, and after all, he was a religious person before, he ordered prayers, prayed with tears - everything seemed to be. There was only one thing: humility. He loved to condemn others, did not know how to forgive human shortcomings. We spoke to him about one neighbor. "What are you, - he says, - is he a man?" of course, he is a man! "-" Well, what kind of man is he? Just a creature. "-" Why, and all creatures, angels and those creatures: "Rejoices in You, Blessed One, every creature: the angelic cathedral and the human race ..." - "No, he cannot be considered a man!" - "But why?" - "He is an atheist, he does not go to church, he does not believe in God, is this a man?" And the old nurse says to him: "Lyovushka, do not blame them; well, let them know how they know, but don't judge them, what is it to you? Look after yourself." But he could not remake himself and ended badly. And now another thinks: "I go to church, but that one doesn't go - well, she's what she is ... And this is what she does - well, what it looks like." Yes, everything is waving and waving his pen, he considers himself better than others. You look, and reached the point that she fell below those whom she condemned. We must consider ourselves unworthy of all.

Learning to deal with your passions is very important and even necessary. The Lives of the Saints will be your best guide. The world has long abandoned this reading, but do not conform to the world - and it will console you a lot. In the lives of the saints, you will find instructions on how to wage war with a spirit of wickedness and remain overcomers. God help you.

The Lives of the Saints tell about two women, two sisters, one of whom went to a monastery, and the other got married, and both of them were saved.

True, the one who went to the monastery received the highest reward from the Lord, but both received salvation. But how can we be saved in the world when there are so many temptations? The Apostle says: "Do not love the world, nor else in the world." However, here it is necessary to make a reservation. The word "world" does not mean the universe, but the base, vulgar, sinful.

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt

In no matter, domestic or business, do not forget that your strength, your light, your success is Christ and His cross; therefore do not hesitate to cry to the Lord before starting the work: Jesus, help me! Jesus, enlighten me! Thus, your living faith and your hope in Christ will be maintained and kindled in your heart, for His power and glory forever and ever.

When you go to visit someone from your relatives or friends, go not so that they have a good meal and drink, but in order to share a friendly conversation with them, in order to revive your soul from the hustle and bustle of life with a conversation of love and sincere friendship, to be comforted by the common faith. “I am not looking for yours,” says the apostle, “but you” (2 Cor. 12:14).

In everything and for all time please God and think about saving your soul from the sins and the devil and assimilating it to God. Got out of bed - make the sign of the cross and say: "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit", and again: "Lord, grant us this day without sin to be saved and teach me to do Thy will" (from "Glory to God in the highest", on matins); if you wash at home or in the bath - say: "Sprinkle me with hyssop, O Lord, and I will cleanse myself; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 50: 9); put on linen - think about the purity of your heart and ask the Lord for a pure heart: "Create a pure heart in me, O God"; if you sewn it and put it on - think about the renewal of the spirit and say: "The Spirit is right, O Lord, renew in my womb" (Ps.50: 12); you lay aside old clothes with disdain for them - think of putting aside with great disdain of the old man, sinful, passionate, fleshly; you eat sweet bread - think about the true bread that gives eternal life to souls - about the Body and Blood of Christ - and hunger for this bread, that is, desire to partake of it more often; you drink water, or tea, or honey, sweets, or other drink - think about the true drink, which satisfies souls, burning with passions, - about the pure and life-giving Blood of the Savior; if you rest during the day, think of the eternal rest prepared for those who have struggled here in the struggle with sin, with the spirits of evil in heaven, with human lies or ignorance and human rudeness; whether you go to bed at night - think about a mortal dream, which sooner or later will certainly come for all of us, and about that dark, eternal, terrible night in which all unrepentant sinners will be defeated; if you meet a day, think about the non-evening, eternal, brighter than the current sunny day, the day of the Kingdom of Heaven, in which all those who please God or from the bottom of their hearts repent of God in this temporary belly will rejoice; whether you are going where - think about the righteousness of spiritual walking before the face of God and say: "Direct my feet according to Thy word, and let not all iniquity possess me" (Ps. 118,133); do you do anything - try to do this business with the thought of God the Creator, who made everything infinite wisdom, his goodness, his omnipotence and created you in his image and likeness; whether you receive money, some kind of treasure, or do you have - think that our treasure is inexhaustible, from which all the treasures of the soul and body, the ever-flowing source of all good is God, thank Him from all your souls and do not enclose your treasures with yourself, so that you do not enclose the entrance to your heart an invaluable and living treasure - God, but give from your condition to your demanding, needy, poor brethren, who were left in this life for that, so that you can prove your love, gratitude to God and receive a reward from God in eternity; if you see white silver shine, that is, silver, do not be seduced by it, but think that your soul should be white and shine with the virtues of Christ; whether you see a golden shine, or gold, do not be seduced by it, but remember that your soul should be like gold, purified by fire, and that the Lord himself wants to enlighten you, like the sun, in the eternal, bright Kingdom of His Father, that you will behold the inescapable The sun of righteousness - God in three Hypostases, the Most Holy Lady Theotokos and all the heavenly powers of holy people, filled with ineffable light and shining with luminosity.

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). How to seek, first, the Kingdom of God? In the following way: suppose you want to walk or go, sail somewhere for some everyday, temporary need - pray first to the Lord that He will correct the paths of your heart, and then the forthcoming bodily path, or to direct the path of your life according to His commandments , and desire it with all your heart, and often renew your prayer about it. The Lord, seeing your sincere desire and your efforts to walk according to His commandments, will gradually correct all your ways. Further, for example, if you want to make clean air in the room or go for a walk in the fresh air, remember a pure and unclean heart. Many of us, hunters to refresh the room air (and this is great) or to walk in the fresh air, and do not think about the need for purity of spirit or heart (spiritual, so to speak, air, breath of life) and, living in the fresh air, allow ourselves unclean thoughts, unclean movements of the heart, or even foul language and the most foul deeds of the flesh. If you are looking for material light, remember the spiritual light, which is necessary for the soul and without which it remains in the darkness of passions, in the darkness of spiritual death. “I am the light in the world,” says the Lord, “but everyone who believes in Me will not remain in the world” (John 12, 46). If you see ferocity and hear the howling of a storm or read about shipwrecks, remember the storm of human passions that raise the daily howl and confusion in the hearts of men and destroy the spiritual ship of the soul or the ship of human society, and pray fervently to the Lord that He might tame the storm of sins, as once he tamed the storm at sea with a word, and may he eradicate our passions from our hearts and restore the everlasting silence. If you feel a feeling of hunger or thirst and want to eat or drink, remember the gladness or thirst of the soul (it longs for righteousness, justification in Jesus Christ, sanctification), which if you do not satisfy, your soul can die of hunger, suppressed by passions, exhausted, exhausted, - and, satisfying your bodily hunger, do not forget to satisfy, even more so before, your spiritual pleasure with a conversation with God, sincere repentance of sins, reading the Gospel history and evangelical teachings, especially with the communion of the Divine Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ. If you love to flaunt a dress, or when you put on a garment, remember the imperishable garment of righteousness, in which our soul should be clothed, or of Christ Jesus, Who is our spiritual garment, as it is said: “Elites were baptized into Christ, put on Christ” (Gal ... 3.27). The passion for panache quite often completely displaces from the heart the very thought of the imperishable garment of the soul and turns his whole life into a vain concern for grace in clothing. If you are a pupil, student of any educational institution or official of any department, officer of any military unit or technologist, painter, sculptor, manufacturer, artisan of any workshop, remember that the first science of each of you is to be true a Christian, sincerely believe in a Trinitarian God, converse with God every day in prayer, participate in worship, observe the statutes and decrees of the Church both before deed, and after deed, and after deed, bear the name of Jesus in the heart, for He is light, power, sacred our, our help.

Pay the most strict and active attention to this daily action of yours, to the taking of food and drink, for your spiritual, social and family activities depend very much on food and drink, on the quality and quantity of them. "Listen to yourself, but not when your hearts are burdened with gluttony and drunkenness" (Luke 21, 34); and tea and coffee also belong to drunkenness, if they are used untimely and in excess. Oh, woe to us, who are now saturated and often with disdain for the gifts of God to those who look!

Since we are wanderers and strangers and travelers to the Kingdom of the Heavens, we do not need to burden ourselves with worries about everyday life, to become addicted to earthly goods, wealth, sweets, differences, so that these worries and attachments do not stumble us in the hour of death and make it shameful. A Christian still here, on earth, needs to get used to living a life of a mountain: in fasting, non-covetousness, in prayer, love, meekness, gentleness, patience, courage, mercy. How hard it is at the hour of death for a man who in this life had money, or food and drink, or earthly honors as his idol! Now all this will not serve him for anything, and yet his heart is firmly attached to them and has no true treasure that gives him life, that is, virtue. So, to make it easier to die - and everyone has to die - one should not love anything in the world. "But whoever has food and clothing, we will be pleased with them" (1 Tim. 6, 8).

A true Christian does this in this life so that it is a preparation for the future, and not life for this age alone; in his actions, he does not think about what they will say about him here, and what they will say there, in heaven; he always imagines himself in the presence of God, angels and all saints and remembers that one day they will be witnesses of his thoughts, words and deeds.

Try to turn your whole life into the service of God: if you read anything at home, start this business with a short heartfelt prayer, so that God will admonish and wisdom you in faith and piety and in thoroughly passing your duties; never read from idleness, to pass the time - by this you will humiliate the word, which should all serve our salvation, and not idle talk and a means to pleasure and pleasant passing of time; whether you speak with your neighbors, speak intelligently, prudently, instructively, edifying; Avoid idle talk, like the poison of a serpent, remembering that "for every idle word, even if men ask, they will reward a word about it on the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36), that is, they will hear the just verdict of the Judge; Whether you teach your own or someone else's children, turn the matter into the service of God, teaching them with diligence, preliminarily considering the means for teaching clear, intelligible, complete (if possible) and fruitful. Conquer in the name of the Lord and by the power of the cross the intrigues of the enemy, who is trying to confuse, overshadow, restrain, weaken you. Even if you eat, drink, or whatever is lawful you do, do everything to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

Do not eat your fill, do not sleep your fill, work diligently, pray with all your heart, be heartily obedient to your parents and bosses, be well-willed to everyone, be pleased with everyone - and you will be pleased with yourself, healthy and happy. The life of a Christian should be constant attention to himself, that is, to his heart, because every minute invisible enemies are ready to swallow us, every minute evil boils over us in them.

If you want to be long-term on earth, do not rush to live in a fleshly way, to be satiated, to get drunk, to smoke, to commit fornication, to live luxuriously, to bask: death is in the fleshly way of life, therefore our flesh is called in Holy Scripture a dead or old man, smoldering in delightful lusts ( Eph. 4.22). If you want to live long, live in the spirit: life is in the spirit; "If you put to death by the spirit of deeds, you will live" (Rom. 8:13) - both here and there, in heaven. Observe moderation and simplicity in food and drink, keep chastity, do not madly waste the balm of your life, do not chase after wealth, for luxury, try to be satisfied with little, keep peace with everyone and do not envy anyone, honor and love everyone, especially try always carry Christ in your heart - and you will live many years in peace and prosperity.

Zealous for godliness, brother and sister! You will have to hear, and perhaps often more from your family, that you are a difficult, unbearable person; you will see a strong reluctance towards yourself, enmity for your piety, although the enmity will not express that it is for piety that they are at enmity against you - do not be indignant at this and do not despair, because the devil can indeed exaggerate some weaknesses to enormous proportions yours, from which you are not free as a man, but remember the words of the Savior: "Thwart the man's home" (Matthew 10:36), and correct yourself from shortcomings, but hold fast to piety. Trust your conscience, your life and your deeds to God, who guides our hearts. However, look at yourself impartially: are you really not heavy by nature, especially for your family; maybe you are gloomy, unkind, uncommunicative, taciturn. Extend your heart for sociability and affection, but not for indulgence; in reprimands, be meek, non-irritating, unwanted. "Let all you have love" (1 Cor. 16:14), - said the apostle. Be patient, do not reprimand everything, bear with others, passing by in silence, and turn a blind eye to it. "Love covers all things, all endures" (1 Cor. 13: 7). Sometimes, due to an impatient reprimand, enmity is formed, because the reprimand was made not in the spirit of meekness and love, but in the spirit of a selfish claim to obedience to one another.

Archimandrite Theophan Novoyezersky

Spiritual life should be simple, sincere, meek, humble, and even more humble. Humility is salvation without labor. Hearty humility is the first and most important foundation of the spiritual home and monastic life. For Christ the Son of God also says: "Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11: 9).

If we are offended by anyone, we must say: I have sinned, forgive for God's sake; but in myself, imagining my sins, think: I am worthy of punishment and more than this. Christ the Son of God, "we do not smack against the opposition, we do not stop suffering" (1 Pet. 2:23). If, however, when the heart is embarrassed from the insult, then it should not express embarrassment in words, but with all the strength of oneself to refrain from them, according to the command: "He was confused and not verbs" (Ps. 76: 5); you must remember the apostolic word: "Let the sun not go down in your anger; below give" in yourself "place for the devil" (Eph. 4:26, 27). Otherwise, neither our prayers nor other virtues will be pleasing to the Lord God, no matter how great they may be.

Salvation, on the one hand, is difficult, impregnable, difficult, and on the other hand, it is very simple and easy. The Lord God will instruct! "Learn from Me," He says, "as I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." There is no nearest and surest way to salvation like humility; and the greatest reward is that who, being cruel in temper, brings himself into humility. It is possible to achieve humility by a common sister prayer: "Save, Lord, and have mercy on our mother abbess and her holy prayers, grant us humility, patience, gentleness, unfeigned love, obedience"; and the abbess, for her part, prays: "Save, Lord, and have mercy on my sisters and grant me the same with their holy prayers." The Lord God will teach everyone; no sage will teach you to know your shortcomings, your weaknesses, your weaknesses, like the Lord God; no books are needed, if only there was humility!

Sweet food hurts unskilful people a lot: if there were true humility in us, then they would not think that it is necessary to fortify ourselves with such and such food. This is from the enemy! And what the Lord blesses, then eat; you can eat - eat, but if not - and sit hunger. One father wanted to eat, he poured oats and said to himself: "Eat, donkey!" So that's how they reinforced themselves! This was, you say, in the previous years; and we wish a legacy equal to them! Reinforce yourself with one piece of bread, and even that one that would not be quite to your taste. Whatever is given, accept it all with thanksgiving; imagine that you are unworthy of everything for your secret sins, of which no one knows.

The Lord God does not require much of us, but only meekness and humility, so that we learn it neither from an angel nor from a person, but from Himself. Consider carefully, if it is a great thing to be a disciple of your Savior, and, moreover, an heiress of His Heavenly Kingdom. I ask you, do not yield to this treasure of pride and vanity, be meek, but even more humble, patient, poor in spirit, pure in heart, and say more often: "Build a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a spirit of rights in my womb; do not reject me from Take not Thy face and Thy Holy Spirit from me; reward me with the joy of Thy salvation and confirm me with the Spirit of the Lord. " And so the Lord God will look from the height of His glory to your humble disposition of your heart and will help to correct your life.

We do not need to think whether they love us or not, but rather think that we are unworthy to be loved, love everyone yourself, because we are not told to be loved, but ordered to love everyone. You don’t even need to notice who is angry or who looked how, you don’t need to penetrate into their intentions.

When you hear that they say bad things about you, then think: "I have done badly, so they say bad things about me," and pray to God: "Lord, help me to correct myself!" Humility and obedience should be maintained and contained in mental and physical purity.

If you have offended or vexed you, then you must think that this was sent without fail from God to expose our shortcomings, and must be silent: first, in order to calm us who offended us; the second is to calm yourself and the third is to fulfill the law of God. One should regard everyone as saints, and think of oneself that she is unworthy, and, speaking with them, not blame others, but oneself.

Some went into seclusion, others wore heavy chains, but this will not be required of us, but we must humble ourselves, endure, have obedience - that is what is required. You endure a sorrowful word - here are your chains.

All the importance lies in one humility; how many bows you put on, but if you think that you are leading a cruel life, so what in these labors? Nothing at all.

If the thought comes to condemn your sister, say immediately: "Save, Lord, and have mercy on my sister and give me humility with her holy prayers."

Let my heart be covered with Thy fear, humble-wise, and may not ascend fall away from You, O All-Bounteous One! It’s humility to listen to yourself: that I’m careless, that I’m lazy, that I don’t arm myself against my thoughts, I don’t conquer them - but not condemn anyone. And if we justify ourselves, so that it is not said: "I will take the time, I will judge your righteousness."

About the girl A.P. M. you write that her father prevents her from approaching the Lord, but removes her from saving life. If she wants to completely please the Lord - so that she always has a prayer in her lips, in her soul and heart: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner; grant me to love You with all my soul and thoughts and do Your will in everything." And so the Lord, seeing diligence, will arrange something useful from the opposite.

In worldly life it is impossible that bad thoughts and fleshly thoughts do not come; You, as soon as they appear, say to yourself: "T., what do you think? For these thoughts, an eternal fire or a sea of ​​fire in hell is prepared, an unceasing worm, fear, horror, gnashing of teeth, deprivation of the Kingdom of Heaven, deprivation from the angels of stay, deprivation the sight of God - more than all torments, the most bitter torment! " And as soon as you say this, then pray, read a prayer in prayers for sleep to those who are to come: "Lord, do not deprive me of Thy heavenly blessings, Lord, deliver me eternal torment," and so on to the end.

In worldly life there are more obstacles to salvation than in monastic life. See and hear more harmful; one must beware and not allow harmful thoughts to enter into one's heart. As soon as you feel them, say in yourself: "Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew the spirit of rights in my womb. Do not cast me away from Thy face, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me; reward me with the joy of Thy salvation, and by the Spirit Establish me as the Lord "(Psalm 50,12,13). And if any sorrow happens, say: "I am sorrowful for ages, my soul, and have lived for ever having troubled me? Trust in God, for we will confess to Him, the salvation of my face and my God" (Ps. 41:12). So, against every thought, find a cure from the Holy Scriptures. I wish you that good one, even God is prepared for those who love Him.

The Lord God calls everyone to salvation, promises for the sake of future benefits; you live in a worldly life, this is not contrary to the Lord God. But he must do His will. You know that the first duty for everyone, without exception, in whatever rank may be, is to love the Lord God from all souls and heartfelt disposition and always keep in memory all His good deeds to us, and then to love our neighbor and have a peaceful life with everyone. according to the word of the holy apostle Paul: "Have peace and holy things with all, who, except for no one, will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12: 14). As for your household, you have a spouse - consider that she was given to you by God as a helper in all your affairs concerning the management of the household; love her with perfect love - this love is permissible and harmless; beware of unacceptable love, as a deadly poison that mortifies the soul and leads to corruption. You have slaves assigned to you; it is impossible not to be poor, sick, orphans - they should have fatherly care for them, to their delight, and a decent teaching for young years: this is pleasing to the Lord God. In your parishes, if the churches of God are not sufficient in anything you need, help as much as possible.

Petersburg life cannot hinder salvation when you ask our Savior for the salvation of your soul. He deigned to say with His most pure lips: "Ask, and it will be given to you" (Matthew 7: 7), and also: "I am with you"; also: "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15 5).

In the Vvedenskaya Hermitage one day the following happened: one novice said that he had seen an obvious phenomenon. O. Cleopa ordered to tempt him, to chide him a little from the side; he was embarrassed, considered it an insult, came to Fr. Cleopa and said: "I cannot live, they insult me." "How do you say that you have been rewarded with a vision, but you cannot endure? Therefore, it is delightful; putting a stone in your head, fasting, sleeping on bare ground is empty." Learn from Me, as I am gentle and humble in heart, "said The Lord, and not some miracles and phenomena promised ... "

Valaam monk Herman

Empty ages remove this desire from the fatherland, love for those and habit dress our soul as if in a vile dress; it is called from the apostles "external man". We, wandering on the journey of this life, calling on God for help, must put off the vileness of that, and dress in new desires, in the new love of the century to come, and through this recognize our approach or withdrawal to our heavenly fatherland; but soon it is impossible to do this, but must follow the example of the sick, who, wishing good health, do not leave to seek the means to cure themselves.

Valaam Hieroschemamonk Stephen

How can God pacify your soul when you live peacefully with your parents? Therefore, I.V., I ask you, if you really want salvation for your soul, then for every time your parents are upset through you, in private somewhere you should bow at their feet and ask God for mercy a hundred times on that day with earthly bows.

Archimandrite Agapit of Nilo-Stolobensky

With my love, I implore you to act reverently with your parents. If people touch your pride and pride, acknowledge them, whoever they are, for the bridles of your spiritual vice sent from God, and therefore do not be angry with them, but thank the Lord that He, merciful, gives you a favorable opportunity to acquire humility. Patients do not scold their operators for removing harmful ulcers from their bodies, but although with grief, they endure their illness - so you, making the Jesus Prayer, no matter how hard it was for you to endure the insult from those concerning your pride, bear it without arming on them - and God bless you to follow Jesus Christ and carry His cross.

Dealing with the salvation of your soul, exchange your nobility for slavery to Jesus Christ and be a servant to all; do not refuse to serve anyone at any time, do not regret neither strength, nor health, nor peace; do what you can to the members of Christ - to all Christians; comfort everyone who needs your comfort.

Elder Theodore of Sanaksar

In order to please God, it is necessary to pray to Him with a contrite heart, may he forgive us our sins, graciously arrange our life (for salvation), and thank him for all His mercies to us; on the feast days of the Lord to go to the church of God, to listen in everything what the holy Church commands, and on other days to work without laziness, who has what business, and from all works give alms to the poor and offerings to the church of God; help each other in needs; who had enmity with whom, forgive him without anger; all those who find innocent misfortunes, misfortunes and other needs to endure complacently without sorrow, with thanksgiving to God. Always have in memory the fear of God, in order to get rid of eternal torment, to always ask God to enable us to be in the Kingdom of Heaven. All this is pleasing to God!

In order to lag behind evil deeds, one must not offend each other, not steal someone else's or not

to seize with any deceit, not to lie, not to quarrel with each other, not to be angry, not to have rancor, not to be prodigal, not a drunkard, not a ridiculous man, foul language and idle talker; do not be a buffoon and a dancer, do not engage in magic and other wicked deeds, and do not resort to healers and slanderers in illness. All this is contrary to God.

Humility consists in not thinking about yourself anything great and lofty, both before God and before people: before God, because you are always a sinner, even if you have done good, but you should know that you did not (good) by himself, but only with the help of the Lord, according to the word of the Apostle: "... it is not as though we are content to think of (good) from ourselves ... but our contentment is from God" (2 Cor. 3: 5).

Therefore, do not think anything great about yourself, but most of all remember the prophetic word about yourself: "I am a worm, and not a man, the reproach of men and the humiliation of people" (before God) (Psalm 21: 7).

In front of people, consider yourself the last and, living in a brotherhood, choose the last: love the last place between them, make a bow to the brethren in advance, love the simplest clothes, and correct all difficult matters meekly, and keep silence: if you say something necessary, then say sedate, meek and humble.

When we reproach and endure annoyance from others, do not be angry, but only think that you are the very last and a slave to everyone - that is what perfect humility lies in.

If you do any virtue, then do not add to it any hostility of deceit-: you do prayer or alms, then let them not be with vanity or man-pleasing; when polishing and praying, it is as if you would not fall into high-mindedness.

But even doing every virtue, do not trumpet before you, that is, do not think that you are doing something great, do not ascribe to yourself, but to God's help; if you do something good, it is not by your own strength, but God helps you; and you yourself cannot think anything good without God - attribute good to God, and only evil to yourself.

"I will judge righteousness," says the Lord (Ps. 74: 3).

This means that if a person does something good and thinks: "I have done a great deed, I am righteous before God," then these righteousness will be judged by the Lord, that is, our good deeds, done with vanity or arrogance and praising ourselves in front of people ...

Hegumen Bonifatius of Theophany

In a comfortable society, various ranks and estates exist so that members of society "bear the burdens of others," that is, help each other in achieving prosperity, external and internal, so that the higher ones take care of the peace and safety of the lower ones, and these, in turn, serve the higher ones to the extent his strength, according to the nature of his occupation. Therefore, it is obvious that not self-love, not self-interest should guide a Christian in the performance of his civic duties, but the desire for the good of his neighbor, sincere love for him. The Holy Apostle Paul, teaching Christians to obey civil authorities and laws (Rom. 13: 1-8) and, in accordance with the degree and significance of the authorities of civil society, to pay tribute to each of them, says: "He has a lesson, a lesson; and to him a tribute, a tribute; and to him, fear, fear; and to him, honor, honor ": all these and similar civil duties are united into one great Christian duty:" You should not be a single person who should love one another, love one another: love another, fulfill the law. "

It is not the place that saves a person, but good nature and heartfelt will. Adam, while living in Paradise, sinned, but Lot was saved in Sodom; Job deserved an excuse for pestilence, and Saul, even being in the royal palaces, is deprived of the kingdom of the present and future. It is possible to be saved at any place and at any share, according to the fate of the Almighty we inherited.

What is required is patience and consistency. "Enduring to the end, that one will be saved," said the Lord. "Even on the good of the earth ... he will create fruit in patience" (Luke 8:15).

Men and women, going to the Church of God, should be dressed simply, modestly and decently, should behave with some importance, only without any sophistication, should observe reverent silence, kindle true and fiery Christian love in their hearts, should be pure in body and heart , should be holy, as much as possible for them, so that they could offer their prayers to the Holy of Holies.

And upon leaving the church, Christians should behave in the same way as in the church itself, that is, they should be just as sedate and loving towards others.

Abbot Filaret Glinsky

Do not show your mind, especially in front of your elders.

If your conscience denounces someone against, go with humility and ask him for forgiveness without any justification, even if your guilt, apparently, was not found. From this you will come to spiritual prosperity.

Abbess Antonia Kashinskaya

Love each other not with an outward expression, or with a treat, or with affection, but love each other with a desire for good, a warning against evil, a deed, a word, even good thoughts about each other. When you see the bad in a person, then know that this is an enemy deed, for we only have to see the bad in ourselves.

When you hear a bad rumor about a person, whether from just people or from slanderers, from anyone else, immediately pay attention to your sins and listen to these speeches in accusing yourself and your sins, but beware yourself so as not to fall into condemnation ... "Do not judge, but you will not be judged."

The instructions of an unknown elder to Christians living in the world

1. In a moment of despair, know that the Lord is not forsaking you, but you are the Lord. In the name of God, this is how I command you to live when you are alone: ​​even if you were mournful, even if you didn’t want to, always call upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who lives in your soul, with your heart.

2. The novices of Christ should not have their own will in the subject, but God's will, which forbade both the apostles and us to explore the future, which God put in His power.

3. If you live with others, then serve them as God Himself, and do not demand love for love, for humility - praise, for service - gratitude.

4. Do not do anything to seduce or offend your neighbors living with you; and if they offend you, look at it not as an insult, but as an instrument prepared for you from the Lord God, with which, if you want, you can destroy in yourself all uncleanness of the heart.

5. Before you say anything, consider whether your word or deed will offend God or your neighbor.

6. Do not judge someone else's slave, whether standing or falling: he has a God who is strong to keep him from falling and to rise after falling.

7. Remember that the minute that laziness takes from you is, perhaps, the last in your life, followed by death and judgment. Leave bliss.

8. Do not grieve anyone and do not pay with abuse for abuse, sorrow for sorrow - and in the book of animals your name will be written with the saints.

9. I ask you, my friends, do not neglect any means that can please God, but there are many such means, such as: affectionate treatment of people, consolation of the sad, intercession of the offended, giving to the poor, aversion of eyes from bad things, opposition to bad thoughts , forcing yourself to prayer; patience, mercy, justice and the like. The fulfillment of these sacred virtues will attract to you the all-powerful help of God, and with it you will overcome everything difficult that previously seemed impossible to overcome by our forces.

10. Resist irascibility in every way, and, with God's help, it will certainly weaken. "If it happens when you get irritated or angry, then the most insignificant are verbs, either go away, or shut your mouth, so that the fierce flame does not escape and scorch your soul and create a vain rebellion with you; but as soon as the flame goes out and your heart is peaceful, then even for correcting verbs. "

11. Beware of anything to be angry in every possible way: every trouble does not in itself befall us, but is allowed by the providence of God for the same salutary purposes, for which the holy Apostle Paul was comprehended by "troubles in the rivers, troubles from a robber, troubles from a kinsman, troubles from language, troubles in the city, troubles in the desert, troubles in the mori, troubles in false brethren, "outside of battle, inside — illness (2 Cor. 11:26).

12. Knowing this, do not pay attention to who offended you and for what offended you, but just remember that no one would dare to insult you if the Lord did not want to allow this, and therefore thank the Lord better that the sorrows that befall you He clearly shows that you are not strangers to Him, and leads you to the Kingdom of Heaven. The Holy Scripture says: "If you endure punishment, as if you were a son, God will be found for you. Who is his son; his father will not punish him" (Hebrews 12: 7).

13. Leave harshness always and be before the Lord in dealing with people like gentle children.

14. Abide in the love of God, learn it, breathe it: God is love, and whoever abides in love is in God and God is in him. And in a mournful life it is sweet to live with God's love.

15. Salvation is not in polyphony, but in perfect attention to oneself.

16. Get rid of arguments: they, stirring up the heart, deprive us of a peaceful state of mind. Contrast any absurd thought with the Jesus Prayer. Don't believe in prejudice.

17. Suspiciousness is not at all a Christian property, and therefore do not internalize it. But wisdom, caution and integrity is required of us by God Himself through Holy Bible: "Wake up wise, like a serpent, and goals, like a dove."

18. Always stick to the middle: extremes are nowhere and in no way commendable. Remember the senile word: "To him who is able to bear, to build up everything."

19. Always be devoted to the will of God, which will save us entirely.

20. Treat others with joy and love. Love them, serve them - they are dear: the blood of the Savior was shed for them, they are members of Christ. Don't insult them with even a subtle sign.

21. Save yourself by pleasing yourself before the Lord God, pleasing Him with all kinds of love. Just be concerned about that, in order to be enriched with love. Whoever has love has God in him.

22. Note that you are only completely satisfied with everything when you have patience, humility, humility and love for everyone.

23. Do not recollect the past with reproach, otherwise the Lord God will remember and demand from you what he has already forgiven you.

24. In despondency, make both your heart and your tongue pray like this: "Lord, save me - I am perishing!"

25. If you ask anyone for anything, then ask with patience of a Canaanite wife.

26. To believe other people's vices is a sin, therefore avoid such sinful confidence.

27. If you have grieved a servant in any way, then use such a means that he will forget the grief made to him.

28. Do everything with discretion, slowly, so that your affairs are successful.

29. Conquer evil with good: evil cannot be corrected by evil.

30. Without renouncing one's will, one cannot start and begin to salvation, not only to be saved. Ask the Lord for self-denial, my children: it is necessary for salvation.

31. If you decide to visit someone from your neighbors, then when visiting him make yourself for the indispensable obligation to preserve the same love and the same disposition for him, in which you entered to him, even if you received any insult.

32. In any trouble that occurs when dealing with neighbors, turn first to yourself: according to rigorous research, we almost always find that we ourselves were the cause of the displeasure.

33. In a moment of temper, keep silent and say the Jesus Prayer.

34. Do not make excuses, do not argue, condescend to characters and years. Console everyone and everyone with what you can: do not condemn anyone, do not pay evil for evil: love everyone, forgive everyone, be servants to everyone.

35. Consider yourself the last and the most sinful of all.

36. Love the Lord God and pray to Him as a Father, humble yourself before all Christians - and the Lord your God will love you, and your shepherd will rejoice in you.

37. Endure impatience, stupidity, ignorance, unnecessary anger - all without contradiction.

38. When you take on an involuntary feeling of dislike for someone, try to overcome this sinful feeling; force yourself to pray like this: "Save, O Lord, Thy servant (such and such) and subdue my heart with his holy prayers." Forcing yourself to render every kind of attention and service to an unloved person, and the Lord, seeing your good intention, will not only rip out sinful enmity from your heart, but will also fill him with holy love.

39. If prayer does not comfort you when it is fulfilled, then know that it prepares you with Divine consolation and sweetness soon after it is fulfilled: "Having endured the patience of the Lord, and hearken to me."

40. Throughout your life, before each of your actions, be guided by the following Christian reasoning: is the action I have planned contrary to the will of God, is it not destructive for my soul, is it not offensive to my neighbor? If, according to rigorous research, your conscience does not bother you, then carry out your intention, and if it bothers you, refrain from fulfilling it.

41. Do not touch your neighbor's honor with your tongue, but use your tongue only for the praise of God and for someone else's benefit and edification. And if you want to speak evil, then remember the sins you committed from your youth, and reproach yourself for having done them.

42. Do not be burdened by life: it is unbearable only for the wicked, and whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, trusts in Him, loves Him - for this it is always bearable.

43. Life is given to us only so that we glorify God, do good to our neighbors and reach the Eternal Kingdom in the narrow way indicated in the Gospel, and not in order to rejoice in it: "Blessed is he who weeps today" - and not laughing ones.

44. Humility received its origin from the humbled Lord Jesus and is the crown and beauty of all virtues. What rain is to a dry earth, so is humility to a human soul.

45. Humility is such a virtue that God Himself admires. "To whom shall I look? - He says. - Tokmo at the meek and humble, and trembling words of Mine."

46. ​​But what is humility? In my opinion, it consists in the fact that a person considers himself to be the most sinful of all, does not humiliate or offend anyone, does not condemn anyone, hears only himself and does not seek neither wealth, nor glory, nor praise, nor honor, considering himself completely unworthy; courageously endures humiliation, abuse, reproach, recognizing himself in his heart as deserving it; he treats everyone cordially, he is ready to serve everyone with love, does not see his good deeds and does not talk about them unnecessarily. I ask you such humility from the Lord God, my children, because it will not only deliver you from sin, but also lead you to love the One who humbled Himself to death, the death of the cross.

47. Love covers many sins. If you are sad - consolation, unhappy - relief, poor - help, orphan - father and mother, sick - repose, servant - merciful, erring - a guide to salvation, and every Christian - a servant zealous if possible, then for such your love for the lesser to the brothers and members of our Lord Jesus Christ, not only your sins will be blotted out, but you will also see the Lord face to face and rejoice forever.

48. Rely on your lips for keeping, exercise your heart in the Jesus Prayer, be diligent about all kinds of abstinence - and you will receive a priceless gift, the gift of God's love for you.

49. Render what is Caesarean to Caesarean, and God's - to Gods. Directing external affairs related to the common life, always be a sacrifice to God after your heart, and so live in this Babylon - this world, in order to constantly remember your heavenly Jerusalem and your destiny.

50. Exchange your nobility for slavery to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not resist, avoid luxury and do not be exalted before your servants: in the highest they are equal with you, because our Lord calls them to His holy meal with the same words as you: "Come, eat, this is My Body ... Drink from her all, this is My Blood, which is shed for you and for many. "

51. The valleys lying below are almost always fat and fertile, and the high mountains are mostly dry and incapable of fruiting. Likewise, the ear that holds its head up is always empty, and the ear that stands with its head down has many grains. Have a humble heart - and you will be enriched with all that is needed for salvation.

52. Fruitful rain falls on the valley both directly from the clouds and from high mountains - such is humility. By the name of rain, I mean the grace of God, which is given to the humble both directly from God and through people who have been spiritually lifted up by the Lord in this life, like mountains have been lifted up. If your inner will be humbly surrendered to the will of God and closed for his enemies to enter, then the Holy Spirit Comforter will come to you and dwell in you.

53. Forget about the long path: the Lord, by His mercy, leads you through the narrow gates to the Kingdom of Heaven, and that path will lead to eternal destruction.

54. I wish both you and myself in this life only cleansing from sins and I ask the Lord God to do with us everything that pleases Him to cleanse our sins and wash away iniquities, even if this requires dishonor and dishonor. Both you and I should live according to the commandments of God, and not according to human reason.

55. For the good of your soul, love solitude and, having submitted completely to the commands of the Heavenly Father, accustom your heart to the ceaseless prayer of Jesus. From the inner presence of the Lord God in you, you will become in everything more patient, loving and humble.

56. Beware lest laziness weaken your strength for spiritual deeds: it is the first enemy for those living at a distance from the Father; but also do not despair at salvation and do not be overwhelmed if you sometimes faint in deeds.

57. It is not deeds that will actually save us, but the mercy of God, if we do deeds only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who may not deprive you, my friends, of His mercy all the days of your life. Whether you are weak or bad, all have recourse to the merciful Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him: this hope will not put you to shame forever.

58. Do not despise my words and do not consider them difficult to fulfill: for the Lord and with the Lord, everything that is difficult is not difficult, and everything that is mournful is not sorrowful.

Igo bo is His good and His burden is easy to eat.

Elder Alexy Zosimovsky

In response to the words of the spiritual daughter that she lives absolutely not the way she would like, does not live the life of the spirit at all, that life forces her all the time to think about a piece of daily bread, the father always said: so you will be cleansed. "-" But how can I be cleansed, father, when I sink more and more? " - "Well, well, you get bogged down and crawl out, otherwise, you know, it happens and vice versa: it crawls out, and suddenly it gets bogged down: do not rush to get out, so it will be more accurate, and you need to find out the whole seamy side of life, even though you are a delicate flower. Do not be afraid of the dirt, the dirt visible in a person - this means that he is saved when all the dirt is out, that is, when the spiritual dirt in him is already noticeable, - by this he completely expiates his unworthiness; but one must be afraid of that dirt, which is difficult to get to , that filth that nests in such recesses of our heart, where no human help can force it to show up in all its obstinacy, where only the right hand of God can help. "

We condemn, child, because we do not look behind ourselves and we do not condemn ourselves in advance. Do not condemn anyone, do not slander and do not give wrong advice to your neighbors, well, if you have to do this, then hurry to correct the evil. Say what you said wrong, warn me, apologize with a letter, finally, if you yourself cannot see them, otherwise, you know, there are a lot of troubles from this.

When his spiritual daughter asked if it was possible to play the piano and dance, the priest said: “I only bless you to play the piano, for example, Beethoven, Chopin, etc. , you know, and the chords are all passionate ... Well, dancing is quite a demonic affair, degrading a person's dignity. So it was funny for me to even watch from the side - people grimace, jump, well, exactly like fleas. "

Venerable Lawrence of Chernigov

“How, father, can I be saved?” The woman asks the elder. "Walk and sing:" Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth. "It is necessary that there be peace in the soul. Salvation is not hard, but wise. At this time, you need to be wise, and you will be saved," said the elder.

Archpriest Alexey Mechev

Both in the world and in the monastery there is a renunciation of the world; in the world - so that we are not captured by what is happening around us: there is no God, etc. Both in the world and in the monastery there is communication with people, therefore, here and there, we must fight with our “I”. Pray attentively in the morning and evening, imagine that you are standing before the Lord; this will force you to turn to the Lord with heartfelt prayer more often during the day. What a temptation, some case of sin, remember: "But how will I pray in the evening, with what eyes will I look at the icon?" "," Lady, help me to be Your pure son or daughter, "and then this work on myself, these works will entice you, that you will no longer regret that you did not get married ... and wherever you come, everywhere it will be good ... Maybe the Lord will bless someone from among you, and you will go there ready-made, and there you will be suns that warm everyone, unite everyone. Although now the monastery should be in the world. A monastery should be secular. I have been working on this for a long time and I think that we already have a wall ... the internal structure remains.

Upbringing in spiritual life, the priest loved that outwardly a person would not change, would remain as he is. You need to humble yourself, you need to have respect for your elders, you can say the words "forgive", "bless", but otherwise you need to remain the same as before. “Clothes don't make a monk,” he said.

You need to avoid bad comrades, otherwise you can get used to bad ones. At first it will seem strange to you how people are doing bad things, and then you will get used to it and will not notice that you yourself are doing badly, and it will be very difficult to get out of the habit. Some rich parents had a son in bad company, they dragged him to Khitrovka, and he got used to hanging out there. The parents will find him, bring him home, dress him, and put shoes on, and he will live for two weeks and then run away there again. Says: "I got used to it and cannot change in any way."

When, in relation to neighbors, anger begins against them, or something like that, or a prodigal thought overwhelms, it is immediately necessary to turn with prayer to Jesus the Sweetest, Tryphon the Martyr, St. Nicholas and to your saint. And in difficult cases, immediately immerse yourself in the reading of the Gospel and other holy books and try to experience what is written in them - and so direct your thoughts in the other direction. It is very helpful to invoke the names of the parents and spiritual father at this time.

Elder Hieroschemamonk Sampson

How you need to take care of every day, how you need to burn out pride from yourself, how you need to look after your jealousy and conscience, how you need to tidy yourself up, pick yourself up in order to be ready for eternity; to know that the slightest pride - and we will be detained. What diligence must be and how one must not lag behind! Otherwise the demons will kill you. An example is prisoners of war. When they are driven, they walk up to a hundred kilometers a day, and if anyone falls behind, they kill him, writing down: "Killed for trying to escape." This is exactly what the demons do.

In order to guard oneself from sin, everything must be done in the presence of God.

If someone asks something, you need to answer with love, very briefly. You walk down the street, and someone meets - immediately ask yourself, how it will be before God; always speak, peering into oneself, so that there is no flattery, so that there is no lie, there is no man-pleasing, there is only one naked truth.

If a question arises and you cannot answer - so as not to lie and not to deceive, not to cheat, not to deceive, just say: I don’t know, I cannot answer this, ask someone else, experienced or smart.

Then, in fact, there will be life in the face of God, and it will always be joyful and cheerful, and this peace will never leave.

Never show your mood. A proud person, selfish, cares only about himself, does not notice those around him, there is no love in him. He will never work out his salvation. This is an egoistic state, that is, pagan.

Push yourself, always be outwardly peaceful, so as not to upset people. The fear of upsetting a person is what Christianity is.

And to offend a person - even in the thought should not be. This is the primary concern of Christianity, the yardstick of Christianity.

Self-gnawing is demonic repentance from your proud "I". The man reproaches himself, why, why he went, then he would not have met the temptation there. Blame no one, no demon, no man, and do not reproach yourself. We are only given the right to resist temptation with the help of God through the ability to protest and protect ourselves from sin, protecting ourselves in a prayer system, through humility.

Remember every day that happiness lies in friendship, in constant trust in each other, admiring each other and yielding to each other (as a rule), may there be no one in command of you. The sweetness of meekness be with you. If someone is angry, irritable, unmerciful from fatigue or mental upset, then only meekness can calm the upset. Remember the presence of God everywhere. And therefore, it is imperative to pray in the morning, in the afternoon and for sleep. Laziness insults and insults God. And observance of the fast on Wednesday and Friday is indispensable, so as not to offend the Omnipresent.

I was asked to speak to your audience today on a topic that seems to sound very relevant and, probably, it is. But all current topics have the disadvantage that you can never say everything about them. You always say something, and something significant and important will remain outside the fence, beyond what is said.

My word will be nothing more and nothing less than an introductory phase so that you and I can not only have some tea together, but also talk together. Although it is possible that the conversation will continue even during tea.

The theme is very strongly marked: "Salvation Today." And I involuntarily have associations with one of the conferences, which took place exactly under this name. True, it took place very far from the borders of Russia, in Hindustan, and concerned, at first glance, the most important problems of our life.

Two representatives went there from our Church: then the archbishop, now Metropolitan Kirill, a fairly well-known person for everyone, and the now deceased Metropolitan Anthony, who at that time was archbishop. We were all looking forward to what results they would bring to us.

At that time in the Russian Church there was only one synodal commission, many of the commissions that exist now were not then, they simply did not allow us. And so they come. We are waiting for them to tell. However, what they told us made a depressing impression. It will be clear to everyone at once or not, but they told us this way.

It was a worldwide Christian conference, I stress very much that it was a Christian conference. There gathered those who believe in Christ as God, as Savior, believe that the Gospel is not an ordinary book of ancient wisdom, but not so ancient, only 2,000 years ago, but a book that contains truths, if you will. , surpassing the possibilities of human identification, are of a supernatural nature. What are they - this is another conversation.

So, these are the people gathered there who believe in Christ, believe in the Gospels as the truth, believe that the meaning of human life in no way can be limited by the time frame of several decades that fall on the life of many of us, believe in eternal life.

And here's what they told us - we were just literally at a loss. They said that at this conference they talked about anything: they talked about salvation from transnational corporations, from racism, exploitation, from disease, poverty, hunger, from injustice, war, but the only thing that was not said was about the salvation that in Christianity it is identified with this word, with this concept of salvation. That is, what saves a person from what destroys a person the most.

When our representatives tried to say: when are we going to talk about Christian salvation? They looked at them as at some relics of the past, whence such strange people came from, do they really not understand that the whole meaning of life, the whole essence of life is only in this life and nothing else.

This world conference brought together two completely incompatible streams of lives, two incompatible understandings of the meaning of life, the meaning of human purpose, the essence of this life.

That is, one of them is very clear: live while you live. Live as long as you are healthy, and you are ill - well, well, who is not sick. Live while everything is all right with you, and if not, well, anything can happen. What can we hope for? At random, and suddenly you do not get sick. And here you can’t say in any way - what if you don’t die. Here "what if" does not happen. Anything can be "what if", but this does not happen.

Interestingly, one of the great Christian sages named Isaac the Syrian has amazing words that are powerful in their content. Speaking about peace, about “peace” - not a state of the soul, not a state of relations between nations, but about “the world” as a human society that lives by momentary interests. He uttered the following words: "The world is a flatterer, flatterer and deceiver." Strange, what is this flattery?

Flatterer - he always flatters us that we will get something, something else will be. Yes, now we live, we feel everything and hope for something, now we are working, of course, there will be a day off, and then what will happen? What "then"? How does a person live?

Interestingly, we have a lot of momentary problems, this is not the point. If in each specific case we are already looking for its end, looking for its meaning, looking for, if you will, outgoing products of its use in life. But first of all this question must be resolved: what do I hope for, what am I waiting for? About this most important thing, there is no, or almost, or very rarely there is a well-thought-out answer. Don't think about it.

It turns out as in the famous fable of Krylov: “I walked around the entire zoo. I looked at all the bugs, flea beetles, butterflies, birds, mosquitoes, it’s interesting - it’s impossible. Have you seen the elephant? An elephant? Who is he? No. I didn’t notice the elephant ”. Roughly the same picture takes place in our life. It is easy to turn to others, but not to yourself, very difficult. There is no thoughtfulness. What we just do not think over, a lot of things, developments, but we do not think over this - what I expect in the end.

There are two fundamental answers - atheistic and Christian. With an atheistic approach, everything is obvious and clear to the limit: do not expect anything but death, everything ends with it, what it will be, what - we will not think about it. Atheism is a very good, caressing thing: we will not think: quietly and smoothly swaying, we will forget the grief, friends. Let's not think.

How can you not think when you constantly face it, every day? How can you not think when another is standing next to you and says: "It is a lie that everything ends with death." A gigantic amount of evidence suggests that death does not end at all. For a person, something very little ends and a completely different world of being is revealed.

In our time, we have a lot of literature that not only asserts, not simply declares, but simply reports facts showing that the human personality does not cease its existence with the destruction of the body, but acquires a different nature of being, in which a person with complete clarity, with complete certainty he begins to experience everything that happened in his moral world of the soul.

I repeat: there is a lot of such literature. True, only now it has acquired the status of a scientific one. All history has been written about this, when there was writing. They talked about this when there was no written language, but for some time now, especially since the 18th century, first in Europe, then migrated to us in Russia, as it should be, they began to treat this as inventions, fairy tales, mental disorders.

Christianity speaks of a very important thing that defines the whole character of this life and is not limited to this life, but opens up an endless perspective of human life ahead.

Salvation - what is it? Christianity speaks for the second time about these things, which the world Christian conference discussed. Christianity does not at all reject worries about daily bread, about exploitation, about disease, about ignorance, no, but Christianity first of all calls on a person to think about the very root, over the very essence of the human person, the core from which everything emanates - both suffering and joy , and disorder and, on the contrary, order and prosperity, and the well-being of mankind.

Christianity pays attention to what it calls the human soul, and it asserts the following: that, it turns out, the first and main reason for all that which needs salvation occurs. That the cause of all evil lies in the disorder of the soul. Whose? My. But not only mine, but also him, and her, and us. Disorder of the soul, disorder of the soul - this is where the root and source of all those disorders that we observe in our life, in our common life, in world life. The disorder of the human soul - what is it, this disorder?

The fact is that, first of all, we do not always know what is good and what is bad. Sometimes we make mistakes very well, if, as it seems, we are not mistaken, then we often act according to a very interesting morality. They say that the moral of the Hottentot is this: "If I steal from someone, it is good, if they steal from me, it is bad." A not bad expression, it is true, is never directly announced, but latently it is very often present and, moreover, is almost the guiding principle of a certain kind of people.

Christianity claims that there are human norms, and deviations from these norms lead to the destruction of the human personality, and this destruction quite naturally pours out and manifests itself in various forms, like irritation of a person.

Here is a person in a state of irritation, so it breaks out in all directions from him, they say: here he came under my arm, here the thing is not so, and everything is not so with him. The spirit creates forms for itself. And so Christianity claims that the state that we call ordinary and normal is, unfortunately, the great, if it is ordinary, then at least not normal. What is this abnormality, how to see it?

You know, a curious psychological phenomenon that a person, as a rule, does not see it. He sees when this is already overstepping the boundaries of what is permissible, Christianity calls it a state of sin or passion. How does it work in a person? We all know and understand this very well, the only question is that, knowing and understanding, a person, unfortunately, does not see this in himself.

The first and most important thing with which the anomaly of our life is connected is that we do not see in ourselves that collapse, that disorder that is present in the human soul. This is the first and most amazing thing, and what it is, it is not even necessary to say it completely clearly.

Pay attention - in the same team, in the same family, somewhere in society, look at how all our relationships are built and run and what happens in the soul itself. Dostoevsky has a wonderful phrase: “Oh, if only it were revealed what is happening in my soul. Not only what I cannot tell my friends, not only what I cannot tell my closest friends, not only what I will not tell my relatives, would have been revealed, even what I am hiding from myself would have been revealed. If only this was revealed, then such a stench would begin in the world that it would be impossible for us to breathe and live in this world. "

To understand this phrase, imagine a pulpit on which a person stands, speaks, and next to it is a fetid pit. And suddenly some magician would come and hold his hand once - and the whole human soul would open up, it would be revealed how he is cunning in front of his friends, how he speaks well here, but in fact right behind the wall he throws mud at this person, how he lies, how he is hypocritical, how he is cunning, how he steals, how he cheats, in an instant it all suddenly opened up.

I think that a rare person who would not immediately jump from this elevated place into this stinking pit, if only no one could see, and here all these acquaintances, friends who trust, believe, are standing, and suddenly. After all, this is reality, this is not an essay.

How many lies we allow in our lives, and deceit, slander and envy, and unjust irritability - this is the reality. We often hover in the clouds, here it is - the reality of our life. And Christianity asserts that this state, these actions that we sometimes do in deed, but immeasurably more we do within ourselves, when no one sees and does not know what is happening in me, what thoughts, what feelings, what desires, what I I long for what I would like, how I truly relate to that person - no one sees, it happens only in me.

Christianity claims that these processes literally kill me, destroy my soul, they jar my whole state and are the reason that ruins a person. Not only do they ruin me, it is reflected in all my behavior, in my activities, in my work, in my attitude to the world around me. Christianity claims that the source that we could call evil is the abnormal that happens in the human soul.

This is how Christianity differs from the world. Now it is clear what "peace" is. Anyone there will tell you why it’s bad here, well, it’s clear, still: what has Yeltsin done, Gorbachev, and these corrupt ministers - and off they go, they’ll pour in a whole heap, and everything seems to be fair - these deceivers, these thieves, these venal , these traitors, everyone around me is to blame, I alone - the angel of God - stand, good is impossible.

This is not what Christianity says. Not an external circumstance, not an act of other people. And again Dostoevsky comes to my mind: “First of all - my I, where I am aware of what is happening in me. This primarily determines my involvement in this life, and hence my suffering, more or less, joy in this life. "

Please note that real Christian saints are real, I say in this case, to emphasize that a saint in Christianity is a person who has attained the purification of his soul from these passions - that these Christian saints, being in this pool, in incredible situations preserved joy and peace. Just think - they were involved in this world and remained outside it.

Seraphim of Sarov, our Russian saint, who died in 1833, whose life is well known. What have you got? He was so filled with joy, this inner state of mind, that he could not meet other people otherwise than: "You are my joy." It was not just an empty saying, this is not an American smile when the dead man laughs: his eyes are standing, but a smile is on his face. Eerie thing: a grimace of a smile like a caricature. No, the fact that he treated that way, people experienced with such force that it left an impression for the rest of their lives.

It was not only ordinary people who came to him, people of all levels of social life came. Who were you going to? Education? What kind of education is there. Is intelligence special? What is it? What - did you write a philosophical treatise? Was he a bishop? No, some simple monk. Who is he, from the external point of view? Nobody, nothing, empty space, from the point of view of external life - and suddenly people go to him. Cause? Quite obvious. The reason, just imagine: to be constantly in the twilight and not an ounce of the sun, and then come out into the bright sun, suddenly a sunbeam - what joy captures the soul, isn't it?

So it is here: what are we all suffering from? We rarely feel sincere love coming to me from the bottom of our hearts. How rarely do we feel this, moreover, unselfish love, waiting for nothing in return, loving not because I love you, no, maybe I don’t love you at all, maybe I insult - and suddenly love is disinterested. This is what conquered people, this is what attracted people like a magnet, and whoever experienced this action of love at least once, he could not then forget this visit. This is what conquered people.

Christianity claims that when a person takes the path of this correct Christian life, then, gradually freeing himself from these diseases, from sins or passions, a person gradually acquires the quality that is primary for a person. What makes a person a special being in this world is a person acquires love. Christianity says that this quality is acquired. This is already a property - not an outburst of emotions, not a pretense of feelings, not artistry - but this becomes a property of human nature.

Can you imagine what then happens to the person himself? We know happiness when there is love in the heart - everyone knows that, and there is no need even to explain. Firstly, he is a blissful and happiest person, and secondly, what impression, what effect does he make on the world around him. It is not without reason that the same Seraphim of Sarov wrote the words: “Acquire a peaceful spirit and thousands will be saved around you”.

By salvation, Christianity understands the liberation of man from the power of the passions that enslave us. I cannot help but overeat, I cannot help but dissemble, I cannot but envy, I cannot but get irritated, I cannot but get angry. Forgive me, who suffers with all these things? I, of course. I understand that this is not good? Understand. Why are you doing this?

How deeply Socrates was mistaken - everyone knows the name, the greatest ancient Greek thinker and sage - when he believed so and asserted that if people do something evil, they act only because they are wrong, as soon as a person realizes that it is evil - he will never do it. Well, here is all Socrates, I can tell you, he really was such a person. He was an amazing person - Socrates, this is some kind of miracle of history, if he was convinced of what - that's all: he will not back down one iota.

Our situation is completely different, and it is paradoxical. The Apostle Paul says well about this: “Woe is me! I do not the good that I want, but the evil that I hate ... "Indeed," woe to me "- I made myself a rule: now, after sitting down at the table, I will only eat so that I can leave a little hungry. at the table.

All doctors, all doctors, I myself know - this is the best for my health. I go out full of energy and strength, I don't have any poisoning, that's all - from now on I will be like this. And here - on you: such treats, so tasty, it is impossible, I can no longer, suffocate, but my hand still stretches out - another piece, and then a glass, and it goes even stronger under it, and it went, and in everything like that.

How to learn not to be jealous? How would you do it? How not to get annoyed? Our theme is posed in a very interesting way: “Salvation Today”. I must say: firstly, what Christianity calls commandments are quite simple things and, naturally, one should not envy, not be irritated, not lie, not be hypocritical - that is what the commandments are. They are not volatile, they do not change in the same way as the multiplication table. True, the conditions under which it is possible and necessary to fulfill them, living conditions, do change a lot - this is true.

Our thinkers, Slavophiles, such as Khomyakov, Kireevsky, Aksakovs are the sons of Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov. Just read them, they write what the Russian community was like.

This, of course, is something amazing. You just read and think that this is almost heaven on earth. It doesn't even matter what their financial situation was, it was truly heaven on earth. Oblomovka remember what it is? I remember when we taught, we were told that this is bad, this is terrible, and we shout that this is beauty! The poor teacher ran away in horror - she would be kicked out, she is politically badly shoeing the children, we had to criticize and scold, and all of a sudden we were all delighted: "We would have gone to Oblomovka."

What was the village life, think: now one child - they cannot cope with him, we do not know what to do, and there in every family there are 8, 10, 12 children, 15 - how can you raise? Here my mother tells me: one of them had 15, she was already counting over the head: "Oh, one is missing." Somewhere he goes, looking, and he sleeps in the garden bed.

How did you bring up? The whole community was brought up. Every adult was responsible for the upbringing of every child in the village. Everyone was responsible, just think. Not like they say now: “What is your business? This is my child. Don't mess with your own business. " We cut it off by rail: “Don't dare to touch. This is my property. "

This was not: this is ours - this is us. There was that perception of humanity and man, which in Christianity are called the Church, conciliarity, and by conciliarity we mean nothing more than the integrity of the organism. It was a single organism.

What were the customs? Good, wonderful customs. Holidays - you had to go to church. Half a day or a day does not work, yes, it was necessary to stay in the temple. It was necessary to read who could and who had something so sacred.

What was the respect for elders, what was the respect for chastity, this is the rarest occurrence for something to happen. I was told that there were even excesses in this regard, but what was the respect for chastity, for purity. It never happened that in the evenings, at night, they met somewhere around the corners. There were round dances, amazing in their beauty. They sang songs, not tape recorders, they danced, not televisions. The customs were wonderful. They have greatly contributed to normal human life.

Now "salvation today" is really a question. "Salvation today" - everything is destroyed. Those who made the revolution knew what had to be done first of all: to destroy the spirit of the community, to destroy the Christian spirit, Christian moral values, everything was destroyed. We are now at a ruined trough. What is going on with television, what is going on with the press, what do we see in these newspapers, in these programs, where is life headed now? In our time, I can tell you, it is immeasurably more difficult to preserve the moral and spiritual integrity of a person.

How is salvation possible today, and is it even possible in such wild conditions of ours, when such ideas are offered to us that we can simply grab hold of our heads. The American spirit of business, the spirit of money, the spirit of the dollar literally fell upon us like a wall of a waterfall.

What's the most popular in America? The latest bestseller, 42 editions, is Hill's Think and Know How to Make Money. 42 editions, millions of copies - this is how people live. The main thesis of the book: only by bringing the passion for money to a boil can you become rich.

That's all, the last goal in life, and then what? And everything is already a wall, we have already reached the end of the world. And this is the meaning of life? Yes Yes. So tomorrow they will take you to the cemetery. We will not even think about this, we would rather smile pleasantly. To what ugliness you can walk, and we live in this atmosphere. This is presented to us as the highest ideal, as the last starting point of human life.

Salvation Today. What do we have to do? It is not for nothing that the Apostle Paul (who has read, knows) calls the Church a pillar and an affirmation of truth, something unshakable. Who wants to hold on - hold on. By the Church in this case I do not mean the organization of the Church, first of all I mean by the Church that totality of truths of intellectual, doctrinal and moral truths. Holding on to which, being guided by which in his life, setting which to the principles of his life, a person can now, amid these storms, like many saints, remain untouchable. Avoid this dirt.

What do I need to do? First, you need to make sure that Christianity is not an appendage to our life, but that it is life itself. How can one understand that this is not an appendage, but life itself? We must act in this way at every moment of time, and not otherwise. What should be guided by? Where is it good and where is it evil?

Christianity offers, says: good is not to repay evil for evil. Is this good for whom? For you. Think about yourself now and do not return evil for evil. For when you repay with evil, you raise up evil in yourself. In the spiritual sphere, like in no other, Newton's third law is justified: the harder you hit your head against the wall, the more painful your head will be. Do not envy - you harm yourself, do not deceive - you harm yourself.

What does Christianity call sin? It calls everything that harms a person and nothing else as a sin. What are the commandments? Do you think this is an order of God? What a false, frivolous, Catholic, pagan understanding of the commandments. Nothing of the kind, this is not an order of God at all. Now many colleagues would eat me alive. This is not an order from God - this is a warning from a loving being, from the mother, from the father. Warning - don't do this, you will feel bad. When hot, do not drink kvass, cold, ice, or do not drink beer - it will be bad for you. What is called a commandment is God's warning to every person. Love's warning that you do not do this to yourself, because it will hurt.

Christianity calls not only external things, understandable to everyone, which is understandable to any pagan: do not kill, do not rob - these things are understandable. Christianity goes much deeper, it says that all our deeds, what we do, does not happen by inspiration from above or from below, but all this is first born in our soul, in thoughts and desires.

Therefore, Christianity says: "Fight against bad thoughts, fight against bad desires, sweep aside, do not accept them, fight them, do not do evil to yourself inside." The most terrible evil in the world, an abscess, which is easier to deal with inside, outside with an abscess. An internal sore is 10 times worse than any external one.

Christianity sees the roots and shows: this is where the sources of what harms a person are. So, sin is not an invention of the Lord God who lives behind the clouds, no, it is something that harms a person. A commandment is a warning to a person. Hence, one can understand that the commandments are like eternal foundations - they always remain in human society. But in connection with the environment in which a person lives, here these conditions can either facilitate or hinder the fulfillment of the commandments.

What should be done in our time by everyone who wants to really take it, and, in the end, who wants to harm themselves? I think that you can interrogate, and one hundred percent will say: "No, we do not want to harm ourselves." If we analyze what Christianity calls sin, we will see: yes, indeed, it is harm.

Well, well, if you are convinced, then let's start not to do this. How? For people who are not familiar with Christianity, or even well-known, one of the important conditions is necessary: ​​you need to get to know, and if possible, read at least a little of the New Testament every day. There are given the criteria for human life, there is given the ideal image of humanity in Christ.

An interesting fact is that in the history of human research there has not yet been an image - if we consider the Gospel as a literary source - that would correspond to the image of Christ in its grandeur, moral dignity and wisdom. There are no equal. Even the worst enemies speak about it.

There were holy people, there were Socrates - great, but how did they die? Where do you find Christ-like sacrifice? Knowing what is going on and going for it. Knowing, even to pray to God: "If you can, carry this cup past Me" - but he adds: "However, not Mine, but Thy will be done." We will not find such greatness of love, on the one hand, and tremendous depth of humility, on the other, as in Christ. I say: the constant reading of the Gospel and the reading of other books that are contained in the New Testament, I am talking especially about the epistles of the apostles James, Peter, John - they are highly indicative and indicate the norms of human life.

When we talk about salvation today, we cannot do anything without studying the Gospel, the New Testament. I will tell you this: literature is food, and what a person eats is very important. We all know perfectly well how the state of our body depends on nutrition. Clean water or dirty water, food is made from chemistry or grown vegetables, fruits, or is it all natural, pure. So it is here: reading literature to a large extent determines our spiritual state, and then the self-consciousness of a person.

In this regard, I would like to say that it is necessary to read not just the New Testament, there are many questions that arise - this is natural and for every person who is seriously interested, these questions must be identified. It is necessary to read the interpretation of the New Testament. That is, the explanation of those places that seem difficult, incomprehensible, contradictory, we need to do this. We need to understand the New Testament, without this we simply cannot talk about any "salvation today". I cannot be based on anything. What salvation am I going to talk about? The spiritual is impossible - this is the main thing - the salvation of a person without knowledge of the New Testament.

As important as what we read, it is of the utmost importance. If the New Testament is the foundation of all literature, everything that we read, then certain Christian literature is very important. It is very important to know what to read.

For someone who would really like to know, is interested in the issues of a correct human life, we can recommend not a large literature, but at least a small circle, because with our busyness with you we do not find much time for reading, we all revolve in the bustle like a squirrel in the wheel. Therefore, we need such a literature that would be concentrated, expressing the basic necessary truths and ideas that would contribute to our salvation. In this regard, I would name several authors and several books.

If we talk about ancient literature, then easily readable, simple and touching on many issues directly to our life is the work of Abba Dorotheus. This is the author of the IV century, called " Psychic Teachings". This is a very old book.

Among the same ancient writings can be called John Chrysostom. There he gives a very thoroughly broad explanation of the New Testament. He can find answers to many questions that arise in connection with the reading of the New Testament.

As far as new literature is concerned, I will name the smallest one. I would pay attention to the deep explanation of Christianity - these are the works of Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov. This is a man who received an excellent education in the 19th century. He died in 1867. An aristocrat who perfectly knew new languages, ancient languages ​​- Latin and Greek. I read the holy fathers in the originals. And in spite of the society in which he lived and was brought up, he followed the monastic path. The beloved of the emperor and empress, when he took this path, there was general indignation, to the point that his aristocrat father disowned him. This person is the deepest in his spiritual understanding of the issues of life. His writings are a source of learning for every person, but the language, unfortunately, is from the 19th century. His father was a page under Paul I, and they hired home teachers of the same mentality, so his language is different from Pushkin's, but he is a very profound writer.

Of the newest writers, it would be worth buying and having on your shelf - these are "Letters of the Elder of Valaam", which, unfortunately, will not be published in any way.

Then - “Letters” of Hegumen Nikon, I brought her to show even, she is small, but these are letters modern people... He died in 1963, this is, one might say, our contemporary. His letters to many of those who are still alive, to different people: monks and nuns, and laity, and priests, and students on very different issues. Everyone who has read them finds them not only interesting and exciting, but very relevant, since they answer many of life's questions.

I would also mention Abbess Arsenia, the book is preceded by her biography, and then her letters. This woman is just a genius, she is such a deep mind, such a deep penetration into the understanding of a person, that one is simply amazed. This is a rare phenomenon in the history of human thought, a very deep person.

I told you something, you know, when you touch the books - there are a lot of them. With the idea of ​​"salvation today" we cannot do without literature. Why? Not only because it feeds, not only because these books are checked and verified, as they say, that is, these books are clean of any opinions, delusions, etc.

Another reason is very important, unfortunately, what was predicted in ancient times. We are now witnesses. Alas, there are no people about whom we would say that they are spiritual elders, those who see the human soul.

At a certain stage of spiritual activity, asceticism, a person, clearing himself of passions, gets the opportunity to see the soul of another person. We cannot be given this, we will either become infected with the passions of other people, or we will condemn them from head to toe. If we see the soul of another person - and we ourselves will turn into demonic devil from sinless people, therefore we should not be allowed to see souls. There are no such people who see the souls of others.

At most, God forbid, if we manage to find a person, even a reasonable, sincere believer, who knows and understands the holy fathers well, we would already call him an elder and a confessor, but there are already few of them.

Therefore, such literature for us is a priceless treasure, there is someone to hold on to, there is an opportunity to get answers to many questions. This is why I pay special attention to literature.

For “salvation today,” like salvation always, one more point is needed, it is so delicate. The fact is that the main element of the modern world, which is especially preached, for example, by the New Age, is the religion of the new century. This is a kind of salvation in which you can do nothing and go straight to heaven, just raise your legs. It seems that the New Age comes from the East, from Hinduism, there are a lot of Hindu ideas, in particular, the idea of ​​reincarnation, but asceticism is still required there, but here is a wonderful thing: nothing is needed, no asceticism, live as you want, believe as you want, but you be a religious person. And that's it, you just can't imagine better - at last we have reached the point that you can sit with folded hands, and the garden grows under my window, beauty.

It is impossible, it turns out, to easily remove the fish from the pond. A volitional, conscious participation of a person in his life is necessary. I myself want to get rid of it. From what? Who can save me from envy if I do nothing? How can you get rid of this without doing anything? The holy fathers, the most experienced ascetics point out: indeed, you cannot get rid of envy just like that. They say: there is a rigid absolute connection, a pattern between sins. And without defeating the first, you will not defeat the second. Didn't create the conditions for victory over one - you will never defeat the third.

It turns out there is a connection. This is where the knowledge of the holy fathers is required, understanding is required, the correct train of thought and the correct course of action are required. First, the fight with the first, only by defeating the first, you can defeat the second. This does not mean that we must fight all sorts of dirty tricks, no. Just talking about the victory already. It's one thing to fight, another thing to win, these are different things: you have to fight every evil, but it turns out that it is impossible to eradicate something without first knowing what gives rise to it. Christianity stands on the basis of what? Combat evil. Where there is no struggle, no compulsion, it is impossible to achieve anything. Christianity points to the most serious relationship between soul and body.

You know that when Protestantism arose - it was in the 16th century, the beginning of the Reformation in 1517 - the first thing they did, figuratively speaking, cut a person in half and said: "The main thing is you believe, believe within yourself." How often do we hear: “I am a believer,” but what does the body have to do with it? You believe with your soul, the body has nothing to do with it. They abolished all fasts, abolished monasticism, they have nothing, no fasts, nothing.

What naivety, stupidity, ignorance. Who does not know that a well-fed belly is deaf to learning. They do not seem to know this. Everyone knows what is the dependence of the soul on the body. Look what happens to the drunk. Ask him for advice, he will give you. Everybody knows, and suddenly it’s canceled - it’s quite clear where this is coming from.

I will tell you that the entire Christian tradition, faith affirms and calls upon a person that without rational abstinence of the body it is impossible to acquire any spiritual fruits in one's life. Without reasonable body abstinence. Therefore, you understand why fasts are established in the Church. The only thing with which I would agree now: as the statute attributes, for many now such a post is impossible - with this I completely agree. People, especially those who work, who are not in the monastery - Great Lent, do you know what the requirements are? In the first week, generally dry food once a day and nothing boiled. I think it would be unreasonable for people who live in the world, work in society, bear huge loads - such a post, no. I'm talking about reasonable abstinence.

Well, a person cannot do this: abstain from meat if you cannot do everything. For many, this will be a greater feat than for a monk not to eat fish for the entire fast. Here it is necessary, in agreement with the same priest, rationally, but abstinence is necessary, without forcing oneself, without an act of will within oneself, it is impossible to achieve any spiritual fruits. For abstinence testifies to this - that, after all, I am the master of my stomach, and not he dominates me. The question is who will win this time: he or me.

So, Christianity claims that in “salvation today,” abstinence is a necessary element. Fasting time is especially conducive to this. I am not at all calling for this absolutization of all norms of fasting, but, nevertheless, there should be a reasonable attitude towards this. Whoever wants to gain something during the fast must impose something on himself. What? This is an individual question for everyone. This is a very important element, which, unfortunately, we don't really hear about.

One more thing: there can be no talk of any salvation at all, no spiritual life, no struggle with passions, if we do not know how to pray. There is no religion without prayer. Religion is a Latin word that, translated into Russian, means "connection", "connection", in this case, the connection of a person with God.

And when does this connection come from me? When I turn my mind to God. Here is a spiritual connection. Prayer is a person's connection with God. This is where religion is carried out. Without this, no religion is possible. Prayer is very important. And it's not about reading prayers. We so cleverly replaced prayer by reading a prayer, a prayer for a person - with a note: I gave a note, and everything is in order: I went to watch TV or went to the market - so cleverly changed. We are talking about prayer, that is, about a person's personal appeal to God.

What to pray for? The Holy Fathers say very definitely: "If a man could, then it is best that he did not pray for anything earthly." Saying: "Lord, You see and You know what I need, and You are Love, and You will give everything I need." About nothing earthly. Saying, "Lord, you see what I want, what I suffer from, what I need." To pray for something else, prayer should be focused on what prevents me from living - sin.

In this respect, the amazing diaries of John of Kronstadt, a name known to all. Why are they amazing? I took it last night, and I'm looking at The Dying Diaries - this is his very last year. What interesting notes he has. A holy man, a miracle worker, he writes: "Lord, I write that this would be my confession before You, a testimony of my sincere repentance." And he writes about the simplest things. So I got up, the stove is unheated, it's cold, I'm angry, I got angry with the cook, shouted at her, almost hit her. Lord, forgive me, what is happening to me, this is the kind of person I am, I see now who I am, forgive me, humble myself, have mercy. He immediately repents, even writes it down. It was, perhaps, a tradition: many were different, that they wrote down diaries, I think it is not at all necessary to write it down - it is important to repent. This is what prayer is.

Prayer is only effective when it is a prayer, a prayer, an appeal to God so that the Lord will forgive me for this dirty trick that I have committed, not necessarily by deed, maybe by thought and word. A person who observes himself and immediately asks for forgiveness, immediately sincerely repents, receives this forgiveness and cleansing. A religion of infinite value in this respect is Christianity, which enables a person to cleanse the dirt in which he is stuck. Repentance is the greatest blessing. Therefore, prayer for a perfect sin in thought, in word, and even more in deed is the most necessary thing.

This is where our prayer should be focused, and when it is sincere, it will be attentive. It cannot be idle talk, it cannot be just a reading of prayers, those prayers that are printed, they are given to us by the standard of thoughts, the standard of character, of how a person should turn to God. In this sense, they are given to us as standards, as a model. There is no one of our own now - turn to the standard, read it. It is very important, going to work - nobody bothers us - to find at least 5 minutes, 3 minutes. Can't we find it? Can. And we can pray in the evening, can we during the day, who prevents us from stopping for a few seconds from this fuss? Stop. And no one saw that I was standing at the window. What the person is doing. These seconds can be more precious than a lifetime.

Without prayer there is no religion, without prayer there is no salvation, because where there is no repentance, there is no purification, and where there is no purification, what kind of salvation we can talk about today. This is ridiculously simple, it will be just chatter and nothing more, empty beating of air. I will say it for those who have not yet very strong religious awareness, or maybe they don’t have any.

I will tell you this thing that prayer has that huge positive quality, that it distracts me from the whole whirlwind of deeds, thoughts, feelings that distract, I stop, I calm my soul. Ask any psychologist, he will tell you - this is a great thing. Imagine: when a person is constantly working, he gets tired, and our soul gets tired of this whirlwind of thoughts, feelings, frustrations, desires, goals, tasks. Stop, give your soul a break, because it probably deserves it. Prayer is a great blessing, without which no one has ever achieved anything, no one has ever been purified. And what kind of salvation can we talk about when a person has no connection with God?

Oh, excuse me, I've been talking so much - if you have any questions, please. I repeat all the time: professors should not be given freedom of speech, but you provided, it is not me who is to blame - it is he who is to blame, I am never to blame. If you have any questions, please, please.

Questions

Tell me, please, how can I hope for salvation if I have nothing but sin, and I only acknowledge sins with my mind, and my heart is dead?

I would draw your attention to the facts that we find in the Gospel itself. I do not know how many sins there were in the one who was crucified with Christ on the right, but I think there were many both according to human judgment and according to God's judgment there were many. Who was the first to enter paradise? He. The situation is this: we think that we can be saved by our effort. So I wanted and did. If you want, try, you will see - I already spoke about the table: sit down at the table and want to.

The point is that salvation is a divine-human act, and it occurs as follows. Imagine that the face is struck by some terrible disease, and only the sun's rays can save, heal the face. What can I do? I can only turn my face towards the sun. It depends on me, only the sun's rays can heal. This picture shows you the true process of soul healing and salvation.

How does it work? A sincere desire for salvation is required of a person, and when this sincerity is there, and he turns to repentance, God purifies, I myself cannot purify. Well, I deceived and what's next, how can I clean myself? Man does not have this. God can purify by seeing the sincerity of a person's repentance. This sincerity of repentance is a turn of one's face towards the sun, towards the sun's rays, which are healing for a person.

Therefore, we must understand this, Christianity calls and says that humility is the greatest good for a person. For having humbled myself, seeing, realizing that I myself cannot be healed, I turn to God. This is the kind of humility we are talking about. And no matter how great human sins are, sincerity of repentance remains always in force. There are plenty of examples in the history of the Church, and the most remarkable example of the Gospel directly testifies to the same: it is not we who heal ourselves, but God heals. But it only heals when we let Him heal me.

God, according to Christian teaching, cannot touch human freedom by one iota - it depends on me whether I want to or not. Why is repentance and humility so important: humble yourself, man, you cannot, turn - there is an active God, Who is Love, and He is ready to help every person in his deeds, even if this was the last moment of his life. Therefore, God always heals every striving person.

Please explain one of the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

The beggar realizes that he has nothing. A beggar in spirit is one who understands that, unfortunately, he has no spiritual values. "I do not the good that I want, but the evil that I hate, I do it." A person with the right life, when turning his life to the principles of the Gospel, he is convinced that he cannot do a single good deed as it should.

It seems that I give alms - it's good, isn't it? No, right there a worm: glory to You, Lord, I served, but others may not be serving. Refrained from an extra glass - oh, look, I already have some progress. Whatever good we do - vanity or calculation, or hypocrisy. If a person watches himself, he will really be convinced that he is a real beggar, he has not done a single good deed.

Macarius the Great, whom his companions called an earthly god, he was so great, he is an amazing ascetic of the 4th century. This greatest ascetic prays - whoever reads the morning prayers, he knows: "God, cleanse me, a sinner, as if I did nothing good before You." That is, never - "nikolizhe". He saw, he carefully watched himself, and he, this earthly god, turns out to have "done nothing good before You."

This is poverty in spirit. With this poverty of spirit, man is all turned to God. He is convinced that God is not some kind of lord who has power, standing over him and demanding: well, when you, unfortunate, turn to me, and I will have mercy on you, so be it. He will see that God is Love to the end, to the limit, to the cross. This is the most humble and loving creature that is only waiting: open the doors for Me, I will come in to you and help you. As in the Apocalypse it is written: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, and whoever opens it to Me, I will come in to him and I will feast with him."

This is what poverty of spirit means when a person sees that I really cannot do anything good without God. Then he will only be convinced that with God he becomes a real God, as it is said: "You are gods and you are all sons of the Most High." This is the basic understanding that is contained in this commandment "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Because they become gods by grace and acquire the full range of benefits.

Explain what dry eating is, what are the rules of eating on fast days, on the days of meat-eaters throughout the year. What should be done to those who prepare food for others: not to serve a prohibited product or fasting in food is a personal matter for each person?

Immediately on the last question: you must submit what you are ordered to. Every person is free in this respect. There is one exception with regard to children - reasonable demands must be made on them. This is where parents should look. By the way, this is a very important question. We all teach children to gluttony, excuse me for such a rude word. It has always been necessary to teach children to abstain, and now we are teaching the opposite. Up to the point that if you don’t eat now, I won’t give you this. This mess. Disgrace, firstly, in the bodily sense: we spoil the stomachs, liver and spleen of children. So we also spoil the soul of the child. It is clear that a child cannot eat like we adults, he needs certain mitigations. But it is very important to teach the child to abstain.

The main principle of upbringing is to teach a child to fight his desires: the one who has not learned this, he will forever be a slave to his desires - and this is a disaster. This is in connection with the last part of the question.

And in connection with the first part of the question - why do you need it? I'll tell you: well, uncooked food. It can be very different, this uncooked food. Here are seagulls with crackers, for example, black - here's your dry food. The variety here is large enough, but, most importantly, no cooked food. Maybe in the south, someone only eats date fruits. We can only have a bull's eye. There are a lot of options, who are interested in this in more detail - you can take the charter and read something there. The question is very private, therefore it is not of particular interest to everyone.

Are raw food and dry food the same thing?

No, raw is something that is not boiled, but dry food - bread, for example, it is baked, crackers.

Alexey Ilyich, recently appeared at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The surrounding area resembled a wholesale market, selling our faith wholesale and retail. I felt disgusted, I didn't even baptize. Are my thoughts on this structure correct?

In your lectures, you prove the truth Orthodox faith many cases of self-sacrifice and martyrdom in the name of Orthodoxy. Is tragedy a prerequisite for the Orthodox faith?

Regarding the first question: I think it is not true. Christian temples were often formed from pagan temples. That is, there were statues of pagan gods, sacrifices were made, and then these same basilicas were turned into Christian churches, consecrated, icons were brought in, and divine services were performed.

Therefore, there is no need to be embarrassed by what is happening around. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is intended for Christians as a place of prayer, and for non-Christians - because such people participated there - as a memorial temple. Monument to the Patriotic War of 1812. For some, this structure came as a sign or means to show themselves that they were not a pound of raisins. There were different goals, you never know who for what purposes participated there, it is important for us that the temple was created and, God forbid, that there were prayers, and not just come in order to see: oh, what a temple it is.

Therefore, you should not be embarrassed by what is happening around. Not everything is in the power of the Church, you yourself understand that. The church did not build itself. The Church of this money for ever and ever would never have and could not, people have built, secular, in the main. Here we do not have the full power to make it the way we want it, but, thank God, it’s at least that way.

During the attack on Russia, the ministers of the Church blessed the killing of enemies, and now the enemies are dissolved among us. If the spiritual ones call us to humility, and a bandit lives next to me, a murderer with one hundred percent lack of morality. Raises money from selling drugs to teenagers, corrupts cops with dirty money. Is it a sin to eliminate, kill such an enemy, or humbly observe his deeds?

What a tricky question. I think that this alternative does not cover the whole of this phenomenon. Extremes are always wrong. There is just a third option. Not murder, because for this there is a state power, a state law, and in due time this law will be realized, but not - he will punish himself, this person. And, in the end, the jug went to walk on the water - there they broke his head.

And not humility in the sense that this note speaks of. Christian humility does not mean this humility at all. You called demonic humility - demons also have humility, you know, when the weaker obeys the stronger, and you can't go anywhere, the poor humbled what to do. Christian humility means something quite different. Christian humility is the poverty of spirit that we are talking about. This is what Christian humility is.

And in relation to other people, a Christian must behave rationally. The Lord accused the Pharisees of what? That they left judgment and mercy. Judgment, that is, reasoning. Christianity calls for reasoning in every issue, for prudence, for rationality.

So in this case, the behavior is not covered by these two options. Other options are also possible: appeal, perhaps, to some relevant authorities that can deal with this issue. This is more reasonable, and until the state has put you in this position, you cannot kill or arrest this person, you simply have no right. We Christians cannot do anything illegal.

There is only one exception when a Christian can act against the law - when he is required to renounce Christ. But here no, in all such cases, an appeal to legal authorities and the adoption of measures that can be taken in this case are required. I understand that you will tell me that maybe this will not help, but I will tell you: so thank God that you see one bandit so far, and that is why you are addressing this, and if the Lord God would have lifted you a little over Russia and would show you what is going on in general in Russia - then you would need not a machine gun, not a cannon, but, probably, an atomic bomb, and if over the whole world - then a hydrogen bomb, you would say: blow up the whole world - and detonate it. We will not take upon ourselves the functions of God and the functions of the state, we need to act rationally and do what is allowed by law, otherwise we will turn into murderers and criminals.

Prayer in the temple is a cacophony of sounds for me, but I would like to understand the meaning of the spoken words. If prayers in churches were sung in modern Russian, would the Lord not hear them?

I really understand and sympathize with your question. I agree with you that it would be necessary to make language accessible to modern people. Throughout the history of the Russian Church, since the baptism of Rus, there has been a constant adaptation of the language, and if we now turn to the primary language, we will not understand anything there at all. The Church Slavonic language that we are now meeting is not at all Old Slavic, it is a very late language, but it froze when typography began. This adaptation has almost stopped. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the prerequisites for this were already created, some translations into a more accessible language had already been carried out. I understand you very much.

But there are two things to consider here. First, the Slavic language, in comparison with the modern Russian language, is heaven and earth. The Slavic language is full of beauty, which, alas, the modern language does not have. There is little beauty - depth, with the help of the Slavic language such things are expressed that cannot be translated into Russian. You remember what Pushkin had to resort to when he wrote his "Prophet". Calculate how many Slavisms there are. He tried to write in Russian.

So it is here: not into Russian, you need to translate, but translate according to the principle according to which Pushkin went, translate into the Slavic Russian language. That is, to simplify and adapt Slavic texts in relation to the consciousness and language of a modern person. It can be done, but it is a tremendous job, it is an incredible difficulty, and talented, brilliant people like Pushkin are required. Please note: stichera are mainly sung in the church. What are stichera? Poems, poems? No. This is a poetic expression in prose of a certain content. This is poetry in prose. Therefore, there are a lot of images, metaphors and comparisons, and the translation of such things is extremely difficult. But this could be done by someone who has a sense of beauty - this is a poetic talent. I would support such work with my hands and feet, unfortunately, it is not being carried out, and we are losing a lot from this.

But, on the other hand, I am resolutely opposed to simply translating into Russian - such a rude thing turns out. At the beginning of the 20s of the twentieth century, the renovationists began to do this. You know what kind of cartoon it turned out. People just left, spat, did not want to listen. I would make such a comparison: instead of the baroque style, you would be offered the barrack style.

Our Church needs to learn a lot from Catholics in order to sow the seeds of Christian consciousness in the maximum number of immature minds so that they have the fear of God. Am I right?

We humans should always learn all that is good, no matter who we find it from: whether we are friends or enemies, it does not matter. I think we have something to learn from the Catholics. For example, I really like how Catholics and Protestants approach Holy Communion. Really like. I even tried to seethe at the academy. They come up there calmly, no crush, come out in small groups, with reverence. We have three Communioners - so they will start pushing each other, who will be the first to come. It's just a temptation, so there is a lot to learn, you just need to be sensible.

With regard to preaching, I would be careful here. This is a very subtle and delicate question. After all, preaching is not just about telling about Christianity - you need to lead you to the Church. How can he become a member of the Church? Because I do not become a member of the Church because I believe in God. And demons believe in God, not only believe, but also know, and remain the same. It is important to point out that there is God, that Christ was and did this and that, it is important to point out the right path to the Christian life, the right path.

Here we are not compatible with Catholicism. The path offered by Catholicism is a kind of parody. If we look at the lives of the greatest Catholic saints: Angela, Teresa, Catarina, Ignatius of Loyola, Francis of Assisi, what amazes them: these women have a real romance with God. You simply cannot imagine: some kind of nightmare - an affair with God, coquetry with God, with Christ comes to wild things that Christ is and declares to be his spouses.

For every Francis and Ignatius - they are religion - that which we talked about, about the need to correct ourselves, they have replaced. This is the Latin term - compassio. They replaced them by looking at the crucified Christ and trying to survive the sufferings that He experienced during the being nailed down. This they call compassion for Christ, this they call love for Christ - think what a nightmare. And Christ said: "He who does my commandments loves me." You can sympathize with a cat nailed to a post. What did it become to her? What has Christ to do with it? Substitution.

So it is better for us to follow the traditions of Orthodox missionary work. We have many wonderful missionaries who correctly preached Christianity and who brought people to Christianity, saved them. I am afraid of Catholic missionary work. This is not at all the same, there are sometimes brilliant forms, since they have enormous wealth, colossal means of training missionaries. They have a huge number of institutes where they study languages, but the whole point is not that, the whole point is what they teach, what kind of life they teach.

Modern Catholicism, I can tell you, is practically no different from Protestantism. Protestants speak at conferences, Catholics, you can't tell. For example, now the topic is: the female priesthood. The Protestants insist, the Catholic Church does not recognize: the bishop stands up and stands for the female priesthood - yes, this is normal, he does not even give a damn about his own Church. As she teaches: there is such liberalism, such a smear, vagueness, such pluralism that one is simply amazed. After all, the Church is a human-like organism; Or am I some kind of vague jellyfish that can take any shape?

According to God's creation: does a person have free will and at the same time, without the Lord, cannot create anything?

Free will should not be confused with freedom of action. We all shackle each other. They say this: where there are two people, there is no longer complete freedom. Because two persons touch, and you need to coordinate the deed. So, free will means the desire of a person, intention, conviction of a person, this is an internal act of my consciousness. This is what my freedom is. I want to be on the moon now - this is my free will, and freedom of action - I have to be in this audience. Free will remains with me and it is freedom of will that characterizes the moral and spiritual orientation of a person, and not at all what happens to my body. Will I go to the moon or not.

Why does Christianity say: see, do not lie in your thoughts; warns: do not deceive, do not commit a crime inside, for here, inside you, is the source of everything that happens to the world around you and to yourself. Freedom of will in a person remains inviolable, freedom of action - look how many people, how many desires: 6 billion population, try it, count it, this is already a very complex machine. Therefore, these things are not opposed to each other.

Why, after all, Christ was not born an emperor and did not use his authority?

Apparently, I didn't finish something, I hid something, probably some zest, and you wanted to solve it. The fact is that Christ not only was not born an emperor, He was not even born a high priest, He was not even born a priest, He was not even born a monk, let's say - a Pharisee, He was not even born a scribe. That is, I didn’t become a theologian, I didn’t rise one step, so that this step would raise Him above anything. What is the reason?

The first reason is that He preached the truth and wanted only this truth to be accepted, and not because He in himself means something, that He was some kind of authority. Look at how differently they relate to words, for example, a private person, or say some minister, or a president - see how differently they relate. It seems that he said the same thought, but the Pope said - the whole world is shouting: "The Pope said!" - but he said nothing, some empty thing. Say something ten times wiser: well, and you will think, there is also wiser than you.

This is the first and most important reason why he was not born by anyone, and not just not an emperor. Secondly, the power of the emperor is associated with very many functions that, whether a person wants or does not want, should distract him from the main thing for which Christ came. And this main thing is to indicate the path of spiritual life and salvation of a person, which takes place within a person, and not outside. Caesar, on the other hand, deals with the bodily side - his entire main function. This is the second important point to consider why Christ was not born emperor.

And third: note that Christ, having resurrected the daughter of Jairus, strictly ordered that no one should tell anyone about this. He healed the leper - strictly ordered him: do not tell anyone, go, show yourself to the priest. He went and talked according to his human nature. He was the holiest, most chaste man, and chastity by its nature hides itself. Any true virtue - it hides itself, because true virtue is always chaste. And we know what chastity is. Even in the physical plane, we see how the behavior of the chaste differs from the unchaste.

From the spiritual, personal in relation to Christ - again He turned out to be who? The last of people, a wanderer, if a computer translated, it would call Him a vagabond, a wandering preacher, that is, the lowest layer itself. Several reasons why He could not be emperor.

You can hear from you an explanation of the lines from the Revelation of John the Theologian about the seal of the Antichrist. How does it manifest or manifest itself in our life? How not to accept the seal of antichrist and be faithful to God? What does the TIN have to do with the seal of the Antichrist, is it possible to accept the TIN?

How not to accept the seal of antichrist - on this occasion the holy fathers say quite emphatically: "He who does not live according to the Gospel, he who does not fight with himself and does not repent, will quietly accept the Antichrist." Not a single holy father anywhere is associated with the acceptance or non-acceptance of the Antichrist with this seal, with the sixes. This is the most curious thing. All the holy fathers write: "He who does not live like a Christian will accept the Antichrist." With regard to the seals themselves, they say directly: "A seal on the forehead means nothing more than a seal on the mind." The human mind will be so darkened that it will assert: if you do not bring the passion for money to a boil, you will never be rich. Here is the seal of antichrist.

The seal on the right hand. What does right hand mean? The right hand is a symbol of human activity. Here it is, the seal, when all human activity will be submerged and directed towards something that will be taken away from you at any moment like a soap bubble. What is our life: are we really so stupid and do not understand - today I am alive, and tomorrow I am dead? I give my whole soul to the fact that tomorrow I will part with all this - is this not madness. This is why the seal of antichrist is a lie; the devil is a slanderer; he offers us false things.

Christ says, "Do not be anxious." That is, do not be tormented (Greek word merimnao- “do not be tormented”), do not give your whole soul to what to eat, what to drink and what to wear - this is what the pagans are looking for. That is, insane. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and all this will be with you, because a Christian cannot but work. “He who does not work, let him not eat,” says the Apostle Paul. But the soul was directed to one thing: first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

This is what the seal of antichrist consists of, and these are all external symbols. Now heightened attention to these symbols, to the point of naivety, deceiving people. Everybody see that the six does not work out, but hate, kill, rob, envy, lies - this is nothing, the main thing is that there is no six. What a mockery, to pay all the attention of people to sixes: do not buy a bag of milk - there may be a barcode, but they forgot about sins, forgot about the soul, forgot about the commandments, the main thing is sixes, wherever they appear, in the passport or where- something.

The same is with this INN - this is the social side of life, what does this have to do with Christianity? I can be a free Christian, shackled hand and foot, and such were Christians. And we honor them as great martyrs, chained by slaves. INN is nothing more than one of the elements on the path of further social enslavement of mankind. Soon we will all be under control, we will not go anywhere from this, but this is the social side. Pleasantly? No, I agree, it’s unpleasant to be controlled, not very good, and to some extent controlled - I don’t see any joy here, but we won’t get away from it. Just as we cannot get away from money, from passports in our time.

These are certain stages in the development of human society or systems of life that exist, but they do not affect the Christian faith. Who prevents a person with this or that number from living according to the Gospel, tell me. Anthony the Great can be pasted over with sixes and numbers - and he will remain great. And you can be without this number and the real Antichrist, really.

Some fanatics are raising this noise, I can't find another word. The worst thing for Christianity is fanaticism. What is fanaticism - it means a blind person, he does not want any arguments, nothing to listen to - he has sixes. You should not be afraid of sixes, but be afraid to hate your neighbor, not to eat your neighbor. One must have love for people, compassion, mercy, commandments must be fulfilled.

I repeat once more the fathers, the idea is firm: the one who will not live according to the Gospel will receive the Antichrist. For the Antichrist will declare himself the savior of the world, the true messiah, and he will save the world. It is clear from what: there will be one state, no armies are needed, all armament costs will go to social needs. What a beauty, there will be few people, instead of six billion - five billion. Nothing, head off, one billion will remain, one million of them are masters, and the remaining 999 are slaves, this is what the Antichrist is striving for. It will be, but not for long - three and a half years. Nobody knows whether these are symbolic numbers or real, everything is possible, but that it will be slavery, which has never happened before in the history of mankind, there is no doubt about it. Everything will be under control, every person. With the current development of computer technology, with all these things that can be implanted in a newborn. An era of slavery is coming, such which has never happened in history. But it has nothing to do with salvation.

Explanatory Psalter of the Athonite edition: the holy fathers constantly talk about the wrath of God, punishment and forgiveness. You constantly emphasize in your lectures that the Lord is love and only love. Will it not be a temptation for me that the Lord never punishes anyone, and the holy fathers, presumably, understood this well, given the spiritual level of their contemporaries. In our time we are the same pagans as in antiquity. Will not such a perception - the Lord - love and only love - lead me to ruin?

It all depends on how we understand this. If we understand that the Lord is love and only love, that He only strokes the head and, therefore, I can do whatever I want, and the Lord God will save me, this will lead to death. With a perverted understanding of love and a perverted understanding of God's anger, God's punishment, this can also lead to sad consequences.

What is meant by the love of God? I have already told you: a commandment is a warning from God: man, do not put your hand on a hot frying pan, you understand what will happen. No, but I wonder how to feel such heat. What happens to my hand, who punished me? A man jumps out of a floor. The Lord says: do not commit suicide, this is a sin, you will destroy yourself. Who punished when he broke his arms, legs and neck? Man, don't use drugs, it's a sin. Who punished him? I remember one was introduced to me in America - 25 years old, and he is a 60-year-old man with shaking hands. Who punished?

The Lord points out that every sin of ours entails in itself a punishment, and in this sense the holy fathers spoke about this. The Apostle James writes magnificently about this: "God tempts no one, but everyone is tempted, drawn by his lust." That is, he punishes himself with his sins that he commits, but God warns. But even when a person sins, when he punished himself, God is ready to help a person again - he stands close to him: turn, man.

And due to the fact that man is the central being in the world, he is a spiritual being, and all the elements of this world: earth, air and everything in the world are an extension of his body. You need to understand that this is not just the animal, plant world, it is not alien to man - it is a completely wild, not Christian idea - a struggle with nature, a struggle with your body. Christianity says: no, this is an extension of your body, this is your body. So because of this, by our sins, we distort nature. Justly people said, when there was an earthquake or a plague, they said: "God has punished for our sins."

Can we disfigure our body by our sins? Can. Doctors say: "Do not be irritated, otherwise you may have a stroke." These strokes also occur, but not in the brain, but underground, all sorts of things begin. Therefore, with such an unreasonable understanding of love, one can think: now I do what I want. Please, jump from the 10th floor, fly, bet like a swallow - God is love. Drink acid instead of pure water. Sit down with your booty in a hot frying pan. God is love, really, everything is now allowed.

What folly! Sorry, with such a crazy understanding of love, anything can come. Yes, God is love, and He warns: do not do this, you will ruin yourself, you will punish yourself with this, anything can happen to you, not only to your body, to the circumstances themselves. For everything is interconnected: do not commit a sin, do not destroy yourself, for you are not a vague, amorphous being, but you are an organized being and, therefore, there are laws more important than physical ones - spiritual laws, which all others are subject to and, in violation of spiritual laws, you include all the other laws in your actions: biological, physical, and anything will happen to you: earthquakes, thunders, and lightning - that's what Christianity is talking about.

The idea that God is love and only love, unprecedented in the history of the religious consciousness of the world, no religion has ever known this. Therefore, for all religions, Christ crucified is madness. The Apostle Paul said: "We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a temptation, to the Greeks, madness."

Therefore, the whole Catholic Church stands on what? On punishment and rewards. This is the simplest, most elementary thing. I did a good deed, everything - a crown on my head. I thought badly - a slap on the head, everything is so easy. A neighbor's house burned down - so he needs it, it means that he is a sinner, and I received a million - that means I am virtuous, what wisdom.

Yes, God is love, indeed, and only love, therefore he warns against the calamities that arise from our sinful life. We punish ourselves.