The thunders of heaven roar, the lightnings flash: wake up, all to whom native Russia, the Orthodox faith is dear: it is better to die for these shrines than to see them desecrated..

But why lose hope! God will help – and we will defend them for the joy of our native land!

ON APOCRYPHAL PRAYER AND EASY RESCUERS

Russian life has been stirred up, and from its very bottom such terrible phenomena as hooliganism, depravity in its most disgusting forms, unscrupulousness in everyday life, and not only in everyday life, but also in social and political relations, come to the surface. But next to these muddy sediments of the "bottom" of Russian life, phenomena of a different order are also noticeable: one feels the dreary echoes of a seemingly awakening conscience, as if the sigh of a repentant soul is heard... But here is the sorrow: and these echoes, these sighs of the people's soul, we must admit it, were overheard before us, pastors, by someone who needs to direct the people's most repentant feeling to the wrong path and thereby deceive the penitents... Recently I wrote in my "Diaries" how the enemies of the Church have noticed among our intelligentsia a certain inclination towards so-called mysticism and are trying to direct these glimpses of spiritual awakening in the direction of various mystical false teachings. Now the multitude of letters I receive prompt me to draw the attention of my readers, especially pastors, to another phenomenon noticed in the lower classes of the people. However, those who need it do not hesitate to turn to intelligent people with their unsolicited advice. I take one of the more characteristic letters on this occasion:

"I am overcome by doubt and anxiety... I received the enclosed letter, with an invitation to rewrite it nine times and send a prayer to nine people, which was immediately placed... This is not the first time. A few years ago, another prayer was sent out in the same way, but only with the demand for seven lists, in which blood was mentioned several times... true, with the addition of the words: the holy blood of Christ... For the sake of this blood, they asked for salvation and blessing. As far as I remember, at that time it was almost the Synod that declared the uselessness and even harm of such anonymous, secret postal propaganda of prayers, invented by who knows who. Today's prayer is much shorter. Apparently, there is nothing reprehensible in it, but for some reason it seems suspicious to me. First, the number nine is a Masonic number. Secondly, the mention of all mankind smells of internationalism, which does not fit in with simple piety. Thirdly, some inner feeling suggests that there is a secret meaning in the words, apparently pious... I am afraid that blasphemy is not hidden under the guise of prayer. Of course, the Lord will not condemn the sinner through ignorance. Nor am I afraid of the misfortunes promised for non-fulfillment of correspondence. The Lord is my refuge: whom shall I fear? But perhaps it would be necessary to warn these little ones, who do not know how to think with their own thoughts. Perhaps spiritual authority is needed in this case, as well as spiritual knowledge. That is why I dare to disturb you, Vladyka. I am sending you the original I received. Perhaps you will find it necessary to write a warning and advice not to succumb to such invitations, behind which for some reason I clearly feel the Masonic intrigue... Perhaps the desire to force Orthodox believers themselves to blaspheme. Evil Judaism is very capable of such a thought. Perhaps there is another goal: to find out who and how much is capable of being suggested... In a word, I ask for your advice and instructions and stay..."

Signature and address follow.

And here is the attached letter:

"M.G. I am sending you a prayer that must go around the circle of light. Rewrite it down and see that a miracle will happen. It is said: whoever writes down these prayers in two days to 9 persons will be delivered from evil and on the 4th day will receive joy, but whoever leaves them unattended will suffer misfortune. Do not sign your name, but only indicate the date when the letter is received. Do not interrupt this prayer, sending it to the nine persons, write everything that I write to you. I received it on January 25 and sent it on January 26, 1913."

"O Lord! I pray Thee: bless me and all mankind, deliver us from evil, and let us dwell with Thee. Amen."

That's all..

And if you throw out the Pharisaic "I pray You", which is not at all necessary in such a short prayer, then the prayer will be even shorter.

What does prayer ask for?

"Bless me and all mankind"...

God's blessing is a great deed, but Orthodox prayer first of all asks for mercy, for then God's blessing will come by itself. It is as if the author already considers "all mankind" to be pardoned. Has it repented?.. The spirit of repentance is not heard in this prayer... And what does the author mean by the word: "all mankind?" To all those who turn away from God's blessing, flee from the presence of God, perishing in hatred of God? But is not such a prayer an insult to God? And a simple priest will not bless someone who mocks God's blessing... And what is the expression: "Let us dwell with Thee"? How to understand it? The Lord is Omnipresent, so that's not what I'm talking about... What is it about? This is the secret of the author, who arbitrarily composes prayers for "the whole world"...