Blessed flock of Christ, the luminaries of the universe and the salt of the earth - you are perfect ascetics, who have loved the angelic life on earth. Your podvig is temporary, but your reward and praise are eternal; Your work is short, but your repose and perfection do not grow old. But as zealously as you strive in virtue, so much is your enemy inflamed with fury, secretly laying various snares for you. Therefore, beware of his ambushes. For without podvig no one is crowned; but even the grace of God does not abandon him who strives diligently and struggles. But if someone, having brought himself to a state of weakness, is too lazy to open his mouth and call on grace for help, then let him blame himself, and not grace, because it does not help him. Imagine a man who has healthy hands, and before whom there is a multitude of viands, but he is too lazy to stretch out his hands and be satiated with the blessings that lie before him; Such is the monk who knows grace by experience, and does not want to invoke it and be filled with its sweetness.

A monk is like a warrior going to battle, who protects his body from everywhere with full armor, sobers up to the very victory, and is anxious that the enemy will suddenly attack him, and lest, if he does not take precautions, he will not be captured. Likewise, a monk, if he becomes lazy after making himself paralyzed; then it is conveniently caught by the enemy; for the enemy puts impure thoughts into him, which he accepts with joy, and I mean thoughts of arrogance and vanity, as well as envy and slander, gluttony and insatiable sleep, and on top of this drives him to despair and to the conviction of the greatness of his misfortunes. If a monk is always sober, then he draws the grace of God to his aid, learns from God how to please Him, and becomes both praiseworthy of God and praiser of God. For she who observes herself in a mirror is both a spectator and a visible one; In the same way, grace, if it finds rest in a person and dwells in him, then it glorifies him, and is glorified by him. And without the help of grace, the heart cannot have sufficient strength in itself and be filled with tenderness in order to properly confess to the Lord; on the contrary, a person is poor and lacking in perfection, and vile and impure thoughts dwell in him, like a nightly raven on a ruin (Psalm 101:7). Therefore it is the duty of man to invoke grace, so that it may come and enlighten him, is the duty of man, having purified himself, to seek that grace dwells in him and helps him; but with grace he will succeed in every virtue, and enlightened by it he will be able to comprehend the diversity and splendor of the age to come. Grace becomes for him a wall and a fortification, and protects him from this world for the life of the age to come.

Therefore, incline your ear, beloved, and I will be a good counselor for you, if you desire eternal life and the pleasure of your Lord. Tell me, why do you wash your face with water? Is it not in order to please your neighbor? And from this it is evident that you did not abhor the passions of your flesh, but were enslaved by them. for the face washed by tears is not fading beauty. But perhaps you will tell me that it is a shame to have an unclean face? Know that the impurity of your feet and face with a pure heart shines brighter than the sun before God and before the holy Powers.

Why do you laugh recklessly? You are commanded to weep, but laughter possesses you. What is it from? Since you did not desire blessedness, then God's punishments do not frighten you.

He who has been taught by experience can give advice to the inexperienced. A merchant who has been caught by robbers offers travelers security measures. Therefore, since I am partly learned by experience (I speak of this to your prudence); for because of my weakness I was safe for a long time; and my slothfulness has again brought me back to my former state: then I advise you, beloved flock of God, to beware, for the sake of carnal passions and worldly pleasures, to lose the glory of God and to make yourselves strangers to the pure joy and joys of the bridal chamber. For you know that the labor of asceticism, like a dream, is fleeting, and the repose with which this labor is rewarded is infinite and indescribable.

Be attentive to yourself, so that you do not suffer loss from both sides and are not punished for both. On the contrary, strive to acquire perfect virtue, adorned with all that God loves. For if you acquire it, you will never offend God, nor your neighbor, you will do no evil. It is called a one-person virtue, which contains all the beauty and all the variety of virtues. Just as a royal diadem cannot be woven without precious stones and selected pearls; so this one-person virtue is not possible without the beauty of the various virtues. It is quite similar to a royal diadem. Just as the latter, if it lacks one stone or one pearl, cannot shine on the king's head: so this one-person virtue, if it lacks one beauty of the other virtues, is not called a perfect virtue. It is also similar to expensive food, which is cooked with all the exquisite spices, but without salt. Therefore, just as these expensive foods cannot be eaten without salt; so this one-person virtue, adorned with all the babble of various virtues, if devoid of love for Christ and neighbor, is not in the least attractive. It is also like the perfect and beautiful composition of the alphabet, in which the letters are decorated and embellished, but which is all made useless if even one letter is taken away from it. In the same way, this virtue, if it is deprived of one of the other virtues, is all useless. And it is also like a large and soaring eagle, which, seeing food in the nets, swoops down on it with all impetuosity, but, wishing to steal the prey, catches itself with the tips of its claws, and from this smallness its whole strength becomes bound; and although it seems that his whole body is free and outside the nets, yet all his strength is bound in nets. In like manner, this virtue, if bound by something earthly, is mortified, exhausted, and perishes, and is no longer able to soar to the heights; because it is nailed to earthly things.

Whoever has no tears, come and weep; Whoever has not stored up with tenderness, come and sigh that virtue, which ascended to heaven and reached the very gates of the kingdom, could not enter there. I present to you, beloved, an example of this: others, through countless labors, succeeded in this virtue and adorned it like a royal diadem, but, having become attached to earthly things, perished and remained outside the heavenly kingdom. Therefore, pay attention to yourself, so that you do not fall into something similar, and, having given yourself over to the enemy, do not turn into nothing such a wondrous virtue, which you have acquired by so much labor; lest you also hinder her from entering heaven, and make her stand ashamed before the bridal chamber. On the contrary, give her the boldness to ascend there with loud exclamations, rejoicing and asking for her reward. Truly a miracle! Bound by earthly care, like a lion with his hair, because such virtue is like a lion, she rotted on the ground and was humiliated. Sober therefore, beloved, and having moved, tear an insignificant hair, so that they may not mock you, as at that strong one, who with his jaw in the twinkling of an eye slew thousands, and, freeing himself, slew his enemies, who wrote his victory to God, and his prayer turned his jaw into a fountain (Judg. 15:16, 19), but, having performed many similar feats, when through foolishness he gave himself over to his enemies, by taking away his hair he bound within himself a terrible and very miraculous power. Be attentive to you, too, lest such virtue be bound by any earthly misfortune. Deliver her from all that is harmful, and go to heaven.

For if she is sober, then through this she grows even more and is crowned, constantly progressing according to God and becoming enlightened. Death itself is not able to harm it; on the contrary, after leaving the body, the angels receive her rejoicing in heaven, and bring her to the Father of lights; for tribulation worketh patience (Romans 5:3); and poverty and lack of acquisitiveness are the land of her work; from them it gathers the fruit of righteousness. And illness cannot harm it; for from it the soul is clothed with power and praise before God. In the same way, temptations are not able to humiliate her; for from them he receives praise and glory unto eternal life. Persecution cannot lead her to fear; from it she weaves a perfect and beautiful crown, which she brings with joy to the God of glory. And nakedness is not able to cover it with dishonor; for from it he prepares for himself a robe of glory. In the same way, hunger cannot plunge her into faint-heartedness; from it a meal is prepared for her in the heavenly kingdom. And thirst is not able to bring her to despondency; from it a heavenly joy is prepared for her. And poverty cannot lure her to riches; for for it he shall inherit the pleasure of the Lord. And vigil and weeping are the crown of her perfection, humility and meekness are the foundation of her edifice. Death cannot kill her, and the tomb cannot enclose and hold her. The heavens themselves are not strong enough to close their gates before the virtuous soul; on the contrary, when they see it, they open with joy. Thousands of thousands of Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, and Powers cannot reproach her, but receive her with joyful faces, and, lifting her up in their arms, bring her to the throne of glory.

The Father and the Son rejoice in it with the Holy Spirit. The father rejoices over her; for she loved Him, and loved none but Him. His only-begotten Son rejoices over her; because she desired Him, and gained none but Him. The Holy Spirit rejoices over her; for in Him she became a holy temple, and He dwelt in her. The heavens and the heavenly Powers rejoice over her, and with one accord they fall down and glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, seeing that she is adorned with angelic virtue in all the babbling of righteousness. Paradise rejoices over her; because she inherited it. Glory and majesty to the only good and loving God, Who, by His grace, grants us His kingdom!

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed. The only wise and gracious one! I beseech Thy goodness, heal the wounds of my soul, and enlighten the eyes of my mind, that I may understand Thy economy for me. And since my mind has been overwhelmed, let the salt of Thy grace correct it. But what shall I say to Thee, O Forerunner and Searcher of hearts and wombs? Thou alone knowest that, like a dry land, my soul thirsts for Thee, and my heart desires Thee; for whoever loves Thee is constantly satisfied with Thy grace. But as Thou hast always hearkened unto me, so now heed not my petition; for my mind, like a prisoner, seeks Thee, the only true Saviour. Therefore send forth Thy grace, that when it comes, it may satisfy my hunger, and quench my thirst. For I desire and thirst for Thee, the Light of truth and the Giver of salvation. Give me what I ask, and pour out in my heart at least one drop of Thy love, so that it may burn in my heart like a flame, and consume in it thorns and thistles, that is, evil thoughts. Give richly and in moderation, as the God-man, and multiply Thy gifts, as the good Son of the good Father. Though I, as the earthly and the son of the earthly, have rejected and reject Thy grace; but Thou who hast filled the waterpots with Thy blessing (John 2:1-11), fill me who thirst with Thy grace. Thou who hast fed five thousand with five loaves of bread (Matt. 14:14-21), feed me, hungry, with the immeasurable riches of Thy goodness.

Good Lover of Mankind! If Thy grace is abundantly poured out on the grass, on the flowers, and on all the greenery of the earth at this time; how much more will Thou grant what Thou askest of Thy servant who beseeches Thee. For behold, the air is cleared, and the birds diversify their voices, singing the glory of Thy great wisdom. Behold, the whole earth is clothed in a robe of speckled flowers, woven without human hands, rejoicing and celebrating two feasts: one for the sake of its firstborn son Adam; for he was made of it; the other for the sake of his Lord, because having descended he walked on it. Behold, the sea is filled with Thy grace and enriches those who swim in it. Thy grace also gives me boldness to speak before Thee; and the love that I have for Thee impels me to do so.

But if the murderer is from time immemorial, the evil serpent, having approached at this time, opens his mouth; how much more will Thou open Thy mouth to the glory and praise of Thy grace to Thy servant who loves Thee.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, and let me be called into Thy kingdom, and I who have gone astray will be brought back, I will be cleansed uncleanly, I will be foolish and I will be made chaste, I will be useless.

Thy chosen flock, the ascetics and all those who have pleased Thee, rejoicing in paradise, intercede for me and beseech Thee, the only Lover of mankind. Hear their petitions Yourself and save me by their prayers. But I will give Thee glory through them, that Thou hast hearkened unto their prayers, and hast had compassion on me, and hast not despised their petitions to save me.