– No, you don't need to start lessons. In order to maintain a spiritual tone, let them read a passage from some patristic book at the same time as their textbooks, pray a little, and make a few prostrations. And when they have to study and read a lot, they can arrange changes for themselves and say the Jesus Prayer at this time or sing something churchly. For if they want to engage in spiritual activities during their studies, which they could do later, then with thoughts of lessons and study, they will not be able to do this spiritual work properly, and they will not be able to succeed in their studies. In the end, they won't achieve anything. But by reading and doing homework, they will quickly receive a diploma and after that they will do what they want. Being in the hospital[9], I left the rosary, prostrations, and fasts for several days: I ate what was given. "Now," I said to myself, "I need to help the doctors a little so that they can help me get well. And then I'll do what I want."

Some children come to me and complain that their parents stand over their souls, forcing them to prepare their homework. If I also stand over these guys' souls, then I will not benefit them. To make them understand that they shouldn't neglect their studies, I give them the example of their peers who didn't care about their studies and then everything went awry for them, as well as those guys who were diligent about their studies and therefore succeeded. I remember the following case: in one city next door, two boys grew up. One, very quick-witted, quickly coped with his lessons, in junior and middle grades he got A's with pluses. The other was not so smart, and it took a lot of diligence to keep up with the first. Having moved to high school, the excellent student studied for only one year, got mixed up with bad company, dropped out of school and in the end was forced to get a job as a cleaner at some enterprise. He was already married, had two children and could hardly make ends meet. And his neighbor graduated from the Faculty of Law, then studied in Europe and received a diploma in entrepreneurship. Once at the enterprise where the former excellent student worked as a cleaner, they were waiting for a new manager. Everyone said that he was well educated. When the new manager arrived, the janitor immediately recognized him as his former classmate. The former excellent student was so overcome by despair that he tried to commit suicide several times. Someone advised him to come to the Holy Mountain and meet me. When he was telling me about his life, he burst out: "Just look, this idiot has become my manager!" "Oh, you," I said, "so-and-so! Why, you could have climbed higher than him! And you yourself would live well, and your children would not be in need, and you would do good deeds! Is it not enough for you that your family suffers because of you? Now you still want to lay hands on yourself in order to finally finish her off and so that your children remain orphans? I don't feel sorry for you, because you're paying for your own stupidity now, but I feel sorry for your children. Do you understand this? Come on, be patient, and I think with God's help, the new steward will treat you well too. He can transfer you to another position, better than the previous one. And if it happens that you do not like this enterprise, find another job, do not bring your children to the point where they remain in the open air." After that, he somehow came to his senses.

So it turns out that if the guys study properly during their studies, then, although they will be a little tired, they will not have debts, they will quickly receive a diploma, and later they will have nothing to be sad about. I see that the guys who during their studies had debts in various subjects, graduating from the university and receiving an appointment to a place, also continue to be in debt - now with one, then with the other - and have many problems.

– Geronda, if a young man, while studying at a higher educational institution, meets a girl and this acquaintance can turn into a family, does it make sense to get married without completing his studies?

– I think that no matter how good and kind this acquaintance is, it will interfere with my studies. If a student gets married, then such a marriage will torment both his wife and his children - even if his chosen one turns out to be the best life partner. It is better for such a young person to concentrate his mental and physical strength on getting an education and, without straining, graduate from the university. And then let him arrange his personal life. After all, if his forces are scattered, then he will constantly be in a state of spiritual and physical breakdown.

Главная предпосылка для правильного вступления на избранный путь - это духовная жизнь

– Геронда, помните девушку, которая сказала Вам, что она думает о монашестве? Она рассказала мне, что её однокурсник стал приставать к ней с вопросами, почему она не ходит в кино и не гуляет с мальчиками. Что ей надо было ему ответить?