About Staying Awake at Night

In the last of the prayers read by the priest at the beginning of Vespers, the so-called Luminary Prayers, the Holy Church asks God to grant us that "even on our couches we may remember His name even in the night." From this, as you see, it is revealed to us that we should not sleep all night, but stay awake and pray to God part of the night. Why should we dedicate a part of the night to God? First of all, because the Lord loved the night time and Himself teaches us to pray at night. He was born at night, and at night He loved to retire for prayerful conversations with God His Father, when it was still dark (John 20:1), and His most glorious Resurrection followed. And finally, He Himself says: Why are you sleeping? arise and pray, that ye may not fall into temptation (Luke 22:46).Secondly, we must devote part of the night to God because the Holy Fathers teach us to do so. St. St. John Chrysostom says: "Night was not given to us only to sleep... but it must be divided into two parts: one for work, and the other for rest... And you get up at night, and before all things pray to God, that He may grant you His mercy" (from the Prologue for April 12). Ephraim the Syrian teaches: "Do not consider sleep and bodily rest to be gains for yourself; but the gain and repose of a man is to constantly compel himself to the work of the Lord. And so, beloved, let us compel ourselves, so that the Lord, when He comes, will find us awake and vouchsafe His blessedness, for He Himself said: Blessed are those servants whom the lord, when he comes, finds awake (Luke 12:37). Thus vigilant was Samuel, repeatedly called, and not once was he too lazy to get up, although he was still a youth, and for this he was vouchsafed a conversation with God, became the doer of His will and a great prophet. And because of this, the Lord heard the voice of his weeping, heard his prayer, and accepted his prayer (see Psalm 6:9-10). Finally, on the night of the Nativity of Christ, the shepherds did not sleep, who kept a night watch over their flock... And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all men: for this day is born unto you in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:8-11). Here, for example, is what is said about Blessed Seraphim of Sarov. "Throughout his life he did not cease to submit his flesh to the spirit in everything, and especially struggled against sleep. In spite of his advanced years and weak strength, he slept sometimes in the vestibule, and sometimes in his cell in the following position: he sat with his back against the wall and stretched out his legs; sometimes he would lay his head on a stone or on a wooden stump, or he would simply prostrate himself on the bags of biscuits or the bricks and logs that were in his cells. Approaching the last minutes of his departure into eternity, he so intensified his struggle against sleep that it was impossible to look at the ascetic without surprise and horror: he knelt down and slept face down to the floor, on his elbows, supporting his head with his hands. He did not have a bed all his life. And so, following the example of the Lord Himself and His teaching, as well as the teaching of the Holy Fathers, and because of the fact that night vigil and prayer bring down upon man the great mercies of God, and, finally, following the example of the saints of God, we ourselves must commemorate the Lord on our bed (Psalm 62:7) and seek Him on our bed at night (Psalm 3:1). Let us remember and seek Him. Let our hearts and minds be awake even in the night, and heed how the sweet voice of the Lord, calling us to converse with Him, knocks at the doors of our souls (Song of Songs 5:2). Amen.

For the Simple on Prayer

As before the Apostles said to the Lord: "Teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1), so now many of the simpletons ask how to pray, what prayers to read. They say about themselves: "We are working people, we cannot read great church prayers, because in summer from dawn to dawn in the field, in autumn – on the threshing floor, and in winter – in a cab or at some other work. What should we do?" What is the answer to them? And how can their perplexities be resolved? Here's what we decided to do. Since we have found in Blessed Seraphim of Sarov an excellent solution to the above-mentioned questions, so often asked by simpletons, we send the latter with their questions to the holy elder. He will tell them better than we do how to pray to them and what prayers to read.Listen, simple people, to what the holy ascetic of Sarov will tell you. That's what he says." Rising from sleep, everyone should make the sign of the cross and, standing in the chosen place, read the salvific prayer which the Lord Himself, that is, the Lord's Prayer to the end, three times; then three times to the Virgin Theotokos, rejoice to the end, and finally, once, the Symbol of Faith.Having completed this morning rule, let every Christian go to his own work and, while studying at home or on the road, should read quietly, silently Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. And if people surround him, then he, while doing business, let him only say with his mind: Lord, have mercy, and continue this until dinner. After dinner, while doing his work, everyone should read quietly: O Most Holy Theotokos, save me, a sinner, and continue this until nightfall.When you happen to spend time in solitude, then you should read: Lord Jesus Christ, by the Mother of God, have mercy on me, a sinner (or a sinner), and going to bed for the night, every Christian should repeat the morning rule and after that with the sign of the cross let him fall asleep. If a Christian adheres to this small rule as a salvific anchor among the waves of worldly vanity, humbly fulfilling it, then he can attain the measure of Christian perfection and Divine love, because these three prayers are the foundation of Christianity: the first, as the word of the Lord Himself and which He set as the model of all prayers; the second was brought from Heaven by the Archangel in greeting to the Most Holy Virgin, the Mother of the Lord; and the third contains all the dogmas of the Christian faith."Here are for you, simple people, the answers to your questions, how you should pray and what prayers to read. From the above-quoted words of the blessed elder, you should certainly be convinced that according to your situation, no lengthy or incomprehensible prayers are required of you, but you are invited to read only short prayers, but at the same time the most important of all prayers, and prayers that are also the most instructive of all, touching, and at the same time comforting. what can be more instructive, for example, than the Lord's Prayer? In a few words, it sets forth all the petitions with which a Christian can and should turn to his Heavenly Father. The prayer Lord, have mercy should be the most touching for the sinner seeking mercy. And the prayer to the Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, should be the most comforting for us, like the news from Heaven about the birth of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. In view of all this, it will be enough for you if you pray, as the elder pointed out to you, and read only the prayers offered to him. Amen.

Those who do not partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ because they consider themselves unworthy

There are people who do not partake of the Holy Mysteries because they consider themselves unworthy. How to look at it? In our opinion, we should look at it this way: when people realize their unworthiness, it is good; if they, aware of their unworthiness, do not take Communion also because their spiritual father does not allow them to partake of Communion, this is also good. But if such people excommunicate themselves from Holy Communion of their own accord, then the latter cannot be approved, because no matter how one thinks, without Communion of the Holy Mysteries a person will not be saved. The Lord Himself said: "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in yourselves" (John 6:53). One of the disciples of Blessed Elder Seraphim of Sarov reports the following about himself. "I," he says, "with the blessing of Father Seraphim, communed of the Most Pure Mysteries on all the Twelve Great Feasts. On the eve of this, I had to eat only once, and then with abstinence, but on other days I ate twice a day, together with the brethren.Once, on the eve of the Twelve Great Feasts, after an early mass, I drank tea and ate prosphora; when everyone went to the table, and I went there and ate the food there. After vespers, a guest came to me, and I, treating him to brotherly food, ate with him more. After that, I suddenly remembered that the present day was on the eve of the Twelve Great Feasts, and that I had to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and therefore I had to eat only once a day. Then I began to lose heart, and the more I thought, the more despaired I became. It seemed to me that if I dared to approach the Holy Table, then the Lord would strike me with death. However, in spite of this mental struggle, I tried in every possible way to overcome it, so as not to deprive myself of the Holy Object, and, preparing myself, I read the rule, and then confessed. But although my spiritual father gave me permission to approach the Holy Mysteries without any embarrassment, for the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ forgive all our sins, yet I was not at peace in spirit. The enemy did not want to leave any visible prey behind, and in every possible way tried to remove my soul from union with the Sweetest Jesus.The next day during the Liturgy, he attacked me with the same murderous thoughts and to a much stronger degree. And when I put on, with the blessing of the serving priest, the sticharion, in which I usually communed of the Holy Mysteries, my torments reached the extreme. Instead of trusting in the merits of Christ the Saviour, covering all my sins, it seemed to me that by God's judgment for my unworthiness and contempt for the commandment of the elderly, I would either be burned by fire, or swallowed up alive by the earth in full view of all those present in the church, as soon as I approached the Holy Chalice. and I followed there without any reasoning, as if at the call of my guardian angel, through the prayers of Father Seraphim.This was the very moment when the elder had just communed of the Holy Mysteries, and the serving priest was preparing to open the Royal Doors. I looked at Father Seraphim and saw that he made a sign to me with his hand.With fear and reverence, I walked around the holy altar and fell at the feet of Father Seraphim. The Elder picked me up, kissed me and said: "If we filled the ocean with our tears, then even then we would not be able to satisfy the Lord for pouring out on us the same thing, nourishing us with His Most Pure Flesh and Blood, which wash us, cleanse us, revive us and resurrect us. Therefore, approach without doubt and do not be dismayed; only believe that these are the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which are given for the healing of all our sins."I again fell at the feet of the elder, kissed his hands, and left the altar in ecstasy and horror at the ineffable mercy of the Lord, which had shown me in Father Seraphim such a gift of clairvoyance and a spirit of wisdom. And through his prayers, I was vouchsafed this time to partake of the Most-Pure Mysteries with such joy and ecstasy, and with such faith and love, with which, in my opinion, I have never communed. As the above-mentioned disciple of the elder experienced it himself." The enemy, – he says, – tried in every possible way to remove my soul from union with the Sweetest Jesus... The enemy attacked me with the same murderous thoughts the next day."In favor of the fact that unauthorized withdrawal from Communion of the Holy Mysteries cannot be approved, sound reasoning also speaks. People do not take Communion because they consider themselves unworthy of Communion. And who told them that they would ever be worthy of it? If they themselves ever say that they are worthy, then they will only show their pride and sin grievously, for before Communion one should not praise one's worthiness, but recognize one's unworthiness and sinfulness. Thus must one who approaches Communion speak, that is, declare that he is the first of sinners, and not praise himself, like the Pharisee, and not boast of his imaginary merits and merits before God. He does not command us to partake of Communion until the time is ripe, then do not partake of Communion, and if He commands and blesses, then boldly approach the Throne of Grace, remembering that the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Amen.

Is it true that in the future life the righteous will enjoy inexplicable joy and ineffable bliss

Both the Word of God and the Holy Fathers teach us to believe that inexplicable joys, ineffable bliss await the righteous in the Future Life. The Word of God says: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).St. John Chrysostom says: "There is all peace, joy, gladness, sweetness... all day, all light, the all-present desire for good."The Monk Ephraim the Syrian adds to this: "There is the only longed-for, everlasting joy, eternal joy, unfading light, the unsetting sun... There is the voice of the celebrants... there is an incomparable joy, of which it is impossible for human lips to speak. There is neither sorrow nor sighing, but each one, according to the grace given to him, rejoices inwardly in his own measure." Thus teach us both the word of God and the Holy Fathers about the inexplicable joy and ineffable blessedness that await the righteous in the Future Life. Is this really so? Our venerable father Seraphim of Sarov once said to one of his disciples: "Once I delighted in the word of my Lord Jesus Christ, where He says: In My Father's house there are many mansions (Jn. 14:2), that is, for those who serve him and glorify his holy name. At these words of Christ the Savior I stopped and desired to see these heavenly abodes, and I prayed to the Lord that He would show them to me, and the Lord would not deprive me of His mercy. God knows, it's incomprehensible. And it is impossible to tell you about the joy and sweetness of heaven that I tasted there." And with these words, Father Seraphim fell silent.At this time, he bent a little forward, his head with closed eyes drooping to the valley, and with the outstretched hand of his right hand he equally quietly moved against his heart. His face gradually changed and emitted a wonderful light, and at last it became so illumined that it was impossible to look at him; on his lips and in all his expression there was such heavenly joy and rapture, that at that time it was truly possible to call him an earthly angel and a heavenly man. After a rather long silence, sighing from the depths of his soul, Venerable Seraphim said to his disciple: "Ah, if you knew what joy, what sweetness awaits the soul of the righteous in heaven, then you would dare to endure all sorrows, persecutions and slander with thanksgiving in temporal life... There is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, there is joy and sweetness unspeakable, there the righteous will shine like the sun. But if even the Apostle Paul himself could not explain such heavenly glory and joy, then what other human language can explain the beauty of the heavenly dwelling in which righteous souls dwell?" This means that it is true that this is in fact the case – there is what both the word of God and the Holy Fathers speak of, there is ineffable joy and ineffable bliss, awaiting the righteous in the Future Life. This means that the Lord spoke the truth to His disciples: "Your sorrow shall be turned into joy" (John 16:20). I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy (John 16:22). and they shall reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:3-5). According to the promise of the Lord Himself: "To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne" (Rev. 3:21). Let us add a little: with all our hearts we wish you that you, more often imagining inexplicable joys and ineffable bliss, which the Lord has prepared for those who love Him, would strive with all your heart and with all your soul to achieve these blessings; so that you may remember that our dwelling is in heaven, whence we also await the Saviour (Phil. 3:20). And finally, that, remembering this, living on earth in the body, at the same time live in Heaven in the spirit. Amen.

On how one should behave in church

Since not everyone behaves decently in church, and some stand in it without praying and not heeding what is being sung and read, others laugh and talk in church, and some even sometimes distract others from contemplation of God and prayer by their words and behavior, imitating the devil-tempter, then as a result of this we considered it our moral duty both to such people and to everyone in general to offer the instruction of one of the holy saints of God and the Holy Church that How should Christians behave in church and how should they relate to church services.What will the saint of God and the Holy Church tell us about this?St. Seraphim of Sarov teaches: "There are many who say: 'We were at Mass, or at Matins, or at Vespers,' and flatter themselves with the hope that they really were, but in fact where did their minds wander then? They were only in body in the temple of God. Christians should pay attention to themselves and try to remember that before us is the Lord Knower of Hearts, and that we are standing in the temple, according to the words of the prophet: "I have always seen the Lord before me, for He is at my right hand; I will not be moved" (Psalm 15:8). Whoever remembers that one must work for the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling, heeds everything that is sung or read during the service, especially that which is read from the Holy Gospel, which is a plaster on every scab of sin." Let us now listen to what the Holy Church has to say about the same thing.In one of the church teachings of the Prologue it is said: "Beloved children and brethren, when you come to church, with great fear and reverence, listen to what is sung during the Divine Liturgy, and do not talk about the things of life in the church of God. And before the earthly king one must stand with fear, so as not to incur his wrath, and in the presence of the earthly king one must be afraid to look at each other, lest one be punished for this. Do not disturb the service of the Church by talking, laughing, dozing, but listen and heed how it is sung: Let us lay aside all the cares of this world... And those of you who wish to receive salvation should be especially concerned about the purity of your soul in the hour of prayer, and not be deceived by the wiles of the devil and not indulge in idle talk" (from the Prologue for June 6).

What does this teaching oblige us to do? Of course, so that we follow it and behave in church as it commands. And so it must be, without fail, for otherwise our stay in church will become displeasing to God and, consequently, useless for us. Listen to what the Lord says about those who go to church not for the temple's sake: These people draw near to Me with their lips, and worship Me with their tongues, but their heart is far from Me; but in vain do they worship Me (Matt. 15:8-9). From this it is clear that the prayer of such people is not pleasing to God, and their going to church does not benefit them.In order for us to avoid this, let us follow the teaching of both the saint of God and the Holy Church regarding behavior in church. How? Let us enter the church with reverence, putting aside all worldly cares outside its threshold, let us stand in it with fear, as we should stand before the face of the King of Heaven, and finally, let us pray as it is proper for repentant sinners to pray. Then there is no doubt that our prayer will become pleasing to God, and our going to the temple of God will bring us great benefit. Amen.

The Lord is those who love Him

One of the greatest mercies proclaimed by the Lord to those who love Him is that He promises to come to them and make a dwelling place with them, to love them and to appear to them Himself. He says: He who loves Me will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make our abode with him (John 14:23). Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father; and I will love him, and I will appear to him Myself (John 14:21). Mercy is truly the greatest. In the Life of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the following is written. Once, when he was a hierodeacon, it happened that he served on Holy Great Thursday. Divine Liturgy began at two o'clock in the afternoon, with vespers. After the Little Entrance and the Paremia, Seraphim exclaimed in the Royal Doors: "Lord, save the pious and hear us!" Looking at this radiance, he saw the Lord Jesus Christ in the form of the Son of Man, shining in glory and unchanging light, surrounded by the Heavenly powers: Angels, Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, as if by a swarm of bees – and from the western church gates coming in the air. The Lord blessed those who served and those who were present; after that, having entered into His holy local image, which is on the right side of the Royal Doors, He was transfigured, surrounded by Angelic faces, shining with an ineffable light throughout the church. He, who then met the Lord Jesus Christ in the air, was honored with a special blessing from Him.Father Seraphim carefully tried to keep this secret in the depths of his soul, but could it be hidden from the eyes of all those who were there in the church? At the same time he changed his appearance, and everyone could notice and clearly understood that the Lord's visit was with him, for he could neither leave his place nor utter a single word. Two hierodeacons approached, took him by the arms, led him into the altar and left him aside. Standing for three hours, his face often changed, which was now white as snow, now covered with blush, and from the fullness of the consolations of Divine grace for a long time he could not utter a word.From this event in the life of Venerable Seraphim it becomes clear that the greatest mercy, of which we spoke above and which the Lord promised to those who love Him, must be understood in such a way that He truly appeared to them and made a dwelling place with them. And the example of Seraphim is not the only one. We all know that after His Resurrection the Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the myrrh-bearing women, to the Apostles, and, finally, to more than five hundred brethren at one time (1 Cor. 15:6).It is known that the First Martyr Stephen, before his suffering death, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55). Lord, why didn't you come to comfort me?" He answered: "I was here, in your heart."But even in addition to these examples, in the lives of the saints one can find instances of the Lord appearing to those who love Him. And it is clear that not only in the spiritual, but also in the literal, real sense one can understand the words of the Lord: "Let us come and make our abode with him... And I will love him and appear to him Myself.As you see, in fact, the Lord appeared to those who loved Him and made a dwelling in their hearts for Himself. Where should all this lead us? Of course, so that we, more often imagining God's love for those who love Him, try to strive with all our hearts to our Lord, to unite with Him through ardent love for Him, and through it to receive Him into the dwelling place of our hearts, so that we may love Him, not in word and tongue, but in deed and truth: we may hear His word, we would fulfill His commandments, imitate His example, and unite with Him through a holy righteous life.And if we really did this, if we were always concerned about the increase and preservation in our hearts of love for the Lord, then, believe me, if not with bodily, then with spiritual eyes, we would also see the Lord, we would prepare our hearts for His habitation, would have received mercy and love for ourselves on His part, then His words would have been able to apply to us: I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (2 Corinthians 6:16). Amen.

Those in power must be extremely cautious about the judgments of others about their subordinates