***

On September 4, 1911, the Lord vouchsafed me to be a witness to the great triumph of the Orthodox Church – to be present at the opening of the relics of St. Joasaph, the Wonderworker of Belgorod. In the face of the new sorrower for Holy Russia, given by God, in view of the new stronghold of Orthodoxy, erected in Belgorod by God, the heart rejoiced with tenderness and spiritual joy. But at the same time, it was sad to remember those many sons of our Church who, like the prodigal son, moved by a spirit of disobedience, left their mother for a distant land (Luke 15:11-32); and now, it seemed, they were strangers to this spiritual triumph, they did not understand it, and through misunderstanding they did not recognize even the newly-appeared shrine. Resisting the grace of God, they do not want to understand that the glorification of God's saints takes place according to God's special providence. This is clearly obvious to every Orthodox believer, among other things, from the circumstances of the death and further storage of the remains of St. Joasaph.

Behold, he is dying... He dies, mind you, not at home, but during a trip to the diocese, 70 versts from his diocesan city. It was necessary to transport his remains to this city. For the burial of Saint Joasaph, the Bishop of Pereyaslavl was appointed by the spiritual authorities. The latter, due to the muddy roads, could come to Belgorod only two months later. Thus the burial of Saint Joasaph was naturally postponed, and they had to wait for this burial for 70 whole days. It was then that it was seen that the body of the saint remained incorrupt. It was decided after the burial not to bury his coffin in the ground, but to place it in a cave, where the people of Belgorod began to descend to pray, firmly believing in the heavenly intercession of their saint who had reposed in peace.

Once, about 15 years ago, I happened to be in Belgorod. At that time there was no talk of the glorification of Saint Joasaph, but having already visited his shrine, it was felt that this time was approaching. The desire of the people of Belgorod to venerate the saint in the morning, the daily service of the pannikhida after the early Liturgy, accompanied by the ringing of a 1000-pood bell, the constant pronunciation of the name of St. Joasaph at all private panihidas - all this told the heart that the day and hour was about to come when St. Joasaph would be glorified. Now it has come true.

Oh, how unjust are those who dare to see in the glorification of God's saints the work of human hands – so do our sectarians look at it. For us, the faithful sons of the Church, God's Providence in this glorification is as clear as God's day. When the venerable relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov were opened,[40] resisting the grace of God, not understanding that the Lord glorifies the saints in various ways, they said: "If only his whole body had remained incorrupt, then we would have believed." But now, sectarians and all unbelievers, go and look at the incorruptible repose of St. Joasaph. His relics have been preserved magnificently.

On August 12, before the unveiling of the relics, I happened to be in Belgorod and behold the face of the saint. Venerating the venerable relics of the saint, I asked to open his face, and - oh delight! - the face of the saint appeared before me, similar to his image on the icon. Behind me, the people standing behind me, seeing the face of the saint, trembled, and then the cave resounded with sighs of tenderness, tears of spiritual rapture.

What will you say now, sectarians? You need the incorruptibility of the relics... So please go to Belgorod and make sure of this truth. Only do not dare to say then that there are no relics, for you will be telling, in your burned conscience, a deliberate lie. When it is impossible to object to incorruption, they say: what kind of saint is he, if he was very strict and oppressed the clergy.. And what is zeal for God? - after all, he, the saint, on the one hand, lived entirely in God, lived for God, and on the other hand, he was an archpastor, a superior; he could not tolerate betrayal of God, he demanded of his flock to render their due to God, to serve Him with fear and trembling. Zeal for God devours Me... (Cf. Psalm 68:10; John 2:17). The severity of St. Joasaph is only one more proof of his closeness and devotion to God, as all God-pleasers do.

One can contradict the truth, one can reject the grace of God, as all those who depart from the Orthodox Church do, but the people's feeling cannot be deceived – it always senses the truth and by its striving for it bears witness to its authenticity. So it was in Belgorod. When the glorification of Saint Joasaph was announced, the people with great joy and love received this news and went in a crowd to the newly-glorified saint. One had to see the enthusiasm, those tears of tenderness in the days of Belgorod celebrations, which the people showed here, in order to involuntarily exclaim: "Truly wondrous is God in His saints" (Psalm 67:36).

***

It is said of the Saviour that He taught as one in authority, and not as the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 7:29). And how did the scribes and Pharisees teach? Was their teaching wrong? No, this cannot be said. Christ Himself says about the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees that their teaching should be heard, but it is not proper to follow only their deeds, obviously, their deeds were sinful. From this conclude that the power of the influence of the pastor, teacher, preacher on the listeners is in his life and morality. The more blameless the latter, the greater his preaching can be successful. Such a preacher will teach like a man in authority, not like the scribes and Pharisees. All this applies to us, pastors, spiritual workers. Send us, O Lord, not only the knowledge of Thy Law, not only the ability to teach others by words and writings, but first of all give us a good life, good works, for Thou hast said: For they see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

***

You will take a closer look at your inner being and involuntarily be surprised at its imperfection. This is something unstable, shaky. Have you seen any quagmire or creeping soil? If it is not strengthened, not filled up, then it falls through every now and then, crumbles. So is our inner being. How much inner work is needed, how many spiritual means of grace are needed to keep it in moral order.

***

Everything can be taken away from you: property, honor, position, they can keep you in the last place, but no one will take away your inner wealth, unless you lose it yourself. And if you have it, you are happy with it in spite of any earthly humiliation. This wealth in the Lord will always calm you, always reconcile you with all kinds of adversities of life. Take care of it, this inner wealth of the soul, seek it, and be afraid to lose it.