Therefore, my brother, be sober with all caution and try always to study your reading diligently, so that it may teach you how to avoid the snares of the enemy and attain eternal life. The reading of the Divine Scriptures brings the wandering mind into concentration and gives knowledge of God, for it is written: "Be abolished, and understand that I am God" (Psalm 45:11). You hear, my brother, that he who exercises himself in the reading of the Divine Scriptures with a pure heart acquires the knowledge of God. Therefore, brother, do not be negligent about your soul, but exercise yourself in reading and prayer, so that your mind may be enlightened, that you may become perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4). Others boast of conversing with nobles, princes, and kings, but you boasted before the angels of God that in the Holy Scriptures you converse with the Holy Spirit, for through them the Holy Spirit speaks.

Therefore, try to read the Divine Scriptures and constantly remain in prayer. For whenever you converse with God by means of them, your body and soul are sanctified. Knowing this, try to practice the Scriptures more often. If your hands are not idle, pray with your mind. Blessed Anna, the mother of the Prophet Samuel, prayed in this way, and only with her lips did she pray (1 Samuel 1:13). But her prayer entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts, and her petition was given to her (1 Samuel 1:27). Therefore, my brother, although your hands are not idle, pray with your mind. But if you do not know how to read, do not depart from the place where you can listen and profit, for it is written: "If you see a man of understanding, make morning to him, and let your foot rub the degrees of his doors" (Sir. 6:36). So it is useful, my brother, not only for those who do not know how to read, but also for those who can, because many read, but do not know what they are reading.

And so, monk, see to it that you do not despise your gift, given to you by the gift of Christ. But take care and seek how you can please God, so that you may be vouchsafed the blessedness of the saints. For it is written: "Blessed are they that test His witnesses, they shall seek Him with all their heart" (Psalm 118:2). See to it that when you want to read, the enemy does not interrupt you, bringing despondency upon you and throwing you into distraction, and saying: "Do such and such a deed first, since it is not great, and then you will read with a calm spirit." When the enemy inspires this and gives zeal to needlework, it means that he leads to these thoughts in order to distract you from reading. But when he sees that his brother reads diligently and derives benefit from it, he attacks him, trying to hinder him with other pretexts. Therefore, do not believe him, but be like a deer thirsting and desiring to come to the springs of water, that is, to the Divine Scriptures, in order to drink from them and quench your thirst, which burns you with passions.

But drink of them, I will say so, and profit, so that when the Lord grants you to read and learn which word from the Scriptures, it will not pass by, but you will learn with your mind, engrave it in your heart, and keep it indelibly in your memory. It is written: In those who are justified I will learn (Psalm 118:16). And it is also said: "In my heart hide Thy words, that I may not sin against Thee" (Psalm 118:11). And again: In what way will he correct his youthful path? Wherefore thou shalt keep Thy words (Psalm 118:9). Do you see, brother, how by remembering His words a man straightens his way?

Who remembers the Word of God and does not correct himself? "Is he an unskilful and pitiful man? But she doesn't remember anything at all. On the contrary, he also forgets that he imagines himself to be remembering. To such a person God says: "Wherefore shalt thou tell My justifications, and receive My covenant with thy mouth" (Psalm 49:16)? Therefore he commands to take away from him also what he thinks he has for himself. Such a one thinks of himself that he has faith, because he calls himself a Christian, but by his works he denies it, and he is worse than an unbeliever. Therefore God commands to take away from him the Holy Spirit, Whom he received on the day of redemption and, as he thinks, has in himself. And such a person becomes like a clay vessel with wine, which cracked and through it lost the wine. Anyone who sees it and does not know what has happened thinks that it is complete; but when it comes to it, it will be evident to all that it was empty. In the same way, this man, according to the examination, will be empty on the day of judgment. And then it will be obvious to everyone what he is. Such people will say to the King on that day: Lord, is it not in Thy name that I prophesied... and in Thy name I have created many powers (Matt. 7:22). And the King shall answer and say unto them, Amen, I say unto you, I have no knowledge of you.

Do you see, brother, that such a man has nothing at all? Therefore, remember the words that you hear, and correct your path. See that you do not allow the birds of the air to fly and eat the seed of the Son of God. For He Himself said, "The seed is the Word of God, which ye have heard" (Luke 8:11). Hide the seed in the bowels of the earth, that is, the Word within your heart, that you may bear fruit to the Lord in fear. When you are reading, read with diligence and diligently, with great attention, dwell on each verse, and do not only try to turn the pages, but, if necessary, do not be lazy and read the verse twice, and three times, and several times, in order to understand its power.

And when you sit down to read or listen to the reader, pray first to God, saying: "Lord Jesus Christ! Open the ears and eyes of my heart, that I may hear Thy words, and understand them, and do Thy will: for I am a stranger on earth, hide not Thy commandments from me, but open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Thy law (Psalm 118:19, 18). In Thee I trust, O my God, that Thou mayest enlighten my heart."

Yes, my brother, I beseech you, always pray to God to enlighten your mind and reveal to you the power of His words. Many, trusting in their own understanding, were subjected to error, saying, "Be wise, foolish" (Romans 1:22); not understanding what was written, they fell into blasphemy and perished. Therefore, if you come across an incomprehensible word while reading, see to it that the evil one does not teach you to say to yourself: "It is not so said, for is it possible to say so?" or to say something similar. On the contrary, if you believe in God, believe also in His words, and say to the evil one: "Follow me (from me), Satan. I know that the word of God, the word is pure, the silver is kindled, the earth is tempted, it is cleansed by the week (Psalm 11:7), nothing in them is obstinate, it is depraved. All good things are to those who understand, and righteous to those who gain understanding (Proverbs 8:8), but I am unthinkable and do not understand. I know that they are written spiritually, for the Apostle says that the law is spiritual (Romans 7:14)." Or look up to heaven and say thus: "I believe, O Lord, Thy word, I will not contradict it, but I certainly believe the words of the Holy Spirit. Thou, O Lord, save me, that I may find grace before Thee. And I, the Gracious One, seek nothing else but salvation, that I may be vouchsafed Thy mercy."

Acquire silence, brother, as a strong wall, for silence will place you above the passions. You will fight from above, and he from below. Therefore, acquire silence in the fear of God, and all the arrows of the enemy will not harm you. Silence, coupled with the fear of God, is a fiery chariot that lifts up those who have acquired it to heaven. May the Prophet Elijah convince you of this, who loved the silence and fear of God and was taken to heaven.

Oh, silence is a ladder to heaven! Oh, silence is the mother of contrition! Oh, silence is the mirror of sins, showing man his sins! Oh, silence that does not hold back tears! Oh, the silence that begets meekness! O silence that cohabits with humility! Oh, the silence associated with the fear of God and leading the mind to the light! Oh, the silence that watches over thoughts and promotes prudence! Oh, silence, which gives birth to every good, is the affirmation of fasting, a barrier to gluttony! Oh, silence is an exercise in prayer and reading! Oh, silence — the silence of thoughts and the unstormed harbor! Oh, the silence that frees the soul from cares! Oh, silence is a good yoke and a light burden, resting and bearing those who bear you! Oh, silence is the destroyer of audacity and the enemy of shamelessness! Oh, silence is the mother of reverence! Oh, silence is the prison of passions! Oh, silence is the amusement of soul and heart! Oh, silence is a bridle for the eyes, ears, and tongue! Oh, the silence that fosters all virtue! Oh, silence is the fault (source) of non-acquisitiveness! Oh, silence is the fruitful village of Christ, bearing good fruits! Oh, silence is the wall and bulwark of those who intend to strive for the Heavenly Kingdom!

Yes, brother, acquire for yourselves this good portion which Mary chose, for Mary, sitting at the feet of the Lord and clinging to Him alone, became a model of silence. For this reason the Lord praised her, saying: "But Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42). See, brother, what silence it is! The Lord Himself praises the one who has acquired it. Acquire silence and delight in the Lord (Psalm 36:4), sitting down at His feet and cleaving to Him, the One, so that you can say boldly: "My soul has cleaved after Thee, and Thy right hand has received me" (Psalm 62:9), for my soul is filled with fat and oil (Psalm 62:6).

Yes, my brother, acquire a silence that is sweeter than honey. Better a piece of bread and salt in silence and free from cares than the offer of many foods for amusements and cares. Listen to Him Who says: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). The Lord wants to give you rest from cares, from irritation, from distractions and from the sorrows of this world; He wants you to be free from the plinth of Egypt, He wants to lead you into the wilderness, that is, into silence. He will enlighten your ways with a pillar of cloud, and nourish you with manna (I mean the bread of silence and freedom from cares), so that he may inherit to you the land of good, that is, the heavenly Jerusalem. Yes, brother, love it, acquire it, so that on the path of witnesses (the acquisition of revelations) of God you may abound in all kinds of riches. Yes, brother, acquire silence with the fear of God, and the God of peace will be with you.

And so, my spiritual brethren and beloved of the Lord, I beseech you to exert your efforts, to bring to mind these things daily, that is, faith, love, hope, humility, and always seal yourselves with prayers to God, instruction in the Divine Scriptures, silence, and other virtues. For all this, when it exists and abounds in us, leaves us not idle and barren in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. A monk who has not acquired this, but does not care about his salvation, is a blind man who blinds his eyes, consigning his old sins to oblivion. It happened to him... the true parable: the dog returned to his vomit, and the pig washed into the feces (2 Pet. 2:22). For if they have fled, it is said, from the filthy world, that is, by the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by these packs they are intertwined, they are the last pot of the first. For it is better for them not to know the way of righteousness, than for those who have known to turn back (2 Pet. 2:20-21). And so, beloved faithful slaves and chosen warriors, monks, let us fully absorb in our hearts all that has been said above, daily bringing them to mind, so that we may be able to fight the good fight and trample down all the power of the enemy, in order to be delivered from the wrath that is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and to find mercy and grace on the day of Judgment in the presence of the Righteous Judge, Who recompenses each one according to his deeds. To Him is due all glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages! Amen.