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 will you do harm to your neighbor. 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 choice pearls, so this one-person virtue is impossible 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 the 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 at all attractive. It is also like the perfect and beautiful composition of the alphabet, in which the letters are decorated and decorated, 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, flies down on it with all impetuosity, but, wishing to steal the prey, catches the tips of its claws on the net, and from this smallness all its strength becomes bound; and although his whole body is free and outside the nets, yet his strength seems to be already bound by nets. In the same way, 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: some in countless labors have succeeded in this virtue and adorned it like a royal diadem, but, having become attached to earthly things, they have perished and remained outside the Heavenly Kingdom. Therefore, pay attention to yourself, so that you also do not fall into something like this, and, having given yourself over to the enemy, do not turn into nothing such a wonderful virtue, which you have acquired by so much labor; lest thou also hinder her from entering heaven, and make her stand ashamed before the bridal chamber. On the contrary, try to give it boldness, so that you may enter it with loud exclamations, rejoicing and asking for your reward. A real miracle! Bound by earthly care, like a lion with its hair, because such virtue is like a lion, it has rotted on the ground and has become humiliated. Therefore, sober up, beloved, and having been ascetic, tear an insignificant hair, so that you may not be mocked as that strong (Samson) who slew thousands with the jawbone of an ass in the twinkling of an eye, and, freeing himself, slew his enemies; who has given his victory to God, and his prayer has turned his jaw into a fountain (Judg. 15:16, 19); but, having accomplished many similar feats, when through foolishness he gave himself over to his enemies, by the loss of his hair he bound within himself a terrible and very miraculous power. Be careful not to bind such virtue to any earthly misfortune. Deliver it from all that is harmful, and go to heaven.

As one plunges into the depths to find a pearl of great value and distinction, and when he finds it, he rises to the surface of the waters, and rushes naked to dry land with great riches, so thou shalt bade thyself from all the impurities of life, and clothe thyself with virtue, and adorn thyself with it, and be sober day and night, lest it be taken from thee, for the soul that hath it with it, no calamity, neither hunger, nor nakedness, nor despondency, nor sickness, nor poverty, nor persecution, nor any other devilish temptation can shake it. 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 light, because tribulation worketh patience (Rom. 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, because from it the soul is clothed with power and praise before God. In the same way, temptations cannot humiliate her, because from them she 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, because from it it prepares for itself a robe of glory. In the same way, hunger cannot plunge her into faint-heartedness, for from it a meal is prepared for her in the Heavenly Kingdom. And thirst is not able to bring her to despondency — a heavenly joy is prepared for her from it. And poverty cannot lure it to riches, because for it it will inherit the pleasure of the Lord. And vigilance and weeping are the crown of her perfection, humility and meekness are the foundation of her building. Death is not able to kill her, and the tomb cannot enclose and hold her in itself. The heavens themselves are not able to close their gates before the virtuous soul; on the contrary, at the sight of 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 in her, because she loved Him, and loved no one but Him. His only-begotten Son rejoices in her, because she coveted Him, and gained none but Him. The Holy Spirit rejoices over her, because for 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 in it, because it has received it as an inheritance. Glory and majesty to the one, good and loving God, Who, by His grace, grants us His Kingdom!

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed. The Only All-Wise and Gracious! I beseech Thy goodness, heal the wounds of my soul, and enlighten the eyes of my mind, that I may understand Thy dispensation for me. And since my mind has gone mad, may 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 do not despise (despise) 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 (destroy) thorns and thistles, that is, evil thoughts. Give abundantly 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, yet Thou who hast filled the stone 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, the smooth one, 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 every green of the earth at this time, how much more do 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 speckled with flowers, woven without human hands, rejoicing and celebrating two feasts: one for the sake of its son, the firstborn Adam, because he was created from 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 which I have for Thee impels me to do so.

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

Hear me, O Lord, hear, and let me be called into Thy kingdom, and I, who am lost, will be returned, I, the unclean, will be cleansed, I, the fool, will be chaste, I, the useless, will be made useful.

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. And 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.

Thou, O Lord, hast said through Thy prophet, "Enlarge thy mouth, and I will do it" (Psalm 80:11). Behold, therefore, the mouth and heart of Thy servant are open, fill them with Thy grace, that at all times I may bless Thee, O Christ my Saviour. Sprinkle my heart, O Good Lover of mankind, with the dew of Thy grace. As the sown land cannot bring forth its plants without the visitation of Thy grace, so my heart without Thy grace is not able to utter what is pleasing to Thee and bring forth the fruit of righteousness. Behold, the rain nourishes the plants, and the trees are crowned with various flowers, so may the dew of Thy grace enlighten my mind, and may it adorn it with the flowers of tenderness, humility, love, and patience.

And what else can I say? Behold, my prayer is weak, my iniquities are great and mighty, my sins oppress me, my infirmities oppress me: may Thy grace prevail over them, O Lord! Thou who hast opened the eyes of the blind, open the eyes of my mind, that I may behold Thy beauty unceasingly. Thou who hast opened the mouth of the foal, open my mouth to the glory and praise of Thy grace. Thou, Who hast set a limit to the sea by the word of Thy commandment, set a limit also to my heart by Thy grace, so that neither at the right hand nor in the severance may I depart from Thy babbling. Thou who hast given water in the wilderness to a disobedient and contradictory people, give me tenderness and tears to my eyes, that day and night I may weep for the days of my life with humility, love, and a pure heart. Let my supplication draw near before Thee, O Lord (Psalm 118:169). And grant me Thy holy seed, that I may offer Thee handles full of tenderness and confession, and say, "Glory to Him who gave what to bring unto Him," and worship the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen.

And so, I beseech you, let us sober up this short time and endure the podvig in this one hour (Matt. 20:9). Evening is near. The Rewarder goes with glory to repay each one according to his deeds. Be careful that one of you, after success, does not despise and destroy the immeasurable recompense of the Savior. A monk is like a sown field that has grown from various and fruitful rains and has grown and bears the fruit of joy; Having reached the time of fruiting, he leads the farmer to great care that hail or wild animals do not devastate the field. But when the farmer receives the reward of the harvest by gathering the harvested fruit into the garner, then he rejoices and rejoices, giving thanks to God. Likewise, a monk, while in this body, must take care of eternal life, laboring in podvig until the last day, so as not to make the entire course of life useless through negligence. When, having completed the current, like a farmer, he brings the fruits of his labors to heaven, then he will bring joy and gladness to the angels.

Therefore, no one should be lazy, and do not be afraid of temptations. Let the strong help the weak, the zealous comfort the faint-hearted, the sober stir up the sleepy, the constant give advice to the fickle, the temperate admonishes the careless and disorderly. Thus, encouraging one another with one accord and conquering for one another, let us shame our opposing enemy, let us glorify our God and let us rejoice the holy angels and those who see us and hear about us, and let us serve as a great edification in Christ our Saviour. For like a host of holy Angels, so is the multitude of monks, whose minds are always in accord directed towards God. And as honey and honeycomb are in the mouth, so is the answer of a brother to his neighbor, given with love. As cold water in the heat is to the thirsty, so is the word of consolation to a brother in sorrow. And as one gives his hand to the fallen and raises him up, so the word of counsel and truth raises up the lazy and slothful soul. And as good and fresh seed is in the rich earth, so are good thoughts in the soul of a monk. And as there is a strong bond in the building, there is long-suffering in the heart of the monk during his psalmody. And what is a burden of salt to a weak person, so to a monk is sleep and worldly care. As thorns and thistles are in good seed, so are impure thoughts in the soul of a monk. And that the necrosis of the limbs (Γαγγραινα is called "Anton's fire" by physicians), although cured, is never completely cured, then the memory of malice is in the soul of a monk. As a worm wears away a tree, so enmity is the heart of a monk. As moths spoil clothes, so slander defiles the soul of a monk. As a tree is tall and red, but has no fruit, so the monk is proud and arrogant. As the fruit is red on the outside and rotten on the inside, the monk is envious and unfriendly. As one who throws a stone into a pure spring muddies it, so the answer of a monk, pronounced with anger, disturbs the mind of his neighbor. As he who transplants a tree covered with fruit destroys the fruit and dries the foliage of the tree, so it is with the monk who leaves his place and goes to another. Like a building that is not founded on stone, it is a monk who has no patience in sorrows. Imagine that another, standing before the king and conversing with him, at the call of a servant like him, leaves a wondrous and glorious conversation with the king, and begins to converse with the servant; Like him is the one who speaks during the psalmody. Let us understand, beloved, Whom we stand for! As the Angels, standing with great trepidation, sing a hymn to the Creator, so we must stand with fear during the psalmody. Let it not be that only our bodies stand before us, and the mind dreams. Like a boat in the waves of the sea, so is a monk in the affairs of life. But let us gather our thoughts, that we may have praise before our God; let us endure the temptations of our enemy, that we may be glorified. Praise to a monk is patience in sorrows, praise to a monk is non-acquisitiveness, humility and simplicity, glorifying him before God and the Angels. Praise for a monk is silence and vigil with tenderness and tears. Praise for a monk is to love God with all his heart, and his neighbor as himself. Praise for a monk is abstinence in food, abstinence of the tongue, coordination of words with one's deeds; Praise to him, if he patiently remains in place, and is not carried here and there, as dry leaves are carried by the wind.

Woe is me, my beloved! For I have become like the bellows of a blacksmith, which are filled and emptied, using nothing from the wind; so I, too, describing the virtues of the flock of Christ, have no part in them myself. Glory to the greatness and goodness of Christ!