Answer Barsanuphius. Let us give all praise to the God of glory and sing Him for ever, Amen. Glory does not befit us, but to Him alone, and to His Son, and to His Holy Spirit. God, Who desires to fulfill the word of the Scriptures in us: "Brother helps from brother, as a city is strong and fenced" (Proverbs 18:19), has brought your love to our weakness, so that we may help one another for God's sake. May our great Brother give you all help; I mean (our Lord) Jesus. He was pleased to make us His brethren (cf. Heb. 2:11), and we have already become them, and the angels delight us. O Whom we have as (our) Brother! "Strong to strengthen us," "Strong to share in our gains," "Commander of war, to smite the enemies who attack us in battle," "Physician to heal our inner man, together with the outward man who has submitted to Him," "Nourisher who nourishes us with spiritual nourishment," "Living to revive us," "Merciful to have mercy on us," "Generous to be generous to us," "King, to make us kings also,"  — God, in order to make us gods. Therefore, knowing that everything is in Him, pray to Him; and before you ask, He knows what you need, and will give it to you according to the petition of your heart, unless you yourself prevent it. Always give praise to Him, for to Him is due glory forever, Amen. Pray for me, brother, that I may know my weakness.

Answers 201–300

201. The same petition to the same Great Elder for rainlessness, and for his long-term silence.

Answer. God does nothing untimely, but everything is for the benefit of people. Though he withheld the rain to punish them, yet he will have mercy on them again, and will send it; so the word was withheld for a time, so that some might be felt; but they have become even more insensible, and God again commands them to speak, and the word is taught for the benefit of those who demand.

202. Petition of the same to the same Great Elder. My Reverend Father! I beg you, fulfill your holy promises for the forgiveness of sins on me.

Answer Barsanuphius. Blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blesses us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly ones (Ephesians 1:3). If thou wilt prepare thyself to receive that which thou askest, thou shalt receive it through thy much labour, and through me, who am weak; for the gain and benefit of every man and every soul I consider as my own. Joyfully and with a burning spirit I offer myself as a sacrifice for souls, as our only God, the Knower of Hearts, knows. I know and hope that our work will not be in vain. Be sure that you will receive what you ask for; but, having received it, preserve this grace. Many were vouchsafed to receive grace, but having received it, they fell away; for they did not keep with fear what they received. Therefore, be a desirer of good things and at the same time a guardian of them, a pleasing servant of your Lord, a humble disciple of Him who humbled himself for your sake, obedient – Obedient, gentle – Not malicious, long-suffering – Long-suffering, merciful – Merciful, bearing the burdens of your neighbor, as the Lord bore your burdens, loving all sincerely as He also loved us, following Him in all things, until He takes you into His great rest, where the eye does not see, and the ear did not hear, and did not ascend in the heart of man, which God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). To Him be the glory for ever, Amen. Pray for me, monk!

203. The same asked the Great Elder for the same thing.

Answer. Brother Andrew! May Jesus grant thee all the petitions of which He said, "Ask, and ye shall receive" (John 16:24). Only prepare your house, having thoroughly cleansed it, in order to receive the gifts. They are kept (only) in a cleansed house, and there they give out their fragrance, where there is no uncleanness. Whoever eats them becomes a stranger to the old man, crucified to the world, as well as the world to him, and always lives in the Lord. No matter how much the waves of the enemy strike, they do not break his ship; and henceforth he becomes terrible to his adversaries; for they see the holy seal on him, and the more he becomes their enemy, the more he becomes a sincere and amiable friend of the Great King. Therefore, brother, hate completely, that you may love perfectly. Have moved away completely, in order to get very close. Abhor (one) adoption in order to receive (another) adoption. Stop fulfilling your wishes, and fulfill your wish. Wound yourself, and heal yourself. Kill yourself, and revive yourself. Forget yourself, and know yourself. And you will have monastic deeds.

204. The same asked the Great Elder for the same.

Answer. Brother Andrew! Beloved of my soul, if you knew the gift of God properly, then, even though all the hairs of your head were lips, they could not worthily glorify and thank God; but I believe that you also will know the gift of the Lord. God knows that not an hour or the blink of an eye will pass without me remembering you and praying for you. If I love you so much, then God, who created you, surely loves you even more. I pray Him to instruct you and rule you according to His will. He directs you to the benefit of your soul; Though it tarries (in deliverance), it multiplies your spiritual benefit. Remain in your cell, thanking God for everything and destroying yourself in everything; believe also that all that is said to you will be fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever, Amen.

Answer 205, of the same Great Elder to the same one, who asked God to grant him spiritual reason; and about the same thing.

Brother Andrew! Our Lord Christ said to Martha: "If thou believest, behold the glory of God" (John 11:40). Believe thou also, and thou shalt see Lazarus risen from the dead, and supper with Jesus, thou shalt see Mary sitting at His holy feet, and freed from Martha's cares; believe that you will receive all that I, unworthy, asked God to give to your love. God requires nothing of you except patience and thanksgiving, and He will open to you the treasure of wisdom and understanding that is in Him. I salute you in the Lord; Be healthy in Him in soul and body, and pray for me.

Answer 206, of the same Great Elder at that.

My dear brother Andrew, listen! If those who receive new gold coins from the king guard them carefully and carefully, then they retain their lustre and purity; but if they neglect them, then (the coins) not only rust, but even disappear; wherefore a wise man said, "Tie up thy silver." But I say to you: not only bind it with undoubted faith, but also seal it with humility and patience, by which the patient is saved. I say to you boldly, because God has allowed me to say this: Through me, the meanest, says to you the great Intercessor Jesus, the Son of the Blessed Father, the Giver of the Holy Spirit: Many of your sins are forgiven you, from your birth until now. And so, having received this great and ineffable joy, love Him with all your might, bearing fruit worthy of repentance (Matt. 3:8), calling out with St. Paul these sweet-sounding words: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Is it sorrow, or is it crowded... Or famine, or nakedness, or calamity, or fear, or sword? (Romans 8:35). Saying to Christ: "For Thy sake we are slain all the day: we are reckoned as sheep of the slaughter." But in all these we prevail for the sake of Him who loved us. For it is known that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things below Power, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:36-39). And learn this, not only by saying it with your lips, but also by doing it with your deeds; for it is said: "In your patience gain your souls" (Luke 21:19). Thou hast received great dignity, show also great deeds worthy of patience and thanksgiving, by which one attains perfection; that we also may be worthy of it in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Think about these things often and actively, taste the sweetness (of these words), and you will feel the fragrance that they give to your soul and to others who happen to be. Be of good courage in the Lord and be strong, O most reverent!