ST. BARSANUPHIUS AND JOHN ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS OF THE DISCIPLES

Answers 1–100

Answer 1, of the Great Elder to Abba John, a monk of the monastery of St. Sava, who asked (for a blessing) to come and settle in their dormitory.

The Apostle wrote: "He that hath begun a good work in you, He shall accomplish it, even unto the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). And our Lord said to those who came to Him: "Except a man renounce all his possessions and generations, and also hate his soul, he cannot be My disciple" (cf. Luke 14:26, 33). It is possible for God to fulfill this word on us as well; behold, what is good, or what is beautiful, but the brethren live together (Psalm 132:1). And I pray that thou mayest attain that measure (obedience to the Lord) which is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles: "Thou hast gained, and selleth unto him the price of that which is sold, and hath placed the Apostle at his feet" (Acts 4:34-35). Knowing that your intention is pleasing to God, I said to our beloved son Serid, who for God's sake hid us from men (we trust in God that He will cover you with us): "Receive Brother John with great love and without any doubt; two years before this, God revealed to me that he would come here and that many brethren would gather to us. I have kept this revelation secret until I know how the Lord will arrange it; but when the time came, he declared it to you." And as you thought to receive from me any of the things that I carried, behold, in the presence of my brother, I took the doll from my head and sent you an answer through him, saying: "Give him this doll, and bring me another one in its place." Preserve him until thy death; he will cover you from many evils and temptations; do not give it to anyone, this is God's blessing to you from my hand. Therefore, hasten to complete your work and free yourself from everything, as we also have been freed, and abide with us without care, silent in God.

And I, Serid, [9] will tell you a wondrous thing: when the Elder was saying this, I thought to myself: how can I keep all this in my memory in order to write (later)? If the Elder wished, I could bring ink and a charter here, and as I listened to him, I could write word by word. The elder penetrated my thought, and his face shone like fire, and he said to me: "Go, write, and do not be afraid; for if I tell you an innumerable number of words, so that you may write them, then know that the Spirit of God will not allow you to write a single word more or less than what is said, even if you yourself desire it, but will guide your hand how to write what is said in sequential order."

Answer 2, of the same Great Elder, moreover, foretelling him various sorrows that await him, and bodily illness, and through them spiritual repose.

Say to Brother John, "Strengthen your heart like a solid stone (I mean a mental stone), so that you may hear what I intend to say to you." Take heed to yourself, lest, when you hear this, you will not be lifted up in your heart and fall away from the spiritual promise; for pomp has ruined many, even of those who have attained to the measure (of spiritual advancement). But prepare yourself for thanksgiving for everything, hearing the words of the holy Apostle: "In all things give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18), and whether you are in sorrows, or in need, or in oppression, or in illnesses and bodily labors, thank God for everything that befalls you. I hope that you also will attain to His rest (Heb. 4:3); for through much tribulation it behooves us to enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Therefore, do not doubt in your soul, and do not weaken in anything in your heart, but remember the Apostle's word: "If even our outward man decays, the inward is renewed all the days (2 Corinthians 4:16). If you do not endure suffering, you cannot ascend to the cross. And when thou hast first endured suffering, thou shalt enter into the refuge of His rest; and then you will be silent without any care, having a soul established in the Lord and always clinging to Him, kept by faith, rejoicing in hope (Romans 12:12), rejoicing in love, preserved by the Holy One-in-Essence Trinity; and then shall be fulfilled in thee that which is said: Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth rejoice" (Psalm 95:11). For such is the careless life of the man of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit rejoice in the salvation of your soul, my beloved brother.

Answer 3, of another Elder [10] to the same [11], to his request to talk to him.

Say to your brother, 'Forgive me for the Lord's sake,' and I would like to see you, but preserving the consciences of others from (temptation), I find no convenience in doing so. I rejoice in your love for the blessings sent to you from the Holy Elder, and blessed are you that you have been vouchsafed them.

Answer 4. When temptation overtook the monks of the place where Abba John dwelt, before his transfer to the dormitory (Abba Serida), and confusion was ready to arise during his stay there, the Great Elder, foreseeing this in spirit, wrote to him the following:

Write to Brother John: I send you three testimonies from the power of God and from the Scriptures of the Holy Spirit, by which I stir up your mind to Divine vigilance and to the understanding of the Holy Spirit, so that you may know the circumstances of the present time as they are. The first testimony is the following: God said through the prophet Isaiah: "Go, my people, enter into your tabernacle, shut your doors, hide yourselves a little, until the wrath of the Lord passes by" (Isaiah 26:20). The second testimony is: "Depart from among them, and be separated," saith the Lord, "and touch not uncleanness, and I will receive you, and I will be unto you for the Father, and ye shall be unto Me sons and daughters," saith the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). The third testimony is: "Take heed how dangerously you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming time, for the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16). But I say unto thee, Hasten to that which is set before thee, and hasten to finish thy work, remembering thy Lord, Who said, Let no man lay his hand on the saddle, and turn back in vain, for he is governed in the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). For I see a silent life waiting for you in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Answer 5, of the same Great Elder to Abba (Serid), who was saddened that Abba John was slow to come to them, and concluded from this that he would not come at all.

Do not grieve, my son, and grieve not for our brother; although he is absent in body, yet in spirit he is here and always abides with us; for he is of one accord with us, and no one will separate him from our love, from now until everlasting.