But looking at the many labors of the elder and his great deeds, I was, as it were, dumb and idle, being bewildered with horror, not finding the words necessary, worthy of his deeds. How can I, poor man, at this time write the entire life of Sergius in order, and tell about his many deeds and innumerable labors? Where shall I begin, in order to tell my listeners about all his deeds and exploits? Or what is proper to remember first of all? Or what words are needed to praise him? Where will I find the wisdom I need for this story? I don't know how I can tell such a story, which is difficult to convey – will it not be beyond my strength? Just as a small boat cannot hold a large and heavy load, so cannot our powerlessness and the mind of this story.

Although this story is beyond our strength, we nevertheless pray to the all-merciful and all-powerful God and His most pure Mother, that He would enlighten and have mercy on me, coarse and unreasonable, that He would give me the gift of speech, which would open my mouth — not for my sake, the unworthy, but for the sake of the prayers of the holy elders. And I call upon this Sergius himself for help, and the spiritual grace that overshadows him, so that he may be my helper and support in my story, as well as his flock, called by God, good society, an assembly of honest elders. To them I humbly fall down, and touch their feet, and call and urge them to prayer. After all, I am always in great need of their prayers, especially now, when I am beginning this undertaking and striving to tell this story. And let no one condemn me for daring to do this: I myself would not have the opportunity and strength to begin writing, but the love and prayer of the venerable elder draws and torments my thoughts and compels me to tell and write.

It should be said more clearly that even though I, who am unworthy, could write, I should still be silent with fear and lay my finger on my lips, knowing my weakness, and not pronounce words with my lips that are not proper, and should not dare to do a work that is beyond my strength. But all the same, sorrow weighs me down, and pity has seized me: the life of such a great elder, holy, famous and glorified, is known everywhere – both in distant countries and in cities, everyone tells about this man, famous and glorious – and for so many years his life has not been compiled and written. I thought to consign it to silence, as if to plunge it into the abyss of oblivion. If the life of the elder is not written and left without remembrance, then it will not harm that holy elder, if we do not have memories and writings about him: for those whose names are written in heaven by God have no need of human writings and memories. But then we ourselves will not receive any benefit if we neglect such a useful work. And so, having gathered everything, we begin to write, so that the rest of the monks who have not seen the elder will read this story and follow the virtues of the elder and believe in his life; for it is said, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." More than others, one sorrow overwhelms me and overwhelms me: if I do not write and no one else writes a life, then I am afraid of being condemned according to the parable of the lazy servant who hid his talent and became lazy. After all, the virtuous Elder Sergius, a wonderful passion-bearer, always dwelt without laziness in good deeds and was never lazy; Not only do we not strive for podvigs, but we are too lazy to report on the well-known works of others, for which the life of Sergius is famous, in a story, to tell about it to our listeners.

Now, if God helps, I would like to begin the story, beginning with the birth of Sergius, and tell about his infancy, and childhood, and youth, and about his monastic life, and about his abbotship, and until his very death, so that his great deeds would not be forgotten, so that his life, pure, and quiet, and pleasing to God, would not be forgotten. But I doubt, I am afraid to start writing a story, I do not dare and wonder how to begin to write, because this is a matter beyond my strength, because I am weak, and coarse, and unreasonable.

Но, однако, надеюсь на милосердного Бога и на молитву угодника его, преподобного старца, и у Бога прошу милости, и благодати, и дара слова, и разума, и памяти. И если Бог даст мне это, и вразумит меня, и научит меня, своего раба недостойного, то не отчаиваюсь я получить милость его благую и благодать его сладостную. Ведь он может творить все, что хочет, может даровать слепым прозрение, хромым исцеление, глухим слух, немым речь. Так и мое помрачение ума он может просветить, и мое неразумие поправить, и мое неумение умением сделать во имя Господа нашего Иисуса Христа, сказавшего: «Без меня вы не можете ничего сделать; ищите и найдете, просите и получите». Господа Бога, Спаса и помощника на помощь призываю: он есть Бог наш, великодатель, подающий благо, дарователь богатых даров, наставник в премудрости и дающий разум, неученых учитель, учащий людей разуму, дающий умение неумеющим, дающий молитву молящемуся, дающий просящему мудрость и разум, дающий всякое дарование благое, дающий дар на пользу просящим, дающий незлобивым хитрость и отроку юному чувство и ум, произнесение же слов его просвещает и разум дает младенцам.

Здесь кончаю предисловие, Бога вспомнив и на помощь призвав его: хорошо с Богом начать дело, и с Богом кончить его, и с Божьими рабами беседовать, и о Божьем угоднике повесть писать. Начнем уже самое главное, возьмемся за повествование, чтобы приступить к началу рассказа; и вот уже о жизни старца с Божьей помощью начинаем писать так.

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