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Об антихристе, числе 666 и новых удостоверениях личности

Отец Паисий разделял тревогу людей, помогал им найти ответы на мучившие их вопросы. Среди вопросов, которые особенно беспокоили верующих в то время, была и проблема новых удостоверений личности. Еще до того, как эта проблема встала в Греции столь остро, Старец, когда он считал необходимым, говорил людям о знамениях времен и об антихристе. Впоследствии, когда на продуктах и товарах широко распространился штрихкод с числом 666, когда Греческое правительство стало делать шаги к выдаче новых удостоверений личности, которые – как оказалось позже – должны были содержать на себе магнитную ленту, число 666 и изображение диавола, Старец стал говорить на эту тему больше.

В то время говорить на эти темы было опасно – как изза возможности ошибиться и впасть в прелесть, так и изза различных противодействий. Духовники с прекрасным богословским образованием избегали ответов на вопросы об антихристе, числе 666 и новых удостоверениях личности и посылали людей узнать мнение Старца Паисия. Вначале даже внутри Церкви возникло смущение, поскольку подавляющее большинство духовных лиц, за исключением нескольких светлых примеров, относилось к происходившему равнодушно, тогда как некоторые клирики и иерархи – к счастью, их было немного – выражали по этому поводу прельщенные взгляды.

Старец Паисий занял по этому вопросу однозначную позицию, он говорил на эту тему ясно и недвусмысленно. Он не только отвечал на многие вопросы верующих в личных беседах с ними, но и написал в 1987 году свое известное письмо «Знамения времен – 666»127. Это письмо с облегчением приняли многие верующие, они руководствуются им и по сей день.

Many, having read it, reconsidered their views and agreed with the Elder. Anticipating that his opinion on this issue would be in demand in the future, the Elder wrote this letter with his own hand and put his signature under it, so as not to give anyone the opportunity to make any changes to it. Elder Paisius did not change his views on this question until his death.

Everything said and written by the Elder on this topic was the fruit of his prayer, spiritual sensitivity and inner information. He wanted us to live a spiritual life, to be well informed about what was going on, and to be willing to make sacrifices. On the one hand, we should not be indifferent, on the other hand, we should succumb to panic and anxiety. We must be distinguished by the spirit of confession, which we will need in accordance with the position that each of us occupies.

Young men and women who asked the Elder whether it was necessary to create a family in connection with the fact that apocalyptic events could occur, the Elder encouraged them to create families and work, since, as he said, Christians did the same during the years of persecution.

"The years that we are going through," the Elder said, "are difficult years. A thunderstorm will break out. And while it continues, we will have to suffer, and perhaps even go to martyrdom. It will be possible to survive this time only by living spiritually. There is no need to despair. These difficult years are a blessing because they will force us to live closer to Christ. These years are a favorable opportunity for a greater feat. The present battle will not be a war with arms. This will be a spiritual battle, a war with the Antichrist.

He will try to "deceive, if possible, even the elect".128 Everything that happens will be controlled by the Beast from Brussels. After the introduction of credit cards and new identity cards, they will slyly apply a seal, they will force people to accept a stamp on the hand or on the forehead. Only those who will have a seal will be able to buy, sell, use various services. Believers who have refused to print will have a hard time. Therefore, even now we need to accustom ourselves to live simply and, if possible, to have a plot of land, a few olive trees or cattle for the needs of our family. Hard times will last three to three and a half years. God will not leave people without help."

Some said: "Well, what's wrong with the fact that I will accept the seal. I will cover my forehead with the sign of the Cross", or "I will receive a new identity card and draw a cross on it", or "in my soul I will not renounce Christ". The Elder, showing the flawedness of the logic and behavior of such people, said the following: "If today's Christians with their logic lived in times of torment, then we would not have a single martyr in our Church. The first Christians did not take [human] logic into account at all, but unswervingly confessed Christ and burned with the desire for martyrdom. They tried to seduce them with high ranks and titles, they were told: "Just say that you are not a Christian, but believe in God in your heart; throw some incense on the brazier, pretend that you are sacrificing to the gods, and then do not offer any sacrifice; pretend to eat meat sacrificed to idols, and eat pure, undefiled meat; do not preach Christ in this place, go to another," and in spite of all this, Christians did not deny Christ in any way. They joyfully hastened to testify to their love for Christ by martyrdom. They were burned by Divine care.

The Church must take and express the right position. It should protest what is happening and demand that the state at least not make new identity cards mandatory. The Church must explain what is happening to believers, it must make them understand that the adoption of a new identity card will be a fall."