How long has it been since we brightly celebrated the 500th anniversary of the blessed repose of our venerable father Sergius? And now the goal has passed; More years will pass, hundreds, thousands of years will pass, and the memory of the righteous will remain with praise, because it is said: "The righteous shall be in eternal remembrance" (Psalm 111:6). How happy we Orthodox are that our Holy Church celebrates the memory of the saints of God! And God's saints are always close to us, but we are sometimes far from them. And so, the day dedicated to the memory of this or that saint of God comes, and he rises before our spiritual eyes as if alive: we contemplate all his spiritual perfections, we glorify God, Who glorifies those who glorified Him with their holy life, and through this, imperceptibly for ourselves, we ourselves become better, drawing closer in prayerful communion to the saints of God, and through them to God Himself... Who among us, monks, living under the grace-filled protection of our venerable father Sergius, does not bear his holy name in his grateful heart, who does not at least once a day lift up a sigh of prayer to him? But even in the monastery of monks there is not a great deal of worldly vanity, which hides from us the radiant image of our heavenly abbot, and behold, the day comes, mainly of St. Sergius: the entire Divine service is devoted to the glorification of his wondrous feats, the churches of God are filled with reverent venerations of his sacred memory; in the midst of the all-night service, his life is read, and then what a wondrous image of the great in his humility the ascetic elder appears before us in all his unearthly beauty!

Here he is, the still 20-year-old youth Bartholomew, leaving the world and going with his brother Stephen into the impassable thicket of the forest, with one cherished desire – to hide forever from the world so that the world could not find him and would completely forget about the hermit, so that he would be alone with the one God, pray unceasingly, work tirelessly and cleanse his heart of sinful passions with the help of God's grace. So, the brothers built a church, and, with the blessing of the bishop, the name of the Life-Giving Trinity is called on it. So, the elder brother leaves the younger brother and goes to the capital: he could not endure the sorrows of the wilderness life, and the young Bartholomew remains a lonely hermit in a deep, impenetrable forest. Here he accepts from the hand of a certain hegumen Mitrophan the angelic image and gives himself entirely up to monastic podvig. Is it possible to depict in a brief word this wondrous feat of his solitary sojourn in the wilderness? "Who can count his warm tears and sighs to God, his lamentations of prayer and heartfelt weeping, his vigils and sleepless nights, his long standing and prostrating himself before the Lord? Who will count his kneeling and prostrations, who will tell about his hunger and thirst, about his poverty and shortcomings in everything, about temptations from the enemy and fears in the wilderness?" — Thus says his worthy disciple, the Monk Epiphanius, the scribe of his life, about his teacher, who could better and more closely appreciate the feats of his beloved abba?

But now, by God's will, the time has come for the courageous ascetic to serve as his spiritual experience for the salvation of his neighbors. People come to him for advice and consolation, and seek guidance and instruction in the spiritual life. After all, with such a teacher you can bear everything, endure any sorrow: only open your whole heart to him with childlike simplicity, tell him what torments you, complain to him about yourself, as a child complains to a tender mother about his offender, and believe: he will sometimes say only two or three words to console you, but what wonderful, warm, grace-filled words they are! They will pour peace into your troubled soul, warm it with such love as only a mother warms her suckling child, and everything will pass away as if it were taken away by a hand, and your soul will become so quiet, clear and warm...

And so, years passed, and the number of Sergius' disciples increased. His name is reverently pronounced in all corners of the Russian land and becomes known in the Orthodox East. His word is cherished by princes and nobles, his advice is sought by the primates of the Russian land, but he, already an abbot, an old man already whitened with gray hair, still walks in clothes sewn with patches, still serves the brethren like a bought slave: he is for them a cook, and a baker, and a miller, and a woodcutter, and a carpenter, and a tailor... The more he ascends from strength to strength, succeeding in spiritual enlightenment and drawing closer to God, the more he descends into the depths of humility. Deep humility and childlike simplicity are the two beautiful qualities of his holy soul, which we see in all his actions, from his early childhood to old age. These two holy virtues constitute the main features of his moral character; they, so to speak, color all his other virtues: his gracious attitude towards all, his dove-like gentleness, all his great feats. In conjunction with spiritual reasoning, as the fruit of spiritual experience, they form in it that integral moral character, the beauty of which involuntarily attracts the human heart. When one looks more closely at the holy image of this wondrous elder of God, then the heart is overwhelmed with some unearthly sense of beauty, and the soul yearns in tenderness to fall at the feet of the saint of God! O holy head, our venerable father Sergius! And so we fall at your feet like loving children — we fall down most of all today, on your chosen and holy day, and rejoice and rejoice spiritually, for we believe that you are ever with us, and especially now from the heights of heaven you look down on us, sinners, who celebrate with you to the glory of God, and bless, and illumine us with the quiet light of your heavenly glory!

But, beloved brethren, is it only pure joy that is felt in the heart at the time when the holy image of the great ascetic of God is presented to our souls? I dare not judge others by myself. Perhaps there are not a few among you such pure souls who now rejoice with full, radiant joy for the glory of God and for the honor of the saint of God. But I think that for many sinners like me, the feeling of joy on this day is mixed with a certain feeling of sadness — not that joyless, tormenting sadness that oppresses the soul with anguish and undermines spiritual strength, but that salvific sadness with which begins sorrow according to God, the sorrow of salvific repentance, the thirst for moral purification, the sorrow of the soul for lost purity, for separation from God... One cannot help thinking: this is what our spiritual ancestors were like – the true followers of Christ's teaching! And what about us? Lord, what an abyss separates us, the carnal, from them – the spiritualized, us, the earthly slaves of sin, from them – the holy, pure, free citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem! Is it any wonder after this that in Russia various godless false teachings find followers, that love for one's neighbor is cooling and self-love is growing, that vices and lawlessness are multiplying, and heresies and apostasies from the Mother Church are spreading? And who is to blame for this, my brethren? Who but ourselves?! We do not remember our spiritual ancestors, we forget their sacred precepts, and now we ourselves become worse and worse... But the saints of God were the same people as we are, they were clothed with the same flesh, they had the same infirmities, they bore the same sorrows; This means that no one would prevent us from becoming the same as they were, if only we ourselves wished — yes, we wished with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our thoughts!

Remember your leaders, – commands the Apostle of Christ, – looking to the end of your life, imitate their faith (Heb. 13:7). In fulfillment of this apostolic commandment, today we commemorate our great teacher, St. Sergius. But not only today, but always, we must look to the end of life and imitate the faith of the saints of God. Every day the Holy Church honors the memory of one or another saint of God. Let us look more often at their wondrous images, for it is not without reason that it is said in the Scriptures: "With the monk shalt thou also be venerable, with the grace-filled thou shalt be perfumed with the fragrance of grace emanating from the garment of his soul!" Amen.

(Sermon on the Feast Day of our Venerable Father Sergius, delivered on September 25 in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius)

689. Read, brethren, the Word of God

And He Himself entered into all things: and a woman named Martha received Him into her house. And (her sister was called Mary, who sat at the foot of Jesus, hearing His word (Luke 10:38:39)

The Son of God, our Deliverer, wandering about the earth for our salvation and passing from city to city, from one place to another, came to a certain place, in which a certain pious woman, named Martha, received Him into her house with great joy. She wanted to treat the much-desired Guest as best she could, and took care of it in every possible way. But since the Son of God then came into the world to proclaim the will of the Heavenly Father, He did not fail to preach the Word of God in the house of Martha. The reverent Martha had a most pious sister Mary, who left all household care, which in such cases women are usually occupied with, sat down at the feet of the Savior and began to listen to the Word of God with love. What do you think, brethren, about these two Christ-loving sisters: which of them served Christ more, Martha or Mary? Martha tried to treat the Saviour, and Mary wholeheartedly kissed the hearing of Christ's preaching. Many, perhaps, will praise Martha more than Mary, for she labored, restlessly, to please her beloved Guest; and Mary enjoyed hearing the Word of God without difficulty. For this reason Martha complained to Christ about her sister: "Lord, do not care, for my sister leave me alone to serve: pray to her, that she may help me." But you hear what Christ says to the caring Martha: "Martha, Martha, take care and talk about many: there is only one thing that is needed." But Mary chose the good, that is, the best, part, which shall not be taken away from her. Now, you see, Christ didn't think our way. Martha did well that she tried to treat Christ; but Mary did even better that she diligently listened to the Word of God. Martha cared for bodily refreshments, and Mary for spiritual ones: the Saviour, like sweet food, is pleased if one listens to His holy Word with reverence. Let us, brethren, imitate the diligence of the God-loving Mary, let us study more earnestly in the Word of God!

From ignorance of the Word of God come all errors and vices. Whoever has lost his sight or walks in deep subjects, does not know where he is going, does not see where he is in danger, often stumbles, falls into a pit, does not see the impurity on himself, even though he is completely dirty, — so a man who does not have reason, enlightened by the Word of God, does not see the true path of salvation, wanders in the darkness of ignorance, often falls, and the more miserable he is, that he does not feel his fall. He is all defiled by vices, but, unfortunately, he does not see them. He sins constantly, but he does not know his sins. Do you want to be sure of this? Take drunkenness as an example. What a foul and most harmful vice this is! He destroys both the soul and the body of a person, which is why St. Chrysostom says that the devil loves no one so much as a drunkard: after all, no one fulfills his evil will as much as a drunkard. The Word of God thunders terribly against this vice: do not flatter yourselves, neither harlot nor drunkard... They shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). In the same way it denounces all other vices. In the Word of God the will of God is revealed, good and perfect: whoever wants to fulfill the will of God must know it from the Word of God. How can one fulfill the will of the tsar if one does not know the royal decrees? How can one live according to the will of God if one does not read the Word of God, in which it is revealed? For this reason the Word of God was given, that we might learn from it. Every scripture, says the Apostle, is God-inspired and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for chastisement, for chastisement, if it is in righteousness: "Let the man of God be perfect, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). For this reason Christ Himself commands: Examine the Scriptures! (John 5:39). The Lord commands us to learn unceasingly in His law: "Let not the book of this law depart from thy mouth, and let thou learn in it day and night, that thou mayest understand all that is written: then shalt thou prosper, and straighten thy ways" (Joshua 1:8). The Holy Scriptures are a candle shining in a dark place: "Thy law is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my paths" (Psalm 118:105). It is a guide that leads us to God our Creator, a spiritual mirror that shows our soul the vices so that we can cleanse them through repentance, a fragrant pharmacy in which there are various remedies for spiritual infirmities. If anyone suffers from the disease of pride and arrogance, there he will find that everyone who exalts himself will humble himself: and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11), will stand next to the publican, and, not daring to lift up his eyes to heaven, will lament over his sins. If anyone is sick with the sickness of the love of money, he will hear the voice of God: "Foolishness, this night thy soul shall be taken from thee, and what thou hast prepared for whomsoever" (Luke 12:20), and, terrified by this voice, he will be healed. If someone is faint-hearted, if he doubts something, if he suffers from the illness of unbelief, he will find there for himself a cure; in despair, he will find there hope in God's mercy and will see that the merciful Heavenly Father receives with outstretched hands fornicators, adulterers, tax collectors, robbers and other great sinners who come to Him with a broken heart, and commands all the Heavenly Powers to rejoice in their conversion: joy is before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10), says Christ, encouraging us, faint-hearted, with such mercy. In a word, no matter who has any spiritual weakness, in the Holy Scriptures he will find an undoubted cure for himself. It enlightens the mind in faith, strengthens the will to good works, inspires hope, and thus all the three theological virtues – faith, hope and love, without which it is impossible to be saved, it implants in our hearts with the help of Him Who handed down these Scriptures to us in His goodness.

When we wish to listen to or read the Word of God for the benefit of the soul, then we must cleanse our heart of everything that the Word of God does not allow into it. A watered sponge cannot take anything into itself until they squeeze out of it what it is filled with. In the same way, the human heart, occupied with various lusts and cares, cannot admit the Word of God into itself. Thus, it is necessary that our heart should not be a road along which various lusts and vain thoughts go, on which the sown Word of God is eaten by the birds of the air, that is, by the spirits of wickedness in high places. It is necessary that our heart should not be made of stone, that is, insensitive, so that the seed of the Word of God does not wither from the sorrows of worldly cares. It is necessary that it should not be choked by the thorns of love of money, covetousness, voluptuousness, and other whims. This means that the heart must be good ground for him, so that it can bear fruit in a hundred, or sixty, or at least in thirty. Having thus cleansed the heart, it is necessary to approach the hearing of the Word of God with fear and joy. With fear, thinking of the majesty of Him Who gave it, for He is God, the King of Heaven. With joy. Thinking of the goodness of Him Who, through His holy Word, deigned to converse with us, the poor, the needy, and the outcast, and did not hesitate to send us His Scriptures, as a friend sends a letter to his friend. Judge for yourselves what this joy must be: if an earthly king writes a letter to someone on his behalf, do you know with what delight the one who receives it reads this letter? How many times he reads it, kisses it, almost does not let it go from his hands, is comforted by it day and night, and boasts to his friends and neighbors: "The Emperor himself has honored me with his letter!" But the King of Heaven, our God and Creator, sent His Scriptures to man through the prophets and apostles, as a letter to His friend, and in it He declared how He loves man, protects him, and to what He leads him, calls him to Himself, and promises him with Him the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Read and hear, O man, this Scripture, as if it were written to you; read it as a letter from the King of Heaven, from God and your Creator, sent to you as a sign of His love and mercy for you. And you will read or listen to the Word of God with great joy. At the same time, pray diligently with St. David: "Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Thy law" (Psalm 118:18). This prayer of yours will be a conversation to God, and your reading or. hearing the Word of God will be God's conversation with you: through your prayer you will speak to God, and God through His holy Word will instruct, admonish, exhort, and console you. What a sweet and desirable conversation — God with man, the Creator with His creation, the Lord conversing with His servant! Approaching the hearing of the Word of God, take as an example that same pious Mary who forsook all domestic care and, sitting at the feet of Jesus, heard His word. Amen.

(From the Sermon of St. Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh, on the Day of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple)

690. The Four Saints Paraskeva