«...Иисус Наставник, помилуй нас!»
In order to preserve the figurative culture of the text, the language and style of the translation is as close as possible to the original and, if possible, reflects the syntactic and lexical originality of the Serbian text (the author's lexical formations, occasional compatibility and form-formation are preserved), with the exception of the cited texts. Fragments of the Holy Scriptures, which in the author's text, as a rule, are rendered in Serbian, are given in Church Slavonic translation in this edition. Breaks in quotations from the Holy Scriptures are marked with ellipsis, including in cases where in the original they are given in continuous text. If the quotations from the works of the Holy Fathers in the original text are enclosed in quotation marks and the translation of Archimandrite Justin from Greek into Serbian does not have significant discrepancies with the Russian translation, then these fragments are given according to the Russian translation. Otherwise, the author's version is retained in the main text, and the text of the Russian translation is given in a note. Quotations from Russian-speaking authors are given in the original version, and from foreign authors – in reverse translation from Serbian (except for special cases). In the text of the translation, the author's spelling of uppercase and lowercase letters is preserved. Additional notes are written by the translator and editor (see the corresponding notes). Information belonging to the editors and included in the text of the author's note is enclosed in square brackets.
… This book includes an afterword to the Serbian edition of 1987, written by a disciple of Archimandrite Justin, Bishop Amfilohije of Banat (now Montenegrin).
E.I. Yakushina
From the publisher
According to the author himself, Father Justin of blessed memory, the collection "Philosophical Abysses" was compiled in the period between the two world wars in some days and nights. Published for the first time in 1957 in the library publication "Svechanik", as it was in great demand, it soon became inaccessible to a wide readership. In republishing it, we are confident that these articles are as relevant today as they were when they were written; moreover, we are sure that they have become much more relevant and closer to the modern reader than to the reader of yesterday; We are convinced that in the future they will be in demand much more than today.
It is not only the language and style with which this book is written, the reasons for its ageless novelty. The main reason is in its content: in the existential, direct fierce struggle with the eternal "accursed" questions of the meaning of man, his consciousness, the reality of the world, time and space. In fact, Father Justin in his "Philosophical Abysses" confesses to heaven and earth: he confesses his human tragedy, the "joys and sorrows" of his thoughts and sensations, his "sorrows and desires," his ardent faith in Christ the God-Man. Lighting his inextinguishable lamp before His wondrous Face, he incessantly poured into it, instead of oil, as he himself confessed, his own blood, drop by drop, blood from his heart, agitated by the mystery of His worlds!
The author himself, in fact, is the same "chamois in the lost paradise", in whose heart "someone gathered all the anguish from all the worlds", and thus the "universal feeling of sorrow" appeared. For him, there is nothing more incomprehensible than our "thinking man," who in most cases reminds him of "the silkworm who jealously hides in his cocoon," the man of "narrow-minded, dry thoughts, who is all buried in the bark of this planet like a tick in sheep's wool." And he sees nothing but this bark. "And above him blaze innumerable luminaries... countless worlds rumble." Petrified before human tragedy and evil, overwhelmed by the Mystery, inflamed by faith in the living Christ, such was and remains Justin of Celija – one of the most original philosophers who ever wrote in the Serbian language...
Our people have given birth to many intelligent, great and even holy people. Among them, especially in modern times, an exceptional place, which no sane person can dispute, is occupied by three. These are the three hermit-dwellers: Cetinje, Ohrid and Celij. Bishop Petar II Njegoš, Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) and Father Justin. The exclusivity and uniqueness of this divinely wise trinity lies mainly in the fact that each of them, in his own way, united in himself a philosopher, a theologian and a poet. Such an alloy is the rarest, but also the most fragrant flower that the earth brings. To unite in oneself a philosopher, a theologian and a poet means to realize the depth of being and creation, to experience the Mystery on which all beings and things rest and to whose fullness they aspire; to pour this knowledge and this experience into the most exemplary, most beautiful human word – poetic. The "Philosophical Abysses" is indisputable proof of the presence of this threefold union in the volcanic and God-fiery soul and Christ-loving heart of Father Justin.
And those who knew him know that this volcanic flame of God and childish love of Christ did not leave him until his last breath. Everything in him was alive and wisely until his last breath, childishly open and filled with delight before every new discovery and God's miracle: in the flower, in the eyes, in the man, and in the world. I remember how, already at the end of his earthly life, he saw off Komnen Bećirović and pointed to the flowers planted by the hand of a humble nun, and said: "Brother Comnenus, take this beauty with you with your gaze, there is no such thing in Paris..." His relative, the poet Matija Bečković, tells about his first meeting with him: "He told us: "I am sick, it is hard for me to receive you," but he still came. I was waiting for him to be carried out on a stretcher, and he, like a flame, moved towards us through the grass..." In the autumn, before his death, we (Fr. Athanasius and the author of these lines) talked with him in front of the monastery courtyard about many things, including philosophy. He listened attentively, childishly, inquisitively, and said anxiously: "Look, I would have been some kind of flighty philosopher, like the feeble-minded and dreary Nietzsche, if I had not met my Lord Christ.." And he began to weep, and from his blue, clear eyes, like the sky, two streams of tears flowed. He remained just as trembling and alive on his deathbed, but already embraced by "the world that surpasses reason", and shining with heavenly light...
Such was the author of this rare and exceptional book with a unique, and therefore completely distinguishing title, corresponding to the author and its content - "Philosophical Abysses".
1987
Bishop Amfilohije (Radović) of Banat
PHILOSOPHICAL APYSSES
Preface