St John of kronstadt on Church

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St. John of Kronstadt

On the Church

The Church as the

instructor of Christian

THE HOLY CHURCH is God's most supreme, most holy, = most good,=20 most wise, and most necessary establishment upon the earth. She is = "the true=20 tabernacle'' of God, "which the Lord pitched, and not man" = (Heb. 8:2)=20 -not Luther, not Calvin, and not Mohammed, nor Buddha, nor Confucius, = nor any=20 other suchlike sinful, passionate person. The Church is a union of = people=20 established by God, united among themselves by the Faith, Doctrine, = Hierarchy,=20 and Mysteries. She is Christ's spiritual army, equipped with spiritual = weaponry=20 against the numberless armed hordes of the devil: "For we wrestle not = against=20 flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the = rulers=20 of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high = places"=20 (Eph. 6:12). She is a spiritual hospital where mankind, enfeebled by the = open=20 wound of sin, is cured by grace-filled treatments given by God - by = repentance=20 and communion in the Holy Mysteries of Christ, in Christ's Body and = Blood, and=20 by the word of God, by the instructions and counsels and consolations of = the=20 shepherds of Christ's rational flock. She is a common laver of = purification,=20 rebirth, and sanctification; she is God's sanctuary in which all are = sanctified=20 by the Holy Spirit through Baptism, Chrismation, the Divine Service, and = other=20 Mysteries. She is the spiritual sun of the world, enlightening and = giving life=20 to all who sit in the darkness and shadow of death, and who are dead = through=20 sin.

In nature there is the law of the attraction of = smaller bodies=20 to larger ones, and these in turn to still larger ones, and also the law = of the=20 attraction of cohesion (the cohesion of the various soft, hard, and = fluid parts=20 of organic bodies, and likewise of non-organic bodies-of rocks, metals,=20 minerals, petrifactions) whereby is conditioned the existence, firmness, = order,=20 use, beauty, mutual bond, and diversity of all created things. The = reason for=20 this is the measureless wisdom, goodness and infinite omnipotence of the = Creator, Who has made such a wonderful, majestic, and beautiful world, = of=20 endless diversity and marvelous magnitude, a work which presents itself = as a=20 single harmonious, fair unalterable whole.

In the spiritual world there also exists a law of = mutual=20 attraction and unity. The world is one, God is one, the Faith is one, = and God's=20 Church is one; for Her Head is Christ God, and Her Pilot, Who quickens = the whole=20 body of the Church, is the Spirit of God, "the giver of life," Who also = quickens=20 and fills the entire universe.

With what wonderful tender care, overflowing with = love, did the=20 Heavenly Father honor the human race which was perishing in sins! What=20 extraordinary means was given to men for salvation from sins from the = curse, and=20 from eternal perdition! What a marvelous mighty single-handed Combatant = (Christ)=20 was sent from heaven against the powerful, wicked, most malignant = antagonist of=20 the race of men-the devil! What a Church, established upon the earth,=20 insuperable by any of the forces of Hades - a castle and bastion in = which all=20 who truly believe and are truly devoted to this Church can abide without = danger=20 from the antagonist! What saving Mysteries have been granted! What and = how many=20 rational instruments and preachers of God's grace are placed in this = Church for=20 the people! But what indeed must men bring to the Lord in return for His = great=20 care for their salvation?-Their faith, their labor, their repentance, = their=20 self-denial, their earnest struggle against sin, exercise in the acts of = virtue,=20 utter subservience to the Lord and His Church.

The Church is one; Her Head is one; the flock is one; = the body=20 is one with many members. Without the Head-Christ-the Church is not the = Church,=20 but a self-willed gathering. Such are the Lutherans, the Russian Old = Believers,=20 the Pashkovtsy and the followers of Tolstoy.

"I am with you always, even unto the end of the = world"=20 (Matt. 28:20). The Lord Himself is ever-present in His Church;-why then = a vicar,=20 the pope? And can a sinful man take the place of the lord? He cannot. = There can=20 be, and there are, vicars for the Tsar, for the Patriarch, but no one = can be a=20 vicar, a substitute, for the Lord, Who is the Tsar without beginning and = the=20 Head of the Church. Truly, the Catholics have gone astray. Suggest to = them, O=20 Lord, that those who affirm such things are foolish and laid around with = pride=20 as with a necklace.

The most harmful thing in Christianity, in this = God-revealed,=20 heavenly religion, is the leadership of one man in the Church-for = instance, the=20 pope, and his supposed infallibility. It is precisely in the dogma of = his=20 infallibility that the greatest mistake is contained, for the pope is a = sinful=20 man, and O the disaster if he fancies himself to be infallible! How many = great=20 errors, destructive of the souls o men, has the Catholic, papal church = thought=20 up-in dogmas, in rites, in canonical rules, in the Divine Services, in = the=20 deadly and malicious relations of the Catholics with the Orthodox, in=20 blasphemies and slanders against the Orthodox Church, in revilings = directed=20 against the Orthodox Christians! And of all this the professedly = infallible pope=20 is guilty, with his and the Jesuits' teaching, their spirit of = falsehood,=20 duplicity, and every sort of unrighteous means ad maiorem Dei gloriam = (for the - alleged - greater glory of God).

We are members of the Holy Orthodox Church, members = of the Body=20 of Christ, whose Head is Christ God Himself, but wherein each is a = member=20 individually; as Christ is holy, and as He is the Head of the body, = therefore=20 the members also must be holy.

Christians are members of the Church, and the Church = is the=20 Body of Christ, with the Head being Christ Himself, together with the=20 Enlightener, the Holy Spirit. "Christ also loved the Church, and gave = Himself=20 for It. . . that He might present It to Himself a glorious Church, not = having=20 spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that It should be holy and = without=20 blemish" (Eph. 5:21-27). You are the holy and chosen flock, you are = members=20 of the holy catholic and apostolic Church. What indeed is demanded of = you! What=20 holiness, what truth! What attention to yourselves! What spiritual = contemplation=20 and activity in secret! What morals, virtues, what faith, what hope, = what love!=20 What abstinence, compassion, care for one another, what urging of one = another to=20 virtue!

After the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the = Apostles is=20 described in the book of Acts, the all-providential activity of the Holy = Spirit=20 in the Church is often mentioned - i.e. His most sovereign guidance = through the=20 Apostles, by means of their salutary preaching and actions within the = Church.=20 Indeed, this is the "other Comforter" (John xiv. 16), Who is all-good = and=20 all-true, Whom the Lord Jesus Christ promised to send to the Apostles. = Glory to=20 Thee, O Holy Spirit, the life-creating Comforter, acting unceasingly = everywhere=20 within the Church of Christ. Convert, O Lord, by the judgments which = Thou=20 knowest, the peoples gone astray-the Jews, Mahometans, pagans, and = within=20 Christianity itself, the heretical and schismatical peoples and races; = reprove=20 and uproot vices; direct them to piety and enlighten the Orthodox = Christians of=20 impiety and corruption, and direct all upon the way of salvation; teach = and=20 guide the youth, protect childhood, cause babyhood to grow and guide = them by=20 Guardian Angels, instruct men young and old, enlighten and strengthen = both men=20 and women through Thy most good, most wise, all-powerful dominion, and = fortify=20 and guide them unto every virtue, dispersing sinful passions like = darkness for=20 the sake of Christ our Lord, by the good will of the Father. Amen

Mighty and all-powerful is the intercession of the = Holy Church=20 before God, which is clothed in the merits, power, truth, and = magnificence of=20 the Son of God, of Her all-good and all-powerful Head. All things are = possible=20 to Her intercession. No other, heterodox church possesses such power of=20 intercessions since they are without the Head and are wrong in their=20 thinking.

The Christian must unremittingly care for his = spiritual=20 education for which he was born anew in the holy font through the Holy = Spirit,=20 received spiritual regeneration, was sealed with chrism, or the seal of = the Holy=20 Spirit, and was made worthy of the right to communicate in the Most = immaculate=20 Blood of Christ. According to God's intent, the holy Church is the first = and=20 most lawful educator of Christian souls. There is no more important work = than=20 that of Christian education. Judge and understand for yourselves how = dear are=20 these rational, immortal souls unto God, which were redeemed by the = Blood of the=20 Son of God Himself, which were called out of the darkness of ignorance = into the=20 light of the knowledge of God by the Lord Himself, which were betrothed = and=20 united to the Lord as pure virgins to a most pure Bridegroom! How dear = is the=20 salvation of these souls, to whom He offers His most immaculate Body and = most=20 pure Blood as food and drink, whom He Himself undertook to educate = spiritually=20 through these wonderful, dreadful, life-creating and deifying Mysteries! = Devote=20 yourselves, all of you, to your spiritual education with all attention = and=20 diligence; devote yourselves to thoughts concerning God, to prayer,=20 self-investigation, self-condemnation, with self-amendment in every way; = exercise yourselves in the virtues of meekness, humility, obedience, = patience,=20 compassion, chastity, simplicity, and guilelessness; and cut off all = sinful=20 thoughts, lusts, habits, and passions.

Our negligence, carelessness, and laziness concerning = our=20 salvation is amazing; for how many means, faculties, and conveniences = are=20 granted to us for it by the all-compassionate and greatly merciful Lord! = First:=20 our natural thirst for salvation, peace, and blessedness in the soul; = the light=20 of the understanding and the yearning of our will for all that is true, = good,=20 beautiful, pure, exalted; the abundance of grace given to us for = salvation,=20 which flows like rivers within the Church and fills the souls thirsting = for=20 salvation; the nearness and readiness of the Lord to save us at every = time and=20 every moment - "the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with = groanings=20 which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26); the assistance and = co-operation of our=20 guardian angels for our salvation; the daily Divine Service in the = Church; and=20 the saving Mysteries, prayers, and intercession of the Mother of God and = all the=20 Saints. It is amazing how in the face of all this we can still perish, = and not=20 all be saved. Certainly there are many things that impede our salvation: = temptations from our too-passionate flesh, from the adulterous and = sinful world,=20 from the devil who has everywhere laid snares for our destruction; the=20 corruption of our nature, our sinful conception and birth in sin; and = the=20 inclinations and habits of sin. However, far greater are the means for = salvation=20 than the means to perdition. "For greater is He that is in you = (Christ), than=20 he that is in the world (the devil)" (I John 4:4), and all the = Saints=20 overcame all obstacles and were saved. But what do we do? We drowse and = sleep!=20 Shameful, sinful, painful, woeful! Sin gains power over us in that it = has buried=20 itself deeply in us and has taken its seat in us, in our hearts, in our=20 passionate flesh, and has made itself a fortress out of our own = passions, out of=20 our self-love, concupiscence, love of honor, pride, love of possessions, = incontinence, self-conceit, little faith, unbelief, free-thinking, = hypocrisy,=20 partiality, and laziness; and by these passions, as with mighty weapons, = it=20 shoots us down and takes us into captivity, cutting us off, alienating = us from=20 Christ, our true Life. Wherefore he who desires salvation must dig, = delve into=20 his heart, and lay his foundation upon the rock, that is, upon Christ = the=20 Saviour, upon strong, unshakable faith in Him, upon hope on Him, and = upon no one=20 and nothing else-upon strong love for Him and his neighbor.

In His Church the Lord acts with us as the Creator, = the=20 skillful Artist and Reconstructor, as the Father, wise Physician, and = Saviour;=20 as the Provider, the Commander of life, Nurturer, Law-giver, the Leader = of His=20 spiritual troops, the Single-handed Combatant, the Victor. Indeed, man = is in His=20 hands-His creation, rational in His image, destined for immortality and = yet=20 fallen, broken, defiled, cast away from God because of sins -His = creation, which=20 was accursed, but by the mercy and compassions of the Only-begotten Son = of God,=20 was redeemed and raised up from fallen state; was delivered from the = curse, and=20 honored once more with the blessing of the heavenly Father through the=20 intercession and merits of the Son; was delivered from the darkness of=20 transgressions, illumined by the heavenly light of the Gospel of Christ, = fashioned anew and purified from the dross and uncleanliness of sin; was = washed=20 in the mystic Bath, made sweet-smelling by holy Chrism, and sealed upon = all the=20 senses with the seal of the Holy Spirit; was guided along the path of = salvation=20 to the kingdom and blessedness on high, strengthened in his warfare with = sin and=20 the hostile evil powers by the Lord Himself, mystically nourished in the = grace=20 of the Holy Spirit by the Heavenly Bread, guided by invisible shepherds = invested=20 with spiritual authority by the Almighty Head of the Church Himself, the = Lord=20 Jesus Christ. You ask: Why are there such-and-such Mysteries in the = Church; why=20 priesthood and pastorship; why churches, why Divine Service, why = ceaseless=20 preaching of the Word of God ? Why repentance, why participation in the = holy=20 Mysteries? All this is indispensable for the re-creation, enlightenment, = guidance, and strengthening of fallen, defiled, corrupt, and perishable = man.=20 Behold why the grace of Baptism, recreation, regeneration, and renewal = by the=20 Holy Spirit are necessary. Thou art honored with the greatest honor, O = man: thou=20 art destined to be a bearer of the Godhead, a God-bearer. Hast thou = heard of the=20 God-bearing Fathers, who constantly had God within themselves, as in = living=20 temples not made by hands ? And thou shouldest be just such a = God-bearer; unto=20 thee it is given to partake of the Body and Blood of the God-man Christ = for just=20 this reason: that the Lord may ever abide in thee, according to His word = and=20 promise: "He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood, dwelleth in = Me, and=20 I in him" (John 6:56).

Christ came to renew human nature which had been = corrupted by=20 sin, and entrusted this greatest work of His goodness, mercy, truth, and = wisdom=20 to His Holy Church. The Holy Spirit, Who came into the world and Who = operates in=20 the Church through the clergy, the Divine Service, the sermon, and the=20 Mysteries, works this renewal without ceasing. Only within the Church is = this=20 renovating force contained; outside the Church it does not exist and = cannot.=20

I sorrow, I wail, and I weep profoundly over the = horrible wound=20 of sin which corrupts mankind - miserable beyond measure - = indescribably,=20 diversely. Oh, the seductiveness of sin by which mankind is enslaved and = labors=20 for sin, and even boasts in its work, and is comforted as by some = profit! But=20 together with this I also rejoice and exult and clap my hands when I = consider=20 and imagine that divine aid which is granted to us by the will of the = Creator as=20 a gift from the great Saviour and God to the whole race of man, and for = the=20 planting of the Church of God upon the earth, which saves the human race = through=20 God's wonderful grace.

What indeed is Grace? It is the Gift of God granted = to a man=20 because of his belief in Christ, for the salvation of the Christian man. = Grace=20 is a power, an interceding power, which has mercy, enlightens,saves, and = disposes to every virtue.

Grace which has taken up its dwelling in a man who = believes and=20 is zealous for holiness and truth, unceasingly drives corruption and = every sin=20 out of his heart and body, out of the whole of his being, and prepares = him for=20 eternal incorruption; it drives out the stench of the passions and = settles=20 fragrance within him. The Saints even during their life in the body were = fragrant with holiness and incorruption, and were pure temples of the = Holy=20 Spirit, working miracles. Live then according to the Spirit, "and = make not=20 provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Rom. = 13:14).

The commandment of self-renunciation is given; the = place is set=20 out for struggles, virtues, and for unfading crowns of glory; grace is = given,=20 that power of God which allows us to overcome and conquer the wickedness = of the=20 enemy and all the passions. The Lord Himself, the setter of the contest, = helps=20 those who struggle, and provides trophies and crowns for His = warriors.

Every sinner who sincerely turns to God must rely = completely=20 upon every sort of grace-filled help from God during his warfare with = sins,=20 passions, and every kind of sinful habit. It is only necessary to = believe in God=20 sincerely and undoubtingly; to heartily to call upon His aid, and = sincerely to=20 despise sin; to repent earnestly with a pure intention and thenceforth = not yield=20 to sin. All the Saints, the Mother of God Herself, the holy guardian = Angels, and=20 God's servants are all ready to provide help for our salvation; = spiritual=20 fathers and pastors have been ordained by God in order to save and guide = those=20 who seek salvation. Behold the conscience of every man, this unbribable, = stern,=20 and righteous judge-thou must but obey it eagerly and unceasingly.

All that is pure, lawful, and holy, the impure devil = endeavors=20 to defile, or to misrepresent - to depict in an impure, perverted, and = distorted=20 manner. Oh, how evil he is, how impure, impudent, tireless, and active = in his=20 wickedness, in his malice, in his abomination! Who can escape his nets? = He who=20 believes firmly in Christ and the Church.

The Lord, for the good of His rational creation-that = is,=20 men-desires to unite all into one body, and Himself to dwell in them. = "That=20 they may all be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that = they also=20 may be one in Us" (John 17:21). However, the devil strives to = disunite,=20 dismember, and drive all apart, like a flock without a shepherd: in = families he=20 plants enmity, dissension, dissatisfaction, or insult; in villages, in = cities he=20 causes some to rise up against others; among nations he causes peoples = to rise=20 up against peoples, and kingdom against kingdom; among religious = communities he=20 causes those who have one confession to rise up against the adherents of = another, and he especially breathes wrath upon those who confess the = Orthodox=20 faith, as against the true Church of God, inciting different = persecutions=20 against them. But let us hold to the one holy Orthodox Church, whose = head is=20 Christ our God Himself, ever acting within us for our salvation and = renewal.

The enemy of our salvation is the devil, and knowing = all the=20 saving power of our union with God through faith, the Church, and God's = grace,=20 he strives with all the means he has to tear asunder our bond with God = by sin,=20 by carnal passions, and by attachments to the world. It is necessary for = all to=20 hold tightly to the union with God and the Church, keeping the = commandments of=20 the Lord.

Life in unfailing

union with the Church

Thus it is indispensable to belong to Christ's = Church, the Head=20 of which is the Almighty Tsar, the Conqueror of hades, Jesus Christ = Himself. His=20 kingdom is the Church which wars with principalities, powers, the = world-rulers=20 of the darkness of this age - this age in which spirits of wickedness = are to be=20 found in high places, spirits who compose a skillfully organized = kingdom, and do=20 combat in an extremely experienced, intelligent, well-directed and = powerful=20 manner with all men, having well studied all their passions and = inclinations.=20 Here no man by himself on the battlefield can be a combatant; and even a = great=20 community which is not Orthodox, and is without the Head - Christ - can = do=20 nothing against such cunning, subtle, constantly vigilant enemies, who = are so=20 skilled in the science of their warfare. For Orthodox Christians, a = mighty=20 support is necessary from on high, from God, from Christ's holy warriors = who=20 have defeated the enemies of salvation by the power of the grace of = Christ, from=20 pastors and teachers, and then from common prayer and the Mysteries. = Behold,=20 precisely such a helper in the struggle with our invisible and visible = enemies=20 is the Church of Christ, to Which, through God's mercies, we belong. The = Catholics have invented a new head, having demoted the one true Head of = the=20 Church - Christ. The Lutherans fell away and remained without a head. = The=20 Anglicans likewise. There is no Church among them; the union with the = Head is=20 broken; there is no Almighty help and Belial wages war with all his = power and=20 cunning, and holds them all in his delusion and perdition. A multitude = perish in=20 atheism and depravity.

By creating man in His own image and Likeness, the = Creator=20 placed a close bond between Himself and His creation, that is, man. Man = was=20 obliged to maintain this blessed union through scrupulous submission to = his=20 Creator, through fulfillment of His holy, wise, and life-giving = commandments; as=20 a summary of these commandments, the commandment not to taste of the = fruits of=20 the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was given to him. This = commandment=20 was to have strengthened his will in its agreement with the will of God, = so that=20 God's will should be one with the will of man-as the will of one of the = Persons=20 of the Trinity is in complete accord with the will of the second and = third=20 Persons: "As Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also = may be=20 one in Us" (John 17:21). But by his disobedience, man audaciously = broke his=20 union with God and thus fell away from God and His life. And since the = wages of=20 sin is death, man was subjected to temporal and eternal death, and to = all the=20 innumerable, pernicious consequences of sin-illnesses, calamities, = griefs,=20 sorrows, corruption, every sort of deformity, and every kind of slavery = to sin.=20 Other than the Son of God no one could reestablish this lost union, and = He, in=20 His measureless goodness and condescension towards fallen man, most = wisely and=20 wonderfully restored it; and intelligent and chosen men have utilized = this=20 marvelously good restoration. But by what means was this union = re-established?=20 By the Son of God's assumption of human nature without sin, fulfilling = all God's=20 righteousness with human nature, taking upon Himself our curse, = suffering and=20 dying for us, and, having conquered death, by rising from the dead and = giving=20 resurrection to us-by which means he bestowed incorruption to us. He = established=20 one Church upon the earth with Himself as the Head and under the = direction of=20 the Holy Spirit. Within the Church, He granted all the means for the = restoration=20 of the broken union with God through the Mysteries, through teaching, = and=20 through the guidance of the pastors; He gave Baptism, Chrismation, = Repentance,=20 Divine Service, and constant instruction in the Word of God. Now, thou = who=20 wishest to live in holy union with God, be thou in union with the Church = which=20 instructs - which holds Divine Service unto holiness and truth and the = Kingdom=20 of God-and thou shalt be saved.

"He that is not with Me is against Me: and he that = gathered not=20 with Me scattereth" (Luke 11:23). He who is not with the Church is = against=20 the Church; he who is not within the Church is against the Church; he = who has=20 not the faith is against the faith; he who does not do the works of = repentance,=20 the works of virtue, is against virtue. It is but a small thing to be = named a=20 Christian: one must do the works and fulfill the commandments which = Christ=20 decreed; unceasing repentance is necessary, unceasing attention to = oneself in=20 the spirit of faith, unceasing prayer, unceasing correction, unceasing = forcing=20 of oneself ahead, unceasing self-perfection, and with this = goal-unceasing=20 self-examination: are we in the faith? do we live according to the = faith? are we=20 with the Church? do we go to church? do we love the Church? do we = fulfill the=20 dictates of the Church? or the commandments of Christ preached by Her? = Behold=20 then how Christ God teaches. Therefore he who does not repent, who does = not=20 attend church, and instead of church goes to the theater and various = spectacles=20 and worldly gatherings, disdaining the Church-such a one is not a = Christian.

God has bound the Orthodox faithful to Himself by = means of the=20 one Holy Spirit and the one Church, by one faith, by the unity of the = law, the=20 Mysteries, and the hierarchy, for the general good of His rational = creation. One=20 must hold on to this bond through holiness of life and submission to one = another.

Christian man! While there is still time, strive to = appropriate=20 God and His Saints to thyself here upon the earth through faith and = piety; be=20 churchly, nourish in thyself the spirit of churchliness; the spirit of=20 repentance, holiness, peace, and thoughts of God; the spirit of love, = meekness,=20 humility, patience, submissiveness to good, and salvation. Lift not = thine head,=20 and scorn not thy Mother the Church which saves thee - attend church = often=20 during Divine Service, stand with humility, listen, reflect, or read and = chant.=20 If thou dost not gain Her here - and through Her, God-thou shalt remain = foreign=20 to Her and to God, and after death, God shall not take thee, and all His = Saints=20 shall renounce thee as some one foreign to them in spirit and in = disposition of=20 heart and thoughts. Thou shalt be driven into a strange country, into = the gloomy=20 and fiery place of the fallen spirits and unrepentant souls of men. Be = wise,=20 therefore, in order to escape the craftiness of the devil, and attain = thy great=20 calling.

Thou belongest to the Church of God, that is, the = community of=20 those who believe in Christ; this Church is the one Body of Christ, of = which God=20 is the Head. Art thou a worthy member? Dost thou live in holiness? Dost = thou=20 always repent? Dost thou correct thine heart and thy life? Dost thou = correct thy=20 morals, thoughts, feelings, intentions, yearnings, and thy whole = behavior?, Art=20 thou a living member, or dead? Will the Saints receive thee when thou = departest=20 from this temporal life into the eternal one? Will they not renounce = thee as a=20 putrid member that is reeking and worthless? Will not thy fate be in = common with=20 those who are reprobate from God ? Hasten to set this matter right, to = correct=20 shine entire behavior. For this thou art granted time.

The work of the salvation of our souls is the = greatest and most=20 wise work, and to learn this work, this art, it is necessary to have = recourse to=20 those to whom this work is known, and who have completed it. This work = of=20 salvation, this work of repentance, is especially known to the Saints, = since=20 they have especially endeavored to concern themselves with it, and have = carried=20 it out in a surpassing manner, a manner pleasing to God and . Indeed, = the Saints=20 have left this spiritual inheritance, this art of repentance and = salvation, to=20 the Orthodox Church, having laid up in Her, as in a secure treasure = house, all=20 their understanding, their instruction, their zeal, their art, and their = experiences. Let us therefore learn repentance and salvation from Her. = We all=20 have come and do come to the church services for Sundays, holidays, = ordinary=20 days, and the Great Fast. All these services teach us repentance and = salvation.=20 Have you heard the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete? Or have you heard = the=20 prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian? Have you heard the troparia and canons = for the=20 Great Fast? What a spirit of repentance is in them! What a compunction, = what=20 contrition for the sins of sinful mankind! What a thirst for salvation = and=20 pardon from God! What wails and tears of sinners repenting! Behold and = learn=20 repentance and propitiation of the Lord from the holy Church. Attend = well,=20 reflect, comprehend your sins, have contrition, repent, vaunt not = yourselves, do=20 the works of mercy: for the merciful shale obtain mercy.

It fell to the lot of fallen man, after the = measureless=20 compassion of God and the unsearchable wisdom and justice of God, to = have the=20 honor of confessing the name of God before unbelievers and of suffering = for this=20 Name, the Name of the Lord God Who is glorified and worshipped in = Trinity. The=20 Apostles, martyrs, hierarchs, monastic saints, and the righteous have = been=20 deemed worthy of this honor in particular. All those who now struggle = for the=20 Orthodox Christian faith and for virtue - those who firmly defend the = holy=20 Orthodox faith and Church and undergo slander and torment at the hands = of Her=20 enemies - are also found worthy of this honor.

The Holy men of God would not betray the faith by = even so much=20 as a word, and if it did happen that, because of the cunning of the = persecutors,=20 they unawares betrayed it by either word or deed, they were ready to = erase their=20 sin by means of the tortures they suffered. See how strictly the Saints = held to=20 the right confession! And of what sort are present-day Christians? = "Reeds=20 shaken with the wind" (Matth. 11:7).

"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation = of your=20 souls" (I Peter 1:9). Behold the end and goal of the Orthodox = Christian=20 faith-the salvation of the soul of every believer. How invaluable is our = faith;=20 how holy, true, God-pleasing, powerful, and saving! How necessary it is = to love=20 Her, worthily to esteem Her, and to constantly to utilize Her for one's = own=20 salvation and that of others. O Lord, save the race of Orthodox = Christians, and=20 convert all the non-orthodox to Orthodoxy, as to the one faith which = saves - the=20 faith established by Thee, glorified by Thee, and to be eternally = glorified by=20 Thee! Thou art holy and righteous, and Thy faith is holy and = righteous.

What does the rite of conversion from different = beliefs and=20 confessions and of being united to the Orthodox Church show forth? The=20 indispensability of the rejection of false beliefs and confessions, of = the=20 renunciation of errors, of the confession of the true faith, and-of = repentance=20 for all former sins and of the promise to God to keep and firmly confess = the=20 blameless faith, to guard against sins, and to live in virtue.

The beginning of all false teachings, heresies, = sects, and=20 schisms is the serpent who deceives the whole world. The first, most = pernicious=20 false teaching was preached by the serpent to Eve in paradise and then = to Adam;=20 and then it was preached subsequently to Cain, to whom the primordial=20 manslayer-the devil-falsely whispered against Abel that he stood in = Cain's way,=20 that Abel went against him; that Abel did not think, feel, or live as he = did;=20 and that Abel supposedly mocked and reviled him. From thence arise all = heresies,=20 sects, and schisms. They wish to be teachers, not from God but rather = from=20 themselves and according to their passions. From thence arise the = followers of=20 Tolstoy, the Pashkovtsy, the Stundists, and others.

"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on the = earth? I tell=20 you, nay; but rather division: for from henceforth there shall be five = in one=20 house (the Church of Christ) be divided, three against two, and two = against=20 three" (Luke 12:51-52) -e.g. Catholics, Reformed, Lutherans,. Old = Believers,=20 sectarians.

A hatred of Orthodoxy, fanaticism against Orthodoxy,=20 persecution of the Orthodox, and even killings, run like a crimson = thread=20 through all the ages of Catholicism's existence. "By their fruits ye = shall=20 know them." Was such a spirit commanded to us by Christ? It is = always=20 possible to say to Catholics, Lutherans, and Reformers - if to anyone - = that=20 "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of" (Luke 9:55).

The cause of all the errors of the Roman Catholic = Church is=20 pride and the acknowledgment of the pope as the real head of the church, = as well=20 as the belief that he is infallible. From hence all the oppression on = the part=20 of the western church arises. The oppression of thought and faith, the=20 deprivation of true freedom both in faith and life - all things upon = which the=20 pope has placed his heavy hand; from hence come the false dogmas, from = hence the=20 duplicity and slyness in thought, word, and deed; from hence the various = false=20 rules and regulations for the confession of sins; from hence = indulgences; from=20 hence the distortion of dogmas; from hence the fabrication of the saints = of the=20 western church and of non-existent relics, not glorified by God; from = hence=20 "the exalting against the knowledge of God" (II Cor. 10:5), and = every=20 sort of opposition to God under the appearance of piety and zeal for the = greater=20 glory of God.

The pope and the papists have become so proud and = have so=20 exalted themselves that they have thought to criticize Christ Himself = -the=20 Hypostatic Wisdom of God Himself - and have extended their pride to the = point=20 that they have distorted some of His words, commandments, and ordinances = which=20 should not be altered to the end of this age: for example, His statement = concerning the Holy Spirit, His commandment concerning the cup of His=20 all-immaculate Blood, of Which they have deprived the layman, setting at = naught=20 the words of the Apostle Paul: "For as often as ye eat this bread, = and drink=20 this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come" (I Cor. 11:26); = instead=20 of leavened bread in the liturgy, they use wafers.

I thank the Lord Who has heard and hears my prayers = in the=20 presence of the most saving and dread sacrifice (the Body and Blood of = Christ)=20 for the great communities which have gone astray in their faith, which = though=20 named Christian are in reality apostate - the Catholic, Lutheran, = Anglican, and=20 others; also that all peoples may be drawn to the true faith, as also = our Old=20 Believers.

Count L. Tolstoy infringed upon the truth of the = Gospel and the=20 whole of Sacred Scriptures and perverted the thought of the Gospel, = which is=20 indisputably most important and invaluable for the people of all ages. = He=20 rejected the belief in Christ as the Son of God, the Redeemer and = Saviour of the=20 world, and led astray many who followed in his footsteps - and thereby = destroyed=20 them; he renounced the Church founded by Christ, and trampled upon the = grace of=20 Baptism, Chrismation, Repentance, Communion and all the Mysteries; = because of=20 his self-conceit he accounts himself to be the judge of the Word of God = and his=20 own supreme criterion, and does not verify himself by It. But woe unto = them that=20 are wise in their own eyes and in their own sight! (Esaias 5:21).

Missionary Leaflet # EA10b
Copyright =A9 1996 and = Published by=20
Holy Protection Russian Orthodox Church
2049 Argyle Ave. Los = Angeles,=20 California 90068
Editor: Archimandrite Alexander (Mileant)=20

(Johnkr_on_Church_ext.doc, 04-20-97)