Dietrich Bonhoeffer

PRAYERS FOR CO-PRISONERS. Christmas 1943

Morning prayer

God, I cry to You at dawn. Help me to pray and gather my thoughts to You; I can't do it alone.

It’s dark in me, but you have light; I am lonely, but You do not leave me; faint-hearted, but you have help; restless, but you have peace; I have hardness in me, but You have patience; Your ways are incomprehensible to me, but You know the way for me.

Heavenly Father, praise and gratitude to You for the night's rest, praise and gratitude to You for a new day, praise and gratitude to You for all Your kindness and faithfulness in my past life.

You have done a lot of good for me, give me now the strength to take a heavy burden out of Your hand.

You will put on me no more than I can bear.

Everything with You serves the benefit of Your children.

Lord jesus christ You were poor and unhappy, caught and left like me.

You know all the troubles of people, You will stay with me when everyone leaves me, You will not forget me and find, You want me to know You and turn to You.

Lord, I hear Your call and follow it, help me!

Holy Spirit, give me faith that will save me from despair, passions and vices, give me love for God and people that will destroy all hatred and bitterness, give me hope that will save me from fear and cowardice.

Holy, merciful God, My Creator and Savior, Judge and my Deliverer, You know me and all my works.

You hate evil and punish it in this and this world, regardless of faces, You forgive sins to the one who sincerely asks that You love good and pay for it on this earth with a consoled conscience, and in the world to come with a crown of righteousness.

Before You, I think about all my loved ones, about my prisoner neighbors and all those who carry out their heavy service in this monastery.

Have mercy, God!

Grant me freedom, and may I live so that I can justify my life before You and before people.

My God, no matter what this day brings, - May your name be glorified.

Evening prayer

Lord my God I thank You that You have brought this day to an end; I thank You for giving rest to body and soul.

Your hand was above me, protecting and protecting me.

Forgive me for all the lack of faith and all the wrongness of this day and help me to forgive everyone from whom I have suffered wrong.

Give me a peaceful sleep under Your protection and protect me from the temptations of darkness.

I entrust my loved ones to You, this house, I entrust my body and soul to You.

My God, may Your holy name be glorified.

Day one tells another that my life is a journey to great eternity.

O eternity, you are beautiful, let my heart get used to you; my home is dear - not from this time.

Prayer in great trouble

God, a great misfortune befell me. Worries suffocate me. I'm at a loss.

Have mercy, God, and help.

Give strength to carry Your burden.

Don't let fear take over me, take care of my loved ones, my wife and children in a fatherly way.

Merciful God, forgive me all the sins I have committed in front of You and people. I trust in Your mercy and give my life into Your hands.

Do with me whatever you want and what is good for me.

In life or death, I am with You, and You are with me, my God.

Lord, I look forward to Your Salvation and Your Kingdom.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Resistance and submission

Confidence

Almost everyone experiences betrayal on their own experience. The figure of Judas, so incomprehensible before, is no longer alien to us. Yes, all the air we breathe is poisoned with mistrust, from which we just do not die. And if we break through the veil of mistrust, then we will have the opportunity to gain experience of trust, which we did not even suspect before. We are accustomed that we can safely entrust our head to the one whom we trust; despite all the ambiguity inherent in our life and our affairs, we have learned to trust infinitely. Now we know that only with such trust, which is always a risk, but a risk gladly accepted, can one really live and work. We know that it is highly reprehensible to sow or encourage mistrust and that, on the contrary, trust should be maintained and strengthened where possible. Trust will always remain for us one of the greatest, rare and inspiring gifts that life brings with it among people, but it is always born only against the dark background of the necessary distrust. We have learned not to surrender ourselves to the mercy of meanness in anything, but into hands worthy of trust, we betray ourselves without a trace.

Sense of quality

If we do not have the courage to restore a true sense of distance between people and personally fight for it, we will perish in the chaos of human values. Impudence, the essence of which is ignoring all the distances that exist between people, characterizes the rabble as well as inner insecurity; flirting with a boor, fiddling with rednecks leads to their own opodlenie. Where they no longer know who owes whom and what, where the sense of human quality and the strength to keep a distance has faded, there is chaos at the threshold. Where, for the sake of material well-being, we put up with the coming rudeness, there we have already surrendered, a dam has been broken, and in the place where we are placed, chaos is pouring in streams, and the blame for this falls on us. In other times, Christianity testified to the equality of people, today it is from all country It should stand for respect for distance between people and for attention to quality. Suspicions of self-interest based on misinterpretations, cheap accusations of antisocial views - one must be prepared for all this. This is the inevitable nagging of the mob to order. Whoever allows himself to relax, to embarrass himself, does not understand what it is about, and, probably, even deserves these reproaches in some way. We are now experiencing a process of general degradation of all social strata and at the same time we are witnessing the birth of a new, aristocratic position, uniting representatives of all still existing strata of society. Aristocracy arises and exists thanks to sacrifice, courage and a clear consciousness of who owes whom and what, thanks to the obvious requirement of appropriate respect for the one who deserves it, and also thanks to the equally understandable respect of both superior and inferior. The main thing is to clear and release the experience of quality buried in the depths of the soul, the main thing is to restore order on the basis of quality. Quality is the sworn enemy of assassination. In social terms, this means abandoning the pursuit of a position in society, a break with any kind of cult of stars, an unbiased look both up and down (especially when choosing a narrow circle of friends), the joy of private, intimatelife, but also a courageous acceptance of public life. From a cultural standpoint, the experience of quality means a return from newspapers and radio to the book, from haste to leisure and silence, from scattering to concentration, from sensation to reflection, from the ideal of virtuosity to art, from snobbery to modesty, from lack of feeling measures for moderation. Quantitative properties argue with each other, qualitative ones complement each other.

Compassion

It should be borne in mind that most people learn only from the experience they have learned the hard way. This explains, first, a striking inability to take preventive action of any kind: they hope to avoid danger until it is too late; second, deafness to the suffering of others. Co-suffering arises and grows in proportion to the growing fear of the threatening proximity of unhappiness. Much can be said to justify this position: from an ethical point of view, I do not want to tempt fate; a person draws inner conviction and strength to act only in a serious case that has become a reality; a person is not responsible for all the injustice and all the suffering in the world and does not want to stand in the pose of a magistrate; from a psychological point of view, the lack of imagination, sensitivity, inner mobilization is compensated by unshakable calmness, indefatigable zeal and a developed ability to suffer. From a Christian point of view, however, all these arguments should not be misleading, for the main thing here is the lack of spiritual breadth. Christ avoided suffering until his hour struck; and then he voluntarily accepted them, mastered them and overcame them. Christ, as the Scriptures say, knew with his flesh all human suffering as his own suffering (an inconceivably high thought!), He took it upon himself voluntarily, freely. We, of course, are far from Christ, we are not called to save the world by our own deeds and sufferings, we should not shoulder the burden of the impossible and suffer, realizing the inability to endure it, we are not the Lord, but instruments in the hand of the Lord of history and only to a very limited extent able to truly co-suffer with the suffering of others. We are far from Christ, but if we want to be Christians, then we must acquire a particle of the heartfelt breadth of Christ - by a responsible act, at the right time voluntarily exposing ourselves to danger, and by genuine compassion, the source of which is not fear, but the liberating and saving Christ's love for to all those who suffer. Passive anticipation and dull contemplation are not a Christian position. The Christian is called to work and co-suffering not so much by his own bitter experience as by the ordeal of the brothers for whom Christ suffered.

About suffering

It is immeasurably easier to suffer in obedience to a human command than in doing an act, making a free choice, taking responsibility. It is incomparably easier to suffer in a team than alone. An honorable suffering in plain sight is infinitely easier than torment in obscurity and shame. It is immeasurably easier to suffer bodily than spiritually. Christ suffered, having made a free choice, alone, in obscurity and shame, physically and spiritually, and since then millions of Christians suffer with him.

Present and future

Until now, it seemed to us that the ability to plan your life both professionally and personally is an inalienable human right. It's finished. By force of circumstances, we are thrown into a situation in which we are forced to abandon concern for "tomorrow" (Matthew 6, 34), and it is essential whether this is done from a free position of faith, which implies the Sermon on the Mount, or as a forced slave service to the present moment. For most people, the forced abandonment of planning for the future means an irresponsible, frivolous or frustrated, indifferent surrender to the present moment; few still passionately dream of better times in the future, trying to distract themselves by this from thoughts of the present. Both positions are equally unacceptable to us. All that remains for us is a very narrow and sometimes barely discernible path - to accept any day as if it were the last, and yet do not give up faith and responsibility, as if we still have a great future ahead of us. “Houses and fields and a vineyard will be bought again in this land” (Jer D. 15) - so, it seems, Jeremiah prophesied (about a paradoxical contradiction with his Jeremiahs) on the eve of the destruction of the sacred city; in the face of the complete absence of any future, this was a divine sign and a guarantee of a new, great future. Thinking and acting without losing sight of the coming generation, while maintaining readiness without fear and worries, will leave this world any day - this is a position practically imposed on us, and it is not easy to bravely stand on it, but it is necessary.

Optimism

It is most reasonable to be a pessimist: disappointments are forgotten, and you can look people in the eyes without shame. Therefore optimism is not in honor of reasonable people. Optimism, in its essence, is not a look over the current minute, it is vitality, the power of hope that does not dry out where others despaired, the power not to hang one's head when all efforts seem futile, the power to endure the blows of fate, the power not to give the future to the mercy of the enemy, but dispose of it yourself. Of course, you can also find stupid, cowardly optimism, which is unacceptable. But no one should look down on optimism-the will for the future, even if he is mistaken a hundred times; optimism is vital health, it must be protected from infectious diseases. There are people who do not take it seriously, there are Christians who do not consider it completely pious to hope for a better earthly future and prepare for it. They believe that the meaning of modern events is contained in chaos, disorder, catastrophes, and therefore avoid (some disappointed and indifferent, some in a pious flight from the world) responsibility for future life, for new construction, for future generations. It is quite possible that the Last Judgment will break out tomorrow, but only then will we willingly postpone our affairs until better times, not earlier.

Danger and death

The thought of death has become more and more common in recent years. We ourselves are surprised at the calmness with which we perceive the news of the death of our peers. We can no longer hate death, we saw something like goodness in its features and almost made peace with it. In principle, we feel that we already belong to her and that every new day is a miracle. But it would probably be wrong to say that we die willingly (although everyone is familiar with a certain fatigue, which, however, under no circumstances should one succumb to) - for this we are apparently too curious, or, to put it more seriously: we would still like to know something more about the meaning of our chaotic life. We do not paint death in heroic tones at all, for this life is too significant and dear to us. And even more so, we refuse to see the meaning of life in danger, for this we have not yet despaired enough and are too familiar with the fear for life and with all the other destructive effects of a constant threat. We still love life, but I think that death will no longer be able to take us completely by surprise. The experience gained during the years of the war will hardly allow us to admit to ourselves our cherished desire that death should overtake us not by chance, not suddenly, away from the main thing, but in the midst of the fullness of life, at the moment of full surrender of our strength. Not external circumstances, but we ourselves will make of death what it can be - death by voluntary consent.

Are we still needed?

We were silent witnesses of evil deeds, we went through fire and water, studied the Aesopian language and mastered the art of pretending, our own experience made us distrustful of people, and we deprived them of truth and free speech many times, we are broken by intolerable conflicts, and maybe, just become cynics - are we still needed? We will not need geniuses, not cynics, not misanthropists, not refined combinators, but simple, artless, straightforward people. Whether we have enough inner strength to resist what is imposed on us, whether we remain mercilessly frank about ourselves, this is what determines whether we will again find the path to simplicity and straightforwardness.

LETTER about a friend

I must take advantage of the fact that you are close, and write to you. You know that I am deprived of even the opportunity to meet with the pastor here ... Let me tell you something that you must certainly know about me. In those first 12 days, when I was isolated here as ... a criminal with an appropriate attitude towards me (in the neighboring cells to this day there are practically only shackled candidates for the next world), Paul Gerhardt and the Psalms and the Apocalypse helped me in an unexpected way. During these days I have been delivered from heavy temptations. You are the only one who knows that "acedia" - "tnstitia" with all the threatening consequences often haunted me, and maybe - I was afraid of this - worried about me in this regard. But I told myself from the very beginning that neither people nor the devil would give this pleasure; if they really want to, let them take care of it themselves; and I hope to continue to stand my ground.

At first I puzzled over the question of whether in fact what I give you so much trouble for is the work of Christ; but quickly dismissed this question as a temptation and came to the conclusion that my task is precisely to withstand this borderline situation with all its problems, it made me very happy, and my joy persists to this day (1 Peter 2, 20; 3, 14).

Personally, I reproached myself for not having finished Ethics (it was apparently partially confiscated), I was a little consoled that I told you the most important thing, and even if you have already forgotten everything, it is still in some indirect way it will manifest. And besides, my ideas haven’t been fully thought out yet.

Further, I took it as an omission that I had never realized my old dream of going to Communion with you again ... and yet I know that we, albeit not bodily, but spiritually, have joined the gift of confession, permission and the sacraments, and I can rejoice on this score and be calm. But nevertheless I wanted to say about it.

While it was possible, I started, in addition to reading the Bible every day (I read the Old Testament two and a half times and learned a lot from this reading), to non-theological work. The article on Sense of Time grew largely out of the need to recall my own past in a situation where time can so easily feel "empty" and "lost."

Gratitude and remorse are two feelings that constantly keep our past before our eyes. But I will talk about this in more detail later.

Then I embarked on a daring undertaking that had long attracted me: I began to write the history of a bourgeois family of our time. All the endless conversations that we conducted in this direction, and everything I experienced serves as a background; in short, it should be a rehabilitation of the burghers, familiar to us from our families, and a rehabilitation from the side of Christianity. Children of two close-knit families in one small town are gradually entering the age of responsible tasks and responsibilities, and together they try to promote the public good in the posts of burgomaster, teacher, pastor, doctor, engineer. You would find a lot of familiar signs, and you yourself are bred here. But beyond the beginning, I did not advance too much, primarily because of the constant and false predictions about my release and the associated inner disunity. But it gives me a lot of joy. Here are just not enough everyday conversations with you on this topic, and even more than you think ... In the meantime, I wrote an article "What does it mean to tell the truth?" oddly enough, no one has posted it so far, and may be distributing them for Christmas.

And now about reading. Yes, E [berhard], I am very sorry that we did not get to know Stifter together. This would greatly enliven our conversations.

We'll have to postpone for the future. I have a lot to tell you about this. In future? When and what will it be? To be on the safe side, I handed over the will to the lawyer ... But, perhaps (or even for sure), you are now in even greater danger! Every day I will think about you and pray to God to protect and bring you back ... Would it be possible, if I had not been condemned, released and called, to arrange so that I got into your regiment? It would be great! By the way, if I am going to be convicted (which cannot be known in advance), do not worry about me! In fact, it won't hurt me much, unless I have to sit out for a few more months before the end of the "probationary period", and this, frankly, is not very pleasant. But many things cannot be called pleasant! In the case in which I could have been found guilty, the mosquito will not erode my nose so much that I can only be proud. For the rest, I hope that if God keeps us alive, at least Easter we can have fun together ...

But let us promise to be faithful in our prayers for one another. I will pray for the granting of you strength, health, patience and firmness in conflicts and temptations. Pray the same for me. And if we are not destined to see each other again, then let us remember each other until the last moment, thanks and forgiving, and may God grant us that we appear before His Throne in prayer for each other, glorifying and thanking Him.

It’s hard for me (as, I think, for you) to get up in the morning (Jer. 31, 26!). Now I just pray for freedom. But there is also a false indifference that cannot be considered Christian. As Christians, we can not be at all ashamed of a bit of impatience, longing, disgust in the face of the unnatural, a bit of a thirst for freedom, earthly happiness and the opportunity to work. In this, I think, we agree with you.

Otherwise, probably, we are all the same, in spite of everything, or just because of all that, each in his own way, is now experiencing, isn't it? I hope you don’t think I’m going out of here as a rear-ranked soldier — now this is even less true than ever! I think the same way about you. What a joyful day it will be when we can tell each other about our experiences! Still, sometimes I am so angry that I am not free now! ...

“There is no more love than if a man lay down his life for his friends” Jn. 15:13.

How do our contemporaries understand this phrase?

Sergey Dudka,39 years old, auditor:

The point is that sacrifice is better than pride, selfishness. The gospel message is not so easy for human understanding. Giving - you gain, humiliating yourself - you will rise, you cry - you will be comforted. And in this case it is the same: if you pity yourself - you will perish, you will pity others and give everything that you have, and even your soul - you will be saved. A man could not think of such a thing. And this serves as one more proof of the divine revelation of the Gospel, since human logic is powerless against his truths.

Julia Sukhareva, 28 years old, mom:

Any sacrifice, be it free time, money, health, made for the sake of a neighbor is very valuable before God. Rarely - when a person has to sacrifice his life for the sake of another, and more often - his comfort.

Alexander Voznesensky, 34 years old, photographer:

Some people mistakenly think that Christ set the highest ideal of Christianity - to lay down your life for your friends. But in order to correctly understand what is at stake here, you need to read this quote in context. So what happens in context? Christ prepares the apostles for the moment when they will have to go and preach the word of God all over the world. At the same time, He reveals to them the foundations, without which any Christian teaching is impossible: "He who does not abide in Me will be cast out like a branch and wither" (John 15: 6). Those. he kind of warns them that there is no need to mix something foreign with the teaching of Christ, because He is the Truth. However, teaching without love for one's neighbor is an empty shaking of the air. Christ says: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15, 12). Further, Christ foresees difficulties, about which he says to his disciples: "They will expel you from the synagogues; even the time is coming when everyone who kills you will think that he is serving God" (John 16: 2). One would have thought that Christ had frightened them pretty much. Here, I am sending you, you will be beaten, driven out, hated. But Christ says, "I said these things to you, so that you would not be offended" (John 16: 1). What did Christ say to the disciples, what should, in their understanding, prevent them from being tempted in such a difficult way? First, as they say, forewarned is forearmed. But still, in difficult trials, this can, on the contrary, lead to despair, when you know that everyone will hate you, turn away, beat you, and so on. So how did Christ comfort the disciples, which should have protected them from the temptation to deviate from the Truth? The answer to this is in the phrase that we are all discussing today, and in its continuation. Christ tells them a phrase that is understandable for everyone, that if you have a friend, then you can show the greatest love for him by giving your life for him. This image is clear to everyone and does not require clarification. Such cases were known in history even before Christ. Further, Christ speaks precisely of the great consolation for His disciples: "You are My friends, if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, for a slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends" ( John 15: 14-15). What does this mean, and why was it supposed to comfort the disciples? What could be more than becoming a friend of God? Those. Christ says that he will exalt them for their work, suffering and patience with what a person could not even dream of - he will no longer be a slave, but an OTHER of God. As for love for a friend from the above quote, Christ did not make it an ideal, because he set love for enemies as an ideal. And about the love of friends, He said: "And if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those who love them" (Luke 6:23)

Sergey Sukharev, 32 years old, regent:

These words are a manifestation of how the Lord selflessly came to save man. Therefore, such a high ideal of love is set for a person.

Dmitry Avsineev,42 years old, self-employed:

It seems to me that this is about the victim. By the word soul, I mean life. A victim of his life, not only and not so much in the literal sense, for example, in a war or under other similar circumstances, but most of all, when this is expressed by his whole life, by his actions! When a person for the sake of another person sacrifices what is most dear to him! For example: your comfort, your time, your physical and spiritual strength, etc. Of course, not excluding the giving of your life in the literal sense of the word! But this is still more the exception than the rule, especially in our time. Therefore, I understand to give my soul - how to sacrifice everything that is dear to me that fills my daily life.

Interpretation of the Church:

Euthymius Zigaben

No one has more love for sowing, but who will lay down his soul for his friends ...

greater than the love that is so great that the lover sacrifices his soul for his friends, as I am doing now. So, not because of powerlessness, but because of love for you, I die and, according to the Divine Economy, I withdraw from you; so do not be sad. Calling the disciples His friends, Jesus Christ further says that this is required of them in order to be His friends.

Although, it would seem, this is a secular holiday, but we can say that this is the patronal holiday of our skete. The iconography of our church depicts this holiday, this celebration, this veneration of the heroic deed established by God, to which every Christian and every conscientious citizen of society, country, people is called.

24.02.2016 Through the labor of the brethren of the monastery 27 157

On February 23, our Russian people celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day. Although, it would seem, this is a secular holiday, but we can say that this is the patronal holiday of our skete. The iconography of our church depicts this holiday, this celebration, this veneration of the heroic deed established by God, to which every Christian and every conscientious citizen of society, country, people is called. This feat, this duty is called sacred, because it originates from the Gospel Word of Christ “There is no greater love if he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15: 13). From time immemorial hundreds, thousands, millions of soldiers went and performed their duty. As they say, there are no unbelievers in the trenches. This is evidenced by one marvelous letter from an ordinary soldier who was on the front line at the front of World War II, which miraculously survived. It was addressed to his mother. He writes a repentant appeal to her: “Forgive me, mother, that I laughed at your faith. But tomorrow our battalion goes on the attack, we are surrounded, I do not know if I will survive in this battle, probably few of us will return home from this battle. But for me now there is a goal and there is happiness: I look at the starry sky, lying in a trench, and believe that there is the One who created me from nothingness into being and Who will again accept me. And with this faith I am not afraid. "

The Church equates this great feat with the feat of martyrdom. And despite the fact that in the army the morals are peasant, soldier (as they say that in the army they don't swear, but talk, and any tenderness and sensitivity is called familiarity, there you need to speak briefly and clearly, without unnecessary words, do what you order) ... But there is always the Gospel sacrificial Love of Christ. I myself was born and raised in military garrisons and I know real officers, served in the army as a monk, lived in remote military units, which are deprived of any secular entertainment, pleasure and ordinary human benefits. In that period of the 90s, salaries were not paid for six months, but the military still went, sometimes at night, and did their duty. And it was clear that they are driven by something more than what drives many people in modern society. I also saw the feat of their wives and mothers. At the time, planes were unreliable and often crashed. They flew over the house. And when my father was on duty at night, we, as children, fell asleep, but we saw that my mother was sitting in the kitchen and could wait until morning. Now, dear ones, we will honor this feat. Because not only the living, but already many who gave their lives, fulfilling their duty, departed to another world.

What I wanted to say, I wrote this holiday morning in verse:

This debt to the Saints is called
Because only with Holy Love
Everything is created in this world!
Because this Commandment
The Lord Himself wrote on the hearts:
No love is holier and more
Who gave his life for his friends.
Only those who fulfilled this duty to the end,
Who gave their lives for the Motherland.
Who at any moment, and in the cold, and in the heat
I was ready to go into mortal combat for a just cause,
To give life, to shed blood,
So that the descendants continue to live through this.
The country is behind, there is one goal ahead -
To protect the one that was given to us by God -
The defenseless life of millions of children
Tears of fragile but loyal mothers
Save your faith, fatherland and honor of your daughters,
Its great, mighty language and the shrine of the churches.
So let us honor a minute of silence for those
About which we do not have enough words of all to say worthily,
And prayerfully remember their names
Before the Throne of Him, to Whom their life is lifted up.

On Sunday evening we served a prayer for world peace, and every day at the Divine Liturgy the Church prays for this. But what is the world? True peace, which each of us and the whole world lacks so much, is not just any way, as long as it is quiet and calm. There is no peace between Christ and Beliar, there can be no compromise with sin. But the true world is Christ Himself, Who said: "I am the world." That is why the Church, when she addresses the forthcoming people through the priest and sends “Peace to all”, then she proposes to receive Christ into her heart by the Holy Spirit, “He proclaims the death of Christ and confesses His Resurrection” (1 Cor. 11:26).

Therefore, before the reading of the Holy Gospel, this exclamation sounds: "Peace to all!" For it is impossible to hear with the heart, to comprehend with the mind the Gospel Revelation, if you do not have peace with your conscience and peace with Christ and your neighbor. And therefore, at the very climax of the Divine Liturgy, in the Eucharistic Canon, we give a holy kiss (kissing) to each other. Now this is happening somewhat spiritually. But the exclamation remained the same ancient, early Christian: "Let us love one another, so that with one mind we confess the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." In the Slavic language in Serbia, in Montenegro, kissing means love: “to kiss an icon” means to love an icon.

Exactly at this moment, Golgotha, Gethsemane, again we miss this world. And, perhaps, now the whole world is filled with the dynamics of mutual hatred, envy, distrust, and brotherly hatred precisely because, perhaps, in the Church you and I so lack this peace with Christ, with our conscience. All this is a crack in the general building of humanity. Each of us must remember this.

Not all were called to the number of the twelve and seventy apostles, but, as it is said, many disciples followed Christ and many wives served Him from their estates and thus became participants in the apostolic preaching. In the same way, in this holy feat, everyone does not have to wear caps and shoulder straps, but we are all called to this feat of the saint - to lay down our souls for our friends and foes. Therefore, you need to prepare now, every day, in order to be ready to take this step on that day, at the right time, to make the right decision.

We know that many of our Valaam monks, more than three hundred people, went to the First World War willingly to lay down their souls for their friends. There were many holy warriors in Russia, including monastics. As we know, the Monk Sergius, blessing Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy for the sacred war of liberation, as a blessing, gave him not only his old age, not only God's blessing, but also as material evidence of his sacrifice, like the Heavenly Father, who sacrificed His Beloved Son, his two close monks Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslyabyu, having previously tonsured them into the great schema and sent them to the last battle.

As we know, Peresvet took upon himself a great responsibility, historical, when on the Kulikovo field came a really turning point for the history of our entire people, which for many years, centuries was under the heavy yoke of the Tatar-Mongolian, which did not allow us to raise our heads and unite into a single people. Russian. These were scattered principalities, forced to miserably survive, paying tribute to their occupier. But the Monk Sergius, teaching his blessing through his two schemmonks, prayed for this people. And so, on this field, when a whole sea of ​​troops gathered (whoever saw the famous picture of the Kulikov field - the enemy army was visible to the horizon, which had approached the Russian land, and from this view it only became scary and it was clear that it was impossible to stop it with human efforts) , according to the ancient custom, the invincible huge growth Chelubey, who was sophisticated in many wars and battles, had a huge experience of battle, goes out in front of everyone to battle one on one. He proudly, like Goliath once laughed at the people of Israel, stood and laughed, saying: "Who dares to come out to me?" Everyone knew the responsibility of this first battle, because if our chosen one loses this battle, then the spirit of the entire army will fall, and it will be doomed to defeat. For a long time he stood, mocking like Goliath, and no one dared to take this responsibility. And so Schemamonk Alexander Peresvet came forward and said: "I will go." Like the king David, they brought him weapons, armor, chain mail. But he refused everything, saying that his Schema would be enough for him. And sitting on a horse, with a spear jumped out to meet Chelubey. According to one chronicler describing this event, they pierced each other at full gallop. But the huge Chelubey immediately fell from his horse and remained lying on the field, and Peresvet, being strengthened by the grace of God, triumphantly returned to the Russian army in the saddle, showing that God is with us and our cause is right, we will win. It was a blessing of God, a blessing of the Monk Sergius. Let us, dear brothers, and we try to be worthy to be our fathers and our grandfathers, and every day to prepare ourselves for this holy deed.

Hieromonk David (Legeida),

"There is no more that love, if anyone lay down his soul for his friends."

Gospel of John (15.13.)

1. On the verge of centuries.

The raised topic, artificially thrown into oblivion, should again turn our hearts to conscience and to a sobriety of understanding about events and about people. Those distant years of the exodus of Russians from Russia due to the Civil and Second World Wars. The greatness of sacrifice and service to God and people is unforgettable, even if officials at different levels of the state and church do not want to hear the names of such people ...

Hermogenes, archbishop of Yekaterinoslav and Novomoskovsk, archpastor of the Don army.

And in the world Grigory Ivanovich Maksimov, born on January 10. 1861 in a Cossack family in the village of Esaulovskaya region of the Don Cossack. After graduating from the seminary and the Kiev Theological Academy in 1886, he received the rank of presbyter (priest) and, being with the degree of candidate of Theology, having completed the practice of a psalmist in the Peter-Pavlovsk church of the village of Starocherkasskaya (at his request), he soon received a priestly position at the Trinity Church in the city of Novocherkassk. where Father Gregory's ministry was very short (about six months), when he was transferred to the vacancy of a priest to the Don Cathedral of the Ascension Cathedral, where he served for 7 years.

In 1894, despite his young years, but as an experienced teacher, he was appointed to the post of superintendent of Ust-Medveditskogo of the Theological School, where Fr. Grigory worked as a head for more than 8 years, improving his native school. And in the village of Ust-Medveditskaya, as in the city of Novocherkassk, Father Grigory did not refuse to fulfill other positions imposed on him at different times, both educational and social.

In 1902, Fr. Gregory leaves the Don diocese and, at the invitation of Bishop Vladimir (Senkovsky) of Vladikavkaz, moves to the Caucasus and is appointed rector of the Vladikavkaz cathedral. The service activities of Archpriest Fr. Grigory Maksimov for the residents of Vladikavkaz are remembered for his selfless deed in the alarming 1905, when he went to the barracks of the rebellious T-regiment and pastoral admonitions, deceived by agitators, the soldiers were reassured, the plans of the seditious were returned to their service. To the Tsar and the Fatherland. However, this circumstance had fatal consequences for his family life. The wife of Fr. Gregory died of a heart stroke, leaving him with six children from 1 to 16 years old. With God's help, the priest raised his children as good Christians and useful figures in the state public service.

Diligence in the ministry of Fr. Grigory Maksimov in priestly dignity in positions in the diocesan and spiritual and educational departments was awarded a number of awards - the Order of St. Anna 3 degrees in 1902, and after three years and 2 degrees. In 1908 - the Order of St. Vladimir 4 degrees and three years later 3 degrees.

In 1909, being the Rector of the Saratov Seminary, Archpriest Fr. Grigory Ivanovich Maksimov at the shrine of St. Seraphim took monastic vows with the name Hermogenes. This name was adopted by him in honor of his closest leader in monastic life, Bishop Hermogenes, Bishop of Saratov, later Archbishop of Tobolsk in 1918. the Bolsheviks in the Irtysh River.

2.In the battle with the archpastoral prayer and the exodus from Russia.

On May 9, 1910, Archimandrite Hermogenes was ordained (ordained) at the Aleksadro-Nevsky Lavra of St. to him the diocese and accepted this appointment, seeing in him the finger of God.

On May 18 of the same year, His Grace Hermogenes (Maximo v) arrived in Novocherkassk, where he testifies for the glory of God and for the salvation of people. In his place of service, he was loved and respected by both the clergy and the flock.Confirmation of this is the solemn celebration of the 25th anniversary of the priesthood celebrated in Novocherkassk, in which the whole Don diocese took part and he enjoyed love in all layers of his flock, and not only among his relatives and his beloved Cossacks, but also among all the inhabitants of the Don region. The monument to this love is a golden breast cross, a folding icon of Christ the Savior with the Holy Martyr Hermogenes Patriarch of Moscow (who is also a Don Cossack by birth) and a metal archpastoral staff.

The First World War began and Bishop Hermogenes from the church pulpit inspired Russian soldiers who were going to the theater of military operations, and in 1916 he himself visited the front, where with his prayers, sermons and blessings he so raised the fighting spirit of the Don people that they were ready to immediately go into battle.

The ill-fated year 1917 has come. The pain and misfortune of the fratricidal war did not immediately come to the Cossack lands of the Quiet Don, which Vladyka Hermogenes nursed. As soon as news of the atrocities of the Bolsheviks, who had already seized power in St. Petersburg and Moscow, reached Novocherkassk, the Right Reverend spoke fully armed with his pastoral ministry - he organized religious processions, organized religious, moral and patriotic readings, denounced the enemies of the Faith of the Christian and Orthodox Church in his sermons. ... To which the urban rabble became very angry. But the forces were not equal, and in February 1918, after the tragic death of Ataman A.M. Kaledin. , the Red Guards occupied the capital of the Don Army. Bishop Hermogenes was arrested, as were the military sergeant major Voloshinov and ataman Nazarov (shooting of Yana), imprisoned and defamed at the trial as an enemy of the people. Several times he was threatened with reprisals from drunken sailors and Red Guards. But unexpectedly, the Bolshevik authorities granted Vladyka an "amnesty", with the condition that at the first request he appear at the Cheka. In fact, it was a deception, because at night His Grace Hermogenes was killed, but was saved by his children.

Having plundered the house, the commissars left. After that I had to hide on the outskirts of the city.

Anyone could be shot for hiding Vladyka.

Finally, the Cossacks realized the deception of the Bolsheviks and rebelled against the satanic power on the day of Holy Christ's Sunday (22ap p) 1918, a day later they liberated Novocherkassk.

What were the joys and delights at the meeting of the archpastor with his people, who considered him killed. The elected military ataman P.N. Krasnov, knowing the strength of the service of the Church of Bishop Hermogenes and the love of the Don Cossacks for him, invited him to the post of Bishop of the Don Army and Navy. front, where with his fiery word he inspired and supported his native donors, blessing them for the battle. Many sent out their appeals, urging everyone to adhere to the precepts of their native country and stand firmly for the Faith and the Fatherland. The victorious Don army was built on mutual trust, and this is what the enemies of Orthodoxy and the Cossacks tried to undermine. P.N. Krasnov resigned as a military chieftain, and A.P. Bogaevsky, following the elected chieftain, could not restore the situation. The sad exodus of the Don people began from their native land. Vladyka Germogen decided to stay in Novocherkassk, but he was persuaded to leave the city at least for a while. Therefore, the bishop's service of Vladyka Hermogenes on the Don continued until 1919, when he was appointed to the cathedra of the Bishop of Yekaterinoslav and Novomoskovsky, and in December of this year, together with his son, a schoolboy and a cell deacon, on an ordinary cart went from the Don Territory to the Kuban under the protection of the first hundred of the Don Cadet Corps, experiencing both hunger and cold, like many thousands of refugees. But a great misfortune lurked in the tortured souls of people who no longer believed in anything, there were also those who had profit from human grief despite the oncoming Bolshevik horror.

Arriving in Novorossiysk, where the Supreme Church Administration was already located in the south of Russia, Bishop Germogen was given a place on the hospital steamer "Vladimir" among typhoid patients as a ship priest. On March 14, 1920, "Vladimir" left for Crimea, but having received a new order, he went to Constantinople, and from there to Solun, where the wounded and some of the sick were removed, and the rest (up to 2 thousand) were sent to the gloomy island of Lemnos where Vladyka Hermogenes settled in a military tent.

3. Glory to God for everything - for sorrow and for joy

The island of Lemnos became the land where Vladyka spent his first six months after the loss of his beloved Russia. On his initiative, a tent church was consecrated in memory of the Ascension of the Lord, then a school for refugee children was created. The news that an Orthodox Russian bishop was among the Russian refugees on the island soon spread throughout Lemnos. Meetings and joint concelebration of the Liturgies with the Greek Orthodox clergy took place. The procession to Metropolitan Stefan of Lemnos with a large church choir, of which Sergei Zharov was the choir, was unusually festive. This was a great spiritual consolation for Vladyka Hermogenes in the bleak exile life. But nearby was Mount Athos, to which the Greek authorities did not allow Russians. The Lord granted Vladyka and the monks a boat across the sea to reach Athos, and from August 1920 to May 1922, His Eminence Hermogenes lived without a break in the Athos monasteries and hermitages.

The Vladyka's farewell to the brothers of the Skete Thebaid and the Panteleimon Monastery was touching, and after leaving for Serbia in early May, he arrived in Belgrade, where he was received by Serbian Patriarch Demetrius purely in his chambers.

The Higher Church Administration Outside of Russia sent Bishop Hermogenes to Athens, where he was engaged in the improvement of his diocese before the coup d'état in Greece.

The monarchy was replaced by a republic, the bishop was forced to return to Serbia and from there govern his diocese.

In 1922 the Russian Higher Church Administration was reorganized. The Council of Russian hierarchs who found themselves outside of Russia established the Holy Synod with all the rights of the All-Union Central University of Uzbekistan, and His Grace Hermogenes was elected a member of the Holy Synod at this council.

In 1929, he was appointed to the then newly opened diocese of Western America with the elevation of the rank of archbishop, but he could not fulfill this appointment due to circumstances beyond his control and was forced to stay in Serbia. The Order of St. Sava, II degree of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, was added to the Russian Vladyka's awards.

By the blessing of St. Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) and with the permission of His Holiness Patriarch Barnabas, a Committee was formed to honor the Archpastor of the Don Army of the 50th anniversary of His Eminence Hermogenes. The honorary chairman of the Committee is Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev and Galitsky, and the honorary member (future First Hierarch of the ROCOR) Anastasy.

In 1936, the celebration of the half-century priesthood of Vladyka Hermogenes took place in the city of Belgrade. The congratulatory speech on behalf of the Serbs was delivered by prof. L. Raich - from those who were pupils of Russian spiritual educational institutions. N.N. Krasnov read out greetings from the Ataman of the Great Don army, and after him the regiment. N. Nomikosov read out greetings from the atamans and Cossacks - Kuban, Tersk, Ural, Orenburg, Astrakhan, Siberian, Yenisei, Amur, Ussuri and from General Baksheev - the chairman of the Far Eastern Union. After that, the Cossacks came out - three boys in Circassian clothes and a girl in a kubelka. The children bowed to the hierarchs and the girl, with love in her voice, read a poem dedicated to Lord Hermogen. This deputation greatly moved both the hero of the day and all the hierarchs headed by Patriarch Barnabas.

Response speeches, memories of the now distant Don, songs, gifts flowed as if from a cornucopia. But even the most beautiful holidays end sooner or later, and Vladyka, with all his tireless energy, tries to help all those in need, being in the Hopov Monastery. But soon the Second World War broke out.

4. War.

As soon as Yugoslavia was under German occupation, Croatia proclaimed its independence. And if the "Tito" red partisans committed lawlessness in Serbia, then the Ustashi committed atrocities in Croatia. And Archbishop Hermogenes defended the Orthodox Serbs in Croatia. Bearing in mind that Patriarch Gabriel insisted on doing everything possible to preserve Orthodoxy in the Croatian state.

Here is one of the testimonies of an eyewitness, Ivan Alekseevich Polyakov, general and chief of staff of the Don Army, in response to the attacks that appeared in the post-war years in the foreign church press against Vladyka Hermogenes: passed in relation to Archbishop Hermogenes, but at the same time I consider it my moral duty to assess the situation and circumstances that were associated with his assumption of the leadership of the then formed Croatian Orthodox Church.

As a living witness to the events of that time in Croatia, I affirm:

1) Orthodox Christians were persecuted throughout Croatia: churches were burned, pastors were arrested, some were shot, and Russian clergy often suffered.

The only Serbian church in Zagreb, which became, as it were, Russian, was closed.

2. Entering the administration of the Croatian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Hermogenes set the first condition - an end to the persecution of the Orthodox Church and other outrages. The then head of Croatia, Dr. A. Pavelich, accepted these conditions and issued appropriate orders.

3. The persecution subsided almost immediately, churches began to open and put in order. We, Zagreb residents, also received our church back.

4. Soon, Archbishop Hermogenes becomes an intercessor for all Russians who were persecuted by the new Croatian government, both individually and in large groups, and usually without any wrongdoing on their part. Since the doors of Poglavnik (doctor Pavelic) were always open for Archbishop Hermogenes, he went to him, and the Croatian government, although reluctantly, fulfilled his requests.

5. Visiting Archbishop Hermogenes several times a week and discussing with him the situation and various issues raised by the life of that time, I met with him many visitors who besieged him with various requests. Among the latter, there were often even Russian soldiers who served in the troops of Dr. Pavelic. Vladyka tried to meet everyone halfway and tried to help. Consequently, by accepting the leadership of the Croatian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Hermogenes did a great Russian deed and saved many from prison persecution, and sometimes death.

In the name of Truth and Christ's righteousness, it would be unfair to pass over this question in silence, I think. Apparently, at that time Belgrade was little aware of what was happening in Croatia at that time. "

M.Obrknezhevich recalls the bitter times that fell to the lot of Orthodoxy in the Independent States of Croatia (NGH): "Because of his refusal to cooperate with the Germans, Patriarch Gabriel of Serbia was in exile until the end of the war." And on the territory of Croatia itself, ethnic cleansing is taking place (750 thousand Orthodox Serbs were killed), the Serbian clergy were persecuted, as they were considered representatives of a hostile neighboring state.

Of course, the enemies of Orthodox Christianity wanted to destroy the religion of Serbs and Russians in Croatia by any means, and therefore they hoped that the creation of the Croatian Orthodox Church would lead to union with Catholicism (which is still imputed to ROCOR as a grave crime to Archpastor Hermogenes and the priests who came under his care) ... But for some reason, it is not taken into account that the Serbian Patriarch Gabriel from exile conveyed his oral consent to Vladyka Germogen, that is, he blessed him to head the Croatian Orthodox Church as a metropolitan, but not as a Patriarch. Before arriving in Zagreb on May 29, 1942, where preliminary negotiations were to take place on the formation of the KhOC and its charter, Vladyka Germogen writes a letter to Metropolitan Anastassy, ​​where he assures that he will not do anything non-canonical in relation to the fraternal Serbian Orthodox Church.

It must be remembered that pro-communist tendencies among the Serbian priesthood and hierarchy were strong during the war, as happened in Russia under the rule of the Bolsheviks. This is precisely what Bishop Hermogenes warned about in his last Passover message:

“Beware of my spiritual children, those who, in sacred vestments, turn to you instead of a cross with a bloody knife and weapon in their hands, for they do not fight for Christ, but for the wicked, seeking to deceive you and poison your souls! Beware of all those who talk about freedom under the red star, for there is no freedom, there is only disaster and misfortune. In their temporary kingdom, only one freedom possesses - blasphemy against God the Almighty, His Risen Son and the Holy Spirit. In Christian love, brotherly forgiveness, beloved brothers and our spiritual children, let us congratulate each other on a joyful Easter greeting - CHRIST IS RISEN! "

On the creation of the KhOC - while the Croatian government was given a condition by Vladyka Hermogenes - an immediate end to the destruction of the Serbian Orthodox population in Croatia, and this was fulfilled.

The Greek, Bulgarian churches were notified, as well as the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople; The Romanian Patriarch Nicodemus ordained Vladyka to the rank of Metropolitan. As you know, not a single Church has expressed any objections to the creation of a new Church, considering Vladyka Hermogenes a worthy hierarch. At that damned time of mutual hatred and genocide after his consecration, Metropolitan Germogen managed to gather the priesthood of the destroyed Serbian Church in Croatia - 70 clergymen joined the new Church, which then had 55 permanent parishes and 19 temporary communities. Obviously, they made their choice at a tragic time.

The new Church, in the blessed wisdom of Vladyka Hermogenes, became multinational. In addition to Serbs and Croats, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Bulgarians, Romanians, Gypsies, Albanians, Russians, Rusyns, Ukrainians and even the Uniates who returned to Orthodoxy became its parishioners. Vladyka Hermogenes immediately won the love and respect of his flock.

5. You will recognize them by their fruits.

The tragedy of murder exhausts and hardens human souls, but at the same time shows the spiritual choice of a Christian, because “By their deeds you will recognize them” ... Analyzing the documents of those years, one immediately realizes that the salvation of human lives, universal respect, even among non-Orthodox, and the observance of the conditions of canonical principles underlies the creation of a new church.

“By the will of God, my humility was called to lead the KhOC. During the great temptations sent down to a part of Holy Orthodoxy, I was destined to leave the silence of monastic retreat, take this position, which I now perform, take the helm of the Orthodox Church and gather her children into one flock, according to In the words of the Primordial Lord Jesus Christ, to restore peace and piety, love and orthodoxy in Croatia, where the whirlwind of the world war rocked and confused Orthodoxy, caused disorder, corruption and complete madness, ”- this is how Vladyka Hermogenes wrote in his letter to Patriarch Nicodemus of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The monastery in Hopovo operated until 1943, then it was first burnt down by the communist and partisans, and the remaining main church was blown up when part of the Wehrmacht retreated.

The relationship between Metropolitans Hermogenes and Anastassy, ​​due to the formation of the KhOC, led to a rupture, since the first could not come to Belgrade, and the second announced his disagreement with the appointment of Metropolitan Hermogenes, dismisses him and, in accordance with canon law, will begin a trial against him. At the same time, Metropolitan Anastassy himself did not go to Zagreb to settle relations. The pain of the Serbian and Russian in Croatia consisted in the fact that if it had not been for the intercession of Vladyka Hermogenes, the genocide would have been repeated, and the delay in the Synod proceedings would have been disastrous.

At the beginning of 1945, the offensive of Soviet troops in the Balkans forced the Croatian government to evacuate, and it also suggested that Vladyka Hermogenes leave for Austria with his clergy.

After analyzing this issue with his clergy, who unanimously spoke out against the evacuation, he replied with these words: “There are very few of us here, but we have a bishopric and Orthodox clergy and our conscience is calm ... We are ready to give an account of all our deeds for the time of our ministry before the Church Council of the Serbian Church, which is freely and legally convened and completely independent in its decisions, with the participation, if possible, of the bishops of the Russian Church Abroad. "

The Synod of the SOC chose a path extremely unworthy of Orthodoxy - it handed over Vladyka Hermogenes and the clergy of the KhOC into the hands of the red partisans of the army of J.B. Tito, that is, into the hands of the God-fighters and demanded that they be tried as "war criminals" by their own court. The tribunal of the atheists sentenced all those arrested to death and on June 29, 1945, they were shot. A month earlier, the tragedy began in Lienz. It should be noted that the SOC accepted the Serbs ordained by Vladyka Germogen into the jurisdiction of the clergy, thus "de facto" recognizing the canonicity of the Sacraments and the Orthodox Faith of the created Croatian Church.

There is no more love than if a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)
Our friendship with each other has different shades. For the sake of someone we are ready to move mountains and sacrifice ourselves, with others we are prudent, with others we are ready for dedication only when a person meets our interests and requirements. But what is real and sacrificial friendship? What is it? I myself have often asked myself this question. After going through a series of trials, I saw that the people closest to you, who, it would seem, should be inseparable with you, leave you. Trials come into your life, and your environment is thinning. Someone is holding on to a relationship for the sake of profit, someone for the sake of the fact that a person is interesting and having fun and pleasant time with him, someone is looking for benefits, holding on to relationships and making far-sighted plans for the future (he will definitely achieve a lot and I, respectively, with him) ... The wise Solomon wrote: “Wealth adds many friends, but the poor are left with their friend. Many curry favor with the noble, and everyone is a friend to the person who makes gifts. " Sadly, but true, today friendship has acquired a tinge of formalism and irresponsibility. The concept of friendship is abstract or figurative, having lost its depth. Therefore, today the world is filled with infantile men and women who go with the flow, choosing profitable friends and life partners, those who reflect their views, fit into their framework and adapt to their requirements.
All these are selfish moments of the human heart, which have nothing to do with what Christ spoke about. Friendship is a narrower and deeper concept, a concept that takes us into eternity, opening the door to a hitherto unknown world, which is hidden in selfless love, devotion, high feelings and trust in each other.
Today our relationship is perhaps far from the bar that Christ set. To say, I love you, my friend, or I appreciate you, it doesn't mean anything. A friend not only manifests itself in trouble, friends are with you at any time, they value you, trying to take care of you, value you as their soul .. They care about you, suffer with you, pass trials, help in fiery temptations and stretch out their hand, when you stumble and fall. They do not leave you to die, stopping halfway, they go to the end. Friendship is a relationship, friendship carries the practice of life. To love as your soul means to fully take responsibility, to be faithful to the end.
"There is no more that love, as if someone lay down his life for his friends"
Christ didn't just say this to his disciples. He himself gave Himself, thereby showing that there is true love, relationships. The disciples left their teacher later and fled, Judas betrayed, Peter denied three times ... In fact, at the moment when the Savior was seized, they betrayed Him, no one remained near, however, Jesus remained faithful, His love was higher than the human sinful heart, which in the moment of temptation is possible and makes the wrong choice. The disciples, realizing this, grieved and cried. According to legend, we know that they all accepted martyrdom for their Lord, remaining faithful to Him ..
Today we do not literally give our lives for each other, this is a rarity. But, how can we have intimate relationships with a pure heart? How and in what way to show your sacrifice, selflessness, in relation to each other? I ask myself this question again, again fix my gaze on Jesus Christ, who has all the answers, who has the depth of all life and truth.
To lay down your soul is not only to give your life, it is not only to die for your neighbors. Gentle in our souls, we renounce ourselves friends, we renounce our aspirations for wealth, profit, striving for pleasure, glory, we do not seek honor for ourselves, we renounce everything that our sinful nature and flesh require and PUT IN THE FIRST PLACE TO SERVE NEAREST.
And when our heart prioritizes serving our neighbors, as our Teacher did, then courage and honor, courage and courage, mercy and compassion are manifested, the depth of God's Spirit is revealed, His grace begins to work in our hearts, illuminating with His presence and light others.
Brothers and sisters, stay awake, because the depth of relationships not only in the world is lost, the depth of relationships between us is also lost, the depth of relationships in families and in the Church is lost. We easily leave those who were next to us yesterday, those whom we called brother or sister, those who fell or are in difficult life circumstances. We do not pay attention, we do not remember, we deny, doing so, we act as the disciples did at the moment when the Savior was in a difficult time, when He needed their support. If we do this, then what to say in relation to others then, about helping them, mercy and compassion, when we forget about our neighbor. How can we love our enemies and bless those who curse us when we forget about those in the immediate vicinity? Jesus is talking about a new way, a new commandment. "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, so you love one another" The Lord opens us a book that was closed until a certain moment, a book that talks about relationships, a book that speaks and teaches us about sacrifice and loyalty, a book that talks about loyalty and trust, the title of this book, I think you know, is ... ..?! Through it we see the sacrifice of Christ, He gave Himself for us, although He could have implored the Father and this cup would have passed by Him.
I want to tell you another example that showed me sacrifice, love, compassion ...
This is a story about Janusz Korczak, an outstanding Polish teacher, writer, doctor and public figure who refused to save his life three times.
The first time this happened was when Janusz decided not to emigrate to Palestine before the occupation of Poland, so as not to leave the Orphans' House to its own devices on the eve of terrible events.
The second time was when he refused to flee the Warsaw ghetto.
And on the third - when all the inhabitants of the Orphans' House had already climbed into the carriage of the train leaving for the camp, an SS officer approached Korczak and asked:
- Did you write King Matt? I read this book as a child. Good book. You can be free.
- What about children?
- The children will go. But you can leave the carriage.
- You are wrong. I can not. Not all people are scoundrels.
A few days later, in the Treblinka concentration camp, Korczak, along with his children, entered the gas chamber. On the way to death, Korczak held two of the smallest children in his arms and told the tale to unsuspecting toddlers.
Take care of each other friends. Be close to your neighbor even when you understand that you yourself can suffer.
May the Lord bless each of us with this deep feeling that opens the way to the world, where His sacrificial and selfless love, which shows everyone who embarked on this path, the way leading to His eternal presence! (11/26/2015 A / S)