Про монашество у Євагрія-монаха, що навчає, як подобає подвизатися і безмовствувати

The Lord said about the monasticism of Evagrius the monk, who teaches how to fight and be silent about the prophet Jeremiah: “Do not take a wife, and do not have any sons or daughters in this area… they will die a terrible death” (Jer. 16, 1). The apostle also says the same: “Whoever is married worries about the affairs of this world, how to please the woman, and he is divided. Likewise, the woman… married worries about the affairs of this world, how to please the man” (1 Cor. 7, 33-34). From this it is clear that not only about the sons and daughters born in marriage, the prophet says that “they will die a terrible death” (Jer. 16, 4), but also about those sons and daughters born in their hearts, that is, about carnal thoughts and lust, that in the painful, weak, and weak wisdom of this world they will die and will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. “He who is unmarried,” says the apostle, “takes care of the Lord’s affairs, how to please the Lord” (1 Kr. 7, 32), and will always bring blooming and immortal fruits of eternal life. Such is a monk, and such a monk likes to be, who has neither a wife, nor sons and daughters. He likes to be a soldier of Christ, selfless and without trouble, without any vain thought and deed, as the apostle says: “No one, being a soldier, interferes in the affairs of this life if he wants to please the one who hired him for service” (2 Tim. 2, 4). Let the monk dwell in this the most, who has left all the affairs of this world and hastens to the beautiful and to the brim achievements of speechlessness – the signs of victory. What a beautiful and good feat of speechlessness! How beautiful and kind he really is! “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt. 11, 30). Joyful life, sweet action. Will you, beloved, take upon yourself the speechless life as it is, and hasten to the achievements of speechlessness? If you want, leave the sorrows of the world and those principles and powers that are in them, that is, become like a bodyless, passionless, without any lust, so that all kinds of misfortunes are alien to you and you can be silent well. If you don’t push them away from you, it will be impossible to live like this. Eat little and choose simple food, not the kind with which there is a lot of trouble. Even if an idea comes to you to prepare better food for travelers, reject it and do not listen to it at all. The enemy sneaks up with him to tear you away from speechlessness. You know how the Lord Jesus reprimanded those souls who worry about this and said to Martha: “You fight and worry about many things, but one thing is needed” (Lk. 10, 41), you need to listen to the divine word, and then you will receive everything without difficulty. And he adds: “Mary has chosen a better portion that will not be taken away from her” (Lk. 10, 42). You also have the example of the widow from Sarepta – what she treated the prophet with. Even if you have only bread, or salt, or water, you can feed a traveler with them and receive a reward for hospitality. And if you don’t have that either, then only receive the traveler with a good opinion and say a good word to him – and you will also receive a reward for hospitality. It is said that a kind word is better than a gift (Abba Dorothei, sheet 96 on the back). This is what you like to know about almsgiving.See that you do not wish to have wealth to give it to the poor. There is something deceptive in this too, which often leads to vanity, and the mind throws itself into numerous entanglements. The Lord Jesus testifies in the Gospel about the widow who surpassed the intention and power of the rich by two leptos. The Lord says that “all of them threw in as a gift of God from their surplus, but she put in her poverty all her livelihood that she had” (Lk. 21, 4). And I will say about clothes: do not want to have extra clothes, but only those that are necessary for your body. “Cast your care on the Lord, and He will give you life” (Ps. 54, 23; 1 Pt. 5, 7). It is said that the Lord will feed you. Whenever you need clothes or food, do not be ashamed to take from others when they bring you, because shame is a sign of pride. And when you have something extra, give it to someone who doesn’t have it. God wants His children to build their salvation in this way. That is why the apostle writes to the Corinthians about those who have suffered a lack: “…so that this time your excess may cover their lack, and their excess may someday cover your lack, and in such a way that equality reigns, as it is written: “Whoever gathered much did not have excess, and he who had little did not lack” (2 Cor. 8, 14-15). Therefore, having everything that is needed for the present time, not worry about the coming time, not about a single day, or a week, or a month. When it comes, it will give you everything you need, if you seek first the Kingdom of God and the truth of God: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and its justice, and all the rest will be added to you” (Mt. 6, 33). you will not be able to worry about yourself. But think that spiritual peace is better than physical peace. It is not our business, but take care of yourself do not like to live with people who love things and hold evil against others. Live either yourself or with brothers who do not love things and hold evil with you. He who lives with people who love things and hold evil against others will himself learn their evils and begin to serve men’s orders and vain talks and all other evils: anger, sorrow, frantic deeds, petitions about parents and friendship with relatives13 – see that they do not lead you away from the good. Because of this, avoid frequent conversations, so that they do not take away your cell silence and lead to their trouble: “Follow me,” said the Lord, “and remain dead to bury your dead” (Mt. 8, 22). do everything, do everything so that you can be silent and carefree, and try to be in the will of God and in the battle with the unseen.Be like a good merchant who tries everything for the sake of silence and in every way keeps himself in silence and need. However, I tell you, love a foreign country. It will free you from the temptations that await you in your country and enable you to enjoy the benefits of silence. Avoid city life and patiently endure life in the desert. This is what Saint David says about this: “Behold, I went away, fleeing, and was in the wilderness” (Ps. 54, 8). If possible, don’t go into the city at all. There is nothing good, nothing necessary, nothing useful for your speechless life. “I saw,” says the same saint, “lawlessness and competition in the city” (Ps. 54, 10). So look for silent and secluded places. Do not be afraid of their voice, even if you see devilish ghosts there, do not be afraid and do not run away from a place that is useful for you. Fearlessly endure and you will see the great works of God, intercession, fishing and other assurances of salvation. “I waited,” says that blessed man, “for the one who saves me from lightheartedness and the storm” (Ps. 54, 9). “For the charm of evil darkens the good, and the whirlwind of desire changes the unfaithful mind” (Mud. 4, 12). That is why there are many temptations. Fear sin and be firm in your cell. When you have friends, avoid frequent conversations with them. It will be useful for you to talk to them often. And when you understand the harm from these conversations, you will not approach them at all. You like to have friends who contribute to your life. Avoid conversing with wicked and angry people and do not live with any of them, and do not accept their evil counsels, for they are not attached to God and do not abide in Him. Let peaceful men, spiritual brothers, holy men be your friends. This is how the Lord calls them, saying: “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister and mother” (Mr. 3, 35). Do not dwell with those who worry incessantly, and do not go to feasts with them, lest they draw you to their temptations and tear you away from the art of silence,

13 Here we are talking about excessive and vain requests, or, as it is said here, such that lead a person from the path of virtue; because we know what the apostle commanded, see 1 Tm. 5, 4.8. бо така пристрасть є в них. “My eyes,” says David, “I turn to the faithful on earth, to plant them with me” (Ps. 100, 6). When someone who lives by God’s love comes to you and calls you to eat with him, then go if you want, but immediately return to your cell. If it is possible, apart from this time, always spend the night in your cell, so that the grace of silence will always be with you and the cell rule will be carried out without hindrance. Do not desire delicious food and all kinds of luxuries, because the apostle says: “Whoever [a widow] luxuries, has died alive” (1 Tim. 5, 6). Do not fill your stomach with rich foods, so that you do not want them and you do not start looking for them. Because it is said: “Do not be tempted by the satiety of the belly” (see Sir. 31, 19). When you are often invited somewhere, refuse, because it is not useful for you to be often outside your cell. Such a stay takes away grace, darkens thought, dries up desire. Look at the vessel with wine: when the wine stands in one place and is not touched, it settles, becomes strong and fragrant; when it is carried back and forth, it becomes cloudy and unusable, because sediment rises from the bottom. Compare yourself with him and hurry to save what is useful for you. Avoid the gathering of many people so that thoughts do not enter your mind and cloud your speechlessness. Take care of your handiwork and work on it, if possible, day and night, “so as not to trouble anyone” (2 Thess. 3, 8), as the apostle says, and also to give to someone, and thereby you will kill the spirit of despondency and all hostile lusts, because the spirit of despondency is added to idleness. “The soul of a lazy person craves,” says the wise Solomon (Prov. 13, 4). When you give or receive, you cannot avoid sin, therefore, when you sell or buy something, suffer minor losses, so that, setting a price due to selfishness, you do not suffer mental damage and do not start arguing, break an oath, do not keep your word and thus do not dishonor and shame an honest person the dignity of one’s will. Reasoning in this way, beware of giving and receiving. When you choose what is best, and this is possible for you, you will transfer your troubles to some faithful husband, so that, remaining like this with a calm soul, you will have good and joyful hopes. The silent way of life prompts you to teach like this. I will explain to you what should be stored in it, and you listen to me and do as I command you. Sitting or in your cell, collect your mind, remember the day of death, seeing the deadness of the body at that time, think about the suffering, accept the work, know the bustle of this world, and meekness, and vigilance, so that you can be in silence and not faint. Remember the current state in hell, think about how hard it is for the soul, in what bitter silence it is in, or in what fierce groans, in what fear and suffering, in what waiting for endless mental pain and endless tears. Remember the day of resurrection and appearance before God.Think about the terrible and terrible judgment, remember what awaits sinners there – shame before God and His Christ, angels, archangels, authorities and all people, and all torments, eternal fire, immortal worm, tartar, darkness, besides all this, gnashing of teeth, fears and other torments. Remember the benefits prepared for the righteous: boldness to God the Father and His Christ, angels, archangels, authorities before all people, the Kingdom and its gifts, joy and pleasure. Remember the first and the second. Thinking about the judgment of sinners, complain, cry, sigh, fearing that you will not find yourself in such a situation. Thinking about the benefits prepared for the righteous, rejoice, rejoice and triumph and hasten to enjoy these and alienate yourself from the previous ones. Take heed that you do not forget these things at times, or when you are silent in your cell or somewhere else, remember these things constantly and thanks to them you will avoid impure and harmful thoughts. Fast before the Lord as much as you can. Fasting cleanses your iniquities and sins, adds honor to the soul, sanctifies the mind, drives away demons, arranges your stay with God. When you eat once a day, do not wish for a second time, lest you have great benefits and do not disturb your wisdom. Then you will be able to generously do good deeds and mortify the passions of your body. When other brothers come to you and you have to eat a second and a third time, do not be sad and do not sigh, but on the contrary, rejoice, show obedience in need and eat a second and a third time and thank God that you have fulfilled the law of love, and God himself will take care of what is useful for you. It happens that you have to eat twice or thrice or more because of physical weakness – do not let your thoughts be saddened by this. Even if we are unable to complete all the bodily labors of our life, we must give way to some of them in order to recover and return to the previous labors. As for abstaining from food, God’s Word did not forbid any food. The Lord said: “Everything that moves and lives will be for you to eat, as I have given you all green plants” (Gen. 9, 3). And also: “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person” (Mt. 15, 11). Refusal of food is a work of our desire and mental effort. Endure with love the vigil and lying on the ground and all other patience, contemplating the glory that will be revealed to you with all the saints. “The sufferings of the present time,” says the apostle, “are unworthy of the future glory that shall appear to us” (Rom. 8, 18). When you are sad, pray as it is written, pray with fear and trembling, with pain, persevering and alert. This is how we like to pray especially because of our evil enemies. For when they see us standing at prayer, then they also diligently search for us, placing in our mind such things that we do not like to mention at prayer or think about them, so that they do not capture our mind and make our prayers and supplications empty and vain. Truly vain and useless is prayer, requests and supplications, when they are not performed as it pleases, with fear and trembling, your reso and cheerfulness.If someone comes to the king and asks for something with fear and trepidation, and prudently, then perhaps with greater fear and trepidation it pleases us to stand before God, the Lord of all, and Christ, before the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, and also offer a prayer and request. For to Him the whole multitude and face of angels, serving with fear and glorifying with trepidation, send forth an endless song, with His eternal Father and the all-holy and co-existent Spirit, now and always and to the ages of ages. Amen.