Optina Elders - Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina

LIVING WITHOUT
HYPOCRISY

Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina

Archimandrite George (Schaefer), translator

Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev
Holy Trinity Monastery
Jordanville, N. Y.
2009

Printed with the blessing of Metropolitan Laurus First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Originally published in Russian by the Holy-Entrance Monastery of Optina Hermitage

ISBN 978-0-88465-092-8

One must unhypocritically live, and to all an example give; then will our work be sure, otherwise it will turn out poor.

St. Ambrose

O ne must treat holy books and holy objects with reverence. Above all, one must have fear of God, for it teaches reverence, and it teaches everything good. Careless and irreverent treatment of holy things is a result of habit. This must not happen.

St. Nikon

Perform every work attentively, no matter how unimportant it may seem, as if being done before the face of God. Remember that the Lord sees everything.

St. Nikon

T he action of grace never leads anyone to despair, but grants the gift of tenderness, joy, long-suffering and spiritual peace.

St. Leo

G ratitude in a Christian is such a great thing that, along with love, it accompanies him into the future life, where he will celebrate with them the eternal Pascha.

St. Ambrose

It is disastrous to endlessly grieve and unnecessarily castigate oneself, for we must in all ways thank the Lord for all things, for those punishments with which He may have chastised us in this world.

St. Leo

We must give thanks for all things to the Lord, Who has rightly given us difficulties that we may learn patience, which is more beneficial than comforts, and ennobles the soul.

St. Moses

T hat which is done with a blessing is greatly pleasing to God, so let us live that every small step of ours is blessed.

St. Anthony

One should not do anything without a blessing. If lay people seek the advice of a more experienced person in matters that are more or less important, all the more must a monk remain in obedience.

St. Barsanuphius

T here are various degrees of blessedness, depending on the merits of each person: some will be with the Cherubim, others with the Seraphim, and so on, but let us be content to be numbered among the saved.

St. Barsanuphius

T he passion of lust wars against everyone, and at the toll-houses the demon of lust will boast before all the princes of darkness that he provided hell with more spoils than all the rest. Be patient, and implore Divine help!

St. Anatoly

W ealth consists not of many possessions, but of a good conscience, which, apart from corruptible wealth, already has its own rewards, for God is mighty and grants us what is needful.

St. Leo

The essence of wealth is not in material things, but what we have within ourselves. No matter how much you give a person, you will not satisfy him.

St. Anatoly

It is a mistake to think that wealth or abundance, or even sufficient means would be beneficial or reassuring. The rich worry even more than the poor and impoverished. Poverty and being in want are closer to humility and to salvation if only the one who is poor does not become fainthearted, but with faith and hope relies on the all-good Providence of God. Until this day the Lord has fed us, and He has the power to do so in the future.

St. Ambrose

Abundance and plenty spoil people. From fat, as they say, even animals go mad.

St. Ambrose

I f we strive to cleanse our hearts from the passions, then according to the amount that we have purified ourselves, Divine Grace will open the eyes of our hearts to the vision of the true Light; for as it is written, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt. 5:8), but only when we perfect ourselves through humility, for through humility the mysteries are revealed.

St. Macarius

The Lord will teach you His ways (Ps. 24:9). So it says in the psalm. God does teach man His ways, but only when that man is meek and humble. God teaches only such people.

St. Nikon

The story of Job is an example for every person. As long as a man is rich, famous, and content, God pays him no mind. When a man is on a dung heap, rejected by everyone, then God appears and converses with him, and the man in return cries out, Lord have mercy!

St. Nektary

W ithout the visible Holy Church, there could not be the Holy Mysteries of Christ, without which man could not inherit eternal life. Prayers during church services have so much power and significance that just the words, Lord, have mercy surpass all the spiritual exercises performed in ones cell. For this reason the Holy Fathers, while standing in church during divine services, imagined themselves standing before the very throne of God in heaven!

St. Anthony

How good it is to be in church to hear the holy prayers, the chanting, and the psalms! What depths are concealed in the psalms and other sacred prayers! Of course, the reader cannot grasp everything, but if just one thought makes an impression, that is good.

St. Nikon

It is a sin to spend time in idleness. To substitute church services and ones prayer rule with work is also a sin.

St. Ambrose

One should go to the morning services, because during the Divine Liturgy the Bloodless Sacrifice is offered to God on our behalf. By attending the morning services we in turn offer ourselves as a sacrifice to the Lord, we sacrifice our rest for Him.

St. Moses

Y our spirit should not grow weary, but should become warm from spiritual reading, from thoughts about eternity, and from prayer, even though it may be brief. Say to the Lord; Gather my scattered mind, O Lord and humble my hardened heart with fear of Thee, and have mercy on me! For without Divine help we are powerless; we cannot even deal with flies, much less invisible enemies.

St. Anthony

I n the depths of His unfathomable wisdom, the Lord does not always fulfill our petitions immediately, but puts them off for some time. However, He does not leave unrewarded anything good done in His name. If he does not reward the mother and father, then He generously rewards their children and descendants, for the Lord is righteous and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

St. Anthony

W e are visited by sicknesses and sorrows. This is an indication of Gods mercy towards us, For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. (Heb. 12:6), and so it is proper for us to thank the Lord for His fatherly Providence for us. Sorrows instruct us and make us skillful in our work, and likewise they, along with sickness, cleanse us of sins.