Father Arseny loved Holy Mount Athos with all his heart, but the Lord judged the elder to live most of his life in Russia and die in Moscow.
In 1862, the Athonite elders blessed him to travel across Russia to raise funds for the monastery. From that time on, the elder would reside in Russia, where he would build a chapel in Moscow dedicated to the holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon and establish and develop the Mount Athos publishing house.
In Moscow, in the church of the Epiphany Monastery, and then in the Athos chapel itself, the elder had many spiritual children, and even more for whom he prayed.
The elder's peaceful and loving expression involuntarily infused spiritual warmth into the heart of the grieving one. Usually silent, Father Arseny, when needed, poured forth a rich stream of spiritual discourse. His speech was powerful, both based on the spiritual experience of the divinely wise Fathers of the Church and their writings, and informed by his own experience.
Elder Arseny was able to immediately recognize a person who came to him for spiritual help, and therefore to impart to each the necessary spiritual medicine.
During confession, his entire being seemed to be transformed - his face glowed with unearthly holiness and tenderness, and his inspired lips with heavenly joy uttered the gracious forgiveness of sins.
The elder seemed to be glowing with heavenly grace, and during his prayer of absolution one felt such inexpressible joy that words cannot describe it.
Father Arseny's humility was astonishing. He always considered himself the worst of sinners. The elder was troubled by the fact that, amidst his various activities, far from holy Mount Athos, he could not fully observe its monastic rule—and he strove to compensate for this violation of the rule with deeds of Christian love.
The enormous sums of money given to the elder by his wealthy admirers were immediately distributed among the needy, the poor, and those who had suffered misfortune. Not a single public institution could function without the active participation of Elder Arseny—his donations went to Russia, Japan, Altai, and Kuldzha.
Much was done by the elder and the brethren of the Athos chapel for our fellow tribesmen and co-religionists during the years of the Russo-Turkish War for the liberation of the Slavs from foreign oppression.
The elder became a member of the Red Cross Society, which cared for wounded and sick soldiers and set up hospitals.
“The Lord will not take care of us until we take care of others,” said Elder Arseny.
After the Athonite chapel was built and consecrated in Moscow, Father Arseny asked the Athonite elders to relieve him of his obedience to serve at the chapel and allow him to return to Holy Athos, for which his soul constantly yearned, especially as his sight and legs began to weaken. But the Lord, who knows "those who are His," decreed otherwise. The Athonite elders not only did not relieve him of his obedience to the chapel, but gave him another, even more difficult obedience: to find a place in the Caucasus where a monastic community could be established, serving as a kind of new planting of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery.
Elder Arseny, with his usual fervor and energy, set about his new task. He soon found a suitable site for a monastery in Abkhazia near Sukhumi. The New Athos Monastery of Simon the Canaanite was subsequently established there. Elder Arseny was intended by the Athonite elders to be the abbot of the new monastery, but the Russo-Turkish War halted the work.
In early autumn 1879, Elder Arseny, walking through the streets of St. Petersburg, accidentally tripped, fell, and bruised his leg. His leg became so painful that, on the advice of a doctor, he was forced to remain in his cell for quite some time and then seek treatment in Moscow. But barely had the pain subsided when the elder contracted acute pneumonia and was forced to confine himself to his bed. At that moment, Father Arseny realized that the Lord was calling him to Himself. The elder hastened to inform the Athonite elders and ask their final forgiveness and blessing.
During his illness, he repeatedly received the Holy Mysteries of Christ and only regretted that the Lord had not judged him to accept the schema.
On November 17, a prayer service was held for him at the departure of his soul, and around two o'clock in the afternoon, Elder Arseny peacefully reposed in the Lord. Father Arseny was buried in the monastery cemetery of the Moscow Alekseevsky Monastery. During the Soviet era, a pioneer park was established on the site of the cemetery. The fate of the grave is unknown.
Spiritual guidance
◊ Both orally and in writing, the elder always instilled in people to love God with boundless love, with all their heart, with all their soul, with all the powers of their being, so as not to give half of their heart to God and the other half to the world, but to surrender themselves entirely to the Lord and His holy will.
The teaching on grace-filled humility, patience, and the wise bearing of the cross was the elder's favorite discourse. He always said, "Thank the Lord for sorrows even more than for joys, for sorrows are the soul's betrothal pledge to the Lord; they are the most precious gift of the Savior crucified for us, left as an inheritance and blessing to His beloved disciples, the apostles, the martyrs, and all the holy ascetics. Without sorrows you will not enter Paradise."
And all this was expressed with such sympathy, with such warmth of Gospel love for the one suffering from sorrow, that one would like to suffer even more, just to be worthy of such consolations.
◊ The elder said that guardian angels retreat from those who dance passionately.
"You are bored by the solitude of life, the constraint of freedom, and when they confine you to the grave, will you not be even more constrained?" the elder said. "But know that all who live joyfully here, walking the broad path, will, upon their departure for eternity, find themselves in greater confinement, in greater misery, in sorrow—and this sorrow will have no end. Those who are deprived of freedom here, or who deprive themselves of freedom for God's sake, will there find themselves in great expanse, in great and endless joy."
◊ “The human race,” said the elder, “as much as it succeeds in inventions, discoveries and other affairs of this age, it becomes duller in its concepts of spiritual life.
“Man has entangled himself in various capricious desires, like nets, and he will not be freed from them until his death.”
◊ In order for the saving fear of God to be established in us, we must make it an absolute rule to devote a few minutes daily, at a time determined by us, to a conversation with the soul, in order to constantly monitor ourselves and examine our lives.
◊ The earthly life of the Author of our life, His Most Pure Mother, His holy disciples and apostles, martyrs, saints and all who pleased God was deprived of earthly consolations; from this it is obvious that we were not created in this life for the enjoyment of it.
An example of this is the rich man mentioned in the Holy Gospel, who rejoiced brightly all day (see Luke 16:19 ) and descended into hell. And another rich man in the Gospel, who said to his soul, "You have much good stuff laid up for many years, take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry" ( Luke 12:19 ), was struck dead that same night. This is why the Lord said that the rich will hardly enter the Kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 19:23 ). The rich will only be saved if he generously gives to the poor, who are wasting away from hunger and cold, of whom there are always and everywhere many.
◊ He who truly cares for his soul cannot keep wealth to himself; it will constantly trouble his conscience that, although he has the opportunity to help many poor people, he does not do so, limiting himself to benefits that are insignificant in relation to his wealth.
◊ The thirst for wealth is an insatiable thirst, for we often see that the richer people become, the stingier they become...
A rich man who increases his wealth is like a man who has an unquenchable thirst.
◊ We are like people standing on the seashore and throwing gold into it - this is the most precious time given to us for the salvation of the soul; time will pass, we will look for it, but we will no longer find it.
◊ If you despise everything worldly, you will be more precious than the whole world.
Looking at the vanity of this world, one is struck by the thought: what great care people have for their temporary life, so many worries, enterprises, and plans, what tireless activity, tirelessness in labor, and patience in achieving their goals! And all this is done for the sake of a short earthly life. All of this has its main drivers: self-love, avarice, and ambition. These three giants hold together the entire sinful world.
Your sinful body, which you so pamper, adorn, and for whose well-being you devote every care, do you think that it will one day be food for worms, and the better it is, the more abundantly it will serve them? Has it ever occurred to you that all who now so desire to be close to you will one day be far from you? The stench of your body will drive them away. Reflect on all this and worry less about your mortal body and more about your immortal soul.
Our Guardian Angel rejoices over nothing more than when we perform good deeds—deeds of mercy and love for our neighbors—for only by such deeds can we be justified at God's judgment. There we will fully see how precious and saving good deeds are; our soul will rejoice over every good deed done in this short life.
◊ The money-lover has no peace of mind; day and night he is preoccupied with thoughts of increasing his wealth, he fears loss, and when circumstances deprive him of even the smallest portion, he suffers inexpressibly and finds no peace, tormented by an evil passion, of which St. Chrysostom rightly said: "The disease of love of money is cruel." And at the judgment of God, money-lovers will be judged as idolaters, for they worshiped a golden calf instead of God.
Ambition is also an insatiable passion. The more honored a person is, the more he desires to possess it. When he sees someone superior, he is consumed by envy and tormented, as if he were being wounded. Upon passing from this temporal to eternal life, he inherits endless torment, as someone alien to God and His Holy Gospel, as a zealous executor of the will of his teacher, the proud devil.
Other gross passions produce the same painful consequences: gluttony, drunkenness, lust, and so on.
For short-term pleasures, a person prepares for himself the saddest future, premature old age and early death, and then eternal condemnation.
Despite such disastrous consequences arising from passions, people of this century, unfortunately, have enslaved themselves to them: everyone has their own tormentor, from whom it is possible to get rid of nothing other than heartfelt prayer to the Lord, sincere repentance and then complete abandonment of sinful habits.
◊ A lustful throat and an insatiable belly are a wall between God and man.
◊ At the beginning of every good deed there comes an obstacle; overcome it, joyfully enduring what happens and desiring more.
◊ A man who lives piously – how calm he is, how well-ordered everything is for him; but those who spend their lives in passions are always in confusion.
◊ For those living in a hectic world, the most essential thing is to have the fear of God, which quenches all sinful passions, habits, and desires. The fear of God is acquired through fervent prayer to God and frequent reflection on the separation of the soul from the body and the future fate inevitable for every earthly being.
◊ It often happens that you see an insect caught in a spider's web; no matter how hard it tries to extricate itself, the poor thing cannot. This is an exact analogy to the human soul ensnared by the devil . It cannot free itself from the net of sin by its own efforts, but if it cries out to the Lord with all its heart, He will deliver it.
A baby just beginning to crawl has neither strength nor intelligence, and cannot even serve itself in any way. Yet, in all its needs, it turns to its parents and is guided in everything by their wishes, neither objecting nor contradicting them, and hastening to fulfill what it understands. This is the precise image of a person beginning the salvation of their soul. On its own, it can neither do anything nor judge correctly; it believes that, relying on its own reason, it is easy to err on the path to salvation. Therefore, seeing its impotence, it asks for God's help and guidance from above in everything, and imitates infant simplicity, obedience, meekness, and kindness. "Unless you become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven," said the Lord ( Matthew 18:3 ).
"Without Me you can do nothing," said the Lord ( John 15:5 ). In every good undertaking, we must ask for God's help and blessing, for without His help we can do nothing. Therefore, we must attribute all the good we do to God, and He will attribute it all to us on the day of His judgment. But if we attribute any good we have done to ourselves, to our labors and efforts, then instead of a reward we will receive condemnation, as is clearly depicted in the parable of the Pharisee: he boasted of his virtues and thereby lost them. We must remember what is said in the Gospel: "If ye have done all that is commanded you, say, 'We are useless servants.'"
When sorrow touches us, and we imagine ourselves bearing a heavy cross, let us recall the sorrows of the only-begotten Son of God, who committed not a single sin; His terrible agony and languor before His death in the Garden of Gethsemane; His prayers, to the point of bloody sweat; and finally, after countless insults and torments, His shameful crucifixion. If we truly experience all this, we will see how insignificant all our sorrows seem in comparison to the sorrows of the God-man, endured for our salvation. But we, ungrateful and hardened, regard the Blood of Christ as nothing; we look only at our own sorrows, which stem from our sins, and in our foolishness we sometimes even grumble against God, whereas these sorrows are salvific, for by them we are cleansed from our sins.
Sorrows are greater than virtues, and illnesses are greater than sorrows, and they are harder to bear than sorrows. Crowns for sorrows and illnesses are brighter than those for virtues.
◊ The sorrows of this age are the blows of the vine, inflicted by the hand of a wise mother.
◊ Accept every sorrow and hardship with gratitude and joy, as a dear guest, and your sorrow will be easy for you, and even its continuation will be desirable while reflecting on the benefit.
He who endures voluntary sorrows is freed from grievous involuntary sorrows. The former feat is greater, for it is of self-will.
When you approach someone higher than you with a request, you consider how to present your request so that it will be favorably received. As you approach the King of kings—the Lord—in prayer, consider who you are and who is the One before whom you are preparing to appear.
During prayer, all earthly things should seem to be nonexistent for you, but if vain thoughts invade against your will, you will not be held accountable for this; in the name of Christ, drive away this demonic invasion from yourself and you will be rewarded for your struggle.
If you hold a grudge against someone when you pray, your prayer is in vain. Do you not say daily, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors?" How can you hope for forgiveness when you yourself do not forgive?
◊ The spirit of humility, submission, and devotion to the will of God attracts God’s favor to the one who prays: “To whom will I look, but to him who is meek and humble, and trembles at My words” ( Is. 66:2 ).
Do not weaken in prayer even if you do not see your requests fulfilled. The Lord sometimes delays in fulfilling even our beneficial requests, so that we may continue our petitionary prayers, thereby demonstrating greater hope in His mercy, further cleansing our hearts from gross vices, and thereby becoming more worthy of His mercy.
◊ If a sinner prays to God without repentance and the desire to leave his sins, then his prayer will not be heard.
◊ One monk was being tormented by the enemy before beginning his prayer rule: he would shiver and feverishly ache, and he would almost die. What did he do? "Well," he said, "my soul, the time has come to die; let us pray one last time and weep before the Lord." He began to pray and forced himself. His head was pounding, but he continued. He finished his prayer rule, and the pain passed. The next day, the same thing happened again. Then the God-loving monk realized it was the enemy's doing, and he never abandoned his prayer rule again, no matter what distracted him.
◊ Lightning Rod. If you ever (which sadly often happens) become angry with someone, remember that the devil is the mastermind of all evil ; he sows discord among people. Instead of being angry at your neighbor, direct your anger at the one who is the main cause of all evil. Man is often a blind instrument of the spirit of malice, and therefore deserves leniency and pity.
◊ Being angry and irritable is nothing more than punishing yourself for other people’s stupidity.
◊ Our passions are like a flame that is poorly extinguished – they can always flare up and even cause a fire.
Let us struggle with ourselves, lest anger tyrannize over us and lust dominate us. Be always ready to say with the holy apostle: "I mortify my body and bring it into subjection."
We hear that today this one has died, tomorrow another, and the day after, perhaps, rumor will spread of the death of one of us, yet we live as if we will not die. Why such carelessness? Without a doubt, from our infatuation with the world and its vanity, which consumes our entire life, taking possession of our minds, hearts, and our entire being. We, like captives of sin, diligently labor for it, fulfilling its will; sin reigns within us, its effects are tormenting: the lover of money suffers from envy that others have more, or from fear of losing their idol; the ambitious person suffers, seeing others in greater honor than he; the voluptuary suffers, having lost his health from immoderate enjoyment of life's blessings; and thus all the slaves of sin suffer in this temporary life, and will suffer eternally beyond the grave, unless they bring true repentance.
◊ Every hour, every minute is precious, because they are given in account, and an account will be required for them.
Seize the minutes to catch the years and not miss the whole life.
When preparing to travel somewhere, especially a long distance, we meticulously prepare everything necessary for the journey, trying to foresee and not forget anything necessary either on the way or at our destination. But does the thought ever occur to you that perhaps the Creator will unexpectedly command your soul to be separated from your body and transferred to the next world, to the land of eternity, from which you will never return to your home? Do you even think about this distant journey? And that it might come today or tomorrow—don't you daily see those who, like you, have lived carefree, fussed, worried about everything except what truly needed to be taken care of? And now they are no more, just as you and I will not be here today or tomorrow. We are all strangers in this world.
When you are separated from your body, you will regret that you had so much concern for things that will not bring you any benefit.
Let us prepare ourselves for death every day, then we will not be angry with anyone, we will not be carried away by lust for anyone, and we will not desire anything earthly, for strong fear and apprehension of torment destroy the pleasantness of pleasure and restore the falling soul.
Is the future life so insignificant in your opinion that you think little or nothing about it? Come to your senses, you stand on the brink of an abyss. Abandon this insane attachment to earthly things. With your last breath, all earthly things will cease to exist for you; earthly blessings, like phantoms, will vanish.
Why are we so reluctant to philosophize about heavenly things? Why do the Savior's words seem harsh to many of us? It's because we're unwilling to self-deny ourselves, unwilling to labor, and thinking we can be saved without much effort. But God's word says otherwise: "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." In what should we force ourselves? In many things, or almost in everything, for we are bound hand and foot by sin, like Lazarus by his coverings.
◊ It is necessary to devote at least a little time daily to conversing with one's soul, reflecting on the fact that the hour of our departure from this life is hidden from us by the Lord so that we may be hourly prepared to stand before God's judgment. Do not put off your salvation until tomorrow, for tomorrow may already be too late.
It is edifying and salutary for the soul to mentally review the past year: how we spent it, what changes occurred in our lives, whether we have become better, whether we have succeeded in deeds of piety. It is comforting to see in ourselves a correction of life, an increase in love for God and neighbors, progress in humility, abstinence, and other virtues. If, however, we have entered the new year with the same shortcomings as before, with the same coldness toward God and the work of our salvation in general, then let us grieve and grieve in soul over this, let us more earnestly ask the all-good God to strengthen us henceforth in all that is favorable to Him and salutary for us, let us more often remind ourselves of the words of the Gospel: What is a man profited if he gains the whole world, but does not save his soul?
Our life is very short; we must make the most of it by succeeding in doing good deeds, for they will appear with us at God's judgment as our justification. We must constantly remember that we are strangers and pilgrims here, but our true homeland is in heaven. We must strive there in our thoughts; there, unspeakable bliss is prepared for those who love the Lord and fulfill His holy will. Our life is short. Let us cherish every day, every hour, so that they may be spent profitably. We stand as if in a marketplace; we must succeed in acquiring heavenly blessings; and when the marketplace closes, then what each has managed to acquire will remain with him. This is clearly depicted in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
We must be attentive and reverent to the ways of God's providence, through which our minds are illuminated by the light of truth, according to the Lord's words: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" ( John 14:6 ). Not everything in Holy Scripture is revealed to man, due to the limitations of his mind. Man will receive fuller insight upon his passage into eternity. In this present life, man is revealed as much as he can comprehend and as much as is necessary for him, according to God's providence, for this life in which he lives by faith. He stands on faith as on an unshakable foundation.
◊ All virtues are pleasing to the Lord, but mercy is above all, for it brought the Lord down from heaven to earth, and it alone is so strong that it can raise us from earth to heaven.
◊ "Blessed is he who considers the poor and needy; in the evil day the Lord will deliver him" ( Ps. 40:2 ), says the Divine Psalmist. "In the evil day," that is, on the day of God's terrible universal judgment, only the merciful will be deemed worthy of God's mercy. The Lord, who attributes to Himself the good deeds shown to others, will say to them: "I was an hungred, and you gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink... inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Blessed are those who will be deemed worthy to hear these sweet words of the Savior.
◊ What we sow in this life, we will reap in the next. There we will fully understand how beneficial and precious good deeds are, for only they can bring us eternal bliss. As we often see in this world: some have great wealth, but care nothing for good deeds, and thus live their lives only for their own pleasure. Such people will hear there: "Son, remember how you received good things in your life" ( Luke 16:25 ). For temporary pleasures, they will be deprived of eternal bliss. The Lord called the merciful blessed, heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, for He Himself is most merciful. He who is merciful imitates the Lord and will be deemed worthy to dwell in unspeakable joy with Him and all who have pleased Him.
Blessed are those who heed the word of God and care for what is most needed—that is, heavenly things, for everything earthly is vain, fragile, and unreliable. We must think more and more often about eternal life, which is inevitable for none of us. Therein lies true wealth, the multiplication of which we must strive day and night.
◊ Remembrance is most necessary for the souls of those departed in the Lord. In vain do some erect expensive monuments—they bring not the slightest benefit. Remembrance and almsgiving are the two wings upon which the soul ascends to the Lord.
◊ For those who died suddenly and were not granted Christian guidance, it is necessary to strengthen prayers, both in church and at home, and, if possible, give alms, which will make up for their shortage, according to the boundless mercy of God.
When studying any art, we apply all our diligence and attention to precisely fulfilling all that the task demands, and thus achieve our goal. The salvation of the soul is the art of arts, as the Holy Fathers said, but how careless, inattentive, and careless we are in a matter that incomparably surpasses all our earthly vanities, a matter that constitutes the essence of our earthly existence, a matter that has a direct and complete influence on the afterlife that awaits us, a life without end!
Why such carelessness and negligence in this most important matter, which concerns each of us personally? There are many reasons, but the main one is self-love, self-indulgence in all its forms. It inevitably gives rise to: lack of faith, fearlessness, and a coldness toward the future, which is considered something distant from us, as if it barely touches us. Thus, by failing to strive for salvation, we become increasingly drawn into sin, eventually becoming its captives. Saint Demetrius of Rostov said of such people that "many in living bodies, as in tombs, have dead souls."
It goes without saying that in all of this, the leader, helper, and mastermind is the spirit of evil, eternally thirsting to devour human souls. From God's word and life's experiences, man cannot help but recognize his fierce enemy "crouching in search," but this knowledge is obscured and concealed by the action of the same spirit of evil, in order to lull man to sleep and thus more surely bring about his destruction.
How can we be saved, how can we escape the devil's terrible entrapment? We must revive our souls, awaken them from their deadly slumber, change our way of life, and cut off carnal indulgence, as it is said: "He who loves his life will lose it" ( John 12:25 ). And also: "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" ( Matthew 11:12 ).
◊ Every hour, even every minute, a person is in danger of sudden death, which will instantly cut short the path of his earthly life; it would seem that our entire earthly life should pass in this fear, but people, completely immersed in worldly vanities, have even forgotten that they are mortal, that they have been given an immortal soul, they live only an animal life, according to the words of the psalmist: "I am joined to the senseless beasts and become like them" ( Psalm 48:13 ).
◊ Self-love and the devil's actions are the two main obstacles on the path to salvation; few are freed from them.
◊ If some country, even a distant one, were to open up, where those who wished could go for several years of difficult work, associated with all sorts of deprivations, but having worked, would return with millions, without a doubt, the whole world would flow there!
The Lord has prepared for humanity not the perishable millions, but endless bliss, but people, seduced by the vain goods of this world, respond to the Lord's call: "Have me denied" ( Luke 14:18 ). And the Lord will say to them: "I do not know you; depart from Me , all you who practice lawlessness" ( Matt. 7:23 ).
◊ Attachment to anything earthly attracts God's wrath. Take heed, therefore, how carefully you walk.
◊ As a person detaches himself from the earthly, peace and quiet settle in his soul.
◊ If a man's heart is attached to the vain things of this age, then he is no longer a slave of God, but a slave of the world, and will be condemned together with it.
◊ People of this age are constantly chasing after happiness, but it is like a treasure that is not given to them; they are like thirsty people drinking salt water, because instead of moderating their vain desires, they expand them.
◊ Do not exalt yourself, do not present yourself as something in your opinion and in the opinion of many, but be among others subject to fall, mistakes and various weaknesses, otherwise the horns of vanity will grow.
The main labor of true asceticism consists in the abasement of one's ego. Obedience is higher than asceticism. This is why it is said: "He who insists on his own opinion, or whoever wants to gain the upper hand in a conversation, let him know that he is suffering from a devilish disease." Similarly, he who considers himself wiser than others is like this. If you have reason, do not claim it for yourself, otherwise it will come from you out of ingratitude.
◊ Look for an opportunity to blame yourself everywhere. Don't rest until the Lord calms you, otherwise you'll be robbed.
◊ There are millions of people who love the world, but there are only a few who love God, and the whole world is unworthy of them.
◊ Be a slave and servant to everyone, imitating the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let all your care be to please Him who loves you. Imagine Him always looking upon you and observing the movements of your soul. Walk before His face. Strive to practice self-control, humility, and every virtue, so as to be worthy of His love.
Obedience is spiritual martyrdom; the severing of the will is tantamount to the amputation of limbs. This explains the demonic incessant temptation to sway the novice. He who maintains obedience to his spiritual fathers until the end of his life will undoubtedly stand at the right hand of the Crucified One. Obedience will cover his weaknesses.
◊ We must look at everything worldly and earthly with coldness, asking ourselves: is it according to God?
If you have set your heart on anything earthly, you are caught. The fisherman strives only to divert your mind and heart from God.
◊ The most necessary thing is: unceasing prayer, both during meals and tea, and unceasing remembrance of the hour of death.
◊ Inner work is the key to everything. God protects you at every step, and you?
◊ The path to enlightenment of sinful darkness:
“Without Me you can do nothing...” ( John 15:5 )
Renunciation of one's will, mind and heart.
Complete surrender to the will of God.
“The mouth of a confessor is the mouth of God.”
Obedience to the brethren, love, indulgence, non-judgment of anyone.
Fasting and prayer.
Patience with gratitude for everything you find: boredom, melancholy, illness.
◊ Every morning, after praying to God, think about your life, your end, what lies before you today, and most importantly – about the obscurity of your final hour. All this takes half an hour.
When eating and drinking, give thanks to God, for many who are deprived of these things suffer. After finishing your meal, give thanks for the day's work. A quarter of an hour for this and other things. After drinking tea, give thanks for the day's work and other things. When going to bed, give yourself an account of the entire day. The bed is a coffin, the cassock is a robe of death, the blanket is a covering.
◊ Spiritual life requires: solitude, silence, compassion, silence, introspection, self-denial, renunciation of worldly vanities and consolations.
Not everyone is given this. "He who is able to receive it, let him receive it." "He who knows how to do good and does not do it, for him it is sin."
Living in the world, one cannot help but care for the necessities of life; but these concerns should be secondary, without the heart being drawn to them, and with complete devotion to the will of God. Saint Cassian calls excessive cares for worldly matters "deadly."
You surround yourself with the comforts of life, you provide for the future, but you do not know and do not think that, perhaps, in the midst of your vain activity, the hour of death will suddenly come upon you, you do not remember what was said: in what I find you, in that I will judge you.
If you were invited to a joyful feast and told that at the end you would be shackled hand and foot and brought to trial, would you go, despite all its delights? Isn't this exactly what the parable of the rich man, who lived a life of luxury and was cast into eternal fire for it? For the fleeting pleasures of the body...
◊ Look at money and everything earthly as a breath of wind and as the devil’s nets (the latter is even more true).
◊ The day he didn’t hang on the cross, he didn’t go far.
◊ When you are angry, insist on your will, or unlawfully enjoy something, then the demon, having bridled you, dances around you in triumph, and the guardian angel, having given in, moves away.
What business is it of yours to judge anyone? Remember the harlot! If your thoughts prompt you to judge someone, blame yourself, and the tempter will be caught in his net.
You yourself can't stand words, but you brazenly insult others without even looking into the matter. That's what a humble person is!
◊ The more strictly and impartially someone judges his own affairs, the more lenient, but at the same time more accurate is his judgment of the affairs of others.
◊ The beginning of abstinence is the cutting off of thoughts and a pre-established order (but all this will not stand without the invocation of the name of God), and also during meals or tea, inner prayer; it will not allow excess.
You should call upon the Queen of Heaven for help more often. Know and be aware that you, little lamb, have come out to fight the monster—Mammon—or you face a scorching journey across rocks with five-pound weights on your hands and feet; what can you do on your own?
You overeat and drink, while how many thousands of young children and old people are dying of hunger at this time, without a piece of rotten bread. You dress elegantly, sit in a richly furnished room, and are served; but how many are destitute, with nowhere to lay their heads, perishing from cold, hunger, and disease.
Remember how the Queen of Heaven saved you. If it weren't for Her, where would you be now? Always pray and ask Her to be your teacher. This is your only salvation.
◊ In every matter, ask yourself: does it serve for salvation?
The best remedy against gluttony is to abstain even from bread, so that you leave the meal not completely full. Then you will no longer desire better food, but will be content with the simplest, so long as it satisfies your stomach. By constantly keeping it less than completely sated, you will become accustomed, with God's help, to both moderation and indiscriminate eating.
Source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Zhitija_svjatykh/velikie-russkie-startsy/31