Hieromonk Eugene of Sarov (conclusion)
Here presented is the second and final letter of Hieromonk Mikail to Hieromonk Eugene.
Dearest in Christ brother and friend,
Merciful Reverend Father!
I sincerely rejoice thanking God that you are well and are satisfied with all necessities you have and that your mother Taisia is finding salvation in the Lord. The common way of thinking suggests that the old people should die first; yet, it happens often to see an old priest burying a young man. I think your mother would like to be buried by you, we both agree on that, yet, we do not know how the Lord will decide it. Let us entrust our lives to the mercy of Christ and His will.
It is quite comforting for me to hear from you that you are especially and indescribably pleased with your superiors, and that you do not desire any honors, and furthermore, do not even think about it and so on. That is a rarity nowadays, like a white crow. Do not have regrets about scholarly learning, that you did not have a chance to engage in it; instead, you may educate yourself in everything from the Holy Scriptures and become wise in piety – for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with treats, according to St. Apostle Paul (Heb. 13:9).
I do not know why you, while having the desire, feel hopeless about seeing me and talking about the Lord? Indeed, I am already old, weak and ill, incapable to ride, and not inclined to it at all; but you are not in that kind of state. If the occasion is favorable, if you wish, you can, after venerating Hierarch St. Dimitry along with Venerable Sergius, come to venerate the Moscow Miracle Workers[1]. Then, if I am alive, and if you wish, you will see me. In 1812[2] I was not far from you at Pechorsk Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod[3]. You could have seen me if you had the wish then. You were not in the sad state then that I was in – expelled unexpectedly at mid-day, with danger to my life, almost without any necessities, later on survived a fire, was robbed, not having a place to rest, in need of everything, not knowing what my fate would bring, to make matters worse it was the fall and the winter season, I lived in Nizhny Novgorod from September 28th till December 10th.
It is also unclear to me why your spiritual duty causes such confusion in you, and it is difficult and burdensome for you? The numbers are not that great it seems – about a hundred people. Parish priests have more. To say more, you must have compared to others almost ten years. Although, you have had thought and continue to think about quitting, yet you are afraid of Fr. Igumen (I would add the spiritual children as well, and most of all God) in order not to insult them by doing so. For now, I will not be able to meet you in person, I consider giving you this friendly advice out of love for you. God called you to this duty lawfully and rightly through the abbot and the brothers, with the personal blessing and approval of your bishop; and you, out of love to the Savior, Who said, “Feed my sheep [John 21:17]”, have agreed to it during ordination to priesthood and at the time you were chosen for it; therefore you must perform the duty as long as you have strength. Unless you have a lawful and valid reason not to. Brothers and sisters, each person, as a responsible one before God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them [cf. 1 Cor. 7:24]. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown [Apoc. 2:10]. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown [Apoc. 3:11]. Yet, you insist that one should acquire great holiness and wisdom for it, and as for you, you say that you know your shortcomings. Indeed, it is so! Any priestly duty requires this. When you agreed to be a priest of the Lord, you agreed then to take care about holiness and wisdom; and, without a doubt you can get them from God. Anything is possible for a person who believes and asks. Also, it is not true that greater holiness is required to be a confessor than is required to serve the liturgy. Since sometimes, according to the decision of a bishop, a priest is removed from serving liturgy, yet is allowed to remain a spiritual guide if he is skilled in that. On the other hand, sometimes the right to be a spiritual guide due to misuse is taken away, yet, one is allowed to serve liturgy. Yet, you again say that it is difficult and burdensome. True! Yet, it is not completely inconvenient and impossible.
However, great rewards happen to come for great deeds and labors, just try to serve in this capacity as is right before God. If thou dost return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth [Jer. 15:19]. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins [James 5:20]. These are the rewards! The grace of God, which always strengthens the weak and replenishes what is missing, will help you, as well as the advice of your elders and the decisive order of your bishop, from whom you may sometime, in case of downfalls of doubt, according to the rules of the church, demand instructions for yourself, while not mentioning any names. When your health declines completely, and you see yourself incapable of carrying your duty, seek another person for your position, who is not less or perhaps even more worthy and capable than you are. Then out of love for God and your neighbor with humility you may surrender it so that the flock of Christ would be guided better by your successor, and you spend your last days in attention to your own salvation only. However, may the Lord God enlighten you with His grace to choose what is better and advances salvation for you, as for me, I cannot say anything more aside from what has been said using only guesswork on matters, which are not clear and coherent.
As a sign of my love and gratitude to you I am sending along to you a book “Primary Chronicle” with events dating from 1206 to 1534. I am asking you to accept it with the same love as the one it is sent with.
I am wishing you to spend the Holy Lent with benefit for the soul, I congratulate you with the coming feast of the Resurrection of Christ, may it bring joy and illumination in the Lord.
At last, having wished you earthly and heavenly blessings and everything holy, I continue to remain with feeling of honest reverence to you and sincere love, asking your holy prayers and continuation of Christian love.
Most humble servant and a fellow petitioner
of my brother in Christ and friend,
Hieromonk Mikhail
March 7th, 1816.
The New Monastery of the Saviour, Moscow
1. Saints Peter Alexis and Jonah Metropolitans of Moscow and Wonderworkers of Russia
2. Napoleon’s incursion into Russia.
3. Nizhnu Novgorod is a large city of the Volga River in Western Russia
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