Spiritual instructions of Elder Nazarius

Having completed the life of Igumen Nazarius of Valaam we are now continuing with his instructions:

The elder, Igumen Nazarius, a guardian of purity and chastity from his youth, was gifted by God with abundant spiritual insight. He instructed the brethren and all who came to him with remarkable prudence, especially in humility, meekness, and obedience. He showed love and a desire for salvation to those who sinned without disdain, and sought in every way to uproot the passions that lurked within them through his advice. He was meek and humble; and his heart was so ablaze with love for God that he never ceased to say the Jesus Prayer, always slipping prayer beads between his fingers while doing so. Here are some of his many instructions to those who came to the monastery and desired salvation:

1) One should renounce his own will while carrying out a holy obedience.

2) One should have a clear and sincere conscience.

3) One should pray fervently with humility, sobriety, and the remembrance of death.

4) One’s hands should be busy with work, the lips with prayer, the eyes filled with tears, and the mind should be entirely occupied with contemplation of God.

5) Without a blessing one should not take anything from anyone, or go any place, or engage in any virtuous undertaking. Where there is a blessing, there is God’s grace, which purifies and strengthens, and unites with God Himself; but where there is no blessing, there is God’s wrath, there is darkness, disorder, and separation from God.

6) One should maintain stillness in soul and body.

7) One should only reflect on oneself, judge oneself, that is – one’s own deeds, words, and thoughts.

8) One should love poverty and non-acquisitiveness as precious treasures.

9) One should view dishonor as honor, consider abuse as praise, offense as a reward, and take every temptation and suffering as a most excellent reward.

He who does these things will never become unsettled.

Put away your own will as a garment of shame.  Humility is a shelter, patience is confirmation, love is protection. Where there is love, there is God; and where God is, there all good things are, according to the Scripture: “All things work together for good to those who love God” [Rom. 8:28]. “He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” [1 John 4:16].  “Love covers a multitude of sins” [1 Peter 4:8].

Arise, you who have fallen.  Open the eyes of your soul, fill yourself with the bread which is the word of God, and drink wine from the cup of God’s wisdom. If sorrow befalls you, then examine the scriptures willingly and lovingly, and believe that with the help of God’s grace you will be comforted. Confirm yourself in this truth: every Divine Scripture instructs, teaches, admonishes, and strengthens us in accordance with the path of salvation, so that our path will always be in accordance with God.

Instructions on God’s Love

We all desire to follow the highest calling to the place where our eternal dwelling – filled with ineffable joy – has been prepared from time immemorial. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior” (Phil. 3:20). Therefore, whoever desires to receive eternal life must certainly get to know God’s love for us, and his own love for God – what it consists of, and how He loved us’.  So we too must love Him.

Let us examine in detail how He cleansed our sins. He endured cruel tortures in order to atone for our transgressions; He accepted a shameful death in order to grant us life and salvation. Thus, since He did not spare Himself solely for our sake, should we not, as Christians, love Him, should we not follow in His footsteps? Therefore, we must have the love and obedience He demands of us. We must constantly remember God’s love for us and seek perfect love for Him, which is acquired through the fulfillment of God’s commandments. We must know that without good deeds, love for Him cannot be shown. Consider, then, how good and merciful the Lord is. He gave Christians the law for nothing other than the destruction of our malice, the cleansing of sins, and the conquering of the passions that war against us Therefore, we must not only keep God’s commandments, but we must also offer gifts according to the commandments. Just as the Holy Fathers brought gifts, each according to his ability – some five talents, some ten, some thirty – likewise, we must excel in doing good and in love for our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Apostle Paul threatens, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Maranatha” (1 Cor. 16:22).

O God our Savior, kindle love in us, that we may love Thee in the way that is pleasing to Thee. Are we worthy of His love, being dust and ashes? Yet He loved us.  How much discomfort we feel without love for Him; how overwhelmed we feel by the waves of calamities and we suffer without it. Yet, although we sometimes reject Him, He does not reject us. We flee from Him, but He seeks us and calls us to Himself: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden” (Matt. 11:28).

O God, we reject Thy love, yet Thou dost never cease to love us. We often accept satanic suggestions, contrary to Thy Law. We, sparing neither ourselves nor our salvation, devote ourselves to evil deeds, and yet a man often says, “I love God!” What a contradiction! Someone thinks he loves God, but does not fulfill His commandments. What kind of love is this? It’s sheer hypocrisy!

If you love Christ God, endure as He endured and do everything that pleases Him. He taught and did good. Your love must certainly be such that you do good, that you endure, and are not disturbed by anything you encounter, but thank Him in everything, not with words and tongue, but with your very deeds, your heart, and your mind. You must love Him with all your soul, strength, and mind (cf. Mark 12:31). Therefore, everyone must love God with faith and hope and strive to fulfill His commandments and ordinances. Consider, beloved: this age is not one of peace and comfort, but of struggle, war, trade, shopping, education, and seafaring. For these reasons, you must strive not to lose heart, not be idle, but rather to practice the works of God. Know that for every struggle there is a victory. Be strong, fight, conquer; for often opposing forces roar like lions, seeking whom they may devour. Beware lest you be vanquished. Beware, behold, crowns are for sale; acquire them, lest you return empty-handed. Be careful not to deprive yourself of the Grace of God otherwise you will be deprived of a reward and, what’s more, you will be bitterly condemned and perish on top of that. Consider carefully: Is it not war being waged all the time? The flesh rises against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh.

How can we monks fail to accept soul-saving advice? How can we fail to be touched by such good instructions? Christ the Savior, the Prophets, the Apostles, and all the Saints, with great compassion and love, call upon and exhort us to shun and distance ourselves as much as possible from the charms of this world. Christ praises Mary, saying, “But Mary hath chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken from her” (Luke 10:42). Thus, we must choose that which is good and keep ourselves from the world, for it lies in wickedness.