Monk Lazar Afanasyev
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Total Pages: 366
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“Wealth without work Pleasure without conscience Science without humanity Knowledge without character Politics without principle Commerce without morality Worship without sacrifice. https://vidjambov.blogspot.com/2023/01/book-inventory-vladimir-djambov-talmach.html Here Igor writes in his diary on January 3, 1989: “The Holy Vvedensk monastery, / The blessed Optina Desert, / always hoping for the mercy of the Mother of God, / on the banks of the river flowing into the eternal life, / nurtured a wonderful tree of old age / and you became like a city, to him who descended from heaven, / where God dwells from men, / taking away every tear from their eyes, / let us also rejoice, brethren, / we will praise Christ the King and our God / and we will glorify the Lady of the world, the Most Pure Virgin, / as a haven for salvation has been given to us / and instructors - the reverend fathers”. Why is there so much misunderstanding of the spiritual word in people? “It is difficult for people to penetrate into the meaning of the word,” Igor writes, “it is difficult to familiarize with the power of the word, and thus the consciousness of the truth is difficult - only by the action (power) of sin. This is a consequence of the fall, the transgression of God's commandment. Adam did not listen to the word, that is, he rejected himself from understanding the meaning, as if he was separated from him, and the instantly formed gap filled sin... The way of restoring the possibility of listening to the Word and comprehending Him and joining Him is the meaning of our labors.” … There is no final finishing, or maybe it was not necessary for him: the diary was not intended for prying eyes. But now we are reading these penitential appeals to the Lord of extraordinary spiritual beauty... “Where will I receive tears, if not from You, O God?” it says there. “Where am I going on the day of sorrow, if not to Your temple, Master? Where will I find consolation, if not in Thy words, Holy One? Do not reject me, Lord, and now remember me.” Having a divine mind, as if a God-given infant, You have abhorred the pagan delights, you wise, But having fallen in love with parental piety, Ascend by virtue as on a ladder from strength to strength, You have acquired the grace of God... Akathist to the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, Thessalonian wonderworker (Ikos 2).