“If God is With Us, Who Is Against Us?”

The year was 1612. Polish invaders were running amok in northern Russia, pillaging and looting the towns in their path. One group of local residents had taken refuge among the monks in the Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God on Blue Jay Lake, which had been founded by the holy monk Euphrosynus.

On March 19, Euphrosynus warned all of the monks at the monastery, as well as all of the villagers who were hiding there, that a band of invaders was rapidly approaching, and those who wished to escape death should flee the monastery at once. Many fled. Euphrosynus himself remained, proclaiming to those present that he had come to the monastery in the first instance “in order to die for Christ.”

One of the monks, who was named Jonah, was fearful of Euphrosynus’ prophecy and wanted to flee with the others. These were Euphrosynus’ words to him:

Brother Jonah, why do you allow faint-hearted fear into your soul? When there is to be a battle, then is the time when one must show manliness. If God is with us, who is against us? And who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature. [Rom. 8:35, 38-39]. None of these things can do this.

Why have you become frightened, brother? There is nothing frightful in that which threatens us. Death? But it is not frightful, since by its means we are departing for the harbor. Robbery? But naked I came, naked I will depart [Job 1:21]. Confinement? But the earth is the Lord’s, and all the fulness thereof [Ps. 23:1]. Should we fear slander? But when men shall say all manner of evil against you … great is your reward in heaven [Mt. 5;11, 12].

I saw a sword, and the heaven covered with lightning; I expected death, and thought on what is mortal; I contemplated the sufferings of earth, and thought of the honors above and the crown on high as the end of labors, and for me this was sufficient consolation and contrition. May the will of God be done! Let us not be afraid of some passing fear, for the sake of Christ’s love. It is for this that we were called and offered our vows to the Lord, in order to die in this place for the sake of His Holy Name. With laymen it is something else; they are not bound by a voew. They must preserve themselves also for their children.

Jonah remained at the monastery with the blessed Euphrosynus. They were both martyred the next day.

Source: The Northern Thebaid, pp. 176-180.

Valaam: Step to the Skies

The Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior is a monastery located on Valaam island, in the far northwestern corner of Russia on Lake Ladoga.

The movie “Step to the Skies,” which is available in seven parts on YouTube, chronicles the lives of monks living at Valaam.  The movie is in Russian, but with (occasional) English subtitles; the subtitles do not appear to catch all of the text, but enough of it to get a fair idea of what is being said.

Each of these seven parts is linked below.

Part 1 of 7:

Part 2 of 7:

Part 3 of 7:

Part 4 of 7:

Part 5 of 7:

Part 6 of 7:

Part 7 of 7:

Image credit: Pauk

The Humility of St. Cyril of White Lake

[A wonderful story about the profound humility of St. Cyril of White Lake, as recounted in The Northern Thebaid: Monastic Saints of the Russian North].

A certain Theodore, attracted by the news of the Saint’s holy life, desired to enter the brotherhood, but after some time the enemy of mankind instilled in him such hatred for St. Cyril that not only could he not look at him, but he could not even listen to his voice. Disconcerted by his thoughts, he came to the strict Elder Ignatius the silent to confess his oppressed state of soul and the fact that, because of his hatred for Cyril, he wished to leave the monastery. Ignatius consoled him somewhat, strengthened him with prayer, and convinced him to stay on trial one year more; but the year passed and his hatred did not abate. Theodore decided to reveal his secret thought to Cyril himself, but upon entering his cell he became ashamed before the Elder’s gray hairs and could not pronounce anything. He wanted to leave the cell, but then the foreseeing Elder, understanding what was hidden in his soul, began himself to speak of hatred such as that which Theodore nourished for him. Torn by conscience, the monk fell to the Elder’s feet and prayed for forgiveness of his sin; but the Saint answered meekly:

Do not sorrow, by brother. All have been in error about me; you alone understand the truth and all my unworthiness, for who am I, sinful and unworthy?

He sent him away in peace, promising that in future such temptation would not befall him, and from that time on Theodore remained in perfect love toward the great Abba.

Source: The Northern Thebaid, pp. 61-62.