If we are persecuted, then we have kept the truth, and that means we are followers of Christ. This is our consolation and joy. Metropolitan Arseniy of Svyatogorsk, the abbot of the Assumption Svyatogorsk Lavra, said this in a sermon after reading the canon with the akathist to the Passion of Christ on March 26, 2023, Pravlife writes.
“God came to earth to save the world from sin, death, hell. He offers Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind in order to cleanse the human race from sins. … How much time, brothers and sisters, has passed since then, how many cities have been destroyed, how many kings and wise men have died, how many strong and strong states have disappeared from the face of the earth… And in the midst of all this temporary, fleeting, the Church of Christ lives. He lives because the Lord said: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Regularly, waves of persecution were erected against the Church… There were so many Nerones, Diocletians, communist godless rulers – and the Church stood and stands. How many times the enemy has erected heresies, schisms, but the Church has stood and stands,” said Metropolitan Arseniy.
He recalled the words from the Psalter: “Don’t trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation” (Ps. 146:3). “Salvation is in God, salvation is in His Holy Church,” the bishop continued. – And the fact that the Church is being saved today, and we are being saved in it, is also evident from the persecution of the Church. Looking at the madness of the persecutors, you think: how can they not understand that the words “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” were not spoken by a man, but by God?
But even in persecution, according to the words of Vicar, consolation and joy are hidden for Christians.
He cited the teaching of St. Ambrose of Optina on the three ways of salvation: “The first way of salvation is to live holy. The second way is if you do not live holy, then sincerely repent and strive to improve. If there is no holiness of life and no constancy of repentance, then there is a third way of salvation: to endure sorrows and illnesses.
“That is, it turns out, brothers and sisters, that in sorrows and illnesses there is a certain consolation and joy: through them God saves us. And since we are being persecuted, it means we are God’s. If we are slandered and humiliated, as He was slandered and humiliated, then we are His followers. After all, the Lord said: “If you were of this world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of this world, the world hates you. … If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you too” (see John 15:19-20). If we are persecuted, then we have kept the truth, and that means we are followers of Christ. This is our consolation and this is our joy,” explained Metropolitan Arseniy.
The governor of the Lavra also recalled that “God is always near not with the proud, not with people who rise above everyone, but with those who suffer, endure sorrow.” “It is not for nothing that the holy fathers say: “Do not be afraid, do not pay attention when they offended you. Be afraid to offend someone!” We (the Church) have not seized churches from anyone, … we only prostrate ourselves in prayer to God, we only strive to be with Him,” said Metropolitan Arseniy.
And through prayer, he added, the connection of this world with God is accomplished.
The bishop cited an incident that happened in Soviet times with an American astronaut: “One American astronaut, while in orbit, photographed the territory of the Soviet Union. And in many photographs and through optical instruments, he saw some small luminous points scattered throughout the territory, from which, like needles, thin rays ascended. Returning to Earth, the astronaut took the coordinates of these points, and, having studied the maps, found out that they were temples and monasteries. Subsequently, he came and, as a tourist, visited many shrines of our fatherland.
“The Lord revealed to him what the Church is, which connects us with the World of God. And the bright rays of grace pour out not only on churches, but also on the people who stand in them. And, probably, if one could look more closely, it would be clear that from each person praying in the temple today, a bright prayer ray extends into eternity and connects him with God,” said Metropolitan Arseniy.
“We each discovered God for ourselves in our own way,” the bishop addressed the believers. – Opened in His Holy Church. And many saints of God have become family to us. Mother of God – this name alone has become sweet for our hearts. And the Lord Himself became our Heavenly Father. In our churches and holy monasteries, we are united with Him through the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. And God forbid that these temples never close.”
Speaking again about the persecution of the Church, Bishop Arseniy noted: “Are there not enough examples of how the plans of the persecutors to destroy the Holy Church collapsed? Haven’t people realized until now that God is with us?
He recalled that the closure of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was announced on March 29.
“But we, brothers and sisters, on this day, each with a bright ray of prayer, will stretch to the foot of the Throne of God. And God grant that the promise that the Lord gave to the apostles at the Last Supper, that they would eat a meal with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven, would also apply to us. God grant that we, who partake of the meal of the Body and Blood of Christ in His Holy Church, may partake of the meal of eternity, of being with Him and with all the saints,” Metropolitan Arseniy wished.
