(e) TheRussianMonkandhispossibleSignificance
Fathersandteachers, whatisthemonk? Inthecultivatedworldthewordisnowadayspronouncedbysomepeoplewithajeer, andbyothersitisusedasatermofabuse, , alas, itistrue, thattherearemanysluggards, gluttons, : "Youareidlers, uselessmembersofsociety, youliveonthelaborofothers, youareshamelessbeggars." Andyethowmanymeekandhumblemonksthereare, yearningforsolitudeandferventprayerinpeace! Thesearelessnoticed, , whoyearnforsolitaryprayer, thesalvationofRussiawillcomeperhapsoncemore! Fortheyareintruthmadereadyinpeaceandquiet "forthedayandthehour, themonthandtheyear." Meanwhile, intheirsolitude, theykeeptheimageofChristfairandundefiled, inthepurityofGod'struth, fromthetimesoftheFathersofold, .
Thatismyviewofthemonk, andisitfalse? isittooproud? LookattheworldlyandallwhosetthemselvesupabovethepeopleofGod, hasnotGod'simageandHistruthbeendistortedinthem? Theyhavescience; , thehigherpartofman'sbeingisrejectedaltogether, dismissedwithasortoftriumph, , especiallyoflate, butwhatdoweseeinthisfreedomoftheirs? Nothingbutslaveryandself-destruction! Fortheworldsays:
"Youhavedesiresandsosatisfythem, 'tbeafraidofsatisfyingthemandevenmultiplyyourdesires." ? Intherich, isolationandspiritualsuicide; inthepoor, envyandmurder; fortheyhavebeengivenrights, , moreandmoreboundtogetherinbrotherlycommunity, asitovercomesdistanceandsetsthoughtsflyingthroughtheair.
