Prologue in Sermons: November 6

How To Act in Times of Public Calamity

November 6

(Commemoration of the Philanthropy of God After the Falling Ash)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It happens, brethren, that by God's permission we are sometimes visited by public calamities: for example, drought, poverty, pestilence, famine, and other misfortunes. What should we do during such calamities to be delivered from them? We must first of all consider that the calamity that befalls us is the consequence of our sins, then weep for our sins and repent of them, and finally, hold public prayers asking God for mercy.

In the eighteenth year of the reign of Emperor Leo of Greece, on the sixth day of November, at noon in Constantinople, the entire sky was first covered with dark clouds, and then fiery clouds appeared. This phenomenon lasted for forty days. Everyone believed they would be scorched by fire, and they were terrified and confused. But fortunately, this did not last long. The people soon realized that their only remaining hope was God's help, and they resorted to this aid. Emperor Leo and Patriarch Gennadios, along with all the people, began to hold daily processions around the city, offering prayers at every church, and everyone, from the least to the greatest, shed bitter tears. "Many tears," says the legend, "came from the Christians, and fierce weeping, from the very depths of the heart, with groaning and heartfelt sorrow... that the Lord would take away the evil, smoky flame." And such tearful prayers were not in vain. The Lord, the Lover of Mankind, showed His mercy to those praying, and the disaster ceased.

A second example. During the tenure of Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod, a plague broke out in Novgorod. Jonah told the people, "We are being punished by God because we continually sin and do not repent of our sins." The people understood the meaning of the Saint's words and took them to heart. Together with their archshepherd, they offered a prayer service; and, so to speak, a nationwide repentance was offered. After this, the plague ceased, and not only were there no more deaths, but all the sick recovered (Prologue, November 5).

So, then, we have rightly said that to end public calamities, we must understand that calamities befall us because of our sins, and then grieve over these sins, repent of them, and in common prayer ask God for mercy. This is absolutely necessary; for by such repentance and prayer, the Ninevites also gained mercy, and earlier, under Samuel, the Jews also, and almost the entire history of the judges of Israel testify to the same. And in view of all this, when some evil befalls us because of our sins, let us, first of all, humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, strive to forever break the bonds of sinful habits and passions, mourn our past iniquities, and resort to our common Father — the Lord — with a plea for our forgiveness and mercy. And, of course, then He, being infinitely merciful, will move to show mercy to us again and deliver us from the evils that have befallen us. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.