Consequences of Drunkenness
October 7
(Various Passages of Holy Scripture Cited in the Discourse of Saint Antiochus on Drunkenness)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
October 7
(Various Passages of Holy Scripture Cited in the Discourse of Saint Antiochus on Drunkenness)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
To warn us against the destructive passion for wine, the word of God points out the harmful consequences that come from it. “Do not mix with a drunkard,” it says, “for every drunkard will come to poverty” (Prov. 23:20-21). "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine" (Prov. 23:29-30). "Drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:10). "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness, and that day come upon you suddenly" (Luke 21:34). "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise" (Prov. 20:1).
Let's see: isn't this how things actually are? The plight of drunkards is pitiful in every respect. Look at the household and family of the intoxicated man. What will you see? You'll see his children cold and hungry, barefoot and naked, his wife looking with despair at her unfortunate little ones. The house is in complete disarray, poverty, and misery. The yard is empty. The fields are either bare strips of grain, or completely unseeded. Then the drunkard enters his house; the children rush to him, caress him, and with words and every gesture make it clear to their father that they are hungry and want bread. His wife reproachfully reprimands him for his behavior. Tears and sobs choke her. But does the drunk himself move? Flushed and clouded with wine, irritated by his wife's words and screams, he begins to beat her with fury or throws at the unfortunate woman whatever he can lay his hands on. His neighbors hear his groans, screams, and all the riotous commotion, and they run to calm the wicked man. Then again there is grief, rumor, judgment, and strife. Finally, they calm him down, and he, often beaten and bound, falls into a heavy and terrible sleep, in which unclean images constantly appear before him. He wakes — and what is his first thought? Always one: how to quickly go and see where the feasts are taking place. And with senseless, bloodshot eyes, with a face blue as a corpse, he makes his way, like Cain after the murder, groaning and shaking, to the drinking establishment. He arrives, but what will he drink with? Oh, what Satan will not do to satisfy his victim! In the tavern, meeting with his fellow wicked ones, the drunkard pawns his soul for wine. He sings them immodest, depraved songs, spews blasphemous words, indulges in all manner of vile gestures, sells his honor, his neighbors, and agrees to any number of crimes... And so the wine is ready, and the drunkard often drinks to the point of unconsciousness. As if that weren't enough, it happens that the drunkard is suddenly overtaken by inexorable death. With what face will he then appear at God's judgment? What answer will he give? What will he say in his own defense? Oh, truly, it would be better for him never to have been born than to live to see that terrible day!
Do not forget, brethren, the saving warning: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness, and that day come upon you suddenly" (Luke 21:34). Sober up, you who are drunk from your wine, and weep: wail, all who drink wine to excess, lest that day come upon you suddenly (cf. Joel 1:5) Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
