Prologue in Sermons: December 28

To the Monks About Obedience

December 28
 
(A Saying from the Paterikon of John the Kolovos)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

One day, Venerable John the Kolovos came to his mentor, nicknamed the Thebean because of his place of residence. The Thebean, seeing John, took a dry tree, planted it in the ground, and said to his disciple, "Here is your obedience: water this tree every day until it bears fruit." John fulfilled his teacher's will and watered the tree the elder had planted for two years. In the third year, it came to life and bore fruit. Then the elder picked this fruit, brought it to the church, and said to the brethren, "Come and partake of this fruit of obedience." 

Having recounted this incident from the lives of the Venerable Fathers Paul of Thebes and John the Kolovos, I ask you, brethren, tell me: why did Venerable Paul pick the fruit from the tree he had once planted, bring it to the church, and show it to the brethren? What was the purpose of this act?

I don’t know what you would say to my question, but I, for my part, think this way: the Venerable brought the fruit from the tree he planted to the church, showed it to the brethren and called this fruit the fruit of obedience in order to show everyone that obedience is the greatest monastic virtue, brings great saving fruits to the monk, and he ascends from strength to strength by it, as if on a ladder.

But, you might object, is this really true?

Let's see.

In his youth, Venerable Euthymios of Thessaloniki, living in a monastery, endured the most menial obediences. But how did he bear them? Everyone marveled at his humility and patience. And what came of it? He rose above the passions, banished despondency from his soul, subdued his belly, tamed his tongue, purified his hearing and hands, so that he piously raised them in prayer, and prepared his feet to flow unhindered into the courts of our God. Moreover, he also acquired a humble disposition, the habit of prolonged chanting, all-night vigils, unceasing prayer, tears, reading the Divine Scriptures and frequent kneeling, strict fasting, constancy and firmness of thought, purification of the mind and its elevation to heaven, for which he was honored with divine illumination and enlightenment.

Such were the fruits of Euthymios’ obedience!

Another example. Venerable Athanasios the Athonite, in his zeal for the ascetic life, when he became a monk, wanted to eat food only once a week. But his spiritual guide, Venerable Michael Maleinos, in order to curtail his will, commanded him to eat once every three days and to sleep on a mat, not on a chair, as he had previously done. Knowing the true value of obedience, Athanasios unquestioningly fulfilled all he was commanded. Another time, the elder commanded him to eat bread, specifically dry bread, not every three but two days, and a little water; and during Lent, to eat food every five days; to sleep on a seat, as before; and on all Sundays and Lord's feasts, to vigil in prayer and praise from evening until the third hour of the day. Athanasios faithfully fulfilled the will of his spiritual father. The brethren called him the son of obedience, and he himself, through obedience, ascended to the heights of ascetic life. 

This is why, therefore, Venerable Paul of Thebes brought forth fruit from the tree he planted for the brethren and called it the fruit of obedience! This was to show that obedience is the greatest monastic virtue, bringing great salvific fruits to the monk, and that he ascends by it, as by a ladder, from strength to strength, and that, therefore, it is essential to him. And so it is in fact. Can an infant walk without a guide? Obviously not. And a young monk is still just that: an infant. In his inexperience, white can always seem black to him, and a steep path smooth. And how many such monks, without guides, driven by spiritual pride, have perished and continue to perish? Truly, countless. 

Let us say something about real life. Look at our monasteries in the summer. How many ragged, hungry monks, expelled from their monasteries, do you always encounter near their gates? Why were they expelled? For drunkenness? For theft? Perhaps so. But a greater number for disobedience. We once overheard a conversation between several such expelled monks. What did they talk about? Only about their former abbots, and they slandered them in every way. So this is what life without obedience means!

Strive therefore, monks, in this final stage and be diligent in obedience. Just as a young sapling grows best and bears fruit sooner than other trees of the same age when it is tied to a stake and under the care of an experienced gardener; so too will you advance toward perfection far more easily when you find an experienced guide and demonstrate complete obedience to him. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.