What Should We Do When our Enemies Arm Themselves Against Us?
January 27
(The Translation of the Relics of our Father among the Saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, and his Epistle to Bishop Kyriakos.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
January 27
(The Translation of the Relics of our Father among the Saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, and his Epistle to Bishop Kyriakos.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
When our enemies do evil to us, persecute and pursue us, then instead of acting according to the commandment of God — "love your enemies" (Luke 6:36) — and arming ourselves with patience, we begin to grieve and lose heart, to grow angry against our adversaries and revile them, and in doing so our heart is often torn apart. Such behavior, brethren, ought not to be, for one does not put out fire with oil. But what, you will say, remains for us to do? Are we to praise our enemies after all the evils they have done to us? Are we to rejoice in the sufferings they have caused us? Are we to find peace? What shall we answer you? Leaving aside for the moment your first two questions, to the third we will give the following reply.
Saint John Chrysostom once, when he had been exiled from Constantinople, while consoling his friend Kyriakos, a bishop who was also in exile, wrote among other things the following: “Do not grieve excessively, brother Kyriakos, but take me as your example. When I was being exiled from Constantinople, I paid no attention to it, but said to myself: ‘If they want to exile me, let them exile me, for the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof — the whole world. If they want to saw me in two, let them saw me in two; then I shall be like the Prophet Isaiah. If they wish to cast me into the abyss of the sea, I shall remember Jonah. If they throw me into a pit, I shall imagine Daniel cast into the lions’ den. If they stone me, I shall recall in my soul the first martyr and archdeacon Stephen. If they cut off my head, John the Baptist will stand before me. If they wish to take away my property, I shall be like Job. ‘Naked,’ he said, ‘I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I depart…’ Therefore, I beseech you, brother, cast away from yourself weeping and self-pity and despondency, and in all this remember God.”
Do you now understand, brethren, our answer to your question — whether it is possible to be at peace when enemies persecute you? As you see, we have answered that it is indeed possible to find peace, and we have offered, in the example of Saint Chrysostom, what seems to be a compelling proof. Yes, in our conviction, a truly compelling one. Was Saint Chrysostom not pious? Was he not eloquent? Was he not great? Was he not good? And yet, as you have just heard, he too had enemies and was persecuted. Did he then become troubled by persecution? No — “I paid no attention to it,” he says of himself. Therefore, we repeat, you too, brethren, can find peace. Imitate Saint Chrysostom; think as he thought in times of persecution, and all will be well. Then your soul will be calmed, the turmoil of your heart will subside, and sorrow will pass away with tears, just as the burning heat of the sun passes when rain appears. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
