Prologue in Sermons: March 10

 

To Parishioners Living Among Schismatics

March 10

(A Discourse from the Paterikon about Mark the Monk and his gift of clairvoyance.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Schismatics living among you, desiring at any cost to separate you from the Orthodox Church, employ among their various tricks the following as well. “What kind of priests do you have now?” they say. “Look what they do! With whom do they not associate? What do they not drink and eat? How do they perform the services? What grace, therefore, can you have?” — and much else besides.

They usually say such things about shepherds who are strict in life and virtuous. But, God save us, if they notice any fault in a priest — even the smallest — woe to him! Then evil rumor from their side grows like a sea wave, and the malicious joy of the enemies of the Church has no end.

But let them be; let them say what they wish. As for us, let us consider this: do the sins of priests truly prevent the grace of God from descending both upon the Mysteries which they celebrate and upon the faithful who receive them? And does the unworthiness of presbyters truly drive grace out of the Church?

It was said about Mark, the Egyptian monk, that for thirty years he remained without leaving his cell. A priest had the custom of coming to him after the Divine Service and communicating him with the Holy Mysteries. The devil, envying the elder’s virtuous life, resolved to lead him into the sin of judgment. He brought to him a demoniac, as though in order that the Saint might pray for him. This possessed man, instructed by the devil, first said to the elder:

“The priest who comes to you is a very great sinner; therefore do not allow him to come to you.”

Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, Mark answered him:

“My child, every man throws out what is unclean, but you have brought it to me. In the Scripture it is said: ‘Judge not, that you be not judged.’ Even if he truly is a sinner, God will save him. For it is also written: ‘Pray for one another, that you may be healed.’”

Having said this, he cast the demon out of the man and dismissed him healed.

After some time the priest came again to the elder, and Mark received him with joy. But the good Lord, seeing the elder’s faith, showed him the following great miracle. When the priest stood before the holy altar, an Angel of the Lord descended to him and laid his hand upon the presbyter’s head, and immediately the latter appeared as though surrounded by fire.

When the elder wondered at the vision, a voice from above said to him:

“O man, why are you astonished at this? If even an earthly king will not allow his nobles to appear before him unclean, will the King of Heaven not cleanse the ministers of the Holy Mysteries and sanctify them with heavenly glory?”

Seeing this, concludes the account, the venerable Mark proclaimed to all that priests must not be condemned for every sin, for they are ministers of God and fellow-dwellers with the angels.

Therefore, is it not clear that even a sinful priest, while serving, is purified by the grace of God; that the Mysteries are performed even by a sinful priest; and that a sinful priest ought not to be judged for every fault?

After this, should we believe the schismatics when they say that through the sins of priests grace departs from the Church? Should we listen to their blasphemies? Should we, together with them, watch for the faults of the shepherds of the Church and condemn them?

Not at all.

“I beseech you, brethren,” says Anthony of Sinai, abbot of Mount Sinai, “do not judge the priest of God for his hidden or manifest sins, and do not say: ‘Because he is a sinner and approaches the Mysteries, therefore the gift of the Holy Spirit does not come.’ Think nothing of the sort. The Lord alone is the knower of all secrets and the Judge. But you should always remember that, since priests are incomparably higher than you, let them be judged by the Judge on high. If the priest has sinned, he has sinned before God and not before you; therefore you cannot be his judges. Know your measure and your rank.”

But you may say: “Is not a priest subject to ecclesiastical judgment?” Yes — but even then he is judged not by you, but by God or by the bishop set over him.

Why do you judge the shepherd while being sheep? Why do you, like the Pharisees, seize God’s judgment by judging the priestly rank, which the Lord God has not given into your authority?

“Therefore again I beseech you: judge no one, and still less the servant of God” (Prologue, April 5).

After such words from a Saint pleasing to God, nothing remains for me to say to you, brethren, except to wish that you keep yourselves far from the enemies of our Holy Church and more often recall the words of our Savior:

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged; condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.” Amen.

 

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.