On Not Judging Monks
March 18
(A Word about Daniel the Monk, who was slandered with adultery.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
March 18
(A Word about Daniel the Monk, who was slandered with adultery.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
If the malice of the devil is especially poured out upon anyone, it is upon monks. To be convinced of this, it is enough only to listen to what is said about them. Indeed, in what are they not reproached? What filth is not poured out upon them? What immoral deeds are not attributed to them? Yes, when you listen nowadays to speeches about monks, in most cases you become convinced that here the matter is not of evil men alone, but chiefly of the devil. One man, without the devil, would not invent such blasphemies, such slanders against monks.
What is to be done here?
One of the fathers told about the monk Daniel the Egyptian:
“Once Daniel went out to the marketplace to sell his handiwork. Then a certain young man came up to him and, imploring Daniel, said to him: 'For God’s sake, good monk, come into my house and pray for my wife, that God may loose her barrenness.'
Implored by the young man, Daniel came to his house, prayed for his wife, and she soon after this became pregnant. Then some of the people, not fearing God, began to say: 'This woman conceived not from her husband, but from the monk Daniel.'
The latter learned of this and, calling the young man, said to him: 'When your wife gives birth, inform me.'
The young man promised, and when a son was born to him, he came to the elder and exclaimed: 'Father, by your holy prayers God has granted us a son!'
Daniel said: 'Go, prepare a meal and invite to it your parents, your relatives, and all your friends.'
The young man fulfilled the will of the elder. And so, when the meal began, Daniel took the newborn, who was only twelve days old, into his hands and said to him: 'Speak and reveal who your father is here.'
The twelve-day-old infant, pointing to the young man, said: 'This is my father!'
Therefore, let no one judge from hearing, for it is not good to believe even from one’s own eyes, lest you fall into sin.”
Thus, this is what you must do, monks, you who have been slandered and reviled! You must entrust your honor to God, and from Him alone await defense. Do you see how He defended the honor of Daniel? Before all He revealed his innocence and thus wondrously restored to him his dishonored honor and put the slander to shame. Therefore do not despair, do not grieve, when the devil with his accomplices will revile you, but rather rejoice that you have been counted worthy for the Lord’s sake to receive dishonor (Acts 5:41). “I rejoice,” – said the Apostle Paul – “in my sufferings” (Col. 1:24).
Therefore, "rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:12).
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
