Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 27

The Month of September

Day 27

28. We Must Not Forget Ourselves at Feasts

(From the Life of Venerable Zosimas of Solovki the Wonderworker)

Many Christians, when they are at feasts or at invited lunches and dinners, completely forget themselves. Heated by wine and carried away by the general merriment, they give themselves over either to senseless laughter, or to indecent conversations, or to sinful attentions toward women, or finally begin quarrels and disputes with one another. This, brethren, is unworthy of Christians. Even if you are present at a feast, never forget yourself; rather, constantly remember, first, that you are a Christian; second, that there is above you an all-seeing and righteous God, Who will demand an account from you not only for your words and deeds, but also for your thoughts; and finally, third, at a feast do not forget that, just as with every other person, death is not far from you, but is behind you.

Once the famous Novgorodian noblewoman Martha invited Venerable Zosimas of Solovki to dinner. When he entered the house, Martha, together with her sons and daughters, received his blessing and, as it is said, seated him “in the midst of the feast.” While everyone was eating, drinking, and rejoicing, the Venerable one sat silently with humility and meekness, partaking of little food according to his custom. During the meal he looked at the guests and was astonished; then he bowed his head in sorrow. He looked a second time and again saw something worthy of astonishment among those reclining at the table; he looked a third time, and for the third time he saw something extraordinary. What did he see? He saw six of the most prominent Novgorodian noblemen sitting without heads. Sensing that this vision foretold something evil, the Venerable one wept, partook of nothing more, and soon left Martha’s house.

On the way, his disciple Daniel, who was accompanying Zosimas, asked him: “What does this mean, Father? At dinner you looked three times in some strange manner at those seated at the table, then bowed your head, wept, and stopped eating?”

“My child,” the Venerable one replied, “I saw six famous Novgorodian boyars sitting at the feast without heads, and therefore I was astonished and horrified, and because of this I could not bring either food or drink to my lips. And I think that these men will soon actually be beheaded.”

The Venerable one’s final words were soon fulfilled. Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, having become enraged against the people of Novgorod, executed many of them, among them the six boyars whom Zosimas had seen at the feast sitting without heads.

From this account, brethren, you are given an edifying lesson: you must not forget yourselves at feasts for the simple reason that, just as with everyone else, death may be standing behind you even at a feast. And indeed, does it not overtake even those who feast excessively, sometimes quite suddenly? Again and again you hear: this one died at a feast from a stroke; another simply fell down and died. And you are no more protected from such a death than they were. What will happen if it catches you in the midst of your revelry? With what will you appear before the judgment of God? With what face will you stand before the throne of the Lord? What will you say in your defense? "You will say to the mountains, Fall on us. And to the hills: Cover us!”—but by then it will all be too late. Therefore, once and for all, make a promise to conduct yourselves always and everywhere, including at feasts, decently, honorably, and moderately, constantly preserving the fear of God in your hearts. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 28:

1. For what will the all-seeing and righteous God demand an account from us, besides our words and deeds?

2. What should we not forget concerning death while we are at a feast?

3. What did the Novgorodian noblewoman Martha, together with her sons and daughters, receive from Venerable Zosimas of Solovki when the Venerable one entered her house for dinner?

4. How, and with what attitude, did Venerable Zosimas of Solovki sit at the feast in the house of the Novgorodian noblewoman Martha while everyone was eating, drinking, and rejoicing?

5. How should we conduct ourselves always and everywhere, including at feasts?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.