The Saints of God Help Us in the Struggle Against the Demons
September 29
September 29
(A Word on Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
For a successful struggle against the demons and for victory over them, the Lord has given us two means: prayer to God and fasting, as He also said: “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). But is there also some other means that likewise makes the struggle against evil spirits easier, or not? Know, brethren, that there is, and it consists in fervent prayer to the saints of God for their help.
When Saint Andrew undertook the ascetic feat of folly for Christ, Satan attacked him with such force, together with the demons under his power, that Andrew thought his final hour had come. And so, finding himself in a desperate situation, he cried out: “Holy Apostle John the Theologian, help me!” After these words, thunder struck, and the voice of many people was heard. And an Elder appeared with fearsome eyes, whose face was almost as bright as the sun, and with him appeared a multitude of people dressed in white robes. And the Elder said angrily to those who were with him: “Shut the gates, so that none of the demons may escape from here.” And the Elder’s command was carried out.
Then a demonic voice was heard: “Woe to us at this hour, in which we have been so deceived. John is fearsome and wants to torment us terribly.” And after these words, the cries of the demons were heard: “Have mercy on me!” and “Have mercy on us!” Then the people dressed in white robes disappeared, and the demons also vanished.
The Elder who had appeared said to Andrew: “You see how quickly I came to your aid, and know that I am greatly concerned for you. God Himself commanded me to lead you to salvation and to care for you. Be patient, therefore, and endure everything without complaint. The time is already near when you will receive complete freedom and will go wherever you wish, according to your own will.”
Andrew asked: “My lord, tell me, who are you?”
The one who had appeared answered: “I am the one who reclined upon the honorable breast of the Lord.”
And having said this, he disappeared from Andrew’s sight, who thereafter glorified the great mercy of God that had been revealed to him.
Therefore, brethren, in addition to prayer to God and fasting, there is yet another means that makes our struggle with the enemies of our salvation easier; and this means, as you see, consists in fervent prayer to the saints of God for their help. No sooner had Andrew said, “Holy Apostle John the Theologian, help me,” than the Apostle immediately appeared, and the demons were punished and driven away.
Therefore, in view of the efficacy of this means, that is, prayer to the saints of God, in the struggle against the enemies of our salvation, let us have recourse to this means and ask the holy saints of God that they may more often strike down and drive out from within us the soul-destroying serpent, and free us from the temptations and enticements, and from every trouble and evil that it raises up against us. And surely our fervent prayer to the saints of God will not be in vain, for they know from their own experience that the struggle against the devil is difficult and that it requires for man a higher help. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Notes:
* In the original text, there is no entry for September 29th. There this is the second entry for October 3rd.
When Saint Andrew undertook the ascetic feat of folly for Christ, Satan attacked him with such force, together with the demons under his power, that Andrew thought his final hour had come. And so, finding himself in a desperate situation, he cried out: “Holy Apostle John the Theologian, help me!” After these words, thunder struck, and the voice of many people was heard. And an Elder appeared with fearsome eyes, whose face was almost as bright as the sun, and with him appeared a multitude of people dressed in white robes. And the Elder said angrily to those who were with him: “Shut the gates, so that none of the demons may escape from here.” And the Elder’s command was carried out.
Then a demonic voice was heard: “Woe to us at this hour, in which we have been so deceived. John is fearsome and wants to torment us terribly.” And after these words, the cries of the demons were heard: “Have mercy on me!” and “Have mercy on us!” Then the people dressed in white robes disappeared, and the demons also vanished.
The Elder who had appeared said to Andrew: “You see how quickly I came to your aid, and know that I am greatly concerned for you. God Himself commanded me to lead you to salvation and to care for you. Be patient, therefore, and endure everything without complaint. The time is already near when you will receive complete freedom and will go wherever you wish, according to your own will.”
Andrew asked: “My lord, tell me, who are you?”
The one who had appeared answered: “I am the one who reclined upon the honorable breast of the Lord.”
And having said this, he disappeared from Andrew’s sight, who thereafter glorified the great mercy of God that had been revealed to him.
Therefore, brethren, in addition to prayer to God and fasting, there is yet another means that makes our struggle with the enemies of our salvation easier; and this means, as you see, consists in fervent prayer to the saints of God for their help. No sooner had Andrew said, “Holy Apostle John the Theologian, help me,” than the Apostle immediately appeared, and the demons were punished and driven away.
Therefore, in view of the efficacy of this means, that is, prayer to the saints of God, in the struggle against the enemies of our salvation, let us have recourse to this means and ask the holy saints of God that they may more often strike down and drive out from within us the soul-destroying serpent, and free us from the temptations and enticements, and from every trouble and evil that it raises up against us. And surely our fervent prayer to the saints of God will not be in vain, for they know from their own experience that the struggle against the devil is difficult and that it requires for man a higher help. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Notes:
* In the original text, there is no entry for September 29th. There this is the second entry for October 3rd.
