Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 2

The Month of October

Day 2

33. Will We Be Rewarded for Fighting the Demons?

(From the Life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ*)

The word of God says: “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). And in another place: “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). By these words, as you see, the word of God teaches us to fight against the demons. But here is the question: will there be any benefit for us from this? Will we receive some reward for it? Will we receive crowns for our struggle? Do not doubt, brethren: we will receive a reward for fighting the demons, and crowns will be given to us for this struggle.

Once, Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ saw in a dream that he was standing in a public square. On one side of the square stood a multitude of demons, and on the other side also stood a multitude of holy men clothed in white robes. And it seemed that some kind of struggle was taking place between the demons and the holy men. Among the demons there was one who was especially great and terrifying, and they proudly said to those in white robes: “Which of you can fight against him?” The holy men remained silent. But at that moment, a young man of extraordinary beauty descended from heaven, holding three crowns in his hands: one of gold set with precious stones, another of pearls, and the third woven from the branches of the trees of God’s Paradise. Wishing to obtain at least one of them, Andrew said to the young man: “Are you selling the crowns? Although I am a poor man and have no means to buy them, my master is a wealthy man. I will tell him, and he will buy them.” Smiling, the young man replied: “Believe me, beloved, even if you gave me all the gold in the world, I would not give you, or your master, or anyone else even one flower from these crowns. They are not from this vain world, but from the treasures of heaven, and they are crowns of Christ. Know, then, that only those who fight against the demons and conquer them are crowned with them. Therefore, if you want me to give you not one crown, but all three, go and fight the demon to whom the demons are pointing, and if you overcome him, you will receive the crowns.” Andrew said: “Very well, I will go; only teach me how to defeat him.” The young man replied: “Do not be afraid! Although the demons are cunning and appear great and powerful, in reality they are weak and rotten, like dung. When you fight, do not be terrified, and you will see the help of God.” After these words of the young man, Andrew entered into combat with the demon and, after a long struggle, finally overcame him. The demon cried out: “Woe, woe!” And the holy men, filled with great joy, took Andrew, carried him up to a height, kissed him, and together with him celebrated his victory. The young man then gave him the crowns of Paradise and, having kissed him, said: “Go in peace; from now on you will be our friend and brother.” With this, the vision ended.

Thus, there is no doubt that we will receive a reward for fighting the demons, and we will receive crowns for this struggle. And knowing this, what must we do? Certainly, following the teaching of the word of God, we must be sober and vigilant and put on all the armor that it has shown us; we must regard the word of God as the essential nourishment of our soul and, like a sword, use it to repel all the temptations and deceptions of the devil; we must be attentive to ourselves, to our thoughts, intentions, and deeds, and watch to see whether the inwardly destructive serpent has crept into our hearts; we must fast and pray more earnestly, remembering, according to the word of the Lord, that the demonic kind is cast out only by prayer and fasting; and, finally, we must advance in piety and virtue, so that our Guardian Angels may always lovingly watch over us and the evil spirits may not dare to approach us. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 33:

1. With what crowns, according to the young man in Saint Andrew’s vision, are those who fight against the demons and conquer them crowned?

2. Under what condition, according to the young man, will Andrew receive all three crowns?

3. What did Andrew ask the young man before fighting the demon?

4. Under what condition, according to the young man, would Andrew see the help of God?

5. By what, according to the word of the Lord, is the demonic kind cast out?

 

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.   

 

* St. Andrew the Fool for Christ is commemorated on May 28th in the Greek calendar, while the Slavic calendar commemorates him on October 2nd, associating him with his vision of the Protection of the Theotokos, commemorated on October 1.