Prologue in Sermons: April 16

Three Friends

April 16

(A Parable of Barlaam the Elder About Three Friends)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Although the Lord teaches us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33), and assures us that if we seek Him, all that is necessary for temporal life will also be added to us, yet we somehow listen little to the words of the Savior. Instead of enriching ourselves with virtues for the attainment of the Kingdom of Heaven, we care most of all about acquiring temporal and perishable goods, and in them we place all our hope. “I have,” says the greater part of us, “a wife and children. What will they be left with after me? How will they live if I do not provide for them?” And a person begins to think only about money, and in sleep and in waking sees only money, dreams only of it, and places in it the chief good. But care for the one thing needful — for conscience and the immortal soul, for adorning oneself with virtues — he considers, if he considers it at all, the very last object of his concern. And meanwhile, how does all this end? The lover of money dies, and his money remains on this side of the grave. In the other world it will not be needed by him; there what would be most necessary and most useful for him is precisely that to which in life he paid the least attention, and which in fact ought to have been the first object of his care.

Prologue in Sermons: March 6

It Is Unreasonable to Become Attached to Earthly Things

March 6*

(A Parable of Venerable Barlaam Concerning This Temporal Life)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In order to impress His teaching more deeply upon the hearts of His listeners, Jesus Christ often presented it in parables — that is, in comparisons or riddles. For the same reason the Holy Fathers also at times taught by means of parables, and several of these have been preserved down to our time. With the latter, from time to time, I intend to acquaint you, and by way of example I now present one of them.

A certain man, says the Venerable Barlaam, encountered a terrible, raging beast that was ready to tear him to pieces. Fleeing from the fury of the animal, this man fell into a deep pit, and while falling, fortunately managed to grasp the branches of a large tree that was growing in the pit. Having seized the branches firmly and found some support for his feet, the man considered himself already safe. But suddenly, looking down, he saw two mice that were constantly gnawing at the root of the tree, and still lower, a dreadful serpent with its mouth wide open, preparing to devour him. Turning his eyes away from this terrifying sight, he saw an asp coming out of the rock, very close to him. Surrounded on every side by dangers, the man naturally lifted his eyes upward and there, on the top of the tree, he saw a very small quantity of honey.

Prologue in Sermons: December 22

On the Way to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Lord Supports His Faithful Servants

December 22*
 
(A Discourse on the Vision of Joasaph)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The word of God says that the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force and that only those who use force can capture it. This means that to attain it, one must labor and endure ascetic struggles. Since these struggles are often quite difficult, especially for beginners, the Lord strengthens and confirms His true servants in them. By what means? Either by ordinary, mysterious acts of grace upon their hearts, or by the special ways of His Providence in their lives, including the lifting of the veil of the afterlife before their eyes. We can see proof of the latter from the following circumstances in the life of Saint Joasaph, Prince of India.

Prologue in Sermons: November 25

Against the Fear of Death

November 25

(The Passion of our Holy Fathers, Which King Abenner Burned Alive)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

I once told you, brethren, that in order to not fear death, you need to reflect on it more often. Now I offer you further instruction on the same subject. Listen to the following story.

November: Day 19: Teaching 2: Venerable Barlaam and Joasaph

November: Day 19: Teaching 2:
Venerable Barlaam and Joasaph
 
(The Christian Faith is an Invaluable Treasure)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today we commemorate the Venerable Barlaam and Joasaph, Prince of India. Christianity in India was founded by the Apostle Thomas, who suffered martyrdom there. However, due to a shortage of teachers, Christianity in India began to weaken after Thomas, and then, through the efforts of kings, it was completely eradicated. King Abenner was especially zealous in persecuting Christian teachers, priests, and monks. Some Christians voluntarily submitted to martyrdom, others fled to the deserts, and some even fell away from the faith. 

The king had a son, Joasaph. He gathered his wise men and asked them what fate awaited his son. The wise men replied that Joasaph would be the most powerful of all kings. One of the wise men added, "I think he will accept the Christian faith, which you persecute." Abenner was saddened by this prediction and, to prevent its fulfillment, wanted to raise his son in complete seclusion, so that no thought of Christianity could penetrate him. 

Prologue in Sermons: November 19

True Happiness Is Not On Earth, But In Heaven

November 19

(On our Venerable Father Joasaph the Hermit, Son of Abenner, King of India)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

That there is an afterlife can be proven by the fact that nothing earthly can satisfy us, and that no one here can say of themselves that they are completely happy. Indeed, even if you take all the wealth, all the honor and glory in the world, you will still not be satisfied and will always think of some greater, unknown happiness. But does this happiness exist? Obviously, it does; for otherwise, such a deep and constant desire for it would not be implanted within us. But where is it? As you see, it is not on earth — so that means it is in heaven, with God. Yes, brethren, if we would more often delve into the insignificance of all earthly things and, at the same time, into the desires of our immortal spirit, we would soon be convinced that there is an afterlife and that in it alone we can find true happiness and peace.