To the Orthodox living among schismatics

Protopriest Victor Guryev (+1912)

(From the Life of Venerable Euthymius the Iberian. Paterikon, Part 1, p. 125).

To those of you, brethren, who live among schismatics, it has likely happened more than once that you have heard discussions between Orthodox Christians and schismatics about the faith, and certainly more than once you have witnessed how in these discussions the schismatics are arrogant, blasphemous, and insolent. Not to mention that they dare to blaspheme the holiest truths of our faith not only when they are not convinced by the arguments of the Orthodox; but—what is most dreadful—even when they are convinced of the truth, and are brought to full awareness of their erroneous thinking, even then, through satanic pride, they do not shrink from uttering blasphemies against the faith and the Church. In the first case—that is, if a person is not convinced of something and blasphemes—it is still, relatively speaking, forgivable for him; but in the latter case, that is, when a person has been convinced of the truth, yet blasphemes it—it is unforgivable. On this occasion, and in order to convince your erring brethren of the above, tell them, when you meet, the following incident from the life of Venerable Euthymius the Iberian, whose memory the Church commemorates on May 13th.

One day, a Jew came to the venerable one to speak about the faith. The blessed one was in no way willing to enter into such a conversation, considering it vain talk to expound and explain the Divine mysteries of the faith to the declared enemies of Christ. However, out of respect and reverence for his father John, who greatly urged him to converse with the Jew, he finally agreed. When he began presenting to the Jew various sayings and prophecies from the Old Testament about the Divine Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ—whom the Jews had rejected—the Jew listening to him fell silent, being involuntarily convinced of the truth of his words and finding no arguments in reply. Yet this outcast, shamed by St. Euthymius, instead of taking the words of holy truth to heart, dared in his stubbornness—characteristic of the unbelieving—to utter with his unclean lips blasphemies against our Lord Jesus Christ. “Let the lips be struck dumb that blaspheme the Lord our God!” exclaimed St. Euthymius, kindled with Divine zeal—and at that very moment, the Jew became mute, collapsed to the ground, and foam began to pour from his blasphemous mouth. In such a terrible condition, the impious man gave up his criminal soul the following day. This miracle struck fear and terror into all, and throughout Constantinople spread the fame and report of St. Euthymius. (Paterikon, Part 1, pp. 125–126).

And so, brethren, woe to those who exchange their salvation, and faith, and the Church for self-love and pride, and who do not tremble to utter audacious blasphemies against the holiest truths. If misfortune befalls them in this life, it is still an act of mercy. But what if they persist in their stubbornness and remain in their wicked blasphemy to the end? Then truly woe shall be upon them—woe such as none is more dreadful! For then they fall into the sin which is called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and which shall not be forgiven them, neither in this world, nor in the one to come. “Everyone who shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven,” says the Lord (Luke 12:10). Let us pray, in conclusion, that the Lord may not permit them to reach such a terrible state, but may touch them with His almighty grace of truth, and save their perishing souls. Amen.

 

Source: Поучения по руководству Афонского патерика [Teachings According to the Guidance of the Athonite Paterikon], by Protopriest Victor Guryev, 2nd edition, Athonite Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon, 1896.