On the Rebellion of This Life

St. Serapion of Vladimir (+1275)

 

 

It is already time itself that directs us toward the work of eternal life and imperishable glory. For death follows this life, and shame overtakes glory. Many of the nobles, like dogs, were cast into Hades before their time, and the rich later became impoverished. And the judge rejoices while condemning the accused; yet later he wept when he lost power. And nothing is stable among men, but all is in disorder: one has seized another’s land, and another has taken away someone’s property; behold, the village was once known as his, but now another's house stands there. Others, insatiable in their greed, enslave and sell free orphans. Some steal and plunder, striving to amass more possessions. And all of them are heaping up fire upon their own heads.

There is no truth at all in the world: children dishonor their parents, and fathers cast off their children; husbands commit adultery against their wives; the old behave like the young. One cannot place faith in a friend or trust in a brother: for he promises peace, yet in his heart thinks evil, and only with his lips does he love. Flattery and envy alone rule among you; and insatiable greed you preserve. No one remembers God; they act as though they are immortal, and none awaits judgment after death.

Therefore, punishments from God come upon us: for we all do evil. He gave us strength, that we might do His righteousness, and we commit lawlessness with it; He gave us wealth, that from it we might give to the needy and the poor. But instead, we harm orphans, inflict violence upon widows, and take away from the destitute. He entrusted us with authority, that we might deliver the oppressed; but instead, we wrong them: we accuse the righteous for bribes. There is no righteous path, nor just judgment; love has perished, hatred has multiplied; virtue is despised, chastity is forgotten; arrogance and pride are honored; truth has perished, and lies have covered the earth.

Oh, the breadth and depth of the longsuffering of God! He does not punish us for all our sins—not because He cannot torment us, but because from each of us He awaits repentance and conversion; He is not provoked to wrath, but has mercy on us as a father who loves his children.

 

Source: Памятники Древле-Русской духовной письменности: Новыя поучения Серапиона, епископа Владимирского (ХIII века) [Monuments of Old Russian Spiritual Writing: New Homilies of Serapion, Bishop of Vladimir (13th century)], published by "Orthodox Interlocutor," Kazan, 1858, Volume 2.