St. Anatoly the Younger of Optina: On Heresy in the Last Times and the Courageous Confession of the Faith

 

My child, know that in the last days difficult and perilous times will come, as the Apostle says. And behold, because of the lack of piety, heresies and schisms will arise in the Churches. As the Holy Fathers foretold, at that time there will be no men tried and experienced in the spiritual life upon the episcopal thrones and in the monasteries.

For this reason, heresies will spread everywhere and will lead many astray. The enemy of the human race will act deceitfully in order to draw into heresy, if possible, even the elect. He will not immediately and openly reject the dogmas of the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the Theotokos, but will begin imperceptibly to distort the teaching of the Church, which the Holy Fathers handed down to us through the Holy Spirit. Very few will understand the wiles and stratagems of the enemy—only those who are the most experienced in the spiritual life.

The Ascendancy of Heretics and Their Characteristics

The heretics will seize authority in the Church, appoint their own people everywhere, and piety will be neglected. But the Lord will not leave His servants unprotected. He said: “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Therefore, you must strive to distinguish the true shepherds from the false by their works—that is, by the conduct of the heretics.

These spiritual thieves who plunder the rational flock “enter not by the door into the sheepfold, but climb up some other way,” as the Lord said. That is, they will intrude unlawfully, forcibly trampling upon the divine canons. Therefore, the Lord calls them robbers (John 10:1).

Indeed, their first concern will be to drive out the true shepherds and imprison them, for without this they cannot plunder the flock. Therefore, my son, when you see the sacred office, the Patristic Tradition, and the order established by God being treated with contempt in the Church, know that the heretics have already appeared. Perhaps for a time they will conceal their false faith or quietly distort the divine Faith, so that they may better accomplish their purpose by deceiving simple and inexperienced people.

The Persecution of the Faithful and the Attitude of Monks

They will persecute not only the shepherds, but also all the servants of God, because the devil who directs the heresy cannot endure true piety. You will recognize these wolves in sheep’s clothing by their pride, their lust for authority, and their love of pleasures. They will be slanderers and traitors, sowing hatred and malice everywhere—and for this reason the Lord said that we shall know them by their fruits. By contrast, the true servants of God are humble, love their brethren, and are obedient to the Church.

The monks will be subjected to great pressure from the heretics, and the monastic life will be brought into disrepute. The monasteries will decline, the number of monks will diminish, and those who remain will suffer violence. Those who hate the monastic life, while possessing only an outward show of piety, will try to draw the monks over to their side, promising protection and material goods, while threatening with exile those who do not submit.

These threats will cause great despondency. If you are accounted worthy to live at that time, my son, rejoice! For then the faithful, even if they possess no other virtues, will receive crowns of glory solely because they remained steadfast in the true Faith, according to the word of the Lord: “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32).

The Snare of Possessions and the Loss of Grace

Fear the Lord, my son! Do not lose the crown prepared for you and be cast by Christ into the darkness of eternal hell. Stand courageously in the Faith and, if necessary, joyfully endure persecutions and afflictions, for the Lord will be with you... and the holy Martyrs and Confessors will behold your struggle with joy.

But woe in those days to the monks who are attached to possessions and wealth and who, out of love for comfort, will be willing to submit to the heretics. They will lull their consciences to sleep, saying: “We shall save the monastery, and God will forgive us.”

The wretched and blind do not even consider that, through heresy and the heretics, the demons will enter the monastery. Then it will no longer be a holy monastery, but merely bare walls, from which the Grace of God will have departed forever.

Hope and the Final Exhortation

But God is mightier than the devil and will never forsake His servants. There will be true Christians until the end of the world, but they will choose isolated and desert places. Do not fear hardships and afflictions, but fear destructive heresy, for it drives away Divine Grace and separates you from Christ. Therefore, Christ commanded us to regard the heretic as a heathen and a publican.

Therefore, my son, be strengthened by the grace of Jesus Christ. Joyfully enter into the struggle of confession and the patient endurance of afflictions, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:1–3), Who said: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

To Him, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, belong honor, glory, and dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

Greek source: https://apotixisi.blogspot.com/2026/07/blog-post_656.html