The Counsels of the Elder Nazarius of Valaam

THE ORTHODOX SPIRITUAL LIFE

The Counsels of the Elder Nazarius

Although not a literary figure, the Blessed Abbot Nazarius occupies a very prominent place in 18th century Orthodox monasticism; and indeed, the breadth and depth of his influence make him one of the great Church Fathers of pre-Revolutionary Russia. His writings, drawn chiefly from his letters of instruction to monks and nuns, his spiritual flock, were first compiled in ASCETICS OF SAROV MONASTERY, published in 1884. The next year they were re-edited and enlarged by the monks of Valaam and went through many subsequent editions. The present translation of these COUNSELS, in their entirety, has been made from the first Valaam edition of 1885. They are presented now – in this and future issues of THE ORTHODOX WORD – as an example of the genuine Orthodox spirituality that nurtured St. Herman of Alaska. May they fall on fertile soil and, by the prayers of our Holy Fathers, bring forth abundant fruits in the English-speaking Orthodox world!

INTRODUCTION

BELOVED brethren in Christ!

Arise, you that have fallen, open the eyes of your soul, take your fill of the bread which is the word of God, and drink the wine of the chalice of God's wisdom.

If sorrow should come to you-then with good will and love examine what is written here, and believe that with the aid of God's grace you will be comforted.

Confirm yourself in this truth: that every Divine writing that is in agreement with the path of salvation instructs, teaches, chastizes, and strengthens, that our path might be ever according to God.

I
ON THE LOVE OF GOD

WE ALL HAVE the desire to follow a higher calling, to that place where from of old an eternal dwelling has been prepared for us, filled with unspeakable joy: For our life is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour (Phil. 3:20). And thus he who wishes to receive that eternity must unfailingly know in what consists God's love for us, and our love for God. And just as He loved us, so must we also love Him. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son for us, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (St. John 3: 16). And in another place the same Apostle writes: In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son as the cleansing of our sins (I John 4:9, 10).

But in what manner He has cleansed our sins we shall examine in greater detail. Isa;ah declares that He took upon Himself the form of a slave; and He had no form nor comeliness, but His form was ignoble, and inferior to that of the children of men (Is. 53: 2, 3). He endured cruel tortures, in order through them to blot out our crimes, He accepted a shameful death, in order through this to give us life and salvation. And so, when He did not spare Himself only for us, should not we, Christians, love Him? Should we not walk in His steps?

Let us listen to the Apostle who said: For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21). And how did He suffer? Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by Whose bruises ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray without a shepherd; but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls (I Peter 2:24, 25). And thus we should have toward Him such love and obedience as He demands of us. Did not He Himself with His own most pure lips say: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind (St. Luke 10:27)? And in another place Moses said: And these words, all that I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart and in thy soul. And thou shalt speak of them sitting in the house, and walking by the way, and lying down, and rising up (Deut. 6:6, 7).

From this we see that one must unceasingly keep in remembrance God's love toward us, and seek a perfect love toward Him. But this is acquired by the fulfillment of God's commandments. If thou wilt love Christ: Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come and follow Me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven (St. Matt. 19:21). In doing this you show Him perfect love. He that hath My commandments, He says, and keepeth them, be it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him (St. John 14: 21).

One must know that without good deeds you do not show love toward Him; for not the bearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Rom. 2: 13).

And thus, see how good and merciful is the Lord. He gave Christians the law for no other reason than for the destruction of our malice, for a cleansing from sins, and for the conquering of the passions that war against God's law.

Therefore, we must not only keep God's commandments, but must also offer gifts in accordance with the commandments: just as the holy Fathers offered, each according to his strength, one five talents, another ten, another thirty. In the same way we also must prosper in doing good and in love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The holy Apostle Paul terrifies with a curse him who does not wish to love Christ: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema (I Cor. 16:22).

And St. Basil the Great, in his first homily on love toward God, teaches in these words: "We have received the commandment, O brethren, to love God, to desire and thirst after Him alone; we must have Him ever unfailingly in remembrance; and just as infants think of their mothers, so should you think of yourselves that we are created in His image and likeness, that He made us immortal in soul, and that in word and mind we are honored above all creatures and endowed with unutterable goods. For us He came down from the heavens and reconciled us with God and the Heavenly Father, saved, justified and made us sons and inheritors of His Kingdom."

O God, our Saviour! Set love on fire within us, that we might love Thee as it pleases Thee!

Are we worthy of His love, being dust and ashes? Nonetheless, He loved us.

What discontent we feel, not having love toward Him! How we suffer without Him, tossed on the waves of calamity! But even though we sometimes reject Him, He does not turn away from us. We flee Him, but He seeks us and calls us to Himself, saying: Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden (St. Matt. 11:28).

Our God! We reject Thy love, but Thou dost not cease to love us. We not infrequently accept the suggestions of satan more than Thy law. We, not sparing ourselves and our own salvation, are diligent in works of malice. And notwithstanding this, a man often says: I love God. What a contradiction! He thinks that he loves God, but does not fulfill His commandments. What kind of love is this? It is nothing but hypocrisy!

When you say: I love Christ God, then look at what He commands you: Ye should do as I have done to you (St. John 13:15).

If you love Christ God, then endure as He endured, and do all that is pleasing to Him. He taught and did. Unfailingly your love also should be such as does good, endures, is disturbed by nothing present, and in everything ever thanks Him not with words and tongue, but with very deeds. You must love Him with heart, with mind, with your whole soul, strength, and mind.

And if you love Him in this way, then listen to Isaiah who says: Will a woman forget her child, so as not to have compassion upon the offspring of her womb? But if a woman should even forget these, yet I will not forget thee, saith the Lord Almighty (Is. 49: 15).