Письмо 70
The Alphabet of the Cross
The author challenges the reader to embrace insults as a fundamental lesson in following Christ's commandment to turn the other cheek.
Is it really such a big deal that you've run into something unpleasant? This is just how things go. So there's no reason to be upset. Think rather about this: how to bear a blow on the cheek—and still more, how after that blow to offer the other.1 And after all, this is the Lord's commandment! If what has happened is a blow to the cheek, then offer the other. But you want to run away. What a fine disciple of Christ!2 After all, this is still the alphabet—i.3 e.4 written at the beginning of the Gospel, on its first pages. So endure it! But I think everything has already settled down by now; and don't stir it up again.5 Look—Father has shown you attention, too. Why?6 So that you would take heart.7 So take heart.
Finding Peace in Disturbance
The author encourages the reader to recognize that their distress is temporary and advises against making decisions while in an anxious state.
In my opinion, this is a completely trivial incident, and that it unsettled you so much comes from the temporary state of your spirit at the time. I wish you peace! And at any time, you shouldn't take any action while you're in an anxious state, for that state is unreasonable—still less should you take any decisive step. Be at peace!
Read the original Russian
Великое ли дело, что вы встретили неприятность! Все это в порядке вещей. Стало быть, нечего смущаться. Подумайте лучше вот о чем: как перенесть ударение в ланиту и еще более, как после сего удара подставить другую? А ведь это заповедь Господня! Если случившееся есть удар в ланиту, то подставляйте другую. А вы утекать хотите. Хорошая ученица Христова!
Ведь это еще азбука, т. е. , в начале Евангелия написано, на первых его страницах. Потерпите же! Но думаю, теперь уже все улеглось; и не разбужайте. Вот и батюшка показал вам внимание, зачем? Затем, чтоб вы благодушествовали. Благодушествуйте же.
По-моему, это преничтожный случай, а что он так растревожил вас, это от тогдашняго состояния вашего духа – временнаго. Мира вам желаю!
Да и во всякое время в тревожном состоянии ничего предпринимать не должно, ибо это состояние неразумное, тем паче – предпринимать что-либо решительное. Умиритесь!
Notes
- 1 ↩Source has «ударение в ланиту» (stress/blow on the cheek); sense is clearly a strike on the cheek in light of the Gospel turn-the-other-cheek command and s6's «удар в ланиту».
- 2 ↩Ironic rebuke: feminine «ученица» addresses a woman correspondent; praise is sarcastic given the desire to flee the trial.
- 3 ↩«азбука» here means the elementary ABC of the Christian life, not a literal alphabet primer. «т.» is the first half of the abbreviation «т.е.» (то есть, ‘that is’), split across s1–s2.
- 4 ↩Standalone «е.» is the second half of the abbreviation «т.е.» (‘that is’ / ‘i.e.’), split by sentence segmentation from s1’s «т.».
- 5 ↩«не разбужайте» is an uncommon/old form; sense taken as ‘do not reawaken / stir up again’ what has «улеглось» (settled, calmed).
- 6 ↩«батюшка» is the familiar Orthodox address for a priest; rendered as ‘Father,’ not ‘daddy’ or a generic ‘father figure.’
- 7 ↩«благодушествовать» is elevated devotional diction: to be of good courage / keep a cheerful, steady spirit—not mere lightheartedness.
Letters on the Christian Life companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit