Мудрость
What is Christian Wisdom?
Christian wisdom is a careful and discerning attentiveness to avoid offending God or neighbor, grounded in innocence, honesty, and prudence to guard against spiritual and earthly enemies.
Question 11. What is Christian wisdom? Answer. Christian wisdom is a kind of carefulness and foresight, one that is concerned and watchful, ensuring that neither God nor neighbor is offended by any action or thought. The Lord teaches about this wisdom: 'Be wise, therefore, as serpents and innocent as doves' (Matt. 10:16). Explaining this, the Divine Paul says: 'Look carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is' (Eph. 5:15–17). Such Christian wisdom has as its foundation purity and simplicity of heart, all honesty and propriety, and all circumspection, so as not to be deceived by the enemy of our soul, and by those who wish us harm.
Read the original Russian
Вопрос 11. Что есть мудрость Христианская?
Ответ. Мудрость Христианская есть некоторая заботливость и прозорливость, пекущаяся и наблюдающая, чтобы не оскорбить Бога и ближнего никаким поступком или мыслию. О сей мудрости Господь так учит: «будите убо мудри яко змия, и цели яко голубие» (Мф. 10, 16). Сие изъясняя, Божественный Павел говорит: «Блюдите убо, како опасно ходите, не якоже немудри, но якоже премудри, искупующе время, яко дние лукави суть. Сего ради не бывайте несмысленнии, но разумевайте, что есть воля Божия» (Еф. 5, 15–17). Таковая мудрость Христианская основанием своим имеет непорочность и простоту сердца, всякую честность и пристойность, и всякую осмотрительность, чтобы не быть обманутыми врагом души нашей, и теми, кои желают вредить нам.
Orthodox Confession (Pravoslavnoe Ispovedanie) 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