Об Аввакире
The Testing of Abbacyrus
John Climacus observes the humble endurance of a monk named Abbacyrus, who views his daily mistreatment by the brothers as a necessary spiritual refinement.
Let's listen further and marvel at the wisdom of God found in earthen vessels.✦ While I was in that same monastery, I was amazed at the faith and patience of some of the novices, and at how they tirelessly and firmly bore rebukes and insults from the superior—sometimes even being driven out—and endured this not only from the superior, but from those of lower rank as well.1 For the good of my soul I asked one of the brothers who had already lived fifteen years in that monastery, named Abbacyrus, whom, as I saw, almost everyone mistreated: and the servers nearly every day drove him out of the refectory, because this brother was by nature somewhat unrestrained with his tongue. "Brother Abbacyrus," I said to him, "why do they drive you out of the refectory every day, and why do I often see you going to bed without supper?" He answered: "Believe me, Father, these fathers of mine are testing me to see whether I am truly a monk." And since they don't do this in earnest, I too, knowing their intention and that of the great father, bear everything without being burdened. For fifteen years I've lived with this thought—just as they said when I entered the monastery, that they test those who renounce the world for as long as thirty years.2 And rightly so, Father John, for untested gold is never pure."✦
A Confessor's Reward
Upon his death, Abbacyrus testifies to the spiritual fruit of his long endurance, leading the community to honor him as a confessor.
This valiant Abbakir remained in that monastery two years after I came there, then went to the Lord; and when he was dying he said to the fathers: "I thank, I thank the Lord and you; for because you tested me for my salvation, I was free from demonic temptations for seventeen years." The just shepherd ordered that he be laid to rest as a confessor, rightly among the saints who rest in that place.3
Read the original Latin
Послушаем еще и подивимся премудрости Божией, обретающейся в скудельных сосудах. Находясь в той же обители, я удивлялся вере и терпению некоторых новоначальных, и тому, как они с неутомимою твердостию переносили от настоятеля выговоры и укоризны, а иногда и отгнания, и терпели это не только от настоятеля, но и от других меньших. Для душевного назидания спросил я одного из братий, уже пятнадцать лет жившего в той обители, по имени Аввакира, которого, как я видел, почти все обижали: а служители едва не каждый день выгоняли из трапезы, потому что сей брат от природы был несколько невоздержан на язык. «Брат Аввакир, – сказал я ему, – за что тебя всякий день выгоняют из трапезы, и я часто вижу, что ты идешь спать без ужина?» Он отвечал: «Поверь, отче, сии отцы мои искушают меня, точно ли я монах? И как они делают сие не вправду: то и я, зная намерение их и великого отца, терплю все без отягощения; и вот уже пятнадцать лет живу, имея сию мысль; как и сами они, при вступлении моем в обитель, говорили, что до тридцати лет искушают отрицающихся от мира. И справедливо, отче Иоанне, ибо не искушенное золото не бывает чисто».
Сей доблестный Аввакир, пребыв в том монастыре, по моем пришествии туда, два года, отошел ко Господу, и когда был при смерти, сказал отцам: «Благодарю, благодарю Господа и вас; ибо за то, что вы меня, на спасение мое, искушали, и я семнадцать лет был свободен от искушений бесовских». Правосудный пастырь повелел положить его, как исповедника, по справедливости со святыми, почивающими в том месте.
Scripture echoes
- ↩2Cor.4.7 — But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the surpassing power belongs to God and not from us.
- ↩Prov.17.3;Zech.13.9;1Pet.1.7 — The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the LORD tests hearts. Zech.13.9 — And I will bring the third part into the fire, and I will refine them as one refines silver, and I will test them as one tests gold. He will call on my name, and I will answer him. I will say, 'He is my people,' and he will say, 'The LORD is my God.' 1Pet.1.7 — so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that is perishable even though refined by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Notes
- 1 ↩настоятель rendered as 'superior' (abbot/hegumen of the house); could also be 'abbot' if house terminology is fixed later.
- 2 ↩не вправду rendered as 'not in earnest' (pedagogical testing, not genuine malice). Alternative: 'not sincerely as hostility'.
- 3 ↩исповедник rendered as confessor: one who bears witness by endurance under trial, not a sacramental confessor of sins.
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