In 2006, a photographic copy of a manuscript was
published containing spiritual counsels written by the hand of St. Seraphim of
Sarov († 1833) to the then young Hieromonk Anthony (1792-1877), who regularly
visited and sought advice from the Saint. In 1831, St. Philaret, Metropolitan
of Moscow, chose Father Anthony as his spiritual Father and appointed him
Rector of the Holy Trinity Lavra near Moscow (the Metropolitan was then Abbot
of the Monastery). Father Anthony, as Archimandrite, worthily served the
renowned Lavra, and Russian monasticism more generally, for more than forty
years, until his saintly repose.
It seems that the original text was found among the personal
archives of Father Anthony at the Lavra. We do not have further information
regarding either the original or the photographic copy; nevertheless, the Grace-filled
spiritual admonitions of the text are wholly consistent with the well-known
“Brief Teachings” of St. Seraphim.
A copy of the original handwritten letter and an English
translation of the text follow.
Father Seraphim: words written by his own hand.
1. Learn noetic prayer of the heart as the Holy
Fathers teach it in the Philokalia; for the Jesus Prayer is a light on our path
and a star leading us to Heaven.
2. Learn to practice the Jesus Prayer while breathing
in through your nose, with your lips shut; this technique is a scourge against
the flesh and carnal desires.
3. Add “through the Theotokos have mercy on me” to the
usual Jesus Prayer.
4. Outer prayer alone does not suffice, for God is
attentive to the mind. Thus, monks who do not unite outer prayer with inner
prayer are not monks, but little black heads.
5. Fear like the fire of Gehenna those painted ravens
[women]; for they often transform soldiers of the King into servants of Satan.
6. Keep in mind that the true mandyas of a monk is
patient endurance of slander and disparagement with joy; where there are no
sorrows, neither is there salvation.
7. Do everything gradually, calmly, and not at once.
Virtue is not a pear; it is not devoured in one bite.
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