END TIME INSTRUCTIONS by St. Ambrosy of Optina (+1891)
SOURCE: St. Ambrosy, Elder of Optina, "End Times and Now Collection of
Writings"
[edited from the original translation to improve sentence structure]
Saint Ambrosy (also known as
Starets Ambrosy) is one of the better known starets of Optina. The Russian
Orthodox Church declared him a saint in 1988 and his memory is celebrated on
October 10th.
My child, know that in the last days hard times will come; and as the
Apostle says, behold, due to poverty in piety heresies and schisms will
appear in the churches; and as the Holy Fathers foretold, then on the
thrones of hierarchs and in monasteries there will be no men to be found
that are tested and experienced in the spiritual life. Wherefore, heresies
will spread everywhere and deceive many. The enemy of mankind will act
skillfully, and whenever possible he will lead the chosen ones to heresy. He
will not begin by discarding the dogmas on the Holy Trinity, the divinity of
Jesus Christ, or the Theotokos, but will unnoticeably start to distort the
Teachings of the Holy Fathers, in other words the teachings of the Church
herself. The cunning of the enemy and his "tipics" (ways) will be noticed by
very few -- only those that are most experienced in spiritual life. Heretics
will take over the Church, everywhere, and they will appoint their servants,
and spirituality will be neglected. But the Lord will not leave His servants
without protection. Truly, their real duty is persecution of true pastors
and their imprisonment; for without that, the spiritual flock may not become
captured by the heretics. Therefore, my son, when you see in the Churches
mocking of the Divine act, of the teachings of the Holy Fathers, and of
God's established order, know that the heretics are already present. Be also
aware that, for some time, they might hide their evil intentions, or they
might covertly deform the divine faith, so that they better succeed by
deceiving and tricking the inexperienced.
They will persecute pastors and the servants of God alike, for the devil who
is directing the heresy cannot stand the Divine order. Like wolves in sheep
skin, they will be recognized by their vainglorious nature, love for lust,
and lust for power. All those will be betrayers, causing hatred and malice
everywhere; and therefore the Lord said that one will easily recognize them
by their fruits. The true servants of God are meek, brother-loving and
obedient to the Church (order, traditions).
At that time, monks will endure great pressures from heretics, and the
monastic life will be mocked. The monastic families will be impoverished,
the number of monks will decrease. The ones remaining will endure violence.
These haters of the monastic life, who merely have the appearance of piety,
will strive to draw monks to their side, promising them protection and
worldly goods (comforts), but threatening with exile those who do not
submit. From these threats, the weak at heart will be very humiliated
(tormented).
If you live to see that time, rejoice, for at that time the faithful who
possess no other virtues will receive wreaths for merely remaining steadfast
in their faith, according to the Word of the Lord, "Everyone who confesses
Me before men, I will confess before My Heavenly Father". Fear the Lord, my
son, and don't lose this wreath so as to not be rejected by Christ into the
utter darkness and eternal suffering. Bravely stand in faith, and if
necessary, joyfully endure persecutions and other troubles, for only then
will the Lord stand by you...and the holy Martyrs and the Confessors will
joyfully watch your struggle.
But, in these days, woe be to monks tied to possessions and riches, and who,
for the sake of love of comfort, agree to subjugate themselves to the
heretics. They will lull their conscience by saying: we will save the
monastery, and the Lord will forgive us. Unfortunate and blinded, they are
not even thinking that through heresies and heretics the devil will enter
the monastery, and then it will no longer be a holy monastery, but bare
walls from which Grace will depart forever.
But God is more powerful than the devil, and will never abandon His
servants. There will always be true Christians, till the end of time, but
they will choose lonely and deserted places. Do not fear troubles, but fear
pernicious heresy, for it drives out Grace, and separates us from Christ,
wherefore Christ commanded us to consider the heretic and let him be unto
thee as a heathen man and publican.
And so, strengthen yourself, my son, in the Grace of Christ Jesus. With joy,
hasten to confession and endure the suffering like Jesus Christ's good
soldier who was told: "Be faithful l unto death, and I will give you the
wreath of life".
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