27.11.2019

Prophetic vision of the holy righteous Fr. John of Kronstadt - Prophetic vision of the holy righteous Father John of Kronstadt about the fate of Russia and the world. succumb to the temptation and persuasion of the two-faced devil

St. John of Kronstadt brings homeless children to an orphanage.

The vision of St. Righteous John of Kronstadt (taken from the film "Visions on the Neva") about the end times and the end of the world. “Look here,” the elder pointed out with his hand, “do you see?!” I see mountains. - No, this is a mountain of human corpses all soaked in blood. I crossed myself and asked the elder, what does this mean? What are these corpses? - These are monks and nuns, wanderers ...

God bless! I am the sinful servant John, priest of Kronstadt, I am writing this vision. I wrote and with my hand what I saw, then I conveyed in writing.

On the night of January 1, 1908, after evening prayer, I sat down to rest for a while at the table. There was twilight in my cell, in front of the icon of the Mother of God a lamp was burning. In less than half an hour, I heard a slight noise, someone lightly touched my right shoulder and a quiet, light, gentle voice said to me: "Get up, God's servant Ivan, come with me." I got up quickly.

I see standing in front of me: a marvelous wonderful old man, pale, with gray hair, in a mantle, in his left hand a rosary. He looked at me sternly, but his eyes were gentle and kind. I immediately almost fell from fear, but the wonderful old man supported me - my hands and legs were trembling, I wanted to say something, but my tongue did not turn. The elder crossed me, and it became easy and joyful for me - I also crossed myself. Then he pointed with a staff to the western side of the wall - there he drew with the same staff: 1913, 1914, 1917, 1922, 1930, 1933, 1934. Suddenly the wall was gone. I am walking with an old man across a green field and I see a mass of crosses: thousands, millions, different: small and great, wooden, stone, iron, copper, silver and gold. I passed by the crosses, crossed myself and dared to ask the elder what kind of crosses they were? He kindly answered me: these are those who suffered for Christ and for the Word of God.

We go further and see: whole rivers of blood flow into the sea, and the sea is red with blood. I was horrified with fear and again asked the wonderful old man: “Why is so much blood shed?” He looked again and said to me, "That's Christian blood."

Then the elder pointed with his hand to the clouds, and I see a mass of burning, brightly burning lamps. So they began to fall to the ground: one, two, three, five, ten, twenty, Then they began to fall in whole hundreds, more and more, and they all burned. I was very sad why they did not burn clearly, but only fell and rotten, turning into dust and ashes. The elder said: look, and I saw only seven lamps on the clouds and asked the elder what this means? He, bowing his head, said: "The lamps that you see are falling, which means the Churches will fall into heresy, but seven burning lamps remain - the seven Churches of the Apostolic Cathedral will remain at the end of the world."

Then the elder pointed out to me, look, and now I see and hear a wonderful vision: the angels sang: "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of hosts." And there was a large mass of people with candles in their hands, with joyful shining faces; there were kings, princes, patriarchs, metropolitans, bishops, archimandrites, abbots, schemniks, priests, deacons. novices, wanderers for Christ's sake, laity, young men, youths, babies; cherubim and seraphim accompanied them to the paradise heavenly abode.

I asked the elder: "What kind of people are these?" The elder, as if knowing my thought, said: "These are all the servants of Christ who suffered for Christ's holy Catholic and Apostolic Church." Again I dared to ask if I could join them. The elder said: no, it's too early for you, be patient (wait). Again I asked: "Tell me, Father, how are the babies?" The elder said: these babies also suffered for Christ from King Herod (14 thousand), and also those babies received crowns from the King of Heaven, who were destroyed in their mother's womb, and nameless. I crossed myself: "What a great and terrible sin the mother will have - unforgivable."

Let's move on - let's go to big temple. I wanted to cross myself, but the elder said to me: "Here is abomination and desolation." Here I see a very gloomy and dark temple, a gloomy and dark throne. There is no iconostasis in the middle of the church. Instead of icons, there are some strange portraits with animal faces and sharp caps, and on the throne is not a cross, but a large star and a Gospel with a star, and resin candles burn, they crackle like firewood, and the bowl stands, and a strong stench comes from the bowl, and from there all sorts of reptiles, toads, scorpions, spiders crawl, it's scary to look at all this. Prosphora also with a star; in front of the throne stands a priest in a bright red robe and green toads and spiders crawl along the robe; his face is terrible and black as coal, his eyes are red, and smoke comes out of his mouth and his fingers are black, as if in ashes.

Oh, Lord, how scary - then some vile, nasty, ugly black woman jumped on the throne, all in red with a star on her forehead and spun on the throne, then shouted like night owl to the whole temple in a terrible voice: "Freedom" - and became, and people, like crazy, began to run around the throne, rejoicing at something, and shouted, and whistled, and clapped their hands. Then they began to sing some kind of song - first quietly, then louder, like dogs, then it all turned into an animal growl, then into a roar. Suddenly a bright lightning flashed and a strong thunder struck, the earth trembled and the temple collapsed and fell through the ground.

The throne, the priest, the red woman all mixed up and thundered into the abyss. Lord, save. Wow, how scary. I crossed myself. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I looked back. The elder smiled at me: "Did you see it?" he said. "I saw it, Father. Tell me what it was? Terrible and terrible." The elder answered me: “The temple, the priests and the people are heretics, apostates, atheists who have lagged behind the faith of Christ and from the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and recognized the heretical, life-renewing Church, which does not have the Grace of God. neither confess, nor commune, nor receive chrismation." "Lord, save me, a sinner, send me repentance - Christian death," I whispered, but the elder reassured me: "Do not grieve," he said, "pray to God."

We went further. I look - there is a mass of people, terribly exhausted, each has a star on their foreheads. When they saw us, they growled: “Pray for us, holy fathers, to God, it’s very hard for us, but we ourselves can’t. Our fathers and mothers didn’t teach us the Law of God, and we don’t even have a Christian name. (and the red banner)".

I looked and saw: the Tsar's Palace, and animals of various breeds and animals of various sizes, reptiles, dragons, hissing, roaring and climbing into the palace, and already climbed onto the throne of the Anointed Nicholas II, - his face is pale, but courageous, - he reads Jesus Prayer. Suddenly the throne shook, and the crown fell, rolled. The animals roared, fought, crushed the Anointed One. They tore it apart and trampled it like demons in hell, and everything disappeared.

Then he said to me with tears: “Pray for me, father Ivan, and tell all Orthodox Christians that I died as a martyr; firmly and courageously for the Orthodox Faith and for the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and suffered for all Christians; and tell everyone Orthodox Apostolic pastors, so that they serve a common fraternal memorial service for all the soldiers killed on the battlefield: burned in the fire, drowned in the sea and for me, a sinner, suffered. Do not look for my grave, it is difficult to find. I ask you again: pray for me, Father Ivan, and forgive me, good shepherd." Then it was all covered in mist. I crossed myself: "God rest the soul of the deceased slave of God Nicholas, eternal memory to him. "Lord, how terrible. My hands and legs were trembling, I was crying.

The elder again said to me: "Don't cry, it is pleasing to God, pray to God. Look again." Here I see a mass of people lying around, dying of hunger, who ate grass, ate each other's earth, and dogs picked up corpses, everywhere there was a terrible stench, blasphemy. Lord, save us and strengthen us in the holy faith of Christ, we are weak and weak without faith. Here the old man again says to me: "Look there." And now I see a whole mountain of different books, small and large. Between these books stinking worms crawl, swarm and spread a terrible stench. I asked, "What are these books, Father?" He replied: "Godless, heretical, who infect all the people of the whole world with worldly blasphemous teachings." The elder touched the end of his staff to these books, and it all turned into fire, and everything burned to the ground, and the wind dispelled the ashes.

Then I see a church, and around it lies a mass of memorials and letters. I bent down and wanted to pick up one and read it, but the elder said that these were the commemorations and letters that had been at the church for many years, but the priests had forgotten them and never read them, and the departed souls asked to pray, but there was no one to read and no one to commemorate. I asked: "And who will be?" "Angels," said the old man. I crossed myself. Remember, O Lord, the souls of Thy servants who have fallen asleep in Thy kingdom.

We went further. The elder was walking fast, so I could hardly keep up with him. Suddenly he turned around and said, "Look." Here comes a crowd of people driven by terrible demons who mercilessly beat and stabbed people with long lances, pitchforks and hooks. "What kind of people are these?" I asked the elder. "These are the ones," replied the elder, "who have fallen away from the Faith and the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church and accepted the heretical life-renewal." There were bishops, priests, deacons, laymen, monks, nuns who accepted marriage and began to live depravedly. There were atheists, sorcerers, fornicators, drunkards, money-lovers, heretics, apostates of the Church, sectarians and others. They have a terrible and terrible appearance: their faces are black, foam and stench came from their mouths, and they screamed terribly, but the demons beat them mercilessly and drove them into a deep abyss. From there came stench, smoke, fire and stench. I crossed myself: "Deliver me, Lord, and have mercy, all this I have seen is terrible."

Then I see: a mass of people is coming; old and small, and all in red robes, and carried a huge red star, five-headed, and 12 demons sat on each corner, and in the middle sat Satan himself with terrible horns and crocodile eyes, with lion's mane and a terrible mouth, with large teeth, and from the mouth he spewed fetid foam. All the people shouted: "Get up, branded with a curse." A mass of demons appeared, all red, and branded the people, putting a seal on each forehead and on the hand in the form of a star. The elder said that this is the seal of the Antichrist. I was very frightened, crossed myself and read a prayer: "Let God rise again." After that, everything disappeared like smoke.

I was in a hurry and barely had time to follow the elder, so the elder stopped, pointed to the east with his hand and said: "Look." And I saw a mass of people with joyful faces, and in their hands were crosses, banners and candles, and in the middle, between the crowd, there was a high throne in the air, a golden royal crown and it was written in golden letters: "For a short time." Patriarchs, bishops, priests, monks, hermits and laity stand around the throne. Everyone sings: "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth." I crossed myself and thanked God.

Suddenly, the Elder waved crosswise three times in the air. And now I see a mass of corpses and rivers of blood. Angels flew over the bodies of the slain and barely had time to bring Christian souls to the Throne of God, and sang "alleluia". It was terrible to look at all this. I wept bitterly and prayed. The elder took my hand and said, “Do not cry. So the Lord God needs for our lack of faith and wretchedness, this must be so, our Savior Jesus Christ also suffered and shed His pure blood on the cross. So, there will be many more martyrs for Christ, and these are those who will not accept the seal of Antichrist, shed their blood and receive a martyr's crown."

Then the elder prayed, crossed himself three times to the east and said: "Behold, the prophecy of Daniel has been fulfilled. The abomination of desolation is final." I saw the Temple in Jerusalem, and there was a star on the dome. Millions of people crowd around the temple and try to enter inside the temple. I wanted to cross myself, but the elder held my hand and said again: "Here is the abomination of desolation."

We entered the temple, where there were many people. And now I see the throne in the middle of the temple. around the throne in three rows, resin candles are burning, and on the throne sits the world ruler-king in bright red purple, and on his head is a golden crown with diamonds, with a star. I asked the old man: "Who is this?" He said, "That's the Antichrist." He is tall, his eyes are black as coal, his beard is black as a wedge, his face is fierce, cunning and crafty - animal-like, his nose is aquiline. Suddenly the Antichrist stood on the throne, straightened up to his full height, raised his head high and right hand handed it to the people - there were claws on the fingers, like a tiger, and growled in his bestial voice: "I am your god, king and ruler. Whoever does not accept my seal - death to them here." Everyone fell on their knees and bowed and accepted the seal on their foreheads. But some boldly approached him and loudly exclaimed at once: "We are Christians, we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Then, in an instant, the sword of Antichrist flashed, and the heads of Christian youths rolled down and blood was shed for the faith of Christ. Here they lead the girls, women and small children. Here he became even worse angry and shouted like an animal: "Death to them. These Christians are my enemies - death to them." Instant death followed immediately. Heads rolled to the floor and Orthodox blood spilled all over the temple.

Then they lead a ten-year-old boy to the Antichrist for worship and say: "Fall on your knees," but the boy boldly approached the throne of the Antichrist; "I am a Christian and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and you are a fiend, a servant of Satan, you are the Antichrist." "Death," roared them with a terrible wild roar. All fell on their knees before the Antichrist. Suddenly, thousands of thunders thundered and thousands of lightning bolts from heaven flew with fiery arrows and hit the servants of the Antichrist. Suddenly the biggest arrow, fiery, cruciform, flew down from the sky and hit the Antichrist in the head. He waved his hand and fell, the crown flew off his head and crumbled to dust, and millions of birds flew and pecked at the corpses of the wicked servants of the Antichrist.

So I felt that the elder took me by the shoulder and said: "Let's move on." Here I see again a mass of blood, knee-deep, waist-deep, oh, how much Christian blood has been shed. Then I remembered the word that is said in the Revelation of John the Theologian: "And there will be blood up to the bridles of horses." Ah, God, save me a sinner. A great fear came over me. I was neither alive nor dead. I see angels fly a lot and sing: "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord." I looked around - the old man was on his knees and praying. Then he stood up and affectionately said: "Do not grieve. Soon, soon the end of the world, pray to the Lord, He is merciful to His servants. It is not years left, but hours, and soon, soon the end."

Then the elder blessed me and pointed to the east with his hand, said: "I'm going there." I fell on my knees, bowed to him, and I see that he is quickly moving away from the earth. then I asked: "What is your name, wonderful old man?" Then I exclaimed louder. "Holy Father, tell me, what is your holy name?" “Seraphim,” he said softly and quietly to me, “and what you saw, write it down and don’t forget it all for the sake of Christ.”

prophetic vision

Holy Righteous Father John of Kronstadt

about the fate of Russia and the world

God bless! I am the sinful servant John, priest of Kronstadt, I am writing this vision. I wrote and with my hand what I saw, then I conveyed in writing.

On the night of January 1, 1908, after evening prayer, I sat down to rest for a while at the table. There was twilight in my cell, in front of the icon of the Mother of God a lamp was burning. In less than half an hour, I heard a slight noise, someone lightly touched my right shoulder and a quiet, light, gentle voice said to me: “Get up, servant of God Ivan, come with me.” I got up quickly.

We go further and see: whole rivers of blood flow into the sea, and the sea is red with blood. I was horrified with fear and again asked the wonderful old man: “Why was so much blood shed?” He looked again and said to me, "This is Christian blood."

Then the elder pointed with his hand to the clouds, and I see a mass of burning, brightly burning lamps. So they began to fall to the ground: one, two, three, five, ten, twenty, Then they began to fall in whole hundreds, more and more, and they all burned. I was very sad why they did not burn clearly, but only fell and rotten, turning into dust and ashes. The elder said: look, and I saw only seven lamps on the clouds and asked the elder what this means? He, bowing his head, said: “The lamps that you see are falling, which means the Churches will fall into heresy, and seven burning lamps remain - the seven Churches of the Apostolic Cathedral will remain at the end of the world.”

Then the elder pointed out to me, look, and now I see and hear a wonderful vision: the angels sang: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of hosts.” And there was a large mass of people with candles in their hands, with joyful shining faces; there were kings, princes, patriarchs, metropolitans, bishops, archimandrites, abbots, schemniks, priests, deacons. novices, wanderers for Christ's sake, laity, young men, youths, babies; cherubim and seraphim accompanied them V heavenly abode. I asked the elder: “What kind of people are these?” The elder, as if knowing my thought, said: “These are all the servants of Christ who suffered for Christ’s holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.” Again I dared to ask if I could join them. The elder said: no, it's too early for you, be patient (wait). I asked again: “Tell me, father, how are the babies?” The elder said: these babies also suffered for Christ from King Herod (14 thousand), and also those babies received crowns from the King of Heaven, who were destroyed in their mother's womb, and nameless. I crossed myself: "What a great and terrible sin the mother will have - unforgivable."

We go further - we go into a large temple. I wanted to cross myself, but the elder told me: “Here is abomination and desolation.” Here I see a very gloomy and dark temple, a gloomy and dark throne. There is no iconostasis in the middle of the church. Instead of icons, there are some strange portraits with animal faces and sharp caps, and on the throne is not a cross, but a large star and a Gospel with a star, and resin candles burn, they crackle like firewood, and the bowl stands, and a strong stench comes from the bowl, and from there all sorts of reptiles, toads, scorpions, spiders crawl, it's scary to look at all this. Prosphora also with a star; in front of the throne stands a priest in a bright red robe and green toads and spiders crawl along the robe; his face is terrible and black as coal, his eyes are red, and smoke comes out of his mouth and his fingers are black, as if in ashes.

Oh, Lord, how scary - then some vile, ugly, ugly black woman jumped on the throne, all in red with a star on her forehead and spun on the throne, then shouted like a night owl to the whole temple in a terrible voice: “Freedom” - and became, and people, like crazy, began to run around the throne, rejoicing at something, and shouted, and whistled, and clapped their hands. Then they began to sing some kind of song - first quietly, then louder, like dogs, then it all turned into an animal growl, then into a roar. Suddenly a bright lightning flashed and a strong thunder struck, the earth trembled and the temple collapsed and fell through the ground. The throne, the priest, the red woman all mixed up and thundered into the abyss. Lord, save. Wow, how scary. I crossed myself. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I looked back. The elder smiled at me: “Did you see? - he said. - I saw it, Father. Tell me what was it? Terrible and terrible." The elder answered me: “The temple, the priests and the people are heretics, apostates, atheists who have lagged behind the faith of Christ and from the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and recognized the heretical, life-renewing Church, which does not have the Grace of God. In it one can neither fast, nor confess, nor partake, nor receive chrismation.” “Lord, save me, a sinner, send me repentance - Christian death,” I whispered, but the elder reassured me: “Do not grieve,” he said, “pray to God.”

We went further. I look - there is a mass of people, terribly exhausted, each has a star on their foreheads. When they saw us, they growled: “Pray for us, holy fathers, to God, it is very hard for us, but we ourselves cannot. Our fathers and mothers did not teach us the Law of God, and we do not even have a Christian name. We have not received the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit (but the red banner)."

I cried and followed the old man. “Look here,” the elder pointed out with his hand, “do you see?!” I see mountains. - No, this is a mountain of human corpses all soaked in blood. I crossed myself and asked the elder, what does this mean? What are these corpses? - These are monks and nuns, wanderers, wanderers, killed for the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, who did not want to accept the seal of the Antichrist, but wished to accept the crown of martyrdom and die for Christ. I prayed: "Save, Lord, and have mercy on the servants of God and all Christians." But suddenly the elder turned to the north side and pointed with his hand: “Look.” I looked and saw: the Tsar's Palace, and animals of various breeds and animals of various sizes, reptiles, dragons, hissing, roaring and climbing into the palace, and already climbed onto the throne of the Anointed Nicholas II, - his face is pale, but courageous, - he reads Jesus Prayer. Suddenly the throne shook, and the crown fell, rolled. The animals roared, fought, crushed the Anointed One. They tore it apart and trampled it like demons in hell, and everything disappeared.

Oh, Lord, how terrible, save and have mercy from all evil, enemy and adversary. I wept bitterly, suddenly the elder took me by the shoulder, - do not cry, it is pleasing to the Lord, and pointed out: "Look" - I see a pale radiance appeared. At first I could not distinguish, but then it became clear - the involuntary Anointed One appeared, on his head was a crown of green leaves. The face is pale, bloody, with a golden cross around the neck. He quietly whispered a prayer. Then he said to me with tears: “Pray for me, father Ivan, and tell all Orthodox Christians that I died as a martyr; firmly and courageously for the Orthodox Faith and for the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and suffered for all Christians; and tell all Orthodox Apostolic pastors to serve a common fraternal memorial service for all the soldiers killed on the battlefield: those who were burned in the fire, drowned in the sea, and those who suffered for me, a sinner. Don't look for my grave, it's hard to find. I ask again: pray for me, father Ivan, and forgive me, good shepherd. Then it was all covered in mist. I crossed myself: "God rest the soul of the deceased servant of God Nicholas, eternal memory to him." God, how scary. My hands and feet were trembling, I was crying.

The elder again told me: “Don’t cry, it pleases God, pray to God. See more." Here I see a mass of people lying around, dying of hunger, who ate grass, ate each other's earth, and dogs picked up corpses, everywhere there was a terrible stench, blasphemy. God , save us and strengthen us in the holy faith of Christ, we are weak and weak without faith. Here the old man again says to me: “Look there.” And now I see a whole mountain of different books, small and large. Between these books stinking worms crawl, swarm and spread a terrible stench. I asked, “What are these books. Father? He replied: "Godless, heretical, who infect all the people of the whole world with worldly blasphemous teachings." The elder touched the end of his staff to these books, and it all turned into fire, and everything burned to the ground, and the wind dispelled the ashes.

Mystical union with God is often accompanied or preceded by visions, hearings, in general, the appearance in the mind of specific specific images.

St. John of the Cross (Spanish saint of the 16th century) finds that this is “the path of the flesh”: everything that is in a certain, perceived image, he considers not to belong to the sphere of the Divine, but recognizes that there are souls that move towards God “through sensible objects" (*). Bl. Suzo, who is well acquainted with this experience and, perhaps, more grasping the fullness of mystical life, says: “Since the soul, due to the weakness of a heavy body, cannot always belong to a pure bra in a form free from images, then it must have something figurative, which would lead her there. The best thing for this is an attractive image (das liebreiche Bild) of Jesus Christ; in Him man finds life, He is the highest reward and the greatest benefit” (**). All life Bl. Suzo passed in enthusiastic communion with the angels, Christ, the Mother of God; he saw them in beautiful images, heard angelic singing and music. Being a student and follower of M. Ekegart, he is well acquainted with the teachings of negative theology (***). He admits that the more supersensible and ugly the vision, the more noble it is: it contains pure truth, the direct contemplation of the simple Divine ti (Gottheit, according to M. Ekegart). However, he adds that the friends of God also receive visions,

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*) Cm . Baruzi, St. Jean de la Croix et le problème de l "expérience mystique, 504 c., 500, 510 c., 267, 386, 525.

**) Seuse, Deutsche Schriften, ed. Bihlmeyer, 391.

***) Seuse, Deutsche Schrifften, Büchlein der Wahrheit, ed. E. Diederichs, ed. and with prev. W. Lehmann, II vol., pp. 117, 129.

rich images. The conversion from a scattered life to God took place in him at the age of eighteen, after an unexpected contemplation of the fullness of the Divine Beyond: he “saw and heard something inexpressible in language: it was something without form and form, but containing joyful pleasure from all forms and types.” "It was the sweetness emanating from eternal life in the presence of an abiding calm sensation" (*).

After this contemplation, Suso began to zealously strive for "love union with Eternal Wisdom" (I, II). Sometimes his theopathic state was somewhere between contemplating the fullness of the Super and seeing images. The content of one of these contemplations was as follows: Wisdom hovered high above him on a throne of clouds, shone like the Morning Star, and shone like the blazing sun, her crown was eternity, her garment was bliss, her words were sweetness, her embrace was the satisfaction of everyone. enjoyment; it was far and near, high and low, it was present and yet hidden; She entered into fellowship and yet it was impossible to touch her. At the thought of Her, “as if the primary outflow of all goodness penetrated into his soul, in which he spiritually found everything beautiful, worthy of love and desire” (I, 13). - But most often Suso had visions of Christ, angels in certain images (for example, Christ in the form of a six-winged seraph) and hearing angelic singing and music.

Life of St. Teresa is filled with visions and hearings no less than the life of Bl. Suso. In her youth, during a vain conversation with visitors to the monastery, she saw with the “eyes of the soul” Christ with a serious face. Describing her life, she says that she saw Him “more clearly than with bodily eyes” and, although 26 years have passed since then, she clearly remembers as if she sees His face (*). When her religious life was strengthened, she had many visions. Once she saw hands, then the face of Jesus Christ "in supernatural glory and beauty"; finally, she saw the whole of Christ, as He is portrayed in the "Resurrection"; His whiteness and brilliance surpassed human imagination, the brightness of the sun in comparison with Him is darkness; nevertheless, this brilliance does not dazzle (XXVIII. ch., pp. 363-369). She sometimes had

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*) Ibid., Vol. I, p. 10.

**) Theresia von Jesus. Das Leben der heiligen Theresia von Jesu und die besonderen ihr von Gott erheilten gnaden, auf Geheiss, ihrer Beichtväter von ihr selbst beschrieben, von Fr. Aloisius ab Immaculata Conceptione, Priester aus dem Orden der unbeschuhten Karmeliten, 1919, ch. VII, p. 69.

and visions of the kingdom of evil. Once she saw the devil: he had a disgusting mouth, flames came out of his body; he said that Teresa had escaped his power, but he would seize her again (ch. XXXI, p. 415).

Visions happen not only to great mystics and ascetics. Particularly touching and significant in their consequences for the entire Christian world are the visions of children, for example. the appearance of Our Lady to Bernadette and the transformation of Lourdes into a center of pilgrimage and healing for many people. Even more remarkable, perhaps, is the appearance of the Mother of God on September 19th. 1846 to two shepherd children Pierre Maximin Giraud (11 years old) and Melania Calvat 15 years old) on a mountain in "Alpes daufinoises" near the village of Salette. Descending the mountain, the children suddenly saw a fireball and a radiance that filled the entire valley. When the radiance parted, the children saw the “Beautiful Lady” (“Belle Dame”) sitting on the stones in inconsolable grief, with her elbows on her knees, with her face covered by her hands. She got up and walked over to the children. On her head was a wreath of roses; her dress shone, on her chest, or rather inside her, was a crucifix with tongs and a hammer. She encouraged the children and gave them important messages. Some of them were addressed to both children, some - only to Maximinus, the most significant messages - to Melania alone with an order to publish them only after twelve years. The Mother of God spoke about the sins of the people and about the heavy punishment for them, about the times when hunger would come, the death of children, etc. to the fatherland, not to the family; new authorities will spread materialism, atheism, vices; churches will be closed and profaned; many people will fall away from the faith (**).

The Mother of God also spoke about the bad life of the modern clergy (“cloaques d” impureté”), about his love of money, etc., she also advised not to trust the “two-hearted” Napoleon, etc. Apparently, this part of the message was the reason for the resistance to printing Melania's stories and their suppression by the clergy.The full text was published only in 1879 by order of Pope Leo XIII.The most surprising circumstance that prompted L. Blois (L. V l oh ) to write a book Celle qui pleure (1908) about this vision. Our Lady ordered the founding of a new religious order "Les Apôtres des Derniers Temps"; Pope Leo XIII ordered

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*) Monseigneur J. Giray, l "eveque de Cahors. Les miracles de la Salette, 2 tt., Grenoble 1921.

**) A . About rent , Le secret complet de la Salette, 1902.

hall in 1878 to introduce the charter of the order in the monastery at Notre Dame de la Salette, but the Bishop of Grenobol, says Blois, did not comply with the order; he died, falling to the floor, tormented by a terrible vision *).

We have enough diverse material to now raise the question of the types of visions and their source. Most often, mystics, saints, visionaries talk about spiritual seeing and hearing. St. Teresa says that she saw Christ "with the eyes of the soul" (ch. VII, 69); when Christ appeared before her in all splendor and glory, she described her experience as “a vision in the imagination,” but with confidence that it was not a subjective creation of her imagination, but the appearance of Christ himself (ch. VII, 69; ch. XXVIII , 365 p.). Bl. Suso speaks of "inner vision". (*) Swedenborg calls his experiences "inner vision", "inner hearing", "inner speech" (**).

Catholic literature on mysticism calls this kind of vision and hearing imaginative (occurring in the imagination) and distinguishes from them sensory visions and intellectual contemplation. In the spirit of the teachings on perception developed by intuitionism, one can define the difference between sensory and imaginative vision in this way: in sensory vision, sensory qualities are given as perceived, and in imaginative vision, as represented (for example, as they are presented to the subject in memory, and memory considered to focus on the most authentic past). Intellectual contemplation is carried out without seeing images and hearing words. Yes, St. Teresa once on St. Petra experienced “not with eyes or imagination” the clear presence of Christ beside her; the certainty of His presence was complete (Ch. XXVII, 345-350). In such contemplations, despite the absence of an image, she knows with what individuality she is dealing - with Jesus Christ, with St. Peter, Ap. Pavel; she also knows on which side they are from her (***). Also, the perception of the "heavenly language", the revelation of truth was sometimes carried out purely "spiritually" - without hearing words, sometimes even without any words at all. "Lovers," says St. Teresa, "understand each other without signs" - (Ch. XXVII, 350-355). Visions and contemplations of St. Teresa, they usually say about her, were always

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*) L.B l oh, 80.

**) M. Lamm, Swedenborg, trans. On him. lang. (1922), pp. 148, 232, 236.

***) Delacroix, 100.

Yes, imaginative or intellectual, but not sensory. Only once in her biography does she report that during a prayer for a person who was thinking of committing a sinful act, she heard a whisper with her "bodily ears" that calmed her (ch. XXXIX, 566). Swedenborg also had some visions of a sensory nature (*).

Mystics describe their imaginative contemplations with the same words ("inner vision" etc.) as do patients who experience pseudo-hallucinations. This term denotes a special kind of hallucinations, studied in the most detail by the Russian psychiatrist V. Kandinsky. In his monograph on pseudohallucinations, Kandinsky gives the following definition of this concept: pseudohallucinations are “very lively and sensually defined to the extreme images, which, however, differ sharply for the most receptive consciousness from true hallucinatory images in that they do not have the character of objective reality inherent in the latter, but, on the contrary, they are directly recognized as something subjective, but at the same time as something abnormal, new, something very different from the images of memory and fantasy” (**).

In modern psychology, thanks to E. R. Iaensch "y and his school, research is being carried out that can be used to explain pseudo-hallucinations. I mean the study of the characteristics of memory in persons whom Iaensch calls eidetics: what is remembered is presented in their memories with sensual fullness, equal to the fullness of perception, so that they, for example, can distinguish and observe in what is remembered what they did not have time to notice at the moment of perception (***).

Every healthy man, under some exceptional conditions, may have such representations. So, a person involved in any anatomical preparation, for example. by dissecting the muscles of the arm and for several hours in a row intensely focusing attention on this object, a person who has been examining preparations under a microscope for a long time experiences, going home and during rest, the multiple appearance of these objects in the field of view. Even those objects that were not lasting

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*) Lamm, 178.

**) V. X. Kandinsky. About pseudo-hallucinations. SPB. 1890, p. 26.

***) See works E . R. J ae ns with h, “Ueber den Aufbander Wahrnehmungswelt und ihre Struktur im Jugendalter”, “Die Eidetik und die typologische Forschungsmethode”, etc.

but fixed, often appear in the mind in its entirety, if for some reason they struck the imagination. The girl's face, which struck a young man with its beauty, can appear in this consciousness with such vivacity and fullness, as at the moment of perception. In the same way, sometimes an aria sounds intrusively in the ear for several days after listening to the opera.

Those who have lost the eileticity so common in childhood and adolescence, or have never possessed it to a significant extent, regard such contemplations as abnormal, different from ordinary memories, but without seeing anything pathological in them. An adult experienced person does not take these contemplations for perceptions of actual reality, although they appear in consciousness with some kind of receptive tinge. This is probably due to the fact that such memories emerge in consciousness not at the initiative of the subject, but on the basis of the excitation of certain centers of the brain.

Pseudo-hallucinations can be considered in some cases in full, as such eidetic memories, and in other cases, as an imaginary synthesis such eidetically recalled elements. This synthesis can be produced not by the subject himself, but by substantive agents subordinate to him, who are part of the brain centers; therefore, persons suffering from pseudo-hallucinations in a pathological and obsessive form, although they do not take them for perceptions, still see them as some kind of receptivity and build hypotheses corresponding to this, for example, they think that these ideas are the result of the influence of persecutors on their consciousness or that they are a kind of revelation from God, and so on. (*)

In pseudohallucinations, according to their intuitively realistic interpretation, transsubjective material, colors, sounds, etc., not through sensory perception, but through another intentional act, through recollection, i.e. kind spiritual visions. Patients clearly see and note this. Kandinsky, an attentive observer, himself periodically subject to mental illness, which was accompanied by the experience of many pseudo-hallucinations and real hallucinations, in his book especially emphasized, on the basis of self-observations, the testimony of other patients and the observations of other psychiatrists, that distinctive feature of pseudo-hallucinations,

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*) Kandinsky, pp. 36, 38 p., 129.

which I call their spirituality. The patient, for example, experiencing an auditory pseudohallucination, says that he silently hears the thought of others (9). One of Kandinsky's patients says that he hears internally rather than the ear that he sees brightly colored images mentally(28). The recovered physician describes his visual pseudo-hallucinations as expressively plastic representation(33). Kandinsky himself, wishing to clarify his observations, exposed himself to the action of opium; he experienced both actual hallucinations and pseudo-hallucinations; when he experienced pseudo-hallucinations at the same time, for example. faces of acquaintances appeared before him, a yellow rose, etc., he saw these objects not with external eyes, but with internal eyes, located somewhere behind the external eyes (41). Patients characterize their experiences as "vision with the spirit", "clairvoyance", "hearing with the spirit", hearing of "inner voices", "spiritual hearing", "auditory sensation" in contrast to mental suggestion, etc. (70-87).

The characteristic words that mark the difference between pseudo-hallucinations and sensory perception and real hallucinations coincide with the expressions with which mystics, saints, and spirit-seers describe their visions. Therefore, modern researchers usually classify such visions as pseudo-hallucinations. However, this solution is a dubious simplification of the question of visions. The term pseudohallucination should be used to denote the spiritual contemplation of an object that does not belong to the composition of reality either of this or the other world: it is an object composed of transsubjective elements subjected to subjectivism or, in general, to mental synthesis that does not create real being. There are, however, cases of spiritual contemplation of sensory data relating to objects that are part of the real world. So, according to intuitionism, any eidetic memory, for example. anatomic preparation, the face of a beautiful girl, etc. is the spiritual contemplation of real objects. Even in normal perception, for example, when we hear only sounds like barking dogs, others like jingle bells, without seeing these objects, we see softness velvet, rigidity metal inkwell, without touching these objects, the presence in the consciousness of these sensory data is their spiritual contemplation, more direct than recollection (*). The ability of such

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*) See my theory of perceptions in the article “Intuitionism and the doctrine of the transsubjectivity of sensory qualities”, Zap. Russian Scientific Institute in Belgrade, vol. 5, 1931.

spiritual contemplation of sensory data is explained by the coordination of the subject with all objects of the world, the presence of the entire cosmos in the preconsciousness of the subject and the possibility of cases when the stimulus for their recognition is not irritation of the senses, but some other conditions - sometimes psycho-physiological, and sometimes purely mental or spiritual .

Bearing in mind the possibility of spiritual contemplation of sensual objects, one should not rush to equate the imaginative visions of mystics with the pseudo-hallucinations of the mentally ill. Indeed, in the first place, great mystics are by no means insane people. The psychiatrist Quercy, in his remarkable study "L" hallucination, proves that St. Teresa's neuropathic conditions do not in the least undermine her "extremely normal mental activity." In her activity, amazing in intensity and variety, she shows a rare combination of high virtues: generosity and humility, boldness and modesty, firmness and obedience, the wisdom of the serpent and the meekness of the dove (*).Secondly, the great mystics have a particularly refined ability of self-observation. St. Teresa, for example, distinguishes in her mind the "words" emanating from her spirit from the "words" attributed by her to an external cause. If the words in my consciousness come from my own soul, then, she says, the activity of my mind is noticeable at least in the weakest degree; moreover, these words are not clear, do not cause to self-confidence, they can be stopped; if the words come from God, then there is no activity of the human mind, the words are completely clear, they cannot be stopped, they are highly effective: these words are affairs, they bring with them genuine consolation, reassurance; they have an irresistible majesty and persuasiveness, they are unforgettable. They are obtained regardless of our desire: when you want to hear them, you do not receive them; when you don't think about them at all, they appear. Twice St. Teresa experienced words from the devil; in terms of content they were kind, but after them dryness and anxiety remain in the soul. She also says about visual images that some of them come from one's own imagination, others from an evil spirit, and still others from God. The latter surpass the power of human imagination, enrich the soul, strengthen the health of the soul and body, free from evil habits and properties (**). Thirdly, about many of his visions

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*) G . Quercy, L "hallucination, I, vol. Philosophes et mystiques, (1930), pp. 183, 218.

**) Chap. XXV, pp. 318-325; ch. XXVIII, pp. 372-375.

mystics say that the presence of God in them has the character of complete certainty.

Is it possible to admit that the Lord God Himself entered into the consciousness of a person in a certain, limited way? This question can be answered in the following way. The supra-personal aspect of God does not prevent Him from having at the same time a personal aspect, even being a trinity of Persons; in the same way, the super-imagery of God does not exclude the availability of an image for Him, or rather, any images that, of course, have the highest degree of perfection. Some theologians believe that Christ, while remaining the Supercosmic principle, at the same time creates a real world on earth. an object, visible to a person who is honored with this appearance of Him (*).

According to Christian teachings, the Church is the Body of Christ, she is the perfect aspect of the world, embracing the universe; therefore, the body of Christ encompasses the whole world, it is space body. In the same way, the members of the Kingdom of God, the Mother of God, angels, saints, embracing the whole world with their love, can only have cosmic bodies; their bodies are individual aspects of the Body of Christ, encompassing the entire universe (**). For such beings, in their essence super-spatial, it is quite feasible to appear in a particular limited image in a certain place in space, which, of course, does not exhaust their existence, and does not exclude the possibility of their appearance simultaneously and in other places in other images. Of such a multipraesentia, for example, of Christ, the Church speaks in both hymns: “In the tomb of the flesh, in hell with a soul like God, in paradise with a thief, and on the throne you were, Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, fulfill all the Indescribable » (***). The vision caused by such a phenomenon of the celestials must have a sensory character. Perhaps such was, for example, the appearance of the Mother of God to the children of Maximin and Melania near Salette.

Otherwise, one can interpret imaginative visions. The super-existent God is closer to every existing thing, to every person, to every particle of matter, to an atom, an electron, than they are to themselves (****); He comprehends everything, embraces everything, everything

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*) Cm . Q e r su, I 335; theologians Saudreaux, Etats mystiques, 211; Poulain, Grâces d "oraison, 325; Farges, Théologie mystique, II, 51.

**) See my article "On the Resurrection in the Flesh," The Way, 1931.

***) Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. For multipraesentia in the space of superspatial beings, see my article: "The Intellect of Primitive Man and the Enlightened European", in "Modern. Zap.", 1926, issue. 28.

****) Cm. Seuse, Vol. I, 82.

influences, being united with everything inseparably, though not confluently. He can therefore appear to a person to a certain extent "from within" in the imagination and, nevertheless, really: in fact, He can influence the human body and cause those changes in it that serve as a stimulus for eidetic memories. In the same way, the members of the Kingdom of God, who partake of Divine life and power, can also act on the human body. In such cases, they clothe themselves in those transsubjective sensory qualities that serve as the subject of recollection. They can be embodied in them, really “imagined”. From this it is clear why God and the members of the Kingdom of God are "according to the soul of the recipient", as W. Lehmann put it in the preface to the works of Suso published by him (*): they are present in visions through statues, pictures, icons seen by the subject, says Quercy ( **). Otherwise, those appearing would not be recognized by man.

Quercy is very close to the theory of the incarnation of celestials in the images of the imagination that I am developing. It is possible that the difference between our views amounts only to the fact that I, as an intuitionist, consider the recollected sensory qualities to be transsubjective, and in this sense I give a more real character to the image. Quercy speaks of the visions of St. Teresa, that if she had a hypnotist, it was God himself. He explains visions by saying that God influences the activity of our memory faculties and refers to the words of John of the Cross: "Deus omnia mo vet secundum modum eorum." The mechanism of visions, he says, is the same as that of hallucinations; nevertheless, one must decisively distinguish between natural visions (hallucinations), demonic and divine, depending on the cause that affects our body. In the case of a vision conditioned by the influence of God, the mechanism of our process is filled with His presence (***).

Intellectual contemplation can be explained by the direct influence of God or the members of the Kingdom of God on a person, prompting him to focus his attention on the transsubjective Divine world itself, keeping in mind its insensible essence or the insensible content of truth communicated from this sphere.

From all that has been said, it is clear how one should treat the final conclusion of Delacroix in his valuable study "Etudes d" histoire et de psychologie du mysticisme.

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*) Page XXXVIII.

**) L "hallucination, pp. 175-179.

***)P. Quercy, pp. 185, 336 pp.

having looked at the experiences of brilliant mystics with a great breadth of outlook and recognizing their lofty character, he nevertheless ends, apparently in the spirit of psychologism, with the thought that all peculiar phenomena in the minds of mystics should be explained by the activity of the subconscious (*). That the area of the subconscious plays an essential role here, there can be no doubt about it. However, where Delacroix stops, it is precisely for the first time that the main and final problem arises: is this a purely subjective activity of the subconscious or is the reason for it the true influence of the higher world on man, and the contemplated content is the highest transsubjective reality. An answer in the spirit of pure psychologism would be untenable. If any phenomenon in consciousness has the character of “given to me”, then it is a manifestation of my self: it comes from some substantial agent. True, this may be an agent of a lower type than the human ego, which is part of the human body, for example, the head of some nerve center. But one has only to recognize this possibility, and it becomes clear that the given manifestations of other figures are also possible, standing above the human "I" or on an equal footing with it and having entered into close connection with it only for a short time.

Many visions are symbolic in nature and contain the expression of such truths and aspects of the world or Divine life, which cannot be given in an image except symbolically. It does not follow from this that such images are the subjective actions of the human ego. They can be real characters, specific symbolic phenomena of the Divine world (**). Bl. Suso saw, for example, once Christ and many people as members of him (***). St. Teresa says that through the vision of the humanity of Christ, she often comes to comprehend the mysteries of God (****).

Thoughts of remarkable depth were sometimes revealed to Swedenborg under the guise of living concrete events. So, one day he wondered: how is it possible that the goodness of the Lord allows demons to remain in hell forever. "Just as I was thinking this," says Swedenborg, "how one of the angels of the right atrium plunged extremely quickly into the seat of the great Satan

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*) Page 405 p.

**) For real symbolism, see N. Berdyaev, Philosophy of the Free Spirit, vol. I, 101 pp.

***) II, 125.

****) Chap. XXII, 280.

and he took out from there, by inspiration from the Lord, one of the most evil demons, in order to bring him heavenly bliss. But I was given to see that as the angel ascended to the heavenly spheres, his captive changed from a proud expression of his face to a suffering one, and his body turned black; when, despite his resistance, he was drawn into the middle heavens, terrible convulsions began with him, he showed with all his appearance and movements that he was experiencing the greatest and unbearable torments; when he approached the heart region of heaven, his tongue went out far out, like that of a very tired and thirsty dog, and his eyes burst, as from burning heat. And I felt sorry for him, and I prayed to the Lord to tell the angel to let him go. And when, by the will of the Lord, he was released, he threw himself headlong down with such swiftness that I could only see how his extremely black heels flashed. And then I was inspired: the stay of someone in heaven or hell does not depend on the arbitrariness of God, but on the internal state of the being, and moving from hell to heaven by someone else's will would be just as painful for those who are moved, as moving from heaven to hell ... And thus I understood that the eternity of hell for those who find their pleasure in it equally corresponds to both the wisdom and the goodness of God ”(*). It should be noted, however, that many revelations appeared in Svendenborg's mind in the form of "inner speech" with beings from other kingdoms of the world (**).

Until now, we have been talking about visions of bodily images, which cannot be otherwise interpreted as single, individual acts of communication of the other world with an individual person; they most often give consolation, reinforcement, instruction to an individual, but sometimes also through this person and revelation to the whole world (for example, through biblical prophets). But besides such individual manifestations of corporeality, the members of the Kingdom of God and the very head of it, the Divine Logos, in that aspect in which He is the God-Man Jesus Christ, has a transfigured spiritual corporeality, which is also significant for the Kingdom of God itself: in this corporeality it has fullness. being and perfect beauty.

Without a doubt, each of us, to the extent of his love for the good or the need for its revelation, more or less joins in the vision of the reflections of this Kingdom, for example, in

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*) Arcena coelestina, hіrilozh. memorialibia.

**) Lamm, 236.

lofty perception of the beauties of nature or the beauty of man, which fills the soul with unshakable confidence in the existence of God and His Kingdom. A particularly in-depth vision of this Kingdom, clearly leading to the realm of the other world, requires a different psychophysical organization, more or less deviating from that which we consider normal for a person. Indeed, if the stimuli for the perceptions of the external world are the irritations of our nervous system caused by it, then it is clear that this system and the whole body must deviate from the general human type in persons who have an increased susceptibility to other worlds, whether it be the upper world, the Kingdom God's, or lower - the kingdom of evil. Dostoevsky clearly expressed this idea in the words of Svidrigailov, who joined the kingdom of evil. Svidrigailov argues as follows: They say: "You are sick, therefore, what seems to you is only non-existent nonsense." But there is no strict logic here. I agree that ghosts are only sick; but this only proves that ghosts can only appear to the sick, and not that they do not exist in themselves.

The theory of visions, similar to the one developed by me, apparently, was outlined in the mind of Vl. Solovyov. This can be seen from the following story about him by a friend of his book. E. Trubetskoy. “Early in the morning, immediately after his awakening, an Oriental man in a turban appeared to him. He uttered extraordinary nonsense about the article Solovyov had just written about Japan (“I was driving along the road; I was reading about Buddhism; here is Buddhism for you”) and poked him in the stomach with an unusually long umbrella. The vision disappeared, and Solovyov felt severe pain in the liver, which then lasted three days.

“He almost always had such pain sensations and other painful phenomena after visions. On this occasion, I once said to him: "your visions are simply hallucinations of your illnesses." He immediately agreed with me. But this agreement cannot be interpreted in the sense that Solovyov denied the reality of his visions. In his mouth, these words meant that the disease makes our imagination susceptible to such influences of the spiritual world, to which healthy people remain completely insensitive. Therefore, in such cases, he did not deny the need for treatment. He recognized in hallucinations the phenomena of subjective and, moreover, diseased imagination. But this did not prevent him from believing in the objective cause of hallucinations, which is in us. imagined, realized through the

means of subjective imagination in external reality. (*).

Before the war, the most talented young Russian philosopher D.V. began to develop the theory of perceptions of the Divine world. Boldyrev, who considered himself a follower of intuitionism. He spent the summer of 1914 in the Pyrenees, bearing in mind that the apparitions of the Mother of God often took place there and wishing to get a live idea of the nature in which they occurred. He outlined his impressions of this trip and allusions to his theory in the article “The Fire Font” (in “Russian Thought”, 1915). It is possible that later, as a professor in Perm, he developed his theory in a precise philosophical form and presented it in a manuscript, which is kept after his death in his family in the Far East.

Among people whose consciousness is attached to "other worlds", one often comes across persons in whom two planes of being are mixed and mixed up with each other; they cannot really recognize the data of their experience, they cannot express it in a meaningful form. Usually such persons, wishing to expand their philosophical education, are attracted to exotic literature, especially Hindu; reading European philosophical classics, for example, Descartes, which would help discipline their thought, turns out to be boring for them. They cannot fit their experiences into any framework, since they cannot find their connection with the rational aspects of being; hence they are philosophically fruitless. Some of these individuals still find the strength to express their experience in literary works, but they contain a bizarre mixture of great and small, otherworldly and thisworldly. Such, for example, in Russian literature are the "revelations" of Anna Schmidt "On the Future", "The Third Testament", etc.; by the way, she was inclined to consider herself the incarnation of the Church, and Vl. Solovyov - the incarnation of Christ (**).

In Western European literature, Swedenborg's reports of his visits to other planets and his conversations with their inhabitants can serve as an example of confused mysticism; Vl. Solovyov considers them "essentially of a delusional character" (***).

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*) Book. E. Trubetskoy, Worldview of Vl. Solovieva, I, p. 20 p.

**) From the manuscripts of Anna Nikolaevna Schmidt, with letters to her by Vl. Solovyov (Moscow 1916), Preface, p. XIV.

***) V. Solovyov, vol. IX, p. 241.

The great mystic-philosophers, on the other hand, have an increased sensitivity to the rational aspect of being. They enter the realm of the supra-rational, not only on the basis of mystical intuition, but also because the strict sequence of rational thinking obliges them to ascend to a higher sphere. Such is the thinking of Plotinus, Proclus, Ertigen, Anselm of Canterbury, Hugh Victorintz, Richard Victorintz, John Bonaventure, Raymond Lull, Roger Bacon, Nicholas of Cusa, Pascal, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Vl. Solovyov, from. P. Florensky.

From the works of such mystics, who know the connection between the super-rational and the rational, it is clear that the mystical systems of philosophy are not a set of incoherent vague broadcasts: on the contrary, for the first time these systems achieve the greatest consistency and intelligibility of the world accessible to the human mind, since they eliminate the incoherence and gaps of one-sided rationalism . Hegel says: “The mystical, it is true, is the mysterious, but only for the understanding and, moreover, simply because the principle of the understanding is an abstract identity, and the mystical (as equivalent to the speculative) is the concrete unity of those determinations that the understanding considers true only in their separation and opposition." “Thus, everything rational should be designated at the same time as mystical, which, however, only says that it goes beyond the limits of reason, and not at all that it should be considered in general, as inaccessible to thought and incomprehensible” (*) .

The passive nature of visions is fraught with danger. The source of their emergence can be in some cases the lower substantial agents of our own body, in others - beings of other kingdoms of being, and, moreover, as different as members of the kingdom of evil, then - members of the Kingdom of God and even the Lord God himself. If there is the slightest stain of evil in a person’s soul, for example, even an insignificant shade of proud recognition of himself as the exclusive chosen one of God, a special instrument of the Holy Spirit, then he almost certainly falls under “charm”, i.e. will have false visions coming from an evil force. Artificial training of oneself, deliberate cultivation of passivity in oneself in order to achieve visions, verbal revelations, automatic writing is a particularly dangerous ground on which falsifications of communication with the higher world can arise. Mixed-

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*) Hegel, Encycl. I th., Die Logic (1840) VI. V. § 82. Zusatz, p. 159 p. See in general my article: "Hegel as an intuitionist", Zap. Russian Scientific inst. in Belgrade.

Borg in the last period of his activity wanted to achieve complete passivity; after one of the visions of Christ, he began to passionately focus on the image of the crucifixion; it is possible that as a result of these exercises he had states of doubling his personality. The Catholic Church already in the Middle Ages began to develop "spiritual exercises" (exercitia spiritualia), meditations consisting in intense concentration of attention on the sufferings of Christ, on various periods of His life, presented with possible sensual specificity. A wonderful system of such exercises was created by Ignatius Loyola (*). Therefore, perhaps, in the Catholic Church there are persons who are able to contemplate various episodes from the life of Jesus Christ for hours. Such visions, for example, became famous at the beginning of the 19th century. Catherine Emmerich. Clemens Brentano lived with her for several years, recording her contemplations, from which came the instructive book Das bittere Leiden unserer Herrn Jesu Chrsti. Nach den Betrachtungen der gottseligen Anna Katharina Emmerich Augustinerin des Klosters Agnetenberg zu Düllmen nebst dem Latensmris dieser Begnadigten" (**).Theresa Neumann of Konnerreit is experiencing similar experiences in our time ( Konnersreuth ); her way of life (she manages almost completely without food) is also similar to the life of Catherine Emmerich. St. John of the Cross warns against such a life filled with visions: he says that the data of memory can be used by a demon to tempt a person through visions and "revelations". It is better not to think about the human image of Christ, but to approach Him even closer than in visions by imitating Him (***)

Especially dangerous is passivity without purification of the soul and striving towards God, developed, for example, during spiritualistic seances with the aim of making oneself an instrument (medium) of beings of another world (automatic writing, spiritualistic phenomena, etc.). At best, in this case we are dealing with an increased activity of lower agents who control our nerve centers(therefore, as a rule, messages received by automatic writing are colorless and mediocre), at worst, this is the activity of beings from the kingdom of evil that take possession of our body.

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*) See, for example, the German edition of J. Loyola, Das Exerzitienbuch. Translation. Ferder "a, explanations M. Meschler, S. I., Feb. i Br.

**) Cl. Brentano , Saemmtl. Werne, hrg. von C. Scheddenkopf, 1912, exactly bd. XIY, I Abth. "Religious Schriften" with the introduction W. Oh ehl" i .

***) In aruzi, 540 pp., 239, 257, 260; cm . Also Q e r su, 310.

In both cases, we are in danger of a split personality, obsession, hysteria (*).

Some mystics, for example, the quietist M-me Guyon, cultivated in themselves an extreme degree of passivity, considering any manifestation of their will to be evil, and hoping, by renouncing their activity, to turn themselves into a pure instrument of the will of God. Literature inspired by the extremes of Quietism (the dispute between Fénelon and Bleth and others) correctly points out that evil does not lie in personal activity, but in directing it towards selfish ends. And in fact, if the primordial essence of substantial actors, created in the image and likeness of God, is endowed with creative power, then it is clear that the actors are called to individual creative participation in the Divine plan of the world process. The ideal of communion with the Divine life consists in a harmonious correlation of very heterogeneous processes of creative initiative in goodness, obedient fulfillment of the commands of God and joyful acceptance of the visitation of God and members of the Kingdom of God in cases where there is no reason to suspect their authenticity.

The Orthodox Church does not sympathize with artificial exercises that lead to the appearance of visions, but in those cases when they involuntarily arise among holy ascetics, she joyfully notes them; such, for example, is the tradition that St. Sergius of Radonezh, celebrating the Liturgy, always saw the concelebrant Angel, who was also seen at the same time by his disciple Isaac.

Recognition of the reality of some visions presupposes a transfigured corporeality and requires an explanation of how light, sound, warmth and other sensual qualities are possible, where there is no material body. To answer this question, one must be aware of the fact that even in a material environment, where sound, light, etc. are accompanied by attractions and repulsions of particles of matter or their elements, it is not these repulsions and attractions that are the cause that produces sensible quality. As in all other cases, a new event is a creative act of substantial agents, usually involving the combination of the forces of several agents. In the realm of psycho-material being, however, this is not only the union of several agents for joint activity, but also the exclusion of some other agents, accompanied by repulsion. These relations of mutual isolation do not strengthen

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*) See about it from. P. Florensky, "The Pillar and Ground of Truth" notes - pp. 697 ss., 706 ss.

they pour and do not improve creative activity, but, on the contrary, weaken it and lower the value of its results: sound, light, etc., accompanied by processes of repulsion, are sensory qualities containing interruptions, irregularities, chaotic impurities, etc. imperfections that reduce their beauty or even lead to ugliness. In the Kingdom of God, where there are no processes of repulsion, the transfigured corporeality is created by the joint creative acts of many figures without any confrontation and constraint between them; it consists of sensuous qualities, pure, perfect, harmoniously related to each other, embodying absolute beauty.

H. Lossky.

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Once Saint Andrew of Christ for the sake of the holy fool, having no shelter from the disaster that had befallen and despairing for his very life, he said to himself:

- Blessed be the Lord God! If I die from this cold, then let me die for my love for Him - but God is able to give me patience to endure this cold.

Going into one nook and cranny, the saint saw a dog lying there and, wanting to get warm from it, lay down with it. But seeing him, the dog got up and left. And Andrew said to himself:

- Oh, how sinful you are, accursed. Not only people, but also dogs neglect you!

When he thus lay, shivering from the bitter cold and wind, his body froze and turned blue, he thought that the time had come for his last breath, and began to pray that the Lord would receive his soul in peace. And then suddenly he felt an inner warmth in himself, and, opening his eyes, he saw a certain beautiful young man, whose face shone like the sun. He held in his hand a branch covered with various flowers. Looking at Andrew, the young man said:

- Andrew, where are you?

Andrew replied:

– Now I am “in darkness, in the abyss” (Ps. 87, 7).

Then the young man who appeared lightly touched Andrei's face with a flowering branch, which he held in his hand, and said:

- Revive your body.

Saint Andrew breathed into himself the fragrance of those flowers, it penetrated into his heart, warmed and revived his whole body. Following this, he heard a voice saying:

“Lead him so that he may rest here for a while, and then he will return again.

With these words, a sweet dream fell upon him, and he saw the inexpressible revelations of God, about which he himself reported in detail to the aforementioned Nicephorus, in these words:

“What happened to me, I don’t know. By Divine will, I dwelt for two weeks in a sweet vision, like a man who, having slept sweetly all night, wakes up in the morning. I saw myself in a beautiful and marvelous paradise, and, wondering at this in my soul, I thought: “What does this mean? I know that I live in Constantinople, but I don’t know how I got here.” And I did not understand, “whether in the body, I do not know; whether out of the body, I do not know; God knows” (2 Corinthians 12:2). But I saw myself clothed in a light robe, as if woven from lightning, on my head lay a wreath woven from many flowers; I was girded with the royal belt and rejoiced greatly at the sight of that beauty; I marveled with my mind and heart at the inexpressible charms of the Paradise of God, and took pleasure in walking in it. There were many gardens filled with tall trees which, swaying with their peaks, rejoiced my eyes, and from their branches a great fragrance issued. Some of those trees bloomed unceasingly, others were adorned with golden leaves, others bore fruit of unspeakable beauty; these trees cannot be compared in beauty to any earthly tree, for they were planted not by a human hand, but by God. In those gardens there were countless birds with golden, snow-white and multi-colored wings. They sat on the branches of paradise trees and sang so beautifully that I could not remember myself from their sweet singing: my heart was so delighted, and I thought that their singing was heard even at the very height of heaven. Those beautiful gardens stood in rows, like one regiment standing against another. As I walked among them with heartfelt joy, I saw a large river flowing through the middle of paradise, which watered those beautiful gardens. Grapes grew along both banks of the river, spreading vines adorned with leaves and golden clusters. There, from all four sides, gentle and fragrant winds blew, from the breath of which the gardens swayed, producing a wonderful rustle with their leaves. After this, some kind of horror attacked me, and it seemed to me that I was standing on the top of the heavenly firmament, while some young man was walking in front of me, with a face as bright as the sun, dressed in purple. I thought it was the one who hit me with a flowering branch in the face. When I followed in his footsteps, I saw a large and beautiful Cross, similar in appearance to a rainbow, and around it stood fire-like singers like a flame and sang sweet hymns, glorifying the Lord, once crucified on the Cross. The young man walking before me, approaching the Cross, kissed it, and gave a sign to me to kiss the Cross too. Falling down on the Holy Cross with fear and great joy, I fervently kissed it. Kissing him, I was filled with unspeakable spiritual sweetness and smelled a fragrance stronger than heavenly. Passing by the Cross, I looked down and saw under me, as it were, an abyss of the sea. It seemed to me that I was walking on air; frightened, I shouted to my guide:

“Sir, I am afraid that I might fall into the depths.

He turned to me and said:

– Do not be afraid, for we need to rise even higher.

And he gave me his hand. When I grabbed hold of it, we were already above the second firmament. There I saw marvelous men. their repose and indescribable in human language the joy of their holiday. After this, we entered into some wondrous flame, which did not scorch us, but only shone. I began to be horrified, and again my guide, turning around, gave me his hand, and said:

We need to go even higher.

And after these words, we rose above the third heaven, where I saw and heard a multitude of heavenly powers, singing and glorifying God. We approached a curtain that shone like lightning, before which stood great and strange young men, looking like a fiery flame; their faces shone brighter than the sun, and in their hands they had fiery weapons. Standing with fear, I saw an innumerable multitude of the heavenly host. And the young man who led me said to me:

“When the veil is opened, you will see the Lord Christ. Bow down to the throne of His glory.

When I heard this, I rejoiced and trembled, for horror and unspeakable joy seized me. I stood and watched, waiting for the veil to be opened. And then some kind of fiery hand opened the veil, and I, like the prophet Isaiah, saw my Lord, “sitting on a high throne ... Seraphim stood around Him” (Is. 6, 1-2). He was clothed in a scarlet robe; His face was bright, and His eyes gazed at me with love. Seeing this, I prostrated myself before Him, worshiping the bright and terrible throne of His glory. What joy seized me when contemplating His face, that cannot be expressed in words, even now, when I remember that vision, I am filled with inexpressible joy. I lay in trembling before my Lord, marveling at such His mercy that He allowed me, a wicked and a sinner, to stand before Himself and contemplate His Divine beauty. Reflecting on my unworthiness and contemplating the greatness of my Lord, I was touched and repeated to myself the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Woe to me! I died! for I am a man with unclean lips, and I live among the people also with unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). And I heard my most merciful Creator, who spoke to me with His sweet and most pure lips three Divine words, which so sweetened my heart and inflamed it with love, that I melted like wax from spiritual warmth, and the word of David was fulfilled on me: “My heart became melted like wax in the midst of my inward parts” (Ps. 21:15). After this, the entire heavenly host sang a wondrous and inexpressible song, and then - I myself do not understand how - I again found myself walking in paradise. And I thought about the fact that I did not see the Most Pure Lady of the Theotokos. And then I saw a man, bright as a cloud, wearing the Cross and saying:

- Most Serene heavenly powers Would you like to see the queen here? But She is not here. She retired to a troubled world to help people and console the mourners. I would show you Her holy place, but now there is no time, for you must return again to where you came from: thus the Lord commands you.

When he said this, it seemed to me that I fell asleep sweetly; then, waking up, I found myself in the very place where I had been earlier, lying in a corner. And I wondered where I was at the time of the vision, and what I was able to see. My heart was filled with indescribable joy, and I thanked my Lord, who deigned to show me such grace.

Saint Andrew told this vision before his death to his friend Nicephorus, and took an oath from him not to tell anyone about it until he renounced the bonds of the body. Nikephoros zealously begged the saint to tell him at least one of those three words that the Lord had spoken to him; but the saint did not wish to reveal it. So Saint Andrew, enraptured, like the Apostle Paul, saw what the mortal eye did not see, heard what the mortal ear did not hear, and enjoyed in revelation such heavenly beauties that the human heart could not even imagine (1 Cor. 2, 9 ).

(Life of St. Andrew, Christ for the Holy Fool)

The Monk Euphrosynus ... in the monastery ... served the brethren in the kitchen, and served not as people, but as if God, - in great humility and obedience.

He served the Lord in secret, so that he would be rewarded openly, as it really was.

This is how the Lord showed what His servant Euphrosynus deserved.

A certain priest, who lived in the same monastery with Euphrosynus, always prayed to God to show him in a sensual form those future blessings that were prepared for those who loved him. And then one night he had such a vision: it seemed to him that he was standing in paradise, contemplating its inexpressible beauty with fear and joy; there he saw the cook of his monastery, Euphrosynus.

Approaching him, the priest asked:

“Brother Euphrosynus, what is this?” Is this heaven?

Euphrosynus replied:

Yes, father, this is heaven.

The priest asked him again:

– How are you here?

Euphrosynus replied:

– By the great mercy of God, I settled here to live, for this is the abode of God's chosen ones.

Jereus asked:

Do you have any power over these beauties?

Euphrosynus replied:

- As much as I can, I give as much from what you see.

Jerey said:

“Couldn’t you give me some of these blessings too?”

Euphrosynus replied:

- By the grace of my God, take what you want.

Then the priest, pointing to the apples, asked for them. Euphrosynus, picking three apples, put them in a handkerchief to the priest, saying:

Take what you asked for and enjoy.

At this time they began to strike the church beater for matins. The priest, waking up and coming to his senses, considered what he had seen to be a dream, but, stretching out his hand to the handkerchief, he found in it those apples that he had received in a vision from Euphrosynus, and felt an inexpressible fragrance from them, and therefore was in amazement. Getting out of bed and putting apples on it, he went to church and saw Euphrosynus there standing at the morning service. Approaching him, the priest entreated him with an oath to reveal to him where he had been that night.

Euphrosynus replied:

“Forgive me, father, this night I was where you saw me.

Jerey said:

“That is why I swore you to declare the works of God, so that you would not conceal the truth.

Then the humble Euphrosynus said:

- You, father, asked the Lord to show you in a sensual form the recompense to His chosen ones, and the Lord deigned to show this to your reverend through me, thin and unworthy, and now you saw me in the paradise of my God.

Jereus asked:

- And what did you give me, father, in paradise, when I asked you?

Euphrosynus replied:

- I gave you three apples - the very ones that you put in your cell on your bed, but forgive me, father, for I am a worm, not a man.

At the end of Matins, the priest gathered the brethren and, showing them three heavenly apples, told in detail what he had seen. Then everyone felt from those apples an indescribable fragrance and spiritual joy, and in tenderness marveled at what the priest told about. They went to the kitchen to Euphrosynus in order to bow to the servant of God, but they no longer found him, for he left the church and hid, avoiding the glory of man, and could not find him in any way.

(Memory of St. Euphrosynus)

While blessed Martha, mother of St. Simeon, stayed with her youth in a place located in Antioch and called "Cherubim", Simeon had such a vision: he saw the Lord Jesus Christ, sitting on a high throne, and many righteous people flocked to Him from all sides; the book of life was opened before the throne, according to which the judgment was made; in the east one could see a paradise of sweetness, in the west, fiery hell. Then the Holy Spirit said to Simeon:

“Listen, lad, and understand everything that you see here; try to please God, and then you will be worthy of the same honor and glory with other saints and you will receive inexpressible blessings prepared for all who love the Lord.

... While that elder was talking with the brethren, blessed Simeon had a vision: it seemed to him that he was caught up on high and flew around the whole universe, as if having wings; then it seemed to him that he was raised by seven ladders to high mountain, where, like the holy Apostle Paul, he saw what "the eye did not see", heard what "the ear did not hear" (1 Cor. 2, 9).

Saint Simeon, descending from there, asked the one who led him:

- What did I see?

The same one answered:

“These are the seven heavens into which you were caught up.

Then the saint saw paradise, and beautiful gardens, and bright and large chambers, and the source of peace flowing there. Here the monk saw no one but Adam and the prudent thief.

When Simeon came to his senses, he told Elder John about everything he had seen. The same one, having listened, said:

- Child! Blessed be God who has given you such grace.

(The Life of Our Reverend Father Simeon Divnogorets)

One day Elder Nifont, having prayed to God in the evening, lay down to rest as usual on the stones. It was midnight and he couldn't sleep. Looking at the sky and the stars, at the clear light of the moon, he began to think about his sins and about the approaching day of the Lord's Judgment. Suddenly, the sky began to roll up like a scroll and Jesus Christ appeared to his eyes, standing in the Power and Glory of the entire army of Heaven: angels, archangels, armies terrible in their strength, divided into regiments and subordinate to his Stratigami.

Jesus made a sign to one of the Stratigi and said:

"Michael. Michael, the keeper of the will, take with your army the Throne of My Glory and set it in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and there you will set it in the place of my First Coming. For the time is drawing near for everyone to receive according to his deeds.

Do it quickly, for the time has come for me to judge those who worshiped idols and did not accept me as their Creator.

Because they loved the stones and the wood that I gave them for their needs to use. They will all crumble like clay pots.

Including the heretics who separated Me from My Father, who dared to speak of the Comforter of the Soul as a creature. Woe to them, now hell awaits them.

Now I will show the Jews who crucified me and did not believe in My Divinity. I have been given all the power and authority. I am the Right and Honest Judge.

Then, when they crucified me on the Cross, they laughed and said: He saved others, let Him save Himself. Now I have retribution and I will repay it.

I will judge this corrupted generation and seed, and I will test and punish, because they did not repent when I sent them an opportunity. I gave them the opportunity to repent, and they were proud. Now I will execute the retribution.

I will also repay the sodomites, who filled the earth and air with their stench with their deeds. Then I burned them and I will burn them now, because they did not want the Grace of the Holy Spirit, but they wanted the blessings of the spirit of the devil.

I will punish all the monks who did not remain in obedience and entered the darkness like wild unleashed stallions. They did not save themselves in their wedding and tonsure, but turned the senseless into fornication, which was a trap for them from the devil, bound them with this and threw them into the depths of hell. Have you heard about the fear of falling into the hands of the condemnation of the Living God? Have you heard of the punishment that I will apply to such? I called them to repent and did not repent.

I will condemn all the thieves who, by their deeds, have reached the point of murder. I gave them the opportunity to change, but they did not attach any importance to this. Where are their righteous deeds? I showed them the prodigal son as an example, so that they would not lose hope, but they did not look at My laws and denied Me. And they turned to sin and went to it. Why, let them go into the eternal fire, which they themselves kindled.

But I will also betray all those who rancorous, and I will betray them to the torments that they deserved, because they did not want My peace, but remained angry, bilious and evil in life.

I will destroy those who are envious for gold and give money at interest, over the riches of those who pray, and I will throw all My wrath on them, because they had hope for gold and did not want to know Me, as if they did not know My care for them.

And those false Christians who proved that there is no Resurrection from the dead, but reincarnation takes place - I will melt them in the fire of hell like candles; then they will believe in the Resurrection.

Poisoners, magicians and all similar to them will be tormented mercilessly.

Woe to those who get drunk and play the guitars, indulging in insane fun, dancing vilely and thinking cunningly. I called them, but they did not hear Me and complained about Me. Now let the worm eat their hearts. He gave mercy and repentance to everyone, but no one attached importance.

I will drive into darkness all those who did not consider the Holy Scriptures written through the Saints by the Holy Spirit.

I also judge those who are engaged in the enterprises of diabolical wars and have hopes for their swords, their shields, their spears and so on. Then they will know that there must be hope only in God, and not in His creations. They will be afraid and will want to justify themselves, but they will not be able, because I am the Judge, and I will repay.

I will condemn all the kings and lords who upset me with their lack of rights. Ruling dishonestly and to the detriment of the peoples, judging dishonestly and proudly, to the detriment of the people and taking bribes for this. My power is incorruptible. For untruth they are subject to disappearance. Then they will understand how terrible I am and take away the power of the masters. Then they will understand that I am the most terrible of all the kings of the earth. Woe to them, hell awaits them!!! Because with gnashing of teeth they shed innocent blood, the blood of their children and their daughters!!!

But what wrath will I subject to those who, accepting payment from me for their labors, were not a true shepherd? Who plundered My vineyard and scattered My sheep? Who shepherded gold and silver, and not souls; and demanded alms out of profit? What will be their punishment? How bad will the punishment be? I will pour out my wrath on them with all my power, I will destroy them! They dreamed of having sheep and calves in their herds, but they did not think about My sheep, they were not interested in them. I will punish you with My staff and with My whip you will be beaten for your sins.

But also the priests who laugh and feel in My churches as in their own house - how will I punish them? I will send them to eternal fire and tartar.

I came and I go - does anyone have the courage to meet Me? But woe to the one who has a sinful essence and falls into my hands!!! Because everyone will appear naked and naked before Me. Will he then be able to brazenly stand before Me? Can you look me in the face? In what goodness will they appear before My Almighty might?

I will also judge all the monks who did not fulfill their vows given to God and those who apostatized from them; wine before Angels and People. One vowed to do, the other did? From the height of the clouds I will drop them into the abyss !!! They lacked their iniquities, but they attracted others. It would have been better for them not to renounce the world than to have renounced living in malice and fornication.

I AM THE JUDGE. I will repay everyone who did not want to repent. I will judge them, for I am the Righteous Judge."

These words of Christ were carried like thunder among the entire army of the Forces of Christ. After that, the Lord ordered to bring Him SEVEN CENTURIES of human life. And again, Michael the Archangel carried out this order. From the house of the Covenant he brought them. They were huge books. Then he stood at a distance, watching the Lord leafing through the history of the ages.

"Father, Son and Holy Spirit One God in Three Persons. From the Father was born the Son and the Creator of the Ages. Because the Word of the Father, the Son created the Ages; created invisible Forces. Heaven is set. Earth. Earth elements. Seas. Rivers and all that dwells in Them.

The image of the invisible God is the first man Adam with his wife Eve. Adam was given a command from the Almighty God of all visible and invisible creation. One Law was given, which was to be carried out by all means for the safety of the people themselves; this Law had to be fulfilled exactly, so that they would remember their Creator, and that HE is always above them."

"The violation of the law in the image from the face of God came from the inattention and thoughtlessness of this act and from the cunning deceit into which it was introduced. A man sinned and was expelled from paradise. A righteous decision and sentence of God. The violator could not be in God's Holy Place !!! "

"Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him, at the instigation of the devil. He must burn in fiery hell, because he did not repent of this sin. And Abel is worthy of eternal life."

And so he gradually read all the books of the Ages, until he reached the end - until the Seventh Age, reading:

"The beginning of the Seventh Century is the end of all ages. The main sign of this century is unkindness and cruelty, lies and asplachnia - (barrenness or not giving birth to good fruits). People of the Seventh century are cunning, murderers with feigned love, vicious, easily falling into sodomy and its sins .

"Truly, this Seventh Age has surpassed in its evil and wickedness and fornication all the previous ones!"

"Greeks and their idols were defeated and destroyed at the moment when My incorruptible body was hung on the Cross and nails were driven into It."

He paused for a moment and looked back at the book.

"The Twelve Lords of the Greatest King, snow-white as light, agitated the Sea, closed the mouths of beasts, enlightened the blind, strangled spiritual dragons, fed the hungry and made the rich poor. They caught many dead souls like fishermen, giving them life again. Great is their payment from Me! !

I, the Loving One, have chosen witnesses who fight for My Glory. And their friendship reached to Heaven, and their love to My throne. And their passion for My heart and their adoration kindles My heart. And My Glory and My Kingdom are with them!!!"

Turning his head, he whispered:

"O my most beautiful and most precious Bride. How many villains tried to torture and infect you!!! But You did not betray Me - Your Bridegroom!!! Countless heresies threatened you, but the stone on which You are installed did not slip. Because the gates of hell yes won't beat you!!!"

Then he began to read about people who died and did not wash their deeds with repentance. And there were as many of them as grains of sand on the seashore. He read about everyone and shook His head discontentedly and sighed with heaviness and bitterness. An innumerable multitude of angels froze next to Him, in awe, seeing the righteous wrath of the Judge. Reaching the middle of the century, he said:

"This Age is filled with the stench of sins from human deeds that are deceitful and stinking: corruption, murder, enmity, hatred and malice.

ENOUGH! I WILL STOP IT IN THE MIDDLE!!! I will end the dominion of sin!

And saying these angry words gave a sign to the Archangel Michael to produce the sign of the Judgment. After that, he with his army raised the throne of the Lord and departed. After him, Gabriel withdrew with his army, singing psalms and "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts. All and all the earth His Glory!"

After this greatest oath, heaven and earth rejoiced. They were followed by His third Archangel - Raphael with his army, singing the hymn "You are Holy Lord Jesus Christ, to the Glory of God the Father. Amen"

Finally, they were followed by the fourth army, led by its lord, who was White and Brilliant as Light and had the sweetest appearance. And they sang a hymn as they moved away, "The God of Gods, the Lord, prophesied and called the earth from sunrise to sunset. From Zion, His Grace and Magnificence. Our Visible God has appeared and our God will not remain silent! Fire comes from Him and a thunderstorm rages around Him. God rises to judge the earth and all that the nations inherited on it." Uriel is the leader of this army.

After some time they brought before the Lord His glorified Cross. And he shone with light like lightning, and spread the smell around indescribably sweet. He was accompanied by two troops of Trust and Strength. The vision of this was very magnificent and full of greatness. Numerous Angelic Powers harmoniously sang psalms: "I magnify Thee, my God, my King, may Thy Name be hallowed forever. Amen." And others sang, "I magnify Thee, Lord, and Thy footstool, Holy are You! Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!"

Then the command of the Lord was again given - to approach him to the Holding Archangel Michael. At the same time, one angel appeared, holding a huge and loud trumpet. The Lord took His trumpet in His hands, blew it three times and spoke three words. Then he gave it to Michael and ordered him:

"I order you with all your God's army to scatter over all the earth, and on the clouds to gather Me all My saints from the south, and from the north, and from the east, and from the west. And gather them all here for greeting with Me, as soon as the trumpet blows pipe."

After all this, the Righteous Judge cast a glance at the earth and saw... Darkness, fog, bitterness, sadness, grief and soot. The terrible tyranny of Satan is everywhere! With mania and monstrously fast, the dragon destroys and burns everything around like grass, seeing the angels of the Lord preparing eternal fire for him.

As soon as the Lord saw all this, he immediately called an angel, a kind of fiery, severe and terrible, ruthless, who had an army under his command, watching the fire of hell, and said to him:

"Take My staff, which binds and destroys, take with you your innumerable army of your angels, the most terrible, guarding over hell and everyone in it. Go to the Thinking Sea and find the traces of the prince ruling it (the sea). Seize it with force hard and beat him with My staff mercilessly until you give you every last one of the army of his cunning spirits; and plunge him into the most distant and barren circles of hell!!!

And after this was prepared, a sign was given to the angel holding the trumpet - to blow loudly. At the same hour, suddenly there was silence, as if the universe had stopped. Fear and horror gripped the universe. All heavenly and earthly trembled with fear. And then the trumpet sounded for the third time and the whole world was alarmed by its sound. And the dead rose in the blink of an eye. Terrible vision.

There were more of them than the sand in the sea. At the same time, like a thick rain, angels descended to the earth to prepare a place for the throne and proclaimed loudly: "Holy, Holy, Holy, God of hosts and intimidation to everything and everyone on earth!" All the people of the earth stood and looked with fear and horror at the Divine power descending to the earth. At this time, when those who were standing were looking up, an incredibly strong earthquake and thunder and lightning began. On the plain prepared for the Judgment. And everyone was even more frightened.

Then the firmament of heaven began to roll up like a scroll and the Holy Cross of the Lord appeared, shining like the sun and radiating marvelous Divine rainbows around. The angels held him before our Lord Jesus Christ and the Judge of all peoples and tribes, who was approaching.

A little more and a hymn unknown to us began to be heard: "Evlogimenos o erchomenos en onomata Kiriu. Theos Kirios. kritys exusiastys. archon irinis." "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The Lord God is the Judge and Ruler, the Beginning of the world!" As soon as this loud praise ends, the Judge appears on the clouds, sitting on a fiery throne and flooding both heaven and earth with His light.

Everyone on earth, both the angels and the resurrected ones, and those who see it all froze... And suddenly those resurrected from the dead began gradually, first one, then the other, as it were, to shine and glow. At the same moment they were picked up on the clouds and rushed to meet the Lord. But still, most of them remained below, no one picked them up. And they were overwhelmed with sadness and sorrow, because they were not worthy to rise up, and it was for them like poison and bile in their souls. They all fell on their knees before the Lord and stood up again.

And the Terrible Judge sat down on the prepared throne and His heavenly army gathered around Him and fear and horror seized everyone! All who were caught up in the clouds to answer before God were to His right. The rest were placed to the left of the Judge.

They were Jews, nobles, lords, bishops, priests, kings, many great monks and ordinary people. They stood ashamed, humiliated and saddened by their obscurity. Their faces expressed sadness and anguish, and they sighed loudly and sorrowfully. All were in deep sorrow, and did not see consolation come to them.

All who stood to the right of the Lord, as if they were luminous, as sunlight. Only this glow differed in tones of color on each of them. Some had a bronze color, others white, others copper. All of them had a noble appearance and each was distinguished by its glory. They glowed like lightning. And may the Lord forgive me - all in their glory were like Him.

The Lord, turning His head, looked in every direction. Looking to the right, His gaze expressed contentment and He smiled. But when he looked to the left, he became indignant and angry, and turned away his face from them.

“Come, blessed of my Father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the creation of the world. I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger, and you gave me shelter. I was naked, and you gave me clothes. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me."

They were surprised and replied:

"Lord, we have never seen You hungry and fed You. We have never seen You thirsty, and we have not given You water. We have never seen You a stranger, and we have not sheltered You. We have never seen You naked, and we have not given You clothes. "Never have we seen Thee in sickness, nor have we visited Thee. Never have we seen Thee in captivity, nor have we come to Thee."

He answered:

"Amen I say. As once you did this to my least brethren, then you did it to me."

Turning his head to the exiled, he said menacingly and with disgust:

"Depart from me, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry and you did not feed me. I was thirsty and you did not give me drink. I was a wanderer and you did not shelter me. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick, and you did not visit Me. I was in prison, and you did not come to Me."

And they asked in surprise:

"Lord, when did we see You in prison and did not come to You"

And he answered:

"Amen, I say. If you didn't do this for My younger brothers, then you didn't do it to Me either. Get out of My eyes, the curse of the earth. In tartar - where the gnashing of teeth is heard. And the torment and grief will be endless for you."

As soon as he made this decision, a huge fiery stream erupted from sunrise, which rapidly flowed to the west, it was as wide as the sea. And the former sinners on the left side of the Lord began to tremble, being frightened, and seeing that they had no hope for salvation. But the Righteous Judge ordered everyone - both faithful to him and unfaithful - to enter the stream of fire, for testing by fire.

The first to enter the stream were those who were on His right. And they came out of it shining like melted gold. And their deeds did not burn out, but they showed lordship and dedication. And for this they were rewarded with the arms of the Lord. After them, the exiles came to the stream and entered into the stream to be tested by their deeds. But since they were sinners, the fire began to burn them, and the stream drew them into itself. And their deeds burned like straw, but their bodies are not, but remained to burn for years and for centuries, endless, along with the devil and his demons. And none of them could get out of this fiery stream. And they became hostages in the fire, because they deserved this condemnation and punishment.

As soon as hell took away sinners, the righteous Judge also arose from His throne, surrounded by angels, who were in reverent fear of Him and singing psalms:"Lift up your gates, and lift up your eternal doors, and the King of glory will enter! The Lord God. The God of Gods with Him, all his saints shall enjoy the eternal inheritance."

And the other host sang along: "Blessed is he who walks in the name of the Lord, with all who have been honored with the grace to be called His sons. The Lord God with the sons of New Zion have appeared with Him." And the Archangels, greeting the new inhabitants, departed in all directions, singing: "Come into the arms of God, you who have not betrayed our Savior God. You who have come and confessed Him in psalmody invariably." And the next army sang: "God the Great Lord and the Great King and sat down on the earth and firmly holds in His hand the whole earth, and all its surroundings."

All those who were with Jesus Christ listened to this and other singing, going to the Heavenly Chamber of the Lord, and the hearts of all the saints trembled with joy. And immediately the gates of the bridal house closed behind them.

And then the King of Heaven called on his supreme Archangels. And Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel appeared to Him. And those who rule over their armies.

And behind them came the Twelve Lights of the World - the Apostles. And the Lord gave them brilliant Glory and twelve thrones, so that they would sit nearby with their teacher Christ in great honor. And they looked brilliant and indescribable. Their clothes shone with eternal light. They were majestic and transparent like pearls, that even the Archangels looked at them in admiration. At the end he gave them twelve crystal crowns adorned with precious stones that shone dazzlingly when glorious angels held them over their heads.

After that, 70 apostles came to the throne of the King. They also received well-deserved honors and awards. Only their crowns were more brilliant and wonderful.

Now it's time for the martyrs. They accepted glory and a place in the great army of angels, taking the place of the army thrown down from heaven along with Dennitsa. The martyrs became angels and rulers over the armies of heaven. And they immediately brought crowns to them and placed their saints on their heads. As the sun shines, so they shone. And so the holy martyrs, in divine glory, rejoiced immensely and embraced each other.

Then they brought in the divine throne of hierarchs, priests, deacons and other clergymen, and they were also crowned with unfading and eternal crowns, corresponding to their zeal and patience in their spiritual feat. Each wreath was distinguished from the other in glory. Because the stars are different from each other. Thus the priests and deacons became more brilliant than other hierarchs. They were also given a temple to each, for offering a spiritual sacrifice to the Lord and most holy thanksgiving to Him.

Then came in holy assembly prophets. The Lord gave them the incense of incense - the psalter of David and the harp, and the tympanum, and the light of the dance, the dawn shining, an inexpressible embrace of love and the glorification of the Holy Spirit. Then the Lord of the Heavenly Chamber asked them to sing psalms. And they began to perform such a melody from which all the rest were touched and filled with grace. Having received their gifts from the Savior, they remained in anticipation of the reward of the next ones. And those rewards were such that the human eye had never seen such, and the human ear had not heard, and had not come to the heart of people.

Here entered the assembly of many people who had been saved in the world: the poor and the lords, kings and private traders, slaves and free. And they stood before the Lord, and He divided them into the merciful and the compassionate, the blameless. And he gave them Paradise of Eden - heavenly and bright chambers, rich and magnificent crowns, sanctification and embraces, thrones and scepters and angels to serve them.

Then came those who, in the name of Christ, became "poor in spirit" and were exalted extraordinarily. By His hand the Lord gave them crowns of extraordinary beauty, and they inherited the Kingdom of Heaven.

Then those who repent of their sins received tremendous consolation from the Holy Trinity.

Then the righteous and the non-evil inherited the heavenly earth, where the sweetest and most beautiful fragrance of the Spirit of God flows. And they experienced an unknown pleasure and pleasure from what this holy land gave them. And their crowns radiated peach light, as if predawn.

Then came those who were "hungry for spiritual truth and justice." They were given the honor of truth and truth, as a payment for their search for justice. And the greatest reward for them was to see the Exalted Lord Jesus Christ, glorified and blessed by everyone and everything, saints and angels.

And then "persecuted for justice" entered. And they were honored and given miraculous life, and glory from God. And indescribable thrones were set up for them to sit in the Kingdom of Heaven. And crowns were given to them, like melted down silver and gold, having an unearthly light, so that seeing this light of theirs the angels would also rejoice.

Then, after them, an innumerable number of pagans entered (here I want to add on my own behalf that in all original Greek this word has the meaning of nations and peoples), who did not know the law given by Christ, but in themselves, having in themselves the goodness and truth of conscience. Many of them were like the sun from their purity and naivete. The Lord gave them a carefree Paradise, crowns shimmering with steel and adorned with lilies and roses. But because they were not baptized, they were blind. They did not see the glory of the Lord, because baptism is the light and eye of the soul. Therefore, the one who did not receive baptism, but worked tirelessly and did good, receives the joys of paradise and all its blessings, enjoys its fragrance and sweetness, but cannot see all its magnificence.

Then the Bridegroom entered, saw a whole host of saints - those who were the children of Christians. They all looked about thirty years old. Christ looked at them with joy in his eyes and said:

"Oh, the chiton not made by hands of baptism. But I do not see the deeds. What should I do with you?"

And they answered him bravely: “Lord, we were deprived of Your blessings on earth, so do not deny us them now that we have drawn near to You.”

And Christ smiled again and gave them heavenly blessings. They received their crowns of chastity for their gentleness and in all matters; all the hosts of saints and angels gazed at them admiringly. It was a miracle to see all these hosts of holy angels solemnly singing sweet hymns, delighted with these actions of the Lord.

Then the Bridegroom looks - the Bride, illuminated by the magnificent Divine light, approaches Him, spreading the incense of the heavenly divine myrrh around herself throughout the Chamber. And on Her most beautiful head shone an incomparable royal crown, radiating light. And the angels were blinded by Her beauty, and the saints froze at the reverent sight of Her. The grace of the Holy Spirit was held over Her like a diadem.

She entered the divine chamber in an innumerable multitude of virgins, singing hymns continuously and glorifying and praising God. When the Great Queen approached the Bridegroom, together with Her entourage of holy virgins, she bowed to Him three times. Then the Great Caller, struck by Her beauty, bowed His head before His Great Mother, giving Her part and glory.

She approached Him with great reverence and grace, and They embraced, with an immortal and undying kiss She kissed His hand. After this divine kiss, the Lord endowed all the virgins with brilliant dresses and multi-colored superbright crowns. And immediately all the spiritual Powers approached Them, singing hymns and praising and sanctifying HER.

Then the Bridegroom stood up from his throne, and with His Mother on the right, and with the Greatest Forerunner the Miraculous on the left, he went to the exit from the bridal chamber towards the Chamber of God, in which there were innumerable gifts, which the human eye had never seen, which the ear had never heard of. human, and the human heart never thought about them. As soon as everyone around Him saw these gifts, they were filled with grace and began to celebrate and rejoice.

But Elder Niphon could not describe all the joy with which all those who love God were filled. And no matter how much they asked him about it, he answered: “My children, I can’t describe it all, because there are no such human words and feelings that could describe this action taking place next to the Savior.”

Here you go.

“When he divided among all his saints those gifts, indescribable and unprecedented, he called to Himself the Cherubim to surround His throne. Then he said that they were surrounded by their Seraphim. Behind them are the Forces of the Holders of the thrones. To become like a wall surrounding a wall.

To the right of the Chamber of Ages, Michael and his army stood in great deanery. On the left stood Gabriel and his army. In the west stood Uriel and his host. And Raphael with his army stood in the east. And so numerous and great was this army. And they girded the miraculous Chamber of God, as with a great radiance. And all this was done according to the commandment of the Lord, the Great God and Savior of all saints.

But the greatest revelation was given to Saint Niphon at the end.

The Great Father HIMSELF of His only-begotten Son, the Parent, the Unseen and Unhidden Light suddenly shone together with the Son and the Holy Spirit from above this incomprehensible Chamber and the Forces surrounding it. Illuminated this purest Chamber with all its Forces as the Sun illuminates the whole earth. Thus the Father of Mercy illumined everything and everyone.

And just as a sponge absorbs wine and holds it, so all the saints absorbed into themselves, were filled with the inexpressible three-sun Divine Light, and thus reigned uninterruptedly for ages. From this hour on, neither day nor night exists for all of them. There is only God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit - the tenderness of a flickering life, pleasure and pleasure.

Then there was a deep silence.

And after him, the first army, surrounding the Chamber for all eternity, loudly performed an inexpressible blessing and doxology, and the hearts of the saints trembled with unprecedented joy and fullness. From the first army of praise passed to the second army of the Seraphim. And they began an indescribable and unknown doxology. Like honey it poured out for the hearing of the saints, and they rejoiced indescribably with all their feelings.

Their eyes saw an unseen light. And they absorbed the divine smell. Their ears heard the hymns of eternal divine powers. And their mouths tasted the New Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. Their hands went up in gratitude for these gifts, and their feet danced. So they experienced all the feelings and were filled with inexpressible joy. So the hymns passed from one host to another in seven circles. And the four columns of God fulfilled the psalms - His four pillars - Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel.

Have any of us heard perfect harmony? And their hymns were both frightening and loud. So the hymns were heard inside the Chamber, and outside. Sacred songs!!! They kindled the hearts of the saints with rapturous love for endless ages."

When the saint saw all this in great ecstasy, he heard the voice of God to him: “Nifont, Nifont, your prophetic vision was beautiful!!! Write down everything that you saw and heard in the smallest detail, because this is how everything will happen !!!

I showed you all this, because you are my faithful friend, beloved child, and heir to My Kingdom. Be sure, now I have considered you worthy to be a witness of these Holy Mysteries. Because I watch over all the upright and peaceful who tremble at My word." (meaning those who keep the law of the Lord)

Having said this, the Lord freed Nifont from a terrible and miraculous vision, in which he spent two weeks in the spirit. When Nifont came to his senses, he sat in sadness, thoughtfulness and great remorse. His tears flowed like a river and he said:

"Unbelievable. How did the prodigal get such mercy. What awaits my miserable soul? How can I be there, sinner! How can I apologize to the Judge! Where will I hide my sins? Oh, worldly and unhappy. my sins!!! I have no remorse!!! I don't do charity, I don't give alms!!! I don't pray!!! I don't have love!!! Kindness and holiness are far from me!!! I deserve punishment for shame, not awards!

What am I to do, poor and weak? Where should I go, what should I do to save my soul? In what position will we find ourselves there sinners!!! And how can we give an answer for our earthly deeds before the Judge!!! Where can I hide so many of my sins? Oh worldly and unfortunate!!! I don't know what to do!!!

My eyes see only my shame and my face in shame!!! I listen to demonic songs with my ears!!! With my nose I inhale earthly caressing scents!!! I stuff my mouth with polyphagous. Woe to me woe!!! My hands are holding on to the sinful!!! My body rolls only about the swamp of sin and idleness, it wants only to lie in bed and overeat !!! Oh, lawless and darkened and destroyed!!! Where can I run!!! Who will save me from the darkness of inner tartare!!! Who will save me from gnashing of teeth? Woe is me!!!

I disdain myself vile and ugly!!! I wish I hadn't been born! Ah, what Glory I can lose, dark one!!! What a pay, what crowns, how much joy, joy I will lose, because I submitted to sin!!! Poor soul!!! Where will you go? What will you choose? Where is your struggle, where are your virtues?

Woe to you sinful and unfortunate! Where will you be on that day? Have you done something good to please God? Smoked in the oven. How can you stand it? "Woe woe woe" in difficult times, for those who live on earth!!! Ah, unfortunate and dirty, who only wanted to ride in rotting, non-stop working for her stomach !!! Lawless and mired in sins! What a shame for you to even try to look at Jesus!!! With what eyes will you reflect the light of the God-man's eyes? That gentle look! Tell me, tell me!

Have you seen all those miracles of the Lord that he will perform! Tell me, my soul, do you have deeds worthy of that Glory? How will you get there if you pollute the baptism from God? Woe to you then, my infected soul!!! Eternal fire is before you, and where then will sin and its father be, who save you? Lord my Lord! Save me from fire, from gnashing of teeth and from tartare!!!"

The saint has been praying with these words ever since. On some days they saw him passing by, dragging his legs with difficulty and sighing bitterly and mourning with tears. Comparing everything with what he saw in the vision, he did everything he could for us with his prayer in order to deserve what was promised to him.

Often, often, when he again plunged into the memories of what he had seen, others saw him not in himself. He burned with a bright light from the appearance of the Holy Spirit and sighed, saying "Lord, help me and save my darkened soul"

Translation from Greek was made by the servant of God Victoria

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Prophetic vision of the holy righteous Fr. John of Kronstadt - Prophetic vision of the holy righteous Father John of Kronstadt about the fate of Russia and the world. succumb to the temptation and persuasion of the two-faced devil

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