Part 2. Special Instructions Concerning Teaching, Divine Service, and Conduct With the Native Peoples, Etc

17) The dogmas of the faith and the essence of active teaching must be adhered to so firmly that nothing contrary to them should be said or permitted, even if open death should threaten you. But condescension to those newly converting, as to infants in the faith, in regard to certain deficiencies in outward observance, may be permitted out of pastoral discretion—though never in the least touching the dogmas of the faith or the essence of active teaching.

18) Keeping the fasts in the customary way—that is, by substituting animal food with purely vegetable food—is almost entirely impossible for the inhabitants of that region by reason of the very locality; and a fast for them may consist in abstinence from labor and games, in the intensification of prayer, in greater and more diligent attendance at divine services, and so forth.

19) Attendance at ordinary divine services, other than the Liturgy, is not to be established as a strict obligation, and strict fulfillment of this is not to be required; and therefore, during your travels to remote places, when you cannot celebrate divine services, replacing them with instruction in the Word of God will be the most beneficial substitute.

The preaching of the Word of God is always better preparation for them for receiving the sacraments than the reading of ordinary psalms and prayers, because for a very long time none of them will be able to understand what they read or what is read; while the preaching of the Word of God can and must be comprehensible to them all.

20) Easements in the strictness of the rules regarding marriages may be permitted only for very weighty reasons and in extreme necessity; and what exactly these easements may be, special instructions will be given to you.

21) Do not suddenly wean them from old customs not contrary to Christianity, but only explain to them that these are permitted by condescension.

22) As for native peoples who have not received holy baptism—if there is no prospect that any offense against what is holy or breach of decorum might arise from them—not only do not forbid them to be present at our divine services, but as far as possible encourage this.

23) No matrimonial unions and agreements concluded before baptism are to be considered an obstacle to the reception of holy baptism; and no marriages contracted before baptism—excepting the most closely consanguineous (which are in any case rare among them)—are to be dissolved; but those with multiple wives are to be left with the first wife.

24) Under no circumstances—neither before baptism, nor at baptism itself, nor soon after baptism—are gifts of any kind to be given to the newly converting, or permitted to the godparents to give, lest this might become for the native peoples a lure or a means of bartering for baptism.

25) By virtue of the holy antimins given to you, you have the authority to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in any place: in a clean dwelling-house, and in the open air; but for this, for many reasons, it is more fitting to have a special and properly equipped place.

26) Have your more permanent residence where it will be more useful and needful. Doubly happy is that preacher whose presence among them the native peoples count as their own happiness.

27) In teaching by the above-described order, take care not to proceed to the explanation of subsequent subjects before all your hearers, or at least the greater part of them, have understood the preceding subject.

28) In the teaching of the faith and the Christian law, no proofs not confirmed by Holy Scripture are to be used; still less are false miracles or revelations to be invented, under pain of the severest responsibility.

29) In order to increase the number receiving holy baptism, do not employ any measures and means incompatible with the spirit of the Gospel and unbecoming a preacher—such as compulsion, temptation, cunning, deception, or any similar thing.

30) Do not proceed to the administration of holy baptism to native peoples earlier than they have been taught by you the above-mentioned matters of the faith and the law, and when they themselves express a desire for it.

31) Upon arriving in the settlements of the savages, do not say at all that you have been sent by the government, and do not present yourself as any sort of official, but as a simple traveler desiring true well-being for those near him.

32) From your first entry into office, by your conduct and the virtues befitting your rank and calling, strive to earn a good opinion of yourself and respect—both from the native peoples and from the civilized persons living there—remembering that a bad opinion of yourself, once formed, is very difficult to change.

33) By no means show open contempt for their manner of life, customs, and so forth, however deserving of it they may seem; for nothing can so offend and irritate savages as open contempt for them and their customs—whereas patient and compassionate condescension can win the heart of even the most savage man.

34) From your first meeting with the native peoples, strive to gain their confidence and goodwill—not by gifts or flattery, but by prudence, readiness for every help, good and sensible counsel, and especially by a sincere and open manner of conduct.

35) In giving instruction and in conversations with the native peoples generally, be meek, gentle, simple, and by no means adopt a lofty, teacherly manner—by which one can greatly harm the success of one’s work.

36) When one of the native peoples speaks to you, listen attentively, patiently, and with forbearance; and answer their questions intelligibly, with special warmth and gentleness—for a question from a native person shows his trust in you, and questions are a special mark of attention and progress.

37) Those unwilling to receive holy baptism, even after several persuasions, do not offend in any way, and especially do not compel them to receive baptism. And although justice requires that in dealing with savages one be firm and strict, yet in no case does the preacher of the Gospel have the right to be cruel or violent with anyone.

38) Among some of the local savages one may encounter polygamy, but always only among the rich and powerful; and therefore, in inclining them to monogamy, act with all prudence, and by no means act violently here—for you can do more harm than good by doing so.

39) From those newly converting and the newly converted, under no pretext whatsoever demand any contributions or offerings for the church or for any other pious purposes; but do not reject them either, and receive with goodwill any willing and sincere offerings.

40) Until a special instruction on this matter is issued, workers and guides for your travels you must take from among the newly converted or from the local inhabitants; but in this matter one must proceed in such a way that they do not regard it as burdensome or as compulsion.

41) Under no pretext whatsoever solicit from the newly converted or other native peoples any gifts or offerings, and do not enter into any trade relations with them, either personally or through intermediaries—this could greatly prejudice the dignity of the ministry and the success of the cause.

42) Undertake journeys at a convenient time—that is, when the local inhabitants are more free from the hunting of wild animals and fishing—so that an ill-timed journey does not deprive either the native peoples or the company of their advantages.

43) In order to be more effectively and fully useful to your parishioners, you must in a short time learn their language—at first, at least, to the degree of being able to understand it. The deacon with you should also be instructed in this, so that he too might be able to say a word or two in their language, especially the most essential. It would also be very good if you were to begin compiling a small dictionary or vocabulary of their language.

44) Strive to learn thoroughly: the faith, rites, customs, inclinations, character, and entire way of life of your parishioners—especially in order the more surely and conveniently to act upon them.

Doing justice to their good customs is no small matter for your success.

45) During your visits and stays in various places, when time permits, give the savages advice and instruction concerning the improvement of their way of life and manner of living—but without any compulsion or offense, making sure they understand that it is said out of sincere benevolence toward them.

46) Do not enter into the resolution of worldly matters, and do not weaken in the eyes of the native peoples any authority, whether set by the government or their own, either by open or by secret suggestions—just as Jesus Christ Himself, when asked to adjudicate between brothers over an inheritance, said: “Who made me a judge or divider over you?”

47) For all that exceeds your authority, seek resolutions from us; and write to us concerning difficulties and doubts, officially or privately, depending on the circumstances of the matter.

48) Judging by the meek character of many of the savages inhabiting the shores of America, it seems that with peaceable conduct befitting a preacher of the Gospel, no attack or attempt upon life can be expected; but by the will of God anything is possible, and the preacher of the Gospel ought at all times to be prepared for everything.

49) In order that your labors, actions, and progress in the work entrusted to you might be more clearly visible, and your service thereby more accurately assessed, keep a journal, in which you are to record all your actions, all the main events of each day, and all your observations.

50) Regarding the order of business—such as the keeping of account books, reporting, and also various records and the forms in which to write them—special instructions will be given to you.

51) As circumstances and possibilities allow, endeavor to establish and maintain a primary school for the instruction of children in the Law of God, reading, and so forth—of the kind that His Imperial Majesty has ordained to be established at monasteries and cathedrals.

52) It goes without saying that you, apart from all the above-written, must fulfill in all their force and exactness the general and particular regulations concerning churches and clerical staffs—those of them that are in no wise incompatible with local circumstances and the spirit of the preaching of the faith.

Remember that you are in a place where you may more and more quickly than many receive rewards—both heavenly and future, and earthly and present.

The heavenly rewards are in the hands of the Great Rewarder, who will always see your deeds, and your intentions, and the spirit in which you act. As for earthly rewards, attention will be given to the following: your diligence, your manner of fulfilling your ministry, the number of those converted and baptized by you, and the degree of their establishment in the Christian life and in the faith.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them—for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit!