Chapter 33

On Prayer Rule and Ascesis

^33.2.1 The mercy of God be with you!

^33.3.1 Most reverend Mother!

^33.4.1 Three letters from you lie before me unanswered. But the fault is not mine—it’s my illness. Four weeks before the feast I caught a cold, and I’ve been very weak ever since. The books you asked for I prepared as soon as I received your letter; but my illness prevented me from sending them. I’m sending them now. I do this with pleasure.

^33.5.1 I still have one question for you... about your prayer rule. Earlier you asked to finish the rule an hour sooner. Not seeing through the enemy’s cunning, I agreed to this. Now the enemy has crept up to you and talked you into thinking you can shorten your prayer rule even more by adding handwork to it. So your usual prayer rule has been completely ruined. It is not good that way. Make the effort to restore it as it was in the beginning.

^33.6.1 If it’s more convenient for you to finish your rule an hour earlier, then start it earlier too. But throw out the handwork altogether... Where did you find such permission?.. no, no...

^33.7.1 You must exert yourself, not invent indulgences. This is the broad way... not good...

^33.8.1 May the Lord bless you.

^33.9.1 Be saved!

^33.10.1 Your well-wisher, Bishop Theophan.

^33.11.1 I am sending you a booklet: “An Outline of Christian Moral Teaching”. The conclusion of this outline is the book “The Way to Salvation”, which you already have.

^33.12.1 6 January 1891