0:00:00.401,0:00:05.383 - [Fr. Seraphim] Eminences,[br]reverend fathers, brothers and sisters. 0:00:09.653,0:00:13.675 Every Orthodox Christian is placed[br]between two worlds: 0:00:14.734,0:00:18.479 this fallen world where we try[br]to work out our salvation 0:00:19.908,0:00:22.247 and the other world, heaven, 0:00:22.247,0:00:24.766 the homeland towards which we are striving 0:00:25.287,0:00:28.354 and which if we are leading[br]a true Christian life 0:00:28.768,0:00:31.462 gives us the inspiration to live[br]from day to day 0:00:31.462,0:00:33.687 in Christian virtue and love. 0:00:36.289,0:00:38.300 But the world is too much with us. 0:00:38.300,0:00:41.389 We often in fact nowadays, usually, 0:00:41.795,0:00:43.708 we forget the heavenly world. 0:00:44.668,0:00:47.428 The pressure of worldliness is[br]so strong today 0:00:47.601,0:00:49.878 whether we look at the Soviet Union 0:00:49.878,0:00:52.233 where it is enforced by the government 0:00:52.255,0:00:55.712 or to the free world[br]where we voluntarily go on this way 0:00:56.483,0:00:58.486 that we often lose track of what our life 0:00:58.486,0:01:00.139 as Christians is all about. 0:01:01.714,0:01:05.515 Even if we may be going[br]to church frequently, 0:01:06.748,0:01:08.457 even if we may consider ourselves 0:01:08.457,0:01:10.543 to be active church members, 0:01:11.763,0:01:15.146 how often our being in church,[br]our churchliness 0:01:17.319,0:01:19.107 is only something external 0:01:20.775,0:01:23.441 bound up with beautiful services[br]with the whole richness 0:01:23.441,0:01:24.818 of our Orthodox tradition, 0:01:24.818,0:01:27.478 but lacking in something[br]much more fundamental: 0:01:27.576,0:01:29.627 the deep conviction in our hearts 0:01:29.627,0:01:33.382 that Orthodoxy is the faith[br]that can save our souls for eternity. 0:01:34.793,0:01:36.793 But often in the midst[br]of outward splendor, 0:01:36.793,0:01:40.076 we are lacking for real love for[br]and commitment to Christ, 0:01:40.076,0:01:43.487 who is incarnate the God[br]and the Founder of our faith. 0:01:44.173,0:01:47.139 And often for us church becomes[br]just a matter of habit. 0:01:47.523,0:01:49.486 Something we go through outwardly 0:01:49.486,0:01:51.567 which does not change us inwardly, 0:01:51.755,0:01:53.338 does not make us grow spiritually 0:01:53.338,0:01:55.298 and lead us to eternal life and God 0:01:55.298,0:01:57.757 which is the whole purpose[br]of our existence. 0:02:00.108,0:02:02.681 Keeping this mind,[br]we can see that we are living 0:02:02.681,0:02:04.580 in those times 0:02:04.580,0:02:07.700 which our Lord Jesus Christ warned us[br]about in the Gospel 0:02:07.700,0:02:10.442 when He said,[br]"The love of many shall grow cold." 0:02:11.710,0:02:13.647 These are the latter times. 0:02:14.718,0:02:16.764 When the Christian Gospel[br]which was received 0:02:16.764,0:02:18.990 with such fervor by the first Christians 0:02:18.990,0:02:21.965 has become only one small part[br]of our worldly life 0:02:22.717,0:02:25.213 instead of the center and meaning[br]of our life, 0:02:25.660,0:02:28.598 which is what it would be[br]if we realized what our faith is. 0:02:30.150,0:02:31.423 Orthodox Christianity, 0:02:31.423,0:02:34.628 as a burning faith[br]which we are not ashamed to confess 0:02:34.628,0:02:37.115 and to have as the most precious thing[br]in our life, 0:02:37.225,0:02:39.617 is to a great extent in a state of decline 0:02:39.617,0:02:41.629 and retreat in the world today. 0:02:42.933,0:02:46.509 But quite ironically[br]and quite providentially 0:02:47.201,0:02:50.183 as Orthodoxy and Christianity have seemed[br]to retreat, 0:02:50.585,0:02:54.461 on the other hand Russia[br]or rather the Soviet Union, 0:02:54.702,0:02:57.774 the atheist regime[br]which has ensnared the Russian land 0:02:58.426,0:03:00.781 has advanced from strength to strength 0:03:01.108,0:03:03.504 and now has a leading,[br]perhaps the leading position 0:03:03.504,0:03:05.648 in the world history of our time. 0:03:06.445,0:03:08.922 Therefore what is happening[br]in the Soviet Union today 0:03:08.922,0:03:11.633 is looked to with great interest[br]by the rest of the world. 0:03:12.139,0:03:14.493 And significantly a good part[br]of what is happening 0:03:14.493,0:03:16.006 in the Soviet Union today 0:03:16.006,0:03:19.005 and what undoubtedly will be happening[br]in the future 0:03:19.661,0:03:23.160 is bound up with the real Russia,[br]with Orthodox Russia. 0:03:26.215,0:03:29.430 The Orthodox revival in Russia today is[br]closely bound up 0:03:29.430,0:03:32.193 with the future of the Russian land. 0:03:33.653,0:03:36.833 In 19th and 20th century,[br]early 20th century Russia, 0:03:37.445,0:03:40.490 there were many prophecies[br]of spiritual men 0:03:41.027,0:03:43.064 not only concerning the coming of atheism 0:03:43.064,0:03:44.925 and the revolution to Russia 0:03:44.986,0:03:47.343 and the epoch of blood and slavery 0:03:47.343,0:03:49.307 which was introduced into the world, 0:03:49.687,0:03:52.574 but also what would happen to Russia[br]after this epoch 0:03:52.688,0:03:55.396 if the Orthodox Russian people[br]would repent of their sins 0:03:55.396,0:03:57.026 which produced the revolution. 0:03:58.320,0:04:00.230 This morning, therefore, I would like us 0:04:00.230,0:04:02.347 to look at some of these prophecies 0:04:02.657,0:04:05.890 and the way they are bound up[br]with what is happening in Russia today. 0:04:07.055,0:04:09.769 We will try to look not[br]from the superficial point of view 0:04:09.769,0:04:11.630 of the popular newsmagazines, 0:04:11.812,0:04:14.633 but deeper, and try to see something 0:04:14.633,0:04:17.366 of what is happening to the soul and heart[br]of Russia 0:04:17.426,0:04:18.898 and what may be expected there 0:04:18.898,0:04:20.437 according to these prophecies 0:04:20.567,0:04:22.803 and our knowledge[br]of the more general prophecies 0:04:22.803,0:04:25.471 concerning what is to happen[br]before the end of the world. 0:04:26.830,0:04:28.380 Immediately the question arises: 0:04:28.380,0:04:30.957 why should we talk[br]about the end of the world? 0:04:31.537,0:04:33.616 Are we really living in the last times? 0:04:33.893,0:04:35.888 Why do we have[br]to bind together the subject 0:04:35.888,0:04:38.434 of the future of Russia[br]and the end of the world? 0:04:39.674,0:04:43.305 But it so happens that[br]even secular writers nowadays speak 0:04:43.305,0:04:45.351 of our times as being apocalyptic. 0:04:45.936,0:04:48.267 And truly the problems[br]that plague the world today— 0:04:48.267,0:04:51.318 such as the exhaustion[br]of resources and food, 0:04:51.924,0:04:53.239 overpopulation, 0:04:53.675,0:04:55.725 the literal monsters[br]which have been created 0:04:55.725,0:04:57.380 by modern technology, 0:04:57.380,0:04:59.450 and especially the weapons[br]which are capable 0:04:59.450,0:05:01.321 of destroying entire countries 0:05:01.419,0:05:03.510 or even the whole civilized earth— 0:05:04.035,0:05:06.685 all these point to the approach[br]of a time of crisis 0:05:06.685,0:05:08.091 in human history 0:05:08.170,0:05:11.134 which is quite beyond anything[br]the world has ever seen, 0:05:11.677,0:05:14.657 and perhaps points to the literal end[br]of life upon earth. 0:05:16.214,0:05:17.734 At the same time, 0:05:18.622,0:05:20.775 religious thinkers of various kinds point 0:05:20.775,0:05:23.519 to a blossoming[br]of non-Christian religious movements 0:05:23.519,0:05:24.658 in our time, 0:05:24.965,0:05:27.173 and speak about the coming of a new age 0:05:27.173,0:05:29.004 in which a new religious consciousness 0:05:29.004,0:05:30.588 will dominate men's minds 0:05:30.739,0:05:33.742 and put an end to the 2,000 year reign[br]of Christianity. 0:05:34.731,0:05:36.859 Astrologers talk about the Aquarian age 0:05:36.859,0:05:39.440 which they think is to begin[br]around the year 2000. 0:05:40.156,0:05:42.629 And the very approach[br]of the year 2000 is enough 0:05:42.629,0:05:45.411 to inspire in many minds the idea[br]of a new epoch 0:05:45.627,0:05:48.352 somehow different from the rest[br]of human history. 0:05:49.714,0:05:51.952 Among many non-Orthodox Christians, 0:05:52.225,0:05:54.404 these ideas take the form of a teaching 0:05:54.937,0:05:57.228 which is extremely important for us[br]to understand 0:05:57.228,0:05:59.133 in connection with the future of Russia, 0:05:59.574,0:06:01.155 and it's called chiliasm: 0:06:01.176,0:06:03.366 the belief that Christ is soon[br]to come to earth 0:06:03.366,0:06:05.230 and reign right here with His saints 0:06:05.230,0:06:06.709 before the end of the world. 0:06:07.293,0:06:09.550 This teaching is a heresy[br]which was condemned 0:06:09.550,0:06:11.683 by the early Church Fathers and councils 0:06:12.168,0:06:14.132 and has its origin in a misinterpretation 0:06:14.132,0:06:16.547 of the Book of Revelation, the Apocalypse. 0:06:17.638,0:06:20.329 The Orthodox teaching is that the reign 0:06:20.329,0:06:22.706 of Christ with His saints[br]when the devil is bound 0:06:22.706,0:06:24.486 for a 1,000 years which is described 0:06:24.486,0:06:26.874 in the Apocalypse 20:3 0:06:27.539,0:06:29.413 is the period we are now living in. 0:06:29.413,0:06:30.773 The whole period, 0:06:30.773,0:06:33.775 1000 being a symbolical number[br]indicating wholeness, 0:06:34.082,0:06:35.754 this whole period between the first 0:06:35.754,0:06:37.332 and second coming of Christ. 0:06:38.003,0:06:40.890 In this period the saints do reign[br]with Christ in His church, 0:06:41.597,0:06:43.045 but this is a mystical reign 0:06:43.045,0:06:45.889 which is not to be defined[br]in the outward political sense 0:06:45.889,0:06:48.017 which is given to us by the chiliad. 0:06:48.507,0:06:50.502 The devil is truly bound in this period, 0:06:50.502,0:06:55.353 that is restricted in exercising[br]his ill will against humanity. 0:06:55.797,0:06:57.901 And believers who live the life[br]of the church 0:06:57.901,0:06:59.840 and receive the holy mysteries of Christ 0:07:00.036,0:07:02.088 live in this period a blessed life 0:07:02.201,0:07:05.017 preparing them for eternal kingdom[br]of heaven. 0:07:06.069,0:07:08.309 The non-Orthodox[br]who do not have holy mysteries 0:07:08.309,0:07:10.836 and do not taste of the true life[br]of the church 0:07:11.125,0:07:13.571 cannot understand this mystical reign[br]of Christ, 0:07:13.571,0:07:16.052 and this is why they look[br]for something outward. 0:07:16.902,0:07:18.864 And so it is that the future of the world 0:07:18.864,0:07:21.271 in which Russia obviously[br]will have a central place 0:07:21.421,0:07:24.371 is bound up with ideas[br]that you can call apocalyptic, 0:07:24.740,0:07:27.706 either with the literal end of the world[br]in a physical sense 0:07:27.966,0:07:30.228 or the end of the civilized world[br]as we know it, 0:07:30.287,0:07:34.701 and the expectation[br]of some entirely new paradise-like reign. 0:07:36.573,0:07:39.352 Some people have interpreted[br]Russia's place in this new era 0:07:39.352,0:07:41.295 in terms of the heresy of chiliasm. 0:07:41.585,0:07:43.868 In fact, if we look at the teaching[br]of communism, 0:07:43.868,0:07:46.749 we see that it is exactly a teaching[br]of chiliasm. 0:07:49.350,0:07:54.711 We can see that it teaches[br]that a totally new historical epoch 0:07:54.711,0:07:56.142 begins with communism, 0:07:56.142,0:07:58.376 that when communism[br]finally dominates the world 0:07:58.376,0:08:00.028 there will be universal happiness 0:08:00.028,0:08:02.121 and the liberation of mankind[br]from everything 0:08:02.121,0:08:04.603 that is bounded in the past,[br]including religion. 0:08:06.637,0:08:08.795 Today after over 60 years 0:08:08.795,0:08:10.821 of the communist experiment in Russia 0:08:10.897,0:08:12.908 and a shorter period in other nations, 0:08:13.165,0:08:16.477 we can see how foolish is this belief[br]underlying communism. 0:08:17.006,0:08:19.448 The reality of communism is not paradise[br]on earth 0:08:19.448,0:08:21.891 but what we call now gulag. 0:08:22.457,0:08:24.413 Mankind has not been liberated at all, 0:08:24.413,0:08:26.690 but enslaved worse than ever before. 0:08:27.578,0:08:30.495 But Russia, the first country[br]to experience the communist yoke 0:08:31.197,0:08:33.813 is also the first country to begin[br]to wake up from it 0:08:33.813,0:08:35.237 and to survive it. 0:08:35.444,0:08:38.270 Despite the continued reign[br]of communist tyranny in Russia, 0:08:38.270,0:08:40.839 atheism has not captured the soul[br]of Russia. 0:08:41.208,0:08:43.982 And a religious awakening that can be seen[br]now in Russia is 0:08:43.982,0:08:46.010 undoubtedly only the beginning[br]of something 0:08:46.030,0:08:48.093 quite immense and elemental, 0:08:48.666,0:08:51.444 namely the recovery of the soul[br]of a whole nation 0:08:51.444,0:08:53.034 from the plague of atheism. 0:08:54.045,0:08:56.491 This is the reason why Russia today[br]can speak a word 0:08:56.491,0:08:58.309 of significance to the whole world, 0:08:58.649,0:09:01.185 which is plunging into the same trap[br]of atheism 0:09:01.185,0:09:02.994 from which Russia is emerging. 0:09:03.072,0:09:05.964 And this is why the future of Russia is[br]so closely bound up 0:09:05.964,0:09:08.654 with the future of the whole world[br]in a religious sense. 0:09:10.841,0:09:13.986 Before turning specifically[br]to the prophecies about Russia, 0:09:14.288,0:09:15.904 I would like to summarize briefly 0:09:15.904,0:09:18.234 the general Orthodox teaching[br]of what is to happen 0:09:18.234,0:09:20.118 just before the end of the world. 0:09:20.416,0:09:22.999 This will give us a background in which 0:09:22.999,0:09:25.647 to place the prophecies[br]regarding the future of Russia. 0:09:26.659,0:09:29.106 The events before the end[br]of the world are described 0:09:29.106,0:09:31.321 in a number of places in Holy Scripture: 0:09:31.541,0:09:33.425 the 24th chapter of Matthew 0:09:33.656,0:09:36.335 and other similar chapters[br]in the other Gospels, 0:09:37.795,0:09:39.955 almost the whole Book of the Apocalypse 0:09:40.444,0:09:42.532 especially from chapter 8 onward, 0:09:42.807,0:09:45.641 the 2nd chapter of 2 Thessalonians[br]of St. Paul, 0:09:45.750,0:09:48.003 and St. Peter's 2nd epistle[br]the 3rd chapter, 0:09:48.630,0:09:50.561 several chapters of the Book of Daniel, 0:09:50.561,0:09:52.075 and many other passages. 0:09:53.364,0:09:55.032 The Apocalypse describes the events 0:09:55.032,0:09:57.597 before the end of the world[br]in a series of visions. 0:09:57.957,0:10:00.391 Some of these visions are bright[br]and positive 0:10:00.391,0:10:02.470 relating to the fulfillment[br]of God's justice 0:10:02.470,0:10:04.647 and the salvation of His chosen ones. 0:10:04.747,0:10:06.480 And some are dark and negative 0:10:06.480,0:10:09.164 relating to the terrible plagues[br]that will come on earth 0:10:09.164,0:10:10.705 for the sins of mankind. 0:10:11.609,0:10:13.119 Sometimes, in fact quite often, 0:10:13.119,0:10:15.746 we tend to overemphasize the dark[br]and negative side 0:10:15.746,0:10:16.918 of this book, 0:10:17.058,0:10:19.762 because we see how much evil is increasing[br]around us. 0:10:20.067,0:10:22.734 But this comes from our faintheartedness[br]and worldliness. 0:10:22.734,0:10:25.400 To get the whole picture of what is[br]to happen at the end, 0:10:25.400,0:10:28.252 we must bear in mind all the events[br]that will happen 0:10:28.252,0:10:30.269 both the negative and the positive. 0:10:32.806,0:10:34.218 As the time of the end comes, 0:10:34.218,0:10:36.732 it is true that there will be a time[br]of tribulation 0:10:37.380,0:10:39.087 such as the world has never seen, 0:10:39.397,0:10:42.619 as described in Matthew 24:21. 0:10:43.541,0:10:45.702 There will be famines, plagues,[br]earthquakes, 0:10:45.702,0:10:47.520 wars and rumors of wars, 0:10:47.520,0:10:50.431 persecutions, false prophets,[br]false christs, 0:10:50.909,0:10:53.870 and the love of many[br]including Christians will grow cold. 0:10:55.020,0:10:57.911 But at the same, the Gospel[br]will be preached to all nations, 0:10:58.062,0:11:00.070 and those who endure[br]with the aid of Christ 0:11:00.070,0:11:03.470 all the trials to come upon men[br]at that time will be saved. 0:11:04.725,0:11:06.656 The evil and false religion in the world 0:11:06.656,0:11:08.930 which we see increasing about us today[br]so much 0:11:09.624,0:11:12.314 will come to its peak in the reign[br]of antichrist, 0:11:12.760,0:11:14.768 a world ruler who will seem to bring peace 0:11:14.768,0:11:16.233 out of world disorder, 0:11:16.373,0:11:18.588 and will seem to be Christ come again[br]to earth 0:11:18.848,0:11:22.032 reigning over the whole world[br]from the restored temple in Jerusalem. 0:11:23.290,0:11:25.808 But there will be those who see[br]through the deception, 0:11:26.000,0:11:29.492 and in particular two Old Testament[br]prophets who never died. 0:11:30.128,0:11:33.040 Elijah and Enoch will return to earth. 0:11:33.291,0:11:34.624 Elijah to covert the Jews 0:11:34.624,0:11:36.621 and Enoch to preach to the other nations. 0:11:37.331,0:11:40.220 The short reign of antichrist[br]only 3.5 years will end 0:11:40.220,0:11:42.003 in new disorders and wars, 0:11:42.138,0:11:44.858 in the midst of which[br]Christ himself will come from heaven 0:11:44.858,0:11:46.605 preceded by the sign of the cross. 0:11:46.605,0:11:49.663 And this world will be consumed by fire[br]and totally renewed 0:11:49.885,0:11:51.419 at the same time that the bodies 0:11:51.419,0:11:53.187 of the dead will arise from the tombs 0:11:53.187,0:11:55.426 and be rejoined to their souls[br]in order to stand 0:11:55.426,0:11:57.238 before the final judgement of God. 0:11:59.460,0:12:01.522 This in a very brief scope 0:12:01.737,0:12:05.243 is the sort of things[br]which one can expect to happen 0:12:05.344,0:12:07.368 as the world actually comes to its end. 0:12:09.068,0:12:10.484 And now about Russia. 0:12:11.829,0:12:13.391 In 19th century Russia, 0:12:14.142,0:12:15.471 a number of prophets 0:12:15.471,0:12:18.035 and even farseeing laymen like Dostoyevsky 0:12:18.388,0:12:20.389 foresaw the coming of the revolution 0:12:20.414,0:12:23.001 which would come upon Russia[br]as a result of unbelief, 0:12:23.041,0:12:26.527 worldliness, and a purely formal attitude[br]to Orthodoxy 0:12:26.970,0:12:29.353 devoid of the burning,[br]self-sacrificing faith 0:12:29.353,0:12:30.816 which Orthodoxy demands. 0:12:34.198,0:12:36.015 Some people saw this in general terms 0:12:36.015,0:12:39.096 as a terrible disaster ready[br]to overtake the Russian land. 0:12:39.150,0:12:41.134 As did Bishop Theophan the Recluse 0:12:41.134,0:12:43.471 when he looked at the lack[br]of true Christian faith 0:12:43.471,0:12:44.491 in so many people 0:12:44.491,0:12:47.518 and cried out,[br]"In 100 years what will be left 0:12:47.518,0:12:49.076 "of our Orthodoxy?" 0:12:50.520,0:12:52.997 Others saw more specific[br]to the frightful revolution 0:12:53.098,0:12:54.970 which would spread to the entire world. 0:12:55.280,0:12:56.929 Thus St. John of Kronstadt said 0:12:57.019,0:13:00.179 in a sermon delivered in 1905, quote, 0:13:01.300,0:13:03.323 "Russia, if you fall away from your faith 0:13:03.559,0:13:06.671 "as many of the intellectual class have[br]already fallen away, 0:13:07.330,0:13:09.877 "you will no longer be Russia[br]or Holy Russia. 0:13:10.427,0:13:13.157 "And if there will be no repentance[br]in the Russian people, 0:13:13.157,0:13:14.903 "then the end of the world is near. 0:13:15.525,0:13:18.150 "God will take away the pious tsar[br]and will send a whip 0:13:18.319,0:13:21.165 "in the person of impious, cruel,[br]self-appointed rulers 0:13:21.472,0:13:24.561 "who will inundate the whole earth[br]with blood and tears," 0:13:25.235,0:13:26.322 end of quote. 0:13:28.255,0:13:30.883 This is the state[br]in which the world now finds itself 0:13:31.801,0:13:33.804 with nearly half of it drenched with blood 0:13:33.804,0:13:36.056 and enduring the tyranny[br]which began in 1917 0:13:36.056,0:13:37.587 with the Russian Revolution. 0:13:39.114,0:13:40.357 Somebody asked a question. 0:13:40.357,0:13:42.029 "Is there any hope for deliverance, 0:13:42.085,0:13:44.320 "or will atheism simply conquer[br]the whole world 0:13:44.400,0:13:46.403 "and set up the kingdom of antichrist?" 0:13:47.454,0:13:48.794 We have good reason to doubt 0:13:48.794,0:13:51.050 that future events will be[br]as simple as this. 0:13:51.413,0:13:52.808 Both because the very country 0:13:52.808,0:13:55.454 that began the reign of atheism, Russia, 0:13:55.543,0:13:57.593 is now undergoing a religious awakening 0:13:57.722,0:14:00.302 which is already a hindrance to the spread[br]of atheism. 0:14:00.947,0:14:04.224 And also because antichrist according[br]to Orthodox prophecy 0:14:04.495,0:14:07.082 will not be simply an atheist tyrant[br]like Stalin 0:14:07.395,0:14:08.614 but a religious figure 0:14:08.614,0:14:11.821 who will persuade[br]rather than compel people to accept him. 0:14:14.230,0:14:15.994 The holy men who were alive in Russia 0:14:15.994,0:14:17.619 at the beginning of the revolution 0:14:17.849,0:14:20.567 were aware of the apocalyptic nature[br]of this event, 0:14:20.886,0:14:23.792 that is that it is bound up somehow[br]with the end of the world. 0:14:24.359,0:14:27.022 And they knew that it would be a long[br]and difficult trial 0:14:27.022,0:14:28.282 for the Russian land, 0:14:28.582,0:14:31.742 but they also foresaw that[br]there would be an end to this trial. 0:14:32.002,0:14:36.234 And here we can see the difference[br]between our normal human wisdom 0:14:36.419,0:14:38.652 and the inspired wisdom of these prophets, 0:14:38.742,0:14:40.558 because according to our human wisdom 0:14:40.558,0:14:42.435 things look bad, they're getting worse, 0:14:42.435,0:14:43.873 and there seems to be no hope. 0:14:43.952,0:14:46.410 According to those inspired by God[br]they saw 0:14:47.024,0:14:49.458 dependent of course upon man's repentance 0:14:49.983,0:14:52.759 that there would be something positive[br]happening in Russia. 0:14:55.760,0:14:58.371 The Elder Alexius of Zosima Hermitage— 0:14:58.747,0:15:01.726 he was the monk who drew the lot[br]that elected Patriarch Tikhon— 0:15:02.208,0:15:03.923 heard people crying in church 0:15:03.923,0:15:05.792 in the Chudov Monastery where he was 0:15:05.836,0:15:07.684 in the early months of the revolution. 0:15:08.512,0:15:10.615 People were calling out,[br]"Our Russia is lost. 0:15:10.655,0:15:12.173 "Holy Russia is lost." 0:15:13.120,0:15:14.812 To this he answered as follows. 0:15:15.499,0:15:17.816 "Who is it that is saying[br]that Russia is lost, 0:15:17.816,0:15:19.258 "that she is perished? 0:15:19.653,0:15:21.350 "No, no, she is not lost. 0:15:21.548,0:15:23.851 "She has not perished and will not perish. 0:15:24.087,0:15:26.055 "But the Russian people must be purified 0:15:26.101,0:15:27.888 "of sin through great trials. 0:15:28.275,0:15:30.305 "One must pray and fervently repent. 0:15:31.052,0:15:33.599 "But Russia is not lost[br]and she has not perished." 0:15:35.216,0:15:39.090 This of course is a very general idea[br]opening up the idea 0:15:39.126,0:15:41.144 of hope in the future of Russia, 0:15:41.144,0:15:43.870 that there will be something[br]after this communist tyranny. 0:15:44.468,0:15:46.535 Starets Anatole the Younger of Optina 0:15:46.865,0:15:50.122 in the very first days of the revolution[br]in February 1917 0:15:50.841,0:15:54.193 made a more specific prophecy in the form[br]of a vivid picture 0:15:54.313,0:15:55.724 of the future of Russia. 0:15:56.267,0:15:57.475 He said, quote, 0:15:58.108,0:15:59.504 "There will be a storm, 0:15:59.544,0:16:02.099 "and the Russian ship will be smashed[br]to pieces, 0:16:02.794,0:16:05.713 "but people can be saved[br]even on splinters and fragments. 0:16:05.957,0:16:07.737 "And not everyone will perish. 0:16:08.184,0:16:12.117 "One must pray, everyone must repent[br]and pray fervently. 0:16:12.826,0:16:14.507 "And what happens after a storm? 0:16:15.004,0:16:16.283 "There will be a calm." 0:16:16.873,0:16:19.589 At this everyone cried out,[br]"But there is no more ship. 0:16:19.589,0:16:21.599 "It is shattered to pieces,[br]it is perished. 0:16:21.599,0:16:22.820 "Everything is perished." 0:16:23.429,0:16:25.856 To this the elder said, "It is not so. 0:16:26.624,0:16:28.982 "A great miracle of God[br]will be manifested. 0:16:29.132,0:16:30.844 "And all the splinters and fragments 0:16:30.844,0:16:32.616 "by the will of God and His power 0:16:32.648,0:16:34.605 "will come together and be united. 0:16:34.822,0:16:36.871 "And the ship will be rebuilt[br]in its beauty, 0:16:36.928,0:16:39.596 "and will go on its own way[br]as foreordained by God. 0:16:39.965,0:16:43.528 "And this will be a miracle evident[br]to everyone," end of quote. 0:16:45.195,0:16:48.806 Again Elder Barnabas[br]of Gethsemane Skeet spoke 0:16:48.852,0:16:50.190 before the revolution 0:16:50.276,0:16:52.167 of the disaster coming upon Russia 0:16:52.167,0:16:54.739 and the cruel persecutions[br]against the Orthodox Faith. 0:16:55.721,0:16:59.341 He said as the revolution[br]was breaking out, quote, 0:16:59.381,0:17:02.381 "Persecutions against the Faith will[br]constantly increase. 0:17:02.867,0:17:05.638 "There will be an unheard of grief[br]and darkness, 0:17:05.729,0:17:08.110 "and almost all the churches[br]will be closed. 0:17:08.546,0:17:12.118 "But when it will seem to people that[br]it is impossible to endure any longer, 0:17:12.428,0:17:14.192 "then deliverance will come. 0:17:14.550,0:17:16.279 "There will be a flowering. 0:17:16.369,0:17:18.287 "Churches will even begin to be built. 0:17:18.610,0:17:21.928 "But this will be a flowering[br]before the end," end quote. 0:17:23.997,0:17:26.876 Schema-hieromonk Aristocleus not long[br]before his death 0:17:26.876,0:17:29.424 in August 1918 said, 0:17:29.541,0:17:32.482 "It is now we are undergoing the times[br]before antichrist, 0:17:32.864,0:17:34.761 "but Russia will yet be delivered. 0:17:35.011,0:17:37.208 "There will be much suffering,[br]much torture. 0:17:37.398,0:17:39.393 "The whole of Russia will become a prison. 0:17:39.510,0:17:42.076 "And one must greatly entreat the Lord[br]for forgiveness. 0:17:42.555,0:17:44.145 "One must repent of one's sins 0:17:44.145,0:17:46.181 "and fear to do even the least sin, 0:17:46.439,0:17:48.807 "but strive to do good even the smallest. 0:17:49.140,0:17:50.955 "For even the wing of a fly has weight 0:17:50.955,0:17:52.800 "and God's scales are exact. 0:17:53.640,0:17:56.625 "And when even the smallest[br]of good in the cup overweigh, 0:17:57.069,0:17:59.514 "then will God reveal His mercy[br]upon Russia." 0:18:00.837,0:18:02.627 Ten days before the end of his life 0:18:02.897,0:18:05.067 he said that the end would come[br]through China. 0:18:05.545,0:18:09.404 There would be an extraordinary outburst[br]and a miracle of God would be manifested. 0:18:09.578,0:18:11.732 And there will be an[br]entirely different light, 0:18:11.732,0:18:13.587 but all this will not be for long. 0:18:15.885,0:18:18.404 St. John of Kronstadt[br]also said the deliverance 0:18:18.844,0:18:21.388 from this terrible yoke[br]of the 20th century 0:18:21.388,0:18:22.909 would come through the East. 0:18:24.378,0:18:27.226 Elder Nectarius of Optina[br]in the 1920s prophesied. 0:18:27.592,0:18:29.246 Quote, "Russia will arise, 0:18:29.592,0:18:31.847 "and materially it will not be wealthy, 0:18:32.087,0:18:33.991 "but in spirit it will be wealthy. 0:18:34.320,0:18:37.705 "And in Optina there will yet be[br]seven luminaries, seven pillars." 0:18:40.329,0:18:42.998 Abbot Theophan of Poltava summed up[br]in the 1930s 0:18:42.998,0:18:45.953 the prophesies which he had received[br]from such elders as these. 0:18:46.050,0:18:47.430 He said the following. 0:18:48.278,0:18:51.143 "You ask me about the near future[br]and about the last time. 0:18:51.841,0:18:53.539 "I do not speak on my own, 0:18:53.539,0:18:55.439 "but give the revelation of the elders. 0:18:55.835,0:18:58.685 "The coming of antichrist draws near[br]and is very near. 0:18:59.414,0:19:02.710 "The time separating us from him[br]should be counted a matter of years, 0:19:02.884,0:19:04.907 "and at most a matter of some decades. 0:19:05.435,0:19:08.580 "But before the coming of antichrist[br]Russia must yet be restored 0:19:09.036,0:19:10.752 "to be sure for a short time. 0:19:11.066,0:19:13.212 "And in Russia there must be[br]a tsar forechosen 0:19:13.212,0:19:14.646 "by the Lord himself. 0:19:15.033,0:19:18.366 "He will be a man of burning faith,[br]great mind, and iron will. 0:19:19.061,0:19:21.135 "This much has been revealed about him. 0:19:21.505,0:19:24.215 "We shall await the fulfillment[br]of what has been revealed. 0:19:24.575,0:19:27.005 "Judging by many signs it is drawing near, 0:19:27.245,0:19:29.891 "unless because of our sin[br]the Lord God shall revoke, 0:19:29.990,0:19:31.711 "shall alter what has been promised. 0:19:32.012,0:19:35.021 "According to the witness[br]of the Word of God this also happens." 0:19:36.375,0:19:37.413 End of quote. 0:19:38.564,0:19:41.375 Thus you may see in the prophecies[br]of these God-inspired men 0:19:41.375,0:19:43.076 in the early part of the century 0:19:43.401,0:19:46.421 a definite expectation of the restoration[br]of Holy Russia 0:19:46.839,0:19:49.318 and even the restoration[br]of an Orthodox tsar 0:19:49.775,0:19:52.493 for a short time,[br]not long before the coming of antichrist 0:19:52.493,0:19:53.976 and the end of the world. 0:19:54.679,0:19:56.313 This is to be something miraculous 0:19:56.313,0:19:58.269 and not an ordinary historical event. 0:19:58.761,0:20:00.477 But at the same time it is something 0:20:00.477,0:20:02.775 that depends upon[br]the Russian people themselves, 0:20:03.359,0:20:06.016 because God always acts[br]through the freewill of men. 0:20:06.618,0:20:09.122 Just as Nineveh was spared[br]when the repented 0:20:09.207,0:20:11.141 and Jonah's prophecies proved false 0:20:11.280,0:20:13.664 so also the prophecies of the restoration[br]of Russia 0:20:13.664,0:20:14.814 will prove false 0:20:14.814,0:20:17.110 if there is no repentance[br]in the Russian people. 0:20:18.723,0:20:21.212 Archbishop John Maximovitch[br]of blessed memory— 0:20:21.393,0:20:23.538 his tomb is in the cathedral of this city— 0:20:24.433,0:20:27.094 reflected deeply on the meaning[br]of the Russian Revolution 0:20:27.160,0:20:29.174 and the exile of so many Russian people, 0:20:29.174,0:20:30.619 a million or more people. 0:20:31.287,0:20:35.743 In his report to the All-Diaspora Sobor[br]in Yugoslavia in 1938 0:20:36.186,0:20:38.221 he gave his reflections on this subject. 0:20:38.631,0:20:40.003 He said, quote, 0:20:41.681,0:20:44.405 "The Russian people as a whole[br]has performed great sins 0:20:44.405,0:20:46.693 "which are the cause[br]of their present misfortune. 0:20:46.928,0:20:49.562 "The specific sins are oath breaking[br]and regicide. 0:20:49.813,0:20:52.526 "The public and military leaders renounced[br]their obedience 0:20:52.526,0:20:55.016 "and loyalty to the tsar[br]even before his abdication, 0:20:55.367,0:20:57.104 "forcing this latter from the tsar 0:20:57.104,0:20:59.392 "who did not desire bloodshed[br]within the country. 0:20:59.642,0:21:02.426 "And the people openly[br]and noisily greeted this deed, 0:21:02.931,0:21:04.929 "and nowhere did it[br]loudly express its lack 0:21:04.929,0:21:06.481 "of agreement with it. 0:21:06.573,0:21:09.331 "Those guilty of the sin of regicide,"[br]killing of the tsar, 0:21:09.561,0:21:11.800 "are not only those[br]who physically performed it, 0:21:11.800,0:21:15.600 "but the whole people which rejoiced on[br]the occasion of the overthrow of the tsar 0:21:15.600,0:21:18.096 "and allowed his abasement,[br]arrest, and exile, 0:21:18.569,0:21:21.189 "leaving him defenseless in the hands[br]of the criminals, 0:21:21.199,0:21:23.861 "which fact in itself[br]already predetermined the end. 0:21:24.638,0:21:27.529 "Thus the catastrophe which has come[br]upon Russia 0:21:27.871,0:21:30.293 "is the direct consequence[br]of terrible sins. 0:21:30.616,0:21:32.616 "And the rebirth of Russia[br]is possible only 0:21:32.616,0:21:34.117 "after cleansing from them. 0:21:34.352,0:21:37.070 "However, up to this time," 1938, 0:21:37.327,0:21:39.212 "there has been no genuine repentance. 0:21:39.212,0:21:42.232 "The crimes that have performed have[br]clearly not been condemned. 0:21:42.232,0:21:44.848 "And many active participants[br]in the revolution continue 0:21:44.848,0:21:48.765 "even now to affirm that at that time it[br]was not possible to act in any other way. 0:21:49.611,0:21:53.033 "And not expressing their direct[br]condemnation of the February Revolution, 0:21:53.033,0:21:55.103 "the uprising against the anointed of God, 0:21:55.333,0:21:58.071 "the Russian people continued[br]to participate in this sin 0:21:58.266,0:22:01.023 "especially when they defend it[br]through to the revolution." 0:22:02.446,0:22:03.504 End of quote. 0:22:04.806,0:22:07.462 Of course regicide,[br]the killing of the anointed tsar 0:22:07.462,0:22:09.745 is not the only sin that lies[br]upon the conscience 0:22:09.745,0:22:11.454 of the Orthodox Russian people. 0:22:11.698,0:22:13.486 This crime is as it were a symbol 0:22:13.486,0:22:15.492 of the whole falling away of Russia 0:22:16.236,0:22:18.087 from Christ and through Orthodoxy, 0:22:18.418,0:22:20.471 a process that took up most of the 19th 0:22:20.471,0:22:22.408 and early 20th centuries, 0:22:22.707,0:22:26.118 and only now is perhaps beginning[br]to be reversed. 0:22:26.890,0:22:29.362 If you read the works[br]of Bishop Theophan the Recluse, 0:22:29.362,0:22:31.892 St. John of Kronstadt,[br]Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov, 0:22:32.278,0:22:36.138 and other inspired men of that time,[br]you will see that they were 0:22:36.138,0:22:39.813 constantly talking about the falling away[br]of the Russian people from Orthodoxy 0:22:40.396,0:22:43.015 and the terrible results that will come[br]because of that. 0:22:43.942,0:22:46.550 It is most interesting that[br]in Russia itself today 0:22:47.098,0:22:50.856 the question of the canonization of the[br]tsar together with the other new martyrs 0:22:50.936,0:22:53.221 is bound up with the lifting[br]of the literal curse 0:22:53.221,0:22:55.911 which has lain upon the Russian land[br]since his martyrdom. 0:22:56.780,0:22:59.921 Father Gleb Yakunin[br]who is now suffering a cruel imprisonment 0:22:59.921,0:23:02.045 precisely for making statements like this 0:23:02.370,0:23:05.527 has written a letter[br]to the Orthodox Russians of the diaspora, 0:23:05.835,0:23:08.272 signed also by several[br]of his fellow strugglers. 0:23:09.993,0:23:12.325 His letter expresses the same ideas[br]about the tsar 0:23:12.325,0:23:14.020 that Vladika John has expressed. 0:23:15.057,0:23:17.064 At the end of this letter he writes,[br]quote, 0:23:17.561,0:23:20.081 "The meaning for a world history[br]of the martyr's death 0:23:20.081,0:23:21.746 "of the imperial family, 0:23:21.766,0:23:25.063 "something that likens it[br]to the most significant biblical event, 0:23:25.421,0:23:27.322 "consists of the fact that here 0:23:27.322,0:23:28.874 "the Constantinopolitan period 0:23:28.874,0:23:31.745 "of the existence of the church[br]of Christ comes to an end 0:23:32.065,0:23:35.242 "and a new martyric,[br]apocalyptic age begins. 0:23:35.837,0:23:37.881 "It has begun with the voluntary sacrifice 0:23:37.881,0:23:40.765 "of the last anointed Orthodox emperor[br]and his family. 0:23:41.140,0:23:43.801 "The tragedy of the imperial family[br]has lain like a curse 0:23:43.801,0:23:45.120 "on the Russian land, 0:23:45.120,0:23:47.272 "having become the symbolic prologue 0:23:47.272,0:23:49.161 "of Russia's long path of the cross, 0:23:49.279,0:23:52.107 "the death of tens of millions[br]of her sons and daughters. 0:23:52.751,0:23:55.556 "The canonization of the imperial martyrs[br]will be for Russia 0:23:55.556,0:23:57.940 "the lifting from her of the sin[br]of regicide. 0:23:58.293,0:24:00.946 "This will finally deliver her[br]from the evil charms," 0:24:01.067,0:24:02.345 end of quote. 0:24:04.338,0:24:06.090 It is of course too simple 0:24:06.750,0:24:08.945 to say that the canonization[br]of the new martyrs 0:24:08.945,0:24:10.393 including the imperial family 0:24:10.456,0:24:12.720 will bring about the restoration[br]of Holy Russia. 0:24:13.273,0:24:16.285 But if the Orthodox people[br]both in Russia and abroad 0:24:16.596,0:24:18.665 will receive this act[br]with all their hearts 0:24:18.901,0:24:22.052 and use it as an opportunity[br]to repent deeply of their sins, 0:24:22.177,0:24:24.007 there is no calculating the impact 0:24:24.007,0:24:25.734 this might have upon Russia. 0:24:27.152,0:24:29.577 One great prophecy of the future[br]of Russia was known 0:24:29.577,0:24:31.559 to only a few before the revolution. 0:24:31.806,0:24:34.521 It was so daring[br]that the church censor would not allow it 0:24:34.521,0:24:35.537 to be printed. 0:24:36.278,0:24:37.975 It was found in the same collection 0:24:37.975,0:24:39.783 of the manuscripts of Motovilov 0:24:39.783,0:24:42.726 that gave to the world[br]the famous conversation of St. Seraphim 0:24:42.726,0:24:44.536 on the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. 0:24:45.301,0:24:48.870 This prophecy which has now appeared[br]in several printings in the last decade 0:24:49.128,0:24:51.415 concerns the literal resurrection[br]of St. Seraphim 0:24:51.415,0:24:53.097 before the end of the world. 0:24:53.405,0:24:56.073 This is what St. Seraphim told[br]to Motovilov. 0:24:59.403,0:25:00.245 Quote, 0:25:01.947,0:25:03.391 Motovilov begins, 0:25:03.691,0:25:06.497 "Many times I heard from the mouth[br]of the great God-pleaser, 0:25:06.497,0:25:08.258 "the Elder, Father Seraphim, 0:25:08.388,0:25:10.924 "that he would not lie in Sarov[br]with his flesh. 0:25:11.442,0:25:14.155 "And behold once I, Motovilov,[br]dared to ask him, 0:25:14.563,0:25:16.657 "'Batiushka, you deign to say all the time 0:25:16.738,0:25:19.060 "'that with your flesh[br]you will not lie in Sarov. 0:25:19.391,0:25:22.292 "'Does that mean that the monks of Sarov[br]will give you away?'" 0:25:23.595,0:25:25.292 And St. Seraphim replied, 0:25:25.502,0:25:27.575 "Your godliness, the Lord God has ordained 0:25:27.575,0:25:30.082 "that I humble Seraphim should live 0:25:30.082,0:25:32.190 "considerably longer than 100 years. 0:25:32.737,0:25:35.114 "But since toward that time[br]the bishops will become 0:25:35.114,0:25:37.894 so impious that in their impiety[br]they will surpass 0:25:37.894,0:25:40.606 "the Greek bishops at the time[br]of Theodosius the Younger," 0:25:40.606,0:25:42.035 in the fifth century, 0:25:42.520,0:25:45.329 "so that they will no longer even believe[br]in the chief dogma 0:25:45.329,0:25:47.676 "of the Christian faith,"[br]the resurrection, 0:25:48.301,0:25:50.488 "therefore it has been pleasing[br]to the Lord God 0:25:50.488,0:25:54.604 "to take me humble Seraphim[br]from this temporal life until the time 0:25:55.199,0:25:56.712 "and then resurrect me. 0:25:56.831,0:25:59.070 "And my resurrection will be[br]as the resurrection 0:25:59.070,0:26:01.152 "of the seven youths in the cave of Ochlon 0:26:01.152,0:26:03.118 "in the days of Theodosius the Younger." 0:26:03.310,0:26:05.164 That is the seven sleepers of Ephesus 0:26:05.164,0:26:07.540 who were walled up in a cave, 0:26:07.738,0:26:11.376 and after nearly 200 years were dug out[br]and woke up. 0:26:13.068,0:26:15.595 "Having revealed to me this great[br]and fearful mystery, 0:26:15.595,0:26:17.311 "the great elder informed me 0:26:17.311,0:26:20.314 "that after his resurrection he would go[br]from Sarov to Diveyevo. 0:26:20.728,0:26:23.725 "And there he would begin the preaching[br]of worldwide repentance. 0:26:23.756,0:26:27.185 "For this preaching and above all[br]because of the miracle of resurrection, 0:26:27.185,0:26:30.655 "a great multitude of people will assemble[br]from all the ends of the earth. 0:26:30.887,0:26:32.745 "Diveyevo will become a lavra, 0:26:32.890,0:26:34.860 "Vertyanova will become a city, 0:26:34.949,0:26:36.772 "and Arzamas a province. 0:26:37.072,0:26:39.037 "And preaching repentance in Diveyevo, 0:26:39.037,0:26:41.729 "Batiushka Seraphim will uncover[br]four relics in it 0:26:42.065,0:26:45.252 "and after uncovering them,[br]he himself will lie down in their midst. 0:26:45.587,0:26:48.074 "And then soon will come the end[br]of everything." 0:26:49.992,0:26:52.264 This prophecy was never printed in Russia, 0:26:52.482,0:26:54.303 and yet it is known there today. 0:26:54.917,0:26:57.460 In a letter from a priest published[br]in the first issue 0:26:57.460,0:27:00.504 of "Nadezhda",[br]a collection of materials from Russia, 0:27:01.172,0:27:03.677 describing his visit to Sarov and Diveyevo 0:27:03.986,0:27:06.675 and his discovery there[br]that Holy Russia was still alive, 0:27:06.675,0:27:09.733 and that some nuns from Diveyevo[br]were still living there. 0:27:11.778,0:27:13.737 This monastery was closed in 1926 0:27:13.737,0:27:17.285 and the nuns remained in private houses,[br]a few of them. 0:27:18.586,0:27:21.440 He heard there, this priest[br]who was traveling toward Diveyevo 0:27:21.440,0:27:24.031 heard the prophecy from an old woman,[br]Evdokia, 0:27:24.449,0:27:26.633 who had just received Holy Communion[br]from him. 0:27:27.568,0:27:29.050 Addressing the priest she said, 0:27:29.050,0:27:32.530 "Soon, soon here in Diveyevo[br]there will be a celebration. 0:27:32.968,0:27:35.658 "No it is not years, not months[br]but days and hours 0:27:35.658,0:27:37.973 "that remain until the opening[br]of the monastery 0:27:37.973,0:27:39.950 "and the manifestation of four relics. 0:27:40.290,0:27:42.884 "Those of the Saint,[br]the Foundress Alexandra, 0:27:43.113,0:27:45.726 "Matushka Martha and Blessed Evdokeyushka, 0:27:45.777,0:27:47.906 "who was tortured and killed[br]by the atheists. 0:27:48.208,0:27:50.791 "The Saint commands me:[br]say to him and no one else 0:27:51.349,0:27:53.483 "that soon, soon both the monastery 0:27:53.483,0:27:55.073 "and the relics will be opened. 0:27:55.074,0:27:57.931 "He commands to tell you that without fail[br]you must come here 0:27:57.931,0:28:00.133 "for the opening of the church[br]and the relics." 0:28:00.653,0:28:01.718 End of quote. 0:28:03.575,0:28:06.165 Of the fact[br]that Holy Russia is still alive 0:28:06.302,0:28:08.962 despite the continued reign of atheism[br]in Russia 0:28:09.086,0:28:12.270 we have the testimony now[br]of many observers in Russia itself. 0:28:12.573,0:28:16.025 Here is but one of them,[br]Gennady Shimanov says, 0:28:22.147,0:28:24.123 "Holy Russia cannot be buried. 0:28:24.584,0:28:26.276 "It cannot pass away. 0:28:26.537,0:28:28.323 "It is eternal and victorious. 0:28:28.485,0:28:30.233 "And it is precisely to it 0:28:30.497,0:28:33.682 "that the final word in the history[br]of our people will belong. 0:28:38.901,0:28:40.947 "Holy Russia went away only[br]from the surface 0:28:40.947,0:28:42.472 "of contemporary life, 0:28:42.608,0:28:44.747 "but it continues to live[br]in its hidden depths 0:28:44.747,0:28:46.552 "germinating until the time. 0:28:46.619,0:28:49.570 "So that in the time pleasing to God[br]having survived the winter 0:28:49.686,0:28:51.686 "it will again break through[br]to the surface 0:28:51.686,0:28:53.740 "and adorn the face of the Russian land, 0:28:53.830,0:28:57.066 "which has been so cruelly lashed[br]by fiery and icy storms." 0:28:57.724,0:28:59.925 This is the word of someone[br]in Russia today 0:29:00.094,0:29:03.161 who sees the awakening faith in Russia, 0:29:03.535,0:29:06.475 who has hopes[br]that this will produce something great 0:29:06.475,0:29:08.229 and positive in the future. 0:29:08.673,0:29:11.253 And this testimony can be repeated[br]many times 0:29:11.253,0:29:14.097 by people in the Soviet Union and those[br]who come from there. 0:29:15.830,0:29:18.353 In the book which most[br]thoroughly describes the events 0:29:18.353,0:29:20.357 which are to occur[br]at the end of the world, 0:29:20.357,0:29:22.576 the Apocalypse of St. John the Theologian, 0:29:23.448,0:29:25.548 at the opening of the seventh seal 0:29:25.585,0:29:28.714 which precedes the final plagues[br]to come upon mankind, 0:29:29.384,0:29:30.765 it is said, quote, 0:29:31.048,0:29:34.090 "There was silence in heaven for the space[br]of half an hour." 0:29:34.500,0:29:36.489 Apocalypse 8:1. 0:29:37.737,0:29:40.355 Some people have interpreted this[br]to mean a short period 0:29:40.355,0:29:42.691 of peace before the final events[br]of world history, 0:29:43.245,0:29:46.058 namely the short period of the restoration[br]of Russia 0:29:46.344,0:29:49.434 when the preaching of worldwide repentance[br]will begin with Russia, 0:29:49.743,0:29:52.639 the new ultimate word[br]which even Dostoyevsky hoped 0:29:52.639,0:29:55.532 Russia would give to the world[br]in his Pushkin speech. 0:29:57.238,0:29:59.007 Under present world conditions 0:29:59.007,0:30:02.618 when the events of one country are known[br]to the whole world almost instantly, 0:30:03.050,0:30:05.615 and when Russia cleansed[br]by the blood of its martyrs 0:30:05.773,0:30:08.071 indeed has a better chance[br]than any other country 0:30:08.071,0:30:10.603 to awake from the sleep[br]of atheism and unbelief, 0:30:10.871,0:30:13.769 we can already conceive the possibility[br]of such an event 0:30:13.991,0:30:16.739 of Russia preaching repentance[br]to the world. 0:30:17.773,0:30:20.090 As Father Dimitry Dudko[br]and others have said, 0:30:20.090,0:30:22.899 "It cannot be that the blood of[br]Russia's innumerable martyrs 0:30:22.899,0:30:24.094 "will be in vain. 0:30:24.144,0:30:26.620 "Undoubtedly it is a seed[br]of the last great flowering 0:30:26.620,0:30:28.074 "of true Christianity." 0:30:29.686,0:30:32.015 However it is easy to become lost[br]in dreams 0:30:32.015,0:30:33.661 of the future of the world. 0:30:34.321,0:30:37.301 We should be aware of what is to happen[br]at the end of the world 0:30:37.503,0:30:39.416 and of what may happen in Russia. 0:30:39.781,0:30:42.877 But spiritual events[br]such as the restoration of Russia 0:30:43.242,0:30:45.918 do not happen automatically[br]or by themselves. 0:30:46.512,0:30:48.649 They depend upon each individual soul. 0:30:49.472,0:30:51.901 This event will not happen[br]without the participation 0:30:51.901,0:30:53.347 of the Orthodox people, 0:30:54.090,0:30:55.937 our repentance and struggle. 0:30:56.488,0:30:59.267 And this involves not only the people[br]of Russia itself, 0:30:59.625,0:31:02.437 it involves also the whole[br]of the Russian diaspora 0:31:02.608,0:31:04.912 and all the Orthodox people of the world. 0:31:05.806,0:31:09.728 Archbishop John in the same report[br]to the Sobor of 1938 0:31:09.728,0:31:11.096 which I've already quoted 0:31:11.817,0:31:14.388 speaks of the apocalyptic mission[br]of the Russian people 0:31:14.388,0:31:15.643 outside of Russia. 0:31:15.954,0:31:16.812 Quote, 0:31:17.969,0:31:20.881 "In chastising, the Lord at the same time 0:31:20.881,0:31:23.759 "also shows the Russian people the way[br]to salvation 0:31:24.382,0:31:27.671 "by making it a preacher of Orthodoxy[br]in the whole world. 0:31:28.466,0:31:30.537 "The Russian diaspora has made[br]all the ends 0:31:30.537,0:31:32.686 "of the world familiar with Orthodoxy. 0:31:33.122,0:31:35.956 "The mass of Russian exiles[br]for the most part is 0:31:35.956,0:31:38.349 "unconsciously a preacher of Orthodoxy. 0:31:39.271,0:31:41.272 "To the Russians abroad[br]it has been granted 0:31:41.272,0:31:44.042 "to shine in the whole world[br]with the light of Orthodoxy, 0:31:44.348,0:31:46.440 "so that other people[br]seeing their good deeds 0:31:46.440,0:31:48.725 "might glorify our Father[br]who is in heaven, 0:31:48.933,0:31:51.332 "and thus obtain salvation for themselves. 0:31:51.967,0:31:55.059 "The diaspora will have to be converted[br]to the path of repentance, 0:31:55.094,0:31:57.404 "and having acquired forgiveness[br]for itself 0:31:57.404,0:31:58.811 "through prayer to God 0:31:58.811,0:32:00.962 "and through being reborn spiritually, 0:32:01.072,0:32:03.570 "it will become capable also[br]of giving rebirth 0:32:03.664,0:32:06.441 "to our suffering homeland," end of quote. 0:32:08.390,0:32:10.312 Thus the Russians abroad 0:32:10.312,0:32:12.752 by their living the true life of Orthodoxy 0:32:13.255,0:32:15.067 should be already preparing the way 0:32:15.067,0:32:17.900 for St. Seraphim's preaching[br]of worldwide repentance. 0:32:18.520,0:32:20.412 To some extent this is happening. 0:32:20.764,0:32:22.739 And one can even begin to see a parallel 0:32:22.739,0:32:24.646 to the Orthodox revival in Russia, 0:32:24.954,0:32:27.275 a genuine Orthodox awakening in America 0:32:27.275,0:32:29.209 and other lands outside of Russia. 0:32:29.461,0:32:31.446 Particularly in the past few years 0:32:31.446,0:32:33.282 this has become quite noticeable 0:32:33.282,0:32:37.766 as searching people in America,[br]simple Orthodox people, 0:32:37.766,0:32:40.284 have been coming to Orthodoxy,[br]becoming baptized 0:32:40.284,0:32:43.330 and taking up their life[br]of fervent Christianity. 0:32:48.045,0:32:50.256 All of this depends upon each one of us. 0:32:51.384,0:32:53.942 If we are awakening to true Orthodox life, 0:32:54.259,0:32:56.664 then Holy Russia will be restored. 0:32:57.368,0:32:59.820 If we are not awakening to Orthodox life 0:33:00.531,0:33:02.488 and becoming reborn spiritually, 0:33:02.714,0:33:04.987 then God can withdraw His promise. 0:33:06.279,0:33:09.253 Archbishop John ended his report[br]to the 1938 Sobor 0:33:09.463,0:33:11.165 with a prophecy and a hope 0:33:11.545,0:33:13.553 that there will be a true Pascha in Russia 0:33:13.553,0:33:15.498 that will shine forth to the whole world 0:33:15.599,0:33:17.555 before the very end of all things 0:33:17.555,0:33:20.109 and the beginning[br]of the universal kingdom of God. 0:33:20.632,0:33:22.797 He spoke about this[br]in the following words. 0:33:25.379,0:33:27.754 "Shake away the sleep[br]of despondency and sloth, 0:33:27.754,0:33:29.113 "O sons of Russia. 0:33:29.712,0:33:32.496 "Behold the glory of her sufferings[br]and be purified. 0:33:33.317,0:33:35.126 "Wash yourselves from your sins. 0:33:35.574,0:33:37.735 "Be strengthened in the Orthodox Faith 0:33:37.825,0:33:40.439 "so as to be worthy to dwell[br]in the dwelling of the Lord 0:33:40.459,0:33:42.310 "and to settle in His holy mountain. 0:33:42.790,0:33:44.733 "Leap up, arise O Russia, 0:33:45.001,0:33:47.284 "you who from the Lord's hands[br]have drunk the cup 0:33:47.284,0:33:48.337 "of His wrath. 0:33:48.878,0:33:50.709 "When your suffering shall have ended, 0:33:50.709,0:33:52.616 "your righteousness shall go with you 0:33:52.746,0:33:55.110 "and the glory of the Lord[br]shall accompany you. 0:33:55.715,0:33:57.431 "The people shall come to your light 0:33:57.431,0:34:00.122 "and kings to the shining[br]which shall rise upon you. 0:34:00.743,0:34:02.781 "Then lift up your eyes and see. 0:34:02.891,0:34:04.510 "Behold, your children come to you 0:34:04.510,0:34:07.414 "from the west and the north,[br]and sea and the east, 0:34:07.526,0:34:09.676 "blessing in you Christ forever." 0:34:10.063,0:34:10.963 Amen.