The Shepherd, May 2009
Hence, I beseech you, let us not remember wrongs or judge any man until the coming of the just Judge, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts (I Cor. 4:5). Above all, do not judge any Priest of God regarding secret and uncertain things that you have heard about him. Do not say: He who offers the Eucharist is a sinner, he is condemned, he is unworthy, and the Grace of the All-Holy Spirit does not descend. Do not think anything of the kind. There is Another Who knows and examines what lies hidden. Know this about yourself, that everyone is superior to you, and leave the judgment to the just Judge. As long as a Priest is not in error about the dogmas that pertain to God, it is not for you to judge the rest—if, indeed, you have not taken leave of your senses, but are aware of your limitations and know your place. Well then, someone will say, is a Priest not subject to spiritual court and ecclesiastical Canons? Yes, of course. However, he will not be judged by you, but by God, or in many cases by a Hierarch. Why do you, being a sheep, judge the shepherd? Why do you pharisaically usurp the judgment of God and a sacred office which has not even been entrusted to you by God?
For this reason, I implore you, do not judge anyone, and especially not a Priest of God, but approach the Divine Mysteries with faith, efficacious repentance, and a pure heart, and you will attain to complete sanctification. For, even if an Angel of God offers the bloodless Sacrifice, and you approach unworthily, in no way will the Angel cleanse you of your sins. That what I am saying is true is attested by Judas himself. In his case, after receiving the Divine Bread from the immaculate hands of the very Master, because he received It unworthily, Satan immediately entered into him.
And if you would like to hear a story to the effect that not judging frees one from sins, and conversely, that judging places a seal on one’s sins, then listen. As Christ the Master is my witness, those who beheld this event are still alive and in the flesh. A certain monk, who had passed his life in complete negligence and sloth, became sick unto death. When he had reached his last breath, he was not at all afraid of death, but began to depart from his body with the utmost gratitude and eagerness. One of the God-loving Fathers sitting beside him asked him: Brother, believe me, looking at you, we used to reckon that you had spent your life in total idleness and negligence, and so we do not know how you can be so free from anxiety at this time. To this, the brother replied: Truly, reverend Fathers, truly I have passed my life in complete slothfulness, and now the Angels of God have brought the record of my sins to me at this very hour. After reading aloud the sins which I had committed since the time I renounced the world, they said to me: Do you recognize these sins? And I responded: Yes, I certainly do; nevertheless, ever since I renounced the world and became a monk, I have neither judged any man nor remembered any wrongs. And I beg you to observe in my case what Christ said: Judge not, and ye shall not be judged, and: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:37). When I had said this to the Angels, they immediately tore up the record of my sins, and behold, I am going to Christ full of joy and free from anxiety. After relating this story to the Fathers, the brother surrendered his spirit to the Lord in peace, giving a very beneficial and edifying example to those present.
May we be deemed worthy of this benefit and edification, and of the portion of those who preserve themselves invulnerable to all condemnation and rancour, by the Grace and love for mankind of our All-Holy and merciful God, for to Him are due all glory, honour, and worship, together with His Only Begotten Son and His All-Holy and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Translated & edited by Hieromonk Patapios & Archbishop Chrysostomos, & taken from Orthodox Tradition, Vol. XIX, No. 3 & 4 (2002).
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