It looks like love but is reversed …

A poem by Tsocho Boyadjiev, Prof.
стихотворение от проф. Цочо Бояджиев

MIRROR

It looks like:
a trace of bright dream before dawn;
a breath of pigweed and saltbush at the bottom of the yard;
steps of a drunken cricket across the bridge over the river;
quinces arranged on the drawer in the kitchen;
clothes thrown on the chair by the window;
truth spoken without words…

It looks like love
but is reversed

Tsocho Boyadjiev, Prof.

photo by Tsocho Boyadjiev, Prof.

снимка на проф. Цочо Бояджиев

Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev) (1912-1993)

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

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by Elena Kalcheva [a post in Bulgarian of September 27, 2009]

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Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev)

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TRANSLATION FROM BULGARIAN

       Archimandrite Seraphim (Stoyan Georgiev Alexiev in the world) was born on February 25 (9 March old style) 1912 [+ 13/26 January 1993] in Gorno Brodi in Serres (Macedonia) as the youngest son in a large family of devout poor parents. His father Georgi Alexiev was in bell-casting – a craft that he bequeathed to his two senior sons Dimitar and Atanas. The junior son – Stoyan, stood out for his keen church spirit and deep Orthodox faith.
       After the family resettled in Sofia (due to the two Balkan wars of 1912-1913) he joined the Sofia Seminary and graduated with honors. In 1934 he was sent to study at the old-Catholic Theology faculty in Bern (Switzerland), where he gained the scientific degree of doctor of theology, defending a thesis on: "The Meaning of the Requirements of Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount" (173 pages), printed in the German language in Sofia in 1938.
       After his return to Bulgaria he was appointed a lecturer at the Plovdiv, and later at the Sofia Theological Seminaries. In the latter, on February 3, 1940 he accepted monasticism with the name Seraphim, in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov, whom he deeply revered during all his life and to whom he later dedicated one of the best favorite books for Bulgarian Orthodox readers – namely, 'St. Seraphim of Sarov' (1957), reprinted many times in Bulgaria.
       A turning point in the life of the young monk was his convergence with the residing in Bulgaria Russian Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) (1950). From him he took up the live sense of Orthodox faith and a fine sense of spiritual life, which he subsequently taught himself to his numerous spiritual children.
       On Annunciation in 1943 he was ordained a priest and began his soul-benefitting pastoral activity of a dedicated confessor, which lasted nearly half a century.
       After two years of service as protosingel with the Sliven Metropolia, Fr. Seraphim was promoted to the rank of Archimandrite in January 1947 and was moved to the office head of cultural and educational department with the Holy Synod in Sofia. In that difficult time for the Church Archimandrite Seraphim repeatedly valiantly defended the Orthodox faith. At the new office, he developed tireless activity as organizer of pastoral guidance courses for priests, as an inspired preacher – in his lectures that he regularly read and as the author of numerous articles and more extensive works. The most important of these are:
"Our Faith"

(Catechism)
"Our Hope" (talks on Beatitudes) and
"Our Love" (talks on the Ten Commandments),
       as well as brochures on spiritual and moral topics:
"Pride and Humility",
"Enmity and Reconciliation",
"The Meaning of Sufferings",
"The Self-Proclaimed Judges",
"Sick and Sound Mysticism",
"The Forgotten Medicine" and others.
       Archimandrite Seraphim had also a rare poetic gift that found expression in numerous poems and verses featured in church publications as well as in two books of poetry collections: "Insights" and "Songs About Life and Death".
       All this published and unpublished spiritual works expected yet to be assessed and evaluated.
       In 1960, Archimandrite Seraphim was appointed professor at the department of dogmatic theology of the Theology Academy of the St. Kliment of Ohrida, Sofia, and was soon confirmed as an Associate Professor with his habilitation work criticizing the Roman Catholic dogma of the Most Holy Theotokos’ Immaculate Conception. As an associate professor he published in that period (1963-1969) in the Yearbook of the Theology Academy a series of theological studies, including:
"Two Extreme Views of Western Religions regarding the Most Holy Theotokos",
"The State of Man Prior To and After the Original Sin, from the Orthodox, Roman-Catholic and Protestant Points of View",
"Redemption as the Work of God's Love and God’s Righteousness",
"Franz von Bader – a Roman Catholic Philosopher and Theologian in the Search for Orthodoxy and Its Catholicity",
"The Bogomil Heresy from the Point of View of the Orthodox Dogmatic Foundations of Presbyter Kozma and of Orthodox Dogmaticism in General",
"The Church-Missionary Work of Constantine the Philosopher – St. Cyrill" (unpublished).
       After ten years of teaching at the Theology Academy Archimandrite Seraphim was forced to retire in 1969 as [one] ideologically disagreeing with the introduction of the new calendar style in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and in general [disagreeing] with the ecumenical tilt of church policy in Bulgaria – a result of the BOC’s membership of the World Council of "churches".
       Outside the Academy Fr. Seraphim furthered his much-beneficial creative [writing] activities. In the years that followed he wrote a series of books of ideological and of spiritual-and-moral content. The most important of these are:
"The Orthodox View on the Old and the New Style of the Calendar" (1972),
"Our Prayer",
"Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian in the Light of the Patristic Teaching",
"Life After Life",
"The Optina Elders" and others.
       Most of these books are still awaiting to reach [their] readers.
       In the last years of his life Archimandrite Seraphim devoted especially great attention and efforts to a thorough critique of ecumenism as a God-repulsive and soul-slaying heresy that eats away Christian Orthodox Church of today and prepares the way for the coming antichrist. The last bequeathal work of Archim. Seraphim [co-authored with his brother in Christ Fr. Serghiy (Yazadjiev) (Feb 15/28, 1924 - May 21/Jun 3, 2008)]
"Orthodoxy and Ecumenism" (Sofia, 1992) was published only three weeks before his death, that came on 13/26 January 1993. This grand work – the fruit of a quarter century of intensive research – gives an exhaustive answer to the question: "Why we are not and cannot be ecumenists?" in a number of justifications, documented and substantiated with numerous quotations from the Holy Scripture, the Holy Fathers and the theological literature.
       With this work of his Archimandrite Seraphim crowned his rich spiritual-and-writing activities which elevated his name to enviable heights among Orthodox activists and sowers on the God's field, to have fulfilled the cherished words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:19)."

Orthodox Word

COVERDALE PSALTER for Orthodox worship

COVERDALE PSALTER
for Orthodox worship

[DOC format, dating unidentified,
divided into kathismata
by the servant of God, Silouan]

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First Kathisma
First Stasis
Psalm 1

       BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners: and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side: that will bring forth his fruit in due season.
His leaf also shall not wither: and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.
As for the ungodly, it is not so with them: but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.
Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment: neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2

       WHY do the heathen so furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together: against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
Let us break their bonds asunder: and cast away their cords from us.
He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath: and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet I have set my King: upon my holy hill of Sion.
I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord in fear: and rejoice unto him with reverence.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way: if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,) blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from the presence of his son Absalom

       LORD, how are they increased that trouble me: many are they that rise against me.
Many one there be that say of my soul: There is no help for him in his God.
But thou, O Lord, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.
I did call upon the Lord with my voice: and he heard me out of his holy hill.
I laid me down and slept, and rose up again: for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people: that have set themselves against me round about.
Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people.

Sts. Gervase and Protase Св. Св. Гервасий и Протасий 14/27 октомври October

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

Life in Russian

КОНДАК
Явихте се като светли светилници, божествени мъченици,
и озарявате творението със светлината на чудесата,
като прогонвате дълбоката нощ на недъзите
и се молите на Христа, Единия Бог,
за всички нас.

Св. св. Гервасий и Протасий
14 / 27 октомври

прославени през 386 г.; светите им мощи са намерени
през месец юни от св. Амвросий Медиолански;

над мощите им в Милано е била построена
'Базилика на мъчениците' - сега "Св. Амвросий" / Сент Амброджо

"Божественото Писание нарича длъжник онзи, който е получил нещо даром от Господа
и не го дава на други, защото той като че краде от църквата , когато укрива онова, което
може да бъде полезно на останалите. Затова Давид е казал [ПС 39:11]:
'ТВОЯТА ПРАВДА НЕ СКРИВАХ В СЪРЦЕТО СИ, ВЪЗВЕСТЯВАХ ТВОЯТА ВЯРНОСТ
И СПАСЕНИЕТО ОТ ТЕБЕ, И НЕ ЗАТАЯВАХ ТВОЯТА МИЛОСТ И ТВОЯТА ИСТИНА
ПРЕД ВЕЛИКОТО СЪБРАНИЕ.' И като че желаейки въздаяние за това дело, добавил:
[ПС 39:12] 'Не спирай, Господи, Твоите щедрости към мене.' "

=============================

Kontakion
You appeared as bright lamps, o, divine martyrs
and you illumine the creation with the light of miracles
by driving away the dense night of infirmities
and praying to Christ, the One God,
for us all.

Sts. Gervase and Protase
– October 14 / 27
glorified in 386 AD, their holy relics were found
in June by St. Ambrose of Mediolana

;
built above over their relics in Milan was
the 'Basilica of the martyrs' – now of St. Ambrosius / St. Ambrogio

"The Divine Scripture calls a debtor he who has received something as a gift from the Lord
and gives it not to others because he then is as if stealing from the church when hiding
what may be useful to others. Therefore David said [Ps. 40:10]:
'I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared
Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation: I have not concealed Thy loving kindness
and Thy truth  from the great congregation.'
And as if he wanted bestowal for this deed, he added:
[Ps. 40:11] 'Withhold not Thou Thy tender mercies from me'

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Four Martyrs of Milan AND St. Cosmas
The Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus of Milan AND Kosmas

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Let us praise the fourfold company of martyrs: Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus. For they preached the Trinity to all and by their contest dispelled the worship of idols. Through their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us all.

Kontakion in the Second Tone

In shedding the light of miracles like shining lamps, O Martyrs of God, ye make the whole creation bright, at all times dispelling the deepest night of sickness and maladies and without cease pleading with Christ, the only God, that He grant His mercy to us.

Св. Иоан Предтеча St. John Forerunner (вгледайте се в тази икона...) (take a deeper look at this icon...)

 Св. Иоан Кръстител St. John Baptist

Тази икона е от пощенска картичка - копие на икона, пазена (недостъпна за публика) в Рилския манастир, която до ден-днешен не съм се удостоил да зърна...

Дали разбираме дадено нещо - или не - предопределението се извършва... И Св. Иоан стана не само Предтеча - а и Кръстител Господен!

А Ню Йорк? А Лондон?

А какво ли още не виждаме...

Или не искаме да знаем, или да чуем...

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(Връзките под иконата водят до беседата на Св. Серафим (Роуз) за последните времена - личби)

ОТ ТУК МОЖЕТЕ ДА СВАЛИТЕ ФИЛМА на руски език "ПОСЛЕДОВАТЕЛИ НА ХРИСТА" - Давид Гиоргобиани - за светините на Сирия и Ливан

... И се молим с любов...

А във филма ще се подивите на:

Част 1 Честната глава на Великия Пророк и Предтеча Христов Св. Иоан Кръстител

Част 2 Св. Първоапостол Павел – юдеинът Савел – след като Господ му се явил в пустинята – приел Християнство в Дамаск (където Каин убил брат си Авел), а през 67 г. главата му била отсечена в Рим, където и до днес почиват светите му мощи

Св. Аверий
Свт. Иоан Златоуст (нетленната му десница и честната глава е в манастира Ватопед в Св. Гора)
Преп. Иоан Дамаскин („Точно изложение на Православната Вяра)
Първоапостолите Петър и Павел – основатели на Антиохийската църква
Варнава

Част 3 Ев. Лука – Саиднайската икона на Божията Майка ('Шагура' – знаменитата, всеизвестната) е една от 4-те икони, нарисувани по предание на Св. Ап. Ев. Лука – чудотворния образ на Пресв. Богородица на манастирското стълбище – в деня на Св. Христофор (манастир на негово име)

Част 4 Честният пояс на Божията Майка – гр. Хомс, Сирия,църквата Ам Азеннар

Първомъченик Архидякон Стефан

Част 5 Св. първомъченица равноапостолна Фекла (манастир на нейно име има в Сирия, в гр. Маалюля ('вход') – ок. 7 000 жители, които единствени говорят на езика (наречието) на Христа – аарамейски; най-близка ученичка на първоапостол Павел) разтопената скала – за запазване на целомъдрието; деца се молят с „Отче наш“ на аарамейски

Свещеномъченик Игнатий Богоносец

Част 6 Св. Великомъченик и Победоносец Георги (убил змея през 4 в. именно на ливанска земя – гр. Жуми, отпечатък на копито на небесния му кон с диаметър 1,5 м.) – покровител на Грузия и на гр. Москва

Част 7 Св. Великомъченица Варвара – родена в гр. Балбек, Ливан; благоухаещите й мощи и днес намират покой във Владимирския събор, Киев (от 13 в.)

Преп Симеон Стълпник
Преп Давид Горяджийски – пренесъл от Йерусалим благодатния камък
Преп. ... Чудотворец – покровител на грузинските царе
Преп Антоний Мартковский Чудотворец – пренесъл в Грузия неръкотворния образ на Иисус Христос
Преп. Ефрем Сирин
Преп. Андрей Критски
Свещеномъченик Киприан и мъченица Иустина
Свт. Евстахий Антиохийски
Свт. Нина Равноапостолна
Блаж. митр. Илия (Карам) – на когото се явила Божията Майка и предала слова за спасението на Русия и благодарение изпълнението на тези думи и поръчения Русия победила във Втората Световна Война


ДУМИТЕ СА ВСИЧКО, КОЕТО ИМАМ - И ЛЮБОВ!
но ЛОГОС е нещо много по-просто и по-велико
от ЛОГИКАТА, тъй като човешката логика е твърде слаба...  

. . .

This icon is from a postcard - copy of the icon kept (away from the public) at the Rila Monastery (in Bulgaria), which to date I have not had the honor of glancing...

Whether we understand a given thing - or we don't - predestination is taking place... And St. John became not only Forerunner - but also Baptist of our Lord!

And New York? And London?

And what else yet we miss seeing...

Or we miss knowing, or hearing...

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(Links under the icon refer to the talk of St. Seraphim (Rose) on last times - signs)

FROM HERE YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THE FILM in Russian "ПОСЛЕДОВАТЕЛИ ХРИСТА" - David Giorgobiani - on the Holy reliics of Syria and Lebanon

And we keep praing in love...

And in the film you will amaze at:

Part 1 Honest Head of the Great Prophet and Christ’s Forerunner St. John the Baptist

Part 2 First Apostle St. Paul – the Jew Saul – after the Lord appeared to him in the desert – he accepted Christianity in Damascus (where Cain killed his brother Abel) and in 67 his head was cut off in Rome, where to this day his holy relics rest

St. Averius

St. John Chrysostom (his imperishable hand and his honest head is at the Vatoped monastery on Mount Athos)

Rev. John Damascene ("True statement of the Orthodox Faith")

First Apostles Peter and Paul – founders of the Antioch Church

Barnabas

Part 3 Ev. Luke - Saidnay icon of the Mother of God ('Shagura' - famous, known to all) is one of the 4 icons painted on the bequest by St. Ap. Ev. Luke – the miracle-working image of the Most holy Theotokos on the convent's staircase – on the day of St. Christopher (a monastery in his name)

Part 4 The honorable belt of the Mother of God - town of Homs, Syria, Am Azennar church

First martyr archdeacon Stefan

Part 5 First martyr equal-to-the-apostles St. Thekla (a monastery in Syria, in the town of Maalyulya ('entry')- ca. 7 000 inhabitants who are the only people on earth who speak Christ’s language (dialect) - Aaramian; the closest disciple of first Ap. Paul), the molten rock - to preserve chastity; children pray with "Our Father" in Aaramian

Priest martyr Ignatius Theophorus

Part 6 St. Great Martyr George the Victorious (he killed the dragon in the 4-th century precisely in Lebanon - town of Zhumi, an imprint of his heavenly horse’s hoof with a diameter of 1.5 meters) - the patron saint of both Georgia and of Moscow

Part 7 St. Great Martyr Barbara - born in the town Balbek, Lebanon; her sweet smelling relics are resting today in the Vladimir Cathedral, Kiev (since 13-th c.)

Rev. Simeon (tower) Hermit

Rev. David Goryadzhiyski - moved from Jerusalem stone blissful

Rev. ... Miracle Worker - the patron saint of the Georgian kings

Prep. Mitr. Anthony Wonder Worker – he moved to Georgia the image not made by hands of Jesus Christ

Rev. Ephraim of Syria

Rev. Andrey of Crete

Priest martyr Cyprian and martyr Iustina

St. Evstahiy of Antioch

St. Nina equal-to-the-apostles

Blessed. mitr. Elijah (Karam) - to whom the Mother of God appeared and delivered words for the salvation of Russia and through the implementation of those words and instructions Russia was victorious in WWII

WORDS ARE ALL I HAVE - WITH LOVE!
but LOGOS is much simpler and much greater
than LOGIC as human logic is too poor...

Матушка Серафима

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

Една усмивка
и светът е светъл!
Една усмивка -
тегоби бледнеят!

Една усмивка -
в райско кътче -
и днес се вижда
като малко кръстче...

От 6 години
тя ни топли,
спасява ни
от страхове и вопли;

добрите трудове
благослови ни -
реколта да събираме
с туй сладко име!

"Че как ще падна!" -
я описва кратко!
И пак говори
кратко, сладко ...

19 май 2010 г.                                                  May 19, 2010

22:30 ч. (ст.ст.)                                                22:30 hr (O.S.)

Matushka Seraphima
Just one smile
and the world is bright!
Just one smile –
toils grow pale!

Just one smile –
in a paradise –
it is seen to date
as a little cross...

For 6 years now
she(it) has warmed us over,
she(it) has saved us
from fears and wails;

she(it) has been blessing
our good works –
harvest to collect
with this sweet name!

"How come I would fall?" –
describes her briefly!
And she speaks to us
brief and sweet...

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LET’S CHERISH THE PRECIOUS BEQUESTS OF SAINT SERAPHIM

An address by archimandrite Sergiy (Yazadjiev) after the holy liturgy on Sunday of All Saints (2004) to the nuns of the «Shroud of Most Holy Theotokos» convent, Knyazhevo, Sofia.

________________________________________

«Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.».

(Luke. 23:28)

       With these cherished words our Lord and God Jesus Christ turned to the women who followed Him while weeping and crying for Him when He was wearing His heavy cross to Golgotha.

       Now that lying before our eyes is the coffin of our dear deceased Matushka Hegumenia Seraphima, our hearts deluge of grief. But we clearly realize that in fact we are not crying for her but we cry for ourselves – we cry, because Matushka left us unexpectedly and we are orphaned. Who will now console our grief-stricken souls? Who will heal our ulcers of the soul with her sweet speech? Who will guide us and instruct us with her wise advices? – Indeed, we seem to have remained inconsolable orphans.

       But look – even in her death our Matushka Hegumenia has begged out for us the weak a consolation from the Lord. For the Lord called her soul on the eve of the All Saints Sunday – on the day when the innumerable multitude of God’s pleasers – Martyrs, Apostles, Saints, Reverend, Silverless – triumph in heavens. It is in this general celebration of All Saints exactly that the triumphant Church in heaven was joined by a soul of the earthly, militant Church – a soul, which has worthily implemented and has fully defended the bequests of her elder – Saint Seraphim. And he, her abba in one with the entire host of the saints, has already welcomed her in the Heavenly abodes.

       I want to remind you something, which I guess no one here remembers, but I was a contemporary of that event. Matushka Hegumenia Seraphima’s father – hieropriest Andrew Lieven of blessed memory, Saint Seraphim’s most faithful assistant in Church matters from 1926 till the end of his life – secretary of his diocesan council, was also taken out of the earthly life on the All Saints’ Sunday. This happened 55 years ago, on 6/19 June 1949. His demise was also surprising to many – because only a week before, on the Holy Trinity Day, at the Russian church (in Sofia) Father Andrew had taken part in the Holy Liturgy, under Saint Seraphim, in which I was fortunate to participate, too. Days after that Father Andrew was hospitalized and on the All Saints’ Sunday he passed away. Saint Seraphim of blessed memory outlived him by only eight months and seven days.

       I'll dare also add the testimony of one righteous soul that years ago, in his Dying hours was honored to be visited and consoled [from] on high: appearing in light to it were the then late Saint Seraphim, accompanied by Father Andrew as a co-worker and participant in His heavenly glorification. Thus revealed to us was a consoling secret – spiritually akin here souls prove also akin in the afterlife and in eternity beyond the grave. There, in the heavenly abodes, interacting with Saint Seraphim are also the souls of Fr. Archimandrite Pantheleymon, Fr. Archimandrite Seraphim, 'Mat' Seraphima and other deceased sisters of ours who we mention every day in Holy Liturgy. We deeply believe that now they – all together – have welcomed the soul of Matushka Hegumenia Seraphima in the celestial spheres of the Lord, Whom she served so sacrificially and Whom she loved so selflessly.

       But the hope that we can again be worthy to be together with Matushka further obliges us and urges us and gives us wings to keep the precious Saint Seraphim’s covenants; to execute also the spiritual advices that our dear Matushka has – for over half a century – taught us, because our allegiance to everything they passed on to us – this is the way on which in these difficult times we can preserve our loyalty to the Lord. Amen.

MAYBE -- a poem Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev)

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

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MAYBE

To walk in sin

tormented and repentant,

to shudder guilty, shy,

and seized by infinite dismay,

and put up a stern face,

be righteous and brightful,

with vice well-hidden

and virtues but for show ...

To waver in uncertainty,

live in a counterfeited fake,

turning onto God,

obedient to devil;

to pledge yourself to virtues,

and be a slave to evil,

to love life dearly,

and be in grave, but living,

and your struggle to remain

forever lost to others -

it is my fate, this...

And yours, maybe!

Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev)

03/24/1996 - Vladimir Djambov, translator