Written to his flock after the closing of their parish church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Maroseika Street in Moscow, Spring, 1931.
http://7300913.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/ ... yr_22.html
This letter addresses the reduction of church life in Holy Russia to the externals and outward appearance, the resulting loss of the external church as God's judgment, and the raising of temples within the heart of the faithful who remained true to the spirit of the Church, even without the externals. Good for us to read today, as we may well face the same trials in the future.
A few quotes.
Seeing in monasticism the barometer of the spiritual life of the entire Church, Bishop Ignatius claims the following about it's condition: 'One can admit that the consummation of the witness of the orthodox faith is coming to an final unwinding. The fall of monasticism is significant, and what will happen is unavoidable. Only the mercy of God can stop the morally corrupting epidemic. Perhaps it will stop it only for a short time, for the prophecies of the scriptures must be fulfilled' (Letters, 245).
'With a sorrowful heart I behold the unstoppable fall of monasticism, which is the sign of the end of Christianity' (Letters 251).
'The more time that passes, the more turbulent it is for Christianity as spirit, which in a way unseen by the vain and worldly masses – but clearly revealed to the one who struggles in himself – is departing from the heart of mankind, leaving everything ready for it's destruction. - Those who are in Judea must run for the mountains' (Letters, 118).
Distinct sorrows, unheard of temptations – this is the destiny of our time. Repentance and struggle with them – this is the meaning of our life. Having the visible side of Christianity taken away from us – this is what is most centrally significant for us. Exile, confinement, hard labour – this is nothing compared to the closing of churches. Such confiscation of our churches, according to the Word of God, can be stopped by repentance.
Our Lord is calling us to accept a new form of salvation. Many churches built by the hands of man, filled with many treasures, were kept open for centuries. At the same time many temples not made by human labour [Cf. II Cor. 5:1] were in a terrible state of decline and left unused. Now that the churches built by man's labour are being destroyed, in the repentant yearning for them are raised temples built by the hands of God. The flames of humble martyrdom are beginning to be ignited in all places, especially in the inaccessible regions. Hungry, impoverished, frozen, isolated from the world, on the barren earth, in the snow or in roadside cabins, without coffins and the sacred rites – are dying priests, monks and faithful laity. In the contrite temples of departing souls, prayers are raised for the entire Church, which had fallen to the love of the external. The rites and customs mean more than the spirit of the Church, which is not finding itself, even in these times of distinct tribulations, the healing tears of contrition. Sparks of enduring confession are lit everywhere, from the Arctic Ocean to the scorching desert. I repentant weeping are praying those people who, through endurance of tribulations, have opened the temples of their hearts and who have been banished from serving in the temples of God!