No matter how Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly tried in his humility to hide his spiritual gifts from people, it was impossible to hide them. He himself did not like it when people talked about his perspicacity, and if he heard it, he answered like this: “Here is God’s servant Vitaly: is he perspicacious? He is gluttonous.» And then he began to scold and denounce himself.
And one day he admitted: “Do you think it’s easy to be perspicacious when you see that a person is dying? And you know how to help him, and you know that he will reject this help… Then the heart is filled with such sorrow.”
Father Vitaly predicted the tragic events in Sukhum thirty years in advance. One day, walking through the city, he said: “I want this house to survive, and this one too. I hear people shooting and killing in the streets, blood flowing in streams.”
“For the tears of the sisters, I will extend my hand from the grave.”
Father Pavel Kosach tells about how Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly was buried.
“The Patriarch read a prayer of permission and handed it to me to place in Father Vitaly’s hand. At this time, the thumb on his hand bends, I put a sheet of prayer into my palm — and the hand closes. Herself. I was so shocked that I cried out in surprise: “I took it myself!” — and only later did he realize it as a matter of course, because this man was not of this world.
“I took it myself!” — Archpriest Mikhail Didenko, who was standing next to him, confirmed.
His Holiness the Patriarch silently nodded his head in affirmative and continued the service.
It should be noted that several years before his death, Father Vitaly once said to his spiritual daughter Schema-nun Larisa (Voronova): “For the tears of the sisters, I will stretch out my hand from the grave.”
Instructions of Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly
Remembering death, judgment, hell, we come into the fear of God, and fear, like a bridle, keeps you on the path of God’s commandments.
It is better to suffer pain and be cleansed from sin, than to be healthy and doomed to the torment of fire… If there is no grace, then a person cannot endure on his own.
Do prayer at all times… Do prayer — it will complete everything.
You should always read: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.” You sit, eat, talk, walk, wash, cook, wash, dig, wear — you should always read the Jesus Prayer…
As you breathe, without asking how it is done, read the prayer and read it — and you will receive salvation. Read the Jesus Prayer in every need and sorrow, then what you are looking for will come in due time.
With people, when they contradict or reproach, you must remain silent and say the Jesus Prayer. This is a wonderful remedy.
Read Psalms 26, 50, 90, and the Lord and Mother of God will bestow Their mercies.
Each action entails several sins. For example, condemnation: there is pride, because of which you condemned, and self-exaltation — since you condemned a person, you rose above him, considered yourself better… We must shed as many tears as possible about our sins. When someone seriously offends us, we cry. And you need to turn these tears into your sins. And shed these same tears, remembering your sins. Each of our tears is very expensive.
Grace is very tender: to acquire it, you have to work hard, but it is very easy to lose. She cannot tolerate the slightest untruth, impurity or internal hidden resentment.
Try to pray carefully in the morning, in the evening and with every task, at least like this: “Bless, Lord. Glory to Thee, Lord.» And instead of other thoughts, say: “Lord, help me. Lord protect me. Lord, be a doctor of soul and body. Lord, teach me to do Your will.” By doing this, you will talk with God, which is prayer. Do not accept other thoughts — they are not God’s.
You should never lose heart, but always trust in God’s help and His mercy.
Know that for obedience the Lord will give patience, great mercy and salvation.
Humble yourself, endure, love. There will be love — and the walls will come apart…
When you can’t stop condemning, then you need to say “Hail to the Virgin Mary” 150 times, and the Mother of God will help you not to condemn anyone.
When there is vindictiveness, when evil nests inside, then tell yourself: “God is Love, and I don’t love, then God will reject me!” — And with this thought you will drive out rancor.
Be sure to consecrate the house. Where a person lives, there is a holy monastery.
Sprinkle the apartment with holy water every day… Take the icon of the Mother of God in the morning and evening, and cross all four sides, reading “Rejoice, Virgin Mary.” And help will come from the Lord.
Schiarchimandrite Vitaly (Sidorenko)
Read more about the life of the ascetic in the book “On the life of Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly. Memoirs of spiritual children. Letters. Teachings». M.: Novospassky Monastery, 2004.
Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Investments in the Soul!
