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February 19, 2010

"Obedience" by St. Nikolai Velimirovich


Obedience without murmuring, salvation complete,
Among the spiritual, the first pearl; stone most precious.

This pearl, from Eve's necklace, unraveled,
And after it, all the goods, by God, bestowed.

The devil speaks both then and now: 'To God, do not listen,
Rather, according to the thoughts of your mind, live only!'

Thus speaks the devil from time immemorial who detested the light,
Thus speaking, the disobedient with his noose he fitted.

Christ came, to the people cried out: the obedient He summoned,
To every call, the disobedient did not respond.

The scene of Paradise from Christ until now, repeats itself,
The obedient to Paradise is raised; the disobedient falls.

To his spiritual father, the true monk is obedient,
The father to the Church, the Church to Christ, her Lord.

Obedience, the reliable path toward salvation is,
Of the spiritual necklace; the first light, the first pearl.