When Heaven is Silent, one should not do anything

Schema-Archimandrite Michael (Krechetov) (1937 - 14.11.2025)

From a conversation with the elder Archpriest Valerian Krechetov.

(before his repose, Fr. Valerian was tonsured in Great Schema as schema-archimandrite Michael)

"There's a saying: when heaven is silent, one should not do anything. In any difficult situation, one must first turn to God, asking Him to reveal His will, to enlighten one. I'm often asked how He will do this. I can't know; He will find a way. There's the biblical example of Balaam, who was brought to reason by the donkey he was riding. Life situations are many, and all sorts of possibilities exist. But the Lord hears everyone who turns to Him. When you do this with faith, He will certainly answer."

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Don’t Be Too Right

Schema-Archimandrite Michael (Krechetov) (1937 - 14.11.2025)

From a conversation with the elder Archpriest Valerian Krechetov (Schema-Archimandrite Michael).

When a person learns to think, reason and at the same time prays, relies on God, checks his feelings, thoughts and intentions with the commandments - this is the process of purifying his heart. This is a very big job. Here Abba Dorotheus said: "I do not know of any other fall for a monk, except when he believes his heart." Yes - until it is purified. And it also seems to me that this is said in the sense that one must always keep  such a thought - but maybe I am wrong. Allow such a possibility, recognizing the limitations of any private opinion. "Don't be too right" - there is such a saying. If Sisoes the Great, dying, said: "I do not know whether I have begun repentance," it means that he did not trust his heart to the end in this regard. Man is mistaken. Apostle Peter confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but when Christ said that He must die on the cross, he retorted: “…May this not happen to You!” (Matthew 16:22).

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