In the Last Days

St. Anatoly of Optina

“My child, know that in the last days difficult times will come, as the Apostle says. And behold, due to the lack of piety, heresies and schisms will appear even in the churches, and as the Holy Fathers have foretold, at that time there will be no men of experience and knowledge in spiritual life on the episcopal thrones and in the monasteries. Therefore, heresy will spread everywhere and will deceive many. The enemy of the human race will act cunningly, so that, if possible, even the elect may be led into heresy. He will not begin by crudely rejecting the dogmas about the Holy Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus Christ, or the Theotokos, but he will gradually begin to distort the Tradition of the Holy Fathers, the teaching of the very Church, which comes from the Holy Spirit.

The devices of the enemy and his “typicons” will be noticed by very few, only those most experienced in spiritual life. Heretics will seize the Church, they will install their servants everywhere, and piety will be neglected. But the Lord will not leave His servants without protection and knowledge. He said: ‘By their fruits you will know them.’ And you, by their deeds, strive to distinguish heretics from true shepherds.

These spiritual thieves who ravage the spiritual flock ‘do not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climb up some other way,’ as the Lord said, meaning they will enter unlawfully, destroying God’s ordinances by violence. The Lord calls them robbers. Indeed, their first duty will be the persecution of true shepherds, imprisoning them, for without this, the flock cannot be ravaged.

Therefore, my son, when you see the Divine order, the Patristic Tradition, and the God-established order being mocked in the Church, know that the heretics have already appeared, though perhaps they will hide their heresy for a time or subtly corrupt the Divine Faith to better succeed in deceiving and misleading the inexperienced. They will persecute not only the pastors but also the servants of God, because the devil, who leads heresy, cannot bear piety. Recognize them by their proud nature, love of pleasure, and thirst for power — they will be slanderers, traitors, sowing hatred and malice everywhere. That is why the Lord said that we would know them by their fruits.

The true servants of God are humble, brother-loving, and obedient to the Church. Monks will suffer great oppression from the heretics, and monastic life will be scorned. Monastic communities will become impoverished, and the number of monks will decrease. Those who remain will endure violence. These haters of monastic life, who only have the appearance of piety, will try to lure monks to their side, promising them protection and worldly benefits, while threatening exile to those who do not comply. From these threats, the faint-hearted will be greatly humiliated.

If you live to see that time, my son, rejoice! For then believers who may possess no other virtues will earn crowns merely for standing firm in the faith, according to the Lord’s word: ‘Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in Heaven.’

Fear the Lord, my son, lest you lose the crown prepared for you, lest you be cast into the outer darkness and eternal torment. Stand bravely in the faith, and if necessary, joyfully endure persecutions and other tribulations, for the Lord will be with you. And the Holy Martyrs and Confessors will look with joy upon your struggle.

But woe, in those days, to the monks who are attached to property and wealth, and who, out of love for comfort, are willing to submit to the heretics. They will lull their conscience, saying: ‘We will preserve and save the monastery, and the Lord will forgive us.’ Unfortunate and blinded, they do not even think that through heresy and heretics, demons will enter the monastery, and it will no longer be a holy monastery but merely bare walls, from which grace will depart forever.

True Christians will exist until the end of the world, but they will choose solitary places. Yet God is stronger than demons and will never abandon His servants and the deserted places. Fear not tribulations, but fear the pernicious heresy, for it drives away grace and separates from Christ. That is why Christ commanded us to treat a heretic as a heathen and a publican.

And so, be strong, my son, in the grace of Christ Jesus; joyfully hasten to the struggle of confession and endurance of suffering, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:1–2), Who said: ‘Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life’ (Revelation 2:10).

To Him, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honor, glory, and power unto the ages of ages. Amen.”

~ St. Anatoly of Optina