Meditations

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Pelagia Ivanovna Serebrennikova was born into a wealthy merchant family in Arzamas in the year 1809. Her father died when she was still a child, and sometime after she fell into a serious illness that kept her bedridden for an extensive period. When she recovered, it was said she was a very different child from what she had been before and often acted bizarrely in public.

This caused those around her to nickname her “Fool” even in childhood. Her stepfather often would punish her severely for such behavior, and it was many years later that her mother finally realized she had been gifted with the grace to become a fool for Christ. When she was nineteen, her mother and stepfather gave her away in marriage to a man named Sergei, but her odd behavior continued.

Her husband and mother both were very concerned about her well-being, and so they decided to take her to see Seraphim of Sarov to ask for his aid. Seraphim took her aside and conversed with her privately for a long while, then brought her back to her mother and husband. Before they left, Seraphim bowed to Pelagia and instructed her mother to take her to Diveyevo so that she could “defend my orphans” there.

He then gave her a prayer rope and bade them farewell. After they left, a young monk as Seraphim who this strange woman was, and Seraphim replied, “Believe God, Father Ivan, this woman whom you see will be a great luminary for the whole world.” After returning home to her husband, Pelagia’s behavior remained unchanged, and she began again walking the streets nearly naked and spending all night in prayer on the church porch.

When Sergei would try to help her by giving her warm clothing or money for her needs, she would immediately turn around and give these things to the poor. This eventually became more than Sergei could bear, and so he turned her out. Pelagia then returned to her mother’s house…

Pelagia’s mother went again to visit Seraphim to see what might be done, and he instructed her to allow Pelagia to continue acting in whatever way she chose, as it was pleasing to God… Because of miracles and healings associated with her prayers, Pelagia’s fame became widely known, and she received visitors from all across Russia and from every walk of life.”

Pelagia of Diveyevo (1809-1884) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 103-106.

Two things stood out to me when I read about this fool for Christ.

The first one relates to Seraphim. When everyone thought Pelagia was crazy for her commitment to prayer, Seraphim believed in her and proclaimed that she would be a luminary for God. It came to pass. That tells me the importance of speaking blessing over people committed to the things of God.

The second one relates to Pelagia. After visiting Seraphim, who gave her a prayer rope. She is known for using that tool to remind her stay focused in her prayers the rest of her life.

I am home now, but reflecting with gratitude to God for the blessing of visiting my “Seraphim of Sarov” also known as John Stanley in Wisconsin a third year in a row. He gave me a prayer rope of sorts, a tener (has a cross and ten beads). That prayer tool has helped me so much I give them away to people when I see them.

I want everyone praying 10 times a day a prayer like the Surrender Novena: “Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.” Who knows? It might help multiply fools for Christ who can become luminaries around the world.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

“Born to a family of serfs in 1795 in the village of Nikolskoye, Tambov, and originally christened Irina Ivanovna, Paraskeva was given in marriage to a man named Feodor when she was seventeen years old. By all accounts she was a dutiful wife with a meek bearing who was dedicated to her husband and to prayer. She did not participate in community activities beyond church, but she was much admired, particularly by her parents-in-law.

Irina and Feodor, were not blessed with children. After fifteen years of serving their Russian masters as serfs, Feodor and Irina were sold to a German family named Schmidt. Five years after that, however, Feodor contracted tuberculosis and died. The Schmidts initially tried to convince Irina to remarry, but she adamantly refused.

Sometime later, the Schmidts found that two valuable paintings were missing from their household, and one of the servant women accused Irina of being the thief. The police arrested her and proceeded to beat her severely, but Irina consistently pleaded innocence…

She ran away and went to Kyiv on a pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage, she knew she was being called to devote herself entirely to Christ, and after having been unfairly punished herself, she felt that she could identify more with Christ’s own sufferings at the hands of evil accusers…

For running away, the Schmidts unceremoniously threw her out into the street with nothing but the clothes she was wearing. This action pleased Irina, since during her last visit to Kyiv she had received tonsure with the name Paraskeva, and she saw her expulsion as a sign that God was calling her to the difficult path of a fool for Christ.

Paraskeva kept a strict rule of prayer, always rising at midnight to pray and insisting that anyone living with her do the same. She also would spend much of her time knitting socks or spinning thread, reciting the Jesus Prayer endlessly as she worked.

When a visitor once asked her if she might join Paraskeva at the monastery, she replied, “Well, why not? Come to us in Sarov, we’ll collect mushrooms and knit stockings” – meaning by this that they would to prostrations and say the Jesus Prayer together.”

Paraskeva of Diveyevo (1795-1915 in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 97-101.

The Jesus Prayer goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” The origin of calling it the Jesus Prayer goes back for centuries with monks in monasteries. It finds biblical roots in today’s Scripture.

From Paraskeva, we learn many things. Though she had an upbringing filled with slavery, death, and false accusations, she saw them not as reasons to become hard and bitter but ways to identify with Jesus.

And she encouraged everyone she knew to come before him humbly with her in prayer to find mercy, grace, and help in time of need. This seems to be a fitting post as I depart John’s place today.

It was John who changed my life 2.5 years ago with the Surrender Novena from Dolindo Ruotolo. “Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!” He encouraged me to pray it ten times a day. It’s changed my life and thousands of others.

I can see how visits with Paraskeva would transform the lives of her guests and strict rules of prayer do not make us weird. They make us wise. They do not waste our time. They teach us how not to waste our life.

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. Kiss His son, or He will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 2

“Very little is known about the life of Nicholas of Pskov beyond his famous encounter with Tsar Ivan IV (Ivan Grozny or Ivan the Terrible), related below. He is believed to have been a lifelong resident of Pskov and well-known fool for Christ throughout the region and perhaps most of Russia.

The greatest amount of information we have about Nicholas involves a single day in his life, 20 February 1570. On this day the second Sunday of Great Lent, the city of Pskov trembled because of the expected visit of Tsar Ivan IV and his army. Ivan had recently completed his campaign against the city of Novgorod, where he directed his soldiers to massacre thousands of its citizens. This was one of the most brutal and notorious acts ever perpetrated by a Russian tsar against his own people.

The entire population feared that his wrath had not been quenched by the bloodshed in Novgorod and would be visited upon their own city. In anticipation of the tsar’s arrival the citizenry prepared a profusion of welcoming gifts of bread and salt (the traditional means of cordial invitation in Russia), but despite their attempts to appease the tsar’s acrimony they remained in dread of his arrival.

When presented with the gifts of bread and salt on his approach to the city gates, Ivan reportedly brushed them aside in disdain, causing the crowds to fear him all the more.As they hastily prostrated themselves before the tsar, from out of the crowd came Nicholas the Fool riding a children’s stick horse and shouting, “Ivanushko, Ivanushko [meaning “Little Ivan”], eat our bread and salt, and not Christian blood.”

Infuriated at this, the tsar ordered Nicholas to be seized, but a strong gust of wind suddenly blew up the snow in great swirls, making Nicholas invisible to the guards and he escaped. Since it was Sunday, Ivan’s procession went to the cathedral in Pskov, and the tsar himself entered and stood for an entire moleben given for his health.

As he was leaving the cathedral, Nicholas again approached him and invited him to come to his cell beneath the bell tower for refreshment. The fact that the tsar consented to do so gives credence to the belief that Nicholas was already well-known as a devout fool for Christ.

Upon entering the cramped cell, the tsar noticed that a slab of raw meat lay on the table. Nicholas said to him, “Eat Little Ivan, eat!” But Ivan, annoyed and insulted, replied that he was a Christian and did not eat meat during Lent. Nicholas then said, “Does Ivashka [another diminutive name for Ivan] think that eating a piece of animal meat during a fast is a sin, whereas eating as much human meat as he has already eaten is no sin?”

Furious at receiving such a rebuke, Ivan stormed from the cell, evidentkly intent on repeating the evils he had visited upon Novgorod, Nicholas ran after him, giving him a stern warning. “Do not dare touch us, you vagabond. Leave us quickly, because if you dally you will have nothing on which to flee from here.”

Ignorning the saint, Ivan ordered his army to proceed with his commands. But again Nicholas cried out, “If your warriors touch a single hair on the least child in this city, a fire from heaven will overtake you. God’s judgment is already hanging over you, and you will not escape death by fire from heaven.”

At that moment bolts of lightning shot from the rolling storm clouds that had been gathering above the city, terrifying even Tsar Ivan’s most courageous soldiers. Word came to Ivan that one of the bolts had struck the tsar’s own horse, killing it instantly.

This caused Ivan to recall the words Nicholas had spoken, that if he did not leave quickly, he would have nothing on which to flee. Terrified, he turned to the clergy, asked them to pray for him, then took the horse of one of his servants and fled in haste. Thus this city of Pskov was saved from destruction, despite Ivan’s initial plan.”

Nicholas of Pskov (d. 1576) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 91-94.

Today’s post was long so I will keep my comments short.

Nicholas the fool was fearless. The people were overcome by fear. Ivan the Terrible was even terrified. The role of the fool here was to proclaim truth in clever ways without fear acknowledging the sovereignty of God over even Ivan the Terrible!

His tone reminds me of David in today’s Scripture. And the cleverness of Nicholas comes out in his “Ivanushko, Ivanushko” and “Ivashka” comments. Ivanushko means “God is gracious.” He said it twice to get his attention.

And Ivashka means “God is my God.” These variations of His name aimed to send a message. Generous fools proclaim that God is gracious. Everyone must pay attention to Him. And  He will remain faithful to the ones who proclaim Him as their God.

That’s what happens when I visit my friend John. I am reminded of the grace of God and His faithfulness to stand with those who put their trust in Him. I thank God for this time together and travel home tomorrow morning.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

“Like a number of other fools for Christ who abandoned all worldly goods and honor, Nicholas was born into a wealthy and distinguished family of Novgorod. From his earliest days, he was noted for being exceptionally devoted to Christ, attending services regularly, and with great joy and eagerness embracing fasting and prayer.

As other observed his inestimable piety, he began receiving praise and commendations from his fellow citizens. He did not desire this because he wanted all praise to go to God, not to himself, as he saw such adulation as a gateway to pride and downfall. To avoid temptation to vainglory, Nicholas turned to the challenging practice of foolishness for the Lord’s sake.

Though of wealthy estate, he began wandering the city dressed in rags, even in the bitterly cold winters. The citizens of Novgorod perceived him as a beggar and vagrant and often subjected him to mockery, insults, and even beatings. All these Nicholas bore with patience and forgiveness in his heart, and he considered it a blessing to be persecuted for the Lord’s sake.

During the time Nicholas lived in Novgorod, the city was divided in strife between two quadrants. The Torgov quarter and the Sophia quarter. For some reason there wwas a great rivalry between these tow parts of Novgorod, and the populace engaged in trifling disputes and quarreling.

As it happened, there was another fool for Christ in Novgorod contemporary with Nicholas, a man named Theodore. In order to demonstrate to the people the absurdity of the endless squabbles with which they antagonized one another, Nicholas and Theodore feigned being mortal enemies who could not be reconciled.”

Nicholas of Novgorod (d. 1592) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 87-88.

Today we get a bonus saint. We learn from Nicholas and Theodore about piety and absurdity.

This seems fitting for me as I spend special time with my friend, John Stanley. Two saints encouraging each other to live, give, serve, and love both foolishly and generously. We also love to go fly fishing together. We caught 15 brown trout yesterday.

Nicholas and Theodore were known for their piety. And I learn something deep by watching how they tried to demonstrated to the people the absurdity of their behavior. Sometimes as fools for Christ we need to help people see what God sees but what they don’t see.

Ponder that. Most people pursue wealth. Fools pursue God.

Most people want to give glory to people with piety. Fools shun the spotlight. Most people fight for their rights and want things to go their way. Fools try to help people see the error in their ways. God help us be generous fools for you. Amen!

And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

“Nikolai was born Nikolai Matveevich Rynin on 22 May 1777 in Vologda, Russia. Born into a wealthy merchant family, Nicholai was taught to read and write by his parents and from his youth desired to serve God and his fellow man. As he reached the age of majority, he rejected wealth and gave away his portion of his inheritance to the poor. He went around Vologda dressed as a beggar and lived off charity.

Nicholai spent his days attending services at various churches throughout the city, and at night he spent his time in solitude and prayer, generally in some place where on one could find him. Later he began to roam from city to city, spending time not only in Vologda but also in Kadnikov and Totma. He is remembered for always wearing a white shirt and a blue canvas balakhon (a kind of loose overall), a long white shirt, and leather straps on his legs.

He almost always carried a large staff and he walked and would go hatless in both winter and summer, though sometimes he would tie a towel around his head in bitter cold. Nicholai’s voice was said to be very husky, gravelly, and even garbled, but like the prophets of old, his speech typically carried special meaning, the significance of which would sometimes not be revealed until later…

Nicholai carried with him various things he would give to those whom he encountered, always providing items of special significance for their particular situation. To a hungry person he would give food, to someone experiencing grief he might give coal, to others bread, and for the children always sweets. He was a great friend to children and was much loved by them.

Nicholai maintained the heart of a child throughout his life. Thought he could be strict in his counsel to adults who practiced unrighteousness, he was very kind to all children and they generally followed him about with purity of heart.

Nikolai of Vologda (1777-1837) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 83-85.

This guy lived with intentionality toward others and hospitality toward children. That’s my two-part takeaway from his example. And what a good set of takeaways!

He dressed simply, ministered to the needs of people, and always had something sweet for children. I notice something in these two traits especially as I too have a prophetic ministry.

It can be easy for a prophet to lose childlike faith when engaging adults practicing unrighteousness. Not Nicholai. And that’s part of why I like to spend time with my friend, John.

Regardless of the craziness of life and people, John (with whom I am staying in Wisconsin this week), like Nicholai, exhibits consistency, faithfulness, and humility with his intentional living.

I want to encourage you to block time every year to spend with a holy fool for Christ. Spend time with him or her and like the children in Nicholai’s story, follow “with purity of heart.”

You will grow closer to God. You will learn how to make every day count with special meaning and significance. And you will maintain your childlike faith and hospitality toward children in the process.

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:15

“The loves of most fools for Christ tend to be somewhat mysterious, but that of Michael of Klops Monastery is exceptionally enigmatic.

As Matins [Midhnight prayer] was being served in Klops Monastery on 23 June 1408. Hieromonk Macarius censed the church and the nearby cells, which included his own. As he approached his cell, he noticed that the door was open, and insight at his desk sat a man dressed as a monastic busily copying the Acts of the Apostles. Not recognizing the man, Macarius hastened to tell the abbot and the other brethren about this mysterious guest.

When they came to the cell, the stranger was still sitting calmly, copying from the Scriptures. When they asked who he was, they were answered only with the same question. The brothers assumed the man to be a simpleminded fool who somehow had managed to sneak into the monastery qnd unlock Macarius’ cell door – though they never learned how he had accomplished either task.

Though perceived as a fool, the stranger was able to chant and read eloquently during the Divine Liturgy and from the lives of the saint during meals. He was given a cell and participated in the life and worship of the monastery, but every attempt to learn who he was and where he came from was unsuccessful. He was strict in fasting and prayer, and he kept nothing in his cell – not even a mat for sleeping.

Observing his virtuous behavior, the monks honored him as a very holy individual; but in order not to allow this honor to lead to pride, the stranger adopted foolish behavior in everything he did. It wasn’t until the famousPrince Constantine Dmitrievich visited the monastery that the monks learned the identity of their holy fool. They asked the stranger to read from the book of Job during mealtime, and Prince Constantine seemed to recognize his voice.

Coming closer to examine the unknown reader, the prince suddenly boweed to the stranger and announced that he was non other than his own kinsman, Michael Maximovich. When asked why he had not revealed his identity, Michael replied, “Ony the Creator knows me and who I am.” Once they learned of his noble blood, the monks began to show greater honor to Michael, but this was something he wished to avoid. Thus he began increasing his struggles in foolishness, setting a great example to his brethren in all monastic work, vigils, and prayer.”

Michael of Klops Monastery (fifteenth century) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 77-81.

The more I study this holy fool, the more he reminds me of Jesus. Notice that Jesus did not come wrapped in royalty but appeared in poverty. He did not announce his identity to command respect and honor. He showed love and pointed people to the way of life.

Jesus was the living Word and Michael was found copying the Word, reading the Word, and loving others as it taught, following the example of Christ. I love how Michael, following the mysterious and enigmatic example of Jesus did not advertise his nobility but demonstrated it. Ponder that.

What if, like Jesus and Michael we don’t give ourselves to advertising our faith but give our energies to demonstrating it? We would likely appear mysterious and enigmatic, as most people advertise what they are doing. His example spoke for itself and inspired others. May we do likewise.

I am flying to Wisconsin today through Sunday to spend time with a spiritual friend, John Stanley. I will live in his guest house and eat from his table. We will share conversations about living in mysterious and enigmatic ways and do a little fly fishing. I do this every June as a spiritual retreat.

Pray with me that we both grow as holy fools as a result.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

“Maria’s mother died when she was thirteen and her father a year later, so that she was orphaned by age fourteen. At first she was taken in by her eldest brother’s family, but the sister-in-law did not like her and made her life very difficult. This was partly because Maria had been “different” from early childhood, very much a loner who did not play with other children but preferred going to church and never engaging in community frivolities. She also preferred dressing in worn out clothes and tended toward being unkempt in appearance.

She is said to have received visions of St. Seraphim of Sarov and of the Diveyevo Monastery from her youth although she had not yet been to the monastery. When a group of women and girls from the village decided to go on a pilgrimage to Sarov, Maria elected to join them. Because of her unenviable home life and the visions she had received, she chose not to return to the village at the end of the pilgrimage but instead wandered the forests between Diveyevo’s surrounding communities. Having nothing but the shabby clothing she had worn on the journey, she soon wandered about half naked and was often mocked and mistreated by local peasants who thought her mad…

Despite all the tragedies, hardships, and persecutions she faced, no one ever heard Maria complain or bewail her state. God was her solace and comfort, and He graced her with a special intuition. People began to notice her great humility and godliness and often would seek her out for counsel and guidance… Maria received a steady stream of people during the trying time of the Russian Revolution, many coming to her for physical healing and many more for spiritual counseling and prayer.”

Maria of Diveyevo (d. 1931) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 71-75.

The apostle Paul called us to live not according to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That’s the story of Maria of Diveyevo. She focused on spiritual things when others cared about community frivolities. In response, God helped her see things, visions, and so she pursued Him with her whole heart.

At first people scorned her. Then because of her great humility and godliness, people started to seek her out. Then in the most difficult times, she provided healing, counseling, and prayer. What can we learn from her example to serve as generous fools for Christ today? At least three things.

One, don’t follow the pattern of the world but care about the things of God. Be different. Different is good.

Two, if He gives you a vision, give yourself to that vision regardless of what others might think. Pursue Him despite mocking and mistreatment. Care more about your inner person than your external dress. Look different.

Three, provide counsel and care to receptive people. When they come for healing, guidance, or prayer, bless them generously from the abundance you have received from God. Serve different.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13

“Lyubov was an invalid, unable to walk or stand. Though bedridden, she was a cheerful child who by her sanguine countenance brought light into her poor mother’s life. Maria taught Lyubov how to pray and to read and write, and the young girl delighted in prayer and in reading spiritual books…

One day when she was fifteen and alone in the house, God sent a messenger who said, rise and walk and become a fool for Christ. Miraculously, Lyubov got up and out of bed and stood on her own. When her mother returned home, she was ecstatic to see her crippled daughter standing, completely healed of her long infirmity…

Able to walk now, Lyubov began praying in all the churches in Ryazan… Lyubov never ceased from praying for all those around her… She cared greatly for all the people and was known for her generosity and kindheartedness. One unusual thing Lyubov did was to go into shops in Ryazan and gather items to give to the needy.

She always knew exactly what each recipient would need, and she would collect only what was necessary… Since Lyubov herself was among the poorest in Ryazan, people sometimes would give her things to help meet her needs, be it food or clothing or other helpful items.

She would accept these gifts with deep gratitude, but within hours should would give them away to someone more needy… Being of a cheerful nature, Lyubov’s apparel reflected her buoyant spirit. She always dressed plainly but in bright colors. Her favorite color was pink, and he frequently would be seen wearing a pink scarf on her head.”

Lyubov of Ryazan (1852-1921) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 65-69.

This little Lyubov inspired me today. Notice her story of healing. God raise her up from impossible circumstances. In response, she served as a person of prayer who offered generous care to others.

If we use our imagination, we can picture her lifting people up with her love. Then when it said she dressed simply in bright colors and had a buoyant spirit, I smiled. Of course, she did!

How would people describe your appearance, your spirit? How would they describe your life and patterns of service? What do you want people to say in answer to these questions?

I am home and one spiritual practice at home is tending to our garden. I picked some basil this weekend and shared them four neighbors. Soon other herbs will be ready to share too. I am excited to share.

As I explore these fools for Christ, I find their ordinary, disciplined living is what gave them extraordinary impact. Let’s go be ordinary today, but wear bright colors and have a buoyant spirit to lift others up!

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

“Like John the Forerunner to Jesus, John of Ustyug was born to two elderly parents who had long prayed for a child. Also like his eponym, John demonstrated from his youth a desire to lead a godly life.

John practiced strict fasting even while still a child, eating nothing on Wednesdays and Fridays and only bread and water the rest of the week. When his mother asked him why he observed so strict a fasting rule, he replied that he wanted to avoid feeding his flesh so that it would become his enemy and tempt him from following Christ.

At some point in his early life, the family moved from Ustyug to Orlets, but shortly after John’s father died. His mother entered Holy Trinity Convent, where young John was allowed to live with her the rest of his childhood. While there, John continued his strict fasting and began practicing the discipline of silence. Seeing his unusual devotion, his mother left him to God’s will to do as he saw fit in his struggle.

After gaining his majority, John returned to Ustyug and took up residence in a small hut that a devout friend had built for him next to the Dormition Church. It was after his return to Ustyug that John increased his struggles and took up the difficult challenge of being a fool for Christ.

He began wandering the streets of Ustyug during the day wearing only a long shirt that was tied about his waist with a rope… He allowed himself to become the object of much derision and abuse by the townsfolk, but at night he would frequently remain awake all night in prayer, praying especially for those who had abused him during the day.”

John of Ustyug (d. 1494) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 61-63.

If you read the Didache (the early church discipleship manual) on fasting, it reads as follows: “Be careful not to schedule your fasts at the times when the hypocrites fast. They fast on Monday and Thursday, therefore make your fast on Wednesday and Friday.

This tradition prevailed through church history that the days followers of Jesus fasted were Wednesday and Friday. Perhaps that might be a discipline for all of us to adopt with the first Christians and fools for Christ like John of Ustyug.

This bloke took his podvig, his ascesis, to a new level. He did not just pray for those he helped. He prayed by night for those who abused him by day. I have much room for growth in this area.

My human tendency is to avoid people who wrong me, to stay away from them, not pray for them. And I don’t fast weekly. I do it periodically. Perhaps this can help my own mortification of the flesh.

Why study these saints? We find clues like fasting, praying for oppressors, and other disciplines to help us increase our generous impact on those around us. God help us do this on this Lord’s day and throughout this new month!

We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. 1 Corinthians 4:10-13

“Isidore was born in what is now called Brandenburg, which at the time was a major city in Prussia. The area was predominantly Roman Catholic, and it is possible that he was brought up in the Western faith. Whether he was born into Orthodoxy or was received at a later age, he left Prussia for more Orthodox regions when he was still a young man.

His parents were quite rich, but Isidore distributed all his wealth to the poor before becoming a pilgrim and wanderer. He traveled through many Orthodox lands before finally coming to Rostov in Russia. He decided to stay there and practice the difficult ascesis of being a fool for Christ.

Playing the fool was entirely voluntary for him. Isidore constructed a small hut made of brush in a marshy area of Rostov and spent his nights there. The hut was in no wise weatherproof and did nothing to protect him from the elements, especially from the bitter winter weather, but Isidore dwelt there nonetheless.

During the day, he would wander the streets of Rostov playing the fool and giving spiritual guidance to all who would listen… In the evenings, he would return to his hut and spend most of the night standing in prayer, petitioning the Lord in particular on behalf of those who had caused him offense during the day. He also prayed earnestly for those to whom he’d given spiritual advice. He allowed himself only a little sleep each night.”

Isidora of Rostov (fifteenth century) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 55-59.

These verses from the apostle Paul reminded me of Isidore. He lived basically homeless but lived for others, offering spiritual advice and praying and petitioning the Lord for them.

This comes into view as generosity in my thinking because he made this service not peripheral but central to his life and ministry. And notice that the idea of ascesis comes into view.

As I study these “fools for Christ” and learn consistent characteristics about each one, I get advice for living, giving, serving, and loving generously, and “foolishly” in the eyes of the world.

Join me. Let us make the choice, voluntarily to live differently, to offer spiritual advice to others when the world just wants selfish advice. Let’s pray for people.

I got home last night and got to see Jenni just briefly as she heads to Pennsylvania to impart wisdom and spiritual practices to the summer staff of Black Rock Retreat.

Some might call us foolish. But we find joy in serving as God opens doors. We think foolish would be to not make ourselves available for such powerful and impactful opportunities.