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We mustn't have absolute trust in human beings for our salvation, no matter
what dignity they have. Human beings are changeable. Today they are saints,
tomorrow - deniers. Today - sinners, tomorrow - righteous. We must have
absolute trust in God, and in Him we must base our hopes of salvation.
Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the
Lord his God (Psalm 145:5). Human beings are often treacherous, and the
one whom we admire today as a saint and virtuous, unfortunately we may see
falling later, whereas someone else who didn't have a good reputation before
may prove himself worthy in the circumstances and steady.
The Holy Struggle of the Genuine Orthodox Christians (G.O.C.) from the
beginning until today has shown a great number of such examples. But if we
search in depth through all the schisms that have taken place in the bosom of
the G.O.C. we will find that it is the germ of hero-worshipping that is to blame.
This germ coexists with us and when it finds us in favourable conditions, it
causes the manifestation of the sickness. Well, let us examine these
pestilential conditions, so that we can guard ourselves.
At the beginning of the manifestation of the disease there is required
the presence of a spiritual father who has the reputation of being a virtuous
man, albeit only in external appearance. It is not the essence that is significant
but the external image. To have that it is sufficient not to have given cause for
unfavourable comments.
Then it is necessary that this spiritual leader should have a close circle of
spiritual sons around him who respect and esteem him. Up to a point, this is
understandable.