E.N. Temptations constrained namely by the Church Herself, by Her structures, by Her clergyman. Here in which there is bitterness itself. It is understood that temptation is always there but when temptation proceeds from the clergymen and they tempt then it is already a tragedy...

V.E. But it is not a new tragedy, and it is needed, nevertheless, to not be confused. First, it is not the Church, but it is sin against the Church if the clergyman himself gives cause for temptation or if he is indulgent to himself. And this, incidentally, is the most widespread. But in any event, to become confused here is not only to have little faith, but is also to have pride of oneself. How is this so! Well sin is sin. You can with love either hide the sins in the Church, reprove the sinners in private, or publicly complain. But in any case, this shows that people who are in sin are against the Church.

I have met extolled clergymen, but generally, the Lord preserved me. I, though, first, met such people only in passing, and second, somehow in my life it happened that they have not played a leading role. In my church path, they were only at the edge...I have recorded to myself that such phenomenons exist, but my church path took me farther away and left only memories.

But you see the Church is not only clergymen. Finally, it happens that to a person, another person is sent for use. If people find you with weak morals or like Dostoevsky would say, “stomchivie”, meaning easily accessible to temptation and falling, then they are your mirror. Look at yourself, and you will see that the Lord sends such people because they somehow respond to your organization. That is why you notice them, and otherwise you would not see you in their defects, but you would only see the good. We spoke today about the Mother of God: She has never abhorred anyone, and any people who were in that time. Therefore to say that all is bad now is always to have a concealed meaning and not to always realize what we are saying: Everything around me is evil but I am still good.