"I once mentioned to Batushka," wrote
one of his spiritual daughters, "about one family, which I felt very pity
for them because they did not believe in anything, neither in God nor
afterlife. I pitied because it may not be their fault, due to them being either
brought up in such unbelief, or perhaps for another reason. Batushka shook his
head and said very angrily: "There is no justification for unbelievers.
The Scripture is written for everyone, decidedly everyone, even heathens; after
all, the knowledge of God is implanted into us at birth, so they themselves are
to blame. You ask can we pray for them. Of course, you can pray for
anyone."
Starets also stated that some renounce their faith
in God by imitating others and through false shame. Here is an example: there
was a person who did not believe in God for this reason. However, during the
war in the Caucus, when he had to fight and during the heat of battle, when
bullets were flying past him, he bent over and hugged his horse all the while
uttering: "Blessed Mother of God, save me." Later, when he recalled
the incident and his comrades laughed at him, he repudiated his words. At which
point he added: "Yes, hypocrisy is worse than not believing."
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