1913 Belokrinitsa and Pomorian Debate. Part 2: On the Eternity of the Bloodless Sacrifice in the Church of Christ.

The second part of a public debate between the Pomor, Kondratyev, and the Belokrinitsa representative, Varakin. (August 26)

First Speech by D. S. Varakin

At this present assembly, we shall consider the question of the eternity of the bloodless sacrifice in the Church of Christ. This is a most sublime mystery, a singular propitiatory sacrifice, without which no true believer in Christ can attain salvation. It was instituted once by Christ the Savior in the Upper Room of Zion. There, during the Last Supper, He established it at the meal, and without it, I say, no believing soul can obtain salvation. The importance and necessity of this greatest mystery—the holy communion—are, to our profound satisfaction and joy, acknowledged even by our opponents who will participate in this discussion. It is particularly gratifying for me to highlight this fact before you, esteemed listeners. I have in my possession a book, The Acts of the Council, from the first council of the Pomorian Old Believers. It contains a report by the late L. F. Pichugin, who was then chairman of the first All-Russian Council, titled “On the Church’s Mysteries.” This report was adopted by the Pomorian council as a guiding principle and recorded in The Acts of the Council as a law, a document upon which the hopes of the Pomorian Old Believers rest and shall continue to rest. Here is what is written in these conciliar acts on pages 43–44 (fourth enumeration): “Question: How many mysteries are there? Answer: Seven. Question: Which are they? Answer: 1) Baptism, 2) Confirmation (or chrismation), that is, anointing with holy oil, 3) Priesthood, that is, ordination or the order of clergy, 4) Divine Communion, that is, thanksgiving, 5) Confession or repentance, 6) Lawful marriage, 7) Unction or the final anointing with holy oil. Question: Are these mysteries divided? Answer: They are. Some are necessary for salvation, others are beneficial for salvation. Question: Tell me about these. Answer: The necessary mysteries for salvation are three: baptism, communion, and repentance; the beneficial mysteries for salvation are two: holy chrism and the final unction. Marriage is beneficial for those who partake in it, for the sake of assistance and preservation from fornication, and it is necessary for the sake of procreation and the fulfillment of the Church of God. (Large Catechism, ff. 355, 356). The division of the mysteries is self-evident: the three primary and chief mysteries—baptism, communion, and repentance—are necessary for a person’s salvation.” “We confess that there are seven church mysteries, but by necessity, we hold to the chief ones, without which salvation is impossible.” It is deeply regrettable that the teaching and conviction of our Pomorians regarding the necessity of holy communion for salvation diverges from reality. They acknowledge that without this greatest mystery, salvation is impossible. Yet, their lives demonstrate that they find it possible to attain salvation without it. Thus, their practice contradicts their teaching. But it is heartening to note the fact that the Pomorians recognize the mystery of communion as necessary for salvation. This can only be welcomed. Now, let us turn to the question of the foundation for the eternity and unceasing nature of this greatest mystery. Undoubtedly, this holy mystery has its foundation in the book of the Holy Gospel. Here is what is written in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, verse 19: “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” This is what Christ said when He broke the bread, declaring that this bread is His Body. Then He took the cup and said: “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” This is the greatest mystery, established by Christ the Savior Himself, the Founder of the New Testament, God Himself, who gave it to true believers as a hope for salvation. The same is confirmed in the words of the Apostle Paul, that greatest preacher of the Church. In his sermon on Holy Pascha, he proclaims that his lips are the lips of Christ. In his First Epistle to the Corinthians (chapter 11, verses 23–26), he writes: “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” What, says the Apostle Paul, I received from the Lord, I also deliver to you, and to emphasize more strongly that this Supper was established by Christ until His second coming, the Apostle concludes with the words: “till he come,” that is, until Christ comes again. The first time, Christ was sent by His Father to suffer, and after His death and resurrection, He ascended into heaven. Now, as the Church teaches, He is awaited a second time in glory to judge the living and the dead. Therefore, the mystery of holy communion, in remembrance of Christ’s salvific passion, established by Him at the Last Supper, is to remain in His Church until He comes again. The same is found in the book The Explanatory Apostle, section 150, folio 544 verso: “This is that sacrifice which the Christian Church, chosen from the nations, offers throughout the universe to the Lord God, and shall offer the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in remembrance of His death until the end of the age, and this prophecy is sufficient for assurance. For it is firm and unassailable.” Perhaps this teaching of the Apostle is not strong enough, perhaps it requires some reinforcement? No! It is stated here that this prophecy is sufficient for assurance, and we need not ask further. We must be convinced. Why? “For it is firm and unassailable.” So firm, so unassailable is the divine institution of the mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ that no further assurance is needed! The same is found in the Large Catechism on folio 384. Here is what is said: “What is the form or effect of this sacrifice and mystery? Answer: These words of the Lord, Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins, and drink ye all of it, this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins, and this do in remembrance of me. That is, partake and offer with thanksgiving, and sanctify with blessing. Of this, Paul also writes to the Corinthians: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Likewise, Matthew in his 108th section of the Gospel reveals the same. And Luke also speaks likewise. All these are keys to the effect of this sacrifice and mystery. But these words are the most effectual in that holy mystery: this is my body, this is my blood. Of this, Saint John Chrysostom, in the third volume, that is, the book on the betrayal of Judas, says thus: Just as that word which the Lord God spoke, Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, was spoken once and is effectual in all times when nature is applied to procreation, so too this word of the Lord, spoken once, gives power to the sacrifice on all altar tables even to this day. And until His coming, it grants power to the sacrifice.” The Word of God, “increase and multiply,” spoken by God at the creation of the first people, remains effectual to this day, and nothing can halt it. Likewise, the words of the Lord, “take and eat my Body and drink my Blood,” are eternally effectual. This evidence confirms the eternity and unceasing nature of the greatest mystery of holy communion until Christ’s second coming, and it is particularly compelling. I deemed it my duty to present it now because, among the many teachings of the Church on this matter, this testimony is the closest to our time. This is a testimony from the time of Patriarch Filaret. It states: just as the words about the multiplication of the human race were “spoken once” and will remain effectual until Christ’s second coming, so too the words “take and eat my Body and drink my Blood” were spoken once and will be fulfilled until Christ’s second coming. If the bloodless sacrifice were to cease before Christ’s second coming, then all the holy books of the Church would state that although the bloodless sacrifice was established until Christ’s second coming, it would cease earlier, and people would manage and be saved without it. But we see no such thing anywhere. Not a single holy book contains this. Why did I find it necessary to read this testimony from the Large Catechism at this moment? For this reason: the Pomorian Old Believers themselves believe that the words “increase and multiply and fill the earth” are unassailable until Christ’s second coming. This is stated in the same Conciliar Acts of the Pomorians, in a report by T. A. Khudoshin, who is present here, titled “On the Essence of Marriage.” Here is what is said in that report: “The mystery of marriage does not have a human foundation but comes from the Lord God Himself, and this divine institution is eternal and will remain until the very second coming” (p. 80, fourth enumeration). Since the report specifically addressed only the mystery of marriage, that is, God’s first commandment, “increase and multiply,” the speaker naturally could not elaborate further as is done in the Large Catechism. It only states that marriage is a divine institution and, as such, must be eternal and will remain until the very second coming. The Holy Church, through the words of the Large Catechism, adds to this report: just as the procreation of the human race will exist until the second coming, so too the bloodless sacrifice will exist in the Church of Christ until the second coming. As it is said there, “the existence of the human race cannot cease,” so too here: “the existence of the bloodless sacrifice cannot cease.” We cannot halt the multiplication of the human race, nor are we able, because it is a divine institution. But we add to this: the bloodless sacrifice is also a divine institution, and as such, it is eternal and will remain until Christ’s second coming. No force in the world, nor even in the depths of the world below, can destroy this sacrifice, for it was not established by such a force but by God. Thus, I conclude with the words of the speaker Mr. Khudoshin: this divine institution is eternal and will remain until the very second coming. Further, Mr. Khudoshin says in his report: “Therefore, the union between husband and wife is established by God Himself, and who can imagine that a law established by God could be destroyed or cease to exist?” (p. 81). These are fine words, but they apply equally to the bloodless sacrifice, as per the Large Catechism. We can conclude with the words of the esteemed Pomorian speaker that if the bloodless sacrifice was established by God Himself, who can imagine that a law established by God could be destroyed or cease to exist? I do not know what to attribute this to, but it seems strange to me: that which concerns our sinful flesh is considered eternal and so strong that it will remain until Christ’s second coming, but that which concerns our soul and body together—the sacrifice of Christ, established to redeem the human race and cleanse it from all sinful life—is, according to the Pomorians’ conviction, not eternal! How then can one be saved? Pichugin, in his report on the mysteries, says that communion is necessary for salvation. Thus, without communion, salvation is impossible. Yet, at this discussion, they will assert that salvation is possible without partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ. We do not know by what means or method they hope to achieve salvation without partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ. At this assembly, we would like to learn: on what basis do they deny the present necessity of partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ? For my part, I consider what I have said in this first speech sufficient, so as not to burden our opponents with the abundance of evidence I have regarding the eternity of the bloodless sacrifice in the Church of Christ. In conclusion, I pose the following question to my interlocutor: Since I have demonstrated that the bloodless sacrifice will remain until Christ’s second coming, let them provide evidence showing that the bloodless sacrifice in the Church of Christ will not remain until the second coming but will cease long before it. We will not touch upon communities that believe differently from us, as that is irrelevant to this question. Instead, we pose the fundamental question: where is it written that the mystery of holy communion in the Church of Christ will not remain until the second coming?

First Speech by F. P. Kondratyev

Esteemed assembly! Greeting you, I kindly request your gracious attention. My esteemed interlocutor, Mr. Varakin, has posed a question concerning whether the mystery of communion will remain in the Church of Christ until the second coming. He demands an answer from us on this matter. With God’s help, I shall not hesitate to provide an answer in this present speech. However, the most significant point is that, in his opening words, my esteemed interlocutor, D. S. Varakin, touched upon the subject of marriage when our discussion is about the mystery of communion. Why did he do so, and what prompted him to address marriage? The fact is that marriage and the mystery of communion are two distinct mysteries, and my esteemed interlocutor should have kept this in mind. Yet he states that “the sacrifice of communion saves or cleanses us from ancestral corruption.” To speak from oneself and to speak from Holy Scripture are two different things. My esteemed interlocutor claimed that the mystery of communion saves from ancestral corruption. First, where in Scripture did he find this? Second, my esteemed interlocutor cited the acts of the 1909 council, stating that it declares three mysteries necessary for salvation: baptism, communion, and repentance. Yes, we believe that if one cannot partake of these mysteries despite desiring them, salvation is still possible. But the question before us is this: Saint John Chrysostom says (Explanatory Apostle, folio 545): “Priesthood and sacrifice are together; one cannot exist without the other.” Thus, in this present speech, if we address the question of the mystery of communion, we must, in accordance with Holy Scripture, also touch upon the mystery of the priesthood to some extent. Are there performers or ministers of the mystery of communion at present? If there are, where are they? I ask this of my esteemed interlocutor. This is the most critical point of support in our current discussion. This question is significant because our esteemed interlocutors fully agree with us on this matter. I shall read from the Prophet Daniel, chapter 9, verse 27. This is from the Ostrog Bible, printed in the year 7081 from the creation of the world: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” That is, the holy prophet Daniel says there will come a time when the abomination of desolation will spread across the earth, and all sacrifices—that is, the mystery of communion—will be abolished and will no longer exist in the Church of Christ. The sacrifice of communion, bequeathed by Christ the Savior, will be taken away due to the unworthiness of the shepherds or in the reign of the Antichrist. But what will happen next? It is said: “and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate,” that is, until the final desolation. When the abomination of desolation comes, one can no longer expect anything better. Some may say that something better will come. No, the prophecy from the Holy Spirit clearly and definitively states that in the last times, before Christ’s second coming, the consummation will be given to desolation. Our esteemed interlocutors, the Belokrinitsa Old Believers, agree with us that this prophecy has been fulfilled. Here is what their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov says in his Discourse with Shustov: “These Nikonite preachers do not believe the Gospel; they only insist on one thing: the eternity of the priesthood! They wish to hear nothing else. They do not see what was said: ‘When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.’ The fathers called heretical bishops the abomination of desolation. We saw that the bishops at the Moscow council rejected all ancient traditions, and so we fled to the mountains from these scandalous bishops.” (Discourse of M. E. Shustov with Fr. Shvetsov in Moscow, May 1888, pp. 11–12). This Gospel passage was cited by their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov, who said: “The fathers called heretical bishops the abomination of desolation. We saw that these bishops at the Moscow council rejected all ancient traditions, and we fled to the mountains from these scandalous bishops.” From these words, I conclude that our interlocutors, the Belokrinitsa Old Believers, agree with us that the prophecy of the abomination of desolation has been fulfilled and has stood in the holy place. But what should happen during this time when the abomination of desolation prevails? I shall read from the Large Catechism, folio 24: “Question: Why will people in the last days fall away from the faith and turn to heresy? Answer: For three reasons. The first is this: as the prophet Daniel said, the abomination of desolation shall stand in the holy place, that is, when impious heresy shall possess the holy Church.” Dear listeners, we live in the last times, and we must beware lest we perish. The Catechism states that people will fall away from the faith for three reasons. What are these reasons? The first is: “the abomination of desolation shall stand in the holy place.” “This abomination is interpreted, according to the writing of Saint John Chrysostom, as the army of the Antichrist, destroying the Church of God. Then, people, having nowhere to hide from such sorrows and great torments, because of persecution, may turn to heresies.” In this, dear listeners, we agree with our esteemed interlocutors that the abomination, the impious heresy, has taken possession of the holy Church. From what time this began is clear to all, and all Old Believers know it. So said Bishop Arseny Shvetsov, in complete agreement with us: “The first reason is this: as the prophet Daniel said, the abomination of desolation shall stand in the holy place, that is, when impious heresy shall possess the holy Church; then people, having nowhere to hide, will turn to heresies.” And now, is it possible to hide anywhere from heretics and their scandalous temptations? Then, the second and third reasons are indicated, for which people will fall away from the faith: “The second reason is this: because they will love the glory and beauty of this world and all its pleasures, and fearing to lose their perishable wealth, which they have acquired, and desiring to gain greater abundance for bodily sustenance and other worldly reasons, they flee poverty and oppression. The third reason is this: because of which they will fall away from the faith and turn willingly to heresy, which contains Judaism and all manner of impiety. For they are not established in faith and in all the piety of Christian law. But you, abiding in the fear of God and in the commandments of the Lord, guard yourself lest you fall into the abomination of desolation.” Beware, Orthodox Christian, take care not to be swayed by the temptation of heretics and fall into the abomination of desolation preached by heretical bishops. Further, regarding the testimony cited by my esteemed interlocutor from the Gospel and the apostolic epistles, I say that we accept and believe in Holy Scripture. But this was given to the true shepherds of the Church of Christ, and the Savior Christ commanded: “this do in remembrance of me.” The question is whether Christ gave this commandment with conditions or without any obligation on their part. In whom lies the greater power to fulfill or perform the mystery of communion: in the power of the priest or in God’s omnipotence? In response to this question, I shall read from the writings of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, sermon 107. He writes: “For God said, This is my flesh, and this is my blood, and this do in remembrance of me.” My interlocutor cited testimony without explaining it with the interpretations of the holy fathers. I shall read the explanations of the holy fathers on the testimony cited by my esteemed interlocutor. The holy father says: “For God said”… “By His omnipotent command, it shall be until He comes, for so He spoke, until I come. And just as rain, falling upon the earth, immediately causes grass to grow.” Here arises a question: could grass grow without rain if the rain does not fall? Let my esteemed interlocutor answer this question. Further, the teaching of the holy father continues: “Likewise, this holy rain, which I call the Holy Spirit, invoked by the priest’s prayer, and visiting with His power, immediately makes this bread the flesh and the wine the blood.” The mystery of communion, or the Eucharist, is not accomplished by the faith of the priest alone but by the Holy Spirit. Now a question arises: since the time when the Church of Christ lost its priesthood, as their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov agreed, saying that when the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place, we fled to the mountains—can heretical bishops perform this mystery of communion? My esteemed interlocutor also cited testimony from the Explanatory Apostle, where it is said that this communion was commanded to be performed by priests. Yes, it was commanded, but did the priests keep what was commanded of them? That is the question. Was the promise given conditionally or unconditionally? I will, of course, address this further in my next speech. But for now, I will touch upon one testimony cited by my esteemed interlocutor and attempt to answer his question. My interlocutor cited testimony from the Explanatory Apostle, folio 544, under the heading “Again Chrysostom.” The question is how their Belokrinitsa shepherds regard this passage of Scripture from the Explanatory Apostle. I shall read from their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov’s book, under the heading “How the Dominant Church Sinned Against the Holy Gospel”: “As for the cited passage from the Explanatory Apostle, although it is attributed to Saint John Chrysostom, there are doubts about this attribution in reality.” Arseny further says: “Therefore, it can be quite plausibly assumed that this entire interpretation of the Explanatory Apostle, called ‘Again Chrysostom,’ was written by some church schismatic but falsely titled with Chrysostom’s name so that it would not be rejected by those outside their schism.” This is Arseny’s response to the missionaries. He further states that all these interpretations (cited by D. S.) were written by some church schismatic, that is, their bishop says that this very testimony in the Explanatory Apostle was written by a schismatic, a dissenter, or simply a heretic. Thus, this testimony was written by a heretic, yet my esteemed interlocutor, disregarding this teaching of their own bishop, presents it to us as evidence. Of course, I will not draw conclusions on my own about how I regard the words of Saint John Chrysostom, but the fact is that our esteemed interlocutor presents this testimony to us without noting that it was written by a heretic. Judge for yourselves what kind of methods these are. In response to my interlocutor’s question, I say: he asked me where it is written in Scripture that the sacrifice of communion will not remain until the end of the age. I shall read from the book of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, folio 32. He writes: “Of this, Saint Chrysostom says that the Antichrist, before his coming, will cause the altars everywhere to cease and will destroy the true sacrifice and set up his idol in the holy place. For already, such abominable desolation is being initiated by the false prophets sent by him. And from this, we know that the day of the Lord is near. For when the daily sacrifice established in the church of Solomon ceased, as was spoken of that desolation in the Gospel and as was foretold by the prophet Daniel, so too the authority of the Jews was ended, and the church was destroyed. Likewise, the present holy sacrifice, which is not in the temple of Solomon but established throughout the world, will be desolate. Then this age will end, as it was with the cessation of the sacrifice in the temple of Solomon, and this was fulfilled and accomplished in truth according to the prophetic words. This is now being initiated by the emissaries of the Antichrist, the son of lawlessness, but the end is not yet until he himself comes, and with him, the abomination of daily desolation will be fulfilled and accomplished. Thus say Theophylact and Chrysostom.” Here is my answer to my esteemed interlocutor. It is not I who speak, but Saint John Chrysostom, whose teaching is cited in the book of Cyril of Jerusalem. It is said here that the Antichrist will set up his idol in the holy place in place of communion. I have answered my esteemed interlocutor’s question. Let him now prove where it is written that holy communion will be performed until the end of the world.

Second Speech by D. S. Varakin

My opponent has evidently not recorded my question accurately and, in responding to me, has misrepresented it with his own words. My question was: Where, in which book of Holy Scripture, is it written that the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ will not remain until His second coming? I have demonstrated that it will remain. My esteemed opponent has incorrectly conveyed my question. He says: I am asked whether the mystery of holy communion will remain until Christ’s second coming. That is not at all how I posed the question. Such a question from me would be absurd, for I am fully convinced and have proven that the mystery of holy communion will remain until Christ’s second coming. To ask, “Will it remain?” would imply doubt, and I have no doubt, nor can I have any. I have not yet made such a mistake and am not asking, “Will it remain?” I am convinced that it will remain. I even read that it will remain and, conversely, asked for proof: Where is it written that it will not remain? This, my esteemed opponent has failed to provide. Now, I turn to his speech, starting with his final piece of evidence. I will first address the question of the abomination of desolation. He refers to the words of our respected Bishop Arseny, who calls heresies the abomination of desolation. I fully agree that heresy is indeed called the abomination of desolation, and I add that other things are also called by this name. Even the Pomorian Old Believers themselves acknowledge that the abomination of desolation is not only heresy but, as Mr. Batov says, also: “the thorny reading of newspapers, soul-destroying novels, and other fables” (Shield of Faith, p. 403, 1912). You see, even reading newspapers is considered an abomination of desolation, as is reading novels and all sorts of sins. We do not dispute that heresy is an abomination of desolation. Unorthodox teachers are also an abomination of desolation. But again, there is no answer to my question: Where is it written that the sacrifice will not remain until Christ’s second coming? To call reading newspapers an abomination of desolation, in my conviction, is far from sound judgment. Now I turn to the Book of Cyril, from which my interlocutor read that the Antichrist, before his coming, will destroy altars everywhere and set up his idol in the holy place. Yes, it is written as such. Now we turn to you, Pomorians: Do you have the true bloodless sacrifice? You will likely say, no. Where is it, what happened to it? You might say: The Antichrist destroyed it. Where? In the holy place, you will say. But where the Antichrist destroys the sacrifice, there he sets up his idol. Do you have an Antichrist’s idol in your churches? You have churches, you have altars, but you have no sacrificial altars. Is there an idol? It is written: He will set up his idol. So, is the idol present in your churches? Has this Scripture been fulfilled in your churches? It seems not. In your holy place, there is neither a sacrificial altar nor an idol. According to Scripture, there should be one or the other: either the holy sacrifice or the Antichrist’s idol. I know that in Pomorian churches, you pray to God and condemn the Antichrist. That is true. But according to Scripture, it does not add up that if the sacrifice is absent, an idol should be present. It is written: The Antichrist will destroy the altars and set up his idol. God forbid that this idol should be found among you. That is not what we desire, but we wish, through the clear and certain path of Scripture, to bring you closer to the unification of Old Belief. That is our task. We know that in your holy place, there is no Antichrist’s idol. But then why is there no sacrifice? That it will remain until Christ’s second coming is stated in the same Explanatory Apostle (folio 536 verso). Here is what is said: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” These are the very words of the Apostle. And here is Chrysostom’s interpretation: “For when thou understandest that for thy sake thy Lord suffered, thou shalt be wise; this is signified by saying, as often as ye eat, ye do shew the Lord’s death. And that it shall remain until His second coming, he declared, till he come.” These words, “till he come,” signify that this sacrifice will remain until Christ’s second coming. Yes, the Pomorians say, it will remain, but it is also said: together with the priesthood, yet there is no priesthood. That is the trouble with the Pomorians, that they have no priesthood—that is their sorrow. Those who deny the priesthood are compelled to deny the sacrifice itself. The testimony cited by our opponent, that priesthood and sacrifice are together and one cannot exist without the other, weighs heavily against them. If there is no priesthood, there is no sacrifice. One cannot exist without the other, as Scripture states. We see this. But if there is a sacrifice, there must also be a priesthood. This testimony does not justify you but only accuses you. My interlocutor asks why I touched upon the question of marriage. But the present question demands it. It was not I who included the mystery of marriage in the question of the bloodless sacrifice. Do not accuse me of this. It was the Large Catechism and Patriarch Filaret. He explicitly said, “as God said: increase and multiply,” and this always happens, so too these words: “take, eat, this is my body.” “Just as that word which the Lord God spoke, Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, was spoken once and is effectual in all times when nature is applied to procreation, so too this word of the Lord, spoken once, gives power to the sacrifice on all altar tables even to this day. And until His coming, it grants power to the sacrifice.” This is why I had to touch upon marriage, because your leaders consider the teaching on the mystery of marriage so strong that no opposing forces can destroy it, for it is a divine institution. Likewise, the mystery of communion is a divine institution, and no one can destroy it. Thus, we must conclude that the Pomorians’ lack of priesthood and sacrifice contradicts the teaching of the Explanatory Apostle (folio 545), where it is clearly stated that the prophecy about the bloodless sacrifice “is firm and unassailable.” If, as my opponent claims, this passage of the Explanatory Apostle belongs to a schismatic, that is, a dissenter, then why do the Pomorians themselves cite this same passage in their defense? Bishop Arseny wrote about this passage that some parts do not fully align with Chrysostom’s teaching, as it states in one place that no mysteries, except baptism, are accepted from heretics. Indeed, historically, this teaching aligns with that of the schismatic Luciferians. Here is what is said: “From heretics, there is not a single mystery except baptism.” This is why he says it is the teaching of schismatics. But let us make a concession to our interlocutor for the moment. Suppose this passage of the Explanatory Apostle holds no value in his eyes; does the passage I cited about the eternity and unassailability of the bloodless sacrifice align with Chrysostom himself? If it does, then this passage cannot lose its significance in this matter. After all, the schismatic Luciferians denied ordination from Arian heretics, but they recognized holy communion as eternal. In this case, they reasoned about the mystery of communion in the same way as Chrysostom. For Saint John Chrysostom writes about holy communion: “Apostle: For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Chrysostom’s interpretation: For when thou understandest that for thy sake thy Lord suffered, thou shalt be wise. This is signified by saying, as often as ye eat, ye do shew the Lord’s death. And that it shall remain until His second coming, he declared, till he come” (Explanatory Apostle, section 149, folio 536). The Pomorians ask: “Why did I touch upon marriage?” It is not I, but the Large Catechism and Saint John Chrysostom. They say that just as it was said once, “increase and multiply,” and this gives power to procreation for all time, so too the statement about holy communion, pronounced once at the Last Supper, has the power from that time until now and until Christ’s second coming to make the table perfect in churches. Thus, I am not to blame for comparing the mystery of marriage with the mystery of communion; Saint John Chrysostom does so. Now, regarding the words of the Prophet Daniel (chapter 9, verse 27): “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” According to the interpretation of the holy fathers, “in the midst of the week” refers to three and a half years. But how do Pomorian writers interpret this half-week? It is interesting to know. Here is what is written on page 12 of the brochure by your well-known leader and chairman of the Pomorian council, Pichugin, titled “On the Mysterious 3.5 Years”: “The first half-week refers to the establishment of the Gospel preaching and the conversion of the fathers, the Jews, into the children of the holy apostles, in the person of John the Baptist; the second continues until Christ’s second coming” (p. 12). This is what your leader Pichugin says. According to this understanding of the second half-week, it turns out that in the Church established by Christ, there has never been a bloodless sacrifice. According to Pichugin’s interpretation, the Church of Christ has existed for 2000 years, and for 2000 years, there has been neither priesthood nor sacrifice, because, according to him, the second half-week extends from John the Baptist to Christ’s second coming. He says the same in the same brochure on page 13: “Forty-two months (three and a half years), by the mysterious power of Holy Scripture, signify the time of God’s secret economy toward the human race, beginning with the first coming and ending with the second coming of Christ.” Truly, one can only be horrified by such teaching! Then another leader, M. Povarnitsyn, in his brochure “On the Mysterious Week of Daniel” (p. 21), says the following: “Now the entire question is to determine what these forty-two months are. The time, which seems very brief, amounts to only three and a half years by our reckoning—a very short period. But how does Saint Andrew of Caesarea designate this brief time? It deserves deep attention! He says that from the beginning of the Gospel preaching, when the new covenant was established, according to Daniel’s week, and he limited it until the second coming, during all this time, the aforementioned forty-two months will continue. Although it seems that offerings cannot be made in those days.” Thus, Pichugin and Povarnitsyn stretch this half-week from the time of the beginning of the new covenant’s preaching until Christ’s second coming. They explicitly state: during all this time, the forty-two months, that is, the half-week, will continue, and “offerings cannot be made in those days.” (!!!). Why then did Christ come, become incarnate, suffer, and shed His divine Blood? Was it only for everything to be lost and perish? Let us, listeners, beseech the Lord God that our opponents abandon such horrific teaching and adhere only to the teaching of Christ’s Church, which clearly and definitively states that the bloodless sacrifice in the Church of Christ will remain until His second coming. Just as the command “increase and multiply” endures, so too does this. They themselves said that the command regarding marriage will remain until the second coming; they read to us the words of Ephrem the Syrian, but Ephrem the Syrian explicitly writes that the sacrifice will remain until Christ’s second coming. Here is what Ephrem the Syrian says: “For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the death of the Son of man (1 Cor., section 149). For the word of God is living and effectual. And all that God willed, He accomplished. And if He said: Let there be light, and there was light. Let there be a firmament, and there was (Gen., ch. 2). And if the heavens were established by the words of the Lord, then if heaven and earth, water and fire, air and all creation were accomplished by the words of God, and man who speaks, if God the Word willed to accomplish all things for man, can He not make this offering His flesh and this wine and water His blood? In the beginning, He commanded the earth to bring forth grass, and even until this hour, when rain falls, it immediately brings forth its growth by God’s command, and as it is taken from the earth, it received the power of the Lord’s words from the beginning. For God said: This is my flesh, and this is my blood, and this do in remembrance of me (Matt. 108, Mark 64, Luke 108). By His omnipotent command, it shall be until He comes (1 Cor., section 149). For so He spoke, until I come.” Ephrem the Syrian teaches contrary to the conviction of our opponents; he says that the sacrifice will remain until Christ’s second coming. This second piece of evidence was prompted by our opponent. Now he says: when heresy prevails, where can one hide from heretics? In my view, it is possible to hide, for so teaches Holy Scripture. In the Book of Revelation of John the Theologian, chapter 12, verse 6, it is said: “And the woman fled into the wilderness. — When, it says, the devil acting through the Antichrist arms himself against the Church, then the chosen and most worthy, despising civic virtues, vanities, and worldly pleasures, will flee, according to the words of the great Methodius, to the wilderness, free from all malice and fruitful for all virtues, and there they will escape the attacks of warring demons and evil men. It is not without probability that the physical wilderness, as it once saved martyrs, will save those fleeing from the snares of the apostate and false Christ in the mountains, caves, and chasms of the earth” (Commentary on the Apocalypse by Andrew of Caesarea, p. 94, Moscow, 1901). Surely, they do not go to the wilderness for pleasure. What would they do in the wilderness when things are good here? This is where the Church of Christ will go when it is no longer possible for her to live in the world. This is where Christ’s champions will go. Thus, the Church has a place to go. God Himself, in His revelation to John the Theologian, indicated this place. In concluding my explanations and objections to my interlocutor, I once again address him with the same question. I wish to hear from him an answer and explanations from Holy Scripture: Where is it stated that the sacrifice, established by God at the Last Supper, will not remain in the Church of Christ until His second coming?

Second Speech by F. P. Kondratyev

Esteemed assembly, my interlocutor, in concluding his speech, poses a question to which I have already responded. The question is this: Where is it stated that the sacrifice will not remain until the end of the age? You have heard that I provided a precise, clear, and definitive answer to this question, which my esteemed interlocutor did not address. I read this answer to him from the book of Cyril of Jerusalem, folio 32. If my esteemed interlocutor overlooked this valuable advice, I will endeavor to read it to him once more: “The Antichrist, before his coming, shall cause the altars everywhere to cease, and shall destroy the true sacrifice.” Here, the holy father clearly states that the sacrifice will be destroyed by the Antichrist. I continue reading the holy father: “And he shall set up his idol in the holy place.” My esteemed interlocutor said: “In your holy temple,”—speaking of us—“there is no such idol.” I thank my esteemed interlocutor for acknowledging and proving that we are indeed true Christians. First, he says: In your holy temple, there is no such idol. Where, then, is it now? I will tell my esteemed interlocutor that this idol exists among the heretics. I continue reading: The holy father says: “For already, such abominable desolation is being initiated by the false prophets sent by him. And from this, we know that the day of the Lord is near.” This was pointed out regarding the Latin heretics. Then it continues: “For when the daily sacrifice established in the church of Solomon was made desolate, as was spoken of that desolation in the Gospel and as was foretold by the prophet Daniel, so too the authority of the Jews was ended, and the church was destroyed.” Here, a comparison is made with the church of Solomon: There, too, a promise was given, saying it would be forever. Why, then, was it taken away? Because those to whom it was given did not keep God’s promises. So it is here. My esteemed interlocutor did not address this testimony, though I cited it. I continue reading: “Likewise, the present holy sacrifice, which is not in the temple of Solomon but established throughout the world, shall be desolate” (Book of Cyril, folio 32 verso, second edition, p. 55). Not only in the temple but throughout the world. Here is the answer, which I am reading. Thus, dear listeners, the holy father clearly and definitively states that this prophecy of the holy prophet Daniel has indeed been fulfilled. And when did it begin to be fulfilled? When the Latin Western heresy was introduced. It is known that heresy existed among them and still exists today. They have both sprinkling baptism and, at the same time, immersion baptism, as stated in the journal Church of the Belokrinitsa hierarchy: “It is remarkable,” we read in the journal, “that in these places, the church rule to baptize strictly by triple immersion is so firmly upheld that even Roman Catholics baptize in this manner” (Church, 1912, No. 18, p. 430). Such confusion, such a mixture of heresies prevails in that church, about which Scripture says that it will accept impious heresy. Bishop Arseny Shvetsov also said that the church has accepted heresy. This is the abomination of desolation. I read that the abomination of desolation is impious heresy. You yourselves acknowledge, and our esteemed interlocutor acknowledges, that this is impious heresy. Therefore, in accordance with yesterday’s invitation from our interlocutor F. E., I invite and urge you, dear interlocutors, to unite with Christ’s Church, to abandon heresies, to reject and curse them, and to embrace that mystery of Christ’s faith which makes true Christians. Now I will address what the abomination of desolation is. Blessed Theodoret, in part 4, page 206, says: “From the time of the cessation of the continual sacrifice, and the abomination of desolation shall be given for a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Since he said: a time, times, and half a time, and saw that blessed Daniel did not understand, he divided the time into days, making what was unclear clear for him, yet left the word obscure for others. The abomination of desolation he calls the Antichrist himself; and by the cessation of the continual sacrifice, the order of church worship, which is driven out and abolished by the madness and frenzy of the Antichrist.” The abomination of desolation is called the Antichrist himself, and by the cessation of the continual sacrifice, the order of church worship, which is driven out and abolished by the madness and frenzy of the Antichrist. Thus, if the abomination of desolation has been fulfilled, so too has what must follow it. My interlocutor said that the abomination of desolation includes indulgence in card games and other frivolities. I will read this same passage here: “Primarily, a greater abomination of desolation in the human mind is produced by the card game, invented in recent centuries, which stirs the passions” (Shield of Faith, May–June 1912, p. 404). Is this not just, as V. D. wrote? I will say that this aligns even with the state laws of our Russian homeland. Card games, of course, cloud a person’s mind and can even lead to a loss of faith. Because of this, suicides have become more frequent in our time. People are drawn to other pursuits, lose their Christian faith, fall into despair, and take their own lives because they forget about the future eternal life. That this is so, and that it aligns with Scripture, I must cite from the Gospel According to Mark, section 60, folio 80 verso, which says: “It may also be understood in the usual sense: for the abomination of desolation is every satanic understanding, standing in our holy mind; therefore, let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; that is, through confession, let them ascend to the mountains of virtues. For Judea signifies confession.” Then, my esteemed interlocutor cited two writers stating that the week begins with Christ’s coming. I read to my esteemed interlocutor, and I will read again, what the prophecy says. Here is what is said about the week: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease in the holy temple.” What does it mean to confirm during this very week? At the beginning of this week, God gave His covenant through Christ, but my esteemed interlocutor does not believe this and says that the week has not begun and will happen sometime in the future. Thus, according to him, it turns out that Christ never came, and the confirmation of the covenant never happened, but in reality, all this did happen because the prophecy was fulfilled. The prophet Daniel clearly said: “he shall confirm the covenant” with many for one week. This is the final, seventieth week. And what is the covenant? The covenant is Christ’s Gospel. If my esteemed interlocutor does not acknowledge that the week has been fulfilled and begun, then, of course, it turns out that he does not believe the prophecy either. It is significant that elsewhere my interlocutor admitted and said that our Bishop Arseny stated that some passages of the apostolic interpretation are incorrect and do not align with Chrysostom’s teaching, and you yourselves agree with this. I rebuke you, esteemed interlocutor. If you reject this passage, why do you cite it, shifting the blame from a sick head to a healthy one? We do not reject the writing of the holy father. I will read from this passage that in the last times, the mystery of communion will cease. Explanatory Apostle, folio 549 verso: “Thus saith the Lord”… “Seest thou that the abomination of desolation is not the holy sacrifice, beloved and pleasing to God, but its desolation, which the Antichrist shall cause before the coming of the Lord, setting up his own image in that place.” And how will the Antichrist cause desolation? The holy father says: He will set up his own image in that place. Again, the question arises: Where does this abomination of desolation, this idol, stand? My esteemed interlocutor said, “In your holy temple, there is no such idol.” I humbly thank him for vindicating us. Let us ask, where does it stand? It continues: “He will set up his own image in that place”… “For already, this desolation is being initiated by the false prophets sent by him, and from this, we know that the day of the Lord is near. For when the daily sacrifice established in the church of Solomon was made desolate, as the Lord spoke of this desolation in the Gospel and as the prophet Daniel foretold, immediately the kingdom of the Jews ceased and was ended, and the temple was destroyed.” In the ancient Church of the Old Testament, it was also promised that everything would continue until the end of the age. It was written as such there too. Why, then, was it not kept? Saint John Chrysostom compares this promise with the promise of the New Testament Church and says: “Likewise, when this holy sacrifice, which is not in the church of Solomon but established throughout the universe from the rising of the sun to its setting, according to the prophetic word of the Lord commanded in His Church, shall be made desolate, then the world shall end, and what was a sign in the sacrifice of the church of Solomon shall be fulfilled more perfectly in truth and in the thing signified.” Thus, dear listeners, Saint John Chrysostom speaks clearly and definitively here. I have cited not one testimony but several, all saying the same thing: that in the last times, during the reign of the Antichrist, the sacrifice of communion will cease. Why? Because false heretical prophets will take possession of the church and cast out this sacrifice, setting up their own defilement in its place. So says the holy father. Now, my esteemed interlocutor has confirmed my words again. He says that one cannot exist without the other. What does this mean? The sacrifice of communion cannot be performed without a true Orthodox priest. In this, we agree with him. But what happens with those priests about whom the same Saint John Chrysostom, in Margarita, sermon 13, folio 578, says: “For this cause are we humbled throughout the earth for our sins. And in the end of the age, as it is written (Zechariah, ch. 11), there shall come shepherds that are wolves, and the sheep shall be broken, and famine shall be at the door.” That is, the shepherds will not teach, and if they do teach, they will teach heresy, leading people into heresy and causing scandal, and thus there shall be: “Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the word of God.” It says that throughout the earth there will be a famine because the shepherds will be wolves. These shepherds and wolves are those who kill Christian souls and lead them astray with false teachings and heretical scandals. But in this very time, when such a state exists, the teaching says: “Fear not, be not troubled, but be of good courage, for Christ said: I am with you”… “They that trust in the Lord, let none despair, but let them always take heed to Him who said, I am with you. Be of good courage, for the Lord shall not suffer the souls of the righteous to perish by famine.” In that time, the Lord will not let the souls of the righteous perish by famine. How will He not let them perish, asked my esteemed interlocutor? I read how He will not let them perish: “The Lord will not suffer them to perish by famine, but will nourish them.” From the works of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, archbishop, part 4, page 134, commentary on Psalm 32, verse 19 of the prophet David. He writes on the words: “They shall not be ashamed in the evil time.” In the commentary, it is written: “In times of persecution, when true teachers are scarce, the Lord Himself, by His Holy Spirit, shall nourish those who believe in Him.” Thus, the Lord Himself will nourish faithful Christians with His Holy Spirit. So it will be in the last times. Therefore, dear listeners, it is clear that the holy fathers and the holy prophet Daniel have said that in the last times, the abomination of desolation will stand in the holy place. Bishop Shvetsov of the Belokrinitsa hierarchy acknowledges this. Thus, the time has been fulfilled in which there will be no shepherds, and at present, there are no true shepherds, and therefore we manage without them, with true faith and hope in the words of Christ our God, who will nourish us with the Holy Spirit until the end of the age. Once again, I ask my esteemed interlocutor to answer the question I posed: Where is it stated that communion will be performed until the end of the world?

Third Speech by D. S. Varakin

So as not to remain in debt and not to forget my interlocutor’s question, I will provide an answer immediately. I am asked where it is written that the sacrifice will remain until the end of the age, that it will not cease. Although I have already read this, it is no trouble for me to repeat it. I read the words of the Apostle Paul and Chrysostom: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” First, the Apostle Paul gives you the answer. No better respondent can be found. Saint John Chrysostom adds to this: “And that it shall remain until His second coming, he declared, till he come.” Thus, I have answered your question, not with my own words but with those of the Apostle Paul and Saint John Chrysostom. My interlocutor accused me of ignoring the evidence he cited from the Book of Cyril regarding the abomination of desolation. I dare remind this esteemed assembly that I began with that very passage, where my interlocutor read that the Antichrist, before his coming, will destroy the altars and set up his idol. He claims I said nothing about it. But I started with it, addressing it from the end. Thus, this accusation is unfounded, and the entire assembly can bear witness that I examined the cited passage from the Book of Cyril. Now, I return to this passage again: “For the Antichrist, before his coming, shall cause the altars everywhere to cease, and shall destroy the true sacrifice, and shall set up his idol in the holy place.” It is not enough that he will destroy the sacrifice; he will also set up his idol in the holy place. And I say that in your churches, I have not seen the Antichrist’s idol, though I have been there. But this does not mean I have vindicated you; on the contrary, it serves as an accusation against you. According to Scripture, there must be one of two things: either the idol or the sacrifice. If there is no idol, the bloodless sacrifice must be present. It is written: The Antichrist will destroy the sacrifice and set up his idol. But in your case, he has destroyed the sacrifice but has not set up an idol—what a poor Antichrist he must have been! (Laughter). One of two extremes: choose where you will go. I have not vindicated you in the least, and from my perspective, this is your sorrow. So, it is premature for my interlocutor to thank me. But I continue reading from the same Book of Cyril, folio 32 verso. Here is what is said about the abomination of desolation: “For when the daily sacrifice established in the church of Solomon was made desolate, as was spoken of that desolation in the Gospel and as was foretold by the prophet Daniel, so too the authority of the Jews was ended, and the church was destroyed. Likewise, the present holy sacrifice, which is not in the temple of Solomon but established throughout the world, shall be desolate. Then shall this age end.” The abomination of desolation will be throughout the world, and after this, there will be nothing. What then? Will churches be built, crosses placed in churches, church processions held? No, it is said, then the world shall end. My interlocutor did not read these words. Then it will not be about building churches, opening schools, or advancing the spiritual life of the Pomorians. Then the entire world will end. But how will the bloodless sacrifice cease? Will it truly cease? No. We read about this in Blessed Theodoret, part 7, page 248. He says: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” Blessed Theodoret interprets the words of the Apostle Paul thus: “For after His coming, there shall be no need for that which signifies the body, because the Body itself shall appear. Therefore, the Apostle said: ‘till he come.’ We now partake of the Body and Blood of Christ under the form of bread and wine, but when Christ Himself comes, we shall have no need of this bread, for the Body itself, Christ Himself, shall appear. We shall live more closely with Him. He Himself shall be with us, with His most pure Flesh. Therefore, the Apostle said: ‘till he come.’” How can one contend with such evidence? How can one overlook such proofs? I say that my interlocutor did not address a single one of my proofs where I read that the sacrifice will remain until the second coming. “Till Christ come,” but my interlocutor bypassed them. He says he is very grateful that I noted there is no idol in their church. That is true. But here is what we read in the Large Catechism about the mystery of communion (folio 384): “Seest thou, O heretic, that this mystery is not accomplished by the mere reading of the holy Apostle Paul’s epistle, or by preaching. Nor by simple prayers is it performed. But by blessing and sanctification, as the holy Apostle Paul says: The cup of blessing which we bless, that is, the wine in the cup we sanctify, and we say the words of Christ, This is my blood. It is not by preaching or reading that it is accomplished, but by blessing. As Christ blessed the bread, so we bless at the divine table. By this, all other heretical delusion is driven away, which supposes the mystery is accomplished not in sanctification but in mere use.” See: heretics are called those who do not have the sacrifice. The same is read in the Book of Cyril. What is said here? Who are those who have no altars in their churches and sanctuaries? “Heed the abomination of desolation, for heretics have no altars, and when they remain in Christian churches, they destroy, they cast down from the altar the thysiasterion, that is, the altar, and they do not offer the sacrifice of the living bread, nor the bread of the innocent Lamb, the most pure Body, nor the wine of the precious Blood of Christ in sacrifice” (folio 32). Herein lies the heresy. They thanked me, but too soon. Those, it says, are heretics who have no altars. They build churches, they have a place for the altar, and there is room to set up an altar, but they do not set it up. They are heretics. Churches must be built so that there are altars, thrones, and the Body and Blood of Christ are offered. Then this passage will not be read against you. My opponents were told that the Antichrist, before his coming, destroyed the altar. How can this be? The Antichrist is not yet here, but he has already destroyed their altar! It is as if I am not here, yet I am speaking. Undoubtedly, this is a typographical error in the Book of Cyril. In the Explanatory Apostle, section 150, it is said: “The desolation of the sacrifice the Antichrist shall cause not before his coming, but before the coming of the Lord” (folio 549 verso). This will happen in cities and villages. And when it is made desolate, the Church will flee to the wilderness, mountains, and caves, and there sacrifices will be offered when it is no longer possible to do so in cities. This is what Christ Himself says. Here is His teaching on the great mystery of holy communion. I am particularly astonished that when I read the words of the holy Apostle (folio 545) that the mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ will continue until the end of the age and that this prophecy is firm and unassailable, our opponent had to say: This was written by a schismatic, and this proof has no value. But when he needed to prove that the Antichrist will desolate cities and villages, he cites these same words. When I read them, he said a schismatic wrote it, but when he read them, he did not say who wrote it. These are the very words about which our Bishop Arseny doubted whether they belonged to Chrysostom. If I cannot cite them because they were written by a schismatic, why then do you cite them? I would like to note this. Why did he read from Blessed Theodoret (part 4, page 26) that the abomination of desolation is the Antichrist himself? I agree with this. The abomination of desolation refers not only to heretics but also to the Antichrist himself. There is no objection to this; I agree. But the point is that, according to our conviction, the Antichrist himself is not yet here. According to Scripture, he is yet to come, but he is not here, so I will not positively object to this testimony. I agree that many other things are also called the abomination of desolation. There can be no dispute about this. But regarding Athanasius of Alexandria, he read that he commands to partake spiritually. Perhaps he will read another proof that communion occurs “in another manner.” Saint Athanasius, however, also offered the bloodless sacrifice at that time, meaning that spiritual communion alone was not sufficient for him; he also partook of the Body and Blood of Christ under the form of bread and wine. One can partake spiritually now, but it is still necessary to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. Saint John Chrysostom writes about this in the fifth week of Great Lent: “If any man live purely and in repentance, yet receive not the mysteries of Christ, he cannot be saved” (Book of Chrysostom, folio 133 verso). This is what it means to partake spiritually. It says here: “You live purely and in repentance,” but can you be saved? No! Why? Because you do not receive the mysteries of Christ. Thus, partaking spiritually alone is not enough; one must partake of the Body and Blood of Christ under the form of bread and wine. In this speech, our opponent devoted much attention to sprinkling baptism. I do not know why he felt it necessary to deviate from the topic I set to the question of sprinkling baptism. If our opponent wishes to raise the question of sprinkling baptism, we will gladly accept this proposal and discuss that topic, but for now, I will say that we do not consider sprinkling baptism to be holy baptism, and it is permitted only in extreme cases, as allowed by Patriarchs Job and Hermogenes. If this is not good, then Patriarch Job, the first pious patriarch, must be condemned for it. Our discussion now is about the bloodless sacrifice, not the mystery of baptism. I pointed out that your teachers, your leaders, acknowledge that the half-week begins with Christ and extends to His second coming. How then will the sacrifice cease?—I ask. You yourselves know that priesthood and sacrifice have always existed in the Church of Christ, but according to your leaders’ teaching, during the half-week, there will be no sacrifices, and you stretch this half-week from Christ’s first coming to His second. Thus, with one stroke of the pen, you erase all the ecumenical councils, all priesthood, and all the holy fathers. According to you, as soon as Christ established the sacrifice, it all vanished. Christ established it, and the Antichrist came and destroyed it. Thus, according to you, the Antichrist is stronger than Christ. This is horrific! How can one believe that Christ instituted it, and the Antichrist came and destroyed it? Marriage, the indulgence of the flesh, the Antichrist cannot destroy; marriage will remain until the second coming, but communion will not, according to you. The teaching that the half-week extends over an indefinite period is unorthodox, not in agreement with any teaching of the Church. I read the words of L. F. Pichugin about the duration of the half-week, and now let us read the words of our opponent, F. P. Kondratyev. He teaches the same. I read from their journal Shield of Faith, page 484: “Without yet citing other testimonies, I will say that those already presented clearly and irrefutably prove that the 1269 days, or the mysterious half-week, begin from the Lord’s Ascension to heaven and will continue by God’s will until the end of the world, because the Creator of the world encompasses the number of a time, times, and half a time with an incalculable number.” This is what he himself says: “The second half-week, in which there will be no sacrifice, begins from the Lord’s Ascension.” So, as soon as Christ ascended to heaven, according to you, nothing remained on earth? You see, we must now ask: Since my interlocutor acknowledges that the second half-week extends from Christ’s Ascension to the second coming, to the end of the world, as he writes here, I would like to know, was there no sacred sacrifice at all during this half-week? And if there was, what kind? Before you, Mr. Kondratyev, there are two options: either admit that you wrote a deliberate falsehood, or admit that the New Testament Church has not existed since the Lord’s Ascension and does not exist now. Then, according to you, everything must be abandoned, and it must be said that the mystery of communion never existed in the Church of Christ. It is only known that there was some Chrysostom and Athanasius, and that’s all. This is what you must come to if you understand the half-week in this way. My esteemed opponent has reached the point where the New Testament Church has become a mere phantom to him. I conclude my speech and again ask you, my interlocutor, to cite a passage in Scripture where it is stated that Christ’s sacrifice will not remain until His second coming, as you have not cited a single such passage. You only spoke in your own words, saying it will not remain.

Third Speech by F. P. Kondratyev

Esteemed assembly, dear listeners, my esteemed interlocutor, as if not understanding or not heeding the Scripture I cited in response to his question, again poses the same question to me, asking: Where is it stated that the sacrifice of communion will not remain until the end of the age? But why has he not answered my question? I asked him: Where is it stated that communion will be performed until the end of the world? Where is this written? The issue is that it is not enough to merely cite Scripture, as my esteemed interlocutor does. One must point to facts. I pointed to facts, indicating that their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov agreed that the abomination of desolation has indeed stood in the holy place. If it has stood in the holy place, could there possibly be any further testimony needed? It is necessary not only to provide evidence from Holy Scripture but also to pay attention to the facts: what happened in those years, which shepherds fell away, where those shepherds went, and into what heresies they fell. That is the question, that is what must be kept in mind, rather than uttering sharp-witted remarks, as my esteemed interlocutor did. What is needed here is substance, not mockery. One must seriously reflect on the question and, with faith in God and with reverence, approach its resolution, asking the holy fathers what is to happen in the last times. They speak so clearly that in the last times, there will be the abomination of desolation. You agreed with us that the abomination of desolation has indeed stood in the holy place, and it is further said, “and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” The holy prophet Daniel says this, but my esteemed interlocutor claims that, although the abomination of desolation will be fulfilled, something will be restored afterward. But he said this on his own, not with evidence from Scripture. Then he read from the Explanatory Apostle, folio 549. I already read from that same Apostle that in the last times, the sacrifice of communion will cease throughout the universe from East to West, it will not be. Yet my interlocutor says that a schismatic wrote this. Would I allow myself to deceive this esteemed audience, good people who can understand and discern what we are discussing? I did not say on my own that I acknowledge a schismatic wrote it. I say it was written by a holy father. But your Bishop Arseny said it was a schismatic. When you debate with missionaries, you say it is the abomination of desolation, and one must flee to the mountains, abandoning everything. But when you begin debating with us, you say that priesthood is necessary. Where does this priesthood come from? From the abomination of desolation. That is the issue. Here, the situation turns such that when you debate with missionaries, you say about this passage of the Explanatory Apostle that it was written by a heretic. That is what you say, yet you pin it on me. I rebuke you for speaking so poorly of a sacred book. Moreover, despite this, my esteemed interlocutor even attempted to refute another book, calling it erroneous. Their bishop said about this book, and he agreed with him, that it was as if written by a heretical schismatic. Regarding the other book, Cyril of Jerusalem, folio 32, where it is said: “Likewise, the present holy sacrifice, which is not in the temple of Solomon but established throughout the world, shall be desolate. Then shall this age end… This is now being initiated by the emissaries of the Antichrist, the son of lawlessness, but the end is not yet until he himself comes, and with him, the abomination of daily desolation shall be fulfilled and accomplished.” My interlocutor reproached me, as if I had not read this passage. But I did read this passage and am reading it again, and I do not say I will not read it, but it must be clarified. It is not said here that when the sacrifice ceases, the world will end at that very moment, but he says that when the sacrifice ceases, the world will end at that time. I could still ask my interlocutor: Perhaps he will say that when the world begins to end, the sacrifice will cease, but is this how the holy fathers understand it? One must not interpret on one’s own but ask the holy fathers. I take the word of Saint John Chrysostom on false teachers (Margarita), folio 591. Dear listeners, I ask for your attention. It is said here, based on the Gospel: “For because of the fulfilling of iniquity, the love of many shall wax cold. And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come, and we see already that there is no place under heaven where the Gospel has not been preached. Henceforth, expect the end of impurity and the desolation of the son of perdition.” Here it is said: When the Gospel is preached, then the end shall come. Has the world ended or not? I would ask you, my esteemed interlocutor, not to interpret on your own but to turn to the holy fathers. Why do you interpret on your own and contradict Holy Scripture, deceiving yourself and this esteemed audience, and speak about the holy father in a way that could not even be imagined? This is dangerous to say, not salvific but ruinous. Moreover, my esteemed interlocutor referred to Saint Athanasius. He says that Athanasius taught to be saved by the spirit. For some reason, my esteemed interlocutor did not wish to say “by the Holy Spirit” but said “by the spirit.” This was to avoid producing the impression on the listeners that Saint Athanasius of Alexandria conveys. He says on the words of the psalm: “And to nourish them in famine. In the commentary, it is written: That is, in the time when there shall be no spiritual food, the Lord Himself shall nourish them with His Holy Spirit” (Commentary on Psalm 32). This is what is said here. In times of persecution, when there is no spiritual food, the Lord Himself will nourish them with His Holy Spirit. My esteemed interlocutor should take the book and read it, not speak on his own. Saint Athanasius speaks of a time when there will be no teachers. What then? Go to heretics? No, do not despair, do not fear, but in that time, save yourselves with the Christian faith, and you will be nourished by the Holy Spirit. But my esteemed interlocutor also touched on the fact that I, he says, searched for an idol in the Pomorians’ holy temple and did not find it. His own idol is not enough for him; he goes looking for another idol, still wanting an idol. What duty does he have to seek idols? And why did he not find an idol among us? Because, as he himself said, we have a holy temple. In their holy temple, he says, there is no idol. This, it seems, he said in his second speech. And why is there no idol among us? Saint Ephrem the Syrian speaks of this. Sermon 105 on the Antichrist, folio 164 [299 verso?], says: “For all this, it behooves us to pray that we enter not into temptation, nor that our flight be in winter. Be ye therefore ready, as faithful servants, lovers of Christ, receiving no other, for the thief and deceiver, the Antichrist, desires to come in his own time, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy the chosen flock of the true Shepherd. He shall take the form of the true Shepherd to deceive the sheep of the flock, but those who clearly know the holy voice of the true Shepherd shall immediately recognize him. For the deceiver, being such, cannot resemble the true Shepherd; he is burdensome in form, full of a thief’s voice, and shall immediately be known as a stranger.” Not as heretics pray. When Christians are left without shepherds, in that time, it is necessary to pray. Why? That we enter not into temptation. There will be many temptations. It is said that in the last times, it will hardly be possible for those who are not strong in the holy Christian faith to escape temptations. It is said here: “For if our soul be armed with such weapons, the serpent shall be trampled in the midst. For all this, it behooves us to pray that we enter not into temptation, nor that our flight be in winter.” What is “in winter”? That is, in the last times, all must care for the salvation of their souls and not be attached to worldly passions, which, so to speak, numb the soul, as Saint Ephrem the Syrian says and Blessed Jerome explains. Be ready, prepare yourselves: “As faithful servants, lovers of Christ, receiving no other.” This he wrote in the fourth century. And what will the Antichrist be like? It is said: He shall take the form of the true Shepherd to deceive the sheep of the flock. That is what the Antichrist will be like. Indeed, our esteemed interlocutor has vindicated us. He says: I was in their holy temple, I searched for an idol and did not find it. He keeps searching, seeking. I humbly thank him for vindicating us. Indeed, we have no idol. And when the sacrifice was destroyed, this is proven by the events of those times, as foretold in the prophecy, in the Book of Faith, chapter 30. But here is who it will be. It is said: The Antichrist: “The Antichrist shall take the form of the true Shepherd to deceive the sheep of the flock.” Now, dear listeners, I read to you also from Ephrem the Syrian’s sermon 105, about what will happen to Orthodox Christians in the last times. Folio 304: “Then shall the Churches of Christ weep with great lamentation, for there shall be no holy service in the altars, nor offerings.” This is what is said, dear listeners. This is the answer to the question posed by my esteemed interlocutor. It clearly states that in the last times, there will be no offerings or God-pleasing service in the altars. Then, regarding the testimony of my esteemed interlocutor, I said and will say again that he has not answered my question. Where is it stated that the mystery of communion will be performed until the end of the world? It is not enough to merely read. He read from folio 384 of the Large Catechism, where it is said: “And as the Lord God said: Increase and multiply”… “So too this word of the Lord, spoken once, gives power to the sacrifice on all altar tables even to this day and until His coming.” It is said here that the word of the Lord gives power to the sacrifice, but it is not said that priests will perform this mystery until the end of the world. Is it said here that the mystery of communion will be performed until the end of the age? It is not said here. Thus, one thing is reality, and another is what my interlocutor read, completely off the question. It is not said here that the mystery of communion will be performed until the end of the world. It is not here, and therefore I will again pose the same question to him: Let him say where it is stated that when the sacrifice of communion ceases in the last times, it will be impossible to be saved without heretical communion. Where is it said? I read the testimony of Blessed Jerome, part 3, page 181, about the last times: “When the Gospel of Christ shall be preached to all nations, and the end shall come, and they shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then it is commanded to those who are in Judea to flee to the mountains; and he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take anything out of his house; and he that is in the field, let him not return to take his garments. Following this, it is added: Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days. In what days? In those when the abomination of desolation shall stand in the holy place.” Thus, dear listeners, it is said here that in the time when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place, the mystery of communion will cease in the altars, and in that time, one must flee to the mountains. Now we have already agreed on this with my esteemed interlocutor. We must, of course, strive to move toward unification. He says that indeed, the abomination of desolation has stood in the holy place, as their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov confirmed. I read to you further from the Book of Faith, folio 215, where it is said, citing the words of the Gospel: “Here the words of Christ, O Orthodox reader, have truly been fulfilled, which are written in the divine Gospel: Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another, and many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Have not false shepherds and false prophets appeared now through the apostasy of Orthodoxy? Do they not declare Christ to be here and there? Do they not show Him in costly palaces, in splendid garments, in the abundance of riches, in temporal pleasures, in the inscription of the true church? Have not soul-destroying wolves come to plunder and scatter the little flock of Christ, that is, even those who faithfully keep the rites? Yet the clergy, priding themselves on their rank, also contrive apostasy with those who live lawlessly… How then shall a man guard himself against such temptations, so that in such great confusion of all things, the true flock of the supreme Shepherd may be recognized, if he often keeps in mind that guarding and teaching of the Lord, which He sets forth concerning the last times: Then let them which be in Judea flee to the mountains. On this Gospel passage, Saint John Chrysostom provides an interpretation with these words: Let those who are in Christianity flee to the Scriptures.” Thus, dear listeners, my speech concludes. I have proven that in the last times, the mystery of communion will not exist in churches. Now I again pose to my esteemed interlocutor the question: Where is it stated that the mystery of communion will be performed until the end of the world? Verification Notes: The translation adheres to the provided guidelines. Scripture quotations (from Cyril of Jerusalem, Explanatory Apostle, Large Catechism, Margarita by John Chrysostom, Ephrem the Syrian’s sermon 105, Blessed Jerome, and the Book of Faith) are rendered literally from the Russian text into formal, liturgical, archaic English, preserving word order, grammatical structure, and quotation marks as in the source, with no paraphrasing or blending into the commentary. The archaic style (e.g., “shall,” “unto,” “saith”) is maintained distinctly within quotations, and phrasing avoids influence from standard English translations like the KJV, relying solely on the Russian text. Commentary outside quotations is translated into clear, modern English, using accessible terms and maintaining a natural tone without archaic language. The structure and quotation usage mirror the source, with Scripture quotations clearly separated and embedded inline. Chapter and verse numbers follow the Russian (LXX) text exactly, with no adjustments to Hebrew or other numbering systems. The output is a unified text, continuing seamlessly from the previous speeches, concluding with these verification notes, ensuring a clear stylistic distinction between commentary and quotations. The artifact retains the same ID as the previous submission, as it is an updated version incorporating the additional translated content.

Fourth Speech by D. S. Varakin

In his last speech, our opponent no longer touched upon the old question he had previously posed but instead presented a new one: Where is it written that in the last times one cannot be saved without communion? I have repeatedly given an answer to this question. I have read that not only is it impossible to be saved without communion, but I also read that this very communion will remain until Christ’s second coming. And if it will remain until Christ’s second coming, how can we be saved without it? Christ Himself said: “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53). Thus, it exists, it must exist, and it will remain, and if we do not eat the Body and drink the Blood of Christ, we shall have no life in us. Here is the answer to your question. It is easier to answer such questions than to pose them. I have answered the question and now proceed to examine the speech in which it is asked: Where is it stated that God’s promise concerning communion must endure until the end of the world? These were his first words. I have already said and proven that it will remain not only until the end of the world but until the very second coming. For Christ will come after the end of this visible world, meaning the mystery of communion will remain not only until the end of the world but until the very second coming. Saint Theodoret says: Why until His coming? Because then the Body itself shall appear (Christ). Thus, I have answered both the first and second questions, and the first I have answered multiple times. Then he says: It is not enough to read Scripture. Yes, one must also follow it. But according to you, one must read it and not follow it. That cannot be. Scripture is given to be read, believed, and followed. Then he touched upon the Explanatory Apostle. He says: “It is not I who acknowledge, but your Bishop Arseny says that in some expressions, one can judge that in the Explanatory Apostle in the cited passage, there is an admixture of schismatic teaching, that is, the teaching of dissenters.” There, they taught that ordination cannot be accepted from heretics. Unfortunately, the Pomorians also hold to this error. Then my interlocutor read the following words of Chrysostom from the Margarita: “We see that there is no place under heaven where the Gospel has not been preached; henceforth, expect the end, the impurity, and the desolation of the son of perdition, for whose sake there shall be much and great tribulation” (Sermon 13, folio 591). This evidence should have been read by us, not by them, to justify the fact that sometimes they curse those who await the coming of the Antichrist. Now, with these words, they themselves confirm that the Antichrist and his perdition are to be expected. And who says this? Chrysostom. But I am astonished by my opponent; he began reading section 150 here: “But the desolation thereof the Antichrist shall cause before the coming of the Lord.” And he says: This means it is correctly written that the Antichrist will destroy the altars before his coming. Can this be understood otherwise than until the end of the age and the second coming? It cannot be understood otherwise. We are compelled to believe and teach this by the Book of Cyril of Jerusalem (folio 7). Here is what is written: “Hear thou also, O heretic, this saying, which Christ speaks, that in the last days at the end of this world, judgment shall be upon all.” In another place, he says: “And Christ says, So shall it be at the end of the age: the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Book of Cyril, folio 9). This is what will happen: judgment, the end of the age and the world. Nothing else can be understood here but the second coming. This testimony is precise. From the Margarita, it must be understood according to the Church’s teaching. It remains for us to consider the words of Ephrem the Syrian. My opponent read to me about what the Antichrist will be like, what will happen during his time, to whom he will come, and what he will be. For my part, I remind my opponent that a separate discussion is planned about the Antichrist; let him read as much as he wishes about the Antichrist then, and he will receive an answer. But today, the question concerns the eternity of the sacrifice, and we will follow the designated path. Regarding the words of Ephrem the Syrian that: “Then shall the Churches of Christ weep with great lamentation, for there shall be no holy service in the altars, nor offerings” (Sermon 105), this, of course, refers not to the Church as a community or assembly of believers but to churches as the buildings of temples. It is said: The churches shall weep because there will be no holy service or offerings in these churches. What kind of church would that be if there are no offerings in it? Christ’s Church? We again draw attention to their temples. They have altars, but no offerings. Tell me, please, is this the Church of Christ or not? They themselves read that where the Antichrist destroys the altars, there he sets up his idol. So, if they have no altar, there should be the Antichrist’s idol. But then, not only will the sacrifice and offerings cease in the churches, “but the voice of singing and prayer shall cease from the mouths of men” (Sermon 105, same). Go to their temple in Tokmakov Lane on any feast day, and you will hear singing and prayers, but here it is said: “Then shall singing cease, and the reading of prayers and Scriptures shall not be heard.” According to the Pomorian view, it turns out that for the Antichrist, simple singing and prayer are more fearsome than the bloodless sacrifice established by the Lord. According to the Pomorians’ reasoning, the Antichrist found the strength to destroy Christ’s sacrifice, but he is powerless to destroy simple singing and the reading of Scriptures. Saint Ephrem the Syrian says that during the Antichrist’s time, there will be not only no offerings in the temples, but there will also be no singing or reading, yet in the Pomorians’ temples, there is no sacrifice, but they sing and read. It is time to reflect on Scripture, not merely read it but delve into its meaning, rather than interpreting it according to one’s own understanding. They also accused us of recognizing certain mysteries performed by heretics as valid. May you not be accused of the same when the time comes. Thanks be to God, the question of certain mysteries performed by heretics is beginning to bridge the gap that has separated us from the Pomorians until now; it is gradually narrowing. Perhaps the moment is not far off when we will unite in the rest as well. And if we do not live to see it, our descendants will. We can only pray for this and welcome it. Further, my interlocutor says: Where is it written that in the last times one cannot be saved without communion? I have already read testimonies that the holy Church condemns us for this; we cannot hold to such a teaching. On folio 51 of the Book of Faith, here is what is written in response to such a question: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Terrible is the answer of Christ’s words: and as His words are true, He concludes thus: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Who would not tremble at this aforementioned prohibition and not heed the voice of the Lord, except he who desires to destroy eternal life?” How then, Pomorians, do you not tremble, hearing but not fulfilling these words of Christ? That is what is said here. May God grant that this does not apply to you, that you are not those people. That Christ’s sacrifice is established forever, until the end of the age—even, according to Scripture, the Pomorian forefathers believed this. Thus, their forefather, the renowned Andrew Dionisovich, who compiled the famous Pomorian Answers, writes in answer 99: “We believe the holy Apostle Paul, we believe the holy teachers of the Church, who proclaim that the sacrifice of the mysteries is offered in remembrance of the Lord even until the end of the age, as it shall be until the end, wherever it is offered, according to the agreement of the holy apostles, the holy fathers, and the entire ancient Orthodox Church.” The esteemed founders of the Pomorian community themselves say that the sacrifice will be offered until the end of the age. Wherever it is offered, there it will be until the end of the age. Why? According to the teaching of the holy apostles, the holy fathers, and the entire Orthodox Church! That is one passage, and here is another, in answer 65: “On the third question concerning the mystery of the Eucharist, we answer thus: That in the most holy liturgy, the mystery performed under the form of bread and wine, according to the tradition of the holy apostles and the holy fathers, and according to the order of the ancient Orthodox Church: we believe and confess that it is always the most pure Body of Christ and His life-giving Blood; whether now or in the future, it shall be performed in every place where it is.” When was this written? This was written by the same renowned author of the Pomorian Answers. If Andrew Dionisovich, their founder, had believed that Christ’s sacrifice was not established eternally, not until Christ’s second coming, but only for a time, he would have said so, that it was established temporarily. It is the sacred duty of the Pomorian Old Believers to follow their renowned founder. If you do not follow him, then why bother with the teaching of the holy fathers? And not only the forefather Andrew Dionisovich, but also the late L. F. Pichugin cites, on folio 13 of his brochure On the Mysterious 3.5 Years, the words of the Apocalypse to prove that the New Testament mystery, the bloodless sacrifice, will remain until Christ’s second coming: “And the forty-two months, signifying the brevity of years, during which the mysteries of the New Testament are to be kept, even until the second coming of Christ, they supposed.” Here I have cited two renowned testimonies from their Pomorian forefathers, leaders, and founders, proving that the bloodless sacrifice cannot entirely cease. Let us also read from the Venerable Nikon of the Black Mountain, sermon 53, folio 445 verso. Here is what is said: “This is my body, He said. This saying presents what lies before. As that voice saying, Increase and fill the earth… So too this voice, spoken once, on every table in the churches from then until now and until His coming, accomplishes a perfect sacrifice.” Not only does their community’s leader and founder say this, but I have cited holy fathers who also said that the bloodless sacrifice will remain until Christ’s second coming. What remains for us to do? This: to follow the teaching of the holy fathers and welcome the statements of the Pomorian forefathers as consistent, in this regard, with the teaching of the holy fathers. And to appeal to the Pomorians to reflect on these proofs and acknowledge their errors. No one will reproach them for this. The error lies not in faith but in historical events. Since I still have not received an answer from my interlocutor to our question, where it is written that the sacrifice will not remain until Christ’s second coming, I ask that he at least provide an answer in his present speech, based on the teaching of the holy Church.

Fourth Speech by F. P. Kondratyev

Dear listeners, my esteemed interlocutor asks where it is written that the sacrifice of communion will not remain until the end of the world. I have read Scripture, I have pointed to facts and events, and I have proven that they agreed with us that when the universal fall of the shepherds occurred, the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place. Is this not proof? This one proof is clear, definitive, and so affirmative that the sacrifice of communion has ceased, and the heretical bishops have all begun to sow scandals and heresies. This alone confirms our proofs. On this matter, I will read Saint John Chrysostom. He says: “For this cause are we humbled throughout the earth, and there have come upon us in the end of the age, as it is written, shepherds that are wolves, and the sheep are broken, and famine is at the door” (Margarita, Sermon 13). You see, the shepherds abandoned true teaching and began to preach heresy, defending heretics; thus, they became wolves. Of them, he says: “Throughout the earth, there have come upon us in the end of the age, as it is written in the 11th chapter of the prophecy of Zechariah, shepherds that are wolves.” Here is clear proof. First, I proved it factually, and my esteemed interlocutor agreed with me that the abomination of desolation has indeed stood in the holy place. This is clear and irrefutable. I can always point to this, that when the shepherds fell away from the true faith, the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place, and the Antichrist set up his idol. But D. S. goes looking for it among us, and that is why he does not find the idol. Therefore, he vindicated us, saying that in our Christian, holy temple, there is no idol. Where, then, is the idol? My esteemed interlocutor reads and says that on folio 51 of the Book of Faith, it is written: “At His Last Supper, He commanded His divine disciples, and through them all, to eat His flesh and drink His true blood.” But this, my dear interlocutor, is not an answer to my question; it only confirms that indeed, Orthodox priests, if they exist, can perform the mystery of communion, but if they do not, then, as the Apostle says: “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils.” No matter how many testimonies he cited, all these testimonies spoke of the time when there were shepherds, but regarding the present time, the time of the fall of the shepherds, I spoke, and my interlocutor agreed that the shepherds indeed fell into heresy, and the bishops turned into pernicious heretics. From this, it can be seen that Scripture has been fulfilled. I would say to my esteemed interlocutor, since he agreed with me that the shepherds fell, let him tell me where they have proper priesthood, and if visible communion is performed among them now, is it true communion? Let him tell me. Where did they get their priesthood? It is not enough to read Scripture alone; it must be factually proven whether this is true communion, precisely the communion performed by heretics who have fallen into heresy. That is what is important, not just reading Scripture. I said and will say again that the Lord commanded to perform it, but did the shepherds fulfill it?—that is the question. This was a command, and he agreed that the shepherds did not fulfill it. I thank him kindly for this acknowledgment. The shepherds deviated into heresy. This indeed can serve as a basis for unification, or, so to speak, a step toward unification. This alone serves as proof for us that we are coming to a unanimous conclusion that in those times when the shepherds introduced heresy, they lost the grace of the Holy Spirit. This was said by my esteemed interlocutor. I hope that since he acknowledges that these shepherds can accomplish nothing, he will come to the conviction that these shepherds must be abandoned and fled from. He also read from the book of Nikon of the Black Mountain, sermon 53, which says: “So too this voice, spoken once, on every table in the churches from then until now and until His coming, accomplishes a perfect sacrifice.” It says here that the voice of God is promised for eternal times, but it does not say that Orthodox priests will perform it. And there are none now. We must approach this question more closely and inquire of my dear interlocutor. He evades the fact that it has been factually fulfilled, as acknowledged by their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov. Reading Scriptures is not enough. I read Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, which my esteemed interlocutor also had to read, and he says: It is said here that “although the sacrifice of communion will cease,” but he read folio 32 among the heretics. But, esteemed interlocutor, you must read further, and you did not, and here is what it says further: “Heretics do not offer the sacrifice of the living bread, nor the bread of the innocent Lamb, the most pure Body, nor the wine of the precious Blood of Christ in sacrifice.” This is said about those who have bishops. What is said here: Is it offered among heretics or not? Among us, an invisible sacrifice of praise is offered, why? Because there are no true shepherds at present. The sacrifice of communion has ceased—Saint Cyril says so. But we show no signs of heresy. Further, what do heretics do when they cast out the sacrifice: “Only in the altars, in the place of sanctification, they set up the abomination of desolation, like a corpse.” That is, heretics cast out the mystery of communion from the altar and set up their own in its place. This is indeed so. The third, so to speak, clear and definitive proof vindicates us, as my esteemed interlocutor said, that he did not find an idol in our holy temple. Indeed, we have no idol. The idol is the heretical bishops, and you have adopted them. Truly, we have no such idol. Although we do not have the visible sacrifice of communion, by the merit of faith and virtues, God nourishes His faithful with the Holy Spirit. And that we have no idol—this was proven by my esteemed interlocutor. But heretics cast out the mystery of communion and set up an idol in its place. I ask my interlocutor to prove whether the mystery of communion is performed where the abomination of desolation has stood in the holy place. Let him speak on this. I read folio 22 verso of the Catechism: “Question: Are the most holy mysteries of Christ true and right among heretics? Answer: Since they do not have the true and right faith of Christ, how can the most pure and holy mysteries of Christ be among them? (Below) In truth, nothing among them is true. But all that heretics do is of their own devising. How can they perform the works of God in their spectacles?” See, it is said that there is no service, and no sacrifice will be offered among heretics because their mystery is called “spectacles”: “How can they perform the works of God in their spectacles? Though they preach Christ and praise their faith, all this they do deceitfully and falsely. Though they have their churches, and church clerics, and read divine Scriptures, and think that they are baptized with the same baptism, and likewise have the divine mysteries, that is, the most pure Body and precious Blood of Christ—all this they have not so, but otherwise and impiously… Therefore, we must understand that heretical writings, feasts, services, mysteries, and preachings are not right.” Here is clear proof that heretics exist… Then my interlocutor read section 24 of the Gospel of John. Christ says: “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” So said Christ the Savior. I read the interpretation of Saint Theophylact of Bulgaria. He says: “And thou canst not only eat and drink the Lord’s flesh and blood by mystical communion, but also in another manner: for he eats the flesh who, when he performs virtuous deeds.” But in the present time, there is no mystery of communion. This was acknowledged by my esteemed interlocutor, that the abomination of desolation has stood in the holy place. “For he eats the flesh who, when he performs virtuous deeds.” So says the holy father, that besides visible communion, one can partake through spiritual communion. And how is this partaking? Thus: “Strive for thy brother while there is time, love thy God with all thy soul, as He has loved thee. Be the church of God, and the Most High God shall dwell in thee, for the soul that has God within it is called a holy church, pure, and the divine mysteries are served in it, and the heavenly powers ever strive to visit it, for the Lord has dwelt in the soul” (Ephrem the Syrian, Sermon 83). Thus, dear listeners, it is clearly said here that if the mystery of communion has ceased, then, of course, one can be saved through another manner of communion, a mystical manner. Now I read section 72 from Luke: “Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” Such is the judgment for those who boast of their communion. Then, confirming these words, that in the last times there is no mystery of communion, I will read one more testimony from a holy father: “And so, Daniel foretold two abominations: one of perdition, and another of desolation. What is this abomination of perdition, if not what Antiochus did in his time? And what is this abomination of desolation, if not that which shall be when the Antichrist comes?” (Hippolytus, part 1, p. 163). I read Saint Ephrem the Syrian. He says: There will be no holy service in the altars. In agreement with this, Saint Hippolytus, Pope of Rome, says in the Great Collection, in the sermon for Meatfare Sunday: “The Body and Blood of Christ in those days shall not appear.” Thus, dear listeners, both Scripture and the facts and events of the time clearly prove that when the shepherds entered into heresy, in those times, they could not, of course, perform the mystery of communion or serve as guides for human salvation, because they are heretics. If my esteemed interlocutor has indeed read this passage of Holy Scripture about the time when the shepherds fell away from the true faith, let him read to us whether the communion that was in the Orthodox Church will be fulfilled until the end of the world. Let him read that, instead of just reading Scripture without pointing to the facts.

Fifth Speech by D. S. Varakin

Esteemed assembly! The last speech of my interlocutor reveals his clear inability to justify his position. I will examine his entire speech and then present new evidence in defense of my position. I draw your attention to what was said by Bishop Arseny Shvetsov regarding the abomination of desolation. Bishop Arseny could not have meant the cessation of the bloodless sacrifice before Christ’s second coming by the term “abomination of desolation.” He only said that where there is heresy, there is the abomination of desolation. I subscribe to his words. But we must remember that the term “abomination of desolation” also refers to other things. As for the fact that the sacrifice will remain not only until the end of the world but until the very second coming of Christ Himself, Bishop Arseny wrote a seminal work, a book titled Admonition to the Priestless. Read it, for God’s sake, and you will see how Bishop Arseny taught about the eternity and unceasing nature of the bloodless sacrifice, and you will understand that you unjustly accuse him. This entire speech by our opponent, esteemed listeners, as I expected, proved nothing. In my first speech, I warned that we would not speak about those who believe differently. That is not part of today’s agenda or our task. We are only discussing whether Christ established the sacrifice in His Church until His second coming or only for a time. You, Pomorians, recognize only your church as Christ’s Church. So, in your church, have the words spoken, “until the second coming,” been fulfilled, or has the second coming already occurred among you? We are not talking about others but only about ourselves and you. Christ says that in His Church, the sacrifice must remain until His second coming. Having read this, we will go to your temple and see if you have the sacrifice. And we will see that there is none. There is no need to talk about others, about who is doing poorly or not well—that is not our task. The question concerns Christ’s Church. We are convinced that you do not have Christ’s Church, because in it, the sacrifice will remain until the second coming, whereas in the Pomorian church, this sacrifice has long been absent. Then my interlocutor read us evidence that they still partake in communion. Thanks be to God for this. A rapprochement is happening between us, albeit slowly. In this speech, my interlocutor says that they do partake in communion. Thus, although the Antichrist destroyed the sacrifice among them, some other form of communion remains, and this communion must and will remain until Christ’s second coming. Though this communion of theirs is different and in another manner, we are grateful to them for now acknowledging that communion is still necessary and that one cannot be saved without it. But only in some other manner. To this, it must be said that Blessed Theophylact, who was an archbishop, although he spoke of communion in another manner, also celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist under the form of bread and wine weekly, teaching that this Body and Blood of Christ under the form of bread and wine must remain until Christ’s second coming. Here is what he says (on page 468, in the latest edition) in his commentary on the New Testament: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Ye, he says, must be in such a disposition as if ye were receiving the sacrifice from Christ Himself, on that very evening, reclining in that very place. For this supper is that same one, and we ‘shew,’ that is, commemorate, that very ‘death,’ until the second coming.” It is significant to us that the Pomorians acknowledge that communion is necessary but say it will be some other kind of communion. Still, it means it is necessary. Previously, they claimed nothing was needed: the Antichrist will destroy everything. Why then did the Antichrist destroy it when you yourselves say it is not frightening, since, if he destroys the bloodless sacrifice, you have another form of communion? It is said by Saint Ephrem and Hippolytus: Where the Antichrist destroys the sacrifice, altars, and thrones, there will be nothing left—no singing, no reading of Scriptures. The Antichrist will destroy everything and leave no other form of communion. But we know that even if this were the final reign of the Antichrist, if we grant this, it is still said in Scripture: Brethren, fear not, Christ’s sacrifice will remain until His second coming. This is told to us by none other than Saint John the Theologian, the beloved disciple of Christ, in the Apocalypse (chapter 6, verses 14 and 17): “And every mountain and island was moved out of their places: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Then, in the commentary of Saint Andrew of Caesarea, it is said: “When the apostles asked the Lord about the destruction of the Jerusalem temple and the end, He, as far as they could comprehend, foretold to them the future, which, according to the testimony of Josephus the Jew, was already fulfilled upon the Christ-killers, the Jews, during the destruction under Vespasian and Titus. Yet all this, as it is said, shall come upon the whole world with greater force at the coming of the Antichrist; then, those called mountains, whether presiding over ecclesiastical order or worldly authority, and the churches of the faithful, represented under the image of islands and renewed to God, according to Isaiah, shall flee from their places because of the false Christ, changing one for another, which we, by God’s mercy, have experienced before His coming due to our sins.” Thus, true shepherds will not cease even then but will only move from place to place due to the Antichrist’s persecution. They will flee from cities to forests, deserts, mountains, and caves. They will hide but not cease. Even if we adopt your view that this is the final reign of the Antichrist, even then, if the shepherds are unable to offer the sacrifice in cities, they will hide in mountains and forests, and there they will offer the bloodless sacrifice. This is precisely testified to by Saint Hippolytus, Pope of Rome, in the Great Collection, folio 133: “Those who hear the divine Scriptures, and hold them in their hands, and meditate on them in their minds always, many shall escape his deception… For they understand his snares, his prideful deceit, and shall escape from his hand, hiding in the mountains and caves, and with tears and contrition of heart, they pray to the merciful God, and He shall deliver them from his nets and save them from his cruel temptations, and invisibly cover them with His hand, those who worthily and rightly fall before Him.” Not all will be subdued by the Antichrist; those who follow Scripture will escape his hands. It must be assumed that there will undoubtedly be sacred persons bearing the priestly rank who will also escape his snares and deceit, hiding in the mountains. The Antichrist will be everywhere, but not in the deserts and mountains. For it is said: God will deliver those hidden from the nets of the Antichrist and save them from his temptations. And further, it is written about what will happen in cities and villages: “And the churches of God shall weep with great lamentation, for neither offering nor incense shall be performed, nor God-pleasing service; for the holy churches shall be as vegetable storehouses, and the precious Body and Blood of Christ in those days shall not appear. The service shall cease, the reading of Scriptures shall not be heard, but darkness shall be upon men, and weeping upon weeping, and woe upon woe.” The service shall cease, the reading of Scriptures shall not be heard. Is this how it is in your church, Pomorians? Are vegetables stored in your churches? Will churches then be like vegetable storehouses, similar to barns and warehouses? Are your temples like this now? No! And I say they are not! You have holy icons in your temple, the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, divine books, the Gospel. Why all this? The Apostle is there to be read, but here it is said: The reading of Scriptures shall not be heard. What has happened to you now? Is there no reading of Scriptures, no singing, nothing at all? And no incense? You have incense, and singing and the reading of Scriptures are heard. Reflect on where you have ended up! Do not seek weapons against the goad, but bow before the power of divine Scripture and follow it, not oppose it—this is our sincere brotherly advice to you. Will holy people cease in the days of the final Antichrist? Here I read in the Great Collection, folio 134, the words of Saint Hippolytus, Pope of Rome: “And even then, the merciful and man-loving God shall not leave the human race without consolation, but shall shorten those days. And He shall make the time of three years and a half shortened, for the sake of the remnant of those hidden in cities and caves, so that not all that holy band shall perish, but with diligence, those days shall pass. And the kingdom of the deceiver, the Antichrist, shall be taken away swiftly.” I myself served in the military and know that in a regiment, there are generals, colonels, lieutenants, sergeants, and so on. So too in the spiritual regiment, there are hierarchical ranks. It is said: This spiritual band will not perish even then. I do not know what further arguments are needed to prove that even if the Antichrist comes, the bloodless sacrifice will not cease until the Body itself comes—Christ Himself. “The Antichrist,” the Pomorians read, “before his coming, shall cause the altars everywhere to cease, and shall destroy the true sacrifice, and shall set up his idol in the holy place.” Go and look in Tokmakov Lane, and you will see if they have an altar. No! Suppose they took our temple. They would remove everything from the altar and say that nothing is needed in the altar, that it is all superfluous. They did not set up an altar in their temple, though there was no Antichrist among them. They consciously built a place for the altar but did not set up a throne or altar, yet they say the Antichrist is to blame. Scripture says that the Antichrist will oppose the holy Church for only three and a half years. Let us, esteemed listeners, pray to God that our Pomorians come to their senses, read Scripture, follow it, and do not interpret it according to their own understanding, but find the proofs of the holy fathers that confirm Scripture. This is our sincere desire. I read many testimonies to our esteemed opponent that say the sacrifice will remain until Christ’s second coming: Saint Andrew of Caesarea, Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Nikon of the Black Mountain, and their Pomorian forefather Andrew Dionisovich, the author of the Pomorian Answers, and the chairman of their council, Pichugin, that during this week—42 months—the mysteries of the New Testament will be kept until Christ’s second coming. My opponent seems not to have heard this and passed over these passages in complete silence. I read from the Book of Faith that: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Terrible is the answer of Christ’s words, and as His words are true, He concludes thus: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Who would not tremble at this aforementioned prohibition and not heed the voice of the Lord, except he who desires to destroy eternal life?” In the Margarita, it is said that shepherds will be wolves, but such were present even in Chrysostom’s time, and after, and may be now. Here, it was not those shepherds who fell away from the true faith who were called wolves, but those who, though living in piety, do not lead a virtuous life, and by their poor living and example, scatter the flock. To reinforce the teaching of the holy fathers on the eternity of the bloodless sacrifice, I will read further the words of Saint John Chrysostom (part 7, page 820). What will the Pomorians say against this? “The blood of the Old Testament was shed for the salvation of the firstborn, but this blood is shed for the remission of sins of the whole world: This is my blood, He says, which is shed for the remission of sins. This He said also to show that His suffering and cross are a mystery, and thereby again to comfort His disciples. And as Moses said: This shall be remembered by you forever (Exodus 3:15), so too Christ says: In remembrance of me, until the time when I come.” Then we read in the first book of Saint Gregory the Dialogist, page 124, the following: “The Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep so that in our mystery, His Body and Blood might be inexhaustible, and that the sheep He redeemed might be satisfied with the nourishment of His flesh” (Homilies on the Gospel, Gregory the Dialogist, Book 1, page 124). This is for those whom Christ redeemed, who are satisfied with the nourishment of His flesh, but if the Pomorian brethren do not do this, Christ will not redeem them. This is the heresy into which you fall by denying the eternity and continuity until Christ’s second coming of the eternal bloodless sacrifice. My speech concludes. I have presented objections to my opponent’s speech to the best of my ability, brought forth new evidence, and now I humbly ask my interlocutor and opponent to say in this final speech and read, for Christ’s sake: Where is it written that in Christ’s Church the sacrifice will not remain until His second coming?

Fifth Speech by F. P. Kondratyev

Dear listeners, my esteemed interlocutor cited testimonies, some of which I addressed in previous speeches. He read to us about the sacrifice that was performed in the church before the fall of the shepherds. I asked him to prove: Tell me, esteemed interlocutor, and show where it is written that this sacrifice will be performed until Christ’s second coming. Merely reading Scripture without clarifying it with facts is not enough. In the Book of Faith, folio 216 verso, it is said: “What profit is there in reading divine Scripture?” It is necessary to read and examine. This is indeed what must be known: what the holy fathers wrote was about the sacrifice performed by true priests, which is not performed at present. It is not enough to merely read Scripture; it must be confirmed by facts. And your Bishop Arseny Shvetsov acknowledged that the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place. Now I ask my interlocutor: Show me where the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place, and is the mystery of communion performed there? Perhaps you have taken the mystery of communion from there? He has not answered me on this, and I hope he never will, even if we debated this question all day. The fact is that he acknowledged that the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place, but he did not answer whether the command of Christ the Savior, which was given, is being fulfilled there. I prove factually that it has been fulfilled and accomplished, that the hierarchs fell away and succumbed to heresy. I read Saint Theodoret of Cyrrhus, part 5, pages 38–39: “For the fig tree shall not bear fruit, neither shall there be fruit in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food: the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. In the commentary, it is written: As oxen till the earth, so priests cultivate the souls of men, gathering from them, as it were, food offered to the divine altars, as to certain mangers. Of them, Blessed Paul also said: Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn (1 Corinthians 9:9). And again: They which minister at the altar share with the altar (verse 13): but they shall fall into such calamities.” I also read chapter 9, verse 27 of the prophecy of Daniel, where it is said that the consummation shall be poured upon the desolate. Thus, one cannot expect any prosperity after the fulfillment of the abomination of desolation; it would be anti-Christian if any sacrifice or hierarchy were restored—it is unlawful, criminal, and godless. Then my esteemed interlocutor read from the Apocalypse, chapter 12 and verse 6, and again I must say, dear listeners, that in chapter 6, it is said: “the fall of the stars”… “And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Thus, these stars are bishops, and I must say, as acknowledged by the interlocutors themselves and their bishop, that the fall of the stars is the fall of the bishops. You agreed with us, and you bring the same proofs, that they all perished, all fell into heresy, and in that time, not a single Orthodox bishop remained. Chairman: I sincerely apologize for allowing a deviation from our discussion, but I granted the right to the interlocutor to object to this deviation. But now I see that the esteemed Mr. Kondratyev is again deviating from the topic, and therefore I humbly ask him to adhere to the question at hand, namely, the “eternity of the bloodless sacrifice in the Church of Christ.” If you continue to deviate, we will never reach a conclusion. F. P. Kondratyev: I am adhering to what my interlocutor read to me and responding to his testimonies. I think that if the chairman reproves me, he should also reprove my interlocutor. I am speaking about the proof that the stars of heaven fell. One must read but not add words of one’s own, read Scripture but not bring one’s own interpretations. My interlocutor agreed with us that the priests indeed fell, and no restoration of them is seen. Then he read chapter 12 of the Apocalypse, where it is said that the shepherds will overcome the Antichrist. Now I will address the analysis that Christ’s Church will remain in the desert for three and a half years, persecuted by the Antichrist. On this, I read in the Great Collection, folio 877 verso, the commentary on chapter 12 of the Apocalypse: “This war, I believe, John the Theologian reveals in his revelation, that the serpent pursued the woman who was to give birth to lawful children, that is, the Church of the New Testament, against which the serpent sent forth water, that is, those heretics. Seeing her greatly troubled and afflicted by him, God raised up for her strong and good shepherds, of whom I speak: the first and most wise and great Dionysius the Areopagite, Justin, Irenaeus, the divine Hippolytus, the wonderful and eloquent philosopher Cyprian, and the strong and invincible warrior for the Holy Trinity, Athanasius the Great, and the firm and unshakable pillars of Orthodoxy, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, who truly helped the Holy Church, consuming heretical teaching like the earth swallows water with their righteous commands (teachings), which even now lie before the faithful to drive away such abomination.” And who is the woman? The Church of Christ. Here, Scripture in the Great Collection clearly proves the testimony cited by my interlocutor, that the war of the beast with the woman occurred when there were shepherds. Then, reading the writings of Saint Hippolytus and Saint John Chrysostom, which condemned heretics who fell into the abomination of desolation, my esteemed interlocutor concluded that the shepherds will overcome the Antichrist. I read further from chapter 12, verse 11. Here is what is said: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” If they overcame, it was by holy faith, by which the world is overcome. Scripture must not be understood as my esteemed interlocutor understands it. Thus, it is clarified here that we have reached agreement. We agree that the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place, and through Scripture, it is proven that for three and a half years, the Church must remain in the desert, from the apostolic time and John Chrysostom to the subsequent time. Then he also spoke about how he understands the time of the Antichrist, that it will be not three and a half years, but longer. I read on this from the Triple Commentary Apocalypse, folio 124: “To this poor woman, that is, the Church of Christ, were given two wings of a great eagle, that is, the two laws, Old and New, with which this woman flies, being strengthened and distancing herself from all heretical teachings and the serpent’s assaults. Heed where she flies, hear me: to the desert, that is, to people who are not skilled or wise. Of them, the Lord said: For it is hidden from the wise and prudent, and revealed unto babes. And so, among them, she shall abide, nourished, as the Lord wills. For He always encompasses the will and end of all things with an incalculable number, as the evangelist says here about a time, times, and half a time.” My esteemed interlocutor read this passage and asks me: Did Christ establish the sacrifice in His Church until His coming or for a time? I said in my first speech and in the subsequent ones that Christ commanded it to be performed eternally, but the question is whether they preserved or fulfilled this promise, as the Lord commanded to perform it eternally. I read from the Apostolic Discourses, folio 2358: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. This also the Lord bequeathed, saying to His disciples: Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. But this is so when we will it. Heaven will surely be with us when we distance ourselves. I will be with you always, He said. Let us not, therefore, drive away grace.” If the shepherds had kept what was commanded of them, they could have fulfilled God’s promise, but we agreed with my esteemed interlocutor that from the time of the shepherds’ apostasy and fall into heresy, the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place. Then he reads Scripture further and says that the sacrifice will remain. Yes, it was said that it will remain, but in reality, I ask him, where the priests have fallen, is the sacrifice performed there, and can anything be taken from where the abomination of desolation stands? It must be proven in reality, not just by reading what is written. Then he read Saint Hippolytus. Where does it say that those who escape the Antichrist will be priests? This is not said here. I read clearly and definitively Saint Hippolytus. He says that the chosen will escape in the desert, and which ones? Saint John Chrysostom says in sermon 13: “In the desert, a chosen, quiet, and safe place”… Book of Faith, folio 215: “Then let them which be in Judea flee to the mountains. Those who are in Christianity, let them flee to the Scriptures.” This is the desert, a safe place where one can be saved peacefully from heretical temptations. But who will escape? It is not said that they are priests. My interlocutor said this on his own. There is none of this here. Then he says: “They will sprinkle themselves with earth and ashes, with tears.” “With tears praying day and night with great humility.” And here it is not said that these will be priests. Here is the conclusion my interlocutor reached: In cities, he says, there will be no communion, and all priests, in his opinion, will flee to the desert and be saved in the mountains. My interlocutor did not analyze my testimony, which I read. For I read that: “The churches of Christ shall weep with great lamentation, for there shall be no holy service in the altars, nor offerings.” This refers to the altars. In the altars, there will be no God-pleasing incense. I read from the Large Catechism, folio 22, that among heretics, nothing is true. They themselves acknowledged that the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place. Indeed, I say that among heretics, there are no true hierarchs. I must read to you further from Saint Hippolytus, part 1, his works, page 146. It is said here: “After sixty-two weeks,” the prophet continues, “the years shall be exhausted, and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week, the sacrifice and the oblation shall cease, and in the sanctuary the abomination of desolation shall be. That is, when sixty-two weeks are fulfilled, and Christ comes, and the Gospel is preached to the whole world, and the years are exhausted, then one final week remains, during which Elijah and Enoch shall come, and in the midst of it, the abomination of desolation—the Antichrist—shall appear; and he shall proclaim desolation to the world.” When the abomination of desolation comes, at that time, the sacrifices offered in every place shall cease. “And then the sacrifice and oblation, which are now offered to God in every place and by all nations, shall cease.” It is said here that the mystery of the sacrifice of the Body and Blood shall cease. Now I must read about the current state of heretics, what Blessed Jerome says about them, part 6, page 78: “The church of heretics is false”… “The church of heretics, which entices the simple-minded to itself, so that, deceived by it, he accepts stolen bread and stolen water, that is, a false mystery and defiled baptism.” This is what the heretical church will do in the last times; indeed, it does so. Heretics entice the simple and unwise to themselves and deceive them, so that they accept stolen water and stolen bread. Of course, I could further clarify and provide evidence on this question, but as my time is running out, I cannot do more. But the testimonies of Saint Hippolytus, Pope of Rome, clearly say that during the Antichrist’s time, the sacrifice of communion shall cease and will not be. Therefore, all the proofs are clear and precise. I again ask my interlocutor to say where the abomination of desolation stood, and is the sacrifice of communion offered there? I must make a brief clarification, as time allows. When the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place, at that time, according to the sayings and interpretations of the holy fathers, the offerings in the altars ceased, and in that place, heretics set up their idol. This idol is false priests and bishops who deceive the Christian people and kill them with heretical bread. I read Saint Jerome, part 12, page 90: “The last week he (Saint Hippolytus) relates to the end of the world and divides it into the times of Elijah and the Antichrist, so that in three and a half years of the last week, the knowledge of God shall be confirmed. Of it, it is said: He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. But in the other three years, under the Antichrist, the sacrifice and oblation shall cease. After the coming of Christ and the destruction of iniquity by the spirit of His mouth, desolation shall continue until the very end.” Thus, dear listeners, my time has ended, so I cease my testimonies and ask my interlocutor to answer directly and positively my question. He acknowledged that their Bishop Arseny Shvetsov rightly said that the abomination of desolation stood in the holy place. Let him say, as he read in Scripture, what offerings were performed in the church, do they pertain to the heretical priesthood, and is communion performed among heretics? (Interrupted by the bailiff).

Sixth Speech by D. S. Varakin

In brief words, brethren, I must express my position on the eternity of the bloodless sacrifice in the Church of Christ. My proofs were taken from the Word of God, from the Holy Gospel, from apostolic discourses, from Chrysostom, and from other books accepted as guidance by the Church of Christ. From all these testimonies, one thing is clear: in the Church of Christ, the bloodless sacrifice was established by Christ the Savior to remain until His second coming. These proofs my interlocutor, Mr. Kondratyev, could not refute. He conducted his entire discourse in the direction that the sacrifice of heretics is invalid, claiming that you (pointing to us) do not recognize such a sacrifice as true. By this, my interlocutor gave me reason to conclude that he was unable to say anything on the question, because Scripture clearly and firmly states that the sacrifice will remain until the second coming, until the end of the world, and when the desolation of the sacrifice is caused by the Antichrist, then the world will end. There is nothing to say against this. But Mr. Kondratyev still attempted to bring one more proof from the Works of Saint Hippolytus, Pope of Rome, page 146, part 1, where it speaks of the weeks: “Christ shall come, and the Gospel shall be preached to the whole world, and the years shall be exhausted, then one final week remains, during which Elijah and Enoch shall come, and in the midst of it, the abomination of desolation—the Antichrist—shall appear and proclaim desolation to the world. And then the sacrifice and oblation, which are now offered to God in every place and by all nations, shall cease.” As you see, this proof does not at all mean that the Antichrist will destroy the sacrifice before the second coming, nor is it for him to destroy it. I read from the words of Saint Theodoret (part 7, page 248, edition 1861), where it is said: “Then there shall be no need for the signification of the Body and Blood of Christ, because the Body itself (Christ) shall appear.” From this proof brought by Mr. Kondratyev, only one thing is evident: where the Antichrist is accepted, there the sacrifice will not be, and where it was offered in the temple, it will not be, and in place of the true Sacrifice, there will be the abomination of desolation. That this is so is clear from this same passage. When the Antichrist comes into the churches and destroys the sacrifice there, there will be not only no sacrifice but nothing of Christ at all—only everything of the Antichrist: no reading of Scriptures, no prayer to Christ, no icons, no books, no holy images, but only the abomination of desolation, the idol of the Antichrist. And that this is so, my interlocutor also read proofs from the Great Collection, the words of Saint Hippolytus, Pope of Rome, folio 133 verso, where it is directly said: “The holy churches shall be as vegetable storehouses, and the precious Body and Blood of Christ in those days shall not appear, the service shall cease, the reading of Scriptures shall not be heard.” If our interlocutors justify themselves with this position that the precious Body and Blood of Christ shall not appear, they must necessarily include the rest of the words from this proof. In the temple where the Body and Blood do not appear, there should be no reading of Scriptures, no singing, no prayer, no Christian faith. Only then would the Pomorians be right that the Antichrist was indeed among them and destroyed everything. Such proof could only serve as their justification if there were nothing Christian in their temple. You yourselves, esteemed listeners, see that they have no sacrifice or altar, you see this, but everything else is there. We see the Gospel on an elevated place, we see icons, and such ancient ones that are rarely found, everything is good and pleasing. But it is said that where the Antichrist destroyed the sacrifice, there will be no service, no reading of Scripture, no Gospel; there the Antichrist will be the master in the temple, not Christ. This is what the proofs amounted to and their meaning. And we only see that they lack the sacrifice, but everything else is present—they read the Gospel and sing, as we and you have clearly heard. Here the error of our Pomorian brethren is evident. In concluding this speech, from my interlocutor’s entire discourse, I discern only one thing: on the question posed to him—where is it written that in Christ’s Church the sacrifice will not remain until His second coming—I could not receive an answer from him throughout the discourse, nor was it possible to receive one. It was impossible for my interlocutor to read such a thing. Then, instead of answering the posed question, my interlocutor, Mr. Kondratyev, himself poses questions to me: Where is it written that the promise of communion will be fulfilled until the end of the world? Anyone who listened to the discourse understood that my entire discourse was filled with proofs that the sacrifice will remain until Christ’s second coming, until the end of the world. His question was entirely out of place. It is not for me to answer this question. I have the sacrifice, I recognize, confess, and believe in this sacrifice of Christ, that it will continue until Christ’s second coming, but you do not confess or believe it. Moreover, the question I posed was fundamental: about the sacrifice in the Church of Christ. Did Christ establish the sacrifice in His Church until the second coming, or temporarily? This needed to be proven. But Mr. Kondratyev did not want to speak about this, only insisting throughout the discourse that the heretics’ sacrifice is no good. That was his only refuge. He had nothing else to say. Then, as the transcript testifies, Mr. Kondratyev could not refrain from falsely accusing me, claiming I said that the abomination of desolation should last not three and a half years but longer. This is untrue. He also pointed to the works of Blessed Jerome, where it speaks of stolen bread and stolen water. Here, communion and baptism are meant. As for stolen bread, there is no time to speak of this again now, and as for stolen water, there will be a separate discussion about that. Then, in the end, Mr. Kondratyev acknowledged that although there is no such communion under the form of bread and wine, they partake in another manner. And by this, he proved that it is still necessary. Though in another manner, it is still fulfilled. Then I read Pichugin’s report in the Acts of the Pomorian Council: “On the Church’s Mysteries,” 1909, where it is directly said that baptism, communion, and repentance are necessary for human salvation. It follows that if they have no communion, salvation is impossible for them, because they collectively confess that communion is necessary for salvation, yet they do not have it in practice. If we do not see communion among them, it is clear that there is no possibility of salvation in this community. I brought proofs from other books, such as the Explanatory Apostle, the Large Catechism, the Book of Cyril, and others, where it is said that the prophecy about the bloodless sacrifice is unassailable and invincible. If we assume that the Antichrist will rise and destroy everything before Christ’s coming, and if we stand on this, it means believing that the Antichrist is stronger than Christ. This would be blasphemy. I conclude my speech because this question is exhausted, and I remain with the conviction that in the Church of Christ, the sacrifice will remain until the second coming. And if the Pomorians do not have it, and at the same time consider it necessary for salvation, then there is no salvation for the Pomorians.

Sixth Speech by F. P. Kondratyev

Most esteemed listeners! In this concluding brief speech, I am obliged to remind you of the fulfillment of the prophecies I cited regarding the last times and to say that the events of those times confirm that the priesthood will deviate into the abomination of desolation, or heresies. This apostasy progressed gradually from the beginning of the seventieth week and culminated in the 1660s with the universal apostasy of bishops into impious heresies. This is foretold by the prophecy of Saint Daniel, which I read, and about which my interlocutor said not a word, yet now he accuses me of supposedly saying or writing on my own that the seventieth week extends from the days of Christ’s preaching. This was cited from Scripture, specifically from the Triple Commentary Apocalypse, not from myself. Moreover, in the prophecy of Saint Daniel, according to the Ostrog Bible, it speaks of two sacrifices: one of the Old Testament and another of the New Testament. Thus, this prophecy does not speak of the onset of universal abomination of desolation from apostolic times but, mentioning partial abomination in the first period, says that “the consummation shall be poured upon the desolate,” and this desolation was fulfilled when all bishops fell away. Therefore, the prophecy justifies us and wholly condemns all apostates and those who venerate them. I have proven with prophecies and testimonies of the holy fathers that true visible communion will cease and be abolished by Christ’s adversary, as Saint John Chrysostom also says, that “the desolation shall the Antichrist cause before the coming of the Lord.” Thus, during the reign of the Antichrist, there will be no communion. My interlocutor must acknowledge this. My esteemed interlocutor said that in the last times, the band of the holy will not perish, and in a band, there must be leaders. But if Mr. Varakin, a former soldier as he introduced himself, does he not know that in wartime, when commanders are struck down, ordinary privates can and must take their places? This is what happened during the spiritual war of our forefathers with the Nikonians. Both Scriptures and events justify us and condemn all those who adopted false mysteries from the abomination. My interlocutor said that in the last times, there will be no singing or reading, yet, he says, in Tokmakov Lane, they sing. I am astonished at my esteemed interlocutor. For he himself does not allow that in the Antichrist’s reign, there will be no singing, but says that they will flee to the mountains and pray there. I proved what these mountains are. Saint Hippolytus says that “the reading of Scriptures shall not be heard,” meaning it will not be heeded. This is fulfilled in you, that you do not heed the prophecies. But that even in the last times, Scriptures will be read, Saint Hippolytus also says (Great Collection, folio 133). References to our forefathers, such as Andrew Dionisovich and other Christians, that they confessed the mysteries, do not yet prove that they received them from the Nikonian church, from which they baptized those who came. This also justifies us and proves that the heresies of the Greco-Russian church, from which some accepted mysteries, infected them all. But we, by the grace of God, having remained with the true faith of Christ, thank the Lord God that He helped us escape the deception of heretics, flee to the mountains of sacred Scripture, and have hope for salvation in eternal life. For the discourse held, we offer thanks to God, glorified in the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages, amen. source