Page:The way of Martha and the way of Mary (1915).djvu/134

112 Simon Stylites, standing on the pillar when he might have been doing "useful work in the world," was a podvizhnik.

The hermits of the Thebaid were all doing podvigs—renouncing the world.

Father Seraphim, who took an oath of silence and was silent thirty-five years—proving in himself that silence was golden—accomplished a great podvig.

It is difficult in Russia to carry on a discussion of any point of religion without coming to a consideration of this idea of the podvig. For instance there is a saying in Russia, "Blessed is he who can escape and yet chooses to take the punishment the world would give him." A story is told in Russia that when Jesus was stretched on the cross many of those who had accepted his doctrines were in great distress not knowing that this had got to be; but they said among themselves, "You will see: there will be a miracle. I wouldn't be in the place of these stupid and brutal Roman soldiers for worlds. You will see He will step off the cross, and amaze and conquer the world." And in their anxiety and excitement they cried out: "Save thyself." Pessimists whispered to one another sad thoughts, "Alas, alas! has it not always been so in the world's history; mankind has stoned the prophets of God. Now He is going to die, to perish miserably, and the whole new movement will be ruined. People who never saw Him work miracles will say He was a charlatan, and that He