To Papa-Karan on the crisis in the world

Saint Nicholas Velimirovich

Don’t ask, man of God, where the present crisis comes from and what it means. Who am I that you should ask me about such a great mystery? Saint Gregory the Theologian says, ‘Speak when you have something better than silence’. But, although I think that silence is now better than any speech, out of my love for you I’ll set out what I think regarding what you asked me.

‘Crisis’ is a Greek word and means ‘judgement’. It’s a word that’s used often in Holy Scripture. Thus, the psalmist says: ‘This is why the impious shall not stand in judgement’ (1, 5). In another place he also says: ‘I will sing to you of mercy and judgement’. Wise Solomon writes that ‘every judgement is from the Lord’ (Proverbs 16, 33). The Savior himself said: ‘but all judgement he has given to the son’ (Jn, 5, 22). A little later he said: ‘Now is the judgement of this world’ (Jn. 12, 31). Saint Peter wrote: ‘For it is time for judgment to…