Bishop Alexander (Mileant)
Alexander Vasilievich Mileant
(22 July 1938, Odessa – 12 September 2005, California) - bishop of Buenos Aires and South America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
Bishop Alexander is well known for his missionary leaflets.
From 1985 to 2005 Bishop Alexander published a total of 763 brochures: 300 in Russian, 192 in English, 168 in Spanish and 103 in Portuguese.
Our personal experience convinces us that this inner voice, called conscience, is not under our control but expresses itself spontaneously in spite of our will.
In addition, just as we cannot persuade ourselves that we are full when we are hungry or that we are rested when we are tired, similarly we cannot convince ourselves that our behavior is correct when our conscience tells us otherwise.
In the words of Christ regarding the «indestructible worm» (Mark 9:48), the Fathers of the Church see the guilty conscience that will punish sinners in the future life.
The Russian poet A. S. Pushkin very vividly described these torments in his dramatic play «Miserly Knight:»
"Conscience –
A sharp clawed animal, which scrapes the heart;
Conscience – an uninvited guest, annoying discourser,
A rude creditor..."
In a different drama, «Boris Godunov,» Pushkin again recreated the sufferings of a guilty conscience, placing in the mouth of the king Boris the following words, «...Yes, pitiful is the one in whom conscience is foul!»
Original quote
Quotes from Russian saints
