It is true that in the upper room of Zion, where the Apostles were gathered on the day of Pentecost, "there came a sound, as of a rushing mighty wind" (Acts 2:1). Yet this breath harmed no one, but only drew everyone's attention to the Apostles.
It is true that at this there appeared "divided tongues, as of fire" (Acts 2:3). Yet these tongues burned no one, but rested in peace and stillness upon the heads of the Apostles.
Where, then, are the fire, blood, and vapor of smoke? Where is the darkening of the sun? Where is the turning of the moon into blood?
Thus one might think that the prophecy was not fulfilled. But is it possible that what was foretold by the Holy Spirit should not be justified in deed?
No. What was proclaimed by the prophet could not fail to be fulfilled. It was fulfilled, only not in one day, so to speak, but over the course of an entire span of time.
For this prophecy, though it properly applies to the most glorious descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as the beginning of the New Covenant, also embraces more than this one event and beginning. It also embraces the further destiny and establishment of the whole New Covenant.
"And I will give a New Covenant." How decisively all this was fulfilled several years later, at the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Judea.
How much blood, fire, and smoke there was then! How many times, because of that gloom and fire, neither sun nor moon could be seen on the horizon of Jerusalem!
All these terrible events served no other purpose than to abolish the Old Covenant and establish the New Covenant in power. Consequently, they were like the accompaniment of its manifestation.
The same may be said of certain later times, for example the time of Diocletian, when the last struggle of Christianity with Judaism and paganism came to an end.
Were not all the inhabitants of the empire, which was almost the same as the whole world, aflame then with fierce persecution against the followers of Christ?
Did not streams of the blood of martyrs and confessors flow everywhere? Did heaven not give special signs? Did dreadful events not occur on earth?
And what did all this serve, if not the final establishment of the New Testament religion and the destruction of Judaism and paganism?
To our own time it has fallen to see a new triumph of Christianity in the weakening of Mohammedanism before it. This is therefore, as it were, a new outpouring of the Spirit of truth and grace from above upon the earth.
And see, behold again signs in heaven and wonders on earth. Again everywhere there is blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun of the Christian power is turned into darkness, and the moon of Mohammedanism is drenched in blood.
Indeed, who could have expected whole armies in full armor to appear in the sky? Nothing like this had been heard since the destruction of Jerusalem and Josephus's narrative of it.
And now enlightened Germany sees this very thing in its own sky, to its amazement. It sees and involuntarily acknowledges in what it has seen a foretoken of bloody wars.
Read also what happened at the end of last summer with the appearance of the moon in our Volga regions. It seemed to be undergoing some terrible punishment, as though ending in torments and pains. Such transformations of its appearance were terribly mournful.
But I confess that, amid present circumstances, one sign on earth especially strikes me. This is the terrible earthquake from which unfortunate Bursa has suffered and continues to suffer.
It had to be that the subterranean fire should open in all its force and fury, and continue so long, at the very time when a bloody dispute between Mohammedanism and Christianity is under way.
It had to be that a volcano should open in that city and that place which may be called the cradle of Muslim strength and might.
It had to be that all this should take place not somewhere far away, but, so to speak, before the eyes of Constantinople.
How many, I think, even among the Mohammedans, look upon this spectacle with horror, recognize in it the finger of God, and think they see in it heavenly wrath over themselves.
Oh, if only at this there came to their mind another thought: that this is not some chance event, but the final voice from heaven to them of the Son of Mary, that they may return from the delusion of Mohammed.
And our brothers in the faith? They too must be struck by this fearful and all-crushing manifestation. Yet for them it is not for terror, but for consolation.
The words of prophecy are now being fulfilled over them: "When you see these things taking place" (Lk 21:3), then "look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Lk 21:28).
Yes, unfortunate brothers, and for that reason still more beloved, it draws near to you. No one has the power to stop it or delay it.
Where men act, one may still doubt success. But where the power of God appears, there is no place for doubt. For He "spoke, and they came to be; He commanded, and they were created."
But will someone ask: must the end of Mohammedanism really follow soon? Must it follow when almost the whole Christian West has risen in defense of its indestructibility and resolved to sacrifice itself?
Yes, my brethren, this must follow. For so it is pleasing to the Lord. One may say that it has already followed, for Mohammedanism is now nothing but a corpse that remains to be buried.
It is this burial, and not a life that no longer exists, which may be delayed for a certain time.
What, then, should be said in this case about the efforts of the Western powers in favor of Turkey?
The same thing that is rightly said of skillful but self-confident physicians. In a fit of pride, they take hopeless patients into their own hands and promise them recovery. When the patient soon dies from the medicines, people say they killed him.
The decrepit skeleton could have lived for some time yet beneath the beneficent shelter of Russia. But it could not endure those strains of strength, or those motions unnatural to it even in the time of its vigor, which they forced its weakened limbs to make.
Since we have been placed, my brethren, as witnesses of such remarkable times and such important events, shall we resemble little children? They do not understand what is happening before them, but only marvel at it and stretch out their eyes and hands.
No. More is required of us, and more lies before us.
Before us is falling the kingdom of Ishmael, once powerful and for so long the terror and scourge of Christianity.
How can we not rejoice at this for the lot of our fellow brothers, over whom this scourge weighs? How can we not stand in reverence before the ways of Providence?
Providence sent this enslavement as punishment for Eastern Christianity. Yet when the time came, before the face of the whole world, Providence itself broke the bonds and led His faithful people into freedom.
To our Fatherland it has been granted from above to begin the fulfillment of higher judgments over the East. Since we are sensitive to this great and holy honor, let us be courageous in bearing the burden of such service.
Let us remember that such an undertaking brings with it no small reward. It will be accompanied by blessing for Russia unto ages and generations.
The unbelief and pride of the Western peoples did not hesitate, by standing for Islam, to go against the ways of Providence. Thus in this case they have, as it were, foolishly joined their own destiny to the destiny of the sons of Hagar.
Let us grieve from the soul over this fall of Christianity. Let us learn not to entrust ourselves to earthly wisdom and elemental enlightenment.
These can blind whole peoples so far that they are ready to forget the Gospel and the Cross, and to lay down their souls for the Koran of Mohammed.
Finally, seeing that in the destiny of kingdoms and peoples everything is accomplished not according to the calculations of human self-love, but under the finger of the Most High, let us firmly believe in the Providence of God.
Let us see that even earthly greatness is joined to Christianity, while abasement and weakness are joined to Mohammedanism. Let us love the Cross of Christ, the one faithful source not only of eternal salvation, but also of earthly well-being. Amen.
THEOSIS