St. Nikolai on Cleansing Man’s Nature
“In order for the old to pass and for the new to come; for the rust to turn into shiny steel; for the heaps of dirt accumulated on mankind to be cast into the abyss, for all this a power was required, a power that is beyond human, along with an inconceivably great love for creatures that were despised even by themselves. There was no such power, or love, or courage on earth. It had to come from the heavens. And it came. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). Thus the Son of God came down from heavens, “God’s power and God’s wisdom” in order to revive the deadened world by His love.
The earth shook twice because of Christ’s love. First, when He died on the cross in His torments in order to redeem mankind from sin and death. Second, when, having liberated the prisoners of Hades, He resurrected in splendor and glory. Those two quakes happened and passed. But the quaking of human hearts caused by His fiery love has gone on, initially through the first battalion of His apostles and myrrh-bearers and then through the armies of His followers throughout the ages and all over the world. Aflame with the love of Christ, His former persecutor exclaimed concerning the loss of former things, “and I do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3: 8).”
– ‘Missionary Letters Vol 2’