IS IT EASY TO FORGIVE ARCHPRIEST SERGIY BARANOV

QUESTION. A churched person who is near and dear to me cant forgive one of his parents for many deep psychological traumas. He stopped praying and fasting, seeing no point in it. He is tortured by recollections and thoughts, How can you say Lord, have mercy and forgive me, when you, a hypocrite, havent forgiven someone yourself. You have no right to pray and confess. And he cant forgive as his health is ruined and he has no joy and sees no point in life. ANSWER. People have neither life nor spiritual experience. They read the Lives of the Saints and somehow concluded that they can do it easily. The Ancient Lives of the Saints are written in such a special manner that it seems there were only miracles, but no hard work, tears, blood, and angelic patience. They are sometimes too idealized and unreal. While reading the Lives of our New Martyrs you can feel that they are real. Those people really suffered much for Christ, they were always on the edge, close to despair. Nevertheless, they stuck t