From This Day... Let Us Love God Above All! - St. Herman of Alaska

The story of St. Herman’s most well-known saying. This great man of God traveled from his monastery in Valaam to share the gospel of Christ with the native Alaskans, established the light of Orthodoxy in the hearts of countless souls, and forever changed North America.

The text comes from the "Treasury of Spirituality" of St. Herman of Alaska, sections of which are found in various places online and originally published in The Orthodox Word. See selections here:
https://orthochristian.com/38612.html

📖 The Life of St. Herman
https://orthochristian.com/47984.html
📖 St. Herman's Life and Service
https://www.sainthermanmonastery.com/...
📖 _ Father Herman: Alaska's Saint_ by F.A. Golder
https://www.sainthermanmonastery.com/...
🎧 The Way of a Christian - St. Herman of Alaska (Treasury of Spirituality I-IV)
   • The Way of a Christian - St. Herman o...  
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodox-world.org/
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
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Once the Elder was invited on board a frigate that had come from St. Petersburg. The captain of the frigate was a man quite learned, highly educated; he had been sent to America by Imperial command to inspect all the colonies. With the captain were some 25 officers, likewise educated men. In this company there sat a desert-dwelling monk of small stature, in an old garment, who by bis wise conversation brought all his listeners to such a state that they did not know how to answer him. The captain himself related:
"We were speechless, fools before him!"
Father Herman gave them all one common question: "What do you, gentlemen, love above all, and what would each of you wish for his happiness?" Diverse answers came out. One desired wealth, one glory, one a beautiful wife, one a fine ship which he should command, and so on in this fashion. "Is it not true," said Father Herman at this, “that all your various desires can be reduced to one — that each of you desires that which, in his understanding, he considers best and most worthy of love?" "Yes, it is so," they all replied. "Well, then, tell me," he continued, "can there be anything better, higher above everything, more surpassing everything and in general more worthy of love, than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who created us, adorned with such perfections, gave life to all, supports all, nourishes and loves all, Who Himself is love and more excellent than all men? Should one not therefore high above all love God, and more than all desire and seek Him?" All began to say: "Well, yes! That is understood!” "That speaks for itself!"
"And do you love God?" the Elder then asked. All replied: "Of course, we love God. How can one not love God?" "And I, sinful one, for more than forty years have been striving to love God, and cannot say that I perfectly love Him," answered Father Herman; and he began to show how one should love God. "If we love someone," he said, "we always think of him, strive to please him, day and night our heart is occupied with this subject. Is it thus that you, gentlemen, love God? Do you often turn to Him, do you always think of Him, do you always pray to Him and fulfill His holy commandments?" It had to be acknowledged that they did not! "For our good, for our happiness," concluded the Elder, "at least let us make a promise to ourselves, that from this day, from this hour, from this minute we shall strive to love God above all, and fulfill His holy will!" Behold what an intelligent, superb conversation Father Herman conducted in society; without doubt this conversation must have imprinted itself on the hearts of his listeners for their whole life!
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