Definition

Podvig

The word podvig does not have an English translation. A podvig embodies an undefined yet understood mystical nature in Orthodoxy, especially in Russian Orthodoxy, literature, and life, albeit it is not limited to Russian Orthodoxy.

In the first few sentences of Peter Henry's Imagery of podvig and podvizhnichestvo in the Works of Garshin and the Early Gor'ky [1] the author gets to its definition quickly.

    The cornerstone of Russian spirituality is the podvig (selfless, ascetic, heroic exploit). Especially religious in origin, it has been defined as the heroic deed, the rejection of 'the world' as illustrated supremely in the Lives of the Saints; such as it richly engrained in the Russian ethical and cultural tradition. In modern usage, the concept and term have been largely secularized and frequently distorted and yet their religious content has never been fully eroded. In its broadest sense, the podvig is the supreme expression of allegiance to a lofty, generally altruistic, ideal; smireniye (humility) and self-denial are its vital elements. A person's entire life may be viewed as podvizhnichestov (asceticism, selfless devotion to a cause) . . . the podvig has always been marked with kenotic [2] and selfless connotations - voluntary sacrifice, self-humiliation, and martyrdom. 

Taking podvig to its greatest ascetical meaning, it is generosity, love, kindness, an "all in or nothing" attitude, the ability to face oneself honestly, humbly, and then with the grace of God, if the preceding is pursued, one falls in love with Christ.

The "all in or nothing" attitude is exemplified in John 21:15-17 when Jesus asks Peter,  "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Modern biblical translations cite Peter as saying, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." [3] But when we look at the original Greek, what Peter truly says is "philO -- I-AM-beING-FOND | I-am-being-fond-of [you]." [4]  At the point described in John's text, Peter was fond of Jesus. That Jesus understood Peter's hesitancy is also evident earlier in John 13:38, "Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times." Peter was, at both points in time, "not all in." On the contrary, Peter's podvig - his quest - was to continue to the Pentecost.

When Jesus asks us, "Do you love me?" it becomes an "all in or nothing" situation. Only by engaging in a podvig, a quest, a selfless, ascetic, heroic exploit to pursue God can we become one with Him.

That is why our "About" page states: We firmly believe that, in these times of turmoil or in any time past, present, or future, we cannot become masters of the faith, but must be mastered by the faith given to us by our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Orthodox Christian values must never be abandoned.

That is our podvig. He already loves us without limit. Do we love Him? Yes or no? There is no third answer.

Back to St. John . . . the Passion begins by drawing us into the mind and heart of Jesus: “[He] knew that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end.” [5] Will we?

One more thought.

"The Elder Cleopa from the Sihastria monastery, who is now in the process of canonization, had the habit of recommending patience as the greatest virtue. He would say, “Patience! Patience!” harder and harder, many times.

"People would say, “But Father Cleopa, how long?” He would say, “Not so long — just until the grave.” After that, you will see the beauty that the eye hasn’t seen and ear hasn’t heard, and your heart has never felt. Those beauties are eternal." [6]

Patience is podvig.

---

[1] The Slavonic and East European Review Vol. 61, No. 1, Kiev Congress Papers (Jan., 1983), pp. 139-159 (21 pages) - https://www.jstor.org/stable/4208621
[2] "Kenosis or self-emptying began at the Annunciation when He united human nature to Himself..." A Continuing Kenosis, January 7, 2018, Fr. Lawrence Farley; https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/nootherfoundation/a-continuing-kenosis/
[3] https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4926419
[4] https://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/joh21.pdf
[5] John 13:1
[6] Rod Dreher's Diary, April 15, 2022