About the book: 2001 / Why does a person live? In this book, compiled from the works of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov - the great Russian saint of the 19th century - with the laconicism and clarity characteristic of his words, the Orthodox teaching about the meaning of human life is revealed: about the entire depth of his fall, about the highest heavenly calling and dignity of man, about the ways of destruction, salvation and perfection. For the reader seeking the Truth, but still wandering at the crossroads of human and demonic wisdom, the blessed word of the saint will help him come to the teaching of Divine Wisdom - a teaching that does not flatter a person, but saves him. The book will give the church reader a clear understanding of what, why and how one needs to “be saved”, and will understand the main meaning of human existence and the coming of the Savior to earth, indicating the highest goal of Christian asceticism. Even a “good” reader who is not a believer, as well as a formal and vague believer, can read it not without benefit. The Holy Scripture calls such a person dead (Matthew 8:22) and sleeping (Eph. 5:14) - sleeping under the lulling modern sermon that “God is merciful”, that “He is love”, that “this love gets along well with lawlessness." Perhaps - just as someone who is deeply asleep jumps up at a cry about a fire - convincing and impartial words of truth about one’s own situation and possible irreversible consequences will awaken such a serene reader and give him the opportunity to see himself and the world not as he wants and seems, but as he really is in fact…