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The exploits of the holy glorious martyr Photina (Svetlana) and those like her who suffered in the year 66 This holy martyr Photina (Svetlana) is the Samaritan woman about whom the Apostle John the Theologian talks in his Gospel. She talked with our Lord Jesus Christ at the well of Patriarch Jacob and believed in the Savior. After His Ascension and the descent on the Day of Pentecost on the divine apostles of the Holy Spirit, together with her two sons and five sisters, Photina was baptized as disciples of Jesus. Then she began to preach about the Risen Son of God from country to country, thereby converting many idolaters to the true faith and leading to piety. During the days of the wicked Roman king Nero, strong persecution was launched against Christians. After the martyrdom of the chief apostles Peter and Paul, in a vain attempt to destroy the name of Christ throughout the world, persecutors began to look for his disciples and all those who believed in the One Lord. And the fools did not know that the more they persecuted the faith of Christ, the more it strengthened and expanded, because “the gates of hell will not prevail against it” forever (Matthew 16:18). At that time, Saint Photina, together with her youngest son Josiah, was in Carthage, one of the African cities, where she boldly preached the Gospel. Her eldest son Victor served in the Roman army as a soldier. For his valor and bravery during the war with the Avars, who were raiding Roman lands, King Nero made him a commander and, not knowing that he was a Christian, sent him to Italy to punish all the Christians there. The ruler of Italy, Sebastian, tried to persuade Victor, despite his convictions, to carry out the emperor’s order: “I know, most excellent commander, that you, like your mother and your brother Josiah, are a Christian. You are all followers of the Apostle Peter. However, I advise you to carry out the king’s order and punish the Christians, so as not to endanger your own life. “I will fulfill the will of the Heavenly and Immortal King Christ, the True God, and not only will I not fulfill the order of King Nero to punish Christians, but I don’t even want to hear about it,” Victor answered him. “As my true friend, I advise you to do what will serve your own benefit,” Sebastian again turned to the commander. “If you sit at the judgment seat and look for Christians, and when you find them, you punish them, then by doing this you will please the king and inherit their property. I also advise you to warn your mother and brother so that they do not preach Christ with boldness, teaching the Greeks to renounce their fatherly faith, so that because of them you yourself will not be in danger. “Let me not do everything that you tell me: punish Christians, or take anything from them, or advise my mother or brother not to preach that Christ is God.” “Yes, I myself am and will be a preacher of Christ, just like them, let’s see what happens then,” the Christ-loving warrior objected. “Brother, I advise you what serves your benefit, and you think about what you should do,” the ruler again began to admonish Victor. However, not having time to finish his speech, Sebastian immediately became blind and, falling to the ground from severe and terrible pain in his eyes, remained speechless. The servants picked him up and put him in bed, where he lay silently for three days, and on the fourth day he loudly exclaimed: “There is only one God - the God of Christians!” – Why did you change your mind so suddenly, Sebastian? – Victor asked entering his chambers. “Because Christ, my sweetest Victor, is calling me,” answered the viceroy of the emperor in Italy. And immediately instructed by Victor in the Christian faith, he was baptized, and as soon as he left the holy font, he began to see again and glorified God. Observing this strange miracle, all the idolaters from the house of Sebastian were afraid, lest the same thing happen to them for their unbelief that had happened to their master. They all ran to Victor and, proclaimed in the faith of Christ, received Baptism. A little time passed, and a rumor reached Nero that the military commander and ruler were preaching the teachings of Peter, Paul and other apostles in Italy, that they had converted many Greeks to the Christian faith, and that the commander’s mother, Photina, together with her other son Josiah, had been sent to Carthage to preach the Crucified One there too. Hearing this, the king flared up with anger and sent soldiers throughout Italy to bring to Rome all those who professed Christian teaching. Meanwhile, the Lord Himself appeared to many husbands and wives and said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Fear not, for I am with you, and Nero will be defeated along with his minions.” Among those who observed this vision was Victor, to whom Jesus Christ addressed: “From now on your name will be Photin (light), for through you many will be enlightened and believe in Me. Strengthen Sebastian for torment with your words. Blessed and happy is he who strives to the end.” After these words, the Lord ascended to Heaven. Future events were also revealed to Photina. Therefore, together with many Christians, she went from Carthage to Rome, where she also began to preach Christ with extraordinary boldness. And all the inhabitants of the capital of the Great Empire were confused, saying: “Who is she who came here with so many people?” At the same time, her son Photin was brought to Rome along with the ruler of Italy Sebastian. All together they appeared before the king, who personally interrogated the delivered Christians. At first, the emperor tried by talking, without intimidation and without using torture, to force the confessors to renounce their faith: “Renounce Christ or die an evil death,” Nero frightened them, getting angry. “May this never happen, Christ the King, that we renounce You and be separated from Your faith and love,” prayed in response the martyrs, among whom were: Anatolia, Photo, Fotis, Paraskeva, Kyriaki - the sisters of Photinia, Fotin, Josiah - her sons. They all agreed with joy and joy to die for the love of the Crucified Lord. Then the tyrant ordered the joints of their hands to be broken with iron balls. Having grabbed the saints, Nero's servants brought them to the place of torment and placed their hands on the anvil. The torture began. From the third hour of the day to the sixth, the beaters changed three times, and the martyrs did not feel any pain at all, their arms were not even broken. This strange miracle confused Nero, and he ordered the hands of the martyrs to be cut off. Immediately seizing Photina and tying her hands, the servants began to repeatedly strike the hands of the holy wife with their swords, but they could not do anything. They were paralyzed and fell dead to the ground, but the martyr remained unharmed and thanked God, saying: “The Lord is my helper, and I will look upon my enemies” (Ps. 118:7). The king began to think about how he could defeat these Christians and convince them not to worship their God. He ordered the husbands to be thrown into prison, and Saint Photina, along with her five sisters, to be brought to him in the golden hall, to set up a golden table and seven golden thrones, to bring a lot of money, golden jewelry, clothes and golden belts, believing that with bait he would be able to change their faith. Then he also ordered his daughter Domnina, along with all her slaves, to come to this hall and be with the saints. If the martyrs renounced Christ, Nero promised them not only to give them everything that was inside this luxurious room, but also to honor them with great glory and honor. The unfortunate man was mistaken: thinking about Heavenly things, these wives despised all earthly blessings and did not even want to look at them. Such a Christian worldview, incomprehensible to the pagan consciousness, surprised the emperor’s daughter. Noticing this, Fotina turned to her with the words: – Rejoice, bride of my Lord! “Rejoice, you too, my lady, lamp of Christ,” Domnina answered her. Hearing that the princess mentioned the name of Christ, the saint was very happy and, thanking the Lord, hugged her and kissed her. And then she taught the Christian faith and baptized the emperor’s daughter along with a hundred palace slaves. After this great Sacrament was performed, during which Domnina was given the name Anfusa, the royal daughter ordered Stefanida, the eldest of her slaves, to distribute to the poor all the gold jewelry and money that was in the golden hall. Having learned about this, Nero groaned and ordered to immediately light the stove, and then throw Saint Photina and her comrades into it. The martyrs spent three days in this fire and remained alive and unharmed. When the inhabitants of the city of Rome heard about this miracle and saw them, they were at first perplexed how this could happen, and then, following the Christians, they glorified God. Then the tyrant ordered that all confessors be given deadly poison, prepared by the skilled magician Lampadius. First the poison was given to Saint Photina; Taking it in her hands, she said: “We should not have taken this poison into our hands and drunk it, because you yourself are unclean. But in order for you, king, and this magician to know the power of my Christ, I will drink it first in the name of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, and then everyone who is with me will drink it.” This is what happened to them - the poison did not cause any harm to the martyrs. Seeing this, the sorcerer was surprised and said: “I have another strong poison. But if you drink it and do not die at that very hour, then I will believe in your God.” When a new potion was brought, the martyrs drank again and did not suffer at all. The sorcerer was amazed and, collecting all his magic books, threw them into the fire. Following this promise, he believed in Christ, was baptized and was renamed Theoclitus. Having learned about this, the king ordered the soldiers to seize the former magician and take him outside the city wall. Here they beheaded him with a sword. Thus, blessed Theoclitus was the first to receive the crown of martyrdom. After this, the lawless Nero ordered the veins of these rebellious Christians to be cut. The soldiers carried out the order, and the martyrs reviled and mocked the impotence of the king and his gods, not attributing the suffering they endured to anything. Then the emperor ordered the lead to be melted, mixed, and when it boiled, poured into Saint Photina’s mouth, and poured it onto the backs of the other saints. However, even after this, the martyrs continued to praise the Creator: “We thank You, Christ our God, that with boiling lead you cooled our thirsty hearts from this great heat.” This did not stop Nero, and he came up with another torture for them. The saints were hanged, their bodies were mercilessly planed, they were burned with torches, but the more torture the royal servants inflicted on Christians, the more they were strengthened by Divine grace and glorified God. Then the pitiful and vain Nero decided to break their indestructible spirit with another torture: they began to pour ashes mixed with strong vinegar into their noses. But these actions were not crowned with success. The saints still thanked God and said that this hellish mixture was “sweeter to them than honey and honeycomb” (Ps. 19:11). This behavior infuriated the tyrant. He ordered the confessors to be blinded and then imprisoned for three years in a fetid dungeon infested with poisonous snakes. With their presence and constant prayers, the martyrs sanctified this terrible place: all the poisonous reptiles that lived in the dungeon died, the stench turned into fragrance, and the darkness into a blinding light. And our Lord Jesus Christ stood among the saints, saying to them: “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). Then, taking Saint Photina by the hand, he raised her and said: “Rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16)… because “I am with you to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). At that moment, the martyrs’ vision returned, and, seeing God, they worshiped Him. Having blessed the ascetics, Christ said: “Take courage and be strong,” and with these words he ascended to Heaven. It was as if scales fell off the bodies of the saints, and they completely recovered, becoming the same as before. Three years later, the king ordered one of his servants, who was imprisoned there, to be brought from prison. When the messengers arrived at the prison, they saw that the martyrs were in good health: the blind Galileans saw again, the prison was filled with light and an indescribable fragrance, crowds of people came here and, believing in the Risen Savior, received Baptism. After such a report, Nero lost his temper and again summoned the martyrs for interrogation. Having asked why they did not listen to him and continued to preach the name of Christ, he decided to subject Christians to new punishments for violating his decree. First, the saints were crucified upside down and their bodies were planed for three days in a row until the sinews fell apart. Having done this, the bestial and inhuman servants left the martyrs hanging there for four days. After this time, they came to see if the confessors were still alive, however, before they even had time to approach them, they immediately became blind. At that very moment, the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, untied the saints and, having kissed them, healed all their wounds. Taking pity on the blinded servants, Saint Photina made a prayer to God for them, and they immediately began to see again, after which they believed in Christ and received Baptism. When Nero was informed about another miracle that happened to the Christians he was tormenting, the king ordered Photina to be skinned. During this torture, the saint, like the Psalmist, exclaimed: “Lord, you have tempted me and known me” (Ps. 25:2). The flayed skin was thrown into the river, and the saint into a dry well. Then Sebastian, Photinus and Josiah had their genital organs cut off and thrown to the dogs, then they were skinned, thrown into the river, and the martyrs themselves were locked in an old bathhouse. The five sisters of Saint Photina, who appeared before the tyrant, had their breasts cut off and their skin also torn off. When Saint Photis’s turn came, she did not want to be restrained by force, but with great courage she tore off her own skin, so that the tyrant was surprised at her patience. But even after this torment, the all-evil tyrant invented another terrible punishment for her: in Nero’s garden they bent the tops of two trees, tied the blessed Fotis to them and released her. The saint was torn into two parts, and so she gave up her soul into the hands of God. Then the vile Nero ordered to behead the other martyrs with a sword, and take blessed Photina out of the well and imprison him. She, since she was left alone and was not crowned with the crown of martyrdom along with the others, became sad and asked God about this, who appeared to her and, having crossed her three times with the Honest and Life-Giving Cross, healed her of all her wounds. A few days later, chanting and blessing God, Photina betrayed her honest soul to the Lord. The Church celebrates her memory on March 20/April 2. This is how everyone came to the Desired God and accepted His Heavenly Kingdom, which we too may be honored with through their prayers. Amen. The life, exploits and martyrdom of the holy glorious martyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who suffered in the year 143 This glorious martyr of Christ Polycarp came from the city of Ephesus. His parents were very rich and pious people: his father’s name was Pancratius, and his mother’s name was Theodora. When Theodora was pregnant with Saint Polycarp, the governor of Ephesus, Marcion, was informed that they were Christians. The parents were captured and brought to him for interrogation, during which Marcion tried to find out why they did not obey the royal command and despised the great gods, worshiping Christ. “Oh, ruler, we were taught by the apostles of our Lord to believe and worship the True God, the Creator of heaven and earth, our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we were baptized, and whom we confess and preach. We disgust and despise the soulless and insensitive idols that you consider gods,” Polycarp’s parents fearlessly testified. Hearing this, the ruler became angry and ordered the soldiers to throw them to the ground and beat them hard. Then Pankratius and Theodora were put in prison, where they remained for a long time, deprived of all human help, suffering from hunger and thirst and enduring other suffering. It was in this prison that the future martyr was destined to be born. The All-Good God, who knows everything, before this happens, foreseeing that the ruler would look for the baby in order to raise him and teach him his own error, sent His Angel to prison, who first healed the baby’s parents from the wounds inflicted by beatings, and then said that the ruler would kill them. After this, the messenger of God took the baby and took him to a very rich Christian widow, ordering her to baptize him and, without revealing the truth to anyone, to raise him with all diligence. After this, the Angel became invisible. The lawless Marcion searched for the baby for many days, but did not find him and became even more angry, subjecting the saint’s parents to cruel torture. Finally, seeing their inflexibility, he decided to betray Pankratius and Theodora to death. The ruler ordered the soldiers to take them far outside the city and behead them, and leave their bodies to be devoured by animals. However, the unfortunate man worked in vain, for not a single animal came close to the honest remains of the holy martyrs. A little later, Christians came to this place and, according to Christian custom, buried them with reverence. A pious Christian widow baptized the child and named him Pancratius in honor of his father. She raised him like her own child. When the child reached an age suitable for learning, the woman sent him to school, and after a short time he learned all the church services. From childhood, having the mind of an old man, Pankratiy did not play with other children, but communicated with wise and virtuous men. As the son of martyrs, if possible, he tried with all his might to imitate them in all virtues, striving to acquire love, humility, quietness, abstinence and chastity for everyone. He especially loved mercy, which is why he was nicknamed Polycarp (Greek - fertile, abundant in fruits - Transl.). Here, listen and marvel. As we have already said, that God-loving wife who raised him was extremely rich and had bins full of wheat and other grains. Being merciful and very compassionate, Blessed Pancras secretly from his adoptive mother gave abundant alms to the poor, so that he emptied all the reserves. One day his mother came for wheat and, finding the storerooms empty, was surprised, not understanding how this could happen. However, knowing about the good disposition and mercy that her pupil had towards the poor, she realized that it was Pankratius who emptied the bins. When she returned and looked at him angrily, the young man with a cheerful face tried to persuade her to go to the storerooms again to make sure they were full. But the woman became very angry and did not want to go. Then the saint went to the place where the supplies were stored alone, prayed to the Most Merciful God, and - lo and behold! - Immediately all the bins were filled with grain. Calling his mother, he joyfully told her: “My lady, go to the storerooms to see the power and grace of God.” When the woman entered and saw full storerooms of grain and even pots filled with oil and wine, she loudly glorified the Generous God and, kissing the blessed Pancras, said to him: “My beloved child, from now on give to the poor as much as you want, and from now on I will call you not Pancratius, but Polycarp.” Since then, this name has remained with the saint. From that very day, the blessed one generously distributed grain to everyone who had need, and by God’s grace the storehouses were never empty, because, seeing the good will of the saint, the Almighty increased the reserves. At that time, there was a severe famine in the Ephesian country, and then the blessed Polycarp showed great mercy and compassion not only for the poor, but also for the rich, because many, although they had great wealth, did not know where to buy food and were in danger of dying from hunger. And the saint generously distributed supplies to them. So, crowds of rich and poor came to him every day, and he did not let anyone go empty-handed, mercifully accepting everyone and showing benefit to everyone. When the saint was twenty-five years old, he heard that John the Theologian was preaching the Gospel in other parts of Asia. Having a strong desire to benefit, Polycarp asked his mother for leave and went to the Theologian, with whom were Ignatius the God-Bearer and Blessed Vukol. The Divine Polycarp followed them and, moving from place to place, from country to country, like the Apostle John, preached the word of Christ. He experienced great hardships, suffering from hunger, thirst and nakedness. After some time, the Roman king Dometian learned that the apostle was converting idolaters to the Christian faith. The ruler did not like this, and he exiled Christ’s beloved disciple to the island of Patmos. Before leaving, John the Theologian managed to ordain Blessed Vukol as Bishop of Smyrna and give him Saint Polycarp as his companion. On the way to Smyrna, Saint Vukol ordained the divine Polycarp as a priest. And although he did not agree, justifying himself by saying that he was unworthy to bear such high obedience in the Church, the Bishop elevated the young priest to the dignity of orphanotroph (guardian of orphans. - Trans.). However, blessed Polycarp was so humble in his wisdom that he did not want to stand out among others and even in the assembly of priests did not sit according to his rank, but below everyone, like a simple person. Because of such great humility, the All-Good One exalted and glorified Polycarp: having foreknowledge of his death, Saint Vukol gathered all the bishops, clergy and Christians of the diocese, informed them of his approaching death and asked those gathered whether they agreed that from now on Polycarp should be the bishop of Smyrna. Everyone agreed with this proposal with great joy. Thus, against his own will, Saint Polycarp was ordained Bishop of Smyrna. Having accepted the great burden of being a bishop, the blessed one carried out his obedience with special diligence, constantly teaching the flock entrusted to him with the Gospel word and through his deeds becoming for the entire Christian community of Smyrna an example of all good, he did not stop visiting his verbal flock day and night: everywhere he strengthened the weak, comforted the mourning, healed the sick, cared for orphans, had mercy on the poor and helped all Christians. He had special secret and obvious care for the martyrs, strengthening them in the faith of Christ, for at that time the tyrants constantly subjected them to cruel torture. The Lord was deservedly called Polycarp, because he was filled with every divine fruit, being an amazing quiet haven and a great refuge not only for Christians, but also for numerous pagans, whom he constantly taught, without any fear or timidity, converting to the faith of Christ. Already during his lifetime, the saint performed countless miracles. Once there was a strong and terrible fire in Smyrna. Moreover, fire reigned not only in the city itself and in the houses, but also in the field outside the city, in the vineyards, where trees and animals were burning. This terrible disaster did not recede for seven days. Mad and darkened idolaters called on their gods for help. But they tried in vain, because the more idols they asked for, the more God became angry with them, and the fire grew stronger. As a result, Christians came to the saint, asking him to pray to the Lord for a ceasefire. The Bishop took pity and, in accordance with their request, made a prayer to the Almighty, and then, denouncing the idolaters, because of whose wickedness all the evil occurred, he turned to the fire with the words: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom I, unworthy, serve and worship, I command you at this very hour to completely go out!” And - oh strange miracle! - that terrible fire at the same moment completely extinguished and disappeared, and those present loudly exclaimed in surprise: “Great is the God of Christians!” And many idolaters believed in Christ and were baptized into the glory of our Creator. One of the pagans, a noble dignitary named Petronius, moved by the devil, who is always jealous of every good thing, began to speak blasphemous words against the Christian faith and Saint Polycarp, and immediately suffered an attack of obsession. He fell to the ground, began to roll, emit foam and convulse. Some Christians took pity on him and asked the bishop to heal Petronius. Imitating the Lord Christ, the blessed saint took pity on him and granted the dignitary double healing: forbidding the evil and unclean spirit and driving him out of Petronius, he thereby enlightened his soul. Through the benefit he received, the rich man came to know the power that the servants of Christ have, and, believing, he was baptized along with all his household. Four years passed, and a severe drought occurred in the Smyrna region, as a result of which the entire crop could have died. The people were in sadness and did not know how to save them. The Christians again came to their ruler Polycarp and asked him to pray to the Lord. And - O Thy miracles, O Christ the King! – it rained so hard that it watered all the crops. But since the rain continued to fall for several days in a row, the bishop of Smyrna again prevented its excessiveness with the help of prayer. From these few miracles performed by the saint during his lifetime, one can judge the boldness that he had towards God. Let us briefly talk about the glorious feat of martyrdom of St. Polycarp. When Marcus Aurelius ruled in Rome, a great persecution was launched against Christian believers, and many city rulers tortured them mercilessly. This is what the ruler of Smyrna did: when he found a Christian, he subjected him to inhuman mortal torment, and went so far as to decide to seize Saint Polycarp as the leader of the local Christian community. Hearing about this, the divine bishop was not at all embarrassed and decided to stay in the city. However, the Christians, loving him and not wanting to lose such a worthy archpastor, persuaded the saint to leave the city in various ways. He left Smyrna and arrived in one village, where he spent days and nights in prayer for all Christians and for all the Churches of Christ throughout the world. After praying like this for three days in a row, he dozed off and saw in a dream that his pillow was on fire and burned. Immediately waking up, the saint prophetically said to those with him that for the sake of the love of Christ, the fire should change his life. Meanwhile, the ruler's servants continued to search for Bishop Polycarp, and the bishop, forced by the love of his brothers, moved to another village. And as soon as the saint left the first refuge, soldiers came there and, not finding him there, seized two children who lived in that house. To find out where blessed Polycarp was, they subjected them to torture. Unable to bear the torment, one of the children discovered the whereabouts of the Bishop of Smyrna. The soldiers, taking the child, that same evening came to the house where the archpastor was hiding. This time the saint did not want to go anywhere, but, trusting in the will of God, he insisted on his own and went down fearlessly, with a cheerful and joyful face, to greet the uninvited guests, which greatly surprised the soldiers. While the legionnaires were having dinner at the request of the saint, the bishop prayed, after which he was put on a donkey and brought to Smyrna. When Polycarp entered the ruler's palace, a voice was heard from Heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp, and take courage.” Many Christians heard these words, but no one saw the One who said them. The emperor's viceroy was not sure that the famous Polycarp was brought to him. However, when the saint convinced him of this, the governor began to persuade him to renounce Christ and blaspheme Him, but the Bishop of Smyrna objected: “I have been working for Him for eighty-six years, and He has not done me any harm.” How can I now blaspheme my King, Savior and Redeemer? But the tyrant again began to force the saint to renounce Christ: “If you do not renounce Christ, I will throw you to be devoured by wild beasts,” the judge frightened the martyr. “Do not hesitate, but throw me to the beasts, because I will not waver in my faith, but rather I will be very grateful to you if you transfer me from this false and difficult world to the true and immortal one hour earlier,” Polycarp insisted. “Since you,” the governor continued to contradict the saint, “attribute animals to nothing, then, if you do not repent, I will burn you with fire.” “Why are you frightening me with a temporary fire that will soon go out?” Or do you not know about the unquenchable fire of eternal torment that is prepared for the wicked? So, don’t waste time, but do what you want,” the divine bishop answered him confessionally. Saying this and much more with great boldness and joy, the martyr amazed the ruler, so that he, in bewilderment, sent a herald three times to announce that Polycarp was a Christian. Hearing the announcement, the entire crowd of Greeks and Jews shouted in a loud voice: “This is the father of Christians, who teaches the people not to worship gods. We must burn him alive." They immediately brought firewood and brushwood from the workshops and baths. The Jews especially tried to succeed in this wicked task, because they, due to the hatred that they have for Christ and all Christians, are in the habit of diligently serving such evil. When the fire was ready, the Bishop of Smyrna took off his clothes and loosened his girdle. The soldiers wanted to nail the saint so that he would stand motionless in the fire. He said to them: “Leave me, for He who gives me strength to endure fire will strengthen me so that I will not move.” His hands were tied behind his back, and Polycarp was offered as an acceptable burnt offering to God, like a festival ram chosen from a great flock. Before entering the fire, the martyr, raising his eyes to heaven, began to pray: “Lord God Almighty, I thank You for deigning me, from this day and hour, to be numbered among Your martyrs for the resurrection of eternal life, soul and body. If only I could be offered today before You as an acceptable sacrifice, as You, the True God, have prepared, and revealed, and accomplished. For this sake and for everyone I bless You, I glorify You with Your Beloved Son and with the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen". After that, he entered the fire, and - lo and behold! - that fire, like a kind of arch, as if a sail filled with air, surrounded the body of the martyr. And he stood in the midst of it, not like flesh being burned, but like gold kindled in the furnace of a goldsmith, and there was a strong fragrance, as if incense or other precious aromas were burning. Finally, seeing that the saint’s body was not burning, the lawless people ordered the executioner to approach the martyr and kill him with a sword. When this happened, so much blood flowed out that it completely extinguished the fire. Watching this miracle of God, the whole crowd was surprised. And the envious and evil devil, knowing that Christians would want to take the honest relics of the saint, came up with this. One dignitary was persuaded to tell the ruler not to give the body of the holy martyr to Christians, so that they would not venerate blessed Polycarp. To prevent Christians from secretly taking the remains of the Bishop of Smyrna, the Jews undertook to guard them. After several days, a certain centurion threw the holy relics of Polycarp into the fire, and they burned. After this, the Christians, taking what was left after the burning of the body of the holy martyr, buried it with reverence and honor in a special place - to the glory of Christ our God, to whom belongs all glory, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen. The life and exploits of our venerable father Khariton the Confessor, who escaped martyrdom in 276 In 270 after the Nativity of Christ, Aurelian reigned in Rome, who, although he was an idolater, at the very beginning of his reign did not create obstacles for Christians who worshiped the True God, but later, moved by the demons he served, he raised a great persecution against Christians. Throughout all the regions of his kingdom, Aurelian sent out an ungodly decree, according to which the rulers were to apply all possible care and zeal in persuading Christians to renounce the faith of Christ and return to the delights of idolatry, and subject those who did not obey to various torments and shameful death. In Iconium, Saint Chariton was one of the first Christians to be captured and brought to trial before the wicked ruler, since it was he who was known throughout the entire region as the most virtuous man. During the interrogation, the blessed one fearlessly admitted that he believed in Christ, the True God. When asked why he resists the royal commands and does not want to make a sacrifice to the immortal gods, the confessor answered with great boldness: “The reason I don’t honor your shrines is because they are not true gods, but evil demons who cunningly convinced you to honor them as gods for two reasons. Firstly, so that these liars would be exalted under the glorious name of deity, and they would be proud to be worshiped as gods, and secondly, so that all those who worship them would be dragged along with them into the unquenchable fire of torment. “Oh, Khariton, I should have been very angry with you now and immediately handed you over to the most severe torment, because you blasphemed the gods.” But, since they are long-suffering and gentle, I also want to imitate them and advise you to choose what will serve you well: make a sacrifice to the gods and you will have great honor with the king,” the viceroy of the emperor tried to persuade the saint. “Judge, if these deaf and soulless idols are gods, then you are doing badly to tolerate the insults I inflict on them.” And if they are not gods, as they really are, then you are working in vain, inclining me to commit lawlessness, because in no way will I ever renounce the Living and True God and will not serve vile demons, since I am a follower and imitator of that famous first martyr Thekla, who, like another Elijah, shines with the rays of martyrdom in this city of the Iconians. In addition, I am a disciple of the great preacher of piety Paul, who inspired Thekla to endure torment for the sake of the love of Christ. Therefore, today I speak in front of everyone in the words of the divine Paul: “Who will separate us from the love of God: tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?” (Rom. 8:35). “No, nothing will separate me from the love of Christ,” answered the courageous warrior of Christ. - O good Khariton, if our shrines, as you say, are not gods, what about our august kings who worship them, and we, the rulers, believing in them, have glory and happiness from them? - the ruler said then. “You are very mistaken, Greeks, in that you recognize as gods carved statues that came from the hands of men, which are completely devoid of the gift of speech, intelligence and living feelings, as our Holy Scripture says about this: “The idols of the pagans are silver and gold, the work of human hands; They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; They have ears, but they hear not, and there is no breath in their mouth. Those who make them and everyone who trusts in them will be like them (blind, deaf and insensitive) (Ps. 134:15-18). Perhaps you doubt, judge, that what I said is true? Try it in practice: set the idols on fire, order their members to be crushed, and then you will know by experience that they are completely insensitive and cannot move, speak, or harm those who destroy them,” Khariton answered. At these words, the lawless judge became very angry and ordered to strip the saint, stretch him along the ground by his arms and legs, and beat him with ox sinews. At the same time, the bestial ruler said to the martyr: - Well, will you make a sacrifice to the gods? Or do you want more blows to fall on your body? “I would accept not only blows, but rather a thousand deaths for the love of Christ, but I would not agree to renounce God and sacrifice to idols,” confirmed the patient ascetic. Hearing this, the tyrant ordered to beat the martyr even harder. And they tortured him so much that there was no living space left on him, but his insides were visible. Khariton remained speechless from the unbearable beatings. Then the ruler ordered him to be left, not because he pitied the saint, but so that he would not die so soon, thus avoiding great torment. The servants lifted the half-dead confessor and, putting them on their shoulders, carried him and threw him into prison. For the sake of brevity and keeping silent about the many exploits of this valiant man, omitting details, I will say that after the Lord miraculously granted him health in prison, the martyr of Christ was again brought to the judgment seat. And again the sophisticated ruler tried, first with deceptive flattery, and then with intimidation, to make Khariton his like-minded person. But since he became even more strengthened in the faith of Christ and only laughed at his crazy speeches, the ruler betrayed him to even greater torment and ordered the body of the confessor to be burned with fire, and then imprisoned again. A little time passed and the god-fighting emperor was justly punished by God for the evil with which he dared to attack Christians: the all-evil Aurelian died a terrible death. Tacitus, who took over the kingdom after him, was admonished by the example of his predecessor and, fearing that he would also be punished, ordered an end to the persecution of Christians in all areas of his kingdom. Thus, according to God’s dispensation, the divine Chariton was not put to death. And many received great benefit from the long earthly life of Chariton the Confessor, which would not have happened as a result of his martyrdom. According to the royal decree, he was granted complete freedom. Although the saint did not accept martyrdom for Christ, signs of victory and wounds remained on his resilient body. Having almost died for this temporary life and wishing from now on to serve only the One God, he entered the narrow and sorrowful path that, according to the words of the Lord Himself, leads man to eternal life (Matthew 7:14). After being released from prison, Khariton decided to go to Jerusalem. On the way to the Holy Land, he came across bestial robbers, who tied his hands behind his back, put an iron chain around his neck and brought the blessed one to the cave where they themselves lived. Leaving him there tied up, they went out onto the road to lie in wait for other travelers. And the divine Chariton, reflecting that the temptation that had come upon him was allowed by God for the benefit of his soul, first thanked the Creator greatly, and, turning to the evil devil, began to revile him in this way: “Oh, vile and unclean, why did you hand me over to these robbers - so that they would kill me, or to prevent me from achieving my goal? Even though you try diligently to kill me, you work in vain, because you clearly saw that I, by the grace of my Christ, despise any death. And if you want to lead me astray, so that I live without imitating the Lord, nothing will come of it. Because, being merciful by nature, the Creator is looking for every smallest excuse to generously bestow His blessings on those who want to live a godly life.” During these reflections, a viper, which the saint did not see, crawled into the cave and vomited all its poison into the robbers’ vessel filled with wine. When the thirsty robbers returned and drank this poisonous wine, they immediately died. Thus, anger was punished, and the wondrous Khariton was at that very hour invisibly delivered from his bonds. However, the confessor did not leave this deserted place; it was very suitable for silence, and the saint decided to stay there. With the silver collected by the robbers in sin, he acted fairly: he distributed some of it to the poor and the venerable desert fathers, and with the remaining money he built a church of God and the Holy Tabor Lavra in a cave, the main church of which was subsequently consecrated by the Jerusalem Patriarch Macarius, who was among the three hundred and eighteen God-bearing fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. Asceticizing in the cave, the monk very soon and against his will became known to many people. Every day he performed amazing miracles. As a result, countless numbers of Hellenes and Jews began to accept Holy Baptism and, marveling at his exploits and virtues, wanted to imitate him if possible, and many became monks. Truly it was an amazing miracle to see how the blessed one labored with an incomparable desire to live according to God, how he considered abstinence to be a pleasure, non-covetousness to be an inexhaustible wealth, and how he loved lying on the bare ground. He received more rest from vigils than life-lovers from sleeping a lot and relaxing on soft mattresses, so he loved All-night prayers and singing psalms. From wearing a hair shirt, the touch of which scratched his martyr's wounds, the blessed one received more pleasure than those who wear light and soft clothes. All this happened because the hope of eternal bliss gave strength to his soul to endure any pain and any work with gratitude. Blessed Chariton was very merciful to the poor and compassionate to those who sin, hospitable and kind, meek and simple, good-natured like a child, and peaceful with everyone, friendly and courteous, teaching and enriched with words of wisdom, with which he delighted the hearts of his visitors. Therefore, every day people came to him to listen to his soul-saving teaching. Due to the population, the desert became a city. Seeing that great confusion was occurring from the approaching crowds of people, which disrupted his silence and conversation with God, and even more so, trying to escape from human glory, for the saint knew that, blowing like a strong wind, it could destroy any virtue, the monk decided to leave the Tabor Lavra. During his farewell, Chariton commanded his disciples everything that was necessary for monastic life. The rule was as follows: eat once a day, preferably in the evening, and do not eat a lot of rich food, but abstain at the moment when you want more. The food for the inhabitants of the monastery was supposed to be bread and salt, and the drink was pure water, with which, in order to acquire dispassion, the monks also had to quench their thirst very moderately. The monk also appointed them a time for psalmody and prayer: both day and night. At the same time, he commanded us to hate idleness - as the cause of all evils, and to always give our hands work, like the prophet David, who “I called to you, O Lord, all day long I lifted up my hands to you” (Ps. 87:10). In fulfillment of these lines, the ascetic advised the monks who were in his obedience to always pray with raised hands. The Holy Father ordered to cut off from the heart by fasting and the divine sword of unceasing prayer the evil thought sown by a common enemy, so that he could not find a resting place in the heart of his brother and give birth to the poisoned fruit of voluptuousness: “this kind (of demonic thoughts) is driven out only by prayer and fasting,” says the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 17:21). In addition, Chariton He commanded us not to send away empty-handed beggars who come to the monastery gates, so as not to miss Christ, who, testing us, very often puts on beggar’s rags. After the monk gave these regulations to the monks of his monastery and, with the general consent of the inhabitants, appointed the most virtuous and experienced brother over them as abbot, the abba began to prepare to leave. However, unable to bear this, the brethren became extremely sad and with hot tears asked Father Khariton not to part with them. The saint did not listen to them, because he strove for benefit not only for his soul, and to console the brethren he said: “Do not be sad, my children, because of separation from me, because if I leave here, no one will come to look for me and bother you anymore. So my departure will be useful for both me and you. You and I must remain silent in our cells, because only in this way will we bring, with God’s help, the honey of virtue.” Having said goodbye to them and handing them over to the Lord Christ, Khariton left. After one day of travel, the monk discovered an empty cave in the Jericho region, very suitable for silence. Here he hid for a long time, completely unknown to anyone, talking alone with the One God. The blessed one ate the grass that he happened to find. However, the Savior of the world did not allow the treasure to be hidden and revealed His servant to the world through the miracles that were performed through him. For example, Khariton healed those suffering from physical and mental illnesses. After his soulful instructions, many wanted to renounce the world. They became monks and remained to live next to Saint Chariton. For this purpose, he built a second Lavra, which he later expanded, and named Elpidium. The Lavra was very successful in ascetic labors and received the nickname Duka (ruler), since a certain duka, a ruler, defended this holy Lavra from the raids of the Jews who then lived in the neighboring village of Noeros, who, out of envy, were looking for an opportunity to destroy the monastery. But a large number of people began to come to this monastery every day, so that neither the saint nor the brethren had peace. Then Father Khariton again left commandments for the inhabitants of the Lavra and, having appointed an elder to lead them, went to another part of the desert, called Fekoos. Our Lord, who seeks salvation for everyone, arranged for the saint to change places of residence in order, on the one hand, to make his virtue even more obvious, and on the other, so that different people, especially idolaters, would come to him and learn useful things. Some of them gained faith in Christ and received Baptism, some came to live according to God, leaving worldly vanity and cares, became a monk and tried to imitate the monk in everything. For the sake of the people gathered there, Khariton also built the third Lavra, called Sukas. But since he himself loved silence very much, for he knew from experience its sweetness and benefits in acquiring virtue, not far from the newly created monastery the holy father found a God-created cave, “suspended” high above the ground, on a steep and inaccessible mountain. It could only be reached using stairs. Once, having climbed into this cave, the courageous Khariton settled there. Chariton spent a long time in silence, but being unable, due to old age and many years of ascetic labors, to serve and fetch water, but also not wanting to assign any of his disciples to this obedience, so as not to become a burden to them, the God-Blessed One conceived the following. He knew that through the prayer of a righteous man, God can make the impossible possible, and the difficult very easy. And - lo and behold! - Immediately after the confessor’s prayer, a source of pure water began to flow into the cave. And to this day it flows out from one side of the cave, not only quenching thirst, but also healing all sorts of ailments. This is the best evidence of the saint’s holiness and the boldness that Khariton, who exuded grace, had towards the Creator. This narrative lacks the story of the saint’s dormition, which he foresaw by Divine revelation. After the Monk Chariton learned of his approaching death, he descended from the cave into the holy Sukas Lavra and, together with the abbot and brethren, came to the Elpidiy monastery, from where, accompanied by the shepherds and flock of both monasteries, he arrived at the holy Faras Lavra - where he first shed the sweat of his ascetic labors. Here he left a legacy to his students. The gist of it is this: “Since the time of my death has approached, I will go to God, where you, my children, beloved in the Lord, strive to come with all diligence, having been well prepared now, while there is time. For you know that after death no repentance will help. The present life is a time of repentance and deeds to acquire virtue, and the future life is a time of retribution. All sorrows and difficulties of this world soon disappear, likewise all joys and pleasures. And in the future, both the enjoyment of blessings and hellish torment are eternal and endless. Therefore, I command you, first of all, to carefully guard the God-given faith, without deviating or wavering in the least from the circumstances of the time or from danger. Because in a short time, as the Lord revealed to me, there will be great confusion in the holy Churches of Christ from heretics, who will seduce many into their heretical opinions. You stand firmly in the dogmas of the Church until you bleed, if time demands it. Next, be careful that no one judges you for your life, and keep yourself free from any sin. If you have not yet achieved this, cleanse yourself of sins with great diligence, every day. Maintain virginity and holiness of the body, so that you may become undefiled churches, and so that the Pure God will desire to dwell in you and fill your souls with His holiness and indescribable fragrance. Anger and irritation are the greatest evils; no passion can cause such harm to brotherly love as this. But you, my true children, with great diligence maintain harmony, peace, Christ-like meekness and love for mankind. If, as a result of temptation from a hater of good, a temptation occurs between you, try as quickly as possible to call upon the aid of all-honest love and brotherly love, so that the sun does not set while temptation is still active among you, and you are darkened by the hatred of rancor. After all, if we suddenly die this night, then without love it will be impossible to see the Sun of Truth, our Teacher Christ, Who in the Holy Gospel said: “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). If the devil, the sower of spiritual destruction, plants the thought of evil lust in your souls, strive with great diligence to immediately uproot and remove it. If you hurry, you can drive it out with ease, but if you leave it in your heart for a long time, then you will only be able to eradicate it with great difficulty. Use fasting, prayer, tears, mortal memory and the memory of the unquenchable fire of torment as weapons, using this memory as the destroyer of all sin. Remember both the strongest and most terrible weapon for our enemies - the robe of Jesus Himself - victorious humility: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart...” (Matthew 11:29), the Savior tells us. Keeping the mind and all senses, especially sight and hearing, is a safe haven so that we do not be enslaved by thoughts that separate us from God, because through these two senses almost all bad desires enter our heart. As the prophet Jeremiah says, through the windows of inattention, that is, feelings, spiritual death enters us. A very precious acquisition for a monk is non-acquisitiveness, carelessness, and detachment from the desire for perishable objects. A monk must be moderate in bodily needs, as Paul advises: “Having food and clothing, let us be content with that,” without rashly complaining against our Benefactor (1 Tim. 6:8). The greatest of all other evils is arrogance and pride, since they kill all good in a person. This passion very often embraces and accompanies those who are rich in virtues, but sometimes it cleaves to those who are deprived of all goodness. Pride causes terrible ruin in those who are obsessed with it. That is why the divine Paul, extending a helping hand to us, points out how we can get rid of it: “Therefore, if anyone thinks that he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12), that is, let him who thinks that he stands well in virtue watch carefully, lest he suffer ruin in virtue, so that he will no longer be able to rise from falling. We must take great care not to condemn our brother, but to sympathize with him and correct him, because condemnation is the product of a proud soul, who in his thoughts condemns all people and seeks through the condemnation of others to justify and glorify himself, saying Pharisaically: “I am not like other people... or like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). If you like to judge yourself and examine yourself, brother, then you are pretty close to yourself. Never stop judging and examining all your secret thoughts, words and deeds, correcting mistakes, because if we here, in this life, judge ourselves and correct ourselves, then we will not be condemned by God in another life to eternal torment, as Blessed Paul says: “For if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But being judged, we are punished by the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:31-32). If anyone gives excess pleasure to his womb, he easily suffers a wreck and falls into carnal passions, thus receiving evil retribution for this. Work and vigil dry it out, fasting completely tames it and prevents the emergence of disordered movements in it. Love hospitality and always give it, because it pleases God. When you receive strangers, wash their feet, since this washing is a service of Christ and His commandment. After all, He was the First Who washed the feet of His disciples and commanded that we do the same. This action not only gives peace to the tired, but can even heal, more than any other activity, the most harmful disease of the soul - vanity. The means that cleanse the soul from the defilements of sin are tears, lamentations, heartfelt contrition, fasting, prayer, lying on the ground and everything that heals the repentant. They are not very tedious, although they bring great benefit to those who are sensible. I know only one very simple, but very powerful means for cleansing the defilement of the soul: compassion for those who sin. Through it, not only is forgiveness of sins granted to the compassionate, according to the saying: “forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37), but it often admonishes the sinner more than punishment, and from a free man makes him a slave of the one who has compassion for him, as can be seen among the infidels who say that forgiveness is better than punishment.” Teaching this and similar things to his disciples, the divine Chariton wished them the salvation of their souls, and then, without tasting the slightest disease, without experiencing any illness in any of his members, he fell on the bed and, stretching out his legs, immediately in joy gave up his holy soul to the Angels. So he passed into endless bliss - where peace comes for those who, shedding sweat, toiled in the vineyard of the Lord, for those who walked the narrow and weary path of virtue. So, all the deeds and miracles of the ever-blessed Chariton, which, despite their antiquity, escaped oblivion, through this narrative we conveyed to you, dear inquisitive listeners, to the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One Divinity and Kingdom, to which belongs all glory, honor and worship, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. The life and exploits of the holy and glorious martyr Falaley, who suffered around the year 284 This great martyr of Christ Thalaley came from one area of ​​​​Phenicia, called the Lebanese Forest. The son of the Christian bishop Verucius and a descendant of a noble family of his city, he was raised “in the teaching and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4) and was also taught divine and sacred literacy. Having reached a certain age, Falalei wished to study the art of medicine, as the most necessary and most humane of all other arts. He found one wonderful and extremely pious doctor and after a short time he became fully acquainted with medicine. Young Falaley was very pious and devout, and had a soul adorned with all the virtues and God-pleasing deeds. Thus, in his home he welcomed all people without distinction: foreigners and locals, and lovingly served them in their every need. His house was a hotel for everyone: the poor and the rich, because the saint greatly loved the virtue of hospitality and rejoiced when, thanks to it, many were healed. However, Falalei showed greater compassion and mercy towards the poor; he cared about them most of all, considering their illnesses and suffering as his own. Very often, in order to save these people from their labors, he took them in his arms and carried them to his house, stood before them like a slave, preferring to serve them better than to do any other good. The saint made every effort to care for and treat the poor from illnesses. And he showed such mercy to those who needed help that it was not they who sought him, but he himself ran to them and helped in all their needs, restoring their health without any offerings. Along with philanthropy and mercy, the saint was distinguished by non-covetousness; he never took money or any other objects of this world. With such a selfless life, Falalei quickly received apostolic gifts. Just by boldly preaching the name of Christ, without medicines or plasters, he treated any disease, trying with all care to bring all idolaters to Christ. He made no distinction between believers and non-believers, but healed everyone, receiving double healing - soul and body. For the saint was merciful and compassionate to everyone, he fervently prayed to the Creator for everyone: for Christians, so that they would repent and make amends for their sins, for pagans, so that they would leave their delusions and believe in the true God. He even denounced those Christians who did not sympathize with the infidels in their misfortunes and illnesses. So, one day, a certain Christian was angry at an idolater and rejoiced at his misfortune. Seeing this, the saint was greatly saddened and denounced his fellow believer for his hardness of heart: – One should not rejoice at the enemy’s misfortune, because misfortune and suffering are common to everyone. After all, no one knows what will happen to each of us in this life,” Falalei instructed. One Christian, believing that the death of the wicked would be a blessing for all people, did not understand Falaley, who spent his entire life in prayer for his enemies, and wondered what good they could do, for they had grown old in wickedness and sins... However, the blessed one never rejoiced, but sympathized with the misfortunes of others. In this way he softened their unbelief and often led them to faith. Like him, many Christians got rid of cruelty and became stronger in mercy. Having a strong zeal for the faith, the saint tried very hard to eradicate pagan charm. To do this, he went every night and cut down tall trees in the Lebanese forest, where the Greeks gathered and made sacrifices to their gods, desecrating their souls with fornication. There were also drinking parties and dances with the participation of women, accompanied by the playing of all kinds of musical instruments. Having cut down the trees, the saint weaned them from making sacrifices to idols and committing atrocities, and he attracted many to himself, healing them from physical and mental illnesses and instructing them in the Christian faith. One day a man was bitten in the chest by a poisonous snake. From her poison, the chest and sides began to rot, so that the patient was near death. Having spent all his money on doctors and not receiving any healing, having become completely desperate, the patient expected death. However, the blessed doctor willingly undertook to cure him, asking only to believe in Christ. And as soon as he agreed, the saint prayed to God and depicted the sign of the Life-Giving Cross on his chest. Soon there was no trace of the disease left. The sufferer glorified God for the double healing - soul and body, which he received from Falalei. Another time, a serious illness - loss of voice - happened to one doctor. Having lost all hope of healing, the relatives brought the sufferer to the saint and asked him to ease his torment. “If you want to be healed,” the merciful Falalei addressed the sufferer, “believe in Christ, and He will immediately make you healthy.” Hearing this, the sick man fell at his feet and, pouring tears over them, made it clear with a gesture that he would believe in Christ with all his soul if he received healing. And - lo and behold! - at that same hour Divine grace descended on him, his tongue was released from the bonds of muteness, and the man began to speak as before. From that time on, the saint began to go around the city in search of the sick, or the hungry, the poor, or those in error, in order to heal his soul and body. So, he took pity on the paralytic who was lying naked on the ground, went up to him and asked what hurt him. – One day I was walking along a steep road. He stumbled, fell and broke his leg,” the sufferer began his story. “I tried different medications for a long time, but nothing helped, and I couldn’t find a cure from doctors either. And now I lie in despair, like the most unfortunate of all people. You, who are more merciful than any father, have mercy on me, the unfortunate one, and heal me. - So that you become healthy, I will apply a plaster of faith in Christ to you so that you will be healed. Just believe in Christ, and His grace will immediately be given to you,” Falalei addressed him. As soon as the patient said that he believed in the Savior with all his soul, the saint set that leg. As soon as the joints touched each other, the veins immediately came together, the wound healed, and the weak lame man got up and ran. However, Falalei did not seek human glory, so he asked the former paralytic not to reveal this miracle to anyone. He did the opposite: he began to run along the roads and proclaim to everyone about the healing he received from the saint. When one demon-possessed woman heard about the miracle, she immediately came to Falaley and, telling him about her misfortune, asked with tears to deliver her from the evil and unclean spirit. At that moment she had a seizure: the demon threw her to the ground and began to torment her. Seeing how the demon was torturing her, the saint took pity on the suffering woman and, crossing her forehead with the sign of the Holy Cross, called on the name of Jesus Christ. And - lo and behold! - The demon immediately left her and ran away. As soon as this wife got rid of the unclean spirit, she went to her home with great joy, loudly proclaiming the greatness of God. On the way, she met a blind man she knew, to whom she said: “Why are you sitting here uselessly? Haven’t you heard that there is one amazing doctor who miraculously heals all the sick, drives out demons, delivers from leprosy and other ulcers? He does not accept any gifts, but teaches and punishes all people to do good deeds, receives all the sick who come to him, puts everyone on a separate bed, finding consolation for everyone. Let me take you to him so that you can receive healing.” With these words, the woman took the blind man, who was blind not only with his physical eyes, but also with his spiritual eyes, because he worshiped idols, and brought him to the saint. The blind man fell to the healer and said: “Until now, I have been pitiful and unhappy, but from now on I will be happy, because you will give light to my eyes,” he said, hoping to receive healing. - Oh man! The ever-watchful eye of God sees the hearts of everyone, their thoughts and actions. So, believe in Christ, the Creator of creation, and your eyes will be healed. If you know the One who is the Physician of souls and bodies, He will heal you,” answered the divine physician. “I will believe in Christ with all my soul, as soon as I see the light in my eyes,” the sufferer exclaimed and, taking the blessed hands of the saint, he placed them on his eyes, and immediately received his sight. After this, having glorified God, he remained with the saint. The fame that Falalei healed the sick in a strange way spread throughout the world, and people began to come to him from everywhere. Under the guise of healing, but in fact to preach the name of Christ, blessed Falaley moved from place to place. So he came to Edessa. However, the devil, a hater of good, could not see how the faith of Christ was increasing, and the feat of some evil people went to the ruler of this area, Tiberian, in order to hand over the saint. At that time, the head of the Roman Empire was King Numerian, who with all his soul was devoted to idolatry and instigated strong persecution against Christians. Therefore, having heard that Saint Thalaleus was preaching the name of Christ, Tiberian immediately sent soldiers to bring him. After a conversation with a Christian doctor, the ruler of Edessa decided that the saint was crazy and released Falaley, ordering him not to walk around the region entrusted to Tiberian anymore. Then the saint went to Cilicia, where, under the pretext of healing, in the same way as before, he preached the name of Christ. But the idolaters slandered him before the ruler of the country of egos, which lies next to the sea. They said that this doctor was deceiving the people and boasting that he healed the sick in the name of Jesus Christ, Crucified by the Jews. In addition, Falaley dishonors the gods and cuts down the sacred trees of Lebanon. Hearing this, the ruler immediately sent servants to bring the saint to him. The soldiers tied up, beat and brought the blessed one to the ruler. His trial began the next day in the Church of Hadrian. Here the ruler asked him to tell about himself. - My homeland is Phenicia, I am the son of free parents, and my name is Falalei. “I am engaged in healing, and I am a Christian, a slave of Jesus Christ,” the doctor said. “I move from place to place to preach faith in Jesus Christ and deliver from idolatry, because no other work pleases God as much as this. Having heard this, the ruler became angry and ordered his ankles to be pierced and then hung upside down by ropes. But under the influence of Divine power, the warriors’ minds became clouded, and instead of Falalei, they punched through and hung some kind of tree, sincerely thinking that they had hanged a saint. Seeing the hanging tree and deciding that the soldiers were mocking him, the ruler cruelly punished them and ordered other servants to beat the martyr with ox sinews, hoping that with this torture he would break him. However, the courageous warrior of Christ remained invincible; the cruel soldiers wounded his body with severe beatings, but could not shake his faith in Christ. It seemed that the martyr did not feel pain at all, but courageously endured torment for the sake of his great love for God. The tyrant was surprised at the patience of this Christian and addressed him with lawless speeches: – Falalei, how do you treat the sick? If you want to know my love, tell me the whole truth, even if you heal them with magic, let me know it too. If you heal them with the power of the gods, then I will believe that it is they who can deliver from any disease, and not Christ, Crucified by the Jews, Who did not promise people any benefits or joys of this world, but only sorrows, dangers and death. Our gods enjoy games, dances, songs, laughter and all sorts of joys. It is they, and not Christ with His Cross, which is the most terrible punishment in the world, that drives away all illness. From the blasphemies uttered by the wicked man against Christ, the martyr felt more pain than from the torment inflicted. And he said: “I am not a magician, and I heal the sick not with magic, and not with the help of your gods, soulless, deaf and insensitive idols who cannot help not only others, but also themselves. In the name of Jesus Christ they fall and are broken. If you want to make sure how I really treat the sick, interview those who received healing. All of them will confirm that they were healed by the Lord Himself and the sign of His Life-giving Cross. Only He can cast out demons, raise the paralytic, restore sight to the blind, raise the dead and heal any disease. The Only Begotten Son of God, seeing that His image - man - was expelled from paradise by His disobedience, deprived of all the benefits bestowed upon Him, enslaved by the devil, fell into idolatry and all the sins that the devil invented, took pity on His creation, descended into the world and became Man in order to save all people. And finally, for the sake of love for us, He was crucified, and with His All-Honest Blood redeemed us and freed us from slavery to the devil. And how much good He did to the world!.. During his earthly life, Jesus Christ healed the paralytic, the deaf, the blind, those with dropsy, the demon-possessed and those suffering from various other diseases, and even raised the dead. He bestowed all kinds of blessings on people, and when He ascended to Heaven, He bestowed upon the apostles and all those who would believe in Him and keep the commandments His grace and power to heal any illness with His holy name and the sign of His Honorable Cross. Therefore, you should have believed in Jesus Christ, the Deliverer and Savior of the world, and left your vain gods in order to acquire eternal life, and not utter blasphemy against Him. Listen to me, ruler, if you only want good for yourself, believe in the True God, and then you will know His mercy and love for mankind, and His power, with which He heals not only physical, but also spiritual illnesses of sinners, for He desires the salvation of all people. “Oh, good avenger of Christ, who became condemned, I will show you now that you trust in your God in vain,” the tyrant said with anger, and immediately rushed to Falaley to punish him with his own hands. But - O Thy miracles, O Christ the King! – at the same moment both of his hands withered. But the damned one did not come to his senses with this either, but ordered the soldiers to torture the martyr with various tortures: scrape him with iron claws, burn him with fire, cut him with knives and subject him to various other tortures. The confessor endured everything with courage and joy, because Christ was with him, who eased his torment. And although the whole body of the martyr was covered in countless wounds, the ascetic himself was firm in his thoughts and, despising all the torture, said to the ruler of Cilicia: “Don’t think that I will be afraid of your punishments and the death with which you frighten me.” I will fight with her with great boldness, because it is better for me to die in faith than to live in wickedness. Even if you crush my earthy fleshly belly, you will not be able to take the treasure of my soul. Even if you pluck me from my physical tabernacle, you cannot deprive me of the mental abode of the Heavenly Kingdom. I used to praise the victories of other courageous martyrs, but now, when I myself am at war, how can I throw away the weapon of my Christ and not win? Christ does not give gifts to the cowardly and careless, nor does he crown those who sleep. Therefore, the burning of your fire is a mockery to me, for the dew of my Savior cools me. All your torments are like leaves of a tree for me, because my thought has become a stone, and I am ready to offer my body to Christ, like a sheep, because I must sacrifice it, just as He was sacrificed for me. “Out of my kindness, I gave him the opportunity to say such words. He is not yet eighteen, and he gives us speeches better than any rhetorician. I thought that through torture I would force him to agree with me, but he is not afraid of them at all, and does not even deviate at all from his goal. Maybe bring him into agreement with me with wealth? But he doesn't value it at all. Maybe flatter him with nice words? But you won’t defeat him with this either. What other way should I try? I will put him in a boat and leave him in the middle of the sea - if he is a pious and good person, then Divine Providence will preserve him, and if he is evil, he will drown according to the Divine verdict, but will not die at my hands,” the judge thought. After this, the martyr of Christ Thalaleus was put into a boat, which began to be tossed violently across the sea. However, the fearless preacher stood in it as if he were on dry land and prayed: “My eyes have lifted up to You, who dwells in Heaven” (Ps. 122:1). I often cried out to You, and You had mercy on me. Have pity on me now, and bring me to a saving haven - may the depths of the sea not swallow me up, may I not lose my martyrdom for You, but may I fulfill my desire to the end - to sacrifice my body to You, my Christ. The eyes of my soul hope in You, Lord, and my patience will help me to be worthy to boldly appear at Your Last Judgment.” And - lo and behold! - the sea seemed to take pity on the saint: at that same hour it calmed down and carried the boat ashore. The tyrant immediately learned about the miracle that had happened and again ordered the martyr to be brought to him. Many idolaters, and especially doctors, who were jealous of the saint, came to look at Falaley. They all shouted vile slander and called on the judge to impose the death sentence. – And you, Falalei, what do you say to these accusations? – the ruler asked the confessor. – God, Whom I worship and serve, will help me, even if the whole world turns against me, because I know: my God gives life even after death. Therefore, I must endure this suffering, without thinking about any bodily torment, and accept death for the love of Christ. “Since no evil demon drowned you in the sea, I will put an end to your life.” “I will order you to be nailed to a board with four nails and doused with boiling tar from head to toe, surrounded with stones and burned with fire until you die,” exclaimed the enraged ruler. When the blessed one heard this, his face became covered with sweat, like a tired athlete, and he began to cry. “The demons left him, and so he was afraid of torment. However, I should also have mercy on him, thought the tyrant, deciding that the confessor was afraid. “Falalei, if you worship the gods, I promise to give you wealth and glory, and for this you will have the mercy and meekness of the gods.” “If you don’t listen to me, you will lose your very life,” the judge said out loud. - I laugh at your mercy and at your gifts. Why are you trying to deceive me and turn me from pious to ungodly? Your wealth is like dust to me. Nothing is a greater gain to me than the pure sacrifice of my body. At the beginning of the torment, my will was firm and unshakable, and now, when I am already approaching the end and expecting victory, you, the most lawless one, are inclining me to fulfill your will? “Torment for me is joy, wounds are glory, dangers are a crown, and I consider the removal of my body as the removal of clothing, because I am strengthened by my hopes in my Christ,” said the courageous ascetic of Christ. “I talked to him a lot, showed great mercy, tortured him with terrible torment, and could not convince him with anything. So many warriors worked uselessly, inflicting wounds and torturing him. He wants to be slaughtered, he wants to die. Why speak to ears that do not listen to you? So, I will sentence him to death,” the emperor’s viceroy became angry. And at the same moment he ordered the release of four terrible lions so that they would tear the saint to pieces. But God again did not leave Falalei without help: the animals became meek, like lambs, settled down near the martyr and played with their tails. The disgraced tyrant did not know what to do. Finally, he took the pencil and signed the death warrant. The Christian doctor was ordered to be killed by beheading with a sword. This happened on May 20/June 2. Saint Thalaley, who endured much suffering, received the crown of martyrdom. And many then, observing the courage, patience and miracles of the confessor, believed in our Lord Jesus Christ and also ended their lives as a martyr for Christ. Among them were: Macarius - the teacher of St. Thalaleos in the art of medicine, the tree bearer Asterius, the warrior Alexander, Sterona, Philegrios, Timothy, Theodula, Macarius and many others. Through their intercession may we also be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen. The exploits of the holy and glorious venerable martyr Paphnutius the Egyptian, hermit, and those like him who suffered 540 martyrs in the year 303 During the time of the most wicked king Diocletian, a certain idolater Arian, an ardent persecutor of Christians, became the ruler of Mysyria. He learned that in the area of ​​​​Gentiria there lived the hermit Paphnutius, a righteous man and revered throughout that region. Unable to bear such people, Arian ordered two of his centurions to bring him, chained in iron. Saint Paphnutius knew nothing about this and, according to his custom, went up the mountain to spend the night. Here, after prayer, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him. “Rejoice, Paphnutius, ascetic of Christ,” the Heavenly resident greeted the saint. “Rejoice, you too, my lord,” the Abba greeted him with praise. “Follow me, Paphnutius, I will cover the house that you began to build as a child with a roof,” the Angel said to the monk, showing that the time had come for Paphnutius to complete the feat of virtue, taken up from his early youth, and accept martyrdom for Christ. - So, go to your cell, put on your priestly vestments, in which, as a priest of the Most High God, you offer Him the Bloodless Sacrifice, and arm yourself. Today I have come to invite you to enjoy the eternal blessings of God and no longer have any worries. The wicked Christ-haters slandered you before the ruler Arian, and he ordered two hundred soldiers to bring you in chains to him for judgment. Take courage and do not be afraid, because I am the Angel of the Lord, and as I was with your parents before, so now I will be with you. And our Lord Jesus Christ will strengthen you and through you will put to shame Arian and his idols, - this is what the evangelist said to the saint. After these words, blessed Paphnutius entered his cell, put on his priestly vestments and left with such joy as if he had been invited to a feast. When he set off on the journey to Mysiri, the Angel took him by the hand and walked next to him, talking with him about Heavenly secrets until they came to the Nile. Here the Angel left him and ascended to Heaven. At the same hour, Paphnutius saw boats mooring to the shore and the ruler Arian, accompanied by his nobles, coming out of one, and soldiers disembarking from the rest. Then the divine Paphnutius approached Arian, who had already settled down on the throne near the mouth of the river, and boldly exclaimed loudly: - I am the Paphnutius you are looking for. Don't bother your warriors to come looking for me. You have troops that seize Christians, shed their blood, and Christians have holy Angels who gather us into the Kingdom of God. I am also a Christian - do with me what you want. - So you are the apostate Paphnutius, who despises the royal laws and dishonors the gods? – the ruler asked furiously. - Why are you, atheist, blaspheming the great gods? – I am not an atheist, but since childhood I have served and worshiped the Living and True God. But you, who have so many gods, are truly an atheist,” answered the confessor. “I swear by the great gods, I will subject you to painful and cruel punishments,” Arian became furious and immediately ordered Paphnutius to be chained hand and foot in iron and held together with other prisoners - thieves and villains. Unable to walk freely, blessed Paphnutius covered the path with great difficulty and, encouraging himself, said: - Paphnutius, think about the lot that fell to you, and remember that our Lord was hanged among the robbers. When the ruler arrived in the city and sat down in the judge’s seat, he immediately demanded that the blessed one be brought. As soon as the saint entered the court, his shackles loosened themselves and, before Arian’s eyes, fell from his arms and legs. - Paphnutius, why are you so mad that you do not sacrifice to the great gods, but prefer to die an evil death? – the ruler began to ask. – For us Christians, such a death is not death, but eternal life, and I will not sacrifice to anyone else except the Almighty God, the King of the ages. Then the judge ordered the instruments of torture to be brought and placed in front of the martyr. “Paphnutius, if you do not listen to me and do not make a sacrifice to the great gods, you will be tormented by all these weapons that you see in front of you.” “Tyrant Arian, do you really think that I will be afraid of your torture and renounce my God?” Let it not happen. I tell you that our life is higher than your torment, and we are not afraid of them at all, because we have been tested and tempered by many deeds and sufferings. Our Lord and Savior, Who gives us the strength to defeat Satan in secret warfare, will also give it in order to overcome your insignificant persecution,” said the warrior of Christ, smiling. “You talk a lot, Paphnutius, but the court will not tolerate your verbosity,” the ruler intimidated the saint, and then ordered the soldiers to hang the martyr and plan his body so that all his entrails fell out and fell to the ground, and the ground around that place turned red with blood. - Lord Jesus Christ, I will not escape Your decree about me, therefore I am ready to die for Your holy name. But I ask Your goodness, do not let me die until I put Arian to shame with his gods, - may those in heaven, and on earth, and in the underworld bow their knees and worship You, and all languages ​​glorify You (Phil. 2:10), - Paphnutius prayed all this time. And as soon as he finished the doxology, an Angel was sent from Heaven, who took him off the hook and, having collected all the entrails, put them in their place. Then he crossed him three times with the Life-Giving Cross and made him completely healthy, as if he had not been subjected to any torture at all. The two soldiers who were whittling the saint, seeing that the Angel had made him completely healthy, believed in Christ and, taking off their belts before the judge, loudly exclaimed with boldness: - Know, Arian, that from now on we are Christians. - Tell me the truth, thrice unfortunate ones, what miracle did you see that made you believe? Or did they become so mad that they despised judgment and renounced their gods and the veneration of kings? – the tyrant was amazed. “What we saw, ruler, we cannot tell you, because it is written in the Christian Scripture: “Thou shalt not give the holy thing to a dog, neither cast your pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6), - the soldiers exclaimed in one voice. - So you equated me with dogs and pigs? “You are even worse than them, because every dumb animal is more righteous than you, for each of them glorifies God with its natural voice.” But you, who have reason and were created in the image of God, deny and dishonor your Creator God. What could be worse than this? - the Christians answered. Very angry, the judge immediately ordered them to be beheaded outside the city. Thus two warriors completed their martyrdom: Dionysius and Callimachus. At this time, the martyr Paphnutius was imprisoned in one of the darkest rooms of the dungeon. The next day, Arian began to deal with the affairs of high-ranking debtors of the state. Since some of them had no money to pay off their debts, the ruler also ordered them to be imprisoned. There were forty such people. On the night they were imprisoned, a bright light shone in the prison - as if the sun had risen. Forty nobles thought that the guard had set fire to the dungeon and wanted to set all the prisoners free. However, the prison guard had nothing to do with it; he himself was surprised at such a bright light that appeared in this gloomy and wretched place in the last two nights, since the Christian Paphnutius was imprisoned here. Then the nobles went to that part of the prison where the martyr was kept and heard that he was praying for the salvation of the city. Opening the door, they went inside and saw him with his arms outstretched to the sky, which glowed like lit torches, and an indescribable fragrance was spread around. At that very moment they fell at his feet and spent the whole night in his cell. Only when dawn did the saint ask them why Arian had put such high gentlemen in prison. Having learned the reason, the ascetic said to them: “Why don’t you listen to me and believe in my God so that you won’t be bothered anymore?” After all, if you confess His holy name, you will be freed from all sinful debts, and the handwriting of your sins will be blotted out, you will become citizens of Heaven and your names will be written forever in the book of life. “From now on and forever, we believe with all our souls and confess the God in whom you also believe,” the nobles answered with enthusiasm. - So, my children, stand up. “Let’s go to the governor, because your names are already written in Heaven,” said Paphnutius and, together with forty nobles, left the prison. “Platform, platform, I came to sue you, because you are together with Apollo, and I am with our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said, approaching the judge’s seat. Then Arian ordered to seize him, but as soon as the soldiers rushed towards the confessor, he became invisible. The princes who approached boldly exclaimed: “And we are Christians, do with us what you want.” -What happened to you? Maybe you were offended that I imprisoned you for debts to the state? - asked the tyrant. – We do not heed your words, but we preferred Heavenly hope and, leaving the temporary, we hope for the eternal. And so that you know our firm intention, we refuse all our estates in your favor. Now our income is in your power, and our wives and children, if they want, let them follow us. If they don’t want to, then let them forgive us. – I see that this is madness! You, like the apostate Paphnutius, are possessed by madness! “Shut your mouth and be silent, don’t blaspheme the man of God,” the nobles shouted. At these words, the ruler flared up with anger and became like a madman himself. First, he ordered the former courtiers to be tortured for a long time, and then taken to a deserted place and thrown into a huge blazing fire. So all of them, holding one another by the hand, ended their lives in the fire and received martyr’s crowns. After disappearing from the court, Saint Paphnutius wandered around the city and, seeing the door of a rich house open, entered it and asked the gatekeeper: - Let me drink some water. “Father, come into the house,” the maid answered and ran after her mistress so that she could come out to look at the blessed one, who had performed many miracles before the ruler Arian. Having learned the news, the hostess immediately went down to the courtyard of the house and bowed to him, who looked like an Angel of God. “Truly, all my wealth is not worth it for you to enter my house.” Oh, if only I could be glorified today with Divine glory, because you came to us,” she said, led the martyr into her house and seated him on a silver throne. “My daughter, why do you need so much gold and silver, like someone who boasts of vain hopes?” “Listen to me, my child, choose for yourself an angelic and immortal life, instead of these earthly and perishable blessings,” the monk said smilingly. These words surprised the mistress’s daughter, who was in the next room, and she, dressed in precious clothes, with a golden crown on her head, immediately came into the living room to see who had said them. Then Saint Paphnutius rose from the throne and sat down on the floor, and the mother and daughter did the same, sitting at his honest feet. “Children, leave behind the vain and perishable wealth that you have, because it is written: “Your wealth has rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten.” Your gold and silver is rusty, and rust... will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire” (James 5:2-3). Only the glory of the Lord and His Kingdom will endure forever,” the Abba began his sermon. Before the divine Paphnutius finished these words, the head of the family came, and his wife immediately came out to him to inform him of the arrival of Paphnutius, but before she even had time to say a word to him, he himself spoke: - Why didn’t I have the honor of being with other nobles who were awarded eternal life? How good it would be if I found that man called Paphnutius and brought him to my house so that he would pray for us, so that we too would be called by God and be worthy of His glory. “Your wish has been fulfilled, my lord, because in your house is the servant of God Paphnutius, adorned with all virtue and wisdom,” the wife answered her husband Eustorgius, who immediately joyfully entered the house, saw the confessor, fell to the ground and bowed to him. “Truly, my beloved son, the Lord has sent me to you today, because you are truly chosen vessels.” “So, do not hesitate, get up and let’s go to the judge to boldly confess the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to receive the Heavenly crown,” the martyr called and, rising, went first, followed by Eustorgius on the right, and his wife Hermione on the left, and their daughter Stefano in front. - My Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, behold, we left our door open for the sake of Your Holy Name. And you, my Lord, open the doors of Heaven to us and show us the true light that You promised to those who love You,” Hermione began to pray. “Platform, platform, I have come again to sue you, because you are with Apollo, and I am with my Lord Jesus Christ,” Paphnutius again exclaimed, approaching the judge. Very angry at these words, Arian jumped up and, like a wild wolf, ran to grab the saint with his own hands. But the Angel of the Lord took him away from the crowd and the warrior of Christ disappeared. And Eustorgius, Hermione and her daughter Stefano climbed onto the platform and boldly exclaimed: “And we are Christians, do with us what you want.” - Evstorgy, have you all been fed madness from the same source? Or don’t you know that I judge robbers and sacrileges? Bow down to the great gods of kings and go in peace to your home. “If you don’t listen to me, you will die an evil death,” the judge said with rage. “Don’t let this worry you, I’m not the type to fall for your bait or be seduced by the instigations of your father the devil and your mother lawlessness,” Evstorgius objected. Then Arian tried to convince Stefano to sacrifice to the pagan gods. But the daughter was adamant: “I will never offer a sacrifice to your unclean gods, but I will offer my body as a living sacrifice, pleasing to the Heavenly God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Unusually angry after these words, the judge ordered the girl to be hanged and her body to be whittled in front of her parents, and while the soldiers were mercilessly whittling her, the mother encouraged her daughter with these words: “My sweetest child, endure the torment a little longer and you will emerge victorious, you will receive a victorious crown from God.” You know, my dearest daughter, that I have prepared a huge dowry for you to marry you to the first man in the city, but now, my dear child, you will receive a true and eternal dowry, for Your Bridegroom is immortal, and the bridal chamber, where you will enter, emits an eternal and endless fragrance. Just endure to the end, and you will be crowned and glorified. “Be strong and take heart, daughter, for now I know that I am worthy to be called by God to His imperishable bridal chamber.” “I rejoice and am glad, because before myself I sent you as a gift to the Lord Christ,” Stefano’s father supported him. While the honest parents encouraged their only child, the soldiers trimmed her entire body down to the entrails, and blessed Stefano betrayed her holy soul into the hands of God. The parents laid their dead eighteen-year-old daughter in front of the ruler, and he immediately ordered their beheading. This is how all three completed their martyrdom and ascended to Heaven in glory. The courageous ascetic of Christ Paphnutius prayed to God at night, and during the day he walked around the city in search of those whom he knew would believe in Christ and accept the crown of martyrdom. So, one day he met sixteen boys going to school. They were the children of just those forty nobles who suffered martyrdom. “My beloved children, I marvel at how you endured separation from your fathers, who chose the pleasure of Christ and reigned in Heaven, now rejoicing with the Angels. Oh, if only you, my dear children, would all listen to me together and believe in God, and follow me to the ruler to confess Jesus Christ, the True God and King of the Ages, because if you go to Christ, the teacher of truth, you will be taught the wisdom of the holy Angels,” the saint addressed them. The youths immediately heeded his words, believed in Christ and all said together: - Let's go, Father Paphnutius, to the ruler, nothing will hinder us in our desire, because from now on we have become strangers to this vain world, because our hearts have been filled with the Holy Spirit, they have ascended to Heaven, to where our fathers are. Then the divine Paphnutius, like a good shepherd, went ahead of his flock. - Platform, platform, I have come against you again. “You are together with Apollo, Arian, and I am with the Lord Jesus Christ,” the confessor proclaimed, as before, upon reaching the judgment seat. The ruler again ordered the soldiers to draw their swords and surround the saint, but the martyr was immediately taken away from the crowd and became invisible. At that moment those sixteen youths came to judgment. – And we are Christians! - they exclaimed. -Where are your parents? “For you are still youths, unable to answer, go and play,” the tyrant addressed them in bewilderment. “We are the children of forty nobles who previously suffered martyrdom.” We are already old enough, ask us whatever you want, and we will answer you,” the young men said. “Make a sacrifice to the gods, so as not to perish from torment,” Arian once again turned to them, but the youths did not listen to him, but just as boldly confessed Christ. “My child, what will you gain by dying an evil death?” – the ruler did not let up, turning to the youngest of the youths. – Listen to what I advise you, like your father. You will be in great honor with me, I will give you a lot of money, I will write to the king, and he will elevate you to high dignity. Just make a sacrifice to the great gods: Apollo and Artemis, about whom the king wrote, because they are living gods. -Where is the decree of your king? – asked the thirteen-year-old confessor. The ruler ordered the decree to be brought, then kissed it and gave it to the youth, who read the names of the seventy glorified gods. After this, the tyrant threw a handful of incense onto the altar and called on the soldier of Christ to do the same. But the witness of the true faith did not throw incense onto the church, but the decree of the king. “There is one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he shouted to the whole court. The idol priests, watching how the royal decree burned, became darkened in their minds, began to tear out their hair and inflict wounds on their bodies with knives. And Arian, very indignant at the boy’s act, and at the same time marveling at his courage, ordered this child to be thrown onto the altar. At this moment, many idolaters froze in amazement at the prudence of the martyr. “Brother, remember us at the throne of the Most High God, the Creator of everything, and implore Him for us.” Just as, because of your prudence, you became the firstfruits of God and the first of us to bring Him a worthy gift, so we, following your example, will become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven along with our fathers, said his classmates and peers. The youth, being on fire, looked up at Heaven and thanked God, betraying his holy soul into the hands of God. The judge, having written down the names of all the other young men, ordered them to be pierced with spears. And blessed Paphnutius still walked and looked for other lost ones, alien to true piety. So he wandered to the river bank, where there were about eighty people. “Rejoice, children, in the Lord,” he exclaimed, turning to them. - Why didn’t you come to struggle, because the time has come for the struggle and you have a payment for it. Listen to me at least now, and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the ages. Profess His holy name before the judge, and the Lord will grant you eternal life. After these words, everyone who listened to the Christian preacher believed in One God, received the Holy Spirit and glorified the Creator. And at that same hour, leaving the boats, for they were fishermen, they headed to the city. And again Paphnutius came first to the judge and again exclaimed: - Platform, platform, I have come against you again. You are with Apollo, Arian, and I will defeat you with my Lord Jesus Christ. Then the judge became very angry and ordered the soldiers to surround the martyr. This time the Angel of the Lord encouraged the saint so that he could resist the tyrant, but did not take the blessed one, as he had done before. Having grabbed Paphnutius, the soldiers tied him up. At that moment, eighty fishermen entered the judgment seat. “And we are Christians,” they exclaimed boldly. -Who laughed at you so that you would die an evil death? – Aryan asked them. “We came here to shame both you and your idols.” - Villains, why do you, at the moment when I speak to you meekly, answer me with such shamelessness? – the tyrant was indignant and ordered to beat the fishermen mercilessly. Then seventy of them came up and smashed the judge's throne. In response, the soldiers pulled out their swords and inflicted wounds on them, after which the ruler ordered the martyrs to be put to death. They were all brought into the desert and cut into pieces. After this, the tyrant Arian began to judge Saint Paphnutius. - Oh, renegade, villain and magician. “Now I will make sure that everyone standing here will know: Jesus Christ, in whom you believe and whom you call, will not deliver you from my hands,” the ruler threatened and ordered the confessor to be lifted onto an iron wheel, which was sharp on top, like a knife blade, and on the bottom, like a saw. Crushed by this satanic wheel, the saint was cut into four pieces. - Where is your God, Paphnutius, why didn’t He come to deliver you from my hands? Have you now learned that there is no other god except Apollo, Zeus, Artemis and Athena? “They are all living gods who gave power to King Diocletian,” the wicked man said in a loud voice, and then ordered the body of the martyr to be removed from the wheel and placed on the wing of the idol church so that birds would eat it. The body of the saint lay on the porch of the church, but not a single bird touched it, because the Angel of the Lord covered it. After this, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself descended from Heaven, together with the Archangel Michael, on the right hand, and the Archangel Gabriel, on the left, and stood before the body of Paphnutius. The angels collected his dissected members and united them into one. The Savior, stretching out his right hand, said: “The hand that created the primordial man is creating you again.” With these words He breathed into his body the breath of life. And - lo and behold! – the saint immediately came to life and began to glorify God. – My beloved and faithful servant Paphnutius. Go and denounce the shameless Arian, who blasphemes My name,” said the Lord and ascended to Heaven. The saint came to the square where Arian stood and shouted to him: – Do you recognize me, Arian? I am God's servant Paphnutius, whom you cut into pieces, but by the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ I have risen again and am talking to you. Why do you blaspheme the name of my God and Creator of all things? Behold, the Lord has raised me up so that I can expose your wickedness and so that everyone will know your powerlessness, because you serve deaf and blind idols made of insensitive substance. Then, seeing that Saint Paphnutius had risen from the dead, prepositus (the emperor’s confidant) Eusebius believed in Christ and said to the four hundred soldiers who were under his authority: “Listen to me, brothers, and believe in the God of Heaven and earth, who resurrected His servant Paphnutius and sent him to convict Arian of his error and vain hope in idols, so that others would believe that there is no other God but our Lord Jesus Christ.” Just as I made a beginning by opening the path of faith to you, so our Lord will open the path to Heaven for you. And immediately everyone with one voice confessed Christ as the True God. “And I am a Christian,” exclaimed blessed Eusebius, appearing before Arian. “And we are Christians, do with us what you want,” the soldiers boldly supported their leader. “I do not have the power to judge you, but go to another ruler, higher than me, so that he judges you,” the tyrant said, frozen in amazement. “You have been given the power, Arian, to judge me,” Eusebius insisted. – I don’t want to hear anything about Christians! - the judge shouted. “Then admit that there is no other God but the One Who dwells in Heaven, reject idols in order to live with us forever,” the military leader urged him to admit that he was wrong. “May it never happen that I renounce the gods, because Apollo and Artemis are living gods,” Arian was angry in his delusion. Then, taking a handful of sand in both hands, Eusebius threw it in the face of the ruler. – The power of you and your gods is like sand. “Do the works of your father, Satan,” the defender of the Christian faith denounced the ruler. Unusually angry, the governor ordered Eusebius to be beaten, promising a long and painful death until the king heard that he had insulted the court. - I swear by the power of my Lord Jesus Christ that not even one day will pass before I partake of the mystical meal (i.e., die on the same day) of my Lord, and you will not be able to do what you want unless you sign my death warrant. Having mounted the chariot, the ruler went where he intended, but on the way back, when he wanted to get off it, he was unable to do so. However, this did not lead him to repentance: the lawless man ordered lunch to be brought directly to his chariot. When the cook, having filled the tray with various dishes, brought them to the ruler, and Arian had already extended his hand to the tray, it immediately withered, so that he could not move it. Then his co-ruler began to call on the tyrant to leave this city, which “is in danger of death because of the sorcery of Paphnutius.” Indignant at the troubles that happened to him, Arian ordered the prepositus to be burned alive along with the soldiers in four ovens. So they all died in the Lord, receiving the crown of martyrdom on the same day. After this, Arian left the city and ordered the martyr Paphnutius to follow him. On the Nile River, the ruler ordered a millstone to be tied around the neck of the confessor and thrown into the river. He himself got into the boat and sailed to another area, but soon Saint Paphnutius appeared in front of his ship with a millstone around his neck and said: - Arian, Arian, you need a boat and wind to sail, but I don’t need either a boat or wind, because my Pilot is the Lord Jesus Christ. You send people who prepare a dwelling for you, and I prepare rational souls for my Lord so that they can dwell in His heavenly palaces. “We won’t let this man follow us, because he will destroy the whole country with his magic,” said co-ruler Ariana, and the tyrant did not know what to do. Therefore, he ordered everything that happened to the martyr to be written down, and then, together with Paphnutius himself, he handed over this manuscript to four soldiers and sent them along with the venerable martyr to King Diocletian. After reading the notes, the emperor was surprised and decided to immediately betray the divine Paphnutius to be crucified. The soldiers nailed the saint to a dry date palm tree outside the city. Being crucified, the blessed one blessed and glorified God, and that dry palm tree, at the command of God, immediately blossomed and gave twelve branches hung with fruits. Then the soldiers who crucified the confessor believed in Christ. When Paphnutius was crucified, it was two o'clock in the afternoon, and he gave up his soul to Christ, receiving from Him the unfading crown of torment, at the ninth hour. After the soldiers buried him with honors on September 25/October 8, they themselves went to Diocletian and confessed our Lord Jesus Christ to him, disgracing the king’s idols. The angry tyrant immediately ordered their heads to be cut off. Thus, those who through the blessed Paphnutius ended their lives as martyrdom were five hundred and forty-six people. They inherited the eternal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. The life and exploits of our holy father Niphon, Bishop of Constantiana of Alexandria, who shone in the 4th century In the days of the great Tsar Constantine, there was a dignitary named Savvaty in Constantinople at the royal court. He was an experienced warrior and military leader of the city of Almiropol, where he was received with great honors. Savvaty was especially loved by the ruler Agapit, who began to visit him often along with his son Niphon, an eight-year-old boy. Once a military leader asked Agapit if his son knew how to read and write, to which the ruler answered in the negative, since there were no teachers in all of Almiropol. Then Savvaty offered to send Niphon to study the sacred sciences in Constantinople and allowed him to live in his house. Agapit was very happy and, thanking Savvaty, gave him the child, whom he sent to his home in Constantinople. Upon arrival there, Niphon was kindly received by the military leader's wife and given to become acquainted with the sacred sciences with an experienced and God-fearing teacher. Niphon studied with great diligence and eagerness, devoting not only the day but also the night to his lessons. So in a short time he mastered many sciences, but, nevertheless, he forced himself to study even more. Niphon had great reverence for God and attended Church services. Here he became acquainted with the feats of martyrdom of the saints and was amazed at their courage and zeal for God. The youth found the lives of saints, saints and martyrs and read them carefully - so he loved silence and silence, meekness and humility. Even as a child, Niphon was like an old man in his deeds. He was also distinguished by his extraordinary mercy and concern for the poor. Having heard from one spiritual husband that, in addition to everything else, it is necessary to observe virginity, he said to himself: “Will I be able to achieve this virtue, because considerable violence is required in order to avoid kindling the flesh? But from now on, with God’s help, I will no longer look at women’s faces.” And from then on he began to pay more attention to himself and did not look at any woman. After Niphon came into good prosperity and became older, he remembered his parents and homeland, and decided to leave Constantinople. The military leader's wife was childless and wanted to keep him in order to adopt him and make him heir to their estate, because she saw Niphon's prosperity and virtue. Unable to convince him, because Niphon had a strong desire to see his parents, she became greatly saddened. Then the steward of their house asked her to transfer Niphon to his care, so that the pious young man would forget about both his parents and his homeland. The housekeeper introduced Nifon to other peers and began taking him to parties. The young and simple-minded Niphon, as if in order to receive consolation in grief for his parents, indulged in drinking, gluttony, and carousing, for youth easily leans towards evil. According to the general belief, “bad communities corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). Darkened in mind by debauchery, the once quiet, silent, meek and humble Niphon became a verbose talker, a scolder, a scoffer, sang songs and danced. He completely forgot his parents, relatives, homeland and, abandoning all his activities and virtues, completely and completely surrendered to a dissolute lifestyle. Seeing what a pitiful state he had fallen into, one pious and kind Christian often said to him: “Woe to you, Niphon! How could you indulge in these disgusting activities? Why don’t you come to your senses and correct yourself?” At such moments, Niphon groaned and cried, thinking about the ugly actions that he indulged in, but still, overcome by a bad habit, he could not leave them. One day he went to see his friend Nicodemus, who suddenly looked at his face and froze. - Why are you looking at me like that? Or won't you recognize it? – Niphon asked his friend. “Believe me, brother, I don’t know what to tell you: your face is ugly and black, like a blackamoor,” answered the comrade. Hearing this, the young man understood: it became so because of his ugly deeds. Niphon was overcome with great shame, he covered his face with his hands and ran away. “Woe to me, three times unfortunate, that I have come to such a pitiful state!” What should I do, pathetic one? Will I be able to correct myself and repent, and if I repent, will I receive salvation? Oh, who will guide me? Who will let me know that if I repent and correct myself, I will find mercy? How can I ask God to have mercy on me when I have committed so much evil? – until late at night the young man thought about this and much more. Due to intense grief, he could not eat anything and went to bed on an empty stomach. “I’ll get out of bed and say at least one prayer to God,” he thought resolutely. But the hater of good, the devil, knowing this, began to arouse strong fear in his soul and brought to mind the following thought: “If you get up at night to pray, you will go crazy, and everyone will laugh at you.” With this thought, Satan greatly confused and frightened the young man. But he, having defeated him, said to himself: - When I spent my nights fulfilling my bad will, I was not exposed to any evil, can I really be exposed to it now, when I want to pray? Anathema to you, evil and unclean spirit, for giving me such a thought. And at that same hour Niphon zealously got out of bed to pray. But as soon as he turned to the east, a black cloud appeared and stood in front of him, causing such fear that he, as if in a daze, climbed onto the bed and lay as if dead, trembling for his sins and reflecting on the obstacle that the devil had erected for him to pray. A little time passed since that night and, blaming himself, the young man went to church. Standing up in the church, he looked up and saw above his head an icon with the image of the Mother of God. “Oh, Most Holy Theotokos, Mother of mercy and mercy, have mercy on me, a sinner, and help me according to Your great mercy,” he prayed from the depths of his soul. And at that moment, the Mother of God miraculously turned to him from the icon and looked at him with a very joyful and meek gaze. Niphon received considerable spiritual consolation, and the fire of love for the Mother of God kindled in his heart. - Look, poor soul, how God loves us and how He accepts us, wanting our salvation, but we leave Him. Reflections, unfortunate one, like the Mother of God, a quick Helper to Christians, immediately helped me,” said the young man and left the church, glorifying God. The next day, on the way to church, Niphon met a man who had committed a sin, and not only condemned the unfortunate man in his thoughts, but hated him. When Niphon entered the church and looked up at the icon of the Mother of God, he saw that the Most Pure Virgin looked at him angrily and turned away. This greatly confused the young man. Checking himself, he realized that the Lady Mother of God had turned away from him for his thoughts with which he condemned another. Immediately falling to the ground and confessing his sin, he wept bitterly and began to pray to the Blessed Virgin for forgiveness. After some time, looking at the face of the Mother of God, Niphon again saw that She was looking at him joyfully. So, consoled, he left the church. And from that time on, when he sinned in something, he was rebuked by the Mother of God, who turned Her face away from him. Once in a dream, Niphon saw himself in a large house and, standing in one part of it, suddenly saw many black murins rushing at him in great anger and threatening him with death. Then he rushed to another part of the house, where he discovered a church. Running there, he got rid of the attackers. After that, he opened the door slightly and decided to move to another part of the house, but the murins, hiding in the corners, rushed at him again. Then Niphon again fled to the church. He saw this dream for a whole week, and it meant the following: it is impossible to get rid of evil demons if you do not visit church often and do not constantly pray to God. That is why from that time on Niphon began to often visit the church and pray to the Lord for deliverance from the demonic wiles. However, the crafty and unclean spirit of foul language and abuse did not stop rebelling against blessed Niphon and did everything to make him scold people, as before. But the young man prayed fervently and asked God to cast out this demon. One night Niphon saw the first martyr Stephen in a dream. – Greetings, Niphon, servant of God. Your residence is good, but you defile it with foul language and abuse. Believe me, if you begin to strive to drive out the demon forcing you to fight, then I will help you,” the holy archdeacon turned to him. When the young man woke up, he thanked Saint Stephen, took a small pebble, put it in his mouth, and walked like that for several days in silence, not scolding anyone. If he nevertheless happened to be seduced by the devil, he immediately went to a secret place and beat himself forcefully with his fist, saying: “I will make you humble yourself, you will learn from me meekness and silence, so as not to be angry and not to scold.” So the blessed one made it a rule to beat himself with his fist forty times every day, and if on any day he encountered abuse or temptation from some passion, he beat himself a hundred or two hundred times. Ruthlessly beating himself, the ascetic lost a lot of weight and very often fainted from pain and lay on the ground as if dead. - Woe to you, unfortunate Niphon! If you cannot endure even this small pain, how can you endure the unbearable torment of hell? But take heart, because the more the outer man decays, the more the inner man, that is, the soul, is renewed (2 Cor. 4:16), the saint admonished himself in these moments. - Unhappy Niphon, why don’t you have mercy on your body, but beat it so mercilessly? - the devil tempted him. “You wicked demon, have you come to order me around here too?” If you had flesh, and you fell into my hands, then I would show you how Niphon can punish,” the unclean ascetic put to shame. One day the evil one raised up a battle of gluttony against him. “Go, unclean spirit, to the dung pit, where people relieve themselves, and eat what you are inclining me to,” Niphon repelled such attacks. The same one, out of his malice, did not retreat, but after a while he rebelled again, more violently, acting through the same passion. But blessed Niphon hoped for God’s help: “I will eat and drink today to show you, Satan, that even in this way you cannot interfere with my prayer, because I have God as an assistant,” he said to himself. “Consider, Niphon, that just as a dog barks after eating and drinking, so you, now that you have tasted the gifts of God, must thank God, who has filled you with His blessings,” the ascetic thought after the meal. And then he went to the church and prayed: - Glory to Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast filled us with Thy earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Thy Heavenly Kingdom, according to Thy great mercy. Thus he trampled upon the devil, as if saying to him: - Look, evil and unclean spirit, I ate and drank, but I was not expelled from the church, nor did I encounter any obstacles in prayer. Be ashamed and go into outer darkness. Then the demonic forces induced a deep sleep on Niphon. But the saint did not humble himself, he took a stick in his hands and beat his body with it. - Evil servant, I gave you food and drink, and you are also looking for sleep? - he said, and at the same time he beat himself even harder so that sleep would escape from the pain, and he, awake, would remain in prayer. A little time passed, and the crafty demon, unable to bear victory over himself, using various methods, raised an even more terrible abuse against Niphon: he wanted to plunge the saint into fornication. However, the blessed ascetic understood why it could arise and said to himself: “Humble Niphon, again there is a need to make a beginning.” From that day on, he ate only stale bread - sometimes all week, sometimes once every two days, and sometimes he abstained from food all week. Then he ate the bread again, but did not drink the water. Often, when he was thirsty, he would put a vessel of water in front of him and look at it in order to torment himself even more. Many times the devil tried to tempt Niphon, but during the day he failed. Then the unclean one attacked him at night, in a dream, showing shameful visions and causing the ascetic to leak semen. The Divine Niphon immediately stood up and, taking a stick, hit his private parts so hard that they turned black. This battle with the demon of fornication continued for fourteen years in a row. All these years the ascetic suffered greatly, often beating himself with stones, because he was indignant and very sad because of the next appearance of shameful thoughts and desires imposed on him by the unclean. All this time, the Lord tested his strength of spirit and still delivered Niphon from this battle. One day the saint had a dream: he stood on the plain, covered to the chest with sewage. Then a man dressed in white clothes appeared and ordered him to follow him. As soon as they reached the pit, full of stench, he ordered Niphon to shake off this uncleanness. Having done this, he felt relieved and glorified God. From that time on, if the demon of fornication suddenly attacked him, it no longer harmed him at all. While praying one night, Saint Niphon saw a bright light, which filled him with great joy and indescribable joy. And at that moment the monk heard a voice: - I will give you power against evil demons. Only you, Niphon, pay close attention to yourself, so as not to be exalted, but to remain in great humility, for I very much love the humble, but I hate and turn away from the proud. That is why, if you want Me to love you, then cultivate humility, do not slander anyone, do not laugh at anyone, do not have hatred for anyone, even if you see your neighbor sinning, for such people are already destined for terrible torment. After this event, the monk especially tried to comply with everything that was said. One day, during the hour of prayer, the saint saw himself walking along the road with others. Suddenly many terrible and dark demons appeared in front of them and did not allow them to pass. Everyone got scared and stood up, and at that moment someone in shiny clothes appeared. -Why did you get up and not go your way? - he asked Niphon. – Because I’m afraid of those dark demons. – Have you ever prayed to God to give you humility? – I always ask God for humility. “Here, God has sent you humility,” said the ascetic’s interlocutor. And then it seemed to Niphon that the heavenly guest cut his chest and, taking out his heart, inserted a new and wondrous one. With him, the saint fearlessly continued the path he had begun. The dark demons were very embarrassed by this and gnashed their teeth, being unable to prevent him, and Niphon’s other companions turned to the one who had appeared with a request to do with them the same as with the monk, so that they too could continue to move forward without fear. “You too ask God through prayer and fasting for what Niphon asked, and the Almighty will give it to you, because if you don’t ask, you won’t receive, and if you don’t receive, you won’t be able to walk this path,” the bright Angel instructed them. Niphon always said: “Woe to me, a sinner.” And if someone bowed to him, then the ascetic with his thoughts went to hell or to the feet of the brother who bowed to him, and humiliated himself, comparing himself with the lowest sinner who had never done anything good. The saint was greatly disgusted by human glory. Whenever he wanted to give alms to some beggar, he was the first to bow his head before him, because he saw in him Christ asking for alms. It seemed that Niphon rejoiced more than that beggar, because in his image he was honored to give alms to the Lord Himself. In those days when the evil and unclean demon of blasphemy rose up against him, the ascetic ate ​​stale bread every evening and spent the whole night in kneeling prayers. So he spent four years and, with God’s help, won the victory: this sin no longer bothered him. Niphon had zeal and diligence for prayer. Often, while walking along the road, he turned off it and went to a secluded place, where, kneeling, he fell to the ground and prayed for a very long time, so that, due to the death of his limbs, he managed to get up with great difficulty. “Lord my God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, forgive me my sins, drive away from me all wickedness, envy, slander, anger, negligence, pride, love of money, unmercifulness, insensibility, passion for argument, enmity, gluttony, drunkenness, incitement, lasciviousness and the bitterest glory of man.” “Hey, my God, take everything away from me,” so the saint prayed to the Lord. Every night he prepared himself as if for burial: before going to bed, he read the Trisagion and some troparia from the Follow-up for burial, two chapters from the Gospel and two more from the Epistles of the Holy Apostles. Then, having crossed himself and his bed three times and anointed his forehead and chest with holy oil from the lamp from the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, he indulged in a short sleep. Every Sunday he spent the whole night awake. Even on Saturday evening he got up to pray and remained in it until dawn, without sitting down even once during this time. In addition, in spring, summer and autumn, he also prayed from dawn to the third hour with his hands raised to the sky. The ascetic loved silence very much and, as much as possible, avoided communication with people. He spent most of his time in silence and felt great sweetness from this, which cannot be said about us: leaving silence, we rush to talk, communicate and are deprived of this joy, due to our foolishness finding ourselves in the throat of Satan, that is, in confusion and embarrassment from this world. Niphon also took care of keeping the mind from evil thoughts and never tired of repeating: - Pay close attention to yourself, Niphon, so that the destroyer does not steal your feelings, and you are not seduced again, as before. The saint spoke this way because at the beginning of his repentance, when he mourned his sins, the spirit of vanity came to him, brought with it false heartfelt joy and drove out all sorrow. At this time, the thought settled in him that he was a blessed great ascetic and there was no other person like him in the world. At these moments, the demon spread a fragrance, as if the Angels of God were taking care of Niphon’s exploits and fumigating him with incense. So the saint was deceived and fell into vanity. But God did not abandon His child; He gave him the gift of reasoning. Now, when such thoughts came to Niphon, he immediately recognized them and mourned, because the person who accepts them is far from God and will follow Dennitsa, who slept from Heaven due to arrogance. This was the only way he could drive them away. Over time, he learned not to accept them at all and to reject them with shame. One day one brother came to the divine Niphon and said that he was very bothered by blasphemous thoughts, and most of all, during the hour of prayer, many heresies, anger and curses against Christ, the Mother of God and holy icons came to his mind. This made the monk despair; he was very afraid that fire would come down from heaven and burn him. – Thoughts of blasphemy come from the evil one, who brings them to a person’s mind in order to confuse and plunge him into despair. That is why you should not be afraid of them and pay attention to them: they do not come from the person praying, and therefore cannot harm him in any way. They will go away if you despise them and approach everything with understanding, because such thoughts are from the devil, they cannot cause any harm to a soul that does not want them. Just as the waves of the sea beat against the stones lying on the shore and, without causing them any harm, return back, so blasphemous thoughts, encountering the mind of a person who is firm in faith, do not harm him at all, but turn on the head of the demon who brought them. Then, unable to do anything, defeated and ashamed, he runs away. And the monk who has been subjected to temptation is not condemned, but, moreover, is crowned as a winner. Take heed to yourself, brother, do not slander anyone, because blasphemous thoughts often come from slander,” the ascetic strengthened his brother and sent him away in peace. “In one city there lived a pious and God-fearing man, who showed numerous benefits to his neighbors and loved everyone as the Angels of God,” the ascetic told one layman. “But those who were blessed by him with the assistance of the devil hated him: some considered the righteous man a wicked man, others - an evil one, and still others - a heretic, and therefore they slandered him uncontrollably. The layman listened to this and, rejoicing immensely, thanked God and prayed to the Almighty: “Lord, have mercy on those who hate, slander and scold me, and do not punish them for my sake, either in this age or in the future, but crush the evil demons that have risen up against me. And just as You do not turn away from me, the sinner, so do not abandon those who hate and slander Your evil servant, but save them according to Your infinite mercy, May Your most holy name be glorified forever. Amen". Thus, the pious gentleman managed to avoid the passion of rancor, and those who condemned him, seeing his love, came to their senses and corrected themselves. The saint did not encourage those who give money to musicians and actors, singers and dancers, because they make this sacrifice not to God, but to the devil: – Just as the Angels of the Lord stand next to those who pray and carry their prayer to God, so with those who sing and dance, dark demons are nearby and bring their antics as a sacrifice to their boss, Satan. But those who want to find mercy from God must pray often and not let the mind be distracted by foreign objects, but collect it and direct it to prayer. That is why it is necessary to attend services in church, to listen to the word of God with the greatest attention and reverence, not to talk to each other in the church, not to laugh, not to read or sing with vanity, shouting unruly, because by doing this, instead of appeasing God, they only anger Him,” Niphon instructed. People began to come to the monk more and more often for soul-searching advice. He first bowed to all of them, and then said: - Forgive me, brothers, because I, being blind, compelled by your love, want to be a guide for others. And only after this, with great humility, Saint Niphon instructed them with his divinely inspired speeches. – Why did the ancients spend their lives in peace, while we now live with great confusion and many sorrows? – a certain brother once asked him. - Because they had a strong love for the Lord and their neighbor, adhered to righteousness and truth, and when they wanted to make a sacrifice to God, or give alms to the poor, they offered only the best, pure, undefiled by any deceit and untruth. That's why they lived in peace - the Creator heard all their requests. We do the opposite: we love ourselves more than the Creator and our neighbor, we neither adhere to the truth nor preserve the truth, but spend our lives in evil and deceit. We keep all the best for ourselves, deifying our womb. We serve him, and we bring to the Almighty and our neighbor everything worthless and useless. Because of this, the All-Merciful One does not hear our petitions, and we are subjected to many sorrows and temptations,” the ascetic answered him. “When I came to my senses from my sins and began works of repentance, not even three years had passed when one evening the thought came to me that, for so long now, I had been asking God, but He had not given me any gift. I have defiled Holy Baptism with my sins, and God does not hear me. With these sorrowful thoughts I fell asleep and had a dream. I was in a beautiful church, where our Lord Jesus Christ sat on the Throne of Glory. Raising my hands to Him, I began to pray with the words of the Psalter: “Hear, O God, my prayer and do not hide from my prayer” (Ps. 55:2). And the Almighty, bowing his head, listened to my prayer that the evil spirit of timidity would depart from me. “I heard your prayer, it will be for you as you asked,” the Lord said to me, and a little later he turned to me again: - Niphon, Niphon, this evening you saddened Me with your thoughts that you have been asking Me for so long, but I have not given you any gift. But don’t you ask Me every day not to give you earthly glory? What gift are you talking about then? The gift of tongues, or the gift of prophecy, or the gift of healings, or something else? But you yourself do not want and do not ask them, so that people do not glorify you for this. Tell me, isn't what you have a gift? The air that you breathe, the sky, the earth, the sea and everything that is in them and on them, have I not given this to you as a gift? And what did you people give me for this? Nothing. But it’s even worse: instead of retribution, they spat on Me, strangled Me, beat Me, nailed Me to the Cross, gave Me vinegar and bile to drink... But My Body and My Blood, which I gave you, is not a gift? And what are the riches of the whole earth? Birds of the air, fish of the sea and everything else, aren’t they a gift? Is it not a gift that for the sake of love for you I died and was buried, and delivered you from hell, and brought you into My Kingdom? Who else among you has done as much good for you? How can you say that I have not given you any gift? Now look and you will see that the spirit of cowardice is bound. At that moment, Niphon saw a bull opposite him, so tightly tied to a post that he could not move, he only furiously rolled his eyes, looking for a way to break the bonds. From that time on, with the help of God, the ascetic got rid of the passion of timidity, which to a large extent possessed him from a very young age. For example, when he wanted to go to church at night, or when he had a terrible dream. One young man, who led a righteous life, came to the saint and asked him to say a word about the salvation of his soul. – If you, child, really want to save your soul by living among people, then do the following: do not be at enmity with anyone, never have hatred for anyone, do not judge, do not slander, never think that you are living a holy life, do not be proud, do not talk or think about who is virtuous and who is sinful, but treat everyone equally, with a pure heart, as members Christ's. In addition, do not listen to those who slander, do not be quick in speech, and be hasty in prayer. Do not take revenge, do not be at enmity with the one who harmed you or condemned you, but have compassion and love him as your benefactor. Always think about your sins, blaspheme yourself and be at enmity with yourself. Be humble, pure in soul and body from all filth, be meek, calm, peaceful, friendly with everyone, kind, compassionate, merciful, adorned with all righteousness and truth. You will truly be with God when you begin to consider yourself worse than all people. Never think that you have reached the highest measure, but always tell your soul that it has surpassed the demons in its sins, and has done nothing good, even in the smallest measure, so great suffering awaits it. The prayer of a Christian should be similar to the humble and contrite sigh of a publican. The mind and lips must be directed to the Highest: “Who understands the Fall? Cleanse me from my secrets” (Ps. 19:13), - this is what you need to constantly tell yourself. The only concern and concern should be the salvation of the soul, while God will take care of bodily needs, as He Himself promised in the Holy Gospel. After all, if you strive with all your might to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, you need to free yourself from everything earthly: whoever swims with a large load will quickly drown. All bodily passions are mortified by little food and vigil, since they are all demons, and, as the Lord said, they can only be driven away by fasting and prayer. If we want the Lord to have pity and mercy on us on the Day of Judgment, we must love, have mercy and have pity on our brothers, using for this what God has given us, the blessed one never tired of repeating. One night, after his usual prayer, the saint lay down to rest and saw in a dream a green plain where many sheep grazed, but they had no shepherd. At that moment, when the monk was thinking that a wolf might attack them, a majestic-looking man, dressed in apostolic robes, appeared before him. – Niphon, why do you think that the King’s sheep have no shepherd? “You are their shepherd, because the King appointed you to shepherd them,” he turned to the ascetic. - How can I, unaccustomed and weak, herd them? – Niphon asked in bewilderment. “The Creator has determined this for you, and do not resist,” said the Messenger of God and immediately gave him a shepherd’s staff, and then, pointing to the sheep and the fold, he left. Waking up, the saint began to think and realized that the King’s sheep are the people of God, and the fold is the Church. Very afraid that here, in Constantinople, he would not be ordained a bishop, he boarded a ship and sailed to Alexandria, where Blessed Alexander was then Patriarch. In those days, many clergy and laity from the city of Constantiana came to Alexandria to the Patriarch and told about the death of their bishop. The people of God asked the Patriarch to install a new ruler over them. Then the primate of the Alexandrian Church began to pray to God to reveal to him whether there was anyone worthy of such great obedience, and that same night he saw the Apostle Paul in a dream. “Go to church tomorrow, and ordain someone who has a similar face to me, but without baldness, even against his wishes as a bishop,” the chief apostle told Alexander. The next day in the church the Patriarch saw the divine Niphon and said to his archdeacon (he was Athanasius the Great): – That man over there looks like the Apostle Paul, doesn’t he? “Yes, he looks like an apostle, and is worthy to shepherd the sheep of Christ, because I see Angels who accompany him and put a crown of precious stones on his head,” answered Athanasius the Great. Then the Patriarch called Niphon to him. “God has made you, father, a shepherd to feed these verbal sheep of His standing around us.” “Holy Father, I am not worthy,” Niphon tried to object. “Oh, if only I were as worthy as you!.. Don’t contradict God’s decision,” Alexander admonished the future archpastor. The divine Niphon reluctantly bowed his head and was installed as bishop of Constantiana. On the first day he was ordained a deacon, the next day a priest, and on the third a bishop. During his consecration, as Athanasius the Great later related, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of fire. In joy, all the people of Constantiana kissed the right hand of Niphon. Together with him, the Patriarch sent his Archdeacon Athanasius and other clergy to this diocese so that they would enthrone the new bishop in the proper manner. All Christians rejoiced with great joy and glorified God, who had honored them with such a shepherd. Having taken upon himself the great burden of priesthood, the divine Niphon indulged in even greater exploits. He, like a true shepherd, cared for Christ's sheep in the saving pastures of God's commandments, always watered them with the waters of the Gospel teaching, becoming a model and example of all good things for Constantian Christians. The monk boldly taught not only the whole people, but also found time to instruct everyone: he corrected sinners, he strengthened the virtuous, he consoled those in sorrow, he delivered those who were in danger, he admonished those who acted unjustly, he defended those who were offended, he cared for orphans, he gave generous alms to the poor, and he healed the sick. Niphon led everyone both spiritually and physically, he loved everyone as his spiritual children and for their salvation, according to the commandment of our Lord, he gave his life: “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). But Niphon was also a mortal man. When the time came for the saint to rest from his sacred deeds in order to go to the God he desired and enjoy the reward for his labors, the Lord revealed to him the day of his death. Niphon had the custom of teaching the people the word of God every day. One day, when the monk dismissed the flock and lay down, he had a dream. A majestic royal palace appeared in front of him, inside of which there was a fiery Throne made with great skill. This Royal Seat hovered in the air, on It sat a certain Beautiful Ruler, surrounded by radiance and indescribable glory. Around Him stood thousands of thousands, shining like lightning. “Mikhail, show our friend his resting place,” a voice was heard from the Throne. And then the Archangel Michael led Niphon to a bright place, where there were countless palaces worthy of amazement, in one of them, majestic and tall, there were many men dressed in bright clothes. - Master, until you give us our beloved? - they asked the Chief of the Heavenly Forces. “With the favor of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, he will be sent to you in three days,” Archangel Michael rejoiced them. “By the boundless mercy and love of God, this palace has been given to you to rest in it forever and ever,” the Archangel then turned to Niphon. Having awakened, the saint told his disciple about this dream, and all the clergy already learned from him. The news that in three days Saint Niphon would depart to the Lord spread among the people, and everyone had great weeping and sorrow. However, having called them, the ascetic began to console the Christians with these words: – My beloved children, when I get closer to God, I will always pray to Him for your salvation. Athanasius the Great, already the Patriarch of Alexandria, also learned about the approaching death of Bishop Constantiana. He immediately came to the saint. - Why did you, Holy Master, take the trouble to come to me, unworthy? – Saint Niphon asked the Patriarch. “I came, father, to enjoy communication with you, and since you are leaving for the Heavenly Jerusalem, then at the hour when you appear to worship God, ask Him for my salvation,” answered the primate of the Alexandrian Church. “And you, Vladyka, I ask, do not forget me when you celebrate the Divine Liturgy, take out a particle for me, because offering to the Lord for the departed will give them great benefit.” The one who, after my death, does this for the sake of remission of my sins, will receive great help at the hour of his death from the Almighty, Who will cover the multitude of sins of both the one praying and mine. And I, too, will intercede with the Creator for him,” with these words he fell silent and chanted all night, thanked the All-Merciful and prayed not only for himself, but for the whole world. In the morning hour an Angel of the Lord came to the ascetic. “Rejoice, Niphon, and be glad, because the Lord is coming to you,” he said to the monk. Hearing about this, the saint was very happy. But after some time he suffered a severe attack and, ordering a mat to be placed on the floor, the bishop quietly lay down on it. When dawn broke, Athanasius came to him along with all the clergy and a multitude of people. – Father, can illness benefit a person? – asked the Patriarch. “Just as gold placed in a fiery furnace is purified and all impurity is removed from it, so when a person falls ill, if he thanks God, he is purified and casts off sinful impurity,” the saint answered and began to cry, and everyone standing around him also sobbed. Then his face lit up again so much that everyone shuddered. “I thank you, my God-bearing apostles, for not delaying in coming to the sinful elder,” said the monk. – Rejoice in the Lord, martyrs! Thank you, my honest prophets, for coming to me, the unworthy! Rejoice in the Lord, my holy hierarchs, and all the venerable and righteous! – the bishop continued. At that moment, Athanasius the Great saw the saints, who came up one by one and greeted the elder. – Rejoice, Blessed Mother of God Mary, my light, my protection and my affirmation. I thank You very much for Your good deeds to me! - the saint exclaimed and was filled with great joy. After some time, an indescribable fragrance spread into the cell, the face of the monk sparkled so much that the people ran out of fear into the courtyard. – Come to Me, blessed soul, bearing My humility. I am Your Christ, whom you have made yours, always repeating: “My Christ, my Christ.” “Here I am, Your Christ, come to Me,” a meek voice rang out. “In Your hands, Master, I commend my spirit, because You are my Christ, the Son of the Living God,” the saint immediately said, stretching out his hands and betraying his spirit. Then everyone began to grieve that they had lost him, but Athanasius the Great consoled them, repeating that they should not cry, but glorify and thank God, Who honored the Christians of Constantiana to have as the patron of the city such a chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit as Bishop Niphon. Out of great reverence and love for the saint, the people wished to take the clothes that the ascetic wore. The Patriarch completed everything required for burial and the holy relics of Niphon were placed with honor and reverence in the Church of the Holy Apostles. And to this day, the sick who come to the tomb of the saint and turn to him with faith and prayer soon receive healing even from incurable diseases, to the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One Godhead and the Kingdom, to Whom belongs all glory, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen. The life and exploits of our venerable mother and teacher of Synclitia, who labored in the 4th century This blessed Synklitikia (some say that this saint was the very virgin who hid Athanasius the Great in the well for six years - Author) came from the Macedonian region. Her ancestors, having heard about the God-loving and Christ-loving morals of the inhabitants of Alexandria, left Macedonia and arrived in Alexandria, where the faith was kept in simplicity and with true love, preferring a foreign land to their own homeland. The venerable woman belonged to a famous family and possessed all the conceivable blessings of this life. From an early age, the blessed one completely devoted herself to the love of God, did not care at all about bodily matters, and, despite the fact that she was distinguished by an unusually beautiful appearance, she was very chaste. Many young men wanted to marry her: some for the sake of wealth, others for the sake of the decency of her parents, others because of her beauty. And the parents themselves persuaded their daughter to marry in order to preserve the continuity of the family through her. However, Synclitia, chaste and strong-willed, did not succumb to their convictions, but when she heard about carnal marriage, she thought about the Divine, not paying attention to earthly suitors, looking with hope only at the Heavenly Bridegroom Christ, whom she loved with all her soul. That is why neither numerous clothes embroidered with gold, nor multi-colored precious stones, nor music, nor feasts, nor other worldly blessings could change her intentions. Neither the tears of her parents nor the requests of her relatives softened the saint in the least and did not shake her spirit. She was as hard as adamant, and was not at all distracted from the Desired Christ. The venerable woman closed her bodily senses and talked with the Mental Bridegroom, repeating the words of the bride from the Book of Song of Solomon: “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (Song. 2:16). If there were worldly conversations in front of the blessed one, she tried to avoid them. Syncliticia collected her mind in the depths of her heart, opening it during soul-searching conversations. The saint was also diligent in fasting - this medicine that is beneficial for the body. She loved him, and she had no other virtue equal to this. The Virgin believed that this virtue was the basis for observing all others. When she happened to taste food at an unspecified time, she changed: her face acquired a yellow tint, she lost weight before her eyes, moreover, her body shriveled up. It is known that those who eat food with pleasure are tender and full in body, and those who eat with disgust are skinny and thin. The truth of these words is evidenced by sick people who, because they eat with disgust, remain thin and weak in body. Blessed Syncletica tried to refine her body, but her soul only became stronger from this: “but even if our outer man decays, yet our inner man is renewed all the days” (2 Cor. 4:16), says the Apostle Paul. At the same time, no one knew that the saint had performed such feats. When the parents of the blessed one died, she took her blind sister with her and went to visit a relative in a place called Iroos, which was located at a great distance from Alexandria. Having distributed all her property to the poor, the holy virgin called the presbyter and cut her hair. By this she testified that her soul was freed from worldly cares: Synclitia became a nun. “I have been honored to receive a great name, and I can worthily reward the One who gave it to me.” If people spend all their wealth in order to obtain the temporary glory of this world, then how much more should I give to my Master Christ (along with my property and body) for such great grace that I was worthy to become a nun. But what am I saying, to give up my property and body for Christ, when all this already belongs to Him?.. “For the earth is the Lord’s and its fulfillment” (1 Cor. 10:28), - with these words the saint clothed herself in humility and surrendered to silence. Since the blessed one prepared herself for ascetic labors while still in her father’s house, then, having become a nun, she continued to excel in virtues. After all, those who join this divine sacrament of monastic life without previous preparation cannot succeed and do not achieve the goal of monastic life, because they have not studied in detail what is required for this and what the goal is. And just as those who are going on a journey first take care of taking with them everything they need, so the venerable saint, from her very youth, first prepared herself with exploits, and then fearlessly set out on the path leading to Heaven. Armed with everything she needed to complete the house of her soul, she erected a strong tower. To create a sensual dwelling, stones, mortar, wood and other material materials are required. But the saint did not collect, but rather spent it, distributing her property to the poor. By this she drove away anger and rancor, rejected envy and vanity, and founded a dwelling on a stone. And therefore her tower became famous and impregnable. But why talk too much? Even at the beginning of her exploits, thanks to her strong zeal and burning spirit, blessed Syncletikia surpassed all other nuns who had already spent many years in ascetic labors. Nothing is known about her spiritual path, because she did not allow anyone to observe her: she did not want people to gossip about her exploits. After all, the saint was not so much concerned about doing good deeds as about hiding them from people. The holy virgin did this not out of self-interest, but driven by Divine grace, so as not to seek human glory. Synclitia has always been guided by the words of the Gospel: “let not your fool know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). From an early age until adolescence, she avoided conversations not only with men, but also with women, so she was not glorified for her excessive achievements, and communication with the brethren and bodily needs did not prevent the saint from improving in virtue. All this helped Synclitia to observe the intentions of her soul at the very beginning of their appearance and not allow herself to be plunged into bodily lusts. Just as a gardener plucks fruits and trims tree branches, so the saint cut off the thorns of passions through fasting and prayer. If any passion sprouted and arose in her, then she cut it off through bodily torture, various labors, and often tormented herself not only with hunger, but also with thirst. In moments of battle with the devil, the blessed one, at the beginning of the doxology, called on the Lord Christ for help, for she was not content with physical feats alone, shielding herself from the lion’s onslaught of the devil. Immediately the Lord came with prayer, and the enemy ran away. But sometimes the enemy rebelled against her for a long time, and the Almighty left the ascetic in order to further strengthen her virtuous soul. The monk became convinced that prolonged warfare became the cause of great talents, and she became even more determined to fight the enemy. She mortified herself not only by abstaining from large quantities of food, but also gave up everything that gave pleasure: she ate only bran bread, very often did not drink water at all, slept on bare ground, and then only a little. Syncletikia used such weapons as long as the fighting continued. She constantly protected herself with prayer, like a shield, and faith, combined with hope and love, like a helmet. Faith tightly embraced her entire soul, and, in addition, the saint was very merciful, not always in action, but always in will. When the enemy was defeated and the battle subsided, the saint gave herself rest from excessive asceticism. She did this so that the members of the body would not be torn away from the muscles, which would be a sign of defeat. After all, when a warrior’s weapon is damaged, what else can he hope for, how then to win the battle? Some damaged themselves by an unimaginable fast beyond their strength, and thus, as it were, avoided battle with the enemy, destroying themselves. But blessed Syncletikia did everything with reason: when the battle began, she fought the enemy with prayer and exercise, and when it stopped, she again began to take care of the body. This is what sailors do. When a storm overtakes them, they do not eat anything, but use all their art to fight the danger; when the danger has passed, they begin to take care of maintaining their bodily strength, usually using the calm to rest from previous labors. However, even in a lull, they do not spend time without worries and do not indulge in deep sleep. Having just withstood the test of the storm, they again think about the coming storm, and although the storm has stopped, the sea has not decreased, although the wind has died down, the air that gives rise to it is present. The same thing happens in spiritual things. Although ascetics drive out the evil spirit of lust, the devil, who has power over this passion, is nearby. Since we are not sure what the sea will be like, we always need to pray - because of the devil’s malice. The venerable woman, well acquainted with the storms of real life, foresaw confusion from demons, and therefore, with all care, she steered the ship of her soul with the help of the rudder of piety and, without embarrassment, led it to the saving harbor, throwing the surest anchor of faith. The life of the saint was apostolic, because, shining with love and humility, it consisted of faith and non-covetousness. The blessed one fulfilled in practice the saying of the Psalmist: “tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent” (Ps. 91:13), (Luke 10:19). And again: “Good, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful for a few, but I will make you ruler over many” (Matthew 25:21). These words imply Heavenly gifts, but they can also be applied to the saint: “Since you, Syncletikia, have overcome the flesh and the world in this sensual battle, then with My help and My intercession you will also win in another battle - against the spirits of evil. Let the principalities and powers of darkness know the greatness of your faith. After you defeat the nasty forces of demons, you will approach the good Angelic forces.” Despite the fact that the saint remained silent in solitude and worked in virtue, over time many learned about her exploits: “for it is not hidden that it will not appear, but that it may be revealed” (Mark 4:22), says the Lord in the Gospel of Mark. Gradually, some of the nuns, enlightened by God, began to come to the saint and received great spiritual benefit from conversations with her. One day they asked her how she could be saved. Taking a deep breath and shedding tears, the saint remained silent. However, the sisters forced her to talk about the greatness of God, because her appearance alone was enough to amaze them. “Do not be a robber of the poor, because he is poor” (Proverbs 22:22), the saint answered with the words of Holy Scripture. But the sisters continued to ask her with even greater insistence, citing the words of the Lord: “You will eat, you will give” (Matthew 10:8), reminding her not to be like that servant who hid the talent given to him. “Why do you sisters think that I, a sinner, do or say anything worthwhile?” We all have one common Teacher - the Lord, and we all listen to the Holy Scriptures,” Synclitia objected to them. – We know that the Lord is our Teacher, and we all listen to the Holy Scriptures. But you, by vigilantly striving, have succeeded in virtues, therefore it is fitting for you to give advice to younger sisters. After all, our Lord commands the same thing,” they did not let up. Then blessed Syncletikia took pity on them and, knowing that what was said would not be a reason for praising her, but would serve to the great benefit of the sisters, she began like this: – My children, we all know how to be saved, but due to our negligence we miss our salvation. First, we need to fulfill what has become known to us by the grace of the Lord: “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul... and thy neighbor as thyself” (Luke 10:27). With the help of these two commandments, the Law is observed, for the fullness of grace rests on them, great and boundless power lies in them: everything that serves the benefit of the soul rests on them. After all, according to the testimony of the divine Apostle Paul, “the fulfillment of the law of love is” (Rom. 13:10). Whatever useful words people speak by the grace of the Holy Spirit, they all begin with love and have their completion in it. Therefore, salvation is this double love. But to this it is necessary to add the following, which also stems from love: may each of you be able to desire the greatest. Don’t you know the parable about the grain that the Lord told, that one brought forth fruit “a hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty” (Matthew 13:8). One hundred times is our monastic rank, sixty is those who abstain from marriage, and thirty is those who live chastely in marriage. It is good when someone from thirty rises to sixty, and from sixty to a hundred. Because this is useful - to move from less to more. To go from the greater to the lesser is dangerous, because the one who has once leaned towards the worse cannot resist in the lesser things, but, as it were, falls into a ruinous ditch. It happens that some people make a vow to keep virginity, but, being weak in thought, they justify themselves, as if they were saying to themselves, but in fact to the devil: “If we get married and live chastely, then we will be considered worthy to be numbered among the rank of thirty. Because the entire Old Testament did not reject childbearing, but desired it.” But this is justification from the unclean, for the one who descends from the greater to the lesser is deceived by it. Just as a warrior who leaves his position in a larger army and goes to a smaller one does not receive forgiveness, but is punished, so is the one who descends from the highest rank of virgins to the lower - chaste - punished. That is why we must go from the lesser to the greater: “forgetting the things that are behind, but reaching out to the things that are before” (Phil. 3:13), - the blessed one instructed with the apostolic commandments. “But we, who are in the “rank of one hundred,” must always, no matter how and where we go, return to the same place again, never putting an end to it: “When you have done all that is commanded you, say, as we are unworthy servants: for whatever we ought to do, we have done” (Luke 17:10), the Lord tells us. We who have chosen the vow of virginity must remain celibate to the highest degree. Because many married worldly wives live chastely, but this virtue is often combined with madness and ignorance, so that they live by carnal feelings. This happens because they see obscene things, laugh uncontrollably and hear obscene things. And we, nuns, must leave all this and excel in virtues, protecting our sight from the contemplation of vain things, fulfilling the words of Scripture: “Let your eyes look on what is right” (Ps. 16:2), and tame our tongue, avoiding foul language. It is absurd that our language, created for singing Divine hymns and praising God, should utter foul and shameless words. That is why we should not only not say them, but also not even listen when others say them. All this cannot be accomplished if we often leave our cells, because thieves-demons and passions enter into us through our feelings, without our will. How can a house not turn black if its windows and doors are open and smoke is rising from the outside? Under no circumstances should we walk through villages and bazaars, because if we consider it painful and shameful to see our own brothers and parents naked, then how much more unworthy and harmful to the soul is to see naked people on the roads and bazaars, leading lewd and obscene speeches. From seeing and hearing all this, harmful and shameful images enter the soul. But even when we are in our cell, we should not be carefree, but always ready, which is why the Savior says: “Be on guard…” (Matthew 24:42). The more we want to preserve chastity and virginity, the more, according to the words of Ecclesiastes, the cruelest thoughts trouble us: “he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Eccl. 1:18), because the more ascetics succeed in their feats, the more powerful opponents they find. That is why each of us must think about how far she is from true virginity, and then go out fully armed to fight the enemy. If a sister overcomes material fornication and does not commit fornication in deed, then the devil will fight with her, inclining her to fornication in feelings. If she, remaining in her cell, not seeing or hearing anything indecent, overcomes sensual fornication, then the enemy will again fight with her, pushing her towards fornication in her imagination, evoking different images in her dreams and in reality. This bad thing, being in the heart, causes confusion, brings beautiful faces to the minds of the silent ones and reminds old conversations. We must not agree with these images brought by the enemy: “If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, then do not leave your place,” writes Ecclesiastes (Eccl. 10:4). If a virgin agrees with these images, this is tantamount to fornication committed by the worldly, for “the strong will be severely tormented.” So, our struggle and battle with the demon of fornication is great and terrible, because this demon is the head of all sins used by the enemy for the destruction of our soul. Revealing this, the righteous Job spoke mysteriously about the devil, that all his strength “is in the muscles (in the navel) of his belly” (Job 40:11). Therefore, the unclean in many and various ways inclines Christ-lovers to fornication, and often turns even Christ’s love for the brethren into this sin, laughing at those virgins who rejected marriage and every image of the world, and casts them into fornication through fraternal love for men. In the same way, the demon seduces monks who have avoided everything that leads to fornication; he plunges them into sin through pious conversations with their wives. This is the essence of the evil one - to clothe yourself in what is alien, secretly sow your own, passing it off as Divine and spiritual, that is, he places grain on top, and the Lord speaks of this: “they come to you in sheep’s clothing, but within they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). What should we do, how to get rid of these devilish tricks?.. “Be wise as a serpent, and your goals as doves” (Matthew 10:16), that is, think wisely about the snares that the devil sets for us. That is why Christ told us to “be wise as serpents,” so that we would be vigilant and not forget about the tricks of the evil one. For like can soon be recognized through like. Dovelike simplicity reveals the purity of our deeds. Every good deed requires avoidance of evil and is not mixed with it. But how can we shy away from what we don’t know? This will become possible only when we are vigilant, learn to guess the cunning of the enemy and protect ourselves from his wiles and deceit, because, as the divine Peter says: “The devil, like a roaring lion, walks around, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8); “His food is luxurious” (Hab. 1:16), said the prophet Habakkuk. That is why we must constantly pay attention, since he, too, is vigilant and takes up arms against us, not only through objects of the external world, but also through thoughts that secretly come to us day and night. What do we need for this battle? Tiring feat and pure prayer, which are universal medicines for any destructive thought. However, during carnal warfare we must also use special devices: when some shameful thought comes to us, we must resist it with the opposite. And if the enemy shows us in a vision some beautiful face, we must fight him in the following way: mentally gouge out his eyes, tear off the skin from his cheeks and cut off his lips, and he will appear before us with a naked skull, ugly and terrible. This way we can prevent the enemy from laughing at us. After all, what we so desired was nothing more than blood mixed with fetid bile. With these thoughts we must drive out the vile image of sin, and use a wedge to knock out another wedge - the prodigal demon. We should use similar methods when fighting attachment to another person, imagining how rot and stench flow out of him, as if he were dead. However, the most important victory in repelling carnal warfare should be the taming of the womb, which gives rise to all passions, blessed Synclitia instructed the sisters in wise and soulful words. The nuns were very happy when they heard her divine and spiritual speeches. One day a certain nun asked the monk whether non-covetousness was a perfect good. - Yes, but for the strong and courageous, for those who endure lack of wealth, through this, have sorrow in the flesh, and for the soul - weakening. Just as strong and new clothes, when they are trampled and rubbed, become cleansed and become white, so a courageous soul, saddened and grieving because of free poverty, becomes even more strengthened and becomes firmer. Those whose thoughts are unsteady become faint-hearted and become even weaker and unsteady. Because if such a soul grieves a little due to poverty, it becomes worse - it cannot endure the test produced by lack of wealth, just as fragile and shabby clothes cannot withstand washing and are torn. Both strong clothes and old ones are washed in the same way. However, both clothes have a different end: strong clothes are cleaned and renewed, while weak ones are torn and spoiled. That is why non-covetousness is a precious treasure for a courageous soul; it becomes a bridle for it, preventing it from committing sins. Whoever wants to acquire this virtue must first practice fasting, lying on bare ground and other oppressions of the flesh. Anyone who does not do this and immediately rejects money without prior preparation will most often later repent of this act, since money for him is a means of living in pleasure. Therefore, it is first necessary to renounce gluttony, pleasure foods, and other bodily comforts. Through this you can easily cut off attachment to things and money. After all, it is difficult when a person masters some art, but he does not have the tools to practice it. He who rejects the first must also reject the second. Talking with a rich young man, the Lord asked him whether he kept the commandments of the old law, but did not immediately order him to reject wealth, just as a mentor first asks a student if he knows the alphabet, if he knows how to connect letters into syllables, if he is used to pronouncing words and names, and only then asks him to read fluently. Since the rich man replied that he had kept the commandments of the law, the Lord said to him: “Sell what you have and give to the poor... and come after Me” (Matthew 19:21). If the young man had not kept the commandments of the law, then the Savior would not have inclined him to non-covetousness, otherwise how could someone who cannot read syllables immediately be able to read fluently? Non-covetousness is good for those who have labored, oppressing the flesh, and have acquired the habit and ease of doing good, because such people have rejected everything superfluous. They place their mind and hope only in God: “The eyes of all trust in You, and You give them food in due season” (Ps. 144:15). Not clinging their minds to earthly things, they think only about Heavenly blessings, they care about them and in fact fulfill the words of David: “...I was like cattle before You. But I am always with You...” (Ps. 73:22-23). After all, just as beasts of burden that serve man are content only with the food that is given to them, so non-covetous people work only for their daily food, placing wealth at nothing. They firmly keep the foundation of faith, because it was they who Jesus commanded not to worry about tomorrow, for the birds of the air “neither sow nor reap,” but the Heavenly Father “feeds them” (Luke 12:24). They believed in these words. Even non-covetous people defeat the devil more than others, because he cannot harm them in any way. Most sorrows and temptations happen to people due to deprivation of wealth, but for those who have nothing, what kind of sorrow can happen? None. What harm can the enemy do to them? Burn the fields? There are none. Destroy livestock? Where is he? Cause harm in something else? But they moved away from everything. So lack of wealth is the greatest punishment for the devil and a precious treasure for the soul. As great and amazing as the virtue of non-covetousness is, so great and vicious is the passion of the love of money, which, according to Blessed Paul, is “the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Because of the desire for money, there are false oaths, theft, embezzlement, greed, envy, murder, brotherly hatred, idolatry and everything that grows from this: hypocrisy, flattery, mockery. The reason for all this is the love of money. However, not only God punishes money lovers, but they also destroy themselves, never being satisfied with wealth, and never ceasing their care and concern for it. And therefore this wound is incurable. He who has nothing at first desires little, then, when he acquires it, even more. Having a hundred pennies, he wants to buy a thousand, and if he gets a thousand, he wants to buy an innumerable amount. So it turns out that these people, being unable to stop in their desire and pursuit of wealth, always cry that they are poor. In addition, the love of money brings with it envy. When echidnas are born, they first gnaw through their mother's womb to get out, and only then harm others. Likewise, envy: first darkens the one who has it, and then causes harm to everyone around him. For nuns, great profit will come from their efforts to acquire genuine pure silver – the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who seek the vain profit of this world suffer shipwrecks and meet pirates on the sea, and thieves on land, endure storms and strong winds, and when they receive a reward, they say that they are poor, so that others do not envy them. We, monks, in order to receive true Heavenly wealth, do not expose ourselves to danger at all, and if we acquire some very small virtue, we immediately exalt ourselves and show others how holy we are. Moreover, very often we talk not only about this one virtue, but add to it others that we do not have. Then the enemy immediately steals from us even the little that we have received. Worldly people, subject to the love of money, having received great profits, want to have even more, not attributing their fortune to anything and taking care with all their might that no one finds out about it. We, monks, do the opposite: there is nothing good in us, and we do not want to acquire anything. Being poor in virtues, we boast of our wealth. It is good if a monk who succeeds in good deeds does not reveal this to anyone, otherwise he will suffer great loss. So, you need to hide your virtues as much as possible, and the one who wants to reveal them to others should also talk about his shortcomings and passions. If they hide from people all the bad things they have, so that others do not condemn them, then they must hide their virtues much more. This way they will not move away from God. The truly virtuous do the opposite: they acquaint people with their small sins, adding, as far as possible, in order to deprive themselves of human glory and what they did not commit. They hide their good deeds. After all, just as a candle melts in the fire, so the soul relaxes from praise and loses its strength. A candle melts from heat and hardens from cold, so praise makes the soul weak, and reproach and abuse strengthen and lead it to greater virtue: “Rejoice and be glad when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unrighteously for My sake... for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:12), the Lord tells us; “You have spread me out in sorrow” (Ps. 4:2), wrote the prophet David. Similar sayings can be found in large numbers in the Holy Scriptures. There is some sadness that is useful, and another that is harmful. It is useful in the case when someone grieves about his own sins, about the ignorance of his neighbor, when he fears lest he deviate from a good goal, that is, true and useful sadness is when someone grieves and sighs, desiring to achieve perfect holiness. But there is another sadness that causes harm. It is from the devil, who produces in the soul an unaccountable sadness filled with madness, which some call carelessness. We must drive away this demon of sadness through prayer and psalmody. Nuns who have good cares and sorrows should not consider that anyone in the world lives carefree and carefree: every head is in labor, and every heart is in sorrow, as the prophet Isaiah preached. In these words, the Holy Spirit reveals the essence of monastic and secular life. Just as the head in a person is the guiding part, so monastic life is higher than the worldly, because in the head there is a discerning part of the soul. Every virtue is acquired through labor. With sadness, the prophet of the heart discovered the disorder and sorrow of the lives of worldly people, because it is in the human heart that anger and sadness reside. He grieves when he desires someone else’s, languishes when he is poor, is indignant if he is rich, loses his temper, becomes arrogant and does not even sleep in order to protect his fortune. May we nuns not be deceived into thinking that the worldly have no worries and labors. Compared to us, they work harder, especially women who endure great torment, giving birth to children in pain and danger to life and raising them in suffering. And when they get sick, they suffer along with them. And they experience many other things like this. And there is no end to their labors. Because their children are either born crippled, or have an evil and spoiled character and offend their parents in different ways, and very often kill them by cunning. In this case, we do not need to be seduced by the enemy’s thoughts that married wives have a calm and carefree life. They suffer either during childbirth, or languish and wither from humiliation when they suffer from infertility. I am telling you now about the tricks of the evil one, but what I have said is not suitable for all wives, but only for nuns. For just as the same food is not suitable for all animals, so this word does not benefit everyone: “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins...” (Mark 2:22), the Savior said about this. After all, you need to talk to people in different ways: in some words with the perfect, in others with those who have achieved contemplation and knowledge, in others with ascetics and those who are in a state of active virtue, and in others with the worldly. Just like animals: some on earth, others in water, others in the air, so people: some see upward like birds, others lead a moderate life, and others are immersed in sins, like fish in water. A nun must have eagle wings to fly high and defeat lions and dragons, to now command those who were once rulers. We can achieve this only under one condition - if we sacrifice our whole mind and all our thoughts to Christ. However, the higher we ascend, the more the devil tries to catch us in his net. If demons envy the insignificant and worthless objects of this world, preventing people from taking treasures hidden in the earth, what is strange if they envy us, striving to acquire Heavenly riches? Therefore, monks should arm themselves against demons with everything they can, for they wage war both with the help of external objects and with the help of internal thoughts, just as a ship sinks sometimes due to sea waves coming from outside, and sometimes due to a leak in the ship. We should always keep an eye on the external warfare of demons, and get rid of internal unclean thoughts, and constantly stay awake, for demons often take up arms against us. During external storms in which a ship encounters, sailors call other ships nearby for help and very often get rid of danger. But due to a leak, the ship goes to the bottom even during calm periods, when the sailors sleep carefree. This is why nuns need to be more attentive to their inner thoughts: wanting to destroy the house of our soul, the enemy begins to destroy it either from the foundation or from the roof, or enters through the windows and first binds the owner, and then takes possession of everything in the house. The foundation of a spiritual house is good deeds, the roof is faith, and the windows are feelings. And it is through all of them that the enemy fights us. Anyone who wants to be saved must have many eyes, because in this life we ​​cannot be carefree: “Be careful to stand and be careful, lest you fall” (1 Cor. 10:12), - it is written in the Apostle. We are traveling on an unknown sea - our life. In one part of it there are reefs, in another - various animals, and in the third - quiet and calm waters. Outwardly, we nuns navigate the calm and quiet waters of this life, while the worldly ones navigate the dangerous ones. We sail during the day, and the Mental Sun of Truth, Christ, leads us, and the worldly, not knowing the way, walk at night. However, those who are sailing through unknown and dangerous places can often watch and cry to God to save the ship of their souls, while we nuns, sailing on calm waters, can plunge into the abyss of our negligence, letting go of the rudder of truth. So, “be sure to stand and be careful that you do not fall” (1 Cor. 10:12), because the one who has fallen takes care to get up. But the one who stands must take care not to fall, since there are different types of falls. Let the one standing not condemn the fallen, but rather fear for himself, lest he himself, having fallen to the bottom of the abyss, die, where, due to the great depth, his voice calling for help may not be heard: “Let not a storm of water drown me, let the depth below devour me, below let the peer of his mouth speak of me” (Ps. 69:16), says David. So it turns out that the one who fell before you remained there, so be careful not to fall into the abyss and become food for animals. After all, the one who fell did not close the door of his house, that is, did not pay attention to himself, but you, who are standing, do not sleep, but always sing the psalm: “enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep into death, lest my enemy say: Be strong against him” (Ps. 12: 4-5) and always be awake, because the mental lion roars at you. These words are useful for those who do not seek to be exalted. He who has fallen, if he repents and returns, will be saved, but he who stands firm, as it may seem to himself, should be afraid of two things: not to turn again to old passions, especially to cowardice, which attacks during battle, and also not to fall into pride when he succeeds in virtue. Because our enemy the devil, when he sees that he is lazy and carefree, will pull him back to himself, or, when it turns out that the ascetic is diligent and successful in feat, he will secretly enter the soul through pride and thus completely immerse the monk in this passion. Pride is the most powerful of all unclean weapons, because Satan himself was cast out of heaven by it. Just as the most experienced military leaders, after running out of arrows and the enemy still prevails, pull out their most powerful weapon - the sword, so the devil, when he has already used almost all his weapons, then uses the last resort - pride - as a sword. So, the first snares are gluttony, lust, fornication. These passions haunt a person in his youth. After them come the love of money, greed, and the like. When the soul conquers them and dominates the belly and all the passions that nest below the belly, despises money, then the evil one, deprived of all weapons, secretly introduces pride into the soul so that a person inappropriately exalts himself over his neighbors. Truly difficult and destructive is this poisonous passion of pride with which the enemy feeds the soul. He darkened many saints with it, secretly putting into their souls the false and deadly thought of superiority over other sisters in fasting and virtues. This is how the devil makes a person forget his sins and steals from his memory the memories of them, so that he cannot, in order to heal himself, repeat in a humble voice after David: “I have sinned against You alone...” (Ps. 50:6), “Have mercy on me” (Ps. 50:3), “I will rejoice and rejoice in You, I will sing to Your name, O Most High” (Ps. 9:3), and leaves in his memory only those words that he himself said in his thoughts: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (Is. 14:13) - He brings to the proud man thoughts about power, about the fact that he will sit in the first places, about teaching, about the gift of healing. This is how a person dies because he received an intractable wound. If anyone has such proud thoughts, one should always remember the words of David: “I am a worm, and not a man...” (Ps. 21:7), or Abraham: “I am dust and ashes” (Gen. 18:27), or the prophet Isaiah: “and all our righteousness is like filthy rags” (Is. 64:6). A nun who is in silence, under such a demonic attack, must come to her monastery and force herself to eat food twice a day. And if this passion prevailed in her due to the excessiveness of the feat, then other nuns, the same age as her, should strongly scold her, saying that she had not done anything good. It is useful for such nuns to perform all difficult obediences and read the lives of great saints. In addition, those who labor together with her must increase their feats for several days, so that the proud one will see their great exploits and humble herself, considering herself inferior to them. The reason for such pride lies in disobedience. This disease can only be cured with its opposite medicine - obedience: “Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22), said the prophet Samuel. The abbess should crush the vanity of the sisters when necessary, and if any nun is careless, lazy, or does not succeed in virtue, she should praise her. If she did some small good, the abbess should be surprised at this and exaggerate its significance. And the abbess should present the serious sins of that sister to her as insignificant and small, because, wanting to distort the ideas of ascetics and saints about their sins, the devil tries to hide them, so that they come into a state of pride. He does the opposite with young people and beginners: he places all their sins before them, in order to thereby plunge them into despair. He can tell one sister that “there is no forgiveness for you for committing adultery,” and another that “because of your greed, you will not be saved.” However, although Rahab was a harlot, she was saved by faith. Paul was a persecutor of Christians, but became a chosen vessel. Matthew was a tax collector and became an evangelist. The robber stole and killed, but he was the first to open the doors of heaven. Souls defeated by pride must be corrected and healed, admonishing them with these words: “Why are you proud, unfortunate soul, that you do not eat meat? Others don't even look at the fish. Why are you proud that you don't drink wine? Think that others do not even eat oil. Why do you boast about fasting until evening? Others spend two to three days without food at all. Why are you proud of not washing your face? Many people do not wash at all due to bodily illnesses. You are surprised at yourself that you sleep on a hair mat, while others always sleep only on bare ground. If you sleep on the ground, then you have not done anything great, because some put stones under themselves so as not to receive pleasure from sleep, while others hang themselves with ropes all night. If you do all this, and have achieved extreme feat, do not become arrogant, because demons have done and are doing more than you: they never eat, drink, sleep, do not marry, and even live in deserts. So, if you live in a cave, don’t think that you have done something great.” With these thoughts you can heal the opposite passions of despair and pride. Just as a fire weakens and goes out when there is a strong wind blowing or in completely calm weather, so virtue disappears due to pride and during excessive asceticism - if we remain in negligence and do not move ourselves so that the Holy Spirit kindles zeal in us and helps us. Just as a sharply sharpened knife easily breaks on a stone, so pride soon destroys excessive feat. That is why a person must protect his soul in every possible way. When she is inflamed by the heat of pride, he must, through extreme feat, take her to shady places, that is, subordinate her to the grace of God. Sometimes to do this you need to cut off what is unnecessary from your soul so that the root becomes stronger and fruitful branches sprout from it. Those who struggle with despair must force themselves with the thoughts that we mentioned earlier in order to strive for the highest, that is, hope for the boundless mercy of our Human-loving God, because the soul of such a sinner is in an extremely fallen state. It should be treated like skilled farmers, who, when they see a stunted and stunted plant, begin to water it often and take special care of it so that it grows, and when they see a sprout that has sprouted ahead of time, they cut it off, since it will soon dry up, like doctors who recommend that some patients eat well and take walks, while others should abstain from food. It is clear that pride is the greatest of all evils, just as humility is the greatest of all virtues. The latter is acquired with difficulty, because if you do not reject glory, then it is impossible to acquire the treasure of humility. Humility is so great that even the devil, who imitates all other virtues, is completely unaware of humility. That is why the Apostle Paul commands us to put on it tightly, and wants everyone who does good deeds to put on it as if it were a garment. Even if you fast, give alms, teach, spend your life in virginity and chastity, whether you are a sage, always have humility. It is like a fortress wall, protecting you and holding back all your other virtues. The three saints in the cave of Babylon in their song did not remember any other virtues, but counted among those who glorify the Lord only the humble in heart, without naming either the chaste, the virgins, or the non-covetous. Just as it is impossible to build a ship without nails, it is also impossible to be saved without humility. Therefore, wanting to show how good and soul-saving humility is, the Lord Himself put on it when He became Man: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29), He said. Consider who He is who spoke these words, and become a perfect disciple and imitator of His humility. Let it be the beginning and end of all good things for you; humility means humble thoughts of the soul, and not just a humble appearance. If the soul is humble, then the body is humble. Are you saying that you have fulfilled all the commandments? The Savior knows this, but He commands you to begin working for Him again, for He says: “When you have done all that is commanded you, say that you are unworthy servants” (Luke 17:10). Humility can be achieved through enduring reproaches, insults and beatings. When you hear that you are called “mad and crazy,” “beggar,” “sick and pitiful,” “loser,” “reckless,” “ugly in appearance,” “skinny,” all this is the essence of nerves and the power of humility. Our Almighty heard and endured all this. He took the form of a slave, was strangled, and wounded. So we too must imitate the active humility of Christ. But there are some who appear humble outwardly and have a humble appearance so that people may praise them. However, they can be recognized by the fruits of their deeds, because if you scold them a little, they cannot bear it and immediately, like snakes, vomit their poison. Listening to the words of the saint, the sisters were extremely happy, expecting to hear others too; they were unable to get enough of the soulful speeches of the saint. And so she again began to tell them: – A great feat awaits those who begin to serve God in monastic robes. At the beginning they experience great labors, but then they accept indescribable joy, like those who, wanting to light a fire, first swallow smoke and cry, and only then receive it. We, nuns, must work and cry in order to ignite the Divine fire in ourselves: “Fire has come to burst upon the earth” (Luke 12:49), the Lord told us. However, there are some cowardly ones who have tried the smoke but have not lit the fire. They had no patience and their love for God - that great treasure - was weak. They did not hear the Apostle Paul, who proclaimed the hymn of love: “If I give away all my possessions and give my body to be burned, but do not have love...” (1 Cor. 13: 3), “then I am a ringing gong or a sounding cymbal” (1 Cor. 13: 1). Just as love is a great good, so anger is a great evil. It darkens and hardens the soul, leading it to recklessness. Our Lord, Who cares in every possible way about our salvation, does not leave a single part of the soul without His protection and patronage. If the enemy fights against us with the help of fornication, then He equips us with chastity. If he fights against us with pride, humility is not far from us. If the devil incites hatred in us, then love is nearby. No matter how many different arrows the devil shoots against us, the Almighty, for our salvation and victory over the enemy, protects us with great weapons. “The wrath of a man does not bring about the righteousness of God” (James 1:20), says the chief apostle James. Therefore, we must curb it because it is needed at the right time. It is good to be angry against demons, but not against people, even if they sin against us. As soon as our anger passes, we must turn them to repentance. However, the most serious sin is vindictiveness. If anger, like smoke, darkens the soul for a short time and then dissipates, then rancor enters it like a nail, making it worse than all animals. Even a dog, when he is angry with some person, if he is appeased with food, cools down and calms down. Likewise, other animals, if tamed, become meek. But one who is possessed by rancor does not obey requests. And even time, which changes everything, cannot heal the passion of rancor. Therefore such people are the most wicked and lawless of all. They do not listen to the Savior Christ, Who says: Go “... first humble yourself with your brother, and then come and bring your gift” (Matthew 5:24), and the Apostle: “Let not the sun go down on your anger” (Eph. 4:26). So, it’s good not to get angry at all, and if you do get angry, the divine Paul does not allow you to remain in this passion for even one day, which is why he said: “until the sun goes down.” And you, nun, why do you wait until the end of your life to reconcile with the one with whom you were angry? Don’t you know the word of God: “Every day’s trouble is sufficient” (Matthew 6:34). Why should we continue to be hostile after this day? Why hate the one who made you sad? It was not she who did it, but the devil. Hate the disease from which your sister suffers, and not the sick woman herself: “Why do you boast in anger, the stronger?” (Ps. 51:3). In the words: “thy tongue deviseth wickedness” (Ps. 51:4), the prophet David tells us that all the time of our lives we commit lawlessness, because we do not obey the Law of God, which through the mouth of Paul commands not to let the sun set on our anger. Why then do we not stop blaspheming and slandering our neighbor? For this we will be justly punished by the Creator: “For this sake God will destroy you completely, will delight you, and will remove you from your village and your root from the land of the living” (Ps. 51:7), the royal Psalmist warns us. Do you hear? All these are “gifts” and “gifts” from the Creator to the vindictive, which he receives for his malice. Rancor will be followed by many troubles: envy, sadness, slander. The evil produced by these passions, although seemingly small, is deadly. After all, often fornication, murder, greed - these great passions - were healed with the saving medicine of repentance, but pride, rancor and slander, despite the fact that they seemed like a minor sin, killed the soul, entering its most vulnerable parts like a nail. This was due to the fact that these passions inflicted a deep wound on the soul, but those wounded by them remained in negligence, thinking that slander and all the like were harmless. So, without trying to correct them, such people little by little died from them. For some, the grave sin of slander is like food and rest. Therefore, you should not listen to vain rumors and listen to what they say about the sins of others. You must keep your soul from them in simplicity. The stench of unclean words defiles the soul with thoughts and without reason makes you hate those who talk and communicate with you. When your hearing is defiled by the slander of slanderers, then you will no longer have reasoning, but you will imagine all people as such: an eye that looks intently at one color is no longer able to distinguish other colors, but everything visible appears to it in one color. We must guard our tongue and ears so as not to slander anyone and not to listen with partiality to the slander of others: “Whoever secretly slanderes his neighbor I will drive out” (Ps. 100:5) and “let not my mouth speak of the deeds of men” (Ps. 16:4), says David. We talk not only about those things that people do, but also about those that they don’t do. That is why do not believe slander against others, and do not condemn those who slander, but act as the Divine Scripture commands us: “for the deaf do not hear, and for the deaf do not open their mouth” (Ps. 37:14). Do not rejoice in the misfortunes of others, even if these people were very sinful. Some, when they see someone being beaten or thrown into prison, out of ignorance, cite a popular saying: “He who makes a bad bed will have a bad night.” However, you, the nun who made the bed well, do you think that you will sleep all your life? How then can this be reconciled with Divine Scripture, which says that the same thing can befall both the righteous and the unrighteous? After all, we are all human beings, and we walk the same road in this world, although we spend our lives in different ways. Couldn't some misfortune happen to us too? Why do we rejoice in the misfortunes of others?.. We should not feel hatred towards our enemies, because this is what the Lord Himself commanded us: “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what grace will be to you; for even sinners do the same things...” But you “love your enemies” (Luke 6:33, 35). It does not require special art or labor to love someone who pleases you, for this is a natural attraction. But to love the enemy requires teaching from God and great work to overcome natural hatred. The Kingdom of Heaven is not acquired by the careless and carefree, but by the diligent and those who make an effort for this. And just as we should not hate our enemies, so we should not avoid and despise the careless and lazy, since some, for their justification, cite the saying of the prophet: “With the venerable you will be... and with the obstinate you will be corrupted” (Ps. 17:26-27). This is how they justify their actions, but in reality they are doing the opposite of what the Holy Spirit says through David. He does not command to turn away from the corrupt, but calls for them to be corrected. By communicating with them, you will attract them to yourself, and direct them from evil to good. The characters of people can be divided into three types. The first is distinguished by an extreme inclination towards sin, the second occupies a middle position: he is inclined towards both good and sin, and the third, exalted in great virtue, not only strengthens himself in goodness, but tries in every possible way to lead to it those who are extremely inclined to sin. When people of bad character have contact with their worst selves, they grow even more evil. Average people try to avoid bad people, because they are afraid of becoming bad from communicating with them, because they are not yet established in goodness. And still others, having a courageous character and standing firmly in goodness, communicate with the bad in order to save them. If these third ones are reviled and mocked by those who see how they communicate with the bad and careless, they accept all these accusations as praise, fearlessly completing God’s work, that is, the salvation of the brethren. “Rejoice and be glad... when people revile you and persecute you and slander you unjustly in every way” (Matthew 5:12,11), the Savior addresses them. And the Lord Christ ate with publicans and sinners. Those who are perfect in virtue are more brotherly loving than selfish, for just as those, seeing their neighbors' houses burning, abandon their own and run to save their neighbors from the fire, so these, seeing their brothers sinning, neglect themselves, endure reproach, condemnation, just to save their brothers. The middle ones, when they see that their neighbor is being burned by sin, in fear, so as not to be burned by the sinful fire, run away, and the first ones, like evil neighbors, seeing their brothers burning, kindle the fire even more, throwing their own sins into it like firewood. Thus, they completely burn their neighbors, and instead of pouring water on the fire of sin, from which the brother burns, they throw wood, forcing the unfortunate to sin even more. Still others, being good, do not value their own acquisitions at all, but consider them inferior to the salvation of their brothers. These are the signs of true love; such people are the guardians of sincere love. Just as sins are connected to one another: love of money is followed by envy, cunning, perjury, anger, rancor, so virtues are connected to love - meekness, long-suffering, gentleness. And the perfect good is non-covetousness. It is impossible for someone to achieve love who does not first acquire non-covetousness, because God commanded us to love all people, and not just one. That is why we should not ignore those in need, but try to help them in everything. If we support only a few, then our love is robbed and lost, because we do not love everyone. Only the Almighty can grant everyone complete prosperity, and if anyone says that one who has nothing must strive to acquire profit and distribute alms from it, let him know: this is possible for the worldly, but not for monks. For the All-Good One ordered giving alms not so much for the sake of feeding the poor, but for the sake of acquiring love from those who give mercy. The Lord, who arranges the ways of the rich, also feeds the poor. Was the command to give alms unnecessary then? Let this not happen! Because alms become the firstfruits of love for those who do not know how to acquire it. Just as circumcision of the foreskin was an example of circumcision of the heart, so almsgiving became a teacher of love. Although for those to whom love has been given by the grace of God, alms are unnecessary. I say this not to condemn almsgiving, but to show the purity of non-covetousness. Let the small good, alms, not become an obstacle to the greater good - non-covetousness, which is love. You, nun, in a little time and with a little labor achieved little good, because you gave away everything you had to the poor. Try now to achieve more - love. You must say in the same free voice: “Behold, we have left everything and died after You” (Matthew 19:27). You were honored to imitate the bold language of the apostles Peter and John, who said: “I have no silver and gold” (Acts 3:6). They had two languages, but one faith. But even the worldly should not give alms at random: “let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head” (Ps. 140:5), writes the Psalmist. The one who gives alms must have the mindset of Abraham, and it is fair to do the truth in the same way as he did. Providing hospitality, along with the food, he offered his character: he stood and served himself, not wanting the slaves to share the profits of hospitality with him. Truly, those who provide such hospitality will accept a reward for their mercy, even if they are in the second rank. Because when the Creator created the Universe, He placed two orders of inhabitants in it. For those who spend their lives in piety, he prescribed marriage for childbearing, and for those who live purely, he commanded virginity, making them equal to the angels. He gave laws and teaching to the married, allowed them to take revenge on the wicked, and said to the virgins: “Vengeance and reward are mine” (Deut. 32:35). He commanded the first to “cultivate the land” (Gen. 3:23), and to the monks “do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34). He gave the Law first, and by grace He revealed His commandments to the monastics. The cross for us is a monument of victory, since our title and our vow are nothing more than renunciation of life and concern for death. We must be like dead bodies, motionless in body. Everything that we previously did in the flesh, we did as foolish children. “To whom peace was crucified, and to the world” (Gal. 6:14), writes the apostle, that is, we live only by the soul, and with its help we must show virtues, show mercy to it, for blessed are those who have mercy with the soul. According to the Lord, anyone who only looks at a woman with lust, without committing a sin in deed, has already committed adultery and secretly committed a sin in his soul (Matthew 5:28). In the same way, the one who has mercy and pity on the poor with his soul shows mercy, and his intention makes up for the action, although he does not have money. We are honored with greater dignity than the worldly; masters in the world have different servants: they send some into the field to cultivate the land, others, the best, they keep in the house to serve themselves. So the Lord placed married people into the world, and left those who are better than them and have good will to serve Him. Such are alien to everything earthly, because they were honored to eat from the Lord’s meal. They do not care about clothing, for they have put on Christ. But both of these ranks have one Master - the Lord. It is impossible for one rank to simultaneously contain both shoots and grain, therefore monks are not called by the Lord to clothe themselves with worldly glory. An ear is ready for harvest when its leaves fall and its stem withers. If we do not strip ourselves of earthly ideas, which we have instead of leaves, and do not wither our body like a stem, and then do not raise our thoughts to God, then we will not be able to produce saving fruit. It is dangerous to teach someone without first mastering the art of practicing virtues. If a person’s house is rotten, and he receives guests in it, then the dilapidated dwelling can fall and, by its fall, cripple everyone in it. So the one who has not built his house on a solid foundation, that is, has not learned to do good, will destroy both himself and those whom he taught. Such people, with their words, first moved people to salvation, and then with their bad actions caused them even greater harm, as if the first ones had not instructed them at all. Teaching alone, without practical deeds, resembles an image painted with easily washed off paints that fade with time, from raindrops and from the blowing winds. But teaching, accompanied by deeds, is not erased forever, because the word embodied in deeds is firmly imprinted on the soul and gives those who listen to an eternal and indelible likeness of Christ and His virtues. We must heal the soul not only externally, but decorate it, taking special care of its internal purity. Did we cut the hair on our heads? Together with them, let us throw off the lice that are on our heads, for if they remain, they will bite us even more. Cut hair means life in the world: honors, fame, money, elegant clothes, baths, delicious food. This we all seem to have rejected. Let us also throw away the soul-destroying lice: slander, love of money, lies, oaths and other passions found in our soul, because the head means the soul. As long as it is covered with hair, that is, with worldly objects, it is not visible. But now, when the soul is deprived of worldly things, it has become naked. This is why even the smallest sins are visible among all monastics: in a clean house, if any insect appears, even the smallest one, everyone notices it. Among the worldly, as in unclean caves, huge poisonous snakes nest, but they are not visible - they are hidden behind many things. Monks must constantly cleanse their spiritual home and carefully ensure that no soul-destroying animal gets into it. So that passion does not pass into the secret parts of our soul, we must always incense our heart with the divine incense of prayer. Just as poisonous snakes are driven away with incense with a strong smell, so our prayer, together with fasting, drives away evil thoughts. Nuns should always cherish the thoughts that come to us. One holy monk acted as follows: for several days he sat in his cell and noted his thoughts - when the first one came, when the second one came, and how long each of them lasted. With the help of this observation, the elder learned the grace of God, his own patience and strength, and was also able to defeat the enemy. Even dealers in the temporary objects of the world count their proceeds every day, rejoicing at profits and grieving at losses, how much more should we be vigilant, dealing in true treasure, and desiring to acquire even greater benefits. If the enemy steals a small part from us, then we should be upset and condemn ourselves, but not despair and not give up everything, because we committed this sin involuntarily, due to temptation. You have ninety-nine sheep, go and look for the lost one! Do not be afraid that you have lost it, do not leave the Lord Christ, do not move away from Him, lest the bloodthirsty devil, through despair, enslave the entire flock of your deeds and scatter it. So, because of one lost woman, do not leave what you have, for our God is All-Good: “When a righteous person falls, he is not broken, for the Lord strengthens his hand” (Ps. 36:24), says the prophet David. Everything that we have created or acquired in this world, in comparison with the eternal riches of the future life, should be considered small, since in this world we are as in the womb of a mother. After all, when we were in the womb, our life was not the same as it is now: we did not eat solid food, we did not see the sun or any other light. So, just as in our mother’s womb we were deprived of many things of this world, so now, being in this world, we are deprived of many of the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, we will strive to enjoy the Paradise blessings of the future life, where we will see the Mental Sun of truth in the heavenly Jerusalem - our true homeland and mother, where our Father God dwells. In order to become heirs of His blessings, let us live here prudently and chastely. Just as newborn babies are first given a little food, and then offered more, so the righteous move from this life to Heavenly and better, ascending, as it is written: “from strength to strength” (Ps. 83:8). But sinners will be betrayed from the darkness of this world into the darkness of hell, like babies who die in their mother’s womb. After all, while still on earth, they are dead from many sins, so after death they go to dark places. In this life we ​​are born three times. The first time is when we come out of our mother’s womb, and the other two births take us from earth to Heaven. The second comes from Divine grace descending on us during Divine Baptism, we call it rebirth and rebirth. The third birth happens through repentance and good deeds - we are in it now. Those who have come to the True Bridegroom Christ should adorn themselves as best they can. Worldly brides, when marrying a mortal, try to wash themselves, anoint themselves with incense, and put on various jewelry in order to please their future husbands. Then how much more should we adorn ourselves, who have become ignorant of the Heavenly Bridegroom? It is necessary, with the help of ascetic labors and by putting on spiritual clothes, to wash away sinful impurity from oneself. Those decorate their bodies with earthly flowers, but we must decorate our souls with virtues, and instead of precious stones, put on our heads a triple wreath: of faith, hope and love, and decorate our necks with humility. Instead of a belt, let us put on chastity, just as we put on non-covetousness in a dress. Let our wedding meal be the incorruptible food of prayer and psalmody. However, at the same time, let us not only move our tongues, but let our minds be together with the words. It often happens that people pray only with their lips, but their hearts and minds think about something else (1 Cor. 14:15) - let this not happen to us. We, who have come to the Divine Marriage, must pay attention to ourselves, so as not to find ourselves without lamps, that is, without virtues. If we do not fulfill what we promised to Christ, the Lord of all will hate us and will not accept us. What vows should we make to Him? First of all, take less care of the body and more of the soul. It is impossible to lift two buckets of water from a well at the same time - the empty one falls into the well, and the full one rises, so with us, when we care only about the soul, it is filled with virtues and rises upward, but the body becomes light from exploits and does not pull the soul to the ground: “but even if our outer man decays, yet the inner man is renewed all the days” (2 Cor. 4:16) - the apostle testifies. When saving yourself in a cenobitic monastery, do not change your place of stay, otherwise you will not receive greater harm. Just as a bird destroys hatched eggs by leaving them, so the faith of a monk grows cold and is killed as he moves from place to place. Do not let the luxury of rich dishes and pleasure seduce you, as if there is any benefit in this. The rich appreciate the art of cooks who prepare delicious dishes that give pleasure, but you can overcome rich and sweet food with modest food and fasting, because “a well-fed soul tramples on the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul all bitter things are sweet” (Proverbs 27:7), said the wise Solomon. If you don’t get enough of bread, you won’t want wine either. Lust, pleasure and sorrow are the three main and first sins that come from the enemy. From them comes all other evil. They are connected to each other and follow one another. If pleasure can be overcome, then lust cannot, because pleasure comes through the body, and lust begins in the soul. Sorrow comes from these two. If you do not allow lust to act in you, you will drive out both pleasure and sorrow. If you allow lust to arise within you, it will bring with it pleasure, and pleasure will bring sadness. Then all three will surround you and give you absolutely no rest to your soul: “Do not let the water escape” (Sir. 25:28), says the Holy Scripture. Let everyone receive the news from their own mind, since not everything is useful to everyone. Some need to be in a communal monastery, others need to be in solitude. Just as plants, some grow better in humid places, and others in dry places, so people: some have good health living in high places, others in low places. So with monastics, where it is useful for someone, let him be there. Many, being in cities, but imagining that it was a desert, lived a holy life and were saved. And many went to the mountains, but, acting in a worldly way, they died. You can live next to many, and at the same time be a monk with your mind, or you can be alone and be with other people in your mind. The devil has many stings. If he fails to cause harm through poverty, he offers wealth to seduce a person. If he fails to cause harm by abuse and reproach, he offers praise and glory. If an unclean person is defeated by a person in good health, he sends him illness. When he cannot do harm with something joyful, he tries to do the same with sadness and involuntary suffering. By God's permission, it causes serious illnesses in a person, so that he falls into cowardice, and his love for God is darkened. That is why, if you, beloved, are burning and your body is being torn to pieces by intense heat, you are suffering from incurable and uncontrollable thirst, remember that you are enduring this because of your sins, think about eternal torment, about unquenchable fire and hellish unbearable torment. Then in your earthly torments there will be no place for cowardice, but only inexpressible joy and gratitude to the Lord for visiting you: “The Lord punished me with punishment, but did not put me to death” (Ps. 117:18), - you will glorify the Creator with the laudatory words of David. Iron gets rid of rust through fire, just as you get rid of sinful defilement through disease. If you are righteous, but suddenly fall ill, then know that you succeed by moving from less to more. Even if you are like gold, then, having gone through the fire of sorrows, you will shine even brighter. And if you have been given “an angel of Satan... (a thorn) in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7), then you have been worthy to become like the Apostle Paul, and you should rejoice greatly at this. If you suffer from heat or suffer from cold, coolness and peace await you: “Thou hast led men upon our heads, passed through fire and water, and brought us into rest” (Ps. 65:12), we read in the Divine Scripture. If the first thing happens to you, expect the second. You are poor, you work and suffer, then repeat the words of the prophet: “Deliver me, for I am poor and wretched, and my heart is troubled within me” (Ps. 109:22). After all, “you have spread me out in sorrow” (Ps. 4:2). Let us train as much as possible in these feats, because the one who fights us is in front of us. Let us not regret that due to illness we cannot stand in prayer or sing hymns. Standing, fasting, reclining on the ground and other bodily oppressions are established to mortify the most shameful lusts. If illness has weakened all this, then this work is unnecessary. And why am I saying unnecessary? The destructive passions from illness, as from the strongest and most effective medicine, are further weakened. Patience in illness is the greatest feat. We must endure illness, thank and glorify God for it. So, if we have lost our sight, let us not be offended - through this we have got rid of the organ of insatiable lust, now we will contemplate with the eyes of our souls the glory of the Lord. If you became deaf, then you got rid of hearing vain things. If our arms are paralyzed due to illness, it means that the inner arms of our soul are ready to fight the enemy. Mental health will only increase even if our entire body is constrained by illness. In a cenobitic monastery, obedience should be preferred over asceticism, because very often asceticism leads to pride, and obedience to humility. All those who strive beyond measure are disciples of the unclean. How can one distinguish a royal feat from God, from a tyrannical and demonic one? According to its proportionality. Therefore, you need to fast all your life, but not abstain from food for four or five days in a row, and then allow yourself abundant foods. In this one can see immoderation, which is very destructive. You should not use up all your weapons at once, so that during the battle you do not find yourself facing the enemy with your bare hands, otherwise he will easily defeat you. We must always take care of the weapon - our body, and the warrior - our soul. While the monk is young and healthy, he must fast, because in due time old age will come with illnesses, and abstinence may become impossible. By this time you need to make reserves so that when you become weak, you can use them. Fasting must combine reason and rigor. Then the enemy will not interfere recklessly with your trade and will not steal the profit from your post. This, I believe, is what the Lord meant when he told us to become true money changers, that is, to know exactly the difference between royal coins and counterfeits. The nature of gold is the same, but the seal and image are different. By gold I mean fasting, abstinence, almsgiving. Both Hellenes and heretics use these virtues, putting their own stamp on them. That is why we must be careful, otherwise, not knowing how to read and write, we will end up among them and suffer harm. We must confidently accept the Cross of the Lord, sealed with right faith and pious deeds. Nuns need to manage their souls with reason, and if they are in a communal monastery, not to seek their own will, not to follow their own opinion, but to obey their spiritual mother - the abbess. After all, we surrendered ourselves to exile, left the boundaries of worldly things, so we will not look for them again in the monastery. There, in the world, we had glory, but here we have reproach, there we have an abundance of food, here we are in need even of bread. In the world, those who commit a crime are thrown into prison against their will, but here we imprisoned ourselves, voluntarily, for our sins, so that this free imprisonment would save us from future torment. To allow fasting, you should not look for excuses in illness, because those who do not fast are subject to the same diseases. You should not abandon the good work you have begun, even if the devil forces you to do so. Having endured all his tricks, you will defeat the enemy. Anyone who sets off on a journey on a ship, if the wind is fair, spreads the sails, but if the wind is opposite, they do not immediately lower it, but wait a little, or, fighting the storm, continue on their way. So, when we encounter a storm, we will stretch out the Cross instead of a sail and fearlessly continue our path. These words contained not dry teachings of the blessed one, but, above all, deeds. However, judging by the multitude of things Synclitica accomplished, it is impossible to retell everything she did during her long life. It is known that throughout her life the devil constantly took up arms against her. And he was always defeated. But one day, by God’s permission, he did harm her. First, he struck the saint’s insides, causing such severe pain that none of the people could help her. The lung was affected first. Then the devil attacked with other terrible diseases and almost killed the ascetic. For a long time, the damned tormented her with many ulcers: Synklitikia suffered from constant fever. When the saint was eighty years old, the unclean one struck her with the illnesses of Job, however, in order to cause her the most severe pain, he shortened the time: Job spent thirty-five years in illness (St. Cyril of Alexandria and Olympiodorus from texts seven of the Holy Scriptures conclude that Job spent only seven years in illness, which, with all the years of his life that are listed in the chronology, were however added to Job by God after the illness, for the years of the righteous doubled. - Author), and the reverend woman - eight, one year from every ten years she lived on Earth. The blessed one fought with the enemy for three and a half years. Perhaps even the courageous martyrs for Christ did not suffer as much as the ever-blessed Syncletica endured. After all, they fought against them from the outside with sword and fire, but the saint was burned as if by the fire of a red-hot furnace from the inside, gradually burning all her insides. This is truly a severe and inhumane punishment. When rulers want to punish someone strictly and severely, they burn him over low heat, gradually killing him. In the same way, the enemy, increasing the heat inside the saint, tormented her continuously, day and night. The saint with great courage, without losing heart, endured this illness and did not cease to instruct her sisters in the faith, delivering their souls as if from the jaws of a lion. – Souls consecrated to God should never be careless, because at the moment when they are silent, the enemy gnashes his teeth and grieves, being defeated by them. Having retreated a little, he notices when they relax a little, and then he attacks and seduces precisely with what these souls were calm in and from where they did not expect the enemy to strike, - the blessed one did not get tired of repeating. “Just as it cannot be that extremely vicious people do not have at least a spark of goodness, it is also impossible that very virtuous people do not have some kind of sin.” And so it is always: in the extremely vicious, a certain part of goodness is found, and in the virtuous, a part of sin is found. Very often one can come across examples where a person filled with all sorts of shameful passions is merciful, but a faster, chaste and ascetic is a slanderer and a lover of money. That is why no one should neglect small things, as if they could not harm him, for a drop wears away a stone. Great benefits come to man from Divine grace, but we must fight small passions on our own. Whoever fights with great passion, by the grace of God, and neglects small sins, will receive great harm. When we begin to walk, the Lord, as our True Father, extends his hand to us, his spiritual children, so that we do not fall. Delivering us from great dangers, He leaves us alone to cope with small ones. Thus he shows us the magnitude of our freedom and the possibilities of our strength. For the one who is overcome by small passions, how can he protect himself from the big ones? - Syncletikia preached, struggling with a serious illness. Then the devil attacked the saint with even greater force and attacked the saint’s organs of speech, thus preventing her from speaking. The demon thought that now the sisters would stop going to the blessed one. But even in this situation, depriving the nuns of the opportunity to hear the words of the saint, he became the culprit of their great benefit: seeing the illness of the saint, the sisters became even more strengthened in virtue, the saint’s bodily ulcers healed their wounded souls, and the courage of the soul and patience became a warning and medicine for those who saw her. The enemy did not achieve his goal and struck the saint in another way: her tooth ached, and as a result her gums immediately rotted, so that the tooth fell out by itself. The infection spread to the entire jaw, so that all the soft tissue began to rot. In forty days the entire jaw rotted, and two months later a hole formed, around which everything turned black. A terrible stench began to emanate from the whole body, and the sisters who served her suffered from it more than the patient herself. Most of the time the saint was alone, because the sisters could not stand this unbearable smell. When the need arose to approach the saint, the nuns burned a large amount of incense and only after that entered the cell. Having rendered the service, they immediately left. However, more often than not, blessed Syncletikia herself did not allow the sisters to help her, since she clearly saw the enemy fighting her. So she once again proved her courage. Although the sisters asked her, for the sake of her own weakness, to anoint the sore spots with myrrh, she did not agree, because she reasoned: “If I accept help from people, I will shirk the glorious battle with the enemy.” She did not agree to any treatment, but the doctor nevertheless convinced her of the need to take some measures: “We are not going to treat or console you, but we want, according to custom, to bury that part of your body that has fallen off, rotted and become dead, so that the stench it emits does not make the sisters serving you sick.” “What they do for the dead, I will do now: I will mix wine with aloe, myrrh and myrtle, and anoint the rotten part with this solution,” he told the ascetic. The monk accepted his advice, and out of pity for the sisters who served her, she agreed. After this, the immense stench ceased. Who will not shudder, seeing this unbearable wound, who will not benefit by reflecting on the patience of the saint, who will not be strengthened by thinking about her victory and the defeat of the devil! The vile man struck the saint precisely in the part from which the saving and sweetest source of words flowed, and his immeasurable malice drove away all human help from her. Like a bloodthirsty beast, he rushed towards his prey, no matter where it was. But, preparing to devour her, he himself became food, for he was caught, as it were, on a hook by bodily weakness. Seeing that the saint was a woman, he despised her as weak, not knowing all her courage. Seeing that her limbs were relaxed, the blind man could not discern her most courageous thoughts. The saint labored in this feat for three months, but her body was held together by Divine strength, because her natural strength had become impoverished. Due to excessive rotting and stench, and severe pain, the saint could neither eat nor sleep. Before her death, the blessed one saw angelic powers and holy virgins who called her to Heaven. She was honored to see the radiance of the Divine light and the place where paradise is located. After this revelation, she urged the sisters to bravely endure temporary sorrows and not indulge in cowardice. Then the monk told them that in three days she would be separated from the body, accurately naming the hour of her death. At the time determined by the Lord, Saint Synclitia departed to the Lord and received from Him the rewards of the ascetic crown - the glory and praise of the Kingdom of Heaven. To our God Jesus Christ, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be due glory, honor and worship, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. The life and exploits of our holy father Epiphanius, Archbishop of Constantia of Cyprus, who reigned in the 5th century Saint Abba Epiphanius was from the village of Visanduki, located three miles from Eleutheropolis in the Phoenician region. His father was engaged in farming, and his mother was engaged in flax processing. The blessed father died early, when Epiphanius was only ten years old, so his mother and younger sister Callitrope were forced to live in rather cramped circumstances: they often did not have enough money for food. All their wealth was a disobedient ox. One day, Epiphany’s mother told him to go to the market, sell this cattle, and buy food with the proceeds. However, the boy, knowing the nature of the animal, opposed this: “You know that our ox is disobedient, and if I go to sell it, the people at the fair, when they see it, will punish me,” he told his mother. “Go, child, and the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will make him obedient, so that you can sell him, and we can buy everything we need with this money,” the mother insisted. Calling on God for help and obeying his mother, Epiphanius took the animal and led it to the market. Here the ox calmed down, became meek and attracted the attention of a Jewish merchant named Jacob. “Since we are of the same faith, child, and are slaves of the Righteous God, we will observe justice when selling the ox, so that you are not offended and I do not suffer harm,” he turned to Epiphanius. - Thus, we will not bring curses upon ourselves, and God will not be angry with us, but we will attract blessings, because He Himself said: “He who blesses you is blessed, and he who curses you is cursed” (Numbers 24:9). Hearing this, Epiphanius was very frightened: “I don’t want to sell the ox anymore, because this animal is disobedient, my mother told me to sell it to buy food.” Our father died and we are in great need. However, now I have heard from you that harming your neighbor is bad. “I fear God and I don’t want you to curse me for being a disobedient animal,” he suddenly said to the old Jew. “Child, take this as a blessing, go to your mother and give it to her so you can buy food.” Take the ox with you too. If he leaves his disobedient disposition, then let him serve you at home, and if he does not leave, then take him out of the house so that he does not kill any of you,” Jacob answered the surprised boy. Epiphanius took three coins and an ox and went home. On the way, a Christian named Kleovius met him and asked him to sell him some cattle. At that moment, the ox became agitated and hit Epiphanius in the thigh with its hoof, causing him to fall to the ground and begin to cry in pain. Then Kleovius crossed Epiphania's sore spot three times and - lo and behold! – the boy was immediately able to get up, no longer feeling any pain. “O disobedient animal, because you wanted to kill your master, in the name of Jesus Christ Crucified, you will no longer leave this place,” the Christian said to the ox. And at that very moment, having given up the ghost, the beast fell. – Who is this Jesus Crucified, in whose name such signs and wonders occur? – Epiphanius asked in bewilderment. “This Jesus is the Son of God, whom the Jews crucified,” said Cleobius. The boy was afraid to reveal to him that he was a Jew, but immediately hurried home, where he told his mother about the events of the day. A little time passed, and the mother decided to send Epiphanius as an apprentice to a master, so that her son could learn to earn money for food with his craft. There lived in Eleutheropolis one Jewish teacher of the law, a wondrous and God-fearing man named Tryphon. He had an estate in the village of Epiphania. One day, while visiting him, Tryphon came to Epiphanius’s mother. “Would you like to give me Epiphanius so that I can adopt him, and you and your daughter will receive everything you need from my house?” - he suggested to the poor widow. Hearing such a proposal, Epiphanius’s mother was very happy and immediately gave him her son. Tryphon began to carefully teach him the Law of Moses and Jewish sciences, so that later he could become a worthy husband to his only daughter. However, the Lord judged differently: the girl soon died, and Epiphanius was left alone with him, so Tryphon bequeathed his entire estate to him. After the death of his mother, the young man took his sister to Tryphon’s house, and together they began to own all his property. One day, when Epiphanius went to look at his fields, he met a certain monk Lucian, a wonderful and educated man who, before being tonsured, was a famous calligrapher. Having become a monk, he earned money through this craft, which he then distributed to the poor. Epiphanius rode in a cart drawn by oxen, and Lucian walked. Both met a poor man. “Man of God, have mercy on me, because I haven’t eaten anything for three days,” he fell with a prayer to Lucian. Having nothing to give him, the monk took off his clothes and handed them to the beggar with the words: - Go to the village, sell your clothes and buy yourself food. When Lucian took off his clothes and gave them to the beggar, Epiphanius saw a snow-white robe descend from the sky and cover him. Epiphanius felt great fear and, getting off the cart, also fell at the feet of Lucian. - Please, man, tell me who you are? - he turned to the blessed one. “Tell me first what faith you are, then I will tell you who I am,” Abba answered him. “I’m a Jew,” Epiphanius admitted. Being perspicacious, Lucian realized that the grace of God had descended on this Jew: - How can you, a Jew, ask a Christian who he is? After all, for Christians, Jews are an abomination, just as Christians are for Jews. So, having heard that I am a Christian, do not ask me anything more. – What prevents me from becoming a Christian? – the young man dared to ask. - But what gets in the way is what you don’t want. If you want, you can,” the monk said wisely. Touched by these words, Epiphanius did not go to the village to look at the fields, but took Lucian, brought him to his house and showed all the wealth that was in it. “Father, here is my property, and here is my sister.” I want to become a Christian and live a monastic life. What do you say to this? - he turned to the saint. “Child, these things prevent you from becoming a monk.” Therefore, marry your sister and give her everything she needs, and give the rest to the poor. Only after this will you be able to live as a monk should. “First, father, make me a Christian, and then I will do what you commanded me,” Epiphanius continued. “I cannot make you a Christian, only a bishop can do that,” Lucian explained to him and left the house. “I want to become a Christian and live a monastic life,” the young man later told his sister about his intention. “As you want to do, so do I,” Callitrope supported him. Meanwhile, Lucian informed the bishop about Epiphanius’s intention, and the bishop gave his blessing to instruct the young Jew in Christian teaching, and then bring him to the church for worship. Then the blessed one returned to Epiphanius’s house, announced him and his sister, and then led them to the bishop. When Epiphanius approached the outer gate of the Christian church and climbed one step, a shoe fell from his left foot. When he stepped with his right foot, the same thing happened. Seeing this, Lucian was amazed, and the shoes remained lying on the stairs leading to the church. Epiphany did not pick up the shoes that had fallen off his feet and never walked in shoes again. While reading the Gospel, the bishop saw that Epiphanius’s face lit up and a beautiful crown appeared on his head. Seven days after the Sacrament of Baptism was performed, Epiphanius brought Lucian and Vernika, the holy virgin who became the spiritual mother of his sister, to his home. Having given his godmother a thousand gold pieces, he entrusted his sister to her and sent them to the monastery where Vernika was the abbess. Epiphanius himself, having sold all his property, distributed the proceeds to the poor, keeping for himself only forty coins to buy sacred books, and went to the monastery of Lucian, where ten monks who practiced calligraphy and earned their livelihood from it were staying in silence. All this happened in the year of Epiphanius’s sixteenth birthday. In that monastery there was a monk named Hilarion, second after Lucian, adorned with many signs and gifts. Like them, a monk named Claudius labored here. It was these two that the young monk began to imitate in everything. After the departure of blessed Lucian to the Lord, Hilarion became the abbot of the monastery, whose food every two, and sometimes three, and four days was a small amount of bread with salt and a little water. Epiphanius chose the same residence for himself, and adhered to this order all his life. The place where the monastery was located was waterless. The brothers had to walk five miles at night to get water. One day some travelers passed along that road, carrying with them animals loaded with wineskins. Since it was extremely hot, they were very thirsty, so they went into the monastery. There was no water in the monastery at that moment, and the travelers were in danger of death. The brothers were greatly saddened by this and began to cry. “Believe me, brothers, that our Lord Jesus Christ, who transformed water into wine in Cana of Galilee, will create water from this wine,” the divine Epiphanius addressed the monks, taking wineskins filled with wine. And - lo and behold! - the wine immediately turned into water. The travelers got drunk themselves, gave water to the animals, and came to life. But this miracle caused surprise among both the brethren and the travelers. The saint had to leave the monastery, because the wanderers spread the news throughout the surrounding area. Epiphanius went to a wilder place and, not knowing where to look for him, all the brethren became sad. At that time, Saracens passed near his cell. Being evil mockers, they began to mock the hermit and even wanted to beat him. However, as soon as the fierce one-eyed robber raised a knife over Epiphanius, the blind man’s blind eye opened. Seized with great fear, the Saracen threw down his sword and stood motionless. His comrades, noticing that he was standing motionless, approached them. Seeing that his eye had opened, they froze in amazement. Then Abba began to speak calmly and humbly to them. The robbers thought that he was a god and forced him to go with them. Following them for three months, the saint prevented them from committing lawlessness. However, this confused the gang and they asked Epiphanius to leave them. Having instructed the Saracens to a significant extent, the blessed one finally warned them that if they did not stop doing evil deeds, they would not be able to live in peace and be happy. Then the Saracens brought him to the place where he had lived before and, having built him a house, left him in peace. I, being one of them, but instructed by the saint in the word of truth and the faith of Christ, remained to live with him. After six months, the saint and I went to the monastery of Hilarion the Great. The brethren were very happy about our arrival, and a few days later in this monastery I was honored to receive the Sacrament of Baptism from the abbot, and was named John. We spent ten days there, and all this time the brethren asked Saint Epiphanius to stay with them in the monastery, to which he did not agree. On the way home we met a young man possessed by one of the demonic princes. The Divine Epiphanius took pity on him and cried out in a loud voice: – In the name of the Crucified Jesus Christ, I command you, unclean demon, to come out of God’s creation. The demon immediately grabbed the young man, threw him to the ground and shouted: “You are driving me out, Epiphanius, from my place, but know that I will go to the Persian king and will force you to come there with great sorrow.” After these words, the young man came to his senses and fell at the feet of the saint, who picked him up and sent him home in peace. But that evil one actually went to Persia and, having taken possession of the king’s daughter, began to torment her, as he had once done to the young man. “Tsar, if Epiphanius, who sent me to be your daughter, does not come, I will not leave her,” the demon constantly said and called Epiphanius. Hearing similar words from the demon, the king sent many people to Phenicia to look for the ascetic. However, the soldiers’ efforts were in vain: they could not find the hermit. But the evil one revealed to the king that Epiphanius lived in a place called Spanidrion, and the next time the soldiers found the divine. Approaching the door of his cell at night, they began to knock, but since the saint was praying at that hour, he not only did not open for them, but did not even respond to the knock. Angry, they wanted to cut the door, one of them pulled a sword from its sheath and already raised his hand to strike. But at that moment his hand froze in the air and dried up. Then fear fell on the others, and they ran far from the cell. Abba opened the door only after a long time, when he finished his prayer rule. “Have mercy on me, slave of the immortal gods,” the injured warrior cried to Epiphanius. -What do you want from a sinner? – the blessed one asked in surprise. “I came here healthy, and behold, my hand withered.” “You came healthy, become healthy again,” said Epiphany, and as soon as he took his hand, it became healthy like the other. Seeing this miracle, everyone fell at the feet of the saint and bowed to him. They then revealed to him the reason for the visit. Hearing the words of the messengers, the saint realized that the demon he had expelled from the young man had possessed the king’s daughter and was tormenting her. “Let’s go, child, with these people to Persia,” Epiphanius turned to me. “Father, the king sent us for you, so we brought with us the animal that you will sit on,” the soldiers rejoiced when they learned about the hermit’s decision; They put us on a camel and took us to their country. After thirty days' journey we arrived in the country of the Persians and stopped at a place called Urion. Three of those accompanying us went to the king to report their arrival, after which he ordered us to be brought to him. The saint walked with such courage, as if it was not a question of meeting the king at all, but at the sight of the multitude of people approaching, I was greatly frightened. When Epiphanius approached the ruler, he wanted to get up from the throne, but the abba calmed him down and urged him not to grieve about his suffering daughter: – My Helper is the Humane God, Who will cast out the evil demon, just believe in Him and you will see your daughter healthy. Bring her here and you will see the grace of the Lover of Mankind, Jesus,” he said to the Persian king. “Come to your senses, girl, and bow to your Father, for the wolf will no longer possess you,” he called on the girl, who was brought to the divine and crossed her three times with the Honest and Life-Giving Cross. “As you entered into the king’s daughter, so come out of her and go to uninhabited places,” the saint exclaimed to the demon, and the evil one at that very moment left the girl. “Rejoice, king, for the wolf has left your daughter,” he turned to the surprised father. “And you, daughter, go and rejoice at your mother.” And from this day on, keep your body and soul pure and undefiled by sin, then the evil devil will never come close to you again,” Abba warned the princess. After this, the amazed ruler and his retinue began to beg Epiphanius to stay in Persia and teach his magic to all the local sorcerers. “Oh, sorcerer, enemy of truth, learn not to utter dissolute words,” the saint said to the most important magician of the country. – Do not think that the servant of God is a servant of lawlessness. Come to your senses, I tell you, and remain silent. And immediately the sorcerer was speechless and froze without moving. Then the king and everyone present here fell to the ground in fear, but the blessed one raised the king and gave a sign to the people to get up from their knees, and then said to the sorcerer: – Think about what you see and hear. Do not think that I am a sorcerer, for I am a slave of the Crucified Jesus Christ. In His name, start speaking again, but now make friends with the Truth. At the same moment, the magician spoke again and began to ask the saint for forgiveness, saying that he had sinned. The king ordered to bring gold, silver, pearls, precious stones and placed it all in front of the saint. “Father, take all this and remember me,” the ruler said to the monk. – For the sake of heavenly gifts, we despise all this, since these are false and worthless blessings of this world. Do not bother me with this gift, because Christ taught me to do without it. Take it and put it in your treasury, where the wealth will lie like a dead weight, always inactive. You will take care of him, but you will not receive any benefit for your soul from him, for you will only think about how to destroy souls with the help of gold given to you by the Lord to donate to those in need. So, act justly, abide with God, and just as He gave gold to you, so give it to the poor, so that at the future judgment you will not be condemned and thrown “into outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12). Then you will remember my fair words, but without any benefit. And if you listen to me now, you will always rejoice. Have no need of this world and its blessings, and the whole world will submit to you. Yes, and be careful about the magicians, so that they do not deceive you by the law of darkness. I wanted to tell you many other things, but you do not listen to me, because your thoughts are at the table. So, go and eat everything in moderation,” Epiphanius instructed the king. “Father, let’s go together and partake of the meal,” the king invited the saint. However, the divine Abba refused his treat and was satisfied with only a small amount of the bread offered. The next day, the ruler called the saint to him, and when the monk arrived, he stood up from the throne and threw his scepter to the ground. “King, raise the scepter and thank God, who gave it to you,” the blessed ruler reasoned. “I ask you, father, stay with us, and I will do everything you tell me,” the ruler began to beg. “If you keep my words, then I will remember you wherever I am,” the Abba promised him and stayed in the royal palace for ten days. After this period, Epiphanius commanded the king to calmly rule his country, not to go to war against the Romans, so as not to become an enemy of the Crucified Jesus Christ and not die an evil death at the hands of his opponents. After this, the king and his court decided to accompany us home. On the way from the palace, the travelers saw a funeral procession: they were carrying the dead child of a Persian prince to throw him to be eaten by dogs (the Persians had a custom of throwing the dead to dogs). But the saint turned to the bearers with a request to place the stretcher on the ground in order to look at the deceased. - It is necessary, king, to bury the dead in the ground, and not throw them to be devoured by dogs. Know that villains live in your state, who kill people untimely, like, for example, this child. Evil people unlawfully killed him with the help of magic. But my God, Who was crucified on the tree, will resurrect him in front of everyone,” with these words he took the dead man by the hand and in a loud voice turned to God in prayer, begging him to resurrect this youth. Taking off his cloak, Epiphanius threw it on the bed, for the Persians are in the habit of carrying the dead naked, and immediately - lo and behold - the son of eminent parents resurrected and thanked the saint. Then the ruler thought that God himself was standing before him, but the blessed one reassured him: “Don’t think so about me, king, because I am a mortal man like you, but my God, in Whom I have believed, allows such signs to be performed by those whom he loves.” - How many armed soldiers do you need, father, to guard you on your journey? – I have a God who protects me with His armed army – the Angels. “Go in health, Epiphanius, glory to the Romans, and remember us who live in Persia,” the ruler bowed to the Abba and sent him away in peace. After parting, we came to our home. Three days later we ran out of drinking water. “Lord our God, who cut the rock, poured out water from it and gave water to the thirsty people, cut this land and make it so that a source of water flows out of it near the dwellings of the poor,” the saint prayed, turning to the east. And immediately an indescribable fragrance spread in this place. The blessed one made three prostrations, took a spade and dug a little, after which a little water came out. Then he dug some more, and so much water came out of the hitherto dry soil that the land became fertile: many vegetables grew here and this attracted wild animals to our home, who got into the habit of eating these fruits. Then the saint stood near the plants and talked with the animals as if they were people: “Beasts, why are you giving me so much trouble?” I, a sinful and poor man, came here to mourn my many sins, and God consoled me by giving me vegetables to eat, and you come here and eat them. God Himself commands you not to come here again and not harm the plants. Hearing the words of the monk, the animals, like intelligent people, immediately left this place and from then on did not come to us anymore. But the Saracens learned about our return from Persia. They came to the divine Epiphanius to take a blessing and built three more next to the previous cell, and then returned to their place. So a rumor spread throughout Phenicia that the Abba lived in Spanidrion. Other brothers gathered around him, now there were eight of us living here. One day we went to visit the monks at the monastery of St. Hilarion. Here, as always, we were received with great joy and kept for several days. The devil took advantage of this circumstance: he took on the image of Epiphanius and appeared in our monastery. Seeing Epiphanius, one of the most careless brothers ran up to him, fell to the ground and bowed to the evil demon. At that same hour the demon entered him. The brother began to run back and forth randomly. At this moment, the Monk Epiphanius, sensing danger in spirit, said to Hilarion the Great: “A wolf entered our monastery and confused all the brothers. Having said goodbye to the brothers, Abba and I went to our monastery. Upon his return, the blessed one prayed to the Humane-loving God and the Lord delivered that careless brother from the demon. Another time, three peasants came to the monastery, one of whom was possessed, and his two comrades asked the saint to expel the demon from him. - Take your brother, child, and go in peace. In the name of Jesus Christ, he is henceforth free from all evil. Believing these words of the monk, they left, and before they reached their homes, the demon left the possessed peasant, and he became healthy. In one deserted place, at a distance of about sixty miles from the monastery, there lived a lion, who often came out of the thicket onto the road and devoured people passing along it. And then one day everyone who used this road gathered and came to the monastery to ask the saint to pray to God to drive away the lion. “In the name of the Lord, let’s go there and look at the bloodthirsty,” Abba called on them. When they approached the forest, the lion, seeing the divine Epiphanius, fell and gave up the ghost. Noticing the dead beast, everyone was surprised, but the blessed one only remarked: – If you believe in Jesus Christ, then everyone who plots evil against you will fall in exactly the same way. Along with other gifts given by God to the saint, Epiphanius skillfully interpreted the Holy Scriptures: when he read the Old or New Testament to the brethren, he immediately explained the meaning of the passage read. At this time, in the Edessa country there lived one amazing philosopher and rhetorician, also named Epiphanius. He wanted to talk with an educated miracle worker who knew how to interpret Scripture. Arriving at the monastery, he bowed to the saint. “I’m surprised at you, philosopher, and I’m perplexed, why did you, the great orator, come all this way to come and see me, a sinner?” - Abba told him. “Beloved teacher, do not be surprised at this, because in a conversation many words are spoken, and where many words are spoken, you can learn a lot of new things,” the philosopher answered him. Then Epiphanius opened the Book of Genesis. In the Old Testament, the philosopher did not accept some provisions and contradicted others. And so they talked for three days, without coming to an agreement. However, observing the life of the saint and his morals, the speaker fell in love with the monk and on the fourth day said: - Teacher, this is a good place, if you please, and I would like to live here. - It depends entirely on you, if you want, live. – Can I bring my books with me? “But I won’t leave here again, so I ask you, send Callista, let him bring my books and all my things.” That Callistus was the son of Aetius, the first eparch of the city of Rome, and was once possessed by a demon. One night in a dream he saw Saint Epiphanius. - Callistus, do you want me to drive the demon out of you? - he asked the young man. - And who are you, sir, that you can cast out a demon? – I am Epiphanius from Palestine Phenicia, I live in the monastery of Spanidrion. If I drive the demon out of you, will you come to live in my monastery? “Drive the demon out of me, sir, and I will come to live in your monastery,” the young man promised. - Look, don’t act differently, otherwise the demon will enter you again. Having woken up, Callistus told his dream to his father, and from that day he was no longer tormented by the demon, so after three months he asked his father to let him go to the monastery of Epiphanius. The father did not resist his son’s wishes, gave him money and blessed him to become a monk. In Phenicia, Callistus found the saint and, telling him about everything that had happened, settled with him. It was he, together with two youths, according to the command of Father Epiphanius, who went to Edessa on camels and brought the philosopher’s books to the monastery. From that day on, the saint and the philosopher spent a lot of time arguing every day. – The Prophet Daniel says: “The judges sat down, and the books were opened” (Dan. 7:10). Bring your books here, and I will bring mine, which God gave me. “Let’s sit down and reason between us,” the monk once said to the speaker and put the Holy Scripture on the right, and the philosopher his books on the left. They began their conversation from the creation of the world. Epiphanius stated it as it was written in the Book of Genesis by Moses, and the philosopher - according to Hesiod. They read these two books, and then began to argue. But the light was light, and the darkness remained darkness, that is, the origin of the world according to Moses was true, but according to Hesiod it was false. Moses wrote the Book of Genesis by the grace of God, and Hesiod had life from God, but from demons - his delusions. And for a whole year the blessed one could not convince the philosopher... In those days, seven peasants brought one possessed person to the monastery, and since these seven could not restrain him, they tied the unfortunate man with chains. Then the saint asked the philosopher to call on many of his gods so that they would expel the demon from the young man. The speaker thought that Epiphanius said so because he lost the argument. – Philosopher, what can you say about this young man? “Either you will heal him with the help of your gods, and I will believe in them, or my God, the Crucified One, will heal him, and you will believe in Him,” the divine Abba said, realizing the false thoughts of the philosopher. However, the pagan did not believe that the words spoken by the miracle worker could be true. He thought that he said them out of pride. – Do you want me to remove the iron shackles from your hands? - Epiphanius turned to the possessed young man. Hearing this, the philosopher was afraid and locked himself in his cell. “This monk in vain wants to remove the shackles from the demoniac. I’ll probably run away so as not to suffer any harm from him,” the speaker thought. “I, sinful Epiphanius, servant of the Lord, command you in the name of Jesus Christ Crucified, the Son of God, to come out of this man and not enter him again,” the monk proclaimed. The demon immediately left, and the young man’s reason returned, and he returned to normal. Then, opening the door, the philosopher saw that the young man was healed, and ran to worship the saint. - Oh, Epiphanius, winner and crowned one, I believe your words through your deeds, and precisely because of this miracle that I see. After all, words, being fruitless, shake the air, but deeds have fruit and are visible. That’s why I want to become a slave of the Crucified One,” the pagan turned confessionally to the blessed one. “Why are you surprised, philosopher, thinking that I created this miracle?” No, it’s not me, but the Son of God who works miracles through those who believe in him,” Abba reasoned with him. Having understood everything he heard, the philosopher asked the saint to baptize him. This glorious event took place in the monastery of Hilarion the Great. After the Sacrament was performed, the divine teacher asked Hilarion the Great to send one brother along with the newly enlightened Epiphanius (as the philosopher was called) to the Bishop of Eleutheropolis, where he was ordained a priest. – The one who previously thought of himself that he was a great philosopher, although in fact he was nothing, by the grace of Christ became a true philosopher and a worthy priest. From now on, he will be your spiritual father,” the monk said to the monks of his monastery upon the return of Father Epiphanius. Thus the philosopher was honored to accept a gift from God and become abbot for all the brethren. The saint, since many people came to the monastery and did not give him peace, decided to leave from there to the remote regions of Egypt. “Children, I want to go and visit the brothers in the monastery of Hilarion the Great,” said Saint Epiphanius to the monks. However, they realized that he wanted to leave the monastery, fell at his feet and, crying and sobbing, asked him not to leave. Taking pity on them, the saint promised not to leave them for some time, but not even ten days had passed before he called me and we left at night. First we came to Jerusalem, where we bowed to our life - the Honorable Cross of the Lord, and then, having gone around all the shrines and bowed to them, we headed to Egypt. On the way we met a woman possessed by a demon, who grabbed the cloak of the blessed one and tore it. At the same moment, the demon came out of her, and the unfortunate woman began to ask Abba to forgive her act. “Go well to your home, and the one who tore my cloak has left,” the miracle worker consoled the woman and continued on his way, going down to Joppi, called by everyone Giatha, from where he sailed to Alexandria. There we met a Jewish teacher of the law named Aquila. The saint began a conversation with him from the Old Testament, and a strong argument broke out between them. The next day they began to talk again, and it lasted quite a long time. This time the words of the saint convinced Aquila, and he wanted to become a Christian. Epiphanius brought him to Athanasius the Great, Pope of Alexandria, so that he would pronounce and baptize him. We left the country and on the way to the Upper Thebaid we met one of the students of Anthony the Great named Paphnutius. “Bless us, father,” the divine Epiphanius addressed him. “Blessed are you of the Lord,” the monk answered him. Then the saint asked Paphnutius to tell him about the exploits of Anthony the Great, and after his wondrous story he shared his intention to settle in Nitria. - Go in health and greet the fathers who are there, gather mountain grass, and go to Cyprus. Feed the sheep for your clothing and honor your children so that they may become lambs (Proverbs 27:25-26), Paphnutius told him to this, after which, having prayed, each of us went our own way (These words were taken from the 27th chapter of the Proverbs of Solomon, verse 25, and were a prophecy of the divine Paphnutius about what was to happen to Saint Epiphanius). In the vicinity of Leontopolis lived the monk Ierakas, who fasted a lot, not even eating butter, and did not drink wine. Some considered him to be a saint and to have the gift of clairvoyance. Epiphanius also wanted to see him and came to his monastery. Many people gathered here to listen to his teaching. Seeing the saint, this monk asked where he was from and what his name was. Having learned that this was Epiphanius from Palestine, he became very afraid, because there were rumors about the monk as a scientist and seer, but, nevertheless, he continued to teach the people. So, discussing the resurrection, Ierakas said that in the next century the human body that we have will not be resurrected, but another will rise instead, and this - according to the saying: “for you are dust and to dust you will return” (Gen. 3:19) - will disintegrate into dust. In addition, he said that after the resurrection children will not be perfect in age. Hearing this, the saint became upset and said to the monk: “Let your lips be silenced, so that you may learn not to blaspheme.” And immediately, according to the word of the monk, Ierakas froze in silence, and all the people were amazed. And then Epiphanius began to teach them about the resurrection for three hours, citing evidence from the Holy Scriptures to support his words. “I have heard the true faith, from now on tell the people only the word of truth,” the blessed one said at the end of his speech. At the same moment, the monk’s tongue was resolved, and he repented before everyone that he had thought wrongly about the resurrection. In Upper Thebaid, the divine Epiphanius met a man named John, amazing in his virtue. He received us with joy and great love. Some residents of those places brought a bound young man possessed by a demon to John in order to leave him there. But as soon as the demoniac saw the saint, he cried out in a loud voice: -Why did you come here, Epiphanius, servant of God? He screamed like this from the sixth to the ninth hour, and then, unexpectedly breaking the bonds, the possessed ran up to the miracle worker and, grabbing him by the legs, shouted: - Servant of God, let me go, for the sake of God in whom you believe. This happened because the divine Abba had previously forbidden the demon to come out of the young man, so that John would not find out that he was casting out demons. - Get up, man, why are you bothering me? - said Epiphany. And immediately the evil one came out of the young man, and he became healthy and thanked the saint. We stayed with John for three days, and then went down to Bukolia, where we spent seven years. However, even there people caused the monk great anxiety. One day a philosopher named Eudaemon came to him and talked with him for ten days. The blessed one proved to him the truth from the Divine Scriptures, and the pagan objected to him with useless bickering. Along with Eudaemon came a child blind in one eye. - Look, philosopher, how you are decorated with words, wealth, you even have many gods, why didn’t you take care of your child and heal his eye? – the miracle worker asked the learned husband. “If there was only one child of mine in the whole universe who had one eye, then I would take care of him.” And if there are countless people all over the world who cannot see at all, why should I care about someone who has one eye? – the philosopher answered him, laughing. – And if only your child were like this, what would you do to heal him? - Nothing, I would just often think and talk about the fact that there is no one else in the whole world like my child. – Philosopher, don’t turn my words into a joke, because God is among us. Bring your child here and see the glory of God. And at that very moment the saint took the child Eudaemon by the hand, crossed his blind eye three times with the Life-Giving Cross and - lo and behold! – he regained his sight. Then Eudaimon asked Epiphanius to make him a Christian. The monk took him to the bishop, and he baptized the philosopher. The fame of the divine Abba spread throughout Egypt, and many bishops began to look for a reason to ordain him as a bishop. But God, who led the miracle worker, revealed their plan to him, so we left there and returned to our homeland, to the monastery of Hilarion the Great, where the brethren met us with great joy, for Hilarion. due to the anxiety people were causing him, he also left the monastery and went to Cyprus, to the Paphos region. We spent forty days in the monastery, and then went to our monastery, where Epiphanius of Edessa was the abbot. At this time, famine struck throughout Phenicia due to prolonged lack of rain. Many people came to Saint Epiphanius to ask for prayer to the Creator for the gift of rain and fruitfulness of the earth. - Why are you tempting me, people? “And I am a sinful man,” Abba answered them. But people did not retreat, but continued to ask him even more. “Tell the brothers to set up tables and feed the people, so that they will rejoice and go on their way,” the wonderworker asked the abbot. When everyone sat down at the table, the saint went to his cell and, kneeling, asked God to give rain to the thirsty land. And at that very moment, clouds covered the sky, lightning flashed, thunder roared and heavy rain began to fall. Everyone stood up from the table and thanked God. The rain continued for three days throughout Phenicia. Then people again came to the saint’s cell and asked to stop the rain. - Why do you children think such things about me? After all, I, like you, am a sinful person. God the Benefactor knows what we need and gives it to us,” the monk tried to convince them, but the laity continued to ask him even more strongly. “They ordered to set up tables for the people, let them eat and drink, and then let them go their way,” Epiphanius again told the abbot. Everything was arranged according to his word, the people sat down at the table and asked the saint to bless the food. But as soon as the blessed one said: “Blessed be the Lord,” the rain immediately stopped. Because of the anxiety that people were causing him, the divine Abba decided to retire again. At that time, the bishops of that country gathered to ordain a bishop to one dowager see. Having looked for a worthy candidate, they decided to ordain Saint Epiphanius. To do this, they called one very pious monk named Polyvius, who knew the monk, and said to him: - Take a fast ox and go to the monastery. If you see Epiphanius there, come back and tell us about it. Be careful, don’t reveal to anyone, even Epiphany, that we sent you. Arriving at the monastery, Polyvius went to greet the miracle worker. - Child, why did you come? - he asked the monk. “Father, I always want to tell only the truth,” Polyvius answered him. “Child, you came because the holy bishops sent you to see if I was here.” But Epiphanius moves from place to place, mourning and trembling for his sins, and is not worthy to be a bishop. “You, my child, stay here, and let the bishops themselves look for those worthy of episcopacy,” said the blessed one. Polyvius listened to Epiphanius and, having sent the ox back, remained in the monastery. The Lord enlightened our miracle worker to go to Cyprus. That same night, taking me and Polyvius, the monk left the monastery and went to Jerusalem. Three days later, having gone down to the sea, we boarded the ship and arrived in Paphos, where we found Hilarion the Great. Meeting him was a great joy for us, so we stayed with him for two months. Here, too, Hilarion was greatly disturbed by the people who came to him. - Child, where are you going? – Hilarion asked when Epiphanius decided to continue his journey. “Go to Salamis, there you will find a place to live,” advised Hilarion the Great. However, the saint did not want to go there, so Hilarion again had to instruct the blessed one: “I told you, child, that you need to go there and live there.” Listen to my words, otherwise you will not escape danger at sea. Going down to the sea, we found two ships in the harbor: one of them sailed to Gaza, and the other to Salamis. We climbed the first one. But as soon as we started our journey, such a strong storm arose that the ship almost crashed. For three days we remained in despair, and on the fourth we barely reached Salamis and, having gone ashore, lay on the ground for three days from extreme fatigue and hunger. Then, by the grace of God, we came to our senses, but the blessed one still did not abandon his intention and decided to leave Salamis. At this time, due to the death of the local ruler, all the bishops of Cyprus gathered in the city, who wanted to ordain another person as bishop of Salamis. However, before this great event, they prayed earnestly and asked God to reveal to them the name of the one who could shepherd the verbal sheep of Christ in a godly manner. Among the rulers was the Bishop of Kithria - a man of holy life, worthy to suffer as a martyr for the Lord. He was very old and had already headed his department for fifty-eight years. All the bishops considered him their spiritual father. God revealed to this bishop named Pappos that Saint Epiphanius should be ordained bishop of Salamis. The event described happened during the grape harvest, and before boarding the ship to sail to Gaza, the monk said to Polyvia and me: - Let's go to the market, let's buy grapes so that we can have food during the trip. Arriving at the market, the blessed one took two measures of good grapes and asked the seller what price he wanted, for it was the saint’s custom not to argue, but to give as much as they asked. The seller named the price. At the same time, Pappos came to the market, supported by two deacons, with three other bishops. “Leave the grapes, Abba, and follow us to the church,” the bishop turned to Epiphanius. Remembering the saying of the Divine Scripture: “We rejoiced at those who said to me: let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1), the miracle worker followed Pappos and came to the church. “Father, pray,” the bishop of Kithria told him. “Forgive me, father, I am not initiated (not having a sacred degree),” answered the divine one. And immediately one of the deacons, with the blessing of Pappos, took Epiphanius by the head and, with the help of other deacons, led him by force into the altar, where the monk was ordained a deacon, the next day a priest, and on the third day a bishop. “Have the tables set for the fathers, let’s eat and rejoice on the occasion of your episcopal consecration,” Bishop Pappos called on the new ruler of Salamis. But our Abba, reflecting on the burden of being a bishop and greatly grieving about it, only cried. “I should have been silent, but you, child, are the reason why I became crazy and revealed to you the meaning of what happened.” Know that all these bishops who gathered here to find a worthy candidate for archbishop assigned this feat to me, a sinner, asking me to pray to God so that He would reveal the worthy one. At that moment, when I shut myself up and asked God about it, lightning flashed in my cell, and I heard a loud voice saying to me: - Pappos, Pappos, listen! I was very scared and said: - What do you command me, Lord? - Take two deacons with you and go down to the bazaar, there one monk buys grapes, and two other monks will be with him. His face resembles the iconographic image of the prophet Elisha, and his name is Epiphanius. Ordain him as a bishop. But don’t tell him about it right away so he doesn’t run away. I became crazy for telling you about this because you forced me. So, think about what you are doing, and pay attention to yourself so that you do not turn out to be an opponent of the will of the Almighty, because I was sent by Him, and I did what I had to do, so I am innocent of this, you, look for yourself. Hearing this, Epiphanius fell to the ground and bowed to Bishop Pappos. “Do not be angry with me, father, I am a sinful man, and therefore I am not worthy to ascend to the heights of the bishopric, which is why I grieve,” said the new bishop of Salamis, bowed to all the other bishops and ordered them to be offered a meal. And when everyone had eaten and rejoiced, each one went to his own diocese. Three days later, a good and pious Christian named Eugnomon was thrown into prison by the rich man Draco for owing him a hundred coins. Being a foreigner and a resident of Rome, Eugnomon had no one who could rescue him from prison. Having learned about this, Bishop Epiphanius went to Dracon and asked him to free Eugnomon. “Go and bring me the hundred coins that your friend owes, then you can take it,” the evil rich man put forward the conditions. Then the saint went to the bishopric, took one hundred coins that were kept there for church needs, and gave them to Draco. But one very restless deacon named Kharin rebelled all the clergy of the diocese against the bishop. “Now, this foreigner Epiphanius has spent all the church property. Let's go, let's drive him away so that we won't be guilty of this sin. Kharin wanted to drive away his bishop because he himself wanted to be a bishop. - Epiphanius, you are not happy that you came here without a cloak and received the Church, but now, being a stranger, you are wasting church property! Who can bear it! “Either give a hundred coins, or return to your homeland,” the frantic deacon told him. After such words, Eugnomon went to the city, sold everything he had, and brought money to the saint; he remained with him until his death. Taking the money, Bishop Epiphanius gave one hundred coins to Kharin, and the rest to the poor. – Take one hundred coins belonging to the Church; they were given by Epiphanius, who had previously spent them,” Kharin told the clergy. However, none of the clergy wanted to take the money, but everyone decided to give it to the monk, from whom Kharin unlawfully took it. However, the deacon did not give the money to the bishop, but kept it for himself. Despite the fact that this does not exhaust all the atrocities he committed against Epiphanius, the bishop was never angry with the unfortunate deacon. One day during a meal in the bishopric, when all the clergy were at the table and the saint was teaching them, and he had the habit of never letting go of the Gospel and teaching the word of God day and night, a raven screamed loudly. -Who knows what the raven said? – Kharin asked those at the table. But no one answered him to this, because everyone listened to the teachings of their bishop. -Who knows what the raven said? – the deacon asked for the second time when the raven screamed again. But the clergy even now listened attentively to the word of God, which the blessed one taught, completely not paying attention to Kharin. - How many of you know what the raven said? – the deacon addressed the table diners for the third time. “I know what the raven said,” Epiphanius answered completely calmly, in a cheerful voice. “Tell me what the raven said, and then you will own all my property.” - Raven said that you will not be a deacon. And at that very moment horror fell upon Kharin: he could neither speak, nor eat, nor drink; With the help of slaves, the deacon was brought home, laid on his bed, and the next day he died. Kharin had a wife - a very pious and holy woman, who, since she had no children, gave all her property to the Vladyka and became a deaconess of the Church. For ten years she suffered from a paralyzed arm, but as soon as the miracle worker baptized her with the Life-Giving Cross, she became healthy. From then on, all clerics began to obey the divine bishop with fear and trembling. Blessed Epiphanius had the following habit: during the service of the Divine Liturgy, when he offered the holy gifts to God, if he did not have a vision, he did not finish the service (Perhaps this vision was the swinging of a dove that hung in ancient times before the Holy Table, as can be seen from the documents of the VII Ecumenical Patericon, or some action or manifestation of the Holy Spirit who appeared to the saint during consecration Gifts. The divine Amphilochius also writes about Basil the Great: when he celebrated the Divine Liturgy, he saw how the Holy Spirit descended on the Gifts. In the 150th chapter of “The Spiritual Meadow” it is described how the pious bishop did not continue the service because he did not see, as usual, the descent of the Holy Spirit - Author). So, one day he said three times: “And create this bread,” but no vision followed. Then, with tears asking God to reveal the reason to him, Vladyka looked at the deacon standing with a ripida to his left, and saw leprosy on his forehead. From this it became clear to everyone that the deacon was the reason that the saint did not have a vision. Taking the ripida from the deacon’s hands, the abba quietly said to him: “Go, child, to your house, and do not take communion today.” After this, he gave the ripida to another deacon and again spoke the Divine words with fear and tears. A vision immediately followed, and Epiphanius finished the Divine Liturgy. After dismissal, he called the deacon and asked him about the cause of this leprosy. The priest told him that he slept with his wife that night. Then the monk, calling all the priests, quietly said to them: “My children, you who have been worthy to receive the Sacrament of the Priesthood must keep yourselves pure from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, so as not to perform the Divine Sacraments unworthily for you. From then on, the saint no longer ordained married people, but only monks, reverend men and experienced widowers, and everyone truly saw the Church as a beautiful bride, adorned with a holy and virtuous priesthood. Written by his disciples John and Polyvius May Almighty God be glorified, who gives us life and glorifies, as the word of God says, those who “glorify” Him (1 Samuel 2:30). At that time, the Venerable Father John, a disciple of Saint Epiphanius, happened to become very ill. Lying on the bed, he called me over and said: “Since the blessed one does not want the miracles that God performs through him to be written down, then you, child Polivius, take these papers, where I have written down the deeds of our Abba, which I have witnessed to this day, and from now on write down everything that he will do. For God will extend his life. And see that you do not neglect this, because, by the command of God, I have written everything down to this day. After my death, write them down. Call me our reverend father Epiphanius, John asked me. “Father John, ask God for the sinful Epiphanius,” the Archbishop of Cyprus told him, visiting the dying man. - Say a prayer, father, because I want to talk to you. “Father, put your hands on my eyes and kiss me, because behold, I am dying,” said St. John. And as soon as Bishop Epiphanius put his hands on his student’s eyes and kissed him, he betrayed his spirit. Falling on his neck, the bishop cried for a long time and grieved over the death of his companion. After some time, our miracle worker, prostrate on the ground, began to ask God to send help in building the church, because the old church was small in size and could not accommodate everyone. And when he prayed, there was a voice, and since the divine teacher often heard the same voice, he was not embarrassed and asked: -What will my Lord command? - Start building a church. The saint immediately came to the place where he wanted to build a church, and, having made a prayer and all the following, he brought here sixty builders and many workers who began this godly work. At that time, there lived in the city one very rich Hellen named Dragon the Great, who had a son who also bore the name of Dragon and suffered from severe pain in his right side. His father spent a lot of money on doctors, but they could not cure him. One day the saint passed by the house where the Great Dragon lived with his sick child and many other people, and greeted them. Then, taking the sick man by the hand, he said to him: - Dragon, be healthy, like the others. And - lo and behold! - the boy immediately recovered. Seeing this, everyone froze in amazement, and the father of the healed man from fear and horror could not enter the house with his own feet, but with the help of the servants they carried him to the bed and laid him on it. The next day, the Dragon's wife came to the bishop and asked him to come to their house and pray to God, so that the Lord would raise her husband from his sickbed. The monk did not take long to persuade himself, but immediately hurried to the Dragon’s house. As soon as the divine Epiphanius prayed, the dignitary got out of bed, and at dawn the next day, taking five thousand coins, he came to the Abba. “I, child, only have enough clothes for my body, bread and water, why are you adding burden to me?” But if you want to become famous, go and give money to the construction of the church of God and to those who work there,” the blessed one told him. The Great Dragon did so, and then asked the saint to baptize him and his household. Another very wealthy Greek, Sinesius, had his only son, thirteen years old, who fell ill with a terrible disease; a tumor appeared around his throat, which eventually suffocated him. Due to the death of the only heir, the entire house of the pagan was filled with weeping and grief. One Christian named Hermias also came to console the mother of the deceased: “If you had called Bishop Epiphanius here to pray to God for your child, then he would have been resurrected. Believing the words of Hermias, she sent him for the Cypriot bishop. “My master Sinesius asks you to come to his house and pray to the Lord that his dead child will be resurrected. And again the bishop immediately got ready and headed into the house filled with sadness. “You came here, great Christian doctor, show your skill and resurrect our son, so that we too can see and believe in your Christ,” the mother of the deceased youth turned to the divine Epiphanius. – If you believe in the Crucified Jesus Christ, you will see your son risen. “There is nothing else in my thoughts except to listen to the Crucified Jesus.” Then, going up to the bed, the saint put his hand on the child’s neck, rubbed it, and said with a cheerful face: “Eustorgius!” And - lo and behold! – the child immediately opened his eyes and sat up on the bed. All those present froze in amazement, and the child’s mother, taking three thousand coins, gave them to the monk. He responded to this gesture like this: “I don’t need this, but let your husband Sinesius take them and take them to the church of the Lord, who raised your son, and give them to those who work there.” Sinesius did so, after which the bishop baptized him along with his entire family. Since it was necessary to ordain another priest in the place of the deceased Father John, the miracle worker wanted to take me. I, thinking about the great burden of this service, refused, and when the time came to go to church, I decided to leave when the time came. When we arrived at the church, Bishop Epiphanius took me by the hand and said: “Stay here until the time comes.” Everyone who heard these words, but did not know what they were talking about, was surprised. From that moment I was no longer able to move or move to another place, but was chained as if with iron. At the time appointed by the Bishop, a deacon came for me and led me to the altar, where the bishop ordained me as a priest. After the end of the service, I fell on my bed out of fear and fell ill. So I lay there until the divine Epiphanius came and made a prayer to God for me. Only after this I was able to get up from my bed and became healthy. Once, one deacon, returning from Jerusalem, told the blessed one that the Patriarch of Jerusalem John is a lover of money, hoards money and does not give it to the poor. Vladyka Epiphanius knew the primate of the Jerusalem Church very well from the monastery of Hilarion the Great, where they were saved together. Out of old friendship, the wonderworker wrote a message to His Holiness the Patriarch of Jerusalem asking him to show mercy to those in need, but John did not listen to him. Then, taking me, the bishop of Cyprus went to Jerusalem. Here Patriarch John warmly welcomed us and accommodated us for the night in a very nice house. Every day he called the monk to a meal and sent us many different dishes and drinks, while the beggars were deprived of everything and starved. “Father, give me your silver vessels, I want to treat my Cypriot friends and impress them with your silver.” “I just ask you, give me the best that you have, for your own glory,” Epiphanius asked the Jerusalem primate. John brought him a lot of silver dishes, to which the saint remarked: “Father, if you have more, bring more to surprise your friends more.” Just remind me to give you what you give me later. John also brought him some silver: “Take everything, receive your friends as you wish,” the patriarch generously lent his wealth. Taking John’s silver vessels, which numbered up to one thousand five hundred liters, the saint sold them to a merchant, and began distributing the money received for them to the poor day and night. Much time passed, and John demanded his vessels back, to which the saint replied: “Be patient a little, father, because I have not yet treated the strangers, and then I will give you everything that is mine.” Enough time passed, and one day we were in the Church of the Lord, where the Saving Tree of the Life-Giving Cross is kept, when John again asked for his silver from Bishop Epiphanius. “Father, I will give it to you,” the miracle worker answered the Holy One. But John became very angry, grabbed the saint by the robe and, his soul, said: “Wretched Epiphanius, you will not leave here, you will not sit down, you will not have peace until you give me the silver vessels that I gave you.” And so he held him by the cassock and scolded him for almost two hours, so that everyone present was already tired of standing and listening to John’s cruel words. However, Archpastor Salamani was not at all embarrassed, not upset, but was very calm. At one point he blew in John’s face, and he immediately became blind. All the former were greatly frightened, and the patriarch fell at the feet of the Lord and began to ask him to pray to the Almighty for insight. “Go and bow to the Honorable Cross, then you will receive what you ask for,” the divine teacher told him. The same one did not stop begging Epiphanius. And then the abba, having instructed John as it should be, laid his hand on him and opened his right eye. The Primate of the Jerusalem Church continued to ask for insight and his left eye. - This is not from me, father. God closed, God opened. “He did as he wanted, to bring us to reason,” the saint told the patriarch. From then on, John changed and became merciful and virtuous in everything. When we left Jerusalem to go to Cyprus, two blasphemers agreed among themselves to laugh at Bishop Epiphanius. One of them pretended to be dead and fell to the ground, and the other stood next to him and, when the blessed one passed there, the second said to him: “Father, have mercy on this dead man, cover him with something.” Hearing this, the saint stood facing the east, prayed for the repose of his soul in the villages of the righteous, and then, taking off his cassock, covered the dead man with it. When the divine Abba left, the joker threw away the veil and laughingly turned to the pretending dead man: - Get up, that simpleton is gone. But his comrade did not answer. Then, when they picked him up, they saw that he really was dead. The fool ran, caught up with us and, falling at the feet of the miracle worker, revealed the whole truth and asked not to be offended by this act, but to resurrect the dead man and take his clothes. “Go, child, and bury him, because he died before you asked for the veil,” the perspicacious saint of God reassured him. Having gone down to the sea, we boarded the ship and went to Cyprus, where the brethren received us with great joy. There was a Jewish lawyer there named Isaac, a very pious man who carefully followed the law of Moses. He was amazed by the teachings of Christ, explained by Epiphanius, and was soon announced by the Bishop, accepted Baptism and began to live among us. At that time, the sister of the kings Arcadius and Honoria was suffering from an incurable disease of the hand, from which her flesh was rotting. Hearing about Saint Epiphanius, she sent letters along with the royal people to Cyprus so that the bishop would be brought to Rome and he would heal her. The Princess's envoys arrived on the island and stayed in the house of a very rich Greek, Favstian, who was very hostile against the bishop of Cyprus. – Why do you listen to this hypocrite as if it were God? He only has cold words and nothing more, he told everyone. One day, when the saint was watching the work of the craftsmen who were erecting the church, the royal envoys and Favstian stood next to him. One of the builders stumbled and fell from a great height. As he fell, he hit Favstian on the head, but he himself was not injured at all, but Favstian fell to the ground dead. “Get up, child, in the name of the Lord and go home in health,” said Epiphanius, and at that very moment Favstian got up and went home. His wife, having heard about the miracle performed by the saint, took a thousand coins and gave them to the blessed one, but he ordered them to be given to those who worked on the construction of the church. There was one very pious and virtuous deacon named Philo, and since Archpastor Karpasius departed to the Lord, by the revelation of God, the Vladyka ordained him bishop of the dowager see. When Epiphanius decided to go to Rome, he gave him power over his diocese: Philo had to visit it and, if necessary, perform consecrations. Together with Isaac and me, the monk headed to Rome, where in the royal palace there was great sorrow due to the illness of the imperial sister. The doctors made a lot of efforts, but did not bring her any relief at all, so out of extreme grief, she persuaded her brothers to order the doctor to give her some kind of poisonous potion in order to die faster and get rid of the pain. Entering the royal palace, the miracle worker went to where the kings were sitting, and their sister was lying on the bed next to them. As soon as they saw him, they immediately stood up from their thrones and bowed to him. - Give the same honor to your benefactor God, and then you will see your sister healthy. Trust in Him and get rid of all evil,” the Cypriot bishop urged them. But the brothers doubted the Abba’s words. - Why do you doubt it, children? “Now you will see the grace of God,” he said. “Don’t doubt, child, about your illness, but place your hopes in God and from now on you will find health.” Believe in the Crucified Son of God, and at this very hour you will rise from your bed. Your physical pain has stopped, child. Glorify God, who gave you grace, and always remember Him, and He will protect you all your life,” Epiphanius approached the sick woman, joyfully told her, took the princess’s hand and crossed her three times with the Life-Giving Cross. And immediately she was freed from pain and recovered. Because of the miracle he performed, the kings fell in love with him with all their souls and from now on believed everything he told them. They asked him to stay in Rome and be him instead of his father. This is what the Master did, teaching them every day in the word of God and strengthening them in the faith of Christ. One day, the son of the healed princess was found dead in his bed, although he was not sick. Therefore, there was great crying in the palace. “Father, ask God to resurrect the dead man,” the kings turned to the blessed one. - Do you believe that I can do this? “We believe that just as you healed the child’s mother, you will be able to place him alive in front of her.” – And if the child is resurrected, will you believe in the Crucified Jesus and be baptized? - Yes, we will believe and be baptized. Then the saint crossed his body with the sign of the Life-giving Cross and, praying to God, said to the child: – In the name of Jesus Christ Crucified, rise again, child! And at that same hour the child resurrected and sat up on the bed, and the kings immediately asked for Baptism. “I accept your pious intention, but without the permission of the local bishop I will not be able to baptize you,” the bishop answered them. Then the kings called the Pope and told him about everything that had happened. Hearing about the miracle, the Pope was very happy and allowed Saint Epiphanius to baptize them. When the brothers entered the Epiphany font and all the steps before the Sacrament of Baptism were completed, Arkady, since he was the first to enter the font, looked carefully and saw three men in white robes, standing one to the right, the other to the left of the saint, and the third behind him. The king was very frightened by this vision, but the monk calmed him down: - Pay attention, child, and keep the secret that you saw. The miracle worker was accustomed not to baptize anyone unless he first saw the disturbance of the water. And this time, as soon as the water was disturbed, he baptized Arkady. Then it was the turn of Honorius, who also had a vision. Later, the great Sacrament was performed over the resurrected son of the royal sister, and then over Procliani, his mother, who was the wife of a patrician. After Baptism, Abba spent seven days with the newly baptized, instructing them in the truth. At the end of this period, when the new members of the Church of Christ changed their baptismal robes to ordinary ones, the saint addressed the kings like this: – Children, remain silent, the wolf will no longer possess you. All sorrow, sadness and sighing fled away. Thinking about the fact that there will be a resurrection of the dead, do not grieve for the dead, because those who believed in Christ and were baptized have put on the Lord and have Him as their Helper. And the child, who previously died and was resurrected in order to receive the grace of Holy Baptism, will go to the Savior and see Him in great glory, sung by the Angels. The next day, when Epiphanius was teaching the kings, an indescribable fragrance spread between us. Then the divine one said to the kings: - Rise, sons of light, let us pray. And when we finished the prayer, all of us who were in the room heard: “Amen,” as if it had been said by many people. And immediately the child of the royal sister betrayed the spirit, as the blessed one had predicted. We stayed in Rome for a whole year, and during this time Bishop Epiphanius performed many miracles and signs there. When we decided to return to Cyprus, the kings asked him to take a lot of gold for the needs of the Church, as well as for distribution to all those in need. But the bishop did not want to take anything. “You children, you give me this for the poor, as the Lord commanded.” “I rejoice at your mercy, but you give me unnecessary burdens, because God rewards everyone with what they need and feeds everyone in this life,” the miracle worker revealed to them. Having left Rome, we came to Cyprus, where the brethren received us with great joy. The archpastor had the custom of going at night to the cemeteries where the relics of the holy martyrs were buried, and asking God for all those who mourn and are in difficult circumstances. And just as a friend gives what he asks to a friend, so the Creator gave His servant everything that he asked of Him. At that time there was a severe famine on the island, so even in the market there was no bread for sale. And the aforementioned Faustian, who had many granaries with wheat and barley, mercilessly raised the price and sold bread at a high price, not giving bread to anyone without money. Therefore, there was great overcrowding and severe hunger for the poor. Then the Bishop came to Favstian and asked him to lend wheat to the poor. - Go and ask God, Whom you worship, for this. “He will give you wheat for your friends,” the rich man sarcastically refused him. But the Cypriot bishop really did this. - Epiphanius, go to the church of Zeus, the doors of which have been closed for so many years. They will open and when you enter you will find a lot of gold there. Take it and buy all the wheat and all the barley of Favstian and feed the poor,” the Lord told Epiphanius during the bishop’s fervent prayer for his flock. As soon as the saint heard this, he went, took the gold and, having bought all of Favstian’s bread, filled the granaries with it and distributed it to the whole city. And if there was abundance in all the surrounding areas, then in the rich man’s house, because of his love of money, a difficult situation arose, because he sold everything, leaving nothing even for his people, and the pagan considered it dishonorable for himself to ask the divine Abba for bread. Then he equipped five of his ships, and hired five more so that his trusted man named Longinus could buy grain in Calavria. On the way back from that area, when the hometown had already appeared on the horizon, a strong storm suddenly broke out at sea and sank all the ships, while the cargo was thrown ashore. Hearing about what had happened, Favstian went to see everything with his own eyes, after which he began to anger God and utter blasphemies against the Almighty and Epiphanius. - Oh, how can I save myself from this sorcerer! He was not content with the evil that he caused me with his magic on land, but now he sent demons to the sea, who sank the ships along with the cargo of bread for my people. Oh, what wind brought this magician here who is causing us trouble? - he shouted and intimidated Epiphany, after which he headed to his house. And all the poor people of the city - men, wives, children - came to the shore and collected the scattered grain. So some replenished their pantries for a whole year, and others for two. Favstian's wife was kind by nature. Secretly from her husband, she sent the saint two thousand coins so that he would give her bread, but the archpastor answered her: – Leave the money at home, and take as much bread as you need. When your fields are harvested, then you will give me the grain that you took. There was in the bishopric one deacon-calligrapher named Savin, extremely meek and virtuous. Among all the eighty brethren who were in the bishopric, he shone most of all with his virtues. The monk entrusted him with defending the affairs of the Church in Cyprus. Once two people were suing Savin: one was rich and the other was poor, and the rich man was right. Standing in a secluded place, the bishop heard Savin's decision in favor of the poor man, because he took pity on him. Then the Lord opened himself and said to Savin: - Go, child, and practice calligraphy, remember the sayings of the Holy Scriptures and, when passing judgment, become perfect and listen to what the Benefactor God says: “judge... righteously the poor in judgment” (Ps. 72:2) and “do not be a hypocrite before the mighty.” And from that time on, the divine Abba himself began to judge those coming to court, listening to lawsuits from dawn to nine o’clock in the afternoon. And from the ninth hour until the next morning he did not go out to anyone. There was also another deacon-calligrapher in the bishopric named Rufinus, stern in appearance and bestial in disposition, who was at one with the rich man Favstian. Every day he spewed blasphemies against his bishop, who softened his shamelessness with his great meekness. At the instigation of the pagan Faustian and the action of the devil, Rufinus wanted to kill Bishop Epiphanius. Being the last among the deacons of the bishopric, he had the obedience to keep the episcopal throne in order. One day he took a knife and stuck it into the throne with the tip up, and covered it with a blanket on top. However, when the blessed one wanted a net for the throne, he asked Rufinus to remove the veil, and when the deacon refused to do this, he lifted the cloth himself. At that moment the knife fell and stuck in the right leg of the wicked man. “Stop, child, creating outrage, so that you don’t get hurt soon.” Leave the church, because you are not worthy to partake of the Divine Mysteries,” the divine Rufina admonished. At the word of the bishop, the deacon left the church, walked to the bishopric, where, falling on the bed, he died three days later. At this very time, Theodosius the Great's legs were paralyzed from the knees down. He remained bedridden for seven months. Then the king sent nobles to Cyprus so that our miracle worker would come to Constantinople and heal the sick man. When the envoys came to Cyprus to take the saint with them, the inhabitants of the diocese began to cry and mourn, preventing him from leaving. When Epiphanius left the island, all the Christians cried and asked for death. As a result of this, the saint was forced to say to the nobles: - Go, children, to the king, I will come after you. “Do not be angry with us, father, because we will not move without you, for we have the king’s order that we go together.” We cannot do otherwise, because otherwise we will endanger our lives. The king is sick and awaits your arrival,” they answered the archpastor of Cyprus. Then the saint asked the Right Reverend Philo to take control of his diocese, and then, having taught all Christians what they should, said goodbye to them, and we set off on our way. In Constantinople, as soon as the saint approached Theodosius the Great, the king could hardly say: – Father, ask God for my health, for I am very sick. - Believe, child, in the Crucified Jesus Christ and then you will always be healthy. Keep God in your thoughts, and no evil will possess you. Be merciful to those who mourn, and you will receive mercy from God. Honor God, who gave you the kingdom, and He will give you great grace,” the Lord admonished the ruler, took his feet and crossed them three times with the Life-Giving Cross. “Get up, child, from your bed, because the pain in your legs has passed,” he again turned to Theodosius. And - lo and behold! – the king immediately got out of bed, and his legs no longer hurt. “Command me, father, incessantly, and I will listen to you in everything,” he exclaimed. – Have the words of God in your soul and keep them. Do without Epiphanius, but glorify your Benefactor - God, - the divine bishop advised the king. When we were in Constantinople, Arcadius and Honorius came there from Rome and told their healed father that the saint had come to them in Rome, healed his daughter’s sore hand, raised her dead son, and baptized them all. It was a great joy for the king to hear this, and from that time on he considered the blessed one to be his spiritual father. At this time, by order of the king, the evil Faustian was brought from Cyprus to Constantinople and thrown into prison on charges of insulting the emperor. Having learned about this, Epiphanius came to the prison and asked the prisoner if he wanted him to intercede with the sovereign about him. “Go, flatterer, and seduce the simple, but don’t say such words to me.” You came here to rejoice in my misfortune, not to help me. “Get out of Cyprus and go to your homeland, Phenicia, and there constantly practice magic and plot evil,” the pagan responded with anger to the archpastor’s kindness. Having left the prison, the saint went to the king to say goodbye in order to return to Cyprus. But the ruler asked the blessed one to stay a few more days in the capital, to which he agreed. The next day, the apocrisiary came to Theodosius and reported that Favstian had died. At this news, the saint was saddened by the double death of the unfortunate man. The king wanted to take all of Favstian’s property into the treasury, in addition, because he had no children, but the saint forbade him to do this. “Be careful, child, don’t commit a sin, because Favstian’s wife is a pious woman, she will give everything to the poor.” “Listen to my words and leave the property to your wife, then you will receive grace from the Most High God,” Epiphanius urged him. Then the king gave the saint power over all of Favstian’s estate, but the saint remarked: “I, child, have God, who gives me everything I need, and all this, with the consent of the wife of the deceased, we will distribute to the poor.” When we were about to leave, the ruler said to the monk: “Father, ask me for everything you need, and I will give it to you with great pleasure.” “I ask only one thing from you: to keep the commandments that I told you about and always remember me.” Leaving the palace with us, Theodosius the Great asked Vladyka to bless him. Having said a prayer, Bishop Epiphanius blessed him and embraced him, and so the king returned to the palace, and we boarded the ship and arrived in Cyprus, where Christians received us with great joy. We found Favstian's wife mourning her husband's death. The saint consoled her in this sorrow, and then baptized her and made her a deaconess of the Church. On the advice of her bishop, she distributed all of Favstian’s property and her own to those in need. At this time, there were many people in Salamani who shared the Valentinian heresy and were under the influence of Bishop Aetius. One day the divine Epiphanius talked with him about this heresy, but he disputed all the arguments of the miracle worker. “Wicked Aetius, put a bridle on your lips and speak no more blasphemy,” the monk could not tolerate his obscene speeches, and at that same hour Aetius fell speechless. Then all who adhered to this heresy, having seen the miracle, fell to Epiphanius and, anathematizing the teaching of the Valentinians, accepted Orthodoxy. Aetius lived mute for six days, and died on the seventh. There were other heretics in Cyprus: Sophists, Sabellians, Nicolaitans, Simonians, Basilidians, Carpocratians, about whom Epiphanius wrote to the king to expel them from Cyprus, because some of them, being rich, acquired public positions and caused great concern to the Orthodox. Having received a letter from the Abba, the ruler issued a decree that spoke of the truth of Orthodox teaching and prohibited the residence in Cyprus of all those who adhere to teachings alien to him. But whoever repents, confesses his errors to the common Father, and wants to take the path of truth, becoming Orthodox, let him remain on the island. After this letter was read aloud by the sovereign, many heretics ran to the divine Epiphanius and became Orthodox. Those who did not want to abandon their delusions were immediately expelled from Cyprus. Theophilus, a good friend of the saint, was then Patriarch in Alexandria. The three sons of Herakleon, the ruler of Alexandria, also lived there, who after the death of their father decided to become monks. Having retired to the desert, they accepted the angelic schema there and led a life worthy of a monastic image in great silence. Knowing this, His Holiness Theophilus led them to Alexandria by deception and made the eldest of them bishop of one Egyptian city, and the other two deacons and stewards of the Alexandrian Church. Having served like this for three years and seeing that, having left silence, they had lost Divine grace, the brethren began to ask Theophilus to allow them to return to where they had previously lived. But the primate did not want to give them permission. Then they secretly left the capital and settled in the same place. For such self-will, His Holiness Theophilus excommunicated them from the Sacrament of Communion for three years. The brethren asked him to allow them to partake of the Divine Mysteries, but the patriarch did not allow them to approach the Holy Chalice. Therefore, they came to Constantinople to Saint John Chrysostom so that he would intercede for them before the primate of the Alexandrian Church. Chrysostom wrote a letter to Theophilus asking him to allow them from excommunication, but the patriarch did not respond to the request of the divine archpastor. Then Theophilus received a second letter from Constantinople, but still remained with his decision. All this led to the fact that John Chrysostom himself released the brothers from the ban, and for this reason, great sorrow occurred between the Patriarch of Alexandria and the Archpastor of Constantinople. At that time, there lived here one senator named Theognostus - a good Christian, a favorite of the emperor, who had the fear of God. There was also another senator, the Arian Dorofey. He envied Theognostus, slandered him in blasphemy against the king and presented two false witnesses who exposed him. Then the ruler ordered Theognostus to be exiled, and his property to be transferred to the treasury. On the way to a foreign land, Theognostus died. However, his wife had one estate left, from which she ate. One day, Queen Eudoxia went for a walk during the grape harvest to where this estate was located, and for some unknown reason she went into the vineyard and picked a berry. Some of those who were with her noticed that this was someone else's vineyard, but now it became hers, because the emperors had a custom: if they set foot on someone else's land or pick fruit from someone else's tree, then from that moment it is no longer the owner, but the king or queen. As soon as Theognostus’s wife found out that the queen had taken her estate, she wrote a letter to the divine Chrysostom, and he sent his archdeacon Eutychus, an educated husband adorned with all the virtues, to ask the queen to return the estate to the widow. However, the queen refused to do this, citing the law. She offered to give the widow a vineyard in any other area in exchange for her estate. Then Saint John himself went to Eudoxia and began to beg her to return her property to the widow. “Father, first find out the reason and then say that I encroached on the widow’s property.” “Don’t denounce the kings to their faces,” the queen objected to him. “I tell you again, give the property to the widow, for you have heard how Jezebel is condemned in the Holy Scriptures for unlawfully taking Naboth’s vineyard,” the church teacher tried to reason with her. Hearing this, the queen ordered Chrysostom to be expelled from her chambers. Coming out of there, the divine John went to the church and said to Eutychus: - When the queen goes to church, take the deacons with you and stand at the door through which she usually enters, and do not let her enter, saying that John did not order her to enter the church. Eutychus did as the saint ordered him, and from then on the queen began to look for a way to send the archpastor of the capital into exile. When Theophilus found out about this, he began to plot a lot against the bishop of Constantinople. So, he wrote and sent many letters to Saint Epiphanius against him, where he reported that he shared the teachings of Origen, and that the queen wanted to exile him. The bishop once had to visit Constantinople on some urgent matter. Having heard similar rumors from Theophilus about the divine Chrysostom, our bishop even more wanted to go to the capital, but not in order to harm John, but to help him. He took me and Isaac with him. When we arrived in Constantinople, the streets of the city were filled with crowds of inhabitants, outraged by the prejudiced attitude of the king and queen towards their bishop, whom they loved and revered. We stayed in one monastery, which received food from the queen’s court, and therefore did not receive Chrysostom. Since there was no deacon in the monastery church, the fathers begged Epiphanius to ordain them a deacon. Hearing that an ordination had taken place in his diocese without his knowledge, the divine Chrysostom was greatly saddened and wrote a letter to the Bishop of Cyprus, which caused grief in him. Vladyka wrote a response to Chrysostom. The queen, having learned about the current situation, invited Epiphanius to her place. – Father, the entire Roman kingdom is mine, and is under my power, and all the priesthood and all the bishops who are in my kingdom are yours, and are subject to your power. Since John does not observe the order prescribed for bishops, but behaves disorderly in relation to the kings, for several days now we have been planning to gather archpastors in order to excommunicate him, as unworthy of the bishopric, and install another who can rule the Patriarchate as our Most Holy Master,” the queen said to the blessed one, being in great anger. “And now, when you, father, are here, there is no need to bother other bishops, but you yourself appoint as Patriarch the one whom God will reveal to you.” “Remove this one from the Holy See,” Eudoxia concluded. - Listen, child, without anger and malice. If the divine Chrysostom is really condemned for the heresy that you are talking about, and is openly exposed as a heretic, and does not repent of his sin, then he is not worthy of being a bishop. Only in this case will I be able to satisfy the desire of your power. But if you want to drive St. John out of the Great Church for the dishonor that he inflicted on you personally, then your Epiphanius will never agree to this. Moreover, children, kings need to forgive those who scold and dishonor them, because you kings also have a King in Heaven, against whom you constantly sin, and He forgives you. So you also forgive those who sin against you and dishonor you, as the Gospel says: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). “Father, if you prevent me from exiling John, then I will open idol churches and force the people to worship idols, and the latter will be worse than the first,” the queen said angrily, crying with anger. “I, child, am innocent of this sin,” Bishop Epiphanius responded to her speech, called me, and we left the palace (our other companion, Isaac, was sick and remained in the monastery). While we were returning to the monastery, a rumor spread throughout the city that the great bishop Epiphanius was with the queen and agreed with her to the exile of the divine Chrysostom. Hearing this, Isaac left the saint, came to another monastery and settled there. The blessed one was very worried about Isaac and prayed to God to reveal where he was. When the Lord revealed the whereabouts of Isaac, we came to him, but he turned away from his Master. “I don’t want to be with you anymore because of the sin you committed to Chrysostom,” he said to Epiphanius. We spent three days in the monastery, and the saint had difficulty convincing Isaac that he did not participate in the decision to exile the saint. Only then did he follow us to where we were staying. However, the divine Chrysostom himself believed that the Monk Epiphanius agreed to his exile. “Wise Epiphanius, you agreed to my exile, but you will no longer sit on your throne,” Saint John wrote to him. “You shouldn’t have believed in my consent to your exile, but you won’t get to the place where you were exiled,” the Cypriot archpastor answered him. The Bishop explained to us that he wrote these lines according to the Providence of God so that no one would reproach Saint Chrysostom, for it is impossible for someone who has done so many good deeds to fall into such depths of sin. When, before leaving for Cyprus, we went to the palace to say goodbye to the rulers, Tsar Arkady asked Abba Epiphanius how old he was. – I am one hundred and fifteen years old, less than three months old. When I became a bishop, I was sixty. “I have already spent fifty-five years in the bishopric, less than three months,” the bishop answered. Having boarded the ship, the miracle worker settled down in the hold, and we sat down with him. The saint had a custom - never to let go of the Holy Gospel. Having groaned and cried three times, he opened the Gospel, then closed it again, cried and prayed. Then the bishop again said a prayer, began to cry and began to tell us: “Children, if you love me, then fulfill my commandments, and God’s love will abide in you.” You know how many sorrows I have experienced in this life, not paying attention to any sorrow, but I always rejoiced, looking at God. The Creator never abandoned me, but kept me from all the slander of the enemy. As the Apostle Paul says: “to those who love God... all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). So, my beloved children, one day, when I was in a deserted place and prayed to the Creator to deliver me from every misfortune of the enemy, demons came and, throwing me to the ground, grabbed me by the legs and began to drag me along the ground. Some of them beat me badly, and this all lasted ten days. From then on, I no longer saw the demonic face, and only through evil people did they harm me. How much and what kind of evil happened to me from the disorderly Simonians in Phenicia, from the unclean Gnostics in Egypt, from the lawless Valentinians and other heretics in Cyprus... Listen, children, and listen to the word of the sinful Epiphanius. Never wish for yourself a lot of money, even if they give it to you. Avoid hating any person and you will be loved by God. Do not slander your brother, and the devil’s passion will not possess you. Turn away from heresies as from poisonous and deadly snakes. I wrote about them in books bearing the inscription “Panaria,” which I gave to you. Take care of yourself from the pleasures of this world, which excite the body and mind. Know that this is a temptation from Satan, because very often, when the flesh is at peace, the mind draws shameful pictures to the inattentive. When our mind is vigilant and always remembers God, then we can easily defeat the enemy. Having said this and much more, Bishop Epiphanius summoned all the people on the ship. “Brothers, we must ask God with all our hearts to save us, so that none of us perish, because there will be a strong storm.” But rejoice, for no sorrow will come near you,” he instructed everyone standing here. “Child Polyvius, if we arrive in Constantia, stay there for seven days, and then go to Egypt, to the upper Thebaid, to feed the sheep of Christ. Be careful not to do otherwise, because if you do not listen to me and do not go, then you will destroy what you have built and you will be useless to everyone. “If you fulfill my words and the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He told me to convey to you, you will be blessed before Him all the days of your life,” he turned to me and hugged me. “And you, child, stay in Constantia until there is an order for you to go to the country of the Kittians,” the miracle worker advised Isaac. “Don’t be afraid, children, that the sea will be very rough, but ask God, and He will help you,” he encouraged the sailors. “Don’t tempt, so as not to be tempted yourself,” the saint of God admonished one sailor. It was then eleven o'clock in the afternoon, and when the sun was already setting, a storm broke out at sea. The saint lay in the ship's hold with outstretched arms and the Gospel on his chest. His eyes were open, but his voice was not heard. We were all very scared and thought that he was praying to God for the storm to subside. However, the storm lasted for two days, on the third day the bishop of Cyprus said to me: “Child Polivier, tell the sailors to light a fire and light some coal, and then bring it here.” When I gave the coal and put incense on it, the blessed one asked us all to pray earnestly, and he himself began to perform a doxology, and then, looking upward, he said: “Save yourself, children, because Epiphanius will never see you again in this life.” And at that very moment the divine Abba gave up his spirit, and the storm immediately calmed down. Falling on his neck, Isaac and I wept bitterly, and darkness enveloped our eyes. That sailor, whom the saint ordered “not to tempt, lest he be tempted,” fell at the feet of the saint, and wanted to lift his clothes to see if the Vladyka was circumcised. But the archpastor, being dead, raised his right hand and hit him in the face, so that he flew to the stern and lay there as if dead for two days. Then the other sailors carried him to the monk and, as soon as he touched his feet, he immediately stood up in health, and fear fell on everyone on the ship. When we, with God's help, arrived in Constantia, the sailors disembarked from the ship and, going around the city, loudly exclaimed: - Men and brethren, residents of the numerous metropolis of Constantia, go down to the sea to pick up the honorable relics of our venerable father Epiphanius, because he has ended his earthly life. And then darkness fell over the whole city, and the people, leading one another by the arms and making great weeping and sobbing, descended to the sea. When all the clergy and people gathered at the port, they began to raise the saint’s relics with lamps, incense and psalmody and carried them to the church so that all the people could say goodbye to their archpastor. Hearing about the death of the Lord, all the peasants of that country, almost all the inhabitants of the island of Cyprus, came with great diligence to bow to him. Three blind men from the town of Skortiki also wanted to honor the memory of the bishop, but they did not have a guide. Then one of them, named Prosechios, said: - Saint Epiphanius, give light to our eyes so that we can come and venerate your honorable relics. And immediately - lo and behold! - all three received their sight and, without outside help, ran to bow to Bishop Constantius, thanking him and at the same time telling about the miracle that happened to them. Many that day glorified God, who allows His worthy servants to perform such miracles. I spent seven days in the church next to the relics of the saint, and we did not find an opportunity to bury him because of the multitude of people coming. On the eighth day, so as not to disobey the bishop’s commandment, with great sadness in my heart, I left his relics and boarded a ship that was heading to Egypt. Arriving at the upper Thebaid, I spent one year there. One day, the ruler of Egypt, the great Heraklion, descended to his hometown of Rinokurura and, hearing that I was a student of Bishop Epiphanius, sent soldiers who unexpectedly grabbed me and brought me to him against my will. The bishops who gathered there ordained me for the then widowed bishopric of Rinokurur. When a little time passed, I sent the venerable deacon Calippus to Cyprus, who found out on what day and where the venerable relics of our holy father Epiphanius were buried, through whose prayers we too may be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen. This part of the life of our father Epiphanius, like the saints, was written by Polyvius, bishop of the city of Rinokura. The life and exploits of Saint Gorgonia, who shone forth in the 4th century The birthplace of this blessed Gorgonia was the city of Nazianzus in Caesarea in Cappadocia, her father's name was Gregory, and her mother's name was Nonna. The mother was a Christian in several generations, and the father was a pagan by parents. He spent a lot of time in idolatry, however, his blessed wife Nonna, having tried many ways, finally managed to bring her husband to Christian piety. He was a kind person by nature even before he learned the truth, so God could not leave such a good soul without enlightenment. After Baptism, Gregory shone so much in virtue that he was ordained bishop of his hometown of Nazianza. And Nonna, worthy of surprise, was so devoted to God and had such reverence that, as her son Gregory the Theologian says, she never turned her back to the eastern part of the church, that is, to where the Holy Meal was located, she never spat on the floor of the church, she never spoke in the church during services and at any other time, but only on the street, and only if there was an emergency. And what else can I say?.. It is enough that by the example of her virtues and prayers to God day and night she was able to bring her husband from wickedness to piety. It was from such a holy mother that Saint Gorgonia was born and raised, having such a pious teacher from childhood. Naturally, she became like her mother in virtue. Another Nonna in piety. Although she was given in marriage, even in this legal and honest marriage she surpassed all the women of her time in chastity (not to mention all the ancients, who were so praised for chastity), for she combined the virtue of virginity with marriage and showed everyone that virginity, in itself, does not unite a person with God, and marriage, in itself, does not connect a person with the world, thereby separating him from God. Therefore, on the one hand, it is better to completely avoid marriage, and, on the other hand, to praise virginity. But it is the mind that governs marriage and virginity in a good way: it either unites a person with God, or binds him to the world and separates him from God, but the ever-blessed one was not separated from God either by the fact that she got married, or by the fact that her head was her husband. She did not serve much of the world and nature according to the law of the flesh, which God established, but she devoted herself entirely to God. Her most beautiful and honest feat was that she brought her husband into a good disposition. And he was not her master, but a good adviser in godly affairs. Moreover, she made not only her husband, but also the fruit of her womb - her children, and her children's children - fruits of the Holy Spirit with the help of soul-helping instructions, setting a good example in marriage. Being married, she also pleased God with her virtues because she brought the good fruit of marriage - children. The wise Solomon in the Book of “Proverbs of Solomon” praises the wife who stays in the house and is silent. She loves her husband, takes care of household chores, and in general the Wise One speaks a lot in praise of his honest and chaste wife. But by means of this praise he compares her to a wicked and intemperate wife, who wanders the roads in licentious clothing, and with her words harms the souls of not only the wicked, but also the respectable ones. However, what Solomon says in praise of a chaste and honest wife is insignificant in praise of the extremely honest and chaste Gorgonia, for what other wife was equal to her in piety and modesty? And at the same time, who else, besides her, remained silent in the house for so long and did not appear on the street, being invisible to men? What other person so guarded her gaze from immodest views? Who else had such a quiet and calm laugh? She smiled only when necessary, kept her hearing from vain and idle words, listening only to divine and saving teachings. Gorgonia did not like idle talk, she spoke only about the commandments of God. The venerable one did not wear gold jewelry, pearls with diamonds, did not braid the hair on her honest head, did not wear expensive clothes, did not use ablutions and cosmetics, as other shameless people do, who, being creatures of God, cover their faces with paints and ointments. These wives are not satisfied with the face that the Lord created, but want to make it better, thereby only desecrating the image of God. The blessed one cared only about decorating her soul with Christian character and virtues. She loved the red complexion that can be seen in modest and honest wives from shame and reverence, as well as the white one that appears from abstinence and fasting. Painting oneself and excessive attention to temporary man-made beauty is incomparably left to those wives who shamelessly wander the streets, loving the beauty not of the soul, but of the body. And such was the divine Gorgonia in everything. What words can adequately demonstrate her intelligence, knowledge, piety and faith in God? There are few examples of such virtues, perhaps only in her parents. The blessed one tried to imitate them in everything and reach the level of their holiness. Her mind was so sharp that everyone consulted her about their needs, not only relatives and compatriots, but also foreigners. And her wise sayings were a law for everyone, which was immutably and inviolably fulfilled. She, according to the word of the Apostle, made herself the church of God (2 Cor. 6:16). Gorgonia was always distinguished from other wives by her great respect for priests and reverence for strangers; she welcomed them into her home with great friendliness. The venerable wife had compassion for the suffering and helped the poor with alms. Her house, like Job's, was hospitable, and no stranger was ever left outside. For, like Job, she was the eye of the blind, the foot of the lame, the mother of the orphans. The poor always found refuge with her, all her property served the needy, mercy was always on the side of widows. The only wealth that she left to the children was imitation and zeal for God, that is, her good example. Through these virtues of hers, which she did not openly, but, if possible, secretly, Gorgonia was honored to accept Christ. It often happens: a person does one good thing, but falls into another sin. For example, if he gives alms to the poor, then he no longer has any worries and indulges in bodily pleasures, as if he had bought them with this alms. But this is not what blessed Gorgonia did: along with alms, she indulged in fasting, together with mercy and compassion for the poor, she humbled her body with abstinence, and the saint never gave up reading the Holy Scriptures. Her prayer vigils were long periods of standing or warm, heartfelt prayers on her knees. She raised her mind to the Heavenly, and in this intelligent contemplation she surpassed not only wives, but also many husbands, and was spiritually superior to all others. If Gorgonia noticed the highest virtues in others, she immediately tried to achieve them. However, most often it was she who was the role model. In everything she was perfect, in everything she was worthy of surprise: her unwashed clothes and body, shining with only virtue, her soul, holding her body almost without food, as if immaterial. Gorgonia's flesh was killed even before separation from the soul; she was free from passionate feelings. How not to be surprised at the sleepless nights she spent singing psalms and standing, or lying on the ground, from which the members of her body became unnaturally rough from soft, or her tears, sown by sorrow in order to reap the fruits of joy after death, or her ardent spirit, who wanted to pray and did not pay any attention to dogs, nor to the cold air, nor to rain, nor to thunder, nor to hail, nor to the night time. As she labored in the feat of salvation, she realized that the difference between husbands and wives exists only by nature, not by soul. She acquired abstinence and, thereby, defeated the bitter taste of foremother Eve - sin, the flattering serpent-devil and death. With her life-giving mortification, she, worthy of all praise, honored the humiliation of Christ to the image of a slave who accepted great suffering. No, no one will be able to count all the exploits of the blessed Gorgonia. The only thing missing from the story about her virtues is the story about the rewards that she received from the Righteous Giver already on earth. Once a saint was riding in a cart drawn by mules. Suddenly the cattle became enraged and ran at such speed that the cart overturned, the saint fell out of it and became entangled in the harness. In this state, the mules dragged her a fairly long distance. As a result, she damaged all her limbs and broke bones. This incident caused a great temptation among believers: how did God allow such a holy woman to suffer so much? However, Gorgonia, although she was in dire need of treatment, did not call a doctor, so that a stranger would not see her body. She placed all her hope in the Creator, firmly believing: “If the Almighty allowed this, then He will heal me.” This is what actually happened - the All-Merciful One completely, without a doctor, miraculously healed her. This caused amazement among everyone and, above all, among those who were initially tempted. And another time, an illness just as suddenly attacked Gorgonia, and the illness was so unusual and strange that no medical art helped: at first the whole body began to burn from the heat, and the blood seemed to boil. Then the blood cooled, the saint became covered with yellowness, her mind weakened, and the members of her body were paralyzed. Similar attacks happened quite often, and all relatives and friends shed many tears in prayer for the blessed one. But what is the divine Gorgonia doing this time? After despair set in, she began to ask for help from the General Physician for all - God. Having waited until nightfall, when no one could stop her, she went and fell with faith at the Holy Altar, loudly calling on the Omnipresent for help. Imitating the Gospel's bleeding wife, whose source of blood dried up from touching the hem of Christ's robe, she touched her head to the Holy Throne and Gorgonia began to pour the same tears with which the harlot had wet Christ's feet on the Throne, saying that she would not leave here without receiving health. Then she anointed her entire body with these tears. And - lo and behold! – I received healing at that very moment, after which I returned home. For the sorrow and hope placed on the Lord, the blessed one received relief for her body, soul and mind, and along with the strength of her soul, physical health. But what then was the dormition of the most miraculous one, if her whole life is worthy of amazement? Because of her great boldness in Christ, the blessed one desired death and unity with the Lord more than all earthly joys. And the Creator did not shame her in this hope according to God. One day, after a long prayer vigil, Gorgonia fell into a doze. During her sleep, she had a vision in which the day of death was revealed to the blessed woman. The Almighty revealed the date to her so that she could prepare and not be embarrassed when death suddenly came. But the saint had no need for preparation, because not long before she had received the cleansing of Holy Baptism. In truth, her whole life was purification and improvement, and she drew confidence in salvation from virtue and godly deeds. The only thing she lacked to add to her virtues was to baptize her husband, then not a single thing would remain unfinished, and she would go to Christ having fulfilled her duty to the end. This is exactly what she prayed to the All-Merciful One, who does the will of those who fear Him. After fulfilling her last wish, the appointed day of death approached. On the eve of this moment, according to the laws of nature, the saint fell ill and went to bed. Then she called her husband, children, friends and gave instructions, and also taught them a lesson about Heavenly residence, thereby creating an atmosphere of triumph in which the venerable one was honored to repose in the Lord. Gorgonia was not old, but she did not want to live or be in this world anymore, especially since she was richer in virtues than many who had reached extreme old age. Let's add something more good and useful to our story about the death of the saint. Everyone standing at Gorgonia’s bed was very sad about the separation from the blessed one and wanted to finally hear her divine words, but no one dared to ask her about it. Everyone’s grief and heartfelt sadness were incurable, tears flowed from their eyes in an endless stream, but no one could utter a word - it seemed unreasonable to everyone to honor with tears the one who was parting from this world as a saint of the Almighty. Everyone stood in deep silence, as if some indescribable sacrament was being performed. The venerable woman lay almost lifeless - without movement or voice. Only her father noticed that Gorgonia weakly moved her lips and, hoping to hear the last words, leaned towards her. “In peace together I will sleep and rest,” Gorgonia whispered at that moment a verse from a psalm of David (Ps. 4:9), which was a clear testimony and proof of the boldness and holiness with which blessed Gorgonia departed to Christ, from Whom, by his boundless mercy and through her prayers, may we, sinners and condemned, be worthy of a good and saving end in repentance and confession, and may we glorify, together with the saved, His extreme goodness forever and ever. Amen. Selected from the words of our father Gregory the Theologian. The life and exploits of our venerable mother Macrina, sister of Basil the Great, who labored in the 4th century The present work, on the one hand, is an epistle, but on the other, due to the importance of what it says, it is actually a narrative of the life of Macrina or a hagiography. You, brother Olympius, remember our conversation when I met you in Antioch, from where you wanted to go to Jerusalem to worship the holy places. That time, thanks to your prudence, we also remembered the life of Blessed Macrina. In this story I rely not on what I heard from other people, but what was revealed to me by her, since she was my sister, born of the same parents - the eldest of us. So that the life of a woman who by continuous feat has risen to the heights of virtue is not forgotten, I believe that we must listen to your advice and tell about her life simply and artlessly in a few words. Our parents named this girl Macrina, but she also had a secret name, given to her even before birth in a divine vision. The fact is that our mother, Emmelia, being a righteous life, herself wanted to preserve her virginity and remain chaste, but since she was an orphan and unusually beautiful, many wanted to marry her; If she had not married of her own free will, she would have been in danger of Satan: her mother could have been kidnapped by one of those who was struck by her amazing appearance. That is why she agreed to marry a very modest man - I mean our father Vasily, so that he would become the guardian of her life and chastity. When the time came for our mother to give birth for the first time, in a dream she saw that she was holding a baby daughter in her arms. A majestic-looking husband immediately appeared and named the baby Thekla, the name of one who had great fame among virgins. Having called this name three times, the Heavenly guest became invisible, at the same time making it easier for our mother to give birth. Thus, as soon as she woke up, she immediately gave birth to a sister. So, our sister had a secret name Thekla. I think that the Angel of the Lord, who appeared to the mother, did not want to impose the name Thekla on the parents, but by calling her that, he pointed out in advance the similarity of her will with the life of the virgin Thekla. After Macrina emerged from infancy and became capable of studying those subjects that a child can perceive, she began to excel in the science in which her parents wanted. The mother tried to have her daughter study the inspired words of the Holy Scriptures, especially the book of the Wisdom of Solomon and everything that contributes to the education of good morals, and Macrina also studied the words of the Psalter, pronouncing each saying at the appropriate time: when she woke up from sleep, and when she began to perform some task, and when she completed it, and when she ate bread, and when she got up from the table, and when she went to bed, the psalms of David always sounded in her mouth, like a good companion. This is how the saint grew up studying these sciences. After she learned sacred needlework and reached the age of twelve, Macrina became the most beautiful girl in the country. Many young men came to their parents with proposals for marriage. But the father, being a prudent man and capable of discerning good character in people, chose one noble and chaste young man who excelled in science, and decided to marry them when his sister reached the right age. This glorious young man hoped to marry Macrina and, as a wedding pledge, showed our father success in business by defending the wronged. However, death cut off his good hopes, snatching the groom from this life in the prime of his youth. Macrina knew about her father’s intention to marry her off and considered herself already married. After the death of her groom, she decided to remain true to her word and not enter into a second similar marriage, despite the large number of proposals. In her opinion, it would be absurd and lawless not to agree to the marriage that her father had prepared, but it would be strange to look for another marriage, since people are destined for one marriage, one birth, one death. She believed that the groom, who, according to the will of her parents, seemed to marry her, did not die, but only went to God for the sake of the hope of resurrection, so it would be strange not to preserve faith and chastity for the sake of the departed groom. She came up with the following idea to fulfill her good intention: never, not for one minute, be separated from her mother and, thereby, replace many maids with herself. Thus, a good exchange was established between them - the mother took care of her daughter’s soul, and the daughter served her mother in all her needs, repeatedly preparing bread for her with her own hands. Macrina believed that practicing this sacred handicraft was worthy of the title of maiden. My sister shared all the household chores with her mother, because besides Macrina, the mother had nine more children: four sons and five daughters, and our property was in the possession of three different nations, so we had to pay taxes to three different rulers. The father died early, and the mother fell to many household chores, in which Macrina participated together with her parent, thereby greatly facilitating her hard work. She herself lived her life in purity and integrity, having her own mother as a mentor in this, and at the same time became an example for her mother, who tried to imitate her exploits. Little by little Macrina attracted her to the joys of the immaterial and perfect monastic life. When the mother raised her daughters with dignity, our brother Basil the Great returned after studying, having studied wisdom for many years in Caesarea, Constantinople and Athens. The wondrous Macrina showed him the true goal of philosophy and achievement. Despite the fact that Saint Basil was extolled for his knowledge of philosophy, and he was famous more than the rulers, although he treated their high titles with contempt, Macrina forced him to separate from worldly splendor, despise the praises of external wisdom and learning, come to complete non-covetousness and prepare for himself an unhindered path to a virtuous life. But the story about the life of Basil the Great and his exploits, thanks to which he became famous throughout the universe, let him wait, because it takes a lot of time to write about it. We will return to the subject of our story. So, since blessed Macrina freed herself from the worries of worldly life, she convinced her mother to leave ordinary life, refuse the services of slaves and live with virgins and nuns, and make her former maids sisters equal to herself. Here I want to give one story, because through it the spiritual height of the saint is revealed even more. One of us, four brothers, Naucratius, second after Basil the Great, was distinguished from the others by natural talents, physical beauty, strength, dexterity and ability to accomplish everything he undertook. When he was twenty-two years old, the fame of his hard work reached the ears of many, but he, by Divine Providence, despising everything that he had, with great zeal, rushed to the non-acquisitive and ascetic monastic life. He was followed by one of our household servants, the most beloved of Naucratius, who preferred the monastic life to the worldly. The two of them settled in an unusually deserted area next to the Iris River, on a hill densely covered with forest. Here, far from the bustle of the city and all kinds of worries, they served with their own hands to the elders, the poor and the sick who lived nearby. Naucrates turned out to be a skilled fisherman and began to feed fish to the sick. With these works, he pacified his youth, not forgetting to obey his mother’s orders, if she sometimes ordered him something. This is how he spent his life, succeeding in fulfilling the Divine commandments. Five years after Naucratius began his feat, an unfortunate incident occurred: he went to the river to fish in order to feed the sick elders whom he was caring for, but was brought to his cell along with his comrade Chrysaphius dead. Believing that this happened from an attack by the devil, for the blessed one was taken away from life without any illness and without any other obvious reason. His mother at that time was three days' journey from that place, but when she received the news of her son's death, despite her perfection in virtue, she became lifeless and voiceless from grief. It was then that the courage and virtue of the great Macrina appeared. She resisted the passion of sadness with a right thought and maintained equanimity. She taught her mother, who had fallen into weakness, courage by the example of her own firmness, thanks to which the mother quickly recovered from misfortune: she did not scream, did not tear her clothes out of grief, and did not make herself cry with mournful chants, but calmly and calmly endured her sadness, driving away the weakness of nature with her own right thoughts and those that Macrina brought to her, consoling her in suffering. After our mother's worries about raising the children and their future situation ended, she divided all the property between us. It was at this moment that the life of her daughter Macrina became a good example in ascetic living. Therefore, she abandoned all her old customs and achieved the same measure of humility as her daughter. She became equal to the other nuns, ate the same food, slept on the same bedding, was like them in everything else: Macrina and our mother were separated from all worldly vanity, imitating the Angels in their lives. No anger, no envy, no hatred, no pride, or any other similar passion was ever visible in them. They did not want anything vain for themselves - honors, fame and all that. Abstinence was pleasure for them, obscurity was glory, non-acquisitiveness was wealth. Everything that people so strive for in real life was something secondary for them, and the main thing was the study of divine things, constant prayer, incessant psalmody, both night and day, which became both business and rest. And what words can be used to describe such a life that was, as it were, on the border - between human and angelic? Because freedom from human passions, which Macrina and her mother achieved, was a matter above human nature, and to have a sensual body was below the Angelic nature. However, who would dare to say that in this they were inferior, because although they were bound by the body, they, like the disembodied Angels, were not burdened with it. Rising upward with life, they exalted themselves with the Heavenly powers. In this way they lived for many years, constantly progressing in virtue. Our youngest brother Peter, who was nicknamed an orphan - when he was born, our father died, but his elder sister Macrina raised him, teaching him the highest moral laws, also served the same great goal of Macrina’s life. From an early age he was instructed in the sacred sciences, which did not allow his soul to be subject to vanity. Macrina was for him a father, a teacher, an educator, and an adviser in every good and holy deed. Thanks to his sister, even in childhood he rose in feat and became capable in any craft. Without any special teacher, he learned every craft and science exactly, although for many this requires a large amount of time and labor. So our brother Peter, disdaining the study of external wisdom and having nature as a teacher of all good science and the wonderful example of his sister Macrina, succeeded so much in virtue that it seemed in no way inferior to Basil the Great. At that time, there was a severe famine, and many, knowing about the good deeds that these three were doing: Macrina, her mother and brother Peter, came to the place where they labored, and Peter, with the help of economic savvy, managed to have food in such abundance for the hungry that from the multitude of people who came, the desert seemed like a city. Our mother lived to a ripe old age and went to the Lord, resting in the arms of her two children. However, here it is worth citing the last words that she said to the children while dying. Having blessed her other absent children, she stretched out her hands to Macrina and Peter, who were sitting next to her - one on the right, the other on the left - and exclaimed to God, pointing with her hands to Macrina and Peter: “To you, Lord, I dedicate both the firstfruits and the tenth fruit of my womb. My firstfruits is this firstborn daughter, and my tenth is this last son of mine. According to the law, both the firstfruits and a tenth of them are dedicated to You. These offerings belong to You. So, let Thy sanctification and grace come both on this firstfruits and on my tenth.” After this, ordering the children to bury her in her husband’s grave, she ended her earthly life. After the funeral, Macrina and Peter began to strive even more zealously and conquered their past exploits with subsequent ones. At this time, Basil the Great, having become bishop of Caesarea, ordained his brother Peter as a presbyter, and then as bishop of Sebaste. From that time on, after acquiring the rank of bishop, Peter increased his feat and began to lead his life even more sacredly and sublimely. Eight years later, when the great teacher of the universe Vasily left this world, sister Macrina, who was far away at that time, although her soul was saddened by such a loss, did not lose heart, but courageously endured the misfortune. And just as gold is purified in a furnace to remove all impurity and scale from it, so that it becomes completely pure, so the sister was tested through various sorrows so that the purity and strength of her soul would appear: first it was the death of her brother Naucrates, then separation from her mother, and finally, when the incomparable Basil the Great left us. She remained for us the only and invincible ascetic who did not succumb to adversity. When nine months had passed since the death of Basil the Great, a Local Council met in Antioch, in which I, Gregory, also took part, and after its completion, all of us, the bishops, each returned to our diocese. After this, one year passed, and the thought came to me to go to my sister Macrina, since I had not visited her for a long time due to the constant struggle with the defenders of the Arian heresy. After counting the time, I discovered that we had not met for eight years. Then I set off and had already walked a considerable distance, being one day's journey from my sister, when I had a dream that gave rise to terrible fears for the future. It seemed to me that I was holding the relics of the martyrs, from which emanated the same radiance as from a clean mirror when it is placed against the sun. And this radiance blinded my eyes. The vision was repeated three times in one night. I could not understand what it meant, but great sadness settled in my soul. When I was already not far from the ascetic dwelling of the saint, I met one of the friends who lived there, and first asked about my brother Peter. It turned out that Peter went to see me four days ago, but we parted ways along the way. Then I inquired about the health of the great Macrina and learned about her illness. I walked the rest of the way quickly - my soul was troubled by sadness and fear for the future. Before I could enter the saint’s home, rumors of my arrival spread throughout the entire brotherhood. The ascetics came out to meet me; It was their custom to meet friends, at the same time a host of ascetics were decorously waiting for me in the church. But this time their abbess Macrina was not among them, so I took a guide and went to her cell. Although she was sick, she was not lying on a bed or mat, but on a board on the ground itself. She had another board of an incomprehensible shape instead of a pillow. As soon as she saw that I had approached the door, she stood up and leaned on her elbows, but she could no longer get up and come to me, because she was exhausted from the fever. Leaning as much as she could with her hands on the ground, the saint rose up, showing me the respect due upon meeting me. I ran up to her, caught her as she was falling, picked her up and put her back. Raising her hands to God in prayer, she said: “And You showed me this mercy, O Lord, without depriving me of my desire, as it was the feat of Your servant to visit Your servant.” In order not to cause me grief, she restrained her groan and hid the sorrow of her heart from me, beginning her speech with joyful words and delighting me with her questions. However, when we started talking about Basil the Great, my heart began to torment and my face became sad. But blessed Macrina was so far from sympathizing with me that the memory of the saint became the reason for her even greater courage. Talking for a long time about human nature, she said that Divine economy is hidden in sorrows. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, she reasoned about the future life in such a way that, it seemed to me, my mind was elevated by her words and, leaving the boundaries of human nature and guided by her words, penetrated into the Heavenly Sanctuary. Macrina, like Job, who suffered greatly in body, while his mind was free and did not cease to contemplate the above, all dried up by the heat, did not experience any harm from the disease. And if this had not made my writing longer, I would have told everything in order: how the blessed one exalted herself in conversation, how she talked about the soul, about life in the flesh, about why man was created, how he became mortal, where death came from, and how he returned from death to life again. All her words, enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, were like water from a spring. “Brother, now is the time to give rest to your body, tired from the journey,” she told me after the instructions. And although for me the best and true relaxation was to see her and listen to her heartfelt words, I, obeying my mentor, went with my guide to the neighboring garden, where I settled down under the canopy of vines. However, there was no joy in my heart, my soul grieved in anticipation of sad events. My dream was becoming a reality: the blessed one truly resembled the relics of a holy martyr, dead to sin and shining with the grace of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. During these heavy thoughts of mine, I don’t know how, the saint recognized my thoughts and sent me good news - she felt better. She didn't let me know about this to make fun of me. Just as a runner in a race overtakes his opponent and, approaching the end, already sees the crown of victory and begins to rejoice in his soul, as if he had already received it, and reports this to his friends, so Macrina, driven by the same desire, turning her gaze to the highest reward, told me to hope for the best: “There is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me” (2 Tim. 4:8), because “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7), she said in apostolic words. After I had rested, she called me again and began to tell me in detail about everything that she had done since her youth, as well as what she remembered about her parents, and what happened before my birth. The purpose of this story was to bring gratitude to God for everything. Introducing me to the life of her parents, she told me that their large fortune at that time increased not so much from acquisitions, but thanks to the Creator’s love for mankind. After all, my father’s ancestors lost their property because of the confession of Christ, and on my mother’s side one of them was put to death because of the royal wrath, and our parents were left without an inheritance. But, despite all this, the fortune and wealth of our parents, thanks to their faith, increased so much that in those days there was no one else who was wealthier than them. When the property was divided into parts according to the number of children, then the Almighty, with His blessing, increased the share of each of the children so much that the condition of each of us exceeded the general condition of the parents. Macrina also said that of the property due to her, she did not keep anything for herself, but gave everything to Peter so that he would dispose of it according to the commandment of God. All her life she never stopped working, never relied on anyone, she received everything she needed not from human blessings and alms, but from her own labor. However, if they approached her with requests, then she did not let anyone go empty-handed, but donated to the alms of Christ-lovers, and secretly multiplied by the Almighty her small handicrafts, which she constantly did. When I began to talk about my own labors, first incurred during the persecution of the Orthodox by the Arian Tsar Valens, and then about the moments of confusion and strife that occurred in the Churches of Christ, the blessed one said: – How long will you remain ungrateful to God for the good He has done for you? Why don't you make amends for your ingratitude before Him? Compare the benefits shown to you with those done to your parents. Our father stood out for his learning and was the first among other rhetoricians, but he is unknown outside our homeland. You have become known in all countries and peoples, and the Churches of Christ are sending for you so that you can come and help them. You don’t think about such mercy and don’t even know the reason where all these benefits come from, for the Creator raised you to this height for the prayers of our parents. You yourself wouldn’t have the strength to do it. At that moment, most of all I wished that the day would last and that the blessed one would not cease to delight my ears with her speech. But since the voice of those singing psalms called us to vespers, I went to the church, and Macrina again returned to God in prayer. So the night passed. The next day I realized that this was the last day of my sister’s life, for her strength was exhausted by the fever. She, seeing the weakness of my thoughts, thought about how to soften the sad expectation for me, and again with her kind words, but now very weakly and breathing quickly, healed my grief. My soul experienced different feelings: by nature - sadness, as it should have been, for I did not hope to ever hear her voice again, since the praise of our family soon left this life. But on the other hand, there is joy at the thought that the sister has truly surpassed common nature and risen above it. Already quite near death, Macrina was not afraid of the separation of her soul from her body, her hope was in eternity, her last breath was in high thoughts about monastic life. She revealed to those present the love for God, for the Invisible Bridegroom Christ, hidden in the depths of her soul, and the desire to free herself from the bonds of the body in order to quickly reach the Desired Jesus. And although most of the day had already passed, and the sun was setting, the blessed one’s jealousy did not weaken in the least. The closer her end approached, the more the desire to unite with Him grew in her, for more and more clearly she saw His beauty. She no longer looked at me, but continuously saw only Him, because her bed was facing the east. She stopped talking to me, and then in prayer she talked only with God, whispering the following words: “You, Lord, have delivered us from the fear of death, You have made the end of our present life the beginning of our true life, You temporarily give rest to our bodies in the sleep of death, and You will awaken us again at the sound of the last trumpet.” You place our ashes, created by Your hands, in the ground for safekeeping, and You will again take from the ground what was given to it, transforming our corruptible and ugly body with incorruption and grace. You freed us from curse and sin, becoming cursed out of love for us. You crushed the head of the serpent that swallowed up man for his disobedience. You showed us the way to resurrection, breaking down the doors of hell and abolishing “him who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). You gave to those who fear You the image of Your Honorable Cross to destroy the enemy and protect our lives. I trusted in You from my mother’s womb, and my soul loved You with all its strength, To You - from my youth until now - I have offered body and soul as a gift. You entrust me to the bright Angel, who will lead me to my resting place, to the bosom of our holy fathers. You, who put an obstacle to the fiery sword and raised up in paradise the thief crucified with You, who submitted to Your love for mankind, remember me too in Your Kingdom. And I was crucified with You, nailing my flesh with Your fear, fearing Your judgments. May no terrible abyss separate me from Your chosen ones, may no slanderer stand in my way, and may my sin not appear before my eyes. And if I have sinned through the weakness of nature in word, deed, or thought, You, who have the power to forgive sins, forgive me so that I can find rest. And when I have put off this body, and my soul appears before You, devoid of stains or any blemish, take it into Your hands, pure and undefiled, like incense before You. Saying this, she crossed her eyes, lips and heart, and then, since her tongue burned and because of this she could not speak clearly, her voice broke off. Only by her open lips and the movement of her hands did we understand that she was praying. Evening came... When the fire was brought, the blessed one opened her eyes and seemed to want to say the usual evening prayer of thanksgiving. However, since she had lost her voice, she began to thank with her heart and with the movements of her hands, and at the same time her lips moved. At the end of the rule, Macrina crossed herself, signaling the end of the prayer, took a deep breath, and died. That's when I remembered the commandment that she gave me the first time we met - to close her eyes when she dies, as is usually done with the dead, and to bury her as it should be. I put my hand on the saint’s face only so that it could be seen that I was fulfilling the commandment, for there was no need to close the blessed woman’s eyes; they themselves were beautifully closed with eyelids, as happens during ordinary sleep, her lips were tightly closed, her hands were decently folded on her chest, and in general the position of her body was decorous, so that it seemed unnecessary to prepare her for burial. I was in a double stupor: from grief, from the sight of the body and the crying of the virgins. From their bitter and uncontrollable lamentations, I could no longer resist, and sadness, like a stormy stream, completely filled me. I gave myself over to tears, considering the reason why the nuns were crying to be reasonable. They were not mourning the fact of death, because the saint would no longer be with them in body, as the worldly do when their relatives die, but they tearfully lamented the fact that they had lost hope in God and the salvation of their souls: “The lamp of our eyes has gone out, the guiding light of our souls has been taken from us, the seal of our incorruptibility has been removed, the bonds of our unanimity have been broken, the healing of the weak has been taken away. With you, oh our good teacher, the night seemed like day, illuminated by the purity of your life, but now this day has turned into night and darkness,” they cried. But those who considered her their mother and educator lamented more than others, because Macrina found them on the road during a famine, took them with her, raised them and led them to an imperishable virgin life. However, soon, looking at Macrina, I called out to the maidens in a loud voice: - Look at the teacher and remember her commandments that you were taught - to observe decorum in everything. This divine soul taught that we should weep only when we pray to the Lord, so let us turn our mournful voices into touching psalmody. I spoke loudly in order to cover the voices of those weeping with my voice, after which I convinced the virgins to go to the nearest cell in order to leave at the bed only a few who, with the consent of Macrina, served her during her lifetime. Among them was a certain rich, noble and beautiful wife named Vatiani. She was married to a nobleman for a very short time, and then became a widow, making the great Macrina the guardian and mentor of her widowhood. Communicating with virgins most of the time, she learned from them a virtuous life. “Nothing prevents us now from dressing the sacred remains in proper clothing and decorating this pure and untainted body with a light veil,” I turned to her. “We need to find out if the Reverend wanted this, because we have to do what she liked.” And she liked what pleased God. There was one maiden here, the first of all the others - a deaconess of rank - named Lampadia. She knew exactly what the saint commanded regarding her burial. – The saint’s attire was her pure life, it was her adornment during life, let it also be her funeral shroud. And she did not accept anything that serves to decorate the body during her life, so why decorate her during burial? But even if we want to do something more for her body, we don’t have anything ready,” she told us. “You haven’t prepared anything to dress the body in?” – I asked her again. “Here, she has everything ready here: her clothes, her bedspread, her worn-out shoes.” This is her wealth and her estate. And besides this, you see that there is nothing that is stored in chests or cells. She knew only one repository for her wealth - Heaven, where she collected everything, leaving nothing on earth. “And if I bring something from what I have prepared for her burial, will she like it?” – I asked Lampadia. “Of course, and if the saint were alive, she would have accepted this offering from you because of your rank as a bishop, and because you are her brother.” That is why the abbess ordered that you give her body for burial with your own hands. Having received consent to clothe the holy relics in what I had with me, I ordered my man to bring clothes. “Here is her neck decoration,” Vatiani, who covered the sacred head of the saint, told me. She showed me an iron cross and a ring hanging on a thin thread from the saint’s heart. - Let this be a common acquisition. “You take a cross for yourself, but a ring will be enough for me,” I answered the pious wife. As Vatiani told me, a cross was engraved on the seal of the ring, and inside it was a particle of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. When the time came to clothe the clean body in clothes, the blessed one ordered me to serve in this, and Vatiani, who was present, said: – Don’t miss the great miracle performed by the saint. And immediately she exposed part of the saint’s chest and, bringing the lamp closer, showed me a small point on the skin that resembled a mark from a needle prick. - Well, what kind of miracle is it that there is such a point on the body? – I asked in bewilderment. “This remained in memory of the great help that God provided to the saint. One day, a strong tumor formed in this place, which could become incurable, so her mother begged Macrina to allow the doctor to cut it out. But the blessed one thought that if a stranger saw any part of her body, it would be worse than the illness from which she was suffering. When evening came and she finished her usual service to her mother, she entered the altar and remained there for the night. Having fallen to the Doctor of all, she prayed for healing. She made an anointing from the tears she shed and applied it to her chest instead of medicine. Since her mother was very sorry for her and again persuaded her to see a doctor, the saint replied that if her mother crossed the sore spot with her own hand, she would recover. And immediately, as soon as her mother crossed her chest, a miracle happened: the tumor disappeared, and only this point remained, as a reminder of Divine healing and as a reason for constant thanksgiving to the All-Merciful. After the saint’s body was prepared for burial, Vatiani again told me: “There is no need for the saint to look adorned like a bride in the eyes of the virgins.” I have your mother's dark blanket. We will cover the holy relics with them from above, so that it does not seem that this sacred beauty shines with the decoration of clothing that is alien to it. This black veil was placed on top of the saint, but even in it her face shone. I believe that Divine power added such grace to the holy relics that, as I already saw in a dream, it seemed that some kind of lightning emanated from this beauty. When we finished, the psalmody of the virgins mixed with sobs could be heard everywhere. I don’t know how they found out about her death, but the people kept walking and walking, and the monastery courtyard could no longer accommodate everyone. That night an All-Night Vigil was celebrated with psalmody, as happens on the feasts of martyrs. And when morning came, many gathered husbands and wives interrupted the psalmody with sobs. I, although I was greatly distressed by grief, thought as much as possible about not missing out on anything that was required during burial, as a result of which I divided the assembled people: I placed the wives with the virgins, and the husbands with the monastic rank, and made sure that they, like two choirs, sang harmoniously and orderly. When the day came, and the crowd of people gathered became very crowded, the bishop of that area named Araxius, who came to the burial with all the priests, asked me to carry the relics to the burial place. I was the first to lift the deceased’s bed by one end, the bishop – by the other, and two venerable clergy – by the remaining two, and we calmly set off on our way. In front of the procession, on both sides, walked many deacons and readers - all with lighted candles. Since both those who walked in front and those who walked behind sang psalms, Macrina’s funeral resembled some kind of solemn procession. The distance to the church of the Holy Martyrs, where the bodies of our parents were buried, was seven or eight furlongs, but due to the multitude of people we barely covered it in a day. When we finally reached the church and began to pray, the sobs of the people resumed with renewed vigor; Before lowering the abbess into the grave, one sister began to exclaim unruly: - Woe to us, for we will no longer see this sacred face! Having heard these words, the other nuns began to repeat the same thing, so that there was an unruly noise that disrupted the sacred prayer, for all those gathered were heartbroken and tears flowed. But then I gave a sign to be silent, and the deacon began to pronounce the exclamations prescribed by the Church, calling for prayer. Only after this did the people with difficulty return to perform the burial rite, after which I was overcome by the fear that I was breaking the Divine commandment: “You shall not reveal the nakedness of your father and the nakedness of your mother” (Lev. 18:7). I thought about how to get rid of condemnation, since I had to see in the bodies of my parents the general ugliness of human nature. And their bodies had already disintegrated and became shapeless and ugly bones. Thinking in this way and being afraid of the irritation that Noah showed to his son Ham, who saw his nakedness, I finally decided to use the same method as Noah’s other two sons - Shem and Japheth. As soon as the tombstone was removed from my parents' grave, their remains were covered with a clean shroud before we saw them. Then the bishop and I took the holy relics of Macrina and placed them next to the remains of our mother. Thus, the wishes and promises of both were fulfilled: mother and daughter, because both asked God so that their bodies would be together after death, as in life. After completing everything required during the burial, I fell on the grave and began to kiss the ground, after which, sad and covered in tears, I set off on the way back. On the way, I met a certain noble man who had military power in one Pontic town of Sevastopol. Hearing about the death of Macrina, he was greatly saddened, because he was our relative, and then he told me the following story, which I will finish this story with. “Listen, what a great blessing has left this life,” he began, recovering from tears. “Once my wife and I wanted to visit the school of virtue—that’s what the ascetic dwelling where Macrina lived should be called. Our daughter was also with us, one of her eyes was affected by a contagious disease, which is why she looked very terrible and pitiful: the iris around the pupil was thickened and completely white. Along the way we separated: I went to where the men labored, whose abbot was your brother Peter, and my wife went to the monastery of virgins - to the monastery of the great Macrina. After some time, we decided to leave, but when we got ready to set off, we were both detained. Your brother asked me to stay and share the ascetic meal, and your blessed sister did not allow my wife to leave, as she held our daughter in her arms, saying that she would not give her up if her wife did not share the meal with her. As is the custom when kissing a child, she brought her lips close to her eye. “If you do me the favor of eating with me, I will give you a reward worthy of the same honor and mercy,” she said. – What reward will you give us? – my wife asked. “I will give you medicine with which you can cure the child’s eye,” Macrina reassured. The saint was sent to tell me about this promise, after which we joyfully stayed. At the end of the meal, we set off, telling each other along the way what we had seen and heard. I talked about what happened in the monastery, and my wife told me in detail, without missing the slightest detail, about the saint, but when she came to the saint’s promise to heal our child, she suddenly interrupted her story. - And what happened to us? Why didn’t we bother to take the medicine that was promised to us? – she was surprised. Since I was also saddened by our negligence, I immediately ordered to return quickly and take the medicine. At this time, the girl, who was being held in the arms of the nurse, accidentally turned and looked at her mother. She, looking into her eyes, joyfully told me: “Don’t be upset about the medicine, because we got what Macrina promised: this medicine was the healing of her daughter through her prayers, and there was no trace of the disease left in the eye.” – What is great in the fact that by the hand of the Lord the sight of the blind is restored, if even His servant, by faith in the Creator, performed a miracle no less than those? - the relative completed his story, and tears flowed from his eyes. I also heard about other miracles of Blessed Macrina from those who lived with her and knew exactly about her life, but I will not talk about them, because to many they will seem incredible. After all, most people judge what they hear to the best of their knowledge, and when something exceeds this measure, they begin to suspect that it is all a hoax. Therefore, I omit the story about the miraculous increase of grain during the famine, when Macrina distributed it to the poor, but it did not decrease at all, and about other, stranger cases than this: healings of the sick and possessed, prophecies about future times, which everyone with exact and perfect knowledge believes in as true, although they seem incredible. They surpass our nature, which has a carnal mind, and think that this is impossible. Such people do not know that Divine gifts are given depending on faith: small ones are given to those of little faith, and great ones are given to those who have great faith. So, so that those of little faith who do not believe in Divine gifts would not suffer harm, I refused to describe the most amazing of those miracles that God performed through Macrina, considering it sufficient what I had already written about her life. Through her prayers may we also be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen. Written by her brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa and sent to the monk Olympius. The life and exploits of our venerable and God-bearing father Paisius the Great, who labored in 370 This divine Paisius was born in Egypt to pious, virtuous and rich in good Christian morals. This family, with seven children, had enough wealth to live comfortably, so they always helped those in need. And the more mercy the family showed to the poor, the more abundant their fortune became. After the death of the head of the family, all the concern for maintaining the estate and raising the children, especially Paisius, as the youngest of the children, fell on the shoulders of the saddened mother. One night, an Angel of the Lord appeared to her in a dream, sent by God Himself, the Father of all orphans, and said: – Why are you so sad that you have to take care of children, as if it were only your business and not God’s? Do not grieve, but dedicate your son to the Almighty, through whom the most holy name of God will be glorified. – All my children belong to the Creator, let Him take whomever He wants. “This one is pleasing to the Creator,” the Angel announced, taking Paisius by the hand. “He cannot yet serve and work for the All-Merciful, but it’s better to take one of the elders,” his mother answered him. – Oh, most beautiful of wives, you say that Paisius cannot serve the Knower of the Heart because he is small, but know that the power of God is usually manifested in the weak. This, the least of all, is the chosen one of the Stepfather and will please the World Ruler more than anyone else. With these words, the Angel departed, and the wife, waking up, was amazed at the command from above and glorified the Almighty with the words: - May Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us and upon Thy servant Paisius. The divine Paisius was a God-fearing youth in whom the grace of God increased year by year. While still a child, he desired the monastic life and upon reaching a certain age, like a good-natured lamb, he came to the hermitage desert to obey the famous elder Pamvo. Possessing the gift of clairvoyance, this Abba recognized the future of Paisius and, with great joy, received the young man and clothed him in the holy monastic schema. The young monk labored well in patience, and with zeal did everything that his spiritual father entrusted to him. The Divine Pamvo helped the ascetic to reach the highest heights of virtue and taught Paisius to always walk with his head bowed, so that the mind, imagining the beauty of the ineffable glory of God, would constantly think about Heavenly things. This contemplation, as the teacher of the blessed one believed, will always help to glorify the almighty goodness of God, our great Benefactor. Thus, Paisius did not see a human face at all for three years, but diligently read the Holy Scriptures and explored its Divine meaning, which helped him become, in the words of the prophet David, “like a tree planted by streams of water, which bears its fruit in its season” (Ps. 1: 3). - “How sweet are Your words to my throat! “Better than honey to my lips” (Ps. 119:103), the monk loved to repeat these lines of the Psalter. Paisius tormented and depressed his body with fasts and prayer vigils, thanks to which he was able to subordinate it to the dictates of his soul. Saint Pamvo led the blessed one so well and piously that he was able to make him an experienced and skilled ascetic in everything. Before his death, Pamvo blessed Paisius and uttered many prophecies about him, after which he departed to the Lord in peace. From that day on, I, humble John, who wrote this story, began to live in the same cell with Paisius. Our way of life was built on the rule received from our spiritual father; we mutually strengthened each other in virtue and cared about the salvation of our souls. A little time passed and Paisius began to struggle even more severely than before: he began to fast all week, eating only a small piece of bread with salt, and then only on Saturdays. He devoted the rest of his time to reading the word of God. The monk studied the prophecies of the divinely inspired prophet Jeremiah, who, as they say, repeatedly appeared to him and interpreted the secret meaning of his works, thereby encouraging the ascetic to love the promised blessings. The blessed one, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, always stretched “forward” (Phil. 3:13), that is, he constantly forced himself to perform even greater feats. So, the saint began to fast not one, but two weeks in a row. The most amazing thing is that no one knew about the equal-angelic life of Paisius, except the One who sees the secret and unknown. Captivated by the love of silence, he loved one thing - to always pray and converse with the One God. Once I tried to find out from the divine where he got such a desire - from God, or by his own will: “Brother Paisius, I see that you love silence,” I told him. “Know that I crave it too.” But where did this thought come to us? Let us pray to the Merciful One that He will reveal His holy will to us, and then we will act in accordance with it: either we will both remain silent in one place, or we will be separated from each other. “You said well, beloved John, let’s do it so that zeal for silence will be pleasing to the Creator,” Paisius answered these words. Having said this, we spent the whole night in vigil, and the Good One heard our prayer. In the morning hour the Angel of the Lord appeared to us. - God commands you to separate, and let each have a separate home. You, John, stay in this place and become a guide to salvation for many. And you, Paisius, resident of Christ, leave here and go to the western part of the desert. There, thanks to you, countless people will gather: a monastery will be built and the Lord will be glorified, - announced the Angel and became invisible. Obeying the command, we separated from each other: I remained in that place, and Paisius, having come to the western part of the desert, cut out a cave in the rock and settled there. For his extremely pure and high life, God loved him so much that Christ Himself often appeared to him and taught him in virtue. “Peace be with you, My beloved servant Paisius,” the Savior once greeted the blessed one who was praying in his cave. - Behold, I am Your servant. What do you command, Lord, what prompted You to come down to me? – the saint asked with fear and trembling. – Do you see this vast desert? Thanks to you, I will fill it all with ascetics glorifying My name. - Your words, Lord Lord, are subject to Your sovereign hand, and Your desires are immediately fulfilled. However, I pray to Your goodness, tell me, where will the ascetics in this desert get what they need? - Believe me, if I find those who have among themselves the mother of all virtues - love, and fulfill My commandments, then I will take all care of them upon Myself, and they will not lack anything. – Once again I ask Your goodness, how can they easily escape the snares of the enemy and get rid of his terrible temptations? “If, as I told you, they fulfill My commandments with meekness, truth, and a humble heart, then I will not only deliver them from the battle with the enemy and his snares, but also make them heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven,” strengthened Paisius the Almighty and ascended to Heaven. Saint Paisius, from such a descent of the Savior Himself to him, was seized with great fear. And what was the envious misanthrope, the enemy, planning at this time? Paisius received strength from God, safely passed through the demonic networks and did not suffer any harm from the attacks of the evil one. The evil one could not approach the saint, so he tried to use cunning and tried to deprive the ascetic of the virtue of non-covetousness, and through this, of Divine grace. Taking the form of an angel, the devil appeared to one Egyptian rich man and persuaded him to go into the desert, find there “a poor man named Paisius, rich in name and brightly adorned with virtues, a chosen vessel of Divine grace” and offer him a lot of money for alms to ascetic monks. Not knowing that this was a demonic deception, the rich man took a lot of silver and gold and went to the saint. However, the Lord did not abandon His servant, he revealed to him the meaning of such an expensive offering from the rich man, so the monk immediately stood up and went himself to meet the archon (heretic). – Who is Paisiy, and where does he live? – the Egyptian addressed the blessed one. “I brought him money so that he could give alms to the monks.” - Forgive us, Christ-loving man, why do we need money if we decide to settle in this desert. Take it, go into the world and do not be sad, because God will accept your gift if you distribute this money in Egyptian villages, where many poor people live: the poor, orphans and widows. The rich man listened to the ascetic and returned to Egypt. When Paisius returned to his cell, the devil appeared to him and said: - What violence! I cannot, Paisiy, do anything to you, because you escaped my tricks. I am leaving you and going to fight with others, but I will not come to you again, because you defeated me. Hearing these speeches, the monk immediately forbade the evil one to say: “Be silent, because you are known for your malice,” said the warrior of Christ. Thus ashamed, the unclean one was expelled and no longer dared to approach the divine Paisius. Now the ascetic settled in the inner desert and began to lead an even more severe life, in everything becoming like the disembodied Heavenly Powers and often conversing with the Lord Christ. The Spirit of God, who dwelt in Paisius, deigned to honor him with the contemplation of Heavenly treasures and the joy that the righteous have there. One day, during prayer, the divine was raptured into Heaven, where he first saw the beauties and pleasures of paradise, from which he was filled with joy and rejoicing, and then all the saints. Having tasted that immaterial food and enjoyed it, he was honored to receive from God the gift of complete abstinence from food. Communicating the Most Pure Mysteries every Sunday, the monk spent the entire week in fasting until the next Sunday. He lived only on Holy Communion, without eating any other food. Let no one doubt this, because everything is subordinated to the Divine will: the monk spent seventy years without bodily food, eating only from communion with the Divine Mysteries. And there is nothing surprising in this compared to the limitless power of God. After all, our nature requires bodily food to strengthen the body. And to those who are above nature, the creative power of God, being self-sufficient and completely not subject to the laws of nature, gives a gift that exceeds human strength and capabilities. In the same way, she is above any natural law: without food, until the last times, she preserved the prophet Elijah, which is quite enough to prove this supernatural gift. By the grace of God, countless numbers of monks and laymen flocked to Paisius, wanting to live with him. Surrounding him like bees in a hive, they fed insatiably on the mental honey of his sweetest teaching, as a result of which the number of monks constantly increased. He taught those who wanted to remain silent in private to talk with God through prayer. Those who wished to remain in subordination and obedience, this truly blessed way of life, he settled in a hostel with other brethren, assigning to each a suitable job, thanks to which the monks did not sit idle and exercised their body, making it obedient to work, fed themselves, and also gave alms to the poor. Paisius gave the inhabitants a commandment: not to do anything, even the smallest, of their own free will, but to be guided in everything by the blessing of their spiritual father. But who can accurately describe those feats that the monk himself performed in silence and solitude? When the divine Paisius came to the inner desert, he settled there and lived for three years in one cave. During this time, the hair on his head became too long, then the blessed one came up with the following. He hammered a stake into the ceiling of the cave and prayed, tying his hair to it, which caused himself even more trouble. For the monk, exploits became a rest. One day, while praying, his most beloved Savior suddenly appeared before him. The righteous man fell to the ground in fear and horror, because he could not look at His Divine Face. - Peace be with you, My servant, do not be afraid. Your deeds bring Me very great joy, and your prayer is very pleasant and pleasing to Me. Rejoice and accept the generous reward for your labors. Behold, I give you this gift: whatever you ask in My name will be given to you. “The sinners for whom you intercede with Me will have their sins forgiven,” the Almighty addressed Paisius. - Christ the King, oh, if only I, the unfortunate one, were worthy to receive from You the grace to ask for what is necessary for me, so that I could easily follow the saving paths of Your commands, because without Your Providence we cannot do any good. If You shed Your precious Blood for our salvation, agreed to endure death and burial, and by Your Resurrection gave us eternal life, then how many deaths must we endure for the sake of Your love? From that day on, the monk truly received from God the gift of fulfilling everything he asked for. One elder’s novice died, seduced by the envious devil. He not only fell into disobedience, but also did not repent of such a sin to his confessor before his death. The elder asked God many times to reveal to him where the soul of the lazy novice was, and the Creator revealed to the Abba that the monk was in hell and experiencing terrible torment. Then, the elder, greatly wounded in heart, began to strictly fast and pray for forty days, after which the elder heard a voice: – This soul, for which you fervently pray, must remain in hell until I come with Angels and trumpets; only after this will she accept a proper reward for her labors. This saddened the confessor even more and he decided to extend his fast for another forty days. “Let her be in hell until I come on the clouds,” the Abba was told when these days ended. Since he could not convince the Lover of Mankind to have mercy on the novice (perhaps the Savior did this so that the elder would ask the blessed one for intercession), the hermit ran to Paisius for help. Having learned by the grace of God about the arrival of the elder, the monk went out to meet him. “Why did you, father, come to me, bad and sinful, subjecting yourself to such torment? – the ascetic asked him after mutual greeting. Having told the saint about the disciple’s misfortune, about his prayers to God for him, about the decision he had heard that he should endure punishment in hell until the Coming of the Lord, the elder answered: “For this reason, I came to ask your reverence, so that you would sympathize with me, the unfortunate one, and pray to God for my poor student, for I believe that if you ask Him, He will hear you.” Do not leave me in sorrow, but ask Him, otherwise I will not leave here. The good old man convinced the great Paisius to pray to God and appease the World Ruler more with his tears than with his words. - Oh, it’s impossible for me to undertake such a thing, because it is your concern, although, for reasons known only to God, He does not hear you now. His judgments are “a great deep” (Ps. 35:7), however, in order not to disobey you, behold, I will ask the Creator together with your reverence, and whatever seems pleasing to Him, let it be so. You stay in this place and ask the Creator here, and I will go to ask Him into the inner desert. In that place Paisius stood up in prayer and, raising his hands and mind to Heaven, said: - More creative than all, look upon the prayers of our unworthy servants, and as if you are good, free the soul of the elder’s disciple from the bonds of hell. When he prayed to God in this way, and in other words, it was impossible not to hear him according to the true promise given to him by the Master. Immediately Christ, invisibly present everywhere, appeared to him and said: - What do you ask, my servant Paisiy? “You, Lord, Who know everything, know that I ask you to have mercy on the disobedient and sinful student who is in hellish torment.” I pray to You, hear Your servant, and as You are Compassionate and Most Merciful, deliver him. – I have assigned him to hellish torment for disobedience and sin until I come on the clouds with the Angels. Then God’s chosen one, Paisius, again began to ask the All-Merciful: - Lord of all, everything is subject to Your commandments. It is easy for You, the Creator of all things, to descend now in exactly the same way as then, during Your future Coming. After these words, the Savior ascended to Heaven, and then descended on the clouds in great glory with Angels and Archangels, with trumpets and faces of the righteous, along with everyone with whom he would descend to earth on the last day of Judgment. After this, thrones and terrible seats were set up, and the soul of the deceased novice was called to judgment. She came out of hell and, presenting herself to the Judge, was given into the hands of Paisius, and then into the hands of her elder, who at that moment was intensely praying, as was agreed upon between them. “Take from the hands of my servant Paisius the soul of your disciple, delivered from hell.” You will no longer see her in torment, but in peace,” the Lord announced great joy to the confessor, and at the same hour the soul of the disciple came and appeared before the elder, confessing that she had endured much torment in hell for her disobedience, “because it was the reason that I fell into sin and was subjected to torment. But for your prayers and the prayers of the divine Paisius the Lover of Mankind, he had mercy on me and freed me from the bonds of hell. And now I go to the resting place of the righteous.” All this was revealed to the elder during prayer. After he received the news of the salvation of his student, he immediately went to the great Paisius and revealed the vision that had been to him. Then the monk told the Abba about the terrible appearance of the Lord and everything that he himself had seen, after which both of them thanked God, who had performed such miracles. “I thank you very much, divine Paisius, that with your prayers you saved not only my despairing student, but my own soul, which was in great danger, being in grief. I ask you, tell me, what amazing thing have you done, what feats have you undertaken, that you have been worthy to receive such gifts? – the elder asked Paisius. - Forgive me, honest father, because no deed worthy of such a reward is found in me, humble, but Divine Providence, which arranges everything for those who ask with all their hearts, heard your prayers and did not despise your much love for your disciple. After all, by your act you became like the Merciful One, Who for the sake of us, people who were expelled from paradise by disobedience and who became enemies of God from the deception of the evil one, was born of the Ever-Virgin Mary, was raised like an ordinary Child, suffered like a Man, and by His death freed us. He showed us that there is no other greater good than pure love. For her sake they lay down their lives for their friends, as you, father, laid down for your disciple. That is why the Almighty heard your prayer and saved the novice. I am a sinful person, and I do not know any good in myself, therefore I am not worthy of any gifts from the Creator. Forgive me, sacred soul, and let us thank and glorify the One Compassionate Lover of Mankind,” after these words, the humble wise man and the Abba sang the Giver of all gifts, and then, having blessed each other, each returned to his own place. After this, the great Paisius crossed into the waterless desert. He did this in order, on the one hand, to hide from the people who were watching his exploits, and on the other hand, to calmly enjoy the honey of silence. However, God did not leave this lamp unnoticed in the desert, but, wanting it to enlighten and lead to the salvation of others, he commanded it to go out into the outer desert and strengthen the local monks in a life equal to the angels. - And I, Lord, what will I gain by leaving the desert, where I rejoice in Your visits, and going to others whom I cannot lead? I’m afraid, Master, that by instructing them, I myself will not be able to fulfill Your commands as I should and will be condemned for my negligence,” the ascetic humbly asked the All-Merciful. “No, for the work that you undertake for the sake of saving others, you will receive an incomparably greater reward - a generous reward in Jerusalem on High,” the All-Good One encouraged the righteous man. Obeying the Divine command, Paisius went out into the outer desert, where the monks greeted him with jubilation. “I also wanted to see him,” says St. John, “and to enjoy Divine grace as much as possible from his mere sight, so I went to him and, before knocking on the door of his cell, I heard that he was talking with another person. Feeling embarrassed to knock, I stood outside, but made a little noise. Then, hearing him, the righteous man went out into the courtyard and, seeing me, joyfully hugged me, kissed me and invited me into the cell, where there was no one inside. I began to wonder with whom the reverend had spoken shortly before. – Why do you look here and there, and are perplexed, as if you see something strange? – Great Paisius asked me. – Indeed, I see something strange and am perplexed. Shortly before this, I heard the voice of another person who was talking with you, but now I don’t see anyone. I don't know what it is. I ask your reverence to reveal this strange secret to me,” I replied. - Oh, John, God will reveal a strange miracle to you today, and I must show you the love that His goodness has for us. O best of friends, the one whom you heard talking to me was Constantine, the first Christian king. Sent by God, he came down from Heaven and said to me: “Blessed are you who have been granted monastic life, for the Savior said this about you in one of the Beatitudes.” I asked him: “Who are you, sir, that you say this and greatly please us monks?” He answered: “I, Constantine the Great, came down from Heaven to tell you about the glory that the monks enjoy in eternity, and about the boldness that they have towards Christ. I congratulate you, Paisius, that you incline them to this sacred ascetic life, but I reproach and condemn myself for not being included in this greatest rank.” Then I tell him again: “Why, wonderful one, do you blame yourself? Have you not tasted that eternal glory and divine sanctification?” To this he replied: “Yes, I have tasted it, but I have neither the boldness that the monks have, nor the honor equal to them. For I saw the souls of some monks who, after being separated from their bodies, soared like eagles and ascended to Heaven with great courage, and none of the demons dared to approach them. Then I saw how the doors of heaven opened for them, they entered inside and, appearing before the Heavenly King, stood with great boldness at the Throne of God. That is why I appease you, monks, and condemn myself, who was not vouchsafed to receive such boldness. Oh, if only I would leave the temporary kingdom, the royal outfit and crown, become poor, put on rags and do what the monastic life requires.” I answered him: “O most sacred king, everything you say is good, for it serves to console us.” But these are the judgments of our God, and it is unfair to talk about righteous judgments otherwise, for He is a Righteous Judge, and He rewards everyone according to their dignity, and gives a reward in accordance with their labors. Your life was not filled with such labors, and was not at all similar to the life of monks: you had an assistant wife, children, slaves, various pleasures and pleasures. The monks, having despised all the joys and pleasures of temporary life, accepted God instead of all these worldly blessings, and He was their joy and their wealth, and they considered the fulfillment of His commandments as pleasure and great pleasure, enduring, according to the Apostle, “shortcomings, sorrows, bitterness” (Heb. 11:37). So, O king, you cannot become equal to them. While we were talking about this, you, my brother John, also came, and he immediately ascended to Heaven. And now, when, thanks to this secret, you clearly understand how many benefits are achieved through ascetic labors, strengthen the brethren,” Paisius finished his story. I, John, gave much thanks to God, and then, having had a sufficient conversation with Saint Paisius, I returned to my monastery in joy and gladness.” In one village there lived a certain elder who, out of ignorance, fell into error, saying that Christians should serve only the Father, and should neither honor the Son and the Holy Spirit, nor even call them God. This evil wisdom was followed by a significant number of people, but the Almighty did not want all these people to die and the ascetic labors of the lost elder to be lost. It was revealed to the monk where this village was located, and he came to it. The blessed one brought with him many baskets with three handles. The people who came running did not recognize Paisius and were very surprised at such a unique design, asking the monk what it was and what he was going to do with it. “I want to sell,” answered the great one. - Why did you make them with three handles? – Since I worship the Holy Trinity, then in practice I must show the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, sing Her and glorify the Trinitarian Deity, having in my hands the sign of the Trinity. Just as the Holy Trinity is one Nature with three Persons (if anyone thinks differently, he is greatly mistaken), then one must think the same way about these baskets. Each of them has one nature, contemplated in three, since in its three handles the whole nature of the basket equally resides. So the immaterial nature and the supernatural Deity abides equally in the Three Hypostases, that is, in the Three Persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - and is in each of the Three Persons, and therefore is called not the Quaternity, and not the Duo, but the Trinity. One Person of the Holy Trinity is no greater than the Second, and the Second is no less than the First. After this, as the divine Paisius briefly related all this, the elder and everyone who was there learned the truth. “Teach us again, wonderful one, pure Orthodox teaching, using similar clear evidence, because with your first words you frightened us,” they told him with reverence. Then the blessed one with a bold voice overthrew all the blasphemous words of the heretics, showing that they were no stronger than a spider’s web, and explained to them the foundations of the Orthodox faith in more detail, with a greater number of examples, than he led his listeners to the true knowledge of the Holy Trinity. Then, having instructed them all, taught them to confess their errors and repent of their former evil, the righteous man thanked the Creator and returned to his desert. When he was already approaching her, a light suddenly shone in front of him, which came from many Angels who filled the desert. At that moment he heard the voice of his Heavenly Guardian: “And when you were here, Paisius, and when you left, we, according to God’s promise to you, protect the monks living in this desert. After these words, the ascetic began to praise the Omniscient One, who cares for all people, even more. The rumor about the saint spread almost throughout the entire universe and encouraged lovers of virtue to go to him to receive a blessing. Being still young at that time, the great Venerable Pimen also had a strong desire to see Paisius, so he came to the Venerable Paul and began to ask him to go with him to the venerable one. Paul was a friend of Paisius and often visited him. “I am embarrassed, child, to lead you to him, because you are still young, and he is high in virtue, so we do not go to him at random, but with great reflection and reverence, and even then not always.” Most often, for the sake of common benefit, we meet with him at the appropriate time,” Pavel admonished Pimen. - When we arrive, I will remain outside the door. This alone will be an extraordinary joy for me, and I will consider it a great gift if I just hear his divine voice. But if this is also impossible, I only agree to touch the cell of the great Paisius, and then, I believe, I will be saved. When you come out of it, I will receive generous reverence, hugging your feet, which walked on the same ground as the beautiful feet of the blessed one,” Pimen humbly persuaded. Paul marveled at such a strong faith of the young monk and, taking him with him, went to the monk. When they arrived at the place, only Pavel entered the cell. After a cordial meeting, the divine Paisius asked him about Pimen and said to his friend: “It is not good to hinder those who come to us and leave them on the street.” They, as our Savior says, easily go to Heaven. With these words, the saint embraced the young man and, blessing him, predicted that “this young man will save many human souls, and through him many will be awarded heaven, because the hand of the Lord is clearly with him, which guards him and leads him to the Divine commandments.” One day, when Saint Paisius had already fasted for twenty-one days, Christ appeared to him. “O my chosen one Paisius, you have suffered a lot for Me,” He said to the hermit. - What is great in my insignificant suffering, my good Lord? After all, You, by Your goodness, Give me strength,” the ascetic was sincerely surprised. – Every good deed pleases Me, and to those who do it, I want to give a reward equal to their labors. Follow Me. So Paisius followed the Savior. When they reached an unknown cave, the Redeemer asked the blessed one to go inside, to where the true ascetic was. He saw a man rolling on the ground and rubbing his face against it. Perplexed by the excessiveness of this man’s feat, the monk left the cave and began to pray to the Sweetest Jesus to tell him about such a great feat. – Have you seen My ascetic, what kind of labors does he carry out for My sake? “I saw it, Vladyka, and shuddered at his labors.” I forgive Your goodness, tell me what kind of feat this is? “He fasts only for two days, but do you see how he suffers from hunger and thirst?” - How come I fasted for twenty-two days, and nothing like this happened to me? – Because My grace strengthens you, and you can fast painlessly. But that Abba fasts of his own free will and, burning with great love for Me, endures with much labor beyond his strength. -What reward will he receive from Your goodness for his two days? “For these two days he will receive a payment equal to what you will receive for twenty-two days.” And to you, who received five talents, I will also say: “Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21), and to him, who received two, because you equally did good, and both showed zeal for your strength - with these words the Savior became invisible. Returning to his cell, Father Paisius increased his exploits and prayed to God to allow him to rise above food, and his food, as we said earlier, was the weekly Sunday Communion of the Most Pure Body and Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Why are you asking for food again when you don’t eat anything at all? If you need anything else, ask for it,” the Savior instructed the great Abba. “I ask You, Lord, when I leave the desert to visit the brothers, allow me to return to the desert again as soon as possible, because I cannot bear the delay in visiting others when I myself am deprived of Your visit.” - Do not be sad about this, because when you leave the desert, I do not move away from it, and I do not leave you, but I am always with you. “I pray to You, my Christ, deliver me from anger,” Paisius continued. – If you want to overcome anger and rage, beware of reproaching, scolding or despising anyone. If you do all this, then you will not be angry. - Master, Lover of Mankind and Long-suffering, if someone fulfills Your commandments and visits those who love You to serve their needs, what does he receive - reward or harm? – Just as a farmer working in a field receives payment from the owner of the field, so those who do good and help or teach others will receive generous rewards in Heaven. - Lord, what is the difference between someone who strives in virtue and serves others, and one who only strives, but does not serve? - He who labors himself and serves others is My son and heir. – And if someone who tries to serve others and strives according to his strength, but this service hinders him, and he does not reach the measure of the achievement of those who do not have such obstacles, will he receive an equal reward? “Yes, such a one will receive an equal reward with them,” Christ proclaimed and ascended to Heaven. In the regions of Syria there lived one ascetic, adorned with various virtues. One day, when he was praying, the thought came to him whether he had reached the standard of the saints of God. At that moment he heard a voice: - Go to Egypt. There you will find an ascetic named Paisius, who has humility and love for God equal to yours. Without thinking for a moment about the long distance, the venerable old man immediately set off for Egypt. Having reached Mount Nitria, he began to ask about Paisius, whom the whole district knew, and the Syrian monk easily found the desert habitat of our righteous man, where the monk himself met a guest from Syria. The saints joyfully embraced and kissed each other in Christ, after which they came to Paisius’ cell and, having said a prayer, sat down. The elder began to speak first, and he spoke in Syriac, while Paisius knew only Egyptian. Saddened because he did not understand the soul-helping words of the elder, the blessed one immediately stood up and, raising his hands to Heaven, exclaimed: - Son of God and Word, give me, Your servant, Your grace to understand the power of the words of the elder. And - lo and behold! – a quick visit from the Lord! Immediately Paisius began to speak and understand the Syriac language. During this long conversation, one told the other about the visions that each had received, what fathers they had communicated with, what virtues those abbas had. Six days later, when the Syrian and Egyptian hermits had told each other everything, the elder began to get ready for the journey. Then Paisius called his disciples and addressed them with these words: - Behold, dear children, before you is a righteous man, perfect in virtue, filled with the Holy Spirit and Divine graces. With reverence, take his blessing, which will be like a tower protecting you from enemies. And at that very moment the monks fell to the ground and, bowing before the venerable elder, fervently asked him for prayers and blessings. Having prayed for them, the venerable monk left for his country. After some time, a hermit came to the great Paisius, and the saint’s disciples began to say to him: “Father, if you had come a little earlier, you would have gained great benefit for yourself, for a man of God came to us from Syria, bright in mind and heart, who, having instructed us with saving words, left shortly before your arrival. If you want, you can still catch up with him, because he should be not far from our place. The ascetic was about to run to catch up with the Syrian, but Blessed Paisius stopped him: “Stop, don’t go, because that guest is already eighteen miles away, carried to his home by a cloud.” Hearing this, everyone was surprised and glorified God. One brother came to Abba Paisius and found him sleeping. His peace was guarded by an Angel of extraordinary beauty. Marveling at this, the monk said: “Truly the Lord protects those who trust in Him,” and, glorifying the Creator, Who exalts those who love Him, he departed. Saint Paisius had one disciple, very simple in thoughts, but obedient to the monk in all commands. One day, when he went to Egypt to sell handicrafts, he met a Jew along the way, with whom he continued his journey. Realizing the simplicity of the monk, the Jew began to pour out the venom of the murderous serpent on him with his vile tongue: - O monk, how can you believe in the Crucified One, Who was not the Messiah? For the Messiah is different, and not the One in whom you Christians believe. “Maybe it is as you say,” out of his kindness and simplicity of heart the monk was seduced by these words, and at that very moment - oh woe! - suffered misfortune, having lost the grace of Holy Baptism. When he returned to the desert, the divine Paisius not only did not accept him, but did not want to look at him, or approach him, or talk to him, but only turned away from him. The disciple was greatly saddened, wondering why the confessor had changed so much towards him, and, falling at his feet, asked: “Father, why do you shun me, the unfortunate one, not wanting to see me, and abhor me as an abomination, although you have never treated me that way before?” - Who are you, man, I don’t know you! – Paisiy answered these remarks. “Father, what did you see so unusual in me that you don’t recognize it?” Am I not your student? – My student was a Christian and received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, but you did not. If you are that disciple, then why don’t you have Baptism? Tell me what happened to you along the way? “Get away from me, because I cannot hear the speech of a man who has renounced Christ.” If you were my student, then I would see you as you were before. Then the apostate groaned and began to shed tears, moving the elder to mercy and saying that it was he (and not someone else) who was his disciple, that he was completely unaware of his sin, and had not done anything bad. – Who did you talk to on the way? – then the Monk Paisius asked. – Only with one Jew, no one else. – What did the Jew tell you and what did you answer him? “He didn’t tell me anything else except that Christ is not the one whom we Christians worship, he is yet to come.” I agreed with his arguments. - Pathetic, what could be worse and nastier than what you said? For by this you, unfortunate one, have renounced Christ and have been deprived of Holy Baptism. So, go and mourn yourself as you wish. You have no part with me, because your name is written with those who denied Jesus, and with them you will be tormented. “Father, have mercy on me, the unfortunate one, for I don’t know what will happen to me.” Through imprudence, I missed the Baptism and made the demons happy. After God, I come running to you, do not despise me, unfortunate one,” the monk grieved and shouted after Paisius’s reproof. Having thus begged, the disciple appeased the elder more with tears than words, and he said to him: - Be patient, child, I will ask the Humane and Merciful Creator for you. With these words, he began to fervently ask the Creator to forgive his disciple, and the Lord was not slow to give him forgiveness and again honored him with the grace of Holy Baptism. To commemorate this, the divine Paisius saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove enter the student’s mouth, and the spirit of blasphemy came out like smoke and melted into the air. - Glorify, child, the Almighty, and thank Him with me, because the unclean spirit of blasphemy has left you, and the Holy Spirit has entered in its place. “The gift of Baptism has been given to you again, so take good care of yourself so as not to fall once again into the net of dishonor because of your negligence and inattention, and not to betray your soul to the fire of eternal torment for some other sin,” the ascetic turned to his novice, instructing him. Once upon a time, an old man named John came to Saint Paisius, who was very tired from a long journey through the desert and needed food and rest. When they had talked enough, Paisius ordered his disciple to prepare a meal to share with John. The novice fulfilled the elder’s command, but the visitor, citing his many sins, refused to partake of the fraternal meal. Surprised by John’s inflexibility, the blessed one immediately stood up and said from the depths of his heart: - Lord, visit Your servant John, who is subjecting himself to extreme feat for Your name. And with the end of the divine prayer, John was given a wonderful gift: a certain beautiful young man handed him food and drink. Having come to his senses, John was filled with joy and was satisfied, not needing slave food, he was satisfied with the angelic food. Rising, he thanked God and the divine Paisius, and again returned to the desert, having not tasted anything from the prepared meal. Adding others to his previous fasts, he said to himself: “You have eaten well, John, now you must fast with all possible zeal.” Thus, the courageous continued to struggle, conquering, through the prayers of the sacred, his flesh. There lived a novice monk in the desert who was greatly troubled by demonic thoughts, so he decided to come to Paisius the Great and ask him for help: “Pray to the All-Merciful for me, the bad one, for I have suffered severe abuse from demons.” Knowing that he was doing his own will and following the demon of fornication and vanity, the monk decided to prevent this and answered: “Child, it’s not from the demons that you are fighting, as you think, they didn’t even feel that you had come to the desert.” But you are at war from your own thoughts, so go and strive properly, asking God to visit you, although the demons will tempt you greatly. Then you will know their excuses well and you will know what those with whom they fight are experiencing,” with these words he sent the young man on his way, and then with all his heart he began to ask God to keep the monk unharmed. “What do you care about me, Paisiy, why are you persecuting me?” “You are very unfair to me, although I do not fight you,” the chief of the demons growled at the monk at that moment. “Leave the young monk and don’t bother him with evil thoughts,” the righteous man spoke out against him. “Believe me, for I did not know that this young man had come to the desert, and I did not bother him at all.” He scolds from his own thoughts. From now on, let him be ready to experience my terrible temptations and excuses that I invented to fight him,” the demon answered with shamelessness and great pride. “May God forbid you, enemy of truth, and plunge you into the unquenchable fire of torment,” the ascetic insisted, and although the evil one disappeared, he did not retreat from his words. The unclean one raised up a battle against the newcomer; the young man, tempted by various tricks of the demon and being unable to endure them, again resorted to the unshakable tower - Paisius the Great. Telling him about the temptations of the enemy, he said that he could no longer tolerate the malice with which the wicked was arming himself against him. “Didn’t I tell you, child, that then the enemy did not yet know that you had come to the desert?” - said the reverend. Then, having instructed him and given advice on correct living, the monk began to pray: “Lord Jesus Christ, the Son and Word of God and the Father. Do not let Your creation perish from the demon, but help it from Heaven, for Your power is invincible, and everyone will obey it.” And immediately the Angel of the Lord appeared before him, having with him a demon bound with chains. “Take the wicked one and ask him, now bound, whatever you want,” said the Heavenly Messenger. “Woe is me, how long will you torment me with your prayer and protect those who live in this desert with it?” How unhappy I am, and how much more I will suffer if I stay here. That’s why I’m going very far from here,” the demon cried out. - Apostate and enemy of the human race, tell me, why are you bothering and tempting the young man, raising a cruel battle against him? Why do you rebel with such rage and cruelty against those who are just beginning a feat? - the blessed one began to interrogate the unclean one. – I do not approach beginners when they are just embarking on the path of virtue, because the grace of the Lord does not allow me to torment those who struggle with great warmth. But after, due to their own negligence, Divine grace departs from them, I approach them and take possession of them as prey, making a mockery of them. Therefore, at first I do not take up arms against them, but then I fight against them without hindrance. And when I see that they have again become zealous and are prospering spiritually, then I wage even greater battle with them, so that with the help of their constant exploits and good deeds they will not unite with Divine grace and become invincible and invincible. From that day on, the monk was freed from demonic annoyance and the envious demon could no longer fight against him. Strengthened by the prayers of Saint Paisius, the young man completed his ascetic life in a godly manner and was granted a good death. “At the time when I,” St. John continues his story, “once again went to the divine Paisius, several monks came to him to listen to his useful instructions. “Keep the traditions of your fathers, and do not do more than you are commanded,” the righteous man answered them. Then the monks again began to ask him: - Tell us something else that will benefit our souls. Divining their thoughts with his spiritual eyes, the ascetic began to tell everyone what he was thinking about, and which of the thoughts were good and which were bad, and why these thoughts appeared in them. Very amazed at this, each of the monks privately said to me: – Father John, truly, all our spiritual passions, which only God knows, the monk revealed to us one by one. “Believe me that whatever I thought about or did in private, the elder revealed to me more than once during our meetings.” Following his will and fulfilling his desire, a certain brother left the desert and settled near a city. Since he often had to go to the village to sell his handicrafts, he met a Jewish woman who was burning with satanic love for him. With the assistance of a demon, deceived by his thoughts, the monk fell into the net of a Jewish woman and fell. But the worst thing was that he renounced the Christian faith, accepted the Jewish one, and began to live with that Jewish woman; she had such an effect on him that he soon became like her in wickedness. And this thrice-cursed wife fell into such a disastrous abyss and reached such shamelessness that she often took the unfortunate man by the head, opened his mouth, and with a thin stick cleaned between his teeth so that not even the slightest crumb remained from the Holy Communion of the Most Pure Mysteries. Oh godlessness! I know, brothers, what sadness you feel when you hear this, and what heartache. I marvel at the great patience of God. However, I will also tell you the strange thing that happened to him, so that you will marvel at the boundless love of the World Ruler, with which He bestows upon us from above. That person who, through disobedience, was excommunicated from Christians for his wickedness, after time was enlightened by the light of Divine economy, came to his senses and repented of what he had done. Some of the monks who lived in the same desert where he himself had previously lived, having gone to the city to meet their needs, went into the house of that treacherous Jewish woman. Seeing them, he was stung to the very heart, remembering the old and sacred brotherhood of monks, after which he asked where they were from, what their names were and why they had come to the city. The brothers answered that they were from the Nitrian desert, disciples of the divine Paisius, and had come to the city for their own needs. Then the sinner began to fervently beg them to ask their Abba to pray to God for him and to propitiate the Creator with his praise in order to save him, the unfortunate one, from the wiles of the enemy. The monks promised their brother that they would fulfill his request and ask Paisius to become an intercessor before the Savior. When they returned to the desert, they revealed to the old man everything that had happened to that unfortunate man, conveying his request. Hearing this story, the monk groaned from the depths of his soul: - Alas, my beloved children! How many great men, mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, have lost Divine grace because of their wives, because the enemy has no more convenient weapon for the destruction of their husbands than a woman. Using it, he was accustomed to defeating great men. You know that with the help of a woman he defeated the great David, his ancestors and descendants. Therefore, we must always pray to the Creator to deliver us from the traps of the demon. After the instruction, the ascetic began to intercede for the one who had fallen away: “Lord Jesus Christ, the Son and Word of God and the Father, do not allow the creation of Your hands to perish to the end, but, O Kindly One, look upon it from Your Heavenly abode and accept the prayers offered by me for the one who at first denied You, but has now come to his senses again and recognized the evil he has committed. I pray Your goodness, call him to repentance. The Ever-Blessed One prayed in this way for many days in a row and asked the Merciful God to have mercy on His creation. Finally, the Savior heard his request and, appearing to the righteous man, asked for whom he was interceding: “Perhaps my servant Paisius is praying for the one who denied Me and left My rank, going along with those opposite Me? The one who was once a monk and now became a Jew? – Yes, Lord who loves mankind, I pray for him, placing my hopes in Your mercy. After all, You always call everyone to repentance, and do not want the death of a sinner, but expect his repentance, which is why I dared to beg Your goodness for him. I ask You, hear Your servant, be merciful, and call Your lost sheep. “If you want Me to have mercy on that lawless and apostate and call him to repentance, then you will have to agree that I take away from you most of the rewards and rewards that you should have received for your exploits, and reward with My love for mankind the one who is worthy of a thousand punishments,” Christ answered the hermit. “Yes, Lord, I agree with joy, but I don’t know if I have any business pleasing to You.” But, according to Your goodness, through which I receive benefits every day, pour out Your mercy on him, for I would rather be punished for him, if only he would be saved, than enjoy Your benefits while he suffers. “Wonderful is your good desire and love for your neighbor, Paisius, with which you are likened to My love for people, since you decided to deprive yourself of the honor and salvation of a sinner due to you, then you will not be deprived of this honor, and the sinner will be saved, according to your request. After some time, due to Divine wrath, that evil wife died, and Isaac (that was the name of the fallen monk) returned to the desert again. Instructed by the great Paisius, he again accepted the Christian faith and began to strive with great zeal in the monastic life, spent the rest of his life in obedience, piety and virtue and rested in peace in the Lord. That monk, through the prayers of Saint Paisius, was granted salvation, and we, listening to the amazing miracles of the saint, must glorify and magnify God. In the monastery of the blessed one there lived one presbyter, who was always thinking about worldly things. And when other monks went to the monk to listen to useful teachings, this presbyter also went with them. But even listening to the Divine words from the lips of Paisius, he did not receive any benefit from them, because he did not set a good goal for himself, his heart was not guided in the ways of the Lord. Moreover, the presbyter not only did not receive any benefit, but with his worldly speeches he distorted the words of the monk and mocked them. Indignant at him, other monks came to one God-loving elder and began to complain about this clergyman. Then the abba went with them to Paisius the Great, and this presbyter followed them. Going to the righteous man, the elder said: - Know, father, that this priest is the cause of harm and temptation for the brethren. You must prevent him from doing this and correct him with a ban. “For a long time I have wanted to do what you are telling me about, if I were sure that he would benefit.” After all, the devil is already ready to drag him into destruction, and if this person hears a harsh word from me, he will leave the brotherhood and go into the world. Then I will be guilty of his death, because I could not tolerate my brother, whom the enemy took up arms against. But we must ask God to deliver him from this passion,” the great one answered and prayed to the Creator for the presbyter, and immediately cast out the demon of shamelessness and self-will from him. The priest at that very moment was stung by the desire to repent and, convicted by his conscience, became greatly saddened. Confessing his previous sins more with tears than with words, he asked for forgiveness for everything he had done and promised to abstain from evil and to correct himself in the future. From that time on, he became pious and meek, listened with reverence to the divine words of the monk and fulfilled them with joy. With the assistance of the prayers of Blessed Paisius and thanks to the long-suffering of the Lover of Mankind, he surpassed many in virtues, becoming an experienced hermit. One day, when the divine one was praying in his cell, Christ came to him with two Angels, as once to the Patriarch Abraham, and said: - Rejoice, Paisie, now you must receive us. Imitating the patriarch, Paisius willingly provided a welcome and, without worrying about preparing food and drink, as he did, he accepted the Omnipresent with pure thoughts. Then, pouring water into the washbasin, he washed his face - lo and behold! - by the extreme condescension of the Lord, His most pure feet. Paisius diligently took care of receiving guests, the Savior showed him His great love. Since washing the guests’ feet is the best and most pleasing thing in hospitality, and Paisius did everything, Christ announced to him: “Peace be with you, My chosen servant,” after which he became invisible. Flaming with Divine love and imitating Cleopas, for his heart was burning and beating strongly in his chest, Paisius rushed to the water with which he washed the Lord’s feet, and drank it with strong desire, leaving some for the disciple, who was in Egypt at that time. When he arrived, very tired from the journey, the monk sent the child to the washbasin to drink the water that remained there in order to quench his thirst from the hot sun. The student replied that he would fulfill his command. However, in his mind he began to reproach the elder for sending him to drink not clean water from the source, but dirty water in which they washed their feet. While the novice was reasoning like this, the ascetic again sent him to the washbasin, the disciple answered: “I’m going,” but he himself did not go. The righteous man ordered him to drink that water for the third time, but he did not listen. Then Paisius said to him: “Here, child, you have received a reward for your disobedience, having been deprived of Divine mercies. Hearing this, the monk became very sad and ran to the washbasin, but found nothing there. “Father, there is no water in the washbasin,” he then turned to the Abba. - Yes, and how can you find her when you have shown yourself to be unworthy? After all, disobedience deprives the disobedient of Divine mercy, just as obedience is the culprit for them in the obedient. - What was this great gift that I lost, and how did it disappear from the washbasin? – the student asked, saddened. And the monk told him about everything that had happened to him, adding the following: “Because you persisted in disobedience and did not agree to drink the water, which you were ordered to do three times, an Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and, reverently taking that sacred water in his hands, ascended to Heaven again. Then the monk trembled all over, trembled, and remained silent for a long time. Then, having come to his senses, he began to lament and mourn his misfortune, sobbing loudly: - Woe to me, unfortunate one, what a blessing I have lost! What an envious demon did not let me enjoy it! Taking pity, the elder consoled the monk: – Adam, my child, lost paradise for disobedience, having acquired death instead of eternal life. Being unworthy of that glory and heavenly blessings, he was expelled. This is how you lost the grace that you could have enjoyed, because you disobeyed my commandment. But since you are so sad and repentant, rise from disobedience, obey and warmly propitiate God, asking Him for forgiveness for yourself, for God is merciful to those who repent and has mercy on those who pray to Him. After these words, the student calmed down a little, however, remembering again the evil that he had suffered, he began to feel very sad again. – Father, I am completely inconsolable from my thoughts and, as soon as I remember the grace that I lost, I mourn my misfortune, not knowing what to do. My thoughts plunge me into despair. Let me go to some experienced elder, maybe there I will get rid of sadness. Taking some bread, the divine Paisius gave it to his disciple. - Take the bread and go to the city. There, next to the city wall, on the right, you will find one beggar sitting on a dung heap, at whom children throw stones and laugh. Give him the bread and you will hear something that will benefit you,” the ascetic said to him. Having found that man of God, the novice began to wait until the children stopped playing to approach. But he, seeing him, turned to him: “Come and give me a blessing, that is, the bread that your elder sent.” The student gave it to the homeless man, and the beggar began to kiss this bread. – How is Paisiy doing? I really wanted to know about him. And you, child, why are you slow to do what he tells you and do not obey his commands? Don’t you know that it was precisely because of your disobedience that you lost that Divine ablution and the grace that you would have received from him. But not only that, you not only do not listen to the advice of your confessor, but you come to someone else! You are like someone who has clean and cold water in his hands, but he does not drink it, but wanders everywhere in search of water to quench his thirst. So, go and obey Paisius the Great, for he who does not do this will not obey the commands of our Savior Christ,” the beggar addressed the monk. After this, the disciple, glorifying God, returned to the desert and from then on began to unquestioningly obey the commands of the Monk Paisius in everything. A little time passed, and that disciple, remembering the grace that he had lost, began to mourn his death and again ask Paisius the Great to allow him to go to the man who was sitting on the dung heap. The monk did not advise him to walk, but since he did not obey because of the thoughts that were disturbing him, the elder told him: – Child, that man rests in the Lord. But since I see that you place your hopes only on him and listen to his advice, I allow you to go. Go to the northern part of the country and you will find a huge tomb. Enter it; the bodies of three holy men who were awarded prophetic gifts are buried there. Having foreknowledge of their death, they came to this tomb and lay down there. So, say to the one who lies in the middle: “By the power of Jesus Christ, who raised four-day-old Lazarus, Christ’s servant Paisios commands you to rise again and tell me what will be for my benefit.” After these words, the disciple hurried with jealousy and, having arrived in the northern region of the country, found a tomb, went inside and told the deceased what the elder had told him. And - lo and behold! - the dead man immediately rose again and said: “Why didn’t you listen to me when I advised you to obey your confessor?” Go, and without a doubt obey him, listen to his words if you want to be saved, because the one who does not listen to his words truly opposes the commandments of Christ - with these words the deceased fell asleep again, and the monk, surprised by what had happened, returned to the sacred Paisius. From that time on, his thoughts calmed down, and, improving in virtue, he began to try to gain through obedience what he had lost through disobedience. One day two brothers came to Paisius the Great. They settled in his monastery and, after spending sufficient time in obedience, began to ask the saint for permission to live alone in the desert. Seeing their jealousy, he let them go. Having retreated to the desired silence, the brothers labored a lot, repelling the attacks of enemies, but the devil, through other monks, raised up a battle against them. With the assistance of the evil one, a certain thief robbed a hermit, and he, wanting to find the wicked, heard about some old man who had the gift of clairvoyance and could point it out. When he came to this Abba, who in fact was perspicacious not from Divine grace, but from demonic action, he turned to him: - Those two monks who settled in this desert robbed you. Don't let them go until they give you what's yours. After these words, the hermit went to the abbot of the Lavra, the brothers were seized, beaten, brought to the monastery and thrown into prison, condemned to death for theft as villains. Having learned, with the help of Divine grace, about the temptation that befell the brothers, Paisius immediately went to the Lavra. All the fathers came out to meet him, among whom was that seduced old man, who was considered perspicacious. After everyone had given the monk the proper kiss, he asked them: “Brothers, what did you do to those two young men who went into silence?” “Father, they are thieves and for their unworthy act they were thrown into prison.” – Who told you that they are thieves? “If you had the gift of prophecy from God, and not from obvious demonic seduction, then the demon would not be visible on your lips,” the monk denounced the elder. These words brought confusion, the brethren were frightened, because the words of Saint Paisius were true and were not subject to any doubt. Reproaching that monk, the fathers forced him to ask for forgiveness for his sin, and he, frightened, fell at the sacred feet of the monk: - Forgive me, holy father, and pray for me, the deluded one. The monk prayed to God for him, and immediately from the mouth of the elder in the form of a pig, which with rage and anger rushed at the blessed one, threatening to tear him to pieces with his fangs, the demon of vanity came out. But the divine forbade him and sent him to the underworld. And the old man, who had been seduced before, began to blame himself, repented, and, greatly mourning his fall, begged the monk, rolling on the ground, to forgive him for the past sins he had committed in a state of seduction. Likewise, other monks who were deceived through him, accusing themselves, first asked for forgiveness, and then, inviting two slandered young men, repented of their complete dishonor and asked for forgiveness for the beatings inflicted on them. Taking pity on them, our father Paisius instructed them properly, and then took them aside to the commander of the monastery and, without naming the thief, revealed to him the place where the hermit’s stolen things were located, after which he returned to the desert. Having learned how God helps people through St. Paul, Paisius went to him. Having met, they began to be inseparable, helping each other, and were like a fortress wall. Joyfully accepting the benefits of silence, every day they came up with new feats. Being already an old man and the same age as the divine Paul, and having a very zealous soul, Saint Paisius said to him: – Let us always strive and work while there is time, because we cannot stop working on virtue on earth, otherwise it is impossible to please the Lord. We will be afraid and ashamed if the hour of death finds us in negligence. “Here I am, O most excellent of fathers, I will follow your good advice, because, trusting in your prayers, I believe that God will vouchsafe us to end this life by working in virtue,” answered St. Paul, joyfully listening to the advice of Paisius the Great. So, both of them were miracle workers, experienced doctors of souls and bodies, praying to the Almighty for everyone, and being the agents of salvation for everyone. Since we would have to talk a lot about the divine Paul, we leave this work to someone else. However, a lot of incomprehensible things have come down to us about the sacred Paisius. Some of what is known, in order to encourage listeners to imitate them, is also in our narrative, but there are not enough words to accurately describe the high life of the divine Paisius, and he himself, out of extreme humility, did not want to reveal his exploits; he always said that the highest virtue is that which is hidden from human eyes. He also said that the highest of virtues is following the advice of others, and not one’s own will. The monk, both at the time when he was silent and when he communicated with someone, always tried to please God. In silence he loved the ascent to God, and in communication he desired the salvation of others. The ascetic’s lifestyle was amazing: even while staying in the monastery, he hid it from others. When they wanted to glorify him, Paisius the Great immediately abandoned what he had created and immediately took up another task, so as not to harm the previous one with praise. Indeed, human praise is truly a great danger. Those who chase them gain little from it. That is why the Lord commands us: “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). And now the time has come to tell about the blessed death of the saint. So, this warrior of Christ was called by God to Heavenly bliss when he reached a ripe old age and, like a bright star, shone with all kinds of virtues. His body was buried with honor, and his spirit ascended to eternal life. A little time passed, and the all-sung Paul, who was from the rank of the divine Paisius, also departed to the Lord. However, not only the souls of these great ascetics united in Heaven, but also the bodies themselves, being placed in different places, after a short time were united in the following way. You, readers, must be very careful when listening to this story, because it will tell you about one strange miracle. When the venerable Paisius died, the divine Paul went into the inner desert and after some time reposed there, after which he was buried with honor and reverence. Hearing about the death of Paisius the Great, our father Isidore set off on a small ship to where the holy relics of the saint lay. Taking them with all honors, he placed the shrine in the shrine prepared for them and set off on the return journey, wanting to enrich his homeland of Pissidia with them. He had already sailed a considerable distance when he reached the desert, where the relics of Abba Paul lay: not far from the shore, the ship stopped and did not move forward, but, being as if alive, it naturally rushed to the ground. Those on the ship made every effort for two days to force the ship to sail forward. Realizing that the hesitation came from God, and not knowing what to do, the people calmed down and abandoned the steering wheel. Then the ship, controlled by an invisible hand, floated on its own and stood motionless near the shore to take on the cargo. At that moment, the famous father of that desert, Elder Jeremiah, came out to the sailors. - People, why do you resist the miracle of God, seeing that it is above nature? The Great Paisius calls his friend, the divine Paul, wanting his venerable relics to be transferred to the ship, so get out quickly and look for the resting place of the righteous companion. The venerable Isidore and those with him walked around the entire desert in search of the relics of the divine Paul, and after they found them, they transferred the shrine to the ship. And - lo and behold! - both great fathers - Paisius and Paul - were truly helmsmen who guided the ship across the sea and relieved all difficulties until the ship reached Pissidia. A solemn procession, with psalmody, led by the great Isidore, transferred the venerable relics of the saints to the monastery he built. Both those who were tormented by demons and those who suffered from other illnesses immediately received healing from the saint’s shrine. Since then, God has performed so many miracles through them that it is impossible to list them. I, humble John, told only a small part of them for the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Written by our Venerable Father John Kolov You might be interested in: