Жизнь блаженного Аврамия и племянницы его Марии 1

I want to tell you, my brothers, the wonderful and perfect life of a wonderful man, which he began and accomplished with glory. But I am afraid to present this wonderful and clear testimony depicting his God-loving virtue. For my husband’s life is excellent and perfect, but I am weak and unlearned. The image of virtue is light and wonderful, but the colors are dark and scary. However, although I am weak and uneducated, I will nevertheless speak; Although I do not fully comprehend perfection and do not have sufficient strength to describe everything, I will nevertheless tell you what I can about the life of the second Abraham. The same one who was in our times and lived an angelic and heavenly life on earth, acquired patience similar to adamant, and was honored with heavenly grace, because in his youth he purified himself to become a temple of the Holy Spirit, and prepared from himself a holy vessel so that God, who called him, would dwell in him. So, this blessed one had very rich parents. They loved him beyond human nature and trained him from childhood in anticipation of elevating him to rank. But this is not what he himself wanted: from a young age he spent time in churches, listened to the Divine Scriptures for sweetness and diligently studied them. His parents forced him to marry, but that was not what he wanted. However, after their repeated demands, he agreed to this out of great respect for them. But when on the seventh day the marriage took place and he and the bride sat on the wedding bed, suddenly, like some kind of light, grace shone in his heart. He left his bed and left the house. The Light of grace served as his leader; following him, he left the city and, at a distance of two miles, finding an empty cell, entered it and settled in it with great joy, and in the joy of his heart he glorified God. Horror seized his parents and relatives after that. They walked everywhere and looked for the blessed one. After seventeen days, they found him praying in his cell to God and, when they saw him, they were surprised. But the blessed one said to them: “Why are you marveling? Glorify rather God, the Lover of Mankind, who delivered me from the mire of my iniquities, and pray for me, so that I may until the end bear the yoke that the Lord has vouchsafed for me, unworthy, to take upon myself, and so that, having lived pleasingly to the Lord, I may fulfill His will on myself.” They answered him: “Amen.” Abramius begged them not to bother him often. Having blocked the door, he locked himself in a cell, leaving one small window through which he took food. His mind was illuminated by grace, and he succeeded in his most perfect life, acquired great abstinence, vigilance and tears, humility and love. The rumor about him spread everywhere, and everyone, hearing it, came to see him and benefit from him, because the blessed one was given the word of wisdom and understanding. And this rumor and this rumor about him was like a shining light for his parents. Abraham's parents died ten years after he renounced the world, leaving him an estate and a lot of gold. But he begged one of his sincere friends to distribute this to the poor and orphans, so that he himself would not have obstacles to practicing prayers; having done so, he lived carefree. The blessed one was concerned about this, so that his mind would not be bound by anything extraneous; He had nothing on his earth except one tunic and a hair shirt, which he wore, and he also had a cup from which he ate food. But with all this, he acquired extreme humility and equal love for everyone: he did not prefer the rich to the poor, the boss to the subordinate, but he respected everyone just the same, did not look at a person’s face, never boldly reprimanded anyone, but his word, with love and meekness, was dissolved with salt. For has anyone ever been satisfied with the sweetness of his words, hearing his excellent answer? Or could anyone ever look enough at his venerable and angelic face? But throughout his asceticism, laboring with all zeal for more than fifty years, he did not change the rules. Due to the immeasurable zeal and love that he had for Christ, all this time seemed to him like a few days, and his entire ascetic life did not satisfy him. In the vicinity of the city there was a very large village, in which all the inhabitants, from small to large, were pagans. Nobody could convert them. And although many presbyters and deacons were appointed by the local bishop, not one was able to turn them away from idolatry madness, but everyone left without success, not having the strength to endure the oppression of the persecution brought against them. Many monks came to them more than once or twice, but they were no more successful in converting them. One day, the bishop sat with his clergy, remembering the blessed one, and said to those who were with him: “I don’t know such a perfect man, who in my time (now) would be as much adorned for every good deed as Mr. Abramius, with all the virtues that God loves.” The clerics answered him: “Indeed, he is Christ’s servant and a perfect ascetic.” The bishop continued to tell them: “I intend to ordain him in a pagan village, because with his patience and love he will be able to convert the inhabitants to God.” And immediately rising up, he and the parable come to Abramius. When they came up and greeted him, the bishop began to tell him about the village and ask him to go there. Abramius, having listened, became very sad and said to the bishop: “Let me, father, mourn my iniquities, because I am imperfect and weak for such a thing.” The bishop again began to tell him: “You are strong by the grace of Christ, do not be lazy to fulfill this obedience.” The blessed one replies: “I beg your reverence, have mercy on my imperfections and allow me to mourn my misfortunes.” The bishop tells him: “Behold, you have left everything, you have hated the world and everything in the world, you have crucified yourself, and yet, having done all this, you have no obedience.” Hearing this, Avrami began to cry and said: “Who am I, a dead dog, and what is my life, so that you would think so about me?” But the bishop told him: “Sitting here, you save yourself alone, and there, by the grace of God, you can save many and turn to God. Therefore, decide in yourself which reward is greater: this or that, whether to save yourself alone or to save many others along with you?” The blessed one, continuing to cry, said: “The will of the Lord be done!” But for the sake of obedience I go.” The bishop, taking him out of his cell, took him with him to the city and, having ordained him, sent him away with joy, accompanied by the clergy. The blessed one prayed to God on the way, saying: “You see my weakness, O Lover of Mankind and Good One, send Thy grace and help to me, so that Thy holy name may be glorified.” Arriving at the village, he saw that the inhabitants were obsessed with the madness of idolatry. And, sighing, he began to cry. Raising his eyes to heaven, he said: “You, the only merciful, the only man-loving, do not despise the work of your hands!” And he hastily sent to the city to his sincere friend to send him the remains of his estate. Having received this, in a few days he built a church and offered a prayer to God in it, crying out with many tears and saying: “Lord, gather your scattered people, bring them into this church of yours and enlighten the eyes of their minds to the knowledge of you, the only true God.” And, having completed the prayer, he left the church, and entering the pagan temple, he overthrew the abominations and destroyed their altars. The residents, seeing this, rushed at him like wild animals and drove him out of the village with whips. But he returned and came to his place. Entering the church, weeping and lamenting, he prayed to God for them to be saved. When morning came, the inhabitants came and found him praying and were horrified with amazement. Every day they came to the church not to pray, but to look at the beauty of the building and the decorations in it. The blessed one began to beg them to know the true God, and they beat him with sticks like a soulless stone, and, thinking that he was already dead, they left him and left. At midnight he came to his senses and, sighing deeply, began to cry and said: “Why, O Lord, have you despised my humility? Why do you turn your face away from me? Why do you reject my soul and ignore the works of your hands? Now, O Lord who loves mankind, look at Your servants and let them know You, because there is no God but You.” After prayer, he got up, went to the village, went into the church and began to sing. When day came, the inhabitants came again, saw him, and horror seized them. Then, giving themselves over to a frenzy, these cruel, inhuman people, who had no pity, began to mercilessly torment him and, again putting a rope on him, took him out of the village, as on the previous day. Enduring all this, like adamant, Abramius remained in those great sorrows and needs for up to three years, was beaten, insulted, dragged along, oppressed, endured hunger and thirst. And despite everything that happened to him, he did not hate the inhabitants, did not have indignation at them, but was filled with greater and greater love for them and with his modesty calmed their anger, which burned like a burning fire. When they showered him with abuse, he, begging, admonishing, caressing, begged the elders - like fathers, the young - like brothers, and the children - like children. One day, all the inhabitants of the village, from small to large, gathered together and began to say to each other in surprise: “Do you see this man’s patience and his indescribable affection for us? Among so many sorrows and disasters that we caused him, he did not leave here, did not say a bad word to any of us, did not hate us, but endured everything with great joy. If the living God had not been with him, as he says, if there had been no Kingdom, and paradise, and Judgment, and reward, then he would not have simply tolerated all this from us. And how alone he crushed all the gods, they couldn’t do him any harm? He is truly God's servant, and everything he says is Divine and true. Let us go and believe in the God he preaches.” And having said this, everyone unanimously rushed to his church, calling out and saying: “Glory to the heavenly God, who sent His servant to free us from error and save us!” The blessed one, seeing them, rejoiced with great joy, and his face blossomed like a beautiful flower. He opened his mouth and said to them: “Blessed are you, fathers, brothers and children, who have come in the name of the Lord! Come now and let us unanimously give glory to God, who has enlightened the eyes of your heart to know Him. Take upon yourself the seal of life in order to be cleansed from idolatrous impurity, and believe with all your soul that there is God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and everything that exists on them, God, the Beginningless, incomprehensible, inscrutable, inconceivable, unchangeable, endless, light-giver, Lover of mankind, great and wonderful, terrible and powerful, merciful and good. Believe also in His only begotten Son, who is the power and wisdom of the Father, the radiance of the glory of the Father, and by whom all things were created. Believe also in His Holy Spirit, Consubstantial and co-king with Him for boundless and endless ages, giving life to everything. And having believed, you will receive eternal life.” Everyone answered him: “Yes, our father and guide of our life, so be it, as you speak and teach us, so we believe, so we glorify.” And the blessed one, approaching, baptized all of them, from small to large, numbering up to a thousand souls, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Every day he unfailingly read the Divine Scriptures to them, teaching them and telling them about the Kingdom of Heaven, about faith and justification, about the resurrection of the dead and about the Last Judgment. Just as good and well-cultivated land, having received a seed, bears beautiful fruit - partly a hundredfold, partly sixtyfold, and partly thirtyfold, so they accepted his word with great readiness, listening with pleasure to the teaching. Like an Angel of God, he was before them. And just as a strong and beautiful building is held together by bonds, so every soul was attached to it with love and fervor, and their minds were enlightened by the consolation of his faith and teaching. For a whole year, after they believed, the blessed one stayed with them, unceasingly, day and night, teaching them the word of God. Then, seeing their zeal for God and firmness in faith, as well as for themselves, love, care, honor and glory, and fearing lest he break his ascetic rule for them, and lest his mind become in some way bound by care for earthly things, he stood up at night and began to pray to God, saying: “The only sinless, the only Holy, resting in the saints, the only man-loving and merciful Lord, from who called these Thy people from the darkness and established them in Thy wonderful light of knowledge, freed them from the bonds of the enemy, converted them from error and gave them faith in You, to the end, Master, save them, intercede, O Lord, for this Thy flock, which You acquired with Your love for mankind, and overshadow them with Your almighty grace, and always enlighten their hearts, so that, having done what is pleasing to You, they will be considered worthy of eternal life. But help me, too, who am weak, and do not hold this deed against me, because I desire You and I strive for You!” Having prayed and sealed the village three times with the sign of the cross, he secretly withdrew to another place. When morning came, the inhabitants, according to their custom, came and began to look for him and, not finding him, were horrified. Like lost sheep, they walked and looked for their shepherd, calling on his name with fear and crying. When, having searched everywhere, they did not find it, then they were greatly saddened and, without delay, went to the bishop and reported to him about what had happened. He, having listened and felt great sorrow, sent diligently to look for the blessed one, especially because of the tears and for the consolation of his flock. Like a precious stone, they looked for it everywhere and found it nowhere; Upon the unsuccessful return of the messengers, the bishop, arriving with all his belongings to the village, consoled the inhabitants with the word of life and from among them appointed presbyters, deacons and readers, because everyone was confirmed in the faith and love of Christ. And the blessed one, having heard about the arrival and installation of the clergy, was very happy and, glorifying God, said: “How will I repay You, my good Master, for everything that You have given me? I will worship You and glorify Your saving economy!” Thus, having prayed and rejoiced, he returned to his former cell. He made a small cell outside the previous one, and shut himself up in the inner one, blocking the door with great joy and gladness of his heart. The inhabitants of the village, hearing about this and arriving at blessed Abramius, rejoiced with great joy that they had found him, the true guide of life, and began to go to him as to a father, taught and enlightened, in addition to his words, by his life, and considered it a very great mercy for themselves to see him and hear words of salvation from him. What a miracle, beloved! This blessed one, completely worthy of praise and glory, despite so many sorrows that he endured in the village, did not change his ascetic rule, did not deviate from it either to the right or to the left. Glory to the Lord our God, who gave him such patience! Therefore, the primordial hater of good and man-hater Satan, seeing that even with so many sorrows that he brought upon him in the village, he could not drive him away or plunge him into negligence, or turn his mind away from his intention, but on the contrary, the blessed one, like gold in a crucible, shone incomparably more and was glorified, with patience, great love for God and success with zeal, becoming a saving example for everything. more and more people. Seeing this, the hater of goodness became very angry with blessed Abramius and with many dreams came to him in order to frighten him and deceive him. At midnight, when Abramius stood and sang psalms, suddenly a light brighter than the sun shone upon him and the voice of many said to him: “Blessed are you, Mr. Abramius, truly blessed, because no one turned out to be equal to you in all your merits and no one, like you, fulfilled all my will, therefore blessed are you.” But the blessed one immediately understood the flattery of the evil one and, raising his voice, said: “Let your darkness go with you to destruction, because you are full of flattery and deception, and I am a sinful man, but having the grace of my God, and trust in Him, and His help, I am not afraid of you, and your many dreams do not frighten me. For me, a solid wall is the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Whom I loved, and in His name I forbid you, unclean and damned dog.” And as soon as he said this, at that very moment the enemy, like smoke, became invisible. And the blessed one with great zeal, without any embarrassment, as if not having seen any dreams, began to bless God. Again, a few days later, when the blessed one was praying at night, Satan, holding an ax, began to break his cell and, having cut through it, cried out in a strong voice: “Hurry, my friends, hurry, let’s go in quickly and strangle him.” The blessed one said to him: “All the nations have gone around me, and in the name of the Lord I have resisted them” (Ps. 117:10). And the enemy immediately became invisible, and the cell was unharmed. And a few days later, when Abramius sang psalms at midnight, he saw that the matting under his feet was burning with a very strong flame, and, trampling the fire, he said: “I will step on the asp and the basilisk, and I will trample the lion and the serpent (Ps. 90:13) and all the power of the enemy in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who helps me.” Satan, giving himself up to flight, cried out and said: “I will overcome you, evil-willed one, and I will find ways to punish you for your neglect.” One day, when the blessed one was eating food as usual, the enemy entered his cell in the form of a young man and approached him with the intention of knocking over his cup, but Abramius guessed and held it, and he continued to eat food, not caring about his cunning. The young man, jumping back, stood in front of the blessed one and, placing a lamp with a burning lamp on it, loudly began to sing the psalm: “Blessed are the blameless on the way, walking in the law of the Lord.” So he said most of the psalm, but the blessed one did not answer him until he had consumed all his food. After eating, he sealed himself with the sign of the cross and said to the young man: “If you know, unclean and damned, insensitive and fearful dog, that they are blessed, then why do you bother them? But blessed indeed are all those who love God with all their hearts.” The devil answered him: “In order to overcome them, I hinder them in every good deed.” But the blessed one continued: “You, cursed one, will not be able to prevent any of those who fear God, but you will overcome those like yourself, who, by their own will, have departed from God. You defeat them and mislead them, because God is not in them. You disappear from those who love God like smoke from the wind; one tearful prayer of theirs drives you away just as dust is scattered by a whirlwind. My blessed God lives forever - this is my praise! I’m not afraid of you, although you’ll stand there all your life and won’t take care of you, unclean dog, but I just as surely neglect you as someone else would neglect a crushed puppy.” When the blessed one said this, the enemy immediately became invisible. And again, after many days, when the blessed one finished singing psalms, the enemy comes with many ghosts; They throw ropes over the cell and, pulling it, shout to each other: “Throw him into the abyss.” But the blessed one, looking at them, said: “They have gone around me like bees on a honeycomb, and burned like fire among thorns, and in the name of the Lord they have resisted them” (Ps. 118:12). And Satan cried out and said: “Alas, alas for me! I don't know what to do with you? For you have overcome me in everything, you have neglected all my strength and trampled me. But even in this case, I will not leave you until I overcome and humble you.” The blessed one said to him: “Anathema to you and all your strength, unclean one! Glory and worship to our Master, the One Holy God, Who caused us, who love Him, to trample on you! So, know, pitiful and weak, that we are not afraid of you or your dreams.” Having tried for a long time to overcome the blessed one with various temptations, dreams and frantic attacks, the devil could not bring his mind into timidity, but all the more excited him to zeal and to the love of God. Since, having loved God with all his soul, Abramius tried to live according to His will and was worthy of His grace, the devil was not able to harm the blessed one. With patience the blessed one knocked on the door so that the treasure of God's grace would be opened to him. And as soon as it opened, he entered and chose three precious stones: faith, hope, love - and with them he decorated other virtues, and, having weaved a valuable crown, he brought it to the King of kings - Christ. For who, like Abraham, loved God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself? Who was as compassionate and compassionate? For which monk, having heard about his good life, did he not pray that he would be saved from the snare of the devil and complete his course impeccably? Or, having heard about some sinner or wicked person, did he not immediately begin with tears to beg God for him, so that he could be saved? Nevertheless, throughout the continuation of his feat, he did not change the ascetic rule; at the same time, not a day passed without tears for him. He did not allow laughter or even a smile to his lips; He did not anoint his body with oil, nor wash his face or feet with water. Thus he labored, dying daily by will. And a truly extraordinary miracle! With his wondrous abstinence, with his great vigilance, with the abundant outpouring of tears, reclining on the bare ground and humility of the body - he never weakened in activity, did not become exhausted, was not lazy, did not lose heart, but on the contrary: his mind, nourished by the power of grace, like a hungry and thirsty man, could not be satisfied with the sweetness of achievement. He looked like a blooming rose, and it was not noticeable in his body that he had endured so many feats, but his build remained commensurate with his strength. The grace of God strengthened the blessed one, and therefore during his dormition his face was bright and let us know that his soul was accompanied by an angel. But the wonderful grace of God also appeared on him: for fifty years one hair shirt, in which he put on, constantly served him, and others were also honored to wear it, which had become worn out after him. But I intend to tell your unanimity, beloved, the extraordinary deed he accomplished in his old age! For intelligent and spiritual people it is truly extraordinary, full of benefit and tenderness. This is the case. The blessed one had his only brother, after whose death he was left an orphan girl, Mary. Her acquaintances took her and brought her to her uncle when she was seven years old. And he ordered her to live in the outer cell, for he himself had shut himself up in the inner one. Between them there was a window through which he taught her the Psalms and other Scriptures. She spent time with him in vigil and psalmody; As he observed abstinence, so did she. Diligently succeeding in asceticism, she tried to accomplish all the virtues, for the blessed one repeatedly begged God for her, so that her mind would be directed towards Him and not be bound by concerns about earthly things. Her father left her a large estate, which the blessed one ordered to be immediately distributed to the poor. And she herself daily begged her uncle, saying: “I ask, father, your holiness and I beg your reverence to pray for me, in order to get rid of obscene and evil thoughts, and from all the snares of the enemy, and from various snares of the devil.” And so she labored diligently, observing her ascetic rule, and the blessed one rejoiced, seeing her wonderful life, and zeal, and meekness, and love for God. She spent twenty years with him in the feat, like a beautiful lamb and an innocent dove. But at the end of the twentieth year, the serpent, cunning in deception, seeing how Mary was inspired by the virtues of the monastic life and was completely occupied with heavenly things, melted away, burned by the strongest fire, and plotted to catch her in the net, and through this plunge the blessed one into sadness and care, and by worrying about her distract his mind from God. And just as this “wise” beast, burned by envy of his ancestors, in his malice, found the serpent to deceive those placed in bliss, in order to make them inhabitants of the toilsome and thorn-producing earth, so now he has seen and found a vessel destined for destruction. There was someone who bore the name of a monk. He very carefully approached the blessed one under the guise of talking with him. Seeing the blessed maiden through the window and darkened in mind, the unfortunate man wished to talk with her. And for a long time, about a year, he lay in wait for her until he found an opportunity and deprived her of a blissful stay in this truly true paradise. For, already deceived by the evil serpent, she opened the door of her cell and went out, having lost the greatness of her God-loving and pure virginity. And just as the eyes of the first parents, who ate the fruit, were opened, and they realized that they were naked, so Mary, having committed a sin, was horrified in her mind, fell into despair, tore her hair out of her tunic, beat herself in the face and wanted to strangle herself. And with tears she said to herself: “I have died now, I have ruined my days, I have ruined the fruit of my deeds and abstinence, I have ruined my tearful work, I have angered God. She killed herself, plunged her reverend uncle into the most bitter sorrow and became a laughingstock to the devil. Why else should I live after this, unhappy? Alas, what have I done? Alas, what have you been subjected to? Alas, where did it fall from? How has my mind become darkened? How did I fall into the deception of the evil one? I don’t understand how it fell! How it crawled, I can’t comprehend! How I became defiled, I don’t know! What cloud covered my heart, and I didn’t see what I was doing? Where can I hide? Where to go? What abyss should I plunge myself into? Where are the instructions of my reverend uncle?! Where are the lessons of his friend, Ephraim, when he told me: be attentive to yourself and keep your soul undefiled by the incorruptible and immortal Bridegroom, because your Bridegroom is holy and jealous? I no longer dare to look at heaven, because I died for God and for people; I can no longer look at this window. For how can I, a sinner, speak again to this holy man? And if I speak, will fire come out of the window and burn me? It’s much better for me to go where no one knows me, because there is no longer any hope for salvation for me.” Getting up, she immediately went to another city and, changing her clothes, stopped at a hotel. When this happened to her, the monk in a dream vision saw a great, terrible-looking and hissing serpent, which, leaving his place, crawled to his cell and, finding a dove, devoured it, and then returned again to his place. Having awakened from sleep, the blessed one became very sad and began to cry, saying: “Is Satan really instigating persecution against the Holy Church and turning many away from the faith? Will there really be a schism and heresy in the Church of God?” And having prayed to God, he said: “Human-loving Seer, You alone know what this great vision means.” Two days later he again sees that this serpent leaves his place, enters his cell, lays his head at the feet of the blessed one and sits down, and that dove turned out to be alive, without any filth on it. And suddenly, waking up from sleep, he called Mary once or twice, saying: “Get up, why have you been too lazy to open your mouth to praise God for two days now?” Since she did not give an answer and for the second day he had not heard her sing psalms according to custom, he then realized that the vision that he had concerned Mary and, sighing loudly, began to cry: “Alas! An evil wolf stole my lamb, and my child was captured.” Raising his voice, he said again: “Savior of the world, Christ, return Your lamb Mary to the fence of life, so that my old age does not descend with sorrow to hell. Do not despise my prayer, Lord, but send Your grace quickly, so that it can snatch her from the mouth of the serpent.” The two days on which he had a vision meant the two years that his niece spent outside. And he did not stop begging God for her night and day. Two years later, word reached him where she was and how she lived, and, calling one acquaintance, he sent there to inquire exactly about her, notice the place and find out how she spent her life. The messenger went, found out everything in detail, saw her and, returning, informed the blessed one about this, describing to him everything - both the place and the behavior. The blessed one, convinced that it was definitely her, ordered him to bring himself military clothing and bring a horse. And opening the door of the cell, he went out, putting on military clothing and a tall hood on his head that covered his face, also took with him one coin and, mounting a horse, set off. Just as someone sent to spy out a city or country wears the clothes of those living there in order to hide from the inhabitants, so blessed Abramius traveled in someone else’s clothes in order to overcome the enemy. And this wonderful second Abraham is truly worthy of surprise! For just as he, having gone out to battle with the kings and defeating them, brought back his nephew Lot, so this second Abraham, having gone out to battle with the devil and defeating him, brought back his niece. So, having arrived at the place, he enters the hotel, stays in it and looks here and there to see Mary. Then, when quite some time had passed and he had not yet seen her, he said with a smile to the innkeeper: “I heard, friend, that you have a beautiful girl, I would love to look at her.” The owner, seeing his gray hair and advanced years, condemned him, then said in response: “Yes, and she is very beautiful.” Maria was extraordinarily beautiful. The blessed one asked him: “What is her name?” He answers him: “Maria.” Then with a bright face he says to him: “Call her so that I can have fun with her today, because according to rumors I have fallen in love with her very much.” Called Mary came to him. As soon as Abramius saw her in that outfit and in the image of a harlot, his whole body and his whole composition did not turn into tears; but with wisdom and self-control he secured himself in his heart, as in an inaccessible stronghold, so that Mary would not guess and run away. As they sat and drank, the blessed one began to talk to her like a man blazing towards her with an unquenchable fire of love. This blessed one fought so courageously against the devil that, taking the captive, he returned her to the bridal chamber of Christ! When the blessed one spoke to her, she stood up and hugged him, kissing his neck. Kissing him, she smelled his angelic life from his skin and immediately remembered her past asceticism. Sighing, she said: “Woe is me alone!” The innkeeper told her in surprise: “You’ve been living here for two years, Madam Maria, and I’ve never heard you sigh or say anything like that. What has happened to you now? She answered: “Oh, if only I could die in three years! Then I would be blessed." And immediately the blessed one, in order not to give rise to suspicion about himself, sternly tells her: “In front of me, now she began to remember her sins!” However, she did not say in her heart: “His appearance seems to me exactly like the appearance of my uncle.” The only humane and wise God arranged everything so that she would not recognize him and, being afraid, would not run away. Abramy, immediately taking out the coin, gives it to the innkeeper and says to him: “Make us a wonderful dinner; we will have fun today with this girl, because I came from afar for her.” This is wisdom in the true sense according to God! This is spiritual understanding! What a cunning trick against the devil! What a sacrifice for the soul! What wisdom, destroying the serpent, enlightening the soul! Anyone who has not eaten bread during a fifty-year feat eats meat in order to save a soul captured by the devil. The host of holy Angels in heaven were surprised at this indifference, or better yet, at the generosity of the blessed one, they were surprised at how willingly and indiscriminately he ate and drank, repeating to himself what was said in the Gospel: today “be glad and rejoice as befitting, as” this daughter of mine “was dead, and is alive again, she was crooked, and is found” ( Luke 15:32). O wisdom of the wise and understanding of the prudent! Oh, the astonishing and wonderful indifference, surpassing all strict discrimination, with which he saved the soul, snatching it from the poisonous teeth of the serpent! When they had enjoyed dinner, the girl said: “Let’s get up, sir, and go to bed.” He answered: “Let's go.” And they entered the bedchamber. The blessed one sees a high-placed bed, and readily enters and sits on it. I don’t know what to call you or what to call you, perfect man of Christ! Should we call you abstinent or indifferent? Wise or crazy? Legible or illegible? Having slept on one mat for the entire fifty years of your asceticism, with what readiness did you sit down on the bed! You did all this for the glory of Christ and for the praise of your precious life before God. So, he went alone, ate meat, drank wine, stayed at a hotel to save the lost soul. And we, faint-hearted ones, become untimely picky when we just need to say a useful word to our neighbor! So, he sat on the bed, and Mary said to him: “Let me take off your shoes, sir.” But the blessed one said to her: “Lock the door, and then come and take it.” She tried to take off his shoes first, but he did not allow this. Then she locked the door and came to him, and the blessed one said to her: “Come closer to me, my lady Mary.” And when she came closer, Abramy held her so that she could not run away from him. He took off the hood from his head and, bursting into tears, began to say to her: “Don’t you recognize me, my child Maria? Am I not your father Abramius? Don't you recognize me, my child? Wasn't it I who raised you? What happened to you, my child? Where is the angelic image that you had on yourself, my child? Where are the tears? Where is the vigil combined with the pain of the soul and a contrite heart? Where is the reclining on bare ground and frequent kneeling? How did you fall from the heights of heaven into the abyss of destruction? Why didn’t you tell me that a hellish storm surrounded you? Together with Ephraim, I would cry out to the One who is able to save from death. Why, in complete despair, did you give yourself up to the devil? Why did she leave me and bring me into unbearable sadness? Which of the people, my child, is sinless except the One God?” She, horrified, became numb, could not raise her face and, amazed, like a stone, remained in his hands, overcome by shame and fear. And the blessed one continued to tell her with tears: “Are you not answering me, my child Mary? Didn’t I come here with illness for you, my child? Your sin is on me, child. I will answer to God for you on the day of judgment. I will bring repentance for this sin of yours.” So he begged and persuaded her until midnight. She, having become somewhat bolder, spoke to him like this: “For shame I cannot turn my face to you. How can I call on the most pure name of my Christ? I am defiled by muddy uncleanness.” The blessed one says to her: “Your sin is on me, my child; God will demand from me for this sin of yours. Just listen to me. Let's go, let's return to our place, for our beloved Ephraim is crying for you and begging God for you. I beg you, child, have mercy on my old age, have mercy on my gray hairs. I ask you, my beloved child, get up and follow me!” And she told him: “If God accepts my repentance, then I will go. But I fall to you and I beg your reverence, I kiss your holy footprints, because you had mercy on me and came here to extract me from the devil’s snare.” And, laying her head at his feet, she cried all night, saying: “How will I repay you, sir, for all this?” When morning came, the blessed one said to her: “Get up, my child, let’s leave here.” She said to him in response: “I have some gold and a dress here, what do you say about it?” The blessed one told her: “Leave this here, for all this is part of the evil one.” And they got up and immediately left. He put her on a horse, and he himself, rejoicing, walked ahead of her. And just as a shepherd, when he finds a lost sheep, takes it on his shoulders, so the blessed one walked with a joyful heart. And when they arrived at the place, he shut her up in the inner cell, while he himself remained in the outer one. She, in sackcloth, with humility and many tears, in vigil and abstinence, steadily, diligently and fearlessly falling to God and praying to Him, achieved the goal of repentance. This is, in the true sense, true repentance, real healing and renewal of the soul. With such a feat, everyone should confess to God. For who had such a stony and cruel heart that, having heard the voice of her crying, he did not become contrite and glorify God? Compared to her repentance, our repentance is just a shadow and a ghost. With such patience, diligence and the struggle of her heart, she incessantly approached God, asking for a sign to confirm whether her repentance was accepted! Therefore, the good and humane God gave her the gift of healing as an undoubted sign that her repentance was favorable to God. The blessed one lived another ten years, saw her sincere repentance and excellent zeal, glorified and exalted God for this. Thus, this truly reverend man and servant of God rested in a good old age. He died at the age of seventy, but labored for fifty years with great zeal. Waging a wonderful struggle, he became enriched with humility and love, did not look, as many usually do, at a person’s face, just as he did not prefer one, he did not humiliate another. And during such a long time of asceticism, he never indulged in laziness, did not change the rules of the most perfect life, but was in such a state of mind - as if he was dying every day. This is how blessed Abramius behaved, such was his most godly life and such were his feats of patience. Like a chamois from a snare, he emerged from this corruptible chamber. I couldn’t allow my hard and adamantine mind to lose its temper and turn back! Among the temptations that were raised against him by the enemy in the village, defenseless despondency did not have access to him, and amid the incessant warfare he never became timid from demonic dreams. And he accomplished this feat regarding blessed Mary in such a way that, with spiritual wisdom and indescribable prudence of his, in human opinion, simplicity, but in the essence of the matter - skillful subtlety, he trampled the serpent, snatched his longed-for dove from his teeth and presented her to the true Bridegroom Jesus Christ. Such are the exploits and labors of Blessed Abraham. And here we have described them to console and satisfy the desire of those who are thinking of improving eternal life to the praise and glory of God, who gives us all what is useful, and we will describe his other virtues on other occasions. At the time of his death, almost all the inhabitants of the city and surrounding villages gathered, and each of those who came, carefully approaching his honest and holy body, took something from his clothes for a blessing. And if he brought what he had taken closer to a person possessed by any disease, he immediately imparted healing to him. Blessed Mary lived for another five years, struggling beyond measure. With tears, day and night, she did not stop begging God, so that those passing by that place, day and night, hearing her cry, repeatedly stopped with compassion; they themselves began to cry, bringing to mind their own sins, begged and glorified God. And at the hour of her death, her face seemed illuminated with grace, as if they then saw the benevolent and glorious presence of the holy Angels, and together with them they glorified God, who, through his ineffable love for mankind, saves those who trust in Him in Christ Jesus our Lord. Woe is me, my beloved! These saints had a wonderful end, boldly broke away from earthly things and bound themselves with love for God, but I am not ready and have no zeal for my will. And now, an endless winter has overtaken me, and I am naked and have nothing to stock up on, I am amazed at myself: why I sin daily and repent daily, at one hour I create, and at another I destroy, in the evening I say: “Tomorrow I will repent,” but with the onset of morning laziness comes over me and I spend the day in distraction; again at noon I say: “Next night I will be sober and with tears I will beg God to be merciful to my sins” - and night comes - I fall into sleep?! Together with me, those who received the pieces of silver struggle day and night and with glory seek the leadership of ten cities, but through my inactivity I hid the pieces of silver in the ground. My Lord will soon come, and now my heart trembles, all days I mourn my laziness, having nothing to justify myself before Him. Have mercy on me, O One Sinless One, save me, O One Lover of Mankind, for I know no other and have not believed in anything other than You, the blessed Father and Your Only Begotten Son, who became incarnate for us, and Your Holy Spirit, who gives life to all. And now remember me, Master, and bring me out of the prison of my iniquities. For both depend on You, Master: when to enter this age, and when to move from it. Remember me, the unrequited one, and save me, the sinner. Thy grace, which in this age was my protection, my refuge, my praise and glory, may itself cover me with its wings on that terrible and tremulous day, for You know, who searches hearts and bellies, that I have deviated from many obstinate paths and from many temptations (I call obstinate the paths of heretical wisdom and forced interpretation), I have deviated not by myself, but by Your grace, because You have enlightened my mind. I pray to You, Holy Master, save my soul in Your Kingdom and make me worthy to bless You with all those who have pleased You, because glory, worship, greatness are due to You - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen. The memory of the Venerable Father Abramius and Blessed Mary is celebrated by the Church on October 29 You might be interested in: