Письмо 129

In a few words, I hasten to inform you that Sister V. has begun to walk and even run. I’ll begin to describe the miracle in order: yesterday, July 26, at 12 o’clock in the morning, we entered the city of Yelets. L. said that in this city, in a nunnery, there is a coffin of the saint of God, Melania, and then, of course, we must come with the sick one. V. grumbled a little, and finally agreed to go with us to the tomb. Since in the monastery a rather high mountain was made with steps, V. begged to be let in, and with great difficulty climbed up those stairs on her knees, then they carried her a little; Seeing Melania’s coffin, our sufferer threw herself on her knees, but after bowing twice, she had a violent fit. Mother Abbess Pavlina ordered her to be taken to her cell; They could lift it with force: it became so heavy. When they put her in the place where righteous Melania died, V. began to have extraordinary convulsions, foam came out of her mouth, and after two hours, I think, she completely came to her senses and calmed down. After lunch, Mother Superior deigned to visit our cell; she had tea with us and said that there would be an all-night vigil in the evening; we all agreed to go, including V.; when she heard sacred singing, she began to shake, and then she completely lost her hearing; they were forced to sit her on the porch. When, after the all-night vigil, we asked to serve a memorial service for Melania, V. wanted to pray on her knees and listened with attention to the singing. As soon as they sang: rest with the saints, V. fainted, so that we and the sisters of this monastery were afraid. As soon as she came into memory, we took her to the cell, which was assigned to us not far from Mother Abbess; After dinner, we, with mother’s permission and blessing, went to pray in St. Melania’s cell. When V. was brought to the coffin, she wanted to sit on a stone near the grave; one of the sisters suggested that she rub her feet with sand, and V. felt extraordinary lightness; In Melania’s cell she listened to all the prayers for the coming sleep on her knees and prayed earnestly. Afterwards they brought it to the coffin again, and when a man began to donate it to our cell, V. became unusually heavy; Finally at the door he says: give me crutches; The girl answered that the crutches had been taken away; Well, then let me in, V. kept repeating, and suddenly she broke free of her hands and ran. Our joy was inexpressible; we could not thank enough God, the zealous Intercessor, the Queen of Heaven, and the righteous maiden Melania; the cry of joy was terrible; they decided to send to Mother Abbess, who hastened to come to us with her sister, and the other sisters came running; They could only cry with joy, seeing V. completely healed, because she herself met and bowed to the ground. Afterwards, the sisters chanted the akathist to the Queen of Heaven and the Guardian Angel; Some of the sisters spent the night in our cell. In the morning everyone went to early mass, and V.; during the cherubim there was a slight shaking; but she could pray, came up to take-out, attended mass well; Afterwards we served a prayer service to the image of the Most Pure Virgin, Queen of Heaven, the Life-Giving Source. When the priest began to read the Gospel and covered it with the stole, the shaking resumed again; Afterwards they served righteous Melania a requiem mass. V. cried and prayed with zeal, then Mother Abbess Pavlina asked us for tea; After sitting there for a while, I went to the cell of some B., from where I am writing to you, my incomparable father, Fr. Macarius; I beg you to pray with tears for us sinners and offer a prayer of thanks for the healed V.; I remain forever unworthy and sinful N.S. July 27, 1839. You might be interested in: