Eldress Agatha Ilie (1876 - 1968), formerly known as Maria before being tonsured a nun, was the mother according to the flesh of one of the greatest hesychasts of modern Romania - Elder Cleopa Ilie.
She was from Soulitsa in the district of Botosani. Her husband was named Alexander, who was a cow merchant for a living. God blessed them with ten children. From a young age this pious couple taught their children to love the ecclesiastical services, to pray, and to flee temptations in their personal lives. Nearby their village was the Kozantsea-Botosani Skete, where Fr. Paisios Olarou struggled, who became the spiritual father of Elder Cleopa as well as the entire family. This is where the children of this large family would go to pray and to listen to the teachings of Elder Paisios, as well as help graze the animals of the Skete.
But God, Who alone is All-Good, and Whose ways are beyond comprehension, allowed this large pious family to suffer many bitter trials. One by one each child was taken from this life, much like the children of Job. This occurred between 1915 and 1935, by the will of God. John died at the age of 16. After a year his sister Porphyria died at the age of 18. After two years the 26 year old Maria died. Their mother Maria was in deep sorrow constantly for the loss of her children. She would go to the Skete and Elder Paisios would console her saying that she was sending angels to heaven. Her sorrow would continue after a few years when Basil and George left to become monks at Sihastria Monastery, and in 1931 she was informed that Basil had died as well. George, who had taken the name Gerasimos, would die two years later. One year later another terrible loss came upon Maria, when her daughter Katherine died; she was only 20 years old and was a novice at Agapia Monastery. Eight children had died at this point, and two were left for her consolation. Every time a child was taken from her, Fr. Paisios would say: "Your children are chanting to God like angels, Maria. There you will meet again." In 1949 Maria went to inform Fr. Paisios that her ninth child died, named Michael. He told her: "Your nine children have gone to the Lord and received nine martyric crowns." Shortly after this her husband, Alexander, died. Her last surviving child, Constantine, had already gone to become a novice at Sihastria Monastery in 1936, and came to be known as Cleopas upon his tonsure. Cleopa was urging his mother at this point to become a nun, and Fr. Paisios informed her: "Go Maria, you also become a monastic and pray for the living and the dead."
In the winter of 1946 Maria went to join a convent, at the age of 70, after first visiting Sihastria Monastery to venerate the tombs of her two sons. From there she went by carriage to the Monastery of Old Agapia, where she stayed for good. There she took the name Agatha and lived for another 22 years. All her life she was illiterate and could not read books or the Divine Services. What characterized her was her goodness and innocence of soul. Her soul was child-like, without evil, without pride, without bad thoughts in her mind. Whatever somebody told her, she believed, and whatever she was asked to do, she did with obedience, because she loved everybody and had no discrimination. She spoke with everyone, and cried for the misfortune and pain of all people.
When she was asked what obedience she had at the Monastery, she would respond: "I cut wood with the saw, I take care of the flowers, and I help with the cooking." Another job she had was to go into the woods all day to gather sticks for the kitchen, the whole time praying while she worked, and she would return before sunset.
One year before her repose, she ceased altogether speaking of her children. If a nun happened to ask Sister Agatha about her children, she would groan a little bit, but then be happy as a child, saying: "How good are these sisters. They care for me like a mother. Behold, here I am alone. Abbess Olympia also reposed. I have remained alone."
Her only consolation now was the Church and the Sisters who took care of her in her cell. She lived the 22 years of her monastic life with humility, prayer, silence, love, quietude, and spiritual prayer.
Old Agapia Monastery was a haven for Eldress Agatha. Though she sent all but one of her children to heaven before her own repose, through prayer she was ever near them together with all the saints through the grace of the Holy Spirit. In the Monastery she found comfort and peace of soul. In the summer of 1968 Eldress Agatha began to feel weak. She only had the strength to walk to the balcony of her cell to catch some warmth from the rays of the sun. For a few days she was bedridden. "Eldress Agatha, won't you eat some food? Here are a few apples," said the nuns who took care of her. To this she responded: "Apples I will eat in Paradise, where I am going soon." On 15 September 1968, at the age of 92, her soul went to Paradise, after saying farewell to the entire Sisterhood of the Monastery.
Elder Cleopas
http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2013/07/elder-cleopas-mother-eldress-agatha.html
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«ἐὰν γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν Χριστῷ, ἀλλ’ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας...»
Ὅταν ὁ «ἄρχων τῶν Ἰουδαίων» Νικόδημος ἐπισκέφθηκε νύκτα τὸν Χριστό, Ἐκεῖνος τοῦ μίλησε γιὰ μία γέννηση πέρα ἀπὸ τὴν σωματικὴ - βιολογική. Τοῦ ἀπεκάλυψε τὴν πνευματικὴ ἀναγέννηση τοῦ πιστοῦ «ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ Πνεύματος», μὲ τὴν ὁποία εἰσέρχεται κανεὶς στὴ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ. Γι’ αὐτὴν τὴν γέννηση μιλεῖ σήμερα καὶ ὁ Ἀπ. Παῦλος, ὑπογραμμίζοντας τὴν παρουσία ὡρισμένων προσώπων στὸ Σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ποὺ μὲ τὴ Χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀξιώνονται νὰ γίνουν οἱ κατ’ ἄνθρωπον συντελεστές της. Καὶ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτὰ εἶναι οἱ Πατέρες, ἕνα μέγεθος οὐσιαστικότατο στὴ ζωὴ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας.
Πατέρες – Παιδαγωγοὶ
Ὁ Παῦλος κάνει διάκριση ἀνάμεσα σὲ Πατέρες καὶ Παιδαγωγοὺς - Διδασκάλους τῶν πιστῶν.....
Οἱ πρῶτοι εἶναι λίγοι σὲ σύγκριση μὲ τοὺς δευτέρους. Οἱ Πατέρες εἶναι ἐκεῖνοι, ποὺ γεννοῦν τέκνα πνευματικά. οἱ Παιδαγωγοὶ συντελοῦν στὴν περαιτέρω ἀνάπτυξη καὶ καλλιέργειά τους. Οἱ Πατέρες φέρνουν στὴν πνευματικὴ ὕπαρξη· οἱ Παιδαγωγοὶ συμπληρώνουν τὸ ἔργο ἐκείνων μὲ τὴν «ἐποικοδομὴ» τους. Ὅταν λέγει αὐτὰ ὁ Παῦλος, ἔχει ὑπόψη του τὸν ἴδιο τὸν ἑαυτό του. Τὸ λέγει, ἄλλωστε, καθαρὰ στοὺς Κορινθίους, ὅτι εἶναι ὁ πνευματικός τους πατέρας. Γι’ αὐτὸ μπορεῖ ἁπτὰ καὶ συγκεκριμένα νὰ περιγράψει τὸ ἔργο του σ’ αὐτούς, σ’ ἀντιδιαστολὴ μὲ τὸ ἔργο τῶν πολλῶν διδασκάλων ποὺ εἶχαν. Αὐτὸς «ἐφύτευσε», ἐνῶ ὁ Ἀπολλώς -μετὰ ἀπ’ αὐτὸν- μόνο «ἐπότισε». Αὐτὸς «ἔθηκε θεμέλιον»· ὅσοι ἦλθαν μετὰ ἀπ’ αὐτὸν ἁπλῶς «ἐποικοδόμησαν». (Α’ Κόρ. γ’ 6, 10).
Ὑπάρχει μία ἀναλογία ἀνάμεσα στοὺς πνευματικοὺς καὶ τοὺς σαρκικοὺς πατέρες. Εἶναι καὶ οἱ δύο μοναδικοὶ καὶ ἀναντικατάστατοι. Γιατί καὶ οἱ δύο ὁδηγοῦν στὴν ὕπαρξη, βιολογικὴ ἢ πνευματική. Καὶ αὐτὸ γίνεται μία φορὰ στὴ ζωὴ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ὑπαρξιακὸ καὶ ἀνεπανάληπτο γεγονὸς δὲν εἶναι μόνο ἡ γέννηση, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ ἀναγέννηση. Ὑπάρχει βέβαια καὶ μία οὐσιαστικὴ διαφορά: οἱ σαρκικοὶ πατέρες γεννοῦν γιὰ τὸν κόσμο· οἱ πνευματικοὶ πατέρες γεννοῦν γιὰ τὸν Χριστό.
Προσδιορίζοντας τὴν δεύτερη αὐτὴ «γέννηση» ὁ Ἀπόστολος τὴν ὀνομάζει «ἐν Χριστῷ» καὶ «διὰ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου» χαράζοντας ἔτσι καὶ τὶς συντεταγμένες τῆς πνευματικῆς πατρότητος στὴν Ἐκκλησία. Οἱ Πατέρες τῶν πιστῶν εἶναι «ἐν Χριστῷ» πατέρες καὶ τὰ πνευματικά τους τέκνα γίνονται μέσω αὐτῶν, ὄχι δικά τους, ἀλλὰ -οὐσιαστικὰ καὶ κύρια- «τοῦ Χριστοῦ» τέκνα. Αὐτὸ σημαίνει ὅτι γιὰ νὰ ἀξιωθεῖ ἀπὸ τὴν Χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ νὰ γίνει κανεὶς στὸ Σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ πατέρας, πρέπει νὰ εἶναι ὁ ἴδιος πρῶτα «ἐν Χριστῷ», δηλαδὴ ἀναγεννημένος, ἀληθινὸ τέκνο τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῦ ΜΟΝΟΥ κατ’ οὐσίαν ΠΑΤΡΟΣ (Ἐφεσ. γ’ 15).
Ἂν δὲν ὑπάρχει αὐτὴ ἡ προϋπόθεση, δὲν μπορεῖ νὰ ὁδηγήσει κανεὶς στὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναγέννηση. Δὲν γεννᾶ πνευματικά. Δὲν ὁδηγεῖ στὴν σωτηρία. Ὅπως ὑπῆρχαν ψευδοπροφῆτες στὴν Π. Διαθήκη, ποὺ σφετερίζονταν τὸ ἔργο τῶν γνησίων προφητῶν, ἔτσι μπορεῖ νὰ ὑπάρξουν καὶ ψευδοπατέρες, ποὺ δὲν μποροῦν νὰ ὁδηγήσουν στὴν ἀναγέννηση τὸν ἄνθρωπο, ἀφοῦ δὲν εἶναι οἱ ἴδιοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναγεννημένοι. Ὄχι σπάνια δέ, καταντοῦν «πατρυιοί», γιατί ἀντὶ νὰ ὁδηγοῦν στὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἐλευθερία, ὑποτάσσουν τὰ «πνευματικά τους τέκνα» στὸν ἑαυτό τους, δημιουργώντας θύματα καὶ ὄργανα ὑπηρετικὰ στοὺς ὁποιουσδήποτε σκοπούς τους. Μὴ μπορώντας νὰ ἀναγεννήσουν «διὰ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου», δὲν γεννοῦν «ἐν Χριστῷ», ἀλλὰ «ἐν πλάνῃ καὶ ἁμαρτίᾳ». Προσφέρουν δηλαδὴ μία γέννηση, ποὺ ἰσοδυναμεῖ μὲ θάνατο. Καὶ αὐτὸ συμβαίνει μὲ τοὺς αἱρετικούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ μὲ ὅσους ἀναλαμβάνουν τὸ ἔργο τοῦ «πατρὸς» χωρὶς νὰ εἶναι ἀναγεννημένοι ἐν Χριστῷ οἱ ἴδιοι!
Πατερικὴ ἡ Ὀρθοδοξία
Ἡ Ὀρθοδοξία, ὡς ἡ Ἐκκλησία τοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἶναι ἀδιανόητη χωρὶς Παύλους, χωρὶς Πατέρες καὶ Μητέρες ἐν Χριστῷ, ποὺ ὁδηγοῦν στὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναγέννηση τὰ πνευματικά τους τέκνα. Οἱ ἅγιοι Πατέρες καὶ Μητέρες ὅλων τῶν αἰώνων συνιστοῦν τὴν εὐθεία καὶ ἀδιάσπαστη γραμμὴ τῆς ἐκκλησιαστικῆς παραδόσεως. Δηλαδὴ τὴν συνέχεια τῆς εἰσαχθείσης στὸν κόσμο διὰ τῆς σαρκώσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ - Λόγου νέας ζωῆς, τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ζωῆς. Οἱ Πατέρες εἶναι οἱ διάδοχοι τοῦ Παύλου καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν Ἀποστόλων, ὄχι ἁπλῶς στὴν ἀνάληψη διοικητικῶν καὶ πρακτικῶν καθηκόντων, ἀλλὰ κυρίως στὴν συνέχιση τῆς «καινῆς κτίσεως», τοῦ ἀπεκεκαλυμένου νέου τρόπου ζωῆς - ὑπάρξεως, ποὺ ἐκφράζεται καὶ πραγματώνεται ὡς ὀρθόδοξη πίστη καὶ φρόνημα, ὡς δοξολογία τοῦ Τριαδικοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ὡς τριαδοκεντρικὴ ζωὴ καὶ πολιτεία - κοινωνία.
Οἱ Πατέρες ὅλων τῶν αἰώνων, ἐνεργοῦν στὸ ποιμαντικό τους ἔργο ὅπως οἱ γιατροὶ -καθηγηταὶ σὲ μία Ἰατρικὴ Σχολή. Δὲν περιορίζονται στὴν διάγνωση καὶ θεραπεία τῶν ἀσθενῶν, ἀλλὰ δημιουργοῦν καὶ συνεχιστὲς τοῦ ἔργου των. Τὰ πνευματικά τους τέκνα πρῶτα τὰ ὁδηγοῦν στὴν θεραπεία ἀπὸ τὰ πάθη καὶ τὸν φωτισμὸ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, γιὰ νὰ γίνουν καὶ ἐκεῖνα μὲ τὴ σειρὰ τους πατέρες ἄλλων τέκνων, συνεχίζοντας τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναγέννηση. Στὴν ἱστορία τῆς Ἐκκλησίας αὐτὴ ἡ σχέση Πνευματικοῦ Πατρὸς - Πνευματικοῦ Τέκνου μένει ἀκατάλυτη. Κοντὰ στοὺς ἁγίους Πατέρες γεννῶνται οἱ ἅγιοι Πατέρες! Ὁ Μέγας Ἀθανάσιος κοντὰ στὸν μέγα Ἀντώνιο, ὁ μέγας Βασίλειος κοντὰ στοὺς Γέροντες τῆς ἐρήμου κ.ο.κ.
Ἔτσι κατανοοῦμε τὴν φαινομενικὴ ἀπολυτότητα, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὶς ἀληθινὲς διαστάσεις, τῆς ἀκόλουθης φράσεως τῶν Ἀποστολικῶν Διαταγῶν, βιβλίου τοῦ δ’ αἰώνα: «Οὗτος διδάσκαλος εὐσεβείας, οὗτος μετὰ Θεὸν πατὴρ ἡμῶν, δι’ ὕδατος καὶ Πνεύματος ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς» (Η’ 26). Τὸ ἔργο τῆς Ἐκκλησίας στὸν κόσμο εἶναι μία συνεχὴς (ἀνα)γέννηση, ἡ ὁποία εἶναι ἀδύνατη, ἂν δὲν ὑπάρχουν πραγματικοὶ Πατέρες.
Μέσα ἀπὸ τὸ πρίσμα αὐτὸ θὰ πρέπει νὰ δοῦμε, πιστεύω, καὶ τὴν σημερινὴ -συνεχῶς αὐξανομένη- καταφυγὴ τόσων ἀνθρώπων, καὶ μάλιστα νέων, στοὺς χώρους τῆς πνευματικῆς ἀναγεννήσεως, τὰ μοναστήρια μας, καὶ μάλιστα τὰ ἀθωνικά, γιὰ ἀναζήτηση Πατέρων. Τότε μόνο θὰ καταλάβουμε, πὼς καὶ στοὺς κρίσιμους καιρούς μας τὸ Πατρικὸ Χέρι τοῦ Θεοῦ δὲν ἔπαυσε νὰ βοηθεῖ καὶ νὰ κατευθύνει τὸ Λαό μας!
Μεταλληνός Γεώργιος (Πρεσβύτερος)
http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2013/07/blog-post_20.html
Are you a sinner? Do not despair. Come to church with repentance.
Have you sinned? Say to God: “I have sinned.” You find it so difficult to confess your sin? But if you do not accuse yourself first, the devil will
eventually accuse you. Therefore, before he has a chance to do so, strip him of his power; because, truly, his role is to accuse us.
Erase your sin before he has a chance to blame you. For you have an accuser who will not remain silent. Have you sinned? I ask nothing else from you except this: enter the church and say to God with repentance, “I have sinned.” Because it is
written: “confess your sins first, so that you may be justified” (Isa. 43:26).
Confess your sin so that you may erase it. This does not require any effort, or many words, or large sums of money, or any other such thing. It only takes three words: “I have sinned.”
Have you sinned? Come to Church and erase your sin. Every time you fall while walking you get up. Similarly, every time you sin, repent. Do not despair; do not become indifferent, so that you do not lose hope in the heavenly riches that are in store for us. Even if you sin late in life when you
have grown old, repent and come to Church.
The Church is a hospital not a court. It bestows forgiveness; it does not demand accountability for the sin. Say to God: “Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee” (Ps. 50:6), and He will forgive you. Show Him that you repent, and He will have mercy on you. If we do our part, God will do His part.
Since the almighty Lord is so loving and merciful, let us not remain indifferent for our salvation. Waiting for us are the Kingdom of Heaven,
Paradise, and goods that no human eye has seen, that no human ear has heard, and which no human mind can conceive. Shouldn’t we do whatever
we can in order not to lose these things? Shouldn’t we give something trivial in order to acquire these great and invaluable things?
Therefore, let us repent, let our hands become accustomed to giving to others, let us humble ourselves, let us mourn and cry for our sins. All these things are small. But great and beyond our strength are the things that will be given to us by God; that is, Paradise, and the Kingdom of Heaven. May we all be worthy of entering it, through His grace.
St. John Chrysostom
-Μια φορά Γέροντα,μας είπατε ότι με την αγάπη ο άνθρωπος μεγαλώνει,ωριμάζει.
- Δεν φθάνει να αγαπάη κανείς τον άλλον΄πρέπει να τον αγαπάει περισσότερο από τον εαυτό του.Η μάννα αγαπάει τα παιδιά της περισσότερο από τον εαυτό της. Μένει νηστικιά,για να ταϊση τα παιδιά της,αλλά νιώθει μεγαλύτερη ευχαρίστηση από εκείνα.Τα παιδάκια τρέφονται υλικά και η μητέρα πνευματικά.Εκείνα έχουν την υλική γεύση,ενώ αυτή έχει την πνευματική αγαλλίαση.
-Πόσες μητέρες έρχονται με κλάματα και με παρακαλούν:"Κάντε προσευχή, Πάτερ, για το παιδί μου".Τι αγωνία έχουν!
Λίγοι άνδρες μου λένε: "Κάνε προσευχή, παραστράτησε το παιδί μου". Να,και σήμερα μια μητέρα με τι λαχτάρα η φουκαριάρα έσπρωχνε τα παιδιά της-οκτώ είχε-και τα έβαζε στη σειρά,για να πάρουν όλα ευλογία.
΄Ενας πατέρας δύσκολα θα το έκανε αυτό.Η πατρική αγκαλιά,όταν δεν έχει Χάρη Θεού,είναι ξερή.Ενώ η μητρική αγκαλιά,ακόμη και όταν δεν έχει Θεό,έχει γάλα.
Το παιδί αγαπά τον πατέρα του και τον σέβεται,αλλά με την στοργή και την τρυφερότητα της μητέρας αυξάνει πιο πολύ η αγάπη του και προς τον πατέρα .
Αγιος Παϊσιος
Sergei Chikunchikov-Resurrection Performed by St Sergius of Radonezh (1999)
A certain devout Christian living close by the monastery, who believed in St. Sergius, had an only son, a child who fell ill. The father brought the boy to the monastery to pray for him: but while the father was yet speaking, the boy died. The man, with his last hope gone, wept and bemoaned: “It would have been better had my son died in my own house.” While he went to prepare a grave, the dead child was laid in the saint’s cell. The saint feeling compassion for the man’s loss, fell to his knees and prayed over the dead child. Suddenly the boy came to life, and moved. His father returning with preparations for the child’s burial, found his son alive whereupon he flung himself at the feet of God’s servant and thanked him. The saint said: “You deceive yourself man, and do not know what you are saying. While on your journey hither, your son became frozen with the cold and you thought he had died. He has now thawed in the warmth of my cell and you think he returns to life. No one can rise again from the dead before the Day of Resurrection.”
The man, however kept insisting: “Your prayers brought him back to life.”
St Sergius forbade him from saying this: “If you noise this abroad you will lose your son altogether.” The man promised to tell no one and, taking his son – now restored to health- he went back home. This miracle was made known through the saint’s disciples.
St Sergius of Radonezh pray to God for us!
Πώς να προσευχόμαστε στον Εσταυρωμένο Κύριο μας….Να , μόλις Τον πλησιάσαμε , Εκείνος μας καλωσόρισε με τα χέρια απλωμένα , ανοίγοντας θαρρείς την αγκαλιά Του , για να μας δεχθεί . ‘Εκλινε την κεφαλήν Του , για να μας ακούσει . Έκλεισε τα μάτια Του , για να μην βλέπει τις αμαρτίες μας . Κάρφωσε τα πόδια Του , για να μην απομακρυνθεί από την αναξιότητά μας . Άνοιξε με την λόγχη την θύρα της καρδιάς Του , για να ξεχύσει πλούσια το έλεος και την ευσπλαχνία Του επάνω μας. Να συλλογίζεσαι την απεριόριστη Αγάπη Του , που τον κάρφωσε στον Σταυρό . Και αν είσαι σαν τον τελώνη , ψέλισσέ Του τα λόγια της προσευχής σου με την δική του συντριβή . Αν είσαι σαν τη Χαναναία , κραύγασέ Του ενοχλητικά και επίμονα όπως εκείνη . Αν είσαι σαν την αμαρτωλή γυναίκα , πλύνε Του σιωπηλά τα πόδια με το μύρο των δακρύων σου .Αν είσαι σαν τον άσωτο , «ελθέ εις εαυτόν» και τρέξε χωρίς καθυστέρηση κοντά Του, για να σε ντύσει με «την στολή την πρώτη»…
Γέροντας Ζωσιμάς της Σιβηρίας
So much higher you throw a thing, with analogous power it will fall down and break in pieces. Often we see someone with a great fantasy of himself, but outwardly he doesn't suffer anything to be humbled. This is dangerous. He has arrived at interior pride and gives grades. May God protect him, he's one with Satan.
St. Paisios
"The Holy and Righteous John of Kronstadt recalled this vision which he had in January of 1901:After evening prayers I laid down to rest a little in my dimly lit cell since I was fatigued. Hanging before the icon of the Mother of God was my lit lampada. Not more than a half hour had passed when I heard soft rustle. Someone touched my left shoulder, and in tender voice said to me, 'Arise servant of God John and follow the will of God!' I arose and saw near the window glorious starets (elder) with frosty grey hair, wearing a black mantia, and holding staff in his hand. He looked at me tenderly, and I could scarcely keep from falling because of my great fear. My hands and feet trembled, and I wanted to speak, but my tongue would not obey me. The starets made the sign of the cross over me, and calm and joy soon came over me. Then I made the sign of the cross myself. He then pointed to the western wall of my cell with his staff in order that I should notice certain spot. The starets had inscribed on the wall the following numbers: 1913, 1914, 1917, 1922, 1924, and 1934. Suddenly the wall vanished, and I walked with the starets toward a green field and saw a mass of crosses-thousands standing as gravemarkers. They were wooden, clay, or gold. I asked the starets, 'What are these crosses for' He softly answered, "These crosses are for those who suffered and were murdered for their faith in Christ and for the Word of God and have become martyrs!" And so we continued to walk. Suddenly I saw an entire river of blood and asked the starets, 'What is the meaning of this blood? How much has been spilled?' The starets looked around and replied, This is the blood of true Christians!' The starets then pointed to some clouds, and I saw mass of burning white lamps. They began to fall to the ground one after another by the tens and by the hundreds. During their descent they grew dim and turned to ashes. The starets then said to me, 'Look!' I saw on a cloud seven burning lamps. I asked, 'What is the meaning of the burning lamps which fell to the ground' He said, Those are the churches of God which have fallen into heresy, but these seven lamps on the clouds are the seven Catholic and Apostolic Churches which will remain until the end of the world!' The starets then pointed high into the air and I saw and heard angels singing, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabbaoth!' Then a large crowd of people with candles in their hands rushed by with joy on their shining faces. They were archbishops, monks, nuns, groups of laymen, young adults, and even children and babies. I asked the wonderworking starets, 'What is the meaning of these people' He responded, These are all the people who suffered for the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church, for the holy icons at the hands of the wicked destroyers.' I then asked the great starets if I could sit down next to them. The starets said, 'It is too early for you to suffer, so joining them would not be blessed by God!' Again I saw a large group of infants who had suffered for Christ under Herod and had received crowns from the Heavenly King. We walked further and went into large church. I wanted to make the sign of the cross, but the starets said, 'It is not necessary to cross yourself because this is a place of abomination and desolation!' The church was very gloomy. On the altar was a star and a Gospel book with stars. Candles made of tar were burning and crackling like firewood. The chalice was standing there covered by strong stench. There was prosphora with stars. A priest stood before the altar with face like pitch and woman was under the altar covered in red with a star on her lips and she screamed and laughed throughout the church saying, 'I am free!' I thought Oh, Lord, how awful! The people, like madmen, began to run around the altar, scream, whistle, and clap their hands. Then they began to sing lecherous songs. Suddenly lightning flashed, frightening thunderbolt resounded, the earth trembled, and the church collapsed, sending the woman, the people, the priest, and the rest into the abyss. I thought Oh Lord, how awful, save us! The starets saw what had happened as did I. I asked, 'Father, tell me, what is the meaning of this frightening church?' He responded, These are the earthly people, heretics who have abandoned the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church and recognized the newly innovated church which God has not blessed. In this church they do not fast, do not attend services, and do not receive Holy Communion!' I was frightened and said, The Lord has pity on us, but curses those with death!' The starets interrupted me and said, 'Do not mourn, but just pray!' Then I saw a throng of people, each of whom had a star on his lips and was. terribly exhausted from thirst, walking here and there. They saw us and yelled loudly, 'Holy Fathers, pray for us. It is very hard for us because we ourselves cannot. Our Fathers and Mothers did not teach us the Law of God. 'We do not even have the name of Christ, and we have received no peace. We rejected the Holy Spirit and the sign of the cross!' They began to cry. I followed after the starets. 'Look!' he said pointing with his hand. I saw a mountain of human corpses stained in blood. I was very frightened, and I asked the starets, 'What is the meaning of these dead bodies?' He replied, These are people who lived the monastic life, were rejected by the Antichrist, and did not receive his seal. They suffered for their faith in Christ and the Apostolic Church and received martyrs crowns dying for Christ. Pray for these servants of God!'Without warning the starets turned to the north and pointed with his hand. I saw an imperial palace, around which dogs were running. Wild beasts and scorpions were roaring and charging and baring their teeth. And I saw the Tsar sitting on a throne. His face was pale and masculine. He was reciting the Jesus Prayer. Suddenly he fell like a dead man. His crown fell. The wild beasts, dogs, and scorpions trampled on the anointed Sovereign. I was frightened and cried bitterly. The starets took me by my right shoulder. I saw a figure shrouded in white - it was Nicholas II. On his head was a wreath of green leaves, and his face was white and somewhat bloodied. He wore a gold cross around his neck and was quietly whispering a prayer. And then he said to me with tears, 'Pray for me, Fr. John. Tell all Orthodox Christians that I, the Tsar-martyr, died manfully for my faith in Christ and the Orthodox Church. Tell the Holy Fathers that they should serve a Panachida for me, a sinner, but there will be no grave for me!'Soon everything became hidden in the fog. I cried bitterly praying for the Tsar-martyr. My hands and feet trembled from fear. The starets said, :Look! Then I saw a throng of people scattered about the land who had died from starvation while others were eating grass and vegetation. Dogs were devouring the bodies of the dead, and the stench was terrible. I thought, Oh Lord, these people had no faith. From their lips they expelled blasphemy, and for this they received God's anger. I also saw an entire mountain of books and among the books worms were crawling emitting ? terrible stench. I asked the starets, 'What was the meaning of these books?' ?? said, These books are the Godlessness and blasphemy which will infect all Christians with heretical teachings!' Then the starets touched his staff to some of the books, and they ignited into flames. The wind scattered the ashes. Further on, I saw a church around which was a large pile of prayer intentions for the departed. I bent over and wanted to read them, but the starets said, These prayer requests for the dead have been lying here for many years, and the priests have forgotten about them. They are never going to read them, but the dead will ask someone to pray for them!' I asked, 'Who, will they get to pray for them?' The starets answered: 'The Angels will pray for them!' We proceeded further, and the starets quickened the pace so that I could hardly keep up with him. 'Look!' he said. I saw a large crowd of people being persecuted by demons who were beating them with stakes, pitchforks, and hooks. I asked the starets, 'What is the meaning of these people?' He answered, These are the ones who renounced their faith and left the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church and accepted the new innovative church. This group represents priests, monks, nuns, and laymen who renounced their vows or marriage, and engaged in drinking and all sorts of blasphemy and slander. All of these have terrible faces and a terrible stench comes from their mouths. The demons beat them, driving them into the terrible abyss, from where hell fire comes forth. ' I was terribly frightened. I made the sign of the cross while praying, Lord deliver us from such a fate! I then saw a group of people, both old and young, all of whom were terribly dressed, and who were raising a large, five pointed star. On each corner were twelve demons and in the middle was Satan himself with terrifying horns and a straw head. He emitted a noxious foam onto the people while pronouncing these words, 'Arise you accursed ones with the seal of …..' Suddenly many demons appeared with branding irons and on all the people they placed the seal: on their lips, above the elbow and on their right hands. I asked the starets, 'What is the meaning of this?' He responded, This is the mark of the Antichrist!' I made the sign of the cross and followed after the starets. He suddenly stopped and pointed to the east with his hand. I saw a large gathering of people with joyous faces carrying crosses and candles in their hands. In their midst stood a large altar as white as snow. On the altar was the cross and the Holy Gospel and over the altar was the vosduch with golden imperial crown on which was written in golden letter, 'For the short term.' Patriarchs, bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and laymen stood around the altar. They were all singing, 'Glory to God in the highest and peace on Earth' Out of great joy I made the sign of the cross and praised God. Suddenly the starets waved his cross upwards three times, and I saw mountain of corpses covered in human blood and above them Angels were flying. They were taking the souls of those murdered for the Word of God to heaven while they sang, Alleluia!' I observed all this and cried loudly. The starets took me by the hand and forbade me to cry. 'What is pleasing to God is that Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and shed His precious blood for us. Such ones will become martyrs who do not accept the seal of the antichrist, and all who shed their blood will receive heavenly crowns.' The starets then prayed for these servants of God and pointed to the east as the words of the Prophet Daniel came true, 'Abomination of desolation.' Finally, I saw the cupola of Jerusalem. Above it was a star. Within the church millions of people thronged and still many more were trying to enter inside. I wanted to make the sign of the cross, but the starets grabbed my hand and said, 'Here is the abomination of desolation!' So we entered into the church, and it was full of people. I saw an altar on which tallow candles were burning. On the altar was a king in red, blazing, porphyry. On his head was a golden crown with a star. I asked the starets, 'Who is this?' He replied, 'The Antichrist!' He was very tall with eyes like fire, black eyebrows, a wedge-shaped beard, a ferocious, cunning, evil, and terrible face. He alone was on the altar and he reached his hands out to the people. He had claws as those of a tiger for hands and he shouted, 'I am King. I am God. I am the Leader. He who does not have my seal will be put to death.' All the people fell down and worshipped him, and he began to place his seal on their lips and on their hands in order that they should receive some bread and not die from hunger and thirst. Around the Antichrist his servants were leading several people whose hands were bound as they had not bowed down to worship him. They said, "We are Christians, and we all believe in our Lord Jesus Christ!' The Antichrist ripped off their heads in a flash and Christian blood began to flow A child was then led to the altar of the Antichrist to worship him, but he boldly proclaimed, 'I am a Christian and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, but you are a minister, a servant of Satan!' 'Death to him!' exclaimed the Antichrist. Others who accepted the seal of the Antichrist fell down and worshipped him. Suddenly roar of thunder resounded and thousand lightning flashes began to sparkle. Arrows began to strike the servants of the Antichrist. Then a large flaming arrow flashed by and hit the Antichrist himself on the head. As he waved his hand, his crown fell and was crushed into the ground. Then millions of birds flew in and perched on the servants of the Antichrist. I felt the starets take me by the hand. We walked further on, and I again saw much Christian blood. It was here that I remembered the words of Saint John the Theologian in the book of Revelation that blood would 'be up to the horse's bridle.' I thought, Oh my God, save us! At that time I saw Angels flying and singing, 'Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord of Sabbaoth!' The starets looked back and went on to say, 'Do not grieve, for soon, very soon, will come the end of the world! Pray to the Lord. God be merciful to His servants!' Time was drawing near to close. He pointed to the east, fell to his knees and began to pray So I prayed with him. Then the starets began to quickly depart from the earth to the heights of heaven. As he did so I remembered that I did not know his name, so cried out loudly, 'Father, what is your name?' He tenderly replied, 'Seraphim of Sarov!' That is what 'saw, and this is what ' have recorded for Orthodox Christians. A large bell rang above my head, and I heard the sound and arose from bed. 'Lord, bless and help me through the prayers of the great starets! You have enlightened me, the sinful servant, the priest John of Kronstadt." 
