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the holy new martyrs of eastern russia - Coptic Orthodox teaching

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220<br />

and after his visit you would find two roubles on <strong>the</strong> table; you would look at<br />

<strong>the</strong>m as at a blessing to escape your material difficulties..<br />

“In 1933 passportization was declared. With great difficulty Archbishop<br />

Sergius succeeded in getting <strong>the</strong> department <strong>of</strong> cults to assign Fr. Adrian to<br />

<strong>the</strong> church <strong>of</strong> SS. Boris and Gleb, and <strong>the</strong>n to <strong>the</strong> Pokrov monastery, and<br />

finally to <strong>the</strong> church <strong>of</strong> Askold’s grave. If we had not succeeded in getting<br />

this, we would have had to leave Kiev.<br />

“I worked at first as a needle-woman, and <strong>the</strong>n in various libraries, and<br />

finally as director <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Narkomzdrav library. Life was nerve-wracking:<br />

constant fears for Fr. Adrian; we had constant searches, checks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

landlady’s books and questions about <strong>the</strong> priest living <strong>the</strong>re, worries for <strong>the</strong><br />

children who were studying at school, constant nervous tension at work,<br />

worrying whe<strong>the</strong>r my social position would be revealed, whe<strong>the</strong>r I would be<br />

sacked. You would return home only to find worshippers arrived from<br />

Romen. They came to see Batyushka Adrian, but <strong>of</strong>ficially, as it were, to<br />

consult with doctors. Again worries, one had to think about <strong>the</strong>m, too, and<br />

put <strong>the</strong>m up.<br />

“And <strong>the</strong>n, I remember, I went to Vladyka straight from work with <strong>the</strong><br />

feeling that I should forget everything and calm down. But Vladyka suddenly<br />

said: “You know, we’ve salted <strong>the</strong> guerkins and packed <strong>the</strong> cabbage.” And I<br />

thought: “Well, that’s very interesting to me, I’ve had enough <strong>of</strong> everyday<br />

household cares”. But Vladyka suddenly said to me: “Yes, <strong>the</strong>re you are<br />

wanting to talk about spiritual things, while Batyushka Nicholas is talking to<br />

you about everyday matters. So here you are: read,” and he gave me one <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> works <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>holy</strong> Hierarch Tikhon <strong>of</strong> Zadonsk, where he writes that first<br />

<strong>of</strong> all it is necessary to be kind to everyone, give him food and drink. And I<br />

involuntarily remembered all our visitors and arrivals, who bo<strong>the</strong>red me so<br />

much. Yes, Vladyka was <strong>of</strong>ten able somehow to catch my thoughts. With<br />

great difficulty I succeeded in getting Vladyka to confess me, and I remember<br />

this with great tender feeling and gratitude.<br />

“Vladyka was able to say to each person that which was useful for him. I<br />

remember several people once ga<strong>the</strong>red in our house who wanted to get to<br />

know Vladyka. They sat and drank tea. By chance, a young married woman<br />

arrived. Vladyka went on talking and talking as if he were conducting a<br />

general conversation; but when he left it turned out that everything that he<br />

had been saying was for this person: she received replies to all <strong>the</strong> questions<br />

that were disturbing her at that time in connection with her difficulties with<br />

her husband and mo<strong>the</strong>r-in-law.<br />

"I remember one incident with a deacon. This deacon, besides having a<br />

difficult general church situation, had difficulties in his family, too: his wife<br />

was against his service as a deacon. She was well-<strong>of</strong>f, but she gave nothing to<br />

220

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