the holy new martyrs of eastern russia - Coptic Orthodox teaching

235
"'You know, it's difficult for you here.'
"I said to him:
"'You stay here if you want to see me.'
"'No,' he said, 'I can't stand it. One has to pray for a long time.'
"I accompanied him and he wept a great deal. When he returned home, a
year later, on the second day of Pascha, he died."
In Great Lent, 1896, Patapius was tonsured as a ryasofor-monk and given
the name Pigasius. A week later he had the following vision: "The igumen
sent me off with a package:
"'You must take this package to this address.'
"I left the monastery and went towards Athos, to the Kalyagrou jetty. A
desert-dweller by the name of Macarius was with me.
"We had not gone very far when suddenly we saw a huge snake lying
across the path. Macarius saw it and said:
"'I won't go, I'm frightened.'
"But I decided to carry out my obedience, crossed myself and jumped over
it. I went on alone.
"After a while I came across another huge snake which was lying in the
form of a ring across the path. It was impossible to pass it by. On the left was
a cliff and the sea, and on the right - a huge rock. I stood by the snake for a
long time, praying to the Mother of God and the Apostle Andrew. I did not
want to return home, but I feared to go on because of this snake. I crossed
myself and jumped into the ring and then out of the ring and further.
"I went on for a while and came to the Kolyagrou jetty. There was a big
level area by the sea. The whole of the area was filled with various snakes.
Some had died, others were still alive after a fashion. I passed through there
without fear. It began to get dark. It was night, I couldn't see the path.
"I saw a small light and a little hut. I prayed and the answer came: 'Amen.'
I showed the man the address on the package and asked him how to get
there. He said:
"'Okay, I'll show you now, and you'll get there.'
235