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the holy new martyrs of eastern russia - Coptic Orthodox teaching

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"'Now we'll show you everything!'<br />

240<br />

"And <strong>the</strong>n everything was immediately revealed to me, everything that I<br />

had done since my youth, good and bad. I saw everyone with whom I had<br />

had any dealings. I even say myself on military service with my comrades-inarms<br />

fitting a silver lampada to <strong>the</strong> icon <strong>of</strong> St. Nicholas in <strong>the</strong> barracks where<br />

I prayed. I hung it and it burned and I felt so happy. I saw all my relatives.<br />

When <strong>the</strong> vision was over, <strong>the</strong> angels said to me:<br />

"'Well, we've shown you earthly things, now we'll show you heavenly<br />

things.'<br />

"And immediately we began to go rapidly upwards. We stopped in <strong>the</strong> air<br />

and <strong>the</strong> angel on <strong>the</strong> right side went <strong>of</strong>f somewhere. The angel on <strong>the</strong> left side<br />

stayed with me. During this period I felt such fear and terror that I fell down.<br />

I knelt and shouted:<br />

"'O Mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> God, Apostle Andrew and Anthony <strong>the</strong> Great, save me from<br />

falling!'<br />

"At this point <strong>the</strong> second angel appeared before me, and I was joyful and<br />

we continued to go upwards, stopping five times. When we stopped <strong>the</strong> sixth<br />

time, <strong>the</strong> ecclesiarch came out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church and knocked on <strong>the</strong> door so as to<br />

call me in <strong>the</strong> church. I <strong>the</strong>n absentmindedly put on my ryasa and went into<br />

<strong>the</strong> church without locking my cell.<br />

"I went into <strong>the</strong> church but was unable to do <strong>the</strong> proskomedia.<br />

Archimandrite Joseph and o<strong>the</strong>rs had already arrived in order to celebrate <strong>the</strong><br />

late Liturgy. They went into <strong>the</strong> altar and saw that my face had completely<br />

changed and I was all trembling.<br />

"'What's <strong>the</strong> matter?' asked <strong>the</strong> igumen.<br />

"I told him everything. They made ano<strong>the</strong>r monk continue <strong>the</strong> Liturgy and<br />

sent me away to calm down and rest. When <strong>the</strong> late Liturgy was over, <strong>the</strong><br />

igumen invited all <strong>the</strong> clergy and told me to tell <strong>the</strong> whole vision.<br />

"I was given two days to calm down and rest. Ano<strong>the</strong>r hieromonk served<br />

me. And <strong>the</strong> igumen told me:<br />

"'You will have to suffer much, but believe that <strong>the</strong> Mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> God and <strong>the</strong><br />

Lord will not leave you. The angels which you saw will always help you in<br />

your sorrows...'"<br />

240

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