the holy new martyrs of eastern russia - Coptic Orthodox teaching

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Bishop Stephen (Nikitin) relates:- "In the 30s I was imprisoned in a
concentration camp. I was at that time a doctor and in the camp I was
assigned as head of the clinic. Most of the prisoners were in such a critical
condition that it broke my heart and I released many of them from work so as
to give them at least some relief; the weaker ones I sent to the hospital.
"One day, as I was examining patients, the nurse who worked with me -
also a camp prisoner - said to me:
"'Doctor, I have heard that a denunciation has been brought against you;
you are being accused of excessive lenience in regard to prisoners and you are
threatened with an extension of your term up to fifteen years.'
"The nurse was a sober woman, I had good reason to feel horrified at her
words. I had been sentenced to three years which were soon to be completed.
Already I was counting the months and weeks which separated me from my
long-awaited freedom. And suddenly - fifteen years!
"All night I couldn't sleep, and when I went to work the next morning, the
nurse shook her head in distress upon seeing the drawn expression on my
face. After we had finished the examinations she said hesitantly:
"'I would like, doctor, to give you some advice, but I'm afraid you'll only
laugh at me.'
"'Tell me.'
"'In Penza, my home town, there lives a woman called Matronushka. The
Lord has granted her a special power of prayer. When once she begins to pray
for someone, her prayer is always answered. Many people turn to her for help
and she never refuses anyone. Why don't you ask her to help you?'
"I laughed sorrowfully. 'By the time my letter reaches her, they'll have
sentenced me to fifteen years.'
"'But it's not necessary to write to her, just call out to her,' said the nurse, a
little abashed.
"'Shout? From here?' I asked. 'She lives over a hundred kilometres away.'
"'I knew you'd laugh at me for saying that, but she can hear you from
anywhere. Do this: when you go out for your evening walk, fall behind the
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