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the holy new martyrs of eastern russia - Coptic Orthodox teaching

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709<br />

guards who had fallen at great speed <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> car were unharmed, safe and<br />

sound. They took <strong>the</strong> car down from <strong>the</strong> locomotive. In <strong>the</strong> cabin were <strong>the</strong><br />

driver and senior guard - <strong>the</strong> door was jammed. But <strong>the</strong>y also were<br />

completely unharmed. It was simply amazing. Such a catastrophe and no<br />

consequences. The car was going at such a speed and yet nobody suffered.<br />

They came out, said something... Finally, <strong>the</strong> commission came up to <strong>the</strong><br />

barrier and said to me:<br />

"'Tell us what happened.'<br />

"I told <strong>the</strong>m that I had tried to close <strong>the</strong> barrier, but <strong>the</strong> cable had snapped.<br />

The commission and I went up to <strong>the</strong> transmission. There was ice <strong>the</strong>re. I was<br />

so amazed at that and fervently thanked <strong>the</strong> Lord in my soul. Although it was<br />

frosty, it was impossible to explain <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> ice in <strong>the</strong> transmission. It<br />

was <strong>the</strong> first time I had seen ice <strong>the</strong>re in so many years. Yes and in general<br />

was it not a clear miracle <strong>of</strong> God! Why were <strong>the</strong> guards alive and unharmed?<br />

After all, <strong>the</strong>y had fallen out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> car and flown several metres. Why did <strong>the</strong><br />

explosive not explode at <strong>the</strong> impact? They later said that if <strong>the</strong> explosive had<br />

gone <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> whole town would have been destroyed!<br />

"I was not responsible at all. Formally speaking, I did everything I could.<br />

Only <strong>the</strong> technology did not work. It could not work because ice had formed<br />

in <strong>the</strong> box. Only <strong>the</strong> car suffered damage. While all <strong>the</strong> people who had been<br />

involved in <strong>the</strong> catastrophe had been miraculously preserved completely<br />

unharmed.<br />

"Several years passed... Circumstances were such that I was given <strong>the</strong> right<br />

to retire. And I asked matushka for permission to retire. 'Blind' matushka, as<br />

everyone called her, gave her blessing... And so I, having gone with my list <strong>of</strong><br />

signatures through all <strong>the</strong> sections, went to <strong>the</strong> director for <strong>the</strong> final signature.<br />

He signed, and <strong>the</strong>n, looking attentively at me, asked me to close <strong>the</strong> doors. I<br />

closed <strong>the</strong>m. And he said to me:<br />

"'Yes, Maria, we know your 'crosses'!.. Well!..'<br />

"He spread his hands as if he wanted to say something special, but just<br />

said:<br />

"'I wish you all <strong>the</strong> best!'"<br />

As she told <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> this miracle wrought through <strong>the</strong> prayers <strong>of</strong><br />

Schema-Abbess Seraphima, tears were in her eyes. And we all, as we listened<br />

to her, could not refrain from weeping.<br />

*<br />

709

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