home Protection Parables of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain for little ones. Don't tempt God's fate. Parable of Elder Paisius of the Holy Mountain Parable of Elder Paisius of the Holy Mountain

Parables of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain for little ones. Don't tempt God's fate. Parable of Elder Paisius of the Holy Mountain Parable of Elder Paisius of the Holy Mountain

One ascetic, seeing the untruth existing in the world, prayed to God and asked him to reveal to him the reason why pious and righteous people fall into trouble and are unfairly tormented, while the unrighteous and sinful become rich and live in peace. When the ascetic prayed for the revelation of this secret, he heard a voice that said: “Do not experience what your mind and the power of your knowledge cannot achieve.” But, since you asked to know, go down into the world and sit in one place, and listen to what you see, and from this experience you will understand a small part of God’s judgments. Hearing this, the elder descended into the world and came to a certain meadow through which the road passed.

Not far away there was a spring and an old tree, in the hollow of which the old man hid well. Soon a rich man rode up on a horse. I stopped at a spring to drink water and rest. When he got drunk, he took out a wallet with a hundred ducats from his pocket and counted them. Having finished the bill, I wanted to put it back, but I didn’t notice, and the wallet fell into the grass.

Soon another passer-by came to the source, found a wallet with ducats, took it and ran across the fields.

A little time passed, and another passer-by appeared. Being tired, he stopped at the source, took some water, took the bread out of his scarf and began to eat.

While the poor man was eating, a rich horseman appeared and, with his face changed with anger, attacked him. The poor man, having no idea about ducats, swore that he had not seen such a thing. But he, as he was in a strong position, began to whip and beat him until he killed him. Having searched all the poor man's clothes, he found nothing and left upset.

The old man saw everything from the hollow and was surprised. He regretted and cried about the unjust murder, prayed to the Lord and said:

Lord, what does this Your will mean? Tell me, I ask You, how does Your goodness tolerate unrighteousness? One lost ducats, another found them, and another was killed unjustly.

While the elder was praying with tears, an Angel of the Lord descended and said to him:

Don’t be sad, old man, and don’t think out of annoyance that this supposedly happened without the will of God. But of what happens, some happen by permission, others for punishment (education), and others for house-building. So listen.

The one who lost the ducats is the neighbor of the one who found them. The latter had a garden worth one hundred ducats. The rich man, because he was money-grubbing, forced him to give him the garden for fifty ducats. The poor man, not knowing what to do, asked God for revenge. Therefore, God arranged for him to be rewarded twice as much.

Another poor man, tired, who found nothing and was killed unjustly, one day committed murder himself. However, he sincerely repented and spent the rest of his life in a Christian and godly manner. He constantly asked God to forgive him for the murder and said: “My God, give me the same death that I did!” Of course, the Lord forgave him from the moment he showed repentance. So, having heard him, He allowed him to die in a violent way - as he asked Him - and took him to Himself, even giving him a shining crown for his curiosity!

Finally, another, a money-grubber, who lost ducats and committed murder, was punished for his covetousness and love of money. God allowed him to fall into the sin of murder so that his soul would become ill and come to repentance. For this reason, he now leaves the world and becomes a monk.

So, where, in what case, do you see that God was unrighteous, or cruel, or merciless? Therefore, in the future, do not test the fate of God, for He creates them for unrighteousness. Know also that many other things happen in the world according to the will of God, for a reason that people do not know.

Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets.

When they bring me delicious sweets, I don’t give them to adults. I treat adults with Turkish delight. When they bring me good sweets, I save them for the children of Athonias. And here, in the monastery, I also planted caramels and chocolates yesterday, and today they have already bloomed!

You noticed? Well, why not: the weather is sunny, the soil is good, you dug it up well, that’s why the chocolates bloomed so quickly! You'll see what kind of flower garden I'll arrange for you! We will no longer need to buy sweets and chocolates for our children. What do you think? Let's harvest our own harvest!

Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets

Geronda, the pilgrims saw sweets and chocolates sticking out of the garden bed and were surprised. “One of the children must have done it,” they said.

Why didn't you tell them that one big kid did it?

Do you care

When the devil says to you: “You are a sinner,” answer him: “Well, what does that have to do with you?”

Heart or mind

But I, Geronda, have no heart...

You have a heart! But as soon as your heart wants to do something, your mind shuts its mouth. Try to acquire common sense from the heart, acquire faith and love.

How can I achieve this?

To lose your sanity, start with this: march barefoot through Thessaloniki in a protest march! Let people say you're crazy! You, my dear, want to calculate everything with mathematical precision. What are you, an astronomer? So that you can work on yourself, stop thinking rationally.

Artichoke Day

People are slowly moving towards the point where nothing remains of either the holidays or Tradition. You see how: in order for the saints to be forgotten, even Christian names are changed. Vasilika is turned into Vika. They make Zozo out of Zoya, but it turns out not just one animal, but two!

They came up with a mother's holiday, May 1, April 1... Soon they will say: “Today is Artichoke Day, tomorrow is the cypress holiday, the day after tomorrow is the memory of the inventor of the atomic bomb or the one who invented football...”

But, in spite of everything, God does not leave us.

The most reliable fuel

One day I asked an American who came to my kaliva:

“What have you achieved, being such a great people?” “We,” he answers, “flew to the moon.” “Is she,” I ask, “far away?” “Well, let’s say, half a million kilometers,” he answers.

“And how many millions,” I say, “did you spend to fly to it?” “From 1950 to this day, we have spent so much on this that whole rivers of dollars have flowed away,” answers the American.

“But as for God,” I ask, “didn’t you get there? Is God far away or not? “God,” he says, “is very far away!” “Well, you see,” I answer, “and we fly to Him on one piece of bread!..”

Fortune telling with prayer

I’ll tell you one case so that you understand what a “left” thought can do.

One day a monk came to my kaliva and said: “Elder Haralampius is a sorcerer. I myself saw how he performed magic.” - “What are you saying, your shameless eyes! - I scolded him. “And you’re not ashamed to carry this!” - "Yes! Yes! - he insisted. “I myself saw how one night in the moonlight an old man mooed, “Mmm-meh... mmm-meh...” - and at the same time poured some kind of liquid into the bushes from a large braided bottle!”

Well, I choose a free day and go to the kaliva of Elder Haralampius.

“Well,” I ask, “Father Haralampie, how are you doing?” How is life? What are you doing? Then one saw you pouring something into the bushes from a large bottle, and even mooed: “M-mm-me!..” - “There in the thickets,” the old man showed me, “several lilies grow, here I am.” and watered them. Singing “Rejoice, Unbrided Bride!”, I poured a little water on one flower, then sang again: “Rejoice, Unbrided Bride!” - and poured a little water on the other... Then I filled the bottle, returned to the flowers and watered them again... "

See how! And another saw all this and mistook the old man for a sorcerer!..

Disturbing things

One day an acquaintance came to me and said: “Geronda, such and such a person gave me these things so that I would give them to you. And he also asked to pray so that his mental anxiety would go away.” - “So that she leaves him and comes to me? - I said in response. - You better take these things and leave. I’m already an old man: I can’t afford to walk around people and deliver gifts to them.”

About lighthouses and lanterns

Recently, two Catholic architects from Rome came to my kaliva. They did not understand what Orthodoxy was, but they were in a good mood. “Why,” they asked me, “are the monks sitting here? Why don’t they go out into the world for public service?”

“Shouldn’t lighthouses stand on rocks,” I replied? What, you order them to move to cities and connect to the work of street lights? Lighthouses have their own service, and lanterns have theirs.”

First time hearing

After the last fire on the Holy Mountain, several high officials from the EU came there to see what was needed and provide assistance.

I also had them in my kaliva. During the conversation, I told them the following: “We came here to give, not to take.” “We’ve heard this for the first time,” they admitted and immediately wrote down what they heard in a notebook.

Monastic supermarket

One of my acquaintances visited a certain monastery, and then said: “Yes, there is a real atelier there! And Mother Superior, what a marvel! If she sold buttons in Monastiraki in Athens, she would be in her place! She has such a knack for these matters!”

That is, the monastery is an atelier. Then it turns into a factory, then into a supermarket, and then into a fair!

If God wills

Always, no matter what you are about to do, say “if God wills” so that what happened to one self-confident person does not happen to you.

He was getting ready to go to work in the vineyard and said to his wife, “Early tomorrow morning I will go to the vineyard.” “If God wills, you will go,” she told him. “Whether God pleases or not,” he replied, “I will go.”

The next morning, while it was still dark, he left the house, but on the way there was such a downpour that he had to return. It's not yet dawn. He knocked on the door. "Who's there?" - asked the wife. “If God wills it,” he replied, “then it’s me, your husband!”

– Do not experience what your mind and the power of your knowledge cannot achieve. But, since you asked to know, go down into the world and sit in one place, and listen to what you see, and from this experience you will understand a small part of God’s judgments.

Hearing this, the elder descended into the world and came to a meadow through which the road passed. Nearby there was a spring and an old tree, in the hollow of which the old man hid well.

Soon a rich man rode up on a horse. I stopped at a spring to drink water and rest. When he got drunk, he took a wallet with a hundred ducats from his pocket and began to count them. Having finished the bill, I wanted to put it back, but did not notice how the wallet fell into the grass.

Soon another passer-by came to the source, found a wallet with ducats, took it and ran across the fields.

A little time passed, and a third passer-by appeared. Being tired, he stopped at the source, got some water, took the bread out of his scarf and began to eat.

While that poor man was eating, a rich horseman appeared and, his face changed with anger, attacked him. The poor man, having no idea about ducats, swore that he had not seen the wallet. But he began to whip and beat him until he killed him. Having searched all the poor man's clothes, he found nothing and left upset.

The old man saw everything from the hollow and was surprised. He regretted and cried about the unjust murder, prayed to the Lord and said:

- Lord, what does this Your will mean? Tell me, I ask You, how does Your goodness tolerate unrighteousness? One lost ducats, another found them, and another was killed unjustly.

While the elder was praying with tears, an Angel of the Lord descended and said to him:

“Don’t be sad, elder, and don’t think out of annoyance that this supposedly happened without the will of God.” But of what happens, some happen by permission, some for punishment (education), and others for the economy. So, listen: the one who lost the ducats is the neighbor of the one who found them. The latter had a garden worth one hundred ducats. The rich man, because he was money-grubbing, forced him to give him the garden for fifty ducats. The poor man, not knowing what to do, asked God for revenge. Therefore, God arranged for him to be rewarded twice as much.

So, where, in what case, do you see that God was unrighteous, or cruel, or merciless? Therefore, in the future, do not test the fate of God, for He creates them for untruth. Know also that many other things happen in the world according to the will of God, for reasons that people do not know.

Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets

Elder Paisius said that we came to him again and knocked on the gate with a beater.

A beater is a hammer that is used to knock on a board.

With a backpack and a wand in hand, how tired you and I are getting here! But here we are knocking on the gate, and there is joy in our soul. The kind that only happens next to God or God’s people.

And again we sit at our favorite cell on the stumps, chew Turkish delight... And listen to the stories of Elder Paisius.

Where to find God?

Elder Paisios often said:

Try to see God in everything.

Who taught the nightingale such a wondrous song? Who arranged everything around so wisely? Did you see the flowers? I saw God! Did you see pigs? Yes, don’t be surprised, I saw God again! Look carefully at what kind of pig God created. He gave her a snout so that it would be convenient for her to dig the ground with it and find roots and bulbs. She has such a nose that neither shards of glass nor thorns will harm it.

Wherever you turn, you will see the wisdom of God in everything. Look at the cockerel. He stands on one leg and when it goes numb, he shouts:

Crow! Three hours have passed!

Then he stands on the other leg, and when that leg goes numb, he shouts again:

Crow!

He's like a living alarm clock, crowing every three hours, but he doesn't have batteries. And you don't need to start it.

You see, everything can increase our faith: flowers, locusts, stars, and lightning.

Let everything lead us to Heaven.

Two joys

Father Paisiy said that a person has two joys. Which ones?

There is only joy when you accept something from someone. The other is when you give something away. The second joy is greater.

“I remember,” he said, “once, during the war, there was heavy shelling. I dug myself a small trench.

Suddenly I see a soldier crawling towards my trench, asking me to let him in. Then another one. I let them into the trench, but I stayed outside.

Night fell and the shelling became even stronger. Suddenly I feel something hit my head. I shouted:

Guys! A shrapnel hit me!

I feel my head and there is no blood. It turned out that the fragment only shaved off part of the hair on my head, leaving a clean strip.

You see, if a person thinks about others all the time, then God thinks about him all the time.

He who does good rejoices. After all, the Lord rewards him with Divine consolation.

And the one who does evil experiences torment.”

How many were there?

“Don’t believe everything you hear,” said Father Paisiy. “After all, some people interpret everything in their own way and try to convince others that they are right.”

One day a man came to Saint Arseny and said:

Bless, father! There, on the mountainside, a hundred snakes slithered!

A hundred snakes? - asked the saint. - Where from?

Well, a hundred, not a hundred, but fifty for sure!

Fifty snakes?

It was twenty-five.

Where have you seen twenty-five snakes slithering together? - the saint was surprised.

If not twenty-five, then there were ten.

“It can’t be,” objected Saint Arseny. “Well, are they having a meeting there?”

It was five, - the stubborn man did not give up.

Okay, two.

They were silent. Then the saint asked:

Have you seen them?

No! But I heard them hissing in the bushes: “Sh-sh-sh, sh-sh-sh”!

God looks into our heart

In one monastery in Greece there was a custom: to give the brethren a little money for difficult work. The monks in the monastery are called brethren, because they live like a big family. Many monks wanted to work harder and give the money they received to the poor. Only one monk acted differently. No one had ever seen him give alms to even one poor person.

And they called him Greedy. Years passed. Everything remained the same.

What a stingy fellow! - thought the other monks.

But the time came for the monk, nicknamed Greedy, to move on to another life, and he died.

When the surrounding villages learned about Greedy’s death, all the residents began to flock to the monastery to say goodbye to the deceased. They mourned Greedy and regretted his death.

And the brothers were very surprised.

What good did this person do to you? Why are you mourning him so much? - they asked.

One peasant said:

And me!

The peasants worked from morning to evening to feed their children. But without an ox it is difficult to plow the land. If there was an ox in the family, then the children no longer sat without bread.

And so the monk, who was nicknamed Greedy, saved money and bought oxen for the poorest.

This is how he saved them from hunger and poverty.

How surprised were all those who considered the monk greedy!

And Elder Paisios ended his story with the words:

How can you draw conclusions without knowing? After all, Christ said: “Do not judge.”

Who is guilty?

Why does the Lord especially love some people? And how should we act to please God?

Elder Paisios once told the following story.

There lived two brothers, the Elder and the Younger.

One day they went to the temple to pray and read on the choir.

When the Divine service began, Junior laid out the books and began to read.

The elder noticed that his brother was wrong and corrected him.

What are you pointing out to me? - Junior was indignant. - I myself know how to read!

After the service, angry and offended, Junior locked himself in his room.

And the Elder was also upset, but not from resentment, but from the fact that he could not restrain himself and his words upset his brother. In the evening he came to a closed door. He really wanted to make peace. But Junior did not open it and refused to eat.

Then the Elder remained at the threshold. He waited.

You can't stay locked up all your life. Finally, the door opened.

As soon as the Elder saw his brother, he knelt down, bowed to the ground and said:

Forgive me, it's my fault!

And Father Paisius concluded:

For such actions God's grace comes.

Which road leads to happiness?

When a person leaves God, it becomes more and more difficult for him. Even if he has everything, but does not have God, he will suffer and suffer.

Only around God does a person find joy.

There's a thief coming along the road. Do you think he's happy? No, the more evil he does, the more his soul suffers. He is suffering.

But another traveler is walking along the road. He found something and picked it up. And he said to himself: “Now this is mine.” He has not offended anyone, but there will be no peace in his soul either.

But along the same road is a man who has given something to another. What joy is in his soul!

The more good you do, the more joy you feel.

Goodbye!

Our conversation with the elder is over, we are returning back.

Wise words still ring in our hearts.

And it’s so beautiful around! Blue sea, blue sky, flowers, clouds, birds and butterflies! Glory to You, God!

We are all in God’s hands, as Father Paisius often repeated. God is watching us, our heart is like an open book to Him. God loves us. And none of our good deeds is wasted.

We've heard so much! If we act as Father Paisius advised, we will always remember his words.

And if we don’t do this, we’ll forget everything we’ve heard. It’s as if we had never knocked on the gate of an old man with a joyful heart.

Goodbye, Holy Mountain! We will remember you!

Drawing by artist Elena Khismatova

PARABLES OF ELDER PAISIO
for little ones
_______________________

You can buy it here:

CALIBKA

We are walking along a mountain path among green thickets.

The path narrows and widens, and we either go up the mountain or go down. Finally, we reached the church of Elder Paisius. Kalibka is a small house where monks live alone.

Father Paisiy sits in the courtyard, under the open sky, and nearby, on stumps and wooden logs, his visitors sit - those who came for guidance and consolation - and listen to his stories. There are many wise thoughts in these simple stories.

So we will sit on wooden logs.

The elder gives everyone the nuts that someone brought him for blessing.

And we got a nut each. Let's sit and listen.

BEE AND FLY

There were many flowers growing in the meadow. There were white fragrant lilies, hyacinths, and tall blue irises. And there was also a place for small flowers in the grass. The wind tilted them, merrily swayed the grass and leaves, and the aroma spread far, far away!

Bees were working over the clearing, over the flowers. They collected sweet nectar to feed the young in the hive and stock up on food for the long, cold winter.

This is where the fly flew. She buzzed displeasedly and looked around.

One little bee, who was here for the first time, politely asked the fly:

Do you know where the white lilies are?

The fly frowned:

I didn't see any lilies here!

How? - exclaimed the bee. - But they told me that there should be lilies in this meadow!

“I haven’t seen any flowers here,” muttered the fly. “But not far, beyond the meadow, there is a ditch.” The water there is deliciously dirty, and there are so many empty cans nearby!

Then an older bee flew up to them, holding the collected nectar in its paws. Having found out what was the matter, she said:

True, I never noticed that there was a ditch behind the meadow, but I can tell you so much about the flowers here!

“You see,” said Father Paisiy. “The poor fly only thinks about dirty ditches, but the bee knows where the lily grows, where the iris grows, and where the hyacinth grows.”

And so do people. Some are like bees and like to find something good in everything, others are like flies and strive to see only bad in everything.

Who do you want to be like?

SNAKE INSTEAD OF A BELT

When you love animals,” said Father Paisiy, “they feel it and look at you as a friend.”

When Adam and Eve lived in paradise, animals were their favorite friends. Adam helped the animals, and they obeyed him. But after the Fall, when man did not fulfill God’s commandments, the animals became wild, stopped submitting to man and began to attack each other.

But even now, if a person obeys God, animals do not fear him and obey him in everything.

I'll tell you one case.

An old man lived in a lonely kalivka. From time to time they brought him food. And he prayed and worked all day long. He was a very simple and kind old man.

There were many snakes where he lived. They were not afraid of the old man, they crawled very close to him and prevented him from working. Then the elder grabbed them and threw them out. But one snake kept trying to get closer to him and bothered him so much that the old man, angry, grabbed it, wrapped it around his belt and tied it in a knot. And then he continued his work.

At this time, a monk came to the elder, bringing him food. Seeing the snake with which the old man was girded like a belt, he was horrified and shouted:

Take that snake away!

And the simple old man said:

Don't be afraid! After all, Christ said: “Behold, I give you power to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will harm you!”

You yourself can read these words of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke, in the tenth chapter.

HOW TO SHARE PLUMS

Elder Paisios was often asked what justice is? How to act fairly?

Father Paisiy said:

There is human justice, and there is Divine justice.

What is Divine justice? - they asked him.

Then the elder gave the following example:

Imagine that a person came to visit a friend and they had ten plums. One of them ate eight, and the other got two. This is true?

No,” everyone answered unanimously, “this is unfair!”

Father Paisiy continued:

Then so. Two friends had ten plums. They divided them equally, five at a time, and ate them. This is true?

Yes, fair enough! - everyone said.

But this is human justice,” noted Father Paisiy. “There is also Divine justice!” Imagine that one of the friends who had ten plums, guessing that the other loved them very much, said: “Be a friend, eat these plums, I don’t like them very much. And besides, they make my stomach hurt! I can only handle one.”

Give the other what he wants, not half, give him the good and leave the bad for yourself. This will be Divine justice,” the elder concluded his story.

THANK YOU, GOD!

Elder Paisios repeated:

God cares about us! He knows what we need, what we desire. And if it is useful to us, he gives it to us.

When we trust in God and entrust ourselves to Him, He watches over us and takes care of us, and gives everyone as much as they need.

Let's not be indifferent to this, let's say: “Glory to Thee, God!” Let us thank God for everything!

And the elder told the following story.

One monk lived on Mount Athos. His cabin (do you remember that a cabin is a monk’s house?) stood alone.

One day he decided to climb the mountain to pray to God. He got ready to go and began to climb the mountain along a steep path.

Suddenly the monk saw a large white mushroom.

Glory to You, God! - he thought, stood for a while, praying and thanking the Lord for the mushroom sent to him. He decided to cut it off on his way back for dinner.

After praying on the mountain, the monk began to go down. The sun was about to set, and dusk fell on the mountain.

The monk reached the mushroom sent to him by God and saw that a roe deer had stepped on it and only half remained.

Glory to You, God! - he said again. “That means half is enough for me!”

Already approaching his cell, the monk noticed another mushroom. But, bending down, he saw that it was rotten. Or maybe it was poisonous?

The monk again began to thank God for saving him from poisoning.

When he returned, he dined on half a mushroom, thanking God.

In the morning he came out of the pot, and - oh, miracle! - porcini mushrooms grew all around his pot!

You see, he thanked God for the whole mushroom, and for the half, and for the rotten one! He thanked God for everything!

I WANT TO BE A BUFFALO!

All a person’s torment, according to Elder Paisius, comes from dissatisfaction with what he has and what God has given him. But the Lord loves everyone and gives everyone exactly what is useful to them.

But some suffer and think: “Why is he like this, and why am I like this?”

So the frog that we are going to talk about was jealous of everyone all the time. The other frogs liked their swamp and lived in it with great pleasure. But our frog was unhappy with everything.

Why do others live in holes, and I live in a swamp? - she thought. “Why do other animals look better than me?”

One day a buffalo walked near the swamp. He didn't even notice the little frog, but she was amazed.

“How big he is!” - she thought and exclaimed:

I want to be a buffalo!

Other frogs began to dissuade her:

Be the way God created you!

Never! I want to be a buffalo! - the frog became stubborn and began to sulk.

She pouted and pouted, she pouted and pouted - and... she burst!

So be who God created you to be! He gives everyone what will help them to be saved and achieve eternal life.

God's love made me human. God sacrificed Himself for me.

Let us be grateful to Him for everything!

IS THERE A GOD?

WHO'S STUPIDER THAN THE LIZARD?

One day a very educated and learned man came to visit Elder Paisius. He studied many sciences, but did not believe in God.

He said to Elder Paisius:

I find it difficult to believe that God exists. I know so much and can explain why and how everything happens. And I can't accept what you say about Christ.

The elder listened to him carefully and said:

But you are dumber than a lizard.

The scientist was greatly offended and began to object. But the elder said:

You are dumber than a lizard, I will prove it to you.

A lizard he knew lived near the old man’s house, and he called her.

She ran up to the old man. Father Paisius asked her if there is a God? Then she stood up, sat on her hind legs and nodded her head.

Here the scientist was confused and began to cry.

And the elder said to him:

Now you see that you are dumber than a lizard? She knows that there is a God. You are a man, but you don’t want to understand that God exists.

The scientist left the elder touched and shaken.

HOW A GRASSHOPPER TALKS TO GOD

One student came to Elder Paisius and said:

There is no god. I don't believe in Him!

Elder Paisios took pity on the foolish young man and kindly said to him:

Come here and listen! Can you hear the grasshopper chirping? He talks to God! Now look, what kind of fur does my kitten have? Even the queen doesn’t have this!

The student’s soul softened at the elder’s words, and there was already room in it for faith in God.

WHERE HE LIVED AND WHAT HE WAS LIKE

Elder Paisios lived in Greece, and not just in Greece, but on Holy Mount Athos. This is a small peninsula on which many monasteries are located. Only monks live here! This is what Holy Mount Athos looks like when you approach it from the sea.

Father Paisiy, as was said at the very beginning of the book, lived here in a lonely cabin.

The old man's soul was filled with such love that he was ready to suffer instead of all those who had many sorrows and illnesses. That is why, because of the elder’s great love for God and his neighbors, the Lord sent so many suffering people to him. They constantly came to him for spiritual help and consolation and always received it. Many asked questions, and many asked for prayer. And since Elder Paisios was a monk, he considered prayer his main work and his main responsibility.

In 1994, the elder passed from our world to the heavenly world. He continues his prayer for us now. We also have many instructions from the elder, which were written down by those who loved him. When you grow up, you will definitely read them.

Before his death, which for all Christians is only a transition to another life, he wrote a poem, which is now engraved over his grave.

Here it is:

Here the earthly path of life ends,
Here is my flesh and decay,
Here my last breath is interrupted,
In the soul there is light and singing.
My Angel lives, my saint,
To my honor and consolation,
To a soul humbled by poverty,
There is sorrow in him from regret.
So that I can be with the All-Holy Virgin,
He will bring prayers to Christ.

Drawing by artist Elena Khismatova.

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