Orthodox stories
Father Afanasy could not believe his ears... The usual confession was going on. Some old women tried to prove to him that they were completely sinless, and that their sons-in-law, husbands and sisters were to blame for everything. Others, on the contrary, assured that there was no one more sinful than them in this world. One brought with her, as usual, her sinful notebook, in which she wrote daily strings of her sins, including even such as killing a mouse in a dream with special hatred. The men behaved, as always, more restrained, did not cry, did not beat their chests, and did not blame their wives and children. And suddenly this stranger... - Father... I don’t know how to address you... - Father Afanasy. - Father Afanasy, bless the murder. This is where my ears couldn’t believe it. - I didn’t hear. What to bless? - To kill. And yet so calmly, even with dignity. With a challenge? The priest took a closer look. No, no challenge.
Before making the request to bless the murder, the man repented that he lacked love for all people, and even hated others completely. But he repented... - Are you going hunting? - Suddenly getting excited, Father Afanasy tried to joke. - Go hunting. I want to hunt a person. Bless. - So-so... Can you be more specific? - Can. It's not a difficult matter. He seduced my wife. The priest peered at him. The man is about forty years old, it seems that he is no longer a youth. About the same age as Father Afanasy himself. - Where is your wife now? I hope not killed? - I kicked her out. He saves himself from his mother. -Aren't you going to kill? - This is how the issue will be resolved. - So, if you get the taste, you will condemn her too... Are you legally married? - Scheduled. - Scheduled - this is a civil marriage. - Civilian, Father Afanasy, when it’s like this, they live like that. - You're wrong. When they're playing around, they're just cohabiting. Strictly speaking, they live in sin. And when they are only married, and not married, it is a civil marriage. — This is the first time I’ve heard about this. I think you're wrong. - Wait a minute. Did you sign with her at the registry office? - At the registry office. — How does the word “registry office” stand for? - This is... -... a civil status record. Right? - Well, that's right. - So, your marriage is defined as a civil status there. This is only a civil marriage. And lawful is when in the temple of God. “I don’t care, even if they were married, I would send her away.” Father Afanasy, do you give a blessing for murder? - Wait... - There’s no need to persuade me, I’ve already decided everything. - Why do you need a blessing? Did you want to blame me?.. - I don’t know... I thought that... I understand, won’t you give me a blessing? - What did you think! -Are you absolving me of the rest of my sins? - The rest - yes... Do you regret that you were planning a murder? - This is not the case. And I don't intend to. I can do without a blessing...
And the man walked away from the priest towards the exit of the church. Father Afanasy was confused. “He will go away! And he will kill! He said everything so calmly, without hysterics, in a balanced manner. He will definitely kill you." A familiar parishioner was already approaching him for confession. - Igor, bring this back! Say: Father Afanasy asks to return. He complied with the request. “So you say: blessings be upon you,” the priest spoke, bringing his face closer to the face of the one planning the murder. “And I can’t give it to you without the blessing of the lord.” - Like this? - Well, of course! - Father Afanasy was already out of breath from his sudden idea. - The authorities are above me. Bishop. Do you think I hand out murder blessings every day right and left? - I think not everyone. - If the lord gives me the go-ahead, I will give you a blessing. What is your name? - It doesn’t matter... Evgeny. - But only the bishop is now away in the diocese. Can you wait a week? Come back in a week, a decision will be made. - I didn’t think that you have red tape here too... What should I do for a whole week if I don’t sleep at night, I can’t find a place for myself? Howl like a wolf? - No need for a wolf. A person needs it. Read your prayers. Do you have a prayer book? If you don't have it, buy it. Or wait, I’ll give you my personal one just to be on the safe side.
* * *
All week Father Afanasy himself almost howled like a wolf, wondering whether the killer would come or not. Came. Yes, to the very beginning of confession. Never before had Father Afanasy begun a general confession with such inspiration, and when they began to approach him under the stole, he was still worried about how the conversation would turn out today. What if he says: “Kaput, he’s already killed, he didn’t wait for your master’s decision”? - Is your offender still alive? - Alive, viper. Well, what did the bishop say? -Have you read your prayers? - Read. Here it is, your prayer book, with me. - So how is it? “I haven’t read them before... Although your prayer book somehow made it easier for me to read.” At first there was interference, but then nothing. “That’s what I want to tell you, servant of God Eugene.” When Emperor Alexander Pavlovich entered France with his troops, he said: “I came up with the most terrible punishment for Napoleon and all the French.” Do you know which one? - Which? - Mercy. “They,” he says, “expect from us the same atrocities that they showed up within our fatherly borders. And we will best punish these European barbarians by not robbing, killing, or raping...” - So what did the bishop say? - Didn't bless. “You didn’t even have to go to a fortune teller.” It was in vain that I only succumbed to provocation. — He didn’t bless, but he didn’t say the final “no.” He told me to ask what you were going to use to kill him. “With an ax,” the potential killer answered, still calmly. - This is absolutely impossible. It turns out like Raskolnikov in Dostoevsky. We need an original method of taking revenge. Vladyka, I’ll tell you a secret, really loves detective stories. He is interested in something new. If you can invent it, it will give you a blessing. Just watch, keep your mouth shut. - Come on, don’t fool me, Father Afanasy! What am I, child? - In short, come up with the most original method of murder and come back in... - Another week? - As soon as you come up with an idea, come. Only I will be gone for three days. Come on Thursday evening. And read my prayer book more. He will help you.
On Thursday, it didn't take place until the killer came. Father Afanasy was upset, but thought: apparently, the most original method of murder has not yet been invented. But when Evgeny did not show up within two weeks after the second conversation, the priest was greatly saddened. Mixed with the sadness were remorse: what a lot of nonsense he had piled up! God forbid if anyone finds out about his fantasies, that the Lord reads detective stories and can give a blessing to a murderer if he comes up with a new, original method of murder. When he thought about this, Father Afanasy felt as if someone’s hot breath was washing over him, he felt hot and sick.
By the end of September, a month had passed since the day Eugene first came for a blessing. Now Father Afanasy no longer doubted at all that the servant of God Eugene had fulfilled his terrible plan. One day, when he woke up, he even clearly saw him strangling his offender with a steel guitar string. “Have I discovered the gift of clairvoyance?” - thought the priest.
It rained all August and September, and on the last days of September the sun shone, and it was on one of these days that Eugene came to the temple again. Father Afanasy immediately noticed that this time he was not so ominously calm, but, on the contrary, excited and even somehow shy. “Hello, Father Afanasy,” he said and walked up to the blessing. Father made the sign of the cross over him and asked in his ear: “I hope I’m not blessing a murderer?” “Here is my wife, Nadya,” Evgeny called the pretty woman instead of answering. - Come, don’t be shy. Father Afanasy blessed her too. “So we’ve made peace,” he rejoiced, as he had not rejoiced for a long time. - Nadya... And today is Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia.
Evgeny asked him to step aside and quickly spoke: “Everything came to its senses, it was resolved in the most miraculous way.” I received clear evidence that there was no betrayal, Nadya was not guilty, and that bastard only stared at her, but he didn’t allow himself anything like that, it turns out. And what’s surprising: I had finally decided to finish him off, set a day, and the day before I suddenly decided to pray for his happiness. - Oh happiness?! - Imagine this. I thought: let his last evening in his life be happy. And through your prayer book, he asked God to give him, the viper, final happiness. Even then, I laughed at first, and then for some reason I shed a tear, started crying, and felt sorry for this pig. And that same evening I received irrefutable evidence of his and Nadya’s innocence! How, what, it’s too long to tell, I’ll tire you. But there is complete evidence, trust me. - Yes, I believe, I believe! And I’m very happy,” Father Afanasy was beaming all over. - Thank God, I don’t have the gift of clairvoyance! “But it was not in vain that you told about the tsar, how he invented the best way to punish the French,” Eugene laughed, still somehow and for some reason embarrassed. - You look quite simple, but in reality you are wise! I’m even ashamed to call you “you” now. “It’s okay, it’s normal, it’s even better, more natural and sincere.” Previously, everyone called each other “you”; the Europeans learned to teach this later. Tell me “you”, don’t be shy. - Yes, your prayer book, here it is. “Keep it for yourself, maybe it will come in handy.” Or you will pass it on to someone else when the person is pressed.
Alexander Segen
— Service “Elitsy.Notes”: Order prayers for all everyday and spiritual needs to the venerable Orthodox Shrines of Russia and the world: zapiski.elitsy.ru/special/ozdravii?partner=elitsyweb
Interesting facts about Kadoma
The hills on which the town stands have their own mysterious and at the same time majestic history. The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord recently stood on one hill, so it received an identical name in honor of the temple - Transfiguration.
And in the middle of the 13th century, the entire Kadom area was under the Mongol-Tatar yoke. There is an opinion that in those ancient centuries the Orthodox and Muslim religions existed here quite peacefully. There were even known cases when Tatars became Christians. Ancient written sources point to the fact that in the first half of the 14th century, the Tatar prince Shirinsky Beklemish accepted faith in Christ. At baptism he received the name Michael, and in connection with this event, on one of the previously mentioned hills, he built a wooden church in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and baptized his soldiers there. In the 18th century, a white stone temple was built on the same site. It is known that the prince’s grandson, Yuri Fedorovich, became a real brave warrior and was a participant in the Battle of Kulikovo, fought on the side of Prince Dimitri Donskoy and courageously fell in a terrible battle.
Orthodoxy gradually strengthened on Kadomian soil. In 1875, priest Ivan Kobyakov wrote down the words that Kadom is a truly Orthodox city, all its inhabitants are pious and zealous in prayer. Pilgrims who come to these places do not ignore another unique place - in the forests under the oak tree there is a healing spring called Panika. According to the legend of our great-grandfathers, there was a chapel here in honor of John the Baptist, where hermit elders came and served an all-night vigil at night, and in the morning they dispersed for solitary prayer.
Kadom: monastery, Father Afanasy
The confessor and rector of the monastery, Archimandrite Afanasy, took part in the revival of the monastery, who invested a lot of his strength and work into it. This is another extraordinary personality for which Kadom has always been famous. Father Afanasy (Kultinov) is an archimandrite and a silver-haired monk who looks at everything positively and always trusts in the mercy of the Lord and the Mother of God.
Afanasy (or Anatoly to the world) was born in 1937 in the Ryazan region, in the village of Bolshoye Lyakhovo (Ermishinsky district). His mother spent all day busy with housework. The closest temple from them was 8 km away, in the village of Savvatma. Although the family almost never visited the temple due to the lack of opportunity to get there, and no one even prayed, they always retained faith in their souls.
As a child, the boy received instructions from his mother not to join any pioneer or Komsomol organizations. Tolik was not oppressed for this, probably because it was a remote village, and here this matter was not so strict.
The elder himself admitted that, be that as it may, the people of that time were still morally purer. And after the Great Patriotic War, grief affected almost every family, people grieved and were compassionate towards others. Electricity was installed in their village only in 1956.
The Kadoma Monastery was built in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God the Merciful
The monastery was built in honor of the “Merciful” icon of the Mother of God. The foundation of the Kadoma monastery was laid in the last years of the 18th century. In 1797, the Ryazan Spiritual Consistory received a decree granting permission to establish a women’s community at the Kadoma Cathedral Church of St. Demetrius.
In 1868, the Kadoma community was renamed the Kadoma monastery. Initially, Ekaterina Varfolomeeva became the abbess of the monastery, who was summoned to this place from the Ryazan convent.
1868
this year, the Kadoma community, created in 1797, was renamed the Kadoma monastery
The attention of all the living sisters was focused on establishing a strict monastic life in the monastery.
One day, Ekaterina Varfolomeeva wanted to leave this monastery, but the perspicacious elder Seraphim did not order her to upset her sisters, and she remained.
The name of St. Seraphim of Sarov is also known in the Kadoma Monastery. Photo: k-istine.ru
What kind of life did the sisters lead at that time? At that time, the sisters spun, weaved, sewed with gold, and did simple sewing. In addition, they constantly read the Psalter in memory of deceased benefactors and relatives.
Also, with his instructions, Elder Seraphim conveyed instructions to Catherine to read prayerful singing on Sundays before the liturgy of the Paraklis of the Mother of God. He also said that if this rule is constantly followed, then they will not be afraid of any troubles.
622
so many acres of land belonged to the monastery before the First World War
One of the hieromonks of the monastery, Hilarion, worked very hard to improve monastic life in the women's monastery. It is believed that before the First World War the convent owned 622 acres of land.
Monasticism
Each of his spiritual children remembers what the pious priest told him when they met. Now it’s also worth noting who Father Afanasy was. Kadom, reviews of which note that Afanasy now serves in the Merciful Mother of God Convent, has become a real Orthodox Mecca in the Ryazan region.
But first the elder had to serve on Holy Mount Athos, from there he brought the Cross with reliquaries. He accepted monasticism when he was over 50 years old. This happened in the cell of the holy ascetic Silouan of Athos.
Father Afanasy leaves a very bright mark in people’s souls; you can always hear wise advice from him. Visitors immediately feel the kindness and God's grace that comes from the insightful old man.
Perspicacious old man
Father is very smart and perspicacious, and getting to him is quite easy. He serves in the monastery almost every day and receives confessions. At the end of the service, he always takes out the Cross and applies it to the body and sore spots of his parishioners, then he anoints them with oil and talks. There are usually few people at services, since Kadom is not very crowded. Father Afanasy, however, is always fully armed, at any moment he is ready to listen to anyone who turns to him. He, like no one else, understands how difficult it is for a modern person to live in this wicked world today, and that first of all one must always rely on the help of the Lord.
The Kadoma convent has experienced ups, downs, and even downs.
It is worth noting that the monastery also had residential buildings, a hospital, a hotel, a school, a bakery, a carriage house, a library and an archive. Very beautiful, as many have noted, was the abbot's building, which was built in the Russian-Byzantine style according to the design of one of the architects.
In fact, the Kadoma convent has experienced ups, downs, and even downs throughout its existence. In 1920, on the great feast of the Holy Trinity, whirlwinds of destruction swept over the monastery.
Priests and nuns, as well as orphans, were evicted from the monastery, and all property was partially destroyed. At that time, many books, icons and even archives were lost.
Kadoma Monastery during the years of destruction. Photo: kadom.blagochin.ru
The monastery building began to house educational institutions, offices and various business enterprises.
The monastery of the city of Kadoma was reopened only on April 17, 1997
It is believed that the monastery was reopened only on April 17, 1997. Nun Lyubov Doronina was chosen as the abbess of the monastery. All this time she was restoring the monastery after so many years of its desolation.
April 17, 1997
on this day the Kadoma Monastery opened and began its revival
In the same year, the chapel was consecrated in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and then the chapel in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov was also restored.
Abbess of the Kadoma Monastery Justina. Photo: 151722.selcdn.ru
On December 24, 2004, the consecration of the temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God of Mercy took place. In 2005, Abbess Evgenia Sviridova took over the role of abbess of the monastery.
which began to return all the buildings and acquired lands of the monastery to their original grandeur. Quite a lot of active renovation work was going on.
Currently, the abbess of the Kadoma convent is nun Justina.
The Ryazan region is also famous for its great shrines
The Ryazan region is also famous for its great shrines. The monastery has an icon of the Mother of God called the Unfading Flower. This icon went to the monastery along with the house of Mrs. Bogdanova. This lady's father was a military man and was in Georgia for a long time.
When he arrived in the city of Kadom, he brought this icon with him. Also, Mrs. Bogdanova herself told how her father once almost drowned in the river, but seeing the danger, he began to pray to the Queen of Heaven. And in an invisible way he was thrown ashore, while his comrades drowned.
Icon of the Mother of God Unfading Color. Photo: shop.svyatsy.org
Also on the territory of the monastery there is an icon of the Mother of God the Merciful. Its height is 8.5 inches and its width is 7 inches. There is also an icon of the Mother of God Worthy to Eat, an icon of the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon, an icon of the Kazan Mother of God.
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