The power that Christ gives us. Work program (grade 5) on the topic: Control and measuring material on Orthodox culture

Book Three, 1993

"Orthodox miracles in the 20th century" are collections of testimonies about miracles that happened to saints and sinners, believers and atheists. False miracles are given an Orthodox assessment. For comparison and confirmation, one or two miracles from the nineteenth century are given. Scientific explanations are also given that confirm the Bible (although the Bible does not need confirmation, just as believers do not need external evidence of their faith). The miracles in this book are amazing, incomprehensible, they affirm in faith: only Everything is possible for God.

Xenia of Petersburg rescues soldiers in Prague

Lyudmila Pavlovna Shpakovskaya wrote an amazing letter about Blessed Xenia of Petersburg to the editors of The Interlocutor of Orthodox Christians (No. 2, 1992):

When I was a five-year-old child (the chapel was still closed then), my mother often took me to the Smolensk cemetery and talked about Xenia. On the day of her memory, January 24 (February 6, according to the new style), in the 50s we walked around the chapel with a lit candle and prayed. To my shame, in later life I showed negligence or negligence, I almost never went there. And when, already an adult, she finally arrived at the Smolensk cemetery the summer before last, then, apparently, an unusual meeting took place for edification. An unfamiliar woman turned to me with a request to explain how and what should be done in gratitude to Xenia. Here is what she said:

“My brother lives in Belarus. The other day there, according to the central program, they showed the program “600 seconds”, and in it there was a story about Blessed Xenia. The brother saw this program and was terribly glad that he could finally thank the one who saved him during the war years. He was quite a young soldier, they liberated Prague; shot back in tandem with an experienced warrior, in the basement of one of the houses. And suddenly, out of nowhere, a woman in a headscarf appeared near them and said in Russian that they must immediately leave (she indicated where), because a shell would fall here and they would die. Both soldiers were taken aback and asked in surprise: "Who are you?"

I am Blessed Xenia, I came to save you, - followed the answer.

After these words, she disappeared. The soldiers were saved, but for a very long time the young warrior did not know who Xenia was, he was looking for her, and after forty-five years - such a miracle! After the transmission, he urgently called his own sister in our city, so that she immediately went to the chapel to thank. Of course, a prayer service was served and everything was done as it should be in this case ... "

Let us also add that the soldier could not find Blessed Xenia because she had not been canonized for a very long time (she was canonized in Russia in 1988), and she died in the 19th century, many decades before World War II.

Rescue from the bathysphere

(These two stories were told by customs officer Vasily E., a resident of the city of B. near Moscow).

The demon attacked the sailor and he fell on the locker

When I was drafted into the army, my mother told me:

Vasya, when you feel bad there, remember the Lord ...

Come on, I muttered.

I was an unbeliever. And now I believe, a little, but I believe - I know, God helps.

I ended up in Morflot, but part of it was on the shore. One day, I was lying on the upper bunk (bed) and suddenly - the demon began to choke me ...

Have you seen a demon? - we ask Vasily.

No. It's almost invisible, but you can feel it when it's there. It was not yet dark, I did not sleep, but only wanted to doze off, as the demon seized me by the throat. I've never had this before. I didn't know what to do. Gasping already, I remembered the words of my mother: "Remember the Lord." And I screamed inside myself:

Lord have mercy!

And then the demon flew away from me. No, I didn't see it, but at the same time I somehow saw it: a dark ball, like smoke, but alive.

Then I came to my senses and was about to doze off again, when suddenly for the second time he grabbed me by the throat. No, not in the imagination, but literally, grabbed by the throat, very painful. Then I did not wait, I immediately prayed to God:

Lord have mercy! Help!

And the demon immediately flew away. It became easy in an instant.

But here, you will not believe it, there was a roar - my partner Kolya fell on the locker. A locker is a box for linen and other things, like a chest, only narrower than a bunk. So Nikolai fell from the lower bunks onto the locker under the bunks and continues to sleep with his arms folded across his chest! According to the laws of physics, this is impossible: he had to fall into the span between the bunk beds, and he fell diagonally onto the locker, which is already a bunk. Do you understand? And he lies asleep. I go down to him, wake him up:

Cole, how did you get here? How did you fall?

He woke up and did not understand anything, how did he get from the bunk to the locker, and even did not wake up.

This is the first story when God drove the demon away from me, and the demon attacked my neighbor. The second story is worse.

Rescue from the bathysphere

Our unit was on the shore, we tested the bathysphere. The bathysphere is like a metal ball, hollow, large, with a hatch, a hole that is closed with a lid: 24 nuts are screwed (or about that, I don’t remember) and the bathysphere is lowered deep into the water. Moreover, without communication with the shore: without a telephone and without air supply.

So, once we had a drink with a friend and climbed to sleep in the bathysphere. Nobody knew this.

They closed us with a lid, screwed up all the nuts and lowered us to a depth.

And we are there. There is less and less air - and we woke up. Around the water, complete darkness, and we are half asleep, half drunk, half alive. That's when I realized that only God can save me from here. Yes, and I begged again:

Lord, forgive me, help me, save me from here!

Meanwhile, on the shore, the commander of our military unit was sitting in his office. He clearly heard a voice (an angel or God, I don't know): - Raise it out of the water - there are people!

He picked up the telephone receiver and gave the order to raise the winch, that is, the bathysphere.

They lifted, unscrewed 24 nuts, opened the lid - and we were there. We get out.

Guys, are you alive?

Alive, - we say, and we ourselves breathe, breathe, squint, half drunk, half asleep, but happy: - God saved!

The cross is stronger than the revolver

Blessed Nicholas for 10 years predicts the overthrow of the king and the dispersal of the Lavra. Angels Communion Him

Zosima (later - Zechariah) had a friend in the St. Sergius Lavra - Blessed Nicholas. It was a wonderful person. His last name is Ivanson, Nikolai Alexandrovich. His father's name was Oscar. He changed his name, converted to Orthodoxy. His mother's name is Natalia. Blessed Nicholas was a military man by rank. But he was not well for long. He carried the heavy cross of illness: having fallen ill, he did not get out of bed for 40 years. At first he lay in a private apartment, and later he was transferred to the monastery almshouse. His relatives died and there was no one to look after him - he was a stranger to everyone. He bravely endured and prayed.

For his extraordinary patience and humility, the Lord endowed him with insight. Father Zosima began to visit him often, and the blessed one fell in love with him very much.

Nicholas 10 years before the revolution predicted that there would be no tsar and that the Sergius Lavra would be closed and all the monks would be dispersed and they would live in private apartments.

Father Zosima was told the place of his future residence: “You will live in Moscow and they will give you the devastated courtyard of the monastery. You will live with your spiritual children. And in Moscow they will make you an archimandrite. I tell you, get ready to get out of the laurel."

Nobody believed him at that time, his words seemed strange and absurd to everyone.

Once Nikolai healed Maria, the sister of Zosima's father, suffering from blindness. For ten years the old woman did not see God's light. The blessed one blessed her to anoint her eyes from the lamp that burned in front of the icon, and the servant of God Mary saw her sight and lived for another 10 years with her sight.

Once a young man came to Nikolai, and Father Zosima was sitting with his friend. The blessed one grabbed his hat from him and said: “I won’t give it back, it’s not yours, yours is lying behind the carriage.” When he left the blessed one, Father Zosima asked him to reveal to him what he had done with his hat. “Here’s the thing,” said the young man. “When I got out of the car, I look, a drunk was lying around, and a new hat was lying next to him, and I took it for myself, and threw my old one behind the car, so the blessed one denounced me, apparently everything is open to him.”

Truly, he was a marvelous servant of God.

For several years in a row, angels communed him, coming in the form of monks led by the abbot, who confessed him. The monks sang wonderfully... They came to him at night. The blessed one did not know that this was a heavenly mercy to him, mistaking them for monks and thinking: “This is how well the abbot and the brethren treat me. They have no time during the day, so at night on holy days they console me, the long-suffering one.

Father Zosima did not know about this, and when he learned from the brethren that there was a seriously ill Nikolai in the monastery almshouse and that for more than 30 years no one had communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ, he went to him to receive communion and confess him. Blessed Nicholas thanked him and said to him: “I am so happy! On all major feasts, the abbot and the brethren give me communion,” and he told him everything.

Father Zosima put the words of the blessed one into his heart, but did not say anything to him, and only after his death did he tell about the wondrous miracle that appeared to the long-suffering soul, which with great patience carried its cross.

Silver cross melted in my mouth

Once Elder Zacharias took a rather large silver cross into his mouth and prayed to the Creator: “Lord, Lord, enter into me in Your cross, let this cross melt in my mouth and I will swallow it and let the cross live in me…”. And the cross melted and the elder swallowed it, like living water holy, blessed.

The cross is stronger than the revolver

All the brethren from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra were evicted and only Zosima (in the schema Zacharias) remained.

Several people from the administration came and demanded that the elder immediately leave his cell. "Get out of the Lavra." “No, I won’t go now,” said the old man. "We'll push you out. What it is!" shouted angrily at the old man.

The elder took the cross and circled his room with it, or rather, surrounded it, and said: “Try, dare to cross this line with which I circled this cell, try and immediately you will fall dead.”

"What is this old man?" - the visitors spoke embarrassed. The power of the elder's word was so great that none of them dared to cross the line beyond which Father Zosima had told them not to go. It was even strange - young, healthy, armed people felt fear and said: "Let's leave this old man, he will leave." They stood and parted.

(...) Finally, his time has come, and Father Zosima was the last to leave the Trinity Lavra of our Reverend and God-bearing Father Sergius Abbot of Radonezh.

(From the book: "Elder Zachariah. Feats and Miracles", publishing house "Trim", Moscow, 1993)

"Signal from Beyond"

I didn't believe in miracles before. Now I believe, - said Michael.

Michael came from the far North. And before that he lived in Moscow on the Arbat. He was recently baptized and married, then he left with his wife Nina to the North, where she has her own house. I worked there as a teacher.

And now he came to baptize his children, - said Mikhail.

Although the children are not his, but Nina's, from his first marriage, he considers them his own.

He told why he came to baptize children:

Imagine North. The house is swept by snow, wilderness. We sleep, me, wife, children, and dog. Suddenly at night there is a knock, as if someone is standing outside the door and knocking. The first to wake up, like the most sensitive, dog. Then the wife wakes up. And I'm deaf, hard of hearing - I wake up last. I'm going to open.

Behind the door - no one! Only snow, clean, even, and no footprints near the door or around the house. And so it was repeated several times, not one night. How can you not believe? Yes, and a little scary. Around for hundreds of kilometers there is no church, nothing. We use the holy water brought from Moscow sparingly. You have so many holy things here, and we are on a starvation ration there.

Is this noise from God? - we ask him.

From God or not, I don't know. But if God allowed this, then you need to think ... and be baptized before you allow something even worse. This is a signal from beyond...

Miracles created by the Lord through the prayers of Elder Simeon from the Pskov-Caves Monastery

Healing from corruption

(The story of Alexandra Prokhorova, who lives in L-de (now St. Petersburg)

Until 1956, by God's permission, I suffered from an illness nervous system, which did not succumb to medical treatment (according to the popular saying, there was damage in me). But by the grace of God, the Mother of God turned Her gaze to my suffering and pointed out the monastery where the elder doctor lived (through the photograph of the elder Simeon). I did not go to church at all and was not interested in anything spiritual. Having learned from one woman who showed me a photograph of Father Simeon, his address, I quickly agreed to go to him in Pechory, not considering him a spiritual doctor, but considering him an ordinary doctor helping the sick. I didn't have any idea about faith, or Divine services, or about fasting and sacred sacraments, I didn't have any religious feelings. Everything was completely closed and incomprehensible and uninteresting for me. Arriving at the monastery at the end of the service, I immediately went to the elder, as to an ordinary doctor, and began to tell him that I had damage. Batiushka let me kiss the cross and said: “How do you know that this is a corruption!”. Then I began to vomit and I felt sick, and someone screamed inside me, and then I don’t remember what happened to me. I was vomiting, and the people who were with the priest began to take care of me, carrying out basins with vomit, which was like greens. After that, it became easier for me, and when I communed the Holy Mysteries in the morning, it became brighter and more gratifying for me. I would not have entered the church without the prayer of Father Simeon, the enemy tormented me. At home, before leaving for Pechory, he gave me a rope to hang myself. But the Mother of God did not allow my suicide, but sent me good people who directed me to the elder. I lived in the monastery for about a month, and how joyful it was for me and my friends who looked after me during my illness, in whose sight I was healed. Since then, I have been constantly visiting the monastery and thanking the Mother of God and the Lord Jesus Christ for the love of our father Simeon.

Another healing from corruption

(Story by Anastasia Cherekh)

Anastasia and her husband Gabriel lived in peace and harmony for many years. But now, for unknown reasons, she hated her husband, so much so that she was going to divorce him. Gabriel was very worried about his wife's hatred and tried to commit suicide. Their life together became unbearable, and she left home. Someone told her about Elder Simeon, and she came to him for advice.

Immediately upon her arrival, Alexander's mother gave her tea to drink. Anastasia told her that she had come for a week, but she did not say for what reason. Suddenly Father Simeon came out of his cell and began to call Anastasia to confession. But Alexander's mother began to prove to Father Simeon that Anastasia had just arrived and was not yet prepared for confession. “Yes, and she still has time,” she added. But the priest insisted on his own and began confession. She left the priest bright and joyful. On the second day she took communion of the Holy Mysteries and left. Everything Father Simeon told her came true. She came home as a loving wife. She told her husband, according to the father, that they were damaged by evil people on the ears and that these ears were lying somewhere in the barn. They went together to look for them and found mixed ears in her apron. Then they went to their house to burn them, as the priest ordered. At this time, a neighbor ran into their house with a cry and began to shout, holding her head: “Do not burn, do not burn!” Then her husband threatened her that he would put her in the oven, and the neighbor ran away. It turned out that she was a sorceress and, out of envy for their peaceful life, she brought such discord that her husband would have strangled himself if Anastasia had not returned to him so soon. That is why the priest demanded her immediate repentance and return home to her husband.

Healing from madness

(The story of Antonina, 65 years old, living in the city of Pechory)

In 1959, my friend Nina came to Pechory from Tula and stayed with me. She was demon-possessed and could not enter Father Simeon's cell for a blessing, and kept shouting: "Oh, Senka is coming, I'm afraid of him!" With the blessing of Father Simeon, Father Athenogenes scolded her. She was so violent that during prayer over her they tied her up.

While still ill, Nina saw her mother Alexandra going to the temple and ran running, shouting: “Senka is coming!” Mother Alexandra reassured her, saying that the priest was sick and would not come to the temple. Nina began to rush around the temple, looking for places to hide and from there shouting even more loudly: “Oh, Senka is coming!” And, indeed, quite unexpectedly, the priest came to the Midnight Office. It is amazing how the demon-possessed felt the appearance of Father Simeon. Nina left Pechora quite healthy. And to this day (1965) he comes to Pechory to pray.

Communion from the hands of angels

Father Simeon became weak in body. And for three days, Alexander's mother could not deduct the rule for communion to the priest in the morning, since he had previously blessed her to bake prosphora. She entered the priest's cell and lamented that the priest had not communed the Holy Mysteries that day. To this, the priest humbly replied: “Yes, I didn’t partake.” At one in the morning she freed herself and asked the priest for blessings to rest; he blessed.

At three o'clock in the morning she again went to him, to find out how he was feeling, and she saw: the father is bright as the sun! He said, "I've already joined." Alexander's mother was surprised, since no one came to the priest at that time. Seeing her surprise, the priest says to her: “I joined myself, and miraculously brought the Thicket.”

After that night, Father Seraphim came every time at two o'clock in the morning and introduced Father Simeon.

Prophetic call to his burial (Removal of penance)

Before his death, Father Simeon said: “Now I have distributed everything, now it only remains to remove the penance from those on whom I have laid it.” The next day all appeared, of which he spoke. Alexander's mother asks one spiritual son from L-yes how he came to the priest?! He replies: “I don’t know how I got here, and I don’t know how I will get from here.” Having removed the penance from everyone, the priest said: “Well, now I will calmly leave.”

"Don't cry, you'll come last..."

It is remarkable that many spiritual children of the priest, being several hundred kilometers from Pechory, felt on the day and hour of his death that the father was no longer on earth.

One of his spiritual daughters was with him at Christmas in 1960. He told her that he would soon die, they would not see each other again. She wept that she would not know when he would die, and that she would not have to be at his funeral. To this he answered her: “Don’t cry, you will come last…”. And so it happened: she really miraculously managed to be buried. When I found out about the death of the priest, I immediately went to the station to go to Pechory - it was already the third day, it was impossible to postpone the trip. At the station, at the ticket office, the cashier told her that she had sold her the last ticket, and added that in the last two days a mass of people was going to bury some old man, and that everyone presented telegrams, or with tears explained the reason for grief and an urgent departure to Pechory.

Forgot to take my crutches and healed

Once, says nun Alexandra, I invited a certain visitor Nikolai to drink tea - he had just arrived from the monastery mowing, where he mowed together with the monastery workers.

During tea, he clutched his head with his hands and cried out: “What is the matter with me? How did it happen that I became different? I asked him to tell me what happened to him. And he said:

“I had severe pain in my legs, I could not walk. At the hospital, the doctors suggested that I take my legs off. I agreed to the operation, but at the same time I met with ... one person who told me that there is a doctor in Pechory who treats everyone without operations. He gave me the Pechersk address and I went to this doctor. I went to the elder Simeon and told him about my misfortune. The elder talked to me, then said: "Tomorrow partake of the Holy Mysteries." When I left the father, I forgot to take my crutches and did not notice that I was healthy. The next day I joined and the young deacon invited me with the brethren to mowing, I agreed with pleasure, and I repeat that I forgot that my legs hurt, I didn’t even go to the priest, but quickly left for the meadow. There I devoted myself to work, forgot that I was sick, forgot that I came to be treated. Here, I even forgot that I brought a gift to the doctor.

I told him to go to the priest and take the present. He went to the elder and began to ask him to give him instructions on how to live. Father blessed him to marry, although he was about forty years old. Then he pointed out on what holidays to come to the monastery, and how to live in order to be saved. Nicholas did just that. He got married and had a son. When he comes to the monastery, he always asks to pray for his son. Always with gratitude remembers the mercy of God.

Rescue from a train wreck

A certain Mary came to the monastery for a few days on the occasion of a vacation. In order not to delay the working day, she had to leave on a certain day in order to get to work on time. She came to the priest to be blessed to leave in the evening. Father said:

You will go tomorrow.

She began to persuade him, said that tomorrow she should already be at work. And the father again said: - Well, well, you will go tomorrow.

Then Maria went to mother Alexandra and began to ask her to persuade the priest to bless her to leave. Together they began to persuade the priest, but he calmly answered:

You will go tomorrow.

Maria obeyed, stayed until tomorrow.

A few days later she sent a letter in which she said that the train had an accident - with the very one with which she was not blessed to leave, despite all the persuasion and requests.

Instead of a name day, she ended up in the hospital

Love on her name day from Pskov to Pechory came to the monastery to pray. And in the evening it was necessary to arrive in Pskov, where her guests invited to the name day would be waiting. After the service, she went to the priest for a blessing to go home. Father Simeon did not bless her to go that day. She told him that guests were waiting for her, invited in the evening for a name day.

But the priest did not give his blessing to leave. Then she went to mother Alexandra to ask her to persuade the priest. They came together and especially began to prove and ask: “After all, guests are waiting there, and suddenly I won’t come ...”. The elder involuntarily let her go on a name day. - Alexander's mother went out to see Lyuba off to the bus, but it was impossible to sit on it for crowds. A passing truck turned up.

Alexandra's mother left, pleased that she had persuaded the priest and accompanied Lyuba, who would have time to go home for her name day.

But on the way, an accident happened with the car - and all the passengers were thrown out of the car and injured. Lyuba also ended up in the hospital. This is what disobedience means. Instead of a birthday table set, she saw a hospital operating table covered with a sheet. So then she wrote about this to her mother Alexandra.

The clairvoyance of an old man (“The doctor will not remove teeth”)

This case describes S.P.:

In 1958 I came to the monastery for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On the way, my teeth ached under the crowns terribly. I went to the doctor without the blessing of the priest. The doctor said that it is necessary to urgently remove the teeth under the crowns and with them the bridge. I was afraid to do this in Pechory and decided to urgently leave for L-grad. She went to Father Simeon to tell about her misfortune. He met me with the words: “Well, tell me what hurts you? Open your mouth!” He ran his finger over my teeth and said: "Go to the doctor, he will not remove your teeth and you will be healthy." I went, and fortunately for me there was another doctor who offered me a small operation, I agreed. The doctor cut my gum, released the pus, and in a few hours I was already healthy.

Healing toothache

(Catherine's story)

With one friend, I went to Pechory on vacation. On the way, my teeth hurt badly. The denture pressed on the gum, causing bleeding and unbearable pain. Immediately upon arrival in Pechory, we went to Father Simeon; I was for the first time. He met me with the words: "Show me your mouth," and began to touch my teeth with his finger. I didn't understand why he did it. And my friend began to reproach me: “You probably talk a lot in vain, so the priest looked at your unclean mouth.” I suffered a lot from her words and forgot about my teeth. It turned out that the priest with his touch relieved my toothache, and I became completely healthy.

Headache Healing

(Catherine's story)

In 1951 I came from Murmansk to the monastery in Pechory. I had severe headaches from which I had no rest. I was afraid to go to Father Simeon and kept thinking: how will he meet me, such a sinner. It turned out that he met me joyfully and simply talked to me, blessed me. I confessed to him and communed the Holy Mysteries, and my heart felt light. Since then, my head has stopped hurting, and for 13 years now I have been living and do not feel any pain.

Another cure for madness

In 1953 I witnessed a healing. Several people were waiting in the front. At this time, an unfamiliar woman of about 50 came and immediately went to Father Simeon's cell. When she opened the door to him, she immediately fell, and the priest from the cell shouted, stamping his foot: “Come out, come out right now!” The door closed. After a while, this woman left the cell, and kept praying and thanking the priest for his prayers and healing from the demon. She sat down next to me and told the story. Her relative did damage to her, and on the advice of one of the spiritual daughters of the priest, she went to Pechory to him. Father Simeon received her and healed her, but warned her not to communicate with that relative, but to avoid her. But two years later, this evil woman sent her daughter to her and again instilled a demon in her, and now she again came to the priest. “It was very difficult for me,” she says, “to cross the threshold of the father’s cell, all my limbs were bound, I couldn’t cross myself, that’s why I fell unconscious, and besides, I began to vomit severely. Father, with the words: “Get out!” immediately cast the demon out of me and I was able to get up. And again the priest sternly warned me to avoid my evil distant relative.” In continuation of this story, the woman was baptized all the time and thanked God and the priest for his prayers and secondary healing.

"There were Simeons, there are Simeons, and there will be Simeons"

(Pilgrim's story)

When I was still a girl, my mother told me about Father John of Kronstadt and miracles from him. He often visited our house, and my mother respected him very much. Mom died when I was already an adult. Shortly before that, she told me about the prediction of Father John of Kronstadt that many churches would close recently, as well as monasteries, but the Pechersk Monastery would not be closed, and that the last great elder Hieroschemamonk Simeon would be there. I was not a particularly zealous Christian, and in the hustle and bustle of life I consigned everything to oblivion. But one day I was in Pskov and accidentally heard about the Pskov-Caves Monastery, and about Father Simeon. Then I remembered my mother's words about the monastery, and I got ready and went to the monastery. She went to Father Simeon for a blessing and told him everything she had heard from her mother about him. Then the priest said sternly: “There were Simeons, there are Simeons, and there will be Simeons.” That's how the father humbled himself.

The fortune teller won't help

A certain Sergius had contact with a fortuneteller, here is his confession:

For many years my wife was ill. I had a friend who guessed, and I went to her for advice. At the insistence of my daughter and wife, I went to Pechory to see Father Simeon. Batiushka met me and immediately said: “You are really tired of wandering around other people’s houses, it’s time to take up your mind.” I confessed, communed the Holy Mysteries, and went to Ld renewed. A few years later I was again drawn to the fortuneteller, but she met me and said: “Now I am powerless to do anything to you, why did you go to Simeon? After his prayers, we no longer know anything about the future of man.”

eye healing

Pavlova Evdokia Georgievna, 62 years old, says:

I was sick with my eyes for 15 years, I was treated by many doctors, I was registered for many years, nothing helped me. The pain was so severe that I had to put heating pads over my eyes. In 1958, the eyes of experience were covered with thorns. And on December 12, on the advice of a believer, I went to Pechory to see Elder Simeon. Having crossed the threshold of the father's cell, I burst into tears and from tears I could not say anything. The father said: “Why are you crying so bitterly?” and passed his hand over my eyes and face. I couldn't say a word for a long time. Finally she said that my eyes hurt for 15 years. He once again passed over my eyes and said: “Look how clean your eyes are, and they don’t hurt at all.”

Since that time, I had no idea that I was seriously ill. But the doctors considered my illness incurable.

I came home completely healthy, I did not go to the doctors. And they themselves came to see my eyes. The doctors marveled and asked: who was I treated by? I said that the old man healed me. The doctors thought that he was giving me a lotion, and when they found out that he only passed his hand over his face, they fell silent. Since then, 7 years have passed, and I forgot that my eyes hurt and had a thorn in them.

Cancer Healing

Zvonkova Evdokia, 55 years old, says:

I have suffered from female disease for 30 years. I have had surgery several times. Finally, they told me that I had cancer.

Then the Lord sent me a friend who took me to Pechory to see Father Simeon. By the same time, my hand ached. When I came to the priest, he ran his hand along my back and said: “Nothing hurts you, you will be healthy, only your hand will hurt, and if your hand does not hurt, then you will forget that you need to pray fervently.” Since then I have been healthy.

Healing from leg pain

The story of Nikolai Nikolaevich, 49 years old, from the city of Petrograd:

For 15 years I suffered from pain in my legs. The pain was so unbearable that anesthesia did not help. I lay in bed for many years.

And so my friends advised me to go to Pechory to see the professor, because they knew that I would not go to the priest.

When I arrived and entered the cell, I immediately forgot that I was sick! Batiushka told me to come to confession and commune. That's exactly what I did.

I stayed in the monastery for five days and returned completely healthy.

Healing from stomach ulcer

Ivanova, 55 years old, from the city of L-yes, testifies:

In 1955, having arrived in Pechory by train, I went to the monastery, took communion of the Holy Mysteries, and the next day I was going to go to Leningrad. But the Lord was not pleased. At night, I fell ill, they took me to the clinic, where I underwent procedures. But nothing helped, the pain kept growing.

In the morning I was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where I underwent an operation that lasted three hours. I was completely dying, they removed part of my intestines.

On the morning of the second day, an acquaintance came to me - the spiritual daughter of Father Simeon, brought prosphora and said that the priest asked me to be calm and that I would soon recover and go home. The medical staff - doctors, nurses - knowing my illness, considered my condition hopeless. But I believed my father. Indeed, on the 14th day I left for Ld. And now after that I live 10 years and, thank God, I am completely healthy.

Healing from paralysis

S. P., aged 54, from the city of Petrograd, writes:

I suffered from a metabolic disorder for 15 years, so at times neither my arms nor my legs worked at all. Finally, in 1953, my arms and legs became paralyzed. I was in different hospitals, but I had no help. In 1954, my friends and I went to Pechory to see Father Simeon; in absentia he had already prayed for my health. At the first meeting, the father said:

Do not lament that there is no one to look after you and no money. Soon there will be money and a person to care for, and you will also work yourself.

I believed everything, but I doubted that I would work.

From my father, I came out quite strong. I lived in Pechory all summer and after the Dormition of the Mother of God I left for Leningrad. All relatives were surprised to see me on my feet and healthy. February 16, 1955, the day of the angel father, I was already working. In 1956, I received an old-age pension and to this day I live in Pechory and already take care of myself.

clairvoyance and miraculous farsightedness

An elderly man named Simeon came to Father Simeon from the city of Orel. He told the story of his friend, the elder Vasily Ivanovich. Vasily was originally from the Pskov region and came to live in the city of Orel while still young. He served as a novice under the Oryol Bishop for more than 30 years, and he fulfilled all obedience zealously. All the people of that region loved both the lord and his novice.

But in the early 1930s, Vladyka was exiled, and Vasily Ivanovich with him. When V.I. served his term, he was already old and infirm, but his relatives did not want to take him as a dependent.

Simeon and his Oryol friends decided to take Vasily Ivanovich to Oryol and jointly feed and care for him.

The old man Simeon told Father Simeon about all this and began to ask him for his blessing to carry out his decision. Batiushka blessed, but said: “But when you pass through the city of Pskov, get out of the car and look at the city.”

So Simeon did. Stop in Pskov 15 minutes. He left in Pskov, looks and does not believe his eyes: the guards are leading a group of arrested people, and among them Vasily Ivanovich, whom he was following.

Simeon immediately ran up to them and told the escort that he wanted to take V. I. as a dependent. For registration, you had to go to the police. While Simeon was making out, from V.I. the trace caught a cold. Then Simeon returned to Pechory to the priest, saying: "I found it and lost it." But the priest reassured him and said: “Go to Pskov, he is there with his sister.”

And so it turned out. Simeon immediately took V. I. and took him to Orel, where they live to this day.

(“Russian Pilgrim”, No. 6)

A prophetic dream to the father of the future patriarch

In the circle of close people, Patriarch Tikhon said:

“When I was still a very young boy, at that time my parent (John), a priest of the city of Toroptsy of the Pskov diocese, was subjected to the weaknesses of hard drinking for 4-5 days, and then came to his senses ... Once, after a hard drinking, my parent took all three of us children to the hayloft ... We soon all fell asleep, and my father also fell asleep. And now he sees: in a thin dream his mother appeared to him, and our grandmother, already deceased, and says: “My son, dear and dear, what are you doing, why are you succumbing to such a terrible destructive passion - drinking wine, remember, because you - priest, you are the builder of the mysteries of God, at the fulfillment of which the heavenly forces are coming with fear, you have been given the power to decide and bind the souls before you of those who repent to almighty God, and you forget all this and anger the Lord with your act. Then she asked him to correct himself, and then, turning to the children and pointing to the elder, she said that he would not be long-lived (and, indeed, he died after graduating from the seminary); pointing to the middle one, she said that he would be miserable (he soon died in America without finishing anything), and, pointing to me, my grandmother said to my father: “And this one will be great for you.” From that day on, my father completely abandoned his vice and did not return to it until his death.

(Moscow Journal, No. 4, 1992, p. 60).

miraculous rainbow

In 1991, the second acquisition of the relics of St. Seraphim took place. He labored in Sarov in the late 18th - early 19th centuries. In neighboring Diveevo, virgins labored in the monastery, Seraphim took care of them, taking care of their spiritual and material well-being in a fatherly way. And now, after many decades, the relics of the venerable elder Seraphim were returning to Diveevo. The return of the holy relics and the refurbishment of the Diveyevo Cathedral was accompanied by God's signs from heaven: the play of the rainbow and the play of the sun. The rainbow first became a sign of peace when Noah came out of the ark after the flood. And the sun plays on Orthodox Easter, in the morning. And here, in Diveyevo, the sun played in the evening, on the eve of the arrival of the relics, during the all-night vigil, around 18 pm. The sun did not blind, it was possible to look at it without blinking, the disk of the sun was in motion all the time, moving either to the left or to the right. It was amazing - so the sun played here on Easter, on the celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and all these days when the celebration of the finding of relics took place.

And when the last, fifth in a row, cross was installed at the Trinity Cathedral, a rainbow began to play. The believers gathered below the wall of the cathedral and accompanied the work of the steeplejacks with prayerful singing. Fifty people, without any control, harmoniously sang the troparion to the Cross, the Creed. Suddenly someone exclaimed:

Look rainbow!

A seven-colored rainbow really shone in the sky, stretching towards the temple. The rainbow then thinned, then grew, not disappearing for a moment. People knelt down, many wept - for joy. And while the cross was being strengthened on the dome, and prayers were sung from the earth, the rainbow played in the sky. Local residents said that whenever a cross was erected on the dome of the temple, a rainbow appeared in the sky. She also appeared on another day, when several people, before sunset, gathered to read an akathist to St. Seraphim.

(According to: "Russian Messenger", No. 19, 1991; "Reverend Seraphim of Sarov and his advice", 1993, pp. 169-170).

Prophetic vision of the 1917 revolution

In 1917, before the February Revolution, the priest of the Martha and Mary Convent in Moscow, Father Mitrofan (Serebrovsky), had a vision in a dream: three successive paintings.

First: a beautiful temple stands, and suddenly flames appear - and now the whole temple is on fire, a majestic and terrible sight.

Second: Saint Seraphim of Sarov kneels on a stone with raised hands in prayer.

And third: the image of the royal family in a black frame, from the edges of which shoots begin to grow, which then cover the entire image with white lilies.

Father Mitrofan told about the vision of the abbess of the monastery to Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna. She said that she could explain this dream. The first picture means that for our sins, iniquity and the impoverishment of love, the church and the country will be plunged into grave disasters: churches and monasteries will be destroyed, a terrible fratricidal war will begin. But Russia and the Church will not perish. Through the prayers of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the great saint of the Russian Church, and other saints and righteous of our homeland, Russia will be pardoned. The third picture means that there will be a revolution in Russia and royal family perish in atonement for his guilt before the people and those iniquities that were happening at the court (Rasputin and much more).

All this came true. At the same time, the restoration of the patriarchate in Russia took place - the prophecy of St. Seraphim of Sarov came true.

(Moscow Society, No. 1, 1992).

On the roof of the wagon

(Story by Maria Ar.)

Famine was then in Moscow. They gave each person an eighth of bread with chaff. There is nothing: no potatoes, no cereals, no cabbage, and they began to forget about meat.

Alexandra, Ekaterina and I came to our spiritual father Michael to ask for a trip for bread. Many leave with things and bring bread, why shouldn't we go.

Father Michael listened to us, shook his head disapprovingly, went up to the icon and prayed for a long time. Then he turned to us and said: “I entrust you to the Intercessor of our Mother of God. Take each according to the image of Vladimirskaya and pray to Her. She and Saint George will help you. Difficult, oh how difficult it will be. I will pray for you here too.” And as if not for us he said:

Mother of God and servant of God George, help them, save them and save them from danger, fear and reproach.

That's how we went. All the way they remembered why our father called St. George?

Relatives did not let us go for a long time, but we went. From Moscow they rode in teplushkas, where on the steps, in vestibules. September was coming to an end.

We changed a pood of flour and a pood of millet. We drag, we suffer, but we are very happy.

We got stuck far from Moscow. Everywhere barrage detachments take away bread. Trains are not boarded at stations. Only military trains go.

For three days they sat at the station, eating onions and chewing dry millet. I still feel the taste of it on my lips. During the night a large train of freight cars arrived. There was talk that this was a military one and was heading towards Moscow. In the morning the doors opened, the soldiers poured out of the wagons and went to change the peasants' apples, pickles, baked turnips, and onions. We are afraid to ask for a carriage. The women say that it is dangerous to climb into the wagons with the soldiers. They tell horrors.

Somewhere, cholera broke out. Scary and hopeless. That's when they remembered the words of Father Michael. The soldiers are sitting on the floor, on the bunk, smoking, laughing, spitting seeds, shouting: “Women, come to us! Let's ride! Let's go soon!" We fear. Several women decide to go. The soldiers jokingly drag them into the wagons.

Several women, including us young ones, decide to climb onto the roof of the car - there is no other way to go. With difficulty we climb the ladder, we drag the bags. The sun is baking. Spread out in the middle of the ribbed roof.

We pray. Almost everything on the rooftops is filled, mostly by women alone. The locomotive smokes unbearably, they heat it with firewood. Finally, the train moves forward and, picking up speed, moves forward.

A station filled with a noisy crowd of people floats by, some try to jump on buffers, steps, break down, fall and again make attempts to leave, but few succeed.

The train went out into the steppe, deaf, deserted. Black smoke from a locomotive. Sparks burn hands, face, burn clothes, bags. We brush aside the sparks, as if from flies, extinguish each other, shake ourselves off.

Sasha quietly asks that all three of us lie down with our heads to each other. We shift carefully, and Sasha reads us the akathist to the Vladimir Mother of God from memory. Reads it several times.

It is hot, stuffy, it is difficult to extinguish sparks and cling to the ridges of the roof. Bags move to the side, they constantly have to be corrected.

Let's go, let's go. Suddenly the train suddenly stops. People are jumping off the train, running along the train, discussing something. The train is standing. We are lying. The sun goes down below the horizon. Sparks no longer fly. I want to drink. The doors of the wagons open, the soldiers jump out, go to the rare roadside bushes, cursing without malice, laughing. We look down on them.

Suddenly, one of the soldiers exclaims: “Brotherhood, there are so many women on the roofs!” And instantly there is a change in mood. "Guys! Go to the women!

The cars are emptying, everyone is pouring onto the embankment. Many climb onto the roofs. Noise, laughter, screams, screams.

"God! - the thought flashes, - what to do? Soldiers appear on the rooftops, at first a few, but then more and more. Screams are heard from neighboring roofs, someone is asking, begging, crying. "Stalker! What are you doing? I am your mother!” - "Soldiers! don’t hurt the bread, at home the children are little, little, less hungry.” - "Your bread, aunt, we will not damage it, the authorities feed us." Boots knock on iron, booming, scary. Some of the women weep frantically, pray, some fight, jump from the roof, break. Several soldiers appear on our roof as well. I pray, turning to the Mother of God. Katya, clinging to me, cries and, sobbing, prays aloud. Sasha looks sternly - I know she will not give up, will not back down. I remember the words of Father Michael about St. George, I begin to ask him too.

Bypassing the other women, a soldier comes up to us, a high-cheeked face, a smooth cropped head, thoughtless slanting eyes. He grabs my hand and says reconcilingly: “Lie down, girl, I won’t offend!”. I push him away, start to back away and, looking at his face, I cross myself several times. Smiling wickedly, he advances, arms outstretched. On the roofs they swarm, fight, beg, surrender. Any struggle, of course, is meaningless, there are many soldiers, and they have absolutely no idea what they are doing. They think what is happening fun entertainment. Resistance will make them laugh and inflame them even more.

The slanting one is coming, I am retreating. Katya shouts: "The roof ends." There is nowhere to retreat. A sailor in a vest rises from below, tall, with an embittered face, on which, sparkle, sparkle, big eyes.

The sailor grabs my shoulders, pushes me aside and says in a strong, but trembling with anger voice: “Calm down, we’ll figure it out now, but you can always jump off the roof.” He steps towards the slanting man, beats him in the chest and says: “Well ... get out of here!” - after which the slanting one immediately jumps into the gap between the cars. A sailor walks along the roof, approaches a lying soldier, lifts him up by the collar and shouts: “What are you doing, contra, you are dishonoring the worker-peasant government and the army!”

The soldier swears desperately, tries to hit the sailor, but the sailor pulls out a revolver and shoots him in the face. Falling, the soldier slides off the roof and flies to the embankment.

The rally begins. Only women and a few male bagmen remain on the roofs. The rally lasted about fifteen minutes, but the locomotive began to give horns, the soldiers climbed into the cars, hastily burying the shot. The sailor, coming up to us, said: “Let's go, girls, to the car, you will get there calmly.”

They treated us very well in the carriage, fed and watered us. The sailor, his name was Georgy Nikolaevich Tulikov, was the commissar of the regiment. Sasha told him, an unfamiliar person, about us, about faith, about the university, about how we hoped for the help of the Mother of God and St. George, being on the roof. George listened thoughtfully to us, never judging us, never expressing ridicule.

Two or three times the train was met by barrage detachments, trying to remove the women sitting on the roof and enter the cars, but, met by the armed guards of the train, they retreated with abuse and threats. They took us to Podolsk, the train did not go further. Georgy and his companions put us on a suburban train, and we safely reached Moscow.

Saying goodbye, we thanked George and those of the military who rode in the car. In parting, George said: “Maybe we will meet, life is intertwined.”

And Sasha, our quiet Sasha, who always radiated moderation and calmness, went up to George, put her hands on his shoulders and said: “May God save you for good deeds and always be kind, sympathetic. Farewell!". And bowed low at the waist.

The joy of our relatives at our return was immeasurable, and we, having only had time to wash ourselves, hurried to Father Mikhail.

Father was already waiting for us. After listening to us, he said:

Thank you, Lord, for your great mercy. George sailor do not forget. Pray for him, one of you will still have to meet him, then be sure to help him.

More than twenty years have passed, the war year of 1943 was underway. Father Mikhail died in exile in 1934, and our prayer book Sasha died there with him in voluntary exile. Katya had been married for a long time, my connection with her broke. In 1943, I worked as a surgeon in a military hospital for 18-20 hours a day, I didn’t come home for weeks, I got to church from case to case.

The hospital was for officers, many wounded were brought. One colonel was brought unconscious. The wound is severe, neglected. They operated at night for more than four hours, they transfused blood several times. After the operation, I, as I was in operating clothes, collapsed exhausted and fell asleep.

She slept for four hours and immediately rushed to the patient. Slowly, life returned to him, there was a lot of trouble with him, but they came out. Every day I came to him three times, I really wanted to save him.

Came somehow on the twentieth day after the operation. He lies weak, pale, transparent, only his eyes barely glow. He looked at me and suddenly said quietly: “Mashenka! How many go to me, but you won’t know everything! ”

I was indignant, sharply told him that I was a military doctor, and not Mashenka. After all, she came with a whole group of doctors. And he:

Oh, Masha, and I remember you with Katya and Sasha all my life! - that's where the past got me. Shouted:

George! I rushed to him, hugging him. Doctors and sisters began to leave the ward out of delicacy, and I, like a girl, grabbed him by the head and cried.

I look, and on his bed there is a sign hanging, like everyone else, and on it: "George Nikolayevich Tulikov." Why didn't I notice this before?

George's eyes brightened even more. He said: "Go with the detour, then you will come in."

For two months I came to him after rounds and shifts. But his first question was: am I still a believer?

Sasha's stories then in the car left some kind of imprint in his soul, which was not erased, but made him treat faith, religion and people with caution, attention and goodwill. In 1939, being in the rank of colonel, he ended up in a camp. “There,” Georgy said, “I saw good and bad people, but of the many I met, I remember for the rest of my life a young man of about twenty-three, who brought so much kindness and warmth to people that everyone loved him, even camp criminals. So he introduced me to God, just introduced me. At the beginning of the forty-first year, Gleb (that was his name) died in the camp. And I was released in August and sent to the front with the rank of captain, now I have risen to the rank of colonel again. Before being wounded, he commanded a division, I will recover and go back to the front. Behind the Academy of the General Staff, civilian, Khalkhin Gol, Spain, Finnish war, and now here is the domestic one.

George and I parted ways as great friends. They corresponded throughout the war. And in 1948 he moved with his family to Moscow, they began to meet often. Retired at high rank, lives almost all the time near Moscow, raising grandchildren. We meet just as often, but our meetings are also in the Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Thy ways are inscrutable, O Lord!

(From the book: Father Arseniy, Moscow, 1993, Brotherhood in the Name of the All-Merciful Savior)

Deadly caverns

(From the stories of mother Arsenia)

Now she is a small, hunched-over old woman in a black velvet skullcap and a long monastic robe. She is eighty-four years old, but she still moves briskly, leaning on a stick, and does not miss a single church service. Her mother's name is Lyudmila.

Many years ago, she was a tall, slender novice, but everyone around looked at her with pity: cavities covered her lungs, and she lived last days, so said the famous Tallinn doctor, to whom Mother Abbess took her.

The young novice waited patiently for her death.

Once, on a clear spring day, Father John of Kronstadt arrived at the monastery. Joy swept over the inhabitants. Finding a convenient moment, the abbess, arm in arm, brought the patient to him.

Bless, dear father, our sick woman, she asked.

Father John carefully looked at the girl and shook his head sadly:

Oh, how sick, how sick!

And without taking his eyes off the patient, he touched her chest and made such a gesture as if he were gathering together some kind of spreading tissue. He collected it, squeezed it tightly with his fingers and even turned them to the side to make it stronger. Then he touched another place on his chest and, shaking his head, repeated the same gesture, then moved his hand further, and in this way, sighing contritely and praying, he seemed to be pulling together wounds invisible to those around him. Then he blessed the sick woman and very simply said:

Well, thank God: you will live and live long, it is true, you will get sick, but that is nothing.

No one attached much importance to the strange actions of the great father, but everyone noticed that after his departure the patient began to recover.

A year after this incident, Mother Abbess went to Tallinn and took the recovering girl with her to show for verification to the doctor who predicted her imminent death.

The old doctor was very surprised to see his patient recovered. After carefully examining her, he asked permission to take an x-ray of the lungs and, examining it, shook his head:

I don't understand anything! Your lungs were riddled with holes, but some powerful hand repaired them, closing the deadly cavities and scarring them. You should have died long ago, but you are alive and will live. Dear child, a great miracle has been performed on you!

(Collection "Uninvented Stories")

Orthodox do not have stigmata

Stigmata are special wounds or signs on the body that appear miraculously (we do not consider fake stigmata). Catholics usually have stigmata in those places where there were wounds from nails and spears in the body of Christ, and they are considered a sign of holiness, marked by God. The Orthodox do not have stigmata (as signs of holiness), there are no stigmatized saints. According to the teaching of the Church, only natural illnesses and sorrows endured patiently are sufficient for salvation.

Cases are known when malingerers have the diseases that they simulated, and precisely in those places where they pretended to indicate.

A cold five-kopeck coin was placed on the hypnotized man's hand and told that it was red-hot. In that place, a blister jumped up at him, as if from a burn.

In addition to these arbitrary, there are also involuntary stigmata. Here are three stories.

Yevgeny M-v, a resident of the city of B., said that before his wedding, a foot appeared on his chest - a distinct trace of a human foot, of a reddish color.

What's this? he asked. - Is this a sign that I will be under the heel of my wife?

The image of the foot on the chest disappeared after a few days. Moreover, it should be noted that he was not Orthodox then, did not go to church, did not read spiritual books, did not know anything about stigmata.

Second story. The woman was a witch. She was angry, lived alone, did not communicate with her neighbors, slandered and whispered - conjured. She admitted that she could not take a bath: if she saw a sore on one of the washing women, the sore immediately appeared in her, in the same place. Chiry, lichen or something else, as soon as he sees them, everything immediately goes to her.

It is clear that both unbelievers and sorcerers can have stigmata.

And here is the third case, exceptional. It was told by mother N., the wife of the Moscow priest V.

I never believed in stigmata (and I don't). I am Orthodox, and we cannot have stigmata. But then one morning I saw a cross on my arm, on the inside, above the wrist. The cross was even, reddish, with clear edges. Not knowing what it was, I was surprised and ... went to the doctor.

I show my hand to the doctor and ask: what is it?

The doctor looked in bewilderment and said:

You probably did this to yourself.

What for? I don't need sick leave...

But he remained with his opinion.

Conclusion: stigmata are not a sign of holiness or being marked by God- after all, God marks the rogue, says the proverb. And if God punished someone with a disease, this does not mean that that person is a saint. Obviously, only the self-deception of Roman Catholics allows them to consider these wounds a sign of holiness.

Myrrh-streaming icon in Canada

In 1982, in Montreal, near a particle of the relics of the New Martyr Elizabeth (Feodorovna), the Iberian Icon, a copy of the famous Athos Icon of the Mother of God, began to stream myrrh. It happened in Canada, in the home of the Orthodox Spaniard Jose Munoz. Here is a summary of his story.

Once, during a pilgrimage to Athos, we went to a skete where several Greek icon painters worked. I asked to sell me an icon of a wonderful letter - a copy of the miraculous Iberian. The abbot said: “You can’t take money for such a shrine. Take the icon, it should be with you.”

We returned to Canada. On November 3, 1982, I placed the icon next to the relics from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the New Martyr Elizabeth, which I received from the late Archbishop Leonty of Chile. All the time a lampada was burning in front of her, and every day before going to bed I read akathists before her.

November 24 at 3 am I woke up from the strong scent of roses. The whole room was filled with them. Looking around, I saw that the icon was covered with fragrant oil.

Soon they began to carry the myrrh-streaming icon to parishes. Orthodox Church and anoint the parishioners with this world.

The same oil, by the grace of God, was also brought to Russia.

Miracles in Optina Hermitage (1988; 1989)

November 11, 1988 at five o'clock in the evening in the Vvedensky Cathedral of Optina Hermitage, a miraculous phenomenon of blessed dew took place on the Kazan icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and the outflow of fragrant myrrh from the icon Saint Ambrose.

Witnesses of the miracle saw moisture appearing on the image of the Virgin, transparent as a tear. At first, a kind of perspiration appeared, and then drops appeared, gradually increasing. They were collected, the icon was wiped dry, and they appeared again in the same place or nearby on the orange-red robe of the Divine Infant, under His blessing hand. This was seen by the brethren, seen by the pilgrims who worked in the monastery. The dew was carefully removed from the icon, and immediately, before the start of the service, an akathist was read by Father Superior Archimandrite Evlogii, after which the dew reappeared. The all-night vigil, combined with the service to the miraculous image, ended at 10:30 p.m., and at 11:00 p.m. it became known that the icon of St. Ambrose began to exude myrrh.

This image of St. Ambrose was painted for Optina by a student at the Moscow Seminary with the participation of Father Superior Zinon. The image was constantly in the Vvedensky Cathedral next to the relics of St. Ambrose.

Here is how the witness, a novice of Optina, describes this event:

“First, a semblance of perspiration appeared on the icon - the smallest droplets of moisture (in the area corresponding to the heart of the monk). Soon a well-defined, oily, fragrant spot became clearly visible. Then drops, like brilliant beads, began to appear in other places - on the mantle of the monk and on the scroll in his hand, on which is written: "It is fitting to be compelled to grow in humility."

Droplets here and there ignited, increasing before our eyes, turned into full-fledged drops, and then some of them decreased and disappeared.

The outflow of the world was accompanied by fragrance. It acted as if in waves, now immediately capturing everyone, then disappearing to a barely perceptible level. Among the earthly smells, he cannot pick up a similar one. If you try to name the impression it makes, then it is, as it were, a fragrant, concentrated freshness.

The miracle that happened was simple and scary at the same time. At that time, the usual cleaning was going on in the temple, and people, as it were, did not notice the icon and the monks standing near it in amazement. What was happening before our eyes was striking in its simplicity. We, far from exaltation, calmly talked, exchanged impressions. Everyone felt the presence of the Monk Ambrose, whose gaze acquired wondrous depth and clarity. The canon was read to the reverend, we sang the magnificence ...

Gradually, the outflow of the world moved into the area of ​​the opened scroll, and several large drops appeared on the words "grow in humility."

Myrrh flow stopped at night.

Another witness of the miracle said the following: “That night I went to the temple at about two o'clock. There was no one in it, only a sleeping watchman, tired of impressions, and a novice reading a psalter near a myrrh-streaming icon. He finished reading, the ointment was carefully collected, and everyone left. I was left alone before the miraculous image. It was scary and joyful. I read the kathisma and went up to the icon. But there was nothing on it, except for a barely visible mark. I was upset that I might not see the miracle, but suddenly a brilliant dot of the world appeared again on the icon, turning into a drop before my eyes. The Lord, through the prayers of St. Ambrose, comforted me with the contemplation of a miracle.”

In the days that followed, the icon of the saint repeatedly began to stream myrrh. Thus, myrrh appeared on the icon on the name day of the late His Holiness Patriarch Pimen. There were other cases, one of which deserves special attention, because then the miraculous outflow of the world was able to be filmed. This was told by an eyewitness, Hierodeacon Sergius.

On September 17, 1989, after the liturgy, a filming of the program for the film festival in Amsterdam was being prepared. When asked by Father Sergius about his faith in God, the cameraman answered in the negative. It was not clear how to build a story about the monastery for an unbeliever, and Father Sergius went to venerate the relics of the monk, so that he would manage everything himself, and instruct him what to do and say. After everything was prepared for shooting, Father Sergius led the cameraman to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and told him the events we have already described related to this image. Then they moved to another chapel to the icon of the saint, and Father Sergius froze in amazement: two spots with streaks of myrrh were clearly visible on the icon. There was no one in the temple, except for the novices at the candle box at the other end of the cathedral. Father Sergius, in his own words, could not hide his surprise, which was impassively recorded by the camera. The operator remarked to him: "I see that something is happening to you." Father Sergius, in his own words, could not hide his surprise, which was impassively recorded by the camera. The operator remarked to him: "I see that something is happening to you." Father Sergius pointed to the reason. After that, a novice was called, and when a second witness appeared at the icon, filming began. Feeling the divine aroma, the operator exclaimed: “It’s a pity that you can’t remove the smell!”

The film was screened at the Amsterdam Film Festival and was a great success. So the monk, having “a sick heart for all those who flow to him in faith,” again went out to preach to the people, and the testimony of him spread beyond the distant confines.

In the modern world, fettered by godlessness that has invaded the flesh and blood of people, miracles like the one at Optina fill the soul of a Christian with ardent hope for the intercession of the Lady of Heaven and the saints.

Majestic and mysterious is the origin of these manifestations, emanating from the Kingdom of Heaven into our sinful world. How should we, Orthodox people, treat such signs?

Here is what we find about the signs in the works of Isaac the Syrian (Word thirty-sixth): this, thinking about the saints and wanting to show them that even for an hour he does not stop His secret care for them, but in every case allows them, to the best of their ability, to show their feat and work in prayer. If the matter requires discovery (God's obvious help), then for the sake of need, he does it; and His ways are the most wise, sufficient in scarcity and need, and not any accidental. Whoever unnecessarily dares to do this or prays to God and desires miracles and powers in his hands, he is tempted in his mind by a scoffer and a demon and turns out to be boastful and weak in his conscience.

In Russian chronicle texts there is a lot of evidence of myrrh-streaming, from which we see that miracles and signs were common at that time.

“For us, miracle-working is a heavenly sign of rebirth,” the rector explains these events, “it is given to us for repentance and strengthening prayer.”

According to the rector's father, the Queen of Heaven calls the brethren and all Orthodox to repentance, having manifested Her cry for the world in the dew of grace on

His holy icon. The constant memory of this miracle, as well as the grace-filled help of the myrrh-streaming image of the Monk Ambrose, the brothers should lay at the foundation of their spiritual life. This is indicated by the date - the day of the return of the monastery, for exactly one year after the decision to return the Optina Hermitage to the Russian Orthodox Church, the first miracle of myrrh-streaming took place here.

(“The Zealous Intercessor.” Hieroschemamonk Philadelph (Bogolyubov), M., Russian Spiritual Center, 1992).

The clairvoyance of Father Alexy († 1928), an elder of the Zosimovskaya Hermitage

Here are some cases recorded by his spiritual son I. N. Chetverukhin.

My friend from the theological academy, N. I. P., was once in 1908 with the priest for confession. Saying goodbye to him, the priest suddenly said about his sister: “Oh, your poor, poor sister!” N. I. P. did not understand the words of the priest, but when he arrived home, he found a notice from his mother that his sister had gone mad.

A similar case occurred in 1915 with a teacher who visited Father Alexy weekly. One day the father met her with the words:

Why did you come today? What for? I didn't expect you today. Are your brothers all alive?

Everyone, father, is alive, - she answered, perplexed about such a meeting.

Upon arrival in Moscow, she found a telegram about the death of her junker brother.

One friend told how one day, during the German war, she visited a priest who had just had a young woman who yearned for her husband, who was at the front. Father Alexy didn’t say anything to her, but our friend said: “I just had Olechka, she yearns for her husband, but her husband was killed.” How could the priest know this, the Lord knows him, but two weeks after that Olya was sent a notice of her husband's death.

(Moscow Journal, No. 4, 1992, p. 7)

The prophet Jonah was in the belly of a whale

The fact that the prophet Jonah was in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights is told in the Bible. The prophet Jonah lived in the eighth century BC - that is, two thousand eight hundred years ago. And now, in the twentieth century, honest scientists have presented evidence that the event with the prophet Jonah is true. But not so long ago, pseudoscientists claimed that the whale could not swallow Jonah, and this lie was claimed for almost two hundred years. But now, by the providence of God, some discoveries and events of the 20th century have changed the opinion of even notorious atheists. Here is evidence of the veracity of the Bible based on an article from the book: Law of God, compiled by Archpriest Seraphim, printing house of the Monk Job of Pochaevsky, 1967, pp. 231-233.

Superficial and unbelieving critics believe that there are many obstacles to admitting that Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale and that the prophet was in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights, and then was cast out onto dry land.

Of course, no person who believes in Christ can doubt what happened to the prophet Jonah, for Christ Himself put a seal on this subject when He said: “for as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights ”(). Here Christ refutes - at least as far as his disciples were concerned - the idea that the book of the prophet Jonah is an allegory (allegory), as critics like to assume. For if it is said only in an allegorical sense that Jonah was in the belly of a whale, then the conclusion follows that the sojourn of Christ in the heart of the earth, for three days and three nights, also has the meaning of only allegory. Here again we have an example of how the denial of the Old Testament paves the way for the denial of Christ Himself and His words.

To deny the story of the prophet Jonah is tantamount to a denial of the entire Holy Scripture, which means to renounce the faith. Is it still not enough for man those numerous defeats, the so-called "scientific objections" against the holy Bible? How many times have the refutations and mockery of the “wise men of this age” over the holy Bible turned against them. After all, a simple acquaintance with the text of the original and some scientific knowledge give us an answer in many ways.

It is known that the original of the holy Bible (Old Testament) is written in Hebrew, and the New Testament is written in Greek.

But in Hebrew (as the Old Testament and, in particular, the book of the prophet Jonah is written), the whale is called the word "tannin." In the Bible, in the Old Testament, the sea creature, which swallowed Jonah, is not called the word "tannin", but the word "dag", and the word "dag" means "big fish" or "monster of the depths".

The Holy Church has been testifying to this for more than 1500 years, calling this creature that swallowed Jonah a "water beast." So, for example, in the irmos of the 6th song of the Friday canon at Matins, tone 8th, it is said (in Slavonic): ““ The “water beast” in the womb, Ion spread his hands crosswise, foreshadowing the saving passion of reality.”

In the 6th song of the morning canon, on Tuesday, tone 5th, it is said: “Lord, Thou didst deliver a prophet from the beast, and raise me up from the depths of uncontrollable passions, I pray.”

Also in the irmos of the Sunday canon of the Cross at Matins, tone 6, ode 6: the creature that swallowed Jonah is called not only a whale, but a beast.

And in the irmos of the 6th ode of the Tuesday canon at Matins, tone 2, it is said: “But like Jonah from the beast, raise me up from the passions, and save me.”

And on Wednesday at Matins, in the irmos of the 6th song, voice of the 3rd, the Theotokos canon, it is said: “save the Savior, as if you saved the prophet from the beast.”

And in the Sunday canon at Matins, in the irmos of the 6th song, tone of the 7th, it says: “Floating in the rumor of worldly cares, with the ship we sink sins, and are swept away by the strangled beast, like Jonah, Christ, I cry to you: raise up from the deadly depths me."

Many more texts from the Irmologia (collection of irmos) can be cited, which speak of a water beast.

And now for the whales. In science, various breeds of whales are known. So, for example, there is a genus of whales with 44 teeth in the lower jaw and reaching 60–65 feet in length (18–20 meters). But they have a very small throat. Probably, this was the reason for asserting that Jonah could not have been swallowed by the whale.

There is another type of whale, the so-called "bottle-nose" or "beaked". This is a small whale, up to 30 feet long (9 meters). Although it is small, it has a fairly large throat and could easily swallow a human. But the prophet could not be devoured by him, because he chews food and has teeth. That is, he would rather chew Jonah than vomit out of himself.

There are whales that do not have teeth, but are equipped with a "whalebone". Among this type of whales there are whales called "Fin-Buck". These whales are up to 88 feet (26 meters and 40 cm) long. The stomach of such a whale has from 4 to 6 chambers or compartments, and in any of them a small group of people could easily fit. This type of whale breathes air, has an air reserve chamber in its head, which is an extension of the nasal cavities. Before swallowing an object that is too large, the Fin-Buck whale pushes it into this chamber. In the event that there is too large an object in the head of this whale, then it swims to the nearest land, lies down in shallow waters and throws out the burden.

Scientist Dr. Ranson Harvey testifies that his friend, weighing 200 pounds (about 80 kilograms), crawled from the mouth of a dead whale into this air chamber. The same scientist points out that a dog that fell overboard of a whaling ship was found alive in the head of a whale after 6 days. From what has been said, it is clear that Jonah could stay in the "womb", that is, in the air chamber of such a whale for 3 days and 3 nights and remain alive. So from scientific data and from direct experience, we can see that Jonah could have been swallowed by a whale.

But the biblical word "dag" refers to "big fish". From this we can conclude that Jonah really could have been devoured by a sea creature - a large fish. In this case, you should point to a fish called "whale shark" or "bone shark."

The whale shark got its name from the fact that it has no teeth. The whale shark reaches 70 feet in length (21 meters), straining food through large plates (whiskers) in the mouth. This shark has an ample stomach to accommodate a human.

And the fact that Jonah stayed in the belly of a large sea creature for three days and three nights and remained alive can be said in the words of Scripture: “with God everything is possible.” Then it is not useless to recall the report in the Literary Digest that a sailor was devoured by a shark whale. After 48 hours (i.e., after two days), the shark was killed.

When the shark whale was opened, then what was the surprise of all those gathered when they found the sailor, swallowed by this beast, alive, but only in an unconscious state. Moreover, the sailor had no consequences of his stay in the belly of a whale shark, except for hair loss and several blisters on the skin. Then the sailor told, having come to his senses, that only fear did not give him rest when he was in the belly of the whale. As soon as he regained consciousness and understood where he was, he immediately lost consciousness again.

Recently, writes Father I.S., Japanese fishermen killed a great white shark in the Hawaiian Islands. A complete human skeleton was found in her stomach. It turned out that it was a soldier on the list of deserters in clothes of the North-Am. army.

So, we see that Jonah could be swallowed up by a large fish even without violating the natural laws of nature. All "absurdities" and "contradictions" disappear. The word of God is true and unchanging; it can never be in conflict with true science.

But nevertheless, for us, believing people, it is quite obvious that in the event with the prophet Jonah, the power of God certainly acted. For the Lord, as the Creator of the very laws of nature, has the free will to manage them, if He needs it, according to His providence.

Miracles through the prayers of St. Seraphim (Sobolev)

Mother's prediction came true

The mother of Vladyka Seraphim (Sobolev), in terrible suffering, could not be relieved from the burden, and by decision of the doctors, it was required to proceed with the operation - extracting the baby in parts, in order to save the life of the parent. Having regained consciousness and learned about the decision of the doctors, she with an oath forbade her husband: to prevent the murder of her baby. After a night spent in terrible agony, at the first stroke of the church bell on December 1, 1881 at 5 o'clock in the morning, the baby was born by itself without any outside help. Then the mother asked: "Show me my offspring, from which I almost died," and when the child was brought, she said: "Oh, what a serious mukhtar was born."

After that, the family sometimes called him "mukhtar". Only many years later he learned from a book that in Arabic the word "mukhtar" means "bishop". Nikolai (as he was called at baptism) became Bishop Seraphim in 1920 on October 1, on the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. So the mother's prediction came true, after 39 years.

A book was published in Greece in 1991, which contains 27 brief descriptions of the miracles of St. Seraphim, performed by the Lord through his prayer during the life of the saint and after his death. Here are two of the posthumous miracles.

Rescue of the collector

(An official E.K. tells)

When my close relative, a deeply religious person, spoke about the miraculous deliverance of a young soldier from death by St. Seraphim, listening to her, I did not imagine that in the same 1952 I would fall into terrible trouble and also receive wondrous help from Archbishop Seraphim. That's what happened to me.

In mid-July 1952, I was ill. I suddenly receive a message from the Insurance Institute (the events take place in Bulgaria), where I worked as a collector, to appear about the audit that was done in my absence. I immediately went to my institution. The auditor told me that the audit had already been completed and I was accused of misusing the amount of 4.800.000 levs (leva). All that remained was to write the act and to sign it. After all this, I felt sick. The inspector cold-bloodedly offered to have lunch and then sign the revision act, which he himself would draw up after dinner.

I walked out staggering, powerless and broken. In desperation, she headed for the city center with the intention of throwing herself under a tram. Suddenly, at that fateful moment, I clearly remembered the miracle of Vladyka Seraphim with the young man. I had hope that he would help me.

I hurried to the Russian Church, asked to be allowed into the crypt (underground chapel), and there I prayed for a long time, with tears, asking Vladyka Seraphim to reveal my innocence. By three o'clock in the afternoon, I went to the institute with fear. However, for some reason the auditor did not appear either that day or the next. Then I found out that during lunch he became very ill and was taken to the hospital, where he died suddenly!

A new auditor was sent to take his place. He did not want to sign someone else's revision act and wished to check everything himself from the beginning. After careful scrutiny, he discovered that a deliberate falsification had been made. It turned out that the documents of the other two collectors, who abused the amount of 4.800.000 levs, were replaced and transferred to me. It so happened that in a short time death suddenly mowed them down too! Subsequently, I learned that the first auditor brought many collectors to prison and most of them suffered innocently.

E.K. ends his story with the words: “Glory to God and His saint, Archbishop Seraphim, through whose prayers the Lord defeated human untruth with His Divine truth!”

A prophetic dream for a woman, a taxi driver

A woman, a taxi driver (Bulgaria), said that she had not had children for many years. Once she dreamed that a baby was lying in her car and crying. She wondered where this child came from. Suddenly he hears in a dream the answer: "From the street of the Tsar Liberator No. 3."

In the morning the woman went with interest to see what was at that address. She was very surprised when she realized that this was the address of the church.

Entering the church, she told her strange dream to church ministers, who advised her to pray at the grave of Archbishop Seraphim. Soon a child was born to her and she glorified God and Lord Seraphim.

The Miracle of the Descent of the Holy Fire

Every year, before Easter, in an Orthodox church in Jerusalem.

In the first collection, "Orthodox Miracles in the 20th Century," we already wrote about the miracle of the descent of the Holy Fire, and we also mentioned this in the second collection. And now, in the third book, - new evidence.

This miracle, unique in its magnitude in the history of Christendom, takes place every year. Recall that the miracle of the convergence of fire takes place in an Orthodox church, on Orthodox Easter, celebrated according to the Orthodox, old style, when the Orthodox patriarch performs the service. The attempt of the Catholic bishop to accept the Holy Fire ended in failure, or rather, the punishment of the Lord: the sacred fire did not descend inside the temple, but lightning struck a tree near the temple, scorching the tree and splitting it. No one else from the non-Orthodox dared to illegally receive the sacred fire.

This miracle is performed in the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, in Jerusalem. The fire descends by itself, from God - not ignited by any person, neither by matches, nor by lighters, nor by other human inventions. For this purpose, the patriarch is specially checked before entering, and carefully, by non-believers.

The descending fire is called grace-filled, because it brings with it grace from God - grace that sanctifies a person, frees from sins, heals diseases, gives talents and spiritual gifts. The Greeks call this fire the holy light: agios-fotos. The first moments this fire does not scorch, does not burn, then it becomes ordinary, spontaneous.

The descent of the sacred fire is described by different eyewitnesses who lived in different centuries in a very similar way, with minor differences that only complement each other. For if their descriptions were identical, there would be a suspicion that one is copying from the other.

The Bible says: “in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word will stand,” that is, two or three witnesses are needed for reliability.

So we, for comparison and perfect reliability, will give descriptions of two eyewitnesses of the convergence of fire, one who lived in the 19th century, the other in the 20th century.

In 1859, Mrs. Varvara (B. d. S.-I.) was present at the descent of the Holy Fire and described this miracle in a letter to her spiritual father Abbot Anthony.

On Great Saturday in the Feodorovsky Monastery, early in the morning, all the nuns and pilgrims tied small colorful candles into bundles so that each bundle consisted of 33 candles - in memory of the number of Christ's years.

At 10 o'clock in the morning, after the liturgy, our Orthodox on the tomb of the Lord put out the lamps, and in the church all the candles. (The Holy Sepulcher is the burial place of the Lord Jesus Christ, a former crypt, and now a chapel).

In the whole city, and even in the circumference, not a spark of fire remained. Only in the homes of Catholics, Jews and Protestants did the fire not go out. Even the Turks follow the Orthodox and on this day they come to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. I saw their children holding bundles of candles and spoke to them through an interpreter. There were also adults with children.

At 12 noon, the doors of the temple are open, and the cathedral is full of people. All without exception, old and young, go to the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord. Through the crowd of people, we hardly made our way there. All five tiers of choirs were full of pilgrims, and even on the walls, where it was possible to hold on somehow, there were Arabs everywhere. One drew upon himself Special attention: he sat down on the handle of a large candelabra in front of the icon and put his daughter, seven years old, on his knees. Bedouins with shaved heads, women with money strung on their heads and on their noses and covered with white veils, with children of different ages, ran into the temple from the mountains. Everyone was fussing, bustling about, impatiently waiting for the blessed fire. Turkish soldiers stood between the pilgrims and calmed the worried Arabs with their guns.

Catholic monks and Jesuits looked at all this with curiosity, among them was our Russian Prince Gagarin, who converted 18 years ago to the Latin Church.

The royal gates were open, and the highest clergy of all Christian denominations could be seen there. (The Resurrection Cathedral is the only place on earth where representatives of all faiths are present together, as an exception to the rule, which nevertheless confirms the rule: you cannot pray with heretics).

For the first time, the Patriarch of Jerusalem happened to be present here - in previous years he lived in Constantinople. However, his viceroy, Metropolitan Peter Meletius, was in charge of the altar, and he himself received the Holy Fire. Since Sunday (the week of Vay), the Metropolitan has not eaten anything except prosphora, and did not even allow himself to drink water; from this he was paler than usual, however, he calmly spoke with the clergy.

Everyone had a bunch of candles in their hands, and others who stood in the choirs lowered several such bunches on wires and these bunches hung along the walls to receive heavenly fire. All the lamps are filled with oil, there are new candles in the chandeliers: the wicks are nowhere burned. Gentiles with incredulity carefully wipe all the corners in the Cuvuklia (Cuvuklia is the place of the Holy Sepulcher where the body of Christ lay), and they themselves put cotton wool on the marble board of the Holy Sepulcher.

The solemn moment is approaching, everyone's heart beats involuntarily. Everyone is focused on the thought of the supernatural, but some have doubts, others, the pious, pray with the hope of God's mercy, while others, who have come out of curiosity, indifferently wait for what will happen.

Here a ray of the sun flashed into the hole above Kuvuklia. The weather is clear and hot. Suddenly a cloud appeared and blocked the sun. I was afraid that there would no longer be the Holy Fire and that the people would tear the Metropolitan apart from vexation. Doubt darkened my heart, I began to reproach myself, why did I stay, why was it necessary to expect an unrealizable phenomenon? As I thought about it, I became more and more worried. Suddenly everything in the church went dark. I felt sad to the point of tears; I prayed earnestly... The Arabs began to shout, sing, beat their breasts, pray aloud, raise their hands to the sky; kavas and Turkish soldiers began to appease them. The picture was terrible, general anxiety!

Meanwhile, in the altar, they began to clothe the Metropolitan - not without the participation of the Gentiles in this. The Clear helps him to put on the silver surplice, girds him with a silver cord, puts on his shoes; all this is done in the presence of the Armenian, Roman and Protestant clergy. Having dressed, they lead him arm in arm with a bare head between two walls of soldiers, preceded by smart kavass, to the door of Kuvuklia and lock the door behind him. (Edicule is empty, it is preliminarily searched).

And here he is alone at the tomb of the Lord. Silence again. A cloud of dew descends on the people. I also got it on my white batiste dress.

In anticipation of fire from the sky, everything is silent, but not for long. Again anxiety, shouting, rushing about, praying; those who are worried are again appeased. Our mission was at the pulpit above the royal gates: I could see the reverent expectation of His Grace Cyril. I also looked at Prince Gagarin, who was standing in the crowd. His face expressed sadness, he gazed intently at Cuvuklia.

In the front room, on both sides of the Kuvuklia, there are round holes in the walls, through which the abbots and abbots of the surrounding monasteries serve candles to His Eminence Viceroy (Metropolitan).

Suddenly, a bunch of lighted candles appears from a side hole... In an instant, Archimandrite Seraphim passes the candles to the people. At the top of Kuvukliya, everything is lit: lamps, chandeliers. Everyone shouts, rejoices, crosses themselves, weeps for joy, hundreds, thousands of candles transmit light one to another ... Arabs burn their beards, Arab women bring fire to their naked necks. In crowded places fire permeates the crowds; but there was no occasion for a fire to break out. The general delight cannot be described: this is an indescribable miracle. After the sun - immediately a cloud, then dew - and fire. The dew falls on the cotton wool that lies on the tomb of the Lord, and the wet cotton wool suddenly ignites with a blue flame. The viceroy touches the cotton wool with unburned candles - and the candles are lit with a dull bluish flame. The viceroy passes the candles lit in this way to the persons standing at the holes. It is remarkable that at first from such a multitude of candles in the church - half light; faces are not visible; the whole crowd is in some kind of blue fog. But then everything is illuminated and the fire burns brightly. Having passed the fire to everyone, the governor comes out of Kuvuklia with two huge bunches of lit candles, as with torches.

The Arabs, as usual, wanted to carry him in their arms, but Vladyka evaded them and himself, as if in a fog, walked with quick steps from Kuvuklia to the altar of the Resurrection Church. Everyone tried to light his candle from his candles. I was in the way of his procession and also lit it. He seemed transparent; he was all in white; inspiration burned in his eyes: the people saw him as a messenger from heaven. Everyone wept for joy. But, behold, an indistinct rumble passed among the people.

Unintentionally, I looked at Prince Gagarin - his tears were flowing in a hail and his face was shining with joy. Yesterday he extolled the advantages of the Roman confession, but today, amazed at the effect of heavenly grace, bestowed only on Orthodoxy, he sheds tears. Is this not the late fruit of repentance?...

The patriarch accepted the viceroy into his arms. And the Bedouins, in wild delight, gather in a circle and dance in the middle of the church, beside themselves with joy, stand on each other's shoulders, sing and pray until they fall exhausted. Nobody stops them.

Mass followed, after which everyone runs to light the lamps: some go home, some go to Elijah the Prophet, to the Holy Cross Monastery, some go to Bethlehem, some go to Gethsemane. Lights through the streets during the day, with sunlight- an extraordinary sight!

His Eminence, Viceroy Peter Meletius said that for 30 years now, as God has been worthy of him to receive heavenly fire:

Now grace has already descended on the tomb of the Lord, when I went up to Kuvuklia: it is clear that you all prayed earnestly, and God heard your prayers. And it happened that I prayed for a long time with tears, and the fire of God did not descend from heaven until two o'clock in the afternoon. And this time I already saw him, as soon as they locked the door behind me! Has the dew fallen on you?

I replied that even now traces of dew were still visible on my dress, like wax stains. "They will remain forever," said Vladyka. This is true: I gave the dress to be washed 12 times, but the stains are still the same.

I asked what Vladyka felt when he left Kuvuklia, and why did he walk so soon? “I was like a blind man, I didn’t see anything,” he answered, “and if they didn’t support me, I would have fallen!” This was noticeable: his eyes did not seem to look, although they were open.

This is the summary of the letter of Mrs. Barbara B. de S.-I.

In this description, one should especially pay attention to the fact that there is not one miracle, but two: in addition to the blessed fire, the blessed dew also descends from the blessed cloud. This is confirmed by another eyewitness, the monk Parthenios from Mount Athos. He says: after the patriarch leaves the tomb of the Lord, “the people rush inside the tomb of the Lord to venerate; and I (monk Parthenius) was honored to venerate. The entire tomb of Christ was wet, supposedly soaked in rain; but I couldn't find out why. In the middle of the tomb of the Lord stood that great lamp, which itself lit up, and burned with great light. (M., 1855, monk Parthenius).

And here is what an eyewitness says about the blessed fire that descended in 1982.

The time is 10 o'clock, there are four hours left until the Holy Fire.

They have already sealed the doors of Kuvuklia, put a seal of wax. The Arabs are now in procession.

Noise, screams, music. Arabs turn to God very violently, with a southern temperament.

Patriarch Diodorus walks past us. In a few minutes, the patriarch will enter the tomb of the Lord in one tunic. At the door of the Coffin are a Coptic and an Armenian. They will stand as witnesses to the receiving of the blessed fire.

On this day, every Orthodox Christian, every believer tries to come to the Church of the Resurrection. Pilgrims come from different countries.

The patriarch has already entered Kuvukliya, now he will pray for the sending of the Holy Fire.

... The Holy Fire descended unusually quickly this year.

Screams, noise, crying.

Everyone lights candles with blessed fire, stretches out candles, hundreds of hands are visible, and the whole temple seems to be lit, there are lights all around, huge bunches of candles, 2-3 bunches in each hand. The whole temple is illuminated.

Leaving the temple, we see: all the streets of Jerusalem are crowded with people, everyone carries the Holy Fire.

Here are the stories of some of the sisters after the convergence of the fire.

I saw fire around Kuvuklia and around the dome of the temple, in the form of triangular lightning.

Experiencing joy, some sisters wept, even sobbed around me when the blessed fire descended.

And there were Russians from Belgium near me. "Hooray!" they shouted.

Who has joy, who has tears. In general, there is no such mood as in our church in Russia.

What a merciful Lord: after all, they are swearing nearby, and the police are separating someone, anything can happen ... but grace descends, everyone can see it equally.

The sisters say that grace still manifests itself after the first descent, after the fire.

I see it sparkles again over Cuvuklia, around Cuvuklia lightning in such zigzags, then it sparkles there, then on the very dome of Cuvuklia ... Suddenly a ball appeared (like ball lightning). At some point, it suddenly fell apart, flashing in a zigzag. Immediately we all jumped up: grace! What a miracle.

We are all waiting. Suddenly everyone whistled, I look, right on the image of the Resurrected blue ball descended. And the patriarch comes out, he has already received the Holy Fire.

We come to Golgotha, suddenly the whole temple will shine again, and again grace is on Golgotha!

When I first came here, I was told that grace heals. My hands were so ill with rheumatism, they were all twisted. “Lord,” I think, “I will put my hands on the Light, directly on grace.” And grace is warm and does not bake. I apply and feel, the Lord gave me consolation, - for joy I don’t remember what kind, hot or cold fire. And with such joy I walked to the Mission building, I didn’t feel anything, whether there was an illness or not, but there was only such joy in my soul that you couldn’t convey it. I did not know for joy what to do, cry or scream

So, the testimonies of different centuries unambiguously converge: the Holy Fire happens every year. But the miracle is not one, but two: in addition to fire, there is also dew from the cloud. And the blessed fire accompanies the manifestation of lightning, not only inside Kuvukliya, but also outside it, outside the Church of the Resurrection and in other sacred places in Jerusalem, consecrated by the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(According to the book: The Holy Fire over the Holy Sepulcher. Author Archimandrite of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Naum. Peresvet Publishing House, Moscow, 1991)

Saint Seraphim healed me

In the summer I was visiting. Heat, stuffiness. I leaned against the ice radiator - a pleasant coolness spread over my body. But after a while, the left side, with which I pressed against the battery, fell ill. From acute pain sometimes I did not know where to go. He was treated, applied wool, fur, skin to his side, stroked with a warm iron, applied his palm, in general, did everything, but nothing helped. Minute consolations were replaced again by aching pains.

Several years have passed. I was visiting in another house. We took turns reading the akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov. The grace of God surrounded us, we felt the presence of God: our hearts burned with joy and bliss. I felt behind my back the presence of the Monk Seraphim. I saw him, but not with my eyes, not with the back of my head, but with my whole body, as if my whole body were a single eye. Mentally, I turned to the reverend:

Father Seraphim, just touch my left side with your finger, right here - and, I believe, he will be healed! Just touch, father!

And suddenly, he approached me and - I feel, I see how the Monk Seraphim plunged his finger into my right side in the lumbar region and, without removing his finger, ran it inside from the right side to the left. At that moment I felt: I am healed! It was amazing: I expected that he would touch the left side, but he started from the right side, and did not touch, but plunged his finger into the body, as into water. Thank God! - mentally, with fear, I thanked, without interrupting the reading of the akathist. - Thank you, Father Seraphim!

About fifteen years have passed since the healing, and I remember everything as if it were yesterday.

(Vladimir)

Maybe the birds and beasts will pray to the Lord?

Gathered to hunt. We drank. One of the hunters fell asleep after drinking and died in his sleep.

What should relatives do? The Bible says that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God. So you can't bury him in church? But after all, he did not die from drunkenness (although he was drunk).

In general, they buried in the church, ordered to remember for forty days. But they feel that they have done little.

The relatives thought and decided: to collect money and send it to the monks on Athos - this is a mountain where only monks live. Let them pray to God.

Collected a hundred rubles and sent. It takes about a year. A letter arrives from Mount Athos: the monks write that they prayed, but could not plead with the Lord.

Relatives consulted: what to do? They probably didn't send enough money. With difficulty they collected another hundred rubles and sent them to the monks: pray.

Another six months or a year passes, a letter arrives from Athos from the monastic brethren and with a letter two hundred rubles of money. The letter says: take back your two hundred rubles. We prayed to the Lord for your deceased, but, apparently, our prayers are not pleasing to the Lord - He does not accept them. Or maybe your deceased was a great sinner?

And you better do this: buy with this money, for two hundred rubles, grain for birds, food for all kinds of forest animals and scatter it in the forest - maybe the birds and animals will pray to the Lord.

(Collection "Uninvented stories"; V. G.)

Notes

Elder Zakharia (1850–1936) - Schema-Archimandrite of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He was buried in Moscow at the German cemetery.

Elder Simeon died in 1960. Among the novices, his name was Vasily. Most of the information about him was preserved in the record of Alexandra's mother.

Corruption is a disease induced by someone on a person or on cattle. Some of the Orthodox do not recognize damage, believing that this is just a disease allowed by God as a punishment or admonition. Corruption is only a common name for a disease that, under the influence of a demon, is caused by a sorcerer or sorceress. Corruption does not work on saints.

Cavern (lat. caverna) - a cavity that occurs in an organ during the destruction of its tissues (mainly in the lungs with tuberculosis).

In recent years, many foreign preachers have visited Russia, ostensibly to evangelize it, but in fact to fight against the Orthodox Church. Several times, in particular, on Russian television they showed a Catholic stigmatist who preached his heterodoxy. In the spring of 1992, many Muscovites attended his performances, which were held at one of the largest sports arenas in the capital. Considering this, we decided to place stories about the falsity of stigmata in general.

What is a miracle? “Nature’s statutes are conquered in You, Pure Virgin…” is sung in a church hymn for the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. That is, the ever-virginity of the Theotokos and Her Dormition, when She, after the end of Her earthly life, was taken with her body to heaven, are supernatural phenomena that overcome the usual laws, the “statutes” of nature. And any Divine miracle is the overcoming of ordinary physical laws.

But we know that the Lord Himself is the Creator and Legislator of physical statutes and it is in His power, if necessary, to cancel these laws.

Miracles are supernatural, divine interventions in our lives.

Many miracles of the Savior are described in the Gospel. He turned water into wine, healed the paralyzed, the lepers, the deaf, the blind from birth, resurrected the dead, walked on water, prophesied and fed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread. His followers, disciples - the holy apostles - also performed miracles (this is mentioned in the books of the New Testament). Many miracles are described in the lives of the holy ascetics, and almost every life tells of miracles. But both the apostles and the saints performed miracles not by themselves, but by the power of God. Only the Creator of laws can overcome, change these laws. You can't do anything without me(John 15:5). But the Lord often gives His saints grace gifts to help people and glorify the name of God.

Miracles, signs, cases of grace-filled help have been constantly performed in the history of the Church, they are being performed in our time and will not cease to occur until the end of time, while the Church of Christ stands. But even during His earthly life, and now, the Lord does not perform miracles too often. Otherwise, there will be no place for the exploit of our faith. Miracles, signs of the power of God, are needed to strengthen faith, but there are never too many of them. In addition, a miracle must be earned, it is given according to the faith of the one asking.

But there are miracles in the life of the Orthodox Church that happen constantly, for many centuries now. They comfort us, strengthen us, and testify to the truth of our faith. This is the miracle of the Holy Fire, the descent of a cloud on Mount Tabor on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the miracle of holy baptismal water, the flow of myrrh from holy icons and relics.

And in general, isn't the whole life of the Church one continuous miracle? When the grace of God is constantly at work in the Sacraments of the Church, when every liturgy is followed by the greatest miracle on earth—the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of the Savior! Yes, and every Christian who has experience of prayer and spiritual life constantly feels in his life the supernatural presence of God, His strong and strong helping hand.

At all times, man has striven for a miracle, longed for the supernatural fulfillment of desires or the resolution of problems. Not so long ago, people were fond of science fiction, but now, having had enough of scientific and technological progress, they were drawn to mysticism. But is it as innocent and safe as it might seem at first glance? What is a miracle in our life and how to distinguish a true miracle from a false one - the well-known Orthodox theologian Deacon Andrei Kuraev discusses this.
Father Andrei, what do you think is a miracle and what role do miracles play in the life of a modern person?

– I think that every person is doomed to reproduce the situation of his own spiritual birth. It turned out that I did not come to God, to the Church through miracles. Before me was a philosophical question: the search for truth, the meaning of life. I became a believer by an effort of will and thought, I was not shocked by these or those miracles. That is why even to this day I am not inclined to put miracles at the head of the spiritual life. A miracle in itself proves only that the world is not reduced to senseless acts of nature, to a material structure, that there is a superhuman, super-ordinary reality. But what is this reality, what is its name, what is its purpose for us? Different religious traditions answer this question in their own way. And therefore a miracle cannot prove the truth of Orthodoxy or Christianity.

I remember walking along the Arbat in 1988. Then the Arbat was an open area, the first street preachers, mostly Hare Krishnas, wandered there. I struck up a conversation with one of them. And he says: “Yes, your Christ, he is just a failed yogi. I, too, can fly through the air.” I had to answer that I don’t doubt his abilities and don’t even ask to demonstrate them, Because I’m not an atheist, but a Christian, for me there is no problem that there are miracles, I have a question - what kind of spirit are you, what is the source of your miracles. I also remember talking with one Krishnaite girl. She still walked in the usual secular dress, which means she was not in the sect for long. And so I ask her: “Tell me, please, during your communication with these guys, has something changed in you?” “Yes, of course, I have learned to experience the transcendental pleasure of the Mahamantra! She gives so much!” – “Tell me, what else has changed in your life?” The girl was surprised and asked what exactly could change. I explained: “Well, maybe the attitude towards people, towards friends, towards parents. Maybe there is more love for these people.” “No,” he says, “probably no. Everything remains the same.”

For me, this is indicative. After all, the main miracle that can happen in the world is not the rearrangement of Everest from place to place, but the rearrangement of the mountains of one’s sins, addictions, habits. Christ does not say, “blessed are those who work miracles,” but “blessed are those who have mercy.”

In Orthodoxy, the main thing is to change your inner peace. So the truth of Orthodoxy is proved not so much by miracles or prophecies, but by the fact that people from whom it seemed impossible to expect any repentant changes are changing.

In order not to talk about politicians who once preached one thing, and now they say something else, let's remember people who can hardly be suspected of utilitarian thinking, of insincerity. For example, the actress Ekaterina Vasilyeva. The person lived in the theatrical world, the world of “hanging out”, where everyone catches only their own reflection ... She had everything, and above all - a good image in those circles that were authoritative for her. And suddenly she challenges her environment (her own, not the official one, which is much more difficult, because it is easier to go against state power than against court authorities). Leaves the theater, becomes a church elder (now, thank God, the neophyte quarantine is over, and she has begun acting again). Isn't it a miracle?

Or rock musicians. From the point of view of the church, there are no people more distant from it. There is an opinion in the mass church consciousness that rock is satanism, imbecility, debauchery, drug addiction... And suddenly the people who live for this music - Yuri Shevchuk or the leader of the Agatha Christie group - today position themselves as Orthodox. When some kind of religious currents flow even from this world, this, in my opinion, is also a miracle.

– Father Andrei, if miracles are not the main thing in religious life, then the question arises: why does the Gospel tell about the miracles that Christ worked, when one could have limited himself to preaching Christianity?

Miracles are evidence that Heaven is getting closer. Miracles are a sign of co-presence, meeting, not loneliness. The path to the meeting does not lie through miracles, but miracles turn out to be signs in the church language that this meeting took place.

Trying to understand the Church, it is necessary to combine in consciousness two things that seem to be opposite.

On the one hand, the Church does not attach much importance to miracles - one cannot look for miracles, demand miracles, wish for something unexpected, on the other hand, each of our prayers is a prayer for a miracle. Ivan Turgenev quite rightly wrote: “Every petition, every prayer boils down to the fact that, Lord, well, make it so that twice two is five. But at the same time, an Orthodox person, when he prays about anything, starting with the fact that “give us our daily bread today” and ending with a prayer for the healing of his daughter, he eventually ends his prayer with a kind of mitigating appeal: “However, Thy will be done, Lord." This is the essential difference between conspiracy and prayer. The conspiracy assumes that the sorcerer has power over the spiritual world and he shows this power, imposes his will on spiritual realities. And a praying person knows that the one to whom he is addressing is infinitely higher than him, and therefore the person asks, and does not dictate his will to God.

So, on the one hand, the Church says “do not look for miracles,” and on the other hand, every prayer is a petition for a miracle.

But there is also a third side, the third point of this strange triangle. It is that miracle is natural in the life of a Christian. You see, in the church environment it is not even customary to talk about miracles. Miracles are not strange, but their absence. Remember the movie "The same Munchausen"? The baron draws up a daily routine: to declare war on England, to fly to the moon ... That is, miracles are included in his daily schedule, figuratively speaking, this is the daily routine of a religious person: I go to the temple for a water-blessed prayer service in order to receive holy water that will heal me and to protect, - therefore, I have half an hour for this miracle ... Miracles enter the life of a Christian quite naturally. A miracle is far from always a voice from Heaven or a burning bush. A miracle can enter your life through an ordinary person. I am a scribe, and the miracles in my life are mostly bookish. At the right moment, the right book is found, opened on the right page...

BUT What was the greatest miracle in your life for you?
- For me, the most significant miracle is what happened with. me on the day of my baptism. The Lord allowed me to experience the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism, the fullness of joy for me is much more important than other testimonies that I read in books. When I was baptized, I was already nineteen years old. This is to be a step from Berdyaev to the Church, from the idea of ​​God to the living Christ. That is, I entered the Church and did not leave ... and, I hope, I will not leave. For me, this is the first and greatest miracle.

What was the last miracle in your life?

- It was March 24, 2003. The Foundation of the Holy All-Praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called on this day in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior held a meeting of the organizing committee for the program of all Orthodox prayer “Ask for peace in Jerusalem”. At the end of the official part, the President of the Fund A. V. Melnik invited me to his office on Ordynka. We decided that our acquaintance and conversation deserved to find an intermediary in the "communication process" - in the form of a bottle of whiskey. And after the toast, I put the glass on the table, and it starts to move. It travels about fifteen centimeters in a straight line to the edge of the table and slowly and unevenly rotates around its axis. All seven present stare in amazement at her slow journey. Milovets, who is sitting between me and Melnik, tries to put his hand to the edge of the table in order to have time to catch it when it does fall. I manage to say: “Yes, here you have some kind of poltergeist right here!”. To be honest, I started this phrase with the intention of joking, but in the course of pronunciation I realized that this is really it. And then, instead of touching this glass with my hand, I baptize it from afar. She immediately stood - five centimeters from the edge of the table.

I ask the owner: is your office consecrated. He says: no, we have just moved here, not yet a month. And the consecration was planned after Easter... Obviously, a bad spiritual heritage was left from the old owners. I heard a lot about such events from the priests, but I saw it for the first time.

Does the church keep a register of miracles? Explores them?

- Sometimes. But Orthodoxy is inherently alien to PR technologies. We don't like publicity.

– If you are told about coming to the Church by a person who was struck by a miracle that happened to him… Would you believe it?

- Of course it is possible. Only now I will ask a person to build his faith on a more solid foundation, on the word of God, on the knowledge of church teaching, so that a new miraculous shock that may happen to him would not push him out of the Church.

- There are miracles that, it would seem, are recognized by science, such as the Turin Shroud, the descent of the Holy Fire. But there is an opinion that a miracle is a miracle only when it is not recognized by science.

– The greatest miracle is the existence of the world, the existence of human life. And the existence of life is recognized by science. But I'm always embarrassed by regularly repeating miracles. When they tell me that there is always a miracle in this place, at this time, I am alert. When they tell me that the sun always shines on Easter or the birds do not make nests on the Annunciation ... This made me look more closely several times. I met Easter 2000 in Prague, so there was just snowfall, there was absolutely no sun to be seen there.

You see, the God of Christians is a tactful God. It does not violate human freedom. And the Lord in the Gospel did not draw out faith by miracles, but in response to faith he worked miracles. You mentioned the Shroud of Turin. This miracle is so tactful that the one who desires sees in it a miracle, the one who desires sees a fake. There are scientific arguments both in favor of authenticity (i.e. I can recognize the shroud as the imprint of Jesus of Nazareth, and there will be nothing wrong with scientific integrity in this), and in favor of the fact that this creation is of a later time, it is not known how it was made. Both of these points of view have quite strong arguments proving that they are right. In their incompatibility, they leave a "gap" for your heart, your desire. What you want to see is what it will be for you. If you want to see a fake here, for you it will be nothing more than a piece of ancient fabric, and then your soul will simply remain in the world of things. But if you want a miracle, it will be a miracle for you, holy things, the fifth Gospel.. then you will find yourself in a world where everything makes sense, in a world of signs.

The same with the Holy Fire. Someone sees this as a “natural phenomenon”, says that “these are all flashes, TV camera glare” or something else. But for some it's a miracle. This Fire burns someone, someone does not. It also depends on the mood of the person, his feelings. Those. these miracles are not imposed on man. He is given the right to choose whether to believe or not. .

– Can a person himself create a miracle, give birth to it with his own psychological efforts?

- Oh sure. A person can invite “instances” that work a miracle to visit him. And again, they are very different. What happens in all kinds of sects.

Among believers, one can sometimes hear disputes that, they say, there are Orthodox miracles, but there are Catholic ones. Catholics do not accept Orthodox miracles, Orthodox - Catholic. But is there any difference between miracles and miracles?

There is a providence of God over all mankind. I think even in the life of an atheist there are miracles that he, however, quickly forgets. The Lord sends rain both on sinners and on the righteous, and God's care exists for all his children, even for those who do not know about Him.

But there are miracles associated with visions. And here the Orthodox person must be careful. Catholics, in my opinion, have less discretion here. For example, a Swedish Catholic saint of the early twentieth century had visions and voices that claimed that a civilization of love would come to earth. And allegedly Christ said to her: you know, I did not realize myself in love on earth, I was crucified too early, and I want the full kingdom of love to come before the end of the world. And so I will make sure that everyone in the world unites - Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc. There will be a single faith, everyone will be friends, and only then will the Antichrist come. The ideology of this saint now underlies the ideology of Pope John Paul II. But what kind of voices they were - no one even thought about it.

Of course, the Orthodox can trust what is not necessary. The question is the reaction of the Church to this mistake. Such mystical states, which in Orthodoxy are considered as a failure, in another confession can be evaluated as a norm, as a manifestation of holiness, a miracle.

– Strange, the Eastern Church is considered the most mystical of all Christian Churches, but at the same time, it is the most wary of all about miracles.

- I think, deep down, one is connected with the other. Whoever refuses to drink from a roadside puddle ends up digging a well of clean water.

The myrrh-streaming of icons, their self-renewal- Do you have any suspicion that some of these miracles are not inspired by divine power?

“I have absolutely no such suspicions. Unless there is inspiration not by a person, but by some spiritually opposite force - what in the language of Orthodoxy is called “charm”, such a charm. In some cases, this can be suspected. But in any case, demonic tricks are not human fakes.

– This demonic force can manifest itself within the walls of the temple?

“Even within the walls of the temple.

– There is another miracle of exiledemons - is everything without tricks here too?

– Now there are many miracles associated with negativity. Negative spiritual force manifests itself very clearly, and only in the church is there a means to resist it. In February I was in Magadan. The religious awakening in this city began with the fact that in one apartment there was a powerful poltergeist. Things literally flew around the rooms, and along curved trajectories, ignited spontaneously. Neither the police nor the psychics could do anything, and only when Orthodox priests came did all this mess stop. The struggle for the apartment went on for about six months, all this was widely covered in the local press, and as a result, this story made a great impression on the city.

However, I seem to be too late to tell one professional anecdote. Imagine an Orthodox missionary speaking to a university audience. And in the course of his narration, he comes to the moment when he must use an indecent word. He must mention the demon. Because this is not the first time this missionary has interacted with an educated public, he is well aware of how the audience will react. After all, our post-Soviet intelligentsia still cannot pronounce the word God correctly. She needs something simpler: “cosmic energy”, “bioenergy-information field”, etc. And if they screw something about a demon, then such a high will rise! “We thought you were an intelligent person! And you are actually an ordinary obscurantist, a reactionary! Talk about demons seriously! Yes, this is the Middle Ages, the Inquisition, the witch hunt!” Etc.

Anticipating this, the missionary decides to express his thoughts in the jargon of an intelligent audience. And he says: “At this moment, the world transcendental noumenal-cosmic totalitarian personalized evil turns to a person ...”. Then the demon leans out from under the pulpit and says: “What, what did you call me?”.

So, in the Church, a demon is not only a character of anecdotes or folklore. Our practice of face-to-face confrontation with the forces of evil has passed through the centuries. In Latin it is an exorcism, in Russian it is a reprimand of the possessed. There is a striking example from the 19th century. The doctor, who is not inclined to believe in religious phenomena, was forced to testify: “Klikusha unmistakably distinguished holy water from plain water, no matter how secretly we gave it. Every time a glass of holy water was brought to her, she would go into a fit, often before she even tasted it. The water was fresh, Epiphany (the study was carried out in mid-January). Both samples were poured into identical glasses in another room, and I brought the finished samples to her. After many times repeated experiments gave the same positive result, I mixed both samples of water together, plain and holy, and poured them equally into both glasses. Then the hysteria began to react to both tests with seizures. Not once did she err in this recognition of holy water.”

- BUT Are there conversations with the spirits that have taken possession of the possessed?

- Some priests. But to be honest, I don't like it. In the New Testament we read that Christ and the apostles avoided accepting any evidence of demonic power. And today pamphlets about how hieromonks interview unfortunate obsessed people and the forces that have inhabited them are in vogue. And they even build whole theological concepts on this. But this is no longer theology, but “non-thinking”. Twenty years ago, it was well known in the church: God forbid the ascetic heal at least one person from this illness! And to bring whole buses of people to the “mass session” of reprimands - there is a smack of some kind of modernism in this, which confuses me.

Have you yourself witnessed the expulsion of demonic forces?

– Thank God, I didn’t have a personal need to go to such services, and for the sake of curiosity it’s not useful to go there .

- The so-called miracles of psychics are now in great fashion. Why is this happening?

– Behind the boom of extrasensory perception is the primordial folk understanding of religion: religion is a branch of the national economy. As in a good economy there should be an efficiently working Dishwasher, a cow or a wife, so must a religion that works effectively. The conflict between such popular expectation and what Christ brought, we see already in the Gospel. The Lord says to the crowd gathered around him: "You are looking for Me because you are satisfied." Indeed, we most often treat God as a generator of humanitarian aid: “You, Lord, appear, do this and that to me, and without this I see no point and need in this religion and in this reverence.” Now people often look in religion for some kind of success, career, health or something else. But God, it turns out, must be loved for the sake of God, and not for the sake of the benefits that this love can bring. In Christianity, such a sermon sounds constantly, and while society, in alliance with the Church, educates the people on such examples, grassroots feelings and human needs are kept in the shadows. But as soon as the bonds of a high spiritual culture disintegrate, instinct begins to rule the show, and people turn religion into. It has always been so. However, at the end of the twentieth century, a special feature appeared. The fact is that we live in a rather technologically advanced industrial society, so modern man is looking for technological effectiveness in everything. And magic and extrasensory perception are what attract: it seems that there is some kind of intelligible technology here. Orthodoxy has no technology, and this lack of technology and lack of guarantees disappoint many and attract those few who know how to appreciate non-obviousness and freedom.

- How can psychic practice affect the healers themselves?

“Once a woman came up to me and said: “Why do you, priests, oppose us, psychics, because we do one thing: you heal the soul, we are the body.” I try to explain something, but she doesn’t listen: “I know your arguments, then everything is clear ... However, that’s not why I stopped you. Maybe you can explain what is happening to me? Yes, I treat people, I have great success, everything is fine, but for some reason I can’t be alone in the apartment in the evenings. As soon as it gets dark, there is a feeling that some kind of force pushes me into the bath and demands to open my veins. I had to explain that this phenomenon is very well known to us, for example, in the last century, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov describes such a case. Once a monk came to him from Athos (Athos is the peninsular capital of Orthodox monasticism, located in Greece). For any believer, asking an Athos monk is a great joy. And so Father Ignatius begins to ask about Athos, and the monk answers: yes, everything is wonderful with us - miracles, visions, angels appear, help, etc. Ignatius Bryanchaninov was alarmed by this, and it later turned out that at that time the monks of Athos were reading mystical, but not Orthodox, literature. What to do? Father Ignatius is a monk of a secular capital, and this is a monk from Athos, the capital of world monasticism, which is impossible to teach. Then he abruptly changes the topic of conversation: “By the way, father, did you stay somewhere in St. Petersburg?” “No, I’m right here from the station.” “Then I have a request for you: when you rent a room or apartment, I beg you, not higher than the second floor. And then your “angels” will come and offer to transfer to Athos, so you’ll hurt yourself painfully.” And what? - It turns out that the monk already had such thoughts that for his high life, the angels would deliver him to Athos instead of a train! Therefore, one must remember the line of Vysotsky: “Not everything that is above is from God” ...

- Well But what about at the household level? Say, a person has encountered a poltergeist in his apartment, or is he overcome by a certain ghost? go to church?

“Unfortunately, many go from one demon to another: to various magicians, specialists in removing corruption, and others. In this regard, it is appropriate to recall the words of the outstanding Russian demonologist Vladimir Ilyich Lenin that the “blue devil” is no better than the “yellow devil”. Of course, you have to go to the temple. The priest's duty is to reproduce prayers over a man overcome by strange phenomena, which, in fact, were already read over him at his baptism. This sacrament begins with the prayers of exorcism - the exorcism of demons. The Church in her prayers usually turns to God, to people, but there are unique situation when she turns to satan. The priest turns his face not to the east, but to the west and tells Satan to leave this creation of God. Incantatory prayers, however, do not have to be read in the temple - the priest can come to the apartment.

– The main source of miracles is the Lord God. How does the church distinguish between what is from God and what is from the unclean?

- You can recognize by the fruits: what is generated by this miracle in the soul of a person, whether it leads to a departure from the Christian faith, whether it generates religious indifference. There is a taste sensation here. By the intonation of speech, by the eyes, one can distinguish something like that, even by the pathos with which this person will talk about a miracle. Where there is a note of enthusiasm, there is reason for distancing.

- What if a person is frightened by inexplicable phenomena happening to him?

– Firstly, the Christian faith frees from such fears. I believe in Christ, which means I don’t believe in the evil eye, in spoilage and other nonsense. As the apostle Paul says, if God is with us, who can be against us? Secondly, there must be a shrine in the house, this is very important. Holy water, better baptismal. Church candles, incense (which can be put simply on a burning table lamp). In general, one must realize that the boundary between the spiritual world and the material world is by no means rigid, material objects can be saturated with the energy of the Spirit. Consecrated objects should be kept so that they are not desecrated. That is, on a separate shelf, in a separate box. Well, we must try to ensure that there are no unclean objects in the vicinity of the shrine. No need to drag satanic, occult, astrological literature into the house; and even more so to use it.

- What can you wish our newspaper?

“I can’t wish anything on a newspaper, because what can one wish on paper? Unless it turns yellow too quickly ... But for the people who make the newspaper, I would wish not to do urine therapy. That is, do not consume the products of your own life. If your "karma" is such that you need to work in the press, at least don't read it or don't trust it too much. Feed yourselves with books, not newspapers, tradition, not ephemera.

Refers to "On Proofs of the Miraculous"

Three miracles from God testifying to the truth of the Orthodox faith


This is an illustration to the worldview article On Evidence for the Miraculous, which justifies why all such evidence is false.

In our time, one hears: "Why do you think that only the Orthodox faith is true? And Catholics say that their faith is true." For our pious ancestors, such a doubt was, of course, completely impossible. They knew well that the Orthodox faith was given by the Lord Himself to His apostles and preserved unchanged only in the holy Orthodox Church. Not human vain opinions, but the signs and wonders constantly performed in our lives by the Lord, strengthened the faith in our people. These signs are still happening today. But only the godless press, radio and television do not talk about them, reporting any news around the clock, except for these, the most important ones.

Here are three of the most important signs:

Municipal educational institution
"Koloskovskaya secondary school"

Valuysky district of the Belgorod region

Appendix 2

to work program

by subject

"Orthodox Culture" FKGOS

(basic general level)

CONSIDERED

at a meeting of the Ministry of Education of teachers _______________

Protocol dated

"___" __________ 20__ No. ____

AGREED

Deputy Director

I.V. Zherlitsyna

(signature)

"___" ________ 20___

CONSIDERED

at a meeting of the pedagogical council

Protocol dated

"___" ________ 20___

№ _____

APPROVED

by order dated "___" ___________20___

No. ____-OD

Director

S.E. Minenko

(signature)

Forms and means of control

to work program

by subject

"Orthodox culture"

(a basic level of)

FKGO (basic general level)

5-9 grades

Orthodox culture teachers

I qualification category

Zherlitsyna

Inna Vasilievna

  1. academic year

FORMS AND MEANS OF CONTROL.

Forms of current controlknowledge, abilities, skills (in accordance with the Regulations on the current control of students in an educational institution), intermediate and final certification of students- tests, independent work, training tests, computer control of knowledge, questionnaires, olympiads, creative works of competitions and exhibitions.

The prevailing forms of current and intermediate control of knowledge, skills and abilities: oral and test, as well as the implementation of projects and research assignments, writing essays (essays), preparation and defense of abstracts.

6TH GRADE

  • To conduct tests - 3 hours;

See the text in the manual for lesson planning of the material when organizing the study of the subject "Orthodox culture" in grades 5-6 / T. V. Ryzhova. - Ulyanovsk: INFOFOND, 2006.

Control work on chapter 2. "The Baptism of Russia." pp. 92, 101.

Control work on chapter 3. "Beginning Slavic writing". Page 129.

Final control work for the course of the 6th grade. Page 131.

  • For a lesson on the defense of creative projects - 2 hours:

See the topics of creative projects in the manual for lesson planning of material when organizing the study of the subject "Orthodox culture" in grades 5-6 / T. V. Ryzhova. - Ulyanovsk: INFOFOND, 2006

Creative projects on the chapter "Baptism of Russia". P. 106.

Creative projects for chapter 3. "The beginning of Slavic writing." Page 115; p.123: p.128; p.130.

7TH GRADE

For examinations - 6 hours.

See the text of the test papers in the manual for lesson planning of the material when organizing the study of the subject "Orthodox culture" in grades 7-8 / T. V. Ryzhova. - Ulyanovsk: INFOFOND, 2006.

Test to test knowledge of the content of the books of the Old Testament - p.24

Test to test knowledge of the content of the books of the New Testament - p. 34;

Examination for the chapter: "Holy Scripture" - p. 46;

Test work: "Word" as a genre of ancient Russian literature" - p. 56.

Test work: "Life" as a genre of ancient Russian literature "- p.65.

Final test for the course of the 7th grade - p.67.

To conduct a lesson on the defense of creative projects - 4 hours. Tasks on pages 35 - 36.

8TH GRADE

  • for conducting tests - 7 hours;

The text in the manual for lesson planning of the material when organizing the study of the subject "Orthodox culture" in grades 7-8 / T. V. Ryzhova. - Ulyanovsk: INFOFOND, 2006., p. 99; p. 104; p. 106; p.115; p.123.

To conduct an essay defense lesson - 2 hours.

9 CLASS

5 hours are allotted for conducting control work;

See the text in the manual for lesson planning of material when organizing the study of the subject "Orthodox culture" in grades 5-6 / T. V. Ryzhova. - Ulyanovsk: INFOFOND, 2006.,;

Control work on the head. "History of the Christian Church" - p.28;

Examination for the chapter: "Orthodox Church" - p.62.

Examination for the chapter: "Orthodox Church" - p.87.

Control work on the head. "Temple architecture of Russia" - page 148.

The final test for the course of the 9th grade - p.149.

Grade 6 Sample text of the entrance test

1. Which of the Russian princes was the first to be baptized and in what year?

2. About what events related to the Baptism of Russia, did the proverb “He baptized Putyata with a sword, and Dobrynya with fire” survive?

3. What name did Prince Vladimir receive at baptism?

4. On what material and in what letter was the Ostromir Gospel written?

5. What heading is inscribed in the headband-frame of the first leaf of the Ostromir Gospel?

6. What temple received a second name after the name of the Moscow holy fool? In honor of what Orthodox holiday was this church consecrated?

7. What icon of the Mother of God has become a symbol of the fact that the Mother of God especially favors Russia and takes Russia under Her protection? What signs allow you to judge this?

8. List everything famous titles, signs for writing Russian notes

9. With what miracle was the deliverance of the Novgorodians from the capture of the city connected?

Suzdal people?

Task I. Name one word or phrase.

  1. The most important of many days of fasting.
  2. A common name for the twelve most important holidays after Easter.
  3. The highest spiritual order in the Russian Orthodox Church.
  4. An oil lamp lit in front of the icons.

Task II. Call it something else.

  1. Boiled wheat or other cereal sweetened with honey or sugar.
  2. An elevated semicircular place opposite the Royal Doors, protruding into the center of the temple.
  3. A large bowl-shaped vessel, which serves for the baptism of babies in it.

Task III. Give a single word or phrase.

  1. A king or prince who did a lot to strengthen Orthodoxy and was canonized as a saint.
  2. Solemn service during which the newly elected Patriarch is enthroned.
  3. Third Sunday of Great Lent.
  4. Festive joyful ringing of all the bells with short breaks.

Task IV. Write down from the listed holidays the twelfth.

Light Christ's Resurrection, Nativity of Christ, Baptism of the Lord, Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost, Circumcision of the Lord, Presentation of the Lord, Transfiguration of the Lord, Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, Beheading of John the Baptist, Exaltation Cross of the Lord, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

Task V. Pick up synonyms for words and expressions.

  1. Epiphany.
  2. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
  3. Raw week.

1. The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is the first preacher of the Christian doctrine in the lands of the Slavic tribes. 2. The first attempt by Prince Vladimir to unite the Slavic tribes. 3. How Prince Vladimir chose a new faith for Russia. 4. The baptism of Prince Vladimir 5. The history of the baptism of Kyiv. 6. The history of the baptism of Novgorod. 7. The story of the holy princes Boris and Gleb 8. "The Tale of Boris and Gleb" Sample Topics abstracts on the topic "The beginning of Slavic writing"1. Holy Scripture and its books 2. Psalter - a book of the Old Testament 3. Ostromir Gospel - the oldest dated book in Cyrillic

Grade 7 Sample text of the entrance test

1. Who is the Nightingale?

2. In what city was Prince Vladimir baptized?

3. From what historical source is it known to be baptized?

4. Who was taught to read and write in the first schools opened by Prince Vladimir?

5. Which of the sons of Prince Vladimir owns the phrase “I will not raise my hand against my elder brother”?

6. What is the name of the most famous Russian monastery founded by the decree of Yaroslav the Wise?

7. In which city were the creators of Slavic writing born?

8. Where was the first Russian metropolitan, appointed by Yaroslav the Wise, from?

9. What signs served as a model for writing Cyrillic letters?

10. What is the name of the oldest dated book written in Cyrillic?

1. What star showed the Magi the way to the birthplace of Jesus?a) Jerusalem b) Polar c) Bethlehem2. Who baptized Jesus Christ?a) John the Evangelist b) Joshua c) John the Baptist3. Who became the leader of the Jewish people after Moses?a) Joshua b) Isaac c) David4. Why God Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? a) God helped Egypt b) God punished Abraham c) the inhabitants of these cities were terrible sinners5. Whose son was Isaac?a) Solomon b) Abraham c) David6. For what great sacrifice did God call Abraham the father of all believers?a) for the love of God, Abraham did not spare his only sonb) Abraham led the Jewish people from Egypt through the desert c) for the love of God, Abraham asked to burn Sodom and Gomorrah7. What name did God Himself give Himself, and by what name can it be called, but not mentioned in vain?a) Existing b) Holy c) Strong8. In what river was Jesus Christ baptized?a) Nile b) Jordan c) Euphrates9 Whose grandson was Joseph?a) Noah b) Isaac c) Abraham10. What is the meaning of the Incarnation?a) God showed people that He exists b) The Lord took on a human form in order to be with people and teach them the truth of God11. Who brought the good news to the Virgin Mary?a) Archangel Gabriel b) Archangel Michael c) Guardian Angel12. What terrible sin did Cain commit?a) killing a brother b) mocking parents c) refusing God13. What was the name of the third son of Adam and Eve?a) Sif b) Shem c) Ham14 What happened after Noah entered the Ark?a) a hurricane rose b) it started to rain c) lightning flashed15. What was the name of the son of Noah, whose descendant was Abraham? a) Jonah b) Japheth c) Shem 16. Which of the sons did Noah curse for mocking his father?a) Ham b) Isaac c) Shem17. What "winged" expressions and names of biblical heroes that have become common nouns originate in the Gospel?a) unbelieving Thomas b) Judas c) break bread

18. How do Orthodox Christians call the Mother of God?a) Madonna b) Queen of Heaven c) Intercessor of Heaven19. What "winged" expressions and names of biblical heroes that have become common nouns originate in the Old Testament?a) Babylonian pandemonium b) Hamc) break bread20. Indicate all the names that are called John the Baptista) prophet b) John c) forerunner21. How many commandments did God give Moses on Mount Sinai? a) 9 b) 10 c) 11 22. Indicate the names of the following unions of God and people

A) the union of God and the Jewish people 1) The New Testament

B) the union of Jesus Christ with people 2) the Old Testament

Approximate text of the control work on the topic

"Word" as a Genre of Old Russian Literature"1. A laudatory ode to which Kievan prince is the “Sermon on Law and Grace?” 2. Indicate the names of the princes of Kyiv, which are mentioned both in the "Zadonshchina" and in the "Word about the destruction of the Russian land" 3 With what birds does the author of "Zadonshchina" compare Russian squads? 4. From which work is the following quote? “You are full of everything, Russian land, oh, orthodox Christian faith!” 5. Which of the Russian princes is the main character of "Zadonshchina"?

Approximate text of the control work on the topic

Life as a Genre of Old Russian Literature.1. What is the main Christian feat performed by the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky?2. For what great purpose did Prince Alexander Nevsky decide to submit to the Horde?3. Who is considered the author of the Life of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky?4. What miracle was shown to Pelugius before the battle of Alexander Nevsky with the Swedes? What significance did this have for the prince and his squad?5. The victory in which battle is compared by the author of the "Life of the Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky" with the victory of Joshua at the capture of Jeryakhon?6. What is told in the "Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh"?

Sample text of the final examination

1. Indicate the name of the son of Noah, whose family laid the foundation for the Orthodox Russian people, as mentioned in the "Zadonshchina" by Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovicha) Shem b) Japheth c) Seth d) Ham2. Between what two rivers did the battle of the Russian princely squads with the troops of Mamai take place?a) Don and Kayala b) Don and Oka c) Don and Dnieper d) Kalka and Don3. What is another name for the Mamaevo massacre?a) Battle of Kalka

b) Battle of Kulikovo

c) Zalessky battle

d) ice battle

4. What birds does the author of "Zadonshchina" compare Russian squads with?Please indicate all correct options a) with falcons b) with gyrfalcons c) with geese d) with Belozersky hawks e) with swans 5. The titles of which of the listed works of ancient Russian literature begin with the words "Word about ..."?a) "... Boris and Glebe" b) "... Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich and about his brother Prince Vladimir Andreevich, how they defeated the adversary of their Tsar Mamai" in ) "... Igor's regiment" G) "... the destruction of the Russian land"6. Establish a correspondence between the title of an ancient Russian work related to the genre "Word" and its main character

7. Why did Alexander Nevsky decide to refuse the patronage of the Livonian Order in the fight against the Mongols-Tatars? a) Khan of the Golden Horde promised Alexander Nevsky land and wealth b) the prince hoped to defeat the Mongol-Tatars himself and get all the glory and wealth in) the knights of the Livonian Order asked too much money for their help G) the prince wanted to preserve the Orthodox faith in Russia8. Which metropolitan did Alexander Nevsky listen to when deciding to submit to the Horde? a) Metropolitan Hilarion b) Metropolitan Kirill in) Metropolitan Alexy G) Metropolitan Peter e) Metropolitan Cyprian9. From what work of ancient Russian literature is the following quote given: “I passed through countries, peoples and did not see such a king among kings, nor a prince among princes”?a) "Sermon on Law and Grace" b) Life of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky in) "The Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh"d) "The word about the death of the Russian land" e) "Zadonshchina" 10. Mark the heroes of the Old Testament mentioned by the author of The Life of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky a) King Samson b) Prophet Moses

c) the prophet Isaiah

d) King David

e) the forefather of the people of Israel, Joseph

11. Indicate the names of the Russian saints who appeared at sea to the Izhora elder Pelugius, according to the text “Lives of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky a) Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker b) Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir in) holy martyr Gleb G) holy martyr Boris e) Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious12. Indicate events related to the life of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky a) before an important battle, he was blessed by St. Sergius of Radonezh himself b) defeated Svyatopolk the Accursed in) for the sake of preserving Orthodox Russia, he did not accept the protection of the Livonian Order G) in an important battle received divine help from the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb13. Name with one word or phrase. 1. East, the main part of the temple.2. A place in the temple intended for the choir and readers.3. The twelfth feast of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on January 19.4. The main service at which the sacrament of Holy Communion is performed.14. Call it differently.1. A special solemn service performed in the evening on holidays and Sundays.2. The priest, belonging to the first, lowest, degree of the clergy. 3. Candlesticks of two and three candles used in hierarchal worship. 4. Cancellation of the saints.15. Name the one-day fasts (explain in honor of what they are established) and multi-day fasts (the name of the post and the date of the fast).

Approximate topics for essays on the topic “The Bible is the main book of Christianity”

1. The Bible about the creation of the world and the first people. The theme of sin and repentance in biblical history before Noah. 2. The Old Testament story of Noah's life. Displaying in it the eternal themes of children's love for their parents and the atonement of human sins. An analysis of the development of these themes in the Laws of the Old and New Testaments. 3. The Bible about the history of the life of Abraham - the forefather of the Jewish people Analysis of the events of his life associated with the prototypes of the Trinity and Jesus Christ. 4. Old Testament story about the life of Joseph. Joseph - a type of Jesus Christ 5. The life and destiny of Moses. The manifestation of God's help in the salvation of the Jewish people through the works of Moses as the highest proof of God's love for people. This theme continues in the New Testament. 6. The Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, the history of their giving by God, the meaning of the commandments. illustrative examples of biblical history. Consequences of violating biblical commandments. 7. The Bible about the history of the acquisition of the first temple by the Jewish people: the path from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple God's direction in the process of forming the architectural appearance and interior design of the temple. Similarities and differences between the Temple of Solomon and the Tabernacle. 8. History of the reign of David. Which of the ten commandments did David break as God told him about it. How David deserved God's petition (quote Psalms 3-4 of David). 9. History of the reign of Solomon. The main work of Solomon's life. For what qualities Solomon entered the history of all mankind. 10. The Bible about the Old Testament prophets Jeremiah, Micah, Zechariah, Ezekiel. When and how did their prophecies come true in the history of the New Testament. 11. The Bible about the prophet Isaiah, when and how his prophecies came true in the New Testament history. 12. The Bible about the history of the life of the prophet Elijah and his exploits. The miracle of the prophet Elijah, similar to what Jesus Christ would later do. 13. The Bible about the life, deeds and prophecies of Daniel. When and how did his predictions come true?Approximate topics of essays on works of ancient Russian literature of the genres "Words" and hagiography1. "Word about the Law in Grace" as an example of a laudatory and philosophical speech about the meaning of the existence of Orthodox Russia. 2. Reflection of the genre features of the "Word" in the "Zadonshchina" and "The Lay on Law and Grace" 3. Reflection in the "Zadonshchina" of patriotism and the high responsibility of Russian people for the fate of Orthodox Russia. 4. "The Life of St. Olga" as an example of the life of pre-Mongol Rus. 5. "The Life of the Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky" as an example of the life of a new holy hero.

Grade 8 Sample text of the entrance test

1. Who became the leader of the Jewish people after Moses?a) Lazarus b) Joshua c) Isaac d) David2. How many commandments did God give Moses on Mount Sinai?a) five b) seven c) ten3. Indicate for each Jewish king his deed:

4. What "winged" expressions and names of biblical heroes that have become common nouns originate in the Old Testament? a) unbelieving Thomas b) Judas c) Sodom and Gomorrah d) manna from heaven e) I wash my hands f) break bread g) Babel h) Ham 5. Which star showed the Magi the way to the birthplace of Jesus? a) Jerusalem b) Bethlehem c) Polar 6. Who brought the good news to the Virgin Mary? a) Archangel Michael b) Archangel Gabriel c) Guardian Angel d) Elizabeth 7. How do Orthodox Christians call the Mother of God? List all options. a) Virgin Mary b) Holy Mother of God c) Madonna d) Queen of Heaven e) Intercessor Heavenly8. Who baptized Jesus Christ? a) Joshua b) John the Evangelist c) John the Baptist 9. In what river was Jesus Christ baptized? a) Euphrates b) Jordan c) Nile 10. How many disciples did Jesus Christ have? a) Two b) Seven c) Twelve

11. Indicate the names of the apostles, the gospels of which are included in the New Testament a) Mark b) Matthew c) Luke d) Peter 12. Indicate all the names that are called John the Baptist a) saint b) Forerunner c) prophet d) Theologian e) John 13. Indicate the names of the following unions of God and people

14. Indicate for each apostle his deed

A. John

1. He was the first disciple of Christ and baptized the Slavic tribes

B. Andrey

2. The name was given to him by Jesus Christ himself, but he betrayed Christ three times on the way of Jesus to judgment

V. Judas

3. He did not believe the other apostles about the appearance of Christ to them after the Ascension

G. Foma

4. He was entrusted by Jesus Christ with the care of the Mother of God after his crucifixion

D. Peter

5. One of the twelve apostles who wrote the first gospel

E. Matthew

6. He betrayed Christ

15. Arrange the names of the heroes of the Old Testament in accordance with the position they occupy in Biblical history

kings

Patriarchs

prophets

judges

Abraham, David, Daniel, Jacob, Jonah, Elijah, Isaac, Isaiah, Samson, Samuel, Solomon.

Sample text of the interim test

1. Select from the proposed list the only definition related to the works of the Old Russian literary genre "The Tale":a) they served educational purposes, b) they are, in fact, patriotic appeals, c) they describe historical events

2. With what ruler did Khan Akhmat collude, wanting to conquer Russia?a) with the Polish King Casimir IV, b) with Prince Andrei Vasilyevich the Lesser, c) with Prince Mstislav of Chernigov3. What miracle that put the Tatars to flight happened on the Ugra?a) suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and killed many thousands of Khan's soldiersb) The Most Holy Theotokos showed Her heavenly intercession, sending fear on the Horde Khan, c) by God's will, the Tatar army fell through the ice4. Which Russian prince is the hero of "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra"?a) Ivan the Terrible, b) Alexander Nevsky, c) Ivan III Vasilyevich5. Which of the listed Old Russian works describes the history of the origin of Slavic writing and the formation of the Russian state?a) "The Tale of Temir-Aksak", b) "Tale of temporary years ", c) "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra"6. From what Old Russian work is this passage taken: “It was then that the most glorious miracle of the Most Pure Mother of God happened: when ours retreated from the coast, the Tatars, thinking that the Russians were giving up the coast to them in order to fight with them, fled, possessed by fear”?a) from "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra", b) from "The Tale of the Battle on the Kalka River"c) from The Tale of Bygone Years7. Which ancient Russian work describes the events that marked the beginning of the liberation of Russia from the Mongol-Tatar yoke?a) in "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra", b) in "The Tale of the Battle on the Kalka River"c) in "The Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo"8. From what Old Russian work is the following passage taken: “And Mstislav began to ask his brother, the Russian princes, saying:“ If we, brothers, do not help the Polovtsy, then they will surrender to the Tatars and from that their strength will increase. And so, having thought a lot about themselves, the princes set off on their journey at the request and entreaty of the Polovtsian princes.a) from "The Tale of Temir-Aksak", b) from "The Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo", c)from "The Tale of the Battle on the Kalka River"9. In what old Russian work of the genre "The Tale" is the event described that determined the legal end of the Mongol-Tatar yoke in Russia?a) in "The Tale of Temir-Aksak", b) in "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra", c) in "The Tale of the Battle on the Kalka River"10. The names of which of the listed works of ancient Russian literature begin with the word "The Tale ..."?a) "... temporary years", b) "... about Igor's regiment", c) "... about the battle on the Kalka River"

11. Indicate for each of the listed Golden Horde leaders a work of ancient Russian literature that tells about the events associated with them:a) "The Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo", 1. Mamaib) "The Tale of Temir-Aksak", 2.Temir-Aksakc) "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra" 3. Akhmat

12. How does the author of The Tale of Temir-Aksak translate the name of this conqueror into Russian?a) Lame blacksmith, b) Iron lame, c) Lame Timur13. To whom, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, did Prince Dmitry Donskoy come for a blessing? a) to St. Sergius of Radonezh, b) to Metropolitan Kirill of Moscow, c) to Archbishop Vassian of Rostov14. Which Russian prince is the hero of the "Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo"?a) Ivan the Terrible, b) Dmitry Donskoy, c) Alexander Nevsky15. What is the role of Khan Mengly Giray in the confrontation between Russia and the union of the Horde and Poland?a) Mengly-Girey became a secret ally of Russia, prevented the Polish-Lithuanian troops from joining the Tatars on the Ugra, b) Mengly-Girey was the leader of the Golden Horde army on a campaign against Russia, c) the warriors of Mengly-Girey were the first to flee from the Ugra16. What Russian saint did Prince Vasilko of Rostov consider to be his patron and intercessor of Russia? 1. Holy Right-believing Prince Alexander Nevsky2. Holy Martyr and Passion-Bearer Prince Gleb 3. Holy Martyr and Passion-Bearer Blessed Prince Boris 4. Saint Theodosius of the Caves17. Which of the listed ancient Russian works tells about the miracle performed by the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God? 1. in "The Tale of Boris and Gleb" 2. in "The Tale of the Invasion of Edigei" 3. in "The Tale of the Murder in the Horde of Prince Mikhail of Chernigov and his Boyar Theodore18. Who was Princess Maria Mikhailovna of Rostov to Prince Vasilko Konstantinovich of Rostov, who was martyred for the Orthodox faith?19. Who was Princess Rostovskaya Maria Mikhailovna related to Prince Mikhail of Chernigov, who was martyred for the Orthodox faith?a) mother b) wife c) sister d) daughter

20. Who compiled the first version of the Tale, which tells about the martyrdom for the Orthodox faith of Prince Mikhail of Chernigov and his boyar Theodore?a) Reverend Princess Euphrosyne of Suzdal, daughter of a noble princeb) Princess Rostovskaya Maria Mikhailovna, daughter of the right-believing princec) Prince Boris of Rostov, grandson of the right-believing prince

An approximate text of the test work on the topic "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" is the oldest historical document of Russia.

1. What the author of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” says: “The sun blocked his path in darkness; the night woke up a pile of birds with moans; animal whistle up? 2. As in the Tale of Igor's Campaign, we can trace a single theme of the meaning of human life in world history, characteristic of all ancient Russian literature. 3. To which princes does the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign appeal to unite to help Prince Igor? 4. What was the relationship between Prince Igor and Khan Konchak in reality? 5. Restore the text of the appeal of the author of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". "Enter, ..., into ... stirrups for ... this ..., for the earth ..., for ... Igor, violent ...".

An approximate text of the test work on the topic “Singing the image of the Russian land by the author of the Lay”.

  1. How does the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign emphasize the vast expanse of the Russian land? How did this connect with the strengthening of the description in the Lay of the greatness and power of the Russian princes? 2. What words of the author of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" show that the prince's squad goes into battle against the Polovtsians not for the principality of Novgorod-Seversk, but for the entire Russian land? 3. Prove that “The Tale of Igor's Campaign is a passionate patriotic appeal to the unification of all Russian principalities.

Testing

1. Which ancient Russian work describes the events that marked the beginning of the liberation of Russia from the Mongol-Tatar yoke:

A) in "The Tale of the Kalka River";

B) in "The Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo";

C) in "The Tale of Temir - Aksak";

D) in "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra"

2 . What Christian custom, inappropriate for a Christian, did the noble Prince Mikhail of Chernigov not wish to fulfill, preferring martyrdom?

A) accept the "yarlyk" from the hands of the khan;

B) taste food and drink from the khan's table;

C) worship pagan gods;

D) bow to the Horde Khan.

3. Select from the list the definition related to the works of ancient Russian literature

Genre "Story":

A) they served educational purposes;

B) these are, in fact, patriotic appeals;

C) they describe historical events.

4 . Indicate the true protagonist of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign":

A) Prince Igor Svyatoslavich;

B) Russian land;

C) Prince Svyatoslav of Kyiv.

5. What feelings, according to the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign, should arouse in readers

An image of a suffering Motherland?

A) sympathy for the Motherland;

B) hatred for the enemies of the Motherland;

C) the desire to stand up for the defense of the Motherland.

6 . Which of the following titles begin with the word "Story"?

A) "... about the battle on the Kalka River";

B) "... temporary years";

C) "... about Igor's regiment";

D) "... Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky";

E) "... about Law and Grace."

7. Establish a correspondence between the names of the Golden Horde leaders and the

Niami of ancient Russian literature, telling about the events associated with them:

A) Mommy "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra";

B) Temir - Aksak; "The Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo";

B) Akhmat; "The Tale of Temir-Aksak".

8. Indicate the name of the Horde Khan, to whom Prince Mikhail Chernigov went to the Horde

With boyar Theodore:

A) Ahmad D) Batu;

B) Edygey; D) Mom.

C) Temir - Aksak;

9. Match historical events and dates:

A) Battle of Kulikovo; -1240;

B) Standing on the Ugra; -1380;

C) Battle on the Kalka River; -1480 year.

10 . Insert the missing words in the text "The Tale of the Battle on the Kalka River":

“________ _ same __________ from the Dnieper River, and no one knows where _____ came from and where

______: God knows, ___ _____ came to ____ for _______ ours.”

Words: turned, Tatars, they, from where, disappeared, sins, us.

11 . On which river did the Polovtsy meet with the retinue of Prince Igor:

A) Dnieper;

B) Volga;

B) Kayala

D) Kalka.

12 . Which saint blessed Dmitry Donskoy for the Battle of Kulikovo?

13 . Mark all aspects of life described by the author in The Tale of Igor's Campaign, thanks to which this work is an amazing historical source:

a) the relationship between husband and wife

B) the relationship between the prince and the squad;

C) the relationship of the captive and the rulers;

D) the relationship between father and son.

14 . Establish a correspondence between parts of proverbs and sayings of the late 17th-18th centuries, in which the moral influence of Svyatoslav's Izbornik of 1076 is traced:

A) Do not seek wisdom - seek meekness;

B) curbing anger - and live as God commands;

C) Not to live as you want - you will lose your mind.

15. From which ancient Russian work is this passage taken: “Then the most glorious miracle of the Most Pure Mother of God happened: when ours retreated from the coast, the Tatars, thinking that the Russians were giving up the coast to them in order to fight, fled with fear”?

A) from "The Tale of Temir - Aksak";

B) from "The Tale of the Battle on the Kalka River";

C) from The Tale of Bygone Years;

D) from "The Tale of Standing on the Ugra".

16. Which prince transferred the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God from Kyiv to Vladimir?

A) Yaroslav the Wise;

B) Andrei Bogolyubsky;

C) Vladimir Monomakh;

D) Vladimir the Red Sun.

17 .Insert the missing words and restore the passage from the "Tale of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God":

“Upon arrival in ____________, the noble prince ________ created __________ in the name of the Most Holy _______________, decorating it with a proper __________. And placed in it miraculous icon Our Most Holy Lady ______________

Words to the text: church, Vladimir, honor, Andrey, Mother of God.

18 . What "three good deeds, according to the Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh, should one defeat one's enemies?

A) virtue, respect for elders, diligence;

B) prayer, abstinence, brotherly love;

C) repentance, tears, alms;

D) seclusion, monasticism, starvation.

19. Indicate the date of the Battle of Kulikovo.

20 . The events of what century are described in the Tale of Igor's Campaign?

Sample text of the final examination

1. List the distinctive features of the Old Russian story. What do you know about the history of the development of this genre in Russia? 2. What miracle, performed by the main Christian shrine of Russia - the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, is mentioned in the Tale of Temir-Aksaken? 3. What Christian feat did Prince Mikhail of Chernigov accomplish? When and why was this new ideal for the Russian religious consciousness formed in Russia? 4. How does the author describe the reign of Prince Vasily Dmitrievich in the "Tale of the Invasion of Edygei"? 5. How does the author of The Tale of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God describe the story of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky's choice of the icon of the Mother of God, which he took with him to the new capital? 6. What words of the biblical king David are mentioned by the author of "The Tale of the Invasion of Edygei" when describing the feelings of the inhabitants of besieged Moscow?

7. How does the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign convey his attitude towards the Russian princes he talks about? 8. How, according to Domostroy, should children treat their parents? What awaits them for non-compliance with the rules prescribed by Domostroy?

Approximate topics of essays on the topic "Variety of genres of ancient Russian literature"

1. Common and distinctive features of the legend and other genres of ancient Russian literature 2. Revealing in the “Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God” a common feature of ancient Russian literature for all genres of emphasizing the divine nature of the events and miracles described 3. The image of the new Martyrs for the Christian faith (on the example of “ Legends about the murder in Orel of Prince Mikhail of Chernigov and his boyar Theodore. 4. Chronology of the miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God in the works of ancient Russian literature of various genres.

Grade 9 Sample text of the entrance test

1. What year was UNESCO declared the year of celebration of the 800th anniversary of the outstanding monument of world literature "The Tale of Igor's Campaign"? a) 1988 b) 1984 c) 1986 d) 1985 2. When, according to experts, was the "Lay of Igor's Campaign" written? a) between 1184 and 1187 b) between 1185 and 1187 in) between 1185 and 1189 G) between 1183 and 11853. Indicate the name of the prince whose campaign is described in the "Word of Igor's Campaign" a) Igor Olgovich b) Igor son of Svyatoslav Olgovich in) Igor Yaroslavich son of Yaroslav the Wise G) Igor son of Rurik, husband of Olga4. The events of what century are described in the Tale of Igor's Campaign? a) X b) IX c) XII d) XI 5. Choose the correct statement: the brilliant author of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" with his story a) preserved for us the life story of one of the most famous Russian princes, who made a significant contribution to the formation of the Russian state b) showed one of the most significant battles in Russian history in) turned the military defeat of the prince, insignificant in Russian history, into a huge spiritual victory6. On which river did the Polovtsy meet with the retinue of Prince Igor? a) Kalka b) Kayala c) Dnieper d) Volga 7. Mark all aspects of life described by the author in The Tale of Igor's Campaign, thanks to which this work is an amazing historical source a) relationship between husband and wife b) the relationship between the prince and the squad in) father and son relationship G) the relationship between the prisoner and his masters8. Indicate the names of the princes with whom Prince Igor went on a campaign a) Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich b) Prince Vsevolod Svyatoslavich in) Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich G) Prince Vsevolod Olgovich9. Indicate the true protagonist of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" a) Prince Svyatoslav of Kyiv b) Prince Igor Svyatoslavich c) Russian land 10. Indicate all the means by which the author of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" emphasizesa) the vastness of the space of the Russian land

b) simultaneity of action in its different parts

c) the unprecedented speed of movement of actors along it

d) the power of the princes-heroes of the "Word"

14. List everything that for the author of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" is included in the concept of "Motherland" a) Russian people b) the nature of Russia c) the geography of Russia d) the history of Russia 15. What feelings, according to the author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign, should the image of the suffering Motherland evoke in the reader? a) hatred for the enemies of the motherland b) desire to defend the Motherland from external enemies in) sympathy for the motherland16. About the reign of which prince the author of the Tale of Igor's Campaign recalls with bitterness, recalling the beginning of the fragmentation of the unified Russian state and the beginning of princely strife and strife? a)Vladimir Vsevolodovichb)Oleg Svyatoslavichin)Boris Vyacheslavich17. Insert the missing words and restore the text of the appeal of the author of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" to the warring Russian princes about the need to unite them for the good of Russia

__________________ all grandchildren and_________________________ !

bow down ________________ their,____________________________ in the sheath their swords___________________ , because_______________ you are the glory______________ . You are yours_________________________ began to direct_____________ to the ground_____________ , on the________________ Vseslav. because of__________________ because it has come______________ from the earth______________________ !

Sample text of the interim test

1. Which Jewish king moved the tabernacle to Jerusalem?a)Solomonb)Davidin)HerodG)Nebuchadnezzar2. By order of which king was the first temple in Jerusalem destroyed?a)Davidb)titain)HerodG)Nebuchadnezzar3. On what day, by a strange coincidence, were both the first and second Jerusalem temples destroyed?a)10 Septemberb)10 augustin)July 10G)June 10th

4. Which of the underground Christian churches did not have separate altars?a)in chapels b)in crypts5. In which of the underground Christian churches did women pray separately from men?a)in chapels b)in crypts6. Who established the rite of the sign of the cross?a)Jesus Christb)holy apostlesin)World Council7. What attracts a Christian to himself when making the sign of the cross?a)grace of the Mother of Godb)grace of the Holy Spiritin)the grace of Jesus Christ8. What do bows mean?a)humility of man and honoring the Majesty of Godb)reflection of sinful temptations and passions9. Where did the custom to put candles in churches come from?a)from Jerusalemb)from Romein)from Greece10. Who and to whom commanded to build a lamp of pure gold with seven lamps in the temple of God?a) Jesus Christ to the apostles b) God the Father to Moses c) God the Father to the apostles d) Jesus Christ to Moses11. Whom does the light of candles in the temple symbolize?a) the Holy Spirit b) Jesus Christ after the Ascension c) God the Father12. What symbolizes burning wax candle in an Orthodox church?a) the transformation of an earthly person into a new creature under the influence of fire and heat Divine love b) offering to God13. Who established the rite of consecration of water?a) John the Baptist b) Jesus Christ c) John the Evangelist14. What is prosphora?a)consecrated bread for all-night vigilb)consecrated bread for the liturgy15. What do the parts of the prosphora symbolize?a) bodily and spiritual principles in a person b)The Divine and Human Essences of Jesus Christ

16. Fill in the missing words.The catacombs are called______________ , in which______________ during times of persecution______________ their dead,________________ from persecution and _______________worship. The term "____________ ”applied in antiquity to less than_____________ km south of Rome lowlands along____________ roads. The length of the galleries in the Roman catacombs may exceed_______________ km17. Match

1

2

3

18. Establish a correspondence between the names of parts of the catacombs and the meanings of these words translated from Greek

1

2

3

Sample text of the final examination

1. At the direction of which emperor was the first St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg founded?a)Alexander Ib)Paul Iin)Peter IG)Nicholas I2. Who was the architect of the second St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg?a)Yu.M. Feltenb)O. Montferrandin)K.A. ToneG)I.E. Starove)D. Trezzini3. In what style was St. Isaac's Cathedral built in St. Petersburg?a) Gothic b) Empire c) Baroque d) Classicism4. St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg was built asa) the tomb of Russian tsars b) the main cathedral c) the tomb of Russian metropolitans

5. By whose decree was the Kazan Cathedral built in St. Petersburg?a) Empress Catherine II b) Emperor Peter I c) Empress Anna Ioannovna d) Empress Elizabeth6. Who was the architect of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg?a) Yu.M. Felten b) I.E. Starov c) K.A. Tone d) D. Trezzini e) A.N. Voronikhin7. What supports the dome of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg?a) apses b) consoles c) pylons8. What is the foundation of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg?a)a circleb)six-pointed starin)octagonG)latin cross9. From what material is the iconostasis of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg built?a)from goldb)silverin)ceramicG)wooden10. How many years was St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg built?a) 10 years b) 20 years c) 40 years11. Which of the listed artists participated in the painting of St. Isaac's Cathedral?a) V.K. Shebuev b) K.P. Bryullov c) V.M. Vasnetsov d) M.V. Nesterov12. How many domes are on St. Isaac's Cathedral?a) five b) ten c) three13. How many domes does the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg have?a) one b) three c) ten14. Which temple of the Moscow Kremlin has been the Mother See of Russia for four centuries?a) Cathedral of the Annunciation b) Cathedral of the Assumption c) Cathedral of the Archangel d) Church of St. John of the Ladder15. Who was the architect of the Assumption CathedralMoscow Kremlin? a) Aleviz Novy b) Bon Fryazin c) Rudolfo Fioravanti d) K.A. Tone16. On the day of what Orthodox holiday did the consecration of the Mother See of Russia take place?a) Ascension of Christ b) Dormition of the Mother of God

c) Annunciation

d) Nativity of the Virgin

17. What is the current status of the Assumption Cathedral?a)the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, services are held thereb)the cathedral has the status of a museum, but festive services are held in itin)the cathedral has the status of a closed museumG)The cathedral has been badly damaged by time and has been under restoration for a long time 18 . In which temple of the Moscow Kremlin do the wall paintings depict ancient philosophers and poets?a)in the Church of John of the Ladderb)in the Archangel Cathedralin)in the Cathedral of the AnnunciationG)in the Assumption Cathedral19. According to experts, who owns the two-meter icons of the Deesis of the iconostasis of the Annunciation CathedralMoscow Kremlin? a) Dionysius b) Theodosius c) Andrei Rublev d)Theophan the Greek 20. Under the direction of whaticon painterwall painting of the Archangel Cathedral was carried outMoscow Kremlin, which is a special attraction of the temple?a) Theodosius b) Dionisy c) Simon Ushakov d) Andrei Rublev21. Who was the architectChurch of John of the Ladder inMoscow Kremlin? a) Aleviz Novy b) Bon Fryazin c) Rudolfo Fioravanti d) K.A. Tone22. The bell tower of which temple of the Moscow Kremlin was the highest in Moscow?a) Cathedral of the Annunciation b) Church of St. John of the Ladder c) Cathedral of the Archangel d) Cathedral of the Dormition 23 . ToWhat functions did the Assumption Cathedral perform?Moscow Kremlin? a) heirs to the throne were crowned here b) served as the tomb of Moscow metropolitans c) the city treasury was kept in the cathedral d) metropolitans and patriarchs were elected here e) the archive of the city was located here 24 . List two architectural traditions, united in the guise of the Cathedral of the AnnunciationMoscow Kremlina)Suzdal

b) Vladimirskaya

c) Novgorod

d) Pskov

e) Moscow

25. Indicate the architectural features of the Archangel Cathedrala)decoration bears the features of the Italian Renaissance styleb) long narrow slit-like windows c) drum heads of different diameters and arranged asymmetrically hipped roof d) gilded central and silver-plated side domes

An approximate text of the final test for the course of the basic school.

1. Indicate the correspondence between the three main parts of the Orthodox church and the symbolism of their purpose. 2. In what tiers of the iconostasis are the icons of events and heroes of the Old Testament? What is the name of each of these tiers and why?3. Make a schematic drawing of the cross-domed structure of the temple and indicate the names of its parts.4. Which of the holy apostles was the first to come to the territory of the Slavic tribes with the preaching of the Teachings of Jesus Christ? Describe what is known from the ChurchLegends about his route?5. What ancient Russian book is the oldest dated book in Cyrillic? By whom and for which ancient Russian church was it written?6. Which icon is the most important Orthodox shrine in Russia? How and when was it written? List the main miracles performed by this icon for the salvation of Russia.7. What Orthodox holiday was established in Russia by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky? What was it about?8. List the sacraments of the Orthodox Church and indicate their religious meaning.9. Read the Church Slavonic text. Translate it into modern Russian and indicate where this text comes from and what it is about.

10. What is the Creed? When and by whom was it adopted? List the meaning of its members. 11. List the types of bell ringing and give definitions for each of them. 12. List the main divine services of the daily circle and give definitions for each of them.

Approximate topics of essays on the topic "Orthodox Church"

1. The origins and originality of Russian temple architecture and the biblical symbolism of the forms of Orthodox churches.

2. Wooden temple architecture of Russia 3. Great holidays and Orthodox churches of Russia dedicated to these churches. 4. Creed: the history of acceptance 5. Commandments of the Old Testament 6. Commandments of the Blessedness of Jesus Christ: their explanation according to the Bible 7. Prayer to the Guardian Angel. 8. The main ritual actions that accompany prayer in an Orthodox church. 9. The sacraments of baptism and chrismation: the history of the establishment according to the Holy Scriptures, the religious meaning and order of performance. 10. The sacrament of communion: the history of the establishment according to the Holy Scriptures, the religious meaning and order of performance. 11. The sacrament of repentance: religious meaning according to the commandments of the Bible and the order of performance. 12. The sacrament of marriage: the history of the establishment according to the Holy Scriptures, the religious meaning and the procedure for performing

Approximate topics of essays on the topic "Temple architecture of Russia"

1. Hagia Sophia in Kyiv: history, era of construction and architectural appearance. 2. Features of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture and its main monuments. 3. The history of tent architecture in Russia and the main monuments of tent temple architecture. 4. Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. 5. Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin 6. Cathedral of Christ the Savior 7. St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. 8. Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg 9. Churches of the Belgorod and Stary Oskol diocese

5th grade

Approximate text of the entrance test

1. This word is translated from Latin as how to cultivate, grow. It means traditions, customs of the people. Everything created by man…………………………………………2. Match the types of crops.

BUT

B

AT

G


3. When is a person considered cultural?
a) when he read books about culture
b) when he knows about the peculiarities of the culture of his homeland, and acts in accordance with his knowledge.
c) when he is exercising
4. Faith in God -
a) makes a person’s life difficult because you have to follow the rules and fasts, pray
b) does not affect a person's life in any way
c) helps people live, because it strengthens a person, makes him stronger in grief, you can turn to God for help.
5. Why is God called the creator?
a) He himself created the world and all living things
b) He helps people in creativity
c) God was created
6. Distribute the words into groups:
disobedience, anger, caring for parents, love for brother and sister, sin and deceit, prayer, observance of the commandments and fasting, arrogance and insolence, kindness and humility

What helps a person to be closer to God?

What prevents a person from being further from God?

7. In the prayer "Our Father" there are the words "who art in Heaven." Which of the following words can be attributed to the idea of ​​"Heaven" in prayer?Choose from 6 answer options:a) a cloudb) Kingdom of Godc) dawnd) spacee) an angele) galaxy8. The Bible includes 4 Gospels. Their authors are the apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Each of them has its own sign:Please indicate the correspondence for all 4 answer options:

A. Luca

1. eagle

B. John

2. lion

V. Matvey

3. calf

G. Mark

A. It is served at a meeting

1) ladder

B. She helps to climb somewhere

2) eyes

B. The person who tends the garden

3) any

G. Eyes

4) voice

D. It can be high, low, sonorous, hoarse

5) forehead

E. Feeling and female name

6) hand

G. Part of the face

a) Okay, I'm sorry. b) Forgive me, a sinner. c) Well, excuse me?

12. Specify the correspondence:

A. The main city of the Holy Land

1) fair

B. What was held in Russian cities and villages on holidays?

2) bow

B. Traditional Easter baking

3) Jerusalem

D. The most important Orthodox holiday

4) Golgotha

E. On this day the Lord established the Sacrament of Communion

AND

W


Sample text of the interim test

1. What was the name of the oldest dated book written in Cyrillic? 2. Which of the ancient Russian books was called "the book of being and heaven"? 3. In honor of what holiday was St. Basil's Cathedral consecrated? What do you know about this holiday? 4. What is another name for the icon "Savior Not Made by Hands"? Why? What do you know about the history of its creation? 5. Which of the apostles-evangelists is depicted on the first miniature of the Ostromir Gospel? 6. Under what prince and in what year did Russia receive Baptism? 7. Which of the Orthodox churches that have come down to us is the most ancient? 8. What forms of temples were common in Russia?

Sample text of the final examination1. Under what prince and in what year did Russia receive Baptism? 2. What does the phrase "... yes it will be disgusting to me" mean? Z. Who was the Nightingale? 4. What book did the history of Russian book art begin with? In what year and by whom was it written? 5. List all the elements of decoration of ancient Russian books known to you. 6. In which cathedral were Russian parei crowned and buried? In honor of what Orthodox holiday was it consecrated? 7. What icon of the Mother of God has become one of the main shrines of Russia? Who was its creator? 8. List the distinctive features of the church denial of the first centuries of Christianity in Russia.

9. What event preceded the "Photian" baptism and what miracle was it associated with?

Approximate topics for essays on the topic "Orthodoxy in Russian culture".1. The uniqueness of Russian Orthodox architecture.2. Feast of the Intercession of the Mother of God and the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Nerl.3. Feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God and Vladimir Assumption Cathedral.4. ancient temples Kievan Rus: Kyiv Sofia, Novgorodskaya Sofia and the Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernigov.5. Temples of Moscow: Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral.6. Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the main cathedral of Russia.7. Development of icon painting in ancient Russia. Russian icon painters.8. The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God: the history of creation and miracles for the salvation of Russia.9. The Kazan icon of the Mother of God: the history of finding and miracles for the salvation of Russia.10. St. George the Victorious - the patron of Russian soldiers and the icon of St. George the Victorious in Russia.Approximate topics of essays on the topic "Baptism of Russia"1. The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is the first preacher of the Christian doctrine in the lands of the Slavic tribes.2. The first attempt by Prince Vladimir to unite the Slavic tribes.3. How Prince Vladimir chose a new faith for Russia.4. Baptism of Prince Vladimir5. The history of the baptism of Kyiv.6. The history of the baptism of Novgorod.