Orthodox Parables and Stories: St. Minas and the birds

The church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani in Paros

Fr. Minas, later St. Minas, lived in a monastery in Romania. After the liturgy, he used to rest in the woods, which surrounded the monastery. There he chanted and praised God with beautiful hymns. And the following peculiar thing happened: "The birds of the forest gathered around him, some were sitting on his head, some on his shoulders, and some in his hand. Fr. Minas was tenderly caressing them, but when he started chanting, the birds stopped peeping and listened to him cheerfully.

Because the monastery's service began at night and ended before dawn, until Fr. Minas was rested up and recovered, it was dawn, so he went out into the forest early in the morning to enjoy the nature and presence of the birds. There, all together they praised and glorified God.

In the last days of Fr. Minas' life, when Divine Liturgy was served and ended before sunrise, the birds were gathering around the church. At the time of the changing of the Holy Gifts, all the birds stopped chanting. And at "Especially for our most holy, pure blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.." and while the choir chanted "Axion Esti" the birds began to chant again!

A similar even happened at the Church of the Lady of Paradise of Paros during the Divine Liturgy in 1998. Dozens of sparrows and other birds were flying around the temple. Some went in through the open windows of the dome. All were chanting and peeping vividly. At the time of the changing of the precious Gifts, they all stopped fluttering and chanting, only to resume after "Especially for our most holy pure Lady..."