Orthodox Parables and Stories: "The Power of the Jesus Prayer!"

An ascetic from Mount Athos sent his disciple to sell their handicraft in Karyes. There the submissive heard in Protato beautiful chants and hymns.

On his return, he says to his elder:

"Elder, I have a thought: We here in the desert do not glorify God, we do nothing. See how there they praise God with chants and hymns. We here only with a prayer rope say "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me."

The clairvoyant and wise elder says then to his disciple:

"Let us go, my child, to see how the fathers pray there."

When they arrived in Karyes, they entered the Church, at the time when a liturgy was being performed, with  chanting and praising. Then the old man began to pray mentally and to ask God to give an answer to the thoughts of his disciple.

Suddenly, and while the discreet elder was immersed in his inner and secret prayer, a strong earthquake strikes! The Church was shaken. Then immediately the chanters stopped chanting and in awe and loudly began saying: "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me" !!!

As soon as the shaking was over, the terrified disciple said to his serene and enlightened elder:

"Father, let us go, let us go to our mental spiritual work, to our peace, to our hut !! This is what God wants from us !! ".

With unspeakable inner joy, praise and thanksgiving to the All-Merciful God, who in this way informed his spiritual child, the elder with his disciple left for their cell.