Orthodox Parables and Stories: How Hegumen Cyprian (Yashchenko) and his ex-wife, now nun Paraskeva, were tonsured.

It happened in the mid-90s. Then, while still a layman, Fr. Cyprian took care of Elder Kirill (Pavlov). Doctors discovered a malignant formation in his wife's brain, and for three years the best doctors tried unsuccessfully to cure her. When the metastasis had grown so much that the sick woman had already been sent home to die, she asked her husband to take Elder Kirill's blessing for monastic tonsure.

When Fr. Cyprian came for the blessing, the Elder said: "Well, this is a good thing. Only you and your wife need to take monasticism at the same time. Everything will be fine."

Soon the blessing of the Patriarch was received, and the couple accepted the tonsure together, as the Elder blessed them at the same time (August 20, 1994).

What happened next defies any scientific explanation.

For several days, black fluid from a new cut of the nose was flowing. It was a tumor, and until recently the dying, bedridden wife got up from her bed and is still alive and fulfills the vow given to God - she sews the shroud of the Lord and the Mother of God embroidered with precious stones.

Wonderful are Thy works, O Lord ...