The Ill Monk

 

One day a monk of the Dionysiou monastery named Anphimus came to the hospital of the monastery to visit a newly tonsured monk who had fallen ill immediately after his tonsure. To comfort the sufferer, he told him the following story from his personal experience.

"Have hope, brother, in Our Lady, the great healer and tireless intercessor for all monks. Hear what happened to me, so that you may understand Her immeasurable intercession.

When I was your age, about twenty-five years old, and, like you, had recently taken monastic vows, I too was gravely ill. For a long time, the illness turned me into a cripple. I don't know whether it was rheumatism or something else, but my whole body was shackled by a kind of powerlessness. I used crutches to get around. Moreover, as if this were not enough, my eyes were also blurred and I could hardly distinguish objects.

Two doctors came to me and examined me, but they could do nothing to help. The more time passed, the worse my condition became. Day and night I shed tears and said:

- "My God, what has gotten into me? Am I perhaps the sinner? A recent tonsured monk, blind and paralyzed, I lie in a hospital, and I am served by elders?! I'd rather die!

Many brothers advised me to go out into the world so that I could be examined by more experienced doctors. But one of the monks of our monastery, a very respected and pious one, came up to me one day and said:

- Listen, my child! You know that in our monastery there is, the ancient, miraculous icon "Akathistnaya". It is a gift of Emperor Alexius III Comnenus to the founder of our monastery, the Monk Dionysius. On its silver riza and on the wood are inscriptions which testify that this image is the same which Patriarch Sergius surrounded the walls of Constantinople, which saved it from the Persians and Avars in the year 626.

It was before this icon that our fathers and mothers first chanted an Akathist, thanking the Most Holy Mother of God for salvation. Tradition has it that it is one of seventy icons painted by the Evangelist Luke himself. In addition, it repeatedly exuded a fragrant myrrh. Go therefore, you also, fall down before her, and with fervent faith and tears, ask her for healing, and you will see that the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the suffering Mother, will have mercy on you.

These words gave me strength and strengthened my faith, and I wholeheartedly turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary, begging Her mercy and supporting my prayers with fervent tears.

On the eve of the Feast of the Icon, on the fifth Saturday of Great Lent, I went to the church and stayed there all night. Oh, how long I prayed before Her holy image! Right there, exhausted and tired, I fell asleep. And, oh wonder! - I saw the Mother of God dressed in all gold, in radiant light, all sparkling with radiance and glory. She stood two cubits high in the air and looked at me with a calm gaze. Then She opened Her mellifluous lips and said:

- Why are you crying, my child Anphimus?

- How can I not, O Most Blessed Mother, weep? Do You not see my wretchedness, what I have become?

- Do not weep, but think of your salvation.

Having said this, She blessed me and lifted me up. I immediately woke up. I rubbed my eyes, and... I saw the lamps burning! I strained, trying to get up and... freely I got up and walked! Then I understood everything at once. The Blessed Virgin had performed a miracle, She had healed me completely. Oh, what joy I felt then, how many tears of gratitude I shed, how many hymns I sang - it is impossible to describe!

Soon the priest opened the temple and could not believe his eyes when he saw me standing on my feet. When the monks found out that I was well, they all praised the Lord and His Immaculate Mother for their infinite love and intercession.