Orthodox Parables and Stories: "Exactly what the Monastery gave her"

 

Awoman named Eleni Davaria from the Parikia of Paros often went to the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ during the days of Saint Arsenios the New ascetic on the island of Paros, and performed various tasks for the sisters of the Monastery. Because they had no money, they gave her food.

One day the Saint said to her: 'Child, where you come and work, what do the sisters give you for your labor?

Do they pay you?

No, the woman replied, they don't give me money because they don't have any, but they give me bread, coffee, sugar and other items.

The Saint says to her: Listen, my child, if you want Christ to bless you and the little food they give you, when you meet someone poor and hungry and he asks you, give it to him.

Also when you know someone who is poor and in need, or any widow or orphan who is hungry, don't expect them to ask you.

Give gladly and do not be afraid, but believe that Christ will invisibly bless your little possessions and you will not be hungry or deprived until the end of your life.

Thank you, Elder, in everything you told me, I will obey you.

After she did penance and left the Monastery, she had eight small loaves of bread with her, which the nuns gave her for the services she did.

As soon as she was about 500 meters away from the Monastery, she met the elder Dimitrios Maunis, who said to her: "My child, do you have some bread to give me?

I am hungry.

I have been fasting since yesterday."

Helen immediately took a loaf of bread from her basket and with great eagerness and pleasure gave it to him, and went on her way.

When he went another 500 meters, he saw a young lady, a fisherman's wife, near the road, gathering grass.

Eleni greeted her and then says to her: What are you doing with him?

The young woman answered: "I am gathering some herbs to cook for my husband and I and our children to eat, for we have no bread.

Owing to the bad weather, my husband has four days to work, to go fishing to bring us bread or other provisions."

Hearing this, Eleni took pity on the poor woman and, faithful to the advice of Father Arsenios, took out of her bag and gave her two loaves of bread.

When she arrived in Parikia, she saw a small child around 4 years old crying outside a poor house.

She asked it: What is the matter my child and why you are crying?

I'm hungry, aunty.

Mother doesn't give me bread, answered the child.

And why doesn't she give it to you? Eleni asks him. The child answered: Because she doesn't have any.

She also sees the child's mother standing through the door of her house with folded hands and praying with tears.She then takes a loaf of bread and gives it to the child, who stopped crying and began to rejoice.

He runs happily and shows it to his mother and says: "Mom, mom, now we have bread, aunt gave me.

Eat of this bread and do not weep."

The woman, taking the bread, raised her hands to heaven and thanked God for hearing her prayer.

Eleni, when she arrived at her home, took out of her bag the things they gave her from the Monastery and surprisingly she sees that the bread was not short.

It was exactly what they gave her from the Monastery.

It was eight, when it should have been four. She marveled at this event and immediately returned to the Monastery, moved and tearful, she fell at the feet of Saint Arsenios and narrated the Miracle, thanking God and the Saint, who praised her for her obedience, encouraged her and said to her: If, my child, you continue to give alms and give to the poor what little you have,  not only will you not be deprived of them, but the Lord will bless them, increase them, and for those little that you will give here in the temporary life, you will hear from His mouth saying to you: "Helen, I was hungry and you gave me and I ate."

And when you say to him, "Lord, I never saw you or gave you to eat."

Yes, he will say to you: 'You have not seen me, but you have seen my poor brothers, the hungry.

The bread you gave to them is the same as if you gave it to me.

Now I also grant you my Eternal and Heavenly Kingdom, and whatever goods I have, you will have too, and all those who fed the poor and hungry and have mercy on them!"

Saint Philotheus Zervakos (♰)