After exile in the Arctic, Father Nikolai began building a railway with other prisoners. Naturally, there was no talk of any good conditions of detention for the “priests” and the truly Orthodox. Father could not forget that terrible night, this is how he himself talked about it:
We were all driven to a lake covered with ice crumbs. They wanted us all to renounce our faith. It was bitterly cold and you couldn’t stand in warm clothes for long. They ordered us to undress and go into the water, we obeyed. So they left us, with dogs and guards, who changed constantly — it was so cold.
I am standing, there are people around me — bishops, priests, laymen. We all pray quietly. I felt the strengthening of God, and I began to mentally say the Jesus Prayer. I still kept in my memory the joy of the Mother of God. At some point I felt hot.
Each of us tried to cuddle up to each other, but where was it! We all understood that sooner or later we would go to the Lord. Some read the Psalter from memory, but we could no longer say anything with our lips — the cold was fierce, our whole body was constrained — we couldn’t even breathe.
I see many people going under the water — their heads are drooping. Then I only hear a sob, and my soul immediately flies to the throne of the Lord God himself — all martyrs. Not one denied Him.
I saw angels descend and take their souls. And to me, a sinner, the Queen of Heaven herself appeared. She asked me not to give up prayer — she said that the Lord would heal me and leave me on earth — to strengthen the Church of Christ.
After this, the Mother of God enveloped me in her fiery warmth, and I stood in it, the only survivor.
The next morning they pulled me out and took me to the boss, but he didn’t laugh anymore, he said:
-Did your God help you?
-I helped, and I confess Him.
-Pray for my daughter, she is very sick,” said the boss. This man became a believer overnight.
After this story, the elder turned away and always cried. “This is the test the Lord sent us.”
Let us, dear ones, be strengthened in faith just like these people. Let us be sober, rejoice and not for a moment forget about Christ. Glory to God for everything, only in Him is our happiness and salvation.
Charity Fundnd Holy Land
Investment in the Soul!
