Once a woman came running to me for confession — she roared, fell at her feet: — Father, I want to choke myself, poison myself! Such melancholy! I don’t know what to do. “Sit down,” I answer, “tell me how you lived.” “It’s scary to say: it’s not life, it’s a trash heap!” — Well, then repent. Are you baptized? — Yes, maybe she’s baptized! When I lived, I didn’t understand anything. She talked about her life. What can I say — a terrible life without God. I confessed her and read a prayer of permission. “Go to church,” I say, “fast for three days, and then you will come to confess again.” She came three days later and brought a whole notebook of sins… She came several times. And little by little her soul began to brighten: “Father, what a fool I was!” I wanted to choke myself, but now I want to live! This is true. You see how sin, how the devil wears out the soul! It leads her to hatred of life given by God. How many people suffer from such sins now? There is no end! A lot of sick people come to the temple. I give advice to everyone — to confess your sins, take communion and read the 90th Psalm every day (“Alive in the help of the Most High”). This prayer is very powerful. My grandfather, father and mother taught me to pray this way. We read this prayer at the front — and there were such miracles with God’s help! I advise those who are sick to read this prayer as a memory. This prayer has special power to protect us. Prayer and the cross can save you in the most hopeless situation.
Prot. Valentin Biryukov
Charitable Foundationnd Holy Land
Investment in the Soul!
