The story of the young Christian Taisia was full of trials. Early orphaned, the kind girl greeted strangers, distributed alms and prayed a lot. She especially liked to give hospitality to the elders of the neighboring monastery. Taisia loved to talk to them about spiritual matters. Only now the temptations of the worldly life were stronger than attachment to Christ and Taisia lost her way. Forgotten were prayers and fasting, life filled with reckless festivities and bad friends.
The monks heard about it, they were sad. It was a pity to see how Taisia had changed, how she had forgotten her righteous life. They decided to send one of the elders, John Kolov, to send her to talk.
Gone are the days when the ascetics were welcomed in this house. The servants did not want John on the doorstep. I had to tell him that he brought something very valuable to the hostess. Only then was he missed. Taisia came out to him joyful, excited. She greeted John with a smile. He suddenly started crying. To the questions of the hostess, the monk replied that he was crying because she had left Christ and given herself to Satan. It was like a veil was sleeping out of Taisia’s eyes. She suddenly realized her fall, and it became unbearable for her to live like this. Is it possible to forgive, she asked the elder and received an affirmative answer, asked to take her away from there. She never looked back at hers.
I didn’t get anything from home. Just left the old life behind and left.
They spent the night in the desert. John made her a headboard of sand, blessed her, and walked away. I prayed and fell asleep. Suddenly something woke him up. Looking around, he saw a pillar of light coming from where he had left Taisia. And in this light were seen angels carrying away her soul. When John approached the girl, she was dead. The monk buried Taisia and upon coming to the monastery told the amazing story of her fall and forgiveness.
Memorial Day
23rd May
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
