The evil one hates our faith, and he finds various cunning ways to confuse us, sow doubt, and there you look — and make your slave.
That temptation didn’t pass me either. In the early 1950s, when my sons were born, I fell ill. I had a serious blockage of veins on my leg, and I refused the operation — I decided to endure. Because of illness, he could only walk on crutches. I had to leave my job as a salesman and take up photography – the load was much less.
Then I moved with my family to the village of Togur. There I worked in a photo studio and sang in the church choir. Of course, there were people who laughed at me. It was such a difficult moment that even close friends began to tease me: Ha ha ha! Heh heh heh! He puts candles, prays to God. Look, he doesn’t drink vodka, he only drinks church! Well, everybody said that. It seems that it is not terrible for me, but still a crafty thought got into the soul.
One evening I prayed in front of the icon and said, “Lord!” I will not go to church, I will pray at home. This is what he said before the icon, before God. Then he lay down and fell asleep. What do you think? I see in a dream — I go, collect berries, then I came across a pine tree. Some guys are running around me. I said to them, “Let’s go get some nuts, there are so many of them here!” Only a few steps were taken — lightning struck from the east, then another, third! And this forest burned like gunpowder. I raised my hands and shouted, “Lord, save us!” Excuse us, what do we do?! A voice is heard from above, as powerful as thunder: Pray! This is how the earth will burn – from east to west, from north to south. Pray! And for the third time, it sounded quieter, already so peaceful, sweet: Pray. I keep screaming, I’m shaking.
I don’t know how many minutes this vision lasted, but I woke up in sweat, even my shirt was wet. I was scared. He knelt in front of the icons and from the depths of his heart shouted: “Lord!” Jesus!! I’ll go to church! I always will — whatever happens! Then I decided to devote my whole life to God. I was ordained a deacon, and in 1976 in Tashkent – a priest.
On earth we are only learning to live.
Prot. Valentin Biryukov
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Soul investment!
Orthodox stories from life
