Holy Shushanik. Saint Shushanik - she is also called by the name Vardeni, since she was a worthy daughter of the holy martyr Sparapet Vardan... An excerpt characterizing Saint Shushanik

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YAKOV TSURTAVELI MARTYRHOOD OF SHUSHANIK (Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik)

Now I will tell you truthfully about the death of the holy and blessed Shushanik.

1. And it came to pass in the eighth year of the king of Persia that Pitiakhsh Varsken, the son of Arshushi, went to the royal court. In the beginning he was a Christian, born of Christian parents. His wife was the daughter of the Armenian military leader Vardan, about whom I am writing this to you. Her paternal name was Vardan, and her pet name was Shushanik. From the days of her infancy she was God-fearing, as we talked about. She constantly reflected on the wicked lifestyle of her husband and asked everyone to pray for him, so that God would turn him from foolishness to the understanding of Christ.

Who is able to tell how this wicked, thrice pitiful and ultimately doomed Varsken rejected the saving hope of Christ, or who will not weep for him, for he has not experienced calamity, fear, sword, or captivity for Christ?

[nevertheless cheated on him]!

He appeared before the king of Persia not to receive honor, but to sacrifice himself to him through renunciation of the true God and worship of fire, for he completely abandoned Christ. In order to please the king, this miserable man begged him for a wife and told him this: “I will also convert my real wife and my children to your faith, just as I converted myself.” He promised him something that had not yet been given to him by Shushanik. The king was delighted and ordered the king's daughter to be given to him as a wife.

II. Pitiakhsh left the Persian king. When he reached the borders of Kartli, the country of Eret, he intended to notify [about his arrival] the Aznaurs, his sons and servants, so that, coming out to meet him, they would bring him into their country as devoted to it. Ahead, he sent an ambassador on horseback, who arrived at a place called Tsurtavi.

When he arrived, he entered our queen Shushanik and greeted her. Blessed Shushanik, as if having a presentiment, said: “If he is alive in soul, be alive also; but if you have already died in soul, may your greeting return to you.” The man did not dare answer her. Saint Shushanik conjured him and persistently asked him.

He revealed the truth to her and said: “Varsken abandoned the true God.”

When blessed Shushanik listened to this, she fell to the ground and, falling with her head, said in bitter tears: “How pitiful Varsken has become, he rejected the true God, confessed the Atroshans and joined the godless!”

She got up, left her palace and fearing God entered the church, where she brought with her her three sons and daughter. Having placed them in front of the altar, she prayed with the following words: “Lord, God! You gave them to me, but you preserve them, enlightened in the holy font by the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that they form one flock of one shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.”

After the evening service, she found a small cell close to the church, entered it, full of grief and, hiding in one of its corners, cried bitter tears.

III. The bishop of the Pitiakhsh court, whose name was Afots, was not there at that time; he went to a certain husband’s house on some business, and took with him me, the confessor of Queen Shushanik. Suddenly a deacon arrived from the palace and told everything: about the arrival of Pitiakhsh and the deed of the queen. We were filled with sadness and, saddened, mourned with great tears the multiplication of our sins.

I left there earlier and arrived at the place where Saint Shushanik was located. Seeing her suffering, I also cried with her. I told her: “You, queen, will have to endure a lot of suffering; take care of the faith of Christ so that the enemy, like gangrene, does not find pasture in you.” Saint Shushanik answered me: “Presbyter! I am ready for great feats.” I said: “That’s how it should be, be cheerful, patient and enduring.”

She told me: “These disasters are for me alone.” I answered: “Your misfortune is our misfortune, your joy is our joy, for you were not only our queen, but you looked at all of us as your own children.”

I said to the blessed one secretly: “Tell me what is in your soul, so that I may know and describe your deeds.” She said, "What are you asking me?" I answered: “Are you standing firm?” She said: “Let it not happen to me that I become an accomplice in the deeds and sins of Varsken!” I answered her: “His intention is bitter, he will subject you to great suffering and torment!” She said: “It is better for me to die at his hands than to get back together with him again and destroy your soul: for I heard from the Apostle Paul: neither brother nor sister are bound, let them separate.” “So,” I said.

IV. While we were talking, one person appeared - a Persian, who, entering Shushanik, said to her with tears: “What a pity that this house has become unhappy and its joy has turned into sadness!” He spoke slyly and according to Varsken’s intent, in order to catch the blessed one. The saint understood his insidious intention and firmly protected herself. After three days, Pitiakhsh Varsken appeared. The Persian secretly told him: “As I guess, your wife has left you, I advise you not to say a harsh word to her, for the nature of women is cramped.”

The next day, as soon as he got up, Pitiakhsh called us priests and we appeared.

He greeted us cheerfully and said: “Don’t be shy and don’t despise me.” We answered: “You destroyed yourself and destroyed us!” Then he began to say: “By what right did my wife do this to me? Go and tell her: you destroyed my prayer room and sprinkled my bed with ashes, you left your dwelling and went away.” to another place". The saint sent him in response: “Did I destroy the chapel that I myself had erected? Your father erected martyrions and built churches, but you perverted what he had done and avoided all his good [undertakings]. Your father brought the saints into your house, but you brought devas, he confessed the god of heaven and earth and believed in him, but you abandoned the true god and worshiped fire. Just as you rejected the god who created you, so I reject you. I will not be an accomplice in your deeds, even if you subject me to cruel torment." .

V. After this, Varsken sent to her his brother Dzhodzhik and his wife - his brother’s wife - also his court bishop, to whom he gave the order: “Tell her - get up, go back to your place and give up your stubbornness, otherwise I will drag you down ".

When they arrived, they went in to the queen and spent a long time convincing her. The saint said to them: “Wise people! You speak well, but do not think that I will remain his wife. I thought that I would turn him to myself and he would confess the true God: and now you force me to do the opposite. Let this not happen to me. And you, Jojik, are not my brother-in-law, and I am not your brother’s wife, and your wife is not my sister, for you stand on his side and are accomplices in his affairs.” Jojik told her: “I know that he will send his servants here and drag you away.” Saint Shushanik answered: “If he ties me up and drags me away, I will be glad, for this will bring about his judgment against me.”

When they heard this from her, everyone cried. Jojik stood up and walked out with tears in his eyes. Saint Shushanik said to the bishop: “How do you want to persuade me when he rejected God?” Jojik begged her, saying: “You are our sister, do not destroy this royal house!” The saint replied: “I know that I am a sister and that we were raised together, but I cannot allow things to come to bloodshed and you all to be responsible for this.”

Since they pestered her too much, the holy and blessed Shushanik stood up, took her Gospel with her and said with tears: “Lord God, you know that I am going to death with all my soul!” Then she went with them, taking with her her Gospel and the holy books of the martyrs. When she entered the palace, she stopped not in her bedchamber, but in a small cell and, raising her hands up, said: “Lord God, in this meeting there was no one who would take pity on me, neither among the priests nor among the laity, but everyone handed me over to death to God’s enemy Varsken!”

VI. Two days later, that wolf came to the palace and said to his servants: “Today I and Jojik and my wife will eat food together, and no one else should come to us.” In the evening they invited Dzhodzhik’s wife to eat food together, and they ordered to bring Saint Shushanik as well. When it was time to eat, Dzhodzhik and his wife went to Shchushanik to invite her to eat food, for she had spent all those days hungry.

She was forced and taken into the palace by force, but she did not touch anything. Jojik's wife presented her with a glass of wine and forced her to drink it. Saint Shushanik angrily said to her: “When has it happened before that men and women ate bread together?” And, stretching out her hand, she threw a glass in her face, which broke, and the wine spilled.

Then Varsken began to curse her obscenely and trample her with his feet. He took the poker and gave her such a blow to the head that the poker cut into her head, causing one of her eyes to swell. He beat her mercilessly in the face with his fists, dragged her along the ground by her hair, roared like an enraged animal and screamed like mad. Then Dzhodzhik, Varsken’s brother, rose to help, the latter beat him up in the fight, and tore the veil from Shushanik’s head. Jojik took her from him with difficulty, like a lamb from a wolf. Saint Shushanik lay as if dead on the ground, while Varsken scolded her relatives and called her a destroyer of his house. He ordered her to be tied up and her legs shackled. When his rage subsided a little, the Persian came and fervently begged him to free Saint Shushanik from her bonds. As a result of the increased request, Varsken ordered her to be untied and placed in one room, one of his servants to be assigned to her for careful protection, and no one, neither man nor woman, was allowed in there to meet with her.

VII. At dawn the next day he remembered her and asked the guard: “How is she feeling from her wounds?” They answered him: “She will not survive.” Then he himself entered there and, seeing her, was surprised at the huge tumor on her. He gave orders to the guard that no one should enter her, and he himself went hunting.

I got up and went to the guard and asked: “Let me in alone so that I can see her wounds.”

He answered: “What if he finds out and kills me!” I said: “Unfortunate one, weren’t you raised by her? What does it matter if they kill you because of her?” Then he let me in secretly. When I entered, I saw her face torn and swollen and began to cry heatedly. The saint told me: “Do not cry for me, for this night became for me the beginning of joy.” I told her: “Command me and I will wash the blood from your face and the ashes that cover your eyes, lubricate it with ointment and apply medicine, maybe overnight you will recover.” The saint told me: “Presbyter, don’t say this, this blood is the cleansing of my sins.”

I persuaded her to take some food, which Bishops Samuel and John sent her, for they secretly cared for her and consoled her. She told me: “Presbyter!

I am not able to taste the food, because my jaws and half of my teeth are broken.”

Then I took some wine, soaked the bread in it, and she ate a little. I hurried to go out, the saint said to me: “Well, presbyter, shouldn’t I send him his jewelry? No matter how he himself demands them, I don’t need them in this life!”

I answered: “Don’t rush, let them stay with you!”

While we were talking, a boy came alone and asked: “Is Jacob here?” I told him:

"And what do you want?" He said: "Pitiakhsh is calling." I wondered why he was calling me at such a time? I hurriedly came to him. He said: “You know, priest, I’m going to war with the Huns and I don’t want to leave my jewelry to her, since she’s not my wife, there will be someone who will use it. Go and get me everything that’s there.” I went and told Shushanik everything, she was very happy about this, thanked God, gave me everything, and I took them to Pitiakhsh. He took them from me, examined them and found that everything was fine. At the same time, he added: “There will be someone else who will decorate himself with them.”

VIII. When Lent began, blessed Shushanik found a small cell near the holy church, in which she retired. The cell had a tiny window; she beat him to death and remained in darkness, fasting, prayers and tears. One of those close to Pitiakhsh told him: “During this great and holy fast, do not say anything to her.”

When Easter Monday arrived, Pitiakhsh returned from the Hunnic War, the devil digging into his heart. He got up, went to church and said to Bishop Afots: “Give me my wife, why are you keeping her away from me?” And he began to sharply slander and blaspheme him. One of the priests said to him: “Sir, why are you doing this, slandering and scolding the bishop and being angry with Saint Shushanik?” And he hit him on the back with a stick, he, of course, did not dare to speak anymore.

And he dragged her, as if dead, over the ground and thorns, with which the ground from the church to the palace was deliberately strewn in places and on which he himself could not step. Shushanik’s body and her head covering were torn into small shreds by the thorns. In this form she was taken to the palace. He ordered her to be tied up and said in anger: “Behold, neither your church, nor your accomplices - Christians, nor their God - helped you.” She endured three hundred blows with a stick, and not a single sigh, not a single groan was heard from her lips. She only said to the wicked Varsken:

“Unfortunate one, you did not feel sorry for yourself and abandoned God, should you feel sorry for me?”

When he saw the blood that was oozing in abundance from her tender body, he ordered chains to be placed on her neck, and he ordered his bed servant to take her to the fortress and imprison her so that she would die there.

IX. While Shushanik was being taken out of the palace, one of the deacons of that bishop stood next to her. He wanted to tell her: “Stand firm!” Pitiakhsh caught this with his gaze, so the deacon was unable to finish his sentence; he only managed to say: “hard...” and, falling silent, hastily fled.

Then they took Saint Shushanik and led her away, barefoot, with disheveled hair, like one of the humiliated. No one dared to cover her head, since the pitiakhsh followed her on horseback and scolded her with all kinds of abuse.

Saint Shushanik was accompanied by a huge crowd, countless men and women. They, following her, cried loudly, scratched their cheeks and shed bitter tears. She, turning to the people, said: “Do not cry, brothers and sisters and my children, but remember me in your prayers, from now on I will part with you, you will not see me again, for I will not leave prison alive.” When Pitiakhsh saw a crowd of crying women and men, old and young, he began to chase them on horseback and disperse them.

When they approached the fortress bridge, Pitiakhsh said to Saint Shushanik: “You only have to cross this with your own feet, for you will not leave here alive, four people will carry you out.”

Entering the fortress, they found a small, dark room on the north side, into which they placed the saint. The chains that were around her neck remained on her; the wicked Varsken sealed them with his seal. Saint Shushanik said: “I am glad to suffer here, just to find peace there.” Pitiakhsh answered her: “Well, yes, find peace!”

Then he assigned a guard to her and ordered her to be starved to death, and said:

“If anyone comes to her, man or woman, take care of your heads, your wives, your children and your houses, I will not be guilty of what I do to you.”

X. Varsken left the fortress; three weeks later, he called one of the guards and asked: “Is this unfortunate woman still alive?” He replied: “Sir, she is closer to death than to life, she starves herself, does not take any food.”

Pitiakhsh said: “Don’t worry, leave it, let him die!”

I begged the guard a lot, even promised him a decent reward, and he hardly decided to let me in, he said: “When it gets dark, you only come alone.”

When he led me in and I saw the lamb of Christ, like a bride adorned, only with bonds, my heart could not bear it and wept bitterly. The saint told me:

“Is this a good deed for which you are crying, presbyter?” The guard told me: “If I had known this, I would not have let you in here.” I began to talk to her and encourage her, as far as God had taught me, then I left her, I hurried to my home.

Pitiakhsh went to Chor. Jodzhik, his brother, was absent when all this was done with Shushanik. When he returned, he hurried after Pitiakhsh and caught up with him at the border of Hereti. He strenuously asked him to free Shushanik from his chains. Since he was too tired of him, Varsken ordered to free her only from the shackles. Returning home, Jodzhik removed the chains from Shushanik’s neck, but she did not want to free herself from the leg shackles until her death.

She remained in prison for six years and became adorned with virtues: fasting, wakefulness, standing on her feet, unremitting bows and continuous reading of books. She became a spiritual priest, illuminating and decorating the prison.

XI. Since then they began to talk about her all over Kartli. Men and women came to her with abundant, pre-promised offerings, and each, through the prayers of Blessed Shushanik, received from the humane God what he needed: the childless - children, the sick - healing, the blind - insight.

There was one woman, a Persian, a fire worshiper, who suffered from leprosy. She came to Shushanik, who began to convince her to leave fire worship and believe in Christ! The woman wanted to do this as soon as possible. Shushanik instructed her and said: “Go to Jerusalem and receive healing from this leprosy.”

She diligently heeded her instructions, went along the path indicated to her, and in the name of our God Jesus Christ was healed of her illness. When she returned back with great joy, she came to Saint Shushanik to thank her, and then went home, rejoicing at her healing.

XII. Saint Shushanik, instead of doing silk embroidery, with great zeal took the Psalter in her hands and in a short time memorized 150 psalms, in which day and night she offered tearful prayers to the Almighty Lord.

Saint Shushanik reported: “He turned your children into idolatry.” Then she, sobbing deeply, began to pray to God and, bowing her head to the ground, sighed and said: “I thank you, my Lord God, for they were not mine, but you gave them to me, your will be done, Lord, as you please.” , save me from the deeds of the enemy."

I went to Shushanik and found her exhausted and swollen from crying. It turned out that that holy bishop sent her food, and I forced her to taste the food. The two of us thanked God. Previously, her children came to their mother to visit her, but after they were turned away from God and turned [to fire worship], they did not dare to come, for she did not even want to hear their name.

XIII. Pitiakhsh sent intermediaries to tell her: “Either do my will and return to the palace, or, if you do not return, I will send you on a donkey to Chor or to the court of the [Persian] king.” Shushanik answered him: “Unhappy and foolish, who knows that if you send me to Chor or to the court, I will not find good there and will not avoid evil!” Pitiakhsh began to think about her words: “Who knows, maybe I will find goodness there,” “no matter how she becomes the wife of some prince.” That’s why I haven’t sent anyone to her since then. Saint Shushanik actually spoke about cruel torment and suffering with which she wanted to please God.

Pitiakhsh chose her foster brother, who was close to him, and instructed him to take her to the palace. He told her: “Listen to me, return to the palace and do not ruin our family.” Shushanik replied: “Tell this atheist: you killed me when you threatened that I would not leave prison alive. Now, if you are able to resurrect the dead, first of all resurrect your mother, who is buried in Urd.

If you are not able to resurrect her, you will not be able to get me out of here, unless you drag me out." When Pitiakhshu was informed about this, he said: "Yes, he really told her that."

The next day a certain man came in and said to Saint Shushanik: “You answered him well, he wanted to deceive you in this way, in his soul he cherished another thought - to cause you harm.” Saint Shushanik answered him: “Don’t think that God is sleeping, who puts words into a person’s mouth in advance, because he himself says: I will answer for you.”

XIV. She had completed six years of her stay in prison. Due to severe overwork and excessive feats, she fell ill, “I warned her about this:

“Do not over-salt, with such severe fasting, constant standing on your feet, nightly fatigue, psalmody and praise, you burden your body; it will not stand it and you will not be able to do good deeds.” She did not give even the slightest rest to her flesh, as a result of which everything melted and turned, as it were, into ashes.

During the six years of the great pre-Easter fast - 50 days - she did not sit down either day or night, did not fall asleep, did not take any food, only on Sunday she communed with the body and blood of Christ our God, and also took very little green soup , but I didn’t eat bread until Easter.

From the day she was transferred to the dungeon, she did not know a pillow, but put a brick at her head, old felt served as her bed, and for appearance she kept one wool pillow at her head, and a small matting was spread out for kneeling. An unimaginable number of lice and fleas swarmed in that place, [and the nature of the area was as follows]: in the summer, scorching rays of the sun like fire, sultry winds and pathogenic water. The inhabitants of that area, overcome by disease, swollen and yellowed from water, covered with rashes, withered, scabies-infested, diseased faces, with swollen cheeks, live so short-lived that there are no old people in this area. She sat in such a prison for six years, glorifying God in heavy chains.

XV. When the seventh year came, ulcers appeared on the body of the holy and blessed Shushanik. From continuous labor, her legs were swollen, from which pus appeared in places. There were worms in the deep wounds. She took one of them with her own hands, showed it to me and, thanking God, said: “Presbyter! Do not let this bother you, for the worm “there” is larger than [this] and does not die.” When I saw the worm, unbearable grief came over me and I cried a lot. She remarked to me with anger: “Presbyter! Why are you grieving? It would be better for me to be eaten by “dying worms” in this earthly life than by “non-dying ones.” I answered her: “I found the hair shirt insufficient for mortifying the flesh and therefore I was glad.” these worms?" She asked me: “During my lifetime, don’t tell anyone about the hair shirt, I will soon have to part with mortal flesh.” And indeed, on the inside she wore a hair shirt, which no one knew about except me, but on the outside, for show , clothes made from expensive Antiochian fabric.

XVI. When Jodzhik learned that the holy and blessed Queen Shushanik was approaching death, he, along with his wife, children, male and female servants, went to prison to see the holy martyr. Arriving there, he forcibly entered the prison, bowed to the honorable cross and greeted Saint Shushanik. Sitting down next to her, he asked her about her illness. The saint told him: “I feel good, as God pleases, but I will also go along the path that everyone follows.”

Dzhodzhik immediately stood up and began to confess to Shushanik about his past unworthy actions, saying: “Bride and slave of Christ, ask God to forgive me my many sins.” Saint Shushanik answered him: “If you have sinned in no other way than in your youth, may God forgive you.” Jojik said: “That’s why I came to you, so that I would no longer do anything that displeases God.” Shushanik said: “If you do this, you will gain immortality with me, and God will multiply the days of your life.”

When Dzhodzhik was convinced that she would be separated from her flesh that same day, he said to her: “Bless me, my wife - your servant, my children and male and female servants, and if we have sinned in anything before you, as devotees of the world and people of this temporary life, forgive us and do not remember our careless life." Shushanik said to Dzhodzhik and his wife: "You were careless towards me, there was not one of the people who would show pity for me and show condolences and who would admonish the wicked Varsken, temporarily my husband." They said: “We tried a lot without you, but there was not a word or a word from him.” Then Saint Shushanik said: “Me and Pitiakhsha Varskena will be judged where there is no partiality before the judge of judges and the Lord of lords, where there is no difference between man and woman, where I and he will equally speak before our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord reward him, for he gathered my fruits prematurely, extinguished my lamp and withered my flower, darkened the charm of my beauty and humiliated my glory. Let God be the judge between me and him. Now I thank God for the fact that through the suffering he caused me I will find joy , and through torment and reproach - peace; for his recklessness and ruthlessness I expect mercy from Jesus Christ my Lord."

At these words they wept bitterly and said to her: “Forgive us our guilt and bless us, holy and blessed martyr of Christ our God.” Saint Shushanik replied: “May God forgive you everything you have done.” Then she blessed Jojik, his wife, children, male and female slaves, the entire courtyard and his entire chamber. She commanded them to walk in the path of God and said: “All life here is fleeting and impermanent, like a flower of the field; he who sows also reaps, he who squanders for the poor gathers, he who sacrifices himself will find the one who glorified him.” Then she parted with them and sent them away in peace.

XVII. After Dzhodzhik, the head of the bishops, Samuel, and his cleric, Bishop John, arrived, who usually strengthened her and took great care of her. They and their household were like slaves attached to her, as well as accomplices and accomplices in her exploits. That’s why they guided her to the refuge of Christ. Great aznaurs and high-born women also came, also free and unfree [socially] of the country of Kartli and those who sincerely sympathized with its blessed exploits. They handed her over to Christ as a valiant and courageous [martyr].

All of them, both bishops and aznaurs, unanimously asked her that she would deign to leave them leg shackles as a blessing and protection. To this Shushanik replied: “Who am I unworthy? Let the priest fulfill your desire for your love for God. I am powerless, but may the all-perfect Christ fill you with all good things, since you have worked and become accomplices of my sufferings, sorrows and torments. I, beloved ", I am setting off on the eternal path prepared for me. Instead of sorrows, may Christ give me joy, instead of torment - peace, for suffering, torment and reproach I will bring endless glory and honor in heaven." Those, having parted with her, came out of prison, full of tears, and offered glory to God for the victory she had won.

XVIII. The day of her departure [from this world] has come. She called the bishop of her house, Afots, and thanked him, as a father and educator, for his compassion towards her. She entrusted me, sinful and wretched, to him. She also entrusted him with the care of her bones, bequeathing them to be placed where she was pulled out the first time, and said:

“If I, the last, eleventh worker in the vineyard, am worth anything, I bless you forever.”

She thanked God and said: “Blessed be the Lord my God, for in peace I lay down and fell asleep,” and gave up her soul to the Lord who accepts everyone.

XIX. Blessed Bishop John immediately took out a shroud to dress her holy and honorable remains. We all lifted her exhausted and worm-eaten body, cleaned it of earthworms and pus, and dressed it in a shroud. Then both bishops, Afots and John, like two strong oxen harnessed of high value, together with the entire congregation, lifted her honorable remains and, with spiritual singing, lighted candles and burning of incense, carried them into the holy church. There, in a prepared place, the holy, glorious and honorable remains of Shushanik were buried. We spent that night, like the angels, in wakefulness and on David’s saddle we glorified the all-powerful God and his son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is able to fulfill everything [requested] and give strength to all men and women. He truly gives victory over the powerful to all who diligently seek Him.

XX. The suffering of Saint Shushanik began on Wednesday, the eighth day of the month Apana; her second torment took place after the Easter holiday, on Monday. They tortured her for the third time on the 19th day of the month of Roses. She reposed on the 17th day of October, on the feast of the holy and blessed martyrs Cosmas and Damian. We established Thursday as the day of remembrance of Saint Shushanik, for the glorification and praise of God the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen!.

Shushanika (Vardandukht) Ranskaya(+), princess, great martyr

Shushanika was the daughter of the famous Armenian military leader Vardan. Her real name is Vardandukht, in honor of the father, and the affectionate one is Shushanik. From childhood, Saint Shushanika was distinguished by her fear of God and piety.

She married Pitiakhsh (ruler of the border regions in Georgia) Varsken, who, having betrayed Christ, became an apostate. In the eighth year of Shah Peroz's reign, Warsken went to Ctesiphon, where the Persian Shah had his residence, and became a Mazdaist (fire worshiper) to please the Shah.

Having learned about this upon the return of her husband, Saint Shushanika did not want to continue her married life with the apostate from God. She left the palace and began to live in a small cell, not far from the palace church. The queen's confessor Yakov Tsurtaveli (later the author of her life) tells that the holy queen, having learned about her husband's intention to resort to force, was determined to stand firmly in the faith, despite any persuasion, threats and torment.

Rejecting Varsken's advances, on January 8, she was beaten and shackled by him, and on April 14, 469, she was imprisoned in the fortress, where she remained for six and a half years. “She remained in prison for six years and was adorned with virtues: fasting, wakefulness, standing on her feet, unremitting bows and continuous reading of books. She became a spiritual priest, sanctifying and decorating the prison.” Many suffering people came to the prison, “at the same time, everyone, through the prayers of blessed Shushanika, received from the humane God what he needed: the childless - children, the sick - healing, the blind - insight.”

Meanwhile, Varsken converted the children of Saint Shushanika, who stopped visiting their imprisoned mother, to fire worship. In the seventh year of imprisonment, Saint Shushanika developed ulcers on her legs and body. Dzhodzhik, brother of Pitiakhsh Varsken, having learned that blessed Shushanika was approaching death, entered the prison together with his wife and children and asked Saint Shushanika: "Forgive us our guilt and bless us." Saint Shushanika forgave and blessed, saying: “All life here is fleeting and impermanent, like a flower of the field; whoever sowed, reaped; whoever scattered for the poor, gathered; whoever sacrifices himself will find...”

On the eve of the blessed death of the holy martyr, she was visited in prison by the Catholicos-Archbishop Samuel I of Mtskheta, Bishop John and the confessor of the martyr Yakov Tsurtaveli (for all six years he constantly visited and consoled the prisoner). The court bishop Afots (Photius) gave communion to Saint Shushanika. Her last words were: “Blessed be the Lord my God, for I lay down in peace and fell asleep.” The death of the blessed martyr occurred on October 17, the feast of the unmercenary martyrs Cosmas and Damian, and it was on this day that the ancient Church celebrated her memory.

The relics of the holy martyr Shushanika initially rested in the city temple

Saint Shushanik, tortured for the faith of Christ by her own apostate husband, was honored with the gift of working miracles during her lifetime, and after her death she acquired the great grace to fulfill the prayers of those who come to her for help.

In the historical center of the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, on a low mountain stands the ancient Metekhi temple. Women who are offended by their husbands and girls looking for a life partner come here for consolation.. How many amazing miracles and touching stories are remembered by the tombstone washed with tears over the grave of the holy martyr Queen Shushanik (or Susanna, which is the same thing), buried in this temple.

Shushanik lived in the 5th century, when Christian countries in the Caucasus were enslaved by Iran. The daughter of the valiant military leader of Armenia Vardan the Great, who defended the independence of his country, she married King Varsken, the ruler of Kartli, the central region of Georgia, and had three children from him.

In 466, Varsken decided to enter into an alliance with the Iranian-Persians; he renounced Christ and accepted Zoroastrianism - supposedly “a good faith that lowers weapons.” In addition, he married the daughter of the Iranian Shah Peroz, and promised his new father-in-law to convert his first wife Shushanik and their common children to Zoroastrianism.

Having learned that her husband was returning from Iran with a new wife and a new faith, Shushanik shut herself in a cell at the temple and prayed. Varsken, through her relatives, ordered her to return to the palace with threats, and Shushanik agreed, not wanting the relatives who came to her to suffer from the king’s anger. Having arranged a feast, in the presence of many guests and his new wife, Varsken persuaded Shushanik to renounce Christ and convert to “good and kind” Zoroastrianism, but she was adamant. When Varsken’s blasphemous brother brought her a glass of wine, Shushanik knocked the glass out of his hands. The angry husband ordered the first wife to be shackled and locked in one of the rooms of the palace.

Soon Varsken went on a military campaign, and Shushanik, freed from captivity, settled in a cell at the temple, where she prayed fervently during Lent.

On the second day of Easter, Varsken returned and, finding Shushanik even more confirmed in the Christian faith, ordered her to be dragged from the church to the palace and subjected to terrible torture, after which he sentenced her to life imprisonment.

For six years the queen was in prison in shackles and prayed incessantly. According to the testimony of the author of the life, Shushanik’s spiritual father, priest Jacob Tsurtaveli, everyone who came to her for help received what they asked for; God, through her prayers, performed countless miracles.

During the seventh year of imprisonment, Shushanik became seriously ill. Relatives, nobles and ordinary people from all over Kartli came to say goodbye to her - the sick received healing, the grieving - consolation.

On October 17 (30), on the feast of the holy unmercenary healers Cosmas and Damian, which coincides with the Georgian harvest holiday - Stulisai, Queen Shushanik died peacefully and was buried in the Metekhi temple. This happened around 474.

Since then, more than 1500 years, women suffering grievances, girls seeking marriage, the sick and suffering have come to the burial place of Saint Shushanik for help, and no one leaves unconsoled.

Burial place of Saint Shushanik

Metekhi Temple

The Great Martyr Shushanika, Princess Ranskaya († 475), was the daughter of the famous Armenian military leader Vardan. Her real name is Vardandukht, in honor of her father, and her pet name is Shushanika. From childhood, Saint Shushanika was distinguished by her fear of God and piety.

She married Pitiakhsh (ruler of the border regions in Georgia) Varsken, who, having betrayed Christ, became an apostate. In the eighth year of the reign of Shah Peroz, Warsken went to Ctesiphon, where the residence of the Persian Shah was, and became a Mazdaist (fire worshiper) in order to please the Shah. Having learned about this upon the return of her husband, Saint Shushanika did not want to continue her married life with the apostate from God. She left the palace and began to live in a small cell not far from the palace church. The queen's confessor Yakov Tsurtaveli (later the author of her life) tells that the holy queen, having learned about her husband's intention to resort to force, was determined to stand firmly in the faith, despite any persuasion, threats and torment. Rejecting Varsken's advances, on January 8, 469, she was beaten and shackled by him, and on April 14, 469, she was imprisoned in the fortress, where she remained for six and a half years. “She remained in prison for six years and was adorned with virtues: fasting, wakefulness, standing on her feet, unremitting bows and continuous reading of books. She became a spiritual priest, sanctifying and decorating the prison.” Many suffering people came to the prison, “and each, through the prayers of Blessed Shushanika, received from the man-loving God what he needed: the childless - children, the sick - healing, the blind - insight.” Meanwhile, Varsken converted the children of Saint Shushanika, who stopped visiting their imprisoned mother, to fire worship. In the seventh year of imprisonment, Saint Shushanika developed ulcers on her legs and body. Dzhodzhik, the brother of Pitiakhsha Varsken, having learned that blessed Shushanika was approaching death, entered the prison together with his wife and children and asked Saint Shushanika: “Forgive us our guilt and bless us.” Saint Shushanika forgave and blessed, saying: “All life here is fleeting and impermanent, like a flower of the field; whoever sows, he also reaps; whoever squanders for the poor, he gathers; whoever sacrifices himself will find...”

On the eve of the blessed death of the holy martyr, she was visited in prison by the Catholicos-Archbishop of Georgia Samuel I (474-502), Bishop John and the confessor of the martyr Yakov Tsurtaveli (for all six years he constantly visited and consoled the prisoner). The court bishop Afots (Photius) gave communion to Saint Shushanika. Her last words were: “Blessed be the Lord my God, for I lay down in peace and fell asleep.” The death of the blessed martyr occurred on October 17, the feast of the unmercenary martyrs Cosmas and Damian, and it was on this day that the ancient Church celebrated her memory.

The relics of the holy martyr Shushanika initially rested in the temple of the city of Tsortag. After some time, the Tsortag temple came under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Monophysite bishop, and the Catholicos-Archbishop of Georgia Samuel IV (582–591) transferred the holy relics of Shushanika to the city of Tbilisi, where they were placed in 586 in the chapel of the Metekhi Church, on the south side of the altar. Probably in connection with this, the memory of Saint Shushanika was moved from October 17 to August 28.

Martyrdom of a woman

The life of the holy martyr Shushanika (5th century) was compiled by her confessor, priest Jacob. This book, written in simple and artless language, is the story of an eyewitness who was next to his spiritual daughter and strengthened her in the feat of confession. The life of Saint Shushanika has enormous inner strength; the reader seems to see before himself the greatness of the soul of the martyr-queen, who preferred Christ to the earthly kingdom and life itself. Her husband Varsken, the ruler of Rani, having gone on state affairs to the capital of Iran, renounced Christ and switched to Mazdaism - fire worship; he promised the Shah upon his return to his homeland to convert his family and people to the Persian faith. Saint Shushanik, faced with threats of torture and the face of death, refused to accept Mazdaism and publicly professed Christianity, when, out of fear, those who should have exposed the ruler of apostasy remained silent. Her feat was similar to the feat of those ancient martyrs who suffered from their relatives.

Saint Barbara was executed by her own father, Saint Thekla was put on trial by her mother, and Saint Shushanika’s executioner was her husband. The life describes the torment of Saint Shushanika, the beatings and torture to which her ex-husband subjected her for seven years because she refused to become an apostate like him. But perhaps the most tragic thing in Shushanika’s life was the betrayal and cowardice of people close to her, who thought more about their earthly well-being. Only the confessor and the bishop secretly visited the queen and tried to alleviate her suffering. She lived in a small room in the palace, as if in a dungeon, chained. Her husband remembered her only to subject her to further torture.

Among the host of Christian martyrs we see women and children who were strengthened by grace and made fearless warriors of Christ. Martyrdom is a silent sermon about Christ. The feat of Saint Shushanika set an example not only for her contemporaries, but also for many generations. The world with its seductive beauty, memories of royal power, the persuasion and tears of relatives, torture and torture could not break Shushanik’s faith and will. The prison where she was imprisoned became for her the threshold of heaven, because Christ was next to her, and the light of grace illuminated the prisoner’s heart.

And how many confessors and martyrs for Christ are now unknown to the world among us, who accomplished their feat without even considering it a feat. These are those Christian women who did not agree to infanticide and withstood difficult trials from those closest to them. They doomed themselves to suffering in order to save the life of their child.

When we read the lives of ancient martyrs, we see a similar picture. At first they were insinuatingly persuaded to renounce Christ, promising the blessings of this world, then caresses gave way to threats, torture and ended in execution. The soul of the martyr is like a stone cliff in the middle of the sea, which the waves cannot move. The sea sometimes seems quiet and gentle, and the waves like a gentle embrace; then the sea changes its temper and, like a furious beast, rushes onto the rocks, the waves rise above the cliff, but, hitting the stone, they roll back. They try to convince a woman, an expectant mother, what danger she will be exposed to during childbirth, how difficult it will be to raise a child. She is told that the birth of a child will deprive her of the opportunity to receive guests and visit friends, go to the country, etc., that paying for childbirth will become a heavy burden for the family, that a newborn child will take away her love and attention from other children. If these persuasions do not help, then she is offered to examine the fetus using modern equipment, hoping to then convince her that the fetus is sick and the child will not be full-fledged, and therefore it is better for the child himself not to give birth to a cripple, but to have an abortion in time. They begin to show special attention, tenderness and affection to the woman, but it all ends with her being asked, as if extorted, for consent to commit infanticide. So the ancient martyrs were insinuatingly and affectionately asked to sacrifice to idols.

A similar scenario occurs in a woman’s family. The expectant mother is told: now have an abortion, and next time, when the situation improves, you can give birth to at least a few children. So some pagan judges told Christians: “First bow to our idols, and then, if you want, pray to Christ.” If a woman does not agree, then her family resorts to threats. The husband shouts that he cannot feed so many mouths, that the children’s crying will interfere with his work and rest, and if his wife persists, he will leave the family, and let her, with the child in her arms, earn money for food. The mother, who always took her daughter’s side and intrigued against her son-in-law, now, instead of supporting her, says that she is to blame for destroying the family, and if her husband kicks her out, then she will not accept her daughter back into her home. The sister-in-law whispers to her husband: “Are you sure that this child is yours? Maybe this is the fruit of her secret dates, and she wants to give birth to a child so that she can see her boyfriend’s face in him.” This chorus is joined by the voice of the mother-in-law, who convinces her son that if her daughter-in-law loved him, she would put herself in his position and have an abortion. This bullying often continues for weeks and even months. In ancient times, there was torture with loud monotonous sounds. The person first lost sleep, then went crazy, and if the torture continued, death occurred. And here persuasion and threats turn into torture, sometimes they turn into physical violence - a husband beats his wife. I know cases where a man, taking advantage of his impunity, kicked his pregnant wife in the stomach to cause a miscarriage, but I’m not talking about these atrocities, which are still not that common, but about hidden torture. The woman feels abandoned by everyone and as if surrounded by a pack of wolves who are ready to rush and tear her apart. She sees herself as a widow with her husband and an orphan with her living parents. A demonic dark force comes into conflict with her, pressing on her with despondency, melancholy and languid fears, trying to bring her to despair. I remember a painting called “Abandoned.” It shows a deep ravine, covered with forest on top. At the bottom of the ravine stands a woman who was thrown here and left alone. The sun sets below the horizon. Its rays are still breaking through the thicket of trees, but soon they will go out and night will fall. A woman stands in this stone trap, not knowing where to go, not a soul around. There was horror in her eyes. She must die of hunger or the beasts will tear her to pieces; there is nowhere to wait for help. But a Christian woman has protection - this is God's Providence, she has the strength to resist demons and people - this is God's grace, there is consolation - the Church, there is a source of strength - prayer and hope. For such a woman to give birth to a child, despite the trials of her closest people, who at this time become infinitely distant, is a feat similar to the confession of Christ in our spiritless world. The martyrs were tortured publicly, and this feat is performed behind the walls of houses. It is unknown to the world, and the world rarely perceives it as a feat.

We wrote about a Christian woman, but our words also apply to women and other religions. If they act according to the law of their conscience and the voice of motherhood, then this too pleases God.

It often happens that a child saved by his mother subsequently becomes the favorite of the whole family - those who previously demanded his murder, and they are grateful to the woman for not listening to them and not doing the incorrigible. The reward for such a feat here on earth is spiritual joy, peace of conscience, and in the future - the great mercy of God. Perhaps the world exists because there are secret saints of God among us, they live next to us, but we do not see them.

archim. Rafail (Karelin)

From the book: “How to bring lost joy back to your family?”

Vel-li-ko-mu-che-ni-tsa Shu-sha-ni-ka, princess Ran-skaya († 475), was before-her-new from-the-west-no-ar -myan-sko-go-e-na-chal-ni-ka Var-da-na. Her real name is Var-dan-dukht, in honor of her father, and her las-ka-tel-noe is Shu-sha-ni-ka. Since childhood, Saint Shu-sha-ha-has-been ignorant of God's language and goodness.

She married pi-tiah-sha (grand-vi-te-la of the border regions in Georgia) Var-ske-na, who, from-me-niv to Christ, became a faith-from-steps-no-one. In the eighth year of the reign of Sha-kha, Per-ro-za Var-sken went from right-of-way to Kte-zi-fon, where there was a re-zi-den-tion of per-sid- sko-sha-ha, and became maz-de-i-stom (og-not-for-clone-anyone) to please sha-ha. Having learned about this upon the return of her husband, Saint Shu-sha-never continued to live her life from -step-no-one from God. She left the palace and began to live in a small cell not far from the palace church. The Tsar-ri-tsa’s spiritual nickname, Yakov Tsur-ta-ve-li (later the author of her life), tells us that the holy Tsar-ri-tsa, Having learned about my husband's intention to run to power, I was completely determined to stand firm in the faith, despite not to any kind of persuasion, threat or torment. Having rejected Var-ske-na’s do-mo-ga-tel-stva, on January 8, 469, she was subjected to beating and for-ko-va-na in kan-da-ly, and on April 14, 469, for-key-che-na in the same-niz-tsu-kre-po-sti, where-ho-di -I was six years old. “She was imprisoned for six years and stole the good-de-te-la-mi: after-stom, stay-at-your-n-em, hundred -I-am-on-my-feet, relentlessly-on-my-clothes and continuous-reading books.She-became-a-spiritual-tsev -tse, sanctify and decorate with that.” Many guards came to that one, “at the same time, each one, according to the prayers of the blessed Shu-sha-ni-ki, received from the people what God needed: the childless - children, the sick - is-tse -le-nie, blind - vision." Meanwhile, Var-sken converted into the fire the children of the holy Shu-sha-ni-ki, who re-re-sta-va -whether to tell the imprisoned mother? In the seventh year of Saint Shu-sha-ni-ki, ulcers opened on her legs and body. Jod-zhik, brother of Pi-tiah-sha Var-ske-na, having learned that the blessed Shu-sha-ni-ka was approaching death, got into the matter -ni-tsu together with his wife and children and asked Saint Shu-sha-ni-ki: “Forgive us for our vi-nu and good word- see us." Saint Shu-sha-ni-ka for-ga-la and b-s-word-vi-la, saying: “All the life here is mi-mo-year-old and inconceivable.” like a flower of the field; whoever sowed, reaped; whoever scattered for the poor, gathered; whoever sacrificed himself , that about-re-tet..."

On-ka-nun the blessed end-of-the-holy mu-che-ni-tsy of her na-ve-sti-li in the same ka-to-li-kos-ar-hi -bishop of Georgia Sa-mu-il I (474-502), bishop John and clergyman of the martyr Yakov Tsur-ta-ve-li (in those days- For all six years, he constantly spoke and consoled the prisoner). The court bishop Afots (Pho-tiy) celebrated the holy Shu-sha-ni-ku. Her next words were: “Blessed is the Lord my God, for he lay down in peace and went to sleep.” Con-chi-on the blessed mu-che-ni-tsy on-stu-pi-la on October 17, on the holiday of mu-che-ni-kov bes-sre-re-ni- kov Kos-we and Da-mi-a-na, and it was on this day that the ancient Church celebrated her memory.

The relics of the holy mu-che-ni-tsy Shu-sha-ni-ki were in the temple of the city of Tsor-ta-ga. After some time, the Tsor-Tag temple moved to the ve-de-nie of the Armenian epi-sco-pa-mo-no-fi-zi-ta, and ka-to-li-kos-ar-hi-bishop of Georgia Sa-mu-il IV (582-591) carried the holy relics of Shu-sha-ni-ki to the city clan of Tbi-li-si, where they were married in 586 in the vicinity of the Me-tech-church, on the southern side of Al- ta-rya. Very likely, in connection with this, the memory of Saint Shu-sha-ni-ki was transferred from October 17 to August 28 gu-sta.

How much of a woman's progress

The life of the holy mu-che-ni-tsy Shu-sha-ni-ki (V century) was made up of her spirits, no one, no priest. com Ia-ko-vom. This book, written in a simple and artless language, presents itself as an eye-witness tale that -walked next to his spiritual self and strengthened her in the movement of knowledge. The life of the holy Shu-sha-ni-ki has enormous inner strength; the chi-ta-tel seems to see in front of him the great souls of the mu-che-ni-tsy-tsa-ri-tsy, which are before-the-members of Christ. one hundred earthly kingdoms and my life itself. Her husband Var-sken, the ruler of Ra-ni, having gone on state affairs to the capital of Iran, renounced Christ and went into maz-de-ism - fire-not-worship; he promised the Shah upon his return to his birthplace to convert his family and people to the Persian faith. Saint Shu-sha-nik, before the threat of torture and the face of death, decided to accept maz-de-ism and all-to-the-nation -po-ve-do-va-la chri-sti-an-stvo, when, out of fear, those who were supposed to denounce the pra-vi-te were silent because of fear- la in a step-no-thing. Her feat was similar to the deed of those ancient women who suffered from their relatives.

Saint Var-va-ru was executed by her own father, Saint Fek-la was judged by her mother, and Saint Shu-sha-ni-ki became pa-la-chom her spouse. In the life of the description of the torment of the saint Shu-sha-ni-ki, beating and torture, which is under-ver- Her ex-husband fucked her for seven years because she refused to stray like him. But, perhaps, the most tragic thing in the life of Shu-sha-ni-ki was the betrayal and cowardice of the people close to her, who those who think more about their earthly goodness. Only the clergyman and the bishop secretly tsa-ri-tsu, and tried to alleviate her suffering. She lived in a small room in the palace, like in a dungeon behind a chain. Her husband remembered her only in order to subject her to new torture.

Among the dreams of Christian men, we see women and children who have strengthened the blessings and created la-la is fearless in Christ. Much-no-thing is a silent message about Christ. The heroic deed of Saint Shu-sha-ni-ki was an example not only for her contemporaries, but also for many others. The world with its seductive beauty, the memory of royal power, the negotiations and tears of relatives, the use of hardships and tortures could not break the faith and will of Shu-sha-nik. That place, where she was for that reason, became for her the front of the door of heaven, because Christ was next to her, and the heart of the prisoner was illuminated by the light of blah-da-ti.

And how many of us are now unknown to the world who are witches and martyrs for Christ, who have accomplished their as a move, without even considering it as a move. These are the women who didn’t agree to commit murder and who were the hardest research from a hundred people who are closest to you. They committed themselves to suffering in order to save the life of their child.

When we read the lives of the ancient mu-che-nits, we see a similar picture. Once upon a time they were stealing into the idea of renouncing Christ, promising the good of this world, then kindly laughing -they were threatened, tortured and ended in execution. The soul of the mu-che-ni-tsy is like a stone cliff in the middle of the sea, which the waves cannot move from its place. The sea seems to be quiet and gentle, and the waves are gentle; then the sea changes its disposition and, like a wild-singing beast, throws itself onto the rocks, the waves rise higher cliff, but, hitting a rock, you fall backwards. The woman, the expectant mother, is trying to convince her what danger she was exposed to during childbirth, how labor -but will re-re-re-ben-ka. They tell her that the birth of a child will deprive her of the opportunity to receive guests and see friends, travel on yes-chu, etc., that payment for childbirth will become a heavy burden for the family, that the newly-born child from -other children don’t have her love and attention. If these persuasions do not help, then she is suggested to examine the fetus with the help of a modern app-pa. ra-tu-ry, hoping to convince her that the fruit is sick and the child will not be fully valuable, and for this reason it is better It’s better for the child not to give birth to him in the world, but to have an abortion in time. They tend to show special attention, tenderness and affection to a woman, but everything ends with the fact that her, you are right, how would you agree to commit murder. So the ancient mu-che-nits steal-in and las-co-in pro-si-li at-sacrifice to the idols.

A similar scenario takes place in the women's family. They say: now have an abortion, and next time, when the situation improves , you can give birth to at least a few children. So some pagan judges said to chri-sti-a-us: “Sleep-cha-la bow down to our ku-mi-rams, and “If you want, pray to Christ.” If a woman does not agree, then her relatives turn to threats. The husband screams that he cannot feed so many mouths that the children’s crying will prevent him from working and resting, but what if will persist, then he will leave the family, and let her, with a child in her arms, earn money for rent -ta-nie. Mother, who always took one hundred to the other and in-three-go-va-la against the son-in-law, now instead of that, in order to support her, he says that she is responsible for ruining her family, and if her husband throws her out, then she will not accept her daughter back into her home. Zo-lov-ka whispers to her husband: “Are you sure that this child is yours? Maybe this is the fruit of her secret trysts, and she wants to give birth to a child so that she can see the face of her friend in him.” To this chorus comes the voice of the sve-blood, who convinces her son that if If his fiancee had loved him, she would have entered into his position and had an abortion. This grass often lasts for weeks and even months. In ancient times, the essence-va-la tortured loud-ki-mi with mo-but-ton-n-my sounds. The person would get sleepy at first, then go crazy, and if the torture continued, then death would follow. . And here, negotiations and threats turn into torture, sometimes they turn into physical law - a husband from -beats his wife. I know cases where a husband, taking advantage of his lack of responsibility, beat his pregnant wife. We're about to have a miscarriage, but I'm not talking about these atrocities, which are not so common after all, but about hidden is-behinds. The woman feels abandoned by everyone and surrounded by a hundred wolves that you are about to abandon -sya and tear it into pieces. She sees herself as a widow with her husband and siblings with living births. A de-mo-no-dark force enters into a struggle with her, which gives her despondency, melancholy and that. -tel-us-mi-stra-ha-mi, trying to get her out of the way. I remember the car-ti-nu under the name “Abandoned”. There is a deep ravine there, overgrown with forests. There’s a woman standing at the bottom of the ravine, and I drop him here and leave him alone. The sun sets behind the umbrella. Its rays are still shining through the thicket of trees, but soon they will go out and night will come. The woman stands in this stone trap, not knowing where to go, not a soul around. Horror froze in her eyes. She must die of hunger or the animals will maul her; there's no way to wait. But Christ-an-ki has a defense - this is the Providence of God, there is a strength to resist de-mo-us and people - this is Bo- There is life's blessing, there is consolation - the Church, there is a source of strength - prayer and hope. For such a woman to give birth to a child, despite the trials of her closest people, some sta-but-vyat-sya at this time demon-no-y-y-y-le-ki-mi - like a move, like the experience of Christ in our spiritless world. Much-che-nits tried everything, but this movement is going on behind the walls of the houses. He is unknown to the world, and the world rarely perceives him as a heroic achievement.

We are writing about women-Christianity, but our words are also about women and other religions. If they act according to their conscience and the goal of motherhood, then this too is pleasing to God.

It often happens that a child, kept by his mother, subsequently becomes a favorite of the whole family - those who previously demanded his murder, and they are grateful to the woman for not listening to them and not cooperating ver-shi-la neis-pra-vi-mo-go. For such a feat here on earth, there is spiritual joy, peace of mind, and in the future - greatness the mercy of God. Maybe the world exists because there are secret gods among us, they live nearby with us, but we don’t see them.

ar-chem. Ra-fa-il (Ka-re-lin)

From the book: “How to bring back the joy of the family?”