Volume III. Chapter 17
The Omega Point
Mt. Athos and the end of the world
Translated from the Russian
I will post a bit here from a few different paragraphs relating to various subjects.....,and provide the link......
The symbolism of lamps is especially significant on Athos.
The monks told us about an inextinguishable lamp hanging over the Royal Gates of the cathedral church at Iveron Monastery.
On holidays it miraculously begins to swing to and fro: Such is the sign of the presence of the Mother of God.
But at times the lamp goes into motion even on other days.
It swings violently. What is the Mother of God warning the monks of Athos -- and through them all Christians -- of? Of the trials which the Lord will soon allow to take place for our sins.
The lamp has been nervous of late: Expect cataclysms of a worlwide scale.
Here's one contemporary witness: "The Athos monks recalled: Just before Turkish forces attacked Cyprus the lamp began swinging with such force that oil spilled from it.
The same thing happened on the eve of the American-Iraqi war!!!.
The lamp began swinging just before the earthquake in Armenia. Iveron novices monitor the condition of the lamp carefully.
When it begins to swing more than usual,
especially on non-holidays, they send out an announcement to all monasteries of the Holy Mount.
After this a collective prayer to the Virgin for her mercy and intercession begins.
The news is even relayed to the hermits of Athos, with a request to intensify prayer and fasting..."
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Our interlocutor shakes his head: "Here, especially in Karulia, it's better not to sleep outside."
"Snakes?"
Father Kuksha looks at us intently and seriously. He seems to be weighing how we'll react to what he's about to tell us.
At last he answers: "Demons... It's like this, you see. You begin praying, and there's a pounding of hooves around the cell. As if a mule were galloping.
But how could that be, with an abyss on one side and a cliff on the other?
Father Kuksha
Father Kuksha: "They try to frighten you..."
"They try to frighten you... At times there's such a roar that you hair stands on end.
Once I was overcome with an indescribable terror for no visible reason.
At that moment the bunk fell, and a whole army of rats began scurrying about on the floor.
I stand up -- and can't remember the Jesus Prayer.
I burn it into my heart, letter by letter.
Finally, I'm able to overcome it completely, and fear retreats.(2)
"Not long ago one priest,
also a pilgrim, spent the night in the neighboring cell.
He thought, probably, that I was simply afraid of my own shadow from loneliness.
But in the morning he came in, pale as a ghost.
"'At night', he says, 'someone grabbed me by the arms and legs and tried to drag me out of the cell.
And two steps from the front door there's an abyss!
I can't see a thing, for the life of me.' They were holding the priest so tightly that he couldn't even cross himself.
Finally he was able to make a sign of the cross. He switched on his flashlight. There was no one there...(3)
"The startsy know how to drive out the demons.
And which of our enemies wouldn't be afraid of someone like our Father Stefan?
The Virgin herself once came to his aid.
The authorities once wanted to evict him for occupying his plot of land in Karulia without paying money.
At that moment the Mother of God blocked the astonished policemen's way."
Our interlocutor shakes his head: "Here, especially in Karulia, it's better not to sleep outside."
"Snakes?"
Father Kuksha looks at us intently and seriously. He seems to be weighing how we'll react to what he's about to tell us. At last he answers: "Demons... It's like this, you see. You begin praying, and there's a pounding of hooves around the cell. As if a mule were galloping. But how could that be, with an abyss on one side and a cliff on the other?
Father Kuksha
Father Kuksha: "They try to frighten you..."
"They try to frighten you... At times there's such a roar that you hair stands on end. Once I was overcome with an indescribable terror for no visible reason. At that moment the bunk fell, and a whole army of rats began scurrying about on the floor. I stand up -- and can't remember the Jesus Prayer. I burn it into my heart, letter by letter. Finally, I'm able to overcome it completely, and fear retreats.(2)
"Not long ago one priest, also a pilgrim, spent the night in the neighboring cell. He thought, probably, that I was simply afraid of my own shadow from loneliness. But in the morning he came in, pale as a ghost.
"'At night', he says, 'someone grabbed me by the arms and legs and tried to drag me out of the cell. And two steps from the front door there's an abyss! I can't see a thing, for the life of me.' They were holding the priest so tightly that he couldn't even cross himself. Finally he was able to make a sign of the cross. He switched on his flashlight. There was no one there...(3)
"The startsy know how to drive out the demons. And which of our enemies wouldn't be afraid of someone like our Father Stefan? The Virgin herself once came to his aid. The authorities once wanted to evict him for occupying his plot of land in Karulia without paying money. At that moment the Mother of God blocked the astonished policemen's way."
http://oag.ru/library/path_to_apocalypse/apocalypse_III-17.htmlPray for me a sinner
helen..
