It was a long time ago. A new bishop arrived at the Sarov monastery. He had heard a lot about the saint of God Seraphim, but he himself did not believe the stories about the miracles of the priest. Or maybe people in vain told him what?..
The monks met the bishop with a ringing, honor, honor, led him into the church, then into the bishop's chambers. Well, they treated him properly. Service the next day. The bishop examined everything and asked: "Where does Father Seraphim live?"
And then the father did not live in a monastery, but in his desert. And it was winter, there was snow in the Sarov forests - what drifts!
The bishop rode with difficulty. And even then the last path and he had to walk on foot …
The priest was warned that the bishop himself was going to visit him. The pleasing of God came out to meet him without a hat (cowl) and humbly bowed to the bishop's feet. “Bless,” he says, “me, the wretched and sinful, holy Master! Bless, father! He kept calling the bishop: Father and Father.
The bishop blessed him and goes ahead into his wilderness. The priest supports him under the handle. The retinue remained to wait. They went in, prayed, and sat down. Father also says:
- I have a distinguished guest, but there is nothing to treat the poor Seraphim with.
Promotional video:
The bishop, thinking that the priest wants to treat him to tea, says:
- Don't worry, I'm full. And that's not why I came to you and kneaded the snow. All the conversations about you are different.
- What are the conversations, father? - asks the saint, as if not knowing.
- Here, they say, you work miracles.
- No, father, poor Seraphim cannot work miracles. Only one Lord Almighty is free to create miracles. Well, everything is possible for Him, Merciful. He created the whole beautiful world out of nothing, father. He fed Elijah through the crow. He and you and me, father, look, he gave some kind of grace …
The bishop looked into the corner where the saint was pointing, and there a huge bush of raspberries grew, and on it there were ripe berries.
The bishop was stunned and could not say anything. In winter - raspberries, but they grew on the bare floor! It's like a fairytale!
And Father Seraphim took a tea saucer and tears up a raspberry. Narwhal and brings it to the guest.
- Eat, father, eat! Don't be embarrassed. God has a lot of everything! And through the wretched Seraphim, through his prayer and by His ineffable mercy, He can do everything. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, then grief you will say: "Move into the sea!" She will move. Only there is no need to doubt, sir. Eat eat!
The bishop ate everything, and then suddenly he bowed to the priest's legs. But the father managed to get ahead of him and says:
- You cannot bow before the poor Seraphim, you are the Bishop of God. Great grace on you! Bless me, a sinner, and pray!
The bishop obeyed and stood up. He blessed the priest and said only two or three words:
- Forgive me, old man of God: I have sinned before you! And pray for me, unworthy, both in this life and in the next.
- I'm listening, father, I'm listening. Only until my death do not say anything to anyone, otherwise you will be ill …
The bishop is looking, but the bush is gone, and on a saucer of raspberries there is some juice left in some places - so it was not a ghost. And his fingers are stained with raspberries.
The bishop came out. The retinue is waiting for him. And why do they think he talked so long with Father Seraphim? And he, without a hat, again leads him under the arm to the very sledges. Hooked up and once again bowed into the snow.
And the bishop, as soon as he drove off, said to his people: “Great saint of God. The truth about him was said that he can work miracles. " But he did not tell them anything about the raspberry. Only all the way he was silent and was baptized, but no, no, and again he will say: "Great, great saint!"
And when the father died, he told everyone about the raspberry.
Veniamin Fedchenkov