In the old days, it happened to a Novgorodian to come to Chud to a certain magician from whom he wanted witchcraft. The same one, as usual, began to call demons into his temple.
The Novgorodian was sitting on the threshold of the temple, and the magician lay numb, and a demon took possession of him. The magician stood up and said to the Novgorodian:
- The gods do not dare to come here, because you have something on yourself that they are afraid of.
The Novgorodian walked away, remembering the cross, and stood to the side of the temple. The magician again began to summon demons. The demons controlling him began to ask why he had come.
The Novgorodian asked:
- Why be afraid for me, after all, we still carry the cross?
The magician answered:
- That is, the sign of the heavenly God, and our gods fear him.
- Who are your gods and where do they live?
- In the abysses. They are black, winged and tailed; rise to the very sky, to listen to your Gods. Your God is in heaven. Whoever of your people dies is taken up to heaven, and if one of our people dies, then they are carried to our gods - into the abyss.
So it is: sinners in hell await eternal torment, and the righteous are installed in a heavenly home with angels.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru