A long time ago there lived a holy elder who prayed a lot and often grieved over the sins of men. And it seemed strange to him why this happens, that people go to church, pray to God, but still live just as badly, sin does not decrease. “Lord,” he thought, “do you really not listen to our prayers? People constantly pray to live in peace and repentance, but they just can’t. Is their prayer really in vain?
One day, with these thoughts, he fell asleep. And it seemed to him as if a radiant angel, hugging him with a wing, lifted him high, high above the earth. As they rose higher and higher, the sounds coming from the surface of the earth became weaker and weaker. No more human voices could be heard, the songs, screams, and all the noise of the bustling worldly life died down. Only from time to time harmonious gentle sounds floated out from somewhere, like the sounds of a distant lute.
- What is this? - asked the old man.
“These are holy prayers,” answered the angel, “only they are heard here.”
- But why do they sound so weak? Why are there so few of these sounds? After all, now all the people pray in the temple?..
The angel looked at him, and his face was sorrowful.
- Do you want to know? Look.
A large temple could be seen far below. By miraculous power its vaults opened, and the elder could see everything that was happening inside. The entire temple was full of people. A large choir was visible on the choir. The priest stood in full vestments at the altar. There was a service going on. It was impossible to say what kind of service, because not a single sound was heard. It was visible how the sexton standing on the left choir was reading something quickly, quickly, slapping and moving his lips, but the words did not reach up there. A huge deacon slowly came out onto the pulpit, straightened his lush hair with a smooth gesture, then raised his orarion, opened his mouth wide, and... not a sound! At the choir, the regent handed out notes: the choir was preparing to sing. “I’ll probably hear the choir,” thought the elder. The regent tapped the tuning fork on his knee, raised it to his ear, extended his arms and gave the sign to begin, but there was still complete silence. It was amazingly strange to watch: the regent waved his arms, stamped his foot, the basses turned red from the effort, the tenors stretched out on their toes, raising their heads high, everyone’s mouths were open, but there was no singing.
“What is this?” - thought the old man. He turned his eyes to the worshippers. There were a lot of them, of different ages and positions: men and women, old people and children, merchants and simple peasants. They all crossed themselves, bowed, many whispered something, but nothing was heard. The whole church was silent.
- Why is this? - asked the old man.
- Let's go down, and you will see and understand. - said the angel.
They slowly, unseen by anyone, descended into the temple itself. A smartly dressed woman stood in front of the entire crowd and, apparently, was praying earnestly. The angel approached her and quietly touched her with his hand. And suddenly the elder saw her heart and understood her thoughts.
“Oh, that nasty postmistress! - she thought. - Again in a new hat! The husband is a drunkard, the children are ragamuffins, and she’s forcing things!.. Look, she’s staring out!..”
A merchant in a good cloth coat stood nearby and looked thoughtfully at the iconostasis. The angel touched his chest, and his hidden thoughts were immediately revealed to the elder: “...What a shame! Made it cheaper... Now you can’t buy a product like this at any price! I must have lost a thousand, or maybe a thousand and a half..."
Next was a young peasant guy. He almost didn’t pray, but kept looking to the left, where the women stood, blushing and shifting from foot to foot. The angel touched him, and the elder read in his heart: “Oh, how good Dunyasha is! Will it go or not?
And the Angel touched many, and everyone had similar thoughts, empty, idle, worldly. They stood before God, but did not think about God. They only pretended to pray.
- Now do you understand? - asked the Angel. - Such prayers do not reach us. That is why it seems that they are all definitely mute.
At that moment, a timid child’s voice suddenly said clearly:
- Lord! You are good and merciful... Save, have mercy, heal poor mother!..
In the corner, on his knees, pressed against the wall, stood a little boy. Tears sparkled in his eyes. He prayed for his sick mother. The angel touched his chest, and the elder saw the child’s heart. There was sorrow and love.
- These are the prayers that are heard here! - said the angel.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru