At that time, Father Nazarius from Valaam
Monastery arrived in St Petersburg. He knew the poor nobleman and came to
comfort him. The nobleman’s wife fell on her knees and implored Father Nazarius
to pray for the positive outcome of her husband’s case.
The elder replied, “Of course, we should pray to
the Lord; but we have to ask the King’s court for intercession, too. Give me
some money, I’ll ask them for you.”
They gave the elder some gold coins. “No,” he
said. “These coins don’t suit me. Do you have copper or silver coins?” They
gave him the less valuable coins. Father Nazarius took the money and left. Late
that night, he returned to the nobleman’s house and said calmly, “All the
King’s attendants promised to petition the King for you; keep calm and wait for
happy news.” Indeed, the elder was still sitting by the sick nobleman’s bed
when the latter received a notice that his case ended up well. The happy news
had a beneficial effect on the sick official. He thanked the elder and wanted
to know who had showed the most sympathy with his plight, for whom he was to
praise God and whom he was to thank. It turned out that Father Nazarius hadn’t
met anyone from the Tsar’s court. Instead, he spent the whole day strolling
through the city streets and giving the nobleman’s money to the poor. “So thank
the Lord,” the elder concluded. “It was Him, the Merciful One, who listened to
the prayers of the poor and convinced the good Tsar to look into your case one
more time. Remember your benefactors—the Lord’s court attendants—that is, the
poor and miserable ones. Their prayers can reach God’s Throne more easily!”
Translated
by The Catalog of Good Deeds
CONVERSATION