The famous Elder Nikolai Guryanov (1909-2002) from the island of Zalita had his favorite cat Lipa.

The famous Elder Nikolai Guryanov (1909-2002) from the island of Zalita had his favorite cat Lipa. One of the spiritual daughters of the deceased father recalls: "From my first trip I remember how the priest from his house goes to the temple, around a crowd of pilgrims, and the cat Lipa runs along the side and just behind him." Halfway to the temple, Lipa was very fond of the priest and ran after him like a dog,the priest suddenly broke off the conversation with the pilgrims, stopped, looked around and said kindly: "Go ahead, go home!" The cat obediently turned and ran home, giving us an example of unquestioning obedience. " 

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When Lipa was a kitten, he, like all the usual kittens, loved to play and hunt. Once he caught a bird on the fly and ate it. I saw it when my father was already late: Lipa sweetly licked, and around him were scattered feathers from that unfortunate bird. The priest approached the prankster, shook his head severely and told him not to do it any more. The cat frowned, guiltily shook his head, as if begging for forgiveness. Since then, not a single bird has Lipa offended - he managed to fish. And when a little bird made a nest in the yard of the priest, and seeing the temptation of the surrounding cats, Lipa selflessly stood up for the defense of both the mother and her yellow-headed offspring. So he protected his new neighbors, while the chicks grew up and flew. 

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When father came out on the porch, the first to him flew pigeons, which filled the whole courtyard - they sat down on his shoulders, head, hands. Once, when the elder spoke to the pilgrims, a white dove flew before him all the time, sat down on the elder's skufei, then again took off, flapped his wings and did not leave him for a second. 

The elder, when the pigeon sat on him again, told the pilgrims:
- You see, he protects me. You know, you want to share everything with the birds. I've been feeding pigeons since I was six. My mother said that they thank God. After the death of Elder Nicholas, local residents repeatedly noticed that the pigeons suddenly left their place in the courtyard at once from time to time, flocked to the grave of the elder and walked around it. 
In the same place, at the place of rest of his master, the orphaned Lipa sat motionless. He was taken home, but he came back .... 

From the collection "The Starets Nikolai and the Doves."