WHAT IS LOVE ? Author: Elder Daniel of Katounakia *.

Athos elder Daniel of Katounakia in the film" Athos. The Elder Daniel  of Katounakia. What is love? (Animals make people ashamed). 

“I want to tell you one case. Many, many years ago, all the monasteries had a large number of mules. At that time there were no cars, and all the goods were carried on mules. We had 40 mules in the Great Lavra. And the elder  who followed them, he loved them very, very heartily. He even had his cell right in the place where the pen with the mules were, and he simply lived cared and looked after them. The elder came to them in the morning, fed them, then took them to graze on the field, and in the evening returned them back to the pen and fed them. ” 
Once the elder fell ill and did not come to the pen of the mules. They realized that something happened to their master. Animals feel such things. 
The corral was open, but that day they did not go to graze on the meadow, they walked in circles from one end of the corral to the other and waited for their beloved master.
Some time passed and they felt that he was dead. Animals know such things, they feel. Then they all gathered at the main entrance to the Lavra and began to wait for his body when it was taken out of the monastery. In the meantime, we dug his grave and carried his coffin from Lavra to Kimetirium, where there is a temple and a small courtyard where monks are buried. This is not far away, and the mules from afar followed us too. When we were reading the funeral prayers, the mules gathered and stood afar. When the funeral was over, everyone began to disperse, and we began to watch what the mules would do. Everyone saw that they understood that they were burying their master. The mules were standing in the distance, and when the people left, the mules began to approach the tomb one by one, went straight through the fence, and we just held our breath, looking with wonder what they would do. The mules approached the grave of their master, stopped and knocked on the grave “clatter-clatter” with their hoofs and they cried ... tears flowed from them. You understand how animals understand what is happening! After that, when they all approached and parted from him, all the mules returned to their corral, and for many days they were sad. They understood that the one who loved them, whom they loved, is no more. 
Omniscient God enlightens even animals. How great is the love of God toward us. ” 

Orthodox heritage of Ukraine on the Holy Mountain Athos

* Athos eder, Daniel of Katounakia, is a simple elder. Father Daniel has been living on Athos for more than 60 years. At first he lived in the Great Lavra, then in the brotherhood of Ephraim Katounakia. And now became his successor.