From letters by St. Paisius of the Holy Mountain (1924 - 1994)

From letters by St. Paisius of the Holy Mountain (1924 - 1994)

- For animals, a man is God. As we ask help from God, so they ask help from man.

I recall how one summer, in a cell of the Holy Cross, a viper slipped from the roof on the ground and coiled into a ring in front of me. It raised its head high, stuck its tongue and started to hiss. It was suffering from thirst -  it was very hot – and was threatening me. It demanded water, as if it was my obligation to provide it with water. “Well”, I told it, “with this manner of behavior you are not really winning anybody on your side!” Then I poured some water for it, and it drank it.

And I am really touched by the jackals, for when hungry, they cry like little children. And I am really in trouble with the kittens in my cell. They have realized that every time the doorbell rings, I come out to the courtyard and sometimes bring them some food. Well, now, when they are hungry, they pull the rope and the doorbell rings. I come out, see that they are pulling the rope and feed them. How God has arranged everything!   
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In Sinai, since it was a desert, there were more wild animals, as well as birds – partridges, quails, the same as the ones the Israelites ate in the desert (Gen. 16:13; Numb. 11: 31-32). There were also handsome mice, which looked like little turtles without tails; they had very thick stubbles on their backs, like a brush! I fed them all - partridges, quails, mice! I would put food for them separately on stones, so they don’t quarrel! Otherwise, as soon as a bird starts to peck, a mouse comes running and the bird flies away.

The birds followed me everywhere I went.  When I would climb up onto some ledges to chant, they would gather there beside me and at the end, I would throw them some rice.  If I wanted some quiet, then I could not chant at all, because they would all gather around me!  I remember one time when my back was stiff and I had to lie flat for several days, that a little bird entered my cell and stood on my chest.  It just stood there and looked me in the face while chirping very sweetly for hours on end.  It made such an impression on me!

From the magazine “Foma”