by Fr. Stephanos K. Anagnostopoulos
This incident was narrated to the
author by the blessed departed Gerondas Gabriel, who for a great period of time
was the abbott at the Holy Monastery of Dionysios on Mount Athos.
“There once lived a most devout
Priest. Even though he barely knew how to read and write, he was a Priest, a
clergyman of strong faith, great virtue and of many spiritual struggles. He
used to stand up-right for hours during the Proskomedia, despite the fact that
the veins of his feet had been affected and were hemorrhaging. There were times
when one could see the blood running down since he was standing up-right
commemorating the names of numerous people. He was a man of sacrifice to his
last breath, in fact, his soul departed just after the Divine Liturgy.
As he barely knew how to read and
write, by some misunderstanding, he did not place the portions on the Holy
Diskos properly. When we place the portion of the All-Holy Theotokos on top of
the Holy Diskos,we say; The Queen stood at thy right hand…” The Gerondas
(Elder) Priest was under the impression that,since he said”at thy right hand”,
the portion of the All-Holy Mother of God must be placed on the right side of
the Lamb (as he was looking at the Holy Diskos). In other words, he was placing
the portions backwards.
Once a Hierarch [Bishop] visited the
Holy Monastery for the Ordination of a Deacon. During the Psalms of Praise,
when the Bishop enters the Holy Altar, he vests, then later goes to the
Proskomedia, which has already been prepared up to a certain point. From then
on he alone is the one to continue commemorating.
Thus, the Bishop noticed that the
portions had been placed backwards by the priest:
“You did not place the pieces
properly, father,” he told him.
“Father, come here for a minute. The
All Holy Theotokos is placed over here and the Orders are placed over there.
Hasn’t anyone told you; hasn’t anyone seen how you do the Proskomedia?”
“Certainly,Your Eminence,” replied
the Geronda Priest. “Everyday, when I celebrate (for a day did not go by unless
he celebrated the Divine Liturgy), the Angel who serves me sees what I am doing
but does not tell me anything at all. I apologize, illiterate as I am, for
making such a mistake; I will be careful from now on.”
“Who did you say? Who did you say
serves you here?” asked the Bishop, “Isn’t he a monk who serves you?”
“No”, answered the Priest, “an Angel
of the Lord.”
The Bishop fell silent,what could he
have said, anyway? He was astonished and had certainly realized that a holy
priest was standing before him.
At noon, following the meal in the
trapeza, the Bishop said goodbye to the Abbot as well as the rest of the monks,
and departed. The following day, as it was still night, when the Geronda Priest
went to the Holy Altar in order to hold the Proskomedia.
The Angel of the Lord came down.
During the act of breaking the Lamb, the Angel noticed that the Priest had
placed the portions properly.
“Fine father!” he told the Priest.
“Now you have placed them properly!”
“Yes, you knew the mistake I have
been making for so many years!”
“And why didn’t you tell me anything;
why didn’t you correct me?”, he asked.
“I could see it, but I do not have
the right to tell you anything. I am not worthy to correct a Priest.
“God,” the Angel continued, commands
me to serve the Priest. “Only a Bishop has the right to correct you!”
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