The Hermit.
A hermit father lived in an old inn on Mount Athos, near the Great Lavra. Once a week he went down to the monastery, he went for confession and Holy Communion.
For 20 years since he had gone to the desert, he had not seen a ghost, had not been disturbed by demons. He prayed quietly all night, until he saw the stillness of the dawn. Then he fell asleep in the arms of God.
One night he felt terribly tired and lay down on the sofa. He fell asleep and saw in a vision a great demon, ten cubits high, standing at his door. He bowed to the rush.
The demon looked at him harshly and said: you pray in vain. Look, I can make you a miracle worker. I'm still opening the future for you to see. Go out into the world and fulfill your calling.
The father lowered his eyes and said: my calling is prayer.
The demon said: I like prayer too. Look, every breath in the world is what you are praying for every moment. And I have the power to give you whatever you want. I can fill you with money and glory.
The father said: I pray to the great God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Yes, but he doesn't listen to you. You've been sitting here like a fool for 20 years and you've accomplished nothing. You are neither an abbot nor a priest, you have no money, no respect from the world. Only two jackals and three old men from the monastery know you. Is this life?
The hermit said: I have gained the power to defeat you with the sign of the Cross. I am the servant of God. I am known by the saints to whom I always pray to help me. And I have the greatest treasure in the world: the Holy Body of Christ the Savior in my heart. And I have authority over you and I command you to perish by the grace of the Most Holy Theotokos.
On hearing these words the demon disappeared out of sight.
And the Father thanked God and the Mother of God for the wonderful life he lived away from the world always praying to unclean spirits.
Father Ioannis Istrati.
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