We are back with St Elizabeth, the Royal Martyr; or, rather we are visiting works inspired by her in modern Minsk, capital de Belarus. Fr Andrew Lemeshonok started with two lay women who wanted to be sisters of mercy, like St Elizabeth. They had no property, no money, nothing. It was around 1994. He asked permission from his spiritual father, Fr Nikolai, who said that he would need money. He gave him three roubles and a blessing. The work has grown, and there are now 300 white sisters (sisters of mercy) and 100 black sisters (nuns). They started an icon studio, and some of the iconographers donned the monastic habit; so there is now a small community of monks. Also called "brothers" and "sisters" are a number of young men and women who serve God by serving the community and its works. Also there are ex--prisoners, alcoholics, drug addicts and vagrants living in two communities for men and one for women, each under the authority of a nun. I cannot tell you in this small space of the sheer variety of activities; nor can I convey to you the sheer beauty of their Orthodox liturgy. They have several choirs; and one of them may turn up in your part of the world. Below is Father Andrew holding a pedigree puppy, (they breed them). The first article is something of their activity with mentally handicapped children. The second is about one of the two communities of men, called the "mentochion". About children, Fr Andrew says:
Children also show their sins, they may be capricious from time to time but they are not cunning, sly, they do not collect sins like adults do, they forget and forgive and go on to play. They are not filled with sins. An adult, on the contrary, has a hardened heart filled with sins. A person cannot defeat his passions using only his own power. He needs help, he needs the Holy Church, he needs love, which gives him an opportunity to take a deep breath, to get rid of his own “I”, and to get into that Yonder Land, even for a moment.
Children also show their sins, they may be capricious from time to time but they are not cunning, sly, they do not collect sins like adults do, they forget and forgive and go on to play. They are not filled with sins. An adult, on the contrary, has a hardened heart filled with sins. A person cannot defeat his passions using only his own power. He needs help, he needs the Holy Church, he needs love, which gives him an opportunity to take a deep breath, to get rid of his own “I”, and to get into that Yonder Land, even for a moment.
There was a very special event in our House of Love of Labour on April 17, 2013. This time it was not a celebrity who visited the art workshops, but laughing and smiling children. Yes, you've heard it right! An exhibition of children's paintings was set up at the fourth floor of the House of Love of Labour a couple of days before the meeting. Even the most sophisticated artists appreciated the talent and the authenticity of the exhibited works when they noticed the transformation of the empty walls. Vivid and saturated colours, unexpected combinations of lines and shapes... The creative potential of these young kids was something to envy. Even the professional designers who work at the House of Love of Labour were impressed by the ingenuity of these paintings and likened them to the renowned works made by famous designers. A child speaks a language he understands, and it is great when it is the language of art.
The children who visited us (and there were both younger kids and teenagers) staged a wonderful and amazing performance. Alexander Zhdanovich, a person who knows everything about theatre because he is an actor of the Russian Drama Theatre, helped the young actors and artists. Perhaps, his name would not say anything to you but the name of Malavany? is certain to sound familiar to everybody in Belarus. Yes, Alexander Zhdanovich is the host of the famous TV programme for kids called “Ka?ychanka” (“The Lullaby”). It is him who is the first to open the door into the magic country of art and creativity for the young watchers; it is him who teaches them to speak Belarusian; it is him who teaches them to be kind and patient from their early childhood years. He may be called a kind and attentive, funny and open-hearted father for all the kids who watch the “Ka?ychanka”. Alexander is a parishioner of St Elisabeth Convent and a frequent guest of Orthodox concerts and meetings.
However, let us turn back to our story about the children. Finally, the performance of the theatre “Pcholka” (“A Little Bee”) started, under the guidance of Alexander Zhdanovich. It is noteworthy that the performance did not consist of fairy tales or children's songs. The small theatre raised serious Christian and general issues. Moreover, it was giving answers to them. “Are you kidding?!” you may ask. No, I am not. The short plays used symbols to voice the issues of attention and loneliness, help and mercy, love towards one's neighbour and compassion. It is really something that our modern society lacks! How easy it is to pay attention to it and to live a good life with an open-hearted attitude towards all people, without hurting them or leaving dirty marks wherever one goes. The decorations made by the children themselves were a better illustration to the feelings and emotions of the young actors than words. The performance was crowned with a plastic sketch “The Creation of the World.” They stretched a wide piece of blue fabric, and the audience suddenly saw the blue sea, and it took only a few seconds for the new life to come into existence out of its waters.
Small fingers of the children represented plants, fish, animals, birds, flowers, people, and ships... All this using only their hands. At the end of this part of their performance the children sent small planes made from paper to the audience. Each paper plane had warm greetings and wishes inside.
The children went out for the encore and introduced themselves. Each of the children sent a blue balloon flying into the air. It took only a moment or two for all the workshop where the performance was held to be wrapped into the atmosphere of fun and joy.
Alexander Zhdanovich briefly told the audience about the young actors, and then presented several motion pictures produced by the children themselves. It was amazing. The fantastic characters and moving na?vety of the children was something like a cure for our hearts. The audience could not take their eyes off the screen, and the children watched their own work and smiled honestly as if apologising or joking.
It was surprising to see how their honest smiles transformed the workshop where the meeting was held. The quiet gold-embroidery workshop, where there is always little space because of all those tables and desks and embroidery supplies, turned into a real celebration hall where adults and children alike were throwing sky-blue balloons, paper planes, and spreading laughter and happiness around. It was a huge feast, which is so important for all of us in our daily lives. Only children, perhaps, are capable of sharing their happiness with us, freely and sincerily.
P. S.
Finally, we would like to point out that we did not mention the fact that the talented children who visited our House of Love of Labour were the patients of the boarding home for children with special needs. Yes, these kids have special needs. Perhaps, some people would think that they are very different from other children. However, this is a mistake! Children simply cannot be ugly. Each child is beautiful because his heart is filled with sincere and unique love towards the entire world around him. Children show us how beautiful our souls are and ask for just a little attention and love as a reward. This is why we adults have something to learn from them.
Photos by Daria L
MAY 18: THE PATRON SAINT'S DAY AT THE METOCHION OF ST ELISABETH CONVENT
Xenia Vesnova
The feast of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God is the one that is the source of special joy. This is the day when the multitude of saved souls rejoice. Much has already been said about the brothers who live at the metochion: there is a book and several films about them... However, all this will never describe the suffering they have been through even up to the present day. Their souls had to be won over even when they did not want it. Frankly speaking, it is not possible to say that now everything is alright and the brothers enjoy their lives. Of course, it is not. They continue to fall. They are depressed. They are tired of struggling. But they continue to live! This miracle will be understood only by those who died alive and then brought back to life when God touched them. Their souls stride along a difficult path, and we believe that they will manage to walk down this path at last!
Looking back, one cannot help being amazed at how the metochion started. There was nothing at all. Nowadays the metochion is both a great pain of our Convent and boundless joy. This is because it is here on the Lysaya Gora that miracles happen every day and every minute by the prayers of the Mother of God; the souls ache and struggle and win.
However, this day will be celebrated not only by the brothers of the Lysaya Gora. When I was on my obedience, I heard marvellous stories told by people who had been healed by God thanks to the prayers of His most pure Mother. The stories of those people are different from each other; but they all have in common their faith in God's mercy and the power of intercessions of the Mother of God.
One of our parishioners keeps in her heart the quiet joy of the miracle that happened to her daughter. Heroin addiction is like death for the entire family. A drug addict cannot be responsible for his actions, he is possessed by a superior force and he does not have enough power to stop. Only God can grant freedom to the tormented soul. How much are years of a mother's prayer worth? The prize is great – the salvation of her daughter. It is hard to believe but the mother's prayer was almost the only means to rescue the girl from heroin dependency. I will repeat this: a miracle is not when life becomes easy. A miracle is when you simply live... Well, there still are some problems in this family. Years of drug addiction have certainly been disastrous for the woman's health. However, I think it is not an exaggeration to say that this family is happy.
People often come to request an akathist to the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God. How pleasant it is to see them again when they request molebens of gratitude to the Lord!
I would like to tell you about one more miracle. This miracle was invisible but it could be felt by the soul. One woman told me that she was healed thanks to the persistent prayers of her husband. Soon afterwards, she started visiting our Convent. She would always thank God when she entered the church because He had healed her both physically and spiritually. During her visit to the Convent, she went downstairs to St Nicholas Church. It must be said that at that time she was not a practising Christian and did not know what needs are traditionally prayed for in front of which icon. But when the woman approached the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God, she was literally pierced by a plain and shocking thought, “It was Her who prayed for me!” She was gripped by marvellous and inexplicable joy of seeing her interceder. She fell to her knees in front of the icon and wept and thanked the Mother of God. It was not until later when she learned that it was common for people who suffered from the same infirmity that she had had to pray before this icon. Her husband confirmed that he had been asking the Mother of God for intercession. Therefore, the Ever-Virgin Herself showed that She hears our prayers, is compassionate with us and incessantly prays to the Lord for us sinners...
There are many stories like these that remain hidden from human eyes but there are so many people who will make the sign of the Cross looking at this icon on its feast day and thank the Mother of God for her help. Necklaces, christcrosses, earrings and rings brought by people to decorate their beloved image of the Mother of God are a visible testimony of the fact that God's mercy does not get depleted with time. As you look at them, you feel as if you touch on somebody's life story: the life story that has been illumined by the protection of the Mother of God!
Troparion, tone 4
Today we faithful come to the divine and miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, who fills the faithful from the Inexhaustible Chalice of her mercy and shows them great miracles; and we who have seen them and heard of them rejoice in our heart and cry out, with deep feeling and devotion: O all-merciful sovereign Lady, heal our ills and our passions by praying to thy Son, Christ our God, that He may save our souls!
Kontakion
A wonderful and marvellous healing has been given to us by your holy icon, O sovereign Lady Theotokos. By its appearance we have been delivered from spiritual and physical ills, and from sorrowful circumstances. So we bring you our thankful praise, O all-merciful Protectress. O sovereign Lady, whom we call "The Inexhaustible Chalice:" bend down your ear and mercifully hear our lamentation and tears that we bring to you, and give your healing to those who suffer from drunkenness, so that we may cry out to you with faith: Rejoice, O Inexhaustible Chalice that quenches our spiritual thirst.
Prayer
O all-merciful sovereign Lady, we come to your protection. Do not despise our petitions, but kindly hear us – wives, children, husbands, parents, and all those who suffer from heavy affliction of addictions of all sorts; and restore those who, because of it, fall away from our holy Mother the Church and its salvation. O merciful Theotokos, touch their heart and speedily restore them from their fallen state, and lead them to salutary repentance. Implore your Son, Christ our God, to forgive us our trespasses, and not to turn away His mercies from His people, but that He would strengthen us in sobriety and chastity.
Accept, O all-holy Theotokos, the petitions of mothers shedding tears about their children, wives sobbing for their husbands, children, orphans, beggars, and all those who were forsaken, and us all who venerate your icon. And let your prayers carry our petitions to the throne of the Almighty.
Cover us, and keep us from all snares of the enemy, and the traps of the evil one, and at the dreadful hour of our death, help us to pass the ordeal without stumbling. By your prayers, save us from eternal condemnation, so that God's mercy may cover us for the ages to come.
Amen.
The film below was made a few years ago, when there were less sisters.
Xenia Vesnova
The feast of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God is the one that is the source of special joy. This is the day when the multitude of saved souls rejoice. Much has already been said about the brothers who live at the metochion: there is a book and several films about them... However, all this will never describe the suffering they have been through even up to the present day. Their souls had to be won over even when they did not want it. Frankly speaking, it is not possible to say that now everything is alright and the brothers enjoy their lives. Of course, it is not. They continue to fall. They are depressed. They are tired of struggling. But they continue to live! This miracle will be understood only by those who died alive and then brought back to life when God touched them. Their souls stride along a difficult path, and we believe that they will manage to walk down this path at last!
Looking back, one cannot help being amazed at how the metochion started. There was nothing at all. Nowadays the metochion is both a great pain of our Convent and boundless joy. This is because it is here on the Lysaya Gora that miracles happen every day and every minute by the prayers of the Mother of God; the souls ache and struggle and win.
However, this day will be celebrated not only by the brothers of the Lysaya Gora. When I was on my obedience, I heard marvellous stories told by people who had been healed by God thanks to the prayers of His most pure Mother. The stories of those people are different from each other; but they all have in common their faith in God's mercy and the power of intercessions of the Mother of God.
One of our parishioners keeps in her heart the quiet joy of the miracle that happened to her daughter. Heroin addiction is like death for the entire family. A drug addict cannot be responsible for his actions, he is possessed by a superior force and he does not have enough power to stop. Only God can grant freedom to the tormented soul. How much are years of a mother's prayer worth? The prize is great – the salvation of her daughter. It is hard to believe but the mother's prayer was almost the only means to rescue the girl from heroin dependency. I will repeat this: a miracle is not when life becomes easy. A miracle is when you simply live... Well, there still are some problems in this family. Years of drug addiction have certainly been disastrous for the woman's health. However, I think it is not an exaggeration to say that this family is happy.
People often come to request an akathist to the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God. How pleasant it is to see them again when they request molebens of gratitude to the Lord!
I would like to tell you about one more miracle. This miracle was invisible but it could be felt by the soul. One woman told me that she was healed thanks to the persistent prayers of her husband. Soon afterwards, she started visiting our Convent. She would always thank God when she entered the church because He had healed her both physically and spiritually. During her visit to the Convent, she went downstairs to St Nicholas Church. It must be said that at that time she was not a practising Christian and did not know what needs are traditionally prayed for in front of which icon. But when the woman approached the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God, she was literally pierced by a plain and shocking thought, “It was Her who prayed for me!” She was gripped by marvellous and inexplicable joy of seeing her interceder. She fell to her knees in front of the icon and wept and thanked the Mother of God. It was not until later when she learned that it was common for people who suffered from the same infirmity that she had had to pray before this icon. Her husband confirmed that he had been asking the Mother of God for intercession. Therefore, the Ever-Virgin Herself showed that She hears our prayers, is compassionate with us and incessantly prays to the Lord for us sinners...
There are many stories like these that remain hidden from human eyes but there are so many people who will make the sign of the Cross looking at this icon on its feast day and thank the Mother of God for her help. Necklaces, christcrosses, earrings and rings brought by people to decorate their beloved image of the Mother of God are a visible testimony of the fact that God's mercy does not get depleted with time. As you look at them, you feel as if you touch on somebody's life story: the life story that has been illumined by the protection of the Mother of God!
Troparion, tone 4
Today we faithful come to the divine and miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, who fills the faithful from the Inexhaustible Chalice of her mercy and shows them great miracles; and we who have seen them and heard of them rejoice in our heart and cry out, with deep feeling and devotion: O all-merciful sovereign Lady, heal our ills and our passions by praying to thy Son, Christ our God, that He may save our souls!
Kontakion
A wonderful and marvellous healing has been given to us by your holy icon, O sovereign Lady Theotokos. By its appearance we have been delivered from spiritual and physical ills, and from sorrowful circumstances. So we bring you our thankful praise, O all-merciful Protectress. O sovereign Lady, whom we call "The Inexhaustible Chalice:" bend down your ear and mercifully hear our lamentation and tears that we bring to you, and give your healing to those who suffer from drunkenness, so that we may cry out to you with faith: Rejoice, O Inexhaustible Chalice that quenches our spiritual thirst.
Prayer
O all-merciful sovereign Lady, we come to your protection. Do not despise our petitions, but kindly hear us – wives, children, husbands, parents, and all those who suffer from heavy affliction of addictions of all sorts; and restore those who, because of it, fall away from our holy Mother the Church and its salvation. O merciful Theotokos, touch their heart and speedily restore them from their fallen state, and lead them to salutary repentance. Implore your Son, Christ our God, to forgive us our trespasses, and not to turn away His mercies from His people, but that He would strengthen us in sobriety and chastity.
Accept, O all-holy Theotokos, the petitions of mothers shedding tears about their children, wives sobbing for their husbands, children, orphans, beggars, and all those who were forsaken, and us all who venerate your icon. And let your prayers carry our petitions to the throne of the Almighty.
Cover us, and keep us from all snares of the enemy, and the traps of the evil one, and at the dreadful hour of our death, help us to pass the ordeal without stumbling. By your prayers, save us from eternal condemnation, so that God's mercy may cover us for the ages to come.
Amen.
The film below was made a few years ago, when there were less sisters.