My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
THE VISION OF SAINT JOHN OF KRONSTADT (Part II)
Without warning, the Staretz (elder or geronda) turned to the north and pointed with his hand. I saw an imperial palace, around which dogs were running. Wild beasts and scorpions were roaring and charging and baring their teeth. And I saw the Tsar sitting on a throne. His face was pale and masculine. He was reciting the Jesus Prayer. Suddenly he fell like dead man. His crown fell. The wild beasts, dogs, and scorpions trampled on the anointed Sovereign. I was frightened and cried bitterly. The Staretz took me by my right shoulder. I saw a figure shrouded in white--it was Nicholas II. On his head was a wreath of green leaves, and his face was white and somewhat bloodied. He wore a gold cross around his neck and was quietly whispering a prayer. And then he said to me with tears, "Pray for me, Father John. Tell all Orthodox Christians that I, the Tsar-martyr, died manfully for my faith in Christ and the Orthodox Church. Tell the Holy Fathers that they should serve a panahida for me, a sinner, but there will be no grave for me!"
Soon everything became hidden in the fog. I cried bitterly praying for the Tsar-martyr. My hands and feet trembled from fear. The Staretz said, "Look!" Then I saw a throng of people scattered about the land who had died from starvation while others were eating grass and vegetation. Dogs were devouring the bodies of the dead, and the stench was terrible. I thought, "Oh Lord, these people had no faith. From their lips they expelled blasphemy, and for this they received God's anger."
I also saw an entire mountain of books and among the books worms were crawling, emitting a terrible stench. I asked the Staretz, "What is the meaning of these books?" He said, "These books are the Godlessness and blasphemy which will infect all Christians with heretical teachings!" Then the Staretz touched his staff to some of the books, and they ignited into flames. The wind scattered the ashes.
Further on, I saw a church around which was a large pile of prayer intentions for the departed. I bend over and wanted to read them, but the Staretz said, "These prayer requests for the dead have been lying here for many years, and the priests have forgotten about them. They are never going to read them, but the dead will ask someone to pray for them!" The Staretz answered: "The Angels will pray for them!"
What proceeded further, and the Staretz quickened the pace so that I could hardly keep up with him. "Look!" he said. I saw a large crowd of people being persecuted by demons, who were beating them with stakes, pitchforks, and hooks. I asked the Staretz, "What is the meaning of these people?" He answered, "These are the ones who renounced their faith and left the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church and accepted the new innovative church. This group represents priests, monks, nuns, and laymen who renounced their vows or marriage, and engaged in drinking and all sorts of blasphemy and slander. All of these have terrible faces and a terrible stench comes from their mouths. The demons beat them, driving them into the terrible abyss, from where hellfire comes forth." I was terribly frightened. I made the sign of the cross while praying, "Lord deliver us from such a fate!"
I then saw a group of people, both old and young, all of whom were terribly dressed, and who were raising a large, five pointed star. On each corner were twelve demons and in the middle was Satan himself with terrifying horns and a straw head. He emitted a noxious foam onto the people while pronouncing these words, "Arise you accursed ones with the seal of …"Suddenly many demons appeared with branding irons and on all the people they placed the seal on their lips, above the elbow and on their right hands. I asked the Staretz, "What is the meaning of this?" He responded, "This is the mark of the Antichrist!" I made the sign of the cross and followed after the Staretz.
He suddenly stopped and pointed to the east with his hand. I saw a large gathering of people with joyous faces carrying crosses and candles in their hands. In their midst stood a large altar as white as snow. On the altar was the Cross and the Holy Gospel and over the altar was the AER with a golden imperial crown on which was written in golden letters, "For the short term." Patriarchs, bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and laymen stood around the altar. They were all singing, "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth". Out of great joy I made the sign of the cross and praised God. (Source: Orthodox Heritage)
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George