THE LIFE OF Saint Euprosynus of Blue-Jay lake

THE LIFE OF
Saint Euprosynus
MARTYR-CONFESSOR OF BLUE-JAY LAKE1

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1 Translated from the Lives of the Saints, Moscow Synodal Edition, Supplementary Volume 2, 1916; and Russian Pilgrim: 1902, p. 642; and 1912, p 558.


Commemorated on March 20

WILD AND DESERTED is the site of the Blue Jay Lake Hermitage. It is far from populous cities and villages, and the gaze of the oc casional pilgrim comes to rest now on the broad, muddy and scarcely passable marshes which stretch out far and wide, now on the dense green forests which abound, now on the whole network of lakes large and small, sometimes self-contained, sometimes joined by streams and rivers. There are about eighteen lakes in all, and one of them (Savino) is remarkable in having at its bottom a funnel-shaped pit into which, every certain number of years, usually in the summertime, the waters together with all the fish disappear with a loud noise; and then, after another definite period of time, the waters again return to their place through the same pit. Of the streams one may mention Mill Stream, named after the monastery mill which was located on it, and the Gvozden, on whose banks the blessed founder of the Hermitage, St. Euphrosynus, first settled.

Brighter than the luminous stars above shine forth the Saints of God, illuminating the path to the everlasting life beyond the grave. With their holy and God-pleasing life on earth they teach us how to please God, and with their prayers in heaven before the Throne of the Pre-eternal God they help us pass successfully through the burdensome path of life. By raising up at an oppor tune time His chosen ones, the Lord manifests through them diverse minacles and signs in order to make wise those who have gone astray. Just as the sky is adorned with glittering stars which enlighten the earth through the darkness of night, so also our Orthodox Church is adorned with wondrous Saints who have pleased God by their virtuous lives.


17th-century Icon, gift of Tsar Alexei Mihailovich to the Saint's Monastery

ST. EUPHROSYNUS OF BLUE JAY LAKE

TROPARION, TONE 4

HAVING DIRECTED thy mind towards God from thy youth by renouncing the world,+ O blessed Euphrosynus,+ thou didst settle in an impassable wilderness,+ in which thou didst dwell valiantly in abstinence, in prayers and fasting, as is fitting,+ being strengthened by God,+ and didst finish thy life by innocently suffering murder at the hands of the enemies sons.+ Wherefore, thou hast been crowned together with holy monks and martyrs,+ with whom thou dost stand before the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity.+ Pray, we entreat thee,+ that we may be given remission of our sins and may be granted great mercy.



ST. EUPHROSYNUS

St. Euphrosynus beside the Cross and the earthern cave where he first settled and where he suffered martyrdom on the shores of Blue Jay Lake.



The Schema-epitrachelion (above) and the cowl and prayer-ropes which the Saint was wearing when he was martyred and when his incorrupt relics were uncovered.


The holy Martyr Euphrosynus, schema-monk and desert-dweller of Blue Jay Lake, was born in the second hair of the 16th century. In the world hus name was Ephraim, and he was from the region of Karelia, His father Simeon and his mother, whose name is not known, lived near Lake Ladoga. The nearness of Valaam Monastery exercised an influence on the religious outlook of Ephraim. He left his parents' home and lived for some time at the monastery. Here he acquired knowledge of the typicon of divine services and developed a kinship to the severe conditions of the monastic life. But for the time being Ephraim did not become a monk. He moved to Novgorod the Great and lived there for quite a long time, and then he went away to the Novgorod region, to a place called Bezhetsk, and settled in the village of Doloska, some fifteen miles cast of the city of Ustiuzhna of Zhelezopolska. In this village, at the church of the Holy Great-martyr George, Ephraim served for a long time as a Reader. He had come to mature age when the grace of God touched his heart and ignited in him an unvanquishable desire to undertake monastic labor. After putting his house in complete order and making provision for his property, Ephraim went on his way, having nothing with him apart from the garment which he wore. From that time on his thought did not return to the house he had left but strove only towards God so that, once having put his hand to the plough, he no longer looked back (Luke 9:62).

With the firm decision to become a monk, Ephraim came to the Dormition Monastery of the Tikhvin Mother of God and implored the superior and the brethren to vouchsafe him the tonsure. His mature years, his account of his youth spent under the shelter of Valaam Monastery, and his many years of service in the Church of God as a Reader, gained for him the trust of everyone, and his entreaty was soon fulfilled. Ephraim was clothed in the Angelic Habit and at his tonsure was given the name Euphrosynus. Having attained to that for which his soul had striven for so long, St. Euphrosynus with zeal gave himself over to monastic labors. Enlightening his mind with the Word of God, which he read with love and heedfulness, and confirming his heart on the rock of faith, he subdued his flesh by fasting and continence, by humble obedience to the abbot and the brethren, by fervent labor in the works which he was given to do, working not for the sake of men but for God, in purity of conscience and unbypocritical love. In the midst of labors and ascetic exploits he always kept in mind the end of life and the future reward from the Judge Who is no respecter of persons.

Having lived for a certain time in the Tikhvin Monastery, the Saint felt a great and irrepressible desire to go away to the wilderness into solitude, and there to labor for God in a severe life of fasting and silence. He went to the abbot, told him about his desire, and entreated his blessing for this plan. The superior blessed him, gave him instruction about the desert life, and let him go in peace from the monastery, saying, "Got child, and may God be with you." This was in the year 1600.

Being deprived of any kind of possessions at all, but with a heart overflowing with joy, the Saint set out on his way. He was drawn to the place he knew, the above-mentioned region of Bezhetsk, where he found a desert for himself surrounded by ravines and forests in the midst of moss-covered swamps and inaccessible marshes. Rivers and lakes surrounded him like a wall and made the desert little accessible to men. Here, in a wild dense forest near the river Chagoda, on the shores of Blue Jay Lake, ten miles from the village of Doloska and 35 miles from Ustiuzhna, the Saint chose a place suitable for solitude, sufficiently large for the foundation of a monastery, and he settled there. With fervent prayer he gave thanks to God Who had given him a new dwelling place, and he was like a bird which had acquired a house for itself, or a swallow which had sought out a nest for herself.

"Look down upon this place." the Saint cried out to the Lord, "and bless it, and enable me to serve Thee in this place all the days of my life; for that is why I came here, so as to labor for Thee, that in me Thy Most Holy Name may be glorified."

In this chosen place St. Euphrosynus planted a Cross, dug a cave for himself, and began to lead a severe ascetic life, spending his time in prayer, vigils, psalm-singing, often not blinking his eyes the whole night in prayer. His labors in fasting and continence were unceasing. For two whole years he did not see a human face, being hidden by the forest ravines from the attention of the neighboring residents, and therefore also for both of these years he did not once eat bread. His food was what grew in the forest-berries and mushrooms. Often he had to eat white moss, which was called yagodinik. He also had handiwork: he wove fishing nets. Having lived a year in the cave, St. Euphrosynus made a small cell and continued his solitary life, which consisted of prayer, ascetic labors, work and deprivations. For a year more after this he hid himself from the eyes of men; but then he was discovered.

Some time passed, and the glory of his ascetic and virtuous life spread abroad through all the neighboring villages. Pious people began to come to him for instruction, prayer, and counsel. Others, being zealous for his virtuous life, came to him in the desert to learn the labors of piety, and they settled next to him. Little by little a spiritual flock gathered around the Saint and already in the first year after his way of life had been discovered it was necessary to build a larger dwelling so that all the brethren could pray together. And so a church was built, being dedicated to the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God. St. Euphrosynus and his fellow ascetics undertook the work themselves, clearing the forest, hewing tunoer, and erecting a log church. Around the church they built their little log-cabin cells; and thus a monastery was established. Its location was about three miles from the original site of St. Euphrosynus labors, which was later to be called the Old Hermitage. Since the blessed Elder, because of his protound self-denial and humility, did not have the priestly rank, the consecration of the newly-built temple was performed by the priest-monk St. Gurias,1 founder of a monastery at Shalatsk, a man of holy lite, a friend and co-laborer of the desert-dweller Euphrosynus. This was done with the blessing of the Archbishop of Novgorod, who at that time was Isidore (1603-1609). St. Gurias would occasionally visit the desert-dweller of Blue Jay Lake for common prayer and spiritual converse, and undoubtedly also tu give him communion of the Holy Mysteries. The road between them, more than forty miles long, lay through quicksand, mossy swamps, and little-accessible bogs; up to the present century this road was still pointed out by the local inhabitants. On one of these visits St. Euphrosynus received at the hand of St. Gurias the tonsure into the great angelic order, the holy Schema, retaining his former name.

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1 Abbot since 1603 of the Dormition Monastery, 24 miles from Ustiuzhna.


After the consecration of the church the Saint continued to labor with zeal, leading others on the path to salvation. In all he lived here seven years, and God granted him the gift of clairvoyance.

In those years the Russian land was undergoing the difficult "time of troubles." After the death of Boris Godunov in 1605, the Roman Catholic Pretender was enthroned in Russia, and after his speedy overthrow, during the four-year governance of Basil Shuisky, the government remained without a Tsar, being subjected to internal quarrels, disorders, and civil war called forth by new pretenders, and external dangers from the Poles and Swedes. The Catholic Poles occupied Smolensk and Moscow itself, and the Protestant Swedes occupied Novgorod. Bands of Cossacks and bandits, as well as detachments of Poles and Lithuanians, wandered about, laying waste the land and killing the inhabitants. At the beginning of 1612, in Nizhni-Novgorod, at the appeal of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, a regiment was gathered from among the people, and it, under the leadership of Cosmas Minin and Prince Pozharsky, was to free Moscow from the Poles and give peace and calm to the Russian land, which had suffered so much from the time of troubles, and to the Orthodox Church. But still the troubles and evil deeds held sway in the whole Russian land. During these disturbances St. Euphrosynus also was destined to die the death of an innocent martyr.

A certain band of Polish Latins, who probably belonged to the Lisovsky Regiment, reached the neighborhood of Ustiuzhna with the aim of pillaging and robbing. The inhabitants, being frightened by the sobberies, plundering, and acts of violence of these foreigners, for a long time had been used to hiding in the forests in the midst of the swamps and quicksand. The monastery of St. Euphrosynus was a convenient and safe refuge, being far away from the dwellings of men and surrounded by rivers, lakes, and mossy swamps. Therefore, many people gathered there, not only the simple people but also some of the nobles, hoping to hide from the foraging Poles. But the monastery was destined to suffer sacrilege from these heretics. St. Euphrosynus foresaw the ap proaching calamity and warned the residents of the monastery and everyone who had sought protection in it. On March 19, 1612, the Saint revealed to them that armed enemies were approaching, and he advised them to take care for their own safety. "My brethren and beloved children in Christ," said the Saint: "Whoever wishes to escape certain death, leave the monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God and save yourselves from the great calamity, for it is pleasing to the righteous judgment of God that evil enemies will soon come to this holy place."

Many did not believe him. "And why do you yourself not leave this holy place?" they asked him. The Elder replied: "I came here in order to die for Christ." However, some considered this reply to be insincere, and they continued to think that the Elder was speaking in this way out of ill will towards them, desiring to save himself alone from the sword of the enemy. But those who obeyed the Saint indeed were saved, while those who did not believe him all perished by a cruel death from the Latins.

Among the residents of the monastery was a certain monk whose name was Jonah. Being frightened by the Saint's clairvoyance, which he considered to be from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wished to flee together with the others. But St. Euphrosynus separated him from the others and kept him with himself, enkindling in him zeal for the house of God and a readiness to remain here unto death.

"Brother Jonah," said the Saint, "why do you allow faint-hearted fear into your soul? When there is to be a battle, then is the time when one must show manliness. If God is with us, who is against us? And who shall separate as from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature (Romans 8:35, 38-39). None of these things can do this. Why have you become frightened, brother? There is nothing frightful in that which threatens us. Death? But it is not frightful, since by its means we are departing for the harbor. Robbery? But naked I came, naked I will depart (Job 1:21). Confinement? But the earth is the Lord's, and all the fulness thereof (Psalm 23:1). Should we fear slander? But when men shall say all manner of evil against you... great is your reward in heaven (Matt. 5:11, 12). I saw a sword, and the heaven covered with lightning: I expected death, and thought on what is mortal; I contemplated the sufferings of earth, and thought of the honors above and the crown on high as the end of labors, and for me this was sufficient consolation and contrition. May the will of God be done! Let us not be afraid of some passing fear, for the sake of Christ's love. It is for this that we were called and offered our vows to the Lord, in order to die in this place for the sake of His Holy Name. With laymen it is something else, they are not bound by a vow. They must preserve themselves also for their children."


The Monastery of St. Euphrosynus, reflected in the waters of Blue Jay Lake



ST. EUPHROSYNUS' BLUE JAY LAKE HERMITAGE
The main 17th-century edifaces as treasured in pre-Revolutionary Holy Russia.
Top: The Annunciation Church.
Left: The Belfry.
Bottom: The Church of St. John the Theologian.



The belfry and the churches of St. John the Theologian and the Annunciation



The reliquary of St. Euphrosynus, located in the belfry-chapel of St. Nicholas



The roof built over the remains of a linden tree planted by St. Euphrosynus



The Iconostasis of the 17th-century church of the Annunciation


Thus did the Elder instruct the monk Jonah. The monk was encouraged, became inflamed in spirit, and placing his hope in God, decided not to leave the monastery, but to die here in the wilderness with his Elder, Euphrosynus. The Saint, having informed those present about the approaching calamity, immediately dressed himself in the Schema and began to pray to God and the Most Holy Mother of God that They might grant to him the lot of the rightcous. He spent the whole day and night without sleep, singing and glorifying God with tears.

Everything happened according to the word of the Saint. On the following day, March 20, there appeared, no one knows from where, blood thirsty enemies, and they surrounded the monastery, and everyone they found here they slew with the sword.

The martyr's death of the holy Elder Euphrosynus, wonderworker of Blue Jay Lake, is described in the original Life of the Saint by another monk Jonah (in 1650) thus: "Our holy Father Euphrosynus came out of his cell to meet the enemies in his complete monastic habit, the Great Schema, showing them thereby his heartfelt striving toward God, regarding all fear as nothing and offering himself as a lamb for slaughter. He came to the precious Cross which he himself had planted, placing his hope in the Life-giving Cross of the Lord... The sons of the evil one leaped at the holy Elder like demon-possessed dogs, saying to him: 'Give us the possessions of the monastery. The Elder Euphrosynus, having neither gold nor silver, nor any material things save for necessities, said to them: 'All the possessions of the monastery and of myself are in the church of the Most Pure Mother of God, thus showing them his true treasure which could not be stolen, and placing all his hope in God. And the sons of Cain rejoiced, thinking he was speaking about corruptible goods. One bloodthirsty killer hit St. Euphrosynus neck with his sword, cutting it halfway through, and the Elder fell to the earth, dead. Then the Cain-like ones ran to the church, and finding nothing there, one of them returned to the body of St. Euphrosynus, carrying an axe, and with it struck the precious head of our holy Father, Abba Euphrosynus, penetrating to the brain, thus com pleting the suffering of this new sufferer who gave up his soul into the hands of God... The martyrdom of this holy Father, Abbot Euphrosynus, occurred near the precious and Life-giving Cross of the Lord which he himself had planted, in the year 7120 (1612), on the 20th day of the month of March, the day of commemoration of our Holy Fathers who were slain in the Monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified."

Such was the martyr's death of St. Euphrosynus. The monk Jonah, whom the Saint had prevented from fleeing, died together with the Saint.

It was God's will that one of the eyewitnesses of the death of St. Euphrosynus should remain among the living. There lived in the village of Do loska a pious peasant, John, whose surname was Suma, with his son Emilian. Both of them had reverence for the monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God and greatly revered the Elder Euphrosynus, and the Elder also loved them for their piety. Together with others, John and his son sought refuge from the Latins in the monastery, and on March 20, when the enemies came, John was in the cell of the Saint. Emilian, as it happened, was outside the monastery. In their work of murder the evil-doers gave John also a blow, and he fell among the dead. When the Latins came outside after searching the church and not finding anything there, one of them, looking at the corpses, supposed that John was still alive and gave him a second wound. After the departure of the marauding Latins, he regained consciousness and told his son, who had returned, what had happened. Having recovered from his wounds, John Suma lived two years longer and was buried beside St. Euphrosynus. From them the nearby inhabitants found out about the devastation of the monastery and the martyr's death of the holy Elder.

Only after eight days, on March 28, did the brethren who had returned from hiding find the body of St. Euphrosynus and give it over with honor to the earth, next to the Cross by which he had been martyred. All the inhabitants of those parts who revered the virtuous life of the Saint gathered for the burial. On the same day they buried the monk Jonah and the others who had died by the swords of the Latins.

In the monastery annals there was preserved an exact description of the outward appearance of St. Euphrosynus: he was of medium height, had wide shoulders and a broad chest; his hair was brown, adorned with gray, and he had a rather long beard which divided into two at the end.

Five years after the Saint's repose the monastery was rebuilt, and these beautiful structures were cherished with love for all the centuries after. In 1655, with the blessing of Metropolitan Macarius of Novgorod, the relics of St. Euphrosynus were uncovered, found to be completely incorrupt, and before a great multitude of the faithful there was solemnly performed the translation of his holy relics to a new reliquary. The relics were buried under the belfry and an elaborate reliquary was placed above them. The old Schema in which he had been buried was removed and a new one put on. A church service was composed in his honor, only fragments of which have come down to us. Icons were painted of him, including one presented to the monastery by the monarch himself, Tsar Alexei Mihailovich Romanov.

There have been many remarkable miracles and signs testifying to the Saint's unquestionable sanctity. Some of these comprise an appendix to the original Life written by the monk Jonah. A later more detailed work by the priest lakovsevsky (The Life and Miracles of St. Euphrosynus, Novgorod, 1901), lists 27 healings, while other collections of miracles, still unpublished by the time of the re-establishment of his veneration in 1912, only emphasize the undeniability of his sanctity.

In 1764, however, during the persecution of monasticism, when twothirds of all monasteries in Russia were forcibly closed by Catherine II, services to St. Euphrosynus were forbidden to be celebrated and were replaced by memorial services, and the monastery was closed. After this the local inhabitants often appealed to the Church Authorities for the re-establishment of his veneration as a glorified Saint. Finally, in 1912, Metropolitan Arsenius of Novgorod, himself a great lover of the ancient true Orthodox traditions, triumphantly reestablished the veneration of St. Euphrosynus, as described below.


ST. EUPHROSYNUS OF BLUE JAY LAKE


THE DAYS OF JUNE 25th to 29th, 1912, will be long remembered as days of a special spiritual solemnity: June 29 was the day designated for the triumphant glorification of the Monk-martyr Euphrosynus of Blue Jay Lake, who had been martyred 300 years earlier by the Latins during the terrible "time of troubles."

This spiritual solemnity was headed by Archbishop Arsenius of Novgorod himself. On the way to the Blue Jay Lake Hermitage, the Archbishop visited all the churches from Borovich to the city of Ustiuzhna, coming to the latter city on June 25. After the triumphal meeting of the bishop at the Cathedral, with a great number of people present, the Archbishop visited several churches and the seminary.

Five o'clock in the afternoon of this day was the time designated for the coming together of the processions with all the holy objects of the local churches and monasteries; they were to meet at the Ustiuzhna Cathedral in order to set out the next morning for Blue Jay Lake. These processions came from the Modensk Monastery, the Philaretus and Shalocha Hermitages, and the church at Chiretsk, which were on the way of the processions as they went toward the city from the villages.

The city-dwellers and peasants from nearby villages came in multitudes toward the Kazan Cemetery, where the first coming together of the separate processions was to take place. From beyond the forest appeared banners and a great crowd of pilgrims, over the head of whom were holy icons shining in the sun. The procession was accompanied by the Abbot of the Modensk Monastery, together with a hieromonk and a hierodeacon, and the choir from the Chiretsk church. In front were the singers, and behind them the clergy. On the way Akathists were read and sung, the priests dividing the reading among themselves.

Here the first joining of the processions occurred, and it was very moving. Many wept at the sight of such a solemnity. Many came out of their houses to accompany the procession a mile or two and, being attracted by the religious fervor of those present, walked to the city itself, nine miles away. This was a true example of a solemn procession with everyone singing, in the best Orthodox Church tradition.

In the square before the church of Ustiuzhna, the cathedral clergy had gathered with their holy objects, the miracle-working icons, and here a crowd of thousands of people waited for the processions to arrive.

The moleben began. It was sung by the choir of the Chiretsk church, which was joined by others among the people, and in the end everyone was singing. Then a priest gave a sermon of greeting to the pilgrims. Exactly at sir o'clock the Cathedral bell sounded. After the meeting of the Archbishop, the triumphant All-night Vigil began.

The Divine service proceeded with special solemnity, the choir repeating the stichera phrase by phrase after the canonarch. All were caught up in the spirit of the service. The All-night Vigil ended only at 11 p.m.

On June 26, at 7 a.m., the bell sounded for the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated early so that the people could accompany the procession, which was to leave early and spend the night at the village of Mizga, on the way to Blue Jay Lake. The Liturgy proceeded triumphantly, followed by a moleben of thanksgiving, with everyone singing the Creed, the "Meet it is," and the "Our Father." At the Liturgy the Archbishop gave an instructive sermon.

After the Liturgy, the moleben was served on the square outside the Cathedral, and then the procession got under way with a crowd of many thousands following. Here one of the many lakes of the region had to be crossed. Having made the sign of the Cross in all four directions with the Holy Cross, the Archbishop with bared head went under the icon that was being held and got on the barge and blessed those who were following the procession. The Archbishop stood in prayer until the barge reached the opposite shore. And there a crowd of thousands was already waiting so as to begin the rest of the journey. The stop for the night was at the village of Mizga, 16 miles from Ustiuzhna. On June 27 in Mizga, the missionary Archimandrite Barsanuphius served the Liturgy and then, at the first hour of the day, the procession again got under way, going to the village of Doloska, where St. Euphrosynus had first served as a Reader. Here the procession was joined by processions from Okhona, Kyrovo, and other places. Archbishop Arsenius served the All-night Vigil in the church of Doloska. The evening was quiet and clear, and the service was wondrous and triumphant. Everyone felt that the Archpastor and the people were of one heart, praying and thanking the Lord with one mouth for His unutterable mercy. At the Magnification of Matins the Archbishop went outside the church. A crowd of several thousand people surrounded him and stood with lit candles. It was so calm that the flames of the candles did not even waver. The All-night Vigil ended about midnight, but no one felt tired, and the spirit of fervent prayer took hold of everyone.

On June 28 the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Archbishop. After the Liturgy the Archpastor blessed the procession to continue its way.

At the village of Doloska the hospitable landowner of this area received the Archbishop, the Governor, and all the clergy at his estate. For the banner-carriers and pilgrims some roofed estate buildings were set apart, and tea and meals were prepared for the whole time that the pilgrims were in Doloska.


The beginning of the services of glorification in 1912: The Procession starts in the town of Ustiuzhna, where St. Euphrosynus served as a Reader


On June 28, at about 3 p.m., the Archbishop arrived at Blue Jay Lake Hermitage. His entry was triumphant. Bishop Joannicius of Kirilov arrived also, and he was met by a procession from Doloska which came to the Hermitage at about 5 o'clock. This same evening, the All-night Vigil was celebrated in the open air. Archbishop Arsenius celebrated together with the archimandrites and priests who had come with the processions. The weather was warm and calm. All the clergy, with the Archbishop at their head, were placed on a specially-built platform under a tent roof. Ten thousand pilgrims had gathered for this solemnity, and they took a most active part in it. All along the platform there were rows of hundreds of banners and the chief icons of the churches of the region. In front, on the platform, the holy objects were placed-the wonderworking Icons of the Mother of God and St. Nicholas, and the locally-venerated icons. The All-night Vigil ended about midnight. Archpriest Peter Seeling gave a fiery sermon, and his fervent faith in his own local Saint was involuntarily transmitted to the whole people.


The Divine Liturgy outdoors (under the tent at right), celebrated at Blue Jay Lake Hermitage on June 29, 1912, by Archbishop Arsenius of Novgorod



The Procession with the Holy Gifts around the belfry where the holy relics of St. Euphrosynus were located


The next day, June 29, was the day of the commemoration of the Chief Apostles, Peter and Paul, and the catly Liturgies were celebrated in the local churches of the Blue Jay Lake Hermitage before a multitude of pilgrims and communicants. The triumphant late Liturgy was celebrated in the open air. The holy Altar-table was placed on the platform. The Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Arsenius, together with Bishop Joannicius and the archimandrites and other clergy. The service was distinguished by a special solemnity. The weather was favorable. The heavens themselves seemed to be rejoicing with the people.

The end of the service drew near. Greetings were read and gifts accepted from distant monasteries. All that was lacking was the participation of the heavenly elements of rain, thunder and lightning-and they were not slow in manifesting themselves. From the south a cloud appeared; a wind sprang up, and from this little cloud a large cloud was formed; lightning flashed, thuader roared, and a great and blessed rain fell. The Archbishop finished his sermon to the people and began to conclude the Divine service. The approach of the elements was so unexpected for the people, who were dressed as for a feast, that the faint-hearted were disturbed, and many began to go home. At this moment one had to admire the Archpastor of Novgorod. Suddenly he turned to the people, demanding that they stop immediately and continue to participate in the prayers that followed. His eyes were filled with anger, and his thunderous voice drowned out the noise of the elements. The people came to their senses, obeyed the voice of their Archpastor, and, despite the fact that the elements roared with yet greater power during the procession around the place where St. Euphrosynus had been martyred, still the people walked behind their Archpastor and prayed fervently. At the end of the moleben, the storm suddenly became quiet, and within two hours there was wondrous, clear weather. From this it is apparent that the hand of God gave an evident proof to the people that at the glorification of Saints not only men but also all the elements rejoice, and each of them in its own special way expresses its joy and its thanksgiving to the Creator, the Lord.

Wondrous moments were experienced in these days by everyone who gathered for the glorification of God's Saint, Euphrosynus. Wonderworker of Blue Jay Lake. It was evident to all that Holy Russia was still alive, and that love for God's Saints still burned in the hearts of the Orthodox people. If St. Euphrosynus unjustly suffered neglect for a time, let the glory of his sanctity now shine all the brighter among those who truly love God, so wondrous in His Saints!