The following
story was extracted and translated from a small booklet that was
published in 1997, by the Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus, on account of the
miraculous shedding of tears, from one of the icons of the Virgin Mary.
We read in the “Leimonarion Antheon”, of a very devout
priest confessor, who led such a pure and godly life that he was deemed
worthy of many visions of angels. Finally, at the end of his earthly
life, he fell into ecstasy and saw the following marvelous vision, which
we provide here so that we always remember.
“In spirit and in a vision,” says the above priest, “I saw our Lord
Jesus Christ, seated in a glorious Throne and at his right hand was his
most-exalted mother. At that moment, the Heavenly army charged a very
powerful Angel to blow the terrible trumpet that he was holding, which
was so huge and made such a thundering sound, that it seemed to me that
the whole World was shaking like the leaf by the wind. Not long after
that, and the Lord made a signal to the Angel to blow the trumpet for a
second time, which he hastened to carry out immediately. After the
trumpeting, His immaculate Mother, knowing that after the third trumpet
the end of the World would follow, rose from her throne and along with
her, in deep silence and piety, all the Saints. Then, falling at the
feet of the just Judge, she began entreating Him, for the sake of His
immeasurable compassion, to delay the end of the World so that the
sinners, who so much embittered Him and stirred up His wrath, might be
allowed to weep for their sins. To these words the Lord would say, “O my
dearest Mother, you see how many shameful acts this ungrateful World
has worked, and is still working!” And then the Queen of Heaven would
intensify her supplication saying, “O my sweet Child, listen to me for
the sake of your abundant mercies and for the sake of your immaculate
sufferings that you endured for the salvation of sinners”. In response
Christ said, “You know, O Mother, that many times with your
supplications and tears you extinguished my just wrath, however, people
have not ceased from their evils and wickedness, but rather they have
become even worse, despising my Cross and Sufferings. The leaders and
ministers shamelessly tyrannize their citizens and defile my divine
laws. Likewise, the people completely abandoned my commandments,
carrying out their fleshly desires, fornications, murders, injustices
and other shameful and deadly transgressions.” To these the Queen
replied, “Indeed, most merciful Lord, listen to me and satisfy my
request, not because of them, for they are unworthy of any mercy and
forgiveness, but for my sake and that of the Saints, who shed their
blood and gave themselves up to numerous tortures and despised the
pleasures of the World, to gain your Love. So, hear my entreaty, O
benevolent Lord.”
Then, all the Saints along with the Mother of God, worshiped the Lord
pleading to show mercy. Yielding to their plead, the Lord, with a gentle
face replied, “You won, O my Mother with your compassion and quenched
my wrath. Let it be, as you will. And you, my brothers and friends, you
turned my rage to mercy. I will send again teachers and preachers to
correct the sinners.” Thus said the Lord, and the vision ended.
When the priest confessor came to himself, related all this to the
other brothers of the monastery, and to prove that the vision was from
God, he told each one secretly, their transgressions as the Lord had
revealed them to him for their benefit. Thus saying, that Holy man gave
up his spirit to the hands of God.
Come Brothers and Fathers, you who read and hear these things, come
let us weep for our sins. Let us lament briefly now, so that we do not
grieve eternally, later. Let us work diligently for our salvation, for
we know not when death will come to take us. Let us not just read the
scriptures and listen to the divine words, but show no improvement for
we gain nothing. Only those who practice the commandments will be saved.
The doctor implores for our salvation and we slumber? He comes to us
out of mercy, requiring no payment to heal us, and we despise such
benevolence? O, how insensitive and foolish we are! The all-pure Queen
unceasingly intercedes for us, and we show no gratitude? Let us raise
from the pit of sin my brethren and let us give thanks to the most-pure
Virgin for the innumerable gifts that she bestows to us daily. Yes, O
good and loving Mother, we thank, magnify and glorify you.
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