The monk who serves the Holy Mother of God

No matter how many times a person goes to Mount Athos, to the holy monastery of Vatopedi, entering the central temple of the monastery, to the left of the proskinitaria, in front of the iconostasis, he is struck by a small icon of the Holy Mother of God, called the All-Tsaritsa .

This icon of the Holy Mother of God is known for the fact that through it the Holy Mother shows mercy to people with oncological diseases (cancer) and who have turned to God with a prayer, asking that through the prayers and intercession of the Virgin Mary, He help them and lift the burden of suffering.

Every pilgrim is free to bow before the miraculous image of the Holy Mother of God as many times as he wants. It is accessible to everyone – as much time as he needs, he has at his disposal to pray and ask God for help and healing – for himself, for his loved ones, for friends or for people who have asked him to pray for them.

Besides the fact that the icon has been there for centuries with every visit to the holy monastery, every observant pilgrim knows that after the monastery service, which ends with the Holy Liturgy, the same monk always stands in front of the icon of the Holy Mother of God – “The All-Tsaritsa” and reads a Canon of Prayer to the Mother of God.

He is short in stature, of normal build. Gray hair and a beard that is not very long. About 65-70 years old. Always dressed in his full monastic attire and radiating a special reverence, humility and love. There is always something on his face that reminds us that this man carries a great burden on his shoulders. That he bears great responsibility.

I never asked him his name, who he was, where he was from, how old he was, because, observing him from afar, seeing his spiritual vigor and desire to pray to the All-Queen, I always found it uncomfortable to engage him in such side matters. I did not ask the other brothers why I would like to remember his angelic feat and not his human origin.

For this simple reason, I have not been interested in the origins of other fathers, hermits, prayer leaders, and exemplary mentors.

But let’s get back to our story.

So, the Vatopedi monk stands before the miraculous image of the Queen of Heaven, lights a candle made of pure wax specially placed for this purpose, makes three prostrations and begins to read the sequence in glorification of the Holy Mother of God – “The All-Tsaritsa”.

During the prayer song, in addition to praising the Holy Mother of God and God, Who has allowed us to have such great grace, he also mentions the names of the people listed, in a request for healing – being raised from the hospital bed.

The names are so many that reciting the names exceeds the duration of the prayer itself five times.

Names of cancer patients from all over the world have been recorded for remembrance before the miraculous icon. Everyone asks for healing and mercy.

To such an extent is the father focused on his prayerful obedience that no matter how many clergymen, worshipers, or children there are, he seems to be alone in the temple. He in no way gives reason to think that he is bothered or uncomfortable. This behavior of his makes everyone feel calm, prayerful, and blessed in the holy temple.

It is the monk who has the obligation – he alone – to carry out this procession and to commemorate the names of the sick and suffering before the holy image of the Virgin Mary.

Because of the seriousness of his duty, he was devoted and unwavering. He did not speak to anyone before or after the prayer. Just a man, part of the brotherhood, who at one point receives obedience like any of the monks and fulfills it with his whole being.

His prayer is heard by God and his work is rewarded. This is evident from the increasing number of pilgrims, the names recorded, and the testimonies of miracles performed by the Holy Mother of God for suffering and terminally ill people.

One of the great events at the holy monastery is that every day, people from all over the world flock to buy copies of the miraculous icon, order them, and bring them to the temple to be consecrated, to be touched by the original image, and then taken to temples and homes for blessing and spiritual comfort and healing.

There are thousands of copies of the holy icon all over the world, and even here, in Bulgaria, there are dozens in parish churches and monasteries.

This seemingly insignificant monk, who has accepted his obedience with dignity, works miracles without even realizing it. He heals hundreds without even knowing them, because obedience, filled with perseverance, humility and love, works miracles and saves – not only the one who performs it, but also those who are remembered.

This earthly angel, who with his whisper and hesychia serves the icon of the Holy Mother of God – “The All-Tsaritsa”, is the prayer pillar to whom we should all be grateful, because it is on such people as him that we – the Church – rely. Such people are an example that the Church is alive, comforting and saving.

The way he goes and stands before the wondrous image of the All-Queen and then leaves, he seems to fly in and out, alone without beginning or end, to remind us that he is from God and for God, offering himself, a humble worker in God’s work. A herald of the good news of the Gospel and a doer of God’s will.

Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchik https://www.eppolycarp.com