SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX june 26, 2016

THE SUNDAY OF all saints he Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints, both those who are known to us, and those who are Tknown only to God. There have been saints at all times, and they have come from every corner of the earth. They were Apostles, Martyrs, Prophets, Hierarchs, Monastics, and Righteous, yet all were perfected by the same Holy Spirit. The Descent of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to rise above our fallen and to attain sainthood, thereby fulfilling God’s directive to “be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44, 1 Peter 1:16, etc.). Therefore, it is fitting to commemorate All Saints on the first Sunday after Pentecost. This feast may have originated at an early date, perhaps as a celebration of all martyrs, then it was broadened to include all men and women who had borne witness to Christ by their virtuous lives, even if they did not shed their blood for Him. St Peter of Damascus, in his “Fourth Stage of Contemplation,” mentions five categories of saints: Apostles, Mar- tyrs, Prophets, Hierarchs, and Monastic Saints (PHILOKALIA [in English] Vol. 3, p.131). He is actually quoting from the OCTOECHOS, Tone 2 for Saturday Matins, after the first stichology. St Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (July 14) adds the Righteous to St Peter’s five categories. The list of St Nicodemus is found in his book THE FOURTEEN EPISTLES OF ST PAUL (Venice, 1819, p. 384) in his discus- sion of I Corinthians 12:28. The hymnology for the feast of All Saints also lists six categories: “Rejoice, assembly of the Apostles, Prophets of the Lord, loyal choirs of the Martyrs, divine Hierarchs, Monastic Fathers, and the Righteous....” Some of the saints are described as Confessors, a category which does not appear in the above lists. Since they are similar in spirit to the martyrs, they are regarded as belonging to the category of Martyrs. They were not put to death as the Martyrs were, but they boldly confessed Christ and came close to being executed for their faith. St (January 21) is such a saint. The order of these six types of saints seems to be based on their importance to the Church. The Apostles are listed first, because they were the first to spread the Gospel throughout the . The Martyrs come next because of their example of courage in professing their faith before the enemies and persecutors of the Church, which en- couraged other Christians to remain faithful to Christ even unto death. Although they come first chronologically, the Prophets are listed after the Apostles and Martyrs. This is because the Old Testament Prophets saw only the shadows of things to come, whereas the Apostles and Martyrs experienced them firsthand. The New Testament also takes precedence over the Old Testament. The holy Hierarchs comprise the fourth category. They are the leaders of their flocks, teaching them by their word and their example.

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Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος πλ. δ. . Mode 8. ξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατα- ou descended from on high, O compassionate Ἐδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν πα- YOne, and condescended to be buried for three θῶν· ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. Ἀπολυτίκιον των αγιων. ηχος δ´. Apolytikion for the saints. Mode 4. ῶν ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ Μαρτύρων σου, ὡς πορ- our Church is arrayed in the holy blood of Your Τφύραν καὶ βύσσον τὰ αἵματα, ἡ Ἐκκλησία σου YMartyrs who witnessed throughout the world, as στολισαμένη, δι’ αὐτῶν βοᾷ σοι, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, τῷ though in purple and fine linen. Through them she λαῷ σου τοὺς οἰκτιρμούς σου κατάπεμψον, εἰρήνην cries to You, Christ our God, Send down to Your peo- τῇ πολιτείᾳ σου δώρησαι, καὶ ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν τὸ ple Your tender love, grant peace from above to Your μέγα ἔλεος. commonwealth, and to our souls Your great mercy.᾽ Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α´. Apolytikion for the Church. Mode 5. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπόστο- he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * who is Λλον, τὸν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν συνθέτην Tacknowledged by the Church of Christ * as the re- τῶν Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν τοῦ corder of the Acts of the Apostles, * and the splendid Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, ἀξίως τιμή- author of the Gospel of Christ. * Let us praise with sa- σωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, ὡς νοσημάτων ἀνθρωπίνων cred hymns as a physician, * who heals the infirmities καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν θεραπευτήν, τὸν καθαίρο- of man, * and the ailments of nature, * who cleanses ντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύματος, καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως πρε- spiritual wounds, and prays unceasingly for our souls. σβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος ΠΛ δ´. . Mode 8. ς ἀπαρχὰς τῆς φύσεως, τῷ φυτουργῷ τῆς Planter of creation, Lord, to You does the entire Ὡκτίσεως, ἡ οἰκουμένη προσφέρει σοι Κύριε, O world bring as an offering the God‐bearing martyr τοὺς θεοφόρους Μάρτυρας, ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσί- Saints, as being nature’s first fruits. At their earnest αις, ἐν εἰρήνῃ βαθείᾳ, τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν σου, διὰ entreaty, keep Your Church in a state of pro‐ foundest τῆς Θεοτόκου συντήρησον, πολυέλεε. peace, through the , O Lord abundantly merciful. THE READINGS OF THE DAY

epistle reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30 Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2

rethren, all the saints through faith over- he Lord said to his disciples: “Whoever con- powered kingdoms, administered justice, fesses me before men I will also confess before Bobtained promises, stopped the mouths of Tmy Father who is in heaven. But whoever de- lions,quenched the power of fire,escaped the edge nies me in front of others I will also deny before of the sword,became strong in weakness, grew my Father who is in heaven. Whoever loves father mighty in war and caused foreign armies to flee. or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and Women received their dead by resurrection. Oth- whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not ers were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, worthy of me. Whoever does not take his cross and that they might obtain a better resurrection. Oth- follow after me is not worthy of me.” Then Peter ers were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, by said, “Behold, we have left everything and followed chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, were sawn apart, they were tempted and they were “Amen, I tell you that you who have followed me, at slain with the sword. They went around in sheep the regeneration, when the Son of Man will sit on and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, and ill- the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve treated. And yet the world was not worthy of them! thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Every- They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and one who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, the holes of the earth. All of them received a testi- mother, wife, children, or lands for my Name’s sake mony through their faith but they did not receive will receive a hundred times [more] and will inher- the promise because God had made provision for it eternal life. But many who are first will be last, us to have something better, and they were not to and many who are last will be first!” reach perfection apart from us. And so, seeing that we are surrounded by such a great a cloud of wit- In His love for us, God doesn’t want nesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin anyone to be lost, but rather desires which so easily entangles us. Let us run with endur- that all of us should come to a knowl- ance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on edge of the truth and be saved. He not Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. “only accepts the repentance of those who willingly repent, once they’ve be- come aware of their sins, but also calls to repentance those who, through cal- lousness and excess have slid into sin. —St. nektarios the Wonderworker” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

upcoming church services: Wednesday, June 29, Sts. Peter and Paul, Orthros / Div. Lit., 8:30am Saturday, July 2, Great Vespers, 5pm

PARISH FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE church attire There will be a meeting after Divine services today. There is no allowance for Church “summer- Please join the committee as we brainstorm for wear.” An Orthodox Christian should always come new ideas and to discuss the 2017 Dinner Dance to Church dressed in modest attire (in every sea- and Silent Auction. All are welcome to attend. son), so as not to draw attention to him/herself, be- baptism coming a distraction to others. Traditionally wom- en wear dresses or skirts of at least knee length; This Saturday, July 2 at 10:30am, we will celebrate dresses, blouses / tops should, at minimum, in- the baptism of Zoe Varghese. Are all welcome to clude short sleeves and cover the shoulder. Women join in witness of this blessed event. should not wear lipstick or lip gloss to Church - it give a month towards our future leaves a residue on the and on the Commu- Help offset our additional mortgage payment with nion spoon. Men should dress in pants and polo or a donation of $640. If you would like to sponsor button-down shirts. Shorts should never be worn one month for 2016, please contact Fr. Michael. in Church. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing is not appropriate for women or men. prosphoro Please sign up to help bake prosforon on Sundays. et’s be ashamed, then, for accepting If you are not able to bake, but would like to make into our heart, without objection, a donation for communion wine or other altar L anything that God doesn’t want. Let’s needs, please see Fr Michael. Thank you! reject a thousand times the laxity we’ve BOOKSTORE “shown so far in observing His command- ments and let’s resolve not merely to Visit the Bookstore for your summer reading. Titles avoid committing these minor sins but in Greek are also available. See Matthew Monos if to root out from our heart any inclina- you would like to special order a book. tion towards them. And if sometimes we COFFEE HOUR SPONSORSHIP do indeed fall, from the weakness of our Please consider becoming a coffee hour sponsor. nature and will, let’s not allow our heart to come to love them. Let’s quickly hate See sign up sheet in Narthex. Celebrate a birthday, them, let’s repent, confess and beseech name day, anniversary, etc with your parish family. God to strengthen us with His Grace so that we won’t fall again. —St. nikodemos of the holy mountain” The Monastic Saints are those who withdrew from part from them. Hidden away from the pursuing Kha- this world to live in monasteries, or in seclusion. They zars, he settled at Amastridia, where he dwelt for four did not do this out of hatred for the world, but in or- years. der to devote themselves to unceasing prayer, and to Hearing about the death of the Khazar kagan (rul- do battle against the power of the demons. Although er), the saint said, “After forty days I shall go to be some people erroneously believe that and nuns judged with him before Christ the Savior.” Indeed, the are useless and unproductive, St had a saint died forty days later. This took place when he re- high regard for them: “Angels are a light for monks, and turned to his people, in the year 790. the monastic life is a light for all men” (LADDER, Step The saint’s body was conveyed to the Parthenit 26:31). monastery in the Crimea, at the foot of Mount Ayu- The last category, the Righteous, are those who at- Dag, where the saint once lived in the large church he tained holiness of life while living “in the world.” Ex- built in honor of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. amples include Abraham and his wife Sarah, Job, Sts St John, Bishop of the Goths is also commemorated Joachim and Anna, St Joseph the Betrothed, St Juliana on May 19. of Lazarevo, and others. Saint David of Thessalonica pursued The feast of All Saints achieved great prominence in at the monastery of the holy Martyrs Theodore and the ninth century, in the reign of the Byzantine Emper- Mercurius. Inspired by the example of the holy stylites, or Leo VI the Wise (886-911). His wife, the Holy Em- he lived in an almond tree in constant prayer, keeping press Theophano (December 16) lived in the world, strict fast, and enduring heat and cold. He remained but was not attached to worldly things. She was a great there for three years until an angel told him to come benefactor to the poor, and was generous to the mon- down. asteries. She was a true mother to her subjects, caring St David received from God the gift of wonder- for widows and orphans, and consoling the sorrowful. working, and he healed many from sickness. The holy Even before the death of St. Theophano in 893 or ascetic gave spiritual counsel to all who came to him. 894, her husband started to build a church, intending Having attained to passionlessness, he was like an angel to dedicate it to Theophano, but she forbade him to do in the flesh, and he was able to take hot coals into his so. It was this emperor who decreed that the Sunday hands without harm. He died the year 540. after Pentecost be dedicated to All Saints. Believing Dionysius, Archbishop of Suzdal, in the world Da- that his wife was one of the righteous, he knew that she vid, was tonsured at the Kiev Caves monastery. He ar- would also be honored whenever the Feast of All Saints rived at the Volga with an of the Mother of God was celebrated. that he had received as a blessing from Sts Anthony Saint John, Bishop of the Goths, lived during the and Theodosius. St Dionysius dug out a cave not far eighth century. The future saint was born in answer to from Nizhni-Novgorod and struggled in total solitude. the fervent prayer of his parents. From an early age, he Brethren constantly thronged to the holy ascetic and lived a life of asceticism. in the year 1335 he founded a monastery in honor of The saint made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and the Ascension of the Lord. Among his students of St spent three years visiting all the holy places. Then he Dionysius were Sts Euthymius of Suzdal (April 1) and returned to his native country. At that time the emper- Macarius of Zheltovod and Unzha (July 25). In the or Constantine Copronymos the Iconoclast (741-775) year 1352 the holy Elder sent twelve of his brethren to banished the Gothic bishop, and the Goths fervently “the upper cities and countryside, whom God would entreated St John to become their bishop. bless” for the spiritual enlightenment of the people and St John went to Georgia, which was isolated from the organizing of new monasteries. The monastery of the Iconoclast heresy. There he was ordained. Upon St Dionysius exerted a deep charitable influence on his return to the Goths he was soon compelled to de- the inhabitants of Nizhni-Novgorod. In the year 1371 the saint tonsured into monasticism the forty-year-old saint was in “the Kiev Cave of the Great Anthony.” St widow of Prince Andrew Constantinovich, an example Dionysius is commemorated on June 26 because it is of how he accepted into monasticism “various digni- the Feast of his patron saint, St David of Thessalonica, taries: women, widowers, and virgins.” whose name he was given in Baptism. In the Syno- In the year 1374 St Dionysius was deemed worthy dikon of the 1552 Nizhni-Novgorod Caves monastery, of the office of bishop. His years of service as bishop St Dionysius is called a “wonderworking ”. occurred during a remarkable period, for Russia was According to ancient tradition, the wonderworking rising to cast off the Mongol-Tatar Yoke. On March 31, icon of Tikhvin is one of several painted by St Luke 1375 the Tatar military-chief, having been shown to the Evangelist. The icon was taken from Jerusalem to the bishop’s court by the enslaved inhabitants of Nizh- Constantinople in the fifth century, where it was en- ni-Novgorod, shot an arrow at St Dionysius, but the shrined in the Church of Blachernae, which was built Lord preserved his chosen one, and the arrow struck especially for this purpose. only the bishop’s mantle. In 1377, through the bless- In 1383, seventy years before the fall of ing of St Dionysius (who may have edited the docu- Constantinople at the hands of the Turks, fishermen ment), the Lavrentian Chronicle was compiled by St on Lake Ladoga in the principality of Novgorod the Laurence, inspiring Russia in its struggle for freedom. Great witnessed the icon miraculously hovering over In 1379, preserving the integrity of the first hier- the lake’s waters amidst a radiant light. According to an arch’s cathedra, St Dionysius was one of the bishops early sixteenth century Russian manuscript, “The Tale gathered in Moscow by order of the prince, and he of Miracles of the Icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God,” came out against the election of the prince’s protegee, the Theotokos herself decided that her image should the ill-reputed archimandrite Mityaya as Metropolitan. leave Constantinople, perhaps in anticipation of the In the same year of 1379 St Dionysius journeyed impending fall of the . to Constantinople with a protest against the choice of Shortly after its miraculous appearance, the icon Mityaya on grounds of his complicity with the heretical was discovered in several neighboring towns, includ- Strigolniki. The saint made a strong impression upon ing the village of Motchenitsy on the bank of the Tikh- the by his sublime spiritual frame of mind and vinka River, before it finally appeared near the town of his profound knowledge of Holy Scripture. Patriarch Tikhvin. A wooden church dedicated to the Dormition Nilus, having termed the saint “a warrior of God and a of the Theotokos was built on the site of the icon’s final spiritual man,” wrote that he himself saw him “at fasting resting place. Miraculously, the icon survived a number and charity, and vigil, and prayers, and tears, and every of fires. other virtue.” From Constantinople St Dionysius sent In the early sixteenth century, through the zeal of two copies of the Hodigitria Icon of the Mother of God Great Prince Basil Ivanovich, a stone church was built to a Council at Suzdal. In 1382 the bishop received the to replace the original wooden structure. In 1560, by title of archbishop from the patriarch. Returning to order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a men’s monastery was Russia, the saint travelled to Pskov and Novgorod to established near the church and enclosed with a stone struggle against the heresy of the Strigolniki. wall. He visited Constantinople a second time in 1383 In 1613-1614, the Swedish army, having seized for discussion with the patriarch on questions about Novgorod, made several attempts to destroy the mon- the governance of the Russian metropolitanate. In astery. The countless prayers offered to the Theotokos the year 1384 St Dionysius was made “metropolitan before the icon were heard, and the monastery was for Russia” by Patriarch Nilus. But upon his return to spared. On one occasion, after monks had been alerted Kiev the saint was arrested on orders of the Kiev prince to the approaching Swedish army, they decided to flee Vladimir Olgerdovich and subjected to imprisonment, and to take the icon with them. But the monks soon where he died on October 15, 1385. The burial of the discovered that they could not remove the icon from its shrine. Seeing this as a sign of the Theotokos’ pro- money to feed the Russian and Ukrainian population tection, the monks decided not to abandon the mon- which was afflicted by famine. astery, begging the Theotokos to spare them and their During the World War II German occupation, the beloved spiritual home. To their amazement, a large Nazis removed the icon from the Tikhvin Monastery, Muscovite army appeared to defend the monastery. from where it was taken to Pskov and subsequently When the Swedes encountered the army, they re- to Riga, Latvia. When the city was evacuated, Bishop treated immediately. Word of this miracle spread rap- John [Garklavs] of Riga, in whose care the icon was idly, and imperial emissaries soon visited the monas- placed, took the icon to Bavaria, where it was vener- tery. Accompanied by a copy of the wonderworking ated by Orthodox faithful who had been displaced be- icon, they set off for the village of Stolbovo, 33 miles cause of the war. While Soviet agents had spotted the from Tikhvin, where they concluded a peace treaty icon, Bishop John was permitted to take the icon to the with the Swedes on February 10, 1617. Afterwards, the United States in 1949, under the pretext that the icon copy of the icon was taken to Moscow and enshrined in his care was a reproduction, the work of a simple in the Kremlin’s Dormition Cathedral. Later, the same monk, and that it was of little historic or monetary val- icon was placed in the Holy Wisdom () ue. Shortly after his arrival in the United States, Bishop cathedral in Novgorod at the request of the city’s faith- John, who was later elevated to the rank of Archbishop, ful, who also found themselves under attack by the was elected to oversee the Diocese of Chicago, and the Swedes. Once again, through the intercession of the icon was regularly displayed and venerated in Chica- Theotokos, the city was spared. go’s Holy Cathedral. Over the centuries, the icon’s fame spread far and Bishop John frequently took the icon on pilgrim- wide. Copies of the wonderworking icon began to age to various places throughout the United States adorn churches throughout the land. Some of these and Canada. After his retirement in the late 1970s copies also proved to be sources of miracles, and it was and death on Palm Sunday in 1982, Archpriest Ser- not uncommon to find the faithful praying before the gei Garklavs, Bishop John’s adopted son, became the icon to seek healing for children who were ill. caretaker of the icon. In 2003, over a decade after the No fewer than 24 processions with the icon were fall of communism and the resurrection of the Russian celebrated each year at the Tikhvin Monastery, where Orthodox Church, the decision was made to return the the icon was enshrined. A decorative cover, or “riza,” precious icon to its original home. adorned the icon, exposing only the faces and hands The icon began its year-long journey to Russia at of the Holy Virgin and Christ child. Numerous pre- the 99th annual Pilgrimage to St Tikhon Monastery, cious stones studded the riza, and many of the faithful, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, May 23-26, 2003. His desiring to express thanksgiving for prayers answered Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Or- through the Theotokos’ intercession, affixed precious thodox Church in America, together with members of jewelry to the riza. the Holy Synod of Bishops and guest hierarchs, greet- Most miraculous is the fact that the icon was pre- ed the icon, which was available for veneration by the served from destruction or sale after the Russian Revo- faithful. lution, which ushered in a 74-year persecution of the The icon follows the “Hodigitria” model and is sim- Church. During the 1920s, the communist govern- ilar in style to the ancient Iveron icon of Our Lady. It ment demanded that the differs in that the Christ child’s legs are crossed, while turn over countless icons and other precious liturgi- the sole of His foot is turned to the viewer. Several his- cal items, which through the nationalization of private toric sources note that several other Hodigitria icons property were considered the property of “the people.” of the Theotokos had been brought to Russia in the Many of these sacred items were sold, allegedly to raise 1380s, during the rule of the saintly prince Demetrius Donskoy. faith is a matter ‘Why are you afraid of the saint and ashamed before him, but you’re not with me?’, I asked. ‘Just go and ask of the heart him the same thing’. by Metropolitan Nicholas A few days later, he went and found the ascetic talk- of Mesogaias and Lavreotikis ing to a young man in the yard in front of his house. On the opposite side, there were four others waiting, sitting Some years ago a young student came up to me. Very on some upturned logs. Gavrïil shyly found his place hesitantly, but with the intensity of demanding an an- among them. After no more than ten minutes, the elder swer, he told me he was an atheist and, though he would finished his conversation with the young man. very much like to believe, he couldn’t. He’d tried for ‘How are doing over there?’, he asked. ‘Have you had years and stuck to his search, but had gotten nowhere. a sweet? A glass of water?’. He’d chatted with professors and educated people ‘Thank you, Elder’, they answered with conventional but his thirst for something serious hadn’t been satisfied. politeness He’d heard of me and decided he’d share his existential ‘Come here’, he said, addressing Gavrïil, picking him need with me. He asked me for scientific proof of God. out from the others. ‘I’ll bring some water; you bring the ‘Do you know about integrals and different kinds of box of sweets. Come over here and I’ll tell you a secret. equations?’, I asked him. All right, some people are atheists, but to be an atheist ‘Unfortunately not. I’m studying Philosophy’ and to have the name of an angel? That’s the first time ‘Pity’, I said, ‘because I know just such a proof’, obvi- I’ve heard of that’. ously joking. The young man nearly had a heart attack from this He looked embarrassed and went quiet for a while. sudden revelation. How did the elder know his name? ‘Look’, I said, ‘I’m sorry I made a bit of a joke. But Who’d told him about his problem? What on earth did God’s not an equation or any kind of mathematical the elder really mean? proof. If it were like that, then all the educated people As soon as he’d recovered himself he whispered: ‘Fa- would believe. You have to know that God’s approached ther can I speak to you for a little?’. in a different way. Have you ever been to the Holy ‘Look, it’s getting dark. Take a sweet, have a glass of Mountain? Have you ever met an ascetic?’. water and go to the nearest monastery to stay overnight’. ‘No, Father, but I’m thinking of going, I’ve heard so ‘Father, I really want to speak. Can we not?’. much about it. Tell me and I’ll go tomorrow. Do you ‘But what’s to say, son? Why did you come?’. know any educated person I could go and see?’. Gavrïil related: ‘At that question, I felt I could breathe ‘Which would you prefer, an educated person who’ll easily. My heart was filled with faith, my inner world was befuddle your brain, or a saint who’ll wake you up?’. warmed, my doubts were dispelled without any logical ‘I’d rather have the educated person. I’m afraid of argument, without any discussion, without any specific saints’. answer. All the ‘ifs’ the ‘whys’ the ‘maybes’ that I had ‘Faith’s a matter of the heart. Give a saint a try. What’s within me simply collapsed and all that was left was what your name?’, I asked. do from now on and how to do it’. ‘Gavrïil’, he answered. What the thinking of educated people hadn’t been I sent him to an ascetic. I described how to get there able to give him had been provided by a gentle hint from and gave him the necessary directions. We even made a a saint, a man whose formal education ended after the sketch. fourth class of Primary School. Saints are very discreet. ‘Go’, I told him, ‘and ask the same thing: I’m an athe- They perform an operation on you without anesthesia ist, tell him, and I want to believe. I want proof of the and you don’t feel a thing. They perform a transplant existence of God’. without even opening you up. They take you up to in- “I’m afraid. I’m ashamed’, he answered. accessible heights without the ladders of secular reason. They plant faith in you without tiring your brain.