“There once
lived a most devout priest; (this incident was narrated to me by the blessed
departed Gerontas (Spiritual Elder) Gabriel, who for a great period of time was
the Abbott at the Holy Monastery of Dionysios on Mount Athos). Even though he
barely knew how to read and write, he was a priest, a clergyman of strong
faith, great virtue and of many spiritual struggles. He used to stand up-right
for hours during the Proskomedia, despite the fact that the veins of his feet
had been affected and were hemorrhaging. There were times when one could see
the blood running down since he was standing up-right commemorating the names
of numerous people. He was a man of sacrifice to his last breath; in fact, his
soul departed just after the Divine Liturgy.
As he
barely knew how to read and write, by some misundertsanding he did not place
the portions on the Holy Diskos properly.
When we
place the portion of the All-Holy (Panagia) Theotokos on top of the Holy
Diskos, we say: “The queen stood at thy right hand…” The gerontas priest was
under the impression that, since he said “at thy right hand”, the portion of
the All-Holy (Panagia) Mother of God must be placed on the right side of the
Lamb (as he was looking at the Holy Diskos); in other words, he was placing the
portions backwards.
Once a
hierarch visited the Holy Monastery for the ordination of a deacon. During
the Pslams of Praise when the hierarch enters the Holy Altar, he vests, then
later goes to the Proskomedia, which has already been prepared up to a certain
point, from then on he alone, is the first one to continue
commemorating. Thus, the archpriest noticed that the portions had been
placed backwards by the priest.
-You did
not place the pieces properly, father, he told him. Father, come here for a
minute. The All-Holy (Panagia) Theotokos is placed over here and the Orders are
placed over there. Hasn’t anyone told you, hasn’t anyone seen how you do the
Proskomedia?
-Certainly,
Your Emminence replied the geronta Priest. Every day, when I celebrate (for a
day did not go by unless he celebrated the Divine Liturgy), the Angel who
serves me sees what I am doing but does not tell me anything at all. I
apologize, illiterate as I am, for making such a mistake; I will be careful
from now on.
-Who did
you say? Who did you say serves you here? Asked the bishop. Isn’t he a monk who
serves you?
-No,
answered the priest, an Angel of the Lord.Thebishop fell silent, what
could he have said, anyway?! He was astonished and certainly realized that a
holy priest was standing before him.
At noon,
following the meal in the Trapeza (refectory of a monastery or parish
community), the bishop said goodbye to the Abbott as well as the rest of the
monks, and departed.
The
following day, as it was still night, when the geronta Priest went to the Holy
Altar in order to hold the Proskomedia the Angel of the Lord came down. During
the act of breaking the Lamb, the Angel noticed that the priest had placed the
portions properly.
-Fine, he
told him, father! Now you have placed them properly!
-Yes, you
knew the mistake I used to make for so many years! And why didn’t you tell me
anything, why didn’t you correct me? He asked.
-I could
see it, but I do not have the right to tell you anything. I am not worthy to
correct a priest. God, the Angel continued, commands me to serve the priest.
Only the bishop has the right to correct you!”
Source- Protopresbyter Stephanos K
Anagnostopoulos"Experiences During the Divine Liturgy"
