We current to our readers a narrative from Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov; 1893–1975) of blessing reminiscence, about how he as soon as practically died from the bitter chilly in a Nazi jail:
The Struggling of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
In Taganrog, within the bishop’s residence, there hung an icon of the Forty Martyrs who suffered within the lake of Sebaste. On the time, I used to be nonetheless a younger hierodeacon and private assistant to Bishop Arseny, and I usually walked previous this icon. However I didn’t present correct reverence to these forty victims—and even considerably doubted their existence, whether or not there actually had been such males, or not…
Metropolitan Joseph of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan (Chernov) And so, within the winter of 1943, I used to be imprisoned in a Gestapo jail in Uman (Ukraine). The home windows had no frames, and outdoors a fierce frost raged. I used to be virtually utterly unclothed—sporting solely a cassock. In that stone cage, I begged for loss of life: “Lord, let me die!” It was insufferable; I had no power left to endure the chilly.
Then I remembered the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and started to hope to them, asking forgiveness for not having proven them correct honor, for not understanding the greatness of their martyrdom. I prayed fervently, with all my coronary heart—and shortly that despair left my soul, heat unfold all through my physique, and I used to be now not chilly. And after the chilly and despair had receded, the door of the cell opened, and a package deal was dropped at me—the Holy Presents, bread, and heat clothes.
The Soviet military was approaching the town, and the Germans started executing the prisoners. That evening, I held the Holy Presents in my arms and prayed earlier than them with out ceasing. The trustworthy of Uman had gathered gold and bribed the assistant to the jail chief. He gave his phrase that he would spare me—and certainly, whereas different prisoners had been both taken away by the Germans or shot, I remained alive.
When the Soviet military entered the town, Vladyka Joseph was arrested once more—this time by the Soviet authorities. The truth that he had survived a Gestapo jail appeared far too suspicious to them. However that’s an totally totally different story.
From, The Mild of Pleasure in a World of Sorrow: Metropolitan Joseph of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan, compiled by V. Koroleva, (Moscow: Palomnik, 2004).
