Boarding Home for Adults
God is close to that place where ailing and rejected people live.
It is felt immediately when one enters the grounds of the boarding home. It is a little kingdom, where grown-up people are like children. It is so beautiful: when it is warm there are many flowers, during winter, the sun shines on the snow outside.
The inhabitants of the boarding home are mostly simple and kind-hearted people. Few people can great you so heartily. They sense when someone is having a hard time, they will approach and give a stroke on the head, give some bread. Some believe that in this way, the Lord protects certain individuals with a delicate and wounded psychology from the world.
At times it appears that the inhabitants of the boarding school live as saints. Like Christian ascetics, they have nothing of their own, not even their own will. They are punished for “disobedience”, for instance, they may be confined to a chair. It is not pleasant to be in an isolated area. There are only rooms where inhabitants sleep and a long, narrow hallway lined with benches. On a small bed, a patient sleeps, next to him is a window, and in the window – trees. This is all that he can see. When asked, “How are you?”, he replies, “All is fine.” Would a healthy, secure person answer in this way?
An archpriest is a patient in one of the units of the boarding school. It appears that he suffered an injury to the head during his childhood. This can in no way be a coincidence. Likely, in this way the Lord has planned for his salvation.
This man’s humility is incredible. When asked if life is difficult, he replies, “It is nothing, I endure it with patience. Patience leads to salvation.” Once, when asked whether he fears death, he answered, “I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the world to come.”
Once he was sitting in a hallway amongst other patients, many of whom were making much noise.
- What are you thinking about, Father?
- About today’s Gospel reading.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek …
«…and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.»
Brother “V”:
I came here with various feelings. But I found that which I did not expect. The first person who approached me here was an enormous, bearded old man with a menacing look. He came up to me very closely and stared into my eyes. I felt uncomfortable. And suddenly I heard, “Give me a candy.” And this is how they are. They immediately sense what kind of a person you are. They are sincere. And they will never betray you. On February 6, 1998, a joyful event took place. In the lobby of the boarding house a small chapel was consecrated in the name of the Blessed Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg. The words of the Gospel come to mind: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
The Divine Liturgy, the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, is celebrated in the boarding house. At this moment, where are the strong and wise of this world? How important are their affairs for eternal life? The sick, humiliated and rejected are found at the Lord’s Royal Supper of love. There is nothing higher than that in this world.
Sister “Z”: There are people living in the boarding house who cannot leave its confines. Many of them grew up in the children’s boarding house and later were transferred here. When we began to visit the hospital, and later the boarding houses, when many sick people received the chance to receive Communion, naturally, we wished for the Liturgy to be celebrated here. For this reason the idea arose to found a church on the territory of the boarding home. For some reason, nobody even thought about a name for this church. And then a priest for another parish asked, “What will be the name of your church?” “We haven’t even thought about it”, we answered. “It would be good if it were dedicated to St. Xenia of St. Petersburg.” And we all agreed that it would be right to name the church in honor of Blessed St. Xenia of St. Petersburg.
The inhabitants of the boarding house learn and sing prayers with sisters and once a week pray the akathist to Blessed St. Xenia of St. Petersburg – you will not find that anywhere else. God’s grace is very much felt in the boarding house and in a way, it envelopes this mournful place. The eyes of the patients are amazing after Communion – they contain a warmth not of this world. Seeing this, you can believe in the closeness of God. There is also a Sunday school at the boarding house.
In the words of the elder Nicholai, in helping the sick, we are saved ourselves by their prayers.
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