8/5/2023
Elena Detinina
The first thing she did was to distribute her wealth among the poor and the destitute. And then, on the advice of Fr. Herman, she became a member of a community of unmarried women ascetics, where she devoted all her energies and time to labors, repentance and the feats of ascetic life.
St. Polycarp replied calmly and firmly to all this: “We do not trade the best for the worst: It is a noble thing to turn from wickedness to righteousness. I have been serving the Lord for eighty-six years now, and I will be faithful to Him to the death.”
“Mama! Mama!” little Alyosha shouted. Xenia froze and turned around slowly. Tears flowed and flowed down her face. She took Alyosha into her arms and cuddled him.
Laying aside all earthly cares, the young John took up his cross and embarked upon the path of the great labor of foolishness, which contains within it the God-pleasing monastic, ascetic, martyric, and prophetic paths as well.
