Tuesday, April 20, 2010

"I went to Christouli and Panagitsa high in heaven"

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
  
Christ enthroned upon the Cherubim and Seraphim (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

"I went to Christouli and Panagitsa high in heaven" (amateur translation)
E. and T. T., from Drosato N. Kilkis, are the parents of three children. They relate the following:
"On March 30th 2001 we took our M., four and a half years old, to the Hospital in Thessaloniki because of an unbearable stomach pain. With the appropriate tests they diagnosed him with obstructive ileus, and operated on him for three and a half hours, removing half a meter of necrotic gut. Our doctors said that the child passed a very difficult situation, but was not out of danger yet. Monday evening he had a 40 degree (Celsius) fever. Tuesday he was transferred to the ICU with sepsis and acute respiratory shock. His hopes of living were only 10%.

St. Raphael the Hieromartyr of Lesvos - Commemorated Bright Tuesday (http://www.agiosrafael.org/)

In the mean time, without us knowing anything, a neighbor of ours saw St. Raphael in a vision who told her: “Antonina, I'm leaving, because you don't need me any more. I will go to E., he has need of me now!” The woman later learned about our son. A friend of our family from Goumenissa, Mr. P. S., went to St. Raphael in Griva and knelt with the priest reading the paraklesis for the salvation of our child. Our brother A. went in the evening to our empty house to chant the Paraklesis to St. George for the health of M.. At one point the room started to shine, so much that he was shaken. Where did this much light come from? Most likely it was the Grace of the Saint.

After these, the child's situation began to improve, until the Saturday of Lazarus, when he opened his eyes. On Holy Monday he was totally well and exited the hospital. After being sick for 23 days, we left the hospital.

St. George the Trophy-bearer - Commemorated on April 23rd (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

When we returned, he began to tell us different things: “I went to Christouli and to Panagitsa*** high in heaven, where there are a lot of clouds, with the white horse of St. George. I saw uncle Fani (our neighbor who died eight months before) and Despoula (a little girl who died three years before), there were many people I didn't know there and they wore golden angel's clothes and everyone was singing...Christouli and Panagitsa asked me if I have any brothers and what are they called, and told me not to worry, you will go back to Mama and to your brothers.
'I don't know how to get back there.'
'With my horse', said St. George.
'I'm scared, I don't know how to drive the horse.'
'Don't worry, I will drive you.'
M. is near us, a strong child as he was before, and every day we glorify God, Panagia and all the Saints who gave him back to us."
(amateur translation of Greek text from: http://www.imgap.gr/file1/sthavmata.html)

***diminutive terms of endearment for Christ and the Theotokos

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life!
Truly the Lord is risen!

No comments: