аOPEN HEAVENS.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased

Luke chapter 3

Where were you ? There was a real miracle here! - so my neigbourа has met me on 19 th of January and began to tell the story.

- In the morning, I was ironing listening and in a-half ear to the TVа the Moscow channel. Suddenly the man on the screen speaks: ╗ Today Russian Orthodox Church celebrates a holiday of the Christening and consecration of water will take place in all churches.People believe on this day heavens open and Spirit Sacred descends on water andа all water is consecrated. ╗

Oh, I think, that can not be and I go on ironing. And the man continues: ╗а Earlier people said, that if who will see the opened heavens and the desire it will by all means be executed. Attention, look at the sky. Now any minute heavens should reveal and only after that priests will start to consecrate water. ╗ I have thrown an iron awayа and approached to a window and I see: in the sky fromа the edge up to the edge the sparkling golden line has appeared as if the plane has flown by. Iа calledа my childrenа ╗ Come here, look! ╗ They have come running. л Let"s desire something! ╗

And here the line this began to be opened by itself all more widely and more widely, as ifа someone hands stretches it. And whence absolutely unusual golden light from above began to run.а It was an indescribable beauty. Here my daughter yells: ╗ аI want Barby! Three new Barby! ╗

л The silly girl. - I said- You must ask somethingа more necessary! ╗

Andа I am nervous looking on this beauty. What I must wish, I think. Maybe bedclothes is necessary. Here such moment andа I haven"t good ideas. It is not considered, I think. Maybeа a good work . Againа it is not that. In this life I have nothing more exceptа work. I can not concentrate in any way. And here underа my ear my daughter cries out about Barby. I was so angry that I wanted to beat her so much: ╗ Do not litter an etherа with your nonsense. ╗ - I ordered.

Here this aperture in the sky began to be narrowed, becoming narrowerа andа narrower. ╬h, I think, wait, I have not had timeа to think nothing. ╗" But in the sky already all was closed, the gold line has turned back to a strip as in the beginning, then and this strip has disappeared as if it was not. All this has very quickly taken place. Approximately minutes 10 last. My sonа hasа told: ╗ It was necessary to ask about health. ╗ л You are right the most necessary is always forgotten ╗ - said I to him.

а - Please, askа in church, whether somebody saw such and to what itа obliges usа to do. - asked me for my neighbour. - Also find out precisely, whenа will the following Christening be thatа I have much time to prepare my desire beforehand andа don"t miss this business.

+ + +

аMy spirit brothers and sisters in churchа answered :

Thisа is well-known business, that heavens for the Christening are opened. But we didn"t see it with our own eyes. That"s whyа when at 10 o'clock always at this time theа worship goes and it is necessary to be in church.

- And those who saw,а what to do?

- It is Favour Divine Е Now it is such time, God callsа all in church for a repentance.

+ + +

аAs if to execution of desires that year little Tamriko has been presented а3 ┴рЁсш by completely different people. Now she has grown andа does not play with dolls any more. As her senior brother has thoughtа we don"t know andа it remained a secret.

As to their mother in one year after the Christening she hadа an urgent work, itа was no time to look at the sky.

It has taken place in 1995у.

It is written down 15 December in 1999у.

ааааа а

аа WHETHER THE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE IS POSSIBLEа IN OUR DAYS.

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7

а One day I readа in the book about father Sampson (Sivers) the next lines about an orthodox marriage: "...they went to church, strictly observed a post, and then had matrimonial attitudes with prayers.They lit icon lamps before all Icons, served special worship, and thenа they were given each other. And it has been put so it is strict, that they did not see each other. Such there was a conception of the new person... ... Conception of a new life: either in a hell, or in settlements of paradise. That is why the Christian marriage it already is sacrament. ", etc.

а All reading has caused in me a smile: " It is good, certainly, but not for our time. It is difficult to find now the woman, who did not do abortionsа and here it is written " a sacrament, anabstinence ", absolutely it is not real. "

ааа So I thought, and soon I forgot about it.

аааа Two or three years have passed. We whiled away winter evening with my new friend, looked through newspapers.

ааа - How it is terrible,-а she speaks, specifying on article about abortions. - What happiness, that I have done without it.

ааа - How it was possible?

аа - I with my husband held all posts, Wednesdays and Fridays inclusive.Weа didn"t have sexual attitudes on those days.

ааа - Is it very difficult?

ааа It is nothing difficult. He was a believer, prayed much and knew all these rulesа better than I. I simply agreed with himа about this question of abstention.

ааа Our acquaintance began from the Great Post. We have got acquainted at our friends home the general. We sat at a tableа opposite to each other.

ааа Around us there was young pork, chakhokhbili, khachapuri and other tasty Georgian dishes. All visitors were eating with appetite this food. Only we together from all table eat vegetable dishes:he was eating pkhali and I wasа eating lobio. My new friend began a conversation about self-perfection. I at once have understood, that he is very widely-read, interesting person. Howeverа it was difficult to surprise me with something. But a theme of conversation so has carried away both of us, that we have decided to meet. Already on the third meeting for a week he has proposed me: " I can not live without you. " I have thought: he is 48, I am 38; he had neverа his own family, I was notа married too; he looked after his parents for many years, I besides workа have been completely occupied with the nephews. I have set to myself a question: whether I can live all life with this person? And I have understood, that I can do it withа big pleasure. In him there were just those qualities which I searched inа other men and did not find.

ааа A week later after acquaintance we have brought the application in the registry office and waited only the ending of the Great Post to get married. In the first Saturday after Easter we have celebratedа our wedding. We spentа great time. My girlfriends spoke me: " It was necessary to wait so much for years, that to find such a person. "а It was found out later,а his friendsа were saying to him about me the same.

ааа Andа so he became my husband. Family everyday life has begun. I worked on my speciality, he wasа busy with the bees. Despite of having little money we were very happy.

ааа It is unique, that has saddened our happiness -аа we have no child. I thought, that I can not give birth any more. Zaharey consoled me very much,he said: " Never mind, the main thing is that we are together. "

ааа When I become pregnant - it there was a huge pleasure for both of us. My husband became even more attentive to me. The doctor has warned, that to me it is impossible to wash floors, to breathe a detergent powder during washing, to hang up linen, etc. All this was done by my husband, without the slightest request from me. Naturally, there was no also a speech about matrimonial attitudes in time of pregnancy. Though the doctor also did not insist on such restrictions.

аааа - Whom do you want, the boy or the girl? I asked him

ааааааа - How it is possible to speak so? It"s God"s will.- He answered.

ааа Heа constantly did made{to} me fruit cocktailsа in according to his own recipes.а He did everything that I have not caught a cold and was enough strong. When in one and a half year after our wedding the girl was born, all were surprised, as far as it is healthy and the quiet child. I still keep his letters full of love which he wrote to me three times to day while I was in a maternity home. The girl christened in the same church, where we got married. The child grew. We spent almost the year round inа the village where the husband had apiary. I was busy with my child and my housekeeping. I have a vineyard, site with corn, garden withа fruittrees and so on. On Sundays we went together to church. And so all time we spent at home.Zaharey told to our daughter about the Bible, read fairy tales, sang national songs whichа he loved very much. (For some reason neither he, nor I did not respect modern music, from which we had headaches). He more often than I went to church, and spoke with priest about his sins. Earlier, till our marriage, he was fond of yoga, and now he regretted about vainly spent years and repented. We lived very friendly. Always we had a lot of visitors. Sometimesа three parties a day. It was quiet and good me with soft and loving person. We already prepared to send our girl to school, when my husband became ill and has died on st. Barbara day.

It wasа a big shock for me though I was ready to his leaving, intuitively I felt an outcome of illness. I lovedа my husband very muchа but, as strange,I had not the feeling of grumble on the God. I knew, that He takes away the person when the person is ready to this. Probably, so it was necessary.

ааааааааа At the beginning, having remained after funeral inа my empty apartment, I was in despair, did not know, how I shall live further,not having work with the 5-years child and the old woman my aunt. But presence of a daughter,а fear atа her eyes, made me to become strong.Although I am very sentimental, I almost did not cry. His leaving has switched something in my head. All 40 days in each 3 hours I read Psalms. I do not remember, that someone taught me toа do this, simply there was a requirement it to do it.

ааааааааа Every Saturday I ordered requiems.аа 40 days have quickly flown by. It was gradually adjusted our material position. Then spring has come and I had to look afterа bees, with which my husband always was busy. Springа is heavy time for me. All blossoms around. My soul blossoms too. It seems to me everything is unusuallyа spiritualized. I have a requirement to love somebody. Knowing this,а I began to ask the God daily, on morning and evening prays: "Let my soul become, as a tree. Relieve me from all these dreams, in order to I thought only of how to feed and dress my child. " I hadа fear that my heart will suddenly pull to otherа man. In factа all my life I love someone Platonically andа I felt warm from this feeling. But then I was not merried and I had not been connected by anything, and now I am a widow. Also I do not want, that someone something has told or has assumed about me. It will be a sneer above memory of my husband.а My application was executed. My soul became firm andа the whole yearа I saw of nothing around of myself. Then I was frightened of this feeling and have asked: " My God, return to me, feelings, ability to love and be pleased. " And I got everything back. But together with it I got a new problem - excessive man's attention.Though I specially do not use make-up and put on as it is possible easier in spite of it I have many official, and not official suffices. In general, I have decided not to get merried.To distinguish, what from the God, and what from a satan proceeds are very difficult. Whenа I prayed aboutа my dead husband I began to add daily: " Protect us". Andа I have felt his help. One day I began to think about one man. "Can it is necessary to me to agree? " And in the same night I saw a dream. As if my husband enters into a bedroom without speaking, breaks from my wedding dress the bud and leaves, not having looked at me. It was enough to be defined.

ааааааааа And still, that is surprising. As he has died, there was no day that I was without money.

ааааааааа I began to notice some other things. If somebody offends me, necessarily then with this person happens something unpleasent. 2 years ago I have given the arable site to one ofа my neighbour to rent. We have agreed, that he will give 30 % to me from a crop. Inа autumn, when timeа to thresh grain has come he has deceived me: he has given only one sack instead of 7. I withа onlyа told: " Unfortunate that person, who the widow and the orphan will offend ", and left. A month later his son was killed.

ааааааааа It became terrible to me. I have run to our confessor, father Zurab which crowned us, and told whatа has happened " I did not damn him."

ааааааааа - You should notа sayа these words,- He has answered me andа appointed year to pray dailyа about this guy. Certainly I have done it. Then there was theа other case, which has frightened me even more. Somehow I came back with my daughter from an apiary. My beehives standа 5 km. away from my house in a wood. The familiar tractor operator has braked: " Sit, I shall bring up. " We have sat in a cabin and have gone. The way was very bad, full of big stones. The tractor was being shaken here and there. He f has embraced me, more precisely has touched me with the ends of fingers. I have felt something at once in this movement."Stop", I speak.

аааааааааа What happened?, - heа was surprised, but he has stopped.

ааааааааааа We got off and have gone further on foot. I have no any complex with men. I always haveа many friends ( I spent 25 years on geological expeditions all over Georgia). But a difference between a friendly kiss and even an easy contact with a hint as was in this case, I catch at once. I was very angry ла If my husband would be alive ╗, I think.

аAfter a month I met him with his wife in the street. I saw his hand is tied up.а л What has happened? ╗ I asked ". He speaks, "My hand got in the machineа and аfingers hadd been cut off. ╗ Is it too concurrence? But there were some more similar cases.

And one more. One more display of favour Divine. At the end of August I have risen with the relatives on an apiary to celebrate a birthday of my husband. Gathering of honey has been already finished and all beehives already stoodа in a court yard of a house. We sat at a table, drank wine by which I did and remembered my beekeeper. Suddenly the plenty of bees whence has flied and sat on my spot. л Give more likely an empty beehive ╗, people shouted to me. I have put. It is good, that 2-3 pieces laid beside without application. Bees gradually came inside Е In one year this beehive has given some honey most than the others.

Now, looking back back and recollecting all obvious and implicit miracles, I ask the God not to lose to me, guilty, this help. What I without it? ╗ - so she has finished the involuntary confession.

6.02. 99у.

аI ASKаа NOTа FORа WEDDING

а- Well, how have youа travelled?- I askаа myаа oldа teacher afterаа herа trip to Russia.

а- Yes, thankа toа God. So all has turned out, that I and did not expect. I, as have received the telegram, that my brother"s wife was killed, my brother got in prison, and their four children are all alone, I was in shock.а There was fire inа my head. How such could happen? I have talked to my husband what to do. You know him. His character is difficult, and health not in good orderа ( one his eyeа is blind). He is not young. He is 68 year. Both we are invalids.He speaks: ╗ It is necessary to take away children ╗. We have borrowed 100 dollars and we have gone. At first by the bus, then by train, then again change. It not the joke to go from Tbilisi in Russian countryside through 10 borders ( I wonder who madeа them?) And, we go and we do not know, to what money we shall come back therefrom.At last we have arrived. My brother is in prison. My sister-in-low has already been buried. Drunks have killedа her in fight. She was only 29 years. Kingdom of heaven, eternal restа to herЕ Children intimidated, injured. My nephew is 10, other little girls 8, 6 and 3 years. It is necessary to go urgently. I have found out, that my brother before all this to happen, has earned on a farm of 2 million Russian money. I have gone to cash department. The answer is known: ╗ Money is not present. All Ivanovo area half-year did not receive neither salaries, nor pensions. ╗ I said:- Youа mustа find moneyа for me. I don"t live here!а Orphans should be taken out. I don"t ask money for wedding from you!

I do not know why I did such. comparison. Maybe the Godа has advised me. Only I see, cashiers began to whisper to each other and said me in a low voice: ╗ Come tomorrow, we shall give your money. ╗

I have come for other day, received money and have gone children to get ready for a long road. When we were leaving, we heard in the Village Soviet a great noice. All people In villageа s have learned, that I got money .The main cashier has arrived and began to scold othercashiers, what for theyа have given money. It appears, that her daughterа is going to have weddingа soon andа this sumа was hidden for her daughter. Andа whenа I toldа casually about wedding, cashiers have decided, that I know all, were very frightened and gave me money. Thoughа I do not understand in religion everything, only I heard, that the God helps orphans. I think, it is the truth Е One year ago, you know, I was dying and have survived. All my friends sayа "It is a miracle!". And now it is clear, why it happend. For the sake of these orphansа my lifeа was prolonged. All lifeа I dreamed to have the child, but I have not and now in 50 years I have receivedа two daughters at once (two others relatives have taken away). And still, you know, I am very surprised. When I wasа comingа here I thought,how I shall dress them. But my girlfriends came to me and brought bags with old clothes. There was so much thatа there is no place to put in. And now we have little money to support our two girls. ,

My husband works without the days off. The main thing, we do not live in misery. And I was very much afraid of it Е

аDo you know 3 years little Sveta namedа us Mum andа Daddy.

It happened in Septemberа in 1996.

аIt was written in:15.08.1999.