Thanks for reminding me, IXOYE ! I get distracted with so many other topics. Here are a few stories, to which I have added paragraphs and slight editing for clarity of reading :
- "Holy Hierarch Averky saved our lives.
My daughter Alla and I set out to go on a visit to our friends. On our way to Long Island, New York, my daughter speeded u to 100 miles per hour since there was no traffic [ Not too smart ! ]
I did not notice it, and we quietly talked. About halfway there we noticed the smell of burning rubber, but paid no attention and kept going. The smell increased but my daughter did not slow down. Suddenly she stopped the car and got out. I remained sitting in the front seat, crossed myself and suddenly lifted my eyes.
In front of the hood of the car, I suddenly saw Archbishop Averky standing in a gray cassock. He looked so unearthly, as if transparent, with a pleasant smile, as I had never seen him during his life life : such heavenly beauty is impossible to describe, it is only possible to depict in an icon. I never encountered anything like it in my whole life.
In this unexpected joy I even forgot that Vladyka had already left us [ had died ]. I raised m hands to get his blessing, when my daughter opened the door on my side and yelled, "Quickly, quickly, get out !" Seeing my exalted happiness, she cried, "What's the matter with you ?"
I exclaimed, "Vladyka Averky is standing here - go to get his blessing." "Where, where ?" she asked, looking at the spot to which I pointed ; but Holy Averky had disappeared and was no longer there.
When we came to the place where a lot of smelly smoke was coming from, we were shocked to see that the whole wheel had come out of its place and was standing separately next to the car ! We were petrified. Only when we took hold of ourselves and began to pray, did we understand that we had been saved from unavoidable death by Archbishop Averky, who I had just seen.
Then a mechanic arrived and, when he saw what condition our car was in, he loudly exclaimed that it was impossible to drive at such speed: "Unquestionably there occurred a miracle, for otherwise nothing would have remained of you." These were his precise words.
In our hearts there is no doubt that Holy Averky saved our lives..During his lifetime I considered him a saint, and now we pray to him, crying with gratitude : "Holy Averky, pray to God for us !"
- Zinaida Nepomniatschy, October 12, 1977 [date the account was written, which is now the Feast of the Translation of St John Maximovitch's Relics]
Notice the vast contrast with the accounts of Sri Mata Matrona's "intercession". So many of them have a little old blind woman popping up and mysteriously telling the person what to do - but always in a rather vague way. Never very specific like a true Saint who would deliver a clear message. The fact is, the fondly imagined vision of Matronushka likely was a real life babushka, not the apparition of Sri Mata which is so hoped for by the Matrona-admirer. Most of the latter seem to suffer from a severe case of Wishful Thinking.
Now look at the difference between these 2 apparent members of Rocor. The story related by the mother, Zinaida, is crisp, clear and breathtaking. To have a wheel come off and still be alive after her daughter drove so ridiculously recklessly ?
Also, pay attention to the ethereal radiance of the reposed Abp Averky [Taushev]. This is highlighted by Zinaida, who, one feels, is still reliving that experience while she records the seeming apparition of the Jordanville rector. That feels authentic to me. Whereas the Matrona Tales are usually humdrum and do not record any heavenly appearance of the blind babushka. Just normal, prosaic : could be a human [ --- and most likely is one, nothing exalted such as was described in this simple but powerful account by Zinaida N. ]
[ Now watch: the MP's narratives to bolster their fake cult of Matrona will start copying this marvelous experience recorded by a spiritual daughter of Archbishop Averky ! ]
Next installment to follow. Stay tuned, for in one of the stories, Archbishop Averky endorses the GOC [ as it was then, anyway ] !
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Dear Barbara,
Great story.
I have copied your post on Archbishop Averky ... if you post any more stories about Archbishop Averky,
please post them at http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 12&t=12623
In Christ,
Maria