Blessed-John -- Fotis Kontoglou

After Christmas had passed, St. Basil took his staff and began to visit all the villages, in order to see who would celebrate his memory with a pure heart. He visited various cities, but none of the doors that he knocked on opened, because everyone assumed he was a beggar. Thus he left saddened, not because he himself was in need, but because he was hurt by the heartlessness that these people would show to the poor.

He passed by the cemeteries as well, where he noticed the collapsed monuments, the shattered and overturned gravestones, which had been utterly abandoned. As a Saint, he heard the deceased saying: “When we were on the earth, we worked, we suffered, and we left children and grandchildren behind in order for them to light us a candle every now and then, to say a prayer for us; but we don’t even see a priest, or kolyva, or incense.

It’s as if we left no one behind”. St. Basil was hurt on account of man’s plight, and he proceeded alone through the icy snow. On New Year’s Eve, he arrived at a village, which happened to be the poorest one in the area. He found a bucket in front of the house. He tapped it with his staff and yelled: “Have mercy on a beggar, and may your kindness be for the souls of your deceased…” The dogs lunged at him, but as they came near him, they began wagging their tails, and lay down at his feet playfully and happily. The door opened and a young man named John, a shepherd, a completely innocent and unlearned soul said: “Come! Come inside. Happy New Year!”

A lamp hanging from a cradle was lighting the interior of the hut, and next to the fireplace were some mats where John’s wife was sleeping. As soon as the Saint entered and John noticed that he was a venerable elder, he took his hand and kissed it. “Your blessing Geronta,” he said, as if he knew him. The Saint replied: “May you, your entire household, and your sheep be blessed, and may the peace of God be with you.” His wife also got up and bowed before him, and she kissed his hand as he blessed her. Blessed-John added wood to the fire. The hut lit up and was transformed into a palace as a pleasing fragnance spread all around…

John went to milk the sheep. He was filled with joy knowing that he would be givihg hospitality to the little elder within his hut. As soon as he finished, he went back in and said to the Saint: “Geronta, I am so glad you are here! Would you please read the service of St. Basil. I am illiterate, but I love the letters of our faith greatly.” And so St. Basil stood, faced to the east, crossed himself, and started: “Blessed is our God…”  He read the entire Orthros service of the Circumcision, without chanting any of the hymns referring to himself. His voice was sweet and humble, and John and his wife felt great compunction.

Afterwards, he recited the entire Lyturgy, made the dismissal, and blessed them.

Blessed-John was unaware of what had happened. When he finished, they sat at the table to eat. After the meal, John’s wife brought the vasilopita.

St. Basil took the knife, he crossed the vasilopita, blessed it and cut the first piece saying “for Christ,” then “for the Panagia,” then “for the homeowner Blessed-John.”

John interjected: “Geronta, you forgot St. Basil’s piece.” The Saint replied: “O, yes. For the servant of God Basil.” Then he cut a piece for John’s wife, for the living, and for the poor. John said once more: “Elder, why didn’t you cut a piece for yourself?”

“I did blessed one,” replied the Saint; however, not even then did Blessed-John realize who the elder was. Then the Saint stood up and said the prayer: “O Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy or able for you to enter into the house of my soul…”

When he had finished this prayer, Blessed-John sighed and said: “O Elder! Since you are so lettered, tell me. Which palaces did St. Basil go to tonight, and which rulers and kings did he visit?” St. Basil teared and repeated the prayer, differently this time: “Lord my God, I know that your simple servant John is worthy and able for you to enter into his house. Because he is an infant, and Your mysteries are revealed to the infants.”

Blessed-John still remained unaware of what had taken place.