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The Legend of Peresvet/Chapter One: Songs of the Shorebirds

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Chapter One:
Songs of the Shorebirds

Matters from long ago,

Tales from ancient times…

A.S.Pushkin

Ancient Knowledge shall appear again!

Love will once again be the basis for life!

With the power of repentance,
pain will be washed away!

Goodness and peace will prevail!

Peresvet

Peresvet, who was named Alexander after taking his vows as a monk, was standing on the river bank at dawn.

The beauty of spring was all around!

A gentle mist rose on this wonderful, windless morning…

His thoughts were full of light and joy:

“How fine is this expanse, this natural beauty!

“Divine Bliss is everywhere, in every drop of mist!

“In every blade of grass, there is the Love of God!

“You can feel the streams of Bliss! They flow like the mist now, gently and softly shimmering in the rays of the rising sun.

“The Grace of God is inside the spiritual heart and around — as far as the eye can see… And on, and on…

“God is Omnipresent! On sunrises like this, it is so easy to experience this in the transparent breath of life of dawn, which pulsates everywhere and manifests itself in everything! One just needs to quiet oneself and become attentive! And then the marvelous and wondrous is revealed by God to the soul!”

From the flooded meadows, came the voices of great shorebirds, which are also called steppe waders. These birds are the biggest of waders, about the size of large chickens, with long, thin beaks bent downward. Here, in the river floodplain, they joyfully lek in the spring. Their resounding voices, tinkling calls and gurgling trills fill the clear air, coming from the huge flood meadow next to the monastery.

And other spring songs of birds filled the transparency of the morning.

… Peresvet was no longer young. A long life as a warrior-hero preceded the taking of monastic vows.

Almost half a century had passed since his birth in a noble boyar family.

His thoughts flowed smoothly:

“Yes, I have lived many summers, I have met many winters…

“… In former times, listening to such trills of the waders, I would have thought of a successful hunt…

“Why did I not admire their songs before? On the contrary, I was ready to cut off this marvelous music of life!

“Why is it that good thinking does not often arise in man by itself? Why does not caring arise naturally and clearly from the love of the heart?

“Why do men make war and take revenge on one another, attempt to occupy each other’s lands, or seek to subjugate others to collect tribute and taxes?

“Why can’t people live in peace — amidst this beauty of God’s Creation? Where is hidden the evil beast in man? Where is hidden the spark of God that will warm the heart and not allow hardness to enter?”

His thoughts were interrupted by the monk named Yegor. The skinny youth who wanted to become an iconographer… His main dream was to see the Divine Images with the soul so that he could learn the art of creating icons and learn to portray the Faces of the Purest Ones. Many people in the monastery thought that Peresvet already had this skill, even though he told almost no one of his visions.

Yegor loved conversations with Peresvet and loved to be together in silence or when doing monastic obedience or other related work.

Often Yegor asked Peresvet to tell about his life in the outside world, about his military past. Many young people dream about heroic deeds and valor. And not only in the spiritual field but also in earthly life, many people would like to become significant.

And Yegor himself was born during a lean year, growing up sickly and weak… He came to the monastery because of poverty in his family. He did not want to be a burden to his father and mother, taking a share of bread that could have otherwise been given to his brothers and sisters… And when, in the light of the candles, he first saw the icon in the temple — it was as if a feeling of the unknown world of the Highest, flared in the soul! The presence of God invisibly touched his heart.

Peresvet helped Yegor, God willing, to improve his health. Every morning he poured cold water from the river over Yegor’s body. And his body became healthier.

… Now, Peresvet was waiting for Yegor. And together they went to the river. The water was cold, the ice had only recently disappeared. But Peresvet suggested to bathe.

He took off his clothes, went into the burning cold of the transparent water, submerged, swam like this for a few meters, came up and looked at Yegor.

Yegor overcame his fear — and also went into the water. He dove into the water, breathed heavily — and began to shine with joy! He quickly got to the shore.

After the bath, they started carrying water for monastic needs. Many times they went up the hill with full buckets.

Yegor warmed up and his skin colored.

After finishing the task, they sat down on a hill to have a rest.

Yegor asked:

“How did you know that you can be cured by water?”

“Well, people have always known about this. After all, people make different extracts and water is often blessed…”

“But what about this cold water? How did you know about pouring it on ourselves and bathing in it?”

“This has been known by people since time immemorial. And I have experienced it myself when, in my youth, I almost died from wounds and it took a long time for my body to regain its former strength. Now you know it too, and you can help others.”

“Please, tell me more”, — Yegor asked reverently.

“Later! Come with me to chop wood! I’ll tell you while we’re resting. And now — it’s time to pray!…”