"Child Prokhor, a mournful premonition of a sea catastrophe has already hung over me. My spirit is in great anxiety – the Lord has not revealed anything to me about life and death. If you escape, then continue your journey to Asia. When you come to Ephesus, stay there for three months. If I appear during this time, then we will go together to fulfill the service. And if not, go back to Jerusalem to James, the brother of the Lord, and do what he says.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when John spoke these words.
Suddenly, a terrible wave arose on the sea. Fierce waves crushed the ship, and the sailors found themselves in the water. All forty-six people, clinging to the planks by the will of God, reached the shore unharmed. And John was carried far out to sea.
Prochorus was thrown ashore near Seleucia, and he immediately set off and in forty days reached Asia. As he passed through a seaside village called Marmaret, he looked into the distance and suddenly saw a large swell of water crashing on land and carrying a man ashore.
Prokhor hurried to help the rescued man. As soon as he got there, he saw John in amazement. Seeing each other, they embraced, weeping with joy and praising the merciful God for their salvation and help. After John finally came to his senses, he told how for forty days and nights (oh, the miracle of miracles!) protected by God's power, he had somehow held on to the waves, which taught him to obey God, to obey his will unquestioningly, and to pay no attention to the weaknesses of human thoughts.
2. From Otechnik
Blessed Epiphanius said: "God forgives even the greatest sins of repentant sinners, like the harlot and the publican, but he also demands profit from the righteous. As He said to the Apostles: "Unless your righteousness surpasses the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven" (Mt 5:20).
2. The Elder said: "God is tolerant of sins in the world, but not in the wilderness. There are many excuses for sin in the world, but the hermit has none—all of them have remained outside the wilderness. Only one thing is needed: to guard oneself and perform a feat."
Глава 13: О том, что нужно мужественно переносить уныние и скорбь, происходящие от бесов, и иметь терпение
1. Из жития святой Синклитикии
Блаженная Синклитикия говорила пришедшим к ней, что бывает печаль полезная и печаль вредная. Полезная печаль происходит от сожаления о собственных грехах и о неведении ближнего, от боязни потерять хорошее расположение, какое кто имеет, от томления при мысли о желаемых добродетелях. Эта печаль соприкасается с совершеннейшей добродетелью.
Совсем иную печаль внушает нам враг. Она преисполнена неразумия, часто называется унынием и ее следует изгонять молитвой и псалмопением, понимая, что ничего в жизни не дается без разумения и печали.
Ведь в Писании говорится: Всякая глава в болезни и всякое сердце в печаль (Ис 1, 5). Этим кратким изречением Святой Дух очертил монашескую и мирскую жизнь. Голова — образ водительского начала души. Как сказано в другом месте: У мудрого глаза его — в голове его (Еккл 2,14). В этих словах обозначен дар прозорливости. А слово «болезнь» говорит о том, что всякий росток добродетели требует тяжких трудов.