1. ABOUT THE ATTACK IN THE THEATER.

One night, rising from his bed, he began to pray like one who said: "At midnight I arose to praise Thee for Thy righteous judgments." Then, filled with envy of him, the treacherous devil appeared and began to knock with a terrible crash at the door of the room in which the young man lived. And so, seized with fear, he abandoned his prayer and threw himself on the bed, hiding under his goat's cloak. When Satan saw this, he rejoiced, and said to someone like himself, "Look at that celeb-eater! [1] And he is arming himself against us!" He said this and disappeared. After this, the blessed youth, falling into a deep sleep, saw that he was in a theater, and on one side before him was a multitude of white-clad and other plausible people, and on the other side an innumerable crowd of black Ethiopians. [3] And between the two sides there is a contest of running and wrestling. For there was a dark-skinned man of great magnitude among the Ethiopians, and they wanted the white-clad to flee and fight him, for he was the head of Satan's legion. And while the blessed one was standing there and listening, suddenly a most beautiful youth came down from above, holding in his hand three crowns: and one was adorned with pure gold and precious stones, another with many pearls, and the third woven from all kinds of roses, and lilies, and plants of paradise, so that it did not fade. And such a fragrance emanated from him, which the human mind cannot express. And so, seeing them, the blessed one rejoiced and wished to know how he could receive one of those crowns. And approaching the handsome youth, he said to him: "Tell me, for Christ's sake, for how much do you sell them? Even if I cannot buy them at once, I will run and inform my lord, and you will get from him as much gold as you want." Then the young man, smiling at him, said: -- "Believe me, O dear friend, that if you were to bring me the gold of the whole world, I would not give one of these flowers to you, nor to anyone else, nor to anyone else who is called your master, for they are not of this vain world, as you thought, but of the treasures of heaven, with which those who overcome these Ethiopians are crowned. Therefore, if you want to receive one of these wreaths, go forward and smite this Ethiopian, black as soot, and if you defeat him, not only these, but also others that you will, you will receive from me." Hearing this, Blessed Andrew was inspired and said to him: "My lord, believe that I will fulfill what you have said to me, only tell me about their tricks." And he answered: "The Ethiopians, although impudent, are cowardly and impotent. Therefore do not be afraid of his great appearance, for like a vegetable he is rotten and weak." With these words, anointing him and grappling with him as if in a struggle, he taught him how to stand against the Ethiopian. And he said to him: "When he lifts you up, do not be afraid, but clasp with him in the form of a cross, and you will see the glory of God." Then Andrew came out and shouted loudly: "Here, black man, let's fight with you!" And the Ethiopian approached and, grinning, seized him, but Andrew, grappling with him in the form of a cross, threw him to the ground, so that he lay silently. Then great joy happened among those dressed in white, and they lifted him up in their arms and began to kiss him, anointing him with spiritual incense. And when the crowd of Ethiopians disappeared with great shame, that glorious youth appeared, presented Blessed Andrew with precious wreaths and, kissing him, said: "From now on you are our friend and brother; wherefore flee naked in this beautiful race, become a fool for my sake, and I will make thee a partaker of many good things in my kingdom." Waking up, the blessed one was amazed at what he saw.

And when morning comes, he comes to me, unworthy, and confides his vision to me. When I heard him, I was amazed, for the fragrance from him came invisibly, as if from the most precious world. And when we had thought it over, we decided that he would make a mockery of himself, like a demon-possessed and madman for the sake of him who said, "Become a fool for my sake, and you will taste many good things in my kingdom." Otherwise, he could not leave his earthly master.

2. ON MENTAL DISORDERS.

The next night, rising at midnight, he prayed. At the end of the prayer, he took a knife, went to the well of water, and, taking off his tunic, began to chop it into small pieces, like a sleepwalker, uttering in confusion some words with incoherent sounds, like the insane. The cook, waking up and thinking that it was time for morning, went out to get water, but when he saw what had happened, he released the jug and shouted to those in the house: "Andrew is mad: he is sitting near the well, having completely torn his tunic." Hearing this, his master was greatly saddened. He got up and went out with his wife and all the household. They saw the maddened man and began to weep loudly and bitterly weep over him, accepting as truth everything that he had done. His master, in great sorrow over what had happened to Andrew, sent him to the sacred church of the holy and glorious Martyress Anastasia, which had been built by the pious Leo Makel, and ordered that he be chained, sending a great deal of money to the sacristan for Andrew's treatment.

All day long the righteous man behaved and talked like a real madman, but at night, left alone, he lamented, praying and calling upon the martyress of Christ to appear to him, if she pleased the work he had begun. Looking at the others, they approach Andrew. Then the elder jokingly said to the most brilliant of women: "Lady Anastasia, will you not heal him?" And she answered: "His teacher has already visited him, and he no longer needs any treatment, for he who said to him: 'Become a fool for My sake, and I will commune you with many good things in My kingdom,' has healed him, and he has no need of any other healing, but he will become for the Lord a chosen instrument, holy and beloved in spirit." The Elder said: "I also know, my lady, I know." After saying this and kissing him as a sign of God's love, they went inside the temple to pray. And the saint, amazed at what he had seen, glorified God and the holy Martyress Anastasia, who hastened to his aid.

3. ABOUT THE ATTACK OF THE DEVIL.

After sitting all that day in chains, he ate nothing. And with the onset of night, when he lifted up prayers in his heart to God and to the holy martyress, at midnight the devil appeared before him in the form of an Ethiopian with a multitude of demons holding axes in their hands, and some had daggers, others wooden clubs, others long and wide blades, and still others ropes. Then the Ethiopian, gnashing his teeth loudly, rushed to the righteous man in order to stab him with a dagger, and in the same way those who were with him all together advanced against him. And Blessed Andrew stretched out his hands and with tears cried out to God: "Lord, do not give to wild beasts the soul devoted to Thee." And then he added: "O Saint John, Apostle and Theologian, help me." And immediately there was a sound, as if from a crowd, and lo and behold, there appeared an old man with a high brow and large eyes, his face like the sun, and with him a great multitude of people. Having inscribed the sign of the cross in the air, he said to those who were with him: "Lock the gates, so that none of them may escape." They, quickly fulfilling the order, imprisoned them all. Then, finding themselves in prison, they began to cry out to one another: "Woe to us for the hour when we were led astray: for John is severe and will punish us severely." And as soon as the venerable elder commanded his companions, they threw off the chain from the neck of Blessed Andrew, and taking it, he stood outside the gate and said: "Bring them to me one by one." Then they brought the first one and sprawled it on the ground, and Andrew measured him a hundred blows. After that, having spread the other, he whipped him after the example of the first, and treated all the others with the same mercilessness. When Blessed Andrew heard the murmuring of the demons, laughter took possession of him, for truly he had thus whipped them and given them such a thrashing that nature cannot endure. And those who scourge demons cried out, "Go and show your father Satan, if it pleases him."

After all the Ethiopians had disappeared, the venerable elder came to the servant of God and, throwing a chain around his neck, said: "See how I hastened to help you, because my concern for you is great: for the Lord Himself has commanded me to take care of your salvation, Who cares and gives all people what they need. Therefore be strong, that you may be tried in all things: soon you too will be free to go of your own free will, wherever your eyes please." The blessed one said to him: "Who are you, O lord? Answer me, for I do not know." And he said: "I am John, reclining on the pure and life-giving breast of our Lord Jesus Christ." And having said this, like lightning, he disappeared from Andrew's eyes. And the blessed one was amazed at this and began to glorify God, that in this way he became his helper in trials and delivered him from the dark spirits that had risen up against him. And he said: "Lord Jesus Christ, great and incomparable is Thy power, that Thou wilt show mercy to me, insignificant; keep me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness, and vouchsafe me to receive grace from Thee, O Most Merciful Lord."

4. Пока он так молился, наступила ночь...

Пока он так молился, наступила ночь. И, забывшись ненадолго, видит он во сне, будто находится в царском дворце и его, пребывающего там, зовет царь и говорит ему:"Хочешь ли служить мне всей душою, и я сделаю тебя одним из славнейших людей моего царства?"И ответствовал ему блаженный:"Кто же отказывается от добра? И я очень хочу этого". Царь сказал:"Что же, если ты хочешь, попробуй вкус моего царства". И с этими словами дал ему некое подобие снега, и Андрей принял его и съел. И было это сладко и приятно, что ум человеческий представить не может. Отведав же, попросил он, чтобы дали ему еще, и сказал:"В том, что я ем, мне кажется, заключено божественное миро". И он снова дает ему что‑то, на вид как будто из айвы, и говорит:"Возьми и съешь", И вот Андрей взял и съел. А было оно острым и горьким более, нежели полынь, и, словно отчаявшись, Андрей позабыл даже вкус первого. Тогда царь увидел, что он удручен, и говорит:"Смотри, как невыносима для тебя горечь вкуса, а ведь я дал тебе познание совершенного служения мне, ибо таков тесный и мучительный путь, ведущий к жизни". Блаженный ответил:"Горек этот вкус, о господин, и никто не может, вкушая это, служить тебе". Царь спросил его:"Ты познал горькое и забыл сладкое? Разве я не дал тебе сначала сладкое и потом горькое?"Тот же ответил:"Да, господин, но лишь в одном горьком, ты сказал, — образ тесного пути". Царь говорит:"Нет, вовсе нет, но посреди горького и сладкого пролегает сей путь: в горьком приоткрывается вкус борений и трудов ради меня, в более сладком же и приятном — отрада, и отдохновение и утешение от доброты моей испытуемым ради меня. Ведь ни кое не является единообразным, ни сладкое однородным, но, то другое, они взаимно приемлют друг от друга. Итак, если ешь, сообщи мне, чтобы я знал". А блаженный Андрей сказал: корми меня снова тем же самым, и я отвечу тебе". И тот опять дал ему горькое и затем сладкое. И тогда Андрей горестно сказал:"Я не могу служить тебе, вкушая сие". Царь же, улыбнувшись, достает из‑за пазухи что‑то на вид огненное, но весьма благоуханное и цветоносное. И говорит мне:"Прими и вкуси, чтобы забыть все, что ты видел и слышал". Тот же взял и съел. И на многие часы погрузился он в восторженное состояние из‑за наслаждения того и удовольствия. Но придя в себя, бросился в ноги великому этому царю и стал просить его такими словами:"Помилуй меня, добрый господин, и не лишай права служить тебе отныне, ибо я узнал, что это и есть воистину наисладчайшее". Говорит ему царь:"Поверь, что среди принадлежащих мне благ это — самое скромное. Но если ты будешь служить мне, все Мое станет твоим и я сделаю тебя сонаследником в царстве моем". Проснувшись, блаженный был изумлен и пытался сохранить в сердце своем все виденное.

5. ОБ ОСВОБОЖДЕНИИ СВЯТОГО.

И вот после того как Андрей провел в храме святой мученицы Анастасии около четырех месяцев духовенство церкви, увидев, что он не излечивается, но еще хуже страдает, извещает о случившемся с ним его господина. А господин, услыхав об этом, отказался от него как от помешанного и приказал вызволить его из цепей и отпустить на свободу. И с тех пор он творил глум, бегая по городской площади, по примеру издавна известного и достойного удивления Симеона.

С наступлением вечера он пришел ко мне, недостойному, когда я находясь один, спал в своей комнате, и, едва улыбнувшись, начал орошать слезами свое драгоценное лицо. Надолго обнявшись и поцеловав друг друга, мы сели. Тогда я расспросил его, как он оказался в оковах и был затем освобожден. И Андрей смиренно поведал мне все: ведь мне одному, о преданнейшие братья, он все рассказывал прямо и без уловок, остальным же являл признаки душевного расстройства.