Most people who pick up the Holy Scriptures for the first time are filled with a kind of preconceived feeling that it is about something lofty, majestic and incomprehensible to the common man. And suddenly... it turns out that the Holy Scriptures are the truth as close as possible to modern life, where through the description of events and people, many people reveal their own character traits, weaknesses and sins. The sorrows and sufferings of ancient people seem to be very close, and the struggle with the enemy of the human race, the devil, and the hope in this struggle for God's help appear quite modern.

For many people, the life of a priest, his family, children, relatives and friends is presented in approximately the same way. Seeing the priest at the services, spiritualized, in beautiful vestments, it seems that he has a special grace outside the walls of the church. Life passes solemnly, cloudless and is devoid of many difficulties. But this is absolutely not true.

It turns out that the life of a priest is tense, complex, and in many cases more responsible than that of ordinary laypeople. A priest has a special responsibility before God for his ministry. To whom much is given, much will be asked. Moral responsibility to society is also great, since he is always in sight, his family and children are in sight. The place of work is a temple, where every thing is sacred. Both parishioners and spiritual children thirst for the love and wise advice of their pastor.

The book by Natalia Nikolaevna Sokolova is an autobiographical narrative that reveals the family and everyday side of the life of the clergyman's family and, as it were, brings down the eyes of ordinary laypeople, showing that not everything is so simple and smooth on the life path of the ministers of the Church.

On September 8, 1925, a girl was born in the pious family of a chemist, who was given the name Natalia. How many events and trials awaited her ahead?..

The first years of Soviet power, ideology alien to the Russian spirit, repressions, persecution of the Church, war, post-war church life "under the hood" of the special services, etc. It is unbearably difficult, especially for an Orthodox person, but God can do anything... "Ask, and it shall be given you" (Matt. 7:7).

Through the events described in the book, one very important idea can be traced: nothing happens in life just like that, by chance, by coincidence. God's Providence is visible in everything. Much is done through prayers, the invisible hand of the Lord directs and protects His child.

The main part of Natalia Nikolaevna's life passes in the family: a child, a school student, a university student, the wife of a priest - a matushka, a mother of five children and a grandmother of fourteen grandchildren. The book describes the family environment in which children grew up, who remained faithful to God from an early age and chose a life path of service to the Lord. All the sons became clergymen: one in the rank of bishop, the other two in the rank of archpriest, two daughters lead the church choirs.

The author reveals the joyful and sorrowful sides of family life, the perception of unexpected circumstances and trials, as well as the attitude to life and death, to illness and infirmity, to Orthodox people and non-believers, to beggars and criminals are shown in a very interesting way.

The breadth and versatility of views is undoubtedly useful for the reader, especially those who have recently turned to faith in God, and are useful not as an instruction or edification, but as an example of the life of an Orthodox family.

The future originates in the past. Matushka Natalia and her husband, the late Father Vladimir, did everything to have such a future, for the fruits of their unceasing prayerful life in Christ are evident. This involuntarily makes the reader think about the fruits of his life...

The book is written in a colloquial and narrative form, it is easy to read, exciting, with empathy. And most importantly, each reader can get interesting and spiritually useful information for himself.

L. Y.

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