Five years ago I was in the service of my Fatherland in Corinth, being the head of one of the gymnasiums. And then one day I happened to meet my old friend, the Jew Isaac M.

-Isaac!

-Nicholas! - At the same time, our greetings sounded, expressing the unexpected joy of this meeting. Isaac came from Epirus3 and was one of the most gifted Israelites, who was fluent in both classical Hebrew and Greek. At one time he graduated from the gymnasium in Ioannina4. We became friends in 1872. Issac was then studying at Haskiou5, studying Jewish philosophy and Torah6, while I was studying theology at the Theological Institute in Halk. During the school careers of those golden years of our youth, we met frequently at Galata and were happy in spite of our differences in religious disputes. We were hot then, and youthful ardor prevented us from finding the Truth. Isaac was especially fanatical under the influence of the rabbis. For him, the Talmud and the Jewish tradition were higher than the Torah. Without the Talmud, the Torah, in his opinion, had no value. That's how he was taught and how he believed. He did not want to hear anything about the Savior of the World, about the Joy and Hope of Israel, about Yeshua Gamashiach.7

"Stop it, Nikolai! - he said to me, - the Talmud cannot be mistaken." But in spite of all his rigorism, Isaac had the kindest heart and, when he forgot the Talmud, was his best friend. Sometimes, complaining about his excessive fanaticism, he, as if repenting, said to me: "What will happen? As you can see, I am bound. That's how I was taught. As a person, I love you as a friend and compatriot. As a Jew, I shun you as a Christian."

And he was right! This is how I read in the Talmud and reasoned like this. He suffered like a blind man, not having the happiness to see and recognize the Sun of Righteousness. I have never heard the lofty words from the Gospel of Matthew: "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you." However, he had zeal for God, but not for reasoning. Blindness and ignorance were allowed (as, incidentally, each of his kinsmen) proclaims by the divine Apostle Paul. Paul: "Hardening has taken place in Israel in part, until the full number of the Gentiles shall come in." (Romans 11:25.) Such was my friend Isaac...

On that unforgettable day of our meeting in Corinth, Isaac told me about his life, how he was now a rabbi in one of the synagogues in Constantinople, and was on his way to his homeland to meet his parents. And that, having fallen ill on the way, he decided to interrupt the journey until he recovered, and was now busy looking for a comfortable hotel.

"You offend me, Isaac," I said to him. "You have an old friend here!" Why look for a hotel, especially when you are sick! It is a great joy for me to invite you to my home, where you can find comfort and heal until you are completely cured.

"I didn't want to bother you," he replied, apologizing, and accepted my invitation.

I did my best to alleviate his suffering, following the example of the Good Samaritan in the touching parable told by the Lord in the Gospel (Luke 10:33). He took care of him according to the commandment, and from that day Isaac's health began to improve.

Chapter IX of the Prophet Isaiah. About El Gibor

It was the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ. Isaac had already recovered completely, and was preparing to leave the next day. According to our family tradition, we read the Bible every day, and on that day fell the reading of the 9th chapter of the prophet Isaiah. Isaac asked permission to participate and read the prophet's words in Hebrew and then in Greek with commentary. We agreed with joy. Our friend, taking the Hebrew text, began reading the 9th chapter of Isaiah. "Gesa-ya-he, ki yeled yulad lanu ben nitan lanu watechi khamisra alshihmo vayikra shemo pele yoetz El-Gibor avi ad sar Shalom," and he himself translated it into Greek. (Of course, we are in Russian.):

"For unto us a child is born; The Son is given to us; His dominion is upon His shoulders, and they shall call His Name the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Father of the Age to come, the Ruler of the World."

-Strangely! Isaac said, finishing the translation of this passage from the Hebrew text. - What infant does the prophet testify to here? And what is the reason that you are reading this chapter today?