A Pascha Miracle

From the Athonite Gerontikon

On the day of Pascha in 1935 the abbot of Saint Paul's Monastery on Mount Athos, Archimandrite Seraphim, and all sixty fathers of the cenobium came out into thecourtyard to celebrate the Liturgy of the Resurrection.

In a joyful mood and full of enthusiasm after the "Christ is risen!" was proclaimed, theabbot said to one of the simple fathers, "Elder Thomas, go where the relics of the fathersare kept and tell them that Christ is risen."

"Let it be blessed, Geronda," he replied, and without a second thought quickly went to thecrypt where the bones were kept.

"Fathers, I was sent by the abbot to say to you 'Christ is risen!'" he cried out in a loudvoice.

Then something awesome happened. The bones creaked and jumped. One skull rose up ametre high and answered Father Thomas' proclamation:

"Indeed He is risen!"

There was dead silence after that. The elder rushed back to tell all that he had seen andheard. For the fathers of the monastery that was truly a unique Pascha, and praising therisen Lord and Master of life, they chanted with joy:

"Angels are praising your Resurrection in heaven, O Lord! Make us who live on earth topraise you with cleansed hearts!"

The ever memorable elder Theodosios, the monastery's late librarian, would often tell thestory of this event.