Saint Iakovos Tsalikes and Saint Seraphim of Sarov in the Land of the Meek

By Konstantinos Sympouras

There was a time when I was reading and reading, and I had not yet given up my intellectualism on spiritual matters.

One day the Holy Elder Iakovos Tsalikes said to me:

“When you read something in the scriptures, you should never try to understand what it means! Not everything is captured. You will understand all you can, and you will move on until God gives you to see and understand something more.”

And then he described to me one of his visits to Paradise.

"You see, I didn't understand what is said in the Beatitudes: 'Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.' And I left it to God. And one day I find myself in a wonderful meadow with colorful fragrant flowers. I was with Saint Seraphim of Sarov. And he said to me:
 

'Let's go, Father Iakovos!'

And I answered him:
 

'Where shall we go, Father Seraphim? We will step on and ruin the flowers!'

And he said to me:
 

'Father Iakovos, these flowers are incorruptible, they do not ruin! Go without fear! Here is the Land of the Meek! And today I will show you around.'"

God is wondrous in His saints!

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.