By St. Paisios the Athonite
Near Karyes [the capital of the Holy Mountain], two Romanians lived in asceticism in a cell.
One of them had once become seriously ill and the other, unfortunately, was tired of ministering to him. That is why he constantly begged Saint Panteleimon either to heal the sick ascetic quickly or to take him from this life, in order to get rid of the little effort he made ministering to the sick ascetic.
So one day, while he was begging Saint Panteleimon again, the Saint appeared to him and said to him:
"What are you asking for? You are naked when it comes to the virtues, but from caring for your brother you will get a small reward from God."
These words of Saint Panteleimon shocked the ministering brother. Since then, he ministered to his sick fellow ascetic with great eagerness and begged God to give him many years to live, so that he would be able to continue to minister to him in his old age.
One of them had once become seriously ill and the other, unfortunately, was tired of ministering to him. That is why he constantly begged Saint Panteleimon either to heal the sick ascetic quickly or to take him from this life, in order to get rid of the little effort he made ministering to the sick ascetic.
So one day, while he was begging Saint Panteleimon again, the Saint appeared to him and said to him:
"What are you asking for? You are naked when it comes to the virtues, but from caring for your brother you will get a small reward from God."
These words of Saint Panteleimon shocked the ministering brother. Since then, he ministered to his sick fellow ascetic with great eagerness and begged God to give him many years to live, so that he would be able to continue to minister to him in his old age.
- From the book Athonite Fathers and Athonite Matters.
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