The fact of God's help from Natalia 03.11.2024

Greetings to all who are reading my testimony! I want to begin with gratitude! Greetings and a deep bow to Father Vladimir for his sermons! It was from Father Vladimir’s sermons that I learned about the importance of parental blessing! And I began to wonder how I could receive a parental blessing, since my father died when I was 14, and my mother passed away when I was 21. Only my disabled sister and I remained (she now lives in a psychiatric hospital). I realized that I needed to pray for my parents. I started with my grandmother, but praying the Akathist was difficult—urgent matters or something else would always come up during the prayer. But when I ordered a memorial service for the departed in a monastery, I was able to pray at home as well. Glory to God! I read 40 Akathists when I could, and on Saturdays. I started reading for my mother, and it was the same story, even harder. So I went to an Orthodox exhibition (which takes place in Minsk before major holidays, with many monasteries represented) and ordered a memorial service for the departed (my mother) for lifelong commemoration at a Georgian monastery! And then miracles began! I can’t describe it any other way! The woman who took the note for my mother was deeply moved and gave me gifts from her stock (a keychain, a magnet, a blessing icon for the home, and an icon of the pregnant Mother of God—a rare icon). When I laid all this out at home, my soul felt warm and bright, as if someone loving was embracing me. The next day, another miracle! As I was returning from work, a young man on the street simply took a bottle of wine out of his backpack and said, “Miss, take this, it’s for you!” At first, I refused, but he persuaded me. It turned out to be good Georgian wine! (I had ordered the memorial service for my mother at a Georgian monastery). That’s how I understood that my mother was “blessing” me for family life. But that’s not all. On February 6th, the day of remembrance of the Belarusian saint, Blessed Valentina of Minsk, I went to Mother Valentina’s grave to ask for the repose of my parents’ souls! I walked with the procession from the train to Mother Valentina’s grave and attended the prayer services! A week later, a miracle for my sister! She is in a psychiatric hospital, and the food there is not great. A volunteer named Diana, who knew my sister, organized food deliveries for her from a nearby church! Not for anyone else, but specifically for my sister, just for her. At the same time, she told my sister: “This is a gift from our Lord! Thank the Lord God!” I came to understand how important it is for our family (when parents passed away early) to pray for them. As Father Vladimir explained, if a departed soul does not inherit the Kingdom of God, it is difficult for the living to find peace in their souls and arrange a happy life. But if we pray for the departed, the Lord lifts these souls higher, and it becomes easier for the living! This is my prayer experience! I hope it will be useful to someone!