Two monks are walking in silence along the river. Walking for quite some time, they happen upon an old lady struggling to cross the river. The one monk quickly grabs her and her luggage and carry’s her across, and hurry’s back to his brother. They continue in silence along the river. After a few hours pass, as the sun is beginning to dip into the sky, the other monk full of vitriol speaks. “What you have done is a sin, you know our rule of not associating with women, you have broken the vows you made before God, what do you have to say for yourself.” The other monk responds “I picked that woman up by the river and carried her across, and left her there, you my brother have been carrying her ever since.”
I read a lovely Russian Orthodox tale one time. There were seven monks who lived in the deepest woods and whose only Liturgy, as they were all illiterate was to sat the Jesus Prayer. 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner' Now their Bishop hearing of them decided to pay a visit by boat downvthe River. When he found they only knew the one prayer he was horrified and decided to at least teach them all the Our Father . But no matter how hard they tried the seven monks kept forgetting. Filled with great disgust the Vishop severely rebuked them and set sail in the river boat once again. But as he went along in the boat he heard shouts from behind. It was the seven monks running on top of the water, begging the Bishop to teach them once again.
You're welcome. I only found out a while back that Saint Seraphim the Russian Monk from the 19th century who had a bear as a good friend is also recognised as a Saint by the Catholic Church. Anyone who has a wild bear as a friend is a friend of mine. Saint Seraphim of Sarov, pray for us The bear was called, 'Misha'. https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2021/07/18/st-seraphim-of-sarov-and-the-bear-misha/
