Golden hands and many gifts were given to me by the Lord. I did not use them to acquire material goods, neither money, nor glory, nor any kind of indulgence. I used them for the glory of the Lord and of His Orthodoxy.
I not only overlooked myself, but also my own, my wife, my children, and my grandchildren I wronged, according to the spirit of the world. No one has been as incapable of helping their relatives as I have been. Even though I had a name and many admirers, I never used them for my own benefit, to the point that my acquaintances and strangers wondered.
I was focused on the work I set as my purpose, and on the hard struggle for our Orthodox faith. For this reason, we have been and are being tormented in our lives. I am poor, and my children are poor as well. A hard livelihood. But, with the hope of God, everything calms down.
We go through all the grief with gratitude. I know that whatever suffering comes to us comes because we did not bow down to worship the devil, to enjoy ourselves, but we follow Him who shows us 'the narrow and afflicted way', and on this road we willingly follow.
