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Indeed, this question is interesting, because it’s not enough, two or three, I want to understand exactly how many icons should be in your house, why some don’t have them at all, while others have an extensive iconostasis? What is the minimum quantity and is there a limit?

Let's try to consider this issue from different angles. After a long period of godlessness, which ended with the retirement of Soviet power, the persecution of the Church, of believers, ended, a completely natural need arose for churching, for spiritual salvation, and people sought help in churches. But, as before, in tsarist times, so today, there is a need not only to visit the temple, where there is a collection of Holy Images and there is an opportunity to pray, but also to pray at home, in front of their icons, therefore, in many Christian dwellings appear, including and old wooden icons inherited from relatives, or even acquired recently.

How do icons appear in your house today?

In different ways! Some of them have been with you for a long time, others were purchased, others were presented to you, and all of them together today make up your home iconostasis, if collected in one place.

As a rule, the “backbone” of home icons is of the same type - these are the Images of the Mother of God and the Savior, but many are not limited to them and have many other icons in their prayer place. By the way, if you study this issue in more detail, it turns out that many home icons are made on paper, cardboard, and so on, that is, these are inexpensive and very easy-to-make Images that anyone can afford.

Why two and not ten? Why ten and not two?

There is no answer that would recommend with mathematical accuracy the number of icons in the house. This is due to the fact that the Church does not limit the number of home Images and their number is due to the real need of the believer himself, how can one generally regulate the process of the movement of the soul?

However, there are some examples when it turns out what should be done by a person who has icons in large quantities. An icon is not an interior item (although, for example, ancient icons themselves are very beautiful and decorate our home), but an object through which people can turn to God, to heavenly patrons. And if you have at least one icon, you should pay attention to it, which consists in reading prayers, preferably in everyday life.

It turns out that the aimless "cramming" of the house with icons is meaningless from the point of view of their need, help, demand.

It is not worth collecting icons aimlessly and storing them, this is not true. Each Image you acquire must be acquired meaningfully, with a purpose. Buying an icon today is not so difficult, but you need to understand that this is your spiritual responsibility, which you take on!

Often a home iconostasis contains icons of not one person, but several, that is, it is a real family iconostasis, which means that there will be more icons in it, right? And each of them must be embraced by your faith.

Opinions vary, which one is correct?

Opinions on the quantitative indicator vary greatly. As a rule, believers themselves, the owners of icons, talk about this. One believes that it makes no sense to have many Images, the other is sure of the opposite: the more the better, he says. But what do the clergy think about this?

Let us quote here the words of the righteous John of Kronstadt: “Each Christian house represents an infinitely great house - the universe, heaven and earth, in which the Lord dwells. Therefore, in every Christian home you see images of the Savior and the Mother of God, listening to the prayers of those living in the house and resorting to them ... The icons of the Savior in every Orthodox house depict His omnipresence, His dominion in every place, and the images of the saints - the co-presence or proximity to us of the saints by grace of God as members of a single body of the Church, united under a single Head - Christ ”(John of Kronstadt, righteous. My life in Christ. M., 2002. S. 674, 724).

It turns out that icons should be in every house, and even the necessary set is indicated. But is it possible, and most importantly, is it then necessary to have other Holy Things in the house?

Here is what Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers this question: “... If there are many shrines in the house, a lamp is lit, prayers are performed (in the morning, in the evening, before and after meals), family relationships are built on the principles of Christian love, there are no quarrels and disputes , then the spiritual atmosphere is cleansed and sanctified. Dark spirits are uncomfortable in such an apartment, and they leave it. When you enter a prayer house, you immediately feel it.” (orthodoxy.ru)

Date of publication or update 22.07.2017

What to do if failures in life follow one after another? When you get the impression that clouds are gathering overhead, and in the near future there is no light, no hope for a transition to the better?

People fall into despair and begin to look for a way out of a difficult life situation, and here at some point you can stumble upon an offer buy a prayed icon, which will help protect oneself from rash acts, introduce the necessary wisdom into spontaneously made decisions that will save a person from many troubles.

Why do people buy prayed icons

It's no secret that any undertaking, implemented with prayer or blessing, argues and goes like clockwork, while things without God's help are done hard, with a creak, regularly bumping into new problems that sometimes arise from scratch.

A person, based on his capabilities, can do great things, but sooner or later he is faced with the fact that he becomes completely powerless before solving a task that seems to him absolutely insignificant. This happens because he lives and builds his affairs without God. Whoever seeks help from the Lord sincerely, with an open heart, surely finds it.

However, you need to understand that you should not take on faith everything that is presented as absolute truth.

Offer to buy a praying icon similar to the offer of paid services for "remote ordering of worship".

There are enough people who, in search of the best priest or the best monastery, traveled many holy places, but never found their ideal that exists only in their heads.

Here it is with the purchase prayed icon people expect to bring a miracle into their lives, some amazing events.

What the priests say about praying icons

As Archpriest Andrey Marchenko absolutely correctly asserts, prayer icons do not exist(original - http://ruvera.ru/articles/protoiereiy_andreiy_marchenko_namolennyh_ikon_ne_sushestvuet):

It often happens that if a believer prays and his petition is granted, then he associates this with an icon. Such an icon is called “prayed”, legends are composed about them, in order to bow to them, they travel thousands of kilometers.

In fact, there is no such thing!

Prayer icons do not exist .

Creating a pilgrimage fuss around old icons is a New Believer way of enrichment .

The exception is icons glorified by miracles performed through them.

For example, the icons of the Virgin: " Vladimirskaya"," Smolenskaya", "Kazan", "Feodorovskaya" and others. I mean originals. Their reverence has always been special.

The 7th Ecumenical Council commanded Orthodox Christians to worship any icon that was made in a proper way, even new, even if it was written a long time ago.

Of course, it is more pleasant to handle a church thing that has a history, it emotionally disposes to prayer, although in fact believers do not pray to icons, but to those depicted on them. The icon is only a conductor of divine grace.

If the icons were strong in themselves, then the famous miraculous “Kazan” icon of the Mother of God could protect itself (it was stolen, the icon’s precious salary was torn off and sold, and the icon itself was burned in a furnace).

An icon is just an image. They pray to the prototype, that is, to the one depicted on the icon.

The icon is secondary, and it is not even very important which one it is.

In general, old icons that have completely fallen apart are burned in an oven during chrismation (chrism is used for baptism).

O. Amphian: We evade...

Therefore, any offer to buy an icon prayed by a certain character with a supposedly glorious history is nothing more than manipulation. Indeed, when difficult life situations arise, it is sometimes difficult to find the right solution; thoughts are confused, it is impossible to concentrate, or vice versa, to calm down and relax. And here it is quite possible to make a reckless, erroneous decision, which attracts with its simplicity and ease of execution - ordered, paid for and received something, a miracle in the package, thanks to which life will have to change for the better in an instant.

Prayed icons - a real example

For example, on the ikona.red website, it is offered to buy an icon prayed by Marfa Ivanovna, who has been helping everyone who turns to her for many years, and who, due to her age, can no longer, as before, receive the needy at home. Despite health problems and venerable age, Marfa Ivanovna continues to help everyone who is at an impasse in life and cannot find a way out, solve their family or financial problems.

Everything is written smoothly and smoothly. However, as soon as you delve more consciously into reading the text, you involuntarily begin to ask questions.

For example, if you indicated the name and patronymic - Marfa Ivanovna - why not indicate the surname? Motivated by the fact that he does not accept due to old age - the argument itself is not convincing. It is strange to assume that even if the exact address and time of the reception had been published, after that a queue would have lined up near the house of Marfa Ivanovna.

It is clear that Marfa Ivanovna herself is not engaged in the sale of icons. Then who is he, this mysterious seller of prayed icons? Relative? Or just wanting to help? Why is complete anonymity maintained?

It is proposed to leave all requests for help on the site, which means that its owner personally transmits these requests to Marfa Ivanovna. Or through whom? How does this happen?

Where, in what church does Marfa Ivanovna paint icons? Or at home? Who exactly is responsible for the subsequent shipment? Who are all these people, why is there not a word about them, not even a name?

Why such secrecy?

Prayed icons - think seven times before you buy

Before recklessly buying the so-called. prayed icon, we recommend that you ask the priest, the rector of the nearest church or monastery, how appropriate it is to sell prayed icons as some kind of wonderful talismans that admonish, help, save from troubles, have a beneficial effect on work and family life.

If you decide to buy an icon, go to the nearest temple and buy it.

And go to the temple, and help the same temple with your ruble.

To purchase “prayed icons” through the Internet, allegedly filled with miraculous work, as well as to “remotely order worship” is self-deception.

When it seems to us that we are completely unable to cope with problems, we stand in front of the icons and ask God for protection. And praying icons are called miraculous for a reason. They truly work wonders.

Even the most staunch atheists think of heaven when they have no other protection. Because the Lord protects and loves all of us. So say those who are close to God. The trials sent down to us are only meant to strengthen our faith. Turning for support to, to the Mother of God, to Christ and to the Most High himself, you can cope with any difficulty. Remember that family problems, financial difficulties, and housing issues are all worldly troubles, albeit very important ones. So, with a strong faith in God, all of them can be overcome. As the Gospel of Matthew says: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

The power of miraculous icons

Marfa Ivanovna tells us. This elderly woman lived a hard life, and only faith helped her not to lose heart. The dekulakization of the family fell to her lot in childhood. Her relatives died in the camps, she herself miraculously escaped in the Ioannovsky convent, where they found a refuge for the relics of John of Kronstadt. She managed to overcome blindness by constantly praying to God, after which her gift was revealed. She herself discovered this by accident: she prayed for the icon to help the woman with whom she lived at that time. After her prayers, the icon became miraculous. And then Marfa Ivanovna devoted her whole life to helping those in need.

- this is the strongest helper, guardian and gift of God. By praying to icons, we convey our request directly to God. Marfa Ivanovna prays for the suffering, so that their requests would be heard by God, even today. Now this elderly woman has returned to her homeland. She lives in the Krasnodar Territory and no longer accepts people at home - weak legs and advanced age. But she continues to pray for all worthy people who find themselves in a difficult situation - sometimes for more than one week, until God's grace illuminates the icon, which will help out a person who turned to Marfa Ivanovna in trouble.

The Power of Prayer and Faith

In the beginning was the word. The power of the right words repeated in front of a holy image is enormous. With words we start a great deed. Words start small changes in life. Turned to God, the words of prayer become the key to a prosperous future.

The ability to believe is what distinguishes man from all living species on Earth. Man, created in the image and likeness of the Almighty, with his ardent faith brings himself closer to his Creator. If you are sure that a miracle is about to happen, do not give up on prayers and support from God. And then happiness and grace will visit your life, so as not to part with you. In this case, just don't forget to thank Heaven for being with you through the most difficult times.

The hard work of Marfa Ivanovna continues to this day. You can see for yourself that it is supported. Having written to her about my problems honestly, without embellishment and concealment, about how and to what saints to pray, how many days to read the troparion, whether to keep fasting, and much more. Together with prayers from Marfa Ivanovna, you will order a prayed icon.

Almost the whole life of Marfa Ivanovna was spent next to the shrines. She believes in their help and that Heaven will never leave the one in trouble. Not everyone has the opportunity to personally go to the holy relics, to the ancient churches, to ask for help, devoting a long time to this. But the heartbeat is very important. In a difficult moment, each of us is sent down, to get stronger in spirit and not to give up.

Pray to the holy images, and God will hear your voice. Miraculous icons are not called miraculous for nothing: their strength lies in the fact that they are really capable of bringing a miracle to life - God's blessing, protection and support. and don't forget to press the buttons and

09.06.2016 05:54

A huge number of images are dedicated to the Mother of God, and each of them carries something special and important. Find out when to contact one...

Many Orthodox, passing by, are still baptized at the window of the house where the Samara priest lived Archpriest John Bukotkin.

How many simple Russian houses do you know, passing by which Orthodox people pray at their windows and put their hand, as if for a blessing? I only know one. It still stands in the center of our city, but will soon be demolished. This is the house of the legendary Samara father, the house where Archpriest John Bukotkin lived.
The house, which is so dear to many Samara hearts, will soon be rolled up under asphalt. In some countries, even a fairy-tale hero is given a museum, because it is a landmark, a treasure. But we cannot save the house, in which everything keeps the memory of the Samara ascetic, the elder, Father John. At the place where the Samara priest lived and prayed for several decades, there will soon be an access road to an elite high-rise building. There are already thousands and thousands of such access roads in many countries and cities, and this house is a piece of our Samara history…
But while Father John's house is still intact, we decided to meet with the daughters of Archpriest John Bukotkin, who live in Samara. The father also has a son, Ilya, but now he lives in Belarus. Sisters Natalia and Elena spoke about their childhood home, family and father.

Eldest daughter Natalia

In prayers, she simply says: “Daddy, honey, help! Folder, don't leave! Natalya Ivanovna Gimmel is the middle of the children of Father John, but the eldest daughter. She is very similar to her mother, mother Maria Dmitrievna. I look at old photographs and cannot immediately figure out who is in them - either Natalia, or Mother Maria. One person. Yes, and in character she went to her mother. Bold and determined. At the age of ten, together with the village tomboys, she went to graze sheep, or rather went, as they grazed the flock on horseback. No one taught Natalya to sit on a horse - she taught herself. And swim - went into the water and swam. In the same way, mother Maria learned to swim herself in her childhood, and so well that only she was trusted to check the pool into which the village children dived. “Masha, check it out,” the boys shouted to her, and she bravely jumped into the pool. What is called, into the pool with his head, such a character, maybe for him fell in love with her calm and quiet young seminarian, front-line soldier Ivan Andreevich Bukotkin.
- Natalya Ivanovna, how do you remember your father and mother, what were they like?
- Dad was very kind, he did not raise his voice. Mom was strict but easy-going, gets angry at us for the fault, but soon smiles and speaks kindly. We were punished by the fact that the father did not bless us at night. We went to bed without a blessing and regretted our misdeeds. They could not allow us to get up for prayer in the evening for too strong offenses. Once, already being a mother myself, I came to visit my father with my son. And there are two more little boys of my younger sister. And so they did not share the toy among themselves, the whims, the cry. I put my son in a corner, and my father says to me so kindly and kindly: “No need. He's still small." This one was kind.
And only once, in childhood, we still got a belt. It was a snowy winter, all three of us went to the "distant" store for bread. And there is such a wide hill, and we let's ride on it, we rolled it so well, for so long that they brought bricks home instead of bread. The bread was so frozen that it became like a stone. And we ourselves froze, and even the younger Elena froze. That's when we got it. Elder brother Ilya has three strokes, two for me, and one for my sister. Dad seemed to show how he can do it, and it was a good lesson for us. Remembered for life.
- Did Father John teach you prayers, did he read books to you at night?
- Parents did not have enough time, so at night we read to ourselves. We had a children's Bible of 1916, and we read it to each other. This Bible was with beautiful illustrations, we loved it very much and just leafed through, and looked, and read. As for prayers, each of us had such a small prayer book, so we prayed according to it. We were independent children, we knew without reminders what and when to clean the house, we were responsible for the lessons. And they tried not to upset their parents. Sometimes you get up in the morning, and dad is gone, he went to work. I wanted some more attention, but it did not work. That dad served in the temple, then people came to his house. A car will bring him from the temple, he will rest a little - and again to the service, and then people go. And all evening the doorbell rings after the bells. Nobody ever refused. I felt so sorry for my dad that once I dared not to let one parishioner see him. So she said to her: “I won’t raise the father. He's relaxing". Then he told me that she had to raise him, he would receive everyone as long as he could. And he gave me a cross on the forehead - not much, of course, but as a warning. We all felt sorry for dad. He is a front-line soldier, he had a second disability group. He walked almost on his toes, as the wounds did not allow him to stand on his full foot. The stomach was also crippled, only a quarter of it remained. He ate a little. Was not a gourmet and ate everything. True, he really liked goat's milk.
On hot summer days, I used to cook cheese soup for my dad. Its recipe is very simple, but the soup turned out delicious. Grate two processed cheeses on a coarse grater and throw into boiling water, then potatoes, carrots, onions and vermicelli. It should be eaten chilled, almost cold. Dad really liked this soup.
- Did you come to confession to your father or go to another priest?
- Whoever served that day, they went to both Confession and Communion. They didn't choose. They loved to just be in the temple, this is hereditary for us, from our father. As a child, he walked 27 kilometers from one village to another to serve in the church.
- Even healings of people take place at the grave of Father John. You, his daughter, probably feel the strong intercession of the father?
- In 1995, I survived only thanks to my dad. Got into a terrible accident. We were driving from the Saratov region from the funeral. Suddenly two cars collided and I was thrown out of the car straight onto the road. Thank God, I was not run over by a car, I survived. After this accident, I was in the hospital, and there my father came to me in a dream. He fed me honey. This is how he treated me as a child. Prosphora, holy water and honey, and a rosary in hand. He reads prayers, sorts out the rosary and heals with honey. And in the hospital, after this dream, I woke up, and all my lips were in honey. And now, from October 3 to 17, I was so sick. Everything already, I thought, I was dying, I began to prayerfully turn to my father. "Daddy, dear, help me for God's sake, pray that I get well and live longer." So, of course, we are not deprived of daddy's prayers. After his death, he dreamed of his mother and said: "I did not die, I am alive, I am among you." And he threatened with his finger like this: they say, do not think that I am not there.
My family and I have been living beyond the Volga, on the Vasilyevsky Islands, from early spring until late autumn. It was just dad forty days, I handed out shirts and towels to remember my father, and sat down at the table. The table was right outside under a tree. And here we are sitting eating, and a strange beautiful bird sits on a branch, a bit like a jay. She bowed her head and looked at us. Some kind of heat washed over me right away, and I shouted: “Daddy, dear, you found me here too!” And the bird fluttered and disappeared.
- Do you tell your grandson Dmitry about his great-grandfather?
- Dmitry is still small, he is about two years old, so I tell it clearly for his age. But there was a case that I told Father John about his great-grandson. This year, Dmitry and I went to church for Easter. And the road is slippery, we climb a steep mountain, my hand slipped, and I almost missed the stroller. And it's so hard to push it up. I prayerfully turn to my father: “This is the great-grandson you have, don’t let me drop him.” And so it became easy for me to carry the stroller uphill, I just walked and supported it.

Elena's youngest daughter

Natalia's sister Elena Korneeva took after her father in character. Father John and mother Maria were, at first glance, complete opposites, so different in character, they subtly complemented each other and created a family where all facets of the human personality are necessary. Elena, like her father, everything is orderly and calm. She, like her father, does not rush anywhere, does not want to turn over and surprise the world. He lives without fuss and for everything, like his father, thanks the Lord. For all! I went to work - thank God that there is work. Everything is safe with the children - thank God for that. The day has passed - and thank God for a good day! She lives with her family in the house of her childhood, in the house where Father John lived.
Now his room has become the room of Danila's grandson, who often witnesses how people come up to the priest's window and cross themselves. They say something, cry or just touch the house with their hands.

I remember, - says Elena, - when the sons were born, I will run to my father in the room, and he is sitting on the bed, I will put the baby across him and I myself will run to cook or wash. The father stays with his granddaughter. If you need to rock or just take a child for a while, dad has always helped. And he said: "Go, go do what you need, I'll see." When the sons got bigger, dad came out here into the hall and said: “Are there Orthodox people at home? Come on, let's pray." And everyone stood up for prayer, both children and adults. Grown-up sons are now praying with grandfather's rosary, and the eldest, Danila, is working on his simulator. After being wounded at the front, dad could not fully stand on his foot, so he trained his legs on a simulator.
- How did Father John bring up his grandchildren and you, his children?
- He did not conduct any special conversations. He simply lived, served in the church and showed by his example how to live correctly. In all my life, I don't remember my father raising his voice. I sometimes my sons for faults and a strap. And dad raised us calmly and only shook his head reproachfully and said: “Oh, daughter, daughter!” He loved and understood us so much that he found only kind words. Because of his injury, he must be very quick-tempered and angry. His nerves were simply bare, and the neurologist was very surprised how his father managed to remain calm. Because of his illness, the doctor said, he must vomit and throw, but his father was always calm and quiet. Probably, by the strength of his spirit, he defeated his illness, received in the war, and was absolutely calm.
- Did your father advise who to be friends with, and who should be avoided?
- I went in for sports, volleyball and basketball, so the social circle was different. She communicated with whom she considered necessary, and dad did not make any restrictions. The only time my father forbade something was to join the Komsomol. They gathered us all in the class and handed out leaflets so that we could write an application for joining the Komsomol. And I say that I will not write a statement. People ask me why, and I answer like this: you yourself know why. This was the end of the matter, no one else tormented me by the Komsomol. The older brother had a moped, and the boys were going to him, in the yard they were dismantling something, making things, doing something. My friends came to us, that is, our house was often crowded with children. Somehow they were all right. The guys were different, some were Orthodox and went to church. My friend even held a post with me.
- And who should be chosen as husbands, did you advise?
- Not. My husband studied with me in the same class, we were friends, dabbled together, went in winter to ride up the hill to the monument. Then there was no thought of any marriage. And then they grew up, Sergey served in the army, and about three more years passed before the wedding. We come with him somehow here, home, and together with our parents we sit down to drink tea. And they began to ask us what we think about marriage. And on that day we just decided to apply, then father Mikhail Kalugin married us.
- How did Father John feel about TV and did he allow you children to watch it?
- Then television was not the same as it is now. We watched the whole family "The Movie Travelers Club", "In the Animal World", my father also watched the news. We didn't turn on the TV. My father loved to take pictures and in his youth he was very fond of photography, we had a lot of pictures. In his service, he gave a lot of time to other people, but the family was not left to him either. He had enough love and kindness for everyone.
- And what feeling did you, the children, experience, were you proud of your dad or were you jealous that he spends a lot of time at work?
- Neither one nor the other. It was a time when they could come for their father at any moment, put them in a car and take them away in an unknown direction. There have been such cases. And we stayed and did not know whether father would return or not. Mom told everyone to get up for prayer. In front of the large icon of the Savior, we children begged for our father's return. There was fear for my father, a strong experience, but they also believed that everything would be fine.
How did your father teach you to pray?
- He once told such a parable. People lived on one island and prayed as best they could. A Priest rode past on a ship and landed on the shore of these people. They rushed to him and began to ask how to pray correctly. The priest taught them prayers for several days, then set off again. He began to sail, and the people forgot the words of the prayers that the Priest had taught them. And people wanted to know them so much that they rushed straight along the waves after the ship of the Priest. They run along the waves and shout: how to pray correctly, tell me ... And the Priest smiles and says: I know the words of prayer, but I can’t walk on water like you. What matters is not the words, but the heart, the desire that beats in the heart.
- How often in life do you prayerfully turn to your father for help?
“After the death of the father, I have a feeling that we are guided and guarded through life by his invisible hand. We live prosperously, measuredly, calmly, just as Father John himself lived. All of us are somehow good. Both with work and with children. The eldest son, Danila, graduated from the university this year - the Faculty of History; He, like his grandfather, loves to read. The younger one, Dmitry, is more of a master, also like his grandfather. Everything can, like grandfather, fix at home, repair. For them, for my sons, I often turn to Father John and ask: “Dad, don’t leave yours. Pray for the grandchildren." All our well-being, I think, is only thanks to daddy's prayers. After death, my husband Sergei had such a dream, where his father said that he would not leave us and would pray.
- Do grandchildren understand who their grandfather is, the scale of his personality?
- Until the end, of course not. It's hard for me to comprehend it myself. The big is seen from a distance. For us, he remains a loving father and grandfather. When you come to his grave, people come up and tell how their father helped them. Sometimes they just tell some miracles. So, one woman was looking for a confessor for herself, asked her father's grave for advice, when suddenly she clearly heard the name. She believes that Father John told her. Yes, there are many such stories. Some of these people want a museum in their father's house. We were already warned that the house would be demolished, and they showed us the building plan. According to this plan, there will be an access road at the site of the house. As long as they don't touch us, we rejoice. Here everything is so dear, everything reminds of Father John. You go out into the yard, and there is a vegetable garden, which he cultivated on his knees. Six acres - and all on their knees. He worked in his garden like a Michurinite. I planted everything: cucumbers, tomatoes, and greens. Front wounds did not allow my father to stand on a full foot, his heels did not go down, so he walked in prosthetic boots. One was winter, the other summer, so I picked it up to be comfortable. No one even guessed that it was difficult for the priest to walk.
- They say that the seminarians near your house sang songs on Easter.
- We already saw them through the window from afar and called dad: “Dad, they are coming to praise you. Come out." He was so happy, so happy. They blocked the road in front of the house and began to sing. What a feeling of happiness we, all at home, experienced at that moment. Real Easter! Real joy! Often everyone was brought home, the house was full, everyone was noisy, drinking tea, listening to what Father John was saying to them. And felt the joy of the holiday.

They say: a prayed icon, a prayed place, and I would also add - a prayed house. I felt so blessed and calm here during the interview, as, probably, to everyone who came at least once to Father John. Everything in the house still lives and breathes the life of the priest, you can feel the touch of his hand and his prayers in everything. Looking at this house, you understand even better that grace and righteousness can be acquired not only in a monastery closed from the world by high walls, but also in such a wooden house in the center of noisy one and a half million Samara. There would be only love in the heart for God and for neighbors. And it is not in vain, of course, that the Lord preserves for us this house in which the righteous lived.

In the pictures: Archpriest John Bukotkin and matushka Maria Dmitrievna near their house; Natalya Ivanovna Gimmel - the eldest daughter of Archpriest John Bukotkin; the youngest daughter Elena Ivanovna Korneeva at the prayer corner of her father, Archpriest John Bukotkin; children of father Ionn Bukotkin (picture taken by him).