Every once in awhile instead of arguing or defending something I like to relay a true incident that has a lasting & profound effect on me. As some of you already know, I'm very proud of the parish I belong to, it's priest, people, and the wonderful stories that come from the make up of the parish. Many I have relayed to you before. And this is another true story that involves our bells.

Our parish sits on about an acre and a half of land bordering on Pennypack Park in Northeast Philly. Next to the church is a combination Retirement and Nursing Home. Last year through the kindness and generosity of a very devout man and women in our parish we acquired seven bells that were cast and shipped from Russia. A beautiful bell tower has been constructed and we had reached our goal of having the bells ready for Pascha to announce the Resurrection of our Lord.
Prior to Christmas we had our annual Christmas bazaar which brings many of the people who live next door over. This year an older woman came up to our priest and some of the people and asked what time services were on Sunday because she wanted to come and pray for her departed husband. And she told them the following story -

On the eve of Orthodox Pascha she was at her dying husbands bedside in the nursing section of the home. All of a sudden the bells began to ring. And he looked at his wife and said 'Listen to the beautiful bells ringing!' They were the last words he had spoken to her because he then passed away. When she realized he was gone she turned to the window to hide her grief. As she looked out she saw a priest in gold vestments holding a Cross, a choir singing, and about two hundred or more people holding lit candles facing a church that was all aglow! And she knew that her husband was in good hands. The Angels had come to announce the Ressurection of Christ and carry her husband home. So she wanted to come and pray for her husband in the Church whose bells called the Angels to take him home!

Bob

A wonderful story! I have had the privilege of visiting Bob's parish (sadly, I went on the wrong day and no one was there). Knowing the beautiful location makes Bob's story come alive.

Wow! A very moving story.

Dear Orthoman

I live in north Philly. Which parish to you worship at?

Christ is risen!
Marshall

[I live in north Philly. Which parish to you worship at?]

St Stephen's Orthodox Cathedral, 8598 Verree Road

I love stories like that...thanks for sharing.

Dear Robert,

Thank you for sharing that inspiring story. We never know what effects something so beautiful as the sounds of your bells have on people.

Steve
JOY!

OrthoMan- That was a moving story one worthy of repeating! I am reminded of the end of WW II when my dad tells me the bells were ringing all over town, all at once.


God Bless,

Michael

I remember those bells and the whistles and the men running home from the mill across the river on the day the war ended.

I watched it from my tricycle and ran inside!

Thanks for the memory celticson.

Steve
JOY!

Dear Orthoman (Bob),

Truth be told, I love you when you relate such moving stories.

You should fight less, and inspire us more with your experiences.

And if you want to convert anyone, remember, you can get more flies with honey than vinegar.

God bless you for your inspiration, Fighter of God!

Alex

Thanks for that anecdote. I got the shivers just reading it.

I love bells too. Very much. It was such a pleasure living in Germany and Austria: EVERYBODY had bells and they rang them with gay abandon on every conceivable occasion.

Once, I stopped at the Jesuit Collegium in Innsbruck (Austria) on my way to Rome. I got in from Munich quite late, and was given my room assignment on the top floor of the residence -- right next door to the church building.

At six a.m., the "Mother of ALL Bells" began tolling the Angelus not more than 20 feet from my bed. There are still claw marks in the ceiling.

Blessings!

Sorry can't resist this --
What a Heavenly awakening .

I'm gonna get 'ya, Angela!!!! Just watch out!!!

Blessings!

Dr John - what a good job I'm a looooooong way away . Mind you'd better watch out for the Portugese blood in my husband to come out - he's very protective !

[ 02-01-2002: Message edited by: Our Lady's slave of love ]