By Fr. Achillios
Many were the divine visions that the late Elder Damaskenos Katrakoules (+ 2001), known as the Pappou and founder of the Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner in Makrinou of Megara, had received from his friends the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. It is a fact that these two Holy Martyrs never ceased to guard and care for him.
He himself, who had tasted successive manifestations of their love, often sought their martyric protection in his various struggles.
Once, as their feast dawned on October 7th, they appeared to him fully alive in his sleep and told him to rise quickly and liturgize for them!
"I bow! It is done! But who are you?" the Elder exclaimed.
"We are Sergius and Bacchus!"
And the sisters, when dawn broke in the morning, found the late Elder dressed in all his priestly vestments, having presented himself and prepared for the Divine Liturgy, as the Saints had told him.
Another time, with the entire sisterhood, he traveled by bus to Kerkyra, via Igoumenitsa, to officiate for the feast of Saint Spyridon. They traveled all night to catch the morning ferry. However, in the darkness, they got lost and kept going back and forth in some uninhabited area, searching for the road. In front of them were steep cliffs, while around them piles of earth blocked any passage. They found themselves at a dead end... and time was passing. They began to worry that they would not have time to officiate. The driver asked the Elder what to do.
Suddenly, car headlights appeared behind them. A small car approached and stopped under Pappou's window. Two bright young men, proper, formally dressed, got out, stood at attention and very politely addressed the Elder:
"Where are you going? How did you get here?"
"We are going to Igoumenitsa, but we got lost."
"Oh! You are very far away. Follow us. We will lead you."
They got back into their car and, leading the way, led the bus, through small dirt roads, to the main avenue. Then the two young men stopped, got out of the car, stood at attention again and respectfully addressed the Elder, saying:
"This is where you will go. In 10 minutes you will be in Igoumenitsa."
Then, bowing deeply to him, they smiled meaningfully, as if showing him that they were old acquaintances.
They got back into their car and disappeared in the same strange way they had appeared.
Everyone admired their kindness and modesty and wondered how they had found themselves in this wilderness and how they had suddenly become invisible.
A minute before the ship departed, the Elder and the sisterhood arrived in Igoumenitsa and barely managed to board it, to cross to Kerkyra.
After they had served in the Church of Saint Spyridon, "miracle followed miracle." While the Elder was venerating the incorruptible relic, the Saint greeted him and thanked him by moving his lips, as if speaking. This miracle was also noticed by many sisters.
Later, Pappou, recounting the event, assured that he also saw the Saint's "tongue" moving and that he felt great joy from his fully alive presence.
In the afternoon of the same day, Pappou and the sisterhood visited the Church of the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus (or the Church of the Holy Three Martyrs Sergius, Bacchus and Justin, located in Kerkyra). As soon as they venerated the icon, in the faces of Saints Sergius and Bacchus they recognized with amazement those two noble young men who had supported them in their difficult time, showing them the way!
The joy of all was indescribable and they glorified God for His immeasurable favor.
Two other events, similar to each other, indicate the friendly intimacy towards the Elder of the two Holy Martyrs, who vigilantly followed all the details of his life.
As is known, Pappou loved Byzantine music very much and wanted all the sisters who had this ability to chant. During a certain service, Sister Th., due to fatigue, was not in the mood to chant and was leaning on her stasidion, which was touching the wall, under the fresco of Saint Bacchus.
The Elder, who realized the lack of balance, motioned for her from the sanctuary to chant. She made a small effort and stopped again. Pappou, dissatisfied, motioned to her again - the sister, however, could not overcome her fatigue.
Shortly after, as she had her eyes closed, she received a loud slap. Startled, she turned to see where it came from. And then above her head she saw the image of Saint Bacchus looking at her sternly.
In the same place once stood the novice sister E., who did not chant due to despondency. The Elder, while the “More Honorable” was being chanted, went out to incense.
Arriving in front of the sister, he asked her: “Why are you not chanting?” She, affected by her despondency, remained silent. But, as soon as she went to her stasidion, she felt an invisible hand slapping her hard. She was very afraid and, after the end of the Divine Liturgy, she reported it to the Elder. He smiled and said to her: “This has happened to another sister who did not chant. It was Saint Bacchus. Do not be afraid, but be careful not to do it again.”
May we have their grace and their protection forever!
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
