BOOKVIIALYOSHA

CHAPTER1THEBREATHOFCORRUPTION

, : "IfanyoneofthemonksdepartintheLord, themonkdesignated (thatis, whoseofficeitis) shallwipethebodywithwarmwater, makingfirstthesignofthecrosswithaspongeontheforeheadofthedeceased, onthebreast, onthehandsandfeetandontheknees, andthatisenough." AllthiswasdonebyFatherPa?ssy, whothenclothedthedeceasedinhismonasticgarbandwrappedhiminhiscloak, whichwas, accordingtocustom, ', , theGospel, notthePsalter, ?ssydesiredlaterontoreadtheGospelalldayandnightoverhisdeadfriend, butforthepresenthe, aswellastheFatherSuperintendentoftheHermitage, wasverybusyandoccupied, forsomethingextraordinary, anunheard-of, even "unseemly" excitementandimpatientexpectationbegantobeapparentinthemonks, andthevisitorsfromthemonasteryhostels, , ?ssydidtheirutmosttocalmthegeneralbustleandagitation.

Whenitwasfullydaylight, somepeoplebeganbringingtheirsick, inmostcaseschildren, withthemfromthetown—asthoughtheyhadbeenwaitingexpresslyforthismomenttodoso, evidentlypersuadedthatthedeadelder'sremainshadapowerofhealing, .

Thisintenseexpectationonthepartofbelieversdisplayedwithsuchhaste, suchopenness, evenwithimpatienceandalmostinsistence, impressedFatherPa?, , FatherPa?ssybegantoreprovethem."Suchimmediateexpectationofsomethingextraordinary," hesaid, "showsalevity, possibletoworldlypeoplebutunseemlyinus."