The orthodox holy places of Russia have their own atmosphere. They are filled not only with light but with the most inetresting and extraordinary stories. I have travelled to holy places, went to sacred processions in a few monasteries. I always met interesting people who ipressed me by their interesting stories and thoughts.
The nun and the priest who lived near the monastery took me to their home and were very kind during all the time of shooting the life in the monastery. They were hospitable and kind to everyone who asked them about staying for the night. They haven’t met people who could have disappointed them or done somthing that could make them upset.
Every morning they woke up at dawn for the prayer and didn’t miss any hour of a cermon. But ordinary human life was not shocking for them. The nun liked to tell about broken hearts and men conquered by her. She told it very beautifully with delicate and surprising details. The priest, her son liked to go to one recluse who lived a poor and solitary life. They drank a little, watched many movies about snipers and after this they shared their phantasies as about real life. They told how they were snipers and got into some jams and came out heroes. And partly, it is not surprising that they have such thoughts – the priest has recently turned 20 and the recluse is only in his early thirties. There were also many young, beautiful and enlighted men and women in the monastery. They told how they lived and how they have come to God. It has always been something light, sincere and experienced. I remember the words of one monk who said that we were like naughty children – we are playing and not obeying our mother who had been calling them home. For us to obey and come home one should hit us by a little spade and we will cry and look for our mother- this way peopple come to God.
