Old Valaam. Feature article

"Like Saint Athos, Valaam, to this day, he shines. Athos - in the south, Valaam - in the north. At Twilight, our time, in the impending "night of the world" - are needed beacons. I remembered the bright page - in the past. Recently, as if in strengthening myself, I learned that two novices, whom I met in passing on Valaam, marked in a book, and accomplished a feat over the years. I learned that they became "light to the world" that they live. Valaam gave them obedience. And so, the living threads stretched from "now" - to the past, this past shines me. In this light - that Valaam, distant. And I thought that it would be useful to recall and tell about him: he is still the same, bright "(I.S. Shmelev. Old Valaam. 1933-1936)