Every Good Deed

By Karen Woods

The Orthodox nuns of Saint Maria Skobtsova's monastery have been providing end of life care for Bishop John. Now, that he has reposed in the Lord, their duty is to see that he has a Christian burial. But burying a bishop is by no means a simple thing, under the best of circumstances. Between the dynamics of dealing with the Bishops who have come to bury their brother bishop, the vast number of people expected for the funeral, the normal level of drama coming from the nuns' medical work in their clinics on the grounds of the monastery, the resignation and replacement of their chaplain, and taking in three new novice nuns, this has proven to be one very long week in which the nuns have to keep reminding themselves that, as Saint Seraphim of Sarov taught, every good deed done for Christ's sake is a means by which they can acquire the Holy Spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sleeping Beagle Books
• Release date: Sep 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463705759

Karen Woods

Karen Woods writes about the world she grew up in and her beloved Manchester – in all its light and shade – is in every book.

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Every Good Deed

a novel by

Karen S. Woods

Published by Sleeping Beagle Books at Smashwords

copyright Karen Woods 2018

All Rights Reserved

Every Good Deed is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover photo by Quicksandala, used under license.

Fasting, prayer, alms, and every other good Christian deed is good in itself, but the purpose of the Christian life consists not only in the fulfillment of one or another of them. The true purpose of our Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. But fasting, prayer, alms and every good deed done for the sake of Christ is a means to the attainment of the Holy Spirit. Note that only good deeds done for the sake of Christ bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Everything else that is not done for the sake of Christ, even if it is good, does not bring us a reward in the life to come, nor does it bring the grace of God in this life. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, Whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov

Thanks and acknowledgments

Many thanks to the Mayo Clinic for their excellent website containing all sorts of helpful medical information.

Many thanks to the New York State Education Department for their helpful website.

Many thanks to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for their publication of the Service Book used at the funeral of Archbishop Iakovos.

Beechcraft is the registered trademark of TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE

The quotations from The Order For Blessing and Sanctification of the Place Where the Bodies of Christians Who Have Reposed Will Be Buried, That is a Cemetery come from Volume Two of the Great Book of Needs, as published by St Tikon’s Monastery Press, Waymart, PA.

The quotation from the writings of St. Nikolai Velimirovich comes from Prayers by the Lake, published by The Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, 2010

All other biblical citations, quotations from the church fathers and other saints, and passages from the various liturgies of the Orthodox Church are rendered according to the memory of the author.

Chapter One

Would anyone like a cup of tea? Mother Nina asked the clergy and nuns who were gathered in the living room of the apartment, on Monday evening, allowing Vanya’s family to have some private time with him in the bedroom as he lay dying.

That would be lovely, Bishop Mark, their Metropolitan, replied. It’s been a long travel day.

I am just surprised you came this soon, Mother Nina replied as she moved to fill the kettle. Have you eaten, Master?

Bishop Mark chuckled, Igumena, even if I hadn’t eaten, I know far better than to eat anything you have cooked.

Mother Nina laughed, in spite of herself. We have a culinary staff here. I am, almost, never in the kitchens. Still, I can manage tea, coffee, and putting some cookies on a plate, with those being quite edible.

Of course, you can, Father Vasily said, clearly aghast at the tone of this conversation.

Matushka...Igumena... and I are old friends, Father, their Metropolitan dismissed with a chuckle. When the Archpriest Andrei, her late husband, was still among us, he was kind enough to invite me to come snow skiing at their house in Colorado or go fishing or to spend time scuba diving with him and his family, at their home in the Caribbean. Some of those trips had other guests, often Bishop John when he was still our brother priest Father Ivan.

And I remember several ski trips where my family were also included, Mother Verena replied.

Those were good times, Mother Nina replied as the kettle. I remember several nice days on beaches and the slopes. And evenings of making music either around a campfire or in front of the fireplace.

The trios with you playing your flute and Father Andrei on saxophone are some of my best memories. You are a far better musician than a cook, Matushka.

I never said otherwise... Those were good times, Mother Nina replied.

When I heard that you had become a nun and was installed as the abbess of this community, it did not surprise me, at least not much, Bishop Mark said.

It took Vanya a long time to convince me to take the step of accepting tonsure, Mother Nina replied. It wasn’t until I had companions to join me in this life that I could even begin to think about it seriously. Once things fell into place, then this happened quite rapidly.

He was absolutely correct in urging you to take tonsure. This is what you need to be doing with your life, Matushka, Mark said. Er... Igumena.

It is definitely an adventure. And you’ve called me Matushka for decades now. There is no sense in trying to change that habit now, Master.

I’ll bet it is an adventure, their Metropolitan said with a chuckle. What I’ve seen of the campus here is lovely.

Thank you, Mother Nina replied. It suits our needs. We have a variety of medical and non-medical ministries here and are always seeking new ways to expand our outreach to the larger community.

The diocesan council was grateful that you took in Vladika and cared for him in his final days, Father Vasily said. It was good for him to be within a community of faith, with people who love him. I was so glad to see that he was immersed in an atmosphere of prayer, that he could treat his dying as a retreat.

We are going to miss Vanya more than we can say, Mother Nina replied. He has been a good friend to us.

His brother bishops will miss Bishop John as well. No one will be able to fill his shoes, Bishop Mark replied.

The diocese will miss him dreadfully. I don’t know who we should nominate as our next bishop, Father Vasily replied, his voice tight.

"For now, I’m serving in that capacity, as locum tenens, Bishop Mark said. When we’ve done with the initial forty-day mourning period for Bishop John, then we will worry about the diocese nominating someone to fill the position and for the Synod to elect someone. Until then, it is premature to even be talking about this."

It is, indeed, Mother Nina said as the kettle whistled. She poured the hot water over the herb tea bags in the tea pot. However, Vanya gave me a short list of priests he thought would be good to replace him, and he made the case for each of them.

He did? Bishop Mark asked.

Does that surprise you? Really? It is a quintessential Vanya act. He always took his responsibilities seriously. He loves his people and always did the best he could to care for all of us. He wanted to make sure that his people were loved and protected.

Yes, Father Vasily agreed. He did.

Where is this list? Bishop Mark asked.

He gave it to me for safekeeping. I haven’t even opened the envelope, yet, Mother replied.

I’d be most interested in seeing that, Bishop Mark said.

She plated some of Mother Euphrosyne’s oatmeal cookies and arranged a tea tray before taking it to the coffee table. Please, sit and relax. Have some tea and a cookie. Mother Euphrosyne is quite a baker.

How long do you think he has? Father Vasily asked.

Not long, Sister Martha replied. At his current rate of decline.

Mother Nina went to the bedroom, opened the door and asked, Would any of you like a cup of tea? I’ve brewed a pot.

That’s the Russian response to everything, a glass of chai, or vodka, Vanya’s niece, Sister Kew’s mother, replied in rapid Russian, with more than a hint of disdain.

No, Vanya’s sister said, her voice kinder, I don’t care for any... Thank you.

Let us know if you do need anything, Mother Nina said. We’ll be in the living room. We’ll give you a little privacy for your family.

Could you send Sister Martha in? Thank you, Sister Kew asked.

Have you both been assigned lodging? Mother Verena asked as they sat around in the living room, having a cup of tea and a cookie.

Matushka Barbara and I are in an apartment down the hall from here, Father Vasily replied. She didn’t think she would be a constructive addition to Bishop John’s dying scene, so she was going to the Chapel to pray for him.

That sounds like Barbara, Mother Nina replied. She always has been a prayerful woman.

I’m in the rooms that were apparently nuns’ housing until recently, Bishop Mark replied.

Yes. Those are the rooms I’ve set apart for bishops and priests, at least those priests who come alone, Mother Nina replied.

Did Bishop John finish his books? Bishop Mark asked.

Both of his final books are completed and in the hands of his editor. I’ve read both. They are marvelous, Mother Nina said.

That’s good, Father Vasily replied. I am looking forward to reading them.

You’ll read them over and over again, Mother Nina replied, with a small smile. They are vintage Vanya.

I have read all of his books, over and over, Father Vasily agreed. I don’t expect that to change.

It’s such a shame that he doesn’t have anyone to edit his journals. Those would be wonderful to read, Bishop Mark dismissed.

Mother cleared her throat, not certain whether to say anything or not. She decided that it would be public knowledge after the reading of his will. Vanya left his journals to the monastery. He asked me to edit and publish them as the first volume or volumes issued by our monastery press. I’ve taken possession of all of his journals.

You are planning on launching a monastery press, then? Father Vasily asked in surprise.

Mother Nina sighed. I hadn’t been planning to, until Vanya dropped this on me. So, I will do what he asked of me. It’s the last thing I can do for him.

You amaze me, but you always have done that, Bishop Mark replied with a smile.

Mother Nina sipped her tea. I fear you are all too easily amazed, then.

The conversation continued for another half an hour, until the bedroom door opened. Sister Martha came out.

She came to stand beside Mother Nina. If you want to say goodbye, I would encourage you not to wait much longer. He’s slipping away. Maybe minutes. Almost certainly no more than an hour or so, probably a lot less. With his decreasing oxygenation level, he can’t last much longer.

Why aren’t you giving him oxygen? Vanya’s sister demanded, loudly, from within the bedroom.

Giving him oxygen won’t make any difference in his comfort level at this stage, Sister Martha dismissed.

They went to the bedroom and stood beside with their dying bishop, praying together with his family members, as Bishop Mark led them in prayers, until Vanya breathed his last a little less than twenty minutes later.

He has left us, Mother Verena said, removing her stethoscope from her ears, after verifying that Vanya had indeed passed into eternity.

Before anyone could react, their Metropolitan began the first of the many Trisagions which would be sung for their bishop, intoning, Blessed is our God, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Mother Nina led the rest of them in singing, Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Their Metropolitan, Bishop Mark, picked up the service, chanting, Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Everyone crossed themselves at the invocation of the Trinity.

Their Metropolitan continued, All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Mother Nina lead them in the chant, Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Metropolitan Mark sang out, Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Everyone answered, after crossing themselves, Amen.

Mother Nina led them in singing the Lord’s Prayer in Church Slavonic, using the Kedrov setting, and then in English.

Metropolitan Mark gave the doxology, For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Everyone answered, Amen.

Their Metropolitan prayed, "Among the spirits of the righteous perfected in faith, give rest, O Savior, to the soul of Your servant. Bestow upon it the blessed life which is from You, O loving Lord.

Within Your peace, O Lord, where all Your Saints repose, give rest also to the soul of Your servant, for You alone are immortal."

Mother Nina prayed, Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Metropolitan prayed, O Savior, You are our God who descended into Hades and delivered from suffering those who were bound there. Grant rest also to the soul of Your servant.’

Mother prayed, Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Metropolitan prayed, "Most pure and spotless Virgin, who ineffably gave birth to God, intercede with Him for the salvation of the soul of your servant.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy."

Mother lead them in singing, Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Furthermore, we pray for the rest of the soul of the servant of God John, Bishop, who has been our Brother and Concelebrant who has fallen asleep, and for the forgiveness of all his transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary.

Again, Mother Nina led them singing, Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

May the Lord God grant that his soul rest where the righteous repose. Let us ask for the mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of his sins from Christ our Immortal King and God.

Mother lead the response, Grant this, O Lord.

Metropolitan Mark urged them, Let us pray to the Lord.

Mother Nina chanted, Lord, have mercy.

Then he prayed, "O God of spirits and of all flesh, You have trampled upon death and have abolished the power of the devil, giving life to Your world. Give rest to the soul of Your departed servant, John, Bishop, who has been our Brother and Concelebrant, in a place of light, in a place of repose, in a place of refreshment, where there is no pain, sorrow, and suffering. As a good and loving God, forgive every sin he has committed in thought, word or deed, for there is no one who lives and does not sin. You alone are without sin. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your word is truth.

Let us pray to the Lord."

Lord, have mercy, Mother chanted.

The Metropolitan prayed, For You are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Your departed servant John, Bishop, who has been our Brother and Concelebrant, Christ our God, and to You we give glory, with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Everyone answered, Amen.

Mother sang out, Glory to You, O God, our hope, glory to You.

Bishop Mark gave the dismissal, "May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead and as immortal King has authority over the living and the dead, have mercy on us and save us, through the intercessions of his spotless holy Mother; of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy Apostles; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and glorious forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of his holy and righteous friend Lazarus, who lay in the grave four days; and of all the Saints, establish the soul of His servant John, Bishop, who has been our Brother and Concelebrant, departed from us, in the dwelling place of the Saints; grant rest to him in the bosom of Abraham and number him among the righteous.

May your memory be eternal, our brother, who are worthy of blessedness and eternal memory. May your memory be eternal, our brother, who are worthy of blessedness and eternal memory. May your memory be eternal, our brother, who are worthy of blessedness and eternal memory."

Mother lead them in singing Memory Eternal for her friend, Vanya. Once in English, once in Church Slavonic, and finishing in English.

The Metropolitan offered the final prayer in this short service, Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

At the end of the small prayer service, Mother Verena picked up the tablet, and logged in the time and date of death in the electronic medical records, then went on-line to the New York State Electronic Death Registration System and filled out her part of the death certificate.

Mother Nina retrieved her phone from her pocket and called Luke Rihbany, the funeral director who was a member of the mission congregation that met in the chapel.

Mother? he answered the phone.

Luke, our bishop has just reposed. Metropolitan Mark is here to prepare him for burial. Can you come tonight?

I’ll be there in about a little over an hour with a couple of helpers to get the coffin out of the Chapel basement. And to get the bishop ready to lie in state.

Vladika’s coffin is in the storage room down the hall from the walk-in clinic. It’s Maple with an ivory brocade lining and an inlaid three bar cross on the lid. George built it. It’s gorgeous.

I’m sure it is masterful and lovely. Okay. See you soon. Then Luke hung up.

The funeral director will be here in a while, maybe an hour or so. I will sit with him and read the Gospels to him, Mother Nina said.

Vanya’s sister was helped out of the room by her daughter and granddaughter.

I’ll go see if they need anything, Mother Verena said.

I’ll come with you, Sister Martha said.

Mother dialed Sister Anne’s phone. Mother, the novice answered on the first ring.

I need you to update Vladika’s condition on the website. Our bishop has reposed in the Lord, Monday evening. His family were with him, as well as Metropolitan Mark, as was the Diocesan Chancellor, Father Vasily, and several nuns. Vladika will lie in the chapel on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. His funeral will be on Friday morning, followed by burial in the monastery cemetery. Further details as to times and dates will be forthcoming as more definite plans are made. Live streaming of his laying in repose, and funeral, will be found on the monastery website on the link for our chapel. Those coming for the funeral from great distance and who will require lodging should call the monastery, during business hours, before coming, so we can either confirm we have space for you or give them the names of hotels nearby.

Got it. Will get it on the website immediately. Shall I call James and alert him to the coming hospitality influx?

"He