We present to our readers a story from Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov; 1893–1975) of blessing memory, about how he once nearly died from the bitter cold in a Nazi prison:
The Suffering of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
In Taganrog, in the bishop’s residence, there hung an icon of the Forty Martyrs who suffered in the lake of Sebaste. At the time, I was still a young hierodeacon and personal assistant to Bishop Arseny, and I often walked past this icon. But I did not show proper reverence to these forty sufferers—and even somewhat doubted their existence, whether there really were such men, or not…
Metropolitan Joseph of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan (Chernov) And so, in the winter of 1943, I was imprisoned in a Gestapo jail in Uman (Ukraine). The windows had no frames, and outside a fierce frost raged. I was almost completely unclothed—wearing only a cassock. In that stone cage, I begged for death: “Lord, let me die!” It was unbearable; I had no strength left to endure the cold.
Then I remembered the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and began to pray to them, asking forgiveness for not having shown them proper honor, for not understanding the greatness of their martyrdom. I prayed fervently, with all my heart—and soon that despair left my soul, warmth spread throughout my body, and I was no longer cold. And after the cold and despair had receded, the door of the cell opened, and a package was brought to me—the Holy Gifts, bread, and warm clothing.
The Soviet army was approaching the city, and the Germans began executing the prisoners. That night, I held the Holy Gifts in my hands and prayed before them without ceasing. The faithful of Uman had gathered gold and bribed the assistant to the prison chief. He gave his word that he would spare me—and indeed, while other prisoners were either taken away by the Germans or shot, I remained alive.
When the Soviet army entered the city, Vladyka Joseph was arrested again—this time by the Soviet authorities. The fact that he had survived a Gestapo prison seemed far too suspicious to them. But that is an entirely different story.
From, The Light of Joy in a World of Sorrow: Metropolitan Joseph of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan, compiled by V. Koroleva, (Moscow: Palomnik, 2004).