A Cappadocian abbess from Taslik, who lived in Thiriopetra Arideias, named Athena Georgiou Galanopoulos, tells the following, as she heard it from her grandmother:
“The women of the village, when the Holy Liturgy was being celebrated, would bring the prosphora to the Church while the priest was serving the Liturgy, and then they would return home to prepare their children and go together to the Holy Liturgy.
One year, on the eve of Epiphany during which the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated, my grandmother woke up but remained in bed, delaying going to the Church. Suddenly, the door of the room opened, and St. Basil, tall and wearing white vestments, appeared and said to her, ‘Is this how you choose to rest on such a day?’ and he slapped her face. The imprint of his fingers remained on her cheek until the end of her life.
Since then, my grandmother honored this day in a special way and advised others not to delay going to the Church.”
Excerpt from Ascetics in the World – Hieromonk Euthymios of Mount Athos, Evangelismos Publishing.
