They say that long time ago a warrior met a monk and asked him :
`How is it possible to exist a heaven and a hell when I don`t see anything of these?` Can anyone show me the heaven and the hell?`
`But how can you be called warrior, when I see before me only a fool?`
The soldier got angry and he took his sword out immediately but the monk as calm as before said:
`You see, this is how the gates of hell are opened.`
Understanding the given lesson the warrior put his sword back into his sheath and bowed respectfully.
`You see, this is how the gated of heaven are opened, the monk told him.
Who forgets about hell will reach that place.
(Saint John Chrysostom)
Excerpt from The most beautiful Christian Orthodox parables and tales – Leon Magdan, Aramis Publishing House – Romanian Patriarchy, 1998.
