Lives of Russian Ascetics of Piety of the 18th-19th centuries. March. Hegumen Philaret from the Glinsk Monastery.
One day, the rassophore monk Fr. Joel (later the elder-schema-archimandrite Iliodor), having come to Fr. Philaret, explained to him the night fear that had happened to him. The Hegumen answered to this: “That’s how it is; we, monks, must always be ready to meet our adversary. Last night I was also tempted. I was standing during prayer, the door to the cell was on the hook. Suddenly, I heard as if the door was opening; I turned and saw the following: a terrible Arab was standing at the door; his head was curly, his teeth were bared, and his eyes were like fiery coals. Having protected myself with the sign of the cross, I continued my rule, and he went out the same way. So, brother, do the same: if the enemy appears to you in any form, protect yourself with the sign of the cross paying no attention to anything and continue your work; without God's permission he will do nothing." How many similar cases happened with Fr. Philaret, God and the God-loving soul of the ascetic know.
