“I stood before the Joy and Consolation of all mankind and felt that the holy icon had opened before me, like a window from the musty room of earthly life into the boundless Eternity of Heaven, and a mighty stream of pure air fragrant with unearthly aromas poured onto me from this “window” …” — this is how the hero of Archpriest Alexander Torik’s new story “Flavian” experiences his meeting with the great shrine. Life goes on...” In this book, readers will meet both old acquaintances (Father Flavian, Alexei, Irina) and new characters. The writer-priest is looking for answers to the most important questions for the Orthodox layman: about unceasing prayer in the world, about the last times, about the fight against passions, about the growth of faith in the human soul.