Kuibyshev, 1956, the city is buzzing and discussing the news: in the house of Claudia Bolonkina on Chkalova Street, the girl Zoya has been petrified with an icon in her hands. If you believe the rumors, the girl, in the company of young people, drank too much, grabbed the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from the iconostasis and started dancing. At the same moment, lightning flashed in the house and Zoya stood rooted to the spot, clutching the ill-fated icon. No one could move the girl from her place, and the syringe needles broke on her skin. High authorities are forced to let a priest see the girl, hoping that he can bring Zoya out of her stupor. Father Seraphim finds unusual symbols on the underside of the icon. Story 2: Psychiatrist Pavel comes to the monastery at the invitation of the abbot to give an opinion on the mental health of Elder Vasily, a local saint. In the monastery they whisper that the elder is overcome by demons and his holiness is in great doubt.