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The relics of St. Cyprian, defender of spells and curses.

We pass it making us cross, but without knowing that the walls coated in paintings of archangels and saints, the Church still Zlatari hide a treasure and precious: hand St. Cyprian, the great patron of spells and curses. Caught in the vise of hulking blocks, the church is all that remains of the ancient Bridge of Mogosoaia, of immense spiritual quadrilateral format sometime in the heart of the capital: Sarindar, Batistei, Stavropoleos.
Brilliance and glory of old are gone forever: her courtyard fountain shaped stone by Italian craftsmen, the inn of zlatars, cemetery with graves princely, noble xenodochium with chambers, which pulled Patriarch of Alexandria and other prominent guests. History, as long as it was kept, laconic refugee sits on the door that leads to profaning „Place of worship of Goldsmiths (zlatar) Greek high Constantin Voda on the foundation of a monastery of 1560”.
Is hardly a church in Bucharest in May strapped everything even more forlorn, with walls up to the ceiling smoked, with its beautiful stained glass windows and dusty at times erased. Even so, Father Diaconescu glory of God and give thanks for all things are now. In the 80s, Zlatari should be race on earth. It was top of the list of disused churches. It was caught in systematization plan Ceausescu. Day by day, cohorts of activists and architects inspecting the place, while bulldozers had already begun to clean up the area, while trucks stood ready prepared to load treasures and holy icons. Suddenly and absolutely inexplicable, the chief party changed their mind, leaving the church in its place.
Nobody knows how the miracle was committed, but people started talking. It could only be the fruit of faith, fervent prayer and tears old priest Chiricuta, but especially the work of St. Cyprian, whose relics rest for hundreds of years near the shrine, a shrine simple glass and a small garment of silver worked painstakingly. For several hundred years, Saint hand as a shield sits unseen on the church, those who step over the threshold. Little known, St. Cyprian, aka magician, he could not choose a house suitable repentance to his right on the road, in the heart of Bucharest crazy, hectic, full of worries and bad thoughts, surrounded by luxurious shops and banks, amid temptations and impurity of all kinds.

Cry of Molitvas:
„Fear … Run … Go!”

 Treasure of Zlatari Church

Scrape hand icon and St. Cyprian

On Friday, in the evening, Zlatari Church is busy world. No needle there is nowhere to throw it. Silently, heads bowed, people listen, they make the sign of the cross and occasionally whisper „Amen.”
It says here, Molitvele St. Basil are the strongest, as nowhere find more help in speedy dispensation curses and spells. The trouble does not choose. Young and old alike jerk, hearing the voice of the priest pressed: „Fear … Run away! … Get out … …! From the swamps of water, of fountains, the woods, the trees, the hollows of cracked earth … from places suspected and unsuspected, how do we know and where we do not know. „

Kathisma read every new atmosphere in the church takes on a particular gravity, disturbing. Not everyone can say Molitvele and not in any condition, but with training, with fasting and prayer. The voice of the priest and imprecations addressed suitor devil in the room reverberates strongly unabated. For his part, the father has only weapons simplicity and the Pravila Christian cross, the Antimins and somewhere nearby, shield the high price – the relics of St. Cyprian, the most famous wizard of the Roman Empire, worshiper of Apollo and Artemis, fortuneteller in stars and books, which, by some miracle, was baptized, became bishop and in a later, faced with large manhood sample terrible martyrdom: whipped, torn nails iron, put in a boiler boiling water and then beheaded, not wanting to return to his old devilish practices.
The figure of the long, Syrian olive complexion and dark eyes piercing, watching the icon. In silence the end of the service, people go to the anointed and then stop in the right coffin with holy relics – a thin brown hand childish gesture mystical and fully captured in the blessing. Worship, meditate is a moment, she cried silent and suffering-in their own way, after which rises like hardened and hope. And then, from a distance, her father investigates Stancu attentive gaze. He does not want to discuss this topic, but admits that house saint fight the faceless and without shame is great. It happens sometimes that the Zlatari, besides faithful problems, to enter and witch came with going to hide and unclean, to show that the church they acquiesces in what they do or take a splinter, even in the frame of the saint, to -and further increase unclean work: links and charms, spells and purpose. Rarely she was given parent that such a woman to come to the sacrament of confession, to recognize openly charms made and to repent from the heart, but that does not stop him from noticing that lately, have multiplied over wires, and spells and those who do. How is it possible that in a world increasingly positivist and literate, to spend so many errors and heresies, it’s hard to loose. The fact is that fortune tellers around Bucharest not only thrive, raising palaces and crowning it with pitiful title of „Queen of white magic”, but receive some characters put up visit: politicians, famous athletes and great businessmen. „The error is greater than ever,” says the father, not understanding the curiosity of some of his lure future to guess in books or gramolnic, to speak with the dead or to bind the devil to win the lottery, for houses and cars luxurious.

Charms, spells, curses

Father judge and search every word of Scripture speak, without addition or truncation. This field of witchcraft hides many traps and obstacles, excesses and heavy wanderings. Some believe too much in charms. Suspect any trouble or hindrance in their lives – either damage or quarrels in the family. Suspect even insistent gaze gesture neighbor. Menest them lest the evil eye? I did not walk with spells? Conversely, others smile. Refuses to believe that the devil has his force. The spell-works considered as superstitions, practices empirically, you do not need to be taken into account.
Although, as confessor, met the most disturbing cases, avoid talking in detail about them, about how they are doing and propagate the charms and spells. What interests him most and finds it more useful to people is that they know how difficult and terrible curse can work. He said the deep hatred or a fleeting moment of rage, curses shall commit an output threefold: by themselves, through the power of thought and negatively, especially by word. Father’s convinced that everything starts from the word, which is the Logos incarnate in history. I mean, God the Word, Jesus Christ. We live in a noisy world, a world of words said with or without balances. We take everything easy, chattering wanted and unwanted and not understand any utterance nor mystical force that triggered huge. We play with fire and not even suspect what a word thrown to the nerves or even one delivered at the icon. No need to curse anyone, but no laws you alone at the altar. If you do however, definitely need to, fulfill the covenant at any cost. It’s your covenant, to which no one forced you.
Father remembers one woman in Pitesti. He was very loyal and at one point came with many sacrifices in the Holy Land on Mount Eleon. There, at the Russian monastery of nuns, it was vowed to become a nun, enter the fog brides of Christ until the end of days. It did not, her mother being threatened that if one leaves, will commit suicide on the grave of her parents. Broke his covenant, believing that doing a good deed, and immediately became a nightmare her life – her family was shattered, a child died in an explosion burned and another committed suicide out of love. Unwittingly transgressed woman Saviour do not make vows to God. What it is yes be yes, what is not, not. „The word draws reality,” the father repeated several times, arguing those who take the word of God in the desert, playing with words and have no idea what fury upon them and attract others.
From experience so far, it can say that in all, the worst is the curse of the mother. Father remembers him, in the country, a woman scolded her son, and nerves cursed him to die alone, to see how hard it is to not have anyone around you. It did not take long and the boy went to the forest, rolling with the tractor. No matter how much he struggled, could not get out from under the weight of the tractor. They found dead after a few days. There was no fracture, the slightest blow. He died of hunger and fear. He died alone, crying assembly desperately for help. Parental curse is so powerful that it happens that seven priests nor does it absolve the first time. The remedy lies in the word all – in prayer, in the Psalms speaking, in repentance and confession. Nothing confessor say: „I committed all sins known and unknown. Untie me, Father.” Forgiveness to be complete, must pronounce every sin, to recognize speech what you did wrong and you press conscience.

Healing shrine made from St. Cyprian

In Zlatari church, people come and go late at night, to put the padlock on the door. Some meditate in silence the choir, others expect quiet place to confession. All have a problem and hope in the saint. A middle-aged woman is not afraid to tell when she came to Zlatari. The church was in „Darvari” and at one point he noticed that the icon of the Savior stared at it, and had a twinkle in the eye as tears. I thought that it was a mere imagination, changed its place, but the icon following her through the church. Disturbed, was seated to pray miracle-working icon of Virgin Mary, when, without warning, she punched near a neon so much that scared shrine priest came to see what happens. In a later he went home. Still hope that everything was a hallucination, a man feel tired, when a car was racing crazily up on the sidewalk, a little lacking to crush a pole. Moving away terrified of the crash site, he has made a few steps and immediately felt an invisible hand as a stop. In the next second, a giant turtur was detached from the roof and fell near his feet. At night, sleep will dream of a church altar, while a voice repeating the name of St. Cyprian. Now it can say that was a sign from above. A sign of hardening. Praying at the shrine of the saint in his family life and peace descended. Feels defended, and all her troubles related service and a legacy terribly confusing resolved as if by itself.
On entering the church, an old lady in mourning clothes stand guard as a humble, without moving. No begging, no hand stretches, but people give him some money, a bag of food. Accept any mercy, then, of gifts received, to help turn a sick who cares for many years. Her name is Maria and her humility canon of gratitude for all the straightening of her life received from St. Cyprian. It all started a few years ago, when her husband was a man who loved her and sat down, suddenly he began to beat wildly and give it out of the house. Maria and realized that something fishy is going on in the room when the doors opened again, as haunted by ghosts, and in front of the apartment could find all sorts of bad things handkerchiefs bloody claws chicken … not to lose temper . Praying and fasting, he made 40 days in a row akathist St. Cyprian and calling priest consecrated the house several times. Suddenly, things were quiet. Charms ended, growth has returned home even manos as before, and her daughter has accomplished great dream – to marry and emigrate to Canada.
Together, polluted, Sister Eugenia sit all the time. One find day by day, prayer book in hand, always repeating akathist saint and prayers of thanksgiving. Not afraid too hard to spell, but he knows well the power of evil. After 30 years, the daughter of a neighboring witch was in love with her brother, wanting to marry quickly. How brother and mother Eugenia parents have not agreed, the witch wanted revenge. From that moment, things began to go from bad to worse. At first, all animals died in the yard. He followed her father touched devilish charms and rituals with dolls pierced the heart. He died simply fading to his feet and without doctors realize what is happening. Grief, her mother fell ill. Then followed the serious illness of an uncle troubles dire brother, like a final, losing a house and swindled years in a row, so that prayer parent Argatu and work of St. Cyprian brought him inner peace and reconciliation family , so tried over the years.

Fight with the devil

It’s a lot of pain in Zlatari Church. Everyone has a story and tribulation or. There is no simple nor easy to listen to them without looking troubled. For nearly 20 years the parish church, Father Diaconescu hard to shy, but he also recognizes how hard it is, how some days returning home ravaged, wounded soul, and at night happens to have bad dreams. Cheer when he sees healing power of St. Cyprian, when people come to the altar to thank, but fighting is terrible and endless enemy. Unwittingly load the full ugliness of others lived with revenge and storms of unimaginable anxiety.
From what he saw and heard, the hardest spells are related to the dead: ties, nails, hair, torn pieces of clothing, earth from the grave. Then comes bits holy spells with fragments of icons, the relics of priestly garb. With a shadow of sadness in his eyes shows us the holy shrine, closed with two rows of keys. We then look toothless gaps iconostasis and ornaments from the sidelines, people breaking them into hiding or to introduce tickets or sawed using wood chips in spell-words or other debris.

Church treasure Zlatari

In the church of St. Cyprian, it is a vicious fight with the devil. I ask each parent to make them guess them in bits and gospel book with the key to open them or to tell them on Good Friday; others let all sorts of handkerchiefs in the Holy shrine at the entrance or near the altar. No matter what you thought people come to church, parents must treat them all the same – with love and understanding, without suspicion or judgment. He refused if things undue sky, but how can she and learn the true faith, advising them to remove the imaginations of the night and come to God, confident in the help and protection unabated. What is important is not to lose hope, says the father. Let us not delude ourselves that we will disenchant other spells. People running around the country and search for cure healing, attracted by the reputation of a hermitage, a spiritual elder, of an icon miracle, but it happens that the wonder and treasure healing to be just steps away from her – at Zlatari, the example. Forlorn and almost covered with blocks, goldsmiths Greek church stands as an invisible shield over the city and all those who suffer, full of abomination against linkages of spells and curses of all kinds. Little known, St. Cyprian unable to choose a more appropriate home – in the middle of Bucharest noisy, rushed, full of worries and bad thoughts.

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Moastele Sfantului Ciprian, aparator de vraji si blesteme.

Trecem pe langa ea facandu-ne cruce, dar fara sa stim ca intre peretii inveliti in picturi cu arhangheli si sfinti, Biserica Zlatari ascunde o comoara inca si mai de pret: mana Sfantului Ciprian, marele ocrotitor de vraji si blesteme. Prinsa in menghina unor blocuri matahaloase, biserica e tot ce a mai ramas din stravechiul Pod al Mogosoaiei, din imensul patrulater spiritual format candva in inima Capitalei: Sarindari, Batistei, Stavropoleos.
Stralucirea si fala de altadata au disparut pentru totdeauna: curtea cu havuzul ei din piatra fasonata de mesteri italieni, hanul zlatarilor, cimitirul cu morminte voievodale, arhondaricul cu odai boieresti, la care trageau patriarhul Alexandriei si alti oaspeti de vaza. Istoria, atat cat s-a pastrat, sta refugiata laconic pe usa ce duce la pangar: „Loc de inchinaciune al aurarilor (zlatarilor) greci, ridicat de Constantin Voda pe fundatia unui schit de la 1560”.
Cu greu gasesti in tot Bucurestiul o biserica mai stramtorata si mai oropsita, cu peretii afumati pana in tavan, cu frumoasele ei vitralii prafuite si, pe alocuri, sterse. Chiar si asa, parintele Diaconescu da slava lui Dumnezeu si multumeste pentru toate cate sunt acum. In anii 80, Zlatari ar fi trebuit sa fie rasa de pe fata pamantului. Era in capul listei de biserici dezafectate. Era prinsa in planul de sistematizare ceausist. Zi de zi, cohorte de activisti si arhitecti inspectau locul, in timp ce buldozerele incepusera deja sa curete zona, iar camioanele stateau gata pregatite sa incarce odoarele si sfintele icoane. Brusc si absolut inexplicabil, mai marii partidului s-au razgandit, lasand biserica la locul ei.
Nimeni nu stie cum anume a fost savarsita minunea, dar oamenii au inceput sa vorbeasca. Nu putea fi decat rodul credintei, rugaciunile fierbinti si lacrimile batranului preot Chiricuta, dar, mai ales, lucrarea Sfantului Ciprian, ale carui moaste se odihnesc de sute de ani langa altar, intr-o racla simpla de sticla si intr-un mic vesmant de argint, lucrat cu migala. De mai multe sute de ani, mana sfantului sta asezata ca un scut nevazut asupra bisericii, asupra celor care ii calca pragul. Prea putin cunoscut, Sf. Ciprian, zis si Magul, nu putea sa-si aleaga o casa mai potrivita caintei sale: chiar la drum, in inima unui Bucuresti smintit, agitat, plin de griji si de ganduri rele, inconjurat de magazine luxoase si sedii de banci, in mijlocul ispitelor si a necuratiilor de tot felul.

Strigatul Molitvelor:
„Teme-te… Fugi… Pleaca!”

Comoara Bisericii Zlatari
Icoana si racla cu mana Sf. Ciprian

Vineri, pe inserat, Biserica Zlatari forfoteste de lume. Nici un ac nu ai unde sa-l arunci. Tacuti, cu capetele plecate, oamenii asculta, isi fac semnul crucii si soptesc din cand in cand: „Amin!”.
Se spune ca aici, Molitvele Sfantului Vasile sunt cele mai puternice, ca nicaieri nu gasesti ajutor mai grabnic in dezlegarile de blesteme si vraji. Necazul nu alege. Tineri si batrani tresar deopotriva, auzind vocea apasata a preotului: „Teme-te… Fugi… Pleaca… Departeaza-te…! Din smarcuri, din apa, din fantani, din paduri, din copaci, din scorburi, din crapaturile pamantului… Din locuri banuite si nebanuite, de unde stim si de unde nu stim”.

La fiecare noua catisma citita, atmosfera din biserica capata o gravitate aparte, tulburatoare. Nu oricine poate rosti Molitvele si nu in orice stare, ci cu pregatire, cu post si rugaciune. Glasul suitor al preotului si imprecatiile adresate necuratului reverbereaza in incapere puternic, neabatut. De partea sa, parintele nu are decat armele simplitatii si ale pravilei crestine: crucea, antimisul si, undeva alaturi, pavaza cea de mare pret – moastele Sfantului Ciprian, cel mai vestit vrajitor al Imperiului Roman, adorator al lui Apolo si al zeitei Artemis, ghicitor in stele si carti, care, printr-o minune, s-a crestinat, a devenit episcop si, intr-un tarziu, a infruntat cu mare barbatie proba cumplita a muceniciei: biciuit, sfartecat cu unghii de fier, bagat intr-un cazan cu apa clocotita si apoi decapitat, nevrand sa se intoarca la vechile lui practici diavolesti.
Figura lui prelunga, siriana, cu ten masliniu si ochi negri, patrunzatori, vegheaza din icoana. In tacerea sfarsitului de slujba, oamenii trec la miruit si se opresc apoi in dreptul raclei cu moastele cele sfinte – o mana maronie si subtire ca de copil, surprinsa in gestul mistic si plenar al binecuvantarii. Se inchina, se reculeg o clipa, isi striga tacut si-n felul lor suferinta, dupa care se ridica parca mai intariti si cu nadejde. Cand si cand, de la distanta, parintele Stancu ii cerceteaza atent cu privirea. Nu vrea sa discute despre acest subiect, dar recunoaste ca in casa sfantului, lupta cu cel fara chip si fara de rusine este mare. Se intampla cateodata ca la Zlatari, pe langa credinciosi cu probleme, sa intre si vrajitoare, venite cu gand ascuns si necurat, ca sa arate ca biserica le incuviinteaza in ceea ce fac sau sa ia o aschie, macar, din rama sfantului, pentru a-si spori si mai mult lucrarea necurata: legaturi si farmece, descantece si meniri. Rar i-a fost dat parintelui ca o asemenea femeie sa vina la taina spovedaniei, sa recunoasca deschis farmecele facute si sa se caiasca din inima, dar asta nu-l impiedica sa observe ca in ultimul timp, s-au inmultit, peste fire, si vrajile, si cei care le faptuiesc. Cum e posibil ca intr-o lume tot mai pozitivista si cu stiinta de carte, sa se petreaca atatea rataciri si eresuri, asta e greu de dezlegat. Cert este ca ghicitoarele din jurul Bucurestiului nu numai ca prospera, ridicand palate si incoronandu-se cu jalnica titulatura de „Regina a magiei albe”, dar primesc si vizita unor personaje sus puse: politicieni, sportivi celebri si mari oameni de afaceri. „Ratacirea e mai mare ca oricand”, zice parintele, neintelegand curiozitatea unora de a-si ispiti viitorul, de a ghici in carti sau gramolnic, de a vorbi cu mortii sau de a se lega necuratului pentru castig la loto, pentru case si masini luxoase.

Farmece, vraji, blesteme

Parintele cumpaneste fiecare cuvant si cauta a vorbi scripturistic, fara adaos ori trunchiere. Domeniul acesta al vrajitoriei ascunde multe piedici si capcane, excese si rataciri grele. Unii cred prea mult in farmece. Suspecteaza orice necaz sau opreliste din viata lor – fie paguba, fie certuri in familie. Suspecteaza pana si gestul sau privirea insistenta a vecinului. Nu cumva le meneste de deochi? Nu cumva umbla cu vraji? Altii, dimpotriva, zambesc. Refuza sa creada ca necuratul are forta lui. Considera fermecaturile drept superstitii, practici babesti, pe care nu trebuie sa le iei in seama.
Desi, ca duhovnic, a intalnit cazuri din cele mai cutremuratoare, evita sa vorbeasca in amanunt despre ele, despre felul in care se fac si se propaga farmecele si vrajile. Ceea ce il intereseaza mai mult si i se pare mai de folos oamenilor este ca ei sa stie cat de grea si de cumplita poate fi lucrarea blestemului. Spuse din ura adanca sau la un moment trecator de furie, blestemele se savarsesc cu o putere intreita: prin ele insele, prin forta gandului negativ si, mai ales, prin cuvant. Parintele e convins ca totul pleaca de la cuvant, care este Logos intrupat in istorie. Adica, Dumnezeu Cuvantul, Iisus Hristos. Traim intr-o lume zgomotoasa, o lume a vorbelor spuse cu sau fara cumpanire. Luam totul in usor, sporovaim vrute si nevrute si nu intelegem nici mistica rostirii si nici forta uriasa pe care o declansam. Ne jucam cu focul si nu banuim macar ce inseamna o vorba aruncata la nervi sau chiar una rostita la icoana. Nu trebuie sa blestemi pe nimeni, dar nici sa te legi singur in fata altarului. Daca o faci totusi, trebuie negresit sa implinesti legamantul cu orice chip. E legamantul tau, la care nu te-a obligat nimeni.
Parintele isi aminteste de o femeie din Pitesti. Era foarte credincioasa si, la un moment dat, a ajuns cu multe sacrificii in Tara Sfanta, pe muntele Eleon. Acolo, la Manastirea rusa de maici, s-a jurat sa se calugareasca, sa intre in ceata mireselor lui Hristos, pana la sfarsitul zilelor. Nu a facut-o, amenintata fiind de mama ei ca, daca o paraseste, se va sinucide pe mormantul parintilor ei. Si-a incalcat legamantul, crezand ca face o fapta buna, si imediat viata ei a devenit un calvar – familia i s-a destramat, un copil a murit ars intr-o explozie, iar altul s-a sinucis din dragoste. Fara sa vrea, femeia a incalcat porunca Mantuitorului: sa nu faceti juraminte in fata lui Dumnezeu. Ce este da sa fie da, ce este nu, nu. „Cuvantul atrage realitatea”, repeta parintele de mai multe ori, certandu-i pe cei care iau cuvantul Domnului in desert, care se joaca cu vorbele si habar nu au ce urgie atrag asupra lor si asupra altora.
Din experienta sa de pana acum, poate spune ca din toate, cel mai cumplit este blestemul de mama. Parintele isi aminteste ca la el, la tara, o femeie s-a certat cu fiul ei, si la nervi l-a blestemat sa moara singur, sa vada cat de greu e sa nu ai pe nimeni langa tine. Nu a durat mult timp si baiatul a plecat la padure, rasturnandu-se cu tractorul. Oricat s-a zbatut, nu a mai putut iesi de sub greutatea tractoruui. L-au gasit mort, dupa cateva zile. Nu avea nici o fractura, nici cea mai mica lovitura. Murise de foame si de spaima. Murise singur, strigand intruna, cu disperare, dupa ajutor. Blestemul parintesc e atat de puternic, incat se intampla ca nici sapte preoti sa nu-l dezlege de prima data. Remediul sta tot in cuvant – in rugaciune, in rostirea psalmilor, in cainta si spovedanie. Degeaba spui duhovnicului: „Am savarsit toate pacatele stiute si nestiute. Dezleaga-ma, parinte”. Ca iertarea sa fie deplina, trebuie sa pronunti fiecare pacat, sa recunosti prin vorbire ceea ce ai gresit si iti apasa cugetul.

Tamaduiri facute la racla Sf. Ciprian

In Biserica Zlatari, oamenii intra si ies pana noaptea tarziu, pana se pune lacatul pe usa. Unii se reculeg in linistea stranei, altii asteapta tacuti rand la spovedanie. Toti au o problema si nadajduiesc in ajutorul sfantului. O femeie intre doua varste nu se sfieste sa povesteasca cum a ajuns la Zlatari. Era in Biserica „Darvari” si, la un moment dat, a observat ca icoana Mantuitorului se uita fix la ea, si in ochi avea o sclipire ca de lacrimi. I s-a parut ca e o simpla inchipuire, si-a schimbat locul, dar icoana o urmarea in toata biserica. Tulburata, s-a asezat sa se roage la icoana facatoare de minuni a Maicii Domnului, cand, fara veste, langa ea a pocnit un neon atat de tare, incat preotul a iesit speriat din altar ca sa vada ce se intampla. Intr-un tarziu, a plecat acasa. Inca mai spera ca totul fusese o nalucire, o parere de om obosit, cand o masina gonind nebuneste s-a suit pe trotuar, putin lipsind sa o striveasca de un stalp. Indepartandu-se ingrozita de locul accidentului, a mai facut cativa pasi si, imediat, a simtit o mana nevazuta cum o opreste. In secunda imediat urmatoare, un turtur urias s-a desprins de pe acoperis si a cazut langa picioarele sale. Noaptea, in somn, va visa altarul unei biserici, in timp ce o voce repeta numele Sfantului Ciprian. Acum, poate spune ca a fost un semn de sus. Un semn de intarire. Rugandu-se la racla sfantului, in viata si familia sa a pogorat pacea. Se simte aparata, si toate necazurile ei legate de serviciu si de o mostenire teribil de incurcata s-au rezolvat parca de la sine.
La intrarea in biserica, o batrana in haine cernite sta ca un paznic umil, fara sa se miste. Nu cerseste, nu intinde mana, dar oamenii ii dau ceva bani, o punga cu mancare. Accepta orice milostenie, ca apoi, din darurile primite, sa ajute la randul ei o bolnava de care se ingrijeste de mai multi ani. O cheama Maria si umilinta ei este canonul de multumire pentru toate indreptarile din viata ei primite de la Sf. Ciprian. Totul a inceput in urma cu cativa ani, cand sotul, care o iubea si era om asezat, a inceput din senin sa o bata cu salbaticie si sa o dea afara din casa. Maria si-a dat seama ca ceva necurat se intampla, cand in camera usile se deschideau mereu, ca bantuite de fantome, si in fata apartamentului gasea tot felul de lucruri urate: batiste insangerate, gheare de gaina… Nu s-a pierdut cu firea. Rugandu-se si postind, a facut 40 de zile la rand acatistul Sf. Ciprian si, chemand preotul, a sfintit casa in cateva randuri. Brusc, lucrurile s-au linistit. Farmecele au incetat, sporul casei a revenit si mai manos ca inainte, iar fiica ei si-a implinit visul cel mare – sa se casatoreasca si sa emigreze in Canada.
Alaturi, la pangar, sta tot timpul sora Eugenia. O gasesti zi de zi, cu cartea de rugaciuni in mana, repetand mereu acatistul sfantului si rugaciunile de multumire. Nu se teme prea tare de farmece, dar le cunoaste bine puterea malefica. In urma cu 30 de ani, fiica unei vecine vrajitoare s-a indragostit de fratele ei, dorind sa se casatoreasca cat mai repede. Cum fratele si parintii maicii Eugenia nu au fost de acord, vrajitoarea a vrut sa se razbune. Din clipa aceea, lucrurile au inceput sa mearga din rau in mai rau. La inceput, au murit toate animalele din curte. A urmat tatal ei, atins de farmece si ritualuri diavolesti, cu papusi intepate in inima. A murit pur si simplu, stingandu-se pe picioare si fara ca medicii sa-si dea seama ce se intampla. De suparare, mama ei a cazut la pat. Apoi, au urmat boala grea a unui unchi, necazurile cumplite ale fratelui, ca intr-un final, sa piarda o casa si sa pagubeasca ani la rand, pana ce rugaciunea parintelui Argatu si lucrarea Sfantului Ciprian i-au adus linistea sufleteasca si impacarea familiei, atat de incercata de-a lungul anilor.

Lupta cu necuratul

E multa durere in Biserica Zlatari. Fiecare om are povestea si necazul sau. Nu e nici simplu si nici usor sa le asculti fara sa te tulburi. De aproape 20 de ani paroh al bisericii, parintele Diaconescu incearca sa se tina tare, dar tot el recunoaste cat este de greu, cum in unele zile se intoarce acasa ravasit, ranit sufleteste, iar noaptea se intampla sa aiba vise urate. Se bucura cand vede puterea tamaduitoare a Sfantului Ciprian, cand oamenii vin sa multumeasca la altar, insa lupta cu vrajmasul este teribila si fara sfarsit. Fara sa vrea, se incarca din plin cu uraciunea traita de altii, cu razbunari de neinchipuit si vijelii de neliniste.
Din cate a vazut si a auzit, cele mai grele vraji sunt legate de mort: legaturi, unghii, par, bucati smulse din vesminte, pamant din mormant. Urmeaza apoi vrajile cu particele sfinte: fragmente de icoane, de moaste, de straie preotesti. Cu o umbra de tristete in priviri, ne arata racla sfantului, inchisa cu doua randuri de chei. Ne arata apoi golurile din iconostas si ornamentele stirbite de pe margine, oamenii rupandu-le in ascuns, fie ca sa introduca biletele, fie sa foloseasca aschiile de lemn traforat, in fermecaturi sau alte mizerii.
Comoara Bisericii Zlatari

In biserica Sfantului Ciprian, lupta cu necuratul este crancena. Unii ii cer parintelui sa le faca particele si sa le ghiceasca in Evanghelie, sa le deschida cartea cu cheia sau sa le meneasca in Vinerea Mare; altii lasa tot felul de batiste sub racla Sfantului, la intrare sau langa altar. Indiferent cu ce gand vin oamenii la biserica, parintele trebuie sa-i trateze pe toti la fel – cu dragoste si intelegere, fara banuieli sau judecata. Ii refuza daca cer lucruri necuvenite, dar, cat poate, ii si invata dreapta credinta, sfatuindu-i sa indeparteze inchipuirile de toata noaptea si sa se apropie de Dumnezeu, increzatori in ajutorul si protectia Sa neabatute. Important este sa nu ne pierdem nadejdea, zice parintele. Sa nu ne amagim ca vom scapa de vraji prin alte vraji. Oamenii alearga prin tara si cauta leac de vindecare, atrasi fiind de renumele unui schit, al unui duhovnic batran, al unei icoane facatoare de minuni, dar se intampla ca minunea si comoara vindecarii sa fie la doar cativa pasi de ei – la Zlatari, de pilda. Stinghera si aproape acoperita de blocuri, bisericuta aurarilor greci sta ca o pavaza nevazuta asupra orasului si a tuturor celor aflati in suferinta, contra legaturilor pline de uraciune ale farmecelor si blestemelor de tot felul. Prea putin cunoscut, Sfantul Ciprian nu putea sa-si aleaga o casa mai potrivita – in mijlocul unui Bucuresti galagios, grabit, incarcat de griji si ganduri rele.

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