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<\/a><\/p>\nIt was in 1986 in Paris that I first read a samizdat life of Elder Sebastian of Karaganda (1884-1966) and came across the case of Zoya. Since that time Elder Sebastian has been canonized and his life published in English in the Optina Elders series of Platina. However, Zoya is mentioned there only briefly. On this, the fiftieth anniversary of the event, it seems fitting to speak more of this extraordinary occurrence.<\/span><\/p>\n The mysterious event took place on 31 December 1956 at 84 Chkalov Street in the town of Samara, far to the east of Moscow. The house was occupied by a very ordinary woman, Klavdia Bolonkina, whose son, Nicholas, had invited some friends round for a New Year\u2019s party. Among them was an eighteen-year old girl called Zoya, with whom Nicholas had recently started going out. <\/span><\/p>\n At the party all the girls had companions, except for Zoya who was sitting alone. Nicholas was busy. When the dancing started, Zoya declared: \u2018If I can\u2019t dance with my Nicholas, then I shall dance with St Nicholas!\u2019 At this she went off to the icon-corner to pick up the icon of the saint. Her friends were horrified. \u2018Zoya, that\u2019s a sin\u2019, they said. \u2018If God exists, then let Him punish me!\u2019 she answered.<\/span><\/p>\n She picked up the icon of St Nicholas, pressed it to her breast and went off to dance with the others.<\/p>\n Suddenly she froze, as if rooted to the spot. It was impossible to move her and take the icon out of her hands. It was as if it were stuck fast to her. Zoya gave no outward sign of life, but a very slight pulse could be felt around her heart. An emergency doctor, Anna Pavlovna Kalashnikova, was called out and tried to revive Zoya. The doctor’s sister, Nina, who is still alive, was interviewed recently and related the following:<\/p>\n Anna ran home in a very agitated state. Although the militia had taken a statement from her promising her silence, she could not contain herself. She told how she had tried to give Zoya injections, but that turned out to be impossible. It was as if Zoya\u2019s body had gone hard, the needles of the syringe would not penetrate the skin, they broke off. The whole town was talking about it. \u2018You sit there and in front of you stands a girl who is frozen, holding an icon in her hands, as if rooted to the spot. They say that God has punished her\u2019.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The event soon became known to the authorities in Samara. Since the affair was linked to religion, it received priority. A squad of militiamen was sent off to the house to stop sightseers. The authorities were right to be worried. By 2 January all the nearby streets were thronged with thousands of people, who had nicknamed the girl \u2018the stone Zoya\u2019. Various priests were invited to the house and \u2018the stone Zoya\u2019, since the militiamen were too frightened to go up to Zoya and the icon.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n