A true story told by Elder Ieronymos of Aegina (+1966) to Dionysios Batistatοs
The following text, which contains this story, was written in the Greek language by the late Dionysios Batistatos and sent to the late Sotiria Nousi (+2022), who published it in her book entitled "Elder Ieronymos of Aegina".
The privilege to become God’s children! The privilege to be adopted by God! The gift of Adoption! The greatest gift given by God to those who believe in Him. God opens the door of Paradise to all His adopted children, in other words, those who believe in Him. A unique gift enjoyed by Christian Orthodox believers. ***
Despite his efforts, a zealous Muslim in Constantinople seemed to be unable to perceive the spiritual truth associated with the gift to become God’s children (but do many contemporary "Orthodox Christians understand it too?).
Yet, the blessed Father Ieronymos, with several simple words the Holy Spirit put in his mind, managed to convince the zealous Muslin that it is only through Orthodoxy a nostalgic soul may find the coveted Paradise.
So many years have passed but Elder Ieronymos’ story has not been erased from my memory… Elder Ieronymos narrated this story to me, in a way full of modesty and humility, an evening when I visited his monastic cell in Aegina.
"In 1890s" he told me, "I was with my mother in Constantinople. I had recently been ordained to the priesthood. My mother’s sanctified soul and my mother’s persistent exhortations played a part in this story as well.
One day a Turkish police officer came to our house. “Papa” (Father), the Turkish police says to me, “the Chief Justice wants you.”
For a moment I was agitated. What did the great Judge want me to do? Were the Turks planning something against the unfortunate Greeks? I crossed myself, took my mother's blessing, and while preparing for anything that could happen, I made my way to the Chief Justice’s office.
As soon as I reached his office, the Chief Justice greeted me with a compliment. Then, the Chief Justice asked everyone that were in his office to get out (kicked all of them out of the office), he closed the doors tightly and started talking to me:
– “Papa (Father), I get a salary of 6 pounds a month; I keep 2 for my family’s needs; I offer 4 pounds to charitable causes: I take care of orphans’ weddings, I protect widows, I support to the sick and poor. I fast and pray with faith in God. When I am in court, first I make sure I find where the truth lies and then I decide guilt or innocence; I do not allow anyone to influence my decision, including threats and authoritative recommendations, not even suggestions from the Vizier...”
Then, with longing eyes, the Chief Justice lowered his voice and said: "Papa (Father), I will not go to the Heaven as you Christians say?".
Fr. Ieronymos diagnosed the unspeakable nostalgia and desire for Heaven (Paradise) that flared up in the heart of this non-Christian human being…. The aura of the Holy Spirit gently surrounded the Turkish Chief Judge…
Fr. Ieronymos, who, at that moment, acted as an instrument of Divine Providence, felt that the time to give the testimony of Orthodox Christianity had arrived and that through this testimony the Chief Justice (the Nostalgic for Paradise) was going to be drawn to the Truth.
Elder Ieronymos asked: "Tell me, your Honor, do you have children?"
"Yes I have" the Chief Justice answered.
"Do you have servants?", Fr. Ieronymos asked again.
"Yes, I have servants as well."
"Do you love your servants?"
"I love them because they are disciplined and execute my will."
"Do you intend to make them heirs to your estate when you die?"
"No!".
"Why not;".
"The right to paternal property belongs exclusively to legitimate children."
Father Ieronymos was silent for a moment. And then he continued decisively:
"Your Honor, based on what you just described in relation to what you do every day, you are definitely a good servant of God. But if you desire to inherit the Father's House, Heaven, you must become God’s child receiving His privilege as his legal child. In other words, you must embrace the Orthodox faith and be baptized."
And the Chief Justice accepted the recommendation. He resigned, left Constantinople, accepted Orthodoxy and was baptized.
*** Translator’s note: for further understanding the GIFT OF ADOPTION you may read Apostle Paul's letters as per below:
Paul often opens his letters to the churches with phrases like “God our Father” (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3, etc); these phrases apply to believers. Indeed, Paul explicitly teaches that we become God’s children by adoption. God lovingly takes in those who are in Christ as His.
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons,” (Galatians 4:4-5).
“He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,” (Ephesians 1:5).
The idea that individuals become children of God by the grace of adoption, rather than by right of birth is also repeated in Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 8:15-23, 9:4-8).
