THREE HERMITS

As the ship sailed smoothly across the calm waters, a bishop stood on the deck, taking in the salty air and the cries of seagulls overhead. He was on his way to the Solovetsk Monastery, accompanied by a number of pilgrims who were eager to visit the shrines at that holy place.

As the bishop paced up and down the deck, he noticed a group of men standing near the prow, listening intently to a fisherman who was pointing out to sea. The bishop's curiosity was piqued, and he walked over to join the group.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his eyes scanning the horizon.

The fisherman turned to him, doffing his cap. "We were just talking about the three hermits who live on that island over there," he said, pointing to a small, dark streak on the horizon.

The bishop's interest was piqued. "Tell me more about these hermits," he said, his eyes fixed on the island.

The fisherman launched into a story about how he had once been stranded on the island overnight, and how the three hermits had taken him in, fed him, and helped him repair his boat. "They're holy men," the fisherman said, his voice full of reverence. "They live on that island, praying and serving God."

The bishop's heart was touched by the fisherman's story. He felt a deep sense of longing to meet these holy men, to learn from them, and to share in their devotion to God.

As the ship drew closer to the island, the bishop asked the captain to take him ashore. The captain was hesitant, warning the bishop that the island was uninhabited and that the hermits were likely to be unfriendly. But the bishop was undeterred.

A small boat was lowered into the water, and the bishop climbed aboard. The sailors rowed him ashore, and he stepped onto the sandy beach, feeling the warm sun on his face and the cool breeze in his hair.

As he looked around, he saw three old men standing on the shore, watching him. They were dressed in simple, tattered robes, and their faces were lined with age and wisdom. The bishop felt a deep sense of reverence wash over him as he approached the old men.

"God bless you, my brothers," he said, bowing low before them.

The old men bowed in return, their eyes shining with kindness and welcome. The bishop sat down on a nearby rock, and the old men stood before him, waiting for him to speak.

"I have heard about you, my brothers," the bishop said, his voice filled with emotion. "I have heard that you live here on this island, praying and serving God. I want to learn from you, to share in your devotion, and to bring you whatever spiritual guidance I can."

The old men looked at each other, smiling, and then turned back to the bishop. "We do not know how to serve God," one of them said, his voice low and humble. "We only serve and support ourselves."

The bishop's heart went out to the old men. He saw the sincerity in their eyes, the deep desire to please God, and the simplicity of their faith.

"I will teach you how to pray," the bishop said, smiling. "I will teach you the Lord's Prayer, and you can repeat it after me."

And so the bishop began to teach the old men the Lord's Prayer. He repeated the words slowly and clearly, and the old men repeated them after him. They stumbled over the words at first, but the bishop was patient, correcting them gently and encouraging them to try again.

As the day wore on, the bishop continued to teach the old men, repeating the words of the Lord's Prayer over and over again. The old men were like children, eager to learn, and the bishop was like a father, guiding and teaching them.

Finally, after many hours of teaching, the old men were able to repeat the entire Lord's Prayer by themselves. The bishop was overjoyed, and he hugged the old men, tears of happiness streaming down his face.

As the sun began to set, the bishop knew it was time to leave. He said goodbye to the old men, thanking them for their hospitality and their eagerness to learn. The old men bowed low before him, their eyes shining with gratitude and respect.

The bishop climbed back into the small boat, and the sailors rowed him back to the ship. As he stepped aboard, he felt a deep sense of peace and contentment. He knew that he had done something good, something that would bring joy to the old men and to God.

As the ship sailed away from the island, the bishop stood at the stern, watching the island disappear into the distance. He felt a sense of wonder and awe at the mystery of God's ways.

Author's Note: I wrote this story as a contest entry to illustrate the power of simplicity and humility in fath. I hope you enjoyed the read. I'd love to hear what you think, so please feel free to leave a comment, click the heart, and subscribe!