1928-has completed the monastery of-in 1930 it was inhabited,1930- 30 nuns, of March, Saint Anthimos and the Good Turkish Commander
The Monastery of Saint Anthimos was completed in 1928 and became inhabited in 1930 by 30 nuns.
Before the German occupation, Saint Anthimos met a Turkish commander. He was an exceptionally kind man. He repaired damaged churches, built new ones, helped widows and orphans, cared for the poor, and protected the people. He never allowed Turkish soldiers to commit acts of injustice against anyone.
Seeing such goodness, Saint Anthimos wondered:
“Is it possible that this man, simply because he is a Turk and not baptized, will go to hell despite all the good he has done?”
Saint Anthimos fasted for an entire week and prayed, asking Christ to reveal the fate of the Turkish commander after his death.
Then the saint received a vision.
He saw a beautiful place, like a vast orchard filled with magnificent trees. As he approached, he saw the Turkish commander standing there. The commander called out:
“Welcome, my Anthimos! Come and see where I am.”
Saint Anthimos asked him:
“Are you in Paradise?”
The commander replied:
“Yes, but this Paradise is not the same Paradise that you Christians enter. I cannot enter the Paradise where the Orthodox Christians go.”
He continued:
“This is indeed a paradise, but it is different—a paradise prepared for good people.”
Saint Anthimos asked:
“So there are other paradises besides the one Paradise?”
The commander answered:
“Yes, my dear Anthimos. God cared for all people. There are many places of blessedness prepared for those who lived good lives.”
Saint Anthimos then asked:
“Why were you not baptized?”
The commander replied:
“I know that this remains upon my conscience, but I am well here. I am at peace.”
Saint Anthimos asked one final question:
“Are there still higher places?”
The commander answered:
“Yes, my dear Anthimos. The Third Heaven is reserved only for the Orthodox. It is the Heaven to which the Apostle Paul was caught up. Neither I nor Christians of other denominations can enter there. The Paradise where God dwells is only for the Orthodox.”
was catechized, The monastery of Saint Anthimos but Saint Anthimosbefore the Germans=who was so good that he
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