“Don’t be frightened,” he took him by the arm and smiled. “All of us were once green and young when we began our good deed...”
“I’m very grateful,” Hryhoriy began, but the bishop interrupted him: “Wait, what about your ailment? You stammer, don’t you? I recall the bishop in Kyiv wanted to ordain you a priest!”
Dropping his gaze meekly, Hryhoriy replied: “I was healed, father...”
“As soon as you left the Academy?”
“The ways of the Lord are unfathomable…”
“Well, may the Lord go with you!” The bishop smiled without any malice. “Go to the Collegium, read Konysky, pray, think. The first lesson is tomorrow!”
When Hryhoriy emerged into the courtyard, illuminated by the evening sun, a monk, who had been dozing on a rock by the gate, came toward him. Sullen, grim, with a large mane of hair an
