In 1922 in Russia after the revolution, the local church in Torginsk near Nertsinsk was closed and boarded up. This Church had a famed Icon of the Virgin Mary,respected,worshipped and revered by Russians and foreigners alike. The Church celebrated its feast day on 8th July each year. In this year there was a severe drought and the earth was cracking up.The locals asked permission from the local party secretary to open up the church and celebrate the day, and take the Icon around the area, as was normally done before 1917. Permission was granted, and as the 8th July dawned, many surrounded the Church, to pay homage. Amongst the people was the local party secretary, a staunch atheist, Stefano Kamensikov.

As the Icon passed in front of the people, all knelt before it. All, that is except Stefano and his party members. Indeed, he started to smoke. He seemed to feel though that the Virgin Mary was staring into his very soul. The liturgy started and the Icon was taken all around the fields and to the homes of the believers.Stefano was on his horse, and rode to his house,where his old mother stood.
"Do not dare to let that gypsy into our house ," he screamed.
"What words are these?" replied his mother. "Are you mad?"
Stefano rushed towards the priest and ordered him to stop the liturgy. He pushed him over and the priest fell to the ground. Stefano then kicked the Holy Cross which had fallen to the ground out of the priests hands, and raised his sword and with all his strength,he smashed it down onto the Icon. As everyone looked horified, including him, blood poured from the chin of the Virgin Mary,soaking her silver shirt. Stefano stood horified and saw tears from the face of the Virgin. Then the rain came. It poured for three days. On the fourth day, the sun came out. The Virgin Mary had performed her miracle. The Party humbled by their experience, closed the Church again and transferred the Icon to a far off village.

Eight years later, Stefano was a Christian and on the run from the authorities. He went back to his home, where a trap had been laid for him. He wanted to see his mother one more time. In the ensuing melee,his mother was killed for trying to warn her son of the trap. He managed to flee and escape to China.

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