PH. KONTOGLOUGOU
YANNIS, THE BLESSED ONE
On New Year’s Eve St. Basil, although
he is invited by powerful kings and noblemen, prefers to wander through villages and cities, seeking goodhearted and hospitable people. To his great disappointment he sees that people are so indifferent and insensitive that they have even neglected the tombs of their ancestors.
Finally, he finds warmth and hospitality in the shabby hut of Yannis, a poor shepherd, who offers him all that his poor home has to offer.
In a masterly way, the author gives us the picture of every single object of the huts’ shabby interior seem, by the sweet irradiance of the fire and the good heart of his owner, like golden and silvery decoration of a magnificent palace.
To Yannis’request –who ignores St. Basil’s identity - St. Basil reads New Year’s prayers, but he omits reading the hymn dedicated to himself on that day. He cuts and shares the traditional pie naming every slice to each one of the family, except for himself, whose name is traditionally the first to evoke. When Yannis notices that, St. Basil refers to himself by the words << slave of God>> instead of << St. Basil>>. Yannis does not understand.
St. Basil then reads the prayer <<Our God I am aware that I am not worthy and capable to let you enter under the roof of my soul>>.
The kind shepherd wonders in whose, among the unsinned, wealthy and powerful kings’ home St. Basil may have been hosted on that special night, since poor people, he says, are sinners, and poorness itself is what pushes them to sin.
St. Basil repeats the prayer, changing some of the words : <<Holy God I am aware that simple Yannis is worthy and capable to let you enter under the roof of his house. Because he is child-like and your mysteries are only revealed to children>>. The author finishes by the wonderful phrase. <<Again, Yannis has not understood. Yannis, the blissful one, Yannis, the Blessed one>>.