One Sunday I went to attend the Divine Liturgy in a church. I was still a student at the time.

After the reading of the Gospel, there followed a very beautiful sermon by the priest about repentance and the power of Holy Communion! All the people who attended were truly moved, repented, and stood with great reverence in prayer as the Holy Gifts passed by them.

I also bowed out of reverence and prayed… At that moment, from the back pews, I heard a woman’s deep voice sighing and groaning strangely. I wondered to myself, “Who is this who is interrupting such a sacred moment!” I didn’t turn to look because I didn’t want to stop my prayer.

But the voice grew louder… And when the priest passed by her, she could no longer endure it.

“Stop, you’re burning me… you’re burning me… go away…” she said.

We all turned to see what had happened. A young, beautiful girl named Barbara had fallen to the floor and could not bear the presence of the Holy Gifts. She was demon-possessed.

Later we learned one of the reasons she had been possessed—by a legion of demons. She herself revealed it to us: she had attended many prayer gatherings of the well-known Vassula Ryden. This girl was now demon-possessed and wanted to be freed from the demons she carried.

But during the Liturgy, and after the sermon, they manifested. The priest was startled at first but found the courage to stand over her with the Holy Gifts and pray, because he understood what was happening.

From that moment, one by one, more demons began to reveal themselves… The priest could no longer stop the Liturgy.

At first, the possessed girl started attacking the Mother of God. I remember at one point, during a hymn to the Theotokos, the demon cried out in a loud voice:

“Stop all of you from praying and begging her (meaning the Mother of God). Her love burns me. Her prayers for you burn me…”

At other times it said: “It’s not in my interest to tell you these things. But He forces me. No, I don’t want to say it…” And then, as if someone compelled her, she continued:

“She intercedes for you daily… for your salvation… that He may have mercy on you… that He may not abandon you… It’s not in my interest to tell you this…

If only you knew how many tears she constantly sheds for your souls… and how she rejoices when you repent of your mistakes and return to her Son… He forces me to tell you… Yes, she loves you… more than you can imagine… I try to win you over… And she ruins everything with her prayers for you. I try to convince you that God doesn’t care for you… and most of you believe me. He shows you Paradise, and you don’t follow Him. I show you hell, and you run after me…

But if she sees even one of you begging her, she runs to help you… to plead with her Son… The witch…”

Then the priest made the sign of the Cross over her to stop her from speaking obscenely and interrupting. She tried to grab a heavy, upright brass candelabrum next to her to throw it at him. But as soon as he made the sign of the Cross over her, she froze in place.

With the priest’s prayers, which he read over her between parts of the Liturgy, many demons came out. He would pull them out from her throat, because they themselves could not bear to remain inside her. At the time of Holy Communion, she began to reveal the sins of those who were receiving. Then again the priest made the sign of the Cross over her in the name of the Holy Trinity, and she fell silent.

Through the intercessions of our sweet Mother, the Theotokos Mary, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us!

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