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conviction that had overe me to the marrow of my bones：
〃Christ is e。 The Incarnation is begun in all things and in all men and women； and will go on forever！〃 It seemed a song of such perfection that the tears flowed from me； and as I bowed my head and clasped my hands I looked down to see the bread and the wine in front of me； the rounded loaf waiting to be blessed and broken and the wine in the golden chalice there to be transformed。
〃This is the Body of Christ； and this is Blood shed for us now and before and forever； and in every moment of which we are alive！〃 I sang out。 I laid my hands on the loaf and lifted it； and a great stream of light poured forth out of it； and the congregation gave forth their sweetest loudest hymn of praise。
In my hands I held the chalice。 I held it high as the bells pealed from the towers； towers and towers that crowded near the towers of this grand church； stretching for miles in all directions； the whole world having being this great and glorious wilderness of churches； and here beside me the little golden bells chimed。
Once again came the gusts of incense。 Setting down the chalice I looked at the sea of faces stretching before me。 I turned my head from left to right； and then I looked Heavenward at the disappearing mosaics which became one with the rising； roiling white clouds。
I saw gold domes beneath Heaven。
I saw the endless rooftops of Podil。
I knew it was Vladimir's City in all its glory； and that I stood in the great sanctuary of Santa Sofia； all screens having been taken away that would have divided me from the people； and all those other churches which had been but ruins in my long…ago dim childhood were now restored to magnificence； and the golden domes of Kiev drank the light of the sun and gave it back with the power of a million planets basking eternal in the fire of a million stars。
〃My Lord； my God！〃 I cried out。 I looked down at the embroidered splendor of my vestments； the green satin and its threads of pure metallic gold。
On either side of me stood my brothers in Christ； bearded； eyes glowing as they assisted me； as they sang the hymns which I sang； as our voices mingled； pressing on from anthem to anthem in notes that I could almost see rising before me to the airy firmament above。
〃Give it to them！ Give it to them because they are hungry；〃 I cried。 I broke the loaf of bread in my hands。 I broke it into halves； and then into quarters； and tore these hastily into small morsels which crowded the shining golden plate。
En masse； the congregation mounted the steps； tender pink little hands reaching for the morsels； which I gave out as fast as I could； morsel after morsel； not a crumb spilling； the bread divided among dozens； and then scores； and then hundreds； as they pressed forward； the newers barely allowing those who had been fed to make their way back。
On and on they came。 But the hymns did not cease。 Voices； muted at the altar； silenced as the bread was devoured； soon burst forth loud and jubilant again。
The bread was eternal。
I tore its soft thick crust again and again and put it into the outstretched palms； the gracefully cupped fingers。
〃Take it； take the Body of Christ！〃 I said。
Dark wavering shadowy forms rose around me； rising up out of the gleaming gold and silver floor。 They were trunks of trees； and their limbs arched upward and then down towards me； and leaves and berries fell from these branches； down onto the altar； onto the golden plate and onto the sacred bread now in a great mass of fragments。
〃Gather them up！〃 I cried。 I picked up the soft green leaves and the fragrant acorns and I gave these too to the eager hands。 I looked down and I saw grain pouring through my fingers； grain which I offered to opened lips； grain which I poured into open mouths。
The air was thick with the soundless falling of the green leaves； so much so that the soft brilliant shade of green tinted all around it； broken suddenly everywhere by the flight of tiny birds。 A million sparrows flushed Heavenward。 A million finches soared； the brilliant sun flitting on their tiny outstretched wings。
〃Forever； ongoing； always in every cell and every atom；〃 I prayed。 〃The Incarnation；〃 I said。 〃And the Lord has dwelt among us。〃 My words rang out again as if a roof covered us； a roof that could echo my song； though our roof was now the roofless sky alone。
The crowd pressed in。 They surrounded the altar。 My brothers had slipped away； thousands of hands tugging gently at their vestments； pulling them back from the table of God。 All around me there pressed these hungry ones who took the bread as I gave it； who took the grain； who took the acorns by the handful； who took even the tender green leaves。
There stood my Mother beside me； my beautiful and sad…faced Mother； a fine embroidered headdress gracing her thick gray hair； with her wrinkled little eyes fastened on me； and in her trembling hands； her dried and fearful fingers； she held the most splendid of offerings； the painted eggs！ Red and blue； and yellow and golden； and decorated with bands of diamonds and chains of the flowers of the field； the eggs shimmered in their lacquered splendor as if they were giant polished jewels。
And there in the very center of her offering； this offering which she held up with shivering wrinkled arms； there lay the very egg which she had once so long ago entrusted to me； the light； raw egg so gorgeously decorated in brilliant ruby red with the star of gold in the very center of the framed oval； this precious egg which had surely been her finest creation； the finest achievement of her hours with the burning wax and boiling dye。
It wasn't lost。 It had never been lost。 It was there。 But something was happening。 I could hear it。 Even under the great swelling song of the multitudes I could hear it； the tiny sound inside the egg； the tiny fluttering sound； the tiny cry。
〃Mother；〃 I said。 I took it。 I held it in both hands and brought my thumbs down against the brittle shell。
〃No； my son！〃 she cried。 She wailed。 〃No； no； my son； no！〃
But it was too late。 The lacquered shell was smashed beneath my thumbs and out of its fragments had risen a bird； a beautiful and full…grown bird； a bird of snow…white wings and tiny yellow beak and brilliant black eyes like bits of jet。
A long fall sigh came out of me。
Out of the egg； it rose； unfolding its perfectly feathered white wings； its tiny beak open in a sudden shrill cry。 Up it flew； this bird； freed of the broken red shell； up and up； over the heads of the congregation； and up through the soft swirling rain of the green leaves and fluttering sparrows； up through the glorious clamour of the pealing bells； it flew。
The bells of the towers rang out so loud that they shook the swirling leaves in the atmosphere； so loud that the soaring columns quivered； that the crowd rocked and sang all the more heartily as if to be in perfect unison with the great resounding golden…throated peals。
The bird was gone。 The bird was free。
〃Christ is born；〃 I whispered。 〃Christ is risen。 Christ i