There is an old legend according to which God said to one of His Angels: “Go down to earth and bring back the most precious thing in the world.”

One Angel brought a drop of blood from a person who had sacrificed his life to save another. God said, “Indeed, O Angel, this is precious in My sight, but it is not the most precious thing in the world.”

Another Angel caught the last breath of a nurse who died from a dread disease she contracted in nursing others to health. God smiled at the Angel and said, “Indeed, O Angel, sacrifice on behalf of others is very precious in My sight, but it is not the most precious thing in the world.”

Finally, one Angel captured and brought a small vial containing the tear of a sinner who had repented and returned to God. God beamed upon the Angel as He said, “Indeed, O Angel, you have brought Me the most precious thing in the world — the tear of repentance which opens the gates of Heaven.”

+ Saint Maximus the Confessor – From the Philokalia

Angels pour incense and myrrh to the chosen ones of God

Andreas the fool for Christ (9th-10th century),

sitting in a corner, he listened to his spiritual child, Epiphanius,

reading a speech by Basil the Great.
As long as the reading lasted, an aroma like precious perfume poured out.
When the reading was over, the fragrance was lost.

Surprised, Epiphanius turned to the Saint:

Please explain to me, what was that fragrance?
And the Saint, because he had seen the one who spread the fragrance, answered:

In three cases the Angels pour incense and myrrh to the chosen ones of God:

First, when they read the scriptures, then they circle them so that they too can hear.
Second, when they pray and converse with God, then they also pray together with passion.
Third, when they endure hardship, pain, and punishment for the love of God, then they stay and
motivate them in the struggle of piety.
¬

Οι άγγελοι θυμιάζουν και μυρώνουν τους εκλεκτούς του Θεού

Ο Ανδρέας ο δια Χριστόν σαλός (9ος-10ος αι.), καθισμένος σε μια γωνιά,
άκουγε το πνευματικό του παιδί, τον Επιφάνιο, που διάβαζε ένα λόγο του μεγάλου Βασιλείου.
Όσην ώρα διαρκούσε η ανάγνωση, ξεχυνόταν μια ευωδία σαν από πολύτιμα αρώματα.
Όταν τελείωσε η ανάγνωση, χάθηκε και η ευωδία. Έκπληκτος ο Επιφάνιος στράφηκε προς τον όσιο:

– Εξήγησέ μου σε παρακαλώ, τι ευωδία ήταν αυτή;
Κι ο όσιος, επειδή είχε δει αυτόν που σκορπούσε την ευωδία, αποκρίθηκε:

Σε τρεις περιπτώσεις οι άγγελοι θυμιάζουν και μυρώνουν τους εκλεκτούς του Θεού:

Πρώτον, όταν διαβάζουν τα ιερά βιβλία, οπότε τους κυκλώνουν για ν’ ακούσουν κι αυτοί.
Δεύτερον, όταν προσεύχονται και συνομιλούν με το Θεό, οπότε συμπροσεύχονται κι εκείνοι με πόθο.
Τρίτον, όταν υπομένουν για την αγάπη του Θεού κόπο, πόνο και τιμωρίες, οπότε τους μυρώνουν και
τους παρακινούν στον αγώνα της ευσέβειας .