The Brother of Christ

Name: The Brother of Christ
Author: Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev

An old man on his deathbed advises his son to care for the poor. On Easter, the son brings eggs to church to share with the needy, despite his mother's disapproval. He encounters a dirty old man, takes him home to break his fast, and they share a meal. The mother is furious, preferring to associate with anyone but the beggar. After the meal, the son notices the old man's shabby clothes but radiant cross. They exchange crosses, and the old man invites the son to visit him the following Tuesday, instructing him to say, "The Lord bless me!" to find the way. On Tuesday, the son follows the path and encounters various suffering souls: children in pain, maidens ladling water, and old men covered in slime, all pleading for relief. He eventually meets the old man again, realizing he is speaking to Christ. The old man explains the fates of those he saw: the children cursed by their mother, the maidens punished for their dishonesty, and the old men who took life for granted. Christ then shows the boy Paradise, where he is welcomed, but also Hell, where his mother suffers. The son pleads for her mercy, and Christ instructs him to weave a rope of brome-grass, symbolizing his years of labor for her. The son lowers the rope to his mother, but she resists his help, calling him a savage dog. The rope breaks, and she falls back into the flames, revealing her unwillingness to escape. Christ explains that her heart remains in Hell, and she must endure eternal punishment. The narrative explores themes of compassion, the consequences of one's actions, and the complexities of familial love and redemption.

By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1869 · Genre: Religious Fiction, Moral Tale, Fantasy · 956 words

First lines

An old man was dying, and he was enjoining on his son not to forget the poor.

So on Easter Day he went into the church, and he took some fine eggs with him with which to greet his poor brothers, although his mother was very angry with him for so doing -- for she was an evil-minded woman and merciless to the poor.

What this Textopian page supports

The Brother of Christ is listed on Textopian as a short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev, dated 1869 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
Date: 1869 CE
Language: English
Genres: Religious Fiction, Moral Tale, Fantasy, Parable, Folklore
Length: 956 words
Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Similar titles

Genres

Religious Fiction — The narrative explores themes of faith, redemption, and the afterlife, central to religious beliefs.
Moral Tale — The story conveys moral lessons about compassion, charity, and the consequences of one's actions.
Fantasy — Elements of the supernatural, such as the interaction with Christ and the depiction of Heaven and Hell, classify it within fantasy.
Parable — The story serves as a parable, illustrating deeper truths through a simple narrative.