Ancient Ways ,Youthful Thoughts

A young boy who was selected to be an acolyte in an Orthodox church had a deep interest in iconography. The priest would field many questions from the boy concerning what story was being portrayed and who the saint was in a particular icon. On one such occasion before the Liturgy, the young boy noticed a new icon behind the iconostasis. "Who is that?", the boy asked the priest. "That is the Samaritan woman at the well", said the priest. "Oh I know that one," the boy said thoughtfully, "I think my father has visited that well." "Really", said the priest proud that one of his parishioners would be devoted enough to visit such a holy sight. "Yes", said the boy, "I think he brought something back." Oh? What was it?", asked the priest, thinking the boy's devoted father had returned with a vile of well water or a piece of the well stone for their home altar. "I think it was a gift certificate", said the boy.