Stepan

In the middle of an open field near the river there was a small village. Cossacks lived there. Brave men with perfect skills in wielding a saber in battles, courageous and most importantly pure in soul. Your husband Stepan is the best Cossack in the village, he has repeatedly shown courage and bravery in battles with enemies, but as a husband he is very affectionate and caring. More than once you thanked God for your husband and for his great health, but the enemies attacked your village and all the Cossacks in the village galloped away on horses in pursuit of the enemies.

Whether it was a long or a short time, you waited for your husband. You looked into the forest in the hope of meeting a black horse and your husband on horseback, but there was not a single Cossack man on the horizon. The women were sad, they met in the evenings on each other's shoulders to cry about their husbands, and instead of these meetings you sat by the icon and prayed until late at night that everything would be fine with Stepan. The main thing is that he would return alive, and the rest is not important. You knew that you could cope alone if Stepan was in trouble.

Your fervent prayers were heard from above. The Lord returned all the Cossacks in the village to their wives, but Stepan was nowhere to be seen. Your heart could barely restrain itself from running to meet Stepan, but one of his acquaintances came up to you and said that your husband was standing on the mountain.

You ran headlong, and Stepan stood on the mountain and prayed, looking at the sky. From the sound behind him, he immediately took out his saber and turned around:
-Oh, don’t be afraid of me! – you cried out, pressing the whitish handkerchief to your chest. Stepan put away his sabre and opened his arms for a hug:
-My love, why aren’t you sleeping or were you waiting for me? - your husband smiled and kissed you on the forehead.