In this video, meet Father Elias Markov—or at least, the man he used to be. For nearly twenty years, Elias served as an Orthodox priest, faithfully wearing his collar, hearing confessions, baptizing infants, anointing the dying, and leading his community in ancient rituals filled with incense and chant. He believed deeply in his faith and the path he walked.

But one fateful autumn day, everything changed.

Called to a hospice to visit a dying man named Simon Ackers, Elias was confronted with a confession that shattered his faith and forced him to confront the raw, painful truth behind human cruelty and hypocrisy. This moment led Elias to renounce his collar and walk away from the Church, burdened with bitterness yet still carrying a flicker of belief.

Then came the night when he was shot trying to protect an innocent woman, and his life slipped away.

What happened next is a powerful near-death experience—one that took Elias beyond the body, into a place where memories and emotions weighed heavy, where he faced the crushing question, “Why didn’t you forgive?”

Guided by Jesus Himself, Elias was shown the devastating prison of unforgiveness and the miraculous power of forgiveness to heal and transform.

Now back from the brink of death, Elias has a mission: to testify that forgiveness is not optional, but the lifeline of the soul.

Watch to hear his incredible story of faith, doubt, pain, and redemption.