HomeHoney encyclopedia Zosima and Savvaty are patrons of beekeepers
From time immemorial, the bee was considered sacred, and its trade was considered a gift from heaven. The beneficial properties of beekeeping products have been studied and actively used centuries ago. Many names of famous scientists, doctors, poets and even saints are associated with beekeeping. In Rus', the patrons of beekeeping are considered to be Saints Zosima and Savvaty.
Savvaty Solovetsky
The Monk Savvaty was a monk of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery since 1396. Among other ascetics, he was distinguished by his strict life and meekness. Soon he began to feel burdened by the respect and excessive attention of his brothers, and he moved to the small Valaam monastery, but even there worldly fame found him, not allowing him to find proper solitude. Having heard about the uninhabited Solovetsky Island, Savvaty set off, surprising all the local residents. Everyone was wondering how the gray-haired old man was going to survive alone on the island. But, according to the monk, he was never alone, his Master was always nearby. For some time, the elder remained in the chapel in the town of Soroki, where he met the Monk Herman, and together they decided to live on the island, where in 1429 they installed a cross and a cell near Mount Sekirnaya. Over the years of their modest life, their faith was tested many times, but remained unshakable. They lived side by side on the deserted island for six years, after which Herman went to Onega, and Savvaty fell ill and moved to the Karelian coast, where he died in 1435 in the village of Soroki. 30 years later, the Monk Zosima and his brothers transferred the holy relics of Savvaty to Solovetsky Island. And in 1566, the relics of both saints were transferred to the church named in their honor.
Temples
In total, there are 135 churches in Russia in honor of Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky, which belong to the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Church of the Venerable Zosima and Savvatiy Solovetsky is located in Moscow in Golyanov (Baikalskaya Street, 37A). The first building was erected in the 60s of the 17th century in the village of Golyanovo. The main time of construction of the temple dates back to 1816, when Golyanovo became the center of the Trubetskoy estate and officially received the status of a village. At the same time, instead of a wooden church, Rev. Zosima and Savvaty, a brick church was erected, which was consecrated in 1842. After Golyanov became part of Moscow, massive housing development began in the village. In turn, the temple building remains to the last the only valuable building of the first quarter of the 19th century. The temple was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church only in March 1990.
Temple of Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky in Golyanovo (Moscow)
The Church of Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky is located in the village. Verkhovsky Pogost (Verkhovye) of the Vologda region. According to official data, the wooden church was built approximately between 1601 and 1700, although even the approximate year of the loss of the wooden structure is unknown. According to available information, already in 1876 the Verkhovskaya Mother of God Church was made of stone and had altars: in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the main one, the monks Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky, St. Nicholas of Myra, the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. There is also information about the destruction of the wooden church in honor of St. Nicholas, which was built and consecrated in 1748. In the public domain, only the Verkhovskaya Zosimo-Savvatievskaya wooden church of the 17th century is mentioned.
Church of the Virgin Mary in Verkhovye. Photo from the magazine “World of Art”
The temple in honor of Saints Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky, which is located in the Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius in the city of Sergiev Posad, deserves special attention. The tented church in the name of Saints Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky on the western side of the monastery, on the way from the Kalichye Gate to the Trinity Cathedral, was erected in 1635–1637 through the efforts of cellarer Alexander (Bulatnikov). The church is located next to hospital wards, which also has a certain role. According to some reports, many hospital churches are dedicated specifically to Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky, which testifies to the healing power of their prayers before God. The church in the name of Saints Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky, located on a high basement, unites the southern and northern two-story chambers, known from the old monastery inventories as the Hospital. Today, the temple and chambers are a complex of multi-period structures erected on the site of an old hospital built in 1552.
Church of Zosima and Savvatiy at the hospital wards. Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Sergiev Posad
There are no Old Believer churches consecrated in honor of Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky.
Conclusion. It must be said that the biography and legacy of the Monks Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky is so great that it can hardly be described in one text, without exceeding hundreds of pages. It is for this reason that today there are many studies and essays describing different aspects of the reverend's legacy. In the same article, the author tried to make a short excursion that will attract the reader’s special attention to the persons of Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky, as well as to their heritage.
Author : Marina Malafeeva
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Zosima, abbot of Solovetsky
The Monk Zosima, the founder of the monastic community on Solovetsky Island, was born in the small village of Tolvue not far from Lake Onega. After the death of his rich parents, he distributed all his inherited property to the poor, took monastic vows and went to Pomerania on the shores of the White Sea. There he met the hermit Herman, who told him about the deserted Solovetsky Island, where he lived with the Monk Savvaty for 6 years. Together they arrived in Solovki, where they gathered many followers around them. Upon arriving on the island, God blessed Zosima with a vision of a beautiful church. Zosima had to endure many trials before their community grew. Once he even stayed on the island alone for the whole winter and almost died of hunger, but a hard life strengthened his body and spirit. None of the abbots coming to the island from Novgorod could endure such hardships and returned to their homeland. In 1452 Zosima was elected abbot. Under his leadership, a temple and a monastery were established, and the monks were able to organize their household. His few predictions came true with amazing accuracy. Thus, it was he who predicted the death of the boyars at the hands of John III during the capture of Novgorod in 1478. Zosima himself died in the same year and was buried in the Transfiguration Church. Later, there was a rumor among sailors that Zosima and Savvaty were fishermen dying in the sea waters. Many miracles were witnessed during this.
An akathist was written to St. Savvaty, Zosima and Herman
An akathist was written to St. Savvaty, Zosima and Herman, which is read on the days of their veneration in the temple. The Akathist can also be read at home in front of icons of saints.
Akathist:
Kontakion 1
The chosen saints of the Lord and great miracle workers, the luminaries of Christ's Church of the Most Blessed, shone with piety by the lordships of the desert of Northern Pomorie, and the whole country of Russia, shining with many miracles, Our Reverend Fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane, as having boldness towards the Lord, with their favorable prayers to Him from all Preserve us in troubles and evils, so we joyfully call to you:
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Ikos 1
Angels have truly appeared on earth and people in heaven through your life, our blessed fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germana: in the flesh, as if incorporeal, the angelic life on earth has been completed, all the beauties of the world and temporary pleasures, as they are capable of imputation, but through purity and fasting I will bring you closer to God .
Now it is worthy for him to stand with the bodiless, accept from our love the praise brought to you by the sips:
Rejoice, having loved the One God with all your soul;
Rejoice, having served Him with honor and righteousness from your youth.
Rejoice, you who have hated the corruptible beauty of this world;
Rejoice, having escaped the wisdom of worldly temptations and vanity.
Rejoice, having clinged with all your love to doing the commandments of the Lord;
Rejoice, having removed yourself from this world and all attachment to it.
Rejoice, having chosen a monastic life to please God for your own sake;
Rejoice, you who loved the narrow and sorrowful path with all your soul.
Rejoice, seeker of wisdom for Christ, longed for beads and precious stones;
Rejoice, loving bearer of Christ’s burden, light and good.
Rejoice, thou who imitated mortal flesh as a disembodied angel;
Rejoice, you who showed us the heavenly habitation on earth.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 2
Seeing yourself, Saint Savvaty, for the sake of many of your virtuous corrections, everywhere in your monastic stays you are revered and blessed, and fleeing the vanity of this world of glory, seeking eternal reward in heaven, you rushed to the Solovetsky stream, and there, in secret and visible to no one, you worked invisible and all to the seeing God. Having thus obtained what we desired, we are instructed by blessed Herman to do this, and you joyfully cried out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Steadily directing your mind from your mother’s womb to God, and taking out the heavenly things, philosophizing and seeking, completely rejecting those below you, God-wise Zosimo, you were jealous of the life of the Venerable Savvatius, and in your empty father, where you accomplished your deeds pleasing to God, you settled together with blessed Herman, and with them you will inherit the residence of Mount Jerusalem.
In the same way, reverently praising the zeal for desert living, we call to you:
Rejoice, love for Christ's sake, love in yourself for the world has trampled down;
Rejoice, having despised all the sinful sweetness of this age.
Rejoice, you who are like Abraham, not only in faith and hope, but also in your voluntary emigration from your family and home of your father;
Rejoice, all-red desert and blessed planting.
Rejoice, most diligent and zealous of silence;
Rejoice, sincere lover of difficult desert feats.
Rejoice, more so in the wilds and mountains than in the villages of the world, who have deigned to wander about;
Rejoice, in the impassable deserts, united in labor and observance of the commandments of the Lord, having loved to strive.
Rejoice like gold, having been tempted in the crucible of desert bitterness;
Rejoice, you who valiantly endured many temptations from demons and people.
Rejoice, the prophet of God Elijah and the baptizer of the Lord John imitated the character of desert love;
Rejoice, rustic father of like-minded companions and love-silence dwellers.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 3
The powers of heaven, sent to serve those who want to inherit salvation, have served you wonderfully, fathers of love for God. Whenever the inhabitants of the world, chilled by the silence of you, Savvaty and Germana, wanted to live on an island near you with their wives and children, the angels, with a formidable reprimand and punishment of the fishermen’s wives, stopped them from undertakings contrary to God: but for you, Father Zosimo, who was in the hibernation besides the brush, angelic the service required for nutrition was taught. For this reason, let us sing to God, who saves His saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having the tide of the sea in his own abode, inhabited by no one, and abiding in it, like in a God-created paradise, outside the rebellions and worries of everyday life, and besides vain worries, he has striven piously and godly for the blessing of God, studying day and night in the law of the Lord, and Every hour, with an untroubled mind and a pure heart, lifting up zealous prayers and supplications to God. For this reason we cry out to you with joy:
Rejoice, you who have always desired to walk blamelessly in the law of the Lord;
Rejoice, having always had your Lord before your eyes.
Rejoice, having protected all your paths with the fear of the Lord;
Rejoice, in sobriety we will spend our entire lives wisely.
Rejoice, you who have completely captured all the thoughts of your mind into the obedience of Christ;
Rejoice, having presented your pure hearts as a dwelling place to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, you who did not let your eyes sleep during the all-night vigils of the Lord;
Rejoice, you who endured sorrows in the teaching of death and in heartfelt sighs to the Lord.
Rejoice, you who labored with sincere love to praise God and sing psalmody;
Rejoice, you who have continually raised prayers to God with your heart and lips.
Rejoice, having found the hidden Kingdom of God within your heart;
Rejoice, as the intelligent ones ascend to the heavenly vision.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 4
The storm of this multi-rebellious life has comfortably passed, Reverend Fathers, and the fierce waves of passions and temptations, raised from the world and the flesh and from the spirits of malice, without plunging or shaking the ship of your souls, the sails of unceasing prayer hailed, and alleviated by non-covetousness, guided by the grace of God . In the same way, you have reached the serene refuge of the eternal belly, crying out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing and leading from the Divine scriptures, as all who labored in piety, I crucified my flesh with passions and lusts, in pious wisdom, about the Reverend, following these feats, I strived to mortify my souls that exist on earth, in fasting, vigils and in all the labors of monastic life, courageously enduring sorrow. For this reason, as good ascetics of piety, we crown you with praises of calico:
Rejoice, your body has withered away through labors and diseases of abstinence;
Rejoice, all carnal wisdom, warring against the spirit, subduing the spirit.
Rejoice, having extinguished the flames of passions with tears of repentance;
Rejoice, having purified your souls like gold in the furnace of abstinence.
Rejoice, you have put away the old man with his passions;
Rejoice, having clothed yourself worthily with the garment of dispassion and the glory of incorruption;
Rejoice, you who have hated the temporary sweetness of sin;
Rejoice, you who have inherited endless joy in Heaven.
Rejoice, before death, in the world and crucify your flesh with its sweetness;
Rejoice, having manifested the glory of the future life in yourself before the resurrection.
Rejoice, you have shown us the path of fasting to the inheritance of paradise, lost through intemperance;
Rejoice, having presented to all in a dead and corruptible body the immortality and incorruptibility of the next century.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 5
Bountiful and many-bright stars appeared to nature, Reverend Fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Herman, luminous in the correction of the commandments of the Lord, illuminating the souls and hearts of the faithful, and floating in the night of sinful darkness in the abyss of the worldly sea, showing the reliable path to the blessed haven of the Heavenly Kingdom. In the same way, we sing to the benefactor of God, who have shown you as leaders and teachers of salvation: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen the malice of the hater of human salvation, the unclean souls of darkness, your godly life, blessed fathers, I raised up a variety of temptations and fears against you, when in your thoughts and hearts there was overwhelming fear and confusion, but then transforming; in various ghosts of wondrous beasts and reptiles, I rush towards you with rage,
eagerly to turn away from the deed of God and expel from the sojourn of the desert: but you, with firm faith in God the Provider, and with the weapon of prayer and abstinence, taking up arms against your enemies, will be victorious to the end and overthrow their power. For this reason, singing a victorious song, we appeal to you:
Rejoice, warriors of spiritual invincibility;
Rejoice, armorers of Christ's good victory.
Rejoice, ascetics, who courageously took up arms against the wiles of the evil one;
Rejoice, strong pillars, not shaken by the attacks of the enemy.
Rejoice, you who destroyed all the arrows of the devil like pride;
Rejoice, you have imputed all the hardships and insurance costs to nothing.
Rejoice, for you are in the flesh, having conquered the incorporeal and invisible enemies;
Rejoice, as you are lying in graves, you are overthrowing the enemy militia.
Rejoice, victors of glory, crowned by the Heavenly Crowned One;
Rejoice, champions of goodness in those who fight against the ruler of the darkness of this age.
Rejoice, for the angels were amazed at your feat;
Rejoice, for the assembly of the faithful rejoiced in your glory.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 6
The will of God preached by the angels about the population of monastics in the Solovetsky outflow has been fulfilled by you, the most blessed fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and German: behold, the desert is barren and uninhabited, and abundantly watered with your sweat and tears, it has appeared like a prosperous heliport and a verbal paradise, where the faces of monasticism have been taught by you. , bearing fruits pleasing to God, they sing the angelic song to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Shine forth, God-bearing fathers, with the light of piety, like a divinely luminous luminary, enlightening everywhere with the luminous rays of your deeds and virtues.
Because of this, we, sinners and darkened by the darkness of passions, in the light of your godly deeds flowing towards the day of light and salvation, we praise you, singing to your face:
Rejoice, disciples of Christ's good obedience;
Rejoice, Masters of your rabbi Blasia and Vernia.
Rejoice, most industrious workers of Christ’s grapes;
Rejoice, you who fulfilled the most diligent commandments of Christ.
Rejoice, you who have bowed your heart in submission to the yoke of Christ’s humility and meekness;
Rejoice, in the footsteps of Christ the Lord, who taught about poverty, diligently in the poverty and lack of wealth that followed.
Rejoice, according to the word of the Lord, having traversed the path of this temporary life through sorrowful and cramped paths;
Rejoice, like the rain, having washed away your souls with currents of tears.
Rejoice, O most beautiful Bridegroom who has preserved the beauty of his virginity;
Rejoice, in every holy thing, in all your good deeds that have pleased Him.
Rejoice, having glorified your Lord in your souls and bodies;
Rejoice, from the Lord, according to the inheritance of glorification on earth and in Heaven.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 7
Although you might save many, the Most Merciful God will show you to be not just mentors of a host of monastics, but like preachers of God, proclaiming the name of God in the countries of Lapland. For the people who dwell in these places, and who did not know God until then, but who were very fond of idolatry and wickedness, in your lordship, O Reverence, lives, signs and wonders, having seen the first dawn of saving knowledge of God and piety, and from you having learned to sing praises to the true God : Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Having wondrously and gloriously accomplished the path of their salvation, having founded a wondrous and magnificent monastery for the salvation of the monastic, blessedly accepting their death, our fathers, Zosimo, Savvaty and German, are ever in memory: both after your death, ever live, us, your children, never you leave, not in spirit, but still abiding to us, but also in giving us your celibate relics, like a priceless treasure. For this reason, we joyfully bless you, calling: Rejoice, you who have fought a good deed in all your life;
Rejoice, having been crowned with glory and honor from your Lord Christ.
Rejoice, for having labored for a time, you have entered into eternal rest;
Rejoice, for having walked the narrow path, you have reached the bliss of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, even if not together, but in equal struggles, you fought on earth;
Rejoice, for your equal life, as you enjoy joy and gladness together in Heaven.
Rejoice, thou who in the father is empty, like a city, a monastery founded by a monk;
Rejoice, you who have gathered the hosts of monks in Christ the Bose.
Rejoice, guardians of your flock, ever cheerful, and in these days of temporary life, not resting from deeds of charity;
Rejoice, sons of the Kingdom, who live in Heaven and do not leave the earthly.
Rejoice, in your spirit you are with the holy angels, and abiding with us sinners forever;
Rejoice, from your honest relics flowing streams of mercy upon everyone.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 8
Having seen the strange and wonderful, great and beautiful church that appeared in the air, yet this place, in which the monastery of monks was named, seeing the indescribable light shining, you were filled with horror, Father Zosimo, from the wondrous vision. Moreover, having understood God’s revelation in this, encouraging you to build a monastery, and also seeing the future glory of this place, with a tender heart and lips you sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All orthodox Russian people, glorifying your holy and equal life, in all kinds of needs and sorrows flow to your help and intercession, most wonderful fathers: for grace has been given to you from God to pray for us, to deliver and save us from all the troubles and evils that come to the reliquaries of your venerable relics, and calling on your holy name in every place. Moreover, confessing your wonderful good deeds, we write a note of gratitude to you, calling:
Rejoice, sources of inexhaustible Divine gifts;
Rejoice, vessels of mercy and love for people who do not depend on you.
Rejoice, as you offer fragrant incense to God for peace;
Rejoice, for through your silent intercessions every blessing from the right hand of God has been brought down upon us.
Rejoice, for those who are in sorrow and need have received the knowledge of a helper;
Rejoice, in the circumstances and misfortunes of the speedy accomplice.
Rejoice, healers in the sick, and helmsmen and deliverers in the storm of the afflicted;
Rejoice, intercessors and comforters in all troubles and temptations.
Rejoice, faithful, piously honoring you, for your opposing supporters;
Rejoice, all Russian lands, in the election of a prayer service and intercessor.
Rejoice, you who work glorious miracles on earth and sea;
Rejoice, you have unenviably extended help to those who call for help in every possible way.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 9
Having adorned yourself with all the God-red graces of virtues, most praiseworthy Zosimo, you appeared most redly in soul and body, worthy of being anointed with the Divine ointment. Moreover, when in the holy temple you performed the first Divine service before the throne of the Lord, seeing your whole face covered with the light of grace, like the face of an angel: the whole temple, as a well-known testimony of your dignity, was filled with a great fragrance.
For this reason, everyone, thanking God for their shepherd, cried out with a joyful heart: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
By Vetian good-proclamations it is not possible to glorify and glorify the many and innumerable, great and glorious, and surpassing all earthly understanding, performed by you, Reverend Fathers, at all times of miracles. Moreover, let us not appear through silence, like a servant who hid the treasure of his Master, from lips that are not even trained and do not have a word of wisdom, but driven by love and gratitude, we dare to extend a song of thanksgiving in memory and glorification of your miracles, calling to your face:
Rejoice, miracle workers of great honor and blessing;
Rejoice, soul and body healed from sickness.
Rejoice, you who enlighten the blind with the grace of God;
Rejoice, lips bound by dumbness, resolving blessings.
Rejoice, you who are relaxed and correct infirmities;
Rejoice, you who grant uprightness to the lame.
Rejoice, you who were captivated by your intercession from bonds and who freed captivity;
Rejoice, you who are dead by the power of God and who are resurrected by your prayer.
Rejoice, you who perform grace-filled healing in all passions and illnesses.
Rejoice, you who give peace and spiritual enlightenment to those languishing in circumstances and misfortunes;
Rejoice, for those who follow the Lord’s path along narrow and sorrowful paths, giving divine help.
Rejoice, our Reverend Fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 10
Having accomplished the feat of salvation well, renouncing this temporary life and departing to the eternal and blessed life, O blessed Zosimo, you consoled your disciples, saying that, having separated from them physically, you will not depart from them and your abode in your spirit. It is from this very deed that you fulfill your word, not only invisibly co-present with us and watching over everything, but also visibly many times, together with the blessed Savvaty and the venerable Herman, appearing at the right time to those who call you for help and cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
An insurmountable wall and a solid cover, salvation was taken away and the weapon of victory was given to us, Reverend Fathers, your warm prayers to God, on the day of this fierce battle, when, through our sin and iniquity, we were attacked by the strong and the skillful with fire and sword in our possession yours, in order to destroy your shrines and lay them in ruin and trampling, but to conquer your spiritual children and destroy them with a worthless death; On the other hand, having been able to do no evil, they themselves were especially filled with coldness and dishonor, while those who hoped for your help were girded with joy and gladness about their salvation. Giving thanks to God for this, we confess your intercession and support, and cry out to you warmly from the depths of our souls:
Rejoice, good shepherd, protecting your flock from destructive enemies;
Rejoice, as eagles cover their chicks under their wings.
Rejoice, having overshadowed us with the cover of your prayers on the day of battle;
Rejoice, O wrath of God, righteously driven upon us, having been quenched by your intercession.
Rejoice, you who did not allow your property to be trampled and stolen;
Rejoice, having preserved your hopes from the fiery ignition.
Rejoice, you who trusted in us and freed us from the destruction of mortals;
Rejoice, you who wonderfully preserved those from wounds and ulcers, from bonds and captivity.
Rejoice, having turned your enemies' pride and arrogance into stupefaction and dishonor;
Rejoice, we who live in your monastery, unskilled and unarmed, clothed in joy and gladness.
Rejoice, vigilant guardians of the faith and piety of the fatherland;
Rejoice, you who appeared for the fatherland and were courageous warriors after death.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 11
Songs of praise and all-contrite prayers bring, while the length of the journey and the dangers of the sea are not imputed to anything, kings and princes, saints and nobles, the rich and the poor, near and far, flow to your celibate power, all ages and sexes, and all faithful copulations, and as from an inexhaustible source, according to each of their needs, accepting abundant healing of the soul and body, they glorify and magnify God, who has given such grace to you, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
By the light of Divine grace, in the depths of the earth, in wondrous signs and wonders, from the first days of your repose your relics shone forth, worthy and righteously the faces of monasticism, worn out from many years of protection, placed with reverence on the church candlestick, in the temple, created in your name, by great piety and holy imitator of your exploits, confessor and martyr, Saint and First See of Russia, Philip. And we now, piously rejoicing in your glory, the truly honest shrines of your relics and kindly kissing you, loudly call to you:
Rejoice, most blessed lamps, gloriously placed in the church candlestick;
Rejoice, arks of honesty, not with stones and gold, but with the grace bestowed upon them.
Rejoice, like three stars illuminating the midnight darkness;
Rejoice, for there are three pillars that affirm the Orthodox faith within the borders of Northern Pomorie.
Rejoice, sources of heaven, pouring out seas of miracles;
Rejoice, dear beads who adorn the Church of Christ.
Rejoice, brightest mirror of piety and virtue;
Rejoice, the Church and the Fatherland have been invincibly taken away.
Rejoice, heavenly fulfillment of the most fragrant cries;
Rejoice, most fruitful vines of the Divine.
Rejoice, all-blessed fathers, glorified grief from God and angels, and blessedness from men;
Rejoice, for your joy, holy and perfect, endures forever.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 12
Sometimes the Most Blessed God, dwelling in all your bodies, show His Divine grace to the reverent monk Joseph in the form of two fiery pillars, from earth to heaven above your tombs, ascending and shining with an indescribable light: truly, for you are, Reverend Fathers, pillars of spiritual light, with the lordship of high virtues and the light of the knowledge of God, signs and wonders, which illuminated the spiritual darkness in the midnight countries. For this reason, to God, who glorifies His saints, we sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing in songs the deeds and labors of your God-pleasing life, the glorious deeds and works done in every kind of goodness and miracles, praising and glorifying, we are perplexed, most wonderful fathers, what we should call you out of duty: for your virtues and talents are many, for this reason many befit you and naming. Moreover, being satisfied with small things in many, we write this to you with love: Rejoice, angels of earth, for you have lived through angelic life on earth;
Rejoice, people of heaven, for you are related to earth; you hate the earthly, but love the heavenly.
Rejoice, most patient fasters, who spent their entire lives in fasting;
Rejoice, worthy hermits, who served the Lord in the untrodden deserts.
Rejoice, teachers and mentors who lead your affairs on the path of salvation;
Rejoice, spiritual leaders, who lead many souls to Heavenly villages.
Rejoice, martyr of the same morality, as you bravely fought your passions;
Rejoice, imitator of the apostle, who enlightened the darkness of unbelief in the knowledge of God with lordships.
Rejoice, prophet of the like, secret and future carrying out and prophecy;
Rejoice, to all the saints of oneness of integrity, exploits for the sake of and pleasing God.
Rejoice, performer of the mysteries of grace and miracles;
Rejoice, citizens of heaven and friends of God and His saints.
Rejoice, our venerable fathers Zosimo, Savvaty and Germane.
Kontakion 13
About the Reverend our fathers, Zosimo, Savvaty and German! Kindly accept from us humble and unworthy this praise offered to you, and with your favorable prayers to God protect us from all misfortune and adversity, from illness and famine, from fire and sword, and invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. Most of all, by your intercession, keep us strong from the invisible enemies who are seeking to destroy us, so that, having escaped their many-witted snares, we will live righteously and pleasing to God in the present world, and in the Kingdom of Heaven we will be worthy to sing with you to Christ our God: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
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Honoring the patrons of beekeepers
Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky are considered the patrons of beekeeping, since during their years of hermitage they brought the first queen bee from Athos (modern Greece), laying the foundation for beekeeping in Rus'. It is believed that they taught people how to properly maintain their apiary. To this day, saints are depicted on icons with the tools of beekeepers of those days: a rope, a ladder, a knife or an ax. Many prayers, sayings and proverbs are dedicated to them. It is believed that it was Zosima and Savvaty who were the first in Rus' to discover the health benefits of beekeeping products. Until now, beekeepers celebrate beekeeping holidays every year, honoring the holy Saints Savvaty and Zosima:
- April 30 – Zosima the beekeeper;
- October 10 – Savvaty the beekeeper.
Between these two holidays the entire beekeeping season fits. On Zosima, bees, according to tradition, had already begun to be released from their hives, and on Savvatiya, the hives were closed for the winter. In the old days, at the entrance to the apiary there was always an icon with the patrons of beekeepers, and not a single beekeeper began work without praying to the saints. Beekeepers should not have come to the apiary with dirty thoughts.
In the old days, “Zosima” was the name given to a beehive with an icon of saints, which was in every apiary. Beekeepers offered prayers to this icon for help in keeping bees. Now this tradition has begun to be forgotten, and it is rare in any apiary to find an icon of the patrons of beekeeping. You can buy such an icon for your apiary in our online store by simply following this link.
What do they ask from the icon of saints?
In any difficult situation, we are constantly looking for outside help. First of all, a believer offers his prayers to the Lord. These saints were no exception. You can ask for help not only in special religious buildings, but also at home. Such requests should not be regarded as a quick fulfillment of what you want. It all depends on how much you believe in God. Only in such a situation will you receive his favor. How do Zosim and Savvaty Solovetsky help? For the most part, they are asked to:
- solving difficult life situations;
- ending a difficult period in life;
- strengthening faith;
- healing from physical and mental illnesses;
- protection from misfortunes, especially violent ones;
- getting rid of envious people, attacks of evil forces, quarrels and discord in the family.
Most often they use their own words, but you can also use a special prayer to Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky:
“Oh, our reverend and God-bearing fathers Zosimo and Savvatie, earthly angels and heavenly people, close friends of Christ and saints of God, your abodes are glory and adornment, all But the northern countries, and especially the entire Orthodox Fatherland, are an insurmountable wall and a great intercession! Behold, we, unworthy and many sinners, with reverent love for your holy relics, falling down, with a contrite and humble spirit, we diligently pray to you: pray unceasingly to our gracious Master and Lord Jesus Christ, for there is great boldness in those who have it, so that His all-effective grace may not depart from us, may the protection and intercession of the Most Holy Lady of our Mother of God abide in this place, and may the true zealots of the angelic life never fail in this holy monastery, where you, God-bearing fathers and began flax, immeasurable labors and sorrows, tearful and all-night vigils, unceasing prayers and with prayers make the beginning of monastic life. To her, saintly saints, most favorable prayers to God, with your warm prayers to Him, protect and save us and your holy village from coward, flood, fire and sword, invasion of foreigners and deadly ulcers, from enmity and all kinds of disorder, from all misfortune and sorrow and from all evil: may the most holy name of the Lord and God be reverently glorified in this place, in peace and silence, and those who seek Him may find eternal salvation. Oh, our blessed fathers, Zosimo and Savvatie! Hear us sinners who live unworthy in your holy monastery and under the roof of your protection, and through your powerful petitions to God, ask our souls to forgive us their sins, live and correction and the reception of eternal blessings in the Heavenly Kingdom: to all believers, in every place and in every need They call on you for help and intercession, and those who flow into your monastery with reverent love, do not cease to pour out all grace and mercy, preserving them from all opposing forces, from all adversity and from every evil situation, and giving them everything they need spiritually and physically benefit. Most of all, pray to the most merciful God, that He may establish and strengthen His holy Church and all our Orthodox Fatherland in peace and silence, in love and unanimity, in orthodoxy and piety, and preserve This is forever and ever. Amen."
Arkhangelsk diocese
Reverends Savvaty, Herman and Zosima of Solovetsky
Memory of St. Savvaty - September 27/October 10
St. Herman – July 30/August 12
in the Cathedral of Solovetsky Saints – August 9/August 22
in the Cathedral of Karelian Saints – May 21/June 3
The Monk Savvaty, the Solovetsky wonderworker, along with another saint of God, the Monk Zosima, is considered the founder of the greatest shrine of the Arkhangelsk land - the Solovetsky Transfiguration Monastery. “No information has been preserved from which city or village the Monk Savvatiy came, who his parents were, and how many years from birth he took on the monastic form” (18, 600).
What is known for certain is that, already an experienced elder monk, the Monk Savvaty labored in the famous Vologda Kirillo-Belozersk monastery, where, “working for the Lord day and night, he mortified his body with fasting, labor and perfect obedience to the abbot and brethren.” For this he enjoyed love and respect from the abbot and the monastery brethren. However, the Monk Savvaty remembered that praise in earthly life should be sought not from people, but from God. The good reputation he acquired in the Cyril Monastery weighed heavily on him; in addition, the Monk Savvaty strove with all his soul for a harsh ascetic life away from people. Therefore, with the blessing of the abbot, he left the Kirillo-Belozersk monastery. His path lay on Lake Ladoga, where on the island stood the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, founded at the end of the 9th century, where “the monks led the most austere life” (19, 3 – 4).
Arriving at Valaam, the Monk Savvaty was “joyfully received” into the ranks of the monastic brethren. Within the walls of this monastery, “imitating the laborious exploits of the monks there and constantly multiplying his labors, the ascetic spent considerable time.” At the same time, “as in the Kirillov monastery, he surpassed everyone in asceticism, so that his virtuous life became known to everyone on Valaam, for he exhausted his flesh to the extreme limits and already during his lifetime became the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit” (18, 602) . In the Valaam monastery, the monk “did not escape the glory and respect of the brethren” (19:4) and therefore again began to think about leaving for the desert, inaccessible to vain glory and human rumor.
The Lord fulfilled the desire of the Monk Savvaty. From people the ascetic learned about the existence of an uninhabited Solovetsky Island in the middle of the White Sea, which needed to be reached by sea for two days. “Listening to stories about the deserted island, the monk rejoiced in spirit and was overwhelmed by the ardent desire to settle on it for feats of silence” (18, 602). However, the Valaam abbot and the brethren did not want to let go of the elder, who was a model of virtue for the entire monastery. Therefore, Savvaty had to secretly leave Valaam. “It was seven hundred miles or more from the Valaam Monastery to the White Sea. And God’s help accompanied him, and he was protected by the action of the Holy Spirit, and he was guided by the grace of Christ to the very sea” (20, 161).
When the Monk Savvaty reached the coast of the White Sea, local residents willingly told him about Solovetsky Island, that it was suitable for living: it had fresh water, forests, and lakes where fish were found. They also talked about why no one dared to settle there. The route to Solovetsky Island lay only across the sea, was extremely dangerous and took two days. Only in calm weather, when the sea was calm, did fishermen swim up to him in boats. In winter, communication with Solovetsky Island was completely interrupted.
Hearing about the desire of the Monk Savvaty to settle on this uninhabited island, people were amazed. They asked him in bewilderment: “What will you eat or wear on the island, being at such an old age and having nothing? And how will you live alone at a far distance from people, when you are no longer able to do anything for yourself?” The monk answered them: “I have such a Lord who makes the nature of an old man young. He enriches the poor, gives the needs of the poor, clothes the naked, and with a little food satisfies the hungry to the full, just as He once fed five thousand people in the desert with five loaves of bread” (18, 604).
“Listening to the speeches of the saint, people who had reason were amazed at God’s love for mankind and the wisdom of his teaching. Others, who did not have even a good thought, mocked him and insulted him for his imaginary foolishness” (20, 161). Despite this, the Monk Savvaty firmly believed that with God’s help he would be able to endure all the hardships of desert life on an uninhabited island in the middle of the endless sea. His faith was not disgraced. The Lord helped Savvaty find a person who wanted to share the desert life with him. This man was the monk Herman, who lived at the chapel in the village of Soroka on the Vyga River. The Monk Herman was a native of Totma and a Korelian by origin (20, 161). He did not learn to read, but “his mind and heart, without school or books, were brought up in the strict rules of Christian morality and piety” (1, 34). The Monk Herman had already visited Solovetsky Island together with local fishermen. He confirmed to the Monk Savvaty everything that the local residents told about this island. After consulting with each other and praying to God, the ascetics decided to go to Solovetsky Island. Having prepared the boat, as well as some necessary supplies and things, the Monks Savvaty and Herman set sail across the White Sea, placing all their trust in the Lord. This happened in 1429 (19, 5).
By the grace of the Lord, their journey turned out to be successful. The weather was clear and the sea was calm. Having landed on the shore, the monks found a beautiful place where they decided to settle. They erected a cross and a small cell there and “began to live in the Lord in unceasing labor, prayer and singing psalms” (19:5). “The saints worked with their hands and praised the Lord with their lips, approaching Him through unceasing prayer and singing the psalms of David” (18, 605). This was the beginning of the Solovetsky Monastery.
The local residents did not like the fact that monks settled on the uninhabited island. “We are the direct heirs of this island and have the undeniable right to own it” (19, 6), they said, as if forgetting that they had previously considered the island uninhabitable. One local fisherman had a desire to live on Solovetsky Island and moved there with his family. He settled near the desert monks. It was obvious that someone had to leave these lands forever.
There is a well-known saying: “Man proposes, but God disposes.” The fisherman hoped that the monks could not stand the proximity of his family and would leave. However, it was not the monks who had to leave Solovki, but he and his family. Here's how and why it happened.
One Sunday, after prayer, the Monk Savvaty went out to cense the cross that had been erected at the time when he and Saint Herman settled on the island. Suddenly he heard the sounds of blows, screaming and crying of a woman. Savvaty considered this to be a demonic obsession. Having made the sign of the cross, he returned to his cell and told the Monk Herman about what he had heard. Saint Herman followed the noise and saw a sobbing woman, who turned out to be the wife of a fisherman. Through tears, she told the ascetic about what happened to her: “When I was going to the lake to see my husband, two bright young men met me. Having grabbed me, they beat me with rods, saying: “Get out of this place. You cannot live here, because by the will of God it is intended for the residence of monks.” After that they became invisible” (1, 20). In memory of this miracle, the mountain in the middle of Solovetsky Island was named Sekirnaya.
Having learned about what had happened, Savvaty and German thanked God, who designated Solovetsky Island as a dwelling for monks. The fisherman, hastily gathering his family, left Solovetsky Island forever; none of the local residents dared to settle on it.
Reverends Savvaty and Herman lived together on the island for several years. Then Saint Herman “sailed to the Onega River to acquire the needs of life” (1, 21). Savvaty was left completely alone. At first he was saddened by the departure of his companion, but then he began to strive even more zealously. “Deepening his mind in a constant prayerful conversation with God and turning his eyes full of tears to Him, the monk sighed day and night, wanting to renounce the body and unite with the Lord. Only the Lord knew what his stay on the island was like, what his fast was like, what his spiritual exploits were like!” (18, 606).
At the end of September 1435, the Monk Savvaty, during prayer, received news from God about the proximity of his death. He was not afraid to die, because he had an ardent “desire to be resolved and to be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23), but he wanted to prepare for death in a Christian way - by confessing and partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Having prayed to God, he left Solovetsky Island and set sail on the sea in a small boat. “Through his prayer the sea calmed down” (18, 606). Two days later, Saint Savvaty found himself on Vyga, at the very chapel where he had once met the Monk Herman. At this time, Abbot Nathanael was there, “arriving to visit Orthodox Christians.” The Monk Savvaty turned to him with a request: “I ask you, father, to wash away the sins that I confess to you, and grant me communion of the Holy Mysteries.” To these words of the elder ascetic, Abbot Nathanael replied: “God will forgive you, brother,” and, after a pause, said with tears: “Oh, if only I had your sins, reverend!” (1, 21). Anticipating his imminent death, Savvaty asked Nathanael to give him communion as soon as possible. The abbot suggested that he wait until the morning, because he still had to go to a neighboring place to give communion to the sick man. To this the Monk Savvaty answered: “Father, do not put it off until the morning - after all, we do not know whether we will breathe air until tomorrow, and even more so how can we know what will happen then” (18, 607). In the end, Nathanael fulfilled the request of Saint Sabbatius, and then went to the sick man. After communion, Elder Savvaty “prayed long and earnestly, thanking God for communion and for all His mercies, and then, entering his cell, he began to prepare for his departure from this life.”
By the inscrutable will of the Lord, the Novgorod merchant John, who found himself in Vyga on his trade business, became a witness to his righteous death. This was the last person worthy to hear the instructions of the Monk Savvaty. “He, having entered into a conversation with the merchant, taught him love of poverty, mercy and other good deeds.” The ascetic refused the gifts that the merchant offered him and invited John to stay on Vyga until the morning to “see the grace of God.” The merchant wanted to set off as quickly as possible, but a storm arose at sea and he had to stay.
The next morning, having come to Savvaty for a blessing to set off on the road, John found him already dead. The saint departed to the Lord during prayer. He was dressed in a mantle and a monastic cap. When Abbot Nathanael returned, he and John buried the body of St. Savvaty with honor. “Both of them - Nathanael and John - recalled with surprise how one taught him the Holy Mysteries and how the other was privileged to hear the dying instructions of the monk” (1, 22). Subsequently, in 1465, the relics of St. Savvaty were transported to Solovki.
The Monk Savvaty died on September 27, 1435. This day, October 10 according to the new style, became the day of remembrance of the Solovetsky Wonderworker.
Saint Savvatius laid the foundation for monastic life “in the father of the ocean-sea,” on the Solovetsky Islands. The successor of his work, who glorified this place, marked by the many years of labor and prayers of the Monk Savvaty, was another monk - the Monk Zosima. Venerable Zosima of Solovetsky
†1479
Memory – April 17/April 30
in the Cathedral of Solovetsky Saints – August 9/August 22
in the Cathedral of Karelian Saints – May 21/June 3
The birthplace of the Monk Zosima, who “was destined to found the famous Solovetsky monastery on an uninhabited island” (19, 11), was the village of Tolvui (or Shunga) (20, 147) on the shores of Lake Onega. In those days, these lands belonged to the region of Veliky Novgorod.
The parents of the future ascetic Gabriel and Varvara were peasants. They “raised their son in piety and good morals” (1:24). Young Zosima “was quiet, peace-loving, meek, retired from youthful games and occupied himself with deeds pleasing to God” (19, 12).
The parents made sure that their son knew how to read and write. Thanks to this, the youth Zosima fell in love with reading books of spiritual content, from which he “acquired pearls of reason.” Getting acquainted with the lives of the ancient desert monks, he wished with all his soul to lead the same godly ascetic life.
Wanting to devote himself to serving the Lord, the Monk Zosima “on reaching adulthood did not want to get married, he left his parents’ house, put on a black dress and settled in a deserted place” (1, 24). This deserted place was “near his house” (19, 12). Perhaps young Zosima sought to imitate the life of the 4th century Egyptian ascetic, St. Anthony the Great: at the beginning of his exploit, before leaving for the desert, this saint also lived alone near his native village, preparing for a harsher life away from people. Zosima's father had already died at that time. The mother, on the advice of her son, took monastic vows in a nearby convent (20, 147). The Monk Zosima distributed the property left over from his parents to poor and poor people.
Information about a virtuous life and monastic deeds gleaned from books seemed insufficient to Zosima. He wanted to find an experienced spiritual leader, “who would show by his own example what a young man who wants to live virtuously should learn.” The Monk Zosima constantly prayed to the Lord about this. His prayer was heard. God gave the young ascetic a mentor in monastic work. He became the associate of Saint Savvatius, monk Herman. He told the young man about deserted life on Solovetsky Island, as well as “all the details about the life and exploits of the Monk Savvaty” (19, 12). Zosima was inflamed with the desire “to be the heir of the Monk Savvatius and asked Herman to show him this deserted island and instruct him in monastic life” (1, 25). Herman, seeing the ardent desire of the pious young man, agreed. Together the ascetics set off on a sea voyage to Solovetsky Island. Arriving there, they set up a hut (“tabernacle”) and celebrated the all-night vigil in it, praying to the Lord and His Most Pure Mother to help them in their desert life.
The next morning, the Monk Zosima was granted a vision in which he was shown the future of the Solovetsky monastery. Coming out of the hut, “he saw a bright ray of light and was horrified to see such an extraordinary phenomenon. Turning his gaze to the east, he saw a vast and beautiful church and, not daring to look at it for a long time, because he was not yet accustomed to such revelations, he rushed into the bush in trepidation.” The amazed Zosima told about his vision to the Monk Herman, who revealed to his associate the mysterious meaning of the vision: “Do not be horrified, my beloved, and believe that through you, I think, the Lord wants to gather many monks here” (19, 13). Herman also told Zosima about how the angels forced the fisherman’s family to leave the island, intended by God to establish a monastic monastery on it; as we know, he was a direct witness to this miracle.
Subsequently, what was revealed in the vision of the Monk Zosima came true. However, “the hermits had to endure many trials before they saw their monastery inhabited by monks” (1, 25). Saint Zosima had to fully experience difficulties and hardships, which were sometimes associated with danger to his life.
As we remember, the connection between the hermits and the mainland was supported by the Monk Herman. He periodically went there for supplies. One day, due to bad autumn weather, he did not manage to return back in time. Zosima had to stay on a desert island completely alone for several months. At first he grieved over his loneliness, but then, casting his sorrow on the Lord, he began to “apply labor to labor, constantly remaining in fasting and prayer” (19, 14). He had to fight demons, from whose “weak insolence” he defended himself with the sign of the cross and prayer.
Here is one of the prayers with which he repelled the attacks of demons: “Eternal God, Beginningless King, Creator and Lord of every creature! Thou art the King of kings and Lord of lords, Thou art the Savior of souls and the Deliverer of those who believe in Thy name, Thou art the Hope of those who work and the Hope of those sailing on distant seas, Thou art the Teacher of Thy servants, Thou art the Lover of all good things; You are the Comforter of those who mourn, You are the joy of the saints, You are the glory of God the Father and the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit, You sit at the right hand of the Father and reign forever: I pray to You, humbly falling, hear the voice of my prayer at this hour, Most Holy King, Most Good Lord, and do not turn away your face Thy from the prayer of Thy servant, but save me from the mouth of the fierce serpent, who has dissolved his mouth and wants to devour me, protect me from the evil of the devil, so that, protected and protected by the militia of your holy angels, I will escape this destruction and receive salvation from You, my Master, in whom I believe, in whom I trust and glorify inseparably with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever” (19:15).
Another test that the Monk Zosima had to endure was hunger. However, remembering the words of the psalmist King David - “cast your worries on the Lord, and He will support you” (Ps. 54:23) - he did not feel fear for his fate, and the Lord Himself, who commanded His disciples: “do not worry and do not speak : “What should we eat?” or: “what to drink?” or: “What should you wear?”... because your Heavenly Father knows that you need all this. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33), helped St. Zosima. “Two strangers appeared to him and handed him a supply of bread, flour and butter, saying: “Take, father, and use, and we, if the Lord commands, will come to you.” After that, the unknown guests disappeared. The Monk Zosima realized that these were angels: not a single person at that time could have reached Solovetsky Island. He hastened to thank God for His care. Thanks to the supply of food that the angels brought, Saint Zosima was able to survive the winter.
In the spring, the Monk Herman returned to Solovetsky Island. He arrived not alone, but with the fisherman Mark, who remained on the island as a novice. Subsequently, he took monastic vows. Gradually, the monastery on Solovki was populated by new people who wanted to spend monastic life in it. “Sailing to the island, they built themselves cells near the cells of Zosima and Herman and earned food through the labor of their hands” (1, 26 – 27). In the place where the Monk Zosima saw the wonderful temple, a wooden church appeared in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. From her the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery got its name.
The Monk Zosima was elected abbot of the monastery. True, this did not happen right away. Initially, Novgorod Archbishop Jonah appointed Hieromonk Pavel to this position, who, however, could not bear the difficulties of life on Solovki and left the monastery. The same happened with his successors - Theodosius and Jonah... Apparently, the Lord's will was that the Monk Zosima become the shepherd and mentor of the Solovetsky monks. At the request of the brethren of the monastery, Archbishop Jonah ordained him as a hieromonk and appointed him rector of the Transfiguration Monastery. Having visited Novgorod and received donations from the pious residents of this city in the form of money, vessels, clothes, and food supplies, Abbot Zosima returned to his monastery.
Upon his return to the monastery, the monks witnessed a wondrous sign, which indicated that the Monk Zosima was worthy of the rank of servant of God entrusted to him. When he celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Transfiguration, “his face was illuminated with grace, like the face of an angel, and the church was filled with a wondrous fragrance. The brethren rejoiced that the Lord had given them a mentor filled with the grace of God” (19, 17).
Under the leadership of the Monk Zosima, the monastery continued to be built. During his abbess, the relics of St. Savvaty were transported with honors to the Solovetsky Monastery and placed in a tomb behind the altar of the church in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. This happened in 1465. At this solemn event, the merchant John was present, the same one to whom the Monk Savvaty gave his last instructions before his death. “The merchant John, who was at the burial of Savvaty, and with his brother Theodore, having a special love for him, painted an image of the monk and with generous alms handed it over to Abbot Zosima” (1, 29). Healings began to take place from the relics of the deceased ascetic, which testified to his holiness. Many hopeless patients, who with faith called upon the prayerful help of St. Savvaty, got rid of their ailments at his tomb.
After his elevation to the rank of abbot of the Solovetsky monastery, the Monk Zosima once again had to visit Novgorod. There he met with the famous widow of the mayor Isaac Boretsky - the proud and powerful Martha. At that time she was at the height of her power. “It is believed that in terms of the size of property, Martha Boretskaya was third after the Novgorod ruler and monasteries. Marfa Boretskaya owned about one thousand two hundred peasant farms.” She had sons from her second marriage. “In Novgorod itself, at the Nerevsky end on the Volkhov bank, there was a large courtyard with a “wonderful house” of the Boretskys” (16, 34–35). The abbot of the then small and poor Solovetsky Monastery was forced to go to this proud, fabulously rich boyar as a humble petitioner.
The reason for his trip to Novgorod was that “many of the boyar settlers, noble servants and coastal residents, having completely taken control of the fishing in the lakes, forbade fishing for food for the monastery, and the Monk Zosima and all the brethren were insulted and reviled, even boasting to disperse them.” (19, 20). The people of Martha Boretskaya especially often oppressed the monks. The Monk Zosima managed to persuade many influential Novgorodians “to prevent the monastery from being ruined.” They, as well as Archbishop Theophilus, promised to help the monastery and gave Abbot Zosima many donations. Only Marfa Posadnitsa did not even deign to listen to him. The proud noblewoman ordered her servants to drive him out of her yard as the last beggar. In his humility, the Monk Zosima patiently endured the undeserved insult, but said to his disciples: “the time will come when the inhabitants of this house will not walk around their yard, the doors of the house will be closed and will not open again: this yard will be empty.” In the end, the wayward noblewoman changed her anger to mercy and “gave the monastery ownership of the land, approving this donation with a charter” (1, 30 – 31). Moreover, she even invited Abbot Zosima to her house for dinner. They seated the guest in a place of honor and tried to treat him to something more delicious. But no matter how hard the mayor tried to treat the guest from the heart, he refused her treats and sat at the table, filled with sadness: at a cheerful feast of the Novgorod nobility, he saw a vision that horrified him. The six most important boyars, who so carefreely feasted at Martha’s, sat without heads...
Subsequently, these people were actually executed. In 1477, Grand Duke Vasily III conquered Novgorod. The boyars, whom the monk saw without heads during the feast, laid their heads on the block. The courtyard of Martha Boretskaya also fell into disrepair. Her two sons became victims of the power struggle between Novgorod and Moscow, and Martha herself, along with her little grandson Vasily, was arrested and sent into exile at the beginning of 1478, first “to Moscow, and then to Nizhny Novgorod. There she was tonsured under the name of Mary in the Conception Monastery, where she probably soon died” (16, 57). So the Lord, Who “scattered the arrogant in the thoughts of their hearts, cast down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the humble” (Luke 1:51-52), overnight crushed all the power and authority of the arrogant Novgorod noblewoman.
On April 17, 1479, at a ripe old age, the Monk Zosima departed to the Lord. He prepared for death in advance, as pious people of that time did: he prepared his own grave and made a coffin. He appointed monk Arseny as his successor. Having said goodbye to the inconsolable brethren, he bequeathed to them not to deviate from the monastery charter, and also made the following promise: “You will know that I have found grace before God when, after my departure, the monastery expands, many brethren gather, this place will flourish spiritually and in there will be no shortage of bodily needs” (1, 32). After this, he turned to the Lord with a prayer: “O Master, Lover of Mankind, grant me to stand at Your right hand on the last day, when You come in glory to judge the living and the dead and to reward each according to his deeds!” (20, 157). With this prayer on his lips, the Monk Zosima rested in the Lord.
The brethren buried the saint's body behind the altar of the Transfiguration Cathedral. “On the ninth day after his repose, he appeared to the monk Daniel and announced that, by the grace of the Lord, he had been delivered from the spirits of the air and their many snares and was numbered among the saints.” Soon miracles began to happen from his tomb. “We have repeatedly seen the saint of God during a storm ruling ships and saving them from sinking. Sometimes they saw him in church standing among the brethren. And he appeared many times at sea and on land, helping in needs and situations” (19, 24). And to this day the Monk Zosima helps those who turn to him with prayers for help and intercession.
The Monk Herman lived longer than the Monk Zosima. During the abbess of Arseny, he went to Novgorod on monastery business. There, having reached the monastery founded by the Monk Anthony the Roman, Elder Herman accepted a righteous death. The disciples were unable to bring his body to the Solovetsky monastery and therefore buried Herman at the chapel of the village of Khavronyina on the banks of the Svir River. Already under the new abbot, Abbot Isaiah, his incorruptible relics were found and transported to Solovki. In 1547, Saints Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky were canonized. Later, in 1692, the memory of their companion Saint Herman began to be celebrated.
On icons, Saints Zosima and Savvaty are most often depicted together. Although these ascetics never met each other, they are united by the fact that the Solovetsky Monastery was founded through their labors. The Monk Savvaty laid the foundation for it, being the first to settle on Solovetsky Island. Thanks to the Monk Zosima, the Transfiguration Monastery grew, became filled with brethren, gradually becoming the majestic northern shrine that it is to this day.
Sometimes you can find icons of Saints Zosima and Savvaty, in which they are depicted among beehives. This is due to the fact that among the people the Monk Zosima was revered as “the patron of beekeeping and the guardian of bees.” According to popular legend, he made a pilgrimage to the shrines of the East, from where he brought bees to Rus' in a hollow reed stalk. On the day of his memory, April 30 according to the new style, bees were taken to apiaries. There, having prayed to Zosima and Savvaty, “they walked around the apiary with a lit candle, sprinkled it with blessed water” (21, 165). This is associated with the appearance of beehives on some icons of the Venerables Zosima and Savvaty.
In pre-revolutionary times, the relics of St. Zosima and Savvaty were in silver tombs in the main church of the Solovetsky Monastery - Preobrazhensky, and the relics of St. Herman rested hidden in the monastery church, consecrated in his honor.
There they remained until 1920, which became fatal for most of the monasteries in the Arkhangelsk province. Only in 1992, after more than seven decades of desolation of the Solovetsky Monastery, they returned again to the walls of the revived monastery. To the list
