Brief biographical information
1867-1895 - deacon in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi 1872 - death of his wife Anna 1895-1898 - presbyter in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, from 1897 - protopresbyter. ).
He drew lots with the name “Tikhon” during the election of the Patriarch at the All-Russian Local Council in 1917.
Canonized as a saint at the Jubilee Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in August 2000.
Memorial Day 19.09 Art. / 02.10. n.st.
Rev. Hieroschemamonk Alexy
One of the most glorious and revered elders of the twentieth century , the Monk Alexy Zosimovsky, was born on January 17, 1846 in Moscow in the family of the rector of the Moscow church in the name of St. Simeon the Stylite beyond the Yauza.
At baptism, the baby was named Theodore, in honor of the Great Martyr Theodore Tyrone (February 17). Father, hereditary priest, Archpriest Alexey Petrovich Solovyov (1804–1882), was from the city of Dmitrov. His extraordinary abilities and high moral qualities allowed him to graduate from the local theological school first on the list and continue his education at the Bethany Seminary near Sergiev Posad. After the seminary, he immediately entered the Theological Academy, where he received a master's degree and a professorship. In addition to serving in the church, Father Alexy was a dean, taught at the 3rd men's gymnasium and at the Practical Academy (an educational institution that prepared children of honorary citizens for commercial activities). For forty years of teaching activity, he was awarded hereditary nobility.
In 1835, Alexey Petrovich married Maria Fedorovna Protopopova, the daughter of the priest of the Pyatnitsky cemetery church, and, at her request, two years later he moved to Moscow. Elder Alexy's mother was a deeply Orthodox woman, kind and merciful. In addition to her family, she took upon herself the care of her brother and sister, who were orphaned early. She had ten children of her own: two girls and eight boys. After her death from cholera in 1854, her eldest daughter Anna (married Vladimirskaya), eight-year-old Fedya and younger Katya (married Benevolenskaya) were left orphans. To some extent, their mother was replaced by their paternal grandmother Anna Andreevna and nanny Tatyana, whom the elder remembered with love. But the main concern for the children fell on the shoulders of the father. With his kindness and tenderness, he sought from them complete openness and the same obedience. Upsetting their father was martyrdom for the children.
From an early age, Fyodor was distinguished by his seriousness, did not play pranks, and avoided fun activities. The boy loved music very much and, having learned to play the piano, performed church hymns. The owner of an excellent voice, he sang in the choir from an early age. His most favorite were the irmos of the penitential canon: “As Israel walked on dry land” and others. Fyodor also served his father at the altar.
Fedor was taught basic literacy by his future father-in-law, a deacon of a neighboring church, Pavel Smirnov. And when the boy reached a certain age, he was sent to the Andronievsky Theological School. During this period, a misfortune happened to him: when he was ringing in the bell tower, the tongue of the bell hit him, and the boy lost consciousness. As a result, he became blind in one eye. However, in 1866 the young man graduated from the Moscow Seminary with the first category. Fyodor did not want to continue his education at the academy, because he did not feel a calling to theological science. He wanted to serve the Lord in the humble rank of parish deacon.
Before receiving the rank, Fyodor Alekseevich married his childhood favorite Anna Pavlovna Smirnova, the eldest daughter of a friend of their family, by that time already a priest of the church in the name of St. Clement, Pope of Rome on Varvarka. The wedding took place on February 12, 1867, and the ordination took place on February 19 at the Chudov Monastery. Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow appointed Father Theodore to the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, which he patronized.
The first years of ministry for the young deacon became the most blessed. The parishioners and the rector liked him for his modesty, responsiveness, respectful attitude towards elders, and reverent service. Family life was also going well. The meek and kind wife Annushka was at the same time distinguished by her liveliness and sociability: the young people often received guests. Father Theodore bought a harmonium, learned to play it and performed various plays, excerpts from operas, romances and church music. He often sang to his own accompaniment. On July 23, 1868, their son Mikhail was born... And five years later the following happened. Anya asked Fyodor to go visit her, but for some reason he didn’t want to and resolutely refused. On the way, while crossing the street, she fell into a snowdrift and got her feet wet. The cold turned into fleeting consumption, and in January 1872 Anna died. For Father Theodore this was a terrible blow; he could not forgive himself for not agreeing to accompany his wife. When Anna Pavlovna's funeral service was held, he did not have the strength to serve. He stood next to the coffin, continuously looked at his beloved face, and tears rolled down his cheeks... A different, lonely life began.
The rector of the Tolmachev Church, Archpriest Vasily Petrovich Nechaev, had a significant influence on the fate and spiritual development of Father Theodore. Father Vasily was a wise man, and people often used his advice. His parishioners respected him for his reverent service and his kind and sensitive heart. Since 1860, the famous magazine “Soulful Reading” was published at the Tolmachevsky Church, the editor and main author of which was the rector. In the early 1880s, a good professional choir was created at the church under the direction of regent F.A. Bagretsova. Father Vasily loved the young man and treated him like a father. After the death of Anna Pavlovna, in order to bring Father Theodore out of a state of excessive melancholy, the abbot loaded him with work in the magazine. Editorial concerns aroused interest in literary activity, and Father Theodore began to write articles, some of which were published as separate brochures.
The first published work of the novice author was a brief history of the Nikolo-Tolmachevskaya Church, compiled from materials from the local archive. It is worth mentioning the last printed work of Hieromonk Alexy. This was an article in the March issue of the same magazine for 1899 in connection with the death of the founder of the famous gallery, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, a parishioner and benefactor of the Tolmachevsky Church.
Father Theodore read a lot: theological articles, patristic works, in a word, religious literature. He did not like literary works; he sharply condemned L. Tolstoy, saying that he alienated people from the church. Having read, on the advice of friends, F. M. Dostoevsky’s novel “The Brothers Karamazov,” he said that he liked the pages about Elder Zosima, but there was a lot of dirt in the novel. In addition to services in the church, Father Theodore participated together with Father Alexy Mechev, then still a deacon, in the so-called folk readings. At the same time, he taught the Law of God free of charge in an orphanage, as well as in Smirnova’s private orphanage and in the homes of parishioners, in particular, with the famous Slavophile philosopher Yu.F. Samarina. Later, Elder Alexy recalled that he had to take part in the most interesting conversations, the regulars of which were Countess Sologub, Prince Cherkassky, I.S. Aksakov, the Vasilchikov brothers, the Buturlins, Prince Obolensky - and at the end of the 70s, the young but already famous philosopher Vladimir Solovyov began to appear in this society. These meetings broadened the horizons of the future elder and taught him how to communicate with representatives of high society, which came in handy when high-ranking people began to approach him. Later, in the 80s, the palace of Countess Sologub was bought by the treasury and the 6th men's gymnasium was established there. The later famous writers Ivan Shmelev and Nikolai Durnovo studied there, who warmly remembered the kind deacon Father Theodore, who came to them to serve prayers. They often met him before classes, when Father Deacon returned from early mass, surrounded by a crowd of beggars.
In addition to the daily distribution of money, Father Theodore received and fed many at home. One day on the street, the deacon took off his outer cassock and gave it to a poor man who was shivering from the cold. He was a real unmercenary. Having overcome the natural awkwardness and sluggishness that hindered him, Father Deacon achieved exemplary church service. He was small in stature, but with good posture, walked sedately, with dignity, incense, crossed himself and bowed earnestly, his reading was expressive, clear, the words were audible and understandable to everyone standing in the church, he loved to sing with the choir. Father Theodore was an unusually pious and zealous clergyman: he always came to church first and was the last to leave. Before leaving, he made sure to walk around the entire temple and pray, bowing before each icon. After Father Vasily Nechaev became a monk with the name Vissarion in 1889, the parishioners really wanted Father Theodore to become their priest, but he resolutely refused, believing that such a parish should be cared for by a wiser clergyman. He became a famous theologian, a great man of prayer, a warm-hearted man, a former professor at the Moscow Theological Academy, Archpriest Dmitry Fedorovich Kasitsyn.
On April 7, 1892, with the blessing of the Metropolitan of Moscow and at the unanimous request of the clergy and parishioners, the 25th anniversary of Father Theodore’s ministry in the Nikolo-Tolmachevsky Church was celebrated. He was presented with an icon of St. Nicholas in a rich silver robe and a welcoming address. It said, in particular: “In ... the history of the Church of Christ there are frequent examples that persons who were hierarchically only deacons had an incomparably greater influence on the Church, and you, most revered Fyodor Alekseevich, being in the rank of only a priest deacon, in fact in fact, truly and truly, by the strength of your influence, as if the locum tenens of this holy temple of God... And the hopes of the entire parish rest on you, everyone is confident that you will provide for and accomplish everything in every shrine and with the fear of God, as in the face of the All-Seeing Lord Himself “that everyone can turn to you boldly and with all frankness at any time, that you will listen to him lovingly, from a sincere and kind heart you will give good advice and provide all assistance and assistance to everyone as needed and possible...”
On these same days, Father Fedor received a letter from his former mentor, His Grace Vissarion: “Dear Father Deacon Fedor Alekseevich! 25 years have passed since you entered the priestly service in the Nikolo-Tolmachevsky parish. Of those 25 years, I had the pleasure of serving 22 years with you. During all this time, we were friendly towards each other, and I always looked with great sympathy at your amiable spiritual qualities and useful works. Your always reverent service in the temple, your humility and meekness, your strict abstinence from rotten and idle words, your heartfelt participation in the joys and sorrows of your neighbors, your readiness to help them in their needs, your tireless and fruitful labors in teaching the law and edification - all this and This made a favorable impression on me and served for my edification. Comparing myself with you, I have repeatedly said to myself: “Oh, if only I could be as kind as Fyodor Alekseevich!..”.
In 1891, on the site of the old wooden house for the clergy, a new, brick, more spacious one was built. Father Theodore, who lived with his son Mikhail, who was graduating from the Moscow Imperial Technical School, now had an apartment of six rooms. Living became more spacious, and this soon came in handy. My mother-in-law, Anna Fedorovna, fell ill. There was no one to look after her, and her father, the deacon, took her and his youngest daughter to a new apartment. Two years later, changes began in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin: Metropolitan Sergius (Lyapidevsky) of Moscow decided to restore in it the ancient, so-called “pillar” singing, in which, instead of psalm-readers on the choir, presbyters and deacons sing in unison.
Vladyka Sergius knew about the wonderful Tolmachev deacon, and the council, led by Archpriest N.I. Pshenichnikov - an expert in this singing, specially transferred to the cathedral - came to Tolmachi on behalf of the Metropolitan to persuade Father Theodore to move as a presbyter to the Assumption Cathedral. This invitation was a recognition of the high spiritual and service qualities of the deacon’s father, but he initially refused. However, after a detailed conversation with his mother-in-law, whom he respected and obeyed, he agreed. So in May 1895, Feodor Alekseevich Solovyov, after twenty-eight years of service, left the Nikolo-Tolmachevsky parish.
On June 4, 1895, Father Theodore was ordained a presbyter and assigned to the staff of the main cathedral of Russia. It contained great shrines: the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the relics of Saints Peter, Jonah, Philip; Patriarchs Job and Hermogenes. Russian tsars and emperors were crowned here. For some time, Father Theodore sang in the “pillar” choir, and then moved to the altar to perform divine services. Just two years after accepting the priesthood, he was unanimously elected confessor of the cathedral clergy, and a year later, shortly before leaving for the monastery, he became protopresbyter and was awarded the kamilavka.
Father Theodore enjoyed universal respect and love; he served, as always, reverently, earnestly and slowly, often out of turn, for others. Of all the shrines of the cathedral, the priest most revered the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, on which the face of the Queen of Heaven is filled with extraordinary spiritual purity. Coming and leaving the cathedral, he prayed earnestly in front of the image, and joyfully served prayer services in front of it. This is how Elder Alexy later recalled about that time: “You used to enter the cathedral at three o’clock in the morning to serve Matins, and awe would overwhelm you... Silence was everywhere. Moscow is still sleeping... In the mysterious twilight of the church, the whole history of Russia rises before you... You can see the cover of the Mother of God from the Vladimir Icon in times of disaster, the shadows of the Moscow saints pass - the defenders of the Fatherland and the pillars of Orthodoxy... And then I wanted to pray for Rus' and all its faithful children, I wanted to devote myself entirely to God and not return to the vain world.”
At first, Father Fedor lived in the St. George Monastery on Bolshaya Dmitrovka, and later moved to a nice apartment on Vozdvizhenka. Coming from the cathedral at about two o'clock in the afternoon, having, as usual, distributed the contents of his wallet to the poor, the protopresbyter had lunch, after Vespers he drank two cups of tea with bread and did not eat anything else until the next day. Gradually, both the cathedral atmosphere and the services themselves, which were not devoid of vanity, began to weigh him down, and there was little time left for solitary studies. He would have gone to the monastery long ago, into silence and silence, but he had to put his son on his feet, support his mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Finally, the Lord arranged everything so that Father Theodore’s long-standing desire could come true. In April 1897, his mother-in-law died, his sister-in-law got a good job, and his son completed his studies and married Olga Petrovna Motova, the daughter of a wealthy timber merchant.
Initially, Father Theodore did not intend to settle in the Zosimova Hermitage. He was simply looking for a suitable place for a strict retreat and dreamed of Paraclete, a desert in the forests beyond the Trinity. He even visited this monastery with his priest nephew and received a blessing from the abbot to settle there. But the Lord assigned him a different place. On a second trip to the Paraclete, Father Feodor met Hieromonk Tovia in the Lavra, who, warning about the damp climate of the monastery, pointed his acquaintance to a hermitage near the Arsaki station. “...While I was waiting for the horse,” the elder later recalled, “I stood on the platform, looked into the forest, and saw: a tall old hieromonk coming out of the forest and heading towards the station. He passes me and goes to the ticket office to buy a ticket. I go up to him and ask: “Aren’t you from Zosima Hermitage?” “Yes,” he answers, “from Zosimova.” — Isn’t it the abbot of the monastery? “No, I’m the caretaker of it,” he answers humbly. It was Father Herman, our current abbot. Then I introduced myself and said that I had heard about Zosima Hermitage and would really like to pray in it. Father German was very happy about this and said: “I need, Father Archpriest, to go to Moscow on business, but you will certainly wait for me, I will be back tomorrow, my horse will give you a ride... Then we sat down and had a good, heart-to-heart talk... Father Abbot left for Moscow, and I went to the Zosimovskaya Hermitage... The next day Father Abbot arrived... I...asked him if he would accept me as one of the brethren. - No, you, Father Archpriest, and people like you, need a completely different path. Our life is miserable, modest, and this is not the kind of life you are used to in the capital. “I’m looking for solitude,” I answered him, “and I dreamed of the Paraclete, but the climate there is too damp, and I can’t stand dampness for health reasons.” I spent two days here with you and I really like everything, I would like to stay. Father Herman was silent for a while and then suddenly asked: “What is the most important thing for a monk?” “Humility,” I answered him. And I see how Father Superior’s face lit up from my answer, and he quietly said: “Yes, he is one of ours...”
Having received a blessing from above, Protopresbyter Theodore Solovyov left the Assumption Cathedral in October 1898, having served there for three years and four months. On November 30, 1898, he was tonsured by the abbot of the Zosimova Hermitage, Father Herman, as a hieromonk with the name Alexy, in honor of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow. It was also the day of their wedding with Anna.
Father Herman, receiving into the monastery the protopresbyter of the Assumption Cathedral, the respected Father Theodore, was very afraid that he might develop the sprouts of pride and conceit, and he began to humble Father Alexy. Therefore, life was not easy for him at first. His first obediences were choir singing and performing divine services. The pilgrims who often came to the desert at that time said that when Father Alexy sang with the choir, his rare velvety bass gave Zosimov’s singing a particularly solemn sound. They treated him harshly, placed him below his brethren during the service, and gave him the worst vestments. True, he was appointed confessor and freed from heavy physical work. I had to endure it in the choir too. The regent, Hieromonk Nathanael, reprimanded Father Alexy in a sharp tone when he began to sing in a cathedral style: “This is not the Assumption Cathedral, don’t forget, you can’t roar here.” Father Alexy humbly, with all his heart, asked for forgiveness from the father regent. He recalled this with emotion for many years. But disagreements with Father Nathanael, a nervous and restless man, were repeated and caused Father Alexy true torment. Immediately becoming Father Alexy's confessor, Abbot German confessed to him until the end of his life. He soon recognized high spiritual qualities, a bright soul, sincere humility, and appreciated the rich experience of a clergyman. Wariness gave way to respect, and then to great love. Father Alexy reciprocated. The number of confessors also increased: in addition to the old praying women who came to him at first, many young monks became his spiritual children. And a few years later, Abbot German himself became his spiritual son. His choir obedience was abolished and he was assigned to teach the monks the Law of God. Three times a week he taught his students in the evenings after the evening rule. Young people came tired, dozed and did not understand the priest well. But he demanded that they remember everything he said, and insisted that all his words be repeated exactly. Driven by the fear of God, he never sat down during these lessons.
This is how the Venerable Abbot Vladimir recalled this in his diary: “Monastic obediences were very difficult at that time: the monastery was just beginning, we came to lessons at 8 o’clock in the evening after the evening rule. The monks were tired, often dozed off and did not pay attention to Father’s lessons. But Father firmly insisted that we remember his lessons and, after what he told us, demanded that we repeat his words exactly. But it was difficult for us, and we often could not catch all his words. Then he punished us. One day my teeth hurt badly and I hardly slept at night. Once o. Alexey asked me a question that I could not answer, and he made me stand until the end of class. Fr. Alexey was a serving (regular) hieromonk, and his hierodeacon was Fr. Polycarp. After Matins Fr. Polycarp said Fr. To Alexei: “Father, you are o. They raised Vladimir up, asked him a question, kept him standing for the entire lesson, and his teeth hurt: he doesn’t sleep all night, but works during the day and his work is hard.” O. Alexey, listening to this reprimand, was embarrassed, and immediately ordered to send for me. They came running to me and said: “Go to church as quickly as possible, Fr. Alexey is calling.” I came to the church, to the altar. Fr. Alexey, when he met me, immediately fell at my feet and began to ask for forgiveness: “Forgive me, Fr. Vladimir, I did a bad thing, I kept you standing for more than an hour.”
The lessons of humility taught to Father Alexy by Father German were not in vain. To whomever the elder caused - accidentally or absent-mindedly - the slightest trouble, he bowed at his feet and asked for forgiveness. He did this to everyone, even, as already mentioned, to his students and cell attendants.
When the lessons on the Law of God were over, Father Alexy, after dinner, read the works of the holy fathers to the brethren and did this until he went into semi-seclusion. Until this time, he spoke teachings to the people on holidays. His sermons were simple, useful and understandable. Shortly before going into semi-seclusion, he stopped confessing, believing that this could arouse vanity in him. Father Alexy loved nature very much, but did not go into the forest or field. His walks were limited by the walls of the desert. Slowly, he wandered along the paths, stopped and carefully looked at the beauty around him: nature pacified him. In the spring of 1906, during Great Lent, constantly besieged by confessors, he began to become exhausted, his health deteriorated, and he became seriously ill with lobar pneumonia. At that time he lived in the northeast corner tower. The room was damp and cold, and he was transferred to the abbot's chambers. The situation was so serious that Doctor Mamontov, who treated the monk, openly spoke about the likelihood of death. On Maundy Thursday, Father Alexy was given unction, all the brethren were present, and his son Mikhail, who arrived, cried like a child. When he came up to say goodbye to his father, he quietly said: “Pray.” I hope in God. For the sake of your holy prayers, the Lord will grant me health.
After this, Father Alexy began to recover. In the summer he moved to a small hut-cell, built at the expense of his son. On February 17, 1906, the elder of the Gethsemane skete, Barnabas, died, and immediately many of his spiritual children began to turn to Father Alexy for help and support. Hegumen German, seeing how many people began to come to Father Alexy, canceled all other obediences, assigning him only eldership and clergy. This became the main work of his monastic life.
Father Alexy confessed in his hut every day. His cell consisted of a small entrance hall, a reception room and a bedroom. In front of the house, behind a low fence, a small front garden was laid out; flowers and bushes grew in it, which gave it a pleasing appearance to the eye. On the days when the elder did not receive anyone, the gate was locked. Father was always affectionate and friendly. According to the testimony of many of his spiritual children, the elder was more like a mother than a father - he showed so much affection and tenderness, so much patience with everyone.
A special group of his visitors consisted of teachers and students of the Moscow Theological Academy. They fell in love with the elder for his wisdom and kind, affectionate attitude towards them. Sometimes they traveled with such grave sins that they did not dare to tell the parish priest about them, thinking that the elder would better understand their situation. This was what was painful to the tender, loving heart of Father Alexy.
Therefore, the priest began to petition his superiors for permission to go into seclusion. His request was partially granted, and on February 3, 1908, the elder went into semi-seclusion, at first temporarily, until Easter. The entrance to his hut was closed to all laymen, except for his son’s family; even the brethren could enter there for revelation only at designated hours on Fridays. Father Alexy began to receive confessors only in church on Saturdays and Sundays. The period of the elder’s stay in semi-seclusion (1908–1916) was especially difficult and prolific. His fame among people seeking spiritual guidance grew by leaps and bounds. Among his spiritual children were such famous figures of the Russian Orthodox Church as Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna, the founder of the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy, Mother Tamar, who, with the blessing of the elder, founded the Seraphim-Znamensky monastery near Moscow. Zossimova hermitage was often visited by members of the religious and philosophical circle, famous in those years, founded by M.A. Novoselov: Sergei Bulgakov, Pavel Florensky, Nikolai Durnovo and others turned to Elder Alexy for advice.
No matter who came to him - a noble man or the simplest peasant woman - the priest equally forgot himself, experiencing grief and joy with everyone, resolved doubts, consoled, encouraged, and instructed. “I go through everything with you,” he said to his spiritual children, “your grief remains with me here.” And he pointed to his heart. Those who complained about their hard life and many shortcomings and sins heard the following words from him: “Don’t complain, child, don’t, if the Lord forgot you or wasn’t merciful to you, you wouldn’t be alive; only you don’t see His mercies, because you want your own and pray for your own, and the Lord knows what is better and more beneficial for you. Always pray, of course, for deliverance from your sorrows and from your sins, but at the end of your prayer always add, say to the Lord: “Besides, Lord, Thy will be done.”
The elder constantly spoke about unclean and blasphemous thoughts and about the fight against them: “Drive away all such thoughts with the Jesus Prayer, and when they really bother you, then, unnoticed by others, spit on them and on the devil who is bothering you. After all, when a Christian is united with Christ at baptism, he blows and spits at the devil and his works - so do you!”
The elder said about reading spiritual books and the Holy Gospel: “Don’t be lazy to read the Word of God and spiritual books. The Word of God will support and strengthen you in the Truth.” First of all, he advised reading Abba Dorotheus, John Climacus, John of Kronstadt.
Father Alexy once said about condemnation: “We condemn, child, because we don’t look after ourselves and don’t condemn ourselves in advance. Don’t judge anyone, don’t slander or give wrong advice to your neighbors, but if you have to do this, then hurry to correct this evil.”
In the summer of 1909, a monastic congress took place in the Sergius Lavra, and Elder Alexy was among its participants. His voice was of great importance there, his spiritual experience was taken into account, and everyone listened to his opinion with respect. Most of the resolutions were adopted with his approval. Father Alexy's health was deteriorating. In 1914, on the night of Easter Day, he suffered a severe heart attack. Father became haggard and hunched over. He felt dizzy and had headaches almost constantly. Meanwhile, the number of people coming to the elder increased every year. Among other things, this was explained by the elder’s extraordinary insight. There are many examples of this to confirm. Here are some of them: “My friend at the Theological Academy N.I.P. was in confession with the priest in 1908. Saying goodbye, the elder suddenly told him about his sister: “Oh, your poor, poor sister!” N.I. did not understand the priest’s words, because his sister was healthy, and he did not suspect any misfortune. However, when he arrived home, he received a telegram from his mother with the news that his sister had gone crazy.”
In 1915, teacher V.P. Dmitrienko, as was her custom to spend Saturday and Sunday in the Zosimova Hermitage, arrived there and entered the priest behind the screens. Father greeted her with surprise: “Vera, why did you come today? For what? I wasn't expecting you today. Are your brothers still alive? “Everyone, father, is alive,” answered V.P., perplexed by such a question. Upon arrival in Moscow, she found a telegram informing her of the death of her cadet brother, whom they even managed to bury.
“On May 7, 1906, I came to the elder for the first time. There were comrades with me. At the hotel we asked for a separate room. M.F., a man with a heart condition, was very afraid of loneliness, but he was embarrassed to tell us about it and suffered all night. He buried his head in the pillows, and somehow tried to calm himself down, and ran out into the corridor, but he could not get rid of the painful fear that tormented him. So, poor thing, he didn’t sleep all night. The next day he told Father Alexy about this. The elder blessed him and crossed his heart. The next night, his fear completely passed and he slept peacefully in his room, not afraid of anything.”
On March 8, 1915, M. G. Zolotova came to Moscow to advocate for the opening of a girls’ gymnasium in Ryazan. To her chagrin, she learned that a meeting of the board of trustees, on which the solution to the issue depended, was scheduled for the next day. But the program for the meeting has already been drawn up, and the matter has been postponed. Thus, the issue of the gymnasium was delayed for a year, but even after a year the success of the matter was still doubtful. The distressed M.G. nevertheless asked the head of the chancellery to accept her papers and hurried to Zosima Monastery to see Father Alexy, with whose blessing she started opening the gymnasium. “And you have already doubted,” the elder reproached her when she told him about her failure. Father blessed her and encouraged her. And, indeed, when she returned from the desert, she learned that the issue of her gymnasium had been resolved positively.
Father, due to his character and talent, could not receive people hastily and hastily, but there was not enough time to satisfy everyone. The elder suffered from this. In the summer of 1915, he suffered a complete cardiac disorder, he was literally dying and could not see anyone for a month and a half. Physical weakness and the feeling of near death forced him to think about solitude and seclusion. After several attempts, he received the blessing for the shutter.
The doors to this world closed for him on June 6, 1916. The elder left his hut and settled on the second floor of the fraternal building. His cell was located close to the altar of the gateway Church of All Saints, and the priest could go straight into the altar through a special door unnoticed. According to the rule of life in seclusion, Father Alexy went to confession every Thursday and received communion every Friday. The elder considered the sacraments of confession and communion the most important for the salvation of the soul and treated them with the greatest reverence. He said: “I look forward to the arrival of Father Herman every Thursday like manna from heaven.” He’ll come, take it all away, calm you down. The elder’s solitude, which relieved him of a huge nervous burden, had a beneficial effect on his well-being: heart attacks became weaker and occurred much less frequently. The priest was distracted only by letters and telegrams asking him to pray for his family and friends who were at the front, where fierce battles were then taking place. The priest fulfilled all requests with love, and his prayers helped.
The February Revolution did not in any way affect the calm and quiet life of the desert. When the elder went into seclusion, the flow of pilgrims stopped. In April 1917, Father Alexy received permission to serve the liturgy on the first day of Holy Easter without disclosing it. That same week, Metropolitan Macarius of Moscow arrived in Zossimova Hermitage and was soon forced to retire. Receiving the Metropolitan, Abbot German invited Father Alexy to his place. The Bishop spoke about the situation in the Russian Church and mentioned the decision of the Provisional Government that teaching the Law of God in schools and gymnasiums is not mandatory. This news greatly excited Father Alexy, a hereditary teacher of the Law, and he said sharply: “This is such a thing that even if you chop off your hands and feet, you cannot give in one iota.” And then, embarrassed, he said in a different tone: “So you let me out, and I immediately became rude.” “And if you were in prison, you wouldn’t even know what you are,” Father German joked softly.
The interlocutors could not even imagine how the events that took place would affect their personal fate and the fate of the entire Russian Orthodox Church in the very near future.
The idea of restoring the patriarchate abolished by Peter I had been brewing for a long time. The problem acquired particular relevance during the revolutionary events, as one of the means of strengthening the Orthodox Church. For this purpose, on August 15, 1917, the All-Russian Local Council opened in the Moscow Assumption Cathedral. Elder Alexy was elected its member the day before, at the pre-conciliar monastic congress held in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The importance attached to this event was evidenced by the arrival to Moscow from Petrograd of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Provisional Government A.F. Kerensky and Chairman of the State Duma M.V. Rodzianko. Metropolitan Tikhon (Bellavin) of Moscow and Kolomna was elected Chairman of the Council. Painstaking work began - daily meetings that lasted several months. Working meetings were held in Likhov Lane, and the priest went there on the monastery square, or even just by tram.
He settled in the Chudov Monastery. And when fierce battles began in October 1917, the Kremlin was under constant fire. “While I was reading the morning rules, a shell flew into my cell through the window, but, thank God, it did not kill me, although it flew very close,” the elder recalled. I had to move with other cathedral members to the monastery basement. — Immediately after the capture of the Kremlin by the Bolsheviks, entry to its territory was limited: all gates were closed and guards were posted. On November 5, when it was necessary to deliver the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, this was accomplished with great difficulty. For a whole week we hid in a dungeon, like in a catacomb, and somehow we felt God in a special way...” the priest said.
Due to serious events taking place in Russia, it was decided to immediately restore the patriarchate. The election of the patriarch was scheduled for Sunday, November 5, 1917, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. On October 30, three candidates were elected: Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyrsky Anthony (Khrapovitsky), Archbishop of Novgorod and Starorussky Arseny (Stadnitsky) and Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Tikhon (Bellavin). The election of the Patriarch was to be decided by lot, which was entrusted to the hermit elder of Zosima Monastery, Hieromonk Alexy.
On the appointed day, the huge Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which could accommodate twelve thousand people, was overcrowded. There was tense anticipation. Served a ceremonial
On the appointed day, the huge Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which could accommodate twelve thousand people, was overcrowded. There was tense anticipation. Served a ceremonial
From the books of S.I. Fudelya
The story about the Zosima Hermitage is placed in the first chapter of the book “Memoirs” by S.I. Fudelya: speaking about what he experienced here, the writer reveals the basis not only of his spiritual structure, but of the entire church tradition. True life for him begins with a meeting with the Church, touching its real holiness, and at the same time, holiness is the goal of the human path, the fulfillment of a calling.
Then < after trips to Optina
>, until I was 17–18 years old, everything was connected with another monastery, with Zosimova Hermitage. ... Zosimova Hermitage was somewhat similar to Optina. There was something more severe in it, something from the “Northern Russian Thebaid”... The elder was the spiritual center of the monastery. The beauty of his entire appearance was striking when, in a long robe, he emerged from his semi-seclusion to confess to the pilgrims: gray strands of hair on his shoulders, and some kind of power in his head, and height, and facial features, and a surprisingly pleasant low baritone of his voice, and most importantly - eyes full of attention and love for a person. This love conquered and won. A person approaching him plunged into her as if into some ancient womb, as into an element irresistible to him, still unknown and desired to him. He could no longer not believe, since reciprocal love had already been born in him: fire is born from fire1.
Contact with holiness turns out to be painful, and at the same time opens up a previously unfamiliar joy. It is no coincidence that, speaking about Elder Alexy, S.I. Fudel writes about confessing to him: here the severity of sin is experienced with particular acuteness, but at the same time the love of the Heavenly Father is felt, “tangibly poured out on me in these minutes through the elder.” In the center is the description of the service: it sounds like the Church’s response to the outpouring love of the Father, the determination to devote itself to God.
Monastic services in a monastery like Zosimova’s are special... There is one thing here: either leave, because you have to stand for a long time and difficultly, or abandon your laziness and cowardice, doubt and sin and, in holy madness, follow these voices, harmoniously, both sweetly and terribly singing all about one thing: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength!” “...And serve Him alone”!2
And therefore, “not a violation of some code, not a deviation from some rules, but a crime against the very breath of life,” a deviation from the love of God, “this is how sin is recognized in the Church and this is how the meaning of repentance is determined”3.
In the service of the Zosima Hermitage, the life of the Church in the world is revealed as an intense struggle “not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spirits of wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12):
It’s more scary for one, and even a very young one, in such a real monastery. It feels like a mama’s boy has found himself on the front line. What kind of “quiet haven” is there?! There is no “Noble Nest” or “Past and Thoughts” here. Instead of a “nest” there is a sea into which you need to throw yourself, instead of “thoughts” or “the past” there is a living and reverent activity of the present. Here there can only be a human creator who wanted to find within himself his incorruptible fundamental principle, here is “invisible warfare” and the military work of spiritual feat4.
How does the icon of St. Alexis Zosimovsky help?
Through the icons of His saints, the Lord sends us what we ask for, useful for our souls. The saints, just like us, who have walked the earthly path, know our needs. They experienced the same experiences, overcame similar earthly difficulties. When we ask a saint for intercession, we ask that he convey our prayer to God and that the saint’s prayers will be heard faster than our sincere appeal to them. The icon of St. Alexy Zosimovsky helps to establish a prayer connection with the patron saint. Having in front of us the visual image of Saint Alexy, our prayer does not dissipate into empty ideas and dreams. And according to the faith of the one who asks, the Lord, through His saints, gives us what we ask.
They pray to Reverend Alexy Zosimovsky:
— About strengthening faith — About help in organizing earthly affairs — About healing of bodily and spiritual infirmities.
Truly wonderful is God in His saints! Dear believers, brothers and sisters! Do not doubt the help of St. Alexy! Open your heart to him in sincere prayer and he will hear us, heal spiritual and physical infirmities, and help in the successful arrangement of earthly affairs.
Do not forget that in order for a miracle to happen, we ourselves must take care: regularly, with attention, read the prayer, do deeds of faith and love. And don’t forget to give thanks: to thank all the people sent to us by the grace of God to solve our life’s troubles, who shared our joy and sorrow. To thank the Saint, whose prayerful support our heart yearned for, because how many people pray to him for help, but he heard and helped us too. And most importantly, thank the Lord for His boundless love for mankind. He gave the world His saints and every second helps us, people who hope for His great mercies.
Everything in the world happens according to the wise providence of God. Difficulties and sorrows, success and joys. Through earthly trials the Lord strengthens us. By helping each other, praying to the heavenly saints, we are more firmly united in the One Church of Christ. And we believe that Saint Alexy will hear all our prayers and show us the boundless mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God for everything!
From other sources
In the life of the Venerable Martyr Macarius (Morzhov), who was Elder Alexy’s cell attendant for almost thirty years, several episodes have been preserved that vividly characterize the latter:
Elder Alexy was... exquisitely polite and delicate with everyone. He was always so attentive to Father Macarius, as if he had just entered into obedience to him, thanked him almost daily for his insignificant services, and asked him for forgiveness every day...5.
One day Elder Alexy was talking with a student at the Theological Academy. Father Macarius, the elder’s cell attendant, had just cleaned the samovar, poured it, lit it and said: “I’ll go to the chapel for water, and you, father, make sure that the samovar doesn’t leave.” Father Alexy, during a conversation with a student, forgot about the samovar; it filled with water due to strong boiling. Father Macarius, returning, saw this and reproachfully said: “Father, you couldn’t do this either! Now all my work is in vain, and I spent half a day cleaning the samovar!” Father Alexy fell at the feet of Father Macarius and began to ask for forgiveness: “Forgive me, Father Macarius, I did something wrong.”6
Another episode:
Father Macarius, the cell attendant, in his simplicity did not try to remove the bedbugs that appeared in the cell. One day Father Alexy called out to him: “Father Macarius, come here!” The cell attendant appeared... “Take this bug, he ate all my hands.” Father Macarius took the bug and said: “Where should I put it?” - “Just don’t kill!” Father Macarius was about to throw him out the window, but the elder again said: “How cruel you are acting! In such cold weather, where will he go now? The Monk Isaac the Syrian says that a monk must have compassion for all creatures, starting with the flea.” Father Macarius objected: “Well, I have no power over the bug either!”7.
Veneration and significance in Orthodoxy
The memory of St. Elder Alexy Zosimovsky is revered on the day of his death, October 2. Father is also venerated on November 18 among the fathers of the Local Church Council.
In conversations with Father Alexy, people found immeasurable love and consolation. Performing prayerful and monastic feats, he possessed the gift of clairvoyance. With his words, Father Alexy healed people's souls, and with his prayer to the Lord God - their bodies. They left confession with a feeling of relief, grace and love. The reverend elder showed his spiritual children the power and wisdom of Divine Providence, and steadily called pilgrims to humility and prayer.
Literature
- Verkhovtseva N.
Sergiev Posad: (Pages of memories) // Moscow magazine. 1992. No. 10. P. 9. - Protodeacon Sergius Boskin
. Elder Hieroschemamonk Alexy, recluse of the Smolensk Zosimova Hermitage: Biography. Typescript. Sergiev Posad, 1990. - Archpriest Ilya Chetvertukhin, Chetvertukhina
E. Hieromonk Alexy, elder of the Smolensk Zosimova Hermitage. B.m.: Publishing house of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, 1995. - Our faith gives birth to such people: Selected Lives of New Russian Martyrs and Confessors / Comp. A.G. Vorobyova, I.I. Kovaleva, I.G. Menkova. M.: Nikeya, 2013. pp. 198-211.
Orthodox texts in Russian
On the days of memory of the Monk Alexy Zosimovsky, at his holy relics in the monastery and in front of the iconographic image of the elder’s face, clergy and parishioners read prayer texts glorifying the mission and deeds of the priest.
Troparion
Like a guiding star/ and a God-wise Comforter/ in times of fierce trials you appeared,/ the reclusive and wonderful Father Alexis,/ for we are kindled by the fire of faith,/ you have acquired the love of Christ ́,/ we also receive the grace of the Holy Spirit,/ the name of God’s chosen one to the patriarchal throne/ You have revealed it by lot./ Now, standing before the Holy Trinity, // pray that our souls will be saved.
Prayers
Troparion, tone 5
Like a guiding star, the Russian Comforter appeared in times of fierce trials, a wondrous recluse who was ignited by the fire of faith, who reached Divine Love, having received the Orthodox flock from the grace of the Holy Spirit. Enlightened by the Divine Spirit, electing the Patriarch of Russia, the Great Saint, Rev. Father Alexis, pray to the Most Holy Trinity for the Russian Land and the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion, tone 3
The pious root of the holy rod, from your youth you gave your life to the service of God, but you moved into the wilderness of Zosima, wounded by the Love of Christ, acquired this virtue as the highest eternal, and you appeared to the faithful of grace as an endless source, pouring out mercy to all and healing the weak. Reverend Elder Alexie, pray to the all-generous God to grant us peace and great mercy.
