Meaning and history of the term
Among the Orthodox people you can often hear the words “Let’s ask the elder”, “Let’s consult with the venerable elder”, why do they say this and what does the name “elder” mean? This concept can be found in the Bible and church traditions, but even today it is found in modern Orthodox literature and the colloquial speech of believers.
The designation “elder” indicates the special abilities of a church minister
Very often, when people hear the word “elder,” a picture of a tall, gray-haired old man, leaning on a staff and dressed in a cloak or simple robe, appears in their minds. For some reason they believe that he should move from city to city, beg for alms and prophesy to everyone. In reality, things are somewhat different.
Read about Orthodox elders:
- Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnitsky
- Elder Joseph the Hesychast
- Elder Seraphim Tyapochkin
In Orthodoxy, there are many types of asceticism, including hermitage, monasticism, and eldership. This asceticism means the spiritual guidance of a person who has lived a full mature life over younger believers and monks. At the same time, an old man does not have to be of advanced years, because wisdom is not measured by years, and therefore can be bestowed by the Lord even on a very young person.
Important! An elder is, first of all, a wise and spiritually mature person who can instruct others on the path and can give correct advice in spiritual life.
For the first time, such asceticism as eldership was recorded in Greece around the 10th century AD. Then a certain community of monasteries was formed there, headed by an elderly man. It was he who made important decisions for the community, resolved conflicts and difficult situations, and also represented the entire monastic community.
In Rus', eldership was born on the territory of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, where monastic life was concentrated at that time. There, too, the mentor led the community of monks and was their representative. Most often, he became a monk in his youth and in his old age (maybe 40-50 years old) he gained spiritual authority with his life.
In a monastery, the father could be an abbot, a leader, or simply a revered brother - everything depended on the person’s personal ambitions and aspirations.
Elders in Orthodoxy
Despite the fact that this concept is extremely widespread and is often found in Orthodox literature, it is not officially recognized in the modern church, i.e. a person cannot be officially called an elder.
Church eldership in Orthodoxy has existed since the 10th century
Most often, this popular rumor names wise ministers or monks, and thus spreads the news about him among people. Only once in the speech of the Holy Patriarch was the expression “holy elder” heard in relation to the eminent John Peasant, which happened after his death.
Attention! The official list of the Russian Orthodox Church, which contains the names of such respectable people, simply does not exist.
Such uncertainty causes a number of specific problems, because without official recognition by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, anyone can call themselves a spiritual mentor. And since they have great influence among the people, it is very easy to spread heresies and false theological dogmas. Today, members and leaders of many sects call themselves confessors, which misleads ordinary lay people and brings them a lot of trouble, first of all, darkening their hearts and leading their spirit astray.
Nevertheless, a number of Orthodox canonized saints during their lifetime were precisely father-mentors - wise and spiritually mature people to whom they turned for help and advice. Sergei of Radonezh, Spiridon of Trimifuntsky, Alexander of Svirskoy - all of them were venerable people of God during their lifetime, and after that they became part of the host of saints of the Orthodox Church.
The fate of such people is sharply different from each other; if Simeon Verkhoturye lived in the world and was at the same time a secret monk, then Fyodor Tomsky traveled the world and was known as an eternal wanderer without a home or shelter. But St. Basil pretended to be mentally ill (he was a holy fool) in the name of Christ. And in the bloody age of communism there were venerable elders, among them we can highlight Luka Voino-Yasenetsky, who was a doctor and a monk, as well as Father Nikolai Guryanov, who survived the revolution and two Patriotic Wars. What unites them all is only the Lord’s gift of wisdom and knowledge.
So, despite the lack of a modern definition and position in the Russian Orthodox Church, mentor fathers are an important and integral part of its life and sound functioning. They are the ones who help young people to grow correctly in the bosom of the Church and become spiritually mature people.
On a note! The most similar image of such a confessor is presented in the famous Russian film “Island”, when all people from nearby cities and distant countries come to a simple monk for advice and help.
Possibilities of the Elders
Why do such people attract pilgrims and those seeking salvation and advice? What makes them special among others that people strive to get to them, talk to them and receive blessings? First of all, it is worth saying that not every elderly person can be called such a respectable word. Some older people swear and live in such a way that the most dissolute young people might envy them. How many elderly drunkards and thieves do you see on the streets every day?
Important! Mentors are distinguished by a God-fearing life and a certain wisdom from above, since sometimes they give such advice that cannot come to the mind of an ordinary person. Often the Lord gives such Christians special gifts of healing or prophecy, then they can help those in need not only with words, but also with real deeds - heal the sick, raise the dead.
Most often, the talents of such people include:
- the healing power of prayer from illnesses and illnesses;
- wisdom from above, which helps to guide the one asking on the true path;
- solving problems of the laity;
- assistance in resolving conflicts and difficult situations among the clergy;
- clairvoyance;
- the power to cast out demons.
Icon “Cathedral of Optina Elders”
People need the Lord's guidance every day, not to mention important events in life. So a visit to a confessor, as well as a conversation with him, often helps to understand a difficult situation and make an important decision that will be blessed. The novices consult with such a mentor on all spiritual issues and strive to be like children to him, so that the confessor will guide them through life and help them. At the same time, elders are not always distinguished by their good disposition, but once you have chosen him as a mentor, you can no longer change him.
The elders are distinguished by their special reverent relationship with the Lord, and this is what attracts people to them. After all, the closer you become to Christ, the more clearly He manifests itself in you, which means a person acquires divine traits. That is why it is important to communicate with such a person at least once in your life, to ask for blessings and wisdom. But, of course, you yourself should follow their example and devote your life to the Lord, since without Him nothing good can be achieved in life.
Read about Orthodoxy:
- What is a monastery
- Can Orthodox Christians swim in the Dead Sea?
- Where and when to communicate with God: basic rules
Eldership is a gift
According to the “New Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language” edited by Efremova, an elder is a monk (as well as a person of non-monastic rank) as a spiritual mentor of believers. In this case, believers mean both the elder’s novices and ordinary laymen.
According to Archimandrite Ambrose (Yurasov), previously novices at monasteries confessed to the elders and obeyed them in everything. Hieromonk Panteleimon (Korolev) notes that the relationship between the elder and the novice is reminiscent of the relationship between father and son. Of course, the novice himself can choose the elder, but after this choice is made, there is no turning back. A novice son must completely trust and unquestioningly obey his elder father.
How does an elder differ from, say, a confessor? Archimandrite Ambrose (Yurasov) says that the main difference is “a special gift of grace, when the elder is guided by the Holy Spirit Himself.” “Possessing the gift of foresight, they edified everyone, exhorted and consoled, healed from spiritual and physical illnesses, warned against dangers, showed the path of life, revealing the will of God,” this is how Orthodox journalist Lyudmila Ilyunina writes about the elders.
Elders of our time
As mentioned above, the Russian Orthodox Church does not officially confer the title of elder, but the people independently spread news about them throughout the world. Since there is no officially recognized list of such people marked by God, only a rough list can be compiled. Today they include:
- Schema-Archimandrite Vlasy Peregontsev - he lives in the Pafnutyevo-Borovsky Monastery near the city of Kaluga and accepts everyone for a conversation. He has the gift of healing, so there are always long queues to see him.
- Archimandrite German - he is the rector of the Church of Peter and Paul and also receives people who come to him for advice and help in solving spiritual difficulties. Father Herman also conducts rites of liberation from demons and blesses spouses for the birth of children.
- Father Adrian - he lives in the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersk Monastery and frees people from demons.
- Father George (Sava) is the rector of the Holy Spiritual Monastery he created in Timashevsk (Kuban). He introduced the strict Athos Rule into the monastery, which somewhat scares off the laity (they are afraid of radicalism), but at the same time he is an extremely wise man and always helps those in need with his words.
In addition to them, many spiritual mentors serve people on the territory of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. Among them are Archimandrites Dionysius and Ambrose, Schema-Archimandrites Eli and John, Fathers Jerome and Hilarion, as well as many others.
Who are the elders in Orthodoxy?
Suffering people from all over the country come to the hero of the cult film “The Island”, Elder Anatoly, for advice and healing. This image is not a fantasy of filmmakers; similar devotees were and are in real life. Who are these elders, so authoritative and so beloved by the people, whose memory is passed on from generation to generation? How do they become them and how do they manage to achieve such perfection?
Spiritual geniuses.
Here is one story of one of the elders of our time. As a child, his name was Ivan. Raised religiously, the boy dreamed of becoming a monk since childhood, but his confessor blessed him to start a family. After the children grew up and became independent, Ivan and his wife Claudia took monastic vows. In 1991, Father Daniil settled in the Moscow Donskoy Monastery and became the archimandrite and chief confessor of the monastery.
The parishioners somehow immediately fell in love with Father Daniel and spoke about him like this: “He is like the sun, light, warm, and joyful.” Thousands of people came to the priest for advice. Through his prayers, peace reigned in dysfunctional families, children were born to childless spouses, and miracles of healing even from incurable diseases occurred. Elder Daniel (Sarychev), who passed into eternity two years ago, is revered as a saint. Sooner or later, popular veneration will certainly be reinforced by official canonization.
Eldership has existed since early Christianity. Elders were people who seemed to see right through a person and penetrate his soul. Such geniuses are born only a few in millions. And most often monks become elders. After all, to achieve such perfection, you need gigantic spiritual work. It is easier for a monk free from worldly life to approach this ideal.
The most talented and unbending monks receive a great gift from the Lord. From the point of view of the Church, the elders are sent to us in order to reveal the will of God, to edify and console, to help us heal spiritually and physically. Naturally, most often elders are approached specifically with illnesses, so here it is easier to talk about visible results. And they are amazing! The elder’s prayer works miracles that medicine has never heard of.
It is impossible to become an old man of your own free will. Spiritual genius is given by God, and this gift is a very heavy burden. The elder does not have the right to relax and rest; his life is a continuous war against evil. Someone, like Father Anatoly from “The Island,” gains a gift thanks to incredibly strong repentance after committing a grave sin. Even more often, people who are initially righteous become elders. Moreover, the “bell” can ring in early childhood. Spiritually gifted children are not interested in games and worldly vanity; they pray a lot and feel best in church, where they constantly strive and pull their parents.
But on the way the old man faces a very serious danger. The elder is doomed to consider himself a sinner for life and repent even for seemingly harmless thoughts. Constant repentance and awareness of oneself as lower and worse than others is the main method of keeping the soul within the framework of holiness. If the elder even for a moment thinks of himself that he is a saint, he is guaranteed a grave fall. Unfortunately, such cases are not uncommon.
Famous saints.
Most of the elders of the past were canonized as saints by the Greek Orthodox Church. They were the Monk Anthony the Great, Saints Nicholas the Wonderworker and Spyridon of Trimyfutsky and many others.
And in our country, eldership flourished after the baptism of Rus'. The most famous elders are the Monk Theodosius of Pechersk, Alexander of Svirsky, Sergius of Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov, Saints Alexy of Moscow, Tikhon of Zadonsk and Joseph of Belgorod, as well as the great Optina elders.
Some of them lived in ordinary human society, hiding their talents. For example, Saint Simeon of Verkhoturye, who seemed to people to be an ordinary, kind, hard-working eccentric, was a secret monk in the world. Fyodor Tomsky was known as a homeless wanderer. And St. Basil the Blessed and Ksenia of Petersburg actually pretended to be mentally ill, carrying out the difficult feat of foolishness in the name of Christ.
In the bloody 20th century, Russia was held together by the prayers of such beloved saints as John of Kronstadt, Alexy Mechev, Seraphim Vyritsky, Theodosius of the Caucasus.
Many elders went through the horrors of Stalin's camps. The survivors gained even greater spiritual strength. Such was Saint Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), who combined the talents of the greatest surgeon and confessor. He was a laureate of the Stalin Prize in medicine, and medical students still study from his book “Essays on Purulent Surgery.” At the same time, his works devoted to repentance and spiritual improvement took a place in the lists of patristic literature. Just by looking into the patient’s eyes, Elder Luke could make an accurate diagnosis. However, he healed not only with a scalpel, but also with prayer. When in 1996, the coffin with the relics of the canonized saint, covered with a dark cloth, was transferred to the temple, it was photographed. To the surprise, the photo showed the face of the saint in the vestments of a bishop, illuminated against a dark background.
The recently deceased elders are already revered by the people as saints, although they have not yet been canonized. For example, the ascetic from Zalit Island, Father Nikolai Guryanov, who survived the revolution, the Civil War and the Second World War, collectivization and repression. People came to the Zalitsky elder not only from all over Russia, but also from all over the globe. The people who visited him literally began a new life. Gently cooing doves always sat on the roof of the priest’s house. And photographs often showed angels and glowing crosses. On August 24, 2002, old Nikolai ended his earthly life, but even now he helps people who pray to him for help.
Another famous elder is the confessor of the Nativity of the Theotokos Sanaksar Monastery, schema-abbot Jerome (Veredyankin). Just communicating with him made my soul lighten. Father loved to joke and thereby encouraged the discouraged. They said about him that he sincerely loved everyone in the world, even his enemies. Those who knew him personally recall that sometimes he read their secret thoughts and answered them. In October 1997, pilgrims and monks saw a mysterious fiery cross in the sky above the monastery, which they managed to photograph.
After Father Jerome’s departure to Eternity in June 2001, many of the elder’s spiritual children were filled with myrrh of his photographs. The elder still appears to some people in visions and dreams. By the way, the priest prophesied throughout the entire country. He saw the difficulties that Russia would face at the beginning of the 21st century, but predicted that the Fatherland would emerge from them with honor and become, in his words, “the greatest country in the world.”
Elder John (Krestyankin), the Great Prayer Book, author of wonderful books on confession and spiritual improvement, recently passed away. He also predicted Russia's future prosperity and its transformation into a great and rich power.
Elder women are also revered by the people. Any of us has heard about the holy Matrona of Moscow, to whose relics thousands of people come every day to ask for help. Blessed Lyubushka, who lived in the vicinity of the Northern Capital near Vyritsa, is considered to be her successor. People from all over the country came to her, as well as to Matronushka. Even experienced confessors sought advice. She was subject to incurable diseases. Those who saw the old woman forever remembered her sky-blue eyes radiating with love and the fact that when communicating with her the whole world seemed bright and very kind. Having predicted in advance her departure to another world in September 1997, she rested with a smile on her lips, and before her death her face shone like the sun.
Who are they turning to now?
The most famous living Russian elder is Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov). He found faith in God during the war. While participating in the Battle of Stalingrad, a young soldier found the Gospel in the ruins of a house. In 1946 he entered the theological seminary, choosing the path of a monk. For many years he lived in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and was the most revered teacher of Moscow theological schools. Thousands of Orthodox Christians came to him for advice. His spiritual son was Patriarch of All Rus' Pimen, and today Father Kirill is the confessor of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and many other bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. Unfortunately, in recent years, the 88-year-old All-Russian priest has not received anyone due to illness and advanced age.
The 81-year-old Archimandrite Naum (Bayborodin) is considered one of the most influential confessors of the Church. Like Father Kirill, he was a veteran of the Great Patriotic War and, after being tonsured as a monk, settled in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He patronizes artists and icon painters. Thanks to Father Naum, Russia got to know a new elder - Archimandrite Herman, to whom people possessed by evil spirits come from all over to reprimand him.
Father German (Chesnokov) in his youth served in a special department of the border troops of the Central Asian District, catching spies and saboteurs. Having found faith, he graduated from seminary and faced a dilemma: should he marry and become a lay priest or become a monk? He turned to Elder Naum for advice, and he blessed him to independently decide his fate within the next half hour. Locked in his cell, Alexander prayed and received a sign from above. Father Naum blessed him to stay in the monastery. Later everyone recognized him as Father Herman, rector of the Church of Peter and Paul. He chastises those possessed by demons, and through his prayers thousands of possessed people have been healed. After the lecture, there were cases of healing from cancer and other diseases, and many infertile spouses were able to give birth to children.
Schema-Archimandrite Vlasiy (Peregontsev), known throughout the country, serves in the Pafnutievo-Borovsky Monastery near Kaluga. To get to him, people stand in line for days. Father sees the true state of every person’s soul. Through his prayers, alcoholics and drug addicts were healed of fatal diseases and began a sober life.
A parishioner of our church, Sergei, once visited Father Vlasiy, and he unexpectedly blessed him:
- It’s enough for you to live alone, I bless you to get married!
- So I don’t have a bride! – Sergei was dumbfounded.
“It already is,” the elder said sternly. - A good girl, she just arrived at our monastery...
This is how Sergei met and soon married the beautiful Galina. The couple live happily.
Elder Adrian (Kirsanov) serves in the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. For several decades now he has been chastising those possessed by demons. There were cases when, during his lectures, even mentally ill patients came to their senses and became normal people.
And in the Kuban, in Timashevsk, Elder George (Savva) serves. Became a novice of the monastery at the age of 12. In the difficult 90s, he managed to create the Holy Spirit Monastery from scratch, becoming its abbot and introducing the harsh Athos Rule in it. Some people are confused by his extreme severity and radicalism in his views. Nevertheless, his gift as a healer, herbalist and seer is legendary throughout Russia.
Wolves in old skins.
Alas, there are also such “ascetics”, communicating with whom is dangerous for mental health, and sometimes even for life. First of all, these are flawed priests who imagine themselves old, and not only young, but also gray-haired. Such “young elders” create groups of trustees around themselves who blindly worship unquestioned authority. Let us recently recall the story of the Penza hermits who buried themselves underground, and we will be convinced that the “threat to life” is not at all an exaggeration.
The activities of such “elders”. Naturally, it is mixed with pride. Once they discover some modest talent in themselves, for example, the gift of persuasion, they begin to consider themselves extraordinary people, rising above other “dullness”. They gather supporters and poke their noses even into their family budget and intimate life. They demonstrate inappropriate behavior and give criminal orders. One of these “young elders” sent a young mother to the monastery, who had to leave her husband and newborn daughter for this. Another forced a pregnant woman to fast strictly, causing her to be hospitalized with the threat of miscarriage. And when she went to another, normal confessor, he publicly cursed her for “apostasy.”
When the power of the “young old man” is under threat, he is able to resort to threats, for example: “If you go against me, remember that my prayer is strong! Do you want to get sick or lose a child?..” Or: “Yes, I will “seal” you so that you will not give birth at all!”
A “young elder” may be banned from serving, but this does not always help. The “ascetic” often creates his own “true” church, which is, in essence, a totalitarian sect. A good example is the former abbot Kipriyan (Eugene Ts.). For gross violations of pastoral activities and corruption of parishioners in 2003, Kipriyan was banned from the priesthood and expelled from the monastery. In response, he attracted several dozen fanatics who revere him as a saint, and created a pseudo-Orthodox sect. In 2004 he was excommunicated from the Church. The false elder cohabits with young admirers - under the guise of their “anti-demonic tempering.” Ts manipulates consciousness, uses hypnosis and personality suppression techniques, and lures out money and apartments. Some of his fans lost not only their families, health and honor, but also their lives.
Today's fashion for “spiritual miracle workers” also encourages us to act like elders. Speaking on behalf of the Orthodox Church, impostors in robes receive clients in house “temples” and “monasteries.” I recently learned about one such “elder”, Vasily. My former friend Roma idolizes this “spiritual father” of his. At the same time, Roma considers himself Orthodox, but for some reason he doesn’t think about why Elder Vasily gives such strange blessings? For example, he allowed Romina’s wife to dance a striptease, and then blessed Roma himself to sell beer and tobacco.
This “elder” from the Moscow region has more than enough clients - hundreds of sufferers come to see him every day, queuing up early in the night. Each visitor buys expensive candles and makes a considerable “donation” (so that no one forgets to give money, a reminder note hangs on the door). Vasily “predicts fate” from a photograph, “removes damage” and “charges holy water.” In his mouth, prayers alternate with conspiracies...
I checked with real priests about this “elder”. It turned out that a few years ago one archpriest tried to cover up the impostor’s shop, but after threats like “Father, how many children do you have? Do you want to miss someone?” - I stopped these attempts. So the false elder continues his activities. And, according to real priests, “he is clearly supported in this business by some influential people.”
Unfortunately, there are dozens of similar wolves in old skins! They are very popular among people looking for an instant solution to all their problems.
At the same time, there are many wonderful elders and shepherds in Russia, who can be recognized by the love they radiate, their ability to superbly explore, return to the true path, and God’s gift to heal bodies and souls. And in order not to fall into the network of a false elder, it is worth taking a blessing from an experienced confessor. And do not forget that it is not in vain that a person was given a critical mind and spiritual literacy.
Elders and age
In the imagination of ordinary parishioners, an elder is certainly a monk and certainly of advanced age. But is this really so? Priest Valery Dukhanin is confident that an elder does not necessarily have to be old. However, Dukhanin agrees that God quite often “endows elders with a very respectable age.”
However, according to most clergy, there is no direct connection between the years lived and the “title” of an elder. Hieromonk Panteleimon (Korolev) claims that “spiritual experience plays a huge role here,” and cites as an example a story when a man 10 years older than the elder became his novice.
