Venerable Elders of Optina
Optina Pustyn near the monastery, sixty kilometers from ancient Kaluga, has long attracted many pilgrims. It was famous for its holiness, but especially for its elders, who foresaw people's destinies, healed physical and mental illnesses, and predicted the future. The heyday of the Optina eldership was the 19th century, especially its last third. But the true history of the monastery goes back centuries, and it will be difficult to understand the origins of the prophecies of the Optina elders without turning to history.
In ancient times, the constant devastating raids of the Crimean Tatars on the southern borders of the Moscow state forced the Russian rulers to fortify the entire country from the Oka to the Don and from the Don to the Volga with abatis. One of these sightings took place near the city of Kozelsk, founded in 1146. Three kilometers from this ancient city is Optina Pustyn.
Having become a defensive line against the raids of wild nomads, the fence at the same time became a den for bandits who terrified the civilian population. In the 14th century, a formidable leader of robbers took refuge in a fence adjacent to Kozelsk. But something unprecedented happened to him: Opta repented of his atrocities, changed his lifestyle, became a monk under the name Macarius and founded two deserts - two secluded monasteries. In what is now called Optina Pustyn, he probably ended his days as a humble hermit.
Optina Pustyn owes its prosperity and glory to its new rector, Archimandrite Moses (Putilov), who accepted his position in 1825. Under him, the material well-being of the monastery increased and became stronger.
In just a quarter of a century, Kozelskaya Vvedenskaya Optina Monastery has become widely known among hundreds of Russian monasteries. A stream of donations poured in from those pilgrims who were attracted to the holy monastery with its special spirit, reminiscent of the times of ancient asceticism.
Father Lev is considered the first Optina elder (in the world - Lev Danilovich Nagolkin). He finally settled in Optina Pustyn in 1829, when he founded an eldership there. But for the sake of fairness, the abbot of the monastery, Father Moses, should be named on a par with Father Leo. The fact is that only those close to him knew about the spiritual gifts of Father Moses - insight, prudence, while those from far away assumed him to be an ordinary monk, endowed with the high rank of archimandrite and who directed his energy towards the construction of a monastery.
In Soviet times, the fate of Optina Pustyn, like other monasteries, turned out to be tragic. On Palm Sunday 1923 the monastery was closed. At the same time, the last conciliarly elected Elder Nektary was sent into exile in the Bryansk region, who, after the February Revolution, predicted that in 1918 “the sovereign and the entire family would be killed and tortured... But the monastery, which until 1923 tried to hold on under the guise of the Optina Pustyn agricultural association “, she didn’t give up even after. The expelled monks settled into apartments in Kozelsk and tried, as far as possible, to lead a monastic life. They were expelled from there too. Some of them ended up in the city of Belevo, Tula region, where by the end of the 20s many monastics from closed monasteries of the Tula and Kaluga dioceses gathered.
At the end of 1937, the last rector of Optina Hermitage, Archimandrite Isaac (Bobrikov), Bishop Nikita of Belev, fifteen priests and monastics, as well as three laymen were arrested in Belev. On the absurd charge of “counter-revolutionary activities. they were all soon shot.
And the Optina Hermitage, which stood in desecration for six and a half decades, was revived to a new life in the late 80s, as the Optina elders predicted. They also predicted the revival of Russia. Father Nektary said in the 20s: “Russia will rise up and will be materially poor, but rich in spirit...”
Jesus Prayer
In conclusion, let us dwell on the prayer associated with the privilege of the Optina elders. Another name for it is the Jesus Prayer.
Orthodox people know the text of this prayer. Daily appeal to the Savior with a request for mercy is a sign of awareness of personal sinfulness, faith in the salvation of one’s own soul by the power of a merciful God. Other people give prayer a special, secret meaning. Some believe that when reading a prayer you can fall into delusion - succumb to the temptation of extraordinary opportunities. That's why they avoid reading it.
In reality, these are empty superstitions. Prayer is communication with God. The essence of spiritual achievement is not in words, but in meekness, humility, helping others, and faith in the omnipotence of God. The Jesus Prayer is not a spell, but a repentant request for deliverance from sins.
Myths about hesychasm
In the context of the Optina elders, the history of the Jesus Prayer is associated with ascetic practices, otherwise known as hesychasm. Wrong with their mysticism. Hesychasm is a calm, repentant liberation from sinfulness. Not only actions, but also thoughts. The Optina elders practiced mental prayer, achieving the ability to privately communicate with the Lord in the silence of their own souls. The words of the prayer were not spoken out loud, but seemed to flow through a spiritual thought directed towards God.
The history of the Optina elders testifies to the desire of our ancestors for Orthodox life, true faith, and communion with the Lord. Helping people, they believed that such an opportunity was nothing more than God-given Truth. That is why, to this day, the power of the elders helps people find peace, repentance, and peace of mind.
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Hieroschemamonk Leo (Nagolkin)
1768–1841
The first founder and inspirer of the Optina eldership. A man of unshakable faith, extraordinary courage, firmness and energy. The entire life of this elder, spent in selfless service to God and his neighbors, was an expression of evangelical love. Through his exploits, unceasing prayer and God-imitating humility, he acquired the abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit. The miracles performed by the elder were countless: crowds of the destitute flocked to him.
Death (memorial day): October 11/24, 1841
Hieroschemamonk Macarius (Ivanov)
1788–1860
Disciple and companion of Elder Leo. He lived as an elder in the Optina Hermitage at the same time as the Monk Leo, and after his death, until his death, he carried out the great and holy feat of caring for the elderly. The main virtue that he especially cultivated in people was humility, considering it the foundation of Christian life. “If there is humility, everything is there, if there is no humility, there is nothing,” said the monk. The name of Elder Macarius is associated with the beginning of the publication of patristic works in the monastery, which united the best spiritual and intellectual forces of Russia around the monastery.
Death (memorial day): September 7/20, 1860
Schema-Archimandrite Moses (Putilov)
1782–1862
A meek elder abbot. He showed an amazing example of combining strict asceticism, humility and non-covetousness with wise management of the monastery and extensive charitable activities. It was thanks to his boundless mercy and compassion for the poor that the monastery gave shelter to many wanderers. Under Schema-Archimandrite Moses, old temples and monastery buildings were recreated and new ones were built. Optina Pustyn owes its visible flourishing and spiritual revival to the wise leadership of Elder Moses.
Death (memorial day): June 16/29, 1862
Schema-abbot Anthony (Putilov)
1795–1865
Brother and companion of Schema-Archimandrite Moses, a humble ascetic and man of prayer, who patiently and courageously bore the cross of bodily illness throughout his entire life. He contributed in every possible way to the work of eldership in the monastery, which he led for 14 years. The venerable elder's written instructions are a marvelous fruit of his fatherly love and gift of the teaching word. Before his death, he said: “I would like to console everyone, and if it were possible, I would tear myself to pieces and give a piece to everyone.”
Death (memorial day): August 7/20, 1865
Hieroschemamonk Hilarion (Ponomarev)
1805–1873
Disciple and successor of Elder Macarius. Being a zealous defender and preacher of the Orthodox faith, he managed to return to the fold of the Orthodox Church many who were lost and had fallen away from the Orthodox faith. “Only from the moment we recognized him,” the elder’s spiritual child recalls, “we learned what peace of mind is, what peace of mind is...” The elder hermitage leader died in prayer, with a rosary in his hands.
Death (memorial day): September 18/Oct 1. 1873
Hieroschemamonk Ambrose (Grenkov)
1812–1891
A great elder and ascetic of the Russian land, whose holiness and godly life God witnessed with many miracles, and the Orthodox believing people with sincere love, veneration and reverent appeal to him in prayer. A disciple of elders Leonid and Macarius, he inherited from them the grace-filled gift of eldership and remained in selfless service to people for more than 30 years. He founded the Shamordino convent, ministered to many monasteries, his letters and instructions are a source of spiritual wisdom for those seeking salvation. The monk had a high, clear mind and a loving heart. Extraordinarily compassionate and gifted with grace, he was especially distinguished by his Christian love.
Death (memorial day): October 10/23, 1891
Hieroschemamonk Anatoly (Zertsalov)
1824–1894
The hermitage leader and elder, instructed in the spiritual life not only the monks of the Optina Monastery, but also the nuns of the Shamordino convent and other monasteries. Being an ardent prayer book and ascetic, he was a sensitive father and a patient teacher for everyone who came to him, always sharing the treasure of wisdom, faith and special spiritual joy. Elder Anatoly had an amazing gift of consolation. Rev. Ambrose said that he was given such prayer and grace as is given to one in a thousand.
Death (memorial day): January 25/February 7, 1894
Schema-Archimandrite Isaac (Antimonov)
1810–1894
The ever-memorable abbot of the Optina Hermitage, who combined firm management of the monastery and the subtle art of pastoral leadership with humble obedience to the great Optina elders and high asceticism. Schema-Archimandrite Isaac’s life’s work was to preserve and confirm in the monastery the spiritual covenants of the elders. He knew no peace - the doors of his cell were open to the brotherhood and the poor. In food, and in clothing, and in the decoration of the cell, he observed the complete simplicity of the ancient ascetics.
Death (memorial day): August 22/Sept. 4 1894
Hieroschemamonk Joseph (Litovkin)
1837–1911
The disciple and spiritual successor of the Monk Ambrose, who showed the image of great humility, gentleness, and unceasing heartfelt prayer, the elder was more than once honored with the appearance of the Mother of God. According to the recollections of contemporaries, many, even during the life of Hieroschemamonk Joseph, saw him illuminated by the grace-filled divine light. Rev. Joseph was a man of deep inner activity, who always maintained heartfelt silence and unceasing prayer.
Death (memorial day): May 9/22, 1911
Schema-Archimandrite Barsanuphius (Plikhankov)
1845–1913
The hermitage leader, about whom Elder Nektarios said that the grace of God in one night created a great old man from a brilliant military man. Without sparing life itself, he fulfilled his pastoral duty in the Russo-Japanese War. The elder had extraordinary insight, the inner meaning of the events that took place was revealed to him, he saw the hiddenness of the heart of the person who came to him, lovingly awakening repentance in him.
Death (memorial day): April 1/14, 1913
Hieroschemamonk Anatoly (Potapov)
1855–1922
Nicknamed by the people as a comforter, he was endowed by the Lord with great grace-filled gifts of love and consolation for the suffering, insight and healing. Humbly carrying out his pastoral service in the difficult days of revolutionary turmoil and godlessness, the elder affirmed his spiritual children in their determination to be faithful to the holy Orthodox faith even to death.
Death (memorial day): July 30/August 12, 1922
Hieroschemamonk Nektary of Optina
1853–1928
The last conciliarly elected Optina elder, who, through the feat of unceasing prayer and humility, acquired the greatest gifts of miracles and clairvoyance, often hiding them under the guise of foolishness. During the days of persecution of the Church, while he himself was in exile for confessing his faith, he tirelessly cared for the believers. Both ordinary laymen and great Saints turned to him for advice and prayerful help.
Death (memorial day): April 29/May 12, 1928
Hieromonk Nikon (Belyaev)
1888–1931
The closest disciple of Elder Barsanuphius, an ardent man of prayer and a loving shepherd, who selflessly performed the elder ministry after the closure of the Optina Hermitage, suffered torment from the atheists and died in exile as a confessor.
Death (memorial day): June 25/July 8, 1931
