Serendipity - how does a person with this gift feel?

What does perceptive mean?

The Lord takes care of each of his children. But only people who have achieved great success in spiritual development can hear His words. In earthly life they achieved unity with the Lord, who gave them part of his grace. This divine spark allows the elders to find the right words for each visitor in need of blessing or advice.

Perspicacity is the ability to see future events, inherent in Christian ascetics.

The wisdom of Christian elders is based not only on divine grace, but also on rich spiritual experience. The holy righteous warned people who turned to them about the dangers of sinful thoughts and an unrighteous lifestyle. Their words strengthened a person’s faith and indicated a possible path to salvation.

Origin of the word

The word “serendipity” was first mentioned in sources of the 11th-12th centuries. Its primary basis is the verb “z’erti”, meaning to see. Using the prefix “pro” the word “prozarti” was formed - “to foresee”. Its form became the noun “prozor” - “insight”.

Meaning of the concept

Explanatory dictionaries give the following explanations of the concept of “visionary person”:

• able to foresee, insightful (S.I. Ozhegov);
• able to predict (D. N. Ushakov);
• shrewd, insightful, vigilant (N. A. Abramov).

The Christian tradition claims that insight is a gift from the Lord to the chosen saints who have shown humility and diligence on the path of unity with Him. The all-seeing Creator shares knowledge with the holy elders to guide people along the path of salvation

Mention in the Bible

In the Holy Scriptures the word “seer” is used in relation to prophets. In the Old Testament, the Lord conveyed His will through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). A pure heart and soul, open to God, allowed them to hear God’s Voice and voice the Will of His people.

The gift of insight in Christianity is called the prophetic gift

The Gospel reveals the clear qualities of visionary people and the criteria for true divine revelation. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says that the words of discerning people should bring comfort and peace to people in need.

Important! They guide Christians on the path of Christ's commandments. A true prophet is a humble servant of the Lord, striving for union with Him. Following his words is the only path to Salvation.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul noted that a prophet must proclaim divine revelation to people without withholding the Words of the Lord, since they are called upon to strengthen Faith and Spirit. The holy apostle also noted that a perspicacious person does not need to fall into a state of trance in order to broadcast His revelation. The Christian elders are of sound mind, giving advice and answering questions from visitors.

Word stress

When the interpretation of the noun “insight” is clear, you should also pronounce it correctly. The point is that speaking is just as important as writing. It is necessary to pronounce words correctly so that listeners can understand what is being said.

In any etymological dictionary you can find the correct stress for any word. "Serendipity." This word consists of four syllables. It’s easy to count them: the number of vowels equals the number of syllables. This noun has three vowels "o" and one vowel "i".

It is important to note where the emphasis falls. In this word, the third syllable is stressed, that is, the vowel “and” must be emphasized with the voice. There are no other options.

What is serendipity

The phenomenon of clairvoyance is given close attention both in Christian dogma and in scientific knowledge.

In religion

The Christian understanding of serendipity is based on the acquisition of lifelong divine grace through spiritual experience and righteous living. Elders who have dedicated their entire lives to serving the Lord get the opportunity to see the thoughts, feelings and actions of people. Constantly abiding in His saints, God gives them the opportunity to lead large masses of people to salvation.

Perspicacity is a gift that reflects the highest degree of human unity with God

Holy seers are often burdened by their gift. They can see all the darkest corners of the visitor’s soul, even those that the person who came for help is not aware of. Contemplation of human sinfulness brings suffering to bearers of the divine gift who strive for the light of the Kingdom of Heaven.

One type of spiritual insight is the gift of reasoning. It is characteristic of people who have been leading an ascetic lifestyle for a long time. Based on spiritual experience, ascetic elders are able to determine the source of the spiritual or physical phenomenon encountered by the visitor.

A unique form of clairvoyance is intellectual spiritual vision based on experimental knowledge of the teachings of the Fathers of the Church. A person who has studied the works of holy theologians for a long time is able to convey his knowledge to people in need. He guides them along the path that he has walked on his own.

In psychology

In psychological practice, two phenomena are distinguished that are similar in the nature of insight.

1. Serendipity is an instinctive insight that consists in the accidental discovery of a phenomenon or object in the process of searching for something else. The term was introduced into scientific circulation in the mid-18th century by the writer Horace Walpole, after reading an ancient Venetian tale about three brother princes from Serendip.

   
   Serendipity - the ability to draw deep conclusions from random observations

   Its action took place in a distant eastern country, whose ruler had three sons. They studied all known sciences, but could not use them in life. Then their father sent them to look around the world for many non-existent things. During this search, the brothers made many other interesting discoveries using reasoning, logic, and insight. Serendipity lies in the ability not only to see a new event or phenomenon, but also to understand its meaning.

2. Insight is a term that denotes a special psychological state of a person in which he finds an unexpected solution to an important problem. It manifests itself especially clearly in critical situations when a person experiences strong emotional stress. Literally this word is translated from English as “direct knowledge.” Another meaning of it may be “illumination, epiphany.” A person in a state of insight sees the picture of the surrounding reality as a whole, finding a solution to the problem based on existing experience.

Psychologists explain the phenomenon of “Christian insight” in terms of the manifestation of insight combined with serendipity.

Selection of synonyms

Sometimes speech units appear several times in the text. Thus, the text seems overloaded and is extremely difficult to perceive. To dilute it a little, it is recommended to use a synonym. "Serendipity" has several words with similar dictionary meanings. Here are some options.

1. Foresight. Foresight helped me avoid mistakes.
2. Cleverness. Thanks to his natural ingenuity, this man will never find himself without a piece of bread.
3. Insight. Thanks to my mother's insight, I did not end up in bad company.
4. Smartness. Sometimes intelligence is valued more than intelligence.

Now it’s clear what the noun “insight” means. This is the ability to foresee the future. The stress in the word should fall on the vowel “i”. If necessary, you can use synonyms.

Notes

1. [slovari.yandex.ru/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1% 81%D1%82%D1%8C/%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D1%81%D0 %BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8C%20%D0%A3%D1%88%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0 %B0/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1% 82%D1%8C/ Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language by Ushakov](inaccessible link from 06/14/2016 (1865 days))
2. [www.slovopedia.com/25/207/1651565.html Krylov Etymological Dictionary]
3. [vocabulary.ru/dictionary/487/word/%C8%CD%D1%D2%C8%CD%CA%D2%C8%C2%CD%C0%DF+%CF%D0%CE%C7%CE%D0% CB%C8%C2%CE%D1%D2%DC+%28%D1%C5%D0%C5%CD%C4%C8%CF%CD%CE%D1%D2%DC%29/ Psychological Encyclopedia].

The unusual history of painting an icon

As she grew older, the popularity of the blind girl as a seer grew. Her requests were perceived as a blessing, and no one objected when Matrona asked for a blessing to paint the icon “Seeking the Lost,” which she planned to donate to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost”

Do not forget that the girl was blind and could not see this icon before. Moreover, through her mother, she asked the priest to hand over the book from the church library and indicate the row in which the publication was located. They found the necessary book; it actually contained a photograph of the icon “Recovery of the Dead.” Matronushka began to ask her mother to help her find an artist to paint an icon for the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

The whole world began to collect money for a good cause, while the blind seer returned rubles and kopecks, given without much desire or out of ridicule, so that they “would not spoil the rest of the money.”

The Epifansky artist, unfortunately his name has not been preserved, agreed to take up his usual work. Before starting work, Matrona strongly advised the artist to perform sincere repentance, confession and communion of the Holy Blood of Jesus. Several times the blessed one asked the master whether he was able to fulfill the order, and each time she received an affirmative answer.

After quite a long period, the artist came to his mother with repentance, not understanding why nothing was working out for him. The seer's answer shocked the master; she said to repent of a secret sin that no one knew about, but Matrona saw it with spiritual vision. Having again walked the path from repentance to communion of the Holy Gifts, asking the healer for forgiveness, the artist began to work.

For information! Nowadays the Moscow Intercession Convent is proud of possessing a shrine, painted at the direction of the blessed saint by the Epifanovsky artist.

At the same time, at the request of the mother, people began to collect money for another icon of the Mother of God, which was subsequently painted in Bogoroditsk. The finished icon was consecrated and a religious procession led by banners was organized to be transferred to the Sebino temple.

Mother, led by the arms, came out to meet the procession. Having walked 4 kilometers, she stopped and said that there was no need to go further, in 30 minutes a religious procession would appear. None of the sighted saw even a hint of people approaching, but half an hour later a solemn procession appeared. Then the blessed one walked, holding near the icon, which later became famous for its miracles.

Interesting! Wherever the saint lived, her room was always filled with holy images.

Saint of the 20th century. Life of Saint Matrona

The story of the Holy Blessed Matrona of Moscow is an example of the Christian life of a blind healer, canonized for miracles that do not stop even after her death.

Icon of Saint Matrona of Moscow

Childhood

The life of Blessed Matronushka began in 1881 in Epifanovsky district, the village of Sebino.

Poor, pious parents, Dmitry and Natalia Nikonov, before the birth of their fourth child, they were already raising two sons and a daughter. Poverty did not allow the family to accept another child, so even before the baby was born, the parents decided to send him to an orphanage. At that time, no one thought about abortion, and illegitimate and low-income children were brought up in orphanages, state-owned orphanages supported by wealthy patrons.

The parents of the unborn baby had already chosen a shelter in a neighboring village, but the unexpected happened. Natalia Nikonova had a dream, in which a woman saw a snow-white bird that had a human face, but its eyes were closed. In the dream, a bird sat on Natalia's hand.

Accepting the dream as a sign from God, the God-fearing woman abandoned her previous plans and gave birth to a girl whose eyeballs were missing. Despite the injury, the baby became the favorite child in the family. During her baptism, she was given the name Matrona, and the Greek saint Matrona of Constantinople became her guardian angel.

Baptism of Blessed Matrona of Moscow

The Creator chose Matronushka even before her birth, revealing His presence at the baby’s baptism in a column of fragrant smoke.

Immediately after birth, a protrusion in the form of a cross was visible on her small chest, so Matronushka did not wear a cross on her body. Another sign of God's chosenness was the girl's refusal to breastfeed on Wednesdays and Fridays. These days she slept all day long, sometimes frightening her mother.

Father Vasily, who baptized the girl, said with surprise that this little one was called to be a saint, and it was she who would predict the time of his death. Subsequently, this happened: waking up at night, the girl called her mother and told her about the death of the priest.

The little girl’s favorite toys were icons, which she herself took down from the walls, seeing them with spiritual eyes. Due to the cruelty of children who loved to mock the blind woman, Matrona spent most of her time at home.

Gift of Insight and Healing

Growing up, the girl spent a lot of time in the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God, gradually filling with the grace of being in unceasing prayer. As a child, at the age of seven, Matrona began to predict events and heal the sick.

She never considered herself unhappy; God gave her many gifts:

• to reason spiritually;
• insight;
• miracles;
• healing.

Gradually, the parents began to notice that the girl foresaw a natural disaster, felt the approach of trouble, she knew not only the sins of people, but sometimes even their thoughts. People came to the little healer from all over the province, Matronushka helped everyone, for this people left gifts for her and her family in the form of food and things.

The Creator rewarded parents for their obedience. The child, whom they wanted to get rid of like an extra mouth, became the family's breadwinner from childhood. As she grew older, the fame of the seer grew.

One day she told them to get ready for the wedding. The mother was afraid for the child’s sanity and invited the priest, who always gave the girl communion at home, but he, too, could not explain the child’s statement. Soon, cart after cart began to arrive at the Nikonovs’ compound. The sick were traveling in a constant stream, to which the healer said that this was her wedding, healing the infirm with prayers, raising those who had been lying for a long time to their feet.

Adolescence

It’s impossible to explain, but Matrona was the best friend of the landowner’s daughter, Lida Yankova. Both girls were distinguished by piety and kindness. Lydia often made pilgrimages and took her blind friend with her. They visited the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, visited the Trinity - Sergius Monastery and many other holy places.

In her memoirs, Lydia Yankova described her friend’s meeting with Saint John of Kronstadt, rector of St. Andrew’s Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt.

Seeing the fourteen-year-old Matrona walking, Saint John asked her to come closer and declared the blind girl the eighth pillar of Russia to the whole temple.

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt

Perhaps the perspicacious saint saw in her a future servant of people and God during the ban on Christianity in Rus'. Three years later, Matronushka stopped feeling her legs and remained immobile forever. Although she spoke about this shortly before the new illness, after meeting in the temple with a strange woman who predicted a new misfortune.

The saint of the twentieth century spent half a century in the chair, but no one ever heard from her any discontent or murmur against the Creator. Matrona predicted a revolutionary coup, long before the girl saw:

• robberies;
• closing of churches;
• division of lands;
• ruin and flight of landowners.

Long before the revolutionary events, the girl advised some of them to sell off their estates and run away, but no one wanted to listen to the prophecies of the blind healer.

Interesting about the saint:

• About Blessed Matrona
• Miracles through the prayers of the old woman

The path to old age

Even during the life of Elder Macarius, with his blessing, some of the brethren came to Father Ambrose for confession and for advice. This is how Abbot Mark, who ended his life in retirement in Optina, spoke about it: “As far as I could notice, Father Ambrose lived at that time in complete silence. I went to him every day to reveal my thoughts and almost always found him reading patristic books. If he did not find him in his cell, then this meant that he was with Elder Macarius, whom he helped in correspondence with his spiritual children or worked in translations of patristic books. Sometimes I found him on the bed with restrained and barely noticeable tears. It seemed to me that the elder always walked before God or, as it were, always felt the presence of God, according to the words of the psalmist, “I will foresee the Lord before me” (Ps. 15:8), and therefore everything that he did, he tried to do for the sake of the Lord and for Him. please. Therefore, he always complained, fearing that he might offend the Lord, which was reflected on his face. Seeing such concentration of my elder, I was always in awe in his presence. Yes, I couldn’t have it any other way. When, as usual, I knelt down before him to receive a blessing, he asked me very quietly: “What do you say, brother, that’s nice?” Puzzled by his concentration and tenderness, I answered: “Forgive me, for the Lord’s sake, father. Maybe I came at the wrong time? “No,” the elder will say, “say what you need to say, but briefly.” And, having listened to me with attention, he will reverently give useful instruction and let me go with love. He taught instructions not from his own wisdom and reasoning, although he was rich in spiritual intelligence. If he taught the spiritual children related to him, it was as if in the midst of a student, and he offered not his own advice, but certainly the active teaching of the holy fathers.” If Father Mark complained to Father Ambrose about someone who had offended him, the elder would say in a mournful tone: “I’m going to die today or tomorrow. What will I do with this brother? After all, I am not the abbot. You need to reproach yourself, humble yourself before your brother, and you will calm down.” Such an answer caused self-reproach in the soul of Father Mark, and he, humbly bowing to the elder and asking for forgiveness, left calmed and consoled, “as if he had flown away on wings.” The hieromonk of the Optina Monastery, Father Geronty, recalled that “although Father Ambrose served as an elder, it was as if in secret.” In addition to the monks, Father Macarius brought Father Ambrose closer to his worldly spiritual children. Seeing him talking with them, Elder Macarius jokingly said: “Look, look! Ambrose is taking my bread away!”

Father Ambrose received the blessing to spiritually nourish the brethren at a very young age by monastic standards - he was not even 40 years old, but such was the trust in him of experienced fathers who saw his rare talents. When Elder Macarius died, Father Ambrose was gradually placed in his place, but he was not immediately recognized by the brethren as the elder’s successor. Over time, rumors about the spiritual experience and wisdom of Father Ambrose spread more and more, and the number of people turning to him increased. Hieromonk Anthony (Bochkov) wrote about Father Ambrose that the Optina monastery “receives strengthening and edification from him. The reason for this is his meekness, kindness and simplicity. His good example and advice can work miracles... It is in vain to praise him. Actions speak for him better than words... Apparently, he was destined to be saved by illness; His rare gentleness and Christian infancy endures everything complacently: both God’s guidance and human untruths.”

One lady, deeply saddened by the death of Father Macarius, hearing that there was now a new elder in Optina Pustyn, Father Ambrose, exclaimed: “What! So that after Macarius I would go to this monk, who kept hanging around in the priest’s cells and walking around with a bag! This is impossible!" But after some time, having accidentally talked with Father Ambrose, she left him moved and subsequently said: “I knew both, but I feel that Father Ambrose is even higher than Father Macarius.”

40 days after the death of Elder Macarius, Father Ambrose moved to live in a building next to the monastery fence, on the right side of the bell tower. On the western side of this building, an extension was made, called a “shack,” to receive women (they were not allowed into the monastery). For thirty years, before leaving for Shamordino, Father Ambrose lived here, serving his neighbors.

Soon after the death of Elder Macarius, the monastery suffered another loss: in 1862, the rector, Archimandrite Moses, died. Under him, the monastery began to flourish, and under him Father Ambrose entered the monastery. Father Isaac (Antimonov) became the new abbot of the monastery. Elder Ambrose was his confessor, Archimandrite Isaac treated him with deep reverence and devotion, relying on his advice in everything, doing nothing without his blessing.

Wandering in Moscow

Fearing reprisals on the family, when all Christian activities were persecuted by the authorities, Matrona moves to the capital. From 1925 until the end of her life, the blessed one lived in Moscow, saving people physically and spiritually, while she wandered around the corners with walkers - women who looked after her.

Living in hunger and cold, she completely surrendered to the will of God, did not ask anyone for anything, and always gratefully accepted help. This is how she lived until the war, until she was sheltered by Zinaida Zhdanova, who lived with her mother. Many people who helped the blind healer were later arrested, and she herself always foresaw her arrest and moved out of the apartment on the eve of it.

Matronushka predicted both war and victory. During wartime, she took meals all day long and prayed at night. People walked with physical and mental pain, the healer did not demand payment from anyone, giving all the glory of salvation and healing to God.

According to Zinaida Zhdanova, Stalin himself came secretly to the visionary to learn about the progress of the war. High-ranking people, generals, repeatedly turned to her when trouble came to their home.

Stalin's meeting with Matrona

Thus, the son of a statesman was healed of madness, and the saint cast out demons from the daughter of a general.

There were no important or unimportant issues for the woman sent by God; she helped improve family relationships and returned children to their parents. She did everything with love and understanding. Her gentle voice and face glowing with kindness attracted people to frankness and trust from the first minute.

Important! Recommendations, advice, instructions from the saint still guide people on the path of God.

Under the leadership of Elder Macarius

Elder Macarius raised a strict ascetic, adorned with humility, patience and other monastic virtues. He, like Father Leonid in his time, often subjected Father Ambrose to humiliation and insults. When witnesses to these “educational measures” tried to intercede for Father Ambrose: “Father, he is a sick man!” - the elder answered: “Do I really know worse than you?” But reprimands and remarks to a monk are brushes with which the sinful dust is erased from his soul; Without this, the monk rusts.” Behind all this was the elder’s great love for his ward. It also manifested itself in “material consolations,” sometimes small, but warming and supporting in the difficult monastic life. “I was walking through the monastery one day,” Father Ambrose himself said, “suddenly a priest met me, somewhere he took a tiny jar of jam, no more than an inch high, and, handing it to me, said: “Here, here you go for pleasures of the larynx from sorrow, and give the opponent a drink with it." Under the guidance of Elder Macarius, Father Ambrose was able to learn the art of arts—mental prayer—without much stumbling.

Next to the elder, the monk Ambrose not only grew and improved himself, but also went through the invaluable school of caring for the elderly - both from his own experience and from the example of how the elder communicated with the people - he gave advice, consoled, prayed, and exhorted.

The range of responsibilities of Father Ambrose was constantly expanding; he carried out two important obediences: he helped the elder in the publication of patristic works and other soul-helping literature, and also, on his instructions, answered some letters. Thus, Elder Macarius gradually prepared a successor for himself.

Elder Macarius recruited his student to work on preparing translations of the patristic works for publication. Father Ambrose was a zealous collaborator of the elder; he prepared the publication of one of the most important ascetic works - “The Ladder” by St. John Climacus. It was based on the translation of Elder Paisius Velichkovsky; in addition, other printed editions and translations of “The Ladder” were studied and compared, as well as the original Greek text of the book. The purpose of this large work was to offer readers a clear, accessible text, while maintaining the accuracy of the high spiritual truths set forth in it.

Father Ambrose did not leave the business of book publishing even after the death of Elder Macarius. Over time, biographies of Optina ascetics began to appear. Father Ambrose himself compiled a biography of Elder Macarius, and under his leadership the elder’s letters were collected and published.

Painstaking work on the texts of the patristic works under the guidance of the wise elder also became a stage in the spiritual preparation of Father Ambrose for the feat of eldership, which he had to undertake after the death of Father Macarius, which followed in 1860.