The death of a loved one can be very difficult for those left on earth. But when relatives understand that a person has no hope of salvation because he did not want to be baptized, to repent of sins is even harder. And people especially grieve for suicides, who were even buried in former times behind the cemetery fence. But, although the Church does not pray for suicides and the unbaptized, no one forbids relatives to beg forgiveness from the most merciful God for lost souls. Most often, for these purposes, at home, privately, the prayer of Leo Optinsky is read for those who committed suicide and the unbaptized.
Memorial Days:
- October 24 – Repose
- October 24 – Council of all saints who shone in Optina Hermitage
Life of Saint Leo of Optina
Venerable Leo is the first Optina elder. He was born in 1768 and in his youth was a sales clerk. This kind of work involved traveling, so Leo traveled all over the country, communicated a lot with a variety of people, gaining experience and spiritual knowledge from them. He was a very sociable man, a man of heroic strength, with a sharp mind and quick memory.
At the age of 29, he left the world and went to live in a monastery. At first he was a novice, then he was tonsured a monk with the name Leonidas. During his stay in the monastery, he performed any obedience. Possessing strength and skill in many crafts, he did a lot of different work, the most difficult and complex. And he constantly improved spiritually, prayed and helped young monks with advice.
In 1808, Leonid was tonsured into the schema. He voluntarily resigned his abbotship and transferred to the schema under the name Leo. His mentor was Elder Father Theodore, who taught him the highest monastic activity - mental prayer. Theodore and Leonid could not stay long in the crowded monastery, where they were distracted from prayer and fasting. Therefore, together with Father Cleopas, they retired to a forest cell, where they continued their work in silence and ease. But people also went there to them for healing and advice. After all, the elders had the gift of foresight, spiritual vision, which helped them guide people along the true path.
When the flow of people became endless, the elders retired to Optina Pustyn, where they nourished many people with spiritual work. Lev Optinsky lived in the desert for 12 years. When he realized that his strength was leaving him, he refused food and only took communion every day. He died and was buried there, in the Optina Hermitage, where his relics still give people healing and hope.
He left behind many disciples, among whom were famous saints of the Russian Church. The miracles he performed and the healings of numerous infirm people who flocked to Optina Pustyn were countless.
The elder was so kind and merciful to people that he even prayed for those whom the Church refuses to remember in prayers - for suicides and the unbaptized.
Beginning of monastic life
Lev Danilovich came to Optina under Abbot Abraham, through whose efforts the monastery was just beginning to recover after years of decline.
The young novice zealously began to work at the monastery, setting an example of obedience to the brethren. Here his truly heroic strength was fully demonstrated. One day, together with another novice, they dug a huge ditch in half a day, which was urgently needed for construction and for which they were going to look for more than a dozen workers. But then the elder himself said that during difficult obediences in these first years, he undermined his health. No less zealously did he master the wisdom of monastic life - prayer, struggle with passions, acquisition of virtues. The desire for improvement in spiritual work prompted him in 1799 to move to the Beloberezh monastery, located in the Bryansk district and more distant from crowded places. The well-known ascetic, Elder Vasily (Kishkin), who labored for a long time on Holy Mount Athos, was in charge there. In 1801, novice Lev was tonsured a monk and named Leonid. On December 22 of the same year he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and on December 24 - to the rank of hieromonk.
Several cases are known from the life of the monk in the Beloberezh desert. One day, on the eve of a temple holiday, the brethren who were performing obedience in the choir, dissatisfied with something, refused to perform the service, hoping by this to force the abbot to fulfill some of their demands. But the abbot did not want to give in and, in order to humble them, called Father Leonid and another brother to sing a festive service. The monk carried hay from the farm all day. Tired, covered in dust, he was just about to rest when the will of the abbot was conveyed to him. Without any murmur, he went to church and, together with a friend, sang the entire all-night vigil.
Another incident shows the great philanthropy of Father Leonid. There was a brother in the desert who fell into delusion. One day he climbed the bell tower and shouted: “Look! Look! I will return to the bottom and not break - the angels of God will take me into their arms!” Father Leonid at this time worked on obedience. Hearing the voice, he quit work and ran to the bell tower. He barely had time to grab the hem of his seduced brother’s robe. Father Leonid not only saved him from death, but also took care of the soul of his nearly dead brother - he explained his delusion and over time he came to his senses.
How do prayers to a saint help?
People pray to the Monk Leo of Optina for any everyday needs. But the most famous prayer of St. Leo of Optina is the prayer for the unbaptized dead and suicides. He himself composed and passed on to his disciples a short prayer, which priests to this day bless to read to the relatives of such people at home, privately.
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Optina prayer book Prayer of the Optina elders at the beginning of the day
Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that the coming day will bring me. Let me completely surrender to Your holy will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and a firm conviction that everything is Your holy will. In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings. In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You. Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without confusing or upsetting anyone. Lord, give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day. Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love. Amen.
Prayers of St. Anthony of Optina
About the beginning of every business
God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help. Rule, Lord, everything I do, read and write, everything I think, speak and understand, for the glory of Your Holy Name, so that all my work may begin from You and end in You. Grant to me, O God, that I may anger Thee, my Creator, neither by word, nor by deed, nor by thought, but may all my deeds, advice and thoughts be for the glory of Thy Most Holy Name. God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help.
About family
In the hands of great mercy, O my God, I entrust: my soul and much-painful body, the husband given to me from You, and all my beloved children. Thou shalt be our Helper and Patron throughout our life, in our exodus and at death, in joy and sorrow, in happiness and misfortune, in illness and health, in life and death, in everything may Thy holy will be with us, as on heaven and earth. Amen.
For the enemies
Forgive Your servants (names) who hate and offend us, O Lord, Lover of Mankind: they do not know what they are doing, and warm their hearts to love us, the unworthy.
Prayer of St. Macarius of Optina
In carnal warfare
O Mother of the Lord my Creator, You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity. Oh, Mother of God! Help me, the one who is weak with carnal passion and painful, for one is Thine and with Thee is the intercession of Thy Son and God. Amen.
Prayer of St. Joseph of Optina
When thoughts invade
Lord Jesus Christ, drive away from me all inappropriate thoughts! Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am weak... For You are my God, support my mind, so that unclean thoughts do not overcome it, but in You, my Creator, let it delight, for Your Name is great for those who love You.
Prayer of St. Nikon of Optina Confessor
In grief
Glory to Thee, my God, for the sorrow sent to me, I now accept what is worthy of my deeds. Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom, and may all Your will be one, good and perfect.
Prayer of St. Anatoly of Optina (Potapov)
From the Antichrist
Deliver me, O Lord, from the seduction of the god-hating, evil, cunning Antichrist of the coming, and hide me from his snares in the hidden desert of Your salvation. Grant me, Lord, the strength and courage to firmly confess Your Holy Name, so that I will not retreat from fear for the sake of the devil, and may not deny You, my Savior and Redeemer, from Your holy Church. But grant me, O Lord, day and night weeping and tears for my sins and have mercy on me, O Lord, at the hour of Your Last Judgment. Amen.
Prayer of St. Nektarios of Optina
From the Antichrist
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is coming to judge the living and the dead, have mercy on us sinners, forgive the fall of our entire lives and through their own destinies hide us from the face of the Antichrist in the hidden desert of Your salvation. Amen.
Prayer of St. Leo of Optina
About the unbaptized, those who died without repentance and suicides
Seek, O Lord, the lost soul of Your servant (name): if it is possible, have mercy. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin, but Thy holy will be done.
REVEREND OPTIA ELDERS. Hieroschemamonk Lev (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 (memory 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 (memory day): September 7/20, 1860 Schema-Archimandrite Moses (Putilov) (1782-1862) Gentle 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 (memory day): June 16/29, 1862 Schema-Abbot Anthony (Putilov) (1795-1865) Brother and associate of Schema-Archimandrite Moses, a humble ascetic and man of prayer, who patiently and courageously bore the cross of bodily illnesses throughout his 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 (memory 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 monastery 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 (memory day): October 10/23, 1891 Hieroschemamonk Anatoly (Zertsalov) (1824-1894) Skete 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 (memory 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) Disciple and spiritual successor of St. 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 (memory day): May 9/22, 1911 Schema-Archimandrite Barsanuphius (Plikhankov) (1845-1913) Skete commander, 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 (memory 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 of 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 (memory 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 (memory day): April 29/May 12, 1928 Hieromonk Nikon (Belyaev) (1888-1931) The closest disciple of Elder Barsanuphius, an ardent prayer book and loving shepherd, who selflessly performed the service of elders after the closure of the Optina Monastery, who suffered torment from the atheists and died in exile as a confessor. Death (memory day): June 25/July 8, 1931 Archimandrite Isaac II (Bobrakov) (1865-1938) The last rector of the Optina Hermitage, who experienced the full brunt of the destruction and desecration of the holy monastery. Carrying his cross of abbot service during the years of trials and tribulations, he was filled with indestructible faith, courage and all-forgiving love. He was imprisoned four times. Shot on January 8, 1938 and buried in a mass grave in the forest at the 162nd kilometer of the Simferopol highway.
https://www.optina.ru/prayers/
A series of “prayer” messages:
Part 1 - PRAYERS Part 2 - Prayers for the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary ... Part 41 - Prayer for peace of mind Part 42 - Prayer for the family Part 43 - Optina prayer book
Texts of prayers
Troparion, tone 3
Like a skiman roaring at an evil heart,/ like a gentle lamb looking at the meek (humble) soul, like the wonderful Father Leo,/ you loved the infancy in Christ, oh Lya:/ I sing to my God until I am./ Moreover, we pray to the merciful Lord/ that he may give us also the region to be children of God / and to sing with you to our God (you stood as a child in Christ / to all who expect comfort from you. / Moreover, pray to our Lord / that he will give us the region too to be children of God/ and will save our souls).
Translation: Like a young lion roaring at an evil heart, like a gentle lamb looking at a meek (humble) soul, O venerable Father Leo, amazing, you loved the infancy in Christ, saying: I will sing praises to my God while I exist (Ps. 103:33) . Therefore, pray to the merciful Lord to give us the power to be children of God and to sing with you to our God (as an infant in Christ you protected everyone who expects comfort from you. Therefore, pray to our Lord to give us the power to be children of God and save our souls).
Prayer to St. Leo of Optina
Oh, Most Honorable God-Wise Head and the Cathedral of the Elders of Optina, a fair and splendid decoration, God-enlightened Father Leo! To you, as a child of our father, we dare to bring this akathist singing, but you do not neglect this little offering, for moreover we must not only sing, but also honor your deeds. You have left us the wealth of your life, pleasing to God, in which, like in a mirror, one sees the image of the godly fathers in the labors of those who pleased God. Even though we are weak, we imitate you, but with the desire for the best we do not retreat from you and under the wings of your prayers we resort and, as we are invincible, we cry out to you: drive out from us all negligence, eradicate evil. passions that nest in our hearts, feed demons onto us who are constantly at war, give us grace-filled help , as you are strong and even during your life you drove away demons and healed every disease and weakness that lurked. In the past, visit us with your spirit and the rod of your pastoral prayer, defeat the mental wolves who seek to plunder your flock. But like a good shepherd, call us with the flute of your teachings into the Kingdom of God with you after our repose, so that we may be found together, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in the infinite eternal eyelids. Amen.
