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Anthony of Dymsky is one of the revered saints of the Orthodox Church. He founded a monastery in Tikhvin. On the icons, Anthony of Dymsky is depicted holding a charter on which it is written: “Behold, he went away in flight and settled in the desert.”
Life of Anthony Dymsky
The young man lived in Veliky Novgorod in the middle of the twelfth century in a family of believing parents and received a Christian upbringing. One day, while visiting a temple, he realized his destiny. He left his family for the Khutyn monastery, which was founded by the righteous Varlaam in the second half of the twelfth century. The monastery was located 10 kilometers north of Veliky Novgorod, on the banks of the Volkhov River.
The young man took monastic vows with the name Anthony. He lived in obedience to Abbot Varlaam and diligently followed all instructions. The monks loved him for his humility and strict abstinence.
In 1187, by order of the archbishop, it was necessary to send an embassy to Constantinople with a representative of the Orthodox Church. The choice fell on the monk Anthony. The Novgorod monk met Patriarch Athanasius in Constantinople (Constantinople). From Constantinople he went to Jerusalem, where he bowed to the Holy Sepulcher and learned about monastic life. Probably then he had a desire to live in the desert in the image of the eastern ascetics.
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Anthony returned to Novgorod five years later, when Abbot Varlaam was dying. After death, all the monks were given the honor of taking the place of Abbot Anthony. He justified the hopes of his spiritual father:
- organized the life of the monks;
- approved the rules;
- increased the number of monks;
- completed the construction of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Miracles through the prayers of St. Anthony
Miracles through prayers at the relics of St. Anthony and as a result of swimming in Lake Dymskoye
From about 1670, the compilers of the life of St. Anthony began to record miracles that had occurred from his relics before. The manuscripts of the life of the Dym ascetic have preserved for us descriptions of these numerous miracles.
For example, we learn how a resident of Tikhvin Posad, Simeon, two years after the onset of the illness, from which his eyes were very festered and blood was constantly oozing from them, having heard about miracles from the relics of the Dymsky Wonderworker, he came to the Anthony-Dymsky Monastery. Near the church, above the saint’s coffin, he scooped up morning dew from the leaves of the grass growing there and washed his eyes with it. Having received healing from this, Simeon went completely healthy to his home, giving praise to Anthony for this wonderful mercy of his.
Miracle of 1671
In 1671, it happened to Simeon, a resident of Tikhvin Posad, who had previously received healing from an eye disease, to fall into temptation again. He fell seriously ill and for seven weeks, burning with fire, he knew no rest, day or night. In the eighth week, awaiting the hour of death, he was honored to reverently prepare and fearfully partake of the Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries, the Body and Blood of our Savior Lord Jesus Christ, from Hier Priest John.
When the priest, having given communion to the sufferer, left, he began to pray fervently. From the very depths of his heart flowed the words: “I thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, the Heavenly King, for you have granted me, a sinner and unworthy, the desire to partake of Your Most Pure Body and Blood! For the sake of Your Immortal and Life-giving Mysteries, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and Your venerable saint Anthony, the head of the Dymsk monastery, have mercy on me and rise from this mortal illness, since before his prayers I received healing for my eyes and found full health. Even now I believe, Lord, that Your mercy will be shown to me.”
And so, having prayed, the sick man bowed down in exhaustion and lay down on his bed. And then, in a subtle dream, as if in reality, he sees his house, where he lies, with the walls seemingly dismantled to the bottom of the windows, he sees the abode of the Queen of Heaven, and between his house and the Tikhvin Monastery there are no other houses.
Simeon sees how angels, not on the ground, but through the air, from this most honorable monastery, carry the miraculous icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God and the icon of St. Anthony, the ruler of the Dymsk Hermitage. And along with the icons, the angels carry a great cup filled to the brim with holy water swaying in it from edge to edge.
When the angels brought the cup to him, they exclaimed: “Rise, Simeon, and sit down! Why are you lying stretched out on your bed?” He answered them: “Lord! Most of all, I wish you such health that you can get up from your bed. I am exhausted for my sins!” Then the Monk Anthony also says to him: “Get up and sit!” After which he, taking a sprinkler, sprinkled the sick man with holy water brought from the monastery of the Queen of Heaven.
From this sprinkling, Simeon, feeling how the heavenly rain was falling on all his clothes, was horrified and greatly frightened by such a vision, quickly jumped out of his bed and felt complete health in all his limbs. And immediately, by God’s grace, the intercession of the Mother of God and the intercession of their saint, the Monk Anthony, he was able to walk.
Having received a grace-filled healing, which left no consequences of the disease, in joy and joy Simeon began to thank the Lord God and the Most Pure Mother of God, also praising the head of the Dymskaya monastery, the Monk Anthony.
Miracle of 1680
In 1680, under the rule of the pious sovereign Fyodor Alekseevich, the cleric of the Belozersky district Peter came to the monastery of St. Anthony. He begged the builder of the monastery, monk Simon, and the other brethren to leave him in the monastery. Then he lived there for some time, fulfilling his church obedience, but when he wanted to leave, he fell ill with tremors. For a long time the illness did not leave him. He suffered greatly, having no peace day or night.
One day, in a subtle dream, the Monk Anthony appeared to him and commanded: “Rise up, man, and swim in the local lake!” - promising that the sick person will receive healing. Waking up from such joyful news, during the morning prayer singing, Peter hurried to the lake, bathed in it and, with the Grace of the Light of Christ, and the merciful charity of His saint the Wonderworker Anthony, immediately recovered completely.
Miracle of 1687
In 1687, a certain youth named Nikifor from the village of Nikiforova, which was located not far from Ustyug Zhelezopolsky, came to the monastery of the Monk Anthony and begged the abbot and the brethren to allow him to read psalms in the church. Three months had passed since then, and he planned to leave the monastery. But suddenly he fell ill with shakes, so much so that he was close to dying.
While awaiting his death hour, he was greatly grieved, but the monk showed him his mercy, raising him from his sick bed. The idea came to the sufferer’s mind to piously worship the Wonderworker. Getting out of bed, he went to church. Having prayed diligently, he took the dust from the holy tomb of Anthony, threw it into a bowl of water and washed his face. And from that hour of Christ, through the grace and prayers of St. Anthony of Dymsky, I immediately felt with my whole body that I had completely recovered.
The Miracle of the Cell Fire of 1687
On October 2, 1687, there was a fire in the monastery, which was associated with the miraculous intercession of St. Anthony for his monastery. In the evening, the saint of God appeared in a subtle dream to the builder of the monastery, monk Simeon Kleopinus. He dreamed that the monk came to his cell and loudly exclaimed: “Rise up, you careless one! You’ll burn out idlely!” Greatly frightened by such a vision, the abbot immediately woke up and saw that, due to a faulty stove, a fire was already raging in his cell. He managed to jump out of it and hit the beater. The brethren came running to this call. Turning with prayer to the Lord, the Mother of God, calling for help from the head of the monastery, they began to put out the fire. Through the prayers and intercession of the monk, the fire was soon stopped.
Miracle of the refectory fire of 1687
A month later, on November 14, after the evening service, the refectory and bakery had already caught fire. And again the Monk Anthony appeared as the deliverer of his monastery from misfortune. Sexton Pachomius, who was performing his obedience, in the evening after the service, leaving the church at the usual time, lit the stove in the refectory and closed it. Then he went to the kitchen to prepare food for the brothers for dinner. At this time, due to a malfunction in the pipe, the wall adjacent to it caught fire. Then the monk again appeared before the abbot and, seeing him sleeping, pushed him in the ribs with the words: “Wake up! The monastery is on fire! The abbot, frightened by the vision, jumped out of bed and hit the beater, calling the brethren and workers to the fire. Those with prayer, calling for help from the patron saint of the Dymskaya monastery, hastened to dismantle the roof of the refectory and put out the fire.
Miracle of the Painful Legs of 1687
And the Monk Anthony did not abandon those who came to him with faith through his intercession. About forty-five kilometers from the monastery in the Cherensky churchyard, the estate of the nobleman Savva Palitsyn, lived the peasant Lavrenty Yakovlev. In 1687 he fell ill and had leg pain for six months. He couldn't even stand on them. One day, dozing off, he heard a voice that said to him: “Man! Why are you lying there so carelessly? Promise to go to the Mother of God in the caves and to St. Anthony. Pray at his tomb, serve a prayer service, then you will receive healing!”
Waking up from sleep and not seeing anyone next to him, Lavrenty realized that this was not a simple vision. At that very hour, with tears, from the very heart, he promised to do what Anthony commanded him. And from that time he recovered and began to walk.
Miracle of 1689
On April 23, 1689, a cleric of the Anthony-Dymsky Monastery fell into a serious illness. The Lord visited him with His mercy. Burning with fire, Luka's mind became clouded and began to run around the monastery in a frenzy. He threw himself out of the windows of the church... He did ridiculous things. And so, after spending two weeks in illness, he did not allow anyone to help him. However, the monk did not leave the sufferer. Through the intercession and prayers of Anthony, it somehow came to Luke’s mind, in order to alleviate his suffering, to swim in the lake. Having fulfilled his plan, he barely reached his cell and fell asleep.
In a subtle dream, he saw how a certain monk in an ancient monastic vestment unfamiliar to him with a sword came into his cell and exclaimed: “Why are you lying in such an inhuman state! Completely crazy! You are dying in vain not from people, but from yourself and your madness! You come to the Church of God to serve God, but your thoughts are not church-like. There is no fear of God in you. Is this how clerics should behave?! You keep whispering, arguing, spending your time in foul language and sinful thoughts!”
The patient, having heard the words accusatory of him, wanted to move from his place, but could not. He felt as if his legs were tied with iron bonds. The monk, holding a sword with him, said to him: “Now I will give you relief from your illness, but you remember that you should, especially in church, have the fear of God. Do not tempt those gathered to pray and sing by talking, but remain silent. Don’t argue, don’t whisper, and don’t do other inappropriate things.”
Having said this, he struck with his sword and freed the legs of the bound sinner. From this strong blow, which cut through his iron, Luka received relief from his illness.
Having done all this, the unknown person said to him: “This is a small punishment for you, man, for your insolence. If in the future you do not come to your senses and remain chaste, if you come to the Church of God without reverence and stand in it without fear of tempting people, then a more severe punishment will follow. And not only to you, but also to others, to everyone who does the same thing.”
The patient, upon waking up, was frightened and surprised by everything he saw, especially since he felt relief from the illness in all his limbs. And therefore, without hesitating a minute, he went to the tomb of the saint, thanking the Lord God, His Most Pure Mother and Anthony of Dymsky himself for his intercession with them, for the small punishment, for the fear that he experienced, and for the mercy towards him from the Lord God.
Miracle of 1744
In 1744, after swimming in Lake Dymskoye, the St. Petersburg merchant Ermolai Ivanovich Kalitin received healing from a skin disease. He suffered from a skin disease for a long time. His body was covered with “cruel scabs.” Hearing about the miracles of the Monk Anthony, he came to the monastery and, having served a prayer service at the tomb, began to swim in the lake, after which he completely recovered. Kalitin, in gratitude for his healing, gave money to the church that was “rebuilt that same summer.” In addition, inside the newly built church, two iconostasis and a shrine were built over the relics of the Wonderworker Anthony using his donations.
Second miracle of 1744
At the same time, another merchant from St. Petersburg, John Vasiliev, was sick with his eyes. Arriving at the monastery, he served a prayer service at the shrine with the relics of the monk and swam in the lake. After bathing, his eyes received complete healing.
Miracle of 1796
In 1796, in the city of Tikhvin, the merchant John had a son, who was named Vasily. Until he was five years old, he could not walk. His parents were very sad about this. After a long treatment that did not produce any results, they decided to take him to the monastery of St. Anthony. Arriving at the monastery and praying at the tomb of the Wonderworker, the parents bathed their son in Lake Dymskoye, calling for help from the head of the monastery. From that time on, the boy began to walk on his own through his prayers.
Miracle of 1800
In 1800, in the city of Tikhvin, a merchant named Peter became very ill. When he was already dying, he fell into oblivion. Bowing to sleep, he saw the Most Holy Theotokos and the Wonderworker Nicholas and St. Anthony of Dymsky standing before her. And from this icon of the Mother of God a voice came to him: “Repent, man, and promise to live piously!”
The patient immediately swore an oath to the Mother of God to do what she advised him to do. He also appealed to the upcoming ones with a request to vouch for him. The Monk Anthony begged the Mother of God to help the sufferer, promising to be his surety.
Having begged the Mother of God, he turned to Peter with the words: “You promised and correct yourself! Go to my monastery, swim in the lake and you will be healthy. And remember your promise!”
From this vision the patient woke up and suddenly felt within himself that he had completely recovered. However, getting up from his sick bed, he hurried to the monastery of St. Anthony, served a prayer service at his tomb and swam in the lake. Having received his health, he went to his house rejoicing.
Miracle of 1802
In December 1802, a certain nobleman named Vasily, whose eyes hurt so much that he could barely see, promised to go to St. Anthony and serve a prayer service at his holy relics. After he prayed at the tomb of the founder of the monastery, his painful eyes received complete healing.
Hermitage of Saint Anthony
After a while, Anthony decided to live a hermit’s life and retired to the shores of Lake Dymskoye. He worked during the day and prayed at night. He voluntarily wore a wide-brimmed wrought iron hat on his head. The hermit spent a lot of time in spiritual endeavors, almost twenty years.
Stories about the great desert dweller attracted other people with a desire for solitude. New cells appeared on the shores of Lake Dymskoye. Later, the general council of monks decided to create a new monastery in memory of the first founder of the hermitage, Anthony the Great.
Anthony lived in the monastery until his death and became famous for his eternal remains and many miracles; he was buried in the monastery. During the time of Dmitry Donskoy, the relics of the righteous Anthony were placed in the St. Anthony Church.
The saint's feast day is January 17.
Long life of the monastery
For many centuries, the Anthony-Dymsky Monastery survived both the Edigeev army of 1408, which destroyed the monastery to the ground, and the Time of Troubles of the 17th century, when monks from Valaam temporarily lived here, fleeing from the invaders.
Subsequently, the Swedes reached the Anthony-Dymsk monastery, and the monastery was destroyed . The wooden monastery burned down several times; stone churches began to be built here only in the 17th century.
Until 1917, pilgrims came to venerate the relics of St. Anthony (year of discovery of the incorruptible relics - 1370), plunge into the waters of Lake Dymskoye, pray in the monastery churches.
Under Soviet rule, the monastery was destroyed for the third time in its history; its restoration began in 1994 .
At first, on the site of the former monastery there was a monastery of the Tikhvin Monastery of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and since 2008 the monastery was restored, the relics of its founder were transferred here (secondary discovery - 2001). A new life for the monastery began.
Holy relics
In order to avoid desecration of shrines during the Tatar raid, the tomb with the relics of Anthony of Dymsky was hidden in the ground, and church items, bells and the saint’s iron cap were hidden at the bottom of the lake. Since then it has been called “Holy”.
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In 1585, the Swedes began to threaten the borders of Novgorod. Twenty-six years later, the structure was destroyed by Swedish soldiers. The monastery opened only eighty years later. After the October Revolution, the fate of all monasteries awaited him. The building was given to a psychiatric hospital, then it was occupied by the Alumina plant.
The Monastery of Anthony of Dymsky in Tikhvin received a revival only in the nineties of the last century. On the seven hundred and seventy year anniversary of the saint’s death, a stone cross was erected near the lake. It was decided to return the Dymskaya monastery to the Orthodox Church. In 2008, the remains of the righteous were given to the Dymsky Monastery.
How does Saint Anthony of Dymsky help?
Believers give him their prayers to cope with physical temptations and in any difficulties in life, to get rid of lustful desires, in various diseases, for protection from fire.
Text of the prayer to Anthony Dymsky:
O good shepherd, our mentor and ruler of this holy monastery of Dymsky, Reverend Father Anthony! As if you have boldness towards the Lord Christ and towards His Most Pure Mother, be for us unworthy, living in your holy monastery and for all of you with faith in the race of your relics flowing from everywhere, a warm prayer book, protecting us from all troubles and misfortunes, so that through your prayers we may remain unharmed from the enemy visible and invisible we will remain. Pray for God's mercy to save us from our sins, which is the message of our destinies. Pray for His goodness, which He mercifully bestows upon this monastery and the whole world. Praying to the Giver of all, as the suffering Russian country from the cruel atheists will free their power, and may He erect the throne of Orthodox kings: His faithful servants, in sorrow and sorrow crying out to Him day and night, may the painful cry be heard and may our belly be delivered from destruction . And pray to every faithful person in the house and on the way and everywhere to grant good and serene days: to pacify our life; and to have mercy on all people, just as those who are present here, likewise our fathers and brethren who have departed with blessed wine, and save our souls, and let us continually glorify, praise, sing and magnify the most honorable and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and in forever and ever. Amen.
God bless you!
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You will also be interested in watching a video story about St. Anthony:
