Life of St. Arseny the Great
Memorial Day: May 21
The monk lived in the 4th-5th centuries in the Roman Empire. Much is known about the first half of the saint’s life, for example, that he was born in 354 in the capital, Rome. Arseny had a good education, was literate and literate, studied the works of ancient philosophers and orators, and knew several languages. For all his outstanding abilities, he chose a simple life dedicated to serving the Lord. When he came to serve in one of the churches, he almost immediately became a deacon.
One day, Emperor Theodosius, the ruler of the Eastern part of the Roman Empire, decided to find for his sons a teacher who would teach them literacy, philosophy and God's word, but at the same time one who himself would be an example of virtue. Choosing a couple for Deacon Arseny, who, although he did not want such work, took on it with responsibility and diligence. And yet, over time, the bustle of worldly life began to burden Arseny, and he turned to God with prayer and the question of what to do. Then the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: “Arseny! Run away from people and you will be saved." From then on the wandering life of the saint began.
Arseny moved further and further away from people, devoting himself entirely to righteous work and prayer. The Monk Arseny spent 50 years in wanderings, finding refuge in remote caves and deserts. He honored work and silence, often saying about himself: “Many times I regretted the words that my lips uttered, but I never regretted silence.” The legends say that the Lord endowed Arseny with the gift of blessed tears, which brought healing and miracles to the world.
At the age of 93, Arseny returned to the people, settling in Trogin. But he did not live there long; after 2 years he went to the Kingdom of Heaven. For his righteous life, spent in monastic labors, prayer, fasting, silence and exploits, he received the name Great from his contemporaries.
Student of Higher Literary Courses
Arseny Tarkovsky. Photo: eksmo.ru
In 1925, Arseny Tarkovsky moved to Moscow. At first he worked as a bookseller, and soon entered the Higher State Literary Courses created in the same year at the All-Russian Union of Poets (VGLK).
The writer Georgy Shengeli, who became his mentor, took Tarkovsky’s entrance exams. He allowed the poet to live in his apartment: by the end of 1925, Tarkovsky did not have enough money to rent a room. He later recalled: “Georgy Arkadyevich fed me and forced me to write poetry.” Under the leadership of Shengeli, the poet experimented with linguistic means and the form of poems, and used modern plots.
Shengeli became my teacher in everything related to poetry. First of all, he taught me modernity. When I climbed too high on the ancient mountains, he grabbed me by the legs and pulled me to the ground. He said: “Why don’t you write a poem—well, let’s say, about a policeman?” He also carries out extremely important functions: he exercises the power of the state at this crossroads...
Arseny Tarkovsky. From the article “My Shengeli”
On Shengeli’s recommendation, Arseny Tarkovsky got a job at the Gudok newspaper, where he began publishing his “feuilletons in verse on an international theme,” court reports and fables. The poet published under the pseudonyms “A. T.”, “Taras Podkova” and “A. Troll." In "Gudok" Tarkovsky met Mikhail Bulgakov, Yuri Olesha, Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov.
While studying at VGLK, Tarkovsky’s poems “Bread” and “Candle” were published in literary magazines and collections. In 1929, the Higher Literary Courses were closed due to the suicide of one of the students. The remaining students were allowed to take exams at Moscow State University. However, Tarkovsky decided to quit his studies. By that time, he had already collaborated with several magazines and newspapers, and received a scholarship from the Foundation for Assistance to Aspiring Writers at the State Publishing House.
How does prayer to Arseny the Great help?
They pray to St. Arseny the Great in search of spiritual strength, to strengthen faith. The saint grants peace to all who ask, points out the right path and gives strength to overcome difficulties and obstacles along this path.
Through the prayer of Arseny the Great they ask for forgiveness and blessing. He not only instructs, but also protects, driving away sinful thoughts and protecting from enemies. The lost, despairing, broken and tired find in prayer salvation from adversity and support in business. Often those who have taken the righteous path and are looking for strength to serve the Lord, as Arseny did, often read a prayer to the Monk Arseny.
Temple of Arseny Tverskoy
In September 2004, a worship cross was installed in the Pervomaisky microdistrict of the city of Tver. In ancient times, there were forest thickets on the site of the residential area. Nearby there was a road along which people went to pray.
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The construction of the church began at the request of the residents. They expressed a desire for the social infrastructure to be decorated by the Church of St. Arseny of Tver in Tver, and not by an entertainment establishment. Orthodox Christians in the residential area supported the initiative and prayed to the saint every week on Wednesday.
Who founded the Church of St. Arseny of Tver? The construction was carried out by the community of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the rector, Archpriest Sergius Droboi, patrons of the St. Nicholas parish.
God bless you!
You will also be interested in watching a video story about Tver Bishop Arseny:
Texts of prayers to Arseny the Great
Troparion, tone 8
With your tears you cultivated the barren desert,/ and even from the depths of your sighs you bore fruit with a hundred labors,/ and you were the lamp of the universe, shining miracles, Arseny, our father.// Pray Christ God, may our souls be saved.
Translation: With your streams of tears you cultivated the barren desert and from the depths with groans you multiplied the fruit of your labors a hundredfold, and became the luminary of the universe, shining with miracles, Arseny, our father; pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion, tone 3
You have risen from Rome like the great sun/ and you have reached the Royal City, most blessed one,/ enlightening your words and deeds,/ driving away all folly and darkness./ For this reason I honor you We honor, // glory to the fathers, Reverend Arseny.
Translation: You shone from Rome like a great sun and reached the Royal City (Constantinople), most blessed, enlightening it with your words and deeds, dispelling all darkness of foolishness. Therefore we honor you, glory of the fathers, Venerable Arseny.
Prayer to St. Arseny the Great
Oh, sacred head, earthly Angel, Heavenly man, silence to the healer, silence to the lover, reverend and God-bearing Father Arseny, we fall down and pray: pray to the Lord, God God and our Savior Jesus Christ, may He grant to us, His sinful and unworthy servants, all His beneficial gifts for spiritual salvation: right faith, good hope, unfeigned love, unshakable piety, Christ-consistent wisdom, and all the virtues in the Holy Gospel Commanded to them: let us be imitators of your pleasing life and together with you we will be worthy to receive eternal salvation and the Kingdom of Heaven inherit. She, saint of God, do not despise us, but help us, through your heavenly intercession, to end our temporary life in a pious manner, to gain a good, peaceful and shameless end, and to receive the bliss of heaven Yes: let us glorify humanity and generosity in the Trinity, glorifying and worshiping God, Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, and your holy intercession, forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
What praise will we bring to you, venerable and God-bearing Father Arseny! You are truly the guardian angel of all Christians, especially monastics, who bear your holy name! During your earthly life, you, reverend, ran with people, showing by this not hostility towards your neighbors, but a genuine love for them, so that in silence, having acquired the One God in your heart, you would receive deep boldness to intercede at the throne of God for your spiritual children! And, oh, wonderful is your intercession! You save us from temptations and falls, you save us from the slander of evil spirits and people, you free us from bonds and prisons, you return us from exile, you drive away all kinds of troubles and misfortunes from us. How can we thank you for your great help to us, Holy One of God?! We imagine that the best offering to you will be the correction of our sinful life and the imitation of your godly, holy life. You were adorned with spiritual discernment, with a strong will in repelling all evil, and you flourished through your labors and deeds. May the Lord help us through your prayers to achieve all this according to our strength. You, most holy father, have acquired the gift of humility, the gift of prayer, the gift of tenderness and grace-filled tears: may the Heavenly Father grant us even a small share of your great gifts. You, wonderful abvo, having loved simplicity and bodily poverty even to the point of poverty, you have acquired the Lord even to the richness of the spirit of grace; Yes, with you we too will patiently bear poverty, deprivation, all the hardships of earth and, trusting in heavenly life, we will love our Sweetest Savior, glorifying the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Tarkovsky at the front: “I couldn’t stand the evacuation suffocation”
Arseny Tarkovsky. 1930s. Photo: Lev Gornung / insocinf.com
After the start of the Great Patriotic War, Arseny Tarkovsky, as a member of the Writers' Union, was evacuated to Chistopol. From there, in the fall of 1941, he wrote more than ten petitions to be sent to the front. The poet recalled: “I couldn’t stand the evacuation suffocation.” Tarkovsky was refused due to poor health.
At the end of 1941, after another letter to the military registration and enlistment office, Tarkovsky was summoned to Moscow. In December, he was sent to the active army and was appointed war correspondent. He wrote poems, essays and stories about Soviet soldiers for the newspaper “Battle Alert”. Among Tarkovsky’s works about the war are “On Strips of Uncompressed Bread...”, “I Feel Good in a Warehouse”, “The Proximity of War”. The poet composed several songs for the Army Song and Dance Ensemble, including “Guards Table”.
Tarkovsky took part in battles several times. At the beginning of 1943 he was awarded the Order of the Red Star.
Tarkovsky showed himself to be a capable poet. He wrote dozens of poems and verses dedicated to the heroes of our army. With his poems, verses, rhyming caps, satire and humor, published regularly in the newspaper, comrade. Tarkovsky instilled in the fighters love for the Motherland and hatred for the enemy. Glorifying the heroes, he inspired the soldiers to fight the Nazi invaders... Very often during the battles, Tarkovsky was among the Red Army soldiers of the advanced units and, risking his life, collected material about the heroes. And on the front line under enemy fire, Tarkovsky behaves courageously and finds the opportunity to work in this environment.
From the award sheet on awarding Arseny Tarkovsky the Order of the Red Star
In December 1943, Arseny Tarkovsky was wounded in the leg in one of the battles on the Baltic Front. At the request of the poet’s second wife Antonina Bokhonova, he was transported to Moscow, to the Institute of Surgery. The operation was led by the head of the institute, Professor Alexander Vishnevsky. However, Tarkovsky's injury was so serious that his leg had to be amputated.
Characteristics of a name in alphabetical order
– love for everything new and unknown, desire for social and material benefits. These are attractive and strong-willed people, they are not afraid of responsibility. They prefer to lead rather than “lag behind.”
They are not afraid of work, they know how to work methodically to achieve a goal, and they are ready to take the initiative. They do not tolerate boredom in their intimate life; they are used to being in charge.
– critical thinking, lack of fear of difficulties, restlessness, peremptory judgments, insight. Such a person is not used to being sad and is ready to overcome difficulties again and again. The letter "R" in a name means that its bearer has an adventurous streak. In a partner he values willpower, the ability to withstand troubles, and the ability to “lender a shoulder” in a difficult situation.
- reason, logic. An extraordinary personality with extraordinary appearance. Loves power, money and respectful attitude of others. May suddenly become irritable and demanding. He is known for his hard work and diligence in his chosen field of activity. In love he seeks perfection. Of course, he doesn’t find it and is disappointed.
– determination, tireless desire to develop and improve, analytical talents, thirst for power. The bearer of a name with such a beech does not hesitate when making a choice, but often does so under the influence of a momentary impulse. He thinks about the consequences of the committed act only later. If he enters into conflict, he does not admit that he is wrong. Charming and charismatic. He is not inclined to start a family because he values his freedom very much.
– inner core, extraordinary mind, willpower. Lack of flexibility - acts directly and decisively. Prefers to choose areas of activity related to initiative. If there is a letter “N” in the name, such a person always works conscientiously. Tries to avoid routine work. Leads a healthy lifestyle. Demanding of a partner.
– a person endowed with a developed imagination, active, pragmatic and somewhat pedantic. Tries to live in harmony: does not like conflicts and quarrels and avoids them in every possible way. Such a person has a wonderful sense of humor, is sympathetic, and compassionate. Doesn't tolerate deception. Love is very important to him, but the bearer of a name with this letter is prone to idealism.
- a person who knows what he wants. Strives to win the love of others. Diligence, self-discipline. He can show leadership tendencies and loves to be appreciated and respected. Unexpectedly capable of becoming nervous or picky. He will expect respect from his partner and will be temperamental and proactive in his intimate life.
Used materials
- Life in the calendar on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House:
- Menaia-March, part 1, ed. Moscow Patriarchate, p. 54-55, 159-160:
- and (troparion)
- and (kontakion)
- and (troparion)
- (kontakion)
[1] A memory separate from the Council of Tver Saints, celebrated on the same day. Calendar page on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House. Nun Taisiya. Russian Saints. Saint Arseny, Bishop of Tver (+ 1409) -
[2] Menaion-July, part 1, ed. Moscow Patriarchate, p. 630, .
What kind of destiny and character does the bearer of this name have?
Character . This is a thinking person who truly believes that silence is golden. Arsen is not a leader, but a team player. He will rarely become a good entrepreneur because he does not like competition (it drives him crazy). He is good-natured, calm, quiet, a little shy.
Fate:
- Childhood. This is a real golden child, kind and quiet. The baby is very sensitive and vulnerable, so you shouldn’t make fun of him.
- School. He is very diligent, brings the best grades, does not fight with the guys and does not even quarrel much. He is open and sociable, but he does not have many best friends.
- Youth. She loves animals and can ask for a puppy for a long time. True, parents need to be prepared for the fact that they will have to walk him themselves. The guy is a little selfish and doesn’t like to listen to commands or even advice.
- Mature years. Arsen often becomes a collector, and he is primarily attracted to antiques. Good professions for him are medicine, cooking, engineering, architecture, law, sports (and he will not be an athlete as much as a coach), as well as worship.
- Stone. Amethyst.
- Name color. It is quite rare - red-lilac. However, amethysts are often found in exactly this color.
- Best zodiac sign. There are quite a few of them: Gemini, Virgo, Leo, Pisces, Aquarius.
Talismans:
Ideal combinations with female names: Alla, Aza, Ada, Diana, Zina (or Zinaida), Lada, Lyudmila.
