Where did the Optina elders live? Optina elders

Surrounded by forest, on the banks of the Zhizdra River, far from the noisy cities where Optina Pustyn is located, stands an ancient monastery, which was of great importance before the Bolsheviks came to power.

Today, when the Orthodox Church in our country is experiencing a period of revival, attention to this ancient monastery is returning.

Numerous churches that were closed during Soviet times have become accessible to believers. Their magnificent architecture pleases everyone, regardless of religion. The kingdom of Faith, Hope and Love is being reborn.

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Geographical location and place on the map

Optina Pustyn has the following GPRS coordinates: 54.053416, 35.831969. Located in the Kaluga region.

Pilgrimage trips from Moscow to the Holy Places of Russia. can be found at the pilgrimage center “To the Origins”.

The distance from the regional center is 79 kilometers, from the capital of Russia - 256 kilometers, from St. Petersburg - 935 kilometers. And the shortest distance from the nearest town called Kozelsk is only 2000 meters.

Brief history of the monastery

People lived on the modern territory of the Kaluga region for a very long time. During excavations, archaeologists found sites of Stone Age people. Kozelsk was mentioned in chronicles already in 1146.

The small town became famous for its unprecedented resistance to the Tatar-Mongols in 1238. For seven weeks the huge army could not take Kozelsk. After its capture, the town was burned to the ground and turned into a wasteland, glorious warriors and residents were killed.

The history of the monastery begins much later. The exact date of foundation of the monastery is unknown, but in 1625 it already existed. The hermits chose a secluded, deserted place among the forest for the monastery. In the 17th century there were only monks' cells and a wooden church. At the same time, the Vvedensky Cathedral was built.

During the reign of Peter I, the monks were almost deprived of their livelihood, the mill and river crossing were taken away, and fishing was prohibited. And then it was decided to close the monastery, however, it was only inactive for 2 years, and the monastery was empty for a short time.

Metropolitan of Moscow Platon

Metropolitan Platon of Moscow and Bishop Philaret of Kaluga played a huge role in the revival of the monastery.

It is important to know: The role of Father Abraham, appointed rector of Optina Pustyn, is great. It was he who introduced the way of life in the monastery that lasted until the 20th century - the time the monastery was closed.

His concern for the material well-being of the monastery, the repair of dilapidated church buildings, and the attraction of believers from the surrounding area over the many years of his activity made the monastery famous not only in the Kaluga province, but also beyond its borders.

Moscow Metropolitan Filaret

The most important period in the life of Optina Pustyn was the time when Philaret became Metropolitan of Moscow. Despite his high clergy, Filaret loved a quiet, silent life, and therefore patronized the monastery and visited it often.

Note: under Filaret, a kilometer from the monastery, the monastery of John the Baptist was built, which became the place of life for all the elders of Optina Pustyn.

Many books have been written about eldership in Rus'. This unique, purely Russian phenomenon dates back to the times of Sergius of Radonezh. An elder, as a rule, is a priest - a monk who provides spiritual guidance and mentoring to people who come to the monastery. This guidance takes place in the form of conversations or advice, as well as in correspondence with spiritual children.

Elder hermits

Filaret invited the first hermit elders to Optina Hermitage. Here this amazing phenomenon flourished most, making the monastery the spiritual center of Russia.

Interesting fact: The monastery became famous not for architectural miracles, not for ancient icons, but for the great Optina elders.

For almost a century, a huge number of pilgrims flocked to the Optina Monastery to receive advice, instructions, and spiritual help. Among the visitors to Optina there were many celebrities: N.V. Gogol, F.M. Dostoevsky, L.N. Tolstoy, philosopher V.S. Soloviev, V.A. Zhukovsky, S.T. Aksakov, F.I. Tyutchev, P.I. Tchaikovsky, A.L. Chizhevsky and many others.

Monastery after the revolution and the USSR

After the October Revolution, the spiritual center of Russia was closed in 1918. There was an agricultural artel, a museum, a sawmill, a tannery, where monks and elders worked and also secretly continued religious activities. Pilgrims continued to go to the monastery.

The succession of various organizations on the territory of the monastery was replaced by the Rest House. A concentration camp was set up here in 1939.. It accommodated more than five thousand Poles, who were shot at Katyn.

With the beginning of the Second World War, a hospital for the wounded was needed, and the Optina Monastery was chosen as the site. Already three years after the start of the war, the hospital was converted into an NKVD camp, intended for captured Soviet officers returning from Germany to their homeland. In 1949, the camp was replaced by a military unit.

1987 is the year of the return of Optina Pustyn to the Russian Orthodox Church. The very first liturgy was celebrated in June 1988 in the gate tower. Many years of work lay ahead to restore the holy monastery.

Current state of the monastery

Vvedensky Cathedral

Immediately after the transfer of the monastery to the church, its restoration began. Elder Elijah headed the work. It was not only about returning the churches to their original appearance, but also about the spiritual revival of the monastery, about returning Optina to its significance as the most important center of Orthodoxy.

Today there are 8 functioning churches in excellent condition on the territory. In addition to the temples, other buildings were also restored:

• The Vvedensky Cathedral is the main church of the monastery. The shrine with the holy relics of St. Ambrose is located in the northern limit, the shrine with the holy relics of Fr. Nectaria - in the refectory;
• The Vladimir Church was rebuilt on the site of a hospital church that had not survived. This temple is the tomb of the seven great elders of the monastery: Leo, Macarius, Hilarion, Anatoly, Joseph, Barsanuphius, Anatoly;
• The monastery where the Optina elders lived was also restored. But access to it is closed to everyone except monks who serve in divine services day and night;
• The infirmary tower is adjacent to the hospital building. Today a hotel for pilgrims is open here.

What about the elders? Are they in the monastery today?

This is interesting: Elder Elijah, who lived in the monastery for 20 years, today is the confessor of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', the confessor of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and Optina Pustyn. Considering the elder’s venerable age - he is 85 years old - and the burden of his spiritual father’s affairs, he is practically elusive and inaccessible to ordinary people.

But the glory of the monastery is still great. Pilgrims and believers who want to become monastery workers come here in search of peace and meaning in life. Since July 14, 2018, Bishop Leonid of Mozhaisk has been the abbot of the monastery.

Optina elders

The monastery, built under Filaret, became the place where the Optina elders lived. For a century and a half, this place became a source of grace for hundreds of people who came here.

Optina Elder Father Ambrose

Many written testimonies, books, and memoirs have been preserved about the 14 elders who lived in the monastery in the 19th and 20th centuries. A lot has become known thanks to the archive of the monastery, which in 1928 was taken by the poetess N. Pavlovich to the library named after. Lenin.

The elders were not only spiritual teachers of their parishioners. Many of them had the gift of foresight and healing. There are many documented cases of their healing of terminally ill patients.

Among all the Optina elders, Father Ambrose stands out for his ascetic life. The scope of spiritual mentoring by Fr. Ambrose is amazed. Every day a crowd of people from all over Russia and from abroad gathered at his modest cell. In addition to personal conversations, Fr. Ambrose maintained an extensive correspondence, and he was a very sick man.

In the diary of Fr. Ambrose has preserved records about how the work of eldership was beyond his strength, about the lack of sufficient time for prayer, about the lack of strength to overcome the road to the monastery. For his service Fr. Ambrose received a rare award - a golden pectoral cross.

Shamordino Women's Monastery

Father Ambrose became the founder of the Shamordino women's monastery, which still exists today. Here the priest spent a lot of time, finding the solitude and peace he needed so much.

Father Nektary

By the beginning of the revolution, three elders lived in the monastery: Nektary, Nikon and Anatoly II. Their fates turned out differently:

• O. Nektaria arrested in 1923, taken into custody, then demanded to leave the region. O. Nektary obeyed, he went to the Bryansk region and settled there with his spiritual son. Even to this distant village to Fr. Spiritual children came to Nectarius. He died in 1928 from illnesses. Seven years later, robbers arrived at the cemetery, wanting to find treasures and get rich. Tearing open the elder's grave, they saw an incorruptible body;
• O. Nikon After the monastery closed, he worked a lot, trying to provide food for the remaining monks. In 1924 he moved to Kozelsk and served in the Assumption Church. In 1927, Fr. Nikon was arrested and after three years of imprisonment in the Kemperpunkt camp, in unbearable living conditions, he was sent to the North, to Pinega. He died in 1931 from tuberculosis in the arms of an Optina monk at the age of 43;
• O. Anatoly Potapov continued his religious activities in Kozelsk and its environs, despite the Bolshevik ban on serving. He refused to leave and in 1923 he was arrested. There were several of them in Fr.'s life. Anatoly II, as a result he was accused of counter-revolutionary activities and executed in 1938.

Thus ended the amazing age of old age. A tradition has been interrupted, the revival of which will take a very long time.

Monastery in the spiritual life of Russia

The enormous significance in the life of Russia can be assessed by the example of the influence of a visit to the monastery on the worldview and work of three great writers - N.V. Gogol, L.N. Tolstoy and F.M. Dostoevsky:

• N.V. Gogol visited the monastery three times. The timing of the first visit coincided with a deep spiritual crisis, aggravated by illness. A writer who has already written his best works is tormented by doubts about the correctness of his chosen field. Gogol felt the calling of a monk, dreamed of living in Optina Pustina, praying for the sins of people. The writer's gift of genius contradicted his religious beliefs. This was his tragedy. But the elders, many of whom were very educated people, and, of course, read his works, did everything possible so that the literary world did not lose the writer. Long conversations with Fr. Makariy, Fr. Porfiry and the monks of the monastery had a beneficial influence on Nikolai Vasilyevich. Father Porfiry subsequently conducted a long correspondence with the writer, was his friend and mentor;
• Leo Tolstoy visited the monastery several times. One day he and his companions came here on foot. The relationship between the great writer and the church was complex. Even repeated conversations with Elder Ambrose did not return him to the fold of Orthodoxy. But here’s the strange thing: while disagreeing with the elders on religious issues, the writer considered visiting the monastery a very important event in his life;
• In 1878, the great Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky lived here for some time. The writer’s youngest son, Alyosha, dearly beloved by his father, died of epilepsy. In the monastery the writer met and talked with Fr. Ambrose, who became the prototype of Elder Zosima in the writer’s last novel, The Brothers Karamazov.

What you must visit and see

The relics of Fr. Ambrose and Fr. Nectaria

Unfortunately, due to the tragic history of the monastery, there are almost no old buildings left on its territory. Everything had to be rebuilt, practically from ruins. And yet there are many important shrines here, which will be useful and interesting to look at even for a non-believer.

The monks of the monastery did a lot to restore spirituality to this holy place. This is felt by any person, regardless of faith, who finds himself here.

So what is worth visiting:

• Arriving at the monastery, you must definitely attend the service in the main Vvedensky Cathedral. Services are especially solemn during church holidays, as well as on the Days of Remembrance of the Great Optina Elders. In the temple you can venerate the relics of Fr. Ambrose and Fr. Nectaria, pray, just stand or light a candle at the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God, which is located to the right of the altar;

Keep in mind: The territory of the monastery is closed to visitors, but to walk along the road along which the elders went to pray means to some extent to penetrate their world.

Vladimir Church

• Behind the Vvedensky Cathedral is the Vladimir Church with a small blue dome with stars. Here are the relics of the six great elders of Optina;
• The holy monastery springs are famous for numerous healings and miracles. Optina's three springs are no exception:
• One of them, the most famous, is located on the territory of the monastery, in honor of Paphnutius of Borovsk the Wonderworker;
• Source in honor of Fr. Ambrose is located not far from the monastery;
• The third source in honor of Sergius of Radonezh is hydrogen sulfide. It was recently rediscovered by monks. There is a bath here, immersion in the waters of which gives an extraordinary surge of strength.

It is worth not only drinking holy water from any source, but also taking it home. Holy water will last a long time. It should be drunk in the morning, after reading a special prayer before taking holy water, or in case of illness of family members. But everything must be done in faith. And it’s probably impossible to count how many people gained faith thanks to visiting Optina Pustyn...

Information for pilgrims and tourists

How to get there

You can travel by train or bus from the capital to

Do you know how many Optina elders have been glorified as saints? Which of them worked as an auditor before being tonsured, and which served in the tsarist army? And what saint healed the sick with gingerbread and boiling water? Read about this and more in our fascinating article about the Optina elders.

How many Optina elders were there?

Optina elders

Everyone knows that spirit-bearing monks, revered by the Orthodox people, lived in the Optina Desert at different times. Optina’s name alone inspires respect and hope. But many find it difficult to answer the question of how many of those same elders were in the monastery.

So, at the Local Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988 and 2000, a total of 14 people were canonized. All of them entered the Cathedral of the Optina Elders and are remembered together at services annually on October 24.

What were the names of these elders?

Optina elders

Another question that takes me by surprise. Well, let’s say you name Ambrose and Anthony of Optina. Maybe one or two more ascetics of the monastery. But, if you didn’t know, here is the complete list of saints of Optina Hermitage:

• Venerable Leo (Nagolkin)
• Venerable Macarius (Ivanov)
• Venerable Moses (Putilov)
• Venerable Anthony (Putilov)
• Venerable Hilarion (Ponomarev)
• Venerable Ambrose (Grenkov)
• Venerable Isaac (Antimonov)
• Rev. Anatoly (Zertsalov)
• Venerable Joseph (Litovkin)
• Venerable Barsanuphius (Plikhankov)
• Rev. Anatoly (Potapov)
• Venerable Nektarios (Tikhonov)
• Reverend Confessor Nikon (Belyaev)
• Venerable Martyr Isaac (Bobrakov)

When did they live?

Optina Pustyn

Despite the fact that the Optina Monastery appeared in the 15th century, the tradition of eldership in the monastery officially belongs to the period from the end of the 18th century to 1938. Hieroschemamonk Leo is considered the inspirer of eldership in the monastery, and under Archimandrite Isaac the spiritual tradition was tragically interrupted.

Who were the Optina elders in the world?

On the icons the saints are depicted as handsome monks, so it seems to descendants that these saints came to the monastery from an early age and lived their whole lives as monks. But this is not true for all Optina elders.

Saints Leo, Anatoly and Nektarios worked as clerks for merchants, and Macarius was an auditor of the Kursk Accounting Chamber. The Monk Hilarion worked as a tailor for some time before his tonsure; Ambrose of Optina worked as a home teacher. Among the unusual professions of elders in the world, one can note the position of innkeeper for St. Joseph and the rank of colonel for Father Barsanuphius. The latter generally surprised many with his sudden “downshift”: a man who had made a brilliant career suddenly left his service and went to a monastery.

What unusual things happened in the lives of the saints?

Schema-abbot Anthony of Optina spent ten days in captivity of the French in 1812 during the capture of Moscow by Napoleonic troops. The saint managed to escape to Kursk, where he got a job and lived until he was tonsured in 1816. But a terrible and amazing incident happened to the Monk Leo. One day he was transporting goods for sale to villages and was attacked by a wolf. The beast grabbed the saint's leg with its teeth and tore out a piece of meat. Perhaps Father Leo would have died this way, but thanks to his enormous strength, he entered into a fight with the wolf and strangled the predator with his hands.

But Ambrose Optinsky became the prototype of the hero of The Brothers Karamazov. Dostoevsky was so amazed by his communication with the monk that he depicted the ascetic in his novel under the name of Elder Zosima.

What miracles did the Optina elders perform?

Optina Pustyn

Shortly before his death, the Monk Hilarion accepted the schema. Being weak and sick, he spent four weeks without moving in a sitting position in his cell! All this time the saint prayed. It’s amazing how he had so much strength in the last month of his life.

But Saint Ambrose had the gift of prediction. Once a young priest came to him for advice. Of course, the elder could not have known about the visit. But, to the surprise of the priest, who was tormented by doubts, the monk met the guest on the approaches to the cell and gave an answer to the unasked question. Nectarius of Optina also gave wise advice, but this saint was remembered by his contemporaries for his gift of healing the sick. Many were struck by the famous case when a grief-stricken mother came to the saint to ask for prayers for her hopelessly ill daughter. The elder replied that his daughter would be healthy, and he himself gave the woman seven gingerbread cookies. According to Nektarios’ orders, the girl had to eat one every day and also take communion. Surprisingly, after seven days the patient completely recovered.

A similar story happened with a sick boy to whom the saint gave an apple. Having ordered the parents to give the child boiling water on the way from Optina Pustyn, the elder promised him a complete recovery. And so it happened: at a rest stop, the boy drank boiling water, went to bed, and when he woke up, he was completely healthy.

The Optina elders even today help everyone who turns to them with sincere faith and prayer. On October 24, the Orthodox Church solemnly celebrates the Council of Optina Saints. On this day, all the ascetics who shone with holiness in the monastery are remembered and honored during the divine service. Taking advantage of this wonderful occasion, you can ask the reverend fathers for help in your needs, you can, at the festive liturgy.

May God help you through the prayers of the saints and send His great mercy!

Cathedral of the Venerable Optina Elders- church celebration of the memory of the venerable elders of Optina. General cathedral celebration on October 11 (24).

List of elders

1. Hieroschemamonk Lev (Nagolkin) (1768-1841) - founder and inspirer of the Optina eldership. The entire life of this elder, spent in serving God and his neighbors, was an expression of evangelical love. Through exploits, unceasing prayer and godlike humility, he acquired the abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit.
2. Hieroschemamonk Macarius (Ivanov) (1788-1860) served as an elder in the Optina Hermitage at the same time as the Monk Leo, and after his death he carried out the feat of caring for the elderly. The name of Elder Macarius is associated with the beginning of the publication of patristic works in the monastery, which united the spiritual and intellectual forces of Russia around the monastery. Under his spiritual leadership there was not only Optina Pustyn, but also many other monasteries, and letters to monastics and laity, published by the monastery, became a guide for Christians in spiritual life.
3. Schema-Archimandrite Moses (Putilov) (1782-1862) set an example of combining asceticism, humility and non-covetousness with the management of the monastery and charitable activities. Thanks to his mercy and compassion for the poor, 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 leadership of Elder Moses.
4. Schema-Abbot Anthony (Putilov) (1795-1865) - brother and associate of Schema-Archimandrite Moses, a humble ascetic and man of prayer, who bore the cross of bodily illnesses throughout his life. He contributed to the work of eldership in the monastery, which he led for 14 years. The venerable elder's written instructions are the fruit of his fatherly love and gift of the teaching word.
5. 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.
6. Hieroschemamonk Ambrose (Grenkov) (1812-1891) - an 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...
7. Schema-Archimandrite Isaac (Antimonov) (1810-1894) - the ever-memorable rector of the Optina Monastery, who combined the management of the monastery and the 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.
8. Hieroschemamonk Anatoly (Zertsalov) (1824-1894) - the monastery leader and elder, instructed in the spiritual life not only the monks of the Optina Hermitage, but also the nuns of the Shamordino convent and other monasteries. Being an ardent prayer book and ascetic, he was a 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.
9. Hieroschemamonk Joseph (Litovkin) (1837-1911) - disciple and spiritual successor of the Monk Ambrose, who showed the image of humility, gentleness, unceasing, kind-hearted 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.
10. Schema-Archimandrite Barsanuphius (Plikhankov) (1845-1913) - the monastery 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 insight, the inner meaning of the events that took place was revealed to him, he saw the innermost heart of the person who came to him, lovingly awakening repentance in him.
11. Hieroschemamonk Anatoly II (Potapov) (1855-1922), nicknamed the comforter among the people, was endowed by the Lord with great grace-filled gifts of love and consolation of the suffering, insight and healing. Humbly carrying out 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.
12. Hieroschemamonk Nektariy (Tikhonov) (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.
13. Hieromonk Nikon (Belyaev) (1888-1931) - the closest disciple of Elder Barsanuphius, a man of prayer and a shepherd, who selflessly performed the ministry of elders after the closure of the Optina Hermitage, suffered torment from the atheists and died in exile as a confessor.
14. 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 superior 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.

History of canonization

• 1988 - by decision of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, the glorification of St. Ambrose of Optina took place.
• On July 26-27, 1996, thirteen Optina elders were canonized as locally revered saints of the Optina Hermitage with a general cathedral celebration on October 11 (24).
• July 10, 1996 - the relics of St. Ambrose were found along with the relics of six more Optina elders.
• 2000 - by decision of the Council of Bishops, the Optina elders were glorified for church-wide veneration.

Prayer

Prayer to the venerable father and elder who shone in the Optina Hermitage

O great saints of God, pillars and lamps of the Land of Russia, our venerable and God-bearing fathers Optinstia, Leo, Macarius, Moses, Anthony, Hilarion, Ambrose, Anatoly, Isaac and Joseph, Barsanuphius, Anatoly, Nektarios, Nikon and Isaac, according to the law of the Gospel of the Lord She loved God with all her heart and with all her soul and with all her mind and for the salvation of all God’s people; For this reason, under the protection of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos, we came to the monastery of Optina, founded by a repentant thief, who came along the narrow and sorrowful path of humility and self-reproach until the end of your days, having thereby abundantly acquired the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit; old and young, noble and simple, wise of this age and weak-minded, deprived of no one from those who are coming to you, having let go of no one in vain and inconsolable, but with the light of the truth of Christ enlightening everyone and spiritually resurrecting them, your neighbors as yourself, who loved even those in your heart containing, according to the words of the Apostle, prophesying and edifying, exhorting and comforting. Pray to the Merciful Lord, into the heavenly abode of the prudent thief who has taken with him, to grant us, unworthy, like workers of the eleventh hour, a spirit of contrition, purification of the heart, guardianship of the mouth, righteousness of actions, humble wisdom, tears of repentance, unashamed faith, unfeigned love, peace of mind and physical health, may the Lord grant us a good answer at His Last Judgment through your intercession, saving us from eternal torment, and may the Kingdom of Heaven be honored with you forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, tone 6

The lamps of the Orthodox faith, the unshakable pillars of monasticism, the consolation of the Russian lands, the venerable elders of Optinstia, who have acquired the love of Christ and laid down their souls for their children, pray to the Lord that your earthly Fatherland may establish your earthly Fatherland in Orthodoxy and piety and save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 4

Truly marvelous is God in His saints, the wilderness of Optina, like the helipad of eldership, revealed, where the divinely enlightened fathers, who knew the secret of the human heart, the sorrowful people of God appeared to the people of goodness: these, for those who were burdened with sin, were instructed on the path of repentance, those who wavered in faith were enlightened by the light of Christ’s teaching and taught God’s wisdom, to the suffering and the weak he gave mercy and granted healing. Now, abiding in the glory of God, we pray unceasingly for our souls.

Optina Pustyn is a monastery with a difficult and unusual history. Ruined by quitrent during the reign of Peter I, destroyed almost to the ground and turned into a sawmill and rest house during the years of the atheism, Optina Pustyn survived and still receives pilgrims, and the miracles of the Optina elders are known throughout the world. The prayers of the Optina monks help people, and we will tell you about the wonderful monastery, its history and heritage.

History of the monastery

Optina Monastery is a stauropegial monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is located near Kozelsk, Kaluga region and was founded in the 4th century, but its history goes back to the Middle Ages. Optina Pustyn was established in this wonderful place by God's providence; unfortunately, we do not have any authentic information about the first creator of the monastery. Only a few legends have survived, one of which concerns a robber named Opta, who lived an unrighteous life, but then something happened to him, he took monastic vows with the name Macarius. The brethren gathered around the former robber, he set up a hermitage, which was the beginning of the life of the monastery.

According to another legend, Optina Pustyn was founded by Prince Vladimir the Brave, who supported monasticism or one of his heirs.

There is also a version that previously both monks and nuns lived in the monastery, and such monasteries in ancient times were called Optina. Accurate data on the creation of Optina Pustyn has not been preserved. One thing is clear: in these beautiful, secluded and picturesque places, everything was conducive to monastic life.

At different times life was very difficult for the monastery. At the beginning of the 6th century, under Abbot Serii, the monastery had a single wooden church and only six cells, the brethren consisted of twelve monks, and the head of the brethren was Hieromonk Fedor. In 1689, the Shepelev boyars built the Vvedensky Cathedral. During the reign of Peter I, Optina Monastery paid a huge rent, almost beyond the capacity of the monastery. Fishing, a mill and other property that brought at least some income to Optina Pustyn were taken into the treasury. Over time, Optina Pustyn was abolished, calling it a “little monastery.” It was possible to restore Optina Pustyn thanks to the petition of the steward Andrei Shepelev in 1726. The monks even managed to return the mill.

In 1795, better times came for Optina Pustyn. Moscow Metropolitan Platon paid attention to the monastery. With the blessing of the Metropolitan, construction of the monastery began, which lasted for many years. Father Avramiy was appointed builder; he did not leave his ministry until the moment when weakness forced him to ask to be released from work. In 1801, “for excellent services to the monastery for the common benefit,” Father Abraham was promoted to abbot of the Likhvinsky Intercession of the Good Monastery, with control at the same time of the Optina Hermitage. Until his old age, everyone loved and respected him in the monastery, where during his lifetime he was able to see the worthy fruits of his greatest labors.

Until 1861, the monastery flourished. There were already more than 150 people in the brotherhood. Optina Pustyn also carried out publishing activities. The works of the elders of Optina Hermitage were published quite widely, increasing the heritage of the holy place.

In 1923, during the time of the fight against God, Optina Pustyn was closed. But they not only closed, but destroyed many churches, desecrating the holy place, turning it into secular institutions. A difficult period in the history of the monastery began again. The Bolsheviks closed the monastery churches, turning them into a sawmill and the monastery into a rest house. Only in 1987 Optina Pustyn was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. On June 3, 1988, after a long break, the first divine service was held in Optina Pustyn. To this day, the monastery welcomes thousands of pilgrims.

Temples of Optina Pustyn

Vvedensky Cathedral

This is the main temple of Optina Pustyn, which was built from 1750 to 1771. The church contains the relics of Saints Ambrose and Nektarios, the elders of Optina Hermitage, as well as the especially revered Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Church in the name of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

This temple of Optina Hermitage was first built in 1809-1811. During the Soviet years it was destroyed to the ground. In 1989, archaeologists discovered the foundation of the temple. It is believed that the venerable elder Anatoly (Potapov) once lived in the cell next to the temple. In 1996, the temple was restored and first became the tomb of the elders of Optina Hermitage. In 1988, among all the elders of the Optina Hermitage, the first to be glorified as a saint was St. Ambrose. In 1996, already fourteen Optina elders were recognized as saints, and the relics of seven of them were transferred in a solemn procession to the Church in the name of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. To this day, the temple remains the tomb of the Optina elders.

Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord

This temple was founded by Patriarch Alexy II during his last visit to Optina Pustyn and consecrated in 2007. It is no coincidence that the temple is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord. It turned out that Optina Pustyn was finally closed precisely on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord in 1923. Other organizations appeared on the territory of the monastery, and the brethren of the monastery began their confessional path. Many of them settled in Kozelsk, in local villages. Some were arrested. The relics of the Venerable Confessor Raphael (Sheichenko) are kept in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Temple in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

This temple was built in 1881, but was subsequently destroyed and restored only in 1996. The temple contains the relics of the venerable elders of Optina Hermitage Moses, Anthony and Isaac I. The temple in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is the largest temple of the monastery.

Temple in honor of St. Hilarion the Great

This temple is located outside the walls of Optina Hermitage. It was built in 1874. In the same building there is a hotel and a refectory for pilgrims.

Temple in honor of St. Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John

In this temple, services are held according to a special charter for monastics. Pilgrims are allowed to attend services in the temple in honor of St. The Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John only on special days: the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Council of John the Baptist, the Beheading and Monday of Bright Week.

Temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Spreader of the Loaves”

This temple is quite new; it was built in 2000 on the territory of the monastery’s subsidiary farm.

Mobile church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source”

This temple is mobile and is installed in Optina Pustyn where seasonal field work is taking place.

Temple in honor of the Venerable Mary of Egypt

This temple is currently under restoration.

Temple in honor of St. Lev Katansky and etc. John of Rylsky

This temple is located on the territory of St. John the Baptist monastery. The temple building is now a hotel for pilgrims.

Church of All Saints

This temple is located on the site of the former monastery cemetery outside the monastery. During the years of the atheism it was completely destroyed and is now in the process of restoration.

Chapel at the burial site of the murdered Optina brethren: Hieromonk Vasily, monks Trofim and Ferapont

This chapel was built in 2008. Now it is located on the territory of the monastery cemetery.

Optina elders

founded the Optina eldership

Hieroschemamonk Lev (Nagolkin) (1768–1841)

A huge number of destitute people and pilgrims flocked to Optina Pustyn to witness the numerous miracles performed by the elder. He was a disciple and companion of Elder Leo

Hieroschemamonk Macarius (Ivanov) (1788–1860)

He suffered the feat of caring for the elderly, and considered humility to be the basis of the life of a Christian. The words of the elder are known: “If there is humility, everything is there, if there is no humility, there is nothing.”

Another student of Elder Leo was

Schema-Archimandrite Moses (Putilov) (1782–1862)

He was meek and wise. He saw the flourishing of Optina Hermitage, and the monastery owes much of its flourishing to him. Under Schema-Archimandrite Moses, old temples and monastery buildings were recreated and new ones were built. The associate and brother of Schema-Archimandrite Moses (Putilov) was

Schema-abbot Anthony (Putilov) (1795–1865)

Being a humble man of prayer, he bore the heavy cross of bodily weakness. In illness, shortly 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.”

Elder Macarius had a successor

Hieroschemamonk Hilarion (Ponomarev) (1805–1873)

He was known for bringing many who had fallen away from it back into the fold of the Church and died in prayer, clutching a rosary in his hands.

One of the most famous Optina elders was and remains

Hieroschemamonk Ambrose (Grenkov) (1812–1891)

It is famous for numerous miracles. As a student of elders Leonid and Macarius, elder Ambrose inherited a gift of grace from them; he served people for thirty years. He founded the Shamordino convent and ministered to many monasteries. The letters and instructions of Elder Ambrose are widely known. He is glorified among the saints.

Hieroschemamonk Anatoly (Zertsalov) (1824–1894)

He was a famous prayer book and ascetic, and also cared for the Shamordino convent. He was known as a person with a unique gift of a comforter in any sorrow.

Schema-Archimandrite Isaac (Antimonov) (1810–1894)

While managing the monastery, he possessed amazing kindness and humility, and the doors of his cell were always open to the suffering. The decoration of his cell was simple and ascetic.

Among the many elders of the Optina Hermitage, one found the full brunt of the desecration of the holy place. And he was forced to witness the fight against God. This old man became

Archimandrite Isaac II (Bobrakov) (1865–1938)

He was imprisoned four times for his faith on false charges and was shot on January 8, 1938. His holy relics were not found and were buried in a mass grave. His death was crowned with suffering for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wonders of Optina Pustyn

Through the prayers of the elders of the Optina Hermitage, Optina Hermitage - a place of pilgrimage - was accomplished more than once; many even now expect miracles; stories about them are often found on Orthodox forums and portals. But, of course, the true miracle is the existence of an ancient monastery that has gone through many trials. Many temples were destroyed to the ground and are still being restored. Optina elders and monks were tortured and killed during the atheistic years, but the monastery is still alive.

To avoid falling into temptation, we should not base our faith on miracles. After all, the miracles of the Orthodox Sacraments are always with us - for example, the sacraments of the Eucharist. To witness your own miracles, many of which often occur in the human soul, you can go on a pilgrimage to Optina Pustyn, attend monastery services and pray with the Optina monks.

We should not tempt the Lord with the inevitable expectation of miracles from the pilgrimage, because everything that is given to us is given in the name of salvation and if we did not receive what we asked for, then it was not necessary for our soul.

Prayers

The Optina prayer book contains many prayers. You can listen:

Evening prayers at Optina Pustyn

Particularly touching is the Optina prayer of a mother for her children, which says that a mother should be ready to give her children to serve the Lord and accept His will, not desiring them worldly goods if this is not necessary for their salvation. You can read the Optina prayer book on the monastery website.

The prayers of Anthony of Optina are widely known:

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

Those who hate and offend us, Your servants (names), forgive, Lord, Lover of mankind: they don’t know what they are doing, and warm their hearts to love us, unworthy.

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A new book

The publishing house of our monastery has published a new book - “The Life of the Hieromartyr Veniamin (Kazan), Metropolitan of Petrograd and Gdov, and those like him who suffered the Venerable Martyr Sergius (Shein), the martyrs Yuri Novitsky and John Kovsharov » .

In the new book of the famous Russian hagiographer Archimandrite Damascene (Orlovsky), the reader is offered the life of Metropolitan Veniamin (Kazan) of Petrograd - one of the first holy martyrs who did not sin with their soul or conscience during the persecution that began and gave their life for Christ and His Church .

Venerable Optina Elders

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.

1788-1860

Elder Leo's disciple and companion. 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.

1782-1862

To the meek old 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.

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.”

1805-1873

The 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.

1812-1891

He was 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.

1824-1894

With the whale chief and elder, he 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.

1810-1894

The most memorable abbot of the Optina Monastery, 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.

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.

1845-1913

With the whale chief, 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.