"Lamp of Russia" - the so-called Optina deserts at the end of the XIX century. Here the Russian eldership was born. What is it - we will learn more about this later.
Nowadays, at most monasteries and temples there is an icon "The Cathedral of Optina Elders". Many people are aware of the three brother brothers who were killed on Easter 1993. Pilgrimages to the monastery are performed regularly. Reviews about Optina Desert are the most enthusiastic. And we, in turn, will talk about the monastery in more detail.
The history of the monastery
There are three versions of the appearance of this abode of God. According to the first, in the XIV century in the Kaluga forests there lived a fierce and formidable robber of Wholesale. He was the leader of the robber "fraternity." He attacked merchant carts, robbed them, and brutally killed people.
History is silent about what happened to the mighty Opta, why he suddenly redefined his life. He looked at her from the other side and was horrified. Immediately left the robbery atagu. The path of the repentant sinner to God began. Opta took tonsure with the name Makarii and became the founder of Optina Desert in impassable forests near Kozelsk.
According to the second version, everything is much simpler. The date of foundation of the monastery is unknown. Why is she called Optina? Because it used to be mixed, that is, for monks and nuns. And such ascetics were called optins.
And the third version tells that the monastery was founded by unknown ascetics. They went away from people's eyes, in impassable forests. Forests near Kozelsk, beyond the Zhizdra River, are the very place where you can hide from prying eyes. The land here is unsuitable for cultivation, which means that no one will encroach on it.
One way or another, but the holy Optina of the deserts is one of the oldest monasteries in modern Russia.
1625-1796 years
According to reviews, Optina Pustyn is the place where the soul exhausted by the bustle rests gratefully. And so it has been since the establishment of the monastery.
What do we know about her first "steps"? It is known that in 1630, instead of a luxurious monastery, there was only a wooden church. The picture was completed by several cells. And the brethren, there were only 12 people. Not a lot, compared to subsequent years.
Nevertheless, the monastery existed. Under the control of Hieromonk Theodore, the brethren carried their obedience. The tsar of that time, Mikhail Fedorovich, allocated the monastery land for vegetable gardens, gave the mill. And in 1689, the Vvedensky Cathedral was built on the territory of the monastery. Life in the monastery was slowly getting better.
Alas, in 1704 both the mill was taken away and the Zhizdra river was forbidden to be used for fishing. The inhabitants became very tight, but with God's help they continued their lives. The monastery became poor, its economy fell into decay. Moreover, Peter I tried, issued a decree, according to which the monastery was to pay a quitrent to the state treasury. Naturally, this "tribute" to his own king was beyond the strength of the impoverished monastery. But Peter doesn’t care: money is needed for the war with the Swedes, so he collected from everyone.
In 1724, poverty was such that Optina deserts was abolished. And now she was retreating to the Belevsky Transfiguration Monastery. Why did this? Firstly, due to the fact that there were very few inhabitants in Optina. Only 12 people. The monastery was considered to be "unskillful". And secondly, heavy lifting took place.
True, this association lasted for two years with the Belevsky Monastery. In 1726, the monastery was restored as an independent. By decree of Catherine I, by the way. But over these two years, the wooden buildings of the monastery fell apart, came into complete disrepair.
A year later, in 1727, Optina Desert was returned to its mill - a gift from Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich - and access to fishing.
The monastery was slowly rising. So, in 1741 they began to build a bell tower. And in 1750 - the temple of the Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Construction lasted almost 10 years.
But reform again. This time, Catherine II wanted to intervene in the life of the monastery. The Empress did not think long. With her light hand, namely thanks to the reform, Optina Deserts became a provincial monastery of the Krutitsky diocese. It happened in 1764.
9 years have passed. The monastery managed to rebuild the cathedral church. The generous benefactors helped. But inside the monastery everything was very sad. In 1773, only 2 monks remained in it. And those are old people.
It is not known how the matter would end, but in 1795 Metropolitan Kaluga and Moscow Plato visited the monastery. He liked the marvelous place so much that the Metropolitan ordered that a very experienced monk be sent to the monastery. Hieromonk Abraham became its rector.
XIX century
This is the heyday of the monastery. The beginning of the century was marked by the construction of a new bell tower, the Kazan monastery, the hospital church. The population of the monastery has expanded to 30 people. Abraham was a wonderful leader. He arranged the internal routine, strictly monitored the external flowering of Optina Desert. He was the governor, and builder, and architect.
Then a monastery was arranged at the monastery. Here settled those who wanted a silent life. People from all sides reached out to the monastery. The monastery lived not only with the donations of benefactors. Emperor Pavel Petrovich drew attention to this monastery near Kaluga. Optina was presented with a flour mill and allocated 300 rubles annually.
In the XIX century, the flourishing of old age in the monastery began.
Old age
The elders of Optina desert, according to reviews, help with lightning speed. All of them are glorified in the form of saints.
What did old age begin with? From Metropolitan Filaret. When he came to power, he strongly supported the revival of old age in the Optina Desert. He himself loved silence, often visited the monastery, sometimes staying there for several weeks. It is Filaret who will invite two hermits to the monastery - Moses and Anthony. As you might guess, they became the first Optina elders. Rev. Moses of Optina and Rev. Anthony of Optina were students of those who studied under Paisius Velichkovsky. This elder saw the need for rebirth and continuation of old age as salvation for human souls.
And the Monk Ambrose of Optina? Great saint, canonized in 1988. Through his prayers miracles are performed today. In total, 12 Optina elders are known.
Alas, now such a flourishing of old age is gone. Neither in Optina, nor anywhere else. These were the last "lamps" in Russia.
XX century
Reviews about Optina Desert are the best. People come there to enjoy the beauty of the monastery, to pray at the relics of the elders, to visit the graves of the new martyrs. Each goes with his own, and for all there is comfort.
Alas, the 20th century left its mark in the history of the monastery. First, the beauty of Optina was turned into a holiday home. According to a local resident, she was still a child when the monastery was closed. I remembered how the bells were thrown off. And so, the new government decided to make a rest house in the monastery. The director gathered the local children and gave them gifts. They also gave scrapers so that the faces of the holy saints of God would be scraped off.
The terrible sight was a wounded monastery. The holiday home did not last long. Soon, they began to keep agricultural machinery right in the temple of Our Lady of Kazan.
Church of the Mother of God of Vladimir was completely destroyed. The Church of All Saints suffered the same fate. Next to her was a fraternal cemetery. Cottages were built on it. They say that they made floor supports from marble tombstones. And somewhere now there are houses whose owners walk on the floor, the basis for which was a tombstone and a cemetery cross ...
Rebirth
It all started in 1987. It is easy to imagine in what form the monastery was transferred to the ROC. And what did the monks who came here to restore it see? On November 17, 1987, Soviet power returned the ruined monastery to the monks. And already in June 1988, the first liturgies began to serve in Vvedensky Cathedral.
In 1988, St. Ambrose of Optina was numbered . In 2000, the Optina Elders Cathedral was glorified for universal veneration.
Today Optina deserts is one of the most beautiful monasteries, where many pilgrims gather daily.
Easter red
This is the name of the book about the Optina inhabitants killed in Easter 1993: Hieromonk Vasily, Monk Trofim, Monk Ferapont. And speaking of the monastery, one can not help but talk about it.
What happened 25 years ago, on April 18? The monks were killed. Killed treacherously, stabbed in the back. Or rather, a makeshift sword. Just because they are monks.
The story below is described in the book Easter Red. Here it is in a generalized form. The evidence is real.
Easter, as you know, is one of the most important Christian holidays. Behind there is a post. After the night service, people chatter. And April 18, 1993 was no exception. They talked at home and praised the Resurrection of Christ.
Just there was no ringing of bells. Optina was silent. And after the call to the monastery, it became clear why the air was not torn from the gospel. The bell-ringers were killed and there was no one to ring the bells.
Murder
It was made by a certain Nikolai Averin. It is known that ringleaders were pierced by a sword. They beat me in the back and with such force that the internal organs were cut. It happened at 6 a.m.
Hieromonk Vasily was also killed in the back. He did not die right away. He lived for about an hour.
According to the pilgrims who stood at the bus stop and waited for the first bus to Kozelsk, a strange red glow appeared in the sky over Optina at the time of the murder. It was as if blood had spattered. But then they didn’t even think about blood, they were simply surprised at an unusual phenomenon.
The killer was arrested a week later. He suffered his punishment.
Count on Impunity
How to get from Moscow to the Optina Pustyn Monastery? We will talk about this below. Now I would like to answer the question of what the killer was counting on.
Father Vasily in his past life was a master of sports. He played in the water polo team, was a captain. In the world, his name was Igor Roslyakov. An athlete in the past, he could playfully stop the killer. But why didn’t he? We do not know the answer to this question. We can only say that when going to the murder of monks, the criminal understood that they would not give him a rebuff.
The remaining entries in the diaries testify to the father of Basil as a man of amazing spirituality. And although the monk did not interpret the Holy Scriptures in Optina Desert, he composed an akathist of the monastery. He wrote wonderful poems, and his reasoning sometimes drives into a dead end.
Now, back to our day. And find out the address of Optina Desert.
Where is the monastery located?
In the Kaluga region, not far from Kozelsk. Pilgrims must first call there to reserve a place at the hotel.
Write down the address of Optina Desert: Kaluga Region, the city of Kozelsk, Optina Desert Monastery.
A more detailed address can be found by calling the monastery tour service (indicated on the official website).
Compound Moscow
There is a compound of Optina Desert in Moscow. This is the church of Saints Peter and Paul, which is located in Yasenevo. His exact address: Novoyasenevsky Prospekt, Building 40, Building 7.
Compound in St. Petersburg
Compound Optina Desert in the city of St. Petersburg - Assumption Church, which is located on Vasilyevsky Island. A more accurate address for those who want to touch the pearl of the Russian: Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment, 27/2.
Briefly about the viceroy father
Bishop Leonid is governor of Optina Desert. According to the account - the 35th. He was born in 1975, in the world bore the name Denis Vladimirovich Tolmachev. Place of birth - the capital of Russia. He studied at a school in the city of Odintsovo. He graduated from the Timiryazev Agricultural Academy.
He has lived in Optina Desert since 2002. In 2003, he was tonsured a monk. He graduated, graduated from Perervinsky Theological Seminary.
Shrines of the cloister
Optina deserts: what icons are there? It is worth starting with the fact that the relics of her elders rest in the monastery. The murdered new martyrs, about whom we spoke above, also rest on the territory of the monastery. A chapel was built over their graves.
Particularly revered icons located in the monastery include the Kazan Mother of God. She is in Vvedensky Cathedral.
Monastery Choir
Optina Desert Choir was created a little over 20 years ago. For all this time there were no shifts in the composition. The regent did not change - Alexander Semenov.
Over the entire period of its existence, the choir has traveled with tours of more than 30 cities of our country. Speakers and abroad: Germany, Belgium, Estonia, Czech Republic, Italy. The choir has almost 20 countries. Both European and formerly members of the Soviet Union.
He is not in a monastery, but in the St. Petersburg Compound.
How to get and reviews
What do those who happened to visit Kozelsk and visit the legendary monastery say? First of all, they tell how to get from Moscow to the Optina Monastery of the Deserts. If the pilgrims travel by train, then first you have to get to Moscow. Then - to the Kiev station. You will have to use the metro and take it to the Kievskaya station.
And already from the station there is an electric train to Kaluga. Buses to Kozelsk regularly run from the Kaluga bus station.
By the way, for those who do not want such difficulties, there is an option to travel to Kozelsk directly from Moscow. There are buses from the Teply Stan metro station. The first goes at 7:30, the last at 18:40. Travel time is just over 5 hours.
And, of course, people celebrate the extraordinary grace of the place. There is even a different air, and a very different taste for simple food.
And although no interpretation of the Holy Scriptures can be found in Optina Desert, its services are no less solemn and majestic. Want to make sure? Visit the cloister. Live, if possible, there, work on obedience. You will understand everything yourself.
Conclusion
So we told about the Russian pearl - Optina Desert (address of the monastery is indicated above): what it is famous for, whose relics and graves are there. They talked about the monastery from the time of its foundation to modern history.