6. Ефрем

Sixth Builder of the Sarov Desert Hieromonk Ephraim. Under the founder of the Sarov Hermitage, Hieromonk John, the Builder Hieromonk Ephraim was especially remarkable for his strict monastic life, patience and firmness in temptations, and unshakable hope in the Providence of God. This elder, Abbot Ephraim, was a native of the city of Tula, from the rank of merchant. His former worldly name was Evdokim Andreev the Short. At the age of nineteen, he left worldly life solely out of love for God, and took on the monastic image on November 30, 1712, in a desert in the Moscow province, which was formerly called Marchugo. And then, with the blessing of the guardian of the Patriarchal Throne, His Grace Stephen, Metropolitan of Ryazan, on March 16, 1716, he was consecrated as Hieromonk in Moscow by Joachim, Bishop of Astrakhan, with an appointment to the Gorokhovsky Znamensky Monastery, which is on the Red Mane. To the Sarov Hermitage, at his request and at the request of the First Chief John, he was transferred by decree of the Spiritual Dicastery of 1727 on January 16th. Hieromonk Ephraim first served the Sarov desert as a good example of his life. He came there with the firm intention to endure everything in one place, where he was called by God, to approach obedience diligently and with humility, to love poverty and lack of possessions as a valuable treasure. For the First One, he was a strong support and assistant in external and spiritual matters. Unquestioningly obedient, he was likened to various parcels for common needs. Especially for church services, there was exactly a living rule and charter for the brethren; for he had by nature the gift of skillfully singing and reading, and, always being at church services, he had an observation about orderly and unhurried reading and singing: he loved to repeat the words of the Apostle (Colossians 3:16): in psalms, and songs and spiritual songs, chanting and singing in your hearts to the Lord. “When, he said, we fill the air with speed reading, without having time to delve into the mind of the Divine Scripture, then how can the soul be touched and come to its senses without understanding what is being read? The power of the Holy Scriptures, understood by us, comes to our salvation.” With his own hand, the notes of the pillar singing of Irmologia, the daily routines and stichera of the holidays, various canons and the cell rule were written in semi-character, which are kept in the monastery even after offering them. In all the free time remaining from the prayer rule, he practiced in solitude in reading spiritual books. But no matter how pious and no matter how useful Elder Ephraim was for the monastery, a bitter fate befell him: The righteous man fell into no small misfortune and sorrow. For even those who live piously experience no small temptations and sorrows by God’s permission, so that their virtue may appear more clearly. He, due to the guilt falsely charged to him, was deprived of his dignity and exiled to the city of Orenburg in 1738 and was in grave confinement in the Orenburg fortress at the church as a sexton, where he remained for 16 years, without complaining about his fate, in patience and grateful devotion to the Providence of the Most High. However, his virtues and piety justified him, subsequently making his innocence known. In June 1755, on the 5th day of the indicated Holy Synod, the sufferer Ephraim, after a long imprisonment, was released from the Orenburg fortress and returned back to the Sarov hermitage in his former rank 6. And in 1758, by the general consent of the entire brotherhood, he was elected and confirmed by decree of the Diocesan authorities as the Builders of the Sarov Hermitage, which position he held until a very old age. This gentle old man, from the very moment he entered the monastery, observed extreme non-covetousness and humility in everything. With an experienced eye he penetrated all the spiritual needs of the brethren, and his zeal to glorify the Most Holy Name of the Lord of hosts lasted throughout his entire life. Filled with tenderness and reverence, he set himself the goal of his first duty to observe with all decent severity that reading and singing in church were done decorously and reverently; and without his presence no church service ever began. He was very merciful and compassionate towards his neighbors. Throughout his tenure, he helped the poor in their needs, and most of all showed compassion for the hungry during the general famine that occurred in 1775. During this unfortunate time, many ate tree bark, mixed rotten wood and oak acorns with bread, and the elder, imbued with a feeling of compassion for the needy, ordered everyone who came to the monastery to feed the hungry, which continued for seven months: every day several hundred, and sometimes a thousand people or more were satisfied with contentment. And love for the poor in the heart of merciful Ephraim rose to the level of self-sacrifice. Some of the brethren began to secretly grumble at him, fearing a lack of bread for themselves. Hearing the murmur of some and the fear that the monastery might become impoverished, the Elder called the elder brethren, proposed to them the real universal needs of the people and with a deep sigh said: “I don’t know about you, but I am disposed, until God is pleased to continue the famine for our sins, it is better to suffer with all the people than to leave them to perish from famine. What is the use for us to outlive people like us? Of these, perhaps some, until the entire time of trouble, fed us with their gifts.” And he ordered the people to be fed as before, adding that there would be no shortage of food, and indeed, a few days later, a convoy with bread, about 50 carts, arrived at the monastery. According to the legend of the cabbies, some unknown person hired them, and, pouring bread, paid for the cab and ordered them to be taken to the Sarov Hermitage. The imprint of his inner state of soul - his quiet and peaceful manner with everyone made everyone respect and love him. He was always ready to give good advice to brothers who required spiritual help. As a strict ascetic, who was an example of virtues, with wise advice and convictions, with deep sighs he edified the brethren and encouraged them to firmly maintain spiritual and physical purity, to adhere relentlessly to fasting and prayer. The elders, blooming with gray hair for many years, adorned with virtues, were attached to him with the spirit of love according to Bose, as to a humble mentor; They tried to fulfill the proposals of the pious mentor with joy and zeal. Why did many of the brethren consider themselves blessed that they were in obedience to such a father, and heard the instructions of their superior - the Elder in the monastery, and followed his rules with unflagging zeal, and were lovingly devoted to the deeds of piety. The grace of God through the word of Elder Ephraim so softened souls that those who followed his suggestions forgot all earthly thoughts. His handsome face expressed a consoling joy. As an experienced mentor in spiritual life, Elder Ephraim earned himself deep respect in areas remote from the Monastery; rumors of his holy, virtuous life reached His Grace Tikhon, Bishop of Zadonsk. Saint of Zadonsk had such sincere love and such deep respect for Elder Ephraim that he had spiritual correspondence with him. The original letters of this Saint to the elder are kept in the Sarov Hermitage. This is what the pious Saint wrote to the elder builder and the brethren: Most honorable Father Builder and other dear brethren in Christ! For your writing, which I received through Father Pachomius, your brother and mine (whom I recommend to you, since I am honest and seeking salvation), I thank you a lot. Please don't leave me in the future. “And even more so, in my holy prayers, I ask you with humility not to leave me poor, for I am a sinner.” May our Lord, Merciful and Provider of sinners who come to Him in repentance, have mercy on you all with His grace. Be saved dear brethren, be saved in Christ, to whose mercy and grace I entrust you, I remain unworthy Bishop Tikhon. Most Reverend Fathers, Builder Father and other brethren in Christ! 7 I thank you for your writing: what do you want to attribute to me in your letter, I am not worthy of it. And where people came from to praise me before you, I don’t know. Since I didn’t show them anything worthy, as far as pastoral work is concerned. And I ask for me, unworthy, out of Christian love for our common merciful God, to create a prayer both now and after my death, that I may be merciful by His grace. May the same Father of generosity protect you from all the snares of the enemy. April 14, 1765. Your servant and brother Voronezh. most unworthy Bishop Dearest brethren in Christ! Feeling your pleasure and love for me, I myself cannot help but correspond to you. With this, I ask you not to leave your love in your prayers. You will work hard, work, strive. May God help the working people with His grace. And as I was, so I am Reverend Father, Builder of the Sarov desert, Hieromonk Ephraim! 8 May God and my humility always bless you and all the brethren in Christ! I received your Scripture with respect and love from the honorable Father Hierodeacon Athanasius, your monastery, I thank you for it, I ask you not to abandon it in the future. Also, in the prayers of your saints, remember me the sinner and my parent Jacob and the mother Agathia of the departed, for which the Lord God will reward you, and I have my goodwill to remain forever Your Reverence, zealous Brother and Bogomolets Tikhon Bishop of Voronezh and Yeletsky, former Sevsky and Bryansky. Reverend Father Builder Ephraim! My beloved father, brother and benefactor in Christ! Thank you for your writing. The bell master has been fully accepted: God grant him, with your prayers, to join the business next summer. And I couldn’t bother about Theodore Ivanovich during my absence, but upon my arrival he quickly went to you, and I didn’t have a chance to talk to the President - so let him still endure the Lord, who will not leave him at will. Over time, I am ready to try. Now sending you and all your brethren a blessing, I ask you and my parents not to leave me and my parents in your prayers, that God may forgive us our sins and grant us His kingdom, which you too will receive in Christ Jesus our Lord after this long life, desiring with my zeal I remain Your Reverence and all the brethren in Christ zealous brother, Bogomolet and servant Tikhon Bishop of Voronezh. Reverend Father Builder Hieromonk Ephraim! My beloved father, brother and benefactor in Christ! Your Reverence’s letter, from your holy monastery through the novice Ivan Fedorovich, I received in due time regularly. For this, through this, I thank Your Reverence, I ask you to excuse me, if Ivan Fedorovich was not pleased with him. In other matters, sending my blessing to your Reverence and to all your and my brethren in Christ, I ask you not to leave me in your holy prayers to God, to which, entrusting myself with my goodwill, I remain forever Your Reverence's zealous brother, Bogomolets and servant Tikhon the humble Bishop of Voronezh and Yelets. The following letter serves as a sign of the Archpastoral favor shown to Elder Ephraim by the Shepherd, to whose flock the Sarov hermitage belonged: Reverend Father Builder! With our dear brothers and yours, hello in the Lord! My heart is filled with every hour of joy, hearing the welfare of your holy monastery and your special assistance in this time of need to those who require help. Believe, dear one, that this seed you have sown will increase your fruit a hundredfold both in this present and in the future life. For this I pray in the field of your hearts, sowing philanthropy, charity and communication; To you and your dear brethren, who observe like-mindedness and obey you in everything, and even more so, give help, I will remain, as I am, with special goodwill Due to his continuous labors and exploits, the life of this God-pleasing elder remained known to this day in the traditions of the elders: in all respects, he placed the Sarov monastery at a level of high internal and external improvement. For such vigilant care for the organization of the monastery, she still harbors a feeling of deep gratitude to the memory of the pious husband: on the day of his repose, May 30, the Rector and all the brethren perform a cathedral memorial service for him. With his care, he brought the monastery into special respect among Orthodox Christians living far from it. The humble, heroic Elder, living in the monastery, loved complete silence. His favorite pastime, as stated above, was: solitary work in his cell, silent prayer and reading spiritual books. Kissing the desert life, he always received the brethren to be zealous lovers of desert silence, and therefore all the fraternal cells were designed for living separately from one another and with the convenience of solitude and spiritual exercise. The monks of the Sarov Hermitage, out of reverence for the memory of the Builder Hieromonk Ephraim, have a portrait of him, on which is the following inscription: “You are not Sirin, but you are Russian Ephraim; You are the armor and helmet of the Sarov desert!” Through the zealous diligence of this benevolent Elder, a commemoration was established in the monastery for the deceased fathers and brethren who benefactored it and all those whose names are inscribed in the books established for commemoration. This is corrected to this day with special zeal, exactly, unfailingly, and commemoration is performed both at the proskomedia and at the psalter reading. Elder Ephraim, for the sake of spiritual salvation and eternal remembrance, often came to the early Liturgy to remember at the proskomedia the repose of the benefactors of the monasteries and often said this: performing the Liturgy for the departed is so important, the power of remembrance is so great, the benefit from it to the dead, if this happens with faith and zeal, is so significant that they have the most beneficial success for the departed and bring them great joy. Saint John Chrysostom, explaining the Apostolic Acts, in the 21st moral teaching teaches about the remembrance of the dead as follows: even if we make frequent prayers for the deceased, if we give alms, even if he is not worthy, we will beg God. Tell his name, command everyone to make supplications and supplications for him, this will appease God. The price is not in the quantity of alms, but in the will; Just don’t give me less than your strength. It is not just that the deacon cries out: for those who have fallen asleep in Christ, and for those who commemorate them; It is not the deacon who uttered this voice, but the Holy Spirit (Cam. Ver. pp. 634 and 635). And in the Chetya Menaion and Prologue under the 12th of April, it is said by revelation that alms done for 40 days per soul, feeding the hungry and the prayer of the priests propitiate God: if the souls of the departed are sinful, then through this they receive remission of sins from the Lord; if they are sinless, charity for them serves to save the benefactors. So the funeral liturgy is saving for the dead - a bloodless sacrifice performed and offered for them. St. Macarius of Egypt had great zeal to pray for the dead, and one day, walking through the desert, he found a dry bone of a human forehead lying on the way; and, wanting to know whether his prayers for the dead were useful, having prayed diligently to God, he said to his forehead: tell me, who are you? And the forehead answered: I was the chief of the priests of idols who lived in this place; But you, Abba Macarius, are filled with the Spirit of God, at which hour, having mercy on those in torment, you pray, then we receive some consolation (Page 647). St. Basil the Great, after the consecration of the terrible sacrifice, prays for the dead like this: Lord remember all those who have fallen asleep before in the hope of the resurrection of eternal life; We also pray for the peace and abandonment of the soul of Your servant in a brighter place, from where sadness and sighing have escaped; rest our God and their peace, where the light of Thy Face is present (Liturgist. St. Vas. V.). Elder Ephraim, feeling the exhaustion of his strength, on the 29th day of March 1777, gathered the brethren and asked to elect a rector in his place; because he himself wanted to spend the rest of his days in silence, like his blessed father John. Then, by general consent, a strong, reverent man, Pachomius, who had lived a strict life in the Sarov Hermitage for many years, was appointed rector. Finally, having reached 86 years of life, Elder Ephraim peacefully and Christianly reposed on the 30th day of May 1778 into a painless life. His ashes rest near the Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the left side at the entrance. A special monument to the works of the entire Elder are: Cathedral Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The construction began in 1770 and was completed in 1777. There are seven separate churches in the Sarov monastery, of which the cold cathedral stands out above all in its beauty and internal splendor, so that you can see few similar churches. The exterior of the cathedral is majestic in its enormous size and its architecture is elegant. The Assumption Cathedral delights visitors with its beautiful view; and the hearts of those who enter it are filled with even more reverence. Particular attention of visitors is drawn to the decoration in the iconostasis of the lower tier: all the icons of skillful writing in silver-gilded vestments. And above the royal doors there is an image - an exact copy of the Miraculous Icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God, which is in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, and is arranged, according to the example there, in a large silver-gilded circle, with rays stretched out in radiance, supported by two Angels. All this was arranged with donations from benefactors of the monastery, especially the Alexander merchant Kalenov. A cathedral with two side chapels with five large domes covered with copper sheets; All of them are gilded with red gold in the most durable way, according to a special artistic method, with the diligence and support of one respectable, God-loving person, who secretly benefactored this decoration. From the outside, it looks like the great Kiev-Pechersk Cathedral: the length with the walls measures 19 fathoms with an arshin, the diameter is ten fathoms, and the height from the ground to the top of the middle dome with the head and cross is twenty-eight fathoms; its vault is supported on four majestic pillars. This cathedral is illuminated by 89 windows, around it on the inner side near the wall and even on the dome itself there are elevated choirs; an iconostasis of enormous size and high workmanship, carved and gilded all around; The writing on the images is Greek – iconic. With the care of Abbot Niphon, the chapters were gilded and the entire cathedral was decorated inside with paintings and excellent writings; icon frames, chandeliers, candlesticks and all church accessories – chased, gilded; the lower tier of the iconostasis is entirely decorated with silver-gilded vestments; local icons of the Savior and the Mother of God in the iconostasis are human-sized, and their vestments are finished in a new, very beautiful form, with high workmanship, they are decorated with various precious stones and protected to the extent of the icons with solid mirror glass inserted in bronze. The Arzamas merchant Bystrov donated a lot for the decoration of the Holy icons, who, later, was tonsured a monk in this monastery under the name Irinarch, where he died, and other contributors. Of the four columns that support the vault, two are each decorated with a special icon, four arshins in length and two arshins in width; The rich, silver, gilded vestments on these icons are lined with precious stones and covered with polished mirrored, transparent glasses inserted into bronze frames, cast to order. The floor is covered with cast iron slabs. The meal for the brethren is on two floors; There are several separate chambers with it, for bread, a cookery and other needs. Cells for the brethren working in the bakery, cookhouse and brewery. This testimony about the well-being of this monastery also dates back to the days of the Builder, Elder Ephraim. In one of Count Tolstoy’s manuscripts there is an article that mentions with respect the Sarov Hermitage, since strict monastic life was observed there; and she attracted special attention to herself, attracted the love of the Orthodox and was famous not only for her splendid church service, but also for her high monastic virtues and piety. The manuscript says this: “In the mentioned (Temnikovsky) district there is a desert in great impassable places, called Sarov, very remote from worldly villages on all sides, with a commanding Builder.” “In recent years, this monastery was built near the Sarov River, on the site where in previous years there was a certain city of the kingdom of Kosimov, called Satis, and then for many years it was abandoned. The monks and Belians living in that monastery have a temperate and strong life, share food and clothing, and practice more in their labors; among them the Builder himself has primacy in every matter. The monastic rank was taken from the Florishcheva hermitage, existing in Gorokhovsky district. In that (Sarov) desert there are no estates other than forests and arable land, but they are content from the alms of the Christ-lovers, which the Christ-lovers supply abundantly, not only with the needs of the Holy Church, but also for the brethren with food and clothing. In the aforementioned desert, the churches of the saints were built of stone - five, highly decorated with internal and external decorations. Overshadowed by God's blessing, the Sarov desert quickly began to flourish and come to perfection. Therefore, it is not surprising that many monasteries are jealous of the deanery of this desert. The virtues of the Sarov ascetics attracted to the monastery the favor and zeal of not only the common people, but also many noble and noble persons, so that their descendants consider it an indispensable duty to be at Bogomolya in this monastery almost every year and spend several days in it with spiritual pleasure. Under the Builder Hieromonk Ephraim, the Sarov monastery was in great danger from the invasion of Pugachev’s crowds, but God protected it from plunder; They dispersed from the city of Temnikov and did not reach Sarov. Under the same Builder Ephraim, in 1765 Maya, Hegumen Hieroschemamonk Varlaam, a virtuous husband and very beneficial for the monastery, died 4 days later. For the quiet pursuit of spiritual life and for greater solitude, he left the Abbess, and was in the Sarov Hermitage for 22 years; he serves as an example for the brethren with his high ascetic life. The venerable Builder Hieromonk Ephraim had worthy companions in spiritual life and his ever-memorable contemporaries. The case in which Elder Ephraim was imprisoned for several years was as follows: In the last years of Anna Ioannovna’s reign, one of the court servants came to the Sarov hermitage as a novice and brought with him, without any intent, among his papers, a copy of Peter the Great’s Manifesto on the succession to the throne, according to which Empress Elizabeth was to legally inherit, which soon happened. The careless novice mentioned this to some of the brethren, including Elder Ephraim, one of the companions of the Builder John. Both of them advised the new newcomer not to keep such a dangerous letter; but the novice, due to his devotion to the future Empress, did not want to destroy the act, and begged the simple-minded elders to allow him to hide this letter somewhere in the church under great secrecy. However, the secret did not hide from one of the Builder’s ill-wishers, and when the decrepit old man thought only of a peaceful death, suddenly, against all aspirations, he was demanded along with Ephraim to the Northern capital. John, as already said, died soon after arriving in St. Petersburg; and his faithful companion Ephraim suffered a bitter fate. He was deprived of the priesthood and exiled to live in the city of Orenburg, where he spent 16 years in severe confinement, as a sexton at the serf church, meekly enduring his fate. After this time, Providence glorified the virtue and innocence of the elder. One day it happened to the poor sexton Ephraim, while digging the ground, to discover a rich treasure, and he brought it to the military authorities, without expressing the slightest desire to receive for himself any part of the acquired treasure. Such selflessness of a simple sexton amazed the authorities and involuntarily drew attention to him. They found out who Ephraim was, and, having raised the case about him, they discovered his complete innocence, as well as the treasure that was accidentally revealed to him, in order to discover his truth. By decree of the Holy Synod, the sufferer Ephraim was released from further imprisonment, and the rank of the Priesthood, due to his innocence, was recognized as not lost in him; and four years later, the unanimous desire of the entire Sarov brotherhood elevated him to the degree of Superior. Signed by the hand of Elder Ephraim: received by Maya on the 30th day of 1765. Signed by the hand of Elder Ephraim: received on June 16, 1768. In the blush. In the museum, according to Vostokov’s description, under No. V, and in the library of Count Tolstoy, in section IV, under No. 34, this manuscript is listed with the following title: “Historical collection about the God-saved city of Suzdal, about the construction and naming of it and about the great reign that formerly took place there, and about other things necessary for the sake of the curious, collected from various testimonies in brief.” This collection was compiled by the sacristan of the Suzdal Nativity Cathedral, Anania, around 1761 (See Oriental description 8 M. p. 7 et seq.). The second part of this manuscript contains information “about the places subject to spiritual rule of the God-saving city of Suzdal.” In this part, in the seventh chapter, which speaks “about the towns assigned to the Suzdal diocese,” information is also offered about the Sarov Hermitage, since at that time it also belonged to the Suzdal diocese.