7. Пахомий

His seventh successor, the Builder of the Sarov monastery, Hieromonk Pachomius in the world, Boris Nazarov Leonov, was a native of the Kursk merchants, a monk of this monastery, who from a young age devoted himself to serving the Lord. He was tonsured a monk in 1762, and elected a Builder in 1777, and was an exact fulfiller of his monastic vows: meek, humble, prayerful and fasting. Managing the monastery entrusted to him by God for 18 years, he was the true shepherd of his verbal flock; He strictly observed the communal rules of the monastery and the order of church services, the unforgiving and orderly performance of which gave the listeners soul-saving pleasure. Those who visited the monastery said that it was delightful to pray in this desert, where the service of God is celebrated so gracefully and splendidly. No matter how burdened Elder Pachomius was with administrative affairs, he was always present at cell rule and church services, and was the first to come to the church and the last to leave the church. With his own vigilance, he strictly punished his subordinates for omission of church services and cell rules; sometimes he punished for this either with reprimands or bows at meals, but with love and fatherly mercy: for this reason the brothers also had a filial fear, not a slavish one. His abstinence extended to the point that from the beginning to the end of his life in his cell he had not only any food, but no drink, and even ate very little at the common meal. Such a pious life of the elder and leader, demonstrated by deeds, served as the most edifying lesson for the brethren; they respected his reverence, his fasting appearance, his modest, virtuous life. He taught both verbally and loved to repeat these Gospel words: the Kingdom of God is in need, and the needy women delight it; and the Apostles: sow with poverty, and with poverty you will reap. Under him, the brotherhood in the monastery multiplied. For many God-loving people, wanting spiritual salvation, came from everywhere to live in this desert. During his abbotship there were such worthy men in the Sarov brotherhood, to whom other monasteries owe their structure. Of these, some were requested by the higher authorities to become abbots in other monasteries for the introduction of monastic cenobitic rules. The dense Sarov forest became a breeding ground for monks for various monasteries: from here hardworking and skillful elders came out: to the Valaam-Savior-Preobrazhenskaya, to the Korennaya-Znamenskaya, to the Yugskaya-Dorofeevskaya hermitage and to other monasteries. Elder Nazarius, one of the great lamps of Sarov, was summoned by Metropolitan Gabriel of St. Petersburg to restore ancient Valaam, this monastery that had then fallen into disrepair. The rector and the local Bishop Theophilus himself tried to keep the famous hermit, and introduced him to the Metropolitan as a man of little intelligence and inexperienced in spiritual life. Gabriel penetrated the secret of Nazarene's humility; “I have many smart people of my own,” answered the Metropolitan, “send me your fool.” And involuntarily it was necessary to release the humble ascetic, whom, through the mouth of the Archpastor, Providence chose to be an instrument for the restoration of the Valaam monastery. When he strengthened her well-being, Nazariy again wished to retire to the place of his former residence, and died in the Sarov desert. Some, when they were called to the positions of leaders in monasteries, humbly refused to accept the priesthood, did not want to part with the solitary life of a simple monk - with the latter’s beloved title of a monk; They even with tears rejected the power offered to them, presenting themselves as unworthy to control even the smallest ship. There was a case when one Sarov monk declined the episcopal rank out of his great humility. To appoint the head of the spiritual mission to North America, the famous abbot Kirillo-Novoezersky, who was once himself in Sarov, pointed out to His Eminence Gabriel another ascetic of this desert - Elder Joachim. But this elder, loving the Sarov monastery and the spiritual poverty of simple monasticism, acted like a fool for several years just to get rid of the highest honor. Such were the great-spirited ascetics in the days of Pachomius, whom he competed with, or even preceded in exploits until a very old age. For his strict, pious life, Elder Builder Pachomius was respected and loved not only by his brotherhood, but also by high-ranking strangers and people of all ranks. And the monastery, famous for its order and structure of rules throughout the entire period of its management, acquired respect and donations from the people. From this monastery, many hermitages borrowed the charter and adopted it with all the rites of church reading and singing, meals and other rituals, and for this reason the Sarov Hermitage from its very beginning is considered the first among cenobitic hermitages in Russia. Gabriel, Metropolitan of Novgorod, confident in the spiritual experience and strict life of the Sarov ascetics, wrote a favorable letter to the Builder Pachomius and asked to elect one of them as rector of the Southern Hermitage. Honest Father Builder Hieromonk Pachomius! I received your letter, thank you for your diligence and prayers. I regret that you do not agree to deliver the Builder to the Southern Desert; I hope you have not forgotten this word of God: if you bring out the honest from the unworthy, you will be like My mouth 10; I advise and exhort, for the edification and deterrence of schismatic depravities, to choose a man of God-inspired life, who, having planted virtuous deeds in that monastery, would serve the salvation of others. However, I wish you blessings from the Father of lights and asking for your prayers, I remain all-kind to you Gabriel Metropolitan of Novgorod. The builder Pachomius, as mentioned, was famous for his piety, diligent care for the good of the monastery, and for the salvation of the souls of the brethren, for the labors of monastic deeds, and for the strict fulfillment of the monastic charter. With these virtues he acquired the sincere affection not only of his brethren, but also of many strangers; the fame of his strict life spread far and attracted many pious people to him, who, coming to ask for his spiritual instructions, provided him with everything he needed. From that time on, this place, secluded and remote in the depths of the forest, but shining with the hidden life of ascetics, as well as the splendor of its churches, became even more famous. With selfless love, Pachomius acquired the monastery of many benefactors: many common people began to flock to the monastery on pilgrimage, and thus, with the blessing of grace and the help of God-loving citizens, it became more and more decorated. Some of Pachomius' tonsures, jealous of the exploits of the holiness of their boss, themselves retired to special, remote, uninhabited places - their deserts were covered with pine forest or dense forest. There, in secluded cells, pious hermits, hiding themselves from people, labored in piety. With him, famous hermits settled in huts in different places - each with his disciple, in the depths of the monastery forest: Hegumen Nazarius, Hieroschemamonk Dorotheus, Schemamonk Marko. With the blessing of Pachomius, the famous hermit Hieromonk Seraphim, now known to everyone, settled in the depths of the Sarov Forest; he was alone in a secluded hut near these hermits seeking salvation 11. The desert-loving abbot Pachomius talked with hermits like this about the reality of the means to receive the Holy Spirit: The ascetic must submit his mind and will to the will of God; Most of all, keep away from gluttony and idleness, for from these vices come despondency, excessive sleep, unclean thoughts and every evil passion. It must also be guarded against excessive exhaustion of oneself by fasting and dry eating, and especially by those who have a weak body; a healthy person and a strong body can temporarily tolerate fasting and dry eating. But in general, for what is beneficial, everyone is ordered by the Holy Fathers to observe moderation in the consumption of food, so that the soul and body do not become exhausted in the work of God. The grace of the Holy Spirit always surrounds us and wants to fill us; but our evil deeds surround us like a strong stone fence, preventing the Holy Spirit from dwelling in us; evil passions remove Him from us. Any sin can remove the Holy Spirit from us, but carnal uncleanness and spiritual pride are especially disgusting to Him. If we want to receive Him, then we must be pure in our hearts and keep our bodies from sinful uncleanness; because our heart and body must be a temple of the Holy Spirit, and beware of spiritual pride, not rely on our good deeds and do not boast about them. Let the silent one be diligent in examining his conscience, in self-reproach, in humility, in unceasing prayer to Christ God and in attentive contemplation of God, daily remembering his death, the judgment of Christ, the kingdom of heaven and eternal torment. Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God; Blessed are the poor, for to them is the kingdom of heaven. If you do all that is commanded to you, say that you are a servant of indecency. If anyone weakens in prayer and attention, then he should engage in reading the word of God and the books of the fathers; for reading collects the scattered mind and destroys vain thoughts, and after reading, let it be diligent in prayer and contemplation of God. At least you were an honest, kind, just and merciful person, in a word: at least you fulfilled all the commandments of God; but, for all that, consider yourself an inextricable slave and nothing more than an instrument of God through which He acts. There is another humility; it consists in enduring all the sorrows, sorrows, misfortunes, illnesses, ridicule and insults that you encounter with patience and resignation, considering them a punishment for your sins; and don't say: ah! how unhappy I am! but firmly bear in mind that this is still not enough for me for my sins; and ask God not so much to deliver you from disasters, but rather to give you strength to endure them.” The Diocesan Bishop Theophilus called Elder Pachomius a father and friend. This Right Reverend, having been notified by letter of the approaching death of Pachomius, wrote to him on August 24, 1794, a touching message, wishing that his exodus from this life would be slowed down for the spiritual benefit of his brethren and was convinced to pray to the Lord for them in another better life, if he was already destined to leave this temporary world. The letter is expressed in the following words: Most Honorable Father Builder Pachomius! I received your most kind message, but its content was very sad for me; for in it you announce your departure from this world into eternity. Having read it, I said with my heart and soul within myself: Alas for me, brother Pachomius! Why are you leaving us orphans, why are you leaving the monastery without a helm? Return, brother, before your children have time to learn the image of your holy life. I sincerely regret and pray for the goodness of God to have mercy on the Abode with your return; Otherwise, be the will of the Almighty, Who, calling you, may he settle you in his blessed villages, in which you have prayed for the goodness of God, may he direct my life for good and worthy of creating the lot that He has promised to the blessed. Forgive me for all my sins that you feel I have committed before you in word or deed or thought; I mutually forgive and absolve you in everything, and I wish you either health for the joy of the holy monastery and my joy, or, according to the will of God, blessed repose. Having accomplished the feat of a pious life, the Builder Pachomius, feeling the exhaustion of his strength, already on his deathbed chose as his successor as abbot his faithful companion, the pious Elder Isaiah, who was adorned with all the monastic virtues: his meekness, humility, brotherly love, and unquestioning obedience to his abbot were a model of monastic life for all the brethren. Pachomius died in 1794, having been 70 years old from birth. Many in this monastery still revere his memory as a pious man. In the monastery of Sarov under the Builder Pachomius, more buildings were added, namely: In 1779, fraternal cells were built on the midday side of the Western Tower. In 1780, glaciers were built, and with them a kvass brewery with accessories for it. That same year, in caves underground, the church in the name of the Venerable Fathers Anthony and Theodosius and all the Kiev-Pechersk Wonderworkers was rebuilt and consecrated on August 15th by His Grace Jerome himself, Bishop of Vladimir. For at the first consecration the church was spoiled by dampness, and was without priestly services for a long time. Nowadays, an iron iconostasis has been built in it to ward off damage that threatens from dampness, a brick pipe has been brought out of the caves on the side of the altar directly from underground to the top, and above it on the surface of the earth there is a dome with a dome and a cross. In 1782, fraternal cells of one floor were built on the eastern side, and in the corners there were two towers of two floors, in the middle there was a gate for passage, above which there were chambers for painters; above them is an osmigrated dome with a beautiful spire, at the top of which is a round gilded radiance with a monogram: Mary; in honor of the Mother of God, since two cathedrals, warm and cold, were built in Her name, and there are beautiful weather vanes on the spiers of the corner towers. In 1783, chambers were built on two floors to receive noble clergy. In 1784, a hospital was built to comfort the elderly and infirm brethren, and with it there is a two-story church, of which in the upper altar there is a throne in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and in the lower one in the name of the Venerable Father Zosima and Savvaty, the Solovetsky Wonderworkers. Both altars were consecrated in 1786, the first on the 16th and the second on the 17th of the month of August. 1786, built on the midday side, between the midday-eastern tower and the chambers for receiving clergy, fraternal cells on two floors; the lower one deals with various luggage, and the upper one makes up the fraternal cells. In 1789, the church of St. Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra, and a stone wall with two towers on the holy gates were dismantled, and in that place a bell tower was built and on both sides of it two buildings of fraternal cells, and on the other side a hospice for receiving visiting pilgrims. The buildings were completed under this builder Pachomius, and the bell tower was completed under his successor Isaiah. The bell tower is 38 fathoms high, the building is slender, of new architecture; it is in the form of a four-story, quadrangular majestic pillar: on the 1st floor there are the holy gates, the arch of the holy gates is picturesquely decorated with images of parables mentioned in the Holy Gospel; on the 2nd floor, above the holy gates, the church in the name of St. Nicholas is very bright and splendid; Above the arch there is a monastery Library, where the books are arranged in good order. The best of them are the precious creations of the Fathers of the Church. On the 3rd and 4th floors there are bells, of which the 1st has a weight of 1200 poods, the 2nd 555 poods, the 3rd 355 poods, the 4th 213 poods and the 5th 137 poods; in all bells and with small ones the weight is 2684 pounds. At the very top of the bell tower there is a clock machine; the clock strikes every quarter, hour and minute. During the administration of the Sarov monastery of the Builder Pachomius, in 1785, on May 21, the memorable great man, treasurer Hieroschemamonk Joseph, died here, a solid pillar of piety who served as the support of the monastery. He held the position of Sacristan for twenty years, and was treasurer for 28 years. The brethren wanted to elect him to replace the elderly Builder Elder Ephraim, whom he had been helping in the management of the monastery for three years, for he was a man of truly pure, strict life, a zealot for God and a spiritual ascetic; but by the will of God, he fell into an illness from which he suffered for a long time, and finally, from relaxation of his stomach, he became completely exhausted and died. With this builder Pachomius, there was in the brotherhood Hieromonk Matthew, a man of the council, shining with piety and virtues, a worthy colleague of the Elder, the Builder Pachomius, whom he helped in managing the monastery with zeal for it and with reverence for God; His life was extremely ascetic and he was mainly distinguished by strict fasting. Died in 1795. The pious man Pachomius, not yet being a Builder, through his pious life acquired respect for himself not only from the brethren, but also from his Saints; they had special trust and respect for him and did not abandon him with their favors, as can be seen from many letters to him, several of which are attached here. The Reverend Jerome writes to him: Reverend Father Pachomius! Dear one about Christ the Lord Brother! I received your letter. I rejoice and give thanks to the One who preserves your paths. With this, I advise in a pastoral way both you and our dear brother Father Treasurer Joseph and all the brethren, to assist the good Elder Father Builder Ephraim in his good intentions. Your holy abode here is glorious for the charity of the poor, but it will be even more glorious in the eternal belly. I bless you for this, and I pray to the Rewarder of virtue to reward you with eternal blessings. I will sincerely desire this, as I continue, with unfailing zeal. Jerome Bishop of Vladimir Most Reverend Father Pachomius! Dear brother in Christ the Lord! Your letter has been received. You and I rejoice that we found the righteous elder (Ephraim the Builder) both alive and promising to live yet. He speaks the truth, that to live and die depends on the heavenly power; however, prayer can do a lot. An example of this is the addition of five to ten years to Ezekiah’s life. Let us pray in common, and they will be added to him too! Wishing you all a long and prosperous life, we will be with you as we always are with our usual goodwill. Most Reverend Father Builder! Save yourself with your dear brothers! Your letter made us very happy. May God grant that your monastery will continue to experience such prosperity! To the Righteous Elders Father Ephraim and Joseph, declare our sinful blessing; To us, due to their illness, their letters are as sweet as the first gusset, heralding a blessed spring, is pleasant to us in a fierce winter. We desire to hear the completion of your labors in the building of the house of God; for we are nourished by the hope of seeing you all then, not through pen and paper, but face to face. We pray to the Lord God that he may fulfill our common desire - and we remain with sincere love and goodwill towards you, as well as towards all your dear and our brethren Reverend Father Builder! Your letter has been received through the son of your monastery, the current Spassky Father Hegumen Afanasy. This son, blessing the breast of the mother who raised him spiritually and yours towards himself, as well as all the brethren, preaching love loudly, it seems that he will be the holy Church for the creation, the monastery of his shaken support and an example worthy of imitation for those living in it; – can anything bad come from the Sarov Desert? Applying this demand with the joy of my heart, I pray to the one who wants salvation for everyone, that His gracious blessing may rest on him and on the mother who raised him, as well as on you and your dear brethren, who milk her and adorn her with their God and people with kind consent. With this desire I remain and will remain forever To the Righteous Elder Father Ephraim, dearest brother, declare my blessing Your letter through the Lieutenant, known to you, was received and everything that was written in it consoled me. God help Father Pitirim. Why do you write that raw oak is not good for you, then all this is done by your love for me, so that while the oak withers, you can delay my relocation. It’s true that I don’t want to either, having not visited you. If the Lord deigns to resettle, then we will see you in His heavenly kingdom. It will only be a pity for the work of Father Pitirim that it will not go to the one whose pus was made for it. I’m not stingy in that; I can lend money to Father Ephraim. If he survives me, also declare to him, Father Treasurer and all the dear brethren, our sincere goodwill and blessing I wish to be saved with my dear brothers! On this 12th day of September, due to the worries and changes in the air experienced by many during my journey, I arrived in Vladimir, although unwell in body, but (having fulfilled my wish for many days to be with you) joyful in spirit. This joy in me was born not out of nowhere, but from my obvious improvement in your holy monastery, an imitation of worthy order and rare in a small gathering, kind consent to God and people, without which the great one is destroyed, and with it the small one grows into the great one. The reason for this is clear: a golden mountain stands before you, delighting spirits, delighting the senses with its splendor, and gladdening the pious hearts, the Holy Church erected out of nothing almost by your unanimity; It takes a lot of time to describe everything that made me happy, and the weakness of my health does not allow me, so, keeping silent, I ask one thing from the Lord, that for the love shown to me all-brotherly, He will love you with His eternal love and will repay you with endless blessings. May His divine grace always be present at the helm of your ship, guiding you into the quiet haven of His heavenly Kingdom! I remain with this prayer and will remain with special goodwill towards you and your dear brethren. I must say that the Sanaksar and Florishcheva hermitages have pleased me a lot with their improvement and soul-saving behavior - I will bless God, who confirms his ascetics. When I was in your most beloved monastery, I felt a lot of coolness in my stomach, and now through your labors I have received the peace that was created for my stinking corpse after death 12 . This argument of your true love for me was received from Me with such sensitivity as is characteristic only of a grateful heart. The Lord God will repay this rich gift to you and to its builder, the dear Father Pitirim, as well as to all the brethren who helped in this work with eternal abodes not made by hands in heaven, I implore His goodness, and to you, as well as to all the dear brethren, I remain and will remain with my usual goodwill forever. (Year, month and date are not indicated.) Your letter has been received, my advice has been accepted that mortal memory is useful. But the coffin needs to be prepared. My dear brother Pitirim promised to send me another one, which I also need, and so far he has not fulfilled his promise. Encourage him. And if he does not correct himself in this way, then I will soon write His Highness to me with that basket, which will cost him a certain amount of labor. What will be the answer to this from my steward, please report to me immediately. I remain a true well-wisher to you and your dear brethren. I sincerely regret that I disturbed you with my letter. My advice will serve as a rule from now on. Moreover, I instruct you: on such a ship, overwhelmed by the terrible waves of everyday life, not to let go of the helm from your hands, and admonish the sailors 13 so that everyone holds on to his rope, so that the ship, with the help of the Most High, can land in an inescapable haven and win an inexhaustible treasure forever. For this I beg the Majesty of God, and I remain a sincere well-wisher to you and my dear brethren. To the Most Honorable Father Builder Hieromonk Pachomius and peace and blessing to all the brethren in Christ. During a visit to my Diocese, being in your desert, I noticed your zeal for God and observation of the rules and desert orders established by Hieroschemamonk John and approved by His Eminence Stephen, Metropolitan of Ryazan, the implementation of which, in order to continue forever, requires from you faithful obedience to the Superior and the brethren by seniority, leading by example to decency. May your sacrifice always be, I pray you pastorally, before God: a contrite spirit, a contrite and humble heart. Not by appearance alone, and not by rituals alone, but by diligently fulfilling the commandments of Christ and wearing His good yoke, try to attract God’s blessing to your monastery. Be, according to the word of the divine Paul, firm, untroubled, always abundant in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor will not be in vain before the Lord. The sight of God blesses such workers with every blessing in Christ Jesus. In this way, the treasure of His grace is represented in meager vessels, so that the power of God will be abundant, and not from us. We ourselves cannot be content to think that good is from ourselves: but our contentment is from God. I write this to you through your Superior, commending myself to your prayers, so that your service and mine, according to the words of the Apostle, will be for the perfection of the Saints in the work of service, in the building of the body of Christ, until we achieve everything in the union of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, to the measure of the age of the fulfillment of Christ. However, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. A zealous prayer of your love for Christ and a humble giver of good things Victor Bishop of Vladimir During the leadership of the Builders Ephraim and Pachomius, there were especially valiant, pious workers in spiritual life, Hieromonks, in the brotherhood: Pitirim, in the world Peter Ivanov Druzhinin, originally from the Kursk merchants, distinguished by his wise simplicity of character and zeal in obedience, disposition and zeal for his superior and brethren, strict preservation of conscience according to his monastic vows, and his zeal for the glory of God. Through his high ascetic life, the elder gained gratitude and respect for his vigilant care for the improvement of the monastery; He labored as a monk for quite some time. Through his efforts, the large Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was begun and completed here in the monastery; for he convinced many God-loving people who were zealous for him to bring donations for the creation of it, and from the monastery he received the worthy title of Ktitor of the holy church. It is known to the Sarov Elders that he saw some wonderful sign, as proof of the blessing and favor of Heaven resting on him: one day he was walking to matins from his cell, and suddenly he saw in the sky a light shining from the clouds with an outstretched, blessing right hand. Before his death, he wrote a will, in which one can see a truly monastic spirit. This will is as follows: “Most Reverend and Most Honorable Father Builder, my most merciful Sovereign Father, and dear Fathers and brethren gathered by God in Christ! I earnestly ask and pray with God Himself not to abandon my poor petition. When the Lord God deigns to be the limit of my life, after the departure of my soul from my mortal and sinful body, I ask that my sinful body be given the usual burial according to church rites, and not leave me accursed in my holy and favorable prayers to God, by commemoration in church prayers, in the Divine Liturgy in the bloodless sacrifice offered for the remission of my sins; and bury my sinful body of the Assumption Cathedral on the western side, on the left side of the former Archangel throne pillar, next to Hieromonk Joachim, on the left hand, I humbly ask and pray to you, my dear Fathers and brothers and sincere benefactors. As for my cell, whatever it is, everything is common, state-owned and monastic, but I have nothing of my own, and I didn’t have any money of my own, and when something small is found, it’s perhaps someone else’s, put under the protection of someone, or oblivion that I kept nothing for my own benefit, except for the common benefit of all the brothers. Forgive me for this accursed one and allow me in everything, I humbly ask and pray to all Fathers and brothers. And the clothes are all ready for burial and placed in a cold closet under the bench in a box, prepared for a long time. In 1763, March 6th, by the grace of God, by the grace of His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitry of Velikonovgorod and Great Lutsk, a member of the Holy Synod, he was tonsured in Moscow at the Ryazan courtyard in the cross church in a ryasophore, and in a mantle - of the same year and month of March 20th in the Sarov Hermitage, who was on promise Abbot Father Varlaam; and the Builder Father Ephraim was from the Gospel the adoptive and spiritual Father, and the ruler of my life and mentor. My birth: I was from the city of Kursk from the merchant class, born in 1727, June 20th. I left the city of Kursk for spiritual life on the 8th of December 1759, 32 years from my birth: I had no marriage by the grace of God; into Hieromonasticism, by the grace of God, he was involuntarily forced and ordained in Vladimir, in the Bishop's House, in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the Most Reverend Paul, Bishop of Vladimir and Murom, September 19, 1764. And to this day he has not left his promised monastery - the Sarov Hermitage - for any monasteries. Even if I am a sinner, with the help of God, according to my strength, I endured all the troubles and misfortunes and prologues of the enemy, and according to my strength I worked, and I am covered by God Himself and strengthened by His grace. And so the accursed one spent his days in laziness and neglect. And I ask and pray, my Sovereigns, Fathers and brothers, to pray for me, a sinner and accursed one, and not to abandon my holy prayers. And if I have offended or seduced anyone, as a human being, I humbly ask for forgiveness, and not to remember all my annoyances, insults and insults towards you, and to make amends for all my guilts and shortcomings with my mercy and forgetfulness of malice. Amen. 1784 April 21 days. And for whom I earnestly ask you, my most merciful Sovereign, Father Builder and Father Treasurer, do not abandon my request, so that after my death a dear brother in the Lord and spiritual son, Hieromonk Joachim 14, will be appointed to live (in my cell). and don’t think that out of any passion I asked for this, since I received it from my father and wish it for him. And what from the books of Father Ephraim was indispensable during my lifetime, so as not to be taken away from him: I know his conscience that this Joachim of the monastery will not wish for anything and will not lose anything, and out of passion he will not give anything to anyone without the blessing of the Abbot. I sincerely ask you not to despise my desire. To her! not out of any passion, but out of my zeal and love for him, for his kind soul and clear conscience. And my coffin was made during my lifetime in 1784 Maya 15 days. Both prayers are required: which one the Lord God will put into the mind of the Rector to read, and I ask you to put it in the hand of the accursed one according to the rite of the church. I ask forgiveness from everyone, if in any way in my life I have offended or angered anyone, or have repaid evil for evil, or have thought inappropriately, - I ask and pray from God Himself that I be forgiven and absolved from everyone, and I, a sinner, forgive everyone and absolve them from all sins, theirs to me, now and ever, and forever and ever, Amen. I, a sinner, loved to read the Great Prayer when preparing for service often. And I did not receive written affairs, or strangers from whom letters were written to me, not out of passion; I asked that I left behind my old worldly and monastic affairs, without looking for anything in them, to burn in the cave.” This virtuous husband finished his earthly life in 1789, on the 75th birthday, under the Builder Pachomius. 2. Joachim, one of the Kursk merchants, entered monastic life from a young age solely out of love for God, in order to serenely serve Him in monastic labors in a desert monastery. After accepting the monastic image, he underwent spiritual deeds with constant firmness. Both at church services and at general obediences, he always preceded others. For a long time he was a guide at church services and a book guardian at the library, as a man gifted with heights of reason, piety and all the monastic virtues, who constantly served as an example for others. He had a very short and silent disposition: inspired by wisdom and well-read in the Holy Scriptures and the books of the Holy Fathers, he was a spiritual joy for the brethren; especially for beginners who required reinforcement and edification, there was a comforting interlocutor and a skillful mentor. With his deeply attentive life, he had the gift of tenderness: when during the service the Hierodeacon proclaimed litanies and sang in the choir: Lord have mercy; they often saw tears coming from his eyes and spilling down his cheeks. There was once a case, which was already mentioned above, that the Spiritual authorities, intending to send a mission to the Russian possessions located in North America, demanded Father Joachim, according to the knowledge of him, to elect him as Bishop in that country for the purpose of converting the wild natives from paganism to the Orthodox faith not only by preaching, but also by the way of pious life. Joachim, out of humility, considering himself unworthy of such a rank, feigned foolishness and thereby deviated from the call. Finally approaching the end of this life, filled with the length of venerable days, Father Joachim, with Christian parting words, reposed peacefully in 1802, having been about 70 years old from birth. No legend is offered here about the pious elder Seraphim, since more than one book about his life and exploits has already been published. Your assistants, Father Treasurer and dear brethren. This Joachim from the Kursk merchants.