VII. Посещение митр. Иоанникия. – М. София и её хибарка. – Пострижение в схиму. – Ухудшение болезни и кончина. – Перевезение тела в Шамордино. – Новая настоятельница м. Евфросиния Розова. – Приезд Старца в обитель

In the summer of 1887, His Eminence Ioannikios, Metropolitan of Moscow (later of Kiev), came to Optina Pustyn. Hearing about Fr. Ambrose and wanting to see him, he informed the abbot about this. Archimandrite Isaac ordered that the Elder appear at the skete church. When Vladyka Metropolitan was pointed out to the Elder, he addressed him with a reproach: “Why did you bother coming here; go to your place, I want to visit you myself.” Having blessed all the brothers, he went to the Elder’s cell, talked with him for a long time in private and, leaving him, turning around again, bowed low to him - “Gracious Elder,” the Metropolitan Vladyka spoke of him. In Shamordina it was known about the arrival of the Eminence and Mother Sophia went to Optina to ask for a blessing for the sisters. Vladyka expressed a desire to personally visit the new monastery. Without wasting a minute, Mother hurries home to have time to prepare everything she needs. The abbot's living room was very small and could not accommodate all the guests, but Mother, not accustomed to stopping at any obstacles, and gifted with a rich imagination, instantly invented a way out of the difficult situation. Opposite the church stood a barn, which served as a reception room for the Metropolitan. Instantly, the entrance and walls were draped with fabric, several wall lamps were hung, the floor was covered with carpets, indoor plants were placed and tea was served on a large table. All that remained was to wait for the distinguished guest. Soon the Metropolitan arrived, accompanied by His Eminence Vladimir of Kaluga, Comrade Chief Prosecutor V.K. Sabler and some other persons. The sisters gathered in the church and greeted the Lord with a bow to the ground, and the singers sang: “Worthy” and “performed.” Having said a few words of edification, Vladyka blessed the sisters, examined the plan and site of the proposed cathedral, expressing his wish for the rapid prosperity of the young monastery, which, as His Eminence noted, is a branch of the famous Optina Pustyn. Then Mother invited Vladyka Metropolitan to enter the “barn.” With noticeable bewilderment, the Vladyka entered the makeshift hall and was amazed by its decoration. After having tea and talking about spiritual subjects, His Eminence Ioannikiy walked around the monastery, visited the hut (house) of M. Sophia and then departed with the Bishop of Kaluga back to Optina Pustyn. At that time, many people especially liked this shack in which Mother Sophia lived after taking the schema. Anyone who visited this deserted cell found special joy in it. In the evenings it was lit only by lamps, the windows looked straight into the forest and something mysterious, and at the same time peaceful and soothing, wafted there; the world with its bustle was far away and it seemed as if you were somewhere beyond the earthly. The quiet semi-light, Mother’s inspired conversations, breathing with faith and sincerity, filled the soul with something special, sublime. Her speech was always fascinating and made a deep impression. She especially followed the inner life of the sisters and often gathered them and had edifying conversations with them; She talked to everyone about common subjects, but each of her listeners always found something relevant to herself in her words. She did not tolerate complaints, and all such attempts by the sisters ended in failure, so they formed the belief that if you go to complain to someone, you will certainly find yourself guilty. Her words: “Whoever justifies himself is the one to blame,” put an end to all quarrels and displeasures. She was especially strict about ensuring that the sisters did not allow themselves to speak ill of anyone. “We have no right to this,” she said, only because it is contrary to love, and also because we can never know what is happening in the soul of another; Maybe before we had time to think badly about the person, he had already brought sincere repentance and was forgiven by God.” Her loving heart could not remain indifferent to those of the sisters in whom she noticed carelessness about their salvation. She used every means to induce a more attentive attitude to her shortcomings and almost always succeeded in this. That’s why the sisters loved her so much that it seems there was nothing they could stop at for her sake; they were ready to do anything just to console and please Mother, and there was no greater joy than to see her, and even more so to hear from her, either a gentle word of encouragement, or a firm word of instruction. Condescending to the infirmities of the sisters in general, she nevertheless demanded unconditional submission to all the rules of the monastery, and tried to accustom them to such a consciousness that they should not do anything unauthorized, not because they could see and punish for it, but because their conscience should sacredly preserve the words of the superior, even if no one noticed the violation. She had the gift of inspiring hearts to heroism and struggle and raising fallen spirits; – she was a spiritual leader in her own way. Her beautiful, majestic appearance, bright mind, and gift of speech often attracted the attention of people who did not know her at all. It happened that people, having met her in a railway carriage and talked with her for some time, completely changed their views, and some even continued their acquaintance and corresponded. The insight of her mind was truly amazing. She often focused her attention on seemingly insignificant people and, on the contrary, passed by inattention to those who were developed and eloquent. Indeed, it later turned out that under eloquence there was hidden inner emptiness, and under silence there were high spiritual qualities. Even in people with real spiritual development, she was able to distinguish deeper souls. So one day two very religious and pious ladies arrived; one of them was silent almost all the time, and the other had a lively conversation with Mother about spiritual subjects. The sisters present at this conversation were surprised at her understanding, and when the guests left, they told Mother their impression made by this interlocutor, adding that they were so pleased to hear this from a worldly person. But Mother responded to this that, in her opinion, her companion was much more remarkable in terms of the depth of her spiritual understanding. At that time, the sisters were extremely surprised by Mother’s conclusion, but later, when they got to know this worthy and truly remarkable person, they remembered how right Mother Sophia was then. The great gracious Elder - the father and mentor of the young monastery, the wise and Christian-loving abbess - what a guarantee for the peaceful and carefree life of the gathered sisters! But their path is the path of the cross, and barely three years have passed before tribulations and trials began. The labors of the abbot, worries, illness and the very revolution of life, all this undermined the strong nature of M. Sofia. His Grace Vladimir, while touring the diocese, was in Shamordino in July 1886 and, seeing Mother Sophia greatly changed from illness, invited her to secretly accept the schema. Mother was greatly consoled by this, and on the 25th, Father tonsured her into the great angelic image with his own hands, early in the morning in his cell. The singers were Fr. Archimandrite Isaac and Head of the Skete, Fr. Anatoly, and the employees are Hieromonk Joseph. She developed serious illnesses and was rapidly declining. It was hard for the sisters to expect the inevitable separation. Mother, with her sensitive heart, fully understood the mournful and despondent state of their spirit and tried, despite the unbearable suffering, to at least somehow illuminate their gloomy hearts. Encouraging them, she assured that she would live with them for a long time, and they believed, and hoped, and everyone expected that Mother would recover... On the 1st day of Christmas, 1887, she felt very bad and hurried to leave for Optina to see Father. Her sisters saw her off with inexpressible sadness; Mother looked at them with tenderness, crossed each one, said a kind word, and smiled sadly... Exactly a month later, on January 25, she returned to her Shamordino, but she did not return with a smile of greeting, but silent, calm, lying in a coffin... On January 24, 1888, on Sunday, her suffering ceased and she quietly died. Chapel of St. Tikhon of Kaluga Mother Sophia's hut, in which she loved to retire Schema nun Sophia on her deathbed. Work about. Daniil (Bolotova) At the beginning of her arrival in Optina, with great difficulty she was able to go to the Elder twice - these were her last conversations with Father, to whom she was so devoted. Her illness developed quickly and caused severe suffering. Father sent her cell attendant every day with words of consolation and encouragement. Every day the hieromonk came to commune her with St. Tain. She could not take any food, spent nights without sleep and could not receive anyone. The sisters who were with her occasionally silently came in to look at their fading treasure, and only her tender, love-filled look told them that she understood how difficult it was for them to be separated from her. This look served as the best farewell and remained indelible among those to whom it was given... The last night was especially difficult, suffering reached extreme limits, and the death agony began. By morning everything was quiet; She lay there, breathing weakly, and an unearthly calm was reflected on her face. The room was quiet, only the whisper of prayer could be heard. At 8 o'clock three even, calm sighs were heard... and her soul separated from her body. The monk doctor, having listened to the pulse, pronounced the fatal word “died”; grief and sobs were his answer. The first funeral service was performed by Archimandrite Isaac; This memorial service was touching - the venerable, gray-haired old man, with a touched voice, performed the funeral service. The sisters who were with her in Optina Pustina went to Father - their father and comforter; - and who in the world could so comfort and support in grief? Like the most tender mother, he caressed the orphaned sisters, with his love he warmed their sorrowful hearts and consoled them, pointing to the departed one as to a new prayer book, who, having moved to a better world, would be inseparable in spirit from the sisters who loved her so dearly. Having left the Elder, the sisters felt relieved; in him they drew strength to endure such grief; in him - in this weak Elder was all their support and joy... The next day, the body of the deceased, after a cathedral funeral service, was transported to Shamordino. The sad procession moved slowly along the snowy plains; in the villages they were greeted with chimes and the clergy served countless litias at the request of the peasants. It was already completely dark when the procession entered their native fields; the light of the lantern illuminated the coffin, and a sad ringing could already be heard from the monastery. When we arrived at the gates of the monastery, the lid of the coffin was removed and, preceded by banners and icons, with singing and candles, the sisters carried it to the church, where the first requiem was served. Priest O. John, who deeply revered the deceased, could not utter a word from the sobs that were choking him; the singers also could not do anything, and only some kind of general hum and groan could be heard. The next day the relatives of the deceased arrived, and at 27:00 the 1st abbess was buried behind the altar of the church, and life in the monastery at first was dull and gray. Meanwhile, Father took care of the election of a new leader and appointed one of his devoted spiritual daughters - the nun of the Belevsky Monastery Euphrosyne Rozova, who was approved as abbess by the Kaluga Diocesan authorities, and on April 23, 1888, on Holy Saturday, she came to the place of her ministry. The sisters, accustomed to relying on the Elder’s decision in everything, reacted quite calmly to his election, knowing that with his blessing everything would be fine. They met their new abbess solemnly and cordially, although it was not easy in their hearts when everything still so vividly reminded them of their late mother. The new abbess treated the feelings of those who loved the deceased with remarkable delicacy, she herself honored her memory, which attracted the sisters to her, who began to treat her trustingly. Little by little, life returned to normal, and the sisters soon appreciated the high spiritual qualities of the new abbess. She was also the most selfless novice of the Elder, had a gentle character, was distinguished by humility, deep spiritual development and led an ascetic life. She was the daughter of poor parents - landowners of the Kaluga city. Her father, Alexander Feodorovich Rozov, was a regimental doctor at a division in Moscow when his daughter Elena was born. Her mother Maria Valentinovna was a kind and meek creature; she was a Catholic, but later converted to Orthodoxy. In addition to Elena, the Rozovs had 4 more sons and 2 daughters. Elena grew up in a quiet family environment and was especially attached to her mother, whom she loved passionately and never parted with. Sometimes, among children's games and fun, she suddenly became quiet and silent, left the game and went to her mother. Despite such tender affection, another firm decision matured in her young soul and at the age of 17 she announced her intention to enter a monastery. Neither her mother’s requests nor her threats shook her decision, and in November 1853 she went with her older brother to Optina Pustyn. Coming to the elder Hieroschemamonk Macarius, the young man asked for a blessing to go to war, and young Elena to enter the monastery. Blessing them, the Elder said, pointing to his sister: “Her war is harder!” The mother could not indifferently bear the act of her beloved daughter and sent her to the monastery with one two-kopeck piece, probably in the secret hope that the hard monastic life, without her own means, would force her to soon return to her parental home. But Elena Alexandrovna, strong in spirit, was not afraid of the difficulties on her new path. The Belevsky Monastery was then headed by Abbess Pavlina, known for her strictly ascetic life. At that time, in monasteries, especially those under the leadership of elders, the spirit of strict monasticism was still preserved in its entirety. Unquestioning obedience and cutting off one’s will were placed in the foreground, and young Elena Alexandrovna Rozova, from the first days of her monastic life, entered the harsh school of Abbess Pavlina. The wise old woman taught her the monastic life, and the young novice listened with faith to the words of her mentor. She assigned her the most difficult and base obediences, and in order to destroy any thought of conceit in her, she constantly subjected her to reprimands and remarks. She taught me never to make excuses for anything, but to consider myself in the depths of my heart to be guilty of everything. All these monastic lessons were not in vain and developed in her deep humility and awareness of her own badness, boundless devotion to the will of God, the need to resort to the Lord in every sorrowful and joyful occasion, and the habit of always forcing herself in everything. Until the last days of her life, she attended church services unbearably, endured the back-breaking labors of being an abbot, resolutely not giving herself any rest or indulgence in anything. She lived for 35 years in the Belevsky Monastery and then, at the call of the Elder, she went to a new, poor, unsettled monastery to instill in it the spirit of true monasticism and share her many years of spiritual experience with others. Schema-Abbess Euphrosyne (Rozova) Managed the monastery for 16 years “Father! Expensive! Our treasure! Our angel! “We pray to the Lord Father not to leave us orphans” The monastery grew, buildings were constantly being built, but there was still not enough space. And how was it possible when people came to the Elder from all sides: the poor, wretched and unfortunate sought his shelter and rest from the hardships of life; wealthy people, tormented by questions and doubts, came to him for permission and guidance on the path to light and truth; finally, many simply wanted to be closer to the Elder and work in the monastery under his spiritual guidance; - they all remained in Shamordin. Once they said to the Elder: “Father, why are you all accepting the sick and poor, but how will you support them?” The priest replied: “Yes, God sends me more for the sick and the poor, but sometimes he doesn’t give me anything at all for the healthy.” Since then, Father began to come to Shamordino every year. These visits were a bright holiday for the sisters. On the appointed day, from the very morning in Shamordin, everyone was on their feet: some were carefully preparing a cell for the dear guest, some were busy in the church to meet the beloved “Father” in full dress, some were simply walking around in excitement and joyful anticipation. Finally, a farewell prayer was served, and all the sisters, with the abbess at their head, settled down at the porch. A familiar carriage appeared from the edge of the forest, everyone’s heart began to beat joyfully, and the horses, knowing exactly how impatiently their rider was waiting there, quickly rushed, kicking up dust and stopping at the porch. The priest, with a fatherly smile, cheerfully bows to both sides. “Father! Expensive! Our treasure! Our angel! – enthusiastic greetings from the overjoyed sisters are heard from all sides. Father gets out of the carriage and hurries to the prepared cell to change clothes and rest, and immediately everyone rushes into the carriage to take out Father’s things; everyone wants to take possession of some jewel, and if she didn’t succeed, then she grabs some end of the scarf or a sleeve and is quite happy that she also had to “carry it.” Meanwhile, Father, having rested, went to church, where he kissed the icons, making three prostrations in front of each, went to the altar and then sat on the prepared chair, and all the sisters came up to receive the blessing. In the following days, Father traveled from cell to cell, visiting the almshouse he had set up for various poor, crippled and blind people, and a shelter for orphans, of whom there are now 50 people. The little ones greeted their patron by singing various prayers and spiritual poems. It was especially touching to hear them sing: Dear father, holy father, We don’t know how to thank you: You looked after us, you dressed us, You delivered us from poverty. Perhaps now we would all Wandered around the world with a bag, We wouldn't know shelter anywhere And they would be at odds with fate. And here we just pray to the Creator So that he doesn’t leave us orphans. To prolong your life, The Elder listened seriously and thoughtfully to these children's prayers, and often large tears rolled down his sunken, wrinkled cheeks. What the Elder thought at such moments is a mystery to everyone, but we can assume that he prayed to the Queen of Heaven so that even after his death She would not leave them and would take care of them. Girls from the Shamorda orphanage at the holy spring Children's monastery shelter Almshouse with a church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Quench my sorrows” During such moves from one building to another, a crowd of people accompanied him; they ran after the carriage, grabbing the wheels to look at it, and sometimes they jumped on the step and managed to ask something. This is how Father arrived in the first year of nun Euphrosyne’s abbotship. This was in July 1888. A rumor spread in advance that Father was going to “stay” in Shamordino. This rumor seemed such a pipe dream to the sisters that they were afraid to even believe it. Finally Tuesday came. From the very morning they began to arrange a room for the Elder in the church house, in a large room, so that he could better hear from there, and even see the service, and go out through the corridor to the church whenever he wanted. The room was covered with carpets and a small iconostasis was installed; a separate room was prepared for Father Joseph, who also came with Father. “The church has also changed. The floor was covered with carpets, the pillars and columns were decorated with garlands of ferns and fresh flowers. But an even more festive look was given to it by the joyful, shining faces of the sisters, who every now and then came running to find out if anyone had arrived from Optina, if they had heard anything about their dear Father, if he had been cheerful the day before, if he was at peace? At 4 o'clock one of the sisters finally arrives with the good news that at 3 o'clock Father intends to leave Optina, and that we should expect him any minute. This news spread throughout the monastery in an instant, and everyone was already ready. At 5 o'clock the horseman assigned to keep watch rode up with the news that Father had already passed the village of Poloshkovo. Everyone immediately gathered in church; the chandelier was lit; from the porch to St. A carpet was laid out at the gate, on both sides of which the sisters in full uniform were placed. In St. The priest, Fr., was waiting at the gate for Father. John with St. cross, Mother Superior with the miraculous image of the Kazan Mother of God, the treasurer with large bread and prosphora on a platter decorated with fresh flowers, and all the singers. “Sisters! Mother asks you not to talk,” the dean repeated Mother’s order, placing the sisters in a line. And there was no time for talking here. Everyone wanted to concentrate within themselves, to collect their feelings. A deep, reverent silence reigned... The bell rang out and the bell rang; Finally, the long-awaited carriage appeared and drove up to the gate, but the door remained locked and Father did not show himself. 3-4 minutes passed, and Father finally appeared from the opposite side of the carriage in full uniform - in a robe and crosses. They sang: Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us, and we have all taken up our cross and said: blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Father, meanwhile, made three bows to the ground and, venerating the cross and the image of the Queen of Heaven, took the icon in his hands and, accompanied by Mother, who helped him carry the image, moved towards the church. All the sisters bowed to him to the ground, but no one approached him or crowded him. There were tears in Father's eyes. And most of those present cried, but quietly, so as not to disturb the silence and harmonious singing. When Father entered the church, they sang: “It is worthy to eat”; then followed the litany, etc., as is generally customary to greet distinguished visitors. Father, meanwhile, went to the altar, venerated the images, and then went through the southern doors to the grave of the late Mother Sophia. You just had to see the expression on Father’s face at the time when he venerated the image of the Queen of Heaven at the holy gates, walked with the icon to the church and prayed at the grave so that it would never be erased from memory! Serious, concentrated, somehow inspired, and his gaze seemed to penetrate the heavens. Upon returning to the church and at the end of his many years, Father went up to an elevated place, specially prepared for him, sat down in a chair and began to bless all those present. After the blessing, Father rested, and then that same day he went out to the church several times, examined it and blessed everyone who happened to be there at that time. In the evening there was an all-night vigil, and the next day mass and prayer service. Served as a cathedral: community priest Fr. John, cell attendant of Father Fr. Joseph and Fr. Pamva (Optina hieromonk). Following this prayer service, another prayer service with the blessing of water was served in the square opposite the church; after this there was a procession of the cross around the church and around the entire monastery. Father himself took part in the religious procession, following him in a carriage, and ordered that all the sick, paralyzed and poor also take part in it. Having gone around the monastery, the religious procession through St. gate went to the bell tower, where again a prayer service was served with an akathist to the Kazan Mother of God, which Father listened to from Fr. Joseph. After the prayer service, the religious procession, having walked around the grave of Mother Superior Sophia, returned back to the church. When it was all over, Father went out to venerate the images; then he went to the grave and to the place where the blessing of water had just been performed, to the bell tower; Everywhere I prayed for a long time with prostrations to the ground. On the same day, Father went to the abbot's building, to the chapel of St. Ambrose, even went to the terrace, from where he went to the Tikhonov Chapel, and then walked to the hut. Everywhere Father prayed with prostrations and carefully examined everything. In the hut, stopping in front of a large portrait of Mother Sophia (in the schema), Father said: “Mother sees everything that is happening here”; and then, looking at the bookcases with books, he added: “Read and understand what you read!”... From the hut, Father went out the door to the terrace, walked along the gallery, sat on the steps where Mother Sophia loved to sit, and then descended the stairs, took a few steps down the slope of the mountain. “And what place did mother choose for her hut!” said Father, “if only My legs were stronger, so it would seem that I would have gone down there.” On Thursday after mass there was a memorial service for schema-nuns Ambrosia and Sophia and then a general blessing. While Father was blessing, the singers usually sang to him various church songs: “To the Diligent Intercessor,” the troparion of St. Ambrose, etc. They also sang “Triumph, our monastery.” On the same day, after several other sacred songs, the Easter canon was sung. Meanwhile, Father had already finished blessing, listened and prayed. When they finished the canon, Father himself ordered to sing: “May God rise again,” and, at the end of this song, he quickly rose from his place and disappeared behind the door. Singing always had too strong an effect on Father. But what a wonderful expression he had on his face all the time while he listened to the singing! One look at him involuntarily made every lazy and careless person pray. That same day in the morning, after a short rest, Father went to the barnyard, inspected the buildings, went into the shelter and stayed there for a long time. He went into every room, blessed all the children and talked with them; one of them said poetry to Father; They moved Father to tears. From there, Father went down to the vegetable gardens, walked through the mountains, blessed all the wells, went to the water pumping station, forced him to pump water with him, inspected its structure and returned home straight to the all-night vigil. The next day, after mass and general blessing, Father, having rested a little, went to the grave. Having prayed and blessed her three times as always, he went into the bell tower and again prayed earnestly and for a long time everywhere. From the bell tower he went straight to the refectory. Having prayed here before the image of the Queen of Heaven, he went straight to the abbot’s place, sat down there and ordered the whole dinner to be served to him in order. He blessed each dish and, having tasted a little, rang the bell, as Mother usually does, giving a sign to the refectories to serve the next dish. The food from the cups blessed by Father was then poured into cauldrons and buckets, from where they were poured into cups for all the sisters at the meal. From the refectory Father went into the kitchen. After inspecting all the economic institutions and sitting for a few minutes in the middle of the courtyard around which these buildings are located, Father got into his cab and rode in it to the porch in order to save Mother from great troubles and every minute repeated requests and orders not to press on Father and not to crowd him. Father himself, sitting near the bakery and examining the location of the buildings, more than once turned to the sisters with a request to stand at a distance so that he could better examine everything. “I’ve seen you more than once, but I haven’t seen the building yet,” he said. But unfortunately, all these requests and persuasion had no more success than trying to drive away moths from the fire. Father will ask the sisters to move away from him, they will immediately move away; but not even three minutes will pass before again, without noticing it or how, they will find themselves near their dear father and the lamp. As long as Father was there, on those days when all-night vigils were not required, matins took place in the evening, following Vespers, so as not to interrupt Father’s rest in the morning. Father spent the day like this: after mass, they went out to venerate the images. First to the image of the Queen of Heaven, then he went to the altar, from the altar to the miraculous image of the Savior, from where he either went straight to the grave, or began to bless everyone; then, having rested for a while and refreshed himself with tea, he went to pray at the grave and the bell tower. General blessings took place in the church as follows: a chair was placed on an elevated place for Father. Father sat in it. On his right hand stood Mother, then the mother treasurer, the dean and other senior nuns, forming a kind of chain in order to restrain the pressure of the crowd and not allow them to crowd too close to Father. Everyone was asked to come up in turn and pass quickly and, having received the blessing, to leave, so as not to delay others and not tire Father. Everyone received a blessing in this way, and yet there was no crowding or crush. Having rested for a while after the general blessing, Father began to receive visiting visitors, sometimes in his room, sometimes he went out to church, sat on a bench near the candle box and talked with them here. The sisters stood at a distance and could not get enough of their dear guest. The expression on Father’s face, which changed every minute, depending on whether he had to listen to something joyful or sorrowful, whether he encouraged, or gave a strict commandment, whether he addressed children or adults, his movements, whether he caressed someone, or pinned someone with a stick - everything, everything in him was filled with such deep, perfect love that, looking at him, the hardest, rough heart involuntarily became softer, more merciful and kinder, and no matter how gloomy a person was, he immediately felt lighter, more joyful, and brighter in his soul. The sisters involuntarily remembered at these moments that old man who, when visiting another great old man, never asked him anything, but after sitting silently while others were talking with him, he left with them. When asked why he doesn’t say anything, he answered: “It’s enough for me to look at him.” At about 11 o'clock they gave Father a horse, and he went around the buildings and buildings, accompanied by Mother, who was especially traveling, who helped him get out of the carriage, protected him from the crowd, and with whom he often immediately dealt with the transfer of sisters, alterations, rebuilding, etc. - and accompanied by a crowd of sisters and lay people who ran after Father’s little cab. Some brought him a bench, some a rug, some a bag of socks. But then the carriage stops. Mother, who has arrived ahead, is waiting for Father already at the porch of the building where he must drive up. They take Father out of the carriage almost in his arms and lead him to his cells. As soon as Father enters the doors, they are immediately locked, and the housewives are left alone to talk with Father. Mother and everyone who managed to grab some of Father’s travel accessories, such as: a bag, galoshes, duckweed, glasses, mittens, a chair, are waiting for Father in the corridor or entryway; and the rest of the crowd was at the porch of the building, happy with the visit of a dear guest. But Father had already walked around all the cells and appeared at the door again. A great fuss begins: “Where is Father’s duckweed? Who has Father's galoshes? Glasses, give glasses to Father quickly!” Everyone is fussing and rejoicing that they see Father again. There is nothing to indicate about the housewives - their faces give themselves away. As soon as you notice a face beaming with delight, you ask directly: “Do you really live in the same building?” - “In this, in this! This is our happiness now! My dear father sat with us, prayed, said this and that.” - “What did you do with him?” Who will say: “I studied, and how good it was!” That’s how Father consoled me, my dear, and he also made me feel better, but now my soul feels better”; and who will answer: “No, where can Father deal with everyone now? Yes, now I have no time for studying - I don’t know what to talk about now with Father, I don’t even have any sorrows now.” Father returned home at about 2 o'clock, ate, rested, and after rest he again went around the buildings until the all-night vigil, or vespers. During his entire stay, Father visited all the buildings, did not miss a single cell, went to Lapekha, was in all the sheds and barns. On Tuesday they brought Father a stretcher to show him, prepared for the sisters to carry stones for the construction of the church. Father blessed them, and he himself tried to see if they were dexterous. The weather was great all the time. On Saturday it started to rain only in the evening, and rained intermittently until half of the next day; and then it cleared up again, and it became even better, since there was no longer that stuffiness and heat as in the first days of Father’s stay. Since Saturday they began to talk that Father was going to leave. But probably no one knew the day of Father’s departure, not even Mother; no one even tried to find out. Well, suddenly they’ll say “tomorrow.” It will be so sad that it is better not to know about it for a long time, and not to grieve ahead of time. However, the time came and the sad news spread: “Father is leaving today.” After mass, prayer service and general blessing, Father received many sisters and laymen; then they served him something to eat. The sisters all almost went to their cells with the thought that Father would probably now rest, and there they would again go to church to wait for him to come out, so that they could look at him at least once more; when suddenly someone comes running and says: “Hurry, quickly get ready for church, now there will be a farewell prayer service for Father.” Everyone has gathered, and it is impossible to recognize that these are the same faces that could still be seen so radiant the day before. Heads are down; who cries, who can barely hold back tears. The silence is deep. A prayer service began for the Queen of Heaven and for those traveling. At the end of it, Fr. John proclaimed many years to Father and waited for him to come out to venerate the cross; but only one came out. Joseph. It was probably difficult for Father to go out; this sad, farewell atmosphere would have too much influence on his sensitive nerves. The sisters waited for him to come out for the general blessing, but he did not come out. It was announced to everyone present that Father had gone to rest, and therefore if they wanted to wait in the church for his exit, they would try to sit as quietly as possible. About an hour passed; There was a fuss in the corridor and they came out to say that Father had woken up. About five minutes later Father appeared. Serious, concentrated, he quickly, quickly walked through the church straight to the icons and to the altar. From the church, through the southern porch, he went out to the grave, blessed it three times for the last time and returned to his room. Having changed his clothes there, he went out again and walked on foot to the building called “silent”, where, with his blessing, some kind of building was being built that interested him very much, and then to the church. Here he blessed everyone for the last time, since it was announced to everyone in advance that when saying goodbye, no one would approach Father and disturb him. From the church, Father again went to his room. The sisters were again arranged in two rows, from the church porch to St. gate, where, as at the meeting, Father Mother with the image of the Queen of Heaven and the singers were waiting. Silence fell again, as reverent as before, but with a tinge of sadness. Every now and then we could hear sobbing and blowing our noses from different ends. When Father finally appeared and the singers sang sadly: “It is worthy to eat,” almost everyone began to cry. Father walked quickly and blessed both sides. Where he passed, they bowed at his feet. When, having made three prostrations to the ground before the icon of the Queen of Heaven, and venerated it, Father took it in his arms and standing in St. gate, blessed the sisters and the monastery with it for the last time, as if entrusting them to the Divine protection of the Diligent Intercessor, all the sisters bowed to the ground together and wept bitterly. Meanwhile, Father, having allowed Mother to venerate the icon, again handed it into her arms, and quickly disappeared into the carriage. The door slammed and the carriage rolled away. For a long, long time, standing at the gate, the sisters looked after the retreating carriage, and could not move. Some kind of quiet sadness filled my soul, and it was a pity to part with it. How empty it suddenly became in Shamordin, and the sisters could not get used to this emptiness for a long time, until they again fell into their usual rut. Father left Shamordin on July 28, the day of the celebration of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The icon of the Smolensk Mother of God is received by the abbess as a blessing from the monastery, accepting it under their management. And on the day of the celebration, Father entrusted all the sisters to the All-Merciful and True Guide Hodegetria to this icon. Mother and one nun went to accompany Father to Optina. What was there! As soon as they learned that Father had returned, the entire monastic brethren poured into the monastery. There was such a revival throughout the forest that only happens on a bright holiday. The paths from the monastery to the monastery were covered with people, rushing from all sides to the hut to receive the blessing, or at least to look at the Father. Thank God, the road did not tire the Elder too much, so he was able to bless everyone. The next day, when Mother asked how he was feeling, he answered that his stay in Shamordin seemed like a dream.