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Saint Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople Originally Sicilian, from Syracuse; in his youth he took monastic vows on the island of Chios, and in 811, as a confidant, he was sent by Patriarch Nicephorus to the Pope of Rome with the rank of apocrisiary and lived for almost nine years. In 821, he returned with a letter from Pope Paschalis to the new emperor Michael the Tongue-Tie, but he accused Methodius of treason, ordered to be punished corporally, and his jaw was damaged, and to be imprisoned on the island of St. Andrew (near Nicomedia) into a cramped pit where the robber was already kept. Released after the death of Michael (in October 829), looking more like a dead man and not having a hair on his head, he lived in Constantinople as a private person (because there were iconoclasts in all the monasteries), visited some houses and converted some to the path of truth, because he was holy in life, deeply knew St. Scripture and works of the fathers. About two years later, Emperor Theophilus, at the direction of others, taking advantage of his help in understanding a certain book, assigned him a place among the palace officers, often called him for interviews on scientific subjects and took him with him during campaigns. After the death of Theophilus (January 20, 842), elevated by Empress Theodora to the patriarchal throne (February 12, 842), he convened a council in Constantinople, at which the veneration of holy icons was restored and the Triumph of Orthodoxy was to be celebrated annually in the first week of Lent. Died in 846. † Repose of the blessed prince Mstislav Blessed Prince Mstislav, baptized George, grandson of the blessed. Grand Duke Mstislav and the son of Blessed. Prince Rostislav, in 1166 he took part in the victory of the southern princes over the Polovtsians, then took part in the wars of Prince Andrei Yuryevich with Kiev and Novgorod 147. - His most brilliant feat of courage took place in 1173. Andrei Yuryevich, Grand Duke of Vladimir, announced to the Rostislavichs that they had no place in southern Russia - it was his property. Mstislav ordered the ambassador’s head and beard to be shaved and sent him to tell Andrei: “Until now we respected you as a father; but when you speak to us, as to servants and simple people, we go to the judgment of God.” – Andrew sent 50,000 northern troops; This formidable militia was unwillingly joined by the regiments of some southern princes. Mstislav had only his own squad and the squad of his brother David. “Brothers! let us strike with the help of the Lord and the Holy One. martyrs Boris and Gleb,” Mstislav said to his friends and rushed with them against the enemies. This first battle, which excluded many people from the enemy’s ranks, let the enemy know that it was not as easy to destroy Mstislav as Andrei believed. For nine weeks the northern troops stood around Vyshgorod, where Mstislav was imprisoned. Some of the allied princes feared the power of Andreev, others feared the treachery of Svyatoslav of Chernigov, and therefore secretly wished happiness to the Rostislavichs; and the brave Mstislav almost every day made brave forays against Andreev’s army. When the Lutsk prince Yaroslav arrived with the Volyn troops and united with Mstislav, fear fell on the besiegers. They rushed to run wherever they could. Mstislav looked from the side and couldn’t believe his eyes. Finally, raising his hands to the sky, he glorified the defenders of Vyshgorod, St. princes Boris and Gleb. Then, jumping on his horse, he and his squad rushed after the fugitives, drowning, chopping, and grabbing them. The enemy camp, convoys, and many prisoners became the prey of Mstislav. From that time on, there was no other name for Mstislav other than Brave 148. Mstislav was not proud of his happiness. – He reconciled with Prince Andrei and begged Kyiv for his brother Roman. – Roman, going to Kyiv, left his son in Smolensk. The people of Smolensk rebelled against the young prince and offered Smolensk to Mstislav. Mstislav accepted (1175) the offer. Meanwhile, Svyatoslav Chernigovsky expelled Roman from Kyiv. – Mstislav returned Smolensk to his brother. “Take care of him,” he told Roman; I took it only to save it for you.” He no longer wanted to get involved in the bloody quarrels of the princes and was content with little for himself. Vsevolod Vladimirsky ordered the eyes of Prince Mstislav and Yaropolk to be cut out and put the Ryazan prince Gleb, Mstislavov’s father-in-law, in prison. Mstislav asked Svyatoslav to intercede for the unfortunate captive, and left everything else to the will of God. The unfortunate blind men, expelled from the north, prayed fervently in Smyadyn in the church of St. Princes Boris and Gleb and suddenly saw the light. This was great joy for the pious hero. – The Novgorodians invited the healed princes to their place. But Mstislav soon died. The Novgorodians, fearing Vsevolod’s cruel lust for power, called Mstislav the Brave to them. “I will not leave my brothers and my fatherland,” answered the prince, who valued what God had given him. “Aren’t we your fatherland?” said the ambassadors. Mstislav (1179) agreed to the earnest request. In Novgorod he was received with delight. - Having vowed to protect the Novgorodians, he then went out against the predatory Estonians, who had previously besieged Pskov and did not stop plundering border places. Mstislav went through the devastation of their country to the sea, taking many prisoners and livestock. On the way back (1180) he punished Pskov for rebellion. He was preparing for new enterprises against Vsevolod. - But he suddenly fell ill, ordered himself to be carried to church, received Holy Communion and died on the same day. This was June 14, 1180. Novgorodians bitterly mourned the death of the rare prince. “It would be good for us,” they said, “to die with you. “You defended our freedom from the pagans, like your grandfather Mstislav.” And the chronicler adds: “he was of average height, handsome in face, and his soul was even better. He generously lavished alms and helped the monasteries. He was brave and courageous; he was eager to die for the Russian land. When he had to free captives from the pagans, he said: “brothers! if we die for Christians, we are cleansed of sins, God will count us among the martyrs; and if we don’t die now, we will die someday. He did not collect either gold or silver, but distributed it to his squad and to the churches for his soul." 149 The relics of the blessed prince rest in the chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and his memory is honored locally 150. The people asked him (John the Baptist): “What should we do?” He answered them: “Whoever has two clothes, give to the poor, and whoever has food, do the same.” - And the publicans said to him: “What should we do?” He answered them: do not take more than what is necessary. The soldiers also asked him: “What should we do?” And he said to them: do not offend anyone, do not slander and be content with your salary (Luke 3:10-14). The noble prince lived by these lessons and with his life he commands us to live the same way, to the glory of God. †Memories of the Venerable Methodius of Peshnosha The Monk Methodius, while still a young man, came to the desert to the Monk Sergius and spent several years under the guidance of this great mentor of monastic life. Zealous to live in silence, with the blessing of Sergius, he set off to look for a deserted place and, a mile from the current Peshnosh monastery, across the Yakhroma River, in an oak forest, on a small hill, he set up a cell for himself; the place is surrounded on all sides by swamps and forests; The place is completely silent! Here the hermit talked with the Lord alone, and cleansed his soul with strict fasting and tears. However, his life became known and, like a life-giving ray of the sun, began to gather zealots of the ascetic life; Several disciples came to him. The Monk Sergius, having visited his beloved disciple, gave him advice to build a monastery and church in another, drier and more extensive place and blessed the very place where the monastery now stands. The Monk Methodius, like an obedient son, fulfilled the will of his mentor. He himself worked on the construction of the church and cells, on foot, carrying trees across the river. That is why the name Peshnosha remained behind the monastery forever, and the river by which it stands was called Peshnosha. The monastery of Methodius, founded in 1361, was a place of hard work for everyone. Methodius was its abbot; but only in his deeds of labor, fasting and prayer was he the first among the brethren. He raised good monks by example of ascetic life. Strict with himself, he was merciful to others. According to the ancient stichera composed in his honor, every day many beggars sat at the gates of his monastery, and he fed them. At times the monk, as a lover of silence, moved 2 miles away from the monastery and here he labored in solitude in prayer. The Monk Sergius also came here to him for spiritual conversations. That is why this area was called “conversation”. Nowadays there is a chapel here, and there is a religious procession to it on June 24, just as the place of the initial solitary life of Methodius in the forest is maintained in memory by another reverent chapel. “The interlocutor and companion of the great Sergius,” as Methodius is called in the ancient troparion, moved into blessed eternity 8 months after the great father Sergius 151. – According to the handwritten calendar, “Reverend Methodius, abbot of the Peshnosh monastery, disciple of St. Sergius the Wonderworker, reposed in l. 6900 (1392) m. June at 14 days.” His relics rest hidden in the Church of Saints Sergius and Methodius, and until 1732 they rested in the chapel. At the saint's shrine stands his staff, and in the sacristy there is a wooden chalice with which he celebrated the holy liturgy 152. The holy prophet Elisha was the successor to the prophetic ministry of the holy, glorious prophet Elijah. When God, who appeared to Elijah on Mount Horeb, inspired him to anoint a prophet in his place, this decree from above fell on Elisha, the son of Shaphat, from Abel-Maholah. – And (Elijah) found Elisha the son of Shaphat while he was shouting; He had twelve pairs of oxen, and he himself was with the twelfth. Elijah, passing by him, threw his mantle at him. And (Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said: Let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you. He said to him: go and come back; for what have I done to you? “He (Elisha) departed from him, took a pair of oxen and killed them, and, having set the oxen’s plow on fire, roasted their meat and distributed it to the people, and they ate. And he himself got up and followed Elijah and began to serve him” (Third Book of Kings, 1 Kings 19:19-21). Seeing the zeal of his disciple, the holy prophet Elijah, approaching his death, said to him: “Ask me what you want before I am taken from you.” - “Let the Spirit that is in you be doubly upon me” ... answered Elijah Elisha, who most of all wanted the opportunity to carry out his ministry with miraculous power for greater success... - “You are asking a difficult thing,” said Elijah, but he fulfilled the request of his follower when he was “hidden in a whirlwind from his eyes”... Since then, Elisha zealously devoted himself to his prophetic ministry, confirming the faith of the people of Israel and testifying to the Spirit God, abiding in him, with numerous miracles. “And in his days he did not tremble before the prince, and no one prevailed over him. Nothing prevailed against him, and after his dormition his body prophesied. And during his life he performed miracles, and after his death his deeds were wondrous” ... (Book of the Wise One of Jesus, son of Sirach, Sir.48:13–15). The people saw in Elisha the messenger of God, were edified by his word and, although they did not come to complete repentance, they nevertheless deviated in part from serving the pagan gods, to which many Israelites were attracted by their wicked kings. Among the many instructive circumstances from the life of the prophet Elisha, it is remarkable how he once treated evil children... “And (Elisha) went to Bethel. As he walked along the road, little children came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him: Go, you bald man! go, baldhead! He looked around and saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the forest and tore to pieces forty-two children among them”... (2 Kings 2:23–24). A terrible punishment befell the unfortunate unreasonable children... It would seem that the insanity of childhood should have saved them from such punishment, which could only be subject to some terrible and conscious crime of an adult, committed in a state of full sanity and responsibility, and not the simple laughter and playfulness characteristic of children, the responsibility for which, moreover, falls more on their educators than on themselves... Meanwhile, the punishment was accomplished. Centuries have passed, but the memory of her has survived and never ceases to make me shudder at the thought of its seeming inconsistency with the children’s misdeeds... But if not even a hair falls from our heads without the will of God, then could the terrible death of 42 children have occurred without the participation of Divine Providence? And could the curse of the prophet have affected and been fulfilled over them if it had not been for the highest inspiration and will? And didn’t the prophet see in his spirit that, by bringing death on children with a curse, he was ridding the world of the villains that these children would later become, poorly, without instilling goodness, brought up by their parents, who were therefore subject to unconditional responsibility for the children’s misdeeds... And not just responsibility, but also punishment. And shouldn’t the death of children be looked at as a punishment that befell mainly parents as an eternal edification and reminder of how strictly the judgment of God condemns negligence in raising children... Such a clear manifestation of the wrath of God that broke out over guilty children and parents was not repeated; but, nevertheless, this fact, once accomplished, testifies forever to the inevitability of strict punishment, which must befall both those who neglected the sacred work of education, and the unfortunate victims of unscrupulous education, driven to crime sooner or later. And even if they are not given over to be torn to pieces by ferocious beasts, like those 42 children who were cursed by the prophet, then in one form or another, but no less terrible, the consequences of parental negligence in relation to the spiritual education of children will inevitably be reflected... Saint John, Metropolitan of the Euchaites John (nicknamed Mavron), having received a thorough education, was diligently devoted to scientific studies, extracting from them, however, mainly food for the soul, guidance for his salvation. In one of his poems he writes: “Lead me, O Word, along this path and save me!.. Let me be with books like a bee with flowers, Feed me with science like a grasshopper with dew. So that I should not seek anything other than salvation" ... Satisfying himself with activities to his liking, John at the same time wanted to share his knowledge with others and wanted to devote his life to the education of youth. In 1050 he was invited to be a teacher of literature in Constantinople. However, from his life it is clear that, having left his mentoring path, he chose the novice path - a monk. He was a student of Abba Dorotheos the Younger, an ascetic of Hilikom in Trebizond. Under Emperor Alexius Komnenos, in his old age, John was invested with the rank of metropolitan. Under this same emperor, the Lord glorified the worthy shepherd with a special revelation. When disputes arose between the admirers of Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom about which of them should be given the main honor, and these disputes reached the point of schism, the saints appeared to John and told him: “We are one with the Lord; at one time, each of us, taught by the Holy Spirit, wrote what was necessary for the salvation of others; between us there is no first, no second. And say this, so that those who argue about us will stop arguing; We wished for the same love for everyone on earth, and we wish for the same love in heaven. Unite us on one day and schedule a celebration, when and how you want, to show our like-mindedness.” – The will of the saints was fulfilled by the appointment of the celebration of their memory on the 30th day of January. The Euchaitic shepherd died around 1095. He left behind many words, messages, and canons, including the famous canon to the Sweetest Jesus and Guardian Angel 153. Venerable Elisha of Sumy, Solovetsky Ascetic From the life of Elisha, only one of his dying feats is known, in which both the piety of the elder and the highest help sent down to his dignity through the intercession of the Venerable were expressed. Zosima, at the same time with whom Elisha probably labored or not long after his death. The ascetic monk Elisha, feeling the approach of death, ardently wished to take the schema, but there was no priest in the place where he lived who could perform tonsure. Therefore, the elder monks decided to take Elisha to Suma (60 miles away), where the hieromonk was located at the monastery courtyard. The journey had to be made along the Vyga River, which was inconvenient for swimming due to the speed of the current and the many underwater rock rapids; The elders were often embarrassed by the dangers, but the sick man encouraged them, saying: “Do not be afraid, our father Zosima is here with us.” The monks safely went out to sea and reached the Virma River. Meanwhile, the patient became more and more exhausted and lamented the deprivation of his schema. Night has come; on Wyrm, the elders hired several oarsmen to help them speed up their swimming. When they were in the middle of the Sumy Bay, a strong storm arose, broke the mast, tore the sail, knocked the oars out of the hands of the rowers; Moreover, it was so dark that the swimmers could hardly distinguish each other. Everyone was confused, the rowers grumbled and reproached the monks, but the sick man was calm; he seemed to be contemplating a vision from another world... “Do not be afraid, do not grieve, brothers! - he said to his companions, barely breathing from exhaustion; “I see our father Zosima among us... he helps us”... Soon after that, the wind began to subside, the waves subsided, the swimmers, who did not know where they were, found themselves near the Sumy pier, which they no longer hoped to see, surrendering to the arbitrariness of the waves in the darkness of the night, without a sail and without oars... Arriving at the shore, the elders saw with horror that the sick man was lying without a sign of life, and their joy instantly turned into sadness... With bitterness with tears they cried out to the Monk Zosima: “Our father! hoping for your prayers, what kind of work we endured, what kind of trouble we endured at sea - and now, now all this is in vain... what we hoped to receive, we did not receive”... But after a while, the one who was considered dead discovered movement and, as if healthy, spoke meaningfully. Brought to the courtyard, Elisha was tonsured into the schema and received the Mysteries of Christ; then, having thanked God and said goodbye to everyone, he gave up his soul to God. His body was buried behind the altar of the Church of St. Nicholas on the south side. Years passed, and his name was forgotten by many. But more than a century later, Elisha’s tomb was discovered on the surface of the earth - and soon followed the appearance of the monk and healing from him to the sick. To verify the reality of everything that was happening, in 1668 the royal steward Alexander Sevastyanovich Khitrovo was sent to the Sumy prison, who, after research, erected a small chapel over the coffin of the saint. The second study took place in 1710 by order of Archbishop Raphael of Kholmogory, under Solovetsky Archimandrite Firs. Healings of those who come with faith are carried out to this day 154. Venerable Niphon (according to Greek month) Niphon, the son of a priest in the village of Lukovi, in the region of Argyrokastron, was raised by his uncle, the former ecclesiarch in the monastery of St. Nicholas, founded by Constantine Monomakh, in a place now called Mesopotam. Imbued with all his soul by the high content of Holy Scripture, young Niphon became alien to everything worldly and completely devoted himself to the thought of God and prayer. He had barely reached adulthood when he was already awarded the priesthood. Growing in spirit from strength to strength, Niphon felt an insurmountable need to concentrate mentally in complete silence and solitude, so he withdrew from the monastery to Mount Geromerien, where he began his hermitage under the guidance of one experienced, solitary elder from Mount Sinai who labored on this mountain, but even this solitude “did not satisfy the fiery soul that thirsted for the most perfect silence and desert feats.” Niphon spent three years on Mount Athos - in obedience to the silent hermit Theognostus, hiding his priesthood, until Theognostus found out about it and, out of humility, refused to be the leader of the novice-presbyter. Then Niphon spent 14 years in the neighboring monastery of the Great Basil (in the area of ​​​​the Lavra of St. Athanasius) in extreme silence, once a week only fortifying himself with a small amount of dry bread. With such a dispassionate life, the ascetic acquired the highest spiritual gifts, which, as it were, preceded for him the angelic state in earthly nature, and was awarded the gift of miracles. - He shrewdly announced his death to his novice Gabriel and at the same time miraculously healed him from a fatal illness with prayer. At that time there was a pestilence; Gabriel fell ill; his father grieved greatly for him. Saint Niphon, consoling him, said: “Don’t cry, brother, your son, for the sake of obedience to my unworthiness, now he will not die”... Then he prayed, and the sick man recovered. Niphon then said about himself: “Behold, our brother, with God’s help, has recovered, but I must die during Peter’s Fast” ... - And so it came true. On Saturday of the first week, getting up in the morning, Niphon prayed, then received Holy Communion and said to his disciples: “my beloved! behold, the time has come for me to go to God, whom I have loved with all my soul since childhood.” - Seeing the confusion of the disciples, he added: “You should not be embarrassed or cry, but rejoice, because in me you will have a prayer book for you before the Lord, if only you yourself fulfill the commandments of God” ... The next day, having ordered to dig a grave and prepare what was necessary for burial, the righteous man of God delved into his last prayer, then, asking everyone for forgiveness, blessed everyone and, crossing his arms on his chest, peacefully passed away into eternal life - June 14, 1330, in the 97th year of his life 155. What inheritance could he bequeath to people better than the memory of such a blessed death, crowning such a holy life, filled with striving for God?.. Venerable Julita (Julia of Tavenna) About her, see the life of Saint Eupraxia the Younger (July 25). Pogodin's chronicles in research. VI, 231. Collection l. II, 107–110. I, 155. 156. Pogodin research. VI, 252. Collection l. IV, 129–131. III, 18. IV, 15. 16. Pogodina research. IV, 107. 114. 116. IV, 232, 233. Mixed. about the monastery and church 410. M. 1852. Description. shrines of Novgorod, page 7. St. Petersburg. 1850. Description. Novg. Soph. sob., p. 102. 103. Oten calendar of 1719: “laid out in the cathedral church of St. Sophia in the chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the slate tomb; there is power on top of the earth, there is no service.” According to the description of 1634: “his relics are incorruptible, and his right hand is stretched out.” Read total ist. 1862, book. 4. RKP. Rev. service Methodius - in three lists, of which the oldest was written in 1699 by Kalaidovich Description of the monastery. St. Nicholas, on Peshnosh, pp. 6–9. 16. 25. 26. 29. M. 1837. In Kalajdovich, pp. 15–17. 98. He writes: “the memory of the saint is celebrated in the monastery and in the surrounding villages on June 14th,” p. 9. According to the source. Hier. V, 524. 550, rev. Methodius reposed on June 4, 1392, and his memory is celebrated on the same day as the memory of Methodius the Patriarch, June 14. About the works of St. John, see “Teaching.” about the Father Church" Phil. archbishop Black § 306. Extract from Solovetsky Patericon. Extract from the Athos Patericon, part I, pp. 304–311.