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Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria Cyril, an Egyptian by birth, nephew of the Patriarch of Alexandria Theophilos, was born in the second half of the 4th century, received a remarkable education, which he gleaned mainly, as he himself says, from the teachings of the writings of ancient teachers, and pagan writers were also well known to him. He lived for quite a long time with the monks in the Nitrian desert - under the leadership of the pious elder Serapion. Then he was summoned to Alexandria by his uncle, Patriarch Theophilus, and made a deacon by him; continued his spiritual education under the guidance of his uncle; was with him in 404 at the council that condemned Saint Chrysostom (and, unfortunately, for a long time remained prejudiced against this saint under the influence of Theophilus’s hostile attitude towards him 72. Even during the life of Theophilus, Cyril managed to gain general respect for the impeccable severity of his life and became famous as an eloquent preacher; therefore, after the death of Theophilus, in 412 he was elected to succeed his uncle on the patriarchal throne of Alexandria and soon turned out to be one of the most influential figures of his century, especially in the affairs of the East. At this time the Church suffered from various heresies; great trials lay ahead in the struggle against representatives of these various heresies, among which others enjoyed great strength, relying on sympathy for the much widespread false teachings. Kirill acted as a firm and unwavering fighter for Orthodoxy until the end of his life. His first act was to expel the Novatians 73 from Alexandria, but since they were significantly widespread in this city, this measure aroused numerous enemies against Cyril. Their number increased even more when he resorted to another drastic measure against the Jews, namely, for the confusion they caused in the city at night, among which they killed many Christians, Cyril condemned others to death, others to exile and confiscation of property. By this he turned against himself and the head of the city, Orestes, who was on the side of the Jews, and he openly began to act against the patriarch; He even filed a complaint against him to the emperor. Cyril tried for reconciliation, but did not have time to prevent unrest in the city, which was also facilitated by the fact that the monks of Nitria, believing that Cyril was not safe, came to his defense, publicly showered curses on the city commander, and one of them Ammonius even wounded Orestes in the head. For this he was put to death, having learned about this, Cyril sent to take Ammonius’ body and bury him with honor. This further intensified the unrest in the city. Unfortunately, Cyril was unable to restrain the excessive jealousy of his followers and thus incurred reproaches for pandering to the rebels, the enmity between whom escalated to the extreme and led to many disastrous consequences. Among other things, the maiden Hypatia, the daughter of the philosopher Theon, who was respected by everyone, virtuous, learned, and even taught philosophy herself, suffered at this time; she left the house to reconcile the warring parties, but was killed by an angry crowd... Her body was cut into pieces and burned 74. All these disturbances were finally stopped by strict measures, but then disturbances of a different kind arose, disturbances that threatened the peace and tranquility of the entire Church of Christ. Saint Cyril had to fight the heresy of Nestorius and the Nestorian heretics, among whom Nestorius spread his false teaching through written conversations sent to churches and monasteries. These conversations had such an impact among the Egyptian monks that Cyril considered it necessary to use all measures to protect his flock. In an admonishing letter to Nestorius and in letters to Emperor Theodosius the Younger, to his sister Pulcheria and to the other two sisters of the emperor, he convincingly refuted the opinions of Nestorius (that Jesus Christ was born not by God, but by man and became numbered in the Divinity only by the holiness of His life, and that therefore the Virgin Mary should not be called the Mother of God), and at the same time clearly set out the true Christian teaching about the incarnation of the Son of God. He also convinced Pope Celestine to take decisive measures against the dangerous heresy of Nestorius. To consider this new teaching, Celestine convened a council in Rome, which determined to depose the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius, if he did not renounce the false teaching. The council convened by Cyril in Alexandria agreed with the definitions of the Roman Council. Moreover, Cyril, on behalf of the council, sent Nestorius a statement of 12 anathematisms, that is, announcements of condemnation against twelve points of false teaching. Nestorius and his followers responded to this by accusing Cyril of heresy; the dispute became fiercer, and the heresy, meanwhile, spread more and more. Then Emperor Theodosius decided to convene a new (Third) Ecumenical Council in Ephesus. But even at the council (which opened sixteen days later than the appointed date - June 7, 431), the heretics prevailed and even managed to arouse the wrath of the emperor by breaking through Cyril... The fact is that the council opened its meetings without waiting for John, Patriarch of Antioch with the heretical bishops (who arrived only on June 28) and in the absence of Nestorius, who refused to appear at the council, citing the absence of the Syrian bishops (on whose support he was counting). At this council - chaired by St. Cyril - the condemnation of the heresy of Nestorius was pronounced; but his representative, Count Condidian, protested and reported to the emperor against the decisions of this council, which took place in the absence of many of the relevant persons, as a result of which the emperor stopped the actions of the council. Patriarch John, during the general open uprising of Nestorius's adherents against Cyril, refused the invitation to attend the general meeting and decided to form his own council of 43 bishops, at which Cyril's anathematisms were recognized as heretical; Cyril and Memnon of Ephesus were declared defrocked as violators of church and imperial decrees. Meanwhile, by July 10, papal ambassadors arrived; Nestorius was again condemned at the council defending Cyril, and Cyril and Memnon were released from the sentence after John of Antioch refused to give an explanation of their guilt, and condemnation was pronounced at the council of John itself. From the emperor, who had not received information about the affairs at the council for a long time, at first no decision was obtained; surrounded by the clever followers of Nestorius, he himself was at a loss. Finally, his plenipotentiary arrived with instructions to reconcile the warring parties, and to take Cyril and Memnon, as well as Nestorius, into custody. Kirill endured difficult trials with complete firmness and meekness. Didn’t they now seem to him like a cleansing atonement for his own errors and former – under the influence of his uncle Theophilus – wrong in relation to John Chrysostom... When, however, the people in Constantinople learned about the taking into custody of the saint, many became indignant - St. Dalmatus, having left his 44-year solitude, at the head of the monks and accompanied by the people, appeared before the palace of Theodosius and asked him to reconsider the matter. The king promised to call representatives from both sides, and a huge crowd rushed into the church with joyful exclamations, singing the psalm: “Praise God in His saints!” When Dalmatus read to the people the letter he had received from Cyril outlining the whole matter, numerous exclamations were heard: “Anathema to Nestorius!” When the confidants of both councils appeared, and Cyril then, through his confidants, presented his apologetics to the emperor, Theodosius, after listening to the ambassadors several times, recognized the innocence of Saints Cyril and Memnon. Thus, the truth finally triumphed, the emperor, understanding the matter exactly, demanded that John of Antioch reconcile with Cyril and decided that, according to the definition of the council, Nestorius should be condemned. After several more discussions between the bishops, two hundred of them finally reached an agreement with the decrees of the Council of Ephesus; Saint Cyril triumphantly returned to Alexandria, where he continued to rule the Church until his death - due to his health being upset by work and worries - in the year 444. After his death he left behind many wonderful works; the main ones: five books against Nestorius; explanations on the Pentateuch of Moses, on the prophecies of Isaiah, on the twelve minor prophets, on the Evangelists John and Luke, on the epistles; a book about worship in spirit and truth; doctrine of the Holy Trinity. (About them, see “Teaching about the Father Church” § 214, Phil. of the Archbishop of Chernigov). St. Muchch. Thekla, Martha, Mary, Mariamne and Ama But during the persecution launched against Christians by the Persian king Sapor II in the year 346, the rich priest Paul and five virgins were also captured; the first was captured especially in order to take advantage of his money. Counting on the unshakable firmness of Christians, proven by countless experiences, Paul was told that if he wanted the money taken from him to be returned to him, then he should worship the sun. The money-loving priest, however, turned out to be a monstrous exception among the confessors of the Christian faith... he renounced Christ for the sake of money. Then, dissatisfied with the fact that a significant amount of money was slipping out of his hands, the ruler decided the matter differently: he ordered the money to be given to Paul only when he cut off the heads of five Christian virgins with his own hands. They were: Thekla, Martha, Maria, Mariamne and Ama. When asked to bow to the sun, they declared: “Let the mad bow down to the sun, but we will not give the created honor the honor that belongs to the Creator” ... and for this they were condemned to death. Pavel approached them with a sword in his hands. - Unhappy! - they said to him, - you want to put the sheep of your flock to death, what kind of shepherd are you after that? Our blood will fall on your head. But the blinded and callous greedy man carried out the executioner’s work without the slightest embarrassment... However, he did not receive the money for which he sold his soul... A different reward lay ahead of him. The governor did not want to return the money, so he ordered Paul to be secretly strangled, and the presbyter, who had renounced Christ, died like Judas. 75. †Teacher Kirill Belozersky Rev. Kirill, in the world Kozma, was born in Moscow from noble parents 76 and received a decent upbringing as a child. Having been left an orphan at a young age, he, on behalf of his parents, lived with his relative, boyar Timofey Vasilyevich Velyaminov, a okolnichy at the court in. K. Dimitri Donskoy 77. For his quiet disposition and good life, the boyar loved Kozma and entrusted him with supervision of the servants of his house 78. But Kozma did not feel inclined towards social life; on the contrary, his soul was eager to serve the one and only Lord. He did not reveal his affection to his beneficent relative, because he was sure that Timothy would not agree with his desires. Kozma secretly prayed to the Lord. And so the blessed one came to the boyar’s house. Stefan, the famous founder of the Makhritsa monastery. Kozma opened his soul to him, and Rev. Stefan managed to bring the boyar to the point that he agreed with Kozma’s wishes. Stefan brought Cozma to the Simonov monastery to Archimandrite Theodore. He put him into monasticism with the name of Cyril, and entrusted him to the ascetic Mikhail, later Bishop of Smolensk. Under the guidance of the elder, the young monk with all zeal entered into the exploits of monasticism. At night, the elder read the psalter, and Cyril, on his orders, bowed; - but at the first strike of the bell, he went to Matins. He asked the mentor for permission to eat food in two or three days; but the experienced mentor did not give him permission to do this, but told him to share a meal with the brothers every day, but not to eat until he was full. Cyril followed the elder’s commandment, but ate so little food that he could barely walk. The abbot assigned him obedience in the bakery, and he diligently carried water, chopped wood, and distributed bread. - From time to time, the Monk Sergius of Radonezh came to the Simonov monastery and, first of all, visited Cyril in the bakery. The perspicacious old man saw who Cyril was and what he would become later, and lovingly talked with Cyril about the salvation of his soul. They transferred Cyril from the bread shop to the cookhouse, and he, looking at the blazing fire here, said to himself: Look, Cyril, don’t end up in the eternal flame.” He worked in the kitchen for nine years and acquired such tenderness here that he could not eat bread without tears. The brethren, seeing the ascetic life of Cyril, began to distinguish him with their respect. But he, fearing the dangerous charms of human glory, began to perform foolish acts from time to time. As punishment for violating decorum, the abbot prescribed him only bread and water for food for 40 days; Kirill happily fulfilled this assignment. However, no matter how Kirill closed himself off, the experienced understood him; against his will, he was ordained as a hieromonk. Carrying out the order of priestly service with love and reverence, in his free time from service he placed himself in the order of a novice and was engaged in work. When Theodore was elevated to the chair of archbishop, the brethren elected Cyril to be the archimandrite of the monastery. This was in 1390 79. Archimandrite Kirill did not change his lifestyle. The rich and noble began to visit him to hear his instructions. This confused his humble spirit, and he did not remain abbot of the monastery for long. No matter how much his brothers begged him, he shut himself up in his former cell. In his place, Sergius Azakov was elected archimandrite; since they did not stop coming to Cyril in the monastic cell for instructions, and this worried Sergius, Cyril moved to the old Simonovo - and here he began to asceticize. The noise of the nearby city bothered Kirill, and his soul strived for silence. He prayed to the Mother of God to show him a place useful for his salvation. Once, according to custom, he read an akathist to the Mother of God at night in front of Her icon and heard a voice: “Go to Belozero, there is a place for you.” At the same time, the light shone, and from the window Kirill saw an illuminated place in the far north. Having heard from his friend Ferapont what the country of Belozersk was like, he went to Belozero with the same icon of the Mother of God, accompanied by a friend. In the Belozerskaya side, then remote and sparsely populated, wanderers walked for a long time and climbed Mount Myauru. This is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Belozerskaya. Its sole is washed by the waves of Lake Siverskoye. Forests, meadows, and waters united here over a vast space and formed one of the most beautiful places in Russia. On the one hand, Sheksna flows in meanders across vast meadows, on the other, several blue lakes are scattered among dense forests. - Rev. Kirill saw here the place that in the vision was designated for his stay, and fell with a grateful soul before the Most Pure One. – Coming down from the mountain to a square surrounded by forest, he erected a cross, and near it the hermits dug a dugout. Friend Ferapont soon retired to another place. In an underground cell, Cyril labored alone for many years, only occasionally visited by the peasants Auxentius and Matthew, of whom the latter later became the sexton of his monastery. Once he looked around his forest side with them and, tormented by a strange dream, lay down to sleep under a pine tree; but he had barely closed his eyes when he heard a voice: “Run, Kirill”; he jumped up and jumped away from the place, as the huge pine tree under which he was lying collapsed. The cross made by Kirill from this pine tree is still intact. Kirill prayed after that the Lord would take away his heavy sleep, and from that time on he could remain without sleep for several days. Another time he was cutting down a forest, clearing a place for a vegetable garden, when the dry branches caught fire, and smoke driven by the wind surrounded him so that he did not know where to run. Timothy, who appeared in the form of his benefactor, took him by the hand and led him out of the fire. A peasant who lived not far from Cyril’s cell, worried by fears of self-interest, decided to burn Cyril’s cell. More than once he approached the cell to carry out his intention, but, struck by sudden horror, he left; Once he managed to light the fire, but the fire went out. Then, with tears of repentance, he confessed his sin to Kirill and, at his request, was tonsured a monk. Soon after that, the monks Zebedee and Dionysius, beloved by Cyril, came from the Simon monastery; Kirill was delighted with them. Then the monk Nathanael came from there, later the cellarer of the monastery. Then many began to come to Cyril and asked to be honored with monasticism. Kirill saw that his time of silence was over. – In 1397 he built a church in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God 80. When rumors spread in the area that Archimandrite Kirill, who had come from Moscow, was setting up a monastery in the desert; Then it occurred to boyar Theodore that the archimandrite must have brought a lot of money with him, and he sent his servants to rob Cyril. But for two nights in a row they approached the monastery and saw military men around the monastery. Theodore thought that one of the Moscow nobles must have come to Cyril and sent to find out who came? They answered that it had been more than a week since any outsiders had been in the monastery. Then Theodore came to his senses and, arriving at the monastery, with tears confessed his sin to Kirill. The monk told him: “rest assured, my son Theodore, that I have nothing except the clothes that you see on me and a few books.” From that time on, the boyar began to reverently respect Kirill and every time he came to him, he brought fish or something else. After this, the silent Ignatius, a man of high virtue, came to him; During the 30 years of his life in the Kirillova monastery, he was, after Kirill, the first example of asceticism. He never lay down to sleep and fell asleep standing up, leaning against the wall; his selflessness was amazing. When the number of brethren in the monastery of Kirillova increased, the monk gave her the rules of the hostel and sanctified it by the example of his life. “No one dared to talk in the church, and no one was supposed to leave it before the end of the service; to St. The gospel was approached by seniority. Everyone also sat down at their own place for the meal, and there was silence during the meal; – only three dishes were offered for food. The monk very strictly commanded that neither in his presence nor after him, intoxicating drinks should not only be drunk, but also not kept in the monastery. From the meal, each one walked silently to his cell, without visiting the other. No one dared to receive letters or gifts except the monk - unopened letters were brought to him; They didn’t write letters without his blessing. The money was kept in the monastery treasury, and no one had any property. They even went to drink water during meals; in the cell they kept nothing except icons and books - and it was never locked. The monks tried, one before the other, to appear as early as possible for the service of God and for monastic work, laboring not for people, but for the Lord. When there was a shortage of bread, and the brethren forced the abbot to send for bread to the Christ-lovers, the monk answered: “God and the Most Pure Mother of God will not forget us, otherwise why should we live on earth?” And he did not allow the laity to bother him with requests for alms. The disciple Anthony was sent once a year to purchase what was needed for the monastery: otherwise no one would go from the monastery into the world. In the last years of the venerable boyar Roman, who sent 50 measures of rye every year, decided to provide the monastery with a village and sent a deed of gift to it. But the monk, having received the letter, reasoned this way: if we begin to have villages, this will result in concerns for the brothers about the land; settlers and soldiers will appear, the monastic silence will be broken. Therefore, the following answer was sent to the benefactor: “It pleases you, man of God, to give a village to the house of the Mother of God to feed the brethren: but instead of 50 measures of rye that you gave every year, give us a hundred, if you can, - we will be satisfied with that; but own the villages yourself - they are not useful for the brethren.” The monk was so imbued with love for the Lord that during the service of the liturgy and during church readings he could not restrain himself from reverent tears; - they especially poured out during his cell rule. The Lord rewarded His saint with the gift of clairvoyance. Here is one example of many. A certain Theodore, having entered the monastery out of respect for the monk, then began to hate him to the point that he did not want to look at him and tried to leave the monastery. The silent Ignatius held him back, but the hatred did not fade away. He went to the monk’s cell and, looking at his gray hair, could not utter a word out of shame. The monk said to him: “Do not grieve, my brother; everyone is mistaken about me, you alone know the truth and all my unworthiness; I am truly an indecent sinner.” Dismissing him in peace, he added that he would no longer be embarrassed, and Theodore remained peacefully in the monastery. The monk combined the gift of healing with the gift of clairvoyance. From a neighboring village, a peasant asked the reverend. Kirill to pray for a sick comrade who was bleeding from his mouth and nostrils. The monk answered: “Believe me, child, this illness is not accidental, he was punished for adultery; If he corrects himself, I believe in the Lord, he will be healthy, otherwise he will suffer even more.” Hearing about this, the patient was horrified and made a firm intention to improve; Having confessed his sin to the monk, he was healed in body and soul. Many other sick people received healing through the prayer of the monk. One patient asked the monk only to be honored with monasticism before his death. The monk tonsured him; A few days later, the new monk Dalmat felt the proximity of death and asked to commune him with St. Tain. The priest slowed down somewhat, and the patient died before the saints were brought. Gifts. The embarrassed hieromonk hastened to tell the monk about this, and the distressed Cyril locked himself in his cell to pray. - A little later, the novice who served Dalmat informed the blessed one that Dalmat was alive and was asking St. Tain. Kirill ordered to call the hieromonk; he saw that Dalmatian had died, but, fulfilling the will of the Abba, he went with St. Gifts and found Dalmat sitting on the bed. Having communed with St. Tain, Dalmat said goodbye to everyone and died. At one time there was not enough wine for the liturgy, and the sexton told the monk about this. He ordered the vessels to be brought to him, and the empty vessel turned out to be full of wine. There was a famine in the area. The monk ordered to distribute bread from the monastery to all those in need. The supplies that were in the monastery were obtained through the labors of the brethren and partly delivered by the charity of outsiders; Usually there was barely enough for the brethren to last a year. And during the famine, despite the fact that no one was refused help, there was no shortage in the monastery, so that the bread sellers themselves finally said: “Cyril, who multiplied the wine for the liturgy, also multiplied the bread in the monastery.” “During the famine, by distributing bread to the poor, you satisfied your hunger, venerable one; feed me too, who is melting from hunger with good deeds, so that I, too, will sing to the Lord with everyone forever.”81 The saint's disciples caught fish on the lake at his will. A terrible storm arose, waves ran over the boat, and death was ready to engulf everyone. The one standing on the shore ran to tell the monk about the danger. He, taking the cross in his hands, hastily came to the shore and overshadowed St. cross the lake, calmed the waves 82. – The news about the wonderworker Kirill reached Prince Mikhail of Belev and his wife Maria. They mourned the loss of children for seven years and sent two boyars with a letter to ask for the prayers of St. Cyril about the resolution of their infertility. The perspicacious Cyril, without yet reading the letter, said to the messengers: “since you, my children, have made a long and difficult journey: then I believe in my Lord, He will give your prince childbearing.” That same night, the prince and princess saw the same thing in a dream: an old man, adorned with gray hair, with three vessels in his hand, said: “Take from me what you asked.” Three days later, the Monk Cyril ordered the cellarer to release the messengers and give them one and a half loaves of bread for the journey, although there were up to 8 people with them. Amazed by the meager alms, they asked for more bread and fish; but the monk, releasing them, said that what was given would be enough. And indeed there was not only enough bread for the road, but they also brought it for the prince’s blessing. The princess herself told the silent Ignatius about this. The brother of the monk's beloved Christopher, who was later rector of the monastery, became very ill. Confused Christopher came to the monk and spoke about his brother. “Believe me, my son Christopher,” answered the monk, not one of you will die before me; after my departure many will follow me.” Then the Black Death raged. But during the life of the monk, none of the brethren suffered from it, and Sosipater also recovered. Close to his death, the monk called all the brethren to him, appointed his disciple Innocent as abbot and strictly commanded him not to violate the rules. In his spiritual will, he wrote: “Here I am, the sinful abbot Kirill, I see that old age has befallen me, I am often exposed to various illnesses: God humanely punishes me with an increase in illnesses: they announce to me the death and the terrible judgment of the Savior. “My heart was confused because of the outcome, the fear of death attacked me and the darkness of bewilderment covered me - I don’t know what to do?” But according to the word of the prophet, I cast my sorrow on the Lord: let him do as he wants; He wants everyone to be saved.” - Having then entrusted the monastery to the patronage of Prince Andrei of Belozersk, he adds: “if anyone does not want to live according to my tradition and does not listen to the abbot: order, sir, to expel them from the monastery 83.” – From long periods of standing and old age, the saint’s legs had recently weakened, and in his last days he performed the cell rule while sitting. On the day of the Holy Trinity he performed his last service. His last word was to the weeping brethren: “Do not mourn my departure; If I receive boldness and my work is pleasing to the Lord, then not only will my monastery not become scarce, but it will spread even more after my departure; just have love for each other.” He died blissfully in the 90th year of his life, on June 9, 1427 84. After the death of the monk, his dying prophecy about the brethren was fulfilled. Less than one year after his death, more than 30 of the 62 brethren moved from this life. Under Abbot Innocent, who was abbot for only five months, the monk appeared to his disciple Martinian with consolation for his disciple Theodosius. - Even during his lifetime, Theodosius, having recounted the desire of one boyar to give a village to a monastery, heard the answer from the monk: “during my life I do not demand villages, but after my death, do as you want.” Theodosius thought that this was said by a distressed old man, and was offended by this; Afterwards he began to grieve that he had incurred the saint’s displeasure. The monk who appeared said to Martinian: “tell brother Theodosius not to grieve or bother me anymore, I have nothing against him.” Around 1440, Prince Mikhail Andreevich Mozhaisky, to whom the Belozersk country also belonged, decided to visit the monastery of St. Kirill. His wife suffered with her legs. They were still far from the monastery, when one elder imagined at night, as if in reality, that he was standing at the tomb of Blessed Cyril, and suddenly the tomb opened by itself, and the monk came out of it as if alive and, sitting down, said: “Son, no small guests are coming to us, and in great sorrow; We need to pray for them, may God deliver them from sorrow: they are our feeders.” Then the blessed one lay down, and the coffin closed by itself. The elder told the brethren about this; Five days later, the pious prince and princess came to the monastery to pray, and the princess received healing. In 1448, the “venerable elders Sergius and Cyril” were already honored as prayer books before God, together with “St. Peter Metropolitan and St. Leonty, Bishop of Rostov" 85. The monuments left after the Rev. are instructive. Kirill. Until now, two wooden crosses, built by the hands of the monk, are intact, one four-pointed, the other eight-pointed; - from both, healings are obtained - evidence of the unreasonableness of those who condemn the four-pointed cross. The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God with which the monk came to Belozero is intact. The icon depicting St. Cyril, painted in 1424 by the Rev. Dionysius of Glushitsky, i.e. during the life of the venerable: St. Cyril is depicted full-length, in old age, with his head open, with a thoughtful face, with his hands folded on his chest, wearing a robe and lectern. The monastery's phelonion and robes of white garus 86 are preserved in the monastery. In the parchment Gospel, St. Kirill’s crosses are drawn in two-part and three-part; in the psalter and canon his crosses are two-part. - In his Four Gospels, the name of the Savior is written abbreviated, like the word Lord, but here it reads: “Jesus is a terrible thing.” The Monk Kirill loved spiritual enlightenment and instilled this love in his monastery. According to the inventory of 1635 We see in his monastery up to 16 books of the “miracle worker Kirill” and from the same inventory we see that no monastery was then as rich in handwritten books as the monastery of Kirill. According to the 17th century inventory, it contained up to 2092 manuscripts 87 . – Among the manuscripts written by the monk himself, one is remarkable with explanations of various natural phenomena taken from the ancient naturalist Galen. There are articles about the seas, about clouds, thunder, lightning and falling stars. The blessed one used this information to dispel popular prejudices about natural phenomena and show the true meaning of these phenomena. – Here I added my own comments to Galen’s explanations. Eg. It is said about falling stars: “about falling stars, some say that they are falling stars, and others that they are evil ordeals. But these are not stars or ordeals, but a separation of heavenly fire; As far as they descend, they melt and merge again in the air. That’s why no one has seen them on earth, but they always merge and scatter in the air; stars never fall, only at the coming of Christ. Then the heavens will darken and the stars will fall; likewise, the spirits of ordeals will then go into eternal fire” 88. The three epistles of the saint, distinguished by their simplicity of presentation, are deeply convincing in their sincerity of piety. In a letter to Grand Duke Vasily St. Abba writes: “The more saints approach God with love, the more they see themselves as sinners. You, sir, gain yourself great spiritual benefit by your humility, by the fact that you send to me, a sinner, poor, passionate and unworthy, asking for prayers... I, a sinner, with my brethren, am glad, as much as I have the strength, to pray to God for you, our sovereign. But for God’s sake, be attentive to yourself and to the entire reign in which the Holy Spirit has placed you to shepherd people redeemed by the blood of Christ. The more power you are awarded, the more severe the answer you are subject to. Repay your debt to the Benefactor by keeping His holy commandments and deviating from the paths leading to destruction. Just like on a ship, if a hired oarsman makes a mistake, the damage caused is not significant; if the helmsman makes a mistake, then the whole ship is destroyed: this, sir, happens with princes. If a boyar sins, he inflicts a dirty trick on himself, and not on everyone; but if the prince himself sins, he causes harm to all those subordinate to him. Do not be puffed up by temporary glory due to the vacillation of vanity... I heard that you, Grand Duke, have a great disagreement with your relatives, the princes of Suzdal; you expose your truth, and they – theirs; the blood of Christians is shed. Look around, sir. If they are right about something, yield to them humbly; If the truth is on your side, stand for the truth. - If they bow to you: for God’s sake, sir, show them mercy as much as possible. I heard that they are at your service and that’s why they started fighting. For God's sake, sir, show them love and compassion, so that they do not die wandering in the Tatar countries. - No power, neither royal nor princely, can deliver us from the impersonal judgment of God; and if you love your neighbor as yourself, if you console sorrowful and distressed souls: this will help you a lot, sir, at the terrible and righteous judgment of Christ. The Apostle Paul, a disciple of Christ, writes: “if an imam removes faith from the mountains, and if an imam gives away all his property, love is not an imam, it benefits nothing”... Love your brethren and all Christians, and your faith in God and alms to the poor will be pleasing to the Lord 89. In a letter to Prince Andrei Dmitrievich Mozhaisky, recalling with delight the miraculous deliverance of Russia from Takhtamysh, he writes what dispositions one should have after such a benefit. You are the ruler, writes the monk, in your homeland, appointed by God to keep people from dashing customs; See to it, sir, that the court is judged righteously, as before God, without distortion; so that there are no forgeries and slander; judges would not take gifts, but be content with their appointed donation... See, sir, that there are no taverns in your area - they cause great harm to people, - peasants get drunk, and their souls perish... Also, let there be no customs duties for you - this is unrighteous money; where there is transportation, sir, you should give for labor. Let there be no robbery or theft in your patrimony. “If they don’t stop their evil deeds, they will punish whoever is worth what.” Stop your subordinates from using bad words and cursing - all this angers God. If you do not try to manage all this, it will be exacted on you, because you are the ruler over all people, appointed by God. Don’t be lazy in giving the peasants control: this will be considered higher than fasting and prayer. Avoid drinking. Give alms according to your strength. You cannot fast and pray - you are lazy. Let alms fill your shortcomings. Order prayers to be sung in churches for the Savior and the Mother of God, the intercessor of Christians, and do not be lazy about going to church. In church, stand with fear and trembling, imagining that you are standing as if in heaven. – The Church is the earthly heaven, in it the sacraments of Christ are performed. Take care of yourself, sir, while standing in church, do not engage in conversations and do not speak idle words; if you see one of the boyars or ordinary people talking in church, forbid them to do so, for all this angers God” 90. The monk consoled Prince Yuri Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod in his grief over his ill wife. And together he wrote: “You, Sovereign Prince Yuri, wrote that you have long wanted to see me. For God's sake, sir, don't do that. I know that because of my sins, temptation will come out of it if you come to me. I inform you in advance that you cannot see us: I will leave the monastery and go wherever God directs. You think that I am a kind, holy person here. No, truly I am more sinful and unhappy than everyone else and full of shame. Don’t be surprised by this, Prince Yuri: I hear that you yourself read and know the Holy Scriptures and understand what harm comes from human praise, especially for us weak ones. Your fatherland is not here. If you go here, all the people will say: “I went for Kirill” 91. “Destroy, Christ, the passionate movements of my soul, drive away laziness, teach me to walk the right path, through the prayers of Your saint Cyril, so that I magnify You, the Giver of blessings” 92. Repose of Rev. Alexander Kushtsky An unknown young wanderer 93 appears on the deserted island of Lake Kubenskoye, in the Spasokamennaya monastery. He timidly approaches the monks standing in front of the gates of the monastery and humbly bows. “God bless you, child; what do you need? said the monks. The young man replied that he wanted to see the abbot. Okay, the good old men said. – The abbot was the Athonite tonsure Dionysius, who introduced the strict Athonite Rule into the Stone Monastery and, by his example of life, attracted many to the secluded monastery 94 . The brothers brought the wanderer to Dionysius. Having fallen at the feet of the abbot, the young wanderer with tears asked to be clothed in a monastic image. "Child! The abbot told him, do you understand that this place is very sorrowful and requires heroic deeds? You’re young and you can’t bear everything.” The wanderer answered: “God wants everyone to be saved. He brought me here, and I am ready to do whatever you command, just don’t reject me.” The abbot ordered him to serve the brethren. This young wanderer was from Vologda and was called Alexy. Soon after his arrival at the monastery, the abbot dressed him in monastic attire with the name of Alexander. The new monk devoted himself to God, fulfilled all obediences, observed strict fasting, continued unabated in prayer and drove away drowsy laziness with handicrafts. The brethren marveled at the monk's exploits. The blessed one grew in spiritual life, and the respect of the brethren for his spiritual life was finally so great that they looked at him as an angel of God. Weighed down by fame in the monastery, which was visited by many, and striving with his soul for exploits invisible to people, blessed. Alexander was thinking about how to find a desert according to his heart. Secretly leaving the monastery, he went to look for a silent place and, having gone around many deserted places, came to the river. Xianzhem, where there was a dense forest and a lake. Here he set up a cell for himself and spent his life in prayer and in extreme deprivation of what he needed. Little by little people began to come to him and were amazed at the life of the hermit. The lover of silence and humility withdrew from here. He came to the shore of Lake Kubenskoye, at the mouth of the Kutta River. Here he met Rev. Euthymius, whom I had heard of before, and spent some time with him in spiritual conversations. Then he asked Euthymius to give him his cell, offering in exchange the one he had left on Syange. Euthymy agreed and at parting left him his cross for blessing. I really liked the quiet desert. Alexandru. Coming closer to the lake, he immersed the cross and said a prayer in front of it, so that the Lord would bless to gather here the zealots of the way of the cross. Having built himself a cell, he alone dug the earth with a shovel and sowed rye for his food. After some time, an old man came to his solitude; He spent five years with him, exhausting his flesh with feats of fasting and labor and purifying his soul with prayer. When another third brother came: “brothers,” said the monk, I wish, if the Lord pleases, to build a church in this deserted place in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God.” “The will of the Lord be done,” they answered, rejoicing at the elder’s desire. The monk went to Rostov to his former abbot, and from 1418 to Archbishop Dionysius - and he lovingly blessed him to build a desert monastery with a church. “Bishop Dionysius,” says the pious Paisius Yaroslavov, having taught him spiritually and spoken with him in soulful words, bless him and say: “O St. Dus, to my beloved son and colleague of our humility, Alexander, peace and blessing, and will give him everything he needs for the dispensation of the desert” 95. Zaozersky Prince Dmitry Vasilyevich was very glad that new prayer books were appearing in his fatherland. The prince's place of residence was a town, now a village, Kubenskoye Ustye, 3 versts from the monastery of St. Alexandra 96. Especially the wife of Prince Dimitri, Princess Maria, often sent vital supplies for the monastery. After some time, Prince. Dimitri went to war, and the Tatars attacked his homeland, devastated the villages at the mouth of the river. The Kubens and five Tatars galloped into the Alexander hermitage. The monk calmly met them, overshadowed them with the cross, and the enemies of the cross of Christ fell as if they were dead. They lay unconscious for several hours until the monk awakened them from death in the name of the life-giving Trinity 97. After the death of the prince. The princess donated the village for his commemoration in favor of the monastery of Alexander. One day she accidentally came to the monastery and entered the church, where blessed Alexander was reading the psalter in desert simplicity, with his bare chest tormented by insects. The monk was upset by such a visit to her and said: “You should not, princess, oversee our misery.” The princess humbly asked for forgiveness. The monk forgave, but said as an instruction: “Feed your poverty in the house.” Returning, she soon fell ill and sent to ask for prayers. The monk sent to say: “let him prepare for that life.” She died 20 days later. Once a villager wanted to take advantage of someone else's property. Wheat was collected at the monastery threshing floor, the fruit of the labors of the monk and the brethren, and the workers went to rest. The villager poured a bag of wheat, but could not lift it. The monk found him at this work and said: “It’s in vain that you, my son, are lifting beyond your strength.” The convicted thief threw himself at the feet of the blessed one, but he ordered him to add more wheat and, having given instructions ahead not to take someone else’s, ordered him to take the bag and go with God. The forgiven villager easily picked up the blessed burden and walked off, blessing the generous old man. Anticipating the approach of his death, the monk said to those who were with him: “I am weakening, but you endure in this place, maintain humility and mutual love.” On Sunday, he celebrated the Liturgy and received Holy Communion. Then, with tears on his knees, he prayed for himself and for his monastery, and in the year 68 he peacefully surrendered his spirit to the Lord, June 9, 1439. The monk “was of average height, with a very dry body, a moderately sized head, a round face, a full and round beard reaching to his chest, brown hair mixed with gray, and gentle eyes.” The saint's holy body was laid, according to his will, at the noon side of the altar. A year after his death, his rowan tree grew over his coffin. Once, on the Feast of the Dormition, a youth from the village broke off a branch from this tree, and his hand suddenly ached; The parents brought their son to the saint’s grave, and the sick man was healed. Since then, people began to take berries from the tree for healing. Those especially possessed by unclean spirits were soon healed at the saint’s tomb. The students, in fulfillment of the will of the teacher, built a warm church in the name of the saints. Nicholas and consecrated it on the day of remembrance of the blessed one. teachers. Many sick people who were brought to this church saw the monk together with the saint. Nicholas in prayer or censing the church; the sick received healing at his grave. “After his death,” says the pious Paisius, “many healings take place at his tomb” 98. That is why at the beginning of the 16th century they called Alexander the Great Wonderworker of Kusht 99, although the service to him was compiled after that 100. The hermitage of St. Alexander is now considered to be assigned to the Spaso-Kamensky Monastery 101. Since not out of malice, but out of bewilderment and ignorance, the great Cyril, generally imbued with the spirit of the Gospel teaching, treated the deceased John Chrysostom unfairly, the Lord did not leave His faithful servant without admonishment. One day, in a significant dream, Kirill saw himself in a beautiful and majestic church, where the Mother of God was, surrounded by many angels and saints. Among the saints, he saw John Chrysostom, standing near the Mother of God with a book of teachings and shining with a wonderful light. – When Cyril wished to get closer to the Mother of God, St. Chrysostom and the others present pushed him away and expelled him from the church. But the Mother of God Herself prevented the expulsion of Cyril from the church and, through Her mediation, arranged the reconciliation of the saints... After this vision, having another opportunity to hear from St. Isidore Pelusiot clarified and denounced his unfair opinion of the wondrous saint of God, Cyril recognized his sin against the ecumenical saint and, immediately convening a council of bishops, organized a spiritual festival in honor of Chrysostom and until the end of his life he did not cease to please him. A sect that arose back in the 3rd century, over time it acquired similarities with the teachings of the Pharisees, since, like them, proud of the severity of their decrees and their own superiority, the Novatians were contemptuous of others, wore white clothes, unlike them, and most importantly, did not recognize the saving significance of repentance and the fact that the Church had the right to again accept those who had once departed from the faith. Socrates, talking about incidents relating to this time, adds: “the prudent Christians did not approve of Cyril’s concern for Ammonius, whom Orestes put to death, for they knew that he was executed for recklessness.” As for Hypatia, a strict life and lover of philosophy, Cyril and Orestes were equally involved in her death (for the sake of whose reconciliation she was killed) and, as noted in “Uch. about the Father Church" § 212 archbishop. Phil. Chernpg., “the pagan accusing Cyril for Hypatia is a bad judge in this matter”... The story of this St. Marufa in “Christ. Thu." 1827, part 27, 88–95. The life of the monk is described in the prologue, before his removal to Beloozero, quite fully, but then very briefly; His entire life is described at length by his priest. Pachomius Logothetes, by the will of V. book Vasily, according to the disciples of the monk. This is a description in the Menaion of Makaria, in the Synod. RKP. XV century No. 656, RKP. XVI century No. 90. Extract from the prologue and menaion of Makarieva in part of the menaion of St. Dimitri. Timofey Vasilievich Velyaminov Okolnichy was the first witness of the will. book Demetrius in 1376. He was also placed second among the boyars as witnesses to the second will of 1381 (Karamz. 5, pr. 116). In 1380, Timofey Vasilyevich, the governor of the Vladimir militia, was left at Lopastnya to assemble foot troops. Solovyova ist. 3, 213. 388. 4, 357. Otherwise, such a person was called a “court,” and the people who were in his department were called “court servants.” Solovyova ist. 4, 203. Letop. at Karamz. 5, pr. 232. Canon canticle 8 in the Menaion for June. M. 1646 The calming of the disturbances of the lake is also spoken of in the church. service. Menaion for June. M. 1646. Kingdoms years. I, 161. Collection. l. V, 263. VIII. 94. Collection gram. I, 148. In the district charter of the same 1448, Blessed. Jonah, Met. Moscow, calls for “the prayers of St. Kirill." East. ak. I, 87. Service to St. Kirill at Tsarskoye No. 563. Antiquities of the Kirillov Monastery, pp. 41. 42. 9. In reading. total ist. 1859, book. 3. East. Hier. 4, 397–398. – According to the Cyril Chronicle (temporary general history, book 6, mixture 50), the Assumption Church of St. Cyril was built in 1496 by master Prokhor of Rostov; and in 1521, “the miraculous image of the Most Pure Mother of God, Her venerable Dormition” was painted, written by “a pious, God-fearing husband, Alexei Pskovitin, nicknamed Maly.” In antiquity, Kirillov Monastery. based on the inventory of 1621, the image is called “letters from Rublev” (p. 11. 12. 87) Inventory of books of sedate monasteries 1635 M. 1848 – Review of manuscripts of St. Cyril – very read. total ist. 1860, pp. 3. 4. 8. 9. 13. 20. See Shevyreva: trip to Belozer. mon. 2, 23–25. Review of manuscripts. Kirill Ave. – in reading. total ist. 1860, p. 30. I. a. 1, No. 28. His deed of sale to the legal entity. A. No. 72. Canon dog. 9; in the Menaion for June, M. 1646 RKP. life of the Rev. Alexandra in the RCP. XVI century at Tsarskoye No. 124. 134. Paisievo tale. about Kamensk. monastery in Orthodox Interview 1861 I, 260. Dionysius is consecrated archbishop. Height. July 12, 1418 and died October 18. 1426 Collected. l. VI, 141. VIII, 94. East. Hier. 3, 89. Encyclop. Starchevsky's lexicon 4, 363. Prologue “The princes of Yaroslavl, Demetrius and Simeon, saw this saint and rejoiced with great joy.” - Book Semyon Vasilievich, great-grandson of St. book Theodore of Yaroslavl, in 1420 was no longer alive. Of the three sons of Prince. Dmitry Vasilyevich only one book. Semyon Kubensky had children. - Pedigree. .book in the timebook X, 54. 57. 58. 149. 234. Sl. Vologda. lips led 1843 No. 37, 1844 No. 26, 1846 No. 13, 14. According to the summer. (collection l. 5. 263. 6, 143), the Tatars unexpectedly attacked Galich and Kostroma in 1429. Probably at the same time there was an attack on the shores of Lake Kubenskoye. Tale about Kamensk. monastery in Rights Social security 1861 I, 206. Trekhletov has a triodion, with a note: “in l. 7056 (1548) - this book was written on Kamennoye by the many-sinful and unworthy monk Gelasia, a Kamenskaya tonsure worker, in the house of the Most Pure One, and to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the Venerable Wonderworker Alexander on Kushta... For God’s sake, correct yourself, and do not rivet” (Yaroslavl. Provincial Gazette. 1855, No. 32). Service at Tsarskoye No. 125. 563. The service was probably compiled in 1575, when the life of St. Alexander was supplemented with a description of his miracles. Tsarsky No. 124. 134. 728 has a life and 20 miracles, the last of which dates back to 1575. Swedish about mon., p. 72. In 1662 “Beyond the Alexander Hermitage there are 5 courtyards.”