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Rev. Simeon the Stylite, Divnogorets There are various paths along which people can achieve the salvation of their souls, although on every path to achieve this goal the same thing is required: sincere love for God, a sincere desire to serve Him - no matter in what form it manifests itself. And that God does not reject any path chosen by man to express his zeal to serve Him according to his utmost understanding is evident from the fact that God miraculously and repeatedly glorified people who labored even on a strange, generally incomprehensible path... One of these saints glorified by God was St., remembered today. Simeon the Divnogorets, who labored on a pillar on the Divnaya Mountain, so named because here the Lord “surprised His mercy in Simeon”... Delving into the idea of the feat of standing on a pillar, we can pay attention in particular to two circumstances: firstly, such feats occurred, on the one hand, in times of living, fiery faith, not stopping at any limits, inventing all kinds of forms for the outpouring of its excess, - on the other hand, in times of extreme unenlightenment of minds, when most people were not able to be edified by internal spiritual feats, while contemplation of an external feat of extraordinary, supernatural patience, abstinence and even self-flagellation acted on them as a clear example of self-sacrifice, a clear example of strength shown for the sake of God and only with help from above... And by the providence of God such manifestations were allowed. Secondly, it can be noted that in a more enlightened time that had come for humanity, such external feats lost not only a large share of their meaning, but, perhaps, the very power to perform them was lost in individual individuals, and in general, with the development of people, the former essence of goodness and asceticism, if not even exhausted, began to be expressed in other forms, more consistent with the understanding and needs of the given time; in fact, the outward amazing feats, which were a tribute and expression of a certain time, were replaced by another, more appropriate and edifying asceticism. Nevertheless, the former do not lose their significance in the sense that they remind and testify of the amazing ability to suffer, of the amazing zeal to sacrifice to one’s highest, spiritual aspiration everything that is considered convenience, joy, pleasant satisfaction in earthly life. If not the form of the feat itself, then the strength and feeling that guided the performance of such external feats will forever remain worthy of imitation. Simeon was born in Syrian Antioch in 522. His mother Martha, a pious woman, after the death of her husband, who died under the ruins of his house during an earthquake (while Martha and Simeon miraculously escaped death), raised her son in a warm affection for God, which permeated her own heart. And it was not fruitlessly that she poured into the soul of her son the feelings that filled her: perceived by the baby, they made him a chosen vessel of God’s grace. When Simeon was five years old, his mother entrusted him to the holy elder John the Stylite (commemorated on July 4), who labored in the desert. Imitating him, Simeon, being seven years old, wished for a similar feat and soon surpassed his teacher with truly angelic patience. The experienced elder John, fearing that the gentle youth would not become exhausted from an unbearable feat, persuaded him not to indulge in such premature labor, but Simeon, supported by a Higher power, continued his prayerful standing before God, to live to please Whom his mother taught him... But he was not content with this standing. Six years passed and he “wanted to approach the sky with a higher pillar.” They built another pillar for him, 40 cubits high. After spending 8 years there, Simeon, by Divine revelation, retired to the Marvelous Mountain 402 in the vicinity of Antioch, and there he founded a monastery and a pillar on a stone, on a high hill. “During his previous asceticism, Simeon spent his time like this: from morning until nine o’clock he prayed, then he practiced reading and writing until sunset, after which he prayed again and stood in prayer without sleep until dawn. At dawn, he “ordered sleep, like his slave, to begin for a short time, and after dozing a little, he woke up and began his day.” The young ascetic received great revelations from above, and was filled with wisdom, and the people gathered around his pillar marveled, hearing his teachings and seeing the miracles he performed... The stylite, who had distracted his soul from the world, was burdened by his glory and the frequent visits of the people; That’s why he wanted to move to a more secluded place on Divnaya Mountain; but even here people came to him and he did not refuse help to anyone - a kind word, or healing, or a warning, predicting future events. Thus, he predicted the death of the Archbishop of Antioch and an earthquake that almost destroyed Antioch. St. Simeon, by revelation from above, accepted the rank of priesthood (33 years old) from Dionysius, Bishop of Seleucia, although he had previously refused it. “Praising the Divine Youth,” the saints took him to church, there they ordained him to the priesthood and, with the singing of psalms, they elevated him again to the pillar on which the Venerable invariably and silently performed his great ministry. Simeon until his blessed death - in complete humility in the 76th year of his life - in 596. The description of his life testifies that “even after the death of the saint his miracles continued in a stream” ... During Simeon’s childhood, says Evagrius, there was such a case that during games on the mountain, he tied a leopard’s neck with his belt and brought it to his mentor, John, calling the leopard a cat... On this occasion, John, realizing what kind of virtue this youth would be, did not refuse him to place him on a pillar, which over the course of 70 years became the glorified property of God’s wondrous chosen one 403... † St. Martha of Monemvassia and three unknown ascetics St. Martha was the abbess of the Monemvassia monastery of St. Mother of God. Morea was occupied by the Slavs from the 7th century, and Monemvasia, to which the saints were known from the 8th century 404, was considered in the 7th century in the Slavic land 405. Blessed Martha, like the preachers of the faith of her day, had, among other things, to confirm the faith and piety of recent pagans 406 . The Christian life is light in itself; only in its exact form it is not easy for us who are weak. St. Basil the Great wrote to his contemporary noble nun Theodora: “It is not an easy feat for one who promises to fulfill his promise. It is the duty of everyone to choose the life of the Gospel law. But, as we know, not many succeed in doing everything to the smallest extent and not neglecting anything written in the Gospel. It is necessary to bridle the tongue and eyes, enlightened by the teaching of the Gospel; It is necessary that the hands should be used to please God, that the legs should move, and that each member should be used as the Creator originally intended for us. One must observe modesty in clothing, caution in relations with men, moderation in food, and not have excess of necessary things. All this seems like just a small thing, but requires a great feat when carried out, as we find out in practice. We must maintain humility so as not to remember the nobility of our ancestors, not to be proud of the natural gifts of body or soul, not to be exalted by the good opinions of others about us. The life of the Gospel requires all this; In addition, we need: constancy in abstinence, diligence in prayer, compassion of love for others, generosity towards those in need, humility in thoughts, contrition of heart, integrity in faith, indifference in sorrows; constant remembrance of that terrible and inevitable judgment, which we are all approaching, and which, however, not many remember, carefree about its decision” 407. Blessed Martha herself labored vigorously on the path of the Gospel law, and diligently urged her sisters to deeds of piety 408 . Then she suffered a painful death with three sisters at the end of the reign of Constantine Porphyrogenet. The note about her, now known only from a fragment, does not explain on what occasion and from whom this death occurred; but since on the one hand, together with St. Martha and the three sisters suffered from “men famous for piety,” as happens when attacked by enemies; on the other hand, the only enemies of Greek power in Morea were then the Slavs, some of whom were still pagan: it is more than likely that St. Martha and her sisters suffered from the pagan Slavs. The same blessed Paul, Bishop of Monemvassia, who wrote about St. Martha, left the following news about three contemporaries of St. Martha 409. “I was,” he says, “sent to the east on royal business. On the road I came across a deserted monastery and I wanted to visit it. The abbot and the monks came out to meet me and, having said hello, we sat down on the mountain. There were fruitful trees here. And so the birds flying in broke the branches with fruits and quickly carried them away. I asked the abbot: “Why do the birds not eat the fruits, but carry them away somewhere with the branches?” He answered: “This is already the eleventh year, as they also do every summer.” “Here in the mountains,” I said by some inspiration, “either men or wives live and they bear fruit for them.” As I was saying this, a raven flew in and broke the branch with the fruit. I told the abbot: “let’s follow him,” and off we went. A raven with fruit flew ahead of us and, having reached the cliff, laid down a branch. When we approached him, he took a branch and flew into the hole, leaving the branch there and returning without everything. Arriving at the gap, we threw a stone down. And then someone shouts: “if you are Christians, don’t kill us.” - “Who are you?” we asked. “If you want, there was an answer, to see us, throw us three robes - we are naked wives; walking along the mountain, you will see a path and along it you can go down to us.” Hearing this, the three monks took off their clothes and, wrapping them around the stone, let them down. Having found the indicated narrow path, we walked down it with difficulty to the saints. The three wives, seeing us, bowed to the ground and, having said a prayer, we sat down. One of them also sat down, and two stood. Then the abbot asked the one who sat down: where are you from, lady mother, and how did you come here? “I am from Constantinograd,” she answered, my husband served under the emperor and died young; I remained a widow for 20 years and cried bitterly both about widowhood and the fact that I had no children. A few days later, a nobleman sends servants to me in order to forcibly bring me to him. The servants, not listening to anything, wanted to lead me. I prayed to the Lord Jesus to deliver me from the one who is ready to defile my soul and body. Then she said to the servants: I am glad to go to your master, so glorious; but now I am very sick, the blood flows constantly; Just be patient until I get better, and then I’ll go with joy. Okay, they said, the gentleman will wait up to 40 days. After they were gone, I called my servants and, giving them money, set them free, and left with me only the two maids you see. Then, inviting one relative, a Christ-loving man, under oaths I bequeathed to him to sell my villages and house, and distribute the money to the poor. So I was left without the worries of everyday life. At night, taking my maids, and now my sisters, I entered the ship with them, and we came to this place where you see us. This is the eleventh year since we have seen a single person except you. Our clothes are worn out and disintegrated. The abbot said: “Where, madam, do you get your food?” “The good and philanthropic God,” she answered, who fed His people in the desert for 40 years, also sends food to us, His unworthy servants. Every summer birds bring every vegetable, even to the point of excess. And nakedness does not burden us; we are not afraid of the cold in winter, nor of the heat in summer, glorifying the Holy Trinity.” We listened to this in amazement. The abbot said: “If you order, my lady, I will send my brother to the monastery to bring food and we will eat with you.” She answered: order the priest to come, let him pray first, and we will partake of the Holy Mysteries - since the time we left the city, we have not been worthy to receive the Holy Mysteries. The abbot sent a monk to the monastery to call the presbyter and bring food. The presbyter, having arrived, performed the service and God's servants received Holy Communion. Then they ate with us. “I pray that your sanctuary,” said the saint, “stay here for three days.” The abbot made a promise. The blessed one stood up, prayed fervently and quietly reposed before the Lord; Having performed the funeral singing, we buried her. The next day, another one also died peacefully, and on the third, a third. Having buried them, we returned, glorifying Christ God, who works miracles.” † Rev. Nikita Stylite, Pereyaslavsky Transformations of civil life are happiness for people if they are carried out with a good conscience. Book Yuri Dolgoruky, transforming the Suzdal region, ordered to move (1152) Pereyaslavl from Lake Kleshchina to its current location; the earthen fortification on the banks of Trubezh was to be made larger than before; even the stone Church of the Savior, founded in the old city, was moved to a new location; here they finished it already under the son of Yuri 410. It is clear that all this was not easy for the residents of Pereyaslavl. To cover the prince's expenses, increased collection of taxes was required. A new misfortune for the residents of the new city was Nikita, a native of Pereyaslavl, who was in charge of collecting taxes 411. He was merciless towards others, not so much for the prince as for his own self-interest: he robbed the poor, oppressed the weak and profited with impunity at the expense of others. Against demands for truth, he protected himself by connections with the nobility. He lived cheerfully with the tiuns and other leaders, showering them with gifts. The unfortunate ones shed tears; and he was calm and content. This is how Nikita lived without the fear of God, and this is how many years of his life passed. It happens that a person lives for sin with all the strength of his soul, but does not see it: sin is hidden in his gaze by the plausible veils of either the needs of everyday life, or forgivable weakness, or permitted absent-mindedness. The Lord never wants any sinner to perish. He uses various irritating methods to awaken the sinner's sleeping conscience; uses one measure or another, depending on the properties and dispositions of the sinner. For Nikita, two measures were allowed and one miraculous. One day he went up to church and heard the prophet preach: “Wash yourself and you will be clean.” The sermon struck Nikita: it shook his soul so much that he spent the whole night without sleep, worried about his past life. In the morning he went to his friends and, wanting to have fun, invited them to his place for a cheerful conversation. Having bought what he needed for the table, he ordered his wife to prepare dinner. She went about her business. But when I started cooking, I first saw blood at the top of the water, then first a hand, then a head floated out. She was horrified and didn’t know what to do? I told my husband and he saw the same thing. The sinner's conscience was awakened to its very depths. Nikita realized that his business was the same as robbing and killing people. “Woe to me, who have sinned a lot,” he said with a deep sigh and, without saying another word, he left the house with a prayer to the Lord: “Teach me, O Lord, on Thy path.” In deep sorrow for his sins, Nikita appeared at the monastery. Nikita, which is 3 miles from Pereyaslavl, and, falling at the feet of the abbot, washed the floor with his tears. - “What kind of sorrow do you have, my son? tell me,” asked the abbot. Nikita told all his sins and his former vision and begged to be accepted into the monastery. “Can you suddenly submit to obedience after living for so many years on your own?” said the abbot to Nikita. “I’m ready to do everything you command, father,” Nikita answered. “Stay for three days at the monastery gates and confess your sins,” said the abbot. In deep repentance, Nikita sat down at the gates of the monastery and confessed the sins of his life to everyone coming and going. Then behind the monastery, taking off his clothes, he sat down with his foot in a reed swamp. Three days later, the abbot sent to see what Nikita was doing? The brother, not finding him at the gate, found him lying in the reeds; spiders and midges showered him, while others crawled on the ground and blood flowed from the body they had ulcerated. The brother told the abbot what he had seen. The abbot and the brethren went and found Nikita in an amazing position. “What are you doing, my son?” said the abbot. He could barely say from exhaustion: “Save, father, the perishing soul.” The abbot ordered to bring haircloth clothes and clothed him; taking him by the right hand, he led him into the monastery and made those worthy of the promises belonging to the angelic image. Nikita, in a cramped cell, spent his nights in prayer, singing psalms, and reading the lives of saints. With the blessing of the abbot, he placed heavy chains on himself. Leaving the monastery at night, he dug two wells - one near the monastery of St. much Boris and Gleb, the other near the cold stream 412. Burning in love for St. life, he built himself a pillar and dug a small passage under the church, through which he went to public prayer, invisible to anyone; not only that, but the ascetic wore a stone cap 413 on his head. The Lord is close to those who sincerely call upon Him, no matter who they are. Blessed soul Nikita was purified day by day with prayers and deeds, and the grace of God finally penetrated her vessels to such an extent that it was revealed in miraculous phenomena. The young Prince Mikhail, son of Vsevolod, Prince of Chernigov, suffered from a serious illness. Hearing that there was a holy elder Nikita in Pereyaslavl, who had been awarded the gift of healing during his lifetime, he came to him with faith; The monk sent him his staff and the sick man, leaning on it, became healthy. On May 16, 1186, the grateful prince ordered that, in memory of God’s mercy, a stone pillar be erected in the place where he received healing. And the monument still stands 414. Soon after that, the time came for Nikita to move to another life, and the truth of God prepared another cleansing for the righteous. He who criminally laid his hand on someone else’s property was killed by hands greedy for gain; The saint's relatives, who came to receive the saint's blessing, were seduced by the shining chains, which they mistook for silver, and killed the saint. stylite Having committed the crime at night, the killers took the chains with them, but, seeing their mistake, they threw them into the Volga. To the pious elder of the Yaroslavl monastery, St. The Apostles Peter and Paul 415 miraculously indicated the place where the chains of St. stylite, and they were taken by the monks of the Nikitsky monastery. An ancient story about St. Nikita says: “those who draw and drink water from wells with faith receive health, which happens to this day.” The relics of St. Nikita was found incorrupt by Metropolitan. Photius and under the Nikitsky abbot Daniel and became famous for many miracles. In the charter of 1521, Rev. Nikita is called a miracle worker 416. Nowadays his holy relics rest in secret in the stone church of Vm. Nikita, where a chapel was built in the name of the stylite in 1564 417. “Reverend Father Nikita! you give light to the blind, healing to the sick, health to the lame, you are merciful to those who come with faith to your church and ask for your help. All the faithful find in you an intercessor and representative and praise you honestly.” “You, venerable one, have joined the ranks of fasting and have been adorned with monastic life. And now you rejoice in heaven, where the angels rejoice, illuminated by the light of God. Have mercy on us who bless you on earth and honor your dormition, Nikita” 418. St. torment. Meletius Stratelates and with him 1218 warriors with their wives and children - and St. much Serapion and squads St. torment. Meletius Stratelates and with him 1218 warriors with their wives and children - and St. much Serapion and his squad, who died from various torments under Emperor Antoninus, in the 2nd century. The wondrous mountain was located in a triangle formed by the cities of Antioch on the Orontes, Seleucia, Pythria and Ros (Arch. Serg. “Month of the East”). This Simeon should not be confused with Simeon the first Stylite, whose memory is on September 1st. The Monemvasian bishop subscribed to the definitions of the Council of Nicaea in 787. Mansi conc. XII, 1109. XIII, 145. 392. Le-Quien og. chr. II, 216. Morea was occupied by the Slavs from the time of the NMP. Mauritius (502–602). The traveler Willibald wrote in 723: “sailing from Sicily, we passed across the Adriatic to the city of Monovasia in the Slavic land.” Tafel de Thessalonica r. 455. 456. Falmerayer Geschichte d. Morea I, 104. Constantine clearly dates the conversion of the Morean Mayonites to the time of the Emperor. Vasily (de admin. imperio p. 134). At the same time, that is, when Cyril and Methodius translated the sacred books into the Slavic language, they turned to St. faith and the Morean Slavs. Fallmerayer Gesch. d. Morea S. 230. Epist. J73. Op. 4, 646–650. In act. Sanct ad. 24 Mayi p. 431. “Paul, Archbishop of Monemvassia, the story of St. Mare abbess of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, located in the God-saved city of Monemvasia below the Hodegetria monastery, and about other husbands and wives famous for virtue, and about three especially wives, who were all put to death under Constantine, the son of Leo and Zoe and the son-in-law of Roman the Elder.” This saint is not in Vershinsky’s monthly book. Prologue for December 10: “in the same (10) day, the memory of the holy three wives found on the mountain, about whom Paul Bishop of Monovasia spoke. Paul, son of Leonov, the tale of these saints” and so on. The narrator is called by name and father. This is not in Greek, but in Slavic. It is not surprising that the Morean Slav was in the service of the emperor, nor is it surprising that he was later a bishop in his homeland, in Monovasia. It is not surprising that he knew Greek as well as Slavic. The same news in Chet-Minea, only one story begins like this: “I was sent to a layman.” Letop. at Karamz. 2, pr. 376. “That same summer (1125), Yuri Vladimirovich in the Suzdal country in Pereyaslavl brought from Kleshchin the founding of a church and laid (the church) in the name of the all-merciful Savior.” Nikon. l. 2, 136. “The city of Pereyaslavl from Kleshchin passed away and created a great old one.” In collection l. 1, 149. Book. Andrei Bogolyubsky “passed away the church that his father, St., had first founded. Spas Kamennu”, Troitsk. Ep. "in Pereyaslavli new." Settlement in the 5th ver. from Pereyaslavl to the north, on the shore of Lake Pleshcheevo, there is a monument to Kleshchin or old Pereyaslavl. The foundations of a church and a cemetery were found inside the town. Jury. Min. Enlightenment 1857 March. RKP. Life of St. Nikita, according to the language of the 13th century, in the Menaion of Metro Makaria, in the Synod. RKP. 1459 No. 637. XV century. r. No. 556, XVI century. No. 491. 560. 90. 948. The chronicle mentions the Borisoglebsky Pereyaslavl Monastery in 1155. It was located on the shore of Lake Pereyaslavl, not far from Nik. monastery and was called Borisoglebsky on the mountain. Swedish about mon. 48. Without a doubt, its remains were recently discovered on Aleksandrovskaya Mountain, which lies 300 fathoms from the Settlement, where ancient Pereyaslavl was located. The foundations of a church and cells were found; plate with the name of the monk Maxim, 1512 J. M. Enlightenment 1857 March. The stone cap remained in the monastery until 1735 and it, along with chains, was worn by the Bogomolets, walking around the saint’s pillar. Vladimir. collection 25. Step. book 1, 315. 316. Life. The Peter and Paul Yaroslavl Monastery stood in the place where the Peter the Great Church is now on the bank of the river. Volga. Description music 224. In 1214, the Petrovsky abbot was ordained bishop of Rostov, having served as abbot for 13 years. and 5 months (Karamz. 3, pr. 171. 208). In a charter of 1521, “in Pereyaslavl the village of Mikitino on Uglich was given to Nikita the Wonderworker.” The diploma was given by Prince Dmitry Ivanovich of Uglich. Russian Vivl. 5, 104–126. Collection gram. 1, No. 147. North. arch. 1823, part 6. 407. Nikita of Pereyaslavl among the holy wonderworkers according to the charter of 1563. Ist. ak. 1, 320. Service on Nikita Ave. at Tsarskoe No. 563 and in the menaion for May. M. 1646. It was written after the Terrible Tsar and P. Nastasya visited the monastery of St. Nikita. East. Hier. 6, 1027–1029. Step. book 2, 269. 270. Inscription on the church in Vladim. collection pp. 94. 95. Here is the inscription on the cover: “the king welcomed the wonderworker Nikita to the house, and on it is embroidered the image of the venerable and great wonderworker Nikita, the most blessed. V. book Anastasia Romanovna, her hands and magnificent works.” Stichera in the Menaion for May. M. 1646