61. Святители Димитрий Ростовский, Митрофан и Тихон Воронежские, Феодосий Черниговский, Иоасаф Белгородский, преподобный Серафим, подвижник Саровский

Over the past two centuries, in addition to St. Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk, Dimitri, Metropolitan of Rostov, Mitrofan and Tikhon, bishops of Voronezh, Feodosia, Bishop of Belgorod, and St. Seraphim, the ascetic of Sarov, have been especially glorified for the holiness of life. Saint Dmitry, the son of the centurion Savva Tuptalo, was born in Little Russia in 1651 and studied at the Kyiv Academy, but due to military troubles he had to leave it and already completed his education. Having taken monastic vows in one of the Chernigov monasteries, he was soon noticed by Archbishop Lazar Baranovich, who instructed him to teach in his cathedral, and two years after this he became so famous for his sermons that Lithuania and Little Russia argued about him, inviting him to become a preacher. In the 33rd year of his life, Saint Demetrius began his immortal work - the compilation of the Four Menaions (the lives of saints for every day of the month for reading in church and at home), which he worked on steadily with extraordinary energy for twenty years, from 1684 to 1704. Finishing his colossal work, he already occupied the see of the Rostov Metropolitan. Here the valiant saint came out to fight the schism and wrote a major study about the main schismatic sects under the title “Search for the Bryn Faith.” The seven years of his archpastoral service in Rostov from 1702 to 1709 represent a continuous series of works for the benefit of his flock: he traveled around his diocese from region to region and taught and preached everywhere. Grieving over the insufficient education of his flock and priests, he set up a school in Rostov at his own expense and was, like a father, close to his students, who often gathered around him and sang the spiritual cants he composed. Many of these sublime songs of St. Demetrius (“My most beloved Jesus,” “I cry out to God in my trouble,” etc.) are still remembered among the people. In 1709, the great ascetic of science and prosperity died during his cell prayer (he was found kneeling before the icon of the Savior), and 43 years later, in 1752, his incorruptible relics were found, and he was canonized 83 . Saint Mitrofan is the first Voronezh bishop after the opening of the diocese. In his life, his attitude towards the transformation of Russia is especially remarkable. While many looked with dissatisfaction at the efforts of Peter I to lead Russia out of its isolation and bring it closer to Europe, Saint Mitrofan openly sympathized with his good measures. Glorifying Peter for his intention to start a fleet and for the war with Turkey, he donated to him all the savings from the bishop’s income (up to 6,000 rubles) and then constantly sent him new savings with the inscription: “For the military.” But, expressing such lively and active sympathy for the cause of Peter, the saint boldly warned him against dangerous hobbies. Once, demanded by Peter, the saint refused to enter his palace, because statues of pagan deities were placed in front of the gates and in his courtyard. Hearing that the king was very angry with him, the saint began to prepare for death. The matter ended with Peter I giving in to him and ordering the statues to be removed and, upon the death of the saint on November 23, 1703, he wept for him and himself carried his coffin to the grave. The incorrupt relics of St. Mitrophan were discovered in 1831, and the following year he was solemnly canonized. Saint Tikhon (in the world Timothy) was born in 1724 from the poorest clergyman in the village of Korotsk (within the current Valdai district) and soon after birth lost his parent. His childhood and adolescence were spent in the midst of terrible poverty: sometimes he had to work all day for the villagers just for a piece of bread. Having barely escaped being considered for military rank, amid great need, he later studied at the Novgorod Seminary, where he was later a mentor. Some special circumstances (miraculous salvation from mortal danger, wonderful visions) disposed him to accept monasticism, which he had long striven for, and finally, by clear instructions from above, he was elected bishop. For about two years, in 1761–1763, he was a vicar in Novgorod and about four, from 1763 to 1767, at an independent department in Voronezh. During all this time, he zealously preached and encouraged the priests subordinate to him to do the same; in Voronezh, from the time of paganism, a holiday was observed in honor of Yaril, combined with many different atrocities. One day the saint unexpectedly appeared in the people's square in the midst of the merriment and began an accusatory word, which had such an effect that the holiday was no longer resumed. The intense work upset his health. He asked to be dismissed from his position and spent the last 16 years of his life in retirement, in the Zadonsk Monastery. He devoted all the time of the day, with the exception of 4–5 hours of restless rest, to prayer, reading the word of God, deeds of charity, and composing soul-helping essays. He visited the church every day. At home, in addition to his usual hours of prayer, he often fell to his knees and prostrate and, shedding tears, like the most serious sinner, cried out: “Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy!” Without fail, every day he read several chapters from the Holy Scriptures and never went on the road without a small Psalter. His entire 400-ruble pension went to charity, and everything he received as a gift from his friends went here. Often, in simple monastic clothes, he went to the nearest city (Elets) and visited prisoners in the prison there, consoled them, encouraged them to repent, and then gave them alms. He himself was extremely non-covetous, living among the simplest and poorest surroundings. Sitting down at a meager table, he often remembered the poor who did not have food like him, and began to reproach himself for the fact that, in his opinion, he had worked little for the Church, and bitter tears flowed from his eyes. By nature, hot-tempered and quick-tempered, he was surprisingly meek and kind: he bowed to the ground to the cell attendant, asking forgiveness for any word that seemed offensive to him, and always tried to pay back kindly when someone did him some kind of insult. Once, in the house of an acquaintance, he entered into a conversation with a Voltairean nobleman and meekly, but so strongly refuted the atheist in everything that the proud man could not stand it and, forgetting himself, hit the saint on the cheek. Saint Tikhon threw himself at his feet, asking for forgiveness for causing him irritation. This feat of gentle humility had such an effect on the daring offender that he turned to faith and later became a good Christian. The saint especially loved to talk with the common people, consoled them in their difficult times, and helped the ruined. Children from the monastery settlement came to him: he taught them prayers, and after the conversation he gave them money. The blessed death of Saint Tikhon followed on August 13, 1783; 63 years later his incorruptible relics were discovered, and in 1861 (78 years after his death) he was solemnly canonized 84. Saint Theodosius, the son of priest Nikita and Maria, who had noble dignity, was born around 1630. Having received a thorough family upbringing, he studied at the Kiev-Brotherly School and immediately after completing his studies accepted monasticism. He labored in the Baturin Krupitsky monastery and for about 17 years, in 1664–1681, was abbot of the Kyiv Vydubitsky monastery. He enjoyed the special favor and trust of the famous figure in history, Archbishop Lazar Baranovich, and was in charge of the affairs of the Kyiv Metropolis as his vicar. In 1688 he was appointed archimandrite of the Chernigov Yelets Monastery and four years later he was Lazar's successor at the Chernigov See. From an early age, the saint was distinguished by patience, humility, abstinence, and diligence, and even during his lifetime there was a general conviction that this man was a righteous and holy man, and then soon after his death, miracles and signs began to appear, and the incorruption of his holy relics was discovered. The power of the prayerful intercession of Saint Theodosius before God was experienced by his successor in the department, Archbishop John Maksimovich, who, in gratitude for the healing he received through the prayers of the saint from a serious and dangerous illness, built a cave to store his relics. Obvious astonishing miracles were performed at their grand opening in 1896, and continue to be performed to this day. The Monk Seraphim, in the world Prokhor, was born in Kursk in 1759 into the pious merchant family of the Moshnins, lost a parent for three years and was brought up under the special influence of his mother, a woman of high moral standards, especially distinguished by her benevolence to poor brides, whom, providing dowries, she arranged for marriages. From a young age, the special mercy of the Lord protected his chosen one: when he was seven years old, he climbed with his mother to the high bell tower of the current cathedral in Kursk, which was under construction, fell from its walls to the ground and remained safe and sound; At the age of ten, the youth Prokhor was miraculously, by the grace of the Mother of God, healed from a dangerous illness. From a young age, he felt a special love for the life of monks. At the age of seventeen, he takes leave from society and goes on a pilgrimage to Kyiv. Here the schema-monk receives instructions from the elder to go to Sarov. The Sarov hermitage, founded in the middle of the 17th century on the border of the present-day Tambov and Nizhny Novgorod provinces and already glorified by the exploits of its abbots and monks, provided special conveniences for ascetic life and provided examples of it in various genera. On November 20, 1778, on the eve of the Feast of the Entry into the Church of the Mother of God, the pious young man Prokhor entered the gates of the monastery. For eight years, with deep humility and unquestioning obedience, he carried out the monastic skill in various obediences, at the same time he enlightened his soul with daily reading of the Gospel, other sacred books and the works of the fathers, exercised himself in the feats of intense fasting, long-term fervent prayer, and listened to the instructions of ascetics. When he was tonsured, he was given the name Seraphim (fiery), which fully corresponded to the mood of his soul; two months after this he was ordained a hierodeacon, and five years later a hieromonk. Wonderful visions during the reverent performance of services, especially the liturgy, enlivened his thoughts and ignited his heart, and two years after accepting the priesthood, he decided, with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery, to undertake the feat of a solitary, hermit’s life. First he settles in the so-called distant desert, 5 miles from the monastery. Here he himself collected and carried firewood to heat the cell, he himself planted and cultivated a vegetable garden to grow the vegetables he ate, but his main occupation was reading the word of God, unceasing prayer, and pious meditation. It happened that while working, occupied with theology, an ascetic was immersed in such deep contemplation of spiritual mysteries that the tools with which he worked fell from his hands, and an unusually bright, unearthly mood was expressed in his gaze directed to heaven. He often endured terrible temptations, but overcame them with prayer and patience. In response to one of these temptations, he undertook the feat of a stylite and stood prayerfully for a thousand days with his hands raised to the sky on a stone during the day in his cell and outside it at night. At the end of a decade of desert life, the priest Seraphim suffered a severe beating from robbers who were looking for money from him, and had to return to the monastery to heal his wounds. Having received a miraculous healing from his wounds, he again went into his distant desert and took on himself a vow of silence, which he continued in the monastery upon his second return to it, which took place at the request of the abbot and the elder brethren. Within the walls of the monastery, he undertook a new feat - seclusion, which ended after the visible appearance of the Mother of God to him, who commanded him to open the doors of the cell and accept the feat of eldership; Then thousands of people went to him to receive advice and instruction from him, blessing the fruits of his own lifelong edification in faith and piety. Saint Seraphim divided his time between staying in the monastery’s cell and traveling to the so-called nearby desert, located about 2 miles from the monastery. Not far from this nearby desert he dug a well, the water of which, through the prayers of the saint of God, reveals special healing properties and actions. The death of the blessed elder in a kneeling position before the icon of the Mother of God, called “Tenderness,” worthily concluded his life, from the first years of childhood to the last day of old age, entirely devoted to serving God and his neighbor. The glory of Sarov in relation to the newly-minted wonderworker St. Seraphim is shared by the Diveyevo women's monastery, located 12 versts from Sarov. The Diveyevo monastery was the subject of special paternal care of the Monk Seraphim throughout his ascetic life and especially in his last years, when he began the feat of the elder - a national teacher. The solemn glorification of St. Seraphim took place in 1903 on July 19. Saint Joasaph of Belgorod, in the world Joachim, was born on September 8, 1705 and came from the famous Little Russian family of Gorlenko. His parents intended him for worldly life, hoping to see in him the heir to their rich fortune, their title and importance. In his eighth year, they sent the boy to Kyiv, where the wealthy Little Russian nobility sent their children to the academy established there by the famous Metropolitan Peter Mogila. Having parted with their son, the parents greatly missed him, and his father had a wonderful vision in which the future fate of his son was revealed to him. One day, thinking about his son, Gorlenko was sitting on the porch in the evening. The sun was already setting. Looking to the west, he saw the Mother of God standing in the air, and his son Joachim, falling in prayer at Her feet. The Mother of God said to the youth: “Is your prayer sufficient?” - and then an angel flew down and threw the holy mantle over the boy... Gorlenko went to tell his wife about this vision, but before reaching her, he forgot everything, and with perfect clarity he remembered this vision only many years later, after the death of his son. Life in Kyiv, among many shrines, and the spiritual education he received strengthened the religious mood in the young Gorlenko, and in his eighteenth year, secretly from his parents, he retired to the Mezhigorsky Monastery in Kiev. Here he spent a whole year undergoing the tests required before being tonsured. In his twentieth year, in the cave church of the Mezhigorsky monastery, Joachim was tonsured into a ryasophore with the name of Hilarion. It was then that a trusted servant went to his parents’ estate and announced that their son, now the monk Hilarion, asked for their blessing and forgiveness for disobedience. With tears and great sadness, the parents accepted this news, but forgave their son and sent him a blessing. The new monk spent another two years in the Mezhigorsk monastery, and then he was called to the Kiev-Brotherly Monastery, which had an academy, and here on November 20, 1727, on the feast of the Entry of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he was tonsured into the mantle with the estate of Joasaph. Then Joasaph took the position of teacher at the academy, and in 1737 he was appointed abbot of the Lubensky monastery. Here he worked hard to improve the monastery, which the year before had been badly damaged by a fire. From here he was appointed archimandrite of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and then in 1748 bishop of Belgorod. The vast Belgorod diocese, numbering over 1000 churches, embraced the present Kursk and Kharkov dioceses and was unsettled. Weak in health, but powerful in spirit, the saint actively set about organizing it, very often undertook trips to view churches, tried to improve the education and morality of the clergy, and eradicate superstitions and other vices among the people. At the same time, he defended the clergy from injustice and oppression. Mercy was the hallmark of Saint Joasaph. He distributed the income of his rich pulpit to the poor. Before the great holidays, the saint sent a trusted cell attendant with money and clothes to the poor. The cell attendant was not supposed to enter them, but, having placed what he had brought at the door or window and drawing the hosts’ attention to it by knocking, he should quickly leave before he was noticed. In. During the illness of this cell attendant, the saint, secretly leaving his house, himself distributed alms throughout the city. Constantly keeping the hour of death in mind, the saint prepared for it with tears. When the cell attendant came to him in the morning and evening, he found him praying. When the clock struck, the saint said a special prayer, which he himself composed. It is called the prayer of St. Joasaph of Belgorod. Six months before his death, the saint went to his homeland. He repeatedly repeated that he would not return to Belgorod and touchingly said goodbye to his flock, asking everyone for forgiveness and permission from those who had offended him. And indeed, on the way back, in the village (now the city) of Grayvoron, the saint fell ill and, after two months of suffering, died on December 10, 1754, at the age of 49. His body was transported to Belgorod and, awaiting burial, remained in the cathedral for over two months - until February 24, 1755, without showing any signs of decay. Two years passed after his death, and several people from the cathedral clergy, confident in the righteousness of the saint, slowly opened his coffin, which was located in the cathedral crypt. Although the air in the crypt was damp, the saint’s body, face, clothes, coffin - everything was found completely intact, without signs of decay. Rumors quickly spread about this, the sick began to gather at the saint’s grave, and many cases of healing occurred. Many amazing healings and miracles were performed at his tomb and in subsequent years, and especially during the opening and glorification of his holy relics - September 4, 1911. In addition to these saints glorified by the Church, Archimandrite Paisiy Velichkovsky 85, Archbishops of Tobolsk Varlaam (Petrov), Sophrony of Irkutsk, Metropolitan Jonah, former exarch of Georgia, Anthony, Archbishop of Voronezh, Metropolitan Gabriel of St. Petersburg, etc. are known for their ascetic life. And more recently, the Russian Church had remarkable devotees of piety in the person of Moscow metropolitans Plato and Philaret and Kyiv - Philaret, Philotheus, Ioannikis, archbishops Anthony of Kazan, Leonid of Yaroslavl, Demetrius and Nikanor of Kherson, Joseph of Voronezh, Alexy of Lithuania, bishops - Innocent of Penza, Pitirim of Tambov and Feofan, for more than twenty years who labored in seclusion, Elder Ambrose of Optina, Archpriest John Sergiev (Kronstadt) and many others. Of the women, Blessed Xenia, who labored in St. Petersburg, was especially famous for her holiness of life. – In addition to the “Chets-Menya” and “Search for the Bryn Faith”, Saint Demetrius published many words and teachings, “Short Catechism”, “Cell Chronicle”, “Chronicle of Tsars and Patriarchs”, “Catalog of Russian Metropolitans”, etc. The works of Saint Demetrius are imbued with the most warm and sincere edification. The Russian language has been brought to remarkable simplicity and grace. He is quite a people's writer. – Of the works of St. Tikhon, the following are especially remarkable: “On true Christianity”, “Spiritual Treasure collected from the world.” Some of St. Tikhon’s creations were intended specifically for monastics, for example: “Rules of Monastic Life”, “Instruction for those who have turned from the vain world”; in them, with deep wisdom, he reveals the ideal of true asceticism, which he realized in his life. – The son of a Poltava priest, he studied in Kyiv and labored on Mount Athos. Then he spent most of his ascetic life in Moldova, where he was the abbot of the Nyametsky monastery and raised many ascetics for his native Russia. Died in 1794. You might be interested in: