Юродивая Паша Саровская, старица и подвижница Серафимо-Дивеевского женского монастыря

Praskovya Ivanovna had a very typical appearance. This appearance was very varied, depending on the mood: sometimes overly strict, angry and menacing, sometimes affectionate and kind, sometimes bitterly sad. The father, rector of the Suzdal Efimev Monastery, Archimandrite Seraphim (Chichagov), author of the “Chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery,” having studied this wonderful woman well, said about her: “From her kind look, every person comes into inexpressible delight. Her childish, kind, bright, deep and clear eyes amaze so much that all doubt about her purity, righteousness and high feat disappears. They testify that all her oddities - allegorical conversation, severe reprimands and antics - are only an outer shell, deliberately hiding the greatest humility, meekness, love and compassion. Sometimes wearing sundresses, she, like someone who has turned into a kindly child, loves bright red colors and sometimes puts on several sundresses at once, as, for example, when she meets guests of honor or as a sign of joy and cheerfulness for the person entering her.” According to the testimony of the monks, Saint Seraphim, during his lifetime, blessed Praskovya Ivanovna to live a wandering life in the dense forests of Sarov. There she remained in fasting and prayer for about thirty years. She lived in a cave she dug. It is said that she had several caves in different places of a vast impenetrable forest overflowing with wild beasts. “During her life in the Sarov Forest, her long asceticism and fasting, she looked like Mary of Egypt,” said Archimandrite Seraphim. Thin, tall, completely burned by the sun and therefore black and scary, she wore short hair at that time, since previously everyone was amazed by her long hair that reached the ground, giving her a beauty that bothered her in the forest and did not correspond to her secret tonsure. Barefoot, in a man's monastic shirt-scroll, unbuttoned on the chest, with bare arms, with a serious expression on her face, she came to the monastery and struck fear into everyone; those who don't know her." Praskovya Ivanovna lived in a very small house, to the left of the monastery gate. There she had one spacious and bright room, remarkably neat. The entire wall of this room opposite the doors was covered with large icons. In the center is the Crucifixion, on its sides is the Mother of God on the right, and the apostle on the left. John the Theologian. In the same house, in the corner to the right of the entrance, there was a tiny cell-closet that served as Praskovya Ivanovna’s bedroom. The simple wooden bed of the holy fool Pasha of Sarov with huge pillows was rarely occupied by it, but mostly dolls rested on it. And there was no time for her to lie down, since she prayed all night long in front of large images. Exhausted in the morning, Praskovya Ivanovna lay down and dozed, but as soon as the light dawned, she was already washing, cleaning herself, tidying up, or going out for a walk to pray. After mass she sat down to work, knitting stockings or making yarn. This activity was accompanied, of course, by internal prayer, and therefore Praskovya Ivanovna’s yarn was so valued in the monastery that belts and rosaries were made from it. The people revered Praskovya Ivanovna as a prophetess. A crowd of pilgrims stood under the windows of her house for whole days, reverently waiting to see if she would give them good advice or pray for them. The name of Praskovya Ivanovna was known not only among the people, but also in the highest circles of society. Almost all of the high-ranking officials, visiting the Diveyevo Monastery, considered it their duty to visit Praskovya Ivanovna. It is impossible to collect and describe cases of Praskovya Ivanovna’s insight. Positively, she knew every thought of the person addressing her and most often answered thoughts than questions. On troubled days for her, undoubtedly as a result of her struggle with the enemy of humanity, she talked incessantly, but it was impossible to understand anything, broke things, broke dishes, as if she were fighting spirits, worried, screamed, scolded and was completely beside herself. In the monastery everyone revered her as “mama.” They told about Praskovya Ivanovna’s foresight: “When our mother, abbess and abbess Maria,” said Mother Anfia, the head of the monastery hotel, “was seriously ill this winter, we sisters grieved greatly and feared for the end of the illness. We repeatedly asked Praskovya Ivanovna whether our mother superior would recover, and each time she told us that she would recover quickly. Praskovya Ivanovna's prediction came true. Mother Superior has recovered from her serious illness, and the danger has passed.” The same mother Anfia reported: “Another case of Praskovya Ivanovna’s foresight was also in the past (1902), when a bell tower was built in our monastery. The architect found that it was built incorrectly and was in danger of falling. The work was stopped, which upset us all a lot. Praskovya Ivanovna only consoled us, telling everyone that the ban on building would be lifted, the bell tower would be completed, and the bells would be raised on it. This prediction also came true exactly.” One of the Muscovite correspondents, who visited Praskovya Ivanovna in Diveevo with her comrades, reported about her insight: “When we entered her house, we were met by Seraphim’s mother and a young novice. They told us that Praskovya Ivanovna had locked herself in her tiny cell, but she might come out soon, and so they asked us to wait. We were standing at the entrance to the chamber with Mother Serafima, when the doors of the cell opened and Praskovya Ivanovna came out to us with impetuous steps. She was as Fr. described her. Archimandrite Seraphim. Not paying attention to anyone, she walked impetuously and, turning to the artist M., said, wagging her finger: “You don’t save money, you let it go in the wind!” Having said this, she, walking to the window in front of which a group of pilgrims stood, shook my hand, silently. Throwing her glance at the pilgrims standing in the courtyard, she again fixed her eyes on us and peered at us for quite a long time, as if reading our thoughts. It was getting creepy. But she, in her insight, read our thoughts: we sincerely pitied her. She stood there for a while, as if half-conscious, then her face lit up, and she stopped looking at us sternly. Her face became joyful, she became cheerful. We gave her our contribution - for candles. This made her even happier. She began to frolic like a child. A little later, she knelt down in front of the crucifix and began to pray fervently, bowing to the ground all the time. At the same time, Mother Seraphima and the novice began to sing a happy verse, ending with the remembrance of our names: Jacob, Stephen and Emilia. We were amazed and delighted that this blessed woman with the pure gaze of a child prayed for us sinners. Joyful and satisfied, she sent us off in peace, blessing us on our way. She made a strong impression on us. This is an integral nature, untouched by anything external, who has given her entire life, all her thoughts to the glory of the Lord God. She is a rare person on earth, and we must rejoice that the Russian land is still rich in such people” 32. Such are the reviews about the holy fool Pasha of Sarov, whom the Monk Seraphim blessed to live a wandering life and who for so long fulfilled the behest of the holy and great Elder of Sarov! Moscow Leaflet. 1903, No. 195, cor. G.