Correspondence with Abbot Ilarius

Contents Preface. Ugresha Letter No. 1 Letter No. 2 Letter No. 3 Letter No. 4 Letter No. 5 Letter No. 6 Letter No. 7 Letter No. 8 Letter No. 9 People like Father Pimen are a great rarity: they are nuggets of gold. On September 8, 1847, Archimandrite Ignatius Brianchaninov wrote from the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery, where he was undergoing treatment, to the governor of the Sergius Monastery: “In two monasteries on my way I was received as family: in Ugreshskaya and Borodino. Ugreshsky Father Igumen is thinking about retiring. His treasurer and another hieromonk, a friend of the treasurer, are exactly our Sergievskys; the treasurer knew me at the Lopotov Monastery, borrowed from me the direction in monastic life and retained it until now” 1. Both Father Abbot and Father Treasurer, mentioned in the letter, were longtime acquaintances of Saint Ignatius. Father Abbot Ilarius (in the world Ilya) was born in 1796 in the city of Mologa, Yaroslavl province, in 1817, wishing to devote himself to monastic life, he entered the Beloberezhnaya Hermitage, then moved to Konevsky, in 1821. - to the Solovetsky Monastery, where in 1823 he was tonsured by Archimandrite Macarius. In 1824 he moved to the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, on March 5 he was ordained a hierodeacon, and on November 20, 1829 he was ordained a hieromonk. In 1832 he was transferred to Optiu Pustyn. In the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, Father Ilariy met the elder Father Leonid and his student Dmitry Alexandrovich Brianchaninov, who arrived there in 1828, with whom he became very friendly. The father of the treasurer Pimen (in the world Peter Dmitrievich Myasnikov) can be called another 2 remarkable personality, drawn in his early youth into the orbit of the future Saint Ignatius. He was born in Vologda on August 10, 1810 to parents from the trading class. His successor was the famous Vologda merchant and philanthropist Skulyabin, whose almshouse (“Skulyabinsk Almshouse”), in a dilapidated state, still stands on the banks of the Vologda River. Parents raised their children in a religious mood. This, in particular, is evidenced by the fact that, in addition to Peter, one of his sisters became a nun. Pyotr Dmitrievich's desire to go to the monastery manifested itself very early, and his parents did not interfere with him. By the age of 22, out of all the monasteries of the Vologda diocese known to him, he chose Novoezersky Kirillov and entered there in June 1832, when the famous elder Feofan Novoyezersky was still alive. Pyotr Dmitrievich Myasnikov first heard about Dmitry Aleksandrovich Bryanchaninov in 1820 from the Vologda parish priest Father Alexander Yushkov, who baptized the baby Dmitry in the village of Pokrovskoye and was friends with his parents. “For the first time,” writes Father Pimen in his “Memoirs” 3, “I happened to see Brianchaninov on the embankment of the Zolotukha River: I was on the left bank, and he was walking along the right. As I see him now: tall, slender and stately, fair-haired, curly, with beautiful dark brown eyes; he was wearing a sheepskin coat, covered with a pea-colored napkin, and on his head was a novice cap. This was during the winter of 1830." Soon they met. This happened during one of Dmitry Alexandrovich’s visits from the Glushitsky Monastery to the Semigorodnaya Hermitage: “On farewell Sunday I was at mass. When I arrived at the church, Brianchaninov was already there and stood in the real church behind the right choir, and I stood to the left behind the pillar, under the arch. During the entire mass, Brianchaninov never turned around and, therefore, could not see that anyone was standing behind him. They brought him a prosphora, and when, at the end of the mass, the servants and brethren went to the chapel to perform the established prayer service, which happens after the liturgy, Brianchaninov looked around and, coming straight to me, gave me the prosphora and, asking where I was staying, told me: “I will come to you.” We didn’t know each other at all and had never spoken before. I was stunned with surprise." It would seem, what could interest Dmitry Alexandrovich, who received an excellent secular education at home and at the Engineering School and from his youth was imbued with the teachings of the Fathers, by Pyotr Dmitrievich Myasnikov, whose only teacher was the “dressmaker Pelageya Egorovna”, who taught him to read and write? Of course, the same as his educated comrades, M.V. Chikhachev and P.P. Yakovlev - a spiritual kinship that attracted them to each other from the first meeting. When Pyotr Dmitrievich came to the hotel, Brianchaninov was already there, and after the meal he sent the cell attendant Igumen for Pyotr Dmitrievich and invited him to his place. They spent the whole day and the whole night in spiritual conversation, which made a strong impression on Pyotr Dmitrievich and further confirmed his desire to retire to the monastery. On June 28, 1831, Dmitry Alexandrovich was tonsured into a mantle by His Eminence Stephen and named Ignatius. Since the parents did not want to accept the newly tonsured monk, Peter Dmitrievich invited him to his place (then he found shelter with his uncle and godfather, Dmitry Ivanovich Samarin). On July 5, His Eminence Stefan ordained Father Ignatius as a hierodeacon, on July 20 as a hieromonk, and on January 6, 1832, he appointed him the builder of the Pelshem Lopotov Monastery. In the same 1832, Pyotr Dmitrievich visited the builder Ignatius in his monastery. “At that time,” he writes, “the monastery was very poor, neglected and in all respects in great decline. Apart from the stone church, the rest of the building was wooden and dilapidated, and the abbot’s cell, which was completely falling apart, was in such a state that the new builder was forced to dismantle it, and temporarily, while another cell was being built, he placed himself in a guardhouse at the holy gate. Having visited him in the Loptov Monastery in the first week of Lent, I found him living in this gatehouse, it was on one side of the holy gate, built like a tower with a plank pointed roof, very dilapidated, and on the other side of the gate there was a wooden fraternal meal and a cookhouse. Entering Fr. Ignatius, I found him sitting at a large table at a samovar, in front of him lay simple black crackers and some kind of poem he had begun, which he probably wrote during tea, so that this time would not be wasted; the cell was not spacious, and the walls had completely darkened over time.” When Peter Dmitrievich left, Father Ignatius provided him with letters to Optina Pustyn - to his elder Father Leonid and to Father Ilarius, who at that time was a sacristan in Optina and to whom Peter Dmitrievich some time later became a novice. Having become the builder and then abbot of the Lopotov Monastery, Father Ignatius repeatedly invited Father Ilarius to come to him. He hesitated, and the elder Father Leonid did not advise him, but in the end he decided to move. However, by the time he and his novice arrived in Vologda, events had occurred that directed their path in a completely different direction. While Father Hilary hesitated, Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow offered Abbot Ignatius the abbotship of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery and summoned him to Moscow. The decree of the Holy Synod on this move took place 4, and Father Ignatius officially became the 82nd abbot of the Ugreshsky Monastery, but did not get there, and by the Highest command he arrived in St. Petersburg and was appointed rector of the Trinity-Sergius Hermitage with elevation to the rank of archimandrite. Father Ilariy and Pyotr Dmitrievich who arrived in Vologda, not finding the one who called them there, were left out of work. Their acquaintance with Pavel Petrovich Yakovlev dates back to this period: “In mid-February 1834, on my journey from the Kirillo-Novoezersk Monastery through the city of Vologda to my Yaroslavl and Kostroma estates, I had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Ilariy and Pyotr Dmitrievich Myasnikov from Mr. Ryndin Stefan Dmitrievich; We had a pleasant conversation; They dined together and after a second conversation said goodbye with the intention of meeting in St. Petersburg. But, as it later turned out, Moscow and the Ugreshskaya monastery were waiting for them” 5. However, while their situation was desperate, which they reported to Archimandrite Ignatius in a letter dated January 14, 1834. Father Hilary wrote: “With these lines, firstly, I convey to Your Reverence about my insignificance, I, Glory to the Lord God, with all my infirmities, in the course of my petition, arrived in your fatherland in the city of Vologda safely with my brother Peter Dmitrievich December 23rd last. He appeared to His Eminence on the 24th and was received extremely kindly by the Bishop. But, to my extreme unworthiness, for my grave sins and pride, I was not honored to see you, my father, in person, below the Lopotova Monastery. But instead I ended up in a place that was open and renowned for the importance of the city, in the Holy Spiritual Monastery under the patronage of Father Mr. Ambrose, known to you, my current abbot. In this holy place, the Lord, for my unworthiness, was pleased to while away my days with all my infirmities D. and T. (Mental and physical - ed. golden-ship.ru) instead of the desired peace. This new year, on the 12th day of the month of Genvar, a decree was read to me on the resolution of His Eminence to the above-mentioned place of eternal brotherhood pending discretion with observation of my behavior... I shudder in my heart how I, a poor, grief-stricken person, will continue time and feed my life, pampered and without spiritual devices, in such chaos and vale. This is the position I am in, Lyub Father, in the presence of the Spirit, I am only nourished by the hope of the mercy of God and Your Reverence to heed my bitter fate to petition the Most Reverend Bishop with your letter for the former freedom of a ticket, if you please, to your Diocese and monastery to arrive together with brother Peter D., who, upon arrival here, is also at a loss as to what to do with himself. the shortness of time before the audit, and his fate, in accordance with the disposition towards Your Reverence, remains undecided. And if you, father, places are occupied, then bless us to decide on another Diocese, I hope that the Right Reverend will respect you, but they won’t even let me see him.” And Pyotr Dmitrievich added: “Forgive me, father, that I dare to disturb you with seven lines of words: we arrived in Vologda with Father Ilariy safely, due to our misfortune they did not find you anymore and we are both in considerable embarrassment about our bitter fate. And since we have truly learned about your fate, I now fall at the feet of Your Reverence and ask you to do mercy on me: to my closest compatriot, and remembering your fatherly mercies and love, I do not step out of your will and have not settled anywhere of my own free will except for your blessing: and as the borders of my freedom are approaching, I must lay my head somewhere, then I ask you as my true father, give me some solution; if I am not worthy to be your slave, then bless where I should decide.” On the other hand, Metropolitan Philaret, after the appointment of Father Ignatius as abbot of the Sergius Hermitage, asked him if he knew anyone to take his place as abbot at the Ugreshsky Monastery. And Archimandrite Ignatius told the Metropolitan about Father Hilary. The advice turned out to be successful: Metropolitan Philaret liked Father Hilary and, despite some of his peculiarities and constant desire to resign from his position, having accepted the monastery on March 15, 1834, he abboted it for 18 years. He did not receive the monastery in the best condition. Metropolitan Philaret, who visited it in October 1837, said: “In the entire diocese I have no poorer or worse churches than yours.” Father Ilarius reported in detail about his difficulties in restoring the monastery and his experiences to Archimandrite Ignatius in picturesque letters. The Archimandrite himself was at that time experiencing no less difficulties in recreating the Sergius Hermitage, but he also wanted to know about the monastery that was intended for him by Metropolitan Philaret. And Father Ilarius described it in great detail in a letter dated November 15, 1836. Also, trusting the taste of Father Ilarius, Archimandrite Ignatius sometimes entrusted him with the acquisition of church utensils and icons from Moscow masters, whom he valued, apparently, more than those from St. Petersburg. They met again 18 years later, when Archimandrite Ignatius visited Ugresha on his way to the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery. He really liked the monastery: “The Ugreshsky Monastery is nice and secluded,” he wrote. I also liked the brethren there: “On Thursday I was at the Ugreshskaya monastery, which, despite its proximity to Moscow, is visited little by pilgrims and is therefore very secluded. With spiritual consolation, I saw some monastics there, living an attentive life in the fear of God. They are very careful from the monastics of the city of Moscow, not despising them, but avoiding mental disorder, which no one can so quickly communicate, like a brother who lives carelessly. On Friday I was in the Kremlin to worship shrines. Father Superior Ugreshsky was my guide” 6 . Pyotr Dmitrievich Myasnikov arrived at the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery together with Father Ilarius. In his “Memoirs” he writes: “I corrected cell obedience under Father Hilary for five and a half years; I didn’t have a special cell, and I lived in the hallway behind screens that separated the corner and window. Due to the lack of people, I had several obediences: I was 1) a cell attendant for the abbot, 2) a refectory attendant, 3) a funeral attendant, and, due to lack of availability, a cellarer and 4) a candle keeper. On March 26, 1838, on Lazarus Saturday, I took monastic vows and was renamed from Peter to Pimen. In the fall, I was replaced as a cell attendant, and I was transferred to one of the fraternal cells. On February 23, 1839, he was ordained a hierodeacon. In March he took up the post of treasury, and in 1840 he became a Hieromonk.” In the position of treasurer, in which Father Pimen was confirmed in 1844, Archimandrite Ignatius found him during his visit to Sin. Father Pimen made the most favorable impression on the archimandrite. In the event of Father Hilary’s retirement, he wrote, “I agreed with Pimen and the other hieromonk, who were completely formed on my sinful advice and were the real Sergievskys,” 7 about their transition to the Sergeev Hermitage. Father Pimen, who witnessed all the events during Archimandrite Ignatius’s stay in Moscow, wrote later: “Metropolitan Philaret treated him very kindly, gave him the most honorable and cordial welcome, repeatedly received him and visited him in the house of I. A. Maltsev, where he stayed, and, inviting him to dinner, gathered the highest Moscow clergy to introduce him to him.” A meeting with Father Ignatius awakened Father Pimen's youthful memories, and he asked the abbot to take time off to visit his homeland in Vologda. He set off in 1848 during the third week of Lent and on the way stopped to visit Archimandrite Ignatius at the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery, with whom he stayed for two days. Four years have passed. Father Abbot Ilarius had already asked Metropolitan Philaret several times to let him retire, and in November 1852, the Bishop did not detain him any longer. After retiring, Father Hilary spent 11 years in the Gethsemane monastery, and came to visit U sin several times; took monastic vows into the schema with the former name of Elijah; On July 9, 1863, he died and was buried in the Tarbeevskaya Hermitage. His father Pimen performed the funeral service. In his place, Metropolitan Philaret appointed Father Pimen on November 16, 1852, who had long attracted his attention with his tireless activities. The first thing Father Pimen did in his new position was to introduce a hostel in the monastery, which the Metropolitan had long sought, but which Father Ilarius had resisted all the years. From that moment until the end of his life, Metropolitan Philaret treated Father Pimen with exceptional trust and favor. On October 6, 1853, he handed him the abbot's staff, and in August 1858 he ordained him as an archimandrite. Thus, in the next meeting - in November-December 1857 - the abbot of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery, hegumen Pimen (Myasnikov), and the bishop of the Caucasus and Black Sea Ignatius (Brianchaninov) met. This meeting is known from the notes of P.P. Yakovlev, who wrote that Father Pimen accompanied Bishop Ignatius on his trip to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He was also present during the meetings of Bishop Ignatius with Metropolitan Philaret. In 1859–1861, the nephew of the Most Reverend Ignatius, Alexei Petrovich Brianchaninov, was a novice at the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery. Upon his uncle’s return from Stavropol, he joined him in the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery. In 1861, His Grace Ignatius, on his way to the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery, stopped in Moscow and the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery. This was his last meeting with Archimandrite Pimen. There is no doubt that they corresponded during the long breaks between dates, but, unfortunately, these letters have not survived. However, the surviving letters of Father Pimen to other people show that he did not really like to write them: their content is limited to congratulations on holidays or Angel’s Day. Nevertheless, Bishop Ignatius wrote about one of his letters on November 8, 1862 to his brother Peter Alexandrovich: “Yesterday I received a letter from Ugresh Archimandrite Pimen; writes that his patron, Saint Leonid, is talking with the metropolitan about granting me a diocese, that they have heard rumors about my falling into despondency, and so on. I answered that I was quite satisfied with my current position and that my illness made it impossible for me to correct my official duties” 8. And the only known letter from Bishop Ignatius to Archimandrite Pimen, in addition to its content, is also interesting because Father Pimen remained among the very few people (siblings and Mikhail Chikhachev) to whom he addressed “you” until the end of his days. Bishop Ignatius was familiar with the Right Reverend Leonid (Krasnopevkov) mentioned in a letter dated November 8, 1862 from the very beginning of his abbot in the Sergius Hermitage. From him he sometimes received news about the life and activities of Archimandrite Pimen. So, on June 22, 1859, he wrote to His Grace Leonid: “I was pleased with the information contained in your letter about the Ugreshsky Monastery. God bless Father Pimen, who used and continues to use his abilities for the Glory of God! Nowadays it is difficult to find a well-maintained monastery! » Father Pimen met Father Leonid, who was at that time the rector of the Moscow Theological Seminary, in 1855 and since then considered him his best, even “only” friend. And Father Leonid, already the Bishop of Dimitrovsky, wrote about him: “People like Father Pimen are a great rarity: they are nuggets of gold.” In May 1873, when Archimandrite Pimen, while inspecting another building in the monastery, fell from a stepladder and broke a rib, His Eminence Leonid wrote him a letter in which he vividly characterized his activities: “When you restored the Ugresh monastery from the ruins and, with a tight soul, arranging a common life in it, spent most of the year, forgetting about yourself, on the buildings, and arose from under your hands these splendid churches, beautiful houses, graceful walls, gardens blossomed, who then could rebel against you for exhausting your strength? Your autumn illness was, of course, the result of many years of excessive work and self-forgetfulness in the service of the Church and monasticism; but who could blame you for it? Everyone felt compassion for you, prayed to God for you and tremblingly awaited the outcome of this extraordinary illness. Alas! Although your current suffering from broken ribs cannot but arouse regret for you, it also produces a smile on everyone’s lips that you don’t want to see. <...> Both the wound and death from falling from a stepladder are honorable for the foreman of carpenters, but for Archimandrite Pimen, if not a shame, then a reproach from all those who love and respect him. You have, Dear Beloved, you have a construction business higher than carpentry and masonry - the building of souls.” The year 1867 arrived. In August, the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the hierarchical ministry of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow was planned. The commission for preparing the celebration was headed by His Eminence Leonid. After consulting with him, Archimandrite Pimen sent a letter to Bishop Ignatius asking if he would like to take part in the work of the Commission. In response, Bishop Ignatius wrote on April 24, 1867: “Most beloved Father Archimandrite Pimen in the Lord! I bring you my sincere gratitude for remembering me, a sinner, and for congratulating me on the Feast of Holidays, on which I mutually congratulate you, wishing you all the true blessings and greeting you with an all-joyful greeting: Christ is Risen! Equally, I am very grateful to you for notifying me that on August 5th of this year, the fifty years of service of His Eminence, Metropolitan Philaret, in the rank of bishop will be completed. It is highly desirable that the address to His Eminence from the cenobitic monasteries be completed satisfactorily. The matter itself shows that the preparation of the address should be entrusted to a person: About one who knows monastic life; 2) someone who knows the actions of the Metropolitan in favor of monasticism in general according to the Synod; 3) who knows the actions of the Metropolitan in the Moscow Diocese; 4) who knows His private actions. An address can be strong only by the number and merit of facts. Obviously, there is nothing to do here for a writer who is completely unfamiliar with information on the last three points, even if he has troubled himself with something on the first. Your letter was in the post office in Yaroslavl, because the muddy road destroyed the monastery’s communication with the cities at that time. I received the letter on the 23rd. That day I was so weak that I went to bed, barely breathing. When I passed through Moscow to Babayki, I was incomparably stronger than now, although even then I was already extremely ill. I can’t serve at all: no chest, no breathing, no legs, my back seems to be broken. And I hardly do any cell work, although in winter I definitely don’t leave my cell. I ask for your holy prayers. Your most devoted servant E Ignatius" 9. Six days after this letter, Saint Ignatius passed away into eternity. And six and a half months later, Metropolitan Philaret passed into eternity: “On November 13,” wrote Archimandrite Pimen, “I was with the Bishop on two matters. Did I think that I would no longer be destined to see him alive? The sad news of his death reached our monastery on the 19th in the evening.” He later recalled: “The late Vladyka [Filaret] showed me trust that was flattering, of which I could fully be convinced. Hardly any other abbot, with the exception of the Lavra Viceroy 10, enjoyed such a distinction.” Prior to the appointment of a new metropolitan, the temporary administration of the Moscow Metropolitanate was entrusted to His Eminence Leonid, at that time Bishop of Dimitrovsky, vicar of Moscow. On January 5, 1868, His Eminence Innocent, Archbishop of Amur and Kamchatka 11, was appointed to the Moscow Metropolis. Nothing changed in the fate of Archimandrite Pimen with this appointment. In March 1869, he went to St. Petersburg to venerate the shrines there. During his stay, he also visited former acquaintances of St. Ignatius: Tatyana Borisovna Potemkina, the widow of Count Mikhail Nikolaevich Muravyov, Pelagia Vasilievna, Senator P. I. Solomon, the governor of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Archimandrite Juvenaliy (Polovtsov). On March 26, he went to Sergius Hermitage, met its rector, Father Archimandrite Ignatius (Malyshevs), 12 who made a strong impression on him with his artistic talents: Father Ignatius, he wrote, is very skilled in painting: he has many beautiful icons and paintings of his work. After the conversation, Father Ignatius took him around the monastery. “By the time we walked, it was already dark. In the evening, Prince Suvorov was visiting the archimandrite, and after that, schemamonk Father Mikhail Chikhachev came, with whom we had been novices for some time in the Novoezersky monastery in 1833. I spent the night with the Archimandrite and the next day returned to St. Petersburg, still walking around everywhere and thanking the hospitable Abbot for his warm welcome and for the bread and salt offered before my departure.” In 1871, fate brought Archimandrite Pimen together with another disciple of St. Ignatius, the famous abbot of the Cheremenets St. John the Theological Monastery, poet and writer Father Anthony (Bochkov), who, having retired, settled in the Ugreshsky Monastery. He was 68 years old at that time. In the same year, 1871, the Moscow diocesan authorities instructed the cenobitic monasteries to send one hieromonk at a time to administer the services in the department of the Moscow Labor Hospital. “Our monastery, like the monastery of the Dean,” wrote Archimandrite Pimen, “had to set an example and be the first to begin a succession in this new field. The first one who was jealous to enter this new field of spiritual work was one of the most worthy elders of our monastery, the former Abbot of the Cheremenets Theological Monastery, Fr. Antony Bochkov, who lived with us in retirement. As the first worker, he established the proper order in the administration of necessities and, like a good shepherd, laid down his life for his neighbors.” Archimandrite Pimen, knowing about the predisposition of the elderly Father Anthony to diseases, dissuaded him, assuring him that going to the hospital meant “almost going to death.” And so it happened. Father Anthony contracted typhus and died in the hospital on April 5, 1872, sacrificing himself “for the good of his smaller brothers who were suffering and dying.” The health of Archimandrite Pimen himself began to deteriorate. In 1873, he suffered a serious illness, the recovery from which he considered a “miracle.” Nevertheless, when in 1875, on May 20, his friend, the Right Reverend Leonid, was appointed Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov, Father Pimen undertook a long journey to Rostov, Yaroslavl, Rybinsk, the Yugskaya Dorofeevsky Hermitage, Kostroma and the Babaevsky Monastery. “Leaving Kostroma at 10 o’clock in the morning,” he wrote, “we arrived at the Babaevsky Monastery at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. From the pier to the monastery no more than 100 fathoms. When the ship stops at the pier, a prayer service is sung in the chapel. Father Archimandrite Justin 13 received me very cordially, as a long-time and old acquaintance: he happened to visit Ugresh more than once. Then came P. A. Brianchaninov (brother of the late Bishop Ignatius, who lived and died in the Babaevsky Monastery); he occupies the cells in which the Right Reverend lived, and leads a very quiet, secluded, completely monastic life. After lunch, Father Justin took me around the monastery, which I had not been to for almost 30 years, since 1848. We toured the new cathedral, begun before 1867 during the lifetime of His Grace Ignatius. In terms of the originality of the architecture and the size of the building, there is hardly anything like it anywhere else; the very top and head look like a royal crown. The building, although slowly, is moving forward and is approaching its end. The three of me spent the evening with Pyotr Alexandrovich and my father, the archimandrite, and we parted quite late. In the morning, September 30, I asked that a prayer service be served before the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas, and a requiem mass at the tomb of the Most Reverend Ignatius in a warm church, I wished to serve it myself and served it together with the hierodeacon. The singing at late mass was widespread. After lunch, I said goodbye to my father, the archimandrite, and Pyotr Alexandrovich and hurried to the ship departing for Yaroslavl.” On October 21, Father Pimen returned to Moscow; On the 22nd - to the monastery. On November 23, 1876, His Eminence Leonid arrived in Moscow for a meeting with the Committee on the Construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior; On December 2 he returned to Yaroslavl. Father Pimen saw him off: “I was still standing at the entrance - as if my heart was secretly telling me that we were no longer destined to see each other on earth.” On December 13, His Eminence Leonid, while reviewing the Diocese, at the invitation of Archimandrite Justin, arrived in Babayki. On this day, in the hospital church, he listened to a memorial service for the Most Reverend Ignatius, then told those gathered about his meetings with the Eminence. And on December 15 he died unexpectedly. Archimandrite Pimen received news of the death of His Grace Leonid on December 16, 18th - he arrived in Yaroslavl and Babayki. He strongly wished that the deceased be buried on Ugresh. But the Moscow Bishop said that the determination of the Synod had already taken place: “Where the flock is, let there be a shepherd.” On December 22, Father Pimen returned to Moscow, he was with the vicar, with the Most Reverend Nicodemus and with the mayor, Prince Dolgorukov, “to whom he gave the idea to ask for the Highest permission to use materials left over from the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for the monument of the Right Reverend. Which is what happened.” In 1880, the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery celebrated its five hundredth anniversary. Archimandrite Pimen gave 45 years of his life to this monastery - almost a tenth of the time of its existence. But did he give or receive? Shouldn't he be grateful to fate for sending him here? In 1830, God's Providence brought the future archimandrite, then an unknown merchant son, together with Dmitry Alexandrovich Brianchaninov. Thanks to this meeting, Father Pimen did not remain in provincial Vologda, but ended up in a monastery located in close proximity to Moscow and receiving great attention from Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow. In addition, the “delightful location,” according to Father Ilarius, of the monastery made it even more attractive for both its inhabitants and pilgrims. Thanks to his friendly relations with Father Ilarius, as well as the peculiarities of his character, Father Pimen almost immediately upon arrival was included in the clerical work of the monastery related to its management. This circumstance very soon made him known to Metropolitan Philaret, which affected his future career. Selfless hard work was the essence of Father Pimen. This can be seen, in particular, from the above letter from the Most Reverend Leonid. But there is no doubt that the selfless work was inspired by the special love of Archimandrite Pimen for his monastery. This can be seen even now, when, despite all the losses after 1917, the monastery takes on such a beautiful, such a magnificent appearance. Father Pimen’s hard work and attractive character traits attracted many wonderful people of his time to him. He himself spoke about the exceptional attitude of Metropolitan Philaret towards him in his “Memoirs”, and also spoke about his friendship with His Grace Leonid (Krasnopevkov). Communication with these outstanding people, constant reading of the works of the Holy Fathers, in which Saint Ignatius aroused his interest, contributed to the intellectual development of Archimandrite Pimen himself. Thanks to this, this “apprentice of the dressmaker Pelageya Yegorovna” was able to also engage in literary work and write his extensive “Memoirs” very vividly. Moreover, to write the historical part, he needed to attract materials from various sources. This is evidenced by correspondence preserved in the archive, in particular his letter given below to the famous archaeographer Pavel Mikhailovich Stroev. Divine Providence brought the earthly life of Archimandrite Pimen to the anniversary of his beloved brainchild. In honor of the monastery's five hundredth anniversary, Archimandrite Pimen's last dream came true: on August 9, 1880, the foundation stone of a new cathedral took place, which would eventually become the second largest after the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in the Moscow diocese. Archimandrite Justin from the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery came to the holiday. Archimandrite Pimen was ill and died on August 17. Now Archimandrite Pimen is glorified as a saint. His memory is August 17 (Old Art.). Most beloved in the Lord, Fr. Hegumen Illary! I received your letter dated October 2, and I sincerely regretted you, especially since you are drinking the cup that I would have had to drink if God’s Providence had not diverted me from the Ugresh monastery. But, you yourself know, no matter where you live on earth, you must endure temptations. Apparently, people are tempting us, but without the beck of the Provider they could not even touch us. So, in our sorrows, let us surrender ourselves to the will of our Creator and consider ourselves worthy of sorrows - and rest. Escape from temptations does not mean a change of place, but surrender to the will of God and self-reproach and patience from these. When we become very despondent from temptations and murmur at them, then the danger lies ahead so as not to become fighters against God, said one Holy Father, as we clearly arm ourselves against the allowances of God’s Providence, for our great benefit and the healing of the One who allows us to be tempted. Sorry, Father! I am telling you as if for myself, for I very often grieve, because of my lusts and passions I am drawn and seduced, and for the sin of murmuring and cowardice and anger, and then I only find peace when I surrender myself completely to the will of God. When I forget to praise the Lord for all His good deeds and surrender myself to His holy will and Providence, then a storm arises again and the soul is again in danger of drowning in the waves of cowardice and fear. If you are grieving, then your path is not far from the path of the Pleasers of God, who, walking in the midst of many sorrows and bleeding their feet, reached the Heavenly City of Jerusalem, in which they do not hear the sighs of the mourners, but the voice of unceasing rejoicing is heard of the Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, who inherited it through many sorrows. Let us put aside, let us put aside, Father, the desire for untimely peace on earth, in order to receive it on time, that is, after death. Let us prepare our hearts to accept everything as from the hand of God, with thanksgiving and glorification. And be patient in your position as abbot as long as possible. In your conscience you feel that it was not you who ruined the monastery, but on the contrary, how much of your strength and skill you had to correct it. The Bishop may have found it really hard to look at the ruins of the monastery, but he, as a prudent person, can very well understand that you set up a courtyard as a source of income, and from this source you will rebuild the monastery. And Moscow was not built all at once! they say that there is such a proverb. - If you see from the thing itself that it is impossible for you to remain the Head of the Ugresh monastery, then the gates to the Sergius Hermitage are open to you and Fr. Peter, - if the Lord will tolerate my sins and I will still be Abbot of Sergius. But my better advice is to endure as long as you can, and by renewing and organizing the Monastery to justify your election. I know from my own limited experience what it’s like to restore ruined monasteries. And here in Sergiev, from the first year I put a thousand from my own mug into the Monastery, and for the last two years I haven’t taken almost a mug at all, but put it into the Monastery. And despite all this, wherever you look, there is rotting and falling everywhere. Forgive me, Dear Father, take the trouble to answer me this letter as soon as you decide. Asking for your prayers to the Saints, I have the honor to be your most humble novice Archimandrite Ignatius October 6, 1837. Your Reverence Most Gracious Father Archimandrite Ignatius Firstly, I congratulate you, Father, as a Father, on the all-joyful holiday of the Nativity of Christ, as well as on your acceptance of the San of the Father of the new flock by the will of God and the Monarch. I wish you to rejoice in the Lord and enjoy many years of health. With these lines, firstly, I convey to Your Reverence about my insignificance, I, Glory to the Lord God, with all my infirmities, in the course of my petition, arrived in your fatherland in the city of Vologda safely with my brother Peter Dmitrievich on December 23 last. He appeared to His Eminence on the 24th and was received extremely kindly by the Bishop. But, to my extreme unworthiness, for my grave sins and pride, I was not honored to see you, my father, in person, below the Lopotova Monastery. But instead I ended up in a place that was open and renowned for the importance of the city, in the Holy Spiritual Monastery under the patronage of Father Mr. Ambrose, known to you, my current abbot. In this holy place, the Lord, for my unworthiness, was pleased to while away my days with all my infirmities D. and T. (mental and physical) instead of the desired peace. On the 12th of this new year, the month of Genvar, a decree was read to me on the resolution of His Eminence to the above-mentioned place of eternal brotherhood pending discretion with observation of my behavior. Lord my God and Creator, how much Man fights against Your destiny with his desire, hence Your sinful servant has learned from his own experience. But it’s too late to look, Thy Will be done. I find myself in such and such a position beyond hope. I have little time for the deceased, except for bitter thoughts and bloody tears to the point of exhaustion and damage to the rest of my mental and physical health. Many people here, Ecclesiastical and Secular, regret my fate. I also examined the bitter fate of the local monasteries in the local Diocese, as well as the justice of the Diocesan authorities. I shudder in my heart how I, a poor grief-stricken soul, will continue time and nourish my life, pampered and without spiritual tools, in such chaos and vale. This is the position I am in, Lyub Father, in the presence of the Spirit, I am only nourished by the hope of the mercy of God and Your Reverence to heed my bitter fate to petition the Most Reverend Bishop with your letter for my former freedom, a ticket, if you deign, to your Diocese and monastery to arrive together with brother Peter D., who, upon arrival here, is also at a loss as to what to do with himself. due to the shortness of the time before the audit and his fate, due to the disposition towards Your Reverence, remains undecided. And if you, father, places are occupied, then bless us to decide on another Diocese, I hope that the Right Reverend will respect you, but they won’t even let me see him. I stayed with Peter D. for quite some time and was extremely pleased with their love of strangeness, and it was only here that the Strange One found benefactors, and especially in my current position. Peter D. is a dear friend and brother in Spirit and body, and if it weren’t for him, then the Lord knows what happened to me. A message about me came from Kaluga soon after me. The Optina elders, father, are all alive and well, except for Fr. Serapion, which is identified and located in the Sergius M Lavra. He will be calm there. And the rest all bow to you and ask for your holy prayers. Father, here I have asked many visible benefactors to show mercy to me, but in vain, although you show your Fatherly Christian love and mercy to ask the Lord for me freedom to be released from the Diocese, which I ask and pray for the Lord’s sake and I beat with my forehead. Also please me, a sinner, as well as my brother Peter, with your writing upon receipt of this writing of ours addressed to his father, Mr. Myasnikov. What we can look forward to. Believe me, my Father, I could barely move my hand while writing these lines from the pain of my heart, give the needy one your strong helping hand. Therefore, I remain to Your Eminence, my merciful father and patron, with filial devotion to the lowest novice Sinner Hieromonk Hilary. I bow to His Reverend Father Mikhail Vasilyevich and ask for his holy prayers. Your Reverence, Most Honorable Father Ignatius, I congratulate you on the feast of the Nativity of Christ and on your acceptance of the new rank of father of a new flock, and I wish you to rejoice in the Lord with all your brethren in Christ. Forgive me, father, that I dare to disturb you with seven lines of words: we arrived in Vologda with Father Ilariy safely, but, our misfortune, we did not find you anymore and we are both in considerable embarrassment about our bitter fate. And since we have truly learned about your fate, I now fall at the feet of Your Reverence and ask you to do mercy on me: to my closest compatriot, and remembering your fatherly mercies and love, I do not step out of your will and have not settled anywhere of my own free will except for your blessing: and as the borders of my freedom are approaching, I must lay my head somewhere, then I ask you as my true father, give me some solution; if I am not worthy to be your slave, then bless where I should decide. Although I did not expect it, I must obey the will of God and your disposition. Therefore, I remain to Your Eminence and merciful father and patron, the most humble novice, many-sinful pilgrim, Peter Myasnikov. 1834 January 14th day of the Holy Spirit Vologda Monastery. I live in a monastery in a cell with four people in one, and all 13 of them in old wooden cells. We also ask you, father, if it is possible to notify us with the first mail. Through your fatherly prayers and benevolence for the benefit of my neighbor, I, indecent, by the grace of the Lord God, our Provider, was honored with my journey to receive a quiet refuge in the monastery of the Wonderworker Nicholas, Hierarch of Myra of Ugresh. My Holy Father and Archpastor, His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret, honored me, the indecent one, with His merciful resolution to enter the above-mentioned Monastery in the form of Abbot Manager, to accept the Monastery with its monastic and church property for me. On this occasion, by order of the Diocesan Administration, it was decided to bring me into the monastery and be a witness in the acceptance of monastic property to Father Archimandrite Plato of the Daniel Monastery. The reception took place at the monastery with a ceremony and my swearing in. After this, the sacristy, income and expenditure books and other monastic accessories were testified. The entry into the monastery was the 14th day of March. The sacristy with the existing previous inventory was verified, but due to the theft and theft it is now not identical in cash, but again only a notebook consists of what things are available in the sacristy and book room, the money from the receipts and expenditure books remains from last year 7837 ser 58 k. In the Board of Trustees of tickets, on which interest is received from more than 34 thousand; brethren 11 people. In Moscow there is a stone courtyard, two outbuildings are used for trading establishments, and the annual collection totals more than 6,000. The location of the monastery is delightful. Worldly villages are distant on all sides. The building is made of stone and there is a fence around it for a mile. A beautiful garden and other lands near the Monastery. The Moscow River flows near the monastery. The rector's cells are cheerful and spacious. There are two churches, the local sacristy is rich, the fraternal cells are very sufficient and calm. But due to various changes in leadership, the brotherhood is in disarray, and a lot of amendments are required in the monastery and courtyard. For the Lord’s sake, Father, help me, who is weak, with your fatherly instructions; in the current situation, all hope according to God is in your protection. Brother Peter D., with God's help, is determined to live here forever. These days I am sending his petition to the Archpastor. In the event, Father, pledge a word for him to Your Eminence - and for the letter sent from us from Moscow upon arrival to Your Eminence from our cowardice, sorrowful to your paternal heart, we ask you to forgive us, for the Lord’s sake. For the explanation of this brief and insufficient explanation according to the news, I remain to Your Eminence, my merciful Father, with filial devotion, asking for your fatherly prayers and favor, your unworthy novice, Administrator of the Nicholas Ugresh Monastery, unworthy Hieromonk Hilary. Your Reverence, if there is a reason, even through your person, to personally ask for the Blessing of me, the poor one, from my great Archpastor, His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret, then work for the Lord’s sake to intercede for me, the indecent one, his Holy Archpastoral Blessing. I bow to Father Mikhail Vasilyevich with the deepest respect, asking for his Holy prayers. With this, I also ask for your father’s blessing and your holy prayers, I bow low, I remain the unworthy novice Peter Myasnikov. 1834 March 19th day Nikolaevsky Ugreshsky Monastery. I received your fatherly writings from the 14th and 25th of last month with spiritual pleasure and read them many times as good news. I thanked the Lord that an abundance was revealed to my temptation, your fatherly condescension and care for us, the poor, acted as the only means to intercede for the reconciliation of the Most Holy Archpastoral soul. For your kind mercies and Christian disposition to us, like silent babies, with a simple greeting, we sincerely thank you, father, and ask that you would be lenient in our shortcomings in the previous time. For which the Lord our Creator and Provider will not abandon you with His mercy. Now, through the prayers of the Archpastor and yours, we remain calm, oblivious. With this, father, I bring you information about the construction of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery. According to previous records, it is clear that the initial foundation and restoration of the monastery occurred on the occasion of the appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - in the summer of the creation of the world in the year 6879 to the Grand Duke Dimitri Ioannovich Donskoy, who was marching with soldiers against Mamai of the Tatar Khan - in the feast of food for them near the site of the monastery. The venerable icon of St. Nicholas appeared to him on a pine tree, surrounded by stars, which, having descended from the tree of his hands, was accepted by him and taken to the battlefield. When he, the Grand Duke, returned victoriously from the massacre, then as a token of gratitude to the Wonderworker Nicholas, he built the monastery previously famous by the monk, named Ugresha, because upon leaving Moscow, from the fear of Mamai, his heart was warmed with hope by the appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas. The fence with towers and the building inside was a huge stone one, which later, most of the two churches were broken. And the rest that currently exists, a dilapidated fence with 7 towers and 2 loopholes in the Gothic style, with a circumference of 380 fathoms, is close to falling in places. The Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas is small and dilapidated, with a covered passage built around it with a small sacristy. Two buildings of two-story verbs. They now serve as a place of prayer and residence for those living with the necessary supplies. After demolishing the huge former church and other service buildings in the Monastery, the educated bosses of the present time pulled together the new taste into one mass: the first warm church was built in the former Rector's chambers, which is now the second and last. There was also a small meal with a kitchenette, and a bell tower was also added to the same church. Thus, now the entire building is contained in the monastery. Namely, two churches, in which there is one real altar without chapels, two buildings - in the first there is a rector on the top floor, in a row in one connection there is a warm church - separately and a bell tower. On the contrary, there is a building of fraternal cells, and the cathedral church of St. Nicholas stands out. In the fraternal building, on the upper and lower floors, there are two chambers that have not yet been arranged for residence. Other buildings inside the Monastery are insignificant and dilapidated, scattered in different places. 1st ancient large two-story stone hotel now serves as a stable and barn for carriages, and above it is a storage area for hay; 2nd large barn, which was the monastic forge, serves as a woodshed, made of stone. On the lower floor of the Rector's chambers there is a large fraternal icehouse and a chamber for storing provisions, a chamber with a pit for garden vegetables and other things. There is a staircase to the Rector inside and an attached porch for entering the warm church. And for the disgrace inside the monastery, what was left from the demolition of the previous structure was garbage, stones and bricks in great piles, requiring a considerable amount of time to be spent on cleansing. The decoration in the two churches is the poorest. The sacristy is small and poor and dilapidated, but there used to be a rich one, which was stolen by thieves in 1825 under the former Abbot of Israel. Once upon a time, vestments, sacred surplices, epitrachils, armlets, airs, orari, were all decorated with pearls and precious stones. Also, the silver arks and all the best church utensils were stolen and so cleaned that there are no church utensils and inventories available for 12 years after the theft, because the consistory is still deciding the matter. My predecessor, the former abbot Aaron, they say, has up to 60,000 rubles. of his money in the Guardian Council as a percentage, then when he broke into 12 sazhens a two-story expensive building in 1828 by resolution of His Eminence Philaret Metropolitan, he was so delighted with the extraction of iron and other things that he boasted of turning the Ugresh monastery into a parish church due to its dilapidation. But the Abode, preserved by God, remains in its existence even after this wealthy covetous man. In addition to the Hegumen, the brotherhood consists of 15 people, of whom 5 are Hieromonks, 2 Hierodeacons, 3 monks and 5 novices. The income the monastery collects every year from quitrent articles is quite sufficient. Of which the most important is from the monastery courtyard in Moscow, consisting of two two-story buildings, the current coin here is 17 kopecks. [nrzb.] for 1 ruble – 6560 rubles per year. In these, the existing chapel costs 700 rubles, of which a civilian chapel receives 120 rubles per year. Flour mill in Bronnitsky district - 900 rubles. From monastery meadows for grass and hay up to 1000 rubles. Drinking house on the banks of the Moscow River 500 rubles. An inn right there on the shore costs 550 rubles. Forge 100 rubles. Monastery Pond costs 250 rubles for water alone. For garden and arable land 80 rubles. Two mugs, the 1st at the monastery gates, the 2nd - on the banks of the Moscow River 285 rubles. Candle sale for 646 rubles with a running coin. According to the state, the third-class salary per year is 1,610 rubles in banknotes. And in total for the parish corrected in 1835: the salary according to the staff is 1610 rubles, the non-salary monastery with the indicated quitrent articles is a current coin and 571 rubles, a total of 13181 rubles in each year. On top of this constant arrival there is an even more or less unforeseen one. On the 30,000 rubles in banknotes kept in the Guardian Council, deposited by the monastery for an indefinite period, the interest is not included in the above-mentioned parish, which has never been received before. In the indicated amount of 30,000 rubles - 10,000 rubles in banknotes were allocated for the years 1834 and 1836. The indicated amount began to miraculously accumulate in 1832 into the permanent establishment of the monastery. And the subject for the future time of its useful circulation into income is proposed for this - to rebuild the two-story building of the monastery, which has again fallen into disrepair, into two stone floors, the length along the streets and the courtyard is 2172 linear fathoms, and the width is 4 fathoms, and one can hope that by bringing this useful article into a good and lasting position for the future, the Ugresh monastery can conveniently bring its ruins fix it. At my request, the Archpastor deigned to allow perestroika, which will certainly begin in the next year, 1837. The plan, facade and estimate for the construction of the said building with alignment and another - 58,000 rubles. But we hope that we will owe little in addition to our stated amount according to the estimate. And the expenses in the monastery, which I introduced in 1834, were 13,326 rubles per year, and in 1835 - 10,581 rubles, and in this year, 1836, it will reach no more than 11,000 rubles. Of this three-year sum, a large amount was used, 1, for covering 4 towers with planks and one belonging to the abbot's cells with iron, 1,473 rubles, for painting all the church buildings in the monastery in oil twice as copper and 1,298 rubles. 3000 rubles for the reconstruction and transfer of two wooden monastery buildings to another place, on the occasion of the collapse of the bank of the monastery land. These above-mentioned buildings consist of quitrent articles of an inn and drinking house at a distance from the monastery 300 fathoms down the river. Instead, 10,000 rubles for banknotes of 1,400 rubles. And other expenses are spent on fraternal meals, about 2000 rubles come out every year, on firewood a year 1000 rubles in banknotes and more. Also for the construction of a new palisade in the monastery near the garden. To build a new cell in the tower above the gate with the porch. To establish all the necessary equipment for employees in the abbot's cell, stables, meals, kitchen, and courtyard in Moscow. There are now few dilapidated stoves, floors and other things left in the monastic cells. But there is also a lot of dilapidation in the interior and exterior of all the monastery buildings, which are constantly waiting for their time to be corrected. Most Reverend Father! The Ugreshsky monastery received by me was upset in all respects, my first task was to gather and organize the Brotherhood. This point required a lot of work and pain to bring to the level. The first inconvenience to the meeting here is the enemies and rivals of Ugreshe - the Moscow revenue monasteries. 2nd - The monastery was disgraced so much that a good man would even disdain to mention it with his lips, but who would have agreed before, given the news, ignorance and youth of the good abbot, to settle in this chaos. But what does God’s Providence build? Of the 12 former brethren, in 2.5 years of my reign, only 3 remained, and how many more were left by me or the government of certain scoundrels does not need to be mentioned. Then now the monks in Moscow think of me as a slanderous Abbot and the most unscrupulous hook and undeserving, whoever is good could live with him. But thank God, now in Ugresh, it seems, one can frankly boast that they live more strictly than the Moscow city monks, and our church service is more orderly than many Moscow monasteries. At the same time, Father, we can convey to you that in 1835, from the previous brotherhood, a white deacon, Nikolai Ivanov, submitted a request to the Sovereign Emperor for me, found out some problems that had happened in our monastery, and so on. Our Lord knows the matter of his request, which through the protection of the Lord remained without attention or investigation. In the same year, there were two slanderous investigations about the former treasurer and the priest, who shocked many innocent souls with their oath, including Brother Peter. It was boring to be the Chief in such a monastery, but thank God for everything. Subsequently, the end of these affairs can be attributed to the Archpastor with great fatherly condescension and mercy. Everywhere, both he and the consistory, with their court, protected me from the guilty, and the said scoundrels are now suffering in different places under strict supervision. The land in the monastery, according to the boundary plans, shows that there are 34 comfortable and inconvenient dessiatines, of this number 17 convenient dessiatines are meadow and 8 vegetable and arable dessiatines, and the rest consists of inconvenient dessiatines, such as under the monastery, under ponds, under the road near the monastery, a towpath and half of the river, and from the number of convenient ones since the beginning of land surveying in the past year, 1796, on the occasion of the collapse of the bank into hollow water underwent a major change by assigning the towpath to the passage of barges to the designated meadow article. Especially over the past three years, every year the towpath has been transferred to the monastery land for 200 linear fathoms along and 10 in width of the legal distance of the towpath. The fraternal income with the abbot is obtained per year: firstly, the government salary for the abbot is 200 rubles and for the table 130 rubles in banknotes; total 330 rubles. Hieromonks and hierodeacons: a) treasurer 35, b) and others but 24 rubles, c) for a monastic vacancy 20 rubles. To this add the circle income received here due to the small number, from the monastery's unpaid sum legitimized for the issuance by resolutions of the Archpastors in current coin per year: to the abbot 100 rubles, to the treasurer 130 rubles, to each hieromonk 80 rubles, to the hierodeacon 70 rubles, to the monk and novice 60 rubles. Circle, prayer, hack and glorified services per year - 845 rubles. This amount is not always constant. In addition to this, 12,300 rubles are added to the income from the amount stored in the Board of Trustees, deposited by investors in perpetuity in memory of their parents in different years. Interest on banknotes for 5 and 4 kopecks is 625 rubles per year. The total is divided between the rector and the brethren of circle and interest ranks. As for visiting the monastery by pilgrims from Moscow or from other foreign places, we can strongly recommend it: they don’t happen either in summer or winter, except that on Sundays a small number of peasants from nearby villages come to the church, and on other days you won’t see anyone in the church. Only silence and emptiness reign in our place, especially in winter deep silence; in summer you can still hear screaming horse guides pulling barges along the river, which is 150 fathoms or more from the monastery to the south. We do not have an engraved plan for the monastery, but I will try to deliver it to Your Reverence in due time. At the same time, the priest dared to attach a simple hand-made drawing of the monastery. At least to some extent you will be able to understand its current location. Those you know, Father, who live here are: firstly, Hieromonk Seraphim from Vologda, who lived with you in Lopotovo, now, by definition, in 1835 he filled the position of treasurer at the monastery; secondly, the Elder of Athonite, the crusader, Hieromonk Seraphim; thirdly, o. Pyotr Dmitrievich and Ivan Ivanovich Khokhol seem to be familiar to you. However, all of you for your kindness, according to one rumor, not only some of my brethren here know me, but also all the Moscow elders. Forgive me for being too lazy to write due to my weak chest. For this I remain with the lowest devotion, I bow low and ask for your holy prayers. Your Most Reverend Father and patron Your Reverence, Gracious Father Archimandrite Ignatius Your great Fatherly mercies, poured out throughout everything, have boldly raised me, unworthy, to congratulate you, our Father and benefactor, on the Highly Solemn Day of Christ’s Nativity. From the depths of our hearts, we sincerely wish and pray to the All-Giftful Lord, may He continue your life for His glory, enlightenment, and benefit to the monastic. With many years of health in the world. At the same time, I convey to Your Reverence that thanks be to the Lord, in all my spiritual distress, as much as I can within my power, I have hope in the Will and Providence of God. And from this I always receive a considerable reward. What better way to heal the heart than with this medicine? I don’t want to offend you, my father, and I don’t want to do anything of my own free will, even to the point of death, to obey you. And may I be dishonored by my deeds while I am serving as Superior. For this I ask your Father’s forgiveness and blessing for me, a sinner. I bow to you deeply with concern, asking for your holy prayers. Your Reverence, my most merciful Father and patron, an unworthy novice poor Ugreshsky Abbot Ilarius December 21, 1837. I considered it my duty to tell you, my Father, about myself, by the visit of God, since the 6th of January of this year, I became extremely unwell from a cold, an internal inflammation of the disease, which is why I was deprived of food and sleep for twelve days, such weakness forced me to go to Moscow to a rented apartment and use medicine from doctors, and thank God, from an experienced doctor in fourteen days I received relief from my illness from medicine, now I’m wandering I’m on my feet at least around the room, but I’m extremely weak, the only medicine I take now is American laxative oil. Now I have left Moscow for the monastery and am now in my rooms, enjoying the fresh air and kind servants. When I arrived in Moscow, I asked the Government to leave the hospital, which fired me and provided me with a passport. The monastery was entrusted by the Consistory to the treasurer under the supervision of the dean of the monasteries. Repeating to Your Reverence that I have begun to improve in my health and, thank God, I eat a decent amount once a day, and am sufficiently refreshed by sleep. I humbly ask you, a patient, to write down at least one line of comfort. Now it will be a great consolation for me. Sorry that I didn’t write with my own hand, I was all weak from applying mustard. I can barely sign my name. For this I remain with the highest veneration of Your Most Reverend Most Gracious Father, most humble novice of the Ugresh Monastery poor and sick Abbot Ilarius, asking for your Fatherly blessing and holy prayers, I bow to you in absentia. The great day of the Resurrection of Christ our Lord and Savior raised me, the poor one, to sincerely congratulate you as our Father on the Most Bright and All-Joyful Triumph of Christ’s Resurrection. With a church voice I joyfully lift up and greet Your Reverence - Christ is Risen! From the depths of our hearts, we wish and pray to the All-Giftful Lord, that He may continue your life for the glory of His Holy One, for the enlightenment and benefit of the monastic, with long-term health in the world. With this, I convey to Your Reverence that through your holy prayers, thanks to the Lord, I live safely and calmly. Always mentally remembering your inexpressible Fatherly mercies, with the submission of myself to your Fatherly feet, I ask for forgiveness and blessings. Your Most Reverend merciful Father and patron, humble novice Nikolo-Ugreshsky poor abbot Ilarius March 23, 1839. I had the pleasure of receiving your venerable letter dated April 3 of this year. But I extremely regret that I received it on the 16th of the same month. Forgive me, Father, but on occasion we had a bad time leaving the Monastery, but there was no opportunity. Which I regret a lot, knowing that you will soon need the order I have given you. Upon receipt of the letter, I immediately took a bad road to Moscow to fulfill it and find out prices. About which I inform you the following: on the Decks of icons the price starts from 7 vershoks upwards, and the width is decent, on the Cypress Desk of the best work of icon writing in the form of the appearance of the Mother of God and the two Apostles to St. Sergius. On it, in a small form, is the image of the Holy Trinity - 18 coins in circulation here, 25 kopecks for every ruble of Lazha; at 6 vershoks the price is 15, at 5 vershoks 12, at 4 vershoks the price is 10. Icons of this size can be painted on a cypress deck. The indicated size and goodness of the icon, painted on a linden deck, prices are correlated 7 to 13, 6 to 10, 5 to 7, 4 to 5. The designated one of different sizes and written in one person in a large form in the belt of Christ the Savior, the Mother of God and all Saints is cheaper than 2 from the icon and size. A letter or a brush, if it pleases Your Reverence, is picturesque, the best, then the prices are equal in size to the best icon painting. The average painting of icons is also low; 2 or more prices are lower. With these icons and the price in mind, I proceed to the expensive ones. For the Moscow enamel work in a Silver frame, I explain to you the price of the first skill of the brush [nrzb.] of the best work in the said frame with gilding around the image behind the welt in an oval shape 1.5 inches in circumference - in this size the appearance of St. will be depicted. Sergius of the Mother of God with the 2 upcoming Apostles and at the top of this image the Holy Trinity will be depicted in a small form. For such a beautiful view, the price of a current coin here, as stated above, is 50 rubles per piece, and in one type, the image of the Holy Trinity of goodness of letter and size I.5 is 40 rubles a circulating coin. He will, Father, write letters to enamel the image, rest assured, also in others. I am not an expert in this kind of art, but excuse me, with the help of experienced people, I think I can serve you. And it seems that Moscow will trust you more than St. Petersburg. By the way, I frankly inform Your Reverence that 10 enamel icons, as you deigned to write, require at least a month for the master to make them for the product, for the reason that ready-made letters of this size and size are not available anywhere in the shops, especially those by Barsov, but require ordering to order. Most Reverend, if you need Saint Sergius for enamel in a belt of the indicated size and in a silver frame, also more than 1.5 inches in size, explained here, then express to me everything in detail, also, whether you need a view of the Holy Trinity alone, without the image of the Appearance of the Mother of God to Saint Sergius. The image on the enamel of St. Sergius in the belt, it seems, will be cheaper than 50. For this, I expect your Eminence’s decisive consent to order and prepare the order you have indicated. Unworthy of Your Reverence novice Hegumen Ilarius April 18, 1839. Your fatherly mercies, poured out to me for everything not worthy of your favor, boldly raised me to congratulate you, our Father and benefactor, on the highly solemn day of the Nativity of Christ; From the depths of our hearts, we sincerely wish and pray to the All-Giftful Lord God, that He may continue your life for the glory of His Holy One for the enlightenment and benefit of the monastic with long-term health in the world. With this Your Reverence, I have the honor to convey that through your Fatherly Holy prayers, thanks to the Lord, I still live safely and calmly. Always mindfully remembering the inexpressible mercies you have poured out, with my surrender at my father’s feet, I ask for your forgiveness and blessings Your Most Reverend Most Gracious Father and Patron, an unworthy novice poor abbot Ilarius December 22 days 1841. Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov. Essays. T. 7. Letters. M., 1993. P. 237 That is, along with M.V. Chikhachev and P.P. Yakovlev, articles about which will appear in Volume VII of this edition Here and further: “Memoirs of Archimandrite Pimen, abbot of the Nicholas Monastery on Ugresh” in Readings in Imp. about Russian history and antiquities at Moscow University. M., 1876, book. 3 and 4, 1877, book. 1 RSL OR. F. 425. K. 2. No. 4 Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov. Essays. T. 7. Letters. M., 1993. S. 226, 227 Saint Ignatius Brianchaniov. Essays. T. 7. Letters. M., 1993. P. 410 Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov. Essays. T. 7. Letters. M, 1993. P. 371 Viceroy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Anthony (in the world Andrei Gavrilovich Medvedev; 1792–1877) - about him, see p. 699 About him, see note., p. 721 Archimandrite Ignatius (in the world Ivan Vasilyevich Malyshev; 1811–1897) - the first cell attendant and favorite disciple of St. Ignatius; from 1857 – rector of Sergius Hermitage Archimandrite Justin (in the world Ivan Grigorievich Tatarinov; 1827–1890) – spiritual disciple of St. Ignatius; went with him to the Caucasus, and then to the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery, where he was appointed abbot RSL OR. F. 425. K. 3. No. 17 RGBOR. F. 425. K. 3. .N" 41 Here and below the letter numbers are given in the original numbering. ed. ABC of Faith portal You might be interested in: