Священник Вл. Тенищев

From the memories of the Seraphim-Diveevo Elder Natalia Here is another branch that has grown again from the Diveyevo vineyard, cultivated by the Monk Seraphim, the Wonderworker of Sarov! This young shoot, skillfully transplanted by the hand of an experienced gardener to a new place, soon became accustomed to the local soil, blossomed luxuriantly and was covered with thick green foliage. This is the Melyavinskaya women's community. The church of the young community was built in honor of the icon of the Mother of God, called “Tenderness”. The Monk Seraphim died in front of this very icon. It is significant that the celebration of the consecration of this church, in the presence of the Diveyevo sisters and other nuns, took place on February 13, 1903, that is, just at the time when all of Orthodox Russia had already begun to prepare for the great and nationwide celebration of the glorification of the most gracious nurturer and mourner of the Diveyevo monastery. Thus, the good Providence of God was pleased to precede the nationwide celebration of the glorification of His saint by the creation of yet another, new branch from his heritage, which during his life he so carefully and with all love raised, cherished and protected. The appearance of this new women's monastery interests and attracts the attention of many due to its relationship with the glorious Seraphim monastery, and mainly thanks to the deceased founder in Bose, her elder, who enjoyed well-deserved authority during her lifetime. At one time, we personally knew this venerable old lady and highly value her spiritual life. And now we are morally motivated to honor her memory with a few sympathetically grateful lines and with a joyful feeling to note the birth of her monastery into the world of God. Very recently, namely on February 9, 1900, this old lady, Natalia, who had lived in the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery since 1848, peacefully reposed in the Lord, well known to visitors to women’s monasteries. All her life she served in a special chosen way - the way of the “blessed”, and therefore was called by everyone who knew her nothing more than “Blessed Natalia” or “Blessed Natasha”. This very difficult and not at all understandable type of service and pleasing to God was accepted by Elder Natalia in her young years with the blessing of one Kyiv elder. Secular people, who do not have a proper understanding of the blessed, were often embarrassed by some of the old lady’s oddities. The Diveyevo monastery authorities, at the very beginning of Natalia’s entry into the monastery, decided to completely remove her from the monastery, thanks to the mentioned oddities; but on the eve of the appointed day of removal, the dean of the monastery, a certain Tatiana Buchumova, saw in a dream another blessed one, already revered then - Pelageya Ivanovna Serebrenikova. Serebrenikova showed the dean a paper on which it was written in large letters: “Do not touch Natalia: she is assigned to live here.” This vision forever decided the fate of the blessed one: indeed, they did not dare to disturb her anymore, and she spent her entire life in the Diveyevo monastery. Over the past three or four decades, the oxbow's way of life has changed a lot. Her special, outstanding oddities were no longer noticeable. But instead of this, her ascetic life began and gradually intensified. It consisted of vigil sitting, day after day, first in the vestibules of churches, and then in light plank fences, huts, in the open air, in all kinds of bad weather, not excluding winter blizzards and frosts. Very successfully and with special strength, the blessed one developed the grace-filled gift of eldership, thanks to which she began to conduct spiritual and moral edifying conversations that were open and accessible to every simpleton, to give soul-saving instructions and various kinds of spiritual advice and answers to various life needs and exceptional circumstances. The love and disposition of the common people for the old woman grew more and more, the desire to see her and talk with her increased among the masses more and more. She was constantly besieged by crowds of people eager for her spiritual conversations and instructions, among whom one could often see a sufficient number of intelligent people. To those who had heard nothing at all about the old woman and who saw her for the first time, at first glance it seemed incomprehensible: how and how could this old, bent and dejected old woman win over the hearts of the people? But this bewilderment was soon replaced by a feeling of deep respect when these persons learned from others and were personally convinced that Elder Natalia stood out for her many years of long prayer vigils, deeds, constant reading of sacred and spiritual-moral books, fasting and prayer. The spirit of Elder Seraphim and the Optina Elder Ambrose lived in her, if not in its entirety, then still to a greater extent: otherwise she could not have labored with such success in the field of eldership, which, not without reason, is considered the best and most selective flower of monasticism in men’s monasteries, and in women’s monasteries - one can directly call it only a rare exception. The place of Elder Natalia's conversations consisted, as we have already mentioned above, of a thin open plank fence next to the cell. Inside this fence or open hay, surrounded by massive leather-bound books and covered with shabby rags, sat the blessed old woman, often silently, deeply immersed in contemplation and prayer. During all the times of open seating, the old woman spent day and night in one place: here she, in her free hours from conversations with strangers, prayed, read, wrote; Immediately, sitting on a bench, bent low, she fell asleep for a short time (as they usually do at night - she never went to bed like that). There were a sufficient number of novices with her. But the greatest part of the time was spent with the old woman by her main and beloved novice E. K., at the direction of the Vyshensky recluse Bishop Feofan, who zealously served her for 10 years, until her death. Open seating at the oxbow usually began in spring and summer, and sometimes dragged on until deep winter, despite the bitter frosts. When the old woman moved to her cell, her conversations with anyone had already stopped: in her cell she did not receive anyone except the closest persons. Yielding only to the increased desire and request of some, the old woman spoke to them through the inserted double frames in the window. Natalia based her conversations and instructions mainly on selected texts of Holy Scripture, sayings of St. fathers and examples from the lives of saints; It was not for nothing that near her, during her open sittings, there were always: the Bible, the Philokalia, the Menaion and Patericon. In conversations with the blessed one, one immediately noticed her versatile spiritual erudition, sharp memory, good skill in extracting what was needed from what she read, and her ability to practically apply information and knowledge acquired at different times from Holy Scripture and patristic literature. The blessed woman's appearance was always the same. Her outer garment was always light, but extremely shabby and dusty. The body position is bent. The face is half-closed and always with a downcast gaze. Her food was extremely meager and in small quantities; on Wednesdays and Fridays she ate nothing at all, except for the antidor and warmth with prosphora, brought daily by the novices from church. According to the novices, she changed her underwear only once a year, before Easter or the Annunciation. Strict abstinence in food and self-mortification of the flesh in various forms made the old woman inimitable in the monastery. And this same blessed Natalia, shortly before her death, namely on June 26, 1899, laid the foundation of a new convent, 3 versts from the village of Teplova, Ardatovsky district, Nizhny Novgorod province. The place was purchased by Elder Natalia almost entirely with her own funds. In the village of Teplov it is known as “Melyavi”, that is, a small river that once flowed through this forest plain, but then eventually became shallow and left traces only in the form of a small ravine. This place was associated with memories of a crime, the history of which deserves the full attention of readers. In the 80s, one pious peasant man, a certain Ivan Terentyevich Yashin, lived in the village of Teplov. He was known as a great man of prayer, a virgin and a good mentor in spiritual life, to whom many peasants turned for spiritual advice. On the very spot where the monastery of Blessed Natalia was now built, one Teplovsky peasant named Andrei Gubanikhin was killed. Although popular rumor secretly named the criminal, for some reason the judicial authorities did not reveal anything. And so, the eldest daughter-in-law of the murdered man, Natalya Gubanikhina, who is still alive to this day, at that time a woman still young, lively and energetic, who deeply revered I. T. Yashin, went to him to ask him: should he continue the search for the killer or leave it? “I came to ask you about something,” said Gubanikhina, entering his hut. “Okay, okay,” Ivan Terentyevich said affectionately, in his usual patter, “but I’ll tell you a dream of mine.” “Sit here,” he said, pointing at the bench and inviting the visitor. And when she walked through the cell and sat down on the front bench, he continued: - It’s me who comes to Melyava - do you know Melyava? – Well, I can’t believe my eyes: I saw such an indescribable beauty of a golden-domed cathedral there among other churches, it’s just a miracle! And all around was some kind of rich monastic monastery!.. But how clearly, clearly I saw it, Natasha - it’s a wonder! – Ivan Terentyevich said with enthusiasm and admiration. And when Gubanikhina told about the matter of her visit, he again continued with the same liveliness: - But now I understand why I had this wonderful dream! I understand, I understand, I truly tell you, Natasha!.. Stop looking for the murderer! No need to look for it! There will be no benefit at all to you or your deceased. But on Melyava, believe me, there will eventually be a holy place, and your deceased will feel good about it! The Gubanikhin family listened to the advice given by Ivan Terentyevich: they abandoned the search for the criminal and calmed down, although the dream they told remained unsolved and unfulfilled for a long time. But when, 20 years later, beyond all expectation and preparation, the construction of a community and a church on Melyava suddenly began, then with rare surprise they began to remember this dream not only in the Gubanikhin family, but also all those local peasants who had heard in their time about this mysterious dream of Ivan Terentyevich from the Gubanikhins. When and how Elder Natalia’s idea and intention appeared to found her own monastery, separate from Diveevo, cannot be determined with precision. About four years before her death, Elder Natalia acquired five acres of land near the village of Nucharova, Ardatovsky district, where then, according to her instructions, a large house was built. When they saw this building, many were sure that the blessed one wanted to start a monastery here. But Elder Natalia, having heard about these rumors and fortune-telling, herself hastened to resolve this question that interested many, declaring that her main abode would not be in this place, but in another one, and that it would be surrounded by forest. In 1899, admirers of Elder Natalia acquired, on occasion and at a reasonable price, 200 dessiatines of fallow land with small growth, near the village of Teplova, which, according to the prediction of the blessed one, was indeed surrounded on all sides by pine forests. The money was paid partly by the old woman herself from the savings collected for this item, and partly by her benefactors. With great care, constant vigilance and rare spiritual penetration, the old woman watched the first moments of the creation of the monastery, this so difficult and responsiblely great task undertaken. Without leaving the walls of the Diveyevo monastery, Elder Natalia, however, made many different orders and instructions in absentia regarding the arrangement and layout of buildings in her established monastery, just like the Sarov elder Seraphim - in the construction of the Diveyevo monastery. All sisters for the new monastery were chosen at the discretion and blessing of the elder herself, and this order continued until her death. Often, when choosing sisters, the gift of spiritual insight of the blessed one was more clearly expressed. Once a young girl comes to the old woman from afar for a spiritual conversation. She accepted her willingly and lovingly, talked with her for a long time, and finally completely persuaded her to stay with her as a novice. But the Diveyevo monastery authorities, already very burdened lately with her available novices, ordered the immediate expulsion of the novice, without informing the old woman about it. The latter, as soon as she found out about this, began to express her dissatisfaction, grief and regret with such previously unheard-of cries and groans that her former novices were completely confused and lost their heads, not knowing what to do and how to help their grief. Having calmed down somewhat, the blessed one, not paying attention to the order of the dean, imperiously ordered that a new young novice be found and returned to her. This firm and imperious order of the old woman was carried out: the girl was found and brought in, although for this it was necessary to make inquiries at a distance of several dozen miles. Placed in such extraordinary order and with such unusual spiritual anxiety of the old woman, the young novice was no longer disturbed by the monastery authorities; and she, having moved after the death of the old woman to her new monastery, is now fully justifying the hopes of the old woman. In order to more successfully unite the future communal life of her sisters, Elder Natalia taught them, at different times, many different kinds of rules, instructions and testaments. When Elder Natalia began to establish her monastery, she was about 70 years old, but her strength, despite her difficult life, full of all sorts of hardships, did not seem particularly weak. But various sorrows and sorrows that befell her soon after this greatly affected her health. Some of the influential Diveyevo sisters began to express strong displeasure at her undertakings, seeing in this some self-will and violation of monastery rules and explaining the ripening plans in the head of the old woman with the special influence of the older novice on her. The monastery administration soon found it necessary to order the posting of several guard sisters with strict orders that the latter should not, under any circumstances, allow strangers or any kind of visitors to Blessed Natalia. This and other similar strict and undeserved measures greatly upset the blessed one. The old woman several times intended to move to Melyava, to her own, secluded corner, carefully prepared by herself (her own building, which housed her wonderful massive icons), where her family and close people had long been eager to meet her with open arms. There was one time when ready-made horses were already standing at the porch of her cell, but she could not decide to leave the monastery, which had spiritually nourished her for many years, without the consent and blessing of the local ruler; and it was precisely this last condition that she lacked now. The writer of these lines, just a month before the death of the elder, had to talk with her in her cell on some issues of the newly built monastery. And so, by the way, when the conversation came up about whether the old lady was going to move to Melyava or not, she answered this like this: “Comfort all my Melyavskys and tell them that although in body I am in Diveevo, but in spirit I am constantly with them in Melyava...” The last day of the life of the blessed old woman came unnoticed - February 9, 1900. In the appearance of the old woman before her death, no special sharp changes were noticed, except for general weakness and fatigue. Her first concern that day was to partake of the Holy Mysteries, which she did with due reverence, and then to give orders for the economic part of the community she was leaving. By evening she became noticeably anxious. - Oh, mom, how difficult it is for me! - she said more than once, turning to her beloved novice, whom, due to her special disposition towards her, she always called mother. And after some time, suddenly and unexpectedly she began talking excitedly about her monastery: - Mom, get ready, we’ll go to Melyava tomorrow! - Oh, mother, how many times do you get ready, and then think about everything and leave it! – the senior novice answered with some disbelief, not at all suspecting the real meaning of these mysterious words. - No, mom, it’s time, it’s time: we’ll go tomorrow! – the old woman continued to insist in the same mysterious spirit. Then she ordered the young novice to read an akathist to the Resurrection of Christ. After reading the akathist, completely calmed by the prayer, Elder Natalia announced to her novices that they should no longer disturb her with any conversations and, as usual, made the sign of the cross over them for the coming sleep; She herself prepared, as always, to spend the night sitting. The senior novice settled down next to the old woman, the other at her feet, the others went into another room. The senior novice had barely dozed off when her heart suddenly trembled and contracted painfully; awakened by a painful premonition, she quickly glanced at the sitting old woman, but the latter, as if deliberately choosing these mysterious moments of complete silence and silence, quietly and peacefully went to the Lord... It was half past 12 o'clock in the morning. The blessed one met death like a warrior on guard: in the very position in which she had been accustomed for many years to carry out her feat of spiritual wakefulness - namely, sitting. The death of the blessed one, despite the fact that it could have been foreseen in advance, struck her novices, who had hitherto lived behind the old woman, as if behind a solid stone wall, like a thunderclap. Now they immediately felt like defenseless orphans. They were allowed to stay in the monastery only until the burial of the old woman. The burial of Blessed Natalia was scheduled for February 11. The body of the blessed one, with crowds of people crowding together, was buried in a place of honor - against the altar wall of the Trinity Cathedral, next to the locally revered blessed Pelageya. Immediately after the burial of their dear old woman, the blessed novices left the Diveyevo monastery and, with sorrow in their hearts, went to the sisters in Melyava. From that time on, a new, lonely, unusual and difficult life began for the nuns of the Melyavsk monastery - a life full of all kinds of sorrows, sorrows and material deprivations. But with God’s help and through the prayers of St. Seraphim and his elder, blessed Natalia, the most difficult time has now passed. The community has become quite built up and decorated with a church, in which services are performed almost every day by an ordinary old priest, accompanied by the rather harmonious singing of local sisters, of whom there are up to 60 in the monastery. A petition has already begun for the formal opening of the community. Let us believe that this petition will be granted and that the work of Elder Natalia, as a work for the glory of God, will bear abundant fruit...