St. Macarius Of Optina

In the Kaluga region, near the historic town of Kozelsk, Optina is – the monastery, which is rightfully called the most bright lamp of Orthodox Russia of the XIX and XX centuries. It owes its fame to divinely wise elders, who, one after another, became the spiritual mentor of several generations of Russians. St. Macarius of Optina was one of them.

Abode among the primeval forest

The creation Time of Optina is unknown. According to one version, this honor belongs to the God-loving Prince Vladimir the Brave, deceased in the beginning of the XV century, and on the other, and more popular among the people, the founder of the monastery became a repentant of his crimes, the robber named OPTA, who lived a century later.

However, apparently, this is just a beautiful legend, in ancient times the word “opt” was the name of the monastery that are common to men and women (was that in Orthodox Russia). The founders of the monastery probably become a hermit, wishing to retire to the wilderness, for the accomplishment of monastic striving.

And would be lost in the history of this Holy monastery is among the thousand such monasteries, if not fame, which brought her divinely wise elders. To make it clearer, what was going on, we should look at the phenomenon of religious life, which is usually denoted by the word "elders".

The Elders as a form of spiritual service

It Appeared in Egypt at the dawn of Christianity, and from there spread around the world, having acquired for themselves in Russia fertile ground. The old man – it is primarily the mentor of his spiritual children that he can be a great many. Because of the Grace of God, lavishly bestowed upon him by the Creator, the old man takes the gifts of Bahamadia and sagacity.

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These unique qualities enable him to help people, seeking him in difficult situations, or eager to hear the word of God's Truth. The old man – this is not always the older person, as the term indicates not an age description, and a form of spiritual service.

Optina desert throughout its history the Lord has sent fourteen of these elders, the first of which was St. Leo who labored in 1797. St. Macarius of Optina, which will be discussed in our article, became his disciple and successor.

Childhood and youth of the servant of God Michael

The Elder Macarius of Optina in the world was called Mikhail. He was born 3 Dec 1788 in pious and devout family of nobles Orel province. His parents-father, a collegiate assessor Nikolai Mikhailovich Ivanov and mother Elizabeth A. was affluent and owned several estates. Besides him, the family had four more children.

As he spoke then, his many childhood memories associated with being located near them Odrinsky monastery, where parents often went on pilgrimage. A great influence on the formation of character in those years was provided by the Abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Feofan, imparted to the boy love of Church services.

At the age of nine, Misha Ivanov survived the first mishap-the death of his mother, who died of tuberculosis. It happened in Moscow, where the family moved specifically to provide Elizaveta Alexeevna proper medical care. Returning home after such tragic events, he and two brothers settled in the estate of his aunt, the sister of his father – Daria Mikhailovna Near.

A Young and promising officer

In the face of this woman teenagers found not only a caring cousin, who tried in all in its power to replace the orphan's mother, but also a mentor who takes on the works, as well as the costs associated with their education. The number of disciplines she has taught herself, and where her knowledge was insufficient, hired teachers.

It Seems incredible, but the future elder Macarius of Optina childhood was so gifted with intelligence that at the age of fourteen he was accepted into service in the County Treasury for the post of accountant. As assistants was enlisted also and his brothers. However, this fact is documented, because to doubt its authenticity is not necessary.

In 1805, the works of the young officer was appreciated by the provincial authorities, and he received a promotion in rank. Following the tradition established in the aristocratic society of that time, Mikhail led to the usual social life. Often visited the homes of the local aristocracy, among which was warmly received and participated in all recreation and entertainment activities.

According to the memoirs of contemporaries, his main hobby in those days were music and literature. Few people know, but the monk Makarii of Optina in his younger years played the violin and sang songs not strong, but very pleasant baritone.

The Awakening of religious feelings

A Year later, Mikhail Nikolayevich suffered a new blow – died unexpectedly his father. On a family Council it was decided that the estate belonging to the family, should go to him as the eldest of the children, but the income from them is their total capital. This imposes certain responsibilities and the reason for the fact that in 1805, Michael left the service andsettling in the village of Sabatino, he engaged in farming. All the free time he was given to reading and music.

In this period of his life spent in the lap of rustic peace, the seeds of piety that had been sown once in his soul, gave abundant fruit. Mikhail Nikolaevich, according to his own memoirs, became increasingly absorbed in thinking about the salvation of souls and the reading of the Bible. One day, after visiting the fair, he brought a lot of books containing the writings of the Holy fathers, who are in complete control of his thoughts.

In Vain caring relatives tried to marry a young landowner, having found him a good bride. Using the pretext he avoided imposing his marriage, as it increasingly strengthened his desire to devote his life to God.

The Decision to leave the world was not spontaneous and matured gradually. This is evidenced by his letters, preserved from those early years, and memories of contemporaries, who knew Mikhail Nikolayevich in those years. The crucial step that determined the whole future life, the future elder Macarius of Optina made 6 Oct 1806, having gone on a pilgrimage in the deserts Ploschanskogo rather remote from the village.

Novice Mikhail

Home, he never returned, but after a while, the brothers received the letter. In it Mikhail Nikolaevich informs that remained in the monastery as a novice, and the estate and all other property conveyed to them in full property. So, all of a sudden, at the age of twenty-two, it forever left the world.

Ploschanskogo bogoroditskiy monastery, where Saint Macarius of Optina began the path of service to God, could not be better matched his intentions. Remote at a considerable distance from human settlements and surrounded on all sides by woods, it was ideal for monastic solitude. Not receiving any serious material assistance from the Holy Synod and of the diocesan administration, brethren, numbering at that time fifty souls, nothing needed, extracting a piece of bread by their own labor.

According to Church regulations, every newcomer to taking monastic vows obliged to pass a certain test, he is called a novice and may, if desired at any time to leave the monastery. The duration of this period is not set in advance and depends only on the will of the Abbot. This setting is used to check the seriousness of the future of the monk.

Like every novice, venerable. Macarius of Optina began his monastic life with the most difficult and unpleasant work. Him – nobleman - had winter to deal with firewood and cooking in the monastery kitchen, and in the summer the hay, gardening and other farm chores. As a result of this practice was for him a great school of humility, which is unthinkable without the monastic life.

Over time, the Abbot of the monastery hieromonk father of Ioaniky noticed the remarkable musical ability of the new novice, and also appreciated his erudition and diligence. He allowed Mikhail Nikolayevich to learn Church singing, made him a clerk of the monastery, and eventually also instructed the leadership of one of the offices of the monastery choir. After four years, the Abbot blessed the hardworking novice to the adoption of the tonsure with the name of Melchizedek.

Four stages of monastic ascent

In Orthodoxy, there are four degrees of monasticism. About the first one, where the future monk has the status of a novice, were discussed above. Then follows the so-called vows of a novice. In Luke it is the rebirth of the worldly man into a monk. He gets a new name, gives the special vows that may not break completely breaks all family ties, and, under pain of anathema, is not able to return to their former way of life. With the vows of a novice are small schema, also called the mantle monasticism, the great schema-level, even more separating the monk from the busy world.

The continuation of the monastic service

In 1814, the young monk Melchizedek made a pilgrimage to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, visiting on the way a number of other monasteries and carefully studied the accumulated experience in their monastic life. Upon returning in his own monastery he was tonsured a monastic at the following degree – cloak and was given the name Macarius in honor of the founder of Eastern monasticism of St. Macarius the Great.

After ten years without a break in the walls Ploschanskogo of the monastery, the monk Macarius went to Rostov to venerate the relics of St Dimitry of Rostov and on the way visited the Optina Hermitage, which was subsequently linked to the end of days. But this was preceded by another important period that gave its emergence as a spiritual mentor.

In 1827 the Optina Macarius was appointed Confessor in sevskiy Trinity convent and at the age of forty years began to care for his sisters. Invaluable assistance was provided to him by the monk Lev – a wise and rich in life experience elder, arrived from St. Alexander Svir monastery. Their guidance he completed spiritual perfection of the father Macarius.

In the abode of that God

In carrying out its subsequently as a Dean Ploschanskogo of the monastery, father Macarius was sent in 1832Saint Petersburg and back, again visited Optina desert, but this time not merely worship shrines to her, and filed a petition to transfer him to this old monastery. The answer had to wait quite a long time, but finally, in January 1834, the diocesan leadership granted his request, and father Macarius moved to the Baptist, the Hermitage of Optina Pustyn, where constant spiritual feats tied up until the end of life.

From the first days of stay in a new place Macarius of Optina became close friends with his former friend the spiritual father of the monastery the monk Leo, who was twenty years older than him. Despite connecting their friendship, father Macarius had always treated him as a disciple to the teacher and implicitly presented himself in full obedience to his will.

These two great ascetic, has earned the glory of the divine wisdom of the elders, took daily in their cells many came to him and seven years before the death of the Saint Leo was able to positively kormit not only the brethren of the monastery, but thousands of the laity.

Their joint labours, ascended to a height of spiritual greatness and the next the old man of the desert, which later became her main Shrine of the venerable Ambrose of Optina. Macarius and the lion, according to contemporaries, “vzrostili it and umudlu the word of God, made her a worthy successor to”.

The Gift of perspicacity from beyond

After in 1841 the Lord called to the heavenly Abode of the venerable Lion, all the worries about the care of a large congregation is fully lay on the shoulders of father Macarius, and he honorably carried out its cross. The teachings of Macarius of Optina, converted in those years to many who were honored to visit the monastery, not only passed from mouth to mouth, but the majority was recorded, which allowed to subsequently release them in a book, republished many times and has not lost relevance in our days.

The Lord generously poured out to the father Macarius the gift of perspicacity. Many visitors were disconcerted when he, addressing them, accurately called them names that could not know in advance. Also known and more surprising cases. For example, okormljat their children not only through personal contact but also by correspondence, he sent the answers to not questions received. The result wrote to him a man received them at the same time sending your message.

Letters of the elder and miracles of healing

In General, the correspondence was one of the most important areas of activity, which was led by Macarius of Optina. The spiritual teachings that were full pages of his letters, were the result of a deep understanding of the writings of the Holy fathers of the past, coupled with personal experience. They went into the Treasury of the Russian patristic literature.

Letters of the monk Makarii of Optina, which he many sent to their friends, and often strangers to spiritual children, had a great benefit. In them he touched upon various aspects of life. For example, in one of them, sent to the person lamenting befell him many sorrows, it is taught that the everlasting happiness and welfare of the human soul deals damage, making it vulnerable to sins and temptations. Those who God allows in the life of the suffering, worrying them near Him, and the easier it is to gain the Kingdom of heaven.

And here's another very interesting idea that was expressed by Macarius of Optina. Letters addressed to him by one of the laity, were full of complaints about the fact that he is making an effort to combat the vices and passions, sees a positive result, and it leads him into confusion and deprives the rest. The wise elder answered him that such a reaction to the lack of a speedy recompense for the works being the result of pride and pride only exacerbates the situation, and he should be thankful to the Lord, not opuskaya him to see himself as sinless, without achieving true righteousness.

It is Widely known numerous cases of healing the sick, and especially the possessed, coming after the elder anointed them with oil from the lamp unquenchable, always smoldering in his cell. That is why in our day the prayer of Macarius Optinskogo about getting rid of the diseases has a beneficial power. These facts are not only known, but also in many documented.

End of life's journey, became a feat

Twenty years spent in his modest cell, who was both a bedroom and reception, St. Macarius of Optina. The icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, a lectern, a Desk and a narrow cot – that all the furniture in his home, the only decoration of which were hung on the walls portraits of ascetics and monasteries.

Before the end of his earthly journey, and to stand before the Lord, the elder Macarius took the great schema, which, as mentioned earlier, the highest level of monastic asceticism. Just a few weeks he with remarkable accuracy predicted the day and hour of his death, after which the spiritual torch from his hands took the other ascetic faith and divine wisdom mentor – Ambrose of Optina. Macarius as quietly and painlessly departed to the Lord on the early morning of September 20, 1860.

The day of the funeral the place of his burial became universal reverence, however, was canonized the venerable elder was only in 2000. Then was canonized all fourteen of the elders,podesavate once in the Baptist skete, along with Macarius of Optina, the life of which was based on the records of many of his contemporaries, to communicate with him personally. Today it is one of the most famous and beloved by the people of the saints of the Orthodox Church. Day of St. Macarius of Optina is commemorated annually on September 20.