Life and teachings of St. Amphilochius of Pochaev, icon and prayers

Amphilochius of Pochaev
(1894 - 1971), schema-abbot, reverend Memory on April 29, December 19 (Ukr.) and in the Councils of Volyn and Galician saints

In the world, Yakov Varnavovich Golovatyuk, was born on November 27, 1894 in the village of Malaya Ilovitsa in the Volyn province (now Shumsky district of the Ternopil region) into a large peasant family. At baptism he was named Jacob, in honor of the martyr Jacob the Persian. From an early age, Yakov, immersed in household chores, seeing the piety of his parents, who never left the house without prayer, absorbed all that was good and holy. In his youth, Yakov more than once helped his father, who was often addressed as a good chiropractor “to hold the sick while he was directing broken bones.” The natural strength and skills acquired in his youth were useful to Yakov in the future.

In 1912, Yakov was drafted into the army. During the First World War, he served in the 165th Infantry Regiment in the city of Lutsk, then, together with the regiment, he was sent to the city of Tomsk, acting as a paramedic. At the end of the war he was captured. He was sent by the Germans to the Alps, where he worked for a local farmer for three years. Jacob earned the trust and love of his master, so that he even intended to marry him to his daughter. But in 1919, Yakov escaped and returned to his native village, where he began to do his usual peasant work and helped the sick who sought help.

In 1925 he was accepted as a novice into the Pochaev Lavra. Fulfilling the obediences assigned to him, he made sleighs and wheels, and sang in the choir.

On July 8, 1932, he was tonsured a monk with the name Joseph.

On September 21, 1933, he was ordained a hierodeacon by Bishop Anthony (Martsenko), and on September 27, 1936, he was ordained a hieromonk by Bishop Dionysius.

He graduated from the full course of the monastic and theological school at the Pochaev Lavra.

On October 3, 1941, he was appointed assistant economist.

Performing various works and obediences in the Lavra, Father Joseph treated the sick - he especially became famous as a chiropractor. Suffering people from all over the area were brought to him, the flow of patients did not stop day or night. In order not to create inconvenience for the brethren, Father Joseph, with the blessing of the governor of the Lavra, moves to a small house in the monastery cemetery, here he and Hieromonk Irinarch will live for about 20 years. Every day sick people came to the small house. There were days when Hieromonk Joseph received up to 500 people, many longed for healing - some physical, some spiritual.

During the Great Patriotic War, Father Joseph fearlessly preached about imminent deliverance from the fascist invaders, called for loyalty to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and accused the schismatic autocephalists of treason.

At the end of the war, the ascetic miraculously escaped reprisals. One night, fourteen armed men burst into his cell and demanded food; after they were fed, they asked the elder to see them out. At the gate, the commander of the partisan detachment announced the execution. The elder accepted the news of his imminent death with humility and asked only for ten minutes to pray. I managed to read “Our Father”, “Theotokos”, “I Believe”, began to read “Otkhodnaya”... Father Irinarch came running, worried about the elder’s long absence, when he saw the barrel aimed at the righteous man, without hesitation, he rushed to the machine gun, bending him to the ground, and began ask the elder for mercy... Death has passed. Soon after this, Father Joseph was transferred back to the Lavra.

On May 10, 1951 he was appointed assistant guardian of the Foot of the Mother of God.

On July 18, 1952, he was appointed gardener of the Lavra garden with release from his previous obedience.

On February 24, 1953 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

On May 4, 1954, he was assigned to obedience under a candle box.

On November 24, 1955, he was released from his previous obedience and appointed to the choir;

On April 6, 1957, he was released from choir obedience and appointed confessor of pilgrims.

On January 25, 1959, he was appointed a seller of candles in the churches of the Lavra.

From 1959 to 1962 he served as confessor and others.

At the end of the 1950s, Khrushchev's persecution of the church began. Monasteries and churches were closed en masse in the country, and the monks themselves were expelled, evicted, and sent home without the right to return on false charges. In the fall of 1962, thanks to the fearlessness of the elder, the monks managed to defend the Trinity Cathedral: “A dozen policemen and their chief were standing at the church door, the elder unexpectedly snatched the keys from the chief, handed them to the young governor Augustine
, and said: “Here, try and don’t give it to anyone.” He said to the perplexed policemen: “The bishop is the owner of the Church! What about V? get the word out! People, drive them away!” he addressed the local residents present. Inspired by the call of their beloved priest, people rushed to take the poles and rushed towards the police, who, in fear, rushed to run to the Holy Gates. Father Joseph knew that the authorities would not forgive him for this act, he knew when and how they would come for him, but did nothing.

A few days later, a “black raven” came for him, and he was taken to a psychiatric hospital in Budaniv, outside Ternopil. He was placed in a ward for the most “violent” mentally ill. He was injected with drugs that caused his entire body to swell and his skin to crack. The torment ended only with the arrival of Svetlana Alliluyeva, Stalin’s daughter, at the hospital, whom he had once healed from mental illness. She managed to achieve the release of the elder.

In the fall of 1965, Fr. Joseph returned to his native village and settled with his niece Anna, the daughter of his late brother Panteleimon, who lived in the same village in a new small house. In the courtyard he built a high dovecote, and under it a small chapel. A long dining table was placed behind the chapel for pilgrims, and a chapel was also built. Having learned where the elder was, the sufferers began to arrive. Father Joseph served holy water prayers every day and healed people.

Local authorities, concerned about the influx of sick people into the village, began to turn relatives against the elder.
In December 1965, one of them, succumbing to persuasion, deceiving the elder, took him on his tractor outside the village to the swamps, severely beat him, threw him into the water and drove away. The priest lay in the icy water for eight hours, the spiritual children found the dying old man, took him to the Pochaev Lavra, where that same night he was tonsured into the schema with a name in honor of St. Amphilochius of Iconia, they were afraid that he would not live until the morning. By the grace of God, schemamonk Amphilochius recovered. It was dangerous to stay in the Lavra without registration; he returned to his native village again. People still went and went to the elder for healing. On the northern side of the courtyard they built a long building and in it they built a refectory and a kitchen, a reception room for the sick, a bedroom for novices and a house church - a long hall with two side rooms: in one the church vestments were kept, in the other - Father Joseph prayed and rested. The elder, who loved nature since childhood, planted flowers and fruit trees himself, and the novices helped with work on the site.

Father Amphilochius foresaw his imminent death, he knew that one of his novices had added poison to his food, and also added poison to the water with which he washed himself (there is an opinion that the novice from Kyiv was a KGB agent). More than once the elder said with bitterness that among his novices there was “Judas.” Father lost consciousness several times for several hours. During the attacks, the poisoner, under various pretexts, did not allow anyone near the priest. The humble elder steadfastly endured the suffering and called on the culprit to repent.

Died on January 1, 1971.

On April 3, 2002, he was canonized by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The rite of glorification was performed on May 12 of the same year by Metropolitan Vladimir of Kyiv in the Assumption Church of the Pochaev Lavra. On May 13, the relics of the saint were transferred from the Assumption Cathedral to the church-crypt of St. Job of Pochaevsky located underneath it, where they now rest next to the latter’s relics. December 8, 2005 name of Rev. Amphilochia was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II, his memory is celebrated on April 29.

By the definition of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on February 2-3, 2016, his name was included in the month book of the Russian Orthodox Church for church-wide veneration [1].

Brief biography of the saint

The monk of the Pochaev Lavra was canonized in the early 70s of the 20th century. The Orthodox land has not become depleted of miracle workers and healers, as there are numerous testimonies of healings through the prayer of Amphilochius.

Origin

Amfilohiy Pochaevsky (Iakov/Yakov Golovatyuk) was of a peasant family. Place of birth: Western Ukraine (Ternopil region, village of Ilovitsa). Year of birth: 1894.

Life

Yakov's childhood and youth were spent getting accustomed to peasant labor. Pious parents raised the boy to honor God's commandments. At the age of 18 he was drafted into the army. After the outbreak of the First World War, he found himself on the front line, saw the death of his comrades, and was captured in 1916.

For three years Yakov worked conscientiously for a German burgher. The longing for his native place did not leave him. In 1919, Golovatyuk ran away from his owner, traveled through Germany, Poland and returned to his native village. Peasant labor restored his calm, but the experience made him look at the world around him differently.

After the monastic tonsure and the beginning of his ministry, the devil tried to plot against Father Joseph. The demon instilled evil thoughts in people so that they would hate the saint for his righteous lifestyle and adherence to the Orthodox faith. He was threatened with death by Bandera’s followers, he knew persecution from the authorities. In 1962, the reverend was placed in a psychiatric clinic in a ward with violent mental patients.

Good deeds did not go unrequited: dozens of people stood up for Father Joseph. They appealed to various authorities with a request to release the innocent man. The saint was released, but on the condition that he would not return to the Lavra.

Joseph returned to Ilovitsa, where he began to live with his nephew. Having learned about his place of residence, patients began to come to Ilovitsa not only from Western Ukraine, but also from other republics of the Soviet Union. Philanthropy and responsiveness did not allow the reverend father to refuse help to the suffering.

Joseph performed prayers for the Small Blessing of Water every day in the courtyard to sprinkle the sick. People possessed by a demon spent the night in the house, in the room where the icon of the Mother of God was located. Not all village residents, including relatives, liked the constant influx of strangers into the village. The demon inspired one of the saint's nephews to kill his uncle.

A close relative invited Joseph to sit on his tractor, took him to a swamp and threw him into the water (in December). The monk lay in the icy water for 8 hours. He was brought half-dead to the monastery and, believing that he would die by morning from pneumonia, he was tonsured into the schema under the name Amphilochius. By the grace of God, the saint recovered and returned to the village. People began to come to him again for healing of physical and mental ailments.

Serving God

In 1925, Yakov entered the Pochaev Lavra as a novice. After 6 years of physical and spiritual trials, he was tonsured a monk and took the name Joseph. A year later he was ordained a hierodeacon, and in 1936 a hieromonk.

Father Joseph turned out to have the gift of a healer, especially in the treatment of bone fractures and exorcism of demons. To fulfill the mission intended by God, with the blessing of the rector of the monastery, he settled in a separate house near the monastery cemetery, where he received patients from all over the area.

During the day, Father Joseph treated those suffering from physical ailments, and at night he served the Lord: he prayed and repented. By fasting and prayer he tamed his flesh. Struggling with passions. Thousands of people thanked the saint for his healing. Possessing the gift of clairvoyance, the monk saw demons in reality and knew how to cast them out. The love for God and neighbors of St. Amphilochius was endless.

Death and canonization

At the end of 1970, the elder began to feel unwell. He often mentally detached himself from reality, sometimes asking his relatives to fulfill their prayers. On January 1, 1971, the saint died.

In 2002, the Holy Synod of the UOC-MP canonized Elder Amphilochius as a saint (April 23), then as a saint (May 12). The relics of the saint were transferred to the temple of Job of Pochaev. In 2016, the Russian Orthodox Church established church-wide veneration of Amphilochius of Pochaev.

Lenin's principles of ruthlessness

Screenshot from youtube.com
One day in the fall of 1962, the elder was called to the city of Brody, forty kilometers from Pochaev, to see a girl with a broken arm. While the elder was not in the monastery, something bad happened there... These were the years of Khrushchev’s struggle with “religion.”

At the end of the 1950s, when Khrushchev established himself in power, he announced that during the years of the personality cult, among other things, softness towards priests was manifested, but now we must return to the Leninist principles of mercilessness towards the Church.

Temples began to close en masse again. The events around the Pochaev Lavra are the central episode of Khrushchev’s persecution.

The authorities did not dare to close the ancient Lavra. These are not the times, and enemy voices will slander the Soviet system too loudly. Therefore, the monastery needs to cut off the oxygen and gradually deplete it. But as? Here's how: take away economic buildings, prohibit the admission of new monks, catch monks associated with the economy with an uncontrolled flow of cash or using “illegal” raw materials and building materials, find signs of madness in preachers, elders and prayer books and place them in a hospital, and then a flood of pilgrims will dry up on its own.

This was a general technology that all active monasteries in the USSR of that time, including the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, tested.

The peak of the authorities’ struggle with the Pochaev Lavra came in 1961-62; by this time, out of 140 monks in the Lavra, less than 40 remained. The rest were forcibly evicted from the monastery, drafted into the army, and hidden in mental hospitals. And so Father Joseph, who by that time was 68 years old, found himself at the center of the struggle.

On the day when Fr. Joseph returned from the sick girl; he had not even had time to open the door of his cell when a novice ran to him and hurriedly told him that the cathedral was being taken away, and the chief of police had already taken the keys from the governor. By that time, employees of the Pochaev departments of the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, indeed, already behaved like masters in the Lavra. It used to happen that a monk would go to church, return - the cell was sealed, his things were taken out, and he himself was taken 40 km away.

And the head of the Pochaev branch of the KGB, Captain Maksimov, reacted so responsibly to the manual control over the monks that he even studied the books of the monastery library before confiscating them and, during interrogations, began to broadcast to the fathers that “obedience is above fasting and prayer,” which means it is necessary to leave, and, of course, that “all power is from God.”

Father Joseph hurried to the temple. It was crowded there; a dozen policemen and Captain Maksimov stood at the doors of the temple. The elder approached him and suddenly snatched a bunch of keys from his hands. Giving them to the young governor Augustine, who was standing right there, he said: “Here, take it and don’t give it to anyone.”

He said to the perplexed policemen: “The bishop is the owner of the Church! What about V? get the word out! People, drive them away!” he addressed the local residents.

Inspired by the call of their beloved priest, people rushed to take the poles and rushed towards the police, who, in fear, rushed to run to the Holy Gates.

With his courage and courage, Father Joseph defended the Trinity Cathedral. No more than a week passed, and he got revenge. Hegumen Seraphim of Pochaev, who was a gatekeeper at that time, said: “At the end of September, when I was on duty at the gate, Father Joseph came up to me and said: “Curve the gate. Now the “black raven” will come for Josip!” and went into the building. I opened the gate to the building and began to wait for the “black raven,” but no one came, and I closed it, thinking that the elder was joking. Two hours passed. Suddenly a police car drove up - a “black raven”. The police demanded that the car be allowed into the yard.”

Six policemen burst into Fr.’s cell. Joseph, they pounced on him, threw him to the floor, tied his hands and feet, covered his mouth with a towel and dragged him from the third floor into the yard to the car.

They took us beyond Ternopil to the city of Budanov, (more than a hundred kilometers from Pochaev) to the regional psychiatric hospital.

Lyrics

The texts of prayer appeals to Saint Amphilochius of Pochaev can be found in the Orthodox prayer book.

Troparion

The land of Volyn is glorious for an ascetic/ and the monastery of Pochaev is worthy of a inhabitant,/ for Orthodox people a great healer,/ for the manifestation of His Church, Christ our God,/ like Father Amphilochius,/ to Him We are already fervently praying // to free ourselves from the slander of the enemy and to save our souls.

Kontakion

As a zealot of the Orthodox faith and a teacher of pious life, in sickness and sorrow a fair helper and protector, the venerable Amphilochia stands before the Lord, for this reason we cry out to you: save the monastery in which you labored, and save us with your prayers, blessed father.

In kontakion

As a zealot of the Orthodox faith/ and a teacher of pious living,/ a great helper in illness and sorrow,/ you stand before the Lord, like Amphilochia,/ for this reason we cry out to you:/ protect the monastery where you labored, // and save us with your prayers, father blessed

Akathist

Kontakion 1

Chosen One of Christ and the monastery of Pochaev, a new miracle worker, a quick comforter for the grieving and a gracious healer for the sick, Reverend Father Amphilochius, praising your God-pleasing life with love, we offer a song of thanksgiving for you to God. You, as a daring prayer book to Him and a warm intercessor for us, ask all those who come to you with faith to be liberated from mental and physical evils, and let us cry out to you:

Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Ikos 1

To Archangel Raphael, prayers of the afflicted to God who brings and health through His grace from heaven, resembling the venerable one, as if you were a great doctor, healing our many different ailments. We, remembering your glorious life, cry out to you:

Rejoice, holy vegetation of the Volyn land; Rejoice, blessed parents of pious children. Rejoice, raised from childhood in the true faith; Rejoice in prayer and physical abstinence, dearly beloved. Rejoice, you who shone forth in piety from your youth; Rejoice, having inherited the virtues of your parents. Rejoice, trained in skillful healing by your father; Rejoice, you are diligent in imitating your mother’s reverence and meekness. Rejoice, having striven against the lust of the flesh to preserve virginity and purity; Rejoice, armed with chastity against lust. Rejoice, you who resist worldly pride with humility; Rejoice, having fulfilled Christ's commandments of love of God and brotherly love. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 2

Seeing the right hand of God on you, taking out the covering for you, and realizing the transience of this life, you rejected all the charms of the evil world and you came to the holy mountain of Pochaev, and brought everything to yourself as a sacrifice to your Creator in the rite of other honours, constantly singing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

People who see your God-pleasing life seek perfect wisdom in you from Orthodoxy. Because of the abundance of the love of Christ in your heart, you have received your father’s care for them. From the heights of heaven, let us perceive the gift of spiritual reasoning, which you have worthily used to teach those who are spiritually infants, for this reason we praise you, saying:

Rejoice, performer of the Zhizhditel's vision; Rejoice, for the salvation of your neighbors, the trustee. Rejoice, possessor of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, in the darkness of unbelief wandering the enlightener. Rejoice, comforter of the sorrowing and burdened; Rejoice, zealous Christian nurturer. Rejoice, warrior of the earthly Church; Rejoice, chaser of demonic regiments. Rejoice, holy father follower; Rejoice, flattering accuser of heretics. Rejoice, teacher of repentance; Rejoice, liberator from the slavery of sin. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 3

Strengthened by the power of God, you courageously ascended to the heights of dispassion, O blessed one, having received many gifts of grace from the Lord, you served the salvation of your neighbors with them, humbly singing to the Bountiful God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having the gift of healing, truly, like a new source of grace, you appeared on Mount Pochaevste, Father Amphilochie, for those suffering from many different ailments, I diligently flowed with faith and hope, and with the power of your grace-filled prayers, I received health freely, in the joy of thanksgiving I cried out :

Rejoice, girded with the power of the Most High to heal incurable ailments; Rejoice, You have the same power to resurrect the dead. Rejoice, thou who makes the blind see; Rejoice, you who open the ears of the deaf and the tongue of the dumb. Rejoice, you who straighten broken bones; Rejoice, strengthener of the slick ridges. Rejoice, thou who fillest the dry hand and nose with the currents of life; Rejoice, renewer of the body scorched by fire. Rejoice, cleanser of ulcers and stinking scabs of the body; Rejoice, thou who hast corrupted the flesh, and hast been cut off, O miraculous healer. Rejoice, you who have lost your mind, give your prayers to the Mother of God a sound mind; Rejoice, you who free those who suffer from unclean spirits in the name of Jesus. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 4

With the gift of insight, suddenly given by the Lord, you were informed of the storm of the invasion of foreigners, from that very hour, from afar, you saw the souls and destinies of those coming to you. And filled with zeal for piety, you meekly denounced the sins of the unrepentant for this gift, so that having brought forth fruit worthy of repentance, they would cry out to God with a pure heart: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

We see in you a prudent listener and a wise doer of the Gospel words. For their sake, you zealously ascended the path of self-sacrifice, hardships and sorrows and you steadily followed Christ. We, who are careless about such succession to our Savior, in tenderness and contrition of hearts call to you:

Rejoice, you who have the desire to be with Christ; Rejoice, thou who hast ceaselessly striven to seek the One. Rejoice, strict executor of monastic obedience; Rejoice, zealous worker in the field of Christ. Rejoice, radiant luminary, guiding us to salvation; Rejoice, city, standing at the top of the mountain, to which faith flows. Rejoice, preserve peace from spiritual corruption with the salt of piety; Rejoice, fill many with zeal for God. Rejoice, lover of Christ’s meekness and humility; Rejoice, you have found heavenly peace while still in earthly life. Rejoice, river of God's grace; Rejoice, out of slackness we will now drink from faith. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 5

You appeared as the godly defender of the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity in the Lavra of Saints, having protected it from desecration and desolation, you boldly drove away the godless persecutors from the house of prayer, and you called on faithful people to stand up to the blood of their blood for the faith of Christ, fearlessly singing to the Trinitarian God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen in you the blasphemers of evil, the zealous defender of the Pochaev monastery, and the strong supporter of the people of God, they understood that vexation is a work of madness, trying to make you weak, suffering and dishonest; We bring you a song of praise saying:

Rejoice, you who suffered for your fearless confession of faith; Rejoice, glorified for God in the Trinity of Saints, drawn into prison. Rejoice, you who took strangleholds in imitation of the Lord Jesus: Rejoice, you who were shut up with the demons and the violent. Rejoice, long-suffering in cruel torment; Rejoice, you who did not murmur in the midst of severe suffering. Rejoice, you were not embittered by your tormentors; Rejoice, filled with divine love. Rejoice, you who are spiritually vigilant and praying in long-term misadventures; Rejoice, calling upon the Mother of God for help. Rejoice, having placed all your trust in the Lord; Rejoice, not being put to shame in your faith and hope. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 6

You appeared as a preacher of repentance and a pious life, Father Amphilochia. Before bodily healings, you healed the souls who came to you from sins and iniquities. This is what you taught, as sorrows and illnesses befall us for despising a life pleasing to God, which you called to seek through repentance, so that having been delivered from these, let us sing in joy: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

You shone with spiritual reasoning, given to you by the Lord, directing it to spiritual care, and graciously freed those who listened to you from the slave captivity of work by passion. Now accept this praiseworthy word from us:

Rejoice, humility and love are a two-edged sword, cutting off the snares of the enemy; Rejoice, imitator of the Apostles, affirmation of the Orthodox faith. Rejoice, courageous ascetic, zealous fulfillment of monastic vows; Rejoice, interlocutor of angels and mentor of angelic images. Rejoice, faithful servant of God, heir of confessors; Rejoice, merciful father, partaker of the venerables. Rejoice, priest appointed by God, offering the Bloodless Sacrifice for people without blame; Rejoice, good shepherd, ready to lay down your soul for the verbal sheep of Christ. Rejoice, grace-filled physician, who healed the sick with water and brush, sanctified prayer; Rejoice, worthy presbyter, who quickly helped with the power of God’s grace. Rejoice, God-given source, life-giving and healing; Rejoice, filled with the love of Christ, uplifting the fallen and encouraging the despairing. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 7

Although in your heart you were united with Christ, you unceasingly called upon His Sweetest name and through the fire of God’s grace you purified your soul into this worthy temple. For this reason, you teach us to turn our minds and hearts away from the sinful world and to direct ourselves to God, so that in eternal joy we can sing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

A new mirror of the apostolic preparation and desire to be resolved and to be with Christ, you appeared, reverend, when lawlessness and ingratitude in the monastery cemetery wanted to put the innocent one to death. But by the feat of sacrificial love, your fellow priest Irinarch, you were saved from inexorable death. In this way, we too, affirming our devotion to God, say to you:

Rejoice, you who have loved Christ from your youth; Rejoice, having completely surrendered your soul and life to Him. Rejoice, having enslaved yourself to the Lord by your will; Rejoice, having been strengthened in unceasing trust in Him. Rejoice, you who died to the sinful world before death; Rejoice, having found eternal life in Christ while still in your earthly body. Rejoice, image of perfect faith and love; Rejoice, mirror of shameless hope. Rejoice, heir of Christ’s humility; Rejoice, mercy imitator of His. Rejoice, thou who hast acquired the unceasing remembrance of death; Rejoice, you have escaped the snares of the enemy. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 8

A strange miracle appears, blessed one, your name, together with the Most Blessed Mother of God and the Venerable Job, prayerfully calling: for the small petition that brings you, abiy such a deep intercession, from great sorrows and illnesses we accept speedy deliverance, and let us cry out to God rejoicing for you: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Filled with all the love of the Divine, you holyly nourished multitudes of people, like a spirit-bearing elder who came to you during your exile, to Malo-Ilovitskaya. You, by mercifully satisfying their needs, have introduced many to a life pleasing to God. Thus, by your life, confirmed in truth and piety, we call you:

Rejoice, new one without money, healing our illnesses; Rejoice, great evangelist, who affirms the right faith in our land. Rejoice, servant of God, who has enslaved everyone to himself and brought many to Christ; Rejoice, meek ascetic, merciful and loving to those who offend you. Rejoice, God-wise shepherd, who gives the understanding of salvation to people; Rejoice, elder of grace, renewing the souls of the unrepentant. Rejoice, holy father, turning the hearts of children to their father; Rejoice, teacher of repentance, who washes the conscience of those who repent. Rejoice, prophet of the living God, who pours out mercy on those who suffer; Rejoice, God-voiced thunder, terrifying enemies of the faith. Rejoice, possessor of simplicity, disgracing the wisdom of this age; Rejoice, servant of Truth, illuminating the minds of the humble. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 9

Your life was filled with all sorts of evils and sorrows, reverend, in the image of demons and evil people, trying hard to hurt you, but with little success, having found in you a solid pillar of faith and an inexhaustible source of love, in which you were even more worthy of increasing and deep grace, even until your blessed death , in complacency you sang to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Every day and hour you offered up many prayers, Father, to our Most Pure Lady Theotokos, praising Her greatness and motherly love for us sinners. Now you are aware of your monastery, together with the Venerable Job, a warm intercessor and persistent prayer book towards Her, so we cry to you:

Rejoice, chosen one of God, Mother; Rejoice, holy monastery of Her glorious warrior. Rejoice, you who sacredly venerate the miraculous icon of the Most Pure One; Rejoice, and reverently worship the footprint of Her right hand. Rejoice, thou who sang the glory of the Ever-Virgin every day; Rejoice, having placed your trust in Her mercy. Rejoice, thou who in monastic labors and confessional labors worthily imitated the venerable Job; Rejoice, O holy father, having received the gift of miracles. Rejoice, sent by the Lord to the spiritual harvest; Rejoice, you have worked diligently in the field of Christ. Rejoice, seeking the King of Heaven's favor; Rejoice, thou who flee from worldly glory and praise through foolishness. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 10

Be the venerable teacher of our salvation and now, so that we can see your incorruptible body and learn to run away from the vain and false things of this world; laziness and neglect of one’s soul, trampling underfoot through labor and prayer; We strive to strive for purity of flesh and spirit, with all our hearts, in the hope of salvation, singing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Thou art an indestructible wall from the evils that come, O blessed one: comforting the sorrowing, healing the sick, casting out demons, and preserving them from adversity. Even to this day, the power of God existing in you, you have shown to all who come to you with faith and love, striving to sing to you in gratitude:

Rejoice, father, for as I still live and exist, the people of the Russian land have flowed to you; Rejoice, for even now, the sweat of the peoples of Holy Rus', seeking healing from your healing relics, does not become scarce. Rejoice, accuser of evil fighters against God; Rejoice, destroyer of God-hating wickedness. Rejoice, you who have acquired the peace of God within yourself; Rejoice, thou who hast made many worthy to taste this indescribable sweetness. Rejoice, having established your heart in true humility; Rejoice, with this weapon, together with prayer, you have defeated the demons. Rejoice, thou who served the Heavenly Father as sons; Rejoice, true disciple of Christ the Savior. Rejoice, harmonious organ of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, pure dwelling of the Holy Trinity. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 11

You constantly brought a song of thanksgiving in all the circumstances of your sorrowful life, to the hero Christ, servant of God, but we, having found in you such an intercessor before God, and in those who find adversity a protector, in your image, in our sorrows and joys, we will continue to sing to the Lord : Alleluia.

Ikos 11

A multi-illuminated lamp appeared, O God-bearer, as the dawn of miracles and illuminating the faithful with the image of piety. But even after your dormition, this grace is not lacking in you; you generously give it to those who come with faith to your tomb, so that they may learn to glorify God, all the miracles of the Source, and say to you:

Rejoice, successor of the unmercenary and miracle workers; Rejoice, health to our bodies and salvation to our souls. Rejoice, for through you we are delivered from bodily passions; Rejoice, for through you we are filled with spiritual sweets. Rejoice, your monastery and the glorious praise of your fathers; Rejoice, wise kindness to all the God-wise. Rejoice, thou who has deceived many from destruction; Rejoice, you who preserved countless people unharmed. Rejoice, much-lamentable defeat of demons; Rejoice, consecration of the Volyn land. Rejoice, radiance that disperses the sorrowful darkness; Rejoice, shining light, enlightening the darkness of godlessness. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 12

By grace in the crucible of sorrows, as if purified with gold, shining with the crown of confession and reverence, after your death you returned to the Pochaev monastery. By the will of God, in the discovery of your incorruptible relics, you appeared to us in the last summer, spiritually comforting everyone and singing to God, wondrous in His saints, crying out: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your life pleasing to God and the miracles of many, Father Amphilochie, we are perplexed to praise you according to your wealth, but leading your compassion to the weak, we pray to those who now praise you to send down your goodness, so that under your prayerful roof we will remain, in zeal for salvation, we will magnify you with these titles :

Rejoice, chosen by God the Father; Rejoice, purified by your suffering life. Rejoice, you who laid down your soul for your neighbors; Rejoice, you have now found yourself in paradise. Rejoice, shining with kindnesses of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, fragrant with the same grace. Rejoice, you who are witnessed from above by the many healings that flow from your tomb; Rejoice, crosses of clouds, revealed on the day of your earthly glorification, glorified by the Heavenly Father. Rejoice, crowned by the hero of Christ; Rejoice, numbered with the righteous. Rejoice, blessed one in the heavenly abode; Rejoice, you who intercede for us at the throne of the Holy Trinity. Rejoice, reverend Father Amphilochie, our warm intercessor and wonderful healer.

Kontakion 13

O blessed Father Amphilochie, wondrous healer and quick helper to those who come to you, do not deprive us, who humbly fall to you, of your gracious visit: heal our illnesses, quench our sorrows, calm our lives; Yes, through your intercession to the Most High Master, having been delivered from all evil and evil deeds, we sing to Him forever and ever: Alleluia.

We say this kontakion three times, and again: Ikos 1 “To the Archangel Raphael...”, Kontakion 1. “The Chosen One of Christ...”

Prayer

Oh, our all-blessed father Amphilochie, earthly angel and heavenly man! We fall to you with faith and love and pray diligently: show us your holy intercession to the humble and sinful; for it is a sin for our sakes, the imams do not have the boldness to ask our Lord and Master for our needs, but to you, the favorable prayer book, we offer to Him and ask you with zeal for many: ask us from His goodness for useful gifts for our souls and bodies, faith in justice, love for I am unhypocritical to everyone, patience in suffering, those obsessed with serious illnesses - healing from ailments, under the burden of sorrows and misfortunes, those who fall intolerable and despairing of their lives, through your prayers will receive quick relief and deliverance.

Do not forget, blessed father, this holy monastery, in which you labored, always honoring you, but keep all those who live and labor in it and come to worship there unharmed from the temptations of the devil and all evil. When our departure from this temporary life arrives, and our migration to eternity, do not deprive us of your heavenly help, but with your prayers bring us all into the haven of salvation and reveal us to be the heirs of the all-bright Kingdom of Christ, so that we sing and glorify the ineffable generosity of the Lover of Mankind, God the Father and The Son and the Holy Spirit and yours, together with the Venerable Job, is your fatherly intercession forever and ever. Amen.

Canon

Voice 1

Song 1

Irmos: Your victorious right hand,/ has been gloriously glorified in the fortress:/ that, Immortal,/ like the almighty, has erased the enemy,// the Israelis have made the path of the depths new.

Thy gracious help, Lord, send down upon us, in order to praise Thy saint, our father Amphilochius, the piety of the ascetic and the wondrous decoration of the Pochaev Lavra.

The love and piety of parents, which we received from childhood, you have worthily carried through your entire life, ascending in spirit from strength to strength, blessed.

You were also captured in battle from visible enemies, but you escaped the invisible captivity of passions, like a saint, by punishing the flesh for the spirit.

Theotokos: Desiring to gain eternal life with the saints, you loved the Mother of God with all your soul, O saint,/ and, in Her house on Mount Pochaev, you served,/ you served God worthy.

Song 3

Irmos: Only the one who knows the weakness of the human being,/ and mercifully imagined himself in it,/ girded me from on high with strength,/ even to cry out to Thee, O Holy One,// animated in the temple of unspeakable words You are Yours, Lover of mankind.

When you prayed at the tomb of the rector of the deceased, venerable Lord, reveal to you the vanity of this temporary life, while thinking about eternal life, your sins will begin before all confession ́dati.

Having been called blessed, Joseph has already been said to be multiplied, for this reason you endeavored to abundantly increase grace in your hearts.

When you were honored with the rank of priest, O saint, then you aggravated your prayers, forgiveness and deeds, but you, not tolerating your virtuous life, many times wanted to destroy you, you are sitting You have always preserved the love of God.

Theotokos: Most glorious without comparison Seraphim and most honest Cherub, Most Holy Virgin, hear our prayers and entreaties, and with Thy help be constant from us.

Kontakion, tone 3

As a zealot of the Orthodox faith/ and a teacher of pious living,/ a great helper in illness and sorrow,/ you stand before the Lord, like Amphilochia,/ for this reason we cry out to you:/ protect the monastery where you labored, // and save us with your prayers, father blessed.

Sedalen, voice 3

Filled with the love of Christ, O Reverend Amphilochia,/ You guided those who inquired with the Holy Spirit to salvation/ and so, like a lamp,/ in the darkness of ignorance you shone forth for those who sat down./ Thus pray for us to the Lord, so that we too may be enlightened by His grace.

Glory, and now, of the holiday or the Mother of God:

Mother of God, Thy saving Protection of the world below, manifesting itself from Heaven, / do not forsake us, who are perishing in our sins, / and those who anger the Merciful Lord, / pray to Him to deliver us from soul-destroying delusion, / I Our Representative is strong and our Helper is quick.

Song 4

Irmos: Mount Thee, overshadowed by the grace of God, / the perspicacious Habakkuk saw in his eyes, / proclaiming from You to come forth to the Holy One of Israel, // for our salvation and renewal.

You were the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, you healed many who were sick by the grace of God, and you defeated the army of demons, blessed father. Accept our prayers and heal us from sinful wounds.

We see the image of God-dear courage and boldness in you, Reverend Father, for you have preserved the temple of the Holy Trinity from desecration and desolation and you have made the faithful people glad in their present sorrow.

You shed streams of tears, Reverend, for the lost children of the Orthodox Church, temporary blessings are greater than the eternal blessings of those who love.

Theotokos: Those who honor You and magnify you in songs, do not deny us, O Most Holy Virgin, for are not You other Intercessors and Intercessors.

Song 5

Irmos: Enlightened by the radiance/ of Your coming, O Christ,/ and illuminated by Your Cross the ends of the world,/ enlighten the hearts with the light of Your God-mind// of those who sing Thee Orthodoxy.

When the persecution of Lutia brought you into the prison of the demons and those deprived of the mind, then you humbly cried out to you, Blessed Father: glory to God, who has been good to me.

Neither sorrow, nor hardship, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor trouble, nor sword, nor any other adversity can separate you from the love of God, Reverend Father.

The Angel Earthly and the Human Nebty appeared, the same, in the life of God, in life, was sponed, more and more, the more rewards in heaven perceived, Blessed.

Theotokos: Coming, let us proclaim with all our tongues how many miracles the Most Holy Theotokos has performed in Her inheritance and how she has mercy on all who come to Her with faith.

Song 6

Irmos: The last abyss has passed us by, / there is no deliverance, / we are counted as sheep of the slaughter. / Save Thy people, our God // For You are the strength of the weak and the correction.

Amphilochius was named in the schema of the saints, being like a saint, you added labor to labor and through virtues, like degrees, you ascended into the Kingdom of Heaven.

You healed many sick people who came to you, and you freed the afflicted from unclean spirits, conquering them through meekness and humility.

Imitating Elijah the Tishbite with zeal, like a venerable one, you inflamed your heart with divine love and, strengthening your soul with patience, you cried out prophetically: God is with us, understand, Gentiles, and for now Rest, for God is with us.

Theotokos: Your name, Most Pure, is constantly magnified by all the families of the Orthodox, and the people of the church sing sweetly: Mother of God, Lady, save us, for we are faced with many misfortunes.

Kontakion, tone 2

By the will of the Most Pure Virgin/ you moved into the monastery of the Pochaevs,/ where you saw off your ascetic and sorrowful life,/ you became enriched with the gift of mental prayer/ and the manifest heir of the Kingdom of Heaven You were./ Moreover we cry to you:/ Rejoice, Amphilochie, blessed Father,// healer and more miraculous.

Ikos

Having sought, like the Lord Jesus, the treasures of Heaven, as pearls are of great value, you have found them and, having left everything for His sake, you have received them a hundredfold in the restoration of existence. Now, with your radiant soul shining in Heaven and with multi-healing relics in the monastery of the Most Holy, you receive kisses from those who worship you and loudly cry out: Rejoice, Amphilochie, blessed father Nne, healer and miracle worker.

Song 7

Irmos: The Abrahamstia youths in the cave foreshadowed the Trinity,/ turning the fiery flame into dew/ and singing, crying out // blessed are you, O God of our father.

Lavra of Pochaevskaya, where you labored, like a venerable one, your refuge appeared, and the tomb of your relics was received, even though for thirty years I lay there in the earth and did not succumb to decay.

The brothers brought your dead body from the weight of Maloilovitsk to the Pochaev monastery and buried it with honor in the tomb of the brothers. You, Reverend, are in the heavenly abodes, praying to God for us.

You were an intercessor to God for people in your life, Reverend Father, and after your repose you interceded for everyone who came to your tomb with faith, and you were a merciful listener to them.

Theotokos: Speckled with golden cassocks, as the Queen, the King and God, you now stand at the right hand, O Lady, praying for all who flow to Your image on the Mount of Worship.

Song 8

Irmos: In the cave, the children of Israel,/ like in a crucible,/ the kindness of piety, purer than gold, shines, saying:/ bless, all the works of the Lord, the Lord,// sing and exalt to all ages.

When people, possessed by unclean spirits, come to your grave, like the demons that exist in them, they cannot endure your holiness, with loud voices they cry out, with the fire of God's grace you are scorched.

We see a glorious miracle about you, reverend, for you, both during your life and after your death, help people who suffer and free those who come to you from harsh circumstances with faith.

The monastics and the worldly people were filled with unspeakable joy, when your body, reverend, was buried in the earth for thirty years, incorruptible and full of fragrance.

Theotokos: One blessed and God-honored Lady, who has given birth to man’s unspeakable joy, fill our hearts with joy, so that we may glorify the Christ born of You.

Song 9

Irmos: The image of Your pure Nativity, / the burning bush of the display, unscorched, / and now we pray to extinguish the furious attacks on us, / so that we may unceasingly magnify You, Mother of God.

Give miracles and healings to all who come and fervently pray to you and reverently venerate your venerable relics, O Reverend Father Amphilochie.

Decoration of the Pochaevsky Lavra, you appeared, O Lord, with your incorruptible body in the cave temple, together with the Venerable Job, you rested and you always helped everyone who came to you.

You gave a sign, Lord, a cloudy cross in heaven on the day of the glorification of St. Amphilochius, and with this cross you blessed all who came to honor the memory of Your saint.

Trinity: Indivisible Trinity, worshiped in Unity, Father, Son and Holy Soul, save and preserve all who honor the memory of Your saint Amphilochius.

Theotokos: One Pure and Immaculate, Who gave birth to God without seed, O Theotokos Lady, cover us with the prayers of Thy saint Amphilochia and keep us from all evil.

Luminous

Having fought a good fight, you, the Amphilochian wonderworker, shone forth in the land of Volyn, like a lamp of Divine grace kindled in the Lavra of Pochaev. Moreover, do not abandon your help to everyone who flows to you with faith.

Glory

The venerable Amphilochius revealed to us, O Christ the Savior, the lamp of faith and the image of a God-pleasing life, on the mountain of the Most Holy One, who rose up on the mountain of Chachaev and the way of salvation. niya shows us.

The life of an ascetic during the Great Patriotic War

During the war years, another talent of the ascetic was revealed - the gift of prediction. During difficult war days, the number of visitors coming to the monk for help increased significantly. Most of his guests were women who went to the righteous man for news about the fate of the men at the front. Many asked the righteous man to pray for their husbands, brothers, and fathers. Monk Joseph could always tell for sure whether the person his visitors were asking about was alive.

Repeatedly, the life of Joseph and other monks of the monastery was on the brink of death: German invaders broke into the monks’ cells, demanding valuables and food, threatening to shoot all those who lived within the walls of the monastery. The monks were ready to accept the inevitable with humility and with prayers prepared to meet the Lord. The Almighty heard the prayers of his children and granted them the opportunity to continue their earthly path: the Germans did not carry out their threats and left the monastery with nothing. The shepherd knew that the monks of the monastery had a difficult struggle ahead for Rus' and the Orthodox faith.