Life of the Venerable Optina Elder Anatoly the Elder (1824 - 1894)

Parents' prayer builds children's homes

The Monk Anatoly was born, in the world Alexey Kopiev, in 1824 in the family of a deacon who served in the church of the village of Bobyli, Kaluga province, and was named in holy baptism in honor of Saint Alexy, the man of God. Like many Optina elders, he was brought up in severity and piety, justifying the words: “The prayer of parents builds the homes of children.”

When Alexey was five years old, his father began teaching his son to read and write. He grew up as a smart and capable child and very soon learned the alphabet, after which they began to teach him to read the Book of Hours and the Psalter.

The boy loved to go to God's temple and stood decorously next to his mother. The father wanted his son to read in the choir, but he did not have to do this: the boy had a very quiet and weak voice. At home, the book was his constant companion. Being inquisitive and cheerful, he was also distinguished by his kindness towards others. Whether they give him gifts or toys, he will soon distribute everything to his sisters, then to other children he knows.

Studying at theological school and seminary

The parents wanted to see their son become a monk and at the age of eight they sent him to study at the Borovsk Theological School. After four years of study, Alexey successfully graduated from this school, and then studied at the seminary in Kaluga. The young man was not particularly healthy. In seminary, he often suffered from insomnia. At such moments, especially in the spring, he sat on the window, and even then more than once his thought was carried away to the quiet monastic monasteries. In his free hours, he often went beyond Kaluga to Mount Vyrku. There he sat for a long time alone in his thoughts.

At the age of fourteen, due to illness, he missed a year of study, and then almost went to the hermits in the Roslavl forests, among these hermits were the future Optina monks Moses and Anthony. He had already moved several miles away from Kaluga, but a strong thunderstorm arose and heavy rain began to fall, and he returned back, seeing in these manifestations of the formidable forces of nature a revelation of God’s disapproval on his path. He completed the seminary course as the third student, and in the seminary he was given a different surname, Zertsalova, and a wide field of life opened up before him, so attractive to young souls.

Modest and strict in life

After graduating from the seminary, the young man was offered several priestly positions, but the Lord judged him to have a different lot. In the meantime, he lived at home, served in the Treasury Chamber, and went on pilgrimages. With sister Anna, they visited St. Sergius of Radonezh, then stopped at Khotkovo, where they liked it so much that the young man persuaded his sister to enter this monastery. The young, eighteen-year-old girl obeyed her brother, and her mother joyfully blessed her. Subsequently, Father Anatoly, who highly valued such obedience of his sister and cared for her all her life, transferred her to Shamordino, where she, five years after the death of her brother-mentor, died in the schema with the name of Augusta.

And he himself served for some time in the Treasury Chamber. Receiving a salary, he shared it with his family, was still modest and strict in life, loved and respected by everyone. Handsome in appearance, neat in his clothes, even in character, he was a consolation for his relatives when he came to them. His mother also visited him often and always heard a lot of praise for her son. He avoided public entertainment, and if he was visiting, he had a large selection, and there he brought a good spirit.

One day he was visiting a friend, where something strange was happening in the apartment: things were flying and the like, which was witnessed by the guest, who advised him to serve a prayer service to get rid of these phenomena. They listened to him, and these cases stopped.

The young man continued to think about monasticism. He often and diligently went to pray to God in churches, and when his mother came in the morning, she always did not find him: he left for early mass. He loved to go to the cathedral, he stood up to hear better in front, but when new pilgrims came, he moved away and, finally, always ended up at the door, giving space to others.

Venerable Anatoly of Optina: teachings and prophecies of the “second Seraphim”

On August 12, the memory of St. Anatoly (Potapov), one of the last Optina elders, is celebrated. Having lived a life full of spiritual exploits, the saint escaped cruel torment at the hands of atheists. In his letters to his spiritual children, he not only gave personal advice, but also prophesied about the future fate of the Church.

"Blessed are you who are poor in spirit..."

From his youth, Elder Anatoly’s life was lived in a spirit of humility, in contrition of heart before the omniscient will of God. When his mother opposed Alexander’s (the elder’s secular name) desire to take the path of monasticism, the future saint accepted this as a test given by the Lord. He did not despair, did not lose heart, did not grumble, but simply prayed and waited patiently for the long-awaited path to open before him.

His petitions were heard and at the age of 30, after the death of his mother, he entered Optina Pustyn as a monk.

Learning the science of spiritual life under the guidance of St. Ambrose of Optina, the saint continued to cultivate in himself the main qualities of a true monk - humility and kindness. These virtues helped him to steadfastly endure all the trials that befell him during the years of the revolutionary turning point.

After the victory of the revolution, the Soviet government intended to close the monastery and arrest the entire brethren. Elder Anatoly did not escape this fate either. The first arrest almost took his life. Staying in terrible prison conditions, constant and grueling interrogations greatly undermined the already fragile health of the elder. He looked so sickly that the security officers mistook him for a typhus patient and shaved his head. But the saint’s meekness and love for his enemies was so great that he affectionately called all his ill-wishers “good.”

“You are God’s, even if you have already forgotten about it, even if you don’t want to hear about it!” - he repeated. The elder’s kindness briefly softened the evil hearts of the God-fighters, and soon they returned him back to Optina Pustyn.

When, out of obedience, the Monk Anatoly began to spiritually care for the numerous pilgrims of the monastery, he taught them the main quality of a Christian - humility.

“First of all, we must recognize ourselves as the weakest worm, unable to do anything good without the gift of the Holy Spirit from our Lord Jesus Christ, given through the prayer of ours and our neighbors and by His mercy,” said the saint.

Having rich spiritual and life experience behind him, the elder remained a humble novice at heart until the end of his days.

When, after a while, a “delegation” from the GPU came to him with a sanction for a second arrest, which threatened to become the last for the monk, he, without resisting the arrest in principle, asked for a delay of only one day. Seeing the deplorable state of the future prisoner, the guards agreed.

Father Anatoly spent the whole night in prayer. When the next morning the security officers asked whether the elder was ready to go to prison, his cell attendant, Father Varnava, restrainedly replied: “Yes, I am ready!” - and let the guards into the cell. In the cell they saw the lifeless body of an old man who had peacefully reposed in prayer to the Lord on the eve of his imminent arrest.

So the Lord called his humble servant before a new avalanche of torture and interrogation fell on him. And the main wealth that he took with him to the Heavenly Abode was spiritual poverty, which he made the basis of his service to God.

Predictions about church disasters

In one of his letters to a spiritual child, the Optina elder describes in detail all the stages of the tragedy that will happen to the Church during this time. Here are some key points from his prophecies:

1. “As a result of the impoverishment of piety, heresies and schisms will appear in the Churches, and then, as the holy fathers predicted, there will not be people experienced and skilled in spiritual life on the thrones of the hierarchs and in the monasteries.”

2. “There will be slanderers, traitors, sowing enmity and malice everywhere.”

3. “The monks will suffer great oppression from heretics, and monastic life will then be reproached.”

It is important to note the cause of the crisis of faith that St. Anatoly writes about - the impoverishment of piety. Such impoverishment is manifested, first of all, in the absence of the fear of God in the face of life's trials. And indeed, heresies and schisms always appeared in the Church when, misinterpreting the Gospel or relying only on their own theological literacy, certain religious leaders cut themselves off from the single church organism.

“Do not be afraid of sorrow, but be afraid of destructive heresy, for it strips you of grace and separates you from Christ,” the elder admonishes the addressee of his letter.

The holy confessor teaches us that any deviation from the faith initially appears invisible to human eyes. Subtle lies, coupled with deceit and seasoned with the right words, are indeed very difficult to distinguish from genuine gospel preaching. But if we let these ear-flattering words into our soul, we poison it, moving further and further away from God.

* * *

Elder Anatoly of Optina, for his good nature, responsiveness and spiritual purity, was called “comforter” and “second Seraphim” among the Orthodox people. People who talked with him testified that they had been “under the blessed golden rain,” bathing in the streams of his love and compassion. For the sake of communicating with those seeking consolation, the elder forgot about sleep, only occasionally falling into a doze at Matins while reading kathismas. He took long confessions from all those “toiling and burdened,” despite fatigue and excruciating pain in his sore back. Until the last days of his life, the saint remained a monk, for whom love and obedience were above all other virtues.

Together with his death, the “golden age” of the Optina elders came to an end. Now, thanks to reading the letters and spiritual instructions of the Optina ascetics, we have a unique opportunity to touch their experience of communion with God and knowledge of God, the experience of humility, obedience and living love for God and His creation. Falling to the pure source of their creations, preserved by the grace of God, we learn to trust the Savior in order to find the right path to the salvation of the soul.

Reverend Father Anatoly, pray to God for us!

Weigh their destinies

Perhaps Alexei’s path to Optina would have been longer, but the Lord, “by their own destinies,” made this path more direct and faster. The young man sought understanding in prayer and waited for a clearer indication of the will of God, which is what happened. And it happened, as always, imperceptibly and naturally: just as the Lord appeared to Elijah not in a thunderstorm and a storm, but in a quiet breeze, so here the will of God for his entry into the monastery approached in the ordinary circumstances of his life.

Alexey falls ill with tuberculosis, in those days this disease was considered fatal. Two fellow officials fell ill with him. And the young man made a vow: if he recovered, he would enter a monastic monastery. His comrades soon both died, and the future Optina elder recovered. Upon recovery, he refused to serve. “To him who loves God, all things work for the good,” and now Alexei was lovingly received in 1853 by the rector and elder of Optina, the Venerable Moses.

Blessed are you, kind woman, for sending your son on such a good path!

His parents blessed the young man to take the monastic path; he was twenty-nine years old at that time. Educated, well-behaved, meek and diligent, he was received with love by his father, Archimandrite Moses. Elder Macarius said to the mother of the future monk: “Blessed are you, good woman, for sending your son on such a good path!” From that day on, the Venerable Elder Macarius began to guide the spiritual life of the young novice. He fell in love with him and taught him the Jesus Prayer himself. The young novice went far into the forest and prayed there in solitude.

Rev.
Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
Memorial Days:

*
January 25
(February 07).
* October 11
(October 24). In the Cathedral of All Saints, who shone in the Optina Hermitage.

Latin spelling

: Anatolios.

Name translated from Greek

: Eastern.

The main dates in the earthly life of the saint:

* Time of birth: March 24 (April 6), 1824. * Place of birth: Bobyli village, Kaluga province. * Departure to the Lord: January 25 (February 7), 1894. * Place of rest: Optina Monastery, Kaluga province.

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LIFE
From the website of the Moscow Sretensky Monastery.

Reverend Anatoly (in the world Alexey Moiseevich Zertsalov) was born on March 24, 1824 in the family of a deacon who served in the church of the village of Bobyli, Kaluga province. The parents raised their son in severity and piety, hoping that over time he would choose the path of serving God.

After graduating from the Kaluga Theological Seminary, Alexey entered service in the State Chamber, but soon fell seriously ill. In those days, consumption was considered a fatal disease, and Alexei made a vow: if the Lord heals him, he will take monastic vows.

The Lord gave him life, and soon, in July 1853, asking for his parents’ blessing, he came to Optina Pustyn. Elder Macarius said to the mother of the future monk: “Blessed are you, good woman, for sending your son on such a good path!” From that day on, the Venerable Elder Macarius began to guide the spiritual life of the young novice. Over time, sensing the approach of infirmities and death, he gave his blessing to seek advice from the Venerable Elder Ambrose.

On November 17, 1862, brother Alexey was tonsured into a mantle with the name Anatoly. By this time he was already in obedience to the Monk Ambrose.

From the very first years of his stay at the monastery, the life of the future venerable elder Anatoly was devoted to labors for the benefit of his neighbors. When he worked in the kitchen, there was no time even to sleep, and he had to sleep on firewood. And in order to pray, to be alone in rare free moments with God and one’s conscience, one had to go far into the forest... Later, Elder Ambrose began to send the Monk Anatoly to the monastery hotel to console the mourners. And when the perspicacious elder saw that the student was ripe to instruct others in spiritual work, he began to gradually introduce him to the work of old age, preparing his closest collaborator and assistant.

In 1870, the Monk Anatoly was ordained to the rank of hieromonk, and the very next year he received the appointment of rector of the Spaso-Orlovsky Monastery with elevation to the rank of archimandrite. But love for his native Optina and Elder Ambrose forced him to refuse the honorary appointment. The Monk Ambrose asked him first to be his assistant, then to become the dean of the monastery. And in 1874, for obedience to the elder, the Monk Ambrose, the Monk Anatoly accepted the position of monastery commander. Elder Ambrose also entrusted him with the care of the newly created Shamordino women's monastery. The Monk Ambrose more than once told the sisters: “I rarely take you to my place (for a conversation), because I am calm about you: you are with Father Anatoly.”

The Monk Anatoly had an unusually merciful and compassionate character. If he learned about someone's grief, he became so worried that he began to have a terrible headache. And then my heart started to hurt...

Having taken charge of Shamordin, he was involved in all aspects of the sisters’ lives, he himself taught them the rules of Divine services, the monastic prayer rule, the pentacentenary, and church singing. But still, his first question to his spiritual daughters was: “Do you have everything?” For twenty-one years he was a devoted, endlessly loving father and mentor to the nuns of Shamordin.

The Venerable Elder Ambrose himself testified to the great power of Elder Anatoly’s prayer: “He was given such prayer and grace as is given to one in a thousand.” The Monk Anatoly spoke with special love about the Jesus Prayer, saying that true prayer should not be born under the impression of good reading and singing, but be the fruit of great work, boldness and love for God.

The Monk Anatoly possessed all the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: the gift of insight and spiritual reasoning, healing of mental and physical ailments. With a few words, filled with love and spiritual experience, he knew how to console a grieving soul, carefully warn about upcoming trials, and prepare for imminent death.

The death of Elder Ambrose on October 10, 1891 undermined the health of his beloved student: he experienced his orphanhood so deeply and painfully that he was overcome by a fatal illness.

Reverend Anatoly began to fade away. He bore his illness meekly and humbly. On December 15, 1893, he secretly accepted the schema.

On January 25 (February 7), 1894, the Venerable Elder Anatoly rested quietly while reading the funeral service. He was buried near the walls of the Vvedensky Cathedral, next to his beloved teachers and mentors.

Holy Reverend Father Anatoly, pray to God for us.

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POWERS:

* The relics of St. Anatoly (the Elder) are in the Vladimir Church of Optina Pustyn. * A portion of the relics is kept in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington. * A particle of the relics is kept in the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the village of Staraya Zhukovka, Saratov region. * A particle of the relics is kept in the Transfiguration-Spiridon Church of Baden-Baden, Germany.

If you have additional information on this issue, please let me know (a[@]palomnik.org).

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VIDEO:

* Be meek and silent. Anatoly Optinsky (Senior).

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DOXOLOGY:

Troparion, tone 8:

In you, father, it is known that you were saved in the image:/ we accepted the Cross, you followed Christ,/ and you taught in action to despise the flesh, for it passes away,/ but to be careful about the souls, things more immortal,// In the same way, the angels rejoice, Reverend Anatoly, your spirit.

Kontakion, voice 2:

Having armed yourself with divine purity of soul, / and having firmly handed over unceasing prayers like a spear, / you have broken through the demonic army, / Anatoly, our father, / / ​​pray unceasingly for all of us.

Magnification:

We bless you, / Reverend Father Anatoly, / and honor your holy memory, / mentor of monks, / and interlocutor of Angels.

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INFORMATION SOURCES:

* Optina Pustyn website: Anatoly Optinsky (Senior).

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The narrow path of trials and tribulations

Spiritual maturation occurs in different ways, and the Lord himself provides for his chosen ones. Only ten years later, in 1862, novice Alexey was tonsured into a mantle with the name Anatoly. Over time, sensing the approach of infirmities and death, Father Macarius blessed him to seek advice from the Venerable Elder Ambrose. So by this time he was already in obedience to the Monk Ambrose. And he was one of his very first students.

These ten years were very difficult for the young novice. Elder Macarius saw the gifts of the future elder and led him along the narrow path of trials and hardships in order to strengthen the ascetic and create in him a good monastic dispensation.

Alexey was very neat and loved cleanliness, and so as not to become attached to vain and material things, he was constantly transferred from cell to cell, fostering a wandering dispensation. Elder Ambrose used to say: “We must live on earth as a wheel turns, just one point touches the ground, and the rest tends upward; and even if we lie down, we can’t get up.” They will put Alexei in his cell, he will clean it up, bring cleanliness and order, and arrange his favorite spiritual books. And he will immediately be transferred to a new cell, and he needs to start all over again. He humbled himself and didn’t mind. He took his modest belongings: icons, felt, books and moved to a new place of residence.

But this also served to gain experience. Later, in a letter to one of his spiritual students, Fr. Anatoly will be able to find words of consolation for the nun, tempted by the same inconveniences: this is sent for this purpose, so that the soul remembers where its real, eternal home is, and strives for the heavenly Fatherland. And the “reward” for the monk’s patience was being cared for by the great Optina elders.

The monk patiently endured all the difficulties and tried his best to follow all the instructions of the elders. According to their instructions, he not only did not go to other people’s cells, but also did not receive anyone to himself. One new inhabitant of the monastery, from the military, somehow took a great liking to Father Anatoly and wanted to visit his cell. He brought him jam and persuaded him, but he, however, did not agree to break the old man’s commandment not to go to his cells and not receive guests.

The Monk John Climacus said that he saw novices who spent the whole day in obedience, in work, and then, standing in prayer, were filled with Divine light. These words came true for the young novice. Given his poor health, he had to perform difficult obedience in the kitchen. These physical labors were unusual, and there was very little time left for rest. He slept little, and only in the kitchen, right on the firewood.

Anatoly Optinsky (Zertsalov), Rev.

Memorial Days:

25.01. old style/07.02 new style;

11.10 old style/24.10 new style

Reverend Anatoly of Optina (Zertsalov) is an Optina elder, a disciple of the venerables Macarius and Ambrose, a contemporary of the elders Anthony, Moses, Hilarion, and Joseph. Member of the Council of the 14 Venerable Elders of Optina Hermitage.

Reverend Anatoly (in the world Alexey Moiseevich Zertsalov) was born on March 24, 1824 in the family of a deacon who served in the church of the village of Bobyli, Kaluga province, and was brought up in severity and piety.

After graduating from the Kaluga Theological Seminary, Alexey entered the service in the Treasury Chamber, but soon fell seriously ill and vowed to enter a monastic monastery if he recovered.

The Lord gave him life and in 1853, with the blessing of his parents, he came to Optina Pustyn. Given his poor health, he had to perform difficult obedience in the kitchen. These physical labors were unusual, and there was very little time left for rest. He slept little, and only in the kitchen, right on the firewood.

For 7 years Alexey was in obedience to Elder Macarius, and after his death he became one of the first disciples of the Monk Ambrose, who was 12 years older than Father Anatoly. In 1862, Alexey was tonsured into a mantle with the name Anatoly.

Later, Elder Ambrose began to send the Monk Anatoly to the monastery hotel to console the mourners. And when the perspicacious elder saw that the student was ripe to instruct others in spiritual work, he began to gradually introduce him to the work of old age, preparing his closest collaborator and assistant. In 1870, when St. Anatoly was forty-six years old, he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk. And in 1874, for obedience to Elder Ambrose, the Monk Anatoly accepted the position of monastery commander. He carefully cared not only for the spiritual well-being of the inhabitants of the monastery , but also for their daily needs.

Elder Ambrose also entrusted him with the care of the newly created Shamordino women's monastery. The Monk Anatoly served the nuns of the Shamordino monastery for twenty-one years. The sisters addressed the Monk Ambrose as an elder, and the Monk Anatoly as a father who knew all their needs, all their sorrows and temptations. With the blessing of Father Ambrose, the Monk Anatoly also spiritually cared for the nuns of a number of dioceses: Kaluga, Moscow, Smolensk, Tula, Oryol, Kursk. Being himself an ardent man of prayer, a doer of the Jesus Prayer, he taught this to his spiritual children.

The Monk Anatoly spoke with special love about the Jesus Prayer and that true prayer should not be born under the impression of good reading and singing, but be the fruit of great work, boldness and love for God. The Monk Ambrose himself testified to the great power of Elder Anatoly’s prayer: “He was given such prayer and grace as is given to one in a thousand.”

Elder Anatoly possessed all the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: the gift of insight and spiritual reasoning, healing of mental and physical ailments. The wise spiritual guidance and advice of St. Anatoly were spiritual beads for those thirsty for elder care

The death of Elder Ambrose in 1891 undermined the health of his beloved disciple, after which the Monk Anatoly lived only three years.

In December 1893, he secretly accepted the schema and on February 7, 1894, in the seventy-first year of his life, while reading the funeral service, Elder Anatoly quietly died the death of a righteous man.

He was buried at the walls of the Vvedensky Cathedral, next to his beloved teachers and mentors.

In 1996, the Monk Anatoly the Elder (Zertsalov) was canonized as a locally revered Saint of Optina Pustyn, and in August 2000, by the Jubilee Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was glorified for church-wide veneration. The relics of St. Anatoly rest in the Vladimir Church of Optina Pustyn.

Lessons in Patience

Then Alexei had to live in a tower. At first he lived with the monk Father Macarius (Struchkov), and then with another forty-year-old monk who did not recognize old age. From not getting enough sleep, from uncomfortable rooms and unusual work, the young novice began to have a very bad headache. Sometimes he lay for days with a sore head, and there was no one to give him water; often remained without food when he could not go to meals. And below in the tower there was a place where they chopped wood. This knock further aggravated the patient’s position.

He often came to Father Ambrose; he is busy and does not accept him, and does not order him to leave. The monk endured the lesson of patience, but often returned to his place after midnight; and before he has time to go to bed, they wake him up for the morning service. After the black obediences, he was given choir obedience, but he was not here for long. When he began to sing in the choir, he, being tall, so as not to cover the notes, was kicked out of the choir by the regent. He ordered them to watch and sing from there, and Alexei obeyed. Then the simple regent became angry with the new singer because he, as an expert in singing, sometimes gave him business instructions, and complained about him to the rector.

Alexei was sent to the forge. This obedience was hard for him; the bench was small, narrow and short, and he was tall. He lies down, covers his head with a scroll, his feet are cold; my feet are covered, my head is cold. Through these seemingly small, but very serious griefs, a spirit of humility and patience, meekness and firmness of spirit was developed in the young novice.

Rev. Anatoly (Zertsalov; 1824–1894)

On January 25 / February 7 we celebrate the memory of the Venerable Optina Elder Anatoly (Zertsalov). He asceticised in the Optina Hermitage at the time of its heyday, was a disciple of the Monk Macarius and the great Optina elder, the Monk Ambrose, a contemporary of the Monks Moses, Anthony and Hilarion. But even among these great ascetics, the name of St. Anatoly (Zertsalov) does not fade, is not lost. It was about him that the Monk Ambrose said: “He was given such prayer and grace as is given to one out of a thousand.”

The obvious action of God's Providence

Rev. Anatoly (Zertsalov)

In the life of Father Anatoly (in the world of Alexei), God’s Providence was clearly at work: in his youth he fell ill with tuberculosis, an incurable disease in those days. Two fellow officials fell ill with him. The young man made a vow: if he recovered, he would enter a monastic monastery. His comrades soon both died, and the future Optina elder recovered.

In a close way

Having entered the monastery in 1853, Alexei was a novice for a long time. His spirit-bearing mentors shrewdly saw in the young novice a future elder, but did not rush his spiritual maturation and led him along a narrow path of trials and hardships in order to temper him and create in him a good monastic dispensation. Only ten years later, Alexei was tonsured into the mantle, and he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk only in 1870.

Alexey was very neat and loved cleanliness, and so as not to become attached to vain and material things, he was constantly transferred from cell to cell, fostering a wandering dispensation. Elder Ambrose used to say: “We must live on earth as a wheel turns: just one point touches the ground, and the rest tends upward; and even if we lie down, we can’t get up.”

They will put Alexei in a cell, he will clean it up, bring cleanliness and order, and arrange his favorite spiritual books. And he will be immediately transferred to a new cell, and he will have to start all over again.

Then he had to live in a tower. From not getting enough sleep, from uncomfortable rooms and unusual work, Alexei began to have a headache. Sometimes he lay for days with a sore head, and there was no one to give him water; often remained without food when he could not go to meals. And below in the tower they were chopping wood, and this knocking even more aggravated the patient’s position.

When he began to sing in the choir, he, as he was tall, so as not to obscure the notes, was kicked out of the choir by the regent. Then the simple regent became angry with the new singer, since he, being an expert in singing, sometimes gave him business instructions, and complained about him to the rector.

They sent Alexey to the forge. It was hard for him during this obedience as well. One bench, small, narrow and short, was intended for rest and sleep. He lies down and covers his head - his feet are cold; Covers your feet - your head is cold. Through these seemingly small, but very serious griefs, humility and patience, meekness and firmness of spirit were developed in the young novice.

At the monastery of Optina Pustyn

Recommend: my boss

Having become the head of the monastery in 1874, the humble ascetic did not change and still knelt before St. Ambrose in confession. One day, Father Ambrose, having talked with Father Anatoly, who stood in front of him, as always, on his knees out of respect, called one person to him and, pointing to the Monk Anatoly, said: “I recommend: my boss,” thereby teaching a lesson in humility and obedience.

Special Gift

Elder Ambrose entrusted the Monk Anatoly with the care of the newly created Shamordino women's monastery, often noting that Father Anatoly was given a special gift to console the young.

Mother Sophia, the unforgettable founder of the Shamordino monastery, said more than once that a good monk is no different in methods of conversion from the most well-bred aristocrat. But there is a difference between them, and a big one: an aristocrat behaves with tact out of decency, and an exemplary monk out of conviction and love for his neighbors. And in this case she pointed to Father Anatoly as a role model.

Nature elevates man to God

When Elder Anatoly came to Shamordino, walks with him were an unforgettable consolation for all the sisters, which brightened up the difficult life of the first nuns of the monastery. Among the sisters there is a memory of one of these walks and the conversation they had. Mother Sophia asked: “What would Mother Sarah, who for 30 years did not leave the cave to look at nature, tell us?”

To this Father Anatoly answered: “Everyone is saved in his own way. I sympathize more with those saints who loved nature, such as: St. Sergius of Radonezh, Savva of Zvenigorod, St. Anthony and Theodosius; they chose the most beautiful places for their abodes because nature elevates man to God.”

If only God could see the truth

The Monk Anatoly was very trusting and, treating everyone simply, never suspected anyone of lying or deception. He was never afraid that they would say bad things about him, and only said: “If only God could see the truth.”

He hated hypocrisy and flattery, he loved directness and frankness and was very direct himself. In his simplicity, he was very reminiscent of Elder Leo, whom he, rightly, imitated. The Monk Ambrose spoke of him in the words of the Gospel: “This is an Israeli, there is no flattery in him.”

Shamordino

Two angels

In 1892, during his trip to St. Petersburg and Kronstadt, the Monk Anatoly met there with the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, whom he greatly revered. On October 10, they served the Liturgy together in memory of St. Ambrose of Optina.

As Elder Barsanuphius recalled, when the Liturgy began, Father John saw that two Angels would serve with Father Anatoly; it is unknown whether Father Anatoly himself saw them, but Father John clearly saw them.

Guide for Spiritual Life

Elder Anatoly possessed all the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: the gift of insight and spiritual reasoning, healing of mental and physical ailments. He foresaw the death of those close to his spiritual children, their illnesses and adversities, and carefully warned those who were approaching the test.

The advice of St. Anatoly has not lost its significance in our time and can serve as a guide for us in spiritual life.

And only one doctor will save you

Having learned through experience the lessons of patience and humility, having become an old man, he could teach this to others. He warned his spiritual children that if the Lord allows trials to humble a person, then not only strangers, but also his own, even, according to the word of Isaac the Syrian, all creation will rise up against such a person. One spiritual daughter complained about her temporary boss, Pelageya, that she did not like her. The priest answered: “I think, not Pelageya, but Akulina or Arina, but they will call you out. And neither mothers nor fathers will save you. And only one doctor, recommended to you a hundred times, will save you: patience.”

Cathedral temple of the Shamordino monastery from the east side

And when one of the sisters began to ask Father Anatoly to teach her patience, he replied: “You, mother, are asking to teach you patience... How wonderful you are! God teaches her! It is taught by people - sisters! She is taught by the circumstances of her entire life! And they all teach you patience, teach you through deeds, the most prophetic, the very nature of the ability to endure - you ask me for a lesson in theoretical patience... Be patient with everything that comes your way - and you will be saved!”

The best way to acquire humility

The elder spoke about acquiring humility like this: “I tell you the best way to acquire humility. This is this: endure every pain that pricks a proud heart... Start like this and you will see... The main thing is that you don’t understand that this pain, this sharpest sting that pricks the sensitivity of the heart, is the real source of God’s mercies and humility. The mercy of God is hidden in them.”

The power of a spiritual father's prayer

The Monk Anatoly advised to constantly bring heartfelt repentance to the Lord, and not to hide anything from your spiritual father. The elder said: “I love those who speak openly about themselves. The enemy cannot sow anything where everything is revealed to the spiritual father.”

Elder Anatoly gave his spiritual daughter an example from the Patericon about the power of a spiritual father’s prayer for his child:

“One brother, mired in sins, began to die. The abbot and the brethren began to pray for him. And he sees a vision: a huge serpent is sucking in this brother, but he cannot suck in because his father is praying for him.

But this brother is so languid from this mental and physical languor that he himself begs his father not to pray: let, he says, it would be better for the serpent to swallow me up, just don’t torment me. Isn’t this madness: as if being in the womb of a serpent is better than being half-drawn into its mouth! But the elder did not heed his plea, but continued to pray and freed his brother from the jaws of the serpent.”

Read the Jesus Prayer and you will be saved

Being himself an ardent man of prayer, a doer of the Jesus Prayer, the Monk Anatoly taught this to his spiritual children. He often reminded everyone of the need for constant Jesus Prayer and maintaining purity of heart.

When one nun said that she had poor eyesight and it was difficult to read, he replied: “Read the Jesus Prayer and you will be saved.” He especially advised those engaged in difficult obediences to read the Jesus Prayer instead of the rules.

Another nun testified: “Upon entering the monastery, I fell ill. I was fifteen years old, the doctors found a heart defect and throat consumption and said that I would soon die, but I did not want to die. Father told me: “Read the Jesus Prayer as best you can, both sitting and lying down, and everything will pass.” So I did and through his holy prayers I recovered. And since then 23 years have passed, and I live and obey as best I can and do everything for myself in my cell, although I don’t have great health, but before I couldn’t even walk around my cell.”

Only God and soul

Father Anatoly also spoke about prayer this way: “We must pray to God so that there is nothing and no one between the soul of the person praying and God. Only God and soul. So that the person praying does not feel either heaven or earth and nothing but God, otherwise the prayer will be imperfect. When you pray under the impression of good singing or reading, this prayer is not yet true prayer. This is the true prayer: the prophet Elijah put his head on his knees, praying, and in a few minutes he begged the Lord to change His anger to mercy.”

The Church is earthly Heaven

Father Anatoly strictly demanded reverent attention from his spiritual children in the church. “Stand in church like an Angel,” he said, “don’t talk and don’t look around, because the church is earthly Heaven. When leaving the church, read “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...” - and don’t speak to anyone, otherwise you will be like a vessel that was full, but spilled on the way. When you fast, then read the Jesus Prayer especially diligently. When you go to receive communion, take special care of yourself during this mass, don’t talk to anyone and don’t direct your thoughts anywhere. Go to the Chalice with a calm soul, calling on the prayers of your spiritual father. Be afraid of disturbing someone's soul in the temple; you go to ask God for mercy and in His temple you insult your neighbor.”

Submit to the will of God - this is your feat

As much as Father Anatoly cared about the spiritual advancement of his children, he just as wisely protected them from any reason for vanity and conceit as a result of the feats they had undertaken.

One nun was so sick that she could not obey. And when Father Anatoly visited her, she said: “I don’t have any obedience: bless me to take upon myself the feat of living alone, to fast, pray and sleep on bare boards.”

The elder replied: “You know, the evil one does not eat, drink or sleep, but everything lives in the abyss, because he has no humility. It is the enemy who tempts. What are your feats? You've had enough of illness. Be patient with what the Lord has given you. And you submit to the will of God - that’s your feat. Read the Jesus Prayer. Labors are leaves, but the Jesus Prayer is the root and fruit of everything. Humble yourself, reproach yourself for everything, bear illnesses and sorrows with gratitude - this is higher than fasting and deeds and all obediences.”

The snake sits quietly in the hole, but if you touch it, it will hiss

Reverend Anatoly looked at the hostel as an excellent school for developing humility and patience. He used to say that living in a hostel kills passions. “The snake sits quietly in the hole, and if you touch it, it will hiss. It’s the same in the community. Take different stones, put them in a bag and shake them for a long time, they will become round - the same in the community. The nails in the ceiling are dark. The floors are light because people walk on them and they become shiny. So a monk, purified by sorrows, becomes bright.”

Spiritual beads

The advice of St. Anatoly is spiritual beads for those thirsty for elder care.

“Learn to be meek and silent, and you will be loved by everyone. And open feelings are the same as open gates: both the dog and the cat run there... and they shit.”

“We are obliged to love everyone, but we do not dare demand that they love us.”

“Without winter there would be no spring, without spring there would be no summer. So it is in spiritual life: a little consolation, and then a little sorrow, and so little by little the path of salvation is formed.”

“We will accept everything from the hand of God. If it consoles us, we will thank you. And if it doesn’t console us, we’ll thank you.”

Reverend Father Anatoly, pray to God for us!

Success in prayer

At every opportunity, the young monk took advantage of a free minute to be alone in prayer and reading somewhere far away, in the forest, or late in the evening or early in the morning.

He made progress in prayer, so that when the monastery was visited by the Right Reverend Ignatius Brianchaninov, who wished to talk with one of the monks who was experiencing the patristic teaching about the Jesus Prayer through experience, he was pointed to Alexei. For obedience to the Elder and only after a double invitation, the monk dared to talk with the saint.

The Eminence had a long conversation with Alexei. He really enjoyed the conversation. Saint Ignatius could not help but express his surprise and respect and said that he was glad to meet such a monk, educated and experienced in spiritual subjects, and also familiar with secular sciences. This honorable guest praised him very much, calling him Joseph the Beautiful and attributing to him great virtues.

Upon leaving Saint Ignatius, halfway to the Skete, the young monk was met by the venerable elder Macarius, surrounded by people, and, as soon as he heard the praise from the lips of Saint Ignatius, he immediately assumed a menacing appearance and began to reproach him in front of everyone. Father finished with a word admonishing him not to be arrogant: “What do you imagine about yourself, that you are so smart?” After all, the Eminence told you so out of courtesy, and you fooled your ears, thinking that it was true.”

The Elder himself then said to those with him: “After all, how can we not get through this?” He is an attentive, intelligent, educated monk and respected by such people. How long will it take to become proud?..” – which confirmed the assessment given to the future elder Anatoly by the godly Ignatius. It was not for nothing that the Monk Macarius sometimes called Father Anatoly the highest - on the one hand, as if drawing attention to his high stature, on the other hand, pointing to the height of his spiritual structure.

Later, perhaps remembering this incident, the Monk Anatoly will write about acquiring humility: “I tell you the best way to acquire humility. This is this: endure every pain that pricks a proud heart... Start like this and you will see... The main thing is that you don’t understand that this pain, this sharpest sting that pricks the sensitivity of the heart, is the real source of God’s mercies and humility. The mercy of God is hidden in them.”

Closest employee and assistant

After the death of Elder Macarius in 1860, the Monks Ambrose and Anatoly, having lost their beloved elder and mentor, became very close to each other. In the 1860s, with the blessing of Elder Ambrose, Father Anatoly took part in the preparation of Optina editions of the works of Abba Dorotheus, Simeon the New Theologian, and St. Theodore the Studite.

Later, Elder Ambrose began to send the Monk Anatoly to the monastery hotel to console the mourners. And when the perspicacious elder saw that the student was ripe to instruct others in spiritual work, he began to gradually introduce him to the work of old age, preparing his closest collaborator and assistant. In 1870, the Monk Anatoly was ordained to the rank of hieromonk, he was forty-six years old.

And the very next year he received the appointment of rector of the Spaso-Orlovsky Monastery with elevation to the rank of archimandrite. But love for his native Optina and Elder Ambrose forced him to refuse the honorary appointment. The Monk Ambrose asked him first to be his assistant, then to become the dean of the monastery.

Life of the Venerable Optina Elder Anatoly the Elder (1824 - 1894)

Our Reverend Father Anatoly (in the world Alexei Moiseevich Zertsalov) was born on March 6, 1824 in the family of a deacon who served in the church of the village of Bobyli, Kaluga province. The parents raised their son in severity and piety. He grew up quiet, meek and inquisitive. He was distinguished by his special kindness, loved to go to the temple of God and there he always stood decorously next to his mother.

After graduating from the Kaluga Theological Seminary, Alexey entered service in the Treasury Chamber, but soon fell ill with consumption. In those days, consumption was considered a fatal disease, and Alexey made a vow: if he recovered, he would enter a monastery. The Lord gave him life. In July 1853, having asked for his parents' blessing, he came to Optina Pustyn. Elder Macarius said to the mother of the future monk: “Blessed are you, good woman, on what a good path you have sent your son!” The Venerable Elder Macarius with his spiritual gaze saw in the young man who had again come from the vain world a special zeal for salvation and therefore with great love began to guide his spiritual life .

On November 17, 1862, Alexey was tonsured into a mantle with the name Anatoly.

The young monk had to endure many sorrows and hardships. His wise mentor, the Monk Macarius, did not take these sorrows away from his disciple in order to create in him a good monastic dispensation and temper his spirit in patience.

Seeing in him a special disposition to the feat of prayer, the Elder himself began to teach him the Jesus Prayer. When the Monk Macarius left the monastery, he blessed Fr. Anatoly refers to Elder Ambrose. So the future great prayer book and elder went through the Jesus Prayer under the guidance of both elders: Macarius and Ambrose, being in complete obedience to them. Therefore, the spiritual growth of Fr. Anatolia was fast and significant.

In 1866 he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and in 1870 to the rank of hieromonk. Elder Ambrose, seeing that Fr. Anatoly had already reached a level of high spiritual dispensation and began to introduce him to the labors of old age.

In 1871, the Monk Anatoly received the appointment of rector of the Spaso-Orlovsky Monastery and was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. But love for his native Optina and Elder Ambrose forced him to refuse the honorary appointment. The Monk Ambrose asked him first to be his assistant, then to become the dean of the Skete. In 1874, for obedience to the Elder, the Monk Anatoly accepted the position of monastery commander. Elder Ambrose also entrusted him with the care of the newly created Shamordino women's monastery. The monk often told the sisters: “I rarely take you to my place (for a conversation), because I am calm about you: you are with Father Anatoly.”

Having taken charge of Shamordin, he was involved in all aspects of the sisters’ lives, he himself taught them the rules of worship, the monastic prayer rule, the five hundred, and church singing. For twenty-one years he was a devoted, endlessly loving father and mentor to the nuns of Shamordin.

Elder Anatoly put all the power of his love and prayer into his difficult spiritual work. For his children, he was a sensitive father, a demanding teacher, a treasure of wisdom, faith and special Easter joy.

The Monk Ambrose himself testified to the great power of Elder Anatoly’s prayer; “He was given such prayer and grace as is given to one out of a thousand.” At the same time, he was not only a doer of prayer, but also its teacher and mentor for many, many monks and nuns.

The Monk Anatoly possessed all the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: the gift of insight, spiritual reasoning, healing of mental and physical ailments. With a few words, filled with love and spiritual experience, he knew how to console a grieving soul, carefully warn about upcoming trials, tell a person the most important things, strengthen and support.

His fatherly, loving and at the same time firm pastoral care raised such great elders of Optina Pustyn in recent times as Schema-Archimandrite Barsanuphius and Hieroschemamonk Nektarios. He was especially concerned about acquiring such virtues for monastics as patience, or better yet, long-suffering without murmuring of all sorrows, humility and revelation of thoughts. He instructed his monastic children: “Stick to the traditions of your fathers; “Monasticism is above all sciences, it teaches heavenly angelic life; “The image of true monasticism is sincere humility, and Saint Isaac the Syrian calls humility the garment of the Divine.

About prayer he said: “We must pray in such a way that between the soul of the person praying and God there is nothing and no one, only God and the soul.

The Monk Anatoly was very simple in his approach: he would cheerfully and jokingly tell something, but in these stories he would aptly expose someone’s sinful thoughts or shortcomings. He had sincere love for everyone, was very trusting and, treating everyone simply, did not suspect deception in anyone. Elder Ambrose said about him: “This is an Israeli, there is no flattery in him.

Having become seriously ill, Elder Anatoly secretly accepted the schema on December 15, 1893 and received the Holy Mysteries until the last day of his life.

On January 25/February 7, 1894, the Venerable Elder Anatoly rested quietly while reading the funeral service.

The entire life of St. Anatoly, a great and gracious man of prayer, confessor and elder, mentor of many souls, was always illuminated by the light of faith, true obedience and humility. So now, after his departure from earthly life, the great man of prayer, the constant worker of the heartfelt Jesus Prayer, the Monk Anatoly remains for us an indispensable mentor and teacher of prayer, and continues to intercede for the salvation of our souls before the Throne of God.

Modesty and Humility

The humble Father Anatoly accepted all assignments out of obedience to his beloved elder, and never became vain about his power. He himself later said that after his appointment as dean, many did not know about this for a long time. One day he was walking and saw that the brothers were doing something wrong. Father Anatoly reprimanded him, and in response they asked him a question: what do you care? And they were very embarrassed when someone came up and told them that it was the dean. They began to ask for forgiveness and for him not to tell the archimandrite.

Father Anatoly did not tell Father Archimandrite, and in general, before reporting any of the brethren’s misdeeds to the boss, he asked Father Ambrose for advice. In general, he did not like to exhibit, and did not demand honor for himself. And for a very long time, being already a hieromonk, he continued to receive the hierodeacon’s tea share.

What did Father Anatoly say?

As a confessor and monastery director, the Monk Anatoly lovingly cared for the brethren, not only about their spiritual progress, but also about their everyday needs. When Father Ambrose was contacted about the affairs of the monastery, he sent everyone to Father Anatoly, to his boss, as he called him. And Father Anatoly sent his spiritual children on all important issues to Father Ambrose for advice. Elder Ambrose always asked in such cases: “What did Father Anatoly say?” And I always took his opinion into account. Thus, unanimity and love reigned between the two elders.

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St. Anatoly Jr. Optinsky

Memorial Day: July 30 Art. Art./August 12 Art.

From a young age, the Monk Anatoly strove for a spiritual life, but his mother did not let him go to the monastery, and only after her death, on February 15, 1885, when he was already thirty years old, the Kaluga clerk Alexander Potapov came to Optina Pustyn. Soon Brother Alexander was blessed to be a cell attendant with the Venerable Elder Ambrose. Already at this time, the gift of love, compassion, and insight was revealed to St. Anatoly.

Having taken monastic vows on June 3, 1895, he gradually entered into the work of senility, and after the death of the elders St. Joseph and St. Barsanuphius, together with St. Nektarios, he became the continuer of senile spiritual work. The elders do not reject anyone, but it so happened that the monastics and intelligentsia sought to the Monk Nektarios, and the common people came to the Monk Anatoly with their troubles and complaints, sorrows and illnesses.

Always humble and never discouraged, people affectionately called him “the comforter,” and also “the second Seraphim.” And indeed, the same love, a joyful and bright face, just a few wise words, a simple gift... And most importantly, a completely special atmosphere that reigned around the elder, once in which, the person felt as if he had “been under a blessed golden rain.”

Many people always flocked to the elder for the blessing, for the unction, and for confession. Elder Anatoly had to move from the fraternal building to the vestibule of the Vladimir Church. And I often saw the following picture: there was complete silence in the monastery, not even the monks were visible, but the Vladimir Church was open and full of people. Father received everyone without a time limit, despite endless fatigue, excruciating pain from a strangulated hernia, pain in bleeding legs. At one time he did not go to bed at all, allowing himself to take a nap only at Matins, while reading kathismas. The monk was always friendly, constantly affectionate, warm-hearted, always ready to give himself to those who came to him with one or another need or sorrow.

One day, a peasant who found himself in a difficult situation came to the monk, left with his family without a roof over his head, having only 50 rubles of money to his name. He had nowhere to get help. Out of grief, he fell into despair, began to spin like a villager, and the first thing he decided to do was drink the money away, leave his wife and children, and go to Moscow as a worker. But it’s not without reason that they say: the morning is wiser than the evening. The next morning the first thought in my head was: “Go to Elder Anatoly,” and that’s all. And went. He approaches the blessing, the elder blesses, as if hitting him twice on the forehead, and places the blessing slowly, decorously, and the peasant says: “I am perishing, father, even if you die completely.” - “What’s so?” “Yes, so and so...” and the peasant told the old man everything. Elder Anatoly blessed him again and said: “Don’t lose heart, in three weeks you will enter your home.” And so it happened, the Lord helped him build a house and become a different person.

The Monk Anatoly loved Russia, the Russian people, and predicted: “There will be a storm. And the Russian ship will be destroyed. But people are saved on chips and debris. Not everyone will perish... And then a great miracle of God will be revealed, and all the chips and fragments will be collected and united, and the great ship will appear again in all its glory! And he will follow the path intended by God!”

But first, Optina and her last elders had to ascend their Golgotha ​​together with Russia. The Monk Anatoly wrote to one of his spiritual children, preparing for what was to come: “Fear the Lord, my son, be afraid of losing the crown prepared for you, stand in faith and, if necessary, endure exile and other sorrows, for the Lord will be with you.”

After the closure of Optina, they came with a search to the Monk Anatoly and pulled out from the cell what little he had not yet managed to distribute to his children. The search was followed by an arrest. The sick old man was taken to prison, but on the way his condition worsened, and he ended up in the hospital, where his hair and beard were immediately cut off as if he had typhus. When it turned out that he had been mistakenly taken for a typhoid patient, the doctor released him. He returned to the monastery exhausted, barely alive, but with a bright smile of thanksgiving to the Lord on his lips.

On July 29, 1922, a GPU commission came to the monastery. The interrogations began. They were preparing to arrest the dying old man. He didn’t resist, he just asked for a day’s delay to get ready. The cell attendant, Father Varnava, was rudely ordered to prepare the elder for departure by tomorrow morning. Silence reigned, the elder began to prepare for the journey.

At night he felt bad. They called the doctor, but he found nothing life-threatening. Towards morning, the cell attendant found the elder on his knees. Entering the cell a few minutes later, Father Barnabas realized that Elder Anatoly had quietly gone to the Lord.

The next morning the commission arrived. They got out of the car: “Is the elder ready?” “Yes, I’m ready,” answered Father Barnabas. And he let them into the cell. There, on the table, in a coffin, lay the “prepared” deceased elder. The Lord accepted His ready servant on the night of July 30/August 12, 1922. “The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord” (Ps. 115:6).

He was buried near the grave of St. Ambrose, in the very place where he stood for a long time two weeks before his death, repeating: “But here it’s quite possible to lay another one. Just a place for one grave. Yes, yes, just..."

“Rely on the will of the Lord, and the Lord will not shame you... Before your death you will thank God not for joy and happiness, but for grief and suffering, and the more of them there were in your life, the easier you will die, the easier it will be for your soul to ascend to God” - this is how the Monk Anatoly taught his children both in his life and in his blessed death.

A complete list of the relics of saints in the reliquary of the Iveron Temple on Vspolye