Saint Arsenios was born in Faras, Cappadocia, in 1840. His parents were middle class people who sincerely believed in God. They had two children - Blasius and Theodoros. Children were orphaned from an early age, having lost both parents. They were then cared for by their aunt, their mother's sister. Theodoros (the future Saint Arsenios) was saved at a young age from drowning by the miracle of Saint George. This incident shaped the lives of both children, each of whom was given to the Church in their own way. Blasius became a diligent teacher of Byzantine music, and Theodoros, having been educated in Nigda and then in Smyrna, devoted himself to Christ.
Arsenius was born in Rome in 354
In 354, the future Venerable Arseny was born in Rome. The family belonged to a noble family and Arseny received a good education and Christian upbringing. Having studied Greek and Latin and re-read the works of Greek philosophers, he left worldly life and decided to devote himself to God.
Venerable Arseny the Great
Venerable Arseny the Great
While still a young man, he joined the ranks of the clergy. Already a deacon, Saint Arseny became famous for his chastity, leading a pious and virtuous life.
Arseny teaches the sons of Emperor Theodosius
Word of his piety and education reached Constantinople. Theodosius, who at that time ruled the eastern part of the Roman Empire (379 - 395, and from 383 to 395, and the western part), having learned about his extraordinary intelligence and virtue, the emperor decided to entrust Arsenius with raising his sons - Arcadius and Honorius.
29 years
at this age the Monk Arseny left Rome to raise the emperor’s children
At the age of 29, at the insistence of Pope Damasus, the Monk Arsenios was forced to leave Rome. In Constantinople, Arseny was greeted with all honors and Theodosius, entrusting the children to him, said:
“Now you will be more of a father to them than I am, because it is more difficult to raise them than to give birth to them. I entrust them to you and your prudence; bring them up as I ask you; accustom them to virtue and teach them wisdom; as their spiritual father, make sure that they avoid various youthful temptations. ...
I am telling you all this in front of my sons, so that they can hear and see it all for themselves. Do not look at the fact that they are the king's sons; raise them to be obedient and submissive to yourself, because I want them to obey you in everything, as their father and teacher, and to obey you, like your children and disciples.”
Near the palace, Theodosius built a school so that he could come and supervise his sons' education.
Arseny became a good mentor and teacher: he helped children master books and explained the Holy Scriptures.
He also taught children how to behave if they happened to run the state. He inspired that even those sitting on the throne are adorned by good deeds; if they want to leave a good memory of themselves, they must be virtuous, noble rulers who observe Christian commandments.
At the same time, Arseny revered the pupils as royal children. Seeing one day that his sons were sitting and the teacher was standing in front of them, the emperor was indignant:
“Didn’t I tell you that you should consider my sons as your disciples and your children, and not pay attention to the fact that they are the king’s children?”
Theodosius believed that sons should grow up to be worthy people - to honor God, follow his commandments and live a virtuous life. And if this does not happen, then it is better for them not to reign at all.
“I pray to God that He would rather take them out of this life in their youthful years than allow them to grow up in evil, to the destruction of both their own souls and the other souls of men.”
Arseny in his soul approved of the emperor’s words and from then on he taught Arcadius and Honorius while sitting, while his sons stood in front of their mentor.
Saint Arseny of Tver
Kontakion 1
Chosen saint of Christ and wonderful miracle worker, Our Father Arseny! Let us sing laudatory songs to you with faith and love, as to our warm prayer book and representative: but you, Holiness of God, as you have boldness towards the Most Holy Trinity, from all troubles and sorrows through your prayers we have freed you, calling to you: Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Ikos 1
You were an earthly angel and a heavenly man, Saint Arseny, whose life was pure and righteous; For this reason, for the sake of the angels, the Creator, in his temporal life, placed you as a bishop of the Tver flock, and after your blessed death you were numbered among the host of holy celestials, with whom you are now brightly installed in the abodes of paradise, hear from us these laudatory verbs: Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most Holy Trinity; Rejoice, zealot of angelic purity. Rejoice, chosen from the swaddling cloths to be a vessel of God's grace; Rejoice, having loved the Lord with all your heart and soul from your youth. Rejoice, guardian of virtues, living in the world as if disembodied; Rejoice, you who have sacrificed everything to yourself live, holy and pleasing to God. Rejoice, for a radiant light illuminated the Tver flock with the radiance of your good deeds; Rejoice, you who enlightened people with the word and example of your life equal to the angels. Rejoice, steadfast guardian of Orthodoxy; Rejoice, unshakable pillar of piety. Rejoice, good and faithful servant, who has entered into the joy of your Lord; Rejoice, you stand before the Throne of Christ with the angels and all the saints. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the vanity of this temporary world, from your youth you desired to serve the Lord in virginity and purity; Having also served well the burial of your parents, you squandered all your property to the poor, and leaving your house and city, you sought the highest city, the heavenly Jerusalem, where from the faces of the angels and all the saints a ceaseless song is sung to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
You acquired a divinely enlightened mind, more holy than God, by reading the Divine Scriptures; from your youth you nourished your soul with the sweet food of the words of God and you became a faithful fulfiller of the commandments of Christ. In the same way we please you and say: Rejoice, good disciple of the heavenly teacher Christ; Rejoice, God-wise explorer of the mysteries hidden in the law of God. Rejoice, you who hate all the red of this world; Rejoice, you who direct all the thoughts of your soul to grief. Rejoice, poor and strange, satisfied with your possessions; Rejoice, having confirmed your heart in the love of God. Rejoice, perfect image of selflessness and devotion to God; Rejoice, lover of self-condemnation and tears of repentance. Rejoice, for you have planted the fear of the Lord in your souls; Rejoice, for you were devoted to fervent and kneeling prayers. Rejoice, source of tenderness; Rejoice, meekness is the rule. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 3
The power of Christ has blessed you, O saint, and granted you the strength to courageously endure the temptations of the invisible enemy, whose kindled arrows you extinguished with your tearful prayers to God; For this reason, as a conqueror, you now sing with incorporeal forces the victorious song of Christ God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Hearing the voice of heaven, they command you to go to the house of the Most Pure Mother of God, called Pechersk, like a tree to the springs of water, and you rushed to the monastery of Pechersk, even in Kiev, where the venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony and Theodosius and their disciples pleased Christ, and they were pleased. of the holy monastery, he was tonsured and a good ascetic. Meanwhile, now in the heavenly abodes, staying with all the saints of Pechersk, you hear from us this: Rejoice, fruitful olive tree, planted in the pasture of the Kyiv mountains; Rejoice, bright praise of the Pechersk laurels. Rejoice, imitator of the great saints of God Anthony and Theodosius; Rejoice, competitor of all Pechersk saints. Rejoice, thou who hast undergone all monastic obedience without laziness; Rejoice, you have labored for the brethren of the monastery, working day and night with your own hands. Rejoice, you who hate murmuring and idle talk; Rejoice, strong patience and acquisitive silent lips. Rejoice, you who have trampled down thoughts of pride and exaltation; Rejoice, you who have internalized the holy humility of Christ. Rejoice, inexhaustible faster; Rejoice, unshakable ascetic. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 4
Through the storm of despondency, you remained unshakable, father: for having fixed your mind on the Divine, you cast down all your thoughts that would attract you, and you untiringly applied yourself to sobriety and unceasing prayers, ascending from strength to strength to spiritual perfection. In the same way, while still on earth, you worthily sang the heavenly song to the Trinitarian God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having seen the fruitful kindness of your soul, High Hierarch Cyprian, love you dearly, Arseny of humble wisdom, and make you an archdeacon and an adviser to you, so that you may serve with him the Throne of the Lord and be his faithful assistant in the management of the all-Russian flock. Moreover, as God’s chosen one, we honor you with these praises: Rejoice, reverent primate of the Altar of the Lord; Rejoice, thou worthy servant of the mysteries of Christ. Rejoice, High Hierarch Cyprian's interlocutor and fellow servant; Rejoice, follower of deeds and virtues. Rejoice, in the administration entrusted to you, loving truth and mercy; Rejoice, you who create righteous and impartial judgments. Rejoice, thou adorned with quietness of disposition; Rejoice, you who have acquired selflessness and spiritual poverty. Rejoice, helper to the helpless; Rejoice, intercessor of the orphans. Rejoice, I intercessor for the offended; Rejoice, protector of those who are attacked. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 5
You arrived in the city of Tver together with the High Hierarch Cyprian, God-wise Arsenius, and here, in your fatherland, you appeared like a many-bright star, shining with the light of God’s wisdom and the rays of virtues, as if to marvel at all your fellow citizens and sing a song of praise for you to the Most Holy Trinity: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen you, the prince and the people of Tverstia are God-bearing and adorned with all the virtues, asking the High Hierarch Cyprian to place you in the bishopric of the city of Tver, so that where you were born in the flesh, you will find a spiritual flock there from the chief shepherd Christ. Accept therefore, hierarch of Christ, and from us, your children and fellow citizens, these songs of praise: Rejoice, fruitful branch and adornment of the city of Tver; Rejoice, light and fertilizer for the Tver flock. Rejoice, zealous evangelist of the Gospel of Christ; Rejoice, faithful guardian of the apostolic traditions. Rejoice, sweet spoken words of God to the teacher; Rejoice, living table of the Lord's law. Rejoice, thou who through temporary poverty acquired eternal wealth; Rejoice, having obtained heavenly bliss through prayers and pity. Rejoice, thou who has plunged into the depths of humility; Rejoice, thou who has ascended to the height of dispassion. Rejoice, merciful nourisher of widows and orphans; Rejoice, powerful intercessor of the offended and persecuted. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 6
More than the God-bearing star, which in ancient times guided the Magi to the shining Sun of Truth, Christ, we dare to liken you, Saint Arsenius of God. By your word and virtuous life, you showed the right path to Christ to your flock with words, and you were a guide to the salvation of many who were instructed by you, having learned to sing the angelic song of all to the Creator in a manner pleasing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You have shone like a divinely luminous light on the holy throne of the Tver flock, enlightening the souls of all those who come running to you, like a God-pleasing bishop, whose prayer can do much before the face of the Almighty God. Likewise, we, protected by your holy prayers, gratefully call you: Rejoice, our shepherd and teacher; Rejoice, warm representative for us sinners before God. Rejoice, thou who has pacified discord and disorder in your flock; Rejoice, having put to shame the enemy of human salvation with your cheerful prayers. Rejoice, planter of Orthodoxy and piety; Rejoice, destroyer of lies and all wickedness. Rejoice, thou who hast robbed many human souls of Christ; Rejoice, thou who leadest thy disciples into the Kingdom of Heaven. Rejoice, kind and vigilant worker of Christ’s grapes; Rejoice, wise and God-pleasing builder of the mysteries of God. Rejoice, all-merciful hierarch; Rejoice, wonderful bishop. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 7
You desired, Father Arseny, to have in your flock the likeness of the Holy Lavra of Kiev-Pechersk; In the same way, you built a monastery near the city of Tver in the name of the Honorable Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Venerable Fathers Anthony and Theodosius of the Pechersk, where you gathered a host of reverent monks wisely and taught them with your word and good example in venerability and holiness to sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The monastery you have newly created, like a spiritual heirloom, has appeared to the wise saint, which you laboriously cultivated, admonishing your brethren to practice fasting and to every good deed, so that they may be perfect and blameless, and may they offer up unceasing praise to Christ God. For this reason we magnify you and call you: Rejoice, lover of monks; Rejoice, good teacher of those who struggle in spiritual warfare. Rejoice, faithful leader of those who march to the Lord along the narrow path of monastic life; Rejoice, wise teacher of Christian perfection. Rejoice, ladder that raises the godly monks to the heights of spiritual perfection; Rejoice, tireless in your labors. Rejoice, you who lead the monastic life on the throne of the saints; Rejoice, you have created a wonderful temple of God in the name of the Most Holy Mother of God in your monastery. Rejoice, having created for yourself an animated temple to the Trinitarian God; Rejoice, thou who diligently performed all-night prayers and vigils. Rejoice, you who lifted up your holy hands to God with much boldness; Rejoice, you who were enriched with the gift of miracles during your lifetime. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 8
Thinking that you would be a stranger and a stranger in this fleeting life, Our Father Arseny, you built a coffin with your own hands from stone, and you wept over him as a mountaineer, thinking about death and the judgment of God, which is impartial and threatening to every earth-born. Likewise, raise us up from the sleep of sin, so that we may imitate your tender cry, and having been cleansed of all malice by repentance, we may be worthy together with you in heaven to cry out to our Creator: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You were completely overwhelmed by divine desire, O blessed saint, thinking above and not earthly, and with your God-thought mind standing before God in unceasing prayers, you appeared as the great saint of God and wonderworker, and ever interceding for your flock, who bring you this praise: Rejoice, sacred head, take out the wise one from above; Rejoice, worthy bearer of God's grace. Rejoice, gratuitous physician, lavish with healing; Rejoice, precious vessel, richly pour out healing myrrh to all the faithful. Rejoice, multi-flowing river, who has watered the hearts of your people with saving teachings; Rejoice, all-golden cup, drawing an abundance of gifts from the gift-giver Christ and watering souls for spiritual fruitfulness. Rejoice, merciful father, imitate the goodness of the Heavenly Father; Rejoice, inexhaustible stream of mercy. Rejoice, I bring joy to many; Rejoice, reliever of sorrows and sorrows. Rejoice, richly adorned with virtues; Rejoice, brightly shining with the rays of glorious miracles. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 9
The angels of heaven and the host of saints joyfully received you, when your holy soul, peacefully freed from the bonds of the flesh, ascended into the heavenly, where you were honored with eternal glory in the eternal days of the Kingdom of Christ, so that we too may pray to Christ God, that we may sing with you on the land of the living To him: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The florid tongue of man cannot express the abundance of your miracles, O holy saint of God, which you poured out during your life and after your death and are still pouring out to the suffering and sick, for the truly inexhaustible medicine of your sacred cancer has appeared, flowing to it, no one is exhausted and inconsolable from you. , the situation is so reverent, and we cry out to you with love: Rejoice, freeing those who were possessed by the torment of the devil; Rejoice, you who healed the incurably sick. Rejoice, thou who grantest sight to the blind; Rejoice, returning the gift of speech to the dumb. Rejoice, you who strengthened the weakened; Rejoice, gloriously resurrecting the dead. Rejoice, thou who sternly punished the blasphemer; Rejoice, having mercifully accepted his repentance. Rejoice, you who have brought understanding to those who lived without the fear of God; Rejoice, you who bestowed a sound mind on those devoid of meaning. Rejoice, thou who has delivered many from the insurances of the enemy; Rejoice, and you who have done many miracles. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 10
Like the great saint and wonderworker Nicholas, you appear in dreams and in reality, after your repose, to the holy saint our father Arseny, informing you of the great grace given to you from Christ God, and your vigilant providence for the salvation of those living in your holy monastery and all those who flow with faith to your fatherly cover. You appeared in a dream to a certain cleric and admonished him not to leave your monastery, and in reality you appeared to the reverent Bishop Alexy, like an angel of God, with the door closed, entering his cell and praying to the icon of the Savior, meekly asked him about the place of residence of the archimandrite of your monastery. For this we glorify our God, who is wondrous in His saints, and cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The wall and solid fence of the city of Tver and your monastery appeared to you, Father Arseny. When the pains and evil spirits of Lithuania, ravaging the cities and villages of Russia, reached your monastery, and wanted to plunder it, taking the cover from your holy and multi-healing relics, decorated with gold and silver, with which alone I dared to cover my horse, but abiye on height having risen up, both fallen are dead, but the protection of the power of God was found on the cross at the top of your temple, the rest, with great fear, ran away, leaving your monastery and the city of Tver unharmed. Remembering this wonderful intercession of yours, we joyfully cry to you: Rejoice, chosen commander, ever ready to repel enemies, visible and invisible, from your earthly flock; Rejoice, the city of Tver and your monastery were taken by the indestructible. Rejoice, protecting shield of the faithful; Rejoice, wall that protects the pious. Rejoice, for you did not allow the holy beads to be trampled upon; Rejoice, for you drove away the wild boars from the grapes of Christ. Rejoice, for you have preserved your holy monastery from enemies; Rejoice, for you have preserved the Orthodox city of your fatherland unharmed. Rejoice, great helper in the battles of the Christ-loving army; Rejoice, good hastener of those who strive in fasting and silence. Rejoice, blessed healer of the sick; Rejoice, wonderful miracle worker. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 11
Singing praise with the angelic ranks and all the saints, lift up the mountain at the Throne of God, Our Hierarch Arseny, and there, enjoying the ineffable bliss, do not cease to mercifully look upon your earthly flock, on the city of Tver and on your monastery; See our sorrows and needs, you are pained by our weaknesses and sins, and pray warmly for us all to the Lord, urging us unworthy to sing to Him with deep compunction: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
You were a luminous lamp, Saint Arseny of Christ, in earthly life, shining upon your flock with the word of teaching and the example of your holy life; but even now, after your death, you do not cease to enlighten us with your miracles and the incorruptibility of your honorable relics, especially with your holy and God-pleasing prayers, by which we are protected, unharmed from all evil and with the verb: Rejoice, chosen one of God, whose prayer can do much before mercy Lords; Rejoice, O bishop of the Lord, who wonderfully imitated the great bishop Jesus Christ in his life. Rejoice, equal-angelic servant of the Most High; Rejoice, for your death is glorious and your dormition among the saints. Rejoice, illuminated in the heavenly abodes with the glory of the unevening light; Rejoice, glorified by the wondrous incorruption of your holy relics and many miracles. Rejoice, having enriched the holy Church of Christ with the fragrance of your shrine; Rejoice, joy and consolation to the entire Russian country. Rejoice, protection given by God, with which faiths are covered; Rejoice, bright cloud, quenching the heat of our passions. Rejoice, fertile dew, watering and cheering our hearts; Rejoice, city of refuge, not hidden from our influx. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 12
The sacred shrine of your relics exudes the grace-filled stream of healing, Saint Arseny of Christ: for this has been given to us by the all-good God, like the new font of Siloam, to which not once a year, but flowing in at all times, those who are spiritually and physically ill receive abundant healing. In the same way, we fall to her with love, and glorifying the great mercy and ineffable love of our God, we call to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your godly life, great saint of God, our Father Arseny, we glorify your holy death, we confess your many miracles and your great mercy towards people, we reverently kiss your incorruptible and celibate relics, and we pray to you diligently: do not despise our good and good shepherd Merciful Father, little of our zeal and love, in whose image we strive, we cry to you: Rejoice, fellow archangels and angels; Rejoice, all heavenly powers to your roommate. Rejoice, prophet of equal honor; Rejoice, you are one and the same apostle. Rejoice, joint heir of the martyrs; Rejoice, beauty of the saints. Rejoice, fertilizer of the venerables; Rejoice, praise is given to the righteous. Rejoice, close representative to the Most Holy Theotokos; Rejoice, friend of all saints. Rejoice, grace-filled healing of our souls and bodies; Rejoice, our hope is strong in God and the Mother of God. Rejoice, Saint Arseny, zealous prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 13
Oh, great saint and glorious miracle worker, our Father Arseny! Accept this little prayer of ours, which we bring to you out of warm love, and beg the Almighty Lord to deliver us from all sorrow and illness in this temporary life, and from eternal torment after our death, so that we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, and together with you we will be worthy to sing to God: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1
Prayer to Saint Arseny, Bishop of Tver
Oh, great saint of God, Father Arseny! Behold, we, your sinful and unworthy children, bring you songs of praise, and we magnify your deeds and virtues, and your many mercy to all who flow with faith to your fatherly protection. Accept with love the offering of faith and our love, and bring it to the Almighty God, from Whom comes every good gift and every perfect gift, and just as you have been beneficial in your earthly life to everyone who sought your help, so now do not deprive us, merciful father, of your before God of powerful intercession. Behold, your incorruptible and multi-healing relics have been given to us by the Lord as assurance, for the great boldness of the Imasha towards Him and for the great power of your intercession before the Throne of His goodness. Likewise, do not leave us orphaned and helpless, but always remember us in your holy heavenly prayers. Strengthen our feet to walk firmly and unwaveringly in the path of the Lord’s commandments, strengthen our hands to perform prayer and do good deeds, warm our hearts with love for the Lord and for eternal life. Ask the Heavenly King for the well-being of the city of Tver and your holy monastery and for the entire Russian country for God’s mercy and preservation from all evil. Ask, O saint of God, and to all who with faith resort to the body of your holy relics and reverently call on your name, for whom the gift is beneficial: healing for the sick, deliverance for the needy, consolation for the sad, knowledge of the truth for those who have gone astray, correction for sinners, advancement for those who struggle, and all the life for all. temporally and eternally necessary, for the glory of God, wondrous in His saints, in the Trinity glorified and worshiped, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Second prayer
Look down from the heights on high, Holy Hierarch Father Arseny, upon us humble and sinners, who come running to you in tenderness of souls and hearts, who trust in you with strong faith, who ask your intercession with unfeigned love. You need a prayer book favorable to the All-Merciful God. Pour out your holy prayers for us and beg the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, not to destroy us with our iniquities, but to turn us to repentance and correction, and spend the rest of our earthly life not in the work of sin and passion, but in doing the commandments of His saints and in piety and with good hope we will reach our death. At the hour of death, most especially appear to us, Father, a good intercessor, then speed up the helpless to pray for us and help us, with the communion of the Divine Sacraments, to achieve a peaceful and good end, to pass through the terrible ordeals of the air comfortably and inherit the Heavenly Kingdom. Hey, Holy Hierarch of God, do not despise us and do not disgrace our hope, but be a silent intercessor for us to God. Our good shepherd, protect us with your cheerful prayers and preserve us from all evil, so that we glorify the ineffable love of our God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your fatherly intercession, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer three
Oh, all-praiseworthy saint of Christ and miracle worker, Father Arseny! Do not forget us, children of your holy monastery and all those who with faith and love resort to the race of your honest and multi-healing relics, but remember us in your holy and auspicious prayers to God. Pray for all Christians, Father Saint Arseny, and for this holy monastery, which the Most Pure Lady Theotokos entrusts to you, for we believe that you stand before Christ our God and His Most Pure Mother and have great boldness towards Them. Even though you passed away from us in body, you were alive in soul, never leaving us in spirit. Save us by your intercession before the Throne of the Heavenly King from the snares of the enemy, from the temptations of the world lying in evil, and from all sorrow and need. Oh, our most kind shepherd and teacher, Father Arseny! We fall to you and we pray to you, praying to the omnipotent God for the benefit of our souls, and ask us time for repentance, so that, having been cleansed from all filth of sin, we will be worthy of becoming heirs to the Heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous, who from the ages have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all glory. , honor and worship with His Beginning Father and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Arseny is burdened by honors and flees to the hermitage desert
Reverend Arseny.
Icon Dreaming of a monastic life, the Monk Arseny was burdened by a life of prosperity and honor, and fervently prayed to the Lord to show him the path to salvation, to monastic life. And one day while praying, he heard a voice from heaven:
“Arseny, run from people and you will be saved!”
Having taken off his expensive clothes, Arseny put on the clothes of a wanderer, secretly left the palace, and sailed to Alexandria.
Arriving ashore, he went to the hermitage desert, where he immediately asked to be accepted into monasticism. The elders, seeing that in front of them was not the “poor wanderer” that Arseny introduced himself to be, but a complex man, decided to test the stranger’s humility and took him to John Kolov. Meanwhile, the monks gathered for a meal, but John did not invite Arseny to the table.
He stood at a distance.
John threw him, like a dog, a cracker from the table. The Monk Arseny crawled to the cracker and ate it.
Elder John, seeing such humility, told the elders that Arseny would become a great ascetic. Soon Arseny was tonsured a monk, and John gave the new monk a cell not far from his own. Continuing to improve spiritually, spending time in prayer and fasting, the Monk Arseny surpassed many elders in asceticism.
Arseny hears the voice of the Lord “Run from people and remain silent”
One day, while praying, the saint again heard the voice of the Lord:
“Arseny, avoid people and remain in silence - this is the root of sinlessness.”
Since then, Saint Arseny settled in the desert, building himself a small cell.
There he always stayed alone, trying to maintain complete silence, only coming to church on Sundays and holidays. But even then he tried to leave immediately after the service, without entering into conversation with anyone. The monks who lived in the hermitage desert were very amazed at such a life.
When asked by the monks why he was hiding from everyone, the saint answered:
“God sees that I love everyone, but I cannot be with God and people at the same time. The heavenly powers all have one will and unanimously glorify God, but on earth each person has his own will and people’s thoughts are different. I cannot leave God and live with people.”
After the death of Theodosius, Arcadius began to reign, and in the western half of the Roman Empire, Honorius. Having learned about the mentor’s lifestyle, Arkady sent Saint Arseny a message in which he humbly asked for forgiveness for all his sins of youth, asking him to pray for them.
In the same message, Arkady suggested that Arseny use the tribute from Egypt at his discretion, distribute it to monasteries and the needy. The Monk Arseny forgave the brothers' sins and blessed them for a wise reign, sending an envoy with the words that he had long since died for the world and did not need gifts.
The fame of the great Arseny spread far. Many wanted to see him, receive instructions, blessings, thereby disturbing the peace of mind and solitude of the monk. Arseny had to go to other silent, secluded places, distancing himself from conversations with those who came.
However, those who longed to receive his blessing and guidance found the saint. So, having asked him about what is good for the soul, we received the answer:
“Take every care that what you think in your mind pleases God.”
The monk also said:
“If we really seek God with all our hearts, then He Himself will come to us and we will see Him; and if we keep Him close to us with a pure life, then He will remain with us.”
I often liked to repeat:
“I have repented many times about my words, but never about my silence.”
For more than 40 years, Arseny remained alone, alone with God, only occasionally leaving his cell, courageously rejecting worldly temptations.
Like other hermits, Saint Arsenius was content with little: water, a basket of bread per year, and a little fruit if the year was fruitful. He spent his days in prayer, reading psalms and weaving baskets from palm branches.
One day there was a barbarian invasion of the country. All the monks left the monastery for cities and villages, only Saint Arseny remained, thinking like this
“If the Lord does not save me, then I have no reason to live on earth.”
And the Lord hid him from the barbarians. The monastery was plundered, the Monk Arseny was not found.
He did not boast about this and decided to also leave the monastery along the same path as the other ascetics. After the barbarians left the monastery, the monks returned there again. They restored the monastery and began to live on. Arseny also returned to his cell.
The saint did not always live in one place; sometimes he moved to more secluded places, going deep into the desert. So he tried to distance himself from the people who came to him to talk. At one time he was near Babylon, in Kanop, near Alexandria, and other desert places, and again returned to the monastery.
When the time of the death of Saint Arsenius approached, he said to his disciples:
“When I die, do not hold a wake for me, do not gather the brethren for dinner, but just make sure that the Divine Sacrifice is offered for my sinful soul.”
95 years old
Saint Arsenius died at this age
The silent man spent more than 50 years in monastic labors and exploits, receiving the name Great from his contemporaries. The saint died as a very old man at the age of 95.
The labors of Saint Arseny were not in vain - the instructions on monasticism were written down by his disciples. Quotations are used in the book of St. Dmitry of Rostov “Lives of the Saints” (“Life of Arseny the Great”, Life 401), in “Synaxarion: Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church”, published by the Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, in APOPHTHEGMATA PATRUM (“Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers”, “Memorable tales of the asceticism of the holy and blessed fathers").
The collection contains sayings, aphorisms and stories of the desert fathers concerning monastic life, spirituality, and principles of ethics. The texts of these sayings, preserved in Latin and Greek, have been translated into other languages of the Christian East. The great Arseny also wrote one of the interpretations of the Gospel of Luke.
The way home
Returning to his homeland, occupied by the Turks, Saint Arsenios set up a secret school for Christian children: a room in which instead of desks, sheep skins were laid on the floor. Kneeling, the children attended classes and did not irritate the Turks, who thought that they were praying.
When “patients” were brought to him to pray for their health, Saint Arsenios never checked whether the patient was a Christian or a Muslim, but only asked what diseases he was suffering from in order to find the appropriate prayer.
Saint Arsenios translated many passages from the Gospel into the local dialect, and in the Church he read the Gospel first in Greek, then in the Faras dialect, and then in Turkish.
Many years ago, he felt that the people of Faras would one day leave for their homeland in Greece, and he told his fellow countrymen to start saving for the journey. First, Father Arseniy baptized all unbaptized children, including little Arseniy Eznepidis, and later the famous holy elder Paisius the Holy Mountain.
The flight of the Pharasiotes to Greece took place on August 14, 1924, as part of the Greek-Turkish agreement on population exchange. Father Arseny told his flock many times that “I will only live in Greece for forty days.” That's how it all happened. On November 10, 1924, Saint Arsenios rested in peace in Corfu. On February 11, 1986, the Orthodox Church canonized him as a saint.
Icon of Saint Arsenios
Arseny the Great (handwritten icon)
May 8
Arseny's name day in Orthodoxy, July 19 - in Catholicism
Arseny's name day is May 8 in Orthodoxy, July 19 in Catholicism.
On the Orthodox icon, Arseny is depicted as a handsome, gray-haired and gray-bearded old man with a merciful, kind look. In his left hand, Arseny holds the Gospel (on some icons - a scroll), his right hand is raised in a blessing gesture.
Those Christians who want to curb pride, envy and hatred, talkativeness and idle talk turn to the saint.
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Quotes from St. Arseny
One day, Blessed Archbishop Theophilus and some commander came to Arseny and asked the elder, wanting to hear a word from him. The elder, after a short silence, said to them in response: will you do what I tell you? They promised to fulfill. Then the elder told them: if you hear about Arseny anywhere, do not go to him.
One day the Monk Arseny came to a place where a lot of reeds grew. He found monks here sitting near the reeds. Since the reeds were rustling from the wind, the monk asked the monks:
-Where does this noise come from?
The monks answered him:
“It’s the reeds that are making noise from the wind.”
Then the monk said to them:
- Why are you sitting here and listening to the noise of the reeds? Anyone who truly loves silence should not even listen to the singing of birds, which can disturb the peace of mind; all the more so can the noise of the reeds confuse the heart of a monk.
“I know the secular science of the Greeks and Romans well; but I don’t even know the ABCs of what a simpleton knows about living a virtuous life. There are many people who try in every possible way to maintain bodily purity and for this they mortify their bodies with fasting, vigil and many labors; but there are few who jealously protect their souls from the sins of vanity, pride, love of money, envy, brotherly hatred, anger, resentment, and condemnation. Such people are externally pure in body, but their soul is dirty; they are like coffins, decorated on the outside but full of stinking bones on the inside. Blessed is the one who tries to preserve both his body and soul from defilement; truly blessed are the pure in heart (and not just in body), because they will see God.
Video: Life of our Venerable Father Arseny the Great.
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