Venerable Sebastian of Karaganda. “Diseases are gifts from Heaven”

Sebastian (Fomin)
(1884 - 1966), schema-archimandrite, reverend, confessor Memory April 6, October 9 (discovery of relics in 1997), in the Cathedral of New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan, the Cathedral of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church and in the Cathedral of Voronezh Saints

In the world, Stepan Vasilyevich Fomin, was born on October 28, 1884 in the village of Kosmodemyanskoye, Oryol province, into a poor peasant family. After the death of his parents, five-year-old Stepan began to live with his older brother’s family. His middle brother took monastic vows in Optina Pustyn. Stepan graduated well from a three-year parish school; the parish priest gave him books to read. The boy was in poor health, could not participate in field work, but went after cattle and was a shepherd. Often in winter he visited his brother in Optina Pustyn.

On January 3, 1909, he was accepted into the monastery of Optina Pustyn as a cell attendant to Elder Joseph, after whose death in 1911, he came under the elder leadership of Father Nektary and remained with him until 1923 as a cell attendant.

In 1917, he was tonsured into a mantle with the name Sebastian.

On January 10, 1918, Optina Pustyn was closed, although the monastery continued to exist under the guise of an agricultural artel. Many, especially young novices, unable to withstand the hard work and harsh demands, left Optina. At the same time, a museum was established on its territory. By this time the monasteries no longer existed. Everyone lived practically one day at a time. In 1923, monastic services were completely stopped and the authorities began to evict the monks. The fraternal cells were rented out by the museum to those who wished to do so as summer cottages. All this time, Father Sebastian was under the spiritual guidance of Elder Nectarius of Optina.

In 1927 he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk by the Bishop of Kaluga.

He was the cell attendant of Elder Hieroschemamonk Nektary until his death on April 29, 1928.
With the blessing of the elder, after his death, to go serve in the parish, Father Sevastian went first to Kozelsk, then to Kaluga, and then to Tambov, where he received an appointment to the parish in the city of Kozlov (since 1932 - Michurinsk), to the Ilyinskaya Church, of which he was rector was prot. Vladimir Nechaev, father of the future Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev), from whom Father Sebastian would later take the schema. During the arrest of Archpriest Vladimir, Father Sebastian took care of his large family. He served in the Elias Church from 1928 to 1933 until his arrest. Father did not like non-prayerful musical singing and tried to arrange reverent monastic singing at his parish. During this period, he fought in the city against the renovationists and did not leave communication with the brethren of Optina Pustyn who lived in dispersion.

In February 1933 he was arrested.
During interrogations, he gave a direct answer: “I look at all the activities of the Soviet government as the wrath of God, and this government is a punishment for people.
I expressed the same views among my associates, as well as among other citizens with whom I had to talk on this topic. At the same time, he said that we need to pray, pray to God, and also live in love, only then we will get rid of this. I was not very pleased with the Soviet government for closing churches and monasteries, since this is destroying the Orthodox faith.” Subsequently, Father Sebastian said:

“When they forced me to renounce the Orthodox faith, they put me in one cassock all night in the cold and assigned me a guard. The guards changed after 2 hours, and I stood in one place without a change. But the Mother of God lowered such a “hut” over me that I felt warm in it. And in the morning they took me for interrogation and said: “If you have not renounced Christ, then go to prison.”

He was sentenced to 7 years in prison for logging, despite poor health and a damaged left hand.

He served his sentence in the Karaganda ITL (Karlag) - the “Karaganda state farm-giant of the OGPU.” By the mid-30s, a huge “model” farm was created in Karlag with its own factories, industrial workshops, and scientific programs. At the same time, the future Karaganda community begins to emerge. Father Sebastian’s spiritual children appear in the zone; his former children gradually gather and await his release.

"I was imprisoned

- the priest recalled, -
but he did not break his fast.
If they give me some gruel with meat, I won’t eat it, I’ll exchange it for an extra ration of bread.” After his liberation on April 29, 1939, Father Sevastian settled in the suburbs of Karaganda. "My dears,

- Father said to the sisters, -
we will live here.
We will bring more benefit here, this is our second homeland.” He cared for all those striving for God, coming to their homes and performing services, although there was no permission for this from the authorities - “the people in Karaganda were faithful - they will not give it away”

. People in the surrounding area loved Father; the elder’s spiritual children began to come from all over the country; he received everyone with love and helped them settle in their new place. Often the elder blessed the nuns who came to him for spiritual nourishment to live with some family, which was in the spirit of the Optina elders. Such mothers became like guardian angels of the house.

In 1944, the community established a house church in the village. Bolshaya Mikhailovka - the village began to be slowly populated by “fathers”. In the 50s, the life of the Karaganda community began to improve. In 1953, permission was received for a house of worship, and in 1955, the religious community was registered.

The priest selected his own priests. A monastic female community gathered around him. Archbishop Joseph (Chernov) of Petropavlovsk and Kustanai said about his community: “Father planted grapes here, which he then grew with tears.” “A small church, you can’t see it from the ground, but the pillar burns up to the sky.”

On December 22, 1957, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

Father maintained the impeccable execution of the church charter, not allowing omissions or abbreviations during services. Church services were for him an integral condition of his inner life. In his conversations, his favorite image was the holy Apostle John the Theologian - he often called on his flock to venerate this Apostle of Love. Father Sebastian greatly revered holy icons and said that they were given to us to help us from dark forces, that there are icons special in the glory of grace, there are miraculous images prayed for over centuries, which, like streams, carry grace from the Lord. He cited the words of Elder Nectarius of Optina that wisdom, reason and prudence are gifts of the Holy Spirit that lead to piety.

Father had a subtle sense of humor and loved to joke, but always in a friendly manner. He spared no time in talking with the man. Each of his advice led to well-being.

The authorities, seeing his authority, tried in every possible way to close the temple, but they did not succeed: the priest - as soon as they called him - disarmed them so that they were completely speechless and after his departure they were surprised: “ What kind of old man is this that we Can't we do anything?"
Father always taught us to rely on the will of God’s Providence in everything. He also loved nature, felt sorry for animals, and once saved newly born kittens.

About those possessed by demons, he said: “Here they will endure, but there the ordeal will pass painlessly... I don’t want to take off your crosses. Here you will suffer, but in Heaven you will gain a greater reward.”

The priest had spiritual wisdom and great patience.
If someone grumbled about his neighbor in front of him, he would say: “I tolerate you all, but you don’t want to tolerate the only one.”
If anyone doesn’t get along, he worries:
“I’m the abbot, but I listen to you all.”
He cared about everyone's salvation, that was his goal. He asked: “Live more peacefully.”

Once, during a conversation about people’s morals, the priest said and even pointed out:
“You can’t touch these people, because of their pride, they will not tolerate a reprimand or a reprimand.
But for others, according to their humility, it is possible.” He attached great importance to prayers for the departed, and urged others:
“Pray for the departed most of all.
Thank God for everything! Thank God for everything!" On April 16, 1966, he was tonsured into the schema by Bishop Pitirim (Nechaev).

Having absorbed the traditions and gracious patristic spirit of Optina Pustyn and being a student of its great elders, enduring exile and imprisonment in Bolshevik concentration camps, he, by the inscrutable destinies of God, carried out his senile service in the capital of the sultry steppes of central Kazakhstan, long-suffering Karaganda.

He died on April 19, 1966, on Radonitsa. He was buried at the Mikhailovskoye cemetery.

Glorified in 1997 as a locally revered saint of the Alma-Ata diocese. On November 4, 1997, his holy relics were found and transferred to the new Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Karaganda.

Canonized as the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia at the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in August 2000 for church-wide veneration.

Life of Sebastian of Karaganda

The boy was born in the Oryol province at the end of the 19th century. The family was not very large - 2 more older brothers. But little Stefan remained in their care when their father and mother died. He was only 4 years old. One of the most vivid childhood memories for Stefan was a trip to Optina Pustyn, where he first met Elder Ambrose.

As time passed, one of the young man’s brothers decided to become a monk. This, of course, greatly affected the youngest member of the family. At the age of 25, he entered the same monastery as a cell attendant (something like an assistant) to Fr. Joseph. The elder treated him like his own. From him the future confessor learned the truths of Orthodoxy, humility and love. A few years later, Sebastian of Karaganda took monastic orders.

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Soon his beloved brother died. A few years later, Optina Pustyn was officially closed by the revolutionary authorities, although it existed for several more years under the guise of an agricultural community. Then the monks had to disperse to villages and cities - in all directions.

Queen V.V Karaganda Elder Venerable Sebastian

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I really wanted to see Father and talk with him. He blessed Vladyka Pitirim (Nechaev) to bring Father at least by plane. But Father was already weak and did not give consent: “I’m not fit to fly by plane,” answered the Elder and remained in Karaganda.

Thus, the years passed in the feat of love and selfless service to God and neighbors. Father began to noticeably weaken. Weakness, shortness of breath, pain throughout the body, and a complete lack of appetite increased. There was almost constant pain in the area of ​​the hernia, in the chest. The attending doctors carried out complex treatment, but Father’s condition did not improve, only his suffering was temporarily alleviated. But also every day during liturgical times, Father visited the temple. He said: “What kind of clergyman am I if I attend the Divine Liturgy or all-night vigil at home?” He served requiem services every day, but celebrated the Liturgy only on holidays.

A letter from that time from Elder Sebastian to Archbishop of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan Joseph (Chernov) has been preserved:

“Most Reverend Bishop Joseph. I ask for your holy blessing on all of us and apologize for not being able to write you an answer until now. I’ve been meaning to write to you for a long time and congratulate you on your holiday, but I never got around to it. They congratulated me by telegram, but I’m still delayed in answering: illness and physical weakness, as well as work, and household chores, and demands, everything tires me, sick and weak. Illnesses don’t even give me peace at night: the cough and hernia are very bothersome. And time goes by, it doesn’t wait. Recently it was Christmas and three weeks have already passed since then. The holidays were spent well and safely. We live and serve in peace and harmony for now. It would be desirable for me to dedicate Fr. Nicholas as a priest, and the elder Pavel Alekseevich as a deacon, because he is very zealous in reading and singing; now there are few such believers and zealous people. And there - as God pleases and as your Hierarch’s blessing will be for this. As for construction, things are not moving yet. Glebov, who received Fr. Alexandra and Fr. Andrei is sick all the time, but we wanted to know the exact result, where construction will be allowed, in the old place or in another place, or whether it will be completely refused. We get building materials gradually, but since there is no specific place, we don’t know where to put them and store them. Your Eminence Vladyka Joseph, I ask for your holy blessing for me to retire from the state and take care of my soul, and Fr. Alexandru, or Fr. Seraphim, or Fr. Nicholas - to be rector. My head is weak, and soreness does not allow me to cope with these matters. Especially the worries and labors that lie ahead in construction, as well as in my work, which I cannot cope with in my health. Bless me for my retirement, and Fr. Alexander, with your consent and the parishioners, should be made rector. All of us, like me, your unworthy novice, and Fr. Alexander, Fr. Seraphim, and Fr. Nicholas, and the clergy, and the entire church clergy, and all the parishioners bow to you, and ask for your Holy blessing and St. prayers."

In the church, behind the memorial service, a small room was separated from him by a partition, which was called a “cabin.” There was a bed behind a curtain at the back wall, where he could rest during the service, when he was bothered by pain or severe weakness. There was a small table by the window, in front of it was an armchair, above which hung a large icon of the Most Holy Trinity, a letter to Mother Agnes. Sometimes Father will give a cry, lie down on a bed, and they will put a cushion under his feet so that his legs are a little higher. He was wearing a half-robe, an epitrachelion and shoulder straps. And sometimes he spoke a litany while lying down. He always stood up for the Gospel, put on a phelonion, and read the Gospel in the pellonion.

Father received confessors while sitting in a chair. He began to talk less with those who came and could no longer receive everyone. He did not refuse only visitors from other cities, but then he began to reduce conversations with them.

In December 1965, severe frosts began - down to 40°. Walking through the courtyard from his cell to the church, Father began to cough heavily. Doctors Olga Fedorovna Orlova and Tatyana Vladimirovna Tortensten, who monitored his health, said: “You shouldn’t walk through the yard in such severe frosts.” Father looked displeased and said: “I’ll fly over.”

Since January 1966, his health has deteriorated greatly, and chronic diseases have worsened.

The attending physician Olga Fedorovna Orlova diagnosed the following diseases: chronic bronchitis with bronchiectasis and small abscesses, emphysema, narrowing of the esophagus, prostate adenoma with the following consequences: chronic pyelonephritis with severe symptomatic hypertension, bilateral inguinal hernia with frequent partial strangulations. Father suffered these illnesses for several years.

Father was very depressed by the fact that it became difficult for him to serve the Liturgy - he often coughed during the service and was choking. The doctors suggested that he take injections in the morning before the service. Father was delighted and agreed. After the injection and a short rest, he could, although with difficulty, go to church and serve. But the disease progressed, and soon he could no longer walk to church even after the injection. Seeing his suffering, the doctors suggested to Father that the novices carry him to church in a chair. At first he did not agree, but when, after much persuasion, his attending physician Tatyana Vladimirovna began to cry because of her patient’s disobedience, Father put his hand on her head and said: “Don’t cry, let them carry it.”

Boys subdeacons, novices of Father Alexander Kiselev [Currently Archpriest Alexander, rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.], Alexey Veretennikov [Late Hieromonk German.], Peter Goroshko [Currently Abbot Peter; serves in the same church.], Vasily Pisarev [The late monk Vasily.], quickly built a light chair from aluminum tubes, the cell attendant tied Father’s mouth with a warm scarf, sat Father in a chair and carried him to the church. At first he was very embarrassed, but then he got used to it. He smiled and joked. Every time the cell attendant dressed him, he, waiting for the boys, said: “Well, ready! Where are my horses? And one day, when they were carrying him and Tatyana Vladimirovna walked next to him, he said: “Well, here’s another harness.”

Father’s doctors were surprised at what an efficient, patient and affectionate patient he was. He resignedly carried out the prescription offered to him, but first asked what medicine was prescribed to him, what its actions were and the duration of the course of treatment.

Father respected doctors and valued the work of the nurse to the doctor. When people came to him for a blessing to study, he most often gave his blessing to a medical school, occasionally to an institute, and to work as a nurse in a hospital. “It’s not a sin to be treated,” he said, “whoever works in a hospital, it’s life-saving, it’s a good deed to look after people.” He recommended surgical treatment out of sheer necessity, when he knew that conservative treatment would not help. Those who underwent surgery with his blessing ended up making a full recovery. Father himself was a good diagnostician. Sending his attending physician Olga Fedorovna to see the patient, he said: “Olga Fedorovna, please examine the patient. I think he has such and such a disease.” The diagnosis he made was confirmed.

Days passed, and with each of them Father’s condition worsened. In February, Vladyka Joseph came to Karaganda. Father, although he was weak, served together with Vladyka. Saying goodbye, Vladyka said: “And now I will come after Easter and bring you a reward - a basket of grapes.” Everyone realized that tears awaited us.

Father often reminded us of death, of the transition to eternity. When they turned to him with the question: “How will we live without you?” – he answered sternly: “Who am I? What? God was, is and will be! He who has faith in God, even if he lives thousands of kilometers from me, will be saved. And whoever, even if he competes for the hem of my cassock, but does not have the fear of God, will not receive salvation. Those who know me and have seen me after my death will value me less than those who did not know and have not seen me.” “Close and slimy, far and deep.”

Lent has come - the last in the life of the elder [The description of the last days of the life and death of Elder Sebastian is compiled on the basis of the manuscripts of Tatyana Vladimirovna Tortensten and Olga Fedorovna Orlova, the elder’s attending physicians.]. On Forgiveness Sunday, he served the Liturgy and in the evening conducted the rite of forgiveness. He was cheerful and bright-faced.

During Great Lent, during the first four days of the first week, nothing cooked was eaten in the church, except for soup on Wednesday after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Father blessed the weak to receive communion on this day. The rest of the days until Friday, nothing was cooked, not even tea was boiled. They sat down to a meal after Great Compline. They served black bread, sauerkraut, pickles and raw onions. Father allowed people with a sick stomach to eat warm baked potatoes and baked onions. On Friday, a large number of communicants attended the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. After the Liturgy, meal: mushroom soup and sweet porridge. In the evening - porridge from lunch, white crackers and white bread.

During the first week of Lent, Father served daily, and he himself read in a clear and distinct voice the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrey Kritsky. On the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Liturgy was served. During these days, Father did not talk to anyone, did not receive anyone.

The second and third weeks of Great Lent passed. Everything went as usual, and it seemed that Father would always be with us.

On March 13, the son of a professor at Kyiv University, a young hierodeacon, came to see Father from Kyiv. Paul. He was born in Paris. Their family returned to Russia ten years ago.

Throughout the fourth week, Fr. Pavel read in church - very beautifully, expressively, pronouncing every word clearly, served at the altar and tried to be near Father all his free time. Father talked with him for a long time. Not only Father, but everyone living near the church fell in love with Fr. Pavel. He was very modest, but high culture was felt in all his actions. Father looked at him carefully.

On March 21, Fr. arrived from the village of Osakarovka. Andrey. He asked Father to give him someone to help him read in church and direct the choir. Father blessed one experienced singer to go and suddenly blessed Fr. to go with her to Osakarovka. Pavel. Between Fr. Pavel and Father had a very exciting conversation. Of course, oh. Pavel came from Paris to Russia, and then to Father, not to find himself alone in the remote steppe. He came to be near Father, and since Father was sending him away, he said: “Bless me to return home. I will return to my desert near Kiev.” Father: “I’ll give you deserts! You came to me, I accepted you. You came of your own free will, I didn’t invite you. Here you will have deserts in Osakarovka!” O. Pavel: “Let me go, bless me to leave you completely.” Father got excited: “I’ll give you Kyiv, then I’ll give you with a stick, then I’ll give you with a stick, and I’ll also take a rope, and a rope!” Are you a monk?!” Father Pavel fell at Father’s feet: “Forgive me, bless me, I’ll go to Osakarovka.” He ran to his room for the icon with which his father blessed him to become a monk when he was still a boy. I didn't take anything else.

Everyone felt sorry for Fr. Pavel, everyone was upset. They complained about Father and said: “Oh. We need Pavel ourselves, as he reads well and sings in the choir. We have almost no male voices. And he helps everywhere: both in the altar and in the sacristy. Are you going to give everyone away? Let o. Andrey searches and selects for himself. So others will come to you to ask.” Father was silent.

O. Andrey was in a hurry to leave. Everyone came to see Fr. Pavel. Everyone reproached Fr. Andrey. Father Pavel looked stunned and confused. Father did not leave his cell.

Before the all-night vigil, Father drank tea and did not talk to anyone. The next day was the feast of the forty Sebastian martyrs. During the all-night vigil, Father was excited and “fierce,” as the nuns said. Got it o. Alexander for asking whether to sing or read “Glory to God in the Highest.” And once again it hit Fr. Alexander and Alyosha Veretennikov, when they kept Father from going to burn incense throughout the temple. He said angrily: “Bless me, I’ll go and burn incense myself.” He walked around the entire temple, censing.

On Friday, March 22, Father performed the funeral service for one of his spiritual daughters, not yet old. I cried during the funeral service.

A demoniac was brought from Siberia. Father served the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The possessed woman spent the whole service either meowing, or bleating like a sheep, or crowing like a rooster. She was dragged into the porch. It wasn't difficult - she was extremely exhausted.

On Sunday evening, March 24, when the worshipers had dispersed and the church was almost empty, Father was still in his “cabin.” The demoniac lay quietly in the corner, with one of the women accompanying her. Suddenly the Royal Doors opened, and Father came out to the pulpit in full robes, in a robe, with a staff. The demoniac got up from the floor and walked, barking and meowing, towards him. Before reaching Father, she crowed loudly like a rooster. "Well!" - Father said loudly, and it was impossible to recognize his voice. The demoniac screamed again, but much quieter. "Well!" - Father repeated. She screamed very quietly, as if from afar. "Well!" - Father said for the third time. She was silent. Then she said, “You are Joshua.” “I am not Joshua, I am Sebastian,” Father said imperiously, “tomorrow morning you will come here to the priest, confess and receive communion.”

On Friday, Father did not serve, he sat at the altar. The former demoniac stood calmly during the service and quietly took communion. In the evening she was taken to Siberia.

On Sunday of the sixth week, Father did not serve; he sat in a chair at the altar. After communion, he ordered to sing “Open the doors of repentance, O Life-Giver...” From that day on, his strength began to noticeably leave him.

On March 31 at 3 a.m., Father woke up his cell attendant and said: “I feel as bad as I’ve ever felt. It’s true, the soul will leave the body.” They kept us breathing with oxygen all night. Father began to breathe calmly.

On Lazarus Saturday, April 2, something very significant and extremely important happened for Father. At 3 o'clock in the morning he woke up his cell attendant and asked to call Fr. Alexandra. All beaming and trembling with joy, he said something to Fr. Alexander, his confessor. Nobody knows what they talked about. We only know that Fr. Alexander confessed Father and gave him communion, as he went to the altar to receive the Holy Gifts. After Communion, Father sang: “Christ is Risen!” - and sent the novice to wake up and call the girls from the choir to him so that they would sing Easter to him. The girls came, all wearing white headscarves, and sang the troparion of Easter, the stichera, and the irmos of the canon. When everyone sang, Father asked: “Who’s there in the kitchen? Tell them to boil three types of eggs: soft-boiled, hard-boiled and in a bag.” All this was done.

In the morning, Father asked the cell attendant to bring him milk: “Well,” he said, “it’s all kvass and okroshka.” Why are you still crushing me with kvass? You should give me some milk." The cell attendant went to the store and brought milk. No one contradicted Father. The cell attendant poured milk into a mug and very timidly said: “Father, today is only Lazarus Saturday, then there will be Great Saturday, and then only Easter. If today was Easter, how many colors would we have, how many Easter cakes would we have!” He looked at everyone and said: “Yes... that's it! - He pushed away the cup of milk. - The milk has gone far! Give me some okrosh then.”

In the evening, Father sat at the table by the window, watching how people with willows walked to church. “The people are gathering for the all-night vigil,” he said, “but I need to gather to my fathers and forefathers, to my grandfathers and great-grandfathers.”

On Tuesday, April 5, at the end of the funeral service, Father said to Fr. Alexander: “Send a quick telegram to Osakarovka so that Fr. Pavel was returning completely.”

April 9. Saturday of Holy Week. During the Liturgy, Father lay in his room. After the end of the Liturgy, he put on his robe and hood and went out to say goodbye to the people. He congratulated everyone on the upcoming holiday and said: “I’m leaving you. I am leaving earthly life. My time has come to part with you. I promised to say goodbye and now I am keeping my promise. I ask you all one thing: live in peace. Peace and love are the most important thing. If you have this among yourself, you will always have joy in your soul. We are now awaiting the onset of Bright Matins, the onset of the Easter holiday - the salvation of the soul for eternal joy. How can you achieve it? Only peace, love, sincere heartfelt prayer. You will not be saved by anything that is outside of you, but only by what you achieve inside your soul and in your heart - peaceful silence and love. So that your gaze never looks askance at anyone. Look directly, with readiness, at any kind answer, at any good deed. With my last request I ask you this. And I also ask you to forgive me.” He bowed to the waist and staggered. Quietly, barely, he entered the altar and said to be carried home to his cell. The people did not leave, everyone was crying.

On April 10, Easter night, Father wanted to be carried to church, but could not get up. Everyone around him was in emotional turmoil. Matins was going on. The doctor Tatyana Vladimirovna left the service and ran to Father. He looked at her and said, “Why did you leave the church? I'm not dying yet. I’ll still have time to celebrate Christ here with the dead. Go to work calmly."

When the Liturgy began, the doctor Olga Fedorovna was called to Father. After the painkiller injection, his state became calm, even joyful. “I want to go to church. I used to sing well myself. Throughout Easter week I sang “Easter” in my cell. And now I have to ask them to sing to me. But I don’t want to be here, I want to be in church. I really want to put on a robe and a hood and sit like that, at least during mass.” The cell attendant began to dress him, and he continued to say: “I ask all of you that you console each other, live in love and peace, and never raise your voices at each other. I don't demand anything more from you. This is the most important thing for salvation. Everything here is temporary, impermanent, why worry about it, strive for something for yourself. Everything will pass quickly. We must think about the eternal." They dressed the priest, and the boys carried him to church.

On Sunday afternoon, Father lay in his cell, dressed in a new cream-colored silk cassock. “I was just lying there and remembering,” he said, “how the elders died in Optina. Father Joseph was ill for a very long time, and Fr. “Little” Anatoly was not sick at all, not even for a minute. He died miraculously... This sacrament... is very wonderful. In his spirit, in his great humility, he was closest to my elder Fr. Nectaria. After the revolution, two elders died and were buried at the Optina cemetery. O. Feodosia, the monastery's leader, died in 1920, when things were still the same in Optina. And when the Civil War ended, in 1920, everything changed. Especially in 1922 there were many persecutions, searches, and arrests. It was the turn of the elder Fr. Anatolia. On July 28 they came to him and did a long search. Then they said: “Well, get ready.” He began to ask to be given a reprieve until the morning, to get ready. They agreed and strictly ordered the cell attendant to gather the elder and prepare him for departure by morning. Gone. The elder began to pray. The cell attendant waited for two hours - he was still praying. Then he comes in to him and says: “Father, let’s get ready.” And he replies: “Go, don’t bother me.” He came again and asked: “Father, let’s get ready.” “Why are you all worried? I’m not going anywhere with them, go.” The cell attendant came for the third time, and Fr. Anatoly lies on his bed, folds his arms on his chest - dead. Well, the cell attendant called the right person, they dressed the elder, laid him on the table, lit the candles, and read the Gospel. Soon they came for him and said: “Is the old man ready?” The cell attendant replies: “Ready, come in.” They enter, and he lies dead on the table. Of course, we were very surprised. Father Anatoly was buried last at the Optina cemetery, next to Elder Macarius. When they were digging the grave, they damaged the coffin of Elder Macarius and discovered the incorrupt relics of the Elder.”

On Monday, April 11, they brought Father an Easter egg from Mother Agnia. He beamed with joy: “God save her and bless her. How much she has done for our church! No one has done as much as she has. And in general, how many wonderful things she has done throughout her life. I'm dying. Now turn to her for everything.”

At 3 o'clock in the morning, Father began bleeding in the throat. They administered a hemostatic agent, and Father dozed off. In the morning they called Vladyka Joseph in Alma-Ata. He said: “He won't die yet this week, but death is at hand. I’ll fly to you.”

On the morning of April 12, Easter Tuesday, Father felt better and was breathing freely. “Vera,” he said to the cell attendant, “put on my boots, I must go out to people to say Christ so that they do not grieve. I promised. I’ll tell everyone the main thing.” - “Father, your feet are so swollen, I won’t put on boots or slippers for you.” - “No, no, the main thing needs to be said. Dress me!

Vera took out her slippers and cut them on the sides. The boys carried Father to church. He was wearing a robe and a hood. He sat for a while at the throne, then got up and went out through the Royal Doors to the pulpit. He stood, leaning on his staff, and again began to say goodbye to the people: “Farewell, my dears, I’m already leaving. Forgive me if I have upset any of you. For Christ's sake, forgive me. I forgive you all for everything. I'm sorry, I feel sorry for you. I ask you for one thing, I beg you for one thing, I demand one thing: love one another. So that there is peace in everything between you. Peace and love. If you listen to me, and I ask you so, you will be my children. I am unworthy and sinful, but the Lord has a lot of love and mercy. I trust in Him. And if the Lord deigns to honor me with His bright abode, I will pray for you tirelessly. And I will say: “Lord, Lord! I am not alone, my children are with me. I cannot enter without them, I cannot be alone in Your bright abode. They were entrusted to me by You”... And then quietly, barely audible: “I can’t live without them.” “He said, he wanted to bow, but he couldn’t, he just bowed his head. The boys grabbed him by the arms and led him to the altar.

Everyone in the temple was crying.

On Wednesday, April 13, the sister of Bishop Pitirim, Nadezhda Vladimirovna, and Anatoly Prosvirnik from the Academy [later Archimandrite Innocent († 1994)] arrived. Father talked with Nadezhda Vladimirovna for a long time after mass in his cabin.

They called from Alma-Ata: Vladyka Joseph is seriously ill, his temperature is 40, so he will not be able to fly.

On Friday night, Father hardly slept, he languished, gasped for air, and said: “There is not a single living place in the whole body that is painless. The spine burns like a hot iron, I can’t breathe. And most of all – languor of spirit.” Everyone asked what time it was.

Nuns came to him from the church. When Mother Fevronia entered, Father looked at her with a long, unwavering gaze, blessed her twice and said: “God bless you for everything, for all your goodness and devotion. I take everything with me. God bless you." When she left, he crossed her several times.

They came from M. Agnia and said that mother had locked herself in her room and was not letting anyone in.

In the evening, Abbot Dimitri arrived from Kokchetav. They called Vladyka Joseph and asked permission for Fr. Dimitri tonsured Father into the schema. The Bishop replied: “No need. Tomorrow, Lord Pitirim will fly in from Moscow and do everything.”

They asked the priest not to change his name, if possible, when he was tonsured, since everyone knows him with this name, and a change of name would be like additional suffering for everyone. Father agreed and said that he would ask Vladyka Pitirim about this.

“The day of my death is approaching,” Father began to say to those around him, “I am very glad that the Lord vouchsafes me to accept the schema; I have been waiting for this day for a long time. It’s a pity to leave you all, but this is God’s will” - “Father, who are you leaving us with?” Father was silent in concentration, then said: “Don’t be sad.” I leave you in the care of the Queen of Heaven. She herself will control you. And you try to live in peace with each other, help each other in everything that is in your power. I will not forget you, I will pray for you if I gain boldness before the Lord. And you pray. Don't leave church, especially try to be there on Sundays and holidays. By observing this, you will be saved by the grace of God and through the intercession of the Queen of Heaven.

Late in the evening, when the doctor Tatyana Vladimirovna was giving Father an intravenous infusion, he began to say: “Here, my dear doctor, my old doctor. It’s hard for me to say a word, but I want to tell you. My tongue doesn’t move, everything in my mouth is dry, everything hurts. You can't find a spot with a needle where it doesn't hurt. My legs can no longer support me, my whole body is so weak, it’s even difficult to lift my eyelids. And the head is clear, clean, the thought flows clearly, deeply and calmly. For consciousness to darken or change - no. I lie there and think: that means the thought does not depend on the body. And the brain is the body. My body would no longer have the strength to think. Thoughts come from the soul. Now it has become clear. Behold, thank the Lord, I told you this by force.”

On Saturday, April 16, at 9 a.m., Vladyka Pitirim arrived from the airport. I immediately went to Father and was amazed by his appearance. “I have never seen him like this, in any illness,” he later said to those around him. They talked for a long time in private.

After lunch, Father’s condition worsened sharply; he asked to urgently invite Vladyka Pitirim to him. Vladyka came - Father asked him to immediately begin the rite of tonsure into the schema. Preparations have begun. Vladyka asked everyone to leave, only M. Anastasia helped with the tonsure.

After his tonsure, Father spoke very little. His face and his whole appearance changed amazingly. He was filled with such grace that when looking at him, the soul trembled, and one’s own sinfulness was acutely felt. This was a majestic Elder, and no longer a resident of this world.

At 3 o'clock in the morning Father called Fr. Alexandra to confess and give him communion. By morning, life barely glimmered in him. He lay with his eyes closed, breathing heavily, fingering the blanket as if he were playing keyboards. When he opened his eyes, he looked past those present with a distant, sad look. Then he talked with Lord Pitirim. Soon he called the doctor Tatyana Vladimirovna: “My old doctor, help me, it’s very difficult for me, it’s very painful.” - “Where does it hurt, father?” He showed his hands bandaged after intravenous infusions. The veins were already difficult to find, the medicine got under the skin, causing him additional pain. “Now, father, I’ll give you a painkiller injection, the pain will go away.”

– This is not the main pain. The main thing is the languor of the spirit. Do you think death is a joke? I have many sins, but few good deeds.

- Father, your sins cannot be seen with a microscope, but your good deeds are a whole sea.

- What did I do? I wanted to live a strict and modest life, and yet, whatever it was, I enjoyed the joys and pleasures. And I admired beauty a lot, especially the beauty of nature.

- Father, isn’t this the grace of God - beauty?

– The grace of God is joy from God. But there are no merits, my merits! There is no achievement! A person lives, but for what? Everything is from God. And what about God? This concerns everyone; the transition is inevitable for everyone. Everything here is temporary, fleeting. Why does a person go through his life's journey? For love, for good. And therefore he must suffer and endure suffering patiently. And strive to move into eternal life for eternal joy. But I lived, you say, I did good, and then I sinned. A person makes a cruel mistake and loses everything he has acquired. I suffered a lot, I carried my difficult, monastic cross. Monastic life is difficult, but it is also the easiest. But I grumbled sometimes. And from this murmur everything is lost, all merit. And now - languor of spirit instead of joy.

- Father, how should I live? Father paused, then said:

- Live as you live. All are sinners. Just don’t commit any big sin... Well, here we are talking to you. I can speak and breathe easier today. Christ is with you.

On Monday evening, on the Parastas of Radonitsa, Father was carried to church. He lay in his “cabin”, did not say anything to anyone, did not look at anyone. He was often baptized, listened to singing and services. Lord Pitirim served. When they sang “Eternal Memory,” he ordered him to be carried home. After the service, I talked with Vladyka, then with Fr., who arrived from Michurinsk at 10 pm. John. Father joyfully received him and said that he was glad that he found him alive. “You managed to come to me, and today I managed to say Christ with all the departed and pray for them. What a good day! Today Vladyka prayed and tomorrow he will pray for all my departed children. I made it to Radonitsa. The Lord is merciful. And the deceased so need and value the prayers of the living for them. I always prayed most for the dead. And to you, oh. John, I bequeath: pray for the departed most of all. For everything, thank God! Thank God for everything!"

In these last days of Father’s life, many of his spiritual children, not wanting to leave the Elder, spent the night at the church. On April 18, after the usual evening prayers (the beginning of St. Thomas Week), Father asked to read the Easter Hours, after which everyone went to their places. His cell attendants, granddaughter Taisiya and doctor Olga Fedorovna remained on duty near the priest’s cell. Father slept restlessly and tossed and turned. At 4 o'clock in the morning I rang from my cell. Olga Feodorovna immediately got up and went into the cell. Father looked pained. Olga Fedorovna asked: “Father, dear, are you feeling bad?” He nodded his head affirmatively and said: “Yes, bad.” Olga Fedorovna offered to give an injection. He agreed: “Yes, please do.” His head and hands were hot. She wet the gauze and placed it on Father’s forehead. After the injection he calmed down and the pain subsided. Olga Fedorovna began to wash the syringes. Suddenly Father coughed sharply, sat up in bed with a jerk, leaned on his elbow, spat phlegm into the bag, looked questioningly at Olga Feodorovna and into the bag. There was blood. Then two or three more spits. Olga Fedorovna sat down next to him on the bed, trying to support his back. Suddenly the sharp coughing sound was repeated. Father jerkily tried to sit up in bed, took a deep breath, and opened his eyes wide. His gaze rushed into the distance, as if he saw someone and was surprised. It was one moment. His face turned deathly pale, he stretched out slightly, took his last breath and died. A questioning, surprised look froze in his open eyes. Father died on April 19 at 4:45 am. It was Tuesday. Radonitsa.

Olga Fedorovna screamed, and the cell attendants and Taisiya instantly came running. Crying arose and confusion began. They called Lord Pitirim and everyone who was nearby that night. Everything else went as usual.

At 5:30 a.m., Vladyka began to serve a memorial service. Father was lying on the bed on top of a white bedspread in a new cream-colored silk cassock. The same cream-colored material covered his face and legs. The arms are crossed crosswise on the chest. There was a kind of deep and solemn silence. Nobody was crying anymore. There was no sorrow - peace enveloped the soul.

After the funeral service ended, everyone left the cell. Dressing has begun. Father was very warm, his face was calm, as if alive. Father has almost no body, just bones. They wiped him with olive oil and put on the schema. The Lord covered him with a robe and covered his face with a hood.

Candles were burning in the room. The priest read the Gospel. On the table under the mantle lay our Father, whose love surpassed any love possible for a person on earth. Each of his spiritual children was his most beloved. Not one of the most beloved, but everyone’s favorite. What seems impossible is possible in God and not only possible, but also understandable and natural. And now black matter covers something lying on the table. Everyone knows that this is Father. Of course, Father. And yet, it was no longer him. Between him, lying under the priest’s black robe, and us there lay an impassable line, deeper than the deepest abyss.

In the morning, Vladyka served the funeral Liturgy of Radonitsa. At five o'clock in the evening they brought a coffin covered with black cloth and put Father into it. Vladyka took off the kamilavka from Father, put a miter on his head, and with the singing of “Helper and Patron...” the coffin was carried into the church. The words of spiritual chants, stunning in their depth, flowed out, full of sobering sorrow and consolation, reaching the brink of what is incomprehensible to us, but already comprehended by the holy priest’s soul. The grave suffering, the suffering on the cross of his sacrificial love, his physical torment, his “languor of spirit” ended. His spirit found freedom. And that happiness left us when we could always ask Father about everything. No matter what happens, just come to him, tell him, and everything will fall into place, everything will be straightened out. His gentle look, his voice, drawing out the sentences when reading the Gospel - this is also gone. But is it possible to grieve, cry, languish? Can the spiritual connection with Father be broken? Communication is now possible in a different way – prayerful.

From all over Kazakhstan, Siberia, and the European part of Russia, clergy and laity – Father’s spiritual children – gathered under the blessed canopy of Father’s church. The priests served funeral services all night, and the choir sang. And people kept driving and driving. A telegram was received from His Holiness the Patriarch: “I express my condolences to the parishioners of the church on the occasion of the death of the gracious elder Archimandrite Sebastian. Your Eminence, Bishop Pitirim of Volokolamsk, is blessed to perform the burial of the deceased in Bose. Patriarch Alexy."

On the third day, Father was buried at the Mikhailovskoye cemetery. The coffin was carried by hearse only a short distance to the highway. Turning onto the highway, the coffin was carried to the cemetery on outstretched arms. He floated above a huge crowd of people and was visible from everywhere. All traffic on the highway was stopped, people walked in a solid wall along the highway and along the sidewalks. The windows of the houses were open - people were looking out of them. Many stood at the gates of their houses and on benches. A choir of girls singing “Christ is Risen” followed the coffin. “Christ is risen,” the entire crowd of thousands sang. When the procession passed by the cement plant, the entire fence was filled with workers sitting on it, and the entire shift, in overalls stained with wet solution, poured out into the factory yard. People made their way through the crowd to the coffin to touch it with their hands. Many went ahead and waited for the coffin at the cemetery.

The grave for Father was dug at the edge of the cemetery, and beyond it stretched the vast Kazakh steppe. The coffin was placed at the grave, Vladyka served a requiem mass. Father wanted to be buried in the kamilavka. Vladyka took the miter off his head and put on the kamilavka. The coffin was lowered into the grave, a grave mound was poured, and a cross was erected.

Eternal memory to you, gracious Elder, tireless prayer book, source of living water, teacher of healing medicine - words flowing from the Spirit.

Soon after the death of Father, Vladyka Joseph came to Karaganda [Metropolitan Joseph of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan (Chernov, 1893–1975) spent a total of 20 years in camps and exile. Of these, he spent 6 years in Karlag.].

I served the funeral Liturgy for Father, went to the cemetery and celebrated a memorial service. He rebuked some, humbled some, consoled some - he fed everyone with “grapes”, some sweet, some bitter. And before leaving he said: “Father Fr. Venerable Sebastian, the blessed Elder, cried and prayed a lot at night. And only God and he knew about this. What was he crying about? The fact that many, including senior officials, did not agree with him and did not listen to his advice. He endured everything with humility, praying to God for salvation and admonition for everyone. And for his tears and prayers to the Lord, the grace of the Holy Spirit will be in Karaganda until the Second Coming.”

Vladyka Joseph loved to come to Karaganda. He said: “Karaganda is anointed with honey,” “Karaganda was built on holy bones,” and “Let’s go to blessed Karaganda.”

About the Bolshemikhailovsky parish he said: “Father planted grapes here, which he then grew with tears.” “A small church, you can’t see it from the ground, but the pillar burns up to the sky.”

On one of his visits to Karaganda, Vladyka traveled to parishes, served the Liturgy in Father’s church, but did not visit Father’s grave. He was escorted to the airport, everyone mourned, of course. And what happened: the plane flew to Alma-Ata, there were unfavorable weather conditions, Alma-Ata did not accept it, the plane turned around and flew back to Karaganda. And Vladyka joked on the plane: “That’s what Sebastian is! We didn’t visit his grave, and he brought us back!” From the airport, Vladyka took a taxi to Mikhailovka, served a memorial service, went to Father’s grave and then flew away.

About Father, he expressed himself this way: “I am undoubtedly sure that Father is one of the venerables.”

Difficult years

Sevastian Karaganda continued his life in the city of Michurinsk (formerly Kozlov).

• He served at the local temple in the name of Elijah the prophet.
• He kept in touch with the brothers from the monastery.
• He took care of nuns from other closed monasteries.

A certain spiritual circle gathered around the priest, which the local authorities did not like. In 1933, Elder Sebastian of Karaganda was sent into exile for 7 years. Before this, he accomplished the feat of confession.

The monk, placed in the dungeons of the GPU, was forced to renounce Christ. He spent the whole night in the cold wearing only a cassock. The security changed every 2 hours, and the priest remained motionless. According to him, the Mother of God enveloped him in warmth. In the morning the holy father was sent to logging in the village. Valley near Karaganda.

In the camp, bullying and demands to betray the Christian faith continued. But the saint did not give up. So he lived side by side with criminals, worked as a watchman on the night shift, and prayed without closing his eyes. At the end of his sentence, he was allowed to live in a barn and carry water for the local population. People fell in love with the elder and brought him food and warm clothes, which he immediately gave to other prisoners.

With his faith and humility, Saint Sebastian of Karaganda led many in the camp to God, even from among the authorities. In 1939, his term of imprisonment ended, but the saint remained in Kazakhstan - he said that this was his second homeland. His spiritual daughters also settled near him. There were no official churches then; they prayed at home, worked, and Father Sebastian worked around the house. At night they served the Liturgy secretly, the priest went from house to house and performed services. Residents did not give him away.

He traveled to the surrounding villages - baptized, performed funerals, and performed weddings, if asked. He felt very sorry for the orphaned children, because he himself lost his parents early. In total, the elder devoted 57 years of his life to serving the church. He died on Radonitsa in 1966 and was buried near Karaganda.

Awards

• Patriarchal Certificate “For Diligent Service to the Church” (1957)
• miter and staff (1965, for the day of the Angel)

Troparion, tone 3

Servant of the Holy Trinity,/ earthly angel and heavenly man,/ spiritual successor of the Optina eldership,/ Christ’s hierarch and confessor,/ all-honorable abode of the Holy Spirit,/ teacher Father Sebastian, venerable one,/ ask for peace/ and great mercy for our souls.

Kontakion voice 3

In the joy of the Risen Lord, / the reverend Elder of Optina, a celebrant, / a sharer of martyrs and confessors, / a co-servant of the sacred mysteries of God, / an earthly Angel and a heavenly man, / a magnificent decoration of the city of Karaganda, / a fair amount of pilgrimage to the Kazakh country, / the praise of the Russian Church, / we will please, faithfully,/ we cry out to him with joy:/ Rejoice, Sebastians, venerable our father.

Praise

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In 1997, Patriarch Alexy blessed the veneration of the elder as a locally revered monk and confessor. In October of the same year, the relics of Sebastian of Karaganda were discovered. First they were installed in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In the spring of the following year, with a gathering of many pilgrims, they were transferred to the cathedral Church of the Presentation.

The shrine for the saint was brought from Sergiev Posad - it is made of non-ferrous metals and looks like the canopy over Sergius of Radonezh. It is installed on the right side of the temple. Pilgrims can come to the saint and read the akathist and perform worship.

Miracles of the Holy Elder

How does St. Sebastian of Karaganda help believers? Today there are many testimonies about various miracles that happened both during his lifetime and after the saint’s departure to the heavenly abodes. One woman’s son contracted a severe infection while bathing and abscesses appeared all over his body. They began to read a prayer to Sebastian of Karaganda. After three days, the body was cleared, only faint traces remained. Another young man suffered from urinary incontinence; doctors could not help. The list can go on for a very long time.

• Joasaph of Belgorod
• Saint Luke Voino Yasenetsky - see here
• Theodosius of the Caucasus -

While there were no church prayers, people read the general troparion to the saints and addressed them in their own words. Today, to address Sebastian of Karaganda, you can read a troparion, a prayer, an akathist. Through the prayers of the saints, our father, Lord, have mercy on us!

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