Long haul
The path to Optina of Elder Barsanuphius turned out to be longer than all the other Optina elders: he came here with the blessing of the Monk Ambrose in the forty-seventh year of his life, when strong gray hair had already appeared in his hair. What was this path like?
Not much is known about the elder’s life before he joined the brethren of Optina Pustyn, which is forty-six years. But Father Barsanuphius himself often talked about himself in conversations with his spiritual children - their records brought to us information about his life before Optina.
The spiritual heritage of Father Barsanuphius: notes, conversations and poems
The reverend's literary heritage is small. But there is still something.
For a believer, his conversations with his spiritual children can be of particular value.
There are also cell notes - this is something like the monk’s diary.
And of course, one cannot ignore the poems. Here is an example of the elder’s creation:
Autumn
Wind, rain and cold, And rebellion of the soul and hunger, And past thoughts and dreams, Like fallen leaves from trees... This earthly life is sad! But behind it there is another - the Region of eternal bliss, paradise, the Kingdom of non-evening beauty.
1902
Elder Barsanuphius
Reverend
The entire legacy of Father Barsanuphius is collected in a book called “Spiritual Heritage.”
The book can be purchased in the online store OZON.ru
Book by Father Barsanuphius “Spiritual Heritage”
Under special protection
The Monk Barsanuphius, in the world Pavel Ivanovich Plikhankov, was born in 1845 in Samara on the day of remembrance of the Monk Sergius of Radonezh, whom he always considered his patron. His mother Natalia died during childbirth, and the child himself remained alive thanks to the sacrament of Baptism, which the priest immediately performed on him. His father came from Cossacks and was engaged in trade.
The boy's grandfather and great-grandfather were very rich. Almost all the houses on Kazanskaya Street belonged to the Plikhankov family. All family members were pious and deeply religious people, they helped a lot to the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, located on the same street. The family believed that their family was under the special protection of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
After the death of his mother, his father remarried, and in the person of his stepmother, the Lord sent the baby a deeply religious, kind-hearted mentor who replaced his own mother. And from an early age Pavlusha is a true Orthodox person. He goes to church with his mother (that’s what he called his stepmother), takes communion regularly, and reads the house rules. He later recalled: “Mom also loved to pray at home. Sometimes an akathist would read, and I would sing in a thin voice throughout the entire apartment: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” At the age of five, Pavlusha began to serve at the altar and often heard people predicting: “You will be a priest!”
Barsanuphius of Optina was canonized as a saint in 2000
In 1998, the relics of Schema-Archimandrite Barsanuphius were discovered. Now they are in the Vladimir Church
In 2000, he was canonized.
Memorial Days:
- April 1(14);
- October 11(24) (Council of Optina Elders).
The tradition of praying to the saint has not yet been established, although there are already icons. But you can turn to the saint for help in any matter. After all, the Lord will answer the prayer anyway, and the saint only prays with the believer.
There is an akathist to St. Barsanuphius. Today it is under consideration by the Commission on Akathists under the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. If you really wish, you can read this prayer at home.
Father Barsanuphius of Optina
This child will one day drag souls from hell!
A significant incident happened to a child when he was about six years old. He himself recalled later: “For six years I was in the garden with my father, digging through the sand in the alley. Suddenly a wanderer walks along the alley. And it’s amazing how he could get into the garden when the garden is surrounded by large dogs that don’t let anyone through without barking. The wanderer quietly approached his father and, pointing at me with his hand, said: “Remember, father, this child will one day drag souls from hell!” And after these words he left. Then we couldn't find him anywhere. And God knows what kind of wanderer he was.”
I begged God for monasticism
At the age of nine, Pavlusha was enrolled in a gymnasium, he studied very well, read a lot, and knew world literature very well. Later, as an old man, he often spoke about the benefits of book knowledge, primarily the lives of saints. He recalled about his studies at the gymnasium: “In the summer we were moved for vacation to a picturesque state estate... There was a beautiful birch alley... The students usually got up at six o’clock, and I got up at five o’clock, went into that alley and, standing between those birches , prayed. And then I prayed as I had never prayed again: it was the pure prayer of an innocent youth. I think that’s where I begged for myself, begged God for monasticism.”
“Oddities” of officer Pavel Ivanovich Plikhankov
Then there was study at the Orenburg Military School, and staff officer courses in St. Petersburg. Gradually rising in rank, he soon became the head of the mobilization department, and then a colonel. He had not yet thought about entering the monastery, he imagined monastic life like this: “terrible boredom, there is only radish, vegetable oil and bows.” But he was already called, often imperceptibly, but sometimes very clearly, the Lord led him precisely to monastery. Hence the numerous “oddities” of officer Pavel Ivanovich Plikhankov, which others talked about.
He was a young military man, his colleagues wasted their lives in entertainment, but he came to more and more asceticism in his everyday life. His room resembled a monk’s cell in its simplicity of decoration, order, and many icons and books. Years passed. His comrades got married one after another.
Later, the elder recalled this time: “When I was thirty-five years old, my mother turned to me: “Why are you, Pavlusha, still avoiding women, soon your years will be over, no one will marry you.” For obedience, I fulfilled my mother’s wish... On this day, some friends were hosting a dinner party. “Well,” I think, “whoever I have to sit next to, I’ll enter into a lengthy conversation with.” And suddenly, at dinner, a priest stood next to me, distinguished by his high spiritual life, and started a conversation with me about the Jesus Prayer... When the dinner was over, I had a firm decision not to get married.”
Military service, brilliant career. He had the most excellent record in his service, and the rank of general was not far off for him. A direct opportunity to acquire all worldly goods. And... giving up everything. Colleagues and acquaintances could not understand: what kind of “flaw” was in the slender, handsome colonel, whose whole appearance so breathed some amazing inner nobility? He does not get married, he avoids balls and dinner parties, as well as other social entertainments. I used to go to the theater, but then I quit. Sometimes they even said behind Pavel Ivanovich’s back: “He’s crazy, what a man he was!..”
Orthodox Life
In the 19th century, in the Russian Empire, religion was considered a state duty, where, as proof of loyalty to the government, everyone occupying the smallest position had to bring a certificate of participation in confession and communion once a year.
But at the same time, faith as such was considered the lot of the common people, mainly peasants, as well as bourgeois and workers, that is, all those who in legislative acts since the 18th century were called the “vile class.”
In aristocratic, noble circles it was not customary to talk about faith. Moreover, deep religiosity was not accepted. Meanwhile, of course, among the aristocrats there were people who suddenly felt faith in God as their calling and meaning. As a rule, they had a hard time. Let us recall here at least the lives of Nikolai Gogol, Ivan Kireevsky, Ignatius Brianchaninov. The Monk Barsanuphius of Optina also turned out to be human.
Looking at the history of the 19th century, we notice that the vile class and the aristocrats came into contact with each other only in one place in the empire. This place was the Optina Monastery.
Barsanuphius of Optina, an aristocrat and military man, accepted monasticism at the age of 46 as the result of many thoughts and experiences. He appreciated classical music and generally understood music and literature.
His diary entries, compiled when he was already a confessor and an elder, contain many judgments about culture, music, literature and writers. As much as that of another Optina elder Nektarios.
But, reading the notes of Barsanuphius, we see before us not a holistic theological system of views on culture, not the theological understanding of creativity that we find in the dogma of John of Damascus, among the holy Cappadocians and some fathers of late antiquity (Justin the Philosopher), in Gregory Palamas or in Christian thinkers of the 20th century, such as Saint Sophrony Sakharov, Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, Olivier Clément or A. Schmemann.
Barsanuphius does not set himself the task of theological understanding of culture, like the people listed above. His thoughts are more like sketches, miniatures, impressions of the heart. They have an applied moral character, since they were addressed to specific people - his listeners, whom the elder tried to raise to heights. Hence some inconsistency in judgments; it is actually caused by the fact that Barsanuphius’s task was, I repeat, not the theological characterization of culture and literature as a phenomenon, but the desire to help those specific people (most often the monks of his monastery) cope with one or another of their personal problems.
Take, for example, this passage from Barsanuphius’s diary:
“In its longing for this City of the Lord, the soul sometimes finds consolation in music. I loved serious music in the world - Beethoven, Schubert, for example. I was leaving a concert one day. An acquaintance meets me and asks: “Where are you coming from and why are you so joyful and solemn?” - I was at the concert. What wonderful music! What delight it brings to the soul! - No, there are other higher delights, higher than any delight from music. If you went to see such and such, he will take you to another area, into the area of ecstasy from prayer. And he didn't lie. I loved going to church, especially at the all-night vigil in our Resurrection Cathedral. I loved the twilight, the quiet, flickering light of the lamp; it was especially good to pray there. So now you will go to the all-night vigil, pray there, try to pray well, try to go in and go deeper into yourself. After all, in each of you there is a world of indescribable beauty, in which lies many pure delights, unspeakable joys. Enter within yourself and they will open to you. However, do not expect only delight from prayer, do not be discouraged when you do not feel joy. After all, it happens like this: you stand in a church, and inside it is as if there is not a heart, but a piece of wood, and the piece of wood has not yet been planed. Well, thank God for that, that is, for the piece of wood! So it was necessary. After all, another soul, having experienced high delights, can even imagine itself, but the state of “petrified insensibility” humbles it. And in general, we cannot demand prayerful delight from God. Prayerful work is required of us, and joy is sent from God when it pleases God and our benefit. So, let us pray to Him and rely in everything on His holy will.”
Is it worth looking for a contrast here between the meaning of creativity and prayer? Obviously, these words applied to people for whom the importance of culture was already obvious, but the meaning of prayer was not.
Here it should be noted that Barsanuphius was an elder for the intelligentsia and aristocracy. Common people went to Elder Joseph.
One should not be surprised at this division of the specifics of senile work. Hieromonk Raphael (Noika), a Romanian ascetic, theologian, disciple of Elder Sophronius (Sakharov), who lived for a long time in England, where he found faith and Orthodoxy thanks to his spiritual mentor Saint Sophronius, writes about this phenomenon that different confessors (even great ones) exist in world so that different types of people would come to them to be saved and learn to find God.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Joseph Optinsky, born in the village of Gorodishche, Kharkov province, a peasant, the son of a village head, could better understand the problems of the peasants. And Barsanuphius, an aristocrat and intellectual, perfectly understood the worries and experiences of the nobility.
Taking this into account, some ambivalence in Barsanuphius’s views on culture and literature will become clearer to us. On the one hand, interest and personal attitude to the lives of writers, and on the other, an attempt to direct their listeners from thoughts about culture to prayer. This effort was not the elder’s theological position, since he was not engaged in theological comprehension of creativity. This was an appeal to those specific people who, being nobles, valued culture and participated in it to the best of their ability. But they, like almost all the nobles of the then Russian Empire, knew nothing or almost nothing about spiritual life and faith. Taking this fact into account, we can understand the direction of many of Barsanuphius’s statements about the work of this or that writer or musician.
We can say that Barsanuphius wanted to transfer his listeners from the state of “Christians by culture” to a state of meaningful faith and choice. After all, many nobles were “Christians by culture” at that time, but few of them made the effort to correlate the light of beauty, music, balls, art galleries, theaters with Him in Whom lies the basis of all existing beauty.
Arkady Averchenko has a story about this, written by him in exile. In the story, two former senators who fled the 1917 revolution remember their past.
“- Do you remember our St. Petersburg sunsets... - Well!! – The sky is pink and ashen, the water is a piece of pink mirror, all the trees are dark silhouettes, as if carved out. A dark drawing of the Kazan Cathedral on a pearl background... - And don’t say that! Do not speak! And when the lanterns of the Trinity Bridge are lit... - And the piece of the canal where the Savior on Blood is... - And the heavy arch at the end of Morskaya, where the clock is... - Don’t say that! - Well, tell me: what did we do to them? Who did we bother? - Do not speak! Both old men hang their heads... Then one of them again spreads the white sails of sweet memories and rushes in a fast, wonderful boat, lulled - back, back, back... - Remember the production of “Aida” in the Musical Drama? - Yes, Lapitsky was a clever rogue! Knew how to do it. A ball at the Larins’, for example in Onegin, huh? – What about the second act of Carmen? – What about the orchestra at the Mariinsky Theater? Remember how the violins will enter and the cellos will groan - Lord, you think: where am I - on earth or in heaven?!
Here, in this dialogue between two old senators, the Great Name is mentioned simply as a saying, nothing more. Everything that they list and value is precious, but either as a path to the essence, or when those who have acquired the essence look at such things as gifts of the Lord. Everything called senators, like everything in this world in general, cannot be good when it becomes an idol. Clive Lewis wrote about this in his fairy tale “The Divorce of Marriage”:
“In natural love there is something that leads to eternity; in natural gluttony this is not the case. But in natural love there is also something for which it can be considered heavenly love, and calm down on this. Copper is easier to mistake for gold than clay. If you don’t transform love, it will rot, and its rotting is worse than the rotting of petty passions... There is only one good - God. Everything else is good when it looks at Him, and evil when it turns away from Him. The higher and stronger something is in the natural hierarchy, the more terrible it will be in rebellion. Demons are not fallen fleas, but fallen angels. The cult of lust is worse than the cult of motherly love, but lust is less likely to become a cult.”
And Barsanuphius of Optina, being a brilliant spiritual father, feels this weakness of the people of his century and turns his blow precisely there in order to heal such a false perception, in which his contemporaries aristocrats do not see anything wrong. They already know that there is beauty in the world. The elder wants to turn them to its source.
Just like if he lived now, we would hear from the elder advice to read the classics, go to the theater, watch decent films and avoid all kinds of detective stories, TV series and talk shows. Because modern man, on the contrary, has shredded to such an extent that it is often impossible to talk to him on high topics simply because there is nothing high in his heart and he is completely occupied with the affairs of a society of false human relations.
In Christianity there is an incredibly high culture of thought and understanding of existence. The significance of man that is revealed in Christianity, and the significance of his lofty labors in multiplying beauty and goodness, is the highest of all that human thought has known over thousands of years of history, because the height of Christianity is Divine.
In order to understand not only the statement of this or that ascetic and thinker, but also the context and reason for his speech, often addressed to a specific person listening to the ascetic, and to correlate his thought with the holistic perception of Christian sages and fathers, you need to do some work each time. But at the end of such work, only joy will await us.
I have seen that people, even having the opportunity to turn to an elder they know, do not do this because they are afraid to find out the will of God and God’s thought, thinking that it will bring them pain. But if they still dare to recognize her, then happiness comes to them with her.
F. Dostoevsky noticed that people waiting for a reception in front of the cell of St. Ambrose of Optina often sat gloomy and afraid, but left the elder jubilant and happy. This is the wisdom of the holy fathers: it knows how to bring happiness to every person striving for good.
Artyom Perlik
But it was Saint Barsanuphius who brought me out of the theater!
One day Pavel Ivanovich went to the opera house at the invitation of his military superiors. In the midst of an entertaining performance, he suddenly felt an inexpressible melancholy. He later recalled: “In my heart, it was as if someone was saying: “You came to the theater and are sitting here, but if you die now, what then? The Lord said: “What I find you in, that’s what I judge... With what and how will your soul appear to God if you die now?”
And he left the theater and never went there again. Years passed, and Pavel Ivanovich wanted to know what the date was then, whose memory it was. He inquired and learned that there was a commemoration of Saints Gurias and Barsanuphius, the Kazan wonderworkers. And Pavel Ivanovich realized: “Lord, it was Saint Barsanuphius who brought me out of the theater! What a deep meaning in the events of our life, how it is arranged - as if according to some special mysterious plan.”
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be
There were also other signs. Pavel Ivanovich once went to the Kazan monastery for confession and found out by chance that the abbot of the monastery was called Abbot Barsanuphius. When Pavel Ivanovich noticed that this name was difficult to hear, they answered him: “Why is it difficult? It’s familiar to us... After all, in our monastery rest the relics of St. Barsanuphius and Archbishop Guria...” From that day on, Pavel Ivanovich began to often pray at the relics of the Kazan Wonderworker, asking him for protection for himself: “St. Father Barsanuphius, pray to God for me!” While visiting this monastery, he involuntarily drew attention to its poverty and began to help: he bought a lamp, a case for a large icon, something else... “And he fell in love with everything in this monastery! Truly, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
How many good seeds were thrown!
Now his colleagues no longer invited Pavel Ivanovich to parties or to the theater. But he made little friends. Pavel Ivanovich's orderly, Alexander, a kind-hearted man, helped him find poor children who lived in huts and basements. Subsequently, the Elder said: “I really loved organizing children’s feasts. These feasts brought me and the children joy equally... And I also told them about something useful for the soul, from the lives of saints, or generally about something spiritual. Everyone listens with pleasure and attention. Sometimes, for greater edification, I invited one of the monks or hieromonks with me and let him speak, which made an even greater impression... In front of us is a clearing, behind it is a river, and beyond the river is Kazan with its wonderful arrangement of houses, gardens and churches... And I felt good then - how much joy - and pure joy - I experienced then and how many good seeds were thrown then into these childish receptive souls!
Meeting with Father John of Kronstadt
In Moscow, Pavel Ivanovich met with the holy and righteous Father John of Kronstadt. He remembered this fateful meeting for the rest of his life; later he would write: “When I was still an officer, I had to go to Moscow as part of my service. And then at the station I find out that Father John is serving mass in the church of one of the buildings. I immediately went there. When I entered the church, mass was already ending. I went to the altar. At this time, Father John transferred the Holy Gifts from the throne to the altar. Having placed the Cup, he suddenly comes up to me, kisses my hand, and, without saying anything, goes back to the throne. All those present looked at each other and said afterwards that this meant some event in my life, and decided that I would be a priest... And now you see how inscrutable the fate of God is: I am not only a priest, but also a monk.”
Prayer to the saint
Oh, most honorable and sacred head, citizen of Heavenly Jerusalem, great servant of Christ and great miracle worker of Optina, like Father Barsanuphius! Look down from the heavenly heights on us, humble and sinners, who come running to you with tender hearts. You have a favorable prayer to the All-Merciful God and to His Most Holy and Most Pure Mother, Our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Offer up your holy prayers for us to the Throne of the Lover of Mankind, the Lord, so that we do not perish through our iniquities, but turn to repentance and correction, and the rest of our earthly life is not in service we avoid sin and passion, but follow His holy commandments and piety, and with good hope we will reach our death. At the hour of death, most especially appear to us, Father, good intercessor, hasten to pray for us, helpless, and help us, with the Communion of the Divine Sacraments, to achieve a peaceful and good end, the terrible ordeal of the air to safely pass and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Hey, ever-memorable Father, do not despise us and do not disgrace our hope, but be a silent representative for us to God. Our good shepherd, protect us with your invigorated prayers and keep us from all evil, let us glorify the ineffable love of our God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your fatherly intercession laziness, forever and ever. Amen.
So who will tell me which monastery to enter?
Finally, Pavel Ivanovich became convinced of the idea of going to a monastery, but which one, where - there was complete uncertainty. During the period of these thoughts, Pavel Ivanovich came across a spiritual magazine, and in it there was an article about Optina Hermitage and the Venerable Elder Ambrose. “So who will tell me which monastery to enter,” thought the young military man and took a leave of absence.
When he was just approaching the Optina monastery, one blessed woman who was in Elder Ambrose’s “hut” unexpectedly joyfully said: “Pavel Ivanovich has arrived.”
“Thank God,” the Monk Ambrose calmly responded... They both knew in spirit that the future elder had arrived. When Pavel Ivanovich came to the Elder’s cell, he found there, in addition to Father Ambrose, also Father Anatoly (Zertsalov). Both of them met him, as he recalled, “very joyfully,” and the ailing Father Ambrose even stood up, showing special honor to the newcomer.
Here, in the “hut”, Pavel Ivanovich heard the words of the monk that struck him: “The trial must continue for two more years, and then come to me, I will accept you.” He was also given the obedience to donate some sums from his rather high salary as a colonel to certain churches.
Heritage
Signs that Barsanuphius was God's chosen one accompanied him throughout his life. It is known that John of Kronstadt kissed the hand of the then military man Pavel Ivanovich in anticipation of accepting the schema and being numbered among the Optina elders.
Barsanuphius told people that it is possible to lead a righteous life not only within the walls of the monastery, but also in the world: avoid sins, not give in to temptation, observe external and internal fasting, and read prayers. Those who turn to the Lord with all their souls will certainly be heard in Heaven.
Barsanuphius wrote the book “Spiritual Heritage” as a message to people about the need to believe in God’s providence and thank the Lord for everything that He sends. The elder spoke about the non-randomness of events. About how to cultivate fortitude and fight temptation, about the secondary nature of worldly goods, about the fact that only following the laws of God can save humanity from destruction.
From a brilliant military man, he became an old man overnight
In 1881, Pavel fell ill with pneumonia. When, at the request of the patient, the orderly began to read the Gospel, a miraculous vision followed, during which the patient’s spiritual insight occurred. He saw the heavens open, and shuddered all over, with great fear and light. His whole life flashed instantly before him. Pavel Ivanovich was deeply imbued with the consciousness of repentance throughout his life, and heard a voice from above commanding him to go to Optina Pustyn. His spiritual vision opened. According to Elder Nektarios, “from a brilliant military man, in one night, by the will of God, he became an old man.”
To the surprise of everyone, the patient began to recover quickly, and upon recovery he went to Optina. The Monk Ambrose told him to finish all his business in three months, with the understanding that if he did not arrive on time, he would die.
Gifts from God
Barsanuphius received from the Lord the gift of clairvoyance and was not inferior in this to the other elders of the desert. God revealed to him all three times in the lives of people who came to him for help. The saint saw the soul as a canvas, so it was easier for him to guide the layman on the righteous path, heal illnesses, and cast out demons. The elder owed this gift to his continuous commitment to spiritual achievement through prayer addressed directly to the Creator.
Witnesses claimed that Barsanuphius was embraced by divine flames when the liturgy was celebrated in the desert.
- One day, the daughter of a rich landowner turned to a good-natured righteous man with a request to bless her for a good marriage. The elder informed her that she would receive the best groom she could think of. Over the course of a year, the girl met interesting and handsome men, but things did not go beyond friendly relations. During the Civil War, she moved with her parents to another city. On the way, the girl fell ill with typhus and died. Before her death, she managed to partake of the Holy Mysteries and find Christ, her groom.
- When Sofya Lopukhina was still a 16-year-old girl, her parents took her with them to Optina Pustyn. Elder Barsanuphius noticed the child, called him to him and told her in detail what awaited her in life, down to the smallest detail. The second time Sophia saw the saint was when he stopped in Moscow, heading to the Golutvinsky Monastery. The woman received as a gift the icon of the “Kazan” Mother of God, which Barsanuphius himself bequeathed to her after his death. Sofia Lopukhina never parted with this sacred relic, reminiscent of the foresight of the venerable saint.
Icon of Barsanuphius of Optina - Those close to the Monk Barsanuphius more than once saw how the saint drove demons out of the bodies of unfortunate sufferers. In the most difficult cases, the elder had to spend a colossal amount of his own life energy in order to save a person from the wrath of Satan. The possessed resisted healing for a long time, reviled the saint with unbearable abuse, shook in frantic rage, calling him an ordinary colonel and wanting to tear his flesh to pieces. However, the saint always won such battles with demons, without sparing himself.
In his last will, the reverend father asked that his friends and relatives forgive him for his sins. The saint noted that he acted within the framework of preserving the divine covenants and institutions of the ancient ascetics. Barsanuphius repented that he was imperfect and asked his spiritual children to follow the instructions of wisdom and righteousness.
He especially emphasized:
“The unquenchable practice of prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures will certainly help in the matter of enlightenment and achievement of the Kingdom of Heaven. Avoiding virtue and righteousness is worse than accepting a thousand deaths. It is necessary to show courage in spiritual exploits, even if hell itself rises up against the soul.”
Overcame all obstacles
And this is where the obstacles began. He went to St. Petersburg for his resignation, but they offered him a more brilliant position and delayed his resignation. His comrades laugh at him, payment of money is delayed, he cannot complete his business, looks for money on loan and does not find it. But Elder Barnabas from the Gethsemane monastery helps him out, shows him where to get money, and also urges him to fulfill God’s command. People resist his departure from the world, they even find him a bride. Only his stepmother, who replaced his own mother, rejoiced and blessed him for his monastic feat.
With God's help, Colonel Plikhankov overcame all obstacles and appeared in Optina Pustyn on the last day of his three-month sentence. Elder Ambrose lay in a coffin in the church, and Pavel Ivanovich clung to his coffin.
Biography of St. Barsanuphius of Optina
Throughout the life of Saint Barsanuphius, the Lord slowly but surely led him to the development of the highest spirituality and the power of faith. Having achieved significant success and recognition in the world, the righteous man reached the Optina Hermitage in adulthood. Throughout his earthly life, God gave signs to the future priest, who had the gift of noticing and understanding them.
Origin and childhood
In 1845, a son was born into the family of a wealthy Samara merchant. The boy's mother did not survive the birth, and the baby, named Paul, was immediately baptized by the priest. The father of the newborn came from a noble Cossack family, whose ancestors belonged to the wealthy class. In Paul's family, where virtue reigned, everyone sincerely believed in God. The Plikhankov family especially revered the image of the Kazan Mother of God, considering the shrine to be the patron saint of the family.
The widowed father married a second time to a virtuous and believing woman, who raised the boy as her own son. From an early age, Pasha went to church with his mother, listened to the woman’s prayers within the walls of the house, and already in his childhood he was a true Orthodox Christian.
When the boy was 5 years old, the first significant event happened to him, which he talked about as an adult. Pavel was walking with his father in the protected garden when an unknown stranger approached them with the words that the boy was destined to “lead suffering souls from hell.” After the prophecy, the stranger disappeared and could not be found.
At the age of nine, Pavel entered the gymnasium, where he was considered a diligent, capable and diligent student. Early in the morning before classes started, he went out into the birch grove and prayed to the Lord.
Military service
After graduating from high school, the young man entered a military school, and after graduating brilliantly, he entered officer courses. Plikhankov’s career in the army was successful. He was a military professional, enjoyed honor and authority among his colleagues, who never ceased to be amazed at the reclusive lifestyle of the stately colonel.
Pavel Ivanovich had a good salary, but was far from worldly pleasures. He spent a significant part of his allowance on restoring churches and helping orphans. In the military man’s room, whose decoration resembled a monk’s cell, there were many books, including Orthodox books, and icons.
Appeal to God
Over the years, the officer became convinced of his desire to become a monk. When the question arose about choosing a monastery, Pavel Ivanovich read an article about Elder Ambrose, who preached in the Optina Desert. Without hesitation, he went to a good place. Elder Ambrose foresaw Paul's arrival and greeted him with joy and respect. The monk told him to come in 2 years.
Upon returning, the colonel continued to pray and study spiritual literature, and attend church services. He was involved in charity work and assisted in the restoration of Orthodox churches.
At the age of 36, the military man fell ill with pneumonia. During a serious illness, he asked his orderly to read the Gospel. At that moment, the military man had a vision of the opening of the heavenly gates. Paul heard the voice of God, directing him to Optina Pustyn, where he hurried after his recovery.
The way to Optina
Upon arrival at the monastery, the holy elder Ambrose met the righteous man and agreed to accept him, allotting 3 months to resolve official matters. At the end of the period, he had to return to the holy place without delay. When the officer submitted his resignation, they decided to promote him in rank with an increase in pay.
Pavel Ivanovich did not change his decision, but unforeseen financial difficulties arose. The payment of his salary was delayed, and his entourage also did not want to let him go. Having overcome obstacles, with the blessing of the named mother, he arrived in Optina Pustyn on the last day of the allotted time.
Optina Elder
At the age of 48, the novice was tonsured into the ryassophore, and after another 7 years he took monastic vows and was named Barsanuphius. 2 years later he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and soon hieromonk. In the same year, he became the elder’s assistant and spiritual mentor at the Shamordino women’s monastery. Father Barsanuphius spent the next 3 years in the hospital named after Seraphim of Sarov, where he absolved the sins of the wounded and performed funeral services for dead soldiers.
Returning to the monastery in 1907, he received the rank of abbot and, by decision of the Holy Synod, became rector of the Optina monastery. By that time, Father Barsanuphius was known in different parts of Russia. Many believers came to the monastery in the hope of receiving healing, remission of sins and finding answers to questions tormenting their souls.
The elder, who had reached the highest level of spiritual development, saw through the pilgrims and knew in advance about the reason for the visit with the details of their lives. Looking into people's souls through prayer, Barsanuphius worked miracles:
- healed bodily ailments;
- cast out demons from people;
- directed confused souls to the true path;
- raised the fallen.
The elder saw all human sins, even if they were carefully hidden by the parishioners, and recounted the events in detail. The pilgrims left Barsanuphius with relief and grace.
The saint left the monastery extremely rarely, only on matters of obedience. In 1912, Barsanuphius was appointed rector of the St. Golutvinskaya Epiphany monastery. The elder’s requests to remain in Optina, at least as a novice, were refused. There are those who complain about the true righteous.
The monastery entrusted to Barsanuphius was neglected and, with longing in his heart for the monastery, the saint began to restore the monastery. The people still went to the elder, who received everyone and helped the suffering. Within the walls of the monastery, the saint miraculously healed a deaf-mute young man.
Demise
Soon after taking over the monastery, the elder fell seriously ill. He refused treatment, endured torment and prayed, saying that he knew the outcome and “he was already on the cross.” In April 1913, Barsanuphius died. The elder was buried in the Optina Desert.
Novice's Tribulation
On February 10, 1892, Pavel Ivanovich was enrolled in the brotherhood of St. John the Baptist Skete and dressed in a cassock. Every evening for three years he went to talk to the elders: first to the Monk Anatoly, and then to the Monk Joseph, the successors of Elder Ambrose. The new novice did not allow himself any preparatory stages and immediately began an ascetic lifestyle. Seeing the rapid spiritual growth of the monk, the enemy of the human race began to do everything possible to drive him into despair and expel him from the monastery. He turned some of his brothers against him. The novice Pavel did not give in, he behaved humbly, however, it cost him a lot.
Father Barsanuphius’s spiritual child, Father Nikon, later wrote in his diary: “Now Father told me about how he endured sorrows when he was a novice. Father endured sorrows, reasoning like this: “I must be worthy of all these sorrows. This means that they are all needed to wash away pride and other passions from me.” Father endured sorrows, without telling anyone about them, without complaining, trying not to become embittered at the offenders. Not only does one have to endure insults, one must also take care not to become embittered towards the one who inflicted the insult. “Sometimes,” Father said another time, “it was time to leave the Skete, but I decided it was better to die than to leave. I had firm hope in God and His Most Pure Mother. I used to stand in front of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, pray, and I would feel better.”
Akathist to our venerable and God-bearing father Barsanuphius, Elder of Optina
Designed for private reading
It is under consideration by the Commission on Akathists under the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Kontakion 1
Chosen warrior of Christ and miracle worker, Reverend Our Father Barsanuphius, who through your righteous life overthrew the demonic armies and established Holy Rus' on the paths of piety.
We offer you songs of praise, but you, who have great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles, calling for love:
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Ikos 1
The Heavenly Face sings of your godly life; you were chosen from birth to shine the light of deeds of piety on the world.
Even in your adolescence, the God-wise elder prophesied about you, “for this youth will deliver many souls from the fire of Gehenna.”
Moreover, in remembrance of your soul-saving deeds, uniting with the heavenly warriors, we cry out to you in praise:
Rejoice, child, drunk with the milk of piety; Rejoice, O ram, nourished with the bread of wisdom.
Rejoice, nourished by the prayer of the Church from a young age; Rejoice in the morning to God with tenderness of heart.
Rejoice, thou who hast gathered the harvests of piety from the pastures of the church; Rejoice, you who have eradicated passions and wickedness with the help of wisdom.
Rejoice, O tree, you who ascend to the mountains of the knowledge of God; Rejoice, for you have drunk the water of humility there.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 2
Having a loving heart, you had compassion for the poor and orphaned children, Father Barsanuphius. Remembering that such is the Kingdom of Heaven, you instituted sweet treats for them, feeding their bodies with earthly food, and putting sweet Divine words into their souls.
Moreover, the children of Syria, seeing such providence for them, give praise to God, the nourisher of all: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
In the rank of warriors serving the fatherland, you were an image of piety for the Russian army, but by revelation from above, like the Apostle Paul, you were called to the honor of the highest calling. Wondering about such a providence of God about you, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, valiant champion of the Christ-loving army; Rejoice, wise mentor of the Optina angel-like regiment.
Rejoice, you who have shown beneficial intercession to the fatherland; Rejoice, artfully teaching monastics spiritual warfare.
Rejoice, thou shalt descended from heaven with Divine revelation; Rejoice, having been spiritually transformed by heavenly illumination.
Rejoice, sword of Divine wrath against the ungodly; Rejoice, spiritual shield, for whom the flaming arrows lament.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 3
Having piously managed your worldly life, Father Barsanuphius, you wanted to seek the Divine will for yourself. With the same blessing of Righteous John, the shepherd of Kronstadt, the priesthood was foreshadowed for you, and the elder Barnabas of Gethsemane foretold a spiritual marriage, in which you deceived your soul to the Bridegroom Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
The Forerunner flowed into the Skete like a thirsty tree, you washed away the mud of the passions of repentance with water, but you drew spiritual intelligence from the God-bearing elders of Optina, who had matured into the age of a spiritual man.
Moreover, your wisdom is praised, I say to you:
Rejoice, from the vanities of the world, like a deer rushing from a snare; Rejoice, for you have flown to the Jordan into the Skete of the Forerunner.
Rejoice, O God-bearing elder, as I forge iron, handing over my soul; Rejoice, obedience is like a key that closes the door of passions.
Rejoice, having comprehended the desire of the divine will; Rejoice, having established yourself on the immovable stone of humility.
Rejoice, having crushed the heads of the serpents through fasting and vigil; Rejoice, rejoicing in the angelic powers with your zeal.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 4
In the rank of Angelstem, you settled in the desert of Optinstei, as if you had armored yourself with fasting life, and through skillful warfare you overthrew the machinations of the devil, singing a victorious song to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having girded yourself with power from Above, O Reverend, and placed the cross on the frame of the monastic sorrows, you valiantly trampled all the temptations of demons and you flowed victoriously to the honor of the highest calling. The same crown of praise weaves, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, having crowned reason with patristic teaching like a diadem; Rejoice, having adorned the soul with angel-like virtues.
Rejoice, cherubic ardent lover of monastic life; Rejoice, the tradition of the God-bearing elders is like spiritual honey for drinking.
Rejoice, thou who hast established the cornerstone of humility in the depths of the soul; Rejoice, prayer is like a spiritual sword, sharp with sobriety.
Rejoice, thou who subdued the demonic heights with unceasing psalmody; Rejoice, for through hardworking deeds you have accomplished a temple of virtues.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 5
Clinging to the God-bearing elder Anatoly with spiritual love, and having supplied his soul with his virtuous life, as if you had received the rich gifts of sonship from him as a beloved child, with spirit-moving prayer you cry out gratefully to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
As a wise shepherd, you took the reins of the Optina monastery, and you nourished the flocks of monastics with spiritual teachings, and the brethren, seeing the grace of eldership resting on you, unanimously cried out to you like this:
Rejoice, you who patiently bore persecution like the old man Leo; Rejoice, adorned with humility, like Elder Macarius.
Rejoice, rose, who flourished with the blessing of Elder Ambrose; Rejoice, faithful helper and rod of old age to the Venerable Joseph.
Rejoice, beloved child of Elder Anatoly; Rejoice, spiritual friend and companion of Elder Nektarios.
Rejoice, God-wise steward of the monastery according to the behests of Elder Moses; Rejoice, loving abvo, who raised Nikon the confessor.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 6
The Sun of Truth prepares you like a chosen arrow, and shoots you at the darkly frantic tongues. You, with your prayers, helped the Christ-loving army against their enemies, pastorally providing the wounded soldiers with the Sacraments of the Church.
The Russian country also glorifies you and cries out to God victoriously: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Returning from the sunny east, kindly Barsanuphius, you arose your deeds in the night, and like the full moon shining with virtues in the night, you killed the mental Amalek with your humble prayers.
Moreover, praising your valiant deeds, we loudly call to you:
Rejoice, chosen arrow, which bit the ancient serpent; Rejoice, star of Orthodoxy, who has illuminated the infidel nations.
Rejoice, overcoming the enemies of the Christ-loving army; Rejoice, those strengthened by the Church Mysteries.
Rejoice, joyful preacher of repentance; Rejoice, source of miraculous healings.
Rejoice, for through prayer you healed the suffering; Rejoice, for through psalmody you have pacified the warring.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 7
Like bloodless martyrdom, having completed a monastic life, you have reached a dispassionate haven. For this reason, the Lord poured out the gift of prophecy on you and set you up as a lamp of judgment in the church candlestick, so that you may shine in the sinful night and guide those who have gone astray to the paths of piety, so that they can glorify God and cry out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
You have seen the sinful storm that will soon destroy the Russian land with your spiritual eyes.
Moreover, like a new prophet, you exhorted erring people to begin to repent, and you strengthened the faithful to endure the coming sorrow worthily.
For this reason, as a God-inspired comforter, we sing to you:
Rejoice, anointed prophet with the suit of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, heavenly man filled with Divine revelations.
Rejoice, you who examine the human heart with your spiritual gaze; Rejoice, heal sinners with sincere repentance.
Rejoice, most luminous abode of spiritual reasoning; Rejoice, worthy friend of the Divine Mysteries.
Rejoice, pure mirror of the Optina eldership; Rejoice, the Orthodox have taken away the Russian people.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 8
Like a gentle lamb, you received Nikon, the appointed confessor of Optina, who came to you into your arms. You also prophesied that you would suffer for Christ, in whom you found a companion and a well-obedient disciple, who even now has not separated from you, but in the things above, ever rejoicing, sings a song in agreement with you: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Let us accept the pastoral cunning, God-wise Father, you have kept the sheep of Christ in the green pastures of grace, and with your verbal teaching, like honey-laden beer, you have transferred the salt of the path of salvation for their sweetness.
For this reason you have increased the verbal lambs of the new martyred flock, and with them we crown you with these praises:
Rejoice, shepherd of gentle lambs; Rejoice, destroyer of invisible wolves.
Rejoice, you who bear the cross, for the praise of Christ; Rejoice, thou who crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Rejoice, divinely inspired fertilizer for the New Martyrs of Optina; Rejoice, holy and monastic adornment.
Rejoice, Nikon crowned with gold; Rejoice, God-chosen stone of the Optina Cathedral.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 9
Angelic joy appeared in heaven about your holy life; Reverend Father, great sorrow was the demon, when you multiplied your pastoral exploits. Moreover, many souls have been freed from the power of demons by you, and in the person of those who are being saved, they hasten to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
You denounced the sages of this age as if they were talking bluster, thinking about their Creator as if he did not exist, and with your miracles you showed the triumph of faith, when you opened the ears of the deaf-mute.
Therefore, open our hearts to hear the word of God and accept these praiseworthy words brought to you out of love:
Rejoice, ascetic filled with angelic strength; Rejoice, thou who has inflicted an all-destroying plague upon the demon.
Rejoice, give radiant enlightenment to the faithful; Rejoice, destroying the darkness of wicked unbelief.
Rejoice, thou who hast given a fair share of Divine miracles; Rejoice, God-worthy friend of grace.
Rejoice, whose cancer boils as a source of healing; Rejoice, for even now glorious signs are being created.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 10
Seeing the godless wickedness of this world and although the charms of the coals were extinguished, you opened your honeyed lips and poured out rivers of sweet-worded teachings. For this reason, the sinner turned away from sin, and returned to the heights of God-loving piety, singing the sweetest song to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Thou didst well preserve the flocks of monastic animals in the pastures, and thou didst appear to the world as the second light.
For this reason, for the sake of your pastoral visit, we ask you to deliver your flock from the cruel ruler of the world and from his lovely snares. Yes, in the shelter of your prayers, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, for you have fed the flocks of monastics with spiritual food; Rejoice, for you have given the worldly milk to drink with the milk of the Gospel.
Rejoice, euphonious woman, who glorified the virtue of chastity; Rejoice, Forerunner's axe, cutting off the roots of passions.
Rejoice, for you have struck down the princes of the air with a fiery arrow; Rejoice, for with your red feet you crushed the heads of the invisible serpents.
Rejoice, source, to whom those thirsting for consolation flow; Rejoice, fire, by whom the passions of sweets are consumed.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 11
Arranging your rise into the Heavenly Jerusalem, you surrounded yourself with immeasurable sorrows, like a crown of thorns. You have endured reproaches and slander, even bearing the cross of obedience to death.
In the same way, praising your suffering, we sing gratefully to God, who strengthened you: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
You were driven away from your monastery by the envy of the devil and you settled in the Staro-Golutvennaya desert like a wise heli-grader.
Having planted piety in this beautiful land, you departed in spirit to the heavenly abode.
The relics of your holy Optina Hermitage, like a victorious trophy, are accepted into its bosom, and now flaunts its image and cries out to you with tenderness:
Rejoice, for you are a prosperous city, cultivating the deserts of Optina; Rejoice, revival of the hermitage in Golutvina, like an olive branch, brought.
Rejoice, you who have acquired the bliss of those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; Rejoice, having conquered your enemies through the meekness of Jesus and love.
Rejoice, kind dove, soar above the canopy of the cross; Rejoice, for in the shelter of your wings your children rest at peace.
Rejoice, where your body is, spiritual eagles will instill it; Rejoice, where your memory is blessed, there you remain in your spirit.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 12
Like a trumpet of good victory, the Optina Hermitage, the glorified elders, preaches your exploits. In it, having lived like an angel and been taken to heaven, You were imputed to the Angels and the Council of the Optina Fathers, singing the all-song song with them: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Like an invincible shield, your intercession for us, Reverend Father, and your prayerful intercession is like a spiritual sword, slaying demons.
For this sake, ask us for grace from the All-Merciful King Christ God, to enable us to resist all the machinations of the enemy and to dress in weapons of light, proclaiming this victory to you:
Rejoice, non-military victory coming to us from above; Rejoice, ever-blooming crown to those who strive well.
Rejoice, for you fought against the mental Amalek from heaven; Rejoice, for you exercise barbaric vacillation on earth.
Rejoice, invisible help to the monastic militia; Rejoice, much-lamentable defeat of demons.
Rejoice, for through you the Optina eldership has been adorned; Rejoice, for through you our darkened life has been enlightened.
Rejoice, Barsanuphius, magnificent adornment of the Optina eldership.
Kontakion 13
O invincible stratilate of the Heavenly King Christ, God-wise elder than Barsanuphius! This akathist singing brings you, we earnestly ask you, show us your beneficial intercession and to all who honor you with love, ask the Lord for forgiveness of sins and angelic strength in ascetic labors, so that we may unfalteringly sing to the Lord of hosts: Alleluia.
(Three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1).
Prayer
O most honorable and sacred head, citizen of Heavenly Jerusalem, great servant of Christ and great Optina miracle worker, Reverend Father Barsanuphius!
Look down from the heavenly heights upon us, humble and sinners, who come running to you with tender hearts.
For you, a prayer book favorable to the All-Merciful God and to His Most Holy and Most Pure Mother, our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Offer up your holy prayers for us to the Throne of the Lord, Lover of Mankind, so that we do not perish through our iniquities, but turn to repentance
and correction, and the rest of our earthly life is not in working against sin and passion, but in doing the commandments of His saints
and we will see you off in piety, and with good hope we will reach our end.
At the hour of death, most especially appear to us, Father, good intercessor, hasten us to pray for us, helpless, and help us, with the Communion of the Divine Sacraments, to achieve a peaceful and good death, to pass through the menacing ordeal of the air comfortably and inherit the Heavenly Kingdom.
To her, ever-memorable Father, 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.
Another prayer
O holy warrior and God-wise Father Barsanuphius, crowned champion of the Optina eldership. You did not love the glory of this world, lower honors and a relaxed life, but you observed military honor to the end and left the earthly funeral feast, you fought for King Christ and fought with the incorporeal Angels against demons, and you received victories and honors.
Moreover, under your intercession, like under a strong shield, we come running, and relying on the bow of your prayers, we pray to you, reverend father, to comfort us like a loving father, and strengthen us like sons, alleviating the present sorrow, delivering our souls from the needs.
Grant us to follow your life and unswervingly observe the traditions of the holy fathers, which you commanded us to observe even to death.
To her, Father, be our champion in our mental battles, which we wage with passions and evil spirits, for we are weak and unskilled.
But you, having passed the test of obedience and inherited the grace of eldership, can also help us who are tempted.
May we keep under the roof of your prayers, sing and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Father and His Life-Giving Spirit, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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All monastic degrees
The Monk Anatoly gave the novice the obedience to be the cell attendant of Hieromonk Nektarios, the last conciliarly elected elder of Optina at that time. Near Father Nektary, his cell attendant passed through all the monastic degrees within ten years: a year later, on the twenty-sixth of March 1893, during Great Lent, the novice Pavel was tonsured into the ryassophore; in December 1900, due to illness, he was tonsured into the mantle with the name Barsanuphius, on the twenty-ninth of December 1902 ordained a hierodeacon, and on January 1, 1903, he was ordained a hieromonk.
In 1903, the Monk Barsanuphius was appointed assistant to the elder and at the same time confessor of the Shamordino women's hermitage and remained so until the outbreak of the war with Japan.
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