What the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council Have Done For Our Salvation and Sanctification

What the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council Have Done For Our Salvation and Sanctification

The Wings of the Holy Spirit

"When God created Adam He did not endow his body with wings as He did for birds, but held in reserve for him the wings of the Holy Spirit. Namely, the wings that He will give him at the moment of the resurrection, so that they may lift and carry him where the Spirit wills. The saints possess these wings henceforth to fly away in mind towards heavenly thoughts."

The Spiritual Homilies of Saint Macarius the Egyptian (5:25).

The two powers in this world

Elder Paisios warned his disciple, interested in all things spiritual and even the occult:
"Look here, my child, there are two powers in this world: God and the devil. Everything depends on who you're connected with. I'm with God. I'm with Christ. Who are they [the yogis, magicians, etc.] with? Satan has his 'power,' too. He can work miracles of deception. He was an archangel, and he still has an archangel's power, because the gifts... of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29)."

D. Farasiotis, 2014, pp.87-88

Saint Paisios on the role of the teacher

"To be a real teacher - especially in our time - is truly something great. Children are like blank cassette tapes. One can record on them either dreadful songs or divine Byzantine music. The work of a teacher is sacred. A great responsibility lies on his shoulders, and if he is attentive, he can receive a great reward from God. His duty is to teach children the Fear of God. Teachers must find ways to bring the knowledge of God and of their country to children. Let them simply plant the seeds; if you don't see how they sprout, it's alright. Nothing happens without leaving a trace, the time will come when the seeds bud.

And teachers should always behave kindly to children, with leniency, with love. They should try to awaken 'philotimia' (a sense of honour) in children. A child wants love and warmth. Many children are completely deprived of this at home. If a teacher loves a child, then the child will love him in return. And then it will be easier for the teacher to do his job. Our teacher, when we misbehaved, could whip us. But he loved children, and children loved him too. He didn't have his own kids, and he really loved children.

Therefore, mothers and fathers who give birth to many children are worthy of praise. But even more worthy of praise are those true teachers who give 'rebirth' to many children and become mothers and fathers of 'a great multitude of children.' They give society reborn people, and thus society improves."

Saint Paisios of Athos

Happiness

How mistaken are those who seek happiness outside of themselves - in foreign lands and journeys, in fame and fortune, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain pursuits, all of which have a bitter end! Constructing the tower of happiness outside of oneself is like building a house on ground constantly shaken by earthquakes. Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus speaks the Lord regarding those who possess a pure heart: "I will dwell in them, and will walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Cor. 6:16). What can they possibly lack? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest gift in their hearts: God Himself! (St. Nektarios of Aegina, Path to Happiness).

On the Love of God

"Love is the icon of the Lord's disciples, the imprint of the servant of God, the mark of the Apostles. By this everyone recognizes them as such."

- Saint Nektarios of Aegina

Words of wisdom

"Every divergence of our intelligence from the right understanding of Divine Revelation will inevitably be reflected in our everyday lives."

Elder Sophrony (Sakharov) (1896-1993)

The life of Saint Andronicus of the Glinsk Hermitage

SAINT ELDER ANDRONICUS (LUKASH)

The Life of Saint Andronicus is taken from the book "An Example of Holy Life : The Holy Elders of the Glinsk Hermitage" by Archpriest Alexander Chesnokov and Zinoviy Chesnokov and translated by Aviv Saliou.

Schema-archimandrite Andronicus (born Alexey Andreevich Lukash) was born on February 12, 1888 in the village of Lupa, Romensk region of Poltava Province, to a family of peasants – Andrey and Akilina. His father was a village postman, he had a cruel character and was an irritable and hot-tempered man. In contrast to Andrey's hard disposition, Akilina was a humble and deeply God-fearing woman. She was also a good Christian and a caring wife. There were five children in the family: Phillip, John, Barbara, Alexey and Vasiliy.

Akilina foresaw Alexey's God-fearing future. She baptized him in the name of St. Alexius Man of God and constantly took care of his upbringing. The seed of her education fell on good ground, and sprang up (Lk. 8:8) - as a boy he would quietly wake up during the night, kneel and crossing his arms about his chest, would pray with what was amazing for his tender age fervor for his mother, father, brothers and sisters. Compared to other children he was remarkably humble and possessed an unfaltering calm, qualities which he preserved until his old age.

Alexey was educated in a parish school in his village. He experienced learning difficulties and, after graduating from school, his father sent him to work as a coachman. The boy was so serious that his father gave him the most demanding tasks. Following God's law, he obeyed his parents in everything. While still a teenager, he had already become disenchanted with the vanity of this world. In his thoughts he was often immersed in another world where the name of God was constantly glorified, he thought about monasteries and the angelic way of life. As the years passed his desire to become a monk strengthened.

Once on a Sunday, while walking home after the Liturgy, Alyosha met a pilgrim, who foreseeing his monastic frame of mind, told him about the many Russian monasteries, their rules and customs. He gave special attention to the Glinsk Hermitage where they followed a strict Athonite [from the Holy Mountain of Mount Athos in Greece] rule, which officially prescribed for spiritual guidance by an elder. He also mentioned that the church services there were especially long. The following Sunday the pilgrim gave him the address of the Glinsk Hermitage and a letter of recommendation to a monk he knew. When his mother learned of Alyosha's decision, she, holding back her tears, took the little cross off her neck and with it gave Alexey her blessing. This was done secretly from his father.

In 1906 Alexey entered the gates of the Glinsk Monastery. The monks made a huge impression on him. The Elder would later recall, « I was overcome by tremendous joy, my heart was touched and with my mind I turned to the Mother of God and asked Her to accept me in the rank of the equal-to-the-angels monks which She gathered in order to unceasingly glorify Her Son. I gave the Mother of God a secret promise to serve Her, to overcome everything, to be patient until the end of my days. Afterward, I felt joy in my heart and hope in Her mercy. » The monks brought Alexey to father John, for whom he was carrying a letter. At that time father John's obedience was to be the cell-attendant of the hegumen of the monastery. Father John lead the new arrival to the hegumen. Alexey bowed to the ground and asked the hegumen to accept him in the brotherhood, expressing his willingness to withstand without complaint all the difficulties and hardships, if only to be near the Lord's house. And the hegumen gave his blessing to include him in the number of monks.

The novice was given the obedience to work in the pilgrim's hotel of the monastery, where he would spend three months. After which he was given the blessing to wear the cassock and to be in obedience to Elder Hieromonk Aristokliy (in schema – Schema-hegumen Anthony, departed in Glinsk Hermitage in 1946). Then Alexey received a new obedience in the laundry room. There he proved himself to be a hard-working, silent and humble novice. Nine months later he was transferred to the monastery refectory where he worked for two years. Then he was given the blessing to wear the ryasa [cassock] and to serve in the hegumen's kitchen, where he prepared meals for guests.

Three years later Alexey was transferred to the Spaso-Illiodorov skete, which is about three miles from the Glinsk Hermitage. Life there was decidedly stricter; women were not allowed on the territory of the skete. In such quiet solitude Alexey was initiated into ascetic life. Next door to his cell lived a monk who spent almost all night in prayer. Through the wall Alexey could hear how he made prostrations and this inspired his zeal for God. He lived in this skete for three years.

From there he was called to serve in the army. He spent three and half years in Poland as a simple soldier, being a disciplined, quiet, humble and hard-working one. After training he was assigned to be servant to the commander.

After the demobilization, novice Alexey immediately returned to his beloved monastery and received the obedience to work in the beehive. After a short while, the First World War began. In 1915, together with monks from the Glinsk Hermitage, he was mobilized. During his first battle, he and the remainder of his company were taken hostage and brought to a prison camp and later transferred to Austria, where Alexey spent three and half years. In the camp, a group of Baptist sectarians tried to convert him to their faith, but he maintained his Orthodox faith.

Accustomed to hard work, he worked so diligently that he attracted the attention of the guards, who in turn sometimes gave him extra portions of bread. He was liberated in the autumn of 1918.

After returning to the Glisnk Hermitage, the rector of the monastery, Archimandrite Nektariy, assigned Alexey to man the scales of the monastery mill, which was not far from Putivl on the River Seym. In that period he could generously give food to the needy and the destitute, ravaged by war, people who came to him for help. A short while later, novice Alexey was tonsured monk with the name Andronicus. He continued to carry out his obedience at the monastery mill.

The years spent in the monastery left their unforgettable mark and served his spiritual perfectionment. Here the foundation was laid for his elevated ascetic life. He rose with the sun for his obedience, which he accomplished with great zeal, effort and skill. And he spent his nights in constant prayer and with many prostrations (pokloni). He was very austere as regards food and drink. He carried only the most essential possessions : church and work clothing, a hard bed on which he lay without undressing only for a short time. From then on, wherever he was, he always firmly kept his monastic vows. All his life was concentrated on one goal – salvation of his soul and the soul of his neighbor.

In 1922 when the monastery was closed, monk Andronicus moved to Putivl, where by that time his mother lived. In 1925 Bishop Paulinus (Kroshechkin, 1879-1933, canonized in the year 2000 in the Russian Orthodox Church), vicar of the Kursk Diocese, took monk Andronicus as his cell-attendant and monk Andronicus moved to Kursk. Even though his humility caused him to refuse the honor, he was later ordained hierodeacon. After some time hierodeacon Andronicus along with Bishop Paulinus moved to Perm.

While temporarily in Moscow, in 1928, Vladyka [bishop] Paulinus ordained him hieromonk, which was also done against his will. In 1929, while seriously ill, hieromonk Andronicus received the “angelic image”, the Great Schema, with the same name of Andronicus (in honor of Venerable Saint Andronicus of Moscow). Soon thereafter he was arrested and sent to Sakhalin.

On one occasion in the gulag they brought Archbishop Nazariy, barely alive, who soon died. At that time father Andronicus was a nurse and helped others however he could. He made an epitrakhelion [priest's stole] out of a towel, on which he drew a cross with a piece of charcoal, he served a panikhida (burial service) and buried the Bishop in a separate coffin. For this act in 1936 father Andronicus was awarded a pectoral cross by his Eminence Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow.

After being liberated from the camp, the camp director took him as a worker in his home. In 1944 the director was appointed to work in Novosibirsk, and along with the director's family father Andronicus moved there. He was treated and loved like one of the family. He cooked for them, took care of the garden and the animals, raised and educated the children. As a remarkable testimony to his humility, it is worth relating that he lived in the barn with the animals. There he prepared a special place where he would rest, despite the pleas from the family to live in a private room they'd prepared for him in their home. God was the only witness to the ascetic exploits which father Andronicus practiced in his little barn. When he learned about the reopening of the Glinsk Hermitage, he employed all his efforts in order to return to his beloved monastery. This took place in 1948.

In the hermitage hieorschimonk Andronicus became the rural dean and spiritual father of the brotherhood. However, not only monks came to offer him their confession. And there was a reason for this: an elder's love for his neighbor and his compassion attracts many people. One testimony tells the story of how a woman came from far away to give her confession. What she said exactly to Fr. Andronicus is bound by the confidentiality of confession, but after hearing her he began to cry while saying “how could you insult the Lord in such a way?” His grief over her soul and her sins stunned the woman. Walking away from the analogion, she said, “I will go home to spend the winter, and if the Lord wills it, I will sell my cow so that I can return here again.”

As the rural dean, fr. Andronicus gathered the community and the pilgrims together for the general obedience. And he did this gently and inconspicuously. For example, if they needed to work in the garden, Fr. Andronicus would be the first to take up a shovel or a rake and begin working. He could easily invite anyone who wasn’t busy to go with him and clean the stable and remove the manure. Be it in the forest, or when preparing firewood for the monastery, or planting in the garden, tidying or some other chore, Fr. Andronicus was always the first to act, and his example inspired everyone.

Having reached the height of divine love, Elder Andronicus possessed such inner peace that he never needed for anything. Constantly longing for the Kingdom of Heaven, he displayed exceptional compassion for others and always worried about them first. Here is an example of this. Once someone sent him a package of pears. He was almost never alone in his cell and of course on this occasion everyone in the room received a pear. Andronicus put his pear aside for later. Someone else entered the cell and there weren’t any pears left. Andronicus offered his own pear. The man protested saying, “You probably haven’t even tasted a pear yet.” The Elder sliced the pear and said, “Here, I’ll taste, and you taste.” Half disappeared. Then someone else entered and he divided the rest of the pear in half. Then another guest arrived until finally there was nothing left for father Andronicus.

Many astonishing things took place in the monastery thanks to the prayers of elder Andronicus. A novice named Sergei was sick with pneumonia. His condition became so acute that that the doctors' interventions didn’t help. His condition worsened and he was expected to die soon. Father Andronicus gave him the Holy Unction [the sacrament of anointing the sick] and Holy Communion and prayed for him. On the third day Sergei awoke completely healed. Subsequently Sergei took the monastic vows with the name of Hippolytus. After the closure of the Glinsk Hermitage, he lived on Mount Athos in the Panteleimon Monastery [the Russian monastery on Mount Athos].

There are many similar stories. One of them is remembered here. Once father Andronicus became ill himself. He had a brain hemorrhage. The illness was very serious and everyone around him had already given up hope of his recovery. He was given the Holy Unction and Communion. In his hopeless condition he didn’t eat anything for three days. At the same time a monk named Adrian, who worked in the stables, suddenly became ill and died three days later. Father Andronicus’ cellmate told him about this, and father Andronicus replied, “The Lord sent an angel to take my soul, but on the way He lead him to another, so that I may live a little longer for people's sake.” Shortly after those words, father Andronicus asked for some water and began to feel much better. He ate and soon regained his strength and health.

Father Andronicus was uncommonly meek and humble. He honored the bishops like Christ Himself. When the presiding bishop came to the Glinsk Hermitage, father Andronicus would serve him personally, bringing him water, heating his stove, cleaning the floors.

When in 1955 the bishop of Sumy, Eustratios, endowed Fr. Andronicus with the rank of abbot, Fr. Andronicus contested the bishop, saying that the rank of schema already surpasses all honors and that it is the ultimate award.

The Elder tried to avoid leaving the monastery and always said that a monk who leaves the monastery’s territory, even for a short time, never returns the same as he was before leaving. However, once the superior blessed Fr. Andronicus to go to the center of the diocese in order to take care of some business. Fr. Andronicus highly valued obedience and was an example to all of obedience. Therefore, he humbly accepted to accomplish the task.

Once after having talked with Fr. Andronicus, bishop Eustratios asked the Elder to bless him and make the sign of the cross over him, just as he does to everyone else. Fr. Andronicus obeyed, as was his duty before the bishop, and gave his blessing to the bishop, who then asked that when Fr. Andronicus goes to bed he also bless the bishop’s cell too.

However, the Elder could also oppose the bishop if the circumstances required him to. When the ruling bishop prohibited feeding pilgrims from the monastery kitchen, Fr. Andronicus, being a member of the monastery committee, spoke out against the bishop’s ruling, saying that it wasn’t the monks who fed pilgrims, but rather the pilgrims who fed monks, insofar as they send and bring everything to the monastery. The community supported the Elder and the common meals with monks and pilgrims continued.

Fr. Andronicus loved to take part in all the community’s work. On holidays after the services he wouldn’t go and relax, he would read several chapters of the Gospel, Akathists, then he would run to the kitchen to peel potatoes for the common meal, after electing a monk to read the lives of the saints while they worked so that there wasn’t useless chatter and instead they listened to the word of God. Fr. Andronicus even helped to clean the toilets when needed, without being squeamish, even though he was a very clean and tidy person.

He received his brothers in the community and his spiritual children at any time of night or day. He was extremely attentive to each of them. In the evening, Fr. Andronicus read five chapters of the Gospel, one rosary with 30 prostrations [kneeling to the floor]. Then he made separate prostrations to Christ the Saviour, to the Mother of God, to his Guardian Angel, Archangel Michael, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Apostle, Saint Andronicus, the Saint Apostles Peter and Paul, St Andrew the Apostle, St Luke, St Mark, St Matthew, the Saint Prophets Elijah and Moses, Saints Joachim and Anna, Zachary and Elizabeth, Simeon the God-Receiver and the Prophetess Anna, Saint Hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Nicholas, Alexis, Theodosius, Ioasaf, Germogen, Peter, Arseni, Stephan, the Great-Martyrs Pantaleon, George, John the Warrior, Demetrios of Thessaloniki, the Saint Martyrs Nestor, Guria, Shamuna and Habib, the Great-Martyrs Barbara, Catherine, Aquilina, Tatiana, Faith, Hope, Love, Sophia, Paraskevi, Saints Equal to the Apostles Nina, Mary Magdalene, Thecla, the Venerable Saint Mary of Egypt, Saint Martyr Thomais of Alexandria, the Venerable Saints Seraphim of Sarov, Sergius of Radonezh, John, Tikhon of Kaluga, Athanasios the Great, Pachomius the Great, Barlaam, Ioasaf, Abner, Martinian, John the Long-Suffering, Alexis the Man of God, Simeon of Verkhoturye, Job of Pochaev, Right-Believing Princes Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir, Emperor Constantine and Empress Helen.

After these prostrations, Fr. Andronicus continued to make prostrations for the sake of his superior, for his spiritual children, for his friends, for the departed brothers of the community and for his relatives. Then he went to bed for a short time. He awoke at two in the morning, sometimes earlier, and didn’t go back to bed. He used to say, “I will weary those who weary me.” He carried out his prayer rule of 500 rosary prayers without hurrying, making prostrations with attention and reverence. After his 500 prayer rule with the rosary, he read more prayers with the rosary to the saints and then began reading the Gospel, the Psalter with remembrance for the departed and Akathists. He also loved reading the daily service for the departed. He had this book with him during his exile and in the labor camps.

Part of Fr. Andronicus’ obligations as rural dean included checking up on the night watchmen. In addition, if a novice overslept or became ill, or if someone didn’t come to the night service, Fr. Andronicus went to their cells to find out why the brother was absent.

Fr. Andronicus never refused to offer his blessing and prayers for pilgrims about to go on their journey home. He elected a time when there were no church services, the people assembled, and Fr. Andronicus read the prayers himself for travelers, and he gave the Holy Unction and Communion to the pilgrims and monks.

When the Glinsk Hermitage was closed again in 1961, Fr. Andronicus went to the Stavropol Diocese to stay with his former cellmate (Paulinus). Later, when Paulinus left to study, Fr. Andronicus moved to Tbilisi under the tutelage of Metropolitan of Tetritsqaro Zinovy, who at the time was already a hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Schema-hegumen Andronicus helped in the Alexander Nevsky Church - he served, heard confessions, helped with the Proskomedia [office of oblation before the Divine Liturgy], read prayer lists and even stayed on to be watchman. In time, Metropolitan Zinovy found a small house in town where Fr. Andronicus was to live until he passed on into eternity.

Fr. Andronicus kept the thought of death and eternal torments fresh in his mind. Thus, he maintained the fear of God within himself. Thanks to his God-pleasing life, the Lord granted Fr. Andronicus the gift of clairvoyance. A visitor to the Glinsk Hermitage remembered how she had wanted to complain to Fr. Andronicus that it was so hard living without a spiritual guide. The Elder was in a hurry at the time, he was accompanying someone, and as he passed the woman [without having heard her complaint] he said incidentally, “There are no spiritual guides now. Books, read books!”

In 1963 Schema-hegumen Andronicus, with the blessing of the Patriarch Alexei, was raised to the level of Archimandrite [chief of the fold] by Metropolitan Zinovy. However, from the day of having received the award until his death 11 years later, due to his profound humility, Fr. Andronicus never wore the miter [honorific head covering worn by bishops and archimandrites] a single time.

It was with great love that Fr. Andronicus visited Saint Alexander Nevsky Church, where he served alongside Bishop Zinovy, and where he took Holy Communion on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. After the Liturgy and occasional religious rites, the Elder did not sit down to relax. Instead, he would find solitude and read the Holy Gospel. After lunch, in the time leading up to Vespers, Fr. Andronicus could be found in the little chapel located in the church courtyard. The door was always open to visitors. There he listened to people’s confession, comforted them, gave them useful advice and instruction. The devil’s ruse did not impede Fr. Andronicus. He taught using examples from the Holy Bible and the lives of the Holy Fathers. He took great care to protect people from pride and from judging others. In a conversation with one visitor he told the story of a monk he had known who was very quiet, humble and meek, but when the monk judged another person, the Lord’s Grace instantly left him.

The churchwarden of Alexander Nevsky Сhurch told of one incident which gives us an idea of [the depth of] Fr. Andronicus’ prayer. Before the Liturgy Fr. Andronicus would usually stay in church from the evening until the early morning, without shutting an eye and spending the whole time in prayer. On one of these occasions, some time at the end of the 1960’s, the churchwarden was spending the night in the church to serve as watchman. In the night he saw that the church full of worshipers. The thought flashed through his mind that he had fallen asleep on his watch and that someone had opened the door. He looked at the clock and realized that it was 2 a.m. He looked for the keys and found them in their usual place. Terribly frightened, he looked again inside the church. Fr. Andronicus was praying and making prostrations before the icon of the feast, surrounded by many people who were also praying. The churchwarden, overcome with fear, stood frozen. As soon as the Elder ceased praying, the church stood once again empty. In the morning, the churchwarden told of what he had seen, unable to explain everything due to his excitement. Nonetheless, being familiar with the God-pleasing life of Elder Andronicus and of the power of his prayer, we can conclude that the Celestial Church served alongside the great “spiritual athlete” during his ascetic feats here on earth.

Fr. Andronicus told some of his disciples, monastics, that every hour we must be active in prayer, for the Lord said: “Watch and pray” (Matthew 26: 41) and “Pray without ceasing” (1 Th 5: 17). When you pray, one should think of his dying hour, with fear of the everlasting fire. Let not the thoughts of this life’s hardships trouble us, for it is through many tribulations that we enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not the place which sanctifies the man, but the man who sanctifies the place. Where the monk is, there you’ll find the monastery; live a monastic life and you will have a monastery. Live a well-reasoned and pure life, repent and pray, so that you are not overtaken by sudden death and the wrath of the Lord. Many have gone to sleep and never awaken. Similarly, when we go to bed, we do not know if we will awake from our sleep in the morning. Do not abandon the morning rule of prayer.

Monks from other monasteries, including from the Lavra of the Venerable Saint Sergius, as well as hermits from the four corners of Russia, came to visit Elder Andronicus. Fr. Andronicus accepted them all with joy, diligently and earnestly teaching them all to follow the Lord’s commandments through good deeds, obedience, meekness and humility. Many students from the Moscow seminaries and theological academies also visited the Elder. He would tell them: “Study God’s Law, possess a pure heart and soul. The garment of your soul is true faith, prayer, tears, repentance… This garment should always remain with you, and God will not abandon you.”

Fr. Andronicus would say: “Live humbly and quietly and you will be saved!” For him all people were saints, he suffered and prayed for everyone. One monk wrote about how Fr. Andronicus, when he received confession, would not only absolve the sins of the repentant, but also the sins of all the monks and hermits, and all the people who were suffering. He said that they are suffering and weeping and are asking for his prayers. Once, when he was praying for the son of a certain doctor (the son had attempted suicide), a demon appeared and struck Fr. Andronicus so hard that the pain lasted for a long time. The possessed cried out that they would burn him.

While teaching the many who came to seek his counsel, Fr. Andronicus never wavered from his prayer rule. What is more, he read the works of the Church Fathers and the lives of the Saints and often cited examples of the lives of God’s Saints and Martyrs during his conversations with people. The Elder recorded edifying sayings from the Church Fathers and from Scripture, then reprinted these recordings and distributed them to his spiritual children. All this was done by Fr. Andronicus out of a concern for people’s well-being, desiring to warn them or prevent them from erring, or to force them to think deeply about something. Sometimes he helped people through physical gestures, for example, as novices told, he could tap them on the forehead with his finger, as if he were tapping the thought they needed into their heads. And all this was done with great care, sympathy and kindness. Something could sound sharp, but not harsh, affectionate, even gentle, without being sugary or overly affectionate. In everything there was a sense of balance and equilibrium, as well as an understanding of the state of mind the person happened to be in.

Father Andronicus, when asked what one should do if someone offends or annoys you, replied: “Don't see, don't hear.” By this he entreated people to focus primarily on themselves, to begin with oneself and to find the cause of spiritual laxity within oneself. He said that there was nothing worse than pride, which was worse than fornication and greed, for it was pride that made the Angels fall and became demons. Thus people with their pride resemble demons. When asked what he fears, the demon replies: “humility.” For God, the humility of the sinner is more welcome than the pride of the righteous. In response to question of what the monk should do in his cell, father Andronicus replied: “Cry. If you plant a tree and don't water it, it dries out. Thus the monk sitting in his cell needs to add tears to his prayer rule. By the tree I mean prayer, and by watering I mean tears that must be asked of to the Lord, saying: “Give me tears and the remembrance of death.” Otherwise, hell awaits us.” Concerning the question – what is the fear of God? - the elder answered: “Do nothing according to your own will, in all places feel God's presence, and then do everything as if you were before God, rather than before people.”

A prayer from father Andronicus' prayer book

“Save, O Lord, and have mercy on all who hate and offend me, and who do mean things to me, and do not let them perish because of me, a sinner... Save, O Lord, and have mercy on all whom I have tempted with my madness and have lead away from the path of salvation, whom I have lead to commit evil and unspeakable deeds, by Your Divine Providence return them to the path of salvation. All who have abandoned the orthodox faith and have become blinded in corrupt heresies, by the Light of Your knowledge illuminate them and count them among Your Holy, Apostolic, Universal Church.”

Elder Andronicus recommended every monk and layperson to read the 17^th Kathisma of the Psalter, and after finishing it, to read his own prayer list of names, beginning with the the prayer quoted above directed to the Lord about the salvation for those who have offended us.

At the end of his life, the Schema-archimandrite Andronicus often told his disciples: “I am handing you over to the Mother of God. She will not abandon you. She has chosen you, it is She who will save you!” He also spoke thus to laypeople, that he was handing them over to the Mother of God.

In Fr. Andronicus' cell there were only a few books and icons, with which he prayed. He dressed very simply and he carried no money, instead he immediately gave everything to the needy. He implored others also not to carry money: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). According to the word of God, he placed his heart in the heavenly treasures, where he also elevated his mind. A constant remembrance of death was his faithful watchman, guarding the heart of the righteous man from becoming attached to temporary and corruptible things, while inspiring him with a thirst for the eternal. The God-pleaser spent 68 years in the monastic life and his blessed end was met, by God's Providence, away from his native monastery.

In November, 1973, during the morning prayer “God, cleanse me a sinner...” the elder began to speak incoherently and inaudibly, soon his speech would leave him entirely and his left side became paralyzed. Many assumed that he only had a few hours left to live, but God's Providence foresaw that he should live a bit longer to be of service to his spiritual children. Metropolitan Zinovy visited him daily. His speech recovered in 25 days, but his left side remained paralyzed. Unable to go to church, Fr. Andronicus prayed unceasingly in his cell, took Holy Communion daily. During the first week of Great Lent, Fr. Andronicus felt a bit better and was even able to sing the Irmos [the initial verse of the canon] “He is my Helper and Protector...” However, on the third week his condition worsened and he became unable to eat. On March 17, 1974, on a Sunday, at half past five in the morning, Fr. Andronicus lost consciousness. This state lasted until ten in the evening when he clearly spoke: “God's mercy covers everything”, then he began to bless someone. Clearly, thanks to his strict ascetic life, the Lord allowed him to see his brothers in the spirit from whom he was departing. Then, he came to and said quietly: “I am going to die.” Then he closed his eyes and no longer spoke to anyone, although he understood everything and was fully conscious. The elder's strength lessened and on March 21, on Thursday, at around 6:00 a.m. Fr. Andronicus, peacefully and without pain gave his spirit to the Lord.

On March 21 the coffin of the departed Schema-archimandrite Andronicus was placed in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, where Metropolitan Zinovy conducted the great panikhida [requiem service]. The elder's body remained in the cathedral until March 26. Numerous panikhidas were sung and the Holy Gospel was read at his side by local and visiting priests.

On March 26, Archimandrite Ioann (Maslov, 1932-1991), accompanied by other members of the clergy, conducted the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The burial rites were carried out by Metropolitan Zinovy with the clergy. Hegumen Ilarion (Prikhodko, 1932-2008) read the eulogy, during which he stressed the fact that Fr. Andronicus was a hard-working man, a man rich in spirit and deep in faith. His heart was full of compassion and love for every person, he lived not for himself but for the people. That is why it is entirely fitting to call him “a sufferer for human souls”. In the memoirs of Archimandrite Paulinus a description is given of a woman who was healed from the lid of the elder's coffin during the funeral service in the cathedral.

On April 30, on the 40^th day after Schema-archimandrite Andronicus departed, His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia David V visited the elder's grave. At the cemetery His Holiness Patriarch David placed a red Easter egg on the righteous man's grave, and addressing Fr. Andronicus he said: “Father Andronicus! Christ is risen! We know that you are now in the Kingdom of Heaven. What made you different in this life? You had no enemies and, therefore, everyone loved you. Your loving heart was open to all. Pray for us, so that we too can share in the joy of your beatitude.”

The oral tradition has preserved accounts of people who received divine help through the elder's prayers after his death. For example, a nun from the Krasnogorsk Monastery, Maria, told of how she grieved terribly after Fr. Andronicus' death. At that time she had an amazing dream. Sister Maria recalls that “On the third day after his burial I saw Fr. Andronicus in a dream surrounded by Angels. I ran closer – Fr. Andronicus was dressed in gold and was serving at the Altar. He approached me, tapped the sign of the cross on my head and said: “Why are you crying? Tell the brothers and everyone: I see and hear, let them tell me everything, I will help everyone. And I hear you too, do not grieve. Let them tell me everything.”

And to this day many gather from all directions to Father Andronicus' grave. The sick take soil from around the grave, and that soil, through the prayers of the elder, gives them comfort and healing.

1Alyosha is the Russian diminutive of the name Alexey, often used affectionately (trans. footnote).

2Athonite refers to the holy monastic state of Mount Athos, or the Holy Mountain. Mount Athos is located on a peninsula in Northern Greece and has been called the “capital of Orthodoxy.” (trans. footnote).

3Ryasa is the monk's cassock in the Russian tradition (trans. footnote).

4Vladyka is the Russian title used to address bishops, literally meaning “master” (trans. footnote).

5Epitrachelion is the stole worn by orthodox priests and bishops during liturgical services and symbolizes their priesthood (trans. footnote).

6 Unction or Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven sacraments of the Church, by which holy oil is applied to a sick person for his healing and for the forgiveness of his sins (trans. footnote).

7One of 20 monasteries, known as the Russian one, on the holy monastic state of Mount Athos, or the Holy Mountain. Mount Athos is located on a peninsula in Northern Greece and has been called the “capital of Orthodoxy.” (trans. footnote).

8 Orthodox monks, and laypeople as well, prostrate from a standing position then lower to the ground with both knees, then bend the head forward to touch the ground also (trans. footnote).

9 The Proskomedia is the office of oblation celebrated by the priest prior to the Divine Liturgy, during which the bread and wine are prepared for the Eucharist (trans. footnote).

10 Archimandrite literally means “chief of the fold.” It is an honorific title for priests who have taken monastic vows. In Slavic usage the rank of Archimandrite is higher than that of Hegumen (trans. footnote).

11 The Miter is a head-covering worn by bishops, archimandrites and certain archpriests who have been awarded it. The miter is part of the ceremonial dress of these clergymen (trans. footnote).

12Irmos (or Heirmos) is the initial verse in each ode of a canon and models the pattern for the stanzas (Troparia) which follow (trans. footnote).

From a letter to Eleftheria by Saint Paisios

"There is one thing that we should know: that we, as people, must feel the necessity for prayer (contact with God), so that the devil does not control us. It is not that God needs our prayer and punishes us because we fail to pray. God is wholly love and mercy: He is not a tyrant. Therefore, when we cannot offer great prayers, we offer small ones, in order to be sanctified."


Translated from Modern Greek to Russian by Tatiana Samoylenko, and from Russian by Habib Saliou

The Venerable Saint Paisios of Mount Athos on expensive donations

"... Forgive me, perhaps I am wrong in this: to collect money from the righteous and then build bell towers and add [expensive] lamps and an array of luxurious vestments was a custom of the tsars and had very bad consequences, to the extent that it brought communism to Russia. But we also see these consequences on the Holy Mountain [Mount Athos]. The tsar did not take care of the miserable people in Russia, instead he sent gold in fleets to build another cathedral - for just one ascetic monk, while building one small church would have made sense. I am not speaking of great splendor for it is indescribable. What we see today are the ruins of the most magnificent Russian churches and buildings on the Holy Mountain and atheism in Russia..."

From a letter to Dmitri, 14 March, 1971, Hermitage of the Holy Cross near Stavronikita Monastery on Mount Athos [Translated from Modern Greek to Russian by Tatiana Samoylenko, and from Russian to English by Aviv Saliou].

Saint Paisios of Mount Athos to an Orthodox Christian

From a letter by Saint Paisios of Mount Athos to an Orthodox Christian, written at the Holy Skete of Iveron on 8 May, 1966. Translated from Modern Greek to Russian by Tatiana Samoylenko, and from Russian to English by Aviv Saliou.

... The further I withdraw from the problems of the world, the more I am able to help others in the problems of the world. Because these attempts to help will not be human efforts, but rather, the Lord God Himself will interfere in the world's problems without infringing upon man's free will.

Man has the right to make supplications about his neighbor insofar as we are all brothers in the flesh (from Adam and Eve), and in spirit. Because “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” And: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female...” (Galatians 3:27-28).  What is more, it is our duty to make supplications concerning all of our brothers in the flesh, so that they come to an awareness of the truth, in order for them to become our brothers in spirit as well.

What a holy gift God has given us – to be Orthodox Christians!

Therefore, we will not be able to make excuses, since we have been shown this great mercy, and since the Lord has continually bathed us in the bounty of His Grace, in His Holy Sacraments.

I will not bore you, my brother, with many words. I will just end by asking God to give you His Enlightenment and everything necessary for the salvation of your soul.

Many blessings to your family from Christ and the Mother of God.

With Love in Christ,

Your brother,

Monk Paisios