Elder Macarius of Optina

Elder Macarius of Optina
Author: Archimandrite Leonid
Publisher: St Herman Press
Total Pages: 386
Release: 1995
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780938635581

Elder Macarius of Optina is a translation of the largest compilation of materials on this elder of 19th century Russian spirituality. A disciple of elder Leonid (Volume I of the Optina Elders Series), Elder Macarius stands out as the perpetuator of the blessed tradition of holy eldership, which flourished so widely in pre-Revolutionary Russia. he was an embodiment of ancient Patristic wisdom; meek, gentle, loving and noble, he had the power of humility that strengthens the infirm, chastens the proud-minded, and exorcises evil spirits.

Living Without Hypocrisy

Living Without Hypocrisy
Author: Optina Elders
Publisher: Holy Trinity Publications
Total Pages: 158
Release: 2013-12-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0884653684

Now in its second printing, this modest work is an anthology of spiritual advice given by various of the nineteenth-century teachers of Optina Monastery in central Russia, organized thematically under headings such as spiritual warfare, the love of neighbor, faith, the will of God, the education of children, the commandments of God, the path of salvation, etc. Each piece of advice varies in length from a single sentence to a full paragraph. Pithy, immediately accessible, and universally applicable, these counsels resemble the sayings of the ancient Desert Fathers. Appropriate both for prolonged study and for daily devotional reading.

Elder Ambrose of Optina

Elder Ambrose of Optina
Author: Sergius Chetverikov
Publisher: St. Xenia Skete Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1997
Genre: Christian saints
ISBN: 9780938635604

Elder Nektary of Optina

Elder Nektary of Optina
Author: I M Kontsevich
Publisher: Saint Herman Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1998
Genre: Christian saints
ISBN: 9780938635598

Optina Monastery began its revival in the early 1800's and was a thriving center of spirituality until 1923, when the Communists forcibly closed it. Elder Nektary was the last elder to live at Optina and he was arrested and expelled. His entire life is told here with emphasis on his development as an elder, and contains sections on his spiritual counsels through letters and anecdotes of his life.

A History of the Athonite Commonwealth

A History of the Athonite Commonwealth
Author: Graham Speake
Publisher:
Total Pages: 335
Release: 2018-06-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 1108425860

Explores the role played by Athos in the spread of Orthodoxy and Orthodox monasticism throughout Eastern Europe and beyond.

Stories from the past of Optina

Stories from the past of Optina
Author: Monk Lazar Afanasyev
Publisher: Vladimir Djambov
Total Pages: 366
Release:
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

“Wealth without work Pleasure without conscience Science without humanity Knowledge without character Politics without principle Commerce without morality Worship without sacrifice. https://vidjambov.blogspot.com/2023/01/book-inventory-vladimir-djambov-talmach.html Here Igor writes in his diary on January 3, 1989: “The Holy Vvedensk monastery, / The blessed Optina Desert, / always hoping for the mercy of the Mother of God, / on the banks of the river flowing into the eternal life, / nurtured a wonderful tree of old age / and you became like a city, to him who descended from heaven, / where God dwells from men, / taking away every tear from their eyes, / let us also rejoice, brethren, / we will praise Christ the King and our God / and we will glorify the Lady of the world, the Most Pure Virgin, / as a haven for salvation has been given to us / and instructors - the reverend fathers”. Why is there so much misunderstanding of the spiritual word in people? “It is difficult for people to penetrate into the meaning of the word,” Igor writes, “it is difficult to familiarize with the power of the word, and thus the consciousness of the truth is difficult - only by the action (power) of sin. This is a consequence of the fall, the transgression of God's commandment. Adam did not listen to the word, that is, he rejected himself from understanding the meaning, as if he was separated from him, and the instantly formed gap filled sin... The way of restoring the possibility of listening to the Word and comprehending Him and joining Him is the meaning of our labors.” … There is no final finishing, or maybe it was not necessary for him: the diary was not intended for prying eyes. But now we are reading these penitential appeals to the Lord of extraordinary spiritual beauty... “Where will I receive tears, if not from You, O God?” it says there. “Where am I going on the day of sorrow, if not to Your temple, Master? Where will I find consolation, if not in Thy words, Holy One? Do not reject me, Lord, and now remember me.” Having a divine mind, as if a God-given infant, You have abhorred the pagan delights, you wise, But having fallen in love with parental piety, Ascend by virtue as on a ladder from strength to strength, You have acquired the grace of God... Akathist to the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, Thessalonian wonderworker (Ikos 2).

Father Seraphim Rose

Father Seraphim Rose
Author: Damascene (Hieromonk)
Publisher: St. Xenia Skete Press
Total Pages: 1164
Release: 2003
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN:

A Time to Gather Stones

A Time to Gather Stones
Author: Владимир Солоухин
Publisher: Northwestern University Press
Total Pages: 294
Release: 1993
Genre: Authors, Russian
ISBN: 9780810111271

Essays discuss attempts to save Russia's remaining literary and cultural monuments from ruin, the degradation of Russia's environment, and the fate of Russian Orthodoxy under communist rule.

Sermons on the Spiritual Life

Sermons on the Spiritual Life
Author: St. Philaret of Moscow
Publisher:
Total Pages: 166
Release: 2020-04-19
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781735011608

An anthology of sermons on the spiritual life, taken from a 19th century multi-volume collection of St Philaret's homilies, and translated for the first time into the English language.