Olga Rozhneva

The Sun of Optina Hermitage. Part 1

Commemoration of St. Ambrose of Optina

Olga Rozhneva

Much testimony of miraculous help from St. Ambrose has been preserved, and this reveals a little of the countenance of this wondrous man who consoled everyone.

How an Ordinary Old Lady Turned Out to Be an Eldress

Stories of the Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage

Olga Rozhneva

I thought: “Another old lady from the world. She wants to come to the monastery, but she doesn’t suspect how difficult it is here. She’ll stay for a bit then leave.” I said: “Okay, as God grants.”

“I Came to Be a Novice!”

Christmas Stories from the Sisters of the Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage, Part 3

Olga Rozhneva

It was a fateful moment. In the mirror I saw not the person I’d known all my life—it was another person standing there, whose reflection was looking at me as if from another world.

Worldly Joys Didn’t Satisfy My Soul

Christmas Stories from the Sisters of the Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage, Part 2

Olga Rozhneva

After my Baptism and Communion, everything around me suddenly changed in a strange way. Some miracles began to happen. It felt like I had fallen into some Christmas story, and I still keep this in my heart, as though it all happened just yesterday.

The Miracle of Spiritual Peace, Love, and Joy

On the Choice of the Monastic Path, Obstacles and Temptations, the Help of God, and Daily Miracles, Part 2

Mother Seraphima (Tsvetovaya)

Sometimes pilgrims ask the sisters: “Have you experienced any miracles during your time in the monastery?” I think there’s a miracle every day in the monastery, in the depths of the human heart. Spiritual joy, peace, love—isn’t that a miracle?! The revelation of thoughts to a spiritual father is a miracle. A priest is a special conductor of God’s grace as a priceless gift. Even the buildings and the air are saturated with grace.

On the Choice of the Monastic Path, Obstacles and Temptations, the Help of God, and Daily Miracles

Stories from Mother Seraphima (Tsvetovaya)

Mother Seraphima (Tsvetovaya)

She was a pure, bright person, very young, but zealous, having already tasted the sweetness of prayer, having experienced the truths spoken by the Prophet and King David: How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Ps. 118:103), and The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth (Ps. 144:18).

About My Spiritual Guide, Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose)

Stories of Matushka Maria Kotar

Maria Kotar

In the 70’s for some reason much of the Orthodox world was talking about the end of the world, thinking that the Apocalypse was nearing, and people were worried and scared about living in the end times. But Fr. Seraphim told us not to fear the end times. He reminded us that first of all, even the angels don’t know when the end times will be, only the Father knows, and of course we cannot know this information ourselves.

On Darwin’s Mistake, How a Belarusian Citadel of Atheism Trembled, and Other Stories of Archpriest Eugene Grushetsky

Archpriest Eugene Grushetsky

Then Darwin said that a new species could appear in a million years. But his statement was an intellectual exercise, a mere extrapolation and guesswork. In his youth he studied theology at Cambridge to become a clergyman; and he certainly read the Bible, which correctly describes the creation of the world in the right order: light, plants, fish, birds, mammals and man. The prophet Moses described all this in in the book of Genesis around the thirteenth century B.C., and thirty-two centuries before Darwin! So Darwin learned all this in the Bible—and then began to explain that everything had evolved by itself.

On How I Went to the Monastery at Seventeen, and the Next Twenty Years of My Life

Stories From the Abbess of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Usolye

Mother Sergia (Starkova)

I was born in 1982, and in the late 1990s spiritual books started appearing; I read Abba Dorotheos, St. John Climacus, and delighted in the asceticism of Elder Joseph the Hesychast. Thus, you could say, my monastic life began while I was still at home: A flame was lit in my heart of zeal for God. I was drawn by another, non-secular, life—the monastic life.

From Danger in Shanghai to Reunion in San Francisco

Stories of Archpriest Pavel Volmensky. Part 2

Olga Rozhneva, Archpriest Paul Volmensky

A few years later, the Japanese reached Shanghai. In July 1937, after a brutal artillery preparation and aerial bombardment, Japan, which had long had an eye on China’s raw materials, landed its troops in the vicinity of the city. The Chinese army was unable to withstand the Japanese, and Shanghai was invaded.

A Hard Life and the Amazing Adventures of One Family

Stories of Archpriest Paul Volmensky. Part 1

Olga Rozhneva, Archpriest Paul Volmensky

Archpriest Paul Volmensky’s great-grandmother, grandfather and grandmother of were born in the imperial Russia, came to America from China, having made the difficult journey of refugees: Harbin, Shanghai, Hong Kong, England, Rhodesia, Tubabao and San Francisco. During our meeting Fr. Pavel recalled their lives, wanderings and amazing adventures.

How St. John of San Francisco Found Our Home, and Other Stories From Matushka Maria Kotar

Maria Kotar

I went upstairs, turned around, and saw—on the wall, an icon of St. John of San Francisco! I practically fell into a stupor. I called for my husband and son: “Look! This is the home of Americans, Protestants. They couldn’t have icons in their house? Or it is just me?!” But, an icon there was, of course! It was Vladyka sending us a message that he himself had found us a home! It turns out that the former owners had gone to the monastery just for an excursion, and they liked Vladyka John so much that they bought the icon and hung it on the wall.

How Vladyka Anthony Tamed a Cat and Other Stories of Archpriest Serge and Maria Kotar

Elders of the Russian Church Abroad: Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev)

Archpriest Serge Kotar, Maria Kotar

What else was Vladyka like? He was the embodiment of love. Even as an elderly hierarch, he could still make a prostration, asking forgiveness. He always took the blame upon himself. If someone bickered, he would get very concerned and try to reconcile everyone.

Elders of the Russian Church Abroad: Bishop Nektary (Kontzevitch). Part 2

Stories from Matushka Maria Kotar

Maria Kotar

On the eve of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, the already greatly weakened Vladyka gathered his last strength and prayed at the All-Night Vigil in his beloved Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral, built by St. John of San Francisco.

Elders of the Russian Church Abroad: Bishop Nektary (Kontzevitch). Part 1

Stories from Matushka Maria Kotar

Maria Kotar

The first ROCOR elder whom I’d like to talk about is Bishop Nektary (Kontzevitch), but my story won’t be just about him, but also about those whom he loved and revered.

How Metropolitan Laurus and I Dug Up Potatoes

Archpriest Andrei Sommer On Outstanding Personalities of the Russian Church Abroad Part 1

Olga Rozhneva, Archpriest Andrei Sommer

Monks were gathering potatoes into sacks, and Vladyka Laurus himself, who was sixty then, together with all his archimandrites and other brothers was very dexterously digging in the wet ground and nimbly searching for potatoes in the mud, all of their gray beards bending low.

The Language of the Love of Christ

Pascha Stories of Mother Sergia (Starkova)

Mother Sergia (Starkova)

We learned this lesson from this encounter: There’s a special language—the language of the love of Christ, when hearts beat in unison and no interpreter is required.

The Girl That St. John of Shanghai Named

Part 1: Olga and her father, Vladimir Rossi

Olga Rozhneva

Olga Vladimirovna didn’t merely know St. John—it was he who chose her name when she had just been born, and who performed the funeral of her beloved father several years later and blessed her long and happy marriage.

“Just Stay, and Rely On the Will of God”

Monastic Stories of Abbot Simeon (Kulagin). Part 2

Abbot Simeon (Kulagin)

And there I stood in the middle of the field, with an enraged bull rushing at me. And I had the thought: “How good it is that I managed to become a novice! That means I’ll die in obedience.”

How St. Nicholas Worked Through an Elder’s Boots, and Other Stories

Told by Dmitry and Natalia Volodikov

Olga Rozhneva

These stories are about the saint’s speedy aid to those finding themselves in difficult situations, and about how an elder’s boots can prove to be an excellent remedy—however, you won’t be able to buy them.

Healer of Emotional and Spiritual Sicknesses

Commemoration of St. Hilarion, Optina elder (1805–1873)

Olga Rozhneva

For people of our times, St. Hilarion’s instructions are particularly useful, because the elder was an great expert and experienced healer of emotional and spiritual illnesses—those things we now call depression, neurosis, obsessive compulsion, and various kinds of dependencies and phobias.

On Divine Providence, Spiritual Laws, and Other Important Spiritual Matters

A talk with Metropolitan Vladimir (Samokhin) of Vladivostok and Primorye

Olga Rozhneva, Metropolitan Vladimir (Samokhin)

To understand the will of God is the primary aim in the life of every Christian. I know by experience that it is not until many years later that the hidden meaning of the events you providentially had to go through is revealed to you.

“He Was a ‘Nuclear Reactor’ of Divine Love”

Archpriest Alexander Torik on the Providence of God, Signs, Meetings, and Plans, Part 2

Archpriest Alexander Torik

The famous Orthodox writer Archpriest Alexander Torik shares his memories and pastoral experience and reflects upon how a confessor differs from a spiritual father and what temptation are the most dangerous for a spiritual father and his spiritual children.

An Amazing Journey to the Island of the Archangel Michael

On Elder Ephraim’s Monastery on the Island of Thasos

Olga Rozhneva

The Archangel appears to many residents of the island, in full stature, in military armor, and fulfills their secret requests, cures their incurable diseases, and instructs them to return to the path of repentance and salvation.

A Desert Paradise

How Holy Ascension Monastery in Proti Serron, One of the Monasteries of Elder Ephraim of Arizona, Was Restored

Olga Rozhneva

On the very first day of work, Elder Joseph the Hesychast appeared to the foreman, just as he is depicted in the photo with a staff in his hand. The Elder looked around at everything, tapped with his staff, and said: “It’s going to be a little too small. I can’t fit.”

“Lord, Let it Rain!”

The Miraculous Story of the Conversion of the Old Believer Vasily Konoplev

Olga Rozhneva

After the torrential rain that changed the entire course of the summer and prevented the threatened drought, the leader of the Old Believers, Vasily Konoplev, who lived a verst from White Mountain, brought bread and honeycombs from home and publicly presented them as a gift to the Orthodox hierarch—His Grace Bishop Peter (Losev) of Perm and Solikamsk—in front of the Old Believers who were present there.

How to Find Yourself in a Transfigured World

A Day in the Monastery of St. Nektarios

Olga Rozhneva

Instead of an answer, St. Nektarios prayed, and the nuns found themselves in a transfigured world, where they heard how every tree, every flower, and every little blade of grass sings the glory of the Lord.

First Course, Second Course, and Dessert for the Soul

A Conversation with Archpriest Viktor Tseshkovsky

Archpriest Viktor Tseshkovsky

Archpriest Viktor Tseshkovsky, the rector of the Church of the Holy Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Los Angeles, shares his thoughts on the “first and second courses and dessert” for the human soul, and on the medicines for despondency and burnout.

Athonite Stories From Fr. Savvaty

Part 3

Olga Rozhneva

Faraway Athos, I will never see you: your mysterious mountains and austere monasteries, secluded kellias and kalyvias, rocky trails to Karoulia and the peaks of Katounakia; I will never descend to the blue waves of the Aegean Sea, will never awaken to the sound of the wooden tuaka in the pilgrim’s quarters—arxontariki. The monastic republic of Athos is inaccessible for women. But I can listen to stories about Athos from my first spiritual guide—Igumen Savvaty.

“Either a Dissertation or the Monastic Habit”

Abbess Nikolaya (Ilina) On Her Path to God and the Monastery

Abbess Nikolaya (Ilina)

Igumena Nikolaya (Ilina) is the abbess of the St. Nicholas-Chernoostrovsky Monastery in Maloyaroslavets. A native Muscovite, a scientist with two higher education degrees… How and why did she “trade” pure intellectual tasks for hard physical work, nearly always dirty, in restoring a ruined monastery, and what joy did she find in it?

Athonite Stories From Fr. Savvaty

Part 2

Olga Rozhneva

We’ve already been home for a long time, but our climb to the summit of Mt. Athos has remained with us—in our souls, our hearts, transfigured by the grace of God there, in the tiny Athonite Church of the Transfiguration. Eugene Valentinovich keeps the clothes he climbed to the top in as something sacred. And Fr. Simeon and I keep this journey in our hearts, and share it with you, the readers of this story, with love.

“On the Other Side of the Wall Was a Party, and I Was Doing Prostrations”

The Story of Abbess Makaria (Semenova)

Abbess Makaria (Semenova)

The abbess of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Convent in Volsk, in the Saratov Diocese, Abbess Makaria (Semenova), speaks about how and why she came to monasticism, about the lessons of the monastic life, and about the restoration of the Volsk Monastery.

“Take the Icon to Gremyachevo!”

Stories from Gremyachevo Monastery

Nun Mikhaila (Osipova)

Once we were serving the All-Night Vigil at the monastery. The sisters of the monastery were praying quietly. Suddenly a tall, elderly man with the deportment of a former soldier literally burst into the church. He confidently went up to the kliros and thunderously asked: “Where is your icon of St. Nadezhda?!...”

How I Left for the Monastery

The Story of the Head Sister of Gremyachevo-Holy Dormition Monastery

Nun Mikhaila (Osipova)

I told all these stories recalling how my generation came to God. In the jubilee year of the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’, the state finally turned to face the Church and began to return the monasteries that were seized in the years of persecution. Old monasteries were returned and new ones emerged, and young people received the monastic tonsure, made unavoidable mistakes, fell and got up again, fought and did not give up.

Rating: 9.8|Votes: 70

How Spiritual Laws Work in Our Lives

The Story of Fr. Dimitry Torshin

Olga Rozhneva, Priest Dimitry Torshin

Fr. Dimitry Torshin, the rector of the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, tells amazing stories about the spiritual laws that operate unseen but authoritatively in our lives.

Rating: 10|Votes: 21

Stories from the Convent of the Kazan Icon

Olga Rozhneva

From ancient times until 1868 the Convent of the Kazan icon of the Holy Theotokos in the city of Kaluga [around 100 miles southwest of Moscow] was the only convent in the diocese of Kaluga. Closed after the Bolshevik Revolution, its revival began in 1991. Its sisters have experienced very much over these years and are willing to share some of their stories—sad, funny, and edifying ones.

Rating: 9.9|Votes: 22

How to Overcome Fear, Find a Spiritual Father, and Other Miraculous Stories

Olga Rozhneva, Priest Dimitry Gavrilov

From this article you will learn what it is like growing up in a family with thirteen children who are “people of the old school”—what kind of protection all of us have, how to overcome fear and find a spiritual father, what is the power of a parent’s blessing, the mystery of Divine providence, and many other interesting and miraculous stories.

Rating: 10|Votes: 27

About Monasticism Without Embellishment

The Story of the Oldest Sister of Dormition-Sharovkin Monastery, Nun Elizabeth

Olga Rozhneva

In those years, the now-departed elders Archimandrite John (Krestiankin) and Archimandrite Adrian (Kirsanov) were still laboring in the monastery. It didn’t work out for me, a child, to meet with them of course; I didn’t even know they existed, but the whole monastery atmosphere was filled with prayer and grace. Again, I said nothing to my parents, but the thought of going to a monastery tightly fused itself to my soul. To me it seems like my coming to God and entrance into Church life was a real miracle and the mercy of God towards me.

Rating: 10|Votes: 16

Little Alla and the Big Padlock

On the Modern Life of the St. Thecla-Holy Dormition Convent in Russia

Olga Rozhneva, Abbess Vitalia (Kochetova)

Everybody, especially the driver Pavel, was overwhelmed by this unusual and edifying occurrence. Pavel kept asking very loudly:“What should I do?! How should I pray to St. Thecla?!”

Rating: 10|Votes: 20

“Go and Pray First Instead of Mowing!”

On the Modern Life of the Convent of St. Thecla and the Dormition

Olga Rozhneva, Abbess Vitalia (Kochetova)

Abbess Vitalia (Kochetova) has shared wonderful stories with me which can be compared with those from the Lives of Monastic Fathers of old times. I believe all the readers remember from the Lives of the Fathers how one monk was ordered to plant a dry stick in the sand and water it as obedience, which he did until it blossomed.

Rating: 9.8|Votes: 27

The Adventures of Benya in Shanghai, in the Jungles, and on the Ocean

St. John of Shanghai and the history of the Russian Diaspora

Olga Rozhneva

Here is the story of Vladyka John’s spiritual son and alter server—Benjamin Vasilievich Vorobiev.

Rating: 10|Votes: 47

An Altar Server of St. John of Shanghai

Olga Rozhneva, Nicholai Lukianov

Below we offer our readers the story of Nicholai Andreevich Lukianov, an altar server of St. John, who speaks about his family and how he met the holy hierarch.

Rating: 10|Votes: 20

The Life, Tears and Love of Ekaterina Gumeniuk: Stories of the Russian Diaspora

Olga Rozhneva

The horrifying whirlwind of change blew her family from Harbin, China, to Tianjin, then Hong Kong, then further: to Brazil and finally California. In several nations, three continents, and everywhere was the bitter bread of exile, foreign languages and traditions, alien religions.

Rating: 9.6|Votes: 32

The Life-Giving Spring Pours On All

Russians in a Greek Monastery in California

Olga Rozhneva

This wonderful monastery, founded by Elder Ephraim of Arizona, along with eighteen other monasteries in America, is quite far from the nearest city of Dunlap, among wild nature.

Rating: 9.5|Votes: 79

Elder Ephraim’s Most Beautiful Convent

A talk with Gerondissa Markella (Galati), Abbess of the Life-Giving Spring Convent

Olga Rozhneva, Abbess Markella (Galati)

Visiting the convents that were founded by Geronda Ephraim, a spiritual child of the great Elder Joseph the Hesychast from Mt. Athos, is a unique opportunity for women to feel both the spirit of this holy mountain and the holy elder’s prayers through the prayers of his spiritual children.

Rating: 9.7|Votes: 35

“The Mother of God Ran Us Through a Sieve”

Nun Sophia (Zaburdaeva) On Her Path to the Monastery and Female Monasticism

Olga Rozhneva, Nun Sophia (Zaburdaeva)

When I went to the monastery, I thought I was ready for monastic life: sewing, knitting, cooking… Only years later did I realize that I don’t know how to do anything and I don’t know anything. Socrates said: “I know that I know nothing.” Me too…

Rating: 9.5|Votes: 22

The Most Important Miracle in Fr. Simon’s Life

Olga Rozhneva, Priest Simon Kiknavelidze

If we choose the way of salvation, then the Lord will protect us in everything along the way. We must walk to our goal by small, sober steps, and our goal is Christ. The Lord is waiting for us!

Rating: 10|Votes: 23

Participants in the Eternal Pascha

The Memory of the Optina Brothers Killed on Pascha in 1993

Olga Rozhneva

They were God’s chosen ones. To die for Christ is an honor that must be earned.

Rating: 10|Votes: 30

“If You Want to Serve The Lord, Then He Will Set You On The Right Path Himself”

A talk with Archimandrite Leonty (Zolotarev) on Divine providence, and miracles of the Zverinets Monastery’s relics

Olga Rozhneva, Archimandrite Leonty (Zolotarev)

The deputy abbot of the Zverinets Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in Kiev Archimandrite Leonty (Zolotarev) speaks about the role of Divine Providence in choosing one’s life’s path, and recalls his meetings with grace-filled ascetics and the wonderful miracles of God performed through the intercessions of the venerable fathers of Zverinets Monastery.

Rating: 10|Votes: 22

The Most Mysterious Monastery in Kiev

On the Zverinets Monastery of the Archangel Michael

Olga Rozhneva

Kiev boasts a wealth of wonderful ancient monasteries, yet the most mysterious of them is the Zverinets Monastery of the Archangel Michael of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (the UOC-MP), located in the capital’s Pechersky district, to the south of the Kiev Caves Lavra.

Rating: 9.9|Votes: 20

“Here we’ll have sorrow, there relief”

Holy Hiero-Confessor Athanasius (Sakharov)

Olga Rozhneva

Bishop Athanasius firmly hoped in God’s Providence. Imprisoned for many years, he wrote to his spiritual children, “My situation is not disastrous. I look at everything calmly, knowing that our service does not depend upon earthly rulers, but upon the One Who holds even the fate of rulers in His hands.”

Rating: 9.8|Votes: 40

“I Feel Warmth Coming From Some People”

Olga Rozhneva, Mother Mariam (Mikladze)

We’re walking around the center of old Tbilisi—the abbess of the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Matushka Mariam (Mikladze), is waiting for us to come.

Rating: 10|Votes: 20

Reservations in the Monastery Guesthouse

Olga Rozhneva

After the Liturgy the people took their time as they ambled out of the church. The sun was shining and warm, the autumn leaves were golden, and the air was especially clear—everything on that day in October was festive, as if nature itself was rejoicing on the day of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Rating: 8.8|Votes: 32

“It was the Forerunner”

Abbess Methodia On Her Path to the Naousa Monastery and On Holy People

Olga Rozhneva, Olga Zatushevskaya

Abbess Methodia of the Convent of the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John near the Greek city of Naousa, under the spiritual direction of Elder Ephraim, spoke to us about the monastery and about her path there by the prayers of the holy people God had blessed her to meet.

Rating: 10|Votes: 9

“We’re Going to See Matushka Sepphora”

Notes of a Tour Guide

Olga Rozhneva

Our regular guests—pilgrims from the Diocese of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk—visited us over the weekend at the Optina Monastery excursion office. They brought us some new stories.

Rating: 9.9|Votes: 9

Visiting Matushka Sepphora

Olga Rozhneva

The clairvoyant Schemanun Sepphora prayerfully stood at the forefront of the rebirth of Optina Monastery and Klykovo, and died in 1997 in her 102nd year of life.

Rating: 10|Votes: 16

Who’s Magdalena?

Olga Rozhneva

Suddenly she heard the ringing voice of her daughter: “Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare to talk like that in my presence! I forbid you! Mary Magdalene was a Myrrh Bearer, a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ! That’s who she is!”

Rating: 9.8|Votes: 15

“Faith is the Most Important Thing That God Wants From Us”

Igumen Michael (Bregvadze) On the Search for God, On Athos, and On Holy People

Fr. Michael met us in his monastery in the center of Tbilisi, in the Old City, on the banks of the Kura River. He spoke about a lot: how he came to God, and how he labored on Mt. Athos, of his meetings with the patriarch, with St. Gabriel (Urgebadze), and other interesting and edifying stories.

Rating: 9.7|Votes: 33

A Wondrous Purity of Mind. Blessed Gerondissa Macrina

(1921–1995)

Olga Rozhneva, Olga Zatushevskaya

On June 4 we honor the repose day of blessed Gerondissa Macrina, abbess of the Panagia Hodigitria Monastery near Volos, Greece, and spiritual daughter of Elder Joseph the Hesychast and Elder Ephraim of Philotheos (and Arizona) (Moraitissa). Eldress Macrina acquired numerous spiritual gifts and was worthy of very lofty spiritual states.

Rating: 9.3|Votes: 18

“The Main Battle is Spiritual”

Abbot Anthony (Pavliashvili) on his path to the monastery and the providence of God

Olga Rozhneva

What difficulties do we have in the monastery? For me the most difficult is when you speak to people, pilgrims, about salvation, and they don’t listen or don’t believe—they don’t want to be saved. And then I pray that the Lord would open their souls.

Rating: 8|Votes: 4

An Ascetic of Prayer: Schemanun Maria

Olga Rozhneva

Matushka was an ascetic of prayer. Natalia was once witness to her prayer. They were talking about something that happened, and Mother Maria, turning away, prayed for someone who had fallen into trouble. Natalia recalls that she was struck by this short prayer: Matushka addressed the Mother of God as if she were standing right there. She prayed for all her spiritual children and could feel in her spirit when something was wrong with them, and her spiritual children could feel the eldress’ prayer. Everything worked out through her prayer, and all fell into place. Matushka’s prayers helped in difficult circumstances.

Rating: 5.1|Votes: 9

Miracles on Christmas

Olga Rozhneva

The Nativity of Christ is a festival of extraordinary kindness and warmth, when all of us, like children, wait for miracles. And the Lord as a loving Father comforts us and grants us miracles, as testified by your miraculous Christmas stories, our dear readers.

Rating: 6.4|Votes: 75

How I wound up in the Arizona desert with Elder Ephraim

Olga Rozhneva

"I was standing in these amazing night services and thinking that women can’t go to Mt. Athos, so visiting the Monastery of St. Anthony the Great and the others founded by Elder Ephraim is a unique opportunity for women to feel the spirit of Athos. You’re touched by the prayers of the holy Athonite elder Joseph the Hesychast, through the prayers of his spiritual children who have themselves become great elders. This prayer and love can be felt anywhere on earth, even at a distance of a thousand miles. You pray in your mother tongue, and in some miraculous manner, by the grace of the Holy Spirit Who gave the apostles the gift of speaking in other tongues, the elder, having acquired this grace, understands you."

Rating: 7.6|Votes: 38

The Jesus Prayer for Laypeople

From the Optina Monastery Heritage

Olga Rozhneva

Some mistakenly think that the Jesus prayer is only for monks. However, the Optina elders also instructed laypeople to do the Jesus prayer.

Rating: 9.9|Votes: 13

Strength of Spirit

Baroness Rida Von Luelsdorff on the history of the white Russian emigration in Xinjiang, terrible trials, and miraculous help from St. John of Shanghai.

Olga Rozhneva, Baroness von Luelsdorff

Baroness Rida Von Liuelsdorf on the history of the white Russian emigration in Xinjiang, terrible trials, and miraculous help from St. John of Shanghai.

Rating: 8.8|Votes: 37

On Divine providence, a postmortem smile, and miraculous salvation from a rattlesnake

A conversation with Hierodeacon Seraphim (Molibog) of the Monastery of St. Anthony the Great in Arizona

Olga Rozhneva, Hierodeacon Seraphim (Molibog)

Last year Olga Rozhneva was blessed by the providence of God to visit the well-known Monastery of St. Anthony the Great in the Arizona desert, founded by Elder Ephraim (Moraitis), a disciple of the venerable Elder Joseph the Hesychast. Amongst the brethren of the monastery is the Russian Hierodeacon Seraphim, who spoke with us about his path to God, how he found himself in a monastery in the middle of the American desert, and the instructions of Elder Ephraim.

Rating: 7.1|Votes: 30

“Christ waits for faith from us”

The life and instructions of Gerontissa Macrina (Vassoloulou) (1921-1995)

Olga Rozhneva

Gerontissa Macrina was the abbess of the Monastery of Panagia Hodigitria near the city of Volos, a spiritual child of Elder Joseph the Hesychast († 1959) and Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona. Gerontissa led monasteries founded with the blessing of Elder Joseph the Hesychast for more than thirty years, from 1963 to 1995. She acquired numerous spiritual gifts and was blessed with high spiritual states.

Rating: 8|Votes: 34

“Do you want to see an angel?”

St. Nektarios and his instructions

Olga Rozhneva

November 9/22 we remember St. Nektarios of Aegina, a modern ascetic and wonderworker. His life is amazing: the Lord manifested in a visible and tangible way His care for those who please Him. The saint acquired the gifts of the Holy Spirit: unceasing prayer and spiritual discernment, healing, clairvoyance, and prophecy. When he served the Divine Liturgy, in a prayerful state, his face radiated light which was visible to others.

Rating: 7.1|Votes: 24

A novice of her own son: On Gerontissa Theophano, the mother of Archimandrite Ephraim of Philotheou

Olga Rozhneva, Olga Zatushevskaya

We hope that the example of this Orthodox Christian, having combined within herself the virtues of motherhood and monasticism, would inspire our God-loving readers, both laity and nuns, to try to imitate her measure of strength in podvigs and prayerful labor. We also hope that readers of this article will come to love Mother Theophano, and begin to turn to her for prayerful help and beseech her intercession and teaching, undoubtingly believing that she has found boldness before the Lord God, Whom she so loved and Whom she sincerely served with her whole heart until her final breath.

Rating: 8.6|Votes: 17

“You have no more cancer!”

Memories of blessed Gerontissa Taxiarchia (1937-1994)

Olga Rozhneva

The blessed gerontissa Taxiarchia acquired the gifts of ceaseless prayer, of healing the human body and soul, clairvoyance, fervent faith, and the love of Christ. Gerontissa labored in monastic podvigs for many long years. There are known cases of when her prayers healed cancer patients. After Gerontissa Taxiarchia’s blessed repose the Lord attested to her podvig by the appearance of fragrant myrrh on her face. We present here a collection of memories of Gerontissa, from those who knew her well.

Rating: 6.9|Votes: 19

The Mysteries of Optina Monastery

On the Synaxis of the Saints of Optina

Olga Rozhneva

Hundreds of people come to Optina every day. Why do they come? They spend money for the road, are wearied by travel… They are coming to the Optina elders! Remember the saying, “People don’t go to an empty well”?

Rating: 7.7|Votes: 28

About the benefit of obedience and Elder Ephraim

A Conversation with Gerontissa Theophano

Olga Rozhneva, Gerontissa Theophano

The first monastery built by Elder Ephraim in America was the women’s monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Saxonburg, PA. Elder Ephraim founded it in 1989. Pilgrims meet here a peaceful corner of nature, where you can forget for a time your worldly cares and anxieties and you can immerse yourself in a world of silence and prayer. The sisters of the monastery labor purely for the prayer of the heart and mind. Here and there you here: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” The Byzantine singing in church during the services leaves pilgrims in awe.

Rating: 8.6|Votes: 41

The great work of Elder Ephraim of Arizona: A conversation with Alexandra Lagos, a spiritual child of Elder Ephraim

Olga Rozhneva, Alexandra Lagos

"In this difficult period Elder Ephraim had so much grace that he exuded a sweet fragrance. Everything the elder touched began to sweetly smell. When he confessed children, covering their heads with his epitrachelion, their hair had this fragrance for a few days. If he touched napkins they began to emit this fragrance. His clothes and skufias emitted the fragrance. The stronger were the temptations, the stronger this fragrance was felt."

Rating: 9.5|Votes: 11

Orthodoxy is a Way of Life

A talk with Marilyn Swezey, the secretary of Bishop Basil (Rodzianko)

My interviewee has had an extremely interesting and unusual life for an American woman. Charming, intelligent, she looks some 15 years younger than she really is. And behind her there is a long life full of the hard labors of a noble, self-sacrificing person who seeks to see Divine providence in every turn of her life. Here she is: secretary of Bishop Basil (Vasily) Rodzianko, assistant to Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), an expert in the Russian literature and arts, honorable parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Marilyn Pfeifer Swezey.

Rating: 10|Votes: 4

“One service completely changed my life”

Archpriest Victor Potapov on the travels of the wonder-working icon and life in America’s Russian parishes

So I stood there awkwardly, no young people near, I couldn’t understand the services, in fact I didn’t even speak very good Russian at the time… But then during the services something in my soul changed. It was just one incident, but it turned everything upside down in me.

Rating: 7.4|Votes: 8

A True, Obedient Servant of the Lord

In commemoration of holy confessor Nikon of Optina

Olga Rozhneva

“Everything is gained by prayer. You are only approaching the first step, you haven’t yet ascended it, only approach it and you still have to enter the door, but you can’t go in by any effort if God’s mercy is not there. That is why you first of all need to ask, “Open unto me the doors of Thy compassion, O Lord!”

Rating: 10|Votes: 14

“I have seen a holy man.” On the Repose Day of Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)

Olga Rozhneva

The priest’s whole life turned around after meeting the elder. Fr. Savvatty came up to him and felt that he had no words, nothing to ask. He wanted just to stand next to him and feel the love radiating from this man. It was like a heavenly force coming from his soul. Fr. John poured out this heavenly love over everyone around him, and at first he couldn’t understand: How could Fr. John love everyone?

Rating: 10|Votes: 23

The Interrogation Before Death Lasted 16 Days and Nights

Memories of Nun-Martyr Augusta (Zaschuk; 1871-1938)

Olga Rozhneva

The interrogation of the aging nun lasted 16 days and nights. During the course of this time they did not allow her to sleep—or even to sit. When she fell from exhaustion, they brought her back to consciousness by pouring ice water all over her. In spite of the torture,

Rating: 8.8|Votes: 8

Charity and Alms. From the Legacy of the Optina Elders

Olga Rozhneva

During the fast leading up to the Nativity of Christ, Christians are reminded once again of their duty to take a look around them and give what they can to relieve the needs of others. Here is some advice from the Optina Elders on almsgiving.

Rating: 6.2|Votes: 41

The Optina Elders and their Sayings

Olga Rozhneva

The spiritual life does not mean just living in the clouds; it consists of the discovery of the laws of spiritual life, as far as they are applied to a given person in his situation and in his circumstances. And the Optina Elders revealed these spiritual laws to laypeople, helped them to understand and give meaning to life’s circumstances, and instructed them on the way to salvation.

Rating: 9.6|Votes: 7

St. Hilarion of Optina (1805-1873)

Commemorated September 18/October 1

Olga Rozhneva

St. Hilarion was a skilled spiritual physician. He taught people who were suffering to go over their whole previous life from the age of seven, to recall forgotten unrepented sins, in which were often hidden the reason for a spiritual illness.

Rating: 6.8|Votes: 13

St. Macarius of Optina (1788-1860)

Olga Rozhneva

On September 7/20 we celebrate the memory of the great Optina elder, Macarius. The saint’s life is deeply edifying for contemporary people. What kinds of lessons can we learn from the elder’s life?

Rating: 7|Votes: 3

On Military Service and the Defense of the Fatherland

Olga Rozhneva

“Many who have laid down their lives on the field of battle, will doubtless receive remission of sins, and many will be crowned with imperishable crowns of heavenly glory, while their close ones who are left behind — and all in general who are suffering over this inside and enduring a lack of many things — involuntarily will leave luxury and will be strengthened in the faith.”

Rating: 6.9|Votes: 16

St. Ambrose of Optina on the Struggle with the Passions

Olga Rozhneva

“When these three fields are cleansed, then other passions stemming from them are also imperceptibly cut off with them—that is, anger and remembrance of wrongs, earthly sorrow, envy, hatred, coolness and laziness regarding prayer and works of piety.”

Rating: 8.5|Votes: 20

Pride, Vanity, and Self-Esteem. From the Legacy of the Optina Elders

Olga Rozhneva

In the world, pride and self-esteem are sometimes raised almost to the status of virtues or signs of the nobility of one’s nature. This view is erroneous and happens, according to the words of St. Macarius, “out of ignorance or from darkening by the passions.”

Rating: 8.1|Votes: 40

Miraculous Help from St. John of Kronstadt Today

Olga Rozhneva

My heart froze. I asked her myself how my son is. The doctor answered, “Mama, there must have been some mistake with your son. It can’t be explained any other way.

Rating: 10|Votes: 6

On Music, Art, and Theater

From the legacy of the Optina Elders

Olga Rozhneva

The Optina elders expressed their opinion about lay people visiting the theater, about the passion for reading novels, exhilaration over the canvases of painters, the longing to listen to music for hours or even constantly.

Rating: 6.1|Votes: 11

St. Anatoly (Potapov) of Optina

(Commemorated July 30 / August 12)

Olga Rozhneva

August 12 is the commemoration day of Venerable Anatoly (Potapov), one of the last of the Optina elders. In contrast to the preceding Optina saints, there was no one left to compose the life of this elder after the Revolution. There remained only fragmented memories of pilgrims, notes of spiritual children, and letters of the elder, in which biographical details were often lacking, but in which his image rises up brightly and vividly. We honor the memory of the elder and reminisce with these recollections.

Rating: 10|Votes: 1

Sister Paula

Olga Rozhneva

God’s providence leads us through life; and how good it is for those who can hear it in time, who try to understand God’s will for themselves. If we make plans for one thing or another but find numerous obstacles on our path to attaining it, we have to slow down and try to discern—is this plan God’s will for us? Sometimes the Lord protects us from danger, holds us back from our impulsive race through life, but we don’t understand it, we keep fussing, insisting upon our own will, instead of simply stepping back, waiting a bit, trying some other way...

Rating: 10|Votes: 4

An Optina Elder. A Story

Olga Rozhneva

“Well, that is that,” she thought. “It did not work… It was stupid of me to even hope… The Elder has more than enough things to do without having a conversation with every old woman who wants to talk to him!” The very next day, the phone rang, and, interrupting her daily tasks, she picked up the receiver. She picked it up, and almost dropped it again, for it was batiushkahimself who was calling! And he invited her to come see him at the metochion.

Rating: 7|Votes: 3

Work and Career From the Legacy of the Optina Elders

Olga Rozhneva

While they were still in the secular world, and before they entered the monastery, those who were to become the Optina Elders had work experience in various areas: one managed an estate, another was a merchant, others were tailors, soldiers, or teachers. Even in our day, lessons can be drawn from the Elders’ work experience.

Rating: 8.6|Votes: 5

Power and career. From the legacy of the Optina Elders

Olga Rozhneva

Can and should a church-going Orthodox person be a successful member of society? Can one take the path toward God and at the same time ascend the steps of a career ladder? Should one seek positions of authority or refuse them? St. John Climacus (“of the Ladder”) wrote his famous “Ladder” on the subject of spiritual growth. His book does not contain advice about how to make a career for yourself. It would seem that the Holy Fathers gave little thought to the idea of making a success of yourself in society.