The elder father joannice. The relics of Schema-monk Mikhail (Chikhachev)

Olga Shafranova

Mikhail Vasilievich Chikhachev

My father! Put it in your favor - notify me if something special happens to Mikhail Vasilyevich.

The Biography of Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, compiled by people who knew him closely, tells that even in his infancy his brothers and sisters were aware of his moral superiority and involuntarily treated him with some reverence. Over the years, his moral influence on people manifested itself even more strongly, sometimes reflecting on their fate. This is exactly what happened to the saint's close friend, Mikhail Vasilyevich Chikhachev.

Mikhail Vasilyevich Chikhachev also belonged to an old noble family, known since the end of the 16th century. The family tree of the Chikhachevs, starting with the ancestor Daniel, branched out several times over the centuries, and the ancestors of Mikhail Vasilyevich each time found themselves in a junior branch. But already behind Daniil's grandson, Ivan Ivanovich Chikhachev, in 1621, according to the Sovereign's import charter, an estate in the Pustorzhevsky district of the Dubetsk volost was recorded ... which he owned together with his second cousin Ivan Fedorovich Chikhachev. And on April 20 of the same year, for his service in the war with the Turks, he received “from his local salary 450 quarters (p. 515) and 90 quarters in the patrimony in the Pustorzhevsky district in the Oshensky camp, the village of Krasnoye on the Leshchanka river, in the Izborsky district in the Pavlovskaya Bay, the village Faustov ". Larion's grandson, Yakov Alferievich Chikhachev, captain in 1749, had three sons, the youngest of whom was Vasily Yakovlevich (b. 1760) - a warrant officer, landowner of the Pskov province owned the village of Tokarevka in Porkhovsky district and villages in Novorzhevsky district; he had 110 hereditary souls, and 97 acquired souls, and 85 souls for his wife. He was married to Ekaterina Mikhailovna Semenskaya.

Mikhail Vasilievich - the youngest son of Vasily Yakovlevich and Ekaterina Mikhailovna Chikhachev, he was born on April 8, 1806; he had two brothers: Dmitry (b. 1794) and Alexander (b. 1801), and two sisters: Catherine (b. 1789) and Olga (b. 1797), married to Kutuzov.

All three sons of the Chikhachevs were assigned to military service. The youngest, Mikhail Vasilievich, was brought by his father to St. Petersburg, like Dmitry Alexandrovich Bryanchaninov, in 1822. He passed the entrance exam at the Main Engineering School and was also enrolled as a boarder of the Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich.

Having met for the first time at the Engineering School, the young people soon became friends. The dissimilarity of their characters: Dmitry Alexandrovich was serious, thoughtful, concentrated in himself, and Mikhail Vasilyevich was somewhat absent-minded, a talker, a merry fellow, accustomed to "pampering and chatter" at home - did not interfere with their sincere friendship, but from the very beginning it determined their relationship. Mikhail Vasilyevich devoted himself to Dmitry Alexandrovich, like a son to his father, like a younger elder. And Dmitry Alexandrovich became attached to him as to his younger beloved brother, who throughout his life remained, perhaps, the person closest to him.

This period of their life, the time of study at the school and several subsequent years, is reproduced in the "Biography of St. Ignatius" on the basis of "Notes" by M. V. Chikhachev; Chikhachev wrote them already in his declining years, "compelled by the love of those who knew him, how could one recall what happened to him from his youth to the time of his tonsure", setting out "the story of his conversion to almighty repentance." At the same time, describing this or that episode, he sometimes added: "if you remember." But judging by (p. 516) the details contained in the "Notes", his memory firmly held the events of those years.

Unfortunately, MV Chikhachev's Notes were not published separately and are now lost, but were used in excerpts by different authors. If possible, we will try to restore them from these passages, since they are extremely important both for the characterization of Mikhail Vasilyevich himself and for a more complete description of individual episodes of the life and work of St. Ignatius, in which Mikhail Vasilyevich was a witness, and often a direct participant.

In general, by the length of time when they were together, by the nature of their relationship and mutual trust, one can definitely say that MV Chikhachev was the closest person to Saint Ignatius for long, difficult years. Closer even than his brother, Peter Alexandrovich Brianchaninov, who during the entire period of the reign of St. Ignatius in the Sergius Hermitage was doing military service far from St. Petersburg, did not meet with his brother often and knew little about his circumstances. (They came close after 1857, when Archimandrite Ignatius was appointed Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea with a cathedra in Stavropol, where Peter Alexandrovich was first vice-governor, from August 1, 1859 - governor; and then, when he received his resignation and moved to my brother in the Nikolo-Babaevsky monastery.)

There is no doubt that Mikhail Vasilyevich was brought up in a religious family and a pious mood was instilled in him from childhood. Nevertheless, he had a "very dark concept" about faith and, perhaps, would not have dared to take such a sharp turn in his life, if he had not met Dmitry Alexandrovich. This is how he himself describes the influence of his comrade on him: “One Saturday I heard an invitation from my comrade to go to the priest. "Why?" - “Yes, it is my custom to confess, and on Sunday to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Look and you do not lag behind. " My poor little head was then in amazement and great confusion. Fear and horror: what and how, not ready, I cannot! - "Not your business, but a spiritual father", - the comrade answers bravely, and with his love he draws him along with him.

Once done, and on another Saturday again the same invitation. Although this was apparently easy to do, my inner composition was shocked. Youth and health, and all external circumstances, and the whole situation, and besides, the strong internal (p. 517) rebellion of passions and habits, enraged by opposition to them, terribly agitated the soul, and could it have resisted its weakness, if not for was there an invisible force that supported her from above? And with all this, if I had not had such a friend who admonished me with his prudence, and always laid his soul for me, and shared every sorrow with me, I would not have survived in this field - the field of voluntary martyrdom and confession. "

Young people began to visit the monks of the Valaam courtyard for confession and Holy Communion. “One of them,” writes Chikhachev, “Father Seraphim told them once:“ Here you will not satisfy your soul, but, if you like, there are disciples of Father Leonid in the Nevsky Monastery, an experienced elder who received a monastic education from the disciples of Elder Paisius of Moldova, they they will better show you the way and may acquaint you with their elder ”. Following this advice, Dmitry Alexandrovich and Mikhail Vasilievich began to go to the Nevskaya Lavra and met there with Hieromonk Aaron and monks Khariton and Ioannikiy.

According to Chikhachev's story, their life at that time proceeded as follows: from seven to one in the afternoon they spent in school, in classrooms. Returning to their home and having a modest meal, we went to Vespers at the Lavra, where, at the end of the service, they went to one of Fr. Leonid's disciples for a conversation. But of the three hieromonks they knew, Father Ioanniky soon remained in the monastery, and the other two, according to the appointment of their superiors, moved to other monasteries. With Father Ioannikiy and the Lavra confessor, Father Athanasius, the young people consulted about everything related to internal monastic work, they confessed their thoughts to them, without hiding anything, learned from them "to protect themselves from passions, from thoughts, from inclinations." We diligently read the books of the “Holy Fathers: Dmitry of Rostov, John Chrysostom, Philanthropy, Ladder and others”, learning from them a way of thinking, spiritual reason and ways to save the soul.

Soon the opportunity presented itself to meet the famous elder Father Leonid, who arrived in St. Petersburg on his business and stayed at the Nevsky Lavra. After the very first conversation with him, Dmitry Alexandrovich said to Chikhachev: “Father Leonid pulled out my heart; now it has been decided: I will resign from the service and follow the elder, I will give myself over to him with all my soul and will seek the only salvation of my soul in solitude. "

However, after graduating from school, Dmitry Alexandrovich, instead of the resignation, which he asked for, was sent to the Dinaburg fortress. Soon, however, his superiors became convinced that his health condition did not allow him to continue serving. Having received the "longed-for" resignation in November 1827, he went to Fr. Leonid in the Alexander-Svirsky monastery. On the way, he stopped in Petersburg, where Chikhachev was at that time. “Now I'm on my way,” he said to him, “and how do you think you will arrange your future life? Have you not yet thought of following me? " Chikhachev, who always thought that although he wished with all his heart to imitate the immaculate life of his comrade in everything, but “far, far lagged behind him both in weakness and laziness, and in vices rooted from childhood, from which, with all efforts, could lag behind, ”answered sincerely that, not relying on his own strength, he would follow his friend only if the latter promises never to leave him without his help. "Submit your resignation," he exclaimed, hearing this, comrade, "but it goes without saying about my failure to leave."

However, Mikhail Vasilyevich was also sent to the Bobruisk fortress instead of resignation. Here he resigned for the second time, and this time it was granted. On November 11, 1829, he arrived at the Ploshchanskaya hermitage of the Oryol diocese, where by that time Father Leonid had moved with his students.

Dmitry Alexandrovich gladly met his friend. By this time he had already succeeded in spiritual exploits and could be a good mentor for his comrade in the first steps of his monastic life. He became especially convinced of the correctness of the path they had chosen after the incident that happened to him here, described by Chikhachev: “One morning, waking up his comrade Chikhachev, he sent him to church at Matins; He himself remained in his cell, for due to illness he could not even go to church at that time. Returning from Matins, Chikhachev found him cheerful, cheerful, and no trace of illness was noticeable in him. "What unusual happened to you?" Chikhachev asked. “The mercy of God is great,” he said, and recounted the vision that had happened to him, not in a dream, but in a thin slumber: he saw a light cross in all his height and the inscription on the cross was mysterious and incomprehensible to him. Above the cross, the branches and hands of Christ the Savior were seen; at the cross, he and his comrade Chikhachev stood reverently. And there was a Voice from the cross to him: "Do you know what the words written on the cross mean?" “No, (p. 519) Lord, I don’t know,” he replied. "They mean a sincere renunciation of the world and everything earthly," continued the invisible Voice, "but do you know why the branches and hands of Christ the Savior are tilted to the side where your comrade is standing?" - "And I do not know, Lord!" - he answered. Then the Voice said clearly and significantly: "This means that he must participate in your sufferings."

At this, the vision stopped, leaving in the soul of the one who saw him a deep peace, gracious consolation and abundant spiritual tenderness, inexpressible in words. According to Chikhachev, since then his comrade has received a special spiritual power of reason, conveniently comprehended and resolved difficult questions and spiritual perplexities, and manifested many beneficial properties, which often led Chikhachev to awe-inspiring surprise.

Mikhail Vasilyevich, who had recently arrived in the Ploshchanskaya Hermitage, did not immediately notice that his comrade was not completely satisfied with the leadership of Father Leonid; about himself, he wrote: “It often happened that you would come to Father Leonid and convey to him all your troubles, and with some simple words and blessings he would so much ease the sorrow of the heart and renew the dull spirit that you would leave him completely renewed, as if reborn a new person, and again with zeal and pleasure you will take up the inner feat of cleansing your heart from passions. " Dmitry Alexandrovich suffered from the crowds around Father Leonid, from idle talk in his reception room, from the elder's inability to resolve his bewilderment. He asked the elder to bless him to live separately, and he, not immediately, but still allowed him and Chikhachev to live separately, avoiding crowded gatherings.

For only a few months, the young ascetics lived in a blessed seclusion in the Ploshchanskaya desert. In April 1829, Father Leonid was forced to leave her. Following him, Brianchaninov and Chikhachev were ordered to leave the desert. Friends had to seek shelter for themselves. They visited the Beloberezhnaya Desert, but could not stay there. Then they arrived at Optina Pustyn, where Father Leonid moved. But here, too, her abbot, Father Moses, hesitated to accept the young nobles, suggesting that they would be unbearable to observe the monastic rules. The older brothers, however, persuaded him, and he allowed them to stay.

Soon, says Chikhachev, difficult and difficult days came for them: opponents of eldership treated them unfavorably, like the students of Father Leonid, and besides, the coarse mo (p. 520) stubborn food seasoned with bad vegetable oil was very harmful to already poor health Dmitry Alexandrovich. Seeing that there was nowhere else to take food, the friends decided to cook a stew without butter in their cell and, with great difficulty begging for cereals, potatoes and a saucepan and using an ax instead of a knife, they themselves prepared lighter and more tolerable food. However, the living conditions led to the fact that both of them became seriously ill. They were saved by the fact that some changes in the circumstances in the family of Dmitry Alexandrovich made it possible for him to return to his parental shelter in the village of Pokrovskoye, where the sick Chikhachev was also invited. On the way to Pokrovskoe, they venerated the relics in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the relics of Demetrius of Rostov in the Yakovlevsky monastery. At Pokrovskoe, at first, they were greeted very cordially: Dmitry Alexandrovich's parents hoped that after the ordeals he had endured, he would give up his intention to become a monk. Chikhachev recalled that "he was treated, surrounded by all the comforts in which the young man quickly began to recover and retained forever for Alexander Semyonovich and the whole family his lively sense of gratitude."

However, this serene life could not last long. The world again began to persistently present its demands, and the young people again began to think about how they could fit into a monastery. In February 1830, at the beginning of Lent, they went to the Kirillo-Novozersk monastery in Novgorod province, 30 kilometers from the city of Belozersk. Here, due to the damp climate, Dmitry Alexandrovich fell ill again, and in June 1830 his parents sent a carriage for him and was transported to Vologda.

Mikhail Vasilyevich remained for some time in the monastery and met with a twenty-year-old young man who had arrived there from a merchant rank, Pyotr Dmitrievich Myasnikov, the future Ugreshsky archimandrite father Pimen. In his later “Memoirs”, Archimandrite Pimen wrote: “Among the younger brethren, I found in the monastery [Novoyezersk], among others: Komarovsky Alexander Fedorovich, Chikhachev Mikhail Vasilyevich and Yakovlev Pavel Petrovich ... Chikhachev Mikhail Vasilyevich, from a very ancient and famous noble family, was years 22, a very tall, prominent and handsome young man, spoke very quickly and sang in an octave. His hair was black and in the early (p. 521) years it was already extremely sparse. He was very kind, courteous, simple-hearted and completely impartial and indifferent to everything temporal and worldly. Obedience he had kliros singing, and when he had to read for a day, then, since he was very short-sighted and could not read ordinary tax, due to the goodwill of the abbot, a high tax was made for him, corresponding to his high stature. For his kind character, he was very much loved by everyone. His only drawback, however, not dependent on him and stemming from natural abilities, is weakness of character and lack of his own opinion and judgment ... "This character trait of Mikhail Vasilyevich forced Dmitry Alexandrovich to constantly worry about his comrade:" My father! - he wrote to P. P. Yakovlev on April 27, 1830 - Put it by your mercy - notify, if something special happens to Mikhail Vasilyevich, his departure, etc. "

After a while, Mikhail Vasilievich also left the Novoyezersky monastery and went on foot to his native place in the Pskov province.

Meanwhile, well-known events took place: after recovering from his illness, Dmitry Alexandrovich Bryanchaninov, with the blessing of His Grace Stephen, Bishop of Vologda, settled first in the Seven-Town Desert of the Vologda province, then in the Glushitsky Dionysian Monastery, and, finally, on June 28, 1831, His Grace Stephen himself tonsured. in the mantle with the name of Ignatius; On July 5, he was ordained a hierodeacon, on July 20 - a hieromonk, and on January 6, 1832, he was appointed the builder of the Lopotov Pelshem monastery.

Mikhail Vasilievich, having gone home, arrived at the Holy Annunciation Nikandrov Hermitage, where he stayed to stay. “The rite of divine services and melodies (Kiev), unheard of until now by Chikhachev, gifted by nature with great musical abilities and a wonderful voice-bass, made an extraordinary impression on him, and he began to study such melodies with zeal, going to the choir to sing along with other monks Nikandrovaya desert. [Subsequently, Chikhachev introduced such tunes to those monasteries in which he was; he did especially much in the Trinity-Sergius Hermitage.] His parents sent an elderly aunt for him, and she persuaded him to go home. Parents persuaded him to enter the social service. His inner struggle was hard, since "love itself (p. 522) collided with love ...". "For Christ's sake, I put on and wear this dress, why would I take it off to please the world and my family?" So, not knowing what to decide on, he spent about a year, now living with his parents, now in the Nikandrovaya desert, the abbot of which really wanted to mow him and make him a hierodeacon. "

It should be noted that the parents of Mikhail Vasilyevich were also not delighted with the decision of their son to go to the monastery, they also discouraged him, quarreled with him, but still did not show such inflexibility as the parents of Dmitry Alexandrovich. This can be judged by the fact that they allocated him his part of the inheritance and allowed him to dispose of it at his discretion. Dmitry Alexandrovich received nothing from his parents.

So, having reconciled with his parents, having settled family circumstances, having visited his beloved sister Olga Vasilievna, Mikhail Vasilyevich arrived to his friend in the Lopotov monastery. Father Ignatius was waiting for him: starting to equip the monastery, which he inherited in a dilapidated state, "where there was no place to lay his head," he rebuilt a small house for the abbot's chambers, in which he provided a room for Chikhachev. “After seeing a friend in his monastery,” writes Chikhachev, “although he was delighted, he was not as happy as he had expected, which at first was surprised, but later it became very clear that before we only knew each other, but now he has care of the whole hostel it was, therefore, that the forces of heartfelt love extended not to me alone, but to all his children. "

In Lopotov, Mikhail Vasilyevich was clothed by his friend in a ryasophor, "rejoicing and thanks with all the soul of the Lord for the fact that He vouchsafed him, albeit a small, but angelic image." He became an active assistant to the Builder in the improvement and renovation of the monastery, and most importantly, he composed an excellent choir there.

Mikhail Vasilyevich's "Notes" contains a story that testifies to how difficult it was for the builder Ignatius to establish moral order in the Lopotov monastery: the local villager Karp often came to the monastery, who liked to consult with the abbot Ignatius about his spiritual life. Once this simple man had such a vision: he saw that the brethren, who were in the Lopotov Monastery before Ignatius arrived here, were bathing in the river and complaining with cries to the Monk Gregory, the founder of the monastery, who was standing right there on the bank, about the new abbot Ignatius, who was oppressing them: does not order (p. 523) to go to church with a plaited braid, prohibits sniffing tobacco on the choir, does not order to wear red sashes, does not allow going to the village, as it happened before, etc. The Monk Gregory, hearing these complaints, appeals to Karp and says: “Can I listen to them? The abbot does the right thing, and if he abides in the commandments of God to the end, he will be numbered with us. "

This same Karp had a different vision: it was revealed to him that Father Ignatius was given the Church of the Holy Trinity near St. Petersburg, where the brethren, as if excited from sleep, were surprised at his arrival here; he even clearly saw the iconostasis in the church. Then Father Ignatius did not even think of anything about Sergiev's Hermitage, but thought that he would be able to move somewhere in the Pskov province, which is why they asked Karp, who told about his vision, how he thinks whether there will be four hundred versts from Petersburg to that church in whom he saw Ignatius. But he replied that this church is much closer. Everyone remained at a loss, and only when they arrived at Sergiev Hermitage and saw the iconostasis in the church, as Karp described, did they remember his vision, which, thus, was fully justified.

Shimonakh Mikhail ( Mikhail Vasilievich Chikhachev)

After a while, family circumstances, namely the wedding of his sister, summoned Chikhachev to his homeland again, this time (p. 524) not for long. On the way, he stopped at the Novgorod Yuryev Monastery, where he introduced himself to the famous Archimandrite Photius and met his spiritual daughter Countess Anna Alekseevna Orlova-Chesmenskaya.

Countess Anna Alekseevna Orlova-Chesmenskaya (1785-1848) "is a striking example of piety and virtue." The daughter of the hero of Chesma, Count A.G. Orlov, who was a maid of honor at the age of seven, who was left an orphan at 23 and inherited from her parents a huge estate that cost up to 40 million rubles in banknotes and brought annually up to a million rubles, she refused “from secular benefits, from worldly pleasures ”and devoted herself to a solitary life. Having found a spiritual leader for herself in the person of the abbot of the Yuryev Monastery, Father Photius, she settled nearby this monastery and continuously did her good. Thanks to her donations and gifts, Archimandrite Photius renovated the ancient church of St. George and other churches of the monastery with extraordinary splendor, and also had the opportunity to build a number of new buildings. Anna Alekseevna lived at the Yuryev Monastery for more than 25 years, but she constantly did good things to other monasteries, "dedicating her wealth and her soul and body to God, but fulfilling her duties associated with a high position." She preferred to do charity in secret. She also secretly took monastic vows with the name Agnia.

Countess Anna Alekseevna has long wanted to meet young ascetics. "She was very kind to Chikhachev, donated several books for the Lopotov Monastery and 800 rubles of money and sent him to her account in Vologda." Since then, the friends enjoyed the countess's special favor until her death. Through the efforts of Father Ignatius, with the help of the Countess, two wooden fraternal buildings were built in the Lopotov Monastery, and the church was renovated. The sacristy has been replenished, a couple of horses have been bought. "The controversy was the countess's money," Chikhachev concludes.

The harmful climate, however, again began to exert its influence on the body of Father Ignatius. Chikhachev writes: in the Lopotov Monastery, Ignatius was constantly and severely ill. Swampy area, an incredible number of insects. The abundance of monastic needs, the lack of funds to satisfy them, the involuntary, at the request of life, shifting the center of gravity from spiritual exploit to vain everyday life, albeit for God's cause, weighed down the soul of Ignatius. "His body was also extremely exhausted." Chikhachev languished with all his soul, seeing his friend and spiritual person (p. 525) lying on the bed of illness. Finally, he decided to offer him to move to one of the monasteries of the Pskov diocese and went to plead about it.

By the time of his arrival in St. Petersburg, the money that he was able to take on the road was all spent. Not having where to stop, it was, in his words, the finger of God, leading him and showing him where he had to go - to Countess Orlova. Upon learning of his critical situation, the Countess not only placed him in her house and provided him with everything necessary, but also began to bother about his case. She turned, first of all, to the Pskov bishop, but he refused. Metropolitan Seraphim of St. Petersburg also did not find a place in his diocese. Chikhachev wanted to return, but the Countess advised him to turn to the Moscow Metropolitan Philaret, who was just in St. Petersburg. His Eminence Metropolitan received Chikhachev affectionately, inquired about everything, said that he had already heard about the activities of Hegumen Ignatius and himself suggested that he be transferred to the Nikolaev Ugreshsky Monastery. And the next day he sent a decree to Bishop Stephen in Vologda on the transfer of Abbot Ignatius, who must immediately appear at the new place of service.

However, although this appointment took place, Abbot Ignatius did not end up in the Ugreshsky monastery, but was summoned, by the Highest command, to Petersburg, elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Hermitage near Petersburg. On January 5, 1834, both friends arrived at the monastery, where one of them will spend almost 24 years, and the other will remain until the end of his days.

There was a great deal of work to revive the Desert. According to Chikhachev, the abbot's building was never heated in Sergiev Hermitage, and therefore a room was prepared for the abbot in Count Zubov's invalid home, in two rooms, where he himself and the five brethren who came with him, including Mikhail Chikhachev, were accommodated for the winter. and novice, later successor, Ivan Vasilievich, in monasticism Ignatius (Malyshev). The first subject of the rector's care was the Church of St. Sergius, which required an indispensable renewal, except for the walls, then the rector's building. And to connect them, it was necessary to arrange a meal again. In these works, the abbot and his friend were greatly helped by their specialty of engineers. Also, says Chikhachev, “the activity of the abbot was helped by his ability to choose people and his knowledge of the human heart, with which he knew how to tie people to the work entrusted to them. He sought to develop in a person devotion to the work entrusted to him and encouraged it with endorsements and even awards and promotions. Surrounding himself with people with abilities and strengths, he quickly achieved his goals and brought his intentions into precise execution. "

Mikhail Vasilievich was the first of these people. He donated to the monastery all his hereditary fortune of 40,000 rubles, which allowed Archimandrite Ignatius to carry out the work he planned to introduce rational agriculture to meet the needs of the monastery. In necessary cases, which at first often appeared in the Sergius Hermitage, he could, in the words of the Archimandrite, "pick", which was greatly facilitated by his connections, as well as the good qualities that attracted people to him. So, he still enjoyed the favor of Countess A.A.Orlova-Chesmenskaya, who helped the Hermitage a lot. Her sacrifices for the benefit of the monastery cannot be counted: she loved to do good in secret. "Everything was passed on," says Chikhachev, "through my hands without counting, and I did not consider it necessary to count, but left everything to the abbot and God, who rewarded each and every one of us abundantly with benefits."

For all that, Mikhail Vasilyevich was very talented. He possessed a voice of rare beauty - a bass-octave, and the Desert owes its majestic and artistic performance of spiritual chants to his church-musical knowledge. N.S. Leskov, in particular, tells about how his contemporaries admired the beauty and sonority of his voice in his semi-fantastic story "Engineers-Unmercenaries":

“Chikhachev did not reach such high hierarchical degrees and did not strive for them. Throughout his life, he liked the quiet, inconspicuous position, and he continued to shade, both with his friend Bryanchaninov, and after. An excellent musician, singer and reader, he studied choir and reciters and was known only in this area. He behaved like a real monk, never, however, losing the imprint of good society and good manners, even under the schema. He wore the schema with rare dignity, eliminating from himself any attempt to disclose anything about any of his special gifts ...

Chikhachev's musical and vocal abilities and knowledge are to some extent characterized by the following reliably reported case: one of his relatives, Maria (p. 527) Pavlovna Fermor, was married to the Governor-General of St. Petersburg Kavelin. Chikhachev often visited her. Once, when he was sitting with Kavelina, the famous Rubini came to her with a farewell visit. Kavelina, introducing the guests who met, told Roubini that Chikhachev was her uncle and that although he was a monk, he knew music very well and had an excellent voice ... I think (exclaimed Roubini) you would not forbid me to sing in front of your uncle.

I will be delighted.

And you have nothing against this? - turned, getting up briskly, Rubini to Chikhachev himself.

I am very glad to hear the famous Rubini.

In this case, Roubini sings with a dual purpose, to please the mistress of the house and his brother, and at the same time, to displease rude people who do not understand that music is a high art.

Maria Pavlovna Kavelina opened the piano and sat down to accompany, while Rubini stood and sang for Chikhachev some of his best arias.

Chikhachev listened with the deepest attention, and when the singing was over, he said:

Your loud fame does not in the least exaggerate the merits of your voice and skill, you sing excellently.

So modestly and dignifiedly expressed praise of Chikhachev liked Rubini extremely ...

I am glad that you like my singing, but I would like to have an idea about your singing.

Chikhachev immediately got up in silence, sat down at the piano and, accompanying himself, sang something from some spiritual concert.

Roubini was delighted and said that he had never met such an amazing octave in his life and regretted that the best composers did not know about the existence of this voice.

What would it do? - said Chikhachev.

Chikhachev was silent and, sitting sideways to the keyboard, quietly fingered the keys.

Rubini got up and began to say goodbye to Kavelina and her guest. Shaking his hand to Chikhachev, he once again squeezed his hand tightly, looked into his eyes and exclaimed with delight:

He does not disappear: I sing to them to my God as long as I am, ”Chikhachev said in Russian."

Having thoroughly studied pillar singing, Mikhail Vasilyevich not only sang in the choir himself, but also helped Archimandrite Ignatius create in the Sergiev Hermitage a magnificent, "best" church choir of that time, which was even involved on especially solemn occasions in performances together with the Court Singing Chapel.

But the most important thing that characterized the spiritual qualities of both Archimandrite Ignatius and Mikhail Chikhachev was that, despite the difference in positions, they retained the same sincere friendship that bound them in their youth. As before, Archimandrite Ignatius openly confided in his friend his innermost thoughts, sorrows, sorrows, which were abound during his years of service in the Sergius Hermitage, and he always met in him full and gratifying sympathy for himself. “The Ignatievo administration,” wrote Chikhachev, “seemed to be unprecedented news. The brethren of the old, accustomed to their customs, were compelled to be compelled to a new order, as did the new entrants; the rite of church service was also introduced. A different melody, a different standing, worship according to position, a kliros decent stay, and so on, clothes, a meal and all life seemed to be re-created, because the wisdom, that is, the way of thinking and the view of things, was different from the usual, and besides, it was written. part and the economic part were arranged again. Then - it was like one family, ruled by one father, who vigilantly watched both the performers and the performance. All responsibility lay with the father, that is, with the abbot. The inconvenience of a place for a monastic life, the youth and representativeness of many of us, the unfavorableness of many of the strong persons, the envy and slander of the ill-wishing and, in some cases, the oppression of the rulers themselves, and their own weaknesses, shortcomings and lack of experience, all this together didn’t cause any worries to the head itself - to the father? But there was nothing to do, it was impossible to run away, you had to carry it and ask for help from above, which in fact was. With God's help, everything was endured - both bearable and seeming humanly unbearable. But this cost the abbot many serious illnesses and mental sorrows, which were even hidden from me. His very actions were incomprehensible to many, not to tell everyone, especially me, a simpleton. It contained a lot (p. 529), and one thing did not interfere with the other, that is, a deep knowledge of the writings of the holy fathers with monastic active experience, and external skill and ability to deal with all kinds of people, a subtle comprehension of human morals with all their bizarre weaknesses. Distinguishing well-intentioned from malicious clever flexibility and all the mischievous hooks he knew how to penetrate, sometimes and use them for the benefit of the brethren and the monastery. "

Being a faithful companion of Archimandrite Ignatius throughout his stay in the Sergiev Hermitage, an assistant in all his endeavors, Mikhail Vasilyevich remained in his shadow. According to the memoirs of Archimandrite Pimen (Ugreshsky): “He did not want the priesthood and did not accept any prominent positions. He led a solitary and abstinent life ... and always and everywhere, wherever he was, he was loved and respected by everyone for his friendliness and sociability. " The Biography of Saint Ignatius rarely mentions him now, mainly in connection with the ideas of the Emperor, who also knew him from his studies at the Engineering School. Thus, in the summer of 1834, the Tsar unexpectedly arrived in the Sergiev Hermitage. “Is the archimandrite at home? Tell him that his former friend wants to see him, ”he said to the monk he met. The archimandrite came. “Following him,” says Chikhachev, “I come in too. The Tsar, seeing me, embraced me and so made the impression that I myself grabbed his neck with both hands, and we kissed at least five times in front of all the people and in the presence of the Empress with the Heir, who entered the church a little later than the Tsar. Then, placing us next to the rector, he asked a lot: “Are we always together? what I'm doing? where is the third of our comrades, who lived for a while in the monastery and again entered the service? " In response that he had returned to the world and entered the service again, the Emperor remarked: "Apparently, the monastery bread seemed dry to him, but to you," he turned to Chikhachev, who had significantly replenished, "went for the future."

The sovereign obviously wished to maintain his moral connection with the monastery ruled by Archimandrite Ignatius, because on the same visit he wished that Archimandrite and Mikhail Chikhachev, together with the brethren of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and the Metropolitan, came to the palace to glorify Christ. "What continues to this day."

But, Chikhachev continues the story, “it is clear that many of the people around the Tsar did not like his sincere treatment of the monks, but most of all it did not like the common enemy of the clan of the Chelovek (p. 530) of all kindness and any good, who in every possible way tried to bring the Tsar's anger to Ignatius for what be that as it may and, unfortunately, was in time. Soon thereafter, three decrees followed from the Consistory, one after the other, such which could not have been carried out otherwise than by destroying the existence of the monastery. The first decree was to send three hieromonks to the navy, and then there were only six of them with officials. When they were sent, another decree came with a reprimand to the abbot why he was sending an elderly man. But there was no other younger and safer one in our monastery. The third decree was that neither the archimandrite nor the brethren should go to the city except by having written out for themselves a previously permissible ticket from the Consistory. And with us, bread and provisions, and every thing, small and large, are bought in the city; when to wait for the ticket of the consistory? But in this the Metropolitan was completely assured that there was the Highest Will for that. When, having written a paper about the impossibility of fulfilling the Decree, the abbot brought it to Vladyka, he did not accept it. There was nothing to do, we both went to Tsarskoe Selo, then the Tsarskaya surname was there. As soon as we drove up to the porch, the Heir, the current Emperor, meets. Contact a friend, asks about the reason for his arrival. “I need to see the Emperor,” the comrade replies. “All right,” said the Heir, “I will report to him about you, and you will wait for an answer at Kavelin’s apartment.” After a few hours, Kavelin comes and learns from us about everything - he was instructed by the Tsar to do this and inform him. Upon returning to the monastery, the archimandrite again went to the Metropolitan and said that he had already gone to the Heir and talked to him about this. The Metropolitan says: “We did a very good job, maybe others can be relieved”; and again did not want to accept the papers. But secretary Suslov, hearing this explanation, understood the matter and said: "Indeed, this is a mistake on our part." Then only the Metropolitan took the case and allowed Sergievsky to travel in the old way. "

But all the sorrows and persecutions were nothing in comparison with what the archimandrite was carried off by ordinary slander and human slander. An example of this is the story told by Chikhachev with the French envoy at the Russian court Barant, included in detail in the Life of St. Ignatius.

“There was a time,” Chikhachev writes, “that the spiritual authorities also wanted to crush the archimandrite and force him to ask for dismissal from office in order to govern themselves at their will, but (p. 531) it was not possible. It was during the illness of Metropolitan Anthony, when the vicar Bishop Nathanael was in charge of all diocesan affairs. The archimandrite, seeing and understanding everything, submitted a petition for dismissal, but the Synod was pleased to give him only a year's leave to the Babayevsky monastery of the Kostroma diocese, which he had chosen. "

According to Chikhachev, during the Abbot's vacation, the Tsar, seeing Chikhachev, asked about the health of Archimandrite Ignatius and ordered him to tell him that he was impatiently awaiting his return.

“Time has passed,” Chikhachev writes further, “and neither Metropolitan Anthony nor his vicar has become; their places were replaced by others. Metropolitan Nikanor himself was once the abbot of the Sergius Hermitage, he knew what happened then and what happened afterwards. At the same time, Vladyka felt better, although there were some bewilderments and distrust of the abbot, but even that passed. Metropolitan Gregory, also a former rector of Sergievsky, knew and understood the archimandrite well. " According to Chikhachev, “Archimandrite Ignatius was initially supposed to be appointed Bishop in Novgorod, where he was already preparing. But it turned out differently. Another was ordained to Novgorod, and Archimandrite Ignatius a year later was appointed Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea to bring the diocese into proper order. "

L. A. Sokolov, professor at the Kiev Theological Academy and author of a two-volume monograph about the saint, writes: “The close friendship from a young age between Brianchaninov and Chikhachev naturally raises the question of why they parted when Ignatius Brianchaninov was appointed to the department of Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea, and Mikhail Chikhachev remained in the same title of novice in the Trinity-Sergius Hermitage. " Mikhail Vasilyevich replies: “It seems strange to many of our acquaintances, why we, having lived together for so long, are now separated? Wonderful are the works of God and untested are His ways! It so happened that the comrade was given a diocese in which there are no monasteries, and it is still impossible to improve them at the local location. If this diocese with monasteries were like the others, then not only I, but also many, perhaps, from our brotherhood would have passed to him, through which it could have happened that our monastery would not have had that look, but now, especially with this Abbot [a disciple of St. Ignatius - Ignatius (Malyshev)], he remains exactly the same as he was: all the old people live, rest with pleasure (p. 532) with the pleasure and good will of the abbot, with them I, too, which is why they persuaded me to accept full tonsure , having previously entered the spiritual department, which the Lord helped me to do. Now, if the Lord wills, I desire, at the discretion of the authorities, to humble myself so that the end is in accordance with the beginning and to wait for the transition from temporary life to eternal life, with repentance and contrition of heart, so as not to be rejected from the Lord at the Last Judgment, where and for each an idle word will need to be answered. "

On December 20, 1860, Chikhachev was tonsured into monasticism with the name Misail, and on May 21, 1866, he accepted the schema with the return of the name Mikhail.

He himself wrote about what prompted him to accept the schema in a note entitled: “An account of the reasons for my desire to be tonsured into the schema”: “1) Accepting and believing with the Holy Church that this is the second baptism, I wish to be granted the remission of all my sins, already having the stamp of a mortal disease on his leg. 2) The very image of the schema and putting on it takes away from many occasions of amusement and rumor. 3) To show an example for those who have the wrong notion that the one who is clothed in the schema is obliged to live in the grave and not fulfill any obedience. 4) Offering these reasons for consideration to whoever should, I rely on their consideration, seeking not my own will, but the will of God through them ... The legal time of my final tonsure has approached. 1866 April 8 I was 60 years old. In the form of civil law, this is a legalized term for those wishing to tonsure into the schema. At the suggestion of the abbot, Father Archimandrite Ignatius (Malyshev) and with the blessing of Metropolitan Isidor, I was tonsured on the day of giving up the feast of Holy Pentecost on May 21 - the day of my former Angel, Saint Prince Michael of Murom, whose name was returned to me again. Glory to Him, to Whom all honor and worship are due, the One Wise God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen. I waited for this day for almost 38 years and, by the grace of God, waited. Now I will and must wait for the resettlement from this life, and who knows, how it will follow. From there you can no longer write and say nothing, therefore I ask everyone: remember in your prayers the poor earthly wanderer - Michael the schema-monk, and, having remembered you, the Lord will fulfill all bliss here, and where there is no sickness or sorrow, but life is endless in eyelids of centuries. Amen".

With the departure of Bishop Ignatius for Stavropol, a fairly frequent correspondence was established between him and Chikhachev, which, unfortunately, has not come down to us. Excerpts from the letters of Saint Ignatius to Chikhachev were published in the last volume of his Collected Works and are reproduced below. It is known from them that Father Mikhail began to be ill, and his illness intensified from year to year: “Now the time has come for you to cheer too. I am glad that you bear the disease properly ... Your disease is a God-given penance. May the merciful Lord grant you to endure penance with thanksgiving to God. "

Apparently, at first, Chikhachev rather strongly felt the absence of a comrade: “You live with my closest disciple,” Bishop Ignatius encouraged him in a letter dated January 15, 1860, “and in a monastery that was almost founded by me: therefore, you are not moved away from me and did not disagree with me. I didn’t poke my head out of a stupid fantasy somewhere, but stayed in my place and in relation to me passed the obedience of the correspondent ”. He wanted to visit a friend in Stavropol, but his illness did not allow him: “I myself found your trip here unnecessary,” Bishop Ignatius answered him on June 27, 1860. “We are not worldly people! My conversation with you would only last for five minutes. It is much better to pay attention to yourself, not leaving the place given by God for salvation. "

On August 5, 1861, Bishop Ignatius was dismissed, and on October 14 he arrived at the Nicholas Babaevsky Monastery. “Never in my life have I been so pleased with my position as I am now,” he wrote on October 18, 1861. And Mikhail Chikhachev continues in his Notes: “Five more years have passed since this manuscript was written. During this time, Bishop Ignatius left the Caucasian diocese due to his painfulness and moved to the Nikolaev Babayevsky monastery of the Kostroma diocese with the management of the monastery, where it is now located. The next year after my tonsure, I went to visit the ailing Bishop.<…>I spent about a month with him in the monastery, returned back, feeling that it was impossible for me to move to the monastery there. The leg disease since 1859, which did not allow to endure the through wind, the construction of the church and the long, deserted service, became unbearable to me. Going there would mean adding to anything an incapable disabled person in need of maintenance, feeding and servants. So, by general consultation and agreement, we each live (p. 534) in his place, content with the mutual disposition of souls and correspondence. "

Mikhail Vasilievich Chikhachev outlived his friend by almost six years. Old-timers remembered him as a wonderful old man, meek and positive ascetic and unmercenary. The only decoration of his poor cell was the harmonium, on which he performed church melodies, and even this consolation he refused in his declining years. He did not carry the church revenues that came to him in his cell, but immediately or even earlier distributed it to the poor. And when it was necessary to go to the palace, he put on someone else's cassock.

He died in the Sergiev Hermitage and was buried at the chapel next to the founder of this monastery, Archimandrite Varlaam Vysotsky. On the wall of the chapel, above the grave of Mikhail Vasilyevich, it was written: “Good-natured and non-acquisitive. Schemnik Mikhail Chikhachev. Died on January 16, 1873, 66 years old. "

The historiographer of the Sergius Hermitage, P. P. Yakovlev, ranked M. V. Chikhachev among the most remarkable personalities who lived in the Hermitage in his time: “Schema monk Mikhail Vasilyevich Chikhachev, from the nobility of the Pskov province, comrade of Right Reverend Ignatius Bryanchaninov, who donated all the inherited property from his parents to the Abode, stretching up to 50,000 rubles, (p. 535) who lived here for 39 years, who was the first to come to church services and did not leave it until the end; with his excellent musical knowledge and an excellent octave voice, he was a zealous singer and steward of church singing, who did not become scarce in his zeal even when a serious wound on his leg haunted him; he died in 1873 on January 16th. "

Along with the destruction of the monastery in the 30s of the XX century, all traces of the graves were destroyed. At present, the honest remains of M. V. Chikhachev have been found by his admirer, the current abbot and restorer of the Sergius Hermitage, Father Abbot Nikolai (Paramonov), and placed in the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh for worship.

The remains of Schema-monk Michael were placed in the fraternal cathedral church of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

In the process of restoring the monastery, I was very interested in the burial place of the founder of the monastery, Archimandrite Varlaam Vysotsky, Schema-monk Mikhail Chikhachev, Schema-monk Makariy Makarov, revered elder-confessor Hieromonk Gerasim.

During the research excavations, after one bayonet of a shovel, the entrance to the tomb of Archimandrite Varlaam, the founder of the Sergius Hermitage, was discovered, very close by - Schema monk Mikhail Chikhachev. Their honest remains were very close, each in a separate small stone cave.

When the relics of the elders were raised, an incomprehensible rainbow appeared in the sky. Thus, the merciful Lord marked the sign of his humble servants of the Holy Trinity.

Schimonakh Michael († January 16/29, 1873) is a close spiritual friend and associate of Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov). As novices, they asceticised throughout the year in the skete of Optina Hermitage. "If I hadn't had such a friend," wrote Schema monk Michael about Saint Ignatius, "who both admonished me with his prudence, and always believed his soul for me, and shared every sorrow with me, I would not have survived in this field - the field of martyrdom voluntary and confession ".

In 1831 Dmitry Bryanchaninov was tonsured into the minor schema with the name Ignatius and was soon appointed hegumen of the Lopotov monastery near Vologda. Here he himself clothed his friend Mikhail Vasilyevich in a cassock and guided him in his spiritual life as an abbot and confessor.

Father Michael, for his part, showed a heartfelt concern for a friend. When he saw that the already poor health of Father Ignatius was completely upset by the damp climate of the swampy area on which the monastery was located, he went to Petersburg to seek to move his friend to a healthier area.

Father Mikhail was received by Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov) and received an assurance that Father Ignatius would be transferred to the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery near Moscow.

But the Lord was pleased to put the holy monks on a different field of service. Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich deigned to bring his former pupils closer to the Northern capital, urging them to restore the Sergius Hermitage.

Father Ignatius's main assistant in this matter was Father Mikhail (Chikhachev), an expert on the charter, an excellent singer and reader. And in all the griefs of the father of the archimandrite during the 23 years of his reign, a friend was his fellow-man and a somprayer.

After the departure of Saint Ignatius to retirement, by mutual decision, Father Michael (Chikhachev), who visited his friend the Saint in Babayki, remained until the end of his days in the Sergius Hermitage. Here, with the blessing of Saint Ignatius, in 1860 he received the schema with the name Michael. And then for seven years he bore the obedience of a "correspondent" (in the words of Bishop Ignatius) - he reported to his friend about the affairs in the monastery and the diocese, as well as about the spiritual children of Vladyka.

Father Mikhail (Chikhachev) did not reach high hierarchical degrees and did not strive for them. All his life he liked a quiet, inconspicuous position, he always tried to be invisible in front of his friend and removed from himself any attempt to disclose anything about any of his special spiritual gifts. One thing was clear to everyone who saw and knew him - the true humility of the ascetic of the Sergius Hermitage.

Schema-Archimandrite Ioanniki of instruction is a priceless gift.

Schiarchimandrite Ioanniky

St. Nicholas monastery

(Ivanovo region, Verkhneladnekhovsky district, village Chikhachevo)

About prayer.

Love, pray, ask for help from the Queen of Heaven. Do not drop a single day without the performance of "Virgin Mary, rejoice ...". On the top ten, ask: "Forgive my whole life and save my family." Every day sing (read) "Zealous intercessor ..." (troparion to the Kazan icon BM).

Learn the Jesus Prayer. She leaves, and you turn. Push yourself.

Read the Jesus Prayer with attention. It was established and commanded by the Lord Himself in a farewell conversation, going to the death of the cross - "If you ask anything in My name, I will create." This is a weapon that is not stronger, neither in heaven nor on earth. It is recorded by the Guardian Angel on the account. The whole gospel is in it.

Ask the Lord for help and strength, and everything will be added to you. Put God in front. Before starting any business, say: "Lord, bless!", "Guardian angel help!" if anyone asks, first call on the Guardian Angel, and give the correct, correct answer.

If you have anything in need - ask the Lord, pray: "Lord, give me what is good." Talk to the Lord, give thanks, give thanks.

The more you ask, the more everything will be smooth with you.

Pray: "Lord, give me what is useful for the salvation of my soul!"

Lie down and rise with God. Thank the Lord, praise Him: "Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!"

Pray: "Lord, grant me prayer not only with your mouth, but also with your heart."

- "Lord, if You do not save, I will not be saved."

Even in bed, in the morning, call, read, pray to the Guardian Angel: 50 times "Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me." On the ten: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, instruct and admonish me. " On this day, a bad person will not fit, say the right word in time, you will be welcome in society, if they lie to you, you will see. The rule will take 3-5 minutes.

At every place, first call on the Guardian Angel: "Guardian Angel, instruct, instruct what to do!" From his hands the Lord will demand our soul. He prays incessantly for us, and is our first helper. In bed, just woke up and read 50 times to the Guardian Angel. The whole day will pass smoothly, what if you don't take it - you will have time. At the crucial moment, call and you will certainly get out of the situation.

Don't know what to do right? - Ask the Guardian Angel. A good thought will come and put on your heart what to do. The heart will become easy, there will be peace. If there is fear and anxiety, do not take action.

Every day call on the saints in prayer: 50 times "All holy, pray to God for me (for us)." Don't forget to read the troparia to the saints. The troparion to the saint is obligatory for a given day.

Call on your saints, read the troparia to them.

Pray Rev. Joseph Volotskiy (commemorated October 31, NS) on the granting of reasoning. Read the troparion to him. Especially for the children.

Pray to St. John the Baptist. He is asked for reconciliation if someone was at enmity with the deceased.

John the Baptist is the “chief” of repentance. Pray to him for the grant of repentance. He hears everything and intercedes for you before God.

Pray for one another.

The days are crafty, they began to shorten. Pray on the go.

You start any business - stand to the east and pray.

How to beg children? - Repentance, communion, liturgy and 150 "Theotokos". There will be benefits from diligence and repentance.

Pray at night. When? - Get up when the Guardian Angel rises from sleep. Then prayer is 40 times stronger (than during the day),

Try to sleep less. Remain more in prayer. Now everyone is in hibernation at the TV and computer. Ask the Lord for repentance.

Everything can be prayed to God at the liturgy.

You will pray for yourself, you will also pray for your relatives.

If you do not know a deceased relative, an acquaintance, whether he is baptized or not, pray: "Save, Lord, the living and have mercy on the dead."

If they give alms for the deceased, pray for the repose of the soul of this person. And if you do not know the deceased, then say: "Lord, I will accept this mercy in memory of your deceased servant (name)."

Continuously, unceasingly read Jesus, "Theotokos Virgin ...", the Guardian Angel, all the saints, and you will be saved.

About sins, repentance and the sacrament

Confess the sin of self - "I". What sin (passion) is the most important for you - write it first. Try to confess with the same priest.

Be careful not to condemn the priesthood. The Lord will ask from everyone.

Regret the mistakes you made. Be determined to improve.

Hurry to repentance. People are in a hurry to enrich themselves, but all benefits will be taken away by death. All your attention is drawn to them. Stop insane! Realize and repent of your sins. Remain in constant repentance. Regret the mistakes you've made. Leave everything, and enter eternity with your soul.

The situation in the world has changed in recent years, one should take communion more often. Who can - even every day. For a week, read all the canons and prayers for communion until the 10th "Before the doors of the temple ...". Before communion - from the 10th prayer to the end. Watch your heart: if it is ready to receive Christ, then Glory to God, although you did not have time to read all the prayers. The main thing is repentance for sins. You need to be ready every day for the sacrament, as for death. While reading the prayer of permission, under the epitrachilia, say: "Forgive me, Lord, all my sins that I have forgotten, and those that I do not consider to be sins." Approach the Holy Chalice quietly, with humility and repentance, ask: "Lord, accept me like a robber, like a publican, like a harlot."

The communion burns the tendency to sin. He who does not receive communion will not be able to withstand the terrible, sorrowful times.

He who approaches the Divine Mysteries with fear is not only sanctified and receives the remission of sins, but also drives away the evil one from himself.

Cleanse your heart, your conscience, write down your sins, reproach yourself in confession. Partake of the Sacrament, believing that the Sacrament will be your cleansing from these sins. Approach the holy Mysteries with fear and trembling, as you follow, cry and tremble, bleed. Genuine repentance can heal anything. If there is no repentance, do not approach the Divine Mysteries just because of the holiday.

The Lord's Day is Sunday. Communion, correct yourself. On this day, be sure to go to the temple. Partake of the Holy Communion with sincere faith and an uncondemned conscience. Start a more rigorous life, prepare yourself to accept future benefits.

Adultery is inherited. If there is no repentance, the race disappears.

Communion to women (if cleansing) on ​​the 8th day. If sick (female diseases) - tell the confessor (priest) - how he will bless.

In war, in other trials, in critical situations, confess to each other.

About love and fear of God.

Put the Lord in front of you, and everything will be smooth with you.

Don't annoy each other. If you pray a lot, but at the same time annoy each other, your prayer is nothing. Empathize with your neighbors. One has some drawbacks, another has others, and the third has still others. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ."

Love everyone and run away from everyone.

Whom I love, I will punish him.

Faith, love, humility - take this as a basis.

Be merciful, even in word, if you cannot give.

Whoever is the first to say “I'm sorry” collects awards.

Hide your virtues. Be wise, prudent. They will insult, humiliate you - humble yourself, retreat.

All your deeds, thoughts, etc., if without love, then all this will not matter.

Keep peace in your homes. Get rich in the sky. From corruption you will reap corruption. Hurry to do good!

Do good in every place and at all times. Return evil with good. Hurry to do good deeds as long as you are alive. Force yourself, lest the enemy hinder you. Through work, desire, with God's help, a person is accustomed to goodness, to the Jesus Prayer. The guardian angel will protect you during ordeals, present your good deeds. And when a person is purified, the Holy Spirit dwells in a person.

Quench the spark of irritation. If you are treated unkindly, with irritation, ask for forgiveness and leave.

The spirits of malice do not leave us for a single day. There is a war going on. He allowed the enemy to enter his heart - ordered him to be silent, freeze. Tell God that the soul is full of evil. When evil comes, force yourself to joke, gaiety, and evil, like smoke, will dissipate. Hate your enemy and he will leave you. You will use your tongue, words, to express anger, and it will slander you. Read 150 "Theotokos". And shut up, shut up, shut up! Ask forgiveness many times from those who offended you, and the enemy will retreat.

We often have to regret a thoughtlessly spoken word or deed. They would give everything to get him back, but late, the damage is done. This is because they did not put God in front of themselves, did not turn to Him, did not ask for blessings, instruction and admonition.

Ask the Lord for the most important, highest virtue - love for God and neighbor. "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word." Get away from every deed, word, thought, sensation, forbidden by the Gospel. Watch yourself strictly, and if you happen to fall into sin, immediately repent. This is a hard and brutal struggle with oneself. "Every way of untruth is hated."

Do everything for Christ's sake, without murmurings and doubts. With the name of the Lord, everything will be as pleasing to God. If you live in the Lord, you will shine like lights.

Have the fear of God, you cannot talk in the temple. You will keep a report for each spoken word. In a whisper - if required. From this you have sorrow. At the sacrament, if you are not partaking, stand like a candle. Ask the Lord for your needs, and you run around. Litanies pray for those who fearfully enter the temple of God. There are few of them.

Have the fear of God. Everyone will answer. Pray, fast, repent, receive communion. If you saw what torments are in hell, you would not go to bed and eat. Fear and eternal torment under consciousness. Everyone will be fully conscious. Body and soul in hell.

About worship.

Whoever attends divine services every day during the first week of Great Lent earns a prayer spirit for the whole fast.

Hurry, dear ones, to the liturgy. You do not understand what kind of jewel you possess. Here we are talking face to face with the Lord.

- Whoever goes to church on the feast day, this one service is counted as forty liturgies.
About spiritual life.

Don't lie, don't deceive. Everything is recorded, every word. Keep quiet, but don't lie.

Hold your tongues. Keep the peace.

If the Lord wants to save, then He will keep it in the fire.

Never be afraid of anything. The Lord himself said: "Do not be afraid, little flock!" Fear God and His judgment.

You will receive everything from the Lord according to the good that you have done. It will be very scary at the trial. God will show you everything and you will be sorry. Say, I don't know you. Many monks will not be saved, they are lazy, just like you. This is the devil of laziness. Defeat him, stand in prayer, defeat the enemy. God, seeing diligence and will, will help you.

Put on the whole armor of God, be strong in the Lord, in His power. Work hard here and now. Pray with strength, fast. God gives more time.

Read the Gospel daily, push yourself, push yourself. The evil spirit retreats. Boring, I don't want to read - read it! Transformation takes place in us in an invisible way. Changes take place in a person invisibly. All that is useful to us is enlightened by the Holy Spirit. This is work. Learn to read.

When the Lord is with you, hope to win. The Lord is powerful to turn evil into good. Be in God and the Lord will be with you. Put God in front of you. What business are you starting, get on the transport, you have crossed the threshold of work, etc. - "Lord, bless!"

On Monday, angelic day, start any business. On Sunday, take the Holy Communion, and on Monday, roofing felts for work, felts for sale, or something else. Call the Guardian Angel 50 times and cross the threshold of work, or start any other business.

The evil one is weakened by the sacrament. It is necessary to drive him. Small believers. The Lord said - by fasting and prayer.

Get ready "home". Do good for Christ's sake, for the Lord's sake. At the judgment you will see everyone in the Kingdom of God, and you will be cast out.

Wait for your Father, coming in the clouds with much power and glory. Begging yourself, humble yourself. Call on your saints, read the troparia to them.

Always be in God. Ask: "Strengthen us, Lord, in the Orthodox faith." Have faith and don't doubt. Peter doubted when he walked on the waters and began to drown.

Where is it safer to be saved? - In every place of His dominion! Stay where you live and endure.

A person born of God does not sin, always keeps himself, always on guard, and the evil one does not touch him.

Humble your souls. A humble person completely surrenders himself to the will of God. He trusts in God, not in himself and in man.

Humble yourself, give in to each other. Take care of wedding rings, they are very powerful. Baptize your lips, the lips of children and themselves "In the name of the Father ...".

The cross is power and glory, healer, destroyer of demons and all evil spirits. Baptize your grocery bag. Read "Our Father ...", "Theotokos" and sign with the cross. Do not put anything in your mouth without the sign of the cross. If at a party - cross the table with your eyes. Always and everywhere baptize everything.

Now such food will give its result over time. Up to the darkening of the mind, and the person becomes "forgetful." Read before meals "Our Father ...", "Theotokos, Virgin ...", and sign the sign of the cross. Food will be sanctified, and poisoned food will become edible. The power of God is stronger.

Cross yourself more often, baptize everything: food, clothes, shoes. Sit down or lie down - all cross.

Baptize the mouths of children more often - they will say what is good.

Sprinkle holy water on your dwelling, and when you go on the road - yourself and your bags.

Raise, dear, in moderation. The Lord blessed us to fuss, but only as much as we need for our needs. Because there will be no end to it. Focus on the middle. Eat a little, and that's enough. The more, the more you need. One attracts another, another attracts a third ... There will be no end to it.

Fast Wednesday and Friday. Someone who abstains on Monday. The guardian angel will tell you the hour of death, and you will meet this hour joyfully, like a holiday. Fast as much as you can. When you sinned, the enemy liked it, it was written in his charter. And now he will do everything to bring you down. It will induce despondency, neglect, etc., force yourself, work. But do not think that I read so much, and then, and then. And God only needs a broken heart. Get on your knees, pray with repentance, with a contrite heart, although you have read very few prayers. The Lord will gradually admonish and enlighten you. Through repentance, if with a broken heart and with all your soul, you will reach out to God.

Out of pride, the Lord does not give what he wants. The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It happens that a person has good data, is educated, etc., and now it should work out, but it does not work out. And it happens that a person with a nondescript appearance, and does not get something, but everything works out. So the Lord is pleased for humility. Put these words together.

You come, ask and do not fulfill. Because of this, there are no elders either. Because of this, you have frustration, troubles, worries, troubles. Give the first fruits to God. Pray to the Guardian Angel, all the saints. Seek blessings for good deeds. Then the day will be blessed.

From the Moscow Patriarch - nowhere. It's still early in the catacombs.

Rejoice that you are Orthodox. Ask the Lord for strength, and everything will be added to you. You have only faith. Slavic peoples, it is impossible to separate them. We are intertwined: that White Russia, that Small Russia, that Big Russia - all the same Russia. The Lord said, "I will unite them by My Spirit." We are distant, we have come here, we do not know each other, and we talk about God and are comforted by this. This is called "I will unite them with the Holy Spirit, and I will separate them at home." Be in God, be an example in homes.

Turn to your ancestors, as they lived, so you imitate them. We have all our own, blood, Orthodox fatherland, tested and proven for centuries. Here's what to hold on to!

If they ask you something on a spiritual topic, you know - answer, do not impose yourself.

It is better to know little, but do, than to know a lot and not do. Who knows everything, so the demand is greater.

You need to have at home the icon "Sophia, the Wisdom of God." To ask BM for an increase in mind.

Be sure to read the 17th kathisma on Friday evening. Read the 17th kathisma for the deceased every day.
Pray for the Kingdom of Heaven.

In God, a bowl of soup is sweet.

Do not listen to demoniacs - they always deceive.

About marriage, family and children.

Only advice in the family should be. Children, obey your parents. You need to take a blessing from your parents for any business. Not considering age. There must be obedience in everything.

For pregnant women (especially in the last term) the sacrament, as often as possible. Children will be strong, prosperous, prosperous. And the birth will be easy. Try not to go to an ultrasound scan.

If someone takes on the upbringing of a child from an orphanage, this is like a temple to build. But now it is very dangerous. Better visit, do good.

Children are sick, premature, inferior. The seed of the spoiled We walk, we fornicate, we have abortions, and then we get married.

Do not send sick children to shelters. This is your salvation.

Before starting any business (school, institute, exam, work, on the road, to the war, etc. at all crucial moments), receive communion, then read 50 times to the Guardian Angel and baptize (bless) with a wedding ring “In the name of the Father, both the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Don't say bad words to children when you are angry. The oath of a mother destroys to the core.

Instill in children the commandment to honor parents. This is a great commandment. Look back at yourself, at your past years. If we honored our parents, our life would be different in many ways. This is what you plant!

Instruct children in God, not with your words, but with your deeds. So that they can see you in the holy corner in the morning and evening. If they are not praying now, then when the Lord visits them, they will remember what they have heard out of their ears. When there is grief, then everything is up to God. And if you do not instruct, then he would be glad to pray, because he does not know how. You are responsible for the children.

Beware of children from whims in front of you. They will soon forget the price of your love, their hearts will be infected with malice. And, by age, you will regret cherishing them. Don't pander to them.

Your diseases are your sins. “I will accept what is worthy in my deeds. Remember me, Lord, in Thy Kingdom. "

Lost memory? - Everybody disappears. Every morning in bed, read 50 times to the Guardian Angel. This will take about three minutes.

Are you sick? - Put ahead of God. Communion. Only by repentance. The soul must scream for mercy. Pray: “Lord, how beneficial is my healing, Lord, Thy will be done. Give me corrections, Lord! "

Headache, legs, arms, etc. hurt - read "Our Father", "Theotokos" and wipe the sore spot with Epiphany water.

It is a sore spot to baptize and anoint a lot with Epiphany water. Be baptized evenly, slowly “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

There are many spiritual diseases. They had an operation, but there was nothing there - "he" went to another organ. Prayer, repentance and communion. Whoever feels "him" - to Father German in Sergiev Posad.

About the last times.

The truth is already hidden. Two will be at the table and will not agree. There will be one lie.

Prepare for suffering. Do not be afraid, the Lord will strengthen.

There will be a great calamity on earth. It will shake so hard that big cities and villages will disappear into the abyss. The water will disappear. Look after yourself. Do not be burdened by overeating and drunkenness. Pray every minute.

There will be a terrible war. Half will come to the Kingdom of Heaven, who has “Lord have mercy” on their lips. They will not remember prayers from horror. And half to hell, some with mats. Shout in all critical situations "Lord have mercy". "In what I find, in that I will judge."

Pull yourself together. There is still time now. Pray through force, fast, take communion. Further every day, it will be harder. Can't resist without the sacrament, fasting, and prayer. Read the Word of God, study it. Be strong by the Lord, by His power. In the days of terrible and evil, you will overcome everything and resist.
Miscellaneous.

Pants are not allowed for women. If women could see and hear (mind and eye) what men say about them, they would never wear them again.

With an agreement or a deal, if someone has their own interest, then the matter will not work out as it should. It must be good for both.

For us and the rulers. What we are, so are they. Can't be judged. The Lord will judge everything. We choose ourselves.
- Stick to the ground. You cannot sell.

If robbed - God gave, God took. If only to be saved. Everything else will follow.

Do not throw away old things, especially natural ones. Put it in the closet.

This film is 2007.

A lesson about love.

Only those enemies that we ourselves do not love are dangerous for us. Evil from them really is evil to us, for then we ourselves do evil.

Thus, by doing good to one another and praying for one another, we will destroy or at least diminish evil on earth. Even in this life, we must accustom ourselves to love all people, even enemies. It is not possible for him to be in paradise, who here does not learn to love everyone.

If you say that there are people whom it is impossible to love, then be sure that it is impossible for you to be in paradise.

Your enemies will not be there if they are evil, and you will not be there if you are angry with them. After all, it is not the properties of people that make them blissful or unhappy after death, but the properties that they form in themselves, living with people. Our Lord teaches us to love and live in love not only with some, but with everyone. It is not yet love when we love those that we like or love us.

“And if you love those who love you, what thanks to you; says the Savior, for sinners also love those who love them. But you love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing; and you will have a great reward, and you will be the sons of the Most High ... ”.

Whether our enemies love us, or they don’t love us, we don’t even have anything to worry about, we will take care so that we can love them.

It is impossible not to have enemies, it is impossible for everyone to love us, but it is very possible for us to love everyone. Amen.

P. S.
In December 2014, a sister in Christ came from Fr. Ioannikia, where she carried a month's obedience and brought these instructions from the elder. In my opinion, it really is a priceless gift for the Orthodox. My soul was on fire with the desire to without fail reprint this work in a computer file and put it on this site with the hope that someone would put it on other sites, copy and print. It will be distributed in paper format for the salvation of Orthodox souls.

The material is very useful in our time and will lead many to the silence of tranquility. We all pay much attention to the Antichrist and forget about the coming of Christ, about which we should rejoice and come to God. Constant negative thoughts about the enemy of humanity leads us into a stupor of fear and anxiety, distracts from the main thing - the salvation of the soul. The elders say that nothing can be feared except the Last Judgment, that is, sin. Mental disorder is also a sin, which along a chain can lead to a deep deviation from God's truth. Fr. Ioannicius, by his instructions, helps us to acquire this peace of mind. The rules are simple and accessible, like everything with the Lord.

All God's help !!!

And the most gratifying thing was to hear that the elder said that there would be no war for 3 years - the elders prayed.

Now the whole matter of salvation lies only with us. Brothers and sisters, do not miss this precious time given by God, embark on the path of clever deeds - the salvation of Russia, national repentance for the betrayal and murder of the Tsar-Emperor Nicholas II and perjury in front of the Imperial House of the Romanovs. The Lord is waiting for our repentance. Hurry up. Start with personal repentance. It is very important!

Optina Patericon Author unknown

Shimonakh Mikhail (Chikhachev)

Shimonakh Mikhail (Chikhachev)

Shimonakh Mikhail (Chikhachev) is a close spiritual friend and associate of Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov). As novices, they asceticised throughout the year in the skete of Optina Hermitage. "If I hadn't had such a friend," wrote Schema monk Michael about Saint Ignatius, "who both admonished me with his prudence, and always believed his soul for me, and shared every sorrow with me, I would not have survived in this field - the field of martyrdom voluntary and confession ". In 1831 Dmitry Bryanchaninov was tonsured into the minor schema with the name Ignatius and was soon appointed hegumen of the Lopotov monastery near Vologda. Here he himself clothed his friend Mikhail Vasilyevich in a cassock and guided him in his spiritual life as an abbot and confessor. Father Michael, for his part, showed a heartfelt concern for a friend. When he saw that the already poor health of Father Ignatius was completely upset by the damp climate of the swampy area on which the monastery was located, he went to Petersburg to seek to move his friend to a healthier area. Father Mikhail was received by Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov) and received an assurance that Father Ignatius would be transferred to the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery near Moscow.

But the Lord was pleased to put the holy monks on a different field of service. Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich deigned to bring his former pupils closer to the Northern capital, urging them to restore the Sergius Hermitage.

Father Ignatius's main assistant in this matter was Father Mikhail (Chikhachev), an expert on the charter, an excellent singer and reader. And in all the griefs of the father of the archimandrite during the 23 years of his reign, a friend was his fellow-man and a somprayer.

After the departure of Saint Ignatius to retirement, by mutual decision, Father Michael (Chikhachev), who visited his friend the Saint in Babayki, remained until the end of his days in the Sergius Hermitage. Here, with the blessing of Saint Ignatius, in 1860 he received the schema with the name Michael. And then for seven years he bore the obedience of a "correspondent" (in the words of Bishop Ignatius) - he reported to his friend about the affairs in the monastery and the diocese, as well as about the spiritual children of Vladyka.

Father Mikhail (Chikhachev) did not reach high hierarchical degrees and did not strive for them. All his life he liked a quiet, inconspicuous position, he always tried to be invisible in front of his friend and removed from himself any attempt to disclose anything about any of his special spiritual gifts. One thing was clear to everyone who saw and knew him - the true humility of the ascetic of the Sergius Hermitage.

Shimonakh Mikhail departed to the Lord on January 16, 1873, having outlived his friend by six years. Now the honest relics of Schema-monk Michael have been found and are in the newly reviving Primorsk Trinity-Sergius Hermitage.

SHIMONAKH THEODOR The life of Schema monk Theodore is an example of his tireless striving for moral improvement amid constant struggle and many trials. He was born in 1756 in the city of Karachev, Orlovskaya ruin. His father was from a merchant rank, his mother was from

IV. Schema-monk Stephen In 1899 on July 21st, Schema-monk Stephen of the Sergius Lavra died, as a monk Savvaty. He came from courtyard people; as soon as the liberation of the peasants took place, he left the world and went first to the "blessed" Filippishka in Kinovia, who then

Shimonakh Hilarion (Kozlov) († 5/18 March 1850) In the world Ivan Kosmich Kozlov. Resident of the city of Moscow. He was once married and had children and grandchildren. He was rich and was respected by Moscow citizens. He served in various committees, and his chest was decorated with medals; but in the invasion in 1812

Schema monk Ioannikiy (Rufov) († April 30 / May 13, 1815) The beginning of pious hermitage in the place now occupied by the skete of Optina Hermitage was laid by Schema monk Ioannikiy, a humble elder-ascetic who lived in the late 18th - early 19th centuries. Having loved perfect silence,

Shimonakh Joasaph (Moiseev) († March 25 / April 7, 1976) Shimonakh Joasaph (Peter Borisovich Moiseev), one of the last Optina elders, was born in 1887 in the Kaluga province, 30 kilometers from Optina. Once, together with 14 of his brothers, he was very guilty before his mother.

Schimonakh Gennady (Tumanov) († 2/15 September 1899) In the world is Gerasim Ivanovich Tumanov, the son of the state peasants of the Tver province of the Bezhetsk district, Ivan and Evdokia Tumanov. He was the only son of his parents and the favorite of his father. It is not known for what reason several

Shimonakh Kirill (Musatov) († April 25 / May 8, 1892) In the world Konstantin Sidorovich Musatov. From the peasants of the Ryazan province of the Dankovsky district, the village of Yurosopova. Having previously lived for several months in a skete, he returned to his homeland and spent a monastic life there. Then, when he

Schimonakh Leonid (Bocharov) († 4/17 December 1853) Born in 1783 on July 18 from the Orthodox parents Tikhon and Evdokia Bocharovs, the townspeople of the city of Karachev, Oryol province, and was baptized Iakinf. On the 22nd year from birth, passing from Kiev, young Iakinf drove to Cholnsky

Shimonakh Nestor (Fufaev) († January 25 / February 7, 1905) In the world Nikolai Vasilyevich Fufayev, a native of the townspeople of the city of Toropets, Pskov province. He entered the skete unmarried in his youth on December 24, 1864. He was about 20 years old. When he developed a desire for a monastic life, he, according to

Shimonakh Nikolay (Knizhnikov) († 3/16 December 1907) In the world Nikolai Vasilyevich Knizhnikov, a native of the peasants of the Voronezh province of the Bogucharovsky district of the Novokrushinsky volost and settlement, Little Russian, entered the skete on May 27, 1894, already in his old years. He was over 60. March 30, 1895

Shimonakh Nikolay (Lopatin) († 10/23 May 1893) In the world Nikolai Georgievich Lopatin. From hereditary honorary citizens of the city of Yaroslavl. Born June 13, 1864. He entered the skete on November 5, 1890. There was poor health. His obedience was, together with others, to read the Psalter of

Shimonakh Pakhomiy († 1/14 December 1890) In the world Pakhomiy Markov, from the peasants of the Yelets district of the Oryol province. He entered the skete in 1878 for 53 years. He was a gatekeeper in the skete for some time, and at the same time sometimes paved the road with stone. He was distinguished by a special zeal for obedience.

Schema monk Sergiy (Ponomarev) († 7/20 April 1881) In the world Stefan Nikitich Ponomarev, brother of the former monk Hieroschemamonk Hilarion (who died on September 18, 1873), the son of his parent Nikita Filimonovich Ponomarev, who was buried with him next to him, a monk

Shimonakh Timon (Trunov) († January 22 / February 4, 1894) In the world, Timofey Petrovich Trunov, a native of the bourgeoisie of the city of Kolomna, Moscow province, but lived for a long time in Moscow, worked at a weaving factory and managed some of the women who worked at the factory. He said that once during

Shimonakh Theodot (Gerasimov) († 16/29 January 1900) In the world Feodor Ivanovich Gerasimov, from the peasants of the Tula province of the Efremov district of the Dmitrievsky volost, the village of Lotashka. In early childhood, he was left an orphan from his parents. He said that at the beginning of the 40s of the last XIX century in their

To begin with, so that no questions arise, I want to explain why I do not use the word "elder". It's simple. Because I know that people themselves do not like very much when they are called "old men" and "old men".
Reading negative reviews about Father Ioannikia, I remembered one case. Once Paisius Svyatorets visited Athos, when Elder Joseph the Hesychast was still alive. He heard a lot about him and decided to get to know Elder Joseph, but the fathers and brothers dissuaded him - they said that he was in delusion. Elder Paisius Svyatorets was very sorry afterwards that he did not take the opportunity to personally meet this great ascetic, trusting in gossip.
I can consult with someone who is interesting to me, but I have always been little interested in someone's opinion of someone. It also happened that she stepped on someone else's rake. But I never regretted it - I like to understand everything myself much more than to rely on someone. Therefore, I had no doubts whether or not to go to Fr. Ioannikiy - of course, to go. True, she could not beg for a blessing from her husband for a long time, and I did not want to go without a blessing. It was lucky that a familiar priest was familiar with the spiritual child of Father Ioannikios, then still John. He told a story, after which my husband still let Ephraim and me go.
Where is the monastery? How to get there? Will it be possible to see the priest? Father Ioanniki is in the schema, which means that he has the right to be in seclusion for months. There were many questions. I opened a search engine. Surprisingly, several pilgrim services offered trips to the monastery to see Father Ioannikiy. The next one was to take place in a few days. I contacted the guide and found out that the cost of the trip was 2000 rubles per person. She said that we would arrive at the very beginning of the service, and after the night vigil it would be possible to ask the priest questions, then there would be a meal, then departure. She also said that everyone will have the opportunity to pass a note to the priest through her, he must read them and pray for each person all his life. Everything suited me, and I decided to use the services of this pilgrimage service.
After I wrote the previous post, they began to call me and write: how could I go there, because the reviews of the pilgrims about this elder are extremely negative. In addition, Vladyka does not bless, etc. I do not know anything about Vladyka, but there are many options. Whatever it was, at the Liturgy, however, Father Ioanniky clearly and lovingly remembered his Vladyka)
I could have responded to some outraged comments immediately, even before I visited the monastery. For convenience, I will number them, highlight them, and insert them as needed. For example, I was surprised to read that:
1. Batiushka makes money by organizing trips to himself.
I would like to answer such clever people: well, try it, organize pilgrimage services to yourself. Who will go to you? Who needs you? Have you ever thought about the fact that if people go, then they really get comfort and help?
As for money, I doubt that Fr. Ioanniki has anything from the pilgrimage services, but even if so, what is wrong with that? Doesn't the monastery need money? For the repair of buildings, for food? From here I would like to smoothly move on to the second charge:
2. I arrived, but my father did not receive me!
It is clear - very few people want to ask questions in front of everyone, everyone wants to talk in private. But there are many suffering, and Father Ioanniky is alone, and he accepts as it suits him, and besides, father is an elderly man, he has health problems. And in general, he is not obliged to accept anyone. What he accepts is already mercy. A normal monk should not accept, but pray. Group travel is the best solution! I don’t understand what a sin it is when people come in an organized way, knowing in advance that the priest will receive them? This is great, because no one will waste time on the road. And for the priest, this is good - once a week pilgrims and children come, Father Ioanniky has the opportunity to calculate how many people will be at the meal, etc., and the rest of the time he calmly devotes himself to prayer. After all, civilized people in the world have always planned their time, making an appointment and the meeting was held in a way that is convenient for both parties. But no, we are special - since an old man, then accept, because he came to you I AM!!! Suffering, longing for comfort! No, dear, humble yourself and be like everyone else, one of the sheep in the flock of Christ.
But I got distracted.
The minibus left at about 17 hours. Several people, including me and Ephraim, were traveling for the first time. The guide, a nice, friendly woman, began to talk about Father Ioannikia, about how today's service would be held. I listened with interest, but then she began to talk about the rule of Schema-nun Antonia - what grace and tranquility comes after him. I ask who taught her this rule. The answer is that the elders. Specifically, she did not answer, but said that Schema-Archimandrite Ioanniky did not give a blessing to Schema-nun Antonia's rule. If I had heard that the priest was blessing on this rule, then I simply would not have gone further.
I tried to explain to the guide and the women sitting in the minibus that those who use this rule are schismatics, but the guide, of course, spoke louder, because she had a microphone in her hands. She didn’t give the microphone to me - she said that she had a blessing to speak into the microphone, but I didn’t.

Then I remembered again that
3 read a lot about the spiritually unhealthy environment around Fr. Ioanniki, and thought that the priest simply did not know that the "blessed" guide, blasphemously mocking the Sacrament of Baptism, advertises Antonia's rule, which he did not bless. You cannot baptize a person after death. After an abortion, it is necessary to perform works of repentance, and not to console yourself with Antonia's rule.

Continuing the conversation about a spiritually unhealthy environment, which will be long, I want to talk about ancestral sins. This was one of our guide's favorite topics after Antonia's rule.
It was evident that the guide did not read Theophylact of Bulgaria's interpretation of the Gospel of John, chapter 9:
So, the question seems unreasonable, but not for the attentive. For know. The apostles heard Christ say to the paralytic: “Behold, you have recovered; sin no more, lest something worse happen to you ”(John 5:14). Now they see a blind man and are perplexed, and as if they say so: “Suppose that he was relaxed for his sins, but what do you say about this? Has he sinned? But this cannot be said; because he was blind from birth. Or his parents? It is also impossible to say this, because the son is not punished for the father. " So, the apostles in the present case are not so much asking as perplexing.
John 9: 3. Jesus answered: neither he nor his parents have sinned,
The Lord, in order to resolve their bewilderment, says: "Neither he sinned (for as though he had sinned before he was born), nor his parents." However, He says this without absolving them from their sins. For he not only said that his parents had not sinned, but added that he was "born blind." Although his parents sinned, it is not for this that this misery is with him. It is unfair to lay the sins of the fathers on the children who are not guilty of anything.
God also instills this through Ezekiel: may you no longer have this saying: “the fathers ate sour grapes, but the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Ezek.18: 1, 2). And through Moses he decreed by the law: "Let not fathers die for sons" (Deut.24: 16).
“But how,” you say, “is it written:“ Bring the sins of the fathers onto children up to the third and fourth kind ”(Ex. 34: 7)?” To this we can say, firstly, that this is not a general sentence, said not about everyone, but only about those who left Egypt. Then look at the meaning of the sentence. It does not say that children are punished for the sins committed by their fathers, but that the punishment for the sins of the fathers is passed on to children when the children committed the same sins. So that those who came out of Egypt would not think that they would not be punished in the same way as their fathers, even if they sinned and worse than them, he says to them: “No, not like that. The sins of the fathers, that is, the punishment, will be transferred to you, because you have not become the best, but committed the same sins, and even worse. " If we see that children often die as punishment for their parents, then we know that God takes them out of this life out of philanthropy, so that they do not become worse than their parents in life and do not live evil for their souls or even for many others. But the abyss of God's destinies hid these cases in itself.
In short: "the punishment for the sin of the fathers is passed on to the children when the children committed the same sins."
This is the patristic teaching about "generic sin".
"The sins of the fathers, that is, the punishment, will be transferred to you, because you did not become the best, but you committed the same sins, and even worse" it is necessary for salvation. And not as the guide explained: "the priest will pray, serve 10, or 20, or 30 Liturgies (for whom as) and lead a relative out of hell."
And one more pearl of our guide: "A woman is guilty of miscarriages as well as of abortions, because she did not keep the child" - generally nonsense. This is the same as blaming a mother whose child has died of an incurable disease.

In general, it is a shame that some guides, instead of catechesis, talk about Antonia's rule into the microphone. And catechesis would be good. Because the priest has a crowd of non-church visitors who go not to God, but "to the elder" for prophecies and answers to personal questions.
By the way, when we finally got there, the Gospel of Matthew 8:15 was read, and I realized that it was not in vain that I tried to speak with the guide.

Soon we were handed a file with a price list:

On the forums, pilgrims were outraged that
4. "people tear money"
And for me, so normal prices. Not overpriced. Those who have been to the monasteries will agree with me. I was especially touched that the report costs 18 rubles.

I ordered several services and wrote a letter to the priest asking him to pray for Yulia and Ephraim.
The last part of the road was devoted to fees: money was surrendered in order to buy food for the canon, for electricity (because there was a debt in the monastery), for candles, notes, magpies, etc. etc. Honestly, I haven't seen anything bad - isn't it an honor to help the monastery? How else can we help? Only money, so why be indignant?
We donated money, including for candles. I remembered how some were outraged that
5. Candles are not allowed in the temple.
And rightly so. Do you know how vaults are smoked? In some churches, the ceiling is washed every year, and then huge sums of money are spent on restorers. For example, I almost never put candles in the church.
By the way, when Unction began, candles were handed out for free! In any quantity, and even with a piece of paper, so that the melted wax does not burn people's hands. Where else have you seen candles handed out for free? And by the way, there were a lot of people, a thousand people, if not more!

We arrived late, well after midnight. Large sightseeing buses, minibuses and cars were parked in the square in front of the monastery. Ephraim and I "broke away" from the group and went forward, as I was afraid that we would not fit in the temple, and I really didn’t want the child to spend the night on the street. I entered the temple. It was full to capacity. On the left are women, on the right are men. Ahead are the guards, strong, unfriendly men in their thirties. They did not let me into the women's quarters, because there was literally nowhere to step. I asked to let us go to the male half, said that Ephraim was ill and I could not leave him alone. They let us through.
To say that it is unusual in the temple is to say nothing.


6. "Father spares money for the repair of the church."
I must say right away that this is not true. If money had not been allocated for the repair of the temple, it would have collapsed long ago. And so everything is in order: the roof is in place, it does not leak, there are glasses in the windows, doors too, everything is acceptable, although yes, everything is old, as if time had stopped at this point in the world.
The situation is as if he had just stepped out of a time machine and entered the past. In the film of the 50s 60s.

The windows are ordinary, not plastic. The decoration is not modern, lurid, but austere and modest, but is that bad? Why are gilded vignettes considered a luxury? By the way, really, why? Recently, with a difference of several days, I was visiting two friends. Both kitchens were practically the same, in one of the classic monumental styles with elements of Provence. Very nice, but I don't like it. Not because I will never have money for such (by the way, I really won't)), I just prefer simple high-tech lines.
When asked why the church is in such a state, the priest usually suggests paying attention to the state of our souls. I heard that he even scolds the workers when they remove the cobweb in the corners. There is something in this, isn't it? Therefore, it is not surprising for me that the priest left the temple in an ascetic, primordial form. The temple, as it is, is actually a museum, a preserved architectural monument! I am very glad that there is an opportunity to see the temple as it was originally, and at the same time to think about the purity of our souls.


Indeed, what are we worthy? Which is better, the pristine vaults of the temple or fake gilding?

7. Smelly mattresses on the floor
Some of the mattresses smelled really bad. I think they were just donated as they were. By the way, no one rested on the mattresses during the service - they were neatly rolled up and lay along the wall of the "male" half of the temple. When there is no service, those who wish to stay at the monastery for a while rest on these mattresses.
8. Can't build a normal hotel for pilgrims, or what?
I think they just don't want to. What for? To have the same crowd as Father Vlasiy's? There is no need for a hotel there, let people humble themselves. What could be more blessed than sleeping on the floor in the temple? I would have slept with pleasure, but I had to go back. Maybe one day...
Even before the trip, the guide told me that I could take a sleeping bag with me and put Ephraim to sleep if he gets tired of standing. On the way, I warned my son that today he would sleep in the temple, and Ephraim looked with interest at the men squatting along the walls. Some were sitting, some were standing - even the male half of the temple was packed. There was nowhere to put the sleeping bag. I tried to ask the men to move over or give way, but they looked as if they were past me or sent me away from another wall, where there was a window. I went to the window, they answered that I shouldn’t sit here. Most of all, I was afraid that the tired Ephraim would get nervous, because he, due to his problem, thinks linearly: since they told him that today he would sleep in the church, it simply cannot be otherwise.
Unfortunately for us, an elderly nun, standing behind a candle box, saw my throwing, and began to drive me away from the male half. I told her that I had a sick child and the guards allowed me to defend my service with him. But my embarrassment and tired look seemed to inflame her - she began to say loudly that Ephraim was healthy and he could be sent to the army. When I told her that he was autistic, she finally found how to rebuild me:
- Yes, he is possessed by you! You have a demoniac child! she started yelling.

Illness is not a sin. Sin is malice. But the nun, oddly enough, did not understand this.

I sighed heavily. It is easy not to react to what is happening in the soul, but something had to be done. I had two options: either to put it in its place, or to leave the temple. Just leave and that's it. A guide with Antonia's rule, a reader who proclaims "Gospe pamilui", an aggressive nun - an interesting environment for the priest! But I have come too long to give up, and I answered the nun:
- But you all shine!
She was taken aback and fell silent.
- Yes Yes! Look, you seem to have a halo cut through!
A cold shower did not help, a minute later she came to herself and started screaming again, wishing that the guards would come and kick me out. Then I asked her what her name was to pray for her, but she did not answer. Had to apply my only win-win method:
- I have nine children, and you? Probably at least nine abortions? Only then did the nun abruptly fall silent. The security guard who came to the noise drove one of the sitting men, and I finally put the sleeping bag on the floor, and happy Ephraim lay down on him.
In the corner stood a husband, wife and their baby about three years old. The nun did not give them peace either: she said that dad should stay alone with his son, because women are not supposed to be in this half. The woman left, but not even five minutes had passed when the baby burst into tears and began to call for his mother. Dad and the boy had to go out and stand all night on the street - even the narthex was jam-packed, and there was nowhere to step in the women's quarters. Wasn't the nun at all sorry for the little child who had gone out on the street all night because of her foolishness?
PAS is there. So much for "like angels".
The "Gospe Pamilui", which was heard from the ambo, made me nervous. Gospe - in my opinion, too familiar. For example, I do not like it if the Patriarch is called "patrick". When the service began, I did not understand anything. At first I decided that it was a different language, then I realized that
9. Father simply does not speak some words.
Father Ioanniky is very old. Perhaps somewhere he is cutting something down, but apparently there are reasons for that - indeed, very, very many physically and spiritually unhealthy people.
In general, absolutely everything was strange and unusual. But by the way, it was not at all difficult to stand, the drowsiness disappeared, I felt lightness, time passed quickly. First there was the anointing, then the general confession, after it the Liturgy, then the Panikhida, then the oration began. I didn't realize right away, I just heard a woman start to growl and bark. "Come out, come out!" - Father said sternly, and the woman roared: "No!" Ephraim, sitting on the blanket, raised his eyebrows in surprise; the lecture did not affect him at all. All this took place in the women's quarters, so we saw nothing, only heard. The report passed quickly and ended well. Then there was the Religious Procession, then the Unction.
Both I and Ephraim had a state of calm and some kind of quiet joy. Despite the sleepless night spent on my feet, I did not feel tired.
10. "As is the pop, so is the parish." On one of the forums, I read that many were outraged by the guards - rude, uncouth young guys who, allegedly, did not let anyone out of the temple. Lie. And they let in and let out, they simply did not allow them to freely walk around the temple. The audience here is different, there are inadequate, there are sick, there are demoniacs - the sick are drawn to God, not the healthy. By the way, the guards with me for some reason were very kind and courteous.
I would like to ask, what are people waiting for when they come to the elder? Do they need to be gentle and kind with them, do they want to get everything on a silver platter, without enduring any temptations and inconveniences? But this only happens in five-star hotels.
Father did not choose the environment, these guys are former alcoholics and drug addicts whom he pulled out. For some reason, no one wants to be merciful to them, they are reproached and discussed, and they silently carry out their ministry. Hard service.
The guards devoted to the priest worked perfectly - after the service they divided the crowd into several groups (men, men who came for the first time, children who came for the first time, women with children, etc.) and put people on different sides of the fence.
Soon Fr. Ioanniky came out. Small, thin, old. He was all glowing. First, the priest approached the men who had come for the first time, gathered them in a circle, and said something quietly to them for several minutes. Then he talked with children - with older boys, too, having gathered them in a circle, then he talked separately with the younger ones.
Digressing a little from the topic, I will say that it hurts me to see how some priests treat children - with disdain and disgust. And they even openly shun the sick, not in the least ashamed of it. If a person does not have love even for children, how hard is his heart, can you imagine?
Father Ionniky shone with love, being near the children. In an affectionate voice, he told them that they had to constantly pray, call on God, when you write a test, pass exams. I will not write about everything, but in general, he spoke a lot about prayer. I asked people very much to pray. Approximately he said: "Now it is three days before the day, so you have no time to get up and pray in front of the icons, as our ancestors did. But try not to leave prayer. Pray on the go, let the women pray at the stove."


For several hours the priest talked with people. It was difficult to hear everything he said to everyone in the crowd, but I saw people leave thoughtfully after receiving an answer. Many had an interesting expression on their faces - as if they had solved some problem that weighed upon them in an unexpected way. Ephraim, of course, never asked the priest a question, so we went out from behind the fence, where the guards graciously let those who came to the monastery for the first time directly to the priest. Ephraim and I went to the refectory - I saw no reason to ask one question, because I had a thousand and one, and all the most important ones. The meal included soup, buckwheat, stewed cabbage and vegetables. And - yes, they put it in the same plate, what's wrong with that?
10. I sincerely do not understand the indignation that tea was poured into the same bowl as the soup
We quickly ate buckwheat, pickles and got a small piece of bread each. Bread, and food in general, were protected here to the last crumb.
Once a woman with stomach cancer approached the priest to ask about treatment. Father Ioanniki replied that she would be healed only if she eats garbage from garbage dumps, because all her life she threw away food - for this she was given this disease.
Well, Ephraim and I wiped the plate of buckwheat with a piece of bread and drank sweet warm tea with pleasure. Just think, from the same bowl! After all, everything in the stomach will still be together.
When we left the refectory, there were fewer people around the priest. I stood in the crowd of women, as far as I understood, who came to the monastery regularly, and listened to their questions. They were similar, they all had problems with their personal lives, husbands and grown-up children. Sometimes the priest spoke very wonderfully, in poetry. From time to time, when answering a question, he gave a short sermon. About prayer, about how important it is to preserve the family by any means, about the fact that it is unacceptable to destroy a wedding marriage. The women received answers and left, and in the meantime I moved closer and closer to the fence behind which the priest was. Finally, out of interest rather than hoping to get an answer, I decided to dilute the same questions with others, completely unlike anything else. I knew all sorts of standard answers to my question in theory very well and applied them in practice. The result, however, was disastrous. How will the priest answer my question?
I gained strength and asked. In one second, like an X-ray, he pierced me with his gaze, after which he recited a short, two-line rhyme.
Eureka. I was taken aback. "God save me," I replied and jumped out of the crowd. I jumped out as a completely different person. There was only one question, but Father answered in a few words to all the thousand and one that I had. This father is a great man. The most spiritual and educated priests, some of whom have known me for more than a dozen years, could not even come close to answering this simple question. All their answers were the answers of the scribes and Pharisees, and not of the fathers - as the fathers, they could not answer. Probably, in order to be able to answer like a father, you have to love a child like a child? My question was about love, by the way.
Rejoice for me, brothers, sisters and honest fathers. From that moment on, my life really changed. It turns out that in order to change your life in an instant, you do not need any money, or any efforts, or even someone's kind disposition. It is enough just to reveal some hitherto invisible facet of the most important. I understood my problem. Thank God. As soon as I understood this, in a surprising way, changes took place in the outer life as well within a few hours.
Finally, I would like to answer a few more complaints from disgruntled pilgrims:
11. Father talks to people right on the street without inviting them.
And he does the right thing. He does not need to talk about the problem for a long time, because he sees a person through and through, and quickly gives an exhaustive answer.
12. Father cannot even take a step without his guards.
It cannot, otherwise it will be torn to pieces, torn to pieces alive by a crowd of suffering. It is these guards that he needs, laconic, strict, patient.
13. Father is carried on an armchair as if on a throne.
Let's see how you will function when you are under 80 years old. Better pray for the health of Father Ioannikios, if you have even a little conscience left. I wonder how, as a Christian, you can get to the point where you can reproach an elderly unhealthy person who has been serving all night for being driven in an armchair?


P.S. There are few photographs, because the use of cameras and mobile phones is prohibited in the monastery. Sorry for the mistakes in the text - I wrote from the phone, but I have autocomplete, which always declines verbs in its own way and throws out many more different tricks)
P.P.S. If you have a good confessor who is an example for you, then do not look for anything better.
If interested, then I can write in more detail about how Father Ioanniky blesses children to pray.
And finally, one piece of advice from my father, which I really liked:
"It is better to know little and do, than to know a lot and not do"
In our age, when grief from the mind closes the spiritual eyes, this advice seems to me very relevant.