"O. John emphatically says: ». What else can be added to this?.. Let us give ourselves a clear account of what a terrible time we live in. And let's not insanely indulge in frivolity, closing our eyes to obvious signs that are multiplying every day and vividly testify that we are on the threshold of eternity opening before us.Archbishop Averky Taushev

«… The time of the “end”, its approach or distance depends on the spiritual moral state of people. There is no absolute time constant, no static, fatal time, objectively independent of a person. Time, like space, is a way of being created, it is inextricably linked with the spiritual state of man. Time is a variable …» Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (386):“But no one is curious about the time ... Do not dare to say decisively: this will happen then, and do not indulge in a carefree sleep.” (Nilus S.A. “There is near, at the door”, 2009).

Rev. Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833) - When will the end of this world be? —“One Sarov brother thought that the end of the world was already near, that the great day of the second coming of the Lord was coming. So he asks about this opinion about. Seraphim. The elder humbly answered: “My joy, you think a lot about poor Seraphim. How can I know when the end of this world will come and the great day will come in which the Lord will judge the living and the dead and will reward everyone according to his deeds? No, this is impossible for me to know. The brother in fear fell at the feet of the perspicacious old man. Seraphim kindly raised him up and continued to speak like this: “The Lord said with His pure lips: About that day and hour, no one knows, not the angels of heaven, only My Father is One. As it was in the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. As if in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and encroaching, until a bad day Noah went into the ark, and did not take him away, until the water came and all was taken: such will be the coming of the Son of Man(Matthew 24:36-39)." At this, the old man sighed heavily and said: We, who live on earth, have strayed a lot from the path of salvation; anger the Lord and not keeping St. posts; now Christians are allowed to eat meat and in St. fortecost and every fast; Wednesdays and Fridays are not saved; and the Church has a rule: those who do not keep St. posts and all summer Wednesdays and Fridays sin a lot. But the Lord will not be completely angry, but he will have mercy. We have the Orthodox faith, the Church, which has no vice. For the sake of these virtues, Russia will always be glorious and terrible and irresistible to enemies, having faith and piety in the shield and armor of truth: the gates of hell will not overcome these. (The Phenomenon of Russian Elderhood: Examples from the Spiritual Practice of the Elders. Comp. S. S. Khoruzhy, 2006).

Archbishop Averky (Taushev) (1906-1976): When will the Antichrist come?—The day and hour of his coming is unknown, just as the day and hour of the Second Coming of Christ are unknown. But Holy Scripture shows us the signs that have to anticipate his coming. The coming of the Antichrist will be gradually prepared for a very long time. This is from what Antichrist will appear from the sea, or from the abyss of human sins- it will concentrate, as it were, all the evil that has accumulated over the centuries in the human race and reaches the maximum strength of its tension. This is the gradual preparation of St. The Apostle Paul calls the “mystery of iniquity”, already in operation, and “apostasy” (from the Greek “apostasy”; 2 Thess.2, 7, 3). Under this "apostasy", as is clear from the last speeches of the Lord (Matt. 24, etc.) and from the letters of the Apostles (2 Pet. 3, 1, Jude. 18, 19, etc.), we must deviation from the true faith in God, the impoverishment of love, the multiplication of vices, the decline of morality which, intensifying more and more, by the time of the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world will bring mankind to the extreme degree of godlessness and wickedness. In particular, the preparers for the coming of the Antichrist will be his predecessors, especially wicked and God-fighting people. These are precisely the "antichrists" in broad sense the words spoken of in his conciliar epistle by St. John the Theologian (1 John 2:18).

According to St. Apostle Paul, taking from the environment "holding" and "holding» (2 Thess.2, 6-7). The Holy Fathers understood the Roman Empire by "holding" and the Roman emperors by "holding"; in the broad sense of the word, these expressions were understood as the lawful state legal order on earth and its representatives - lawful sovereigns, as curbing the manifestations of evil on earth. The great fathers and saints of God of our Russian Church understood by this Russian State and Russian Sovereigns, as the legal successors of the Roman, and then the Byzantine Empire ("Moscow - the Third Rome"). If we take into account that Russia, after the fall of Byzantium, remained on earth the only powerful state that was the true stronghold of the one true Orthodox faith on earth, and the Russian Sovereigns were the patrons and defenders of the Orthodox Church throughout the world, then such an interpretation seems quite reasonable and natural.

This is exactly what the great righteous man, prayer book and miracle worker of our ever-memorable archpriest about. John of Kronstadt... Many of his inspired, fiery sermons, especially in last years his life, devoted to the theme of apostasy, so clearly committed before the eyes of the righteous in Russia, which was rapidly rolling into the abyss of godlessness and wickedness. He did not say that nothing special was happening, which, they say, had always been like that before, as some say even now, after all the horrors that befell our Motherland, but he fervently warned the Russian people, warning of the inevitable punishment of God approaching them. for apostasy and predicting the subsequent coming of the Antichrist soon after. Now, when the whole world is confronted with the fact, unheard of in history, of the existence of a huge state of many millions, which has set itself the task of an open struggle with God and the destruction of Christianity, a state armed with a terrible, also unheard of never before, force with destructive weapons and projectiles, such as atomic and hydrogen bombs, in time to bring to mind the true words of our great righteous man and seer.

« We are going through terrible times, apparently the last", - so he said in a sermon on February 13, 1907 - "and, although the day and hour of the future Last Judgment is unknown to any of the people, but, there are already signs of its approach indicated in the gospel. That's why everyone needs to be ready for the universal judgment and live in repentance, love and good deeds. Strive diligently, brethren, for your salvation, so that the last day does not find you sleeping!»

And here is how he clearly speaks about the Antichrist and about who should be meant by the deterrent: “Through the powerful persons, the Lord watches over the good of the kingdoms of the earth and especially the good of the world of His Church, not allowing godless teachings, heresies and schisms to overwhelm her, and the greatest villain of the world which will appear in the last times - the Antichrist cannot appear among us because of the autocratic power that restrains the disorderly vacillation and the absurd teaching of the atheists.

The apostle says that until then the Antichrist will not appear on earth, as long as autocratic power exists. “For the mystery of iniquity is already happening, but it will not be done until then, until the sovereign is taken from us: hold on now from the environment, and then the lawless one will appear, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of His mouth” (2 Thess. 2, 7-8). (New words, spoken: in 1902 ed. 1903 p. 47).

And in another sermon delivered in the same year, Fr. John emphatically says: When the restrainer (autocrat) is taken from the earth, then the Antichrist will come ».

What else can be added to this? " He who has ears to hear let him hear!» Let us give ourselves a clear account of what a terrible time we live in.. And let's not insanely indulge in frivolity, closing our eyes to obvious signs that are multiplying every day and vividly testify that we are on the threshold of eternity opening before us. (Archbishop Averky "The Church of Christ and the Coming Antichrist").

Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr (+2014) about time and timing coming into the world of the Antichrist, writes the following in his article about the Orthodox attitude to questions about the “end times”: “The Lord, answering the question of the apostles: when it will be, does not tell them about the timing of the fulfillment of the prophecy, but only indicates the internal and external signs of their approach: Of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, but only My Father alone(Matthew 24:36). It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set in His own power.(Acts 1, 7), says the Lord in another place. ... The Lord ... as if does not touch the issue of time, but transfers the answer to a different plane, to a plane spiritual and moral state of the world, which determines the course of time and the proximity of the end.…The time of the "end", its approach or distance depends on the spiritual and moral state of people.There is no absolute time constant, there is no static, fatal time, objectively independent of a person. Time, like space, there is a way of being created, it is inextricably linked with the spiritual state of man. Time is a variable.

The Lord is so merciful that he allows his creation - man - to participate and influence the fate of the Church, the world, the entire universe, the course of time. God conceived of man, who contains the image and likeness of God, as the king of the whole world, responsible for the universe, which depends on his internal and external activities. God trusts man so much that he hands him the fate of the world, and hence the fate of time. Understanding that time depends on a person gives rise to a completely different attitude towards oneself, which time of his life and everything that happens. If a person sins, i.e. generates and spreads destructive energy, then by doing so it not only poisons the spiritual environment, but also reduces, “kills” time, brings its end closer. Every sin has devastating consequences for the entire universe and time. And vice versa, repentance and righteousness increase the life force of the entire universe, prolong history, time.

Two biblical examples eloquently confirm this. The prayers and tears of King Hezekiah prolonged his life (2 Kings 20). Public sincere repentance of the Ninevites through the preaching of the prophet Jonah saved their city from destruction (Jon. 3). There is a certain critical mass, the excess of which threatens with a catastrophe. If the strength and amount of evil, wickedness in the world exceeded this measure, then life-filling sin sweeps away everything in its path. This is a disaster, the end. One can recall the conditions of pardoning Sodom and Gomorrah, where a few righteous were missing to avoid death (Genesis 18-19). God does not predetermine a person's choice, but anticipates his behavior and tries to direct him to good. God knows what the thinking of a man's heart is evil from his youth(Gen. 8:21). The consequence of this will be death, the date of which is open to God's omniscience. In this sense, God, in His own power, has set the times and seasons for the existence of the world.

Thus, the time of the appearance of the "man of lawlessness", the Antichrist, who accumulates in himself all the world's evil, depends on people. Sinning, people bring his coming closer. By repenting and living righteously, they alienate him.

The signs of the approaching end indicated in the Gospel (Matt. 24) have a double meaning: the spiritual scale, according to which the moral state of mankind is determined in a given period of time, how close it has come to the limit beyond which - a catastrophe, and the motive for vigilance, prayer and repentance. And the desire to calculate or find out the time of the coming of the Antichrist and the end of the world, in addition to impudence and empty curiosity, which are unacceptable for Orthodox Christians, also testifies to the wrong, fatal perception of time as a substance independent of our will. If the sinner knew exactly the time of the end, then this would lead him into the temptation to postpone repentance until the very end of his life. That servant, being angry, will say in his heart: my master will not come soon, and he will begin to beat his comrades and eat and drink with drunkards.(Matthew 24:48-49). By the uncertainty of the time of the second coming, the Lord warns against sin, encourages to be sober, to always be ready for a meeting, so that life constantly “burns”, like a lamp for wise virgins (Matt. 25).

And therefore We pray you, brethren, about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering to Him, not to be in a hurry to waver in mind and be troubled either from the spirit, or from the word, or from the message, as if sent by us, as if the day of Christ is already coming ... But you, brethren don't be discouraged by doing good(1 Thess. 2:1-2; 3:13)." (According to the book: "Apocalypse. Interpretation of St. Andrew, Archbishop of Caesarea." Edition of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, 2009, p.7-10).

Archimandrite John (Krestyankin) (1910-2006) writes about the modern world and the last times: “Someone will not live to see that open choice - either faith, or bread, - but the choice life path: either for God, or against God - takes place in the life of every person both earlier and now, and until the end of life. Only on the scales is not yet a piece of bread. And that time will come. But when? God knows! How more people choose life against God, the sooner the last choice draws near.The earth will cease to give birth to bread from the malice of those who live on it. All nature will cry out to God from human iniquities. The field of life will be overgrown with thorns and weeds, and we are laborers in this field, laborers in God's field.

It is necessary to keep the Spirit of God, and this is joy, peace, love, abstinence, and so on - in God and according to God. Only this will not burn in the last fire, and only this will testify to our heartfelt choice, and cards, passports, numbers, stamps - everything will burn without a trace.

Yes, of course, the world is in a hurry to the Last Judgment at the last speed. The struggle is visible and obvious, but the struggle is for souls and nothing else. And not without our participation, all this is happening now. And even more so at the last stage, when we will have to answer: “How do we believe?”

... We ... will not doubt for a moment the omnipotence of God's Providence, which knows how to save the faithful and those who love God. Here is our weapon - love for God and the Church. And eat bread, God gives it to the world; eat until it is related to your beliefs. And our task is to protect the Church from schism and heresies.” (“Letters from Archimandrite John (Krestyankin)”. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Mgarsky Monastery, 2006).

Elder Archimandrite Seraphim Tyapochkin (1894-1982) he said what was revealed to him about the future of Russia, he did not name dates, he only emphasized that the time for the accomplishment of what was said is in the hands of God, and much depends on how the spiritual life of the Russian Church will develop, how strong faith in God will be among Russian people what will be the prayer feat of believers.

This collection of sayings of Saints God's saints we give about times and dates so that people, on the one hand, are not careless, realize what evil times we are all going through, and what we still have to go through in the near future, and on the other hand, do not lose heart from the lawlessness that is happening around, do not give up , what “Everything, they say, can’t change anything, evil is stronger than us, and nothing depends on me”. These are suggestions, whisperings of the evil one. He needs to bring the Antichrist to power, and therefore our despondency and expectation of the end and the rapid accession of the Antichrist plays into his hands. It is necessary, on the contrary, not to succumb to panic moods, to intensify prayer and fasting. Whoever does not read yet, finally begin to read the Psalter, which helps very well from despondency and teaches hope in the Lord, akathists to the Lord, the Mother of God, the Saints, which give real help and spiritual joy, despite all external troubles. We need to be well aware that the Lord is over everything, and everything depends on Him and on our repentance and on our prayers - and the duration of preparation for the accession of the Antichrist, and the time when the “man of lawlessness” comes to power, and the strengthening or weakening of the concentration of evil specifically in our house, city, country, and the fate of ours and our relatives both in the near future and in eternity ...

We need a life according to the commandments, and therefore, out of love - we will give all sinners into the hands of God's mercy, and we will treat ourselves more strictly, remembering that from how we can acquire a peaceful spirit in ourselves, we can help others in this. A real Christian is strong because he is able to really influence the world, charge everything around with his love, and thus change the world around him…

Therefore, forecasts are forecasts, predictions are predictions—yes, you need to know them in order to know where the world is moving, and where we are in this world—all this will really happen. But when - now, in the near future, or will the Lord still give us and our children to live piously for some time? ..

And in this regard, in conclusion, I would like to quote the words Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, said to the Russian pilgrims during their visit to Athos, very comforting for believers, and giving hope that there will still be a flourishing of Orthodoxy in Russia and in the world, and a pious life for some time, again, the duration of which depends on us ... His words are fully consistent with the predictions of both the ancient Greek Fathers about the revival and flourishing of Orthodoxy ( before the end will blossom), and with the prophecies of the monk Abel, St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, St. Righteous John of Kronstadt, with predictions about the near future of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountaineer, Elder Elpidius and other Orthodox elders.

Elder Joseph of Vatopedi(1921-2009) : “The Lord endured our iniquities for a long time, as before a great flood, but now the limit of God’s long-suffering is coming - it's time for cleansing. The cup of God's wrath is overflowing. The Lord will allow suffering for the destruction of the wicked and theomachists - all those who have created modern disorders, poured out dirt and infected the people. The Lord will allow that they will destroy each other with blinded minds. There will be many victims and blood. But believers do not need to be afraid, although for them there will be mournful days, there will be as many sorrows as the Lord allows for cleansing. There is no need to be afraid of this. Then there will be a surge of piety in Russia and throughout the world. The Lord will cover his. People will return to God.

We are already on the threshold of these events. Now it all starts, then the atheists will have next stage, but they will not be able to carry out their plans, the Lord will not allow. ... After a surge of piety, the end of earthly history will be near.

« We pray so that the Russian people come to their own normal condition, which was before the destruction, because we have common roots and are worried about the situation of the Russian people ...

Such deterioration now - general state worldwide. And this state is exactly the limit, after which the wrath of God already begins. We have reached this limit. The Lord only endured by His mercy, and now he will not endure, but by His righteousness he will begin to punish, because the time has come.

There will be wars and we will experience great hardships. Now the Jews have seized power all over the world, and their goal is to eradicate Christianity. The wrath of God will be such that all the secret enemies of Orthodoxy will be destroyed. Especially for this, the wrath of God is sent to destroy them..

Trials should not terrify us, we should always have hope in God. After all, thousands, millions of martyrs suffered in the same way, and the New Martyrs suffered in the same way, and therefore we must be prepared for this and not be horrified. Patience, prayer and hope in the Providence of God must be. Let us pray for the revival of Christianity after all that awaits us, so that the Lord would really give us the strength to be reborn. But this harm must be endured ...

Tests have long begun, and we must wait for the big bang. But after that there will be a revival…

Now the beginning of events, difficult military events. The engine of this evil is the Jews. The devil compels them to start in order to destroy the seed of Orthodoxy in Greece and in Russia. This is for them the main obstacle to world domination. And they will force the Turks to come here to Greece and start their actions. And Greece, although it has a government, but as such, in fact, it does not exist, as it were, because it has no power. And the Turks will come here. This will be the moment when Russia, too, will move its forces to push back the Turks.

Events will develop as follows: when Russia comes to the aid of Greece, the Americans and NATO will try to prevent this, so that there is no reunification, no merging of the two Orthodox peoples. They will also raise more forces - the Japanese and other peoples. On the territory of the former Byzantine Empire there will be a big fight. Only the dead will be about 600 million people. The Vatican will also actively participate in all this in order to prevent the reunification and the growth of the role of Orthodoxy. But this will result in the complete destruction of the Vatican influence, to the very foundation. This is how the Providence of God will turn…

There will be God's permission to destroy those who sow temptations: pornography, drug addiction etc. And the Lord will so blind their minds that they will destroy each other with gluttony. The Lord will allow it on purpose to do a big purge. As for the one who rules the country, he will not last long, and what is happening now will not be long, and then immediately the war. But after this great purge, there will be a revival of Orthodoxy not only in Russia, but throughout the world, a great upsurge of Orthodoxy.

The Lord will give His favor, grace, just as it was at the beginning, in the first centuries, when people with an open heart went to the Lord. This will last three or four decades, and then the dictatorship of the Antichrist will quickly come..

These are the terrible events we must go through, but let them not terrify us, because the Lord will cover His own. Yes, indeed, we are experiencing difficulties, hunger and even persecution and much more, but the Lord will not leave His own. And those who are placed in power should force their subjects to be more with the Lord, to be more in prayer, and the Lord will cover His own. But after the big purge there will be a big revival…” (http://www.zaistinu.ru).

“When thinking about this topic, you need to remember the following word of God: “Sometimes I will say about a nation and a kingdom that I will build and establish it; but if he does evil in my sight and do not obey my voice, I will cancel the good with which I wanted to benefit him» (Jer. 18:9-10). And the acceptance of personal numbers from the "world lying in evil" is an entry into the system of evil and disobedience to the voice of God's commandments.

And if the whole of Russia accepts codification and thus places itself at the complete disposal of the world government, then what can the monarch do? The world Masonic government will rule here, and not the long-awaited king.

So those who accept the codes testify by deed that they want to live not under the control of the Orthodox Tsar of Russia, but under the hood of a world government headed by the “king of Zion blood” ...

Saint righteous John Kronstadt said: « If there is no repentance among the people, then the end of the world is near».

Therefore, if we do not repent and cleanse ourselves of passions, but wait only for the king with his glorious kingdom, then we will not receive either earthly or heavenly things. If, however, we repent and, first of all, seek the Kingdom of God in our souls, then if the Lord wills, He will add to us everything necessary for this temporary life (including, perhaps, the Kingdom of Orthodoxy). For it is said: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this [necessary for life] will be added to you”(Matthew 6:33)…

Here is how a wonderful Russian patriot spoke about this - Metropolitan John (Snychev):“The 20th century for Russia is a time of fiery, terrible, bloody trials, a time of satanic temptations that command the minds and corrupt the souls of millions of people; the time of zealous ascetics confessors and martyrs - fearless warriors of Christ, who preserved the Truth and Faith in Russia despite all the efforts of Russophobes, theomachists and Christ-haters.

The cruel and bloody struggle for the Russian heart has not stopped to this day. Moreover, right now, today it is close to its climax, to that decisive moment that will determine whether our tormented country will return to the spiritual expanses of Holy Russia or, stunned and slandered, will go "broad and spacious way that leads to destruction" (Mt.7, 13), through apostasy and national degeneration, "civilization and progress." A path naturally culminating in a worldwide cosmopolitan kingdom headed by the Antichrist…” (According to the book: “Reasoning about salvation in our time. 2014”, pp. 184-185).

Holy Scripture about times and dates

“But no one knows about that day and hour, not even the angels in heaven, but only My Father alone”(Matthew 24:36).

“Look after yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with overeating, and drunkenness, and the cares of life, and lest that day come upon you suddenly.”(Luke 21:34).

“It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed in His own power”(Acts 1, 7).

“Know first of all that in the last days there will come scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers began to die, from the beginning of creation, everything remains the same. The Lord is not slow in fulfilling his promise, as some consider slowness; but longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance... And consider the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation...” (2 Pet. 3, 3-4, 8-9, 15).

“There is no need to write to you about times and seasons, brethren, for you yourselves know for certain that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, just as the pain of childbirth comes upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will not escape.(1 Thess. 5:1-3).

“We beseech you, brethren, let no one deceive you in any way… For the mystery of iniquity is already at work, only it will not be completed until… the one holding back is now taken out of the midst”(2 Thess. 2; 1, 7).

L. Ochai, 06/27/2015

The Spirit of God, by His will, has given the Church many different types holiness (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Therefore, the saints are called differently - according to what gift of God they have learned. it prophets, apostles, martyrs, saints, saints, righteous, unmercenary and blessed.

prophets- these are the saints of God, for the most part, who lived before the birth of Christ, who, by the power of the Spirit of the Lord, predicted the future, denounced untruth and announced the appearance of Christ.

Apostles(messengers) - these are the closest disciples of Christ the Savior, to whom He gave the command to preach the good news of salvation and the authority to create churches throughout the world. Christ chose for himself twelve closest apostles and seventy others, and after the Resurrection he called another apostle Paul.

The Apostles Peter and Paul are called supreme because they have labored more than others in the work of preaching. Those apostles who wrote the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - are called Evangelists .

Those saints who became famous as missionaries who converted many to Christ are called equal to the apostles . This, for example, Mary Magdalene, Prince Vladimir, Emperor Constantine, Nicholas of Japan.

Martyrs(witnesses of God) are saints who suffered for their fidelity to Christ the Savior and His teachings to death and thus testified to God's victory over death. Those who fought for the name of Christ but died in the world are called confessors .

The first victims for the Lord were Sts. Stefan and Thekla, that's why they are called first martyrs. Those martyrs who retained their faith in unusually difficult sufferings are called great martyrs (St. George the Victorious, St. Barbara, St. Catherine and others).

Saints- bishops who pleased the Creator with a righteous life and zealous care for the flock (for example, Nicholas the Wonderworker). Three saints of the IV century - Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom are also called universal teachers because their teaching is exemplary for the World Church. Those bishops who died for Christ are called holy martyrs .

Reverends(those who have achieved extreme godlikeness) are righteous Christians who have pleased God on the monastic path. They kept the purity of body and soul and conquered passions, moving away from people. The monks executed for Christ are venerable martyrs .

Unmercenaries- These are the righteous who treated diseases for free and healed ailments by the power of the Lord.

righteous- these are the saints who pleased God, living in the world, being family people.

Blessed and For Christ's sake fools those saints are called who, wanting to get rid of vanity and pride, for the sake of God pretended to be crazy. They showed by deed that the word of the Lord is foolishness for the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16). God often gave them the gift of prophecy. (In Russia, the most revered holy fools are St. Basil the Blessed, Xenia of Petersburg and Matrona of Moscow.)

We honor the saints as friends of Christ, as children and heirs of God. As John of Damascus wrote: “I call them gods (Ex. 7:1), kings and masters, not by nature, but because they reigned and dominated the passions and kept intact the likeness of the image of God, according to which they were created (for the king the image of the king is also called), and also because they, by their own (free) disposition, united with God, accepted Him into the habitation of (their) heart, and, partaking of Him, became by grace what He Himself is by nature. Therefore, how not to honor those who have received the title of servants, friends and sons of God? For the honor given to the most zealous of co-workers indicates a disposition towards the common Master ”(Accurate Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. Book 4. Ch. 15 (88)).

We ask the saints for intercession before God, just as Job's friends asked for his prayers (Job 42:7-8; also see Gen. 20:17; Numbers 16:44-48; Exodus 8:8-13) so the saints support our weak and weak prayer with their strong intercession. After all, while in Heaven, they do not forget to intercede for us. We celebrate their memory, as God commands: "The memory of the righteous will be blessed"(Prov. 10:7). We honor them with psalms, and doxologies, and spiritual hymns (Eph. 5:19), raising honor to the God of saints. In the days of their memory, we glorify them with contrition of heart, mercy to those in need, participation in the sacred Liturgy. In honor of them, we build temples and sacred images, for every saint is a living monument to the great work of Redemption, another fruit of the Sacrifice on the Cross. And just as the Old Testament patriarchs erected monuments in the places of theophany, so we glorify the living temples of God - the saints, whose compatriots we have become (Eph. 2:19). This is how the unity of the earthly and heavenly Churches is manifested. According to the apostle Paul, “if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it”(1 Corinthians 12:26).

RELICS OF SAINTS

But our love is not limited to honoring the memory of saints and their images. No, we give due honor to their bodies as true temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:16). The power of God rests in them even after death, showing the truth of the future universal Resurrection. Because these bodies are called holy relics .

God works many miracles through them - heals the sick, casts out demons, exudes fragrant oil ( miro ). Even in ancient times, the bones of the prophet Elisha raised the dead (2 Kings 13:21). If God brought water to the Jews even from a stone (Ex. 17:6), all the more so after the life-giving death of the Lord, grace appears in the relics of the saints. After all, even the clothes of Christ (Mark 5:28-29) and the apostles (Acts 19:21) healed.

From the incorruptible body of Jesus (Acts 2:31), the bodies of the saints who share in the power of His Resurrection are often given the gift of incorruption, so that instead of decay, they are preserved incorruptible and filled with fragrance. For example, the relics of St. Alexander Svirsky, after half a millennium, retained all the properties of a living body - softness, lordship, miraculous myrrh pours out of it. In the caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, hundreds of saints show that it is this body, cleansed by deeds, that will be glorified on the Last Day.

Therefore, we give the relics the same reverence that was given to the Temple and the saints. We kiss them, light candles and lamps before them, burn incense, worship them (see Ps. 5:8; Dan. 2:46). In accordance with ancient tradition, particles of the relics of the martyrs are placed under the altar (throne) of the temple - as a remembrance of the souls of those killed for the name of God, who are under the heavenly altar (Rev. 6:9-11).

LAMPS AND CANDLES

As we said above, fulfilling the dogmatic definition of the VII Ecumenical Council, during prayer and simply as a sign of our respect for the Creator, Christians light candles and lamps in front of the icons and relics. This custom is based on the words of Scripture: “And command the children of Israel to bring you clean oil beaten out of olive trees for illumination, so that a lamp may burn at all times; in the tabernacle of meeting outside the veil, which is before the ark of the revelation, Aaron and his sons will kindle it, from evening until morning, before the face of the Lord.(Ex. 27:20-21).

The prototype of this lamp is in Heaven, where before the face of God the Father shines a seven-lamp (Rev. 4.5) - a symbol of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and this custom based on heavenly realities was adopted and apostolic church. Thus, the Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells of the night Liturgy served in Troas by the Apostle Paul; the liturgy was served in the upper room, in which there were many lamps (Acts 20:8).

It, like all sacred traditions, has a deep meaning. The lamps that are lit in front of the icons and held in the hands during the divine service symbolize that “illumination by which we, pure and virgin souls, will go out to meet the Bridegroom Christ, having clear lamps of faith” (St. Gregory the Theologian, Word 40).

They remind us of our sacrifice to the Creator and require us to be on fire in prayer. When we buy a wax candle in the temple, we donate to the well-being of the house of God. By lighting a candle and an icon lamp at home, we render due honor to those who are depicted on the icons. Yes, and our prayer will become more pure and deep. After all, if we, turning to the Creator, offer him a sacrifice along with prayer, then it will help us to have less fun before the eternal radiance of the Trinity.

And the very substances that we sacrifice remind us of God. Olive oil- this is ancient symbol mercy of God and His healing power. After all, since ancient times, oil has been used to soften irritation and heal wounds (cf. Lk. 10:34). On the other hand, it is a sign of our good deeds, as the parable of the ten virgins tells about this (Matt. 25:1-13).

A candle burning in front of the image exudes the fragrance of honey and honeycombs, with the sweetness and fragrance of which Scripture compares the words of the Law of God (Ps. 17:11; Ps. 118:109). It consists of three elements, the totality of which gives a description of the spiritual life of a Christian. Wax is a sign of good deeds, a wick is a sign of the Orthodox faith, and fire is a sign of grace given through the Sacraments. As Simeon of Thessalonica wrote, “wax, as the purest substance, means our purity and the sincerity of our offering. Wax, as a substance on which the seal of objects can be imprinted, means the seal and sign of the Cross, which is placed on us in Baptism and Chrismation. Wax, as a soft and bendable substance, means our obedience and readiness to repent of a sinful life. Wax collected from fragrant flowers means the grace of the Holy Spirit. Wax, composed of many flowers, signifies the offering made by all Christians. Wax, as a substance burned, means our burning (by the Divine Flame). And, finally, wax, in which fire burns, and this light, constantly burning, means the connection and strength of our mutual love and the world” (The Book of the Church, Ch. 134).

INCENSE

In order to help our prayers, the Church has also established the custom of burning incense. Even the God-seer Moses received from God the command to burn the sacred incense in front of the Ark of the Covenant every evening and morning (Ex. 30:7-8, 34-38). This rite is still observed in our temples.

The burning of incense itself is not an empty formality. Frankincense is a symbol of the prayers of the righteous (Rev. 5:8). No wonder during the evening censing we sing:

- Let my prayer go forth like incense before you; the uplifting of my hands is like an evening sacrifice.(Ps. 140:2).

Even in Heaven, Angels bring incense to God in golden censers with the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8:3). Therefore, those who reject this pious custom are opposed to the word of God.

But the burning of incense is not only a symbol of prayers. It reminds us of the immaterial fragrance of heavenly gardens prepared for the saved. How beautifully the blessed soul says in the Song of Songs: “As long as the day breathes coolness and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense”(Song 4,6).

This heavenly fragrance itself, in turn, is the result of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Once Rev. Seraphim of Sarov showed Motovilov the glory of communion with God, which is available to Christians on earth, and in addition to the inexpressible radiance and inexpressible warmth, Motovilov felt an incomparable fragrance. way and real way to connect with this heavenly fragrance is the smoking of incense. No wonder the priest, blessing the censer, says: “We bring the censer to You, Christ our God, in the smell of spiritual fragrance, which, having accepted your altar in the superheavenly ones, in return send us the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

Indeed, according to the correct observation of Fr. Pavel Florensky, clouds of incense smoke ascend into supercosmic spheres and return filled with a different power. It is no accident, therefore, that even in the Old Testament, incense was important as an instrument for protecting a person from deadly forces. When the Jews revolted against Moses and God sent a pestilence on them, Aaron took a censer with incense on the orders of Moses and stood between the dead and the living, and the pestilence ceased (Numbers 16:41-50). Therefore, even now censing is used to protect against the devil and his servants. It is not for nothing that many wicked people who do not want to part with their evil deeds cannot endure the smell of incense.

But here it is worth noting that not every burning of incense is pleasing to God. It happens that people burn incense in front of idols. For example, smoking sticks are lit in front of Buddha idols or photographs of various "gurus". This action is disgusting to the Lord and deprives a person of the title of Christian. The ancient martyrs went to their death in order not to commit such an act of apostasy. So St. Babyla was dragged to the altar and they wanted to force him to throw a few pieces of incense in front of the idol, and for this they held his hand over the fire. But he endured until his hand burned through. He did this because he knew that this burnt grain would not just dissolve into the atmosphere, but descend into the underworld and return filled with the black power of Satan.

How to properly incense at home? It is necessary to buy incense in the temple - there a special prayer of consecration is read over it. Then, during prayer or just when some kind of insurance begins in the house, we put a piece of incense on a burning coal in a manual censer in front of the icons or simply on a lamp, overshadow it with the sign of the cross in the name of the Holy Trinity and begin to pray. If the presence of the forces of evil is felt in the house, then a prayer is read at the time of censing Holy Cross"Let God arise."

According to the Christian religion, God gives each of the Christians two angels. In the works of St. Theodore of Edessa explains that one of them - the guardian angel - protects from all evil, helps to do good and protects from all misfortunes. Another angel - a saint of God, whose name is given at baptism - intercedes for a Christian before God. You must resort to the mediation of your Angel in different occasions in life, he will pray for us before God. In addition, the Christian tradition has determined which saints can help in certain situations, if you turn to them with faith and hope for resolving the situation. For example, about luck in blacksmithing in Russia, they turned to the patronage of the unmercenaries and miracle workers Kozma and Demyan, the holy brothers - artisans and healers. Against pride, they prayed to the Monk Wonderworker Sergius of Radonezh and Alexy God's man known for deep humility. Prayers were built, for example, like this: “Reverend Seraphim of Sarov, martyrs Anthony, Eustathius and John of Vilna, holy healers of the feet, ease my ailments, strengthen my strength and legs!”.
Orthodox Christians had patron saints who helped both in captivity by the enemy (the righteous Philaret the Merciful through prayer leads the awake out of captivity), and in the patronage of the entire state (Great Martyr George the Victorious, in whose honor the state award for services to the fatherland "George's Cross" was established), and even in digging wells (Great Martyr Theodore Stratilat).
Many saints and great martyrs knew the art of medicine during their lifetime and successfully used it to heal the suffering (for example, the martyrs Cyrus and John, the Monk Agomit of the Caves, the martyr Diomedes and others). They resort to the help of other saints because during their lifetime they experienced similar suffering and received healing by trusting in God.
For example, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (XI century) suffered from eye problems and recovered after Holy Baptism. Prayers succeed only with faith in the power of their intercession before God, from whom believers receive help. For greater success in prayer, a prayer service was ordered in a church with water blessing.
Your attention is invited to a list of saints who glorified themselves by helping people get rid of physical and mental ailments. It should be noted that holy healers help not only fellow believers, but also other suffering people. For example, there is a well-known case of a cure by Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow (XIV century) of the wife of Khan Chanibek Taidula from eye diseases. It is Saint Alexis who is prayed for the gift of insight.
The proposed list of intercessors in illnesses does not claim to be complete, it does not include miraculous icons, Archangels - the patrons of Christians at different stages of life. Here only information about the saints - healers. After the name of the saint, numbers are indicated in brackets - the age of life, death or the acquisition of relics by the church (Roman numeral) and the day when the memory of this saint is honored by the Orthodox Church (according to the new style).

Hieromartyr Antipas(I century, April 24). When he was thrown by his tormentors into a red-hot copper bull, he asked God for the grace to heal people from toothache. This saint is mentioned in the Apocalypse.

Alexy Moskovsky(XIV century, February 23). The Metropolitan of Moscow, even during his lifetime, healed from eye diseases. He is prayed for to get rid of this disease.

Righteous youth Artemy(IV c., July 6, November 2) was crushed by the persecutors of the faith with a huge stone that squeezed the insides. Most of the healings were received by those suffering from pain in the stomach, as well as from a hernia. Christians received healing from the relics in case of serious illnesses.

Agapit Pechersky(XI century, June 14). During the treatment he did not require payment, therefore he was nicknamed "the doctor without compensation." Helped the sick, including the hopeless.

Reverend Alexander Svirsky(XVI century., September 12) was given the gift of healing - of the twenty-three of his miracles known from life, almost half relate to the healing of paralyzed patients. After his death, this saint was prayed for the gift of boy children.

Rev. Alypy of the Caves(XII century, August 30) during his lifetime he had the gift of healing leprosy.

Andrew the First-Called, holy apostle from Bethsaida (I century, December 13). He was a fisherman and the first apostle to follow Christ. The apostle went to preach the Christian faith in the Eastern countries. He passed through the places where the cities of Kyiv, Novgorod later arose, and through the lands of the Varangians to Rome and Thrace. He performed many miracles in the city of Patras: the blind received their sight, the sick (including the wife and brother of the ruler of the city) were healed. Nevertheless, the ruler of the city ordered Saint Andrew to be crucified, and he accepted a martyr's death. Under Constantine the Great, the relics were transferred to Constantinople.

Blessed Andrew(X century, October 15), who took upon himself the feat of foolishness, was honored with the gift of insight and healing of those deprived of reason.
Saint Anthony (4th century, January 30) parted from worldly affairs and led an ascetic life in the desert in complete solitude. He should pray for the protection of the weak.

Martyrs Anthony, Eustathius and John of Vilna(Lithuanian) (XIV century, April 27) received holy baptism from Presbyter Nestor, for which they were tortured - this happened in the XIV century. Prayer to these martyrs gives healing for leg diseases.

Great Martyr Anastasia(IV c., January 4), a Roman Christian woman who kept her virginity in marriage because of illnesses that tormented her, helps women in childbirth in resolving a difficult burden.

Martyr Agrippina(July 6), a Roman woman who lived in the III century. The holy relics of Agrippina were transferred from Rome to Fr. Sicily by revelation from above. Many sick people received miraculous healing from the holy relics.

Reverend Athanasia- the abbess (IX century, April 25) did not want to get married in the world, wanting to devote herself to God. However, by the will of her parents, she married twice and only after the second marriage she retired to the desert. She lived holy, and she needs to pray for the well-being of her second marriage.

Holy Martyrs Princes Boris and Gleb(in baptism Roman and David, XI century, May 15 and August 6), the first Russian martyrs - passion-bearers constantly provide prayer assistance to their native land and those suffering from diseases, especially with leg diseases.

Blessed Basil, Moscow miracle worker (XVI century, August 15) helped people by preaching mercy. The relics of Basil the Blessed during the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich brought a miracle of healing from diseases, especially from eye diseases.

Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir(in holy baptism, Vasily, XI century., July 28) during worldly life he was almost blind, but after baptism he recovered. In Kyiv, he first of all baptized his children in a place called Khreshchatyk. This saint is prayed for healing from eye diseases.

Vasily Novgorodsky(XIV century, August 5) - the archpastor, known for the fact that during the epidemic of the ulcer, also known as the black death, which mowed down almost two-thirds of the inhabitants of Pskov, he neglected the danger of infection and came to Pskov to calm and comfort the inhabitants. Trusting the reassurance of the saint, the citizens humbly began to wait for the end of the disaster, which soon really came. The relics of St. Basil of Novgorod are in St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod. Prayer to St. Basil is brought to get rid of an ulcer.

Reverend Basil the New(X century, April 8) bring a prayer for healing from a fever. St. Basil, even during his lifetime, had the gift of healing the sick with a fever, for which the patient had to sit next to Basil. After that, the patient felt better, and he recovered.

Saint Basil the Confessor(VIII century, March 13), together with Procopius Dekanomite, imprisoned for icon veneration, they pray to get rid of severe shortness of breath and bloating.

Hieromartyr Basil of Sebaste(IV century, February 24) prayed to God for the possibility of healing the sick with a throat. He should pray for sore throats and in danger of being strangled by a bone.

Reverend Vitaly(VI-VII centuries, May 5) during his lifetime he was engaged in the conversion of harlots. They bring him a prayer for redemption from carnal passion.

Martyr Wit(IV century, May 29, June 28) - a saint who suffered during the time of Diocletian. He is prayed to get rid of epilepsy (epilepsy).

Great Martyr Barbara(IV c., December 17) pray for salvation from serious illnesses. Barbara's father was a noble man in Phoenicia. Upon learning that his daughter had converted to Christianity, he severely beat her and took her into custody, and then handed her over to Martinian, the ruler of the city of Heliopolis. The girl was severely tortured, but at night, after the torture, the Savior himself appeared in the dungeon, and the wounds healed. After that, the saint was subjected to even more cruel tortures, she was led naked around the city, and then beheaded. Saint Barbara helps to overcome severe mental anguish.

Martyr Boniface(III c., January 3) during his lifetime he suffered from an addiction to drunkenness, but he healed himself and was awarded martyrdom. Those who suffer from the passion of drunkenness and hard drinking pray to him.

Great Martyr George the Victorious(IV c., May 6) was born into a Christian family in Cappadocia, professed Christianity and called on everyone to accept the Christian faith. Emperor Diocletian ordered that the saint be subjected to terrible tortures and executed. The Great Martyr George died before he reached the age of thirty. One of the miracles performed by Saint George was the destruction of a man-eating serpent that lived in a lake near Beirut. George the Victorious is prayed as an assistant in sorrow.

Saint Gury of Kazan(XVI century., July 3, December 18) was innocently convicted and imprisoned. After two years, the doors of the dungeon opened freely. Gury of Kazan is prayed to get rid of stubborn headaches.

Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica(IV c., November 8) at the age of 20 he was appointed proconsul of Thessaloniki region. Instead of oppressing Christians, the saint began to teach the inhabitants of the region the Christian faith. He is prayed for insight from blindness.

Tsarevich Dmitry Uglich and Moscow(XVI century, May 29) sufferers bring prayer to get rid of blindness.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov(XVIII century., October 4) suffered from chest disease and died from this disease. After his death, his imperishable relics help the sufferers, who are exhausted, especially from chest disease.

Martyr Diomedes(III century, August 29) during his lifetime he was a healer, selflessly helping sick people get rid of ailments. Prayer to this saint will help to receive healing in a painful condition.

Reverend Damian, presbyter and healer of the Pechersk Monastery (XI century, October 11 and 18), was called a pelebnik during his lifetime "and they heal the sick with prayer and holy oil." The relics of this saint have the grace to heal the sick.

Martyrs Domnina, Virineya and Proskudiya(IV c., October 17) help in fear of extraneous violence. The persecutors of the Christian faith led Domnina's daughters Virineya and Proskudiya to judgment, that is, to death. In order to save her daughters from violence from drunken warriors, the mother, during the meal of the soldiers, entered the river with her daughters as if into a grave. Martyrs Domnina, Virineya and Proskudiya are prayed for help in preventing violence.

Venerable Evdokia, Princess of Moscow(XV century, July 20), the wife of Dimitry Donskoy, shortly before her death, she took the veil as a nun and received the name Euphrosyne in monasticism. She exhausted her body with fasts, but slander did not spare her because her face remained friendly and cheerful. The rumor about the doubtfulness of her feat reached her sons. Then Evdokia took off part of her clothes in front of her sons, and they were amazed at her thinness and withered skin. Saint Evdokia is prayed for deliverance from paralysis and for the enlightenment of the eyes.

Venerable Efimy the Great(V c., February 2) lived in a deserted place, spent time in labor, prayers and abstinence - he took food only on Saturday and Sunday, slept only sitting or standing. The Lord gave the saint the ability to perform miracles and insight. By prayer, he caused the necessary rain, healed the sick, cast out demons. They pray to him during a famine, as well as during marital childlessness.

First Martyr Evdokia(II century, March 14) was baptized and renounced her wealth. For a strict fasting life, she received from God the gift of miracles. Women who cannot get pregnant pray to her.

Great Martyr Catherine(IV c., December 7) possessed extraordinary beauty and intelligence. She announced her desire to marry someone who would surpass her in wealth, nobility and wisdom. Catherine's spiritual father put her on the path of serving the heavenly bridegroom - Jesus Christ. Having been baptized, Catherine was honored to see the Mother of God with the infant Christ. She suffered for Christ in Alexandria, was broken on the wheel and beheaded. Saint Catherine is prayed for permission in difficult childbirth.

Reverend Zotik(IV century, January 12) during an epidemic of leprosy, he ransomed lepers, condemned by order of Emperor Constantine to death by drowning, from the guards and kept them in a remote place. Thus, he saved the doomed from violent death. They pray to Saint Zotik for the healing of those who are ill with leprosy.

Righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Baptist (I century, September 18), help those who suffer in difficult childbirth. Righteous Zechariah was a priest. The couple lived righteously, but they had no children, since Elizabeth was barren. One day, an angel appeared to Zacharias in the temple, who predicted the birth of his son John. Zakharia did not believe - both he and his wife were already in old age. For unbelief, dumbness attacked him, which passed only on the eighth day after the birth of his son, John the Baptist, and he was able to speak and glorify God.

Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker (XV century, June 28) - the first of the metropolitans in Russia, elected by the cathedral of Russian bishops. The saint even during his lifetime had the gift of healing toothache. They pray to him to get rid of this scourge.

John the Baptist(I century, January 20, July 7). The Baptist was born of Saints Zacharias and Elizabeth. After the birth of Christ, King Herod ordered all the babies to be killed, and therefore Elizabeth and the baby took refuge in the wilderness. Zechariah was killed right in the temple, because he did not betray their shelter. After the death of Elizabeth, John continued to live in the desert, eating locusts, and wearing a sackcloth. At the age of thirty he began to preach on the Jordan about the coming of Christ. Many were baptized by him, and this day is known among the people as the day of Ivan Kupala. At the dawn of this day, it was customary to bathe, and dew was considered healing, and healing herbs collected that day. The Baptist died a martyr's death through the beheading. Prayer to this saint can help with an unbearable headache.

Jacob Zheleznoborovsky(XVI century, April 24 and May 18) was tonsured by Sergius of Radonezh and retired to the Kostroma desert places near the village of Zhelezny Borok. During his lifetime he had the gift of healing the sick. Despite the exhaustion in his legs, he twice walked to Moscow. Lived to a ripe old age. Saint James is prayed for the healing of leg diseases and paralysis.

Saint John of Damascus(VIII c., December 17) was slandered and had his hand cut off. His prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God was heard, and his severed hand grew together in a dream. As a sign of gratitude to the Virgin Mary, John of Damascus hung a silver image of a hand on the icon of the Mother of God, which is why the icon received the name "Three-Handed". Grace was given to John of Damascus to help with pains in the hands and with mutilation of the hands.

Saint Julian of Kepomania(I century, July 26) during his lifetime he healed and even resurrected babies. On the icon, Julian is depicted with a baby in his arms. Prayer to Saint Julian is offered when the baby is sick.

Venerable Hypatius of the Caves(XIV century, April 13) during his lifetime he was a healer and especially helped to heal female bleeding. He is also prayed for mother's milk for babies.

Reverend John of Rylsky(XIII century., November 1), Bulgarian, spent sixty years in solitude in the Rylskaya desert. Saint John of Rylsky is prayed for healing from dumbness.

John of Kiev-Pechersk(I century, January 11), the baby - martyr, cut in half, belongs to the number of Bethlehem babies. Prayer before his grave helps with marital infertility. (Kiev-Pechersk Lavra).
Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (I century, May 21) - the guardian of purity, chastity and assistant in the writing of icons.

Venerable Irinarkh, recluse of Rostov(XVII century, January 26), was a farmer in the world, during the famine he lived in Nizhny Novgorod. At the age of thirty he renounced the world and spent 38 years in the Borisoglebsky Monastery. He was buried there in a grave dug by him. Irinarchus spent sleepless nights in seclusion, therefore it is recognized that prayer to Saint Irinarchus helps with persistent insomnia.

Righteous Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin Mary (September 22), had no children until old age. They made a vow, if a child appears, to dedicate it to God. Their prayers were heard, and in old age they had a child - Holy Virgin Maria. Therefore, in case of marital infertility, prayer should be addressed to Saints Joachim and Anna.

Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian(Kozma and Demyan) (3rd century, November 14), two brothers studied the art of medicine and treated without requiring payment from the sick, except for faith in Jesus Christ. They helped in many diseases, treated both eye diseases and smallpox. The main commandment of the unmercenaries: "We received it for free (from God) - for free and give!". Miracle workers helped not only sick people, but also healed animals. They pray to the unmercenaries not only in case of illness, but also for the patronage of those entering into marriage - so that the marriage is happy.

Martyr Conon of Isauria(III century., March 18) during his lifetime he treated patients with smallpox. This help was especially valuable for believers in those days, since other means were not yet known. And after death, prayer to the martyr Konon helps in healing smallpox.

Unmercenary Martyrs Cyrus and John(IV c., February 13) during their lifetime they disinterestedly healed various diseases, including smallpox. Patients received relief in ailments and celiac diseases. They should read the prayer in a sick state in general.

Blessed Xenia of Petersburg(XVIII-XIX centuries, February 6) was widowed early. Grieving for her husband, she gave away all her property and took a vow of foolishness for Christ's sake. She had the gift of clairvoyance and miracles, especially the healing of the afflicted. Honored while still alive. Canonized in 1988.

Martyr Lawrence of Rome(III c., August 23) during his lifetime he was endowed with the gift of giving sight to blind people, including those who were blind from birth. He should pray for healing from eye diseases.

Apostle and Evangelist Luke(I century, October 31) studied the art of medicine and helped people with diseases, especially eye diseases. Wrote the Gospel and the book of the Acts of the Apostles. He also studied painting and art.

Martyr Longinus Centurion(I century, October 29) suffered from eyes. He was on guard at the Cross of the Savior, when the blood from the perforated rib of the Savior dripped into his eyes - and he was healed. When his head was truncated, the blind woman received her sight - this was the first miracle from his truncated head. Longinus the Centurion is prayed for the sight of the eyes.

Venerable Maron of Syria(IV century, February 27) during his lifetime he helped patients with fever or fever.

Martyr Mina(IV century, November 24) helps in troubles, infirmities, including eye diseases.

Venerable Maruf, Bishop of Mesopotamia(V century, March 1 - February 29) pray to get rid of insomnia.

Reverend Moses Murin(IV c., September 10) in worldly life he lived far from righteously - he was a robber and a drunkard. Then he accepted monasticism and lived in a monastery in Egypt. He died a martyr at the age of 75. He is prayed to get rid of the passion for alcohol.

Reverend Moses Ugrin(XI century, August 8), a Hungarian by birth, “strong in body and beautiful in face”, was captured by the Polish king Boleslav, but was ransomed by a wealthy Polish young widow for a thousand hryvnias of silver. This woman was inflamed with carnal passion for Moses and tried to seduce him. However, the blessed Moses did not change his holy life, for which he was thrown into a pit, where he was starved and beaten daily with sticks by the lady's servants. Since this did not break the saint, he was castrated. When King Boleslav died, the rebellious people defeated the oppressors. Including the widow was killed. Saint Moses came to the Caves Monastery, where he lived for more than 10 years. They pray to Moses Ugrin to strengthen the spirit in the fight against carnal passion.

Reverend Martinian(V century, February 26) the harlot appeared in the form of a wanderer, but he quenched his carnal lust by standing on hot coals. In the struggle with carnal passion, Saint Martinian spent his days in exhausting wanderings.

Venerable Melania the Roman(V century, January 13) almost died in worldly life from difficult childbirth. She is prayed for a safe resolution from the pregnancy.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker(IV c., December 19 and May 22) during his lifetime not only healed eye diseases, but also restored sight to the blind. His parents Feofan and Nonna vowed to dedicate their child to God. From early. For years, Saint Nicholas fasted and prayed zealously, and doing good, he tried so that no one would know about it. He was elected Archbishop of Myra. During a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he stopped a storm at sea and saved (resurrected) a sailor who had fallen from the mast. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian, he was thrown into prison, but remained unharmed. The saint performed many miracles, in Russia he was especially revered: it was believed that he helps when traveling on the waters. Nikola was called "marine" or "wet".

Great Martyr Nikita(IV c., September 28) lived on the banks of the Danube, was baptized by the Sofia Bishop Theophilus and successfully spread the Christian faith. He suffered during persecution from the pagan Goths, who tortured the saint and then threw him into the fire. His body was found at night by his friend, the Christian Marion - it was lit up with radiance, the fire did not damage it. The body of the martyr was interred in Cilicia, and the relics were later transferred to Constantinople. Saint Nikita is prayed for the healing of babies, including those from a "relative".

Saint Nikita(XII century., February 13) was the bishop of Novgorod. He became famous for miracles, especially in seeing the blind. People with poor eyesight can get help by turning to this saint.

Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon(IV c., August 9) studied healing as a young man. He treated selflessly in the name of Christ. He owns the miracle of the resurrection of a dead child bitten poisonous snake. He healed both adults and children from various diseases, including abdominal pain.
The Monk Pimen of Pechora the Painful (XII century, August 20) suffered from various illnesses from childhood and only at the end of his life received healing from ailments. They pray to the Monk Pimen for healing from a long painful condition.

Blessed Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia(XIII century., July 8), Murom wonderworkers should pray for a happy marriage. During his lifetime, Prince Peter of Murom, having performed the feat of freeing his brother's wife from the snake, became covered with scabs, but was healed by the Ryazan commoner healer Fevronia, whom he married. The married life of Peter and Fevronia was pious and was accompanied by miracles and good deeds. At the end of their lives, blessed Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia accepted monasticism and were named David and Euphrosyne. Died in one day. Believers from the cancer of their relics received healing from ailments.

Martyr Proclus(II century., July 25) was considered a healer of eye diseases. Proclus dew heals eye diseases and plagues the eye.

Martyr Paraskeva Friday(III century., November 10) received her name from pious parents, because she was born on Friday (in Greek "paraskeva") and in memory of the passions of the Lord. As a child, Paraskeva lost her parents. Growing up, she took a vow of celibacy and devoted herself to Christianity. For this, she was persecuted, tortured and died in agony. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa has long been especially revered in Russia, was considered the patroness hearth, healer of childhood diseases, assistant in field work. They also pray to her for the gift of rain in a drought.

Reverend Roman(V century., December 10) during his lifetime he was distinguished by unusual abstinence, eating only bread with salt water. He healed many ailments very successfully, especially became famous for the treatment of marital infertility with fervent prayers. Spouses pray to him with infertility.

Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye(XVIII century., September 25) treated for prolonged blindness, being sick in a dream. They also resorted to his help in diseases of the legs - the saint himself made a pedestrian transition from Russia to Siberia with sick legs.

Righteous Simeon the God-bearer(February 16) on the fortieth day from Christmas, he received the Christ child from the Virgin Mary in the temple with joy and called out: “Now, Vladyka, let your servant go in peace according to your word.” He was promised repose after he took the holy baby in his arms. Righteous Simeon is prayed for the healing of sick children and the protection of healthy ones.

Venerable Simeon the Stylite(V century., September 14) was born in Cappadocia in a Christian family. In a monastery with adolescence. Then settled in stone cave where he devoted himself to fasting and prayer. People who wanted to receive healing and edification flocked to the place of his asceticism. For solitude, he invented a new kind of asceticism - he settled on a pillar four meters high. Of the eighty years of life, forty-seven stood on a pillar.

Reverend Seraphim of Sarov(XIX century, January 15 and August 1) took upon himself the feat of camping: every night he prayed in the forest, standing on a huge stone with his hands raised. During the day he prayed in a cell or on a small stone. He ate meager food, exhausting the flesh. After the revelation of the Mother of God, he began to heal the suffering, especially helping people with sore legs.

Reverend Sergius of Radonezh(XIV century., October 8), boyar son, Bartholomew by birth. surprised everyone with early age- On Wednesdays and Fridays, I didn’t even drink mother’s milk. After the death of his parents at the age of 23, he took monastic vows. From the age of forty he was hegumen of the Radonezh Monastery. The life of the saint was accompanied by miracles, especially the healing of the weak and sick. Prayer to St. Sergius heals from "forty ailments."

Reverend Sampson, priest and healer (VI century, July 10). He was given the ability to heal people with various illnesses through his prayers to God.

Saint Spyridon - Wonderworker, Bishop of Trimifuntsky(IV century., December 25), became famous for many miracles, including the proof of the trinity at the First Ecumenical Council in 325. Even during his lifetime, he healed the sick. Prayer to this saint can give help in various painful conditions.

Martyr Sisiny(III century., December 6) was a bishop in the city of Kizin. Persecuted under Diocletian. God gave the martyr Sisinius the opportunity to heal the sick with a fever.
Saint Tarasius, Bishop of Constantinople (9th century, March 9), was the protector of orphans, the offended, the unfortunate, and possessed the gift of healing the sick.

Martyr Tryphon(III century, February 14) for his bright life he was awarded even in adolescence the grace of healing the sick. Among other misfortunes, Saint Tryphon saved the afflicted from snoring. The eparchs of Anatolia brought Tryphon to Nicaea, where he experienced terrible torment, was sentenced to death and died at the place of execution.

Reverend Taisia(IV century, October 21) during social life she became famous for her extraordinary beauty, which drove crazy fans who competed with each other, quarreled - and went bankrupt. After Saint Paphnutius converted the harlot, she spent three years as a recluse in convent, atoning for the sin of fornication. Saint Taisia ​​pray for deliverance from obsessive carnal passion.

Reverend Fedor Studit(IX century., November 24) during his lifetime he suffered from diseases of the stomach. After death from his icon, many patients were healed not only from stomach pains, but also from other celiac diseases.

Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilat(IV c., June 21) became popularly known when he killed huge snake who lived in the vicinity of the city of Euchait and devoured people and cattle. During the persecution of Christians under the emperor Likinia, he was subjected to severe torture and crucified, but God healed the body of the martyr and removed him from the cross. However, the great martyr decided to voluntarily accept death for his faith. On the way to the execution, the sick, who touched his clothes and body, were healed and freed from demons.

Venerable Therapont of Moizen(XVI century, December 25). From this saint receive healing in eye diseases. It is known, for example, that the elder Procopius, who had been ill with his eyes and almost blind since childhood, received his sight at the tomb of Ferapont.

Martyrs Flor and Laurus(II century., August 31) lived in Illyria. Brothers - stonemasons were very close to each other in spirit. At first they suffered from the passion of drunkenness and hard drinking, then they accepted the Christian faith and got rid of the disease. For their faith, they were martyred: they were thrown into a well and buried alive with earth. Even during their lifetime, God gave them the ability to heal from various diseases and from hard drinking.

Martyr Thomais of Egypt(V century., April 26) preferred death to adultery. Those who fear violence pray to St. Thomas, and she helps in maintaining chastity.

Hieromartyr Harlampy(III century., February 23) is considered a healer of all diseases. He suffered for the Christian faith in 202. He was 115 years old when he healed not only ordinary diseases, but also the plague. Before his death, Harlampy prayed that his relics would prevent the plague and heal the sick.

Martyrs Chrysanthus and Darius(3rd century, April 1), even before marriage, they agreed to lead a life worthy, consecrated to God in marriage. These saints are prayed for a happy and lasting family union.

Orthodox Christians most often turn to the saint whose name they bear with a request to pray for them before God. Such a saint is called a saint and helper. To communicate with him, you must know the troparion - a short prayer appeal. Saints must be called upon with love and unfeigned faith, only then will they hear the request.

Today, the younger generation faces many temptations and spiritual dangers that were unknown even a few decades ago. The flow of information carries with it both useful and harmful. In this regard, it is necessary to take special care to instill in children the desire to learn, to recognize and revive our traditions, and to honor the elders. Everyone who is connected with the education and upbringing of the younger generation should work on this.

Therefore, on these September days in churches, they are reminded that study is a lot of work and they call with diligence and perseverance, with the help of God, to master and improve knowledge. And parents and teachers - so that they do not humiliate and insult even the most negligent child, but with great patience and self-denial help all children in their studies.

With our requests, we often turn to those saints who patronize in a certain area of ​​human life. Among the saints of God there are those who are addressed in the days of teaching.

Since ancient times, the patron saints of schoolchildren and students have been the holy Reverend Sergius of Radonezh, the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, the holy martyr Tatiana and, of course, our intercessor and patroness, the Most Holy Theotokos.

REVEREND SERGY OF RADONEZH - PATRON IN THE COMPREHENSION OF STUDIES

One of these holy saints of God is. It is to this saint that students often resort.

From the life of the monk it is known that in childhood he was given teaching with great difficulty. After the ardent prayer of the lad Bartholomew (the secular name of the saint) “for the gift of bookish understanding,” God sent him an angel in the form of an old monk, who, in response to the prayers of the lad Bartholomew, offered up his prayers to God and, blessing the lad, promised him success in his studies.

At a meeting with the parents of Bartholomew, the monk prophetically predicted: “Your son will be great before God and people. It will become the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit.” Since then, the future saint easily read and understood the content of the books. This episode in the life of Sergius serves as the basis for special prayers to him by many generations of pupils and students.

However, there is no definite algorithm on how to pray to St. Sergius or any other saint about academic achievement, any prayer of one who turns to a saint from a pure heart will be heard. Those who know the troparia and prayers that were created by hymnographers to address the saints of God can use them, those who do not know these special prayers can use their own words.

THE IMAGE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD "ADDING THE MIND" - ABOUT THE UNDERSTANDING

It has the grace of giving wisdom, reason and good knowledge, helping to educate children, healing the weakness of the mind and damage to the mind.

The history of this icon is complex and amazing. According to legend, it was painted in the 17th century, which was difficult for the Russian Orthodox Church, by an icon painter who, during the schism, could not comprehend for himself the meaning of the reform and determine what liturgical books true, old or new. He suffered for so long in this choice that he was afraid of losing his mind and began to fervently pray to the Most Holy Theotokos for enlightenment. Whether in a dream or in a waking vision, he received an answer to his prayer - a promise to heal him if he vows to paint an icon of the Queen of Heaven in the image in which She appears to him. The icon painter fulfilled his vow and depicted what he saw in the iconographic type of the image “Addition of the Mind”.

There is also evidence that its prototype was the Loretan (or Loretsk) statue of the Mother of God, carved from cedar, according to legend, also by the Apostle Luke, and kept in little house in the Italian city of Loreto. This holy house used to stand in Nazareth and was associated with earthly life. Holy Mother of God: in it she was born and lived in her youth.

And when in the XIII century the Turks began to seize the eastern lands, the Christians took the shrine to Europe, and Bishop Loreto had a vision of the Queen of Heaven, Who said to him: “My son, My modest dwelling in Nazareth, where I was born and spent my youth, is arriving on your shores ". And then both the holy house and the cedar statue were brought to Loreto: miraculously She was the iconographic prototype Orthodox icons"Increased Mind".

HOLY RIGHTEOUS JOHN OF KRONSTADTS - PRAYER OF FAITH OF A MEEK BOY

Saint Righteous John of Kronstadt was born on October 19, 1829. The weak child quickly grew stronger and became a healthy boy. When it was time to study, the parents collected their last money and assigned the boy Vanya to the Arkhangelsk Parish School.

Teaching was difficult for him: he did not understand and memorize well. This circumstance greatly distressed and embarrassed the good boy, since he realized how difficult it was for his parents to teach him.

He was painfully tormented by the thought of his own home, of the poverty there, and it seems that at that time he learned with particular pain to feel someone else's need, to ache about someone else's poverty and poverty; he dreamed most of all that when he grew up, he would bring his father and mother out of poverty and help everyone.

Vanya developed a painful sensitivity to suffering. School wisdom turned out to be even more difficult for him than the initial teaching. There was no affectionate help from his mother around him, teachers cared little about helping students. School work was going badly. He worked all day and still didn't have time.

Therefore, driven by a fiery faith in God, one day, going to bed, he especially fervently prayed to God, asking the Lord to enlighten his mind to the understanding of the teaching. The prayer of faith of the meek and humble boy was heard, and the Lord abundantly poured out on him the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

MARTYR TATIANA - THE PATRON OF STUDENTS

This saint has been considered in Russia for hundreds of years the patroness of all students and teachers, education and enlightenment. In fact, we don’t know much about the holy martyr Tatiana: a girl lived in Rome in the 3rd century, she was a deaconess - an ancient church rank that meant merciful or, as they would now say, social service to others. She confessed herself a Christian and, having endured suffering, received the crown of martyrdom.

Prayer

Oh holy Martyr Tatiano, the bride of your Sweetest Bridegroom Christ, the lamb of the Divine Lamb, the dove of chastity, suffering, as if clothed with royal robes, counted among the faces of heaven, rejoicing now in eternal glory, from the days of her youth promised to God the holy servant of the Church, who observed chastity and loved the Lord more than all the blessings! We pray to you and we ask you: listen to our heartfelt petition and do not reject our prayers. Grant purity of body and soul, inspire love for Divine truths, lead us on the virtuous path, ask God for angelic protection for us, heal our bodily wounds and ulcers, grant patience in suffering, heal sinful ulcers, protect our youth, grant painless old age and prosperity Help me in the hour of death. Remember our sorrows and grant joy. Visit us, who are in the prison of sin, instruct us to repentance soon, kindle the flame of prayer, do not leave us orphans, but glorifying your suffering, we praise the Lord of forces, always, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

SAINT CYRIL AND METHODIUS - FOR ENLIGHTENING THE MIND

It makes no sense to retell the lives of these illustrious saints here, we only note that the eternally glorious and memorable works of the saints Equal-to-the-Apostles in compiling the Slavic letter, in the knowledge of the Slavic language during worship, in translating sacred books into their native Slavic language laid the foundation for the spiritual and civic greatness of the Slavs, their moral and civic identity.

By translating sacred books and liturgical books into their native Slavic language, they laid the foundation for our eternal salvation, and in this respect, Saints Cyril and Methodius are not only our teachers and apostles, but also fathers: they also revived us spiritually, teaching us through their labors to know the One True God.

Therefore, prayers are also addressed to these saints. about teaching aid.

But this does not mean that this is the whole list of saints that you can resort to with a prayer for a successful study.

Mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ to all teaching and learning!

A student's prayer for each day before teaching

Most gracious Lord, send us the grace of Your Holy Spirit, giving meaning and strengthening our spiritual strength, so that, listening to the teaching taught to us, we grow up to You, our Creator, to the glory, our parent for consolation, the Church and the fatherland for the benefit.

Prayer from a prayer service on the eve of the start of the school year

Lord God and our Creator, in His image we, the people, adorned, Your chosen ones, taught Your law, so that those who listen to it marvel; who revealed the secrets of wisdom to children, gave Solomon and all those who seek it - open the hearts, minds and mouths of your servants (names) to understand the power of your law and successfully learn the useful teaching he teaches for the glory of your Most Holy Name, for the benefit and dispensation of your Holy Church and understanding of your good and perfect will. Deliver them from all the wiles of the enemy, keep them in the faith of Christ and purity all the time of their lives - may they be strong in mind and in the fulfillment of Your commandments, and so taught they will glorify Your Most Holy Name and be heirs of Your Kingdom - for You are a God strong in mercy and good strength, and all glory, honor and worship befits you, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, always, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

In contact with

Rev. Abraham of Galich, Chukhlomsky, Gorodetsky - student St. Sergius Radonezh.
The place of birth and worldly name of the Monk Abraham are unknown. According to a passage from his most ancient life, the Monk Avraamiy originally asceticised the Nizhny Novgorod Pechersk monastery, from where he moved to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Some time later, in search of a place for a solitary monastic life, the Monk Abraham, with the blessing of St. Sergius of Radonezh, went to Kostroma, to the Galich Principality, where he founded the first monastery in the Galich side - Avraamiev Novozaozersky (Novoezersky) Monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the north - on the eastern shore of Lake Galich (now the village of Umilenye, Galich District, Kostroma Region).

Reverend Adrian of Monzen

The Monk Adrian (in the world Amos) was born in Kostroma and was a disciple of the Monk Therapont of Monzen. In his youth, he left his parental home and labored in the Tolgsky, Gennadiev, Spaso-Kamenny and Pavlo-Obnorsky monasteries. At the direction of the Monk Ferapont, Adrian settled near the mouth of the Monza River (the right tributary of the Kostroma River) and began the construction of the Annunciation Monastery, which later received the name of Hadrian's Hermitage.

Rev. Alexander Vochsky

Saint Alexander was the founder and abbot of the Alexander Hermitage on the Vocha River, the left tributary of the Kostroma River, near the town of Soligalich. It is impossible to say with accuracy either the time or place of the birth of the Monk Alexander, as well as the class to which he belonged. It can be assumed that he was born no earlier than the middle of the XIV century, because he is glorified as an "imitator" in exploits and even as an "interlocutor" of the Monk Abraham Chukhloma, who died in 1375, and no later than early XVI century, since during the reign of Vasily Ivanovich III (1505-1553) the Alexander Hermitage already existed and received from this king the whole volost.
The youth of the monk in the service is sung like this: “From the young swaddling clothes, thou didst cleave to God, reverend, for the sake of this life, counting this life for nothing, more than desiring to wear the cross of the Lord and hating all earthly things.” The consequence of such zeal for piety was that the young man early left “his fatherland and relatives and retired to the desert for exploits.

Venerable Barnabas of Vetluzhsky

Saint Barnabas lived in the XIV-XV centuries; at first he was a parish priest in Veliky Ustyug, and after the death of his wife he became a monk.
After tonsure, the monk withdrew from the vain worldly life and settled in a deserted place on Krasnaya Gora near the Vetluga River. Here, as the life of the saint narrates, he "worked for God in psalmody and prayers, feeding on bylives and oak wood."
Saint Barnabas spent twenty-eight years as a hermit on the Red Mountain. Despite the fact that there was no human habitation in the immediate vicinity of this place, the inhabitants of the ancient Vetluzhsky region became aware of the fertile hermit; those who sought spiritual advice, admonition and consolation began to turn to the saint of God. Evidence has been preserved of the prophecies of the holy elder, who predicted that after his repose to the Lord, a monastic monastery would arise on Red Mountain, and "God would increase the life of people."

Hieromartyr Vasily Razumov, Priest Sypanovsky

Hieromartyr Priest Vasily Razumov was born in 1879 in the village of Kuchino, near the city of Sudislavl, into a poor peasant family. In the early 1930s, he served as a priest in the Krasnoselsky district; In 1932, Father Vasily was arrested and sentenced to 5 years in a camp, from where he was released early in 1935 for health reasons.
Hieromartyr Nikodim, Archbishop of Kostroma and Galich, who ruled the Kostroma diocese at that time, appointed Father Vasily to serve in the Holy Trinity Church in the village of Trinity, Nerekhtsky District - the former monastery church of the Trinity-Sypanova Pakhomiyevo-Nerechtsky monastery. In the mournful years of persecution against the Church and the faith of Christ, Hieromartyr Basil, strengthened by his mentor and spiritual friend, Hieromartyr Nikodim, zealously defended the truth and purity of Orthodoxy, affirmed his flock in standing up for the truth of God, protected the church from attempts to close and desecrate.

Soligalich New Martyrs

Hieromartyrs Archpriest Joseph Smirnov, Priest Vladimir Ilyinsky, Deacon John of Castor and Martyr John Perebaskin.
Archpriest Iosif Smirnov was born in 1864. After graduating from the Kostroma Theological Seminary, from 1885 to 1896 he taught at the Soligalich parish school. In 1886 he was ordained a priest of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos; was a confessor at the city prison and an observer of the parochial schools of the Soligalichsky district. In September 1905 he was appointed rector of the cathedral. He was elected a deputy of the city duma and the Soligalich district assembly, was a member of the county guardianship committee for people's sobriety. In 1907 he was elevated to the rank of archpriest. Information from the track record and materials from the periodical church press show us Father Joseph as an educated, worthy clergyman, a man of impeccable Christian morality, who enjoyed deep respect among the townspeople.

Hieromartyr Basil (Preobrazhensky), Bishop of Kineshma

Bishop Vasily (Preobrazhensky Veniamin Sergeevich) was born in 1876 in the city of Kineshma, Kostroma province (now Ivanovo region) into the family of a priest.
His parents, pious and devout people, spent their lives almost like a monastic. Only out of necessity, they left the house, beyond the walls of which neither news, nor gossip, nor idle talk penetrated. This lack of worldly fuss instilled concentration in the boy. He received a higher secular and higher spiritual education, defended his dissertation and received a master's degree in theology. However, he wanted to arrange his life like a secular person. But God prepared a different fate for him. Every summer Benjamin came home.

Rev. Gennady of Kostroma and Lyubimograd

The Monk Gennady, in the world Gregory, came from the family of Russian-Lithuanian boyars John and Helena; he was born in the city of Mogilev. From childhood, the lad loved to visit the temple of God, and, finally, deciding to enter one of the monasteries in the Russian land, he secretly left his parents' house, exchanged rich clothes with the poor for rags, and in this form reached Moscow. Here he met his future spiritual friend named Theodore, who also aspired to monastic deeds. Finding no refuge in the Moscow regions, the ascetics went to the Novgorod land; here they met with the Monk Alexander of Svir, who blessed his friends to go to the Vologda forests to the Monk Kornily of Komel.
Saint Cornelius predicted to Theodore that his fate was a worldly life (indeed, Theodore soon returned to Moscow, had a large family and lived to a ripe old age), and left Gregory in his monastery, where, after a long time of novice labors, he took tonsure with the name Gennady .

Rev. Gregory of Pelshemsky, Vologda

Born in the city of Galich, Kostroma province, he belonged to the noble family of the boyars Lopotovs. In the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin on Lake Galich, he received monastic tonsure and was awarded the rank of priest. He founded a monastery on the Pelshma River in the Vologda Province. He died at the age of 127 on September 30, 1442.

Hieromartyr Demetrius (Dobroserdov), Archbishop of Mozhaisk

Hieromartyr Demetrius (in the world Ivan Ivanovich Dobroserdov) was born on January 22, 1864, in the village of Pakhotny Ugol, Tambov Province, into the family of a priest. After graduating from the Tambov Theological Seminary in 1885, he was appointed teacher at a Zemstvo school in the Morshansk district, where he worked until 1889. On May 6, 1889, Ivan Ivanovich was ordained a priest at the Nicholas Church in the village of Mamontov, Tambov province, and was appointed head and teacher of the Mamontov parochial school.
Soon Father John's wife and children died. Left alone, he left the Tambov province and in 1894 entered the Moscow Theological Academy. After graduating in 1898 with a degree in theology, he was appointed teacher of the law of the 4th Moscow gymnasium and a priest of the gymnasium church. On April 10, 1899, Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Moscow and Kolomna appointed Priest John as rector of the Annunciation Church at the gymnasium.

Reverend Jacob Bryleyevsky

The Monk Jacob lived in the 15th century, descended from the family of the noble Bryleevs. He was a student of the Monk Jacob Zheleznoborovsky, a novice of his monastery. He founded a small monastic skete, known as the Trinity Bryleevsky Hermitage, four versts from the Yakovo-Zheleznoborovsky monastery, where he died.

Reverend Jacob Zheleznoborovsky

The Monk Jacob was born in the 14th century into a pious family of Galich noblemen, the Anosovs. Even at a young age, having lost his parents, he distributed all his property to those in need and took monastic tonsure in the monastery of the abbot of the Russian land - St. Sergius of Radonezh.
The desire for the highest feat of monasticism - the hermit life - prompted the Monk Jacob to return to his native land. Having received the blessing of St. Sergius, he settled on the banks of the Tebza River near the village of Zhelezny Borok, not far from the city of Buya, and remained there in solitary prayer and monastic labors.

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea

Saint Ignatius (in the world Dmitry Aleksandrovich Bryanchaninov) was born on February 5, 1807 in the village of Pokrovsky, Gryazovetsky district, Vologda province, into an old noble family, received an excellent education at home, graduated from the Military engineering school. In 1827 he retired for health reasons, lived in the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, in the Optina Hermitage, the Dionysius-Glushitsky Monastery.
On June 28, 1831, he was tonsured with the name Ignatius in honor of Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, ordained to the rank of hieromonk, then appointed rector and builder of the Pelshensky Lopatov Monastery. On January 28, 1835, for his diligent efforts to revive the monastery, Saint Ignatius was elevated to the rank of abbot, then to the rank of archimandrite, and was appointed rector of the Trinity-Sergius Hermitage near St. Petersburg.

Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

Saint Jonah (his secular name is unknown) was born at the end of the 14th century in the village of Odnoushevo, located a few versts from Galician Salt (Soligalich), into the family of the nobleman Theodore Odnoush. According to his life, the future saint accepted monasticism at the age of 12 “in one of the monasteries of the Galich country” - according to modern data, in the Annunciation Unorozhsky Monastery near the Veksa River, a few kilometers northwest of Lake Galich. After some time, he moved to the Moscow Simonov Monastery and around 1430 was ordained Bishop of Ryazan. After the death in 1431 of Metropolitan Photius, Saint Jonah began to manage the affairs of the entire Russian Metropolis. In December 1448, the Council of Russian Bishops elected Bishop Jonah Metropolitan of All Russia; since that time Russian Orthodox Church actually became autocephalous, independent of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Rev. Kirill Novoezersky

Born in Galich, descended from the noble family of Bely or Bely. Secretly leaving his parental home, he retired to the Komel forests to the Monk Cornelius, from whom he received monastic vows. For 10 years he labored under the guidance of the Monk Cornelius, and then, with his blessing, lived in the desert for 7 years. In 1507 he settled on Krasny Island near New Lake (White Lake), built 2 churches: in the name of the Resurrection of Christ and in the name of the Hodegetria icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. He was ordained a priest. He died on February 4, 1532. relics Saint Cyril were found incorruptible in 1649.

Venerable Macarius of Unzhensky and Zheltovodsky

The Monk Macarius of Unzhensky and Zheltovodsky was born in 1349 in Nizhny Novgorod. At the age of 12, he became a monk in the Nizhny Novgorod Ascension Caves Monastery, and then, with the blessing of the rector of the monastery, St. Dionysius, he settled on the banks of the Lukh River, erecting a church there in the name of the Epiphany of the Lord and creating a monastery. Subsequently, the Monk Macarius moved to the banks of the Volga River, where, near Lake Zhovtiye Vody, he founded a monastery in the name of Life-Giving Trinity. In 1439 the Zheltovodsky monastery was destroyed by the Tatars; after this, the Monk Macarius went to the Unzha River, where he founded his third monastery.

Saint Macarius, missionary of Altai

The Monk Macarius (in the world Mikhail Yakovlevich Glukharev) was born on November 8, 1792. He studied at the Vyazemsky Theological School and the Smolensk Theological Seminary, after which he was left there as a teacher of Latin grammar. In 1817 he graduated from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy with a master's degree in theology. On June 18, 1817, he was appointed inspector of the Yekaterinoslav Theological Seminary. On June 24, 1818, he was tonsured a monk; on June 28, he was ordained a hieromonk.
On February 20, 1821, he was appointed rector of the Kostroma Theological Seminary. On December 21, 1821, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed rector of the Kostroma Epiphany Monastery. Under the care of St. Macarius, the corner southwestern tower of the monastery with the miraculous Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God painted on it was rebuilt into the Smolensk Church, which has survived to this day.

Hieromartyr Macarius (Karmazin), Bishop of Yekaterinoslav

Hieromartyr Macarius (in the world Grigory Yakovlevich Karmazin) was born on October 1, 1875 in the Podolsk province. On August 23, 1893, after graduating from the Podolsk Theological Seminary, he was ordained a priest and served in the parishes of the Podolsk diocese.
In 1902, Father Grigory Karmazin became a priest of the 8th reserve cavalry regiment, on May 4, 1912 he was listed as a military priest of the 152nd Vladikavkaz infantry regiment. During the First World War he was wounded and twice shell-shocked. For personal courage and pastoral work, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest and was assigned to the 729th Novoufimsky Infantry Regiment. As a military priest, Father Grigory Karmazin served in Brest-Litovsk, Galicia, Riga and other places, from 1918 to 1922 he served in various parishes of the Kyiv diocese.

Saint Mitrofan, Bishop of Voronezh

Saint Mitrofan (in the world Michael) was born on November 6, 1623 in the village. Antilokhovo, Vladimir region. Until the age of 40, he lived in the world, was married, had a son, John, served as a parish priest in the village. Sidorovskoye near the town of Shuya. Having lost his wife, in 1663 he was tonsured in Zolotnikova Hermitage with the name Mitrofan. For 10 years he was hegumen of the Yakhroma Cosmine Hermitage. By his care, a temple was erected in the monastery in honor of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
For 7 years, from 1675 to 1682, Saint Mitrofan was rector of the Makariyevo-Unzhensky monastery, founded within the Kostroma region by the Monk Macarius of Unzhensky. During the years of St. Mitrofan's abbess, the Annunciation Church with a bell tower was erected in the monastery in 1680.

Rev. Macarius of Pisemsky.

Very little is known about the life and labors of St. Macarius. The saint was born in the middle of the 14th century; According to legend, his homeland was the village of Danilovo on the Pisma River (the left tributary of the Kostroma River), and he himself belonged to the Pisemsky boyars by origin. Even in his youth, renouncing all the advantages of a class position, the saint went to the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh, where he was tonsured a monk with the name Macarius - in honor of St. Macarius of Egypt.
With the blessing of the abbot of the land of Russia, the Monk Macarius, having gone through the harsh school of monastic labors and deeds, returned to his homeland - to the Galich principality. Here he set up a cell and a small chapel on the banks of the letter (this place is located about a kilometer from the monastery that arose later and was subsequently called "the old desert of St. Macarius").

Hieromartyr Nikodim (Krotkov), Archbishop of Kostroma and Galich.

Archbishop of Kostroma and Galich Nikodim (in the world Nikolai Vasilyevich Krotkov) was born on November 29, 1868 in the village of. He sinned in the Seredsky district of the Kostroma province (now the Ivanovo region) in the family of a priest.
FROM early years he was distinguished by exceptional piety and love for the Holy Church. After graduating from the Kostroma Theological Seminary in 1889, he was a teacher at the parish school for several years. In 1896 the future saint entered the Kyiv Theological Academy. Here, on August 13, 1899, he took monastic vows and was given a name in honor of the righteous Nicodemus. The following year, after successfully completing an academic course with a degree in theology, Hieromonk Nikodim was sent as superintendent of the Vladikavkaz Theological School. Two years later, he was transferred to Kutaisi to the post of inspector of the Theological Seminary, in 1905 he was appointed rector of the Pskov Theological Seminary.

Reverend Nikita of Kostroma.

Saint Nikita is a disciple, and, as they say in the old synodics, a relative of Saint Sergius of Radonezh. The saint was born around the 60s of the XIV century in the Moscow region (it is no coincidence that in some lists of the disciples of the Radonezh abbot he is called Serpukhov or Borovsky).
The monastic path of the Monk Nikita began in the Vysotsky Bogoroditsky Zachatievsky Monastery near Serpukhov. In 1396 the saint became abbot of the monastery, and around 1415, due to an eye disease, he left the monastery and retired to Vysoko-Pokrovsky monastery near the town of Borovsk. Here he was the spiritual mentor of the Monk Pafnutiy Borovsky, the future founder of the Pafnutiev-Borovsky Monastery.

Rev. Pavel Obnorsky (Komelsky).

The Monk Paul was born in Moscow in 1317 (this date is considered traditional, but historians believe that the birth of the saint could have taken place later, in the 30s of the XIV century). When the father and mother decided to marry their son, he secretly left the parental home and went to the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh, where he received monastic vows. Having gone through all the monastic obediences, the Monk Paul decided on the feat of silence and, with the blessing of the Radonezh abbot, he retired first to a deserted place near the monastery, and then, 15 years later, to the northern forests.
Arriving on the land of Kostroma, the saint first settled near the Rizopolozhenskaya Hermitage founded by the Monk Avraamy Gorodetsky, and then moved on to another monastery of St. Avraamy - Pokrovsky on the shores of Lake Chukhloma. After some time, the saint of God withdrew from there to the small river Pisma, where for about 20 years he labored together with another disciple of Saint Abraham, the Monk Macarius of Pisma.

Rev. Paisios of Galich

The Monk Paisios, the heavenly patron of the ancient city on Lake Galich, at the end of the 14th century came to the Galich Assumption Monastery (then called Nikolsky) and labored there for 70 years, later becoming the abbot of the monastery. Already during the life of the holy elder, the monastery received the name Paisiev; thus, our pious ancestors testified to their reverence for the lofty spiritual life of the monk. The saint of God applied many labors for the improvement of the monastery, for the establishment in it of the rules of ascetic monastic life.
During the rectorship of the Monk Paisius, in 1425, a miraculous appearance of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, called Ovinovskaya, took place in the monastery. Next to the monastery were the lands of the pious Galich boyar John Ovin. Wanting to erect a new temple in the monastery instead of the dilapidated old one, one Sunday the boyar came to the monastery to choose a place for the construction of the church.

Blessed Simon Yuryevetsky, a holy fool for Christ's sake, was born in the village of Odelevo of the former Nerekhtsky district of the Kostroma province (now the Privolzhsky district of the Ivanovo region) into a pious family of peasants Rodion and Maria Shitovs.
At a young age, secretly leaving his parental home, blessed Simon took upon himself the feat of foolishness in Christ. He settled in the forest near the village of Elnati. The villagers informed the local priest Joseph about him, and he took the blessed one to his house. In winter and summer, the saint walked barefoot, wearing only a shirt, enduring ridicule and humiliation, and was often subjected to beatings.

Venerable Timon, Elder Nadeevsky

The Monk Timon (in the world Tikhon Fedorov) was born in 1766 in the city of Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod province, into the family of a deacon of one of the local churches, Theodore, and his wife Anisia. Taught by his father, the boy read freely at the age of seven church books, differing at the same time in love for solitude and prayer.
Having been educated at the Nizhny Novgorod Theological School, Tikhon returned to his parental home to his already seriously ill father. During this period of his life, the young man often made pilgrimages to the monasteries of the Nizhny Novgorod, Kostroma, Vladimir and Tambov dioceses.

Rev. Tikhon Lukhovsky

The Monk Tikhon (in the world Timothy) was born in the first half of the 15th century within the boundaries of the Lithuanian principality. In one of the Moscow monasteries, he took monastic vows and went to the Kostroma region. Three versts from the city of Lukha, in the town of Kopytovo, the monk begins his hermit life. Soon, the Nikolsky Monastery for Men appeared on this site - later Tikhonov Deserts.

The Monk Tikhon died on June 16, 1503. In 1570 he was canonized as a saint. The life of the monk was compiled in 1649. The holy relics of St. Tikhon are in the St. Nicholas Tikhon's Hermitage of the Ivanovo Region.

Saints Gerasim and Thaddeus Lukhovsky

Saints Thaddeus and Gerasim Lukhovsky lived in the 16th century and were disciples of the Monk Tikhon Lukhovsky. Their names, together with the names of two other ascetics, Saints Philaret and Photius, have been preserved in the ancient synodics of Tikhon's Hermitage and on the ancient icon of Saint Tikhon. The relics of Saints Gerasim and Thaddeus rest in St. Nicholas Tikhon's Hermitage of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk diocese.

Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilat - patron saint of Kostroma

The Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates has been the patron saint of the city of Kostroma since ancient times.
Theodore Stratelat (Greek "commander, commander in chief") was the ruler of Heraclius Pontus in Asia Minor. Under the emperor Licinius in 319, he was martyred for confessing faith in Christ - after a cruel scourging, he was crucified on a cross, and then his head was beheaded with a sword. Theodore's suffering was described by his servant Uar.
Cathedral of the Great Martyr Theodore