Top 20 facts about the Optina monastery

Optina is one of the main spiritual centers of Russian Orthodoxy, along with Diveev monastery and Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. There are up to 100,000 pilgrims a year, people come not only from Russia but also from neighboring countries.

1. There are several versions of the date and circumstances of Foundation of the monastery. One of them, the monastery was founded in the late XIV century by the repentant robber Opti (Optia), which in the nun took the name Macarius. On the other, the monastery was founded by Prince Vladimir the Brave. And the name "Optina" comes from the fact that the monastery has long been common for monks and nuns.

 





 

2. Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich granted Optina mill and land for vegetable gardens, approximately 1630-ies.

3. The main temple of the monastery, Vvedensky Cathedral, was begun in 1689. This Church was the first stone building on site of Optina.

4. The Optina monastery was abolished by the decree of the Synod in 1724 as "malority monastery," but in 1726 it was rebuilt by the decree of Catherine I.

 





 

5. Today Optina monastery is a thriving monastery. But there were years when the monastery was almost abandoned. For example, in 1773 in the monastery lived just 2 monk, both very old.

6. By 1821 Optina has evolved from a half-forgotten monastery in one of the spiritual centers of Russia. Increased the state's inhabitants, was built new churches and bell towers, was organized by the skit.

 





 

7. Optina elder hieromonk Gennady is considered the spiritual father of Emperor Alexander I, who insisted that the old man was treating him not as a monarch but as a penitent Christian."

8. Many famous people had been to Optina. The abode was visited Zhukovsky, Tyutchev, Aksakov, Gogol, Dostoevsky; we stayed here the Tchaikovsky, Chizhevsky and Soloviev.

 





 

9. F. M. Dostoevsky lived in the skete of Optina in 1878, trying to cope with grief after the death of the youngest son Alyosha. There he became acquainted with elder Ambrose, which later became the prototype of the elder Zosima from the novel "the Brothers Karamazov".

10. Konstantin Leontiev, a Russian diplomat and philosopher, in 1891 in Practicefrom the skete of Optina took secret monastic vows with the name Clement.

11. Leo Tolstoy visited Optina desert 6 times and one even came to the monastery on foot from Yasnaya Polyana. On his deathbed, the writer sent a telegram to Optino, and the Abbot of the monastery elder Barsanuphius went to the station of Astapovo, to give Tolstoy the opportunity to reconcile with the Church. The elder was not allowed to the writer, like many others.

 





 

12. On 23 January 1918 by decree SNK " the Optina Hermitage was closed, and after 21 years in the monastery arranged a concentration camp, where, after the partition of Poland, placed about 5,000 Polish officers.

13. The poet Nadezhda Pavlovich played a major role in the fate of Optina. In 1928 she was taken to the monastery archives in the State library. Lenin, and in 1974 he made to the former monastery was given the status of a protected state of the object.

14. In 1928, the Optina monastery, where still lived the elders, visited the future Marshal Zhukov and Malenkov, subsequently, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

 





 

15. The monastery was returned to Russian Orthodox Church only in 1987. Less than a year in Optina were resumed.

16. In 1993 at Easter in Optina there was a terrible tragedy – the murder of three monks. Today tries their graves erected a chapel in honor of the Resurrection of Christ.

17. In 1996, 13 of the Optina elders was canonized locally venerated saints of Optina. Along with Reverend Ambrose Optinsky they built the Cathedral of the venerable Optina elders. In 2000, the Optina elders were glorified by the Church for veneration, the celebration in their honor takes place on 11 (24) Oct.

 





 

18. On the territory of Optina are 11 temples. 8 of them operating, others are being restored. During the day, Vvedensky, Kazan, and Vladimir Preobrazhensky monastery of the opened, they can visit anyone.

19. To Optina Hermitage can be reached in 4-5 hours. From the metro station Tyoply Stan to the city of Kozelsk daily go taxis. From the bus station to the monastery, about 3 kilometers they can walk or ride the bus.

20. On the territory of the Optina monastery there are three Holy source: Holy spring of St. Seraphim of Sarov, amvrosievsky well and Holy spring of Saint Pafnutiy of Borovsk. published

Author: Tatiana Kolechkina P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! © Join us at Facebook , Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki

Source: russian7.ru/2015/12/20-glavnykh-faktov-ob-optinoy-pustyni/

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