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| Saint Arsenios. |
Our holy father Arsenius was born in
1350 to pious and humble Serbian parents in the town of Tver, about 150 miles
northwest of Moscow, Russia. (His grandparents had migrated to this territory
in Russia some seventy-five years before his birth.)
He was a very serious and intelligent
boy, excelling in school while also delighting in serving the Lord as an
acolyte in his local Orthodox Church. When Arsenius was still a young boy, both
his parents became grievously ill; and just prior to his thirteenth birthday,
they both fell asleep in the Lord. On their deathbed they asked Arsenius to
fulfill one last wish: to live a holy and devout life, remembering the Lord God
all his days, and to remember the poor and needy. At this time, because
Arsenius was their only child, they willed all their possessions to him.
After the repose of his pious and
God-loving parents, Arsenius spent many hours in prayer, seeking guidance from
the Lord as to how to carry out his parents’ last request. During this time,
two particular passages of the New Testament continually spoke to his heart: “For
what is a mall profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
This passage made Arsenius realize the serious nature of Christian commitment, as well as the priority that must be given to the spiritual over the material. The following second passage made it clear to him exactly what he should do in order to fulfill this commitment: “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Matt. 19:21). Motivated by these sayings of the Lord, the young Arsenius, not yet fifteen years old, decided to sell all his family's possessions and they were great indeed, and give the resulting money to the poor of Tver. He then announced to all his relatives that he desire to become a monk, so that he could remember the Lord God continually in the depths of his heart and truly identify with the poor and needy by becoming one of them in the fullest sense. His relatives, shocked at such a thought, tried hard to dissuade him and even arranged for him to marry a young Russian maiden of Tver. However, the teenage ascetic for Christ would have no part of this, and he secretly fled his birthplace and traveled to Kiev-Caves Monastery, where the famous Russian Orthodox ascetics, Anthony and Theodosius, had previously persevered in the virtuous life of monasticism in Jesus Christ the Lord.
This passage made Arsenius realize the serious nature of Christian commitment, as well as the priority that must be given to the spiritual over the material. The following second passage made it clear to him exactly what he should do in order to fulfill this commitment: “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Matt. 19:21). Motivated by these sayings of the Lord, the young Arsenius, not yet fifteen years old, decided to sell all his family's possessions and they were great indeed, and give the resulting money to the poor of Tver. He then announced to all his relatives that he desire to become a monk, so that he could remember the Lord God continually in the depths of his heart and truly identify with the poor and needy by becoming one of them in the fullest sense. His relatives, shocked at such a thought, tried hard to dissuade him and even arranged for him to marry a young Russian maiden of Tver. However, the teenage ascetic for Christ would have no part of this, and he secretly fled his birthplace and traveled to Kiev-Caves Monastery, where the famous Russian Orthodox ascetics, Anthony and Theodosius, had previously persevered in the virtuous life of monasticism in Jesus Christ the Lord.
Arriving at the Kiev-Caves Monastery, the
Christ-loving 15-year old fell on his
knees before the abbot of the Monastery
and begged him, saying, "Have mercy, holy Father, on me, a sinner!. Please
do not deny me entrance into this holy place; please remember that Christ did
not cast away the repentant sinner."
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| The Kiev-Caves Monastery |
The abbot, taken aback by such extreme
humility, asked the youth; "Why do you, my son, feel so powerfully the
grip of sin?!. You are still a; young boy!."
"I am also a great sinner,"
answered the youth, "for there is no one: I who lives and does not sin,
even if he only lives one day on this earth. We are all born into this mortal
and passing age. Please, holy Father, do not turn me away. I truly believe in
and understand the awesome judgment seat of Christ. What kind of account will I
possibly give to Christ?!."
This reply of the youth astonished the
abbot. He truly felt the grace of God
"I am not afraid of monastic labor
and ascesis," said the holy youth.
"For me they are pleasant, sweet
and life-giving. I ask, then, only one thing: let me be considered the least of
the entire brotherhood, and I will do, by the grace of God, all that is
required. God will be my Protector, and your prayers, holy Father, will
strengthen me. I am constantly motivated by these zealous and sober words of
the Lord: No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit
for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62)."
The abbot, by this reply, was finally
convinced of the ardent desire and willingness on the part of Arsenius to enter
the monastery. Thus Arsenius was received into the brotherhood, being clothed
with the cassock, as he began his journey on the narrow path (cf Matt. 7:14).
The Kiev-Caves Monastery was a strictly
regulated coenobitic community. Each monk served his obedience and progressed
from degree to degree in the ascetic life. Arsenius, as the rule required,
began with the easier tasks, such as collecting wood for heating and cooking,
and only then went on to the more difficult ones: working in the chapel and
serving the elder monks who were ill. All of these tasks he fulfilled with
zeal, and never once did anyone hear a grumbling word from his mouth. The
entire brotherhood was amazed at such zeal, endurance and desire to acquire
virtue through ascetic labor.
As time passed, the young man became one
of the great ascetics of the Kiev-Caves Monastery. His humility and virtue
surpassed all; the light and love of Christ were so visible in him that many
elder monks came to him to seek spiritual advice and counsel. He was an accomplished
ascetic by the age of twenty, and when he reached the canonical age of
twenty-five, was ordained deacon in Kiev by the Metropolitan of Kiev, Cyprian. Although
Arsenius accepted ordination reluctantly, feeling totally unworthy of the
vocation, he nevertheless consented with the plea that Cyprian would not
elevate him to the priesthood. However, in Tver, Arsenius birthplace, there
was an ecclesiastical disruption. The spiritual situation of the diocese
deteriorated to such a degree that the Prince of Tver, Michael Alexandrovich,
petitioned Cyprian in Moscow to investigate matters. Archbishop Cyprian
traveled to Tver, taking with him two Greek Metropolitans, Michael and Nikandros,
St. Stephen of Perm, Bishop Michael of Smolensk, venerable Archdeacon Arsenius,
and several other archimandrites2 and abbots. After Divine Liturgy
in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Tver, a synod was held. Arsenius was to be
elevated to the rank of priest and then bishop, and assume the Episcopal duties
of the Diocese of Tver.
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| Saint Arsenios Bishop of Tver. |
Ascending the arch pastoral throne in
Tver, Blessed Arsenius began immediately, by sincere prayers, fasting,
evangelical words and virtuous deeds, to restore the faithful of the diocese to
spiritual health and vitality. He was inspired at this time by the words of
Prophet Ezekiel: “So thou, o son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the
house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them
from me” (Ez. 33:7). Arsenius' greatest gift to his flock was his pure and
devout life. He continued to lead a strict ascetic life, constantly keeping vigil
over his entire person by fasting. News about this holy man of God quickly
spread, prompting many to come to receive his blessing, forgiveness of sins and
spiritual healing. Also at this time St. Arsenius was granted, by the grace of
God, the gift of healing. He healed many of their physical woes, as pious
believers after being blessed by water or anointed with oil by the Saint were
made physically whole as well as confirmed spiritually in faith in the Lord.
Coming to Tver, St. Arsenius did not
forget the monastic community of the Kiev-Caves, where he had first entered as
a novice some twenty-five years before. The examples and teachings of the
founders of the Caves Monastery, Anthony and Theodosius, were permanently
etched in Arsenius' mind and heart, as their lives and works inspired him to
build his own monastery where he would someday be buried. Prince Michael of
Tver was pleased with this desire of Arsenius and vowed to aid him materially
to fulfill his God-inspired plan. The saint then chose for his monastery a
place called Zheltikov, some seven miles from Tver, near a quiet spot on the
Tmaka River. Invoking the Holy Spirit of God, venerable Arsenius built a chapel
in Zheltikov in honor of Sts. Anthony and Theodosius. Arsenius' chapel was
completed in 1394, and the brotherhood who gathered around him chose him as
their abbot. Ten years later, on August 30, 1004, the main church of Zheltikovo
Monastery, dedicated to the Dorrnition of the Theotokos -following the pattern
of the Caves Monastery-was completed and consecrated. The Church was truly
beautiful, as Prince Alexandrovich, fulfilling his promise, provided all the
materials necessary to decorate and beautify the Church. And it was next to
this main Church that Blessed Arsenius, with his own hands, dug his own grave
and constructed his crypt out of white stone.
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| Saint Arsenios with the Zheltikovo Monastery. |
As Bishop of Tver, venerable Arsenius often visited
his Monastery, encouraging the monks to continue spiritual warfare in the Lord.
Under his direction the Kiev Caves Patericon was published. Arsenius at this
time was inspired by the words of Scripture: “And the servant of the Lord must
not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves” ... (II Tim. 2:24-25). Truly Arsenius
was a blessed archpastor!. His personality and character were so much like that
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that all who came in contact with him were
touched by God's grace and divine life of love. This great lover of peace was
even able to resolve political difficulties and differences among the various
governors, and princes throughout Russia; several times Archbishop Cyprian
called him to Moscow to solve and pacify these political struggles. And as a
result of his spiritual guidance and example, Blessed Prince Michael, in his
later years, abdicated the throne and chose the totally devoted monastic life,
being tonsured Monk Matthew and spending his remaining years in Zheltikov
Monastery. This virtuous saint of Serbian descent was truly one of the great
Church leaders from all walks of life in the Russian Church in the second half
of the fourteenth century.
The blessed repose of St. Arsenius took
place during Great Lent, 1409. On the Sunday of Orthodoxy Arsenius gave his
last sermon in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Tver, calling upon all
to remain firm in the Faith and to guard the inheritance which our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ had entrusted to them. On Thursday of the Second Week of
Great Lent, he became grievously ill; and the following night, March 2, 1409,
at age 55 the blessed archpastor fell asleep in the Lord, ascending the
heavenly ladder to the mansions of the righteous. The following day, his holy
body and relics were taken from the Cathedral in Tver to his Monastery in Zheltikov
where the burial service was held. He was honorably laid to rest in the tomb he
had dug himself next to the main Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos.
As many pious faithful came from near
and far to venerate his body and relics, a sweet fragrance and myrrh exuded
from his crypt, a true sign expressing his incorruptibility in the grace and
divine life of the Holy Trinity. Many miracles were reported after his repose.
Here is the report of the official canonization found in the "Miracle Scrolls"
of Zheltikov Monastery: "In 1483, seventy-four years after his death,
Bishop Basil of Tver, by the decree of Tsar John Vasilievich, had the crypt of
St. Arsenius transferred from Zheltikov Monastery to the Cathedral in Tver
where many pious faithful could venerate him and receive healings and
blessings. Upon opening the crypt, the body was found completely intact,
sweet-smelling and aglow. At this time the Divine Services and hymns were
composed, and his feastday-March 2nd- was officially established by the Church
of Russia, as well as by the entire Orthodox Church.
St. Arsenius was known for his miracles.
On a silver reliquary there are seven depictions of his miracles. First, the
resurrection of a fisherman, Tirentius. The second is a depiction of the deliverance
of the son ofJohn Kartash; third is the healing of Archpriest Alexis, who
suffered from bad legs. The fourth is the healing of virgin Justina Golovenka.
Fifth, the saving of a strangled man; sixth, a miracle from the shroud of the
Saint. And the seventh, the delivery from madness of Gregory and his wife.
In the manuscript collection of
miracles, one is no less wondrous than the next.In 1637, when the Cathedral
was renovated, the relics of the Saint were temporarily brought out and place
in the Church of Anthony and Theodosius. At that time a certain monk, Sabbatius
once entered that church in an unsober state, and fell asleep near the
reliquary of the Saint, thus performing an act of sinful disrespect to it.
Suddenly he felt someone waking him up. Opening his eyes he saw a bright light
in church that came from the sepulchre and on top of it the Saint was sitting.
Sabbatius, in horror, attempted to flee. But suddenly he heard from the
sepulcher a voice saying, "0 unworthy monk, how dare you enter church in a
drunken state?" In the morning, they found the monk barely alive. He was
sick for a long time and then, confessing to the abbot his sin, told everyone,
adding how he was healed and that people should have piety.
"0 Holy Father Arsenius, thou didst
demonstrate that the only purpose and reason for existence is to love the Lord
God and to humbly serve our neighbor with our whole heart. Pray to Christ our
true God that we, miserable and helpless sinners, may receive His life, comfort
and love, so as to manifest His humility in our lives, to Whom belongs glory,
honor and worship, together with His unoriginate Father, and the Life-giving
Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages: Amen."
Kontakion. Tone 2
Nourishing thy spiritual children with
the food of thy words, 0 God-bearing Arsenius," and praising with thy
tongue,* making songs with thy lips and preaching," thou didst cry: 0
Christ, Thou art the Light inexpressible.
Reference:
Serbian Patericon. Volume1. Fr.Daniel Rogich.(1994).