THE LIFE OF Saint Alexander of Svir

THE LIFE OF
Saint Alexander of Svir

BLESSED SEER OF THE HOLY TRINITY1

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1 Abridged from the Life written in the Saint's Monastery in the year 1545 by his disciple Herodion, who was abbot after him. Printed in Slavonic, St. Petersburg, 1843.


O VENERABLE FATHERS, as the true slaves of a rich Lord and God, entreat Him that He will grant me from his unfailing treasuries a word seasoned with the salt of the Holy Spirit, and a tongue that is comprehensible, that I might boldly speak of the virtuous life of our most blessed Father Alexander, who has most gloriously shone forth now in these latest times. I have received the account of his labors not by hearsay only, but from his own venerable and holy lips, and I have heard of his labor-loving life in God from his disciples who lived with him from the first. All this I leave in writing as a priceless gift and a paternal inheritance so that those who come after us might make profitable use of it.

The parents of the blessed child, our holy Father Alexander, Stephen and Bassa, lived in the boundaries of Great Novgorod, which is now the land of Olonets, and were villagers in the village called Mandera, which is near the Ostrog monastery of the Entrance of the Most Holy Mother of God. In wealth they did not abound, but were satisfied with what they had; but in piety they shone forth above many, and they ever strove in all things to be pleasing to God. Sons and daughters were born to them, but then much time passed when no more children were born, for which the blessed Basta was reproached by her husband. But this was according to God's Providence; for it is not possible to give birth to such a treasure, whom God chose before his conception to be an instructor in salvation for many, except by prayer and fasting. After much prayer, the pious couple went to the above-mentioned monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God, remaining there not a little time in fasting, and praying to the Mother of God. And in one night there was a certain Divine manifestation, and a voice was heard to say: "Rejoice, blessed couple; for the Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall give birth to a son with the name of consolation: for God shall grant in his birth consolation to His churches."


Ancient icon from Valaam

ST. ALEXANDER OF SVIR

Commemorated August 30

TROPARION, TONE 4

FROM THY YOUTH, O divinely-wise one, with spiritual desire didst thou settle in the wilderness,+ and didst fervently desire to go in the footsteps of Christ alone.+ Wherefore even the Angelic choirs, beholding thee, were astonished+ at how thou didst labor with the flesh against the invisible wiles, O wise one.+ Thou didst vanquish the legions of the passions by means of continence,+ and reveal thyself upon earth as equal to the Angels+. O Saint Alexander,+ pray to Christ God+ that He may save our souls.



General view of Valaam Monastery (18th-century engraving)



The island where St. Alexander labored while at Valaam


And when the days for giving birth were fulfilled, the desired child was born to them, and they called his name Amos. This blessed child was born in the year 1449, on the 15th day of June. After a short time they gave birth to him a second time by water and the Holy Spirit. The child grew well and was filled with the Holy Spirit in the Lord.

When it came time for him to study, his parents gave him over to a certain devout man to study the Divine Scripture. But while his companions learned rapidly, this blessed child learned most slov.ly; and this was according to God's Providence, so that he might receive understanding from God, and not from men. One day he went to the above-mentioned monastery, to the church of the Mother of God where it was his custom always to come, and fell down before the Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, with tears and groans begging Her aid, when suddenly he heard a voice saying: "Arise, fear not; and what you have asked you shall receive." And soon he studied the Divine Scripture without difficulty and surpassed all his companions. In addition, he went every day to church, revered and obeyed his parents, and remained in great continence, wearing out his body. Every day he ate only bread, and that not to satiety, while at night he slept little, and astonished his parents greatly because of his continence. The wondrous child applied himself diligently to labor, and never did his mind incline toward the games and light-minded talk usual to children; but rather he walked about sorrowful and downcast, and to the extent that he was instructed in simplicity, so much was his mind enriched with wisdom. He was kind and meek, responsive to all and loved very much the poor, also loving greatly and revering the monastic order.

When he reached full manhood, his parents thought of arranging a marriage for him. But the divine youth was heedful ever to separate himself from all the pleasures of this world and to draw near to God alone, preferring to remain most sweetly with him. Having heard of the Monastery of the Lord's Transfiguration which is at Valaam, and being inflamed with desire to go there, he entreated the Lord that he might fulfill this desire. And the Lord, Who is near to the prayer of those who call upon Him in truth, granted in His Providence that certain monks from the Valaam Monastery should come on the business of the Monastery to the village which is near that of the parents of the blessed youth. It happened that he also was passing by this place, and seeing them from a distance standing at the river bank and singing the Psalms, he came to them and, having said a prayer, bowed down to the earth before them, saying, "Bless me, holy fathers." They were astonished at such humility and chastity in the youth. One of them was a clairvoyant elder and filled with the Holy Spirit, and he understood the youth's purity of heart and the grace that was to be manifest in him. The divine youth questioned this elder separately about his monastery and the monks' rule of life, and the elder told him in detail of the c;nobitic life of the monastery, and also of the solitary life of silence where two or three lived together in oneness of soul, apart from the others. And the divine youth asked the elder, rivers of tears pouring forth from his eyes: "What must I do, venerable father, in order to flee this world of much disturbance and become worthy of such an angelic life?" The elder confirmed his fervent desire for the monastic life and indicated to him the way to the monastery; then, having gone to the youth's parents and conversed with them to their spiritual profit, he at last said: "Your son shall be great before the Lord and a servant of the Holy Trinity." And thus he departed from them.

The blessed youth, being filled with much zeal, and not putting off the fulfillment of his desire, fell to the feet of his parents and begged their bles sing to go to a nearby village on a certain business. Having thus stolen a blessing from his parents, he left their home, having nothing but his clothing and a little bread. Having gone a little way, he stopped and wept for many hours at thus departing from his parents' home; and then he set out on his way, walking quickly and rejoicing greatly.

The blessed youth came to the river Svir, and having crossed the river he continued his way, rejoicing and giving thanks to God. That place was very desolate, and forested, and inaccessible. Night approached, and the holy youth looked about to find where he might lie down for the night. Seeing in the distance a lake, he walked to its shore. The lake was not very large, but quite beautiful, surrounded by forest on all sides as by a wall, the branches of the trees bending down to the water, and it was four miles from the river Svir. The blessed youth rejoiced in scul and stood at prayer, saying: "Lord Jesus Christ my God, direct me on the path of salvation." And having prayed for many hours with tears, he fell asleep. Immediately he heard a voice saying to him: "O youth, the path is straight for you to go where you wish to go, to the monastery of the All-merciful Saviour on Valaam; go in peace, and labor there unto the Lord for a sufficient time, and then you will be in this place and build a monastery, and many will be saved by you." With this voice a great light also appeared at the place where the blessed one was resting, and he saw a certain bright ray shining upon him. And he was overcome by a great tear and thought to himself: "What does this mean?" And fountains of tears poured forth from his eyes. Then with joy, giving thanks to God, he went on his way.

On his way he prayed to the Lord that he might find a companion who knew the way well, and the Lord soon heard his prayer, and the blessed one, looking back, saw a man walking on the road. He was going to Valaam also on some business, and the blessed youth rejoiced at finding such a companion. With him he travelled in a few days a road which some travel with difficulty only in many days. And when they neared the monastery and the blessed youth saw the church of the Lord's Transfiguration, he stood at prayer with tears. Then, looking around for his companion, he could not find him; and he understood that his good companion, an Angel, had been sent him by God, and he gave thanks to the Lord God for this.

Coming to the monastery gate, he met some monks standing outside the gate and, bowing to them, he said, "Bless me, holy fathers." They informed the Abbot concerning him, and he ordered the blessed youth to be brought to him. Going to the Abbot, he bowed down to the ground before him and received his blessing. And he began to entreat him with tears to make him a monk. The Abbot, whose name was Joachim, seeing him so young, tested him by speaking of the monks' sorrowful life, full of deprivations. But the blessed youth continued his entreaty, and the Abbot, looking upon him with the eyes of the heart, saw that he was to be a chosen vessel of God, and he said: "Blessed is God, Who wishes all men to be saved. May He grant you, O child, strength and patience according to your desire, unto salvation. From henceforth you will serve the brethren in all patience and obedience." Hearing this from the Abbot, he bowed down to the ground before him. And thus the hairs of his head were tonsured, and with them he put off all vain wisdom that draws one downward, and his name was called Alexander; he was then 26 years old. And having given thanks to God that he had been enabled to flee the agitation of worldly life for the serene harbor of monasticism, he gave himself over entirely to Him, laboring day and night without sloth, wearing out his flesh with fasting and prayer. He spent his days in labors for the monastery, and his nights in vigils and glorification of God; he could not be drawn into unfitting conversations, but kept his mind ever upon God alone. And his life was not as that of a man, but of an Angel, so that the Abbot and the brethren were astonished at his great humility and his surpassing obedience toward everyone.

THE PARENTS of blessed Alexander grieved much over being separated from him, and they sought him everywhere. After three years the blessed one's father found out that he had been tonsured a monk at Valaam, and being inflamed with fatherly love, he set out on the long journey in order to see his son. In vain did he try to persuade his son to return home in order to console his parents until their death; rather, the counsel and the fervent prayer of blessed Alexander persuaded his father to become a monk also, and on return to his home he entered the above-mentioned monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God, was tonsured a monk and called Sergius, and died in peace. Likewise, the Saint's mother was clothed in monasticism and called Barbara, and after living a God-pleasing life, reposed in the Lord. St. Alexander, hearing that his parents had reposed, wept much over them, but then, placing his hope in God, he said to himself: "I also am mortal."

And from that time he entered into yet greater labors. Then he was sent by the Abbot to the bakery, and there he remained in humility, prospering in labors above everyone else, carrying water and bearing wood from the for est, wearing out his body, thus laboring ceaselessly every day, and at night praying to God without slothfulness; and sometimes, leaving his cell and exposing his body to the waist, he would stand until morning psalmody, and his body would be covered with a multitude of mosquitoes and gnats. In the morning he was to be found in church before everyone else, and standing in his place, without moving his feet, he would raise his entire mind to the heights of reflection on God, paying diligent heed to the Divine singing and reading; and he left church after everyone else. And all were astonished at his humility and patience, wherefore he was greatly loved by all and greatly revered and glorified.

Seeing himself thus revered and glorified by all, the Saint sorrowed greatly over this and thought of fleeing from human glory into the wilderness, there to labor for God alone, that he might be glorified by Him with eternal glory before the Angels and all the Saints. And so one day he went to the Abbot, according to custom, for blessing and prayer, and confessed to him the sorrow of his heart and his thought, and falling to his feet, he entreated him to bless him to go into the wilderness. The Abbot, however, forbade him, saying: "No, child, do not say this, for you are young, and it is not the time for you to touch the highest stage of solitary silence, before having made your feet firm on the foundation of the first stage of the common life and obedience." St. Alexander submitted to the will of the Abbot, and begging forgiveness of him, he remained in obedience, laboring with the brethren, and if he saw someone unable to work, he helped him. And thus he served the brethren ceaselessly every day, and at night he remained without sleep, standing and praying to God. And the Abbot and the brethren were astonished at his hard life and his manful patience.



THE ASCETIC LABORS OF ST. ALEXANDER AT VALAAM

Detail of a 16th-century icon of the Life of St. Alexander, showing the Saint hauling wood, fetching water, baking bread in the monastery bakery, and, in a secluded place deep in the woods, stripping to the waist and exposing his body to be eaten by mosquitoes


A 19th-century engraving of Valaam Monastery pilgrims on the way to "Holy Island," where Valaam tradition indicates the very site of St. Alexander's labors while a monk at Valaam.


A Valaam artist's drawing of the path leading up from the shore to St. Alexander's cave on "Holy Island," showing the Cross which the Saint himself made.


The Cross of St. Alexander, and the steps leading to the cave where he lived and prepared his grave Photographed before the 2nd World War.


After this, one night St. Alexander was praying to God and His Most Pure Mother, entreating Her to instruct him on a way in which he might be saved, when suddenly he heard a voice saying: "Alexander, depart from hence and go to the place which was shown you before, in which you can be saved." With the voice a great light also appeared. The Saint opened the window of his cell and saw a great light shining toward the east and south, and by a voice, as by a finger, was pointed out that place whereon now by God's grace his monastery stands. From this voice and vision the Saint was filled with great joy and gave thanks to God that He had not disdained his entreaty. Soon he went to the Abbot, confessed to him the apparitions which he had seen on the way when he was walking to Valaam and now in the monastery. And the Abbot, hearing this and understanding that he was to be a certain chosen vessel, said: "May the will of the Lord be done in you, child." And the Saint, having received a blessing from the Abbot from whom he had received the monastic tonsure, was filled with great joy and tears, and going to his cell prayed for hours And when night came, he arose and departed from the monastery, having nothing except the garment which he wore, and by God's favor he came in the year 1485 to the place which had been shown to him before. And he loved it very much, and having prayed he said: "Behold my repose unto the ages of ages; here I shall settle, for the Lord has desired it." And again: "Blessed be God from now unto the ages, Who has heard my entreaty." Having gone about that place, and seeing a beautiful spot and a certain bright ray of light illuminating it, where the monastery is now, he built a small hut there. And he began to live in that place alone, where no one before had lived, and paid heed ever to God alone. Ceaselessly, day and night, he showed forth his correction before God, remaining in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, in prayer and in vigil, and in extreme fastings, and in temptations and sorrows, as an unwavering pillar, being consoled with the hope of receiving future goods.

ONCE, WHEN he was going from his hut to fetch water and was singing the songs of David, as it was his custom ceaselessly to sing and pray, suddenly he heard a voice from heaven saying: "Alexander, as you have kept My commandments from your youth, you have fervently passed through a narrow and most sorrowful path; wherefore, I have prepared for you a countless multitude of people, as before I told you. Do not refuse them, but receive them with outstretched arms, and you shall be their instructor unto salvation." Hearing this, the Saint fell with his face to the ground, his mind, however, touching heaven, sending up songs of thanksgiving to God, entreating Him with tears that he might not receive glory from men, but remain in the wilderness and in silence. But the Lord did not desire that this great luminary should be hidden in the wilderness.

Not far from this wilderness, some nine miles, there lived a certain nobleman by the name of Andrew Zavalishin. Once he went out hunting with a company of his men and with dogs, and they came to a thicket of the forest, when suddenly a deer appeared before them. Andrew had his company chase the deer, but it ran very swiftly and the dogs could not catch up with it. In the pursuit Andrew became separated from the rest and chased it by himself. At last the deer became invisible in the thicket, and Andrew had turned to seek out his company, when he saw a small hut with human footprints around it, and he greatly rejoiced, thinking that some slave of God must be living here in silence. And going up to the hut he said a prayer and knocked on the door. St. Alexander came out and was frightened, thinking he saw a spirit; for he had never seen a man in that wilderness. The Saint, however, blessed him, and Andrew told him what had happened, adding: "And I believe that it was not a deer which I was pursuing, but a certain power of God that brought me to your holiness, that I might receive your holy blessing and prayer. For I should inform you that previously when I have gone out hunting in this wilderness, many times I have seen right on this spot, sometimes as it were a fiery pillar standing, and sometimes a certain Divine ray shining, and sometimes a bright smoke ascending from the earth to the heights. Many times I have attempted to come to this place to find out about this, but I could not, until God permitted it." And he asked the Saint about his life in the wilderness. Hear-

ing this, St. Alexander was greatly grieved that he could not hide himself from men, and, making him promise with an oath not to tell anyone of him before his death, he told him of his life in this wilderness, where he had lived for seven years without seeing a man, living on plants alone, of how he had suffered greatly in the beginning from the difficulty of such a life, and of how he had been healed of a pain in the stomach by an Angel who appeared and made the sign of the Cross over the afflicted spot. Andrew, hearing this from the Saint, glorified God; and bowing down to the ground before him, he re ceived his blessing and went to his home rejoicing.

After a little time the rumor of St. Alexander went about through all the neighboring region. For the pious Andrew did not wish to be silent about the greatness of God, but strove to glorify the Saint everywhere. Hearing about St. Alexander, his own brother in the flesh, John, came to him, for he had sought him for a long time. St. Alexander received him with love and greatly rejoiced over his coming; for from the time when he received the monastic mantle he had not seen him, and what is more, John in his life and manner was similar to St. Alexander. And they agreed to remain together in keeping God's commandments, following the words: Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20). And thus they greatly forced themselves, for the sake of the hope of the resurrection and the enjoyment of future goods, remembering the virtuous life and correction of many saints of old, striving to follow them, and ascending as by a ladder of good ascent to the heights. Then they began to build cells for those who wished to live with them; for many, emulating their angelic life, left this vain world and came to them. After a short time the Saint's brother John died, and his soul departed to the Lord Whom he had loved; and his body St. Alexander buried in the inner wilderness with psalms and spiritual songs.

Those who wished to live with him the Saint consoled with sweet teaching and strengthened for ascetic labor, his lips being informed by the Holy Spirit, saying: "Do not fear, O brethren, painful continence and the labor of fasting, nor this desert place and the narrow and sorrowful life! The present labors, bodily chastisement, and narrow life, and restraint of desires, and everything sorrowful which is for the sake of God, and tender feeling, and tears, and confessions of sins-prepare us to receive the enjoyment of those future goods." And all were filled with sweetness listening to his teaching, each striving with zeal according to his strength. And the number of the brethren increased, and each remained alone separately in silence, following their good pastor and teacher.

After a little time Andrew Zavalishin again came to St. Alexander together with his children, bringing a load of bread and rye and barley, asking the Saint's blessing and prayers. The Saint blessed him and spoke to him for some time for his spiritual profit, before dismissing him in peace.1 Then he called the brethren together and showed them everything and said: "See, O brethren, how God cares for us His slaves who live in this wilderness, and how He has not forgotten us poor ones to the end, and will never disdain this place and those who live here faithfully serving him." From that time the Saint began to hew wood, and till the earth, and sow, and he ate from his own labor, and fed the poor and travellers, and gave generously to those who asked. And God gave him yet more increase, inasmuch as He wished to glorify His Saint.

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1 Andrew Zavalishin (St. Adrian of Ondrusov) later became a disciple of St. Alexander and then founded his own monastery. He is commemorated by the Church on August 26 and May 17.


A certain monk by the name of Nicephorus, having heard of St. Alexander, came to him and bowed down, asking his blessing. The Saint, seeing him, rejoiced, for he had heard of him as being of great life. This monk wore a great weight of iron about his whole body, and his loins were girt with much chain. The Saint entreated him to remain with him; and he, seeing the great fervency of the Saint, and his meekness of soul, and warm love, remained with him for some years. And St. Alexander, seeing him shining in virtues, received great profit for himself from him, and he thought that his arrival was truly a visitation of God to him. Finally this monk left, despite the entreaties of the Saint, to go to the Kiev Caves Monastery; and to the Saint he said, prophesying: "On this spot God wills that a stone church be built by you, and that the monastery be extended, and that in it His holy name be glorified in the whole land." And thus he went on his way.

ST. ALEXANDER began then to exercise himself in labors beyond the power of man, in hunger and thirst and endurance of cold, hoping by the brief frost of winter to escape the eternal fire to come. But the demons, seeing themselves pressed by the Saint, and understanding that they were about to be banished by him, attempted beforehand to frighten him, appearing sometimes as beasts and sometimes as serpents who rushed upon him with whistling and beastly ferocity, and causing him many other vexations. One night St. Alexander was walking to his solitary hermitage, where it was his custom to pray by himself, when suddenly there appeared to him a countless multitude of demons, as it were a great army, leaping at him with great rage and gnashing their teeth, and a great flame seemed to come out of their mouths, and with great pride they cried at him: "Depart, depart from this place, flee quickly from here lest you die an evil death." But the Saint, like a good warrior of Jesus Christ, being armed with prayer, was not at all frightened by them, knowing their infirm power, and the prayer of St. Alexander came out of his mouth as a fiery flame and scorched all the impotent legions of demons, and then they became invisible.

St. Alexander came in that hour to the solitary hermitage, and there he performed his usual prayers to the Lord God. And suddenly an Angel appeared to him in a most bright garment. Seeing him the Saint was filled with fear and terror and fell to the ground and lay there like a dead man. The Angel took him by the hand and appeared to him as a man, saying: "I am an Angel of the Lord, sent by God to preserve you from all the deceptions of the canning devil and to remind you of the Divine visions which came to you be fore in this place where you have settled, that His command may be executed: for the Lord has chosen you to be a guide for many to salvation. I declare to you that it is God's will that you build a church in this place in the name of the Holy Trinity, and that you gather brethren and establish a monastery." And having said thus, he became invisible. St. Alexander, however, loving silence desired to remain in it all the days of his life, and all the more did he pray to God to deliver him from every deceit of the enemy.

Once, when the Saint had gone away from his hut some distance and was praying, as was his custom, for some hours, suddenly the Angel of the Lord again appeared to him, saying: "Alexander, as I have said before: build a church, and gather brethren, and establish a monastery; for many will come to you desiring to be saved; instruct them on the path of salvation." Having said this, he again became invisible.

And then, in the year 1508, the 23rd year after the Saint's coming to the wilderness, one night St. Alexander was standing in his solitary hermitage, praying to God according to his custom, when suddenly a great light appeared in the cabin where he stood. The Saint was astonished and thought to himself: "What does this mean?" And suddenly he saw three men coming to him in most bright garments and clothed in white, beautiful in purity, shining more than the sun and illuminated with unutterable heavenly glory, and each holding a staff in his hand. The Saint, seeing them, was all trembling: for fear and terror seized him. And coming to himself a little, he understood, and strove to bow down to the ground before them. But they, taking him by the hand, raised him up, saying: "Have hope, O blessed one, and do not fear." And the Saint said to them: "My Lords, if I have acquired grace before you, inform me who you who, being are in such glory and brightness, have not disdained to come to your slave; for I have never seen anyone in such glory as I see you." Answering him, they said again: "Fear not, man of desires, for the Holy Spirit has been pleased to dwell in you because of the purity of your heart, and just as I have said to you before repeatedly, so now I likewise say, that you shall build a church, and gather brethren, and establish a monastery; for 1 have been pleased to save many souls through you and bring them to the knowledge of the truth."

Hearing this, the Saint again bent his knees, and being drenched with tears, said: "My Lord, who am I, a sinner, the worst of all men, that I should be worthy of such a matter as that of which Thou hast spoken to me; for I am unworthy to accept such a mission. For I, unworthy one, did not come to this place for that concerning which Thou commandest me, but rather to weep over my sins." This the Saint said, and lay upon the ground. And again the Lord, taking him by the hand, raised him up, saying: "Stand upon your feet, be able, and be strengthened, and do all that I have commanded you." The Saint answered: "My Lord, be not angry at me, that I have dared to speak before Thee; inform me by what name this church shall be called which Thy love of mankind desires to build on this spot." And the Lord said to the Saint: "Beloved, as you see the One speaking to you in three persons, build the church in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity One in essence." Then He said again: "I leave you My peace, and My peace I grant unto you." And suddenly the Saint saw the Lord with spread wings going on the ground as if by feet, and then He became invisible."

And St. Alexander was overcome with much joy and with fear, and he gave great thanksgiving for this to God the Lover of mankind. He began to think about how and in what spot he should place the church. After thinking much of this and praying to God, one day he suddenly heard a voice speaking to him from above. Looking upward, the Saint saw an Angel of God in a mantle and hood standing on the air, having outstretched wings, in the same way in which once he appeared to the great Pachomius,1 with his arms stretched upward and saying: "One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, unto the glory of God the Father. Amen." And then he said to the Saint: "Alexander, let the church be built on this spot in the name of the Lord Who appeared to you in three persons, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, undivided Trinity." And having said this, he signed that place with his hand in the form of a cross, and then became invisible. St. Alexander greatly rejoiced over this and glorified God that He had not disdained his entreaty, and on this spot he erected a cross.

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1 St. Pachomius the Great (1348, com. May 15), to whom the Angel appeared and gave the first Rule of cenobitic life.


THEN DID St. Alexander undertake greater labors, taking care for the building of the church, and for the gathering of brethren, and for the a tablishment of a monastery. The number of brethren increased, and the monastery was well on its way to being built by the good favor of Almighty God, but there was then no priest in the monastery, and the brethren considered this very grievous and entreated St. Alexander to accept the priestly rank. The Saint, however, refused, saying: "This matter is above my strength." But concerning this the brethren entreated Archbishop Serapion of Great Novgorod, that he might command St. Alexander to accept the priestly rank. And Archbishop Serapion exhorted him to accept the priestly rank, having heard of his virtuous life. The Saint, even against his will, yielded to the exhortation of the Archbishop and the entreaty of the brethren, and by the laying on of the Archbishop's hands was made worthy of the priesthood. The Archbishop gave the Saint also his blessing to build a church, and having conversed with him for some time from the Divine Scriptures as to what a shepherd should be, and concerning much else that was of spiritual profit, he dismissed him in peace. And St. Alexander came to his monastery and took yet greater care for his flock of Christ's sheep which had been entrusted to him, and he undertook the building of the church. Coming with the brethren to the place previously indicated by the Angel, he prayed and began to build a small wooden church. And when the church was finished, the Saint sent two of his disciples, Theodore and Tikhon, to Great Novgorod, to entreat the Bishop concerning the sanctification of the church and concerning those things needful for the sanctification. And he gave them his blessing and what was needful for the sanctification. And thus the church of the Holy Trinity was sanctified.

St. Alexander ever blossomed in virtues; even though he had received the chief place, he did not change his rule but rather undertook yet greater labors, and yet more was he adorned by humility, making of himself an example for all. Wherefore, the monastery expanded, and the number of the brethren increased, and many of the nobles came to him for his blessing and prayers and gave him of their possessions for the building of the monastery As for the rest of his labors and his advancement in virtues, it is not possible to speak here in detail; for he shone like a great lamp by the grace of the Holy Spirit which dwelt in him, and blossomed like a fragrant rose with spiritual fruits. And the Saint was seen as an Angel dwelling in the flesh, and he labored every day in the monastery's labors, working with his hands. He also went to the bakery, mixing the dough and baking bread, and making himself equal to the bread-bakers.

Once, when the feast of the Most Holy Trinity was at hand, those who were preparing what was needful for the guests found that there was no water at hand. The cellarer, whose name was Romanus, went to inform St. Alexander, so that he might command some of the brethren who were idle to bring water. But the Saint himself quickly arose and began to bring water from the lake to the kitchen. One of the brethren, seeing the Saint carrying water, went quickly to inform the brethren who were idle, and they went out with fervor, begging forgiveness of him, and carried water until there was an abundance. Again, it happened that there was no firewood in the kitchen for cooking. The cellarer went to inform the Saint, so that he would command one of the brethren who was idle to prepare firewood. Hearing this, the Saint said to him: "Brother, I am idle" (for he had ordered the brethren to go on some work); and taking an axe, he began to cut firewood. Certain of the brethren, seeing from their cells the Saint thus laboring, also took their axes and cut the wood according to need.

Sometimes the Saint would go at night to the workroom where the brethren milled grain for bread, and, the brethren being still asleep, he would see the portion of grain prepared for each brother, and taking it he would mill it and put it back in the same place, and go out to his cell. Thus did the Saint do many times. For the Saint had a rule for the brethren, that at night each would mill his own portion of grain before morning psalmody, and then they would begin the psalmody; and afterwards each would go out to the work assigned to him, and then again gather to sing the hours and hear the Divine Liturgy; and afterwards they would again go out to work. And laboring thus every day, they remained in love and fear of God, emulating in everything their spiritual shepherd and teacher. And he, as a true shepherd, showed himself as an example to them of all virtues, for he had true humility and great meekness, emulating in everything the Chief Shepherd, Christ. He considered himself to be one of the least ones and endured all sorrows with meekness. He was the first to be found in church and left the last of all. Never did he lie on a rug or pour water upon his body, but only washed his hands. His garment was simple and crude and much-patched. And many, seeing him unbecomingly clothed, thoughtlessly reproached him, reviling him. But the Saint accepted this reproach with joy.


THE APPARITION OF THE HOLY TRINITY TO ST. ALEXANDER

This 17th-century icon from the icon-painting school of the Olonets area, is very likely a product of the icon workshop of St. Alexander's monastery



THE BUILDING OF THE MILL ON THE SVIR RIVER

Detail of a 16th-century icon of the Life of St. Alexander, showing the Saint (top left) praying concerning the plan of it, then (top right) felling trees for the building of the mill, (left) with prayer stopping the rushing of the waters while his brethren watch in awe, and (bottom) building the fence around it out of logs

The Saint had the custom every night to go about all the cells, desiring to find out how each one lived. And if he noticed anyone praying, or reading books, or performing handiwork in silence, he glorified God for such a one. But if anywhere he heard two or three gathered together and talking, there he would knock on the door, thus announcing that he had come, and then go away. And the next day he would call them and chastise them. He did not accuse them at once, but would speak to them as from a distance by means of parables, wishing to ascertain the warmth of their soul toward God. And it the brother would have a pure heart and open faith toward God and warm love, he would soon acknowledge his guilt, and falling down would beg forgiveness of him. But if the brother's heart should be covered over by a diabolic darkening, he would stand and think that he was talking of someone else, considering himself pure, until the Saint would accuse him and, having chastised him meekly from the Divine Scriptures and laid a penance on him, let him go.

Thus did the Saint ever have great care for the flock entrusted to him by God. He taught the brethren ever to pay heed to the salvation of their souls, and to pray diligently to God, and not to converse after the prayer of Compline, and not to go from cell to cell, but to remain in their cells in silence, and pray to God for the salvation of their souls and for all men, to have handiwork and have ever the Psalms of David on their lips. Chastising them, the Saint would speak to them with exhortation thus: "It befits us, brethren, who are called monks, always to weep over our sins and offer a pure repentance to the Lord God Who is powerful to cleanse us of our sins; for there is no sin which conquers God's love of mankind. Wherefore, brethren, let us fall down before Him often with tears and confess to Him our sins, and He will save us with eternal salvation. For repentance is the way and the key to the Kingdom of Heaven, without which no one can enter into it. Let us keep to this path, O brethren; for the path now in this short life is narrow and sorrowful, but later in that endless future life there shall be abundant and unutterable rewards." And the brethren, as earth thirsting for water, received the word of his instruction, bringing forth the fruits of their labors to God, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. And their life was like that of Angels, for they emulated in everything, each according to his strength, their shepherd and teacher.

The rumor of their good life spread through all the neighboring region, and many Christ-loving people came to St. Alexander, some to confess their sins to him and receive great benefit from his God-inspired teaching; others desiring to receive his blessing, still others to ask concerning matters which perplexed them; and others seeking healing for various infirmities and sorrows. And the Saint, being filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, gave inexhaustibly what was profitable for them, according to their desire, and not one did he send away empty; wherefore they gave him of their possessions for the feeding of the brethren and the building of the monastery.

THE SAINT came to the wilderness desiring to live alone in silence, and so when, by the Providence of the All-seeing God, the brethren chosen by Him had increased and the monastery had become quite large, there was no place near the monastery convenient for the building of a mill, of which there was great need, for at the time of harvest the monks milled their own flour by hand. For this reason some of the brethren murmured against the Saint, that because of his lack of forethought they were burdened by so much labor. The Saint replied to them with meekness: "Brethren, I wished to live alone in this place in silence, but God has been pleased to erect a monastery to His glory. Wherefore I entreat you: labor in your prayers and do not grow faint, and let us allow God to take care for us."

Then the Saint began to think to himself how he might build a mill according to God for the need and the repose of the brethren from many labors. Now there was below the monastery a deep lake, with much water, and another lake level with the monastery high up the mountain, which likewise had much water and was not far from the monastery. The distance between the lakes was as the distance an arrow might be shot, or twice that far. And at a favorable time the Saint took the eldest among the brethren and went down the slope of the hill with them into the thick of the forest, from the edge of the upper lake, and from there, after praying, he began to dig, making a way for a river toward the monastery from the upper lake to the lower. And he commanded all the brethren to take their shovels and dig. And while they were digging, suddenly the water rushed down in its descent from the upper lake to the lower with a great noise and maring, as if it were going to gouge a great pit below the monastery. The Saint and the brethren, seeing such an extraordinary rushing of water, thought that the monastery would be washed away. And bending his knees, the Saint began to pray to God, saying: "O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we sinners pray to Thee: hear us, Thine unworthy slaves, in this hour, reveal Thy power as Thou didst perform the miracle in Colosse through the Archangel Michael by Thy powerful right arm, restraining the rushing of much water within a small rock:1 likewise now reveal Thy power, restrain these waters, that all may understand how Thou hearest those who fear Thee and glorify Thy thrice-holy name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen." Then he called in a loud voice on the name of Christ our God, and made the sign of the Cross with his right hand over the rushing rapids of the waters; and immediately the water stopped in its course. The brethren and all who saw this rejoiced exceedingly and glorified God Who had given grace to His Saint to perform a most glorious miracle; and they built on this stream of water a mill together with a crusher to serve the brethren and the monastery's need.

___
1 When pagans attempted to destroy the church of the Archangel by directing a torrent of water against it, the Archangel himself appeared and with a blow of his staff opened a fissure which swallowed up the water. This event is com memorated by the Church on September 6.


Then again the monastery expanded, for the sake of the virtuous life of St. Alexander and the miracles which he performed. For the Saint went from strength to strength, as if having a certain natural power of growth, and he became glorified with yet greater glory. And God put into his heart the good thought of building a stone church to the honor and glory of His thriceholy Divine Name. But the brethren, hearing of this from him, began to be displeased with the Saint, saying: "Do you not know, O Father, that this place is sorrowful and poor, and how shall we have such boldness to prepare what is needful for such an undertaking?" The Saint, however, was not at all disturbed by this, nor did he grieve, but rather exhorted them with meekness, saying: "I only entreat you, brethren, that we make the beginning of this undertaking, and God Who loves mankind will grant us inexhaustibly all that is needful; for it is man's to begin, but God's to complete." And coming to a certain place, he prayed to God who had favored his monastery to be built, and began to dig the earth, and he found clay quite near the monastery. And he rejoiced greatly, and guarding himself with faith and placing his hope in God, he began to make bricks, and likewise to prepare other necessary supplies for the construction. Then he sent three of his disciples, Anthony, Leontius, and Herodion, to the Autocrat himself, Great Prince Basil Joannovich, with the petition that he might send skilled workmen for the building of the church. And the Christ-loving Great Prince with joy gave an abundance of what was needful for the building of the church and monastery, and skilled workmen, and a supervisor for the work.

And thus the wise shepherd, St. Alexander, expanded the monastery yet more, and commanded that cells be built in the form of a square, and the church was in the center of the monastery on the plase where in the beginning the Angel of the Lord had commanded him to build a large church in the name of the Holy Trinity, and it was visible from everywhere as in a mirror. Then he entreated Archbishop Macarius of Great Novgorod concerning the sanctification of the church, and by his command the church was sanctified. Then he built surpassingly a refectory and other buildings needful for the brethren.

DIVERSE ARE the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as the divine Apostle says, and to everyone is given what is for profit, according to his faith (I Cor. 12). Thus also our holy Father Alexander acquired much faith toward God and exhibited before Him many and various virtues. Therefore he received from Him much grace and diverse workings in the Holy Spirit: for he gave comfort to the sorrowing, healing to the infirm, correction to sinners, and understood what was hidden, and prophesied the future as if present, and gave inexhaustibly every benefit to all; for there was in his heart a source of living water.

In the year 1525, the fortieth year after the Saint's coming to the wilderness, a certain man by the name of Daniel came into a terrible affliction. He was pious and filled with the fear of God, and he was a spiritual son and benefactor of St. Alexander, living twenty miles from his monastery. His affliction worsened, and for seven days he was as if dead. On the eighth day he moved on his bed and began to groan and be frightened; but he could not say anything, and thus he remained for eight days, and then he began to speak. And he began to tell those who were present how that, on the seventh night of his terrible affliction, two Angels had come for his soul, but then had been forbidden to take it by a voice from above. "And I began to entreat them: 'O holy Angels of God! Have mercy on me, and show me in what rank our holy Father and teacher Alexander is, and in what place is the eternal dwelling prepared for him. And they, so that I would not grieve, carried me to the east, to a certain bright and most glorious place, filled with all joy and fragrance, and they showed me there the dwellings prepared by God for many Saints. And again, taking me from there, the holy Angels carried me to another most glorious and beautiful place, filled with all good things which it is impossible to express in words. And I saw in the midst of those beautiful things a wondrous city, built of pure gold and precious stones, and in it winged men were singing terrible and most sweet hymns, and there was joy and rejoicing unutterable. And the Angels led me into that great joy and into the most bright city, and suddenly I saw in the midst of that city our holy Father and teacher Alexander sitting on a throne in great glory, and on his head was a crown of gold adorned with precious stones and diverse flowers, and his face shone as the sun, and his garments were white as the light; and about him were his rejoicing disciples as well-speaking swallows, and their garments were also white as the light. And I, when I saw him sitting in such glory, was all the more overcome by terror and joy, and I came with fear and bowed down to the ground before him, and said: 'Bless me, my holy Father and spiritual teacher.' And he, looking upon me and blessing me, said to me: 'May God bless you, child Daniel; what have you come here to ask? I replied to him: "I also would wish to be here, if you have mercy on me, my holy Father. And he said to me: 'If you wish to be here, go back and labor in asceticism.' And again the Angels took me back to a certain place on the bank of a river [which was near his village] and showed me there a new church, and then became invisible. And I found myself again on my bed."


The unexpected encounter of St. Alexander and St. Adrian, then Prince Andrew. A popular 19th-century illustration From The Russian Pilgrim.

ST ADRIAN, ABBOT OF ONDRUSOV MONASTERY A pcpular 19th-century lithograph-icon showing St. Adrian praying for his monastery as it appeared at the turn of this century.


The Holy Trinity Cathedral in St. Alexander's Monastery



The Reliquary of St. Alexander in the Holy Transfiguration Church


And when the Lord had relieved this Daniel of his affliction, he came to the monastery and informed the Saint in detail of what he had seen. When he heard this, St. Alexander smiled a little, and then burst into tears and said to him: "Yea, my child Daniel, you saw a holy Angel who appeared in my form; but I am sinful, and how can I receive such a gift from God as He has prepared for His Saints? I say to you, my child: preserve what you have seen as long as I shall be alive." And receiving the blessing of the Saint, Daniel returned to his home, rejoicing and glorifying God Who had glorified His Saint. And on the place where the Angels had placed him he built a church in the name of St. John Chrysostom, in the form which had been shown him then by the Angels. This vision occurred eight years before the repose of St. Alexander.

But the more God glorified His Saint, the more did the latter humble himself before God and men, knowing that not otherwise will one inherit fu ture eternal glory than by first subduing the pride of the flesh under the feet of the soul's humility of wisdom. Therefore, he labored in all the monastery works like the least servant of the monastery; and he was clothed in a garment so poor and old that visitors could not recognize that he was the abbot but took him for one of the poor ones.

SUCH WAS THE LIFE of blessed Alexander, and such was the grace of God which was active in him. A few years before the repose of this marvellous wonderworker, God placed in his heart the good thought of building a splendid stone church to the honor and glory of our Most Holy Lady Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, in the name of Her honorable and glorious Protection. And thus he began the work, and entreated the help of the Autocrat for the building of the church, and having received this, soon placed the foundation of the church.

Then one night, the Saint was praying his usual rule before the Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, and he prayed long and with tender feeling and tears. He sang also the canon of thanksgiving, which is the Akathist. After this he sat a little to rest, and he said to his disciple Athanasius: "Child, be sober and vigilant; for in this hour there will be a wondrous and terrible visitation." And suddenly he heard a great voice: "Behold, the Lord comes, and She Who gave Him birth." The Saint went quickly to the balcony of his cell, and a great light shone upon him and likewise upon the whole monastery, brighter than the sun's rays. And the Saint, looking up, saw the Most Holy Mother of God upon the foundation of the church of Her honorable Protection, in the place of the Altar, as a Queen sitting upon a throne, holding our Lord Jesus Christ as a child in Her arms, and around Her a multitude of Angelic choirs stood and shone in unutterable brightness. When the Saint saw this wondrous vision, he fell down upon the ground and could not look at that unutterable light, being seized with fear and terror. But the Most Holy Mother of God, speedy helper of all Christians, said to him: "Arise, chosen one of My Son and God; for I have come to visit you, My beloved, and to view the foundation of My church; the prayer of your lips has been heard, sorrow no more. And as you have prayed for your disciples and for your monastery, behold, from henceforth they shall abound in everything; and not only during your lifetime, but after your departure also, I shall be always with your monastery, giving what is needful inexhaustibly. Behold and see carefully, how many are the monks who have come into your flock, who are to be instructed by you in the path of salvation in the name of the Holy Trinity." The Saint arose: seeing and being astonished at the unutterable apparition of the Mother of God, he saw a multitude of his monks going to the foundation of Her church, some bringing stones and some bricks and some other things for the building of the church. And again the Most Holy Mother of God said to him: "My beloved, if anyone bring even a single brick for the building of My church in the Name of Jesus Christ My Son and God, he will not lose his reward." And having said this, She became invisible.

The Saint, from the fearful and unutterable vision and from hearing the voice of the Mother of God, was terrified and was all trembling from fear, and scarcely coming to himself, he found his disciple Athanasius lying on the ground from fear, like a dead man, and he raised him up. His disciple began to weep and lament and to throw himself at the Saint's feet, saying: "Inform me, Father, what kind of wondrous and terrible vision this was, at which my soul all but separated from its union with the flesh because of that unutterable, brilliant light." And the Saint, greatly rejoicing in soul, his face radiant from this joy, could say nothing but: "Wait, child, while my spirit trembles from this wondrous vision." And standing, he marvelled at the vision; and in a little while he said: "Go, child, and ask my spiritual father Isaiah to come." And when Isaiah had come, he confessed to him everything in detail. Hearing this, Isaiah was filled with great joy, and praised God. The Saint remained that whole night without sleep, paying heed within himself to the unutterable vision. And he confessed it also to me, humble Herodion, as if it had occurred to someone else and not himself.

At last this earthly angel and heavenly man, our holy Father Alexander, who had travelled with love of labor from his youth in the steps of Christ's commandments, and had drawn near to the Lord Whom he loved by a nar row and sorrowful path, attained an honorable and great old age. And a year before his departure from this brief life into eternal life, having foreseen his approaching death by the Holy Spirit, he called together the brethren, saying to them: "Behold now, O brethren, the end of my life approaches, and my departure from this world is near. I give you over into the hands of the living God and the Most Pure Mother of God. May He preserve you and confirm you in His love; and may the Most Pure Virgin Mother of God, by Her superb intercession, deliver you from all the attacks of visible and invisible enemies." And they, hearing such words from the lips of their beloved teacher, grieved sorely and were filled with lamentation and tears. And the Saint, as a childloving father, comforted them and said: "Even if I am departing from you in body, yet in spirit I shall be inseparably with you. And may you understand this: If 1 have acquired grace before God, this monastery after my death also shall not at all grow poor, by the prayers of our Most Blessed Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, if you shall remain in the commandments of God and there shall be love among you. I leave you in place of myself four brethren who are priest-monks, Isaiah, Nicodemus, Leontius, and Herodion, and of these whichever God desires and Archbishop Macarius shall bless, may he be abbot for you in my stead. Submit to him and do everything according to his command, and remain void of offense in Orthodoxy, and have oneness of mind toward each other, and preserve purity of soul and body."

And again, when the time came for his departurer to the Lord, he instructed the brethren much for their spiritual profit, saying: "Behold, I am de parting from you; but I entrust you to Almighty God and His Most Pure Mother: may She be for you a refuge and wall from all the attacks of the enemy." The brethren wept and lamented at the separation from their most sweet teacher. And they asked hir. where they should bury his honorable body after his repose. And he commanded them, saying: "My beloved brethren, I entreat you to do this: bind my sinful body by the feet with a rope, and drop it into the midst of the marsh, and having put it into the moss, trample on it with your feet." But they said: "No, Father, we cannot do this." And they entreated him with tears that they might bury his body in the monastery near the church of the Holy Trinity. Then the Saint said to them: "If, brethren, you will not do this, then bury me near the church of the Lord's Transfigura tion." (That church was in the Saint's solitary hermitage, one or two arrows span from the monastery.) And having prayed to the Lord for the peace of the world, and for the good condition of the holy Churches, and for his mon astery, and having bestowed upon the brethren his last kiss, he spoke his final words: "O Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit," and he reposed; and his holy soul ascended to the Lord Whom he had loved from his youth.

And all the brethren who were in the monastery wept and lamented greatly, not being able to bear the separation from their good shepherd and teacher. And they sorrowed over him so much that, if it had been possible, they were ready to die together with him. His honorable body which had labored so much in life, they placed honorably and reverently upon a couch, and they accompanied it with psalms and hymns, pouring out fountains of tears. And the face of the Saint shone, not as is usual for the dead, but as if he were alive, showing his purity of soul and the reward which he had received from the Lord. And thus they buried him honorably, weeping and lamenting, and reverently singing the funeral hymns, in his solitary hermitage near the church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, at the right side of the Altar. The Saint had lived for 85 years in all, and he reposed in the year 1533, on the 30th day of August. And this precious treasure, his honorable and holy body, remained in the heart of the earth, and it gives forth, like an ever-flowing spring, an unfailing stream of healings for all who come with faith to his honorable grave. May this account of his life and miracles be for the benefit of those who hear it and to the glory of the Holy Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, and to the praise of this marvellous new wonderworker, our holy Father Alexander. Amen.


The St. Alexander of Svir Monastery (18th-century engraving). Left: the Church of the Transfiguration, where the Saint's relics reposed. Right: the original monastery with the church of the Holy Trinity.

St. Alexander's Disciples

BY 1547, fourteen years after his death, there was already a church service in honor of St. Alexander, and in 1559 a wing of a church in Moscow was dedicated to him.

Under Abbot Theodoritus (1615-1628) the monastery of St. Alexander with its churches was destroyed by the invading Germans and Lithuanians, and 27 of the monks, together with 32 lay servants of the monastery, received martyrs' crowns at this time. As soon as order was restored to Russia, however, by order of Tsar Michael Romanov the monastery was re-established and a new church of the Holy Trinity was built. In 1641, in place of the destroyed church of the Transfiguration, a new stone church was built, and while excavations were being made for its foundation, on April 17 of that year, the relics of St. Alexander were uncovered and found to be incorrupt. In 1643 a silver reliquary was built for them, in which they reposed until the Revolution.

St. Alexander had many holy disciples. Among them may be mentioned: ST. ADRIAN OF ONDRUSOV (Aug. 26) was the very Andrew Zavalishin who discovered St. Alexander in his wilderness. Under the Saint's influence he left the world and became a monk in Valaam Monastery, where he spent several years. Later, with the Saint's blessing, he led a hermit's life on a peninsula of Lake Ladoga, where disciples soon joined him. His holy life converted the chiefs of two nearby robber bands. He died a martyr, being killed in the wilderness by robbers (1549). After two years he appeared in sleep to several of his disciples, who found his body incorrupt (May 17).

ST. ATHANASIUS OF STANDEM (Jan. 18, † after 1550) was a disciple of St. Alexander on Valaam, and later he rejoined the Saint in the monastery of the Holy Trinity. He was present when the Mother of God appeared to the Saint. Later he founded a hermitage not far from St. Adrian, with whom he was in close contact, and died as a hermit on an island in Lake Syandem.

ST. GENNADIUS OF VAZHE LAKE (Jan. 8 and Feb. 9, †1516) was St. Alexander's disciple when the latter was still living alone. After several years the Saint blessed him to live as a hermit, and he spent the rest of his life laboring in a cave-cell not far away, on Vazhe Lake. Near the end of his life he accep ted a few disciples, and the Lord revealed to him that later there would be a church and a monastery on this site.

ST. NICEPHORUS OF VAZHE LAKE (Feb. 9, †1550), mentioned in St. Alexander's Life, joined the Saint after the latter's monastery had been founded and was once sent by the Saint to spend eight days in spiritual converse with St. Cyril of New Lake. After a pilgrimage to Kiev, St. Nicephorus returned to found a monastery on the site of St. Gennadius' labors. He gathered many brethren and died in peace.

ST. MACARIUS OF OREDEZH (Aug. 9) founded the Dormition Hermitage not far from his Elder's monastery, on the river Oredezh; he died peacefully in the year 1532.

STS. IGNATIUS, LEONID, DIONYSIUS, THEODORE, THEOPHAN, CORNELIUS, AND ATHANASIUs of the Oyat Hermitage near the Svir River. This monastery was erected on the place where the parents of St. Alexander were buried.

ST. MACARIUS THE ROMAN (Jan. 19 and Aug. 15; †1550) came from the West seeking the true Church, and he found what he sought as a disciple of St. Alexander. Later he lived as a hermit, and disciples gathered around him. (See The Orthodox Word, 1972, no. 1.) See icon and illustrations on opposite page.

The monastery of St. Alexander continued to flourish during the following centuries, and it even survived the 18th-century persecution of monasticism which Peter I and Catherine II perpetrated through their reforms. But a new period of spiritual revival began for the monastery with the arrival of Schema-monk Theodore, the disciple of Blessed Paisius Velichkovsky and the elder of Starets Lev of Optina, the spiritual link between Blessed Paisius and Valaam Monastery:


ST. MACARIUS THE ROMAN OF NOVGOROD, disciple of St. Alexander, and the Dormition church of his monastery, where his relics were treasured until 1932, when the monastery was destroyed by the Soviets.



The board pathway leading through the marshes to the little island where St. Macarius built his first cell and laid the foundation of his monastery.



ST. ALEXANDER OF SVIR

SCHEMA-MONK THEODORE (†1822), the disciple of Blessed Paisius, after many years of wanderings found peace in St. Alexander's monastery, where he was granted wonderful revelations foretelling his repose. His relics subsequently were found incorrupt. Next to him were buried his holy disciples:

SCHEMA-HIEROMONKS MELETIUS (11877) and ANTIOCH (11832), MONK IGNATIUS, and HIEROMONK BARTHOLOMEW (1864); the latter received the tonsure in Blessed Paisius' Niametz Monastery and then lived on Valaam.

ARCHIMANDRITE AGATHANGELUS (1909), a monk from Valaam, after being made Abbot, labored much for his beloved St. Alexander's Monastery. He was instrumental in preserving contact with Valaam's "Holy Island" Skete of St. Alerander, where there dwelt many recluses and schema-monks, such as the unknown schema-elder seen on the opposite page. (This photograph, taken before 1900, shows the cave and the Cross of St. Alexander.)

NEW-MARTYR ABBOT EUGENE (†1918) and with him five leading Fathers of the Monastery met a martyr's death, as testified to in 1922 by Prof. Jacob L. Barskov: "During the Paschal period in 1918 a band of armed Red Army soldiers broke into the holy Monastery with cursing and blasphemies and demanded from the Abbot, the treasurer and the steward the keys to the Monastery treasury. The Fathers tried as much as they could to reason with them and protect the Monastery's belongings. The band did not like this, and they condemned the monks to be executed by shooting. They forced the six Fathers to dig a pit as a grave for themselves right in the middle of the Monastery court. When the pit was dug, the victims were placed next to it and the soldiers aimed their guns at them. It was the third day of Pascha. The martyrs asked their executioners to allow them to sing 'Christ is Risen'; this not being allowed, they began to sing anyway, and just at this time the soldiers began to shoot. The monks fell dead into the pit. The father steward had a large black beard, and it at once turned gray as he was standing before the pit. Then the band went to the church, where they sacrilegiously took the holy relics of St. Alexander and burned them. All this was seen by the Korelian novice John, who had hidden in the attic and saw everything from there."

The Monastery was subsequently closed, being turned at first into a "Pedagogical Technical Institute" (as an excuse to confiscate the whole library and other valuables), and then into a concentration camp with a slave-labor sawmill, where at one time Orthodox clergy abounded, especially members of the catacomb Josephite Church.

Thus St. Alexander endured martyrdom even after his death in his holy relics, thereby partaking of the suffering of Orthodox Christians under the inhuman, anti-Christian Communist Yoke.