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Venerable Alexander Svirsky

Preface

The Monk Alexander of Svirsky is the only one of the New Testament saints, like the Old Testament Abraham, who was honored with the appearance of the Most Holy Trinity. Only this phenomenon could convince the ascetic, wholly striving for spiritual life, to found the Holy Trinity Alexander-Svirsk monastery.

The Monk Alexander was born into a peasant family; at baptism he was named Amos, in honor of the ancient prophet. From a young age, he himself dreamed of becoming a monk. Dreams became a goal when the young man met the monks of the Valaam Monastery. Soon Amos secretly leaves his parents' house and goes to Valaam. Already on the way to the Valaam monastery, he was granted a wondrous vision, which pointed him to the place of the future Alexander-Svirsk monastery.

Having entered the Valaam monastery, the monk endured many temptations - this included the opposition of his parents, and human glory, and much more. Already at the Valaam monastery, the Monk Alexander realized that his calling was to live in the desert. Having received a blessing from above, he labored for several years in a cave on one of the islands of the Valaam archipelago.

By the will of God, the Monk Alexander left the Valaam monastery and went to the Svir forests, where for several years he labored in absolute solitude, silence and the strictest asceticism. A miracle of God revealed the saint to the world - having been discovered by a hunter, he unwittingly became the spiritual mentor of all the surrounding residents, and then the founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery.

During his lifetime, the Monk Alexander became famous not only as a strict ascetic, but also as a miracle worker who helped people with their everyday needs. But for the monk himself, other miracles were much more valuable - the already mentioned appearance of the Most Holy Trinity and the appearance of the Mother of God.

Having departed to the Lord in 1533, the Monk Alexander did not abandon those who resorted to him. Even before the first discovery of the relics of the saint, many miracles were recorded in the monastery through prayers to the Monk Alexander. When, more than a hundred years after the repose of the saint, his relics were found, they were found completely incorrupt, in which state they remain to this day. After the discovery of the relics of the saint, many miracles were also recorded.

Subsequently, in connection with the revolution and the company to open the relics, the relics of the monk were removed from the monastery and disappeared. Many decades later, the relics of the monk were found again. This event became a significant milestone in the revival of the Alexander-Svira monastery and the entire Russian Orthodox Church. Many miracles occurred at the newly discovered relics and they themselves are evidence of the highest spiritual life. Many pilgrims from all over Russia come daily to the Holy Trinity Alexander-Svirskaya Monastery to venerate the relics of St. Alexander and ask for his help.

This collection is addressed to all those who are interested in the personality of St. Alexander.

It includes the life of the saint, the history of his veneration and the story of the iconography of the Monk Alexander, the story of two discoveries of his relics and evidence of miracles, as well as the history of the Alexander-Svirsk monastery and a prayer section. As appendices, the book includes prayers compiled by the Monk Alexander and a story about his disciples.

Anna Markova

Life

Childhood

The Monk Alexander Svirsky was born in the Ladoga village of Madera. His parents were local peasants of average income. Their names were Stefan (Stepan) and Vassa (Vasilissa). Regarding the circumstances of the birth of the future saint, there are several versions in hagiographic literature. According to one, the marriage of the pious peasants Stefan and Vassa was fruitless for many years: all this time they prayed for a child. According to another version, Stefan and Vassa already had two sons, whom they raised successfully, and then they again wanted to have a child, but their desire was in vain for several years and they earnestly asked the Lord to send them a son.

In any case, the future reverend was a “begged” child. Shortly before his conception, Stefan and Vassa went on a pilgrimage to the Ostrovsky Presentation of the Virgin Mary monastery. There, according to hagiography, they had a vision that their prayer had been heard. After that, they returned home and soon Vassa discovered that she was expecting a child. And on June 15, 1448, they had a son, named Amos in baptism.

When the boy reached a certain age, he was sent to learn to read and write. But at first, reading and writing was not easy for him. Growing up in a devout family, Amos fervently prayed to God and His Most Pure Mother for help. Once, following the example of his parents, he even made a pilgrimage to the Ostrovsky Vvedensky Monastery. And his prayer was heard - he heard a voice from the icon, promising him help. After this, the boy returned home in a special mood, so that his parents understood that God had visited him. And from then on, Amos excelled in his studies even better than many of his peers.

The parents could not get enough of their growing son, who was their reliable assistant, and he secretly dreamed of asceticism, diligently attending divine services and exhausting himself with fasting. When Amos reached adulthood, his parents began to talk to him about a possible marriage, and he tried by any means to avoid such conversations, wanting to leave the world. The desire became a goal when Amos heard about the asceticism of the monks of the Valaam monastery - it was there that he wanted to take monastic vows and prayed to God about it.

Entering a monastery

Soon the Lord fulfilled Amos' prayer. One day, several Valaam monks came to a village neighboring Madera for monastic needs. There, on the banks of the Oyat River, the peasant son Amos met them. He, as he describes his life, approached the monastic brethren, bowed and asked for blessings. The monks willingly blessed him and asked what he wanted from them. In response, Amos asked for their prayers.

After this, one of the monastery elders began to talk with the young man. He willingly answered Amos’ questions about life in the Valaam monastery. Amos himself revealed to him that he dreams of leaving the world and taking monastic vows in the Valaam monastery; He did not hide his fears that his parents would try with all their might to keep him in the world and were even capable of taking him away from the monastery if he got there. But, despite this, Amos was ready to immediately leave everything and leave with the monks. To this, the elder said that the abbot prohibited taking anyone to the monastery without parental blessing. The elder also advised Amos to return home and then secretly leave his parents for Salma, from where it is easy to get to Valaam.

At the invitation of Amos, the Valaam monks visited the house of his parents and blessed them. In parting, the same old man said: “For your son will be great before God and a servant of the Holy Trinity.”

A few days later, Amos, citing urgent business, asked his parents for time off to visit a friend in a neighboring village and said that he could stay there. When leaving, he asked for his parents' blessing. The parents, not suspecting that their son wanted to leave them forever, blessed him. Taking some bread with him, Amos left his parents' house forever.

Subsequently, talking about his departure to the monastery to his disciples, the monk recalled how he was in a hurry to leave, as far as possible from his home, fearing that his parents would figure it out and bring him back. Only after crossing the Svir River did he calm down a little. Finding himself in a desert area, Amos stopped for the night on the shore of a picturesque lake. There he prayed earnestly and during prayer he heard a voice that commanded him to go to Valaam to the monastery of the All-Merciful Savior, after some time to return to this place and establish a monastery here. Heavenly light descended on the place chosen by God. Many years later, the Monk Alexander founded the Svir monastery in the name of the Holy Trinity on this place.

The next day he set out on the road again, praying to God to send him a companion who would show him the way to the Valaam monastery. As the life of the saint states, he actually found such a companion - the Lord sent him an Angel in the form of a husband making a pilgrimage to Valaam.

They reached the monastery very quickly. At the monastery gates they stopped to pray at the Church of the Transfiguration. After the prayer, Amos’s companion became invisible, and from this phenomenon he guessed that he was accompanied by an Angel.

Entering the monastery, Amos asked the monks to escort him to the abbot. They immediately took him to the abbot. The rector at that time was Abbot Joachim. Having come to him, Amos began to beg Fr. Joachim to tonsure him as a monk. At first, the abbot pointed out to him the poverty of life in the Valaam monastery and expressed doubts that Amos would be able to withstand the rigor of monastic life. However, Amos persistently asked the abbot to introduce him to the brethren, promising to fulfill the monastic rules and remain in obedience. In the end, Abbot Joachim bowed to Amos' requests and accepted him into the ranks of the brethren.

In the Valaam monastery

There are differences regarding what happens next. According to one version, Amos was immediately tonsured a monk. According to another, for the first years he lived in the monastery as a novice and only seven years later he was tonsured a monk. According to another version, Amos spent not seven years in the novices, but only three years. Which of these versions is most true is unknown. But it is known

The exact date of the monk's tonsure is August 26, 1474 - on this day the novice Amos became the monk Alexander.

In any case, once in the monastery, the Monk Alexander began to strive zealously from the very beginning, spending his days in labor. According to hagiographic literature, the saint’s first obedience took place in a bakery. The Monk Alexander spent his nights in the feat of prayer. And sometimes he would strip naked to the waist and pray all night in the forest, covered in mosquitoes and midges.

Meanwhile, his parents were looking for their missing son. They even announced in the surrounding villages and hamlets that anyone who tells them anything about their son will receive a reward. And three years later, Karelians, pilgrims to Valaam, came to the saint’s parents and told them that they had seen their missing son in the Valaam monastery.

After this, Stefan immediately got ready and went to Valaam. Arriving at the monastery, he first questioned the monks, and then, making sure that his son was really here, turned to the abbot. The abbot talked with Stefan and in the conversation said that his son had been accepted into the ranks of the brethren, and advised not to grieve about him. Then Stefan began to ask for a meeting with his son, since it was only for this that he undertook a trip to Valaam. The abbot advised Stefan to stay at the monastery, promising that the next day he would be able to see his son.

But when Abbot Joachim came to the monk Alexander himself and said that his father wanted to see him, the monk was very upset. He, obedient in everything, surprised the abbot even more by flatly refusing to meet with his parent.

The monk, realizing that his disobedience to the abbot led to a scandal in the monastery, left the cell to see his father. Stefan barely recognized his son, who had become haggard and pale during his life in the monastery. He began to persuade the Monk Alexander to return home and console his parents. And then, when they end their lives, he can go back to the monastery. But in response, the monk began to persuade his father to renounce the world and take monastic vows together with his wife. But Stefan was angry at his son’s words and, in great annoyance, went to the monastery hotel.

Then the Monk Alexander, returning to his cell, began to pray that the Lord would enlighten his father and direct him to the true path. Indeed, some time later, Stefan came to his senses and, having again talked with his son, decided to take monastic vows. They both once again visited the abbot of the Valaam monastery, and Stefan received his blessing for tonsure.

After that, he left Valaam and returned to his homeland. There Stefan told his wife about everything. She, having lost hope of her son’s return, also agreed to take monastic vows. The couple distributed property to the poor and took monastic vows at the Ostrovsky Vvedensky Monastery, where Vassa once prayed for the birth of a son. Stefan was tonsured with the name Sergius, Vassa with the name Varvara. They did not live long in the monastery and soon moved into eternity.

Their son Alexander continued to labor in the Valaam monastery. The initial obedience in the bakery was followed by others, more honorable ones. Gradually, the Valaam brethren began to talk about the Monk Alexander as an ascetic and man of prayer. He was very embarrassed by such conversations, and he turned to the abbot with a request to bless him to live in the desert. But the abbot, considering the monk Alexander too young, initially refused him. The monk obeyed the abbot, and his asceticism in the monastery continued.

Leaving for the desert

However, subsequently Abbot Joachim, seeing the desire of the Monk Alexander to live in the wilderness, nevertheless allowed him to retire to the island called the Holy. This is one of the islands of the Valaam archipelago. It is located one and a half kilometers northeast of Valaam. The monk lived on this harsh rocky island for about seven years. He lived in a cave, where he was visited by the Valaam brethren, who sincerely praised the exploits of the Monk Alexander and embarrassed him.

Once during a night vigil, the Monk Alexander prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos, addressing Her with the following words: “O Most Blessed Virgin, Lady of the world, Mother of Christ our God! You weigh, as if I placed all my hope in God on You: instruct me, in it I can be saved, in the image of fate.” 2
O Most Blessed Virgin, Lady of the World, Mother of Christ our God! You know that in the matter of my salvation I rely only on God and on You, teach me how to be saved.

The saint’s prayer did not go unanswered. He heard a voice saying to him: “Alexandra, get out of here, and go to the place shown before, where you can be saved.” 3
Alexander, leave the monastery and go to the place that you saw before - there you can be saved.

After this, a light shone in the saint’s cave, and he saw the place where he had once spent the night on the way to the monastery. The miraculous phenomenon prompted the monk to intensify his prayer efforts. It was important for him to verify the truth of the phenomenon that had happened to him.

Having thought everything over, the Monk Alexander turned to the abbot for advice. He spoke in detail about. Joachim about the former vision and asked his advice. Hegumen Joachim immediately became convinced of the truth of the vision that had been with the monk and saw the will of God in all this. Therefore, he said to Alexander: “The will of the Lord be done, child, over you.”

Then the Monk Alexander asked for his blessing to leave the monastery to live in the desert and asked for prayers. The abbot blessed the monk and promised to pray for him.

The very next night, the Monk Alexander left the Valaam monastery and went to the Svir forests. He again found that picturesque place where he had once spent the night on the way to Valaam. There he decided to stay until the end of his days.

Desert-dwelling

Having settled in a deserted place, which was a beautiful forest, replete with forests and lakes, the Monk Alexander built a hut there. Here in the forest he no longer received any help from the monastery brethren and was forced to eat only what he found in the forest. So the reverend’s whole life was prayer and survival. During this time, the holy hermit suffered many hardships from cold, hunger, illness and devilish temptations, but the Lord did not abandon the ascetic with His ineffable mercies. Once, when the monk was seriously ill and could not even raise his head from the ground, he chanted psalms while lying down. Suddenly a “glorious man” appeared before him, put his hand on the sore spot, made the sign of the cross over it and healed the righteous man. The Monk Alexander spent about seven years in complete solitude.

After this time, there was a phenomenon to the monk, announcing that his solitude would soon be broken and Alexander should not resist, since such was the will of God. The phenomenon happened as follows - the Monk Alexander was walking for water and praying, when suddenly he heard a voice from heaven saying: “Alexandra! You have kept My commandments from your youth, you who are cramped and sorrowful

You have walked the path diligently, for this sake you have prepared a countless number of people, as before the river; Don’t reject them, but accept them with outstretched hands, and be their guide to salvation.” 4
Alexander! Since you have kept My commandments from a young age, having gone through a narrow and sorrowful path, therefore I will send you countless people, as I told you before, accept them with open arms and be their guide to salvation.

This phenomenon stunned the monk; he always avoided human glory and never sought to be a mentor to anyone; Therefore, he began to beg the Lord to continue to remain in desert obscurity. But God's will for him was different.

About fourteen miles from the Monk Alexander lived a certain nobleman - Andrei Zavalishin. One day he and his comrades went hunting. As soon as the hunters entered the forest, they saw a deer. The hunters set their dogs on him, but the deer began to move away from them. Then Zavalishin and his associates chased after him. For a long time, but in vain, they chased the deer. All the hunters had already fallen behind, only Zavalishin continued to pursue him. Suddenly the deer stopped, looked around and disappeared into the fog. Zavalishin could not find him. Then he decided to go back and find his comrades.

Near the road, Zavalishin noticed a small hut and thought that a hermit lived here.

Wanting to talk to the hermit, Zavalishin, according to monastic custom, said a prayer and knocked on the door of the hut. The Monk Alexander decided that demons were bothering him, but still opened the door. When Zavalishin saw the embarrassed hermit in wretched clothes, he realized that the monk was taking him for a demonic vision and said: “Servant of God, why are you afraid? Come and touch me, and you will know that I am flesh and blood, and not spirit." After this, the monk realized that there was really a man in front of him, blessed Zavalishin and began to ask him who he was and where he was from. Zavalishin told him about himself and about the deer hunt, which led him to the saint’s hut. In addition, he reported that he had more than once seen radiance and light smoke above the monk’s hut, but had never been able to get to this place, so he considered his meeting with the monk providential and asked him to tell him about himself.

The Monk Alexander became embarrassed, sensing that he would no longer be able to hide from people’s attention. But since Andrei Zavalishin conjured him with God, he still decided to tell about himself. The monk began his story with the following request: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I conjure you that everything that I reveal to you, you must not tell anyone while I live.” Andrei promised him to remain silent. Then the monk told him the following: “Child! I am a sinful man, named Alexander; previously lived on Valaam in the monastery of the Savior Almighty, where he was tonsured. Then he decided to leave the monastery, settle in silence in the desert and cry about his sins. By the will of the man-loving God, I came to this place, built a hut, and for seven years now I have been living here, without seeing a single person before your arrival. I eat the grass that grows here, but I have never eaten bread.”

Zavalishin was surprised by the severity of the ascetic’s life, once again asked for a blessing, and, having received it, went home. However, he did not keep his word, telling throughout the area about the Monk Alexander and his exploits. People immediately began to visit the monk with requests for prayer and spiritual advice.

At this time, his relatives also learned about the monk - hagiographic literature says that his brother John, who also wanted to live in the desert, came to the monk Alexander. Here, as in the story of the saint’s birth, there are questions: was this brother his own brother, or is life calling some relative, first cousin or second cousin, a brother? But in any case, John settled with the monk, also beginning to practice asceticism.

The beginning of the Svir monastery

From the time the rumor about the ascetic spread throughout the area, those who sought spiritual guidance in their ascetic life began to turn to St. Alexander. Although the monk did not strive to instruct and rule, he nevertheless did not refuse anyone. So the monastic brethren began to gather around him.

Alexander began to build cells for the brethren, initially establishing a large monastery. This caused a conflict with brother John, who was indignant that his relative, having declared himself a hermit, was setting up a large monastery, as John thought out of vanity. The monk did not answer his brother, but prayed for him. He himself also sometimes doubted whether it was God’s will for him to build a monastery, or whether he should limit himself to the spiritual nourishment of those who came to him.

But more and more people came to the Monk Alexander in thirst not only for spiritual nourishment, but also for monastic achievement. The monk could not drive them away; he only warned that monastic life in the deep forest was very difficult. He encouraged those who firmly decided to follow the example of the monk and settle near him and under his spiritual guidance, saying that all the local sorrows and deprivations prepared for them the spiritual benefits of eternal life.

The Monk Alexander Svirsky was born on June 15, 1448 into a family of peasants in the Ladoga village of Mandera on the Oyat River (a tributary of the Svir River) Stefan and Vasilisa (Vassa). Stefan and Vasilissa had two adult children, but they really wanted to have another son, and they prayed to God about it. One day, while praying, the pious spouses heard a voice from above: “Rejoice, good marriage... about to give birth to a son... at his birth God will give consolation to His Churches.” The saint's birthday coincided with the day of remembrance of the prophet Amos, whose name was given to the boy at baptism.

Alexander Svirsky. Gallery of icons.

When Amos grew up, his parents sent him to learn to read and write, but learning was difficult for the boy. Having a hard time experiencing this, Amos often prayed to God for help. One day he went to the nearby Ostrog Vvedensky Monastery and began to pray fervently in front of the icon of the Mother of God. While praying, the youth heard a voice: “Rise up, do not be afraid; and if you asked, you will receive it.”

From then on, Amos began to excel in his studies and was soon ahead of his peers.

He was always obedient and meek, avoided games and laughter, wore the simplest clothes and early began to strengthen his soul by fasting, which caused concern to his mother. When Amos grew up, his parents wanted to marry him, but he wanted to devote his life to serving God. After meeting the Valaam monks, the young men were overcome by an irresistible desire to go to Valaam. At the age of 19, he secretly left his parents' home and set off on a long journey. Having reached the Svir River, Amos crossed to the other bank and walked another six miles.

Night found him on the shore of a quiet forest lake. Having spent a long time in night prayer, the young man heard a voice that commanded him to go to Valaam to the monastery of the All-Merciful Savior, after some time to return to this place and establish a monastery here. Heavenly light descended on the place chosen by God. In the morning Amos continued on his way. He walked for a long time through the forest wilds without a road and became very tired. Suddenly he saw a traveler who said that he was going to Valaam and knew the way there. They went together and after some time reached the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior. Having given praise to God at the gates of the monastery, Amos wanted to express gratitude to his companion, but he suddenly disappeared. Then Amos realized that it was the Angel of God.

For seven years Amos remained a novice in the Transfiguration Monastery, spending his days in labor and his nights in prayer. Sometimes he would strip naked to the waist and pray all night in the forest, covered with mosquitoes and midges. When the parents learned about the whereabouts of their son, the father came to the monastery. Amos did not want to come out to him, saying that he was dead to the world. And only at the request of the abbot he talked with his father, who wanted to persuade his son to return home, but after his son’s refusal, he left the monastery in anger. Secluded in his cell, Amos began to pray earnestly for his parents, and through his prayer, the grace of God descended on Stephen. Returning home, he took monastic vows at the Vvedensky Monastery with the name Sergius. Amos’s mother also cut her hair with the name Varvara.

On August 26, 1474, Amos took monastic vows with the name Alexander and retired to a secluded island, later called the Saint. There he discovered a cave and labored in it for another seven years. The fame of his exploits spread far and wide. Wanting to avoid human rumors, the Monk Alexander decided to retire into unknown forests, but at the request of the abbot he remained. In 1485, during night prayer before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, a light shone in the saint’s cell, and he heard a voice commanding him to return to the previously indicated place. Through the window, the monk saw something like a finger pointing towards the Holy Lake. Having learned about the vision, the abbot blessed the Monk Alexander on his way.

On the shore of the Holy Lake, 36 versts from the present city of Olonets and 6 versts from the Svir River, the Monk Alexander built a small cell, in which he lived for seven years, without seeing a human face, without eating bread and eating only the fruits of the forest . During this time, the holy hermit suffered many hardships from cold, hunger, illness and devilish temptations, but the Lord did not abandon the ascetic with His ineffable mercies.

Once, when the monk was seriously ill and could not even raise his head from the ground, he chanted psalms while lying down. Suddenly a “glorious man” appeared before him, put his hand on the sore spot, made the sign of the cross over it and healed the righteous man. Another time, when the monk was walking to fetch water and singing prayers loudly, he heard a voice predicting the coming to him of many people who were to be received and instructed.

In 1493, boyar Andrei Zavalishin came across the hermit’s home while hunting. He was very happy about this meeting, since he had long wanted to visit a place over which he had repeatedly seen “sometimes standing like a pillar, sometimes like a shining Divine ray, and sometimes smoke shining from the ground to a height ascending.” From that time on, Andrei Zavalishin began to often visit the holy hermit, and then, on his advice, he took monastic vows on Valaam with the name Adrian. Subsequently, he founded the Ondrusovsky Monastery on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga and became famous for converting many robbers to the path of repentance. The Monk Adrian Ondrusovsky suffered martyrdom from the robbers (+1549; commemorated on August 26/September 8 and May 17/30).

The news of the spiritual exploits of the Monk Alexander spread widely, and monks began to flock to him. His brother John, who died some time later, also came to the holy ascetic. The monks cleared the forest, improved the arable land, and sowed bread, which they fed themselves and gave to those who asked. The Monk Alexander, out of love for silence, retired from the brethren and built himself a “retreat hermitage” 130 fathoms from his former place, near Lake Roshchinskoye. There demons armed themselves with him: they appeared to him in the form of animals, snakes, tried to intimidate the saint, forced him to flee. But the prayer of the righteous man, “like a flame of fire, from his mouth flowed out and all the weakest demonic hosts fell and came to him unseen.” An Angel appeared to the monk in the desert, recalled previous Divine visions and predicted the founding of a monastery on this site with a temple in the name of the Holy Trinity.

In 1508, in the 23rd year of St. Alexander’s stay in the reserved place, the Life-Giving Trinity appeared to him. The monk prayed at night in the desert. Suddenly a strong light shone, and the saint saw Three Men dressed in light white clothes entering him. Sanctified by heavenly glory, They shone with purity brighter than the sun.

Each of Them held a rod in His hand. The monk received orders to build a temple and build a monastery in the name of the Holy Trinity. “I leave you peace and I will give you My peace,” the Lord said to the saint. And immediately the holy ascetic saw the Lord Jesus Christ with outstretched wings, as if walking on the earth, and He became invisible.

After this vision, the Monk Alexander began to think about where to build the temple. An angel of God showed him the place. In the same year, a wooden church was built in the name of the Life-Giving Trinity, and in 1526 a stone temple was erected in its place. Immediately after the construction of the wooden church, the brethren began to persuade the monk to accept the priesthood. The humble elder refused, but the brethren turned for help to the Archbishop of Novgorod, Saint Serapion (+1516; Comm. March 16/29). In the same year, the Monk Alexander visited Novgorod, where he received dedication from Saint Serapion. Soon the brethren begged the monk to accept the abbess.

Having become abbot, the Monk Alexander acquired even greater humility and meekness. He slept on the floor, wore his clothes in patches, cooked his own food, kneaded the dough, and baked bread. One day there was not enough firewood, and the steward asked the abbot to send those monks who were idle at that time to the forest. “I’m idle,” said the monk and went to chop wood. At night, when the brethren were sleeping, the holy abbot came to the room where they ground bread with millstones, and ground for others. Walking around the cells and hearing vain conversations, he quietly knocked on the door and left, and in the morning he instructed the brethren. Soon the Svir monastery became famous for the severity of the monks’ life. Several of St. Alexander's disciples became the founders of new monasteries.

At the end of his life, the monk wished to build a stone church in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Masters were invited from Moscow. When the foundation of the temple was laid, the Mother of God and the Child appeared to the monk on the site of the altar, surrounded by many Angels. The Queen of Heaven promised to fulfill the prayers of the righteous man for his disciples and the monastery. “And not only during your life,” She said, “but also after your departure I will be persistent from your monastery, needing you in sparingly and supplying and covering.” At the same time, the monk saw many monks who subsequently labored in his monastery.

Before his death, the Monk Alexander of Svirsky deigned to bequeath to the brethren that his body should be buried in a swampy place. But the brothers did not agree. Then he asked that his body be buried not in the monastery, but in the “waste desert.” The Monk Alexander reposed on August 30, 1533, as an 85-year-old elder.

The life of St. Alexander tells of many miracles performed through his prayers. He had the gift of healing the sick and proclaiming the future. In 1545, the disciple and successor of the Monk Alexander, Herodion, at the behest of Archbishop Theodosius of Novgorod, compiled the life of the saint. Two years later, a local celebration of the saint’s memory began and a service for him was compiled. On April 17, 1641, the venerable relics of the ascetic to miraculous images were found incorrupt and placed in the Transfiguration Church with a chapel in the name of St. Alexander of Svirsky. In the same year, church-wide veneration of the saint began: August 30/September 12 is the day of repose and April 17/30 is the day of glorification. In the pious popular consciousness, the Monk Alexander of Svirsky is revered as the “New Testament Abraham,” for he was honored with the appearance of the Holy Trinity in the form of Three Angels.

The Alexander-Svirsky Monastery became one of the most significant monasteries in the north of Rus', a spiritual and educational center for the entire Olonets region. The city of Olonets itself was founded in 1647 at the expense of the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, with the direct participation of its brethren. The monastery provided great assistance in 1703 during the founding of St. Petersburg. The monastery, founded by the Monk Alexander of Svirsky, was of exceptional importance for preserving the integrity of the Russian state and the inviolability of its borders in the north. During the invasion of Lithuania, during the Northern War with the Swedes, during the Patriotic War of 1812, the monastery contributed huge amounts of money and food supplies “for the military people” and in general “for the sovereign’s cause.” The monastery kept copies of the charters of Tsars Mikhail Feodorovich, Ivan the Terrible, Theodore Ioannovich, Vasily Ioannovich Shuisky, Alexy Mikhailovich, Peter the Great, as well as many church vestments and sacred vessels sent by them for the needs of the monastery brethren.

The spiritual guarantee of the prosperity and well-being of the Russian North was the close prayer ties between the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery and other Orthodox monasteries of the Russian North, such as the Valaam and Solovetsky monasteries.

A whole host of students was instructed and educated by the Monk Alexander of Svirsky, as the Mother of God bequeathed to him. These are Reverends Ignatius Ostrovsky (XVI century), Leonid Ostrovsky (XVI century), Cornilius Ostrovsky (XVI century), Dionysius Ostrovsky (XVI century), Afanasy Ostrovsky (XVI century), Theodore Ostrovsky (XVI century) , Ferapont Ostrovsky (XVI century). In addition to these saints, the disciples and interlocutors of St. Alexander of Svir are known to have separate days of memory: St. Athanasius of Syandem (XVI century; commemorated January 18/31), St. Gennady Vazheozersky (January 8, 1516; commemorated February 9/22), Venerable Macarius of Oredezh (+1532; commemorated August 9/22), Venerable Adrian Ondrusovsky (+26 August 1549; commemorated May 17/30), Venerable Nikifor of Vazheozersk (+1557; commemorated February 9/22), Venerable Gennady of Kostroma and Lyubimogradsky (+1565; memory January 23/February 5).

Alexander Svirsky - glorification The Reverend Alexander Svirsky was born on June 15, 1448, on the day of memory of the Prophet Amos, and at baptism he was named after him. All his life, staying far from historical events, the Monk Alexander, the luminary of monasticism, in the depths of the forests of the Russian North, created a different, spiritual history, having been rewarded with the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.

His parents, Stefan and Vassa (Vasilissa), were peasants in the Ladoga village of Mandera, on the banks of the Oyat River, a tributary of the Svir River. They had two children who were already grown up and living separately from their parents. But Stefan and Vassa wanted to have another son. They prayed earnestly and heard a voice from above: “Rejoice, good marriage, you will give birth to a son, in whose birth God will give consolation to His Churches.”

Amos grew up to be a special youth. He was always obedient and meek, avoiding games, laughter and foul language, wore scanty clothes and exhausted himself with fasting so much that he worried his mother. Upon reaching adulthood, he once met with Valaam monks who came to Oyat to buy things necessary for the monastery and for other economic needs. By this time, Valaam was already known as a monastery of high piety and strictly ascetic life. After talking with them, the young man became interested in their story about the hermitage (two or three together) and hermit life of the monks. Knowing that his parents wanted to marry him, the young man at the age of 19 secretly went to Valaam. Under the guise of a companion, an Angel of God appeared to him and showed him the way to the island.

Amos lived in the monastery for seven years as a novice, leading a harsh life. He spent his days in labor, his nights in vigil and prayer. Sometimes naked to the waist, covered with mosquitoes and midges, he prayed in the forest until the morning birdsong.

In 1474 Amos took monastic vows with the name Alexander. A few years later, the parents accidentally learned from Karelians who came to Mandera where their son had disappeared. Following the example of their son, the parents soon also went to the monastery and took monastic vows with the names Sergius and Varvara. After their death, the Monk Alexander, with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery, settled on a secluded monastic island, where he built a cell in a cleft in the rock and continued his spiritual exploits.

The glory of his exploits spread far. Then the monk in 1485 left Valaam and, according to instructions from above, chose a place in the forest on the shore of the beautiful Lake Roshchinskoye, which later became known as the Holy Lake, near the river. Svir. Here the monk built himself a hut and lived alone for seven years, eating only what he collected in the forest. At this time, the saint experienced severe suffering from hunger, cold, illness and devilish temptations. But the Lord constantly supported the spiritual and physical strength of the preacher. Once, when, suffering from painful illnesses, the monk not only could not get up from the ground, but also raise his head, he lay and sang psalms. And then a glorious husband appeared to him. Placing his hand on the sore spot, he marked the saint with the sign of the cross and healed him.

In 1493, while hunting for a deer, the neighboring owner Andrei Zavalishin accidentally came across the saint’s home. Struck by the appearance of the righteous man, Andrei told him about the light he had seen earlier over this place, and begged the monk to tell him about his life. From then on, Andrei began to often visit the Monk Alexander and, finally, according to his instructions, he himself retired to Valaam, where he took monastic vows with the name Adrian. Subsequently, he founded the Ondrusovo Monastery and became famous for his holy life (+1549; commemorated on August 26/September 8 and May 17/30).

Andrei Zavalishin could not keep silent about the ascetic, despite the promise given to him. The glory of the righteous man spread widely, and monks began to gather to him. Then the monk secluded himself from all the brethren and built himself a retreat hermitage 130 fathoms from the common dwelling. There he encountered many temptations. The demons took on an animal form and whistled like a snake, forcing the saint to flee. But the saint’s prayer, like a fiery flame, scorched and scattered the demons.

In 1508, in the 23rd year of the saint’s stay in the reserved place, the Life-Giving Trinity appeared to him. The monk prayed at night in the waste hermitage. Suddenly a strong light shone, and the monk saw Three Men entering him, dressed in light, white clothes. Sanctified by Heavenly glory, They shone with purity brighter than the sun. Each of them held a rod in His hand. The monk fell in fear, and, having come to his senses, bowed to the ground. Lifting him by the hand, the Men said: “Trust, O blessed one, and do not be afraid.” The monk received orders to build a church and establish a monastery. He fell to his knees again, crying out about his unworthiness, but the Lord raised him up and commanded him to do what was specified. The monk asked in whose name the church should be. The Lord said: “Beloved, as you see Him speaking to you in Three Persons, so build a church in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Consubstantial Trinity. I leave you peace and I will give you My peace.” And immediately the Monk Alexander saw the Lord with outstretched wings, as if walking on the earth, and He became invisible.

In the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, this Divine descent is known as the only one. After this phenomenon, the monk began to think about where to build a church. One day, while praying to God, he heard a voice from above. Looking up into the heights, the monk saw an Angel of God in a mantle and a doll, just as St. Pachomius the Great saw. The angel, standing in the air with outstretched wings and raised hands, said: “One is Holy, One is Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father, amen.” And then he turned to the monk: “Alexander, on this place may a church be built in the Name of the Lord who appeared to you in Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Indivisible Trinity.” And, having crossed the place three times, the Angel became invisible.

In the same year, the wooden Church of the Life-Giving Trinity was built (in 1526 a stone one was erected in its place). Immediately after the church was built, the brethren began to beg the monk to accept the priesthood. He refused for a long time, considering himself unworthy. Then the brethren began to pray to Saint Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod (+1516, March 16/29), so that he would convince the monk to accept the rank. That same year the monk traveled to Novgorod and received dedication from the saint. Soon afterwards the brethren begged the monk to accept the abbess.

Having become abbot, the monk became even more humble than before. His clothes were all in patches, he slept on the bare floor. He prepared food himself, kneaded dough, baked bread. One day there was not enough firewood and the steward asked the abbot to send those of the monks who were idle to fetch firewood. “I am idle,” said the monk and began to chop wood. Another time he started carrying water the same way. And at night, when everyone was asleep, the monk walked around the cells and, if he heard vain conversations somewhere, knocked lightly on the door and left, and in the morning he instructed the brethren, imposing penance on the guilty.

Towards the end of his life, the Monk Alexander decided to build a stone church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. The foundation of the temple was laid. One evening, after performing an akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, the monk sat down to rest in his cell and suddenly said to his cell attendant Athanasius: “Child, be sober and watchful, because at this hour there will be a wonderful and terrible visitation.” A voice like thunder was heard: “Behold, the Lord is coming and she who gave birth to Him.” The monk hurried to the entrance of the cell, and a great light shone around him, spreading over the entire monastery brighter than the rays of the sun. Having looked, the monk saw above the foundation of the Church of the Intercession, sitting on the altar, like a queen on a throne, the Most Pure Mother of God. She held the Child Christ in Her arms, and many angelic ranks, shining with indescribable lightness, stood before Her. The monk fell, unable to bear the great light. The Mother of God said: “Arise, chosen one of My Son and God! For I have come to visit you, My beloved, and to see the foundation of My church. And because you prayed for your disciples and your monastery, from now on it will abound for everyone; and not only during your life, but also after your departure I will constantly be from your monastery, generously giving everything you need. Look and observe carefully how many monks have gathered into your flock, who must be guided by you on the path of salvation in the Name of the Holy Trinity.” The monk stood up and saw many monks. The Mother of God said again: “My beloved, if anyone brings even one brick to build My church, in the Name of Jesus Christ, My Son and God, he will not destroy even his bribe.” And She became invisible. Before his death, the monk showed amazing humility. He called the brethren and commanded them: “Tie my sinful body at the feet with a rope and drag it into the swampy wilds and, burying it in the moss, trample it with your feet.” The brothers answered: “No, father, we cannot do this.” Then the monk indicated not to bury his body in the monastery, but in the waste hermitage, near the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Having lived 85 years, the saint departed to the Lord on August 30, 1533.

The Monk Alexander of Svirsky became famous for his wondrous miracles during his life and after his death. In 1545, the disciple and successor of the venerable abbot Herodion compiled his life. In 1547, local celebrations of the saint's memory began and a service to him was compiled. In 1641, on April 17, during the reconstruction of the Church of the Transfiguration, the incorrupt relics of St. Alexander of Svirsky were found and a church-wide celebration was established for him on two dates: the day of his repose - August 30/September 12 and the day of glorification (discovery of the relics) - April 17/30.

Preface

This collection is addressed to all those who are interested in the personality of St. Alexander. It includes the life of the saint, the history of his veneration and the story of the iconography of the Monk Alexander, the story of two discoveries of his relics and evidence of miracles, as well as the history of the Alexander-Svirsk monastery and a prayer section. As appendices, the book includes prayers compiled by the Monk Alexander and a story about his disciples.

Anna Markova

Life

Childhood

Entering a monastery

In the Valaam monastery

The exact date of the monk's tonsure is August 26, 1474 - on this day the novice Amos became the monk Alexander.

And the next day Stefan, having heard from Fr. Joachim, that his son refused to see him, blamed the abbot himself for everything. Stefan thought that the abbot, out of cruelty, deliberately turned his son against his parents, that he did not allow the monk to see his father. The unjust accusations offended the abbot, and he and Stefan went to the cell of the Monk Alexander. Approaching the cell, he demanded that the monk show himself to his father, saying: “Child Alexandra, appear to your father, and comfort his sorrow, which is upon me; I feel very bad about this.” The monk, realizing that his disobedience to the abbot led to a scandal in the monastery, left the cell to see his father. Stefan barely recognized his son, who had become haggard and pale during his life in the monastery. He began to persuade the Monk Alexander to return home and console his parents. And then, when they end their lives, he can go back to the monastery. But in response, the monk began to persuade his father to renounce the world and take monastic vows together with his wife. But Stefan was angry at his son’s words and, in great annoyance, went to the monastery hotel.

Leaving for the desert

The saint’s prayer did not go unanswered. He heard a voice saying to him: “Alexandra, get out of here and go to the place shown before, where you can be saved.”

Then the Monk Alexander asked for his blessing to leave the monastery to live in the desert and asked for prayers. The abbot blessed the monk and promised to pray for him.

Desert-dwelling

You have walked the path diligently, for this sake you have prepared a countless number of people, as before the river; Don’t reject them, but accept them with outstretched hands, and be their guide to salvation.” This phenomenon stunned the monk; he always avoided human glory and never sought to be a mentor to anyone; Therefore, he began to beg the Lord to continue to remain in desert obscurity. But God's will for him was different.

Near the road, Zavalishin noticed a small hut and thought that a hermit lived here.

The beginning of the Svir monastery

John labored briefly together with the Monk Alexander - he soon departed to the Lord. The monk buried him, as the life says, “in the inner desert.”

The community of monks grew, but they lived in extreme poverty. The monk himself was accustomed to such a life, but for some of the brethren such a life was difficult. And all the more valuable was the help of the laity, who also sought the spiritual advice of the monk. One of these laymen was the already mentioned Andrei Zavalishin. He came to the monk along with his servants - they all brought bread and grain: rye and barley. This became a great help for the brethren, so that the monk even said: “You see, brethren, how God cares for us, His servants, sitting in this desert, and how He has not forgotten us who are poor to the end, and will never despise the possession of this place and those living in Him, faithfully working for Him."

Subsequently, Zavalishin repeatedly visited the monk and, on his advice, took monastic vows on Valaam with the name Adrian. Some time later, he founded the Ondrusovsky Monastery on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga and became famous for converting many robbers to the path of repentance.

However, the monk did not believe that monks laboring in the desert could only accept the help of the world. Simultaneously with the construction of the cells, he begins to cut down trees and clear arable land so that the monks themselves can sow grain and feed themselves from their labors.

At this time - the birth of the Svira monastery - the Lord sent St. Alexander great consolation - a like-minded brother - the monk Nikifor (the future St. Nikifor of Vazheozersk). This Nikifor was a stern ascetic - he wore heavy chains. Hearing about the Monk Alexander, Nicephorus came to him for a blessing. The monk talked with him and, understanding his spiritual structure, persuaded Nicephorus to stay in the desert. For some time, Nikifor actually helped the monk to build a monastic community, but several years later, despite the entreaties of the Monk Alexander, he left Svir for the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Left in spiritual loneliness, the monk intensified his feat, and he began to experience temptations from demonic insurance. One day, when he was heading to the so-called “waste hermitage,” the future Preobrazhenskaya part of the monastery, many demons suddenly appeared before him and rushed at him, demanding that he leave these places. But Alexander, with prayer, still reached the waste desert, and there the Angel of the Lord appeared to him. The appearance of the Angel frightened the monk much more than the demonic attack - in trepidation and horror he fell to the ground. The angel took him by the hand and said: “Rise up, O Reverend, do not be afraid, and put aside all fear and trembling.” After this, the Angel’s appearance changed and he became like an ordinary person. This encouraged the Monk Alexander, and he asked the Angel: “Who are you, my Lord, for your appearance has greatly crushed me?” To this the Angel answered: “I am the Angel of the Lord, sent from God to save you from all the charms of the evil devil, and to counter-remember the Divine visions that you had before in this place where you dwelt, so that you could fulfill His command; Because the Lord has chosen many guides for your salvation. I proclaim to you that God is pleased to build a church in this place in the name of the Holy Trinity, and gather the brethren, and establish a monastery.” After this, the Angel became invisible.

Soon the Angel once again appeared to the Monk Alexander and again announced to him that it was God’s will for him to build the monastery.