Where to find a perspicacious elder in our time. The mouthpiece of God. Where does the elders get the gift of foresight? — You decided to be baptized yourself
Non-random accidents
The story of how memories of schema-nun Maria (Stetskaya) came to me could itself become a plot for a story. There were so many unexpected encounters in this story, and what I call “non-random coincidences,” but, in fact, are manifestations of God’s Providence in our lives.
This story began with one leisurely evening conversation in the cell of the monastery hotel. The conversation turned to modern life, about how few elders and especially old women remained in Rus'. During the godless years, the continuity of eldership was interrupted, and almost all monasteries were closed. Of the women's monasteries, only Pyukhtitsky remained. And how difficult it is now to find a spiritual leader! In general, the elders have disappeared.
Suddenly one of the sisters softly objected:
– You’re looking in the wrong place. There are both elders and elders now, but they hide their spiritual height. You need to look for an old man or old woman not in geographical space, but in spiritual space.
- What does it mean?
For many years, no one knew how a nun from central Russia ended up in the Far East. And only at the end of her life did she sparingly, restrainedly mention this miraculous phenomenon, when she was questioned by numerous children.
They also accidentally learned about mother’s life before her tonsure. She was so modest that they even learned about her fate at the front in fits and starts. Let’s say Natalya sees warm boots on her mother’s feet in the summer heat and asks why she is dressed so warmly. And mother reluctantly explains that she caught a cold in her feet at the crossing during the war, and now the old cold is making itself felt.
Meeting my mother
I received many letters from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in which they sincerely, with love, talked about mother. The children described how the very appearance of their mother affected them: simplicity, silence, no exaltation, a calm, quiet voice... The gaze of her blue-gray eyes seemed to look straight into the soul.
Servant of God Tatiana writes: “The first thing I saw in her appearance was her eyes. They looked at me with such love! Love poured out of them like a bright stream. And I found myself in this endless stream, a shower of love, and felt as if I was safe, under the warm protection of my mother. I stood in a kind of blissful stupor, and forgot all the questions I had prepared. And I thought: why would I ask about something, because everything is clear as it is. There is God, and everything is from Him, and everything is in His will.”
One of my mother’s close children, Natalya Ivanovna, at the time she met the old woman, worked at a technical school in Komsomolsk-on-Amur as the head of a department and taught mechanical engineering technology. At that moment, the situation at work was tense.
Natalya Ivanovna began to go to church, to help in the church after the service, and this church quickly became home to her. And so in May 1998, as usual, on Sunday, she came to the service. And after the service they asked her to clean the candlesticks. Suddenly he sees: a crowd of people has gathered around some nun, and everyone is joyfully repeating: “Mother has arrived, Mother has arrived!” And Natalya Ivanovna was unfamiliar with her. So she wanted to go up to this mother, get acquainted, but she had to obey. She moves away from the candlesticks, but she can’t get through the crowd to her mother. He comes back and cleans the candlesticks again. And so on several times.
Only once again Natalya Ivanovna raises her head - and mother Maria is standing right in front of her. He looks intently, carefully, eye to eye. Natalya Ivanovna was struck by an electric shock, it was such a concentrated, clear, precise look. It seemed that mother saw everything that was and was in her, Natalya Ivanovna.
Smiling, Mother Maria asked where Natalya worked and who she worked for. And then suddenly she said:
– Pray when you go to work.
Then the priest took mother away, and at parting she repeated these words again:
– Don’t forget to pray when you go to work.
That's what Natalya Ivanovna did. And - miraculously everything worked out at work. The situation has completely changed, and it has become very pleasant to work. So mother saw in spirit all her troubles at work and helped her cope with them.
Natalya Ivanovna became the spiritual child of Schema-nun Maria and was cared for by the elder for 8 years, until her death in 2006.
Prayer book
Mother was a prayer book. Once Natalya witnessed her prayer. There was a conversation about some incident, and Mother Maria, turning away, prayed for the person in trouble. Natalya recalls that she was amazed by this short prayer: Mother addressed the Mother of God as if She were standing nearby. Schema-nun Maria prayed for all her children and felt in her spirit when they were feeling bad. The children felt the old woman’s prayer. Through her prayer, everything in life improved and fell into place. Mother’s prayer helped in difficult life circumstances.
- I want to confess my sin, father! Do you remember when you came to my garden and brought that wonderful mother with you? But at that time I was going through difficult times, I felt great despondency. And he decided to commit suicide. Hang myself. I had already climbed into the attic and made a noose, I was about to put this noose around my neck - I heard some noise in the area. Someone stranger is walking. Okay, I think I'll have time to hang myself. Now I’ll see who’s walking there, and then I’ll hang myself.
I went out, and there was my mother. I talked to her. And after the conversation, my soul felt so good! All sorrows have gone somewhere! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, my favorite gladioli are blooming! Fine! What, I think, did you decide to hang yourself, what kind of clouding of reason did you experience?! I went and took off the rope. And so I continue to live. And gradually, life circumstances changed for the better. I have come to repent of attempting suicide. Forgive the sin, father! Maybe some kind of penance...
The story of the rector of the temple in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Abbot P.
“I want to say that I am a skeptical person by nature, so you don’t have to fear any exaggerations on my part in assessing the personality of Mother Mary. We will talk exclusively about “what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and what our hands have touched” (1 John 1-1).
So, perhaps, I’ll start with the hands, that is, with the history of our acquaintance with her. I received my first parish in the year of the millennium of the Baptism of Rus' (1988). Arriving on it in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, I found there a small residential building converted into a church in a rather deplorable condition.
At one of the upcoming services, he called on parishioners to make donations to repair the building. My call did not have much effect, either due to the poverty of the small flock, or because people wanted to first take a closer look at the new priest. I must say that my predecessor left them plenty of reasons for mistrust. And I myself, as you will see below, was far from apostolic non-covetousness.
One day, at Vespers, I notice in the church an unfamiliar old woman in a dark gray cloak and a large black scarf, several layers wrapped around her head. A string of some ridiculous convex goggles, similar to flying or welding goggles, is stretched over it. Shifted to the forehead, they produce a rather comical impression.
But I’m not laughing, since my parishioners, having clearly forgotten about prayer, surrounded this “pilot” and endlessly shoved some pieces of paper into her hands and pockets. During the censing, I am convinced that these are memorial notes and money. There is no limit to my inner indignation: “How so! The mugs stand empty, the old plaster is crumbling on your head, and here, without the abbot’s blessing, some stray dares to take away the last of it! And even during the service!”
I barely waited for the end of the all-night vigil, but before I could even open my mouth, the old woman herself came up to me with a bundle in her hands.
“Here,” he says, “father, you serve in the church... Accept it from us, Muscovites, for the glory of the Most Pure One.” (Mother lived in the capital for many years).
I turned away the edge of the newspaper and saw blue brocade vestments, the likes of which I didn’t even dare to dream of back then.
“No,” I answer, “I won’t accept.” What are you doing here in my service? Or is it not customary in Moscow to be blessed by a priest when collecting donations in a church?!
She bowed and left, leaving the bundle on the funeral table.
The next day, on the occasion of the patronal feast, after the Liturgy, a meal was served in the courtyard, to which I ordered our guest to be invited as well. I sit with the clergyman at one end of the table, and she at the other. I glance at her involuntarily: the characteristic ascetic pallor of her face with an olive tint and her eyes are somehow unusual. Much later I realized that this is how dispassion looks...
Mother did not pay any attention to me and, as it seemed to me at first, she was telling neighbors in a low voice about visiting some parishes, simultaneously giving characteristics to the pastors who served in them in approximately the following way: “The priest there is very good, but why is he so... He does this and that, because it’s not supposed to be that way, it’s a sin...” Well, I think it’s not getting any easier hour by hour, now the clergy will also discuss it publicly...
But suddenly it hit me like an electric shock - she was exposing my secret sins! Well, yes, I did this myself yesterday, and this is about me, and this too!
After the meal, I approached Mother with the words: “Excuse me, I see you are a difficult person...” I invited her to my cell, and then a direct and impartial conversation began.
It turned out that Mother knows everything about me, knows more than I do myself. By the way, she asked:
- Father, why are your hands so red?
- How are the red ones? – I’m surprised, – ordinary hands, they’ve always been like that.
- No, red ones. True, they are not like those of one elder, who secretly opens mugs and carries things home from the temple... His ones are literally burning with fire, up to the elbows, and yours - only until now, and so reddish. Maybe there is something wrong with the documents somewhere, or maybe you spent something extra on yourself?
Well, of course it was a sin. Not only did I decorate the church, some of the church funds were also used for personal needs, for home furnishings, for the comfort of the flesh...
In general, it wasn’t just my hands that had to turn red.
Mother also told how she opened this parish in the 60s, during the Khrushchev persecutions, at the behest of the Mother of God Herself. She appeared to her
in a sleepy vision and said: “There is such a city - Komsomolsk-on-Amur. You must open a temple there in honor of My Assumption.”
When my mother woke up and looked at the map, she gasped: almost ten thousand kilometers from Moscow! I doubted whether it was some kind of charm? After this, her paralysis soon broke, and the Mother of God came twice more, repeating: “Go!” And when I decided to go, I got to my feet.”
The story of the parishioners of the temple in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“The modern parish of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the late 60s by the will of the Blessed Virgin Mary herself. Mother Maria came to our city to fulfill the order of the Mother of God together with her sister. Arriving, they met believing women and prayed at the home of one of them.
The Lord advised me to buy a house for a temple. And here are four women: Yulia Ivanovna Begovatkina, Valentina Mitrofanovna Makarova, Evgenia Ivanovna Zhuravleva, Maria Konstantinovna Shish - with their own funds they bought a house on Lermontov Street, 83a. The authorities did not like this, and they convened a comrades' court. But at the trial, the people stood up for the believers, saying: “Let the grandmothers pray.”
The whole world was rebuilding the house into a church. Liturgical texts, akathists, and memorial services were copied by hand. Church utensils were made from scrap materials. Priests from Khabarovsk came to care for the believers, serve, and confess: Hieromonk Anatoly, Abbot Seraphim, Archpriest Dimitri.
Mother Mary helped in the construction of the temple both with prayer and with funds donated by believers. She regularly came to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and for 18 years she cared for the Church of the Assumption and all the believers of this city. We traveled from Komsomolsk-on-Amur and to her place in Orel. Once, with the blessing of the rector of the church, one of the four women who collected money to buy a house for the church, the future schema-nun Eulogia, went to her mother in Orel to get the shroud of the Most Holy Theotokos.
We ordered a shroud from a church workshop. When it was ready, they brought it to the temple to bless it. The priest who blessed the shroud said that it was as if the Mother of God herself had blessed it, the fragrance from it was so strong. The Shroud was carefully packed, and Mother Maria and her companion went to the station to take a train to Moscow, and from there to fly to the Far East by plane.
The train was about to leave. Someone opened the back door of the carriage for them, and they entered and stood at the conductor's compartment. The guide was surprised to see the mothers, but allowed them to go. A strong fragrance came from the shroud. Some passengers found this fragrance unbearable, they began to be indignant and close the doors to the compartment, unable to withstand the grace of the presence of the shrine.
In the morning we arrived in Moscow and boarded a bus to get to the airport. The same story repeated itself there. When we arrived at the airport, it turned out that landing had already ended and the plane was already taxiing to the runway. The mothers began to pray, and the plane was delayed. They were asked to board a bus and were taken to the plane.
When we went to the ramp, we saw the surprised faces of the passengers in all the windows. People expected to see some important people, because of whom the flight was delayed. But instead they saw two elderly, village-looking women. And when the mothers entered the cabin of the plane, the fragrance spread around again.”
The shroud was brought to the temple just on the eve of the patronal feast - the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The last time Schema-nun Maria came to Komsomolsk-on-Amur was in 2000, when she was already 78 years old. In such venerable years, she traveled across the country to the Far East to her favorite temple, to her children. Mother died in 2006, at the age of 84, and was buried in the city of Orel at the Afanasyevsky cemetery, next to the convent.
The prophecy of this Athonite elder was remembered quite recently, when the Russian SU-24 airliner was shot down in the skies over Turkey. This Greek monk, who has gained respect throughout the world, has long foreshadowed a military confrontation between Russia and Turkey. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Paisius Athossky’s predictions about Russia 2018 are now of interest to many people in our country.
In fact, this Athonite elder predicted more than one event concerning our state, which has already come true:
A little history
Paisiy was born on July 25, 1924 in Greece. After graduating from school, he, like an ordinary guy, went to serve in the army. In 1950, he became interested in religion and went to the Kutlumush Monastery. Here he lived almost his entire life, engaged in religious practice. In May 1978, the monk moved to the Athonite cell, where he began to receive a huge number of people. He died near Thessaloniki in 1994. Orthodox Christians all over the world continue to come to the grave of this famous elder, which is located in the Theological Monastery. In 2015, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate canonized Paisius the Holy Mountain. At the same time, the reverend monk was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Terrible predictions for Russia
The elder's prophecy regarding the Middle East looks quite frightening. With his words, he did not try to intimidate anyone, but only indicated what consequences await humanity that has forgotten God. The immorality of people, the cynicism of politicians and the selfishness of the West will lead to unprecedented bloodshed in the East. His prophecy literally goes like this:
“When the Turks block the Euphrates, wait for the arrival of an army of two hundred million at sunrise.”
Until recently, these words seemed like fiction. Today, the predictions of Paisius of Athos are already coming true. Turkey is indeed building a dam on the Euphrates River, and its commissioning is scheduled for 2018. According to a further prediction that Svyatogorets made back in the nineties of the last century, a terrible war will begin between Russia and Turkey. As a result of this confrontation between Christians and Muslims, a third of the Turks will convert to Christianity, another third of the Turkish population will die, and the rest will be forced to leave their homeland. Back in 1991, Paisius mentioned the fall of Constantinople and the destruction of the Turkish state. The bloodshed will be so large-scale that three-year-old bulls will “swim” in a sea of blood. Schemamonk said the following verbatim about these events:
“During the battle, the Mosque of Omar will be destroyed, which will be the beginning of the restoration of Solomon’s Temple. China's army of two hundred million will cross the Euphrates and come to Jerusalem."
Western European countries will also take part in the war, but they will oppose Russia. Constantinople will be handed over to the rightful owner of this city - Greece, although it will not fight.
The events of recent times indicate that the elder’s words are already coming true. The Russian Federation is already fighting the Islamic State in Syria. Türkiye is also indirectly present in this conflict. The situation in this country is quite tense and it is unclear what it will lead to, especially after the strengthening of the power of leader R. Erdogan after the attempted military coup. Western countries, Israel and the United States also do not remain aloof from the flaring fire of war. Everything suggests that the Third World War may begin in this region. Soon a new redistribution of the world will begin.
What awaits Russia in the future?
The Athonite elder predicted that Russia would become the leader in the defense of Orthodoxy and the Russian-speaking population. He is echoed by other elders of Athos, who claimed the beginning of a new era. In this new time, a new leader must appear on the territory of the Russian Federation, sent by God to save the world from destruction.
Other predictors of the world also spoke about the appearance of the savior of mankind, such as:
- Nostradamus;
- Edgar Cayce;
- Vanga.
Approximately identical forecasts regarding the emergence of a new world leader can be explained quite simply. To obtain the necessary information, the media use various practices:
- prayer;
- meditation;
- immersion in trance.
Thus, a slowdown in human brain oscillations is achieved, and he gains access to the Earth’s Noosphere. In a state of altered consciousness, various information comes to him from the information field depending on the request.
It is also worth noting that almost all the Athonite elders, speaking about the new leader, mentioned joint prayer and repentance. That is, we all must admit to the collective unconscious (God) that we are not able to find a worthy leader and ask him to be revealed from above. It is necessary that a psychologically significant image understand our request and give the new ruler the strength to restore order throughout the world.
Athonite elders about Ukraine
At one time, Paisius of Athos spoke about the confrontation between two fraternal peoples. He also mentioned attacks in Ukraine on the Russian Orthodox Church.
Many monks from Mount Athos also predicted the development of events in Ukraine. They warned this country about the dangers of its choice. So Elder Parfeniy did not stop talking about the insincerity of the European Union. He argued that Ukraine would plunge into crisis and the situation would be much worse than in Greece. The hardworking and sincere Ukrainian people are alien to the sins of Sodom, which are legalized in Europe.
Elder Tikhon, who lived in the Trinity Monastery fifty years ago, predicted a conflict in Ukraine. The cause of the war, in his opinion, will be overseas forces. Those who unleashed the bloodshed in Ukraine will ultimately be the losers. Soon there will be a renewal of power in Russia and the conflict in Donbass will end quickly.
The Greek elders are confident that Ukraine will cope with all problems and get out of this situation if it builds its future together with its Slavic brothers - the Russian and Belarusian peoples.
Video:
Twenty years ago, on July 12, 1994, the famous man passed away to the Lord. However, his name is not only not forgotten, but continues to illuminate the path to faith for many, many people around the world. The portal's correspondent asked priests Vadim Leonov and Dimitry Fetisov, as well as the deputy editor-in-chief of the Holy Mountain Publishing House, Afanasy Zoitakis, to talk about the significance of the Athonite elder and his surviving words and teachings for world Orthodoxy.
“He is a faithful child of the Orthodox Church”
, Candidate of Theology, Associate Professor at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Humanitarian University and Sretensky Theological Seminary
The further we are from the time of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more doubts arise about the reliability of the Holy Tradition of the Church, the truth of its spiritual experience, and the compliance of church life with the original establishment of the Savior. Elder Paisios and holy personalities like him clearly resolve all these issues with their lives. Their deep churchliness and undoubted holiness directly testify that the words of the Lord: “I will create My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” are inviolable and revealed in the life of the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church, like a mother, continues to give birth to holy people, which means that its Head is Christ. When you compare the life and teachings of Elder Paisius with the saints of past centuries, it is obvious that he, despite having his own personal characteristics, lives by the same Spirit, the same Love, the same Truth as the Apostle John the Theologian, St. Macarius of Egypt, St. Isaac the Syrian , St. Seraphim of Sarov and many other ascetics. Elder Paisios is a testimony to the truth of Orthodoxy that is much more convincing than any earthly miracles and supernatural phenomena.
Elder Paisios is a testimony to the truth of Orthodoxy much more convincing than any earthly miracles and supernatural phenomena
In addition, the teachings that his spiritual children were able to preserve are of great importance. At first glance, it may seem that it contains the already well-known teaching about spiritual life, based on prayer, humility, repentance and sacrificial love. However, it has a surprising freshness and persuasive power. Freshness - because they were uttered relatively recently and often relate to events in which we are a participant. They are addressed to modern man and everyone can easily recognize in his teachings the answers to their pressing questions. And the power of his words is that everything he said is based on his life experience. A lot of examples from his personal life make the speech of Elder Paisius convincing, vivid, and memorable. The Lord gives such bright people to make us living Christians.
In all controversial issues, the elder expressed the traditional teaching of the Orthodox Church
It seems to me that there is no reason to talk about any special teaching of Elder Paisius, about the degree of his orthodoxy. He is a faithful child of the Orthodox Church, as he himself testified to many times. He did not discuss any subtle theological topics, but in all controversial issues he expressed the traditional, well-known teaching of the Orthodox Church. Theological modernism, the desire to say his own special word in theology, was alien to him. He excluded salvation outside the Church, and therefore he sought, first of all, to bring the Zealot monks to unity with the Church. And, nevertheless, he can be called a true theologian, because he reached a degree of knowledge of God unknown to most people and conveyed to us his spiritual experience. This is true Orthodox theology.
“Abba Paisius is a special saint, one might say, social - unusually close to the common people”
To all people who come to church and ask a variety of questions about spiritual life, I almost always recommend reading conversations with Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets. Sometimes I even dare to give some penitents a penance - to read this or that volume with the thoughts of this great Abba. And, perhaps, I don’t know of a single case when his word, one way or another, would not have a positive impact on the soul of the modern person who is completely cut off from the Church...
In my opinion, this great benefit from reading the elder’s teachings is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, Abba Paisius is a special saint, one might say, a social one - unusually close to the common people. There is a certain problem in the history of patristic writing: almost all texts of ascetic content were created by monks and, most often, for monks. And, despite the fact that the requirements for a monk and a layman are, by and large, the same. For example, the Apostle Paul says: “Pray without ceasing...” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This call is directed to all Christians, and not just monastics, but still, a “first-grader” should not immediately set problems in higher mathematics; first, he needs to explain the elementary rules of addition and subtraction.
This problem is solved in their own way by the Optina elders (which are worth only by the simple sayings of St. Ambrose of Optina) or by the sociability of St. Theophan the Recluse, who received from twenty to forty letters a day.
But the simplicity and accessibility of the teachings of Elder Paisius, as well as the breadth of his review of topics that are relevant specifically for the modern layman, perhaps solve this problem in the best possible way at the moment, making him the most “social” saint.
Elder Paisios is universal and suitable for absolutely everyone
Secondly, the “soft” kindness and extraordinary simplicity of the Athonite elder turns out to be very effective. Each saint has his own character, which is not at all rejected by God. Some of the holy fathers are stern and in some places emphatically rational - and this is also perfect love, which has its addressee (for example, I have noticed more than once that St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) is especially well perceived by people with a technical mindset - “techies” ). Some of the ascetic writers are poetically sublime and bring philologists and linguists into sincere delight (for example, St. Theophan the Recluse).
Well, Elder Paisiy is universal and suits absolutely everyone.
His kind, slightly humorous style is an example of modern preaching. G e Rhonda is not only accessible and extremely understandable, but also, I’m not afraid to be vulgar here, unusually affectionate and gentle towards his listeners. It is very noticeable that their far from perfect co-questionnaires, i.e. He considers all of us in advance to be very good people who got lost like little children and now, having learned the right path, they will definitely follow it. This, willy-nilly, forces us to humble ourselves and listen to the words of our great holy contemporary, at least a little imitating him the way he imitated Christ.
“The elder is one of the theologians whose works will survive many eras”
Athanasius Zoitakis, Candidate of Historical Sciences, teacher of the Department of Church History (Faculty of History of Moscow State University), editor-in-chief of the portal AgionOros.ru, deputy editor-in-chief of the Publishing House "Holy Mountain".
Elder Paisios occupies a completely unique place among the ascetics of our time. His words, translated into many languages, resonate with people from all over the world, and his missionary role is comparable to the works of the holy fathers. We know that many non-believers, having read the works of Father Paisius quite by accident, turned to faith. Personally, I know of several cases when, after reading the elder’s books, people who had previously not wanted to know or hear anything about the Church and Christianity completely changed their lives, opening their hearts to faith.
To this day, the words of Elder Paisius are of great help to modern Christians. Many believers find in his works answers to pressing questions of spiritual life. Having found them, Orthodox, church-going people begin to live a more meaningful spiritual life. This is precisely the significance of Elder Paisius for Orthodoxy.
Father Paisius has not been with us for 20 years, but, nevertheless, through his works people continue to come to the Church, and this suggests that the elder is one of those theologians whose works will survive many eras. was published by the publishing house "Holy Mountain" more than 10 years ago, but to this day his creations continue to be published and find their readers.
His teachings are existential theology, built on the rich spiritual experience of the elder
One can say about Elder Paisius that he himself was the pillar and affirmation of the truth, for his teachings are existential theology, built on the elder’s rich spiritual experience, which, importantly, came not only from experience. Many modern theologians are compilers who have no spiritual baggage. With Father Paisius everything is different: one of his reference books was the book of St. Isaac the Syrian. Of course, it cannot be said that the elder read something all the time and then memorized some provisions. This is absolutely not true. His teachings are a personal spiritual heritage.
Many theologians touch only on questions of ethics or questions of virtue, which cannot be said about Elder Paisius. He did not shy away from serious dogmatic issues, talking about them quite simply. Orthodoxy in faith was fundamental to him; he felt pain in his heart about being in the truth. For Elder Paisius, it was fundamentally important to follow the Gospel and the dogmas of the Church. He was not ready to compromise, therefore his works are very valuable for Orthodoxy, and his spiritual heritage not only fully corresponds to, but also continues the course of the holy fathers.
Another excerpt from "Confession of a former novice"
about the spirit-bearing and God-bearing elder
the most recent times of Nahum-Cenrique.
“One of my friends, Ekaterina, advised me to go to “a perspicacious old man who can answer any question.” We went together to the Lavra to see Elder Naum, she also wanted to ask him something about her future marriage. We left Moscow for 3 in the morning, it was still completely dark. I didn’t sleep all that night, worried about what the elder would tell me, and prayed that the Lord would send me the strength to do what he told me. The fact is that this elder really knows the will of God , I didn’t even doubt it, although I had never seen him before. From five in the morning there was already a line in the old man’s house. There were a lot of people, each with their own questions. Many had been coming here for several days, but could not get to the reception. One woman , whose daughter was seriously ill, had been trying to get to the elder for a week. Every day from five in the morning she stood in line, but everyone did not invite her. That day she stood with a bag of freshly salted sturgeon, as they told her that “father loves fish" She managed to sell this package to M. Pelageya, who accepted it and promised to help. I thought that I had nothing with me, it became awkward to show up to the old man empty-handed, the rest were standing around with nothing. I thought I'd just donate money since I didn't buy a gift. Even though it was only November, there was already snow on the ground, and it was very cold, there was a thick layer of frost on the walls of the veranda in front of the old man’s house, and everyone crowded on the stairs leading to the cell where he received, it was a little warmer there. Sometimes the elder’s cell attendant, nun Pelageya, and his assistant, Hieromonk Averky, came to us and asked who was coming to the elder on what issue. I said that I had a question related to monasticism, and Katya said that she wanted to ask about her fiancé. As soon as I voiced my question, Father Averky invited me inside without any queue, to the reception area. There were also some people waiting there, mostly women. Father Averky asked me if it was true that I wanted to enter a monastery, I replied that I didn’t know yet, I wanted to ask the elder if this was God’s will. He immediately, again without a queue, led me to a small cell, filled almost to the ceiling with books, boxes with all sorts of food and gifts, where Elder Naum sat in a corner on an armchair in a cassock and stole. The priest seemed to be dozing or just sitting with his eyes closed. Near the chair, among the boxes, there was a small rug, which M. Pelageya pointed out to me; I should kneel on it. I knelt on this rug, out of excitement, not knowing how to start. M. Pelageya voiced my question:
Well, Father, she wants to go to the monastery.
Father Naum opened his eyes and immediately began asking me about my sins. He simply named sins, and I had to say whether I had sinned in this or not. And for some reason these were mostly prodigal sins. Before I started going to church, I didn’t really understand the difference between love and fornication, so by the age of twenty-eight I had already sinned quite a bit. It was necessary to tell the elder about everything in order: when, where, with whom and how. The door to the cell was half open, the boxes were in the way of closing it, and in the passage and on the stairs there were people waiting for their turn, they could hear our every word. The elder listened attentively and asked leading questions; the people on the stairs also stood quietly. I was terribly ashamed, and I didn’t want to discuss my personal life in detail in front of everyone. I said that I had already confessed all these sins to the priest in church, but the elder seemed not to hear and continued to interrogate me. M. Pelageya tugged at my sleeve: “Don’t be rude to the priest! He knows what to ask." I had to humble myself and answer all his questions, many of which were strange and even offensive. I thought that it was only I who received such a test for my sins, but then, much later, I found out that he interrogates everyone like this, it’s called “deep confession with the elder.” He interrogated young girls who had no real experience of sexual life about their thoughts and dreams, asking piquant leading questions. After such a confession, some learned a lot of new things about themselves that they could not learn even from films and the Internet. At the end of the procedure he asked:
Will you go to Shubinka?
I answered:
- I'll go. Where is it?
It turned out that it was in the Novosibirsk region, as M. Pelageya explained to me. This was the birthplace of Father Naum himself, and there, with his blessing, the nunnery of St. Archangel Michael was founded under the leadership of Abbess Maria Seropian. The monastery was just a monastery for girls; only young girls were accepted there. How I got there, especially after my confession, remains a mystery to me. M. Pelageya congratulated me on the fact that the priest blessed me to become a monk, although we never talked about this. She immediately introduced me to Abbess Maria, who was in the Lavra at that time; she came from Siberia for treatment. I liked my mother: young, about 45, very calm in appearance, with a quiet voice and large, slightly tired eyes. We talked to her, she told me that the elder’s blessing now needs to be fulfilled, and I promised that I would definitely come to them in Siberia.”
It has already been noted in other articles that Hopi Indians , Edgar Cayce, and Nostradamus indicated in some detail about the end of one era and the beginning of another. The leader of the new time, according to these predictions, will be a new political leader who will appear in Russia and, having naturally received power within the country, will spread his influence internationally. The most interesting thing is that various predictions of the ancient holy elders about what awaits Russia and Ukraine in 2017 - 2018 also repeat this plot. The only new detail that appears when these predictions about the future are considered is war. 
Indeed, the predictions of the holy elders about Russia often describe various military actions. Today, if you turn on the TV or go online, you can see that there is no end to this war. The ruling circles are interested in conducting military operations on both sides. That is why all the predictions of the holy ancient elders for 2017 - 2018, when they describe what awaits Russia at this time, always touch on the topic of a new political leader who will stop this war. The ancient saints of Athonite and Optina elders describe in their prophecies and predictions that a military conflict is inevitable, and that it is precisely in order to stop the war and prevent a nuclear disaster that God will send a pre-elected anointed king.
As noted earlier, this image of a new king chosen by God is very archetypal. The predictions of the holy ancient elders about Russia connect the improvement of life and the end of the war with the time when this particular person will be at the top of political power. The ancient holy elders point out that the very heart of every resident of our country will feel this politician. This is how predictions and prophecies describe the unconscious feeling of the figure of this political leader of a new era. 
From the point of view of psychology and science, the predictions of the holy ancient elders that Russia in 2017 - 2018 can be explained quite simply. Any person who uses various techniques, such as prayer, meditation, immersion in a trance state, gains information access to the field of the Collective Unconscious. Prayer, meditation, immersion in a trance state are different terms for the same process. A person slows down the vibrations of his brain and enters a trance state. This state is also called an altered state of consciousness. Further, a person connects through psycho-emotional images to the Noosphere or the information field of the earth, from where this or that information comes to him, depending on his request.
Predictions and prophecies of the holy ancient elders about the Third World War
The predictions and prophecies of the ancient holy elders about Russia for 2017 - 2018 are information received by representatives of various religious faiths, which systematically came to them as part of prayer practices. It is not surprising that Nostradamus and the holy elders describe the same political figure of the new era, although Nostradamus himself was more of a practicing physician by profession. However, Nostradamus also describes the collective unconscious that will bring this new political leader to power, also calling him God. It is important to understand that the terms used by various prophets always follow their picture of the world.
For this reason, the predictions of the ancient holy elders about the future of Russia will always have such descriptions as: God, Jesus Christ, the holy army, angels, the Orthodox Tsar, the church, etc. It is absolutely clear why representatives of various religious branches use these designations in their prophecies - this is their picture of the world. Prophets, connecting through the prayer practice of the Orthodox Christian Church to the Collective Unconscious, which in religion is designated by the word God, see various images, that is, they receive information in a sensory form and then interpret it in the way they can translate it for everyone else.
Predictions of the holy ancient elders about Russia briefly
That is why the predictions and prophecies of the ancient holy elders about the future of Russia for 2017 - 2018 tell about the same events that were described by Edgar Cayce, and Nostradamus, and the elders of the Hopi Indians. It’s just that the terms of all these prophecies differ from each other, so readers and researchers do not immediately understand that all these operators, contactees or mediums, as science calls them, or seers and prophets, as religion describes them, receive information from the single information field of the Earth or Noosphere.
Predictions of the holy ancient Athonite elders: Paisiy Svyatogorets
The predictions of Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets, who was a schema-monk of the Constantinople Orthodox Church, are extremely popular in our time. Paisius the Svyatogorets was a monk of Mount Athos and is known for his ascetic activities, spiritual instructions and prophecies. Paisiy Svyatogorets was born in 1924 and died in 1994, and is a widely revered holy elder in Greece and Russia. In 2015, Paisius the Svyatogorets was unanimously canonized by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In the same year, the Holy Synod included St. Paisius the Svyatogorets in the so-called monthly book of the Russian Orthodox Church. The predictions of the Athonite elder Paisius the Holy Mountain, if described in just a few sentences, describe the future coming war between Greece and Turkey. In this war, according to the predictions of Paisius the Holy Mountain, Greece will win and expand its territories, regaining Constantinople. As a result of such crushing military actions, a third of all Turks will convert to Orthodoxy, and the other third will become refugees; the rest will be destroyed during the military conflict. The predictions of Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets also describe that the very words about the Turkish invasion, since it is Turkey that will attack Greece, very often come from those who, in the event of war, will themselves go over to the side of the Turks.
Predictions of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain
Predictions of the Athonite elder Paisius the Holy Mountain about war
However, Paisius the Svyatogorets himself was convinced that Greece would get Constantinople, since Russia, having entered this war, would give this city to its allies. The predictions of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain also describe a possible situation in which Europe will support the Kurds and Armenians in Turkey, as a result of which the country will completely cease to exist as a separate state. A number of Russian media, following foreign ones, began to describe verbatim the predictions and prophecies of the holy Athonite elder Paisius the Svyatorets after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 aircraft in Syria in November 2015.
Elder Nikolai Guryanov predictions
Nikolai Alekseevich Guryanov was born in 1909 near St. Petersburg and died in 2002 in the Pskov region. Today Nikolai Alekseevich Guryanov is one of the most revered saints of the ancient elders of the Russian Orthodox Church. Elder Nikolai Guryanov told his predictions, which also describe the figure of a new political leader who will appear in Russia. Elder Nikolai Guryanov emphasizes that this person is the only one who can stop the war between different states.The prophecies and predictions made by Nikolai Guryanov describe in sufficient detail the situation that will develop at the time this archetypal political leader of the new era comes to power, who, in fact, was seen in different trance states by completely different predictors. However, if you study verbatim the predictions and prophecies made by the ancient holy elder Nikolai Guryanov, and also compare them with other materials, the picture will look more complete.
Elder Nikolai Guryanov
Below is a video that describes various predictions of the ancient holy elders about Russia. Predictions and prophecies of the holy ancient elders describe the possible outcome of the situation in the future. It is NOT a fact that they should come true, but the probability of this is present. It is important to understand that the relevance of the information provided lies precisely in the likelihood of such events, which were predicted by a large number of prophets. It should be noted that the descriptions of the situation that has developed today are fully consistent with everyday realities.
Thus, it is necessary to recognize that the predictions and prophecies of the holy ancient elders describe a certain probability of tragic world events, which are commonly called the Third World War or Judgment Day. The holy ancient elders note that this situation can be avoided if a new political leader appears in our country, who has, in religious terminology, a direct connection with God, that is, God controls this new political leader 100%. If we describe this leader differently, then this person must have an acquired skill of entering a trance state and receiving information from the Noosphere. Only such a new political leader will be able to solve the world's accumulated problems.
Predictions of the holy ancient elders about Russia for 2017 - 2018
After watching this video, we can conclude that completely different people, that is, the so-called holy ancient elders, generally described possible future negative scenarios in very similar images, almost identically. They all also described a new political leader. It is also important to note that they all mentioned the need for group joint prayer, which is aimed at first repenting, that is, admitting to God or the collective unconscious that we cannot choose a worthy Ruler for ourselves, and then ask that such a leader was revealed to the people, that is, so that the heart itself could smell it.
It turns out that in order for a new political leader with a direct connection with the Noosphere or God to appear in Russia, we need:
- confess(that is, mentally, in prayer or meditation, turn to God or any other psychologically significant image and say that we as a people cannot choose a worthy ruler for ourselves and therefore refuse such a choice in this place)
- ask(that is, turn to God or another psychologically significant image, so that He would endow the person from the people of Russia whom He chose for this role and give him all the strength and means, and also so that the necessary situation would arise for this new political leader to come to power and brought order to the country)