Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica was one of the most renowned spiritual guides of Serbia in the twentieth century. As a novice he lived in obedience to Elder Ambrose of Miljkovo Monastery, a disciple of the Optina Elders. From him Fr. Thaddeus learned the Prayer of the Heart and the selfless love that came to characterize his whole ministry to the suffering Serbian people.  This book includes a short life and his writings, offerign valuable and wise guidance for those learning to guard their thoughts. We have already managed to sell out our first 10 copies of this book but will have more in soon.

Thou Has Proved Me, O God and Knowest…:The Life of Hieromonk Vasily of Optina

This is a life of one of the three New Martyrs murdered at Optina Hermitage in 1993.  It is a moving brief life of a contemporary struggler, a world class athlete who grew up under Communism but turned from the world and chose the kingdom of heaven. There are many inspiring insights from this saint:

People spend their entire lives straightening up at home, at work, in their gardens, but are careless about their souls. However the soul is more precious than the whole world. One should order oneself internally and come to love God, and nothing can hinder us from loving God.

This is the life of one of the Elders of the Roslavl Forest, disciples of St. Paisius Velichkovsky who returned to Russia but chose to settle in the wilderness instead of in established monasteries. Elder Zosima eventually founded a convent together with his two nieces after his brother’s death. This book is a combination of saint’s life and hair-raising adventure. Elder Zosima and his nieces faced many trials and temptations with bravery and great faith in God.

This academic paper by John Dunlop captures well the character of Optina’s most famous staretz. Dostoyevsky is said to have styled his Fr. Zosima character in The Brothers Karamozov after Elder Ambrose. This paper especially highlights the elder’s fondness for the fables of Krilov and answering questions in rhyme.

Elder Moses and his brother Elder Anthony were the first elders invited to live in Optina from the Roslavl Forest. This is an inspiring life of one who took the Gospel commandments seriously and strove to inspire others also to live the Gospel as fully as possible. Published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Elder Sebastian was a disciple of Elder Nektary–the last elder before Optina closed. Elder Sebastian came to his spiritual maturity as an elder in the gulag. This book makes for a rather intense read as the  Russian people face their Golgotha. Nearly half the book is made up of short memoirs of Elder Sebastians spiritual children these are, in a sense, both grueling and edifying to read.

There is much that remains mysterious about Elder Nektary of Optina Even though this book presents many accounts of his luminous personality. He is full of surprises. When the monastic brethren were choosing a new elder he started going about the skete in an old house robe and barefoot, playing the fool in hopes of escaping the post. The more mature brethren recognized the ruse–further they pointed out that it was a prophecy of times very soon to come. One chapter of this book is especially relevant to the misguided seekers of our time. It repeats his conversation with a renowned spiritualist.

Elder Macary was the disciple of Elder Leonid. A mature monk when he transferred to Optina, he insisted on being received as a disciple and not as a mature Elder. Elder Leonid made good use of his deep humility to provide lessons for the brethren. It was on Elder Macary’s watch that Optina began editing and publishing spiritual writings–manuscripts passed down by disciples of St. Paisius Velichkovsky and the skete began to attract many writers, artists and musicians looking for spiritual guidance and inspiration. This is the point where Sergei Nilus moved to a house near the skete in order to participate in the editing and publishing of necessary spiritual texts.

Elder Leonid was the first Elder to actually function in the appointed position of Elder because both Elder Moses and his brother, Elder Anthony were forced to take up administrative duties as Abbot of the monastery and skete Superior. This book is a delightful and inspiring read in which one begins to feel close to this leonine and yet humble elder.

The sweetness of humility is the most prominent characteristic of Elder Joseph, disciple of Elder Ambrose of Optina. Those who believe that a little more quiet and solitude could help them to develop spiritually will be amazed to discover that this elders formation took place entirely in Elder Ambrose’s reception room. This was Elder Joseph’s monastic cell–noisy and filled with people from before dawn till past dusk.  Those who doubted that such a humble monk could become anything like his sparkling and witty elder would test him, asking him a question and then asking Elder Ambrose. And they would get the same reply, word for word And Elder Ambrose assured them that Elder Joseph would be the greater elder. Warning: like many lives of saints and righteous ones, this book is the beginning of a relationship.