The Monk Alexander of Svirsk
Commemorated on April 17, August 30
The Monk Alexander
of Svirsk was born on 15 July 1448, on the day of memory of the Prophet
Amos, and at Baptism was named in honour of him. Dwelling all his life far off
from historical events, the Monk Alexander – a beacon light of monasticism in
the deep forests of the Russian North – worked a different and spiritual
history and was bestown extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.
His parents, Stefan
and Vassa (Vasilisa) were peasants of the nigh-close to Lake Ladoga village of
Mandera, at the bank of the River Oyata, a tributary of the River Svira. They
had two children, who were already grown and lived away from their parents. But
Stefan and Vassa wanted still to have another son. They prayed fervently and
heard a voice from above: "Rejoice, good wedded, ye shall bear a son, in
whose birth God wilt give comfort to His Church".
Amos grew up a
special lad. He was always obedient and gentle, he shunned games, jokes and
foul-talk, he wore poor clothes and so weakened himself with fasting, that it
caused his mother anxiety. Upon coming of age he once met Valaamsk monks who
had come to the Oyata for the purchase of necessities and concerning other economic
needs. Valaam at this time had already the reputation as a monastery of deep
piety and strict ascetic life. Having spoken with them, the youth became
interested by their account about the skete (with two or three together) and
about the monastic hermit life. Knowing that his parents wanted to marry him
off, the youth at age 19 went secretly to Valaam. Under the guise of being a
companion, an Angel of God appeared to him, showing the way to the island.
Amos lived for seven
years at the monastery as a novice, leading an austere life. He spent his days
at work, and his nights – in vigilance and prayer. Sometimes bare of chest,
all covered by mosquitoes and gnats, he prayed in the forest to the morning
song of the birds.
In the year 1474 Amos
took monastic vows with the name Alexander. After some several years his
parents eventually learned from Karelians arriving in Mandera, whither their
son had disappeared. Through the example of their son, even the parents soon
went to the monastery and took vows with the names Sergei and Varvara
(Barbara). After their death the Monk Alexander, with the blessing of the
hegumen of the monastery, settled on a solitary monastery island, where in the
crevice of a cliff he built a cell and continued his spiritual exploits.
The fame of his
exploits spread far. Then in 1485 the Monk Alexander departed from Valaam and,
upon a command from above, chose a place in the forest on the shore of a
beautiful lake, which afterwards was named Holy (Svyata). Here the monk built
himself an hut and in solitude he dwelt for seven years, eating only that which
he gathered in the forest (Afterwards at this place, – Lake Svyata, 36 versts
from the future city of Olonets and 6 versts from the River Svira, the Monk
Alexander founded the monastery of the Life-Originating Trinity, and 130 sazhen
(i.e. 910 feet) off from it, at Lake Roschina, he built himself a
"withdrawing place", – on the spot where the Alexandro-Svirsk
monastery later emerged). During this time the saint experienced fierce sufferings
from hunger, frost, sickness and demonic temptations. But the Lord continually
sustained the spiritual and bodily strength of the righteous one. Once when
suffering with terrible infirmities, the monk not only was not able to get up
from the ground, but also even was unable to lift his head, he just lay there
and sang psalms. And hereupon there appeared to him a glorious man. Placing his
hand on the pained spot, he signed the saint with the sign of the cross and
healed him.
In 1493 while hunting
for deer, the adjoining land-owner Andrei Zavalishin happened to come upon the
hut of the monk. Andrei spoke to him about a light, seen earlier at this place,
and he entreated the monk to tell him about his life. From that point Andrei
started often to visit with the Monk Alexander, and finally through the monk's
guidance, he himself departed for Valaam, where he took vows with the name
Adrian, founding later on the Ondrusovsk monastery, and glorifying himself with
a saintly life (Comm. 26 August and 17 May, + 1549).
Andrei Zavalishin was
not able to keep quiet about the ascetic, in spite of the promise given to him.
News about the righteous one began to spread widely, and monks started to
gather about him. The monk thereupon withdrew himself from all the brethren and
built himself a "withdrawing spot" a distance of 130 sazhen from the
common dwelling. The he encountered a multitude of temptations. The demons took
on beastly shapes, they hissed like snakes, urging the monk to flee. But the
prayer of the saint, as it were a fiery flame, scorched and dispersed the
devils.
In 1508, the 23th
year of the monk's dwelling at this secluded spot, there appeared to him the
Life-Originating Trinity. The monk was praying at night at his
"withdrawing spot". Suddenly an intense light shone, and the monk
beheld approaching him Three Men, robed in radiant white garb. Hallowed by
Heavenly Glory, They did shine in a pure brightness greater than the sun. Each
of Them held in Their hand a staff. The monk fell down in terror, and having
come to his senses, prostrated himself on the ground. Taking him up by the
hand, the Men said: "Trust thou, blessed one, and fear not". The monk
received orders to construct a church and to build up a monastery. He again
fell to his knees, crying out about his own unworthiness, but the Lord raised
him up and ordered him to fulfill the commands. The monk asked, in whose name
the church ought to be. The Lord thereupon said: "Beloved, as thou
beholdest Those speaking with thee in Three Persons, so also construct thou the
church in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity
One-in-Essence. I leave thee peace and My peace I give thee". And
immediately the Monk Alexander beheld the Lord with out-stretched wings, going
as though along the ground, and He became invisible. In the history of the
Russian Orthodox Church this Divine Descent is acknowledged as unique. After
this vision the monk began to think, where to build the church. Once during a
time of prayer to God, he heard a voice from above. Having gazed up to the
heights, he saw an Angel of God in mantle and klobuk, such as the Monk
Pakhomios had seen. The Angel, standing in the air with out‑stretched
wings and up-raised hands, proclaimed: "One is Holy, One is the Lord Jesus
Christ, in the Glory of God the Father, Amen". And then he turned to the
monk: Alexander, upon this spot construct the church in the Name of the Lord
Who hath appeared to thee in Three Persons, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, the
Trinity Undivided". And having thrice made the cross over the place, the
Angel became invisible.
In that same year was
built a wooden church of the Life-Originating Trinity (in 1526 was built here a
stone church). And at the same time as the building of the church, the brethren
began to urge the monk to accept the priesthood. For a long time he refused,
considering himself unworthy. Then the brethren began to implore Saint
Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod (+ 1516, Comm. 16 March), that he convince the
monk to accept the dignity. And so in that very year the monk journeyed to
Novgorod and received ordination from the holy archbishop. Soon afterwards the
brethren also besought the monk to accept being hegumen.
Having become
hegumen, the monk became even more humble than before. His clothes were all in
tatters, and he slept on the bare ground. He himself prepared food, kneaded
dough and baked bread. One time there was not sufficient firewood and the
steward asked the hegumen to dispatch after firewood any of the monks that were
idle. "I am idle", – said the monk, and he began to chop
firewood. Another time likewise he began to carry water. And by night when all
were asleep, the monk was often grinding away with hand-stones for making more
bread. By night the monk made the round of the cells and if he heard anywhere
vain conversations, he lightly tapped on the door and departed, but in the
morning he admonished the brother, imposing a penance on the culprit.
Towards the end of
his life the Monk Alexander decided to build a stone church of the Pokrov
(Protection) of the Most Holy Mother of God. One time in the evening, after
doing an akathist to the Most Holy Mother of God, the monk settled down to rest
in the cell and suddenly said to the cell-attendant Afanasii: "Child, be
sober and alert, because in this hour will be a wondrous and astounding
visit". There followed a voice, like thunder: "Behold cometh the Lord
and His Birth-Giver". The monk hastened to the entrance to the cell, and a
great light illumined it, spreading over all the monastery brighter than the
rays of the sun. Gazing, the monk beheld over the foundation of the Pokrov
church sitting at the altar place, as it were an empress upon a throne, the
All-Pure Mother of God. She held the Infant-Christ in Her arms, and a multitude
of the angelic rank, shining with an indescribable brightness, stood before
Her. The monk fell down, unable to bear the great light. The Mother of God
said: "Rise up, thou chosen one of My Son and God. For I have come here to
visit thee, My dear one, and to look upon the foundation of My church. And for
this, I have made entreaty for thy disciples and monastery, from hence all wilt
be abundant; not only during thine life, but also upon thy departure
persistently from thy monastery will be a granting of all necessities in
abundance. Behold and watch carefully, how many monks are gathered into thy
flock, which by thee mustneeds be guided on the way of salvation in the Name of
the Holy Trinity". The monk rose up and beheld a multitude of monks. Again
said the Mother of God: "My dear one, if someone doth bear one brick for
the building of My church, in the Name of Jesus Christ, My Son and God, his
treasure perisheth not". And She became invisible.
Before his death the
monk displayed wondrous humility. He summoned the brethren and bid them:
"Bind my sinful body by the legs and drag it to a swampy thicket and,
having enclosed it in skins, submerse it by the legs". The brethren
answered: "No, father, it is not possible to do this". Then the monk
bid that his body not be kept at the monastery, but at a place of withdrawal,
the church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Having lived 85 years, the monk
expired to the Lord on 30 August 1533.
The Monk Alexander of
Svirsk was glorified by wondrous miracles during his life and upon his death.
In 1545 his disciple and successor, Hegumen Irodion, compiled his life. In 1547
was begun the local celebration of the monk and a service compiled to him. In
the year 1641, on 17 April, during the rebuilding of the Transfiguration
church, the incorrupt relics of the Monk Alexander of Svirsk were uncovered and
the universal Church celebration to him was established on two dates: the day
of repose – 30 August, and the day of glorification (Uncovering of Relics) –
17 April.
The Monk Alexander of
Svirsk instructed and raised up a whole multitude of disciples, as the Mother
of God had bequeathed him. These are the Sainted-Monks: Ignatii of
Ostrovsk (XVI), Leonid of Ostrovsk (XVI), Kornilii of Ostrovsk (XVI), Dionysii
of Ostrovsk (XVI), Athanasii (Afanasii) of Ostrovsk (XVI), Theodore (Feodor)
of Ostrovsk (XVI), Ferapont of Ostrovsk (XVI). Besides these saints, there
are known disciples and those conversing with the Monk Alexander of Svirsk,
which have separate days of memory: the Monk Athansii (Afanasii) of Syandemsk
(XVI, Comm. 18 January), the Monk Gennadii of Vasheozersk (+ 8 January
1516, Comm. 9 February), the Monk Makarii of Orodezhsk (+ 1532, Comm. 9
August), the Monk Adrian of Ondrosovsk (+ 26 August 1549, Comm. 17 May), the
Monk Nikifor of Vasheozersk (+ 1557, Comm. 9 February), the Monk Gennadii
of Kostroma and Liubimograd (+ 1565, Comm. 23 January). All these saints
(except the Monk Gennadii of Kostroma) are imaged on the Icon of the Monastic
Fathers, illumined in the Karelia land (icon from the church at the Spiritual
Seminary in the city of Kuopio, Finland). The festal celebration of the
Sobor-Assemblage of the Saints Illumined in the Karelian Land is done by the
Finnish Orthodox Church on the Saturday falling between 31 October and 6 November.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
