How often, when we say some words, we do not think about their true meaning. Why is the word "reverend" added to the names of some saints? This question often arises among those who are just beginning to join the faith. So let's figure it out.
Meaning of the word
Reverend is one of the categories, they are also called “faces”, into which it is customary to divide saints depending on their deeds during their earthly life. So what does the word "reverend" mean? This was the name of the holy monks who, with their lives and labors, tried to please God, become like him, and succeeded in this, therefore only monks ex alted by the church could bear this title.
It is important to note that the saints are such a unique phenomenon, which has no analogues in Christianity anymore. Of course, in each rank of saints one can find many examples of godlikeness, but the venerable saints differed from the rest in a special, selfless desire to serve the Lord, which is distinguished by an extreme degree of self-denial. Having embarked on the path of asceticism, they renounced all earthly blessings and devoted themselves entirely to service. Almighty.
First examples of asceticism
Already during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire, people leading an ascetic lifestyle appeared. In those days, their feat did not yet arouse reverence and reverence, and glorification by the church could only be due to their death in the name of Christ. Now those who combined the exploits of an ascetic and a martyr are called reverend martyrs.
First Reverends
The first venerable monks were the hermit monks of Egypt and Palestine. Thanks to them, monasticism spread throughout the world.
The first Russian venerable monks were Anton and Theodosius of the Caves. They founded the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and, despite the fact that they were not the first monks in Russia, because evidence of monastic life was met earlier, they are considered the founders of Russian monasticism.
Personality of Sergius of Radonezh
The revival of monastic life after the Mongol invasion of Russia is due to Sergius of Radonezh, who founded the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and left many disciples, who later laid the foundations of new monasteries and brought up new ascetics who were canonized as saints. What does this truly legendary person mean for Russian Orthodoxy and the entire Russian state?
It was St. Sergius and his associates who laid the foundation for the revival of the spirituality of the Russian people. During the difficult trials that befell the Russian land, he managed to rally the people together and give impetus to the formation of that very “Russian spirit” that remains withour people to this day.
His contribution to the formation of Russian statehood was also considerable, which, in the form in which we know it, begins precisely from the time of St. Sergius.
He showed the Russian people what the ideal of human life should be, becoming an example for many generations. His influence on Orthodox life in Russia is felt even now, seven centuries after his death.
Seraphim of Sarov
Another saint, which can not be mentioned within the framework of the topic, is the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, in the world Prokhor Isidorovich Moshnin (Mashnin). He is the brightest representative of Russian Orthodoxy of the Synodal period, which lasted from 1700 to 1917.
Born in a pious and pious family, Prokhor was surrounded by God's miracles from childhood: he remained unharmed, falling from the bell tower of the temple, and was healed of a serious illness after the Mother of God appeared to his mother.
By the age of seventeen, the lad finally decided to leave worldly life and, after being tonsured and elevated to the rank of hieromonk, chose for himself the feat of hermitage. He settled by the Sarovka River in a cell he had built himself, where he prayed and kept his vows for many years.
For his spiritual feat, Seraphim was endowed with the gift of clairvoyance and miracle-working. From that moment on, the period of seclusion ends for him. He begins to accept everyone who needs his help, helps with advice, heals, prophesies and works miracles.
With His edifications based on Scripture and teachingssaints, he converted many erring ones to the true faith and called on everyone who came to him to keep faith in God.
He died in 1833 in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness", which he prayed all his life. With the death of Seraphim, the miracles he performed did not end, and people continued to come to his grave for help, carefully collecting all the evidence of his intercession. In 1903, at the request of Nicholas II, Seraphim of Sarov was canonized as a saint.
His humility, understanding of the divine essence of all trials, spiritual achievement and love for people made St. Seraphim the greatest ascetic of Russia, whose name is still revered, and people today come to his relics for help and protection.
Optinsky Elders
One of the spiritual centers of Russian Orthodoxy, Optina Pustyn, cannot be ignored. It is difficult to overestimate its importance in the history of Russia.
Representing a unique example of spiritual revival, the monastery was distinguished by a special type of monastic activity - eldership. The Optina monks were endowed with the gifts of clairvoyance, healing and wonderworking. They were true spiritual teachers.
The destruction of the monastery by the Bolsheviks
The revolution of 1917 burned out everything that made up the cultural and spiritual foundation of the state, the Bolsheviks did not spare Optina's monastery either. The new government was hostile to Orthodoxy, seeing it as a threat to the new state system.
Therefore, Optina Pustyn was gradually forgotten, which allowed the Bolsheviks, without any threat to their politicalreputation to close the monastery. This happened in 1923. A sawmill was set up in its buildings, and the skete was given over to a rest home. Many elders were persecuted and acted as fools.
The revival of the monastery took place in 1987, when the state returned to the Russian Orthodox Church everything that was left at that time from the monastery. The restoration of the monastery began, and already in 1988 services were held in its gate church and the Vvedensky Cathedral.
In the same year, Ambrose of Optina, the first of the fourteen elders, was glorified by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1996, the remaining thirteen elders were canonized as locally revered saints, and in 2000 they were glorified for general church veneration.
Now the monastery conducts educational work, it has its own publishing house, a website has appeared where you can find out its history and get advice. And every day, like old times, the gates of the monastery are open for numerous groups of pilgrims.
Tradition of veneration of saints
If you look at the church calendar, you will hardly find at least one day in it, on which the reverend saint would not be remembered. It often happens that several names are honored on the same day. That is why it is quite difficult to talk about the veneration of the saints. Let's do this on the example of the most famous reverends - Seraphim of Sarov and Sergius of Radonezh.
According to statistics and the Temples of Russia website, as of October 22, 2017, 303 churches throughout Russia are dedicated to Serafim of Sarov, SergiusRadonezh - 793.
It is worth noting that this information cannot be considered absolutely accurate, because the statistics take into account churches that have not survived and are under construction, churches that may be run by the Old Believers, as well as chapels and house churches. For example, such as the temple of Seraphim of Sarov, located on the territory of the Research Institute of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery in Moscow. The temple is located in one of the buildings of the Institute and does not have its own building.
