Reverend Savva Storozhevsky, Zvenigorodsky: icon, life and interesting facts

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Reverend Savva Storozhevsky is well known in Russia, this miracle worker became famous for his piety and wisdom. Even during his lifetime, he was one of the very first followers of Sergius of Radonezh and was considered his student. But there is very little reliable information about him. Many believe that this is due to the fact that the elder lived more than a thousand years ago. Therefore, his biography was made according to the recollections of monks and monks who themselves met with the monk. In subsequent years, the life of St. Savva Storozhevsky was written by Alexander Pushkin himself. The Russian poet was inspired by what he learned about the elder, and even came to the temple near Zvenigorod to bow to his relics. From our article you will learn about what earned the respect of the Monk Savva Storozhevsky, and the miracles that he worked during his lifetime and afterdeath.

Young years of the future saint

Nothing is known about the place and date of birth of St. Savva Storozhevsky of Zvenigorodsky. These data were lost during his lifetime, however, historians have every reason to believe that the miracle worker came from a noble boyar family. This is indicated by some indirect facts, but so far it has not been possible to refute or prove them.

At a very young age, Savva (however, he received this name after being tonsured) expressed a desire to serve God and loved him more than anything else. For this, he personally came to Sergius of Radonezh and took the tonsure as his novice.

The monk spent whole days in abstinence, prayers, and also sang in the church choir. Savva regularly studied church literature and was completely obedient to his mentor. It is known that from the very early morning before dawn, he came to the temple for service and left its doors later than anyone else.

Reverend Savva Storozhevsky avoided frequent conversations and preferred to spend most of his time in silence and silence. Because of this, the brothers underestimated his wisdom, considering the young novice narrow-minded and tongue-tied. However, in reality, Savva was wiser than many who lived with him in the Trinity Monastery.

St. Sergius highly valued the God-fearingness of his novice and considered him one of his best students. In the last years of his life, he practically withdrew from the affairs of the monastery, putting Nikon in charge of it. However, he did not stay at the head of the temple for long,expressing a desire to remain in seclusion. And then the choice clearly fell on the Monk Savva Storozhevsky.

monastery management

The Reverend Savva Storozhevsky of Zvenigorodsky spent about six years in the position of abbot. It is known that during these years the Trinity Monastery flourished, and once, through the prayers of an elder, a source of pure water gushed near it.

He conducted his activities, managing the monastery, like his former hegumen Sergius of Radonezh. In many ways, Savva adhered to his worldview and shared all his views.

After six years, the reverend decided to abandon his honorary post and completely immerse himself in the service of the Lord. He remained to live in the Trinity Monastery, but spent almost all the time in solitude and fervent prayers. He almost did not communicate with the brothers, and they expected that the elder would soon take a vow of silence.

Exodus from the Trinity Monastery

One day Prince Georgy Dimitrievich arrived at the monastery specially for the monk. He always had a very warm attitude towards the Trinity Monastery and was the godson of Sergius of Radonezh himself. Savva Storozhevsky from an early age was the confessor of the prince and often saw him.

Georgy Dimitrievich was a very pious man and came to persuade his spiritual mentor to go to Zvenigorod and build a new monastery near the city. The prince's intentions were pure, besides, he had already chosen a suitable place for a new temple. It was supposed to be Mount Watchmen, located very close tocity.

Seeing that the prince's words were ardent and sincere, the monk agreed to leave the monastery and go to Zvenigorod. By the way, many historians believe that Savva Storozhevsky was from these parts. Therefore, he willingly agreed to return to his native places and followed the pious prince.

Creating a new cloister

According to chronicles, the monk climbed the mountain with the icon of the Virgin. At the very top, he installed an image and turned to the Mother of God with fervent prayer. With tears in his eyes, the elder asked her for help in the new business and the blessing of any undertakings. With his own hands, the miracle worker, with the assistance of George Dimitrievich, built a small wooden church. Nearby, he erected a modest cell for himself and remained to live on the mountain.

News about the saint and his righteous life quickly spread throughout Russia, and people who wanted to serve God and spend their days in prayer reached the mountain. The monk did not refuse shelter to anyone who came. He received everyone with love and blessed them for monastic deeds.

Soon quite a lot of people gathered around him, and Savva Storozhevsky created a monastic monastery, becoming its abbot. In this post, he daily set an example of humility, patience, temperance and diligence.

He taught his brothers to work every day and not spend a single minute in idleness. Even in old age, the abbot himself carried water from the source up the mountain and did everything that was necessary for himself and the monks.

Construction of a temple in honor of ChristmasMother of God

At the end of the fourteenth century, Prince George went to battle with the army of the Golden Horde. Before the speech, he turned for a blessing to the reverend. He said a prayer and released the prince in peace. Returning with a victory, George thanked the elder, but he, being very modest, advised him to praise God and be merciful to everyone around. Struck by the wisdom of the monk, the prince began to make generous donations to the monastery, thanks to which a beautiful stone church was erected on the site of a modest church. Despite the fact that the monastery grew, its abbot remained a very modest person and was afraid of earthly glory. However, even during his lifetime, many ordinary people began to call it the temple of St. Savva Storozhevsky.

The last years of the old man's life

Over time, people from different cities began to come to Savva's monastery. Some became monks and asked for his guidance, while others turned to the miracle worker for advice and guidance. In order to avoid earthly glory, the monk left his monastery and went into the forest. There he dug a small cave, where he spent his days in prayers and conversations with God. However, the elder considered this a small contribution to the cause of serving the Creator. He dug a well with his own hands so that the brothers would always have fresh water, and often brought it to the monastery himself. Even being at an advanced age, the miracle worker fully provided for himself with everything necessary and continued to work for the benefit of the monastery.

Feeling the approach of death, the elder called all the brothers and began to instruct them. He advised them to be humble,fast and pray without ceasing. Having named his successor, the monk calmly departed into another world. His body was buried in a temple built with donations from the prince.

The icon of St. Savva Storozhevsky

The first images of the saint appeared decades after the death of the abbot. It is known that after the writing of the first face, miracles began to occur at the relics of the saint. And the very history of the creation of his icon is wonderful.

According to legend, hegumen Dionysius, who at that moment ruled the Zvenigorod monastery, was famous for his ability to paint icons, one night he saw an old man who ordered him to paint his image. Dionysius was surprised and asked the name of the visitor. The next morning, he ordered to send for one of the brothers, who had once been personally acquainted with Savva. He described it in detail from memory, and the abbot recognized in the verbal portrait of the elder who had come to him in a dream. He fulfilled the wonderworker's command and painted an icon. After that, the veneration of the saint increased, and various miracles began to occur on his grave.

Miracles at the relics of the saint

A lot of people talk about the miracles of the saint. At different times, the most incredible events related to the holy elder took place. We will tell readers about only a few of them.

The story of the healing of the boyar's son is widely known. One day, a boyar came to the grave of an old man with his mute son. They fervently prayed at the relics of Savva, and after that the boyar asked the brothers for kvass,which they themselves prepared in the monastery. Literally after the first sip, the son of the boyar began to speak, which was instantly recognized as a miracle. Thanking the saint, the boyar took the kvass home and cured all his household members who suffered from certain diseases.

Many Orthodox also know about the salvation of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich by the saints. During the hunt, the king got lost and tried for a long time to find the path. Having made his way through the thicket, he got out into a clearing, where a bear rushed towards him. It is not known how this story would have ended if the old man had not come out from behind the trees. He drove the beast away and vanished into thin air. The amazed king, having reached his retinue, decided to thank God for the miraculous salvation. The nearest temple turned out to be the Storozhevsky Monastery, entering which the tsar immediately saw an icon depicting a mysterious old man, whom he saw in the thicket. In the future, Alexei Mikhailovich openly patronized the monastery and visited it more than once.

However, the most famous miracle is the story that happened to the stepson of Napoleon himself. During the war, he settled with his army in the Zvenigorod monastery, and at night an old man appeared to him, telling the prince that he would save his life if the monastery was not damaged and was not ruined.

The next morning, the prince left the monastery and really remained alive, and later he even became related to the royal family and lived in Russia for many years.

Rev. Savva Storozhevsky: what helps

Orthodox people are often interested in what kind of request they can turn to a saint. After all, it is known that each of the canonized eldershelps in some specific cases. Savva Storozhevsky most often helps to heal from various physical and mental illnesses.

Among his miracles were many saving people from incurable diseases. Some of them were possessed, others were blind or deaf, and still others were saved by prayer from all sorts of infirmities.

Therefore, if you ask for the he alth of your loved ones, then come to the icon of the elder and turn to him with fervent prayer.

Prayer to St. Savva Storozhevsky

In order for the request to the saint to be heard faster, address him with special words. We give the prayer to the miracle worker in full.

Akathist

In different situations, the Orthodox can, in addition to prayer, also read an akathist to St. Savva Storozhevsky. We cannot give its full text, but we will definitely give the beginning:

If you find yourself near Zvenigorod, then be sure to look into the monastery, once created by the monk. Bow to his relics and ask for your relatives, because the elder never leaves anyone without help and support.