Predictions of Athos elders about Russia: the future of the country and the world. Optina elders prophecies of the Optina elders

Predictions of the elders

Unfortunately, today people who have nothing to do with the Church and with completely worldly sophistication are pushing into theology, who say different things and perform impermissible actions, with the aim of deliberately removing Christians from the faith by their position.

When you hear that the Turks block the waters of the Euphrates in the upper reaches with a dam and use them for irrigation, then know that we have already entered into preparations for that great war, and thus the way is being prepared for the two hundred million army from the sunrise, as Revelation says.

Among the preparations is this: the Euphrates river must dry up so that a large army can pass. Although - the Elder smiled at this place - if two hundred million Chinese, when they arrive there, drink one cup of water, they will drain the Euphrates!

Apostasy (retreat) has come, and now it remains only for the "son of perdition" to come. The world will turn into a madhouse. Sheer confusion will reign, in the midst of which each state will begin to do what it pleases. God grant that the interests of those who make big politics are in our favor. Every now and then we will hear something new. We will see how the most incredible, the most insane events take place. The only good thing is that these events will follow each other very quickly.

Ecumenism, common market, one big state, one religion tailored to their standards. Such are the plans of these devils. The Zionists are already preparing someone to be the messiah. For them, the messiah will be a king, that is, he will rule here on earth. Jehovists are also waiting for an earthly king. The Zionists will present their king, and the Jehovists will accept him. They all recognize him as king, they will say: "Yes, it is he." There will be great confusion. In this turmoil, everyone will want a king who could save them. And then they will put forward a person who will say: “I am the imam, I am the fifth Buddha, I am the Christ whom the Christians are waiting for, I am the one whom the Jehovists are waiting for, I am the messiah of the Jews.” He will have five "I".

He will appear to the people of Israel as the messiah and deceive the world. Hard times are coming, great trials await us. Christians will suffer great persecution. Meanwhile, it is obvious that people do not even understand that we are already experiencing the signs of the last times, that the seal of the Antichrist is becoming a reality. As if nothing is happening. Therefore, the Holy Scripture says that even the elect will be deceived. Those who do not have a good disposition will not receive enlightenment from God and will be deceived into the years of apostasy. Because the one in whom there is no Divine Grace does not have spiritual clarity, just as the devil does not have it ...

The Zionists want to rule the world. In order to achieve their goal, they use witchcraft and Satanism. They look at the worship of Satan as a force that will help in the implementation of their plans. Little by little, after the introduction of cards and identity cards, that is, the compilation of personal dossiers, they will cunningly begin to apply the seal. With the help of various tricks, people will be forced to accept a seal on their forehead or hand. They will put people in trouble and say, "Only use credit cards money will be abolished.

In order to buy something, a person will give a card to the seller in the store, and the store owner will receive money from his bank account. Anyone who does not have a card will not be able to sell or buy.

Prophecies of Elder Vladislav (Shumov)

Cards will be introduced in Moscow, and after that - famine.

The earthquake in Moscow will be big. 6 hills in Moscow will turn into one.

No one needs to move from their places: where you live, stay there (village residents).

Do not go to the monastery in Diveevo now: the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov are not there.

Yes, there will still be persecution of the Orthodox Faith!

As soon as you find out that such and such a priest has been driven out of the church, cling to him for the duration of the persecution.

Japan and the US will go under water together.

All of Australia will also be flooded.

The United States will be flooded by the ocean all the way to Alaska. So the very Alaska, which will again be ours.

There will be such a war in Russia: from the west - the Germans, and from the east - the Chinese!

The southern half of China will be flooded by the waters of the Indian Ocean. And then the Chinese will reach Chelyabinsk. Russia will unite with the Mongols and drive them back.

When China goes to us, then there will be war. But after the Chinese conquer the city of Chelyabinsk, the Lord will convert them to Orthodoxy.

The war between Russia and Germany will begin again through Serbia.

Everything will be on fire! ... Big sorrows are coming, but Russia will not perish in the fire.

The Turks will again fight the Greeks. Russia will help the Greeks.

Afghanistan is in for an endless war.

Know! There will be war here, and war here, and war there! .. And only then the warring countries will decide to choose one common ruler. You can't participate in this! After all, this single ruler -.

There will be three great miracles

The first miracle - in Jerusalem - the resurrection from the dead of the holy patriarch Enoch and the holy prophet Elijah on the third day after they were killed by the Antichrist!

The second miracle is in the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra; resurrect, after the accession of the Antichrist, Reverend Sergius. He will rise from the shrine, reach the Assumption Cathedral before everyone's eyes, and then ascend to heaven! There will be a sea of tears here! Then there will be nothing to do in the monastery, there will be no grace!

And the third miracle will be in Sarov. The Lord will resurrect the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, who will be alive - a decent time. Whoever wants to see him alive! Oh, how many miracles will be then!

The relics of the Reverend Father Seraphim are in Moscow with a pious old woman. The Angel of the Lord, when necessary, tells her to turn to the First Hierarch and say that she has the relics of St. Seraphim. These holy relics will be carried on their shoulders through Kashira along the Volgograd road through Mikhailov to Tambov, and from there to Sarov. In Sarov, Father Seraphim will rise from the dead!

At a time when his relics will be carried, the people will be in darkness, and a great many of the sick will be healed! About his resurrection in Sarov will be announced on radio and television, and the people will be - innumerable!

At this time, many foreigners from all over the world will arrive in Sarov: both the priesthood and simply curious people. Everyone will be convinced of the resurrection of the Monk Seraphim: yes, truly, this is the elder who consecrated himself to God on this earth, in this area! This is going to be a world wonder!

Barsanuphius of Optina

Saint Barsanuphius of Optina: “The persecution and torment of the first Christians may be repeated… Hell is destroyed, but not destroyed, and the time will come when it will make itself felt. This time is not far off...

We will live to terrible times, but the grace of God will cover us... The Antichrist is clearly coming into the world, but this is not recognized in the world. The whole world is under the influence of some kind of force that takes possession of the mind, will and all spiritual qualities of a person. It is an outside force, an evil force. Its source is the devil, and evil people are only an instrument through which it operates. These are the forerunners of the Antichrist.

In the Church we don't have living prophets now, but there are signs. They are given to us for the knowledge of times. They are clearly visible to people who have a spiritual mind. But this is not recognized in the world... Everyone is going against Russia, that is, against the Church of Christ, for the Russian people are God-bearers, the true faith of Christ is preserved in them.”

Prophecies of St. Anatoly of Optina

Heresies will spread everywhere and deceive many. The enemy of the human race will act by cunning, in order, if possible, to incline even the elect to heresy. He will not rudely reject the dogmas of the Holy Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus Christ and the dignity of the Mother of God, but will imperceptibly distort the teachings of the Church transmitted by the Holy Fathers from the Holy Spirit, and his very spirit and statutes, and these tricks of the enemy will be noticed only by a few, the most skillful in spiritual life. .

Rev. Theodosius (Kashin)

Was it a war (the Great Patriotic War)? There will be war. It will start from the east. And then from all sides, like pruzi (locusts), enemies will crawl to Russia. This is going to be a war!

Rev. Kirill Bely

This time is already a rebellion in people (the destruction of the power of the Monarch), there will be a great misfortune on our land and great anger on people, and they will fall from the edge of the sword, and they will be captivated ... as the Lord showed me.

Now I saw the king sitting on the throne and before him standing two brave youths, having royal crowns on their heads. And the Lord gave them into their hands weapons against the opposite, and their enemies will be defeated, and all nations will worship, and our kingdom will be pacified by God and arranged. But you, brothers and fathers, pray with tears to God and His Most Pure Mother of God for the power of the kingdom of the Russian land.

Schema-Archimandrite Stefan (Athos)

America will soon collapse. It will fall terribly, cleanly. The Americans will flee, trying to save themselves in Russia and Serbia. So it will be.

Prophecy of Elder Matthew Vresfensky

This war of the world, perhaps of the entire New World Order, against Russia will be terrible in its consequences for humanity, claiming billions of lives. The reason for it will be painfully recognizable - Serbia ... After the resurrection of Russia, it will and will begin in Yugoslavia. The winner will be Russia, the Russian Tsardom, which will be able to establish lasting peace and prosperity on earth after the war, although it will not conquer most of the lands of its opponents.

Elder Vissarion (Optina Pustyn)

Something like a coup d'état will happen in Russia. In the same year, the Chinese will attack. They will reach the Urals. Then there will be a unification of Russians according to the Orthodox principle ...

Elder Anthony

They are now called aliens, somehow, but they are demons. Time will pass, and they will freely show themselves to people, being in the service of the Antichrist and his minions. How difficult it will be to fight them then!

Blessed Jerome

One should not think that the Antichrist is either the devil or a demon, but one of the people in whom all Satan has bodily dwell

Blessed old woman Pelageya of Ryazan

In the last times, there will be a hundred or more sorcerers for every Christian! ... How many books of enchantment and witchcraft under the guidance of Jews are published all over the world ?!

There will be great sorrow when the servants of the Antichrist will deprive believers of food, work, pensions... There will be groaning, weeping and much more... Many will die, and only those who are strong in faith, whom the Lord will choose, will remain and live until His Second Coming.

When the Lord allows the Antichrist to appear, then the majority of the clergy will immediately convert to another faith, and the people will follow them!
Antichrist will sacrifice many nations that Satan will prepare for this, turning them into ruminant cattle! ...
There will be no food, no water, unspeakable heat, remorse by animals, at every step there will be strangled men hanging ...

Most people in the world from hunger will accept the seal from the Antichrist, very few will not. This seal will forever seal those who accept it for the grace of repentance, that is, they will never be able to repent and will go to hell!

The Antichrist will only have enough food for those who have received the seal for six months, and then they will begin a great tribulation, they will start looking for death and will not find it!

The Russian people will be strangled by all means! And Adventists - the satanic faith - the green light! There will be so many in our country! Still ahead! Hunger, and with hunger - cannibalism! War and then choose the Antichrist!

Put all your care so that the Lord delivers from the sin of Sodom. Satan will give the command to put this sin to shame, especially the clergy and monasticism!… This sin will be widespread on a large scale, this is sodomy!

The teaching of Antichrist will differ from the Orthodox teaching of Christ only in that it will deny the redemptive Cross! - said the saint of God Pelagia of Ryazan, - Seventh-day Adventists are the first enemies of the Cross of Christ!

Rich priests crucified the Lord!
Rich priests overthrew the Tsar!
Rich priests will lead us to the Antichrist!

Predictions of Seraphim of Sarov

“To me, a wretched Seraphim, the Lord revealed that there would be great disasters on the Russian land. The Orthodox faith will be trampled on, the bishops of the Church of God and other clerics will depart from the purity of Orthodoxy, and for this the Lord will severely punish them. I, poor Seraphim, for three days and three nights prayed to the Lord that he would better deprive me of the Kingdom of Heaven, and have mercy on them. But the Lord answered, “I will not have mercy on them: for they teach the doctrines of men, and with their tongue they honor Me, but their heart is far from Me”…

Any desire to change the rules and teachings of the Holy Church is heresy ... blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. The bishops of the Russian land will follow this path and the clergy and the wrath of God will strike them…”

“But the Lord will not be completely angry and will not allow the Russian land to be destroyed to the end, because in it alone Orthodoxy and the remnants of Christian piety are still predominantly preserved ... We have the Orthodox faith, the Church, which has no vice. For the sake of these virtues, Russia will always be glorious and fearful and irresistible to enemies, having faith and piety - the gates of hell will not overcome these.

“Before the end of time, Russia will merge into one great sea with other Slavic lands and tribes, it will form one sea or that vast universal ocean of the people, about which the Lord God from ancient times spoke through the lips of all the saints: “Terrible and invincible Kingdom of All Russia, pan-Slavic - Gog and Magog before whom all nations will tremble.” And all this is the same as twice two makes four, and without fail, as God is holy, who from ancient times foretold about him and his formidable dominion over the earth. By the combined forces of Russia and other nations, Constantinople and Jerusalem will be filled. With the division of Turkey, almost all of it will remain with Russia…”

Prophecy 2:
Today, reading prophecies is like reading a newspaper: everything is clearly written that way. My thought tells me that many events will take place: the Russians will occupy Turkey, Turkey will disappear from the map, because 1/3 of the Turks will become Christians, 1/3 will die and 1/3 will go to Mesopotamia.
The Middle East will become the scene of wars in which the Russians will take part. A lot of blood will be shed, and even the Chinese will cross the Euphrates River, with an army of 200,000,000, and reach Jerusalem.

A characteristic sign that these events are approaching will be the destruction of the mosque of Omar, because. its destruction will mean the beginning of work on the reconstruction of Solomon's temple, which was built on that very spot.
Will happen in Constantinople Great War between Russians and Europeans, and much blood will be shed. Greece will not play a leading role in this war, but Constantinople will be given to her, not because the Russians will revere us, but because there will be no best solution, and agree jointly with Greece, and difficult circumstances will put pressure on them. The Greek army will not have time to approach there, as the city will be given to it. The Jews, since they will have the strength and help of the European leadership, will become insolent and show themselves with shamelessness and pride and will try to rule Europe. Then 2/3 of the Jews will become Christians.
Unfortunately, today people who have no relation to the Church and with absolutely worldly sophistication are pushed into theology, who say different things and commit unacceptable actions, with the goal of deliberately removing Christians from the faith by their position. The Russians did the same when they wanted to introduce communism in Russia. What were they doing there? After some wrong priests and theologians joined the party - and were already "at one with them" - they were forced to accuse the Church and often speak against it. So they poisoned the people, because they could not recognize the role of these theologians. Then they took one of their priests, who was very fat due to illness, looked for months for some bony boy, put them on one poster and wrote below: “This is how the Church lives and how the people live in poverty.” They also took a photograph of the patriarch's chambers, covered with carpets, furniture, etc., and placed next to the barracks of one of the beggars (like our gypsies) and said: look at the luxury of the priests and how the Russian citizen vegetates! In this way they succeeded, little by little, in poisoning the people and "spoiling their thoughts." And after the people devoured each other, those also appeared, and, as we know, they threw Russia back 500 years ago, and left her dying, killing millions of Russian Christians.
They will build many intrigues, but through the persecution that will follow, Christianity will be wholly united. However, not in the way that those who machinations arrange a worldwide unification of churches, wanting to have one religious leadership at the head, want. It will unite, because in the situation that has been created, the separation of the sheep from the goats will take place. Each sheep will strive to be close to the other sheep, and then “one flock and one Shepherd” will be realized in practice. Do you understand? We see that this is already partly being implemented: Christians, you have seen, have already begun to feel that they are in an unhealthy climate, and will try to avoid painful situations and flow in thousands to monasteries and churches. You will soon see that there are two parts of the people in the city: those who will live a life of prodigality and a life far from Christ, and the rest who will flow to vigils and places of worship. The middle state, as it is now, can no longer exist.

Prophecy 3:
Once I came downstairs and saw the Elder somewhat embarrassed and upset. He treated me and he began to speak:
- Some people came here and began to tell me that there would be a war, and that the Turks would enter Greece, and that they would drive us six miles to Corinth (explaining by mistake, corrupted by their thought, the prophecy of Cosmas of Aetolia). Then I took them up and said that the worst enemy for the Hellenes is that when some Hellenes like you all over the world spread that if there is a war, the Turks will drive us to Corinth, because when the war starts, everyone will have the spirit is broken, and they themselves will retreat to Corinth. Moreover, if this were the truth, it would be impossible to talk about it. Especially when it's not true. And I repeat to you again: do not talk about this anywhere, because you will do much more evil than many Turkish divisions would have done.
I told them this, and they forced me to explain, although I never wanted to talk about prophecies, that the six miles of which Saint Cosmas speaks are six miles of the sea shelf. This is the topic that we have been squabbling over with Turkey in recent years, and it will be the issue that we will “grab on”. However, they will not enter Hellas: they will advance only these six miles, and then a great disaster will come upon them from the north, as the scriptures say, and "nothing straight will remain." A third of the Turks will be killed, a third will convert to Christianity, and the rest will go far into Asia. We will not suffer anything from the Turks. Some unimportant things will be destroyed and the wrath of God will come upon them.
I heard this from them and was upset. I could not believe that the Greeks themselves - by spreading such things in time of peace - would render the Turks the greatest help.
They also began to tell me that what Saint Cosmas said: “then it will come when two summers and two paschals come together,” now that the Resurrection (Easter) coincided with the Annunciation - and the winter passed like summer - means that the Turks will attack Hellas (Greece).
We have all become prophets, my father, and we explain things with our minds as we please. And here I was forced to tell them that Saint Cosmas, when he said: “then he will come,” did not mean the Turks. He understood that then freedom would come for the inhabitants of Northern Epirus. And indeed, in this year, after so many years, the borders were opened, and they can, in a certain way, freely communicate with their fatherland.
My father, I saw that very great harm inflicted by these people, explaining things with their poor mind. And what's more, they pass on their corrupted thoughts to others.

Prophecy 4:
So "nobly" divided into parts of Turkey
The brother asked the Elder about the events in Serbia, and he, among other things, said:
- Europeans are now doing, for the sake of the Turks, independent areas where Muslims live (Bosnia and Herzegovina). I see, however, that Turkey will be divided in a noble way: the Kurds and Armenians will rise up, and the Europeans will demand that these peoples be made independent. Then they will say to Turkey: we did you a favor there, now the Kurds and Armenians should gain independence in a similar way. So "nobly" will divide Turkey into parts.
Saint Arsenius in Faras told the believers that they would lose their fatherland, but soon they would receive it again.

Prophecy 5:
In the summer of 1987, I asked the Elder about a future world war, the one called "Armageddon" and reported in the Scriptures.
With paternal interest, he gave me various information. And even wanted to discover certain signs that will convince us that we are indeed in the generation of Armageddon. So he said:
“When you hear that the Turks block the waters of the Euphrates in the upper reaches with a dam and use them for irrigation, then know that we have already entered into the preparation of that great war and thus the way is being prepared for a two hundred million army from the sunrise, as Revelation says.
Among the preparations is this: the Euphrates river must dry up so that a large army can pass. Although - the Elder smiled at this place - if two hundred million Chinese, when they arrive there, drink one cup of water, they will drain the Euphrates!
I was told that the Chinese army at the moment is two hundred million, i.e. the specific number that St. John writes about in Revelation. The Chinese are even preparing a road, which they call the "miracle of the era": its width is such that thousands of soldiers lined up freely pass along it. And by this time they had already brought it to the borders of India.
However, great attention and an enlightened pure mind are needed so that we can distinguish the signs of the times, because, in a certain way, everything happens in such a way that they cannot be distinguished by those who do not care about the purification of hearts, and, as a result, , is easily misled. Let us suppose that one knows that in order for a million-strong army to pass, the Euphrates River must dry up. However, if one expects it to happen in a miraculous way, i.e. Let us suppose that a large fissure opens and all the water disappears, then such a person will be in error, for he did not take care to “enter into the spirit” of the Scriptures through purity of heart. Something similar happened with Chernobyl: in Revelation, St. John the Theologian reports that he saw a star that fell from the sky and hit the waters and people. Those, however, who expect a star to fall from the sky, have long been deluded and will never understand that this has already come to pass. Chernobyl in Russia means "wormwood" and we see that huge harm has been done, and it will be even more over time ... "

Prophecy 6:
During the procession of the Terrible Representative in 1992, an ensign from Ioannina held an umbrella over the icon of Panagia. When we walked, I was to his right, and the Elder was to his left, who at some point said to the officer:
- Come on, pray well, that you will be the standard-bearer in the City (Constantinople) when we enter.
And turning to me he said:
- Heard what I said?
- Yes, Geronta, I heard. Amen. - I answered him.
Then he smiled and said his characteristic:
- A! (Okay, exactly!).
A day later I went down to his cell and inquired about the City. And he said:
We will take Constantinople back, but not us. We, due to the fact that the majority of our youth have fallen, are not capable of this. However, God will arrange for others to take the City and give it to us as a solution to their problem.

Prophecy 7:
A group of little disciples from Athosias descended to the Elder. They were occupied with one topic: they heard, as if the Elder told some that we would take Constantinople. And they wanted to hear it themselves from his lips, and especially to ask if they would live at that time. So, they were talking among themselves on the way that someone should have asked the Elder about this topic. So they came and sat down with him, but no one dared to ask such a question. They got up, took the blessing, and headed for the path. The old man, seeing them off, said with a smile:
- And know: we will take Constantinople and you will live at that time too!
The disciples were struck like thunder from what he said, and they were amazed at the grace that he had, and that she was informed about everything, and also that all these terrible things would happen in their generation.

Prophecy 8:
Mr. D.K. visited the Elder. At that time, the USSR was very strong in all respects and no one could even imagine that it could collapse - it was still under Brezhnev's rule.
The elder, among other things, said to him:
- You will see that soon the USSR will fall apart.
Mr. D. objected:
- But such a strong power, Geronta, who will ruin it. And they dare not touch his fingernail.
- You'll see!
The elder predicted that the USSR would also collapse, and that Mr. D. would still be alive and see this (despite the fact that he was already aged).
And the old man continued:
- Know that Turkey will fall apart. There will be a war for two and a half years. We will be winners because we are Orthodox.
- Geronta, will we suffer damage in the war?
- Uh, at most, one or two islands will be occupied, and Constantinople will be given to us. See, see!

Prophecy 9:
One afternoon, a group of pilgrims arrived at the Elder's cell. Taking the blessing, they sat down in the outer archondarik. The old man kindly brought them traditional Turkish delight, refreshing water and fresh cherry plum, which had been brought to him by previous pilgrims. He sat down and started talking:
Elder: How do people live in the world?
Demetrius: In general, Geronta, means mass media spread evil and are directed towards it. Moreover, even small children are corrupted.
Elder: What does the law say? Do you file claims?
Dimitri: We are trying, Geronta, to do something, but they do not accept words.
Elder: You always have a clear conscience because you are doing your duty. God will arrange the rest.
Dimitri: Can you tell us, Geronta, how we should behave in this evil world? So… in general.
Elder: Reasoning is needed. Do you have a spiritual father?
Dimitri: Yes, Geronta.
Elder: Consult with your confessor, because sometimes we can’t say either “yes” or “no”, so reasoning is required.
Here the Elder got up and left them alone, and they seized a convenient moment and agreed to ask the Elder to tell them about Constantinople. Soon the Elder returned and, to the amazement of everyone, before they had time to ask anything - indicating that his spiritual "radar" had picked up their thoughts - he tells them:
Elder: What do you say, will we take the City?
They were dumbfounded and didn't say anything.
Elder: Tell me, will we take the City?
The group, in amazement, does not answer.
Elder (jokingly): Bouncers...
Theodore: Take it, Geronta.
Elder: Glory to Thee, O God. (He crosses himself to the east and looks towards the City.)
Demetrius: If God bless, Geront, let's take him.
Elder: Yes, this is from God! Let's take it! Only we will not take it, but they will give it to us. Those who take it from the Turks will give it as a solution to us, because they will think it is to their advantage.
Demetrius: Geronta, how long will such evil continue?
Elder: Maybe! However, we will take exams.
Dimitri: Will there be proper guidance?
Elder: God will arrange. In this war, everyone will emerge victorious. The Greek army will be a spectator. Nobody will come back victorious. Palestine will be their arena, their grave will be the Dead Sea. It will be in the first half time. But there will also be a second half-time: after these events, a person will come to despair, and then everyone will study the Gospel and the Scriptures. Christ will have compassion on the world and show a sign for faith. Then you will look for the unbeliever.
Demetrius: Geronta, troparion to the prophet Elijah, says that he is "the second forerunner of the coming of Christ." He, as you know, did not die, as did Enoch. Will the prophet Elijah come to earth?
Elder (smiling): Prophet Elijah sharpens and prepares his knife! And even before that, he will start with patriarchs, bishops, priests and monks!
Nikolai: And mundane.
Elder: You have ignorance, we have sins. Is it not said in the prayer at the Divine Liturgy: "Our sins and the ignorance of men"? The prophet Elijah is sharpening his knife: however, much attention is needed, because the Fathers speak differently about some things, and the world interprets differently, as, say, about the six miles, which Saint Cosmas of Aetolia reports. (The Turks will leave, but they will come again and reach six miles. In the end they will be driven to the Red Apple Tree (Kokkinh Mhlia). Among the Turks, 1/3 will die, the other 1/3 will be baptized and the last 1/3 will go to the Red Apple Tree.) Nobody can explain this.
There are six miles in Langadas, Kilnis, in Thrace, in Corinth, but no one knows that those of which he speaks are six miles of territorial waters. You don't read from the Prophets: Joel, Zechariah, Ezekiel, Daniel? Everything is said there. For seven years in Palestine they will burn not wood, but sticks, but how do you know the difference between sticks and firewood! Now you have heaters in your houses (smiling), while I am here burning wood in the stove and I know what's what.
(We are talking about the prophecy of the prophet Ezekiel - 39, 9-10: “Then the inhabitants of the cities of Israel will go out and kindle a fire, and they will burn weapons, shields and armor, bows and arrows, and maces and spears; they will burn them for seven years. And they shall not fetch firewood from the field, nor cut from the forests, but only burn weapons; and they shall plunder their robbers, and shall plunder their despoilers, says the Lord God.")
Christ: Jews...
Elder: One pious Jordanian told me that the Jews dug a tunnel many meters deep under the mosque of Omar, and they want to destroy the mosque in order to build the temple of Solomon, because. then, they say, the messiah will come, i.e. Antichrist. Then the Arabians will say to the Christians: Don't you Christians say that the Messiah has already come? What are they saying here now, the Jews?

The elder, bringing refreshments to the newly approached pilgrims, asked one of them:
Elder: Will we take the City? What do you say?
Christ: I will go to Northern Epirus.
Elder: Let's take the City, let's take Northern Epirus with seven!
Christ: Seven and I - eight!
Elder: Well done! And I will transfer the relics of St. Cosmas of Aetolia, they are heavy! What can I say, guys, our books (church) write and talk about all this, but who reads them? The people have no idea. Sleeping in sandals!
Dimitri: Are these, Geronta, signs of the times?
Elder: You don’t see the signs, the signs of the times… Excuse me, you have to be a sheep not to understand what is happening… Many of the Holy Fathers prayed to live in our time, for it is a confessional time. We sleep in bast shoes. Soon they will ask Christians, as they used to ask for political convictions.
Nikolai: Will they file a case against us, Geronta?
Elder: Ah, bravo! Affairs.
Demetrius: Geronta, will Greece suffer?
Elder: Greece has gone through many thunderstorms, but there will be more! Greece will not suffer in any way, for God loves her. We had many relics in Asia Minor. On every inch of the earth you will find holy relics. Let's take Hagia Sophia and the gates will open. No one knows these gates... let's see what will happen though? What will the minarets become then?
Nikolay: We will destroy them.
Theodore: Let's make them bell towers.
Elder (smiling): No, they will become pillars for the pillars, and the rosary will hang down to the bottom!
Dimitri: Will the Jews be the leaders of this war?
Elder: Yes, there will be Jews. The Pope will also help a lot, because all the children of the devil will be considered his (ie the Pope) and he will instruct them to follow the Antichrist. Therefore, Saint Cosmas said: “Curse the Pope, because. he will be the cause." The saint meant the Pope of that particular time, who would help the installation of the Antichrist. Other Popes will seem good by comparison.
After this, for the first time they heard and amazing, which the love of the Elder showed them, the whole group remained silent and agitated for some time. The elder got up, blessed them and showed them the way so that they would not get lost and get to the place.
They left the cell of the Elder shocked, thinking about what God is preparing for the future. They also thought that such apocalyptic events should never be forgotten. The names of the group are real, and the brothers asked your love to pray for them, may they find mercy before God. Amen.

Brief information about the life of Elder Paisius
Elder Paisius of Athos (in the world Arseniy Eznepidis) was born in Faras of Cappadocia, in Asia Minor, on July 25, 1924, on the day of St. Anna, from pious parents. He was baptized on August 7, 1924 by Saint Arseniy of Cappadocia, who gave him his name at baptism. As a child, I really wanted to become a monk. Before serving in the army, he worked as a carpenter, just like our Lord did when he was on earth. In 1945 he was drafted into the army and served as a radio operator. In 1949 he finished his service and immediately went to the Holy Mountain. In 1950 he came to the monastery of Esfigmen. There, in 1954, he adopted a cassock with the name Averky. In the same year he went to the sacred monastery of Philotheus, where his uncle was a monk. In 1956 he was tonsured into the small schema with the name Paisios in honor of Paisios II, Metropolitan of Caesarea, with whom they were compatriots (he also came from Farasa of Cappadocia). In 1958, having received a notice from God, he retired from Athos to the sacred monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin in Stomio Konitskaya. There, with the help of the grace of God, he helped thousands of souls, and from there in 1962 he went to Sinai for some spiritual reasons. At Sinai he lived in the cell of Saints Galaktion and Epistimius. He returned to the Holy Mountain in 1964 and settled in the Iberian skete, in the cell of the holy Archangels. In 1966, he fell ill and was treated for many months in the hospital, where they took away most of his lungs. While in the monastery, Stavronikita was close to the famous confessor Father Tikhon, who came from Russia and had many spiritual gifts. The elder served him with great self-sacrifice, offering all the help he needed. At the request of Father Tikhon (after his death), Elder Paisios settled in his cell Holy Cross, where he lived until 1979. After that, he came to the sacred monastery of Kutlumush and settled in the cell of Panaguda. In Panaguda, the Elder helped thousands of souls. All day from sunrise to sunset, he advised, consoled, resolved problems, cast out all constraint and filled souls with faith, hope and love for God. He suffered greatly from various illnesses, which he endured with great patience and courage. On October 22 according to the old style (November 5 according to the new one), 1993, he left the Holy Mountain for the last time and went to St. John the Theologian in Suroti to attend, as usual, the vigil of the feast of St. Arseny, which is revered on November 10. Due to illness, he was forced to stay there, and on Tuesday, July 12, 1994, at 11:00 am, the Elder surrendered his reverend soul quietly and humbly to the Lord, whom he so loved and whom he had served from his youth. He was buried in the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Suroti Thessalonica. He left a commandment: not to remove his relics from the earth until the Second Coming.

The Lord will resurrect the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, who will be alive - a decent time. Whoever wants to see him alive! Oh, how many miracles will be then! The relics of the Reverend Father Seraphim are in Moscow with a pious old woman. The Angel of the Lord, when necessary, tells her to turn to the First Hierarch and say...

Elder Vladislav (Shumov)

Cards will be introduced in Moscow, and then famine.

The earthquake in Moscow will be big. Six hills in Moscow will turn into one.

No one needs to move from their places: where you live, stay there (to the villagers).

Do not go to the monastery in Diveevo now: the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov are not there.

Yes, there will still be persecution of the Orthodox Faith!

In Russia, the communists will still come to power.

As soon as you find out that such and such a priest has been driven out of the church, cling to him for the duration of the persecution.

Japan and America will sink together.

All of Australia will also be flooded.

The ocean will flood America all the way to Alaska. So the very Alaska, which will again be ours.

There will be such a war in Russia: from the west - the Germans, and from the east - the Chinese!

The southern half of China will be flooded by the waters of the Indian Ocean. And then the Chinese will reach Chelyabinsk. Russia will unite with the Mongols and drive them back.

When China goes to us, then there will be war. But after the Chinese conquer the city of Chelyabinsk, the Lord will convert them to Orthodoxy.

The war between Russia and Germany will begin again through Serbia.

Everything will be on fire! Great sorrows are coming, but Russia will not perish in the fire.

Belarus will suffer greatly. Only then will Belarus unite with Russia. But then Ukraine will not unite with us; and then more crying!

The Turks will again fight the Greeks. Russia will help the Greeks.

Afghanistan is in for an endless war.

Know! There will be war here, and war here, and war there! And only then the warring countries will decide to choose one common ruler. You can't participate in this! After all, this single ruler is the Antichrist.

Blessed old woman Pelageya of Ryazan

In the end times, there will be a hundred or more sorcerers for every Christian! How many books of sorcery and sorcery under the guidance of Jews are published all over the world?!

When the Lord allows the Antichrist to appear, then the majority of the clergy will immediately convert to another faith, and the people will follow them!

The Antichrist will sacrifice many nations that Satan will prepare for this, turning them into ruminant cattle!

There will be no food, no water, unspeakable heat, remorse by animals, strangled men will hang at every step.

The Antichrist will only have enough food for those who have received the seal for six months, and then they will begin a great tribulation, they will start looking for death and will not find it!

The Russian people will be strangled by all means! And Adventists - the satanic faith - the green light! There will be so many suicides in our country! Still ahead! Hunger, and with hunger - cannibalism! War and then choose the Antichrist!

Put all your care so that the Lord delivers from the sin of Sodom. Satan will give the command to shame this sin especially the clergy and monasticism! (This sin) will be spread on a large scale, this is sodomy!

The teaching of Antichrist will differ from the Orthodox teaching of Christ only in that it will deny the redemptive Cross! - the saint of God Pelagia of Ryazan warned, - Seventh-day Adventists are the first enemies of the Cross of Christ!

Rich priests crucified the Lord! Rich priests overthrew the Tsar! Rich priests will lead us to the Antichrist!

There will be three great miracles:

The first miracle - in Jerusalem - the resurrection from the dead of the holy patriarch Enoch and the holy prophet Elijah on the third day after they were killed by the Antichrist!

The second miracle - in the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra; resurrect, after the accession of the Antichrist, St. Sergius. He will rise from the shrine, reach the Assumption Cathedral before everyone's eyes, and then ascend to heaven! There will be a sea of tears here! Then there will be nothing to do in the monastery, there will be no grace!

And the third miracle will be in Sarov. The Lord will resurrect the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, who will be alive - a decent time. Whoever wants to see him alive! Oh, how many miracles will be then!

In Sarov, Father Seraphim will rise from the dead! At a time when his relics will be carried, the people will be in darkness, and a great many of the sick will be healed! About his resurrection in Sarov will be announced on radio and television, and the people will be - innumerable!

Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina

The whole world is under the influence of some kind of force that takes possession of the mind, will and all spiritual qualities of a person. It is an outside force, an evil force. Its source is the devil, and evil people are only an instrument through which it operates. These are the forerunners of the Antichrist.

In the Church we don't have living prophets now, but there are signs. They are given to us for the knowledge of times. They are clearly visible to people who have a spiritual mind. But this is not recognized in the world... Everyone goes against Russia, that is, against the Church of Christ, for the Russian people are God-bearers, the true faith of Christ is preserved in them.

Reverend Anatoly of Optina

Heresies will spread everywhere and deceive many. The enemy of the human race will act by cunning, in order, if possible, to incline even the elect to heresy. He will not rudely reject the dogmas of the Holy Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and the dignity of the Mother of God, but will imperceptibly distort the teachings of the Church transmitted by the Holy Fathers from the Holy Spirit, and his very spirit and statutes, and these tricks of the enemy will be noticed only by a few, the most skillful in spiritual life.

Rev. Theodosius (Kashin)

Was it a war (the Great Patriotic War)? There will be war. It will start from the east. And then from all sides, like pruzi (locusts), enemies will crawl to Russia. This is going to be a war!

Reverend Cyril (White)

Now I saw the king sitting on the throne and before him standing two brave youths, having royal crowns on their heads. And the Lord gave them into their hands weapons against the opposite, and their enemies will be defeated, and all nations will worship, and our kingdom will be pacified by God and arranged. You, brothers and fathers, pray with tears to God and His Most Pure Mother of God for the power of the kingdom of the Russian land.

Schema-Archimandrite Stefan (Athos)

America will soon collapse. It will fall terribly, cleanly. The Americans will flee, trying to save themselves in Russia and Serbia. So it will be.

Elder Matthew Vresfensky

This war of the world, perhaps of the entire New World Order against Russia, will be terrible in its consequences for humanity, claiming billions of lives. The reason for it will be painfully recognizable - Serbia. After the resurrection of Russia, there will be a Third World War and it will begin in Yugoslavia. The winner will be Russia, the Russian Tsardom, which will be able to establish lasting peace and prosperity on earth after the war, although it will not conquer most of the lands of its opponents.

Elder Vissarion (Optina Pustyn)

Elder Nikolai (Guryanov)

Father Nikolai, who will be after Yeltsin? What can we expect?
- Then there will be a military man.
- Soon?
- His power will be running. But his age is small, and he himself.

Prophecies of the Holy Fathers from Greek Texts

The prediction found in the ancient Greek books of the Lavra of Savva the Sanctified by the Russian monk Anthony Savait, built on the prophecies of the Holy Fathers from Greek texts:

The last times have not yet come, and it is completely wrong to believe that we are on the threshold of the coming of the Antichrist, because one and the last flowering of Orthodoxy is yet to come, this time all over the world - led by Russia. It will take place after a terrible war, in which either 1/2 or 2/3 of mankind will perish and which will be stopped by a voice from heaven.

And the gospel will be preached all over the world! For until now it was not the Gospel of Christ that was preached, but the Gospel distorted by heretics (meaning, of course, the preaching of the Gospel in the world by Catholics, Protestants, and all sorts of sectarians).

There will be a period of worldwide prosperity - but not for long.

In Russia at that time there will be an Orthodox Tsar, whom the Lord will reveal to the Russian people.

And after that the world will again be corrupted and will no longer be capable of correction, then the Lord will allow the reign of the Antichrist.

Elder Anthony

They are now called aliens, somehow, but they are demons. Time will pass, and they will freely reveal themselves to people, being in the service of the Antichrist and his minions. How difficult it will be to fight them then!

Paisios Athos

Unfortunately, today people who have no relation to the Church and with absolutely worldly sophistication are pushed into theology, who say different things and commit unacceptable actions, with the goal of deliberately removing Christians from the faith by their position.

Apostasy (retreat) has come, and now it remains only for the "son of perdition" to come. (The world) will turn into a madhouse. Sheer confusion will reign, in the midst of which each state will begin to do what it pleases. God grant that the interests of those who make big politics are in our favor. Every now and then we will hear something new. We will see how the most incredible, the most insane events take place. (It's only good) that these events will follow each other very quickly.

Ecumenism, common market, one big state, one religion tailored to their measurements. Such are the plans of these devils. The Zionists are already preparing someone to be the messiah. For them, the messiah will be a king, that is, he will rule here on earth. Jehovists are also waiting for an earthly king. The Zionists will present their king, and the Jehovists will accept him. They all recognize him as king, say, "Yes, it is he." There will be great confusion. In this turmoil, everyone will want a king who could save them. And then they will put forward a person who will say: "I am the imam, I am the fifth Buddha, I am the Christ whom the Christians are waiting for, I am the one whom the Jehovists are waiting for, I am the messiah of the Jews." He will have five "I".

He will appear to the people of Israel as the messiah and deceive the world. Hard times are coming, great trials await us. Christians will suffer great persecution. Meanwhile, it is obvious that people do not even understand that we are already experiencing the signs of the (end) times, that the seal of Antichrist is becoming a reality. As if nothing is happening. Therefore, the Holy Scripture says that even the elect will be deceived. Those who do not have a good disposition will not receive enlightenment from God and will be deceived into the years of apostasy. Because the one in whom there is no Divine Grace does not have spiritual clarity, just as the devil does not have it either.

(Zionists) want to rule the world. In order to achieve their goal, they use witchcraft and Satanism. They look at the worship of Satan as a force that will help in the implementation of their plans. Little by little, after the introduction of cards and identity cards, that is, the compilation of personal dossiers, they will cunningly begin to apply the seal. With the help of various tricks, people will be forced to accept a seal on their forehead or hand. They will make people uncomfortable and say: "Use only credit cards, money will be abolished."

Blessed Jerome

One should not think that the Antichrist is either the devil or a demon, but one of the people in whom all Satan has bodily dwell.

Predicting the future is now the domain of futurists like Francis Fukuyama. As a rule, their “prophecies” are based on the most complex fundamental analysis and the latest Information Technology. However, in most cases their “foresights” (forecasts) do not come true.

On the other hand, the prophetic tradition has existed from time immemorial among the ascetics of Orthodoxy. Of course, the holy fathers did not rely on fundamental analysis and the latest achievements in computer science, but only on Faith in the Lord...

Rev. Seraphim of Sarov, 1825-32

“Before the end of time, Russia will merge into one great sea with other Slavic lands and tribes, it will form one sea or that vast universal ocean of the people, about which the Lord God spoke from ancient times through the lips of all the saints: “Terrible and invincible Kingdom of All Russia, pan-Slavic - Gog and Magog before whom all nations will tremble.” And all this is the same as twice two makes four, and without fail, as God is holy, who from ancient times foretold about him and his formidable dominion over the earth. By the combined forces of Russia and other nations, Constantinople and Jerusalem will be filled. With the division of Turkey, almost all of it will remain with Russia ... "

Saint Theophan the Recluse, 1890s

“How many signs the Lord showed over Russia, delivering her from the strongest enemies and subjugating her nations! And yet, evil is growing. Shall we not come to our senses? The West has punished and will punish us, the Lord, but we are not taken into account. We got stuck in the mud of the western up to our ears, and all is well. There are eyes, but we don’t see, there are ears, but we don’t hear, and we don’t understand with our hearts ... Having inhaled this infernal fumes, we are spinning like crazy, not remembering ourselves. If we don't come to our senses, the Lord will send us foreign teachers to bring us to our senses... It turns out that we, too, are on the path of revolution. These are not empty words, but a deed affirmed by the voice of the Church. Know, Orthodox, that God cannot be mocked.”

Saint Seraphim of Vyritsky, early 20th century

“The time will come when no persecution, but the money and charms of this world will turn people away from God and many more souls will perish than in times of open rebellion. On the one hand, crosses will be erected and domes gilded, and on the other hand, the kingdom of lies and evil will come. The true Church will always be persecuted, and it will be possible to be saved only by sorrows and illnesses. Persecution will take the most unpredictable and sophisticated character. But the salvation of the world is from Russia.”

Schieeromonk Aristokliy Athos. 1917-18 years

“Now we are living through the pre-Tichrist time. The judgment of God over the living has begun and there will not be a single country on earth, not a single person who will not be touched by this. It began with Russia, and then further... And Russia will be saved. A lot of suffering, a lot of torment... All of Russia will become a prison, and you have to beg the Lord for forgiveness a lot. Repent of sins and be afraid to commit even the slightest sins, but try to do good, even the smallest. After all, even the wing of a fly has weight, but God has accurate scales. And when the smallest thing outweighs goodness in the cup, then God will show His mercy over Russia ...

The end will be through China. There will be some unusual explosion, and a miracle of God will appear. And there will be a completely different life on earth, but not for a very long time. The Cross of Christ will shine over the whole world, because our Motherland will be exalted and will be like a beacon in the darkness for everyone.”

Bishop John of Shanghai, 1938

Shake off the sleep of despondency and laziness, sons of Russia! Behold the glory of her suffering and be cleansed, washed from your sins! Strengthen yourself in the Orthodox faith in order to be worthy to dwell in the habitation of the Lord and to dwell in the holy mountain. Rise, rise, rise, Russia, you who drank the cup of His wrath from the hand of the Lord! When your suffering is over, your righteousness will go with you, and the glory of the Lord will accompany you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the radiance that rises above you. Then lift up your eyes around you and see: behold, your children will come to you from the west, and the north, and the sea, and the east, blessing Christ in you forever!

Reverend Anatoly of Optina, early 20th century

“There will be a storm. And the Russian ship will be broken. But after all, even on chips and debris, people are saved. And yet, not everyone will die. We must pray, we must all repent and pray fervently... A great miracle of God will be revealed... And all the chips and fragments, by the will of God and His power, will gather and unite, and the ship will be recreated in all its glory and will go its own way, intended by God. .."

Saint Theophan of Poltava, 1930

“The monarchy, autocratic power will be restored in Russia. The Lord has chosen the future king. This will be a man of fiery faith, a brilliant mind and an iron will. He will first of all restore order in the Orthodox Church, removing all untrue, heretical and lukewarm bishops. And many, very many, with few exceptions, almost all will be eliminated, and new, true, unshakable bishops will take their place... Something that no one expects will happen. Russia will rise from the dead, and the whole world will be surprised. Orthodoxy will be reborn and triumph in it. But the Orthodoxy that was before will no longer be. God Himself will put a strong king on the throne.

Paisius Svyatogorets, Athos elder. 1990s

“My thought tells me that many events will take place: the Russians will occupy Turkey, Turkey will disappear from the map, because a third of the Turks will become Christians, a third will die in the war and a third will go to Mesopotamia ... In Constantinople there will be a great war between Russians and Europeans, and a lot of blood. Greece will not play a leading role in this war, but Constantinople will be given to it. Not because the Russians will be in awe of the Greeks, but because they won’t be able to find a better solution ... The Greek army will not have time to get there, as the city will be given to it.”

Joseph, Elder of Athos, Vatopedi Monastery. year 2001

“Now is the beginning of events, difficult military events ... The devil will force the Turks to still come here to Greece and begin their actions. And Greece, although it has a government, but as such, in fact, it does not exist, as it were, because it has no power. And the Turks will come here. This will be the moment when Russia, too, will move its forces to push back the Turks. Events will develop as follows: when Russia goes to the aid of Greece, the Americans and NATO will try to prevent this, so that there is no reunification, no merging of the two Orthodox peoples... On the territory of the former Byzantine Empire there will be a big fight. Only the dead will be about 600 million people. The Vatican will also actively participate in all this in order to prevent the reunification and the growth of the role of Orthodoxy. But this will result in the complete destruction of the Vatican influence, to the very foundation. This is how the Providence of God will turn... There will be God's permission to destroy those who sow temptations: pornography, drug addiction, etc. And the Lord will blind their minds so much that they will destroy each other with gluttony. The Lord will allow it on purpose to do a big purge. As for the one who rules the country, he will not last long, and what is happening now will not be long, and then immediately the war. But after this great purge, there will be a revival of Orthodoxy not only in Russia, but throughout the world, a great upsurge of Orthodoxy.”

PROPHECIES OF THE OPTINA ELDERS

“Who is reading the Apocalypse now? Optinskiy once remarked Elder Barsanuphius.- Almost exclusively in monasteries and in theological academies and seminaries, if necessary. And in the world, few people read.

While reading, he will see in the events described in the Apocalypse, these or other events contemporary to him.

Actually, this is a mysterious book. Many have made calculations, and for all the end falls on our time, that is, the 20th century ... "

In 1848, a storm swept over the St. John the Baptist Skete of Optina Hermitage. The whirlwind tore roofs, broke crosses.

Elder Macarius said:“This is a terrible sign of God's wrath against an apostate world. In Europe, political passions are raging, but in our country, the elements ... It began with Europe, it will end with us.” Soon there was a revolution in France.

“Enlightenment rises, but imaginary,” wrote Father Macarius spiritual children, it deceives itself in its hope. The young generation does not feed on the milk of the teachings of our Holy Orthodox Church, but some foreign muddy, poisonous spirit ...

We need, leaving European customs, to love Holy Russia and repent of the past passion for them, to be firm in the Orthodox faith, to pray to God, to repent for the past ...

Benevolent Europe has taught external arts and sciences, but takes away internal goodness.

In 1866, Count A.P. Tolstoy turned to the famous senile monastery. He asked to interpret the dream that the Tver priest D. M. Konstantinovsky, the son of Gogol's confessor, had a dream.

Dmitry Matveyevich dreamed of a cave lit by a lamp, filled with many clergy, among whom were his late parent Father Matthew and Metropolitan Filaret, who was then still in good health.

Among the silent prayers, distinct words sounded: "We are going through a terrible time, we are living out the seventh summer." After these words Dmitry Matveyevich woke up in agitation and fear...

Elder Ambrose of Optina He interpreted what he saw, based on the testimony of the Divine and Fatherly writings. Many of the saints forbade trusting dreams, for some Christians, following this path, fell into the enemy's seduction.

However, the humble Nikita Stifatus, a disciple of Simeon the New Theologian, divided what we call dreams into three groups. The former he regarded as ordinary, others he defined as visions, and still others as revelations.

A simple dream is quickly forgotten. The visions are sent for spiritual benefit to people who purify their senses, and remain imprinted in the mind for many years. Revelations are given to the perfect and glorious.

Dream of Dmitry Matveyevich Father Ambrose referred to as vision. A cave lit by a lamp, according to his explanation, - state of the art Churches. A new paganism is spreading across Russia, where the light of faith barely flickers.

The living and the dead pray together, which means that they equally belong to the earthly Church Militant and the heavenly Church Triumphant. Seeing the disastrous state of the Orthodox faith, bright men implore the Queen of Heaven: may she spread Her Veil over suffering Russia.

“We are living out the seventh summer” - these words can mean a time close to the Antichrist, when the faithful children of the Church will hide in the caves and only the prayers of the Mother of God will have the power to save people from persecution and confusion.

At the end of your interpretation Elder Ambrose noticed that the apostolic words are especially appropriate for the present time:

"Children! Lately. And as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and now many antichrists have appeared, then we also know from what is the last time” (1 John 2:8).

A few years later, D. M. Konstantinovsky again turned to the Optina elder, now himself, to tell his new dream.

He dreamed that the cell icon of the God of Hosts was radiating a dazzling light, and that Father Matthew and Metropolitan Filaret, who had already died by that time, were standing next to him in the room.

Dmitry Matveyevich needs to enter there, but how can a mortal step into an unearthly radiance? He went in anyway. He looks, and his father is reading a book in the corner. Metropolitan Philaret also has a folio open in his hands.

Turning the sheets, he loudly says: "Rome, Troy, Egypt, Russia, the Bible ..."

Elder Ambrose explained this dream like this. The Lord Almighty revealed the fate of the world to the prophets and apostles.

Metropolitan Filaret and Father Matthew appeared to him with books in their hands: they interpreted the unclear not according to their own understanding, but as explained in the books of God-inspired men.

Father Matthew stands in the front corner, which is usually recognized as a prayer corner, which means that he not only learns in book wisdom, but also prays for admonition from above.

The words "Rome, Troy, Egypt, Russia, the Bible" the priest deciphered in this way. At the time of the Nativity of Christ, Rome was the capital of the universe, but later it deviated from the truth and was rejected.

Ancient Troy and Ancient Egypt were also punished for pride: the first - by ruin, the second - by various executions and the drowning of the pharaoh with his army.

V christian times on the land where Troy used to stand, two patriarchies were formed: Antioch and Constantinople. Subsequently, they were subjected to the dominion of the Mohammedans. In Egypt, the Thebaid desert, inhabited by tens of thousands of monastics, became impoverished in Christian piety because of the licentiousness of morals...

It is very alarming that the name of Russia is mentioned in this row! “It is considered an Orthodox state,” the elder says further, “but elements of foreign heresies imperceptibly infiltrate the Russian soul.

No other state is named, immediately after Russia comes the word "Bible".

This means that if piety becomes impoverished in Russia because of the contempt for the commandments of God, then the final fulfillment of what is said at the end of the Bible, that is, in the Apocalypse, must inevitably follow.

Half a century before the Russian revolution Elder Ambrose already knew about it. “Somehow Father Agapit came to me,” recalls the novice Nikolai, the future Father Nikon (Belyaev), and says that Father Ambrose, he himself heard from him, said that the Antichrist is not far off ... "

Elder Macarius He also revealed to his mother Pavlina (she died in 1875) that her children and grandchildren would not live to see the Antichrist, but her great-grandchildren would see something terrible.

Elder Ambrose's successor father Anatoly (Zertsalov) made a similar prediction to the nun of the Belevsky monastery: “Your mother will not live, and you will live to the very Antichrist” (during the revolution, this woman turned eighty years old).

“We will already leave, and you will be a participant and a contemporary of all these horrors,” warned Elder Barsanuphius novice Nikolai (Belyaev).

One day father Barsanuphius He mentioned to Hieromonk Nectarius that he had a dream that the Antichrist had come to him. He promised to tell in more detail, but he did not resume the conversation, but Elder Nectarios did not dare to ask.

A few years later, the elder himself will tell his spiritual children about this: “We will live to terrible times, but the grace of God will cover us.

Christianity is hated everywhere. It is a yoke for them, preventing them from living freely, freely committing sins. Decaying, smoldering, degenerates the newest generation. They want to live without God.

Well then! The fruits of such a life are obvious... The Antichrist is clearly coming into the world. And for the first time, his hordes will go to Orthodox Russia, and the second time they will want a third (meaning world wars.)

One day at the beginning of the 20th century Elder Barsanuphius prophesied: “... from here from the monastery you can see the net of the devil more clearly ... And in the last times the temples will be destroyed.

In their place will be arranged temples of idols and so on. The monasteries will be in great persecution and oppression. True Christians will huddle in small churches. The persecution and torment of the first Christians may be repeated...

All monasteries will be destroyed, Christians in power will be overthrown. That time is not far off, mark this word of mine. You will live to see these times, then you will say: "Yes, I remember, all this was said to me Father Barsanuphius"

Once in Optina, paroemias were read at vespers. Suddenly, one of the priests' eyes were confused: the altar and all the servants seemed to dissolve, and crowds of people appeared before their eyes, fleeing in confusion to the east (the Great Patriotic War. - Approx. Aut.).

An angel appeared and said: "Everything that you see has to happen soon."

Father Nectarius long years he stayed in the skete, as it were, in a semi-seclusion and was known for the special concentration of life. In the tenth years, he began to occasionally go out to people. Even then, he spoke in parables and riddles - with a certain tinge of foolishness.

“Undoubtedly, our friend has a second sight, with which he sees what is hidden from the eyes ordinary person”, the spiritual writer wrote in his diary S. A. Nilus who lived in those years near the Optina fence.

It was during this period of life Elder Nectarios prophesied about the "cold" war: "Three decades or more will pass, and we will erect high walls, and gnashing of teeth will be heard behind these walls, and there will be enmity quiet, but dangerous..."

Elder Barsanuphi and walked somehow along the skete path, and Father Nektary take it and tell him: "You have exactly twenty years left to live." He said in passing, but he obeyed, and the same day, on April 4, 1913, he died.

"That's what great obedience the man was," he concluded. Father Nektary. The spiritual son of the elder Barsanuphius, Vasily Shustin, after listening to this story, shuddered before mysterious power father of Nectarios.

Yes, and many understood that all the events taking place around this person have a special meaning.

Memories are kept as Father Nektary"read" sealed letters. Without opening the envelopes, I laid them out in different sides, saying: “Here is the answer; it is a thank you; this can be done without an answer.

And this perspicacious man told S. A. Nilus that one of the skits (was he himself?) had a significant dream. It is as if he is walking towards the Royal Doors and sees there an image of the apocalyptic beast.

The monster changed its appearance three times, remaining the same beast.

After the revolution Elder Nectarios returned to this vision again in a conversation with his spiritual daughter Nadezhda Aleksandrovna Pavlovich.

He told her how one monk, sitting on the porch of his cell, saw that everything had disappeared: both the houses and the trees, and instead, up to the sky, circular rows of saints, with a very small space left between the upper row and the sky.

And it was revealed to the monk that when it was full, the end of the world would come. “But the space was already small,” the elder smiled.

In 1915, a brother entered Optina, who showed an inappropriate for a monk passion for the accumulation of books, and Father Nektary, replaced by that time Father Barsanuphius, to the embarrassment of many, this was encouraged.

Then he admitted: “Soon there will be spiritual hunger, you won’t get books. The number 6 has passed in the world and the number 7 begins. An age of silence is coming, ”and there were tears from his eyes.

The history of Christianity is immersed in the history of mankind, which, in turn, is under the influence of the struggle of God and Satan, hence the seven eras of the joint growth of wheat and tares. He who walks in the midst of the lamps holds in his right hand 7 stars - these are churches, existing and future.

The book with seals, according to the interpretation of Archbishop Andrei, is the depth of Divine destinies. The seven seals taken from it in turn draws our attention back to the seven epochs.

"Will there be a union of churches?" asked Father Nektariy N. A. Pavlovich. “No,” the elder replied, “only the Ecumenical Council could do this, but there will be no more council. There were 7 councils, like 7 sacraments, 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. For our age, the fullness of the number is 7. The number of the future age is 8. Only individuals will join our church ... "

“The seventh number in the church population is of great importance,” noted and Elder Ambrose of Optina.- The term of church time is counted as seven-day weeks. The Orthodox Church is supported and guided by the rules of the seven Ecumenical Councils. The seven sacraments and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in our church.

The Revelation of God was revealed to seven Asian churches. The book of the judgments of God, seen in revelation by John the Theologian, is sealed with seven seals.

Seven vials of God's wrath poured out on the wicked, etc. All these septenary calculations refer to the present age and must end with the end of it. The age to come in the Church was signified by the eighth number...

Week of Antipascha, or St. Thomas, in the color triodion is called the week of the eighth, that is, the eternal day and the endless one, which will no longer be interrupted by the darkness of nights.

“Life is defined in three senses: measure, time and weight,” he discovered. Elder Nectarios his other spiritual daughter, nun Nektaria (Kontsevich).

“The most beautiful thing, if it is beyond measure, will not make sense ... You get used to mathematics, you are given a sense of proportion, remember these three meanings, they determine your whole life.” “I understand about measure and weight. But what is time? Is it an era? mother asked Nectaria. Elder silently smiled...

Father Nectarius How could he warned the spiritual children about what they would have to endure in times of turmoil-revolution. They hoped that the new government would not last long, but the priest did not give any hope of changing the social situation, he even blessed them to teach children in a Soviet school.

From now on, they should receive Christian education in the family, through the example of their father and mother.

Once a young doctor Sergey Nikitin came to Kholmischi for advice, but instead of solving the visitor's problems, father delivered a monologue about the flood, secretly exposing the current situation.

“Imagine,” he said to the surprised guest, “it is now completely unreasonable to believe that the era experienced by the human race in the antediluvian time was bleak, wild and ignorant. In fact, the culture then was very high.

People knew how to do a lot of things, extremely witty in design and magnificent in appearance. Only on this man-made property they spent all their strength and souls.

They concentrated all the abilities of their primitive young nature in only one direction - the full satisfaction of bodily needs. Their trouble is that they "became flesh."

So the Lord decided to correct this one-sidedness of theirs. Through Noah, he announced the flood, and for a hundred years Noah called people to correction, preached repentance in the face of God's wrath, and built an ark to prove the right words.

And what do you think? It was very strange for the people of that time, accustomed to the elegant form of their civilization, to see how an old man who had lost his mind knocked together some kind of awkward box of enormous size in the age of magnificent culture, and even preached on behalf of God about the coming flood ... "

“In the days of Noah, it was like this,” said the elder N.A. Pavlovich another time, “the flood was approaching. Noah knew about him and told people, but they did not believe. He hired workers to build the ark, and while building it, they did not believe, and therefore received only payment, but were not saved.

Those days are a prototype of our days. The ark is the church. Only those who are in it will be saved.” And again: "Noah called all the people, but only cattle came."

“Russia, if you fall away from your faith, as many intellectuals have already fallen away from it, you will no longer be Russia or holy Russia,” he warned back in 1905. Optina Elder Macarius.

- And if there is no repentance among the Russian people, the end of the world is near. God will take away the pious king and send a scourge in the face of wicked, cruel, self-proclaimed rulers who will flood the whole earth with blood and tears.

In 1916 Elder Anatoly (Potapov) talked with Prince N. D. Zhevakhov. “There is no greater sin than resisting the will of the Anointed One of God,” said Father. “Take care of Him, for He keeps the Russian Land and the Orthodox Faith...

But ... "- After a pause, he nevertheless finished his thought:" The fate of the tsar is the fate of Russia, the tsar will rejoice - Russia will also rejoice. If the tsar weeps, Russia will also weep... Just as a man with a severed head is no longer a man, but a stinking corpse, so Russia without a tsar will be a stinking corpse.”

“The fundamental elements of Russian life are expressed in familiar words: Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality (that is, the Church, the Tsar and the Kingdom)," he warned Elder Nikon in 1915.

- That's what needs to be saved! And when these beginnings change, the Russian people will cease to be Russian. He will then lose the sacred tricolor banner.”

“Who places the kings of the earth on the throne? — wrote Father Isaac II. “The one who alone from eternity sits on a fiery throne and alone reigns over all creation – heaven and earth ... The kings of the earth from Him alone are given kingdoms and dominion ... therefore the King, as having received from the Lord royal power... must be autocratic. Shut up, you dreamy constitutionalists and parliamentarians!

Get away from me, Satan!

Only the Tsar is given from the Lord power, strength, courage and wisdom to manage his subjects ... And what would we, Russians, become without the Tsar?

Our enemies will try to destroy the very name of Russia, since the Bearer and Guardian of Russia, after God, is the Sovereign of Russia, the Autocratic Tsar; Without him, Russia is not Russia...

Through the medium of sovereign persons, the Lord watches over the good of the kingdoms of the earth, and especially the good of His Church. And the greatest villain of the world, who will appear in the last time, the Antichrist, cannot appear among us because of the autocratic power ... "

When the “Restrainer”, that is, the king, is taken away from the public environment, the mystery of iniquity will prevail - so the apostle warned.

This became a reality in 1917. “And the Sovereign is now not himself, how many humiliations he suffers for his mistakes,” said Elder Nectarios. — 1918 will be even harder. The sovereign and the whole family will be killed, tortured... If people do not repent before 1922, they will perish.”

Shortly after the revolution, the Optinsk chronicler S. A. Nilus stayed in Kiev, where he talked with the old woman of the Rzhishchev monastery. Her female novice fell into a trance on February 21, 1917, in which she remained for 40 days.

In delirium, the girl told her visions, which others carefully wrote down. In particular, she said the following: “And I heard how the martyrs were talking among themselves, rejoicing that the last time was coming, and that their number would increase, and that churches and monasteries would soon be destroyed, and those living in monasteries would be expelled, that they would torment not only the clergy and monastics, but also all those who did not want to accept the seal and will stand for the Name of Christ, for faith, for the Church.

I heard them say that the Tsar will no longer be and earthly time is drawing to a close, I heard, but it is not very clear that if the Lord does not add time, then the end of all earthly things will be in the 22nd year.

By His infinite mercy, the Lord has added a period...

“Before the throne of God, our Sovereign is standing in the crown of the Great Martyr,” prophesied Elder Nectarios a year before the Yekaterinburg atrocity.

Yes, this Tsar will be a great martyr. In the last time, he will redeem his life, and if people do not turn to God, then not only Russia, all of Europe will fail.”

“From many other sources of purely spiritual origin,” wrote Nilus in the year of the revolutionary uprising, also before the shots in the Ipatiev house - the year 1918 was indicated Optina Elders as a fatal year for the Sovereign and the world.

These days Father Nektary directly indicated how to be saved: “The time for prayers is coming. Say the Jesus Prayer while you work. First with the lips, then with the mind, then she herself will pass into the heart.

In order to protect “spiritual children from the corruption of this world,” Elder Nektary gave them a special prayer composed by him, which he ordered to repeat by heart: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, coming to judge the living and the dead, have mercy on us sinners, forgive the fall of our whole life and with them weigh the fates hiding us from the face of the Antichrist in the hidden wilderness of your salvation.

In the 1920s, someone Nina D. directly asked Elder Nectarios: "Everyone says that the signs of the second coming have been fulfilled." “No, not all,” replied the priest, “but, of course, even a simple eye can see that much is being fulfilled, but it is open to the spiritual: before the church was a vast circle to the entire horizon, but now, you see, like a ringlet, but in last days before the coming of Christ, it will all be preserved in this form: one Orthodox priest and one Orthodox layman.

I'm not telling you that there will be no churches at all, maybe there will be, yes, but Orthodoxy will survive only in this form. You pay attention to these words. You understand. It's all over the world, after all."

When Elder Nectarios sent to Kholmischi and stayed in Optina one father Nikon (Belyaev), one of the nuns confessed to him: "I want to meet the Lord." “No need,” he said. Father Nikon.

“It is sinful to wish to live until the coming of the Antichrist. And, remembering the words of the deceased Elder Barsanuphius, added: - Then there will be such sorrow, the righteous will hardly be saved.

And to desire and seek suffering is sinful and dangerous. This happens from pride and foolishness, and when temptation comes, a person may not endure.

“While the eldership is still holding on in Optina,” said a few years before the revolution father Nectarios S. A. Nilusu, — his commandments will be fulfilled. That's when the old huts are sealed, locks are hung on their doors, well then ... everything can be expected.

And now the time has come...

In August 1918 Father Anatoly Jr. remarked: “We are now living in the time before Antichrist.”

Venerable Nectarios testified in 1917: “One pious girl had a dream: Jesus Christ is sitting on the throne, and around Him are the twelve apostles, and terrible torments and groans are heard from the earth.

And the Apostle Peter asks Christ: “When, O Lord, will these torments end?”

The year 1922 has come. The end of the world has not come.

The question is why?

The real answer is, of course, one. Is this the answer of Christ to the question of the apostles: “Not at this time, O Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel”? The Lord answers: “It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed in his own power” (Acts 2:6-7).

Having said this, the Lord leaves the earth, giving the disciples the command to go and preach the gospel to all creation, even to the ends of the earth.

We know from Holy Scripture cases when the Lord postponed already appointed events. So, the death of Nineveh, determined by the sermon of Jonah after 40 days, was postponed by the repentance of the king and the townspeople for another 150 years.

Regarding the fact that the end did not come in 1922, the book "Russia before the Second Coming" gives an opinion on the importance Zemsky Sobor in Vladivostok in July-August 1922.

At this council, repentance was brought on behalf of Russia for apostasy. The book expresses the opinion that this was begged from God to continue the story. In August 1922 Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich declared himself the "Guardian of the Russian Throne".

Whether these are the reasons for the providential deeds of God or not, it is hardly given to us to know.

Once a novice with her two daughters went to Father Nikon tips. At dinner he said:

“You and I, mother, will not live to see the Antichrist, but your daughters will.

This was in 1948. Both nuns were born in 1923.

When Father Nikon sat down at the table to dine, then, waiting for everyone, he said:

“I don’t want to eat, but I need to see you all and talk about what awaits you all.

Then he cried and said:

“If you knew what awaits people and what lies ahead for all of us!” If you knew how people suffer in hell!

One day Elder Joseph right before his death in 1911 he said:

“Don’t be surprised when you hear that in the temples someone is praying in different ways. As in golden hats they say not to read the psalter, and then the clock, then the Lord will be patient, patient, but how shy!

The second coming is not far away!

One pious widow had a dream: “I see, as if in the Trinity Monastery Father Lavrentiy Chernigovskiy with the inhabitants. There were many sisters, and the choir sings "Hail, Queen."

And suddenly the old man rises into the air, and with him only a few mothers - seven or eight! I ran and asked him why so few nuns went up, but with these words, having received no answer, I woke up. When the widow came to Father Nektary, he said:

- As you dreamed, so it is! If we lived for love, then everything would be fine. If anyone has a piece of bread, it is to share it with another who would pray for it.

So both would have alms, everyone would be saved! And we have the opposite: whoever has a piece of bread, he raises strong scandals. Because little rises into the air, because there is no love!

Back in 1912 father Barsanuphius He repeatedly repeated that souls go to hell, like people from the temple on a holiday, and to heaven - like people go to the temple on a weekday. Batiushka often sat and cried: he felt sorry for the people who were dying.

“How many people are stuffed in hell, as if in a barrel of herring,” said the old man.

His children consoled him, and he answered through tears:

- You don `t see. And if you saw it, what a pity! And lately, hell will be filled with young men.

Addressing the parishioners Elder Joseph predicted: “And I tell you and I am very sorry about this, that you will buy houses, kill time cleaning large beautiful monastery premises. And you won’t have enough time for prayer, although you took a vow of non-acquisitiveness!”

“It is not difficult to be saved in the last time, but it is wise. Whoever overcomes all these temptations will be saved! He will be among the first. The former will be like lamps, and the latter like the sun. Others have been prepared for you and the abode. And you listen and shake your mustache! - so, looking into the future with your perspicacious mind, Venerable Elder Lawrence admonished his numerous spiritual children.

And here are the words Optina Elder Isaac II about our times: “Shortly before the accession of the Antichrist, closed temples will be repaired, equipped not only outside, but also inside.

The domes of both temples and bell towers will be gilded, and when the main one is finished, the time will come for the reign of the Antichrist. Pray that the Lord will extend this time for us to strengthen: a terrible time awaits us. Repairs of temples will continue until the very coronation of the Antichrist, and we will have an unprecedented magnificence.”

He was echoed Elder Nikon: “See how insidiously all this is being prepared? All the temples will be in the greatest splendor, as never before, and it will be impossible to go to those temples, since the Bloodless Sacrifice of Jesus Christ will not be offered there.

Understand: there will be churches, but an Orthodox Christian will not be able to attend them, since there will be all the “satanic congregation” (Rev. 2:9)! I repeat once again that it will be impossible to go to those churches: there will be no grace in them!”

“The Antichrist will be crowned as king in the magnificent restored temple in Jerusalem with the participation of the Russian clergy and the Patriarch. There will be free entry and exit from Jerusalem for every person, but then try not to travel, because everything will be done to "deceive" (Matt. 24:24)!

He will be highly trained in all satanic tricks and will make false signs. The whole world will hear and see him. He will "stamp" his people with the seal of Satan, he will hate Orthodox Russia", - the reverend spoke about the future Elder Anatoly Sr. at the end of the nineteenth century.

One deacon Father Ambrose Shortly before his death, he said bluntly:

“You will live to see the Antichrist! Do not be afraid, but tell everyone that it is he, and there is no need to be afraid! There will be a war, and where it takes place, there will be no people there!

And before that, the Lord will send weak people small illnesses, and they will die, and under the Antichrist there will be no more death. The third world war will no longer be for repentance, but for extermination. And the Lord will leave the strongest to meet him.

Venerable Elder Nikon often spoke of the Antichrist:

“The time will come when they will fight and fight and a world war will begin. And in the midst of it they will say: let's elect ourselves one king for the whole universe.

And they will choose! Antichrist will be elected as the world king and the main "peacemaker" on earth. We must listen carefully, we must be careful! As soon as they vote for one in the whole world, know that this is already him and that you cannot vote.

Father Nektary, once sitting in the choir stalls, he talked about the end times, about the end of the world, about the details of the reign of the Antichrist over the apostates ... And the novices who listened to him objected to the father that he spoke about this in another way, had he really changed his mind on this matter. To which Nectarius replied:

“Fathers and brethren, there is one thing you do not know and do not understand that I am speaking not only for Russia, but for the whole world!” All my words about future events are true, because they were revealed to me by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

And here are the words Venerable Elder of Optina Barsanuphius:

- Russian people will repent of mortal sins: that they allowed Jewish wickedness in Russia, that they did not protect the Anointed of God Tsar, Orthodox churches and monasteries and all Russian saints.

They despised piety and loved demonic wickedness. But there will be a spiritual explosion! And Russia, together with all the Slavic peoples and lands, will form a mighty Kingdom.

He will be nourished by the Orthodox Tsar of God, the Anointed One. Thanks to him, all schisms and heresies will disappear in Russia. There will be no persecution of the Orthodox Church. The Lord will have mercy on Holy Russia because it already had a terrible time before Antichrist. The Russian Orthodox Tsar-Autocrat will be afraid even of the Antichrist himself.

And all other countries, except for Russia and the Slavic lands, will be under the rule of the Antichrist and will experience all the horrors and torments written in the Holy Scriptures. In Russia, however, there will be a flourishing of faith and rejoicing, but only for a short time, for the Terrible Judge will come to judge the living and the dead.

And another prophecy Elder Barsanuphius:

“Blessed and trebleblessed is the man who does not wish and therefore will not see the ungodly face of the Antichrist. Whoever sees him and hears his blasphemous speech with the promise of all earthly blessings, they will be deceived and go towards him with worship. And with him they will perish for eternal life will burn in eternal fire!

The abomination of desolation will stand in the holy place and show the filthy deceivers of the world, who will deceive people who have apostatized from God and work false miracles.

And after them the Antichrist will appear! The whole world will see it once.

To the question "Where in the holy place, in the church?" Saint Barsanuphius said:

- Not in the church, but at our house! Previously, there was a table with holy icons in the corner, but then there will be seductive accessories to seduce people. Many who deviate from the Truth will say: we need to watch and listen to the news. The Antichrist will appear on the news, and they will accept him.

Optina Elder Nectarius said: "Our worst tribulations are like insect stings compared to the tribulations of the age to come."

Shortly before the revolution Father Anatoly Jr. in one of his letters he noted: “The persecution against the faith will constantly increase.

Until now, unheard-of grief and darkness will cover everything and everything, and the temples will be closed. But when it becomes unbearable to endure, then liberation will come. And it's time to flourish. Temples will be built again. Before the end, there will be blossoming.”

“There will be a storm. And the Russian ship will be broken - this is how he described the future of Russia Optina elder Anatoly. — But after all, people are saved on chips and debris. And yet, not everyone will die.

We must pray, we must all repent and pray fervently. And what happens after the storm? After the storm, there is calm. But that ship is gone, broken, everything perished!

“Not so,” he continued. father- a great miracle of God will be revealed, yes ... And all the chips and fragments, by the will of God and His power, will gather and unite, and the ship will be recreated in its beauty and will go its own way, intended by God. So it will be a miracle for everyone.”

This prophecy was uttered in February 1917, when the disturbances were just beginning, the tsar had not yet abdicated the throne, and the Sovereign Mother of God had not yet appeared in the village of Kolomenskoye, as a sign that henceforth she herself was taking over leadership over Russia ...

In a New Year's speech for 1918 Father Nikon said: “Our builders wish to make a name for themselves, with their reforms and decrees to benefit not only the unfortunate Russian people, but the whole world and even peoples much more cultured than we are.

And this arrogant undertaking will suffer the same fate as the plan of the Babylonians: instead of good, bitter disappointment is brought. Wishing to make us rich and in need of nothing, they actually turn us into miserable, miserable, poor and naked.

This is not only the result of the first revolutionary months, but also a prophecy characterizing the end of the century, strikingly in tune with all the cataclysms that are being experienced today...

“And yet this is not the end! Russia will be saved, - a year after the October Revolution, he proclaimed Elder Isaac II. “A lot of pain, a lot of pain.

All of Russia will become a prison, and one must beg the Lord for forgiveness a lot. Repent of sins and be afraid to commit even the slightest sin, but try to do good, even the smallest. After all, even the wing of a fly has weight, but God has accurate scales.

And when the smallest thing outweighs goodness in the cup, then God will show His mercy over Russia ... "

One day, seeing how people cry, cursing the revolutionary upheaval, Father Anatoly Jr. exclaimed loudly, encouraging them:

“Who is it that says that Russia is gone?

What died?

No no. It has not disappeared, it has not perished and will not perish, it will not perish, but it means that the Russian people must be cleansed of sin through great trials. We must pray, repent fervently. But Russia will not be lost, and it has not perished.”

“If even a few faithful Orthodox remain in Russia, God will have mercy on her,” he predicted in the early 1920s. Father Nectari and left after death Father Anatoly Jr. the only elder of the Optina Hermitage. And he added with a smile: “But we have such righteous people.”

“A premonition of social catastrophes hung over humanity,” Nadezhda Pavlovich wrote down the words Father Nektary. “They feel it instinctively, like ants.

But the faithful need not be afraid: Grace will protect them.

In the last time, it will be the same with the faithful as with the apostles before the Dormition of the Mother of God: every faithful, no matter where he served, will be transferred to one place ... "

And further old man said: "In the last days the world will be girded with iron and paper."

In 1919 Elder Anatoly predicted what is gradually coming true today before our eyes: “Inactive churches will be repaired, equipped not only outside, but also inside.

Domes will gild both temples and bell towers. Repairs of temples will continue until the very advent of the adversary - the splendor will be unprecedented. And when everything is finished, the time will come when the Antichrist will reign. Pray that the Lord will continue this time for us to strengthen, because a terrible time awaits us.

In this last time, true Christians will be exiled, and let the old and weak at least grab the wheels and run after them. Of you, my children, many will live to see him ... "

As a sign of this time Elder Anatoly indicates the possibility of free entry into and exit from Jerusalem (he did not bless his spiritual children to make such a pilgrimage), as well as massive false signs. The earth will cease to give birth, part and give cracks. The lakes will begin to dry up, there will be no water in them.

Elder Nikon told his spiritual children: “No one knows about the time of the coming of the Antichrist, as it is said in the Holy Gospel. It is impossible to say for sure: there were times before when it was believed that the Antichrist had come (under Peter I.), and the consequences showed that the world still exists ... "

Two months before the start of the First World War, Optina Pustyn visited Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. The brethren, led by Father Archimandrite, solemnly greeted the abbess of the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent.

Bishop Mikhei of Ufa, who lived in retirement in the monastery, delivered a welcoming speech.

On May 29, the Most High Guest took communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and after the liturgy, as part of her retinue, she visited the Skete of St. John the Baptist, where she was presented with the image of the Holy Baptist and a large prosphora.

She walked around the cells of the brothers, went up to the skete library on the second floor of the stone church of St. Leo of Katansky, and also visited Elder Nectarios.

The respect for Her Imperial Highness was so great that female pilgrims were allowed outside the skete fence along with her - an out of the ordinary case.

For more than forty years, women were forbidden to enter the St. John the Baptist skete.

In memory of the priest, this was repeated annually until 1898, since then access to the skete finally ceased. And for the sake of Elizabeth Feodorovna, these gates opened again.

The next day, Her Highness left for Shamordino. Returning in the evening, under the pretext of fatigue, she closed herself in the cell. After some time, the Grand Duchess, alone, without an escort, quickly walked through the senile forest.

Elder Nectarios silently opened the door of the hut for her. They talked for a long time in private. What they talked about remains a mystery...

The hour of parting has come. Surrounded by the Optina fathers, Elizaveta Fyodorovna slowly walked towards the ferry.

Crossing over to the other side of the Zhizdra, she looked around and crossed everyone with a wide cross.

The monks, as one, bowed down to her. Everyone foresaw what they would have to endure soon...

The next day, a telegram from Her Highness arrived in Optina, in which she thanked the brethren for the reception and asked them to pray for her.

When the war began, Elizaveta Fyodorovna formed an ambulance train, on which, at her request, there were clergy from among the Optina fathers.

“Russia is dead, but Holy Russia is alive,” she will say in the autumn of 1917, and when she is offered to go abroad, she will have to share with this land everything that is appointed to endure from the Lord.

Meeting with Elder Nektarios turned out not to be random.

A few decades later, in 1981, when Russia passes its way of the cross, both of them will be glorified by the Russian diaspora: the Grand Duchess as the Passion-Bearer, and Elder Nektary - in the Cathedral of the Reverend Fathers of Optina.

The basis for the canonization of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia will be the fragrant relics of the one who, secretly from everyone, came to the porch of the Optina Elder to accept his blessing and until her last breath offered up prayers for him...

“They used to thank the Lord, but the current generation has stopped giving thanks, and here is the impoverishment in everything: the fruits are badly born and everyone is somehow sick,” he said. Father Nectarius.

One day mother Nectaria(Kontsevich) asked the Optina fathers about the last times. They replied: "There is no need to predict, in due time everything will be revealed."

“The abyss will be stretched out on the earth,” predicted Elder Barsanuphius,- and "sirks" (demons) will all come out and be in people who will neither be baptized nor pray, but only kill people, and murder is original sin.

It is interesting to seduce people more with this sin.

And yet the hour will come when we remember this year, which today seems so unbearable, and yet extremely favorable for salvation, for it contains the real possibility of Repentance and Action.

“He who walks the path of prayer without repentance is on the path of pride,” he said. Elder Barsanuphius. “As long as a person has the opportunity to repent, there is hope that he will avoid death.

No wonder repentance is called the second font, only tearful. When our conscience convicts us and we sincerely mourn our unworthiness, the filth of the soul is cleansed and life begins anew.”

About the ability to "see with the spirit" Optinskiy wrote to one of his spiritual children. Elder Father Barsanuphius: “In addition to physical eyes, we also have spiritual eyes, before which the human soul opens; before a person thinks, before a thought arises in him, we see it with spiritual eyes, we even see the cause of such a thought.

And nothing is hidden from us. You live in Petersburg and you think that I don't see you. When I want, I will see everything you do and think. For us there is no space and time ... "

Third great Optina Elder, Saint Ambrose, according to one of his spiritual daughters, “he always grasped the essence of the matter at once, explaining it incomprehensibly wisely and giving an answer.

But in the course of 10-15 minutes of such a conversation, more than one issue was decided, at that time Father Ambrose contained in his heart the whole person - with all his attachments, desires, the whole world, internal and external.

From his words and his instructions, it was clear that he loved not only the one with whom he spoke, but also all those loved by this person, his life, everything that was dear to him.

Offering your solution Father Ambrose He had in mind not just one matter in itself, regardless of the consequences that might arise from it both for the person and for others, but he had in mind all aspects of life with which this matter had any contact. What mental tension must be in order to solve such problems?

And such questions were offered to him by dozens of lay people, not counting the monks and fifty letters that came and were sent out daily. Word of the Elder it was with power based on closeness to God, which gave him omniscience.

It was a prophetic ministry."

Here is what optinsky replied Elder Nectarios nun Nektaria, who in 1924 asked the priest “about the end of the world.”

“He showed me the letters that are sent to him: about the vision of the Savior, Who said that the end of the world was coming soon, about the excerpt from the newspapers that the messiah appeared in India, and Elijah in America, etc.

He talked a lot, but he also smiled, and before that, immediately upon meeting us, he turned with the following words: “Why are you all turning to my thin-wittedness - now turn to the Optina monks.”

I smiled, and he said: "I'm telling you this seriously, they will tell you everything for your benefit."

When I saw them, they say: “If people are looking for signs of the end of the world, and they don’t care about their souls, they are doing it all for the sake of others” (obviously to break the news).

So, the monks told me that it is not useful for people to know the time of the second coming. “Watch and pray,” the Savior said, which means that there is no need to foresee events, but in due time everything will be revealed to be true.

Grandfather (father Nektariy.) was satisfied with the answer of the monks, since he is also not a supporter of trusting any fantasies in this area.

And also said: "In the days of Noah, the Lord for a hundred years said that there would be a flood, but they did not believe Him, did not repent, and out of many people, one righteous man with his family was found." So it will be in the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37).

To the same nun Nectaria father Nectarios discovered that her son has a talent, without revealing, however, which one, adding: "It's good not to announce talents, otherwise they might steal."

These words are thought provoking...

In an Orthodox country, the prophecies of the elders enjoying unconditional authority, if they were widely publicized, could be used by the destroyers of the state in their political manipulations.

How?

Take, for example, a statement on television on June 20, 1991 by a supporter of Boris N. Yeltsin that the day of the election of the President of the RSFSR - June 12 - was determined based on the prophecies of Nostradamus, who has become fashionable in recent years.

There is a word, as they say, that resurrects, and there is a word that kills...

Father Barsanuphius, Elder of Optina, said in 1911: “One man saw in a dream dancing a quadrille, and the Angel of the Lord enlightened him, saying: “Look what they are doing, Lord, but this is a mockery of the Cross of Christ.”

Indeed, the French quadrille was invented in the era of revolutions to trample on the cross, because 4 or 8 people dance it so that the cross comes out just right.

A similar dream was also seen by one schema woman - it seemed to her that the dancers were engulfed in flames and surrounded by a rope, and the demons were jumping and gloating about the death of people.

And here is what he wrote Father Anthony 1848: “It seems that now both schismatics and Orthodox should think not about their personal affairs, but about the coming wrath of God on everyone, which can, like a net, seize all those living on earth.

The revolution in France is not a private evil, but only the kindling of those mines that have been dug under the whole earth, especially the European one, as the guardian of enlightenment, both spiritual and worldly.

Now it is no longer the schism that is terrible, but the general European godlessness.

The times of the Gentiles are almost coming to an end. All European scientists are now celebrating the liberation of human thought from the bonds of fear and obedience to the commandments of God. Let's see what this genus of the 19th century will do, throwing off the shackles of authorities and bosses, decency and customs.

Let's see what will be this new Adam at 48 years old, who is now reborn from the European noble land, what will this sinister bird hatched from the Parisian nest be like?

This egg has been laid for a long time: it was warming up back in the 1790s, and although the hatched Napoleon burned his wings in the Moscow fire and it was as if we had said goodbye to both the war and the general shock, but, apparently, it was only one chatterer, and a real squabbler will appear in our prosperous time, in the days of peace and affirmation.

If free Europe triumphs and breaks the last stronghold - Russia, then judge for yourself what we should expect. I do not dare to guess, but I only ask the most merciful God that my soul not see the coming kingdom of darkness.

From the Chronicle of the daily monastic life of St. Optina Hermitage: “With the onset of 1848, disasters struck almost everywhere in Europe.

In France, February 24 is a revolution, the overthrow of legitimate power, a republic. From France, this hellish stream spilled into the adjacent lands, except for Russia.

There are riots everywhere.

In Russia: cholera, drought, fires. May 26, Wednesday, at 12 noon, the provincial town of Orel caught fire. 2800 houses burned down; on the water the barges became prey to the flames. 1,300 houses burnt down in Yelets June 24th. Thursday.

Feast in the skete of the day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.

In the afternoon at three o'clock a terrible cloud came in with lightning and thunder strikes from the southwest at 20°C.

It broke out into a terrible storm with heavy rain and hail.

From this cloud, destruction occurred in many places in the Kozelsk district, especially in Optina Hermitage.

On the churches of Kazanskaya and Bolnichnaya, the iron roof was broken into pieces, crosses were torn off; on the belfry, the head with the spire was shaken and the roofing sheet was torn out; on the refectory and fraternal buildings, which is near the bell tower, and on the treasury, the iron roofs were damaged; in many other places tiled roofs and fences were damaged, many garden and fruit trees were broken.

In the skete, a fallen pine tree damaged the tower in the horse yard; and on the southwestern side, two stone pillars in the skete fence were also smashed by a fallen pine tree ...

And in the monastery forest, up to two thousand of the thickest pines are broken and uprooted.

Hieromonk Nectarius, Elder of Optina(July 25, 1909): “Our great elders made a covenant not to touch the forests between the skete and the monastery forever; it is not allowed to cut down a bush, not like centuries-old trees.

Elder Barsanuphius of Optina told the future archpriest Vasily Shustin (1910): “Here he showed me a row of trees - cedars, planted at some angles.

These trees, he said, were planted by Elder Macarius in the form of a wedge-shaped letter. On this piece of land is written with the help of trees great mystery which the last elder of the skete will read.

One of the pilgrims of the early 1920s recalled: “The magnificent pines of the Optina forest were mercilessly cut down, saws squealed, the workers were cursed, there was not a single monk. It was sad and hard to see the present, remembering the spiritual flowering of Optina in the past

Approaching the Holy Gates of the skete, we stopped and silently thought about the priest (Nektariy), remembering how the elder taught the holy blessing in the hut.

You remember that women were not allowed to enter the skete, and you can imagine our horror when we saw that a fat brunette with a curly head in shorts, his fat wife in a bathing suit and their naked offspring were coming out of the skete with the Holy Gates of John the Baptist. .. it's hard to write and talk about it...”

Anticipating all this Optina elders prophesied:“The end of the Optina eldership will come, but woe to the one who puts an end to it!”

Father Macarius regarding the storm on June 24, 1848, he said: “This is a terrible sign of God's wrath on the apostate world.

In Europe, political passions are raging, but in our country, the elements. It began with Europe, it will end with us.”

- My heart bleeds when talking about our dear fatherland, Russia, our mother, where is she rushing, what is she looking for? What is expected? — wrote in 1918 Elder Anatoly Jr.

- Enlightenment rises, but imaginary; it deceives itself in its hope; the young generation does not feed on the milk of the teachings of our Holy Orthodox Church, but on some foreign muddy, poisonous spirit; and how long will this continue?

Of course, in the fate of God's Providence, what should be written is written, but it is hidden from us due to His indescribable wisdom. But it seems that the time is coming, according to the prophecy of the father: “He who saves, save his soul!”

He is echoed Elder Nectarios: "We need, leaving European customs, to love Holy Russia and repent of the past passion for them, to be firm in the Orthodox faith, to pray to God, to repent of the past."

The same opinion was also Reverend Nikon:“Beneficent Europe has taught us external arts and sciences, but internal kindness takes away and shakes Orthodox faith; attracts money."

Back in 1859 Reverend Hilarion wrote: “What a pity that our Russians are carried away into a foreign faith and even rebel against their own Church: these are the fruits of Jesuit education and the preaching of papal agents. But they don’t even want to know their true native Church, they read their false teachings and believe them.”

Rev. Ambrose of Optina in 1891: “Oh, how we hate you, modern Europe, because you have destroyed everything great, graceful and holy in yourself and destroy so much precious in us, unfortunates, with your infectious breath! ..”

1880 The words of the elder Anatoly Sr.:

“And Russia in just ten years would see itself with a whole host of orators, swindlers and “honest” scientists at the head, without monasteries, with bishops elected by a liberal society, but limited on all sides by a protesting and ambitious white clergy, and, most importantly, with millions of drunken, ruined and ferocious laborers.

Our people are indeed still full of "humility," but we must remember that these qualities have been developed over the centuries, under the combined pressure of the Church, the state, the community, and the landowners' power. That's where you need to be realistic, we don't know how to be!

In 1889 Isaac the First wrote:

“If Russia does not go from the ecclesiastical side more or less along the path that you and I point out, then, of course, that she, Russia, will not have a choice between Vlad. Solovyov and the Antichrist; between submission to the papacy and infatuation with the most extreme nihilistic anti-Christian movement.

One of three things: or

1) a special culture, a special system, a special way of life, submission to one’s Church Unity, or

2) subordination of Slavic statehood to the Roman papacy, or

3) to take over the extreme revolutionary movement and, having become its head, wipe the bourgeois culture of Europe from the face of the earth...

It is not for nothing that this great state machine, which is called Russia, was built and has not yet been completed ...

One cannot think that it will live until its very (until inevitable in time) death and its death only as a political, that is, as a mechanical force, without any ideal, even the most terrible, but still ideal. influence on history.

I believe that no matter what path Russia chooses after that great upheaval, which both terrifies everyone and at the same time is inevitably approaching, we must point to the 1st path - isolation - and do everything we can to convert the Slavs to it.

1890 Elder Barsanuphius:

“... even assuming that there will still be (before the inevitable and impending doomsday) one or two new cultural types, we still do not have the (rational) right to hope that this new cultural type will certainly be developed by the already very old Russia (900 years since baptism!

And more than 1000 from the calling of princes!) And its Slavic compatriots, partly passing (like Bulgarians and Serbs) directly from swineherds into liberal bourgeois, partly (like Czechs and Croats) have long been thoroughly saturated with Europeanism.

And I would very much like to see this new and magnificent cultural pan-Slavic type even from the next world!

There are favorable signs, but they are so weak and still so small ... And there are so many unfavorable things from all sides that, I confess, this kind of sad picture is presented to me more and more often: this national and religious reaction, which is now quite strong in Russian society, is this not one of those short-term reactions to the better, to health and strength, which I sometimes experience on myself (for example) in my old age?

There have been many such small reactions, small reverse currents on old ground in history (try to remember), but all this was not an age-old reaction on new foundations; examples of the latter were: Byzantine Orthodoxy, then after 400-500 years for the West - feudalism and the Papacy, and for the East - Islam and Buddhism (which took root in China and Tibet).

Well, if only so; sometimes I think (I don't say I dream, then