“One of the great Optina Elders, Schema-Archimandrite Barsanuphius (1845-1913), functioned as an Elder in the Skete of Optina Monastery in Kozelsk from 1907 until 1912. During this time other Elders were also laboring in the Monastery and its Skete—Fr. Anatole (the ‘Younger’) Potapov, and Fr. Joseph, who completed his grace-filled course of eldership in 1911. Other Elders followed, such as Frs. Nektary and Theodosius. During those years the closest disciple of Fr. Barsanuphius was one of the last Optina Elders, Fr. Nikon, whose detailed journal has bequeathed us many of his instructor’s deeds and words.” —“Author’s Foreword”
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY PART I: THE PRIMA VITA OF ELDER BARSANUPHIUS 1. Rebirth 2. Optina Chaplain 3. Fr. Basil Shoustin 4. The Clairvoyance of St. Barsanuphius 5. Sergei A. Nilus 6. Heavenly Abodes 7. St. John of Kronstadt 8. Healings 9. Leo Tolstoy 10. The Autumn of Optina 11. Sorrow Will Vanish 12. His Disciples PART II: THE LIFE OF ELDER BARSANUPHIUS (Published in Optina) Foreword 1. Life Before Monasticism 2. Early Years in Optina 3. Elder and Skete Superior 4. Loving Father and Instructor 5. Clouds on the Horizon 6. Transfer from Optina and Repose PART III: TALKS WITH SPIRITUAL CHILDREN PART IV: REMINISCENCES OF SPIRITUAL CHILDREN 1. My First Trip to Optina 2. Recollections of the Elder PART V: SELECT COUNSELS, THOUGHTS, AND EDIFYING INCIDENTS PART VI: THE JOURNAL OF ELDER NIKON OF OPTINA APPENDICES I Uncovering of the Elder’s Holy Relics II Sermon of Elder Theodosius on the Fortieth Day of Elder Barsanuphius’ Repose III Letters of the Elder’s Spiritual Children GLOSSARY SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
Item Number: BKP578 Publication data: Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2000 Format: softcover Number of pages: 833 Dimensions (l × w × h): 21.0 cm × 13.5 cm × 4.3 cm Additional information: black-and-white illustrations ISBN: 0‒938635‒61‒1
