The Monk Zosima, Hegumen of Solovetsk
Commemorated on April 17
The Monk Zosima,
Hegumen of Solovetsk, – a great luminary of the Russian North, was
the founder of monastic common-life on Solovetsk Island. He was born in
Novgorod diocese, in the village of Tolvui near Lake Onega. From his early
years he was raised in piety, and after the death of his parents Gavriil and
Varvara he gave away his possessions and accepted monastic tonsure.
In search of a
solitary place the monk set off to the shores of the White Sea and at the mouth
of the Suma he met the Monk German (Comm. 30 July), who told him about a
desolate sea island, where formerly he had spent six years with the Monk
Savvatii (Comm. 27 September).
In about the year
1436 the hermits, felicitously having made the sea voyage, landed at the
Solovetsk islands. God blessed the place of their settlement with a vision to
the Monk Zosima of a beautiful church in the sky. The monks with their own
hands built cells and an enclosure, and they began to cultivate and sow the
land. One time in late Autumn the Monk German set off to the mainland for
necessary provisions. Because of the Autumn weather he was not able to return.
The Monk Zosima remained all Winter alone on the island. He suffered many a
temptation in struggle with the devils. Death by starvation threatened him, but
miraculously two strangers having appeared left him a supply of bread, flour and
oil. In Spring the Monk German returned to Solovetsk together with the
fisherman Mark, and he brought supplies of food and rigging-tackle for fish
nets.
When several hermits
had gathered on the island, the Monk Zosima constructed for them a small wooden
church in honour of the Transfiguration (Preobrazhenie) of the Lord, together
with a refectory. At the request of the Monk Zosima, an hegumen was sent from
Novgorod to the newly formed monastery with antimins for the church. Thus
occurred the start of the reknown Solovetsk monastery. In the severe conditions
of the remote island the monks knew how to arrange their economy. But the
hegumens, sent from Novgorod to Solovetsk, could not withstand life in the
unwontedly harsh conditions, and so the brethren chose as hegumen the Monk
Zosima.
The Monk Zosima
concerned himself with the building up of the inner life of the monastery, and
he introduced a strict life-in-common. In 1465 he transferred to Solovetsk from
the River Vyg the relics of the Monk Savvatii. The monastery suffered vexation
from the Novgorod boyars (nobles), who confiscated catches of fish from the
monks. The monk was obliged to set off for Novgorod and seek the protection of
the archbishop. On the advice of the archbishop, he made the rounds of homes of
the boyars and requested them not to allow the ruin of the monastery. The
influential and rich boyarina Martha Boretskaya impiously gave orders to throw
out the Monk Zosima, but then repented her action and invited him to a meal,
during the time of which he suddenly beheld, that six of the illustrious boyars
sat without their heads. The Monk Zosima told about this vision to his disciple
Daniel and predicted for the boyars an immanent death. The prediction was
fulfilled in the year 1478, when during the taking of Novgorod by Ivan III
(1462-1505) the boyars were executed.
Shortly before death
the monk prepared himself a grave, in which he was buried beyond the altar of
the Transfiguration church (+ 17 April 1478). Later on, over his relics was
built a chapel. His relics together with the relics of the Monk Savvatii were
transferred on 8 August 1566 into a chapel consecrated in their memory at the
Transfiguration cathedral.
Many a miracle was
witnessed to, when the Monk Zosima with the Monk Savvatii appeared to fishermen
perishing in the depths of the sea. The Monk Zosima is likewise a patron of
bee-keeping and preserver of bee-hives, and to him is even bestown the title "Bee-keeper"
("Pchel'nik"). To the Monk Zosima often hasten those in sickness. The
many hospital churches dedicated to him testify to the great curative power of
his prayer before God.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
