Venerable Moses of Optina

Venerable Moses of Optina (Timothy Ivanovich Putilov in the world) was born on January 15/28, 1782 in Borisoglebsk, Yaroslavl province, into a devout merchant family. From his youth he was drawn to monastic life and received the blessing of Saint Seraphim of Sarov to pursue it. He labored in the Roslavl forests under Elder Athanasius, a disciple of Saint Paisius Velichkovsky, together with his brother Alexander (the future Saint Anthony of Optina), living a strict hermit's life. In 1821, with the blessing of Bishop Philaret of Kaluga, the Putilov brothers came to Optina Hermitage and founded the skete of St. John the Forerunner on its edge, which became the cradle of Optina eldership. From 1826, for thirty-seven years, Saint Moses served as abbot of Optina, transforming a decayed monastery into one of Russia's great spiritual centers: he introduced a communal rule, built a substantial library, and received Elders Leonid and Macarius, to whom he humbly submitted despite possessing the gift of eldership himself. He died on June 16/29, 1862, and was glorified in 2000 in the Synaxis of the Optina Elders. His feast is kept June 16/29 and in the Synaxis of Optina Elders October 11/24.