Venerable Nectarius of Optina

Venerable Nectarius of Optina (Nicholas Vasilievich Tikhonov in the world) was born in 1853 in the town of Yelets, Oryol province, into a poor family. Orphaned early, he came to Optina Hermitage in 1873 carrying nothing but a Gospel, and became a disciple of Saints Anatoly (Zertsalov) and Ambrose of Optina. In 1887 he was tonsured a monk with the name Nectarius, in honor of the ancient Kiev Caves ascetic Nectarius the Obedient. He was ordained hierodeacon in 1894 and hieromonk in 1898. He spent more than twenty years in seclusion, speaking with almost no one, and acquired the gift of spiritual discernment and clairvoyance. In 1912, after the death of Elder Joseph, the brethren elected him the last widely venerated Optina elder, though for a long time he refused the calling out of humility. After the closure of Optina Hermitage in 1923 he was arrested and exiled, yet continued secretly to receive spiritual children in exile. He fell asleep in the Lord on April 29/May 12, 1928, in the village of Kholmishchi, Bryansk region. His relics were found incorrupt in 1989 and rest in the Presentation Cathedral of Optina. His feast is kept April 29/May 12 and in the Synaxis of Optina Elders October 11/24.