Shihigumen Savva (Ostapenko): biography, photos and interesting facts

One of the most famous elders, who are serving in the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, was Father Sawa Ostapenko. It was this man who became a beacon of hope. His connection with God and love of others attracted a lot of people who were looking for wise advice, support and just someone who would be sincere to them.

In particular, these features were important in the twentieth century. It was during this period that people lost touch with the Almighty. The authorities punished such an initiative, but still the heart of a man demanded the presence of a spiritual blessing, which was more than handed out by the scribe Savva Ostapenko. Photos, interesting facts, the spiritual path and the uneasy life of a monk will be presented in this article.

Birth and childhood

Nikolai Mikhailovich Ostapenko was born on November 11, 1898. Little Kolya was brought up in a Christian family. Parents (Michael and Catherine) from childhood told him about God and taught to pray.

People lived in perfect harmony, believed in God and sincerely prayed. In addition to Nicholas, seven more children grew up in the family. My mother was a very kind and unusually sincere person. Her love for people was boundless. An example of this is the fact that the woman could give the last meal to the asking elderly person. Such situations have evolved repeatedly. But the woman sincerely believed that the Lord would help her children, and they would not remain hungry. Strangely enough, that's exactly what happened, the family was poor, but they did not have to starve. This was a real miracle.

The birth of a dream

When Nicholas was six years old, parents decided to send the child to school at the church. Science was given easily, the boy had obvious abilities. Therefore, studying quickly dragged it, with every day the interest grew more and more. Already in the course of time, a little grown-up boy began to serve the priests in the church, and also to sing in the choir. All this was easy, because he had the ability and a great desire to do just that. These lessons gradually brought little Nicholas closer to God, he began to dream more and more about serving the Lord and did everything necessary to fulfill his little, but not a childhood dream.
It was not surprising for anyone that Kolya admitted that he dreams of being a monk. But such dreams were not in his age, because Nikolai was then quite a boy. Such adult reason surprised parents, but they were happy for their child.

Fatal Case

Somehow in some of the cold winter days, Kolya went to the river, where he fell into an ice hole. Naturally, the water was icy, and the boy was soaked to the skin. But, thank God, he was rescued and sent home as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it was not possible to avoid a cold. By the evening the temperature had risen, because of which it was not possible to fall asleep. In this delirium, Nicholas saw a vision in which a man appeared to him in the guise of a priest, and within minutes he realized that this man was him. After that, the boy quickly went on the mend and soon he got to his feet.

Education

Since the day of that vision, not one year has passed, the time has dragged on, but the cherished dream has never come true. This greatly upset the young man, but he did not stop in his works. Ros spiritually, he prayed and continued to help people around him. All this, in small steps, led him to his cherished dream.

This young enough young man knew the Gospel almost by heart. In particular, he loved to read the Gospel of John, and at any free moment took in the hands of this particular book.

Already at the age of 13 Nikolay managed to finish the school. And at the age of 16 a young man was called ahead of time to serve in the imperial army. If you take into account the track record, then thanks to his chronology, you can find out that since 1917, Nicholas entered the service in the Red Army. At the end of the Civil War, I decided to continue my military career and therefore entered the military technical school. After graduating from college, Kolya acquired the title of military equipment, and even went to work in his new specialty. In 1932, Nicholas decided to continue his studies, so he was enrolled in the Moscow Construction Institute, which he also graduated with success.

Work experience

He worked as a civil engineer, being in this position until 1945. Despite the fact that all these years, Nicholas lived in the world, the ordinary life of man, he did not forget about his own dream and about faith in God. Not for a day did he stop praying and with small steps approached his cherished dream.

Already in a short time Nikolai met with the elder Illarion. It was he who became an assistant, mentor and just a native person at the beginning of the spiritual path of Nicholas. It was Hilarion who helped make the dream come true.

The fact is that the war brought a lot of grief. In every family, people died. It was hard and painful. All these sorrows began to awaken in people a faith in God.

The last steps to monasticism

At the age of 48 Nicholas takes for himself an incredibly important decision - to enter the theological seminary. There he became a true example. Diligence, diligence, sincere and kind heart - this is what helped Nicholas to become the best. Spiritual life reigned in him, and thanks to such enthusiasm, many considered him strange and even tried to joke. But in case of trouble, they always ran to him for help. And he never refused and did not hold offense at jokes.

After the end of the seminary, Nicholas was invited to serve in the temple, but the children's dream took hold, and he headed for the monastery. Monasticism was a sensible decision, he wanted to pray for peace and for each person individually. For him it was important, necessary for the soul.

At last he came to his dream: Nikolai Mikhailovich was received at the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. Initially, he was accepted for obedience, but this period was passed quickly and with success. Obedience was easy, although there were temptations and much more. But how can you betray a child's dream? Something that had been going on for so long, about which my heart ached. That's why everything went by in one breath, and the surrounding people saw it and understood it.

A new name is a new destiny

Soon he took the monastic vows.

Got a new name, a new life. And now Nicholas could forget about his worldly name, he is Sawa. Strangely enough, but it was about this name that little Kolya dreamed about, and the Lord heard his prayers. From this moment Sawa was in indissoluble union with God.

The life of the priest in the monastery was not easy. It fell to his lot a lot of trials, temptations and the like. Father supervised the construction of the temple, he had to take on the most difficult work. For such diligence and the desire to develop, another obedience was given to him, namely, to be a confessor of pilgrims.

Father was very kind, sincerely worried about the surrounding people, who did not understand what they were doing. Daily prayed for people in the world, asked the Lord to grant them enlightenment of the mind. He tried to explain the truth of every sinful act, no, he did not scold, but tried to convey the truth with kindness.

Persecution

Soon he became a hieromonk. The strength of the priest's prayer was incredible. Every day near the temple, more and more people gathered who dreamed of the blessing of Sawa. He lovingly tried to hear everyone, give advice in a difficult situation. So the glory of this incredible holy father dispersed through the cities. Such a situation did not suit the authorities. They tried to threaten him, slandered him, many troubles fell on his head. Subsequently, it was decided to send Father Savva as far as possible. So St. Savva Ostapenko and got into the Pskov-Pechersky monastery.

But even here there were people who did not understand the priest. He had a hard time, a lot of suffering fell to his lot. He loved every man. But this love was special, to everyone's own. Thus, to the stronger, he treated with all severity, trying to exalt their spirituality. But with the spiritually impotent people, the elder Savva Ostapenko addressed as they treat people who are afflicted with an ailment.

Instructions

He did not like verbosity, and it was useless. Even the longest story can be told by several suggestions. This is exactly what he demanded.
Savva had written a huge number of books that are aimed to help a person come to God. The path is far from being close, heavy and thorny, but there is still a proper loophole, and if you do not go off, you can go to a beautiful meadow where your child will meet the Lord. This is what he tried to prove by his own example. His path was incredibly difficult. He went through many things and still remained true to the little child's dream that created the miracle. Until the last days of his life, the priest remained unhappy with the authorities.

On July 27, 1980, Father Sawa died, this bell news was sounded by a bell. At that moment, alongside him were his spiritual children, who knew how good and incredible the father was. With his hands the Lord worked miracles, everyone could feel it. This day was grievous for the brethren, but at the same time, having passed through a whole series of trials and persecutions, Sawa deserved to rest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And his children still sincerely pray for his stay there.

A great legacy left behind Savva Ostapenko. Quotes of the holy father still help many people to get the right direction on the spiritual path. Father always asked for justice, honesty and disinterestedness. He taught people to be strict to themselves, but condescending to others. And if the anger is covered, it is better to leave at all in silence. Many teachings were given by the schema of Sawa Ostapenko. The biography of the holy father was not simple, but these difficulties helped the saint not only to come to the Lord himself, but also to guide others to the true path.