Venerable (Monastic) 19th century

Venerable Anatole I of Optina

1824 – 1894

Also known as Anatole (Zertsalov), Elder of Optina

An elder of Optina, disciple of St. Ambrose, who consoled the many who came to him for spiritual counsel and healing of soul.

Feast Day

January 25

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Anatole I (Zertsalov) of Optina

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Mental Health

Life

Venerable Anatole I of Optina was a nineteenth-century Russian monastic elder (starets) of the Optina Hermitage and a disciple of the Optina elders Macarius and Ambrose. Born Alexis in 1824 and later given the seminary surname Zertsalov, he entered the monastic life at Optina, where he was formed in the tradition of unceasing prayer and eldership for which the hermitage became renowned. He is commemorated on January 25, the day of his repose, and is numbered among the Synaxis of the Optina Elders.

At Optina the elder Macarius took him under his spiritual direction and instructed him in the Jesus Prayer. After Macarius reposed in 1860, he drew close to the elder Ambrose, who oversaw his further formation. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1870 and was made superior of the skete in 1874, a role through which he shared in the training of the monastery's monks. Ambrose esteemed him highly, describing him as a great practitioner of the Jesus Prayer who had received the grace of unceasing prayer.

Sources record that toward the end of his life he was credited with spiritual discernment and clairvoyance, and that he received the many who came to Optina for counsel. He reposed on January 25, 1894, and was buried near his teachers Ambrose and Macarius. Together with the other Optina elders he was glorified for universal veneration by the Moscow Patriarchate on August 7, 2000.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

1824 Birth Born Alexis in the village of Bobolya; later given the seminary surname Zertsalov.
1870 Ordained priest Ordained to the priesthood at Optina.
1874 Superior of the skete Appointed superior of the Optina skete.
1894 Repose Reposed on January 25 and was buried near the elders Ambrose and Macarius.
2000 Glorification Glorified for universal veneration with the Synaxis of the Optina Elders on August 7.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Formation at Optina

According to his life, Anatole came to Optina and was placed under the direction of the elder Macarius, who instructed him in the Jesus Prayer. Following the customary monastic pattern, he was tonsured and took the name Anatole. After the repose of Macarius in 1860 he became closely associated with the elder Ambrose, who continued his spiritual training and prepared him to guide others.

He was ordained a priest in 1870 and appointed superior of the skete in 1874. In this capacity he assisted Ambrose and shared in the spiritual oversight of the monastery's monastic community. Ambrose is reported to have relied on him in maintaining the ordered life of the Shamordino Convent, the women's community associated with Optina.

Eldership and Repose

Anatole is remembered as a practitioner of the Jesus Prayer to whom, by tradition, was attributed the gift of unceasing prayer together with discernment and clairvoyance in his later years. As one of the Optina elders he stood within a continuous line of spiritual fathers who received pilgrims and offered counsel.

He reposed on January 25, 1894, and was buried at Optina near the elders Ambrose and Macarius. His glorification, with that of the other Optina elders, took place on August 7, 2000.

Notes

Among the Synaxis of the Optina Elders.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Jan 25