There isn’t any different path to salvation however love for God and neighbor.He who loves God strives to meet His commandments.
He who loves his neighbor strives to serve him.On this simplicity lies the entire thriller of non secular life.
—Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin)
On March 15, 2025, in his ninety-fourth yr of life, the revered elder, non secular father of the brethren of Optina Monastery, and non secular father of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin)Iliy (Nozdrin), Schema-Archimandrite
“>Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin), departed unto the Lord.
Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (on the planet Alexey Afanasyevich Nozdrin) was born on March 8, 1932, within the village of Stanovoy Kolodez, Oryol area, right into a pious peasant household. At baptism, the toddler was named in honor of 
Venerable Alexis the Man of GodThe dad and mom sought the lacking Alexis all over the place, however with out success. The servants despatched by Euphemianus additionally arrived in Edessa, however they didn’t acknowledge the beggar sitting on the portico as their grasp.
“>St. Alexius, the Man of God. From his earliest years, the Lord was getting ready him for a particular ministry—for, in line with the elder’s personal recollections, he started praying on the age of three. Fellow villagers referred to as him “Divine” and “a Man of God”.
The longer term elder’s childhood fell in the course of the years of Second World Conflict. In 1942, after struggling a extreme wound, his father Afanasiy Ivanovich handed away, and shortly after, his grandfather Ivan Nozdrin additionally reposed. Ivan had been the warden of the Pokrovsky Church and was identified for his truthfulness. Alexey’s mom, Klavdiya Vasilyevna, devoted herself to elevating the kids, refusing to remarry.
“I used to be ten years previous after we obtained the loss of life discover for my father,” the elder recalled. “My mom wept, whereas I stood beside her and prayed. I don’t know the place it got here from, however I had a agency assurance that my father had not disappeared, however had handed into one other world, the place there isn’t any struggling. I then informed my mom: ‘Don’t weep, Mama. Father is now with God. He sees us and prays for us.’ My mom embraced me and stated: ‘You might be actually a Man of God, my son.’”
This occasion, because the elder later admitted, turned for him one of many first clear indicators of God’s windfall in his life and enormously influenced his future path.
Through the warfare, a rare incident occurred with younger Alexey—an occasion the elder not often spoke of however recounted with deep feeling to his closest non secular kids.
“It was the summer time of 1943, after our village had been liberated from the Germans. We boys typically roamed the battlefields in the hunt for trophies. In the future, I went into the forest alone. I beloved to hope in solitude. As I used to be strolling throughout a small clearing, I abruptly felt that I ought to cease. I have no idea the way to clarify it—simply an interior prompting. I appeared round and observed that the floor in a single place appeared disturbed. I started to clear away the leaves and located a German officer’s case with headquarters maps and paperwork.
“I took the discover to our village council. It turned out that the maps contained vital details about the areas of German models and their plans. They praised me, they even needed to reward me. However I assumed to myself, ‘I didn’t discover this—the Lord confirmed it to me.’ Years later, I discovered that the maps I had discovered helped the Soviet command plan an vital operation that saved many lives. However what struck me probably the most was that on one among these maps, our village church was marked with a cross. I contemplated this occasion for a very long time and got here to the conclusion that the Lord had used me as an instrument to guard His holy home.”
For my ideas are usually not your ideas, neither are your methods my methods, saith the LORD. For because the heavens are greater than the earth, so are my methods greater than your methods, and my ideas than your ideas. (Is. 55:8–9)
A transparent testimony that the Lord preserves His chosen ones was one other incident that occurred with younger Alexey in the post-war years.
“I used to be going to the market to promote our final belongings in an effort to purchase bread,” the elder recalled. “All my cash received stolen, and I used to be left with nothing. I wept bitterly as a result of my hungry brothers and sister have been ready at residence. I entered the church and started praying earlier than the Kazan Icon: ‘O Mom of God, assist me! I’m not asking for myself, however for my household.’
“I left the church and walked alongside the street. Immediately, earlier than me lay a heat loaf of bread, as if it had simply come out of the oven. There was nobody round, solely an empty street. I picked up the bread and, unashamed, wept with pleasure. From that day, I understood that prayer just isn’t simply phrases however a dwelling communion with God and His saints.”
After ending college in 1949, Alexey served within the military. On the insistence of his sergeant, he joined the Komsomol, a choice he later deeply regretted, seeing it as a sin towards God. Upon returning residence, he instantly burned his Komsomol membership card, symbolically breaking his ties with the godless ideology.
After finishing his research at a mechanical engineering faculty in Serpukhov, younger Alexey was assigned to work in town of Kamyshin, Volgograd area. There, he had a fateful assembly with Priest Ioann Bukotkin, who turned his first non secular father. Beneath Father Ioann’s steering, Alexey strengthened his resolve to dedicate his life to God and enrolled within the Saratov Theological Seminary.
“Father Ioann informed me then: ‘Alexey, your life doesn’t belong to you however to God. You might be chosen for a particular service.’ I requested, ‘Why me? I’m simply a easy village boy.’ And he answered, ‘As a result of the Lord doesn’t have a look at schooling or expertise, however on the coronary heart. And your coronary heart has been turned to Him since childhood.’”
The trail of non secular formation for the long run elder continued on the Leningrad Theological Seminary and Academy. There, with the blessing of his non secular father, he took monastic vows, receiving the title Iliy (Ilian) in honor of one of many 
40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
“>Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. He was then ordained as a hierodeacon and later as a hieromonk.
For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward look, however the Lord looketh on the coronary heart (1 Sam. 16:7)
For ten years, from 1966 to 1976, Father Iliy lived within the Pskov-Caves Monastery. A big milestone in his non secular progress was his discovery of the writings of St. Silouan of Athos, which he learn in 1967, even earlier than the saint was glorified.
“Once I examine Elder Silouan,” Father Iliy shared, “it was as if a vivid path opened earlier than me. His phrases, ‘Hold thy thoughts in hell and despair not,’ turned my each day reminder of humility and hope. We dwell in a world full of temptations and trials, but the sunshine of Christ stays, and no storm can extinguish it.”
A particular chapter within the elder’s life is linked with Mount Athos, the place he was despatched by determination of the Holy Synod in March 1976. Within the Russian monastery of the Nice Martyr Panteleimon, Father Iliy turned one of many few monks who helped protect the traditional monastery for the Russian Orthodox Church throughout a tough time when discussions have been underway relating to its potential switch to the Greeks. On Mount Athos, he undertook the ascetic labor of solitary prayer in a skete at Outdated Russik and served because the non secular father of the brotherhood of Panteleimon Monastery.
“On Athos, I discovered the that means of true silence,” the elder recalled. “There, time appears to cease, and you reside head to head with God. I keep in mind as soon as praying in a cave when, impulsively, I felt a rare pleasure, as if my total being was full of gentle. It was not a imaginative and prescient, however an interior sense of God’s presence. That second, I understood that true prayer just isn’t the mere uttering of phrases, however standing earlier than God with one’s entire coronary heart.
“However probably the most wondrous factor on Athos is the particular presence of the Mom of God. Athos is Her area, and this may be felt in the whole lot. There have been instances once I would sit in my cell, praying, and abruptly, an important comfort and peace would fill my soul. And in that second, I understood that it was She, the Queen of Heaven, who had visited me with Her grace. After such comfort, for a number of days, I felt like a special individual—extra affected person, meek, and full of affection.”
However the fruit of the Spirit is love, pleasure, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, religion, meekness, temperance: towards such there isn’t any regulation (Gal. 5:22-23).
Elder Iliy at all times spoke of his years on Athos with deep reverence.
“As soon as, I used to be climbing to the summit of Athos at night time,” he recalled. “The trail was tough, my toes slipped on the rocks, and I typically needed to cease to relaxation. Immediately, as I sat on a stone, I used to be overcome by a sense that I used to be not alone. It was as if all of the holy ascetics who had walked this path earlier than me have been current. I felt like a hyperlink in a sequence connecting the previous and the future. After which I understood: Monasticism just isn’t an escape from the world, however a service to the world by way of prayer.”
Father Iliy shared together with his non secular kids the hardships that brotherhood endured:
“On Mount Athos, we lived in nice poverty. Generally, we survived for days on nothing however bread and water. However this exterior poverty helped us expertise interior richness. When the physique just isn’t burdened with meals, the spirit turns into freer. After which, such non secular depths are revealed that one may by no means think about in an unusual state.”
The elder additionally spoke about his obedience as a non secular father at Panteleimon Monastery:
“To be a 
On Non secular Fathers, Sins, Prayer and SalvationEvery time I discover myself within the Monastery of St. Mary in Techirghiol, I’m full of trepidation on the considered the multitude of my sins, identified and unknown. And my first need is to go to the cell of the good non secular father Arsenie (Papacioc), to not less than take his blessing. And if you find yourself honored with the good privilege of talking with him, time begins to tackle some sort of particular dimension.
“>non secular father doesn’t imply ruling over different souls. It means serving to one other individual hear the voice of God in his personal coronary heart. On Mount Athos, I understood that probably the most vital a part of being a non secular information just isn’t giving recommendation, however praying for one’s non secular kids. When one prays with love, the Lord Himself offers the fitting phrases, and people phrases attain the center of the individual.”
Within the late Eighties, Father Iliy was referred to as to return to his homeland to assist revive monastic life in Optina Monastery. Arriving on the monastery in 1989, he took the Nice Schema, receiving the title Iliy (Ilian) in honor of one among the Martyrs of Sebaste, and entered the trail of eldership.
And I’ll carry the blind by a manner that they knew not; I’ll lead them in paths that they haven’t identified: I will make darkness gentle earlier than them, and crooked issues straight. This stuff will I do unto them, and never forsake them (Is. 42:16)
“Once I arrived in 
1990: A Pilgrimage to Optina MonasteryMuch has occurred since 1990 when an American just lately transformed to Orthodoxy made a pilgrimage to the well-known residence of the Optina Elders—all the unique church buildings have been rebuilt, new ones added, and the brotherhood is flourishing. Nonetheless, we will wistfully keep in mind these blessed days when Russian Orthodox Christians have been sacrificing their time and expertise to rebuilt Optina. Listed here are the impressions of that pilgrim, printed within the Orthodox Phrase.
“>Optina, there have been solely ruined church buildings and paths overgrown with weeds,” the elder recalled. “The primary service was held by candlelight as a result of there was no electrical energy. However we felt the wonderful non secular energy of this place. It appeared as if the souls of the previous Optina elders have been invisibly current amongst us. I keep in mind how one of many first brethren, a younger hieromonk, stated to me, ‘Father Iliy, I’m afraid I can’t endure, there are too many difficulties.’ And I answered, ‘Don’t be afraid, my son. You aren’t carrying this cross alone. The Lord is with us, and all of the holy 
The Holy Elders of OptinaThrough God’s mercy, despite seventy years of Communist enslavement, ”prima vitae” of most of the Elders have been preserved. Written by their rapid disciples, these uncommon biographies comprise a large number of priceless particulars and anecdotes that shed gentle into the key corners of lives completely devoted to Jesus Christ.”>elders of Optina.’”
Lots of the elder’s non secular kids testified that even a short encounter with him turned a turning level of their lives. Nonetheless, Father Iliy didn’t search to impress those that got here to him with extraordinary revelations—his teachings have been easy, but of their simplicity lay profound non secular knowledge.
One of many elder’s non secular daughters recalled:
“I got here to him burdened with many issues, anticipating that he would discuss with me for a very long time and give me some particular recommendation. However he merely checked out me together with his clear, penetrating eyes and stated, ‘Daughter, you assume an excessive amount of about your self. Assume about others, assist somebody—and your issues will start to resolve themselves.’ At first, I used to be even offended—such a easy reply! However once I began following it, my life actually modified.”
In 2009, Schema-Igumen Iliy turned the father-confessor of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and moved to Peredelkino. On Pascha 2010, within the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite by His Holiness the Patriarch.
“When folks ask me how I really feel about my new place, I at all times reply, ‘I stay the identical monk I was earlier than,’” the elder stated. “Monasticism just isn’t a place, however a state of the soul. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re in a solitary cell or within the capital. The principle factor is to maintain a prayerful spirit and love for God and others.”
Till the final days of his earthly life, Elder Iliy remained a tireless intercessor in prayer for the entire world, receiving hundreds of people that sought non secular counsel and luxury. His easy phrases, spoken from the coronary heart, and his fervent prayers introduced therapeutic to many struggling souls.
“Are you aware what the best hassle of recent man is?” the elder as soon as stated. “It’s that he has forgotten the way to see God’s hand in his life. We’re at all times searching for miracles, but they occur daily. Each dawn is a miracle. Each second of life is a present from God. Be taught to be thankful for these easy miracles, and you will note how your life will probably be reworked.”
The Lord granted His trustworthy servant a protracted life, permitting him to return to Optina and peacefully depart into eternity, leaving us an instance of a real ascetic life. His passing is an irreparable loss for the Russian Orthodox Church, however we imagine that we’ve gained but one other intercessor in Heaven.
One of many elder’s final guests recalled:
“Just some days earlier than his passing, Father Iliy appeared very weak bodily, however his eyes shone with an unearthly gentle. He took my hand and stated: ‘Don’t be afraid of something. The Lord is all over the place. And even when it appears that evidently He’s far-off, He’s nearer than we assume. Keep in mind this at all times.’ These phrases turned a valuable testomony for me.”
Reminiscence everlasting to the newly departed Schema-Archimandrite Iliy! Might the Lord grant relaxation to his soul within the dwellings of the righteous!
Blessed are the lifeless which die within the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they might relaxation from their labours; and their works do comply with them (Rev. 14:13).
