Hieromonk Eugene of Sarov

Hieromonk Eugene, who passed away in his old age in Sarov during the abbacy of Igumen Niphont (Abbot from1818 until 1842), was a diligent servant at the monastery. This humble, reverent elder was a true image of piety and meekness, therefore, novices, having arrived to the monastery had a special trust for him and through him they learned hard work, prayer and other monastic virtues. His soul, imbued with piety drew the attention of novices and his mature manner of behavior caused them to respect him and actively imitate his chastity, obedience, meekness and humility. He, in this manner, greatly helped those who sought salvation and advancement in spiritual life. He was later on elected to be a confessor and spent quite some time serving in that obedience to the benefit of those around him. Due to his humble-mindedness and sincere earnestness for the salvation of his neighbor he sought wise council from experienced elders.  This is why he exchanged letters on spiritual matters with reverent fathers from whom he received edifying correspondence.  Here we are providing two of them.

Most reverend and all honorable Hieromonk Father Eugene, beloved brother and friend in Christ!

Do not be surprised, dearest brother, that while approaching your forty seventh year of monastic life, you have started feeling greater uneasiness than in the previous years. You have been walking down the hill for eleven years now. As for the thought about death, which comes to your mind often and causes some fear and anxiety in you, it is because you have some spiritual ailments within.  In that respect, my dear, I will tell you sincerely, you will not have any fear, neither anxiety if you heal those ailments with the dressing of the holy repentance, by avoiding evil and doing good.  Contrition, tears, and reformation—the proper fruits of repentance, with humility again open to us the embrace of the Heavenly Father; and the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God cleans us from any sin. Without them (the fruits of repentance) entrusting oneself to the protection of the most merciful God and the Theotokos, the Guardian Angel and all the saints (aside from unexpected fatal accidents) alone will not lead to the healing of spiritual ailments of ours. We sing of mercy and justice to God with the Prophet [Psa. 100:1]; His mercy is indeed without limit, likewise His justice.  He established the mystery of holy repentance for cleansing our sins after Baptism.  He, who uses it properly, saves himself – that is mercy! He, who rejects it, postpones it, does not use it – perishes, that is justice. It is only the daily weaknesses which we may call spiritual infirmities, which happen even to the saints, or, in other words, pardonable sins, that do not deprive us, the faithful, of grace. Yet, even those must be washed away by a sincere confession to God in front of the spiritual father, and so we get rid of them.  In that case the anxiety and fear of death will not attack us.  Only there might be melancholy and a spirit of weak faith or faithlessness that sometimes will trouble us.  However, the weapons against them are clear to us. Faith and hope in our Savior and a warm prayer to Him with humility will eliminate all arrows of the enemy, even though they will be the burning ones.  Thus, with these weapons we shall implement the remedy, which is used against the demon of blasphemy.  In this way the God of peace will be with us forever!

Having entrusted myself to your ongoing love and benevolence, I ask for your holy prayers, that God may, according to His great mercy, grant me to always have true repentance and to bring its fruits to Him. With wishes of health to you, salvation and all kinds of blessings I remain with sincere reverence and devotion to you.

The humble servant and fellow petitioner

of the beloved brother and friend,

Hieromonk Mikhail.

 March 1, 1815.

 The New Monastery of the Savior¹ Moscow.

1.    A monastery in the southeast of Moscow founded in 1490.