Dimitrius: Abbot of the Sarov Monastery

    The second abbot of the Sarov Monastery, Hieromonk Dorotheus, [Dimitrius in the world] was selected by Ioann himself in 1731. He served as abbot for seventeen years. Originally from Kadom¹ county, he was from the family of a clergyman. He came to the monastery in 1705, to the founder Ioann. He was tonsured a monk in 1708; then ordained to the rank of hierodeacon and then hieromonk.  He remained in obedience as a true disciple and participated in all of the labors and sorrows of the monastic community.  He was for everyone an example of humility and monastic labor, following the example of his teacher. He took part in all of the obediences of the monastery such as mowing hay and fishing, since – according to the charter of the cenobitic monastery – all of the brethren [aside from the infirm and the elderly] went out to work together; when they did; the humble and caring shepherd of their souls and father was with them. His entire life was adorned with touching examples of patience, mercy and piety. Zeal towards the glory of God, and his ardent love for God were the constant qualities of his soul. He strictly followed the rules of the communal life in dealing with brethren. This was done in accordance to the Athos charter, given to him by his teacher for the sake of greater union of brotherly love and for uniform order in everything.  In 1714 brigands attacked the monastery seeking treasures, and many monks were left crippled from the attack. Fr. Dorotheos, was tortured on a fire.  He was later found unconscious on coals by monks who returned from the woods.  For the remainder of his life, Fr. Dorotheos remained without eyebrows or eyelashes and had scars on his face from the fire.  In 1745 he received the Great Schema with the name Dimitrius and he reposed in 1747.  He was buried at the same place where he was tortured by the fire.        

     During his tenure as abbot jealousy, flattery, division and competition were not to be seen between the brethren. Instead a surprising concord, like-mindedness and meekness reigned over them. The brethren entrusted their souls to him, and he, as a child-loving and caring father, had constant care about their salvation.  He treated the souls wounded by evil in a fatherly manner. His caring, compassionate and gentle word was directed to do away with remembrance of wrongs and instilling peace and humility among the brethren.   He taught the brethren forgiveness, mutual help, acknowledgement of one’s own weaknesses, restraint of pride and self-love, not to seek vengeance, but to have perfect love even to the point of self-denial. He was, himself, the greatest example of all of the virtues he taught. With his prudence, firmness of character and exemplary life he established among them an orderly communal life, love of labor, obedience and love for one’s neighbor. Rumors about his holy life gathered more and more of those who sought a life of stillness. He spent days in unceasing prayer. Whenever he talked to the brethren regarding the struggles which awaited them, he also prayed for them; he never tired of the labors of edifying the brethren and never ceased to listen to the wise counsel of the senior pious monks until his death. Therefore, everyone, according to the spirit of the Gospel, obeyed him wholeheartedly, and expressed a sincere reverence befitting spiritual children. Thus, everyone glorified God with their lives, and advanced their struggle for salvation under the guidance of an elder experienced in spiritual feats.

     The admonitions of the experienced elder Dimitrius were so wise and useful that they did not only remain in the hearts of his contemporaries, but even until now are repeated by the brethren for mutual edification. The following are some of his instructions:

“We should have patience at all times and when trials and afflictions visit us we should remember how the saints before us passed through all of their lives in sorrows, afflictions and adversities, and ended their course in suffering.  Therefore they received from God the unspeakable and indescribable joy in the kingdom of heaven.  It is written of this joy, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’ (ICor. 2:9)

     “If one will not endure temptations, he will not receive the gift and crown from God. Forbearance is the salvation of a man, laziness and relaxation and comfort (idleness) – his destruction.  Since relaxation makes the body lazy and weak and leads to neglect of  the soul. Relaxation and vain cares ruin saving time. Nothing torments the evil spirits, or torches them more than the Jesus prayer. Demons fear the Jesus prayer very much.

     “Be watchful with great caution, since we walk among passions and traps. Passions surround us at every hour, everywhere; the nets of the demons are set everywhere. Just like the air penetrates everything, the earth is filled with passions and traps.

     “Goodness is in restraint, therefore, great is the virtue of restraint; it is the mother of all virtues. If we restrain our body from overeating, brethren, we will enter the kingdom of heaven. Since restraint means killing sin and departure from passions, it is the start of the spiritual life and the solicitor of eternal blessings. Overeating, without a doubt, makes you feel tired; feeling tired in turn leads to dozing, sleep and laziness, and sleep and laziness open the door to passions. Thus, we should curb sleep and laziness and God will strengthen us. Laziness causes the weakening of mental faculties and their exhaustion – while submerging into sleepiness, sleep and tiredness the lazy soul gives entrance to evil thoughts. Impure thoughts diminish grace and good deeds. The mind is cleared and becomes brighter from prayer and becomes enlightened.

     “It is impossible for him who is negligent and does not take care of his soul to defeat the enemy and the passions, to come to perfection, to live a spiritual life and be saved and to please God. Those who live in idleness and who became slaves to their flesh and who fill the belly – the king of all passions – cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The saints for that reason lived in afflictions and illnesses, in need, thirst and poverty.

     “Furthermore, one cannot free oneself from napping much and laziness and the burden of other passions while serving the princes of passions – the mouth and the stomach, while eating and drinking until full. He who is the slave of evil passions will not progress in life with God. We should pray diligently; so that for him, who is negligent and does not take care of his soul the darkness of passions will not cover the eyes of our mind.”

1. Kadom – a town founded in 1209 was a part of the Tambov region of Russia in the 18th century, now a settlement in Ryazan region of the Russian Federation.