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Our venerable father '''Anthony of OptimaOptina''' was among the group of [[monasticism|monastics]] of [[Optina Monastery]] in the nineteenth century known as the Optina Elders. Elder Anthony is [[veneration|venerated]] on [[August 7]] and with all the Optina Elders on [[October 11]].
==Life==
In 1809, after his father's death, Alexander went to work for three years in Moscow for a merchant named Karpishev. On [[September 2]], 1812 during Napoleon's invasion of Russia he was caught in the city and was robbed by the invading Poles and French soldiers of his money and belongings before they held him captive. While captive he consoled himself with the words of St. [[John Chrysostom]] that the worst suffering on earth did not compare to the least suffering in hell. On [[September 12]], he escaped from them in the rain and reached Rostov where he began to work again. There he visited St. James Monastery.
Later in 1815, Alexander left Rostov for Moscow on a journey of discovery as he visited various [[church]]es and monasteries praying to the Holy [[Theotokos]] and the [[saint]]s asking their blessing on his becoming a monk. His travels took him to Kaluga and the Roslavl forests in Smolensk province where his brother [[Moses of Optina|Moses]] had lived for five years. There he stayed, becoming a [[novice ]] on [[January 15]], 1816. After searching many monasteries, the novice Alexander decided to remain with his brother and stayed with him for the next twenty four years.
The brothers followed [[asceticism|ascetic]] labors that seemed impossible. They followed the cycle of services without exception. Having become familiar with the church [[Typikon]], Alexander copied patristic texts and with his brother compiled extracts from different sources to form a system of rules for the Christian life. These labors with the spiritual books they did while standing, such that in later life Alexander suffered pains in his legs for the rest of his life.
Fr. Anthony and the other monks arrived at Optina on [[June 6]] and began to establish their skete on the eastern side of the monastery. There, they built a [[cell]] and a church dedicated to St. [[John the Forerunner|John the Baptist]]. Fr. Moses was elected [[Igumen]], and Anthony was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] on [[August 23]], 1823.
In 1825, Fr. Moses was elected Superior of Optina Monastery, and Fr, . Anthony was placed in charge of the skete. The skete flourished under Fr. Anthony over the next fourteen years as Elders and experienced ascetics came to Fr. Moses' Hesychast skete. In 1829 at the invitation of Fr Moses, St. Leonid came from St. Anthony of Svir Monastery with five of his [[disciple]]s and, in 1834, Fr. [[Macarius of Optina|Macarius ]] came from Ploschansk Ploschansky Monastery. These monastics joined together in introducing the ancient monastic tradition of eldership at the skete and monastery in which Fr. Anthony was an example of obedience to others. Though the Superior of the skete, he never made any decisions or gave any orders without the blessing of his own Elder, Fr Moses.
At first life in the skete was very difficult. The work was greater than the number of monks to do it. Thus, Fr. Anthony carried his own water and firewood. He worked clearing the paths on the grounds, took his turn serving in church, and greeted visitors. The hard work made him appreciate the simple food served in the [[refectory|trapeza]]. His afflictions continued throughout his life. His legs pained him from continual standing. He had eye trouble and even lost his sight for a brief time. His legs, sore from years of standing, developed open sores after he stubbed his right foot on a tree stump. For six months, the inflammation in his legs prevented him from leaving his cell.These ailments he bore with patience and humility, believing that illness is sometimes given to us by God in order to heal the infirmities of the soul.
[[Category: Monastics]]
[[Category: Elders]]
[[Category:19th-century saints]]
