Feast Day: October 11th
The Life of Saint Leonid: Saint Leonid’s wisdom and Spiritual counsels made him known outside of Optina. People from cities and villages, of all social classes, flocked to Optina seeking his help. He treated their Spiritual afflictions with the knowledge and experience he had gained after thirty years of living in Asceticism. Sometimes he healed their physical infirmities as well, anointing them with oil from the lamp that always burned before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God in his Cell…
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Prayers
Saint Leonid Pray to God for us.
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“If a person earnestly seeks Salvation with his whole heart, God will lead him to a true instructor. Do not worry, each will find the one who is just right for him.”
“The human Soul conceals much good in its depths. One must only search for it.”
“I see no sorrows which are unendurable. Even if such sorrows arise, I receive help from God to endure them also… Whatever sorrows it pleases Him to send us, we must accept with thanksgiving.”
“Be brave and firm in spirit in your faith and hope in the Mercies of the Gracious Lord, that in the situations that seem to be opposing us He is working out our Salvation. Acknowledge your weakness and your failure to submit to the Will of God and to fulfill His Commandments. From this acknowledgement you will obtain humility for yourself and you will see the help of God.”
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Disciple: Is mental Prayer granted to everyone?
Elder Leonid: Whomever the Lord visits with grievous trial, with sorrow or with the deprivation of a beloved neighbour: such a person will involuntarily Pray with his whole heart, with all his thoughts and with all his mind. Consequently the wellspring of Prayer is in everyone; but it is tapped either by gradually delving deeper into oneself in accordance with the teachings of the Fathers, or instantaneously, by God’s drill.
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A disciple once asked Saint Leonid of Optina why after years of struggle he found himself worse instead of better, ie., more inconsiderate, colder of heart, etc. Saint Leonid’s response is very enlightening:
“Very few have flown up in a short time on the wings of faith and virtue into the Spiritual Heaven or have sensed in themselves the undying pledge of hope and the betrothal of future glory…. There are others who will never sense this during their whole life on Earth; they will not sense it according to the dispensation of our Heavenly Protector, God, who always provides what is best for us. For we, infants in our understanding of the judgments of Him that directs the world, often ask of Him such tools which in their own right and power are for our Salvation, but we would put them to entirely detrimental use because of our inexperience. Therefore, the Loving Father of Lights hides from certain pious people the Gifts which are for the Salvation of some, but to others bring perdition. What would happen in God, Who knows all things, completely fulfilled our every wish? I think, but I’m not saying for certain, that everyone in the world would perish. Even though He does not reject the Prayers of His chosen ones, God still does not at all times fulfill their desires. And this only in order to arrange everything in a better way, in keeping with His Divine intent… Just because you see yourself making no progress does not mean that you are not making any progress at all. Such feelings can plant sincere humility in your heart. And when you have the genuine awareness that you are deprived of Spiritual fruit, then make an unfailing effort to force your striving for God… When we have had no success in the Virtues, there is no closer means for Salvation than humbleness of mind. Haughtiness even when joined to the Virtues is offensive to God; but a meek thought will not be forgotten before God.”
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