Who are celebrating today, April 25 according to the calendar: Saint Sylvester of Obnora, Niki
Saint Sylvester of Obnora was born in the 15th century AD. in Russia. From a young age he had an inner desire to be a monk. So he abandoned the world and took refuge in the monastery of Agia Triado, where he was a cadet and subordinate of Agios Sergius of Radonezh (honored on July 5).
After remaining there for a time and ceasing to obey, Saint Sylvester received the blessing to remain alone in the desert and continue his ascetic struggle there.
In the dense forest, next to the river Obnora which continues its flow into the river Kostroma, he set up a cross at the spot he chose and started his spiritual struggle from there. For a long period of time no one knew anything regarding the Holy Hermit. His cell was accidentally discovered by a villager who had lost his way. He told the troubled hermit that people had seen bright rays and a layer of cloud above his abode.
Saint Sylvester then burst into tears of bitterness, because his place of seclusion had been discovered. The pilgrim persistently begged Osios to tell him regarding himself. Saint Sylvester said that he lived there for a long time, eating tree bark and roots.
At first he was weak without bread and once he fell to the ground from his weakness. Then, an Angel in the form of a wonderful man appeared before him and touched his hand. From that moment on, Osios never felt weak once more.
Once once more the villager went to Osios once more and brought him bread and flour, so that he would have provisions. This unique meeting was enough to teach many regarding the spiritual achievements of the Holy One. Soon, villagers began to come to him from the surrounding settlements. Saint Sylvester allowed them to build cells near his own cell.
When several brothers had now gathered in the hermitage, Saint Sylvester went to Moscow and asked for the blessing of Saint Alexius (honored on February 12), to build a church dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ. The Holy Hierarch gave Saint Silvestro an antimonth for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and made him abbot of the new monastery.
With the construction of the church the number of brothers increased rapidly and the Blessed One very often retired to the nearby forest to isolate himself and pray. This place received the name “forbidden grove” because Saint Sylvester ordered that no trees be cut from there.
In this grove Osios dug three wells, while a fourth well was dug in the side of a hill on the river Obnora. When the Saint returned from his seclusion, many people were waiting for him in the monastery and everyone wanted to receive his blessing and listen to his advice.
One day the Saint fell ill with an incurable disease, and the brothers of the monastery, who were saddened when he left the monastery for seclusion, were now even more saddened by the thought of his imminent death. “Do not be troubled by this, brothers,” said the Blessed One to comfort them, “because everything is according to God’s will. Follow the commandments of the Lord and do not be afraid to suffer trials in this life. This is how you will be rewarded in Heaven. If I find grace before the Lord, and if my life has pleased Him, then this holy place will not be dissolved following my departure. Pray to the philanthropic God and to His holy Mother, so that you may be freed from temptation.”
Saint Sylvester fell asleep in the year 1479 and was buried on the right side of the Church of the Resurrection.
Source: ekklisiaonline.gr
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