The eldership that flourished in Optina owes much of its existence to Schema-Archimandrite Moses (1782 - 1862). The merit of St. Moses is that it was thanks to him, his joint work with elders Leo and Macarius, that not only the external improvement of Optina’s Desert became possible, but also its most spiritual flourishing.
When St. Moses, after he founded the Optina monastery, became the rector of the entire monastery, Father Leonidas (Old Man Leo) arrived at the monastery, laying the foundation for eldership in Optina. Thanks to the fact that St. Moses went through the same spiritual path of inner workings as Elder Leo, a deep mutual understanding and unanimity developed between both strict ascetics in the full sense of the word.
The strict Lenten and ascetic himself, the Monk Moses was filled with the most tender love for people and condescending to their mistakes. The whole life of the monk can be expressed in these words: he lived hidden in God among the constant worries and care of the outside.
Elder Moses managed to safely hide himself from people, why many who did not know the Optina abbot closely considered him, although a good, but an ordinary person: only spiritual men felt the fragrance of the virtues of St. Moses and considered him a highly spiritual old man.