Memorial Day of St. Varlaam Khutynsky (24/06)

Venerable Varlaam Khutynsky (in the world Alexy) was born in Novgorod the Great from pious parents Mikhail and Anna. He was brought up in piety and, by promoting grace, taught the Divine books, in the knowledge of which he surpassed the elders. From his youth he rushed to a monastic life. In response to his parents' anxiety about his early post-dating, with spiritual wisdom he meekly recalled the words of the Holy Scriptures and examples from the lives of saints.

After the death of his parents, the blessed one distributed the estate and retired to the monastery. There he found the mentor of Hieromonk Paphnutius and accepted monasticism from him. In search of complete silence, he went around various places, wanting to build a monastery for himself. On the right bank of the Volkhov River, 10 versts north of Novgorod, the Monk found a beautiful hill called Khutyn (khutyn, khudyn — is a bad place where evil spirits lived), and saw a certain Divine ray shining around him. Having prayed and built a cell, the saint began to zealously strive in that place in fasting and labor. Every night, the Monk Varlaam kept awake and drove away demons with a prayer with the sign of the cross. He endured all misfortunes, stored and reinforced by the right hand of God.

The desert exploits were long shared with him by the noble Novgorod brothers Porfiry and Theodore Malyshevich. When numerous desert lovers gathered to him, the Monk erected a small wooden temple for the glory of the Transfiguration of the Lord, as well as several cells, and gave his charter for the monastery, in which he ordered alms to be given to the poor, to feed and water all wanderers.

Not only monks, but also noble and ordinary laity came to the elder for advice. The Monk taught them: «My children! Beware of various vices: envy, slander, anger, lies, covetousness, biased judgment; leave a false oath, abstain from fornication, especially have meekness and love — mother to all good things. Do this so as not to lose the eternal blessings promised by the Lord to all the righteous. Avoid eternal torment with fasting, prayer and good deeds, night vigil and day labor».

The Reverend obliged to live according to the rules of the holy fathers, honestly and reverently, about the needs and affairs of the monastery, and commanded to consult with three or four of the elders, and then propose matters for the general discussion of the brethren. In the last year of his life, the monk built a stone temple in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the Khutyn monastery. At the consecration of the temple, St. Gabriel of Novgorod elevated the holy elder to the rank of abbot. Soon, on November 6 (old style) 1192, the Reverend reposed himself with God. Shortly before his blissful death, he elected the monk Anthony as his successor. In the middle of the 15th century (1440 or 1452), the incorruptible relics of the saint of God were discovered, and at the same time the glorification of the Reverend as a saint was accomplished.

By the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Monk Varlaam, both during his lifetime and after his departure to God, resurrected the dead, cast out demons, healed the blind, lepers and many other ill people. The Monk was especially famous for his insight. The history of Novgorod testifies to this case.

While with the Novgorod Archbishop Gregory, the Monk warned the saint about his arrival on Friday of the first week of fasting of the holy apostles Peter and Paul on a sleigh. The archbishop was surprised. When the expected Friday arrived, to the horror and surprise of the Novgorodians, deep snow fell and frost hit, and St. Barlaam actually arrived on a sleigh to St. Gregory. Soon the horror of Novgorodians gave way to joy. According to St. Barlaam, the Lord had mercy on the Novgorodians through the prayers of the Most Pure Mother of God and the Holy Apostles. The frost killed the worms, which were hidden in the roots of the rye, and the snow that melted the next day gave the thirsty earth water.

Repeatedly and after his death, the Monk warned residents of his native Novgorod about the dangers that threatened them. It is known that in 1505, the saint of God appeared to the monk of the Khutyn monastery Tarasius and warned him about the flood, pestilence and fire. This phenomenon is depicted on the icon «Vision to the sexton Tarasius». Through the prayers of the saint, the city was saved from the flood, but after 4 years his prediction of a pestilence and fire came true.

In 1461, the first church in the name of St. Varlaam was consecrated in Moscow, and in 1521 the capital of Russia was saved from the invasion of the Tatars through the prayers of St. Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam of Khutyn. This was revealed by God in the vision of an elderly and blind monk of the Moscow Ascension Monastery.

When the enemies surrounded the city, the pious ascetic saw that Moscow Saints Peter, Alexy, Jonah and other bishops and clergy were leaving the Kremlin through the Florovsky (Spassky) Gate and taking with them the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Venerables Sergius and Varlaam fell to the saints with tears. After a general prayer service to the Lord and the Mother of God, the miraculous image was returned to the Kremlin. The city was saved from enemy invasion.

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